Starters by Lissa Price (& Giveaway!)

2:11 AM

Title: Starters (Starters #1)
Author: Lissa Price
Release Date: March 13, 2012 (hardcover)
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 352
Source: Copy provided by publisher

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Summary:

HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER. 

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. 

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined....  

My Thoughts:
The cover for Lissa Price's Starters seriously freaks me out. There's something about the stark white and metallic grey cover, and the girl's unnatural eyes that makes me want to look away, only to stare right back at it again. With so many dystopian novels being unleashed onto shelves lately, I was rather weary at first about reading Starters, but its fresh concept and science fiction influence still managed to spark my curiosity!

Lissa Price has envisioned a terrifying world in her debut novel where a deadly weaponized spore has wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty... and forced Starters, young teenagers, to rent out their bodies to the wealthy seniors called Enders who wish to recapture the feeling of youth. When Callie first walks through the doors of Prime Destinations, she only has the desperate intention of getting enough money to help her younger brother Tyler, their friend Michael, and herself, lead a better life. But everything goes wrong on what should have been Callie's final time giving up her body when her chip malfunctions. Her renter, a rich Ender by the name of Mrs. Winterhill, has been looking into Prime Destinations suspicious dealings... but their plans are more sinister than anyone could have imagined.

While I really liked the premise and how it expands on modern concerns such as the lengths people would go to avoid growing older, I did think there were some inconsistencies with the storytelling. The romance came across as rather weak, and I didn't really understand why Callie would go out on a few dates with a handsome boy named Blake when she had such greater problems resting on her shoulders. While we later realize that Blake being the son of a senator plays an important factor in the novel, the relationship between Callie and him could feel so awkward at times for me.

If you're looking for a fast-paced dystopian novel which ends with a twist, then I'm sure you'll be loving Lissa Price's debut novel Starters! There may have been a few areas that could have been more fleshed out, but I can't deny the novel was quite addicting to read once I began. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this two-book series will conclude when Enders is released later in the year. Callie is not out of danger yet and there are still more questions that need to be answered. 

Thanks so much to Random House Canada for providing this review copy!



***** 

Giveaway! I have an extra finished copy of Lissa Price's Starters, so I'm going to be giving it away to a lucky follower!

  • please fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter
  • giveaway is INTERNATIONAL
  • giveaway will end at 12:00 a.m. on May 2, 2012
  • winner will be contacted by email afterwards
  • do not leave your email address in the comments
Giveaway is closed.
Congratulations to Lindsay A.! 
 

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I'm a Canadian girl with a passion for reading! When I'm not escaping reality with a new book, I love to listen to Korean pop music or get addicted to Korean/Chinese dramas.

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35 comments

  1. DaisyApril 17, 2012 at 4:47 AM

    I'm dying to read Starters! I've heard really good things about it! I'm looking forward to seeing if I catch the inconsistencies you did ;) And I love an ending with a twist!
    My favourite dystopian will probably always be The Hunger Games! And Under The Never Sky and Delirium are also very much among my favourites :)
    Thanks so much for the giveaway!

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  2. AnonymousApril 17, 2012 at 5:09 AM

    My favorite dystopian novel is probably either Insurgent by Veronica Roth or The Hunger Games (although only the first novel, its sequels don't really live up to the high standards set by the first book).
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  3. GlassApril 17, 2012 at 5:47 AM

    My fav is The Hunger Games and Parials.

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  4. Audrey (holes In My brain)April 17, 2012 at 6:52 AM

    I think the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick nEss!! :)

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  5. EvieApril 17, 2012 at 7:21 AM

    I really like Blood Red Road.
    Thanks a lot for the giveaway!

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  6. Natalie AguirreApril 17, 2012 at 7:30 AM

    I really liked Starters. I found the premise so unique and the pacing was great. Hard to say which is my favorite. I loved Divergent, The Pledge, Delirium, and Possession.

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  7. ahz1April 17, 2012 at 7:44 AM

    So many great dystopian novels to love - I think Sophie Littlefield's Aftertime series is one of my favorites although I saw some of my other favorites listed above. I'm looking forward to reading Starters.

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  8. EnbrethilielApril 17, 2012 at 10:07 AM

    +JMJ+

    My favourite Dystopian novel is Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. I think he was more of a prophet than George Orwell.

    I'm interested in Starters because I think the twist on "selling one's body" and whether the price is worth will prove very interesting. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  9. EllisaApril 17, 2012 at 10:58 AM

    My love, and my journey for dystopian fiction was officially begun with Delirium. But my eternal love lies on The Hunger Games! The life surviving stories are just interesting and that includes Starters! The plot seems promising as well!

