Wither (Chemical Garden Trilogy, #1)

by Lauren DeStefano

[Nicole Lynn]

This review previously appeared on my blog, PopCrunchBoom Books

Wither is surprisingly very refreshing. The novel is the first in DeStefano’s Chemical Garden Trilogy. The plot follows that of sixteen year-old Rhine Ellery who lives during a future time period within the United States. In this future time, women die at the age of 20 and boys die at the age of 25 due to meddling in genetics to create a perfect (immune) race. So obviously there is a scramble to find an antidote to cure this inherent disease and while scientists work on research the population has erupted into poverty, violence, and breeding. With an added emphasis on the breeding, many girls are kidnapped into prostitution or sold as brides to men who are polygamists to continue on their “line.”

Enter in Rhine who with just four years left to live is kidnapped (unbeknownst to her brother) and sold to Linden, a twenty year-old architect who has a controlling father. Rhine is sold along with two other girls, one eighteen and the other only thirteen. Linden, however, does not know that the girls were kidnapped, nor what happened to others who weren’t chosen. He is blinded by his sheltered life and his father’s controlling ways.

During the story, Rhine’s main goal is to escape from her imprisoned life with Linden. Readers see her relationship with the other two “sister wives” and her growing relationship with Linden. However, Rhine also grows close to a servant boy, Gabriel (important name choice anyone?). Soon Rhine is torn between not hating Linden that much and her growing feelings for Gabriel as well as her passionate need to escape it all.

What I enjoyed most about this story is that DeStefano made this scenario believeable. She laid the groundwork and tied all the right things together making me really enjoy this story. I also loved the feel of the novel–not quite sci-fi but very much creepy in certain areas (modern mad scientist). Also I just loved the fresh approach to a young adult novel. I haven’t read a lot like it before, so I’m not sure if I’m missing out on a genre I didn’t know existed. Either way this was such a fresh experience after all the supernatural trends that are still happening.

Anyway the plot grabbed and it has its somewhat slow moments like almost any novel, but I never really noticed. I felt the plot moved along well and although I kinda knew what was going to happen at the end, I didn’t know nor expected how the characters would get to that ending which kept me very much in suspense.

Overall, I enjoyed DeStefano’s debue novel and I can’t wait to enjoy the next book in the trilogy. I would recommend the book for any YA lover and don’t be scared by the semi sci-fi feeling the book is very much enjoyable and gives the whole sci-fi thing a modern and believable twist!