The Culling (The Torch Keeper, #1)

Feb 13, 2013 Emily May rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-na, arc, dystopia-utopia, 2013, love-triangle

There's this word we use in Britain and, judging by the puzzled looks on the faces of my University's international students, it is quite possible it isn't used anywhere else. The word is gutted. Not gutted like gutting a fish - though I'm sure that's where it comes from - but gutted as in extremely disappointed. Gutted as in "I'm gutted" at having my year-long trip plans ruined by a bout of unexpected snow (also a British thing as other places seem to know how to cope with bad weather. Here it...more

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Dec 05, 2012 fяσzєη rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian, netgalley-or-edelweiss, all-time-faves, 2013-faves, books-i-want-to-marry, believable-romance, cant-believe-i-finished, creatively-original, deserves-the-hype, faves, heroes-i-adore, my-emotions-i-cannot

This review is also available over at my blog.

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Okay, I think I've recovered. I think.

The first time I'd heard about this book, I was excited because it was a YA dystopian with a GLBT romance, which I've been waiting aaaages for. So I was ecstatic when I saw this on NetGalley and when the publisher approved me for it.

Little did I know what a wild, insane ride this book was going to be.

My emotions were splattered all over the walls and floors non-stop as I read this. Because l...more

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Mar 30, 2013 Jennifer Lavoie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, dystopia, family, future, gay, lgbt, making-changes, netgalley, books-to-read-over-and-over, older-teens, romance

I love a lot of books, so when people ask me what my favorite is, it is incredibly difficult for me to come up with a title. However, I think now I might finally be able to come up with an easy answer.

In The Culling by Steven dos Santos:

Lucian “Lucky” Spark has been recruited for training by the totalitarian government known as The Establishment. According to Establishment rules, if a recruit fails any level of the violent training competitions, a family member is brutally killed . . . and the r...more I love a lot of books, so when people ask me what my favorite is, it is incredibly difficult for me to come up with a title. However, I think now I might finally be able to come up with an easy answer.

In The Culling by Steven dos Santos:

Lucian “Lucky” Spark has been recruited for training by the totalitarian government known as The Establishment. According to Establishment rules, if a recruit fails any level of the violent training competitions, a family member is brutally killed . . . and the recruit has to choose which one.

As the five recruits form uneasy alliances in the hellish wasteland that is the training ground, an undeniable attraction develops between Lucky and the rebellious Digory Tycho. But the rules of the training ensure that only one will survive—the strongest recruits receive accolades, wealth, and power while the weakest receive death.

With Cole—Lucky’s four-year-old brother—being held as “incentive,” Lucky must marshal all his skills and use his wits to keep himself alive, no matter what the cost.

The Culling portrays a bleak future after an apocalypse that has covered what seems to remain of the world in an Ash that causes many to die at an early age from a terrible coughing disease.

It is clear that Lucian cares very deeply for his little brother, Cole. After losing both parents, Cole is all he has left. When Cassius returns from his training, Lucian is eager to reconnect with his old friend in the hopes the he will help them.

Digory and Lucian are amazing characters who are strongly motivated for their own reasons. Their connection was deep and nearly instant, though it might not be clear to all readers what the connection might be until much later.

Though it is never stated implicitly, Lucian is indeed gay and has feelings for Digory. Their attraction towards each other grows throughout the novel, and despite the horror around them and the bleak outlook for their lives, there are moments of such heart breaking tenderness that I stopped and reread the scenes over to myself many times before moving on. Their shared moment under the stars, the dancing before their graduation ceremony… my heart still aches at the beautiful way the author portrayed these scenes.

I am glad this is the first book in a series, because I am in love. I want more from this author, and my only regret is that I can’t have more right now.

The Culling will be available for purchase on March 8, 2013, but it can be preordered now from Amazon.
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Feb 28, 2013 Amy (Amy's Book Den) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopias, debuts-2013

Lucian’s little brother, Cole, calls him Lucky which is sort of ironic in the world they live in. But Lucian still does whatever is in his power to keep Cole happy, and innocent and believing in things like faery tales. Then, after a bad turn of fate, Lucian is betrayed and drafted to participate in The Recruitment. He will have to do everything in his power to win the trials that await him if he hopes to see his brother again. But winning the trials would mean eliminating all competition, incl...more Lucian’s little brother, Cole, calls him Lucky which is sort of ironic in the world they live in. But Lucian still does whatever is in his power to keep Cole happy, and innocent and believing in things like faery tales. Then, after a bad turn of fate, Lucian is betrayed and drafted to participate in The Recruitment. He will have to do everything in his power to win the trials that await him if he hopes to see his brother again. But winning the trials would mean eliminating all competition, including bad boy Digory Tycho. If only Lucian could deny his feelings for Digory.

Steven Dos Santo’s The Culling is gritty, scary, gory, and gruesome. Yet amid it all there's friendship and love and romance. I love it!

Lucian was a great character to meet. He starts out weak and naïve, and when the horrible stuff starts happening he doesn’t crumble, but rises to the challenge. He’s also a very kind and caring person. I think this is what attracted Digory from the start. Their romance is slow and shy, like a burning ember just waiting for the right wind to ignite it. I found myself sighing out loud in a couple of scenes, that’s how good the romance was.

However, the world they live in is horrible. It’s filthy, dangerous, the mortality rate is at forty, and the Establishment is cruel. Much like in the Hunger Games, The Establishment has The Recruitment in which they select a group of five people to undergo participate in a set of trials. But that’s where the similarities stop. The world of The Culling is vicious, and Steven Dos Santos pulls no punches when describing just how gruesome it is. It might be just me being squeamish, but I thought the horror was sometimes too much. The looser of each trial has to choose between his two Incentives (people the recruit loves) and kill him or her. And I’m not talking about a bullet through the brain. No, that would be too merciful. The horrors that happened every time one of the recruits lost truly made my skin shiver. Add insult to injury, and the winner of the trials has to continue on their training to become an Imposer (the elite guard), essentially working for the people who made him do all the horrible stuff in the trials.

