Altered

Fast paced and realistic. With a fantastic cast of characters, and intricately written action packed sequences, Altered was an amazing read. I liked that it was so different from most Young Adult novels because of it's very grown up story line when it came to the action. It was no holds barred for Ms. Rush with a thrilling adventure and a take no prisoners story line. Anna was a kick-ass heroine and along with her very bad-ass boys kept the stories momentum going.

Very young main heroine and a bevy of pretty deadly boys. Revelation based plot. Not really absorbing.

Great book! I read it in one day couldnt put it down. Loved the characters. The foul language was disruptive and unnecessary. If it werent for the language i would want to give it 6 stars.

Had aspects I wasn't that into, but very addictive and easy-to-read thriller with elements of sci-fi and romance.

Anna and her father run a lab in their basement. The boys are all caged in separate glass rooms and have unusual scars and tattoos on their bodies. Over the last 5 or so years Anna has become close with all of them, monitoring them and forming a bond with Sam. But the fact that none of them can remember their pasts is upsetting and eventually they must get free to find the answers.As the story progresses we find out that even with the loss of their memories, the boys have clues to their past. They must solve the puzzle while running from the corporation which is always one step ahead. But where does Anna fit into the story? The clues unravel that she has more to do with their past lives than even she was ever aware of. The pacing of the story becomes a roller coaster as they have very little information to go off of and cannot trust anybody. Very little down time and a twist or two that you won't see coming.Although our main character is a little on the naive and on the timid side, she has huge growth and character development, you'll definitely root for her. Sam, a favorite of mine is the pensive leader who cares just as much for everybody's safety as much as finding the answers.My favorite thing about this story is the variation of characters. I was surprised that even with everything that they experience it's like in some way all of the characters are soul-mates (not the romantic kind) but they all have some destiny that is tying them together. They don't fight with each other as much as I would have expected and are so close it's like they read each others minds. At first I was on the edge about the main character and her connection to the story but very happy with the end results and found it a page turner. I really enjoyed every minute.

This book was exciting, intense, action-packed and interesting. There were several unexpected twists and turns. The characters were appealing and well thought out. However, I never felt a connection between the main characters and there were several instances where these super-human people were just plain stupid. I expect more out of my super-humans. Areas of concern: (See my rant on The Raven Boyshttp://read-me-maybe.blogspot.com/201... .) The language was absolutely horrible, the "f" word was everywhere, not to mention all the other cuss words and vulgarities you can possibly think of. It was horribly violent, and not werewolf or alien violence, but people killing people violence. Blood splattering, vacant, staring eyes violent. There was also one pretty hefty make-out scene. So, do I recommend this to adults? Only if any of the afore-mentioned things are okay with you. Do I recommend it to YA - the intended audience? Definitely not.

I was disappointed in this one. It seemed like it would be a fast-paced sci-fi that really made you think, and while it does contain the plot outlined above, I found it to be lacking suspense. There was a sense of intrigue that followed me throughout my reading; I wanted to see what happened, but I didn't real care . I was not rooting for any of the characters, as I did not feel an attachment to any of them. I felt like a spectator throughout. My biggest problem with this novel is not with the plot, but the main character, Anna. She finds herself in a high stakes situation and her thoughts and worries are so shallow and self-centered she made me want to buy mugs at goodwill just so I could break them. The love interest, Sam, has severe memory loss, and once it is discovered that he might have been in a romantic relationship years ago that he cannot remember, Anna cannot think of anything else. She debates withholding information and doing strange things that would end up hurting everyone just because she wants Sam for herself. I mean... really? People have died in front of her, she has no idea what is going on in the home she left, her future is uncertain, people are looking to capture and/or kill her and her friends... and she is worried about another girl possibly taking away Sam's attention? It just did not seem realistic to me. Although I do have my share of criticisms, I did like the story. I do wish that I could have connected to the characters, because I think that is the link that would have made the action seem more dire. However, the plot made sense and I like how it came together like a puzzle. Sam, before becoming involved in whatever happened in the lab, had the foresight to put together a plan in case his memory was to be wiped. Seeing the bits and pieces of words, letters, pictures, and other miscellaneous clues come together to realize both the individual and collective history of the group was enjoyable.

Overall Feelings:Satisfied - no overwhelming feelings but extremely happy with everything overall.My Thoughts:Might be lame but if I had to put a label on Altered I would have to say it was well rounded. Not in a boring way mind you but more in a I got everything I was looking for kind of way.Told from the perspective of Anna, a 18 year old who lives a very secluded life with her father in rural NY, I knew Altered was going to be different right from the start. The fact that Anna as 4 extremely hot and possibly dangerous boys hidden away in a secret lab in her basement was my first clue. Didn't really need any more after that :)What transpires for Anna is a somewhat unbelievable and at times terrifying adventure. Honestly, if you really wanted to nit pick, the beyond belief overwhelms the thrills but I think Jennifer found really interesting ways to bring it all together.Anna herself wasn't a character I warmed up to easily. A little too much swooning and Sam, in my opinion wasn't really worth it but again - her actions and personality match up so even if I couldn't really connect with her I understood why she did and said the things she did.So really, overall? A pretty enjoyable read. Will I Continue the Series?:Yes.Although I think Altered works really well as a stand a lone, I'm interested in where Jennifer will take her characters next. I will for sure be picking up the next book.

