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Enhanced
Sixteen-year-old Michelle is a product of the Institute's eugenics program, where people are bred like livestock. One doctor decides which kids get to grow up, and which disappear. Only Culls walk into the slum outside Institute walls, and they never come back. Michelle has survived every purge, and she's about to win a luxurious life as a breeder. Then the doctor banishes her brother Seth and her boyfriend Brian, and she risks everything to find them in the cutthroat slum. She's in trouble until handsome Dillon stakes a claim to her. Michelle is mortified, because Norms are practically animals. But the doctor is using the missing boys in a twisted plan and she needs Dillon's help to stop him. Michelle and her friends must find Seth and Brian, but a plague is spreading, the doctor is after her and Dillon isn't thrilled to help her find her lost boyfriend.
306 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2013
4 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Farrell
28 books326 followersI write YA and NA fiction! My first novel, Enhanced, launched in 2013. Enhanced is about a teen girl born into a eugenics program, where ruthless doctors breed people like livestock. Enhanced was nominated for the BTS Red Carpet Award, and the sequel, Sacrificed, is a BTS Red Carpet Award finalist.
In other news, I am finished with 'Bait' the first book in a new dystopian series about a sentient disease that targets females. Bait is available on Amazon and I'm finishing the sequel now.
I love to hear from my readers. Find me on Twitter @CAFarrell, or www.courtneyfarrell.com
In other news, I am finished with 'Bait' the first book in a new dystopian series about a sentient disease that targets females. Bait is available on Amazon and I'm finishing the sequel now.
I love to hear from my readers. Find me on Twitter @CAFarrell, or www.courtneyfarrell.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 27, 2013
Science fiction has become a genre that has captured my attention, and I often find myself reading more of these dystopian books. My fascination with these books seems to be growing due to so many elements ringing true and even being plausible. Genetic manipulation? It is a possibility, and the day it happens, I am out of here.
I appreciate the detail the author gave (her scientific background certainly helps in this area), and although there were points of boredom within the book, I thoroughly enjoyed the various scenarios and back stories as well as the premise.
This book seems to fit in the young adult genre, but I believe it would be more appropriate to place in the New Adult genre. Although this book features teens, I would not want my daughter reading it until she is much older. The profanity in the book is scattered throughout but still potentially offensive. There were no intimate scenes (thank goodness), but I feel the subject matter is beyond what teenagers should be reading. I feel the same way about the profanity.
Should this book ever become reality, I sincerely hope I am not around to see it. Fans of science fiction will certainly enjoy this book.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
I appreciate the detail the author gave (her scientific background certainly helps in this area), and although there were points of boredom within the book, I thoroughly enjoyed the various scenarios and back stories as well as the premise.
This book seems to fit in the young adult genre, but I believe it would be more appropriate to place in the New Adult genre. Although this book features teens, I would not want my daughter reading it until she is much older. The profanity in the book is scattered throughout but still potentially offensive. There were no intimate scenes (thank goodness), but I feel the subject matter is beyond what teenagers should be reading. I feel the same way about the profanity.
Should this book ever become reality, I sincerely hope I am not around to see it. Fans of science fiction will certainly enjoy this book.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
November 13, 2013
Wow! Does this story ever have a captivating premise. You can see the real possibilities behind the genetics in this novel which makes it easier to identify with and immerse yourself in. Farrell takes this and runs with it, using her phenomenal storytelling skills to spin a tale that you won’t be able to put down. Farrell’s mellow writing style contrasts with the intensity of the story in such a manner that you will find yourself drawn into the story while you picture each and every moment of it.
Farrell has created some age appropriate characters to carry her story forward. Not only are they young adult characters, who are coming into their own as individuals and stepping away from their parents but none of them act noticeably older or younger than they are. Not only are these characters well developed, but they’re also unique yet natural. Each character also has a different ‘ability’ that is intriguing and adds to who they are as a person rather than simply a superfluous add-on. Also, even though the author has a definite ‘main’ character for this novel, she is very strongly supported by her friends and her brother who become almost main characters in their own right.
There is an intense social discourse hidden within this very interesting tale. The plight of these children/young adults who want to live their lives but are stuck in a society that is quite reminiscent of some of the most stringent regimes in history is very heartbreaking, but their strength as a group is quite inspiring.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Farrell has created some age appropriate characters to carry her story forward. Not only are they young adult characters, who are coming into their own as individuals and stepping away from their parents but none of them act noticeably older or younger than they are. Not only are these characters well developed, but they’re also unique yet natural. Each character also has a different ‘ability’ that is intriguing and adds to who they are as a person rather than simply a superfluous add-on. Also, even though the author has a definite ‘main’ character for this novel, she is very strongly supported by her friends and her brother who become almost main characters in their own right.
There is an intense social discourse hidden within this very interesting tale. The plight of these children/young adults who want to live their lives but are stuck in a society that is quite reminiscent of some of the most stringent regimes in history is very heartbreaking, but their strength as a group is quite inspiring.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2015
An Awesome YA/Dystopian/Sci-Fi Ride!
I really got into this book. I was drawn in from the beginning and lead through the winding story, do much so that when I finally looked up, I couldn't believe how much time had passed! And even then I didn't want to put the book down! I needed to know where the story was going to take me next. The story is so involved, and just when you figure that you've got a handle on what's going to happen next, something totally different happens. I absolutely adored Michelle, she evolved nicely throughout the book, at first being scared, and with good reason to where she is a strong, smart, selfless girl, willing to put herself on the line time after time for what and who she believes in. This takes place in the future where offspring are specifically created to be special, to have specific outstanding traits, and if they fall short, they are labeled "unenhanced" or more commonly called "norms" and cast out of the institute to live with the impoverished. I loved when Dillon comes into the picture, he is just such a great character, and I liked the way that things developed between him and Michelle. The only thing I would say, is that I would have liked a little more background on how everything got to the way it is, but since this is the beginning of a series I am hopeful that there will be more information to come. Can't wait to read the next book! I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really got into this book. I was drawn in from the beginning and lead through the winding story, do much so that when I finally looked up, I couldn't believe how much time had passed! And even then I didn't want to put the book down! I needed to know where the story was going to take me next. The story is so involved, and just when you figure that you've got a handle on what's going to happen next, something totally different happens. I absolutely adored Michelle, she evolved nicely throughout the book, at first being scared, and with good reason to where she is a strong, smart, selfless girl, willing to put herself on the line time after time for what and who she believes in. This takes place in the future where offspring are specifically created to be special, to have specific outstanding traits, and if they fall short, they are labeled "unenhanced" or more commonly called "norms" and cast out of the institute to live with the impoverished. I loved when Dillon comes into the picture, he is just such a great character, and I liked the way that things developed between him and Michelle. The only thing I would say, is that I would have liked a little more background on how everything got to the way it is, but since this is the beginning of a series I am hopeful that there will be more information to come. Can't wait to read the next book! I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2014
* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *
4.5 stars!
