What do you think?
Rate this book
The Undercurrent
Eighteen-year-old Julianne De Marchi is different. As in: she has an electrical undercurrent beneath her skin that stings and surges like a live wire. She can use it—to spark a fire, maybe even end a life—but she doesn’t understand what it is. And she can barely control it, especially when she’s anxious.
Ryan Walsh was on track for a stellar football career when his knee blew out. Now he’s a soldier—part of an experimental privatised military unit that has identified Jules De Marchi as a threat. Is it because of the weird undercurrent she’s tried so hard to hide? Or because of her mother Angie’s history as an activist against bio-engineering and big business?
It’s no coincidence that Ryan and Jules are in the same place at the same time—he’s under orders to follow her, after all. But then an explosive attack on a city building by an unknown enemy throws them together in the most violent and unexpected way.
Ryan Walsh was on track for a stellar football career when his knee blew out. Now he’s a soldier—part of an experimental privatised military unit that has identified Jules De Marchi as a threat. Is it because of the weird undercurrent she’s tried so hard to hide? Or because of her mother Angie’s history as an activist against bio-engineering and big business?
It’s no coincidence that Ryan and Jules are in the same place at the same time—he’s under orders to follow her, after all. But then an explosive attack on a city building by an unknown enemy throws them together in the most violent and unexpected way.
383 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2017
7 people are currently reading
943 people want to read
About the author
Paula Weston
16 books858 followersPaula Weston is the author of the Rephaim series (Shadows, Haze, Shimmer and Burn) and The Undercurrent, a stand-alone speculative thriller set in near-future Australia.
Paula worked as a print journalist for many years before becoming a government media and communication specialist. Today she also co-owns a two-woman communication and design agency and works part-time in local government.
She grew up in regional South Australia and now lives in the Scenic Rim in Queensland with her husband and a retired greyhound.
Paula worked as a print journalist for many years before becoming a government media and communication specialist. Today she also co-owns a two-woman communication and design agency and works part-time in local government.
She grew up in regional South Australia and now lives in the Scenic Rim in Queensland with her husband and a retired greyhound.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
January 5, 2018
The Rephaim series was groundbreaking for fantasy young adult literature, much in the same way that Melina Marchetta brought Australian young adult contemporary to the world. The Undercurrent is no exception. A captivating and consuming science fiction narrative anchored within an innovative Australian environment.
I heart Paula Weston. To the moon and back.
I heart Paula Weston. To the moon and back.
August 20, 2017
This review appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
Set in a techno-futuristic world where corporations rule, The Undercurrent explores a time in the near future when teenage girl can wield electricity from her own hands. She’s protected by a soldier called Ryan, but what does the military want with her? Why are the Agitators after her?
The Undercurrent is frightfully accurate as it feels like it could happen at anytime. Between the military, the government and the sinister Paxton Federation, each of these groups have their hidden agendas, especially when it comes to Julianne De Marchi. Was she a result of a lab experiment, mutated genes, or was there something more sinister at work? That’s something that had me glued to its pages, wondering how she got her powers.
While Julianne De Marchi has electricity flowing through her veins, it’s her relationship with her mother Angie that had me intrigued. Angie has a fascinating background, as an investigative journalist and previous leader of the Agitators protesting group, whose reputation was tarnished by the people who worked for. While Angie doesn’t exhibit typical motherly traits you would see in a YA novel, she’s hard-nosed and determined to fight off the injustices to protect her daughter, and I loved how Julianne looked up to her. It’s not often you see this type of parental relationship in a YA novel and I adored it here.
Julianne herself is determined to find out about her past and why she can wield electricity, but she’s also just struggling to cope as she’s dragged from one place to the other. I didn’t really connect with her character as much as I did Angie, however. I don’t know whether it was because there was too much happening to Julianne for me to really get a sense for her character. But I did enjoy reading the action scenes where she had to deal with her electrical currents though, as there were many of these in between.
Ryan, the jock-turned soldier and the flurry of other characters that appeared in the novel faded into the background for me, but I did enjoy the chemistry between him and Julianne. They tried to fight the attraction that they felt for another, and I liked the sizzling romance that was developed over time.
There’s definitely a lot happening in The Undercurrent, and I found it difficult to follow at times with the sheer volume of things that were happening – Julianne dealing with her powers, Angie trying to protect her daughter from family secrets, Ryan’s military orders, plus the actions of the military, government and Agitators. There’s a lot of moving parts, and with the nonstop action and constant character conflicts, I felt like it was too much to take in at times,.
With an explosive plot and an exciting premise posed around military secrets, The Undercurrent is a timely book about a girl that can wield electricity. It explores the far-reaching consequences of questionable government decisions with a great mother-daughter relationship at it’s heart and an electrifying romance.
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Set in a techno-futuristic world where corporations rule, The Undercurrent explores a time in the near future when teenage girl can wield electricity from her own hands. She’s protected by a soldier called Ryan, but what does the military want with her? Why are the Agitators after her?
The Undercurrent is frightfully accurate as it feels like it could happen at anytime. Between the military, the government and the sinister Paxton Federation, each of these groups have their hidden agendas, especially when it comes to Julianne De Marchi. Was she a result of a lab experiment, mutated genes, or was there something more sinister at work? That’s something that had me glued to its pages, wondering how she got her powers.
While Julianne De Marchi has electricity flowing through her veins, it’s her relationship with her mother Angie that had me intrigued. Angie has a fascinating background, as an investigative journalist and previous leader of the Agitators protesting group, whose reputation was tarnished by the people who worked for. While Angie doesn’t exhibit typical motherly traits you would see in a YA novel, she’s hard-nosed and determined to fight off the injustices to protect her daughter, and I loved how Julianne looked up to her. It’s not often you see this type of parental relationship in a YA novel and I adored it here.
Julianne herself is determined to find out about her past and why she can wield electricity, but she’s also just struggling to cope as she’s dragged from one place to the other. I didn’t really connect with her character as much as I did Angie, however. I don’t know whether it was because there was too much happening to Julianne for me to really get a sense for her character. But I did enjoy reading the action scenes where she had to deal with her electrical currents though, as there were many of these in between.
Ryan, the jock-turned soldier and the flurry of other characters that appeared in the novel faded into the background for me, but I did enjoy the chemistry between him and Julianne. They tried to fight the attraction that they felt for another, and I liked the sizzling romance that was developed over time.
There’s definitely a lot happening in The Undercurrent, and I found it difficult to follow at times with the sheer volume of things that were happening – Julianne dealing with her powers, Angie trying to protect her daughter from family secrets, Ryan’s military orders, plus the actions of the military, government and Agitators. There’s a lot of moving parts, and with the nonstop action and constant character conflicts, I felt like it was too much to take in at times,.
With an explosive plot and an exciting premise posed around military secrets, The Undercurrent is a timely book about a girl that can wield electricity. It explores the far-reaching consequences of questionable government decisions with a great mother-daughter relationship at it’s heart and an electrifying romance.
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2017
Well, that was one heck of a ride.
I’ve been in love with Paula Weston’s writing and books ever since I read Shadows, the first book in one of my all-time favorite series, The Rephaim. With The Undercurrent, a standalone, Weston delves into an entirely different genre, but once again, she has penned an engaging and thrilling story.
If The Undercurrent had been written by any other author, I would have skipped it because it’s a futuristic thriller, and I personally tend to struggle with those. The Undercurrent however was compelling from the start. It opened up with a bang, literally with a building explosion, and the pacing did not let on. The story is filled with secrets, corruption, government conspiracies and bio-engineering, which made for an exciting book start to finish. What’s awesome here is that the story slowly built up, and you’re only fed information one chapter at a time, which made the book almost impossible to put down. The Undercurrent was non-stop action, non-stop revelations, and non-stop danger, which are qualities I look for in a book like this. Not every author is able to weave those qualities tightly, but Paula Weston is an exception.
