What do you think?
Rate this book
Blight: A Standalone YA Environmental Thriller of Dystopian Survival and Conspiracy
When an agribusiness facility producing genetically engineered food releases a deadly toxin into the environment, seventeen-year-old Tempest Torres races to deliver the cure before time runs out.
From the author of the acclaimed American Booksellers Association’s Indies Introduce pick Salvage, which was called “Brilliant, feminist science fiction” by Stephanie Perkins, the internationally bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss. This stand-alone action-adventure story is perfect for fans of Oryx and Crake and The House of the Scorpion.
Seventeen-year-old Tempest Torres has lived on the AgraStar farm north of Atlanta, Georgia, since she was found outside its gates at the age of five. Now she’s part of the security force guarding the fence and watching for scavengers—people who would rather steal genetically engineered food from the Company than work for it. When a group of such rebels accidentally sets off an explosion in the research compound, it releases into the air a blight that kills every living thing in its path—including humans. With blight-resistant seeds in her pocket, Tempest teams up with a scavenger boy named Alder and runs for help. But when they finally arrive at AgraStar headquarters, they discover that there’s an even bigger plot behind the blight—and it’s up to them to stop it from happening again.
Inspired by current environmental issues, specifically the genetic adjustment of seeds to resist blight and the risks of not allowing natural seed diversity, this is an action-adventure story that is Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake meets Nancy Farmer’s House of the Scorpion.
From the author of the acclaimed American Booksellers Association’s Indies Introduce pick Salvage, which was called “Brilliant, feminist science fiction” by Stephanie Perkins, the internationally bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss. This stand-alone action-adventure story is perfect for fans of Oryx and Crake and The House of the Scorpion.
Seventeen-year-old Tempest Torres has lived on the AgraStar farm north of Atlanta, Georgia, since she was found outside its gates at the age of five. Now she’s part of the security force guarding the fence and watching for scavengers—people who would rather steal genetically engineered food from the Company than work for it. When a group of such rebels accidentally sets off an explosion in the research compound, it releases into the air a blight that kills every living thing in its path—including humans. With blight-resistant seeds in her pocket, Tempest teams up with a scavenger boy named Alder and runs for help. But when they finally arrive at AgraStar headquarters, they discover that there’s an even bigger plot behind the blight—and it’s up to them to stop it from happening again.
Inspired by current environmental issues, specifically the genetic adjustment of seeds to resist blight and the risks of not allowing natural seed diversity, this is an action-adventure story that is Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake meets Nancy Farmer’s House of the Scorpion.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2017
23 people are currently reading
2159 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Duncan
20 books378 followersAlexandra Duncan is a writer and librarian. Her young adult science fiction novels Salvage, and Sound, , and Blight are available through Greenwillow Books. Her short fiction has appeared in several Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy anthologies and The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. She lives with her husband and four cats in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
You can visit her online at www.alexandra-duncan.com
You can visit her online at www.alexandra-duncan.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
May 13, 2017
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
This was a YA dystopian story, about a genetically engineered blight.
Tempest was a strong character, although she didn’t catch on real quick that the people she was fighting for weren’t fighting fair, and continued to believe in AgraStar even when they were trying to kill her.
The storyline in this was about a group of rebels setting off a bomb near one of the AgraStar’s research and development sites, and accidently unleashing a blight which tore through all the crops. Tempest then found herself teaming up with one of the rebels in an effort to stay alive, and get some blight-resistant seeds to the people who might be able to help. This was an interesting story, although the pace did lag a little in areas. We also got a twist towards the end which was unexpected, but I did feel like the world building was a little lacking.
The ending to this was okay, but a lot of stuff was left unanswered, will there be a sequel to this?
6.5 out of 10
“Someone had to do it first.”
This was a YA dystopian story, about a genetically engineered blight.
Tempest was a strong character, although she didn’t catch on real quick that the people she was fighting for weren’t fighting fair, and continued to believe in AgraStar even when they were trying to kill her.
The storyline in this was about a group of rebels setting off a bomb near one of the AgraStar’s research and development sites, and accidently unleashing a blight which tore through all the crops. Tempest then found herself teaming up with one of the rebels in an effort to stay alive, and get some blight-resistant seeds to the people who might be able to help. This was an interesting story, although the pace did lag a little in areas. We also got a twist towards the end which was unexpected, but I did feel like the world building was a little lacking.
The ending to this was okay, but a lot of stuff was left unanswered, will there be a sequel to this?
6.5 out of 10
November 18, 2017
To be specific, I give Blight 4.5 stars. Listed as a "near future eco-thriller", this book does meet the thriller criteria for me and was a very quick read.
In the beginning I was unsure about a story line relying on genetically altered crops. However I was quickly drawn in by the charismatic characters and was not at all distracted by the topic of agriculture. The relationships were genuine and age appropriate for 16 year olds who had mostly been raised without parental figures. These adolescents were forced into adult situations to pay for their food and board to the company.
There was a point 75% in where the book veered into the typical dystopian scenario of locating missing relatives. This results in a complete lifestyle change, reminiscent of The Hunger Games when Katniss is first introduced to the Capital.
The conclusion was action packed, easily leading into a continuation of the story. Overall this is a great YA novel and I look forward to a sequel!
In the beginning I was unsure about a story line relying on genetically altered crops. However I was quickly drawn in by the charismatic characters and was not at all distracted by the topic of agriculture. The relationships were genuine and age appropriate for 16 year olds who had mostly been raised without parental figures. These adolescents were forced into adult situations to pay for their food and board to the company.
There was a point 75% in where the book veered into the typical dystopian scenario of locating missing relatives. This results in a complete lifestyle change, reminiscent of The Hunger Games when Katniss is first introduced to the Capital.
The conclusion was action packed, easily leading into a continuation of the story. Overall this is a great YA novel and I look forward to a sequel!
October 16, 2017
This started off promising, but then I felt like things got a little weird. I feel as though Tempest was some kind of knockoff (not the right word, but I'm going with it) of many dystopian girl characters. You know the type--feels all alone in the world, and for much of the books Tempest believed she was, and knows how to handle weaponry. I wanted to like the idea of a food/ag company taking over things (think Monsanto in real life), but then nothing was truly explained. I'm assuming this takes place in the future, but then when did AgraStar take over? How did they do it? I also found the fact that Tempest found her mom (sorry if this is a spoiler). That seemed so sudden.
July 28, 2017
I am mostly really pleased that this is a standalone. But I enjoyed the story. It has familiar elements, but puts them together in an interesting way. I think Tempest is a great protagonist; it's really easy to hope she can figure things out.
Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy, provided via Edelweiss.
Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy, provided via Edelweiss.
July 27, 2017
3.5 Stars
'Blight' is an action-packed young adult novel that focuses on the topic of genetically engineered crops and the possible impact they can have on our society. I'm not a huge reader of environmental fiction, so this was definitely a departure for me. I think the author did a great job of both explaining the core concepts surrounding the environmental topics as well as the various problems - natural and man-made - that can be caused by them. I found it to be informative and thought-provoking - it made me sit back and think about where we are with this science and how far off something like this may be for us.
