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Birthmarked #2
Prized
Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?
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First published November 8, 2011
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About the author
Caragh M. O'Brien
20 books2,210 followersCaragh M. O'Brien is the author of the BIRTHMARKED trilogy and THE VAULT OF DREAMERS series, both from Macmillan/Roaring Brook Press. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Ms. O'Brien earned her BA from Williams College and her MA from Johns Hopkins University. Once a high school English teacher, she resigned to write young adult novels. For more information, visit http://www.caraghobrien.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,845 reviews
November 7, 2011
This is one of the hardest reviews I’ve ever had to write, both because the book left me heartbroken, and because it was so confusing that it left me quite exhausted. It is also difficult because I highly respect the author, especially for her openness to honest feedback, and though I disagree with some of the things in this book I continue to respect her and will eagerly await whatever else she may write. The other difficulty is that the themes dealt with are highly controversial, and yet they are too important to leave undiscussed.
I considered the first book in this series, Birthmarked, to be a rare find in contemporary YA literature. In my review I couldn’t praise it highly enough.
Some of these qualities can be seen (somewhat faintly) in Prized, but it is a completely new story in a different place with different people and different values.
In general terms the story seems to have lost its ‘epic’ quality: while Birthmarked created a logical and coherent world and told the story of one girl’s place in it, this book is more about the ups and downs of Gaia’s personal struggles, and the ‘world outside’ in Sylum (her new home) sometimes seems a mere backdrop. This book also places more emphasis on emotions and physical appearance than the first, and it is a lot more morally confusing.
Feelings determine right and wrong
I must acknowledge Gaia’s admirable appreciation for honesty and her earnestness in wanting to do what is right. However, in Prized, Gaia’s earnestness is set above the question of whether or not she acts rightly, and so her moral choices become cloudy. She no longer asks ‘what is the right thing to do?’, but rather ‘do I feel right about this?’
There are many examples of this that I would have preferred to know about before reading the book, and perhaps others may too... things to do with rebellion, romance, and especially life issues.
That’s about all I can say for now; there are other good and not so good things in Prized but it would take a book to explore them all. And though book one looks a little different in the light of book two, I still think Birthmarked was one of the best YA I’ve read in a long time. Prized is taking time to get over, but as we learned in Birthmarked, there’s always hope.
I considered the first book in this series, Birthmarked, to be a rare find in contemporary YA literature. In my review I couldn’t praise it highly enough.
Some of these qualities can be seen (somewhat faintly) in Prized, but it is a completely new story in a different place with different people and different values.
In general terms the story seems to have lost its ‘epic’ quality: while Birthmarked created a logical and coherent world and told the story of one girl’s place in it, this book is more about the ups and downs of Gaia’s personal struggles, and the ‘world outside’ in Sylum (her new home) sometimes seems a mere backdrop. This book also places more emphasis on emotions and physical appearance than the first, and it is a lot more morally confusing.
Feelings determine right and wrong
I must acknowledge Gaia’s admirable appreciation for honesty and her earnestness in wanting to do what is right. However, in Prized, Gaia’s earnestness is set above the question of whether or not she acts rightly, and so her moral choices become cloudy. She no longer asks ‘what is the right thing to do?’, but rather ‘do I feel right about this?’
There are many examples of this that I would have preferred to know about before reading the book, and perhaps others may too... things to do with rebellion, romance, and especially life issues.
That’s about all I can say for now; there are other good and not so good things in Prized but it would take a book to explore them all. And though book one looks a little different in the light of book two, I still think Birthmarked was one of the best YA I’ve read in a long time. Prized is taking time to get over, but as we learned in Birthmarked, there’s always hope.
March 17, 2024
Actual rating 4.5 stars.
I am very surprised about this book.
It was very interesting the whole time. It made me feel angry so many times towards Gaia and her attitude about everything that was going on that I became frustrated. I love a book that awakens strong emotions in me. I enjoyed it so much!
I liked the first book of this series, but Prized is defenetetly an improvement from the first installment. This story is more complex, it evolves fluidly and maintains your attention at all times.
I have to say though, that Leon's character disappointed me a bit this time. I was expecting a deeper development in him, explanations to really show us who he is and where he is coming from.
One of the thins I appreciate most, is that this series is not immature, it doesn't have a high-school or childiss felling to it even though it is a young adult novel, thus it could function just as well if we where to age the characters.
I can’t wait to see where the story is going next.
Book 1: Birthmarked - 3.5 stars
Book 3: Promised - 2.5 stars
I am very surprised about this book.
It was very interesting the whole time. It made me feel angry so many times towards Gaia and her attitude about everything that was going on that I became frustrated. I love a book that awakens strong emotions in me. I enjoyed it so much!
I liked the first book of this series, but Prized is defenetetly an improvement from the first installment. This story is more complex, it evolves fluidly and maintains your attention at all times.
I have to say though, that Leon's character disappointed me a bit this time. I was expecting a deeper development in him, explanations to really show us who he is and where he is coming from.
One of the thins I appreciate most, is that this series is not immature, it doesn't have a high-school or childiss felling to it even though it is a young adult novel, thus it could function just as well if we where to age the characters.
I can’t wait to see where the story is going next.
Book 1: Birthmarked - 3.5 stars
Book 3: Promised - 2.5 stars
April 18, 2017
Gaia se adentra en los páramos con su hermana casi recién nacida, con pocas provisiones y con un simple rumor a modo de brújula. Aunque sobrevive, es atrapada por las gentes de Sailum, sociedad distopica donde mandan las mujeres a pesar de la superioridad numérica de los hombres. Para ver de nuevo a su hermana debe someterse al estricto código social y a las opresivas reglas de la Matrarca Olivia. Además debe acostumbrarse a ser deseada, ya que dos hermanos compiten por ella y cuando se reencuentra con alguien del pasado descubre que la supervivencia no basta y que la justicia requiere sacrificio.
February 15, 2012
It seems fitting that I devoured Prized on Valentine's Day as if it were a box of chocolate -- but this book was so much better than chocolate to me.
I don't think a book in recent memory has made me dread or hope as much as this one did.
Prized made my heart a knotted mess, and then slowly -- painfully -- the knots began to untangle and leave me even more stricken.
This book and its predecessor Birthmarked are so much more than run-of-the-mill YA dystopian novels. They are rife with important topics (and even some criticisms): the merit of choice for women, their bodies, and their love lives; the shades of sexism that can lead to one sex dominating over the other; and the truth that difficult circumstances ultimately try who you are, what you believe, and who you will become.
I love Gaia, the heroine, for being a confused sixteen-year-old who is still more sensible, honest, and free-willed than most heroines in YA today.
I love Leon, the hero, for not being the "perfect guy," the be-all-and-end-all for Gaia. He has deep layers and dark shades, but he is not the "bad boy" stereotype many of us have come to loathe.
I love that their romance is sometimes difficult, sometimes easy, yet always passionate.
I love the story for speaking out about so many important things in quiet and subtle ways.
And I love Caragh O'Brien for giving me these books that I'll want to devour again and again. Please keep challenging me, making me ponder, making me fall in love with your characters in both their good moments and their bad. You even have permission to break my heart with your words and your characters (as you did with this installment), so long as you offer enough hope for me to piece my heart back together again.
I wait with an anxious (and dread- and hope-filled) heart for the third book, Promised, and can only hope that the characters I have come to love will reach the places they need to be.
I don't think a book in recent memory has made me dread or hope as much as this one did.
Prized made my heart a knotted mess, and then slowly -- painfully -- the knots began to untangle and leave me even more stricken.
This book and its predecessor Birthmarked are so much more than run-of-the-mill YA dystopian novels. They are rife with important topics (and even some criticisms): the merit of choice for women, their bodies, and their love lives; the shades of sexism that can lead to one sex dominating over the other; and the truth that difficult circumstances ultimately try who you are, what you believe, and who you will become.
I love Gaia, the heroine, for being a confused sixteen-year-old who is still more sensible, honest, and free-willed than most heroines in YA today.
I love Leon, the hero, for not being the "perfect guy," the be-all-and-end-all for Gaia. He has deep layers and dark shades, but he is not the "bad boy" stereotype many of us have come to loathe.
I love that their romance is sometimes difficult, sometimes easy, yet always passionate.
I love the story for speaking out about so many important things in quiet and subtle ways.
And I love Caragh O'Brien for giving me these books that I'll want to devour again and again. Please keep challenging me, making me ponder, making me fall in love with your characters in both their good moments and their bad. You even have permission to break my heart with your words and your characters (as you did with this installment), so long as you offer enough hope for me to piece my heart back together again.
I wait with an anxious (and dread- and hope-filled) heart for the third book, Promised, and can only hope that the characters I have come to love will reach the places they need to be.
October 10, 2011
If the debut book in a series is even semi- good, I will continue with a series. I understand that it is hard for a debut book in a series to knock my socks off because you have significant amount of world building, and brand new characters to introduce. Usually, the plot is deep in the book and so I know patience is the key.
Why I wanted to read book 2 in the Birthmarked series?
I liked book 1 but I did not love it. I did like the 2nd half and because I thought it had potential, I wanted to see where the author was going with the story. Knowing that I liked the 2nd half of book 1, I figured that book 2 would continue where the 2nd half left off.
Sadly, I was wrong. I’m not sure why, but the author chose to start all over again. Book 2 is essentially a completely different book than book 1. Brand new characters, brand new location, and brand new world building.
Now, hold on before you get all your undies in a bunch, I do know that Gaia ended up at the new location because she escaped the Enclave. But for the life of me, I do not understand why the author chose to create an entirely new world with new rules, a new set of problems, and called it the 2nd book in the same series. It’s one thing to move locations. It’s an entirely different thing to move dystopian worlds. And yes, I hear your arguments.
“But Michelle, if the author wants to create a new dystopian world in her book 2 that is her business.”
Well that is good and all, but at least build your world (that is why it is called world building)! Have this new world make sense, and not be pieced together via information dump by various characters. Oh and don’t get me started regarding these characters.
Gaia- What a horrible character she turned out to be. She reminds me of a 10 year old rather than a strong female heroine. She was whiny (yeah, I know I’m whiny too but I’m also not the lead in a book), selfish, indecisive, and pretty damn stupid in her decisions.
Leon- What the hell? Why would the author do this to Leon? I’m not talking about what happens to Leon in this book but what happens to his personality. Seriously, Leon is basically a new character in this book.
All the other ridiculous characters in the book. I honestly believed that the author wrote her story and inserted the characters after the fact. She created flat, boring, one-dimensional characters out of a need to move the story along with a complete disregard to the overall impact those characters would make on the reader. They were either boring or just well… boring.
I was so frustrated with this book. Even writing this review is difficult because it makes me want to rant and considering my writing while calm is a bit rough, my writing while ranting is an adventure in itself (thus, I’ll edit this later when my frustration dies down again).
Why I wanted to read book 2 in the Birthmarked series?
I liked book 1 but I did not love it. I did like the 2nd half and because I thought it had potential, I wanted to see where the author was going with the story. Knowing that I liked the 2nd half of book 1, I figured that book 2 would continue where the 2nd half left off.
Sadly, I was wrong. I’m not sure why, but the author chose to start all over again. Book 2 is essentially a completely different book than book 1. Brand new characters, brand new location, and brand new world building.
Now, hold on before you get all your undies in a bunch, I do know that Gaia ended up at the new location because she escaped the Enclave. But for the life of me, I do not understand why the author chose to create an entirely new world with new rules, a new set of problems, and called it the 2nd book in the same series. It’s one thing to move locations. It’s an entirely different thing to move dystopian worlds. And yes, I hear your arguments.
