Review of ARC Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza

Happy New Years, everyone! I received a really cool post-Christmas gift from Harper Collins, and it was an ARC of Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza. It was a really fun book to read, you all should check it out!

Goodreads Book Description: Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past —that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity–style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review: Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza is about an android who thinks she really is a 16 year old girl who goes to high school, has a crush on a cute guy, and is getting over her father's death. She has a tumultuous relationship with her mom and suddenly, when she gets in a car accident, she realizes she isn't like other girls. What happens next is the whirlwind of intrigue, exciting reveals, and more.

If I had to describe the genre: it's a recent day science fiction YA with a splash of adventure and ethics mixed in. To me, it had a bit of the flavor of GATTACA and Buffy combined (without the vampires, of course). I really enjoyed reading this book. Mila is a very likeable character, and her mother was also sympathetic. Some secondary characters met later in the book are intriguing and hopefully will come up in some follow ups.

A couple of issues I had with the book. First, the beginning dragged a bit. We already know from the book's cover that Mila is an android, and I felt like I was waiting for the book to start. I think, alternatively, we could get a glimpse of the future right at the start, and maybe mix between Now and Then instead of having to wait almost 100 pages to get there. Second, we are stuck in a stereotypical high school setting with a group of mean girls who are not at all unique or interesting. There was nothing new about these people, and that was disappointing. That said, it really picked up speed after the first 100 pages.

Overall, a intriguing first novel with promise. My interest is piqued; I have to see what happens to Mila.

What books are you excited about?

 Current Giveaways
1. Interview with Jennifer Lane, author of Streamline, US giveaway of signed paperback + bookmark and International giveaway of e-copy, 12/16
Streamline Giveaway

2. New Years 2013 Blog Hop, featuring Interview with Morpheus from Splintered by A.G. Howard and Giveaway, 1/1/13-1/7/13 (INT)
Splintered giveaway