I received this book for free from ARC in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Reboot by Amy Tintera Series: Reboot #1
Published by HarperTeen on May 7th, 2013
Genres: Sci-Fi, YA
Goodreads
Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).
Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.
The perfect soldier is done taking orders.
I was really, really, REALLY excited to read Reboot. In fact I was so excited, I forever changed how I was going to read and review my “What Should I Read Next” poll winners. And even though I truly wanted to loved this book, I found myself walking away with my super disappointed face.
I’m not really sure how my “super disappointed” face even came about to be honest. Tintera was able to cram an original and entertaining plot, great characters, a perfect pace AND superb writing into Reboot! All logic says that this book should have been a easy 5 star read for me. It should have knocked my socks off. Blew me away. I should have been yearning for more. But my overall feelings upon finishing Reboot was “meh”. I know it doesn’t make sense. And I’ve tried looking at it from every angle, but I really just can’t put my finger on it.
We have a world that is ran by a weirdo “military/science-y” organization called HARC. Not too long ago a war broke out between humans and Reboots. Humans who have died and come back, stronger, faster and just all around better. THAT! That right there should have won me over. You’re basically telling me that super awesome zombies are running rampant. That is what you’re telling me. But even when the super awesome zombie aspect lead to super awesome characters, I still just wasn’t in love.
We have Wren (love her unique name!) 178, Callum 22 and a fantastic supporting cast so vast I honestly don’t have the energy to name them all. Wren 178 (178 is how long she was dead before she “rebooted” ha!). Wren is at the top of the totem poll as far as Reboots are concerned. She was dead for longer than any other Reboot (in this story) and because of that she is super strong, crazy fast and basically heals instantly. Wren was the type of character I often dream of in YA. She was strong yet not entirely invincible, she was smart and best of all she accepted the world for what it was and looked at everything from a very realistic perspective. Callum on the other hand was basically her polar opposite. He was clumsy, had way too many emotions, was weak and often annoying with his constant optimism. But I still LOVED him! I loved his imperfections. I loved how he balanced Wren. And I loved that even though he was “only” a 22 he still had heart.
Add in the great writing and I should have been unable to do anything but gush about this book. I’m not going to say Reboot was some sort of literary masterpiece. But the way it was written was gripping, detailed and oh so action packed! I loved how everything moved at a rate that was comfortable for the characters but also gripping for the readers. It was the perfect mash up.
But even with all these great elements I just can’t help but feel that Reboot was lacking. It was like getting a Kripy Kreme doughnut and not warming it up. Yes, it’s still delicios and you still pretty much inhale it but it’s missing that extra “umph”. It had every element necessary to be a fantastic story but somehow it just wound up being good. Nothing to run home about, nothing to shout about from the mountains, nothing to jump up and down on a couch for. Just a good story. Which technically wasn’t a bad thing. I mean good is cool. It’s just that I was expecting so much more.