I liked Tempest as the main character for the story. She was realistic with both positive qualities and faults, like everyone else. I admired her bravery, determination, and her belief in what she had to do. I also liked that she had a different backstory that we got to learn about over the course of the book. It helped to explain how she became the person she is and how she struggles with both sides of herself - the one devoted to AgraStar and the person she is inside. The story is told from Tempest's point of view, which was a great choice (in my opinion). I always prefer the first person POV because of the deeper personal connection it allows with the narrator - and this book was no exception. I enjoyed getting to know Tempest and everything that went through her mind - emotions, memories, hopes and dreams, fears, and so much more. It was a perfect choice for writing style and I don't think I would have liked the story as much if it was done in a different way. I recommend this novel for fans of environmental fiction, contemporary fiction, and science fiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
'Blight' is an action-packed young adult novel that focuses on the topic of genetically engineered crops and the possible impact they can have on our society. I'm not a huge reader of environmental fiction, so this was definitely a departure for me. I think the author did a great job of both explaining the core concepts surrounding the environmental topics as well as the various problems - natural and man-made - that can be caused by them. I found it to be informative and thought-provoking - it made me sit back and think about where we are with this science and how far off something like this may be for us.
I liked Tempest as the main character for the story. She was realistic with both positive qualities and faults, like everyone else. I admired her bravery, determination, and her belief in what she had to do. I also liked that she had a different backstory that we got to learn about over the course of the book. It helped to explain how she became the person she is and how she struggles with both sides of herself - the one devoted to AgraStar and the person she is inside. The story is told from Tempest's point of view, which was a great choice (in my opinion). I always prefer the first person POV because of the deeper personal connection it allows with the narrator - and this book was no exception. I enjoyed getting to know Tempest and everything that went through her mind - emotions, memories, hopes and dreams, fears, and so much more. It was a perfect choice for writing style and I don't think I would have liked the story as much if it was done in a different way. I recommend this novel for fans of environmental fiction, contemporary fiction, and science fiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2017
I am a fan of any work of fiction that deals with genetic modification and engineering, and with the added bonus of a engineered virus that affects all life, this book was a must-read from the moment I laid eyes on it. In the novel Blight, a near-future united states is run by major agricultural companies who decide who get their products and who don't. THe main character, a 17-year-old girl named Tempest Torres, works for the security forces of the largest company, Agrastar, generally unquestioning of their methods. Then a team of scavengers, people who refuse to sign a contract with Agrastar attack the research and development building of her compound and all hell breaks loose, including the aforementioned virus that kills all living things, including humans. The plot and action only become crazier after that, changing everything Tempest thought she knew. However, this novel only gets four stars because of a section 2/3rds into the action where nothing really happens to any of the characters and nothing moves the plot forward. The science behind Blight is very interesting to me and has a large basis in current genetic engineering techniques, primarily genetically modified foods.I recommend this novel for any who loves the Oryx and Crake trilogy by Margaret Atwood and just science in general
Want to read
June 3, 2017WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE SO FAR AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The synopsis, I almost didn't read it, but I am glad I did. August though, SERIOUSLY!!!
Also, the cover is pretty strange.... That's not a bad thing, it's just different.... I can see how it matches her other book covers though.
Also, the cover is pretty strange.... That's not a bad thing, it's just different.... I can see how it matches her other book covers though.
April 26, 2025
this was a surprisingly good book and I like the way that the author wrote because they made it seem like the character was actually a person making decisions in the way that someone would.
August 6, 2017
Blight was an excellent novel to follow up on Alexandra Duncan's debut series, showing that she is certainly a new voice in science fiction to keep an eye on.
While the story itself was somewhat generic, Duncan's execution of the premise was very good. The pacing is excellently done, making it difficult to put it down, and it's smooth enough that you can read it in one sitting without getting bored. Character development is another thing that is well done, just as I remember from Salvage. Tempest is a character that is easy to like, despite some of her choices being a bit questionable. I did also like that there's not really a romance, as it would have seemed inappropriate considering what happens at the start of the novel (read and find out haha).
I actually might have leaned towards giving the novel a higher rating, except that the ending was much too open. Many, many questions were left unanswered, and looking at Goodreads, it seems that the novel is supposedly a standalone. If this were part of a series, that ending may be understandable, but as it is, I am certainly not satisfied with that ending. The other more minor point was that the world building was perhaps a little underdeveloped.
All in all, a well rounded novel from a talented science fiction writer. I'll be interested in seeing what else she comes up with, although I would certainly prefer it if her endings became more conclusive.
Ratings
Overall: 8/10
Plot: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
World Building: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 2/5
While the story itself was somewhat generic, Duncan's execution of the premise was very good. The pacing is excellently done, making it difficult to put it down, and it's smooth enough that you can read it in one sitting without getting bored. Character development is another thing that is well done, just as I remember from Salvage. Tempest is a character that is easy to like, despite some of her choices being a bit questionable. I did also like that there's not really a romance, as it would have seemed inappropriate considering what happens at the start of the novel (read and find out haha).
I actually might have leaned towards giving the novel a higher rating, except that the ending was much too open. Many, many questions were left unanswered, and looking at Goodreads, it seems that the novel is supposedly a standalone. If this were part of a series, that ending may be understandable, but as it is, I am certainly not satisfied with that ending. The other more minor point was that the world building was perhaps a little underdeveloped.
All in all, a well rounded novel from a talented science fiction writer. I'll be interested in seeing what else she comes up with, although I would certainly prefer it if her endings became more conclusive.
Ratings
Overall: 8/10
Plot: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
World Building: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 2/5
March 17, 2025
Farmers practically play the Hunger Games.
August 1, 2017
"Getting us back to the essentials of life. Depending on the God-made, not the manmade.”
Some of my favorite books are post-apocalyptic and or dystopian. This book definitely fits onto my preferred reading list.
Tempest Torres works as security personnel at an outlying AgraStar facility. It is a fenced huge facility that grows genetically modified corn and houses an ethanol plant and an R&D building.
Tempest wasn't always part of this facility. She was found at 5 years old outside the fence with her dead father and taken in and raised there.
When she is 17 years old, her whole life turns topsy turvy and she has to make difficult choices about who and what she's going to believe in.
I enjoyed this cautionary tale that points to possibilities in the future, some very unpleasant. The author handled the characters, the setting, and the storyline well. There were some sections I would have liked the author to expand. I'm not sure whether this is a standalone or the first in a series. There isn't a cliffhanger ending (thank goodness) and it stands fine on its own merits but I could see a decent series taking off from this book.
I received this book from Greenwillow Books through Edelweiss in exchange for my unbiased review.
Some of my favorite books are post-apocalyptic and or dystopian. This book definitely fits onto my preferred reading list.
Tempest Torres works as security personnel at an outlying AgraStar facility. It is a fenced huge facility that grows genetically modified corn and houses an ethanol plant and an R&D building.
Tempest wasn't always part of this facility. She was found at 5 years old outside the fence with her dead father and taken in and raised there.
When she is 17 years old, her whole life turns topsy turvy and she has to make difficult choices about who and what she's going to believe in.
