Acid - Emma Pass

*I wrote this review a long time after reading the book entirely from memory (not the best idea) so this review may be vague and not brilliant.

Source: Netgalley
Pages: 431
Publisher: Corgi Children's

Synopsis: The year is 2113. In Jenna Strong's world, the government has fallen and the elite police force, ACID, rule the country. They have a huge hold of the country, nothing goes unnoticed or unpunished. It is ACID that put Jenna in prison for life for killing her parents, something she struggles to remember. However, a rebellous group break her out of prison and she has to use all she has learnt to uncover the truth behind her parents her deaths.


Review: Emma Pass' debut ACID has been something that was talked about on the blogosphere for a while at the moment particularly for British bloggers. So I guess I'm a little late to the party. I'm not sure why I suddenly decided to read this. I guess I needed a good dose of dystopian and when I saw this book in my local library, it seemed like a good time to read it.

A lot of dystopians now come in the form of trilogies (*cough* Divergent, The Hunger Games *cough*) but most of all, they nearly always 100% come from America. So when I see a British author writing dystopian...well, it's just so nice to see. So I was expecting quite a lot from ACID especially since a lot of bloggers I know have recommended this book to me.

And wow, this book performed. I loved Jenna to pieces, particularly her feistiness and attitude that brought to much to her character. She is clever and determined, which although there are a lot of dystopian heroines like her, she is one that stands out above the rest, I'm not entirely sure why. I guess it's her fearlessness, her strength and just her determination. She's a strong character both physically and emotionally.

The world is one that it entirely unique and brilliantly created with the whole idea of Big Brother looming over the writing and the events that happen within the book. I liked how the reader is allowed to get more absorbed in the world through letters and reports dispersed between chapters - it made me get into the book and try and predict what would happen.
The book is certainly action-packed and reminded me a lot of an English version of Divergent and a little bit like The Declaration series by Gemma Malley. I liked the big action bits that would then be interspersed with quieter, emotional moments that almost hint at something else big about to happen. There is a serious political element to the plot which I saw some relations to the current situation, making the world and plot more real.

This was a brilliant, absorbing book to read that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I love that it was set in the UK and it is just so refreshing to see a UK author being something different to the world of dystopia. I'm looking forward to reading The Fearless, Pass' next book. ACID is action packed with a strong, female lead that raises questions about society in such an engaging, superb way. Emma Pass is definitely one to look out for in the future.

I give it a 5 out of 5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher to allowing me to review this book!

On My Bookshelf (41)

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I have a confession to make.
So here goes....I'm a little bit obsessed with Netgalley.

All the shiny covers. The sparkly 'Request' button. JUST ALL THE BOOKS THAT I WANT TO READ. I sincerely hope SOMEONE agrees with me on this...


E-Books

- Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein - I've heard so much about Elizabeth Wein and her first book Code Name Verity yet I was a little apprehensive about picking it up for some reason. However, when I saw the synopsis for this, it sounded so, so good. 

- The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles - There was a feature in a magazine recently about Beth Reekles, an 18 year old who published her book online originally before it was published in paperback when it got so popular. I'm intrigued to see how she writes especially as I'm the same age as her. I've read some dodgy reviews about the book and the cover and name makes me cringe a little bit but this should be an enjoyable, light-hearted read. 

- Acid by Emma Pass - After seeing Lucy at Queen of Contemporary's review, reading the synopsis and finding out Emma Pass is British, I was kind of sold in terms of this book. I've always loved a good dystopian and the fact this is written by a British author just makes me anticipate it more. May have to read this soon...

- Witchstruck by Victoria Lamb - I've just finished a History A-level specialising in the Tudors so I KNOW this period of history pretty well (I've already spotted a few historical timeline mistakes in The White Queen). But it's also a period that you don't see particularly many YA books on. I'm not usually a fantasy/magic kind of girl in reading but this sounds pretty good. Also, some of my go-to bloggers for historical books gave this book a great review so I hope I agree. 

- Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott - Ah, Elizabeth Scott. She's an author I've heard SO much about yet never read anything by her so I was SO HAPPY and SO EXCITED to find I'd been approved to read Heartbeat on Netgalley. Although this isn't the right cover, I actually really like it because of its simplicity. 

Bought:

- Wolf Hall & Bring Up The Bodies by Hilary Mantel - I've been wondering and wondering whether to read these books for over a year now, since Hilary Mantel won her second Man Booker prize. I've been given countless recommendations by customers at work but it was the sheer size of them that was a bit daunting. Like I said above, I love the Tudor period and know a lot about what happens. I've always felt a bit sorry for Thomas Cromwell as well so I'm probably the best candidate to read these. I may start these when I start university as I probably won't be reviewing much then as I settle in. 

- I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith - A colleague at work told me she read this when she was about 16 and it really kind of changed her. It sounds really interesting and something I would enjoy in a book so I thought I'd give it ago. 

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Let me know! Link back to your own versions of On My Bookshelf and I'll take a look at what you received this week.