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Identity Break
How far would you go to find yourself?
Imagine everything you thought you knew about yourself turned out to be a lie, and you didn’t know who was telling the truth. Imagine you possessed a secret so dangerous that, if it were exposed, it would reshape the entire world.
What would you do if that secret were your very identity?
In almost every way, Palo Vista seems like a typical California city, with office buildings, schools, and homes sprawled out across suburbia, filled with families making a life for themselves at the dawn of the new millennium.
But two seniors at Mt. MacMurray High are about to find out that nothing is as it seems...
Imagine everything you thought you knew about yourself turned out to be a lie, and you didn’t know who was telling the truth. Imagine you possessed a secret so dangerous that, if it were exposed, it would reshape the entire world.
What would you do if that secret were your very identity?
In almost every way, Palo Vista seems like a typical California city, with office buildings, schools, and homes sprawled out across suburbia, filled with families making a life for themselves at the dawn of the new millennium.
But two seniors at Mt. MacMurray High are about to find out that nothing is as it seems...
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2018
About the author
Stephen H. Provost
115 books101 followersStephen H. Provost writes fantasy adventures and historical nonfiction. A journalist with more than 30 years of experience and a former educator, he has worked as an editor, reporter, and columnist at four daily newspapers in California.
His works of fiction include "The Talismans of Time" and its sequel, "Pathfinder of Destiny"; the fantasy novels "Memortality" and its sequel, "Paralucidity"; the young adult science fiction adventure "Identity Break"; the novellas "The Only Dragon" and "Death's Doorstep"; and the "Twilight Zone"-inspired collection of short stories and dark poetry titled "Nightmare's Eve."
The author's nonfiction works include "Fresno Growing Up" and "Martinsville Memories" (history and nostalgia); "Highway 99: The History of California's Main Street" and "Highway 101: The History of El Camino Real (Americana and travel); "Yesterday's Highways" (Americana and travel); "A Whole Different League" (sports history); "The Legend of Molly Bolin" (sports biography); "Media Meltdown," "Political Psychosis" and "Jesus, You're Fired!" (commentary); "Please Stop Saying That! (humor, commentary); and "50 Undefeated" (history and inspiration).
His survey of American middle-sized cities and small towns, the Century Cities series, includes five titles so far: "Fresno Century," "San Luis Obispo Century," "Cambria Century," "Roanoke Century," and "Danville Century."
His extensive survey of ancient history, fable and mythology is contained in his Phoenix series of books.
His works of fiction include "The Talismans of Time" and its sequel, "Pathfinder of Destiny"; the fantasy novels "Memortality" and its sequel, "Paralucidity"; the young adult science fiction adventure "Identity Break"; the novellas "The Only Dragon" and "Death's Doorstep"; and the "Twilight Zone"-inspired collection of short stories and dark poetry titled "Nightmare's Eve."
The author's nonfiction works include "Fresno Growing Up" and "Martinsville Memories" (history and nostalgia); "Highway 99: The History of California's Main Street" and "Highway 101: The History of El Camino Real (Americana and travel); "Yesterday's Highways" (Americana and travel); "A Whole Different League" (sports history); "The Legend of Molly Bolin" (sports biography); "Media Meltdown," "Political Psychosis" and "Jesus, You're Fired!" (commentary); "Please Stop Saying That! (humor, commentary); and "50 Undefeated" (history and inspiration).
His survey of American middle-sized cities and small towns, the Century Cities series, includes five titles so far: "Fresno Century," "San Luis Obispo Century," "Cambria Century," "Roanoke Century," and "Danville Century."
His extensive survey of ancient history, fable and mythology is contained in his Phoenix series of books.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 20, 2018
I wasn't too sure what to expect from this book but it sounded interesting. Two teens display amazing abilities and have grown up with seamlessly perfect and happy lives but they are both about to discover that everything that they have known is a complete lie and that what made them special has been manufactured and now they are being hunted. Jason has always had what he believes as a photographic and eidetic memory. He sees something and then he can do it and Elyse has always felt a little different. I have to admit out of the characters I felt mostly for Elyse as she will discover her family is not exactly her "family" and her whole existence has been a lie. The book goes on to the pair of them escaping and then being on the run from the company that wants them captured which is the drug company which has been experimenting on them for years. This is a heart-pounding thrill ride as Jason and Elyse, previously known to each other only by name, become close and work together to get free of the gap closing authorities. They get help from a couple of unexpected sources, but the hunters just keep closing on them. This novel also contains the prequel novella “Artiface” which is just as intense.
