KM-The Vanished – Sarah Dalton

Title: The Vanished

Author: Sarah Dalton

Series: Yes, 2nd of the Blemished Series

Category: Dystopian

Length:  295 pages

My Rating: 8/10

“You’re part of the vanished now. That’s what we all are. The people who have been forgotten.”

After Mina and her friends make it out of Area 14 in hopes of being able to live a “normal life”, the secrets, lies, and conspiracies are just beginning. Her friends are divided, and the only one she can count on is her boyfriend. Even her father has been harboring secrets from her. The compounds are the place that people have fled to get out from under the control of the GEM, but there are just as many adversaries there, especially toward Mina and her friends for bringing Sebastian with them. With a war brewing on the Horizon, and a new group of people with “special” abilities akin to Mina, will she be able to survive and keep her new family in tact?

This was a great follow up, that definitely didn’t suffer from the sophomore slump. It was quite gripping, and a fantastic story line. The characters are well developed, well-spoken, and seem to be as real as you and I. Dalton definitely has no issue making her characters in to 3 dimensional people, rather than just flat characters on a page.

KM- The Blemished – Sarah Dalton

Title: The Blemished

Author: Sarah Dalton

Series: Yes, 1st of the Blemished Series

Category: Dystopian

Length:  301 pages

My Rating: 9/10

In Dystopian London, Mina is “Blemished”. “Blem” as the “GEM”s call them. The government is run by the Genetic Enhancement Ministry, which takes genes from parents and mixes them with long dead movie stars,  models, etc. to create genetically superior human beings. Birth is outlawed, and all Blems receive the “operation” at age 16 to stop them from ever breeding, because they are imperfect.

While the Blems and GEMs attend the same school, they are segregated. GEMs are taught regular subjects, while the Blem females are taught to be servants, nannies, etc. for the GEMs. The Blemished boys are merely taught to work.

Mina has a problem beyond just being blemished. She also holds a secret power that she must keep hidden. Can she establish a life in the new section with this secret on her shoulders?

KM- Insurgent – Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent

Author: Veronica Roth

Series: Yes (2nd in series)

Category: Drama / Action / Dystopian society

Length:  544 pages

My Rating: 10/10

Returning to Dystopian Chicago, immediately where Divergent left off, Tris is fighting for her faction, and her life. Unrest is prominent in the factions, and things are not quite what they seem. After Tris completes initiation and becomes a member of Dauntless, she is unable to even celebrate before all hell breaks loose in their compound.

An entire faction is under fire, and decimated. Secrets emerge. Tris still fights against the grief and guilt from incidents in Divergent, but must put them on the backburner to deal with more pressing concerns, like whether she will survive each day, how her family will fare, and what to do about her budding romance.

Yet another fantastic novel from Veronica Roth. I love that there was no time lost between Divergent and Insurgent. It picks up exactly where Divergent left off. The story line continues flawlessly, and it’s even more action packed than the first. If I had to choose, I would say this one was better than the first, and definitely didn’t fall in to that group of novels who’s sequel suffers from the ‘Sophomore Slump’. I can’t wait for the release of Allegiant!

KM- Divergent – Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Series: Yes (1st in series)

Category: Drama / Action / Dystopian society

Length:  501 pages

My Rating: 10/10

In dystopian Chicago, society has been reformed. People are born in to factions, of which there are 5. The Candor, who believe in truth above all else. Erudite, who seek knowledge before anything else. Dauntless, who treasure bravery. Amity, who believe in peaceful resolutions and friendship. And Abnegation, who serve others selflessly. Upon their sixteenth year, the adolescents take an aptitude test, which tells them which faction they are best suited for, but ultimate the choice is theirs. At the Choosing Ceremony, they decide which faction they want to be a part of. They can stick with the one they were born in to, or they can transfer to another one, immediately leaving their family behind.

Beatrice Prior was born in to Abnegation, but is unsure of what choice to make. During the aptitude test, she discovers that she is what they call Divergent, with an aptitude for several factions, not just one. This is a dangerous thing, which could cost her her life if it was found out. To the shock of her family, she chooses to transfer into Dauntless. Little does she know, this choice will change, define, and ultimate challenge every idea she has of who she is.

I loved this book. It was action packed from the very beginning, and I couldn’t put it down. Definitely a one-night read, and a page-turner. You can definitely relate to Beatrice, while she decides what to do with her life, since we’ve all been in that position at one point or another. Her struggles, romance, and decisions are all so well written out that you’ll find yourself quickly caring about the characters.