In Lauren DeStefano's tragically beautiful debut, we see a world that is disintegrating. We see a world where modern science attempted to great the perfect human race. And, at first, they thought they succeeded. But then, this perfect first generation had children of their own. Then they found out their daughters would only live until 20 and their boys until 25. They do not know why this happened. They do not know how to stop it. There seems to be little hope for the human race.

This is the world Rhine Ellery is born into, a world filled with poverty and crime, a world where girls are at danger of being snatched from the streets and sold to men as "brides" (their real purpose being to have children). At 16, Rhine is four years away from her death. She wants nothing more than to stay safe with her twin brother, Rowan, in their New York home. This, of course, is not to happen. She is tricked and sold as a bride to Linden, the son of a prominent Florida doctor, along with two other girls. Things seem bleak, but Rhine will not give up on getting home to her brother.

I was stunned by Wither. I had expected something similar to Delirium, a knock-off of a novel I do love, but Wither is something amazing all its own. While the Laurens might seem to have similar plots, their writing couldn't be any more different. Lauren Oliver is a master of her words, but Lauren DeStefano is a poet. Her verse is beautiful and makes it easier to get sucked into this world. Unlike Oliver's shy Lena, Rhine is a force to be reckoned with, a girl who is willing to do anything to get back to her brother. It's hard not to admire Rhine's courage, her never-ending determination to be free once again. Here's a favorite part of mine: “I can almost see what Gabriel meant when he asked, 'What has the free world got that you can’t get here?'
Almost. Freedom, Gabriel. That’s what you can’t get here.” I like the fact that though Rhine has luxuries there as a wife she would never have at home, she would still rather be with her brother in their little house fighting off thieves.

The sister wive dynamic was something I found interesting. There was a great contrast between the three wives: Jenna, the oldest at 18, simply resigned to live out her days as a wife after her sisters were killed, Rhine, the one determined to escape no matter the cost, and Cecily, the youngest at 14, overjoyed to be a wife after living in an orphanage. These girls couldn't be more different, and yet they were captivating together. It made it all the more complicated when Rhine wanted to leave. Despite everything, these two girls had become her sisters. I thought it was interesting when Rhine pointed this out: “His three wives are huddled together on the bare mattress, one of them dying; when we're together, we form an alliance he can't touch. He's scared to even try.”

Of course, I have to mention both Linden and Gabriel because Lauren DeStefano gave us two boys very much worth mentioning. Like Rhine, you really want to hate Linden, but you just can't because he loses his true love and is so sweet and gentle and just as much a pawn to Vaughn as his wives are. And really, Rhine can't hate him either, but she does resent the fact that she didn't get to chose him. Then we have Gabriel, who has never tasted freedom like Rhine but is drawn to the girl who so desires it. There's not too much Gabriel in this book (Fever features him much more prominently), but when he's present a different, more vulnerable side to Rhine appears.

The plot itself isn't fast-paced, but there is always something happening if you are paying attention. And, even when there's not, the prose itself has you in awe. The end will leave you speechless and clamoring for the next book (and lucky for you it's already out! I had to wait for it! *frowns*

Love Lauren DeStefano and the Chemical Garden triology! Eagerly awaiting Sever!