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Tabula Rasa #1
Tabula Rasa
The Bourne Identity meets Divergent in this action-packed debut thriller with a Katniss-esque heroine fighting to regain her memories and stay alive, set against a dystopian hospital background.
Sarah finds herself in a battle for her life within the walls of her hospital-turned-prison. A procedure to eliminate her memory goes awry, and she starts to remember snatches of her past. Was she an urban terrorist or vigilante? Has the procedure been her salvation or her destruction? The answers lie trapped within her mind. To access them, she'll need the help of the teen computer hacker who's trying to bring the hospital down for his own reasons, and she'll need to evade an army of mercenary soldiers poised to eliminate her for good. If only she knew why . . .
Sarah finds herself in a battle for her life within the walls of her hospital-turned-prison. A procedure to eliminate her memory goes awry, and she starts to remember snatches of her past. Was she an urban terrorist or vigilante? Has the procedure been her salvation or her destruction? The answers lie trapped within her mind. To access them, she'll need the help of the teen computer hacker who's trying to bring the hospital down for his own reasons, and she'll need to evade an army of mercenary soldiers poised to eliminate her for good. If only she knew why . . .
350 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
57 people are currently reading
6071 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Lippert-Martin
2 books130 followersMy patronus is a platypus and I prefer Star Trek to Star Wars. I'm not sure there's anything else you need to know about me. Will update as events warrant.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 398 reviews
March 3, 2014
TABULA RASA kicked my ass, and I loved every minute of it!
This is an intense, fast-paced read that will have you cheering for the BAD.ASS. leading lady from page one.
The high-stakes action scenes, coupled with raw, honest emotions, perfectly-timed sarcasm, and even some swoon worthy moments for the love birds out there, will have every reader gasping out loud. (At least this reader did!) The plot alone is beyond clever, but it's Lippert-Martin's easy, unforced delivery that makes this story a winner.
This is an intense, fast-paced read that will have you cheering for the BAD.ASS. leading lady from page one.
The high-stakes action scenes, coupled with raw, honest emotions, perfectly-timed sarcasm, and even some swoon worthy moments for the love birds out there, will have every reader gasping out loud. (At least this reader did!) The plot alone is beyond clever, but it's Lippert-Martin's easy, unforced delivery that makes this story a winner.
September 9, 2014
*light spoilers*
Imagine an author with really good book ideas. Those ideas are so good you cannot WAIT to see them in book form. You practically wriggle with anticipation.
Then, as you watch in horror, the author takes all those ideas, throws them into a bag, shakes it like a martini, and dumps them out in random order onto blank pages.
The resulting book would be called Tabula Rasa and it would be deeply disappointing.
I honestly have no idea what was happening in 2/3 of this book.
My biggest issues with this book were the following:
1.) Plot pace.
It took FOREVER to finally get to the action in this book. The first 3/4 were dull and then most of the plot was awkwardly squeezed into the last few pages. It wasn't pretty.
2.) Insta-love
There was ZERO chemistry between the couple in question and all of a sudden there were "I Love You's" being thrown around recklessly. I kept muttering things like, "Whoa there little doggies. You've known each other less than 48 hours. Calm yourselves." I know it's YA. I love YA. I know the love stories in these books tend to go fast and bend the rules, but this was ridiculous.
3.) Plot holes like WHOA.
There were very few answers to the confusing questions posed in this book. The ending was unsatisfying and offered little to no resolution about the elephants in the room throughout the book. I still have no idea why they were trying to wipe the MC's memory. There were no big revelations or answers about what she knew or why she was a threat to anyone.
4.) The Gun.
This may be nit picky, but I don't care because it pissed me off. WHY...WHY WHY WHY would you throw away a perfectly good, loaded gun if you're being chased by ARMED SOLDIERS? That rifle was the best chance they had at defending themselves and the idiot threw it into a ravine where it made a "jingling metal sound". GUNS DON'T JINGLE LIKE KEYS. They're heavy suckers that clack or clatter when they hit stuff. So says myself and every movie where someone drops a gun which is pretty much EVERY ACTION MOVIE EVER MADE.
This really bugged me.
If you're going to write about it-know what the hell you're talking about. This was the final straw that broke my little camel back. There were MANY other random, poorly written straws that were just as irritating, but this one got to me.
5.) Crappy ending.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE? Some characters disappeared without explanation or resolution and the others had vague endings that didn't make sense. Where was the MC during the course of the book? What was the project she was involved in? What were her special abilities and how were they unlocked? So many plot threads just disintegrated. Like the author wrote them and then forgot they were there.
This is often my thought after reading a poorly constructed book, but I have to ask again--"What was the editor thinking? As an editor, HOW do you let chaos like this wander off your desk to be published?" The editor in question needed to hog tie this book and wrassle it into a good story. At the bare bones of this book there was real potential. It's very sad and frustrating that such interesting concepts did not come to fruition.
This one isn't worth the time.Personally, I'd recommend throwing the towel in on this one before you even start.
Two stars-grudgingly.
Imagine an author with really good book ideas. Those ideas are so good you cannot WAIT to see them in book form. You practically wriggle with anticipation.
Then, as you watch in horror, the author takes all those ideas, throws them into a bag, shakes it like a martini, and dumps them out in random order onto blank pages.
The resulting book would be called Tabula Rasa and it would be deeply disappointing.
I honestly have no idea what was happening in 2/3 of this book.
My biggest issues with this book were the following:
1.) Plot pace.
It took FOREVER to finally get to the action in this book. The first 3/4 were dull and then most of the plot was awkwardly squeezed into the last few pages. It wasn't pretty.
2.) Insta-love
There was ZERO chemistry between the couple in question and all of a sudden there were "I Love You's" being thrown around recklessly. I kept muttering things like, "Whoa there little doggies. You've known each other less than 48 hours. Calm yourselves." I know it's YA. I love YA. I know the love stories in these books tend to go fast and bend the rules, but this was ridiculous.
3.) Plot holes like WHOA.
There were very few answers to the confusing questions posed in this book. The ending was unsatisfying and offered little to no resolution about the elephants in the room throughout the book. I still have no idea why they were trying to wipe the MC's memory. There were no big revelations or answers about what she knew or why she was a threat to anyone.
4.) The Gun.
This may be nit picky, but I don't care because it pissed me off. WHY...WHY WHY WHY would you throw away a perfectly good, loaded gun if you're being chased by ARMED SOLDIERS? That rifle was the best chance they had at defending themselves and the idiot threw it into a ravine where it made a "jingling metal sound". GUNS DON'T JINGLE LIKE KEYS. They're heavy suckers that clack or clatter when they hit stuff. So says myself and every movie where someone drops a gun which is pretty much EVERY ACTION MOVIE EVER MADE.
This really bugged me.
If you're going to write about it-know what the hell you're talking about. This was the final straw that broke my little camel back. There were MANY other random, poorly written straws that were just as irritating, but this one got to me.
5.) Crappy ending.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE? Some characters disappeared without explanation or resolution and the others had vague endings that didn't make sense. Where was the MC during the course of the book? What was the project she was involved in? What were her special abilities and how were they unlocked? So many plot threads just disintegrated. Like the author wrote them and then forgot they were there.
This is often my thought after reading a poorly constructed book, but I have to ask again--"What was the editor thinking? As an editor, HOW do you let chaos like this wander off your desk to be published?" The editor in question needed to hog tie this book and wrassle it into a good story. At the bare bones of this book there was real potential. It's very sad and frustrating that such interesting concepts did not come to fruition.
This one isn't worth the time.Personally, I'd recommend throwing the towel in on this one before you even start.
Two stars-grudgingly.
November 13, 2020
This review is also posted on my blog, Anatea's Bookshelf.
This is the book I was really excited to read and it's the kind of book that usually ends up on my favorites shelf. The key word being usually. There are always exceptions to that rule and Tabula Rasa was one of them. This is the kind of book that had so much potential, a great description that makes you want to read the book right away, and it even started out really great, BUT it all went downhill from there. I ended up NOT LIKING the book that started out really great! It is a rare occasion when I rate a book as 'I don't like it' and it usually means that I basically didn't like anything and I couldn't find a single thing I could hold on to and rate it as 'meh'. Yes, Tabula Rasa was one of those rare books.
What goes on in Tabula Rasa is that Sarah is currently placed in some kind of hospital which specializes in removing unwanted memories, usually ones that are really bad and from some kind of traumatic experience and it's better not to have to deal with them or remember them. The thing is that Sarah almost has no memories of her life before the hospital, but then the attack on the hospital happens and Sarah finds three pills with a note to drink them. Then her memory starts to come back slowly, and while she's trying to put the pieces together, she has to retrieve one new pill that she crushed from the hospital, with the little help of a boy she just met and one of the patients.
I know that this summary probably sounds really good to you, and it really does... But let me explain WHY I DIDN'T LIKE Tabula Rasa and why I deducted the rating the way I did. You'll see, there is a perfectly reasonable explanation why I did what I did.
From 5 to 4 stars - If you look in the description of this book, it promises us "The Bourne Identity meets Divergent". I was looking forward to a book like that, BUT don't let them fool you. Tabula Rasa is nothing like the The Bourne Identity or Divergent. The only thing I can maybe find that they have in common is the genre, thriller and dystopia. I was also promised "a Katniss-esque heroine fighting to regain her memories and stay alive", but Sarah is far from that. I'm not sure I could even compare the two. With this being said, I don't see how this book could appeal to the fans of above mentioned books.
From 4 to 3 stars - Another big problem I had with this book has much to do with the setting, the characters, the pacing and the not knowing anything. At this point, I was already starting to get frustrated. The characters were there just to exist, with no personality or whatsoever. The worldbuilding was explained just so you could have a little knowledge of why are some of the things happening, but it is far, far away from a good, strong worldbuilding.
From 3 to 2 stars - ENTER INSTALOVE (ohhaii)! I think Tabula Rasa has one of the most instantaneous instaloves I have ever encountered. By instalove, I consider romance when two people declare their love after just knowing each other for a week or maybe a month. But this book TOPS IT ALL!
This is the book I was really excited to read and it's the kind of book that usually ends up on my favorites shelf. The key word being usually. There are always exceptions to that rule and Tabula Rasa was one of them. This is the kind of book that had so much potential, a great description that makes you want to read the book right away, and it even started out really great, BUT it all went downhill from there. I ended up NOT LIKING the book that started out really great! It is a rare occasion when I rate a book as 'I don't like it' and it usually means that I basically didn't like anything and I couldn't find a single thing I could hold on to and rate it as 'meh'. Yes, Tabula Rasa was one of those rare books.
