- Hardcover: 356 pages
- Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (8 Nov 2011)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1596435704
- ISBN-13: 978-1596435704
- Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 15 x 3.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,851,935 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Prized
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Product Description
Review
.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
Having escaped from the corrupt Enclave, Gaia ventures into the wasteland with her baby sister, Maya, hoping to find a settlement that's rumoured to lie in the Dead Forest. After days of travelling, Gaia is close to death when Peter, a ranger from the mysterious village of Sylum, finds her and takes her back with him. Gaia soon realises that Sylum has as many strict laws as the Enclave she fled from, but when Maya is taken from her by the ruthless village leader, the Matrarc, Gaia is forced to stay and submit to their strict social code, or risk losing her sister forever. But Sylum is in trouble. The population is falling and the amount of women dwindling dramatically, and with a deadly fever affecting striking down anyone who tries to leave, the future is bleak for the village. Desperate to escape with her sister, Gaia is determined to uncover the secrets of the village, whatever it takes. And when Leon is captured too, Gaia is faced with another tough choice between the boy who captured her heart in the Enclave, and Peter, for whom she can't deny her growing feelings. But when the decisions you make affect the lives of everyone around you, how can you be sure you're making the right choices?
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
I found myself to be very surprised by Prized by Caragh O'Brien. It's the sequel to Birthmarked, which I read last year and really enjoyed. I think the reason I was surprised by Prized is that I assumed that because it is a sequel, the events that took place in the new book would remain in some way linked to the dystopian society that we encountered in Birthmarked. Not so.
In Prized, our main character, Gaia and her baby sister are rescused by the citizens of Sylum, this female-dominated dystopian society in which men hugely outnumber the women but are treated as inferior. Also? Kissing and general touching between sexes is prohibited.
I will admit that when I first read the synopsis of Prized, I wasn't quite sure about it. I wasn't fully ready to have the characters from Birthmarked, which was a story about science and midwifery and secret codes and DNA, and have them transplanted in this different type of world. But I gave it a chance, and I really enjoyed it.
I especially loved seeing the way in which Gaia developed as a character and seeing her in a different light. In Birthmarked, Gaia is treated very differently because of the burn scar on her face. Whereas in Prized, where the society has very different values and ways of thinking aside from physical appearance, Gaia, both as a woman and as a skilled midwife, is ... well, a prize.
It also has an interesting look at gender, about choices - particularly a women's right to choose abortion, and modesty and a kind of old-fashioned view of relationships and physical affection. I found myself thinking more about these things and redefining my stance on them as I was reading Prized, and I do love when a book allows me to do this.
Though Prized isn't quite as action-filled as Birthmarked, it does have an interesting array of new characters as well as familiar faces from the previous book. There is also another scientific mystery to solve and plenty of romantic angst for our Gaia. I'm very happy that I gave Prized a chance and I will definitely not be so reluctant to read the next book in the series! In fact, I'm pretty excited about it!
In Prized, our main character, Gaia and her baby sister are rescused by the citizens of Sylum, this female-dominated dystopian society in which men hugely outnumber the women but are treated as inferior. Also? Kissing and general touching between sexes is prohibited.
I will admit that when I first read the synopsis of Prized, I wasn't quite sure about it. I wasn't fully ready to have the characters from Birthmarked, which was a story about science and midwifery and secret codes and DNA, and have them transplanted in this different type of world. But I gave it a chance, and I really enjoyed it.
I especially loved seeing the way in which Gaia developed as a character and seeing her in a different light. In Birthmarked, Gaia is treated very differently because of the burn scar on her face. Whereas in Prized, where the society has very different values and ways of thinking aside from physical appearance, Gaia, both as a woman and as a skilled midwife, is ... well, a prize.
It also has an interesting look at gender, about choices - particularly a women's right to choose abortion, and modesty and a kind of old-fashioned view of relationships and physical affection. I found myself thinking more about these things and redefining my stance on them as I was reading Prized, and I do love when a book allows me to do this.
Though Prized isn't quite as action-filled as Birthmarked, it does have an interesting array of new characters as well as familiar faces from the previous book. There is also another scientific mystery to solve and plenty of romantic angst for our Gaia. I'm very happy that I gave Prized a chance and I will definitely not be so reluctant to read the next book in the series! In fact, I'm pretty excited about it!
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed birthmarked after just reading the hunger games I was looking for a dystopia again and this was it! It definitely made me want to read the 2nd book which was great also! I cannot wait for the third to be released! Its a must read! I would say though that its a lot more girly than the hunger games...
