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Friday 13 April 2012

Review: Partials by Dan Wells (Partials #1)

Publisher - Harper Collins Children's Books
Publication Date - 29th March 2012
Genre -  Young Adult Dystopian

Source - Received from NetGalley for review

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it


Reviewed by - Ally

Book Info - Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the world’s population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity’s time is running out.

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend’s pregnancy, she’s determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war’s origin that she never knew to ask.

Combining the fast-paced action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Battlestar Galactica, Partials is a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our sense of humanity is both our greatest liability, and our only hope for survival.

Review - Take a peek between the covers (or in my case my shiny new laptops Adobe programme) and you’ll get sucked into a post-apocalyptic dystopian book where you’ll meet Kira and her world. It’s crazy! Insane! Mindboggling-ly good, with well written characters and a good plot. Go Dan Wells!

Eleven years ago the Partials, genetically engineered super soldiers created by the US government rebelled. They released RM, a virus that wiped out the human race, and for those left there isn’t much hope left. The pregnancy age is dropping, the pregnancy rate is increasing and the senate is “Doing things wrong!” The senate has created the Hope Act to ensure the future of humanity; they must produce children with immunity. The Hope Act requires every woman of eighteen years to get pregnant as quickly as possible and stay pregnant as often as possible. The American survivors have gathered on Long Island waiting for the Partials’ attack, but none have come. Many women feel they are being treated as cattle.

One woman…ok, ok “teen” is willing to brave the senate and the partials to make a difference. A medic, Kira is brave and stupid brilliant and all round loyal. She has an amazing boyfriend and great friends with names like Kochi and Isolde, who all love her and are rather goofy. I loved the relationships between the characters. There is a large cast to get to know but the somewhat slow beginning gives this time to know each, quirks and all.

This book is well explained with not too many big gaping holes in the logic or explanation (though there is quite a bit of explanation) The thing that was not so great about this book was the beginning there was a lot of world building and character building for the first 100-150 and that kinda dragged but when things kicked of it really kicked off! The last ¼ was non-stop awesomeness.

This book is for the brave and stupid we have lurking inside of us it will appeal to you on a level you won’t have realised it could reach and it will definitely have you hooked. Mindboggeling-ly amazing has you hanging on the edge of your seat awesome, you won’t be able to read it and read it again and then read the next one!

Summary - The book was really good and Kira is a fantastic character, a YA heroine that isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, she is very strong and determined. The supporting characters are cool and funny. Although there are some holes in the plot, they’re most likely for the sequel to fill in. Look out for this book and its sequel because Dan Wells seems to be making pretty awesome books.

Other reviews of this book:
Cosy Books / Endlessly Bookish / YA Reads

8 comments:

Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer said...

Fantastic review..this is one of my top five favs so far this year. Excellent review!

Anonymous said...

Reading your review totally makes me want to read this book! I had no idea what it was about before!

Jenny at Books to the Sky

Ally said...

Hey kimba88 Thank you and it really is a good book, it totally made me want to read more dystopian books!

Nerd Girls (Your name is awesome by the way)
I'm so glad, it is a really good read, I recommend it. Ally's Orders! :D

Jenny said...

Once again, great review, Ally. I LOVED this one. I love everything Dan Wells writes.

Ally said...

Aww shucks, Thank you Jenny. Yes, I have to admit he wrote a really great story XD

Netherland said...

PARTIALS is quick, fun read. The concepts of the RM virus, Partials, and the remaining world structure are interesting. The characters are also fun, though personally I thought the book shone brightest when it's dealing with politics and straight forward action sequences.

One other thing I liked was that the author didn't relegate secondary characters to any standard cliche experiences. Which is to say that when I expected that character-A would be done in to give that old tug-on-the-heart-straings, they ended up sticking around. Refreshing.

Shelagh said...

Review Round 2 is looking good Ally!

Partials sounds like something grittier than some of the YA dystopians out there at the moment. Great review of a book that looks like a great read.

Ally said...

Netherland- It was a VERY interesting read :D Glad you like it



Shelagh-Lool thank you I'm trying to keep a standard, I dont want Chrissie and her review lovers to turn on me.
It was an awesome really
-Ally recommends

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