NICOLE'S REVIEW: Reboot by Amy Tintera

Title: Reboot

Author: Amy Tintera
Format Acquired: Paperback

Publication Date: May 7 2013

Publishing House: HarperTeen

ISBN: 9780062287458
Source of Copy: Fully Booked

Summary:

Five years ago, Wren Connolly died. After 178 minutes, she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, but also less emotional. The longer Reboots are under, the less human they are when they return - making Wren 178 the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, her favorite part of her job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worse she's ever seen.

As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically still human. His reflexes are too slow, and he's always asking pesky questions, and his ever present smile is freaking Wren out. And yet...he's still her newbie. When Callum falls short of Reboot standards, Wren is told to eliminate him.

But the perfect soldier is done taking orders.

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

The longer time a person spends under or "dead" before they return, the deadlier they are. Wren Connolly is the deadliest, clocking in around 178 minutes. She's got a reputation and its no surprise both Reboots and humans alike give her a wide berth. Enter Callum Reyes, a 22, who's far too human, just a new Reboot up for training. He's impertinent and irreverent, too curious for his own good. When poor Callum is declared not up to par with standards, Wren is ordered to eliminate him. But Wren is starting to questions things - the Reboot system, the politics involved and the uncomfortable feelings Callum stirs when he's around.

I liked Wren as a heroine, she's human and yet at the same time she's not. Being 178 means she's the least emotional Reboot, the strongest, the most dangerous. Wren isn't exactly emotionless though and I loved being able to see her grow into her feelings and accept that she's not as cold as she initially thought, they're just buried deep down. It was like watching a robot given feelings trying to make sense of it all. She's a fierce fighter and very resilient and I couldn't help but fall in love with Wren's tough innocence. Her interaction with Callum was adorable. He's obviously intrigued by her and isn't afraid to show it - his incessant questions and digs at her were amusing. 

Callum is undeniably appealing, he's not like your usual male hero/love interest. He's not stoic, domineering, or alpha in any way. He's like a puppy, an adorable, cute little puppy who follows Wren around to get some scraps of attention. This doesn't mean he's a wuss though, he's got backbone. Just a little emotional and expected seeing as he's only a 22. 

There's never a dull moment in Reboot, it's fast paced and action packed. There's Wren's trouble with Callum combined with the strange experiments the humans are doing to the lower ranged Reboots; her roommate included. Add to that the fact that Wren's planning on hightailing it out of the Reboot compound - something which means certain death - all the while having to deal with rebels and a mystery Reboot sanctuary of sorts.

The reason im deducting a half star from its original rating is the ending. I mean yes, everything that has happened so far was building up to this moment but somehow it seemed too rushed, easy and a little bit anticlimatic all the while being a little too convenient for Wren and Callum. I'm not complaining and I would definitely recommend this to people who're looking for a sci-fi dystopian read that's fast-paced and easy to read. The endearing characters count too. 

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