I enjoyed this cautionary tale that points to possibilities in the future, some very unpleasant. The author handled the characters, the setting, and the storyline well. There were some sections I would have liked the author to expand. I'm not sure whether this is a standalone or the first in a series. There isn't a cliffhanger ending (thank goodness) and it stands fine on its own merits but I could see a decent series taking off from this book.
I received this book from Greenwillow Books through Edelweiss in exchange for my unbiased review.
November 11, 2019
Blight by Alexandra Duncan is a refreshing take on the popular dystopian genre. The novel is an eco-driven thriller about a not too distant future in which agricultural conglomerates rule the world. One of the most well known is AgraStar; a company which holds much esteem, but even more chilling secrets.
Our protagonist is a teenaged girl named Tempest, who serves as a guard for AgraStar. She is driven, motivated, and quite layered. Her internal struggle throughout the story helps her to grow as a character. The supporting characters are just as rich in personality, and they all have unique voices.
The story is fast-paced, and action packed. The setting is vivid, daunting, and a character all on its own. The characters are well-rounded, and realistic. All in all I found very little to complain about, although I felt that the ending was a bit rushed for my liking (which is why I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5).
I would highly recommend this novel to those who have an interest in the dystopian genre. The book is rich with representation (the protagonist being a woman of colour), startling twists, and beautiful narration.
Our protagonist is a teenaged girl named Tempest, who serves as a guard for AgraStar. She is driven, motivated, and quite layered. Her internal struggle throughout the story helps her to grow as a character. The supporting characters are just as rich in personality, and they all have unique voices.
The story is fast-paced, and action packed. The setting is vivid, daunting, and a character all on its own. The characters are well-rounded, and realistic. All in all I found very little to complain about, although I felt that the ending was a bit rushed for my liking (which is why I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5).
I would highly recommend this novel to those who have an interest in the dystopian genre. The book is rich with representation (the protagonist being a woman of colour), startling twists, and beautiful narration.
May 18, 2017
*I received advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Edelweiss and HarperCollins*
This book is set in the future and wow it was a different type of dystopia than I was used to. This book is about Tempest Torres and how she has been living on AgraStar Farm since she was 5. Tempest's world isn't as perfect as it would seem because there is a blight out right now that is killing all of her crops. Tempest is apart of a security force that is guarding the fence that watches for scavengers. Scavengers are people who steal genetically engineered food from AgraStar. A group of rebels set off an explosion that releases a blight into the air which kills everything in its path. Tempest is left behind in the woods from the rebels and has to find a way to get back to AgraStar to see what is left. Alder-a rebel comes back because he believes she deserves a quick death, but they end up teaming up together to save what may be the future of their people. I found this book to be very fast paced from the first chapter. I loved the setting, but it was confusing at points. I'm a tad confused in why they left the ending the way they did with it only being a 'standalone'. I feel it wasn't as complete as it should have been.
The Bad
I felt this book wasn't as complete as I wanted it to be and there were still major parts that needed to be filled out.
The Good
I loved how fast-paced this book was from the very first chapter and there was always something going on. I loved how well developed the characters were and it made the book even more developed. Tempest had a strong and her attitude was all about saving her company. The amount of loyalty she has towards AgraStar makes her question everything she comes across and why there is such a thing a rebel. She doesn't understand the concept of them trying to live on their own.
Overall
I loved this book, but I felt it was missing crucial elements which are why I didn't give it the full 5 stars. If there was a 2nd book coming out then this would definitely make it into the 5-star category. I was extremely impressed with this author's writing and I will definitely be reading more of her books because they are well-written. I'm lucky to have gotten the chance to read this novel and it was most definitely worth the read.
This book is set in the future and wow it was a different type of dystopia than I was used to. This book is about Tempest Torres and how she has been living on AgraStar Farm since she was 5. Tempest's world isn't as perfect as it would seem because there is a blight out right now that is killing all of her crops. Tempest is apart of a security force that is guarding the fence that watches for scavengers. Scavengers are people who steal genetically engineered food from AgraStar. A group of rebels set off an explosion that releases a blight into the air which kills everything in its path. Tempest is left behind in the woods from the rebels and has to find a way to get back to AgraStar to see what is left. Alder-a rebel comes back because he believes she deserves a quick death, but they end up teaming up together to save what may be the future of their people. I found this book to be very fast paced from the first chapter. I loved the setting, but it was confusing at points. I'm a tad confused in why they left the ending the way they did with it only being a 'standalone'. I feel it wasn't as complete as it should have been.
The Bad
I felt this book wasn't as complete as I wanted it to be and there were still major parts that needed to be filled out.
The Good
I loved how fast-paced this book was from the very first chapter and there was always something going on. I loved how well developed the characters were and it made the book even more developed. Tempest had a strong and her attitude was all about saving her company. The amount of loyalty she has towards AgraStar makes her question everything she comes across and why there is such a thing a rebel. She doesn't understand the concept of them trying to live on their own.
Overall
I loved this book, but I felt it was missing crucial elements which are why I didn't give it the full 5 stars. If there was a 2nd book coming out then this would definitely make it into the 5-star category. I was extremely impressed with this author's writing and I will definitely be reading more of her books because they are well-written. I'm lucky to have gotten the chance to read this novel and it was most definitely worth the read.
March 17, 2017
Three for three for Alexandra Duncan! Blight is completely different from her first two books, but just as compellingly readable.
Tempest Torres is about as different a heroine from Ava (of Salvage) as can be, but they share the same sort of arc. Both begin in an enclosed, strict society where following the rules and obeying authority is mandatory, and it's difficult to even imagine rebellion because it's never even occurred to them that they could. Then they get thrust out into the larger world, exposed to a cacophony of new ideas and new people and new ways to see, and have to process. And then--well, then they have to decide precisely who they want to be.
Interestingly, the blight of the title, while an actual literal blight that's killing the giant farms' crops (along with all other life it finds), is not the sole plot thread. Tempest and Alder's flight away from the spread of the blight takes up a main part of the book, but nothing ends when they get to Atlanta, or when Tempest passes along the resistant seeds. This is not an average "And now we've saved the world and everything will be better now, yay!"closure-ending. The cover copy says this book is a stand-alone, but I would happily read more.
Other notes: There's little to no romance, and definitely no sign of one between Tempest and Alder. They have a wary, fire-forged sort of friendship at the best of times. Tempest is not white! Neither of her parents are white! Ellison and Eli are not white! There's never really any explanation of how the giant farms rose to power and to what extent civilization is reduced to the farms and the wealthy science elite and the jackers and the few and scattered free, but that works for this story, because Tempest does not have time to listen to or give a history lesson.
To sum up, add it to your dystopia shelf! Compare and contrast Katniss and Tempest (I think they'd be friends)! Read up on genetically-modified plants and the pros and cons thereof!
Thank you again to Goodreads and to Alexandra Duncan for the ARC.
Tempest Torres is about as different a heroine from Ava (of Salvage) as can be, but they share the same sort of arc. Both begin in an enclosed, strict society where following the rules and obeying authority is mandatory, and it's difficult to even imagine rebellion because it's never even occurred to them that they could. Then they get thrust out into the larger world, exposed to a cacophony of new ideas and new people and new ways to see, and have to process. And then--well, then they have to decide precisely who they want to be.
