From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.
2.5 Star Rating
My recommendation: Now that it is in paperback, pick it up. I'm hoping Book 2 is better.
Recommended Age: 13+: Don't believe the hype! I didn't have to force myself to finish the book, but neither was I waiting until I had a free moment so I could pick it up and read again. This YA Dystopian fantasy is not as exceptional as some of the latest ones to come out. It does not have the intensity of Hunger Games or Maze Runner. It is not as emotionally moving as Pure. Even without comparing to some of the best dystopians written recently, this book was not as compelling as it could have been. This was a satisfying novel, but lackluster in its delivery. One to read when you're waiting on a new book from your favorite series.
Plot/Pace: A pretty good premise for a book. Not an overly complicated plot; this was an easy read. The logic behind the main conflict was not impressive. It's pretty predictable why things are happening and what the people of power are trying to accomplish. The book delineates between the have and have nots, but not enough to really understand the struggle or why the struggle even began. Basic information is given (begging, stealing, scrounging). Where is the history, so that I can relate to the current feelings of the characters. It may be that things are just being revealed in the first book and more reasoning and detail will be developed later. I hope so...
Imagery: In my opinion, this is lacking. Was there enough of a depiction of the Republic and its inhabitants to give the reader a feel of the "new" world? Yes...But is that enough for dystopian? No. I want to get a real feel for just what has happened to the world. I want to be able to picture the new surroundings and the people and have that resonate with me.
Action: Pretty good. Nothing was over the top or unbelievable. Yes, teenagers are climbing walls and jumping from buildings, but look at the world they live in an how they were trained.
Romance: Meh! There was no real buildup to the romance between the two lead characters. They look at each other and there is an attraction and....that's it. Why? Why do they stay attracted? Just because they look good to each other? They kiss a couple of times, but other than the unexpected first kiss, I wasn't impressed. Don't put it in the book just to have it in there!
Characters: Another Meh! Each character is distinct in how they were written. Day has his mischievous charm and June is rebellious, but there is no depth to them. The mistrust and suspicion between the two could have been used to develop their relationship into something meaningful. A plus was the ruthlessness of the two villains.
What Irked the Shiznit Out of Me: Ahh...no spoilers! Let me try to phrase this correctly. Explain to me how the actions of one can cause intense pain to another, based on information one "thinks" they know for sure, and the person who felt the intense pain forgives and forgets with no explanation! And never gets mad...and doesn't lash out or complain or blame the one who caused the hurt. PLEASE! Never happens in real life!
What Blew Me Away: Nothing
My rating does not mean you shouldn't read it..just that this won't be one of the best stories you've ever read. I was not impressed with this book. The love story was almost non-existent and the storyline was too simple and predictable. I did enjoy the action and the antagonists in the story.
If you like this book, what else might you like???
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