I think part of what made this more shocking than The Hunger Games is the fact that we get to know the Recruits on a personal level. Ophelia the sweet and cheery but scary as hell girl. Cypress the thought girl with a soft heart. Gideon the guy with some deep issues who’s nice. And Digory whose kindnesses towards Lucky won me over from the minute he appeared on the page. We get to care about these people…And then we have to watch them kill their loved ones, and suffer, and ultimately die! When you have to think, “Well, at least they died in a gas chamber,” you know things are seriously f-up.

The ending was epic on so many levels. It was fast paced—well most of the book is anyways—it was full of action, deception, and heartbreak. Steven Dos Santos left a lot of things to work on for the next book, like what happened to Digory, and what are the Fleshers, and how will Lucian rebel. Seriously. There better be a next book.

*Arc copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley*(less)

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May 08, 2013 Will Lutes rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a well written dystopian drama that exceeded my expectations at every turn. The prose was engaging, and well detailed without crossing the border into 'will you just get on with it' territory. The characters are likable and you root for the two lovers caught in dire circumstances beyond their control.

If The Hunger Games was to be a cautionary tale of the have's and have not's, this novel by Mr. dos Santos was on steroids -- leaving Games far in its trail in the ordeals the characters h...more

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May 04, 2013 David James rated it 5 of 5 stars

Beautiful and brutal, this book is not The Hunger Games. Not even slightly. The Culling is similar to The Hunger games and to other dystopian novels in the way that all novels are similar. There is love, but not a love triangle (don't let anyone tell you differently). There are questions. There are risks. The Culling, however, chooses to be different than other dystopian novels. While the heart of this novel is based in the fight for love, The Culling is more about family. Finding a place in a d...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Elizabetta marked it as get-it-soon-as-poss

Shelves: march-release

A gay YA dystopian novel out March 2013. I'm so there!

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Apr 15, 2013 Nicole Cabrera rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: awesome-books

Cannot wait to buy this book, and get it signed!

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Apr 04, 2013 Sarah Kalaitzidis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia

Originally Posted on: http://howlingbooksanddesign.blogspot...

This dystopian tale is plain crazy! I think it can best be described as as "Hunger Games" with a "Battle Royale" twist. I loved the book, but I found the ending a bit depressing. It leaves you wonder the fate of our main character, Lucky (Lucien). After the trails these characters go through I don’t know how they would come out sane. I think I would go crazy by what happen.

"The Culling" takes place in the town of Perish, which is unde...more Originally Posted on: http://howlingbooksanddesign.blogspot...

This dystopian tale is plain crazy! I think it can best be described as as "Hunger Games" with a "Battle Royale" twist. I loved the book, but I found the ending a bit depressing. It leaves you wonder the fate of our main character, Lucky (Lucien). After the trails these characters go through I don’t know how they would come out sane. I think I would go crazy by what happen.

"The Culling" takes place in the town of Perish, which is under the control of something called 'The establishment.' It’s not the prettiest of places to live in. Picture the Victorian era, where to get rid of trash and human waste they dump it out windows. This is also a world were being 40-years-old is considered being really old. Oh, and they love putting small children in places to be bought and used. How I hate this hell whole of a society. It takes place in the future, after a great war that has devastated society. Interesting how war leads to dystopian civilizations that brutalize the young and innocent... What I do like about this world is that they don't bat a eyelash at the fact of gay lovers, which isn’t like our world at all.

The author knows how to write and create a gripping plot. Every moment of this book is intriguing, pulling you in, making you want to know what’s going to happen next. There is a lot of twists that leave you guessing, because nothing happens how you expect it to happen. The thing that’s similar to "Hunger Games" and "Battle Royale" is the thing called the 'Recruitment Day'. During this event, the Establishment chooses five people to be Recruited and compete against each other to be able to join the imposer Task force. During the competition, if they fail on of the trials then they have to choose which of their love ones die, as the name “The Culling” suggests. . This “Establishment” people are great people, aren’t they.

Our main character Lucian, or Lucky as his brother and a few others call him, is a really great guy and a good older brother. He would do anything to protect his brother, who is his only family left. He took risks to go meet his old friend, who is now called a Perfect (someone who is a high ranking member of society). Unfortunately, he learns the hard way that friendship has little value in this society. He becomes a stronger person for this.

This book is full of interesting characters. Some of them, you root for as they go through their trials. Others you want to throw off a cliff yourself. The names of the other Recruits are Cypress, Ophelia, Gideon and Digory. They each have their own distinct personality. They range from kind, to cold, to just plain crazy.

Digory is someone I really love in this book, and I could see how Lucky became attracted to him. He’s smart and loyal, but holds secrets that he doesn’t tell anyone till almost the very end. Digory is technically Lucky's rival in the trials, both fighting for the Recruitment spot and for the lives of their families. He should be looking after himself and his loved one, but he instead looks out for Lucky and protects him. I loved how he and Lucky slowly came closer together as the story went on. Their relationship grows and changes throughout the story. I can't wait to read future books and find out what happens to Digory, as his ending was left open to interpretation."

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Feb 27, 2013 Cayce rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: glbt-ya

4.5 stars

The Culling is a book that I have been itching to read, ever since I first heard of it a few months back. Why? Because it's a dystopian novel with a gay protagonist! Dystopian is one of my favorite sub-genre within the young adult genre, and I'll also admit a huge passion for GLBT novels. A gay-themed dystopian YA is something I'd never heard of before, but it sounded amazeballs. So I was absolutely psyched for Santos' debut novel, and when it popped up on Netgalley, I jumped on it rig...more 4.5 stars

The Culling is a book that I have been itching to read, ever since I first heard of it a few months back. Why? Because it's a dystopian novel with a gay protagonist! Dystopian is one of my favorite sub-genre within the young adult genre, and I'll also admit a huge passion for GLBT novels. A gay-themed dystopian YA is something I'd never heard of before, but it sounded amazeballs. So I was absolutely psyched for Santos' debut novel, and when it popped up on Netgalley, I jumped on it right away.

