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The Erasure Initiative
I wake up, and for a few precious seconds I don't realise there's anything wrong.
The rumble of tyres on bitumen, and the hiss of air conditioning. The murmur of voices. The smell of air freshener. The cool vibration of glass against my forehead.
A girl wakes up on a self-driving bus. She has no memory of how she got there or who she is. Her nametag reads CECILY. The six other people on the bus are just like her: no memories, only nametags. There's a screen on each seatback that gives them instructions. A series of tests begin, with simulations projected onto the front window of the bus. The passengers must each choose an outcome; majority wins. But as the testing progresses, deadly secrets are revealed, and the stakes get higher and higher. Soon Cecily is no longer just fighting for her freedom - she's fighting for her life.
The rumble of tyres on bitumen, and the hiss of air conditioning. The murmur of voices. The smell of air freshener. The cool vibration of glass against my forehead.
A girl wakes up on a self-driving bus. She has no memory of how she got there or who she is. Her nametag reads CECILY. The six other people on the bus are just like her: no memories, only nametags. There's a screen on each seatback that gives them instructions. A series of tests begin, with simulations projected onto the front window of the bus. The passengers must each choose an outcome; majority wins. But as the testing progresses, deadly secrets are revealed, and the stakes get higher and higher. Soon Cecily is no longer just fighting for her freedom - she's fighting for her life.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2020
16 people are currently reading
866 people want to read
About the author
Lili Wilkinson
33 books372 followersLili Wilkinson is the award-winning author of eighteen books for young people, including The Erasure Initiative and After the Lights Go Out. Lili has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and is a passionate advocate for YA and the young people who read it, establishing the Inky Awards at the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria. Her latest book is A Hunger of Thorns.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
December 28, 2020
Wow! That was mind-blowing! A self-driving bus, a group of people on board, views of ocean on one side, jungle on the other – and no memory of anything after waking up. They each wore name tags – no guarantee they were the right ones – they were confused, hungry and thirsty. Then came the tests, the simulations where others in the group had to risk their lives while the majority voted. Cecily, Nia, Paxton, Sandra, Edwin, Catherine – did they know one another? Why were some of them familiar to others?
Gradually, flashbacks happened – but had that piece of memory been planted? The band on their wrists was immovable – it obviously controlled them. But the situation worsened and suddenly one of the simulations failed – or did it? Cecily was frustrated, angry. What could they do to get out of the situation they were in?
The Erasure Initiative is an overwhelming, staggering psychological mind warp by Aussie author Lili Wilkinson and it blew me away! Inventive, imaginative, astounding! What a ride! A YA novel with more twists and turns than you can poke a stick at, thrills and chills and what an ending! It’s a novel I’ll be thinking about for awhile to come. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Gradually, flashbacks happened – but had that piece of memory been planted? The band on their wrists was immovable – it obviously controlled them. But the situation worsened and suddenly one of the simulations failed – or did it? Cecily was frustrated, angry. What could they do to get out of the situation they were in?
The Erasure Initiative is an overwhelming, staggering psychological mind warp by Aussie author Lili Wilkinson and it blew me away! Inventive, imaginative, astounding! What a ride! A YA novel with more twists and turns than you can poke a stick at, thrills and chills and what an ending! It’s a novel I’ll be thinking about for awhile to come. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2020
Snap, this was really good. Not that I was expecting otherwise, of course, but I really enjoyed this more than I thought. This is a mystery/thriller I think, which is a genre that I really don’t much of, but this novel was so stellar. Ok, look, it’s not quite a five star, but it is an extremely high four star, because reasons. The mystery element was handled really, really well and for most the novel, I just kept wanting to read chapter after chapter, and because of that, I actually got through it a bit faster than I had anticipated, which when reading a book is generally a good sign.
I found the beginning to be incredibly enticing and interesting, as frankly, neither our main character, Cecily or the reader has a clue of what the heck is happening. There’s constant hints and snippets, without giving too much away, while maintaining a quick, fairly pace that was just really interesting to read about. It does make you wonder and think about the character’s situation and where they are, and what is going on. It was just such a cool concept! So yeah, that was great.
The characters were all well realised and were interesting individuals, and they feel real enough for their age. Like, yes, some of them are pretty intelligent, but so are lot of teens, but it’s rather the way they think sometimes that I found spoke really well, in that these aren’t overly mature people and there is this real aura of uncertain and confusion. As we learn, some of these characters aren’t exactly great people, but they still are really enticing to follow and to find where things will lead. There is also good chemistry and well written dialogue between all these characters.
It’s not too romance heavy, though as these are hormonal teenagers, these things are on the main character’s mind a fair, which makes total sense. I did actually really enjoy at the way the main romance was built up and it also is a sapphic relationship. There is almost somewhat of a love triangle going on in the first half, although it’s not really a love triangle at the same time(if you have read the book, this becomes much clearer and it largely has to do with memories). The ending was really good and the way these two characters Cecily and Nia went out. The way this ended was fairly cinematic and it was full of intensity, high stakes and drama. Nia herself was also a well written character and honestly, she probably is my favourite out of them all. There’s just so much to her that makes her quite unique and she also has a prosthetic leg, which I don’t know if I’ve really seen much if YA fiction, so that was really good. Naturally, that could also just be more representative of the books I’ve read(in regards to a character having a prosthetic leg), as I primarily read fantasy, though I would like to think I’ve read a fair number of books set in the modern world in the last few years.
A slight criticism that I do have, was that there was this part in the middle chunk or so that started to feel slightly repetitive and I just didn’t really care as much about the story as I did during the start and the end of this book, which I found to be the golden points. It wasn’t that it was well written, but rather just personally I was not as invested. I did feel that at some points, I could almost sense, not quite, but almost sense the direction the story was going to head in during the middle section. There are hints of foreshadowing placed throughout that was done well, though the ending was completely unexpected, and it was glorious.
This was my second novel by Lili Wilkinson, after After The Lights Go Out, which I also happened to really enjoy. Overall, I loved this book a lot and there was just so many elements of it that was really masterful and superb, and now that libraries are open again where I live, I really need to check out more #LoveOzYa, because Australian authors write some fantastic books ya’ll. Also, that title is just brilliant. 8.5/10
I found the beginning to be incredibly enticing and interesting, as frankly, neither our main character, Cecily or the reader has a clue of what the heck is happening. There’s constant hints and snippets, without giving too much away, while maintaining a quick, fairly pace that was just really interesting to read about. It does make you wonder and think about the character’s situation and where they are, and what is going on. It was just such a cool concept! So yeah, that was great.
The characters were all well realised and were interesting individuals, and they feel real enough for their age. Like, yes, some of them are pretty intelligent, but so are lot of teens, but it’s rather the way they think sometimes that I found spoke really well, in that these aren’t overly mature people and there is this real aura of uncertain and confusion. As we learn, some of these characters aren’t exactly great people, but they still are really enticing to follow and to find where things will lead. There is also good chemistry and well written dialogue between all these characters.
It’s not too romance heavy, though as these are hormonal teenagers, these things are on the main character’s mind a fair, which makes total sense. I did actually really enjoy at the way the main romance was built up and it also is a sapphic relationship. There is almost somewhat of a love triangle going on in the first half, although it’s not really a love triangle at the same time(if you have read the book, this becomes much clearer and it largely has to do with memories). The ending was really good and the way these two characters Cecily and Nia went out. The way this ended was fairly cinematic and it was full of intensity, high stakes and drama. Nia herself was also a well written character and honestly, she probably is my favourite out of them all. There’s just so much to her that makes her quite unique and she also has a prosthetic leg, which I don’t know if I’ve really seen much if YA fiction, so that was really good. Naturally, that could also just be more representative of the books I’ve read(in regards to a character having a prosthetic leg), as I primarily read fantasy, though I would like to think I’ve read a fair number of books set in the modern world in the last few years.
