The Integer

Whitewashed #2

by Adelaide Thorne, Darren Todd (Editor)

Some lies are safer in the dark.

After months of working with the MTA in search of her captured best friend, Ella Kepler stumbles upon a secret that predates everything she understood about Kara’s kidnapping—including her own past. Armed with a truth that could either destroy or save lives, Ella works alongside a group of metahumans determined to battle injustice and bring every lie to an end. As Ella’s involvement thickens, she’s forced to realize that lies have consequences, enemies wear two faces, and even memories can’t be trusted.

THE INTEGER is the second book in the “Whitewashed” trilogy, following Ella as she finds her place in the world of metahumans and Grifters, a world too hungry to let one girl escape.

Genres: Young Adult

348 pages, Paperback

Published November 5, 2018

About the author

As a child, Adelaide Thorne was so picky that her family would sing songs to encourage her to eat. It didn't work. All she ever wanted to eat was pickles and canned Chicken & Stars soup. Then she grew up and became a food journalist and restaurant reviewer for the local newspaper. So, you just never know how people are going to turn out.

She once dragged her friends all the way to Iceland for book research. She never did find a portal to another world, but at least she got to climb an inactive volcano. Currently she lives with her family in the muggy wetlands of Florida, where she is known to be allergic to palmetto bugs, humidity, and flip-flops. Soup is still her favorite food.

Find her online at AdelaideThorne.com
instagram.com/adelaidethorne

Reviews

[Baj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me tell you a story, reader: I finished book one of this series, THE TRACE, in Oct. 2018. I was BESIIIIDE MYSELF after that cliffhanger, and so I went crawling to the author on my hands and knees asking for an ARC, even though THE INTEGER was set to release in just a few days. Because she is completely awesome, she indulged me so I wouldn't have to wait. And boy, was I thankful! Because this is not one of those trilogies that paddles around in the shallow end of the pool with water wingies, okay? It's a MERMAID, I tell you!! With fangs!!! AND YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS IT!!!

We get to go back in time with Ella in book two, which is pretty cool -- and answers about ten thousand questions, btw. We are able to see Ella's first REAL introduction to the MTA, to the other cadets, and Ethan Sheedy. I absolutely loved how the characters were developed this go-around, and how I was able to understand so much about them that I had been iffy on before. All those pesky questions I'd been so keen to have answered were sorted out for me, one by one, and then Thorne gave me MORE to think and wonder about!!! This is definitely one of those stories that keeps you guessing, and I enjoy trying to predict where things are going, knowing that most of the time I'll be very wrong.

My favorite part of the book, though, pandered to my #Ethella heartbeat: we get a much fuller understanding of Ella's relationship with Ethan, and their natural gravitation toward each other begins to MAKE SO MUCH SENSE!!! Plus we get better insight into Ethan as a character, and I'm all for that.

I won't get into all the twists, but I'm gonna forewarn you -- THERE ARE SO MANY AND IT'S AWESOME!!! Seriously, this book's got clout! There is action, there's friendship, there's adventure, secrets, a little romance, special powers, conspiracy, betrayal...I was not disappointed with this as the middle book of a trilogy, I can certainly tell you that!

So big thanks to you, Adelaide, not only for giving in to me and letting me have this book early, (even though I took forever to write a review because I'm a terrible person), but for writing a kick-butt sci-fi book. CAN'T WAIT TO READ BOOK THREEEEEE!

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I don't feel very brave,” I said. Without my planning it, our eyes met. He looked, for that moment, like an eighteen-year-old who had been sealed in his bedroom for so long that he'd forgotten how to properly talk to humans.
“It doesn't matter how you feel,” he said. “What matters is truth, and the truth is, you're afraid of other things you don't need to fear.”

I'M EMOTIONALLY DISTRAUGHT AND I'M not really that mad about it because WHAT A ROLLER COASTER. I can't remember the last time a book left me breathless. The Integer did that. Between the action and the adorable shippy scenes, there's hardly a minute to process but it's totally worth it. Adelaide messed with my mind and I'm happy to let her.

I need book 3 nowwwww please and thank you.

Five stars. Absolutely. I want to re-read it right now. Wow.

