Author: Caragh M. O'Brien
Release Date: November 8, 2011
Pages: 356 (ARC)
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Most Appropriate for Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from publisherStriking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?
I'm not gonna beat around the bush: I did not like Prized as much as I liked Birthmarked. I enjoyed it, yes, and I'm excited to see what happens next in the series, but some things in Prized just didn't work for me.
But even though some things didn't work for me in this installment, I see why the author had to do these things and it was logical to take them the places she did. It just bugged me. Which makes this review particularly hard to write.
So you know how everyone's sick of the love triangles? Well, Prized has a love square. Now, logically, this makes sense. Nine out of ten people in Sylum are guys, and it's illegal for the ones that aren't married to so much as touch another girl, so obviously they are supa horneh. But it still bugged me, especially since Gaia just kinda led them all on, which also makes sense. I mean, this was a shock to a girl who had never even been looked at by guys. But it still bugged me.
It also didn't help that the pace was much slower than it was in Birthmarked. I found it far easier to put down than I'd like, honestly.
No, Prized did not quite live up to the expectations that Birthmarked had set, but I by no means found it bad, and I have hopes for the next book. Also, Leon was about ten times hotter in this book, so that helped.
But even though some things didn't work for me in this installment, I see why the author had to do these things and it was logical to take them the places she did. It just bugged me. Which makes this review particularly hard to write.
So you know how everyone's sick of the love triangles? Well, Prized has a love square. Now, logically, this makes sense. Nine out of ten people in Sylum are guys, and it's illegal for the ones that aren't married to so much as touch another girl, so obviously they are supa horneh. But it still bugged me, especially since Gaia just kinda led them all on, which also makes sense. I mean, this was a shock to a girl who had never even been looked at by guys. But it still bugged me.
It also didn't help that the pace was much slower than it was in Birthmarked. I found it far easier to put down than I'd like, honestly.
No, Prized did not quite live up to the expectations that Birthmarked had set, but I by no means found it bad, and I have hopes for the next book. Also, Leon was about ten times hotter in this book, so that helped.
Plot: A bit slow.
Characters: Gaia made some mistakes that made me super angry at her, but Leon made up for it cause DANG.
Writing: Very good!
Ending: Leaves a lot of hope for the last book.
Kid Friendly? There was an abortion and talk of it, as well as a pretty gory birth.
Should I read it? If you loved the first book like I did, yes. If you didn't...well, then maybe you'll want to wait to see what people said about the third book.
Overall:
Bummer. I was really hoping it was going to be as good as Birthmarked...
ReplyDeleteThis totally made me happy. I'm not kidding. I LOVE Birthmarked and can't wait for Promised... eek!!!!! Sorry, I'm weird like that. I was angry at a lot of people and then they made up for it. *sighs dreamy Leon sigh* I <3 this...
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