Booktalk Thursday- Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Overview:
After the cure for cancer has been found, the human race struggles to survive despite a horrific virus that brings death to it’s victims—-females at age twenty and males at age twenty-five. These are desperate times for the human race. People are frantic to repopulate the dying youth and young girls are snatched up and forced to become brides. Sixteen-year-old Rhine is one such girl. Taken from her beloved twin brother, Rhine is forced to marry aristocratic Linden Ashby (along with two other girls). They are taken to his beautiful estate where he waits for his beloved first wife, Rose, to pass on. Trapped by Linden and his horrifying father, Rhine gets to know her fellow sister wives and falls for Gabriel, one of the staff attendants. Suspicions are running high, however. Her relationship with Gabriel is not a well-kept secret and all seem to know except Linden. Will the two be able to find an escape?
My personal take:
I wouldn’t be surprised if this book became really popular. Many will fall in love with this captivating story. Rhine's life is Cinderella-esque. Her marriage brings her into a life of luxury, except that she doesn’t want the prince or the castle. She wants to live her own life and make her own choices.
With the popularity of TV shows like TLC’s Sister Wives, this book seems really timely (though the book has nothing to do with religion). DeStefano does an excellent job creating the unusual world Rhine lives in. Readers will feel her isolation and desperation. Her writing style has a dreamy feel to it, but is tinged with darkness and danger. I whipped through this book (it was hard to put it down) and can’t wait for the sequel!
Oh, and I’d like my own stylist/makeup artist like Delilah!
Readers who can't get enough of Wither should try:
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- Okay, okay. So you've probably already read this book, but I'm including it in this list because Collins and DeStefano have a similar writing style. I think HG fans will really like this!
Matched by Allie Condie- Both have interesting premises and feature forbidden romances.
Sister Wife by Shelley Hrdlitschka- As stated above, Wither has nothing to do with religion, but the concept of having sister wives may lead readers to look for more on the topic.
The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle- Here's another title about a forced marriage, except in this case the heroine is forced to marry a goblin king.
