JCE-286 has spent every day almost the same as the last in her life as a genetically modified soldier. Her selected best friend informs her of any deviance, even the difference of 1 minute and 37 seconds, and they attend specialized, segregated classes. So, when she is called to the office and told that she will be grouped with 3 other Regs to be sent out to the real world, she has no idea what to expect. JCE-286 is passable as a Reg, but how will she fair as Jaycee in the real world?
Once outside the walls of the training facility that has been her home all her life, Jaycee discovers just how much she has missed in her life. Regs are not allowed to see the sunlight, feel the grass, or even cook. Literally everything is a new experience to understand and overcome, with a deadline of just 2 months to assimilate and protect the secret of the Regulators.
C Miller has yet another hit series in the works here! Despite discovering the world and all its many wonders, Jaycee is still reminded constantly that she is property, not a person. The way that Miller writes her protagonist, there is a clear struggle within Jaycee to decide if life is worth living knowing that she was only created to serve a purpose. Should the fear of death keep a person from really living?
Miller illustrates an uncanny representation of how it would be to be a stranger to the world. The description of many of everyday items is so unusual, it takes a minute to figure out what she is describing. While this may pose some frustration, it's as if someone placed common items like a phone and a wallet in front of a caveman and asked him to describe them. It makes the whole narration seem incredibly authentic. Miller's way of diving into her characters and writing with the protagonist's eyes is what I love about her writing!