Blog Tour: DEFECTOR by Susanne Winnacker + Review and Giveaway
Hey everyone! Today is my stop for Susanne Winnacker's DEFECTOR Blog Tour. I'm so excited to be a part of this tour. Impostor was one of my favorite reads last year, and I'm happy to share my thoughts on book two in the series, Defector. Don't forget to check out the giveaway below and click on the banner to checkout the other fabulous bloggers participating as well as the awesome hosts Rockstar Book Tours. DEFECTOR releases on June 26th!
Title: DEFECTOR
Series: A Variants Novel
By: Susanne Winnacker
Author Info: Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Age Group: YOUNG ADULT
Genre Type: Paranormal, Science Fiction, Action, Romance
Publication Date: June 26, 2014
Pages: 288
Source: ARC - Publisher
Publisher: Razorbill
SUMMARY:
Tessa has finally made peace with her life as a Variant. She and long-time love Alec are officially a couple, and for the first time, she has everything she wants.
But the air is tense at FEA headquarters. An agent has disappeared, and rogue variant organization Abel’s Army is likely the culprit.
When Tessa is summoned for her second mission, she is unexpectedly launched into a massive conspiracy. Her best friend Holly is kidnapped and Tessa knows it was meant to be her. But who is after her? And more importantly, why?
When the FEA’s efforts to rescue Holly don’t yield any results, Tessa takes matters into her own hands. Desperate to save her friend and uncover the mystery behind Abel’s Army, Tessa launches her own investigation—but nothing could prepare her for what she finds. Everyone in her life is harboring secrets: Alec, her estranged mother, even the father she never knew.
The truth will take her out on the road and out of her comfort zone, with danger lurking everywhere. Summoning all of her courage and strength, Tessa must decide who can be trusted and what is worth fighting for—even if it means going against the life she thought she wanted. Her final decision will leave readers breathless.
Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads
Review
Defector is book two in Susanne Winnacker's young adult, Variants series. I was thrilled with Impostor last year and could not wait to get my hands on Defector. This series combines some of my favorite elements in young adult novels: Science fiction (that feels almost paranormal), action & suspense, and romance. The exciting science fiction element reminds me of X-Men. Tessa, our main character, has a gift to morph into anyone she touches. She's able to absorb their DNA, and mimic them. In book one, she joins FEA (Forces with Extraordinary Abilities), a secretive government agency and learns more about her unique abilities and that there's other like her called Variants. At the end of book one, there was an exciting murder mystery solved, the beginnings of a romance, plus many questions left open in regard to the Variants, the powers behind FEA, as well as the truth behind the mysterious group known as Abel's Army.
In Defector, Susanne Winnacker quickly whisks us back to FEA headquarters where new trouble brews. After an agent goes missing, and her best friend and fellow Variant, Holly is kidnapped. Tessa decides to take matters into her own hands and secretly begins to research the connections behind Abel's Army, the FEA and her unknown father. What she finds is lies, secrets, and heartbreak. In order to save Holly, Tessa is going to have to confront these secrets from her past.
This was an easy, fast read for me. The book picked up right where it left off and began answering questions left open in book one. There was a somewhat lengthy roadtrip filled with danger, action and chases that took up a large chunk of the story, but the saving grace part for me was the time was used wisely to discoveries hidden truths about many of the key characters in Tessa's life. Namely Alec, the Major, Kate, and Tessa's mother and father.
So, where as book one had more action and Tessa using her abilities as an Variant, this story was about internal struggles and Tessa standing up for herself and what she believes. It was about having the courage to go against all that she has been taught and led to believe. It's about fighting for the truth and learning who to trust. I had originally hoped to meet more Variants, and others with unique abilities in Abel's Army. I wanted tons of action, romance and cool special effects. What I got was somewhat different, but I was still completely satisfied. Tessa went through so much in this story, and is becoming a much stronger and resilient character. This second book is more of a journey for Tessa, but I'm still loving the ride.
I'm excited for the next installment in this series and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it gives more insight into these characters abilities as the last secrets are revealed.
My Rating: I liked it!
PLEASE NOTE: A courtesy review copy of this book was provided by Razorbill in exchange for my fair review. Thank you Razorbill for the review opportunity!
About Susanne:
Susanne Winnacker studied law before she became a full-time writer. She lives with her husband, a dog that looks like a sheep and three bunnies that have destroyed every piece of furniture she's ever owned in Germany. She loves coffee (in every shape and form), traveling and animals. When she isn't writing, you can usually find her in the kitchen, experimenting with new vegan dishes.
She blogs for The League of Extraordinary Writers.
Giveaway Details:
2 hardcovers of DEFECTOR and 1 IMPOSTER audiobook. Giveaway international. 3 winners.