Interestingly, the blight of the title, while an actual literal blight that's killing the giant farms' crops (along with all other life it finds), is not the sole plot thread. Tempest and Alder's flight away from the spread of the blight takes up a main part of the book, but nothing ends when they get to Atlanta, or when Tempest passes along the resistant seeds. This is not an average "And now we've saved the world and everything will be better now, yay!"closure-ending. The cover copy says this book is a stand-alone, but I would happily read more.
Other notes: There's little to no romance, and definitely no sign of one between Tempest and Alder. They have a wary, fire-forged sort of friendship at the best of times. Tempest is not white! Neither of her parents are white! Ellison and Eli are not white! There's never really any explanation of how the giant farms rose to power and to what extent civilization is reduced to the farms and the wealthy science elite and the jackers and the few and scattered free, but that works for this story, because Tempest does not have time to listen to or give a history lesson.
To sum up, add it to your dystopia shelf! Compare and contrast Katniss and Tempest (I think they'd be friends)! Read up on genetically-modified plants and the pros and cons thereof!
Thank you again to Goodreads and to Alexandra Duncan for the ARC.
February 15, 2021
Well well well. I dont know how to start with this review... It waa good, not amazing though. There were a lot of questions that I had that were unanswered. First half was a little bit slow not gonna lie, but second half was really good. Really liked the world and society part of it. Not much to say about the characters. They're not that fleshed out besides the main character' and even her needed to be more developed. That's all i have to say bout this book. Overall it was fine.
That's it ok bye.
That's it ok bye.
July 6, 2018
This is another dystopian but not quite up to what I was hoping. I couldn't quite believe the relationship between Tempest and Alder. It was also quite horrifying to think about genetically modified food ... and people. I hope that is not our future.
August 4, 2017
BLIGHT, which is described as a “near-future eco thriller” follows Tempest Torres, a headstrong security officer for an agricultural conglomerate organization known as AgraStar. In a time when a few large corporations control the growth of food, Tempest must fight for her morals, position, and life.
Tempest Torres lived up to her name, fighting enemies, protecting her friends, and doing what she thought was right. In a lot of ways, she was misguided by her upbringing, but she still was able to move forward and be her own person. At the age of five, AgraStar found her and her father, “shirks,” who scavenged the land for food without being a part of any official organization. AgraStar killed her father and took her in, raising her, and eventually given the option of how she wanted to “repay” her debt to them. Having chosen to be a part of the security force, she regularly went on missions for AgraStar that she had even begun to believe in.
At the beginning of BLIGHT, I thought that the story was going to follow Tempest living at the AgraStar facility, maybe doing some interesting security force missions and finding a guy she liked. I turned out to be very, very wrong. While Tempest is out on a mission, she has a run in with a group of scavengers and witnesses a blight that kills all of the crops for miles, including at the facility where she lived. This was a shock to the plot because this world seemed to rely on the survival of those crops. With the book taking a different turn than I had initially expected, I was pleasantly surprised by the direction it took. This eerie futuristic world engrossed me, and it contains many parallels to what today’s Earth could eventually develop into.
BLIGHT was action-packed the whole way, there was not much world building, and it was comfortable to follow. It is sort of science fiction for readers who aren’t used to science fiction. I enjoyed the action in this novel, and it has a whirlwind of a plot. I think Duncan did an excellent job crafting an intriguing world that readers can immerse themselves in. Tempest and all of the characters that she runs into along the way add more and more complication to the story.
I recommend BLIGHT to readers looking to take a dip in YA science fiction or who are looking for a shakeup from their usual read. Tempest is sure to surprise you and frustrate you along the way, and you will have fun reading BLIGHT.
Tempest Torres lived up to her name, fighting enemies, protecting her friends, and doing what she thought was right. In a lot of ways, she was misguided by her upbringing, but she still was able to move forward and be her own person. At the age of five, AgraStar found her and her father, “shirks,” who scavenged the land for food without being a part of any official organization. AgraStar killed her father and took her in, raising her, and eventually given the option of how she wanted to “repay” her debt to them. Having chosen to be a part of the security force, she regularly went on missions for AgraStar that she had even begun to believe in.
At the beginning of BLIGHT, I thought that the story was going to follow Tempest living at the AgraStar facility, maybe doing some interesting security force missions and finding a guy she liked. I turned out to be very, very wrong. While Tempest is out on a mission, she has a run in with a group of scavengers and witnesses a blight that kills all of the crops for miles, including at the facility where she lived. This was a shock to the plot because this world seemed to rely on the survival of those crops. With the book taking a different turn than I had initially expected, I was pleasantly surprised by the direction it took. This eerie futuristic world engrossed me, and it contains many parallels to what today’s Earth could eventually develop into.
BLIGHT was action-packed the whole way, there was not much world building, and it was comfortable to follow. It is sort of science fiction for readers who aren’t used to science fiction. I enjoyed the action in this novel, and it has a whirlwind of a plot. I think Duncan did an excellent job crafting an intriguing world that readers can immerse themselves in. Tempest and all of the characters that she runs into along the way add more and more complication to the story.
I recommend BLIGHT to readers looking to take a dip in YA science fiction or who are looking for a shakeup from their usual read. Tempest is sure to surprise you and frustrate you along the way, and you will have fun reading BLIGHT.
February 17, 2017
So bummed. I was really excited for this book but it was just too predictable. And there was no world building. Sigh.
December 25, 2017
I thought it was a stand-alone. It wasn’t, or maybe it was and I am disappointed in how it ended, I don’t think I want to find out which one it is...
July 25, 2017
Seventeen-year-old Tempest Torres has lived on the AgraStar farm north of Atlanta, Georgia, since she was found outside its gates at the age of five. Now she's part of the security force guarding the fence and watching for scavengers—people who would rather steal genetically engineered food from the Company than work for it. When a group of such rebels accidentally sets off an explosion in the research compound, it releases into the air a blight that kills every living thing in its path—including humans. With blight-resistant seeds in her pocket, Tempest teams up with a scavenger boy named Alder and runs for help. But when they finally arrive at AgraStar headquarters, they discover that there's an even bigger plot behind the blight—and it's up to them to stop it from happening again.
Blight is a race against time, away from sickness and death and towards a possible truth, set in a future where seeds and crops are genetically engineered. Where corporations are in control of what we grow and what we eat.
All Tempest knows is being a guard at an AgraStar farm. Picked up as a child, working off the debt she accrued as the compound's staff raised her, she spends shifts looking through a rifle scope. Watching for scavengers hoping to steal from the rows and rows of corn AgraStar grows. Uses for food and fuel. Controls. She knows what she's been taught, what she's seen. That the company needs them to protect the corn, that the seeds are genetically modified to produce the best crop possible. She's tough and practical, believes in the company. Believes that they're protecting the corn from those who don't want to work to grow it. Until the attack and the explosion. Until she sees everything from the other side. Until she catches hold of AgraStar's secrets.