Enhanced has a wonderful premise. It was easy to immerse yourself in this novel as Farrell takes the themes of genetics and a dystopian centered world and runs with it, spinning a tale I wasn’t able to put down.
Ms. Farrell did an incredible job mapping out each character: their strengths, weaknesses and what they were able to bring to the table.
I really felt Michelle’s plight and the creepiness/hideousness of what the Institute does with these little more than children. Breeding, purging, abandoning…it’s the great sadness the best dystopian novels are made of, but it hurts nonetheless to read about it, even if fictionally because it makes one wonder, “Could something like this ever really happen?” I cringe to answer that. But that is the mark of a good book, when it compels the reader to pause and debate over possible scenarios in real life. Bravo, Ms. Farrell. Bravo.
4.5 stars!
Enhanced has a wonderful premise. It was easy to immerse yourself in this novel as Farrell takes the themes of genetics and a dystopian centered world and runs with it, spinning a tale I wasn’t able to put down.
Ms. Farrell did an incredible job mapping out each character: their strengths, weaknesses and what they were able to bring to the table.
I really felt Michelle’s plight and the creepiness/hideousness of what the Institute does with these little more than children. Breeding, purging, abandoning…it’s the great sadness the best dystopian novels are made of, but it hurts nonetheless to read about it, even if fictionally because it makes one wonder, “Could something like this ever really happen?” I cringe to answer that. But that is the mark of a good book, when it compels the reader to pause and debate over possible scenarios in real life. Bravo, Ms. Farrell. Bravo.
November 2, 2013
INITIAL THOUGHTS
Approaching reading this book my thoughts are, as I love a good dystopian I am looking forward to reading this one. Not even read the blurb in great detail, it's dystopian that will do me.
At 24% I was already hooked and drawn into the plot. the Cull sounds horrific and just "witnessed" on in the book. there's already a kind of group of people leading a quiet rebellion, Todd, Seth, Michelle, And Brian. Also liking the newer smaller kid in the book, called Nick.
At
MY REVIEW
I received a free e-coy of this book via IO Tours in exchange for my honest review and posting it as part of this blog tour.
The cover is quite dark, and I'd take a guess at the female on the front cover being Michelle, or it could be Carrissa as she is "shown the gate" or as it's called more often in the book "Gated". I do like the cover though it is quite dark. I think it depicts the gate as it should be in a dark mysterious way.
So would I pick this book up from a book store shelf? Yes, I think I would definitely pick it up and read the blurb and then buy it lol!
So the plot f the book concerns two groups of people the "Enhanced" that live inside the walls and gate and are genetically modified to make them stronger, more intelligent and have special powers. The Enhanced are obviously the more privileged of the two races.
The "Unenhanced" which is the new politically correct way to refer to them are the lower class who live outside the wall. The Unenhanced or "Norms" as they seem to be called more often are the ones who do all the chores and unwanted jobs of the Enhanced yet they are made to live outside, they are not genetically modified in any way. The Enhanced are supposed to ignore the Unenhanced other than to issue orders to them.
The Enhanced children are continually tested and given things to see how they react. They have no choice as the parents are part of The Conclave. The Conclave are the "governing body" who are supposed to control the scientists. I say supposed to as there is one particular scientist Dr Salmon that has his own ideas and isn't above going ahead with them, unapproved by The Conclave. One such experiment involves him picking two of the strongest males in the Enhanced and inserting a rod into their arms and then sending them out to "gather information" on the Unenhanced. however things are not what they seem as suddenly the Unenhanced are falling ill and dying.. . . Whilst the Nick, and Seth, two boys are outside, Seth's sister Michelle, and some others gather together to unveil Dr Salmon for the unscrupulous man he is and get the boys back. They sneak out of the inner city to the outside. It's there that Michelle meet Dillon. their upbringing and beliefs are so different. On the inside you flit from one partner to the other. The Enhanced have had the "loyalty" gene bred out of them. So to them it is totally normal not to stay with one partner. It's also the case that Unenhanced children are not made up of DNA from just two partners. They have many DNA donors, it's how the special abilities are made.
On the outside the Unenhanced/Norms live and love the "old" way. They choose one partner and stay with them forever, kind of like a soul mate concept.
I really enjoyed the genetic and differences between the inside the gate and outside. It sounds as if the inside the gate people known as the Enhanced have it all, and live in the life of luxury but there are underhand, and abuse going on behind closed doors. If the enhanced fail a test or rebel they are quite literally "shown the door" or rather in this case shown out of the gate. They are not allowed to take anything with them at all such as weapons to "fend off the uncivilized Norms/Unenhanced, or food to sustain them. In fact there's another dark secret there to be uncovered as you read the book about the people who are "Gated". I really don't want to say anymore as I feel it could spoil or impair your enjoyment of the book.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes, I really did enjoy this book, staying up late to finish the book! It definitely had that "can't put it down" element to the book. Would I recommend the book? Yes if you love Dystopian, YA, Fantasy or just love a good book, this one is for you. Would I read a BK#2? I certainly would read a Bk#2 though I'm not so sure there will be a book two. Maybe I should simply ask the Author on Goodreads! I'd certainly read a book two. I became quite attached to the enhanced and Unenhanced characters in this book. Would I read other books by this Author? I will be checking them out after finishing this post.
Approaching reading this book my thoughts are, as I love a good dystopian I am looking forward to reading this one. Not even read the blurb in great detail, it's dystopian that will do me.
At 24% I was already hooked and drawn into the plot. the Cull sounds horrific and just "witnessed" on in the book. there's already a kind of group of people leading a quiet rebellion, Todd, Seth, Michelle, And Brian. Also liking the newer smaller kid in the book, called Nick.
At
MY REVIEW
I received a free e-coy of this book via IO Tours in exchange for my honest review and posting it as part of this blog tour.
The cover is quite dark, and I'd take a guess at the female on the front cover being Michelle, or it could be Carrissa as she is "shown the gate" or as it's called more often in the book "Gated". I do like the cover though it is quite dark. I think it depicts the gate as it should be in a dark mysterious way.
So would I pick this book up from a book store shelf? Yes, I think I would definitely pick it up and read the blurb and then buy it lol!
So the plot f the book concerns two groups of people the "Enhanced" that live inside the walls and gate and are genetically modified to make them stronger, more intelligent and have special powers. The Enhanced are obviously the more privileged of the two races.
The "Unenhanced" which is the new politically correct way to refer to them are the lower class who live outside the wall. The Unenhanced or "Norms" as they seem to be called more often are the ones who do all the chores and unwanted jobs of the Enhanced yet they are made to live outside, they are not genetically modified in any way. The Enhanced are supposed to ignore the Unenhanced other than to issue orders to them.
