Book Review and Giveaway: Matched by Ally Condie

Cassia lives in a society that decides everything for its citizens for the greatest good of them all – even who you marry. When Cassia is matched with her best friend Xander, she is thrilled. But when viewing her matching card, another face flashes on the screen – that of mysterious classmate Ky. This seeming glitch awakens an awareness of forbidden desires within Cassia, and for the first time she begins to question a society where the individual has no right to choose.


MATCHED is without a doubt a well constructed novel, hitting all the expected beats of a YA dystopian novel. And while there may be few surprises for avid readers of the genre, there are some genuine discussion-worthy developments.

The society is set up to look to its citizens like a utopia. Strict regulations nearly guarantee you’ll live the prescribed number of years until your “final banquet”. Everyone is given the exact number of calories needed to maintain a perfect, healthy weight. The culture has been pared down to the hundred “best” of everything (poems, songs, stories, paintings, etc) so that everyone can appreciate them to their fullest instead of being overwhelmed with too much. It’s a society that rewards perfect order, but that also banishes any sort of individuality or aberration.

Cassia has always been a dutiful citizen, but she also likes to be a little different. She’s proud that she was the only one who chose the green dress for her match banquet. She thrills to the fact that her grandfather entrusts her with a forbidden poem (Dylan Thomas’ “Do not go gentle into that good night”) before his own “good night”. And when she learns she could never marry Ky because he’s not in the match pool, that makes her more determined to find moments to spend alone with him. But could it be that even Cassia’s small rebellions are orchestrated by her society? Is there a more sinister purpose behind their interest in Cassia?

I loved the world building here (which is why I just spent two paragraphs of my review on it). It’s logical, well-thought out, chilling and thought provoking. However, the rigid society setup does have its’ downside in that I never got to fully connect to Cassia emotionally, and I was never convinced she had genuine feelings for either Xander or Ky. I felt very much like I was being TOLD how to feel, instead of actually feeling it (which, you might argue, based on the ending, is exactly what Condie was going for…but I digress).

I enjoyed this installment, but really hope that the emotional impact quotient is raised in book two.

My rating? My head gives this 4 Zombie Chickens, but my heart gives it only 3. And in that battle, when it comes to reading, my heart always wins.

Still, I can highly recommend it as kind of a must-read. I know that doesn’t make much sense, but there you go! And because I want you to read it, and because it doesn’t come out until November 30, 2010, I am giving away my extra ARC to one lucky reader anywhere in the world. Just leave a comment telling me what poem you’d make sure got into the Hundred Poems if you were a creator of this society (or if you can’t think of a poem, you can also suggest a painting or a song). This contest will remain open until August 31st at 11:59 CST and is open internationally.

Find out more about the book on the author’s website.

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore.

Author Interview and Giveaway: Cameron Stracher discusses The Water Wars

Earlier, I reviewed THE WATER WARS, a book I really enjoyed reading (my review). I am excited to welcome Author Cameron Stracher to Dystopian August today!

Reading THE WATER WARS made me constantly want to drink water. What’s the thirstiest you’ve ever been in your life?
I run a lot, so I'm often very thirsty. If I'm in the suburbs, I'll look for people who are watering their lawns, and stop to drink from their sprinklers. The last couple weeks, however, it's been incredibly hot in New York, and there are water restrictions, and most people don't water their lawn at the time I go running. I ran 8 miles the other day when it was 103 degrees and humid. I don't know if it was the thirstiest I've ever been, but it was close. I must have drunk about two gallons of water when I finally got home.

A war over water isn’t so farfetched, especially when you look at what is going on in North/East Africa right now with Egypt having rights to 90% of the water from the Nile even though the sources are in other countries that really need it too. If a water war were to break out in North America, where would the best place be to live? Should we all be moving to Canada now?
I'll tell you where we shouldn't live: California. Las Vegas, New Mexico, Florida, are close seconds. Most of our fastest growing cities have very little fresh water, and have to import it through upstream reservoirs and aqueducts. It's a bad way to live because those places are imperiled if there are water shortages, and it's destructive of the environment to transport water from long distances. Rather than moving somewhere else, however, I think we should all be conscious of the way we live, our use of water, and how we can be better at conserving. If we live in a desert climate like Nevada or New Mexico, we shouldn't be building golf courses.

