Reboot by Amy Tintera
4/5 stars
HarperTeen, 2013
352 pages
YA Dystopia
Scheduled to release May 7
Source: Received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book grabbed me with its blurb about humans "rebooting" after a set period of time-what sounded like a really cool twist on zombies, a paranormal creature I've never really cared about. I also loved the simple cover. Personally I like pretty dresses and lots of color but this one has a starkness that appealed (and the fact that 1-7-8 stands out is appropriate).
That reason is because our main character rebooted after 178 minutes, gifting her with exceptional abilities. She is known as 178 or alternately Wren. The longer it takes someone to reboot, the stronger they are. Because of that, she has been very talented at the work she has been assigned, providing support to the government and training new reboots. Wren has little patience for the lower numbers until 22 (or Callum) comes along and blows past all her defenses entwining them in romance and drastically changing the course of her rebooted life.
If you've read some of my recent reviews for HarperTeen books, this next statement will come as no surprise. I found the writing incredibly engaging and compulsively readable. I easily read this all in one day and had a tremendous amount of fun.
More surprising is that the romance was actually kind of my favorite part. Callum is super charming and I love the way he works his way under Wren's skin. She has been so tough for so long with everyone else afraid and intimidated by her but he doesn't have the good sense to fear her abilities, instead dancing with her and saying just the right things. He doesn't care that she's better than him at their job; he doesn't care that she's a brutal and merciless fighter/killer. He just loves her for who she is.
I'm less enthusiastic about everything else. This is a pretty dark dystopia with a lot of violence and death. I have no problem with that-it just paled compared to how the romance charmed me. Lingering questions include how this virus started as the beginnings of this dystopia world are sketchy. I am also wondering about the experiments the government's scientists are practicing on the lower numbered Reboots. We get a lot of hints at what's going on but not the full picture. The book also ends on a bit of a cliffhanger-who knows what will come next?
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I've been hearing some pretty awesome things about this book lately :) I love the whole rebooting idea! And Callum sounds awesome. Great review!
ReplyDeleteJanina @ Synchonized Reading
I thought Callum was just such a sweetheart and I totally swooned!
DeleteI am glad that the romance is so appealing. I thought Divergent was pretty dark too and I was initially hesitant to read it but I liked it in the end. Hopefully I will like this book also.
ReplyDeleteI feel like this is darker than Divergent, at least in concept. I hope you like this book too!
DeleteI've seen this book popping up lately, I'll keep my eyes open. Still undecided about it.
ReplyDeleteI've seen some reviews that just hated the romance and others that found the book as a whole pretty insubstantial and less than original. As someone who mostly reads contemporary, I found it offered enough appealing things to enjoy.
DeleteIt does seem like dystopias are getting darker! I think that's why I enjoyed the one so much about the chocolate and coffee! :--)
ReplyDeleteI love the Birthright series so far-cannot wait for book 3!
DeleteJust reviewed this yesterday, and the romance and the good writing and the readability of the plot won me over as well. Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think we had pretty similar reactions-I love when I agree so well with a fellow blogger!
DeleteOoh I'm glad the romance worked for you! This sounds like an intense read, I don't know if all the darkness would work for me because I don't usually read dystopias. Thanks for your review!
ReplyDeleteThere are some very intense action scenes especially near the end but it was balanced by the humor and romance-I really liked this!
DeleteI liked this book a lot too! I tend to suffer from dystopian/ post apocalyptic burn out but I really had fun reading Reboot! I liked Wren a lot (and Callum) and I liked watching her character grow and develop over the course of the book. I'm definitely invested enough to check out bk #2! Great review:)
ReplyDeleteI don't read that many dystopias but I've definitely felt the burnout too-this one helped renew my faith and kept me pretty engaged.
DeleteI've been hearing about this book a lot lately and I'm getting more curious as I read the reviews. I'm glad you enjoyed the romance. I wouldn't have thought there would be good romance in this one. Brilly review!
ReplyDeleteJen Ryland/YA Romantics had a great description of the romance as tough girl/sweet guy like in This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen aka my favorite Dessen book and one of my favorite books of all time. If that kind of romance appeals to you, I think this will really work for you.
DeleteThis has been getting loads of great reviews! I'm pretty curious about it myself and am hoping I can fit it in sometime this year. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a pretty fun fast read and I'm glad it came up in my review schedule-hope it will fit in yours!
DeleteI keep seeing this and the more the read the reviews, the more I want it. It sounds awesome. Great review.
ReplyDeleteJenea @ Books Live Forever
I think it's been getting more positive than negative so I hope you'll be able to pick it up and enjoy it too.
DeleteI can't wait to read this one! It's just really intriguing sounding, and I keep hearing pretty good things about it. =)
ReplyDeleteI've been pleased to see a lot of positive reactions to this-I thought it had a lot of good stuff.
DeleteLove, love, love dark dystopia and how can I resist this one ... my son's name is Callum lol
ReplyDeleteHaha-so cool to learn that-I love seeing familiar names in print!
DeleteI also really enjoyed this, and am dying for the next book! It's such an original take on zombies. Glad you enjoyed the romance so much—Callum IS pretty fantastic. :-) Amazing review!
DeleteLogically I knew they were zombies but I didn't really think of them as such, which is good as zombies tend to be more of a turnoff to me and then I would have missed out on sweet Callum.
DeleteAmazing review sweetie. <3 I loved the romance too. Best part. But I also loved the plot, and I cannot wait to see what will happen next :D So excited for book two. <3 This book was just perfect, and I'm so glad you loved it :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting on my blog. <3
Love, Carina @ Carina's Books
Yay-someone else loved the romance! Callum was just so swoony ;)
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