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Book Review of Partials (Partials Sequence, Bk 1)

Partials (Partials Sequence, Bk 1)
reviewed on + 82 more book reviews


I have been wanting to read this book for a long time and finally my library got a copy! It wasnt as good as I had anticipated it would be, but its a clean YA book with lots of action. There is a lot of violence and drama in the story, but nothing gory. I really thought of the book Uglies (one of my fave YA books) with Partials even though they are very different stories. Partials is a dystopian novel thats part of a series although it can be read as a stand alone (I havent decided if I will read the sequel or not, Fragments).
Partials went to war with humans and even though the Partials were winning, they decide to release a virus that comes from their body that ends up sweeping over the entire world killing MOST humans. I was never very clear on that part of the plot because later it turns out that Partials worked for humans, but were mistreated and abused. Then the war started because their conditions did not get better and humans were too inhumane and greedy to give Partials fairness or equality. Maybe that subplot will be explained further into the sequel.


The entire book is from Kiras perspective. Kira is a teen girl and newly appointed medical intern who quickly gets transferred into the research department. Shes a brilliant young scientist/medic who gets a golden opportunity to study a live Partial to determine a cure for RM, the virus that killed most of humankind. Oh, one other little problem. Since the war ended 11 years ago, not one infant has survived. Then one of Kiras best friends gets pregnant and Kira decides its time to find a cure and preserve human existence. Many babies die while Kira is interning, but only one death is described and its heartbreaking. I was in amazement at the risks Kira takes to find a Partial, she is such a fearless girl who is willing to give her life to find this cure. Her boyfriend Marcus, also a medic, wants to get married and have a family with her. He was sweet in the beginning and made me laugh more than once, but by the middle of the book he got to be really annoying. Marcus and Kira do not have a strong relationship and when she decides to break the law and find a Partial, she realizes that despite her feelings for this guy she has much more important plans than getting married. Marcus turns out to be a great friend and ally in the story, also risking his life to help Kira at the end. Im hoping that Kira will hook up with Samm, the Partial she ends up befriending while studying his blood work. Also, Partials are considered not human but weapons and they have superhuman abilities. They dont age, are faster, stronger, heal very fast, have linked minds, trained for war/fighting, and they have superior technology, but they look like humans and can blend in without being detected. Their only weakness is that they cannot reproduce.


So how is Partials like Uglies? One teen girl decides to go against her government in order to do the right thing for humanity even though the odds are completely against her. Also, in both books the government is corrupt and untrustworthy. In Uglies, the parents were not available or involved in Tallys life. In Partials, they are deceased or unknown. Supposedly, the Partials are now looking to make peace with humans because they need help and they have the means to cure RM.


Even though I did enjoy the book, it really didnt grab my attention until 10 chapters in and then I had to find out what happened to Kira. I didnt like how much shooting goes on at the end, but once you get into the story its nearly impossible to put away. I also liked how the author shows the enemy in a new perspective. Throughout the book you read how Partials are barbaric monsters after what they did to humanity, releasing this horrific virus and all, but then Kira encounters one personally and she doesnt have the stomach to torture him and then she realizes theres so much more to Partials than what she has learned. And the Partials in the story are not terrorists, the humans are. Its a happy ending, but it ends in such a way that you know there will be a sequel.