This is one of those books that imagines a future, takes a piece of current news and expands on it, imagines if it takes over, slightly similar to Mindy McGinnis' Not a Drop to Drink and its commentary on access to fresh water. Here, seeds are engineered and crops are kept behind fences. Protected by guards with rifles. Because the company will stop at nothing to ensure that their crops survive, that society owes them for keeping them supplied with food and fuel. It's fast-paced and tense, because lives are on the line. Tempest and Alder are on the run, trying to stay alive, to outrun the blight and the scavengers on their heels, but are they really headed for the right place? I would recommend this to those interested in near-future dystopian stories, books like Not a Drop to Drink or Megan Crewe's The Way We Fall.
(I downloaded an e-galley of this title from HarperCollins through Edelweiss.)
Blight is a race against time, away from sickness and death and towards a possible truth, set in a future where seeds and crops are genetically engineered. Where corporations are in control of what we grow and what we eat.
All Tempest knows is being a guard at an AgraStar farm. Picked up as a child, working off the debt she accrued as the compound's staff raised her, she spends shifts looking through a rifle scope. Watching for scavengers hoping to steal from the rows and rows of corn AgraStar grows. Uses for food and fuel. Controls. She knows what she's been taught, what she's seen. That the company needs them to protect the corn, that the seeds are genetically modified to produce the best crop possible. She's tough and practical, believes in the company. Believes that they're protecting the corn from those who don't want to work to grow it. Until the attack and the explosion. Until she sees everything from the other side. Until she catches hold of AgraStar's secrets.
This is one of those books that imagines a future, takes a piece of current news and expands on it, imagines if it takes over, slightly similar to Mindy McGinnis' Not a Drop to Drink and its commentary on access to fresh water. Here, seeds are engineered and crops are kept behind fences. Protected by guards with rifles. Because the company will stop at nothing to ensure that their crops survive, that society owes them for keeping them supplied with food and fuel. It's fast-paced and tense, because lives are on the line. Tempest and Alder are on the run, trying to stay alive, to outrun the blight and the scavengers on their heels, but are they really headed for the right place? I would recommend this to those interested in near-future dystopian stories, books like Not a Drop to Drink or Megan Crewe's The Way We Fall.
(I downloaded an e-galley of this title from HarperCollins through Edelweiss.)
August 2, 2017
Blight by Alexandra Duncan is the first book in her new YA dystopian series. We have not heard if this book will be a series, but having completed the book, and read the ending, I do suspect there will be more to come.
Tempest Torres, our young heroine, lives on AgraStar, a research and development area that creates genetically engineered food. Tempest, who was left at the gate when she was 5, is now 17 and a member of the security forces for Agrastar. When scavengers try to break into the compound to steal food, Tempest shoots one of them to scare them off. She joins one of the older groups for a short trip, excited to be included. While on the expedition, an explosion takes place that destroys the compound, with both people and crops destroyed. When her team fights off the attackers, she is captured, as the rest of her team is killed. Because she killed one of the scavengers, they mark her for death. Tempest will escape, and as she comes across different groups besides the AgraStar, and scavengers, she will see a different world that she was not prepared for.
Alder, one of the scavengers, who wanted to kill Tempest, will join with her find a way to survive. They, despite their differences, they will become friends, and help each other. Tempest does not believe Alder’s stories about AgraStar being bad, and she maintains her loyalty, but at the same time will protect Alder, since he saved her life. As the Blight continues to move toward other areas, Tempest is determined to bring to the main headquarters of AgraStar the seeds that will stop the destruction.
When she is rescued, Tempest will meet the woman who claims she is her mother; it seems her father stole her when she was 5, and the mother grieved over her loss. She will meet her younger sister, who resembles her, as well as a young man, whom also looks like the boy she had a crush on back home. Tempest’s mother is a high ranking scientist, which puts Tempest on higher echelon ; but she is worried about Alder, and wants to save him. What follows is at first an exciting adventure, which will become a interesting discovery with a few twists that will change everything. Tempest was a very good heroine, who must decide what is real and where does she belong. As I said earlier, the ending is not a cliffhanger, but does leave things open. I know that I for one want to know what happens next. This was a very good YA dystopian storyline, very well written by Alexandra Duncan.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
Tempest Torres, our young heroine, lives on AgraStar, a research and development area that creates genetically engineered food. Tempest, who was left at the gate when she was 5, is now 17 and a member of the security forces for Agrastar. When scavengers try to break into the compound to steal food, Tempest shoots one of them to scare them off. She joins one of the older groups for a short trip, excited to be included. While on the expedition, an explosion takes place that destroys the compound, with both people and crops destroyed. When her team fights off the attackers, she is captured, as the rest of her team is killed. Because she killed one of the scavengers, they mark her for death. Tempest will escape, and as she comes across different groups besides the AgraStar, and scavengers, she will see a different world that she was not prepared for.
Alder, one of the scavengers, who wanted to kill Tempest, will join with her find a way to survive. They, despite their differences, they will become friends, and help each other. Tempest does not believe Alder’s stories about AgraStar being bad, and she maintains her loyalty, but at the same time will protect Alder, since he saved her life. As the Blight continues to move toward other areas, Tempest is determined to bring to the main headquarters of AgraStar the seeds that will stop the destruction.
When she is rescued, Tempest will meet the woman who claims she is her mother; it seems her father stole her when she was 5, and the mother grieved over her loss. She will meet her younger sister, who resembles her, as well as a young man, whom also looks like the boy she had a crush on back home. Tempest’s mother is a high ranking scientist, which puts Tempest on higher echelon ; but she is worried about Alder, and wants to save him. What follows is at first an exciting adventure, which will become a interesting discovery with a few twists that will change everything. Tempest was a very good heroine, who must decide what is real and where does she belong. As I said earlier, the ending is not a cliffhanger, but does leave things open. I know that I for one want to know what happens next. This was a very good YA dystopian storyline, very well written by Alexandra Duncan.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
September 2, 2017
BLIGHT by Alexandra Duncan is the next young adult dystopian novel that will set your world on fire. Torrest Tempest has grown up virtually a slave to AgraStar, one of the conglomerate agriculture companies running the country. AgraStar is known for crushing any competitors, even those outside of AgraStar’s walls who are merely growing food for themselves. The message is clear: Join AgraStar or suffer. Tempest has bought into AgraStar’s message, praising them for saving her at a young age and giving her a place to live. One day, in the midst of a mission gone wrong, a deadly toxin is released in the air, killing the plants and everyone around her. Tempest gets away, but she’s captured by scavengers, and everything she has come to accept about her world is brought into question.
The plot of this novel is very exciting and chock-full of action. The book begins with Tempest in the middle of a sniping shift and takes off from there. There is never a moment where the story slows or drags, but instead it is constantly picking up momentum. Despite adhering to the conventions of the genre, there are two big twists towards the end that are truly shocking. It is a page-turner of a book.
The only minor critique I have is how long it takes Tempest to realize the truth of AgraStar. She sees firsthand the atrocities they commit, not only with the blight, but also with her father. Clearly, she has been brainwashed, growing up on AgraStar’s compound and being fed their propaganda. However, she is also smart and resourceful, which is why I think she should have recognized the truth of the situation earlier on, even if she didn’t want to admit it out loud to Alder.
