The Breeders

Sep 05, 2012 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those books you know is going to be a page-turner from the beginning. From its very first moment, you know Riley is an MC you are going to root for. Her struggles to define who she is, not only as a young woman, but a human being are what keep you reading along.

Katie French does an amazing job of making the reader feel Riley's every joy and disappointment as she moves through the desolate landscape in a desperate search for her mother.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone...more

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May 05, 2013 Daniela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Warning: The amount of awesomeness in this book might leave you dumbfounded for a couple of days or so. Please take precautionary steps while reading and try not to hurt yourself while forcefully stopping to go to sleep.

The Breeders was EPIC! It left me breathless at every page turn. It was just... wow. I don't even know what to say. From the start, I just knew this was going to be amazing. And guess what, it was stunning. I completely devoured this book. There was not one moment where I felt li...more Warning: The amount of awesomeness in this book might leave you dumbfounded for a couple of days or so. Please take precautionary steps while reading and try not to hurt yourself while forcefully stopping to go to sleep.

The Breeders was EPIC! It left me breathless at every page turn. It was just... wow. I don't even know what to say. From the start, I just knew this was going to be amazing. And guess what, it was stunning. I completely devoured this book. There was not one moment where I felt like stopping. The characters were just so raw and the journey intensely captivating. The concept is beyond cliche. Katie French has come up with an idea that will rock your world. It's terrifying and stupendous at the same time. This book is best read not before bedtime because I can guarantee you will be staying up all night clutching it in your hands.
The characters were so perfectly matched for the story line. I couldn't find anything bothersome about them at all.
Riley topped my 2012's best kick-butt heroines. She just didn't know when to give up, and I admired her for it. Her personality is the tough girl 'don't even think about messing with me' sort. She's fearsome, courageous, NOT whiny (which is a first, I've grown tired of whiny heroines), and stubborn as a mule. Her determination to save her mother had so much depth. She was willing to go through almost anything to save those she loves and it was heartbreaking half the time because luck always seemed to be against her.
Clay was really unpredictable. The guy just loved screwing with my head. I'd think he'd do something in one way (since it's always done this way), but then he'd completely surprise by doing the opposite. I loved him for it. He was full of surprises that left me stunned. His personality was caring and dangerous when people got on his bad side. He's not like the perfect male characters in other books. He's real good-looking (He's the cowboy sort, how is that not sizzling?) all right, but I found myself liking him more because he didn't judge people before getting to know them. He treated Riley like a human being while everyone else treated her like crap because they thought she was a Bender.
The only drawback was Riley's little brother, Ethan. He's young and annoyingly weak, but he was perfect in the way in which he brought Riley's more compassionate side to the surface. It made the story far more interesting and twenty times more terrifying when there's a small, feeble child holding the heroes back. I loved how he fit so well without getting on my nerves.
The relationship between Clay and Riley started off real slow and it continued building until I felt like exploding from the excitement and the thrilling sensation of it all. Katie French hit it perfectly with the romance. It was the part I looked forward to the most and got the least. Those few, swooning moments between Riley and Clay left me hungry for more. And in the end, the wait was SO worth it!
The language in the book is different, mostly since it's set in a very western civilization with a cowboy-sort of theme. It's not formal, but rather very slang-ish. The story's setting takes place in a barren stretch of desert land. I love it because:
1) Forests & Jungles have been overused way too much. Change of scenery please!
and
2) I'm a desert-lover
The plot had some seriously unpredictable twists to it. It was fast-paced and impressively easy to get through. I could get clear images from solid descriptions that didn't make me want to stop reading.
Overall, I fell in love with The Breeders. It's an amazing read that will leave you both satisfied and thirsty for more. I recommend this to everyone and anyone who loves a nail-biting dystopian read!
100% Pure Awesomeness!(less)

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Oct 23, 2012 Ryan Hunter rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book intrigued me from the first page. I enjoyed the characters and the vivid visuals created by the author through her descriptions. The characters get into a fair amount of trouble throughout the novel, but they're not fearless or super-heroes so it makes them morebelievable and made me want to cheer them on.