The story is told in first person by teenage girl Vera. Was it difficult for you to find the voice of a teen girl? Was it always meant to be told from her perspective?
Actually, it wasn't. I don't know why. I always saw the book as Vera's narrative. I think I was influenced by To Kill a Mockingbird, which is told from Scout's perspective. In an earlier draft, Vera was a couple years younger, but my editor suggested she should be older, and I think that works better.

What is some of your favorite dystopian lit? Would you say any of it influenced your writing at all?
Two books inspired me to write The Water Wars. One was Feed, by MT Anderson, and the other was The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman, which is not really dystopian lit. But both books showed me the range of imagination and literary skill that was possible in this genre. Once I started writing, I read a lot more dystopian lit, and my favorites are The Hunger Games (of course), The Pretties/Uglies, and The Road. I've also always been a big fan of dystopian movies like Blade Runner, The Matrix, Mad Max, etc.

You work as a lawyer specializing in First Amendment litigation. Do you have any interesting anecdotes to share?
I represent publications like Star magazine and television shows like Dog the Bounty Hunter. I'd love to tell you some stories, but my clients would kill me, and then I couldn't write a sequel. :)

Thanks Cameron!  Nice to hear there's a possible sequel in the works.
 
Since I know it's going to be hard for everyone to wait for January 2011 to read this fun adventure story, I am happy to report that Sourcebooks Fire is sponsoring a giveaway of 2 ARCs!  Just tell me about a time when you were really thristy in the comments and you're entered.  This one is open internationally and will remain open until August 31st at 11:59 pm CST.
 
 

 
Find out more about Sourcebooks Fire at the Teen Fire ning.
 
Photo credit for author photo: Simon Stracher

Book Review: The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

Vera lives with her family in the Republic of Illinowa – what’s left of the Midwestern US in a future where the politics of water determine whether you have enough water to thrive…or not. Vera’s family is just getting by. And then she meets Kai, a boy who seems to have a limitless supply of water. When Kai is kidnapped, Vera convinces her brother Will that they need to rescue him, and the two set off on the adventure of their lives.

This one really works because of the atmosphere and world building. I really believed in this dried out land and in these dried out people, with their thick tongues, flaky skin and willingness to do anything just to get a drink. And I am a fan of anything that frames the complexities of geo-politics in an exciting way. Stracher is able to weave a convincing portrait of how people would adapt to a world where water is the most precious resource around.

I’ll admit, though, it’s not my favorite type of plot. Vera and Will’s path is more often determined for them than not, like they are being swept away by a raging river and can only hang for dear life. The teens are bounced from one dangerous situation to the next with little breathing room or time for reflection.

Ultimately, I really liked it though. Vera is sympathetic and smart and there are a host of colorful supporting characters, like the water pirate Ulysses and the harpoon wielding vigilante Sula, who are really fun to spend time with. I also liked that it ended on a high note after quite a cool final showdown.

My rating? 3 Zombie Chickens – Well-worth reading, especially for adventure fans.

This one doesn't come out until January 1, 2011 but come back later today for an interview with the author and a giveaway.

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

Waiting On Wednesday (45) Upcoming Dystopian Fiction Sequels

A lot of the dystopian lit coming out these days is in the form of series books, usually trilogies, but sometimes even longer (6 books? Michael Grant? Really?).


And it can be FUN to follow a series, but it can also be frustrating to have to wait so long between books.

Which ones I am inpatiently waiting for?

Let’s start with the ones I gave 5 zombie chickens to.

I loved Maria V Snyder’s INSIDE OUT (read my review) so I am ridiculously excited for OUTSIDE IN, coming March 2011. And it even has a cover already. Looks like more “fun” in the pipes for Trella and Riley.

I also gave the first book in Jasper Fforde’s SHADES OF GREY trilogy the ultimate rating (read my review), so was very saddened to hear that the second book SHADES OF GREY 2: PAINTING BY NUMBERS, won’t be out until 2014! That’s just torture!

Mary E. Pearson’s THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX was also one of my recent favorites (read my review), and word is on the street, her companion novel THE FOX INHERITANCE is due for publication in fall 2011.

And the rest...

I think the second book in Justin Cronin’s THE PASSAGE series (read my review of the first) is due in 2011. I hope!

