Hmm, so that picked up the last 25%. Very predictble though. Max was obviously a big bad from the time he shiwed up. I also assumed Dee was the imposter. The introduction of Kat and Zac was sudden and never really got a good sense of who they were or why they were trustworthy..

The secret romantic relationship seemed a bit pointess. Not real clear on why Max outted himself when he did either.

All in all, not a bad YA SciFi, but a bit convoluted and predictable. Needed a bit more depth.

Perhaps this was just too YA for me.

3-3.5 Strs

I couldn't wait to get into this book after reading the first, and now I need more again! Josie and Reid, and everyone really, are so fun to read about. The tone of the book is very similar to the first and I appreciated the consistency here. That being said, you definitely need to read Anomaly before diving into Enigma if you don't want to be REALLY confused.

In A Nutshell
This book was really good, but not 100% the best like the first book, Anomaly, was. I'd read the first book back in 2014, so my early memories of it are a little fuzzy. But I did really enjoy the story as a whole. In Enigma, I did enjoy it overall, but I also wanted more from the world outside of protecting Josie and Reid.

What I Loved
I loved the progression of the relationship between Reid and Josie. I was pissed when he'd initially had broken things off with her to protect their status as a whole, but then he realized that he cares about her too much to break up. So instead, they chose to stay together in secret. Even though they had to hide their dating in secret, they still found moments to be together.
They were friends back when Josie's brother Nick was still alive, but after he died, Reid and Josie fell off after she found out Reid killed Nick in the first book. They have this banter that can go from arguing to making out in two seconds, and I just love it so much! I love how Reid respects Josie so much and knows that she can take care of herself as much as he can. He additionally didn't dumb her down when she discovered her defensive shield --- the same one she'd used to kill Santos in book one! Reid training Josie and helping her expand her abilities only made him fall for her even more, and I loved it!

There was this one moment where Reid took Josie to an underground quartz formation place, which was one of Reid's childhood hiding places. They apologized to each other --- her to him for killing his former best friend Santos, and he to her for killing Nick --- all the while making their relationship official. Reid had spent all this time living in regret for basically destroying Josie's family, but Josie realized that the only way to move on was to forgive, so she did. That whole interaction was adorable.

Reid had also set up a live chat for Josie to talk with her best friend Hannah, which I thought was really nice. Hannah wasn't supposed to know about Josie being an Anomaly, or the Oculi world at all, because she's human (what they call Plancks). But since Hannah is an important person in Josie's life, he showed her everything. Hannah was okay with everything, even asking good questions about Oculi government and politics.

While they were researching people on who to trust in the Hub, which is their official Oculi headquarters located in a deserted mountain, Reid's father Harrison comes back to life!! Well, he was never really dead, just went into hiding for several years. His relationship with Reid was cute to watch, especially their secret hand gestures so they can know when to talk in private.

Additionally, Josie's connection with her mother and younger brother was nice. In book one, she and her mother didn't have much to talk about after Nick died, even less when Josie found out she was an Anomaly. Her parents were the one of the Founding Families of the Resistance, so that allowed Josie to get along more with her mother. Her brother Eli was the cutest little smolbean, and I just wanted to protect him protected at all costs!

I also loved how much we got to know about Josie's experiences with anxiety. She's been having screaming nightmares right around the time of Santos' death, and she'd had a hard time moving on and forgiving herself throughout almost the entire book. There was also a point of when she'd thought she found the mole posing as Reid in the Hub, but she lied to the real Reid so he wouldn't worry about her even more. I'm most glad that Josie chose to talk to her boyfriend about that particular moment instead of pushing him away; I'm so sick of seeing our YA heroines thinking they can do everything themselves, even give themselves up for bait to protect everyone else. However, she told Reid about her anxiety at the end of the story, even started seeing a therapist at the Hub, which I thought was very helpful.

I also have moments with anxiety, and even though I'm undiagnosed, reading Josie's moments with mental illness was most relatable to mine. I've had moments where I couldn't sleep at night because of bad dreams, feeling like the walls are closing in and I can't do anything about it. Talking to loved ones helps, even if they don't understand, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with getting professional help.

At the end of the last chapter, Tonya left an author's note leaving official hotline numbers:

Suicide Prevention Hotline - 1800-273-8255
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Boys Town National Hotline - 1800-448-3000

As someone who holds much influence and inspiration to other young readers and writers in the world, I was certainly touched by Tonya's efforts to include mental health awareness in this book.

Also, I don't want to brag, but Tonya also listed me in her acknowledgments page!! I've never been in any author's Many Thanks page, so it was very nice to see my name amongst many of her close friends and colleagues who loved the series as much as I do. Thank you so much, Tonya! ❤

What I Wanted More Of
I would have liked to see more sexual tension between Reid and Josie. Since they had to hide their relationship from the people in the Hub, they didn't try very hard to hide their trainer-trainee relationship from the others. I think the only people who knew about Reid and Josie personally was Meg, Josie's mom. And Meg was actually okay with it. She knew Reid had liked Josie forever, so it was only a matter of time before they got together. But slowly, everyone in the friends group got that they were together. They didn't hide it well enough, but I'm also glad they didn't because they had bigger problems, like the Mole wanting Josie dead.

I also would have liked to see more of Reid and Harrison's interactions. They had interacted a lot during this novel, but considering that he faked his own disappearance a few years back, making Reid thinking he was probably dead, and then he comes back, there wasn't much explanation as to why or how. There was just secret hand gestures and a lot of "we'll talk later", but they hardly talked like that.

Additionally, even though I got to read more about the Hub environment. Granted, reading about the inside of the Hub on the bottom of a mountain was really fun. But I still feel like I didn't get to know the other parts of the Hub. It was mostly the Caf (cafeteria), living quarters, and the Open (which is like their version of a main street or gathering area). But we never saw the outside of the Hub, probably because it was full of security and held behind an illusion to keep Plancks away. I would have liked to see the environment outside of the Hub.

