Book Review: The Forsaken (+ Giveaway)

A thought-provoking and exciting start to a riveting new dystopian trilogy for fans of The Hunger Games.

As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.

Forsaken
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 375 (ARC)
Part of Series: The Forsaken #1
Purchased: Review for the author
Rating: 5/5 stars
Buy: Book Depository || Amazon (US) || Amazon (UK)

REVIEW:
I want to start by saying how amazing this cover (the grey one) is! It's not the simple model, but something that combines many things from the book and makes you wonder. And i want to say that the book trailer of the book is probably the best book trailer i've seen. I'm really not a fan of book trailers, but Forsaken's was so well made. It reminded me of a movie, and actually made you interested in the book! 

On the inside of the book now. I haven't read a lot of dystopia to tell you the truth. And when i've read Hunger Games, you might remember i was really not impressed and not only that but i did not manage to even finish the 3rd book. I didn't get past half Incarceron either. Dystopian books are out of my safe zone and i'm always a little harsh with them. Still Forsaken looked so interesting that i couldn't really say no. And i'm so happy that i got it!

I loved it from the very first chapter. Lisa M. Stasse creates a thrilling world, and i was at the edge of my sit the whole time. The world made sense to me, in the way i won't be surprised if at some point at the future we turn out like that. So that was something, that made me connect easily with the book. The island and the wheel actually scared me. There were no real monsters, just how people can turn out when they are afraid and alone and having nothing to live for. But how also, strong friendships can be made. It was action packed but realistic. 

Alenna is a new to the world, so she can't fight like a super wow warrior. She is afraid, and thinking about hiding. But she is also clever, and well natured. She cares about the people around her and she will risk her life to save them. I didn't just like her as a character, but it was so easy to connect with her. She was a person that i would totally choose for a friend. And it felt so right, when she was making mistakes. She was so normal!

Of course there is romance in the book, but the scenes appear when they need to appear. I think a boy (who is not into the romance parts) can easily read the book, because there is some sort of balance in everything. It's neither all killing or action, but neither all love stories and kissing. It has everything in the right amount.

New or old to the genre, i think you will enjoy it. For me, while other books gave me doubts about the genre, Forsaken made me love not only the story but the genre too. Now i just have to wait for the next book which it seems really far far away....

P.S: Alenna is one of the most beautiful names ever!

And thanks to Lisa M. Stasse, now you have a chance to read it too!


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