Synopsis
In this fantasy-thriller, a young girl thirsts for love and freedom, but at what cost? Ruby dreams of escaping the Congregation. Escape from slaver Darwin West and his cruel Overseers. Escape from the backbreaking work of gathering Water. Escape from living as if it is still 1812, the year they were all enslaved. When Ruby meets Ford—an irresistible, kind, forbidden new Overseer—she longs to run away with him to the modern world where she could live a normal teenage life. Escape with Ford would be so simple. But if Ruby leaves, her community is condemned to certain death. She, alone, possesses the secret ingredient that makes the Water so special—her blood!—which is the one thing that the Congregation cannot live without.
My Opinion
I really enjoyed this book. It was one of the best Young-Adult novels that I ever read.
One of the main characters, Ruby, was my favorite. She was strong; she was a fighter, and a survivor. The story examines the horrible conditions of her life, and the oppressive way she’s treated. I keep wondering what the taste of her blood is? It couldn’t be the same as others because it has healing powers. And I can’t blame her for how she reacts at the end, because I thought that she was a teenage girl until I realized that she was 200 years old, and she’s the youngest in the congregation!!!
Sula, Ruby’s mother, also has special qualities. Although she does much to help the other slaves, I hate her reluctance to fight for her own freedom. Instead she’s always waiting for Otto to free them. I admire her trying to protect Ruby, but my question is, does she protect Ruby because she loves her daughter or only because she possesses healing blood? I really think that it is because of her blood, and that’s cruel.
Ford, the co-lead character is in love with Ruby. The romance between them is compelling, but sometimes I got angry with him because he refuses to accept that people believe in gods other than the one he believes in. Also he maintains a rude attitude in some scenes that I didn’t appreciate, and sometimes he seems selfish. But at the end his actions are justified, and make him a pivotal character.
Like I mentioned before, there were some sections that I didn’t like: some scenes were really cruel, too realistic and in rare cases stupid. But the end of this book really impressed me. I even held my breath during the last paragraphs because that kind of ending never ,ever passed through my mind.
I recommend it for sure!!!