A different read that blew my mind, I totally love it!The plot of the book is what got me hooked. Several boys living in a locked facility being tested on, secret government meetings, and a curious young girl who is not who she think she is...yup, loved it. Each chapter, the reader learn more and more about the secret facility, leading the reader to a breakout and the unloading of heavy burdens. For a moment while reading this, I had to catch my breath!The love interest is good but it did bother me a bit. For some reason (I'm sure it if is me) ALSO: SPOILER AHEAD ---> I'm bothered by the prospects of a boy falling in one with one sister and then the other. Is that weird? I mean, the love triangle in general already sets off the tone for me and then this??? Anyways, other than that, the love interest is what I thought. Lots of lies, torn hearts and of course lots of decisions to be made. I'm not sure how this love interest will go and I'm very interested in seeing where it develops.The other element I love about this story is the learning the back round history of the characters. Much of their memories have been lost. Learning about who they really are and what they done in the past, perks my interest even more. I want to know everything from the beginning. I want to know everything of who they are and why they were chosen. Yes, I need the next book.Altered is a fantastic book! Laced with much action and loads of secrets, this is a great ride to be on if you love the types of stories that hold more that what you know. Yearning to read the next book, Altered is awesome!

This book was nothing like I expected. Of course the premise drew me in, but the events that were going on throughout the book had me on EDGE. And obviously by the cover, there were so many hot literary guys, so that was definitely a plus too lol Sam, Cas, Trev, and Nick have been in Anna's basement since she could remember as part of a genetic altering experiment run by her dad's job. Suddenly her dad's boss decides its time to remove the boys from their spaces in their home. The boys use this time to escape and take Anna with them. During their time on the run, Anna finds out more about Sam and how they are more connected than she thought. From the premise alone I was so excited to read this. And the hot guy on the cover... Um yes please. When I was finally able to crack it open though, I didn't want to close it again. It was everything that I wasn't expecting. There was fighting, guns and shooting, and a huge mystery. Everything that makes an amazing book! I was on edge with all the nonstop action and got upset when I had to do real life things like work or cook! As for the characters. I love how each had their own voice. Especially the boys, since they had been held captive for so long.I was able to connect with every character and their emotion instead of just one or two. This is a difficult feat since this is a single person POV. In Altered, Jennifer Rush delivers a thrilling, action packed story of survival that will leave you stunned and on the edge of your seat.

I'm not sure what drew me to Altered in the first place. Something about the original blurb that showed up on Goodreads got me to add it. But as newer blurbs started to come out, I wasn't so sure. Then, I saw the cover and I thought: maybe this isn't such a good idea. This doesn't really look like something I'd enjoy. Yet, I decided I might as well try it out. Why not?Something going on in Anna's house. Her father does strange genetic experiments in their farmhouse, and a group of four boys live in her basement -the subjects of these experiments. As Anna gets to know the boys, she falls in love with Sam, and when an organization called the Branch threatens to take the boys away, they stage an escape and Anna goes with them. Now on the run, the secrets about the boys start to come out...When I finally sat down and read this book, it didn't seem to be anything like what I remember it sounding like. Maybe because its been so long since I actually read the blurb, but I felt like this was not at all what I was expecting. And even though my expectations were pretty average, Altered disappointed me.Probably the best way to describe just about everything in this book is flat. The writing is very average, and the author seems to have trouble with giving the characters and plot any depth. I could barely make out the setting -all of the descriptions were incredibly vague and everything just started to run together. I also just didn't believe just about anything in this book. The romance between Anna and Sam did not feel real at all. The book just started out with "I'm in love with Sam" and that's it. No real reasons, no build up, no explanation -just a statement that is supposed to accepted by the audience about this awkward romance thing.Anna's motivations are also very flat. She only really seemed to leave with the boys (and helped them escape) so there would be a plot. And once the secrets about the experiments on the boys and Anna's past started to unravel (which took far too long, by the way), there just wasn't much there of interest. All of the big reveals were just flat, uninteresting, and boring. And since the characters are so flat, I didn't care about any of them, so their secrets meant nothing to me and many of them felt like they were tacked on with no depth or build up. I really think the author just made up stuff as she went and didn't take the time to work important plot points into the story better, so it all felt spontaneous, out of left field (and not in a good way) and disjointed.I really wanted to find some redeeming factors with Altered, but there really aren't any. This book is just flat when it comes to every element, and I barely finished it out of boredom (and it's not even that long!). Don't waste your time with this one.

Fast paced and realistic. With a fantastic cast of characters, and intricately written action packed sequences, Altered was an amazing read. I liked that it was so different from most Young Adult novels because of it's very grown up story line when it came to the action. It was no holds barred for Ms. Rush with a thrilling adventure and a take no prisoners story line. Anna was a kick-ass heroine and along with her very bad-ass boys kept the stories momentum going.

