Dark Days - Book Review

Dark Days
by Kate Ormand

What is it about:
The future world has been divided into sectors--each the same as the other. Surrounded by thick steel fences, there is no way in and no way out. Yet a cyborg army penetrates each sector, picking off its citizens one by one, until no one is left. Behind the sectors' thick walls, the citizens wait to die. Few will be chosen to survive what's coming; the rest will be left behind to suffer. A new world has been created, and its rulers are incredibly selective on who will become a citizen. They want only those with important roles in society to help create a more perfect future.

Sixteen-year-old Sia lives in one of the sectors as part of a family that is far too ordinary to be picked to live. According to the digital clock that towers high above her sector, she has only fifteen days to live. Sia has seen the reports and knows a horrific death is in store for her, but she is determined to make the most of her final days. Sia refuses to mourn her short life, instead promising herself that she'll stay strong, despite being suffocated by her depressed mother and her frightened best friend. Just when Sia feels more alone than ever, she meets Mace, a mysterious boy. There is something that draws Sia to him, despite his dangerousness, and together, they join a group of rebels and embark on an epic journey to destroy the new world and its machines, and to put an end to the slaughter of innocent people.

What did I think of it:
I expected a lot more cyborgs than I got.

Not that this is a bad read, but when you expect a book full of killer cyborgs and the first cyborg sighting is in the second half of the book, it is a bit of a disappointment.

The first half of the book has a slow pace. Sia is wandering around town trying to decide what to do with her last days alive. She is set on accepting her fate and only when she meets a cute boy she starts to think differently. I thought her transformation from someone resigned to her fate to someone taking crazy risks to survive a bit unbelievable, but went along with it, because once she is set on victory over the New World the pace and story picked up.

Once the cyborgs are finally in the picture there is excitement, drama and wild action. The climax and conclusion felt a bit far fetched, but was fun enough not to grumble about it.

All in all a nice enough read, but not what I had hoped for.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice Dystopian read.


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