Sixteen year old Rhine (the central character), along with a host of other young girls, has been kidnapped. All of them are trapped in the dark inside a van. They have no idea where they are going, but, evidently, girls have been disappearing for a while now. Rhine fears she will be killed, sold into prostitution, or forced to become a bride - to some wealthy man who is approaching death because he is nearly...25 years old - and they need to pop out some babies really quickly or the population will die out. Apparently, in this future world, medical science has gotten ahead of itself - and while they have cured all the fatal diseases the world is plagued with today, the children of the first generation of those immune to disease all die at a very early age. The girls die at 20 and the men die at 25. Now, it is not explained why they are dying so young - there is an unnamed virus of some kind that kills them, but how it is contracted remains a mystery - maybe they are born with it? Of course, how this virus knows to kill at a specific age is is an even bigger mystery. The wealthy of the immune generation are busily looking for the elusive cure for this virus to save their children - and perhaps they are not using the most ethical methods to develop this cure. But - here's kidnapped Rhine. A twin. With one blue eye and one brown eye - which is probably what gets her chosen to be a bride. One of three. For the same man.

Almost all of the action takes place inside this lavish mansion - much of which is off limits to the "sister-wives," so we don't get to see it all. The owner of this mansion - Vaughn - is a "first generation" (safe from the virus), so he is the only major character over the age of 25 in the story. His son, Linden (not safe from the virus), is the man to whom these kidnapped girls will be wed. Other secondary characters include the attendants to the sister-wives, cooks, and other household servants, including Gabriel, who forms an attachment with Rhine. All of the characters are written well - even the secondary ones - and the plot unfolds effectively. I had a hard time putting the book down. The three sister-wives contrast each other: Rhine - who only wants to escape and find her way back to her twin brother, Jenna - who loathes the men who have brought her to this place, but is resigned to live out her remaining days in it while looking after her sister-wives, and Cecily - the youngest of the brides who seems to welcome what is happening to her as if she is oblivious to what it actually is (and who is a little bit of a brat), yet the bond that grows between them was explored very sensitively and was interesting to read. Then there were Linden and Gabriel. I was all ready to detest Linden at the beginning of the novel, but I never really could. The sort-of triangle between him, Rhine, and Gabriel left me torn. In fact, I still don't know which one I liked better.

I don't think I would recommend this book to younger teens - Cecily, the youngest bride, is only 13. I understand that with the problems and dying young and all in this world that 13 might not be viewed as too young to start popping out babies, but I just don't think reading about that would be appropriate for younger teens, anyway. Just my opinion.

The ending was good, but not as big a cliff hanger as the endings in, say,
[b:Unearthly|7488244|Unearthly|Cynthia Hand|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1324782984s/7488244.jpg|9621771] or [b:Catching Fire|6148028|Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)|Suzanne Collins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1268805322s/6148028.jpg|6171458]. I'll definitely get the next one - [b:Fever|11112619|Fever (The Chemical Garden, #2)|Lauren DeStefano|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1324955449s/11112619.jpg|16035084], but I'm going to wait until I finish reading the other bunch of books sitting in my Kindle and on my computer desk. ( )

AWESOME book. I loved this book. I love the idea, the writing, the characters, everything. I love the characters that DeStefano has created with Rhine, Gabriel and Jenna. I'm still on the fence a little bit about Linden and Cecily. She's definitely written the Housemaster to be disliked, however. I'm curious to see where the other two books will take these characters. ( )

I have a feeling that I missed something because while I enjoyed the book I didn't absolutely adore it like many of my fellow readers seemed to have.

The book is refreshing in that it doesn't rely upon a love triangle to fuel its pace. It also doesn't create bad guys to create bad guys. DeStefano also tries to portray a health female friendship, even though cliche dictates they should HATE each other to pieces.

I want to mention how striking this cover is. It’s not usually the kind of cover I like, but it fits. It has symbolism. Wither is the first in the Chemical Garden trilogy, which is about normal for young adult novels these days. Especially young adult novels in the dystopian genre.

In the future humans are a ticking time bomb of death. Males live to 25 and females to 20, so society does what society is really good at–they figure out a way oppress females! Poor unfortunate souls get kidnapped, sold and forced into polygamous marriages to males so that the men can breed as many kids as possible. Well, the rich men get that treatment, at least.

Before I go further, I want to point out that though parts of this review may sound harsh, it’s not that I disliked or didn’t enjoy the novel. I just feel kind of overloaded on bleak, desperate dystopians where the government (or society, and sometimes they are the same) controls everything. Just off the top of my head I can name three other recently released or soon to be released books of a similar concept: Delirium by Lauren Oliver, Matched by Ally Condie, and Bumped by Megan McCafferty. That’s a whole lot of depression to be reading in a six month period.

