REVIEW : Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

REVIEW : Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

   10:43 PM       Elisa

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Glitch

Author      : Heather Anastasiu
Publisher   : St. Martin's Griffin
Source      : Bought
Pages        : 308 (Paperback)

Summary from Goodreads :

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

Review :
I believe if you are into Dystopia or Sci-fi reading, you would be immediately drawn to what Glitch might offer you from its blurb above. It was what I felt at the first I knew this book. It seemed offering something cool and fantastic about dystopia world set in a futuristic society with absolute control through a mind-controlling chip implanted inside people's head and when they get 'glitching', they start to have certain supernatural power in sudden. Kind of reminded me with X-men, and I love X-men, so I was having high expectation that this book would be kind of mind-blowing. Sadly, after I finished this book, it was less than I've expected. However I still enjoyed it and still want to look more at the next book because I think this series still have potential to be more exciting.

I really loved the dystopia world Anastasiu built in this book. It's incredibly cool, like what I've imagine about a futuristic, high-tech society and seeing the world from Zoe's side makes it feels more real. I also loved some details like arm-panel with keyboard function, something I assume like USB / microchip slot implanted at the back of neck that can erase or control your mind, and the others, which are both really cool and eerie! But it's also ironic and pitiful that despite how high the technology has been developed, men lost the humanity and live like lifeless cyborg. The story moves in a fast pace and full with cool yet heart-pounding action scenes, shocking twist that make you want to read more and more. But yet, there are some flaws that actually quite bugging me I could not ignore them. Though the story moved in fast pace, somehow I felt it was kind of strange. There was a moment when the story reach an interesting point (I was kind of excited) ,then suddenly it was like, 'pof', everything was like starting all over again. Seriously I felt like being cheated =_=;. Maybe some of you who already read this book would understand what it is and probably feel the same way as I did.

I had a mixed feeling about the characters as well, and what the author has decided on building the relationship between them. At one side, I really liked Zoel, or Zoe. I really understand her anxiety and fear being glitched because for all her life before she was told it was wrong and she's overwhelmed with several new emotions she has never felt before. Her background as a part of the Community made it more believable. I really liked to watch her growing stronger, with Adrien's help, determined and willing to trust her own thoughts and feeling about right and wrong. But at the other side, as far as I want to understand Zoe's process of transforming, I have to agree with some reviewers that she's a bit unstable and inconsistent. Many times I got annoyed and frustrated by her wavering and keep-changing thoughts. There's also Adrien (loved his name because it uses 'e' instead 'a', btw ;p) Zoe's love interest. Compare to heroes from the other Dystopia series, he's not really stand out, except his aquamarine eyes and special ability can have glimpses of the future. He has a tender heart and quite smart, but he also seems weak comparing to Zoe even. Somehow I was disappointed of what the author has decided to be happened on him. I knew the author wanted to make it as a shocking element, but instead it was upsetting me.

The chemistry between Zoe and Adrien is happened too fast, it's obviously insta-love. Zoe's first feeling toward Adrien seemed absurd, she felt this 'connection' between them at the first she saw him, didn't really make sense to me because there was no explanation Zoe have known about this boy before. Not only insta-love, there's a love-triangle as well as Max suddenly declares himself. But at least we don't have to be confused to choose who's the best because I didn't like Max, at all. He's absurdly obsessed with Zoe, such an immature, selfish and arrogant boy I didn't really understand why bother making him as the third person between Zoe and Adrien. Zoe's naive reaction toward Max's temptation, although I clearly understand why, drove me crazy too sometimes, really strange to find a boy with those attitude attractive.

I'm not highly recommend this series but I think it's still worth a try for Dystopia fans. If insta-love doesn't really bug you, probably you could fully enjoy this book. Now it's time for me to grab Override, because, yeah, I need to know more about this series, what will happen to Zoe, Adrien and the rest of glitchers.
Happy reading! =)