The Culling is set in a totalitarian dystopia. Think The Hunger Games. Think Battle Royale. The government, called The Establishment, is just awful - harsh and horribly evil. Aside from the privileged members of The Establishment, people are poor and many suffering from Reaper's Cough, a deadly sickness caused by unknow reasons (the filthy air could be one, or maybe it's one of the The Establishment's "presents"). It's a seriously messed up, bleak and brutal world.

And there's the Recruitment Day. 5 recruits: 1 of them will join the The Establishment, the other 4 will die or spend the rest of their life slaving in the mines. Lose once in the trials and one of your incentives - a person you love - will die. Lose twice and your other loved one will die as well, and you're out.
In most dystopians the characters fight for their own life, but in here the author went way beyond of that. Santos has brought into existence the most ruthless government I've ever come across in YA books.
I have to say I really liked Lucian, the narrator. He is a good brother and a generally good guy, if a little too trusting at the beginning (don't worry, he quickly toughens up). Cassius was so brainwashed by the system, I can't believe Lucian fell for his promises. At the same time I can see why he wanted to believe in his childhood friend so much. He desperately hoped for a better (longer), safer life for his little brother and for himself. And it's almost worked. At first, it looked like Lucian would be safe and not be recruited, and I don't think Digory was on the original "list" either. But of course the main character has to be recruited, or there won't be a story. The way it was done was a little overdramatic: a Prefect like Cassius shouldn't have public meltdowns. However it certainly served as a phenomenal way to create tension and distrust among the recruits.
Digory is part of the resistance, and was just fantastic the whole time - a strong, protective presence. Lucian was unsure about him and his intentions, but my trust in him never wavered. He and his moments with Lucian was what made the book for me. I'm not sure how I felt about the other recruits, some of them were insane, but their stories did break my heart.

What I really appreciated was that while in most dystopians it's like: you have been selected, you have a week (at the most) to "train", you will get some weapons and then the killing is on, in The Culling the recruits got real training. And I'm talking about military boot camp with a hard-ass drill sergeant. It took weeks and many pages, and much as I enjoyed following their readying, I also started to wonder - would the trials start in this book or the next? But then it began, and was heart-wrenchingly brutal. The point of the sadistic trials wasn't to kill them, but to destroy their souls, to kill their feelings and the fight out of them.
The ending sort of leaves the reader hanging on the cliff, and I can't talk much about it without giving away everything, but Cassius made a mistake in his plans, and I'm sure that will be the undoing of him one day. Lucian and I will be there when the time comes.

The Establishment is all kinds of evil, but homophobic is not. Being gay is a non-issue in The Culling. I actually might have an idea why they don't mind gays (it's not a lovely thought), but I still liked that I didn't have to read a dystopian Romeo and Romeo. The romance was there, but it was subtle. The fast-paced plot focused on the development of the characters, and then the trials.
So everything being said, I really enjoyed The Culling, and will without doubt read the sequel. I simply have to know what happens with Lucian and Digory next. I also have a strong feeling that we will find out more of the resistance in the next book as well. I'd recommend The Culling to fans of dark dystopia and LGBT themed novels.
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May 01, 2013 Serith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: glbt, favorites

This is a really impressive book. Extremely engaging. I usually take my time to read, but I physically could not stop. It has not left my mind since I picked it up and I doubt it will for a long time after. This is exactly the kind of book that I’ve been looking for all this time. By that I’m referring to the rare genre (teen m/m dystopia – this has to become a thing) AND in terms of enjoyment level. It’s an amazing feeling to be untied with a favourite book.

Stylistically, the writing was well-c...more This is a really impressive book. Extremely engaging. I usually take my time to read, but I physically could not stop. It has not left my mind since I picked it up and I doubt it will for a long time after. This is exactly the kind of book that I’ve been looking for all this time. By that I’m referring to the rare genre (teen m/m dystopia – this has to become a thing) AND in terms of enjoyment level. It’s an amazing feeling to be untied with a favourite book.

Stylistically, the writing was well-crafted. Every paragraph serves a purpose. It holds your attention and was easy to read. The plot can get you mad, but it’s supposed to. The sadistic action is well paced and balanced out with character development. They were an interesting cast; the characters I loved proved I was drawn to them for a reason. Then there were a bundle who completely turned the tables during the duration of the story. It was unpredictable yet naturally - so even when you pull the plug on someone, you can still see how they became the way they did and can’t blame them entirely for their downfalls.

I found the ending frustrating beyond belief… but only because it evoked emotion and got me to care that strongly. So -as much as I want to throw the book across the room and hound the release date for the next volume- I believe this is a good thing? Hahaha. I just have an inkling that this is probably what the writer wanted. (view spoiler)

Now let’s take a moment and address the concerns regarding the similarities to the Hunger Games. I received this warning before reading, but I’m glad to have both ignored them and kept them in mind at the same time (to compare it without being taken off guard). In my opinion, it only sounds similar but the experiences are so vastly different that the small details are forgivable. I’d list off the differences if I had the time and would not spoil 90% of the book. It would be easier to read it. It very well could have been an inspiration, but they are not the same story at all.

Any-who, I’ll be smuggling this title into as many recommendations as I can. Pretty excited to talk about it with friends!(less)

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May 16, 2013 Paris Grant rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The Culling by Steven Dos Santos is a very intense novel about a twisted society that encourages pitting teenagers into combat with not only their lives on the line , but their loved ones too. The main protagonist Lucius 'Lucky' Spark who is a teenage boy with nothing but love and a will to protect his little brother Cole. The story takes place on the day before Recruitment Day. Lucky has a plan that includes getting caught that goes awry when he bumps into a small crush of his, Digory Tycho the...more

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May 14, 2013 Ian Hu rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Culling screams Hunger Games all throughout the novel: a protagonist gets forced to participate in a grizzly competition with other people's lives at stake in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic setting. However, there are a few twists to the Culling that makes the book a worthy competitor of the Hunger Games.

