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jennifervu's review against another edition
5.0
AHHHHHH this book. Dan Wells really knows how to craft a dystopian novel.
I am not sure why, but I had been avoiding this book for a long time. It was LONG and I forgot everything from Partials.
Luckily, Dan Wells managed to get me through and understand most of it! His writing is very descriptive and stylistic, despite its bleak topic. Speaking of, the whole book had a very dry, stark feel that was quite depressing to read about- but not something that could be avoided. The protagonists had to go through the struggles he set up in the book; it was the only fair thing he could have done to the characters.
The plot and story were really complex and developed well (while I didn't really care for Marcus' or Haru's perspective...) and I found myself on the edge of my seat for the cure to the RM virus and Partials' expiration date. Dan Wells really did the science fiction genre justice. So much sci-fi to last you a lifetime.
Of course, he managed to squeeze the barest of romance in there. It managed to satisfy me but definitely not detract from the whole story. (Kira x Sam all the way!) Some might say the romance was forced and unnecessary, which a small part of me agrees with but I just can't help but enjoy the romance. I can't help it!
Overall, I am just SO IMPRESSED with Dan Wells' creativity in this construction of the dystopia and all of the twists and turns. There really aren't enough true sci-fi YA books out there; this book be breaking boundaries! (such slang)
I'm going to leave my notes for Ruins here... don't read unless you love spoilers...
Kira and her "sisters," raised after the Break (or after the RM virus spread and killed most of the humans) by her "mom" Nandita, are the newest Partials, who had this gene built in them that is a Failsafe where when triggered by a chemical can kill all Partials. Kira finds this out towards the end. Kira and Samm kissed finally. Marcus is her bf back home on the East who still loves her. Nandita turned out to be one of the scientists called the Trust who built the Partials to fight for them in the war and made the RM virus and the cure for it (putting it into the Partials) purposefully so the two could codepend on each other. Nandita is rounding up the sisters seemingly to release the fatal virus that will kill the other Partials. The Partials and humans are heading for war because Dr. Morgan (another scientist of the Trust who is evil and has had Partial gene mods in her so she can control Partials) wants to experiment on humans to find the cure for Partials' 20-year expiration date. Samm and the others are 19. Kira and her sisters have no exp. date and grow like humans. They can even have children like humans, unlike Partials. So, in the book, Kira, Samm, and Heron (strong, agile Partial) traveled across America to Denver to find the cure to RM virus and found Dr. Vale (a Trust scientist) with another community of humans. He trapped 10 Partials there and making them produce pheromones for the cure. Heron betrays Kira and Samm and notifies Dr. Morgan if where Kira is. Dr. Morgan comes and takes Kira away (who is willing) while Samm and Heron decide to stay at the human site to save the Partials and give up their own life to help humans survive.
I am not sure why, but I had been avoiding this book for a long time. It was LONG and I forgot everything from Partials.
Luckily, Dan Wells managed to get me through and understand most of it! His writing is very descriptive and stylistic, despite its bleak topic. Speaking of, the whole book had a very dry, stark feel that was quite depressing to read about- but not something that could be avoided. The protagonists had to go through the struggles he set up in the book; it was the only fair thing he could have done to the characters.
The plot and story were really complex and developed well (while I didn't really care for Marcus' or Haru's perspective...) and I found myself on the edge of my seat for the cure to the RM virus and Partials' expiration date. Dan Wells really did the science fiction genre justice. So much sci-fi to last you a lifetime.
Of course, he managed to squeeze the barest of romance in there. It managed to satisfy me but definitely not detract from the whole story. (Kira x Sam all the way!) Some might say the romance was forced and unnecessary, which a small part of me agrees with but I just can't help but enjoy the romance. I can't help it!
Overall, I am just SO IMPRESSED with Dan Wells' creativity in this construction of the dystopia and all of the twists and turns. There really aren't enough true sci-fi YA books out there; this book be breaking boundaries! (such slang)
I'm going to leave my notes for Ruins here... don't read unless you love spoilers...
Spoiler
Kira and her "sisters," raised after the Break (or after the RM virus spread and killed most of the humans) by her "mom" Nandita, are the newest Partials, who had this gene built in them that is a Failsafe where when triggered by a chemical can kill all Partials. Kira finds this out towards the end. Kira and Samm kissed finally. Marcus is her bf back home on the East who still loves her. Nandita turned out to be one of the scientists called the Trust who built the Partials to fight for them in the war and made the RM virus and the cure for it (putting it into the Partials) purposefully so the two could codepend on each other. Nandita is rounding up the sisters seemingly to release the fatal virus that will kill the other Partials. The Partials and humans are heading for war because Dr. Morgan (another scientist of the Trust who is evil and has had Partial gene mods in her so she can control Partials) wants to experiment on humans to find the cure for Partials' 20-year expiration date. Samm and the others are 19. Kira and her sisters have no exp. date and grow like humans. They can even have children like humans, unlike Partials. So, in the book, Kira, Samm, and Heron (strong, agile Partial) traveled across America to Denver to find the cure to RM virus and found Dr. Vale (a Trust scientist) with another community of humans. He trapped 10 Partials there and making them produce pheromones for the cure. Heron betrays Kira and Samm and notifies Dr. Morgan if where Kira is. Dr. Morgan comes and takes Kira away (who is willing) while Samm and Heron decide to stay at the human site to save the Partials and give up their own life to help humans survive.
