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siobhan27's review
5.0
When I heard the hype behind this book I knew it was going to be different. Never have I heard a book get such good press since I heard about The 5th Wave last year. Archetype follows the story of a girl who wakes up not remembering anything about her life, and there is a man in front of her telling her she is his wife. She decides of believe him and then everything changes. She begins to have flashbacks, and they do not include so so-called husband but another man entirely. She much find out which reality is in fact and when she does everything she thought she knew falls to pieces.
This book was a slow start, and honestly I find that most great books are. You need a little set up before you as a reader must dive in and care about a character enough to feel what they are feeling and anticipate their future. The authors writing in this novel far surpassed any and all expectations I had going in. It was simplistic yet extremely descriptive and engaging. I felt that through M.D Waters writing that I felt as though I was a part of the story, waiting to find out what the future held for me. To me that is a sign of a great writer, someone who can make you care so deaply about a character that your heart starts racing when you know things are about to go down. That is exactly what happens in Archetype.
The flashbacks were essential to my adoration of this novel because it was what drew in. It was a mystery I wanted to crack, and I knew that I would have to wait to find out, but those flashback gave me glimpses and a chance to find out on my own. And I tried so hard to figure out what was happening and what the reveal would be, but I could not have picked this ending out of a lineup. It came out of nowhere for me, even though when I read the title it makes complete sense. But that is the beauty of this book, you forget everything you think you know and dive head first into this world that makes little sense.
The one thing I hate to read are books that have cliffhanger endings because I know I will have to wait until the next book to figure out what happens and I hate to say that this one had one hell of a cliffhanger. But to be fair, it makes sense for the progression of the novel, and it is not your ordinary cliffhanger, but none the less I did not like it! All I have to say is that I am glad that the second book is not too far away and I only have to wait until July to read the next one!
This book was a slow start, and honestly I find that most great books are. You need a little set up before you as a reader must dive in and care about a character enough to feel what they are feeling and anticipate their future. The authors writing in this novel far surpassed any and all expectations I had going in. It was simplistic yet extremely descriptive and engaging. I felt that through M.D Waters writing that I felt as though I was a part of the story, waiting to find out what the future held for me. To me that is a sign of a great writer, someone who can make you care so deaply about a character that your heart starts racing when you know things are about to go down. That is exactly what happens in Archetype.
The flashbacks were essential to my adoration of this novel because it was what drew in. It was a mystery I wanted to crack, and I knew that I would have to wait to find out, but those flashback gave me glimpses and a chance to find out on my own. And I tried so hard to figure out what was happening and what the reveal would be, but I could not have picked this ending out of a lineup. It came out of nowhere for me, even though when I read the title it makes complete sense. But that is the beauty of this book, you forget everything you think you know and dive head first into this world that makes little sense.
The one thing I hate to read are books that have cliffhanger endings because I know I will have to wait until the next book to figure out what happens and I hate to say that this one had one hell of a cliffhanger. But to be fair, it makes sense for the progression of the novel, and it is not your ordinary cliffhanger, but none the less I did not like it! All I have to say is that I am glad that the second book is not too far away and I only have to wait until July to read the next one!
dolaya's review
4.0
This novel blew me away. The characters are excellent, the plot wonderful, and the world enthralling. Read. This. Book.
The first thing I’ll say is that MD Waters has done an excellent job. Her debut seems to me like something that an experienced and veteran novelist would have difficulty writing, much less a first time author. But of course I’m wrong because she’s the person I’m writing about. And frankly, having just read Prototype, I can say that her prowess was certainly not beginner’s luck.
I won’t bother giving you a synopsis of the book because the blurb does a plenty good job of that already. But I will say that the blurb was very effective in making me desperately want to read this book. And I was not disappointed. First, the plot. It was great. The plot was elegantly crafted so it led you nicely around the story, but firmly enough that as you passed those interesting windows with the answers you wanted, you could only get a glimpse. If the plot is the script then this one is a masterwork.