ALTERED was a great science fiction thriller. Anna is used to her life with her father doing scientific experiments on the boys in the Lab. She is homeschooled and just about finished with high school but doesn't know what she is going to do next.Anna has built her life around helping her father with his experiments and befriending the four boys who are prisoners in his lab. Her best friend among them is Trev but it is Sam who is the object of her crush. Nick scares her and Cas is a light-hearted goof. When the Branch decides that it is time to remove the boys to whatever secret thing is next for them, the boys manage to escape taking Anna along with them at her father's request.Since the boys have all had their memories wiped, they are all trying to follow cryptic clues tattooed or carved into their bodies. They are also trying to keep ahead of the Branch agents who want to recover them at all costs.Along the way, Anna learns that the life she led might have been just an elaborate fake. Her perceptions of everything from her past change and her world is remade. There was a bunch of action and dangerous situations in this one. There was also a growing romance between Sam and Anna. This book begins a three book series and, so, leaves questions unanswered. I know it made me want to read the rest of the series as soon as possible.

To be honest, I didn't have very high hopes when I went into this book. I mean, I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but the guy is half naked. So I wasn't expecting great literature, but I was hoping for an entertaining book. And this book really hit the spot for me!The narrator, Anna, is at first rather boring and shallow. There are four boys locked in her father's secret lab in the basement, but she seems to accept this as normal. She thinks that the four test subjects volunteered to become super soldiers or something of the like, even though it is plain that at least one of them is very upset with being in captivity. In fact, every single one of the four boys, whom Anna views as friends except for Nick, has to be gassed into unconsciousness before anyone can approach them. And Anna is seriously surprised by the amount of anger Nick has towards her once he is free. She is even more surprised when Sam, her crush, admits that he manipulated her to becoming close with him so he could get out of there. LOL seriously Anna?But the book becomes much more interesting quickly after the initial boring first few chapters. It's full of action and twists and turns, and it was exactly what I wanted to read. I devoured this book and could barely put it down, wanting to know what would come next. And I ended up buying the rest of the series just now. ;) Also, super shout out for Lancaster, Ohio being mentioned. ;D

This book was fast-paced and engaging, especially finding out what was really going on with the Branch. However, there were some things that pulled me out of it: Anna leaving her house with NOTHING but her mother's journal (she couldn't have thrown some stuff in a duffle bag in a couple of minutes?); Anna leaving the hot water running while she eavesdropped, wasting both water and the fuel in the generator; and the fact that I figured out one of the "twists" about half way through. There were also some potential continuity issues, but they may just have been my poor memory at work.

This was a fun read. I don't know if I'll bother to read the other book(s) in the series.

I really liked how different this book was! Could not put this down!

I loved this book! I took every spare moment to read it and started the second in the series immediately after finishing Altered. The story is about a group of older teen boys, the lab in which they live, the girl who helps care for them and The Branch, a top secret group determined to create super soldiers. Sam, Cas, Nick, and Trev are the subjects that are being 'altered' to be the perfect soldiers. Their memories erased, they manage to escape the farm where they are being held. As they run for their lives, they take Anna with them. Throughout the book, they are faced with running for their lives while having flashbacks and trying to decode who they are and where they come from.Anna discovers that her life is not what it seemed to be and is faced with heartache, betrayal, and flashbacks, just like the boys. A fast paced story of intrigue. I loved it. I canno wait to read the finale.

When it's time for the four genetically altered boys in the basement lab to escape in a bloody shoot out, what's a girl to do except join in the flight? Another galley loner from a co-worker, it was a serviceable thriller that moved quickly with chaste romance and lots of killing.

Altered by Jennifer Rush is a book that has so many twists and turns to go with the suspense! Four teen boys are locked in a lab in a basement where a teen girl and scientist dad live. The boys have no memory of before. Occasionally the dad's boss comes to check on the work. The girl doesn't know what the blue are doing down there, she thinks the government is making soldiers stronger. She has tried to be nosy and got caught and was in deep trouble. She really likes the boys and hats the boss. The boss comes to take them, it has been years now they have been in the basement...and they try to escape. The girl makes a rash decision and helps them. Now they are on the run...but ...There is so much more! One of the boys left himself clues because they had wiped his memory before! Lots of action, adventure, suspense, intrigue, touch of romance, and government corruption. Loved it!

It was not bad at all, actually. I gave it 3 stars because, for me, there were several "oh good grief" moments in the tale, a few events that really didn't need to be there (in my opinion) and put bumps in the road of reading. And a few things are slightly predictable.

What I did like was the wonderful sentimental feel of Anna's recount, and I thought the author did a really nice job of describing the main character's emotions. Except for those bumps in the road, they were too big to be ignored. I also liked the mystery, and I am looking forward to reading more of it. Anna, by the way, was a pleasant surprise- She is quite dull and helpless in the beginning, and spends a lot of time admiring the boys' muscles. But she evolves (slowly) and becomes somewhat stronger. There is potential for her character.

