laurieelaberge's review against another edition
3.0
Disappointing!
I enjoyed it but that one isn't as good as the first book.
There are a twists and turns but they are not developed and well exposed. We have a twist and the explanation of this twist isn't brought by the author. The author lets us down. On the other hand, some twists were predictables.
West Grayer was a badass character in the first one. In this book, she was a little bit boring.
2.5 stars
I enjoyed it but that one isn't as good as the first book.
There are a twists and turns but they are not developed and well exposed. We have a twist and the explanation of this twist isn't brought by the author. The author lets us down. On the other hand, some twists were predictables.
West Grayer was a badass character in the first one. In this book, she was a little bit boring.
2.5 stars
jenbsbooks's review
3.0
I THINK I liked this better than the first book. Maybe already having the scene set and the characters established ... or the glimpse into how this world came about and other twists were just a bit more interesting than book 1. Still a series I'll look back on with a "meh" memory.
heisereads's review against another edition
4.0
Just as suspenseful and action-packed as the first book, and none of the concerns with slower parts. I was sucked right back into this fast-paced story that had my heart pounding many times and was hard to put down. Divided jumps right back into the story with the aftermath of Dualed, and adds a twist to West's plans that has her questioning everything she thought was true. I enjoyed the larger roles of several of the secondary characters in this book as they all fight against time to solve a problem and learn what's really going on with the Board and their society.
momwithareadingproblem's review against another edition
5.0
Divided by [a:Elsie Chapman|5441417|Elsie Chapman|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1351817206p2/5441417.jpg] is book two of the Dualed series and picks up a few months after the end of book one. West is now a complete and seems to be moving on with her life. She has a loving relationship with Chord, a good job with Baer, and no one is trying to kill her. When a member of the Board approaches her and threatens all that she now holds dear, West must become a striker again. But at what cost?
I loved this sequel! I so torn reading book one. I felt no empathy for West and at times found myself intensely disliking her. That changes in this book. A member of the Board asks West to become a striker again. She has just three targets, then he promises to do two things for her: remove her striker marks and make sure that any child she has is born without an Alt. How can she pass that up? Being a mother myself, I can tell you I would make the same decision she does. I would accept that job and kill three people, especially if it meant my son would never have to go through the horrors that West has.
And without spoiling anything-because this book needs to experienced first-hand-West finds a way around the Board's request but still completes her task, that is till she reaches the last target. Let's just say the last target is already a complete and someone she recognizes, someone very close to her. At this point in the book, we see a turning point for West's character. Before this last strike, she relied in herself, lying to those she loved and cared for to protect them. Then this last strike makes her do a 180. She confides in not just Chord, but Dire and Baer as well. I thought the showed a strength and defining moment for her.
The plot flowed quickly and I found myself unable to read it fast enough! Between the action and suspense of West being a striker again to her romantic encounters with Chord, the story flew by. There are quite a few answers in this book to questions that I had in the first, like how was Kersh founded, who started the Alt program. So if you've read book one and were like me (on the fence), I really believe that will change once you read this installment.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! It had a little bit of everything I like in a young adult dystopian: a strong heroine/hero, a little romance (basically if there is a chance for Chord and West to kiss they do), lots of action, and some mystery/suspense. FYI though this book isn't as violent as book one, it still contains some pretty gruesome violence especially for a YA book. Other than that it's a pretty clean read. If you like a good YA dystopian, you should really go check this one out for yourself.
I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this sequel! I so torn reading book one. I felt no empathy for West and at times found myself intensely disliking her. That changes in this book. A member of the Board asks West to become a striker again. She has just three targets, then he promises to do two things for her: remove her striker marks and make sure that any child she has is born without an Alt. How can she pass that up? Being a mother myself, I can tell you I would make the same decision she does. I would accept that job and kill three people, especially if it meant my son would never have to go through the horrors that West has.
And without spoiling anything-because this book needs to experienced first-hand-West finds a way around the Board's request but still completes her task, that is till she reaches the last target. Let's just say the last target is already a complete and someone she recognizes, someone very close to her. At this point in the book, we see a turning point for West's character. Before this last strike, she relied in herself, lying to those she loved and cared for to protect them. Then this last strike makes her do a 180. She confides in not just Chord, but Dire and Baer as well. I thought the showed a strength and defining moment for her.
The plot flowed quickly and I found myself unable to read it fast enough! Between the action and suspense of West being a striker again to her romantic encounters with Chord, the story flew by. There are quite a few answers in this book to questions that I had in the first, like how was Kersh founded, who started the Alt program. So if you've read book one and were like me (on the fence), I really believe that will change once you read this installment.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! It had a little bit of everything I like in a young adult dystopian: a strong heroine/hero, a little romance (basically if there is a chance for Chord and West to kiss they do), lots of action, and some mystery/suspense. FYI though this book isn't as violent as book one, it still contains some pretty gruesome violence especially for a YA book. Other than that it's a pretty clean read. If you like a good YA dystopian, you should really go check this one out for yourself.
I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
emilyhei's review against another edition
4.0
West Grayer thought her time as a striker was done, but she couldn't have been more wrong. When she is summoned by the board and given a not quite so subtle ultimatum, West finds herself in an cat and mouse game trying to figure out who exactly she can trust.
