Reborn by Jennifer Rush: Review

Synopsis:

An action-packed, romantic, and suspenseful third book in the Altered series.

The Branch is in shambles, but Anna, Sam, Cas, and Nick can't rest easy. Remnants of the organization lurk unseen and the flashbacks to their old lives are only getting stronger--especially Nick's.

Following scattered memories and clues from his Branch file, Nick sets off alone in search of answers and in search of the girl who haunts his dreams. But the sleepy town where she lives in full of secrets and Nick soon learns that uncovering their shared past may have deadly consequences.

***

"Oceans are vast and almost bottomless. You play in the rain, Elizabeth. You drown in the sea."

I was really excited about Reborn. After all, my experience with Erased is more than nice. While this book still leaves me impressed, I feel like it hasn't really met up to my standards. There are just some flaws in the book that can't be ignored.

I like that the book has many links with the previous books, including the novella, Betrayed. Some of them might not be obvious, but there are quite a lot of them. The presence of Anna and Sam and Cas is one of the more obvious ones. I really appreciate that Jennifer Rush keeps a significant amount of history in Reborn. It gives me a sense of satisfaction as I don't think I'd be able to see it as a book from the Altered series without Anna and Sam and Cas. It also gives me a sense of closure because Anna and Sam has their own life now. 

Nick is quite an interesting narrative. He's a douche bag. Yes, don't even deny it. But he also has a complicated past. One that is filled with horrible memories. One that he doesn't even know the whole of it. He has this nonchalance on the surface. But deep down he really cares, despite his dickish moves sometimes. I got a glimpse of that Nick in Erased. But it's nothing compared to a book half written in Nick's perspective. It's really easy to bond with this character. As messed-up as he is, he's surprisingly realistic, and I kind of want more books about him.

Elizabeth, however, is another story. Thing is, it's hard to imagine her character. She's described as having anxiety problems because of what happened to her a few years ago on a regular basis. However I can't really see her as that. The description does not fit her actions. She's a nice and normal girl, of course. Well, as normal as she can be when something really gross and horrifying happened to her a few years back. But I feel a sense of detachment from her character. With Nick being the spotlight, the light of Elizabeth as a narrative is actually being cloaked by Nick. She has an interesting story nonetheless, and despite the fact that I can't bond to her character, I still can bond to her story. She, too, has a complicated background. And they are laced with suspense and secrets. What can I say, it's hard not to like her background.

The ending is also slightly too rushed. It's a good ending, but some things have gone unexplained. I guess part of the reason is that a lot of things happen at the very same time. But I would like more closure. The fact that a certain someone still escaped and another certain someone has disappeared completely without further explanation is bugging me a lot. I'm not sure if it's meant to be a trilogy or if there will be more books after Reborn. But I want explanation for this... bizarreness.

Despite some obvious flaws, I still think Reborn is a good story. It's so finely entwined with the previous stories that everything gets way more tense when the truth dawns on the characters. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Erased: Review

Synopsis:

They thought they had escaped. They were wrong.

After fleeing the Branch with Sam, Cas, and Nick, Anna is trying to make sense of the memories resurfacing from her old life. At the same time, she's learning how to survive in hiding, following Sam's rules: Don't draw attention to yourself. Always carry a weapon. Know your surroundings. Watch your back.

Then a figure from Anna's childhood reappears. Is it a Branch setup, or could it be the reunion Anna has hoped for? Uncertain of where her loyalties lie, Anna must fight to learn the truth -- before she is betrayed again. Ultimately, the answers hinge on one question: What was the real reason her memories were erased?

Jennifer Rush delivers a thrilling sequel to Altered in a novel packed with mysteries, lies, and surprises that are sure to keep readers guessing until the last page is turned.

***

This is even better than Altered. No kidding. It's gotta be one of the best sequels I've ever read. Figures from the past emerges. Someone close to you in the past may just be your mortal enemy. The puzzle is getting harder and harder to solve. Secrets are revealed, and they might just break you or get you killed. 

There are so many good parts about this book. First is Anna and Sam's relationship. It has solidified, which is more than great. Because I really hate to see one side hiding something from the other, even if it's just for protection. Despite their distance (well, relatively), they've been through so much together, which kinda makes up for it. 

And then another really surprisingly good part is Nick. Yes you heard me right. Nick, the douche bag and angst-ridden teen you met in Altered. As Anna and Nick getting flashbacks from their past, they realized they're more connected than they've ever imagined. You will see a side of Nick that's never been seen before. And oh man, it's very sweet. My bad opinions towards him have completely vanished. Glad to see Nick finally opens himself up, if just a little bit.