A slight criticism that I do have, was that there was this part in the middle chunk or so that started to feel slightly repetitive and I just didn’t really care as much about the story as I did during the start and the end of this book, which I found to be the golden points. It wasn’t that it was well written, but rather just personally I was not as invested. I did feel that at some points, I could almost sense, not quite, but almost sense the direction the story was going to head in during the middle section. There are hints of foreshadowing placed throughout that was done well, though the ending was completely unexpected, and it was glorious.
This was my second novel by Lili Wilkinson, after After The Lights Go Out, which I also happened to really enjoy. Overall, I loved this book a lot and there was just so many elements of it that was really masterful and superb, and now that libraries are open again where I live, I really need to check out more #LoveOzYa, because Australian authors write some fantastic books ya’ll. Also, that title is just brilliant. 8.5/10
September 2, 2020
This review was originally published on Happy Indulgence Books. Check it out for more reviews!
Do you choose to save the person with a baby, or a child? Or the person with the red shirt, or the blue shirt? What about if they're older, or younger, with only their physical attributes to tell them apart?
The Erasure Initiative is a sci-fi psychological thriller that had me at the edge of my seat, as it tells a story of how seven strangers on a bus choose to undergo a series of experiments. They have to choose whether to divert the base to save one group on the track, at the expense of another. Their memories have been wiped, and they don’t know who they are or why they are there. The only clues they have are their appearance and the people around them.
Our main character is Cecily, a white teenager of apparently high social standing based on her language and the way she holds herself. As she observes each of the other people on the bus, it was interesting seeing how she formed seemingly new opinions about each of them – and figuring out how they are all tied together. While undergoing these trials, we’re given clues about Cecily’s predicament, in the form of her hazy memories, and what the passengers remember about each other. There’s also Nia, a black girl with a prosthetic leg who is also skilled at hacking, the handsome teen who she is physically attracted to, and some other people of varying age and social status.
I was impressed with how fast paced and action packed the story was, while offering insights into who Cecily was as a person through her actions, as opposed to her memories and internal thoughts that would normally be part of characterisation (without the memory loss).
It was also great to have bisexual representation in the book - and also realising your sexuality without any social cues or hints to your past. It manifested in physical attraction and chemistry which was fascinating to see develop over time as well.
From putting together the pieces about who you are and whether you are a good person, to what your appearance and mannerisms say about you, there was a lot that The Erasure Initiative unpacked. It had me thinking a lot about morality and how, when placed in impossible circumstances, you would choose to make your decisions. Would it be based on personal judgement, your own prejudices, or even your own preferences? Would you choose differently if there was personal gain involved with the choices?
If you want to find out about what happens to Cecily and why they’re on the bus – you’ll have to pick up the book! I absolutely loved it and found The Erasure Initiative to be an absolute thrill ride that will have you questioning your own morality. It raises questions about rehabilitation versus consequences and the prejudices that we can hold that can affect our judgement. I loved reading this book and devoured it really quickly!
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Do you choose to save the person with a baby, or a child? Or the person with the red shirt, or the blue shirt? What about if they're older, or younger, with only their physical attributes to tell them apart?
The Erasure Initiative is a sci-fi psychological thriller that had me at the edge of my seat, as it tells a story of how seven strangers on a bus choose to undergo a series of experiments. They have to choose whether to divert the base to save one group on the track, at the expense of another. Their memories have been wiped, and they don’t know who they are or why they are there. The only clues they have are their appearance and the people around them.
Our main character is Cecily, a white teenager of apparently high social standing based on her language and the way she holds herself. As she observes each of the other people on the bus, it was interesting seeing how she formed seemingly new opinions about each of them – and figuring out how they are all tied together. While undergoing these trials, we’re given clues about Cecily’s predicament, in the form of her hazy memories, and what the passengers remember about each other. There’s also Nia, a black girl with a prosthetic leg who is also skilled at hacking, the handsome teen who she is physically attracted to, and some other people of varying age and social status.
I was impressed with how fast paced and action packed the story was, while offering insights into who Cecily was as a person through her actions, as opposed to her memories and internal thoughts that would normally be part of characterisation (without the memory loss).
It was also great to have bisexual representation in the book - and also realising your sexuality without any social cues or hints to your past. It manifested in physical attraction and chemistry which was fascinating to see develop over time as well.
From putting together the pieces about who you are and whether you are a good person, to what your appearance and mannerisms say about you, there was a lot that The Erasure Initiative unpacked. It had me thinking a lot about morality and how, when placed in impossible circumstances, you would choose to make your decisions. Would it be based on personal judgement, your own prejudices, or even your own preferences? Would you choose differently if there was personal gain involved with the choices?
If you want to find out about what happens to Cecily and why they’re on the bus – you’ll have to pick up the book! I absolutely loved it and found The Erasure Initiative to be an absolute thrill ride that will have you questioning your own morality. It raises questions about rehabilitation versus consequences and the prejudices that we can hold that can affect our judgement. I loved reading this book and devoured it really quickly!
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2020
The Erasure Initiative is an absorbing and entertaining YA psychological thriller from Lili Wilkinson
“I wake up, and for a few precious seconds I don't realise there's anything wrong.”
Roused by the jolting movements of the self driving bus she is riding in, Cecily, who only learns her name from the sticker on her t-shirt (HELLO! MY NAME IS CECILY), realises she has no memory of herself. Neither does she remember where she is coming from, or where she is going, and recognises none of six strangers, of varying ages and ethnicities, accompanying her. As the group speculate about their predicament, the other passengers having admitted they are similarly affected, a message appears on the screens in front of them...
“You are in a moving vehicle. Before you the road forks. Ahead, there are five pedestrians. On the side road there is one pedestrian. You can press a button and the bus will turn off onto the side road. The bus will not stop. Do you press the button? YES/NO”
This is only the first of several tests that force the passengers to choose between life and death.
In this well-paced novel, fraught with escalating tension, Wilkinson offers an intriguing premise that explores issues surrounding identity, personality, and morality in The Erasure Initiative. With no past with which to define yourself, what sort of person would you choose to be? Are we shaped by nature or nurture? Can someone ever be anything other than who they are? How do you determine the value of a life?
Cecily may not remember anything about who she is, but she is certain she does not want to be on this bus which seems to be circling a deserted island, and is determined to do all she can to escape it. Though wary of placing her trust in her fellow passengers she is especially drawn to Nia, a dark-skinned, shaved-head girl with an anti authoritarian attitude, a high tech prosthetic leg and computer hacking skills, and Paxton, whose confidence, warm smile, and good looks help dampen her anxiety.
“What do you do when you learn that you’re the villain of your own story?”
I enjoyed the varied characters in The Erasure Initiative, though some have a larger role to play than others in the story, they each have a purpose. As the passengers struggle to piece together their identities, based on the few clues they are able to glean, their assessments of each other, and themselves, waver and shift. Cecily in particular is blind-sided by information that contradicts her perception of herself and who she wants to be.
Clever, compelling and challenging, The Erasure Initiative is a great read, sure to impress.
“I wake up, and for a few precious seconds I don't realise there's anything wrong.”
Roused by the jolting movements of the self driving bus she is riding in, Cecily, who only learns her name from the sticker on her t-shirt (HELLO! MY NAME IS CECILY), realises she has no memory of herself. Neither does she remember where she is coming from, or where she is going, and recognises none of six strangers, of varying ages and ethnicities, accompanying her. As the group speculate about their predicament, the other passengers having admitted they are similarly affected, a message appears on the screens in front of them...
