Rodda's writing is just as fantastic and I was thrilled by how much I still liked it even though I'm no longer a child. The plot twists were great, thRodda's writing is just as fantastic and I was thrilled by how much I still liked it even though I'm no longer a child. The plot twists were great, the villain was fascinating, and I like that the book wasn't obsessed with romance....more
I requested this book for my birthday, with the anticipation that it was going to be a guilty pleasure, not particularly amazing writing but very suspI requested this book for my birthday, with the anticipation that it was going to be a guilty pleasure, not particularly amazing writing but very suspenseful.
I was partially right.
The book starts off right where The Testing left off in terms of suspense. Cia is taking a test with a group of the others who have returned safe from The Testing. Her roommate and friend, Stacia appears to be a tentative ally, but likes manipulating the competition by arriving late to the exam to psych them out. There's a confusing part where the room disappears and Cia and Tomas are in a different place, and I basically have no idea what happened there.
I keep on fangirling over Will. Sorry not sorry. I mean, he's (view spoiler)[supposed to be a sociopath (hide spoiler)] but...ugh. He's just awesome, and tricky, and fiercely protective of Cia. (view spoiler)[I mean, he saved her life like three times in this book. (hide spoiler)] He's just trying to survive, like EVERYONE else. And his brother's death certainly screwed him over. I guess I have a soft spot for horrible villains who are fiercely protective of the MC. Exhibit A: Hades by Alexandra Adornetto
The book is a thrill ride from start to finish, and made me eager to buy the next one. Thankfully, I delayed reading this one so long that it came out the day before I started/finished it ;)
Throughout the book, I got frequently frustrated with Cia's relentless perfection. Sometimes I even begged her to do the "bad" thing and kill off someone who had tried to sabotage her. (view spoiler)[I wouldn't have stopped Will from leaving Dramone behind, or beating him up at the last Induction challenge. (hide spoiler)] The sad thing is, it's realistic. There ARE people out there who are so relentlessly perfectionist, and it's not healthy at all. Poor Cia. Come over here and get a hug, okay girl?
Actually, Cia, Will, Tomas and a lot of the other people in the Testing are definitely Enneagram ones. Just read that and tell me that it doesn't fit those three. DO IT.
Ones are conscientious and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are teachers, crusaders, and advocates for change: always striving to improve things, but afraid of making a mistake. Well-organized, orderly, and fastidious, they try to maintain high standards, but can slip into being critical and perfectionistic. They typically have problems with resentment and impatience. At their Best: wise, discerning, realistic, and noble. Can be morally heroic.
YUP.
The plot twist at the end, I can't even. It's probably one of the most amazing plot twists that I've ever read, and it leaves me SO ready for the last book. Thankfully it's OUT. :D
Character Rundown
Cia - I understood her motivations and internal conflicts a lot better in this book, but she was INFURIATINGLY perfectionistic sometimes.
President Collindar - Probably one of my favorites in the book, besides Will. The quote that many 카지노싸이트 users have used to justify calling the book sexist actually seems to me to be a feminist statement.
Of all the students who came into the Debate Chamber, you were the only one who recited the request without error and the only female who made the attempt for her team. Taking that kind of risk in public is often much more difficult for women than men. I'm not sure why.
This IS NOT sexist. This is President Collindar, and the author, posing a question to female readers: Why IS the world like this? Why should we let all of these men make all the decisions when WE'RE perfectly capable?
Collindar also makes a lot of tricky challenges for Cia, designed to teach her lessons. She's brilliant.
Will - I should hate him (really, I should) but I don't. He's so protective of Cia, and mostly seems to be making useful decisions, if not 100% morally right ones. He wants himself and his friends to get ahead, and in a cutthroat world like that of the Testing, that skill's needed. (view spoiler)[Oh and he saved her life/ skin like three times... (hide spoiler)]
"Just because someone's from the colonies doesn't mean he can be trusted, Will." Despite the aid he rendered me during Induction, distrust fills my voice. Will looks at me. I see surprise, sorrow, and regret flicker in his eyes. "Maybe not," he says. Then the cockiness I have always known returns. "But some of us are worth keeping around because of our sparkling personalities and handsome faces."