Series playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/mylittl...

[Sara Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorne once again tears her readers' hearts in two.

"The Integer" is the "prequel" to Adelaide Thorne's "The Trace". Ella Kepler's lost memories flood back into her mind. She didn't realize how much of her life had been taken from her, and everything is starting to make sense.

This book, like "The Trace" was wonderfully written. The story felt like it dragged slightly in the beginning, but picked up as it reached the climax.(Although the beginning was all about Ella and Ethan, so I didn't mind ;) )

I found myself very frustrated throughout the book and wanting to chuck it against a a wall. Not because I hated it, but because I loved it and Thorne can be so mean to her poor characters. Readers will get emotionally attached the characters and will do anything to keep them safe.

I found that Banks was my favorite character. It blew me away when I learned more about him. Like so many characters, Banks is mysterious and will constantly keep you guessing. I also found myself even more attached to Ella. She seems more mature in this story and the way she develops is so relatable and inspiring.

In the end, Thorne once again has created a remarkable story. It kept me guessing, unsure of how it would end. Love sci-fi with a mysterious twist? Whitewashed is for you.

Dying for book 3!!!

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very good! I greatly enjoyed it and was glued to my Kindle as I sooooo wanted to find out how Ella became who she was in The Trace. Though there were a few slow spots, Ethan really stole the show for me.

GAH! He was amazing!! I loved loved loved seeing him grow and change alongside Ella. Their friendship is just #goals and is so incredibly sweet. I just simply loved everything about their story together and how they grew. (Granted, there was one part I was SO upset because whyyyyyyyyy??)

That ending left me totally on edge and wondering how in the world Ella is supposed to do what Whitewash is asking her. Plus, what SHE is wanting to do.

Also, the training Ella undergoes was really fun to read about it.

Looking forward to reading book three!

[H.L. Roethle · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?!?!? The most accurate description I can use to convey my feelings is a lot of gasping, sobbing, not breathing, awwwwwing, laughing, screaming, and wild fangirling. In a word, obsessed. Forever.

First, imma gush, then I'll talk about The Integer individually. (If you've read my review for The Trace, you can skip the gush. Or read it again. Because, like, one can never gush enough about these books!!!!!)

Adelaide Thorne is now one of my favorite authors of all time, and her books are some of my all time favorites. Yes, I just read them. No, my mind will never change. This is not a passing phase. I am in love, and forever will be.

This is the story of metahumans and their war with the strange grey monsters known as Grifters. This is the story of a girl who takes responsibility and guilt for things she has no control over, yet does whatever she can to make things right; a boy who does the right thing no matter what, and has to learn what emotions even are; and an enemy that will blow your mind...literally. I didn't know what to expect, but this series has touched my heart in ways I never dreamed.

Please, do yourself a favor and get these books. Now. (Also Ethan Sheedy is the best thing since sliced bread. Jus' sayin'. You maybe have heard the hype? Oh honey. He's even better than anything you've heard!)

THE INTEGER!
It starts off right where The Trace finishes, and seriously...it will blow. your. ever. loving. bloody. mind. You think The Trace was good? You think that book was a "mind bomb"? Oh ho, are you in for the RIDE OF YOUR LIFE! This is my favorite of the two (even though it's hard to pick,) probably because it was just...even more original if that's even POSSIBLE? and also more Sheedy. One can never have too much Sheedy. Or Ethella. #thatshipmustsail Also there was more of Vires, and, like, you know how you just suddenly and randomly get attached to a side character? *hugs Vires* Ads, you'd better not hurt him in book 3 OR YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM ME!

*calms down* Okay, where was I? Mind blowing, right. I'm assuming you've read the Trace, so what I say right now is not a spoiler. (If you haven't read The Trace...remind me why you are reading this review? GO READ BOOK 1!!!) The Trace totally shatters the idea that Grifters are dumb animal-like humanoids. In reality, they have telepathy just like the Tacemus, and they are just like metas, except for...y'know...grey pockmarked skin and gaping holes in their heads where eyes and nose and mouth and ears should be. Minor differences. This book takes the memory stealing and telepathy to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL and guys, it's beautiful and terrifying. Simultaneously.

