Author: Lauren DeStefano
Series: The Chemical Garden Book #2
Pub. Date: Feb. 24, 2012
pages: 341
IndieBound
"Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.
The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.
In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever." ~goodreads
This is the second book in the series so this review might be spoilery for the first book. Which of course would be true of the synopsis too.
So Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the evil clutches of Vaughn and gain their beautiful freedom but not all as it seems or how Rhine remembers it.
The first book was about captivity, this book is about the journey. Rhine's ultimate goal is to find her way back to her twin brother, even though she doesn't even know if he is still waiting for her. With every turn they seem to find themselves in some kind of crazy situation.
I felt like I connected a little better with Gabriel in this book. The first book he didn't seem all that special to me. This book he displays a little bit more strength and he seems to find his own voice. It's interesting to find out his thoughts about escaping and he doesn't seem like he is going to say things just ease Rhine's mind. He becomes more blunt and truthful.
Rhine is a little bit selfish. She doesn't really realize how her actions are affecting the people around her and until after the fact. Her desire to find her brother is so strong that it sometimes seems to cloud her judgement on other things. She is also strong though fueled by the fact that she doesn't just accept her impending death. She acts more like she thinks she isn't going to die instead of worrying that she is. She has a habit of clinging to the past.......her parents, Rowan, Jenna and Linden especially. Even though she escaped the mansion she finds herself dwelling on it which I think shows that her connection to Linden is much stronger then she even thinks.
The relationship between Gabriel and Rhine develops more in this book. You could see and understand their affection for each other, where in the first book I feel like Rhine was just looking for a way out. If not physical freedom them mental freedom to choose who she wants to be with. I understand them being together a little better in this book. Although I feel like there is a part where Linden really shines through as someone to compete with.
We meet some new characters in this book and even though some past characters are not present they seem to still help the story. Jenna especially, the girl with many secrets. I liked all the characters whether they be normal, strange or deadly.
I have to say my favorite part of this book was the ending. I don't want to give too much away but the turn of events that comes about really had me on edge. It's kind of like if your watching an intense movie and then suddenly the power goes out and you miss the end. I can't wait for the third book, Lauren leaves you hanging in a way that you have to know what happens next.
I think if you enjoyed the first book you will enjoy this book as well. Some of the mysteries from the first book are revealed but with enough still left to leave you anxious for the third book.