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    How We Became Wicked
    How We Became Wicked
    How We Became Wicked
    Audiobook9 hours

    How We Became Wicked

    Written by Alexander Yates

    Narrated by Lauren Ezzo

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    When an insect-borne plague begins to envelop the world, three sixteen-year-olds struggle to survive amongst the healthy “trues” and the infected “wickeds” in this gripping dystopian tale from the author of The Winter Place.

    A plague, called Wickedness, is pulsing through the world; and in its wake, it’s dividing the population into thirds:

    The WICKED: Already infected by the droves of Singers, the ultraviolet mosquito-like insects who carry the plague, the Wicked roam the world freely. They don’t want for much—only to maim and dismember you. But don’t worry: They always ask politely first.

    The TRUE: The True live in contained, isolated communities. They’re the lucky ones; they found safety from the Singers. And while the threat of the Wicked may not be eliminated, for the True, the threat has certainly been contained…

    The VEXED: The Vexed are the truly fortunate ones—they survived the sting of the Singers, leaving them immune. But they’re far from safe. The Vexed hold the key to a cure, and there are those who will do anything to get it.

    In this brilliantly realized novel, three teens—Astrid, Hank, and Natalie—start to realize that the divisions of their world aren’t as clear as they seem, and are forced to question what being wicked truly means.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateJul 23, 2019
    ISBN9781721374212
    Author

    Alexander Yates

    Alexander Yates was born in Haiti and grew up in Mexico, Bolivia, and the Phillipines. He is the author of the critically acclaimed adult novel Moondogs and the YA novels, The Winter Place and How We Became Wicked. He lives with his wife in Hanoi, Vietnam.

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    Reviews for How We Became Wicked

    4.5/5

    88 ratings12 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      If you love Ya or adult dystopian fiction you will love this book. I always hate how slowly authors sometimes paint the environment and world situation but that didn't happen here. You learned pretty quickly why things were the way they are and you get to enjoy the story and the action more. The twist near the end actually shocked me and ive read a lot of books where the twist was pretty obvious right off, not this book. I 100% recommend reading/listening!

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I loved it! The plot twists literally had me screaming!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I liked this book. Usually I don’t read single book novels but this one had me hooked.
    • 5/5
      This was actually a really good one! It kept you entertained and the end was completely unexpected… for me at least.
    • 5/5
      So good! I never could guess what happened next. I love a book that keeps me on my toes
    • 5/5
      Super cute book. Kind of quirky and a lot of morbid humor.
    • 4/5
      I have never been so scared of somebody else's grandpa.
    • 4/5
      Slow but the end is brilliant. Great world and character creation.
    • 4/5
      Loved this book. If you want smart, quick on her feet and no nonsense female main characters this is for you. The author does a fantastic job at making the tense scenes almost unbearable, always wondering when the other shoe is going to drop. It is dual POV for those that may not be into that, but this story is fully of creative disgusting awesomeness. I do feel like the wicked could have gotten more gruesome scenes, and there is still a very big question i had at the end. I’ll ask it because i don’t think it will be a spoiler, but a warning to those who don’t want to hear it.









      Who was the villain in the end?
    • 5/5
      this book is wonderful, though i also wanted to cry through the last bit of it. i wish there was a sequel to it, maybe with the findings of a cure for those who have turned wicked? The author and narrator both did great work, the author with how well they word and catch the multiple emotional situations, along with the curve ball that is thrown at the readers two thirds of the way through, and the narrator with how well executed the wicked are in their work.
    • 5/5
      This was one of the best dystopian novels I have ever read.
    • 4/5
      Evergreen bk award nominee 2022: A plague called "the Wickedness" has spread through the world and it's dividing the population into: "The Wicked", infected; "the True" not infected; "the Vexed" immune - spread by mosquito/dragonfly like insects called "singers". Main character Astrid has lived her entire life in a glass enclosed protected community called Goldsport close to the coastline of Maine; she and the only other teen in the community, Hank, wonder if Puffin Island, with a lighthouse that occasionally lights up, potentially have True residents still surviving there ...but all the adults in their lives refuse to tell them anything and forbid them from going. THAT's just the start...this is an usual mystery/horror/dystopian novel : one, the plot and setting/world building are spooled out carefully - no wasted passages here; two, Astrid and Hank are typical teens but with family struggles (trigger alert: Hank suffers occasional harsh punishments at the hands of his father) and while the seem destined to be boyfriend/girlfriend and have "fooled around" a LOT, Astrid has recently stepped back, insisted they just be friends-and oh yeah: Astrid is unique: she's one of the Vexed. Three: a second narrator, teenager Natalie, one of the few residents on Puffin Island, comes into the storyline, and both stories are told with great pacing, rising suspense, & even a bit of macabre humor: the Wicked are strangely normally looking and speaking in all ways, EXCEPT the horrible virus has rendered them incapable of any human restraint or empathy for others. They behave like four yr olds in a nursery and cannot comprehend their actions- great "creep factor": they may speak to you cheerfully about coming into your conclave so they can "stab you in the heart and tear out your lungs"- no conniving, no subterfuge, sudden shifts. And for me, the author goes one layer more: (the title implies it) but his story subtly asks readers to consider who are truly the "wicked"- excellent thematic /character development treatment in here. Others have criticized the supporting characters' treatment, but I think author does a good job. AND (my favorite) a twist you don't see coming until the last pages...so worth it. Read this book in one day..yeah, I binged and lost a good night's sleep - it was worth it! Author hints there may be a sequel.