Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1) in Addicted to YA

May 30, 2016 Amber Atwood rated it liked it

Shelves: ya-series, june-tbr-2016

I gave this a three stars because the story just seemed to move really slow, there wasn't much really happening. I didn't particularly like the relationship with Rhine and Linden either, I think if she hated her life and what had happened to her she would have done everything she could to manipulate Linden to do what she wanted, clearly he was clueless as to how the girls were brought to the house to be his wife, I think that was her chance to change the cards and turn him against his father, an ...more

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Jul 23, 2013 Kim rated it liked it

Shelves: post-apocalyptic, series, science-fiction, ya-botm-challenge-2013, young-adult

I am honestly torn between a 2 and a 3 for this book. I just don't know how I feel. Here's what I do know.
We start Wither through the eyes of 16yo Rhine who is kidnapped and picked to be a polygamist bride. This grabs me, something new I haven't read before.

But all the background stuff is really distracting. I don't see the reasoning behind it. If all these people are dying so very young and they want to keep repopulating the world, wouldn't the girls have all the power? Why are they being turn I am honestly torn between a 2 and a 3 for this book. I just don't know how I feel. Here's what I do know.
We start Wither through the eyes of 16yo Rhine who is kidnapped and picked to be a polygamist bride. This grabs me, something new I haven't read before.

But all the background stuff is really distracting. I don't see the reasoning behind it. If all these people are dying so very young and they want to keep repopulating the world, wouldn't the girls have all the power? Why are they being turned out as prostitutes and murdered when every birth is so important? Only North America is left, and yet people are bombing hospitals and science labs? Is this really how Americans are going to act when the rest of the world is gone? If so, ship me to another continent. And all these "old generation" people. They are ok with teen pregnancies and all these orphans? They watched their kids die and all these poor grandkids are running around to fend for themselves? The science in this science fiction book doesn't really work. If it's a world created by the author's imagination, that's one thing. But I have a hard time believing all the contradicting scientific aspects of the current world we live in and the supposed ice caps melting and annihilation of complete continents but still using a card catalog in a library and snow storms in florida?
Plot wise the book was decent. I really had a hard time connecting with the protag. I feel like she was supposed to be written as such a sensitive person but the way she talks about the orphans doesn't show much sensitivity. I liked Jenna and Gabriel much better than the other characters. What really struck me is when she finds that Linden doesn't know the truth about the circumstances (can someone really be that naive?) she doesn't find it necessary to tell him. I felt like a lot was written just to feed the plot without actually making sense or flowing with the characters or other events. The evil in this book disgusted me and yet I can't understand why he was even there? If he's the only evil one in that mansion full of how many people, why in the world did they not just tie up the old man and do what they wanted? The baby stuff of it all made me sad. Considering my current state of pregnancy, probably not the best pick for right now.
I just don't know. The plot fueled me, I think DeStefano is a great story teller, but the background of it all was so distracting. I think if the rest made sense I would have loved this story. I liked how the ending was more upbeat than the majority of the depressing book; however I want to know more about what happens to the others. Perhaps we find out more in the next book. I will probably continue but with caution and focus only on the plot. ...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Sidni Nielson rated it it was ok

I very rarely have to MAKE myself finish a book... I so did with this one. It was not only disturbing, but the author was so descriptive I found myself bored and wanting to skip. I could NOT connect with the characters and didn't really care what happened. I am sad to say NOT A FAN!

Cover: Why I picked up the book
Rating: NR! Who marries a 13 year old? YUCK!
Steaminess: none
Stars: One and a half
Overall: NOT GOOD
Characters:Didn't really care what happened to them

Turner: UMMM NO
Series Continued: Yes- ...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Berenice rated it it was amazing

Human society has changed, something went wrong and now the children of our children are paying the price. In the future the longevity of the race has been reduced, man live up to the age of 25 and woman can live up to 20.
In this new world there are still some left that can grow old, they are called the first generation, and they are torn apart, some of them think we should just accept our faith and disappear while others say we must keep going.
Those who think that we should keep going have res ...more

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