Monday, June 29, 2015

REVIEW: Freak of Nature by Julia Crane

Freak of Nature (IFICS, #1) 
 Freak of Nature
by Julia Crane
Genre(s): Young adult, Sci-fi, Romance
Pages: 284
Published: Jan 2013
 Publisher: Valknut Press



Official Summary:  "Donate Body to Science. Check.
When seventeen-year-old Kaitlyn checked the box, she never suspected she’d have her life–and her body–stolen from her. She awakens one day in a secret laboratory to discover that her body is now half-robot and is forced to hide her own secret: that she still has human emotions and a human mind. If the scientists who made her find out, they’ll erase what remains of who she was.

Kaitlyn finds an unlikely ally in Lucas, a handsome, brilliant scientist who can’t get over the guilt he feels knowing she was once a vibrant, beautiful young woman. He never expected a science project to affect him the way she does. As he tries to help her rediscover her past, he finds himself falling for the brave girl struggling to find her place and acceptance between the human and computer worlds."
Review:  The premise of the story is great. Yet the story didn't grab me quite like I had hoped. Not that it was bad! I still enjoyed it but I far from loved it.

My main issue was Kaitlyn. I felt strangely detached from her. She was created to not have emotions or feelings yet she does. but how that came across to me as a reader was empty. I didn't feel much curiosity and for all she is suppose to feel and understand she goes along with what everyone else tells her WAY to easily. So I got no distinct personality. No idea what she does or doesn't like. At the VERY end I get a brief glimmer finally but the rest was just being told what she felt. I was definitely an audience member and not a part of this story.


Lucas' perspective was a bit better but even he was rather dull. I like getting to really know the main characters. Their personalities and quirks and this book is void of that for just about anyone.

The story itself was easy to read. It seemed shorter than it was and I had hoped a bit more what happen, but it still moves along reasonably well. Scenes like the paintball war I would have loved to see elaborated on. Simply hearing That she ran and within a few seconds had tagged everyone is not that exciting to read. Again, being told the story from a detached place. The writing is simple and decent enough, but seemed to target more a middle grade reading level.

This is suppose to be a series but I am unsure if I will continue. I don't like not finishing a series but I just had a hard time really enjoying this one. While it isn't bad, I felt like I was reading simply to say I read. No deep pleasure which I love felling with a book.

1 comment:

  1. The summary looks great. It sounds like it reads more like a news story, with just the facts. It's hard to be invested in characters and their story when you're given little detail. Thanks for the honest review, I think I'll pass on this one.

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