The Culling

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Pub Date 08 Nov 2017 | Archive Date 27 Dec 2017

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Description

In a solar system where The Authority decides who lives and who dies, only one of their own executioners can stop them.

Glade Io is a trained killer. Marked at a young age as an individual with violent tendencies, she was taken from her family and groomed to be a Datapoint—a biotech-enabled analyst who carries out the Culling. She is designed to identify and destroy any potential humans that threaten the colonies: those marked as lawbreakers, unproductive or sick. But when she’s kidnapped by rogue colonists known as the Ferrymen, everything Glade thinks she knows about the colonies, and The Authority that runs them, collapses into doubt.

Pulled between two opposing sides, and with her family’s lives hanging in the balance, Glade is unsure of who to trust—and time is running out.

In a solar system where The Authority decides who lives and who dies, only one of their own executioners can stop them.

Glade Io is a trained killer. Marked at a young age as an individual with...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781979225175
PRICE $2.99 (USD)

Average rating from 26 members


Featured Reviews

I want to thank  #NetGalley and #RelayPublishing for providing me with this ebook copy in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely loved this book. I stayed up late reading this book and not wanting to put it down. It is quick and entertaining. Suspenseful and full of literary prose that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I love Young Adult, and #TheCulling did not fail to impress. There was the perfect blend of romance, suspense and adventure with a strong female character. Great descriptive sentences with one of my favorite lines being

"His hair was like gossamer spider webs, perfectly metallic in color" *Loc280.

Ramona uses inventive descriptions of average objects throughout the whole book. There are lots of twists and turns, with the ending leaving you wanting more. Ramona Finn has captured my attention and my heart with this first novel in her trilogy of The Culling. 

The novel is set in a futuristic Solar System and begins on the Station, a training center for Datapoints. Telling the story of Glade Io, a female datapoint; which is a technical word for the half human, half computer mass executioners.  Glade has been training for a few years to become one of the best datapoints in the solar system, but has questions about the tech that has been integrated into her body; too many questions for the leader of the Authority, Jan Ernst Haven. You can feel her doubt every time she speaks to or about Haven, and the whole culling program from the moment that she has a problem with the simulation. At a young age she was exposed to a culling involving her family and it has stuck with her all her life.

Then the world that she knows is up heaved when the station is attacked by Ferrymen, and she is taken captive. But what happens after that is nothing like she was programmed to believe it would be. Increasing her doubts about the real reason behind the the Culling and if it is the best thing for the population of the solar system. 

I enjoyed Kupier and the relationship that ensues during her time with the ferrymen. His striking blue eyes seem to be the only bright and happy color within Glades life; looking up the meaning of the color blue it represents trust and loyalty. The author keeps coming back to his blue eyes and how reminiscent they are of earth's sky. I don't think this is a coincidence on the part of Ramona. I found myself looking forward to Glade and Kupier's interactions. His playfulness is uplifting and contagious. 

Reading about Glade's struggles with who she can trust was heart breaking at times. Towards the end she is forced into an impossible situation, she perseveres, only to discover it forced her into a corner. Emotionally she seems to be unraveling, she has to decide where her loyalty is and the truths that she must face. I am truly looking forward to the second book to find out how the events will unfold.  

Ramona Finn has a way with words that sets her apart from other authors. She keeps the tone light and soft while dealing with dark subjects of murder and brainwashing. One of my favorite lines from the novel is 

"An idea fluttered down like a feather from the sky." *Loc1255 

It is a poetic line while being in the context of anger and suspicion. 

I would recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys a Young Adult suspense with a bit of romance and teenage angst. 



*Finn, R. (2017). The Culling. United Kingdom; Relay Publishing

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You would think that in the years of the Hunger Games and even going as far back as the Handmaid’s Tale and 1984 that dystopians would have run their course. That they would have been dried up by now. Because let’s be real, how many dystopians can really be out there and not all sound the same?

Well, allow me to point you in the direction of The Culling. Because this was absolutely phenomenal and I’m highly upset that I have to wait until January to get my hands on the next book.

I loved the concept of Datapoints. Humans with tech in their bodies which makes them nearly robots along with sociopathic tendencies. Count me in! I was fascinated and also slightly afraid of them. I wouldn’t want to come across a Datapoint in a dark alley at night, that’s for sure.

I really enjoyed Glade’s POV. Sure, she was so entrenched in the belief of the Authority but I also liked that she questioned things. Even before she met Kupier. She had constantly questioned everything. I liked her confidence and I liked she was really into computers. Anytime a girl is interested in anything considered not girly, I get excited because that is awesome rep for girls in the science and technology field.

I also enjoyed that the POV was exclusive to just Glade. It added more to the story because clearly Glade didn’t know everything. With Jan Ernst Haven, we got a more sinister look of things that were happen. With Kupier, we got a look at the rebels who were trying to take the Authority down. With Dahn, we got a look inside what is considered the perfect Datapoint. Every POV brought something to the table and enhanced the story.

If I could offer one teeny tiny complaint, it would that I would have liked to have learned more about the creation of the Authority. How did humans attain space travel and are able to live in different planets? (Glade was from Io, a moon of Jupiter) How did someone come up with the idea of Culling? I would have liked to learn more about the tech and how it connects to the Datapoint. Just little things like that. I’m one of those that really love backstories.

Other than my super tiny complaint, this book was really spot on. I think this will be a great series and I’m anxious to see where it will go.

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This book is great for all ages! It's mot just a YA book to be sure. I loved the build up behind everything and the drama that was around every corner. I do so hope there will be another book because I wasn't ready for it to end.

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publisher synopsis: What happens to a girl trained as a executioner, who finds out her life is a lie?

In a solar system where The Authority decides who lives and who dies, only one of their own executioners can stop them.

Glade Io is a trained killer. Marked at a young age as an individual with violent tendencies, she was taken from her family and groomed to be a Datapoint—a biotech-enabled analyst who carries out the Culling. She is designed to identify and destroy any potential humans that threaten the colonies: those marked as lawbreakers, unproductive or sick. But when she’s kidnapped by rogue colonists known as the Ferrymen, everything Glade thinks she knows about the colonies, and The Authority that runs them, collapses into doubt.

Pulled between two opposing sides, and with her family’s lives hanging in the balance, Glade is unsure of who to trust—and time is running out.

This book is GOOD!! It has a killer with a conscious, a killer that the system depends on. What happens when the conscience voice gets louder and that person realizes what she will really be doing when its not a simulation.
Thought provoking and fascinating! Couldn't put it down!! Can't wait for the next in the series!!

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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