Writing Style
Tonya's writing style still had a simple style that was easy to follow. There were a lot less pop culture references than from the first book, but still enough to keep Josie's personality consistent. (She is the nerd, after all!) So sayings like "Thank Thor" and "Dear Loki" were a little cheesy, but still cute! There was a lot more physics and scientific terms added that made Tonya's writing more serious, but it wasn't enough to totally confuse me. It felt like she used her scientific knowledge to teach us small lessons for the story.

Final Thoughts
Even though I really liked this installment in the duology, I wanted a lot more from it, but it wasn't enough to completely hate it. I still love Anomaly and Enigma as a whole, so I'll be happy to follow Tonya Kuper in whatever she has next for these characters. Maybe we'll see Josie and Reid in a novella, or maybe get a backstory on Josie's parents in a spin-off? Only time will tell.

I first read Anomaly in early 2015, a few months after it came out. I wasn’t sure what to expect based on the description (and because I hadn’t had much experience yet with how awesome Entangled Teen books are!), and I remember being very pleasantly surprised at how darn good it was. It had action, romance, believable-though-fantastical elements, and a kick-butt heroine – what more could I ask for? But wait, there’s more! It was also really smart, with a “super power” grounded in science, and loads of references to all kinds of geek culture, with the heroine being the one to school the hero on Star Wars, Star Trek, and more. It was so awesome! Naturally, I jumped at the chance to review Enigma and take part in the blog tour, and I’m so glad I did!

Since it had been just over 2 years since I read Anomaly, I grabbed it from the library for a second reading. I don’t re-read a ton of books, but I’m always really happy if one I do re-read is able to thrill me just as much in a second reading as it did in the first, which is precisely what happened with Anomaly.* I’m glad I did the re-read, and it might be something you’d want to do also if you read Anomaly when it first came out. While I remembered the story as I read, strangely enough the whole ending - like the last 3 or 4 chapters - was as if it was brand new to me. (Who knows how my brain works?!) Besides, I got to fall in love with Reid all over again, which was an extra bonus! I will say that although I suppose you *could* read Enigma on its own, without having read Anomaly, I wouldn’t personally recommend it. I would feel like I was missing out on A LOT if I hadn’t read Anomaly at all.

One of the things I really appreciate with this series is that Ms. Kuper wraps up the story in each book, such that you could satisfactorily end your reading after just Anomaly, or after reading Anomaly and Enigma. I for one can’t wait to read the final book and see how it all plays out, but I greatly appreciate the ability to wrap up each book’s story and not end on huge cliffhangers. I think it takes a lot more skill to avoid cliffhangers and still make people want to return to the series and read the next book!

I loved reconnecting with Reid and Josie and learning more about the Consortium and the Resistance. Entering the Resistance Hub with them was really interesting, and it was nice to see Reid among people with whom he’d grown up. There was just as much heart-pounding excitement and romance here as in the first book, and Ms. Kuper did a great job of making sure we didn’t begin to dislike Reid and Josie now that they were a couple (you know, sometimes characters change once they enter into a relationship). There was one time when I thought Josie was going to pull a cliche “run away” move and I was groaning, but the way it was handled had me cheering instead. Also, there was no lack of the fun jokes and geek-girl references that I’d loved so much in the first book! I will say that I guessed early on who the ultimate “bad guy” was, but I wasn’t as clear on how some of the supporting characters would shake out.

Overall, I loved Enigma just as much as I loved Anomaly, and I’m really eager to find out how the trilogy will end. I think this book is a testament to the fact that faster isn’t always better, and that sometimes it takes longer to tell the *right* story for your characters. This is another great series from Entangled Teen, and I’m happy to have been part of the blog tour!

Rating: 4 stars!

*Interesting side note: Anomaly joined 2 other books that I have re-read recently and loved just as much as my first reading, and all 3 are Entangled Teen books! The other 2 are True Blood by LE Sterling and Love Me Never by Sara Wolf. Oh, and I’m currently re-reading and re-loving a fourth Entangled Teen book, Infinity by Jus Accardo!

After a long wait, it was nice to see what happened to Josie and Reid from “Anomaly.”

Unfortunately, I feel a little let down by the resolution. We got to meet secondary characters that were important but not very developed, and the ending seemed very rushed. To be honest, it was confusing to me. In spite of this, I did enjoy it, but not as much as I hoped. There seems to be an opening in the ending for possible further adventures, and I think that opening holds promise for more character development and an easier to follow plot.

If you read and liked “Anomaly,” be sure to pick up “Enigma!”

First Impressions

I read Anomaly at some point last year, and I've been excited for Enigma ever since! I picked up Enigma and I just devoured it! I started it one evening, and finished it the next morning! I was excited to get back into Josie and Reid's world. The beginning was a little rocky as I tried to remember all the terminology, but otherwise it was off to a great start.

Characters

While Josie and Reid share the main character role, Josie really shines as the lead. She has powers beyond imagination, quite literally, and isn't afraid to use them. I also loved seeing how much Josie cares about her family. Her little brother Eli is one of the most important people in the world to her, and it's touching to see how much she cares about him.

Reid and Josie have a wonderful relationship. If you've read the first book, you know that they've both liked each other since they were kids. Reid was best friends with Josie's older brother, but situations drove them apart. But now they are back in each other's lives, and making the best of it. It was always fun to have the two of them in a room together, and I'm a big fan of the smooching too.

World Building

The series takes place in our world. This gives it a nice grounding, while also adding in a sci-fi element. Also, Josie is a huge nerd, and that adds to the world. She's constantly making Star Wars, Star Trek, and Marvel nods. Being an epic fangirl myself, it was super fun to see an awesome nerd portrayed in a book. While Josie's segment of the Oculi world is small, I could feel the author hinting at a larger world. Be it another sequel or a spin-off, I would love to see and learn more about the world of Oculi and Anomalies.

