Tuesday 13 January 2015

Promised

Promised (Birthmarked, #3)

Promised is the finally book in the Birthmarked trilogy by Caragh M. O'Brien.

After defying the ruthless Enclave, surviving the wasteland, and overthrowing Sylum, Gaia Stone now faces her greatest challenge yet-- to lead the people of Sylum back to the Enclave and persuade the Protectorate to grant them refuge.  But in Gaia's absence, the Enclave has become even more ruthless, picking girls from outside the wall to serve in an experimental baby factory.  Babies with the right genes are now priceless commodity with the potential to reshape life inside the wall and redefine humanity.  The key to it all comes back to one fearless, young midwife.  When negotiations devolve into terrorist threats, Gaia finds herself at the crux of an insupportable decision.

As a leader, a woman, and an idealist in love, Gaia must decide if she can sacrifice what-- or whom-- she values most.

The Breakdown:
1. O'Brien start this trilogy so strong, but I really felt that it just fizzled out at the end.  This book felt super rushed and like she was trying to fit puzzle pieces in where they didn't belong. Plus she through in some really disturbing things happen to Gaia during progression of the story.

2. Gaia's character feels like she is devolving as a character, not evolving.  She makes some incredibly stupid moves.  I don't understand why she is surprised that the Enclave arrest her as soon as she gets back.  She committed treason in their mind, and defied everything they stood for.

3. I thought it was strange that O'Brien went to the trouble of introducing the new character of Angie, but hardly gave her any page time.  She had the potential to be an interesting character with the few tidbits that O'Brien threw out, but she just let the character fizzle out.

4.  I found that I did still loved Leon.  At times he seemed like the only character thinking straight.  He is the only one that seems to fully see the Protectorate for how ruthless he is from the beginning.

To Read or Not to Read:
Unless you are gun-ho to finish the series, skip this one.

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