Full review on Single Titles
http://singletitles.com/?p=9996
Full review on Single Titles
http://singletitles.com/?p=9996
scostner's review against another edition
4.0
I've heard the Dualed series described as a cross between Divergent and Hunger Games. I can see why that comparison is made. Citizens of Kersh live inside a walled safe zone and the Surround outside its walls is full of danger and chaos (Divergent). The circumstances that led to the need for a safe zone have also left humans sterile, unable to reproduce so that their children are produced in labs (Aeon Flux, anyone?). Each person also has an ALT, an alternate of themselves with the same DNA that belongs to a different family. To insure that only the fittest and toughest are using up the city's resources, the ALTs are activiated and one must kill the other and the survivor becomes a Complete citizen with the right to a complete life (Hunger Games). Until they are activated, the ALTs are Idles waiting and training for that day to come.
West Grayer, the female protagonist, has reached Complete status and is working as an assistant weapons instructor. She has her boyfriend, Chord, and her younger friend Dess, who is more like a little brother. She has school and her appointments with her therapist to try and work through the lingering nightmares from when she was Active and hunting/being hunted by her ALT. So it seems like everything should be smoothing out and leading to happily ever after. Then an Operator from the ruling Board approaches her with an offer that is hard to refuse - do a task for the Board and her own future children will never have to face an ALT, they will be Completes without all the danger. While she struggles with what to do, she has to think of her own safety, that of her friends, and even what's best for Kersh itself.
The action is gripping, the moral dilemma is thought-provoking, and I've become very interested in the characters. I need to go back and read the first book so that I can learn about the people and events that are mentioned in this second installment. I'm not divided on that at all.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
West Grayer, the female protagonist, has reached Complete status and is working as an assistant weapons instructor. She has her boyfriend, Chord, and her younger friend Dess, who is more like a little brother. She has school and her appointments with her therapist to try and work through the lingering nightmares from when she was Active and hunting/being hunted by her ALT. So it seems like everything should be smoothing out and leading to happily ever after. Then an Operator from the ruling Board approaches her with an offer that is hard to refuse - do a task for the Board and her own future children will never have to face an ALT, they will be Completes without all the danger. While she struggles with what to do, she has to think of her own safety, that of her friends, and even what's best for Kersh itself.
The action is gripping, the moral dilemma is thought-provoking, and I've become very interested in the characters. I need to go back and read the first book so that I can learn about the people and events that are mentioned in this second installment. I'm not divided on that at all.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
bookclaire4eva's review
4.0
Until about halfway through Divided, I definitely preferred Dualed and felt that it could have stood alone just fine, not as the first in a series. By the end of the book, however, Chapman added enough complexity to the story to make a series necessary given the nature of the young adult genre (keeping the books shorter and more easily digestible). And aren't these dystopian books always trilogies with past-tense titles (like Matched)? Score a million for publisher marketing departments.
But I digress... Anyway, I still don't like West a whole lot, and I don't think I'll ever buy her as a super-skilled dangerous assassin (maybe if the story weren't told by her in the first person, insecurities, weakness, and all). As in Dualed, the supporting characters were far more compelling and believable. Don't get me wrong, I still cared what happened to her, but she just doesn't give me the warm fuzzies. I guess she's like Katniss Everdeen that way. Snuggly as a porcupine, right? But no less interesting.
As expected, there are certain young adult dystopian formula elements in the story. The isolated society, the nasty conditions of membership, evil powers-that-be, and the allure of the world beyond the walls. I saw it all coming, and I'm sure you will, too. But that doesn't eliminate the excitement, or my desire to read the rest of the story, whenever it comes out. Chapman puts in a couple interesting twists, enough to keep me engaged.
While the Dualed series isn't the most awesome series I've ever read, it's definitely worth your time, as long as you don't take the premise too seriously. Just suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride.
Oh, and by the way, Divided does not reveal everything. Where would the fun be in having all the answers? Nowhere, that's where.
Take It
I received an advance copy of Divided from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
But I digress... Anyway, I still don't like West a whole lot, and I don't think I'll ever buy her as a super-skilled dangerous assassin (maybe if the story weren't told by her in the first person, insecurities, weakness, and all). As in Dualed, the supporting characters were far more compelling and believable. Don't get me wrong, I still cared what happened to her, but she just doesn't give me the warm fuzzies. I guess she's like Katniss Everdeen that way. Snuggly as a porcupine, right? But no less interesting.
As expected, there are certain young adult dystopian formula elements in the story. The isolated society, the nasty conditions of membership, evil powers-that-be, and the allure of the world beyond the walls. I saw it all coming, and I'm sure you will, too. But that doesn't eliminate the excitement, or my desire to read the rest of the story, whenever it comes out. Chapman puts in a couple interesting twists, enough to keep me engaged.
While the Dualed series isn't the most awesome series I've ever read, it's definitely worth your time, as long as you don't take the premise too seriously. Just suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride.
Oh, and by the way, Divided does not reveal everything. Where would the fun be in having all the answers? Nowhere, that's where.
Take It
I received an advance copy of Divided from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
cjmichel's review
4.0
Divided by Elsie Chapman is the second book in the Dualed series and while the premise is disturbing (that two of each child born should exist to duel out their twin to the death in their teen years so that only the strongest shall remain to soldier an army to protect the community from outsiders should any appear), the writing is strong and the story grabs the reader and keeps them involved so the book is hard to put down. Divided picks up after our main character has already disposed of her alt or twin but is then coaxed by the community leadership to take up the mantel and kill again. Only she is not killing her alt and she is not really the killing type. Find out how she handles the no win situation she finds herself in once again. I am glad I did.
morgarelibrare's review
4.0
3.5 stars.
This book was pretty good. It was a bit slow at times and it took a while for me to get into it, but towards the end it picked up. It was a good second book to a series and I'll definitely be picking up book three when it comes out to see what happens next.
This book was pretty good. It was a bit slow at times and it took a while for me to get into it, but towards the end it picked up. It was a good second book to a series and I'll definitely be picking up book three when it comes out to see what happens next.