Riley is often headstrong and acts before she thinks, which causes more trouble than she may otherwise have to endure, but I can relate to that ... it also gave her the faults that ma...more

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Apr 24, 2013 L_manning rated it 5 of 5 stars

Riley has only known fear in her lifetime. In her harsh world, females are few and far between. This makes them highly sought after by a group of vicious people known as "The Breeders." The Breeders take women and enslave them in a hospital, forcing them to procreate as much as possible. It's the only way they see of furthering the human race. Riley desperately wants to avoid this, however this may be difficult. When Riley's step-father doesn't return from a trading trip to town, it's up to Rile...more Riley has only known fear in her lifetime. In her harsh world, females are few and far between. This makes them highly sought after by a group of vicious people known as "The Breeders." The Breeders take women and enslave them in a hospital, forcing them to procreate as much as possible. It's the only way they see of furthering the human race. Riley desperately wants to avoid this, however this may be difficult. When Riley's step-father doesn't return from a trading trip to town, it's up to Riley to rescue him. The people in town think she's a "bender," a gender-less mutation. This manages to keep her out of the Breeders' eyes for now, but things become harder when Riley's mother and aunt are taken by the sheriff. Riley has to trust a mysterious (and handsome) young man named Clay to help her and her brother Ethan rescue her mom. Soon they find themselves on a journey with an outcome that none of them could have ever imagined.

There are a lot of great things in this book. Dystopians have been done a lot, but I was intrigued by the premise of this book. I was not let down. Honestly, I was so drawn in I read the book in one sitting. I meant to just read it bit by bit as I got other household chores done, but that all went down the drain. The pacing was pretty magnificent, and it keeps you wanting to turn the page and find out what happens next. Definitely finish all your necessary tasks before you start this book. I think I had never really had a good grasp of how important females are to the survival of our species before this. I mean, clearly I knew women have the children, but this book put it in a perspective I hadn't quite grasped before. Riley is a fierce and determined young lady, sometimes to a fault. I appreciated how much she wanted to save her family, but sometimes I just wanted to shake her and tell her to think things out more fully. I guess this made the book more exciting though.

Things were definitely left open in the end. As I flipped pages and saw my pages left quickly decrease, I was a little sad because I knew some things I wanted resolved wouldn't be. I will be eager to read the second book. This book does have a lot of violence, so if that thing bothers you be leery. However, it serves as an example of what lawlessness can do and the effect of ruthless people have on others. Although this book paints a rather dreary picture through most of it, you do see glimmers of hope. This book was really great, so if you like dystopians definitely check this one out.

Book provided for review.(less)

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Apr 04, 2013 Krista rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian, extreme, indie-author, review-on-blog, romance, young-adult

“When the Breeders come for ya, there ain't no escape. They strap ya to a bed and all ya hear is the thud of your heart and the cries of your friends as they wheel ya down to hell. Then the doctors come. You squeeze your eyes shut and pray you can forget. But ya never do.”

The Breeders sucks you in to a world that has been ravaged by a poison that made girls a rarity. In order to "save" the human race, so called doctors kidnap girls and inseminate them in order to give birth to more girls. But g...more “When the Breeders come for ya, there ain't no escape. They strap ya to a bed and all ya hear is the thud of your heart and the cries of your friends as they wheel ya down to hell. Then the doctors come. You squeeze your eyes shut and pray you can forget. But ya never do.”

The Breeders sucks you in to a world that has been ravaged by a poison that made girls a rarity. In order to "save" the human race, so called doctors kidnap girls and inseminate them in order to give birth to more girls. But girls aren't the only ones who are being taken. Young boys are being taken by a group called Riders that torture them in the name of the Great Mother. If you can't handle violence of both the bloody and sexual types, then this book may not be for you. The Breeders is an emotional rollercoaster from begining to end.

The setting is in New Mexico and the Wild West has reemerged after the near descimation of the human race. While I can picture everything in my head, I kept having to tell myself that this is the future and not the actual Wild West. The government is not spoken of, only Sheriffs and corrupt law men - so what happened to the make this new reality. While I do like the book and was able to figure out what had happened, the backstory could have been fleshed out and then some things would make more sense.

The main character, Riley, is a girl who will stop at nothing to get her family back. While I found her to be believable in this setting, I found her a little too stubborn for her own good and because of that some people who she wanted to save were left behind because of her impetuousness. However, she is fiercly protective and fights with every ounce of strength that she has. Clay, her sort-of savior, is interesting. He is also protective and always tries to do the right thing, but his past and his guilt are his motivators.

There are some truly evil people in The Breeders and the author Katie French writes their characters so well that I wanted to take a gun and shoot them too. She is great at writing vivid scenes and is able to bring the story to life. I found The Breeders to be a very suspensful and captivating book. The plot is set at an extremely fast pace and is a quick, but emotionally draining read. I will say that their could have been more editing done, but for the most part I was able to read over the typos and grammatical errors becuase the story went so quickly. There is non-stop action and Riley can't seem to catch a break as she is thrown from one terrifying senario to the next. I did find the small bit of romance a nice touch. I like that it is not the theme of the book, but a sweet addition in the midst of everything.

