Although I read this book awhile ago, I have been recently drawn to it again and feel that it is review worthy. I picked up this book on a whim and was a little nervous about the content but decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised.
The book is set in futuristic America but the world is much different than now. In an effort to rid humanity of sickness and defects, scientists created a cure to breed new healthy children. However, something went terribly wrong. The children were born healthy, as expected, but their lifespan was cut dramatically. Women now only live to be twenty years old and men only to the age of twenty-five.
This change in age caused a panic. Scientist are desperately trying to find a remedy but in the meantime, humanity is dealing with it in its own way. People called the Gatherers kidnap girls, as young as thirteen, and sell them to wealthy gentlemen who are hoping to keep their family line alive. The ones who are not chosen are sold into prostitution or killed. These wealthy men, called House Governors, take multiple wives in an effort to save humanity.
This is where we join our main character, Rhine, a sixteen year old girl. She has been taken by the Gatherers and is ultimately chosen to be the wife of a wealthy House Governor. She is taken, against her will, to a mansion far from her home with two other girls that are also intended to be this man's wives.
At first, Rhine is furious and she doesn't open herself up to anyone but after figuring out she is stuck, she begins to soften. Her sister wives, Jenna and Cecily are completely different from one another. Cecily is only thirteen and is eager to please her new husband. Jenna is older and despises him but loves the comforts of the mansion. Rhine just wants her own life back.
The girls' husband, Linden, has chosen them to replace his first wife Rose, who dies early on in the book. He warms up to the girls because his Father, Housemaster Vaughn has convinced him to keep trying to extend his family line. Linden likes all of his new wives but he is especially drawn to Rhine, possibly because she reminds him of his late wife.
Time passes and after Cecily becomes pregnant, Rhine realizes that her only way out of her prison may be to warm up to Linden. She begins to show him affection in hopes of becoming what is called the First Wife, who is the one the Governor chooses to go to all the parties with him and to whom he gives more freedom. If she can accomplish this, maybe she can find an opportunity to escape. There is only one problem, she is falling in love with one of the boys on the staff named Gabriel.
Although Linden is oblivious to Rhine's infatuation with Gabriel, her affections do not escape Master Vaughn's notice. He warns her to be careful or things could go badly for her and she's heard from the staff what exactly that means. Master Vaughn is a scientist who is still desperately trying to find a cure for humanity and sometimes he needs "subjects" to test on.
Shortly after Master Vaughn's warning, Gabriel disappears. Rhine fears the worst. Jenna helps her escape to the basement, where Gabriel is rumored to be and Rhine finds him. They make plans to escape together.
Jenna pays for her involvement in helping Rhine and not that long afterwards, she dies from a mysteriously early case of the sickness. Rhine suspects Master Vaughn's involvement but continues to play the part, kissing up to Linden. His fascination with her gains Rhine his approval and she ends being the First Wife.
The day before she leaves, she finds out that Cecily, her other sister wife, had been in league with Master Vaughn all along, which only strengthens her resolve to run away. She meets up with Gabriel and they escape. Finding a boat, they set sail towards New York, where Rhine is from, to find her brother. They are finally free.
Will Linden or Housemaster Vaughn come after them? Will they be able to find a cure so her and Gabriel can be together forever? I'm guessing we'll find out in the next book because this is going to be a trilogy.
Although the subject matter was a little unorthodox, I have to admit I fell in love with this book. The beginning is so intense and frightening and the whole plot is just well thought out. I just kept thinking, I could actually see this happening if the world was in this situation and that's kind of disturbing.
Though the thought of polygamy leaves a sour taste in my mouth, I loved the relationships that Lauren DeStefano created between the sister wives. It was awkward and comforting at the same time. I hated Cecily and felt sorry for her too. I cried when Jenna passed away. It was so easy to feel everything that Rhine was feeling throughout the story. I was surprised by how captivated I was by this strange, crazy, wonderful book.
Would I recommend it? Yes and no. This book is definitely for an older audience. It has adult themes and though it isn't super descriptive, I still feel it is meant for an older crowd. Parents be warned that the birds and the bees are mentioned. That being said this was a good book. The beauty is in the relationships that the author creates and in the struggle of a teenage girl coping with all of these strange things that happen to her. I will definitely be buying the sequel to this novel.
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