Wither
Lauren Destefano
Book 1 - The Chemical Garden Trilogy
By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children.
When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can't bring herself to hate him as much as she'd like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband's strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape -- before her time runs out?
Recommended for those who enjoy:
dystopians, end of the world concepts, love, romance, blossoming love, challenging the law, fighting chaos, living in a 'lawless' world,
Cold Tea and Crumbs rating: ★★★★☆
My thoughts:
The world as we know it is no more, the US is all that is left after World War 3 but cancer and similar diseases now no longer threaten the human race. However in return, the subsequent generations only live until 25 (males) and 20 (females). No-one know why!
This story is incredible, the dystopian world is terrifyingly possible and the characters loveable, hateful and enjoyably annoying.
This book focuses on Rhine and her life as a sister wife within a wealthy mansion, a complete opposite to her previous life in Manhattan. Even though most of this story takes place within the same four walls, the story is gripping from start to finish. The clear focus for the series though, which I'm sure will be explored more as the series progresses, is the fight to find an anitdote for these early deaths.
Overall, a must for anyone looking for a more sinister version of 'The Selection Series'
Over to you:
Have you read Wither, what did you think of it? Enjoyed reading it or disliked it?
Who is your favourite character and what was your favourite scene?
Who is your favourite character and what was your favourite scene?
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