Ella rediscovers her memories in this book, and that's honestly what most of the book is - Part One, which is like...5/6 of the book, is her "reliving" all the memories that were forcibly taken from her. All the deja-vu-y-ness from The Trace is suddenly explained. And if you thought you knew pain...YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT PAIN IS LIKE! The Trace is filled to the brim with "easter eggs" and "regerences" (meaning references... *eyes Ads* ...inside joke xD) and just UGH MY HEART WAS TORN TO PIECES!

All the characters from The Trace are fleshed out even more, and it solidifies what The Trace set into place - not everything is as they seem, and everyone is deeper than a first glance. (Except for maybe Koleman. Jerk. *glares at him* *wants to pull a Ferio and punch him in his perfect teeth*) I still hate Burnette for what she did to Ethan and Ella in The Trace, but... I can't deny I don't feel sympathy for her. Reynolds and Avary are absolute sweethearts and must be protected at all costs. McFarland improves on acquaintance - she's not all seriousness, and it's sweet.

I need a whole paragraph devoted to Griffin and Vires. In The Trace, Griffin is already dead. 'Cause, like, The Trace happens after The Integer. So it's even more painful to actually get to know Griffin because...uhm...*points to previous sentence*. Vires was so vitrolic in The Trace, I didn't think he could have friends. But... spoiler-not-spoiler, he and Griffin were best friends. So yeah...I kind of sobbed in The Integer... *shuts up*

The life lessons in this book were different, but just as powerful as The Trace. This book touches on friendship, trust, lies, relationships, and ugh. They hit so hard, and are so beautifully done, and it doesn't feel preachy or anything! It's a work of art, is what it is, and there need to be more books like this. More books that shape how you think, how you behave toward other people, etc.

I could keep going. I could keep gushing and rambling and telling you all the reasons why you NEED THESE BOOKS and if you've stuck with me this long, bravo, here's a cookie, now go read the Whitewashed books. I can't WAIT for book 3 - it's going to have me sobbing and gasping and grinning all over again!! Adelaide, your books are iconic in my book, and I can't express my feelings about them enough. *Nazguls* *hugs books* *heads off to re-read them*

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear reader, if you haven't read The Integer yet: GET READY TO HAVE YOUR MIND BLOWN.
The Integer will take you on a emotional rollercoaster that will leave you breathless. When Adelaide wrote The Trace (Clearly I'm assuming this because I wasn't literally with her while she wrote 😉)
She weaved in these little, intricate details that would come to be so important in The Integer.

The majority of The Integer takes place before the events that occur in The Trace. Usually, I wouldn't really like that in a book trilogy. In fact, I would hate it. BUT Adelaide, in her own genius way, managed to make The Integer just as good (or maybe even better) than it's previous book sister, The Trace. The Integer will consume your every thought, pulling you in to read more and then leaving you aching for the next book.
I cannot begin to explain the level of talent and dedication that clearly went in to making this book. It absolutely shows.


It's completely clean!
Yes, that's right. It has no language, sex, or horrible violence. The romance is very sweet and light without being boring or cringy.

[Lilian · Rating 5 out of 5]

longest flashback I've ever read, but it explains a lot!

[Emily Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the second book in this series. It isn't your typical sequel, and it tied into the first book in a very creative and unexpected way. I can't wait for the third book!

[Rebekah Gyger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of an experiment for the author , where I read books one and two out of published order. Thus reading most of The Integer first.

I've always enjoyed books like this, though I don't typically find them. Sci-fi stories which are set in our current time period, where a normal person finds out that they are part of a secret organization/race/ect and that those secrets include their having ingrained abilities which the character has to learn to bring out.

Parts of Ella's growth as a meta did seem a bit drawn out. While I believe this was done to add a sense of realism to the way she learned about who she was, I also felt that sometimes I didn't need to read about her doing the same things over and over to get the point.

However, that didn't stop from really enjoying the characters and their relationships. Despite reading this book before the first one, there were only a couple areas were I felt that information was missing. And those places didn't really affect my enjoyment of the story. Plus, this story has one of the best love interests ever- Ethan, the patient of all men.