As a side note that has nothing to do with this particular book, in the past few months I've read an awful lot of these YA books instead of more "serious" books, and could not for the life of me understand why. SO many of these - not this one, but in general - are utter fluff, insulting and ridiculous. While I feel I'm nearing the end of my obsession with YA, I'm pretty sure that I will continue to read a few of these. Why, no one asks? I'll tell you why, since no one wants to know. :-)

I've read my share of "serious" stuff... Brave New World, To Kill A Mockingbird (my fav), A Handmaid's Tale, American Gods (which I haven't updated yet), and a whole mess of others that are sitting on my bookshelf that I haven't scanned in here yet. In my opinion as a "book tourist", these are fantastic books (American Gods has a subtle sense of humor I totally enjoy), but they lack something that I like in a book. Emotional depth. So many serious books hit it right when it comes to plot, character development, et cetera, but I don't believe the emotions or there aren't really any. Or they are there, but it feels like they are wrapped up in plastic wrap.

Many of these YA books lack what the "grown up literary books" have (not all, of course, some really are well done). So I guess they make good compliments to each other.

To end a useless review, let me just say: In my explorations for the perfect book (and I hope I never find it), there is one catagory in which I am rarely disappointed. Cookbooks. Now THERE is some steamy reading, sizzling plots, and sweet endings.

Crème Brulée, anyone?

4.5 stars

Well, this was a pleasant surprise! I'd had this book for two months from the library and I finally picked it up with two days until it was due back (I'd ran out of renewals, even). Figured I'd give it a shot. Welp, I couldn't put it down.

Admittedly, I don't read much YA anymore, but Altered felt new and fresh and unique in a way so few YA books do for me. The plot was fast paced, exciting, intriguing and kept me turning the pages. The characters were flawed, but likable. I really loved the MC's voice, and that is generally a make or break for me.

The twists and turns this book took were well done and a couple even threw me for a loop.

While this is the first in a series, this book felt complete enough that I feel confident recommending it to fellow series haters. There were plenty of questions left unanswered, but only the kind that will make for an exciting, page-turning series, and not the kind that make me want to throw the book across the room after the last page.

This one is definitely worth a try.

Altered by Jennifer Rush was the very first book I read for the YA/MG Debut Author Reading Challenge this year, but I’ve had a really difficult time pulling together a review for it. When I originally picked it up I raced through the story; it was soooo addictive I couldn’t put it down until I finished in the wee hours of the morning. Yet getting my thoughts in order for a review has been extremely challenging for some reason. I’ve decided to face my nemesis, however, so now it’s time to take a look at Altered.

What I Loved

Addictive!: As I noted above, there was no putting Altered down once I started. I loved Anna and "the boys" from the moment I met them - even Nick, the angry one. I don't know quite how to describe Jennifer Rush's style, but everything just flowed so well and built up so perfectly that I just HAD to see what would happen next and where the story would go. Which leads me to...

A Twisty Tale: Twists and turns abound in Altered, with unexpected betrayals and revelations around every corner. And I do mean unexpected - I never saw most of them coming! Which led to shock and heartbreak as events unfolded. I was devastated by the end of the narrative and found myself hoping that some of what occurred could be corrected and/or forgiven in book two. What I loved, however, is that everything made sense in the world that Jennifer Rush has created. Nothing was completely "out there" or unbelievable. There are lots of answers to discover, since every revelation left new questions in its wake.

First-Rate Heroine: From the top on down, characters were interesting, well-defined, and distinctive. Anna was such a wonderful lead, so natural and easy to like. She cared for the boys, loved her dad, and tried everything she could to keep everyone safe. While I didn't particularly agree with her "no kill" strategy (I wanted the bad guys gone!), I could see where she was coming from after the upbringing she had. It took time for her to get her head around how much danger they were really in once they were on the run, which was understandable. When things went haywire, however, she stepped up and took on the challenge of confronting the enemy on their own turf in a smart and strategic manner. Like a Marine, she never left a man behind.

Four Swoon-Worthy Guys: Sam, Nick, Cas and Trev - four hot guys with brains and brawn, but no idea what lurks in their pasts. And the answers aren't found here, which is okay with me. Each boy stood out as they were introduced: solid and steady Sam, angry Nick, ADHD Cas, and literature-loving Trev. Anna's heart may be drawn to Sam, but Cas almost seems like a little brother to her while Trev is her best friend. Nick is the wild-card, pissed-off and dangerous, yet he was written in such a way that I still cared about him. I think that is part of Jennifer Rush's secret ingredient with Altered; she has a way of writing about each character that makes them relatable and easy to fall for. I really want Anna and the boys to get a happy ending; I care about their fates. And with the betrayals and revelations I mentioned above, those happy endings are going to be difficult to find.

What I Liked

Action-Packed: Altered is like a summer blockbuster movie, filled with action, violence, and intrigue, but balanced by character moments that gave me a chance to release the tension that built up whenever the guns blazed. And, boy, those guns blaze! All four boys have been genetically altered to be the perfect killing machines (but are they meant for good or evil?) so when anything endangers them or gets in their way, deaths are going to occur - it's just a fact. Their priority is to protect each other and Anna, and they will use any and all means to make that happen...which provides plenty of action to keep this story moving.

The Branch: The agency that funds Anna's father's lab, the Branch is a viable threat throughout Altered as they remain hot on the heels of Anna and the boys once they escape the lab. Black SUVs, GPS tracking, kidnappings, snipers, well-armed mercenaries...the Branch has and does it all. But what are their plans for the boys? Why are they interested in them? What is ALPHA? What about Anna's dad? So much left to discover!

