Review: Shadow of Deception (The Kazumi Chronicles #1) by Sophia L. Johnson

Finally got around to doing this review of the young adult dystopian slash science fiction book, Shadow of Deception (The Kazumi Chronicles, Book One) by author Sophia L. Johnson. Read more about the book and check out my review.

Intriguing mix of sci-fi and dystopian

Shadow of DeceptionShadow of Deception is a nice mix of dystopian and science fiction, and, for the most part, I really enjoyed it.

The story is set in a future where wars and calamities have changed the face and structure of the world. There are now three world powers: the United Nation of North America, The Republic of Europe, and Greater China. At the center of the story is our girl Kazumi, the only survivor in a plane crash and has a serious case of amnesia. No one claims her at the hospital so she’s sent to a shelter, but a nurse steers her to another direction and sends her instead to the Sarcomeres, a secret race of super humans with genes and tech that are way more advanced than regular humans. Kazumi finds out she has the super gene too and decides to stay and train in the hopes of reaching her potential and joining the Sarcomeres’ Elite group of warriors. As it happens, the Sarcomeres are actually one of two secret races. The other group is called the Neuronics or “mind-benders” and they have the ability to enter people’s minds and make them see or do whatever they want. The Sarcomeres claim to be the world’s protectors against the Neuronics and the two groups have been at war for years. As Kazumi spends more time with the Sarcomeres, she slowly regains her memories and discovers that everything is not what it seems, even herself.

The plot really is quite exciting and complex, and, as I mentioned above, it’s a good mix of dystopian and science fiction. There’s also a romantic sub-plot, by the way, between Kazumi and Finn, the leader of the Elites. I’m not really a big fan of romance in my fantasy or sci-fi reads, so that was actually the part I could care less about. However, I can appreciate that it’s critical to the story.

Kazumi is a complex character. At first she comes off weak, whiny, and very emotional, and I really couldn’t stand it, but towards the end of the book she becomes someone I can root for.

For me the book is more sci-fi than dystopian. I like the concept of the super human races and I like how Sophia L. Johnson details out their differences. I also appreciate the fact that the author did not shy away from hardcore, painful scenes and even brutal deaths.

Overall, Shadow of Deception is a good fast-paced read. Slash all the romance-romance and teeny bopper emotional stuff and I would have really adored this book. I can ignore all that though and would be interested to read more from this series.

Note: I received a review copy of this book as part of my participation in the tour. All opinions and views expressed here are my own.

About the Book

2153, Toronto, United Nation of North America (UNNA)

A horrific plane crash kills all five hundred and forty-two passengers except one. Kazumi emerges from the wreckage physically unscathed but has lost all her memories. Her miraculous survival has the whole city buzzing but all she wants is to go home, wherever home is.

After waiting a month in the hospital with no one to claim her, Kazumi is deemed homeless. She is about to be sent to a nearby teenage shelter when the nurse she grew to trust ushers her down a mysterious path, one that promises safety and maybe even the chance to recover her memories. With no better options available, Kazumi takes her chance and finds herself in the headquarters of the Sarcomeres, a secret society of genetically advanced humans hidden deep inside the Rocky Mountains. The Sarc’s heightened physical abilities and high-tech gadgets are not the only things that fascinate Kazumi. Finnegan O’Riley, a fellow Sarc she meets along the way also gets her heart racing. When Kazumi discovers that she possesses the genetic potential of a Sarcomere, she jumps at the chance to train with them, not knowing the death defying tests that are involved.

Meanwhile, a centuries-old nemesis of the Sarcomeres begins to stir in the dark, setting their dark plans in motion. Just when Kazumi thinks she can help protect her new found home, past memories surface to threaten her new identity. She soon realizes that layers of deception run deep and everyone has a secret agenda, including herself.

Who can she trust when she can’t even trust herself? One wrong decision could bring forth consequences worse than death.

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All royalties made in the first year will go to a charity called Covenant House, to help homeless youth.

About the Author

Sophia L. JohnsonWith a degree in International Business Management, Sophia has worked in a major marketing firm where she realized the corporate world isn’t one she wants to be in. She then made the switch into the healthcare industry as a Registered Massage Therapist by day and a writer by night. She is now a Massage Therapy instructor and a published author living with her husband and daughter in Toronto. Her go-to genres are science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian; or anything that sweeps her away into a foreign world that promises adventure.

Connect with the author: Website | TwitterFacebook

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