What goes on in Tabula Rasa is that Sarah is currently placed in some kind of hospital which specializes in removing unwanted memories, usually ones that are really bad and from some kind of traumatic experience and it's better not to have to deal with them or remember them. The thing is that Sarah almost has no memories of her life before the hospital, but then the attack on the hospital happens and Sarah finds three pills with a note to drink them. Then her memory starts to come back slowly, and while she's trying to put the pieces together, she has to retrieve one new pill that she crushed from the hospital, with the little help of a boy she just met and one of the patients.
I know that this summary probably sounds really good to you, and it really does... But let me explain WHY I DIDN'T LIKE Tabula Rasa and why I deducted the rating the way I did. You'll see, there is a perfectly reasonable explanation why I did what I did.
From 5 to 4 stars - If you look in the description of this book, it promises us "The Bourne Identity meets Divergent". I was looking forward to a book like that, BUT don't let them fool you. Tabula Rasa is nothing like the The Bourne Identity or Divergent. The only thing I can maybe find that they have in common is the genre, thriller and dystopia. I was also promised "a Katniss-esque heroine fighting to regain her memories and stay alive", but Sarah is far from that. I'm not sure I could even compare the two. With this being said, I don't see how this book could appeal to the fans of above mentioned books.
From 4 to 3 stars - Another big problem I had with this book has much to do with the setting, the characters, the pacing and the not knowing anything. At this point, I was already starting to get frustrated. The characters were there just to exist, with no personality or whatsoever. The worldbuilding was explained just so you could have a little knowledge of why are some of the things happening, but it is far, far away from a good, strong worldbuilding.
From 3 to 2 stars - ENTER INSTALOVE (ohhaii)! I think Tabula Rasa has one of the most instantaneous instaloves I have ever encountered. By instalove, I consider romance when two people declare their love after just knowing each other for a week or maybe a month. But this book TOPS IT ALL!
"I knew him three days. That's all. But I think I've fallen in love with him since then."
Yes, you read that correctly. They were in love after just 3 days, and may I mention it came out of the blue? In those 3 days, they spent so little time together because one of them was always either: A) unconscious, B) asleep or C) just out of it/in some foggy state. Before they were in love, you could barely notice they liked each other or cared about the other, but yeah, the were in love. AFTER THREE DAYS!
From 2 to 1 stars - Wtf was that ending? What was the point of it all? Was that supposed to be funny? Sarcastic? Sad? A happy ending? An open ending? I don't get it. I believe this was one of the worst endings I have ever read. I'm sorry to be this harsh, but this is just the portrayal of how I felt upon finishing Tabula Rasa.
I really don't like writing negative reviews for a book, but I think my readers deserve to know how I truly felt about a book, and decide for themselves if they still want to give the book a chance. Two opinions are never the same and they differ. If I didn't like this books, it doesn't mean that someone else also wouldn't.
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August 2, 2014
Absolutely thrilling. I cannot fathom how quickly KLM’s mind must operate to write such a fast-paced, action-packed story. She gripped me from the first page and didn’t let me go until the very last word.
Characterization is epic. Angel is a strong, kickass heroine, and with each memory she regains, I like her all the more. KLM writes a horrific antagonist you’ll love to hate. I even enjoyed the minor characters, especially the PTSD soldiers. They were so intriguing, and the explanation for their existence and actions tied them into the story perfectly.
Although it’s a wild ride, the plot twists are easy to follow, and they are placed so cleverly. Be prepared to want to finish the book in one sitting (which is completely possible). I worried about the medical aspects because the plot relies heavily on the functions of the brain, but at no point did I feel bogged down or confused. KLM incorporates these details without overwhelming the reader in the least bit.
Overall, this is so well done. The battles are elaborately detailed and unpredictable, so much so that it feels like watching an action movie. It is reminiscent of The Bourne Identity or even the movie Hanna.
Fun, fast, and fresh. Loved it.
Characterization is epic. Angel is a strong, kickass heroine, and with each memory she regains, I like her all the more. KLM writes a horrific antagonist you’ll love to hate. I even enjoyed the minor characters, especially the PTSD soldiers. They were so intriguing, and the explanation for their existence and actions tied them into the story perfectly.
Although it’s a wild ride, the plot twists are easy to follow, and they are placed so cleverly. Be prepared to want to finish the book in one sitting (which is completely possible). I worried about the medical aspects because the plot relies heavily on the functions of the brain, but at no point did I feel bogged down or confused. KLM incorporates these details without overwhelming the reader in the least bit.
Overall, this is so well done. The battles are elaborately detailed and unpredictable, so much so that it feels like watching an action movie. It is reminiscent of The Bourne Identity or even the movie Hanna.
Fun, fast, and fresh. Loved it.
April 8, 2014
I'm not supposed to be enjoying books right now. Reading is what I want to do when I want to have fun, relax, unwind, or feel happy. In other words, I am a huge book nerd. But right now, I'm also unemployed and actively looking for a job. Every time I open a book, I think "I should be looking for a job not reading". It's the reason i have reviewed so few books, and it's the reason I am no longer a regular contributor on badassbookreviews.com. Guilt makes me look for a job 24/7 instead of reading.
Of course my "no reading" plan is not fool-proof. I'm an addict. I start glancing at the first few pages and I can't help continuing. Tabula Rasa is a book that trapped me. It was unique, it was action packed, and in general, pretty damn believable. When I set the book down, I wanted to pick it back up. And right now, in my screwed up real life, that is saying everything.
That's all you are getting about the story since the book isn't coming out for a while.
Of course my "no reading" plan is not fool-proof. I'm an addict. I start glancing at the first few pages and I can't help continuing. Tabula Rasa is a book that trapped me. It was unique, it was action packed, and in general, pretty damn believable. When I set the book down, I wanted to pick it back up. And right now, in my screwed up real life, that is saying everything.
That's all you are getting about the story since the book isn't coming out for a while.
February 8, 2017
I found this a very interesting story that kept my interest. It reminded me a bit of Pines, the way we start out with a MC who doesn't know much, but yet people are after her. We get pieces along the way, but are mostly in the dark, like the MC.
The pacing and action keep me moving forward with the story. Lots of exposition at the end, but overall an enjoyable, entertaining read.
The pacing and action keep me moving forward with the story. Lots of exposition at the end, but overall an enjoyable, entertaining read.
August 24, 2014
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Tabula Rasa by Kristen Lippert-Martin
Publisher: Egmont USA
Publication Dae: September 23, 2014
Rating: 3 stars
Source: ARC sent by the author
Summary (from Goodreads):
The Bourne Identity meets Divergent in this action-packed debut thriller with a Katniss-esque heroine fighting to regain her memories and stay alive, set against a dystopian hospital background.
Sarah starts a crazy battle for her life within the walls of her hospital-turned-prison when a procedure to eliminate her memory goes awry and she starts to remember snatches of her past. Was she an urban terrorist or vigilante? Has the procedure been her salvation or her destruction?
The answers lie trapped within her mind. To access them, she'll need the help of the teen computer hacker who's trying to bring the hospital down for his own reasons, and a pill that's blocked by an army of mercenary soldiers poised to eliminate her for good. If only she knew why . . .
What I Liked:
Sarah doesn't know who she is, her background, her past, her identity. Everything is being wiped from her memory - or so she thought. When the power goes out in her "hospital" compound, Sarah escapes - and she starts remembering. She stumbles upon a hacker genius about her age, and together, they try and get her the medicine that will allow her to remember everything faster. But there are many people that want to kill Sarah, but Sarah isn't giving up that easily.
I liked this book. I know that my three-star reviews usually seem a little more negative than positive (not my intention though), but I usually at least *like* the 3-star-rated books. I liked this one. It's a thriller, a standalone, and I'm happy for both of those things. There aren't enough standalone debuts. And there aren't enough good thrillers. I wouldn't say that this is the most spellbinding and remarkable thriller I've read, but I liked it.
The book starts with Sarah getting another procedure done in her head. The imagery is very vivid and almost graphic, but not to the point where a squeamish person will freak out. Everything is really well-described though, in terms of the surgeries and what's being done to Sarah's head, and Sarah's emptiness and confusion. Then Sarah escapes, and the rest of the book is spent with Pierce/Thomas and Sarah trying to figure out how to gain access to the medical locker, to get Sarah's pills.
The imagery and descriptions are very thorough, in the beginning of the book. I'm not sure about the rest of the book, but this really stood out to me in the first part of the book, before Sarah escapes. It really sucks you in. The writing is very simple and easy to read - so it's not unique and lush and gorgeous, but it's easy to read and helps the book go faster.
I liked Sarah, and I liked Thomas. I can't say I really connected with either of them, but I liked them. I liked following their story. I wanted to know who Sarah was before she was admitted to the "hospital", why she was there, etc. The mystery surrounding the protagonist was interesting. I wanted to know what was going - but this was a little frustrating, because I felt like the author wasn't explaining things fast enough. Read on!
What I Did Not Like:
I found the plot frustrating, because I felt like information wasn't being revealed fast enough, or at all, yet information should have been revealed. It was like the author was trying to show us things and she was trying to be tricksy and sneaky with it but it just wasn't working out for her. Like, something would be hinted at, but it wouldn't be explained, but this was frustrating! Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. In this case, it didn't really work. I mean, I wanted to know what would happen, and I kept reading, but I was frustrated while reading. Hints about Sarah's mother, father, past, potential criminal record, etc. were all dropped along the story, but I wanted to KNOW, not be teased.
I found Sarah's past to be annoying and frustrating as well. The author built up this epic character with a crazy past, but I felt like Sarah didn't live up to her past. Her past seemed like a legend's past, a rockstar, an actress, someone who mattered. But Sarah didn't seem that way. Like I said, this was frustrating.
The "big reveal"/climax was extremely anticlimactic, in my opinion. I'm referring to the big infodump, when the villain reveals his/her diabolical plan. So anticlimactic. I rolled my eyes several times. It was so cliche! And obvious! Couldn't it have been something more complex?!
Would I Recommend It:
Despite the fact that this book frustrated me a great deal, I liked it. I especially liked that it is a standalone, and so I won't have to "suffer" through another book (I liked this one enough to read a second book, if there would be another, but it wouldn't be a priority). I think you should read this one if you were already interested in it! It won't (necessarily) disappoint!
Rating:
3 stars. Not a bad debut at all! Not a favorite, but I'm glad I read it. I'll be keeping my eye on the author's upcoming novels.
