Book Review - Cipher

Cipher
Author: Aileen Erin
Series: The Shadow Ravens #1
Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopian | Young Adult
Release Date: 14th October 2014
Publishers: Ink Monster LLC
No. Pages: 210
Source: Review Copy - Ink Monster LLC
Rating: 
Buy From: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Waterstones

In the not-too-distant future, the color of your helix tattoo shows exactly how your DNA was modified - green for super-smart scientists, black for pumped-up warriors, white for the immortal Seligo - but Cipher’s red helix is a death sentence. It’s a sign of unstable DNA, which is probably the reason she can manipulate electricity.

When she was eight years old, Cipher made the mistake of showing her uncle the tattoo. In return, he killed her parents and tried to kidnap her. She’s been on the run ever since, and twelve long years later, Cipher is tired of hiding. Survival isn't enough anymore. She wants her life back.

Hacking into the Citadel mainframe is a huge risk, but it pays off when she finds a database on red helixes. Before she can copy it, she loses control of her power, charring her last processor, and the only person in the Arizona Voids that can get her back online is her oldest friend, Knightly. She hasn't seen him in person since she started running, and Knightly 2.0 is fully upgraded with a six-pack and knee-melting smile.
For a girl like Cipher, trust doesn't come easily, but Knightly makes her yearn for a life she knows she can’t have, especially when every secret she reveals endangers them both.

I've been meaning to read something by Aileen Erin for a while now, I currently own the first book in her previous series, Alpha Girl, though the books and the author are very underrated I wouldn't have heard of her if not for Amanda's recommendation. When I first came across Cipher on NetGalley I was drawn to how beautiful and subtle the cover was. Too many times I've requested a book because of the cover only to not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. With Cipher's cover, we get a very simple cover but completely relevant to the story and the best thing? when you read it your review is your own and not at all swayed by the prettiness on the front. (do not try to lie, we have all be guilty of being a little bit more gentle on a book we didn't like because of the cover :P).

The story follows a red helix who has been on the run for longer than she's been alive, her name is Cipher. Red helix's have unique powers, her's is to manipulate electricity and since the death of her parents she has learnt not to trust anyone, never staying any longer than a few weeks at a time. She's only ever had one true friend, Hunter, and since she disappeared after an accident, he's been searching for her ever since hoping to repay her and protect her.

With this book we had a lot of adventure, friendship and romance. Though at times the romance was a little rushed, I know that they were friends once but it seemed to happen over night and that always get to me. The one thing I found let this book down was the amount of talking that was in the chapters, it felt like the scene setting, the character development and everything else suffered because of all the dialogue.

Because the book is in a series, and I did enjoy it even though it lacked a few important things, I really think this has potential and I've got my fingers crossed that it picks up because the characters and the setting was good, just not perfect yet and it's something that I think with time will become a brilliant story. It's just sadly hasn't got there for me yet.

Over all, I enjoyed it and I wish I could write more about the book but with the lack of description and sometimes explanation as to why there were helix's in the first place, I feel that to write a longer review I would have to give up some of the things that happen in the book and I'm not one for given spoilers away so unfortunately this is all you are going to get..

Though it will remind you of other books in the genre, it definitely has something different and it worth reading.