REVIEW: Peacock Swamp: The Nine by Katie Femia

Peacock Swamp: Book 1 | The Nine

In 2064, The Nine are preparing to assemble. This board of individuals is President Madame LaFonte’s solution to an ailing nation in search of medical care. While it seemed ideal at first, the folks of the borough are quickly discovering it isn’t quite what it seems. The lucky ones are issued a red gown and another chance at life. That’s the happy ending. However, not everyone gets a red gown. The others have to make their own second chance at life--if they’ve got the heart to do what it takes. When the superstitions of the swamplands run just as deep as the mud, every little bit of luck helps. They named her Vitalia, a name that means life. But her name was the only advantage that she had. In need of a heart transplant, Vita leaves Peacock Swamp behind to stand before The Nine. With her family by her side, they run into the dangers that government healthcare has created: an underground medical clinic that services the rejected citizens...for a price. Her whole life has been a struggle. Why should her death be any different?

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 RATING: 4 stars

REVIEW: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In this book we follow the story of Vitalia, a teenage girl with a weak heart. Not truly a weak heart as in emotional, but a weak heart as in, its congenital heart failure, and its getting worse. Her parents do the only option that is legally available to them. They take her and their younger son to the capital city where hopefully, the Nine members of the council will determine that Vitalia's case is absolutely awful enough, and she is worthy enough, for them to step in and give her a new heart.
During their trip into the capital, Vitalia and her little brother evade the underground black market of body parts that the government has unwittingly created as they wait for her time before the Council and their judgement that will ultimately determine her life.
This book was very well-written, though I found the beginning to be hard to get into and a bit sluggish. The last third of the book completely swept me away, and by the end, I completely fell in love with the book. The ending had a horrifying twist to it that made me need to read the next.