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.
kamahi's review against another edition
5.0
Love me a post apocalyptic series where the protagonist is not s warrior, but s caretaker.
pelargonia's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
l1brarygirl's review against another edition
5.0
GREAT SECOND BOOK! I haven't been this pleased with a middle book in a long time! It really furthered the storyline in a new and exciting way. *SPOILER* I really wish that Gaia had given Leon an answer though :( (I think they belong together)