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  10. Christina Kit.April 17, 2012 at 2:39 PM

    Wither and Fever are my favorite dystopians, because the world is so unique, with the younger generation being in trouble. I like Starters because it's almost the opposite, with the younger generation the only ones around. But both have extremes in age groups, which is so cool!

    I like it when dystopians have science-related issues.

    Thanks so much:)

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  11. Kissed by InkApril 17, 2012 at 4:43 PM

    I loved Under the Never Sky. I am just really getting interested in this genre. I can't wait to read Starters!

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  12. AnjelicaApril 17, 2012 at 4:58 PM

    I loved the Hunger Games and Starters looks so good and that cover is really creepy yet sort of cool, also!

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  13. WTF Are You ReadingApril 17, 2012 at 6:14 PM

    I started to read this book on audio but then I loaned my MP3 player to my daughter abd she erased it. The first part was good though.

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  14. WTF Are You ReadingApril 17, 2012 at 6:16 PM

    New follow!!!! Didn't enter the contest just liked your blog!

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  15. TayteHApril 17, 2012 at 6:52 PM

    Cinder by Marissa Meyer. :D I loved it!

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  16. A Canadian GirlApril 17, 2012 at 7:01 PM

    That cover really is freaky, Liz! I'm curious about this one just because I'm wondering how it deals with the neuroscience behind it. I'm obviously going to be nitpicking things.

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  17. TasnimApril 17, 2012 at 7:16 PM

    My Fave dystopian is Divergent :)

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  18. Lisa MarieApril 17, 2012 at 7:19 PM

    Definitely The Hunger Games and Divergent.

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  19. anneroooApril 17, 2012 at 7:38 PM

    My favorite dystopian novel is The Hunger Games!

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  20. RebeccaApril 17, 2012 at 9:12 PM

    My favourite dystopian would be either Divergent by Veronica Roth or Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.

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  21. SilverpoolApril 17, 2012 at 10:24 PM

    I love The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Uglies, among a ton of others!
    Thanks for the giveaway; this book looks fabulous!

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  22. Laura BurgandyIceApril 17, 2012 at 10:29 PM

    Divergent and Legend. And Cinder, if it counts. Starters is very interesting and a little freaky. I'm intrigued.

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  23. UnknownApril 17, 2012 at 11:22 PM

    My favorites would be The Hunger Games, Chaos Walking trilogy, and Divergent.

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  24. polarisApril 18, 2012 at 12:07 AM

    The Hunger Games and Legend, probably Divergent too.
    The cover is intriguing, the premise looks good!

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  25. MaidenveilApril 18, 2012 at 5:21 AM

    Divergent! It caught my attention because I'm into dystopian and it's like a story of possession but not quite. really curious about it.

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  26. UnknownApril 18, 2012 at 5:50 AM

    It has a weird cover.:D
    DIvergent of course

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  27. books first loveApril 18, 2012 at 1:13 PM

    Ohhh first because of the cover....is just perfect :)
    Plus I heard only good things about the book and I love dystopian novels. I loved Delirium very much, it was the first dystopian novel that I read and I fell in love with the genre.
    xoxo

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  28. JenniferApril 18, 2012 at 1:23 PM

    I love dystopia. So many favorites. Loved Wither. Hunger Games. Divergent. Delirium...

    I have to say when i saw the cover of Starters online it didn't excite me. But when i saw it in person it is so much nicer. Really want to read this one.

    Jennifer k

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  29. Jenny N.April 19, 2012 at 2:28 PM

    I don't think I've read that much dystopian books but my favs would have to be The Hunger Games and Wither series.

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  30. MizMaliciouzApril 20, 2012 at 4:38 AM

    My Favorite dystopia has to be Shatter Me I borrowed and read it and fell in love the story line is refreshing it was my first dystopia read and it impresses Starters is the second dystopia book on my TBR list .

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  31. candice (thecrjreviews)April 20, 2012 at 1:23 PM

    Favorite dystopian: Divergent and hopefully Insurgent (is it May 1 yet?) Incarnate was also really interesting and totally took me somewhere new!

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  32. Sheena-kay GrahamApril 22, 2012 at 2:05 AM

    Fave dystopian: Divergent and Hunger Games Trilogy.

    Great Giveaway.

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  33. UnknownApril 22, 2012 at 2:27 PM

    I Looooove Dystopian titles!!! My favorite so far would have to be Partials by Dan Wells (I'm sure that counts right? LOL!) Otherwise the Hunger Games :)!!!!

    Thank you for the opportunity!

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  34. NicolaMay 1, 2012 at 2:42 PM

    Divergent remains my absolute favourite! :D

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