The Forsaken by Lisa M Stasse

The Forsaken by Lisa M Stasse
The Forsaken #1
Release Date: August 2, 2012
Publisher: Orchard Books
Source: Publisher
Rating: Essential

Alenna Shawcross is a sixteen-year-old orphan growing up in a police state formed from the ashes of Canada, the US and Mexico after a global economic meltdown.

But when she unexpectedly fails ‘the test’ - a government initiative which supposedly identifies teens destined to be criminals - she wakes up alone on a remote island reserved for the criminally insane.

Terrified and confused, she soon encounters a group of other teen survivors battling to stay alive, including Liam, a boy who will become her love... and her lifeline.

Soon Alenna makes the terrifying discovery that there’s more to the island (and her past) than she could ever have guessed... But who can she trust? And can she ever escape? - Goodreads

The Forsaken is a particularly engrossing debut that kept me reading until 4am. I just couldn't put the book down after I started reading it; I totally hadn't been planning to stay up all night reading it!

The setting and history of the world is so well developed and I have an undying love for the author for putting it all together. I love it when there's a history and explanation behind a dystopian society, and when a novel doesn't have one it really takes away from my experience.

I adore survival slash desert island type novels, and that's what this was for a while.

Honestly, I ignored the romance for the most part because there was very little build up or development before we got to the "I love you"'s. I think people will like it, but it's not my cup of tea and I ignored it so it didn't ruin my experience of the novel.

The only thing I didn't like about this novel, and it's not a big thing, really, was Gadya. Gadya was a terrible friend, and I wanted to punch her in the face because she made my blood boil.

Overall, this book is such a page turner and is wonderfully written. There were some really shocking moments thrown in there, and the author doesn't shy away from making big decisions! Please, PLEASE go and pick this up, because I think you dystopian fans will love it!