For my first review, I'm going to do Wither by Lauren DeStefano, the first book in the Chemical Garden Trilogy. As is the recent trend in YA fiction, this is a dystopian read. The story is written in first person from a girl named Rhine, living in NYC somewhere in the not-so-far future. In her world, girls only live to age 20, and boys to age 25, thanks to a genetic mutation. Therefore girls are often kidnapped and forced into polygamous, and often active, marriages in order to keep the human population from dying out.
That being said, I think this is an amazing novel. I love how DeStefano builds the story. She writes it with the perfect timing for just the right mix of suspense, wonder, and thrill in the book. Rhine is a really well-developed character, with motives that some of us might question, but which we can all relate to. Part of her story's intrigue comes from the introspect involved in it. As I read this book, I wondered just what I would do in her situation, and the answer to that question leads me to appreciate Rhine more than I already have, for I can truly tell how hard this situation must be for her. All in all, Wither is a compelling read that is really worth your while.