“But Michelle, if the author wants to create a new dystopian world in her book 2 that is her business.”
Well that is good and all, but at least build your world (that is why it is called world building)! Have this new world make sense, and not be pieced together via information dump by various characters. Oh and don’t get me started regarding these characters.
Gaia- What a horrible character she turned out to be. She reminds me of a 10 year old rather than a strong female heroine. She was whiny (yeah, I know I’m whiny too but I’m also not the lead in a book), selfish, indecisive, and pretty damn stupid in her decisions.
Leon- What the hell? Why would the author do this to Leon? I’m not talking about what happens to Leon in this book but what happens to his personality. Seriously, Leon is basically a new character in this book.
All the other ridiculous characters in the book. I honestly believed that the author wrote her story and inserted the characters after the fact. She created flat, boring, one-dimensional characters out of a need to move the story along with a complete disregard to the overall impact those characters would make on the reader. They were either boring or just well… boring.
I was so frustrated with this book. Even writing this review is difficult because it makes me want to rant and considering my writing while calm is a bit rough, my writing while ranting is an adventure in itself (thus, I’ll edit this later when my frustration dies down again).
September 27, 2011
Prized continues the story of Gaia Stone, a 16 year old midwife and refugee from the Enclave. Accompanied by her newborn sister Maya, Gaia is found out in the wastelands by Chardo Peter. Both Gaia and her baby sister are close to death. She finds herself in Sylum, which is just as bad as Enclave only it is run by women.
Sylum is a strange settlement. In Sylum, the men outnumber the women, but the women have all the power. Sylum is a puritanical place. A simple kiss can result in an attempted rape charge. Women are encouraged to marry young and have at least ten babies.
Oh, and once you arrive in Sylum, you can never leave…
This book was not exactly what I expected. I enjoyed the world the author created in Birthmarked and I was excited to see what would happen next in Prized. Prized felt like a completely different book. New world, new rules, and Gaia does the teenage angst thing. Gaia’s rebellious streak bothered me – it just felt like she chose the wrong battles. I also found it odd that after working so hard to save her sister, Gaia would just accept that a complete stranger should raise Maya.
I’m not sure if I liked Gaia in this book as much as I did in the previous book. Gaia acts like a petulant child in this book. She refuses to cooperate with the Matrarch Olivia, preferring to be isolated rather than solving her problems. When she is given a note from Leon, she destroys it instead of reading it. I saw that as a betrayal. I also did not like her behavior around the men. While Gaia did not really understand the customs of Sylum, she still caused a few misunderstandings. I didn’t really like the introduction of multiple love interests.
Leon – I missed him so much. Then, when he finally gets to be around Gaia, the tension between them was so antagonistic. Leon was hardened and angry, nothing like the Leon of the previous book. He felt like a whole new character. Leon earns the respect of Sylum when he wins a sporting contest. When we finally get more Leon, the story picks up.
The book was an OK read for me. I did like it and I will continue to look for more books by this author.
Thank you Netgalley and McMillian Children’s Publishing Group for a review copy of this book.
Check out this review and more on Badass Book Reviews
Sylum is a strange settlement. In Sylum, the men outnumber the women, but the women have all the power. Sylum is a puritanical place. A simple kiss can result in an attempted rape charge. Women are encouraged to marry young and have at least ten babies.
Oh, and once you arrive in Sylum, you can never leave…
This book was not exactly what I expected. I enjoyed the world the author created in Birthmarked and I was excited to see what would happen next in Prized. Prized felt like a completely different book. New world, new rules, and Gaia does the teenage angst thing. Gaia’s rebellious streak bothered me – it just felt like she chose the wrong battles. I also found it odd that after working so hard to save her sister, Gaia would just accept that a complete stranger should raise Maya.
I’m not sure if I liked Gaia in this book as much as I did in the previous book. Gaia acts like a petulant child in this book. She refuses to cooperate with the Matrarch Olivia, preferring to be isolated rather than solving her problems. When she is given a note from Leon, she destroys it instead of reading it. I saw that as a betrayal. I also did not like her behavior around the men. While Gaia did not really understand the customs of Sylum, she still caused a few misunderstandings. I didn’t really like the introduction of multiple love interests.
Leon – I missed him so much. Then, when he finally gets to be around Gaia, the tension between them was so antagonistic. Leon was hardened and angry, nothing like the Leon of the previous book. He felt like a whole new character. Leon earns the respect of Sylum when he wins a sporting contest. When we finally get more Leon, the story picks up.
The book was an OK read for me. I did like it and I will continue to look for more books by this author.
Thank you Netgalley and McMillian Children’s Publishing Group for a review copy of this book.
Check out this review and more on Badass Book Reviews
October 6, 2011
I'm really giving this book a 3.5 (between liked and really liked) because I really did like it but there were a lot of things that bothered me about it.
THIS REVIEW WILL MOST LIKELY CONTAIN SPOILERS IN ORDER TO MAKE SENSE.
My biggest problem with Prized is I felt it was a totally different book from Birthmarked. None of the characters were the same. Gaia is supposed to be this strong young woman who stands up for what she believes. While she does redeem herself at the end, I found that she gave up to too easily in giving up her sister, in not standing up to Olivia, in not convincing Peony to believe in what's right, and in letting Leon tell her everything she's doing wrong and not defending herself, among other things. I know the story is about Gaia losing herself for a while, but she's not the character that I loved in the first book. And Leon, the one who was so sweet and caring and the one who sacrificed everything for her is such a cold jerk. Again, I know it was because he was hurt, but he was just SO mean.
The other thing that I didn't like about this book was the romance involved. I started reading the book thinking "Where in the world is Leon and who are these random new guys?" Why, oh why, did you put a love triangle (no, make that rectangle) in the mix. I didn't like how Gaia's role switched from being the ugly duckling in the first book to being a very desirable woman in the second book. And I didn't like how the O'Brien had to involve BOTH Will and Peter. If she was going to introduce an interest, just put one. Will was just kind of thrown in there. And so was the relationship with Adele. It felt out of place and unnecessary.
I also don't understand what's going on with Peter. Yes, she likes him, but I don't that he kissed her and we're left with the assumption that he did it to almost force her into choosing him. So after she decides she doesn't think she's right for him, he treats her the same way Leon had treated her, after he scolded Leon about it. I know he's hurt, but I thought he was a better character, and those two things just made me dislike him.
I also wished that O'Brien gave us a happy ending where the series could have ended. I know the third installment is probably going to consist of the group going back to the Enclave, but I hope it's just her having the courage to tell Leon how she feels. Really, I don't want them to take one step forward and then two steps back in the third book where he'll be "she loves me, she loves me not." I also have a feeling this may not be the last of Peter and Will that we see pulling her emotional strings. Leon and Gaia have been through so much together, I just hope that a love triangle won't be thrown in just to keep drama there.
Otherwise, I think the book was good, and I enjoyed reading it. I like O'Brien's style, and the dialogue wasn't cheesy or anything. I also like that she tried to introduce a new concept (women being in charged) but also not in a way of the Amazons. The men weren't treated equal, but other than the part about Josephine treating Leon in the cabin, the men weren't being treated like servants.
I just wish there were some things that would have been done differently. I know I'm not the author, but I just hope that this wasn't extra drama to bridge the first book with the third (and maybe last).
THIS REVIEW WILL MOST LIKELY CONTAIN SPOILERS IN ORDER TO MAKE SENSE.
My biggest problem with Prized is I felt it was a totally different book from Birthmarked. None of the characters were the same. Gaia is supposed to be this strong young woman who stands up for what she believes. While she does redeem herself at the end, I found that she gave up to too easily in giving up her sister, in not standing up to Olivia, in not convincing Peony to believe in what's right, and in letting Leon tell her everything she's doing wrong and not defending herself, among other things. I know the story is about Gaia losing herself for a while, but she's not the character that I loved in the first book. And Leon, the one who was so sweet and caring and the one who sacrificed everything for her is such a cold jerk. Again, I know it was because he was hurt, but he was just SO mean.
The other thing that I didn't like about this book was the romance involved. I started reading the book thinking "Where in the world is Leon and who are these random new guys?" Why, oh why, did you put a love triangle (no, make that rectangle) in the mix. I didn't like how Gaia's role switched from being the ugly duckling in the first book to being a very desirable woman in the second book. And I didn't like how the O'Brien had to involve BOTH Will and Peter. If she was going to introduce an interest, just put one. Will was just kind of thrown in there. And so was the relationship with Adele. It felt out of place and unnecessary.
I also don't understand what's going on with Peter. Yes, she likes him, but I don't that he kissed her and we're left with the assumption that he did it to almost force her into choosing him. So after she decides she doesn't think she's right for him, he treats her the same way Leon had treated her, after he scolded Leon about it. I know he's hurt, but I thought he was a better character, and those two things just made me dislike him.
I also wished that O'Brien gave us a happy ending where the series could have ended. I know the third installment is probably going to consist of the group going back to the Enclave, but I hope it's just her having the courage to tell Leon how she feels. Really, I don't want them to take one step forward and then two steps back in the third book where he'll be "she loves me, she loves me not." I also have a feeling this may not be the last of Peter and Will that we see pulling her emotional strings. Leon and Gaia have been through so much together, I just hope that a love triangle won't be thrown in just to keep drama there.
Otherwise, I think the book was good, and I enjoyed reading it. I like O'Brien's style, and the dialogue wasn't cheesy or anything. I also like that she tried to introduce a new concept (women being in charged) but also not in a way of the Amazons. The men weren't treated equal, but other than the part about Josephine treating Leon in the cabin, the men weren't being treated like servants.
I just wish there were some things that would have been done differently. I know I'm not the author, but I just hope that this wasn't extra drama to bridge the first book with the third (and maybe last).
October 5, 2011
The trouble with the first book in a trilogy rocking your world is that, as much as you anticipate the first opportunity you get to read its sequel, you simultaneously fear that it won’t live up to how much you enjoyed the first. Sadly, in PRIZED’s case, this was true. Whereas I couldn’t put Birthmarked down, I struggled at times to push myself through PRIZED’s copious use of info-dumps and inconsistencies in characterization and plot that really pushed the limit on my tolerance of YA lit clichés.
I read Birthmarked in one night, forgoing sleep in my complete absorption within the Enclave and my desperation to discover the fates of these beloved characters. Unfortunately, I did not feel as invested in PRIZED. Perhaps rereading Birthmarked would have helped, but I also felt like PRIZED veered off in an entirely different direction: little but the names of the main characters carried over from the first book into the second, with the result that PRIZED had to create for us an entirely new dystopian world—and not necessarily with complete success.
The rules of Sylum are explained to readers mostly through “tell-all” conversations with little plot and nothing concrete to tie all the Sylum-related facts that are unloaded onto readers in one fell swoop after another. I felt like the motivations for various characters’ actions were never fully illustrated. Why did the Matrarc demand such rigid obeisance to their society’s rules? Why was Gaia so insistent on defending her actions without fully considering their impact on herself and those around her? Why did she so strictly divide public opinion regarding her when she doesn’t really do anything at all?
For that matter, why is Gaia so appealing to everyone? If you thought love triangles were getting a bit ridiculous in YA lit, wait until you catch a whiff of this book’s love square. Sure, readers love when the protagonist is loved by someone who sees the beauty in them despite her awkwardness/incompetence/insecurity, but Gaia’s situation felt like extreme overkill, like an intervened twist in the story purely for reader gratification. The utter unnaturalness of the situation really prevented me from becoming emotionally and intellectually invested in the story.