Tabula Rasa by Kristen Lippert-Martin
Publisher: Egmont USA
Publication Dae: September 23, 2014
Rating: 3 stars
Source: ARC sent by the author
Summary (from Goodreads):
The Bourne Identity meets Divergent in this action-packed debut thriller with a Katniss-esque heroine fighting to regain her memories and stay alive, set against a dystopian hospital background.
Sarah starts a crazy battle for her life within the walls of her hospital-turned-prison when a procedure to eliminate her memory goes awry and she starts to remember snatches of her past. Was she an urban terrorist or vigilante? Has the procedure been her salvation or her destruction?
The answers lie trapped within her mind. To access them, she'll need the help of the teen computer hacker who's trying to bring the hospital down for his own reasons, and a pill that's blocked by an army of mercenary soldiers poised to eliminate her for good. If only she knew why . . .
What I Liked:
Sarah doesn't know who she is, her background, her past, her identity. Everything is being wiped from her memory - or so she thought. When the power goes out in her "hospital" compound, Sarah escapes - and she starts remembering. She stumbles upon a hacker genius about her age, and together, they try and get her the medicine that will allow her to remember everything faster. But there are many people that want to kill Sarah, but Sarah isn't giving up that easily.
I liked this book. I know that my three-star reviews usually seem a little more negative than positive (not my intention though), but I usually at least *like* the 3-star-rated books. I liked this one. It's a thriller, a standalone, and I'm happy for both of those things. There aren't enough standalone debuts. And there aren't enough good thrillers. I wouldn't say that this is the most spellbinding and remarkable thriller I've read, but I liked it.
The book starts with Sarah getting another procedure done in her head. The imagery is very vivid and almost graphic, but not to the point where a squeamish person will freak out. Everything is really well-described though, in terms of the surgeries and what's being done to Sarah's head, and Sarah's emptiness and confusion. Then Sarah escapes, and the rest of the book is spent with Pierce/Thomas and Sarah trying to figure out how to gain access to the medical locker, to get Sarah's pills.
The imagery and descriptions are very thorough, in the beginning of the book. I'm not sure about the rest of the book, but this really stood out to me in the first part of the book, before Sarah escapes. It really sucks you in. The writing is very simple and easy to read - so it's not unique and lush and gorgeous, but it's easy to read and helps the book go faster.
I liked Sarah, and I liked Thomas. I can't say I really connected with either of them, but I liked them. I liked following their story. I wanted to know who Sarah was before she was admitted to the "hospital", why she was there, etc. The mystery surrounding the protagonist was interesting. I wanted to know what was going - but this was a little frustrating, because I felt like the author wasn't explaining things fast enough. Read on!
What I Did Not Like:
I found the plot frustrating, because I felt like information wasn't being revealed fast enough, or at all, yet information should have been revealed. It was like the author was trying to show us things and she was trying to be tricksy and sneaky with it but it just wasn't working out for her. Like, something would be hinted at, but it wouldn't be explained, but this was frustrating! Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. In this case, it didn't really work. I mean, I wanted to know what would happen, and I kept reading, but I was frustrated while reading. Hints about Sarah's mother, father, past, potential criminal record, etc. were all dropped along the story, but I wanted to KNOW, not be teased.
I found Sarah's past to be annoying and frustrating as well. The author built up this epic character with a crazy past, but I felt like Sarah didn't live up to her past. Her past seemed like a legend's past, a rockstar, an actress, someone who mattered. But Sarah didn't seem that way. Like I said, this was frustrating.
The "big reveal"/climax was extremely anticlimactic, in my opinion. I'm referring to the big infodump, when the villain reveals his/her diabolical plan. So anticlimactic. I rolled my eyes several times. It was so cliche! And obvious! Couldn't it have been something more complex?!
Would I Recommend It:
Despite the fact that this book frustrated me a great deal, I liked it. I especially liked that it is a standalone, and so I won't have to "suffer" through another book (I liked this one enough to read a second book, if there would be another, but it wouldn't be a priority). I think you should read this one if you were already interested in it! It won't (necessarily) disappoint!
Rating:
3 stars. Not a bad debut at all! Not a favorite, but I'm glad I read it. I'll be keeping my eye on the author's upcoming novels.
May 7, 2015
Quick review:
Cover: Fitting
Rating: PG-13
Thumbs Up: 5
Overall: Fan-freaking-tastic
Characters: Well Written
Plot: With no memory of who you are, you fight to survive
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? N/A
Recommend: Absolutely
Book Boyfriend: Thomas
SUMMARY (60 words or less)
Can I just say what an amazing ride? I can’t say this is a new concept, but I love how it played out. The girl will amazing skills is reluctant and timid, yet a leader all the same. I figured out the all the plot twist. Just not the motivation behind everything. Still enjoyed the read.
For a full review and yummy pic, see my blog post at:
http://www.mybookboyfriend.net/2015/0...
Audio Review
Kate Rudd does a fabulous job of making me feel the story. She didn’t have a lot of male voices, but I didn’t have trouble following.
Cover: Fitting
Rating: PG-13
Thumbs Up: 5
Overall: Fan-freaking-tastic
Characters: Well Written
Plot: With no memory of who you are, you fight to survive
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? N/A
Recommend: Absolutely
Book Boyfriend: Thomas
SUMMARY (60 words or less)
Can I just say what an amazing ride? I can’t say this is a new concept, but I love how it played out. The girl will amazing skills is reluctant and timid, yet a leader all the same. I figured out the all the plot twist. Just not the motivation behind everything. Still enjoyed the read.
For a full review and yummy pic, see my blog post at:
http://www.mybookboyfriend.net/2015/0...
Audio Review
Kate Rudd does a fabulous job of making me feel the story. She didn’t have a lot of male voices, but I didn’t have trouble following.
March 20, 2015
I loved this book!
I like stories about memory loss. Stories that feel like a puzzle I have to work on in order to see the final picture. Stories that make me wonder how did things get to be the way they are now, which are the secrets behind all the appearances and what are the characters actually made of.
TABULA RASA is a beautiful story packed with action, it hides (in pieces) a fuzzy past that the reader needs to unveil page by page, it surrounds some lovely characters that must do anything in their power in order to survive, it offers an escape plan that goes wrong all over again… The only thing that didn’t ring that true was the “bad guy”, with the final monologue, but that’s just a drop in a sea of awesome!
Because both main characters are phenomenal!
The lead character (Sarah) is a girl you can easily relate with – strong, smart, with an intense personality (even though she doesn’t remember all the things that define her) and I loved to watch all her ‘parts’ coming back together, making her even stronger.
The love interest is just as smart, passionate and skilled. He is the only person that can help Sarah survive and their relationship takes time to develop, but it grows into something really beautiful, based very much on trust.
I don’t want to say too much about the action, the plot (even though that was the best part for me), because it is better for you to experience first-hand, so I will point out instead to other things that I loved: the prose and the dialogue. Both really great! And I can’t wait to read something else from this author!
The situation these 2 characters found themselves in were kind of grim and their chances of survival sometimes pretty low, but they both kept their humour, optimism and the hope for an actual future, for a way to escape, and it felt so great to follow them through the story, to feel like taking part in their adventure.
The ending left me with a smile on my lips, for various reasons, and I must confess that there are many things (and even characters) I would like to find out more about, but I truly enjoyed reading TABULA RASA, not to mention that it took me out of this horrible reading slump I was finding myself in.
I do hope that this story will get more attention in the future because it is great!
4.5 stars and one of my favourites for sure!
Happy midnight reading!
____________________________________________
Blog (EN) | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin' | Blog (RO)
____________________________________________
Pre-review:
I received a copy through a giveaway (as the favourite book of one of the characters from The Art of Lainey),I still need to read it though and hopefully I will get to it soon, as my reading pile could get me up to the first cloud *sigh*
I like stories about memory loss. Stories that feel like a puzzle I have to work on in order to see the final picture. Stories that make me wonder how did things get to be the way they are now, which are the secrets behind all the appearances and what are the characters actually made of.
TABULA RASA is a beautiful story packed with action, it hides (in pieces) a fuzzy past that the reader needs to unveil page by page, it surrounds some lovely characters that must do anything in their power in order to survive, it offers an escape plan that goes wrong all over again… The only thing that didn’t ring that true was the “bad guy”, with the final monologue, but that’s just a drop in a sea of awesome!
Because both main characters are phenomenal!
The lead character (Sarah) is a girl you can easily relate with – strong, smart, with an intense personality (even though she doesn’t remember all the things that define her) and I loved to watch all her ‘parts’ coming back together, making her even stronger.
The love interest is just as smart, passionate and skilled. He is the only person that can help Sarah survive and their relationship takes time to develop, but it grows into something really beautiful, based very much on trust.
I don’t want to say too much about the action, the plot (even though that was the best part for me), because it is better for you to experience first-hand, so I will point out instead to other things that I loved: the prose and the dialogue. Both really great! And I can’t wait to read something else from this author!
The situation these 2 characters found themselves in were kind of grim and their chances of survival sometimes pretty low, but they both kept their humour, optimism and the hope for an actual future, for a way to escape, and it felt so great to follow them through the story, to feel like taking part in their adventure.
The ending left me with a smile on my lips, for various reasons, and I must confess that there are many things (and even characters) I would like to find out more about, but I truly enjoyed reading TABULA RASA, not to mention that it took me out of this horrible reading slump I was finding myself in.
I do hope that this story will get more attention in the future because it is great!
4.5 stars and one of my favourites for sure!
Happy midnight reading!
____________________________________________
Blog (EN) | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin' | Blog (RO)
____________________________________________
Pre-review:
I received a copy through a giveaway (as the favourite book of one of the characters from The Art of Lainey),
April 15, 2014
You can also find this review at YA Midnight Reads
Tabula Rasa is an unforgettable novel, according to the summary. Do I agree with that? Well, I’ll let you know at the end of this review.
I’ve not read many books like Tabula Rasa in the YA genre. It’s definitely a page turner, one full of non-stop action. It captivates you and makes you not want to take a break from the story. It’s undeniably pulse racing and will hook you from the very beginning to the end. It truly did feel like an action movie, and there were no slow moments in Tabula Rasa at all. It makes for some interesting situations and solutions. Though it did work for me in the beginning, I felt like by the end of the novel I just couldn’t suspend my sense of disbelief any further. Things just became too convenient and unbelievable. I couldn’t take Tabula Rasa seriously by the end. It also led to the writing being a bit simplistic and sometimes glossing over important details and explanations.
