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Breeders #1
The Breeders
“When the Breeders come for ya, there ain't no escape. They strap ya to a bed and all ya hear is the thud of your heart and the cries of your friends as they wheel ya down to hell. Then the doctors come. You squeeze your eyes shut and pray you can forget. But ya never do.”
Sixteen-year-old Riley Meemick is one of the world's last free girls. When Riley was born, her mother escaped the Breeders, the group of doctors using cruel experiments to bolster the dwindling human race. Her parents do everything possible to keep her from their clutches - moving from one desolate farm after another to escape the Breeders' long reach. The Breeders control everything - the local war lords, the remaining factories, the fuel. They have unchecked power in this lawless society. And they're hunting Riley.
When the local Sheriff abducts the adult members of her family and hands her mother over to the Breeders, Riley and her eight-year-old brother, Ethan, hiding in a shelter, are left to starve. Then Clay arrives, the handsome gunslinger who seems determined to help to make up for past sins. The problem is Clay thinks Riley is a bender - a genderless mutation, neither male nor female. As Riley's affection for Clay grows she wonders can she trust Clay with her secret and risk her freedom?
The three embark on a journey across the scarred remains of New Mexico - escaping the Riders who use human sacrifice to appease their Good Mother, various men scrambling for luck, and a deranged lone survivor of a plague. When Riley is forced into the Breeder's hospital, she learns the horrible fate of her mother - a fate she'll share unless she can find a way out.
Sixteen-year-old Riley Meemick is one of the world's last free girls. When Riley was born, her mother escaped the Breeders, the group of doctors using cruel experiments to bolster the dwindling human race. Her parents do everything possible to keep her from their clutches - moving from one desolate farm after another to escape the Breeders' long reach. The Breeders control everything - the local war lords, the remaining factories, the fuel. They have unchecked power in this lawless society. And they're hunting Riley.
When the local Sheriff abducts the adult members of her family and hands her mother over to the Breeders, Riley and her eight-year-old brother, Ethan, hiding in a shelter, are left to starve. Then Clay arrives, the handsome gunslinger who seems determined to help to make up for past sins. The problem is Clay thinks Riley is a bender - a genderless mutation, neither male nor female. As Riley's affection for Clay grows she wonders can she trust Clay with her secret and risk her freedom?
The three embark on a journey across the scarred remains of New Mexico - escaping the Riders who use human sacrifice to appease their Good Mother, various men scrambling for luck, and a deranged lone survivor of a plague. When Riley is forced into the Breeder's hospital, she learns the horrible fate of her mother - a fate she'll share unless she can find a way out.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2012
560 people are currently reading
4068 people want to read
About the author
Katie French
62 books411 followersKatie French is an Amazon best-selling author in Young Adult dystopian romance. Her book, The Breeders, has had nearly 50,000 downloads and counting and was a semi-finalist in the 2014 Kindle Book Awards. It's currently free on Amazon. She also has a kids series starting with Portia Parrott and the Great Kitten Rescue for ages 5-9.
She works as a high school English teacher, a job that she loves even when it exhausts her. In her free time she writes manically, reads great books, and takes care of her two beautiful and crazy children. She aspires to spend as much time in yoga pants as possible. You can join her mailing list at www.katiefrenchbooks.com and receive two free full-length novels. Contact her at katie@katiefrenchbooks.com.
She works as a high school English teacher, a job that she loves even when it exhausts her. In her free time she writes manically, reads great books, and takes care of her two beautiful and crazy children. She aspires to spend as much time in yoga pants as possible. You can join her mailing list at www.katiefrenchbooks.com and receive two free full-length novels. Contact her at katie@katiefrenchbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 403 reviews
January 8, 2020
In a world where eight out of nine births are boys, girls are a rarity. Meet Riley, a sixteen year old who has had to hide her gender her whole life for if she is caught she will be forced into a breeding programme to keep the population alive. The concept of this book is very good, it really needs a proof read as there's a ton of spelling mistakes but overall it kept me turning the pages. Reminded me a lot of the Love & Decay series, while there are no zombies here there's still time to swoon in life threatening situations when a cute guy comes along. At time of posting this book is currently free on amazon.
April 30, 2017
Dystopia meets futuristic wild west, in a nutshell, this book is.
And how Riley didn't get raped once a chapter from her stupidity and annoyance is beyond me.
After a new type of cleaner, renewable fossil fuel is developed to finally bring an end to war and strife in the middle east, the world appears, at least on the surface, to finally be at peace, until several generations pass with the rate of female live births plummeting to a dangerous level, until eventually they all but stop.
By the time Riley Meemick is born she's the only teenage girl for miles in the outreaches of what was once New Mexico. But her identity is a secret. If anyone ever finds out that she exists then she'd be taken - kidnapped and sold to the "Breeders" who impregnate girls and manipulate until a female child can be born.
My first issue with this book was Riley herself. Leaving aside the fact that she's a complete "wet blanket" of a character, why didn't her mother/step father, and crazy auntie Bell raise and insist that she act like a boy for her safety? This should have been drilled into her since day one:
I am not a girl I am a boy!!
I am not a girl I am a boy!!
Instead she does whatever she wants to, not hiding when strangers approach the family homestead, not staying with her annoyingly innocent little brother Ethan in the hideout when it appears a gunfight is eminent. And generally arguing and acting stupid.
Secondly, what was up with her mother and Bell? When Riley goes to town to rescue her step father she sees old women being fondled as prostitutes. How is it that they too have survived so long? Yes I get that her mother has severe burns and Bell is crazy, but still, three females in one place in this dystopian world?? I'm not buying it. There's also a really weird southern slang thing going on throughout, where people are "pumpkin" or "puddin" head.
Thirdly, the "romance" with Clay, the sheriff's son, really dragged the book down. First he's one of the bad guys, but then he turns out to be one of the good ones, and still thinking that Riley is a boy, takes her and Ethan away to safety after her mothers kidnapping. I think the author should have played up the gender confusion a bit more - Clay has never seen a female his own age, he naturally would have had homosexual leanings (and its clear that French was playing this up with their early scenes), and I found this very interesting until Riley started going on and on about "How cute he was" and "I can smell his aftershave."
Oy vay.
Later, Riley and Clay further bond over an old text copy of Romeo and Juliet.
And then kiss, but Clay doesn't know Riley is really a girl yet...
[image error]
He doesn't find out until Riley is shot by a strange stranger who stumbled I to their hiding place (or vice versa) and in trying to stop the blood Clay had to take her shirt off, and boy, what a surprise he got.
After this Riley wakes up "healed" and in a breeders hospital, where several really strange girls are in various stages of gestation. Betsy, is the main one that Riley has contact with, and they spend their time watching I Love Lucy. There's also a teenage doctor who mumbles and says "um" to an annoying degree.
Anyway, stuff happens, I really wasn't into it at this point but I MADE MYSELF GO ON but in order to get back to the hospital to rescue her mother Riley trades "smelling rights of her hair" to weirdo Hatch, who also really wants a kiss.
How has Riley not been raped once an hour at this point? And as he's about to kiss her, she literally thinks"please don't let this be my first kiss..."
There was also a lot of spelling/grammar issues.
Nothing really worked for me, and I think Katie French just bit off more than she could chew with this one. Its a big idea and she doesn't have the story telling props to pull this off.
December 25, 2021
Breeders are a group of doctors using cruel experiments to bolster the dwindling human race. The Breeders control it all, but Riley's mother managed to escape. What this book couldn't escape was the cliches. Not to mention the plot holes. Riley can't read, but then she can find stuff and read it. Why Riley would be trying to fall in love with a man that would trade her in instead of learning to survive on her own made me pull my hair out. I will not be reading more of the series. Nothing like the Hunger Games.
July 7, 2014
Women are rare in Riley’s world. Only men or “benders” are born nowadays, so women are often kidnapped and sold to the Breeders in order to keep the human population afloat. A life with the Breeders consists of birthing children for the rest of their fertile years.
