Your Average Dystopian Novel
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Review originally posted on my blog "Your Average Bibliophile." (Find link on profile page.)

The Darkest Minds begins when children in America start dying off. The ones remaining are labelled as dangerous and sent to a "rehabilitation camp" to be categorized into colors: red, orange, yellow, blue, and green. Why? Because they have been afflicted with a virus that gives them superhuman X-men-like powers. Ruby is one of these lucky kids, sent to the "Auschwitz" of the camp world - Thurmond. It breaks her, and she doesn't even think about escape until the Children's League (supposedly helping these kids) breaks her out. Of course, their great rescue doesn't go quite as planned, and Ruby ends up road-tripping with a some escapees from a different camp. And that's when actual things start happening.

This book had both strong and weak points. We'll go with the positives first. The writing was solid. I felt like an invisible bystander in the novel doing some mighty fine creeping on Ruby and the band of children she finds - Liam (a blue), Chubs (a green), and Zu (a yellow).  The plot had action, adventure, humor, and the typical government antagonist. Oh, and let's not forget the teenage romance of Ruby and Liam. Cute, sweet, and not as instalove as most Young Adult novels.

Most of the characters were actually very well-rounded, but the secondary characters definitely took the spotlight. Liam was a regular boy with a quiet confidence. He wasn't arrogant or over-the-top, just a boy on a mission and with enough guilt to re-open the American government. A little on the boring side at times because I love the bad boys. Interestingly enough, the author didn't have Ruby point out how hot he was, more so how kind he was. Another refreshing character was Chubs - a smart know-it-all, would-be-male-version-of-Hermione-Granger (if school still existed), who was witty, protective, and although meant to be that poor third-wheel, stood his own. Zu was more a mystery, but was portrayed well as the sweet, young girl with too much power and not enough fun.

Are you wondering what I think about Ruby? Her character sways to the red zone. She was weak, useless, and damsel in distress in the beginning of the novel. She had no backbone and annoyed the crap out of me. I'm surprised she got away from the Children's League, it's out-of-character. Yes, I feel bad for her. She got stuck in a terrible situation that she didn't deserve at all. But still. She was vague, wishy-washy, and indecisive the whole novel. When she meets the gang, it's like she suddenly takes on a more assertive personality, but it's not good enough. I disagreed with around 75% of her decisions, and if the other characters weren't so strong, I would have been very discouraged with this novel despite the writing.

Plot - it's a typical YA plot. How did this virus occur? We never find out. What exactly was the government thinking? Ha, nice one. What do all the colors really mean? Keep wishing. Is it even legal to reproduce? Meh.  We are all sex-craved beings, so who cares? The novel starts out super strong, but tapers off around page 300 when we meet some new characters that are paper-thin and stupid. The author lost her pacing, and didn't find it again till the last two chapters. (Side note: the romance could have completely been left out; it took away from Liam as a character and made him less interesting.)

Despite the cons, this book wasn't half-bad. It just left me disappointed. There is so much potential in this world, and Bracken didn't take the creative leap. She stuck to the overused patterns of Young Adult dystopians. I think it's definitely worth looking at, but should be bumped down on your "to-read" list.
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The world created within this story was fascinating. It was by far my favourite aspect of the novel. This dystopian world seemed possible in every single way, as technology advances with each year and I could see it coming to this point. The world was also rather terrifying and I would definitely NOT want to live in it, but lets be real, there isn't a dystopian world that I would like to live in in the first place. Its also a book that made me think a lot, which is something I also enjoyed.

The plot was very interesting, but I felt that it was overstuffed. The first half of the book was very good, the introduction of the world and characters was greatly done. The second half of the book is where the problem lies. A lot of things kept happening all the time and there were a lot of information dropped on the reader throughout the second part. I feel that this book would have been better on that aspect if it was a duology, as the events would have been a bit further apart from each other and there would have been more time to absorb the information.

As many things were crammed into the second part it also affected the characters and their development. They could have definitely be developed more, but with how the book is paced there really isn't any time for that. This book definitely suffered with how much was crammed into the story. The characters in general were interesting and I liked most of them, in the beginning that is  some of them took a nosedive throughout the story. They weren't the most memorable characters out there either.

Another problem that I had with this book is the love triangle. As you may know I tend to hate them and find them unnecessary in books and this was no exception to that. This book could have done perfectly well without it, it would have been even better. I also felt that the story ended quiet abruptly, not everything was wrapped up the way I hoped it would be. As I already mentioned, this book would have benefited so much if it were a duology.

