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queer_bookwyrm's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, tech implants, descriptions of blood and gore, parental death, PTSD, teen pregnancy, medical trauma, lobotomy
Override by Heather Anastasiu is the second book in the Glitch series. This is a dystopian world where humans have been implanted with V-chip that deadens their emotions, but some of the young people begin glitching and beginning to become human again. These Glitchers, as they are called, also have special powers.
We pick up with Zoe hiding in a lab, because it's the only safe place she can breathe since she is severely allergic to everything on the surface since she was raised underground. We see her struggle to control her telek power and often destroys a room or accidentally hurts herself. She doesn't see how she is supposed to become the leader of the Rez (Resistance) like this.
Eventually she is moved to a new facility where other glitchers are being held and trained to defeat the Community. We get to learn a lot more about the different glitchers and their powers in this one, but I wished we had gotten more character moments with them. This book focuses mostly on Zoe and Adrien.
Adrien struggles with his visions of the future and he worries that by telling people his visions he's creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. In the end, his visions are his downfall. We also get to explore the dynamic of ex-regulators, specifically Cole, and the Rez fighters who have spent their lives terrified of them. Xona is a great character who I hope we learn more about next book. Though brief, I loved her growth in this.
I also really appreciated that part of Glitcher training is meditation to help them get control of their new emotions, which in turn will help them control their abilities. Zoe makes great strides in this and her power becomes more than I expected and she becomes a badass with it. Seriously looking forward to the last book.
Override by Heather Anastasiu is the second book in the Glitch series. This is a dystopian world where humans have been implanted with V-chip that deadens their emotions, but some of the young people begin glitching and beginning to become human again. These Glitchers, as they are called, also have special powers.
We pick up with Zoe hiding in a lab, because it's the only safe place she can breathe since she is severely allergic to everything on the surface since she was raised underground. We see her struggle to control her telek power and often destroys a room or accidentally hurts herself. She doesn't see how she is supposed to become the leader of the Rez (Resistance) like this.
Eventually she is moved to a new facility where other glitchers are being held and trained to defeat the Community. We get to learn a lot more about the different glitchers and their powers in this one, but I wished we had gotten more character moments with them. This book focuses mostly on Zoe and Adrien.
Adrien struggles with his visions of the future and he worries that by telling people his visions he's creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. In the end, his visions are his downfall. We also get to explore the dynamic of ex-regulators, specifically Cole, and the Rez fighters who have spent their lives terrified of them. Xona is a great character who I hope we learn more about next book. Though brief, I loved her growth in this.
I also really appreciated that part of Glitcher training is meditation to help them get control of their new emotions, which in turn will help them control their abilities. Zoe makes great strides in this and her power becomes more than I expected and she becomes a badass with it. Seriously looking forward to the last book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
amburhostyn's review
5.0
Wow...I'm just speechless right now! I didn't want to put Override down at all! I loved it, yet I'm completely torn up about it at the same time. Shutdown seriously can't come out fast enough now! :p
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
booksofamber's review
4.0
You should definitely check out my stop on the Override blog tour. Heather Anastasiu talks about what makes a good love interest, and I found it very insightful. There is even a mention of Jack and Rose, which may or may not have caused my stomach to flip flop. I cannot handle Titanic references.
Onto the actual book review. As some of you may know, I loved Glitch. I read it last year when it first came out, and I was one of the people who were raving about it. I was so excited for the sequel, especially after Glitch's action packed ending. Override, while I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Glitch, definitely did not disappoint me. It was fast paced, exciting, and Zoe gets even more badass!
Full review here.
Onto the actual book review. As some of you may know, I loved Glitch. I read it last year when it first came out, and I was one of the people who were raving about it. I was so excited for the sequel, especially after Glitch's action packed ending. Override, while I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Glitch, definitely did not disappoint me. It was fast paced, exciting, and Zoe gets even more badass!
Full review here.
pages_and_procrastination's review
3.0
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this digital galley, free, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Did anyone read my review of Glitch? Well, this is not going to be the same. I liked this Override. Did I love it? Almost, but not quite. I have learned a valuable lesson in keeping an open mind when continuing a series, and to finish all review books. Yep, it’ll be hard and irritating, but you never know what will surprise. Where I didn’t feel Glitch was worth reading, Override definitely was. I couldn’t put this one down. It still had it flaws, but they weren’t so in-your-face. I was able to overlook them and get into them. That’s something I can appreciate, since it is hard to write the perfect story for more than one person. Override was redeeming to the series. I am once again looking forward to this series.