First off is the homosexual love story the protagonist and Digory are wrapped in throughout the novel. There are no terribly graphical sex scenes but the tender caring moments are still prese...more

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May 10, 2013 Shae rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'll warn you now: I read 1/4th of the book before reading the ending and a few random parts in the middle. Not because I was at the edge of my seat and unable to stand not knowing what was going to happen, but because I was unimpressed and figured that I may as well know how it ends.
Thinks I hated:

-How the main character was obviously about to be tricked, warned about it by another character, ignored the said warning, and was immediately tricked just as predicted. Pet peeve of mine.

-Character r...more I'll warn you now: I read 1/4th of the book before reading the ending and a few random parts in the middle. Not because I was at the edge of my seat and unable to stand not knowing what was going to happen, but because I was unimpressed and figured that I may as well know how it ends.
Thinks I hated:

-How the main character was obviously about to be tricked, warned about it by another character, ignored the said warning, and was immediately tricked just as predicted. Pet peeve of mine.

-Character reactions. Many of them made no sense at all. Example: Lucky has just been tricked, and is now in the Culling. Another character placed into the culling, the one who warned him and actually cares for Lucky, smiles. Yep. The two men are going to fight each other, face horrifying things, and compete for the lives of their loved ones. And you, my friend, the one who once again actually cares about Lucky, SMILES. Not 'gave a sad, forced smile' or gave some kind of Cheshire grin that would signify how the man had just gone insane, or even a malicious smile that would show that when it came to such harsh stakes, it was every man for themselves. But nope, just a smile. 'Cause of course everything's just fine and dandy.

-A bipolar setting. I couldn't tell if it was in: A) an oppressive country where everyone hated the poor conditions, harsh laws, and disease. Where people want to rebel but don't have the strength to do so. or B) if it was simply a government with major flaws, but with citizens who were strong supporters of it.

-Bad explanations, part of the reason why there's a bipolar setting.

-More character reactions: Lucky tries to make friends with other culling candidates. Lucky, listen to me: if you beat these people, you'll be killing their families. If they beat you, they're killing your family. Why are you trying to be friends with them? You really expect everyone to just put aside the whole thing and play patty cake with you?

-The training. I generally enjoy reading military training in fiction. This one? Nope, I got bored. Mostly because I couldn't tell what the dang place was supposed to be like. Was it supposed to be every man for themselves? were they supposed to be friends? Where they supposed to murder one another? Sabotage the others? Help everyone else? What's going on? I had no idea. The story couldn't decide.(less)

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Apr 14, 2013 Tilliboom rated it 3 of 5 stars

After reading a summary of the book, I immediately knew I wanted to read it. I love post-apocalyptic stories, and this one seemed interesting, and yeah, reminded me a lot of The Hunger Games, even though the idea is a bit different.

The Culling is about a group of five teenagers, two girls and three boys, who fight in tourney against each other to protect two people they love, who are held hostage. The one who loses each round has a choice to make - who he prefers, out of his two loved ones, to d...more After reading a summary of the book, I immediately knew I wanted to read it. I love post-apocalyptic stories, and this one seemed interesting, and yeah, reminded me a lot of The Hunger Games, even though the idea is a bit different.

The Culling is about a group of five teenagers, two girls and three boys, who fight in tourney against each other to protect two people they love, who are held hostage. The one who loses each round has a choice to make - who he prefers, out of his two loved ones, to die, and who to live. In the end, only one can emerge as a victor.

Now, I started reading this book with great expectations. I just loved loved loved the idea of it, and the fact that it was a M/M romance only added to my excitement. Did the book really exceeded my expectations? Well, the answer to that is, not really. It was a nice book and all, but... I don't know. I guess I expected it to be more well-written, and more flowing.

Still, not a bad book. I really loved most of the characters, because each of them was different. I loved Cypress the most, because she was an interesting, strong character, and her background story gave her a lot of depth, in my opinion. Gideon was my second favorite character, because, again, he was an interesting character that I related to. Ophelia, even though definitely not one of my favorite characters, was actually a pretty great character. She scared me, with her innocent looks and how she never looked back when she hurt someone, how she giggled after hurting someone. She was a creepy character, and for that, I like her.

Digory was... well, he was pretty boring, in my opinion. He was good looking and brave and smart and strong and kind, with no flaw whatsoever. He was nice, but not an interesting and unique enough character for me to actually root for, even though he was one of the main characters.

Finally, Lucian. I don't know what to think about him, to be honest. He just seemed so weak, right from the start, and if I'm completely honest, kinda stupid. Digory was always there to protect him - if it wasn't for him, he would've been long gone, right from the start. And I just couldn't relate to his character, on any level. He was just meh for me. And it seemed like everything was revolving around him a bit, a tiny, tiny bit (a lot) too much. His confrontations with people were always way too dramatic for me to appreciate, and it seemed just too awkward to happen in real life. And whenever a character died, he was the one to say the last words to him/her, while the others just watched from the sidelines and shook their head in agony. He talks WAY too much in this story.

Also, I didn't really get what Digory saw in Lucian. It was clear he was interested in him right at the beginning of the book, but I never really got why. Was it just his looks that attracted Digory? And if so, what trait in Lucian appealed to Digory so much that he put Lucian's safety before his own? Sacrificed his and his inferior's life for him? The whole romance just seemed a bit too rushed for me, and I didn't understand how it evolved so fast.

And yet, as rushed as this romance seemed to me, they didn't even kiss until 20 pages before the end of the book. God knows what took them so long.

Another thing that annoyed me in this book was how in a matter of seconds, people just forgave each other. A character grew angry at someone's words, and a second later put a comforting hand on his/her shoulder, because that person said a cheesy line to make them miraculously calm down. You can't just turn off anger so fast and be all comforting - extremely unrealistic.

The thing I did like in this book was the goriness of it all. Some parts were actually disgusting to read, and I felt uncomfortable during some, which is great. I love a good gory book. I also liked the way they treated to gay relationship there - it wasn't a big deal to anyone, and everyone accepted it like it was as normal as a hetero relationship. At least in this new world, filled with death and hunger and pain, they remain gay-friendly.