Tomas: Still don't like him. Also, why the hell would he blame Zandri's death on Cia? That's not a healthy relationship; it's emotional abuse, making her feel like she's responsible because she should be by his side helping him all the time. It plays directly to her weaknesses — relentless perfectionism and desire to help everyone and do everything that's right all the time.
"I've replayed it a hundred times in my mind. If only one thing had gone differently. If I hadn't taken out my knife. If Will hadn't appeared when he did, or yelled for me to tur. If you hadn't left Will and me alone—" Disbelief steals my breath. "This is my fault?" "I don't know. Anger and guilt simmer in every word. Tomas might say he doesn't know, but I do. I can see the accusation. The bitterness. The hurt. Tomas is angry. Angry he took a life. Angry he was put in the position to do so. Because of me.
I also don't like the way he alienates Cia from other girls, because they're flirting with him. Like Zandri, who he killed. THAT'S REALLY NOT HEALTHY. SISTERS BEFORE MISTERS.
And after it all, he still declares he loves her? UGH. NO. THAT'S NOT LOVE. THAT'S ABUSE.
Please, Will, just kill Tomas. Like you intended to before. I completely believe that Will and Cia could live happily. After Dr. Barnes is overthrown, of course. These traits only come out in him because he's put in a situation like this, and Cia's able to hold him back when she needs to.
Anger flashes across Will's face, but his voice is calm when he says "One team is already gone, but the other two haven't reached their skimmers yet. How fast do you think they'd get to the end of this challenge if they had to walk?" Damone's mouth spreads into an unpleasent smile. "Maybe you're smarter than I gave you credit for. We can start with that one."
And then she stops him. See, he can stop his dark side, if someone he cares about disapproves.
HEY WILL. TELL CIA YOU'RE GONNA TURN UNCONTROLLABLY EVIL IF SHE DOESN'T DATE YOU. Oh wait no...That's a Tomas move. YOU wouldn't do that. My bad.
One final point: All of the readers are talking about how Cia's such a speshul snowflake. Guys, did you even read? The reason she has 9 classes is because Barnes and Holt are trying to make her crack under pressure. The reason she's interning for the president is because of the rebellion, and also because the president sees premise in Cia as a strong FEMALE leader.
Cia Vale lives in a world that was ravaged by war years ago, and to create a stable government, "The Testing" has been created - a system where graduaCia Vale lives in a world that was ravaged by war years ago, and to create a stable government, "The Testing" has been created - a system where graduates from each colony are tested mentally and practically to become the new leaders of the country. The night Cia is selected for the testing, her father gives her a warning - that it might not just be paper tests. He also tells her not to trust anyone. But surely she can trust the people from her colony and the dynamic duo of twins who sit at her table. Right? Initial impressions: This author doesn't write girls very well. It would be better as a romance between two guys. This book is so similar to The Hunger Games! Heck, it even has the same font for chapter headings.
Those were the main flaws of this book. Other than that, it was good. A compelling read. But a complete rip-off of the Hunger Games.
Character Analysis Cia's Family and Village- Well characterized in general, except for her mother. She was kind of a cliché evil stepmother.
Cia Herself - She was good at first. But then she started getting on my nerves, especially as she got further into The Testing. She kept on doing everything that was morally the right thing. It irritated me a little. Geez, make a mistake once in a while! (view spoiler)[Though I suppose falling for Tomas counted... (hide spoiler)]
Tomas - He didn't seem to have all that much of a personality to me. He seemed kind of just to be the love interest insert. I mean, they were cute but too much of a Peeta/Katniss. it seemed to me that the only time he had a personality was when (view spoiler)[he murdered the other girl from their colony (hide spoiler)]. Will - Easily my favorite character in the book. Even if he was supposed to be (view spoiler)[a crazy murderer (hide spoiler)]. Here I go again, loving the antagonist. Just like I did in Hades. Not a good sign...
Ryme - Unlike some of the other characters, she was written and developed well. I felt so bad for her when (view spoiler)[she committed suicide. (hide spoiler)]
The Plot It was well paced, and entertaining. Still a ripoff of the Hunger Games though.
Had this not been a ripoff, it would be a solid four stars. So it is regretfully that I rate this book three stars....more
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