I am a huge fan of Dystopian novels and The Breeders is one that I would recommend to people who want something that will keep them on their toes. There will be a sequel, but there isn't any real news on that front yet. The ending could have let it be a stand alone, but because of who Riley is, I feel that there will be many more injustices for her to fight. Just don't read it before bed like I did because my heart was racing so much that I couldn't fall asleep.(less)

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Apr 02, 2013 Inga rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

My review:

I absolutely loved this book! It is one of the most interesting dystopian young adult books I've read. I enjoyed the idea of the book, the narrative and the characters!

Plot:

Meet Riley, a girl who is one of the last living free girls in the world. And she is hunted, because The Breeders want her. The Breeders control the society and will do anything to get to Riley, because this is what The Breeders do, they make sure, that girls and women are used to ensure that the human race is survi...more

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Oct 29, 2012 E.M. Marz rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA and adult cross-over

Recommended to E.M. by: Amazon

The short version: If you liked The Hunger Games, you will love The Breeders.

The long version: Like Suzanne Collins, the author quickly transports you into a dystopian world. Welcome to future New Mexico where nearly extinct girls are no longer daughters, sisters and friends. Here, girls are the most valuable commodity in the new world. They are hunted by the Breeders, with the help of local law enforcement and dangerous gangs looking to fill their own coffers.

The story is told through the eyes...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Kevin rated it 4 of 5 stars

I admit, I had a feeling I would enjoy this book just by seeing the creepy cover. And I was right. The book pulled me in quite early and I couldn't wait to see what the main character (Riley) would have to endure in order to survive. The pacing was fast, yet Ms. French knew just when to slow it down in order to build the emotional elements of her characters. I thought they were all nicely developed.

Like fantasy, dystopia draws heavily on world building, and this book does a great job at depicti...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Peggy Tibbetts rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shh … don’t tell anyone. Sixteen-year old Riley has a secret. She’s a girl. In this not-too-distant, dystopian, future world women – young and old – are high-priced commodities. They are captured by men and sold to the Breeders then forced into reproductive slavery. Riley and her family have been running from the Breeders her whole life. To disguise her gender, Riley pretends she’s a bender, which is a mutated human without sex organs. No easy feat for a blossoming young woman. When Riley’s step...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Kimberly Shursen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I hope to see this fresh, new post apocalyptic novel the first in a series written by Katie French. Either way, I don't see Ms. French disappearing anytime soon.

With a shortage of women due to a catastrophic event, in danger of the human species becoming extinct, a lawless society that could be likened to the Wild, Wild West, Riley is in danger of being sold to the breeders who use women for one reason; to procreate. The only thing that has saved her so far is that everyone thinks she's a Bender...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Beth (Curling Up With A Good Book) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, dystopian, favorite-covers, my-favorites-2013, romance, young-adult

When I begin a book and it grabs me within the first PAGE then I know I am going to love it. I mean this book was intense from the first page to the last. I began this book and finished it a day later…I literally, I mean LITERALLY could not put it down. It was INTENSE…There are no other words but INTENSE!!!

I love dystopian novels so when I read the synopsis for this book I knew I had to read it. The next thing that grabbed me was the cover. Creepy, horrific…yeah pretty much awesome! Even the fon...more When I begin a book and it grabs me within the first PAGE then I know I am going to love it. I mean this book was intense from the first page to the last. I began this book and finished it a day later…I literally, I mean LITERALLY could not put it down. It was INTENSE…There are no other words but INTENSE!!!

I love dystopian novels so when I read the synopsis for this book I knew I had to read it. The next thing that grabbed me was the cover. Creepy, horrific…yeah pretty much awesome! Even the font that is used for the title is awesome! It fits the story so perfectly. It looks like the font that someone would use for a horror movie…LOVE IT! A good cover can pull a reader in even if the synopsis is lacking. So with the synopsis being incredible as well as the cover?? WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

The story begins with the main character, Riley and her little brother, Ethan being thrown into a cellar to hide. The writer has so much passion in her writing and you instantly feel scared and anxious right along with the characters. Her stepfather, Arn, and her mother place them in the cellar in order to hide them from “The Breeders.” In this dystopian world girls are rarely born and therefore the breeders take the all the girls and ship them off to a “hospital” where experiments are run on them in order to repopulate the world. Yet of course, there are secrets around every corner and everything is not as it seems.