A little tidbit about the sequel to Caragh O’Brien’s sequel to BIRTHMARKED (read my review), due 2011, that I gleaned from a thread over on GoodReads, “It's definitely another dystopia where the environment has a huge impact on the society. It begins about two weeks after Birthmarked ends.” Oooh!

Teri Hall’s sequel to THE LINE (read my review), is called AWAY and will be released in 2011. Rachel’s adventure continues when she crosses into the mysterious territory known as Away.

Neal Shusterman has inked a deal for the sequel of UNWIND (read my review) to be called UNWHOLLY and to be released in 2012.

In case you are wondering, I covered Robin Wasserman’s SKINNED series and James Dashner’s THE MAZE RUNNER series in my Feb sequel preview.

That’s all for now! What dystopian sequels are you most looking forward to?

Book Review: For the Win by Cory Doctorow

At some point in the (near?) future, MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) run some of the world’s biggest economies. There are millions who play for fun, and then there are the millions of “gold farmers” in poor countries who play for prestige items for their bosses to sell to the highest bidder. A diverse group of young people from all over the world get caught up in a movement that dares to challenge the status quo, trying to form a workers union across borders while staying at least one step ahead of the muscle (and police) hired by the big bosses and the gamerunners.


Sounds complicated doesn’t it? Aside from this being pitched to me as dystopia (which, honestly, doesn’t actually describe it very well) and being written by Cory Doctorow whose last book LITTLE BROTHER kept me up all night reading, I was skeptical. I have never been the least bit interested in gaming (unless you count a tetris addiction and a brief infatuation with The Legend of Zelda in the early 90s), and FOR THE WIN is long – around 500 pages.

But, while I was reading this, I LOVED every second of it. Doctorow concocts a sprawling narrative following a bunch of different characters (mostly gamers), and some of the time, the storytelling takes a back seat to pages of Doctorow telling you stuff about economic theory, finance, labor unions and confidence scams. While I can imagine this won’t interest everyone, I found it freakishly fascinating (but then, I’ve always had a thing for applied economics).

Doctorow also writes some very compelling scenes, like when Wei-Dong (real name Leonard) smuggles himself and a pimped out shipping container from LA to China or when Lu escapes a police raid into the arms of an underground broadcasting star who features him on her show. I even enjoyed the scenes “in world”, when the characters were on quests to farm gold, even though logically I should probably hate that sort of thing.

And he’s funny! He writes passages like this:

“The rest of the time, Connor’s job was to work on his Fingerspitzengefuhl. That was a useful word. It was a German word, of course. The Germans had words for everything, created by the simple expedient of bashing as many smaller words as you needed together until you got one monster mouth-murderer like Fingerspitzengefuhl that exactly and precisely conveyed something no other language could even get close to.” p 234

It was only after I put the book down, after the spell Doctorow had me under was broken, did I start to think back on some of the weaknesses – such as the uneven character development. Doctorow has a tendency to treat his characters like avatars and switch between them depending on who is most convenient to get his point across at that point in the story, without much consideration for their particular character arc. I kept asking myself questions like, what ever happened to x?

My rating? Certainly not for everyone, but I’ll give it 4 Zombie Chickens.

Find out more, and even download your own free copy (really, Doctorow WANTS you to), at the author’s website.

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

Dystopian Reader Views - Mockingjay Predictions

Only one more week to wait! *squee*

I do have to say, though, the couple of book leaks I have seen make me nervous.  Because I do NOT want spoilers.  I don't even want to hear vague statements like "It ends badly" or "I love the way the ended!".  I may have to go into lockdown mode.  No twitter, no Facebook, no blog reading until I've read Mockingjay for myself.  Unless people keep their spoilers to themselves.  Let's revisit Suzanne Collins' statement shall we?

One of the most important things to me is that everyone in the world is going to be able to experience the final book of The Hunger Games all at the same time, and be able to discover what happens in the book without hearing about it elsewhere first. Word will certainly travel fast, but I urge you – before or immediately after August 24th – to please respect the other Hunger Games fans worldwide and avoid sharing any spoilers, so that the conclusion of Katniss’s story can unfold for each reader the way it was meant to unfold.

Meanwhile, I am loving the #fakemockinjayspoilers thread on twitter.

And I asked dystopian readers - Hunger Games lovers all - for their own predictions of how it's going to go down. As for me? I have no idea.  But I am sure it will be magic. (NOTE: Since this is my blog, I refuse to publish any predictions of Peeta dying. Better. Not. Happen.)

