I got a signed copy of Time Zero by Carolyn Cohagan in a giveaway.

When I read the summary of this book, my first thought was "another YA dystopia, with a female lead," but as I started to read the book I realized that it was more than just than. This book deals a lot with misogynistic ideals. And in my opinion that is one of the biggest issues of our time. Many of the misogynistic ideals that Mina has to deal with I have personally seen. These cultures treat women as subhuman. It was scary how accurate the portrayal of the protagonist was. It was really hard to put this book down, once I started to read, I had to finish it.

SPOILERS AHEAD

When the Laurel Society was introduced, I felt it was a smaller version of the bigger society that Mina lived in; however in here the hatred was towards men instead of women. And I understand that if you’ve been oppressed by men all your life, you’d grow to hate men. It was a great part of the book, but I was hoping for something more in the lines of “a society where everyone is equal: men and women.”

Another part of the book that I didn’t particularly like was the addition of Mina’s brother, Dekker, to the group of people who escaped the society. Dekker was shown as someone who has conflicting ideas. He was genuinely sorry when Mina was burned, and that was good. But he was also shown as someone who hates women, who doesn’t respect women, and who was growing up to be someone who will oppress women in the future. I can see that he has the potential to be someone who can learn to respect women, but overall his character deserves to be left behind.

The leaf was a nice surprise. I wasn’t expecting it.

And lastly, I need to know if there will be a second book? And if there will be one, when will the book come out? This book was highly engaging and captivating. I would love to read the second edition to this great series.
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TIME ZERO is by far the best young adult novel I have read in ages. It's timely, compelling, and prompts teen and adult readers to question the world around them. I read the book in one sitting and could not put it down. I loved Mina, the main character, she was strong, vulnerable, inspiring and real. I also loved the world of the book, so foreign and yet so eerily familiar. In TIME ZERO, you are in for an epic adventure that empowers readers in their unique voice and identity while making them aware of the challenges and oppression many women in the world face right now. And the best thing? There is a book two. Also check out the book trailer: https://youtu.be/uxLCZBxJWgI. It rocks! ( )

Walls separate Manhattan from the rest of the world and strict religious laws govern its inhabitants, the women in particular. Mina is fifteen years old and it’s the day of her offering, a ceremony to arrange her marriage. If that wasn’t bad enough, her beloved grandmother is in hospital after a bad fall. This presents an urgent situation, for Nana has secretly been teaching Mina to read. To protect them both from the Teachers, Mina must retrieve the Primer. She does this, but finds herself in a dangerous situation when she attempts to prevent a public stoning. A boy called Juda rescues her, and their seedling romance ends before it can begin when Mina becomes engaged to Juda’s boss, Damon Asher. Mina soon discovers that the rich and powerful Ashers aren’t as pious as they appear and a sequence of disastrous events leads her to realise that salvation may lie with the leaf Nana left in the Primer.

Mina is an inspiring heroine. She’s bold and gutsy within the restraints placed on her by society, and positively daring when it comes to her early interactions with Juda. Fascinating dynamics govern the relationships Mina has with her family, as well as her interactions with her future mother-in-law. My one, major complaint with this book is that I don’t understand how such an extreme, patriarchal religion could hail a woman as a prophet. That said, I feel it could’ve worked if the author had developed the idea more. Time Zero surpassed my expectations. Cohagan intertwines an important narrative about misogyny with a web of intrigue that culminates in jaw-dropping plot twists.

(Reviewed for Reader's Favourite)
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Upon observing “Time Zero” by Carolyn Cohagan, I was astonished and pulled in by the cover as well as the synopsis. The reviews on the back of the book also allowed me a “foot in” and a sneak peek as to what I was initially getting into.

The author's main plot revolves around a girl named Mina Clark, and the observation and identification of the different lifestyles of girls around the world, portrayed through Mina's experiences, ways such as arranged marriages or not being allowed to go out without a man, etc. Mina thrived and survived through the challenges and then faced a much greater bump in the road that brought light to what she can really do, knowing how to read, and being in control of what she can do. The author was very successful in carrying out her purpose by pulling in and demonstrating real life instances. Cohagan is a wonderful author and storyteller, providing imagery in her stories and just simply letting the story flow, never repeating the same stuff as she always has more to tell.

The book seems best suited primarily for young adults interested in adventure, as well as what's going on in this world. I would recommend it to all orientations and genders, as well as readers age 14 and up, as there are extremist standpoints and such correlated into a story that a younger audience might not understand. I felt as if I was a part in the story, in Mina’s shoes as she struggled through what she went through in her life. Cohagan had a great story line and topic and did a splendid job writing and making it come to life. I enjoyed every part, except for the way they treated the women in the novel.

I gave “Time Zero” a 5-star rating, not only because Carolyn Cohagan is a great novelist, but because the storyline was great as well. I really enjoyed the book and will definitely read it again as she has a wonderful writing style. Mina wasn't “just” a girl in this novel, but a girl that never gave up, no matter the situation. ( )