No one outside of their family can know that Riley or her mother exists. If anyone else knew, they would be kidnapped and sold to the Breeders. When Riley’s family is exposed and attacked, and her mother goes missing, it’s up to Riley and her eight-year-old brother, Ethan, to track her down. The only problem is that she can’t just go out looking for her mother as a girl because she’s being hunted, too.
I’ll put it right up front that I struggled to even finish this book. First of all, the plot was all over the place. This was a quick read, but I feel like Katie French tried to fit way too much into this novel. Good guys were suddenly bad guys were suddenly good guys again without any transition whatsoever, and it left me frustrated and confused.
After that review, it’s probably not surprising that I’m only giving this one star. I won’t be continuing with the Breeders series, and it would take a pretty strong recommendation to get me to read another Katie French novel.
Read the full review at http://eatbooksforbreakfast.com/2013/....
No one outside of their family can know that Riley or her mother exists. If anyone else knew, they would be kidnapped and sold to the Breeders. When Riley’s family is exposed and attacked, and her mother goes missing, it’s up to Riley and her eight-year-old brother, Ethan, to track her down. The only problem is that she can’t just go out looking for her mother as a girl because she’s being hunted, too.
I’ll put it right up front that I struggled to even finish this book. First of all, the plot was all over the place. This was a quick read, but I feel like Katie French tried to fit way too much into this novel. Good guys were suddenly bad guys were suddenly good guys again without any transition whatsoever, and it left me frustrated and confused.
After that review, it’s probably not surprising that I’m only giving this one star. I won’t be continuing with the Breeders series, and it would take a pretty strong recommendation to get me to read another Katie French novel.
Read the full review at http://eatbooksforbreakfast.com/2013/....
August 6, 2017
This was an enjoyable read despite the common theme, with interesting characters and an engaging writing style. Unfortunately it is littered with typos and the plot runs a bit thin with nothing really unexpected or surprising on the journey from beginning to end.
Perhaps nudging towards 3.5, but I wont be continuing the series.
Perhaps nudging towards 3.5, but I wont be continuing the series.
May 11, 2016
Honestly I'll read the next book purely out of curiosity but this one wasn't so amazing.
The blurb is literally a play-by-play of the entire book. There's no real suspense or surprise. So anything I say in this honestly cannot be considered a spoiler.
The Writing
-I didn't hate it but there was so much unnecessary dialogue and chapters. This book DRAGGED. I kept waiting for something to happen.
-The grammar is AWFUL.
“Bounty greats me from her stall, blinking her big brown eyes and swishing her bristly tail back and forth.”
“He limps outside, his uneven gate rocking me back and forth”
There was barely anything on the Breeders except for a single paragraph on why there are more males than females and why the Breeders are trying to correct it. Which honestly, no one should be forced into doing anything they don't want to do, especially something like having children, but could you blame them for being desperate to save the human race? I felt like instead of focusing on all the mundane and STUPID things Riley, Clay and her brother were doing, the book could have focused a little more on how having a male-dominated population has really affected society, humans and the Earth. I get why most of the men had rapist tendencies but there's no substance behind it. Like what if a man honestly isn't that way but being without a woman for nearly 15 years and not by choice has affected his morals? I felt like even a subplot like that could have been explored. But it never is. It's just, I want to rape you because you're the only girl around and I'm a greasy, dirty evil man. What about even the weird, primitive tribes that were formed because of the female shortage in the population? I get that Riley hasn't seen much of the world but other characters had. There was just wordy descriptions and no real world-building.
Riley
The most annoying protagonist ever! In the beginning she just kept complaining about how she was trapped which I get could be frustrating but she was only 16. Instead of whining I felt like she should have 'tried' to prove she was capable of going into town by teaching herself how to fight and throw a knife and things like that. She could shoot a gun but what help is that with next to nil bullets and 5 grown men attacking you?
Both times when the Sheriff comes, instead of staying hidden and trying to protect her brother she just wants to jump in and when her parents told her to hide, she'd stall and look at them, and look at her brother and reminisce or argue about joining in and I was like "IDIOT, JUST HIDE!".
This entire book was a series of bad decisions. One after the other.
Want to know how they get kidnapped by the Raiders? Her, Clay and her brother get drugged at Clay's friend's house from drinking the water they were offered.
-_________-
You're in the company of two creepy strangers, fuck if they're Clay's friends, and one of them is constantly eyeing your brother and you drink and eat the food offered and GO TO SLEEP??? Supplies and food were in the Jeep, fuck being rude, there would have been no way I'd eat anything those creepy guys offered and I would have stayed up all night to make sure they didn't try anything and sleep in the Jeep on the way to the destination.
Don't even get me started on when she told one of the creepy guys she was a girl after they drugged her and kidnapped her and her brother. Her hands and feet were bound and her brother was unconscious, what made her think she was in a position to be making deals or telling them she was a girl to save her brother?!!
Then later on when they get taken care of, Clay basically says "They were still my friends" and she just agrees with him.
Another one of many was when they decided to take refuge in a school building in a creepy, deserted town, with no sign of life. They just saw the building and decided to sleep there. They didn't check it out, just hopped in through a window, barricaded the door and went to sleep. The next day, Riley wanders the building BY HERSELF without telling them where she's going. When she goes off again she gets attacked and shot by the creepy survivor guy from the blurb and ends up in the Breeder's hospital. Which I saw coming because they were yet again, stupid.
I just got pissed off when she finally got rescued from the hospital and then wanted to go back to save her mother. I get wanting to save her mother but she went about it all wrong and nearly got raped and killed. AGAIN.
The Conveniences
All I have to say is, EVERY SINGLE TIME something went wrong, someone was always there to save her. Not even to help her. Literally to save her. An animal even saves her life at one point.
The plot was shaky. Even I'm still not 100% sure how they managed to escape the hospital a second time with all those guards and guns. It was just too unrealistic.
The Romance
The romance in this was dead for me. I just didn't feel it. I was too busy being annoyed anyway. There was too much insta-love between Clay and Riley.
The prequel to this was soooo much better. So try that first. It was ten times better.
The Characters
I felt like all the characters were stupid or more boring than cardboard. Her brother was just the typical sweet, innocent baby brother who tried to act older but was just a nuisance and a liability. I wish a book would have siblings around the same age. It's so much better than the 16 yr old girl with 8 yr old brother scenario I keep seeing.
Honestly, I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend the book but if you have the opportunity to read it, you might like it better than I did.
The blurb is literally a play-by-play of the entire book. There's no real suspense or surprise. So anything I say in this honestly cannot be considered a spoiler.
The Writing
-I didn't hate it but there was so much unnecessary dialogue and chapters. This book DRAGGED. I kept waiting for something to happen.
-The grammar is AWFUL.
“Bounty greats me from her stall, blinking her big brown eyes and swishing her bristly tail back and forth.”
“He limps outside, his uneven gate rocking me back and forth”
There was barely anything on the Breeders except for a single paragraph on why there are more males than females and why the Breeders are trying to correct it. Which honestly, no one should be forced into doing anything they don't want to do, especially something like having children, but could you blame them for being desperate to save the human race? I felt like instead of focusing on all the mundane and STUPID things Riley, Clay and her brother were doing, the book could have focused a little more on how having a male-dominated population has really affected society, humans and the Earth. I get why most of the men had rapist tendencies but there's no substance behind it. Like what if a man honestly isn't that way but being without a woman for nearly 15 years and not by choice has affected his morals? I felt like even a subplot like that could have been explored. But it never is. It's just, I want to rape you because you're the only girl around and I'm a greasy, dirty evil man. What about even the weird, primitive tribes that were formed because of the female shortage in the population? I get that Riley hasn't seen much of the world but other characters had. There was just wordy descriptions and no real world-building.
Riley
The most annoying protagonist ever! In the beginning she just kept complaining about how she was trapped which I get could be frustrating but she was only 16. Instead of whining I felt like she should have 'tried' to prove she was capable of going into town by teaching herself how to fight and throw a knife and things like that. She could shoot a gun but what help is that with next to nil bullets and 5 grown men attacking you?
