tldhuett's review against another edition
3.0
This book was very frustrating to read. After book one and the 1.5 where we see Leon's overwhelming love for Gaia, book two makes us want to grab them both and give them a hard shake. Gaia was especially frustrating. I found I couldn't like her anymore until nearly the end when she finally starts to think more rationally. Leon is about the same. I liked how Will and Peter pointed out to Gaia how they didn't understand how she could like Leon when he was always mean to her. The images we get are very confusing and frustrating as the reader sees the truth in Leon being mean but feeling Gaia's logic that he's not mean at the same time. I wonder if this plays into us seeing things like how abused women could stand to continue being with the abuser. This book covers many topics which make the reader uncomfortable and frustrated. Just like Gaia is confused about what is right or wrong, we also face the same decisions in choosing if we believe the same. However, this world we are thrown so hap-hazardly into is so completely opposite yet the same kind of as what we saw in book one. In the end it's like we've seen two choices of how it could be And must pick which is better. It's as if the whole message is simply, is the grass greener on the other side? Yet, you don't know until you experience it. Then you question even that. You can't experience everything. So perhaps the strongest theme is trust and loyalty. Leon and Gaia must remember who they trust and who their loyalties are to, even if it means having to make hard decisions and possibly letting others that we may care about down. This book is so complicated and full that I'm actually quite frustrated with the author and wish that perhaps for a YA novel, it would be a little less blunt and complicated. Next time only throw nails at us while drowning us instead of lighting us on fire, cutting off our fingers, then beating us to death while screaming in our ears, pulling out our hair one strand at a time and throwing nails at us before drowning us. See my point? Lol. If not, I'm sorry this review is as complicated and messy as this book. All said and done, I did like the ending and it was Almost worth screaming through the rest.
haikx's review against another edition
2.0
Having a love square doesn't make it "different". It just makes it worse. Ugh.
louhoo's review against another edition
5.0
Another awesome read. Loved seeing the love triangle (or square??) that was happening. Can’t wait to see the conclusion in the 3rd book.
sydofbee's review against another edition
3.0
This book was just as a-m-a-z-i-n-g as Birthmarked, if not even better! I admit, I was very surprised by where this actually went, I thought Gaia and Leon would continue opposing the Enclave, but something kept them from doing that: a place, where the women rule with a pretty cruel hand. Okay, I can imagine this not being an all too bad place for females, BUT every woman is expected to aim to give birth to ten children.
Gaia is opposed to many rules the Matrarc (the leader) has imposed on her people, and the things that they believe in. I found many things pretty unbelievable, too, but not because they were written unbelievably, just because they were ... well ... unthinkable.
I read it in two sittings, and I think I may have found another new favorite series!
I was a bit annoyed with Leon at times, found Chardo Peter (or Peter Chardo if you want to write it like we would) pretty childish and some things a little over the top, but nothing that needs mentioning here. I think I suspected halfway through what would happen at the end, but it was still nice to see it all play out. Maybe not exactly like I imagined, but close.
So if you haven't read Birthmarked yet, you absolutely should and while at it, pre-order Prized! I personally like the covers I feature better than the blue ones, so these are the ones you will see!
Gaia is opposed to many rules the Matrarc (the leader) has imposed on her people, and the things that they believe in. I found many things pretty unbelievable, too, but not because they were written unbelievably, just because they were ... well ... unthinkable.
I read it in two sittings, and I think I may have found another new favorite series!
I was a bit annoyed with Leon at times, found Chardo Peter (or Peter Chardo if you want to write it like we would) pretty childish and some things a little over the top, but nothing that needs mentioning here. I think I suspected halfway through what would happen at the end, but it was still nice to see it all play out. Maybe not exactly like I imagined, but close.
So if you haven't read Birthmarked yet, you absolutely should and while at it, pre-order Prized! I personally like the covers I feature better than the blue ones, so these are the ones you will see!
antariksach's review against another edition
3.0
Lebih gereget yang ini daripada buku pertamanya. Lebih suka yang ini pula saya.
wildflowerz76's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this one, more so than the first I think. But my internet's been out since Friday and in "book days" for me that's forever ago, so I can't remember a whole lot. I found it odd that though she's only 16 and naive, she readily accepts the Sylum's rules, not knowing what they are. Gee, who would have thought that would come back to bite her on the ass? The love triangle kind of annoyed me, but overall, I enjoyed this one.
emmylib's review against another edition
4.0
The second book in this trilogy continues a few weeks after the end of Book 1. Gaia and Maya have walked for weeks through the Wasteland. Maya is nearing death when they are found by a man on a horse(she's never seen a horse before). The man takes her to a community called Sylum which is situated on a marsh surrounded by fog. In this community the women are in charge but greatly out numbered nine to one by men. Female babies are prized here. At first Gaia has trouble getting along with the leader. She does not understand the rules of this new world but she also is wanted because of her skills as a midwife. There is another danger in that of people being unable to leave the community. There is something in the air that prevents people from leaving and surviving.
I enjoyed this book, it was a quick read and showed a bit of the opposite of the Enclave world. I'm looking forward to reading the last book to see how everything ends.
