Kassiah

I've been struggling with exactly what I want to say about this book. I don't want to be spoilery, and I'll try really hard not to, but you know...it will probably be slightly spoilerish...

Lauren Oliver's beautiful words are almost poetic as she constructs this intensely rich dystopian world for us. This is my first time reading anything by Oliver, and I think she's utterly amazing. The rules of the society and histories of the characters are well thought out and the general concept for this story are simply brilliant. The idea of love being forbidden holds so many possibilities, and I think that it's great.

Some of the characters fell short for me, though, and it seemed like the author got caught up in making her words pretty more than she wanted us to be swept up the true love part of the story. I felt like Lena, though likable enough, wasn't someone that I identified with. Constantly flip-flopping between allegiance to the "cure" and the quest for the truth, she didn't want it enough for me. I loved Alex--he's totally hot and I get their relationship from his perspective. I didn't feel that they were overwhelmingly in love though, and kinda thought that was essential to this story's plot. I needed to feel more passion between them. I wanted Lena to be consumed. *shrugs* Maybe I just don't get it.

By now, you've read other people's reviews and know that this book ends with an evil cliffie. I wasn't incredibly shocked by the cliffie, tbh. It made me sad, for sure, but I wouldn't say it was unexpected. I felt like there was all of this heart-racing clutching-your-chest action, action, action then...stop.

Don't get me wrong. I thought it was good. It just didn't own me. The idea is amazing, and I really want to know what happens next. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book!