The Enhanced children are continually tested and given things to see how they react. They have no choice as the parents are part of The Conclave. The Conclave are the "governing body" who are supposed to control the scientists. I say supposed to as there is one particular scientist Dr Salmon that has his own ideas and isn't above going ahead with them, unapproved by The Conclave. One such experiment involves him picking two of the strongest males in the Enhanced and inserting a rod into their arms and then sending them out to "gather information" on the Unenhanced. however things are not what they seem as suddenly the Unenhanced are falling ill and dying.. . . Whilst the Nick, and Seth, two boys are outside, Seth's sister Michelle, and some others gather together to unveil Dr Salmon for the unscrupulous man he is and get the boys back. They sneak out of the inner city to the outside. It's there that Michelle meet Dillon. their upbringing and beliefs are so different. On the inside you flit from one partner to the other. The Enhanced have had the "loyalty" gene bred out of them. So to them it is totally normal not to stay with one partner. It's also the case that Unenhanced children are not made up of DNA from just two partners. They have many DNA donors, it's how the special abilities are made.
On the outside the Unenhanced/Norms live and love the "old" way. They choose one partner and stay with them forever, kind of like a soul mate concept.
I really enjoyed the genetic and differences between the inside the gate and outside. It sounds as if the inside the gate people known as the Enhanced have it all, and live in the life of luxury but there are underhand, and abuse going on behind closed doors. If the enhanced fail a test or rebel they are quite literally "shown the door" or rather in this case shown out of the gate. They are not allowed to take anything with them at all such as weapons to "fend off the uncivilized Norms/Unenhanced, or food to sustain them. In fact there's another dark secret there to be uncovered as you read the book about the people who are "Gated". I really don't want to say anymore as I feel it could spoil or impair your enjoyment of the book.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes, I really did enjoy this book, staying up late to finish the book! It definitely had that "can't put it down" element to the book. Would I recommend the book? Yes if you love Dystopian, YA, Fantasy or just love a good book, this one is for you. Would I read a BK#2? I certainly would read a Bk#2 though I'm not so sure there will be a book two. Maybe I should simply ask the Author on Goodreads! I'd certainly read a book two. I became quite attached to the enhanced and Unenhanced characters in this book. Would I read other books by this Author? I will be checking them out after finishing this post.
June 2, 2015
I love a story that has enough twists, turns, and surprises that one is compelled to continue reading in order to find out what happens next. Such is the situation in Enhanced by Courtney Farrell, a dystopian novel where the created world only slightly resembles life as we know it. Here is a community ruled by controlled genetics with the haves, called the Enhanced, living with luxuries which are restricted for the have nots or "wild-bred" Norms. Even amongst the Enhanced, there is a hierarchy based upon the skills of the children - skills which are continually tested by Dr Salmon and his staff. These "examinations" might consist of physical group challenges or they could be an individual session to determine ones tolerance to pain. Or, perhaps, the children are used as human guinea pigs to discover the outcome of an experimental procedure or theory. Death, which occurs on occasion, is not a factor to be considered by these heartless scientists. Children quickly learn that any deficiency, whether intellectual, mental, or physical, counts against their score. The goal is to be rated worthy enough to be chosen as a breeder. At the other end of the scale is the "culling" ceremony where the deficient, those who are not strong enough or smart enough to be accepted into the group, are kicked out. These lesser individuals are forced to permanently leave their family and friends behind as they enter the world of the Norms - a place where poverty leads to hunger and violence in a community which attempts to survive outside the walls of the elite.
Brian who has just turned eighteen (the magic age where students are supposedly no longer candidates for experimentation) has amazingly been summoned, along with his best friend Seth, to the vacant laboratory of the abhorrent Dr Salmon where an unidentified object is inserted under their skin. This is the same Dr Salmon who internally "examines" young girls in a predatory manner just to make sure they aren't riddled with cancer (an impossibility since the Enhanced have been bred to resist diseases). All the youngsters dread the doctor, but their fear of being targeted and bringing disgrace to their families keeps them silent. After all, being culled is literally a fate worse than death since it ends existence in their known universe.
Our inquisitive heroine, Michelle, at fifteen is one of the top students, yet she has to hide all her fears and anxieties so as not to exhibit any weaknesses. Her feisty brother, Seth, is also an exemplary member of society. Their parents are part of the leadership of the community. In fact, their grandfather is the leading member whose long life can be attributed to regular "treatments" to stay "younger" than his real age. Yet, even being amongst the most privileged of the privileged, living in a fine home with servants and owning all of the most current gadgets, does not protect them from the Council if a rule is broken.
Michelle has several close friends and together they figure out that something is not quite right in their community. Their lives have begun to change even before Seth and Brian are sent beyond the wall by the Institution to intermingle with the Norms. While on her mission to locate the two boys, Michelle realizes that the servants and other Norms aren't mindless fools, but individuals with abilities and emotions. She starts to see beyond her seemingly perfect world in her quest to expose the secrets that Dr Salmon is withholding from the Council. Secrets which will have an impact on everyone if she fails to uncover them in time. In fact, in her search for the truth, she discovers that almost every aspect of her life is a puzzling illusion which she must decipher in order to save the earth from harm. Whether she is successful in her endeavors is up to the reader to decide.
This is an intriguing, well told tale. The teenage characters are defined in exquisite detail, with the perplexities of Enhanced society slowly revealed through their eyes as they unravel the mysteries which dictate their lives. I found this book to be a quick read, although the climax was a bit rushed and the conclusion less than satisfying (perhaps because the author wanted to use the lack of closure as a teaser to encourage us to read the sequel). Young Adults will enjoy this foray into a study of the possible effects of Extreme Eugenics which includes plenty of action plus a touch of romance. Four Stars.
I would like to thank the author for allowing me a free copy of her novel in exchange for an honest review which I am posting on Amazon, Goodreads, and on my blog, Gotta Read.
Brian who has just turned eighteen (the magic age where students are supposedly no longer candidates for experimentation) has amazingly been summoned, along with his best friend Seth, to the vacant laboratory of the abhorrent Dr Salmon where an unidentified object is inserted under their skin. This is the same Dr Salmon who internally "examines" young girls in a predatory manner just to make sure they aren't riddled with cancer (an impossibility since the Enhanced have been bred to resist diseases). All the youngsters dread the doctor, but their fear of being targeted and bringing disgrace to their families keeps them silent. After all, being culled is literally a fate worse than death since it ends existence in their known universe.
Our inquisitive heroine, Michelle, at fifteen is one of the top students, yet she has to hide all her fears and anxieties so as not to exhibit any weaknesses. Her feisty brother, Seth, is also an exemplary member of society. Their parents are part of the leadership of the community. In fact, their grandfather is the leading member whose long life can be attributed to regular "treatments" to stay "younger" than his real age. Yet, even being amongst the most privileged of the privileged, living in a fine home with servants and owning all of the most current gadgets, does not protect them from the Council if a rule is broken.
Michelle has several close friends and together they figure out that something is not quite right in their community. Their lives have begun to change even before Seth and Brian are sent beyond the wall by the Institution to intermingle with the Norms. While on her mission to locate the two boys, Michelle realizes that the servants and other Norms aren't mindless fools, but individuals with abilities and emotions. She starts to see beyond her seemingly perfect world in her quest to expose the secrets that Dr Salmon is withholding from the Council. Secrets which will have an impact on everyone if she fails to uncover them in time. In fact, in her search for the truth, she discovers that almost every aspect of her life is a puzzling illusion which she must decipher in order to save the earth from harm. Whether she is successful in her endeavors is up to the reader to decide.
