Archetype

This was a complete judge-by-the-cover pick at work this afternoon and holy smokes I do not regret it for one second. My mind is completely blown by how fantastic Archetype was, especially for a debut novel!

Emma's tale had me guessing from start to finish and while some of my theories were correct others, not so much, which I find is the perfect blend for a good novel. It is written in first person POV and I know a lot of people have issues with that in books but seriously- it was so perfect for Archetype because it backs up the authenticity of Emma's cluelessness to herself- we find out more and more about her when she does herself.

The plot line itself was mostly psychological rather than action orientated. Usually I am always show more craving more action in novels but it was so not necessary for this. It was an amazing blend of genres- science fiction, mystery, and a bit of romance- which all together made for the most compelling read.

Honestly, I don't think I can even properly put into words how much I loved this book. It will definitely be a 'Rachael' staff-pick and I am craving the sequel like mad! show less

Archetype is the rare debut novel that stuns readers with its remarkable text, outstanding characters, and riveting story line. From the minute Emma regains consciousness, one knows that her story is not going to be standard amnesiac fare. As her inner voice warns her against unknown and unseen dangers, the mysteries pile up but at no point in time do they feel trite or contrived. The story remains fresh and exciting and unlike anything previously written.

In many ways, Emma’s confusion mirrors a reader’s own. Everything about the story is seen through Emma’s eyes and filtered through her thought processes. The only advantage readers have over Emma is in figuring out contextual clues because readers understand the body language and show more other nuances that enrich human interaction. However, individual details about the world in which Emma awakens is different enough for readers to be able to empathize with Emma’s frantic search for comprehension and answers to her internalized doubts.

The answers Emma eventually discovers remove the shades of gray that previously existed within the story. The conflicts tearing Emma apart and forcing her into making choices without seeing the full picture suddenly fall away, revealing a tightly-written, fully-realized world of which the reader, and Emma, have only seen glimpses. This very narrow focus sets the stage for the finale in this two-part series. It also serves the purpose of allowing the story to focus on Emma and her recovering memories while keeping the need for world-building to a minimum.

One would never know Archetype is M.D. Waters’ debut novel. There is a maturity in the writing and depth to the characters not typically seen in long-time author, let alone first-time ones. This thoroughly engrossing story is slightly dystopian, slightly romance, a lot of science fiction, and 100-percent edge-of-your-seat thriller. Emma’s explosive discoveries leave readers gaping with shock and more than a little anxious for the conclusion to this amazing novel. show less

This book surprised me. It was critically recommended, so I didn't really know what to expect. As I began to read, I was disturbed by the frequent sexual diversions that read like bad, icky romance novels. The look on my face during the first half of the book can be summed up thusly:



I mean really, the sex was superfluous and disgusting. The guy the main character is f**king is named "Declan," which is just one of those hilarious bodice-ripping romance monikers, like "Rourke" or "Troy." Simply put, I had already had enough of Declan's erect penis before it made its first appearance.

What made these "romantic" asides incongruous is the rest of the book has a feminist bent to it. In fact, the dystopian near-future in which the story is set show more is amazingly like the one in The Handmaid's Tale. In Archetype, many of society's problems are the same, they are just dealt with a little differently, and the main character's predicament -- and therefore the way the plot unfolds -- is from a different perspective. I fully expect a lot of readers to cry foul on Margaret Atwood's behalf. Archetype is sort of what would happen if Atwood decided to write her version of Fifty Shades of Grey. Okay, I'm exaggerating. And I've never read Shades, so I'm not qualified to make that comparison.

Moving on, once the story got going, I actually became wrapped up in it and was quite invested in what the hell was going on. I thought I had some idea of the twist, and it turned out I did, but there was so much to be explained that my predictions didn't detract from my enjoyment of the big reveal, or the denouement.

