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shortstack930's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Interesting story but it got a little dragged out after awhile and nothing really happened until the end.
serenitymoon's review against another edition
3.0
This was disappointing. It's not nearly on par with the other dystopian novels. The world building is weak and the writing style is choppy and not good at all. I don't usually criticize the writing because as bad as the book is they rarely frustrate me (plus, you know, they're still the published writer compared to me), but I really have to say with this one that the writing is not very good.
There are way too many repetitive words and sentences and I feel like I'm reading the same thing over and over. The action consisted of one instant knockout and subsequent death. That was the climax. You'd think there'd at least be a little more than that... The story isn't about the XVI at all, in fact I'm not sure what it's about, it's so all over the place. People die randomly and pointlessly, the characters are two dimensional and hook up without rhyme or reason and I just... don't get this book at all. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
There are way too many repetitive words and sentences and I feel like I'm reading the same thing over and over. The action consisted of one instant knockout and subsequent death. That was the climax. You'd think there'd at least be a little more than that... The story isn't about the XVI at all, in fact I'm not sure what it's about, it's so all over the place. People die randomly and pointlessly, the characters are two dimensional and hook up without rhyme or reason and I just... don't get this book at all. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
loveleareads's review against another edition
4.0
I thought XVI was very interesting. I wasn't so sure about this one when I started it, but I actually enjoyed it a lot. It isnt' my favorite dystopian novel, but I liked it. It's one of those books that make me think.
I enjoyed Nina's character. She was ver defferent from all the other sex-teen girls in the story. With everything that was going on, I thought she was very brave. She felt like she needed to protect evveryone in her life, such as her sister and her friend Sandy.
This book had an almost depressing tone to it. Not that that's a bad thing. It fit the story.
I did get a little confused with some details in the story. I just had a little trouble imagining what all the technology looked like.
XVI is one of those novels that stay with you. I found myself thinking about it even after I finished. I enjoyed the story and the characters. I look forward to seeing more of Julia Karr's work.
I enjoyed Nina's character. She was ver defferent from all the other sex-teen girls in the story. With everything that was going on, I thought she was very brave. She felt like she needed to protect evveryone in her life, such as her sister and her friend Sandy.
This book had an almost depressing tone to it. Not that that's a bad thing. It fit the story.
I did get a little confused with some details in the story. I just had a little trouble imagining what all the technology looked like.
XVI is one of those novels that stay with you. I found myself thinking about it even after I finished. I enjoyed the story and the characters. I look forward to seeing more of Julia Karr's work.
wheems01's review against another edition
4.0
Nina Oberon has always dreaded turning sixteen or sex-teen, as she calls it. Unlike her friend Sandy she isn't into dressing sexy and attracting guys and she definitely doesn't want her XVI tattoo. When her mother is murdered, Nina finds herself over her head in a world where everything isn't as safe as the Governing Council would have everyone believe. Charged with protecting her little sister from her mother's vicious boyfriend Ed, and with delivering a book to her father who was supposed to be dead, Nina has her hands full. Nowhere is safe for her!
This book was an eyeopener. It wasn't what I was expecting, it was so much more. From the very beginning, Karr propels you through this novel at breakneck speed. There is nowhere completely safe for Nina, and every action is a serious risk.
Nina's character is realistic and in a really tight position. No one can really tell Nina anything, but she knows she is in over her head. She has no rights in the world she lives in. She has a low tier status that gives her very little power in her world. Women are abused and mistreated by their very own government. Nina loves her little sister and tries to fulfill her mother's dying wish that she keep her safe.
I loved the supporting characters too! Pops was the greatest. He was somewhat the comic relief in a novel that could be otherwise too serious. You just wanted to hug him for his incorrigible ways.
Nina's world is a dark one ruled by the Governing Council. Individual right don't exist and the GC uses the media to try to control the actions of their citizens. There are even references to Orwell's 1984, that made this world seem much like the one in that work. The one thing that lightens this work is the dependability of Nina's friends, and her grandparents.
This novel will keep you on the edge of your seat worrying about how Nina will escape such dire circumstances. It is a fantastic book with a fantastic heroine. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Cautions for sensitive readers: Sexuality is strong in this novel. Violence.
octavia_rsr's review against another edition
2.0
(Pinches the bridge of my nose and makes a frustrated sigh) This book was yet another waste of my time. It was slow, preachy, and annoying as hell. I thought a dystopian book about 16 year old girls being subjected to the extreme pressure of sex and being branded with their age, mixed with a government conspiracy and a murder would be amazing, great, and full of all kinds of goodies. WRONG. Nina was a mix of love and hate to me. You grow up seeing what she has seen, learning what she has learned and she still couldn't see the government for what it was when Sal tries to talk to her. WTF. You know the government ain't no good but you are in such denial, ugh. Then you have Sandy who I just wanted to run over with my car....repeatedly. I mean come on how many people have to get raped and mistreated before you get your head out your ass?? Mike and Derek were ok, but I don't feel they were really a part of the story, more like a last minute add on. Then of course I loved everything that was Wei and Sal and Mr. & Mrs. Jenkins and Rosie; they are the only reason this book got two stars instead of one. Long story short the book was slow, the world building was awful, the plot was predictable, the characters were flat and annoying (besides my small group of loves) and I have used two days of my life that I will never get back.
amdame1's review against another edition
3.0
Nina is not nearly excited to turn 16 as some of her friends. In this dystopian world, sixteen is the age where sex becomes legal. Unfortunately, this has some disastrous consequences, including a lot of rape, but the Government turns a blind eye. When Nina's mom is murdered, her world is turned completely upside-down as things she has believed her whole life are called into question.
