3.5*
I liked a lot of things about this book, but there was one pretty significant thing that dampened my excitement. But, let's talk positives first!
The Good:
- I loved the plot! I was constantly kept guessing as to what on earth was going on in this world- and how it could be fixed. I didn't see any of the twists coming (except one or two minor things) and was incredibly eager to know the outcome.
- Eden was an awesome character. While I wasn't quite as connected to her as I wanted to be, I felt for her certainly, and admired her bravery and courage trying to get herself (and then her friends) out of a really awful situation.
- Survival is one of my favorite book plots, and this one had lots of survival happening. Plus, it was survival on an island, and the atmosphere was incredible! I loved the sinister island feel, and the author did a great job of making me feel like I couldn't trust anyone or anything.
- The story moved at a great pace, I was constantly excited by the story and the unfolding of the plot and world building.
The One Thing I Didn't Like:
- It seemed really not okay that people of a lower socioeconomic class were the villains just because they were salty at rich people. I felt really uncomfortable with that message, and I strongly hope there's more explanation (or an outright debunking of this) in the sequel. I think this could have been at least a 4.5* for me, as I really loved most of the book, but this really just didn't sit well with me, and I had to adjust accordingly. Especially considering our current social and political climates, it was off-putting.
Bottom Line: Overall, a really solid book. I loved the plot and the action of the book, I just wish that the reason behind the war hadn't been "because poor people". It left a bad taste in an otherwise enjoyable book.
*Copy provided by publisher for review