Mini-Reviews: Trilogies that are finished at last!

I have been following several trilogies that ended this spring. While some of the finales were satisfying and some were not, I love being able to cross them off my list!

The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter (The Goddess Test series)

I lost steam with this series. Initially, I was very excited about this retelling of the Persephone myth, but the plot of each story seemed to become more and more muddled. I found Kate's attraction to Henry to be far-fetched, and the world building also felt somewhat scattered and disorganized. While I enjoyed seeing a new imagining of a myth, ultimately this series did not deliver for me. I think the main highlight for me was Kate's love for her son, something that doesn't often come up in young adult fiction.

2.5 stars

Warnings: Violence, mild innuendo, possibly some mild language

Sever by Lauren DeStefano (The Chemical Garden series)

I think The Chemical Garden trilogy has long stood out for its lovely covers. I also found the subject matter intriguing on multiple levels -- the human race is dying out early due to a failed attempt to genetically engineer a disease-free world. Rhine has been kidnapped and married to a wealthy young man, along with two other "brides," to continue the human race. However, her husband Linden's father, Vaughan, has some sinister intentions.

I think this series is well-done. Lauren Destefano writes vividly. The plot is interesting and fast-paced. The book causes discomfort and introspection with the odd situation of three young women sharing a husband. I definitely enjoyed Sever the most of all the books -- it is lighter, and I feel that we finally have the chance to really understand some of the main characters (especially Cecily). However, for some reason the plot points of these books do not last long in my mind. I definitely enjoy them while I am reading, but they aren't especially memorable for me after the fact.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Mild innuendo, some language, disturbing themes

Reached by Ally Condie (Matched series)

Reached was a final book that I wasn't sure would be satisfying. While I'd enjoyed Matched, Crossed had left me very dissatisfied, and I wasn't sure where Condie was going with the series. I think Reached was better than Crossed. It evaluated some important themes, such as how your heart can exist in two places at once, and whether a revolution will actually bring peace. I also enjoyed the medical aspect of this novel -- it was interesting to read about the research, the mutations of the disease that dominates most of the plot, and the way Cassia's ability to sort plays into everything. I definitely liked it. Again, like Sever, it hasn't really lasted with me, but it was an enjoyable read, and I think the ending was satisfying.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Mildly disturbing themes and violence

Requiem by Lauren Oliver (Delirium series)

The ending to the Delirium trilogy, Requiem, has been heartily disliked by most of the reviewers I know. I approached reading the last book with trepidation. Delirium and Pandemonium had both been powerful and completely devastating, and I wanted some kind of satisfaction at the end of Requiem. I will say that in some ways that resolution is frustrating, but I do think that the ending is right for the trilogy. I won't say more -- I don't want to spoil it -- but I think the end illustrates the entire message of the trilogy.  

Ending aside, Requiem was probably my least favorite of the trilogy. Much of the book was spent on the run and strategizing, which generally doesn't hold my interest well. However, I enjoyed the different tensions between all of the characters -- romantic, familial, political, friendships -- they are what truly made this book. I also really loved having Hana's perspective. I loved her character in Delirium and was gratified at her return in Requiem. I certainly loved the trilogy and will probably reread it at some point. (Anyone know if the TV show is going to take off?)

4 stars

Warnings: Violence, language, innuendo

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (Infernal Devices series)

You guys. I can't be rational about this trilogy. I can't even attempt it. It began with Clockwork Angel, which I thought sounded extremely weird but which enough people encouraged me to read that I gave it a chance. I was shocked at how much I loved it. It continued with Clockwork Prince, where my heartstrings were tugged to the breaking point. I have been so antsy for Clockwork Princess, and I have to say it surpassed all my expectations. It was incredible. The way everything worked out was so satisfying, and yet there were no cop-outs. The characters had to make sacrifices and suffer intense, emotional and physical pain, but the way things worked out ultimately had me regaling my husband with the entire plot (he is a very patient man). I also love the way Cassandra Clare worked in so much literature. The quotes at the beginning of each chapter were perfect, and I also love the way literature defines Will and Tessa's relationship. In some ways, this book is a guilty pleasure, with all of its love triangle drama and gratuitous demon destruction (um, Mr. Lightwood, anyone?), but there is definitely intelligence behind the thrills. And honestly, any book that makes one so full of squee is worth reading, in my opinion. I purposely have held off on The Mortal Instruments until I finished this series, and now I must say that I am dying to dive in (although I will definitely miss the steampunk element of The Infernal Devices). 

