Book Title: The Testing (The Testing #1)
Author: Joelle Charbonneau
Published Date: June 4th, 2013
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Genre: YA/Dystopian
Series: Book 1 in The Testing series
Book Link: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?
The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.
Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.
But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.
The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.
Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.
But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.
Disclaimer: I won this book from Popcorn Reads.
Review:
This book was very similar to The Hunger Games, which I loved. I had no idea how similar they would be until I started reading this book.Nowadays it's very hard to have a dystopian book not be similar to another dystopian book.However The Testing ended up being much more sinister than I would have ever realized. No the Commonwealth was not was creepy as Panem nor was the world building as good as it was in The Hunger Games.
However I loved Malencia "Cia" Vale. Absolutely loved her. She was a dream heroine. She had empathy and sympathy but she also was a fighter.She was prepared to protect her family at all costs. She didn't get all moony over a guy either. Yes Tomas clearly was into her from the beginning and yes she was attracted to him too, but she never let that interfere with what she was trying to do.
Like the Hunger Games there was a love triangle hinted at. Yes people may disagree with me on that,but it was clear to me that Will is supposed to be the "Peeta" in this series. And much like The Hunger Games trilogy, I am rooting for Will and Cia to get together. I didn't feel anything between Cia and Tomas except friendship. I don't really trust Tomas either. Not after what Cia discovers near the end of this book. Cia may have spilled all of her secrets to Tomas, but Tomas did not afford her the same courtesy. Not by a longshot.
Like I said previously, the world building was not as good in this one as it was in The Hunger Games,but it definitely wasn't terrible either.Add that to my dislike of Tomas and not buying him and Cia together, this book gets 4 stars.I am so excited to see what happens in the next book.
I enjoyed as well, but def agree about the world building
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't terrible or anything (it was actually pretty decent) but I couldn't quite picture it in my mind's eye.
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