Rhine, our main character, introduces us to the world and what’s happening. And she’s not a bad sort to have as a narrator. She doesn’t often dwell on the bleakness of her situation, she focuses on what it means to survive. She keeps hoping for a cure to the genetic problems plaguing mankind. In short she’s fair-minded and even-handed. Too often dystopians seem to have a focal character who is too far left or right.

DeStefano’s writing is lush and provocative; she offers an unbiased viewpoint in regards to what happens. Rhine as a narrator doesn’t judge or endorse the practice of kidnapping girls for the polygamous marriages. There is an obvious need, and her husband Linden isn’t a bad person–he’s not cruel or abusive, at least. And the trade-0ff isn’t half bad at first. All the food she can eat, pretty clothing and jewels, party after party…it’s a dream come true.

But…well, if Rhine had remained happy in life, we wouldn’t have much of a plot right? I will say I was happy to see that even though there is a “love” story outside of her marriage, it’s not the impetus of the novel. At least it didn’t feel as if it was to me. Rhine’s relationship with her sister-wives (oh, hey, yes, polygamy, I know I mentioned that) fuel her character more. Rhine wants to protect both Cecily (the younger one at 13) and Jenna (older at 19).

In the end the fact that DeStefano doesn’t dwell on a love triangle, or make Linden out to be a creep and villain, made this book worth more to me. I want to find out what happens next and follow the tension. This book doesn’t promise happy endings sunshine perfectness–I sincerely hope the series remains true to that. ( )

I like the story. BUT... I didn't really have any emotional connection to the characters. When one of them died it wasn't until later that I realized it didn't really bother me at all. I wish the relationships were explored a little deeper. The only character I found myself even a little emotionally attached to was Cecialy. I will read the next one because I do like the story and the potential of the characters I just hope for more. ( )

Years ago, back in my high school years, I stared in awe at this beautiful cover in my local bookshop. Due to limited finances, I could never pick the book up. Years passed by, and eventually I came across this book at a local book sale. You can bet your booty I grabbed this book and ran with it! Well, I paid for it first, but you get the gist.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano is a dystopian novel where the the new generation dies young (due to the perfection of genetics and the limitation of cancer). The boys die at 24 and the girls die at 20, so polygamy marriages are flourishing and the women pop out babies as quick as they can. Now, that may sound like some sort of dream for people, but you have to keep in mind these women are being sold off into these marriages so it's not exactly the ideal situation. This apocalypse is torture, and our lead Rhine thinks there may be a bit of a conspiracy going on... She's probably not wrong.

The first half of this book had me totally hooked and I could not put it down. I was desperately reading my little heart out, needing to know what was happening. Then the second half of the book happened and I sort of lost interest. Some of the logic behind this book was lost to me, and that's probably because I was overthinking it. Everyone needs to reproduce early because they die, so the older generations will take care of the babies? Also, why is no one trying to solve this issue or just... stop perfecting the whole genetics thing? I want more scientific information - it was hard for me (as an overthinker) to believe the context of the story. And that's a dumb statement, because fantasy isn't necessarily logical.

I also felt this book had a bit of a "men are trash" vibes at time. It made me wonder about the thought process of the characters, because they constantly bashed their husband but he didn't seem... that bad? He seemed like a guy in a bad situation and not the villain. There was very obviously a big, bad villain present who they should have been complaining about.

Then there are the chicks - oh my, are they manipulative! Sure, they all want to reproduce and get married but... it seemed odd. None of them saw the negative of this situation except Rhine? Nobody tried to escape or anything? They are just a slice of the population, so I'm sure there are more stories elsewhere. Also, why focus on reproduction? You have four years to live and they don't just want to bone everyone? I feel like that would be more of interest to the men than popping out babies. Unless those men are being controlled...

I am nosy why this series is called The Chemical Garden. Unless I can find the sequels easily at my local charity book stores and sales, I won't be continuing it. I just wasn't attached to this book liked I hope I would be. If I would have grabbed it back in my high school years I definitely would have been emotionally attached. This is the kind of Gothic weird I lived for in high school. Unfortunately, my adult self thinks too much for my own good now.

My biggest positive is that Lauren has one of the most beautiful writing styles and has a miraculous way with words. I was so impressed by how she wrote and that's why I stuck with this book when I was losing interest. She's just so good! So much potential!

Overall, this book is unique and it's one of those really wicked dystopian novels that will make you think. I can see an audience really loving it, but I'm not in it.

Two out of five stars. ( )