“You are in a moving vehicle. Before you the road forks. Ahead, there are five pedestrians. On the side road there is one pedestrian. You can press a button and the bus will turn off onto the side road. The bus will not stop. Do you press the button? YES/NO”
This is only the first of several tests that force the passengers to choose between life and death.
In this well-paced novel, fraught with escalating tension, Wilkinson offers an intriguing premise that explores issues surrounding identity, personality, and morality in The Erasure Initiative. With no past with which to define yourself, what sort of person would you choose to be? Are we shaped by nature or nurture? Can someone ever be anything other than who they are? How do you determine the value of a life?
Cecily may not remember anything about who she is, but she is certain she does not want to be on this bus which seems to be circling a deserted island, and is determined to do all she can to escape it. Though wary of placing her trust in her fellow passengers she is especially drawn to Nia, a dark-skinned, shaved-head girl with an anti authoritarian attitude, a high tech prosthetic leg and computer hacking skills, and Paxton, whose confidence, warm smile, and good looks help dampen her anxiety.
“What do you do when you learn that you’re the villain of your own story?”
I enjoyed the varied characters in The Erasure Initiative, though some have a larger role to play than others in the story, they each have a purpose. As the passengers struggle to piece together their identities, based on the few clues they are able to glean, their assessments of each other, and themselves, waver and shift. Cecily in particular is blind-sided by information that contradicts her perception of herself and who she wants to be.
Clever, compelling and challenging, The Erasure Initiative is a great read, sure to impress.
August 22, 2020
‘I wake up, and for a few precious seconds I don't realise there's anything wrong.’
A girl wakes up on a self-driving bus. She has no idea who she is, or how she got there. There is a nametag on her T-shirt: ‘Cecily’. There are six other people on the bus, each with a nametag and no memories. They start talking, trying to work out who they are and what is happening. The screen on each seatback gives them instructions. There is a series of tests — each of them needs to choose an outcome. Tests like this one:
‘You are in a moving vehicle. Before you the road forks. Ahead there are five pedestrians. On the side road there is one pedestrian. You can press a button and the bus will turn off onto the side road. The bus will not stop. Do you press the button? YES/NO’
Each passenger must choose an outcome: the majority wins. This is only the beginning.
And what do you do, in a situation where the past is unknown (and irrelevant)? What choices do you make? Who are the seven people on this bus, and why are they there? How do you choose which lives to save?
As the story progresses, the stakes become higher. While each of the seven characters has a role, the major characters are Cecily, Nia and Paxton. Cecily is determined to escape, and Nia may be able to help her. Small clues emerge, their perceptions of each other change. But the more they learn, the more challenging choices become.
What an engrossing story this is! I picked it up and could not put it down because I needed to know how it would end. Are any of these people worth saving? Can any of us be saved from ourselves? There are a couple of twists that made me uncomfortable (choices can be difficult) but the story held my attention from beginning to end. There is a mystery to solve and several moral issues to consider.
Highly recommended, and not just for its intended YA audience.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
A girl wakes up on a self-driving bus. She has no idea who she is, or how she got there. There is a nametag on her T-shirt: ‘Cecily’. There are six other people on the bus, each with a nametag and no memories. They start talking, trying to work out who they are and what is happening. The screen on each seatback gives them instructions. There is a series of tests — each of them needs to choose an outcome. Tests like this one:
‘You are in a moving vehicle. Before you the road forks. Ahead there are five pedestrians. On the side road there is one pedestrian. You can press a button and the bus will turn off onto the side road. The bus will not stop. Do you press the button? YES/NO’
Each passenger must choose an outcome: the majority wins. This is only the beginning.
And what do you do, in a situation where the past is unknown (and irrelevant)? What choices do you make? Who are the seven people on this bus, and why are they there? How do you choose which lives to save?
As the story progresses, the stakes become higher. While each of the seven characters has a role, the major characters are Cecily, Nia and Paxton. Cecily is determined to escape, and Nia may be able to help her. Small clues emerge, their perceptions of each other change. But the more they learn, the more challenging choices become.
What an engrossing story this is! I picked it up and could not put it down because I needed to know how it would end. Are any of these people worth saving? Can any of us be saved from ourselves? There are a couple of twists that made me uncomfortable (choices can be difficult) but the story held my attention from beginning to end. There is a mystery to solve and several moral issues to consider.
Highly recommended, and not just for its intended YA audience.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
June 18, 2020
Definitely my favourite book of the year so far. It is thrilling to a T and really keeps you on your toes, you constantly have no idea what's going to happen next. Lili Wilkinson really wove one hell of a plot that's full of twists, turns, teases and red herrings! It's one of those books where, just as you start to think you have an idea of what's happening and what it might lead to, everything is being thrown out the window and you are just left gobsmacked, shocked and desperate to find out what's next in-store.
And the characters!! Don't even get me started. Wilkinson really explored each character and their inherent flaws in a way that made them feel so lifelike and 3D. Some characters conformed to certain tropes (e.g. the privileged, rich, white girl) but Wilkinson creates such a fresh take on these cliches that it feels completely new and exciting. And you know-how, in thrillers, there's always those basic characters that are barely explored and whose only purpose is to serve some sort of plot point? Nup! Not here!
Lili Wilkinson has been writing books for a long long while now and I love how every book she's published revolve around different concepts - there's romantic comedies, cults, apocalypse, all of which she's explored with her own flare and impeccable writing. The Erasure Initiative's central topic around ethical philosophy, however, has to be my favourite one yet. Throughout the book, ethical theories are fleshed out in a way that is truly fascinating and didn't detract from the plot in any form. As I was reading, I constantly found myself leaning towards one side of a moral dilemma and then switching to another the next page. If you've watched the Good Place I highly recommend this book!!!
And the characters!! Don't even get me started. Wilkinson really explored each character and their inherent flaws in a way that made them feel so lifelike and 3D. Some characters conformed to certain tropes (e.g. the privileged, rich, white girl) but Wilkinson creates such a fresh take on these cliches that it feels completely new and exciting. And you know-how, in thrillers, there's always those basic characters that are barely explored and whose only purpose is to serve some sort of plot point? Nup! Not here!
Lili Wilkinson has been writing books for a long long while now and I love how every book she's published revolve around different concepts - there's romantic comedies, cults, apocalypse, all of which she's explored with her own flare and impeccable writing. The Erasure Initiative's central topic around ethical philosophy, however, has to be my favourite one yet. Throughout the book, ethical theories are fleshed out in a way that is truly fascinating and didn't detract from the plot in any form. As I was reading, I constantly found myself leaning towards one side of a moral dilemma and then switching to another the next page. If you've watched the Good Place I highly recommend this book!!!
September 7, 2020
I absolutely devoured The Erasure Initiative by Lili Wilkinson! I read it in one sitting, I just couldn’t put it down! It was fast paced and there were so many twists! And I didn’t see a single one coming!
I love how Lili played with stereotyping and how we so easily judge a person based on how they look.
This is Lili’s third thriller and I just love how much time she puts into researching for her stories: Like how to pick a lock or hack into a computer system. If I was ever stranded on an island, I’d choose Lili to be stranded with me!
(Slight spoiler) My favourite thing about this novel was the main character, Cecily, had no idea who she was but found herself attracted to both Paxton and Nia. There was no questioning of her sexuality or judgement from other characters. She just completely accepted it. It’s nice to read a book where sexuality isn’t this huge story line and for characters to fully accept Cecily being bisexual. (This is own voices as Lili is bi)
This is the 7th book I’ve read by Lili Wilkinson and I just can’t get enough! Every book is so different but every character is fully fleshed out and has their own stories and arcs! I can’t wait for Lili’s next book!
I love how Lili played with stereotyping and how we so easily judge a person based on how they look.