PRIZED unfortunately seemed to cut corners in explanation of character motivation or plot progression. With little to no relevance to the first book, except through the recurrence of a handful of characters and a promise at the end of a reconnection in the last installment, this could have been an entirely different YA dystopian series—not exactly what you want from the second book in a trilogy. I think I’ll still read the last book, if only to see how Sylum and the Enclave tie back together, but overall it was a rather large disappointment.
I read Birthmarked in one night, forgoing sleep in my complete absorption within the Enclave and my desperation to discover the fates of these beloved characters. Unfortunately, I did not feel as invested in PRIZED. Perhaps rereading Birthmarked would have helped, but I also felt like PRIZED veered off in an entirely different direction: little but the names of the main characters carried over from the first book into the second, with the result that PRIZED had to create for us an entirely new dystopian world—and not necessarily with complete success.
The rules of Sylum are explained to readers mostly through “tell-all” conversations with little plot and nothing concrete to tie all the Sylum-related facts that are unloaded onto readers in one fell swoop after another. I felt like the motivations for various characters’ actions were never fully illustrated. Why did the Matrarc demand such rigid obeisance to their society’s rules? Why was Gaia so insistent on defending her actions without fully considering their impact on herself and those around her? Why did she so strictly divide public opinion regarding her when she doesn’t really do anything at all?
For that matter, why is Gaia so appealing to everyone? If you thought love triangles were getting a bit ridiculous in YA lit, wait until you catch a whiff of this book’s love square. Sure, readers love when the protagonist is loved by someone who sees the beauty in them despite her awkwardness/incompetence/insecurity, but Gaia’s situation felt like extreme overkill, like an intervened twist in the story purely for reader gratification. The utter unnaturalness of the situation really prevented me from becoming emotionally and intellectually invested in the story.
PRIZED unfortunately seemed to cut corners in explanation of character motivation or plot progression. With little to no relevance to the first book, except through the recurrence of a handful of characters and a promise at the end of a reconnection in the last installment, this could have been an entirely different YA dystopian series—not exactly what you want from the second book in a trilogy. I think I’ll still read the last book, if only to see how Sylum and the Enclave tie back together, but overall it was a rather large disappointment.
January 2, 2020
No me gusto, se alejo mucho de la trama del 1er libro y pues me aburrio un monton por no decir a todos los personajes que aparcen en este ninguno me intereso ni me llamo, lo unico bueno que tuve que sigue siendo fiel es el personaje principal Gaia, sige teniendo su misma personalidad del libro anterior, luchadora, leal y valiente que me sigue agradando.
April 9, 2012
Prized is a hard book to give a rating to that reflects its quality. On the one hand there are a few things that are very well done, such as the idea of a matriarchal society—truth is, I don’t think there are any YA books that explore this idea—and the gradual way Caragh M. O’Brien transforms Gaia from a headstrong leader into a submissive follower. However, there are some things that prevented me from giving it the five stars I wanted to.
I’ll start with those to get them out of the way. Throughout the story there are three guys declaring their undying love for Gaia. You heard me. Three. Still, it’s not that ridiculous if you place it in the context of Sylum’s matriarchal society where the men outnumber the women nine to one.
What irritates me is that Gaia becomes a pile of mush and is plagued by guilt from the desire she feels for the other two whenever she’s near one of them. Um, who are you and what have you done to the Gaia who never lets anyone tell her what she wants? Plus, there was absolutely no need for this angst because even the most clueless reader could guess Leon would turn out to be the lucky guy.
And now for the things I liked. Unlike with Birthmarked, this time round I felt more connected to the characters. The writing seemed to have improved, really drawing me into the story and enabling me to relate to characters more so than the first book. I realized this when I almost threw the book when Gaia gives in to the Matrarc’s demands.
Believe me, there’s nothing worse than reading about a strong heroine who has to submit and put herself under another’s power. From that point on the story flowed smoothly and I read it right to the end in one sitting.
The word “abortion” is never mentioned throughout the whole book, not even once, which is very crafty especially since this is one of the main themes of the book. I love how Gaia’s view is neither for or against it and believes the choice is ultimately up to the mother.
With this kind of controversial issue it’s always best to have an open mind relative to the situation; if she had taken an absolute stance on something like this that’s neither black or white, as we saw in Birthmarked, she wouldn’t be the Gaia we know and love.
All in all, Prized is a well-rounded book that in some ways is better than Birthmarked and in others falls short. Nevertheless it’s a solid continuation of the series and I will definitely be reading the next book.
I’ll start with those to get them out of the way. Throughout the story there are three guys declaring their undying love for Gaia. You heard me. Three. Still, it’s not that ridiculous if you place it in the context of Sylum’s matriarchal society where the men outnumber the women nine to one.
What irritates me is that Gaia becomes a pile of mush and is plagued by guilt from the desire she feels for the other two whenever she’s near one of them. Um, who are you and what have you done to the Gaia who never lets anyone tell her what she wants? Plus, there was absolutely no need for this angst because even the most clueless reader could guess Leon would turn out to be the lucky guy.
And now for the things I liked. Unlike with Birthmarked, this time round I felt more connected to the characters. The writing seemed to have improved, really drawing me into the story and enabling me to relate to characters more so than the first book. I realized this when I almost threw the book when Gaia gives in to the Matrarc’s demands.
Believe me, there’s nothing worse than reading about a strong heroine who has to submit and put herself under another’s power. From that point on the story flowed smoothly and I read it right to the end in one sitting.
The word “abortion” is never mentioned throughout the whole book, not even once, which is very crafty especially since this is one of the main themes of the book. I love how Gaia’s view is neither for or against it and believes the choice is ultimately up to the mother.
With this kind of controversial issue it’s always best to have an open mind relative to the situation; if she had taken an absolute stance on something like this that’s neither black or white, as we saw in Birthmarked, she wouldn’t be the Gaia we know and love.
All in all, Prized is a well-rounded book that in some ways is better than Birthmarked and in others falls short. Nevertheless it’s a solid continuation of the series and I will definitely be reading the next book.
July 1, 2014
"THIS. BOOK. SUCKED. I loved Birthmarked SO MUCH, and Prized just ground all those happy emotions into the dust. I said one word throughout the entire book, over and over again: Ugh.
But. Butbutbut.
There were... Some okay moments. But there is a lot of moral issues that bothered me, making it hard to continue reading... And the love square was just plain ridiculous. The fact that Gaia acknowledged that it was a love square made it all the worse.
And while I did enjoy the technical elements, and the puzzles, and the political adversity... I just found that Gaia lost herself in this book. She wasn't Gaia Stone anymore, she was Mlass Gaia, the faithful midwife. There's a big difference, and it's evident.
*SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT*
Okay. Leon frustrated me, and made me (quite honestly) hate him. I hated him. But, I also hated Gaia. I hated her so much in this book, it surprised even me.
I am only fifteen, and I have grown up in a house where my parents told me exactly what was going on, in the world and in my family. For that reason, and for the reason that my aunt is a nurse who also was very vocal in what she knew, I know exactly what abortion is, and I have hated it and the doctors who practice it my entire knowing life. Abortion is the murder of an unborn child. No matter the reasoning or logic behind it, it is wrong. I think people use the term 'fetus' to make the child seem less human, less alive, so that the wrongness isn't so prevalent.
But enough on my anti-abortion thoughts.
My problem with this is, well, obvious, because Gaia helps a woman abort her child. And while the reason is understandable, it still shocked me. It shocked me that Gaia, who was so defensive of the unborn in Birthmarked, would just as easily kill the child when his or her mother didn't want them. This turn of events not only upset me... But disturbed me, angered me. It seemed so unlike Gaia, unlike her character, to do something so heinous. And then the Matrarc is made out to be the evil dictator for commanding her to stop.
My conscience bothered me throughout the rest of Prized due to this.
O'Brien disappointed me, and, for this fact, the closest I'm coming to reading Promised is the Wikipedia synopsis. Maybe.
But. Butbutbut.
There were... Some okay moments. But there is a lot of moral issues that bothered me, making it hard to continue reading... And the love square was just plain ridiculous. The fact that Gaia acknowledged that it was a love square made it all the worse.
And while I did enjoy the technical elements, and the puzzles, and the political adversity... I just found that Gaia lost herself in this book. She wasn't Gaia Stone anymore, she was Mlass Gaia, the faithful midwife. There's a big difference, and it's evident.
*SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT*
Okay. Leon frustrated me, and made me (quite honestly) hate him. I hated him. But, I also hated Gaia. I hated her so much in this book, it surprised even me.
I am only fifteen, and I have grown up in a house where my parents told me exactly what was going on, in the world and in my family. For that reason, and for the reason that my aunt is a nurse who also was very vocal in what she knew, I know exactly what abortion is, and I have hated it and the doctors who practice it my entire knowing life. Abortion is the murder of an unborn child. No matter the reasoning or logic behind it, it is wrong. I think people use the term 'fetus' to make the child seem less human, less alive, so that the wrongness isn't so prevalent.
But enough on my anti-abortion thoughts.
My problem with this is, well, obvious, because Gaia helps a woman abort her child. And while the reason is understandable, it still shocked me. It shocked me that Gaia, who was so defensive of the unborn in Birthmarked, would just as easily kill the child when his or her mother didn't want them. This turn of events not only upset me... But disturbed me, angered me. It seemed so unlike Gaia, unlike her character, to do something so heinous. And then the Matrarc is made out to be the evil dictator for commanding her to stop.
My conscience bothered me throughout the rest of Prized due to this.
O'Brien disappointed me, and, for this fact, the closest I'm coming to reading Promised is the Wikipedia synopsis. Maybe.
November 7, 2011
Warning: This will contain some spoilers for Birthmarked that will probably make no sense if you haven't read it. But be warned.
4/5 Stars
I remember liking Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien. I remember the basic plotline - girl midwife in a dystopian society where they're taking babies from the poor and advancing them to the rich. Girl discovers flaws of society, rebels, story ensues. This is how Dystopians tend to go and I've read a lot of them now. But I very much remember liking this one, as vague as that memory has become because the piles of books I've read since.
So when I saw Prized on Netgalley I felt obligated to request it. Then I started to worry that I wouldn't remember enough about book 1 to read book 2.
Luckily, that was not the case. Prized started out great, throwing me immediately back into Gaia's story without forcing me to read a lot of backstory. Not remembering was OKAY because the story kept moving forward. I was relieved. The first chapter rocked, fast paced, throwing life-or-death risks and new problems at me immediately.
Then there were a couple chapters where I'm not going to lie, this book made me nervous. I get a little worried when I feel like an author's politics are showing. It's a little like your bra strap sneaking a peak to the world. There's a place for your politics and just like a bra there's a way to use them wisely and subtly that really makes an impact. I'm not going to play coy with you because I really think you're smarter than that. Because this book involves a midwife, it's the abortion issue. I like books that broach these issues with enough sensitivity that neither side of the debate is off-put by the conversation. And books bringing up the topics need to be more conversational and less soapbox.
I quickly realized it was not so much the issue itself that bothered me, but the introduction and execution felt a little clunky and deus ex machina in my opinion. Gaia has just arrived somewhere new. She's there for less than 2 days when this young lady approaches her about helping with a miscarriage. Nobody knows Gaia and there's no time spent building that trust or her reputation as a midwife. It's just thrown at you a little too quickly. It does become integral to the plot, but like I said it needs to be executed better.
Then I nearly went into panic mode when I thought there was going to be a long-drawn out love square. But thankfully Leon from the first book appeared and that shifted the balance of the book very quickly. He was angry at Gaia, a little bit bitter, and a huge reality check for our main character. His character's words and story gave me the most guttural reaction, almost bringing tears (really!).