July 2, 2018
Well…. This is what happens when reality fragments.
I loved Elyse’s character. She was always trying to figure herself out,
“I had just wasted three hours on a blustery fall day sitting on a cold, hard, metal bench watching twenty-two boys beat each other up for the sake of a stupid ball. Run around for a couple of seconds. Stop. Wait half a minute and repeat. It sounded like those inane philosophies my mom got out of her favorite book, Wisdom on the Head of a Pin. I didn’t like philosophy, so I wasn’t a thinker. I didn’t like football, so I wasn’t a tomboy. And I didn’t like dresses, so I wasn’t a proper lady. What did that make me?”
I loved the message this book sent,
“Worry about yourself. I’m the past, but as sure as I’m standing here before you, you’re the future.”
I loved the fact that this book kept me guessing with every word. What is reality?
“Is this a dream?”I asked.
“Yes, it is.”
“How do I wake up?”
“You wake up when we decide to wake you up. Not before.”
I tried to shift my weight, but that just made it harder to breathe. So I pushed down with my arms against whatever was underneath me. It felt like wood, and splinters dug into my skin. The thing I’d seen before hadn’t been made out of wood. Maybe I’d been dreaming then, and this was real. Or maybe it was the other way around. I felt myself cough, exhaling. I tried to draw another breath, but the air was foul inside here, and I got the feeling there wasn’t much of it available for breathing. “
What if I decide?”
“You’re not even supposed to know you’re dreaming,”the voice said.
“I told you, I’m conscious of everything.”
“You also said you didn’t dream. It looks like you were wrong about that.”
“Maybe.”
“I wouldn’t talk too much if I were you. There isn’t much air left for you. If you use it all up, you’ll die. And you know what they say about people who die in their dreams.”
My one criticism is Stephen, I hate “Twilight”, but you spelled Stephenie Myer’s name wrong! I know. Weird thing to nit pick.
I loved Elyse’s character. She was always trying to figure herself out,
“I had just wasted three hours on a blustery fall day sitting on a cold, hard, metal bench watching twenty-two boys beat each other up for the sake of a stupid ball. Run around for a couple of seconds. Stop. Wait half a minute and repeat. It sounded like those inane philosophies my mom got out of her favorite book, Wisdom on the Head of a Pin. I didn’t like philosophy, so I wasn’t a thinker. I didn’t like football, so I wasn’t a tomboy. And I didn’t like dresses, so I wasn’t a proper lady. What did that make me?”
I loved the message this book sent,
“Worry about yourself. I’m the past, but as sure as I’m standing here before you, you’re the future.”
I loved the fact that this book kept me guessing with every word. What is reality?
“Is this a dream?”I asked.
“Yes, it is.”
“How do I wake up?”
“You wake up when we decide to wake you up. Not before.”
I tried to shift my weight, but that just made it harder to breathe. So I pushed down with my arms against whatever was underneath me. It felt like wood, and splinters dug into my skin. The thing I’d seen before hadn’t been made out of wood. Maybe I’d been dreaming then, and this was real. Or maybe it was the other way around. I felt myself cough, exhaling. I tried to draw another breath, but the air was foul inside here, and I got the feeling there wasn’t much of it available for breathing. “
What if I decide?”
“You’re not even supposed to know you’re dreaming,”the voice said.
“I told you, I’m conscious of everything.”
“You also said you didn’t dream. It looks like you were wrong about that.”
“Maybe.”
“I wouldn’t talk too much if I were you. There isn’t much air left for you. If you use it all up, you’ll die. And you know what they say about people who die in their dreams.”
My one criticism is Stephen, I hate “Twilight”, but you spelled Stephenie Myer’s name wrong! I know. Weird thing to nit pick.
