Review: False Memory (False Memory #1) by Dan Krokos @DanKrokos @DisneyHyperion

Blurb from Goodreads:
Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a boy who isn’t at all surprised by Miranda’s shocking ability.
Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn’t easy—especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can’t remember loving.
Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn’t seem to matter... when there may not be a future.
Dan Krokos’ debut is a tour-de-force of non-stop action that will leave readers begging for the next book in this bold and powerful new series

Title: False Memory (False Memory #1)

Author: Dan Korkos

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Publication Date: August 14, 2012

The Cover Contessa's Review

I want to thank Disney Hyperion for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. Receiving this book for free has in no way altered my opinion or review.

First, I have to say that I was pushed to read this book because the publisher sent me the second book in the series, and I do not read series out of order. Then, at BEA, I bumped into Jen from Jenuine Cupcakes
while she was standing on line to get the second book signed by the author. She told me that I must read this book. That it is so good I would not be able to put it down. Normally, I take people's reviews with a grain of salt, after all, everyone is so different in their likes and dislikes, right? But Jen, oh she was SO right. This book capture my attention from the first page, literally, and had me reading it without wanting to put it down. As a matter of fact, had it not been for the fact that my body was telling me I must get some sleep, I surely would have finished it in one day! Yup, it was that great.

Now, the cover of this book is just gorgeous. First off, I am a total blue fanatic. So that drew me right in. And the design is unique. Unlike so many other YA books we are seeing these days, this one does not plaster a boy or girl on the front trying to pull you in with their beautiful eyes or swoony good looks. And after you read the book, the cover makes total and complete sense.

Miranda is such a strong character. I was surprised at how feminine she came across considering this book was written by a male author. I think it's so hard to get that balance when you are writing from the opposite sex's point of view, but Krokos nailed it. She's completely relatable and real. I don't feel like she is contrived in any way. There is nothing soft and demure about her. She can kick some major butt! And, since she has no memories of who she was before, she starts to make her own memories and realizes that whoever she was doesn't matter because she can only be who she is now. The circumstances of her missing memory are quite a mystery. It's not that we don't know why they are gone, but it's why she starts to remember bits and pieces here and there, why she has flashbacks when she was told she most likely would not remember a thing. And she is on a quest to piece that puzzle together, whatever it takes. She does not sit back and just go by what others tell her, she actively seeks out what she needs to help her regain her life. As her mystery slowly unfolds, we find that she is fiercely loyal to her friends and would do anything to save them, for they are the only family she knows.
Now Peter, I really liked him. He's strong and focused and is not afraid to stand up for what he thinks is right. He makes decisions in the worst of situations, never showing fear or worrying that he may get hurt or killed in the process. His allegiance lies with his team, and he will stop at nothing to keep them together and to keep them safe. He has a bit of mystery surrounding him for sure. You know there is a connection to Miranda, but you're not sure what it is. On the other hand, you want them to be drawn to each other. I felt like he always had her best interests in mind and would do anything to protect her.
Noah, well, I'm not quite sure what to make of him. Like Peter, he has a bit of a mysterious air about him. But unlike Peter, it makes me feel I can't trust him, like he's hiding something from Miranda. At first, when I found out what he did I was really angry with him, who wouldn't be. But then I was kind of routing for him because i could not imagine the pain he was going through at watching Miranda be at a loss as to who he was. He seems to be a very impulsive person, which I think gets him in trouble more times than not.
Olive, well, she stands by Miranda, but she holds a "secret" of her own. She's fairly relatable, but I thought there could have been more of a connection with Miranda since she is supposed to be her best friend. She's certainly one of the calm ones in the group and doesn't make rash decisions.

As for the plot, it is totally and completely unique. A mixture of dystopian and sci-fi, it grips you right from the start. It's fast paced and engrossing. The underlying theme of memory loss and how the characters are able to keep their memories is very intriguing. I love how much action there is. There wasn't a moment when I turned the page to a new chapter and wanted to put the book down. It's non-stop and has your heart racing from beginning to end. I will say that I would have liked a bit more world building. While I would say this has dystopian elements associated with it, I'm not quite sure I would necessarily put it in that category. Since I have no idea the actual circumstances that brought the doctors to creating Miranda and her team, it's hard to tell if it is part of some kind of government plot or if it's just a bunch of crazy scientists who think they can rule the world. The best part of this story are the unexpected twists and turns it takes. When you find out things you were not expecting and it turns the whole story around, that's am amazing story line. It is completely engaging and there were moments when I had to stop and think about what was actually happening and how it related to other parts of the book. It was like the author slowly took the blinders off as you read!

And Dan's writing is flawless. He doesn't overly use adjectives or adverbs to fill his sentences. There is no info dump that takes you out of the story. Rather, he relies on the characters to paint a picture of his world. I love his use of flashbacks and how they come at moments when Miranda is least expecting to remember something. They give us a unique view into her "past". And Krokos writes compelling and distinctly unique characters. There is not one personality that is not unique or different from the other. Each scene plays out perfectly in my mind, each character shows me what is going on. And I love books where the images are so clear in my mind it's almost like a movie. I can definitely see this book making it to the big screen. It reminded me of Total Recall, which also had a very unique plot.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. It's a worthwhile read for anyone who enjoys a good sic-fi thriller with a bit of romance.

5/5 Fist Bumps

After pumping gas for nine years to put himself through college, Dan Krokos, now twenty-six, dropped out to write full-time. He enjoys watching TV, playing MMORPGs, and drinking coffee. Currently, he’s hard at work on the next book in Miranda’s journey.

You can contact him via Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr, or just go over to his house! For publicity requests, please contact Jen Corcoran at Disney*Hyperion. For rights questions, please contact Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary and Media.