Reboot by Amy Tintera

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 365 Pages
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Narration: First Person: Wren
Genre: Dystopian/Paranormal
Challenge: Paranormal/Debut Challenge

The Reboot Series:
Book One: Reboot
Book Two: Unknown (2014)
Book Three: Unknown (?)

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Goodreads Synopsis:

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.

My Review:

"5 Years Ago, I Died.

  178 Minutes Later, I Woke Up."

Well....I was, and still am, confused about my feelings towards Reboot. Since I decided to skip out on reading reviews, I was left to my own devices to try and figure out which direction this story would take. My guess? Way. Way. Off. I should've expected something more zombie related, considering the slogan/saying on the cover pretty much screamed "The Walking Dead," but for some reason, that thought never crossed my mind. Despite the obvious signs, I was still expecting some sort of science fictiony based novel that focused on scientists who somehow devised a method to upgrade humans with a "Reboot" that allowed them to run faster and have quicker reflexes than the average person. I feel sort of stupid now.

Wren, the protagonist, was one of the main reasons why I got so confused by this book. I went into it expecting a cold-hearted, detached soldier who was ruthless in her decisions and actions, because she didn't have any emotions to get in the way. And she was like that, to a certain extent, just nowhere near the extent that I expected. Even before Callum, love that name by the way, walked into the scene, she still retained a wide range of emotions from her past human life. Maybe I'm imagining things or reading too much out of situations, but one thing I definitely know for sure is that the statement, "No. There was no human left in me," was completely false. And when Callum did come into the picture? *Facepalm* She completely lost her Reboot personality and transitioned into someone who blushed every time her crush was around.

The intriguing premise was the only reason I kept on reading. It was so interesting, innovative and unique. This is, essentially, a zombie story, but to be honest, it didn't feel like it. Trust me, if it did, I would've been running the opposite direction, screaming like there was no tomorrow. Zombies freak me out like no other, and I'm pretty sure that I would rather stab myself repeatedly with a pencil before picking up another Zombie related book. I digress, anyways, Reboot had a theme that I've never encountered before, and considering how many YA books that are out in the world today, that's saying something. Amy is incredibly talented with world-building and weaving together an intricate world, down to the details of the very houses in the slums of Austin. Any author can describe surroundings, pff even I can do that, but very few are able to describe it in such a way that would leave you with the image seared into your brain even once you've finished.

I wasn't a huge fan of the romance. The love interest, Callum, was a decent guy. He had his admirable moments, and I liked the fact that he held tightly to his morals. However, he did seem to be lacking in the self preservation department. Sometimes I just wanted to scream at him to be just a little bit more subtle in his methods of defiance, instead of openly insulting the very people who could call his elimination. Rebel? Of course, but please do so in an intelligent manner! Even though something said or done can fix the here and now, it doesn't always fare well in the long run. Although he irritated me a lot, I was still fine with their romance, at least until they escaped their prison. Nothing irks me more than when two people start making out while there fleeing for their lives.

Overall, Reboot was not what I expected. The premise turned out to be way off from what I originally thought, but what I found instead was so much more enthralling. The characters all took me off guard as well,  but this time, they didn't end up surprising me in a good way. Wren was nowhere near as badass as the synopsis made her out to be, and she still retained many of her human emotions, even after her Reboot. She was the same as any other Reboot girl, and I still don't see what made her so important. Not sure if I'll read the sequel when it releases, but I might give it a shot if I have some free time on my hands.

Heroine- 2.5/5

Romance- 2.5/5
Comedy- 3/5
Action- 3.5/5
Overall- 3/5