This is an intriguing, well told tale. The teenage characters are defined in exquisite detail, with the perplexities of Enhanced society slowly revealed through their eyes as they unravel the mysteries which dictate their lives. I found this book to be a quick read, although the climax was a bit rushed and the conclusion less than satisfying (perhaps because the author wanted to use the lack of closure as a teaser to encourage us to read the sequel). Young Adults will enjoy this foray into a study of the possible effects of Extreme Eugenics which includes plenty of action plus a touch of romance. Four Stars.
I would like to thank the author for allowing me a free copy of her novel in exchange for an honest review which I am posting on Amazon, Goodreads, and on my blog, Gotta Read.
December 2, 2013
**** Review originally posted at
Pink Fluffy Hearts****
"Enhanced" by Courtney Farrell is a young adult dystopian novel set in a future where babies are pretty much made in test tubes to have specific skills and brain power, and those that don't live up to the Institute's expectations are thrown out like garbage. The "Enhanced" live within the Institute's walls whereas all of the "Unenhanced," or "Norms," as they're more regularly called, live in slums on the outside.
When the book starts, we are immediately thrown into the action as we follow Michelle, Brian, and their friends and family through their lives as Enhanced teenagers. I kept waiting for the inevitable explanations about what happened to the society that we all know and how it evolved into this genetics fueled experiment that our characters are a part of. However, except for a few vague references about a war, we never really get the explanation on how or why society crumbled.
This was my biggest problem with the book. I wanted more world building and background on what was happening, but I never got it. Yes, I understand that some sort of war happened and all of this genetics tampering was a result of trying to build super soldiers, but I was still left in the dark about a good portion of what was going on. Who was fighting in the war? Are other countries like this? How many walled off institutes are there and do they all have slums full of Norms around them?
I'm always for reading a good dystopian young adult novel, but I love it more when the author portrays society's downfall to show how things got to the dystopian setting. I would have rated "Enhanced" higher if I had gotten some background information and answers to my questions.
Another issue I had was the instant attraction between Michelle and Dillon. She meets him when she first goes over the wall, and he saves her from a possible dangerous situation. However, once that situation is under control, he continues being overly friendly and familiar with her, even though Norms are usually servants to the Enhanced and are trained to keep their eyes down and only speak when spoken to. The complete ease he had with Michelle right off the bat was a little off for me, because I would have thought he'd have to overcome his years of treating Enhanced as if they were better than him.
The relationship between Brian, Seth, and Max seemed more realistic and organic to me. The boys meet Max and his gang soon after they're sent beyond the wall and develop an alliance over time. Max sees these boys and their Enhanced genes as useful assets to his team and the boys see Max as someone who could provide them food, shelter, and safety. It's only after these three have been together for awhile that they start to actually bond and care for each other beyond just an alliance for survival.
Besides the lack of background information and the too strong too soon connection between Michelle and Dillon, I did enjoy this book. Once I got over the whole ‘What is happening to the world?’ question and just went with it, I was able to follow and get into the story quite easily. The characters were thought out and each had unique personalities, the plot was sound, and our main conflict had considerable stakes.
I also liked the pacing of this book. I've read other reviews that have had issues with the fast pace, but I think it worked. Farrell created a story and kept it defined to one book, when a lot of other authors would have made a series surrounding this one issue. It made sense that things were moving fast, and I thought Farrell did a great job of letting us know when there were time jumps by subtly having the characters mention the passage of time instead of listing it with the chapter title.
"Enhanced" is a book that I would recommend to my friends, even if I had qualms with some things. The story was overall a good one, and it kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.
Pink Fluffy Hearts****
"Enhanced" by Courtney Farrell is a young adult dystopian novel set in a future where babies are pretty much made in test tubes to have specific skills and brain power, and those that don't live up to the Institute's expectations are thrown out like garbage. The "Enhanced" live within the Institute's walls whereas all of the "Unenhanced," or "Norms," as they're more regularly called, live in slums on the outside.
When the book starts, we are immediately thrown into the action as we follow Michelle, Brian, and their friends and family through their lives as Enhanced teenagers. I kept waiting for the inevitable explanations about what happened to the society that we all know and how it evolved into this genetics fueled experiment that our characters are a part of. However, except for a few vague references about a war, we never really get the explanation on how or why society crumbled.
This was my biggest problem with the book. I wanted more world building and background on what was happening, but I never got it. Yes, I understand that some sort of war happened and all of this genetics tampering was a result of trying to build super soldiers, but I was still left in the dark about a good portion of what was going on. Who was fighting in the war? Are other countries like this? How many walled off institutes are there and do they all have slums full of Norms around them?
I'm always for reading a good dystopian young adult novel, but I love it more when the author portrays society's downfall to show how things got to the dystopian setting. I would have rated "Enhanced" higher if I had gotten some background information and answers to my questions.
Another issue I had was the instant attraction between Michelle and Dillon. She meets him when she first goes over the wall, and he saves her from a possible dangerous situation. However, once that situation is under control, he continues being overly friendly and familiar with her, even though Norms are usually servants to the Enhanced and are trained to keep their eyes down and only speak when spoken to. The complete ease he had with Michelle right off the bat was a little off for me, because I would have thought he'd have to overcome his years of treating Enhanced as if they were better than him.
The relationship between Brian, Seth, and Max seemed more realistic and organic to me. The boys meet Max and his gang soon after they're sent beyond the wall and develop an alliance over time. Max sees these boys and their Enhanced genes as useful assets to his team and the boys see Max as someone who could provide them food, shelter, and safety. It's only after these three have been together for awhile that they start to actually bond and care for each other beyond just an alliance for survival.
Besides the lack of background information and the too strong too soon connection between Michelle and Dillon, I did enjoy this book. Once I got over the whole ‘What is happening to the world?’ question and just went with it, I was able to follow and get into the story quite easily. The characters were thought out and each had unique personalities, the plot was sound, and our main conflict had considerable stakes.
I also liked the pacing of this book. I've read other reviews that have had issues with the fast pace, but I think it worked. Farrell created a story and kept it defined to one book, when a lot of other authors would have made a series surrounding this one issue. It made sense that things were moving fast, and I thought Farrell did a great job of letting us know when there were time jumps by subtly having the characters mention the passage of time instead of listing it with the chapter title.
"Enhanced" is a book that I would recommend to my friends, even if I had qualms with some things. The story was overall a good one, and it kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.
November 20, 2013
I like dystopias with convoluted plots where I can’t guess what will happen next, and I like reading different characters’ points of view where everyone has their own agenda. Enhanced kept me entertained and guessing. Although it started slow, the characters developed well, and once Michelle met Dillon, I didn’t want to put the book down. I wish he’d come into the story earlier, but it’s good he didn’t get his own point of view. I hate knowing whether a guy is just attracted to a girl or whether he loves her until the right time.