The relationship between Lucian to his brother was also really nice. They only had each other, and of course, Mrs. I-can't-remember-her-name-but-she-looks-old-and-she's-extremely-cute, who was like a mot

In the end, it was a nice book, and the idea is a very good one, though I only wish it was executed better.
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Mar 12, 2013 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am not one for dark, violent, and horrifying tales but The Culling captivated me and turned my world upside down.

I'm having a difficult time putting into words what I feel about The Culling. I was incredibly horrified and yet I could not take my eyes off the pages. Think of facing the scenario of not only have to fight for your freedom, but if you lose you have to choose which of your loved ones to kill...it's heartbreaking and so scary. I didn't really contemplate the situations that these yo...more I am not one for dark, violent, and horrifying tales but The Culling captivated me and turned my world upside down.

I'm having a difficult time putting into words what I feel about The Culling. I was incredibly horrified and yet I could not take my eyes off the pages. Think of facing the scenario of not only have to fight for your freedom, but if you lose you have to choose which of your loved ones to kill...it's heartbreaking and so scary. I didn't really contemplate the situations that these young adults were put into until the day came when they were put through The Trials...I felt so hopeless and broken. I could not believe the emotions that Steven dos Santos made the reader evoke. It is really quite amazing that he was able to convey all he did through one novel.

The Recruits were people who were desperate and did barbaric things. I wanted to hate some of them, but I couldn't because at times I could relate to them and I have no idea who The Trials would turn me into. Lucky and Digory were by far my favorite characters, but I came to like most of the Recruits by the end and if I didn't like them I could at least understand them. Cassius, while I despised him, was the perfect villain He had a way of complete and utter control over others that made you cringe. It was worse than someone who used violence, because he really messed with a person's mind and emotions. It was utterly brilliant, yet horrifying.

The one thing about this novel that I adored is the incorporation of homosexuality. It wasn't obvious at first or even the center of the story. There was no gay best friend, or homophobic joc. The world as a whole was pretty messed up in The Culling, but how they viewed homosexuality (essentially homophobia didn't exist) was something I can only hope our world will someday achieve. The romance was completely natural and something that I think everyone will enjoy and root for.

Overall I was amazed by this novel. I don't only suggest you read this,but do it now. I only wish I could go out and buy everyone copies...it's that good!

This review can be found at The Garden of Books (less)

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Mar 08, 2013 Micah Dawson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: micah-s-faves

OH...MY...GOD...

This book was amazing and I am so annoyed that it is over with already. I have to read this again because my mind and my heart couldn't take it.

Here's my review

1. Plot & The Writing & Pacing: A plus
Let's get this out the way...Yes, the book is very hunger games like. The Whole Recruits(Tributes) thing is very similar. Except unlike in HG & even a book like divergent, the stakes are higher.

In HG, you have to make it to end of the games for yourself. With The Culling,...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

I like THE CULLING. I am going to read book two of The Torch Keeper series, no question. But I'm not going to recommend it unreservedly. This is a brutal, brutal book. Sympathetic characters have terrible things happen to them, including death, and they do terrible things as well. It's violent, gruesome, and there are references to past rape and child abuse.

THE CULLING is, quite often, not a pleasant read. At the same time, it's a fast-paced thrill ride that doesn't give you much time to dwell o...more I like THE CULLING. I am going to read book two of The Torch Keeper series, no question. But I'm not going to recommend it unreservedly. This is a brutal, brutal book. Sympathetic characters have terrible things happen to them, including death, and they do terrible things as well. It's violent, gruesome, and there are references to past rape and child abuse.

THE CULLING is, quite often, not a pleasant read. At the same time, it's a fast-paced thrill ride that doesn't give you much time to dwell on the moral and ethical questions posed by the story. The pleasure that comes from reading a well-crafted action novel can create quite the dissonance with the deliberate unpleasantness of The Establishment and the government's awful recruitment practice.

Lucian "Lucky" Spark is chosen as a Recruit after being betrayed by someone he trusted with his life. Recruits must compete to become part of the military and only one can join the Imposer task force. Failing also means death for two of the Recruit's loved ones - in Lucky's case, his four-year-old brother's life is on the line. But winning means causing the death of others, many of them no older or even younger than Cole.

THE CULLING has been frequently compared to THE HUNGER GAMES. And yes, there are undeniable similarities. But one of the major differences is that much more time is spent getting to know the game's players. None of Lucky's competitors are wholly unsympathetic, even if one of them does end up playing the role of the villain. In fact, they're generally likeable people. And in the case of Digory, Lucky falls in love.

I appreciated that Steven dos Santos didn't try to soften THE CULLING. Even the novel's most obvious antagonist is a traumatized young man who perceives himself as the betrayed one. The Establishment is obviously over-the-top evil, but the characters are wonderfully nuanced. The fight to keep their free will when faced with an ordeal that tries to turn them into emotionless automatons, cogs in a machine.

THE CULLING is a terrific choice for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES looking for something aimed at a slightly older audience. It's also a good choice for any dystopian fans who are looking for a series without a love triangle. (There are potential love triangles in THE CULLING, but the romances is all about Lucky and Digory.) If it's not too brutal for you, it's a good story. And I'm serious, it was almost too much for me. I finished THE CULLING very conflicted between how much I was disgusted by some parts and how much I enjoyed other aspects of the novel. (less)

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Jan 02, 2013 Charlotte rated it 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to the success of the Hunger Games young adult dystopian fiction is seeing an influx of similar storylines. The Culling is one of these. The plot and its evolution are remarkable similar. A teenage boy has to fight against other kids in a government sponsored contest in a post-apocalyptic world with his younger brother’s life in the balance.

Steven dos Santos does a credible job creating the world for the reader and providing some interesting characters and back stories. The main problem i...more Thanks to the success of the Hunger Games young adult dystopian fiction is seeing an influx of similar storylines. The Culling is one of these. The plot and its evolution are remarkable similar. A teenage boy has to fight against other kids in a government sponsored contest in a post-apocalyptic world with his younger brother’s life in the balance.

