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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
What I Liked
Lauren DeStefano has a lovely writing style. Her voice is clear and poetic. She is a wordsmith for the YA genre, and I am frequently struck by the beauty in her sentences when I read her works. Although I have some problems with this story, I take so much enjoyment from her writing.
There is better world-building than what was offered in Wither. We encounter a bit of the outside world beyond Linden's mansion, as well as a glimpse into the government structure.
What I Didn't Like
The cover. If I wasn't so curious about the fate of Rhine and Gabriel, I would have never picked up a book with a cover like this one, even though it's YA. It is the ideal MySpace profile picture from 2005. I took off the paper cover in an embarrassed attempt to hide the silly design, but the cardboard cover was a gaudy, hot pink. Yikes.
The first half of the book is long and a little dull. I actually set the book down for a month. Wither builds up the forbidden romance between Rhine and Gabriel, but he spends the entire first half of Fever sick in bed and virtually unable to speak or do anything meaningful. Their relationship was wrapped in more and more romantic tension, but as soon as Fever began, it disintegrated. I was disappointed with the lack of life in Gabriel's character in this book.
DeStefano struggles to write from the perspective of young people. Deirdre, age 9, has the articulation of a college student. Even if she is decently educated and intelligent, here is an example of a 9-year-old's average conversation in Fever:
The plot of Fever was a tangle. I had trouble ascertaining the climax of the story, as it seemed like a loosely woven knot of subplots instead of a forward-moving main plot. I enjoyed the glimpse into Rhine's tortured world, but I found myself frustrated by the lack of movement in the meaningful parts of her story.
Lauren DeStefano has a lovely writing style. Her voice is clear and poetic. She is a wordsmith for the YA genre, and I am frequently struck by the beauty in her sentences when I read her works. Although I have some problems with this story, I take so much enjoyment from her writing.
There is better world-building than what was offered in Wither. We encounter a bit of the outside world beyond Linden's mansion, as well as a glimpse into the government structure.
What I Didn't Like
The cover. If I wasn't so curious about the fate of Rhine and Gabriel, I would have never picked up a book with a cover like this one, even though it's YA. It is the ideal MySpace profile picture from 2005. I took off the paper cover in an embarrassed attempt to hide the silly design, but the cardboard cover was a gaudy, hot pink. Yikes.
The first half of the book is long and a little dull. I actually set the book down for a month. Wither builds up the forbidden romance between Rhine and Gabriel, but he spends the entire first half of Fever sick in bed and virtually unable to speak or do anything meaningful. Their relationship was wrapped in more and more romantic tension, but as soon as Fever began, it disintegrated. I was disappointed with the lack of life in Gabriel's character in this book.
Spoiler
Aside from his reaction to the man trying to rape Rhine, he was passive and two-dimensional.DeStefano struggles to write from the perspective of young people. Deirdre, age 9, has the articulation of a college student. Even if she is decently educated and intelligent, here is an example of a 9-year-old's average conversation in Fever:
Spoiler
"Soon he'll try artificial insemination. From what I understand, the Housemaster thinks he's found a way to speed up fertility and gestation, so girls can bear children before natural puberty" (p. 290).The plot of Fever was a tangle. I had trouble ascertaining the climax of the story, as it seemed like a loosely woven knot of subplots instead of a forward-moving main plot. I enjoyed the glimpse into Rhine's tortured world, but I found myself frustrated by the lack of movement in the meaningful parts of her story
Spoiler
finding Rowan, discovering a cure for the virus, her love-thing with Gabriel
The first book in this series wasn't bad. I didn't love it, but it was very readable. I liked this one even less, but it was still readable - I went through it fairly quickly. It suffered from a lot of the problems middle books in trilogies have. There was not a lot happening here, and what did happen was just strange, it was more of a bridge between books 1 & 3. But I find myself curious enough about what happens that I will probably read the third book too.
This sequel picks up right where [b:Wither|8525590|Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1)|Lauren DeStefano|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327878510s/8525590.jpg|13392566] left off. Rhine and Gabriel are attempting to reach New York to find her brother, but they find trouble at every turn. Just when they think they might be safe an old enemy comes back to haunt them.
This is a tough read at times with all the horrors being afflicted on women throughout the book. Rhine has a difficult time adjusting to life outside her sister wives situation. Looking forward to the final book in the trilogy.
This is a tough read at times with all the horrors being afflicted on women throughout the book. Rhine has a difficult time adjusting to life outside her sister wives situation. Looking forward to the final book in the trilogy.
On round two, dnf.
I realized I don't care about what happens to these people. At all. Nope. Probably won't read the conclusion to the trilogy either.
I realized I don't care about what happens to these people. At all. Nope. Probably won't read the conclusion to the trilogy either.
in which gabriel and rhine wander around trying to find their way back to manhattan, are temporarily delayed in a prostitution ring, wander around some more, learn nothing, and
boring filler book. this seems like a situation where there's not actually enough material for a trilogy, but publishers love trilogies...so it's a trilogy. i'll probably read #3 because i do want to know what happens, but this installment was a huge disappointment.
