Stung
Stung, Book 1
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Stung
Buy Now for $20.27
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Narrated by:
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Nicole Poole
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Written by:
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Bethany Wiggins
Fiona doesn't remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered - her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right wrist - a black oval with five marks on either side - that she doesn't remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost.
And she's right.
When the honeybee population collapsed, a worldwide pandemic occurred and the government tried to bio-engineer a cure. Only the solution was deadlier than the original problem - the vaccination turned people into ferocious, deadly beasts who were branded as a warning to unvaccinated survivors. Key people needed to rebuild society are protected from disease and beasts inside a fortress-like wall. But Fiona has awakened branded, alone - and on the wrong side of the wall.
©2013 Bethany Wiggins (P)2017 TantorContinue the series
Stung is a fascinating and brutal take on a dystopian world, though it takes some patience to fully immerse yourself in it. The first six chapters felt frustratingly disorienting, with little explanation for the chaos unfolding. However, once the pieces started falling into place, the story became incredibly compelling.
What stood out most was the stark depiction of societal inequality—a world sharply divided between crushing poverty and abundance. The parallels to historical exploitation (like Rome’s gladiatorial games) were both repulsive and eerily plausible, making the dystopia feel uncomfortably real. The use of violent spectacle as entertainment was disturbing, yet it underscored the novel’s critique of power and dehumanization.
Despite the slow start, the payoff was worth it. The ending was satisfying, tying together the stakes and character arcs in a way that felt earned. If you don’t mind an initial mystery that gradually unravels, Stung delivers a dark, thought-provoking read.
A gritty, inventive dystopia with a rewarding (if delayed) payoff.
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