Review: Partials by Dan Wells

Author:Dan Wells
Title: Partials
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication: February 28, 2012
Source: HarperCollins via Netgalley
Rating: 4 out 5 
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Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials--engineered organic beings identical to humans--has decimated the world’s population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity’s time is running out.

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend’s pregnancy, she’s determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war’s origin that she never knew to ask.

Combining the fast-paced action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Battlestar Galactica, Partials is a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question--one where our sense of humanity is both our greatest liability, and our only hope for survival.

Quote:"Forget love, forget freedom, forget choice, just get yourself knocked up and save the world already."

Review: Partials is action-packed full of surprises and deceit. Kira lives in a world where each passing day the idea of freedom becomes gradually nonexistent. Teetering on the brink of extinction after being almost wiped out by the Partials and of pending war with the Voice, who are rebelling against the Senate and the Hope Act revisions that will drop the child-bearing age to sixteen. The belief is that at some point a child will survive but this a world I wouldn't want to live in, where you are required to be knocked up as much and as frequently as possible. That is crazy, and so unhealthy and emotionally disturbing. Kira is a great character with a lot of heart and she is determined to save the future of the human race. She is realistic, memorable and well developed as are all the characters. You love the ones you should love, and dislike the ones you should dislike. I really liked Samm, and look forward to more about him in the next book. Though this work is a bit lengthy, the pace flowed smoothly and the concept is an interesting twist on the posing end to the human race. Partials takes some unexpected turns that you won't expect, and things are much more complicated than they seem. What would you do if faced with the possibility of your life, your body no longer being your own, but governed by the rules of society in an effort to save the human race? Fall in line or fight back?This is a story about choice, sacrifice and courage. Overall, great read!