I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in order for my honest review.I will admit that I received it a couple of months ago, but have had several other books on my plate and it took me awhile to get to to it.
Sparked is the first book of the Metal Bones Series by Sheena Snow. Here is the book’s description. No need for me to explain it all again when it’s already written!
They weren’t supposed to have feelings.
Metal will Clash
In a not-too-distance future, robots composed of metal for bones, electric cords for veins, and synthetics for skin are now available. For purchase. Eighteen-year-old Vienna Avery’s home is going to change forever, now that her mom purchased an Italian Chef Robot to cook and reside in their house.
Secrets will Unfold
The government claimed robots were indifferent, unthinking pieces of metal and elastic—assistance for the help of humans. Vienna never believed much of what the government said. The pieces didn’t always fit. And now Vienna knows why, because she’s uncovered the government’s secret: that robots have emotions, sucking Vienna into the underground world of feeling, thinking, and sovereign robots.
Sparks will Fly
Alec Cypher is everything a robot is not supposed to be: deep, dark, and dangerously human. And for some reason, he wants to save Vienna from the government’s prying, vindictive eyes. Going forward, Vienna will have to learn to trust robots and battle the growing feelings she never thought possible . . . feelings for the green-eyed, soul-searching robot named Alec.
About the Author
Sheena Snow, contrary to her name, lives in South Florida and has only seen snow once. But she would love for it to land on her eyelashes and sparkle in her hair. She loves painting, candle making, orchid shows, tattoo conventions, hockey games and library book sales! After college she landed a full time job but kept serving pizza on the weekends and writing stories about characters she wished really existed, characters who never gave up no matter the obstacles life threw at them. At the age of twenty-six, she sold her first book and bought her very first puppy, a wonderful Yorkie named Aladdin.
MY THOUGHTS
So I would say this book would be classified as a sci-fi, young adult, romance, action/adventure. That might seem like a lot of categories, but not really, considering it is sci-fi. I liked the idea behind the book, that there is some shady government ops regarding robots and AI (artificial intelligence) and such.
There were a few things that didn’t really draw me in. Maybe that can be explained by the fact that I am not a young adult, and that is who the book is geared toward. I found the main character Vienna hard to relate to, and I like to feel that connection when reading a book. Although I see now that her age is mentioned in the book’s description, I personally thought she seemed much younger than eighteen until there was more depth to the romance scenes. She seemed a little immature for eighteen.
I also felt that it wasn’t really explained well why people were after Vienna in particular. Perhaps that is something to look for in the second book? I also personally found some of the “arguing with the voice in her head” scenes a little repetitive. We get it. She is distrustful of robots. And a slight mistake when Vienna reserves to one of the robots as “Bonnie” before she actually has given them their human names. Oh well.
Also, Green Eyes/Alec starts calling Vienna “Baby” way too often for my liking. Now, I’m not a terms of endearment hater, it just seems a little over the top.
There are some great action scenes and the description of Green Eyes/Alec does make him believable as a love interest. Yum! I also noticed similarities to the Twilight Saga in this book, especially in the fact that Alec has some sort of way of knowing that Vienna is the one for him, sort of like “imprinting” in Twilight. I don’t mind that though. I like Twilight, and there are enough differences that it doesn’t seem like a copycat job or anything like that.
Even with the things that irked me a little, I’m not against following up and reading the next installment, Enflamed, when it is available. I still want to like Vienna and there are some things I am still wondering and hope they will be answered in the next book. And, as I said, bear in mind that I am a bit older than the target demographic, so maybe I’ve gotten a little cynical in my “old age.”
So, yes I will say that this is a worthy read and I will keep you updated if I get the chance to read the rest of the story later on. Come on Vienna, make me love you in Enflamed!