Steven dos Santos does a credible job creating the world for the reader and providing some interesting characters and back stories. The main problem is that much of it feels very familiar. Granted, in this crowded genre it is hard to find something completely new to add, but this isn’t even a truly fresh take on the ideas.

The lead character, Lucian “Lucky” Sparks, is the typical teen quasi-hero who also happens to be gay. A large part of the plot deals with his former and current love interests. Unfortunately neither seems really plausible or believable. The first, who has already gone through this ritual and won, is now a part of the government. And although he hasn’t seen Lucky in 2 years supposedly is still so jealous and possessive that in a matter of a few hours he develops a plot to destroy his life. Then there is the new guy. Supposedly they never spoke at school, have never seen each other outside of school – ever and basically have had no interaction at all – ever. But, we are supposed to believe that he is so in love with Lucky that he would give his own life for him.

Interesting ideas but they are not realized. As a reader I do not believe any of these feelings or scenarios are real. In a real odd twist some of the supporting characters are much more sympathetic and believable. Gideon and Cypress are very complex characters that actually brought tears to my eyes in some scenes. I wish I had felt as much for the main character.

In this very dark world very bad things happen, sometimes without any real purpose. I was left with the feeling that some of the explicit horror was there only for shock value. In dystopian fiction it is quite natural to have brutal circumstances and extremes, however there has to be some logical through line and basis for us to buy into the way things are done. It just isn’t present in this book. While the history of some of the individual characters is fascinating it does not come together to create a cohesive larger story. More information on how society reached the state it is in might be helpful in creating the back drop for the tale.

There is an amazing creativity shown in the actual descriptions and scenarios. With a little guidance and work there is a lot of potential here. I would be interested to see Steven dos Santos’ next effort.
(less)

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Dec 05, 2012 Wandering Librarians rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, boy-appeal, friendship, fiction, family, science-fiction, series, ya, horror, dystopia, romance

Lucian Sparks lives in a world ruled by the Establishment, a cruel, dictatorial government. Wanting to protect his four-year-old brother Cole, Lucian seeks out his childhood friend Cassius, who is now in a position of power, for help. But when Cassius thinks Lucian has chosen rebel Digory Tycho over him, he punishes Lucian by making both Digory and Lucian recruits, who are forced to compete against each other in a series of task. If a recruit fails, he is punished by choosing an incentive - a lo...more Lucian Sparks lives in a world ruled by the Establishment, a cruel, dictatorial government. Wanting to protect his four-year-old brother Cole, Lucian seeks out his childhood friend Cassius, who is now in a position of power, for help. But when Cassius thinks Lucian has chosen rebel Digory Tycho over him, he punishes Lucian by making both Digory and Lucian recruits, who are forced to compete against each other in a series of task. If a recruit fails, he is punished by choosing an incentive - a loved one - to be killed. For Lucian, it would be Cole.

It's The Hunger Games! Now with more flesh eating! Seriously, this didn't even try to pretend it wasn't completely ripping off The Hunger Games. Person only trying to protect a much younger sibling? Check. Person not interested in joining the rebellion, only trying to keep said younger sibling safe? Check. Young people forced to compete in Gladiator-type games at the hands of cruel dystopian government? Check. Young people forced to form alliances to survive, only to have to break those alliances and kill each other in order to protect their loved ones? Check.

So yeah, it was The Hunger Games, only this time with a male protagonist and a male-male romance. I did like that aspect of it, that falling in love with another man is not strange in this world. It was completely accepted as the norm. The Culling was also more graphically violent. I know, I know, The Hunger Games are all about kids killing kids, but honestly, the first two books are not especially graphically violent. The third one much more so. This was like the third one.

No, it wasn't completely the same. In The Culling, the reason for the competition is not punishment for rebellion. It is to find people to become part of the elite military. There are a series of task the recruits must complete. Each competitor has two incentives. If they come in last in a task, they must choose one of their incentives to be killed, in really, really nasty ways. Beheading, eaten alive by ROUS (rodents of unusual size), stung to death by bees, etc., etc. Once both a recruits incentives are dead, they are eliminated and sent to a work camp.

There were a lot of loose ends the confused me. The recruits get sent out to find out what happened to some other soldiers that disappeared, and almost get eaten by...something. The Fleshers. Don't know what they are. They kind of seemed like Reavers, but I don't actually have any idea. Also, the lost five recruits that were supposedly living out there in piles of bodies? What? They've been out there for ten years? How is that possible? I don't understand. I don't understand at all. And it was one chapter and then we go back to the competition and it's never mentioned again. It didn't even reappear at the end to entice me into reading the next book where All Will Be Explained. It just dropped and it seemed totally random. Why was it there at all?

The Establishment is all crazy and cruel and doesn't seem to be trying very hard to hide it. So why did lovely, beautiful, damaged Cypress get to die with her children by painless poisonous gas? All the other incentives and those that went against the Establishment die in horrible, painful way. You now expect me to believe that they'll let someone who didn't follow the rules die quietly from gas that makes you nod off to sleep? That was weird. So there were some inconsistencies in a world that wasn't very clear to begin with.

Digory, the love interest of Lucian's, is handsome and strong and loyal and selfless and ultimately sacrifices himself to save both Lucian and Cole. I don't believe for a minute he actually died. I'm sure he'll show up again. Digory is essentially perfect, and therefore not very interesting as a character. He's a foil to Cassius, whose love is cruel.

The world Lucian lives in is not very clear. We know it was once New York, but we don't know how it got the way it is or where the Establishment came from or how long things have been like they are. We don't know what's happening in other places in the former United States. We don't even know a whole lot about the Establishment and how it functions. Maybe that's coming in later books. I would have liked so more foundation right away.

If you have kids who are missing The Hunger Games, they'll probably be happy to give this a read (if they're still into dystopian societies and haven't moved on to the next thing yet). Nothing groundbreaking or special certainly.