The sequel is already in production (allowing for a horrible double entendre when I describe this move as "cocky"). If it has fewer erections and more original ideas, I hope to give it more than three stars. show less

I read this because a friend reviewed it and I was intrigued by some plot elements she mentioned. And if you’re a hater-troll who enjoys harassing reviewers, please bear in mind that my friend thought this book was just okay and I wanted to read it anyway. And then I ended up really enjoying it. So piss off.

If you’re a hater, I mean. If you’re not, do please stay. Here! Have a cup of tea. Darjeeling or English Breakfast? I’d offer you some chocolate, but I’m hiding it. I MEAN, we’re all out. Completely. Sorry.

Anyway. This book.

It grabbed me and pulled me through and kept me up too late until I emerged, blinking in the sunlight.

I realize there are weak spots in the plot. The world-building is weak, although that can perhaps show more be forgiven in a story narrated by an amnesia victim. I liked the frequent flashback visions, but I can understand why my friend found them annoying. And there’s at least one scene in which the main character is face to face with the man who can answer all her questions and she doesn’t ask him anything.

I’ve been running into this a lot lately, and it makes me want to smack someone. Stop being lazy, authors. And don’t think readers don’t notice this sort of thing. Unless your name is Jane Austen, you’re not allowed to write a book that would be over in two pages if the main characters had one blunt, straightforward conversation. And if those characters do find themselves alone together and it would be inconvenient for your plot if they have a heart-to-heart chat, don’t have them start talking about the weather, or the interesting color the sky is this time of year. Throw a hand grenade in the room with them or something.

But none of this ruined the book for me. I found the story absorbing. I loved one scene where the author made it look as if the narrator would need a big fat deus ex machina or at least some manly man to save her (and gave a broad hint as to whom that dude might be), and then – surprise! She rescues herself! I don’t even know if that counts as a spoiler. I just really wanted to try the spoiler-hiding-text thing. I never have before. Okay, back to the review.

And I love that the writer had enough faith in her readers to include a really odd detail without ever directly addressing it. I’m a word-nerd, so it struck me right away that the narrator never uses contractions. I thought this might be her way of implying the future – have you ever seen that in science fiction? Everyone speaks very formally, because apparently that’s what we’re all headed towards. But in Archetype, all the other characters speak normally, contractions and all, except the narrator. Call me a dork with adorable blue eyes, but I loved trying to figure out what the heck was up with that. And I love that the author doesn’t answer that question in so many words. She just supplies enough information for readers to be able to figure it out for themselves.

I was worried when I learned this book was the first of a projected two-parter. So many authors seem to be starting their first novels with intriguing questions, spending the book reminding you of how mysterious it all is, and then saying at the end, “Boy, I’ll bet you really want some answers NOW, don’t you? Better buy the next book!” And I never do, because I hate that.

This book ends when it ends. I really want to know what the main character goes on to do, and how much she ends up able to remember. I already have the sequel on hold at the library (and I’m first in line, woohoo!). But the author answers the big questions while leaving plenty of room for a next novel.

So take that, trolls. Negative reviews sell books. show less

4.5 / 5

Forget everything you've known
Archetype introduces us to Emma and her situation is just that, she knows almost nothing about where she is, who she is, and what events brought her to this place. Basically, all she does know is what's told and taught to her by the people in the hospital she woke up in. A man named Declan claims to be her husband and that she has had a terrible accident. One that has taken all of her memories and practically set her knowledge of life and mundane things back considerably. She is having to learn the simplest things that we might take for granted every day. Because of this we get a unique perspective on how she thinks and feels while going through such an odd situation. This immediately enabled me as a show more reader to connect and sympathize with Emma. Given the weak state she was in, she was by no means a weakling. You can tell right away Emma has a fighter's spirit.

Sleeping with the enemy
Due to the environment Emma is in for the first portion of the book, the pace is slower while we learn things with her and are introduced to the state of the world. Declan and the Doctor are really overly protective about telling her anything or letting her experience new things. So information at times seems to take its sweet darn time being revealed. I for one still ate up the first half of the book and was well rewarded for my patience with an action packed second half. Emma doesn't know who to trust let alone believe. And on top of her dreams and the voice in her head, she has Declan, her husband and a strangely familiar man Noah, telling her absolutely different things confusing her even further. All she does know is that she is drawn to both of them, and only one of them is the true enemy.