They make it thru the first visit with the breeders without being caught but then Arn goes into town for supplies and doesn’t come back. Riley then dresses herself as a “bender” (a experiment gone wrong which is neither girl nor boy) and takes off to town to bring back her stepfather. She runs into trouble when she is there but makes it out with Arn. They make it back home but it doesn’t last long. Another visit from the breeders and her mother and Auntie are taken. Riley and Ethan survive in the cellar only because a young man that Riley met while in town locks them in the cellar.

Then begins the real story. Clay…where do I start with Clay?? I love his character. I love that he is so strong and protective over Riley and Ethan. He has such strong emotions and yet is so hard and serious. He tries to make up for the abduction of her Mom and Aunt by bringing them meds, food, and other items. Riley tries her best to not accept his kindness but in the end realizes she needs him. She knows her can protect her and she yearns for his companionship. I love that their relationship is built so strong even though Clay does not know Riley’s true gender. He immediately loves little Ethan as his own brother and that definitely pulled at my heart strings.

They go on a journey that will affect them all emotionally and physically. I could continue to type and tell this story because I loved it so much but that would take away from the effect the events have on the reader. I was so absorbed in this story. It is intense and creepy and at the same time emotional and beautiful. It is one of those books that grabs you and just holds on. I find myself wishing there were more pages…. What happens next? Where do they go from here?? Yes it was that good! Please if you love books that are filled with intense situations, an emotional story, survival, and triumph then you MUST read this book. 5+ stars and I would give more if I could! Great job Katie French! You are now on my author to watch list! I can’t wait to read more from you!!!
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Feb 23, 2013 Sandra "Jeanz" rated it 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW
I received this book as an e-book from the author via Kismet Book Tours in exchange for my honest review and posting on my blog during the blog tour.
I think the cover depicts the book really well. The cover shows the bleak existence females are faced with. Females that are fertile either hide away in fear and constantly on the run, or they are taken by gangs where they are subject to unmentionable tortures and then sold to The Breeders.
Who are The Breeders and why do they exist? The Bre...more MY REVIEW
I received this book as an e-book from the author via Kismet Book Tours in exchange for my honest review and posting on my blog during the blog tour.
I think the cover depicts the book really well. The cover shows the bleak existence females are faced with. Females that are fertile either hide away in fear and constantly on the run, or they are taken by gangs where they are subject to unmentionable tortures and then sold to The Breeders.
Who are The Breeders and why do they exist? The Breeders run a "hospital facility" that takes (or in most cases snatches from the street or buys) females who are of fertile age, and starts a breeding cycle. The females are "fed up" into good health, inseminated, looked after whilst pregnant, they give birth, baby is taken away and the female begins the whole breeding cycle again. Why? Because due to some strange reason females are in short supply most natural births produce boys. So to keep the population going The Breeders run this "hospital" I mean compared to life on the run and the prospect if ever found by a man being raped as women are such a rarity the "hospital" may sound a good thing, a cushy safe protected life. However these females never get to nurture their babies. the babies are immediately taken to be raised by the "nannies" (women who have come out the other side of the "program" and are no longer fertile) and are prepared to become breeders themselves.
So does anyone exist outside of the Breeder Institution? Does anyone ever escape once caught?
Riley exists and has never been in the Breeders Institution. Her mum, and auntie have, they have The Breeders brand mark on their wrists. They were "lucky" they escaped but now live in fear for themselves being re-caught and for Riley being found out. So riley, her mum, her aunt, live with Riley's younger brother Ethan and Riley's step father (Ethan's father) Arn. The family hide out at an old farm, they have a cow for milk and a couple of pigs. They have to hunt wild animals for food and Arn travels into the nearest town to trade for items such as medicines or food they cannot kill or grow for themselves. Riley wants to go into town with Arn who naturally refuses, it's too dangerous if Riley is discovered she will be taken to The Breeders an may never escape. Riley wishes for more freedom and excitement in her life. . . a wish she comes to regret sooner rather than later when Arn goes into town to trade and doesn't return home.
Riley faces a dilemma should she go in search of Arn or try to hold things together at home, they will run out of food soon. . . .Riley's decision kick starts a chain of events that have dire and dangerous consequences for her and her family, as well as some of the people she meets.
This book is really well written, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, always wondering what is going to be around the corner.
I love how the book also gives you insight into The Breeders and how they became what they are, and do what they do.
This book isn't all fluffy and nice, it shows you the grim reality of Riley's possible future if caught by The Breeders, her grim future if caught by any of the roaming gangs, life as a slave at best, and her reality if she is to sty in hiding, how it will be difficult to keep one step ahead of The Breeders and gangs.
I could seriously go on and on and on about this book I enjoyed it so much but I want you all to read it for yourselves and enjoy it as I did without having being told too much about it.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes Definitely. Would I recommend it? Yes for those who love dystopian, and books with strong female characters. I would point out that the book is more aimed for the mature teen, and adult. Would I read a Bk#2? Yes please as soon as it's available! already found and read the novella in this series. Would I read more by Katie French? Yes I loved her writing style and book pace too.
They really aren't enough stars to give this book!!(less)

