Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Book Review and Giveaway: Possession by Elana Johnson


Vi lives in the Goodgrounds, where people are “good” because they plug into brainwashing sessions every day and are controlled by Thinkers.  Vi is not so good though, because she’s stopped plugging in, and she wants to do rebellious, forbidden things like kiss boys – such as her “match” Zenn.  The Thinkers set their sights on Vi – and now she has to make a choice: Join them or reject them? Control or be controlled?

Free will vs robotic compliance.  Chaos vs order.  In the future world of POSSESSION, society has somehow mutated into one where a select few (rangers) are born with powers of mind control.  These rangers are found early and molded into Thinkers – even if they don’t want to use their power to control others.  Controlled cities are peaceful.  Everyone has enough to eat.  It all seems utopian – if you don’t mind the lack of free will.

Free will is what drives Vi though, which lands her in jail. There she meets Jag, a hot bad boy with whom she falls in insta-love.  The course of true insta-love doesn’t run smooth because a) Vi gets pissy when Jag tries to mess with her head b) Jag is hiding a bunch of secrets c) she feels slightly guilty that she’s basically ditched Zenn for Jag.

If you have no trouble buying Vi and Jag’s soul-mate connection, then you’ll enjoy Vi’s journey to figure out what choice she should make (and you might accept the shock ending more readily than I did).  Fans of sci-fi gadgets will have lots to geek out about here – get me one of those food cubes pronto! (And a teleporter, please).

Zombie chickens say: As for us, we’d much rather control than be controlled …

POSSESSION is available in hardcover now. Find out more about it at the author’s website. A companion novel in the same world called SURRENDER will follow Summer 2012. Add SURRENDER to your GoodReads wishlist.

Song for the Ultimate Dystopian Playlist:  Make Me Lose Control by Eric Carmen. Sample lyric: "Take me over the edge, make me lose control.” (Weird choice, I know, but it makes sense for this novel, imho)

Simon & Schuster is sponsoring a giveaway of 5 copies of the POSSESSION hardcover.  For a chance to win, fill out this form by August 20, 2011 at 11:59 pm CST.  Open US and Canada only.

12 comments:

Jules said...

I have been wanting to read this one for a while now!

It's a shame I'm in the UK or I would be entering the giveaway - good luck to whoever does win! :D

Jenn (Books At Midnight) said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I've been hearing about this one, but I'm still torn on whether or not to buy it... hm. The tech sounds AWESOME -- food cubes? :)

MARY IN SCOTLAND said...

I have only dabbled a tiny bit into dystopian but I LOVE IT. I never know what to read, but your events are showing me lots of new books! Thanks! This one looks amazing! I'm going to have to get it!

Zibilee said...

So much to ponder about this book. I wonder at the level of control that the citizens face, and how the establishment justifies what it does to them. It sounds like one heck of an intriguing premise. Very cool review!

-k said...

Thank you to you and S&S!!! I can't wait to read Possession (whether I happen to win or not!)

Ren @ All By Myshelf said...

Sounds interesting. Thanks for the giveaway! ^_^

bermudaonion said...

I'm not sure I believe in love and first sight, but I can forgive it in fiction.

Jessy said...

I'm not too big on "love at first sight". It just seems too impossible to me. Hopefully if it is done right it can be somewhat believable though.

ashley said...

thanks

Jess (The Cozy Reader) said...

Thanks for the giveaway!

Lauren said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I absolutely can't wait to read this one. I've been complaining to Elana on twitter about this. Haha.

Bella-Lee Heart said...

I've seen this book around but wasn't sure if I should give it a go. After reading this I think I will. :) -B