The 100 (edició 2014)

Rating: 79% (3.95 stars) ( )

'Bellamy opened his eyes. He was being ridiculous, he knew. The rain was only water, and there was no such thing as a clean start. That was the thing about secrets-you had to carry them with you forever, no matter what the cost.'

Plot

Since a devastating nuclear war on earth, humans have been living in city-like spaceships far above the toxic atmosphere. Nobody knows when, or if, the planet will ever be habitable again, but with supplies dwindling, the last of the human race are running out of time.

In an effort to save the human race, one hundred juvenile criminals are sent to earth. After a crash landing, the teens get their first look at the beautiful planet that they've only ever seen from space. As they try to survive in this new world, they struggle to form a community. They've all committed crimes, some worse than others, but in order to survive they must learn to trust each other.

My thoughts

After watching the first series of The 100 this year, I saw this book, as well as it's sequel in the read now section of NetGalley. As I'd enjoyed the series and I'm eagerly awaiting the second series, I thought I'd read this to tide me over.

Of course there are differences between the TV series and the book, as there always is. But some of the differences are huge and this could be why I didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I would. However, I did find the story entertaining and interesting, although a little slow at times.

I liked how the story was told, because it alternated between three different characters on earth, and one back on the spaceship. On earth, we got to see into Clarke's thoughts and feelings about being around Wells again, after he'd betrayed her trust. We also got to see into Wells' thoughts about his reasons for betraying Clarke, and how much he still loves her. And we got an insight into the real Bellamy, not the Bellamy that everybody else sees. We see how much he loves his sister Octavia, and how he'd do anything to protect her. But it takes a trip to earth to make him realise that she's growing up, and she doesn't always need his protection.

The story from the spaceship, or the colony as it's referred to in the book, comes from Glass, a girl who was supposed to be part of The 100 sent to earth, but she managed to escape at the last minute. I liked Glass' story, because it showed what was happening back on the colony while The 100 are on earth. For me it added a certain urgency to the story, as the importance of the mission to earth becomes clear.

Although I've only given this book three stars, I did enjoy the story and I'll be reading the next two books in the series. I liked the alternating points of view, not only between the different characters, but between the different settings too. I found parts of it a little slow at times, and I've definitely read better books this year, but it made for an enjoyable read. ( )

can’t put it down ( )

I came to read this book after watching the TV show. I love the book version as there seems to be characters which did not appear in the series and vice versa. I found it easy to read and one of those books which I can hardly put it down as I wanted to know what happens next.

High above a ravaged Earth, the spaceship colony is running out of options. One of hundred of the colony's delinquent teenagers is sent down to see if Earth can sustain life once again. ( )

To compare this to the show or the show to this is messy. The show is action and drama and makes me glad Clarke's mom is dead in the book, but the book makes me sad Clarke's mom wasn't what she was in the book either. They both are alternatives to each other. They cannot be compared well and really to compare them is to ignore two thirds of this book anyway.

Glass is a prime focus in this book, as is Wells, and Wells isn't in the show later in seasons and Glass isn't in it at all. Bellamy is better in the book than the show for a lot of reasons, and this feels like a good book. So why compare it to the show, which honestly becomes a very dragged out drama and way too much weight put onto the warring parts of the world and the morals of kill or don't kill?

Book one is beautiful. Characters are fleshed out and the world is explained upon. Bellamy and Octavia are both great characters, Glass is heartbreakingly sweet. I love Clarke, her morals are very real but also flexible.

I really like both book and show and I cannot wait to grab book two. These books seem much nicer than the hardcore violence and survivor-driven show which burns one out after so many long episodes. A story about teenagers learning to live on earth and having smaller scale issues? Sounds great, we need more soft stories like this that still have action and drama without going too over-the-top.

Ending with a hard punch, things are just starting for these convicts, and it can only get worse from here on out. ( )