There are only a couple of minor things that I didn’t like, so I won’t talk about those. I will talk about the major flaws that I saw. Of course, the first one is the romance. I get it, I really do, but gag! They are teenagers so their hormones are going crazy. Their emotions are still fairly new so they are strong and overwhelming. But, really? Come on! Is it really necessary to do some serious kissing and light touching, then sneak away and insinuate they’re going to have sex only to pull back at the last moment? At this point, either do it to get it over with or move on. Personally, the passion is too much for such young and naive people. I can understand the tension that’s being created, but there are much better ways to do that.
The second major thing is the twist. Well, it sucked. It read as if it was thrown in there because Anastasiu didn’t know how to get to point A to point B with what was already happening in the story, so she just pulled something out of the air. What’s sad about the twist is two things. The first is the writing is better than that, she cut herself short doing this. The other is that this would have been an awesome twist, and an emotional pivot point in the story – had it been believable. I won’t spoil it, but if there had been an earlier clue to put the possibility out there this would have been amazing.
Now on to what I liked about it. This time, the characters had emotional depth. It wasn’t just because they were able to openly share and experience emotions. Each had a story and as it was shared, I was able to understand them a little better. With this understanding came a connection. There was a whole lot of action and second guessing. The pacing was strong and the storyline was engaging. Finally, Zoe. When I started reading and she was the same whiny, annoying glitcher I groaned and thought the books was doomed before I started it. But-she grew, she changed. She developed into someone who really stood a chance at being a hero.
3.5 Stars
Did anyone read my review of Glitch? Well, this is not going to be the same. I liked this Override. Did I love it? Almost, but not quite. I have learned a valuable lesson in keeping an open mind when continuing a series, and to finish all review books. Yep, it’ll be hard and irritating, but you never know what will surprise. Where I didn’t feel Glitch was worth reading, Override definitely was. I couldn’t put this one down. It still had it flaws, but they weren’t so in-your-face. I was able to overlook them and get into them. That’s something I can appreciate, since it is hard to write the perfect story for more than one person. Override was redeeming to the series. I am once again looking forward to this series.
There are only a couple of minor things that I didn’t like, so I won’t talk about those. I will talk about the major flaws that I saw. Of course, the first one is the romance. I get it, I really do, but gag! They are teenagers so their hormones are going crazy. Their emotions are still fairly new so they are strong and overwhelming. But, really? Come on! Is it really necessary to do some serious kissing and light touching, then sneak away and insinuate they’re going to have sex only to pull back at the last moment? At this point, either do it to get it over with or move on. Personally, the passion is too much for such young and naive people. I can understand the tension that’s being created, but there are much better ways to do that.
The second major thing is the twist. Well, it sucked. It read as if it was thrown in there because Anastasiu didn’t know how to get to point A to point B with what was already happening in the story, so she just pulled something out of the air. What’s sad about the twist is two things. The first is the writing is better than that, she cut herself short doing this. The other is that this would have been an awesome twist, and an emotional pivot point in the story – had it been believable. I won’t spoil it, but if there had been an earlier clue to put the possibility out there this would have been amazing.
Now on to what I liked about it. This time, the characters had emotional depth. It wasn’t just because they were able to openly share and experience emotions. Each had a story and as it was shared, I was able to understand them a little better. With this understanding came a connection. There was a whole lot of action and second guessing. The pacing was strong and the storyline was engaging. Finally, Zoe. When I started reading and she was the same whiny, annoying glitcher I groaned and thought the books was doomed before I started it. But-she grew, she changed. She developed into someone who really stood a chance at being a hero.
3.5 Stars
samisokay's review
2.0
Rating: 2.5
It took me a while to get into this book. While in the first book I easily just started reading, the beginning of this book is where I basically found all of the characters, well, annoying.
I did like the idea of the school, and I thought that some of the schoolmates developed nicely.
All in all though, I don't think I'll continue with the series. I think the first two books were enough for me.
It took me a while to get into this book. While in the first book I easily just started reading, the beginning of this book is where I basically found all of the characters, well, annoying.
I did like the idea of the school, and I thought that some of the schoolmates developed nicely.
All in all though, I don't think I'll continue with the series. I think the first two books were enough for me.
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