Book Review: Implanted by Lauren C. Teffeau

Media Type: Ebook
Title: Implanted
Author: Lauren C. Teffeau
Publisher: Angry Robot
Pages: Paperback; 400
Release Date: August 7, 2018
Source: Author
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Genre: Science Fiction

HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart

Recommended to: Readers who enjoy quick moving science fiction with compelling characters!

Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

The data stored in her blood can save a city on the brink… or destroy it, in this gripping cyberpunk thriller.

When college student Emery Driscoll is blackmailed into being a courier for a clandestine organisation, she’s cut off from the neural implant community which binds the domed city of New Worth together. Her new masters exploit her rare condition which allows her to carry encoded data in her blood, and train her to transport secrets throughout the troubled city. New Worth is on the brink of Emergence – freedom from the dome – but not everyone wants to leave. Then a data drop goes bad, and Emery is caught between factions: those who want her blood, and those who just want her dead.

Where to start with this? I can tell you right now that if you’re new to Cyberpunk, like I was, this is an excellent place to start. While I love Science Fiction as a general rule, sometimes it can feel a little inaccessible. Cyberpunk has always peaked my interest though, because of the mix between advanced technology and dystopian world building. I took the plunge with Implanted, and I’m so glad that I did.

Imagine a world under glass. A world protected from the outside elements because the world we once knew is uninhabitable. That’s the world that Emery lives in, and it’s a fascinating one. I’m a stickler for world building, as you well know, and Teffeau shines in this respect. Everything about Emery’s world instantly comes to life on the page. From the implants that both help and hinder society, to the stratification that comes from a city competing for resources, I immediately felt like I was part of this space. New Worth became my home for the duration of this book and it was equal parts intriguing and terrifying.

Even better, this book is written in first person. While some readers might not enjoy that perspective, I thought it worked perfectly in this story. It added to the overall mystery, since I was uncovering things right along with Emery. Each twist, each shock, it came over both of us at the same time. I felt like we were one, and that made all her emotion even more palpable. Teffeau created this space for me to live in during this story, and I loved every minute of it.

My only tiny issue with this book was how quickly it had to wrap up. I was so immersed in Emery, so lost in her quest to survive, that I didn’t realize how close I was to the end of the story. It felt like the ending was a bit rushed, compared to the slow build up of everything that came before. No spoilers here, don’t worry. This is absolutely a ride that you’ll want to experience yourself, and it’s best to go in blind. Pick this up!

FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.