Caitlin Lochner

After reading the blurb, I knew I had to get my hands on this book, and I was not disappointed.

Lai's world is broken into two sorts of humans, those with powers and those without. Those with powers, the Nytes, are shunned, mistreated and mistrusted. Although Lai, a Nyte who is a telepath, was a top solider in the military of the normal humans, she was thrown into prison thanks to a small crime. She sneaks out and secretly works for the Order, a growing underground society which strives for a show more peaceful life for both types of humans. When the military comes and asks her to return in exchange for her release, she's not sure she wants to, but realizing it's a chance to gather more valuable information for the Order, agrees. But after begin back in uniform, she soon discloses secrets more dangerous than she suspected.

In some ways, this book reminded me of the X-Men but placed in a futuristic world with a heavily split society. And it worked. Lai is an easy character to root for. She's tough, she carries loads of secrets, she's clever, she carries doubt of her own skills at times, and she has a good compass for knowing right from wrong. Her dedication to her friends is inspiring, and her ability to win people over...although not always through the best means...makes her hard not to like even with a few sharp personality corners. It's easy to root for her and those around her, especially with the situation of the Nytes pulls at the sense of needed justice.

The pacing in these pages is pretty fast, guaranteeing a grabbing read with lots of surprises. There are levels of intrigue, some just dabbed upon and leaving the promise of excitement to come in the rest of the series, and secrets around every corner. Everyone has a history, and everyone has an agenda. It makes for interesting characters and a plot which is hard to decipher at times.

While there is a little romance, it by no means carries the plot but rather lays in very slight dabs with the rest of the story. In these pages, friendship is golden and team work is not simple, but inspiring all on its own. Fans of super humans, fast paced action, intrigue and fighting for justice in an imbalanced society...and girl power...are going to enjoy this tale.

I received a complimentary copy and was so engaged in this story that I couldn't put it down. show less

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I am a sucker for people with special powers, especially when it involves them living amongst people without powers. The drama and politics inherent in this dynamic was well done in the case.

In this book, I really liked the individual characters and how they all struggled to deal with their pasts and how to get along with each other all while being ordered around by the military who would evidently rather see them dead.

The story itself show more was a teensy bit lacking in world building, but overall, I found myself hooked and really invested in the outcomes.

I am really glad I picked up this unknown (to me) book after seeing it on the newly arrived shelf at the library! show less

Actual Rating: 3.75 Stars

I may revisit this rating - I listened to the audiobook version and it was difficult for me to focus. But honestly it wasn't anything new - this felt like any x-men comic but set in...space? The future? You know I genuinely do not know what the setting was, past the fact that there were sectors. Lai was not super likable, but Jay was a poor broken cinnamon roll and he really sort of saved the book for me.

Like I said, I may just need to reread the physical book and show more see if that changes my opinion. show less