Besides an action-packed plot, The Undercurrent had an incredible cast. If you’ve read The Rephaim series, you already know that Weston is a master at writing well-developed characters. Once again, she did not disappoint in that aspect with this book. Jules, our heroine who has the unexplainable and uncontrollable ability to wield electric current, was likable to me from the start. She has had to build up shields around herself in order to protect her secret, which has led her to becoming very quiet, and isolated. Despite her character’s quietness, readers get to see what a powerhouse she was as the story progressed and she learned more about her powers. Jules was mature, brave, and fiercely intelligent.
Along the way, she meets Ryan, a soldier who is ordered to follow and protect her. As with Jules, he was a very nuanced character, and the layers to his character became apparent as revelations about his family life and background were made. He had a quiet intensity and loyalty to him that I thought balanced out Jules’ character. He was a great addition to the story and I liked him a lot. Of course, a romance developed between Ryan and Jules. Though it’s quite subtle, the chemistry and tension were sizzling. Its progression was believable, and I definitely found myself shipping them by the end. I thought the romance provided a much-needed lightness to the story.
What I loved best about The Undercurrent was how much of a substantial role Jules’ investigative reporter mom played in the story. In fact, I’d even go as far as to say that she was the most pivotal character in the story. We saw her in the middle of all the action, which I thought was great. How often do you see YA parents playing an active role in protecting their kids? Hardly! The other side characters were also all compelling. I also liked how the bad guys here weren’t always inherently bad and had several shades to their characters.
If you liked your YA thrillers full of twists and action, with a cast of characters that is just as irresistible as the plot, The Undercurrent needs to be on your TBR since yesterday!
May 31, 2017
Wow - I couldn't put this down. It's stunning!
July 5, 2017
Utterly electrifying - review to come.
September 1, 2017
Set in Australia several years in the future, this book starts almost right away with action and has a lot going on. Big corporations with greedy agendas, government secrets, fed up protesters, and the electricity surging under Jules' skin all combine for an explosive ending. Although I always looked forward to Jules and Ryan's narrative, I like the realism in the story in Jules and her mom's close relationship and the role Angie plays in the book. As I've come to expect in Weston's books, this one features great chemistry between Jules and Ryan and a sizzling romance. Unlike this author's previous multi-book interlocking series, this one appears to be a standalone with a solid ending.
Love triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone - as far as I know.
Love triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone - as far as I know.
September 12, 2017
Not the most original book I have read but a lot of fun.
You will like if you like YA thriller with action, a bit of scifi and a good romance.
You will like if you like YA thriller with action, a bit of scifi and a good romance.
February 16, 2018
‘This LoveOzYA Sci-Fi is sure to please with its sweet romantic subplot and poignant back drop of a not-so-distant future Australia.’
The Adventures of Sacakat
‘Late for dinner, late for work, late late late. Thanks so much, Paula Weston. I picked upShimmer and forgot everything else.’
Adelaide Advertiser
‘Superbly written, action-packed fiction with interesting, brilliantly flawed characters.’
Fictional Thoughts
‘Some books you crave. You keep returning to the cover art and re-reading the blurb, you stalk the authors’ Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads profiles in the hopes of gleaning morsels of information…you count-down to release day. Paula Weston is something special indeed.’
ALPHA reader
‘A fast-paced, sensational ride, which screams “read me”.’
Scott Moore, South Australian Weekend Review
‘The Undercurrent has everything you could possibly ask for in a YA novel—illegal human experimentation, military groups for hire, companies with hidden agendas, government mismanagement of environmental threats, romance, X-Men-style abilities, a nuanced mother-daughter relationship and non-stop action and intrigue. The characters are endearing and believable, the romance meaningful without being saccharine and the plot races along with impeccable timing…The Undercurrent is a worthy companion to beloved Australian speculative novels such as The Sky So Heavy by Claire Zorn and John Marsden’s Tomorrow series.’
Books + Publishing
‘The Undercurrent is a real rollercoaster of a read, packed full of thrills and tension and non-stop action. The characters are captivating and nuanced. The plot is fast-paced and high-powered. Most importantly, it is a tightly written and eminently satisfying standalone book.’
Booktopia
‘The Undercurrent is gripping and action-packed…Paula Weston has created an ambitious thrilled that presents us with an alarming look at Australia’s near future and where our technological advances could be taking us.’
Readings
‘Weston has written a high-voltage story full of explosive action and a zing of romance. The Undercurrent is a fast-paced, thrilling, futuristic action-packed YA novel that will have you zapped to your seat.’
Nadia L King
‘The Undercurrent is action-packed and thrilling…There is romance, family drama and mystery that all blend well to keep the pace flowing and the plot moving.’
Obsession with Books
‘Paula Weston raises the bar for an intelligent, page-turning speculative young adult thriller full of complex issues and wonderfully varied and sculpted characters worth caring about. A superbly written book with a gorgeous cover that will make you think and learn and hide away until you’ve read the last page.’
Kids Book Review
‘The Undercurrent presents a compelling portrait of a young woman finding agency and purpose that will appeal to both an adolescent audience and older readers.’
Otago Daily Times
‘When it comes to speculative fiction, Paula Weston can deliver, and deliver, moreover, on recognisably Australian soil…The Undercurrent is a well-written suspense thriller, political mystery, family saga, slow-burning romance and, above all, prescient picture of our own far-too-possible future.’
Magpies
‘A readable and believable dystopian tale of nuclear energy, genetically modified crops, and corporate greed, further enlivened by a budding romance.’
Age
‘Paula Weston has done it again. The Aussie who blessed us with the Rephaim series doesn’t miss a beat as she unveils a new cast of well-rounded, flawed and believable characters in a fast-paced tale…Another page-turner!’
SA Weekend
‘Paula Weston has done it again. The Aussie who blessed us with the Rephaim series doesn’t miss a beat as she moves away from the world of half-angels in this new thriller. Weston unveils a new cast of well-rounded, flawed and believable characters in a fast-paced tale…Weston tackles important issues without letting the pace drop in another page-turner.’
Daily Telegraph
The Adventures of Sacakat
‘Late for dinner, late for work, late late late. Thanks so much, Paula Weston. I picked upShimmer and forgot everything else.’
Adelaide Advertiser
‘Superbly written, action-packed fiction with interesting, brilliantly flawed characters.’
Fictional Thoughts
‘Some books you crave. You keep returning to the cover art and re-reading the blurb, you stalk the authors’ Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads profiles in the hopes of gleaning morsels of information…you count-down to release day. Paula Weston is something special indeed.’
ALPHA reader
‘A fast-paced, sensational ride, which screams “read me”.’
Scott Moore, South Australian Weekend Review
‘The Undercurrent has everything you could possibly ask for in a YA novel—illegal human experimentation, military groups for hire, companies with hidden agendas, government mismanagement of environmental threats, romance, X-Men-style abilities, a nuanced mother-daughter relationship and non-stop action and intrigue. The characters are endearing and believable, the romance meaningful without being saccharine and the plot races along with impeccable timing…The Undercurrent is a worthy companion to beloved Australian speculative novels such as The Sky So Heavy by Claire Zorn and John Marsden’s Tomorrow series.’
Books + Publishing
‘The Undercurrent is a real rollercoaster of a read, packed full of thrills and tension and non-stop action. The characters are captivating and nuanced. The plot is fast-paced and high-powered. Most importantly, it is a tightly written and eminently satisfying standalone book.’
Booktopia
‘The Undercurrent is gripping and action-packed…Paula Weston has created an ambitious thrilled that presents us with an alarming look at Australia’s near future and where our technological advances could be taking us.’