From there I was engrossed and everything started clicking in place for me. Gaia saw herself, her flaws and her mistakes for the first time and had to face her own selfish behavior. Most YA heroines have a selfish streak (as do most teenagers & most people) but rarely is that acknowledged. Once this book hit it's stride I stayed up past midnight reading, but oddly not for Gaia but because my heart ached for Leon. He brought an honesty and bite that stopped the love square woe in it's tracks. He called her out, spoke the truth and for me made this book.
In the end I liked this book and will look forward to the next in the series. For the most part it's an intelligent dystopian, with flawed main characters that are more human than we're used to. I really like that aspect, really like the balance between the two main characters and am glad I stuck with the book through my doubts.
4/5 Stars
I remember liking Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien. I remember the basic plotline - girl midwife in a dystopian society where they're taking babies from the poor and advancing them to the rich. Girl discovers flaws of society, rebels, story ensues. This is how Dystopians tend to go and I've read a lot of them now. But I very much remember liking this one, as vague as that memory has become because the piles of books I've read since.
So when I saw Prized on Netgalley I felt obligated to request it. Then I started to worry that I wouldn't remember enough about book 1 to read book 2.
Luckily, that was not the case. Prized started out great, throwing me immediately back into Gaia's story without forcing me to read a lot of backstory. Not remembering was OKAY because the story kept moving forward. I was relieved. The first chapter rocked, fast paced, throwing life-or-death risks and new problems at me immediately.
Then there were a couple chapters where I'm not going to lie, this book made me nervous. I get a little worried when I feel like an author's politics are showing. It's a little like your bra strap sneaking a peak to the world. There's a place for your politics and just like a bra there's a way to use them wisely and subtly that really makes an impact. I'm not going to play coy with you because I really think you're smarter than that. Because this book involves a midwife, it's the abortion issue. I like books that broach these issues with enough sensitivity that neither side of the debate is off-put by the conversation. And books bringing up the topics need to be more conversational and less soapbox.
I quickly realized it was not so much the issue itself that bothered me, but the introduction and execution felt a little clunky and deus ex machina in my opinion. Gaia has just arrived somewhere new. She's there for less than 2 days when this young lady approaches her about helping with a miscarriage. Nobody knows Gaia and there's no time spent building that trust or her reputation as a midwife. It's just thrown at you a little too quickly. It does become integral to the plot, but like I said it needs to be executed better.
Then I nearly went into panic mode when I thought there was going to be a long-drawn out love square. But thankfully Leon from the first book appeared and that shifted the balance of the book very quickly. He was angry at Gaia, a little bit bitter, and a huge reality check for our main character. His character's words and story gave me the most guttural reaction, almost bringing tears (really!).
From there I was engrossed and everything started clicking in place for me. Gaia saw herself, her flaws and her mistakes for the first time and had to face her own selfish behavior. Most YA heroines have a selfish streak (as do most teenagers & most people) but rarely is that acknowledged. Once this book hit it's stride I stayed up past midnight reading, but oddly not for Gaia but because my heart ached for Leon. He brought an honesty and bite that stopped the love square woe in it's tracks. He called her out, spoke the truth and for me made this book.
In the end I liked this book and will look forward to the next in the series. For the most part it's an intelligent dystopian, with flawed main characters that are more human than we're used to. I really like that aspect, really like the balance between the two main characters and am glad I stuck with the book through my doubts.
February 25, 2012
ahhh what happened?
where is the world and the characters I came to love and care for and was looking forward to read about...
-Gaia's character ended up just like all the other boy obsessed, selfish, and stupid female leads out there. Here was a character who was strong and independent, brave and resourceful, and smart. Suddenly she is weak and pathetic, stupid in her decisions, and falling head over heels for every guy that gives her a second look.
-Although I found Leon's abrupt character change to be a bit annoying as well, I felt as though his observations of Gaia were completely true and she deserved his harsh behavior. Other than that Leon does absolutely nothing, besides giving Gaia confusing advice and trying not to flirt with her while really, he was flirting with her.
-The new world that Gaia ends up in doesn't make sense and is never properly explained. Why would a majority that is stronger than the minority just stand by and let their rights and justice be taken away? The half-hearted explanations given did not make sense to me.
This book was filled with flaws and disappoinments. However I was still fully engrossed in it and finished it quite quickly. It managed to catch my attention and keep it, but left me feeling like it was not nearly as good as I was expecting it to be.
Will read the next book.
where is the world and the characters I came to love and care for and was looking forward to read about...
-Gaia's character ended up just like all the other boy obsessed, selfish, and stupid female leads out there. Here was a character who was strong and independent, brave and resourceful, and smart. Suddenly she is weak and pathetic, stupid in her decisions, and falling head over heels for every guy that gives her a second look.
-Although I found Leon's abrupt character change to be a bit annoying as well, I felt as though his observations of Gaia were completely true and she deserved his harsh behavior. Other than that Leon does absolutely nothing, besides giving Gaia confusing advice and trying not to flirt with her while really, he was flirting with her.
-The new world that Gaia ends up in doesn't make sense and is never properly explained. Why would a majority that is stronger than the minority just stand by and let their rights and justice be taken away? The half-hearted explanations given did not make sense to me.
This book was filled with flaws and disappoinments. However I was still fully engrossed in it and finished it quite quickly. It managed to catch my attention and keep it, but left me feeling like it was not nearly as good as I was expecting it to be.
Will read the next book.
April 26, 2012
I became so attached to the first book when I read it. . . I absolutely cannot wait for this to come out!
October 24, 2011
Hear that? The silence? The long-drawn wondering silence that is tinged with wonderment. That was my reaction after I finished the book.
In case you didn't read my review of the first book, let me tell you that I loved it. I liked the characterization, the world building, the terrifying possibility of the eventual extinction of the human race. I also loved Leon and Gaia. The way they complemented each other, their complex relationship. I loved Birthmarked 1 enough that I was more than keen to read the second book in what I hope is a trilogy.
I was disappointed. I was massively disappointed. I was so disappointed it hurt. Well okay, it didn't but somewhere in me there lives a tiny bibliophile and every time she reads a disappointing book, she dies a little death.
If you remember the end of the first book, Gaia flees to the wild lands to escape from the Government kind of people, you know, the one with the guns and the water? Yeah, them. She leaves Leon behind and takes her baby sister. She ends up somewhere in the wilds and is taken captive by a man who delivers her to a community where women rule.
Hehe. When I say women rule, I mean, men are treated like second class citizens. And women rule because there are so few of them. And you see, since there are so few women, all the women who are present and who do not choose otherwise, have to have ten or eleven children. Because otherwise the population is going to die out.
And women rule. Look, I'm sorry, okay? When women rule, I doubt they'd agree to have eleven children no matter how much the population is on the verge of extinction. Giving birth, as I've been told by various women, is difficult. And that might be an understatement. But anyway. Yeah. Women give birth and there's this matriarch who takes Gaia's sister because Gaia's deemed unfit to care for her sister since she you know, took her away from her home and traveled with her for so many miles. Almost killing her and all.
Okay. My problems with this book are plentiful. First, there is barely a plot. Okay, fine, there is no real plot. There is a semblance of one but a real plot? Nope.
Second. You know how I whine about hating love triangles? Well, this book had... um, defied shape making because there were three boys who were madly in love with Gaia. The author tries, bless her, she tries to make it seem logical and to a certain point, I suppose it is. Since there is a shortage of women, and Gaia is so bloody awesome, obviously she'll be the choiciest meat on the market. And I could have handled that. However, the manner in which Gaia behaved with all three of her harem members, in a word, disgusted me. Yes, I don't usually evince such strong sentiment against main characters but bloody hell. She's smooching one, cooing at another and making eyes at the third one. And Leon? He has a love/hate thing going on with Gaia. As in he loves her but hates that he loves her and she doesn't help by smooching the other two (who happen to be brothers, must do awesome things to their relationship, huh?).
Gaia's development into the person she was in Prized made me hate the novel. Also,
And even though she smooches Leon (after they somehow make up? I don't know, I must have been rolling my eyes and missed that part), she lets him know that she hasn't chosen him yet. She wants to keep her options open and smooch him when she feels like it. It doesn't matter how he feels about it because clearly his feelings don't matter. She's the only one whose feelings matter. Ugh.
Oh and finally, I hate this whole "I'm so good, I'll forgive the wicked character" trope that's going on. I hate it. For once, I'd like to see the villain being hated till the very end. Die Voldemort, die! How would you feel if Harry was to go, "I forgive you, Voldie! You were just misunderstood and unloved! That's why you became this bastard with a snake and all bald without a nose! Come, let's hug and make up!" See my point?
Anyway, I didn't enjoy the book. O'Brian writes fine, she's great at creating tense atmosphere and smexy scenes but her plot, dudes. Her plot and her characterization of Gaia. Ergh. I sound really bitter but I had many hopes for this book and well, I AM bitter. I'm not reading the third one. It's going to have more romantic gymnastics and I don't see the point of it. Unless someone can convince me otherwise, that is. :(
In case you didn't read my review of the first book, let me tell you that I loved it. I liked the characterization, the world building, the terrifying possibility of the eventual extinction of the human race. I also loved Leon and Gaia. The way they complemented each other, their complex relationship. I loved Birthmarked 1 enough that I was more than keen to read the second book in what I hope is a trilogy.
I was disappointed. I was massively disappointed. I was so disappointed it hurt. Well okay, it didn't but somewhere in me there lives a tiny bibliophile and every time she reads a disappointing book, she dies a little death.
If you remember the end of the first book, Gaia flees to the wild lands to escape from the Government kind of people, you know, the one with the guns and the water? Yeah, them. She leaves Leon behind and takes her baby sister. She ends up somewhere in the wilds and is taken captive by a man who delivers her to a community where women rule.
Hehe. When I say women rule, I mean, men are treated like second class citizens. And women rule because there are so few of them. And you see, since there are so few women, all the women who are present and who do not choose otherwise, have to have ten or eleven children. Because otherwise the population is going to die out.
And women rule. Look, I'm sorry, okay? When women rule, I doubt they'd agree to have eleven children no matter how much the population is on the verge of extinction. Giving birth, as I've been told by various women, is difficult. And that might be an understatement. But anyway. Yeah. Women give birth and there's this matriarch who takes Gaia's sister because Gaia's deemed unfit to care for her sister since she you know, took her away from her home and traveled with her for so many miles. Almost killing her and all.
Okay. My problems with this book are plentiful. First, there is barely a plot. Okay, fine, there is no real plot. There is a semblance of one but a real plot? Nope.
Second. You know how I whine about hating love triangles? Well, this book had... um, defied shape making because there were three boys who were madly in love with Gaia. The author tries, bless her, she tries to make it seem logical and to a certain point, I suppose it is. Since there is a shortage of women, and Gaia is so bloody awesome, obviously she'll be the choiciest meat on the market. And I could have handled that. However, the manner in which Gaia behaved with all three of her harem members, in a word, disgusted me. Yes, I don't usually evince such strong sentiment against main characters but bloody hell. She's smooching one, cooing at another and making eyes at the third one. And Leon? He has a love/hate thing going on with Gaia. As in he loves her but hates that he loves her and she doesn't help by smooching the other two (who happen to be brothers, must do awesome things to their relationship, huh?).
Gaia's development into the person she was in Prized made me hate the novel. Also,
And even though she smooches Leon (after they somehow make up? I don't know, I must have been rolling my eyes and missed that part), she lets him know that she hasn't chosen him yet. She wants to keep her options open and smooch him when she feels like it. It doesn't matter how he feels about it because clearly his feelings don't matter. She's the only one whose feelings matter. Ugh.
