This story is set on Beta Earth around 2000 years in the future. When the first colonists landed they just saw a fertile land just waiting to be cultivated; however, they were not the only creatures living. A dark brown fish named a 'Jigger' also lived on the now named Beta Earth. These fish were normally harmless, apart from their mating habits. They would release a toxic dust into the air as a way to attracting a mate and to show superiority. This dust provoked illness in humans that breathed the air.
From this the Haydon cure was discovered to counter the effects of the Jigger dust, those that survived passed the cure down. The Compound was created; a team of scientists who were devoted in gathering the Haydon cure. The actual cure? The cells of the Jigger, but, only Jiggers who had been in contact with human DNA while they were still eggs.
To complicate matters even more, the eggs were laid inside deadly fresh water anemone; anyone who touched the anemone, dies.
The Compound trained their own candidates and maintained the cure supplies; reducing the number of times the cure had to be gathered. So, this is where we meet our main character Caryn GY63728 who has been genetically altered in order to gather the cure. She can breath underwater for long periods at a time, and has been conditioned that she needs to do this for the good of Beta Earth.
Caryn, a 15 year old girl with heavy weights on her shoulder and a fear of water. After witnessing her close friend drown, she puts others before herself. Wanting them all to have a better life; knowing that she is the one who can save them, that she has to save them.
"It's the only reason I'm here today, because if Heather were still alive she would be here and she wouldn't want May or Janissa to die gathering the cure"
After a competition to see out of the three girls who would be the best to gather the cure; Caryn wins. Before accepting her fate; to collect the cure, she is offered the chance to see the world outside the walls of The Compound. The experience opens her eyes, and shows her that not everything is what it seems and that you should never listen to those who think they know best.
My Rating: Easily 5/5
I thought I was getting slightly bored of dystopian novels. I had read a few recently that did not capture my heart. However, The White Lilac exceeded my expectations and was an all around good read. Normally, I get the jist of the plot pretty quickly and figure out what is going to happen; not this time. In true fantastic writers style Ms. Adams does not give away any plot secrets until she is ready; certain parts of the book came as a complete shock to me!
I also thought the premise of the story was original and there was enough scientific explanation to back up the theories presented.
Caryn was a well developed character even though she had no experience of the outside world she did not suffer from the Disney Princess syndrome; she knew her role was to gather the cure. No man/boy was going to save her, or get in the way of her saving millions of people.
When Caryn first meets Kai, I did groan a little thinking 'Oh dear. Another love story'. However! While I think Kai cared deeply for Caryn and does speak of going away together, their relationship is more akin to very close friends; rather than boyfriend and girlfriend. And well, if it was to develop into something more it was slowly done and tastefully done. So if you need a little romance in your books, this one does tick that box. Yet it is done in a way that it's not the main aspect.
So in all, a fantastic read which is going straight on my YA Favourite shelf.
Price: £0.77 / $0.99
Value for money: Exceedingly good!
Buy it:
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