First things, First … I am giving this review in my HONEST opinion of the book. I received this book from NetGalley & was asked to give my HONEST opinion. (Which we ALL know I will do … right?)
Now I left off the Anomaly without telling you much of anything. Because if I had I would have spoiled so much of the story. But since this is book 2, I would HOPE you have read Anomaly … so none of this will be spoilers for you. So here goes A LOT of info.
Reid & Josie are now off on their own. They handed off the serum Josie mom, Meg, created that would help expand the length of how long any Oculi could have their powers. After a time, the powers deplete leaving the Oculi with nothing … no ability they once were able to use. They couldn't create any items (like trees, cars, chairs, pizza, juice, guns & so on … these are the Pushers). They could not retract or remove items (like trees, cars, chairs, pizza, juice, guns & so on … these are the Rectracters). Or the Anomalies who could do both.
These abilities allowed the Oculi to be able to create or remove items that did not have a soul. Because of this, you have two opposing forces … pretty much like you would in any world that would have any type of powers … The Schrodinger’s Consortium and the Resistance.
Meg & her husband use to work for the Consortium believing this group was out to help for the Oculi. Meg had created a serum that increased the ability of the Anomalies. This was how, during their involvement, they discovered the Consortium was trying to destroy all Anomalies … which they both were. During their attempt to leave, they were discovered, each took 1/2 of the serum & injected it into themselves. This was to prevent the Consortium from using it to reverse the effect to destroy the Anomalies.
They, Meg & her husband, created the Resistance with friends who wanted to ensure that all Oculi were treated equally & not wiped out. But Meg & her husband had to go into hiding because the Consortium wanted them back. Plus when they learned they had 3 children …. they wanted them even more.
When their oldest turned 17, his powers were beyond what most Anomalies had. He began hiding things, disappearing … it seemed that he lost his mind. But he was recruited by the Consortium. This caused Meg’s husbands, Josie’s father to go undercover … he went back into the Consortium. But his face was not the same face that they were used to seeing.
While you cannot create a human or an animal, you can change an individuals appearance. Which Josie found out with Reid. He was Cal, her brother’s best friend & her long time crush. But when she met him he had a completely different face because to keep the Consortium off the trail of her family, he was the bait the Resistance used.
Now that you are a bit up to date, and have an idea of what's going on let’s get moving on with Emigma!!! FYI, part of that above is from Emigma … guess you will figure that out when you get to reading it.

Josie is torn to Hades and back in the beginning. She killed Santos, who just happened to be a Consortium spy … doesn’t that just bite the big one? … she had no choice in the matter. It was either him or her & Reid. In that little part, you will find that Josie is not exactly the Anomaly that every thinks she is. That and the fact she pulled in a freaking tropical storm (in my opinion, I think that is a bit beyond the Anomaly ability).
Reid is supposed to take Josie to a safe house. But he has received a message from her mother stating that there is a mole in the Hub that they are to find. Plus that is where she & Eli, Josie’s younger brother, are headed. Reid leaves the decision up to Josie … Safe house or Hub. Of course, we know Josie will decide on the Hub. That is the type of character she is, strong & there is no way she will let her family walk into a place without her to help them out.
The Hub … This is where most of the Resistance live. They train, get their education, live & basically have their own little society going on. It is supposed to be hidden from the Consortium, but when you have a mole there … it’s not so hidden. But from my understanding, they have other such areas too.
Upon arriving at the Hub, hidden in a mine cave, Reid gets the shock of his life … he is greeted by his father after Reid requests an E3 meeting. But the shock does not stop him from questioning his father to make sure that he is who he claims to be.
The E3 meeting does not go as planned. The group of adults does NOT believe that there could possibly be a mole inside the Hub. They are a bit shock that Santos was a Consortium spy. Plus that he gave Josie a choice come willingly or die. Also, that he tried to steal the serum that Meg, Josie’s Mom, created to extend the length Oculi could have their abilities. Reid get’s a bit hot tempered and demands that they do something but is blown off. The council tells him that he is willing to do the search himself but he will NOT find the spy himself because their security is above & beyond … there is NO way a spy could be in the Hub.
They then move on to the location of Josie’s mother & brother. Troops are sent out to locate them. There is a bit of concern because other founding members have been disappearing. They are not sure if they are dead or being held hostage … or have simply left.
The council is, also, concerned that Josie might be “losing it” like her oldest brother, Nick, did. But Reid informs them that that is not happening. She has kept her grip on reality & her powers are far beyond what ever they imagine. The council then beings setting up tests for the following morning to see this, as well as test her sanity plus to see what type of “weapon” she could be used as. (Aren’t they such a sweet little bunch?)
When Meg & Eli arrive. This is when the mind tricks begin. Eli is outside of the training room, looking for the bathroom when Reid & Josie appear. He runs and hugs Josie … which she really should have thought twice about that because he complained last time she did that … but she is just excited to see her brother. She convinces him to allow Reid to take him to the bathroom after he takes her to the training room.
When she walks in … She about flips out! There is her mother & Eli. Plus Reid’s Dad, Cohen, Kat & Zac. They do not understand why she is upset until she explains that she just saw Eli in the hallway. Reid comes rushing in saying Eli is missing, he didn’t come out of the bathroom … they all realize just how close that the mole got to Josie.
When Council members enter during this time believing this is a sign that her sanity is slowly slipping. But Reid stands up & says he also saw Eli. He explains how he took him to the bathroom & how he just simply disappeared. This is pretty much a slap in the face the Council who swore there was no way over the time they have been there.
Even though there was a mole running around the Hub the Council decided it was time, right that second, to begin testing Josie. Despite the objections of Meg, Josie’s mother. Josie, on the other hand, fully of her typical attitude & agitation agreed. They were going to start with hand-to-hand combat only using her shield as a last resort … if you read Anomaly, you know her shield kicks arse!!!
Cohen was the one chosen to fight Josie. He was much more experienced, even though Josie practiced daily, he actually trained constantly. During the beginning of the fight, Josie did well. Blocking the punches & kicks coming her way. But sadly, on one block Cohen leaned in & pushed her causing her to fall back. That was her down fall, and sadly for Cohen, it would be his too. After his attacks pushed Josie into the wall, her shield came up. Throwing Cohen back, as well as the standing Reid. All parties were then told to go the infirmary.
As for the Council, they were a hyped up little bunch at this point. They found an Oculi that was “unique” and “unexpected.” They believed she was more than an Anomaly, they believed she was “an Enigma.” Can you imagine the type of weapon they were going to try to use that 17 yr. old for?