Both times when the Sheriff comes, instead of staying hidden and trying to protect her brother she just wants to jump in and when her parents told her to hide, she'd stall and look at them, and look at her brother and reminisce or argue about joining in and I was like "IDIOT, JUST HIDE!".
This entire book was a series of bad decisions. One after the other.
Want to know how they get kidnapped by the Raiders? Her, Clay and her brother get drugged at Clay's friend's house from drinking the water they were offered.
-_________-
You're in the company of two creepy strangers, fuck if they're Clay's friends, and one of them is constantly eyeing your brother and you drink and eat the food offered and GO TO SLEEP??? Supplies and food were in the Jeep, fuck being rude, there would have been no way I'd eat anything those creepy guys offered and I would have stayed up all night to make sure they didn't try anything and sleep in the Jeep on the way to the destination.
Don't even get me started on when she told one of the creepy guys she was a girl after they drugged her and kidnapped her and her brother. Her hands and feet were bound and her brother was unconscious, what made her think she was in a position to be making deals or telling them she was a girl to save her brother?!!
Then later on when they get taken care of, Clay basically says "They were still my friends" and she just agrees with him.
Another one of many was when they decided to take refuge in a school building in a creepy, deserted town, with no sign of life. They just saw the building and decided to sleep there. They didn't check it out, just hopped in through a window, barricaded the door and went to sleep. The next day, Riley wanders the building BY HERSELF without telling them where she's going. When she goes off again she gets attacked and shot by the creepy survivor guy from the blurb and ends up in the Breeder's hospital. Which I saw coming because they were yet again, stupid.
I just got pissed off when she finally got rescued from the hospital and then wanted to go back to save her mother. I get wanting to save her mother but she went about it all wrong and nearly got raped and killed. AGAIN.
The Conveniences
All I have to say is, EVERY SINGLE TIME something went wrong, someone was always there to save her. Not even to help her. Literally to save her. An animal even saves her life at one point.
The plot was shaky. Even I'm still not 100% sure how they managed to escape the hospital a second time with all those guards and guns. It was just too unrealistic.
The Romance
The romance in this was dead for me. I just didn't feel it. I was too busy being annoyed anyway. There was too much insta-love between Clay and Riley.
The prequel to this was soooo much better. So try that first. It was ten times better.
The Characters
I felt like all the characters were stupid or more boring than cardboard. Her brother was just the typical sweet, innocent baby brother who tried to act older but was just a nuisance and a liability. I wish a book would have siblings around the same age. It's so much better than the 16 yr old girl with 8 yr old brother scenario I keep seeing.
Honestly, I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend the book but if you have the opportunity to read it, you might like it better than I did.
November 13, 2012
this book says that it is for fans of the hunger games, but it conveys none of the positive messages thast the hunger games does. it glorifies violence, has a horrible plotline, and is just an amazingly stupid, very badly written book.
May 5, 2013
Warning: The amount of awesomeness in this book might leave you dumbfounded for a couple of days or so. Please take precautionary steps while reading and try not to hurt yourself while forcefully stopping to go to sleep.
The Breeders was EPIC! It left me breathless at every page turn. It was just... wow. I don't even know what to say. From the start, I just knew this was going to be amazing. And guess what, it was stunning. I completely devoured this book. There was not one moment where I felt like stopping. The characters were just so raw and the journey intensely captivating. The concept is beyond cliche. Katie French has come up with an idea that will rock your world. It's terrifying and stupendous at the same time. This book is best read not before bedtime because I can guarantee you will be staying up all night clutching it in your hands.
The characters were so perfectly matched for the story line. I couldn't find anything bothersome about them at all.
Riley topped my 2012's best kick-butt heroines. She just didn't know when to give up, and I admired her for it. Her personality is the tough girl 'don't even think about messing with me' sort. She's fearsome, courageous, NOT whiny (which is a first, I've grown tired of whiny heroines), and stubborn as a mule. Her determination to save her mother had so much depth. She was willing to go through almost anything to save those she loves and it was heartbreaking half the time because luck always seemed to be against her.
Clay was really unpredictable. The guy just loved screwing with my head. I'd think he'd do something in one way (since it's always done this way), but then he'd completely surprise by doing the opposite. I loved him for it. He was full of surprises that left me stunned. His personality was caring and dangerous when people got on his bad side. He's not like the perfect male characters in other books. He's real good-looking (He's the cowboy sort, how is that not sizzling?) all right, but I found myself liking him more because he didn't judge people before getting to know them. He treated Riley like a human being while everyone else treated her like crap because they thought she was a Bender.
The only drawback was Riley's little brother, Ethan. He's young and annoyingly weak, but he was perfect in the way in which he brought Riley's more compassionate side to the surface. It made the story far more interesting and twenty times more terrifying when there's a small, feeble child holding the heroes back. I loved how he fit so well without getting on my nerves.
The relationship between Clay and Riley started off real slow and it continued building until I felt like exploding from the excitement and the thrilling sensation of it all. Katie French hit it perfectly with the romance. It was the part I looked forward to the most and got the least. Those few, swooning moments between Riley and Clay left me hungry for more. And in the end, the wait was SO worth it!
The language in the book is different, mostly since it's set in a very western civilization with a cowboy-sort of theme. It's not formal, but rather very slang-ish. The story's setting takes place in a barren stretch of desert land. I love it because:
1) Forests & Jungles have been overused way too much. Change of scenery please!
and
2) I'm a desert-lover
The plot had some seriously unpredictable twists to it. It was fast-paced and impressively easy to get through. I could get clear images from solid descriptions that didn't make me want to stop reading.
Overall, I fell in love with The Breeders. It's an amazing read that will leave you both satisfied and thirsty for more. I recommend this to everyone and anyone who loves a nail-biting dystopian read!
100% Pure Awesomeness!
The Breeders was EPIC! It left me breathless at every page turn. It was just... wow. I don't even know what to say. From the start, I just knew this was going to be amazing. And guess what, it was stunning. I completely devoured this book. There was not one moment where I felt like stopping. The characters were just so raw and the journey intensely captivating. The concept is beyond cliche. Katie French has come up with an idea that will rock your world. It's terrifying and stupendous at the same time. This book is best read not before bedtime because I can guarantee you will be staying up all night clutching it in your hands.
The characters were so perfectly matched for the story line. I couldn't find anything bothersome about them at all.
Riley topped my 2012's best kick-butt heroines. She just didn't know when to give up, and I admired her for it. Her personality is the tough girl 'don't even think about messing with me' sort. She's fearsome, courageous, NOT whiny (which is a first, I've grown tired of whiny heroines), and stubborn as a mule. Her determination to save her mother had so much depth. She was willing to go through almost anything to save those she loves and it was heartbreaking half the time because luck always seemed to be against her.
Clay was really unpredictable. The guy just loved screwing with my head. I'd think he'd do something in one way (since it's always done this way), but then he'd completely surprise by doing the opposite. I loved him for it. He was full of surprises that left me stunned. His personality was caring and dangerous when people got on his bad side. He's not like the perfect male characters in other books. He's real good-looking (He's the cowboy sort, how is that not sizzling?) all right, but I found myself liking him more because he didn't judge people before getting to know them. He treated Riley like a human being while everyone else treated her like crap because they thought she was a Bender.
The only drawback was Riley's little brother, Ethan. He's young and annoyingly weak, but he was perfect in the way in which he brought Riley's more compassionate side to the surface. It made the story far more interesting and twenty times more terrifying when there's a small, feeble child holding the heroes back. I loved how he fit so well without getting on my nerves.
The relationship between Clay and Riley started off real slow and it continued building until I felt like exploding from the excitement and the thrilling sensation of it all. Katie French hit it perfectly with the romance. It was the part I looked forward to the most and got the least. Those few, swooning moments between Riley and Clay left me hungry for more. And in the end, the wait was SO worth it!