The story itself was one that I was easily engrossed in. The premise itself intrigued me, the title basically means blank slate. To achieve this ‘blank slate’ your memories are whipped from your mind through a number of brain surgeries. I was afraid that this surgery that happened to the main character would make her extremely hard to connect with or like. Thankfully, this wasn’t the case though and I found myself sympathizing with Sarah’s plight from the very beginning. Being in her mind was quite interesting and I loved her moments of well timed sarcasm. She didn’t slut shame or do anything to drive me insane. I call that a win!
As we began to explore her memories I found myself very invested and found myself itching to find out more about Sarah’s past. As you find out more I found myself liking Sarah’s character either. She’s one of strength and reading about her connection with her mom was so endearing and heartbreaking. She felt realistic and I loved that even though she was in a tough situation, she didn’t dissolve into tears. Too often. I also loved that she broke the mould of typically “unearthly beautiful” heroines that seem to be so common in YA. Or heroines that are beautiful but don’t even know it. Sarah is bald from all of her surgeries and had metal clips stuck in her head for goodness sakes!
Another aspect I actually found myself shockingly enjoying was the romance. The love interest was a hacker named Thomas who I actually enjoyed. He wasn’t annoying in any sense, he wasn’t stupidly reckless nor was he an douchebag in any way. I found him to be quite hilarious at certain points and he offered some great comedic relief. He was sweet and actually cared for Sarah which was quite cute to witness as his feelings grew. They did have some genuine swoon worthy moments together and I felt like they had some real chemistry. The relationship did move quite quickly, though I personally wouldn’t classify it as insta love. There was definitely insta-attraction though. I feel like romance matched the fast paced action of the story. It didn’t take over the plot line though, it was a bit heavy near the end of the book however.
The ending of Tabula Rasa was not so enjoyable. The antagonist of the story was revealed in full force and it was so contrived and cheesy. The villain basically gave a “MWAHAHAHAH I’M SO EVIL, LET ME TELL YOU MY WHOLE PLAN AND HOW IT’S WORKING WOOT WOOT” speech.
This was literally the villain for a good 15 pages
That speech was full of info dumping and was definitely not enjoyable to read. It made what is supposed to be the most heart racing and pulse pounding part of the book seem laughable and lame. The speech honestly didn’t really explain much either?? It just confirmed that the antagonist was evil. I felt like I still had a lot of questions.
Overall Tabula Rasa was a book that will definitely appeal to those looking for a quick and action packed read. Those who are looking for a bit more depth and explanations may be disappointed though.
~Thank you Egmont USA for sending me this copy!~
Tabula Rasa is an unforgettable novel, according to the summary. Do I agree with that? Well, I’ll let you know at the end of this review.
I’ve not read many books like Tabula Rasa in the YA genre. It’s definitely a page turner, one full of non-stop action. It captivates you and makes you not want to take a break from the story. It’s undeniably pulse racing and will hook you from the very beginning to the end. It truly did feel like an action movie, and there were no slow moments in Tabula Rasa at all. It makes for some interesting situations and solutions. Though it did work for me in the beginning, I felt like by the end of the novel I just couldn’t suspend my sense of disbelief any further. Things just became too convenient and unbelievable. I couldn’t take Tabula Rasa seriously by the end. It also led to the writing being a bit simplistic and sometimes glossing over important details and explanations.
The story itself was one that I was easily engrossed in. The premise itself intrigued me, the title basically means blank slate. To achieve this ‘blank slate’ your memories are whipped from your mind through a number of brain surgeries. I was afraid that this surgery that happened to the main character would make her extremely hard to connect with or like. Thankfully, this wasn’t the case though and I found myself sympathizing with Sarah’s plight from the very beginning. Being in her mind was quite interesting and I loved her moments of well timed sarcasm. She didn’t slut shame or do anything to drive me insane. I call that a win!
As we began to explore her memories I found myself very invested and found myself itching to find out more about Sarah’s past. As you find out more I found myself liking Sarah’s character either. She’s one of strength and reading about her connection with her mom was so endearing and heartbreaking. She felt realistic and I loved that even though she was in a tough situation, she didn’t dissolve into tears. Too often. I also loved that she broke the mould of typically “unearthly beautiful” heroines that seem to be so common in YA. Or heroines that are beautiful but don’t even know it. Sarah is bald from all of her surgeries and had metal clips stuck in her head for goodness sakes!
Another aspect I actually found myself shockingly enjoying was the romance. The love interest was a hacker named Thomas who I actually enjoyed. He wasn’t annoying in any sense, he wasn’t stupidly reckless nor was he an douchebag in any way. I found him to be quite hilarious at certain points and he offered some great comedic relief. He was sweet and actually cared for Sarah which was quite cute to witness as his feelings grew. They did have some genuine swoon worthy moments together and I felt like they had some real chemistry. The relationship did move quite quickly, though I personally wouldn’t classify it as insta love. There was definitely insta-attraction though. I feel like romance matched the fast paced action of the story. It didn’t take over the plot line though, it was a bit heavy near the end of the book however.
The ending of Tabula Rasa was not so enjoyable. The antagonist of the story was revealed in full force and it was so contrived and cheesy. The villain basically gave a “MWAHAHAHAH I’M SO EVIL, LET ME TELL YOU MY WHOLE PLAN AND HOW IT’S WORKING WOOT WOOT” speech.
This was literally the villain for a good 15 pages
That speech was full of info dumping and was definitely not enjoyable to read. It made what is supposed to be the most heart racing and pulse pounding part of the book seem laughable and lame. The speech honestly didn’t really explain much either?? It just confirmed that the antagonist was evil. I felt like I still had a lot of questions.
Overall Tabula Rasa was a book that will definitely appeal to those looking for a quick and action packed read. Those who are looking for a bit more depth and explanations may be disappointed though.
~Thank you Egmont USA for sending me this copy!~
August 11, 2014
My thanks to Egmont USA and NetGalley
Point of View: Single (Sarah Ramos )
Writing Style: First Person | Present Tense
Setting:
Genre: Young Adult | Thriller with a little more advanced technology, but I'm not sure it was enough to be called a sci-fi.
There wasn't a dull moment with this book. Each page was full of action and so much suspense I almost couldn't stand. The witty writing with just enough humor to lighten the intense emotions and unfair cruelly made me love this book even more.
And oh boy the characters. How should I start with that?! Sarah was butt-kicking awesome. Until this book I had yet to find such a great female character in quite a long time. She was a quick thinker who wouldn't back down even she was in so much trouble. I loved the fact that she wasn't the typical girlie type who would just wait around to be saved and the fact that she was bald made she even more than perfect to me. Pierce was a fricking adorable (and nerdy.) I loved how hilarious he was. The boy was not only swoon-worthy because of the fact that he was a total babe, but also a wicked smart one as well. And Crazy Oscar was... well crazy. It was torture that I couldn't predict what he was going to do, but I loved that .
Besides the well-developed characters, the storyline was very promising from the start. I had to say it was one of the books I couldn't stop reading because each scene made me want to know more.The plot twists weren't NOT unexpected, though some part were very surprising, but I still loved how everything was revealed and came together in the end. There were some parts near the end that I think more explanation should have been given, but overall I was more than satisfied.
All in all, this book was a total action pack with a nice touch of humor and a whole lot of killing. It might be a great choice for those who are looking for a suspenseful read with (very) little romance, but big on action and adventure.
February 9, 2017
THIS BOOK.
Warning: clear your calendar when you start this book BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN. KLM is a master at pacing & plot... TABULA RASA a thrill ride that lives up to its billing. I need more KLM books in my life now. One is not enough.
<3
Warning: clear your calendar when you start this book BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN. KLM is a master at pacing & plot... TABULA RASA a thrill ride that lives up to its billing. I need more KLM books in my life now. One is not enough.
<3
October 18, 2014
2.5 stars
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to EgmontUSA and Edelweiss.)
16-year-old Sarah has been in a facility receiving drugs and brain surgery for months. She doesn’t know why she’s there, other than what she’s been told; which is that she’s there to forget certain things.
When Sarah is slipped some random tablets, finds clothes in her room, and her door open, she is further shocked to find people shooting at the building, and some random army guys trying to kill her.
Who is Sarah? What did she do to end up at the facility? And is there any way to remember what she forgot?
This was an okay story, but the lack of answers was annoying.
Sarah was a bit of an odd character, and it was a bit hard to connect with her because she didn’t even know who she was! Her apparent love of heights was a little strange, although not as strange as her desire to leap from them, and her thought processes did seem a little odd at times.
The storyline in this was a bit weird. The opening chapter was a bit yucky with regards to Sarah’s brain surgery, but from there on it was just weird; the building being shot at by planes, the random tablets and not knowing who they were from or what they would do to her, the army-type guys who seemed to want to kill her, and so on. The problem with all this weirdness was that the answers we needed just didn’t come, we got further and further into this randomness, with no explanation for what was going on; why Sarah was even there in the first place, what this woman wanted with her, and so on. I mean I can put up with the weirdness for a while, but there comes a point when the lack of answers just gets really irritating.
There was some romance, but not a lot. It was okay, but I wasn’t exactly swept off my feet.
The ending was okay, but whilst we’d gone through 85% of the book completely clueless, we were then given this huge info dump, which even after all that waiting I had trouble staying awake for. Some of the revelations were interesting, but I wasn’t swept off my feet by the answers either, which was disappointing considering how long I had waited for them!
Overall; a strange storyline, with a lack of explanations,
5 out of 10.
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to EgmontUSA and Edelweiss.)
16-year-old Sarah has been in a facility receiving drugs and brain surgery for months. She doesn’t know why she’s there, other than what she’s been told; which is that she’s there to forget certain things.
When Sarah is slipped some random tablets, finds clothes in her room, and her door open, she is further shocked to find people shooting at the building, and some random army guys trying to kill her.
Who is Sarah? What did she do to end up at the facility? And is there any way to remember what she forgot?
This was an okay story, but the lack of answers was annoying.
Sarah was a bit of an odd character, and it was a bit hard to connect with her because she didn’t even know who she was! Her apparent love of heights was a little strange, although not as strange as her desire to leap from them, and her thought processes did seem a little odd at times.
The storyline in this was a bit weird. The opening chapter was a bit yucky with regards to Sarah’s brain surgery, but from there on it was just weird; the building being shot at by planes, the random tablets and not knowing who they were from or what they would do to her, the army-type guys who seemed to want to kill her, and so on. The problem with all this weirdness was that the answers we needed just didn’t come, we got further and further into this randomness, with no explanation for what was going on; why Sarah was even there in the first place, what this woman wanted with her, and so on. I mean I can put up with the weirdness for a while, but there comes a point when the lack of answers just gets really irritating.