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Feb 20, 2013 Megan Thomason rated it 5 of 5 stars

This one has my unequivocal endorsement. A buy now and move up on your TBR list kind of endorsement (which is a true rarity coming from me).

Dystopia: small in scale, but absolutely delicious in execution (if I can say that about a dystopia). For me, the perfect dystopia is one where you are torn... you can see where they are coming from, but their execution is a nightmare. In this future society, girls are a rarity. The government's solution? Make them government property and have them pop out o...more

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May 03, 2013 Christine DeLong rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian-novels

I honestly could not wait for this book to be over (and not because I was eager to get to the end).

THE PROBLEMS:
-Unlikeable characters
Everything is told from Riley's perspective, and sweet baby Jesus is she the oddest combination of country stupid and somehow-knows-everything-about the pre-disaster world. At the beginning, she's pretending to be a boy, then she's pretending to be a hermaphrodite, then everyone knows she's a girl...I feel like she must be confused about her gender role. How would...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Synopsis: "Sixteen-year-old Riley Meemick is one of the world's last free girls. When Riley was born, her mother escaped the Breeders, the group of doctors using cruel experiments to bolster the dwindling human race. Her parents do everything possible to keep her from their clutches-- moving from one desolate farm after another to escape the Breeders' long reach. The Breeders control everything- the local war lords, the remaining factories, the fuel. They have unchecked power in this lawless soc...more Synopsis: "Sixteen-year-old Riley Meemick is one of the world's last free girls. When Riley was born, her mother escaped the Breeders, the group of doctors using cruel experiments to bolster the dwindling human race. Her parents do everything possible to keep her from their clutches-- moving from one desolate farm after another to escape the Breeders' long reach. The Breeders control everything- the local war lords, the remaining factories, the fuel. They have unchecked power in this lawless society. And they're hunting Riley.

When the local Sheriff abducts the adult members of her family and hands her mother over to the Breeders, Riley and her eight-year-old brother, Ethan, hiding in a shelter, are left to starve. Then Clay arrives, the handsome gunslinger who seems determined to help to make up for past sins. The problem is Clay thinks Riley is a bender-- a genderless mutation, neither male nor female. As Riley's affection for Clay grows she wonders can she trust Clay with her secret and risk her freedom?

The three embark on a journey across the scarred remains of New Mexico-- escaping the Riders who use human sacrifice to appease their Good Mother, various men scrambling for luck, and a deranged lone survivor of a plague. When Riley is shot and forced into the Breeder's hospital, she learns the horrible fate of her mother—a fate she'll share unless she can find a way out."

My Review: Now that is a Dystopian novel!! I may be new to the genre but after reading Hunger Games and Divergent, then following with The Breeders, I think this is what the genre should be! Katie French really sucks you into the book and makes you feel that absolute terror and hopelessness, not to mention determination! I am sure there are all kinds of statements and warnings about science and politics but I didn't really pay attention because I was so into the story and the characters. I love Riley, her toughness is unbelievable and I adore Ethan, he is tough in his own way. Honestly how could anyone not fall in love with Clay?! And Wow the adventure and horrible decisions they each have to make! The end leaves us kind of hanging out there wondering if there is a happy ending or if the nightmares continue. LOVED it and the way it makes my heart race! (less)

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Nov 05, 2012 Paula rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've been a fan of dystopian novels since way back in the Day of the Triffids. The question of how people face overwhelming odds in a dehumanized world in order to survive always fascinates me. Author Katie French has created a dark, intriguing, nearly hopeless world and placed a young girl in terrible jeopardy. Riley faces up to her circumstances and the challenges of this ugly world where females are constantly in danger of being taken by the breeders. She is an appealing character: loyal, bra...more I've been a fan of dystopian novels since way back in the Day of the Triffids. The question of how people face overwhelming odds in a dehumanized world in order to survive always fascinates me. Author Katie French has created a dark, intriguing, nearly hopeless world and placed a young girl in terrible jeopardy. Riley faces up to her circumstances and the challenges of this ugly world where females are constantly in danger of being taken by the breeders. She is an appealing character: loyal, brave, courageous. She is devoted to her family and wants to protect them even when it threatens her own life and freedom.