Characters and plot elements that worked: First, the whole eugenics idea with the creepy doctor; conniving, power-hungry, or abusive parents; Enhanced in general lording it over the Norms while the Enhanced teens are stuck (literally) with experiments and tests to weed out the weak. Second, characterization including Michelle’s progression from crippling fear to still fearful but determined heroine, Seth and Brian venturing into the Warren among gangs and learning to be loyal, good and bad people on both sides, and changing loyalties as disease spreads. Third, the unusual talents of Todd and Jeanette and her conflicting agendas, the triplets, and many others I won’t mention because they’d spoil surprises. Fourth, the author tackled some tough issues and handled them well, including differing social mores among the Enhanced and Norms.
What didn’t work as well: The story direction seemed too random at first, wandering, and the characters’ viewpoints sometimes switched in a chapter labeled as one character. Head-hopping started early on, but friendships and rivalries developed within the Enhanced teens in time to make me care about following them through the slow start in spite of the unexpected point of view switches. Then the seemingly random events came together in an exciting way, a payoff worth waiting for. The other problem was that some genetically guided behavior seemed flawed. The non-bonding concept made sense in leading to casual relationships, but not in a male forming attachments to one girl when another more beautiful and popular was in hot pursuit. Once I read how much destruction took place in the war, I also wondered how any civilian group had maintained enough technology to keep the lights on, let alone do extensive genetic manipulations.
Overall, there were a lot more things I liked than not, including how events snowballed and puzzle pieces came together towards the end. I really liked how Michelle made serious, not minor, mistakes in trying to help, making it feel more realistic when things turned out badly, not all coming up roses or ring around the rosies either. That reminds me of the excellent visuals. I could picture almost all of the book, making me squirm in some scenes. Best of all, the author achieved a full arc in a series book, a rare thing these days. Since Enhanced led into the next book instead of leaving me hanging, I’ll follow the trail wherever it goes. 3.5 stars overall, rounding up to 4 for the social value in spite of some editing problems. This would be a good book for high school reading but not middle school due to content. I was provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Characters and plot elements that worked: First, the whole eugenics idea with the creepy doctor; conniving, power-hungry, or abusive parents; Enhanced in general lording it over the Norms while the Enhanced teens are stuck (literally) with experiments and tests to weed out the weak. Second, characterization including Michelle’s progression from crippling fear to still fearful but determined heroine, Seth and Brian venturing into the Warren among gangs and learning to be loyal, good and bad people on both sides, and changing loyalties as disease spreads. Third, the unusual talents of Todd and Jeanette and her conflicting agendas, the triplets, and many others I won’t mention because they’d spoil surprises. Fourth, the author tackled some tough issues and handled them well, including differing social mores among the Enhanced and Norms.
What didn’t work as well: The story direction seemed too random at first, wandering, and the characters’ viewpoints sometimes switched in a chapter labeled as one character. Head-hopping started early on, but friendships and rivalries developed within the Enhanced teens in time to make me care about following them through the slow start in spite of the unexpected point of view switches. Then the seemingly random events came together in an exciting way, a payoff worth waiting for. The other problem was that some genetically guided behavior seemed flawed. The non-bonding concept made sense in leading to casual relationships, but not in a male forming attachments to one girl when another more beautiful and popular was in hot pursuit. Once I read how much destruction took place in the war, I also wondered how any civilian group had maintained enough technology to keep the lights on, let alone do extensive genetic manipulations.
Overall, there were a lot more things I liked than not, including how events snowballed and puzzle pieces came together towards the end. I really liked how Michelle made serious, not minor, mistakes in trying to help, making it feel more realistic when things turned out badly, not all coming up roses or ring around the rosies either. That reminds me of the excellent visuals. I could picture almost all of the book, making me squirm in some scenes. Best of all, the author achieved a full arc in a series book, a rare thing these days. Since Enhanced led into the next book instead of leaving me hanging, I’ll follow the trail wherever it goes. 3.5 stars overall, rounding up to 4 for the social value in spite of some editing problems. This would be a good book for high school reading but not middle school due to content. I was provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2013
*I received an ebook copy of this YA dystopian fiction in exchange for my honest review.*
In this dystopian post-War future, people have been divided into distinct camps. There are the “Enhanced,” who are bred through Eugenics programs to be perfect, beautiful, intelligent and strong. They live in walled cities and compete for the ultimate prize – the chance to remain in the city and become members of the Conclave, the ruling body. Those who don’t make the grade are “culled” from the program and kicked out of the gated cities to live with the “Norms” or “Unenhanced.” The “Norms” compete for menial serving jobs within the cities to help support their families in the slums outside the walls. There are also the “Augmented,” who fall somewhere in between and work in security and military capacities, with slight gene modifications but not full enhancements. The last category are the Agri-slaves, who work for the giant agricultural corporation, toiling in the fields amidst the chemical clouds and growing the food that sustains everyone else.
Ms. Farrell paints an intricate portrait of this scientifically based Brave New World, where diseases and weaknesses have been bred out of the Enhanced race over the last few hundred years. One doctor wants to take the program even further, conducting his own secret experiments on Enhanced children and the Norms who work in his labs. The story follows the action that ensues after his twisted experiments go wrong.
We meet Michelle Atherton, the main character of the novel, right in the first chapter, when the doctor visits her classroom to select students for his next experiment. When he chooses her brother as well as the boy she’s crushing on, she gets agitated – and then he takes Michelle along too. The author does a great job of ratcheting up the stakes and the stress from the very beginning.
Sixteen-year-old Michelle wavers on the razor edge between childhood and adulthood, at some points sounding and acting like a child, and at other times being completely ruthless in her assessments of situations. Part of this is the age of the characters, but there are several inconsistencies that popped up and made me scratch my head. For example, Michelle is secretly in love with her brother’s best friend Brian, but later acknowledges that Enhanced don’t form monogamous relationships and happily kisses another boy.
This well-written story kept me interested and reading, and wondering where the author was going next. There were a few times when the storyline made me uncomfortable, and I wondered if maybe it should be NA instead of YA, but in the end I guess it fits YA more. Some of the transitions were hard to follow, and some scenes felt rushed, but the storyline was compelling and made for a quick read. The ending left open a possibility for an interesting sequel, and I’m hoping Ms. Farrell finishes it quickly!
In this dystopian post-War future, people have been divided into distinct camps. There are the “Enhanced,” who are bred through Eugenics programs to be perfect, beautiful, intelligent and strong. They live in walled cities and compete for the ultimate prize – the chance to remain in the city and become members of the Conclave, the ruling body. Those who don’t make the grade are “culled” from the program and kicked out of the gated cities to live with the “Norms” or “Unenhanced.” The “Norms” compete for menial serving jobs within the cities to help support their families in the slums outside the walls. There are also the “Augmented,” who fall somewhere in between and work in security and military capacities, with slight gene modifications but not full enhancements. The last category are the Agri-slaves, who work for the giant agricultural corporation, toiling in the fields amidst the chemical clouds and growing the food that sustains everyone else.
