Enter a world where the cure to a deadly plague has led to a terrible condition. Those who received the cure (and all their descendants), must now depend on a daily ration of potion from the Chemists to allow their bodies to digest food and get any nutrients from it. In Monument City the Chemists rule and the rest of the population obeys meekly or suffers a striping, a corporal punishment for an offense. Among the rules enforced are a mandatory curfew and no physical contact allowed between males and females. In fact, they are to maintain a 3-foot distance between the genders. To help men avoid accidentally touching a woman, all females are required to wear red clothing to make them stand out visually in a crowd. Grey is a young woman who comes from a family that has already lost a son to the Chemists and their punishments. When she gives her ration to a friend in need, it sets off a chain of events that upsets the balance within the city. Old secrets are slowly revealed and new alliances are formed.
The author does a wonderful job of showing the reader what it feels like to live under a repressive regime and to long for freedom. The characters all have well-thought-out motivations for their actions and even the things that seem puzzling at first come to make sense as the plot progresses. There are possible romances, sides to choose, and revolutions to organize - plenty of action, excitement, and intrigue to keep everyone's interest.
Perfect for fans of dystopian novels like Divergent, and there are many similarities between the two books; an isolated city, a girl who may have extraordinary abilities (if she can only discover them), power hungry leaders, etc.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
No comments:
Post a Comment