Oh and finally, I hate this whole "I'm so good, I'll forgive the wicked character" trope that's going on. I hate it. For once, I'd like to see the villain being hated till the very end. Die Voldemort, die! How would you feel if Harry was to go, "I forgive you, Voldie! You were just misunderstood and unloved! That's why you became this bastard with a snake and all bald without a nose! Come, let's hug and make up!" See my point?
Anyway, I didn't enjoy the book. O'Brian writes fine, she's great at creating tense atmosphere and smexy scenes but her plot, dudes. Her plot and her characterization of Gaia. Ergh. I sound really bitter but I had many hopes for this book and well, I AM bitter. I'm not reading the third one. It's going to have more romantic gymnastics and I don't see the point of it. Unless someone can convince me otherwise, that is. :(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2011
I read Birthmarked in March and couldn’t wait for Prized ever since. Imagine my delight when I saw the title on NetGalley! Everyone who knows me is fully aware that I’m a dystopian buff. Leaving whatever I was reading was such an easy decision when I found out that my request got accepted. All those months of waiting are definitely worth it! I loved Prized more than I did Birthmarked and I’m anxiously waiting for the last book in the trilogy.
Prized begins where the first book left off. After escaping from the Enclave, Gaia arrived at Sylum where the society is matriarchal and the women’s number is continuously decreasing from an unknown cause. She is forced to live within the stretch of the newfound society to be with her sister and adjust to the way the laws are enforced in Sylum.
Caragh O’brien handled everything with virtuosity. Prized held me entranced from the very first page until the last. It has everything that the first book lacked of and exceeded my expectations. The romance was fun to read, especially that it’s a love square! It’s good that Gaia doesn’t fall in love quite easily. I adored the two new guys but my heart will always be for Leon. Prized was also full of surprises and mysteries. I hardly remember every detail in the first book so I’m glad to be reminded of bits of them. In spite of having many dystopia books being released these days, this series still kept a unique identity for its readers. I’m taking Genetics this semester and I was delighted to find a little of it in Prized! Anyway, I’ve always admired Gaia for her skill in midwifery. She’s just my age but her talent is unbelievable.
Prized deals with the issues of justice, love, trust, gender egalitarianism, and leadership. I can’t say enough how much this series is a must read for people in all ages. You’re seriously missing out on something if you haven’t heard of this, especially if you love dystopians as much as I do. Now I have to wait another year for the third book! But I know it’s going to be worth the wait.
Thank you to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for providing an e-galley of this book!
Prized begins where the first book left off. After escaping from the Enclave, Gaia arrived at Sylum where the society is matriarchal and the women’s number is continuously decreasing from an unknown cause. She is forced to live within the stretch of the newfound society to be with her sister and adjust to the way the laws are enforced in Sylum.
Caragh O’brien handled everything with virtuosity. Prized held me entranced from the very first page until the last. It has everything that the first book lacked of and exceeded my expectations. The romance was fun to read, especially that it’s a love square! It’s good that Gaia doesn’t fall in love quite easily. I adored the two new guys but my heart will always be for Leon. Prized was also full of surprises and mysteries. I hardly remember every detail in the first book so I’m glad to be reminded of bits of them. In spite of having many dystopia books being released these days, this series still kept a unique identity for its readers. I’m taking Genetics this semester and I was delighted to find a little of it in Prized! Anyway, I’ve always admired Gaia for her skill in midwifery. She’s just my age but her talent is unbelievable.
Prized deals with the issues of justice, love, trust, gender egalitarianism, and leadership. I can’t say enough how much this series is a must read for people in all ages. You’re seriously missing out on something if you haven’t heard of this, especially if you love dystopians as much as I do. Now I have to wait another year for the third book! But I know it’s going to be worth the wait.
Thank you to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for providing an e-galley of this book!
April 7, 2016
Another wonderful addition to the BIRTHMARKED trilogy.
Even though they're in a different setting, the dystopian society stayed the same. Just touching a female would land a male in jail for attempted rape. This society have women in charge and the men as second-class citizens. I didn't really understand it but I did accept that because there was a shortage of females they allowed women to be in charge because they were so valuable. I still don't understand how there were hermaphrodites and how they came to be.
The love square was rather weird and it didn't need to be added in to the story. But I guess it's to bring tension to the story. Gaia was different in this one and I can't say I liked it. Also someone is a jerk in this one and I just wanted to punch him. Wasn't fair at all. Terrible how he treated her.
There was a lot of mystery that surrounded the infertility and I wanted that to be the focus, not the love square. I am still invested in the whole story to see what happens in the last book. This is definitely a highly interesting and creative dystopian series that I recommend anyone to check out.
Even though they're in a different setting, the dystopian society stayed the same. Just touching a female would land a male in jail for attempted rape. This society have women in charge and the men as second-class citizens. I didn't really understand it but I did accept that because there was a shortage of females they allowed women to be in charge because they were so valuable. I still don't understand how there were hermaphrodites and how they came to be.
The love square was rather weird and it didn't need to be added in to the story. But I guess it's to bring tension to the story. Gaia was different in this one and I can't say I liked it. Also someone is a jerk in this one and I just wanted to punch him. Wasn't fair at all. Terrible how he treated her.
There was a lot of mystery that surrounded the infertility and I wanted that to be the focus, not the love square. I am still invested in the whole story to see what happens in the last book. This is definitely a highly interesting and creative dystopian series that I recommend anyone to check out.
February 22, 2016
Empezaré por escribir que me gustó mucho más este libro que Marca de Nacimiento.
La historia se desarrolla en una sociedad distópica en un poblado llamado Sailum, que resultó ser más severa y dura que el Enclave. Es una sociedad gobernada por las mujeres con una autoridad máxima llamada Matrarca, lo curioso es que en este pueblo los hombre superan a las mujeres 10 a 1 lo que nos da una base coherente de porque un personaje como Gaia es suprimida y despojada de su libertad otra vez y se convirtió en alguien complaciente y falto de voluntad. Me decepcionó por momentos y extrañe a la Gaia del Enclave pero es algo que como escribí se entiende puesto que tiene que enfrentarse cara a cara y convivir con la Matrarca que es alguien que ostenta el poder de forma muy severa y que exuda autoridad y confianza de forma casi arrogante, cosa que no pasaba en el libro anterior puesto que aunque tuvo sus encuentros con el Protector nunca tuvo un trato directo con él ni se vio directamente agredida y suprimida por su personalidad. A eso sumemosle que atraviesa por un momento de soledad y adaptación a esta nueva sociedad radicalmente diferente al Enclave y sin posibilidad de abandonarla con vida de ninguna manera. Cuando pasamos por momentos de angustia, incertidumbre o dolor somos propensos a quebrarnos y ser la sombra de las personas que éramos sobre todo si no tenemos una esperanza o una motivación, y eso no nos hace débiles ni carentes de fuerza y de voluntad, lo que nos hace débiles es rendirnos, conformarse y eso es algo que Gaia atraviesa, todos los problemas le explotan en la cara y además está su encuentro con Leon, un Leon que sigue siendo un personaje fuerte y decidido y fiel a sus creencias y que ha pasado por muchas cosas solo para estar con Gaia, pero que debido a las malas decisiones que toma Gaia se encuentra molesto, herido y resentido con ella y aunque al principio sentí que Leon era injusto con Gaia, la verdad es que lo comprendí. En este libro leemos sobre un Leon que es distinto y a la vez el mismo personaje del libro anterior, se ha desarrollando a lo largo de la historia de tal manera que a pesar de las cosas crueles o hirientes que puede decir o hacer nos hace ver la intensidad de sus sentimientos y de lo que en verdad vale el amor y Gaia para él. Madura y se convierte en un hombre de verdad. Al menos a mí me lo pareció. Es algo difícil de describir, pero Leon se ganó mí corazón al 100%.
Dejando los problemas amorosos entre Leon y Gaia, hay misterios que rodean este pueblo que no deja salir a sus habitantes sin una sentencia de muerte, y como no podía ser de otra forma, las respuestas a este misterio están decodificadas por un personaje importante del pasado de Gaia y que como en el libro anterior se me hizo muy interesante e ingenioso la forma en que descubren la solución a este misterio y que le agrega más acción a este libro.
Gaia se reivindica y de una forma como solo ella puede hacer y que me dejo satisfecha y orgullosa de ella, porque esa es la Gaia sobre la que Leí en el primer libro y la que tanto me gusta, ahora más porque, a pesar de todo pudo salir adelante y ser fiel a sus principios y a ella misma.
La relación amorosa entre ella y Leon fue otra cosa que me dejo muy satisfecha. Es justamente este amor el que ayuda a Gaia a salir adelante, no la convierte en dependiente de Leon ni la hace una pusilánime ni mucho menos, aunque no hay un romance empalagoso o soso me llego muy claro el mensaje que la autora quiso transmitir: El amor es una fuerza que no debilita ni suprime, que sí es verdadero y esta fundamentado en la confianza y en la completa aceptación de una persona tal cuál es, es decir, con sus virtudes y sus defectos es una fuerza imparable. Sí, soy una romántica sin remedio pero al menos eso es lo que me transmitió la autora con la relación de Gaia y Leon.
Hay personajes nuevos, situaciones, acontecimientos y demás cosas que me hicieron imposible dejar de leerlo, ahora me muero de sueño, pero valió la pena.
La única cosa que yo encuentro reprochable fue el "Cuadrado amoroso" En primera porque los triángulos amorosos a mí no me van, ya no digamos un cuadrado. En segunda la relación que desarrolla Gaia con los hermanos Chardo (Will y Peter) nunca se me hizo lo suficientemente profunda o complicada como para que en algún momento me pasará por la cabeza que Gaia se enamoraría de uno de ellos, o más aún que yo haya deseado que se quede con alguno, es una cosa muy similar que paso con la relación que se leía con Leon en el libro anterior. Sí, son guapos y los dos me cayeron bien y entiendo que Gaia se siente emocionada por tener la atención de los dos y por la novedad de sentirse deseada y una chica normal pero no sentí nada más por su parte. Y en tercera porque dicho cuadrado ni siquiera resultó ser uno, la cosa se debatió entre un hermano Chardo y Leon. Uno de los Chardo hizo el papel de enamorado y se la jugo por el afecto de Gaia pero el otro ni siquiera tuvo una oportunidad y en el libro tampoco se específica que el sintiera algo más por Gaia que atracción, eso sí que fue muy caballeroso y me cayo muy bien.
Yo creo que la autora se dio cuenta que estaba metiendo la pata porque suficiente tiene que atravesar la pobre de Gaia, como para además tener quebraderos de cabeza por amor, cosa que no sucede tampoco porque sí que tiene dudas pero desde el principio sentí su amor por Leon era algo tangible y que ella lo sabía pero como la cosa estaba complicada se hizo a la tonta. Siento que la autora quería llevar la situación por un camino, se dio cuenta que no era necesario y que podría arruinar la escencia de Gaia y de la historia y lo intento llevar por otro lado pero tampoco le dio tiempo o no supo como pulir el lío que había creado y dejo ese "cuadrado amoroso" como le salió.
Es algo que no me cuajo pero que tampoco se me hizo pesado ni le resto a la historia porque ese "cuadrado" se quedó en un término entre el desastre y algo emocionante o interesante.
