7 September 2014

The 100 Review


The 100/The Hundred
by Kass Morgan




What they say: No one has set foot on Earth in centuries -- until now.


Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents -- considered expendable by society -- are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life...or it could be a suicide mission.

CLARKE was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. WELLS, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves -- but will she ever forgive him? Reckless BELLAMY fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And GLASS managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth.

Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope.


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  • ISBN: 9780316234474 - Little,  Brown Books for Young Readers/Orchard Books




I received a copy from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review!


What I say: This review is a little complicated for me to write for the following reasons: I started reading The 100 when it was first released (I lost my copy), then started watching the CW TV show (season 1 is still being aired over here in the UK so I haven't seen it all yet). I then went back and read the entire book. It's difficult to review without being influenced by the TV show but I'm going to try.

First up I have to say how much I love the concept! The dystopia theme has been done many times but the idea behind The 100 is different because of the added sci-fi element. It's sort of Battlestar Galatica for YA, meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer, meets The Hunger Games, but kinda not (with me so far?). Sorry I'm making this far more complicated than it needs to be! After several generations of people have been living on a spaceship (Earth was destroyed in a nuclear war), 100 teenage criminals are sent to Earth to see if it's habitable. The book focuses on 4 POVs Clarke, Wells, Bellamy and Glass. Glass remains on board the ship whilst the others are part of the 100 sent to Earth...

I liked the different POVs because it allows the reader to gain a greater insight into the different classes and situations present in their troubled society. The problem is that it can be a little confusing at times. There are a few characters who are different in the book than the TV show (some completely new ones appears in the show) but for the most part main character, Clarke is very similar. She's clever, determined and organised; she's a  good leader. Don't worry I'm not going to solely write a book verses TV comparison here.

We get to see events on Earth and on the spaceship, but we also get insights/flashbacks to certain characters former lives and see what crimes the 100 teens committed. I wasn't expecting the direction the plot took with Clarke's parents (this is very different from the TV show) but as disturbing as it was, it added drama to the story. There were certain romances I wasn't expecting after watching the show but I can see where they were coming from...

I enjoyed The 100 and am a big fan of the TV show, so I am glad to have got my hands on Day 21 (the follow up book to The 100) as I want to know what happens next because it ended on a bit of a cliffy. I'm going to keep an open mind when reading Day 21 and watching the show because although the basic premise is the same, it seems to be heading in a different direction (for now) and so I'll try to judge them separately.


3.5 Stars in my Sky!



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