Readings
‘Weston has written a high-voltage story full of explosive action and a zing of romance. The Undercurrent is a fast-paced, thrilling, futuristic action-packed YA novel that will have you zapped to your seat.’
Nadia L King
‘The Undercurrent is action-packed and thrilling…There is romance, family drama and mystery that all blend well to keep the pace flowing and the plot moving.’
Obsession with Books
‘Paula Weston raises the bar for an intelligent, page-turning speculative young adult thriller full of complex issues and wonderfully varied and sculpted characters worth caring about. A superbly written book with a gorgeous cover that will make you think and learn and hide away until you’ve read the last page.’
Kids Book Review
‘The Undercurrent presents a compelling portrait of a young woman finding agency and purpose that will appeal to both an adolescent audience and older readers.’
Otago Daily Times
‘When it comes to speculative fiction, Paula Weston can deliver, and deliver, moreover, on recognisably Australian soil…The Undercurrent is a well-written suspense thriller, political mystery, family saga, slow-burning romance and, above all, prescient picture of our own far-too-possible future.’
Magpies
‘A readable and believable dystopian tale of nuclear energy, genetically modified crops, and corporate greed, further enlivened by a budding romance.’
Age
‘Paula Weston has done it again. The Aussie who blessed us with the Rephaim series doesn’t miss a beat as she unveils a new cast of well-rounded, flawed and believable characters in a fast-paced tale…Another page-turner!’
SA Weekend
‘Paula Weston has done it again. The Aussie who blessed us with the Rephaim series doesn’t miss a beat as she moves away from the world of half-angels in this new thriller. Weston unveils a new cast of well-rounded, flawed and believable characters in a fast-paced tale…Weston tackles important issues without letting the pace drop in another page-turner.’
Daily Telegraph
December 21, 2017
The Undercurrent is a fantastic book, Australian futuristic, speculative sci-fi at its very best. Paula Weston delivers on action, family dynamics, politics, environmental destruction, romance with chemistry that is off-the-charts hot, and a genuine Aussie-ness that made me feel totally at home among the gumtrees.
Julianne De Marchi knows she is a little different from everyone else. No one else has an electrical undercurrent inside them, a current that seems impossible to control and is deadly to others. The current stole her normal life, ended her mother's career and is responsible for leaving them so broke Julianne is willing to interview at Paxton Federation -the enemy- to get a job. But when protests turn violent, Jules is forced to turn to the mysterious Ryan Walsh, who seemingly just happened to be in the same place at the same time, for help. The Feds want to know if Jules and her mother are responsible for the latest attack, the Army, including Ryan, have their own interests in the De Marchi women, and the Paxtons are out for blood. It's going to be interesting - if Jules can stay alive long enough to find some answers.
The Undercurrent is electric and wildly addictive. I'm a little sad that it's being promoted as a stand-alone title, as I would love to continue on this wild ride with such amazing characters. I enjoyed reading The Undercurrent as my work lunchtime book, which meant reading it over a long period of time in short, lunchtime bursts. And while it was very difficult to put down at the end of lunch each day, it was very easy to keep picking it back up. And of course, I had to read the end as one big chunk, because there was no way I was putting it down once things started building to a climax.
The Undercurrent is the perfect crossover novel, appealing to older young adult readers, new adult readers and older readers alike. Told through multiple perspectives, with both teenage and adult protagonists, this book is approachable for so many readers. While technically it is a futuristic speculative novel, it has a grounding in an all-too-real and scary present and future. I enjoyed the world Paula Weston has created. The politics of food production and genetically modified crops and animals dominate the political climate, while private funding from large corporations control both the government and the army. Farmers must join with GMO corporations or be forced out of water and funding access, and nuclear power has created huge radioactive waste problems.
The setting truly comes to life under the deft hand of Paula Weston. Australian readers will be intimately familiar with the settings, which range from inner-city Brisbane to South Australian farmland. But it was the characters, from Jules and her determined mother to Ryan and his team, that really feature in this book and make it shine. There are a number of characters and they each play an important role in the story. I particularly liked Ryan's family and the time that was taken to share their story.
The Undercurrent is a creative and unique novel, perfectly situated within the sci-fi genre and yet offering something a little different for readers.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.
Julianne De Marchi knows she is a little different from everyone else. No one else has an electrical undercurrent inside them, a current that seems impossible to control and is deadly to others. The current stole her normal life, ended her mother's career and is responsible for leaving them so broke Julianne is willing to interview at Paxton Federation -the enemy- to get a job. But when protests turn violent, Jules is forced to turn to the mysterious Ryan Walsh, who seemingly just happened to be in the same place at the same time, for help. The Feds want to know if Jules and her mother are responsible for the latest attack, the Army, including Ryan, have their own interests in the De Marchi women, and the Paxtons are out for blood. It's going to be interesting - if Jules can stay alive long enough to find some answers.
The Undercurrent is electric and wildly addictive. I'm a little sad that it's being promoted as a stand-alone title, as I would love to continue on this wild ride with such amazing characters. I enjoyed reading The Undercurrent as my work lunchtime book, which meant reading it over a long period of time in short, lunchtime bursts. And while it was very difficult to put down at the end of lunch each day, it was very easy to keep picking it back up. And of course, I had to read the end as one big chunk, because there was no way I was putting it down once things started building to a climax.
The Undercurrent is the perfect crossover novel, appealing to older young adult readers, new adult readers and older readers alike. Told through multiple perspectives, with both teenage and adult protagonists, this book is approachable for so many readers. While technically it is a futuristic speculative novel, it has a grounding in an all-too-real and scary present and future. I enjoyed the world Paula Weston has created. The politics of food production and genetically modified crops and animals dominate the political climate, while private funding from large corporations control both the government and the army. Farmers must join with GMO corporations or be forced out of water and funding access, and nuclear power has created huge radioactive waste problems.
The setting truly comes to life under the deft hand of Paula Weston. Australian readers will be intimately familiar with the settings, which range from inner-city Brisbane to South Australian farmland. But it was the characters, from Jules and her determined mother to Ryan and his team, that really feature in this book and make it shine. There are a number of characters and they each play an important role in the story. I particularly liked Ryan's family and the time that was taken to share their story.
The Undercurrent is a creative and unique novel, perfectly situated within the sci-fi genre and yet offering something a little different for readers.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.
August 14, 2017
It's no secret that I love Paula Weston's books. Her writing has a wonderful flair, and her stories are the perfect balance of humour and action, romance and friendship, adventure and introspection. So you can imagine my excitement when I walked into a bookstore and saw The Undercurrent, only being vaguely aware that a new book was coming sometime in July or August.
I devoured The Undercurrent. I would have read it in one sitting except that my health isn't what it used to be. Instead, I read it in three.
Jules and Ryan are the kinds of protagonists I love but often miss in YA. Flawed, unsure of themselves, independent but surrounded by loving and supportive adults. I liked them both, and particularly liked Weston's choice in narrating this tale in third person so we knew what was happening in their heads at all times. I liked the relationships they had, not only with parents and parental figures, but also with their siblings and friends. It felt authentic because Weston didn't isolate the leads and make them fight the Big Bad alone, she gave them a lot of support and love.
I liked the chemistry between them as well -- there was so much of it, and it was brought to life realistically. The protagonists are older, having finished high school, so I guess The Undercurrent is technically New Adult (does anyone use that term anymore?). This allows for an exploration of attraction, lust, and sex that may not have occurred if Jules and Ryan had been younger.
This is an action-packed adventure that still finds time for some amazing character development. I think the pacing was perfect! I liked all the action sequences but I think my favourite things were the moments in between, the moments where we got to see what makes the characters tick.