I hope Katniss goes back into the arena. I think Katniss and Gale will take over District 13 and overtake the Capitol. Most of all, I hope Mockingjay is alot more inventive than anything I can come up with. - Jen Arnold @littlejennywren

I hope that the revolution is successful and that they replace the government with a kinder one, but I also see Katniss alone...much like Haymitch...standing on her own...despite the Peeta-Gale debate.  - Serena  @SavvyVerseWit

I have a strange feeling that either [name redacted] or Gale is going to die heroically, because I can't see any other way that triangle is going to be solved. And I'm hoping for a happy ending... maybe the downfall of the Capitol and the independence of the districts... but I don't know if Suzanne Collins will wrap everything up that neatly. Priya

Hopefully, Suzanne Collins will recognize the need for many, many hard endings for most of her characters. In such a world as she has developed for Katniss, I really can't see Katniss enjoying a glowing HEA with the man of her dreams (be he Peeta or Gale or even Cinna). She's a tough woman and I could see her becoming one of the new national leaders (even tho she'd hate it) or even just running away to sorta fade off, while she lives off the land - pretty solitary like. Not the most dramatic thing, but who knows. I just know I'll be right along with everyone else waiting for the big reveal. - Michelle



I haven't the foggiest, since I don't even know how it plans to start. I like how in Catching Fire, you began to see that there were people in the Capitol who hadn't drunk the Kool-Aid and would be willing to fight. There's a bigger world out there, and Katniss has more allies than she thinks. I guess I just hope the world changes.    - Diana Peterfreund, Author

With me crying because my most favorite books of all time will be officially done? Yea, I'm thinking it's going to end with a whole lotta sobbin'. On a more serious note, I do think there will be lots and lots of death. I won't be surprised to see Katniss as the last one standing (as it should be honestly). Maybe, just maybe, with Haymitch by her side. It would be shocking if the Districts lost the revolt but I can picture Collins going that route as she seems to make some daring choices with her writing. Ultimately, though, I do think the Capitol will be toppled. I'd be in absolute heaven if Collins ended it with everyone but Prim dying and she's left to take over. Then we get another set of books :) -  Michelle F.

I have lots of ideas. Obviously the rebellion will be successful. Katniss will not end up with either Gale or Peeta. Prim or Katniss’s mother will die. And there will be something significant with the Mayor’s wife who gave the pin to Katniss. Also, Katniss’s father isn’t dead. - Emily Ellsworth

Rebellion, overthrowing the government, maybe the assassination of President Snow. I think there will be a death of a major character.  - Angela

I don't know! I've tried to refrain from guessing, because I look forward to the surprise. Whatever happens, I expect things won't go well for the Capitol. And that's how it should be. - Amy H. Sturgis, Author

[name redacted] dies heroically/tragically, Katniss is devastated as she finally realizes the extent of her feelings for him, but she and Gale bond in order to reproduce the next generation of Panem citizens under a new government. - Steph Su @stephxsu

This is so hard to say! I've read Suzanne Collins' middle grade series (The Underland Chronicles, which is fantastic) and I know she's not afraid to kill off main characters, or to keep love interests apart. And I think Katniss would be strong and able to stand on her own if needed. That being said, I think we might see Gale sacrificing himself in order to save Peeta (who will be kept alive by his captors in the hopes of getting information about Katniss). Peeta and Katniss are really the faces of the revolution - Katniss more than Peeta, but I think Peeta has an important role to play, too. I think the Capitol will be overthrown, and the book will end with a sense of needing to rebuild. - Heather Trese @HeatherTrese

The Capital will realize how wrong its been and release its iron grip on the districts. Then Katniss will realize how Peeta is the only one for her and they marry and have 2.5 little Katniss's...and there will be rainbows and fireworks and Gale will....ah...yeah...I can't continue. I have NO clue as to how it will end. Collins is a mater story teller and she completely took me by surprise in Catching Fire so I can't even begin to imagine what will happen in Mockingjay. I wouldn't put it past her to kill Katniss, Peeta, Gale and all the others who are fighting against the Captial....and that the Capital remains in control & becomes even more restrictive. I don't think we'll get a happily ever after. - Gail  @Irisheyz77


Well, I hope for Katniss and Peeta getting together, Cinna not being dead, and creepy President Snow dying in a horribly painful way. I think, though, that we’re going to see at least one major character death (my best guess, because it cannot be Peeta – are you listening, Suzanne Collins? – is Gale and/or Haymitch) and a conclusion that doesn’t offer full closure but that offers hope for the future.  - Jennifer


TEAM PEETA!  - Amy @myfriendamy


What about you?  What are your predictions for Mockingjay?