[Raluca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the entire Whitewashed series, it is hard to gather my thoughts and attempt to write a coherent review but I am going to try anyway. My review of "The Trace" was a general outlook but I will try to go more in-depth with these two. So beware of some spoilers up ahead.

"The Trace" ended with a giant twist and we start our journey in "The Integer" realizing that the events of "The Trace" actually happened two years after the events in "The Integer", thus making the second installment in the trilogy, as it turns out, a prequel. Ella had already trained as a meta-human, privately, in a safe house, under Ethan's tutelage, had already been a part of the MTA and met Burnette, Vires, Reynolds, McFarland, Avery, even Griffin, Walker and the rest. All her memories had been taken from her by the one she once trusted, the Leader of the Academy.

All the clues in "The Trace" now make sense, Adelaide Thorne masterfully placing hints that can only be understood upon reading "The Integer". All the deja-vu moments and the awkwardness between her and the cadets and how she already felt connected to Ethan are explained. Ethan and Ella (#Ethella) had shared something much deeper than friendship, they had fallen in love during the training, a love so strong that Ella managed to keep a piece of him in her mind, the mysterious letters "E.N" that obsessively come back to her during "The Trace" is all that remains of his name, "EthaN". Ethan and Ella are one of those rare pairings in novels which are not forced, their relationship develops organically, it's a wonderful slow burn and when they finally do come together, it is beautiful and feels right. But so does the love between Vires and McFarland, which they show by constantly teasing each other.

Adelaide Thorne shows great skill, as I previously stated in my review of "The Trace", when it comes to fleshing out these characters, their motivations, their complexity. They are not a cookie-cutter archetype, they are more than they seem. Just when the reader thinks they have a character figured out, more is revealed about them that changes everything. A good example of that is Burnette. This is also brilliantly done with the Grifters and the Tacemus as well. Again, we are first made to believe that the Grifters are monsters, they are evil, an enemy that must be wiped out, but we find out, just as Ella does, that things are not just black and white, evil and good. The Grifters are not innately evil, they do feel pain and show love for each other, they are also highly intelligent. Then we are lead to believe the Tacemus are the evil ones, the memory wipers and false-memory-givers. But that is also not true, the Tacemus are merely tools in the hands of an evil mastermind. But even the puppet-master of the Tacemus has his own tragic backstory and reasons why he has become the cruel man that he is today.

This is what I love the most about this series. The fact that it encourages its readers to exercise empathy, just as Ella learns to do. Her gift, the gift of telepathy, has a catch: it can only be used if she can relate to and understand the person she is trying to mind-read. She has to feel empathy even for individuals she dislikes: "I knew now that my telepathy would change me. Narrow-minded Ella would vanish in exchange for someone who had no other choice but to see multiple perspectives". And now, an entire secret organization, Whitewash, relies on her ability to mind-read the Leader of the Academy himself, Eugene Andrews.

This second installment shows a much stronger and determined Ella. She is still a flawed character, constantly doubting herself and letting anger get the best of her, but after recovering her memories and becoming whole ("hela" in Grifter jargon) she is much more brave. Her journey entails coming to terms with who she really is ("Was I a Fallow or a Meta? Who is Ella Kepler?") and also dealing with her guilt ("Nine years of guilt-based fear, the result of doing nothing, laughed in my ears. You can't do this. You couldn't then, and you won't now"), but perhaps most importantly, becoming a selfless, empathetic person understanding multiple facets of reality.

The story is a motivational, inspiring one, but it also tells us that it's okay to not have it all figured out. That all we can do is try our best to understand and to help others. In war, everyone thinks they are on the side of justice and fighting evil. But maybe there is no evil. Evil and hate divide and we are much stronger when we are united and offer love and understanding. This is the underlying message of this novel, without it being preachy. But a world of metahumans, telepathy, telekinesis, memory-wiping and secret societies ends up being familiar and relatable because of how human and flawed and wonderfully complex these characters are. And I avoided talking about Banks, my favorite character because I wish to discuss him more in my review for "The Anamnesis", the third and last installment in the Whitewashed series.

