Sever (The Chemical Garden, #3) in End of the Series Reading Challenge

Feb 23, 2013 Paula Phillips rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I guess since the cover is green , it makes sense to write the review in Green. You know that feeling you get when you know that you are reading the last book in a series - the feeling of being torn because you hope that it will finish the way you want and also that nervousness feeling when you crack open the book or in my case when I push the read button on my ipad. That's what I felt like when I read Sever , it was like it was severing my feelings of the characters and coming to a close of the ...more

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Apr 18, 2012 Sarah Kalaitzidis rated it it was ok

Shelves: dystopia

originally posted on: http://howlingbooksanddesign.blogspot...

The author is a great writer, don’t get me wrong, it’s the reason why I first began to read this book. I was just so surprise by how much I began to loath this series as I read each book. She knows how to tell her story and how to get points across. All of this though didn’t keep me from hating the book to death(wanting to shoot it to death, resurrect it and then drown it in a lake). The first book was great I was happy with it and ga originally posted on: http://howlingbooksanddesign.blogspot...

The author is a great writer, don’t get me wrong, it’s the reason why I first began to read this book. I was just so surprise by how much I began to loath this series as I read each book. She knows how to tell her story and how to get points across. All of this though didn’t keep me from hating the book to death(wanting to shoot it to death, resurrect it and then drown it in a lake). The first book was great I was happy with it and gave it good rating, but then the second book came out and I began to loath what happens next and then the third book came and I dispise this series. I hate how Raine loves to keep secrets that are important to her brother or to people she once called husband and sister wife, who are now her friends. I hate how dumb her brother can be and not see how much pain Raine is in. I hate how Raine makes bad choices and gives into Mr. Ashbe and not kill him in the first book. I hate how Gabriel doesn’t make apperence and only is mention through out the book and finally makes an appearance close to the ending (like the author forgot about him and didn’t know how he fit into the story, though he was important Reine in book one and two.)Sorry that’s an offle lot of hate, but that was all I ever felt in this series. Everything and I mean everything was a let down and I was just to depress while reading the book to think if this was a great book or not.

I don’t see any improvement in the character Raine, she doesn’t grow and still acts like her normal secret hiding self. I will give her credit she is smart in knowing what to do and planning on how to escape different situations. Though she has a nack for keeping being captured once more and stay captured… Oh and her love for keeping important things (THAT OTHERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT) a secret. She likes putting herself in danger in every chapter, she doesn’t run away when she should, she doesn’t confide in her brother who she finally found.

The lead up to Rhine’s brother Rowan was a great failure. I got my hopes raised on high for someone to save Rhine and keep her safe, only to once again feel a big disappointed in this series. Rowan is nothing but a all to trusting teenage boy, who enjoys experiments being done on him and blowing things up. I thought twins who spent all their lives together would know when something is wrong with the other but nope he’s clueless and stupid. We were told from the beginning how brave and non-trusting Rowan is, he also doesn’t trusts the hospitals or their experience, so I figure oh that’s why he is bombing the places but that’s not it at all. Surprisingly he got over his trusting issues because of Dr.Ashbe who came out of no where and told him how Rhine is dead. In that kind of world, I’m sorry BUT I WON’T BELIEVE ANYONE OR TRUST ANYONE. Rowan we were told was a complete lie and I still can’t get over his sudden change in personality from Rhine’s description and memories of him.

Dr.Ashbe I laughed my head off at his stupid ending, that’s really all you need to know. Hate the guy and how he tried to seem like the good guy but was really a crazy fool and I’m glad for his stupid ending.

Gabriel is not seen anywhere in this book till the end when we finally find out why. Depressing really on the reasons for his not showing up….just makes me think the author needed a reason to not use his character. So she butchurd him and stuck him in the hands of Dr. Ashbe…WOOPIE! I DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING NOT AT ALL.

Linden…HAHHAHAHAHA…no seriously I felt nothing for him when a tragic accident happen, it wasn’t explained and so I never cared. He was a great character and even though at first he was in the dark about things when he finally found out the truth about his father he became a great guy. He looked after Cecily his youngest wife and even though he knew Rhine didn’t love him, he still loved her and wanted to help her. ...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Erin M. rated it liked it

Shelves: 2013-must-reads

I almost didn't read this one. 2013 is, whether I like it or not, the end to many beloved series. That includes the Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano. It is imperatve to me for a series conclusion to reach my standards, especially when I am so emotionally attached to a story and it's characters. Sever was a great book and just as good if not better than it's preceders but it just didn't do it for me.

In this book Rhine is attempting to forget about the cure and the disease and simply
I almost didn't read this one. 2013 is, whether I like it or not, the end to many beloved series. That includes the Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano. It is imperatve to me for a series conclusion to reach my standards, especially when I am so emotionally attached to a story and it's characters. Sever was a great book and just as good if not better than it's preceders but it just didn't do it for me.

In this book Rhine is attempting to forget about the cure and the disease and simply reunite with her brother. She does end up sidetracked by occurances that affect both her and her loved ones. But she has something to live for and build her life around now that she nows her brother is alive.

Secrets are revealed from almost everyone's pasts including Rhine, Linden, and Vaughn's. The stakes in this book are higher because time is running out and Vaughn will do almost anything to get what he wants.

We get to know Vaughn a lot better and I actually found myself... understanding him. It was a tough time for everyone and as they say when the going gets tough the tough get going. Vaughn did just that and disregarded all of the consequences. Even though Vaughn acted amoral to achieve his goal, his motives were pure. I might've done the same if my loved ones are at stake. That's just my take though and you may likely see it differently.

I liked Rhine because, despite everything, she was compassionate and never gave up on her brother. She grew so much from the first book where she was lonely and afraid. Cecily was another of my favorites. Tragedy and time has also changed her and she became so tough she was almost unrecognizeable.

The love story was pushed behind scenes. In all actuality, this didn't matter because the book didn't need it. Sever had enough going for it as it was as secret after secret was revealed. That isn't to say that I wouldn't have enjoyed reading more about Rhine's and Gabriel's relationship.

The ending was rushed. The plot of the entire series was basically solved in a cople of pages. If this isn't proof of that, I picked up Sever to finish it before realizing that I'd already finished it. Don't get me wrong it was a good book in a good trilogy but I was emotionally attached to it and I feel the conclusion let me down. In the end, however, the book kept me reading (which is more than I can say for a couple other conclusions that I put away when they got too disapointing). It was exciting and eventful and packed with twists. If you enjoyed the first two books then this book is for you.
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Nov 21, 2011 Louisa rated it it was amazing

Oh, this was such a great book! I loved it! A bit sad, with the deaths, though some of them were deserved, and sad that the series is over, but it was really good!

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