The Breeders (Breeders) by Katie French review

Sixteen-year-old Riley Meemick is one of the world's last free girls. When Riley was born, her mother escaped the Breeders, the group of doctors using cruel experiments to bolster the dwindling human race. Her parents do everything possible to keep her from their clutches-- moving from one desolate farm after another to escape the Breeders' long reach. The Breeders control everything- the local war lords, the remaining factories, the fuel. They have unchecked power in this lawless society. And they're hunting Riley.

When the local Sheriff abducts the adult members of her family and hands her mother over to the Breeders, Riley and her eight-year-old brother, Ethan, hiding in a shelter, are left to starve. Then Clay arrives, the handsome gunslinger who seems determined to help to make up for past sins. The problem is Clay thinks Riley is a bender-- a genderless mutation, neither male nor female. As Riley's affection for Clay grows she wonders can she trust Clay with her secret and risk her freedom?

The three embark on a journey across the scarred remains of New Mexico-- escaping the Riders who use human sacrifice to appease their Good Mother, various men scrambling for luck, and a deranged lone survivor of a plague. When Riley is shot and forced into the Breeder's hospital, she learns the horrible fate of her mother—a fate she'll share unless she can find a way out

Review 

From the get go The Breeders is edge of your seat type of book. Rileys world sucks!! The landscape is bleak, women are treated appallingly and boys are traded to the Riders for sacrifice to their God. Riley and her brother Ethan live on a secluded farm with her step dad, mum and aunt. If anyone comes near their farm the women and Ethan have to hide or they will be sold. Any woman of child baring ages are sold to The Breeders to try to help with the population problem.
Arn, Rileys step dad, goes to town miles away to trade but doesn't come back. Riley wraps up to go and find him. She eventually brings him home but trouble finds them! They are raided that night but Riley and Ethan manage to get to safety with a little help from Clay, the stranger who wants to help them. Her mother and Aunt are taken. Riley, Ethan and Clay set out to get them back. During her travels Riley gets shot and her only hope is to get help from The Breeders, what follows is a roller coaster of suspense, action and heartbreak.
From the first few pages I was hooked. The Breeders is definitely a page turner. The world is harsh and The Breeders are worse. Katie French has a way of story telling that is so vivid you are drawn into the book. Its a blood thirsty life where women are few a far between and those that are there are taken and used as incubators basically! Kids as young as 15, 16 have already had kids and will keep having kids till they are no good. Thats not even the worst of it. Plan B is the worst!!! Riley is such a tough little cookie and loyal to her family to a fault. She would do anything for them even if it costs her her life. Then Clay comes. In a world where men take what they want Clay is kind, sweet but also tough and can actually shoot straight!! Watching Riley and Clays friendship blossom was awesome.
The ending didnt wrap up everything so hopefully there will be another book. Highly recommend.

by Natalie Cleary

Thanks x