Wither is a novel in the popular genre of dystopian / apocalyptic science fiction, not as well known as the more famous Hunger Games or Divergent series, but well enough written that it will likely appeal to fans of those series looking for similar books to read. It is also part of a series, Lauren DeStefano's planned trilogy collectively known as The Chemical Garden.
The story is set at an indeterminate point in the future, after genetic engineering of humans has unintentionally doomed the species. While the first generation of modified humans enjoys extremely long life, excellent health, and other benefits, their male children never live past 25 years old, while their female children always die by age 20. Due to this cataclysmic turn of events civilization has fallen apart, with wars having long since devastated much of the world. The same genetic science that created the problem seems powerless to correct it, and as society continues to collapse it seems less likely that anyone will be able to save the remnants of humanity that remain.
Among the other atrocities taking place in a world without laws, rich and powerful First Generation parents frequently kidnap young women and force them to marry their sons, hoping that, through luck or persistence, they will generate a healthy generation with a normal life span. Failing that, they seek to keep their bloodline going as long as they can. The protagonist of Wither, Rhine, is one of the victims of this practice. At 16 years old she had no plans or hope for the future, but still savored every day of life with her twin brother Rowan, and from the moment she is taken captive her only goal is to get back to that life.
As the story unfolds we learn more about Rhine's past, the events that have shaped this world, and the history and character of the family to whom Rhine has been unwillingly bound. She develops relationships with her "sister-wives" and other members of the household, much to her surprise, and she learns that she can feel compassion even for her captors while still clinging to her hope for escape. By the story's end, Rhine has matured considerably, learning that people are complicated and tend to possess a mix of good and bad traits. She also learns something about the nature of power, good and evil, and the value of freedom in a dangerous world vs. a sheltered captivity.
Rhine is an exemplary protagonist, having a genuine sense of inner conflict when her loyalties are opposing one another, introspective and thoughtful without being broody or self-obsessed, and deeply compassionate for the suffering of others even as she herself suffers. The book is worth reading just for the experience of seeing the harrowing experiences it details through her eyes. The other characters, especially Rhine's love interest Gabriel, are not so well developed. While this will always be the case for a book written from a single perspective, Gabriel seems particularly two dimensional, which puts the reader in the possibly intentional place of feeling more sympathy for Rhine's husband than for the boy she would chose to be with.
Nevertheless the writing is well-crafted, if not extraordinary. The author manages to expertly present subtle themes, such as the power of the illusion of power, and how one's perspective can change one's understanding of good and evil. These and the central theme, the value of freedom, are treated respectfully with writing that reflects the uncertainties and complexities of real life, but in language that is accessible and familiar to young adults.
Despite the introspective nature of the main character, the book contains a fair amount of dialogue and action that keeps the story moving. While not as fast-paced as books like The Maze Runner, Wither is anything but dull and should hold the interest of most readers. Those interested in stories featuring strong female leads, emotional complexity, or people struggling to overcome feelings of powerlessness (or all three) will find this book particularly compelling. Due to the nature of some of the content, especially the frank (but not graphic) treatments of sex and violence against women, this book may not be appropriate for younger readers, but would certainly appeal to and be suitable for older teens.
Overall I give this book my hearty recommendation. While it is certainly capitalizing on the popularity of other recent YA fiction, it takes a unique approach, premise, and perspective. Rhine is not just another Katniss Everdeen, and her story has unique and important things to tell us about the human condition.
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