Community 215
Ratings1
Average rating3.5
15
Ratings1
Average rating3.5
Defiance is not an option. In Community 215, forbidding walls keep the Residents contained and obedient to the absolute power of their carefully selected Council. Those within the walls are told where to work and live, who to wed, when to have children, and even how much to eat. The slightest hint of disobedience is punishable by being branded with one's offense or worse, being declared Outcast, banished beyond the walls to almost certain death. This way of life is the only that Rhea has ever known. While she is an obedient child, she can't help but glance at the seemingly impenetrable walls and wonder what lies on the other side. When a boy named Brooks-an Outcast who has never belonged to such a community-manages to climb over, he tells her of a world she can scarcely dream of. Rhea's obedience is shaken, and she pays dearly for it-branded as "Disobedient," she will bear proof of her resistance on her throat forever. Having known the sweet taste of freedom and driven by his love for Rhea, Brooks vows to free them from their prison, no matter the cost. As Brooks battles to free the Residents from the indoctrination camps where they are forced to reside, Rhea must decide between the ideology she has embraced her whole life and a chance at true liberation and love. Community 215 shines a blinding light on the horrors of absolute power. No matter the circumstances, freedom and love are always worth fighting for.
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Defiance is not an option. It is simply something not taught within the walls of community 215, and punished severely when it happens. Rhea has only ever known this way of life. The council selects what your occupation is, who you wed, how many children you have, how much you need to eat, and where you live. There is no choice, only blind obedience. It’s better than living amongst the outcasts, those who live in the forest not in any community, operating as savages who hunt and kill and choose everything for themselves, and are a force to be feared.
But are they?
Rhea saves a boy when she is 10 from being outcast and is branded as disobedient via an iron brand on her neck. 8 years later she and the boy (Brooks) are ready to spend their week outside the walls to prove they can be useful contributing community residents. Things don’t go to plan; does Brooks really want to go back? Will Rhea get what she wants and become the next leader? Will Rhea open her eyes to the truth about her life and what she has been taught?
The premise of Community 215 is really interesting, a mix of dystopia, brainwashing and dictatorship used to keep the population under the thumb of the rich. I enjoyed the book but thought it was a little sparse in the text for me, there just wasn’t enough depth in the characters or the world building to leave a lasting impression.
Gael was a potential side story narrative, however he seemed to disappear about halfway through the book which was disappointing. Maybe he will come back around in the next book if this is a series - which I hope it is, because otherwise the ending was just cut off with no resolution.
This was an enjoyable read, and could be improved by more character depth, motive, and world building. Overall, I liked it and would read the second one if there was a sequel.
**This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review**
Originally posted at woarr.com.
