The 100 by Kass Morgan: Review

Title: The 100

Author: Kass Morgan

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Buy This Book: Amazon / Book Depository

In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late.
Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again. (Goodreads summary.)

The 100 is a book I had been debating whether or not to read for quite some time. It was only when I saw adverts for the TV show that I finally decided to give it a go. I had been hearing how good the show was and wanted to watch it, but felt like I had to read the book first. I am so glad I did because it was such a fun read and has made me even more excited to watch the show.

The book is set 300 years after a nuclear war left the world inhabitable, the last remaining humans now live on spaceships that orbit above the Earth. One hundred juvenile delinquents find out that they are being sent to Earth to see if it's radiation levels have lowered and it can now be recolonized. The hundred don't know what to expect, whether they will die straight away because the air is not breathable, if they will die slowly from radiation poisoning or if there is actually a possibility that they can recolonize. I loved the premise, it was the main reason I was so excited to read this book.

I now need this show in my life!!!

The book is told from the perspectives of four different characters - Bellamy, Clarke, Glass and Wells. Each of their stories follows them at the present time but also provides flashbacks that show how they came to be on the mission to Earth. I really enjoyed the four different perspectives and finding out their stories slowly, over the course of the book. My favourite character is definitely Glass, the only delinquent who manages to sneak off of the ship and escape the mission. Bellamy came to Earth to protect his younger sister, who he would do anything for. The reason Clarke got arrested is revealed bit by bit as the story goes on. Wells is there because of Clarke, he has come to look after her and make sure she stays alive. The four perspectives really work well, we get to see what's happening on Earth and on the ship. I liked the slow reveal of what happened to each character, the flashbacks worked really well and I liked that Morgan decided to tell the story that way.

It's so easy to see why this book was made into a TV show, not a movie like most YA books nowadays. It's a book that's packed full of drama, action, twists, romance and shock revelations. It reads like a TV show. In fact, I get the sense that this will translate better on screen and be much more enjoyable as a show. It's a good read, it's the first book I have read in one sitting for quite some time now. It's just so easy to read and get lost in the story and I knew I wanted to follow this series and see where it goes.

The romance aspects in this are probably what bugged me the most. There are just so many of them, especially where Clarke is involved. I hate her going back and forth between two guys. That gets old pretty quickly. But the most annoying part of the whole book is definitely Wells. I quite liked his character at the very beginning, but the flashbacks reveal more about him and the idiot kind of person that he is. His character was so infuriating, I wanted to reach inside the book and strangle him.

With each new Wells flashback:

4/5 Butterflies

If you're looking for a fun, fast-paced read then I highly recommend The 100. It has a great premise and it's pulled off pretty well. It definitely has it's issues and, as far as dystopians go, it's no Hunger Games. But it's well worth a read, the type of book you will devour in one sitting. The ending leaves you desperate to pick up the sequel and see how it's going to end. I really enjoyed the book overall, despite my problems with it, and I will be continuing the series.