Birthmarked and Prized - Book Review

Title ~ Birthmarked
Series ~ Birthmarked #1
Author ~ Caragh M. O’Brien
Release Date ~ March 30, 2010
Age Group ~ Young Adult
Publisher ~ Macmillan
Source ~ Macmillan

GOODREADS SUMMARY

In the future, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the wall and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife, Gaia Stone, who live outside. Gaia has always believed it is her duty, with her mother, to hand over a small quota of babies to the Enclave. But when Gaia’s mother and father are arrested by the very people they so dutifully serve, Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught to believe. Gaia’s choice is now simple: enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or die trying.

Title ~ Prized
Release Date ~ November 8, 2011

GOODREADS SUMMARY

Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

REVIEW

Birthmarked takes the dystopian concept one huge step beyond the expected. In the world of the Enclave, those inside the wall are pampered in luxuries. Those outside the wall barely survive with little food and water. But they have the one thing those on the inside desire. Babies. An extremely tense situation forms as newborns are given to the inside. The outside cannot revolt because their own children are inside. EPIC!

It gets worse.

Gaia is the daughter of a midwife on the outside. She helps deliver the babies that are given to the inside. How sad is that? And then the unthinkable. Gaia’s parents are arrested by the inside. By the people they are helping! NO! Gaia makes it her mission to find them. To save them. I loved that strong family ties were a big part of the story. Gaia is also joined by Leon, an insider who is dedicated to her plight and his job as a guard. These two trust each other.

In Prized, everything turns upside down. Gaia, followed by Leon, goes to Sylum, a swampy place that is like the opposite of the dry Enclave. Sylum is a crazy place. There are few women, but they are in charge of the many men. There’s even a big competition between the single men with the winner taking one of the women to a cottage for a month. Huh? Did I just really read that?

Gaia has lost her strong will and is now fumbling around love struck. She can’t choose between Leon (who has gone to the end of the world for her) and two brothers. Eww. I want the first book back. Why did everything have to change?

RATING

3 So-So

COVER COMMENTS

I like the understated and simple covers. They are not at all in your face. I especially like the fancy title fonts.