There was some romance, but not a lot. It was okay, but I wasn’t exactly swept off my feet.
The ending was okay, but whilst we’d gone through 85% of the book completely clueless, we were then given this huge info dump, which even after all that waiting I had trouble staying awake for. Some of the revelations were interesting, but I wasn’t swept off my feet by the answers either, which was disappointing considering how long I had waited for them!
Overall; a strange storyline, with a lack of explanations,
5 out of 10.
September 1, 2014
***This mini-review has also been posted on The Social Potato
The best way to describe Tabula Rasa is fun. It’s far from perfect, but it is undoubtedly a novel you will speed through and have a lot of fun reading.
I think the weakest point of this book would be that there just weren't enough details. If this novel were the start to a series, it would have been fantastic but it wasn't (from what I gather). Which means that there were many loopholes that weren't closed off as well as they could have been. I cannot count the number of times I thought, 'I cannot wait to see the author expand on this in the sequel’, and when I realized, after finishing the book, there wouldn’t be one, it was kind of disappointing. Not only because I had questions but also because this actually had a lot of potential that wasn’t fully realized.
That aside, the characters were fantastic. I LOVED getting to know Sarah and I thought she was a strong and likeable female lead. The love interest, who shall not be named in this review, was a hacker and was incredibly adorable. He was a little shy and awkward too which made him all the more loveable.
The romance was a buzzkill though. Oh, it was definitely slow burn, until, suddenly, they were in love. It’s kind of instalove, but at the same time, it’s not even that. I am pretty sure I had cartoonish question marks sticking out of my head when those three words were said. I mean, I knew it would happen - I just expected more buildup and more hints of chemistry, perhaps.
The plot was good enough. I mean like I mentioned earlier, the potential was not fully realized but there were a handful of awesome action scenes and I was too swooped up in those to care about anything else.
I’d definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, action filled book that also has a few conspiracies thrown in.
The best way to describe Tabula Rasa is fun. It’s far from perfect, but it is undoubtedly a novel you will speed through and have a lot of fun reading.
I think the weakest point of this book would be that there just weren't enough details. If this novel were the start to a series, it would have been fantastic but it wasn't (from what I gather). Which means that there were many loopholes that weren't closed off as well as they could have been. I cannot count the number of times I thought, 'I cannot wait to see the author expand on this in the sequel’, and when I realized, after finishing the book, there wouldn’t be one, it was kind of disappointing. Not only because I had questions but also because this actually had a lot of potential that wasn’t fully realized.
That aside, the characters were fantastic. I LOVED getting to know Sarah and I thought she was a strong and likeable female lead. The love interest, who shall not be named in this review, was a hacker and was incredibly adorable. He was a little shy and awkward too which made him all the more loveable.
The romance was a buzzkill though. Oh, it was definitely slow burn, until, suddenly, they were in love. It’s kind of instalove, but at the same time, it’s not even that. I am pretty sure I had cartoonish question marks sticking out of my head when those three words were said. I mean, I knew it would happen - I just expected more buildup and more hints of chemistry, perhaps.
The plot was good enough. I mean like I mentioned earlier, the potential was not fully realized but there were a handful of awesome action scenes and I was too swooped up in those to care about anything else.
I’d definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, action filled book that also has a few conspiracies thrown in.
August 4, 2013
Once you start reading this book, you won't want to put it down! It's a high-stakes amazing read!
July 25, 2015
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Tabula Rasa is an action-packed and entertaining debut by Kristen Lipper-Martin. With an intriguing premise, engaging characters, and thrills from start to finish, you’ll be hard pressed to put this one down. Unfortunately, though everything wraps up neatly, the resolution isn’t quite as satisfying as one would hope, with some answers that range from predictable to cliché.
Summary
We first meet Sarah in (what she tells us) is a hospital, on her way to one final procedure to erase part of her memory. The doctors have told her that this procedure will give her a chance to start over, to be a blank slate—a tabula rasa. She can leave her troubled past behind her. At this point, most of her memories have already been wiped, though she experiences déjà vu-like flashes and her instincts flare at certain moments. Sarah, fearing what crime she must have committed in her past to earn her stay at the hospital, is complacent about losing her memory. That is, until an elite team of soldiers invades the hospital under the cover of a blizzard, and she realizes someone may want her dead.
When Sarah attempts to flee the hospital, she comes across a boy her age, a computer hacker who has reasons of his own for wanting to bring the hospital down. Together they work to solve the mystery of her—who she really is, what her memories are, and why someone would want to make them disappear. One thing is clear: Sarah won’t be silenced again.
My thoughts
Tabula Rasa is the epitome of a popcorn book. A fast-paced plot with plenty of action, suspense, and some romance on the side make it an engrossing read. From the beginning I was pulled into the story - though memory manipulation is hardly a new concept, it’s presented in such a way that made me want to know more. What are Sarah’s missing memories? Who wants them erased, and why? What is this place? Sarah has to separate the truth from the lies, and to do that she’ll need to get her memories back. Thanks to a “magic pill”—and a helpful hint from someone on the outside who seems to have her best interests in mind—the memory wipe can be reversed, but first she has to obtain one. In a game of cat and mouse, Sarah must avoid the soldiers and their leader, find the pill she needs, located within the hospital, uncover the answers she’s searching for, and get out alive. Thankfully, the maze of the hospital’s corridors, hallways, and stairways are as familiar to her as the back of her hand.
The setup works so well because not only are we thrown into the action almost immediately, but Sarah’s character development is cleverly paced as well. In the beginning she’s almost exactly what the title suggests – passive, docile, hardly curious. But it doesn’t take long for us to get a glimpse of the girl she used to be before. She’s compassionate, for one thing, so even while fighting for her own life she does everything she can to help others she comes into contact with throughout the story. As pieces start fitting into place, a fierce determination rises within her; Sarah becomes tough and strong-willed, and she won’t let fear guide her. I didn’t feel any deep sense of connection to her character, but she fits the mold of the story really well.
There’s also her sidekick/love interest, who provides much of the book’s comic relief. I kind of loved him. He’s just really funny and loyal and sarcastic. The two of them have great banter, and they work well as a team. I appreciate the lack of angst between them (what would be the point in a story like this?), and the way the come to care about one another is believable. There’s not a ton of romance, but I was satisfied. I especially liked the ending.
What didn’t work for me? While the premise and execution work for the most part, the actual resolution failed to make an impression. There are several story lines running at once – Sarah’s missing memory and the mystery of her identity; the history of the hospital and its patients; the person behind the takeover; and Thomas’ role in all of it – and while they come together smoothly enough, I can’t help but think some of the answers are cliché (I also saw one of them from miles away). Without giving anything away, it’s something we’ve seen time and time again, and I know I won’t be the only one wishing for more originality. Also, the lack of any real depth or stronger connection to the characters means less personal stakes for me are involved. I’m a character-over-action girl every day of the week.
All in all, if a book doesn’t bore me, and I’m at least entertained by the plot and the characters, then I consider it time well spent, and that’s certainly the case here. I don’t read many YA books in this genre, so it’s a refreshing change of pace, too. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for future works by Kristen Lippert-Martin.
This review can also be found at Love at First Page.
Tabula Rasa is an action-packed and entertaining debut by Kristen Lipper-Martin. With an intriguing premise, engaging characters, and thrills from start to finish, you’ll be hard pressed to put this one down. Unfortunately, though everything wraps up neatly, the resolution isn’t quite as satisfying as one would hope, with some answers that range from predictable to cliché.
Summary
We first meet Sarah in (what she tells us) is a hospital, on her way to one final procedure to erase part of her memory. The doctors have told her that this procedure will give her a chance to start over, to be a blank slate—a tabula rasa. She can leave her troubled past behind her. At this point, most of her memories have already been wiped, though she experiences déjà vu-like flashes and her instincts flare at certain moments. Sarah, fearing what crime she must have committed in her past to earn her stay at the hospital, is complacent about losing her memory. That is, until an elite team of soldiers invades the hospital under the cover of a blizzard, and she realizes someone may want her dead.
When Sarah attempts to flee the hospital, she comes across a boy her age, a computer hacker who has reasons of his own for wanting to bring the hospital down. Together they work to solve the mystery of her—who she really is, what her memories are, and why someone would want to make them disappear. One thing is clear: Sarah won’t be silenced again.
My thoughts
Tabula Rasa is the epitome of a popcorn book. A fast-paced plot with plenty of action, suspense, and some romance on the side make it an engrossing read. From the beginning I was pulled into the story - though memory manipulation is hardly a new concept, it’s presented in such a way that made me want to know more. What are Sarah’s missing memories? Who wants them erased, and why? What is this place? Sarah has to separate the truth from the lies, and to do that she’ll need to get her memories back. Thanks to a “magic pill”—and a helpful hint from someone on the outside who seems to have her best interests in mind—the memory wipe can be reversed, but first she has to obtain one. In a game of cat and mouse, Sarah must avoid the soldiers and their leader, find the pill she needs, located within the hospital, uncover the answers she’s searching for, and get out alive. Thankfully, the maze of the hospital’s corridors, hallways, and stairways are as familiar to her as the back of her hand.
The setup works so well because not only are we thrown into the action almost immediately, but Sarah’s character development is cleverly paced as well. In the beginning she’s almost exactly what the title suggests – passive, docile, hardly curious. But it doesn’t take long for us to get a glimpse of the girl she used to be before. She’s compassionate, for one thing, so even while fighting for her own life she does everything she can to help others she comes into contact with throughout the story. As pieces start fitting into place, a fierce determination rises within her; Sarah becomes tough and strong-willed, and she won’t let fear guide her. I didn’t feel any deep sense of connection to her character, but she fits the mold of the story really well.
There’s also her sidekick/love interest, who provides much of the book’s comic relief. I kind of loved him. He’s just really funny and loyal and sarcastic. The two of them have great banter, and they work well as a team. I appreciate the lack of angst between them (what would be the point in a story like this?), and the way the come to care about one another is believable. There’s not a ton of romance, but I was satisfied. I especially liked the ending.
What didn’t work for me? While the premise and execution work for the most part, the actual resolution failed to make an impression. There are several story lines running at once – Sarah’s missing memory and the mystery of her identity; the history of the hospital and its patients; the person behind the takeover; and Thomas’ role in all of it – and while they come together smoothly enough, I can’t help but think some of the answers are cliché (I also saw one of them from miles away). Without giving anything away, it’s something we’ve seen time and time again, and I know I won’t be the only one wishing for more originality. Also, the lack of any real depth or stronger connection to the characters means less personal stakes for me are involved. I’m a character-over-action girl every day of the week.
