Theme Week: Sever by Lauren DeStephano

Rhine is caught between her unquiet past and her uncertain future in this third book in the riveting, New York Times bestselling dystopian young adult trilogy reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale. This special 15th anniversary edition features a brand-new look!

Time is ticking down until the virus takes its toll, and Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed, and she takes refuge in his dilapidated house. But the people she left refuse to stay in the past—while Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, her twin brother Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. And what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future and for the past her parents never had the chance to explain—forcing Rhine to reconsider everything she thought to be true.

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The final reckoning of freedom, choices, and consequences.

Pre-Reading Thoughts:
I’m expecting tension at its peak—Rhine’s past, present, and future all colliding. With the virus ticking and Rowan’s resistance involvement, I anticipate tough moral choices, emotional reckonings, and answers that have been teased throughout the trilogy.

Post-Reading:
As I thought… The final book ramps up the stakes and emotional intensity. Rhine’s journey reaches its peak, and the threads from the previous books weave together satisfyingly. Seeing her confront her past and make decisive moves toward the future is compelling and tense.

It surprised me by… How much the relationships and memory hauntings shaped Rhine’s decisions. Even minor characters’ choices created ripples that forced Rhine to adapt constantly. The emotional resonance of the conclusions—both tragic and hopeful—hit harder than I expected.

Music Pairing:
🎵 Featured Song: “Run” – Foals (driving, urgent, a fight against time and fate)
🎶 Vibe Album: Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Part 1 – Foals (chaotic energy, survival, reflection)
🎧 Artist Recommendation: Daughter (ethereal, emotionally charged, perfect for Rhine’s inner struggle)

Vibe Check:

• Colour Palette: Deep purples, muted blues, pale gray

• Soundtrack: Rustling leaves, echoes of footsteps, distant sirens, tense silence

• Season: Late autumn—decay and endings mingling with fleeting warmth

• Mood: Tense, reflective, bittersweet

• Scent: Wet earth, faint antiseptic, smoke from distant fires

Tarot Pull:

The Hanged Man – Rhine is in a moment of reflection and sacrifice, forced to reconsider her past and the choices that have shaped her. The card mirrors the series’ culmination: endings and decisions are looming, and seeing things from a new perspective is essential to move forward.

For Fans Of:
Books: Wither and Fever by Lauren DeStefano, The 100 series (for survival and tough choices)
TV/Movies: The Handmaid’s Tale (for dystopian tension and moral complexity)

Sever publishes on the 17th January, 2026. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.