Later in the book, the mole decides to play a sick little game. He makes Josie think she is losing her mind by looking like Reid when she is standing with Reid. Then when Reid is blowing off steam because he knows something is wrong with Josie after that instant, the mole looks in the window looking like Santos. Reid rushes out after but misses the mole. But he rushes asking her if she saw Santos either that day. That is when she spills the beans & tells him everything … even her plan on killing the mole & disappearing because she thought she was going nuts.
But guess what folks that will be all you are getting out of me … a pretty interesting story so far huh?
What I like about reading YA books is there isn't sex scene after sex scene … don’t get me wrong. I love adult paranormal or sci-fi books but even I need a break from them. Going back to read something fresh where you have young love is sweet & reminds you of when you 1st fell for your sweetheart (if you have one … hey I do & he’s perfect for me).
In this story, Ms. Kuper keeps the scene's light & does not push it. Yes, there is a little bit of tension, because they have to hide the fact of their attraction or love due to the rules of the Hub/Resistance while Josie is in training.
Does Ms. Kuper provide you with a story that you want to read? Yes. Should you add it you your list? Yes, I would add it to your top 5 because she provides you a new world that gives you twists & turns that will surprise you in ways that you would not believe. Does your age actually matter when you are reading this book? I would hope not. For the YA it gives you hopes & dreams. Plus it should provide you with confidence to step up to do your own thing. For those older, it gives us a chance to fall back to when we were that age and remember having those hopes & dreams … and giving us a kick in the arse to have them again. Plus it gets us away from sex scene after sex scene in a lot of adult books.

REVIEW
After reading Anomaly I was really looking forward to being able to read Enigma. I had some other titles to read and then finally got around to reading Enigma, and it felt like time and the book flew past whilst reading it. I was looking forward to catching up with the great characters of Josie and Reid, as well as finding out how Josie is coping with an awful act she had no choice but to commit in book one!

Josie is once again the main feature of this cover, though the background colour of the book is grey so lighter than the murky blue of book one. Is that an indication of things being easier and a lighter time for Josie? I love the byline of "Anomalies are the target. She's the bullseye"

So approaching reading Enigma we know that Josie's father is working deep undercover at the Consortium, though as they haven't heard from him for quite a while they do not know if his true identity has been discovered and resulted in him being killed. Josie's mum and dad were founder members of the Resistance who invented the enhancement serum that increases the Oculi powers. We know that there are three types of Oculi, Pushers, Retractors and Anomalies. The full true power of the serum is not totally known, however Josie risked her life to hand a vial of this serum to Vice President Brown. In reference to the byline, the consortium is seeking out all anomalies to destroy them, and the ultimate anomaly is of course Josie! Can Reid protect Josie? And if he manages to protect her, who will be there to watch over Meg, Josie's mother and younger brother Eli? As being closely related could put them at risk of being used to get to Josie.

Enigma picks up just three days after the ending of Anomaly. Josie is struggling with the fact she had to kill someone she had come to think of as a friend. Josie's relationship with Reid is still in the very early stages where she is embarrassed when he catches sight of her packing away one of her bras. It has been practical for safety purposes that they share a room. Josie and Reid have accepted that they are girlfriend/boyfriend but they will need to be discreet about this fact with other people. It's been decided by others at the hub that Reid and Josie should head over to a safe house. When they receive unexpected message from Meg. It says that she and Eli are heading to the Hub as 3 founders need to be present to make executive decisions for for the entirety of the Resistance. As Meg is a founder it is her duty to be at the hub for such decision making. The message also tells them that the council is unaware of a mole at the hub and that Josie & Reid should remain cautious. Naturally Josie's reaction is to be worried about the safety of her mother and little brother Eli. Josie and Reid argue as to whether they should go to the safe house or just go to the hub in an attempt to draw out the mole. Josie wins the argument by saying the mole may attempt to hurt her mother or brother as a way to get to her.
They make the long trip to the rather well hidden hub. The area is very sparse, in fact it looks as if there is nothing at all for miles around. After seeing one lone sign claiming they are on "Private Land". Josie breaks the mounting tension by laughing at remarking "Please tell me the next sign will say Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters". It works when they both laugh.
They discuss that when they get to within sight of the security cameras for the hub that they should act more as trainer and trainee. As relationships between trainers and trainees are banned and Reid could end up losing his job and all the status within the hub that he has earnt. It is difficult and its clear to some of the other trainees in the hub that Reid is prepared to die to protect Josie and her family.
There's lots of strange things that happen as if the mole wishes to make Josie think she is going into some downward spiral similar to the one her older brother Nick had. Certain members of the council do not seem to even want to acknowledge the possibility of a mole in the hub. Then Reid's father Harrison turns up, apparently he has been undercover all this time and he has a contact at the Consortium that is giving him insider intelligence on a regular basis. Reid is obviously shocked and even initially suspicious of Harrison as he had thought his father dead for some time. Reid eventually gathers a few people whom he trusts enough to allow them help to keep Josie safe. Josie and Reid become more suspicious about who could possibly be the mole when the council is not concerned about the fact that Meg Harper and Eli are late getting to the hub. In fact the mole pulls his/her stunt to scare Josie.
Reid and Josie are told Meg and Eli have finally arrived and head to the room for a reunion and to check they are all okay. When they get into the corridor they find Eli wandering about. Eli rushes up to hug Josie, holding her tight and explains that he needs the toilet but doesn't want to go with Josie, and insists that Reid take him. So Reid shows Eli the way whilst Josie rushes into the room to her mother Meg. Its as she enters the room that Eli rushes up to hug her! Josie hugs him but then asks him whats going on, as she explains about "Eli" being at the toilet with Reid, a rather panicked Reid rushes into the room saying Eli has disappeared. This incident certainly upsets everyone, and makes Reid re-think who he can trust to help him keep the Harper family safe. In the end its a small group made up of, Harrison - Reids father, Cohen - Reid fellow trainer at the hub, Kat - another trainee learning the ways of the Oculi alongside of Josie, the last member of the team is Zac Brown - son of the Vice President Brown.