I love reading books set in Australia because I see so much of myself in them. The Undercurrent is set in the near future, so a lot of it is still recognisable. I find that I never quite realise how much I miss Australian-isms in my books until I read something like this -- it's so seeped in Australian diction and culture that I immediately feel at home.
I enjoyed The Undercurrent! It was great to read something by Paula again and to immerse myself in such an engaging story. This is a stand-alone novel which might be perfect for those looking for a new Australian author to fangirl over! I highly recommend it!! And of course, everyone needs to check out Paula's other books, The Rephaim series, when they have a chance. Because they are still my favourite books ever!This review was originally posted on Speculating on SpecFic
I devoured The Undercurrent. I would have read it in one sitting except that my health isn't what it used to be. Instead, I read it in three.
Jules and Ryan are the kinds of protagonists I love but often miss in YA. Flawed, unsure of themselves, independent but surrounded by loving and supportive adults. I liked them both, and particularly liked Weston's choice in narrating this tale in third person so we knew what was happening in their heads at all times. I liked the relationships they had, not only with parents and parental figures, but also with their siblings and friends. It felt authentic because Weston didn't isolate the leads and make them fight the Big Bad alone, she gave them a lot of support and love.
I liked the chemistry between them as well -- there was so much of it, and it was brought to life realistically. The protagonists are older, having finished high school, so I guess The Undercurrent is technically New Adult (does anyone use that term anymore?). This allows for an exploration of attraction, lust, and sex that may not have occurred if Jules and Ryan had been younger.
This is an action-packed adventure that still finds time for some amazing character development. I think the pacing was perfect! I liked all the action sequences but I think my favourite things were the moments in between, the moments where we got to see what makes the characters tick.
I love reading books set in Australia because I see so much of myself in them. The Undercurrent is set in the near future, so a lot of it is still recognisable. I find that I never quite realise how much I miss Australian-isms in my books until I read something like this -- it's so seeped in Australian diction and culture that I immediately feel at home.
I enjoyed The Undercurrent! It was great to read something by Paula again and to immerse myself in such an engaging story. This is a stand-alone novel which might be perfect for those looking for a new Australian author to fangirl over! I highly recommend it!! And of course, everyone needs to check out Paula's other books, The Rephaim series, when they have a chance. Because they are still my favourite books ever!This review was originally posted on Speculating on SpecFic
January 22, 2020
I went to a book signing a few years ago and picked up five (signed) books by this author. Unfortunately, this has sat on the shelf with the 1000 other books calling out to be read for a few years now.....until now (this is why I love reading challenges - forces you to tackle that TBR).
This book is set in the not to distant future (10-20 years?) and is predominantly set in Brisbane and country South Australia. It is at a time when to make extra money the government hire out the defence force to private enterprise (to use as they see fit) and a time when genetic modifications and the importance/cost of food and crops are high on the political agenda. Due to experiments the lead character has "superpowers" of generating excess electricity (thus the title) by the cells in her body (hmm the explanation all seems to defy the Law of Conservation of Energy if you ask me, but the premise of how she got this power is so shaky that I think we need to suspend all disbelief :-)).
It was an okay read, but I just didn't care for the two main characters (Jules was 2D and not at all developed as a main character and Ryan was a dodgy ass soldier if you ask me). The relationship between them just all felt rushed/forced. Also, the plot felt too much in places - way too busy and the ending .
I am glad though that I purchased a copy of this book to support yet another talented Aussie writer (even though I didn't love this book, I did quite like her Rephaim series) and I can't wait to see what she comes up with in the future.
Reading Challenge
Aussie Reader's 2020 Annual A-Z Character challenge: Read a book with a lead character having a name starting with J (Jules)
Aussie Reader's 2020 Jan Challenge: Read books that titles spell out the word SUN (ignoring the)
This book is set in the not to distant future (10-20 years?) and is predominantly set in Brisbane and country South Australia. It is at a time when to make extra money the government hire out the defence force to private enterprise (to use as they see fit) and a time when genetic modifications and the importance/cost of food and crops are high on the political agenda. Due to experiments the lead character has "superpowers" of generating excess electricity (thus the title) by the cells in her body (hmm the explanation all seems to defy the Law of Conservation of Energy if you ask me, but the premise of how she got this power is so shaky that I think we need to suspend all disbelief :-)).
It was an okay read, but I just didn't care for the two main characters (Jules was 2D and not at all developed as a main character and Ryan was a dodgy ass soldier if you ask me). The relationship between them just all felt rushed/forced. Also, the plot felt too much in places - way too busy and the ending .
I am glad though that I purchased a copy of this book to support yet another talented Aussie writer (even though I didn't love this book, I did quite like her Rephaim series) and I can't wait to see what she comes up with in the future.
Reading Challenge
Aussie Reader's 2020 Annual A-Z Character challenge: Read a book with a lead character having a name starting with J (Jules)
Aussie Reader's 2020 Jan Challenge: Read books that titles spell out the word SUN (ignoring the)
August 8, 2017
Review: 3 ½ out of 5 stars
Paula Weston’s Rephaim series is one of my all-time favourite YA series! So I was extremely excited to receive a review copy of Undercurrent from Text Publishing. Even more excited to see that I had been quoted on the back of the book (happy dance!).
One thing about this book that shocked me is how realistic it actually was! I can see everything happening in this book actually coming to fruition in the not too distant future which is really alarming.
Undercurrent is a book about eighteen year-old Julianne De Marchi who was born with an electrical current beneath her skin; she struggles to control it and has no idea why she is so different; after an incident at her school she has been watched, monitored and threatened but when an opportunity for work arises with a company that put her activist mother out of work she is eager to go for an interview not knowing her life that day could be at risk.
Ryan Walsh is part of a privatised military group and has orders to watch over Julianne, not aware of her capabilities he is shocked (literally) by his orders and her abilities; he is also surprised by his attraction towards her.
The plot was fast paced and I was never quite sure who could and couldn’t be trusted; we have large corporations, activists against bio-engineering, the military and big business all wanting to use Julianne for one reason or another. The reasoning behind her ability was explained well and I liked the futuristic spin on it all.
I enjoyed Paula Weston’s writing style, there was a lot of Australian lingo in this book which may/may not be confusing. It is a fast-paced thrill ride filled with mystery, action and a frightening look at our future with advanced technology, human experimentation and large corporations changing the way in which we live; extremely scary in this day and age.
I liked the initial interactions between Julianne and Ryan but my interest between them tapered off when he was returned to his family farm to keep her safe. The romance wasn’t at the forefront of the story thankfully because it wasn’t a romance that I fully appreciated. I also didn’t really like the inclusion of Ryan’s family drama, I didn’t feel it was necessary to the story-line at all.
If you go into this book expecting it to be anything like the Rephaim series then you will be sorely disappointed because there are no similarities at all; even the writing style feels completely different.
Overall, Undercurrent is action-packed and thrilling! There is romance, family drama and mystery that all blended well to keep the pace flowing and the plot moving.
Thank you to Text Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Undercurrent by Paula Weston.
Paula Weston’s Rephaim series is one of my all-time favourite YA series! So I was extremely excited to receive a review copy of Undercurrent from Text Publishing. Even more excited to see that I had been quoted on the back of the book (happy dance!).
One thing about this book that shocked me is how realistic it actually was! I can see everything happening in this book actually coming to fruition in the not too distant future which is really alarming.
Undercurrent is a book about eighteen year-old Julianne De Marchi who was born with an electrical current beneath her skin; she struggles to control it and has no idea why she is so different; after an incident at her school she has been watched, monitored and threatened but when an opportunity for work arises with a company that put her activist mother out of work she is eager to go for an interview not knowing her life that day could be at risk.