All in all, this book was simply all right. It had an interesting premise and world, but the characters and relationships weren't the best. Plus the story was very crammed. I would still recommend this book, if you enjoy dystopian novels!
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[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.]

I struggle a bit in terms of how to describe this book, except to say I'd peg it as a quintessential space opera set in a dystopian future. It's intriguing and entertaining, and it has enough twists to keep a reader interested all the way through. But I'm settling on a three-star rating because as I sit here now thinking back on it, the story isn't one that really stands out. It is what it is in the moment, but it doesn't stay with you like some more profound stories tend to do. And that's fine; sometimes you want a book just like that, and this is it.
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Starters was definitely different. I wanted to read it as soon as I found out it was a new dystopian, and you all know how much I love dystopians. The world Callie lives in right now is split in two. The starters (people younger than 20) and the Enders (people older than 70). Most of the people in between died from an epidemic. The Enders now don't die by the age of 80-90, they live up to 200+. The story starts with Callie wanting to rent her body at a body bank to get money for her and her young brother. The body bank "Prime Destination" is a secretive organization that only a few selective people know about. Enders get to have their choice of bodies and relive their youthful days, literally.
On her third rental trial, Callie wakes up, takes full control of her body and finds herself living her renter's life. The luxury cars, designer clothes, and the fake name. However her renter isn't just out to have some fun, she has her own plan, a plan that might ruin Callie's life, if it didn't already end it. Callie would do anything to protect her brother, she was brave, rational, and a headstrong protagonist. The book had a plot, a mystery, an evil character, but I just felt that something was missing. I would have loved if I got a better glimpse at their dystopian world.
I liked the build up of the story. Right from the start you get tidbits of information to unveil the conspiracy of Prime Destination and in just how much trouble Callie is in. You're not left in the dark for long, and when one question is answered, another one pops up. Especially towards the end, so many gasp moments occur and secrets are revealed that leave you hardly able to wait for the release of the second, and final book in this dystopian duology.
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This is a fantasy, science fiction, post apocalyptic dystopian novel. There is something here for everyone. It is probably the most unusual book I've read but it held my attention to the very end.
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This is a very well-written dystopian novel set in the near future. The characters start out as young rebels but grow older as the book progresses. One of the things I liked best is that the dystopia is rather realistic, based on things that are going on now and things that could conceivably happen soon. Also, the story is not as grim as some others, such as The Hunger Games. There is room for hope here.

Although the book seems to be written for adults, the content is such that you don't have to worry if a younger reader borrows the book.
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Today, I am reviewing the YA Paranormal story Desperation is the New Hope by Jessica Simone. This is a post-apocalyptic novel set in the isolated kingdom of Patico, which is kept from the rest of the presumably-destroyed and barbaric world by a giant wall and governed by a King whom everyone believes to be doing his best to protect them from situations they cant understand. During the novel, some of the characters begin to develop paranormal powers and control over the elementssomething which doesnt sit well with the established authority.

I give this book a 2.75/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 3/5. The characters were interesting, but hardly unique. Many book tropes were filled in the writing of this novel  the love triangle, the hidden mentors, the new discovery of powers, and the prophesied hero. Jessica pulls it off reasonably well, but I didn't find myself very invested in the individuals themselves.

Plot/Storyline: 3/5. More of the same. The story is interesting, and as the book went on I wanted to see more of what was going on, but it feels like several other things Ive read or seen. Its derivative, is what Im trying to say, and many of the points were either predictable or hard to understand (like the sudden influx of people who knew what was going on), forcing me to swallow my disbelief to continue the story.

Flow: 4/5. The authors use of language is solid and the story flows reasonably well. I didn't have any major hitching-points or places where I just flipped through the pages to get through. Kudos!
Spelling/Grammar: 2.5/5. Many typographical errors. Tenses are switched in several places. This book needs a professional editor/proofreader to go through and clear up these issues.

Overall: 2.75/5. For a debut novel, this is a fairly decent work. Ive seen much worse from many sources. However, I think there is also a lot of room for improvement, and I hope that Jessica takes the opportunity to do more with her sequel. Good luck!
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If you are into dystopian cli-fi for young adults (YA), here's a very good debut novel that will be part of series. My wife liked it, so theres that. I did, too! For more on cli-fi, YA and adults, see ''The Cli-Fi'' Report online. I'm over the moon on this one!
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It seems to me that Huxley's reply to Orwell's 1984 is "At least your dystopia can produce an interesting story."
I found BNW dull at times, compelling at others, but mostly both. This pivotal work of political science fiction definitely made me think twice about certain developments occuring in today's judgemental and materialistic society, and the direction I would have us go from here.
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IN A NUTSHELL
A dystopian that's far more sophisticated than most.