beckykirk's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars! I'm so glad I kept with the series. Now I just have to wait for #3! Oh the anticipation!
kstring's review against another edition
A very good addition to the series, indeed! Again, I still very much dislike the reader on the audiobooks, but I didn't let that affect my rating since I liked the way the plot went with this book. The one thing I didn't like is the way the romance line ended in Denver. Neither of them were surprised or shocked! Anyway, do read this book if you liked Partials.
lissajean7's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this second book in the series, but it was a little too tense the entire way through. I never got a break. Somewhere in the middle I got so exhausted from the tension that I was bored. But then I got over it, kind of. I enjoyed the story and the progress and the details and the characters. His descriptions are very real, and having traveled cross-country a few times, I even recognized some of the places. It may have been just a little too long - and that's not something I say often. Great read, though. Worth it.
roseybot's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not even going to pretend, for the sake of appearing reasonable, that this wasn't a far away great book. I loved this beginning to end (I stopped in the middle cause I didn't want it to end!)
Also of note -- I liked the ending of this book so much more than the last one. Less fighting, more DECIDING and ACTION, AND OH MY GOD I'M SO INTO IT ALL, MARCUS AND SAMM AND KIRA, AND EVEN THE BABY STUFF and man, I'm just far too excited about everything.
Also of note -- I liked the ending of this book so much more than the last one. Less fighting, more DECIDING and ACTION, AND OH MY GOD I'M SO INTO IT ALL, MARCUS AND SAMM AND KIRA, AND EVEN THE BABY STUFF and man, I'm just far too excited about everything.
bigbear73's review against another edition
4.0
Book 2 of the Partials series by Dan Wells, Fragments is an intelligent and unique Foray into a dystopian America.
A couple of decades after genetically engineered soldiers rebelled and, with the help of a crippling, nearly ubiquitous disease nearly wiped out the human race, Kira Walker is trying to save the world. This book of course follows in the first book’s footsteps, and we follow our strong and persistent protagonist and those helping her as they trek across the wasteland America has become.
Partials was a very pleasant surprise for me, and Fragments is no different. I really like the characters, and was particularly attached and repulsed by them in turn. The post apocalyptic world is intelligently built out, and Dan’s spin and descriptions of the problems the survivors are facing are very well done. His representation of the science affecting their world all comes across as very realistic, and makes it easier to escape into his world.
Also, his take and presentation of racism and cultural biases is, I felt, thought provoking. It made me think about situations in the real world and how they apply, and my approach to them. Not to present this book as any type of overt political statement or anything, but the thoughts are all there without hammering themselves into the reader. I guess my overall point is this is a deep and intelligent book worth your time.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit, enough to jump directly into the third one. Recommended for anyone interested in dystopian scifi.
4.5/5
A couple of decades after genetically engineered soldiers rebelled and, with the help of a crippling, nearly ubiquitous disease nearly wiped out the human race, Kira Walker is trying to save the world. This book of course follows in the first book’s footsteps, and we follow our strong and persistent protagonist and those helping her as they trek across the wasteland America has become.
Partials was a very pleasant surprise for me, and Fragments is no different. I really like the characters, and was particularly attached and repulsed by them in turn. The post apocalyptic world is intelligently built out, and Dan’s spin and descriptions of the problems the survivors are facing are very well done. His representation of the science affecting their world all comes across as very realistic, and makes it easier to escape into his world.
Also, his take and presentation of racism and cultural biases is, I felt, thought provoking. It made me think about situations in the real world and how they apply, and my approach to them. Not to present this book as any type of overt political statement or anything, but the thoughts are all there without hammering themselves into the reader. I guess my overall point is this is a deep and intelligent book worth your time.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit, enough to jump directly into the third one. Recommended for anyone interested in dystopian scifi.
4.5/5
marklpotter's review against another edition
3.0
Dan Wells is an amazing writer. The problem I'm having is I don't like the story that's being told. The morality play, as it were, isn't what I'm after these days. That brings me to a second problem, Wells is good enough a writer that I cannot not know what happens. I don't like any character still alive save Kira and I have to know what happens. I'll probably stay away from anything dystopian for a while after thos series but I will finish it. Damn you Dan Wells!
tomwright's review against another edition
5.0
It's a page turner. He leaves crucial information just out of reach. I look forward to the next book.
bridget_magpie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0