In Enigma, Josie really does go on a roller-coaster of emotions. First she has to hide her true feelings for Reid. The council suggest she may have a breakdown or episode like her brother Nick. Then they speak about her in terms of her being a weapon when a new Oculi trait becomes apparent when Josie is being tested at the hub in front of the council members. Then she is contending with the mole playing little tricks on her as well as her being worried that the mole may hurt her family to get to her. Josie does sometimes miss her quieter life before she came into her Oculi abilities. She actually longs for some normality. . . be careful what you wish for Josie!

I truly loved reading this book. I felt I sped through Anomaly but wow! Enigma is so much more action packed. Get ready to sit and read, and read and read, because seriously you will not want to put this brilliant book down! This book is still from the points of view of the two main characters Josie and Reid. This book really grabs you and holds you it becomes a compulsive, addictive read! I could literally go on and on about this book and series. I have tried my best not to give away too many details about either book. I highly recommend reading Anomaly and Enigma.

We meet more new characters in this book. I admit I really wasn't at all keen of Zac - son of Vice President Brown at all but I think he really redeemed himself towards the last pages of the book. I was very suspicious about who the mole could be and had my own little list of possible suspects. I adored the character of Eli, and would love to have more of Eli in the book or hopefully books to come. I'd also like to see more of Reid and Josie, maybe they can be the council in a hub or the trainers for new Oculi. I would also be interested in Jared who at one point was near the very top of my "possible moles" list, as well as more on the remaining council members. There has to be much more from this series to come? . . . please?

My initial thoughts/feelings on finishing reading Enigma were Wow! .... just wow! brilliant, action packed, hope there's more to come?

I liked the idea in this world of Pushing and Retracting things in this world. You have to have seen it and know it to really Push it. Some of the people can only Push (make it appear) and some can only Retract (make it disappear) , and there are those few who can do both. Both Reid and Josie are called Anomalies and they can do both. This is the conclusion of their story. So if you haven’t read book one, just know that there are spoilers below from Anomaly!

Josie is a little more different than other Anomalies. She can Force Push, which is kind of like pushing her energy out. It can be deadly. She is learning how to control it here while trying to find the mole who infiltrated the Resistance. The Consortium wants all Anomalies controlled or dead.

Josie’s family are part of the original Resistance members. They are smart. Her mom is kind of super nerdy and doesn’t really show affection and that puts just a little strain on their relationship but Josie’s brother is too young to be part of this world as they don’t inherit their abilities until 17 years of age.

Then there is Reid and Josie’s relationship. They want to be a couple but a trainer and trainee can’t be that way so they keep their relationship a secret but anyone close can see how they feel about each other.

Reid and Josie and several of their closest friends train to help keep their way of life and their lives as well.

The story is told in Reid and Josie’s POV’s. I like that. I get to see their inner thoughts on each other and they are so cute together. I want a Reid!

Because of the ability to make you look like someone else, sometimes Josie would question if it really was Reid when he would be away from her and come back. Because of that, sometimes I questioned their friends in my head, thinking that they were the traitors and it wasn’t really them. That took away some of the fun of the book from me because I was always questioning if it really was them or that they were the mole.

The ending was super fun to see and it left a possibility that maybe someday there could be more to this world!

If you like superheroes, Marvel Comics, Star Wars, Star Trek, Physics, forbidden love, betrayals, some violence in a story, lots and lots of action, sweet romance, dystopians, fighting for what’s right, underground living, then this might be for you!

Thank you to Entangled Teen, Tonya Kuper, and Chapter by Chapter Tours for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for review! All opinions are my own.

I read Anomaly not too long ago and ended the book feeling excited and interested in the sequel, Enigma. I was ready for more cool Anomaly powers and sassy, nerdy Josie, and hopefully some more about her parents, which may sound weird but I really wanted to learn more about them! While reading Enigma, I couldn't help but feel like I was missing something and that I might have been the odd one out on that feeling. But by the final page, I think I enjoyed it more than I initially did and was satisfied with the ending!

Plot:
Three days have passed since Josie and Reid went into hiding. With Josie still dealing with the guilt about (accidentally) killing someone, not knowing where her mother and brother are, and being on the run from the Consortium that is actively trying to kill her, she's having a pretty rough time. On top of that, she has feelings for Reid. So not part of the plan. Josie has made the decision to help the Resistance by going to the Hub and finding the mole working for the Consortium, and with both Oculi factions trying their best to control her, the only one she can trust is Reid. But if she has any plans to survive, she's going to have to catch the traitor- using herself as bait.

I find myself conflicted on how I feel about Enigma. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it, I'm just somewhere in the middle. Plot wise, I kind of wish more happened. I liked the environment of the Hub and getting to meet some new characters, as well as Josie's cool new Force Push power. Outside of those things, I almost felt like things were just kind of not happening, if that makes sense. Josie and Reid were actively trying to find the mole (and simultaneously trying to shove their tongues down each others throats) and Josie was developing her powers more, but I just didn't feel like there was much progression. I did enjoy the last 20-ish percent of the book, which is where a lot of action and more plot came out which I had been eagerly awaiting. I think Tonya Kuper did a great job with writing the fighting scenes because I found myself wanting to read so much more of them when they were over. In general, I just didn't feel like anything really moved forward until the end, which is where things really picked up and had me turning pages to try and absorb more of the story! I do wish there had been more about Josie's parents because I was really interested in learning their backstory, but I did appreciate the relationship development between Josie and her mother. This book got me curious as to what Eli is going to turn out like, so maybe I can hope for another book about him! So, I feel pretty neutral about the first 80% of this book, but I really enjoyed the final 20% and how it all wrapped up with a cute, nerdy ending with Josie and Reid.

