This book was recommended to me by a friend who possessed the same enthusiasm and enjoyment I did from The Hunger Games, Twilight, and The Millennium Trilogy (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). That said we were both a little more than disappointed. I think the reality of this book is that it's a toned down version of the Hunger Games which would make its target audience younger than teens. It's not that it wasn't a good book; it just wasn't up to par with the other more recent series of trilogies out there that claim to target the same audience.

Aside from that there were a few logistical issues I had with the storyline that could have used some more explaining, which may all be addressed in the sequel but I'm not certain I'll read it to find out. The issues I'm referring to were things like, how did the Society come to exist? (In more detail than there was a rebellion) Is the whole world like Cassia's society now? The poems (which referenced great authors) could have played a larger role as well as the significance of the artifacts.

My book club really enjoyed this novel. It\\\'s starts out a little slow but once it gets going is a fun and entertaining read illustrating the importance of maintaining relationships and not losing sight of yourself. Everyone of us walked away with a part that rang true and touched us all personally. The characters are relatable and the experiences at times brutal are real life and enhance the readers experience.