goaskalix's review against another edition
4.0
Oh my god it's a series! Ack! Why did I not look into this beforehand?!
Not that it wasn't good, it was... but damn I hate the waiting!
'Bibliophile Beauties' club read: August 2013
Not that it wasn't good, it was... but damn I hate the waiting!
'Bibliophile Beauties' club read: August 2013
caustic_wonder's review against another edition
4.0
I actually really enjoyed this book. I started it thinking it was going to be a typical boring zombie/post-apocalypse story. It's not. It's not a zombie story at all.
It's set in a future where everyone is infected by deadly virus. A man accidentally stumbled into a doorway that takes him 2 years into the future and he brings back a cure. This changes everything.
But the story is just as weird as it sounds. And I liked it that way.
The characters were all likable and it isn't a predictable book. Even Clover, the autistic heroine of the story, isn't a caricature, at all. She's not a stereotype at all. She's awkward and she's unusual but she's brave and she's smart and she's extremely endearing. All of the characters grow on you after a while. You start wanting them to succeed.
The plot line is not at all predictable, like most post-apocalypse stories are. Usually I can tell what's going to happen by the way things are set up, but not here. It kept me guessing. Very well done. I'll be looking for book number 2 soon.
Disclaimer: Got a free copy from Netgalley to review.
It's set in a future where everyone is infected by deadly virus. A man accidentally stumbled into a doorway that takes him 2 years into the future and he brings back a cure. This changes everything.
But the story is just as weird as it sounds. And I liked it that way.
The characters were all likable and it isn't a predictable book. Even Clover, the autistic heroine of the story, isn't a caricature, at all. She's not a stereotype at all. She's awkward and she's unusual but she's brave and she's smart and she's extremely endearing. All of the characters grow on you after a while. You start wanting them to succeed.
The plot line is not at all predictable, like most post-apocalypse stories are. Usually I can tell what's going to happen by the way things are set up, but not here. It kept me guessing. Very well done. I'll be looking for book number 2 soon.
Disclaimer: Got a free copy from Netgalley to review.
chllybrd's review against another edition
4.0
You find out quickly that our main character is autistic. She is high functioning, but some of her behavior and actions mimic her disorder. She is pretty brilliant and gets into the Academy but her service dog is not allowed to come with her and as soon as they find out she has autism they send her on to the company to become a Time Mariner. They are really sneaky about why she is there and then weird things start happening to her while she is in the future.
I had no issue with keeping up with the story. There is time travel but it is not confusing in any way and there is not a ton of it. I enjoyed the authors voice. She is a great storyteller. Clover is pretty interesting. She has a great personality and being autistic did not pull her down. If you want there to be romance, sorry you wont get it. There is a bit of chemistry between Clover and Jude but no romance really. I loved the relationship between Clover and her brother West. It was nice watching them together. I was surprised by their father but I guess situations in VIRAL NATION led him to his decisions. I was a tad disappointed at a death towards the end. I hate that the one person that has answers is gone before he can give them and just don't know how the 'team' will figure things out. I guess we shall see.
Unique characters, a believable and interesting world at a nice pace just about sums up why I will be picking up book two when it comes out. Any fan of dystopian should enjoy VIRAL NATION.
I had no issue with keeping up with the story. There is time travel but it is not confusing in any way and there is not a ton of it. I enjoyed the authors voice. She is a great storyteller. Clover is pretty interesting. She has a great personality and being autistic did not pull her down. If you want there to be romance, sorry you wont get it. There is a bit of chemistry between Clover and Jude but no romance really. I loved the relationship between Clover and her brother West. It was nice watching them together. I was surprised by their father but I guess situations in VIRAL NATION led him to his decisions. I was a tad disappointed at a death towards the end. I hate that the one person that has answers is gone before he can give them and just don't know how the 'team' will figure things out. I guess we shall see.
