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A review by jennifervu
Fragments by Dan Wells
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.