Book Review and Giveaway: The Unidentified by Rae Mariz

15 year old Kid lives in a dystopian future where corporations run schools, using kids for market research and taking ownership of all of their creations. And if you don’t play by the Game’s rules, it’s GAME OVER for you and your future. Kid’s never really thought about the implications of all this corporate power over her life until one day she witnesses a prank by an anticorporate group called The Unidentified. As her interest in the group grows, she attracts the attention of the corporations, who want to repackage Kid and The Unidentified to fit their own agenda.

This novel just feels really timely, what with our present addiction to social media. Kid’s friend Ari does everything she can to “get branded” since a sponsorship by a corporation means free stuff and education perks. Officially, education being taken over by the Game is a great opportunity for the student since each has an independent study tailored to their strengths – and learning becomes incredibly interactive and fun (the scene which best illustrates this is one in which Kid masters a difficult math concept on a roller coaster type ride). It’s also a great opportunity for parents, because the outside world has become very dangerous and violent, and the Game not only provides a safe learning environment, it also offers tools to keep track of your kids and set permissions for where they can go and where they can’t.

Of course, as we learn through the course of the novel, the apparent generosity of these corporations who run the game comes at a great price – and it doesn’t stop at lack of privacy either (though it’s nothing as sinister as what the Stark Corporation is up to in Meg Cabot’s Airhhead series).

Though the plot is minimal, the setting and world building shines with perceptive insights into the effects of social media and branding. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in the Game, and following Kid’s journey from introverted wallflower with low scores to empowered, conscientious consumer.

My rating: 4 Zombie Chickens - An Excellent Example of the Dystopian Genre
 

 
THE UNIDENTIFIED comes out on October 5th in hardcover. Find out more about it at the publisher's website.
 
Since that's a while to wait, I am thrilled to be able to offer a publisher-sponsored copy of the novel to my readers in the US.  To enter the giveaway, simply tell me in the comments what corporation might want to sponsor you if you were playing the Game - oh and don't forget your e-mail address so I can contact you.  Giveaway will remain open until August 31st at 11:59 pm CST.
 
See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

Dystopian August Week 2 Recap + News

Can you believe Dystopian August is nearly halfway over? Let's take a quick look at what went down in week 2.

6 book reviews

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness gets 5 Zombie Chickens
Gone by Michael Grant gets 3 Zombie Chickens
Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony gets 3 Zombie Chickens
Green Angel by Alice Hoffman gets 3  Zombie Chickens
The Blending Time by Michael Kinch gets 3 Zombie Chickens
This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer gets 1 Zombie Chicken

1 author interview

Joelle Anthony discusses Restoring Harmony

1 preview post

Upcoming debut dystopias from the League of Extraordinary Writers

3 still open giveaways

Win the first three books in Michael Grant's Gone SeriesWin one of 3 copies of Ship Breaker
Win a 6 pack of dystopian books from MacMillan

1 installment of Dystopian Reader Views

Discussion: What about plausibility?

Some highlights coming up this week:

More reviews, interviews, book giveways, and a look at kick a$$ characters in dystopian lit. Enjoy!

Dystopian News:

Katniss Everdeen beat Tally Youngblood in the YA Fantasy Showdown and now faces Astrid from Diana Peterfreund's Rampant series.  Sam Templeton (from Michael Grant's Gone) lost his bracket to Percy Jackson.  Might be a bit more of a popularity contest than a test of actual fighting skills!
 
Sara over at the First Novels Club does The Hunger Games: Disney Princess Style.
 
Sara also discusses whether or not she could survive the dystopian worlds of The Hunger Games, Uglies and Inside Out.
 
My Friend Amy discusses Women, Children and the Apocalypse.
 
Flavorwire offers a quiz for you to find out which dystopian future is right for you.
 
Hope you are continuing to enjoy Dystopian August!