Ryan Walsh is part of a privatised military group and has orders to watch over Julianne, not aware of her capabilities he is shocked (literally) by his orders and her abilities; he is also surprised by his attraction towards her.
The plot was fast paced and I was never quite sure who could and couldn’t be trusted; we have large corporations, activists against bio-engineering, the military and big business all wanting to use Julianne for one reason or another. The reasoning behind her ability was explained well and I liked the futuristic spin on it all.
I enjoyed Paula Weston’s writing style, there was a lot of Australian lingo in this book which may/may not be confusing. It is a fast-paced thrill ride filled with mystery, action and a frightening look at our future with advanced technology, human experimentation and large corporations changing the way in which we live; extremely scary in this day and age.
I liked the initial interactions between Julianne and Ryan but my interest between them tapered off when he was returned to his family farm to keep her safe. The romance wasn’t at the forefront of the story thankfully because it wasn’t a romance that I fully appreciated. I also didn’t really like the inclusion of Ryan’s family drama, I didn’t feel it was necessary to the story-line at all.
If you go into this book expecting it to be anything like the Rephaim series then you will be sorely disappointed because there are no similarities at all; even the writing style feels completely different.
Overall, Undercurrent is action-packed and thrilling! There is romance, family drama and mystery that all blended well to keep the pace flowing and the plot moving.
Thank you to Text Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Undercurrent by Paula Weston.
August 22, 2017
Really enjoyed it. Definitely fast paced.
Want to read
April 7, 2017All that I found a while back about this book...
SYNOPSIS:
But, how cool does it sound, huh?!
Who is just as excited as I am about this story?
SYNOPSIS:
Eighteen-year-old Julianne De Marchi is different. As in: she has an electrical undercurrent beneath her skin that stings and surges like a live wire. She can use it—to spark a fire, maybe even end a life—but she doesn’t understand what it is. And she can barely control it, especially when she’s anxious.
Ryan Walsh was on track for a stellar football career when his knee blew out. Now he’s asoldier—part of an experimental privatised military unit that has identified Jules De Marchias a threat. Is it because of the weird undercurrent she’s tried so hard to hide? Or because ofher mother Angie’s history as an activist against bio-engineering and big business?
It’s no coincidence that Ryan and Jules are in the same place at the same time—he’s under orders to follow her, after all. But then an explosive attack on a city building by an unknown enemy throws them together in the most violent and unexpected way.
Paula Weston, author of the much-admired Rephaim series, returns with a standalone work:a futuristic thriller that is only slightly futuristic—but utterly and undeniably thrilling. Greatwriting, heart-burning characters, probing questions about where technology is taking us—and a plot that zips and zings like an electrical current itself. This is a great young-adult writerat the peak of her powers.
But, how cool does it sound, huh?!
Who is just as excited as I am about this story?
June 27, 2017
Paula Weston's new spec fiction thriller is a high-voltage ride through a futuristic Australia where government agencies, big business and a privatised military unit battle over a teenage girl whose existence threatens global business interests. Sizzling with narrative energy, sexual tension and engaging characters, The Undercurrent is a smart and sassy addition to Weston's already impressive body of work. Brisneylanders, please join me in conversation with Paula Weston at Riverbend Books on 3 August to launch The Undercurrent. An absolute cracker of a read!
October 16, 2017
"Another explosion and the stairs shudder. People scream. Ryan can't tell if the detonations are intended to bring the place down or are just a diversion. He doesn't have enough experience with explosives to know the difference."
I think the thing that stopped me from loving this more is that it reads like an action movie.
Which is to say there's a fast plot, some interesting characters and a big-bad villain behind the scenes. But everything felt a little rushed, and I didn't connect with the characters the way I would have liked.
There could have been more world-building as I got the impression this is set vaguely in the not-too-distant future but it was unclear as to how far.
"The charge leaps into Ryan from her fingertips before she can stop it. It strikes him hard, throwing him backwards."
Julianne's powers are interesting, but her development seemed a little too rushed to me. Ryan was interesting, but I feel like I still don't have a proper read on him.
If you're looking for a quick read with some good action points then this is the book for you.
I think the thing that stopped me from loving this more is that it reads like an action movie.
Which is to say there's a fast plot, some interesting characters and a big-bad villain behind the scenes. But everything felt a little rushed, and I didn't connect with the characters the way I would have liked.
There could have been more world-building as I got the impression this is set vaguely in the not-too-distant future but it was unclear as to how far.
"The charge leaps into Ryan from her fingertips before she can stop it. It strikes him hard, throwing him backwards."
Julianne's powers are interesting, but her development seemed a little too rushed to me. Ryan was interesting, but I feel like I still don't have a proper read on him.
If you're looking for a quick read with some good action points then this is the book for you.
October 10, 2017
Paula Weston is one of my most favourite discoveries from the last few years. I've raved about her Rephaim series plenty of times, and I was very excited (and also a little embarrassed) when I discovered she'd released this gem a few months ago and I hadn't heard about it. Needless to say, it went to the top of my TBR pile.
The Undercurrent is a futuristic thriller, set a few decades from now in a dystopian Australia where corporations' influence has grown to the point that they are the driving force behind government policy. Australia has a developed a nuclear power plant and takes the world's nuclear waste to store nearby (currently Australia has/does neither of those things). The army is available for hire by big corporations. GMO crops and genetically modified sheep are so pervasive that banks won't provide hardship loans to farmers who refuse to grow them, and the most powerful GMO-pushing corporation, Paxton Federation, is on the brink of getting legislation through parliament that would effectively make it illegal not to grow their crops.
Enter Jules, daughter of former investigative journalist and resistance activist Angie De Marchi, whose body generates vast amounts of electricity she can't control. She is notorious for having burned down a school building when she was 16, something that was an accident but that people assume was done at her mother's behest. Since then, her mother has been blackmailed by an unknown individual to cut off her contact with the country's leading resistance group, the Agitators -- which Angie founded years before after her soldier husband was killed defending a PaxFed facility overseas.
When someone starts trying to kill Jules, things get complicated really fast.
I loved Jules, who has spent her entire life trying to bottle things up and maintain control of herself in a way that reminds me a little of Elsa from Frozen, but with more, erm, explosive consequences. Her mother, Angie, is fierce, stubborn, pig-headed, and in the centre of the action -- not at all your stereotypical maternal mother figure or absent YA parent. Ryan, the studly soldier and love interest, struggles with his father's disapproval of his decision to enlist. And Voss, Ryan's commanding officer, is stoic, determined to complete his given task and more clued in to what's really going on than anyone else. All these characters have chapters from their points of view, and we get to know them all quite well.
Paula Weston writes a fast-paced story, and this one is no exception. There's a corporate conspiracy, layers and layers of scheming, a formerly peaceful protest group that has strayed into acts of terrorism, and farmers against the wall because they refuse to grow GMO crops. There is also a realistic romance, which is my favourite kind!
The other thing I liked was that PaxFed wasn't purely an evil mega-corporation and, in some (fairly limited) ways, this dystopian world is a better place than ours. While PaxFed is no doubt motivated by profits, the reason for their GMO push (at least ostensibly) is the realistically achievable goal of ending world hunger. Electric cars are a reality and petrol-guzzling engines have been banned. Desalination plants have addressed some of Australia's water-shortage problems, at least for those that can afford to take advantage of them. It's these glimpses of the good coming out of the bad that make this world feel more realistic.
The Undercurrent has been marketed as young adult (because Australian publishers don't seem to do the new adult category), but I wouldn't recommend it for readers under 15 or 16. This is partly because of the content being a little more mature (for example, there is some swearing, a sweet sex scene, some drug references, and discussion of suicide), but also because the world and story are quite complex and take some following.
