The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Synopsis

DO YOU POSSESS A WINNING COMBINATION OF THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICAL SKLLS AND RAW INTELLIGENCE? DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO LEAD OTHERS? ARE YOU WILLING TO CRUSH THOSE WHO STAND IN YOUR WAY? Every year, the United Commonwealth invites top graduates from each colony to participate in The Testing. Successful candidates will go on to the University and help the government work to rebuild our war-stricken world. This process is not optional. Disclaimer: The United Commonwealth is not responsible for candidates' psychological or physical heath during The Testing.

Review

The Testing is the first book of 'The Testing' trilogy by Joelle Charbonneau, and is firmly based in the post apocalyptic teen book genre, along side trilogy's like The Hunger games. In the first book we meet the female heroine of the story Malencia Vale who Is about to attend her schools graduation day hoping that she will be chosen for 'The Testing". She has an idealistic dream of attending the university and help to regenerate her country following the seven stages of war. The author opens the book with a small twist to the tail which it really doesn't need, pretending Cai Vale isn't going to The Testing then she is. Does she really think readers will believe this when there's 3 books to read.

After this shaky start the story soon begins to build as the 4 students from The Five Lakes colony head the Tosu City for the testing. Cai's father starts the intrigue by warning to trust no one and things won't be as it it seems. Cai soon realises the truth in what her father told her, when in the 2nd stage of testing she sees her fellow student Malachi die in front of her because he answered a question wrong. The testing isn't just about being the brightest its more about managing to stay alive, and stopping her fellow testing students from killing her.

The author builds the story upto the grand finale of Cai and her love interest Thomas surviving the 4th test and being chosen to move forward to the university. I like the fact that Joelle has a love interest threaded through the story which is not too intence and doesn't make Cai week and dependent on her man to survive. I personally like a story that has a strong female lead, and Cai is as resourceful as they come.

Overall this first book is an easy read, that doesn't take too much brain power to work out the plot but keeps the interest going until the end. Ideal to loose yourself for a few hours or a great holiday read.

I rate this book





Posted by The Vamp Cat