Ms. Farrell paints an intricate portrait of this scientifically based Brave New World, where diseases and weaknesses have been bred out of the Enhanced race over the last few hundred years. One doctor wants to take the program even further, conducting his own secret experiments on Enhanced children and the Norms who work in his labs. The story follows the action that ensues after his twisted experiments go wrong.
We meet Michelle Atherton, the main character of the novel, right in the first chapter, when the doctor visits her classroom to select students for his next experiment. When he chooses her brother as well as the boy she’s crushing on, she gets agitated – and then he takes Michelle along too. The author does a great job of ratcheting up the stakes and the stress from the very beginning.
Sixteen-year-old Michelle wavers on the razor edge between childhood and adulthood, at some points sounding and acting like a child, and at other times being completely ruthless in her assessments of situations. Part of this is the age of the characters, but there are several inconsistencies that popped up and made me scratch my head. For example, Michelle is secretly in love with her brother’s best friend Brian, but later acknowledges that Enhanced don’t form monogamous relationships and happily kisses another boy.
This well-written story kept me interested and reading, and wondering where the author was going next. There were a few times when the storyline made me uncomfortable, and I wondered if maybe it should be NA instead of YA, but in the end I guess it fits YA more. Some of the transitions were hard to follow, and some scenes felt rushed, but the storyline was compelling and made for a quick read. The ending left open a possibility for an interesting sequel, and I’m hoping Ms. Farrell finishes it quickly!
November 21, 2013
This book review was originally posted at Journey with Books
Enhanced is a a well written Dystopian novel which makes a reader really think about social and moral issues without deviating from the teenage angst which makes the book entertaining.
Enhanced turned out to be an okay read for me. The plot was really good but I think it could have been delivered much better if it didn't jumped from scene to scene. It felt a bit rushed. There were times when I was enjoying one scene from the book but it suddenly ended without proper closure and that makes it a bit confusing. The transition and pacing of those scenes wasn't smooth at all.
The characters are interesting. Reading from their point of views was fun. Michelle is really an interesting character. She's trapped inside a world where she had to be really careful with what she says and do. I loved her strength and her courage. She's scared but shes faces her fears head on for the people she cares about. She has loyalty and that makes here quite endearing to me.
The romance part of this book is okay too but there were times when I couldn't connect to the characters' feelings. Maybe it's because of how the scenes jump from one after another that I couldn't truly connect with the feelings of romance that this book was trying to convey. The romance felt rushed and forced although it got better at the end, it could have been much better with more feelings and time.
I think one great parts of this book was the action and sci-fi. I think it was well done and well though of. It was fun and thrilling to read.
Verdict:
This book review was originally posted at Journey with Books
Enhanced is a a well written Dystopian novel which makes a reader really think about social and moral issues without deviating from the teenage angst which makes the book entertaining.
Enhanced turned out to be an okay read for me. The plot was really good but I think it could have been delivered much better if it didn't jumped from scene to scene. It felt a bit rushed. There were times when I was enjoying one scene from the book but it suddenly ended without proper closure and that makes it a bit confusing. The transition and pacing of those scenes wasn't smooth at all.
The characters are interesting. Reading from their point of views was fun. Michelle is really an interesting character. She's trapped inside a world where she had to be really careful with what she says and do. I loved her strength and her courage. She's scared but shes faces her fears head on for the people she cares about. She has loyalty and that makes here quite endearing to me.
The romance part of this book is okay too but there were times when I couldn't connect to the characters' feelings. Maybe it's because of how the scenes jump from one after another that I couldn't truly connect with the feelings of romance that this book was trying to convey. The romance felt rushed and forced although it got better at the end, it could have been much better with more feelings and time.
I think one great parts of this book was the action and sci-fi. I think it was well done and well though of. It was fun and thrilling to read.
Verdict:
Overall, Enhanced by Courtney Farrell was still an enjoyable read despite its setbacks. It had a lot of potential for greatness but it fell short in a few areas but other than that the book is still entertaining and enjoyable. It's the kind of book that makes a reader think because it has a lot social and moral issues and it surprises a reader quite well because its unique plot. I recommend this book to all Dystopian and Sci-Fi fans. I think you'll appreciate the thrill, action and suspense this book offers a reader.
This book review was originally posted at Journey with Books
October 19, 2013
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
It's really easy to see something like the events of this book happening in reality someday. We've already taken a step onto a similar path, with the whole designer baby thing.
I felt the author did a really good job of portraying this society, though I did find that the book jumped around a bit and that periods of time were skipped over fairly quickly. (An example of the first is where Michelle is in the examination room, looking around the clinic, and then back at her home with no clear explanation as to what she was doing there in the first place and why, when the previous chapter had implied otherwise, she was allowed to leave. An example of the second is where it says that Brian and Seth had been gone for a month, when it didn't feel like nearly that much time had passed).
I did like the characters in the book, but I was less keen on the romances Michelle had with Brian and Dillon. They felt stilted and rushed... almost forced.
I felt that the thing with the plague was handled really well and it was also good to see that there were good people on both sides of the conflict - the Enhanced and the Norms.
I particularly liked Sylvia and the triplets, though I did find Sylvia to be a bit contradictory. She came across as much more confident than her first appearance suggested.
I quite liked the different special abilities there were and it was good to see that Michelle wasn't ridiculously over-powered. Her extra ability actually made a certain kind of sense.
I did also quite like Brian and Seth as characters and the way they adapted Outside. I felt they formed relationships that came across as real and interesting.
All told, I found this book to be an interesting, easy read. I'd definitely be interested in reading a sequel to this, as well as checking out other books by this same author.
(This review may contain spoilers).
It's really easy to see something like the events of this book happening in reality someday. We've already taken a step onto a similar path, with the whole designer baby thing.
I felt the author did a really good job of portraying this society, though I did find that the book jumped around a bit and that periods of time were skipped over fairly quickly. (An example of the first is where Michelle is in the examination room, looking around the clinic, and then back at her home with no clear explanation as to what she was doing there in the first place and why, when the previous chapter had implied otherwise, she was allowed to leave. An example of the second is where it says that Brian and Seth had been gone for a month, when it didn't feel like nearly that much time had passed).
I did like the characters in the book, but I was less keen on the romances Michelle had with Brian and Dillon. They felt stilted and rushed... almost forced.
I felt that the thing with the plague was handled really well and it was also good to see that there were good people on both sides of the conflict - the Enhanced and the Norms.
I particularly liked Sylvia and the triplets, though I did find Sylvia to be a bit contradictory. She came across as much more confident than her first appearance suggested.
I quite liked the different special abilities there were and it was good to see that Michelle wasn't ridiculously over-powered. Her extra ability actually made a certain kind of sense.
I did also quite like Brian and Seth as characters and the way they adapted Outside. I felt they formed relationships that came across as real and interesting.
All told, I found this book to be an interesting, easy read. I'd definitely be interested in reading a sequel to this, as well as checking out other books by this same author.