Alder is one of my favorite characters in the story. He is such an unusual ally, but he is innately likeable. I love the relationship he establishes with Tempest. It may not be friendship exactly, but they do take care of one another. Tempest is an absolute underdog and the whole I time I couldn’t help but root for her. I would love to see what these two could get up to in a sequel. Hopefully, there will be a whole series to follow as there is so much left to explore in this world, including what will happen to Eli, Isabel, Orelia, and the rest of the scavengers.
Overall, BLIGHT is an incredible and exhilarating novel that left me wondering if society could truly end up on this path of self-destruction. Duncan is a fabulous novelist and BLIGHT is certainly a book to be read.
Review originally posted on YA Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...
The plot of this novel is very exciting and chock-full of action. The book begins with Tempest in the middle of a sniping shift and takes off from there. There is never a moment where the story slows or drags, but instead it is constantly picking up momentum. Despite adhering to the conventions of the genre, there are two big twists towards the end that are truly shocking. It is a page-turner of a book.
The only minor critique I have is how long it takes Tempest to realize the truth of AgraStar. She sees firsthand the atrocities they commit, not only with the blight, but also with her father. Clearly, she has been brainwashed, growing up on AgraStar’s compound and being fed their propaganda. However, she is also smart and resourceful, which is why I think she should have recognized the truth of the situation earlier on, even if she didn’t want to admit it out loud to Alder.
Alder is one of my favorite characters in the story. He is such an unusual ally, but he is innately likeable. I love the relationship he establishes with Tempest. It may not be friendship exactly, but they do take care of one another. Tempest is an absolute underdog and the whole I time I couldn’t help but root for her. I would love to see what these two could get up to in a sequel. Hopefully, there will be a whole series to follow as there is so much left to explore in this world, including what will happen to Eli, Isabel, Orelia, and the rest of the scavengers.
Overall, BLIGHT is an incredible and exhilarating novel that left me wondering if society could truly end up on this path of self-destruction. Duncan is a fabulous novelist and BLIGHT is certainly a book to be read.
Review originally posted on YA Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...
December 14, 2018
"The ash lands on the bright spear-like leaves of the corn, and immediately, the leaves shrivel and wither. The early corn blackens in its husks and drops to the wet ground. Miles of corn a whole seasons worth of work, falls to rot in the matter of seconds". This quote from the book highlights my favorite part of this which is the setting. Duncan's Blight fascinated me with the world it built and the characters over the course of the book.
To start it off I thought the plot was fairly good. Which is that Tempest has these blight resistant seeds and she goes on a entire journey to deliver them back to Agrastar but the plot takes many twists. I liked how the book progresses and the ending act in particular is very good. I thought the middle was a little dragged on but it would always pick up with a sudden twist. Next the characters, I thought the book could have used a couple of more developed characters but the 2 main characters that we follow through the book I thought were good and had interesting personalities. My favorite part was the setting, this is because it reminds me of a dystopia post apocalyptic setting which I loved. The main setting is in America after corporations have taken control of all the food because of a blight spreading and destroying the crops and the only people who can grow food are the big companies. To me the setting feels like it could be a future where companies control all the food which gives the book more depth to me.
This book in my opinion connects best to the world we live in today. With companies only getting bigger and bigger if they start to raise prices on food who would stop them? I think the book could be a clear future for our society today and the power companies like apple and amazon have on society. All it could take is a sudden loss of food and people could go starving because they don't make enough money to buy the food and I think this book shows this idea very well with its setting and plot.
Duncan in my opinion had a very good writing style with this novel. There were only a couple of jokes in this novel and I find that very fitting was it wouldn’t be very appropriate for the characters to crack jokes at each other during the dire situation they were in. I liked the serious tone in this book and when it is silly it is at very good times which add depth to the characters. Some things I didn’t like about this book was that I felt Alder and Tempest were the only characters that were really fleshed out. I would’ve like to seen some other characters get more of a story and see more of there personality’s. I liked the relationship between Tempest and Alder and how it really changes throughout the book. I also like how Tempest’s opinion on her company changes over the book and she forms her own opinion instead of being a mindless drone that thinks what Agrastar says is always right.Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a sci fi adventure type story.
To start it off I thought the plot was fairly good. Which is that Tempest has these blight resistant seeds and she goes on a entire journey to deliver them back to Agrastar but the plot takes many twists. I liked how the book progresses and the ending act in particular is very good. I thought the middle was a little dragged on but it would always pick up with a sudden twist. Next the characters, I thought the book could have used a couple of more developed characters but the 2 main characters that we follow through the book I thought were good and had interesting personalities. My favorite part was the setting, this is because it reminds me of a dystopia post apocalyptic setting which I loved. The main setting is in America after corporations have taken control of all the food because of a blight spreading and destroying the crops and the only people who can grow food are the big companies. To me the setting feels like it could be a future where companies control all the food which gives the book more depth to me.
This book in my opinion connects best to the world we live in today. With companies only getting bigger and bigger if they start to raise prices on food who would stop them? I think the book could be a clear future for our society today and the power companies like apple and amazon have on society. All it could take is a sudden loss of food and people could go starving because they don't make enough money to buy the food and I think this book shows this idea very well with its setting and plot.
Duncan in my opinion had a very good writing style with this novel. There were only a couple of jokes in this novel and I find that very fitting was it wouldn’t be very appropriate for the characters to crack jokes at each other during the dire situation they were in. I liked the serious tone in this book and when it is silly it is at very good times which add depth to the characters. Some things I didn’t like about this book was that I felt Alder and Tempest were the only characters that were really fleshed out. I would’ve like to seen some other characters get more of a story and see more of there personality’s. I liked the relationship between Tempest and Alder and how it really changes throughout the book. I also like how Tempest’s opinion on her company changes over the book and she forms her own opinion instead of being a mindless drone that thinks what Agrastar says is always right.Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a sci fi adventure type story.
March 19, 2019
It was futuristic, sci-fi, dystopian, an almost love story, a thriller and not enough "love" story all wrapped up in a compact bundle!
To the very end I was worriedly looking at how many pages were left along myself if it could possibly end right or is this a trilogy.
To be perfectly honest. I looked the book. However, the ending was cheated! Some seriesi think this could have ended at the first book. This may not have had enough juice to be trilogy, but it DEFINITELY could have been two books!
What happens to her mother? Get sister? Does Eli face a disciplinary board, does he ever find out there is a bigger, more sinister picture? Do Tempest and Alder make it to the free settlement? Do they make it to the mountain, they don't have money and the gas will ONLY get them so far? Does her mother try to track her? How does she deal with the grief of losing her a second time? What the deuce was the Latebra Congress???? The author NEVER said ! Did they receive info Tempest leaked to them? Is the blight still spreading? And how far does it go? What eventually stops it? Does it reach Atlanta, the rest of the world? What about that head of security guy Kurich*.... He does seem like a dog with a bone type of guy and if he had been allowed to question or debrief Tempest, things might have been different.. would he let that go? Will Dr. Salcedo come under fire? Will Eli be considered an accomplice? My point being, there are TOO many loose ends!! And there are more questions left unanswered.
