The Chemical Garden Collection (Boxed Set): Wither; Fever; Sever

The Chemical Garden #1-3

by Lauren DeStefano

Lauren DeStefano’s complete, breathtaking, dystopian romance series, The Chemical Garden Trilogy. This bundle includes Wither, Fever, and Sever. What if you knew exactly when you would die? Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb – males only live to age twenty-five and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out… 16-year-old Rhine Ellery is kidnapped and sold as a bride to Linden, a rich young man with a dying wife. Even though he is kind to her, Rhine is desperate to escape her gilded cage. With the help of Gabriel, a servant she is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in what little time she has left. Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago – surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness. Time is running out for Rhine. With less than three years left until the virus claims her life, Rhine is desperate for answers. Having escaped torment at Vaughn’s mansion, she finds respite in the dilapidated home of her husband’s uncle, an eccentric inventor who hates Vaughn almost as much as Rhine does.

Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult

1104 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2014

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rare example of a dystopian series getting better as it goes along.

My review of the first: "Of the three wives, the heroine is of course the useless, irritating one.
The three main males each have one bland layer.
The world is absurdly explained, the writing is vaguely poor, and the lack of plot bores."

Some of the characters grew on me. More so the supporting ones than the leads. The plot becomes more engaging as it actually exists; sometimes it's a bit random and overly coincidental, but the atmosphere is enough to distract me from noticing too much. The page length isn't stretched out for unfathomable reasons; and there's nothing particularly dumb and nonsensical about the ending - both of these factors being unlike many dystopians out there.

[Winnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The average for all three books. I read all three separately, but since it's been a while and I can barely remember the specifics, I will go at it all at once. I thought the series started off really well! 3.5-4 stars, it was fascinating and I was thinking, I finally found a young adult future dystopian novel that seems unique and well-written. The premise was interesting to me and I was really engrossed in it.
The second book was unnecessary. It was like a bridge between the first and third, like a filler episode of TV. Not much development, just kind of bland. 1 star
More events happened in the last book, by that time I was reading just for the sake of reading and finishing the series. It was...a let down. Maybe I was no longer the target audience but I was bored and irritated, but I'll give it 2 stars, there were somethings happening.
Oh look, I wrote a review when I was just reading it, should have done this for all books instead of playing catch up and I can't remember anything:

"I was very excited for the finale to the Chemical Garden Trilogy. In recent years, it's one of the future dystopian society, young adult fiction that I enjoyed and felt had a strong and somewhat unique premise. However, whilst the third book was still interesting, it introduced many new factors, the ending felt rather blah to me and seems inconclusive. Maybe the author intended to leave it on that note, because the global conflict was unresolved. Although it is still interesting, it lacks some of the oomph from the previous two books."

In summary, it was another young adult future dystopian trilogy that had no business being a trilogy that averages to about 2-2.75 stars. One longer, concise book would have been a much better experience.

[Vittoria Cassano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this literary sage so much! I devoured it! And already reread twice! I love the characters. They all have their own character, their strength and the male characters bring mischief, naivety and kindness through three men who are so opposite to each other. The heroine's brother later brings a touch of rebellion to the work. The writing is fluid, easy and really enjoyable! It's easy to get lost in imagining this terrible world where women die at twenty and men at twenty-five!

[Jessica Rodriguez]

I was hooked from the end of chapter one book one. I felt immersed into their world, and began to experience their emotions and feelings as I continued to read this series. As soon as I finished one book I was ready to read the next one. I finished reading all 3 books in 27 days, in which is abnormal for me. I am so happy I found this series.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thrifted this series and was instantly curious how the storyline was going to play out. It was good for what it was. But to me, the highs did not outweigh the lows. I felt incredibly heavy after finishing the last book. Would I read it again? Maybe. Would I recommend it? No, not really.

[Ashley Holsopple · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting blend of carnival life and post-apocalyptic fiction. Such an interesting premise that I had to keep reading.

[Shanté Sisk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great dystopian novels. The trilogy was really exciting and had a great romance to it. Her writing is beautiful.

[Larissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ik heb die serie gelezen en toen begon ik per ongeluk met boek 2 en begreep er eerst geen ene kut van, maar was wel leuk

[Summer Sheafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just reviewing this to add to my shelf, I remember reading this as a young teen and really enjoying it.

[Lauren]

I just reread Fever ....