The Culling comes out March 8, 2013.(less)

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Jan 18, 2013 Brandi Kosiner added it

The Culling is a very dark and gritty story. It has gore, it has emotions out the wazoo, it has characters put in impossible situations, forced to make choices that kids should never, ever have to make, and I could not take my eyes from the page.
While I liked the book and respected what Lucky was trying to do for his little brother, I was pretty confused at the beginning. When you have a world and a government that is different from ours now, there needs to be some explanation of what exactly...more The Culling is a very dark and gritty story. It has gore, it has emotions out the wazoo, it has characters put in impossible situations, forced to make choices that kids should never, ever have to make, and I could not take my eyes from the page.
While I liked the book and respected what Lucky was trying to do for his little brother, I was pretty confused at the beginning. When you have a world and a government that is different from ours now, there needs to be some explanation of what exactly is going on, and I didn't quite get that. New terms and phrases were flying around and it took me out of the story because I couldn't remember if any explanation who or what that person's function was and what it really meant. I picked it up as I went along though, and because there is action and some depth of the characters going on, I didn't give up on it.
It was hard getting to know the characters though because I knew that all of them wouldn't survive. They were learning to work as a team, but then they would remember that alliances really are not going to help them because their family members are on the line.
I have read a lot of dystopias, and I see a lot of the same threads as the Hunger Games. This is not saying that Steven hasn't put his own twists on it, because he had, I just couldn't help lining up the kids making alliances, the different districts that contributed different things. Again, not a criticism, just a statement.
Being in Lucky's head was a good change. I feel like I don't read too much with a male POV, unless it is dual perspective, so that is always a positive. Though, I did keep almost forgetting that he was a guy because of the attraction and tension between him and Digory. Nothing against the LGBT, but I am straight, and it is a hot guy, and from the first person, it puts me in Lucky's shoes, so therefore...
Oh, and the ending. It broke my heart. Nothing was actually definite but I don't know how they could pull off not breaking my heart.

Bottom Line: Dark and emotional story with a courageous main character who makes choices he should never have to.

For more of my reviews, check out Blkosiner’s YA and Teen Book Blog: http://blkosiner.blogspot.com (less)

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Jan 10, 2013 Sabriena rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book, The Culling, was not what I expected when I read the summary and then started reading reviews of others. First I want to say that I have seen a lot of reviews say that this is just like the Hunger Games. I was following their mindset until Lucian became one of The Recruitment which is within the first 50 pages. I want to say, this book is nothing like Hunger Games except that they are young and in this type of scenario. The government is the one providing this yes, however, nothing l...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Berseker rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
I don't want to be unfair here, so I'll say right away that this book wasn't for me. It's too violent and too gorey and too... I don't know, slash-horror-ish for me.

That said, I... liked it, I guess? I read the whole thing. n the whole, the story was interesting. This kind of plot requires a lot of cruelty, and the author was pretty creative in that. All in all, this book was way more evil than the Hunger Games.

But the pace was a bit off, and I had some trouble with the setting and the charact...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Jeff Erno rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian, gay-themed-young-adult, gay-fiction

Although not exactly easy to categorize, The Culling by Steven Dos Santos is a remarkable book. The futuristic setting, within an environment that is desolate and bleak, under the iron-fisted rule of a totalitarian government, suggests the story is a dystopia. Yet it is not immediately clear on which world the story is set, be it real or imaginary. Though all the central characters are young adult, the story itself depicts intensely graphic and horrific scenes that are grotesque, gruesome, and f...more Although not exactly easy to categorize, The Culling by Steven Dos Santos is a remarkable book. The futuristic setting, within an environment that is desolate and bleak, under the iron-fisted rule of a totalitarian government, suggests the story is a dystopia. Yet it is not immediately clear on which world the story is set, be it real or imaginary. Though all the central characters are young adult, the story itself depicts intensely graphic and horrific scenes that are grotesque, gruesome, and far more vivid than you'd find in most horror novels. The main character is gay, but this fact is incidental to the story, and the love interest in the story is secondary. Therefore it is by no means a romance, and it does not have the typical ending of a romance.

So with all this being said, it doesn't make a lot of sense that I loved this book as much as I did. I think there are several reason why I had to rate this story so highly. First of all, the writing was extraordinary. From the world-building to the word-crafting, the pacing, the sentence structure, the expansive and impressive vocabulary, the impeccable editing, the multi-layered characterization--all of these combined factors gave the book the feel of a mainstream press publication. In a word, it was a professional. A class act, very well done.

Now, some on Good Reads have attacked the book by accusing the author of plagiarizing the Hunger Games. To this, I say simply that's ridiculous. About the only thing the story has in common with HG is that in both novels there is an elimination-style competition of state sponsored youthful contestants. That is where the similarities end, however.

The Culling is not about a reality TV show as in HG. It's a competition the government uses to select recruits for their military officers. And the selection process is not a lottery like in HG, based upon where the young people live. In fact, all of the contestants that competed in this story were in the same parish. And they do not fight one another to the death. In fact, in The Culling, deliberately killing another contestant is forbidden. They often are required to work together as a team.

The government, upon selecting a recruit, takes into custody two family members or loved ones to use as incentives. If the recruit fails in the trials, one of their Incentives is selected for "shelving". In other words, they have to choose which of their loved ones will die. If both Incentives are eliminated, the contestant is disqualified from the competition and sent to a work camp for the remainder of their life.

Some have stated that the story contains a love triangle. I didn't see this at all. The main character is a boy named Lucian. At one time he was in love Cassius, who was then selected for the Trials. Cassius succeeded and went on to become the Prefect of the parish. Upon his return, he's changed. He betrays Lucian. Then Lucian, or "Lucky" falls in love with another contestant in the Trials named Digory. There is absolutely no triangle here. The relationship between Cassius and Lucky is over at the beginning of the story. The reader's only knowledge of this former relationship is gleaned through flashback. Within this story, Cassius is not a love interest at all. He's the nemesis.

The one thing that is disturbing to me about the story was the sadism and cruelty that's depicted. As I was reading it, it moved me to tears, and I wondered what kind of mind would think up such horrors. Believe me, this is not a personal attack upon the author. I have never met him and have nothing against him. But I suppose it takes a certain type of talent to reach into that dark side of the psyche to even entertain such hideous ideas.

