*Note: I received this book through Emma at Miss Print’s ARC Adoption program!*
What I Loved:

As a lover of Jennifer A. Nielsen books, I was so excited for her latest, especially because the protagonist in THE SCOURGE is female, where all of the other Nielsen novels I’ve read have had male protags. Just like in her other works, THE SCOURGE unfolds events so perfectly. Each plot point is lined up exactly where it needs to go, giving an even pacing (though it does take a while to really get into the story). The descriptions are also excellent, and the inner workings of the Colony are fascinating.

Another Nielsen staple is turning first impressions on their head, and one of the character’s Ani meets is a perfect example of that. When the story begins, Della seems like a typical spoiled and privileged person, and Ani and Della both judge the other harshly. I love how Della’s character becomes more complex. The friendship (and budding romance) between Ani and Weevil is also very sweet, and their conversations have a delightful amount of good banter.
What Left Me Wanting More:

While I did enjoy this, it’s missing some needed action and quicker pacing. I found myself getting distracted a lot while reading, and nothing was capturing my full interest. If you’re a fan of Nielsen’s THE FALSE PRINCE series, you’ll notice this story goes much slower, and the plot twists don’t deliver quite the same punch.
Final Verdict:

Come for the cool premise, stay for Ani’s snark and all the friendship feels, but be prepared to be sitting in a waiting room for a little longer than anticipated.

Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2016/08/review-scourge-jennifer-neilsen/