Surrender by Elana Johnson

Surrender by Elana Johnson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads: Forbidden love, intoxicating power, and the terror of control…

Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.

All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn. Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque.... Forbidden love, intoxicating power, and the terror of control…

Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.

All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn. Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque....

My thoughts: I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Possession. Elana Johnson's series is right on par with "The Uglies" first two books.

Why this story stands out in the dystopian writings: Johnson creates a world that is detailed enough to be believable, including all the tech gear, mind control tactics, and sectors, but not so detailed to bore the reader. Also, the supposed technology is new and interesting.

The other stand-out feature is the characters, their abilities and their relationships with one another. Last book we met Vi and Jag. I need to re-read this book because I didn't recall as much as I should have. That said, if you read the books out of order, you'll still get it. Established early on is that Vi and Jag are important to Director Hightower who has absolutely no redeeming qualities. Although they play a key part in the story, the real story between Gunner and Raine (Hightower). Also making appearances are the previous mentioned two, Venn, Vi's match, and Thane Myers.

It is a post-apocalyptic world where a new government will hopefully bring order back but turns awry in a controlling and lack of freedom way. The way the people are controlled are two-fold; technology which tracks them and feeds them lies, and Darwinian mutants with special powers of control. The trick is to identify those who have these gifts and either brainwash them or bully them into submission. OR, the Resistance gets to them first and enlists them.

Very well written book that builds perfectly on the first (as far as I can remember, anyway) but can be read alone. Details of the society are well established and character development is excellent.

*I received a free copy of this book from publishing company in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.