I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Defects by Sarah Noffke Narrator: Elizabeth Klett
Series: The Reverians, #1
Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform on August 6th 2015
Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
Pages: 222
Format: Audiobook
Source: Provided for review through Audiobook Blast/Boom
Goodreads
In the happy, clean community of Austin Valley, everything appears to be perfect. Seventeen-year-old Em Fuller, however, fears something is askew. Em is one of the new generation of Dream Travelers. For some reason, the gods have not seen fit to gift all of them with their expected special abilities. Em is a Defect-one of the unfortunate Dream Travelers not gifted with a psychic power. Desperate to do whatever it takes to earn her gift, she endures painful daily injections along with commands from her overbearing, loveless father. One of the few bright spots in her life is the return of a friend she had thought dead-but with his return comes the knowledge of a shocking, unforgivable truth. The society Em thought was protecting her has actually been betraying her, but she has no idea how to break away from its authority without hurting everyone she loves.
Julie’s Review:
Defects is a great dystopia full of action and betrayal and psychic abilities. I loved that this book doesn’t follow the trope of our heroine finding out she’s something special and taking a long time to accept her new existence. This story drops us into the Dream Traveler’s world, where everyone has special gifts (unless they are a Middling). Well, not everyone, not the Defects.
As we come to find out, the Defects are being given painful injections to try to “stimulate” their gifts – where in reality their gifts are being suppressed because these Defects have shown rebellious tendencies. We find out so many horrors about the Austin Valley society leaders, and what awful things they do to maintain control over everyone.
We come to get to know Em, and how badly she wants her gift, only to later realize why her gift hasn’t surfaced at puberty. Then there’s Rogue, who is a pretty awesome dude, escaping his father – the President of the society – and living off the grid until having to return to steal some medication for the mind-and-body-numbing headaches caused by withdrawal from the injections. But no injections means their gifts can surface, and we really get a chance to see how amazing Em is.
Together, they learn about all the horrors their fathers have planned and they fight back. Well, they start to at least. This is only the first book so there is more to come, but I’m already impressed and curious to see how these gifted kids will take down their oppressive leaders.
Interesting cover! 😉 The book sounds pretty good. I’m curious about the Defects, what kinds of gifts these kids have, and why Em’s gift didn’t manifest. I’m glad you enjoyed Defects, Julie, and I look forward to seeing what you think of the next installment. 🙂
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Hmm, this sounds interesting. I like that they’re given injections to suppress them- that’s an interesting take. This is anew series for me but sounds promising!
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