And another thing that makes this book so great is that I cannot for the life of me put it neatly into one genre. It is transcendent, with elements of mystery, science fiction, and romance. And all of it well thought out, so that the parts complement each other and don’t overdo themselves. Sci-Fi walks with Mystery, then sedes their dominance of the stage to Romance for a bit, before returning to both infuriate you and enthrall you with their puzzling dialogue.
A story always needs a stage, and Waters delivers wonderfully. All of the places that Emma, our main character, gets to know become familiar and almost tangibly real, described and developed in meticulous detail. Thanks to our author, we walk with Emma in her world, sharing her surroundings and to a certain degree, her experience.
And of course, the cast. The characters. The people who play out the story. The people who you either adore or tolerate or despise with your very being. And if feeling things about the characters is a sign of good writing then Waters is amazing. I could not read this book without feeling either animosity or friendship for the characters. And to some of the cast… go die. The people in the book are so well developed that they seem to me almost real. As if I could walk out on the street and meet Emma or Noah or Foster. Congratulations M.D. Waters.
So I think I’ve explained the reason for my rating well enough. But if there is still any doubt, I’ll say this. I rarely see a book that so effectively combines genres into a story that is told in a truly original and rather riveting way. Keep it up Waters, and to those who haven’t read Archetype yet: GO DO IT!
The first thing I’ll say is that MD Waters has done an excellent job. Her debut seems to me like something that an experienced and veteran novelist would have difficulty writing, much less a first time author. But of course I’m wrong because she’s the person I’m writing about. And frankly, having just read Prototype, I can say that her prowess was certainly not beginner’s luck.
I won’t bother giving you a synopsis of the book because the blurb does a plenty good job of that already. But I will say that the blurb was very effective in making me desperately want to read this book. And I was not disappointed. First, the plot. It was great. The plot was elegantly crafted so it led you nicely around the story, but firmly enough that as you passed those interesting windows with the answers you wanted, you could only get a glimpse. If the plot is the script then this one is a masterwork.
And another thing that makes this book so great is that I cannot for the life of me put it neatly into one genre. It is transcendent, with elements of mystery, science fiction, and romance. And all of it well thought out, so that the parts complement each other and don’t overdo themselves. Sci-Fi walks with Mystery, then sedes their dominance of the stage to Romance for a bit, before returning to both infuriate you and enthrall you with their puzzling dialogue.
A story always needs a stage, and Waters delivers wonderfully. All of the places that Emma, our main character, gets to know become familiar and almost tangibly real, described and developed in meticulous detail. Thanks to our author, we walk with Emma in her world, sharing her surroundings and to a certain degree, her experience.
And of course, the cast. The characters. The people who play out the story. The people who you either adore or tolerate or despise with your very being. And if feeling things about the characters is a sign of good writing then Waters is amazing. I could not read this book without feeling either animosity or friendship for the characters. And to some of the cast… go die. The people in the book are so well developed that they seem to me almost real. As if I could walk out on the street and meet Emma or Noah or Foster. Congratulations M.D. Waters.
So I think I’ve explained the reason for my rating well enough. But if there is still any doubt, I’ll say this. I rarely see a book that so effectively combines genres into a story that is told in a truly original and rather riveting way. Keep it up Waters, and to those who haven’t read Archetype yet: GO DO IT!
jenbsbooks's review
4.0
I liked this read ... just as the main character Emma, isn't sure about her past or what is going on (she's been in an accident and lost her memory, has some flashes that don't seem to match what she's being told), we the reader are quite confused too.
I was listening to the audio edition, and the narrator was very good ... but I wonder if I might have benefited a bit from a Kindle copy. I downloaded a sample, and in it I could see that the "memories" were in italics, something that separated and differentiated that part of the story more than when I was listening to the audio (I'd get a little confused as it would switch around, who is talking? When is this?)
