Review: Wither

Author: Lauren DeStefano
Pages: 358
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing
Source: Library
Challenge: Debut Author Challenge
Synopsis: What if you knew exactly when you would die?


Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb — males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.


When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape — to find her twin brother and go home.


But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left.


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Wither is an amazing story. It hooks you in so naturally and I could have easily read it in one sitting unintentionally, except that I had to eat breakfast.

Lauren DeStefano writes very very well. There's always detail that's tied in naturally to the plot. She knows how to hook readers in, and her story is very easily explained. Her world was detailed and made a lot of sense, for the most part. There are some parts that don't seem realistic but I trust Lauren DeStefano to give more information in future novels so everything makes more sense. Reading Wither was like stepping into a new world and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The concept of Wither is very original. Dying at the age of 20 or 25 is horrific. It's like barely living. It gives lots of room for an interesting plot and Lauren's world is unforgettable. Little stuff like parties, House Governors and orphanages paved my view of this strange world. I loved these little touches!

The most important part of Wither is the characters. Sometimes the story is or may seem a bit slow- there aren't that many significant events that happen. That's because during those parts, Rhine is discovering more and more about her new life. This way of telling a story means that Rhine and the other characters need to be amazing and they were.

Every character was very distinct. I feel like I know Cecily, Lindon, Rhine, and Jenna very well. Every character had a backstory. My favorite characters based on complexity were Lindon and Jenna. There is way more to them than meets the eye.

Overall, Wither is really good. You've probably heard it numerous times but I'll say it again. A good, must read. If you haven't read Wither yet, you're in for a treat. 4.5 stars,

**** &1/2 *