Unique characters, a believable and interesting world at a nice pace just about sums up why I will be picking up book two when it comes out. Any fan of dystopian should enjoy VIRAL NATION.
readingundertheradar's review against another edition
5.0
View the rest on my blog - http://www.happybookloversblog.com
So this is like a mashup of sorts of Hunger Games and the Maximum Ride series. Cross a crazy-power-ridden government agency who is determined to keep people in their place with a band of kids who call themselves the "Freaks" and end up isolated trying to rebel against this crazy dictatorship that's been going on. Clover has grown up not contacting her dad, living with West, and she's always known she was going to go to the Academy. But then she gets drafted to be a Time Mariner instead, and at first is crushed.
But as she is trained she realizes it's a pretty important job, and an acquaintance meets her in the future on one of her missions, kisses her (without causing her to panic at his touch) and gives her a newspaper that claims her brother murdered someone. So automatically, the story gets super interesting. I really enjoyed the interactions between all the characters. The story was constantly moving and the characters were always involved and running around doing things. It was so fast-paced and exciting all the time, I was just waiting for some of the evil government leaders to do something crazy and for the Freaks to retaliate.
I do wish a few of the kids in the group would have been more developed. I really liked them all, but was having trouble keeping all the names (I think there were about 8-9) straight. I got confused a little bit, but I still really liked all the kids, and I definitely wanted to know more about them. I also wanted a little more backstory with her father and why exactly he couldn't be a guardian and live with them like a lot of families. I feel like that wasn't really explained as much as some other things.
This was a great dystopian YA novel with several twists in the plot and in the general characters/premise. It was different and quick, and a super enjoyable read. You know how I was having trouble coming up with good books I read this year? This is on the list now.
So this is like a mashup of sorts of Hunger Games and the Maximum Ride series. Cross a crazy-power-ridden government agency who is determined to keep people in their place with a band of kids who call themselves the "Freaks" and end up isolated trying to rebel against this crazy dictatorship that's been going on. Clover has grown up not contacting her dad, living with West, and she's always known she was going to go to the Academy. But then she gets drafted to be a Time Mariner instead, and at first is crushed.
But as she is trained she realizes it's a pretty important job, and an acquaintance meets her in the future on one of her missions, kisses her (without causing her to panic at his touch) and gives her a newspaper that claims her brother murdered someone. So automatically, the story gets super interesting. I really enjoyed the interactions between all the characters. The story was constantly moving and the characters were always involved and running around doing things. It was so fast-paced and exciting all the time, I was just waiting for some of the evil government leaders to do something crazy and for the Freaks to retaliate.
I do wish a few of the kids in the group would have been more developed. I really liked them all, but was having trouble keeping all the names (I think there were about 8-9) straight. I got confused a little bit, but I still really liked all the kids, and I definitely wanted to know more about them. I also wanted a little more backstory with her father and why exactly he couldn't be a guardian and live with them like a lot of families. I feel like that wasn't really explained as much as some other things.
This was a great dystopian YA novel with several twists in the plot and in the general characters/premise. It was different and quick, and a super enjoyable read. You know how I was having trouble coming up with good books I read this year? This is on the list now.
briar_rose_reads's review against another edition
3.0
*Review also posted at Briar Rose Reads
I enjoyed this well enough. The world-building was pretty good; it kept me interested enough to finish, though the ending felt somewhat anti-climactic; and it was nice to have an autistic main character who felt like an actual character, though I wasn't always sure how to feel about her. (I'm not autistic, so can't speak with authority; for a GREAT review by actual autistic people, including author Corinne Duyvis, go to Disability in Kidlit here.)
On the downside, sometimes things seemed to happen just because the author decided they should, and the ending felt extremely anti-climactic.
I will probably read the next book, because the book was well-done enough to make me wonder what might happen next, and by the end, I was starting to care about Clover and her world and her friends.
I enjoyed this well enough. The world-building was pretty good; it kept me interested enough to finish, though the ending felt somewhat anti-climactic; and it was nice to have an autistic main character who felt like an actual character, though I wasn't always sure how to feel about her. (I'm not autistic, so can't speak with authority; for a GREAT review by actual autistic people, including author Corinne Duyvis, go to Disability in Kidlit here.)
On the downside, sometimes things seemed to happen just because the author decided they should, and the ending felt extremely anti-climactic.
