Mila 2.0: review & giveaway

Title: Mila 2.0
Author:
Debra Driza
Rating: 
3.5 out of 5 stars
Release Date: March 12, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Age Group: YA
Source:
ARC provided by the publisher


GIRL ANDROID.

That should probably be the extent of my review, because you can pretty much tell by your reaction to those two words whether or not this book is for you. If they get you nearly crazed with excitement (guilty! I'm raising my hand), you should probably just cancel your dinner plans for next week when the book is released.

If you read the freebie short entitled Origins, you already know that a devastating fire has changed Mila's life. As she's trying to adjust to her life in a new home, she's also suffering from memory loss--not a great way to start off at a new school. It's not too long before Mila realizes that she's not like other girls, however, and the threat of having her secret exposed means she has to go on the run.

Mila 2.0 is one of those books that pumps you full of adrenaline because it's just so. much. fun. After a somewhat uneven first half, there are amazing action sequences in the second half of the book that had me on the edge of my seat to see what happened next. This book has been described as a Bourne-style thriller, and while I'm of the opinion that nothing should be compared to those films because that's just asking for trouble, I can see why that description was used. Between Mila's trying to figure out her past and the fantastic chase and fight scenes in the latter half, there's some truth to those claims.

There are, however, some things I think could have been finessed to make the book better. Aside from a couple of touching moments with Mila's mom, I didn't feel too much of an emotional connection to Mila herself. There is also a woeful overemphasis on romance in the beginning, too many references to Hunter throughout the story that don't pay off, and an annoying, annoying, annoying friend named Kaylee. Overall, better character development, more complexity and less predictability in the story, and a little more strategic thought would have added more depth and emotional stake to Mila's story.

But Mila's story is pretty darned fun, and I think that the things that could have been improved are outshone by the things that are spectacularly well done. This book is pure entertainment, and best enjoyed the way you'd absorb an action film--with popcorn and a big grin. Besides, come on! Remember the first two words I said up there? GIRL ANDROID. She got me right there.

A solidly entertaining debut. Strongly recommended for: fans of action-oriented books such as Divergent and Blood Red Road.

This review also appears on GoodReads. An advance copy was provided by the publisher.

Win an advance copy of MILA 2.0!

Thanks to our friends at Katherine Tegan Books, we have an ARC to give away to our readers! All you have to do is leave a thoughtful comment below and fill out the Rafflecopter form.

This contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents aged 18 and up, or 13 and up with parental permission. Please see form for complete rules. Good luck!

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