Although I haven't read the Selection series I see Landry Park as being somewhat like that book. The elegance, ball gowns, and the I-am-better-than-you attitude. Like I said I could be totally wrong.

SETTING
The setting was much like most Dystopian-ish worlds. By that I mean you have the people who think they're better then everyone else, and then those who live poorly. (I guess you could say it's much like the real world) We did get to learn some about how Madeline's world came to be. What made them think they were better than the others. The world-building was nothing spectacular, but that's just my opinion. Take it for what it worth, which is probably a grain of salt. :)

While the world building itself wasn't my cup of tea although the sophistication was there (they weren't having kids kill kids) They let the poor do jobs that would eventually make them sick. They let the world itself do the killing. It's a step up from people killing people right? No.

CHARACTERS
I had a hard time believing I would love the characters from the beginning of the story what with the holier than thou attitude, but I grew to enjoy a few of them as the story neared an end.

Madeline at times definitely had me wondering if she would go with her gut feeling, and be true to herself. Sometimes I felt she'd do what was easier, but eventually she picked where she wanted her loyalties to lie. I believe she will definitely grow to be a strong lady.
David frustrated me so much because he was either hot or cold with Madeline and I hate when they play games with each other. Pick one girl or the other fool. :P I will say it does eventually work itself out, and we see some twists. :)

ENDING
It's not really what I was expecting. Then again some parts are exactly what I wanted.
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TAKEN is pretty forgettable; it's your run-of-the-mill post-apocalyptic/dystopia novel. On their eighteenth birthdays, the men of Claysoot vanish, an event called the Heist, but when Gray learns a secret, everything he knows is thrown into question, and he leaves the village, followed by Emma, the girl he's had a crush on for ages, and what they find only raises more questions. There were a few elements that seemed plot-hole-ish (for example, even after the explanation of how the Heist is carried off, I don't believe it), and very little surprises in any of the revelations about the structure of Gray's world. The characters aren't particularly likeable, but on the bright side, their flaws make them seem more realistic, considering the world in which they live. TAKEN isn't bad, per se. It's a straightforward page-turner, more action-packed than thoughtful, and fans of the genre will probably enjoy Bowman's debut and eagerly await the sequel.
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From my blog On Starships and Dragonwings

In a world were love is a disease, Lena has lived her whole life looking forward to her 18th birthday when she will be cured and safe from contracting "the most deadly of all deadly things." However, dystopias just aren't happy with the status quo, and Lena quickly starts meeting people and experiencing things that convince her the government might not be right about everything after all....
I have a rather long drive to school/work and therefore need to have an audiobook with me always ;-). I've found that the best place to look for them is the library's YA section, because they are so much better than the Adult selection :D. I was hopeful for Delirium since I had seen a lot of positive reviews, but the dystopia genre has gotten so filled up lately that I just have gotten a lot pickier in what a book needs to bring in order to be new enough. Don't get me wrong, I see a lot of promise in this trilogy, Delirium just didn't have me jumping for joy, or even hopping really.

Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Discs: 9
Genre-ish: Dystopia YA
Rating:  - promising premise, kinda meh

