Partials

An ARC was provided by Harpercollins Canada for review! Thank you! Humans created the Partials long ago by ParaGen. They created the ultimate super being. Stronger, faster, smarter to help aid in modern warfare for the enemy hostiles. Then the Partials created the RM virus, wiping away almost the entire human population with a few being immune to the virus. We find Kira, a 16 year old medical intern, who works and lives in East Meadow. She assists in the pregnancy ward of the hospital. Her best friend Madison becomes pregnant, and knowing that the virus will kill the new born baby she sets off on a mission to help her friend and the rest of her species. Along the way she meets friends and foes and even figures out the mystery of where she came from. I was dying for this book and I was lucky enough to receive an ARC (THANK YOU HarperCollins! :) And boy I was not disappointed. Dan Wells writes with the pacing, tone and style set for a post-apocalyptic setting that most YA authors are writing about these days. And Mr. Wells is a great story teller. It reads like a movie. I felt like I was right there as one of the characters walking in East Meadow making do with what I had after 99.996% of the human population had been decimated. Yes the book starts of slow, but what after reading more and more, your mind is set into Kira’s world where things aren’t what they seem to be. This book ends on a cliffhanger so I am warning you, you will get frustrated! I know I was! This book is chock full of mystery, suspense action and a tinge of romance.show more

Dan Wells's Partials is how a post-apocalyptic, dystopian novel should be. Not only is Partials entertaining, but left me questioning about what it means to be human. Wells creates a riveting story, packed with realistic multi-dimensional characters, heart-pounding action, and suspense that will leave you wanting more. Wells knows how to build a word while telling a captivating story. Partials is the sci-fi book for people that don't read sci-fi. A brilliant dystopian novel always leaves me with introspective questions, and Partials did just that. Partials left me thinking about the ethics behind man-made humanity and what makes the Partials "scary" (as opposed to just another ethic group, who just happens to be gifted with extra strength and health); if Partials are stronger, healthier, and are just like humans aside from a few differences in DNA, then why don't we all become Partials already? If everyone had super strength (through steroids or something), then the Partials would not be feared, right? Plot: Sixteen year old medic, Kira Walker is one of the forty thousand lucky survivors of The Break eleven years ago in Long Island. A deadly virus has wiped out not only the rest of the population but any hope for rebuilding it for the virus also affects newborns. In a desperate attempt to preserve the species, teenagers are to be impregnated like cattle incessantly in hopes of having one lucky survivor. However, the virus is not their only worry. The Partials, a group of man-made genetically modified beings made for military reasons, is an impending threat. They are stronger, healthier, and immune to the virus. Kira sets off on a journey to find them and to find a cure for the virus that obliterated humanity--only to find some secrets she rather not know. Dystopian World: Partials felt like a dystopian novel with their flawed government which would do quite well as a PR company. Even though calling the society an "utopia" would be stretching it since there are riots, and women are forced to breed. But being one of the few people left on the world, you don't have to pay for anything. Since the population is borderline extinct, your health (especially if you are pregnant) is valued. You don't need to worry about paying for clothes since you can just go to your favorite, abandoned store and grab whatever you desire (I know I would head straight to the Apple store to grab a few IPads and IPhones). If you think going to a store is too troublesome, just go next door; if the house is empty, the previous owners are probably dead, so you might as well take their stuff and their house too if you are inclined. Ok, there's that problem with electricity, and no cars...but traveling by horseback sounds fun too. Sci-fi: I'm a Science-fiction fan, but even for those who aren't, Partials keeps the fancy scientific stuff to a minimum: enough for explanations, but not so much that you end up lost. To be honest, despite my best efforts, I glazed over the science stuff. Something about several forms of the virus that transforms into a blob, and something about canceling out the virus with pheromones. Since Science isn't one of my strengths, and Kira is the medic, I will just take her word for it. Characters: Whenever Kira is with a group of people, I get extremely confused. So many of them get introduced, only to disappear...or reappear later, but by then I've already forgot who they are. The characters are what makes the story "young adult." Even if they are all teenagers, they have jobs, and their own houses--like children who are desperately trying to be an "adult." At one point they try to fight for the right to be tried as an "adult." But while they are given "adult" responsibilities, their logic is a too rash, and feels naive. Kira: I am conflicted about her. I can't say I like her, but she did feel real. She is too naive, and drags people with her stupidity, but perhaps her positivity is what gives her peers hope. She is young, naive, but she has an abundance of luck. I have to admire her fearlessness. Rather than liking her, it's more accurate to say I am intrigued with her. I wish she had more opportunity to show off her capabilities as a fighter, I expected more from a girl trained to use a gun at eight years old. Marcus: Even as Kira's boyfriend, he is set up to be unlikable. He isn't the perfect boyfriend who goes along with his girlfriend...and I admired him for it, though I can see others disliking him (it definitely makes his love proclamations seem less meaningful.) Boyfriends are not obligated go along with their girlfriend's stupid ideas. But he holds on to traditional beliefs and is eager to marry Kira, protect her, and live happily ever after minding their own business. Romance: Not much romance going on. There's kissing, and love proclamations...but there's no fancy metaphors about the beauty of one's eyes. Kira has a boyfriend, Marcus, but while they claim to love each other, even that sounds too forced coming from two young teenagers who are probably each other's first love. Pace: It took about a third of the book before the book really picks up. I think my eyes were going to fall out from the first hundred or so pages, but it got TONS better as the story progresses, and the action starts happening. By the ending third, I couldn't put it down even when my eyes were about to fall out of their sockets from staying up too late.show more

