Review: Breeder by @KBHoyle_author

by Donna Huber

First Chapter, First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea. Share the opening scene from a book.

The Intro

I awake in a sea of darkness that changes quickly to hazy yellow light. I'm in pain, but I can't remember why. I blink, and the light changes from yellow to pale blue. I blink again, and it sharpens, as does the pain.
Pain is a sensation almost foreign to me, one nearly forgotten. I groan and press my hands to my abdomen, the nucleus of my pain. My stomach feels flat and smooth to my touch, but inside I feel swollen, ballooned, ready to burst apart.
I blink again, but the light does not change this time, and all I can see is the pale blue of the ceiling. There is a soft beeping beside me. I try to turn my head toward it, but I can't move.
Then there are voices.

The Review

K.B. Hoyle has done it again. She has created a world that you will jump into with both feet and never want to leave. While the world of Breeder isn't as magical as Aletheia (the setting of her Gateway Chronicles), it is no less compelling. I didn't want the book to end. And it is not a short read, but it does read quickly (mostly because you won't want to put it down).

Seriously Breeder needed to come with the warning "clear your calendar before starting".

B-Seventeen lives in a world that she believes to be utopia and she is the cream of crop. She has been chosen to be a breeder. Chosen to replenish the human race because of her perfect genes. She is among the brightest and most beautiful left after the Great Devastations. The Unified World Order is ensuring not more destruction comes to the people of earth through eliminating any possible divisions and differences are the chief divisions. Everyone looks alike. Curiosity is also discouraged - it may lead to independent thought and differing opinions or disillusionment. But maybe asking too many questions will lead to uncovering truths the Unified World Order rather not have its subjects discovering.

Fans of Hoyle's Gateway Chronicles should probably know that Breeder is not for the middle grades reader, but more for the young adult reader. I don't think my niece would enjoy this book as much, at least not at her current age. Maybe in a year or two.

Breeder is not, at least so far, a violent dystopian like Hunger Games. Though rebellion against the government is inevitable. But is Seventeen fully onboard?

I absolutely loved this book. From the writing style to the characters, everything flowed so well. Will I have to wait a year between books like I did with the Gateway Chronicles? I want the next one right now.

If you have a young adult reader on your Christmas list this year, get this book and you'll get several hours of quiet as she devours the story.

Buy Breeder at Amazon

Book info:
Available formats: ebook & paperback (300 pages)
Published December 2014 by TWCS Publishing House
ISBN13: 9781612132914
Genres: Fantasy, dystopian, romance
Target audience: Young adult
Source: Netgalley
Read: November/December 2014


Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the above link. A free egalley was provided for this review.