Creo que es la reseña más larga que he escrito y seguro esta llena de Spoilers pero en verdad me gustó mucho, mucho, mucho este libro y creo que deberían darle una oportunidad. Yo estoy ansiosa por comenzar con el tercero y ver que nuevos retos y situaciones enfrentan Gaia y Leon en el camino para vivir una vida en libertad y por consiguiente feliz. 10/5☆
La historia se desarrolla en una sociedad distópica en un poblado llamado Sailum, que resultó ser más severa y dura que el Enclave. Es una sociedad gobernada por las mujeres con una autoridad máxima llamada Matrarca, lo curioso es que en este pueblo los hombre superan a las mujeres 10 a 1 lo que nos da una base coherente de porque un personaje como Gaia es suprimida y despojada de su libertad otra vez y se convirtió en alguien complaciente y falto de voluntad. Me decepcionó por momentos y extrañe a la Gaia del Enclave pero es algo que como escribí se entiende puesto que tiene que enfrentarse cara a cara y convivir con la Matrarca que es alguien que ostenta el poder de forma muy severa y que exuda autoridad y confianza de forma casi arrogante, cosa que no pasaba en el libro anterior puesto que aunque tuvo sus encuentros con el Protector nunca tuvo un trato directo con él ni se vio directamente agredida y suprimida por su personalidad. A eso sumemosle que atraviesa por un momento de soledad y adaptación a esta nueva sociedad radicalmente diferente al Enclave y sin posibilidad de abandonarla con vida de ninguna manera. Cuando pasamos por momentos de angustia, incertidumbre o dolor somos propensos a quebrarnos y ser la sombra de las personas que éramos sobre todo si no tenemos una esperanza o una motivación, y eso no nos hace débiles ni carentes de fuerza y de voluntad, lo que nos hace débiles es rendirnos, conformarse y eso es algo que Gaia atraviesa, todos los problemas le explotan en la cara y además está su encuentro con Leon, un Leon que sigue siendo un personaje fuerte y decidido y fiel a sus creencias y que ha pasado por muchas cosas solo para estar con Gaia, pero que debido a las malas decisiones que toma Gaia se encuentra molesto, herido y resentido con ella y aunque al principio sentí que Leon era injusto con Gaia, la verdad es que lo comprendí. En este libro leemos sobre un Leon que es distinto y a la vez el mismo personaje del libro anterior, se ha desarrollando a lo largo de la historia de tal manera que a pesar de las cosas crueles o hirientes que puede decir o hacer nos hace ver la intensidad de sus sentimientos y de lo que en verdad vale el amor y Gaia para él. Madura y se convierte en un hombre de verdad. Al menos a mí me lo pareció. Es algo difícil de describir, pero Leon se ganó mí corazón al 100%.
Dejando los problemas amorosos entre Leon y Gaia, hay misterios que rodean este pueblo que no deja salir a sus habitantes sin una sentencia de muerte, y como no podía ser de otra forma, las respuestas a este misterio están decodificadas por un personaje importante del pasado de Gaia y que como en el libro anterior se me hizo muy interesante e ingenioso la forma en que descubren la solución a este misterio y que le agrega más acción a este libro.
Gaia se reivindica y de una forma como solo ella puede hacer y que me dejo satisfecha y orgullosa de ella, porque esa es la Gaia sobre la que Leí en el primer libro y la que tanto me gusta, ahora más porque, a pesar de todo pudo salir adelante y ser fiel a sus principios y a ella misma.
La relación amorosa entre ella y Leon fue otra cosa que me dejo muy satisfecha. Es justamente este amor el que ayuda a Gaia a salir adelante, no la convierte en dependiente de Leon ni la hace una pusilánime ni mucho menos, aunque no hay un romance empalagoso o soso me llego muy claro el mensaje que la autora quiso transmitir: El amor es una fuerza que no debilita ni suprime, que sí es verdadero y esta fundamentado en la confianza y en la completa aceptación de una persona tal cuál es, es decir, con sus virtudes y sus defectos es una fuerza imparable. Sí, soy una romántica sin remedio pero al menos eso es lo que me transmitió la autora con la relación de Gaia y Leon.
Hay personajes nuevos, situaciones, acontecimientos y demás cosas que me hicieron imposible dejar de leerlo, ahora me muero de sueño, pero valió la pena.
La única cosa que yo encuentro reprochable fue el "Cuadrado amoroso" En primera porque los triángulos amorosos a mí no me van, ya no digamos un cuadrado. En segunda la relación que desarrolla Gaia con los hermanos Chardo (Will y Peter) nunca se me hizo lo suficientemente profunda o complicada como para que en algún momento me pasará por la cabeza que Gaia se enamoraría de uno de ellos, o más aún que yo haya deseado que se quede con alguno, es una cosa muy similar que paso con la relación que se leía con Leon en el libro anterior. Sí, son guapos y los dos me cayeron bien y entiendo que Gaia se siente emocionada por tener la atención de los dos y por la novedad de sentirse deseada y una chica normal pero no sentí nada más por su parte. Y en tercera porque dicho cuadrado ni siquiera resultó ser uno, la cosa se debatió entre un hermano Chardo y Leon. Uno de los Chardo hizo el papel de enamorado y se la jugo por el afecto de Gaia pero el otro ni siquiera tuvo una oportunidad y en el libro tampoco se específica que el sintiera algo más por Gaia que atracción, eso sí que fue muy caballeroso y me cayo muy bien.
Yo creo que la autora se dio cuenta que estaba metiendo la pata porque suficiente tiene que atravesar la pobre de Gaia, como para además tener quebraderos de cabeza por amor, cosa que no sucede tampoco porque sí que tiene dudas pero desde el principio sentí su amor por Leon era algo tangible y que ella lo sabía pero como la cosa estaba complicada se hizo a la tonta. Siento que la autora quería llevar la situación por un camino, se dio cuenta que no era necesario y que podría arruinar la escencia de Gaia y de la historia y lo intento llevar por otro lado pero tampoco le dio tiempo o no supo como pulir el lío que había creado y dejo ese "cuadrado amoroso" como le salió.
Es algo que no me cuajo pero que tampoco se me hizo pesado ni le resto a la historia porque ese "cuadrado" se quedó en un término entre el desastre y algo emocionante o interesante.
Creo que es la reseña más larga que he escrito y seguro esta llena de Spoilers pero en verdad me gustó mucho, mucho, mucho este libro y creo que deberían darle una oportunidad. Yo estoy ansiosa por comenzar con el tercero y ver que nuevos retos y situaciones enfrentan Gaia y Leon en el camino para vivir una vida en libertad y por consiguiente feliz. 10/5☆
November 25, 2011
The first book, Birthmarked is one of my favorite books! I really loved all the characters and coding and puzzles. I can't wait to get a hold of this book! :)
Prized is AMAZING! I LOVED it! It feels very different from Birthmarked (maybe because of the place setting and how Gaia is treated) but I loved it just as much. Definetly a new favorite.
Gaia Stone and her baby sister, Maya escape the Enclave with hope of finding a better life for them in the Dead Forest(Sylum).
Sylum, Gaia discovers is completely different from her own home and not necessarily in a good way either.
Something is wrong with Sylum, something in their environment makes it impossible for people to leave once they've been there for a few days, leaving will mean death.
Also there's a shortage on girls. 1 out of 10 babies born are female. Eventually, Sylum will die out.
Sylum is lead by a woman, the Matrarc, who I found to be a very fascinating character.
Women are in charge, they inherit and carry the family line. They vote and make the decisions. The children take the mothers last name instead of the fathers.
Touching a woman without being married is a crime.
In the Enclave, Gaia's scar made her ugly and an outcast.
In Sylum people barely noticed her scar, she is treated with respect and a quite a few men actually swooned after her.
Gaia really grows in this book and becomes such a strong character.
We do get to reunite with a character from the first book that will make Birthmarked fans happy.
Well, that's all I'm saying, I dont want to give much away!
Read it, you will love it. (Read Birthmarked first, you'll love that one as well) Amazing books! :)
Prized is AMAZING! I LOVED it! It feels very different from Birthmarked (maybe because of the place setting and how Gaia is treated) but I loved it just as much. Definetly a new favorite.
Gaia Stone and her baby sister, Maya escape the Enclave with hope of finding a better life for them in the Dead Forest(Sylum).
Sylum, Gaia discovers is completely different from her own home and not necessarily in a good way either.
Something is wrong with Sylum, something in their environment makes it impossible for people to leave once they've been there for a few days, leaving will mean death.
Also there's a shortage on girls. 1 out of 10 babies born are female. Eventually, Sylum will die out.
Sylum is lead by a woman, the Matrarc, who I found to be a very fascinating character.
Women are in charge, they inherit and carry the family line. They vote and make the decisions. The children take the mothers last name instead of the fathers.
Touching a woman without being married is a crime.
In the Enclave, Gaia's scar made her ugly and an outcast.
In Sylum people barely noticed her scar, she is treated with respect and a quite a few men actually swooned after her.
Gaia really grows in this book and becomes such a strong character.
We do get to reunite with a character from the first book that will make Birthmarked fans happy.
Well, that's all I'm saying, I dont want to give much away!
Read it, you will love it. (Read Birthmarked first, you'll love that one as well) Amazing books! :)
June 13, 2012
*sigh* This book...I just did not enjoy it. At all. The first book was an interesting start to the series, but this book was not what I expected it to be.
First of all, this series doesn't sound dystopian at all to me. In Birthmarked I could have believed it, but not so much now. This world just doesn't make sense to me. I also didn't like how after learning so much about the Enclave, we now have to learn about another society. It was just plain boring. All Gaia did was sit around for weeks as a prisoner. Same thing that happened in Birthmarked.
And Gaia? She completely ruined the book for me. She just forgets about her sisters and follows the leader of the society because she was "too scared". What happened to the Gaia who stood up to the rulers of the Enclave? It was as if Gaia liked this society more just because it was the women who were in charge now. She was completely different. And when a certain someone sends a message to her, asking for help, she just ignores it. Again, because she was "afraid". I'm sorry Gaia, but I am so disappointed in you. Even Leon changed - and not for the good. I understood his anger towards Gaia, but he just wasn't the same.
I actually skimmed the last half of the book because otherwise it would have taken me FOREVER to get through it. Guess I won't be continuing this series.
First of all, this series doesn't sound dystopian at all to me. In Birthmarked I could have believed it, but not so much now. This world just doesn't make sense to me. I also didn't like how after learning so much about the Enclave, we now have to learn about another society. It was just plain boring. All Gaia did was sit around for weeks as a prisoner. Same thing that happened in Birthmarked.
And Gaia? She completely ruined the book for me. She just forgets about her sisters and follows the leader of the society because she was "too scared". What happened to the Gaia who stood up to the rulers of the Enclave? It was as if Gaia liked this society more just because it was the women who were in charge now. She was completely different. And when a certain someone sends a message to her, asking for help, she just ignores it. Again, because she was "afraid". I'm sorry Gaia, but I am so disappointed in you. Even Leon changed - and not for the good. I understood his anger towards Gaia, but he just wasn't the same.
I actually skimmed the last half of the book because otherwise it would have taken me FOREVER to get through it. Guess I won't be continuing this series.
November 15, 2016
I enjoyed this one more than the first book! Like I said before the writing style isn't my fav but the story is still exciting :)
April 26, 2016
Teil 2 ist genauso gut wie Teil 1, voll überzeugt!
April 1, 2017
In Prized, Gaia is found in the wasteland with her baby sister, both of whom have almost succumbed to starvation. When brought to Sylum, she discovers another community, this time ruled by women.
Within the same series, Caragh O'Brien has again created another crazy dystopian world with completely different rules, classes, and rulers. In both worlds, Gaia is one of the few who dares to challenge what's in place. Although... There was a time when Gaia did disappoint.
But, in the end, she once again became the strong willed Gaia I grew to love in Birthmarked. I am most definitely picking up the final book, Promised, and continuing on with my binge reading of this series.
