In the year 2647, humans do not show emotion. They don’t touch others outside of their family unit. They’re raised to serve the government, and upon their 16th birthday, they’re given a test for the biomarker that determines if they are a diseased one. Humans loathe the diseased ones, people who had powers fought against the government 100 years ago. Upon Hollis’s 16th birthday, she doesn’t pass her test. She learns she is a diseased one. Whisked away to safety from the government intent on killing her, she can’t resolve the two vastly different worlds considering the brainwashing she’s received her entire life.
There was only one thing that I had trouble with in reading this and that was the idea that people could repress emotions. I have trouble picturing the changes over 600 years down the road, but it seems impossible that they could wipe out something so very core to our being.
But I loved this storyline. Once I started it, I didn’t want to put it down, and it turned into a quick read for me. The characters were fun, even Hollis who sometimes drove me nuts with her refusal to see what was in front of her. But that’s typical of a teenager, which makes her even more endearing. The world-building is fantastic, and Harrington has done an excellent job of drawing the reader into the storyline. I’m looking forward to reading what’s in store for this group of friends. A super fun, YA read.
Read this review on Amazon, Goodreads, and Bookbub.
The Diseased Ones is available on Amazon for $3.99.
Rae's Reading Lounge 