All in all, if a book doesn’t bore me, and I’m at least entertained by the plot and the characters, then I consider it time well spent, and that’s certainly the case here. I don’t read many YA books in this genre, so it’s a refreshing change of pace, too. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for future works by Kristen Lippert-Martin.
This review can also be found at Love at First Page.
February 8, 2017
Eh. At first the whole idea of Tabula Rasa reminded me of the Slated series by Teri Terry, criminals or dangerous people- who are either a danger to others or themselves get a second chance by having their memories wiped for a fresh start, but with Tabula Rasa, you quickly realise that that's not the case. The idea of it is- the criminal's getting their memories wiped is- but the execution is not.
Now, I wrote that before I finished reading the book. Now what do I think now I've finished it? That it's one of the most infuriatingly ridiculous story I've ever read, and believe me, I've read a lot. But, OJSFKANFSNf. Ugh. It's infuriating because come on, it started off good- not great, it had a swing to get into but before it could it just missed the swing completely. And I am not happy. At all.
We start off with our main character, who people call Sarah. going in for a procedure that's supposed to finalise her treatment- and completely wipe her memories for good. But something goes wrong and they have to do it another day. Only, they don't get the chance because it's lights out as the 'hospital' is under attack. Basically after she gets out the first half is about trying to figure out what's going on, who she is, which happens pretty quickly and then trying to find more pills that someone gave her in the beginning to remember because she lost one trying to escape, and if she doesn't take the right amount 1 every 24 hours, it'll destroy her memories and basically go nuts or die. The pills help her recover some memories of how she got landed in that place in the first place. it quickly turns into a revenge story that's so farfetched it's ridiculous. The connections. The shocking twists that weren't that shocking and I didn't care that much to begin with it even care about them anyway. You can only take so much before thinking it's unbelievable. and you know what that point was for me? Hodges. She wasn't even an appealing villain. I think she's trying to be portrayed as a psychopath but is missing one key ingredient. She's not impassive. She tries to get what she wants and when she doesn't she throws a hissy fit and whines and sounds and acts all exasperated like it's some big effort to kill somebody. She was acting like a twelve year old, not a full grown adult. Come on. I mean, at one point, well, a few points actually, she asks Sarah to just come on down and let her kill her already. Are. You. Fucking. Kidding. Me? Hello. Who does that? I get the come out, come out, wherever you are scenes that are always there, but that? Nope. Oh, oh, then
Then there's the romance with the surprise hacker kid who just happens to be not far from the hospital and helps Sarah out., not that it's an actual romance at all. You couldn't build a fire with the sparks they weren't throwing off.
Tabular Rasa started good but went quickly downhill for me. If you want an actual good Revenge story read Heart-Shaped Bruise by Tanya Byrne. It's a killer.
~~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.~
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Review originally posted on Studio Reads
September 19, 2014
Tabula Rasa is a thrilling read that got better the deeper into the story I delved. At first, I didn't understand what was going on with Sarah, the who, the what, the why? Until the author revealed Sarah's past and why she was having her memory removed in the top secret facility. I was frustrated until that point, honestly.
However, once I was able to connect the dots from her past to her present, the story immediately had my full attention. There are some crazy action sequences, a splash of romance, a bird's eye view of the human psych as they make choices in unimaginable situations and more, but the story is propelled forward consistently.
There are new characters sprinkled as the story unfolds and this adds some much needed relief to Sarah, who I really didn't connect with. She didn't question enough, she just took what was going on at face value. Granted, there are a few times that she aches for memories and wants to know the answers to many questions, but there were many instances that I felt she didn't fight hard for them, not until the end. The ending is the best part of the novel, as all questions are resolved, in a least expected way. I did despise the villain, but I found it hard to empathize with the heroine, no matter how sad her plight. If you're looking for a new take on young adult syfy- this may be for you!
However, once I was able to connect the dots from her past to her present, the story immediately had my full attention. There are some crazy action sequences, a splash of romance, a bird's eye view of the human psych as they make choices in unimaginable situations and more, but the story is propelled forward consistently.
There are new characters sprinkled as the story unfolds and this adds some much needed relief to Sarah, who I really didn't connect with. She didn't question enough, she just took what was going on at face value. Granted, there are a few times that she aches for memories and wants to know the answers to many questions, but there were many instances that I felt she didn't fight hard for them, not until the end. The ending is the best part of the novel, as all questions are resolved, in a least expected way. I did despise the villain, but I found it hard to empathize with the heroine, no matter how sad her plight. If you're looking for a new take on young adult syfy- this may be for you!
April 20, 2014
I received a copy of this book via Egmont USA and NetGalley
This book had a great concept, wiping memories of criminals in order to give them a second chance? Sounds awesome. It was a great idea, and I would say the first 25% of this book was orchestrated well. I didn't find myself getting emotionally attached to the characters, which is always a let down. I didn't find the romance very believable.
I found the end of the book incredibly obnoxious. Have you ever seen Scooby Doo? At the end of every episode they tell you why the bad guy is the bad guy and his motives, they explain it all to you. That's how this went, just a giant explanation. Which is super freaking obnoxious. LET ME REVEAL MY MASTER PLAN TO YOU. MWAHAHAHAH. Lame, show me something instead of telling me everything.
This book started great, but fell short.
This book had a great concept, wiping memories of criminals in order to give them a second chance? Sounds awesome. It was a great idea, and I would say the first 25% of this book was orchestrated well. I didn't find myself getting emotionally attached to the characters, which is always a let down. I didn't find the romance very believable.
I found the end of the book incredibly obnoxious. Have you ever seen Scooby Doo? At the end of every episode they tell you why the bad guy is the bad guy and his motives, they explain it all to you. That's how this went, just a giant explanation. Which is super freaking obnoxious. LET ME REVEAL MY MASTER PLAN TO YOU. MWAHAHAHAH. Lame, show me something instead of telling me everything.
This book started great, but fell short.
April 12, 2014
(I received a copy from Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.)
This was an okay read, but i lost interest halfway.
Sarah was a strong character, and her sarcasm made me laugh at times.
Thomas was a decent character too, but there was times where he slightly annoyed me.
Tabula Rasa started out great, but i started to lose interest around 50%.
The reason i lost interest was mainly due to not getting any of my questions answered.
When they did finally start to be answered, it did get better, and i started to enjoy it again.
It was just annoying that it took so long to get there!
Overall, okay, but it was dragged out too much.
This was an okay read, but i lost interest halfway.
Sarah was a strong character, and her sarcasm made me laugh at times.
Thomas was a decent character too, but there was times where he slightly annoyed me.
Tabula Rasa started out great, but i started to lose interest around 50%.
The reason i lost interest was mainly due to not getting any of my questions answered.
When they did finally start to be answered, it did get better, and i started to enjoy it again.
It was just annoying that it took so long to get there!
Overall, okay, but it was dragged out too much.
February 26, 2016
Well, I wrote a pretty good sized mini-review here and while I was proof reading, it jumped to another page and *poof*, all gone. I am so red-faced and fist angry right now I can't rewrite it, so... I will just say READ THIS BOOK!!! It is like reading the best action movie you ever saw in book form. I received this eARC in return for an honest review through either Netgalley, or Edelweiss. I have so many eARCs right now I can't keep them straight. As with all four and five star ratings there will be a full review on my blog at some time and when there is I will add the link, here.
June 15, 2014
I put 6/12/14 as the date I finished this book because that's when the final, final edits were done!
I hope y'all enjoy it! Might want to chug a couple Mountain Dews before starting this. I hope it keeps you up late reading. ;)
I hope y'all enjoy it! Might want to chug a couple Mountain Dews before starting this. I hope it keeps you up late reading. ;)
partly-finished-or-on-hold
April 13, 2014I'm jumping ship on this one around page 160. (I also read the climax and last chapter to confirm all my suspicions) The book isn't for me, but I'm sure it will be for a lot of people and I bet it will be pretty popular when it comes out...
May 1, 2015
This book was all kinds of bad -- plot, setting, characters, everything -- and it was racially insensitive. "This tastes like a dirty Mexican" is one cringe-worthy example.
November 27, 2014
2.5 stars.
I actually enjoyed the first half of this book very much. It was engaging and suspenseful and kept me flipping the pages until a wee bit later than I probably should have. But then the last, hmm, fourth of the book was a hot mess. So many unanswered questions; not to mention plot bunnies everywhere. I was more confused and disappointed than upset, but hence the low-ish rating.
Characters
Sarah/Angel is so special. Special powers, special family, special you. Even her "name". I'm so done with these special names that someone/you gave you(rself). Especially when it's "Angel." *cringes* She was special in the beginning of the story, anyone could see. And it was kinda great, because it was said and you knew and there was promise of her being super cool without overdoing it. And then it was overdone like a chewy steak.
Fun fact: Anger does not have healing properties, nor does it repel bullets, shrapnel, shock blasts, etc.
Sarah, you precious thing, you are trying way, way too hard.
Thomas was a very good character, except for the whole bribery kissing. *frowny face* But otherwise! He was funny without simply being comic relief, and he played off of Sarah's character well. Little bit of a rough start though; I wasn't sure how I would like someone who was refusing to help the escaped mental patient.Okay, well, actually....he might have had a point. Still, she would have frozen to death or been shot. Decisions.
N'awwwww.
Though I wasn't a huge fan of how Thomas and Sarah used Sylvester, Jerry(Tom?), Sam, and the other one, I could understand why they did what they did. There was no way to really help them, and if anyone wanted to get out of there alive, they needed to lie to them. Still, it was very sad, though more having to do with these guys' life situations than anything else.
Oscar had many issues, though I can't entirely blame him for some of his actions that took place post-experiment. However, he felt like a means to an end, rather than a character, so my condolences there.
Joli, though we didn't see much of her, garnered the most sympathy from me. She deserved a better life.
Story
I wanted a lot more from the story than I got. There was a lot of promise in the beginning and then I realized that it would have much to do with Sarah/Angel's father, which is terribly overused, to be honest. (But I was wrong about who her father was. I really should have figured it out, considering that he was old enough to be her grandfather. *dorky grin* Pun intended.) Not to mention that Thomas' mother is evil and also plays a huge role. I just. If you're going to go that route, do it well. And the motivations of these people were so contrived. Yeah, yeah, Hodges' main motive was greed; that's great and all, but her method was ever so slightly unbelievable. Though she was trying to please Virgil...Still, it didn't sit right with me. Also, the two experiments that were going on in this place, the super-power one and the tabula rasa, how exactly did these two get mixed up together?? Though I'm sure it was similar to how Splenda came to be, now that I'm thinking about it.