She is helped by her valiant little brother and a handsome, stalwart cowboy. I loved Auntie and her sayings that provided a welcome laugh amidst grim and frightening moments.

There are villains aplenty, and sometimes Riley (and the reader) can't tell which side a person is on which makes the story very interesting. One of the issues French examines sensitively and thoroughly is trust. She has built a good sense of menace and conflict from the first paragraph, and the obstacles only get bigger. She's got an excellent sense of place. I felt hot and parched and dusty right along with the characters.

Riley is sometimes inconsistent: how would this young girl, raised away from what remains of her civilization, know some of the things she does? I'd have liked to know more about the breeders earlier in the book. What are they? Why are they? Where are they? They are finally explained (they're thoroughly and satisfyingly horrid), but not until midway through the book.

French's similes and metaphors are delightful. For instance, I enjoyed "I'm a mouse in a basket of snakes" and "most of me feels like dust picked up in a twister," but I was bothered by errors such as using “lay” and “lie” incorrectly. However, these minor irritations were offset by a gripping story that kept me up way past bedtime just to see how Riley would get out of the next impossible fix.

Paula K Perrin

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Feb 16, 2013 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindie-books

This book was enthralling from the first page, subtlety building a world while keeping the reader hooked with action sequences and unanswered questions. First-person narrative is not usually my favorite perspective, but it absolutely worked for this story, reminiscent of The Hunger Games and Into the Forest.
Katie French’s character development was also impressive. The reader was really rooting for the characters, and the romance was believable without being overbearing. These days, plot-lines li...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

In the future, female babies are rare, and girls are highly-prized commodities. Riley has been living on a farm with her family, hiding and hoping to never be caught by The Breeders, who will take her and force her into a life of having babies for the good of humanity. Obviously it's not as noble a cause as The Breeders like to think of it... it's slavery. When Riley's stepdad goes missing after a trip into the nearest town for supplies, it sets a chain of events in motion that changes everythin...more In the future, female babies are rare, and girls are highly-prized commodities. Riley has been living on a farm with her family, hiding and hoping to never be caught by The Breeders, who will take her and force her into a life of having babies for the good of humanity. Obviously it's not as noble a cause as The Breeders like to think of it... it's slavery. When Riley's stepdad goes missing after a trip into the nearest town for supplies, it sets a chain of events in motion that changes everything in Riley's life.
I loved the relatively simple premise of this book, as well as the descriptive writing depicting a dangerous life in dystopian New Mexico. I loved Riley, too. She was strong and brave, and even when she acted rashly and I'd feel like yelling "NO, don't do it, Riley!" I still appreciated the choices she made. She felt real, because she made some mistakes. She learned from them, though. She's a thoughtful, caring young girl. The scenes where she fights to take care of her little brother Ethan are touching and often tense as hell. (In this hellish world, little boys can be just as valuable as girls, for terrifying and sick reasons. I love that the author included this bit of horror; it added yet another layer of danger and risk to the story.)
And then there's Clay, the son of the nasty, sociopathic Sheriff. He's got a very compassionate heart and hates the atrocities he took part in under his father's orders. He's trying to make amends, and insists on helping Riley and Ethan survive. For much of the book, Clay believes Riley is a "bender"-- an effeminate male-- which makes the growing friendship between them particularly unique. I thought for sure he knew all along she was a girl, but even cooler, I don't think he did. He fell for the person, not the gender.
On the downside, there were a few events in the book that seemed a little too deus ex machina for my taste-- too many super-lucky, perfectly-timed escapes or life-saving moments. Clay seemed almost too good to be true once in awhile; and I really thought the Breeders would have more sophisticated security and tracking measures in place.
The other issue with the book is the number of typos. I try to be patient with that, knowing how tough it is to catch every little thing in a manuscript, but after awhile it did distract me from the story, so that's why I had to mention it here.
Overall, though, I'm so glad I gave this book a chance. The story has stayed in my mind for a few days now, and I really look forward to reading more of Katie French's work. (less)

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Oct 21, 2012 Cheryl Abbott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Right before reading this book, I had just finished reading three other (very well-known) dystopian books. I have to be honest; I was ready for something different. But after the first chapter, I could tell this was something different. Yes, it was set in the not-so-far-off future, but the storyline was quite unique.