One last thing I want to praise about Thorne's writing, something that does not get enough praise are her beautiful metaphors, the way in which she describes states of mind, feelings, landscapes at times, painting a vivid picture. Usually, the language is pretty straightforward and focused on the action and the thoughts of the characters, but sometimes these poetic synesthetic gems pleasantly surprise the reader: "the brush of mountain air felt like satin on my cheeks", "my nails sunk into my hair, which rustled like leaves in a hurricane".

All in all, I enjoyed "The Integer" tremendously and I would recommend it to anyone, not just YA, sci-fi, adventure readers. It offers a lot of food for thought and it's one of those stories that stays with you for a long time with an interesting, well-crafted universe and complex characters. The only reason I gave it four instead of five stars is because it is a bit slow-paced at times and there is too much information and too many side-characters introduced all at once in the Whitewashed society unveiling, making it a bit hard to follow. But that is being nit-picky in regards to an otherwise fantastically crafted trilogy.

[Lauren S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the ARC of this book and let me say I was happily surprised! Most trilogies have a great first book, blah second book, and okay third book that is just trying to finish the story... so this is what I was prepared for.

NOT SO with The Integer. After the cliff hanger of The Trace (year 3), we are now going back in time (year 1... uh oh.. another confusing Star Wars thing going on lol) to Ella being first introduced to the MTA. Adelaide really brought the characters to life in this book and I got a better understanding of each person and their small intricacies that were missing from our "first" meeting with them (in The Trace). Majority of the questions that were left hanging were answered; why is everyone so stand-offish, why does Burnette hate Ella so much, how Ella all of a sudden became metahuman seemingly over night, and EN?!? YES!!! We FINALLY KNOW!!

And for all of us Ethella fans, Adelaide just brings down the hammer (in a good way)!! Gotta love watching two characters have no idea they love each other when everyone else knows it. And the growth and change of Ethan and Ella from being with each other is another aspect I appreciated in the writing.

All in all... Thank you Adelaide for not giving us a "meh, I'll-just-struggle-through-this-book-because-I-want-to-know-how-it-ends" second installment!!! And thank you for FORCING me to re-read The Trace, because after this book... that is what I have to do!

[Rakshita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must Read!! An Absolute Page-Turner!

Spoiler-Free Review:

Still haven’t recovered from Ethella feels from The Trace?
Read the sequel for some more beautiful character developments and more Ethella scenes!!

The story line in this book has developed phenomenally! The narration is quite unique! I love how the series is progressing.

There are so many revelations which were a delight to read. This book provides an insight into Ella’s past giving answers to several questions from The Trace (for e.g.: now we know what EN means!).

The suspense is bound to keep you engrossed in it. I couldn’t put it down.
An absolute page turner, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I absolutely recommend it to anyone and everyone who enjoys science fiction.

This book will sweep you off your feet!

Also, I am super excited for book 3, extremely curious about what happens next!!

[Buttercupp77 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been some time since I read the first book in the series. I have also read a lot of books since then. This meant that spent most of the novel in a state of confusion. I had remembered much of the first installment, but didn't quite internalise the timeline, so I didn't realise I was reading about the past. Having said that, this sense of confusion regarding whether what I recalled was actually part of this series ended up making the revelations near the end of the novel SO much more powerful.

I am torn. On the one hand, I feel a bit cheated as a reader (since 90% of this novel actually involves the kind of world-building and character building that I wanted from book 1), but on the other hand, I REALLY liked the way this novel unfolded and I wouldn't have had the gut-punches if the author had tackled the material any other way. I do feel like this novel doesn't really move the plot forward, though - it's more an expansion of understanding of the events in the first book. That's not a bad thing - just unique - and I'm not sure how I really feel about it.

The writing is very good. I found the pacing felt uneven, but given the unusual structure, I believe that was an intentional choice (as opposed to not understanding how to write tightly). The character development was really pushed in this novel, which was something I felt could have been stronger in the first installment (now I know why it wasn't!)

Probably the most significant factor for me - what really drove me into "WOWZER!!!!!" territory - was the author's careful laying of breadcrumbs throughout the first novel that we only recognise after this second.

