by Lauren DeStefano
publication: March 22nd by Simon & Schuster
copy provided by publisher via GalleyGrab
amazon
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.
When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden’s genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.
But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden’s eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left
It hurts having to give such a rating, specially since I know that many people absolutely loved this book. I was torn between 1 and 2….
I even had a hard time finishing the book, I really forced myself to finish because I hoped I would finally get to the point where I start to fall in love with the book. It never happened. I even stopped in between for a few weeks to pick it up again, maybe with a fresh start the book would look better.
I tried, I really did..
The idea was great though and would have been a perfect idea for a great dystopian novel. People are dying young at the age of 21 and 25 because of a genetic disorder. No one has a cure. This truly has an end of time feeling which makes it really cruel.
But with all this horrible feeling: Kids dying so young the world is doomed what I needed most was hope! Hope is what would have driven me more into the story. But, I didn’t feel it, there was no hope.
Dying young has also another consequence, rich man are buying woman in the hope finally to have living children, children that will survive. Rhine is one of them, sold to a rich man with a cruel father. There is a first generation that dies of normal age and he does everything to find a cure.
Apart from the lack of hope I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I never started to care for them at all. Then there is this boy who works at this mansion were Rhine is hold captive to play wife to a stranger and also he lacked deepness. I didn’t fall in love with either of them and in the end even couldn’t care less.
But I know some bloggers absolutely loved this book so if you are not sure and want a second opinion
please visit Nely @ All About {n} who gave Wither a glowing 5 Star Review.
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Wow, this is the first negative review. I'm sorry you didn't like it. Great review though, now I know that it's not all just hype. I still might read it though, I do like dystopians.
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Nooooooo! Like Najela, this is the first negative review I've read about Wither and I'm really sorry you didn't enjoy it. That's so disappointing isn't it.
I have to tell you this coincidence – just as I flicked onto your blog, before I even saw what your post was about, the doorbell went and it was Mr Postie with a parcel. In the parcel? My copy of Wither LOL!
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I feel the same way, although I gave this book a slightly higher rating. I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy Wither either!
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Yes I know ;( Makes me sad too! Specially after reading such great reviews before!
When i started the book I was convinced I would love it. Maybe it was just the wrong time
to read it! I hope you'll love it though!!
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It is always sad when you pick up a book, absolutely excited and then end up being disappointed.
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Thanks, writing negative reviews is always harder than a positive one so I'm glad you like my review!! <3 Oh yes please give it a try! I know that lot's of people loved it, so you might love it 🙂
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THANK YOU! See, negative reviews are important! 🙂 Some of the biggest reasons I've been holding back on reading this book are things you mentioned: The incredibly bleak premise and the lack of hope. Even just hearing the premise depresses me.
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*gasps* A book we agree on? Danny! This is unheard of.
Yeah, I wasn't a big fan of Wither either. I know what you mean about the Hope, and wanting more of it. Overall, I thought it had some highlights but didn't really met the hype of what I expected.
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Lol thank YOU hun! You know how hard it is to write such a review so I appreciate your encouragement!
This was one of the biggest issues I had with it, the immense darkness. It was depression!
Although they are people searching for a cure our main characters were not, they were
mostly trying to get back to freedom.
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Awww too bad this one wasn't for you Danny! This one definitely inspires all sorts of conflicting reactions, I think that's one of the things I like about it:) I was a fan of this one, but I can see a lot of the reasons why people wouldn't care for it. I agree Gabriel did lack depth, I actually thought the story would have been almost entirely the same without him (save the ending of course).
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OMG! We agree? I'm stunned! (But never ever forget our shared undying love for Barrons and Bones… this is most definitely something we share)
I truly had a hard time getting into the story. The darkness and lack of hope didn't let me focus on the
high points of the book. Plus I could never share the adoration for the main love interest and this is
also something I NEED in order to fall in love with a book.
Anyway I mark the day red in my calendar since you finally agreed with on something…
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I'm definitely glad you liked it! I read a lot of absolutely excited and glowing reviews which is why I was so eager to
pick it up myself. I was more than sad when it just didn't do it for me. In the end there is nothing better than share
the excitement with others right?
But, a negative review might also inspire some discussion about the book which I definitely enjoy!
I was really disappointed about Gabriel, I wished he would have been stronger and better developed, maybe
this could have made me like the book better.
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I will have to read it to see what I think!
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This might sound weird, but I was actually kind of glad to see that you weren't thrilled by this book. I haven't read it yet, but I've read at least 3 raving reviews of it just today. I have a copy on my shelf, but I'm kind of afraid that the hype will make me so excited that it won't be possible for Wither to live up to my expectations. Your review brought me back down to earth a bit, lol!
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I liked it but knew it was going to be a book people either loved or hated.
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I love all this back and forth! And I have to admit that this love it or hate it vibe actually makes me want to read this book for myself. When something elicits such a strong response, I feel like I need to try it for myself to see where I fall. 🙂
Great review, Danny and great discussion everyone!
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This one is not on my TBR but I am really loving reading all the reviews on it! I think the sign of a well written book is one that gets you to love or hate it 🙂
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Now I don't feel so alone! I've not read the book because the premise, while very interesting, kinda creeps me out. Jenny at Supernatural Snark assures me that there's no forced sex between, but I'm still not sure I want to read this one.
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Oh yes do so!! If the book intrigues you you should definitely give it a shot!
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*sigh* I know how you feel. It's always difficult to pick up a book that is hyped and loved by so many people. Makes you wonder how you'll like it?
Honestly, it was the same here, I read some early reviews and was super thrilled picking it up and now you see where I end up, lol.
I'm still super curious to see what you think!! :))
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Oh yes, I barely see in between Reviews. Either glowing ones or reviews like mine..
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I love you! That's all I need to say…
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As I said, what is better than really talking or discussing about a book?
Plus, for this you need different opinions which is why I enjoy this discussion here so much!
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Jenny is right. I was also glad to see that there was no rape although I actually feared it would happen.
I didn't have a single issue with the topics though, I think she handled polygamy really well.
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This is such a beautiful cover but like you, I need hope and some joy in a book. Such a dark furture isn't a place I want to spend time in.
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