The Undercurrent a stand-alone novel, which makes me sad as I would have loved more of these characters. But if you want to try Paula Weston's work and aren't prepared to commit to a four-book series just yet, this is definitely the book for you.
The Undercurrent is a futuristic thriller, set a few decades from now in a dystopian Australia where corporations' influence has grown to the point that they are the driving force behind government policy. Australia has a developed a nuclear power plant and takes the world's nuclear waste to store nearby (currently Australia has/does neither of those things). The army is available for hire by big corporations. GMO crops and genetically modified sheep are so pervasive that banks won't provide hardship loans to farmers who refuse to grow them, and the most powerful GMO-pushing corporation, Paxton Federation, is on the brink of getting legislation through parliament that would effectively make it illegal not to grow their crops.
Enter Jules, daughter of former investigative journalist and resistance activist Angie De Marchi, whose body generates vast amounts of electricity she can't control. She is notorious for having burned down a school building when she was 16, something that was an accident but that people assume was done at her mother's behest. Since then, her mother has been blackmailed by an unknown individual to cut off her contact with the country's leading resistance group, the Agitators -- which Angie founded years before after her soldier husband was killed defending a PaxFed facility overseas.
When someone starts trying to kill Jules, things get complicated really fast.
I loved Jules, who has spent her entire life trying to bottle things up and maintain control of herself in a way that reminds me a little of Elsa from Frozen, but with more, erm, explosive consequences. Her mother, Angie, is fierce, stubborn, pig-headed, and in the centre of the action -- not at all your stereotypical maternal mother figure or absent YA parent. Ryan, the studly soldier and love interest, struggles with his father's disapproval of his decision to enlist. And Voss, Ryan's commanding officer, is stoic, determined to complete his given task and more clued in to what's really going on than anyone else. All these characters have chapters from their points of view, and we get to know them all quite well.
Paula Weston writes a fast-paced story, and this one is no exception. There's a corporate conspiracy, layers and layers of scheming, a formerly peaceful protest group that has strayed into acts of terrorism, and farmers against the wall because they refuse to grow GMO crops. There is also a realistic romance, which is my favourite kind!
The other thing I liked was that PaxFed wasn't purely an evil mega-corporation and, in some (fairly limited) ways, this dystopian world is a better place than ours. While PaxFed is no doubt motivated by profits, the reason for their GMO push (at least ostensibly) is the realistically achievable goal of ending world hunger. Electric cars are a reality and petrol-guzzling engines have been banned. Desalination plants have addressed some of Australia's water-shortage problems, at least for those that can afford to take advantage of them. It's these glimpses of the good coming out of the bad that make this world feel more realistic.
The Undercurrent has been marketed as young adult (because Australian publishers don't seem to do the new adult category), but I wouldn't recommend it for readers under 15 or 16. This is partly because of the content being a little more mature (for example, there is some swearing, a sweet sex scene, some drug references, and discussion of suicide), but also because the world and story are quite complex and take some following.
The Undercurrent a stand-alone novel, which makes me sad as I would have loved more of these characters. But if you want to try Paula Weston's work and aren't prepared to commit to a four-book series just yet, this is definitely the book for you.
February 11, 2018
3.25 stars. When I just finished this novel, I didn't quite know what to think of it. Before, I had wanted to like it as much as I did her Rephaim series - and there were indeed aspects of the book which I liked - but it didn't quite live up to the hype I created.
What I liked:
-The military style aspects of the book without leaning too dystopian, which was refreshing to see in the YA genre. It was interesting to see the interplay between the more militaristic aspects of the book and scenes of the countryside life. I think Paula Weston is great at world building, in the most subtle way possible. Unlike other authors, her writing makes me want to visit places without having to tide through 30 pages' worth of description.
-Ryan's well-balanced personality.
-The style of the author's writing.
-The action. I was never one for action/violent scenes, but nobody does it like Paula Weston.
What I found lacking:
-Julianne's personality. She was too much of a wallflower for me, especially coming from that other series where Gabe was just hands-down badass. 2 days after finishing the novel in one sitting, I couldn't even remember her name. Julianne? Or Juliette? Not a good sign.
-The bad guys. Simply put, they weren't bad enough.
-The entire undercurrent premise. I wish it was more intriguing, and when it was revealed that
The above being said, overall it was still a good experience, and I'd recommend it for those who are looking for a solid action-packed YA standalone! (Australian YA deserves more hype!)
What I liked:
-The military style aspects of the book without leaning too dystopian, which was refreshing to see in the YA genre. It was interesting to see the interplay between the more militaristic aspects of the book and scenes of the countryside life. I think Paula Weston is great at world building, in the most subtle way possible. Unlike other authors, her writing makes me want to visit places without having to tide through 30 pages' worth of description.
-Ryan's well-balanced personality.
-The style of the author's writing.
-The action. I was never one for action/violent scenes, but nobody does it like Paula Weston.
What I found lacking:
-Julianne's personality. She was too much of a wallflower for me, especially coming from that other series where Gabe was just hands-down badass. 2 days after finishing the novel in one sitting, I couldn't even remember her name. Julianne? Or Juliette? Not a good sign.
-The bad guys. Simply put, they weren't bad enough.
-The entire undercurrent premise. I wish it was more intriguing, and when it was revealed that
The above being said, overall it was still a good experience, and I'd recommend it for those who are looking for a solid action-packed YA standalone! (Australian YA deserves more hype!)
Read
May 6, 2018Paula Weston has done it again. Sharp, crisp prose that rolls along, continually raising the stakes for characters you begin to really care about until you can't put the book down, until you find your heart thumping along in time with the fast paced action and ultimate electrifying and emotional conclusion. If you like fast paced action, well rounded characters and a political edge, you are going to love this book!
November 29, 2017
3.75 stars-Another compelling story by this author. I was totally invested in Jules and her mom and everything they went to. I wasn't as into the romantic side of this book as I wanted to be but over all it was really good and I'd recommend it.
June 19, 2017
What a ride!! Gripping and tense.
Loved the MCs. Great matching pair.
Loved the MCs. Great matching pair.
February 5, 2018
I enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters and the Australian-ness of the setting. There were some interesting themes around climate change, genetic modification and activism.
July 15, 2017
Electrifying story with unpredictable turns and superpower in action. I highly recommend it to teenagers/ young adults.
January 30, 2019
I enjoyed this book. I felt that the characters were interesting but the plot was a little slow and a bit boring.
June 28, 2018
This review first appeared on Readers in Wonderland
5 THINGS ABOUT THE UNDERCURRENT
#LoveOzYA
Paula Weston is a #LoveOzYA author I’ve seen a lot of, but haven’t read before now. And I must say I really enjoyed THE UNDERCURRENT! Especially since it is set in a very near future Australia (only 20 or so years in the future), and features locations that I’ve visited myself. And not just big cities, I’m talking obscure country towns I’ve stopped at for breaks on road trips (Coonabarabran is a frequent stop of ours! I couldn’t believe it when I saw it in THE UNDERCURRENT)
Standalone New Adult Sci Fi
I can’t think of many New Adult sci fi/ fantasy novels I’ve read (all the clear NA books are contemporary romances set in college I swear), let alone standalones! THE UNDERCURRENT has certainly given me a want for more standalone novels like it. It’s short, fun, and a great read that doesn’t focus heavily on the romance like most stereotypical NA novels do. The experience was refreshing.
Interesting power not entirely explored
Julianne’s electricity is not a power that I’ve seen in novels before, and one that is very useful and interesting… if she’d had more of a chance to play with it. But this is the downfall of a standalone: less time to explore the powers and the world. We do get to learn more about the powers over the course of the novel, but never the chance to watch Jules test her limits.
