The Body Electric by Beth Revis Publisher: Scripturient Books on October 6, 2014
Genres: Dystopia, Sci-Fi, Young Adult
Pages: 351
Format: eBook
Source: Blog Tour
Purchase: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Rating:
The future world is at peace.
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.
At A Glance
The Body Electric was suspenseful, mysterious, and created great images, but the pacing was off.
The Good
I have not read Revis’s Across the Universe series, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Body Electric. I was pleasantly surprised! The mystery kept me in the dark until it was ready to be revealed. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. The romance gave us just a taste of what Ella and Jack had. The imagery was phenomenal. I could easily visualize all the futuristic designs and technology. The corrupt government was a slow burn, not in your face. You wouldn’t even have known anything was wrong if Ella hadn’t seen the clues. The whole package really left an impression.
Ella seems like an average girl at first, just trying to live life and take care of her dying mother, but boy does she have surprises waiting for her. The twist really stepped up Ella’s character. It was both devastating but empowering to her. I like how all the little weird things about her came together in the end.
Jack was a bit of a mystery for most of the book, but I liked him in general. I would have liked to know a bit more about him, but I think not knowing so much was the point. His big reveal at the end genuinely surprised me. The side characters all added greatly to the story. The concept was extremely unique. Never read a book like it. It almost had an Inception (the movie) feel sometimes. Great writing and plot.
I guess there is an Easter Egg in this book in connection to Across the Universe. I wish I knew what it was, but I don’t. This is a standalone book but I think it’s cool that it had a little connection with Revis’s other popular series.
The Bad
The pacing was a bit off. The beginning was slow and the end was fast and rushed.
When the mysteries were being revealed I didn’t believe all the explanations given. Too convenient, not well thought out or cohesive.
The Snuggly
The romance is a very small part of the story which was fine with me, but I think some will wish it was more developed. Very young adult, no sex, barely any kissing.
Final Thoughts
This book only made me want to read Revis’s other series. Good quality writing, plotting, and story telling overall. The pacing wasn’t my fav, but I still loved this book. Very recommended.
Quotes
“The sea is a dangerous place because it makes you believe in forever.”
“If I can only see him in madness, is it worth trying to hold onto sanity?”
“What if eternity is nothing more than me, alone, in the darkness?”
“You don’t know what it’s like,” he says finally, his voice so low I can barely hear it. “To have loved you the way I loved you, and for you do not even remember who I am.”
About Beth Revis
Beth Revis is the NY Times bestselling author of the Across the Universe series. The complete trilogy is now available in more than 20 languages. A native of North Carolina, Beth’s most recent book is The Body Electric, which tells the story of what was happening on Earth while the characters of Across the Universe were in space.
Giveaway
This is a tour wide giveaway
Jaclyn Canada
I’m a huge fan of Inception and the mind games it plays. I love this cover! It’s very unique and in-your-face. I love when mysteries are a big player in the plots, and pacing only really bothers me if the slow parts are boring. Great review!
Jennifer Bielman
You would LOVE this book. It really did blow my mind even if it wasn’t perfect.
Giselle
Great review, Jennifer! I love how well written this sounds – especially character wise. And the twist has been mentioned in a few reviews I’m super curious now! I love a good unexpected twist – those are always the books that stay the most memorable for me!
Jennifer Bielman
True, big twists keep a book fresh to me for a long time. There is definitely a lot of surprises in this one.
kindlemom1
I have yet to try this author but it sounds like I definitely should not start here with her work. Sorry the pacing was off, that can make it hard to really get into the story.
Jennifer Bielman
I would like to see how her Across the Universe series is.
Bieke @ Istyria book blog
Great review! I’m really excited to read this one!
Jennifer Bielman
You should, it’s good.
Braine Talk Supe
It bothers me too when the motives are more of an afterthought to justify the conflict. Still it doesn’t look like it took away much from the story so that’s a good thing.
Jennifer Bielman
No, it was still a very good story!
Olivia
I am actually also part of the tour, and when I saw you reviewed it on the schedule I knew I wanted to come by and check out your review. I would say I thought the same on a lot of points. It was amazingly unique and I loved the idea, I just wish the pacing was a bit more equal!
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, we had a lot of the same points. It was really too bad about the pacing.
Melliane
It’s nice that the mystery was so really well done and kept you in the dark all along the story, it’s what is the most important sometimes. I’m glad you had a good time. great review!
Jennifer Bielman
Thanks. I love being surprised. I feel like guessing the big reveal is so easy nowadays.
Lekeisha
This is on my wishlist/TBR. I actually can’t wait to read it.
Jennifer Bielman
Awesome. I hope you love it.
Christy
Okay, now I just want to know what the damn Easter Egg is. I read the AtU series, but would probably miss it because I don’t remember. lol.
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, I need to get to AtU soon.
Red Iza
I didn’t want to read this one, but after what you told us about the imagery, I’m willing to reconsider 😉
Jennifer Bielman
I think you should try it!