Sever Review

Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.
There comes a time when you cannot take being teased anymore.  I kept hearing about reader's shocked reactions to the ending of Sever (chapter twenty four in particular) and I decided there and then that I had to read the book.  I mean, I was going to read it anyway but I have to admit that I wanted to know what all the fuss was about so it got pushed to the front of the TBR pile.  You’ll be pleased to know that I was a good girl and didn’t race ahead to the particularly life altering chapter, I just took my time and found myself easily immersed back into Rhine’s world.  It didn’t hurt to read a few final chapters of Fever beforehand but it is by no means a prerequisite to reading Sever.
As Sever is the third and final book in the Chemical Garden trilogy, obviously you shouldn’t read this review until you’ve read Wither (review here) and Fever (review here) as you WILL encounter spoilers.  Speaking of which, rest assured that there is no way on God’s earth that I’m going to spoil Sever for you.

You may remember that at the end of Fever, Rhine was back at the house of horrors, being experimented on in the basement by Vaughn.  Great.  She’d been taken away from Gabriel and Rhine has no idea what’s real anymore.  Is Cecily really visiting her?  Does Linden know what’s going on? Also, her twin brother Rowan, the very person she has been searching for throughout the entire series has been found but can she get to him? WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? *collapses in a heap*

I can’t even begin to talk about the plot for fear of giving something away but it really is a case of ‘All will be revealed’. Something about Fever that really bugged me was the fact that Rhine continued to wear her wedding ring throughout the book, despite the fact that she had run away from that life.  I didn’t understand why and it was a question that plagued me until Lauren provided the answer in Sever.  THANK GOODNESS.  There are some pretty shocking twists to the tale, revelations that will make you curse out loud and a particular incident that will change everything.  Lauren Destefano hits you hard in this book and Does. Not. Stop. Until she knows you’re down for the count.   After reading, I knew I needed time to think about the book and I actually think she depressed me!  Evil author *grumbles*.

I have to say that it was nice to see some of the old characters again like “ze crazy Madame” as well as some of the regular’s like Vaughn, Rhine, Gabriel, Linden and Cecily.  I find it interesting that the absence of Rose contributes massively to her presence throughout the book and indeed the series.  For a dead character, she’s very much alive in the hearts and minds of the characters and indeed, the reader. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and it may come as a shock to you to learn that my favourite character is actually Vaughn. He is darkly complex and whilst in the beginning I thought of him as some evil, twisted excuse of a man, I came to understand him and realise his intentions were actually quite noble.  I loved how Lauren challenged me as a reader and made me change my mind about him.  In the end, I actually felt sorry for him.  Yes, you read that right.

Overall, this is an explosive end to a great series and Lauren has definitely made a fan out of me.  I’m already planning on pre-ordering her next book as soon as it’s available.  I’m kind of sad to say goodbye to these characters but I know I can visit them anytime I want to.

Sever was published on 14th February, 2013.  To find out more about Lauren Destefano and her books, please click here to visit her website.