Book Review: The Dysasters by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

The Dysasters

Authors: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Publication Date: 26 February 2019

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 320

Publisher: Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press)

Synopsis:

Adoptive daughter of a gifted scientist, Foster Stewart doesn’t live a “normal” life, (not that she’d want to). But controlling cloud formations and seeing airwaves aren’t things most eighteen year olds can do.

Small town star quarterback and quintessential dreamy boy next door, Tate “Nighthawk” Taylor has never thought much about his extra abilities. Sure, his night vision comes in handy during games, but who wouldn’t want that extra edge?

From the moment Foster and Tate collide, their worlds spiral and a deadly tornado forces them to work together, fully awakening their not-so-natural ability – the power to control air.

As they each deal with the tragic loss of loved ones, they’re caught by another devastating blow – they are the first in a group of teens genetically manipulated before birth to bond with the elements, and worse… they’re being hunted.

Now, Foster and Tate must fight to control their abilities as they learn of their past, how they came to be, who’s following them, and what tomorrow will bring… more DYSASTERS?

My Thoughts:

Foster Stewart is an 18 years girl who had her DNA genetically modified with oxygen during embryonic development, which gives her the ability to control the element of air. Tate Foster is her 18 year old male counterpart. They are both orphaned after tornadoes ravaged a small town in Missouri thanks to a combination of their powers as well as those of the Core Four.

Foster and Tate embark on a journey to discover the truth about their abilities while trying to stay hidden from the Core Four, the four elemental children created by the evil geneticist Dr. Rick Stewart who was responsible for altering their DNA. It is also up to them to track down the other three pairs of elemental siblings that were created just like they were.

I really enjoyed the character development of both Foster and Tate, as well as how they grew together to operate as a team. Foster definitely hated Tate since he’s the typical jock archetype, but as they band together to save the universe, their slow-burn romance begins to sizzle.

The plot was slow and disjointed at first, but I think it was executed well because it highlighted the chaos and confusion that both Foster and Tate were growing through. Once I powered through that, I couldn’t stop reading to see what happened next as more tidbits of the plot was revealed.

My only gripe with this book was that vernacular. It is definitely written in a more common dialogue, so the amount of teen angst (especially from Foster) got a bit old at some points. Again, I think that the authors perfectly captured what it’s like to be around teenagers 24/7, but that was the only thing that I was not such a fan of.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next adventure that awaits Foster and Tate as well as the other dysasters.

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press) for providing an eARC of this book. This did not bias my review, and all opinions are my own.

Rating: 4 stars