What do you think?
Rate this book
The Evolution Gene #1
The Genome Project
In 2051, America is no more.
Risen from the ashes of civil war, the Western Allied States ruthlessly eradicate any threat to the new union. Traitors are executed without trial, their families seized.
But a terrifying plague is sweeping through the nation. Its victims do not die—they change. People call them the Chead, and where they walk, destruction follows.
Desperate to stop its spread, the government turns to the children of traitors for a solution.
Eighteen-year-old Elizabeth Flores is one of the unlucky ‘volunteers’ for their experiments. Made a fugitive by the death of her parents, she seeks refuge in the city of Sacramento…but the hunters are waiting, and she is imprisoned along with hundreds of others deep in the Californian mountains.
Stripped of her rights, Elizabeth soon learns there is little separating humanity from the monsters they seek to destroy…
Blending the dystopian Hunger Games with the insane experiments of Stranger Things, fans will love this new imagining of a not-so-distant future. Enter an all new world with New York Times Bestselling Author, Aaron Hodges.
*This series was originally published as the Praegressus Project, but has been rewritten and rebranded.
Risen from the ashes of civil war, the Western Allied States ruthlessly eradicate any threat to the new union. Traitors are executed without trial, their families seized.
But a terrifying plague is sweeping through the nation. Its victims do not die—they change. People call them the Chead, and where they walk, destruction follows.
Desperate to stop its spread, the government turns to the children of traitors for a solution.
Eighteen-year-old Elizabeth Flores is one of the unlucky ‘volunteers’ for their experiments. Made a fugitive by the death of her parents, she seeks refuge in the city of Sacramento…but the hunters are waiting, and she is imprisoned along with hundreds of others deep in the Californian mountains.
Stripped of her rights, Elizabeth soon learns there is little separating humanity from the monsters they seek to destroy…
Blending the dystopian Hunger Games with the insane experiments of Stranger Things, fans will love this new imagining of a not-so-distant future. Enter an all new world with New York Times Bestselling Author, Aaron Hodges.
*This series was originally published as the Praegressus Project, but has been rewritten and rebranded.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 18, 2019
520 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Hodges
53 books297 followersAaron Hodges was born in 1989 in the small town of Whakatane, New Zealand. He studied for five years at the University of Auckland, completing a Bachelor's of Science in Biology and Geography, and a Masters of Environmental Engineering. After working as an environmental consultant for two years, he now spends his time traveling the world in search of his next adventure.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 32 reviews
April 12, 2021
I don't know if it's because my mind was in the right place or if I was in the mood to be wowed, but this story, The Genome Project, it hit the right spot for me. It was intriguing and mysterious and horrific and wonderful!
So here's what it's about:
💉 it's the year 2051, the United States is no more, and the characters live in the Western Allied States.
💉 the world seems to be overrun by creatures known as Chead, who seem to be altered humans. I'm sure more information about them will come as the series progresses. All I know so far is that they're extremely terrifying.
💉 right from the start, Chris became a leading star of this story. My heart broke for this character and the many obstacles he had to face. What is the government doing with his mom and all of the other moms out there???
💉 in the beginning, Liz didn't come across as a sympathetic character. She grinned and smiled and smirked at the pain of others who happened to be in the same boat she was. Who does that??? However, by the end, she found an ally in me.
💉 the children of so-called traitors are 'saved from death' by being forced to act as lab rats. They are injected with an experimental serum and it seems that they will be used as weapons against the cheads.
💉 the kids are pitted against each other in a bid to see the strongest survive. I'm talking some seriously traumatic happenings here, people!
💉 and so much more!
I enjoyed the introduction to this series so much. In fact, I'll be reading book two in just a minute. The author's writing kept me engaged, the story was fast-paced, and the characters have begun to chip away at my heart. What happened to Sam and Ashley? What truths will the next book reveal? And is there a real romance brewing between Liz and Chris or was that just isolation talking and doing? So yeah, book two in my hands is a must!
