Prized

Prized, by Caragh O'Brien is the continuation of the Birthmarked trilogy. I really enjoyed the first one, with it leaving Gaia and her baby sister escaping the Enclave for the Wastelands. This one picks up with her being rescued by Peter and taken to Sylum, a society run by women. These women hold all the power because the men outnumber them by A LOT. They are trying to keep their society alive so all the women are expected to have 10 children each. But girls just aren't being born and many of the men are infertile. Gaia and her sister are taken in and Gaia is asked to change all her beliefs or be punished. Maya is taken away from her and she must find a way to get her back. Whey Gaia helps a girl have a miscarriage, she is locked away until she will tell Olivia, the Matrarc, who it was. Leon also finds his way to Sylum, where he promptly winds up in prison. When he finally gets out, he is furious with Gaia for not helping him. Gaia is torn between Leon, Peter and Peter's brother Will. Too many boys for one girl to handle. The problem is, in this society if a man touches you, it is considered rape. Gaia must combat her feelings for all these boys to figure out many things. How to get her sister back, how to escape Sylum without dying, how to figure out the genetics problem of only boys being born, and how to help the men get a vote in this matriarchal society. Oh, and juggle three difficult boys. This was a great story and I loved all the characters. I can't even do justice to all the subplots in this story- reproductive rights, suffrage, class systems, etc. You really have to read it to get the idea. Gaia is one tough chick. She finds a way to be true to herself and help those around her. Can't wait for book three... girl power! Happy reading my friends.