The language in the book is different, mostly since it's set in a very western civilization with a cowboy-sort of theme. It's not formal, but rather very slang-ish. The story's setting takes place in a barren stretch of desert land. I love it because:
1) Forests & Jungles have been overused way too much. Change of scenery please!
and
2) I'm a desert-lover
The plot had some seriously unpredictable twists to it. It was fast-paced and impressively easy to get through. I could get clear images from solid descriptions that didn't make me want to stop reading.
Overall, I fell in love with The Breeders. It's an amazing read that will leave you both satisfied and thirsty for more. I recommend this to everyone and anyone who loves a nail-biting dystopian read!
100% Pure Awesomeness!
October 16, 2012
At first I was skeptical of the novel as I have watched plenty of movies and read a lot of post-apocalyptic styled stories. However reading Katie French’s “The Breeders” I found the novel broke from the stereotypical events of this genre that starts the characters off in a tragic setting, and continues to become more tragic.
Between the thrills and the conflicts of the characters, The Breeders was an engaging rollercoaster of Riley Meemick’s life where each chapter became progressively difficult to put down from the confrontations of heroes and villains.
I found the first person narrative approach of the story put you in the shoes of Riley, which made it easy to sympathize/relate to the girl and some of the questionable choices she made. Being able to read the story through her thoughts gave each action, romance and suspense seen a distinct description that could not have been achieved through another form of narration.
The main plot was brought into the book easily from the introduction and you didn’t get overwhelmed with too much information, making the story an easy read. The action scenes weren’t overly descriptive, only focusing on the key elements of the fight, which I found to be exciting as it left more to the imagination.
Her descriptions of character conflicts were intense and the most enjoyable parts of the novel. Such as the hate between Clay and his father, Riley’s overly protective love for her little brother Ethan or the chemistry between Clay and Riley (both before and after he knew she was a girl). Personally I enjoyed the tension between the two and the lack of sex, their passion for each other made you care for the characters far more than if they had simply ‘hooked up’ early on.
*spoiler section!*
As the story reached an end, there was lots still unanswered (but it didn’t create plot holes) which left the story open for another novel. The mystery to the breeders and what they have planned (also what they messed up on Plan B and Riley’s mother’s mutated fetus) and how the rest of the world was managing the chaos were questions I hope to see answered in a future novel.
*end spoiler*
To summarize: The Breeders is a novel that is adventurous, eerie and a fun story worth reading. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting novel. Can’t wait to see what else Katie has in store!
Between the thrills and the conflicts of the characters, The Breeders was an engaging rollercoaster of Riley Meemick’s life where each chapter became progressively difficult to put down from the confrontations of heroes and villains.
I found the first person narrative approach of the story put you in the shoes of Riley, which made it easy to sympathize/relate to the girl and some of the questionable choices she made. Being able to read the story through her thoughts gave each action, romance and suspense seen a distinct description that could not have been achieved through another form of narration.
The main plot was brought into the book easily from the introduction and you didn’t get overwhelmed with too much information, making the story an easy read. The action scenes weren’t overly descriptive, only focusing on the key elements of the fight, which I found to be exciting as it left more to the imagination.
Her descriptions of character conflicts were intense and the most enjoyable parts of the novel. Such as the hate between Clay and his father, Riley’s overly protective love for her little brother Ethan or the chemistry between Clay and Riley (both before and after he knew she was a girl). Personally I enjoyed the tension between the two and the lack of sex, their passion for each other made you care for the characters far more than if they had simply ‘hooked up’ early on.
*spoiler section!*
As the story reached an end, there was lots still unanswered (but it didn’t create plot holes) which left the story open for another novel. The mystery to the breeders and what they have planned (also what they messed up on Plan B and Riley’s mother’s mutated fetus) and how the rest of the world was managing the chaos were questions I hope to see answered in a future novel.
*end spoiler*
To summarize: The Breeders is a novel that is adventurous, eerie and a fun story worth reading. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting novel. Can’t wait to see what else Katie has in store!
August 22, 2012
Shh … don’t tell anyone. Sixteen-year old Riley has a secret. She’s a girl. In this not-too-distant, dystopian, future world women – young and old – are high-priced commodities. They are captured by men and sold to the Breeders then forced into reproductive slavery. Riley and her family have been running from the Breeders her whole life. To disguise her gender, Riley pretends she’s a bender, which is a mutated human without sex organs. No easy feat for a blossoming young woman. When Riley’s stepfather is arrested on a supply run in town, their cover is blown and all hell breaks loose. Afterward Riley and her little brother Ethan are left alone to starve to death. A young stranger comes to their aid but he has a few secrets of his own. Eventually the three fugitives must run for their lives into a forbidden landscape where no man can be trusted.
This fast-paced, sometimes terrifying adventure is packed with plenty of action and surprising twists. From the start French grabs hold of the reader and doesn’t let go until the end. I dare you to put this book down once you start reading. But what struck home for me more than anything in the midst of this current war on women is that “The Breeders” arrives on the scene at this precise opportunity to reveal a frightening dimension to these chilling times in which women live. This is an impressive debut novel from a talented new author.
This fast-paced, sometimes terrifying adventure is packed with plenty of action and surprising twists. From the start French grabs hold of the reader and doesn’t let go until the end. I dare you to put this book down once you start reading. But what struck home for me more than anything in the midst of this current war on women is that “The Breeders” arrives on the scene at this precise opportunity to reveal a frightening dimension to these chilling times in which women live. This is an impressive debut novel from a talented new author.
May 23, 2016
I have never been so glad for a book to be over in my life. I have no idea if it was because of the fact it was an audiobook or what, but I had a really hard time with this. Riley is an idiot. "Hey I think I'm going to do something dangerous and stupid, because, well I can." oh and then "Let me not think logically about things and jump to conclusions. No. Common. Sense. Oh and maybe this counts as a spoiler, but the Goodreads description of this book, literally covers over half the book. I am not exaggerating. I kept waiting and waiting to get to the good stuff and halfway through I realized "This is it." I hate when descriptions do that. I hate when they spoil like half the book.
I should give it a little credit because it did keep me rather entertained through several days of chores and dish washing, but even that doesn't really redeem it. If you're looking for an interesting dystopian novel, this isn't it.
I should give it a little credit because it did keep me rather entertained through several days of chores and dish washing, but even that doesn't really redeem it. If you're looking for an interesting dystopian novel, this isn't it.
September 1, 2012
The Breeders is a book that will keep you turning the page. It is action packed with one thing after another keeping Riley from accomplishing her goal. The characters are strong, and the scenery and action are vivid and gripping. Riley decides with her heart, not her head. Driven by love for her family, she makes one hazardous decision after another, getting the ones she loves in and out of deep trouble time and again, even when she thinks she is helping. This makes her feel like a real character, not some perfect cutout that never makes mistakes. She is tough and loving, and will do what it takes to defend those she cares about. This is well worth a read. You will be surprised by how much better this is than a lot of the YA fiction out there. I will definitely be reading the sequel.
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June 25, 2015
This is essentially The Handmaid's Tale, dumbed-down for a younger audience. The resulting story walks a fine line between conveying the horrors of forced conception and labour in a devastated world and avoiding graphic descriptions of the scenes. The characters show a similar disconnect in their behaviour - they have been raised within this world, yet still behave as though they are unaware of the dangers which lurk here.
Riley's character in particular baffled me. Riley lives a semi-nomadic life with her small family, always trying to stay hidden from the men who would harm her. She has been taught since birth how dangerous it would be if she were to be captured by anyone. Yet, she constantly tries to go to the nearby town, filled with men who hunt and abduct people to sell them. When things inevitably go from bad to worse, she reacts in counter intuitive ways which only serve to cause even more problems.
Another character helps Riley time and time again. At no point in the story does this person display any intent to harm Riley and in fact he goes out of his way to aid her whenever she lands in trouble due to stupidity. Instead of accepting the only help she's ever going to get in this harsh world, Riley immediately brands this person her mortal enemy and does her best to refuse his often life-saving help. It makes no sense!
Despite my issues with Riley's lack of consistency and poor character development, I did enjoy the plot, although it suffered from extremely slow pacing. There were several moments of suspense, where I held my breath to see whether something scary would pop out from the shadows. Most of the events along the characters' journey felt forced in as a way to create tension where there was none, but honestly, this is the case in most YA fiction, so I can overlook that.