April 7, 2021
I found it interesting that the story is based primarily from the perspective of the subjects of the experiment. Many stories are based around the scientist/doctor who is trying to solve some kind of problem, but this point of view gives a different look at it. There are also interesting characters who are not overly cartoonish, although they often fit into common tropes. I struggled to accept the premise and some of the science/history behind the plot, but after suspending my disbelief I was able to enjoy this quick read. It does feel like only the beginning, so I might continue with the second book.
December 4, 2019
Utterly Excellent
When the author states that this book may not be "everyone's cup of tea" I believe you have truly underestimated yourself !!
This book is an amalgamation of free thinking characters that seem to individually evolve into each of their own unique personalities.
In addition to being brutalized into becoming new "tools" or "weapons" for the government, this group of PEOPLE discover a new found strength from within that not only redefine their very nature, but which also forces others to redefine themselves as a result.
Capable of empathy and compassion, they also discover that the term of "humanity" itself is not some singular, static definition of restricting characteristics, but rather, it is a term - even a concept - that expresses a fluid and forever changing dynamic expression that continuously manifests expansive and inclusive traits found in all forms of life.
And still it remains true to the science fiction story telling flow of this generation's long-reaching accomplishments.
A worthy read to say the least.
When the author states that this book may not be "everyone's cup of tea" I believe you have truly underestimated yourself !!
This book is an amalgamation of free thinking characters that seem to individually evolve into each of their own unique personalities.
In addition to being brutalized into becoming new "tools" or "weapons" for the government, this group of PEOPLE discover a new found strength from within that not only redefine their very nature, but which also forces others to redefine themselves as a result.
Capable of empathy and compassion, they also discover that the term of "humanity" itself is not some singular, static definition of restricting characteristics, but rather, it is a term - even a concept - that expresses a fluid and forever changing dynamic expression that continuously manifests expansive and inclusive traits found in all forms of life.
And still it remains true to the science fiction story telling flow of this generation's long-reaching accomplishments.
A worthy read to say the least.
May 7, 2020
I wanted to like this book more than I did. Kids being kidnapped by an authoritarian government to be medical test subjects and front-line soldiers in the fight against crazed super-fast cannibalistic humans? Shattered United States? I'm normally here for it. However, the writing style was just not for me, and definitely broke my suspension of disbelief around the second injection. From then on, it was basically a free-fall, and I'm not sure I'm invested enough to read the sequel.
January 29, 2020
Creepy
Well told story of a possible near future. Weird science, a split America, human greed. The doctors\scientists only want to save the children of the traitors who were sentenced to death, right? Wrong....... they want to use them - to change them. This is the first in a series, but can be read as a standalone. Very well written, the story flows, and you get a good sense of who the characters are. Recommended
Well told story of a possible near future. Weird science, a split America, human greed. The doctors\scientists only want to save the children of the traitors who were sentenced to death, right? Wrong....... they want to use them - to change them. This is the first in a series, but can be read as a standalone. Very well written, the story flows, and you get a good sense of who the characters are. Recommended
December 10, 2019
I really enjoy this type of writing. Will definitely try to read this series. However, it seemed so familiar to me so wondering if I saw a movie similar to this story. If you are a fan of dystopian books, you will enjoy this story.
April 13, 2021
Set thirty years in the future this story is rich with action and emotional tension. Some states in USA have gained independence before a greater threat impacts their lives. Well written with totally believable and all absorbing characters take you on their roller coaster ride.
February 12, 2022
Book One of a continuing story
Pageturning adventure thriller with romance and violence. Each book has one main villain to kill. Book One has the doctor who oversaw the transformation of the 7 to winged teenagers. They escape with two of them recaptured. The story continues. There is some sex.
Pageturning adventure thriller with romance and violence. Each book has one main villain to kill. Book One has the doctor who oversaw the transformation of the 7 to winged teenagers. They escape with two of them recaptured. The story continues. There is some sex.
