FlashBack

by T.R. Davis

Sarah is a thirteen year old girl who starts experiencing memories that are thousands of years old. She is initially confused when vivid memories from an unknown woman suddenly manifest within her mind when she's threatened with danger. She uses the knowledge in those memories to help her get out of trouble. But a DNA swab exposing a unique gene has brought her to the attention of a company that specializes in genetic research. Sarah eagerly seizes the chance for a better life and the fact that she must share her memories as a condition of being accepted in a research project doesn't raise any red flags for her. Not yet. Over time, Sarah discovers she is a direct descendant of Innogen, a woman who lived during the time of the Roman invasion of The British Isles. Despite the excitement and confusion this knowledge engenders, Sarah is enjoying the life of a typical teenage girl, including a budding romance, when she realizes that many of her new friends also have ancestral memories. Sarah suspects the project's probing questions mask a hidden agenda and that the students' memories are central to a secret goal, but what is it? What Sarah doesn't know is that the company doesn't exactly have the best interests of their young charges in mind. They have a more sinister purpose, and they don't mind if it costs a few students their lives along the way.

426 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2018

Reviews

[Melissa Connick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Excellent Read!

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

3.5 stars

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

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

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

[Graisi · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

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

[Christine Poirier · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Alethea · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Kerry Britnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memories

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