I couldn't help rolling my eyes when Riley explains her motivation near the end of the story:
Right. Strange that, because this is how our story starts:
Punkinhead indeed.
Riley's character in particular baffled me. Riley lives a semi-nomadic life with her small family, always trying to stay hidden from the men who would harm her. She has been taught since birth how dangerous it would be if she were to be captured by anyone. Yet, she constantly tries to go to the nearby town, filled with men who hunt and abduct people to sell them. When things inevitably go from bad to worse, she reacts in counter intuitive ways which only serve to cause even more problems.
Another character helps Riley time and time again. At no point in the story does this person display any intent to harm Riley and in fact he goes out of his way to aid her whenever she lands in trouble due to stupidity. Instead of accepting the only help she's ever going to get in this harsh world, Riley immediately brands this person her mortal enemy and does her best to refuse his often life-saving help. It makes no sense!
Despite my issues with Riley's lack of consistency and poor character development, I did enjoy the plot, although it suffered from extremely slow pacing. There were several moments of suspense, where I held my breath to see whether something scary would pop out from the shadows. Most of the events along the characters' journey felt forced in as a way to create tension where there was none, but honestly, this is the case in most YA fiction, so I can overlook that.
I couldn't help rolling my eyes when Riley explains her motivation near the end of the story:
“All I really wanted,” I say looking deep into his eyes, “was to be with the people I love.”
Right. Strange that, because this is how our story starts:
Auntie narrows her eyes and puts one crooked finger on her chin. “Not fine,” she says, slowly. “Definitely not fine. Heard you coaxing your step-daddy to take you to town. You know why you can’t go.”
Sure, I know why they say I can’t go. I hear nothing but how they gotta protect me, how dangerous it is for me to leave this house, how I can’t trust strangers. I also know we can’t live this way forever. Someday I’ll have to fend for myself.
“I know,” I say, my head down.
“Then, what’s the problem, punkinhead?” She lifts the hard crust to her mouth and sucks it. Arn’s Jeep rumbles to life in the driveway.
I should mutter a response and hightail it to my room, but raw emotion crackles inside me like a storm about to break. The words tumble out before I can stop them. “I’m a prisoner here. This isn’t a life. Nothing ever happens to me.”
Punkinhead indeed.
February 21, 2013
This one has my unequivocal endorsement. A buy now and move up on your TBR list kind of endorsement (which is a true rarity coming from me).
Dystopia: small in scale, but absolutely delicious in execution (if I can say that about a dystopia). For me, the perfect dystopia is one where you are torn... you can see where they are coming from, but their execution is a nightmare. In this future society, girls are a rarity. The government's solution? Make them government property and have them pop out one baby after another until they are no longer capable (on the one hand, makes sense... entire future of civilization is at risk; on the other, their methods are more than a little unethical). I don't want to put in any spoilers, but the contrasts are impeccable. Imprisoned and well cared for or free and scrounging/always in peril.
Main character (Riley): love her. She's tough, resourceful, daring (to her detriment sometimes), brash, bull-headed, and loyal to the core. The secondary characters all had personality and depth.
The writing: sheer perfection. Enough detail to be able to see and feel everything happening, but not too much to make it drag. Excellent pacing.
Action: non-stop. I really didn't feel any lulls... maybe a bit at the start, but I can't point to anything and say "that was dull and shouldn't have been there." I also didn't feel like there was a lot missing either. There's some tough and gruesome stuff in here, but it didn't feel extraneous.
My only really, really minor quibble would be on the romance front. That started off with the traditional distrust/tension and had pretty reasonable progression and pacing, but at one point (again, not putting in spoilers), I felt like things leap frogged. As I say, on the whole this is really minor, and didn't ruin my enjoyment at all.
Dystopia: small in scale, but absolutely delicious in execution (if I can say that about a dystopia). For me, the perfect dystopia is one where you are torn... you can see where they are coming from, but their execution is a nightmare. In this future society, girls are a rarity. The government's solution? Make them government property and have them pop out one baby after another until they are no longer capable (on the one hand, makes sense... entire future of civilization is at risk; on the other, their methods are more than a little unethical). I don't want to put in any spoilers, but the contrasts are impeccable. Imprisoned and well cared for or free and scrounging/always in peril.
Main character (Riley): love her. She's tough, resourceful, daring (to her detriment sometimes), brash, bull-headed, and loyal to the core. The secondary characters all had personality and depth.
The writing: sheer perfection. Enough detail to be able to see and feel everything happening, but not too much to make it drag. Excellent pacing.
Action: non-stop. I really didn't feel any lulls... maybe a bit at the start, but I can't point to anything and say "that was dull and shouldn't have been there." I also didn't feel like there was a lot missing either. There's some tough and gruesome stuff in here, but it didn't feel extraneous.
My only really, really minor quibble would be on the romance front. That started off with the traditional distrust/tension and had pretty reasonable progression and pacing, but at one point (again, not putting in spoilers), I felt like things leap frogged. As I say, on the whole this is really minor, and didn't ruin my enjoyment at all.
October 21, 2012
Right before reading this book, I had just finished reading three other (very well-known) dystopian books. I have to be honest; I was ready for something different. But after the first chapter, I could tell this was something different. Yes, it was set in the not-so-far-off future, but the storyline was quite unique.
The author did a great job providing a visual description of the environment. Each time the main character, Riley, found herself thrown into a new setting, it felt as if I was discovering it right along beside her.
It only took a few pages for me to connect with Riley. And I had no problem following her throughout each struggle and minor triumph. But she wasn’t the only main star. I found myself really feeling compassion for supportive characters such as Ethan (Riley’s little brother) and especially Clay (Riley’s love interest). I loved the emotional depth she displayed through their characters.
There were a few grammatical errors and missing words here and there, but never enough to detract from the story. In fact, I easily read straight through them with little thought because the pace of this book had me racing for the next line with anticipation.
Everything came together to create a great stopping point. And yet, she left enough room to navigate a sequel. I’m looking forward to see what Riley and Clay do next in their fight against this oppressive society.
The author did a great job providing a visual description of the environment. Each time the main character, Riley, found herself thrown into a new setting, it felt as if I was discovering it right along beside her.
It only took a few pages for me to connect with Riley. And I had no problem following her throughout each struggle and minor triumph. But she wasn’t the only main star. I found myself really feeling compassion for supportive characters such as Ethan (Riley’s little brother) and especially Clay (Riley’s love interest). I loved the emotional depth she displayed through their characters.
There were a few grammatical errors and missing words here and there, but never enough to detract from the story. In fact, I easily read straight through them with little thought because the pace of this book had me racing for the next line with anticipation.
Everything came together to create a great stopping point. And yet, she left enough room to navigate a sequel. I’m looking forward to see what Riley and Clay do next in their fight against this oppressive society.
October 29, 2012
The short version: If you liked The Hunger Games, you will love The Breeders.
The long version: Like Suzanne Collins, the author quickly transports you into a dystopian world. Welcome to future New Mexico where nearly extinct girls are no longer daughters, sisters and friends. Here, girls are the most valuable commodity in the new world. They are hunted by the Breeders, with the help of local law enforcement and dangerous gangs looking to fill their own coffers.
The story is told through the eyes of 16 year old Riley who has lived her entire life in hiding, deprived of human contact outside of her family. When the only life she has ever known is attacked, Riley must venture out into the hostile world to salvage what's left. On her quest, Riley encounters the common dangers of her world as well as frenemies with unknown agendas and eventually ends up in the hands of those she spent her entire life avoiding - the Breeders.
Like Katniss, Riley's choices are driven by her love for the family she puts before herself. You can't help but root for her as the story weaves from her sheltered home-life, through post-apocalyptic towns and desert, to the final showdown.
I'm always looking for books to share with my 13 year old daughter, who is an avid reader, so we can talk about it later. This book fits the bill; it is truly a cross-over book for YA and adult audiences alike. Looking forward to seeing what happens to Riley and crew next!