But the super-power one was certainly interesting, though with zero explanation as to how they actually figured it out. The "super-power", as I understood it, is the ability to turn on and off the brain's capacity to "think faster", much like the brain does when in danger. However, this wears a person down and shortens their life span, so really, I don't imagine that Sarah will be using her so-called super-power very often. And is she the only person who has it? Why did it only work on her? Is it just 'cause she's special or is there a deeper reasoning behind it?IS THIS A SERIES?!
Ending
Very frustrating, as there was barely any resolution, and many questions were just left floating there.
Location
I really wanted to know where this was supposed to have taken place, other than a vague "yards away from Canada". All we know is snow, snow, mountains, cold. My guess is Alaska, though Sarah's guess of Montana could be correct. But we're never told.
Misc
There was no love triangle!! Hallelujah!Guess what I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving!
I actually enjoyed the first half of this book very much. It was engaging and suspenseful and kept me flipping the pages until a wee bit later than I probably should have. But then the last, hmm, fourth of the book was a hot mess. So many unanswered questions; not to mention plot bunnies everywhere. I was more confused and disappointed than upset, but hence the low-ish rating.
Characters
Sarah/Angel is so special. Special powers, special family, special you. Even her "name". I'm so done with these special names that someone/you gave you(rself). Especially when it's "Angel." *cringes* She was special in the beginning of the story, anyone could see. And it was kinda great, because it was said and you knew and there was promise of her being super cool without overdoing it. And then it was overdone like a chewy steak.
"I am way, way too angry to die."
Fun fact: Anger does not have healing properties, nor does it repel bullets, shrapnel, shock blasts, etc.
Sarah, you precious thing, you are trying way, way too hard.
Thomas was a very good character, except for the whole bribery kissing. *frowny face* But otherwise! He was funny without simply being comic relief, and he played off of Sarah's character well. Little bit of a rough start though; I wasn't sure how I would like someone who was refusing to help the escaped mental patient.
"I don't want you shortening your life by even one day for my sake."
N'awwwww.
Though I wasn't a huge fan of how Thomas and Sarah used Sylvester, Jerry(Tom?), Sam, and the other one, I could understand why they did what they did. There was no way to really help them, and if anyone wanted to get out of there alive, they needed to lie to them. Still, it was very sad, though more having to do with these guys' life situations than anything else.
Oscar had many issues, though I can't entirely blame him for some of his actions that took place post-experiment. However, he felt like a means to an end, rather than a character, so my condolences there.
Joli, though we didn't see much of her, garnered the most sympathy from me. She deserved a better life.
Story
I wanted a lot more from the story than I got. There was a lot of promise in the beginning and then I realized that it would have much to do with Sarah/Angel's father, which is terribly overused, to be honest. (But I was wrong about who her father was. I really should have figured it out, considering that he was old enough to be her grandfather. *dorky grin* Pun intended.) Not to mention that Thomas' mother is evil and also plays a huge role. I just. If you're going to go that route, do it well. And the motivations of these people were so contrived. Yeah, yeah, Hodges' main motive was greed; that's great and all, but her method was ever so slightly unbelievable. Though she was trying to please Virgil...Still, it didn't sit right with me. Also, the two experiments that were going on in this place, the super-power one and the tabula rasa, how exactly did these two get mixed up together?? Though I'm sure it was similar to how Splenda came to be, now that I'm thinking about it.
But the super-power one was certainly interesting, though with zero explanation as to how they actually figured it out. The "super-power", as I understood it, is the ability to turn on and off the brain's capacity to "think faster", much like the brain does when in danger. However, this wears a person down and shortens their life span, so really, I don't imagine that Sarah will be using her so-called super-power very often. And is she the only person who has it? Why did it only work on her? Is it just 'cause she's special or is there a deeper reasoning behind it?
Ending
Very frustrating, as there was barely any resolution, and many questions were just left floating there.
Location
I really wanted to know where this was supposed to have taken place, other than a vague "yards away from Canada". All we know is snow, snow, mountains, cold. My guess is Alaska, though Sarah's guess of Montana could be correct. But we're never told.
Misc
There was no love triangle!! Hallelujah!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2017
Well, this book really started off with a bang. Right from the beginning we are set in a secluded faraway hospital where the main character, Angel resides at, and within the first 20 pages or so she is under attack. For reasons unknown, these bad guys want her dead and will kill anyone and everyone who gets in the way. She finally finds someone who is on her side, Thomas, so they stick together until they can come up with a plan. I thought everything was really exciting and I was thoroughly enjoying this until I read this dreaded racist remark. Here is where it sort of went down hill from here for me.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
As I was saying before that I was really enjoying the book, until the author wrote a really racist comment that was really uncalled for and should have been done in a more tasteful manner. Here is the quote from the arc at 22%.
Thomas talking to Angel
"Make me something, too. Not the beef enchiladas, though. They taste like Mexicans.
Aren't Enchiladas supposed to taste Mexican?
No, I mean they taste like actual Mexicans. Unwashed ones.
He looks at me, and his face goes red faster than a stoplight. No offense.
No offense about what?
Aren't you--I mean . . . You could be Mexican, right?
What?
You look, you know, Mexican. Or something.
Right. Or something.
Although you've got green eyes, so maybe you're Mexican and something else mixed together.
If I had eyebrows, they'd be arching at that comment. Maybe you should stop talking now.
Yes, maybe I should, before you decide that I'm some huge racist jerk and not just an awkward idiot who was trying to be funny."
Oh my gosh, you think?! If I had just met someone who made a comment to me like that, of course I'm going to think they're racist! Reading this was like a stab to the heart because it hurt, being that I'm a Mexican American myself. I felt the author did a really tactless job at portraying Mexicans rather than show a positive light on another culture. Besides, who's to say that she's Mexican anyway? There are other different Latino cultures such as Puerto Ricans, Columbians, Guatemalans, etc. Heck even some Caucasian and African American descent people can pass for brown skin, green eyes. So why does Thomas assume she's Mexican?! To me this just looks like blatant ignorance with lack of respect towards "Mexicans". Yes I get that the author might not have meant to sound rude or racist, but that quote should not have been written in the first place. I really hope the author changed this for the final book because it really took away from me enjoying the book.
After reading this I felt very disappointed because I really wanted to like this. I tried to like it to the best of my ability, but I just could not get over that comment. There were other problems I had with the book such as a questionable beginning, unanswered questions, and an anticlimactic ending. However, I did hear that there will be a sequel to this story so maybe we'll have some answers then. I would say the only thing I really liked in this book was the action scenes that Angel was in. She really was like a female Jason Bourne that had some awesome fighting tricks. I will not be buying a copy when it comes out. Other people will like this and will not care about the racist remarks, but I will not be recommending this to anyone. Especially someone of Latin descent might not like this.
**thank you to Netgalley and Egmont for allowing me to review this book in exchange for an honest review.**
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
As I was saying before that I was really enjoying the book, until the author wrote a really racist comment that was really uncalled for and should have been done in a more tasteful manner. Here is the quote from the arc at 22%.
Thomas talking to Angel
"Make me something, too. Not the beef enchiladas, though. They taste like Mexicans.
Aren't Enchiladas supposed to taste Mexican?
No, I mean they taste like actual Mexicans. Unwashed ones.
He looks at me, and his face goes red faster than a stoplight. No offense.
No offense about what?
Aren't you--I mean . . . You could be Mexican, right?
What?
You look, you know, Mexican. Or something.
Right. Or something.
Although you've got green eyes, so maybe you're Mexican and something else mixed together.
If I had eyebrows, they'd be arching at that comment. Maybe you should stop talking now.
Yes, maybe I should, before you decide that I'm some huge racist jerk and not just an awkward idiot who was trying to be funny."
Oh my gosh, you think?! If I had just met someone who made a comment to me like that, of course I'm going to think they're racist! Reading this was like a stab to the heart because it hurt, being that I'm a Mexican American myself. I felt the author did a really tactless job at portraying Mexicans rather than show a positive light on another culture. Besides, who's to say that she's Mexican anyway? There are other different Latino cultures such as Puerto Ricans, Columbians, Guatemalans, etc. Heck even some Caucasian and African American descent people can pass for brown skin, green eyes. So why does Thomas assume she's Mexican?! To me this just looks like blatant ignorance with lack of respect towards "Mexicans". Yes I get that the author might not have meant to sound rude or racist, but that quote should not have been written in the first place. I really hope the author changed this for the final book because it really took away from me enjoying the book.
After reading this I felt very disappointed because I really wanted to like this. I tried to like it to the best of my ability, but I just could not get over that comment. There were other problems I had with the book such as a questionable beginning, unanswered questions, and an anticlimactic ending. However, I did hear that there will be a sequel to this story so maybe we'll have some answers then. I would say the only thing I really liked in this book was the action scenes that Angel was in. She really was like a female Jason Bourne that had some awesome fighting tricks. I will not be buying a copy when it comes out. Other people will like this and will not care about the racist remarks, but I will not be recommending this to anyone. Especially someone of Latin descent might not like this.
**thank you to Netgalley and Egmont for allowing me to review this book in exchange for an honest review.**
February 10, 2017
R for Violence; G for Kissing
I confess, I am hooked on Audiobooks. My dog walking goes faster, my exercising is more palatable, and my drives are more pleasant. Tabula Rasa had a narrator/actress who did an excellent job playing the different roles in the book, which made the story more engaging. So 5 stars for the Audio part.
Now about the story. I was engaged from the first chapter. We start in a hospital where a young woman is undergoing brain surgery to eradicate her memories and give her a clean slate (hence, tabula rasa). Did I mention my BA degree is in Psychology, with a minor in Biology? And my MA is in Psychology, specifically Neuropsychology? Hooked, I tell you seriously hooked. Had to listen to more.
Much like the movie Memento, the backstory is told in jagged bits and pieces, creating a jigsaw puzzle story line for the listener/reader. Sarah (aka Angel) is in the hospital because she was a juvenile delinquent. Or so we are led to believe. The purpose of the neurosurgery is to erase her bad memories and behaviors (it seems). Just as she is about to have her final procedure, the power goes out and someone puts a plastic bag in her hand in the darkness. She is taken back to her video-guarded room by the nurse’s aide where she opens the bag discreetly and finds three gelatin capsules and a note: Take one every 24 hours and remain still upon awakening. She takes one, and nothing happens. Or so she thinks. All hell breaks loose and it’s not in her dreams. It’s real.
