A Dream Within A Dream: Untamed Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for UNTAMED! Today I'll be sharing my review of the book with you - and don't forget to enter the fantastic giveaway!

Untamed (Untamed #1)

Author: Madeline Dyer
Genre: YA Dystopia/Fantasy
Release Date: May 20, 2015
Publisher: Prizm Books

Rating:

Synopsis:

As one of the last Untamed humans left in the world, Seven’s life has always been controlled by tight rules. Stay away from the Enhanced. Don’t question your leader. And, most importantly, never switch sides--because once you’re Enhanced there’s no going back. Even if you have become the perfect human being.

But after a disastrous raid on an Enhanced city, Seven soon finds herself in her enemy’s power. Realizing it’s only a matter of time before she too develops a taste for the chemical augmenters responsible for the erosion of humanity, Seven knows she must act quickly if she’s to escape and save her family from the same fate.

Yet, as one of the most powerful Seers that the Untamed and Enhanced have ever known, Seven quickly discovers that she alone holds the key to the survival of only one race. But things aren’t clear-cut anymore, and with Seven now questioning the very beliefs she was raised on, she knows she has an important choice to make. One that has two very different outcomes.

Seven must choose wisely whose side she joins, for the War of Humanity is underway, and Death never takes kindly to traitors.

Untamed is the first book in a new young adult dystopian series. It follows our main character, Seven, as she fights the Enhanced - the people who 'fix' others and make them into what they consider to be perfect with the use of chemicals, augmenters, and other science that has been constructed for this purpose. Seven is one of the last people who remain Untamed - who refuse to join the Enhanced. On top of that, Seven is one of the most powerful Seers in history - and only she has the knowledge and power that can save on side of the war - and it's up to her to choose which side that'll be. She begins to question everything she's ever been taught about the Enhanced after being captured by them, which makes things all the more complicated for her. Will she be able figure out which side of the war is right? And if she does, can she save them in time?

This was an interesting first installment in a series that holds promise. I have to admit that there was quite a lot going on all at once throughout the entire story, which had me confused at times. It felt as if the author had taken elements and aspects from several other books already out and then tried to blend them all together to create something new. In my opinion, it sort of worked - but definitely needs some work. Seven is a good main character for the book - she's strong, determined, a powerful Seer, and dedicated to doing what's right. Seven undergoes some character growth throughout the story - she does become more mature and grows emotionally and mentally as well. Her character is definitely interesting and can become a fantastic lead for the series if some things about her are fixed a little - there were times when she felt cliche - but there's potential.

The same can be said about the plot of the book and the writing. As I mentioned, the book feels like a mash up of several different concepts taken from various sources instead of anything new and original. There were also a lot of times in the book where I found myself confused as to what was happening, why it was happening, and how it even tied into the plot. Don't get me wrong - the story itself has definite potential and can become a great series, if some of the bumps are smoothed out. The book was written in first person point of view, which is by far my favorite. Writing style is one of the biggest factors for me in a novel and using the wrong POV can make a great book terrible - or (in this case) it can save a book from completely losing the reader. I love first person POV because of the deeply personal level we get to know the narrator on - no other writing style allows us this inside look into their hearts and minds, which makes it unique and, in my opinion, the best option. The book is told from Seven's point of view, which gives the reader the opportunity to get to know and connect with her on a whole other level than any other style. This was the book's saving grace - again, in my opinion. If the book hadn't been written in this POV, it probably would've proven to be confusing and difficult to figure out what was going on and why - among several other factors. But as I said, the book had some great ideas and characters - there's just some bumps that need sorted out in order for the series to reach it's potential. I'm really hoping that by the time the next book is released, the issues I've mentioned will have been addressed and we can fully appreciate the originality that's currently hiding underneath it all.

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Madeline Dyer lives in the southwest of England, and has a strong love for anything dystopian, ghostly, or paranormal. She can frequently be found exploring wild places, and at least one notebook is known to follow her wherever she goes. Aside from writing, Madeline enjoys reading, painting, and inline skating. Untamed is her debut novel.