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alicebme's review against another edition
4.0
This book made me angry. As a feminist and a pro-choice advocate, I found the Matrarc infuriating. Beyond infuriating. The author, however, gets an A in creating dystopian worlds! She's pretty terrific at creating romantic tension too. I zipped through this one.
madiganinwonderland's review against another edition
2.0
Ugh god. 1.75
This sucked. Love "SQUARES" and weird instalove and possessive guys. They took a series almost entirely about family and made it into shit. I mean romance. It was weird and just not good. Not good. I'm certainly not buying the last one so I gotta wait forever till the library gets it. Blech!
This sucked. Love "SQUARES" and weird instalove and possessive guys. They took a series almost entirely about family and made it into shit. I mean romance. It was weird and just not good. Not good. I'm certainly not buying the last one so I gotta wait forever till the library gets it. Blech!
renuked's review against another edition
5.0
This was intense. Very VERY intricate, involved, and ORIGINAL. I have never read a book quite like this.
anna3101's review against another edition
2.0
I really liked the first book in the series. As for this one... well... I'm giving it 2 stars only because it did raise many emotions inside of me - albeit all of them quite negative. Very negative, actually.
The main character here is a completely different person. She's whiny, selfish, weak and she makes you want to strangle her. I actually understand Leon quite well. Are there people saying he was "too cruel"? Well, I think he wasn't cruel enough! Frankly, Gaia made me want to spit into her face many, many times, so I really admire Leon's patience with her. He was actually far too good for someone as worthless as she was, for the better part of the book.
Now, about the love triangle, oh, sorry - rectangle. What the hell is that all about?? I realize books need stereotypes, and that's ok with me, but just how many stereotypes can the poor reader take? For God's sake, this so-called "romance" was so incredibly ridiculous and implausible that it made we want to gag. Here's a girl with a scarred face whom nobody wanted, and now all of a sudden everyone wants her, just like that. It doesn't matter that she's neither pretty nor intelligent and not even interesting in any way. Maybe my problem is I'm long past my teenage years, so somehow the idea of endless guys all pining over one oh-so-lucky girl doesn't get me drooling. It seems like EVERY writer of YA fiction just feels it her one and foremost responsibility to squeeze some stupid love triangle inside her book, just for the sake of it. I hated everything about that. And I hated Gaia for being so incredibly dumb. She behaved like a dizzy blonde out of primitive jokes, going all weak over each guy who looked at her. Maybe she should finally have sex or something, because frankly the way she would go all hot and bothered for every single guy makes it clear she's in dire need of some sex life. And maybe while she's at it, she could finally decide which of the (very many) men she wants. I know her tiny head with tiny brains has huge problems with making decisions and especially with sticking to them but maybe she could manage just this once?
I'm not sure if I want to read the last book in the series. Only if there were a bit more of Gaia from Birthmarked and not that whiny thing from Prized, then I would consider that. Guess I'll have a good look at the reviews first.
The main character here is a completely different person. She's whiny, selfish, weak and she makes you want to strangle her. I actually understand Leon quite well. Are there people saying he was "too cruel"? Well, I think he wasn't cruel enough! Frankly, Gaia made me want to spit into her face many, many times, so I really admire Leon's patience with her. He was actually far too good for someone as worthless as she was, for the better part of the book.
Now, about the love triangle, oh, sorry - rectangle. What the hell is that all about?? I realize books need stereotypes, and that's ok with me, but just how many stereotypes can the poor reader take? For God's sake, this so-called "romance" was so incredibly ridiculous and implausible that it made we want to gag. Here's a girl with a scarred face whom nobody wanted, and now all of a sudden everyone wants her, just like that. It doesn't matter that she's neither pretty nor intelligent and not even interesting in any way. Maybe my problem is I'm long past my teenage years, so somehow the idea of endless guys all pining over one oh-so-lucky girl doesn't get me drooling. It seems like EVERY writer of YA fiction just feels it her one and foremost responsibility to squeeze some stupid love triangle inside her book, just for the sake of it. I hated everything about that. And I hated Gaia for being so incredibly dumb. She behaved like a dizzy blonde out of primitive jokes, going all weak over each guy who looked at her. Maybe she should finally have sex or something, because frankly the way she would go all hot and bothered for every single guy makes it clear she's in dire need of some sex life. And maybe while she's at it, she could finally decide which of the (very many) men she wants. I know her tiny head with tiny brains has huge problems with making decisions and especially with sticking to them but maybe she could manage just this once?
I'm not sure if I want to read the last book in the series. Only if there were a bit more of Gaia from Birthmarked and not that whiny thing from Prized, then I would consider that. Guess I'll have a good look at the reviews first.
stephxsu's review against another edition
2.0
The trouble with the first book in a trilogy rocking your world is that, as much as you anticipate the first opportunity you get to read its sequel, you simultaneously fear that it won’t live up to how much you enjoyed the first. Sadly, in PRIZED’s case, this was true. Whereas I couldn’t put Birthmarked down, I struggled at times to push myself through PRIZED’s copious use of info-dumps and inconsistencies in characterization and plot that really pushed the limit on my tolerance of YA lit clichés.
I read Birthmarked in one night, forgoing sleep in my complete absorption within the Enclave and my desperation to discover the fates of these beloved characters. Unfortunately, I did not feel as invested in PRIZED. Perhaps rereading Birthmarked would have helped, but I also felt like PRIZED veered off in an entirely different direction: little but the names of the main characters carried over from the first book into the second, with the result that PRIZED had to create for us an entirely new dystopian world—and not necessarily with complete success.
The rules of Sylum are explained to readers mostly through “tell-all” conversations with little plot and nothing concrete to tie all the Sylum-related facts that are unloaded onto readers in one fell swoop after another. I felt like the motivations for various characters’ actions were never fully illustrated. Why did the Matrarc demand such rigid obeisance to their society’s rules? Why was Gaia so insistent on defending her actions without fully considering their impact on herself and those around her? Why did she so strictly divide public opinion regarding her when she doesn’t really do anything at all?
For that matter, why is Gaia so appealing to everyone? If you thought love triangles were getting a bit ridiculous in YA lit, wait until you catch a whiff of this book’s love square. Sure, readers love when the protagonist is loved by someone who sees the beauty in them despite her awkwardness/incompetence/insecurity, but Gaia’s situation felt like extreme overkill, like an intervened twist in the story purely for reader gratification. The utter unnaturalness of the situation really prevented me from becoming emotionally and intellectually invested in the story.
PRIZED unfortunately seemed to cut corners in explanation of character motivation or plot progression. With little to no relevance to the first book, except through the recurrence of a handful of characters and a promise at the end of a reconnection in the last installment, this could have been an entirely different YA dystopian series—not exactly what you want from the second book in a trilogy. I think I’ll still read the last book, if only to see how Sylum and the Enclave tie back together, but overall it was a rather large disappointment.
I read Birthmarked in one night, forgoing sleep in my complete absorption within the Enclave and my desperation to discover the fates of these beloved characters. Unfortunately, I did not feel as invested in PRIZED. Perhaps rereading Birthmarked would have helped, but I also felt like PRIZED veered off in an entirely different direction: little but the names of the main characters carried over from the first book into the second, with the result that PRIZED had to create for us an entirely new dystopian world—and not necessarily with complete success.
The rules of Sylum are explained to readers mostly through “tell-all” conversations with little plot and nothing concrete to tie all the Sylum-related facts that are unloaded onto readers in one fell swoop after another. I felt like the motivations for various characters’ actions were never fully illustrated. Why did the Matrarc demand such rigid obeisance to their society’s rules? Why was Gaia so insistent on defending her actions without fully considering their impact on herself and those around her? Why did she so strictly divide public opinion regarding her when she doesn’t really do anything at all?
For that matter, why is Gaia so appealing to everyone? If you thought love triangles were getting a bit ridiculous in YA lit, wait until you catch a whiff of this book’s love square. Sure, readers love when the protagonist is loved by someone who sees the beauty in them despite her awkwardness/incompetence/insecurity, but Gaia’s situation felt like extreme overkill, like an intervened twist in the story purely for reader gratification. The utter unnaturalness of the situation really prevented me from becoming emotionally and intellectually invested in the story.
