False Future by Dan Krokos

Series: False Memory (bk. 3)

Genera(s): Sci-fi/Dystopian/Action Adventure thriller

Subjects: genetic engineering, cloning, psychic ability, parallel universes

Setting: New York City

POV/Tense: 1^st person POV, present tense: Miranda North

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 308 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: Hyperion

Summary/ product description: “True Earth has returned during a massive snowstorm in Manhattan-and this time they have an army. Rhys, Noble, Sophia, and Peter know they don't stand a chance against the enemy without Miranda. And once they revive her, she's horrified to find her world in flames.

The enemy occupation is brutal, but the director promises to release her hold on the city if Mr. East is turned in, and Miranda and her team are determined to find him. With her grief over the losses she has suffered fueling her spirit, Miranda knows that this time the sacrifices have to be worth it.

Packed with suspense and deception, Dan Krokos brings Miranda's journey to a mind-bending conclusion as she risks losing everything in the fight for her future.”

My Review: False Future is the final book in the False Memory trilogy. The first book was False Memory and second book was False Sight. It’s a pretty awesome finale with a ton of twists. This series has so much action in this series. Lots of sci-fi stuff. Interesting world building and great characters. The group of characters reminded me of the Flock in Maximum Ride. I enjoyed all three books. They are short, fast reads and will surely entertain any teen who’s a sci-fi fan.

In False Future, big stuff is going down. World-changing events. True Earth, The Director and the Roses/clones are in NYC looking for someone: Mr. East. Miranda and Rhys pose as clones from a team by capturing two wearing red suits. They try to find out as much as they can. They try to fight back, but they may have to come up with a better plan. Miranda finds out what True Earth really is and who the director really is. Miranda’s past may not be what she thought, but neither is her future.

This book doesn’t have just one epic battle. There’s fighting through out it, and spying on the enemy and planning. Miranda finds that that clones of her friends act like her friends, but are still different. She also finds Peter later one also pretending to be another clone. There are some romantic scenes between them. There are also a few deaths of important characters, much like the previous book. I laughed, cried and was surprised. It’s everything you can hope for in a finale.

If you haven’t read any of the books, it’s kind of like Maximum Ride by James Patterson, Altered by Jennifer Rush and a bit of Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. There are clones and genetic engineering and villains with big egos. But the alternate worlds things is reminiscent of Fringe. Two of the characters share names with the main character Peter and Olivia, but it’s Miranda and Peter that are together here. I bet Dan Krokos is a fan of Fringe. Also books like Unraveled by Elizabeth Norris and Tandem by Anna Jarzab, which also include parallel worlds.

Cover Art Review: I like the key design in the computer chip and the colors are cool. Fits with previous books covers.

False Sight by Dan Krokos

Series: False Memory (bk. 2)

Genera: Sci-fi/Dystopian/Action Adventure thriller

Subjects: genetic engineering, cloning, psychic ability, parallel universes

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 327 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: Hyperion

Summary/ product description: “All Miranda wants is a normal life. She's determined to move past the horrible truth of her origin as a clone so she can enjoy time with her boyfriend, Peter, and the rest of her friends at school. But Miranda quickly learns that there's no such thing as normal - not for a girl who was raised to be a weapon. When one of her teammates turns rogue, it begins a war that puts the world in jeopardy. Now Miranda must follow her instincts - not her heart - in order to save everything she's fought so hard to keep. with the image of a terrible future seared into her mind, what will she have to sacrifice to protect the people she loves?

Dan Krokos's sequel to the tour de force False Memory is a mind-blowing thriller with high-octane action that will leave readers begging for the final book in this bold and powerful trilogy.”

My Review: I really, really, REALLY enjoyed this book!!! As sequels go, this was way more action packed with a ton of twists I never saw coming. I never expected this series to take the turn that it did. I don’t know if the author had it all planned out while writing the first book. False Memory was like the Maximum Ride series, and similar to Altered by Jennifer Rush, the Glitch series by Heather Anastasiu and other sci-fi books I love, and the show Dollhouse.

This second book reminded me of Fringe or Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris. It introduced a parallel universe. I never noticed that two of the Roses are named Peter and Olivia until I saw this similarity to Fringe. I bet you 50 bucks the author watches the show. At least he didn’t name his main girl Olivia or it would have been a dead giveaway. Miranda is kind of like Maximum Ride, and Sequel/Nina/other Miranda Clone is like Maya (Max R’s clone). Peter’s like Fang. Noah’s like Dylan, and Rhys is like a non-blind Iggy. I see the author have some definite influences. Even so, he creates a unique story.

There’s not as much romance in this book. There were fight scenes and adventure, and great world-building with cool technology. The parallel worlds were dystopian. Pretty different from our own, and one was ravaged by the Eyeless. I’m not trying to spoil the book. Just trying to get you excited. There’s never a dull moment in this series. It is non-stop awesome. I only wish it was longer. I really hate having to wait a whole year to get the rest of the story. I hated that cliffhanger at the end.

Cover Art Review: I liked the cover for False Memory better. The red is nice and the butterfly chip. Good typography.

False Memory by Dan Krokos

Series: False Memory (bk. 1)

Genera: Sci-fi/Action Adventure thriller

Subjects: genetic engineering, cloning, psychic ability, Ohio

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 336 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: Hyperion

Summary/ product description: “Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a boy who isn’t at all surprised by Miranda’s shocking ability.

Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn’t easy—especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can’t remember loving.

Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn’t seem to matter... when there may not be a future.

Dan Krokos’ debut is a tour-de-force of non-stop action that will leave readers begging for the next book in this bold and powerful new series.”

My Review: I really enjoyed this book. False Memory was exciting, thrilling and mysterious.  Because Miranda can’t remember her past, we get to learn everything with her, and wonder who can be trusted. I love the idea of genetic engineered teens with superpower/psych abilities, but these characters have 1 ability: to create mass panic.  For the most part, the evil scientist stuff reminded of Maximum Ride. And it surprisingly was not dystopian. This is set in the present (so is MR). It also reminded me a bit of the TV show Dollhouse, because the imprinted false memories. And at one point (the Beta Team) it reminded me of a book I just read called Glitch. The tattoo is kind of like the V-chip

I also enjoyed the characters. Miranda was tough, even with amnesia. Peter is so hot. I am totally Team Peter. Noah’s okay. I wish we had more of Olive. I think she’s Asian, and she’s nice and sisterly toward Miranda, even if Miranda doesn’t remember her. I want to find out more about their past, because I was a little confused, but got most of it.  

Cover Art Review: I love this cover. The illustration is awesome. The blue energy stuff looks cool. The title face is a combination of slab serif and sanserif. It’s matte, with metallic accents. In inside cover is light blue and black.