I enjoyed this book, it was a quick read and showed a bit of the opposite of the Enclave world. I'm looking forward to reading the last book to see how everything ends.
orangesloth1's review against another edition
3.0
I never quite understood the protagonist motivations but I liked the overall pace and feel of the story.
saviola's review against another edition
4.0
I have to say, I expected more out of Prized. When I first read the product description about Gaia finding Sylum - a dystopian society run by women - I was wary of a story that completely drops off the Enclave and starts in on a new premise without resolving the first one. That is sort of what happened. We do hear of the Enclave throughout the book, but nothing final or substantial, until the end. I still would have liked to hear more about the Enclave, but by the end of the book I kind of understood. That would have otherwise redeemed Prized, if it weren't for the other semi-overlookable problems.
First of all, Sylum started off having the same kind of problem the Enclave did. They were both plagued by some genetic defect. I probably could have gotten over that. What I can't get over, however, is how that plotpoint gets completely dropped off in the middle. She makes this significant discovery about the genetic make-up of the expools (men with inviable sperm) and then it just stops and she moves on to something else. Maybe it will be picked up again in the next book but, considering the circumstances in which Prized ends, it's unlikely. Which by the way, the title "Prized" really has nothing to do with the main premise of the story. Yeah, it was a part of the story, but it was hardly noteworthy.
Also, what's up with this love square? One of these guys hardly gets a chance, another has risked and is risking everything for her, and she's off gallavanting with yet another. Thankfully, she comes to her senses towards the end, but it kept me thoroughly frustrated.
I'm also uncertain about Leon. Not uncertain about him being Gaia's love interest - He's my favorite ;) - but more about how the heck he got to Sylum. Gaia's walking one day and spots him in the prison as she's just passing by? He just shows up like that? Well, Okay, I guess... but how'd he do it? What happened?... Still nothing? Yeah.. basically he just gets there no questions asked. It's explained some, but it's not really convincing. I'm happy he was there though! I felt bad for him too. He did all of those things for Gaia - risked his life multiple times, lost a finger, got scarred all up and down his back, wandered out into a desolate wasteland to find her, ends up imprisoned for no reason - and she burns his note and leaves him to rot in prison for what amounts to be no reason at all? Then goes off kissing other boys? Then she realizes how horrible she is and tries to say sorry like that's all she has to do to redeem herself? I didn't feel like she was sorry. Poor Leon is so abused. He had every right to be as horrible as he was to her and I think he forgave her too quickly.
I feel like this book is one big hot mess of different ideas. There's the Enclave and their whole genetic problem and neglectful ruling. Now there's Sylum with another type of genetic problem, an unfair treatment of men, and inescapable miasma. And we're trying to fix it ALL AT THE SAME TIME? That is an equation for disaster.
For me, Birthmarked was better. I think I enjoyed Prized's premise and society a little more than Birthmarked, but it was a bit too much. Birthmarked was more complete and there weren't so many arbitrary themes in it. Now there are all of these different problems involved with Sylum's introduction and it will be hard to resolve. I wont make any permanent assumptions yet; I just hope O'Brien clears things up a bit in the next book.
I give a 4.5 for Prized as its own book and a 3.5 for Prized as an extension of Birthmarked.
First of all, Sylum started off having the same kind of problem the Enclave did. They were both plagued by some genetic defect. I probably could have gotten over that. What I can't get over, however, is how that plotpoint gets completely dropped off in the middle. She makes this significant discovery about the genetic make-up of the expools (men with inviable sperm) and then it just stops and she moves on to something else. Maybe it will be picked up again in the next book but, considering the circumstances in which Prized ends, it's unlikely. Which by the way, the title "Prized" really has nothing to do with the main premise of the story. Yeah, it was a part of the story, but it was hardly noteworthy.
Also, what's up with this love square? One of these guys hardly gets a chance, another has risked and is risking everything for her, and she's off gallavanting with yet another. Thankfully, she comes to her senses towards the end, but it kept me thoroughly frustrated.
I'm also uncertain about Leon. Not uncertain about him being Gaia's love interest - He's my favorite ;) - but more about how the heck he got to Sylum. Gaia's walking one day and spots him in the prison as she's just passing by? He just shows up like that? Well, Okay, I guess... but how'd he do it? What happened?... Still nothing? Yeah.. basically he just gets there no questions asked. It's explained some, but it's not really convincing. I'm happy he was there though! I felt bad for him too. He did all of those things for Gaia - risked his life multiple times, lost a finger, got scarred all up and down his back, wandered out into a desolate wasteland to find her, ends up imprisoned for no reason - and she burns his note and leaves him to rot in prison for what amounts to be no reason at all? Then goes off kissing other boys? Then she realizes how horrible she is and tries to say sorry like that's all she has to do to redeem herself? I didn't feel like she was sorry. Poor Leon is so abused. He had every right to be as horrible as he was to her and I think he forgave her too quickly.
I feel like this book is one big hot mess of different ideas. There's the Enclave and their whole genetic problem and neglectful ruling. Now there's Sylum with another type of genetic problem, an unfair treatment of men, and inescapable miasma. And we're trying to fix it ALL AT THE SAME TIME? That is an equation for disaster.
For me, Birthmarked was better. I think I enjoyed Prized's premise and society a little more than Birthmarked, but it was a bit too much. Birthmarked was more complete and there weren't so many arbitrary themes in it. Now there are all of these different problems involved with Sylum's introduction and it will be hard to resolve. I wont make any permanent assumptions yet; I just hope O'Brien clears things up a bit in the next book.
I give a 4.5 for Prized as its own book and a 3.5 for Prized as an extension of Birthmarked.