The author did a great job providing a visual description of the environment. Each time the main character, Riley, found herself thrown into a new setting, it felt as if I was discov...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Renae rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 50-in-2013, dystopian, ya

Sometime in the future, in a quest for a renewable fuel humans have poisoned their bodies to the point where female children are no longer being born. All fertile females are rounded up and shipped off to Breeder hospitals in an attempt to bolster the non-existant female population.

We're introduced to Riley....one of the last surviving FREE girls. Her parents risk everything in an effort to keep her and her still-fertile mother safe.

It's very fast paced and hooks you with lots of action from the...more

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Apr 08, 2013 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Let me tell you I did not expect this book. I knew it was dystopian and that it would have some dark themes running through this book, but I really didn't expect something so dark. Yes, this comes from someone who has said that YA doesn't go dark enough. Well, this one was close to pitch dark.

Now, for those that don't like it too dark, I do suggest you give this one a try. It's very engaging and you really get a feel for Riley and her situation. You become quite entangled in her adventure and th...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-dystopian

I did a bit of rounding up. I think I'd rate this as a 3 1/2. It was good, and I liked it, but it seemed like there was something missing. I can't really put my finger on exactly what, though.

The beginning started out a bit slow for me. I started wondering if it would end up being something I'd have to force myself to finish. However, it does pick up and moves pretty fast. It seems like there was a lot that was left unexplained. Or that could just be me; I like to know everything, and I mean ev...more

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May 16, 2013 Holly rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book in less than twenty-four hours. My laundry, kitchen floor and hair are all suffering from my lack of caring about anything but finishing this book.
I will admit, I was skeptical because I walk away from so many YA books feeling like I would have thought it was great 15 years ago. But it is so incredibly fast paced, the romantic encounters, while not steamy, are not cheesy, and every single character is perfect.
I'll be waiting impatiently for the sequel and would definitely recom...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Ingrid Seymour rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Breeders is a book that will keep you turning the page. It is action packed with one thing after another keeping Riley from accomplishing her goal. The characters are strong, and the scenery and action are vivid and gripping. Riley decides with her heart, not her head. Driven by love for her family, she makes one hazardous decision after another, getting the ones she loves in and out of deep trouble time and again, even when she thinks she is helping. This makes her feel like a real characte...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Konn Lavery rated it 5 of 5 stars

At first I was skeptical of the novel as I have watched plenty of movies and read a lot of post-apocalyptic styled stories. However reading Katie French’s “The Breeders” I found the novel broke from the stereotypical events of this genre that starts the characters off in a tragic setting, and continues to become more tragic.

Between the thrills and the conflicts of the characters, The Breeders was an engaging rollercoaster of Riley Meemick’s life where each chapter became progressively difficult...more At first I was skeptical of the novel as I have watched plenty of movies and read a lot of post-apocalyptic styled stories. However reading Katie French’s “The Breeders” I found the novel broke from the stereotypical events of this genre that starts the characters off in a tragic setting, and continues to become more tragic.

Between the thrills and the conflicts of the characters, The Breeders was an engaging rollercoaster of Riley Meemick’s life where each chapter became progressively difficult to put down from the confrontations of heroes and villains.

I found the first person narrative approach of the story put you in the shoes of Riley, which made it easy to sympathize/relate to the girl and some of the questionable choices she made. Being able to read the story through her thoughts gave each action, romance and suspense seen a distinct description that could not have been achieved through another form of narration.

The main plot was brought into the book easily from the introduction and you didn’t get overwhelmed with too much information, making the story an easy read. The action scenes weren’t overly descriptive, only focusing on the key elements of the fight, which I found to be exciting as it left more to the imagination.

Her descriptions of character conflicts were intense and the most enjoyable parts of the novel. Such as the hate between Clay and his father, Riley’s overly protective love for her little brother Ethan or the chemistry between Clay and Riley (both before and after he knew she was a girl). Personally I enjoyed the tension between the two and the lack of sex, their passion for each other made you care for the characters far more than if they had simply ‘hooked up’ early on.

*spoiler section!*
As the story reached an end, there was lots still unanswered (but it didn’t create plot holes) which left the story open for another novel. The mystery to the breeders and what they have planned (also what they messed up on Plan B and Riley’s mother’s mutated fetus) and how the rest of the world was managing the chaos were questions I hope to see answered in a future novel.
*end spoiler*

To summarize: The Breeders is a novel that is adventurous, eerie and a fun story worth reading. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting novel. Can’t wait to see what else Katie has in store!
(less)

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Mar 02, 2013 H.S. Stone rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was hooked as soon as I started reading this book. Not only was the premise interesting, but the author has a way with words that made me believe that Riley was narrating her story to me. The way she described the events that unfold in the story was wonderful.