July 6, 2018
In a lot of ways this would make a good dystopian movie. There's a secret organization, lies, manipulation,action, and lots of secrets.I struggled with the book though. There are some formatting issues that were distracting. However, for me the beginning of the book was all over the place, and confusing. I had to really concentrate to figure out what I was supposed to be getting from what I was reading.I think more detail would have helped.It wasn't until I was litteraly half way through the book that things started to get explained. Elyse and Jason find out that a giant corporation is controlling everything, and the world outside their city is not what they have been told. They have to find out what is real, what's in their head, and if they can trust anyone but themselves. There is a bit of backstoryat the end that may be better at the beginning because it would give some insight into what is going on without really giving to much away. After reading it I felt like it was good to know, but didn't really do much for the story by being at the end. I would suggest older teen and up for this one as some of the things going on are a little complex, and there is a bit of violence.
April 16, 2018
This is a futuristic tale about the hardships the human race suffers as a result of the human race. Provost has given us a complex look at future members of society, what has been done to them to ensure survival and the relationships they build.
A large conglomerate, so powerful they even control the government, begins controlling our two main characters through the use of a new drug. Jason and Elyse find themselves in a precarious position, being controlled by an executive out to make a name for herself, but Elyse regains herself and breaks them free.
Now, however, Jason and Elyse are on the run, but at least now they know who they are, or at least they thought they did.
This is a heart pounding thrill ride as Jason and Elyse, previously known to each other only by name, become close and work together to get free of the gap closing authorities. They get help from a couple of unexpected sources, but the hunters just keep closing on them.
This novel also contains the prequel novella “Artiface” which is just as intense.
A large conglomerate, so powerful they even control the government, begins controlling our two main characters through the use of a new drug. Jason and Elyse find themselves in a precarious position, being controlled by an executive out to make a name for herself, but Elyse regains herself and breaks them free.
Now, however, Jason and Elyse are on the run, but at least now they know who they are, or at least they thought they did.
This is a heart pounding thrill ride as Jason and Elyse, previously known to each other only by name, become close and work together to get free of the gap closing authorities. They get help from a couple of unexpected sources, but the hunters just keep closing on them.
This novel also contains the prequel novella “Artiface” which is just as intense.
February 11, 2025
This is somewhat of a fast paced dystopian sci-fi older teen novel that has no shortage of action, deceit, violence, and intrigue. There were some scenes that were a bit complex, but moving on with the story it all comes together. Each chapter is titled and about one of several characters and written in first person, which I don’t mind as it allows for the reader to really get into each character’s head…which is what some of the characters literally do to each other!
June 28, 2019
I read this book too damn fast!!!
I loved every page I've turned!!
This adventure was awesome!!
I will definitely recommend Identity Break!!
You've became my second favorite author after Samaire!!💜
I love you guys and can't wait to read some more of yawls books!!!💜💙😍
I loved every page I've turned!!
This adventure was awesome!!
I will definitely recommend Identity Break!!
You've became my second favorite author after Samaire!!💜
I love you guys and can't wait to read some more of yawls books!!!💜💙😍
March 3, 2018
This story is so freaky. I wish he'd write a sequel to it.
June 16, 2018
5 Cranky Stars
This story centers around Jason Nix and Elyse Van Houten are your average teenagers. Or are they? Their world or the world that they know crashes down around them.
This story was amazing from start to finish. The plot line of how a large conglomerate can control the human race with a single drug seems a little too realistic for my taste. But that is what makes a story fantastical though. The secondary plots added complex layers to the story, and made the story come to life even more. It helps you understand the characters a little bit better.
In my humble opinion, there needs to be a sequel to this book. I want more. I demand more. The author has a way of making the story stick with you, long after you finish the final chapter. I will definitely recommend this story to others.
This story centers around Jason Nix and Elyse Van Houten are your average teenagers. Or are they? Their world or the world that they know crashes down around them.
This story was amazing from start to finish. The plot line of how a large conglomerate can control the human race with a single drug seems a little too realistic for my taste. But that is what makes a story fantastical though. The secondary plots added complex layers to the story, and made the story come to life even more. It helps you understand the characters a little bit better.
In my humble opinion, there needs to be a sequel to this book. I want more. I demand more. The author has a way of making the story stick with you, long after you finish the final chapter. I will definitely recommend this story to others.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews