Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Series: Aberrant #1

Publication Date: April 17, 2013

Source: Tour Host

In the future Dystopian society of Cabal, the government instills equality for all and offers its citizens the perfect system. There is food, shelter and jobs for everyone. The one requirement is to follow the rules without question, including the government's match in marriage and "The Day of the Chosen", a lottery that randomly selects families to conceive children as natural means hasn't existed in generations. Following her eighteenth birthday, Olivia Parker accepts her requirement to marry her childhood best friend, Joshua Warren, and is eager to start her work assignment and new life when it all comes abruptly to an end as she's arrested and thrown in prison. The only crime committed, her existence. Olivia is unlike the rest of the world born not from "The Day of the Chosen." The truth haunts the government and puts her life in grave danger as one simple fact would destroy the perfect system. 

With Joshua's help, Olivia breaks free of prison and is forced on the run. Together they set out to find the promised rebel town in search of a new home and new life together. Their situation seems less than promising as they reach the town of Haven. New rules and customs must be adhered to in order to stay. Leaving would mean most certain death in the large expanse of the Gravelands. Time is running out as the government mounts an attack to destroy Olivia and bury her secret with her. Thrown into a world unlike their own, they must quickly adapt to survive.

You know what they say, time goes fast when your having fun. Going by that premise, I must have bee having the time of my life as I read Aberrant, Ruth Silver's debut novel in one sitting and I didn't feel like a minute had gone by, let alone the many hours that actually did! From the Prologue to the last page Ruth Silver had me excitedly flipping through the pages wanting to know what's happening next. I was actually surprised when I got to the last page as it slowly dawned on me that the book already finished and I didn't even know it was close to finishing! It wasn't left on a cliffhanger but I had not been aware that the book was coming to an end, that's how much I was enjoying it! 

Olivia Parker is unlike any other child, she is conceived naturally at a time and place where this has not been the norm for quite some time. When the Government finds out they arrest Olivia and her Mother, Samantha immediately, ensuring their secret remains hidden, but when the Rebel Alliance steps in and helps Olivia escape she is able to breathe easy knowing she's got allies. Unfortunately, as Olivia and her best friend, Joshua, makes the journey to the Rebel Alliance town of Haven, what they find when they arrive there is not much better than what they left at their hometown of Genesis, there are rules and there are expectations for Olivia. Is one governing body really better than the other? Could the couple trust anyone or are they in it all alone?

Aberrant is a fast-paced debut novel that was filled with action and heart thumping moments, as readers are constantly made to guess who can be trusted and what their ulterior motives were. I absolutely loved the main characters, Olivia and Joshua, they were both very mature and sensible from the beginning. These qualities really helped them through their journey as they deciphered who they could and couldn't trust. I felt extremely sorry for the two as they left behind a trail of people they thought they could trust that proved them otherwise. I just felt the loneliness that they were feeling, not to mention the disappointment, as they found again and again that there were no one else to trust but each other. 

I really enjoyed Olivia and Joshua's connection and I'm a bit torn because I know that they're childhood sweethearts and will be romantically involved in the future, but I kind of felt like their partnership was somewhat of a best friend or sibling partnership more so than a romantic one, however, the romance, whilst touched on within Aberrant's pages, wasn't greatly explored, and so I may have to wait for the consecutive books to comment on the romantic aspect of their relationship, but from Aberrant alone it seemed like they had more of a brother-sister or best-friend feel to their relationship. 

Aberrant's plot and Silver's writing, along with the sensible main characters really had me greatly enjoying this book and it certainly ended far too soon for my liking. This is the first novel that I have read that I was surprised to have found myself in the last page and not even know it. It's very action-packed and there was not a moment where readers heart will slow, as there was constant betrayals and new revelations at every corner. This was a highly enjoyable read and I recommend it to all those that enjoy dystopian novels. I commend Ruth Silver for this fantastic debut novel that was highly entertaining with a plot that was simply amazing! Loved, loved, loved Aberrant! It's definitely high up in my list of favourite books of 2013 thus far. 

"This way," Landon escorted me away from the line of bachelors towards the open door.

"Please, come in," the older wiry-haired woman gestured us inside and shut the door promptly behind us. All the noise and commotion from the main foyer disappeared inside the room.

Buy Aberrant Now for only $4.99 for Kindle