archercm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
saluki's review
4.0
Another dystopia and very engrossing too. The future post-wars world seems very real and believable.
Written in the first person perspective. Cia is smart and analytical but also an ordinary girl who is too trusting at times... a great female lead with morals who thinks before making rash actions.
Now for book two...
Written in the first person perspective. Cia is smart and analytical but also an ordinary girl who is too trusting at times... a great female lead with morals who thinks before making rash actions.
Now for book two...
ark99's review against another edition
3.0
gave me hunger games and divergent vibes but what dystopian book doesn't
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
5.0
*I received a free ARC of The Testing from via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
Very interesting, but tough book!
This and other reviews can also be found on my blog (un)Conventional Bokviews.
The Testing starts with Cia’s graduation, and the hope that she will be selected for the testing in the Commonwealth’s capital Tosu City. Several of Cia’s friens think she’ll be chosen, even if it has been a long time since any student from Five Lakes has been chosen.
Very interesting, but tough book!
This and other reviews can also be found on my blog (un)Conventional Bokviews.
The Testing starts with Cia’s graduation, and the hope that she will be selected for the testing in the Commonwealth’s capital Tosu City. Several of Cia’s friens think she’ll be chosen, even if it has been a long time since any student from Five Lakes has been chosen.
egbella's review against another edition
4.0
A fun read with some fascinating backstory and intriguing and suspenseful plot. I'll admit upfront that there are many things I think this story could have done better - namely character development, further explanation of the world, and several plot lines - but as I'm forever a fan of dystopian novels, I enjoyed this more than I maybe should have, haha. There's nothing ground-breaking or differing much from your generic dystopian, but I read the story in one night, and am definitely open to reading the rest of the books in the series if I come across them (this one was loaned to me).
crystal_reading's review against another edition
3.0
The Testing has a premise that has been used before - after horrible wars, the government needs to rebuild and wants to find the very best of the best to help create the new nation. To do this, they choose young people and run them through some tests. It is a survival of the fittest type of situation. This is no Survivor reality show though. It is the real deal and there are life or death choices to be made. Such an idea is not completely unique, but Charbonneau did keep it interesting for the most part and filled it with plenty of action and suspense. She managed to fit in a few surprises along the way including machine guns, betrayal and a few assorted predators.
Though some of it felt like a repeat of recent popular dystopian novels, Cia was not just a copy of the others. She is impressive from the very beginning. She's intelligent, cares for and respects her family, and has some serious mechanical skills. She has a girl-next-door appeal. There is no doubt that she's tough, but she also manages to stay warm and open. That made it very easy to root for her. Cia's character is the strongest part of the novel.
Dystopian fans will likely enjoy it, but there isn't a lot about it that stands out from the rest of the crowded shelves.
Digital ARC from NetGalley. Original review http://readingtl.blogspot.com/2013/06/review-testing.html
Though some of it felt like a repeat of recent popular dystopian novels, Cia was not just a copy of the others. She is impressive from the very beginning. She's intelligent, cares for and respects her family, and has some serious mechanical skills. She has a girl-next-door appeal. There is no doubt that she's tough, but she also manages to stay warm and open. That made it very easy to root for her. Cia's character is the strongest part of the novel.
Dystopian fans will likely enjoy it, but there isn't a lot about it that stands out from the rest of the crowded shelves.
Digital ARC from NetGalley. Original review http://readingtl.blogspot.com/2013/06/review-testing.html
catherine03's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
phonologia's review against another edition
3.0
I actually enjoyed this book a lot, but it was a fairly blatant Hunger Games rip off. If derivative fiction annoys you, best to skip this one.