Review: Variant by Robison Wells

 

Reviewer: Taylor

Title: Variant

Author: Robison Wells

Published: October 4, 2011

Source: Library

Series: yes- 1st book

Pages: 373

Rating: 5/5

 

Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.

He was wrong.

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.

Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

 Wow. Y'all I finished this book like two weeks and I am still reeling. It was THAT good. At least in my mind. I flew through this book. Never wanted to put it down.

I'm not exactly what genre I would classify this as. I have heard dystopian, but I think I would go more with sci-fi. Because, the world Benson comes from is normal- like it would be described in a contemporary novel. But then, of course, when he gets to Maxfield, everything changes.

I love books like this. Benson applies for a scholarship that he thinks will finally give him a chance, get him out of foster care, and give him a life. But, he finds out very quickly that it is definitely not the case. I was very pleased because the book jumped straight into the plot in the very beginning. Like, I was immediately sucked in and didn't have to read 50 pages to start getting any kind of action. Don't get me wrong, I do like world building, but in this case, it was done along the way. Which was great.

The book reminded me of the maze runner trilogy in a way: lots of questions, absolutely no answers, and definite weird things going on. We do finally get some answers towards the end that just left me with my mouth wide open. WHAT?! If anybody has read this, you know what crazy things I'm talking about!

I found I had a slight problem with relating to the characters or even being able to remember who every one was, but I think as the series goes on we will get to know the most important players much better.

AHH AND THE ENDING. talk about a serious cliffhanger. You thought Delirium by Lauren Oliver was bad? HA. wait till you read this.

anyways, that was my somewhat incoherent conclusion and review of Variant. All I'm sayin is.. you should definitely read it.