This is Lili’s third thriller and I just love how much time she puts into researching for her stories: Like how to pick a lock or hack into a computer system. If I was ever stranded on an island, I’d choose Lili to be stranded with me!
(Slight spoiler) My favourite thing about this novel was the main character, Cecily, had no idea who she was but found herself attracted to both Paxton and Nia. There was no questioning of her sexuality or judgement from other characters. She just completely accepted it. It’s nice to read a book where sexuality isn’t this huge story line and for characters to fully accept Cecily being bisexual. (This is own voices as Lili is bi)
This is the 7th book I’ve read by Lili Wilkinson and I just can’t get enough! Every book is so different but every character is fully fleshed out and has their own stories and arcs! I can’t wait for Lili’s next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2021
I enjoyed this book, it was a tightly written, fast moving speculative fiction type story with a decent dose of popular psychology/philosophy informing it's plot and a single narrator who is a very well constructed character.
The whole plot arc up to the end, (which I will not spoiler) seemed excellently planned and the layers of speculation and slow reveals keep the reader immersed in the story. I especially recommend it to people who want to read a wider range of psychological thriller or dip their toes gently into the science fiction genera.
Science Fiction, there is not really a lot of. The techniques that are used to keep the bus going, the incorporation of internet into the later part of the plot, also the general feel of the world view and setting - all of these feel like science fiction without being heavy on the science.
Thriller, definitely! Our narrator wakes up on a bus with total memory loss. She has a nametag with a name 'Cecily' which she does not identify with. Also on the bus are six other people who seem to be in a similar situation (though can we be sure?) and the bus has no driver. Then a series of tests begin and as the test sequence progresses it becomes more and more sinister. Yes, definitely a thriller and a very absorbing one at that.
Young Adult: Is it or isn't it? I can't decide. When it was recommended to me it was not as a YA, when it arrived it was labelled YA, the characters are mostly school age but they don't actually know that and they don't come across as teenagers most of the time... I guess, read it and see what you think. There is an absence of sex some violence, a whole heap of psychological damage (which I feel is often stronger that physical violence) the story does not dwell on age in any way, so it could go either way.
The psychological testing was excellent. Hands up who recognises the Trolley Problem? It was first proposed in the 60's I believe, (though it stems from much earlier commentary) and ethical dilemmas are very much a pop culture thing these days, used widely and often well in a variety of media where moral psychology becomes a major plot device. If you love that stuff and want more of it, this is certainly the book for you.
While I enjoyed this book a great deal it did not blow me away as much as it would have if I had encountered it a couple of decades ago. Moral and ethical dilemmas are not new to me and so I was not challenged on a personal level as much as many readers probably will be. There were a couple of scenarios that made me think but I was thinking more about the plan behind the test rather than my response. The speculative setting was excellent and freshly done, but again not entirely new to me, very nicely conceived though. I felt that there were a couple of logical flaws in the plot where I just had to agree to disagree with the author and one event that seemed a complete wtf. All are spoilers, I recommend against reading them unless you have completed the book.
The character developments and dynamics were great, really using the lack of memory and the abnormal setting to great advantage. Also, while there was a certain amount of foreshadowing in the characters and situations throughout it was not heavy handed enough to upset the plot development, but rather to advance the dynamics. The ending and afterword are also excellent though I felt that some of the chapters leading up to the ending were not as tightly written as the bus sequences.
The whole plot arc up to the end, (which I will not spoiler) seemed excellently planned and the layers of speculation and slow reveals keep the reader immersed in the story. I especially recommend it to people who want to read a wider range of psychological thriller or dip their toes gently into the science fiction genera.
Science Fiction, there is not really a lot of. The techniques that are used to keep the bus going, the incorporation of internet into the later part of the plot, also the general feel of the world view and setting - all of these feel like science fiction without being heavy on the science.
Thriller, definitely! Our narrator wakes up on a bus with total memory loss. She has a nametag with a name 'Cecily' which she does not identify with. Also on the bus are six other people who seem to be in a similar situation (though can we be sure?) and the bus has no driver. Then a series of tests begin and as the test sequence progresses it becomes more and more sinister. Yes, definitely a thriller and a very absorbing one at that.
Young Adult: Is it or isn't it? I can't decide. When it was recommended to me it was not as a YA, when it arrived it was labelled YA, the characters are mostly school age but they don't actually know that and they don't come across as teenagers most of the time... I guess, read it and see what you think. There is an absence of sex some violence, a whole heap of psychological damage (which I feel is often stronger that physical violence) the story does not dwell on age in any way, so it could go either way.
The psychological testing was excellent. Hands up who recognises the Trolley Problem? It was first proposed in the 60's I believe, (though it stems from much earlier commentary) and ethical dilemmas are very much a pop culture thing these days, used widely and often well in a variety of media where moral psychology becomes a major plot device. If you love that stuff and want more of it, this is certainly the book for you.
While I enjoyed this book a great deal it did not blow me away as much as it would have if I had encountered it a couple of decades ago. Moral and ethical dilemmas are not new to me and so I was not challenged on a personal level as much as many readers probably will be. There were a couple of scenarios that made me think but I was thinking more about the plan behind the test rather than my response. The speculative setting was excellent and freshly done, but again not entirely new to me, very nicely conceived though. I felt that there were a couple of logical flaws in the plot where I just had to agree to disagree with the author and one event that seemed a complete wtf. All are spoilers, I recommend against reading them unless you have completed the book.
The character developments and dynamics were great, really using the lack of memory and the abnormal setting to great advantage. Also, while there was a certain amount of foreshadowing in the characters and situations throughout it was not heavy handed enough to upset the plot development, but rather to advance the dynamics. The ending and afterword are also excellent though I felt that some of the chapters leading up to the ending were not as tightly written as the bus sequences.
December 1, 2020
I was hoping something like that ending would happen.
And I think I just found my fav Lili Wilkinson book.
And I think I just found my fav Lili Wilkinson book.
May 24, 2020
Exciting, immersive, fascinating
August 8, 2020
I received a finished copy of The Erasure Initiative from Allen & Unwin Australia in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.
The Erasure Initiative was absolutely spectacular! I absolutely loved every moment of this completely and utterly unputdownable thril ride of a page turner! I definitely want to read Lili Wilkinson’s other books now, truthfully I feel slightly speechless after that wild ending! Right from the get-go, I honestly had no idea which way everything was going to turn for Cecily, who at the start of this book finds herself awoken on a bus with six supposed strangers, with no recollection who she is!
Fascinating and wholly intriguing premise, right? I definitely haven’t read anything like it before in such a long time! Initially though, it did give me slight Whisper and Weapon vibes (if you haven’t read the duology by Lynette Noni, get on it!) but I knew as soon as I started reading The Erasure Initiative, that this was going to be a gripping, atmospheric ride with intrigue and suspense at every turn!
I always enjoy a hard hitting novel that will completely not only keep one guessing, but oh has it been a long while that made me question my morals! See, throughout The Erasure Initiative, when Cecily and company are on the bus and trying to figure out what’s going on, let alone who they are, they find they’re on the receiving ends of various simulations, essentially having to decide who won’t get hit by a bus! In addition, as the reader learns more about the origins and purposes behind The Erasure Initiative, I found myself wondering about a certain niche of people and debating if they’re truly able to reform from previously evil ways!
The characters within The Erasure Initiative were such a fascinating array to read about too! Even more so because they didn’t completely know who they are, with Cecily often wondering what her normal life was like prior to waking up on the bus, wondering how she might be connected to some of these other strangers, namely Paxton and Nia. She feels inexplicably drawn to both of them and I really loved reading about her undeniable chemistry with Nia especially (not going to lie, Paxton read like a bit of an airhead to me, so I didn’t really care for his dynamic with Cecily, namely because Cecily was clearly more drawn to Nia!). With fragments of Cecily’s memories coming back to her, scenes that certainly err on the more dark and worrisome and certainly traumatic side (we’re talking being taken into a closet, hearing a baby’s cry, noticing lots of blood, that sort of thing), I really found myself completely intrigued as to all of the reveals!