Spoiler
rhine winds up exactly where she started, except worse off.boring filler book. this seems like a situation where there's not actually enough material for a trilogy, but publishers love trilogies...so it's a trilogy. i'll probably read #3 because i do want to know what happens, but this installment was a huge disappointment.
I’m going to carry on reading this whole trilogy but to be honest I was not that
impressed with this book. Rhine escapes from the clutches of her father in-law. Escaping one horrid place that is using her to only be stuck in a horrid carnival of sex and being used again, and Gabriel, really what a lame boy he turned out to be. I would have been fine if Gabriel had succumbed to his injuries.
impressed with this book. Rhine escapes from the clutches of her father in-law. Escaping one horrid place that is using her to only be stuck in a horrid carnival of sex and being used again, and Gabriel, really what a lame boy he turned out to be. I would have been fine if Gabriel had succumbed to his injuries.
I had been waiting for Fever ever since I read the last page of Wither last year. So you can imagine that I had very high expectations going in to the book. And those expectations were beyond surpassed. Fever was possibly even better than Wither.
Having escaped from her polygamous marriage, Rhine is on her way to Manhattan hoping to be able to be reunited with her twin brother. Except it might not be as easy as she originally thought. Now Rhine and Gabriel find themselves prisoners once again, this time of a sick and twisted carnival, trying once more to escape eventual death. But even after they escape the carnival, things aren't easier. With Vaughn hot on their trail, Rhine and Gabriel can only keep hiding for so long. And it seems the further they get from Florida and the mansion, the more Rhine is getting sick. From the looks of things, Rhine may never be able to fully escape the year she spent at the mansion being Linden's bride.
Fever was an incredible read. I'll admit that I may have liked it even more than Wither. With this book, the action starts almost right from page one and it doesn't stop until the last page. Not only that, but the book also took me on and incredible journey, both physically and emotionally. Fever is definitely an emotional roller coaster. One minute I was happy to see there may be hope for Rhine and Gabriel, and the next I would be in a state of total despair. And then if the story wasn't enough, the ending definitely left me hanging. With it, Lauren DeStefano made sure that her readers would be eagerly awaiting the final book in her Chemical Gardens trilogy.
I was very happy to be back with Rhine and Gabriel, both of whom I had come to love in the first book. I was happy to see they wer still the same people, despite everything they have gone through. Rhine was as determined as ever and still worried more about everyone around her's lives than she did about her own. And Gabriel was still the same boy, though he was definitely hardened by everything he saw and went through in the word outside of the mansion. While I was happy to see Rhine and Gabriel again, I also really liked the addition of all the new characters. My favorites were definitely Maddie and Silas. Despite not talking, Maddie was a great addition to the story. And Silas was more than he appeared to be. I'm hoping to see more of him in the future.
With Fever, Lauren DeStefano delivered an incredible sequel. This is a book that will take you on an emotional roller coaster. And once it's over, you're just going to want even more.
Having escaped from her polygamous marriage, Rhine is on her way to Manhattan hoping to be able to be reunited with her twin brother. Except it might not be as easy as she originally thought. Now Rhine and Gabriel find themselves prisoners once again, this time of a sick and twisted carnival, trying once more to escape eventual death. But even after they escape the carnival, things aren't easier. With Vaughn hot on their trail, Rhine and Gabriel can only keep hiding for so long. And it seems the further they get from Florida and the mansion, the more Rhine is getting sick. From the looks of things, Rhine may never be able to fully escape the year she spent at the mansion being Linden's bride.
Fever was an incredible read. I'll admit that I may have liked it even more than Wither. With this book, the action starts almost right from page one and it doesn't stop until the last page. Not only that, but the book also took me on and incredible journey, both physically and emotionally. Fever is definitely an emotional roller coaster. One minute I was happy to see there may be hope for Rhine and Gabriel, and the next I would be in a state of total despair. And then if the story wasn't enough, the ending definitely left me hanging. With it, Lauren DeStefano made sure that her readers would be eagerly awaiting the final book in her Chemical Gardens trilogy.
I was very happy to be back with Rhine and Gabriel, both of whom I had come to love in the first book. I was happy to see they wer still the same people, despite everything they have gone through. Rhine was as determined as ever and still worried more about everyone around her's lives than she did about her own. And Gabriel was still the same boy, though he was definitely hardened by everything he saw and went through in the word outside of the mansion. While I was happy to see Rhine and Gabriel again, I also really liked the addition of all the new characters. My favorites were definitely Maddie and Silas. Despite not talking, Maddie was a great addition to the story. And Silas was more than he appeared to be. I'm hoping to see more of him in the future.
With Fever, Lauren DeStefano delivered an incredible sequel. This is a book that will take you on an emotional roller coaster. And once it's over, you're just going to want even more.
Fever is gruesome. Addictive. Enticing. Dark. And overall, yet another stunner from Lauren DeStefano.
Fever starts off just where Wither left us. Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion and are now on their own. But, not for long. They fall into the unfortunate arms of Madame Soleski and her "carnival". Rhine and Gabriel are quickly introduced the world of "selling" girls, drugs, and danger and are getting dragged down when all they've wanted was freedom. Rhine and Gabriel are determined to get to Manhattan though. And, Rhine will stop at nothing to find Rowan. But, their world is still a dark and twisted one. And headmaster Vaughn is still lurking on their tails.
