Series: Book One in the Blackout Series
Published By: HarperTeen (October 1, 2013)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Science Fiction/Fantasy
My Rating: 3.5 Stars!
Book Description:
Laura and Alec are trained terrorists.
Jack and Aubrey are high school students.
There was no reason for them to ever meet.
But now, a mysterious virus is spreading throughout America, infecting teenagers with impossible powers. And these four are about to find their lives intertwined in a complex web of deception, loyalty, and catastrophic danger—where one wrong choice could trigger an explosion that ends it all.
My Thoughts and Review:
It isn't often that I purposely pick up a book that I know has science fiction undertones simply because I have a love hate relationship with the genre but the synopsis on this just appealed to me too much to ignore and I was really hoping that the dystopian feel of it would make it worth the read and overshadow any of the sci fi element I was nervous about.
So I went into this with a little trepidation expecting little but hoping for a lot.
What I did get was a very original concept with a lot of twists and turns, a sweet slow building romance, and a fast paced adventure that will leave you thrilling and wanting the next installment.
While I wasn't in love with the story, I did enjoy and appreciate it and as it turns out, I needn't have worried about the sci fi undertones at all. They weren't too over the top or overbearing to the storyline and the character, their abilities and their secrets definitely made it worth the read.
The world that Aubrey and Jack live in is a world of chaos with constant threats and attacks from terrorists. Where no one is what they seem and everyone is considered enemy number one, especially teenagers like themselves, teenagers with abilities that scare the adults around them.
While this was a great fast paced read, the ending left me reeling with unexpected turns and twists and of course questions left unanswered. I can only hope that the next book will shed more light on all of those questions.
*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*
Expecting little but hoping for a lot is how I usually go into these titles, and I end up disappointed more often than not. I usually adore stories about teenagers with abilities and I'm sorry to hear that this fell short. It's on my schedule very soon.
ReplyDeleteLovely review, Ali.
I hope you like it more than I did Maja! :)
ReplyDeleteSciFi is a genre I enter into with some trepidation as well Ali, I always worry it will lose me in the complexity of the world, so I'm glad that wasn't at all the case with this one. I like that there's a slow building romance, that's such a rarity these days, but I think I'm going to wait on this book based on what you said about the end. I need the next book in hand before I can deal with this one!
ReplyDeleteYeah, sometimes I do with I would wait with these ones until the next is out. The cliffhangers can be killer!
ReplyDeleteI liked this a little more than you, and loved the little romance developing. Oooh but you are right about the ending..gads and now we have to wait!
ReplyDeleteThis one doesn't appeal to me terribly much, but I'm not sure why. I do like that there's a slow building romance though, that's a big bonus!
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to have a slow build in the romance department every now and then instead of all the insta love that is so popular right now.
ReplyDeleteHmmm ... I was on the fence when I first saw this, but I don't know if it'll b for me. I just expect cliffhangers now. How sad it that?
ReplyDeleteNot sad at all Christy!
ReplyDeleteI have this book to read also. I hope I like it. Thanks for the great review.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I'm going to read this one because I'm a bit overloaded on sci-fi right now, but I'm glad to hear you were able to enjoy it despite having your reservations. If it had been a wow you love it sort of read, I might add it to my TBR pile (which already has a ton of sci-fi on it), but since it wasn't total love, I feel okay skipping this one. Great review :-)
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