The Unlocked

Title: The Unlocked

Series: Charlie Hartley Book 1

Author: J. D. Stonebridge

Published: October 20, 2014 by J. D. Stonebridge

Price: Free on Kindle.

☆/5

Blurb: A childless couple, Sarah and Carl Hartley, become witnesses to a car accident along Pilgrims Highway. As the baby girl who they pulled out from the burning car grows up, they learn that little Charlene ‘Charlie’ Hartley is more special than they expected. From a very young age, Charlie developed a surprising ability to move items without touch.

Seventeen years later, Charlie was already on her way to Harvard when she encounters an incident forcing her to use her hidden telekinetic powers. A new world of possibilities opens for Charlie as she is invited to become part of a special team of operatives composed of superhuman young adults like her. When the truth of her parentage is revealed, and the discovery that a young girl who resembled her is part of the institute for superhumans known as A.N.D.R.E.I., Charlie is tempted with the chance to be reunited with her biological sister.

But within the secure walls of A.N.D.R.E.I, things aren’t all what they seem. And while she struggles to control her talent, a series of events lead Charlie to suspect the true motives of the government institution. The more she searches for her sister, the more dangerous it becomes. Can she uncover the mystery behind A.N.D.R.E.I., before it’s too late?

Review: Okay, I gave up. I had been trying to give myself time to get back into reading this book, but I just can’t bring myself to do it. I feel no need or want to pick this book back up and I really, hardly got started on it. I was disappointed. Kind of didn’t even want to write a review about it.

I just…cannot believe that a child with a power, any power would just…not find out everything about it. Even with her parents telling her to keep it secret.

Also, the whole leaving the burning car with the baby before any one gets there? Not even trying to call for help? I mean that kind of makes me want to learn about the parents and not their super powered child. That seems like a better story than the one being told.

The writing wasn’t engaging, especially when the parents are continuously calling her Princess. It seems like every time they speak to her, they’re calling her Princess. Did you forget her name?

I just…set it down and really have no desire to pick it back up. This is another for the DNF pile, it’s just growing and growing.

Another thing I didn’t like was that Charlie sounded unemotional and robotic. Example: “I just need to increase my awareness of intense feelings that seem to trigger more power that manifests itself in some unexpected way.” Can you tell me what teenager would sound like that? What teenager isn’t awestruck and oh so curious about her powers? Unless she’s grown up with them, and then she’s only now looking it up? “Oh my goodness, there’s almost a million results…Why did I never consider reading about this before?” So you’re telling me…that’s she’s never bothered to look it up? That’s unrealistic and this is a fiction, fantasy book.

I didn’t get very far, but I could not force myself to get any further.

Thank you for reading my review.