Strengths:
The premise is really interesting, since love does wreak a lot of havoc in young people's lives, but I find it fairly doubtful our society would ever make the shift to wanting to go without it, given that we stereotypically consider life incomplete without love nowadays....
I really loved the secondary characters Hanna and Grace! Hanna is the best friend and she was spunky and fun. Grace was the adorable younger cousin/adopted sister that you wanted to cuddle and hug, so cute!
The plot twist 2/3 through Delirium was epic and completely unexpected :D.
Weaknesses:
I wasn't nearly as in love (haha) with the main characters of Delirium. Lena just seemed rather flat to me, and Alex was that guy that I could understand why my friend had a crush on, but I was not interested in at all. It made it difficult to feel much of a connection to the romance element, which is kind of a big deal if you didn't guess ;-).
The romance plot is also pretty darn predictable, especially with the references being dropped all over the place *sigh*.
Again, while the premise is interesting, I really doubt that it would happen. The cool thing about dystopias is when they are eerily possible, and I just didn't get that feeling with Delirium.
While Delirium is a solid YA dystopia, there didn't seem to be anything fresh to bring to the genre, and Delirium just didn't grab me as a book. If I wasn't listening to it, I probably would have forgotten to pick it up again.
I don't recommend listening to this one on audio, I found the narrator's voice to be too childish at times and might have been part of the reason I didn't connect with the main characters.
Summary:
As with a lot of books, if you are in the mood for a YA dystopia that doesn't stray from the genre, Delirium is just your cup of tea. However, if you want something fresh and are freaking sick of books that ring very similar, then you might want to skip this one. The one thing I will say, however, is that where Delirium ends opens up the possibility for the rest of the trilogy to be much better (in my opinion ;-)) than the first book. I am planning to continue on with Pandemonium, partially because I know the library has it, and partially because I'm really hopeful with the direction the story seems to be going. If you are willing to put in the time for a trilogy, Delirium might be worth trying out. Again though, I don't recommend the audio unless you like a fairly adolescent voice for the narrator.
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A little help here, Dystopian fans.  While I haven't read very many books in this genre aside from the 3 Hunger Games books and now this, I noticed quite a number of similarities that took away from the originality factor for me. In Dystopian novels should I:

1) Expect teens to be ripped away from their families and forced into some Darwinist-based event thanks to some sick tyrannical government power trip?
2) Expect something horrible to happen to the main character's loved ones a la Disney?
3) Expect the main character to start out really sucky and weak and then eventually find something they're good at to give them the upper hand?
4) Expect a war?

We get all of that in Divergent for sure. The story centers on Beatrice Prior and the city of Chicago. The city has been divided into 5 factions that all separately contribute to society: Abnegation (signifying selflessness), Amity (signifying peace), Candor (signifying honesty), Dauntless (signifying bravery), and Erudite (signifying intelligence). Once sixteen, all of the teens undergo tests to determine which faction suits them best. It's not always the faction where one was born and raised. And the right faction is not always so cut and dry.

Of course this little complication applies to Beatrice, but she chooses another faction anyway and must keep this complication to herself to stay alive. Like every other initiate, she must leave her old life behind and completely devote herself to her new faction.  All initiates have to fight in tournaments to prove their worth, undergoing brutal physical as well as mental trials, and not all will make the cut. We follow Beatrice through these trials as she faces downright nasty adversaries, trying to break her down as much as they can. She doesn't go through this alone as she bonds with Four, the mysterious and handsome trainer for her new faction. And through these trials the course of her life and their society will change forever.

Could it be that if I've read the best I've read the rest?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a Hunger Games purist of any sort. If anything, if I cared enough I'd be a Battle Royale purist since I saw that movie and knew of that manga about 12 years ago and couldn't help but notice The Hunger Games' eerily similar premise. I mean, I enjoyed the series anyway (well, the first book at least) but that was always in my mind.

It may just be that I'm not as in love with this genre as I once thought I could be. Heavens knows I love Urban Fantasy/Paranormal books and notice plot points and characters that I believe are an unspoken requirement now for the genre, but I still tend to find something unique that I love and enjoy within my favorites.

All around there really aren't many dull moments. It is a quality book with solid storytelling and world building. I was fairly engaged and read it in a couple of days. But overall I wasn't blown away, though I'm apparently of the minority on that one. Will I read the second book? Likely so, but I'm not in a huge rush.
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I ask this question every time I read a dystopian novel. Only gave 4 stars because of the back and forth between past and present. But extremely well written.
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The premise and the plot are a little rough and slightly implausible. I believe that the author subordinated the plot to the ideas he wished to explore: the demise of literature and the implications of taking this idea to its logical extreme. It's an interesting exploration. However, other dystopian literature has managed such exploration of extremes with much stronger plots.
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I really enjoyed this novel. It was a nice change of pace compared to some of the dystopian novels that are out these days. While Cia does tend to have skills that are a little too convenient at times, her attitude toward killing drastically differs from most dystopian novels, where killing eventually becomes second nature, or at least acceptable. Cia isn't like that at all, and I can really appreciate it.

The first book tends to have some cliches and predictability, and Tomas, in my opinion, is just annoying and is just there for a weak love interest, but overall the book is excellent and it's interesting to see a new form of dystopian literature.

Make sure you check out books 2 and 3. The writing and plot gets much better.
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I'm a sucker for these YA, dystopian weird books. That being said I think lots of folks would like it. The novel does seem to borrow from Stephen King and a bunch of other novels I've read but it wasn't predictable. I hope the second book is good too.