Review: Perception by Lee Strauss

Title: Perception

Author: Lee Strauss

Source: ebook from author for review

goodreads...

Seventeen year old Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along-side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans.

Her brother Liam is missing.

Noah Brody is a natural who lives on the outside. He leads protests against the GAPs and detests the widening chasm they’ve created between those who have and those who don’t. He doesn’t like girls like Zoe and he has good reason not to like her specifically.

Zoe’s carefree life takes a traumatic turn. She’s in trouble and it turns out that Noah, the last guy on earth she should trust, is the only one who can help her.

PERCEPTION is a ( SF/mystery/romance) Young Adult novel that takes place in the not-too-distant future in a world changed by climate extremes, natural disasters and impending wars, and where scientific breakthroughs cause class divisions—both financially and philosophically. It explores the clash between faith and science and how differences can separate us as enemies or ally us together. And in some cases, even in the midst of betrayal and personal crisis, there’s room to fall in love.

This is the first book in a planned three book series.

My take...

Zoe is a GAP (genetically altered person). She lives a pampered life within the guarded walls of Sol City. She wants for nothing and never gets sick. She has a great boyfriend and her brother is her best friend. Zoe has always relied on science as a way of life and life is good.

Noah is a natural, those that are beneath GAPs and live on the outside of the guarded walls. Sometimes he has to take over for his mom and clean up after Zoe and her family. Noah has always fallen back on his faith when life hit him square on...life is anything but good.

When Zoe's brother, Liam, goes missing Zoe feels she cannot trust anyone...anyone but Noah. As they start on the journey to search for her brother, secrets start revealing themselves. Why are there hidden files on her scan chip? Who is Zoe really? And what secrets was Liam hiding from her?

I will admit first off I am not a huge fan of Sci-Fi books. I am ok with some movies, but I guess I don’t have the imagination to read the books. Secondly I will say that this book was pretty good. I enjoyed it and only found myself confused by Sci-Fi talk about 3% of the time. Probably the only thing that got me, besides the small amount of sci-fi jargon is that it started off a little slow for me. But the story did pick up about a fourth of the way in and it was well paced thereafter.

I did however like the mystery that went with the story. I always enjoy trying to figure stuff out before it gets revealed. Then I can pat myself on the back if I got it right or applaud the author for sneaking one by me. And Lee does just that. Excellent writing and a suspenseful story line had me reading and reading eager to see the outcome. Very happy with part 2 of the story which was Noah’s POV. I thought it was very well done and loved how it played out. Very sweet!

Fans of Sci-Fi will really enjoy Perception. There is a little romance but it doesn’t over take the story. It was just right! Lee now has me hooked and interested in what happens next. I am looking forward to book 2 and what happens to Noah and Zoe.