I found this to be an experimental format - it's very unique, and I found it to be, overall, incredibly effective.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normally you can tell a trilogy is a great one when it continues to keep you on the edge of your seat even after book one. Some series have an amazing first book and then the remaining books just feel subpar in comparison but this was NOT the case with Adelaide Thorne’s second book, The Integer, in her series Whitewashed. I received an ARC of The Integer and from the moment I began reading, I was sucked right back into the plot and the life of Ella Kepler as she tries to navigate her way through her newly suspense ridden existence and her search to find out who she really is past all the secrets everyone has been keeping from her since the moment she was born. The puzzle of Ella’s life and the questions around the whole of the MTA starts to unravel as the reader gets further in the series. The way Adelaide Thorne pieced together this series is so incredibly done and unique to the story, leaving you getting the answers to some questions and yet keeping you on the edge of that cliff she left us on at the end of book one. Anxiously waiting for the final book in the series, cannot wait to see how the rest of the story unfolds!

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know. This was muuuch better than the first one (actually offered some answers to big questions), but there still seems to be so much extra stuff that isn't tied to anything. And a lot of space where nothing really happens at all. This wasn't a book that I was eager to get back to reading after I put it down. But, since I've read the first two, I expect I'll read the last one and see how things turn out.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

SPOILER FREE
The Integer is Book Two of Adelaide Thorne's Whitewashed trilogy. As a sequel, it might leave some readers quite frustrated. Many questions raised in Book One, The Trace (Whitewashed, #1), are answered (including some the reader may not have thought to ask), yet many more are left unanswered.

Still, this book proves to be an even better book than the first, with more intrigue, action, and world-building. Any pacing issues that might have existed in the first book are definitely gone by the time you reach this book. Even though The Integer takes quite awhile to answer many of the questions left over from The Trace, it never feels like a drag, and it keeps you invested until the end. If you haven't had a chance, read The Trace, if only so that you can read this book. It's always exciting to find a series that has avoided the "sequel curse", and this is one of them!

SPOILERS FOR BOOK ONE!
OK, so The Trace ends on quite a cliffhanger! Ethan has been kidnapped, Ella is missing large sections of her memory, and the Tacemus, simple servants lurking in the shadows, have been manipulating Ella. You might be hoping to find out what has become of Ella's friends during her time away with Durgan and the Grifters, but instead we are thrown back in time, nearly a year and a half before the first book. During this time, we find out just how much of Ella's memory has been wiped. Hint: It's a lot!

Around 75% of the book takes place in the past, and this might be frustrating for some readers. Yet it's absolutely essential for understanding exactly what is going on behind the scenes at the MTA.

Overall, this is a great addition to the series! Can't wait for Book Three!

[Debra Rhoads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of twists and reveals in book two. Looking forward to the 3rd book to wrap up all these pieces. Book two definitely answers some of the questions I had in book one. It keeps you guessing and questioning: who is right and what is the truth?

[Brenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, this book was just as good if not better than the first. I love these books. They are something truly special and I literally cannot wait until the 3rd comes out later this year. It's been a long time, like maybe Harry Potter long, since I've loved a series so much.

[Danielle Mamaril · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Ily Adelaide pls. don't read this review love you still!<3)

So I've had to sit on this for a couple days and here's my review.

So let's start out with the cons first and get it out of the way.
-I've had a really hard time relating to Ella, our mc. Albeit, she is a metahuman but it was hard to keep her memorable as a protagonist. She felt like a cardboard cutout and fell into the common cliche of a "strong female protagonist".
-I had a hard time feeling grounded in the scene. Oftentimes, the description of important places would be brushed over or wouldn't be reiterated the next day when supposedly the setting would've been altered.
-I had a lot of frustration for Ella being clueless. I was so frustrated when she was supposedly an analytical metahuman but looked over huge details that were blaringly obvious. I can't help but wonder if Ella forgot those important plot points for the sake of moving the story along.
-Probably one of the largest reasons I disliked it was that I didn't care about any of the characters. I didn't care about Griffin, Ethan Sheedy, or Ella. When something happened to x character, it was meant to be emotional and cause a shift in Ella and the reader but I felt nothing.
-Many of the reasons certain things happened were left unanswered. I don't want to say anything in particular but a certain Tacemus stands out from the rest but the reason as to how and why is left unanswered. It was frustrating because I wanted to know why certain things were happening but it felt like open plotholes were left for the open.

