Reboot by Amy TinteraSeries: Reboot #1
Published by: HarperTeen on May 7, 2013
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction
Pages: 352
Source: Edelweiss
Buy on Amazon • Book Details
Rating: ★★★★
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 a bit nervous about Reboot at first. Well, first I was excited. Then reviews started trickling in, talking about how it was a new take on zombies, and then I got nervous. I’m not usually a big fan of zombie books… But I’m pleased to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Reboot, zombies and all! The zombie aspect wasn’t my absolute favourite part of the book, but it was subtle enough and different enough to maintain my interest.
The world building was about half good and half ‘meh’. We didn’t get the clearest picture of how things came to be (where the virus came from, exactly what happened when Reboots started showing up, how the HARC came into power, etc.). However, I think Amy Tintera did a great job building up the current state of the world. I could clearly picture the humans’ fear of Reboots, and the state of the slums vs. the rich parts of the city, etc.
Wren has a really interesting progression throughout the book. I don’t know if she was supposed to start out 100% unemotional—because she wasn’t—but she did start out with mostly no emotions. But as the book progressed and as she spent more time with Callum, her emotions slowly poured out. But the neat thing was, I think they were there all along, they just needed a little coaxing. Now, I didn’t realize this in the moment—only after I finished the book and was reflecting, but I kind of preferred the “before” version of Wren more. I liked her scary, kickass, “I’ll kill anyone and I don’t care” attitude. She was quite menacing and I kind of enjoyed that almost robotic, ruthless killing machine attitude. But as her emotions started pouring in, they started to cloud her judgement, make her think twice, etc. It made me miss the old Wren a little bit.
You shouldn’t let the fact that you’re a badass go to waste.
As alluded to in the synopsis, there is a romance in Reboot and it kind of lines up with Wren’s newfound emotions. The more the romance grew, the more emotions Wren displayed. I enjoyed the romance, but I think there will definitely be some people who will enjoy the book less because of it. The romance isn’t really a side plot, instead, I’d say it’s the thing that drives most of the plot and the character development. Callum’s presence is the main thing that trigger’s Wren’s emotional development, and her feelings for him are what cause her to take the actions she does. If that doesn’t bother you, then you might enjoy the romance! It’s sweet, slow-developing, and tender. There are plenty of romantic moments, and plenty of awkward “first love” moments as well.
I think the end of Reboot was by far the best part of the book. Things really intensified, leaving us with an extremely satisfying ending. There is a big, monumental event, which seriously had me whooping and cheering, and everything gets completely resolved. There’s absolutely no cliffhanger. I can certainly see where the rest of the series is headed, but I love that everything got so neatly wrapped up. It made Reboot feel like a complete and contained book, which is what it should be.
The Verdict
Oh I never knew that this was a zombie book… from my history with them- not a big fan. :/ Though I’m glad to see you loving it Ashley! Another kick ass MC, WHOO!
Love the review and banner. <33
Maybe you should still give it a try Melanie! I’m not crazy about zombies either, but it’s kind of subtle here, and almost more of a side plot. It might not have still been my favourite part of the book, but it didn’t put me off it!
This is about zombies!???? I would have never guessed that. I think this sounds really interesting.
But why don’t you like zombie books? Is it because you haven’t found one you like or zombies aren’t your thing?
Anyways, I think I want to pick this one up.
I think zombies just aren’t my thing. I mean, I don’t particularly hate them, I’m just not crazy about them I guess. Just one of those weird inexplicable preferences I guess lol.
I hope you like it Jennifer!!
What a cool-sounding book! I was really intrigued by the premise, and I’m glad that some parts were executed well! This might be one I’ll need to check out – especially if it’s a new take on zombies.
Great review!
Definitely check it out Kelly! I hope you like it. 🙂
Awesome review. I am not a huge zombie fan either, but since I read This is Not a Test, I have been more open to the idea. This books sounds like it would be really interesting, and I love that there is some romance involved.
Romance always has to be a big factor in the books I read. I’m still on the fence about this one but this review has me leaning towards the ‘I should read it’ side. Oh and that banner: chills!
Seems like a pretty good book though. 🙂 Maybe I’ll give it a try!
I enjoyed the romance too, and I didn’t even think of this book in relation to zombie, but great point!
I don’t think I’ve ever read a Zombie book, but this synopsis and review is making me yearn to change that. I can’t wait until I’m finished with this damn book buying ban.
This is probably a great first zombie book because zombies are there, but very subtly. It’s not like OMG ZOMBIES IN YOUR FACE ALL THE TIME EATING YOUR BRAINS! You know?
And those book buying bans… hate those!
Girl, I KNOW I’m going to break it before this week ends (and it’s Friday, so that’s not saying much). But I need to try something because I have serious addiction.
The eating your brains part is what I can’t get down with. How can someone spin zombies into a romance novel?
Is Reboot a standalone? I think I’d be a bit upset that the worldbuilding wasn’t fleshed out if there wasn’t a second book to clear things up more. Then again, how much can you cram into a standalone without stagnating the plot? Haha
I don’t know how I feel about the romance being the overarching plot…I think I’ll have to read a few more reviews before I decide to give this one a shot!
Reboot is a series so there’s definitely more to come!
Yeah, you liked this better than I did. I really liked the Wren I met in the beginning of the book, and was kinda disappointed with her character arc. The romance taking center stage also surprised me. I still liked it, but I was expecting something much more hardcore than what I got. Darn!
Ok! Sold! I need to read it.. Good thing it’s out already and I can snatch a copy! I remember Jenny telling me over and over again to read it… and now you too?!
Yep, I’m sold
And… I think I might love the book even more because of the Romance.. I need romance soo, yes bring it on!
I think I’ll wait to read this at the library first before I buy it, because I was hoping it would be more actiony and not so focussed on the romance. Still crossing my fingers, however 😀
Good idea! I hope you still like it though. 🙂
I am still so conflicted on this one. I was commenting on another blogger’s review that I didn’t really click with Wren because I was expecting her to start out TOTALLY emotionless and then really evolve. Instead, she had emotions from the start, so to me she was never really this total badass machine the synopsis promised. I think I felt a little cheated when it came to Wren. But I did enjoy Reboot, I just didn’t love it like I hoped I might.
Fabulous review, girl!
Molli | Once Upon a Prologue
I do kind of know what you mean. I honestly couldn’t tell if she had emotions but just didn’t see them, or if the author accidentally gave her emotions when she wasn’t supposed to have any. It was a little annoying when she went around saying “I have no emotions” but then she’d be afraid of showing her naked body. That’s SHAME/FEAR, people! That’s an emotion!
Yay! *fist bump* I was nervous too about the bad reviews coming in, but I’m glad neither of us fell into the negative category!
I felt the same way about the world building, there was too much missing. I wanted to know more about HARC!
“Now, I didn’t realize this in the moment—only after I finished the book and was reflecting, but I kind of preferred the “before” version of Wren more.”
You’re so right! I never thought about it, either, but perhaps that’s why the last half lost some of its appeal for me that I had in the first half. That and what you said about the romance being the driving point – the kickass quality about the book that I loved in the beginning was lost in the last half.
Great review, girl! <3