What I Didn't Like

This is one of those novels where I just don't have any negatives to bring up. I wouldn't change a thing. (Edit: However, I do wish more details of the story had stuck with me for a longer period, and I didn't have to pick the book back up to spark the memories.)

Conclusion

Jennifer Rush's Altered is an extremely exciting debut novel that is suspenseful, filled with interesting characters, and packed with action - plus with four hot guys it is very hard to go wrong. There were enough twists, turns, betrayals and revelations to make the story fly, and I never felt like anything came completely out of left field; it all made sense within the world the author created. A lot of the basic world-building is set up here, and there are plenty of intriguing directions the story could go. I can't wait to discover what happens next!

First of all, I think it’s been ENTIRELY too long since I last posted a review. As for how I feel about this book?LOVE.Each of the four boys in this story have such diverse personalities that I can’t help but fall in love with. There’s Cas with his abounding hilarity and wormhole of a stomach; Trev the deep thinker who’s the best friend you can ask for; Sam’s leadership and quiet constancy; but then there’s Nick with his inexplicable hostility toward Anna.And who is Anna really?And to answer your unspoken question, I can’t pick which of the guys is my favorite–that’s WAY too hard. Personally it’s a toss-up between Sam and Cas. Throughout the entire book you know Sam is the one the author is pairing Anna up with (it’s the most obvious fact in the book) and I’m a complete sucker for the author’s intended romance. But while I was reading, I couldn’t help but fall in love with Cas, because he is hilarious and who doesn’t love a funny guy? And he’s always eating which I can relate to, being that my stomach is never satisfied;) But then Trev is this thoughtful guy who is Anna’s best friend, and we all know how hard it is to not fall in love with the best friend. And even Nick, who happens to be a complete jerk most of the time, ends up taking a little piece of my heart with his protectiveness over Anna (albeit a really little piece . . . just a sliver).There were SO many times while reading this that my mouth just dropped because I was completely floored by plot twists that sprang up like BAM! Everything I thought I knew for fact is shaken as more and more layers are unveiled. The story is overflowing with suspense and action, AND let’s not forget those swoony boys;)I was a little restless at being out of the loop with all that Branch business, though–I mean, it felt like forever before I really learned about the nefarious organization. BUT I do understand that was kind of the point–Anna and even the boys are in the dark about the Branch and what exactly their purpose is. That’s a huge part of the plot, and . . . I don’t know what my problem is, I guess I wish I wouldn’t have been confused about what the Branch was for as long as I was.All in all, I am a fan of this series and I can NOT WAIT to read the next installment! 4.75/5 STARS;)

Altered was fast paced and action packed causing the 323 pages to go by in the blink of an eye. The story focuses on five main characters; Anna, Sam, Trev, Cas, and Nick, but is told solely from Anna’s perspective. I’ve yet to read a book with such a large group of male lead characters. It was nice to have so many guy characters that weren’t all fighting for one girl. Sam was the romantic interest and that was that. The guys each had a very distinct personality, which were pretty stereotypical. Sam was the closed-off leader, Trev the braniac, Cas the comic relief, and Nick the brooding jackass. Maybe the author wanted to make sure we didn’t get them confused by giving them such different personalities? I dunno. Cas was my favorite. He constantly had food on the brain and always knew how to lighten the mood. For me, Anna was just an okay protagonist. I liked her for the most part except her obsession with Sam which felt overbearing. I usually don’t like when a book focuses on a romantic “connection” rather than showing us the slow build of a relationship, but for some reason it didn’t bother me so much in this case. Overall, this was a fast read that held my interest from start to finish. I look forward to seeing where the story goes in book two, hopefully we’ll get some more answers about the characters’ pasts and how exactly they got involved with The Branch.

Originally Reviewed at Witchmag's Boekenplank*pats herself on the head* What a great idea it was to ask this book for my birthday (and thanks mom for giving it ^^)! As soon as I started reading I was enraptured. It’s a well thought out story, where everything clicks and tension and ignorance prevail. I had so many questions that could not be answered. Cause what was going on with those boys? What kind of experiments are they doing? Who can they trust? What is their past? Where did they come from? I can go on and on like this. And there was nothing that quenched my curiosity. Frustrating, but in a very good way. It kept me reading and made me like the book more and more.Anna, though, was the biggest and most intriguing piece of the puzzle. There’s obviously something going on with her and the boys. But what? Oh I loved that expedition ^^ It felt a bit like an Indiana Jones movie with lots of wrong tracks, unexpected surprises and a sizzling showdown. Sometime I was too shocked for words with the unexpected twists. The totally eye-opening turns and what not. It was great fun to read this book.I have to confess that I was a bit annoyed with Anna at the beginning. She has four boys locked up in her basement and she doesn’t even think of helping them escape? I mean who wants to spent the rest of his life captured? Isn’t there some way to tell the authorities? Slowly I comprehended why she couldn’t do a thing: “The Branch” sounds like something related to the government and who else could she go to for help? There’s also her father, the only family she has left. She can’t betray him! I finally understood why she and the four boys made the best of it. They are unable to do anything else…In retrospect, though, Anna didn’t leave a deep impression on me. Now, when I’m musing and pondering about what to put in this review I can’t recall her that well. I can remember all the shocking events (and Nick, sucker for bad boys ;) ), but not much about Anna. She was too overwhelmed by all the events to actively participate in anything. Such a shame I didn’t get to know the real her. The romance, too, felt a bit dull. But what can you do when you find yourself in life threatening situations and are very busy with saving your lives? So I could understand that romance was not a top priority in this story, but I hope there can be some smex time in the next!Conclusion4 HEARTS. A thrilling story with lots of action and a puzzle that needs to be solved. Full of unexpected twists, dead ends and wrong trails. Anna, our heroine, felt a bit lifeless and acted like a wallflower. She was too overwhelmed and out of her league to shine in this book. I also hoped there would be a bit more romance in this book, but everyone was too busy with saving their lives. I still loved reading this story and can recommend it to everyone who likes to read about hot guys and likes action ^^