An intense, dystopian thriller with tones of Animal Farm and 1984.
An intense, dystopian thriller with tones of Animal Farm and 1984.
keu482's review against another edition
4.0
This Dystopian novel actually went with more then one aspect of society to take to it's natural destructive concultion. I resepct that. It also tried for a perfect happy ending like most YA novels but it just didn't sell it for me. Maybe a sequel is on the way? I just checked and there is, so that explains things.
Nina is a young girl who is not looking forward to her sixteenth birthday. In a society where the government controls people through brainwashing and fear Nina and her family think for themselves. When Nina loses her mother and is forced to move her life starts to unravel and she sees the things that are hidden on the under side of society. Then Nina has to learn to run, and to fight back, before everything is taken from her.
I'd like to add that even for a modern YA novel this story line is really dark, and talks openly about sex (which I like, but others might not)
Nina is a young girl who is not looking forward to her sixteenth birthday. In a society where the government controls people through brainwashing and fear Nina and her family think for themselves. When Nina loses her mother and is forced to move her life starts to unravel and she sees the things that are hidden on the under side of society. Then Nina has to learn to run, and to fight back, before everything is taken from her.
I'd like to add that even for a modern YA novel this story line is really dark, and talks openly about sex (which I like, but others might not)
myntop's review against another edition
5.0
I was not prepared for how much I would enjoy this book! I saw it on GoodReads in that list on the side of books you've read that show what others have read...decided to pick it up at the library, and boy am I glad I did. Now, I am eager for the next book in the series.
This is not just a dystopian book, this book has romance (of course,) drama, mystery, conspiracy, and even a bit of thriller in it. And it's so scary how easily this treatment of women could come to pass! I think girls need to read this book and realize we need to wake up and take some power back!
Seeing how much control the government has over media in this book is frightening. Again, I could see this easily happening in our very own world.
This is not just a dystopian book, this book has romance (of course,) drama, mystery, conspiracy, and even a bit of thriller in it. And it's so scary how easily this treatment of women could come to pass! I think girls need to read this book and realize we need to wake up and take some power back!
Seeing how much control the government has over media in this book is frightening. Again, I could see this easily happening in our very own world.
andrez's review against another edition
4.0
I've been trying to put my thoughts about this book into coherent sentences for the past week and I'm still not sure if I got to the point.
Nina was a likable character, though I wanted to hit her when she didn't think! I admired her for not believing in everything people and the media told her too. A different thing about this book is that Nina's mom had raised her (better yet, had willingly created all the right conditions for her to be a rebel). Yes, Nina herself had to rebel but I'm glad it was because of her mom that she was not like the other girls who only wanted to have sex when they were sixteen. Usually in dystopian novels, the heroine has to understand the world she lives in all by herself, this was not the case.
Sandy wasn't a very original character (the airhead bff, reminds you of something?) but I really liked her anyway, and I was especially happy when I found out she was a true friend, even if she was very silly.
I also liked the other characters though I'd like to know more about one of them (Mike).
The world portrayed in XVI is more believable than what one might think at first. Sex is already a business anyway and the media's influence in people's lives was kind of frightening because I can almost see it happen.
The ending was a cliffhanger so I'm pretty glad there is a sequel. I'm really curious about the nonCons and what will happen to Nina and her friends.
Nina was a likable character, though I wanted to hit her when she didn't think! I admired her for not believing in everything people and the media told her too. A different thing about this book is that Nina's mom had raised her (better yet, had willingly created all the right conditions for her to be a rebel). Yes, Nina herself had to rebel but I'm glad it was because of her mom that she was not like the other girls who only wanted to have sex when they were sixteen. Usually in dystopian novels, the heroine has to understand the world she lives in all by herself, this was not the case.
Sandy wasn't a very original character (the airhead bff, reminds you of something?) but I really liked her anyway, and I was especially happy when I found out she was a true friend, even if she was very silly.
I also liked the other characters though I'd like to know more about one of them (Mike).
The world portrayed in XVI is more believable than what one might think at first. Sex is already a business anyway and the media's influence in people's lives was kind of frightening because I can almost see it happen.
The ending was a cliffhanger so I'm pretty glad there is a sequel. I'm really curious about the nonCons and what will happen to Nina and her friends.
stellathereader's review against another edition
1.0
Weak. This could be something I can write up and man, I cannot write.
The obsession with dystopian novels at the moment is causing "authors" to come up with works that they will regret.
Some of my favourite dystopias are The GONE series by Michael Grant and The Chaos Walking Series by Patrick Ness.
The obsession with dystopian novels at the moment is causing "authors" to come up with works that they will regret.
Some of my favourite dystopias are The GONE series by Michael Grant and The Chaos Walking Series by Patrick Ness.