Even the romantic aspect of this novel was built up well, which is more than I can say for many novels in the same genre. Although the concept of benders is something that could've used more explanation, it lent a nice twist to the relat...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

Okay, so I've seen just about everything in dystopians, well, I thought I had. But along comes The Breeders and I see something new and I am so wonderfully surprised by it! Obviously, the name gives away what it's about. The population of women has died down, (we're a precious commodity!) and women are needed to repopulate the world. However, "women" are not the only ones being used. Girls, as soon as they reach puberty are being sold for their fertility. They are being stolen from their homes v...more Okay, so I've seen just about everything in dystopians, well, I thought I had. But along comes The Breeders and I see something new and I am so wonderfully surprised by it! Obviously, the name gives away what it's about. The population of women has died down, (we're a precious commodity!) and women are needed to repopulate the world. However, "women" are not the only ones being used. Girls, as soon as they reach puberty are being sold for their fertility. They are being stolen from their homes violently sometimes their families are killed so that no one comes after them. The Breeders have all kinds of rumors about them including horrible experiments they perform on women and that they are like huge insects. I'm not going to tell you what is true and what isn't.

What I will say is that it didn't take me long to get hooked into this story. Riley is a totally believable character, flawed, but with passion and purpose. She has such a certainty of what she wants to do and most likely no plan as to how to do it, but that never stops her. She's a pantser for sure and that's really what I like about her. She's always looking for an opportunity. And family comes first. She's got an adorable little brother, Ethan, and so many times she could just give up if it weren't for him. She calls him an "Old Soul" and really as much as he's seen at his tender age, eight I believe, he is an old soul much wiser than his years.

Clay is a difficult character at first to figure out. Trust is hard to win and I was never quite sure if he was going to turn on Riley. Even after she had to go to the Breeders because of her terrible injuries, I wasn't sure if he collected a fee for turning her in or not. Clay keeps his reasons and feelings closed off to Riley, but she can see that he loves Ethan and actually gets a bit jealous of their relationship.

I didn't get emotionally attached to anyone really, but towards the end of the book I had a "wait, what? No, you can't do that!" moment. I wasn't ready for that to happen. Things were just getting interesting with them. Let's just say Katie French isn't afraid to put her characters in mortal peril or even kill some off. So don't get too comfortable.

The book is truly fascinating. The reason for the decline in the female population is given and the reason for the Breeders Hospital is also clearly given. The leader of the Breeders Hospital will absolutely stun you. And disgust you as well. A revolt is in definite need! Some characters from some other dystopians could really help out here cause most of those who would lead a revolt are barefoot and pregnant, really! No cliffhangers, no love triangles.

Recommended for lovers of dystopians, strong female leads, family relationships, something different!
I believe I would recommend this to a little bit older YA readers. There is talk of sex slaves, hookers, allusions to rape, and talk of sex. I believe there may have been some adult language. Definitely violence. None of it was overdone or overly graphic. I do highly recommend this novel. I am hooked and can't wait for the next in the series!

Thanks to Kismet Book Tours and Katie French for the complimentary copy of the novel for review!(less)

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Dec 16, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this, and really I expected a lot more of the "breeders" and outlaws and such once I started, but I really enjoyed it overall. Even though the main character was really stupid a lot of the times and I wanted to say come on! What is wrong with you?!?! over and over again I still liked her...the book ended in a good place so I am not on the edge of my seat waiting for the next one, but I am looking forward to it and anything else this author writ...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Maryam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-tour, kismet

Full review up on the blog: http://gloriousbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2...

I love dystopia reads but I didn't expect this one to be as good as it was. Don't get me wrong, I was really excited to read it - from the summary it seemed to have the makings of a really enthralling read. It went way beyond what I was expecting though.

From the very beginning I fell in love with the characters. I thought Riley was the perfect mix of vulnerable and the strong, stubborn heroine type. She made me feel for her with...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Scoot rated it 4 of 5 stars

Riley lives in a dark and unforgiving world. A world where lives can be lost in the blink of an eye and being female makes life even more dangerous. Disguised as a bender Riley and her family have managed to eke out a simple existence, but when tragedy strikes she and her younger brother are thrust into that dark world they tried so hard to avoid. The Breeders is a well written, fast paced story that gets the reader sucked in from the start. You quickly empathize with Riley and her feelings, but...more

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