The Wounded by Lauren Nicolle Taylor
Clean Teen Publishing © 2014
Kindle Edition
Dystopian
Reviewed by Leah
How can you love someone and hate them so much at the same time? The answer: read a book. A more specific answer: read this series of books. Lauren Nicolle Taylor, you're on my Watch List, for better or worse.
Summary:
Rosa didn't get what she came for. With the sole purpose of returning to Pau Brazil being the rescue of her mother and infant sibling, what she came away with was a battered body and a lucky find in her friend, Rash. Then there is the not-so-welcome revelation that her father is the Spider they were sent to rescue, and his loyalty has been to the Survivors much longer than Rosa's been alive.
Feeling overwhelmed and slightly heartbroken, all Rosa wants to do is return to Joseph and her son. To be safe at home, and plan for the next phase of this warfare.
But the next phase hit them first.
When the Spider collectors return from their mission, it is to find their lives empty and deserted. The others are gone. Possessions left behind. And the healing machine destroyed.
Knowing where the only safe hiding place is, they set off immediately for the Hole--a giant, radioactive remnant of a distant war. There, Rosa is relieved to find both of her boys safe and sound. But others are missing and her family is hanging on by tattered threads.
The once strong and determined Survivors are now the Wounded. With each reminder of loved ones lost, they are unwilling, as of yet, to pick themselves up. Instead, they are ready to rest, lick their wounds, and drown in their misery. Which leads them to the Monkey City … and those people that Apella knew actually existed there all along.
It is not enough to wallow, however. And when tragedy strikes in a way to pierce the heart of every living creature, Rosa is simply done. Reciting their sworn oath, Rosa reminds them all what it means to be a Survivor. And she's determined to take the fight back to the Woodlands.
Initial Thoughts:
By the time I finished this book, I couldn't even remember where this one began versus where the last one ended. Thankfully, the publisher provided summary allowed my memory to distinctly separate the two fragments and I am once more able to give a somewhat-coherent review.
Which makes me grateful to the author. It means that each of these books flow so well together, that it reads more like one book than three. Bravo to Ms. Taylor!
(Also, I'm feeling kind-of shell-shocked by the ending. Again. Are you happy with yourself?)
Characters:
I don't need to get into how much I love Rosa for every one of these reviews. But since I'm here…
Just kidding. I love Rosa. We'll leave it at that.
Joseph is his own typical, lovable self in this as well. So, again, no real need.
Now … Apella and Alexei… I hated you both, once upon a time. To the point where I happily would have throttled you both with my bare hands. But now… Not so much. Especially you, Apella. You are gracious and self-sacrificing in a way that is very genuine. It does not seem contrived in any way. And after all you've done for Rosa and Joseph… You have my forgiveness, as well as my gratitude for being such a heartbreakingly complex character throughout the entire series.
Rash, you do comedic relief like no other. Especially when it is truly needed. Thank you for making us all just a little less tense.
Again, thank you to a wonderful cast of characters for making this book so worth investing my time into.
Oh, and Este: HAHAHAHAHAHA! You deserved that and so much more.
Plot & Setting:
Wonderful visionary skills abound here. The world building continues to be sharp and tangible with each new setting. And there were quite a few new places to explore in this novel. Between creepy tunnels to charred highways, it was a mental movie-watching experience. One I absolutely adored.
Again, no formulaic plot arc to this--just how I like it. There are beginnings. There are climaxes. There are resolutions. (Plural.) And then there's that bloody cliffhanger. (Aren't authors grand?)
Also, as much as I love this series, I do feel the need to stress that is character-carried and less plot-oriented. This is about things happening and how they are reacted to. So the emphasis is never really on the plot in itself. (Just so you're all fully aware of what you agree to when you decide to allow this author and her characters to emotionally mangle you.)
Writing Style:
I absolutely love Ms. Taylor's writing style. Since this is first person perspective, you get to see Rosa in all of her full, dysfunctional catastrophes. And you get to feel the same frustrations and bear the same dark weight upon your shoulders as she is forced to carry. It's a very tangible style and I'm glad to experience it.
Overall Opinion:
Definitely recommended. The entire series. I'm incredibly invested in this series and would love to have others to geek out to with this. So I think more of my friends need to read this. (Ahem. Hint, hint. Nudge, nudge.)
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