The long version: Like Suzanne Collins, the author quickly transports you into a dystopian world. Welcome to future New Mexico where nearly extinct girls are no longer daughters, sisters and friends. Here, girls are the most valuable commodity in the new world. They are hunted by the Breeders, with the help of local law enforcement and dangerous gangs looking to fill their own coffers.
The story is told through the eyes of 16 year old Riley who has lived her entire life in hiding, deprived of human contact outside of her family. When the only life she has ever known is attacked, Riley must venture out into the hostile world to salvage what's left. On her quest, Riley encounters the common dangers of her world as well as frenemies with unknown agendas and eventually ends up in the hands of those she spent her entire life avoiding - the Breeders.
Like Katniss, Riley's choices are driven by her love for the family she puts before herself. You can't help but root for her as the story weaves from her sheltered home-life, through post-apocalyptic towns and desert, to the final showdown.
I'm always looking for books to share with my 13 year old daughter, who is an avid reader, so we can talk about it later. This book fits the bill; it is truly a cross-over book for YA and adult audiences alike. Looking forward to seeing what happens to Riley and crew next!
August 19, 2012
Katie French is a fabulous writer. I haven't loved Young Adult this much since I was a kid. This is one of those books that will appeal to young adults and adults alike. Written with artistry and depth, The Breeders is a page-turner with lovable (though imperfect) characters, a dark, depressing landscape, and a plot that doesn't stop twisting. I am so excited to have found Katie French, and will be waiting on the edge of my seat to read the next book in the series!
June 3, 2017
I really wanted to like this book, but I also kind of wanted to kick Riley. She had a really good set up, so did her parents, and instead of being helpful and appreciative she complained. Instead of listening she was head strong and got into some pretty bad situations. I didn't like her character, which sadly makes the book harder to like.
July 23, 2017
This was the Handmaid's Tale/ Mad Max Fury Road mashup I didn't know I needed. Although it has a typical YA ending and there are typoes throughout, the setting was mesmerizing and the characters were compelling. I'm not sure if I'll go on to the next one in the series because most of the tension was wrapped up (thank you! This isn't typical for kindle free books!) but I recommend this book to fans of YA dystopias. It is rather dark given the gore and the constant threat of becoming a slave used for popping out babies, so I would only suggest it for readers mature enough to handle those themes.
January 12, 2018
This book was trying too hard to do too many things at once. Although the central plot was interesting, the themes changed more than a chameleon. It was by turns mystery, horror, post-apocalyptic, romance, and teen angst. By trying to be all things to all readers, it became too uneven for me. I liked the concept, but I felt like it never really came together. Although there were some threads left dangling, I don't have enough interest to read the rest of the series. Maybe it needed to be longer to give the plots and characters time to mature more, and then the transitions wouldn't have felt so forced. So a solid effort with some potential, but not enough to keep me going.
April 1, 2017
While this book had potential, I couldn't think of any reason why it deserves any more than two stars. It started off well and I was interested in the story-line, and it was refreshing to have a strong female protagonist- but her ignorance and stupidity began to get tiresome as the story progressed. The story itself dragged, the main twist at the end was completely predictable, but I like the concept and up until the second half of the book I quite liked Clay. Not my cup of tea.
May 4, 2018
I wrote this long rant concerning the phrase "Come in. Can we make you some breakfast?" which was probably the most ignorant, unrealistic line I've ever read in a book EVER (considering the context), but it appears to have disappeared. I refuse to re-write it.
Suffice it to say, a character who thinks another character was involved in the murder of her step-father and the selling of her mother and aunt to a whorehouse does not say to that character, "Come in. Can we make you some breakfast?"
No. Never would happen. Braining him? Shooting him in the face? Saying every awful, horrible thing you could think to say to him? Slamming the door in his face?
All acceptable responses. "Come in. Can we make you some breakfast?" NOT. SO. MUCH.
This book annoyed me.
Suffice it to say, a character who thinks another character was involved in the murder of her step-father and the selling of her mother and aunt to a whorehouse does not say to that character, "Come in. Can we make you some breakfast?"
No. Never would happen. Braining him? Shooting him in the face? Saying every awful, horrible thing you could think to say to him? Slamming the door in his face?
All acceptable responses. "Come in. Can we make you some breakfast?" NOT. SO. MUCH.
This book annoyed me.
February 23, 2013
MY REVIEW
I received this book as an e-book from the author via Kismet Book Tours in exchange for my honest review and posting on my blog during the blog tour.
I think the cover depicts the book really well. The cover shows the bleak existence females are faced with. Females that are fertile either hide away in fear and constantly on the run, or they are taken by gangs where they are subject to unmentionable tortures and then sold to The Breeders.
Who are The Breeders and why do they exist? The Breeders run a "hospital facility" that takes (or in most cases snatches from the street or buys) females who are of fertile age, and starts a breeding cycle. The females are "fed up" into good health, inseminated, looked after whilst pregnant, they give birth, baby is taken away and the female begins the whole breeding cycle again. Why? Because due to some strange reason females are in short supply most natural births produce boys. So to keep the population going The Breeders run this "hospital" I mean compared to life on the run and the prospect if ever found by a man being raped as women are such a rarity the "hospital" may sound a good thing, a cushy safe protected life. However these females never get to nurture their babies. the babies are immediately taken to be raised by the "nannies" (women who have come out the other side of the "program" and are no longer fertile) and are prepared to become breeders themselves.
So does anyone exist outside of the Breeder Institution? Does anyone ever escape once caught?
Riley exists and has never been in the Breeders Institution. Her mum, and auntie have, they have The Breeders brand mark on their wrists. They were "lucky" they escaped but now live in fear for themselves being re-caught and for Riley being found out. So riley, her mum, her aunt, live with Riley's younger brother Ethan and Riley's step father (Ethan's father) Arn. The family hide out at an old farm, they have a cow for milk and a couple of pigs. They have to hunt wild animals for food and Arn travels into the nearest town to trade for items such as medicines or food they cannot kill or grow for themselves. Riley wants to go into town with Arn who naturally refuses, it's too dangerous if Riley is discovered she will be taken to The Breeders an may never escape. Riley wishes for more freedom and excitement in her life. . . a wish she comes to regret sooner rather than later when Arn goes into town to trade and doesn't return home.
Riley faces a dilemma should she go in search of Arn or try to hold things together at home, they will run out of food soon. . . .Riley's decision kick starts a chain of events that have dire and dangerous consequences for her and her family, as well as some of the people she meets.
This book is really well written, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, always wondering what is going to be around the corner.
I love how the book also gives you insight into The Breeders and how they became what they are, and do what they do.
This book isn't all fluffy and nice, it shows you the grim reality of Riley's possible future if caught by The Breeders, her grim future if caught by any of the roaming gangs, life as a slave at best, and her reality if she is to sty in hiding, how it will be difficult to keep one step ahead of The Breeders and gangs.
I could seriously go on and on and on about this book I enjoyed it so much but I want you all to read it for yourselves and enjoy it as I did without having being told too much about it.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes Definitely. Would I recommend it? Yes for those who love dystopian, and books with strong female characters. I would point out that the book is more aimed for the mature teen, and adult. Would I read a Bk#2? Yes please as soon as it's available! already found and read the novella in this series. Would I read more by Katie French? Yes I loved her writing style and book pace too.
They really aren't enough stars to give this book!!
I received this book as an e-book from the author via Kismet Book Tours in exchange for my honest review and posting on my blog during the blog tour.
I think the cover depicts the book really well. The cover shows the bleak existence females are faced with. Females that are fertile either hide away in fear and constantly on the run, or they are taken by gangs where they are subject to unmentionable tortures and then sold to The Breeders.