I do plan to read all the stories of this series. I've read a lot of different series books over the years, and very few were so compelling that I eagerly waited for the release day of the next book (e.g. Harry Potter). This series is going to be like this, I'm afraid. Even though the goriness was off-putting to me, the story itself is just spectacular. It is such a a work of creativity, and it's genuinely a page turner. Once I got past the first hundred pages in the book, the rest of the story flew by and I couldn't put it down.

It'll probably be one of the best books of the year, in my opinion.(less)

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Mar 19, 2013 Killedbydrapery rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was entirely too addicting! I received my copy free through Goodreads First Reads, and started it the moment the book hit my mailbox. Dos Santos does an amazing job of weaving each chapter carefully so by the time you reach the end of a chapter, you can't put the book down--you have to keep going to find out what happens next.

Lucian was an odd character, but I loved his history and personality. My only problem was (and maybe this is because I haven't read a book first-person through a...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Jax marked it as to-read

Shelves: queer-babies, kindle

Want want want want want.

Need need need need need.

(I'm really sad though - I put in for this book on NetGalley and the publisher is declining access at the time. D;)

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Apr 01, 2013 Lady*M rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopia, glbt, m-m-romance, young-adult, reviews-by-jessewave

4.25 stars

I was never an avid reader of YA fiction, not even when I was the 'right' age for it. Thematically, they rarely captured my interest and imagination. However, that doesn't mean there weren't any – Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killers or Aterovis's Bleeding Hearts are just two of those I could mention. In the end, a good book is a good book – it captures your attention regardless of your age or interests. And The Culling is a good book and exceptional debut novel.

The civilization as we know it h...more

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Mar 30, 2013 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1st-person-male, dystopian, books-i-ve-recommended-to-my-dad, 2013-debut-author

When I saw the premise of this book, it reminded me of The Hunger Games, which is a book that I loved. That was one of the reasons I wanted to read this book. Now that I've read it, I can say that, though there are some similarities, this book is very different from The Hunger Games, but it is equally as amazing. This book is dark and gory, so be prepared for this when you start reading it.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD

Lucian Spark is the protagonist of this book, and he is a wonderfully well-written c...more When I saw the premise of this book, it reminded me of The Hunger Games, which is a book that I loved. That was one of the reasons I wanted to read this book. Now that I've read it, I can say that, though there are some similarities, this book is very different from The Hunger Games, but it is equally as amazing. This book is dark and gory, so be prepared for this when you start reading it.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD

Lucian Spark is the protagonist of this book, and he is a wonderfully well-written character. He really is a good guy. One of the best things about him is how much he cares about his four-year-old brother, Cole. He would do anything for Cole, and this is one of the reasons why being Recruited is so horrible for Lucky. He knows that, if he messes up, Cole will have to die. He couldn't bear that, so he is determined to not lose a Trial.

The other four Recruits are characters that are fully developed. As the story progresses, I loved every one of them, even when they were at their worse. Some of them do some awful things, but deep down, none of them are bad people. They are all complex and layered. Once I came to love all these characters, I had to read about them going through so many horrors, and it was one of the most heart-breaking parts of the book. Digory is a caring guy, and he is so kind to Lucky throughout the Trials, and the training before them. Gideon is a character who was always bullied at school. He has a tragic past and home life that none of the other Recruits know about until they find out about it during the Trials. Cypress is a character who is holding some secrets. She seems rather hot and cold at first, being nice and them not so nice. Once you really get to know her character, you can tell that she is a great person who's been through a lot of bad things. The fourth Recruit is Ophelia, a character who could be quite brutal in the Trials. Even when, sometimes, it seems like her character should be disliked for what she does, I never did dislike her. At the core, she really isn't much different than Lucky. He's fighting for his younger brother's life, and she's fighting for her younger sister's life. Their motives are really the same, but she often has some more brutal methods that she uses to reach her goals.

The romance in the book between Digory and Lucky is well written and fits into the story perfectly. It isn't a major part of the story, and it is rather subtle for most of the book. That made the romance more realistic. In a world where these two boys are fighting for their loved ones lives or death, it wouldn't be realistic for there to be a huge focus on the romance. They had much more important things to be concentrating on. The romance is sweet and slow developing. It is clear through the training and Trials that Lucky and Digory care for each other.

The world building in the book is also well done. It isn't confusing the way the world is written. The Establishment is the totalitarian government that rules. It is a horrific government, and I would never want to live in that world. The idea of the Trials, and how they worked, was also easy to follow. There were five Recruits who each had two Incentives. The loser of each Trial had to undergo The Culling, and the overall winner would become an Imposer in the elite military force.

If you like dark YA dystopian, read this book.(less)

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Mar 19, 2013 Melanie D'angelo rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is dystopia on steroids. Dos Santos introduces his readers to a dark, brutal, and heartless society. Nothing is off limits when it comes to inflicting pain upon his characters. Of course, this means our MC, Lucky, is fighting for his life and the lives of those he loves. He is forced to participate in horrific and violent challenges pitted against 4 other Recruits. If he fails a task, he must pick a loved one to kill. This obviously makes all the Recruits desperate to succeed and knock...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Mc Manalo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-stars, action, adventure, apocaliptic, camping, dystopia, favorite, guns, l-o-v-e, science-fiction, young-adult

"Not every story has a happy ending, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth telling."

THE HUNGER GAMES MEETS DIVERGENT MEETS DARK EDEN with an awesome TWIST!
5 STARSI CAN'T EXPLAIN HOW I MUCH LOVE THIS BOOK!
ALMOST EVERYTHING I WANT TO FIND IN A BOOK IS IN HERE!

“What could be worse than having the person you love not want to have anything to do with you?”

THE ENDING LEAVES ME HANGING WITH THOUSANDS OF QUESTIONS... AND I HOPE THEY WILL BE ANSWERED ON THE SECOND BOOK!

"...But the moment you stop believin...more

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