At the end of a book we might be left to assume that the male and female protagonists lived happily ever after.. At least I do. But this is ridiculous! This is just A LOT of things not fleshed out!
Enough for a whole book! Now if there is more and I didn't realize....lol. my bad!
To the very end I was worriedly looking at how many pages were left along myself if it could possibly end right or is this a trilogy.
To be perfectly honest. I looked the book. However, the ending was cheated! Some seriesi think this could have ended at the first book. This may not have had enough juice to be trilogy, but it DEFINITELY could have been two books!
What happens to her mother? Get sister? Does Eli face a disciplinary board, does he ever find out there is a bigger, more sinister picture? Do Tempest and Alder make it to the free settlement? Do they make it to the mountain, they don't have money and the gas will ONLY get them so far? Does her mother try to track her? How does she deal with the grief of losing her a second time? What the deuce was the Latebra Congress???? The author NEVER said ! Did they receive info Tempest leaked to them? Is the blight still spreading? And how far does it go? What eventually stops it? Does it reach Atlanta, the rest of the world? What about that head of security guy Kurich*.... He does seem like a dog with a bone type of guy and if he had been allowed to question or debrief Tempest, things might have been different.. would he let that go? Will Dr. Salcedo come under fire? Will Eli be considered an accomplice? My point being, there are TOO many loose ends!! And there are more questions left unanswered.
At the end of a book we might be left to assume that the male and female protagonists lived happily ever after.. At least I do. But this is ridiculous! This is just A LOT of things not fleshed out!
Enough for a whole book! Now if there is more and I didn't realize....lol. my bad!
August 1, 2017
I was pleasantly surprised by how absorbed I became while reading Blight.
We are introduced to a dystopian world controlled by big corporations. Yes, it is a somewhat familiar trope, but like I said, it was good. Tempest is our main character. She lives on a giant corn farm in Georgia. It is run by AgraStar. She was taken in and raised by the corporation after she was orphaned. She now works as a security officer for them. Basically, she's an indentured servant. But she's happy.
Until...things go wrong on a security assignment, and they end up being attacked by scavengers - people who steal rather than work for the company. And, as this attack is happening a bad explosion occurs at the research facility for AgraStar. Very quickly all of the vegetation around them is dead. And the blight continues to spread. Tempest finds herself on the run with an unlikely companion - one of the scavengers named Alder. She and Alder keep on the run to avoid the Blight. But they also must avoid AgriStar and most importantly, the gangs that will capture and kill both of them, no matter what their beliefs.
Of course, Tempest gets introduced to the beliefs of the scavengers and begins to question everything she has believed for her entire life. When she finally does reach safety -- she's not so sure she is safe.
As you can probably tell, there is a multitude of moral dilemmas touched upon in Blight. And it's also a suspenseful adventure story with characters that you might become attached to. I think my teens will enjoy this.
We are introduced to a dystopian world controlled by big corporations. Yes, it is a somewhat familiar trope, but like I said, it was good. Tempest is our main character. She lives on a giant corn farm in Georgia. It is run by AgraStar. She was taken in and raised by the corporation after she was orphaned. She now works as a security officer for them. Basically, she's an indentured servant. But she's happy.
Until...things go wrong on a security assignment, and they end up being attacked by scavengers - people who steal rather than work for the company. And, as this attack is happening a bad explosion occurs at the research facility for AgraStar. Very quickly all of the vegetation around them is dead. And the blight continues to spread. Tempest finds herself on the run with an unlikely companion - one of the scavengers named Alder. She and Alder keep on the run to avoid the Blight. But they also must avoid AgriStar and most importantly, the gangs that will capture and kill both of them, no matter what their beliefs.
Of course, Tempest gets introduced to the beliefs of the scavengers and begins to question everything she has believed for her entire life. When she finally does reach safety -- she's not so sure she is safe.
As you can probably tell, there is a multitude of moral dilemmas touched upon in Blight. And it's also a suspenseful adventure story with characters that you might become attached to. I think my teens will enjoy this.
August 31, 2017
I thought I would love this more. As it was, I did like it, and there were parts that really drew me in, but overall I just didn't have that holycrapthisisawesome moment I did in Salvage. Which makes me kinda sad. But there's still some awesome bits:
- AgraCorp is SO COOL. In a totalitarian, never wanting to get involved with them kinda way. They are such a compelling, dynamic threat, and I wanted to delve deeper into their gritty agriculture, army world. Which was why I was a bit frustrated to detour into the shiny, glitzy bits of the world.
- I liked the main characters, their utter differences in upbringing and personality.
- No romance, if you're into that thing!!!
- There's so much to this world that works, from the soldiers to the farming to the blight which was quite frankly horrifying (but I REALLY REALLY wish we'd seen more of that in the second half because it just kinda ... vanished.)
- There's so many secrets in this, especially revolving around Tempest's family, and those actually managed to shock me. I'd JUST started to suspect when the huge plot twist was thrown down but I only saw a tiny part of it coming not the Giant Shock. This worked so well.
-The first half was SO GOOD, the second half ... meh. I lost a bit of interest, to be honest, and there's so many bits of the world I wanted to explore that I was disappointed when the book just didn't go there
-I wanted a big showdown with AgraCorp in the end, that final battle between the old Tempest and the new, but instead it was a fight with a gang which ... eh, it was cool but I still wanted her to fight AgraCorp.
Overall: a really unique, interesting take on the future.
- AgraCorp is SO COOL. In a totalitarian, never wanting to get involved with them kinda way. They are such a compelling, dynamic threat, and I wanted to delve deeper into their gritty agriculture, army world. Which was why I was a bit frustrated to detour into the shiny, glitzy bits of the world.
- I liked the main characters, their utter differences in upbringing and personality.
- No romance, if you're into that thing!!!
- There's so much to this world that works, from the soldiers to the farming to the blight which was quite frankly horrifying (but I REALLY REALLY wish we'd seen more of that in the second half because it just kinda ... vanished.)
- There's so many secrets in this, especially revolving around Tempest's family, and those actually managed to shock me. I'd JUST started to suspect when the huge plot twist was thrown down but I only saw a tiny part of it coming not the Giant Shock. This worked so well.
-The first half was SO GOOD, the second half ... meh. I lost a bit of interest, to be honest, and there's so many bits of the world I wanted to explore that I was disappointed when the book just didn't go there
-I wanted a big showdown with AgraCorp in the end, that final battle between the old Tempest and the new, but instead it was a fight with a gang which ... eh, it was cool but I still wanted her to fight AgraCorp.
Overall: a really unique, interesting take on the future.
January 5, 2023
The premise was very intriguing to me, but I think the actual writing was a miss. As I was nearing the end, I felt like the book was only halfway through Act 2, like there was a whole other 1/3 of the book missing. But once I finished, I realized that it did feel like a complete story.
It was less subtle than I usually prefer books to be, the political, economic, and environmental commentary were very on the nose, but that might be perfect for other people!
*Spoiler*
The only thing I really didn't feel satisfied with was the relationships. It felt like Duncan was setting Alder and Tempest up to have a romance, only to switch at the end and say that they were only allies. I'm not against them being allies, it just surprised me.