The pacing and twists and turns of this book completely had me on tender hooks throughout, honestly! The concept of The Erasure Initiative and its moral grounds made for a completely new, raw and unique reading experience for me, too! I completely urge everyone to pick up a copy of this brilliant, outstanding and perpetually mind blowing book, I promise it’ll keep you wondering and guessing right until the end! It’s a stand alone too, so I’m completely lamenting that it’s likely that we won’t be getting a sequel! Though I definitely cannot wait to read more of Lili Wilkinson’s books!
The Erasure Initiative was absolutely spectacular! I absolutely loved every moment of this completely and utterly unputdownable thril ride of a page turner! I definitely want to read Lili Wilkinson’s other books now, truthfully I feel slightly speechless after that wild ending! Right from the get-go, I honestly had no idea which way everything was going to turn for Cecily, who at the start of this book finds herself awoken on a bus with six supposed strangers, with no recollection who she is!
Fascinating and wholly intriguing premise, right? I definitely haven’t read anything like it before in such a long time! Initially though, it did give me slight Whisper and Weapon vibes (if you haven’t read the duology by Lynette Noni, get on it!) but I knew as soon as I started reading The Erasure Initiative, that this was going to be a gripping, atmospheric ride with intrigue and suspense at every turn!
I always enjoy a hard hitting novel that will completely not only keep one guessing, but oh has it been a long while that made me question my morals! See, throughout The Erasure Initiative, when Cecily and company are on the bus and trying to figure out what’s going on, let alone who they are, they find they’re on the receiving ends of various simulations, essentially having to decide who won’t get hit by a bus! In addition, as the reader learns more about the origins and purposes behind The Erasure Initiative, I found myself wondering about a certain niche of people and debating if they’re truly able to reform from previously evil ways!
The characters within The Erasure Initiative were such a fascinating array to read about too! Even more so because they didn’t completely know who they are, with Cecily often wondering what her normal life was like prior to waking up on the bus, wondering how she might be connected to some of these other strangers, namely Paxton and Nia. She feels inexplicably drawn to both of them and I really loved reading about her undeniable chemistry with Nia especially (not going to lie, Paxton read like a bit of an airhead to me, so I didn’t really care for his dynamic with Cecily, namely because Cecily was clearly more drawn to Nia!). With fragments of Cecily’s memories coming back to her, scenes that certainly err on the more dark and worrisome and certainly traumatic side (we’re talking being taken into a closet, hearing a baby’s cry, noticing lots of blood, that sort of thing), I really found myself completely intrigued as to all of the reveals!
The pacing and twists and turns of this book completely had me on tender hooks throughout, honestly! The concept of The Erasure Initiative and its moral grounds made for a completely new, raw and unique reading experience for me, too! I completely urge everyone to pick up a copy of this brilliant, outstanding and perpetually mind blowing book, I promise it’ll keep you wondering and guessing right until the end! It’s a stand alone too, so I’m completely lamenting that it’s likely that we won’t be getting a sequel! Though I definitely cannot wait to read more of Lili Wilkinson’s books!
August 3, 2020
Gripping and thought provoking from the first page, The Erasure Initiative, will have you on the edge of your seat, determined to find the answers to all of Cecilys questions.
Lili Wilkinson has a way of writing that gives you just enough information to keep you hooked. It is suspenseful and clever. Wilkinson presents us with an endless stream of ethical and moral dilemmas, she makes us question ourselves as well as the characters. It is psychologically gripping.
Thank you so much to the team at Allen & Unwin for sending me out a review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Full review on my blog on the 7th of August!
Www.bookishintoxicationwrites.com
Lili Wilkinson has a way of writing that gives you just enough information to keep you hooked. It is suspenseful and clever. Wilkinson presents us with an endless stream of ethical and moral dilemmas, she makes us question ourselves as well as the characters. It is psychologically gripping.
Thank you so much to the team at Allen & Unwin for sending me out a review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Full review on my blog on the 7th of August!
Www.bookishintoxicationwrites.com
November 17, 2020
I read this in one sitting, entirely by accident.
So, you know. Good book!
So, you know. Good book!
April 18, 2021
I binge read Lili Wilkinson’s The Erasure Initiative (not sure you can read it any other way).
This gripping psychological thriller has themes of ethics, justice and explores what it means to be privileged.
A girl wakes up on a bus without her memories. The other passengers on the bus have lost their memories, and before long the group faces a series of trolley problems which seems to be testing their morals and ethics. What I loved about this book was the sense of menace, the mystery and suspense, but also the protagonist, who is as aware as we are that she could be untrustworthy and unreliable.
While I was reading The Erasure Initiative I kept thinking how it would make a great movie.
This fast-paced young adult thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat. A note on the ending: it was oh so satisfying!
This gripping psychological thriller has themes of ethics, justice and explores what it means to be privileged.
A girl wakes up on a bus without her memories. The other passengers on the bus have lost their memories, and before long the group faces a series of trolley problems which seems to be testing their morals and ethics. What I loved about this book was the sense of menace, the mystery and suspense, but also the protagonist, who is as aware as we are that she could be untrustworthy and unreliable.
While I was reading The Erasure Initiative I kept thinking how it would make a great movie.
This fast-paced young adult thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat. A note on the ending: it was oh so satisfying!
August 12, 2020
I devoured the first half of this book as we meet the main characters who have had their memories wiped and as they try to discover who they are and why they’re trapped on a moving bus. The first half is a thrill ride. Unfortunately the second half was not as spectacular. Once we hit the mid point and we find out who the blue fairy is, what the context is, there isn’t a lot more we want to know other than how the characters are going to try and overcome their situation. I would’ve liked this thrill and mystery to continue further into the book and if it did, it would’ve been a 5 star read for me (and that’s rare!)
I liked the diversity of sexuality and race, the characteristics of each character and how they came to adapt to the situations as they unfolded. I just wanted more!
3 and a half stars (maybe 3.75?) ✨
I liked the diversity of sexuality and race, the characteristics of each character and how they came to adapt to the situations as they unfolded. I just wanted more!
3 and a half stars (maybe 3.75?) ✨
October 24, 2020
Trigger warnings: death, blood, murder, gun violence, car accident, .
Lili Wilkinson excels at writing books that defy genre. This is part thriller, part dystopian, part The Good Place, right down to the Trolley Problem. And it was great. The characters were compelling and you never quite know who to trust. The writing was great. The premise was cool and weird and cool all at once. I really liked the inclusion of text messages and blog posts/articles from what came before to give you a sense of backstory.
Essentially, this was fast-paced and action-packed and I flew through it.
Lili Wilkinson excels at writing books that defy genre. This is part thriller, part dystopian, part The Good Place, right down to the Trolley Problem. And it was great. The characters were compelling and you never quite know who to trust. The writing was great. The premise was cool and weird and cool all at once. I really liked the inclusion of text messages and blog posts/articles from what came before to give you a sense of backstory.
Essentially, this was fast-paced and action-packed and I flew through it.
October 25, 2020
Super well done thriller full of memory wiping, kickass babes and ethics theories made terrifyingly real.
November 9, 2020
Seven people wake up on a driverless bus thundering around an island. Each is bewildered as to how they got there, and wonder about their fellow passengers; each person has no memory. Did they know one another previously? And what is their connection now? They are confronted by a series of ethical conundrums, dealt out by whoever has imprisoned them. Alliances are forged between the passengers, but can anyone be really trusted? The stakes are raised after one of the tests goes wrong and a passenger is killed. How can they extricate themselves from what seems like a living hell?
