Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Review: The Registry by Shannon Stoker

The Registry
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
The Registry Book #1
ISBN:   0062271733
ISBN13: 9780062271730
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian
Review Copy Source: Edelweiss

The Registry saved the country from collapse. But stability has come at a price. In this patriotic new America, girls are raised to be brides, sold at auction to the highest bidder. Boys are raised to be soldiers, trained by the state to fight to their death.

Nearly eighteen, beautiful Mia Morrissey excitedly awaits the beginning of her auction year. But a warning from her married older sister raises dangerous thoughts. Now, instead of going up on the block, Mia is going to escape to Mexico—and the promise of freedom.

All Mia wants is to control her own destiny—a brave and daring choice that will transform her into an enemy of the state, pursued by powerful government agents, ruthless bounty hunters, and a cunning man determined to own her . . . a man who will stop at nothing to get her back.

Mia had no reservations about taking her place on the registry and marrying the highest bidder. Then her sister showed up one night to tell her what the registry is really about. When the time comes she does everything possible to make the guy that wants her give up and when that doesn't work she runs away.

THE REGISTRY is set in a world where girls are coveted. If you have a boy they are usually sent away because they will not bring their parents riches. Girls are raised for the registry and the better looking they are the higher the price a man will pay for them. It is just the way it is and no girl knows any different. Mia grew up waiting for the day when she could be put on the registry for her husband to find her. Andrew's dream has been to join the military, rise in the ranks and finally bid on a wife when the time came. He grew up in a home with other boys and has traveled working for varies people. It is almost time for him to report for duty so he takes off for some last-minute traveling when a couple of 'boys' drive by and he catches a ride. He finds out right away that the boys are not boys and he is in a lot of trouble if he is caught with them.

This book is crazy, in a good way. Could you imagine being auctioned off like a piece of meat and looking forward to it? Crazy, but that is what America has turned into in Shannon Stoker's world. Mia wants nothing to do with it and although she starts off as a bit bratty and self involved she quickly turns into someone I enjoyed following. The supporting characters could be a bit annoying at times but they all had their revealing qualities. Andrew really turned out to be an excellent person that I wanted to see with Mia. There was many ups and downs with their escape and there were a lot of ups and downs with feelings but it all came together for a great read.

The villains are villainous. The love interests are sexy. The love triangle? I didn't like that so much and could have done without it. Book 2 should be interesting.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars