The Body Electric by Beth Revis
Published by Scripturient Books on October 6th 2014ARC from Blog Tour
Purchase on Amazon・Fully Booked
Synopsis
Ella Shepherd has dedicated her life to using her unique gift—the ability to enter people’s dreams and memories using technology developed by her mother—to help others relive their happy memories.
But not all is at it seems.
Ella starts seeing impossible things—images of her dead father, warnings of who she cannot trust. Her government recruits her to spy on a rebel group, using her ability to experience—and influence—the memories of traitors. But the leader of the rebels claims they used to be in love—even though Ella’s never met him before in her life. Which can only mean one thing…
Someone’s altered her memory.
Ella’s gift is enough to overthrow a corrupt government or crush a growing rebel group. She is the key to stopping a war she didn’t even know was happening. But if someone else has been inside Ella’s head, she cannot trust her own memories, thoughts, or feelings.
I have to admit I was nervous about The Body Electric as I first started reading it. I’ve never read anything by Beth Revis before and I really have never been known for reading sci-fi novels. That contributed to a very slow start for me. It took time for me to fully take in the completely high-tech post-war world of New Venice as Revis introduced it through the eyes of Ella Shepherd.
“The sea is a dangerous place because it makes you believe in forever.”
But then I started to finally absorb the world-building several chapters in because it was seriously vividly put and well-imagined. Also, the story started getting good. Like, suddenly swept away kind of good. Before I knew it, I devoured the book in a sitting and was thinking, woah that was fantastic.
“If I can only see him in madness, is it worth trying to hold onto sanity?”
Usually, I find that I like to focus on characters when I read- getting to really know the characters inside out- but I found that I wasn’t doing that with Ella or any of the characters. It was the plot that truly had me enamoured. It had twist and turns- not exactly surprising revelations (although there were a few) but turnabouts that made me eager to know more and find out what will happen next. Revis sure knows how to tell an interesting tale and keep it at a satisfying pace.
“What if eternity is nothing more than me, alone, in the darkness?”
More than that, the writing in The Body Electric was totally compelling. And oh goodness, the romance. It was pretty low-key but I absolutely lived (liked/loved) Ella and Jack together. The angst because of their to-be-discovered-further-in-the-story past (feels agh) and the fun banter just got to me. I’m a sucker for those things.
“He will never stand down. He will never give up. Not on the war. Not on me.”
This one was undeniably pretty awesome. Again, I don’t read much science fiction but I’ll be sure to pick up any of Revis’s books now and possibly read more books from the genre. The Body Electric was impressive and thrilling- overall a great read.
13 Responses
I keep wonderign whether I want to read it or not, I am reading a bit mroe sci-fi since last year, but I am just not sure whether this is a book for me. I do like fast paced books and slow building romances, so I might add this to my to-read list after all. Also did you feel like you miss something when you haven’t read the Across the Universe trilogy?
Scifi/paranormal/fantasy are not my preferred genres of reading, but I’m finding I’m enjoying them more and more. This book sounds fascinating and they way you’ve made it sound is incredible.
Oh wow! I’m so glad you enjoyed this so much. I have this for review and was a bit unsure about whether it would be for me but you have totally sold me on it! Fab review Hazel!
i have read her Across the Universe series…even though i wasn’t into sci-fi genre that much…i was happy that i really enjoyed that series..the mystery and the action packed scenes were very engaging.
I hope this one will be another winner for me :) thanks for this review.
Omg this giveaway is too much to ask for! Thank you so much!
The Body Electric sounds awesome. I really enjoy books that get deep down inside the characters, but a twisty turny plot at the other end of the spectrum works as well. Also, I really enjoy sci-fi, but I haven’t read much of it, so this book is perfect.
Great review, Hazel! I love the sounds of this one and honestly I love that the romance is low-key. Too many great books are “ruined” by romance taking over everything, IMO. And a twisty, action packed plot sounds like a great time to me! Glad you liked it! :)
Thanks for the giveaway and great review. :)
I loved Beth Revis’s Across The Universe series so I can’t wait to get my hands on The Body Electric so I can find out what I think of it…. Thanks for the giveaway! And great review, I’m glad you enjoyed it :)
I love Beth Revis so much and would love to win all the books! I’ve only read the first one, and haven’t been able to find the other one’s at my library so this is the perfect giveaway!
Thank you so much :)
So glad you liked it, Hazel! I read some of the Across the Universe trilogy–at least the first book, and maybe the second too?–but never ended up finishing it. This book caught my eye, though, first with its gorgeous cover and then with the interesting pitch. I still haven’t decided whether or not to read it, as I’m not always a huge sci-fi fan, but I’m glad to know that you liked it and I’ll have to keep it in mind for future reading!
I love the Across the Universe Trilogy, I love how Beth Revis comes up with these amazing story lines that are so different than any other book. You should do a book club type thing. I know that is want this is already what this is like but I enjoy talking about books with people that, well care about books and think deeply. I go to a school where no one reads for enjoyment, none of them really care.
I really wanted to read this coz of its beautiful cover, but now that I’ve heard more of the story, I find the plot quite appealing too! I didn’t like Across The Universe by Beth Revis much but I hope I’ll like this better!