The personification of Aryan purity, Ellyssa's spent her whole life under her creator's strict training and guidance; her purpose is to eradicate inferior beings. She was genetically engineered to be the perfect soldier: strong, intelligent, unemotional, and telepathic.
Only Ellyssa isn't perfect.
Ellyssa feels emotions--a fact she's spent her life concealing. Until she encounters the epitome of inferiority: a dark-haired boy raised among renegades hiding since the Nazis won the war a century ago. He speaks to her telepathically, pushing thoughts into her mind, despite the impossibility of such a substandard person having psychic abilities.
But he does.
His unspoken words and visions of a place she's never visited make Ellyssa question her creator. Confused and afraid her secret will be discovered, Ellyssa runs away, embarking on a journey where she discovers there is more to her than perfection.
PARTICULARS OF THIS BOOK :
Published by Spencer Hill Press
Pages: 317
Genre: YA/Dystopian
Author: J.L. Spelbring
ABOUT THE AUTHOR :
J.L. Spelbring lives in Texas, where she wanders out in the middle of the night to look at the big and bright stars. Besides knocking imaginary bad guys in the head with a keyboard, she enjoys being swept away between the pages of a book, running amuck inside in her own head, pretending she is into running, and hanging out with her kids, who are way too cool for her.
THE BOOKISH DAME REVIEWS :
This book is a sleeper! Imaginative and spellbinding, it's captivating from the first chapter on. I enjoyed the story immensely. Spelbring is an author to keep your eyes on.
J.L. Spelbring was an unknown author to me, and one I told Spencer Hill Press I was willing to take a chance on because the summary of the book was so compelling. I found the story more than satisfying with characters that were vastly interesting and well-conceived. The plot was fast-paced. This is a dystopian unlike any I've read in six years of reviewing. Really a book that transcends all age groups. Young adults and adults, both, will love this one.
I thought the concept of continuing the Nazi ideal of an Aryan race was a great one, coupled with the modern extension of having the children be psychic and more. They were stealthy in their different roles, with different genetic/innate "gifts." The main character, Ellyssa in her aberration was engaging and exciting. I was drawn in to her struggle from the beginning and never faltered along the way. Other characters are strongly developed. Loved them and their different quirks and flaws.
The ending is perfect! And I look forward to what appears to be a set up for a sequel.
I highly recommend this book which may not be on the list of books touted by major publishers this season. It's a show-stopper! (Don't be thrown off by some editing flaws at the beginning of the book.) It's available on Amazon.
5 stars Deborah/TheBookishDame
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