Pros
-The romantic subplot was realistic and was built over a period of time, which is something I always appreciate.
-Adelaide did a great job of showing the growing affection between the platonic relationships like Ella and Lydia or Ella and Vires.
-Adelaide makes sure that Ella's motives are clearly stated and that made it easier for Ella to move the plot along and for the reader to understand her.
-I love me a plot that the character pushes forward. Ella was affecting the story rather than the story happening to her and she reacts to it.
-That plot twist tho. OMG I definitely did not see that coming and I was more than shook.

Problematic?
-I am concerned about the power dynamic in a relationship between Ella and Sheedy. Sheedy is clearly Ella's superior and an actual teacher. While the relationship is believable, I couldn't shake off the fact that there was such a huge power imbalance between the two and it set me off for their entire relationship.
-I had a hard time seeing what the characters looked like, often times because the character's skin tones were never mentioned. I can't help but wonder if it was done to avoid conflict. But oftentimes when I read and the skin tone isn't mentioned, the reader is meant to presume that white is the default, which is a huge yikes.
-All the characters were cishet and I found that unbelievable. Even if you're a Metahuman, surely you would still identify with a certain gender more than the other. Gender roles are not really a thing in the MTA (which is hella lit) but I was confused as to why there were 0 lgbt folks, or at least none that were stated. Ella is observant enough to know that her friends have crushes on one another and to see people in their tight uniforms that show off their whole body. I would've thought that Ella, even if she is ignorant about lgbt folk, would at lease notice some differences in the MTA. Then, the lack of LGBT in the MTA could be due to the MTA's corruption but it wasn't clearly stated so I'm left wondering.
-So I went along with this, just presuming that all the character's whose skin tone weren't mentioned were white. I presumed all the characters with an obviously non-European name weren't white. (There was one clearly stated black guy in Ella and Sheedy's friend group but I forgot what his name was...) And going along with all these presumptions, there are a lot of white characters and I don't habe a problem with that if the metahuman gene is predominantly european families. But it was never stated, so I'm left to wonder why there were so many white characters in this novel. It could be said that racism is part of why the MTA is problematic but racism plays no part in this sci-fi story.

Overall
I gave it three out of five stars. I don't know if I want to read the third book in the trilogy. I am curious as to what happens to Ella because what a cliffhanger. But at the same time, I kind of don't care about what happens to Ella and Sheedy because I had a hard time relating to the characters. It's more so to satisfy my curiosity.
I would've loved this book when I was young so I'd recommend it to younger audiences in YA. While I did have a lot of issues with this book, I can't deny the hard work and dedication Adelaide put in this work and it's still been an awesome opportunity to see her thrive over the months on instagram.

[Breny and Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘’If only monsters were a myth and telepathy were impossible. If only, if only, if only…’’
-The Trace

Confusion, despair, doubt.. what if all you believed in, all you thought you knew, all the things that made you you, were a mere illusion? A constant mirage that clouded your view from seeing the world as it truly is? Welcome to Briarwood, a town were average things happened to average people every day.
. I cannot fully express how much I loved @adelaidethorne.author books The Trace and The Integer. Thank you so much @adelaidethorne.author for letting me part of your little experiment and for awakening my love for dystopian books! .
.I don’t really know how to start this review because I feel I will be spoiling so much, so ill do my best! (The less you know the better, trust me!) so here Ladies and gents comes my spoiler free review.
.
.
Unimaginable, phenomenal, astounding. I can guarantee you these books will blow your mind in a million tiny tiny pieces!
The books follow the life of Ella Kepler and her very average teen life… you guys know, bestie, high school, parents, etc. But all is about to change when a some mysterious people start stalking her.. aliens? thieves? a gang? All those options go through Ellas mind. As she tries to resume her normal life she notices weird things start to happen… as I’m writing this I wish I could tell you ALL the the things that are going to happen but it will certainly spoil everything for you, ill just say that these books are filled with adventure, mystery, drama (umm yes please!), love (portrayed in the most beautiful way!), friendship, war, dark secrets, painful pasts, and sooooo much more!!!
I’m giving this book 10 stars! Hehehe…I just loved it😝! I feel I really got to know Ella, Sheedy, Kara, and all the other character in such a very close way, I literally spent days with the books on my mind! My personal favorite was book number two, The Integer! I really admire and applaud @adelaidethorne.author, for seeing her growth as an author is something inspiring and wonderful to witness . Thank you again @adelaidethorne.author can’t wait for book three! ⚡️

