BOOK REVIEW: GLIMMER: The Black Swan Files 001

GLIMMER: The Black Swan Files 001

by Tricia Cerrone (Goodreads Author)

Paperback, 434 pages

Published May 26th 2015 by Stone Media, Inc.

Goodreads synopsis:

The Black Swan Files begin…

At certain moments in history, when several impossible-to-predict events collide, they create what’s known as a Black Swan—an event that can change how we look at science, technology, even our history. Jocelyn Albrecht is one such Black Swan. Infected by the biotechnology her parents sought to develop, she has become human enhanced—an H+.

   The accident that gave Jocelyn new powers also killed her family. In their place she is raised at Camp Holliwell by her "uncle”—a government funded scientist—and his league of doctors who study and test Jocelyn daily in the hopes of learning how to replicate her. The military has another goal in mind—to make her an asset. 

   After losing one family and the home where she belonged, Jocelyn strives to keep her Holliwell family happy, as odd as they might be. That is until she finds out the truth…Uncle Laurence is using her as a guinea pig, her brother and sister are still alive, and she doesn’t have long to live.

   Now Jocelyn only cares about finding her real family. The problem—breaking out of a highly classified, military facility before the next experiment kills her.

   Seth Johnson had nothing left to lose when he volunteered to go to Camp Holliwell. Now he would do anything to get out. He wants to help Jocelyn escape, but with a target on both of them, survival means he needs to look out for number one.

   Georgie Washington is a straight A student and only child of middle class Virginians. Raised on civil rights and the horrors of American slavery, Georgie has a keen sense of what’s right and what’s not. She secretly befriends Jocelyn, and when no one else will help, commits to breaking her out of Camp Holliwell. 

   Graeme Rochester knows something is wrong, he just hasn’t figured out the connection to his family. One thing he does know—he would do anything to keep them safe. When the world at Camp Holliwell threatens that safety, Graeme wants to know why, even if it means a collision course with the government’s best-kept secret.

   These four people, from vastly different worlds, learn the true meaning of friendship and sacrifice when unpredictable events once again collide, and create the possibility of another Black Swan.

***

5 Stars

Let’s start this by saying THIS BOOK WAS AWESOME. GO AND READ IT! Best book (and series) of the year for me by far.

When Jocelyn was young her parents infected her with one of their experimental serums during the accident that ultimately got them killed She survived and thought her family was dead. Her uncle Lawrence had her best intentions at heart, or so she thought. The accident gave Jocelyn super-ish  powers and Lawrence wanted to duplicate those powers in others by using Jocelyn’s DNA. Even after 11 years he still hadn’t perfected the process. And Jocelyn was an unknowing captive for her entire life.

Then Lawrence’s plan begins to fall apart when Jocelyn meets another super soldier named Seth. This sweet talking southerner opens Jocelyn’s eyes and she begins to realize that the Haliwell facility isn’t her home but her prison.

Jocelyn decides to test the theory that the air outside the facility is poison to her. During this jail break, she meets Gerogie. Georgie introduces her to real friendship and when she is brought back to Haliwell, the two still manage to keep in contact through Georgie’s job at the local movie theatre.

Not long later, Jocelyn discovers that her brother and sister whom she thought long dead may actually be alive. And during an info gathering mission, she attracts the attention of her sibling’s half brother.

I haven’t given too many books five stars but this one deserves it. It pressed all the buttons for me and I was completely engaged while reading it. This book definitely has movie or tv series written all over it. The plot was entertaining and kept me guessing.  I loved the characters that were added along the way putting the right spice to this delicious recipe. I couldn’t wait to read book two and purchased it immediately.

I can’t remember where I came across this book but it was definitely my number one pick of the year thus far. Really excellent stuff. Highly recommended.

I had been in what I felt like was a reading slump for two years and this book helped me bust through that malaise. I am so grateful to the author fore such awesomeness. You are a true inspiration.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from Net Galley in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.