This is a highly inventive psychological thriller that I devoured in almost one sitting. Highly recommended for teenagers and above.
This is a highly inventive psychological thriller that I devoured in almost one sitting. Highly recommended for teenagers and above.
August 3, 2020
Thank you so so much to the wonderful team at Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
Oh my goodness, I could not put this book down! I read it in two sittings! From page one I was hooked. This book was filled with twists and turns, and normally I am very good at picking up the twist, but boy was I not even close to guessing any of them! I liked the diversity of the characters and how each one of them had a purpose, they weren’t there just for the sake of it. The Eraser Initiative was such an interesting concept!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Erasure Initiative and if you’re a mystery fan you’ll definitely enjoy this one!
Oh my goodness, I could not put this book down! I read it in two sittings! From page one I was hooked. This book was filled with twists and turns, and normally I am very good at picking up the twist, but boy was I not even close to guessing any of them! I liked the diversity of the characters and how each one of them had a purpose, they weren’t there just for the sake of it. The Eraser Initiative was such an interesting concept!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Erasure Initiative and if you’re a mystery fan you’ll definitely enjoy this one!
August 4, 2020
Thank you so much to Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy of The Erasure Initiative, in exchange for an honest review!
When Cecily wakes up on a bus, with no memory of who she is, just a name tag, a strange wristband and a few other passengers, she has no idea who any of them are and whether she can trust them. After they all reveal they have no memories either, they set about trying to piece together any clues they can find – tattoos, scars, or the intricate images on one of the passenger’s prosthetic leg – but before they can figure anything out, a series of tests, akin to the old ‘trolley problem’ ethics dilemma, appear on the buses screens, and it looks like they’ll have to play.
When I heard there was a new Lili Wilkinson book on the horizon, I was SO excited. I loved Lili’s book After the Lights Go Out and was hoping for another one I’d love just as much. I was definitely not disappointed! Lili’s writing style is brilliant. She writes books that are not only full of nerve wracking scenes, but books that make you think about scenarios you might never have considered before, in a ‘what would I do?’ kind of way. I loved that the plot twists and information about the passenger’s real lives were distributed throughout the book, in the form of text message and articles revealed to them through various means, instead of all coming to light at the end. It made for a gripping story that had me on the edge of my seat.
I honestly don’t want to reveal a lot more about this book, because it’s best experienced without too much prior knowledge, but if you’re a fan of books that make you ponder morality and ethical situations, like Neal Schusterman’s, or you love piecing together mysteries, then I’d highly recommend picking this one up!
When Cecily wakes up on a bus, with no memory of who she is, just a name tag, a strange wristband and a few other passengers, she has no idea who any of them are and whether she can trust them. After they all reveal they have no memories either, they set about trying to piece together any clues they can find – tattoos, scars, or the intricate images on one of the passenger’s prosthetic leg – but before they can figure anything out, a series of tests, akin to the old ‘trolley problem’ ethics dilemma, appear on the buses screens, and it looks like they’ll have to play.
When I heard there was a new Lili Wilkinson book on the horizon, I was SO excited. I loved Lili’s book After the Lights Go Out and was hoping for another one I’d love just as much. I was definitely not disappointed! Lili’s writing style is brilliant. She writes books that are not only full of nerve wracking scenes, but books that make you think about scenarios you might never have considered before, in a ‘what would I do?’ kind of way. I loved that the plot twists and information about the passenger’s real lives were distributed throughout the book, in the form of text message and articles revealed to them through various means, instead of all coming to light at the end. It made for a gripping story that had me on the edge of my seat.
I honestly don’t want to reveal a lot more about this book, because it’s best experienced without too much prior knowledge, but if you’re a fan of books that make you ponder morality and ethical situations, like Neal Schusterman’s, or you love piecing together mysteries, then I’d highly recommend picking this one up!
January 12, 2026
i was glued to this book, but i also wouldn’t say that it’s well-written. the premise is interesting, the plot-twists are cool (but very predictable). the third act of the book completely drops off, and you’re left wondering how the author is possibly going to conclude such a story appropriately. that being said, the ending wasn’t as bad as i had assumed it would be.
there was a LOT of psychology in this, though. i did feel gatekeepy about it, but it was also kinda cool to see.
there is a chance i’ll change the rating. i’m between 2 and 3 stars. i don’t know if i’d recommend this book, but i was fixated on it, and read it in under 24 hours.
there was a LOT of psychology in this, though. i did feel gatekeepy about it, but it was also kinda cool to see.
there is a chance i’ll change the rating. i’m between 2 and 3 stars. i don’t know if i’d recommend this book, but i was fixated on it, and read it in under 24 hours.
June 2, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! It managed to keep me guessing and engaged. I didn't see a couple of the twists coming, but they also weren't just in there to shock me (I did catch on to some things well in advance, but that just made me feel clever for guessing them, it wasn't a detriment). It managed to land the ending too, which I thought was very impressive.
December 24, 2024
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2020
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Thank you Allen & Unwin for this book in exchange for an honest review
Ohh this was interesting. It was the first Lili Wilkinson book that I have read, and I found it rather interesting.
Cecily wakes up with no memory on a bus but is just wearing a tag and surrounded by a few strangers, whom she is wary to trust. Once they all realise that none of them have any memories. When the panic begins to settle, and they set a plan to try and figure out who they are. That was until they are suddenly set a series of tests that they have to play.
This gave me real PG Saw vibes and the horror girl in me was kinda freaking out and loving it but was also craving the blood and gore due to me associating this to Saw. There were a few moments where you sat back and were like , ‘damn shit is about to get real interesting.’ As you come across situations that leave our characters questioning what they should do. Wilkinson has such a creative writing style which had an old soul kind of feel to it, though she has been writing for a long time and her descriptions, plot and character building was flawless.
The only thing that fell short for me was the tasks, the horror fan in me wanted them to be... well a little more brutal but other than that Wilkinson is an author that I will be on the look out for!
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Thank you Allen & Unwin for this book in exchange for an honest review
Ohh this was interesting. It was the first Lili Wilkinson book that I have read, and I found it rather interesting.
Cecily wakes up with no memory on a bus but is just wearing a tag and surrounded by a few strangers, whom she is wary to trust. Once they all realise that none of them have any memories. When the panic begins to settle, and they set a plan to try and figure out who they are. That was until they are suddenly set a series of tests that they have to play.
This gave me real PG Saw vibes and the horror girl in me was kinda freaking out and loving it but was also craving the blood and gore due to me associating this to Saw. There were a few moments where you sat back and were like , ‘damn shit is about to get real interesting.’ As you come across situations that leave our characters questioning what they should do. Wilkinson has such a creative writing style which had an old soul kind of feel to it, though she has been writing for a long time and her descriptions, plot and character building was flawless.
The only thing that fell short for me was the tasks, the horror fan in me wanted them to be... well a little more brutal but other than that Wilkinson is an author that I will be on the look out for!
September 28, 2020
Actual rating 3 1/2 stars.
LOVED the premise from the blurb. Cecily wakes up on a driverless bus. She has no memories and only knows that she is Cecily because she has a name tag. There are 6 other people on the bus - three teens and 3 adults. None of them know who they are, where they are or what has happened to them. Things get really interesting when the 7 bus travellers are given moral/ethical dilemmas to 'vote' on - majority wins. I really enjoyed this part of the book - classic conundrum, with fascinating references to actual psychology/philosophy. Throw in an avenging 'angel' and this book was really going places for me. (Though I did NOT enjoy the insta-love, love triangle scenario).
Then the bus stopped, the big reveal came and the book went downhill for me. What was a solid 4 - 41/2 star read became more like a 3 so I've split the difference. Young Adult readers (the target audience) may be less discerning than me.
