Saturday 9 February 2013

Audiobook Review: Altered (Altered #1) by Jennifer Rush



Altered (Altered, #1)Author: Jennifer Rush
Series: Altered
Pages: 336
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Contact Jennifer Rush: Website : Twitter : Facebook : Goodreads

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

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.

Review: 4 ½ out of 5 stars

I have been so eager to read Altered by Jennifer Rush; and I have to admit the pretty smexy cover is what initially caught my eye but the concept is what really intrigued me and I am so pleased this thrilling story captured my attention from the onset, held it and left me wanting more.

Eighteen year-old Anna Mason has been helping her father since the age of thirteen to monitor and test four genetically altered boys with amnesia in a secret basement below their home; Sam, Nick, Cas and Trev; she has always wondered about their purpose and The Branch who ran the program but has always been given the same answer; it was classified.

When The Branch shows up to retrieve ‘the units’, commotion erupts, the boys escape and are on the run – with Anna, they are now not only trying to remember the mystery of their pasts and who they were but also need to stay off the radar to avoid recapture.  
The clues and the codes we are given throughout about the boys, especially Sams' past gave the book an overall cryptic feel to it which I quite enjoyed trying to unravel.

Despite my initial thoughts of Anna being weak, she certainly came into her own and showed strength and resilience, she really grew as a character; I was quite shocked by a few revelations but I admired her actions and reactions.

The boys couldn’t have been more different; they each have a unique skill that makes them an integral part of the project, Sam was so serious and guarded and the clear leader, he is highly intelligent, broody and extremely swoon worthy, Cas was a comedian and bought humour to the story, Trev was the one Anna considered her best friend and Nick was downright mean! I never quite knew whether he could be trusted or not. I loved their differences and the brotherly bond and link they all shared.

Altered was my first audio book and despite not connecting with it initially, I soon became quite engrossed and real life was more or less put on hold. The action scenes conveyed the danger the boys were facing against The Branch in a way which left you on the edge of your seat, the romance was sweet and not at the forefront of the story and the many plot twists and turns (one betrayal left me gaping!) kept the pacing flowing well.

Despite thoroughly enjoying Altered, I also had a few minor issues when it came to the information we are provided with about the mysterious Branch and the scientific explanation behind the genetic modifications, I didn’t quite grasp this aspect, I wondered why their memories needed to be wiped, how they aged slower than usual and had strength beyond the norm despite being locked away for a period of time so I hope further details are given in the sequel.

Overall, Altered is a gripping debut for Ms. Rush with kick-butt action scenes, government conspiracies, intriguing mystery, and a sweet romance that I hope to see further developed as at the moment it seems a little one sided – on Anna’s part.

A great start to the Altered series by Jennifer Rush.

11 comments:

  1. I keep seeing this cover around but I didn't really know what it was about, but now I do! It sounds like a really interesting concept!

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    1. It was great Mandee :) definitely an interesting concept, I'm eager to read the sequel.

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  2. I just got this book and can't wait to check it out. I always like it when a book can shock you.

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  3. I think the dynamic between the boys was what really made the story. I loved them! I was confused by Nick's motives and I, too, wasn't sure if he could be trusted. I read the kindle version and I was captured from the very first moment I started reading this book and I fell in love with it. For me there was a little too much action and the development of the relationships between the guys could have been a little deeper. I think the WHY of the memory wiping will be one of the key points in the sequel so we'll get our answers from there. I hope, lol. In the end I enjoyed it and I'm so glad you did as well, Sharon! What a lovely review!! :)

    Siiri @ Little Pieces of Imagination

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    1. Thanks Siiri :)I really hope we do find out more of the 'why' in the sequel, it is one thing that did leave me curious. I think it would have been a 5 star read for me if I had read it rather than listened to it.

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  4. Well now you have me curious about the scientific aspect of the world-building and yeah the cover is smexy. This is on my list since you know I love dystopians!

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    1. I love the cover & it suits the character of Sam perfectly, just how I imagine him :)

      Thanks Kimba! the scientific aspect is one I am quite curious about.

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  5. EEP! I love this one just as much as you did! I read it on Hardback form a few weeks ago and LOVED it! One of my favourite reads of 2013 so far, it's a shame there hasn't been any major spotlight on this one!
    Great Review
    Lily @lilysbookblog

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    1. I agree! I haven't seen it around much but I was dying to get a hold of it - hence the reason I grabbed it in audiobook, I was too impatient to wait for TBD & it isn't available for Kindle Australia :(

      I really enjoyed it, it is definitely a fave!

      Thanks Lily :)

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  6. Wonderful review! Every time I see this book I want to read it and your review is spurring me on. Will definitely have to get it soon.

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