November 11, 2021
Interesting!
At first, it felt like the premise of that James Patterson book. But I loved the writing so I kept going. Very current, very in depth character development. I really enjoyed it.
At first, it felt like the premise of that James Patterson book. But I loved the writing so I kept going. Very current, very in depth character development. I really enjoyed it.
October 18, 2021
old king style
Fast gripping old style nail biter that will grab ahold of you a dark foreboding definitely this will not end with skipping thru the flowers and sunshine but it will grip you tight
Fast gripping old style nail biter that will grab ahold of you a dark foreboding definitely this will not end with skipping thru the flowers and sunshine but it will grip you tight
October 14, 2021
Aaron Hodges
Reborn: A Science Fiction Thriller (The Evolution Gene Book 1)
ARC REVIEW
Chris
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would when I started it. This dystopian book involves a cruel government that captures Chris and others as enemies of the state, and secrets them away to a facility hidden in the mountains, where experiments are performed on them, as well as making them fight each other to the death.
In the end they escape, however I won't spoil HOW they escape, lol.
Reborn: A Science Fiction Thriller (The Evolution Gene Book 1)
ARC REVIEW
Chris
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would when I started it. This dystopian book involves a cruel government that captures Chris and others as enemies of the state, and secrets them away to a facility hidden in the mountains, where experiments are performed on them, as well as making them fight each other to the death.
In the end they escape, however I won't spoil HOW they escape, lol.
October 20, 2020
Book one of a 3-book series. This review applies to all three of the books.
Tedious to the nth degree!
Teenagers are tortured and experimented on to turn them into mutants who can overwhelm earlier mutants that the government created. After pages and pages of gruesome physical and emotional pain, the new mutants have to fight, fight, and, you guessed it, fight against their creators, the previous mutants, and the general public.
The author also throws in cheap plot twists, like the death of characters who later reappear with unbelievable tales of survival and the spontaneous acquisition of new talents whenever necessary.
This went on for 1200 pages!!!! I would never have kept reading it if I had not been trapped in a 16-hour car trip with nothing else to read. Don't waste your time!!!
Tedious to the nth degree!
Teenagers are tortured and experimented on to turn them into mutants who can overwhelm earlier mutants that the government created. After pages and pages of gruesome physical and emotional pain, the new mutants have to fight, fight, and, you guessed it, fight against their creators, the previous mutants, and the general public.
The author also throws in cheap plot twists, like the death of characters who later reappear with unbelievable tales of survival and the spontaneous acquisition of new talents whenever necessary.
This went on for 1200 pages!!!! I would never have kept reading it if I had not been trapped in a 16-hour car trip with nothing else to read. Don't waste your time!!!
April 11, 2020
This has got to be one of the most surprising nooks that I have ever read. It's one I have been meaning to read for a long time and I am so glad that I finally got round to reading it! I loved it that much that I have already borrowed the next two books on kindle unlimited.
This book had so many surprises and twists and turns to it that it actually surprised me! I am now a huge fan of this author's work and how he writes! The character development is simply amazing and I adored each character and how different they all are from each other. I simply can't wait to find out more about the characters in the next books.
I highly recommend this book and this author and it's well worth the 5*!!!
This book had so many surprises and twists and turns to it that it actually surprised me! I am now a huge fan of this author's work and how he writes! The character development is simply amazing and I adored each character and how different they all are from each other. I simply can't wait to find out more about the characters in the next books.
I highly recommend this book and this author and it's well worth the 5*!!!
May 3, 2020
I do not know how accurate my review will be for people, because my review might just be a personal preference.
Anyway... I think the story idea is interesting and not too bad. HOWEVER, I don’t like how this is written. I prefer more of a POV from the characters themselves, not a narrator. It was hard for me to follow the story, who was talking, and what was going on because there was a lot of things happening. If they would have focused on one or two characters POV, I think I would have been able to read it better and enjoy it.
