Erased by Jennifer Rush

Series: Altered (bk. 2)

Genera(s): Sci-fi Thriller/Romance

Subjects: genetic alteration, abilities, memory, runaways, identity, secret government organizations

Setting: Michigan (Lower peninsula) during January 

POV/Tense: 1^st person POV (Anna) past tense

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 275 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $18.00

Publisher: Hachette: Little, Brown 

Summary/ product description: “They thought they had escaped. They were wrong.

After fleeing the Branch with Sam, Cas, and Nick, Anna is trying to make sense of the memories resurfacing from her old life. At the same time, she's learning how to survive in hiding, following Sam's rules: Don't draw attention to yourself. Always carry a weapon. Know your surroundings. Watch your back.

Then a figure from Anna's childhood reappears. Is it a Branch setup, or could it be the reunion Anna has hoped for? Uncertain of where her loyalties lie, Anna must fight to learn the truth -- before she is betrayed again. Ultimately, the answers hinge on one question: What was the real reason her memories were erased?

Jennifer Rush delivers a thrilling sequel to Altered in a novel packed with mysteries, lies, and surprises that are sure to keep readers guessing until the last age is turned.”

My Review: Erased is the second book in the Altered series. Not the final book. It’s currently supposed to be a trilogy. As a sequel, it was the fastest, most thrilling sequel I’ve read yet this year. I absolutely love all the character. Anna is an awesome protagonist. She loves to draw, which I love to draw too. She’s also pretty kickass and awesome. Sam is definitely a great guy and really cares about Anna. There’s a good romance between them. Sam is definitely sexy, but who knows how old he actually is. He’s probably around 25, even though he was altered and now ages more slowly. 

I like Nick, despite his anger issues and mean comments. He also cares about Anna and I was starting to think a love triangle would develop. Nick hides his emotions behind an angry and broody attitude. Cas is the playful and fun guy of the group. He’s always teasing and saying ridiculous things.  He is basically like Kenji from Shatter Me, personality-wise. Trev we don’t get to see much till later on. He betrayed Anna in Altered. We get to meet new characters, including people related to Anna. 

I like all the sci-fi stuff. The Branch is a secret government organization, kind of like Itex from the Maximum Ride series or Ultra from the CW’s Tomorrow People. Even though the science used is definitely fictional, it’s still a very interesting concept. It’s kind of like the CW TV show Beauty and the Beast. The boys are not truly genetically altered. Their DNA is not changing. It’s their body’s chemistry and hormones that are changed because of the Altered drug and the anti-aging drug. It’s kind of like steroids, but it has less negative effects.

Another thing that I love about these books? The setting. I’m probably reading it during the perfect time of year. It’s January, and in the book it’s January, In the lower peninsula or Michigan. My favorite frequent vacation destination, which I only go to in summer. The author is from Michigan. I know of a few other Michiganian authors: Courtney Allison Moulton and Aimee Carter. I’ve been to Traverse City and Grand Rapids multiple times, as well as Ludington and Muskegon, Hart and Warren and pretty much every city along the Lake Michigan shore of the southern peninsula. It’s so easy to picture the dunes, even snow covered. There is no Port Cadia, Michigan listed on the map, but there is an Arcadia. We drove through there, and I assume the author meant Arcadia but used Port Cadia. Also, they drove to Indiana in the book, which of course I’ve been to. I live in Chicagoland, Illinois. 

On that note, I just have so many feeling from this book. There were so many shocking scenes that had my heart racing and me hanging of the edge of my seat. I enjoyed this book inside and out and really wish it was about a hundred pages longer. I was kind of nervous toward the end because the plot started making me think that this was the final installment. A singular sequel. I read the e-novella Forged, which was great, but I wanted more. I was so relieved to find out that there is a 3^rd book. So what will it be called. REMEMBERED? Too many letters. CHANGED? To similar to ALTERED. SEVERED, CREATED? What do you guy think? 

I recommend this series to fans of: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, Maximum Ride by James Patterson, False Memory by Dan Krokos, Unremembered by Jessica Brody, Revived by Cat Patrick. Pretty much, if you love books with genetically altered/engineered characters that are on the run from secret government organizations, then you should definitely read this. It’s still refreshingly unique. 

Cover Art Review: I love this cover. The graph texture is interesting and the type of the title is unique. The orange is striking. I also like the hot guy.