Publication Date: April 23, 2013Review: This book was just what I needed. The timing was great. I was worried about reading too many contemporaries, and I was in the mood for something fast, so The Rules was just perfect! The Rules is technically science fiction, but it's mainly set in high school, so it was just a fantastic blend, and right for me.
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Format: eGalley
Page Count: 416
Synopsis: 1. Never trust anyone.2. Remember they are always searching.3. Don’t get involved.4. Keep your head down.5. Don’t fall in love.
Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”
But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules…
As you might already be able to tell, I really enjoyed this book. Our main character is Ariane Tucker, and for the most part, I really liked her. She was strong and stubborn, which I always love in a protagonist. I was easily able to imagine her in my mind, and the whole book played out like a movie. Perhaps it was my investment into the story, or maybe it was Stacey Kade's clear and concise prose, but The Rules was such a breeze to read! The book is over 400 pages, but the pages flew by.
Back to the characters, Ariane was definitely likable. It's so easy to sympathize with her as she's in an awful situation. However, sometimes, she'd push my buttons. There were times when I felt like she was making the same mistakes over and over, without learning from them. But in the end, her intelligence and wit definitely won me over. She surprised me all the time.
The book is written in two different points of views--Ariane's and Zane's. I enjoyed both very much, as both characters were complex and intriguing. I didn't prefer one over the other. Zane was a great character. He had the perfect balance of dreaminess and flaws.
The plot was fast-paced, which is always a good thing for me. It kept me hooked through every chapter. I'll admit, quite a few times, things were predictable, but there were also surprising twists.
The Rules is an extremely enjoyable novel with its perfect combination of romance, suspense, and easy-to-read prose. The first book isn't even out yet, and I'm already dying for the sequel!
4.5 keys.