LOVED the premise from the blurb. Cecily wakes up on a driverless bus. She has no memories and only knows that she is Cecily because she has a name tag. There are 6 other people on the bus - three teens and 3 adults. None of them know who they are, where they are or what has happened to them. Things get really interesting when the 7 bus travellers are given moral/ethical dilemmas to 'vote' on - majority wins. I really enjoyed this part of the book - classic conundrum, with fascinating references to actual psychology/philosophy. Throw in an avenging 'angel' and this book was really going places for me. (Though I did NOT enjoy the insta-love, love triangle scenario).
Then the bus stopped, the big reveal came and the book went downhill for me. What was a solid 4 - 41/2 star read became more like a 3 so I've split the difference. Young Adult readers (the target audience) may be less discerning than me.
July 18, 2021
'You're a good person, Edwin. I've watched you, the last few days, and I know. You care about people. You're moral. Look at how upset you are about this - it proves that you're a good person. You developed that random selection technique because your ethical code was so strong that you didn't want to sentence anyone to death, even imaginary people.' — Cecily Cartwright
It's been so long since a book left me guessing as much or as long as The Erasure Initiative did, with the last two being last year's The Grace Year and Impulse. The ending was so surprising to me, so impactful, I really didn't see it coming and it left me a little in shock. As a disclaimer, this is my first book by Lili Wilkinson so if this is typical of her endings forgive me. It will not be my last. I really want to read After The Lights Go Out (dystopian fiction) and The Boundless Sublime (cults and based on her own family). Just some warnings before I get into the review some content warnings for the books. This novel deals with violence, death, the obvious memory loss/ amnesia, torture (arguable) and discussion of the penal system.
When I'm reading I always keep a notepad with me it helps with writing reviews in The Erasure Initiative that came in useful especially at the start as we meet the passengers. Sandra (a middle-aged woman), Catherine (a much older woman), Riley (a 20 something white guy covered in prison tattoos), Edward (a young Asian kid 14ish), Paxton (chisel-jawed guy aka hot guy), Nia (brown-skinned girl with cheekbones to kill for) and the protagonist Cecily (rich white girl). None of the passages has any clue who they are (episodic memory) but retains their general knowledge (semantic memory). It's slowly revealed that each of the passengers has their own skill sets that can be useful. But specifically, Edward is a genius and Nia is a hacker. Honestly, it felt like the start of Dark Matter to a degree but it is also a trope, a good one if it is done well as it was here. As they try to figure out who they are, what is going on and the mystery of The Blue Fairy they are asked a series of trolley problems (see my review for Life is Strange: Dust) getting more and more ridiculous than more high stakes. Moving into the realisation that not everything they've been told is the truth and what are they going to do about it. Developing relationships and unravelling their previous ones. On the timeline of the book. The whole thing takes place over 7 days with timestamps to move through the time and some decent time jumps. Not all of the trolly problem questions are included as that would just get tedious.
There were some beautiful descriptive passages anxiety and passages on memory, free will, power. It does discuss some important and thought-provoking issues leaving the reader to make up their own mind about them. The idea of nature versus nurture There is some pretty heavy discussion of the penal system, overcrowding and potential solutions. I really liked that message that we need to find alternatives this isn't the right one but it is something. Given the intended audience, it is something that needs to be discussed and as this Australian YA the setting feels even more important.
The writing was appealing to me. As was the choice to tell parts of the history at the end of each chapter. Rarely ever is it telling you what you think it is in the moment. As a protagonist, Cecily was complicated, neither good nor bad just human. Her emotions during the whole experience feel relatable. Look I honestly loved this book. From the way, it gave you enough information to figure out what was going on through the additional information to the relationships between the characters to the twists and turns. I appreciated learning the background of the characters even when they were gone. I do recommend this to people if they want a fairly fast read that gives you something to think about.
There is a Greek word - mêtis - that means cunning and intelligence. Odysseus had it - he was a trickster. Good with words, You're a bit like Odysseus. Clever. Manipulative. S long way from home. — Cato Bell
A representative gif:
October 27, 2021
this book is amazing - I mean I found the main characters personality was meh and very inconsistent, but overall the concept and plot of the book was very very good 😌
August 4, 2020
Originally posted on my blog.
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The Erasure Initiative is a smart, tautly plotted YA thriller with a high-concept, scarily plausible premise where seven people wake up in a bus without their memories and must respond to questions exploring a series of moral dilemmas.
The passengers vary in age, ethnicity and social class with the group divided into those wearing blue shirts and those wearing red shirts. Although they have no recollection of their past and the only identification is a label on their shirts bearing their name, a few passengers look familiar and they start to theorize about their connections to one another. I’ve always been drawn to stories that examine the concept of identity and what makes us who we are, so I became quickly addicted to this storyline with a cast of amnesiac characters trying to re-establish their memories and decide what kind of people they are under the most stressful circumstances possible.
Cecily, the privileged white girl, is our protagonist and the entire book is written in the first person from her point of view. I found her to be an utterly compelling character and it was so interesting being in her head as she worked on fitting the pieces of the puzzle together, gathering information and making calculated decisions about whether to share with one or more of the others or keep it to herself. I enjoyed watching her create alliances and plot to escape their predicament; she’s the kind of contestant I’d love to see on Survivor as she’d thrive with their motto of Outwit, Outplay, Outlast!
Despite being trapped on a bus with other passengers in a potentially life-or-death situation, there is still time for romantic drama! Cecily is drawn to both Paxton, the affable jock with classic blue-eyed, sandy-haired good looks, and Nia, the anti-authoritarian brown-skinned, shaved-head girl with a rebellious attitude and prosthetic leg. I loved Cecily’s dynamic with Nia as the two girls have fantastic chemistry, snarky banter and while there’s push-pull friction under these tense circumstances, they quickly develop a genuine bond.
I can’t recommend the plot enough, it’s so immersive and will quickly have the reader engaged in working out what their response to the ethical questions would be – would you save one person or five? Does your answer change if the five people are criminals? What if the one person is a new mother? The author also isn’t afraid to quickly switch gears and blindside the reader with shocking new developments in the blink of an eye! I loved how the book started off slowly building up a tense atmosphere with a few chilling hints at the bigger picture and then once the scene is established, it throws in rapid twists and turns keeping the characters and us on our toes, never knowing what will happen next.
With a shrewd morally ambiguous heroine, diverse cast of characters and non-stop thrills and excitement, this is highly recommended. Pick this book up and prepare to have your mind blown!
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Disclaimer: Physical copy provided by publisher free for an unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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The Erasure Initiative is a smart, tautly plotted YA thriller with a high-concept, scarily plausible premise where seven people wake up in a bus without their memories and must respond to questions exploring a series of moral dilemmas.
The passengers vary in age, ethnicity and social class with the group divided into those wearing blue shirts and those wearing red shirts. Although they have no recollection of their past and the only identification is a label on their shirts bearing their name, a few passengers look familiar and they start to theorize about their connections to one another. I’ve always been drawn to stories that examine the concept of identity and what makes us who we are, so I became quickly addicted to this storyline with a cast of amnesiac characters trying to re-establish their memories and decide what kind of people they are under the most stressful circumstances possible.
Cecily, the privileged white girl, is our protagonist and the entire book is written in the first person from her point of view. I found her to be an utterly compelling character and it was so interesting being in her head as she worked on fitting the pieces of the puzzle together, gathering information and making calculated decisions about whether to share with one or more of the others or keep it to herself. I enjoyed watching her create alliances and plot to escape their predicament; she’s the kind of contestant I’d love to see on Survivor as she’d thrive with their motto of Outwit, Outplay, Outlast!