I found the story intriguing ... I've read some other books that had some similarities, and it's always interesting to compare. Don't really want to say more to avoid spoilers as that was a huge part of the story ... we the reader are figuring out what is going on along with Emma. There were some comparisons to The Handmaid's Tale, with the WTC (Women's Training Center) and the fertility struggles.
I am interested in reading the sequel ... but my library doesn't have it :( I just have a really hard time justifying a book purchase when I have so many (1000s) of books waiting in my Kindle cloud and available for free from library loan.
I believe I found this in the YA section of my library - I can't remember how old the characters are, but they were married, seemed older. There was more sexual content in this than some parents might be comfortable with their teens reading.
I was listening to the audio edition, and the narrator was very good ... but I wonder if I might have benefited a bit from a Kindle copy. I downloaded a sample, and in it I could see that the "memories" were in italics, something that separated and differentiated that part of the story more than when I was listening to the audio (I'd get a little confused as it would switch around, who is talking? When is this?)
I found the story intriguing ... I've read some other books that had some similarities, and it's always interesting to compare. Don't really want to say more to avoid spoilers
Spoiler
I reviewed a few books that had the two souls in one body, soul transfer, clones ... on my blog https://jenbsjourney.blogspot.com/2017/01/stories-of-shared-souls.htmlI am interested in reading the sequel ... but my library doesn't have it :( I just have a really hard time justifying a book purchase when I have so many (1000s) of books waiting in my Kindle cloud and available for free from library loan.
I believe I found this in the YA section of my library - I can't remember how old the characters are, but they were married, seemed older. There was more sexual content in this than some parents might be comfortable with their teens reading.
timbo001's review against another edition
4.0
Somewhat formulaic, but an interesting perspective on cloning and the male cult of fertility.
rachaelkmac's review against another edition
4.0
This was a complete judge-by-the-cover pick at work this afternoon and holy smokes I do not regret it for one second. My mind is completely blown by how fantastic Archetype was, especially for a debut novel!
Emma's tale had me guessing from start to finish and while some of my theories were correct others, not so much, which I find is the perfect blend for a good novel. It is written in first person POV and I know a lot of people have issues with that in books but seriously- it was so perfect for Archetype because it backs up the authenticity of Emma's cluelessness to herself- we find out more and more about her when she does herself.
The plot line itself was mostly psychological rather than action orientated. Usually I am always craving more action in novels but it was so not necessary for this. It was an amazing blend of genres- science fiction, mystery, and a bit of romance- which all together made for the most compelling read.
Honestly, I don't think I can even properly put into words how much I loved this book. It will definitely be a 'Rachael' staff-pick and I am craving the sequel like mad!
Emma's tale had me guessing from start to finish and while some of my theories were correct others, not so much, which I find is the perfect blend for a good novel. It is written in first person POV and I know a lot of people have issues with that in books but seriously- it was so perfect for Archetype because it backs up the authenticity of Emma's cluelessness to herself- we find out more and more about her when she does herself.
The plot line itself was mostly psychological rather than action orientated. Usually I am always craving more action in novels but it was so not necessary for this. It was an amazing blend of genres- science fiction, mystery, and a bit of romance- which all together made for the most compelling read.
Honestly, I don't think I can even properly put into words how much I loved this book. It will definitely be a 'Rachael' staff-pick and I am craving the sequel like mad!
reading_rainy's review
4.0
First it reminded me of THE UNIT, then it reminded me of THE HANDMAIDS TALE, BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP, and THE HOST. Then I stopped trying to compare it and sunk into the story.
It’s dystopian, science fiction, suspenseful, and romantic. I read it very quickly because I couldn’t wait to get to the end. Then I did, and was slightly disappointed. It’s been set up perfectly for a sequel…and that isn’t a bad thing. I just expected, and wanted a clean ending.
Future earth is a frightening place. After years of selective breeding and fertility issues, women are mostly sterile. There is a civil war going on, splitting the United States down the middle. In the West women are free, and on the East Coast the few fertile young girls are being housed and “groomed” for purchase by wealthy men.
