The Woodlands by Lauren Nicolle Taylor
Clean Teen Publishing © 2013
Kindle Edition
Dystopian
Reviewed by Leah
There's only one way to do dystopian right: make sure everything is strong and unrelenting, leaving the reader no room to escape. This book accomplishes that by giving us a strong setting and an even more unrelenting MC. Bravo.
Summary:
Eight concrete, circular cities make up The Woodlands. Each are ruthlessly controlled through violent means as the Superiors try to breed a new 'raceless' race, since a horrific race war destroyed the world and left only their small scrap of Russia habitable. Or so they would have their citizens believe.
Enter Rosa. A strong, stubborn, troublemaking teenager who is shunned by everyone. Not only because she has a bad habit of provoking every adult within a mile radius, but because her one blue eye and one brown eye tends to evoke a feeling of mistrust--since it is wrong to be unique in these grey cities.
Surprisingly, however, it's not Rosa's own actions that have her leaving behind everything she's ever known. The revelation of her mother's pregnancy leaves a hollow feeling in Rosa's chest as she realizes that her family is going to be even more broken than ever before. You're only allowed one child per family.
As Rosa struggles daily to decide what she must do--leave for The Classes on the next transport, or wait the full nine months for her mother to give her a healthy sibling--her choice becomes even more tainted when she meets Joseph. Her opposite in every way, it is clear that he is destined for great things. The type of things that don't involve her because they're from the same town. Yet, despite knowing how stupid it is, Rosa begins to allow herself to feel something for another person.
Of course, nothing good can come of her situation. Which is why she takes the fastest chopper out of Pau, with Joseph at her side for only a few moments longer. But when he drives a heartbreaking wedge between them at the Classes, it is clear that her daydream is over and reality is shaking her roughly awake.
That couldn't be the end of it, however. This time, it's Rosa's own actions that earn her a new job. One far more terrifying and more likely to get her killed. She is entered into a rigorous breeding program … without her consent. Now, with no hope and a future growing shorter by the week, she is faced with an impossible task: hope for something more.
Initial Thoughts:
Rosa is a strong, evoking narrator and immediately draws the reader into her own cynical, sarcastic thoughts with ease. It is clear that she's not some little girl who's going to go along with the game just for the sake of playing. After all, if you're a born troublemaker, why not enjoy the trouble?
As with most e-books, I didn't get immediately invested in Rosa's story. But the more I got to know this paranoid, suspicious, distrustful being, the more I felt the kinship to myself. Thus, it was nearly impossible for me to do anything but completely understand her from beginning to end. Which is actually very rare for me when it comes to books.
Characters:
Rosa made the book for me. After everything she's gone through, her characterization has stayed consistent and believable--though most people would disagree with her choices, it is clear that they are her choices. Really, I could go on and on about her, but I think you get the gist by now. So I digress.
Joseph … I love that you laugh at her. Really, there are only two ways to deal with angry Rosa: get equally pissed off and solve nothing, or laugh at her because she's just so cute when she's mad. Golden-boy gets bonus points for choosing the less volatile route 98% of the time. You do not, however, get points for that way-less-than-subtle announcement. There was no excuse for that, and you made yourself look like an asshat. Good job.
Clara … *sniffle* I love you. You're exactly the type of friend Rosa needs. All light to her darkness.
Deshi, you can't have Joseph. But you make an excellent father and Hessa is lucky to have a man who looks out for him so much. Major kudos, dude!
Apella and Alexei, go die in a fire. I'm not kidding. I hate you both, you worthless, whiny, naive, spineless eels.
Plot & Setting:
Okay, the plot wasn't exactly the most tangible thing ever. The motives of the Superiors are very vague, the back-story is almost non-existent. And some things make you think, "Really? Was that at all necessary?" And, of course, a plot is never helped by extensive traveling on foot. Even when you have two pregnant chicks along. Were it not for Rosa's narration, I think the plot would have suffered greatly if it were forced to stand on its own.
However, it is the first installment in a series. And though this is not how I would typically wish to be introduced to a world, I'm not actually complaining about having to read more to figure out what exactly is going on. Personally, I like characters that go on about their daily lives and allow you just the small glimpses of what they deal with, instead of info-dumping on you unnaturally. And what world-building was done here (mainly in Pau and The Classes) was done so skillfully that it will easily be carried through to the next book.
Writing Style:
The writing was done in the first person and it was executed flawlessly. The narration never deviated from Rosa's voice and it was always sharp and distinct. A lot of authenticity went into her characterization and the narration, which made it a very enjoyable experience.
I did pick out a handful of minor editing flaws, but they never truly detracted from my reading experience and were so scattered throughout the book that they did not plague me.
All in all, a great reading experience and a very thought provoking narration, so, in essence, a wonderful writing technique.
Overall Opinion:
I really enjoyed this book. And though it won't make my all-time-favorites shelf, it's definitely on the list of books I wouldn't mind rereading now and again.
No real pet-peeves or spoilers to go with this one, so that's always a bonus.
If asked, I would recommend this book to people who don't mind violence, like to feel traumatized every now and again, and feel like they just need a really emotional read. Dystopian junkies should really enjoy the change in setting (come on, it's in Russia for once!). And fans of really strong, rarely fickle, female leads will truly enjoy it. Basically, I'll recommend it to all of my friends.
Now, there are currently two other novels in "The Woodlands Series" and both are on my wish-list right now. I am definitely not ready to let go of Rosa or her patchwork family just yet!
All in all, a really good book with high entertainment value with a character who is pretty much as emotionally damaged throughout as you will be by the end. Trust me, it's worth the trauma.
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