Who are The Breeders and why do they exist? The Breeders run a "hospital facility" that takes (or in most cases snatches from the street or buys) females who are of fertile age, and starts a breeding cycle. The females are "fed up" into good health, inseminated, looked after whilst pregnant, they give birth, baby is taken away and the female begins the whole breeding cycle again. Why? Because due to some strange reason females are in short supply most natural births produce boys. So to keep the population going The Breeders run this "hospital" I mean compared to life on the run and the prospect if ever found by a man being raped as women are such a rarity the "hospital" may sound a good thing, a cushy safe protected life. However these females never get to nurture their babies. the babies are immediately taken to be raised by the "nannies" (women who have come out the other side of the "program" and are no longer fertile) and are prepared to become breeders themselves.
So does anyone exist outside of the Breeder Institution? Does anyone ever escape once caught?
Riley exists and has never been in the Breeders Institution. Her mum, and auntie have, they have The Breeders brand mark on their wrists. They were "lucky" they escaped but now live in fear for themselves being re-caught and for Riley being found out. So riley, her mum, her aunt, live with Riley's younger brother Ethan and Riley's step father (Ethan's father) Arn. The family hide out at an old farm, they have a cow for milk and a couple of pigs. They have to hunt wild animals for food and Arn travels into the nearest town to trade for items such as medicines or food they cannot kill or grow for themselves. Riley wants to go into town with Arn who naturally refuses, it's too dangerous if Riley is discovered she will be taken to The Breeders an may never escape. Riley wishes for more freedom and excitement in her life. . . a wish she comes to regret sooner rather than later when Arn goes into town to trade and doesn't return home.
Riley faces a dilemma should she go in search of Arn or try to hold things together at home, they will run out of food soon. . . .Riley's decision kick starts a chain of events that have dire and dangerous consequences for her and her family, as well as some of the people she meets.
This book is really well written, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, always wondering what is going to be around the corner.
I love how the book also gives you insight into The Breeders and how they became what they are, and do what they do.
This book isn't all fluffy and nice, it shows you the grim reality of Riley's possible future if caught by The Breeders, her grim future if caught by any of the roaming gangs, life as a slave at best, and her reality if she is to sty in hiding, how it will be difficult to keep one step ahead of The Breeders and gangs.
I could seriously go on and on and on about this book I enjoyed it so much but I want you all to read it for yourselves and enjoy it as I did without having being told too much about it.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes Definitely. Would I recommend it? Yes for those who love dystopian, and books with strong female characters. I would point out that the book is more aimed for the mature teen, and adult. Would I read a Bk#2? Yes please as soon as it's available! already found and read the novella in this series. Would I read more by Katie French? Yes I loved her writing style and book pace too.
They really aren't enough stars to give this book!!
February 6, 2017
Lost for words
I had no clue what I was getting into. I just saw the book cover and I dived right in.
Riley's family is trying to protect her from the breeders. She is 16 and she goes into disguise as a boy so the breeders won't steal her.
I had no clue what I was getting into. I just saw the book cover and I dived right in.
Riley's family is trying to protect her from the breeders. She is 16 and she goes into disguise as a boy so the breeders won't steal her.
July 1, 2017
Decent story, bad editing
I read this book in a little over one day. It is full of action, adventure, and imagination. The storyline was interesting, and the character development was good. However, it really needed a proofreader and editor. There were a lot of mistakes, from incorrectly substituting you're for your to missing words. I don't understand why people publish stories that haven't been looked at by someone who understands the basic principles in writing the English language, or at least running spell check! That is one of my biggest pet peeves.
I read this book in a little over one day. It is full of action, adventure, and imagination. The storyline was interesting, and the character development was good. However, it really needed a proofreader and editor. There were a lot of mistakes, from incorrectly substituting you're for your to missing words. I don't understand why people publish stories that haven't been looked at by someone who understands the basic principles in writing the English language, or at least running spell check! That is one of my biggest pet peeves.
March 22, 2013
When I begin a book and it grabs me within the first PAGE then I know I am going to love it. I mean this book was intense from the first page to the last. I began this book and finished it a day later…I literally, I mean LITERALLY could not put it down. It was INTENSE…There are no other words but INTENSE!!!
I love dystopian novels so when I read the synopsis for this book I knew I had to read it. The next thing that grabbed me was the cover. Creepy, horrific…yeah pretty much awesome! Even the font that is used for the title is awesome! It fits the story so perfectly. It looks like the font that someone would use for a horror movie…LOVE IT! A good cover can pull a reader in even if the synopsis is lacking. So with the synopsis being incredible as well as the cover?? WE HAVE A WINNER!!!
The story begins with the main character, Riley and her little brother, Ethan being thrown into a cellar to hide. The writer has so much passion in her writing and you instantly feel scared and anxious right along with the characters. Her stepfather, Arn, and her mother place them in the cellar in order to hide them from “The Breeders.” In this dystopian world girls are rarely born and therefore the breeders take the all the girls and ship them off to a “hospital” where experiments are run on them in order to repopulate the world. Yet of course, there are secrets around every corner and everything is not as it seems.
They make it thru the first visit with the breeders without being caught but then Arn goes into town for supplies and doesn’t come back. Riley then dresses herself as a “bender” (a experiment gone wrong which is neither girl nor boy) and takes off to town to bring back her stepfather. She runs into trouble when she is there but makes it out with Arn. They make it back home but it doesn’t last long. Another visit from the breeders and her mother and Auntie are taken. Riley and Ethan survive in the cellar only because a young man that Riley met while in town locks them in the cellar.
Then begins the real story. Clay…where do I start with Clay?? I love his character. I love that he is so strong and protective over Riley and Ethan. He has such strong emotions and yet is so hard and serious. He tries to make up for the abduction of her Mom and Aunt by bringing them meds, food, and other items. Riley tries her best to not accept his kindness but in the end realizes she needs him. She knows her can protect her and she yearns for his companionship. I love that their relationship is built so strong even though Clay does not know Riley’s true gender. He immediately loves little Ethan as his own brother and that definitely pulled at my heart strings.
They go on a journey that will affect them all emotionally and physically. I could continue to type and tell this story because I loved it so much but that would take away from the effect the events have on the reader. I was so absorbed in this story. It is intense and creepy and at the same time emotional and beautiful. It is one of those books that grabs you and just holds on. I find myself wishing there were more pages…. What happens next? Where do they go from here?? Yes it was that good! Please if you love books that are filled with intense situations, an emotional story, survival, and triumph then you MUST read this book. 5+ stars and I would give more if I could! Great job Katie French! You are now on my author to watch list! I can’t wait to read more from you!!!
I love dystopian novels so when I read the synopsis for this book I knew I had to read it. The next thing that grabbed me was the cover. Creepy, horrific…yeah pretty much awesome! Even the font that is used for the title is awesome! It fits the story so perfectly. It looks like the font that someone would use for a horror movie…LOVE IT! A good cover can pull a reader in even if the synopsis is lacking. So with the synopsis being incredible as well as the cover?? WE HAVE A WINNER!!!
The story begins with the main character, Riley and her little brother, Ethan being thrown into a cellar to hide. The writer has so much passion in her writing and you instantly feel scared and anxious right along with the characters. Her stepfather, Arn, and her mother place them in the cellar in order to hide them from “The Breeders.” In this dystopian world girls are rarely born and therefore the breeders take the all the girls and ship them off to a “hospital” where experiments are run on them in order to repopulate the world. Yet of course, there are secrets around every corner and everything is not as it seems.
They make it thru the first visit with the breeders without being caught but then Arn goes into town for supplies and doesn’t come back. Riley then dresses herself as a “bender” (a experiment gone wrong which is neither girl nor boy) and takes off to town to bring back her stepfather. She runs into trouble when she is there but makes it out with Arn. They make it back home but it doesn’t last long. Another visit from the breeders and her mother and Auntie are taken. Riley and Ethan survive in the cellar only because a young man that Riley met while in town locks them in the cellar.
Then begins the real story. Clay…where do I start with Clay?? I love his character. I love that he is so strong and protective over Riley and Ethan. He has such strong emotions and yet is so hard and serious. He tries to make up for the abduction of her Mom and Aunt by bringing them meds, food, and other items. Riley tries her best to not accept his kindness but in the end realizes she needs him. She knows her can protect her and she yearns for his companionship. I love that their relationship is built so strong even though Clay does not know Riley’s true gender. He immediately loves little Ethan as his own brother and that definitely pulled at my heart strings.