Format:Paperback
A few months ago I read Caragh O'Brien's first book in the Birthmarked series and I absolutely loved it. The writing style was right up my street and everything I want in a dystopia: poetically beautiful prose, a strong brave lead character and most importantly a believable world (to quote myself). So when I noticed Prized, second book in the series available on Netgalley, it wasn't long before it made it's way to my kindle.
Prized picks off pretty much exactly where Birthmarked left off with Gaia struggling for survival after fleeing the Enclave. On the brink of death she's rescued and taken to Sylam, a small colony of people with a very different way of living and strict moral order, which Gaia finds difficult to accept. Only this time, there's no escape.
Once again O'Brien creates a desolate and believable world, where climate change and a dwindling population has created a new society with new rules. I thought the idea that women rule was ingenious and at first was `yay! This will be great' I mean, how many times have we females thought the world would be better if we were in charge? :P But the saying absolute power corrupts absolutely holds true and The Sylum society has an Orwellian feel. It's both fascinating and terrifying all at once.
What I really like about O'Brien's series is the many themes it throws up, not just political but environmental and genetic, and without being heavy or complicated really encourages the reader to think. These are issues, which are completely conceivable, I can understand and see how they're created. Despite some pretty heavy themes though, I always find the writing absorbing and easy and like Birthmarked I flew through Prized in a couple of sittings.
Gaia again was a character who appealed to me and gained my respect. I love her fierce loyalty and sense of what's right. Sometimes I felt she acted selfishly in her quest for justice and allowed others to be sacrificed but then I guess this is what makes her a great leader. I was fascinated by Sylum's hierarchy, in particular the Matrarc, who is a complex and intriguing character. One thing I didn't enjoy so much was the introduction of a love triangle, or even square and Gaia's indecision and recklessness where it was concerned. I love Gaia and Leon together, and enjoyed the subtle chemistry in Birthmarked, I just felt this book didn't really need the added complications, it has enough to carry it without.
Not everyone is going to love this series: if you like your dystopia desolate and thought provoking and don't mind a lack of obvious action then I would recommend you look it up. Personally it's exactly what I want, and despite a couple of complaints with the unnecessary romance, I wasn't disappointed with Prized. The book finishes in such a way I can't wait to find out what happens next and will certainly be looking out for another book in this series (as yet unnamed but scheduled for Autumn 2012)
Prized picks off pretty much exactly where Birthmarked left off with Gaia struggling for survival after fleeing the Enclave. On the brink of death she's rescued and taken to Sylam, a small colony of people with a very different way of living and strict moral order, which Gaia finds difficult to accept. Only this time, there's no escape.
Once again O'Brien creates a desolate and believable world, where climate change and a dwindling population has created a new society with new rules. I thought the idea that women rule was ingenious and at first was `yay! This will be great' I mean, how many times have we females thought the world would be better if we were in charge? :P But the saying absolute power corrupts absolutely holds true and The Sylum society has an Orwellian feel. It's both fascinating and terrifying all at once.
What I really like about O'Brien's series is the many themes it throws up, not just political but environmental and genetic, and without being heavy or complicated really encourages the reader to think. These are issues, which are completely conceivable, I can understand and see how they're created. Despite some pretty heavy themes though, I always find the writing absorbing and easy and like Birthmarked I flew through Prized in a couple of sittings.
Gaia again was a character who appealed to me and gained my respect. I love her fierce loyalty and sense of what's right. Sometimes I felt she acted selfishly in her quest for justice and allowed others to be sacrificed but then I guess this is what makes her a great leader. I was fascinated by Sylum's hierarchy, in particular the Matrarc, who is a complex and intriguing character. One thing I didn't enjoy so much was the introduction of a love triangle, or even square and Gaia's indecision and recklessness where it was concerned. I love Gaia and Leon together, and enjoyed the subtle chemistry in Birthmarked, I just felt this book didn't really need the added complications, it has enough to carry it without.
Not everyone is going to love this series: if you like your dystopia desolate and thought provoking and don't mind a lack of obvious action then I would recommend you look it up. Personally it's exactly what I want, and despite a couple of complaints with the unnecessary romance, I wasn't disappointed with Prized. The book finishes in such a way I can't wait to find out what happens next and will certainly be looking out for another book in this series (as yet unnamed but scheduled for Autumn 2012)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Prized
After reading Birthmarked I could not wait to pick up the second novel in the series; Prized. I was a little apprehensive, after loving Birthmarked so much, that Prized would not... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Georgina Scott
Not as good as book one...
I never reviewed the first one in this series but I really enjoyed it, so when this came up on NetGalley I had to grab it. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Jade
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