January 8, 2016
Sometime in the future mankind is genetically split into several groups with the two main groups being the Enhanced and the Norms. The Enhanced are bred within the safety of the Institute, while the Norms live in the slums outside of the Institute’s walls and work as servants to the Enhanced. Michelle is an enhanced sixteen year old female who does not buy into everything she is told by the adults and has reason to dislike the head doctor. When her brother and her boyfriend are sent over the wall into the slums, Michelle tries desperately to find them. What she learns while there will forever change how she views the world around her.
Farrell’s Young Adult dystopian novel, Enhanced is the first in the Enhanced series. The story is told through the eyes of Michelle and her boyfriend, Brian, though most of the book is from Michelle’s point of view. The pace of the story is pretty good with a few slower spots that turn around rather quickly. The development of Michelle’s character is especially well done and I felt as though I knew her personally. Most of the lesser twists were not entirely unpredictable, but there was a good one I certainly did not see coming towards the end. The moral and ethical dilemmas brought out within Enhanced are not unlike those that we as a society are facing now.
Overall, I was very pleased with this book and look forward to the next in the series. There was one plot hole and a couple of contextual errors that I have submitted to the author for review. With that being said, I highly recommend this book for teenagers and adults alike.
Farrell’s Young Adult dystopian novel, Enhanced is the first in the Enhanced series. The story is told through the eyes of Michelle and her boyfriend, Brian, though most of the book is from Michelle’s point of view. The pace of the story is pretty good with a few slower spots that turn around rather quickly. The development of Michelle’s character is especially well done and I felt as though I knew her personally. Most of the lesser twists were not entirely unpredictable, but there was a good one I certainly did not see coming towards the end. The moral and ethical dilemmas brought out within Enhanced are not unlike those that we as a society are facing now.
Overall, I was very pleased with this book and look forward to the next in the series. There was one plot hole and a couple of contextual errors that I have submitted to the author for review. With that being said, I highly recommend this book for teenagers and adults alike.
November 17, 2013
Michelle and Seth, brother and sister, are the offspring of the lineage that created The Institution. The Institution’s purpose? Breeding genetically perfect specimens and culling those below standards. Immune to disease, insanely intelligent, and bred to withstand any human weakness, the Enhanced rule the world after the war. Norms, those without genetic engineering and “wild bred,” are kept outside of the wall and used as servants or for sources of amusement. Michelle, Seth, and their band of friends’ worlds are about to end. Seth and his best friend Brian are kicked out of the gated community and forced to band together with a clan or norms. Michelle and her friends race to find out why the boys were sent away and discover previous unknown powers. Discovering love, hate, and the true nature of being human, Enhanced is a fun romp in the dystopian genre.
This book could definitely be included on a “must read” list for young adults who love a bit of sci-fi or dystopian in their reading regiment. Besides a few curse words here and there, the book deals with natural teenager/young adult dilemmas like love, lust, growing up, and raging against adults. I never felt the book halted on the action and the characters had clearly defined personalities. The market is swamped with this genre, but this book holds its own in the saturated market.
Note: I received a copy of this book from I.O. Book Tours in return for an honest review.
This book could definitely be included on a “must read” list for young adults who love a bit of sci-fi or dystopian in their reading regiment. Besides a few curse words here and there, the book deals with natural teenager/young adult dilemmas like love, lust, growing up, and raging against adults. I never felt the book halted on the action and the characters had clearly defined personalities. The market is swamped with this genre, but this book holds its own in the saturated market.
Note: I received a copy of this book from I.O. Book Tours in return for an honest review.
July 13, 2015
This was an intriguing dystopian novel. There is biological warfare, DNA restructuring, physical and mental testing, medical enhancements…it was a really cool sci-fi-ish future world they were living in.
Enhanced is told from dual points of view: Michelle and Brian. This is extremely important, because it’s absolutely necessary to understand the inside of their minds. At first I wondered, “Why Brian?” when it came to the male point of view. Initially I thought it could have easily been told from her brother, Seth's point of view. But the further I got into the story, the more I understood. Besides the fact that one group of the main characters gets separated from the other group, Michelle and Brian’s minds and emotions are affected in different ways from each other. And it’s amazing to see just how differently they think after their experiences.
There were so many moments in this story where I laughed out loud, worried so much I wanted to pull my hair out, and everything in between. Their society is crazy. And sometimes, so are they. As much as I would love to tell you ALL ABOUT this story, I think you should experience it for yourself. :)
I can't wait to read the next one!
Enhanced is told from dual points of view: Michelle and Brian. This is extremely important, because it’s absolutely necessary to understand the inside of their minds. At first I wondered, “Why Brian?” when it came to the male point of view. Initially I thought it could have easily been told from her brother, Seth's point of view. But the further I got into the story, the more I understood. Besides the fact that one group of the main characters gets separated from the other group, Michelle and Brian’s minds and emotions are affected in different ways from each other. And it’s amazing to see just how differently they think after their experiences.
There were so many moments in this story where I laughed out loud, worried so much I wanted to pull my hair out, and everything in between. Their society is crazy. And sometimes, so are they. As much as I would love to tell you ALL ABOUT this story, I think you should experience it for yourself. :)
I can't wait to read the next one!
April 21, 2015
What an awesome ride! Sci-fi and fantasy YA books are typically a mixed bag for me, but books like Enhanced make me so happy when I travel outside of my comfort zone. The premise was horrifying and I really found myself empathizing so much with Michelle.
Michelle is my favorite kind of YA heroine: strong and smart. She is selfless and constantly risking her life for the people she cares about. I also liked the romance a lot in the book. I adore the angst in YA books.
There were a good number of secondary characters and they all had an important part to play. Despite the large cast, I still felt like the author took the time to make me invested in their fate. The book is action-packed and if I had one complaint was I would’ve liked a little more world building. The dystopian setting was just so interesting, I would’ve loved to know more.
I’d highly recommend the book to fans of dystopians with a sci-fi twist. Although the novel is YA, I feel like it definitely has crossover appeal.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Michelle is my favorite kind of YA heroine: strong and smart. She is selfless and constantly risking her life for the people she cares about. I also liked the romance a lot in the book. I adore the angst in YA books.
There were a good number of secondary characters and they all had an important part to play. Despite the large cast, I still felt like the author took the time to make me invested in their fate. The book is action-packed and if I had one complaint was I would’ve liked a little more world building. The dystopian setting was just so interesting, I would’ve loved to know more.
I’d highly recommend the book to fans of dystopians with a sci-fi twist. Although the novel is YA, I feel like it definitely has crossover appeal.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
November 20, 2013
I got this book from the author free of cost in exchange of an honest review from my side.
Firstly I would like to thank the author and the publisher for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this fabulous book.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and loved the unique concept as well. The pacing is good and it kept me hooked in. Moreover I liked the characters a lot, they are developed and fully flourished, and even the side characters were very good. I loved Michelle and Dillon very much, Michelle is a perfect kick-ass heroine.