They go on a journey that will affect them all emotionally and physically. I could continue to type and tell this story because I loved it so much but that would take away from the effect the events have on the reader. I was so absorbed in this story. It is intense and creepy and at the same time emotional and beautiful. It is one of those books that grabs you and just holds on. I find myself wishing there were more pages…. What happens next? Where do they go from here?? Yes it was that good! Please if you love books that are filled with intense situations, an emotional story, survival, and triumph then you MUST read this book. 5+ stars and I would give more if I could! Great job Katie French! You are now on my author to watch list! I can’t wait to read more from you!!!
March 20, 2014
Breeders is a story about a young girl living in a futuristic America, due to a chemical the ability to bear females was lost by the population. I picked it up because I love Dystopian books, and it looked promising.
When Riley's home is ambushed by the law, her mother is taken to the breeders and she is desperate to find a way to get her mother back. With the help of her "enemy" a young boy named Clay, she sets out to get her mother back, This book is suspensful and has a great concept although I am not "wowed" by the presentation.
Here are a few reasons why, and they contain very little spoilers.
1. The actual premises to this world is not told until nearly halfway through the book. This leaves the reader wondering what the heck is going on during the first part of the book. It is confusing.
2. The character descriptions are vague. For example, her younger brother’s age is not told until towards the end. I was wondering the entire book how old he is. Is he 7 or 5 or is he older around 10? He is only stated as her younger brother. For a young child, knowing his age is crucial. Looks are also lightly touched on.
3. The world doesn't feel believable. The book states that by the time the government figured out what was going on, at the next census, it was too late and the damage had already been done. One census is not long enough to cause irreversible damage and what about the rest of the world? It never tells about if they were affected as well, but the book leads us to believe that they aren't. Can we not rebuild with other countries? We can pick baby gender right now, though it is done in a lab, why can this not be done in the book?
Though the concept sounds great, in reality, I don't think the breeding issues were well explained or thought out.
4. Riley acts like a 10 year old. Though the writer is trying to make her out to be this strong heroine, she doesn't play out the role well on paper. She complains, whines, and makes terrible decisions that ultimately cause problems. She even throws things in the face of the boy who is helping her, Clay. She is quite immature and rude about it, and growing up in such a harsh world and reality, I don't understand why this character isn't more mature.
6. When they are rescued from the Breeders, they wait until they get to their destination before they take out her tracking device in the back of her neck, in what world does this happen? So they can track you all the way to where you are staying and then come get you? No way, that should have been the first thing to go.
There were other things that made no sense and were very irritating, but overall. I finished the book, it was a good storyline, the writing could be clearer and the characters could be better developed. I don’t think I am going to be reading book two, the plot doesn’t look clear.
When Riley's home is ambushed by the law, her mother is taken to the breeders and she is desperate to find a way to get her mother back. With the help of her "enemy" a young boy named Clay, she sets out to get her mother back, This book is suspensful and has a great concept although I am not "wowed" by the presentation.
Here are a few reasons why, and they contain very little spoilers.
1. The actual premises to this world is not told until nearly halfway through the book. This leaves the reader wondering what the heck is going on during the first part of the book. It is confusing.
2. The character descriptions are vague. For example, her younger brother’s age is not told until towards the end. I was wondering the entire book how old he is. Is he 7 or 5 or is he older around 10? He is only stated as her younger brother. For a young child, knowing his age is crucial. Looks are also lightly touched on.
3. The world doesn't feel believable. The book states that by the time the government figured out what was going on, at the next census, it was too late and the damage had already been done. One census is not long enough to cause irreversible damage and what about the rest of the world? It never tells about if they were affected as well, but the book leads us to believe that they aren't. Can we not rebuild with other countries? We can pick baby gender right now, though it is done in a lab, why can this not be done in the book?
Though the concept sounds great, in reality, I don't think the breeding issues were well explained or thought out.
4. Riley acts like a 10 year old. Though the writer is trying to make her out to be this strong heroine, she doesn't play out the role well on paper. She complains, whines, and makes terrible decisions that ultimately cause problems. She even throws things in the face of the boy who is helping her, Clay. She is quite immature and rude about it, and growing up in such a harsh world and reality, I don't understand why this character isn't more mature.
6. When they are rescued from the Breeders, they wait until they get to their destination before they take out her tracking device in the back of her neck, in what world does this happen? So they can track you all the way to where you are staying and then come get you? No way, that should have been the first thing to go.
There were other things that made no sense and were very irritating, but overall. I finished the book, it was a good storyline, the writing could be clearer and the characters could be better developed. I don’t think I am going to be reading book two, the plot doesn’t look clear.
November 6, 2012
Synopsis: "Sixteen-year-old Riley Meemick is one of the world's last free girls. When Riley was born, her mother escaped the Breeders, the group of doctors using cruel experiments to bolster the dwindling human race. Her parents do everything possible to keep her from their clutches-- moving from one desolate farm after another to escape the Breeders' long reach. The Breeders control everything- the local war lords, the remaining factories, the fuel. They have unchecked power in this lawless society. And they're hunting Riley.
When the local Sheriff abducts the adult members of her family and hands her mother over to the Breeders, Riley and her eight-year-old brother, Ethan, hiding in a shelter, are left to starve. Then Clay arrives, the handsome gunslinger who seems determined to help to make up for past sins. The problem is Clay thinks Riley is a bender-- a genderless mutation, neither male nor female. As Riley's affection for Clay grows she wonders can she trust Clay with her secret and risk her freedom?
The three embark on a journey across the scarred remains of New Mexico-- escaping the Riders who use human sacrifice to appease their Good Mother, various men scrambling for luck, and a deranged lone survivor of a plague. When Riley is shot and forced into the Breeder's hospital, she learns the horrible fate of her mother—a fate she'll share unless she can find a way out."
My Review: Now that is a Dystopian novel!! I may be new to the genre but after reading Hunger Games and Divergent, then following with The Breeders, I think this is what the genre should be! Katie French really sucks you into the book and makes you feel that absolute terror and hopelessness, not to mention determination! I am sure there are all kinds of statements and warnings about science and politics but I didn't really pay attention because I was so into the story and the characters. I love Riley, her toughness is unbelievable and I adore Ethan, he is tough in his own way. Honestly how could anyone not fall in love with Clay?! And Wow the adventure and horrible decisions they each have to make! The end leaves us kind of hanging out there wondering if there is a happy ending or if the nightmares continue. LOVED it and the way it makes my heart race!
When the local Sheriff abducts the adult members of her family and hands her mother over to the Breeders, Riley and her eight-year-old brother, Ethan, hiding in a shelter, are left to starve. Then Clay arrives, the handsome gunslinger who seems determined to help to make up for past sins. The problem is Clay thinks Riley is a bender-- a genderless mutation, neither male nor female. As Riley's affection for Clay grows she wonders can she trust Clay with her secret and risk her freedom?
The three embark on a journey across the scarred remains of New Mexico-- escaping the Riders who use human sacrifice to appease their Good Mother, various men scrambling for luck, and a deranged lone survivor of a plague. When Riley is shot and forced into the Breeder's hospital, she learns the horrible fate of her mother—a fate she'll share unless she can find a way out."
My Review: Now that is a Dystopian novel!! I may be new to the genre but after reading Hunger Games and Divergent, then following with The Breeders, I think this is what the genre should be! Katie French really sucks you into the book and makes you feel that absolute terror and hopelessness, not to mention determination! I am sure there are all kinds of statements and warnings about science and politics but I didn't really pay attention because I was so into the story and the characters. I love Riley, her toughness is unbelievable and I adore Ethan, he is tough in his own way. Honestly how could anyone not fall in love with Clay?! And Wow the adventure and horrible decisions they each have to make! The end leaves us kind of hanging out there wondering if there is a happy ending or if the nightmares continue. LOVED it and the way it makes my heart race!
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