There's the twists. Can't miss them. Not that they're not completely unpredictable. In fact a logical part of me knows that some of my theories might very well be the outcome. But for some reason I just can't imagine my theories actually happening. Some of them are a little heart-breaking (particularly involving a certain someone's sister). Speaking of a certain someone's sister, the logical part of me will say that she's perfectly hate-able. But the more emotional part of me understands her motives. Back to those twists. I can't reveal anymore, because that will be spoilers. But let's just say the real reason that Anna's memories are wiped is a little unfathomable.

But then there's one part that left me confused. That's the ending. Well... it ends as expected, but I just don't understand how the story can continue when the threat is just a little too small to carry on. The closure in Erased is pretty nice, so I can't understand how there's a third book. The whole situation reminds me of Of Triton. Because Of Triton ends really well, and I have a hard time understanding how there's a sequel behind it. I just hope that the sequel after Erased will be as good as this book.

Yes, I really like Altered series. And I just can't understand how I took so long to discover it. So give it a try, guys. This might actually be one of your favorite series. (Altered might not be a favorite of mine, but I really like it.)

Rating: 8.5/10

Forged: Review

Synopsis:

Before Anna and Sam, there was Dani and Sam.
There's one rule that all Branch operatives must live by: No attachments. When Dani O'Brien entered the Branch, she planned to trade her freedom so that her family could have a better life. But joining up with the mysterious organization is more than she bargained for. Branch head Connor watches over her closely--too closely. The training is brutal, the experiments are secret, and the missions promise to be anything but ordinary. The only thing getting Dani through each day is the hope that she'll run into Sam--a young man, about her age, who wears the world on his shoulders.

Find out how it all began in this short-story prequel to Jennifer Rush's thrilling and suspenseful Altered series.

***

If you are interested in Dani alone, then I'm not against you reading this prequel. But if you're interested in Dani and Sam's relationship, then this novella will not be the one for you, to say at the very least. Because it gives nothing about their relationship. NOTHING. When you think you know Sam more... the ending just makes you want to throw your e-reader away. I'm not going to spoil you on what happened at the end, but you will probably regret reading this.

And this doesn't give much of a insight of what the Branch is truly up to. Yes, it shows how cruel the Branch is and how sick Connor is. But that's it. No more. It's very disappointing. The only think that I really like is Dani's personality. Apparently she's protective when it comes to her little sister. She will do anything for her. But then the whole good personality thing only raised my fury more as I REALLY WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT DANI AND SAM TOGETHER AND YOU DIDN'T GIVE ME THAT!!!!

Rating: 5/10

Altered: Review

Synopsis:

When you can’t trust yourself, who can you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

***

Altered is set in a world where Anna thinks that everything is normal -- well, as normal as you can be when you are homeschooling and running tests on four boys with no memory of how they got to Anna's home base. And then one day shit hits the fan and Anna finds herself in grave danger of being held captive by a sort-of crazy organization. Worse, she discovers that she's also not a normal girl whose sole job is to run tests on the four boys. She's something more. Something crucial.

This book has got my attention right from the very first chapter. The whole idea of four boys who are genetically altered living just right below your house is just absurd and a little terrifying. And then there's the whole not-remembering-who-they-really-are thing, which makes the whole situation more mysterious, and a whole lot more interesting. When they have to set out to find the truth, it's a mind-blowing journey, and nothing short of amazing.

The plot is awesome, and the characters are strong too. Anna is a determined and strong girl. Not that I like her, because sometimes I just can't find a reason to like her (even though I haven't found a reason not to like her), she's definitely likable. Sam is wary and good at strategy. Always calculating his next move. I admire his skills (of course his skills are admirable. He's freaking genetically altered, for god's sake). But sometimes I despise that because he's always calculating and stuff. Just once can you be a tad bit softer? Trev was my favorite character. He's very smart and caring. I like him... until a certain something that makes me change my view towards him. And then there's Cas, who is the light one. Always try to live his life to the fullest, regardless of the situation. And then Nick... well, he's kind of a dick (okay, he's really a dick). But for some reason I just can't hate him. Even less so when I find out the reason behind his dickheadness. They are very different people, but they all have a very strong image to me.

A minor flaw about Altered is that the book is a little too short. Sure, the book has set the roots of the problems that will be raised in the following books, and it ends pretty well. But I think more can be evolved from the story. Like... I don't know, some more flashbacks from other characters, not just Sam? Well, flashbacks or not, I think more can be talked about in this book. I feel like I'm getting not enough from Altered.

So yeah, Altered is a very good YA novel. It's worth-reading and I think everyone should give it a try.

Rating: 8/10