Despite being trapped on a bus with other passengers in a potentially life-or-death situation, there is still time for romantic drama! Cecily is drawn to both Paxton, the affable jock with classic blue-eyed, sandy-haired good looks, and Nia, the anti-authoritarian brown-skinned, shaved-head girl with a rebellious attitude and prosthetic leg. I loved Cecily’s dynamic with Nia as the two girls have fantastic chemistry, snarky banter and while there’s push-pull friction under these tense circumstances, they quickly develop a genuine bond.
I can’t recommend the plot enough, it’s so immersive and will quickly have the reader engaged in working out what their response to the ethical questions would be – would you save one person or five? Does your answer change if the five people are criminals? What if the one person is a new mother? The author also isn’t afraid to quickly switch gears and blindside the reader with shocking new developments in the blink of an eye! I loved how the book started off slowly building up a tense atmosphere with a few chilling hints at the bigger picture and then once the scene is established, it throws in rapid twists and turns keeping the characters and us on our toes, never knowing what will happen next.
With a shrewd morally ambiguous heroine, diverse cast of characters and non-stop thrills and excitement, this is highly recommended. Pick this book up and prepare to have your mind blown!
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Disclaimer: Physical copy provided by publisher free for an unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 25, 2020
“What do you do when you learn that you’re the villain in your own story?”
I’ve just finished the suspenseful “The Erasure Initiative”by Lili Wilkinson.
Where do I start?
7 people wake up on a moving bus. None of them remember who they are or why they are there. They don’t know themselves or each other. They have name-tags and are broken into two groups -one wearing red shirts and one wearing blue shirts. There is no food, no driver and no clue as to what is happening.
Cecily, or so her name tag says, is desperate to work out who she is. She keeps getting glimpses of what she assumes is memories. She is drawn to Nia, a beautiful, angry girl with a prosthetic leg and a knack for computer hacking. But she is also drawn to Paxton, the nice, hot guy who she seems to instinctively be drawn to. Then there is Sandra, the older lady who seems to naturally take charge, the shy genius Edwin, the conflicted Riley - who thinks he is a good guy but is covered in gang and prison Tatts, and then the old lady Catherine who just seems to sleep all the time and ask for cups of tea.
But then messages start appearing on the screens on the back of the bus seats. They are presented with a series of tests. An ethical dilemma - they must each choose an outcome and the majority rules.
As the tests continue the screens also start to give them clues to who they all are. But the mystery remains - who are they really? Where are they? And what is the purpose of the tests?
Cecily is sure she is a victim in all this. She is young, she is pretty, she is white - she can’t be a villain - can she?
I don’t want to give anything away about this gripping psychological thriller. But as the story unravels, questions are asked of what are our true characters and can we ever change who we are at our core?
I also have to say this book has one of the most beautiful covers I have seen for a long while. If I didn’t already know I wanted to read this book then the cover would have had me buying it in a heartbeat.
This is a heart-stopping thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat and puzzling out what is really happening. It will have you guessing, it will have you gasping and it will have you thinking.
I’ve just finished the suspenseful “The Erasure Initiative”by Lili Wilkinson.
Where do I start?
7 people wake up on a moving bus. None of them remember who they are or why they are there. They don’t know themselves or each other. They have name-tags and are broken into two groups -one wearing red shirts and one wearing blue shirts. There is no food, no driver and no clue as to what is happening.
Cecily, or so her name tag says, is desperate to work out who she is. She keeps getting glimpses of what she assumes is memories. She is drawn to Nia, a beautiful, angry girl with a prosthetic leg and a knack for computer hacking. But she is also drawn to Paxton, the nice, hot guy who she seems to instinctively be drawn to. Then there is Sandra, the older lady who seems to naturally take charge, the shy genius Edwin, the conflicted Riley - who thinks he is a good guy but is covered in gang and prison Tatts, and then the old lady Catherine who just seems to sleep all the time and ask for cups of tea.
But then messages start appearing on the screens on the back of the bus seats. They are presented with a series of tests. An ethical dilemma - they must each choose an outcome and the majority rules.
As the tests continue the screens also start to give them clues to who they all are. But the mystery remains - who are they really? Where are they? And what is the purpose of the tests?
Cecily is sure she is a victim in all this. She is young, she is pretty, she is white - she can’t be a villain - can she?
I don’t want to give anything away about this gripping psychological thriller. But as the story unravels, questions are asked of what are our true characters and can we ever change who we are at our core?
I also have to say this book has one of the most beautiful covers I have seen for a long while. If I didn’t already know I wanted to read this book then the cover would have had me buying it in a heartbeat.
This is a heart-stopping thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat and puzzling out what is really happening. It will have you guessing, it will have you gasping and it will have you thinking.
October 3, 2021
A bus in the middle of nowhere. 7 passengers with no memories.
2.75/5⭐
Story line:
Low-key Escape room vibes
Initial thoughts (Till about 43% of the book):
A compelling story no doubt- a self driving bus, erased memories and all of the confusion over waking up next to 6 complete strangers in a place you've never been before with no recollection of who you are or how you got there.
But even though the plot drew me in, the start to it was slow.
After that though (at about just after 50%): The secrets slowly start to unravel. This part was very interesting and I liked it.
The end was slightly chaotic and I have mixed feelings about it...
Characters:
For much of the book I did not like the protagonist- Cecily. Especially in the start..
I thought she was annoying, shallow, immature at times, selfish (though that may have been a character requirement but I don't know), unsupportive and judgemental (Some of her theories were just plain insulting to the face).
"I kiss him because it's better than listening to him talk" -Cecily
Here she just sounded like a snob to me and I couldn't figure out if it was a character requirement or it was just annoying.
She also couldn't stick to one side. Instead she used to go to each person to try to convince them that the 2 of them were the only "good" ones and then couldn't be loyal enough to stick to her words.
I understand that without memories, everyone was scared and anxious to get answers but sometimes Cecily was so selfish that she didn't care that they were all going through the same thing.
Towards the end, she did develop emotionally but the start really convinced me otherwise so I wasn't able to look past it :/
The other characters were okay though.
Nia was my favorite. She was strong and didn't switch sides at the slightest of doubts, which I admired about her.
Lastly, I think this would be very interesting movie adaption!
I recommend this book if you want a mystery:)
2.75/5⭐
Story line:
Low-key Escape room vibes
Initial thoughts (Till about 43% of the book):
A compelling story no doubt- a self driving bus, erased memories and all of the confusion over waking up next to 6 complete strangers in a place you've never been before with no recollection of who you are or how you got there.
But even though the plot drew me in, the start to it was slow.
After that though (at about just after 50%): The secrets slowly start to unravel. This part was very interesting and I liked it.
The end was slightly chaotic and I have mixed feelings about it...
Characters:
For much of the book I did not like the protagonist- Cecily. Especially in the start..
I thought she was annoying, shallow, immature at times, selfish (though that may have been a character requirement but I don't know), unsupportive and judgemental (Some of her theories were just plain insulting to the face).
"I kiss him because it's better than listening to him talk" -Cecily
Here she just sounded like a snob to me and I couldn't figure out if it was a character requirement or it was just annoying.
She also couldn't stick to one side. Instead she used to go to each person to try to convince them that the 2 of them were the only "good" ones and then couldn't be loyal enough to stick to her words.
I understand that without memories, everyone was scared and anxious to get answers but sometimes Cecily was so selfish that she didn't care that they were all going through the same thing.
Towards the end, she did develop emotionally but the start really convinced me otherwise so I wasn't able to look past it :/
The other characters were okay though.
Nia was my favorite. She was strong and didn't switch sides at the slightest of doubts, which I admired about her.
Lastly, I think this would be very interesting movie adaption!
I recommend this book if you want a mystery:)
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