Jennifer Rush (1) (1983–)

4.5 stars

Well, this was a pleasant surprise! I'd had this book for two months from the library and I finally picked it up with two days until it was due back (I'd ran out of renewals, even). Figured I'd give it a shot. Welp, I couldn't put it down.

Admittedly, I don't read much YA anymore, but Altered felt new and fresh and unique in a way so few YA books do for me. The plot was fast paced, exciting, intriguing and kept me turning the pages. The characters were flawed, but likable. I really show more loved the MC's voice, and that is generally a make or break for me.

The twists and turns this book took were well done and a couple even threw me for a loop.

While this is the first in a series, this book felt complete enough that I feel confident recommending it to fellow series haters. There were plenty of questions left unanswered, but only the kind that will make for an exciting, page-turning series, and not the kind that make me want to throw the book across the room after the last page.

This one is definitely worth a try. show less

"Oceans are vast and bottomless. You play in the rain, Elizabeth. You drown in the sea."

Finally Nick's story. It's a lot less back story and much more present story. But we finally see Nick's world through his eyes. We live with his demons (yikes, he has a lot) but we also see him change and become someone more.

Elizabeth is his mission. She's someone he recognizes from before but he can't figure out why.

This was a high energy, page turning rush to finish. It's an amazing story with all new show more twists and turns - with so many surprises at the end I'd never guessed.

Can't wait for the next one! show less

I'm not sure what drew me to Altered in the first place. Something about the original blurb that showed up on Goodreads got me to add it. But as newer blurbs started to come out, I wasn't so sure. Then, I saw the cover and I thought: maybe this isn't such a good idea. This doesn't really look like something I'd enjoy. Yet, I decided I might as well try it out. Why not?

Something going on in Anna's house. Her father does strange genetic experiments in their farmhouse, and a group of four boys show more live in her basement -the subjects of these experiments. As Anna gets to know the boys, she falls in love with Sam, and when an organization called the Branch threatens to take the boys away, they stage an escape and Anna goes with them. Now on the run, the secrets about the boys start to come out...

When I finally sat down and read this book, it didn't seem to be anything like what I remember it sounding like. Maybe because its been so long since I actually read the blurb, but I felt like this was not at all what I was expecting. And even though my expectations were pretty average, Altered disappointed me.

Probably the best way to describe just about everything in this book is flat. The writing is very average, and the author seems to have trouble with giving the characters and plot any depth. I could barely make out the setting -all of the descriptions were incredibly vague and everything just started to run together. I also just didn't believe just about anything in this book. The romance between Anna and Sam did not feel real at all. The book just started out with "I'm in love with Sam" and that's it. No real reasons, no build up, no explanation -just a statement that is supposed to accepted by the audience about this awkward romance thing.

Anna's motivations are also very flat. She only really seemed to leave with the boys (and helped them escape) so there would be a plot. And once the secrets about the experiments on the boys and Anna's past started to unravel (which took far too long, by the way), there just wasn't much there of interest. All of the big reveals were just flat, uninteresting, and boring. And since the characters are so flat, I didn't care about any of them, so their secrets meant nothing to me and many of them felt like they were tacked on with no depth or build up. I really think the author just made up stuff as she went and didn't take the time to work important plot points into the story better, so it all felt spontaneous, out of left field (and not in a good way) and disjointed.

I really wanted to find some redeeming factors with Altered, but there really aren't any. This book is just flat when it comes to every element, and I barely finished it out of boredom (and it's not even that long!). Don't waste your time with this one. show less

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

I’m a big action movie junkie. I love the shoot outs, the car chases, the heart stopping moments when it seems impossible for the good guy to survive. Add in a little romance and I’m in heaven. ALTERED by Jennifer Rush has all of that. It’s like a YA version of The Bourne Identity, but instead of one Matt Damon, we get four.

What I especially loved about ALTERED was that it didn’t sacrifice character development for the sake of action. Each show more of the boys in ALTERED have a subtle and distinct personality. Any one of them could have been the protagonist of their own book. We get to know each of them intensely through the eyes of Anna, but there is a special focus on Sam, the quiet and strong leader.

The mystery in ALTERED was also fantastic. Tons of surprising twists and perfectly paced clues. There was nothing predictable about how the plot unfolded, and yet, looking back, every significant event and revelation was foreshadowed so that it ended up fitting perfectly. Now that’s skilled writing.

Intense and exhilarating, ALTERED mixes suspenseful action, juicy mystery, and intoxicating romance. I did not want it to end. Fortunately, there are two more books currently planned. There is a very satisfying resolution at the end, so my mind is already running wild about what may lay in store for these characters.

Sexual Content:
Kissing show less