Characters:
What I enjoyed most about this book was Josie. She was so unapologetically her and she never felt ashamed or like she needed to change. She owned her nerd status and never acted like she wasn't the science loving super nerd that I've come to love. To have a character that I can relate to in that manner was so great and really made me connect with this book on a deeper level. I loved that she was proud and loud and it made me so happy to see a character like her and be able to watch her develop as the book went on. She definitely changed from book one to now, and I definitely like Enigma Josie a whole lot. I just got a much more grown up feeling from her, and I really enjoyed watching her learn more about her powers. Also, her Force Push power was fantastic. I loved that they all kind of caught on to her Star Wars naming of her new ability and just went with it. Just another instance of positive nerdiness!

Going into Enigma, I found myself conflicted over the relationship between Reid and Josie. On one hand, I wanted to call it insta-love, because it really felt like it to me as a reader. Even after getting the backstory and finding out their past, I still didn't really feel right not calling it insta-love. Especially because the two of them are acting like they can never be apart from each other after just two weeks. I know who Reid is to Josie, so I understood why they were like that, but it just never clicked with me, I suppose. What kind of brought the book down for me was the romance, unfortunately. I wanted more action, more Anomaly powers, more of literally anything else but Josie and Reid making out. I just couldn't help but feel that there were more important things that they needed to focus on besides how hot one thought the other was. Maybe...focus on finding the mole? Or keeping your family safe? This may just be a sign of me getting older and my reading tastes developing, but I wanted so much less of their romance and so much more of them kicking some Consortium butts! I was happy with the ending, however, and thought that the two of them in the final pages were pretty friggin cute.

Writing:
What may have saved this book for me (besides Josie) is the writing. Tonya Kuper does a great job of writing a book that's really easy to just sit down and fly through without even realizing it. The world is built up just enough that you can dive in and the Oculi powers are something that I could easily read about forever. It's such a unique and fun "superpower" and I really liked how Josie learned to navigate her powers more in this book. The fighting/action scenes are fast paced and exciting and reading about the Oculi using their powers during fights is really cool and you definitely find yourself wanting more of those scenes once you read them. Enigma progresses rapidly and unfolds effortlessly and I really think that Tonya Kuper is a writer that anyone can get into.

While I wasn't as crazy about this book as I wanted to be, I think Enigma is a book that will please fans of Anomaly and brings a satisfying ending to the duology. Josie shines as the strong and nerdy main character that can definitely stick up for herself and Tonya Kuper's writing is quick and fun to read. If you're a fan of all things nerdy and science-y, then be sure to pick up this fun YA duology and dive into the world of Anomalies and Oculi!

Enigma is the second and final book in the Schrodinger's Consortium duology by Tonya Kuper. I enjoyed this book so much more than the first one. We needed book one to get us introduced to the characters, their powers, and their world. But now in this book we can finally get down to the meat and potatoes of what's going on. We still don't know who's safe or who we can trust this time around. People may not be who they seem. That definitely makes things tricky. Josie impresses me so much. Not because she has all this power, but despite this power, she's still flawed. She doubts herself. She panics. She made me shake my head a time or two. She's human, and I love that she is so real. Well.. fictionally speaking anyway. Needless to say, she's a fantastic character.

There's only one thing I'm left wondering about in regards to the serum. I read a section over and over, but it's still unclear to me. Unfortunately, it's also a spoiler, so I can't say much more. Honestly, I didn't think it could all be wrapped up in just two books, but it was. It may have happened a little quickly this time, but I like the end result all the same.

Hmm. Well this is awkward. I did not like this as much as the first book at all. It's making me want to go back and re-evaluate Anomaly. Was I just in a good mood? I don't think so. I honestly just don't think this was nearly as good or as entertaining. It was incredibly dull for the first three quarters, and then the climax at the end was both ridiculous and by then, too little too late.

We join Reid and thingy on their way to the HUB, which is the place Reid grew up fully aware of his Oculi abilities. They're coming to look for a mole in the Resistance. It's never sufficiently explained why they're so sure there even is a mole there, other than saying Santos couldn't have been working alone... Anyway, they're off to the HUB and at this point I'm enjoying it well enough and thinking this will be fun, we'll go in, meet a load of interesting people and I can try to identify which one is up to no good all sleuthy and detective-like. But then they got there and it was just so boring. They literally did nothing for the longest time. Just a bit of training, a few meals, going to bed, waking up, some kissing. None of the new characters we met were at all interesting or had any depth. It was a total snoozefest. We obviously did meet the mole at one point, but it was in such an uneventful way. There was no fun to be had in the guessing because the author didn't even try to make it compelling in that way. It was a case of just wait while I fill a load of pages with minutia and repetitive narration, then I'll just tell you who it is. By then you'll be so bored you won't actually care but, hey, never mind.

Ugh.

And then the end was so OTT, but at least something was finally happening.

Colour me disappointed and glad it's not a trilogy.

2 Stars ★★

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Strong, geeky heroine with special magical abilities – check! Swoony, yet forbidden romance – check! Lots of pop culture references – check! Witty banter and a cast of side characters to keep things interesting – check! Seriously, this series has all the best tropes that I absolutely love in a book. Let’s not forget there are dangerous organizations that are battling it out and infiltrating each other to bring one side toppling down. Meanwhile, Josie is going to use herself as bait to try and flush out the mole in order to protect the people she loves.

Josie has some majorly unique abilities, that she is barely in control of, which leads to endless possibilities as to what she can do with her powers, and why she is a key component in the Consortium’s plans to overthrow the Resistance. Josie, even with superpowers, still feels real and down to earth. She struggles with her actions, she’s suffering with anxiety and PTSD, but she knows she has to hold it together to fight the Consortium. She needs training and she needs to help keep her family safe and she knows she can only trust them and Reid. Reid is perfect for her, he puts her and her family above himself at all times. He is going to fight for Josie no matter the costs.

