Series: The Breeders
Publisher: Self/Indie
Pages: 276
Formats Available: Paperback
BLURB from Goodreads
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
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.
So now you've read the review would you like to purchase the book?
Or maybe you are also interested in purchasing the novella too? (though I recommend reading The Breeders first! to avoid spoilers)
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