I will probably read the next book, because the book was well-done enough to make me wonder what might happen next, and by the end, I was starting to care about Clover and her world and her friends.
innowen's review against another edition
3.0
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review from netgalley.com.
I grabbed this book to read based off the cover and title alone. I love dystopian books and this one gave me the impression that it was about a girl and her dog traveling a world after some sort of virus had destroyed the population. I was wrong, happily. Well, there is a girl, and a dog, and there was a virus but there are no zombies (yet) and a bit of mystery and some time travel tossed in. Viral Nation is about Clover, an autistic teenager who is tossed into the action of her society. Clover, her brother, and some other teens gang up to take on the company that has been hailed as the saviors of humanity.
I liked Viral Nation as a setting. The world seems believable and when we're introduced to it everything flows rather well. Everyone has a job and everyone has bought the stories and kool-aid of those who control them. Clover, as the protagonist, works. She questions things but also has her melt-downs and is vulnerable but smart.
The plot, was fast paced and felt a bit too tight for my liking. I could guess a few things: like when Clover first looks at the wall surrounding her city, I knew that we were going to head out. I also felt that some of the time-travelling was just tossed in and I hope that further portions of the series does a more convincing job of its importance than to just "future scope out murderers."
Over all this series has promise and I look forward to reading more and seeing where it and the altered timelines take our characters.
I grabbed this book to read based off the cover and title alone. I love dystopian books and this one gave me the impression that it was about a girl and her dog traveling a world after some sort of virus had destroyed the population. I was wrong, happily. Well, there is a girl, and a dog, and there was a virus but there are no zombies (yet) and a bit of mystery and some time travel tossed in. Viral Nation is about Clover, an autistic teenager who is tossed into the action of her society. Clover, her brother, and some other teens gang up to take on the company that has been hailed as the saviors of humanity.
I liked Viral Nation as a setting. The world seems believable and when we're introduced to it everything flows rather well. Everyone has a job and everyone has bought the stories and kool-aid of those who control them. Clover, as the protagonist, works. She questions things but also has her melt-downs and is vulnerable but smart.
The plot, was fast paced and felt a bit too tight for my liking. I could guess a few things: like when Clover first looks at the wall surrounding her city, I knew that we were going to head out. I also felt that some of the time-travelling was just tossed in and I hope that further portions of the series does a more convincing job of its importance than to just "future scope out murderers."
Over all this series has promise and I look forward to reading more and seeing where it and the altered timelines take our characters.
buuboobaby's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
Non-ending was frustrating, but otherwise, this was a hard to put down read, and I am looking forward to more adventures with Clover. I really liked her - and Mango, too!
Full review soon
Non-ending was frustrating, but otherwise, this was a hard to put down read, and I am looking forward to more adventures with Clover. I really liked her - and Mango, too!
Full review soon
lberestecki's review against another edition
4.0
It seems like every YA book nowadays is about a post-apocalyptic dystopian society, so I am getting a little bit sick of the trend / ready for something new. However, this book kept me reading and is better written than a lot of YA books. I particularly liked Clover as a character. It's a good read for people who like the genre, but I probably won't continue with the series.
Received from NetGalley.
Received from NetGalley.
jljaina's review against another edition
4.0
Originally read July 2013
Re-read June 2016
Well done, Shaunta Grimes. This is the first book I have ever read by her, and I don't plan on it being the last!
She quickly draws you in with a great prologue where a virus has broken out and most the the US population is dying. Suddenly there is a cure! But for many, it was too late. Each state was reduced to a single city worth of people. In the state of Nevada, only 20,000 remain, many of them children. Yikes! What a way to start, right?
Jump up 16 years to young Clover (16) and her older brother, West who is her guardian. These are our main characters and they are very well done. The relationship is strong and easy to relate to. Clover is autistic and the author did a superb job capturing that. The lack of touch, need for space and quiet. The reactions to sudden movements, etc. Due to the autism she has a dog, Mango, who is just the sweetest thing and I want to take him home myself. She is very articulate in her wording which I found quite interesting as well. West is protective and kind, always putting his sister above his own desires. One cannot help but like him. Their father is one I have not quite made up my mind about yet. His choices in life are a bit odd and I feel I am missing something there. Oh and I cannot forget sweet Mango, her dog. Very loyal and intuitive!