Emma wakes up in a hospital to find a man who says he is her husband. Almost every night since awakening she has horrifying dreams of being inside a tube filled with liquid, and she dreams of a man she loves deeply, who isn’t her husband. She wakes up to find she has the ability to paint beautiful beach scenes but no memory of ever going to the beach. Emma’s story is a mystery that deepens with every chapter. Her husband says she is recovering from a severe trauma caused by the rebellion…but there are holes in his story that cause her to search out answers. I’d like to say more, but don’t want to ruin those mysteries for you.
This is a book I’ll definitely re-read in the future.
It’s dystopian, science fiction, suspenseful, and romantic. I read it very quickly because I couldn’t wait to get to the end. Then I did, and was slightly disappointed. It’s been set up perfectly for a sequel…and that isn’t a bad thing. I just expected, and wanted a clean ending.
Future earth is a frightening place. After years of selective breeding and fertility issues, women are mostly sterile. There is a civil war going on, splitting the United States down the middle. In the West women are free, and on the East Coast the few fertile young girls are being housed and “groomed” for purchase by wealthy men.
Emma wakes up in a hospital to find a man who says he is her husband. Almost every night since awakening she has horrifying dreams of being inside a tube filled with liquid, and she dreams of a man she loves deeply, who isn’t her husband. She wakes up to find she has the ability to paint beautiful beach scenes but no memory of ever going to the beach. Emma’s story is a mystery that deepens with every chapter. Her husband says she is recovering from a severe trauma caused by the rebellion…but there are holes in his story that cause her to search out answers. I’d like to say more, but don’t want to ruin those mysteries for you.
This is a book I’ll definitely re-read in the future.
derbit's review against another edition
4.0
If you add a dash each of [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale|Margaret Atwood|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1546031886s/38447.jpg|1119185] and [b:The Last Girl|27419654|The Last Girl (The Dominion Trilogy, #1)|Joe Hart|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1446556977s/27419654.jpg|46188959], and a sprinkle of [b:The Stepford Wives|52350|The Stepford Wives|Ira Levin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1554371721s/52350.jpg|1534281], you'll end up with something very like Archetype.
Emma wakes up with no memory of her past or who she is. There's a man who tells her he's her husband, and as she has really no basis to determine otherwise, she takes his word for it. Archetype unfolds slowly: you figure out what's going on in "real time" with Emma, and that might cause the story to be a bit of a toil for some people. The first half of the novel is confusing as you try to figure out what's going on, but, well, Emma's confused about what she's going through, so honestly, the confusion feels appropriate.
For my part, I loved this book. Sometimes you don't really know you're waiting for a particular kind of story until you read it, and I felt that way about Archetype. Admittedly, I was a little indifferent for much of the beginning, but as the pieces start to fall into place, the story becomes more and more engaging, and damn, it's pretty amazing.
Emma wakes up with no memory of her past or who she is. There's a man who tells her he's her husband, and as she has really no basis to determine otherwise, she takes his word for it. Archetype unfolds slowly: you figure out what's going on in "real time" with Emma, and that might cause the story to be a bit of a toil for some people. The first half of the novel is confusing as you try to figure out what's going on, but, well, Emma's confused about what she's going through, so honestly, the confusion feels appropriate.
For my part, I loved this book. Sometimes you don't really know you're waiting for a particular kind of story until you read it, and I felt that way about Archetype. Admittedly, I was a little indifferent for much of the beginning, but as the pieces start to fall into place, the story becomes more and more engaging, and damn, it's pretty amazing.
ks505's review
4.0
A must read for a fantastic debut New Adult novel! Has such a different twist to it, which is what makes it very unique.
Full review on my blog: http://amabookloverblog.wordpress.com/2014/02/08/blog-tour-archetype-by-m-d-waters-book-review/
Full review on my blog: http://amabookloverblog.wordpress.com/2014/02/08/blog-tour-archetype-by-m-d-waters-book-review/