Dips in the middle
The start and end of THE UNDERCURRENT are full of suspense and action, but there is a lull in the middle. Most of this is due to the nature of the plot. This story doesn’t just follow Ryan and Jules, but also Jules mum, Angie, and Ryan’s boss, Major Vass, as they split up. Angie and the Major are following leads in a domestic terror threat, while Jules and Ryan are forced into hiding. A lot of this middle section is uncovering plot points and exploring character things rather than action.
A fun read
It may have lulled, but I still really enjoyed THE UNDERCURRENT overall. I can’t entirely explain why. It was just what I wanted at the time and managed to grab me. I was up until 1am reading the first time I opened it. Paula Weston is definitely an author I need to check out again. If her other books are anything like THE UNDERCURRENT I’m in for a great time.
In Summary
THE UNDERCURRENT was a read I enjoyed a lot more than expected. Being a standalone, there isn’t as much sci fi explored as I liked. But I did love the Australian setting, a lot of which was familiar to me, and the characters.
5 THINGS ABOUT THE UNDERCURRENT
#LoveOzYA
Paula Weston is a #LoveOzYA author I’ve seen a lot of, but haven’t read before now. And I must say I really enjoyed THE UNDERCURRENT! Especially since it is set in a very near future Australia (only 20 or so years in the future), and features locations that I’ve visited myself. And not just big cities, I’m talking obscure country towns I’ve stopped at for breaks on road trips (Coonabarabran is a frequent stop of ours! I couldn’t believe it when I saw it in THE UNDERCURRENT)
Standalone New Adult Sci Fi
I can’t think of many New Adult sci fi/ fantasy novels I’ve read (all the clear NA books are contemporary romances set in college I swear), let alone standalones! THE UNDERCURRENT has certainly given me a want for more standalone novels like it. It’s short, fun, and a great read that doesn’t focus heavily on the romance like most stereotypical NA novels do. The experience was refreshing.
Interesting power not entirely explored
Julianne’s electricity is not a power that I’ve seen in novels before, and one that is very useful and interesting… if she’d had more of a chance to play with it. But this is the downfall of a standalone: less time to explore the powers and the world. We do get to learn more about the powers over the course of the novel, but never the chance to watch Jules test her limits.
Dips in the middle
The start and end of THE UNDERCURRENT are full of suspense and action, but there is a lull in the middle. Most of this is due to the nature of the plot. This story doesn’t just follow Ryan and Jules, but also Jules mum, Angie, and Ryan’s boss, Major Vass, as they split up. Angie and the Major are following leads in a domestic terror threat, while Jules and Ryan are forced into hiding. A lot of this middle section is uncovering plot points and exploring character things rather than action.
A fun read
It may have lulled, but I still really enjoyed THE UNDERCURRENT overall. I can’t entirely explain why. It was just what I wanted at the time and managed to grab me. I was up until 1am reading the first time I opened it. Paula Weston is definitely an author I need to check out again. If her other books are anything like THE UNDERCURRENT I’m in for a great time.
In Summary
THE UNDERCURRENT was a read I enjoyed a lot more than expected. Being a standalone, there isn’t as much sci fi explored as I liked. But I did love the Australian setting, a lot of which was familiar to me, and the characters.
Want to read
June 3, 2017
September 10, 2017
Liked the supporting cast a lot, and thankfully they get quite a bit of page-time (so much that they're less supporting and more of an ensemble). But Jules and Ryan were boring, and they're more than half of this book.
I'm disappointed yo, cause I love Weston's Rephaim series so damn much.
I'm disappointed yo, cause I love Weston's Rephaim series so damn much.
August 16, 2017
SYNPOSIS:
Jules lives with her mother, Angela DeMarchi in a not-too-distant on-the-verge-of-an-apocalypse Australia. In this new future, big corporations rule GMOs, energy resources, the media, farmers and even the Australian army.
Jules is grieving for her late soldier/father while her mother struggles to make ends meet now that she’s a reformed head protester of a group called the Agitators (who are pretty ‘agitated’ with the current state of affairs in Aussie).
But Jules and her mother are also hiding a big secret – Jules has an electrical current running under her skin that gives her the power to generate electrical shocks (think a human Taser) and she’s got absolutely no control over it or any idea where it came from. Which is a problem, considering there’s some pretty dodgy characters behind-the-scenes trying to off our poor Jules.
REVIEW:
There’s so much I could say about this book… so I’m going to fall back on the ol' list format.
• It’s in AUSTRALIA! Finally, a YA book with cool powers and bad-ass characters that’s not set in the almighty land of ‘Murica. Better yet, it’s in Logan (my hometown) and there’s even a reference to the Hyperdome which made me downright giddy to read. Totally a highlight. #LoganRepresent.
• The language of the Outback – "knackered, mate" - I could have been overhearing a conversation in Woolies.
• It has POWERS. And the chick actually USES her powers, so you’re not just sitting there reading and yelling, “WHY THE HECK DON’T YOU JUST ELECTROCUTE THEM ALREADY!”
• ACTUAL WORLD BUILDING. Yep, it’s not all about the powers and the romance, there’s actually a fully developed futuristic world at play here and it’s believable. Powers aside, I could easily imagine this kind of future for Australia if everything kind of just exploded. The threat of nuclear energy (yep that’s happened), fast wi-fi being a distant dream for the commoners (actually, I think Weston is describing my life here), depressed farmers struggling to put food on the table and not selling out to big corporations, genetically-modified food, monitored media coverage and internet usage… the list goes on.
• Well-developed characters. Even the minor characters are very well thought out and they’re there for a reason. Family dynamics are spot-on and heart-wrenching.
• Ryan. Ahhh, scruffy-hot Ryan.
• Slow burning romance between the MC’s. No insta-love here and whaddya know – they actually have things in common and genuinely like each other.
• Jules DeMarchi’s legs. Seriously, I’d like to see a picture of these things. They get a special mention from quite a few characters, so I’m imagining Elle Macpherson’s pins.
• The plot twists.
• Each chapter ends on bit of a thrill – so it makes you want to read the next and the next and the next…
• It’s a standalone. No loose ends.
I am personally a huge fan of dystopian YA, but too often it is plagued by under developed characters or lack of world building. Weston's story was refreshing and did not disappoint! Five stars.
Jules lives with her mother, Angela DeMarchi in a not-too-distant on-the-verge-of-an-apocalypse Australia. In this new future, big corporations rule GMOs, energy resources, the media, farmers and even the Australian army.
Jules is grieving for her late soldier/father while her mother struggles to make ends meet now that she’s a reformed head protester of a group called the Agitators (who are pretty ‘agitated’ with the current state of affairs in Aussie).
But Jules and her mother are also hiding a big secret – Jules has an electrical current running under her skin that gives her the power to generate electrical shocks (think a human Taser) and she’s got absolutely no control over it or any idea where it came from. Which is a problem, considering there’s some pretty dodgy characters behind-the-scenes trying to off our poor Jules.
REVIEW:
There’s so much I could say about this book… so I’m going to fall back on the ol' list format.
• It’s in AUSTRALIA! Finally, a YA book with cool powers and bad-ass characters that’s not set in the almighty land of ‘Murica. Better yet, it’s in Logan (my hometown) and there’s even a reference to the Hyperdome which made me downright giddy to read. Totally a highlight. #LoganRepresent.
• The language of the Outback – "knackered, mate" - I could have been overhearing a conversation in Woolies.
• It has POWERS. And the chick actually USES her powers, so you’re not just sitting there reading and yelling, “WHY THE HECK DON’T YOU JUST ELECTROCUTE THEM ALREADY!”