The other thing that felt a little off was how connected Tempest was to people she barely knew. If I understand correctly, she didn't know Ellison or the rest of the team from the beginning very well, but spent the entire book talking about them and thinking about them like they were all best friends. However, in Tempest's defense, I haven't carried very many ghosts with me so I can't imagine what it's like to watch people die like that. It did feel a little tone deaf to tell Alder that they were in the same boat because both of their loves had been murdered when in reality, Ellison *could* have fallen in love with Tempest but Alder and Eden were actually in love.
It was less subtle than I usually prefer books to be, the political, economic, and environmental commentary were very on the nose, but that might be perfect for other people!
*Spoiler*
The only thing I really didn't feel satisfied with was the relationships. It felt like Duncan was setting Alder and Tempest up to have a romance, only to switch at the end and say that they were only allies. I'm not against them being allies, it just surprised me.
The other thing that felt a little off was how connected Tempest was to people she barely knew. If I understand correctly, she didn't know Ellison or the rest of the team from the beginning very well, but spent the entire book talking about them and thinking about them like they were all best friends. However, in Tempest's defense, I haven't carried very many ghosts with me so I can't imagine what it's like to watch people die like that. It did feel a little tone deaf to tell Alder that they were in the same boat because both of their loves had been murdered when in reality, Ellison *could* have fallen in love with Tempest but Alder and Eden were actually in love.
November 11, 2025
This book went from 3 stars to 1 and then back to 3. The dialogue throughout the novel is pretty predictable and at times cliche. The plot as Tempest and Alder are traveling to Atlanta is just so… far fetched? The collection of rabid dogs? How does that make any more sense than keeping a bunch of healthy dogs for protection? At least then the dogs don’t die after 7-10 days. The tiger?? Oh boy…
On the topic of the rabies too, I don’t think Tempest needs to explain that the vaccines are better now than they were “in the old days.” That would be such a random fact for her to know. It’s not all that necessary to explain away, but if readers had questions it would’ve made much more sense for the med staff to explain it? It happens so frequently in the novel that I wonder how she knows so much about the Old Days. She started training to be a soldier rather than pursuing academics, I doubt so much of the education given by Agristar would have focused on the time before them.
I also think it’s hard for me to believe that a dystopian novel based in the American south stamped out Christianity, rather than leveraging Christianity for its rise to power.
I thought the cloning and eugenics plot twist was good, and certainly believable. Like yes, Monsanto on steroids would definitely do some eugenics.
Overall enjoyable, definitely reminiscent of the 2010s dystopian craze. I kept thinking this was similar to Divergent. Probably will not read again, wouldn’t recommend to friends.
On the topic of the rabies too, I don’t think Tempest needs to explain that the vaccines are better now than they were “in the old days.” That would be such a random fact for her to know. It’s not all that necessary to explain away, but if readers had questions it would’ve made much more sense for the med staff to explain it? It happens so frequently in the novel that I wonder how she knows so much about the Old Days. She started training to be a soldier rather than pursuing academics, I doubt so much of the education given by Agristar would have focused on the time before them.
I also think it’s hard for me to believe that a dystopian novel based in the American south stamped out Christianity, rather than leveraging Christianity for its rise to power.
I thought the cloning and eugenics plot twist was good, and certainly believable. Like yes, Monsanto on steroids would definitely do some eugenics.
Overall enjoyable, definitely reminiscent of the 2010s dystopian craze. I kept thinking this was similar to Divergent. Probably will not read again, wouldn’t recommend to friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2017
I thought it would be easy to take sides in this story, but I was wrong. Feeling loyal to nature, yet understanding the need for guidelines in food production, I struggled with right and wrong as I read Blight. One thing is certain — main character Tempest is a striking heroine, perfect for fans of Katniss Everdeen and Tris Prior. Readers will feel connected to Tempest through her unspoken thoughts (inner squealing about sitting with the cute boy) and compassion.
This is the first Alexandra Duncan book I’ve read. Her writing style is perfect for teen fiction readers. There’s an appropriate amount of action, character synergy, and world building. The book moved at a reasonably fast pace, although it lagged in a few spots.
I’d like to see a prologue included in Blight — something to provide more details about how the world got in this situation. It would be nice to see Tempest feel more connected to her past. She seems to see her dead father with disdain, though she was 5 years old when he died so she should be able to recall at least a little bit of a connection with him. These issues made me wonder if Duncan plans a second book in this world. Perhaps she expects to share more of the story in future titles. I received this book free as part of the blog tour. Opinions shared are mine.
This is the first Alexandra Duncan book I’ve read. Her writing style is perfect for teen fiction readers. There’s an appropriate amount of action, character synergy, and world building. The book moved at a reasonably fast pace, although it lagged in a few spots.
I’d like to see a prologue included in Blight — something to provide more details about how the world got in this situation. It would be nice to see Tempest feel more connected to her past. She seems to see her dead father with disdain, though she was 5 years old when he died so she should be able to recall at least a little bit of a connection with him. These issues made me wonder if Duncan plans a second book in this world. Perhaps she expects to share more of the story in future titles. I received this book free as part of the blog tour. Opinions shared are mine.
May 29, 2020
Although I don't usually enjoy first-person narratives, I have to admit I can't imagine this book written in any other way. I enjoyed every page of it, always looked forward to the next one.
Something I loved about that book was how no character was remotely good or evil. In the end, all of them were humans, had feelings and Tempest truly understood that. It was so satisfying to see things from her perspective, and notice how her opinions shifted throughout the story! I loved her both as a main character and a narrator, she is such a generous person! Even though I believe there won't be any sequel and am more than okay with it (I couldn't think of a better way to end our journey together), I wouldn't mind meeting up with her again and see what she's up to.
This book isn't only a dystopia, it's a perfect reflection of the world we live in today and got me to open my eyes on my privileges. I think we need this kind of novels nowadays, and I can't thank Alexandra Duncan enough for writing this one.
The only thing that's keeping me from raiting it 5 stars is the beginning. I did enjoy it, I'm not gonna lie, but I think I would've enjoyed knowing a bit more about her life. Everything just seems to come out of nowhere and, although I understand why that is, it still something that keeps me hanging. It's definitely a 4.5 though, and I still loved everything about that book.
Something I loved about that book was how no character was remotely good or evil. In the end, all of them were humans, had feelings and Tempest truly understood that. It was so satisfying to see things from her perspective, and notice how her opinions shifted throughout the story! I loved her both as a main character and a narrator, she is such a generous person! Even though I believe there won't be any sequel and am more than okay with it (I couldn't think of a better way to end our journey together), I wouldn't mind meeting up with her again and see what she's up to.
This book isn't only a dystopia, it's a perfect reflection of the world we live in today and got me to open my eyes on my privileges. I think we need this kind of novels nowadays, and I can't thank Alexandra Duncan enough for writing this one.
The only thing that's keeping me from raiting it 5 stars is the beginning. I did enjoy it, I'm not gonna lie, but I think I would've enjoyed knowing a bit more about her life. Everything just seems to come out of nowhere and, although I understand why that is, it still something that keeps me hanging. It's definitely a 4.5 though, and I still loved everything about that book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews