Book Review: Birthmarked

Birthmarked is written by Caragh M. O'Brien, and is the first in the trilogy.

(btw, there are two different covers for the book, this is the lesser seen one, but I like it better.)

Summary:
Gaia Stone works as midwife in the enclave. In the enclave, each midwife must take the first three children born per month inside the wall of the city. They grow up with a new family there. This is the way the people inside the walls keep prospering. She learns from her mother, and the first night she births a child unassisted, her parents disappear. She hears they have been taken inside the walls, where they are being held for treason. Gaia hears her parents kept a record of all the children that were taken inside the walls. And since there are only two midwives in Western Sector Three, that means all the kids in the sector were recorded. Along with their birthdates, which their biological parents would know by heart. Gaia knows her parents are in deep trouble, and she is too.

Profanity:
Bastard, and slut come up a few times.

Romance:
A kiss. Plus brief mention about a brothel.

Violence:
A few hangings. Gaia delivers a baby by blade delivery after the mother dies. She watches someone die.

Age Suggestion:
13+

My Opinion:
It was amazing. From the first page you are drawn into Gaia's story, and your interest never falters. I've always been interested in midwifery, but even if I hadn't I would have loved the book. The action, suspense, and the romance (which is on the side... can I get a "Whoohoo!!" I love that the romance took a backseat to the plot, but it was still there) was enough to keep me up really really late.
Anyway, this book was absolutely fantabulous... and the ending, of course, is a cliffhanger. I can't wait to read the next one, Prized!! :)