[Terri Gillespie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arrgh! Author Adelaide Thorne has hooked me with her Whitewashed series! She reeled me with book one (The Trace) and with book 2, The Integer, I didn’t have a chance to read anything else on my TBR stack, or work on my manuscript because The Integer had me on page one!

This is not just a YA speculative genre, as someone approaching 70, I was just as enthralled with the impeccable writing that wasn’t forced, as I was with the plot with hair-raising twists and turns that left me guessing what would happen next. And just who was controlling whom!

I finished book 2 in the wee hours and promptly purchased book 3 before I finally got a few winks in before starting the day.

The Integer begins with Ella Kepler’s backstory. Which may sound boring and/or frustrating with the cliffhanger of book one, but, readers, it is so touching and revealing, I actually shed a few tears. As much as it answers some questions, the backstory also introduces more questions than before.

Highly Recommend for die-hard sci-fi readers from thirteen to older folks who love creative adventure stories so they can live vicariously, like me. Clean read with enough excitement to read all three books in just a few days.

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel sounds like it punches way harder than the first book, in a good way. I love when a story digs deeper into secrets, especially the kind that mess with a character’s sense of identity, and Ella’s journey looks like it does exactly that. The whole metahuman vs. Grifter conflict feels bigger, darker, and way more personal here. And the idea that even her memories can’t be trusted? That’s the kind of twisty tension that keeps me hooked.

If the book delivers even half of what this synopsis hints at, betrayals, hidden truths, impossible choices, then it’s absolutely worth reading. It feels like one of those “things are finally blowing wide open” middle books, and I’m here for it.

[Emmeline Everdeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! I absolutely loved the adventure, the twist, the story…everything. Fantastic 2nd book. I would write more but I MUST read the 3rd book. The cliffhanger got me :)

[Laurie Nash · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75/5. Didn’t quite finish this (returned the book to my friend) but it was so so much better than the first in character development and worldbuilding (even though both were lacking in some respects. Also was predictable at times) Very enjoyable and definitely a page turner.

[M Shen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as the first one. Possibly better. Yes? No? I don't know; all three of them are crazy amazing.

Since this is the second book of the series, I won't bother to write a full review on it-- you probably don't want to see my gushing about all the wonderfulness three times. But for a super-long flashback, it was very well done.

I loved Ella and Sheedy's relationship in this one-- the banter, oh my word. And then... THE OTHERS. *hugs James forever* Lydia and McFarland and Bridget and Griffin and Vires the Ridiculous. (Yes, Vires is my favorite; don't judge me) Their interactions here brought SO much insight on their relationships in the first book. (You'll know what I mean if you read the series!)

Also, the watch. xD If you read this book, then you know what watch I'm talking about.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was BRILLIANT. Having read it, I have so much more appreciation for the hidden genius of the first book- if I was confused, it was because Ella was too. She was living a life she had previously lived for a year, but couldn’t remember, and the other students at MTA had to act like they had never met her at all. Now everything makes so much more sense- if I experienced so much clarity in reading this book, I can’t even imagine how Ella must feel to finally understand the things in her mind she can’t explain. I can’t wait to read on and see how good and evil forces battle it out.

[Indigo Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is even better the second time around!! There are so many things going on under the surface of this high-stakes plot--the author did a phenomenal job of setting up her twists and turns. And the characters! So much depth and complexity. Thoroughly enjoying this reread.

[Tanya Low · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eeek , the plot thickens and now I can’t wait for the ending!! This book made clear the things I didn’t quite understand in the first!! Beware of the cliffhanger ending!

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!