I honestly didn’t even get through the whole book, it was just too annoying for me to try and remember who the narrator was referring to along with what was happening in the story.
Not my thing, I will NOT be trying to read this one again.
Anyway... I think the story idea is interesting and not too bad. HOWEVER, I don’t like how this is written. I prefer more of a POV from the characters themselves, not a narrator. It was hard for me to follow the story, who was talking, and what was going on because there was a lot of things happening. If they would have focused on one or two characters POV, I think I would have been able to read it better and enjoy it.
I honestly didn’t even get through the whole book, it was just too annoying for me to try and remember who the narrator was referring to along with what was happening in the story.
Not my thing, I will NOT be trying to read this one again.
October 4, 2021
A New Beginning
I really enjoyed this book. Lost a lot of sleep since l couldn't stop reading. Definitely not a boring book.lm looking forward to the next one in the series.
I really enjoyed this book. Lost a lot of sleep since l couldn't stop reading. Definitely not a boring book.lm looking forward to the next one in the series.
September 21, 2025
The cover looked cool. So, I was all “let me check this shit out”. And then, like most of the time, considering how many books I rated two and one star compared to three, four, and five, I was disappointed.
I tried to like it but I couldn’t really get into it. I don’t know if it was the writing style, the writing itself, or the plot.
Yes, I’m recycling my own reviews again. I’m lazy today and want to finish putting up reviews on all the books I had read in the past (but hadn’t really reviewed).
I tried to like it but I couldn’t really get into it. I don’t know if it was the writing style, the writing itself, or the plot.
Yes, I’m recycling my own reviews again. I’m lazy today and want to finish putting up reviews on all the books I had read in the past (but hadn’t really reviewed).
February 28, 2020
Human genome experiments, is scifi at its finest.
In desperation, the shattered united states seize children and genetically mutate them, to fight a genetically mutated threat. It is only after declaring their families traitors, that they are able to subjugate the children without society being aware, and experiment upon them to their hearts desire.
In desperation, the shattered united states seize children and genetically mutate them, to fight a genetically mutated threat. It is only after declaring their families traitors, that they are able to subjugate the children without society being aware, and experiment upon them to their hearts desire.
September 25, 2019
Okay, there is one major flaw in the "science" of this science fiction story, but I just accept it--after all, I can enjoy were-coyotes and vampires, so why not. Great read. VERY hard to put down. I'm looking forward to the next two installments. VERY glad I found this author. Tons of fun.
September 19, 2021
This was a good book as far as the writing goes. The characters are rather incompetent. I guess this was to reflect their young age but I found it frustrating. They never once took any weapons from the defeat soldiers.
April 27, 2019
This book had so much potential. I was intrigued by the fact they were genetically modifying humans, but when it came down to it, it missed the mark.
May 12, 2019
Awesome Read
I loved this book. The characters are great. I read many genres but this one is such a "pull you in" type. I can't wait to get the next one.
I loved this book. The characters are great. I read many genres but this one is such a "pull you in" type. I can't wait to get the next one.
November 21, 2019
Too violent so stopped at beginning
December 1, 2019
Nice writing style and a fast pace. The dystopian future doesn't sound completely unreal, although it progresses quickly.
December 28, 2019
I really enjoyed this read. I went dark with several twist. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
January 2, 2020
An excellent start to this series! I really enjoyed it! Really looking forward to the next!
January 11, 2020
Really enjoyed this book! The hardships they endured unbearable, but they remained strong and survive. Can't wait to read to start Renegades.
January 27, 2020
Not that great
Could have been a great book but it was not very well written. Extremely boring and lagging. Would not recommend
Could have been a great book but it was not very well written. Extremely boring and lagging. Would not recommend
February 2, 2020
Way out there for a story about human testing and super human abilities. But well written even with the over the top weirdness.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 32 reviews