Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Sever
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster
Pages: 371
Genre: Dystopia

"Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered."- Goodreads

 

 

 

I almost didn't read this one. 2013 is, whether I like it or not, the end to many beloved series. That includes the Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano. It is imperatve to me for a series conclusion to reach my standards, especially when I am so emotionally attached to a story and it's characters. Sever was a great book and just as good if not better than it's preceders but it just didn't do it for me.

 

In this book Rhine is attempting to forget about the cure and the disease and simply reunite with her brother. She does end up sidetracked by occurances that affect both her and her loved ones. But she has something to live for and build her life around now that she nows her brother is alive.

 

Secrets are revealed from almost everyone's pasts including Rhine, Linden, and Vaughn's. The stakes in this book are higher because time is running out and Vaughn will do almost anything to get what he wants.

 

We get to know Vaughn a lot better and I actually found myself... understanding him. It was a tough time for everyone and as they say when the going gets tough the tough get going. Vaughn did just that and disregarded all of the consequences. Even though Vaughn acted amoral to achieve his goal, his motives were pure. I might've done the same if my loved ones are at stake. That's just my take though and you may likely see it differently.

 

I liked Rhine because, despite everything, she was compassionate and never gave up on her brother. She grew so much from the first book where she was lonely and afraid. Cecily was another of my favorites. Tragedy and time has also changed her and she became so tough she was almost unrecognizeable.

 

The love story was pushed behind scenes. In all actuality, this didn't matter because the book didn't need it. Sever had enough going for it as it was as secret after secret was revealed. That isn't to say that I wouldn't have enjoyed reading more about Rhine's and Gabriel's relationship.

 

The ending was rushed. The plot of the entire series was basically solved in a cople of pages. If this isn't proof of that, I picked up Sever to finish it before realizing that I'd already finished it. Don't get me wrong it was a good book in a good trilogy but I was emotionally attached to it and I feel the conclusion let me down. In the end, however, the book kept me reading (which is more than I can say for a couple other conclusions that I put away when they got too disapointing). It was exciting and eventful and packed with twists. If you enjoyed the first two books then this book is for you.