I love dystopian and post apocalyptic stories, especially the ones with solid science fiction elements included. Partials is heavier on the science than most YA sci-fi books I've read recently but don't let that daunt you. Dan Wells expertly weaves the science elements with action and romance that creates a fascinating book that had me glued to the pages. Partials is set in 2076 in the aftermath of a war, a rebellion and a virus that wiped out most of the population. The humans who survived have made a stand on Long Island, barricading themselves against the partials, genetically engineered humanoid soldiers, and against human rebels who oppose the government. Instead of a big, faceless, evil government in most dystopias, this survivor community is run by a small but devious and power hungry group of senators. Before I start talking about the individual characters, I have to give Dan Wells massive kudos for including a racially diverse group of people in his novel. As a reader who loves to see multi-culturalism in fiction, I am thrilled to tell you that the population of survivors looks a lot like the world's current population and the story is richer because of it. Kira is a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training who is super smart and determined. Weary of seeing newborn babies die from the virus and knowing that the government is not close to finding a cure, Kira comes up with a crazy, desperate plan to find a solution before her best friend's baby is born. Kira is not the kick-butt character you typically see in dystopia but she is brilliant, brave, a quick thinker and has devoted herself completely to finding a cure. It's her all-in attitude that makes her so awesome. Kira's boyfriend, Marcus, is sweet and loves her but they have different priorities. Marcus wants to live a happy, safe life with Kira and let others worry about humanity's future. Samm is the partial that Kira helps to kidnap and study and while there is no love triangle in this first book, I can see the possibility of some romantic tension in the sequel. Normally I don't like love triangles but I may be in favor of one in this case. In the sea of dystopian/post apocalyptic YA novels, Partials stands out from the rest. Awesome world building, exciting action scenes along with betrayals and fantastic plot twists make Partials a great read. I cannot wait for Fragments, the next book in the series, to be released.show more

Partials by Dan Wells would make an AMAZING movie for dystopian and non-dystopian fans alike! The world that Wells created is strong and thought provoking! It gives the feeling of surreality in the probability of this form of post apocalyptic scenarios. I'm not saying that the human race will have engineered partial humanoids, but the behavior and characteristics of the society and 'government' workings. Scene: When humans can no longer have future generations; The youngest child known in the world is 14 years old; The senate is chosen by age seniority; and it is LAW you MUST get pregnant once you turn 18 years old. One can only imagine how it feels to be forced to get pregnant at a young age and still not be seen let alone considered to be an adult. How the senate cares more in controlling the people in present day than caring for their future. Partials by Dan Wells has wholesome drama, nerve wrecking tension, and pack full of action rolled within its pages. You can't help but to be intrigued! The description of the surroundings and the aftermath of the Partial War was very intricately detailed. I had no trouble visualizing it through the eyes of Kira. Even having the title of being a 'Plague Baby", Kira, is very intelligent for being 16, and was only 5 when the Partial War began. She's very head-strong and will do practically anything and everything to save the human race and help her friends. I really like her a lot and she wasn't a difficult character at all. Surprising though that I did not have any heart flutters or warm fuzzy attractions with any of the male characters. They were some what bland, but Marcus had his moments where he kept me entertained with his quips. I believe that the book could have been shorter because at times I felt like it went on for days. It's hard to describe without you the reader experiencing it yourself. This is not to say that I disliked Partials. That's not it at all. It's just that feeling you get when you've finished a book and you end up saying to yourself "I liked that, but it didn't have to be this long." In hope that IF, and this is a BIG "IF", this actually happens in the future; I hope those who are seated in command would think and act wiser, and as for the others to just be wary and stand up to what they believe in. I definitely recommend reading Partials by Dan Wells! GREAT STORY!! Similar To: Bumped by Megan McCaffertyshow more