Within the same series, Caragh O'Brien has again created another crazy dystopian world with completely different rules, classes, and rulers. In both worlds, Gaia is one of the few who dares to challenge what's in place. Although... There was a time when Gaia did disappoint.
But, in the end, she once again became the strong willed Gaia I grew to love in Birthmarked. I am most definitely picking up the final book, Promised, and continuing on with my binge reading of this series.
March 11, 2021
Já não me lembrava muito de como tinha terminado o primeiro volume e, à medida queia lendo, relembrei os pormenores mais importantes! Neste volume Gaia chega a uma cidade nova, onde a sua avó foi a Matriaca e consegue aos poucos descobrindo que algo errado se passa e, claro, com a ajuda de pessoas que se acabam por tornar importantes e, assim, acaba por descobrir a solução para ajudar os habitantes dessa cidade!
February 16, 2021
Also so fun to have a nice YA series for winter reading.
November 1, 2011
*This is the second book in the Birthmarked series. This review may contain spoilers for the first book*
I read Birthmarked, the first book in the series, prior to having a blog of my own. Of course that means I never reviewed it. I can tell you it was a book I absolutely knew I would want to read the sequel too. Many first books in a series I read and never have the desire to pick up book number two…Birthmarked had me wanting to read Prized right after reading the last page. I even picked up my review copy the day after I received it, that’s how much I wanted to read this book!
Birthmarked initially was written as a stand-alone. You could never tell by how well everything flows together from book one to book two. We’re left in book one with Gaia leaving the Enclave with her baby sister and we have no idea what’s in-store for her.
Gaia is brought into a different society of people in Prized. In book one and in book two, the lives of everyone revolve around genetics…it’s a huge part of the story. The problems with genetics are totally different from the two books. Gender roles are flipped within this different group of people. I was surprised by this, but it does make sense for what the characters are living through, but at the same time I personally hate it. A villain who you wouldn’t expect is in Prized, I seriously despised her from the beginning. I could see where many people may sympathize with her…I loathed her.
I normally am someone who complains about having to learn about a whole new world when the book is a second in a series. This book is the exception to the rule for me…I enjoyed learning the ways of a completely different set of people in the same world and time. The people and society Gaia stumbles upon is Prized in different than anything else I’ve ever read. the world stands out on it’s own.
If you’re looking for a dystopian unlike any other the others out there right now, the Birthmarked series is for you! I can’t wait to see what Caragh has in-the-works for us for book number three!
Sidenote: Gaia gets herself stuck in what she calls a “love square” which had me dying laughing. It works well for the story because of the situation the characters are in.
I read Birthmarked, the first book in the series, prior to having a blog of my own. Of course that means I never reviewed it. I can tell you it was a book I absolutely knew I would want to read the sequel too. Many first books in a series I read and never have the desire to pick up book number two…Birthmarked had me wanting to read Prized right after reading the last page. I even picked up my review copy the day after I received it, that’s how much I wanted to read this book!
Birthmarked initially was written as a stand-alone. You could never tell by how well everything flows together from book one to book two. We’re left in book one with Gaia leaving the Enclave with her baby sister and we have no idea what’s in-store for her.
Gaia is brought into a different society of people in Prized. In book one and in book two, the lives of everyone revolve around genetics…it’s a huge part of the story. The problems with genetics are totally different from the two books. Gender roles are flipped within this different group of people. I was surprised by this, but it does make sense for what the characters are living through, but at the same time I personally hate it. A villain who you wouldn’t expect is in Prized, I seriously despised her from the beginning. I could see where many people may sympathize with her…I loathed her.
I normally am someone who complains about having to learn about a whole new world when the book is a second in a series. This book is the exception to the rule for me…I enjoyed learning the ways of a completely different set of people in the same world and time. The people and society Gaia stumbles upon is Prized in different than anything else I’ve ever read. the world stands out on it’s own.
If you’re looking for a dystopian unlike any other the others out there right now, the Birthmarked series is for you! I can’t wait to see what Caragh has in-the-works for us for book number three!
Sidenote: Gaia gets herself stuck in what she calls a “love square” which had me dying laughing. It works well for the story because of the situation the characters are in.
August 25, 2016
4.5
Preciada es la segunda parte de Marca de nacimiento.
La primera parte me gustó bastante, pero en esta segunda parte he disfrutado más leyendola.
En preciada nos encontramos con otro entorno totalmente distinto al del Enclave, llamado el Bosque Muerto, Sailum. El cual es mandado por La Matrarca, una mujer dura y estricta con las leyes de Sailum, leyes como que rozarse/tocarse/abrazarse/besarse entre una chica y un chico esté mal visto, y otras leyes más sin sentido y algo crueles.
Preciada me ha hecho sentir más que Marca de Nacimiento. He sufrido con las situaciones que se presentan durante todo el libro -más que nada las relacionadas con León y Gaia son las que más he sentido-.
Cabe decir que el "triangulo" o "cuarteto" -no me ha quedado muy claro, la verdad.- me ha llegado a irritar un poco. Creo que sobraba un poco, pero bueno, no pasa nada, no se ha mencionado mucho ni ha sido pesado.
Gaia me ha parecido un poco insoportable en algunos momentos, momentos donde no entendía las cosas tontas que hacía.
Leon, en esta segunda parte, puedo decir que me ha enamorado incluso más.
En esta segunda parte, Gaia principalmente con la ayuda de Leon -y demás personas-, lucha por la igualdad de las votaciones para los hombres, lucha porque los bebés no sean quitados a las llamadas "Sueltas", lucha para que cualquiera pueda tomar la decisión de abortar o no, lucha por intentar salvar a un pueblo entero de ser extingido por la falta de mujeres, y lucha para que todos puedan salir de Sailum sin morir.
RESUMIENDO:
Preciada es una segunda continuación diferente, pero buena. Te hace sentir y te hace querer seguir leyendolo. Yo sin duda, estoy deseando ponerme con la tercera parte, y sinceramente, voy con la mente en blanco.
No llega al 5 porque para mí han fallado algunas cositas, pero en general, todo me ha gustado bastante.
Preciada es la segunda parte de Marca de nacimiento.
La primera parte me gustó bastante, pero en esta segunda parte he disfrutado más leyendola.
En preciada nos encontramos con otro entorno totalmente distinto al del Enclave, llamado el Bosque Muerto, Sailum. El cual es mandado por La Matrarca, una mujer dura y estricta con las leyes de Sailum, leyes como que rozarse/tocarse/abrazarse/besarse entre una chica y un chico esté mal visto, y otras leyes más sin sentido y algo crueles.
Preciada me ha hecho sentir más que Marca de Nacimiento. He sufrido con las situaciones que se presentan durante todo el libro -más que nada las relacionadas con León y Gaia son las que más he sentido-.
Cabe decir que el "triangulo" o "cuarteto" -
Gaia me ha parecido un poco insoportable en algunos momentos, momentos donde no entendía las cosas tontas que hacía.
Leon, en esta segunda parte, puedo decir que me ha enamorado incluso más.
En esta segunda parte, Gaia principalmente con la ayuda de Leon -y demás personas-, lucha por la igualdad de las votaciones para los hombres, lucha porque los bebés no sean quitados a las llamadas "Sueltas", lucha para que cualquiera pueda tomar la decisión de abortar o no, lucha por intentar salvar a un pueblo entero de ser extingido por la falta de mujeres, y lucha para que todos puedan salir de Sailum sin morir.
RESUMIENDO:
Preciada es una segunda continuación diferente, pero buena. Te hace sentir y te hace querer seguir leyendolo. Yo sin duda, estoy deseando ponerme con la tercera parte, y sinceramente, voy con la mente en blanco.
No llega al 5 porque para mí han fallado algunas cositas, pero en general, todo me ha gustado bastante.
August 3, 2016
Wenn ich nur den Anfang und das Ende bewerten würde, würde ich dem Buch mind. 4,5 Sterne geben. Allerdings fand ich den Mittelteil super langweilig, weil einfach gefühlt nichts passiert ist. Das war auch der Grund dafür, dass ich so lange für das Buch gebraucht habe.
Die Charaktere mochte ich wie immer super gerne und auch die ganzen neuen Charakteren sind mir direkt ans Herz gewachsen. :)
Die Charaktere mochte ich wie immer super gerne und auch die ganzen neuen Charakteren sind mir direkt ans Herz gewachsen. :)
May 12, 2016
Serinin 1.kitabına 5 puan verdiysem mantık olarak buna 10 puan vermem lazımdı. 1.kitaptan daha daha güzeldi. Bayıldım ! Hiç böyle olacağını beklemiyordum.
December 3, 2011
5/5
Caragh O'Brien manages to completely blow me away again, with the second book in this beautiful dystopian YA series. I was actually worried that this book wouldn't live up to the first book (BIRTHMARKED) - which I still have not stopped raving about - but really those anxious thoughts were in vain. Because PRIZED was everything I could have wanted and more. Unlike many other reviewers on Goodreads, I will not be comparing this book to BIRTHMARKED, because they're completely different to each other. Instead, I'll be looking at PRIZED as if it were a standalone . . . kind of.
MY SYNOPSIS
PRIZED picks up shortly where BIRTHMARKED ends. Gaia has just escaped the Enclave - baby Maya in tow - and is now fighting her way through the Wastelands in hopes of finding the place her Grandma supposedly mapped out for her. As death approaches both girls, outrider Chardos Peter rescues them and leads them to Sylum. A community overpopulated with males and where females (mlasses and mladies) dominate. As far as the Matrarc (the leader) is concerned, Gaia's sister Maya is dead, and Maya is taken away from Gaia to live with able-bodied carers who will NOT endanger the baby's life.
Since the Sylum is in a serious deficit of mlasses and there are about 9 men to every woman, in this society touching is taken extremely seriously. So when Gaia gets close to both the Chardos boys, Peter and Will, things get even more complicated when she discovers that Leon is alive and has made it to the Sylum. As a prisoner. Gaia wasn't sure if she wanted to continue midwifery after her last failed birth (her mum's), but natural instinct led her back to what she'd always known, and instantly she's indispensible. Until she gets in trouble and the Matrarc holds Leon captive until she caves in to the Sylum's outrageous customs.
In Prized, you can expect Gaia to struggle so much with her beliefs, against an unstoppable power that she finds both unflappable and disconcerting. Some of her decisions lead to much strife, but that's how people learn.
THE STORY
In PRIZED Gaia is in yet another dystopic society, Sylum. At the beginning it seems like such a great place - until Gaia begins to discover some odd things about it all. Firstly, there's the whole no-touching policy that's linked to the male-female ratio. How exactly did the community slowly dwindle down in female numbers? Stranger still, why do people get unbearably sick when they first arrive to Sylum, and why do people who try to escape die? Every mystery that Gaia and her friends uncovers bends the mind much in the same way as the mysteries in BIRTHMARKED did. I loved speculating along with the characters.
There is less action in PRIZED. More internal thinking and dialogue. Not a bad thing, if you were to ask me. I loved finding out more about the society, about Gaia and her values, how her past memories have affected her, who the Chardos boys are, what the cracks in this society were, etc. Basically, I found it really hard to put this book down. Caragh paces this book so well that I barely even saw the pages flick by!
THE WRITING
PRIZED is Caragh O'Brien's sophomore title, and if I do say so myself her writing has improved greatly since her debut. This is evident in the fact that I was still glued to the pages despite the decrease in action comparative to her debut title. That said, if you loved the writing in BIRTHMARKED you'll find yourself well at ease in PRIZED.