Enigma, like Anomaly, is dual POV. We get insight from both Josie and Reid. I love dual POV because I can really ascertain the feelings between the characters. There is so much action, and so much at stake, but we still find time for perfect swoon worthy kissing! Reid was just as lovable as he was before. Nothing in him changes, he cares for her and even though they try to keep that hidden, anyone with a brain can tell it is more than just danger for his trainee, it is that his life is also in danger without Josie.

The Schrodinger’s Consortium series is sadly over with Enigma, but I love trendy duologies! As much as I want more, and maybe we will get a spinoff or something in the future, I felt like Enigma’s ending was a tad rushed. There was so much going on, so much action, and maybe a little of that was me not wanting it to end. Overall, this series is fun, unique and a overall excellent read! If you love witty characters, fast-paced action, and a wholly distinctive read, this series is for you!

Review first posted on Realm of the Sapphired Dragon 10th July 2017: http://sapphireddragon.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/blog-tour-review-giveaway-enigma.html

Enigma is the second book of the Schrodinger Consortium series and takes up shortly after the end of Anomaly (book 1). Reid and Josie are currently on the run from The Consortium and Josie is having trouble dealing with the fact she killed Santos. This is one of the first things I really liked about this book. Unlike many action stories, it didn't make the killing of enemies, even with kick ass powers, glamorous. Instead showing very real consequences and reactions to having , albeit accidentally, killing someone.

I also liked that story kept momentum all the way through. An easy, entertaining read, with a well paced storyline that kept the reader moving through the twists and turns and guessing who the mole was until the end. As reader, I felt immersed in the story the whole way through.

I liked Josie. How strong she was, how she used her intelligence hand in hand with her compassion and protective spirit to protect her family and help those around her even as she dealt with her new abilities and the unimaginable power that came along with them. I loved Reid, his strength and protectiveness of Josie along with his swooniness. He was everything a good book boyfriend should be.

Overall though, what I most enjoyed was that the premise behind the story was quite different from things I had read before. The idea of being able to push and retract and the science behind it was a really intriguing idea which i thought quite well though out and believable. This created a world that I really wanted to know more about.

A very enjoyable read. I give this book 3 3/4 stars

Sapphired Dragon XX

A few years ago, I read and enjoyed Anomaly, by this author. It was a one day read for me, because it was just that good. And then I waited for the second book, checking periodically to see if it had been released. I was finally rewarded to see it was releasing soon and received a copy for review purposes from Net Galley.

Josie was a seventeen year old science nerd living in Florida with her parents and brother. Out of the blue she meets Reid and Santos, who change her life forever when they tell her what she really is. No, she’s not a paranormal being, or a princess of Hell, or anything like that. It’s more a science fiction thing. She is part of the Oculi world and is able to change reality with her mind. Simply explained, if she wants a drink, she can Push it and she has a drink. If she wants to take the drink away, she an Retract it. Most Oculi people can either Push or Retract, but not both. Because Josie can do both, she is an Anomaly and now with even more unusual talents making themselves known, she’s been dubbed an, Enigma. Reid is now her trainer and self appointed bodyguard. They are on the run together after the events that unfolded in the first book. They are also falling for each other. When Josie learns that her mother and brother are at the Hub of the resistance and knows there is a traitor there, she realizes she must get to the hub to protect them. Why resistance? There’s a group, the Consortium, that wants to take over all of the Oculi and use them for their own nefarious purposes. So a resistance was born, many years before, and Josie and Reid’s parents have pretty much always been part of it-although until now Josie has been in the dark about it.

Some young adult books that you read, really don’t seem like true young adult books to me. They touch on realities of young adult lives, with possible sex, drugs, drinking, among other things that teens face today.Those are the books for ages 16 plus. Then there are books like this one, and none of those things are being faced by these teens. Boring, no. Just really a young adult book that is for young adults. Oh, there is a bit of lust between the main characters and that is typical for teenagers in the throes of first love, but that’s about all. And that was okay, because instead, we are treated to a good amount of action, with lies and betrayals mixed in with the violence, and a sweet romance. I honestly didn’t figure it all out, well part, but not all, and that is a good thing when reading a book like this one.

To be honest, I enjoyed the first book more than this one. I think that’s because the first one was all new to me, new world, abilities, and new first romance for the main characters. And while I remembered the first book, it had been just long enough, with over three hundred books read in between, that I didn’t remember all the ins and outs of the first book. In this case, I think there should have been a bit more explanation to some of the background that was covered previously. Truthfully, I was a bit lost in the beginning, but decided after not being able to find my copy of Anomaly, just to go with it. So this is definitely not a standalone. Don’t get me wrong, it was well written and fairly well paced(although I wanted more action in the beginning),so I really enjoyed the read. The two main characters were perfect for this book and finely drawn by the author. And the bad guys were really terrible-also a good thing in a book of this type. I also enjoyed getting the story from both main character’s perspective. Doesn’t always work, but it did for both of these books.

I recommend this to young adult readers ages, 14plus. This may have been a duology, but it totally could have another book added someday and if so, I will be right there reading it. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I'm not sure you can dive into this world at book 2 without having read book 1, but it almost felt like that for me, so - give it a shot if you want! There isn't much "catch up" work done in the book, so you're essentially on your own for refreshing your memory if you've had many books between #1 and this one.

Reid and Josie start the book on the run from the "bad guys." They're supposed to go on the run, but information about her family heading to the Resistance changes their mind. Sure, it means they're supposed to hide their relationship (trainer/trainee's aren't supposed to date), but it's something they're willing to sacrifice to keep her family safe. We meet a wide variety of characters at the compound and get some really neat power displays, reminding me of the super cool powers they've all got. Josie, the super power in the house, was definitely the most impressive in the bunch.

There is a lot of mystery, betrayal, suspicion, and eventually a HEA all jammed into the pages of this book. Just when you think you've figured everything out, the book throws you another twist and you have to question everything all over again. I believe this is the last book in the series, and was super happy with where everyone ultimately ended up.

