Extraction: Review

Synopsis:

"Welcome to Extraction testing."
Clementine has spent her whole life preparing for her sixteenth birthday, when she’ll be tested for Extraction in the hopes of being sent from the planet Kiel’s toxic Surface to the much safer Core, where people live without fear or starvation. When she proves promising enough to be “Extracted,” she must leave without Logan, the boy she loves. Torn apart from her only sense of family, Clem promises to come back and save him from brutal Surface life.

What she finds initially in the Core is a utopia compared to the Surface—it’s free of hard labor, gun-wielding officials, and the moon's lethal acid. But life is anything but safe, and Clementine learns that the planet's leaders are planning to exterminate Surface dwellers—and that means Logan, too.

Trapped by the steel walls of the underground and the lies that keep her safe, Clementine must find a way to escape and rescue Logan and the rest of the planet. But the planet leaders don't want her running—they want her subdued.

With intense action scenes and a cast of unforgettable characters,Extraction is a page-turning, gripping read, sure to entertain lovers ofHunger Games and Ender's Game and leave them breathless for more.

***

I enjoy Extraction, but I don't think it's a good dystopian novel.

Why I don't think this is a good dystopian: Everything is so formulated. So predictable and so obvious. Of course someone doesn't like Clementine. Of course Clementine is not normal. Of course there's a rebellion. Of course there will be a "great" escape. Typical dystopian. Nothing surprising. Other than that it actually sets in a world that is not quite Earth. Or is it Earth in another name? There are a lot better dystopian novels with jaw-dropping surprises and much better world building (not that the world building in Extraction is not good. In fact it's well-rounded and decent. But just... too typical). On a scale of 1 to dystopian, it hasn't reached the highest level.

However, the book is still very enjoyable, despite it being so typical I can practically see the outcome once the background of the story is introduced. Mostly because Clementine and Logan are so adorable. It's the classic "I will do anything for you" relationship mixed with a brotherly affection. Clementine is a good protagonist and we get to see their relationship in a cute way. Logan is a good love interest in a dystopian world. Yes, even typical dystopian needs a nice guy so that we have something to hold on.

This is a short review because other than these two I have no opinions whatsoever. I won't suggest it to die-hard dystopian fans who are searching for awesome dystopian books. It's more like an afternoon read for relaxation.

Rating: 5/10