PRIZED unfortunately seemed to cut corners in explanation of character motivation or plot progression. With little to no relevance to the first book, except through the recurrence of a handful of characters and a promise at the end of a reconnection in the last installment, this could have been an entirely different YA dystopian series—not exactly what you want from the second book in a trilogy. I think I’ll still read the last book, if only to see how Sylum and the Enclave tie back together, but overall it was a rather large disappointment.
kangokaren's review against another edition
4.0
Good sequel. I think a third book is coming out and am curious as to how it will fit in.
callmecat's review against another edition
3.0
The love square in this book was beyond annoying. I really hated it. However, it turned out alright. Because of the love triangle I have mixed feelings though.
The rest was interesting. I like her and I don't think she did anything too wrong, including leaving that guy in jail. It's just the abortion I don't agree with...
I feel that the love story really was too big of a part of this. She was sitting on her heels for too long and then finally made progress at the end, at least.
The rest was interesting. I like her and I don't think she did anything too wrong, including leaving that guy in jail. It's just the abortion I don't agree with...
I feel that the love story really was too big of a part of this. She was sitting on her heels for too long and then finally made progress at the end, at least.
books4susie's review against another edition
5.0
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read Birthmarked, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.
A couple of weeks have passed since the climatic ending of Birthmarked. Gaia Stone and her newborn sister, Maya, are traveling to the dead forest in search her grandmother, Dani Orien. With both of her parents dead, her brother missing and Gaia herself a wanted girl. She flees the Enclave and Leon in hopes of securing her freedom. But when the formula for Maya runs out and it looks like she won’t live, Gaia is found by a man and he takes the two by horseback to his village. At Sylum, Gaia meets the Matrarc. A wet nurse is found for Maya and the Matrarc informs Gaia that her grandmother has been dead for ten years and she is her replacement. Maya will remain in the village if she lives but Gaia has a choice to make. Visitors can only remain in the village for two days before becoming tied to it. If anyone tries to leave after that time, they become sick and die.
Gaia learns that Sylum is ruled by the women. Their population is steadily dwindling since only one in ten babies born is female. Since she knowingly risked her sister’s life, Gaia is imprisoned. During the night, she thinks she hears Maya crying. Breaking the window slats keeping her prisoner in the lodge, Gaia walks around the village searching for her sister; she soon realizes that the cries are that of a woman in labor. She goes in the cabin and meets Dinah and Josephine. Gaia helps Josephine deliver her daughter and Dinah gives her the scoop on village life. Both Dinah and Josephine are outcasts or libbies since they refuse to marry and have the requisite ten children to repopulate the village. They tell Gaia as a woman and a midwife, she could become influential figure in the village if she chose to stay.
Gaia discovers the window has been fixed and she has no choice but to go to the neighboring lodge for assistance. Norris lets her in and tells Gaia that the Matrarc is waiting for her. He gives her a tea tray and tells her where to go. The Matrarc has Gaia sit down and asks where she has been. She is pleased to learn that Gaia is a midwife and that it changes things. The Matrarc asks to feel/study her face since she is blind. Gaia is uncomfortable due to her scar but eventually relents. The Matrarc can tell she is full of loss not only for her parents but a boyfriend she left behind. In the end, she offers Gaia a deal, stay and be the village midwife and go to school. She can see her sister on occasion but she will have a mother who can care for her. Or she still has time to leave Sylum behind. She lets Gaia know that there are a few rules to life in the village. Men cannot touch women and women speak first. Gaia is surprised but the Matrarc explains with such a disparity between the number of men and women, a woman can be free to choose who she wishes to marry. Finally she lets Gaia know that “any tender touch, any kiss, is strictly illegal until you choose the man you want to marry.”
Will Gaia decide to stay in Sylum? What happens when she butts heads with the Matrarc over personal choice? Why is the male to female ratio in the village so disproportional? And when Leon comes looking for Gaia, what does the Matrarc do?
Join Gaia on her journey of self discovery. Her story will be concluded in Promised due out in 2012.
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second sequel that I've read this week that I enjoyed more than the original book. At first, I was worried because I read that the story was written in a separate, different dystopian society than the first (two dystopias in one series?), but it was tied together relatively well and I think that I actually preferred the story in the second book over the story in the first. I like that Gaia is trying to figure out who she is (and is getting there) and I'm very interested to see what happens in the next book.