toto7's review
4.0
OHH, LEON! <3
I found this to be an extraordinary second book. We don't follow the problems of the Enclave anymore, but that wasn't a problem. We have a whole new thing to worry about.
Gaia... *sign* she is like that annoying little sister who always gets on your nerves. She is, like, emotionless!! Like a rock! She doesn't think about the feelings of others or that she might be hurting them, and that reaaaally bother me. I wanted to punch her. DON'T YOU SEE LEON LOVES YOU?! And what do you do?! NOTHING! You just... UGH. Get out.
Leon is awesome. I just love him. In the first book you just get see the side of him that is distant, but in this book he really shows his love for Gaia. He is sweet and smart and so good with Gaia. <3 <3
I can't wait to read the final book!
I found this to be an extraordinary second book. We don't follow the problems of the Enclave anymore, but that wasn't a problem. We have a whole new thing to worry about.
Gaia... *sign* she is like that annoying little sister who always gets on your nerves. She is, like, emotionless!! Like a rock! She doesn't think about the feelings of others or that she might be hurting them, and that reaaaally bother me. I wanted to punch her. DON'T YOU SEE LEON LOVES YOU?! And what do you do?! NOTHING! You just... UGH. Get out.
Leon is awesome. I just love him. In the first book you just get see the side of him that is distant, but in this book he really shows his love for Gaia. He is sweet and smart and so good with Gaia. <3 <3
I can't wait to read the final book!
itstiffani's review
3.0
I wanted to like this book as much as Birthmarked. But I didn't. It seemed like a completely different story to me. There were things that just felt flat to me. Things left unexplained. However, I'll absolutely read the next one (and hope that it's more like Birthmarked).
larizzla's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kaathiiw's review against another edition
3.0
Wenn ich nur den Anfang und das Ende bewerten würde, würde ich dem Buch mind. 4,5 Sterne geben. Allerdings fand ich den Mittelteil super langweilig, weil einfach gefühlt nichts passiert ist. Das war auch der Grund dafür, dass ich so lange für das Buch gebraucht habe.
Die Charaktere mochte ich wie immer super gerne und auch die ganzen neuen Charakteren sind mir direkt ans Herz gewachsen. :)
Die Charaktere mochte ich wie immer super gerne und auch die ganzen neuen Charakteren sind mir direkt ans Herz gewachsen. :)
melaniemia's review
5.0
I couldn't put this book down! I thought it was even better than the first in the series (which usually doesn't happen in a trilogy). I'm kind of amazed that these books don't have more of a fan following. I'm IN LOVE with these books. The pace of the story is so fast and the twists so hard and unexpected! After reading the second one, I just want to scream to the world WHY HAVEN'T YOU READ THESE BOOKS YET? Reading the third immediately. I so fucking excited I'm almost ashamed. Nope. No I'm not. God these books are good.
nrdespain's review
5.0
Gaia is crossing the wasteland with her little sister to find somewhere to go after escaping the Enclave. Oh and the place she happens to go to is Sylum, she's rescued by the dreamy Chardo Peter and tries to get used to living in a new place. Oh, Caragh O'Brien keeps me hooked to her books and this was a great read. Birthmarked is still my favorite and some things are just weird in this book since it seems to be about physical attraction a lot, but I still liked it.
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!
I still think Gaia should have ended up with Peter.
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!
I still think Gaia should have ended up with Peter.
exhaleartist's review
3.0
Caragh O’Brien’s debut, Birthmarked, was a book that I stumbled across accidentally but thoroughly enjoyed. Gaia’s story fascinated me, and I love the world that she built. However, it took me forever to find the time and opportunity to read Prized. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the follow-up nearly as much as I liked the first book.
Prized began decently, but it quickly went downhill. Gaia drove me insane during this book. The strong, decisive girl who I enjoyed in Birthmarked became a weak, whiny girl. I wanted so badly to admire Gaia, but she repeatedly made ridiculous choices and treated many of the people around her terribly. Then there was the love triangle square, it was rather over-the-top. I understand that girls are in short supply, but having three different men fighting over Gaia was a bit unbelievable, especially considering how she treated them.
The setting of Prized was rather fascinating. The society was very atypical in comparison of many dystopian books, and I enjoyed the change. The world-building was very well done. However, the plot frustrated me. I hated the separation between Gaia and her sister, and I could not understand her passiveness regarding it. Also, I feel as if the motives of many of the characters were not explained well, and, minor quibble, I never believed that the Matrarc was blind. One big issue I had with the book was a choice Gaia makes to help a young girl, Peony. I have tried not to let my personal opinions about the subject to get in the way, but, honestly, it still feels wrong.
Sadly, I was highly disappointed in this sequel. It feels as if the book was written by a different writer. Perhaps Promised is better, but I am not sure if I will take the time to read it. I would recommend Birthmarked, but I cannot recommend this series as a whole. The first book is fascinating, beautiful, and heartbreaking, however, this book lacks the aspects that made the first one grand.
Prized began decently, but it quickly went downhill. Gaia drove me insane during this book. The strong, decisive girl who I enjoyed in Birthmarked became a weak, whiny girl. I wanted so badly to admire Gaia, but she repeatedly made ridiculous choices and treated many of the people around her terribly. Then there was the love triangle square, it was rather over-the-top. I understand that girls are in short supply, but having three different men fighting over Gaia was a bit unbelievable, especially considering how she treated them.
The setting of Prized was rather fascinating. The society was very atypical in comparison of many dystopian books, and I enjoyed the change. The world-building was very well done. However, the plot frustrated me. I hated the separation between Gaia and her sister, and I could not understand her passiveness regarding it. Also, I feel as if the motives of many of the characters were not explained well, and, minor quibble, I never believed that the Matrarc was blind. One big issue I had with the book was a choice Gaia makes to help a young girl, Peony. I have tried not to let my personal opinions about the subject to get in the way, but, honestly, it still feels wrong.
Sadly, I was highly disappointed in this sequel. It feels as if the book was written by a different writer. Perhaps Promised is better, but I am not sure if I will take the time to read it. I would recommend Birthmarked, but I cannot recommend this series as a whole. The first book is fascinating, beautiful, and heartbreaking, however, this book lacks the aspects that made the first one grand.