**I received an ARC but that did not influence the review** The original review was posted on The Book Hookup



Well, maybe a few: amazing, 10 stars, OMG, flailworthy. And while I'm freaking out, do you want to know what my first thought was (yes, the cover snob in me raises her head) LOOK. AT. THAT. COVER. Yes, that was my first thought and I'm not too proud to admit it. Then I dove in. My next thought: boys in the basement?!?! what the??? *reads furiously even though it is midnight*.

Yes, my friends, I was fascinated by page 1. This book is intense, wild and has some pretty f*cked up stuff going on. Altered will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Don't fret my romance loving friends, this book still make times for matters of the heart. With a romance and all the action this book is a total win. Let's get into the nitty gritty, shall we?

The Story: Altered begins with Anna checking in on the 4 genetically altered boys she and her father keep records on. She wishes they could be free, but any questions Anna asks are answered with "that information that is classified." Anna trusts her father and goes along with him, until the day men from The Branch come to check in. The boys stage an escape which turns Anna's world upside down, and set off the avalanche of more questions and danger.

The Heroine and Hero: I have to start with Sam. He is brooding, mysterious, chiseled and gorgeous. Oh, and did I mention tattooed? (look at the cover again for a visual). He is a tough nut to crack, but Anna chips away at him and can't resist or ignore the connection she has to him. Sam is smart, brave and full of strategy, which is why he leads the other 4 boys.

Anna has lived her whole life believing certain facts to be true, but as she spends more time with the boys she realized most of her life was a lie. She has always had a kind heart, but the danger and evil she is faced against force her to step up to protect herself and take charge. She grew so much by the end of the story. I can't wait to see her in the next installment as I'm sure she will be even more kick-ass than this first book.

The Supporting Characters: There were 3 main ones: Trev, Cas and Nick. At first I said to myself how am I going to keep all these cute boys separate in my head? Well, soon enough I got to know each one. They are all quite close and very different. Even though Nick was cold hearted, I couldn't help but like him. Even though his memories had been wiped, he was sure about his past, "I might not remember who I was before there, but I can bet it wasn't all sunshine and f*cking roses." Trev is Anna's best friend and Cas has a fabulous sense of humor. I loved them!

Twists and Turns and Double Crossings: Oh no he didn't!!!!! Oh yes, he did. *sobs in the corner*. I'm not giving up on him yet, I still think there is hope. Is that cryptic? Ha, I don't like spoilers so that is the best I can do! Just trust me, you will love the double-crossing!!

The Title: Perfect.

The Branch: EVIL! I can't help but wonder if it is called that for a reason. Holy symbolism.

The ending: Phew, not a cliff hanger, but man oh man this is not going to be a very long breather.

Rec it? A million billion times YES. Also, drop Ms. Rush some lovin on twitter if you read Altered and love it. She is awesome to interact with on twitter and really makes the whole experience even better. :) Happy Reading!

Originally reviewed on A Reader of Fictions.

Despite the slightly more boy-friendly cover (maybe? I'm guessing. It seems like it holds more boy appeal than some, but I'm not sure about the shirtless guy), Altered is definitely what we generally quantify as a girl book. The main subject of the book, it's driving force, is romance, with all of the science-fiction-y aspects coming second. If you're in the mood for a really hardcore dystopian novel, this is not the one I would recommend.

We'll start with the things that I liked. The best part was Rush's writing style. Her writing is neither overly ornate nor laughably simple. I thought it worked with the story and the intelligence/education level of the heroine, Anna, from whose perspective we see. The only downside, which I'll extrapolate on later, was the tendency towards hackneyed phrases when it came to romance.

The science stuff was definitely cool. Though much of why this is happening and precisely who is responsible for it remains unanswered, Rush has not left her readers completely in the dark like some dystopian authors like to do. I hope to learn more about the processes and any special skills the boys have in the next book. I've always been a sucker for stories about people with special powers, whether mutated or scientifically-given, so this was right up my alley. So far, the book is not especially dystopian, although I think it does qualify, since the government does know of and fund the Program. Still, it's definitely not the best example of one.

