Flashback

by T.R. Davis

A modern-day teenage orphan remembers a millennia-old murder through a connection that had spanned generations.

Sarah thinks she is going crazy when she dreams, not realizing that she is watching her ancestor's life through inherited memories. When Sarah discovers she has an instinctive ability to fight thanks to her ancestor, one of the most feared warriors in history, her life drastically changes.

A scientific research company offers her a new and better future. With no more group homes or charity bins, she joins a group of teens that have the same unique genes, and Sarah begins to learn to use her inherited advantages.

But the project is more than it appears to be. As the body count rises, Sarah finds herself in a battle that may cost her every thought she has ever had.
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From the Editor:
This engaging sci-fi thriller from debut author T.R. Davis, is a powerful reminder that the small can be mighty and that one ought never to mess with a girl who happens to carry the ancestral memories of one of the most infamous warrior queens in history.
Sarah, a girl bouncing around in foster homes, learns she has inherited the memories of her ancestor, Innogen, who had led an uprising against corrupt Roman rule during the first century AD. Sarah’s mind remembers a life she never lived and her muscles remember battles she never fought. She begins to learn and train in a special project at a boarding school far from her old life as an orphan. But all is not as it seems with the beneficent school program and they may want more from Sarah than she will give… not without a fight.

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*Some scenes contain incidents of violence and sexual assault written from a character perspective. While historically accurate, some teens may find these scenes upsetting. They are descriptive but not overly graphic in nature, but it is for this reason that this is not appropriate for the young adult audience.

Kindle Edition

First published August 15, 2018

Reviews

[Melissa Connick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Excellent Read!

[Rae's Reading Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Requested an arc of this book for the archery cover, stayed for the interesting plot and storyline.

Sarah is one of the few people with genes that allow her to see memories from her past ancestors. This new discovery has her life change as she moves to a new school, makes new friends and has a life she never believed she could ever have.

Mysterious and intriguing, the play on memory to present moment was really interesting and worked well in this book. I'm excited to read the next instalment whenever it comes out, especially with the twists that happened in this one and characters that I would love to read more about!

[Graisi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written in a light style, but the content is dark, because it contains sexual abuse and torture. This was a good thriller, but I had to take a star away because of how it's written. This seems to be written by an adult who doesn't have any teen children, because kids don't sound that mature. It makes for some awkward dialogue, but not to the point where it detracts from the story.

Another thing about this is that this type of fiction is based on things that do happen in reality.

Thank you T.R. Davis, BooksGoSocial and Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine Poirier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting. This is exactly what you need if you value in the book a fascinating and original plot. There are a few moments from which my heart sank. The main character Sarah is a very versatile and interesting protagonist. She has a difficult character and fate. As far as I know, the author continues to work on this series and I look forward to the continuation of this fascinating story.

[Alethea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel very conflicted about this book. I was drawn to the cover so I read the blurb, and found myself expecting the next great young adult fiction. I imagined something along the lines of The Hunger Games, Divergent, Ender’s Game.

In some ways, I was right: sci fi based around a teen girl, action, lots of questions even at the end. I do have to say, the story is epic. It is, however, violently and sexually graphic such that I would not recommend it as young adult fiction.

The writing for me fell a bit flat. The chapter names were distracting from the flow of the story. And some dates near the start were confusing. Body found in June 1986, thesis about body written in April 1986? I think this may be a typo but on account of it being a sci fi book, I got distracted trying to work out what time travel or other explanation for abnormal chronology might be going on. I also felt like there were times the teenage girl conversations were just not realistic.

I’m not sure if I’ll read the sequel. I do have questions still and the book drew me in enough to be curious about the follow up. What is really like is for someone to make this into a movie or a mini series so I don’t have to read the next one.

I believe this is a debut novel for TR Davis, and I do think he has potential. As I said, the actual plot idea is amazing.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this and offer my honest opinion.

[Kerry Britnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story which bases itself on the premise that memories can be inherited through your genetic makeup.
Sarah, the main protagonist, starts to experience memories that she knows are not hers and eventually it comes to light that these are the memories of her descendants carried through the blood line and manifesting in her. The plot is interesting and the characters are likeable. At times the language felt a bit laboured and this made reading it a bit hard going but on the whole a good book..
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memories

This is a weird story with lots of smart and loyal characters,along with ruthless and evil ones. The next book will continue the story.