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Review: Poison

by Lan Chan

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
Published: 1st September 2015

Title: Poison
Author: Lan Chan
Publisher: Patchwork Press
Book: #1 of the Wind Dancer Series
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian/YA
Found: Netgalley
Rating: 4.5 Voodoos

Since the night her mother was murdered, sixteen-year-old Rory Gray has known one truth: There are no good Seeders. In post-apocalyptic Australia, the scientists known as Seeders have built a Citadel surrounded by food-producing regions and populated with refugees from the wars and famine. To maintain their control, the Seeders poisoned the land and outlawed the saving of seeds. It’s been six years since Rory graced the Seeders’ circus stage as the Wind Dancer and still the scars on her body haven’t healed. Even worse are the scars on her heart, left by a Seeder boy who promised to protect her. Now the Seeders are withholding supplies from Rory’s region for perceived disobedience. Utilizing the Wanderer knowledge she received from her mother, Rory must journey to the Citadel through uninhabitable terrain to plead for mercy. However, the Citadel isn’t as Rory remembered. The chief plant geneticist is dying and rumors fly that the store of viable seed is dwindling. The Seeders are desperate to find a seed bank they believe Rory can locate, and they will stop at nothing to get it. To defy the Seeders means death. But Rory has been close to death before–this time she’s learned the value of poison.
Recommended for fans of The Hunger Games, strong protagonists, circuses and nature!

-Netgalley

I have to admit to liking this story far more than I thought I would because the cover put me off, I’m not sure why, I chose the book because I liked the blurb after all – and I must have originally liked something about the cover because otherwise I wouldn’t have clicked on it!

I’m happy to report there are no love triangles in this story! Though I kept fearing one was going to start. Something else is afoot however and I need to know what’s going on right now. Rather disappointingly this books didn’t contain a sneak peek for book two. why was this?! Also, sadly, despite the mass failure to stay alive I didn’t find it particularly upsetting. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m so emotionally exhausted since work moved or if I just wasn’t emotionally invested in what was going on, I’m hoping it’s the former.

The story is in first person and there’s obviously a lot more going on than Rory realises. Some things didn’t quite seem to add up but it’s hard to properly pin down without more information which is probably why we didn’t get it – not a stupid thing to do – though, again, this is a story about someone whose life is being manipulated by those around her without actually telling her what’s going on, this can be detrimental to plans people, get with the program!

Gage grew on me for a while and I think there’s more going on with Aiden than Rory realises, though I’m not fully sure what she thinks is going on because she never actually articulates it and there are two possible explanations at least so that’s all confusing.

This is a series I hope to continue with in the future, I hope I don’t forget how much I enjoyed it.

pamspaein

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