(Review originally posted on The Artist Librarian) 
 The concept of a society in which you knew when you would die (often represented by a ticking clock or counter) has been tackled by several speculative fiction authors and in Hollywood. In Time, a 2011 dystopian film starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried comes to my mind first. However, in A Time to Die, Nadine Brandes gives her own unique take on the concept in a dystopian that kept my e-reader on up until the wee hours of the morning! 
 One of the most important parts of a dystopian novel is the world-building. Brandes' vision of a post-apocalyptic North American society (in Missouri, to be specific) and their technology and government is fascinating. While I was still left with questions on how exactly the Clocks are matched at conception and why with all the technology seemingly required for these Clocks, they wouldn't be able to ultrasound or determine how many children a pregnant mother was carry (perhaps it will be expanded upon in future books), I was able to accept the idea of the Clocks existence for the story's sake (plus, it's just a really neat concept). 
 However, A Time to Die goes beyond your typical dystopian. Perhaps a bit reminiscent of YA survival stories that began with Gary Paulsen's classic Hatchet, our teenage protagonist fights to survive the wilds: fending for herself outside the Wall. Some of this portion of the story seems to stretch credibility: Parvin's described multiple times in the story as thin and not very strong, yet the amount of physical injuries she is able to sustain with a bare minimum of sustenance (not to mention a later handicap) ... I don't know how accurate that would be, but I also understand you can't underestimate human tenacity and the will to survive, so I employed literary suspension of disbelief. ;-) 
 Regardless, it's definitely intense and Brandes has no qualms about pushing her protagonist into huge, life-changing situations that have permanent effects ... dare I say, shocking? There's lot of things for readers unpack, think about, and discuss, for sure! Fortunately, Parvin is a character that I think teens and other YA fiction readers will be able to relate to. She makes mistakes, learns from them, and struggles with those big "Who am I?" questions: 
 "I consider my own question. Am I supposed to make decisions? Or should I wait until I know God has told me something? Have I ever known? No. So then how do I find out God's plan for me?" 
 And wow. The ending. Let's just say I'm just glad the sequel will be releasing later next month in October ... 
 Part dystopian, part survival story, along with a dash of romance and some crazy plot twists --Brandes' Out of Time series is off to a unforgettable start! 
 [Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author for review purposes.]