The book is sprinkled with details on the environment that allowed me to easily picture each scene - more than you can know. There is something minimal yet sufficient about Caragh's writing style that I just adore. I would not say that the writing quality is the best component of this book, but it's not clunky, it doesn't distract, it's not long-winded and boring. It's very on par with good YA novel writing styles.
THE CHARACTERS
I loved Gaia so very much in BIRTHMARKED. I was a bit worried when I read reviews in which readers were disappointed in the decisions Gaia made and how she's not as strong-willed or revolutionary as she was before. But. She is. She just loses her way. There is nothing better than characters you love that disappoint you but REDEEM themselves, and boy, does Gaia redeem herself. She's still the kickass heroine I know and love!
I actually love most of the characters in this book, while I have conflicting feelings about a few (Olivia and Roxanne, for instance). Leon returns! And I still love him, because despite his attitude for half of the book it's so evident that his love for Gaia is too strong for words. Peter and Will almost give Leon a run for his money though, but I think it was because of what Leon and Gaia went through in BIRTHMARKED that I always rooted for them to work it out.
Norris, the Lodge cook, is great. I held a soft spot for him from the very first time we meet him. There's so many things endearing about him, despite the brute quality he puts on. The bond he forms with Gaia is incomparible - he's like a father to her, though I'm not sure she ever realised it.
Dinah and the Libbies. And the expools and the men in general. I just love the power and energy they bring to the end of the book. They really teach Gaia so much about what she believes in, and they help Gaia remember that.
*Sigh* Okay, now . . . for the next section.
THE ROMANCE
Maybe no one agrees with me on this one (I haven't checked), but Caragh O'Brien made a love SQUARE work! I don't know, I found Gaia's interactions with each guy so very interesting and entertaining to read. They each have their sweet and sour spots. For me, my preferences are: 1. Leon, 2. Will, 3. Peter. That said, I think I would have been satisfied with any pairing at the ending, but I was pleased with how Caragh dealt with the confrontations.
1. Gaia and Leon - If you're looking for sweet Leon, strap on tight. The ride's going to be a bit bumpy, as per usual. What I love about Leon is that he brings out Gaia's truly passionate and kickass side. He loves her for her everything, and he understands her and cares about her. He's not completely self-sacrificing though - he's human and he gets frustrated and he acts like a guy/man. Their relationship is not easy, but they fit so well and they have a HISTORY together.
2. Gaia and Will - You're all probably shocked (if you've read PRIZED). Let me explain. It's like this . . . Will . . . okay maybe I can't explain. Maybe because it would be too typical if I were to like Peter better than Will. Will has that quiet edge to him - maybe because he connects with Gaia on an intellectual scale, and they don't have to fight to get on well together. They also make some crucial discoveries that were both fun to read and stimulating to the brain.
3. Gaia and Peter - Maybe it was just that first impression I have of him? There's no doubt that Peter is gorgeous and they've got that chemistry together that surpasses hers with Will. But Peter has that JEALOUS STREAK, which I guess to me just is a turn-off.
--HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN TYPING FOR? OH GEEZ...WRAP IT UP, CASS. WRAP IT UP . . . .--
THE ENDING: It was really satisfying for me. Everything gets tied up, meaning there is no cliffhanger! No spoilers from me. There is a lead-up for the next book though. We will know where the next book will start off, and from then on, who knows?
OTHER NOTES: There is a lot more childbirth in this book. Descriptive. Yes, hm, quite. Also some implied violence, but nothing TOO bad. Nothing too descriptive, I should say. No swearing, no need to worry about that. All around, nothing too obscene.
PRIZED introduces readers to an alternative dystopian society where women rule. Gaia's decisions may not always be right, but the extraordinary character development she undergoes more than makes up for it. The love square exemplifies the troubles in a society where such a male-female ratio and female ruling exists. Readers will relish in this delicious and emotional sequel to BIRTHMARKED.
SORRY HAD TO CUT MY REVIEW SHORT. MY TABLE ACTUALLY FELL LOPSIDED!!! I'M TALKING LITERALLY HERE. I'M NOT SURPRISED, BUT IT SURE GAVE ME A NASTY SURPRISE! Imagine, 200+ books plus a TV and computer, plus a few textbooks and other various stuff. After a couple of months, the desk is finally down. Repairments involve screwdrivers and muscles, which means I can't fix this one by myself! >_< It's kind of funny seeing my desk tilted at a 40 degree angle though - I might post up photos I took. :P
Caragh O'Brien manages to completely blow me away again, with the second book in this beautiful dystopian YA series. I was actually worried that this book wouldn't live up to the first book (BIRTHMARKED) - which I still have not stopped raving about - but really those anxious thoughts were in vain. Because PRIZED was everything I could have wanted and more. Unlike many other reviewers on Goodreads, I will not be comparing this book to BIRTHMARKED, because they're completely different to each other. Instead, I'll be looking at PRIZED as if it were a standalone . . . kind of.
MY SYNOPSIS
PRIZED picks up shortly where BIRTHMARKED ends. Gaia has just escaped the Enclave - baby Maya in tow - and is now fighting her way through the Wastelands in hopes of finding the place her Grandma supposedly mapped out for her. As death approaches both girls, outrider Chardos Peter rescues them and leads them to Sylum. A community overpopulated with males and where females (mlasses and mladies) dominate. As far as the Matrarc (the leader) is concerned, Gaia's sister Maya is dead, and Maya is taken away from Gaia to live with able-bodied carers who will NOT endanger the baby's life.
Since the Sylum is in a serious deficit of mlasses and there are about 9 men to every woman, in this society touching is taken extremely seriously. So when Gaia gets close to both the Chardos boys, Peter and Will, things get even more complicated when she discovers that Leon is alive and has made it to the Sylum. As a prisoner. Gaia wasn't sure if she wanted to continue midwifery after her last failed birth (her mum's), but natural instinct led her back to what she'd always known, and instantly she's indispensible. Until she gets in trouble and the Matrarc holds Leon captive until she caves in to the Sylum's outrageous customs.
In Prized, you can expect Gaia to struggle so much with her beliefs, against an unstoppable power that she finds both unflappable and disconcerting. Some of her decisions lead to much strife, but that's how people learn.
THE STORY
In PRIZED Gaia is in yet another dystopic society, Sylum. At the beginning it seems like such a great place - until Gaia begins to discover some odd things about it all. Firstly, there's the whole no-touching policy that's linked to the male-female ratio. How exactly did the community slowly dwindle down in female numbers? Stranger still, why do people get unbearably sick when they first arrive to Sylum, and why do people who try to escape die? Every mystery that Gaia and her friends uncovers bends the mind much in the same way as the mysteries in BIRTHMARKED did. I loved speculating along with the characters.
There is less action in PRIZED. More internal thinking and dialogue. Not a bad thing, if you were to ask me. I loved finding out more about the society, about Gaia and her values, how her past memories have affected her, who the Chardos boys are, what the cracks in this society were, etc. Basically, I found it really hard to put this book down. Caragh paces this book so well that I barely even saw the pages flick by!
THE WRITING
PRIZED is Caragh O'Brien's sophomore title, and if I do say so myself her writing has improved greatly since her debut. This is evident in the fact that I was still glued to the pages despite the decrease in action comparative to her debut title. That said, if you loved the writing in BIRTHMARKED you'll find yourself well at ease in PRIZED.
The book is sprinkled with details on the environment that allowed me to easily picture each scene - more than you can know. There is something minimal yet sufficient about Caragh's writing style that I just adore. I would not say that the writing quality is the best component of this book, but it's not clunky, it doesn't distract, it's not long-winded and boring. It's very on par with good YA novel writing styles.
THE CHARACTERS
I loved Gaia so very much in BIRTHMARKED. I was a bit worried when I read reviews in which readers were disappointed in the decisions Gaia made and how she's not as strong-willed or revolutionary as she was before. But. She is. She just loses her way. There is nothing better than characters you love that disappoint you but REDEEM themselves, and boy, does Gaia redeem herself. She's still the kickass heroine I know and love!
I actually love most of the characters in this book, while I have conflicting feelings about a few (Olivia and Roxanne, for instance). Leon returns! And I still love him, because despite his attitude for half of the book it's so evident that his love for Gaia is too strong for words. Peter and Will almost give Leon a run for his money though, but I think it was because of what Leon and Gaia went through in BIRTHMARKED that I always rooted for them to work it out.
Norris, the Lodge cook, is great. I held a soft spot for him from the very first time we meet him. There's so many things endearing about him, despite the brute quality he puts on. The bond he forms with Gaia is incomparible - he's like a father to her, though I'm not sure she ever realised it.
Dinah and the Libbies. And the expools and the men in general. I just love the power and energy they bring to the end of the book. They really teach Gaia so much about what she believes in, and they help Gaia remember that.
*Sigh* Okay, now . . . for the next section.
THE ROMANCE
Maybe no one agrees with me on this one (I haven't checked), but Caragh O'Brien made a love SQUARE work! I don't know, I found Gaia's interactions with each guy so very interesting and entertaining to read. They each have their sweet and sour spots. For me, my preferences are: 1. Leon, 2. Will, 3. Peter. That said, I think I would have been satisfied with any pairing at the ending, but I was pleased with how Caragh dealt with the confrontations.
1. Gaia and Leon - If you're looking for sweet Leon, strap on tight. The ride's going to be a bit bumpy, as per usual. What I love about Leon is that he brings out Gaia's truly passionate and kickass side. He loves her for her everything, and he understands her and cares about her. He's not completely self-sacrificing though - he's human and he gets frustrated and he acts like a guy/man. Their relationship is not easy, but they fit so well and they have a HISTORY together.
2. Gaia and Will - You're all probably shocked (if you've read PRIZED). Let me explain. It's like this . . . Will . . . okay maybe I can't explain. Maybe because it would be too typical if I were to like Peter better than Will. Will has that quiet edge to him - maybe because he connects with Gaia on an intellectual scale, and they don't have to fight to get on well together. They also make some crucial discoveries that were both fun to read and stimulating to the brain.
3. Gaia and Peter - Maybe it was just that first impression I have of him? There's no doubt that Peter is gorgeous and they've got that chemistry together that surpasses hers with Will. But Peter has that JEALOUS STREAK, which I guess to me just is a turn-off.
--HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN TYPING FOR? OH GEEZ...WRAP IT UP, CASS. WRAP IT UP . . . .--
THE ENDING: It was really satisfying for me. Everything gets tied up, meaning there is no cliffhanger! No spoilers from me. There is a lead-up for the next book though. We will know where the next book will start off, and from then on, who knows?
OTHER NOTES: There is a lot more childbirth in this book. Descriptive. Yes, hm, quite. Also some implied violence, but nothing TOO bad. Nothing too descriptive, I should say. No swearing, no need to worry about that. All around, nothing too obscene.
PRIZED introduces readers to an alternative dystopian society where women rule. Gaia's decisions may not always be right, but the extraordinary character development she undergoes more than makes up for it. The love square exemplifies the troubles in a society where such a male-female ratio and female ruling exists. Readers will relish in this delicious and emotional sequel to BIRTHMARKED.
SORRY HAD TO CUT MY REVIEW SHORT. MY TABLE ACTUALLY FELL LOPSIDED!!! I'M TALKING LITERALLY HERE. I'M NOT SURPRISED, BUT IT SURE GAVE ME A NASTY SURPRISE! Imagine, 200+ books plus a TV and computer, plus a few textbooks and other various stuff. After a couple of months, the desk is finally down. Repairments involve screwdrivers and muscles, which means I can't fix this one by myself! >_< It's kind of funny seeing my desk tilted at a 40 degree angle though - I might post up photos I took. :P
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