*Review to be posted on blog, with blog tour, on 7/11 at 6:00am PST*

Enigma was an entertaining conclusion to the Schrodinger's Consortium duology. It was fast paced, had an adorable romance, fun superpowers, and I couldn't help but like some of the new characters. I'm so glad I gave this duology a try, and I will definitely be picking up Tonya Kuper's future releases! Here are some of my thoughts on Enigma -

✮ A strong yet realistic heroine -

Anger seethed in my stomach as I watched thunderhead clouds billow from behind the mountain peaks. Energy buzzed in my fingers. This mole, this accomplice to my attempted murder, this orchestrator of the deaths of innocent people, didn’t know what was coming for him. - Josie


It's been three days since Anomaly ended, and my heart was saddened to see how much Josie was suffering. She was struggling emotionally from the fight she was in, along with the fact that she took someone's life. Someone who she thought she trusted, and was even a friend. But I had faith that Josie would pull herself together. And till then, I loved watching how she trained. She was was beyond fierce and brave. Yet her fears were always there too. See, that's one of the many reasons I liked her. She was someone who was not only realistic, but easy to like!

✮ Book boyfriend material -

The thought of Josie putting her life on the line split me into pieces. Part of me, the part that respected her decision to do this and knew she was capable of making her own decisions, ballooned with pride. But the other part of me, the part that wanted a future with her, the selfish part of me, ached from the terror of possibly losing her. - Reid


Probably my favorite thing about this whole book was Reid. I know. I'm hopeless. I loved that his top priority was keeping Josie safe. I loved that he was her biggest champion. And I absolutely loved when he was authoritative to others. He was amazing when he took charge! You'll see what I mean when they arrive in the Hub. Reid was still sexy as ever, such a good guy, and someone I could easily obsess about.

✮ Unique abilities and powers -

Reid slid his hands off my waist and one corner of his mouth curved upward. “Time to kick ass.”


I know I said this in my first review, but I have to mention it again. The powers and abilities in this book, I've never read about them before. It was fascinating to learn about, and I loved that they were entirely different from everything else out there. It made reading about their training, fighting or even every day moments SO much fun! And I loved seeing how Josie's powers manifested *she was fierce!!*!

✮ My only two wishes -

This moment mattered. This moment was all those other kisses, and touches, and years of watching each other rolled into one. He felt it, too. - Josie


I wish that some moments between Josie and Reid were expanded, because I'm greedy like that. Especially in the beginning when they were traveling around and staying in motel rooms. And had to share a bed. I wanted those good night moments. Whether they were sweet, awkward or even if it showed Josie waking up from her nightmares in the middle of the night. I couldn't have had enough of Josie and Reid time (I was a little obsessed about them). And I also wish there was more expansion on the Consortium. I wanted to know why they were the way they were and learn more about them.

His hand wrapped around mine as I watched the sky and my chest suddenly seemed full. Reid was like quicksand— all consuming, sifting into parts of me I didn’t even know needed filling. - Josie


So while I guessed how a few things would turn out, there were some twists and turns that were wonderful and surprising. I love when that happens! But but but, there was mention of a thing in the future *yes I'm being vague here haha*. So while it wrapped up beautifully, it also left room for a future book or even a spin-off? Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, but I'd love to read more about these characters. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to them just yet, so fingers crossed!

*ARC kindly provided by Entangled Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

**4.5 Out Of 5 Stars**
Two weeks after the devastating events of book one, Josie and Reid have been on the move, trying to stay ahead of the mole in their organization that will take out everything they are trying to save. When Josie is given the option to stay with Reid and go to a safe house, or follow her family to the Resistance base where a mole is hiding, Josie has no choice. She decided to protect her family and bring the Consortium down, even if it costs her her life. This will be war and Josie will not back down.

This book is the perfect blend of imagination, mystery and suspense. Keep in mid that this is not a standalone story, but instead a second book in a complicated, much bigger world. Tonya is able to create this amazing, fantastical world full of people who pretty much have super powers and for the most part anything is possible (at least where Josie is concerned). The magic used by the Anomaly's reminded me kind of the movie the Matrix, where the mind can alter every scenario, making everything more fluid and reality is questionable. This can be so much fun, but it can also be even more dangerous for our main characters. I stumbled upon this series when it first came out around January 2015 and I could not stop thinking about what I had read and how I NEEDED more (it went past a want and to a very serious need). I did not want the story to end since I wanted to continue the action, danger, magic and most importantly, the romance.

Josie is such an awesome character, able to keep going and think of others when her own safety is on the line. Not to mention the fact that she just barely learned about her powers and the strange new world she was pushed into, yet she is rolling with the punches like a pro. She was determined, competent and related everything to something nerd-based, which makes her one of my favorite main characters (and look, the nerd saves the day and gets the love interest!).
Reid was so cute and strong, willing to help Josie in any way, yet knowing she was capable on her own without his interference. He was the charmer too, but my absolute favorite line in the book was near the end of the story "...but I already had my eye on a treat. I like Nerds." See, swoon worthy, while being funny and true, which I think sums up Reid perfectly. Keep in mind that the romance was not the focus of the story, but I still loved the secret moments that Josie and Reid shared, how they complimented each other so well and I just wanted to wrap them in a smooshy hug, that's how much I liked them together.

I enjoyed how the story kept me on my toes guessing, be it about what Josie can do next magically, or even suspect wise since nobody was off the table for potential guilt. I can't wait to see what else Tonya wants to write about, be it more in this series (which I am not sure will be more since this appeared to wrap up nicely but who knows) or something completely different. I was not let down by this story and enjoyed it just as much as I did the first book. This is the perfect series for fans of supernatural adventures, dangerous mysteries and a whole lot of fun nerdy references (which I forgot how much I loved them).

I received this book in return for my honest review, but I also pre-ordered a copy to go with my book 1, which should tell you my appreciation for the series.

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