While I loved the characters and watching their friendships, that’s really all there was. We don’t really get an understanding of the Program, how it got started after Wormwood or how it works once the students graduate and become adults. It felt like there was a lot of worldbuilding (or explaining) was missing. It also lacked action. Aside from some slight superpowered bullying by Quinnie, there weren’t many action scenes. No real villain until 90% and the reveal and subsequent action scene lacked excitement. Maybe the second and third book have much more action but I am not sure I want to continue the series. It wasn’t bad just a bit boring. ( )

5 Stars
Review Copy
Release Date-9/8/13

So "Deviation" is the first book in the Sophisticates series: A first for me with this particular author and also one that pleasantly surprised me in as such that it really managed to capture and retain my attention throughout.
This is a YA novel, but don't let that put you off as this has so much to offer any age reader and I am seriously glad I gave this a go myself.
So the concept behind this novel was ever so intriguing a program of superhuman genetically engineered children called Sophisticates.
These special individuals are raised and housed by the government and their future use is for the purpose of national security and a deterrent to terrorism and global threats.
They are essentially the property of the government and as such there freedoms and life is limited.
This first book follows Cleo: a sophisticate with a little something extra.
After Cleo starts exhibiting strange abilities she is shipped out of her academic university and into the military designation of sophisticates to retrain.
As she settles down into her new role Cleo has to get to grips with a completely new hierarchy.
Mean girls, new relationships and also Ozzy who seems to wants to be more than just friends.
So this was a great read that I really did enjoy.
I also really liked the fact that this didn't take itself to seriously: that although we were dealing with some major issues here that essentially at its heart the individuals portrayed here were still teenagers with all the usual teenage angst and normal mundane issues this generation seem to experience.
You know what I mean boys, popularity whose taking who to the dance.
But also if you read between the lines this also had a more sinister message to impart one that essentially is telling the story of an almost slave-like existence where all life decisions are being made by someone higher up on the chain.
When you dissect the bones here it's almost chilling these adolescents even have trackers implanted to show their actual location at all times.
So I have been reading a few examples from this particular genre lately and got to say this has been my favourite for a while: I will even be continuing on here as I really want to know what's next in store for Cleo, Ozzy and the rest of the gang.
So If you're looking for a good YA read then I am happy to recommend this one to you: it really managed to capture my imagination an excellent solid read.
Thank you to the Author and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of "Deviation" (The Sophisticates, #1) of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm.
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com ( )

5 Stars
Review Copy
Release Date-9/8/13

So "Deviation" is the first book in the Sophisticates series: A first for me with this particular author and also one that pleasantly surprised me in as such that it really managed to capture and retain my attention throughout.
This is a YA novel, but don't let that put you off as this has so much to offer any age reader and I am seriously glad I gave this a go myself.
So the concept behind this novel was ever so intriguing a program of superhuman genetically engineered children called Sophisticates.
These special individuals are raised and housed by the government and their future use is for the purpose of national security and a deterrent to terrorism and global threats.
They are essentially the property of the government and as such there freedoms and life is limited.
This first book follows Cleo: a sophisticate with a little something extra.
After Cleo starts exhibiting strange abilities she is shipped out of her academic university and into the military designation of sophisticates to retrain.
As she settles down into her new role Cleo has to get to grips with a completely new hierarchy.
Mean girls, new relationships and also Ozzy who seems to wants to be more than just friends.
So this was a great read that I really did enjoy.
I also really liked the fact that this didn't take itself to seriously: that although we were dealing with some major issues here that essentially at its heart the individuals portrayed here were still teenagers with all the usual teenage angst and normal mundane issues this generation seem to experience.
You know what I mean boys, popularity whose taking who to the dance.
But also if you read between the lines this also had a more sinister message to impart one that essentially is telling the story of an almost slave-like existence where all life decisions are being made by someone higher up on the chain.
When you dissect the bones here it's almost chilling these adolescents even have trackers implanted to show their actual location at all times.
So I have been reading a few examples from this particular genre lately and got to say this has been my favourite for a while: I will even be continuing on here as I really want to know what's next in store for Cleo, Ozzy and the rest of the gang.
So If you're looking for a good YA read then I am happy to recommend this one to you: it really managed to capture my imagination an excellent solid read.
Thank you to the Author and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of "Deviation" (The Sophisticates, #1) of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm.
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com ( )