Lock up your daughters
This is a futuristic Earth in which medical technology has literally allowed humanity to dig a grave for itself. Women are a tiny minority and most of them are infertile. Those few that can conceive children can only do so for a handful of years. So how does society react to this? Why, lock up all the women and sell them to the highest bidder of course. Cynical, I know, but I could totally envision this happening. History teaches us a harsh lesson about the depths of cruelty we as a species are capable of, thus it is not far fetched to picture this future as being a possible reality instead of just science fiction. These women are definitely not treated well, growing up in training centers and sold as wives to men. If they are fertile, at the age of 18 they are sold off and become that man's property having no real life of their own. Not too rosy sounding is it?

I'll be back
With an emotionally charged ending such as the one Archetype delivers, there is no way I can imagine someone reading this book and not feeling compelled to pick up the next. There was a specific aspect of the end I saw coming but I think will only add to Emma's struggles to come. I will gladly gobble down any further of her misery because everything I have seen her go through thus far has only made her a stronger and more sympathetic character. Bring it Waters. show less

If you've read Atwood's Handmaid's Tale, you will sense some similarities with this book... not directly, but there is a similar tone/setting. Waters is much less "literary" than Atwood, however, so you can enjoy the story as a relatively light read if you want... (or you can think more deeply about the underlying women's issues if you so choose). Oh, and it has a "fantasy" component that doesn't exist in the Handmaid's Tale.

I really enjoyed the story - it started off with a lot of gaps but these were filled in as the story developed. Kinda in parallel with the main character's development, actually. It was thoughtful and depressing at the same time... it's a fantasy/sci-fi story (the fundamental premise requires a suspension of show more disbelief) but the human concerns and underlying social issues are very realistic.

I will be reading the next book in the series. show less

Listened/Read for Review (Penguin Audio/Netgalley)
Overall Rating: 3.25
Story Rating: 3.50
Character Rating: 3.00

Audio Rating: 4.00 (Not part of the overall rating)

NOTE: I am in the minority where Archetype by M.D. Waters is concerned. Most people felt the story was brilliant, unique, and outstanding. I just never connected with the characters and the end just didn't work for me. The writing is spectacular though so please give the book a try if it looks interesting to you!

Story Thoughts: Confession: I actually had this book rated a little higher until the epilogue. I don't know why but it didn't feel like an organic end to the story to me. That being said, I did enjoy the rest of Archetype. There were times I was on the edge of my seat show more wondering what was going to happen or where the story was going. It was interesting mix of science, dystopian, and medical thriller. The world building was outstanding including science that we are familiar with now coupled with a possible outcome that I could totally believe.

Character Thoughts: UGH! I hate when I can't connect with the characters. I am going to be deliberately vague here because there are spoilers in identifying the characters by name. In Archetype, I just never really got that character connection I so desperatly need in a dystopian or apocalyptic world. I need someone to root for or someone to wish into a fiery grave. I didn't feel the "bad" guy was bad enough, the "good" guy was good enough, or that the leading lady was sympathetic enough. I did feel for Emma's situation but just not for Emma (if that makes any sense at all). The only character I had any connection with was the Dr. that I hoped would trip and take a needle to the eye! I just needed the character connection and it wasn't there for me.

Audio Thoughts:

Narrated By Khristine Hvam / Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins

Khristine is one of my favorite narrators and she did an excellent job with Archetype. Her portrayal of Emma's process of figuring out her situation and the emotions of that journey matched the story very well. Her male voices were strong, the pacing was spot on, and the cadence was engaging. I highly recommend listening to Archetype on audio.

Final Thoughts: Even though the characters did not work for me, the story was interesting and engaging. I will probably pick up book 2 (which I am almost sure there will be) to see if it changes my mind about book 1! show less