Title: Sever
Series: The Chemical Garden Trilogy
Publication: February 12, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: AroundtheWorldArcTours
Synopsis
With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.
Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.
In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.
Thoughts:Having escaped her plight in the red light district and making it home in the previous book, Rhine finds herself back where it all began. Desperate to protect her sister-wife, she pleads with Linden to keep her safe. Torn between his love for his wives and his father, Linden seeks out his father's estranged brother to house Rhine until she is well enough to travel. As her brother, Rowan's, antics become more frequent, Rhine is determined to reach him as she may be the only one to stop his madness but what she discovers is more sinister and confusing than she could ever imagine.
Rhine is an alright as female lead, she knows what she wants but she doesn't and this leads to emotional turmoil. What she seems able to find in abundance is trouble every time she runs, she finds herself in more precarious situations and further from the freedom she so desires. Now, the character that most intrigues me would be the one left in the dark, Linden, it's his desire to believe in the good of his father and Rhine that makes him so appealing. Of all the characters his intentions seemed the most innocent and caused me the most conflict as he was seen as the enemy but I couldn't help rooting for him to get the "main" girl, Rhine in the end. Vaughn, the scientifically calculating mastermind makes me sick to my stomach, his only saving grace is his love for his son, other than that the man is crazy.
The whole disease defect concept is interesting yet I still don't get it nor the how or why Rhine is so important. The whole taking girls to make them into baby making machines to keep the population going and to have test subjects seems cruel and quite disturbing. I really was not expecting that ending, absolutely shocking. This is truly a warped dystopian society. Overall, the writing is well done and though the story moves slowly for me, this is a thought provoking read. So, I recommend it to those that like twisted dystopian books.
I like books that have an ending that is twisted. I have read some really messed up books so this would probably be a walk in the park. I may give it a try. Plus, you mentioned thought provoking...and I love books that do that.
ReplyDeleteI felt Sever was a little rushed. I thought DeStefano could have expanded the whole series more and go into details about the experiments done by Rhine's parents. The Chemical Garden Trilogy sounded pretty for a series but I don't see how that has any connection to the experiments Rhine's parents were conducting on Rhine and her brother Rowan.
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