For some reason this past week, I have been picking and reading books that have a character or more in it that slightly annoyed me. While this too was the case in this one, but only in select situations I must say involving her friends and a boy she just happens to have the hots for that they don't trust, I absolutely LOVED this book. It was different and new and actually kind of awesome in a way.

Our main character is just one of many genetically enhanced beings. These beings, because they are superior to normal humans, get all the good positions when they finish school. However, some of them will be used in warfare, and there is definitely a chance they could never come back if and when they are, in fact, used.

Cleo is NOT one of these warbound beings. At least in the beginning she doesn't think she is. But she causes things around to explode with her anger, she is sent away to the Academy to become a Mandate, as they are called. However, her first few weeks there seems like a big mistake. She doesn't seem to have what it takes to make it at the Academy, but, then again, she is also in denial that her power exists at all. She is too afraid to admit to herself that she could actually have the capability to hurt someone, let alone fatally.

This denial lasts until she meets a boy named Ozzy. He begins to warn her about using her powers at all, stating she needs to keep a low profile. That works exceptionally well (NOT!!) due to one fact being that her Cleo's new friends at the Academy do not trust him AT ALL!! But he breaks through to her and allows her in on his secrets, symbolically speaking since the Program knows everything about everyone, showing that he trusts her. And by learning his secrets, she'll learn so much more about herself and what the Program really wants with her and her powers.

This book frustrated me and it made me laugh. And my favorite part was the ROLLER DERBY! Those were some intense and amazing scenes. I also loved the rivalry between Chloe and a character named Quinby (I just had to use her full name here, it was too tempting). Everyone had their own personalities that shown through...and speaking of personalities, my favorite character was Arabella. I will not state the reasoning behind this, because it is completely obvious throughout the book. I completely wish I was her. 'Nuf said. Also....THE CODE NAMES!!!! I LOVED THE CODE NAMES!!! Basically, this book is totally...I have run out of words to describe how wonderful it is, because it is just that good. ( )

How would it feel to be a sophisticate but not know who your parents were, or where you came from. All you know is that you are part of a government program. Meet Cleo this is all she knows about herself but her curiosity and knowledge of computers has intrigued her into looking for her parents and information about her existence. These small actions do not go unnoticed by The Program and soon she is locked out of her computer and this is where we realize after a temper tantrum, a room caught on fire we find that Cleo may be a little more special to The Program.

Deviation was a little surprise for me, where I thought I was going to just be reading another dystopian novel where we rebel from the government, which I love. However, I got a story of a girl in a dystopian world trying to find her identity of where she belongs within the government program. Cleo is uprooted from the University, her best friend and is sent to St. Ignatius, school for the mandates best known for the army of The Program. Here she finds enemies, friends, and a mysterious guy, Ozzy, she is drawn to but does not trust. At St. Ignatius she finds more about who she is and what she is capable of doing, and why her room at the University went up in flames, that faithful night before everything changed in her life.

Deviation moved at a great pace with wonderful undertones of trust or lack thereof, secrets, and friendship between other mandates. Cleo learned how to be strong physically and mentally and she was a good female protagonist. There was a lot of romance between her and Ozzy, which I am not used to in dystopian novels but for this particular story it worked and should not be taken as a negative. I will make sure to continue this series to the end because the ending was disturbingly intriguing.

Favorite Character: Arabella - she is "special" also she has her secrets like Cleo. But she is fun and spunky and her sarcastic, brash comments throughout the story makes you crack a smile often. She definitely is a strong character and can't wait to see how she develops as a supporting character in the rest of the series. ( )