Review: Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Sever by Lauren DeStefano

The Chemical Garden #3

Release Date: February 12^th, 2013

Number of Pages: 384

Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR

Source: ARC form Publisher

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Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.  

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. 

While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them. Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.  

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

Sever really was a breathtaking ending to an amazing series, which gives us closure to the story we have been following for years. Fans of the series will be delighted with this book. Tragedy was a constant aspect of this series, and this final book is no exception. Sever brought me to tears a few times.

Sever let us see the characters we have loved for so long grow, and we see them start to understand a little more about the world they are in. We get to see a different side of many characters. In Sever, we follow once again Rhine, the strong main character that had charmed me in both Wither and Fever. Yet, I do have to say that my favorite character in this novel had to be Linden. He was somehow still so innocent, despite everything he had gone through. We see him changed this vision of the world a little in this novel, which was a really interesting change.

Of course, when we think of Linden, we can’t forget about Cecily. Their relationship freaked me out a little at first, mostly because of the age difference, but we get to see a different side of them. There is something so sweet going on between those two, which was highly influenced by the way Cecily seemed to have grown. We also get to meet Vaughn’s brother, a character so different from his brother. I liked seeing this difference, and getting to know more about his family through him. I can’t forget about Vaughn, our favorite villain, He grew on me. We get to know more about him, understanding to a certain point the reasons behind his action.

Sever was an amazing final to a series I have loved from the beginning. I cannot wait to read more from Lauren DeStefano, as her writing is amazing and her world building is extremely real done. If you still haven’t read The Chemical Garden and you love dystopian, you really should give this series a shot. Loved it!

About The Author:

From NetGalley

Lauren DeStefano (pronounced: de STEFF ano) graduated Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT in 2007. Her debut novel, WITHER, the first in The Chemical Garden Trilogy, published by Simon & Schuster BFYR, is out now.

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