This YA novel, a debut at that, had the Hero’s Journey down cold. An orphan living in the ordinary world (in this case in a hospital) has an igniting incident that leads her on a great adventure. Along the way she finds allies (some not so great), enemies, obstacles she must overcome, and a little bit of romance. There is even a magic elixir that she must retrieve to return to a new world. This is not a bad format to follow, indeed Joseph Campbell told us this was the heart of every epic saga.
The good: kick ass Latina heroine, nerdy computer hacker boyfriend, unusual meeting, mysterious backgrounds and hints of powerful, wealthy conspirators out to get the heroine.
The not-so-good: action scenes appeared to be pulled from video games; impossible physical accomplishments; epilogue with unanswered questions regarding heroine’s “after-life.”
The excellent: non-stop action, a page-turning pace, and I hated having to stop listening to the book when my drive was over, or my dogs were done walking. I stayed up late in bed just to listen to the end and fell asleep. Got up early just to hear the ending---again.
Overall, 4.5 stars and congratulations to Ms. Lippert-Martin and narrator on a winning combination for an audio book. I will be looking for more books by this author.
I confess, I am hooked on Audiobooks. My dog walking goes faster, my exercising is more palatable, and my drives are more pleasant. Tabula Rasa had a narrator/actress who did an excellent job playing the different roles in the book, which made the story more engaging. So 5 stars for the Audio part.
Now about the story. I was engaged from the first chapter. We start in a hospital where a young woman is undergoing brain surgery to eradicate her memories and give her a clean slate (hence, tabula rasa). Did I mention my BA degree is in Psychology, with a minor in Biology? And my MA is in Psychology, specifically Neuropsychology? Hooked, I tell you seriously hooked. Had to listen to more.
Much like the movie Memento, the backstory is told in jagged bits and pieces, creating a jigsaw puzzle story line for the listener/reader. Sarah (aka Angel) is in the hospital because she was a juvenile delinquent. Or so we are led to believe. The purpose of the neurosurgery is to erase her bad memories and behaviors (it seems). Just as she is about to have her final procedure, the power goes out and someone puts a plastic bag in her hand in the darkness. She is taken back to her video-guarded room by the nurse’s aide where she opens the bag discreetly and finds three gelatin capsules and a note: Take one every 24 hours and remain still upon awakening. She takes one, and nothing happens. Or so she thinks. All hell breaks loose and it’s not in her dreams. It’s real.
This YA novel, a debut at that, had the Hero’s Journey down cold. An orphan living in the ordinary world (in this case in a hospital) has an igniting incident that leads her on a great adventure. Along the way she finds allies (some not so great), enemies, obstacles she must overcome, and a little bit of romance. There is even a magic elixir that she must retrieve to return to a new world. This is not a bad format to follow, indeed Joseph Campbell told us this was the heart of every epic saga.
The good: kick ass Latina heroine, nerdy computer hacker boyfriend, unusual meeting, mysterious backgrounds and hints of powerful, wealthy conspirators out to get the heroine.
The not-so-good: action scenes appeared to be pulled from video games; impossible physical accomplishments; epilogue with unanswered questions regarding heroine’s “after-life.”
The excellent: non-stop action, a page-turning pace, and I hated having to stop listening to the book when my drive was over, or my dogs were done walking. I stayed up late in bed just to listen to the end and fell asleep. Got up early just to hear the ending---again.
Overall, 4.5 stars and congratulations to Ms. Lippert-Martin and narrator on a winning combination for an audio book. I will be looking for more books by this author.
February 8, 2017
Tabula Rasa starts with us seeing Sarah strapped to a chair and about to have her brain drilled! She isn't struggling though because this is voluntary. She cant remember why she volunteered but she knows she did. The program is meant to erase troubled memories and give the patient a new start in life. Sarah has been content to go through with the treatments until during her final treatment the lights go out and someone trusts a bag of something into her hand. She knows not to check it till she goes back to her room and is away from prying eyes.
There are 3 pills inside the bag with instructions to take one at exactly 24 hour intervals. She takes one without thinking and not long after starts getting flashbacks. Who gave her the tablets and why? Why did they pick the exact day that elite soldiers break into the hospital intent on killing Sarah to give her the tablets? Why exactly are soldiers trying to kill her? She needs to get her memories back or she will be killed.
Well this was quite the surprise!! Talk about an action packed book. This book doesn't stop from the first page till the last so be prepared for a rollercoaster of a ride.
Sarah is an enigma at the start. She knows nothing about herself until her flash backs start. Who is she and why is she there? I absolutely loved the intrigue of finding out who she is. We get to know her slowly over the course of the book and one things for certain, she is an awesome heroine. So brave and strong!!
When the soldiers attack, Sarah meets Thomas and I have to say that he is such a sweetheart. He is hacker and was hired, along with his father, to hack the system of the hospital but he has no idea who hired him or why. He was my favourite character because of his loyalness and strength. He helps Sarah because its the right thing to do. I loved seeing their relationship grow and even though there's no much romance, its still really sweet.
Plot wise, its an extremely faced paced read and one that will have you on the edge of your seat sometimes. The author definitely knows how to keep her readers tense and only throw enough at them to constantly keep us guessing. I loved how the book came together at the end.
Overall Tabula Rasa is a superbly written rollercoaster of a ride! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and I could barely stop reading because I had to see what happened next. A very thrilling, intriguing read and one Id highly recommend.
There are 3 pills inside the bag with instructions to take one at exactly 24 hour intervals. She takes one without thinking and not long after starts getting flashbacks. Who gave her the tablets and why? Why did they pick the exact day that elite soldiers break into the hospital intent on killing Sarah to give her the tablets? Why exactly are soldiers trying to kill her? She needs to get her memories back or she will be killed.
Well this was quite the surprise!! Talk about an action packed book. This book doesn't stop from the first page till the last so be prepared for a rollercoaster of a ride.
Sarah is an enigma at the start. She knows nothing about herself until her flash backs start. Who is she and why is she there? I absolutely loved the intrigue of finding out who she is. We get to know her slowly over the course of the book and one things for certain, she is an awesome heroine. So brave and strong!!
When the soldiers attack, Sarah meets Thomas and I have to say that he is such a sweetheart. He is hacker and was hired, along with his father, to hack the system of the hospital but he has no idea who hired him or why. He was my favourite character because of his loyalness and strength. He helps Sarah because its the right thing to do. I loved seeing their relationship grow and even though there's no much romance, its still really sweet.
Plot wise, its an extremely faced paced read and one that will have you on the edge of your seat sometimes. The author definitely knows how to keep her readers tense and only throw enough at them to constantly keep us guessing. I loved how the book came together at the end.
Overall Tabula Rasa is a superbly written rollercoaster of a ride! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and I could barely stop reading because I had to see what happened next. A very thrilling, intriguing read and one Id highly recommend.
September 16, 2014
2.5
Tabula Rasa wasn't a particularly bad book, neither was it good. It was, however, exactly what I expected, and required.
The book is a good palate cleanser, I admit. There are evil doctors, family history, a cute boy, a protagonist who is not that much of an irritant and heartbreak.
It was fun, for a while and honestly, that's about all I can tell you. A romp in the snow, a bit unbelievably at times, with lots of pretending, psychiatric patients and dead, evil nurses. Who doesn't enjoy a dead, evil nurse? Perhaps those who enjoy dead, evil corporate people or doctors. Why, then, you're absolutely welcome too!
At times, the story did fall prey to banality and the professions of love were unnecessary, inexplicable. The begrudging friendship thing they had going on was cute, and I liked it but they just haaaaad to go and butcher it. Also, it was hard to form a view of what was happening because the descriptions were oftentimes lacking, as were explanations.
In any case, I wouldn't recommend against Tabula Rasa, but don't go out of your way for it either.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
Tabula Rasa wasn't a particularly bad book, neither was it good. It was, however, exactly what I expected, and required.
The book is a good palate cleanser, I admit. There are evil doctors, family history, a cute boy, a protagonist who is not that much of an irritant and heartbreak.
It was fun, for a while and honestly, that's about all I can tell you. A romp in the snow, a bit unbelievably at times, with lots of pretending, psychiatric patients and dead, evil nurses. Who doesn't enjoy a dead, evil nurse? Perhaps those who enjoy dead, evil corporate people or doctors. Why, then, you're absolutely welcome too!
At times, the story did fall prey to banality and the professions of love were unnecessary, inexplicable. The begrudging friendship thing they had going on was cute, and I liked it but they just haaaaad to go and butcher it. Also, it was hard to form a view of what was happening because the descriptions were oftentimes lacking, as were explanations.
In any case, I wouldn't recommend against Tabula Rasa, but don't go out of your way for it either.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
January 29, 2017
This was an amazing read, I started it last night and I couldn't put it down until I had to fall asleep. I loved how Sarah was of mixed race, but even more so...
I loved the fact she was bald. I have an auto-immune disorder, so the idea that this main character was bald, it was just... Awesome. I dunno, you usually see books with protagonist girls who have long flowing hair, or it's described in some way. The fact that Sarah only gets to see herself with hair and the plot... It was amazing. With each and every twist and turn there was no "filler" the soldiers, Pierce, Oscar, Jori all very well placed characters and served their purposes well.
Also... The hospital battle ground setting. I am a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE fan of the Trauma Center video games, the manga Saijou No Meii, and the anime Black Jack and of course... The show Scrubs so it was nice to see a different setting entirely. The setting I could see in my mind's eye, the characters, I just loved it...
I think when I get a chance I will buy a copy of this instead of taking it out of the library because I would so give this a re-read!
Go read it! Download it, run out to the bookstore, just read it!
I loved the fact she was bald. I have an auto-immune disorder, so the idea that this main character was bald, it was just... Awesome. I dunno, you usually see books with protagonist girls who have long flowing hair, or it's described in some way. The fact that Sarah only gets to see herself with hair and the plot... It was amazing. With each and every twist and turn there was no "filler" the soldiers, Pierce, Oscar, Jori all very well placed characters and served their purposes well.
Also... The hospital battle ground setting. I am a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE fan of the Trauma Center video games, the manga Saijou No Meii, and the anime Black Jack and of course... The show Scrubs so it was nice to see a different setting entirely. The setting I could see in my mind's eye, the characters, I just loved it...
I think when I get a chance I will buy a copy of this instead of taking it out of the library because I would so give this a re-read!
Go read it! Download it, run out to the bookstore, just read it!
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