The fallout from this disaster drastically set apart the poor, who scavenge for food in a society that has few to no workers, from the rich, who celebrate each new building built as the continuance of the human race.

Gatherers hunt for young girls on the streets to sell them into labs for research, and the unwanted ones go into prostitution or are simply killed.

By the novel's end, Rhine successfully escapes the mansion with Gabriel and begins a journey back to New York to find her twin brother, Rowan.

It was published in the Italian language under the title Il Giardino Degli Eterni: Dolce Veleno on April 7, 2011.

[6] Publishers Weekly gave Wither a starred review, calling DeStefano's debut novel "harrowing".

[8] Kirkus Reviews recommends Wither "to fans of The Hunger Games trilogy or Ally Condie's Matched."

[9] Carrie Ryan, author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, says about Wither: "Lauren DeStefano crafts an all too believable future.