Title: Feuds
Author: Avery Hastings
Publication Date: June 24, 2014
Pages: 272
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Rating: 2 stars
Summary: In this breathless story of impossible love, perfection comes at a deadly cost.
For Davis Morrow, perfection is a daily reality. Like all Priors, Davis has spent her whole life primed to be smarter, stronger, and more graceful than the lowly Imperfects, or “Imps.” A fiercely ambitious ballerina, Davis is only a few weeks away from qualifying for the Olympiads and finally living up to her mother’s legacy when she meets Cole, a mysterious boy who leaves her with more questions each time he disappears.
Davis has no idea that Cole has his own agenda, or that he’s a rising star in the FEUDS, an underground fighting ring where Priors gamble on Imps. Cole has every reason to hate Davis—her father’s campaign hinges on the total segregation of the Imps and Priors—but despite his best efforts, Cole finds himself as drawn to Davis as she is to him.
Then Narxis, a deadly virus, takes its hold--and Davis’s friends start dying. When the Priors refuse to acknowledge the epidemic, Davis has no one to turn to but Cole. Falling in love was never part of their plan, but their love may be the only thing that can save her world...
So with most of my reviews I do not read other's reviews before writing my own. I don't want their views to impact what I think and/or write. However with Feuds, I just couldn't. I had to know what people thought of this little story. The reviews I read were mixed, like most books. You either get it or you don't. This happens to be one of those books where I don't get it.
There's an insta-love, which typically I don't get angsty over because you know what, insta-love does happen in real life. They're kids. Young, vulnerable, and think that they know everything. Including what love feels like. So while I may not like insta-love, it doesn't ruin a book for me. There are always exceptions though, like when the insta-love takes over the book. Or when true love = I'll die without you. I'm sorry but no, you losers. Shut your virgin mouths.
And then there's this whole forbidden aspect to their romance that I didn't understand. (Romeo meets Juliet anyone?) So the world is divided between two classes, Priors and Generations (Imps). I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to feel towards the Gens/Imps. Why exactly are they segregated? Besides some human engineering, what makes the Priors so special? I never got any clarification on this because oh, yea. Insta-love. While there is a lot of action going on, it never holds any real meaning because I have no idea why it's so important.
There's one more question that is just burning me up inside. Why would you call it Feuds, where one of the main character is supposed to be some all-star fighter, when there's only two, TWO fights that take place in the whole book!!! I mean, I get it. Symbolism and all that crap like how their world is torn apart and feuding, but really? Really?!
I wish I had more positive things to say about Feuds. I loved the idea, and the ending actually does keep me interested in the rest of the series. However, if the second book remains in love and doesn't give me more of the story, then I will not be able to continue.
Provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you!
