27 October 2013

Book Review- Spoilers!


Title- The Elites
Author- Natasha Ngan
Genre- Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopian
Format- Paperback
UK Publisher- Hot Key Books
*I was sent this book by the publisher in return for an honest review.*

Goodreads Blurb-
Hundreds of years into the future, wars, riots, resource crises and rising sea-levels have destroyed the old civilisations. Only one city has survived: Neo-Babel, a city full of cultures – and racial tension. 

Fifteen-year-old Silver is an Elite, a citizen of Neo-Babel chosen to guard the city due to her superior DNA. She’d never dream of leaving – but then she fails to prevent the assassination of Neo Babel’s president, setting off a chain of events more shocking and devastating than she could ever have imagined. Forced to flee the city with her best friend Butterfly (a boy with genetically-enhanced wings), Silver will have to fight to find her family, uncover the truth about Neo-Babel and come to terms with her complicated feelings for Butterfly.
  


Initial Thoughts- I liked this book. It was nice. Not amazing, not the best thing I've ever read, not something I will remember in a few months time but nice. I was excited to start reading, the blurb sounded and prologue got me hooked, well at least I thought it had. You see, it ended up taking me two days to get through the first 4 chapters because I just wasn't bothered, it was a slow start to say the least.

Strong Points- I like the character of Butterfly. A lot. Not only because he had wings (but that's pretty cool) but at how real he was. His reactions. The way he acted with Silver near the beginning. The way he reacted when his family dies. The way he saved Silver near the end, even though it caused him so much pain. He could be a real person (minus the wings of course) and that is one thing needed from a good dystopian novel, a connection to reality.

Weaknesses- I thought the whole storyline of racism, with Silver being taunted for being 'a dirty red', had good potential but I didn't see it too much. Ok, they use it when Leanor tries to stop the building relationship and to show Silver is not an Elite but it had so much more to give! Also, things became hard to visualise at times, especially the way the city of Neo-Bable was enclosed away from the outside world by a giant wall that nobody could escape from.

Favourite Quote- 'She's lied enough that day to recognise the lies in his words.'
Don't ask me why I love this, I have no clue! Ever since I read that line, it has just stuck in my mind. I think it is because of the truth in it, we all lie too much, so much so that it is becoming reality.


2 comments:

  1. Thanks for the add on Goodreads and the message.
    WELCOME to the blogosphere!
    This was a good honest review. And I look forward to reading more from you.
    Don't worry too much about what you're doing, just have fun with it! It's your blog! :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love this review! I must add this book to my VERRRY long TBR pile! Loving your blog! Keep it up! :)

    ReplyDelete