The world is vastly different and well done as a post-apocalyptic society. With a cool twist. Certain people can go two years into the future to see what is happening. It is how the cure was found in the first place. They go to the future for updates and to learn and crimes to stop them before they happen. Some other shocking revelations will change everything Clover knows.
While I enjoyed this book, I did notice some small plot discrepancies that I hope will be explained in the next book. Also I really, really wanted to know about the rest of the world. Was this a US only virus? If so, why? What about Canada or Mexico especially since they are right next to the US? Nothing. The only reference we have is in the plot summary but nothing in the actual story. To me, that was important to the world building an a fairly big miss.
So beside the above mentioned flaw, I found this book to be quite well done, relatively realistic to follow, great characters and concept. I hope the next book brings out more of the other characters, such as Leanne, Jude, etc more. This was not a book easy to put down. Once you start, you just want to keep going. The pace is never ending. We are constantly being feed more pieces of the story and this world. It leaves you craving to know what will happen in the next book.
Special thanks go to Penguin Group through Netgalley for my original eCopy. Right after I requested the title I also won a print copy on Goodreads, hosted by Marissa. So lots of thanks to everyone for these! Book was given free in return for a fair and honest review.
Re-read June 2016
Well done, Shaunta Grimes. This is the first book I have ever read by her, and I don't plan on it being the last!
She quickly draws you in with a great prologue where a virus has broken out and most the the US population is dying. Suddenly there is a cure! But for many, it was too late. Each state was reduced to a single city worth of people. In the state of Nevada, only 20,000 remain, many of them children. Yikes! What a way to start, right?
Jump up 16 years to young Clover (16) and her older brother, West who is her guardian. These are our main characters and they are very well done. The relationship is strong and easy to relate to. Clover is autistic and the author did a superb job capturing that. The lack of touch, need for space and quiet. The reactions to sudden movements, etc. Due to the autism she has a dog, Mango, who is just the sweetest thing and I want to take him home myself. She is very articulate in her wording which I found quite interesting as well. West is protective and kind, always putting his sister above his own desires. One cannot help but like him. Their father is one I have not quite made up my mind about yet. His choices in life are a bit odd and I feel I am missing something there. Oh and I cannot forget sweet Mango, her dog. Very loyal and intuitive!
The world is vastly different and well done as a post-apocalyptic society. With a cool twist. Certain people can go two years into the future to see what is happening. It is how the cure was found in the first place. They go to the future for updates and to learn and crimes to stop them before they happen. Some other shocking revelations will change everything Clover knows.
While I enjoyed this book, I did notice some small plot discrepancies that I hope will be explained in the next book. Also I really, really wanted to know about the rest of the world. Was this a US only virus? If so, why? What about Canada or Mexico especially since they are right next to the US? Nothing. The only reference we have is in the plot summary but nothing in the actual story. To me, that was important to the world building an a fairly big miss.
So beside the above mentioned flaw, I found this book to be quite well done, relatively realistic to follow, great characters and concept. I hope the next book brings out more of the other characters, such as Leanne, Jude, etc more. This was not a book easy to put down. Once you start, you just want to keep going. The pace is never ending. We are constantly being feed more pieces of the story and this world. It leaves you craving to know what will happen in the next book.
Special thanks go to Penguin Group through Netgalley for my original eCopy. Right after I requested the title I also won a print copy on Goodreads, hosted by Marissa. So lots of thanks to everyone for these! Book was given free in return for a fair and honest review.
acg233's review against another edition
5.0
Title: Viral Nation
Author: Shaunta Grimes
Genre: YA Dystopian Fiction
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Length: 320 pages
Original Publishing Date: July 2nd, 2013
Series: Viral Nation #1
Where I got it: NetGalley
Links: Goodreads Amazon Author's Website
Synopsis from Goodreads:
"After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.
Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.
When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined… and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever."