5 stars

Warnings: Gratuitous demon destruction, some of it gory; a non-explicit bedroom scene, mild language

YA Friday: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Fever
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Series: The Chemical Garden #2
Genre: Dystopian, post-apocalyptic, YA
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2012
Source: Library
Read for: fun

**SPOILERS** for Book 1, Wither, are inevitable.

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped from Vaughan, and they are out in the world, free, for better or worse -- for a couple of hours. After stumbling on a twisted circus, Rhine and Gabriel find a whole new brand of captivity -- that of the scarlet districts, where dying girls exist only to bring momentary pleasure to a dying race. Gabriel, raised in the comfort of Vaughan's mansion, begins to question Rhine's decision to "escape" -- and Rhine too wonders if the reason she left, to find her brother, Rowan, has long since become beyond her reach.

I never realized how very dark and dismal this series was until my sister picked it up off the couch and began reading a paragraph out loud. For some reason, hearing the words somewhere other than my own mind was pretty shocking. However, it wasn't just the experience of hearing the words out loud -- Fever is definitely darker than Wither. 


While Housemaster Vaughan's totalitarian rule and creepy experiments were horrific, the drugged, hazy existence of the circus is also hellish. The ringmaster, as it were, is Madame, a woman who names all the girls that find her after colors and puts them in their respective tents. The girls have children, of course, and one of these is the deformed Maddie, who is rejected by Madame but who seems to know some secrets about the past. Ultimately, it is Maddie who help Rhine and Gabriel the most as they seek to escape the circus. And while the circus is probably the most twisted step on their journey, the book travels through several other areas before its shattering conclusion, all the while with Vaughan pursuing Gabriel and Rhine. The plot moved more quickly in Fever than in Wither, with more key events occurring. While I couldn't put Wither down, either, I definitely enjoyed the faster pace in Fever.


The character development was somewhat lacking for me. While Rhine is having new and dangerous experiences, she doesn't really change as a person. She still doggedly seeks after the same principles and goals. While many of these are good and worthwhile, I would expect her to develop more after all she experiences. Gabriel continues to be the quiet, somewhat blank presence he was in Wither -- sweet, romantic, but not especially interesting. He does have some dark moments in Fever, such as recovering from addiction to the drug Madame fed him in the circus, and flashes of annoyance at Rhine for convincing him to leave the relative comfort of the mansion, but overall he is muted without much change or personality. The only character that continues to shift and change is Cecily, Linden's youngest bride. Cecily can be foolish and is overly trusting of Vaughan, to the point of betraying Rhine multiple times, but as the book continues she finds her preconceptions challenged. I don't think she will ever truly move beyond her desire to be a bride and her level of comfort with what Rhine saw as imprisonment, but she definitely reveals new sides to her personality as Fever progresses.

DeStefano's writing continues to be lush and descriptive, with poignant images of both beauty and decay illustrating the strange worlds the characters inhabit. Occasionally, if I looked carefully at a metaphor or phrase, there were certain issues that didn't quite mesh. I should have written down examples, but unfortunately I already returned the book to the library. However, for the most part, the writing was just as powerful as it was in Wither. I think the real strength of this series is the disturbing, fantastical atmosphere DeStefano creates, and I think her most powerful tool is her ability to create powerful imagery, rather than characters or plot.

