Take the image of a patriarchal society and multiply its intensity by ten. Now, you have the world Shannon Stoker creates in THE REGISTRY. Mia Morrissey is a girl living in that world, and she is about to meet her soon-to-be husband who paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for her after seeing pictures of how beautiful she is. But when Mia sees something scary, she starts questioning her society and runs away with her fiancΓ© hot on her trail.
THE REGISTRY has everything one would look for in a dystopian young adult novel: an oppressive government, a main character figuring out its corrupt ways, and a killer romance to heighten the stakes. What it also has is a few twists within it to make it original and different. Though there are many qualities that set this book apart, my personal favorite is the character of Andrew, Mia's love interest who she cons into helping her escape to Mexico, far away from her fiancΓ©. Andrew isn't looking to rebel against the system, as many love interests in dystopian works are. Instead, he truly wants to go along with it, or at least he thinks he does. He has to be talked into helping Mia, and their romance is not a quick one at all. His character development as well as the development with their relationship is steady, without being rushed or too slow. It is part of the reason that makes Shannon Stoker's novel such a page-turner.
The other reason that keeps you reading this book is the plot. It takes several turns that I didn't see coming, and the ending fit very well. It leaves room for question, while still leaving the reader with a sense of completeness as far as the first book goes. Mia continues with her long journey, and she keeps coming out stronger and more sure of herself, which I always love seeing in a character.
Overall, for anyone who likes dystopian or suspenseful works, I would definitely point you in this book's direction. It has a great narrative and a wonderful plot that will draw many readers in.
Welcome to a safe and secure new world, where beauty is bought and sold, and freedom is the ultimate crime The Registry saved the country from collapse, but stability has come at a price. In this patriotic new America, girls are raised to be brides, sold at auction to the highest bidder. Boys are raised to be soldiers, trained to fight and never question orders. Nearly eighteen, beautiful Mia Morrissey excitedly awaits the beginning of her auction year. But a warning from her married older sister raises dangerous questions. Now, instead of going up on the block, Mia is going to escape to Mexico—and the promise of freedom. All Mia wants is to control her own destiny—a brave and daring choice that will transform her into an enemy of the state, pursued by powerful government agents, ruthless bounty hunters, and a cunning man determined to own her . . . a man who will stop at nothing to get her back.
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