There were, however, quite a few things I did not like. First off, there's the characterization. I hardly feel any connection to any of these characters, even Anna. Since I'm looking a the world through Anna's eyes, I ought to care whether she gets Sam, the boy she's been obsessed with for years...but I don't. Other than the fact that she likes to draw and drools over Sam, I know very little about her. She's sometimes sarcastic, but otherwise she's mostly just naive and kind of boring. The boys are a bit more interesting, with Sam being the one I have the least interest in. Actually, the character I liked best was definitely Nick, who I think was supposed to be the one that I didn't like.

It will likely not come as a surprise to find that I did not ship Sam and Anna, since I wasn't invested in either one individually. The biggest problem I had with them as a ship was that there didn't seem to be any reason for them to be into one another, aside from the whole physical attraction thing. Sam seems so much cleverer than Anna, and they really don't seem to share any interests aside from living. There was never anything to explain why she crushed on him so hard or any conversations between the two about something normal to show a real connection, a possible basis for a relationship not driven by heightened we-could-die-at-any-moment emotions. As far as I can tell, their feelings are manufactured solely by the conditions in which they find themselves.

Perhaps the biggest reason that I couldn't handle them, though, was how obnoxious Anna was whenever she thought about him. She indulged in the kinds of phrases YA heroines love to bandy about that always make me want to punch everything. Here are a couple (though they're from the ARC and could be changed pre-publication):

"If I had known the night before would be our final night together, I would have spent more time with him.
I would have told him how much he meant to me, that not a second went by when I didn't think about him."

Let's analyze this, shall we? It should be noted that this is early on in the book and Sam has expressed zero interest in her romantically at this point. Her phrasing implies a stronger connection than they had (they played chess together at night, which he always won). What really irritates me is the second half where she says that 'not a second went by' without thoughts of him. Really?! How does she manage to function? Well, she kind of doesn't. She really doze zone out a lot while thinking of him, but, still, think about the implications. When she's taking a dump, she thinks of Sam. All of her dreams? About Sam. NO.
"I fought for air but came up short, like I was drowning, like the panic had filled my mouth, my nose. I gulped. Sam tipped my head back and air trickled into my lungs. This was not happening. Those men were not dead. And Dad was not shot. And I was not so close to Sam that I could feel his breath on my face."

This quote is worse, as the first can be dismissed as merely a poetic flight of fancy, exaggeration used to show the scale of her love (obsession). This one, though, not so much. Let me add some context: Sam has just shoved her against a rough brick wall, only to stop her from punching him but still. Her first reaction is panic. Okay, good so far. Then disbelief at all the crazy shit that went down (many men were killed so the boys could escape). Realistic response. Her final reaction? Squeeing over how close she is to Sam. *headdesk* This guy just killed a bunch of people, shot your father, and shoved you into a wall and you're STILL distracted by how sexy he is. Oh, HELL TO THE NO.

That all sounds quite harsh, I know, but Altered was a fun, if mindless read. I definitely intend to continue with the story and hope that, since Rush's writing is good, that she will develop further with her characters. Personally, I would love to see a wrench thrown into the story...like Anna starting to like Nick instead? That would be awesome. My opinion: fun book with sexy boys and action scenes but with some major issues.

How far would you go to figure out the truth if your memory had been wiped clean against your will?In Jennifer Rush’s debut young adult novel, Altered, seventeen-year-old Anna has always wondered about the four teenage boys kept in a scientific lab in her basement. For years, she and her father have run tests on the genetically altered boys for her father’s employer, the Branch, though Anna was never quite sure why. The one thing she does know is that she now cannot imagine her life without them: Cas, the funny one, Nick, the tough one, Trev, her best friend, and Sam, the one that she secretly loves.But Anna’s world is turned upside in the matter of moments the day the boys escape from the lab with the help of her and her father. After promising her father to protect her, Sam and the boys must bring Anna along as they run from the Branch and search for the truth about their pasts. Who were they? How did they become a part of some experiment? Every time they unravel one piece of the mystery, a new piece of information surfaces, sending them on a wild goose chase for the truth. Ultimately, Anna and the boys find there are very few people they can trust—perhaps not even themselves.Despite the underlying romance in the storyline, Altered is definitely an action-packed book that could be enjoyed by teens of both genders. The chilling idea that a secret agency conspiring with the government could be using genetic altering drugs on human subjects is almost believable, making the book that much more intriguing. With every turn of the page, readers will be enthralled by the complex mystery that surrounds Anna and the boys, and by the end, readers will be shocked at the unexpected twist of events. Although Rush does an amazing job of piecing the storyline together by the end of the book, readers will unfortunately be left with some questions unanswered—such as why the Branch targets teens for their experiments, and why specifically they went after Anna’s family in the first place. It is certainly a source of frustration from the reader’s standpoint, leaving them lost until the next book in the series is released. Nevertheless, Altered is a fascinating book that deserves a place on every teen’s must read list.

Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyI’m a big action movie junkie. I love the shoot outs, the car chases, the heart stopping moments when it seems impossible for the good guy to survive. Add in a little romance and I’m in heaven. ALTERED by Jennifer Rush has all of that. It’s like a YA version of The Bourne Identity, but instead of one Matt Damon, we get four.What I especially loved about ALTERED was that it didn’t sacrifice character development for the sake of action. Each of the boys in ALTERED have a subtle and distinct personality. Any one of them could have been the protagonist of their own book. We get to know each of them intensely through the eyes of Anna, but there is a special focus on Sam, the quiet and strong leader.The mystery in ALTERED was also fantastic. Tons of surprising twists and perfectly paced clues. There was nothing predictable about how the plot unfolded, and yet, looking back, every significant event and revelation was foreshadowed so that it ended up fitting perfectly. Now that’s skilled writing.Intense and exhilarating, ALTERED mixes suspenseful action, juicy mystery, and intoxicating romance. I did not want it to end. Fortunately, there are two more books currently planned. There is a very satisfying resolution at the end, so my mind is already running wild about what may lay in store for these characters.Sexual Content:Kissing

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Runaways try to remember their past while figuring out their future.Opening Sentence: For most of the last five years, I wasn’t allowed in the lab.The Review: Anna’s always known about the boys. Even before she was allowed into the basement, she figured out the code and made a midnight visit — playing chess with Sam, joking around with Cass, chatting with Trev or (cough) ignoring Nick. Now she works for her father. She draws blood, works on charts or just pretends to be busy while she watches Sam. But the Branch has plans other than keeping them locked up underground. When Conner comes to the house to take the boys, Sam makes his move. In minutes, Sam has the guards killed and Conner on the run. But what to do about Anna? Her father pleads to take her with them, and the boys reluctantly agree. Now on the run, Anna has to help the boys regain their memory before the Branch and Conner find them. But the boy’s memory aren’t the only ones that will be questioned. Funny, unpredictable and action packed, Altered has all the potential for a fast-paced series.I admit, this book let me down. After all the good reviews I’ve read about this book, it didn’t seem to meet the standards. Yes it has cute boys and several fight scenes. But the boys are in their twenties and the heroine (Anna) is only sixteen. Add in the weird twist in the middle and it makes for an awkward romance. The beginning and middle was fast-paced, but the beginning of the end (that’s about 3/4 of the way through) was as slow as a turtle (not quite a snail). When it was just Anna and Sam together at the end, the plot slowed, and there was a lack of anything interesting happening. But that was just a few chapters that can be looked over. The main problem I had with the book was the heroine.Anna is unpredictable. First she’s all I-don’t-know-what-to-do during a fight scene, then she’s all wham! kick-butt extraordinaire. Yes, the book does explain her strength, but her actual fighting skills? Where do they come from? The guys at least had a past where it’s possible they could have learned fighting before they had their memories wiped. Anna is so naive. She doesn’t understand why all the guys won’t tell her their background or what’s happening at the moment. Seriously? You hardly know these guys. Just because you visit at night doesn’t mean that they’ll spill their guts to you. Plus they’re GUYS. I don’t think guys show their emotions when you ask them to.BUT. Who cares about an inconsistent heroine when there are FOUR hot guys in the picture? (Okay, I do, but still. This sorta shadows the problems)Sam is the leader. He’s the most focused and serious one out of all of them. He’s very mysterious and hardly ever shows his emotions. His main priority is to get his memory back, but unfortunately they’re coming back slowly and painfully. Now that they’ve escaped from the lab, all four of the boys start having flashbacks, but Sam has the most frequent flashbacks. I didn’t exactly fall for this guy right away. And the twist in the middle (the same one I mentioned in the beginning) threw me off. But by the end of the book, I came to respect him, but not necessarily fall for him. No, that honor goes to the snarky, ADD Cass. This guy reminds me so much of Puck from Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey series, that I absolutely HAD to love him. His humorous personality and snarky comments are especially Puck-esque (see notable scene). Plus, who doesn’t love a witty guy that can fight like a boss?Trev is one smart cookie. And I would slap him right now if I could. Nick I would slap at any point through the book, but he has an excuse. He came from an abusive family. His flashbacks probably tie with Sam in being the most painful. But still. His flashbacks didn’t start until they escaped, so why was he a jerk in the basement too?Overall this wasn’t a bad book, per se. There were parts that I’m not a fan of, but there are others that I love. Some of the parts I don’t like, maybe you will, so don’t mark this off your to be read list yet. It definitely has potential for the next book. So read it or don’t. It’s not a world-changer if you don’t, but it’s worth the time if you do.Notable Scene: “Well…” Cas propped himself in a fork of branches and looked down. “Are you pumping me for gossip? Because that’s what it feels like.”I warmed. “What? No!”“Come on, Anna, you’re in love with him aren’t you?”I could barely make out his facial features in the darkness, but I didn’t have to in order to hear the sly smirk in his voice.If Cas know I liked Sam, did Sam know? Of course he did. I wasn’t exactly secretive about the whole thing. But hearing it out loud changed everything. I suddenly felt nauseous.I put my face in my hands. “Oh my God.”The tree branches rustled. Cas dropped to the ground next to me and patted my head. “It’s all right. Go ahead and admit you’re in love with me, too. Let’s get everything off our chests while we’re at it.”I swatted at him but he dodged away. “You’re not making me feel better.”“Who said I was trying to make you feel better? Fact: Sam’s got swagger. Fact: I’m straight. Fact: Even though I’m straight, I sorta love the dude. So I can’t say I blame you.”FTC Advisory: Little Brown Books For Young Readers/Hachette Book Group provided me with a copy of Altered. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.