Fever is a dark, quick-paced sequel to Wither. While the characters do not seem to develop, instead simply struggling to achieve their goals, the pace is faster and many events transpire, leading Rhine to learn additional secrets about her world and the dark basement of Housemaster Vaughan. I am curious to see where the conclusion will lead.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Dark thematic material (including prostitution), drug use, violence, some language

YA Friday: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Wither
Series: The Chemical Garden Trilogy, #1
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Genre:YA, dystopian, fantasy
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
Source: Library
Read for: Fun

In a frenzy of genetic manipulation, trying to keep the world's population healthy, a fatal mistake is made. Now males die at the age of 25 and females die at the age of 20. Some are hopeless, thinking it is the fate of the human race to die out. Some are frantically experimenting and researching, hoping to find a cure. And some are joining polygamous marriages and reproducing before they wither (heh - get it). Rhine belongs to the latter camp, kidnapped against her will and now married to Linden with two other girls, Cecily and Jenna. Rhine lives a life of luxury with Linden - but is it worth the loss of her freedom?

Okay, two things about this book. First of all - lovely writing, intriguing characters, absorbing plot. Second of all - totally unrealistic. This is why I have this pegged as fantasy. Because there is no way that the disease would automatically affect people with age, the world is mysterious and vague (granted, most of the story takes place in Linden's mansion, in which there is little to no contact with the outside world). This isn't a book that you can think too hard about as far as world development and global repercussions go. My other issue about realistic-ness has to do with Rhine's standing in the house, and it involves a spoiler, so highlight over if you'd like to read it - I don't know how she would get to be the first wife if she didn't consummate her marriage with Linden. I understand why she didn't, and I'm glad she didn't - but I just don't understand how he would perceive her as his favorite and spend every night snuggling up to her with nothing ever progressing beyond that. 

However, if you can get past the cerebral issues, it is quite enjoyable, even alluring. First of all, Lauren DeStefano's writing is every bit as dazzling as that cover. Unfortunately, I returned the book without copying down any passages - none stood out to me in particular. However, the book as a whole was almost visual in its descriptions. Rhine moves from a bleak, desperate world into a world of color and privilege, with special gowns and makeup designed exclusively for her to allure her husband and countless gardens and pavilions surrounding Linden's home. The characters are also described exceptionally well - I have vivid mental images of all of them (Cecily is a young, short Amy Adams, in case you were wondering). I honestly think the reason I was so absorbed in this book was the magic of the writing, because honestly, there isn't always much going on. There is mystery and tension, but the book is about a group of girls that live in a house and don't leave. Obviously more than that happens, but with that premise we aren't always getting tons of action. Fortunately, DeStefano's writing prevents that from becoming a problem.

I also enjoyed the characters, for the most part. I loved Rhine's relationships with her sister-wives and the friendships that developed between them. I've always wondered how women in polygamous families could stand each other, but the tentative friendships that blossom into sisterhood are one of the most compelling aspects of this book. Rhine not only becomes close with her sister wives, she also has a special friendship with Linden's first wife, Rose, who at twenty, doesn't stick around for long. She also has a remarkable friendship with Linden, her naive but sweet husband. In fact, I grew to like Linden quite a bit. Because of his sheltered life, he doesn't always understand or perceive the unethical aspects of his lifestyle; however, he does everything he can to make his wives comfortable and happy. He is suffering from loss just like every other character in the book (grief is a difficult emotion to avoid when everyone dies in their twenties). I also liked Gabriel, but I noticed a slightly annoying trend that has also appeared in similar books. Whenever I read a YA book written in first person, for some reason I never get a clear picture of the love interest. It's as if they are blacked out by the narrator's emotions - I know just how that person feels about the character, but I feel like I can't get a clear picture of what the character is actually like. I liked Gabriel, don't get me wrong - but I felt as if I knew much more about Linden. Gabriel was still a mystery to me - even though I knew he liked boats and had lived his life in the mansion, I felt like I didn't know much about him. I'm hoping that his character is fleshed out more as the trilogy progresses.

So, what's the verdict? While this book was imperfect, I still truly enjoyed it. It was compelling and absorbing and swept me up into the story, allowing me to focus on little else until the book was finished. If you are willing to look past the things that don't quite mesh together, reading Wither should be a great experience for you.

4 stars

Warnings: Un-gory violence, marital sex (behind closed doors)