Promised (Birthmarked #3) - Caragh M. O'Brien

Review: Promised

Series: Birthmarked (#3)

Author: Caragh M. O'Brien

Rating: 4/5

Genre: dystopia

Oh, this is so unfortunate. You know a series has to be really good when the ending bother you this much. I'll make this short. 

I really, really enjoyed this series. The second book was my complete and utter favorite, and I thought book 3 would surpass them all. I loved how much Gaia was growing and expanding out of her midwife role to become a leader. The inhabitants of Sylum were starting new lives, and old characters and new characters met face-to-face for the first time. Of course, tension would be high, and the conflict would be exciting and fiery. It was fantastic, and I was reveling in it. 

The plot was great, I loved the story of how all the peoples had to learn to work together to save humanity. The genetic abnormalities occurring in both tribes were frightening and intense. The book had a lot of maturity, and it handled difficult topics really well. But I just can't get over my dislike of how it ended. I feel so hung up on it, and that reflects how deeply I was into this series. It was highly upsetting. 

One good thing was, the characters had incredible amounts of depth surfacing. Leon went from distant soldier, to broody hunk, to intense lover boy. I couldn't get enough of him. Gaia grew, and even though she made many idiotic mistakes, I still loved how much she cared for her people. The adorably annoying Chardos are back too, and the Protectorat was more insane than ever. 

Overall, the book rose to new heights with the characters, the world-building, and the tense hostility. The characters had to work together and form new bonds to overcome their strife and survive. However, I just can't stem my disappointment over the way the series concluded. But, I would still recommend it to people who enjoy interesting dystopian fiction, bright characters, genetics, and bittersweet endings.

Birthmarked (Birthmarked #1) - Caragh M. O'Brien

Review: Birthmarked
Author: Caragh M. O'Brien
Rating; 4.5/5
Genre: Dystopian, science-fiction
Recommend To: fans of Exodus

I really, really enjoyed this book! It didn't immediately draw me in from the first line, and the setting took some getting used to, but something about it was really easy to get into. The novel tells the tale of Gaia, a sixteen year old girl following the steps of her mother as a midwife. She lives on the outside of the wall where the people are required to give a quota of 3 babies a month to the Enclave, the governing town within the wall. When her parents are kidnapped, she goes on an epic quest to save them and unravel the mystery her mother left her in the form of a ribbon. It has everything fun imaginable-- secret codes, executions, prisons, long-lost siblings, scandals, forbidden romance, evil people in power. It was a bucketload of merriment.

The setting itself was really different, but it didn't take away from the story. I, for one, absolutely love the medieval type of town with midwives, bakers, market day, public hangings (etc), but it's actually set years in the future. They refer to present day as the "cool age" and have technology such as TV's, computers, and cameras. It's odd to reconcile the old township/historical period sort of feeling with the dystopian, gene sequencing future village. It's interesting though.

Gaia herself is intelligent, and stubbornly fights for what she believes in. She is sweet and kind, and believes that every living thing deserves a chance to live. Even though her scar has put her through some awful times, she isn't bitter or cruel. Her parents and their relationship with Gaia are also wonderfully sweet, they raised her to have morals and values through life experiences. Finally, her relationship with Leon is gradual but tender and beautiful. It isn't love at first sight, or even second sight, but they start to get to know each other and love blossoms. 

Finally, the story telling is descriptive, the characters are all engaging. Even the secondary characters have pivotal roles (ex. Mack, Bartlett, Sephie). The world is new and interesting, few authors ever have suggested that the world can go completely backwards, the technology is barely even noticeable. The problems of genetic problems and inbreeding are delicately tackled and remain the focus of the novel, and overall the book is a very light, congenial read.