Most of the time you get nervous when reading a second book in a series. Because most of the time you're afraid... will it be just as amazing? Will it fall short? Will it just be a filler until the next book? Honestly, I had absolutely no doubt in my mind going into Fever that Lauren DeStefano would blow me away again. This series is unlike anything I've ever read. It's so unique. It twists its deadly claws into my brain and hasn't let go yet. Drugs. Realism. Sex. Determination. Darkness. Love. At times, laughs. There's nothing about these books I don't love... except maybe Cecily. For some reason... I still don't like that girl.
While we still encounter characters from Wither we fell in love with, like Linden who I still have a soft spot for, we are also introduced to new characters. I have to admit the first one that comes to mind is Silas. I don't know why... but there's something about him I was immediately drawn too. His blonde curls, his seductive ways, they way he has this tough exterior but a maybe softer interior. I loved him a lot, and I hope we get to see him again in a future book. I also loved Lilac, I think she portrayed a kind of meaningful lesson. She was also, so strong and determined... just as Rhine is.
Rhine. There is hardly a perfect way to describe her. She goes through so many emotions... emotions that she doesn't always show. Does she have tremendous strength? Hell yes. Is she completely determined to find her brother, her freedom, and her own life with, possibly, Gabriel? Yes of course she is. Rhine's issue, which may not necessarily be bad, is that she can't always admit when she's feeling sick, exhausted, or lost. Regardless, I adore her. I think she's dazzling and completely capable of taking her life into her own hands. But, it doesn't hurt to have something with you along the way. Cue Gabriel. I don't think I'll ever get tired of Gabriel. He has this tenderness to him that you cannot find anywhere else. He has his own strength in him and I adored watching him overcome everything he has in Wither and now in Fever. I am so, so rooting for these two.
This series is the type of series I like to curl up on my couch during a thunderstorm and read. Wither and Fever just have that feel to it. It's the type of story that's devastatingly beautiful and I absolutely love it. The ending of Fever leaves us with so many questions. Not enough to throw you over the edge screaming holy cliff hanger! But, just enough that you'll want book3 immediately. I just cannot get enough of this series! Of these AMAZINGLY STUNNING covers. Cannot get enough of Gabriel or of Rhine. Am desperately awaiting book3!
Fever starts off just where Wither left us. Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion and are now on their own. But, not for long. They fall into the unfortunate arms of Madame Soleski and her "carnival". Rhine and Gabriel are quickly introduced the world of "selling" girls, drugs, and danger and are getting dragged down when all they've wanted was freedom. Rhine and Gabriel are determined to get to Manhattan though. And, Rhine will stop at nothing to find Rowan. But, their world is still a dark and twisted one. And headmaster Vaughn is still lurking on their tails.
Most of the time you get nervous when reading a second book in a series. Because most of the time you're afraid... will it be just as amazing? Will it fall short? Will it just be a filler until the next book? Honestly, I had absolutely no doubt in my mind going into Fever that Lauren DeStefano would blow me away again. This series is unlike anything I've ever read. It's so unique. It twists its deadly claws into my brain and hasn't let go yet. Drugs. Realism. Sex. Determination. Darkness. Love. At times, laughs. There's nothing about these books I don't love... except maybe Cecily. For some reason... I still don't like that girl.
While we still encounter characters from Wither we fell in love with, like Linden who I still have a soft spot for, we are also introduced to new characters. I have to admit the first one that comes to mind is Silas. I don't know why... but there's something about him I was immediately drawn too. His blonde curls, his seductive ways, they way he has this tough exterior but a maybe softer interior. I loved him a lot, and I hope we get to see him again in a future book. I also loved Lilac, I think she portrayed a kind of meaningful lesson. She was also, so strong and determined... just as Rhine is.
Rhine. There is hardly a perfect way to describe her. She goes through so many emotions... emotions that she doesn't always show. Does she have tremendous strength? Hell yes. Is she completely determined to find her brother, her freedom, and her own life with, possibly, Gabriel? Yes of course she is. Rhine's issue, which may not necessarily be bad, is that she can't always admit when she's feeling sick, exhausted, or lost. Regardless, I adore her. I think she's dazzling and completely capable of taking her life into her own hands. But, it doesn't hurt to have something with you along the way. Cue Gabriel. I don't think I'll ever get tired of Gabriel. He has this tenderness to him that you cannot find anywhere else. He has his own strength in him and I adored watching him overcome everything he has in Wither and now in Fever. I am so, so rooting for these two.
This series is the type of series I like to curl up on my couch during a thunderstorm and read. Wither and Fever just have that feel to it. It's the type of story that's devastatingly beautiful and I absolutely love it. The ending of Fever leaves us with so many questions. Not enough to throw you over the edge screaming holy cliff hanger! But, just enough that you'll want book3 immediately. I just cannot get enough of this series! Of these AMAZINGLY STUNNING covers. Cannot get enough of Gabriel or of Rhine. Am desperately awaiting book3!