• ACTUAL WORLD BUILDING. Yep, it’s not all about the powers and the romance, there’s actually a fully developed futuristic world at play here and it’s believable. Powers aside, I could easily imagine this kind of future for Australia if everything kind of just exploded. The threat of nuclear energy (yep that’s happened), fast wi-fi being a distant dream for the commoners (actually, I think Weston is describing my life here), depressed farmers struggling to put food on the table and not selling out to big corporations, genetically-modified food, monitored media coverage and internet usage… the list goes on.
• Well-developed characters. Even the minor characters are very well thought out and they’re there for a reason. Family dynamics are spot-on and heart-wrenching.
• Ryan. Ahhh, scruffy-hot Ryan.
• Slow burning romance between the MC’s. No insta-love here and whaddya know – they actually have things in common and genuinely like each other.
• Jules DeMarchi’s legs. Seriously, I’d like to see a picture of these things. They get a special mention from quite a few characters, so I’m imagining Elle Macpherson’s pins.
• The plot twists.
• Each chapter ends on bit of a thrill – so it makes you want to read the next and the next and the next…
• It’s a standalone. No loose ends.
I am personally a huge fan of dystopian YA, but too often it is plagued by under developed characters or lack of world building. Weston's story was refreshing and did not disappoint! Five stars.
December 12, 2017
I was very worried by the blurb of this book. I feared that the romance would be forced and it would turn into an we-just-met-but-let's-make-out-in-this-elevator situation. Which it didn't, thankfully. However, I still found the romance a little fast paced and I got lost towards the end of the book.
I really liked how Australian this book was (I wonder how non-Australians interpreted it, though) and it was set in a future that was probable and interesting. I could really picture the settings of the book well, and I really liked interacting with familiar environments. The science behind the story logic seemed plausible and didn't stray too far over my head.
The romance was a little annoying, only because their relationship moved very quickly and was based more on physical attraction than any emotional connection. It wasn't unbelievable and I was happy that Jules was portrayed as someone comfortable with her sexuality, but I don't think it was necessary to include the romantic element. There was so much drama and action occurring in a very short space and I think the romance wasn't given enough attention and therefore drew something away from the rest of the plot.
When it came down to it, though, the romance was fine, not what I would have preferred but fine, but I got so lost at the climax of the plot. I honestly didn't even understand whose allegiance was with who and what was actually going on. Perhaps this is totally a me thing and it was just too much for my brain to keep track of, but it was chaotic and jumbled and disjointed and I was super confused by the end of the text.I understood what Weston was attempting to portray, this sense of unorganised chaos, but it fell flat for me.
Jules' acceptance and growth into her abilities also was extremely quick and it felt like it happened from one page to the next with very little to back up this monumental change in power balance. I think that it would have been beneficial to expand on her power and let it develop in a more reasonable time frame (like we see in the Shatter Me Trilogy, which features similar elements). I personally dislike when a protagonist is cuddly able to master an ability that they have never been able to in the past, with no true change in their circumstances or environment.
There was too much happening at once and it dragged the book down from a solid three stars to a hesitant two. Had there been less events, but with more significance given to each, I think I could have really liked this novel.
As it is, I still think it was an enjoyable read and if you love action movies and are good at keeping track of what's happening with who I think this might be your next favourite book.
I really liked how Australian this book was (I wonder how non-Australians interpreted it, though) and it was set in a future that was probable and interesting. I could really picture the settings of the book well, and I really liked interacting with familiar environments. The science behind the story logic seemed plausible and didn't stray too far over my head.
The romance was a little annoying, only because their relationship moved very quickly and was based more on physical attraction than any emotional connection. It wasn't unbelievable and I was happy that Jules was portrayed as someone comfortable with her sexuality, but I don't think it was necessary to include the romantic element. There was so much drama and action occurring in a very short space and I think the romance wasn't given enough attention and therefore drew something away from the rest of the plot.
When it came down to it, though, the romance was fine, not what I would have preferred but fine, but I got so lost at the climax of the plot. I honestly didn't even understand whose allegiance was with who and what was actually going on. Perhaps this is totally a me thing and it was just too much for my brain to keep track of, but it was chaotic and jumbled and disjointed and I was super confused by the end of the text.I understood what Weston was attempting to portray, this sense of unorganised chaos, but it fell flat for me.
Jules' acceptance and growth into her abilities also was extremely quick and it felt like it happened from one page to the next with very little to back up this monumental change in power balance. I think that it would have been beneficial to expand on her power and let it develop in a more reasonable time frame (like we see in the Shatter Me Trilogy, which features similar elements). I personally dislike when a protagonist is cuddly able to master an ability that they have never been able to in the past, with no true change in their circumstances or environment.
There was too much happening at once and it dragged the book down from a solid three stars to a hesitant two. Had there been less events, but with more significance given to each, I think I could have really liked this novel.
As it is, I still think it was an enjoyable read and if you love action movies and are good at keeping track of what's happening with who I think this might be your next favourite book.
August 16, 2022
This was sadly very underwhelming.
First off, I feel like the description is purposefully misleading, hinting at more romance than the book actually had. It was there but barely, needed much more development and only really skimmed the surface.
I liked the chapters from Julianne's POV way more than those from her mother's but I wasn't actually attached to any of the characters, not even to Julianne and Ryan because they were not fully flashed out. The story itself didn't help, it was certainly suspenseful at times but never left me hungering to continue reading. Regretfully, putting down the book and not picking it back up quickly was easy.
Also, despite the title, Julianne's undercurrent was not that important or prominent which was disappointing. Plus, the writing was full of Aussie lingo that required quite some getting used to, it was pretty weird.
I found it interesting that the issues the plot dealt with were tightly tied to GMO crops and animals, radioactive waste and water shortage, those are indeed currently relevant topics. However, in my opinion the rest of the world building was lacking. The government made those big, corporate-pushed decisions just like that? Compromising the military and the population just like that? What did the rest of the world think about that stuff happening in Australia?
Frankly, I still don't understand why the Major made that decision towards the end, but the ending itself did nothing to make the book better. It was a pretty open ending that left a lot of questions unanswered . Open endings like this are just lazy and very unsatisfying.
The only strictly positive thing I can say is that I like the cover. Which will not prevent this book from getting unhauled. Unfortunately, it's another example for how I was right to wait a long time, aka years, after first seeing a book due to some doubts before reading it. Sigh.
First off, I feel like the description is purposefully misleading, hinting at more romance than the book actually had. It was there but barely, needed much more development and only really skimmed the surface.
I liked the chapters from Julianne's POV way more than those from her mother's but I wasn't actually attached to any of the characters, not even to Julianne and Ryan because they were not fully flashed out. The story itself didn't help, it was certainly suspenseful at times but never left me hungering to continue reading. Regretfully, putting down the book and not picking it back up quickly was easy.
Also, despite the title, Julianne's undercurrent was not that important or prominent which was disappointing. Plus, the writing was full of Aussie lingo that required quite some getting used to, it was pretty weird.
I found it interesting that the issues the plot dealt with were tightly tied to GMO crops and animals, radioactive waste and water shortage, those are indeed currently relevant topics. However, in my opinion the rest of the world building was lacking. The government made those big, corporate-pushed decisions just like that? Compromising the military and the population just like that? What did the rest of the world think about that stuff happening in Australia?
Frankly, I still don't understand why the Major made that decision towards the end, but the ending itself did nothing to make the book better. It was a pretty open ending that left a lot of questions unanswered . Open endings like this are just lazy and very unsatisfying.
The only strictly positive thing I can say is that I like the cover. Which will not prevent this book from getting unhauled. Unfortunately, it's another example for how I was right to wait a long time, aka years, after first seeing a book due to some doubts before reading it. Sigh.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews