Review: Reboot by Amy Tintera

Title: Reboot
Author: Amy TinteraEdition: hardcoverSeries: Reboot #1Released Date: May 7th, 2013Publisher: HarperTeen

Goodreads / Amazon 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.

Wren, also known as 178, is a Reboot. She died when she was twelve and woke up 178 minutes later. Now, Wren is a Reboot - a more perfect and killing version of her previous self. Wren, along with many other Reboots, are working for the HARC, but her thoughts change about her motives when she meets Callum. Callum, also known as 22, makes Wren question what she's been doing for the past five years. Callum's humanistic characteristics and his feelings towards her, allows for Wren to actually feel - something she's not used to.I was able to read the first few chapters of Reboot a few months ago, and I instantly fell in love. I was quite angry that I couldn't continue reading, because I knew I would have sat down and read this book in one sitting. Reboot was an interesting novel, with compelling characters and a plot so suspenseful it's impossible to put the book down. Honestly, it's a zombie-esque dystopian with some kick ass characters and a riveting romance. Wren has been working for the HARC for five years, and she doesn't question anything the HARC does. She doesn't know everything they do, but she simply goes along with it. Because she's the highest rated Reboot, she's required to train newbies and prepare them for their life as a Reboot. In the beginning of the novel, you see Wren as stone-cold with very few inklings towards having any humanistic characteristics. All she wants is to train Reboots to be the best and work for the HARC. When Callum arrives, that's when things start to get interesting. Starting out, Wren things that Callum is just weird - he smiles too much, he talks to her too much, and he's simply too human. But Callum starts to break down Wren's shell, and that's when we actually see Wren. She starts to question the motives of the HARC and notices the wrongness in their actions. Wren becomes an admirable character throughout the book, because she stays strong, but she starts to feel. She's intelligent, yet cautious. I don't know if I would label her as the bad-ass heroine like I talked about in this post, or if she would fall under the category that we should actually admire. If you've read the book, what do you think? Now onto Callum, number 22: the boy that's more human than Reboot. Callum wasn't dead for very long before he Rebooted, which means his human personality is very prominent. He questions things, shares his feelings, and ultimately falls for Wren. If Wren is the egg, then Callum is the egg-cracker (I guess...?) He forces Wren to open up to him, and she breaks under his charm and eagerness. Honestly, who would be able to resist Callum? He has a personality that you'd love to be around. I know that I would be drawn to him! As you flip each page, you notice the progression with Callum and Wren's relationship. They become more comfortable with each other and more protective. Callum is definitely a new book boyfriend of mine! I mean, come on! Callum just has so much charm, he's witty, and he's a wonderful angry dancer! ;) There weren't very many minor characters in this novel, but the ones that were showcased were pretty cool! Ever, Wren's roommate, takes up most of the first few chapters. Something weird is happening at night to Ever, and Wren wants to uncover what is going on. Ever epitomizes a young child to me - she looks up to Wren, portrays the small and weak, and is frightened most of the time. This allows for the reader to see that Wren still has some human traits before she even meets Callum. Besides this, there weren't many characters that weren't shown for a few seconds. Most weren't showcased enough to develop, which is okay. I was perfectly fine just focusing on Callum and Wren! I was amazed by the action in this book. Amy Tintera doesn't simply brush over the purpose of the HARC. Each mission is described thoroughly, which was awesome. I'm the girl that likes gore, so this sufficed my needs. Along with the gore, the setting was amazing. You got an idea of what the HARC compound looked like, and each mission was described. I was just in awe over the description this book had! I hadn't read any good dystopians lately, and I'm glad that I had a chance to read this one. Reboot was an intense dystopian that will have you in awe. It kind of saves all the past bad dystopians I've read. Great 2013 debut by Amy Tintera - it's definitely going on my favorite list! I can't wait to read more about Callum & Wren at the Reboot Reservation!