Wow. Wow,wow,wow! After falling in love with the post-apocalyptic world in Under the Never Sky, I didn't think I would find another novel to compete with it for quite some time, let alone this soon. But in Partials, that is exactly what I found, and I couldn't be more excited. If you take a good look at the cover, the story is laid before you. The world as we know it is a wasteland, bleak and empty, with the buildings and homes humans once occupied nothing but an empty shell. The story is set in 2076, not so far ahead that it cannot be envisioned. And the circumstances that led to this downfall are entirely too plausible. The United States was involved in a war with Iran and another war with China, scarily possible. The government needed an unbeatable army, so they created Partials, who look like us, talk like us, but are much harder to kill. After the wars were over, the Partials were relegated to an oppressive existence. They revolted. They won. But not only did they win, they decimated the human population with the RM virus, leaving the human race unable to bring a child into the world longer than a few days. Which means the human race is going extinct. But things are not always what the seem. Who is the real enemy? How scary is that? I found the plausibility of the plot to be a most terrifying, yet intriguing concept. My whole life, I've heard older people say that our technology would one day bring about our downfall. Robots would take over the world, and take us down. I always laughed that idea off, but what if it's true? On top of the brilliant plot line, the author has created a terrific cast of characters. The interaction between the characters, the nonverbal and spoken communication was excellent. I had a great sense of who they were, how they felt about one another without the author having to overexplain. Main character Kira is a medical researcher, intelligent and resourceful. And the girl, only sixteen years old, never says quit. Willing to risk her own life to save humanity (and her best friend's baby), Kira is fierce and loyal. Tough as granite, she holds firm in the face of all adversity, including a huge bomb of a secret she is sitting on. Kira's boyfriend Marcus was without a doubt the most entertaining character. He is always quick with a one-liner that diffuses a tense situation. He is faithful and believing in what Kira hopes to achieve. I loved him, so much. Xochi, another of Kira's friends and a partner, was also absolutely hilarious and endearing. Even with all of the drama going on, she was great for comic relief. Truthfully, there are at least five more characters that I would love to talk about in depth. But I'm going to hold back a bit because this is a review about a book and not an actual book. I don't always enjoy post-apocalyptic books because many have become formulaic, in my opinion. That is absolutely not the case in Partials. The fact that not only is there one enemy out there, but two, in addition to the virus that will eventually kill of the human species, left me reeling. The terror is lifted to a whole new level, leaving you feeling surrounded on all sides. The author does not take the easy way out with the characters and the situations they face. Any character, shockingly, can be collaterol damage. The end of Partials left me frantic, flipping the pages as quickly as possible and crying. The story is tragic and bittersweet, yet promising. It was a terrific finish that left me wanting more, but not angry. But, honestly, I'm dying for more! Favorite Quote: " 'That is the second worst idea I've ever heard,' said Tovar, 'but since the first worst is you shooting me in the face, I'm all for it.' " (pg. 61, ARC) "All we have left is each other, so let's enjoy it. Let's be together, like we've always said we'd be, and let's forget all this death and fear and everything else and just live. You want to leave this island, let's leave- let's go somewhere no one will find us, away from the Senate and the Voice and the Partials and everything else. But let's do it together." (pg. 133, ARC) * I received an ARC from Harper Collins, in exchange for an honest review. *show more