Flashback

This book is written in a light style, but the content is dark, because it contains sexual abuse and torture. This was a good thriller, but I had to take a star away because of how it's written. This seems to be written by an adult who doesn't have any teen children, because kids don't sound that mature. It makes for some awkward dialogue, but not to the point where it detracts from the story.

Another thing about this is that this type of fiction is based on things that do happen in reality.

Thirteen-year-old Sarah is an orphan. Her whole life, people have treated her negatively for being who she is and she hates it, especially the teachers who look away knowing she is being bullied. But then something is discovered about her.

Sarah is one of the few children who have a gene that allows her to remember memories from her past ancestors but she doesn't know why. Such memories have taught Sarah to fight back in tough situations and have changed her life, but is it for the better? Through new DNA testing, a company specialising in genetic research finds and offers Sarah a scholarship at a high-end school where they can also help understand this new gene more.

Sarah is whisked away into a life she never had, with new clothes that for once aren't second hand, a phone and laptop of her very own, and friends like Alka and Kim who she knows she can count on when she needs it.

But Sarah is suspicious of the people who are studying her and the other kids, she doesn't know whether to trust them, but with her new life and friends at state, she pushes on until it's time to fight back.

I had first requested this arc because the girl drawing the bow and arrow on the cover appealed to me being an archer myself. I didn't know what to expect whether it would be more historic fiction suggested by the blurb but it ended up being a combination of historic and sci-fi.

The first few chapters did not coincide with what the blurb had talked about so I was worried to the plot would fall flat, however, I was surprised. The amalgamation of ancient memories being passed to a young teen in times that she needed them most worked really well and I was drawn in ready to read more every second I could. I'll definitely be excited to read the next instalment of this series.

I thought the characterisation was good. Geoff was the perfect antagonist, floating from trusting to finding out his true intentions worked really well and I thought I was on the same page as Sarah in regard to my trust for him throughout. I loved the relationship between Sarah and Alka, they bounced off each other and felt realistic enough for thirteen-year-old friends.

The plot itself was generally interesting and kept me engaged throughout. From the testing of the kid's strengths and understanding how the memories affected them in normal life to how it all slowly moved to more tests and secrets needing to be acquired. The pacing of real-life to memory was also good, I liked how we see the memories of Innogen come through just as Sarah needed them and the advice it held before her next interaction, I thought it flowed really well. The twist at the end had me in shock and I'm excited to read more about what happens next!

As I said, I liked the characters of Sarah and Alka, I also loved Deanna, she was a well-balanced role model and advisor for Sarah when she needed it also acting like family to a girl who once had nothing. The relationship between Sarah and Ondy I'd be interested to see if that is continued through the next book or will it stray off. I don't think it was necessary to give Sarah a love interest but I do get the reasoning behind it as she gets to go through her first crush and such.

Some of the conversations that the characters had between themselves just didn't feel realistic, or in some ways necessary. I thought a good bit of it could have been cut down and edited to make it flow and translate more naturally.

My favourite scene was the archery one. I felt such a comfort and thrill as I read about Innogen and then of how Sarah used these memories to her advantage. As disclosed above, I do archery so I'm glad this scene played out well and depicted archery generally accurately.

I would recommend this to people, I thought it was a really enjoyable read and I can't wait to read more. I'm knocking a star (and a half) off just for the confusion at the beginning with dates and also some of the chapter titles didn't play right with me.

I should also warn people that there are some graphic scenes of violence and sexual assault so just to be wary of this when deciding whether this is the book for you or not.

I'd just like to thank Netgalley, the publishers and the author of this book for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Flashback is a well-done story about the possibility of Ancestral memory being passed down via genetic transfer. It deals with a science fiction theme in which descendants of historically famous people could be found with the aid of the mapping of the human genome. The events occurring in the life of the ancestor might be available as memories in the current generation.
Sarah is a thirteen-year-old orphan that has been moved frequently through the uncaring foster care system in Canada. She has had no parents to love and has only the prospect of more of the same. At the opening of the story an anthropological expedition has unearthed the burial ground of three people in England; two males and one female. By judicious process of elimination, the female is found to be that of Boudica who was a warrior Queen of her tribe living in England during the first century A.D. She led her people in battles against the invading Roman armies enjoying some success holding off the conquerors at many points.
The leader of the expedition finding the remains contacts a company that is looking into genetic analysis of possible famous people. The firm investigating the DNA found on the bodies and does actually find a prospect living today that might be a possibility to carry Ancestral memories of Boudica and her life. Sarah does have the genetic disposition to carry such memories. She is contacted by the company investigating these memories and taken into a school that they sponsor. When Sarah is encouraged to accept her memories, she first thinks she is day dreaming but then begins to react as a warrior would when facing physical violence without any training in the martial arts.
T.R. Davis does not overly dwell on the science he writes about but does explain in layman's terms the possibility of genome mapping supplying many benefits for the human race. These do include better information to fight disease, physical deformities and other maladies plaguing mankind. The reader is given enough information to understand what the author needs understood to tell his story. A fast read and one that does grab the reader's attention and keeps it until the end. Certainly, guaranteeing that Davis' next books will be looked for and enjoyed.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Very easy to read and the story continued at a good pace. Not too many surprises but i enjoyed how the story built to the end. final piece left you wanting to read the next installment in the series.

i really liked the unique premise and I loved Sarah and felt really bad for her. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to more from the author and the series.