Main characters: 4.5/5
I don't really know where to start about Clover's character. I think I'll start off by saying that I've never read a book in which the main character has autism, and I don't have a lot of experience with autism. That being said, I appreciated the fact that the book wasn't about the fact that Clover had autism; it was just something about Clover that made her unique. Clover dislikes crowds and being touched, and she can be blunt when she speaks, but what I found really intriguing were the passages where Grimes outlines what's happening in Clover's head. I could relate with Clover over so many things: the way she had a million thoughts in her mind, the overwhelmed feeling that she gets around crowds, and yet the way her mind worked was fascinating to me, especially the ways that Grimes described it.
West's voice was less distinct that Clover's, if only because his main concern was keeping her safe. Grimes switches points of view between Clover and West but West felt significantly less important. Clover's voice was really the defining aspect of this novel.
Secondary characters: 3.5/5
Jude was a fabulously crafted secondary character. He held the perfect balance of sweet and hardened but I wish that I knew more about his background because at times he seemed a little underdeveloped.
I was so excited for Bridget's character at the beginning of the novel, but she fizzled out for me. I thought her interactions with West were initially so fiery and forward, and then she turned into a swoooning, crying mess.
What is it with books and GREAT secondary dog characters lately? Mango the bulldog was a fantastic addition and I loved his connection with Clover.
Writing style: 4.5/5
I'll try not to make this too fan-girly, but I LOVED the writing style of Viral Nation. First, the prologue was impeccable. It created so much tension and laid down the perfect backstory for the rest of the novel. Next, can I just say how much I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter? They're quotes from former presidents that pertain to that chapter. Some are serious, others are funny, some have wisdom that come into play for that chapter. It was perfect. Another point about the writing style was that it held the perfect balance of description and action, and the descriptions were gorgeous. The way that Grimes explained how Clover's mind worked was powerful, vivid and truly beautiful. The dialogue was realistic, the action was heart-pounding and the description was flawless. The only fault I can find is that the pacing slowed down a little bit too much in the second half of the novel.
Plot: 4/5
The premise for the dystopian world was well thought out in the prologue and the worldbuilding was for the most part impeccably done. The minor details included added a realism to the world and it wasn't so out-there that it seemed completely unbelievable. The time-travel aspect was rather unique for YA dystopian fiction as well. One of the flaws was the logic behind some of the dystopian characteristics. The decision on the governments part to wall off the cities after finding the cure made zero sense to me and I didn't understand why the citizens would be fine with it either. The mystery/conflict took a while to kick in, but I was okay with how long it took to get there because I was so entranced with learning more about this new world, and when the first inkling of mystery entered, I was hooked! The second half of the novel held less excitement and action than the first, so some of it felt anticlimactic, and that's my one big negative on the plot.
Ending: 3.5/5
I was pleasantly surprised with the ending of Viral Nation. I loved the epilogue because it provided just the smallest teaser of what was to come in the upcoming series. The things I didn't like were that it seemed like the end was just a big prep for future conflict to come (the characters were actually prepping) and then the book just ended. This goes hand in hand with the lack of major conflict in the second half of the book: there was no climax really.
Best scene: Clover re-meeting Jude on her first mission
Reminded Me Of: Minority Report
Positives: Clover (everything about her- except her name), the writing of Shaunta Grimes, the unique aspects of the plot and combination of a couple different dystopian/apocalyptic tropes into something new, the snuggliness of Jude
Negatives: Less developed minor characters, lack of action and conflict in the second half,
Cover: I really like the gritty look of it and I love that they included Clover and Mango on the cover. I do feel like it has too much of a post-apocalyptic feel, when the story was more dystopian.
Verdict: An engrossing dystopian novel with a unique and distinctive main character voice that combines old tropes into something new.
Rating: 8.0/10 (5 stars)
Your Thoughts: Have you read it? What did you think? If you haven't, will you be adding it to your TBR list? Let me know!
Author: Shaunta Grimes
Genre: YA Dystopian Fiction
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Length: 320 pages
Original Publishing Date: July 2nd, 2013
Series: Viral Nation #1
Where I got it: NetGalley
Links: Goodreads Amazon Author's Website
Synopsis from Goodreads:
"After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.
Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.
When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined… and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever."
Main characters: 4.5/5
I don't really know where to start about Clover's character. I think I'll start off by saying that I've never read a book in which the main character has autism, and I don't have a lot of experience with autism. That being said, I appreciated the fact that the book wasn't about the fact that Clover had autism; it was just something about Clover that made her unique. Clover dislikes crowds and being touched, and she can be blunt when she speaks, but what I found really intriguing were the passages where Grimes outlines what's happening in Clover's head. I could relate with Clover over so many things: the way she had a million thoughts in her mind, the overwhelmed feeling that she gets around crowds, and yet the way her mind worked was fascinating to me, especially the ways that Grimes described it.
West's voice was less distinct that Clover's, if only because his main concern was keeping her safe. Grimes switches points of view between Clover and West but West felt significantly less important. Clover's voice was really the defining aspect of this novel.
Secondary characters: 3.5/5
Jude was a fabulously crafted secondary character. He held the perfect balance of sweet and hardened but I wish that I knew more about his background because at times he seemed a little underdeveloped.
I was so excited for Bridget's character at the beginning of the novel, but she fizzled out for me. I thought her interactions with West were initially so fiery and forward, and then she turned into a swoooning, crying mess.
What is it with books and GREAT secondary dog characters lately? Mango the bulldog was a fantastic addition and I loved his connection with Clover.
Writing style: 4.5/5
I'll try not to make this too fan-girly, but I LOVED the writing style of Viral Nation. First, the prologue was impeccable. It created so much tension and laid down the perfect backstory for the rest of the novel. Next, can I just say how much I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter? They're quotes from former presidents that pertain to that chapter. Some are serious, others are funny, some have wisdom that come into play for that chapter. It was perfect. Another point about the writing style was that it held the perfect balance of description and action, and the descriptions were gorgeous. The way that Grimes explained how Clover's mind worked was powerful, vivid and truly beautiful. The dialogue was realistic, the action was heart-pounding and the description was flawless. The only fault I can find is that the pacing slowed down a little bit too much in the second half of the novel.
Plot: 4/5
The premise for the dystopian world was well thought out in the prologue and the worldbuilding was for the most part impeccably done. The minor details included added a realism to the world and it wasn't so out-there that it seemed completely unbelievable. The time-travel aspect was rather unique for YA dystopian fiction as well. One of the flaws was the logic behind some of the dystopian characteristics. The decision on the governments part to wall off the cities after finding the cure made zero sense to me and I didn't understand why the citizens would be fine with it either. The mystery/conflict took a while to kick in, but I was okay with how long it took to get there because I was so entranced with learning more about this new world, and when the first inkling of mystery entered, I was hooked! The second half of the novel held less excitement and action than the first, so some of it felt anticlimactic, and that's my one big negative on the plot.
Ending: 3.5/5
I was pleasantly surprised with the ending of Viral Nation. I loved the epilogue because it provided just the smallest teaser of what was to come in the upcoming series. The things I didn't like were that it seemed like the end was just a big prep for future conflict to come (the characters were actually prepping) and then the book just ended. This goes hand in hand with the lack of major conflict in the second half of the book: there was no climax really.
Best scene: Clover re-meeting Jude on her first mission
Reminded Me Of: Minority Report
Positives: Clover (everything about her- except her name), the writing of Shaunta Grimes, the unique aspects of the plot and combination of a couple different dystopian/apocalyptic tropes into something new, the snuggliness of Jude
Negatives: Less developed minor characters, lack of action and conflict in the second half,
Cover: I really like the gritty look of it and I love that they included Clover and Mango on the cover. I do feel like it has too much of a post-apocalyptic feel, when the story was more dystopian.
Verdict: An engrossing dystopian novel with a unique and distinctive main character voice that combines old tropes into something new.
Rating: 8.0/10 (5 stars)
Your Thoughts: Have you read it? What did you think? If you haven't, will you be adding it to your TBR list? Let me know!