Book Review: The Blending Time by Michael Kinch

Jaym , Reya, and D’Shay are all about to turn 17 in the year 2054, and because none of them have any of the right connections, they are at the mercy of a government that can send them anywhere for dangerous work service. When they are sent to Africa to be blenders, at first they think they’ve lucked out – at least they aren’t getting sent to the canal zone and almost certain death. But they are about to find out that Africa doesn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for blenders…


Right off the bat, I liked that I was introduced to three very diverse characters. Jaym is white, working class. Reya is a refugee from Mexico where sandstorms drove out the population. D’Shay is Af-Am (the book’s term, not mine) and has been in and out of foster homes his whole life. We see how their individual circumstances led them to Global Alliance Blender Program whose purpose is to help repopulate Africa after a sun flare left all the people on the continent unable to have children.

I also found it refreshing that the story is set mainly in Africa – a favorite recent travel spot of mine. Once our three protagonists get to their destination, they are left to fend for themselves against mercenaries who want the blending program to fail. The situation Reya finds herself in is especially harrowing, but Jaym and D’Shay have interesting journeys as well. It reminded me in many ways of a student exchange program, but one in which all three simply got really, really BAD host family placements. Speaking of placements, I have to admit that I never really got WHY the government was so big on sending kids away when they turned 17. Is it due to overpopulation maybe? Everyone just seems to accept it, and there aren't any scenes of brutal government enforcement or anything. Hmmm….

In any case, the world in 2054 is sufficiently crappy, with tons of terrible consequences from environmental disasters. Debut Author Kinch touches on a lot of hot topics – from the terrible conditions of refugee camps, to interracial tensions, to the naivety of global bureaucrats when it comes to local problems – which adds depth to what is essentially a survival/adventure story.  However, right when the action is really heating up…BOOM. It’s over. It’s so abrupt, it’s not even a cliffhanger – it’s a sinkhole. After I recovered from my whiplash, I headed over to the author's website to check for sequel information, and apparently, there IS a one in the works (even a possible trilogy).

My rating? 3 Zombie Chickens – Well worth reading. (Though if you really get frustrated by cliffhangers (sinkholes!) then you might want to wait until the next book is out.)

THE BLENDING TIME will be released on October 1, 2010 in paperback original.
 
See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

Book Review: Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

15 year old Green didn’t go into the city that day with her family, but instead saw from the ridge how the city was destroyed. As conditions worsen around her, Green covers herself in black ink and thorns to protect herself from a desperate populace, and as a way to mourn all that she has lost.


In a starred review back when this was released in 2003, Publisher’s Weekly described this as a “post-apocalyptic fairy tale leavened with hope.” I mention this because this does read far more like a fairy tale than a typical dystopian, and that has a lot to do with Hoffman’s use of language. Here’s how it starts:

"I once believed that life was a gift. I thought whatever I wanted I would someday possess. Is this greed, or only youth? Is it hope or stupidity? As far as I was concerned the future was a book I could write to suit myself, chapter after chapter of good fortune. All was right with the world, and my place in it was assured, or so I thought then. I had no idea that all stories unfold like white flowers, petal by petal, each in its own time and season, dependant on circumstance and fate." p. 5-6

Reading through the reviews on GoodReads, I noticed a lot of people either loved Hoffman’s language or thought it was over-the-top, citing especially a passage near the beginning where Green describes her sister as someone so enchanting that, “Bees would drink the sweat from her skin and never once sting.” p 7. That is a bit much, isn’t it? But Hoffman mostly tones it down after that, and tells a haunting story of a girl trying to come to terms with a whole new, more dangerous world and trying to find her place in it.

A lot of the plot is deliberately vague, and in fact, you don’t find out the cause of the destruction of the city until the sequel GREEN WITCH, which just came out this year. That does make you feel a bit ripped off, especially since book 1 is only 116 pages and book 2 is only 144 pages.

And although Green is developed, the other characters, including a mute boy Green’s age she calls Diamond, are as fleshed out as mist. But again, this is probably a deliberate choice on Hoffman’s part, to underline the fairytale atmosphere of the narrative.

My rating? It was weird, but I liked it. It adds something different to the genre, so I am going to give it 3 Zombie Chickens – Well worth reading.

Series order
 
GREEN ANGEL (available in paperback)
GREEN WITCH (available in hardcover)
 
Find out more about the series on the author's website.
 
 

 
See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore