Title: Perception
Author: Lee Strauss
Series: Perception #1
Publisher: ESB Publishing
Published: September 12, 2012
About the book:
Seventeen year old Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans.
Her brother Liam is missing.
Noah Brody is a natural who lives on the outside. He leads protests against the GAPs and detests the widening chasm they’ve created between those who have and those who don’t. He doesn’t like girls like Zoe and he has good reason not to like her specifically.
Zoe’s carefree life takes a traumatic turn. She’s in trouble and it turns out that Noah, the last guy on earth she should trust, is the only one who can help her.
PERCEPTION is a ( SF/mystery/romance) Young Adult novel that takes place in the not too distant future in a world changed by climate extremes, natural disasters and impending wars, and where scientific breakthroughs cause class divisions—both financially and philosophically. It explores the clash between faith and science and how differences can separate us as enemies or ally us together. And in some cases, even in the midst of betrayal and personal crisis, there’s room to fall in love.
This is the first book in a planned three book series.
Review:
This book was a nice, quick and enjoyable read. I liked that, although the writing wasn't complicated, the story still managed to pull me in and keep me interested. I really wanted to know what would happen next and who else would be involved in the whole mystery, which was brought on by her brother's disappearance.
I liked Zoey. She was stubborn. Sometimes fearless, and although she believed what her society had hammered into her brain her whole life, she started to open up to other possibilities. But she was also very impulsive and sometimes came off as selfish. She even calls herself that. There's also a mystery surrounding her, which was hinted at a few times before the cat is let out of the bag.
But I have to say my favorite character was Noah. He was one resourceful guy, quite understanding, protective without being overprotective or stalker-ish. Well, not always, but when he did become overprotective it was for a good reason. Really! I also liked that the story changed to his PoV halfway through it. It gave me a better understanding of this character.
I thought the romance bloomed a little too quickly, but to be honest that didn't really bother me and it didn't hinder my reading progress. I tend to be picky and rant about that sort of thing. The reason for this might have been that although, yes there was love and kisses, it didn't take over the whole book nor was the plot forgotten in favor of it.
I had no real problems with the story...until the end... When I was reading those last pages, I was really expecting something bigger after all I went through with those characters. And after someone's appearance where they were which made me go
"Ooooh!". But instead, I literally went: "
Wait, what? Did that really just happen the way it happened?" It was a bit disappointing, but I reminded myself that there will be a second book, so it was sort of okay that everything happened like it did.
I can't wait for second book and all the other adventures and misadventures which await Zoe and Noah.
My Rating:3.5/5
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Check out
Mkay's review on her blog!
About the author
Lee Strauss writes historical and science fiction/romance for mature YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff under the name Elle Strauss. To find out more about Lee and her books check out her
facebook page. To find out about new releases sign up for her newsletter at her
website .
Thanks to the author, Lee Strauss, for providing me with a free copy of the book for reviewing purposes.