There is power-packed action and the action scenes were executed perfectly, moreover the suspense is eerie and the mystery interested me throughout the story. Sci-Fi and Dystopian lovers will like this story very much.
I loved the writing style of the author and the twists that the author introduced within the book really stunned me. A great and must read for ya all.
Firstly I would like to thank the author and the publisher for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this fabulous book.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and loved the unique concept as well. The pacing is good and it kept me hooked in. Moreover I liked the characters a lot, they are developed and fully flourished, and even the side characters were very good. I loved Michelle and Dillon very much, Michelle is a perfect kick-ass heroine.
There is power-packed action and the action scenes were executed perfectly, moreover the suspense is eerie and the mystery interested me throughout the story. Sci-Fi and Dystopian lovers will like this story very much.
I loved the writing style of the author and the twists that the author introduced within the book really stunned me. A great and must read for ya all.
October 27, 2013
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you find the description of this book at all compelling, you should definitely give it a read. The whole idea of organizing a society around genetic enhancing seemed very plausible and fascinating to me. I found Enhanced better written than many dystopian YA series that are currently being pushed by big publishers.
Courtney Farrell is amazingly good at painting a scene, even a complicated one with many characters and a lot of action. What I had a harder time with, especially in the beginning, was making the leap from one scene to the next. Sometimes I didn't understand what was happening right away or how one thing related to another. This was much less true as the book went on and I was pulled into the story, however.
If you like this kind of book, this is a must-read.
If you find the description of this book at all compelling, you should definitely give it a read. The whole idea of organizing a society around genetic enhancing seemed very plausible and fascinating to me. I found Enhanced better written than many dystopian YA series that are currently being pushed by big publishers.
Courtney Farrell is amazingly good at painting a scene, even a complicated one with many characters and a lot of action. What I had a harder time with, especially in the beginning, was making the leap from one scene to the next. Sometimes I didn't understand what was happening right away or how one thing related to another. This was much less true as the book went on and I was pulled into the story, however.
If you like this kind of book, this is a must-read.
September 20, 2013
This review is based on free copy of the book sent to me by the author. Enhanced is described as a YA romance, it is set in a world of genetically enhanced people who have a perfect life, however the teenagers are constantly tested and examined for imperfections. Any failures result in being sent out of the gate to live among the failures and the normal people in a desolate landscape of fear and poverty. This book has a big sci -fi theme with a mad doctor and advanced technology. I liked the story line and the characters were strong and imaginable, some of the scenes lost me a little in the speed which they moved, but that is probably a personal preference rather than a flaw in the writing. This book is very suitable for the YA market.
September 25, 2013
Enhanced follows Michelle, a 16-year-old girl, in a place where the people are genetically altered with the most desirable traits: beauty, strength, speed, intelligence, etc. When she discovers that her brother and (presumed) boyfriend have been sent out into the dangerous, poverty-stricken world of the Norms—humans without enhancements—she makes it her personal mission to find out why and bring them back, putting her own life at risk.
At first it was hard for me to get into the book. I think I just had a difficult time understanding the details of the setting and these unique characters. But eventually I was able to piece it together and really enjoyed it from there on out. Lots of action spliced with some romantic tension = good reading!
At first it was hard for me to get into the book. I think I just had a difficult time understanding the details of the setting and these unique characters. But eventually I was able to piece it together and really enjoyed it from there on out. Lots of action spliced with some romantic tension = good reading!
November 17, 2013
I really like young adult dystopias. It is my favorite genre but I wasn't really getting into this story. There was a lot going on and it seemed really rushed and the scenes were disjointed and didn't transition well. I think that the pacing was off and that it would have been better to ease into the story and maybe it could have had more characterization so that I could have gotten a better feel for these people. In this book, Eugenics is practiced to create perfect children and they are put through rigorous testing as they age. The ones who do not make it are called culls and they are banished beyond the wall to an extremely harsh world. The book is about Michelle, a 16-year-old girl and her band of rebels. 3 stars.
November 25, 2013
What a great YA Dystopian novel! Not only does the novel make you think, it exposes the teenage angst we've all felt when younger. The story is fast-paced and entertaining, the romance between the two characters entirely believable.
Enhanced is a good read, somewhat rushed in a few places, but overall, really enjoyable. The characters are easy to get to know, sympathetic, and interesting. I like the way they confront fear and overcome it, showing some moral fortitude in the process.
I really enjoyed Cortney Farrell's Enhanced and would recommend it to my YA readers in the family.
Enhanced is a good read, somewhat rushed in a few places, but overall, really enjoyable. The characters are easy to get to know, sympathetic, and interesting. I like the way they confront fear and overcome it, showing some moral fortitude in the process.
I really enjoyed Cortney Farrell's Enhanced and would recommend it to my YA readers in the family.
December 29, 2013
My interest in this book was captured just by reading the excerpt on the author's fb page. I enjoy both fantasy and dystopian reads so this was perfect for me.
Loved the main characters Michelle, Seth, Brian, Jeanette, Slyvia and the triplets. They were fully developed and I really came to care what happened to them.
The concept behind the story of enhanced and un-enhanced in a post war world was captivating. The book contained tension, fear, uncertainty, courage and hope and kept me guessing right to the end.
A very good read.
Loved the main characters Michelle, Seth, Brian, Jeanette, Slyvia and the triplets. They were fully developed and I really came to care what happened to them.
The concept behind the story of enhanced and un-enhanced in a post war world was captivating. The book contained tension, fear, uncertainty, courage and hope and kept me guessing right to the end.
A very good read.
December 2, 2015
This isn't my usual genre. I tend to read more fantasy novels that revolve around supernatural creatures, than ones in a world of genetic enhancements. While this is a young adult book, I found it entertaining. I like the way the main characters are thrust into a new environment with people they don't know, and how they come to empathize with these new people. It just goes to show that the more you spend with other people, the more you realize everyone is similar and just want to survive in their own life.
April 17, 2014
This is definitely the type of genre that I enjoy, and I love that the MC takes charge of her life once things start to unravel. She's the one who set out to save the guys, not the other way around.
Plus, the characters were well written and I really cared about what happened to them. I can't wait for the sequel.
Plus, the characters were well written and I really cared about what happened to them. I can't wait for the sequel.
April 9, 2015
Loved it!!!!! Great level of action and suspense and romance. Dr. Salomon is a real sicko, but I was happy to find all the kids weren't mindless drones. And yayyyyy, Michelle ended up with the guy I wanted her to.
April 24, 2014
Strong characters, a unique voice, and a deft hand at storytelling. Courtney Farrell is the real deal.
October 9, 2015
Unique story
Great story and interesting characters. Was unexpectedly surprised by the imagination of the author. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Great story and interesting characters. Was unexpectedly surprised by the imagination of the author. Looking forward to the next in the series.
November 10, 2015
Great read!
Wow! Really enjoyed this book, likable characters and a good storyline, would recommend this book to fans of The Hunger Games. Can't wait to read more!
Wow! Really enjoyed this book, likable characters and a good storyline, would recommend this book to fans of The Hunger Games. Can't wait to read more!
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