Review Detail

It's always fun to find a book that gives an unique twist to a dystopian novel. There's so many out there right now it's hard to find one that stands out among all the others.

THE BODIES WE WEAR got my attention with the premise of a futuristic drug that gives users a glimpse of heaven. Add an heroine that is out for revenge against the dealers that killed her best friend and ruined her own life.

What worked had to be the intriguing twist. Sure, there are other dystopian novels out there that have a futuristic drug but this one really stood out to me. I mean, who wouldn't want to get a glimpse of heaven? Only Faye sees what she knows has to be hell.

Faye is hard, tough and out for revenge. At first she's not very likable and some might brush her off as too jaded. But readers have to realize Faye was forced to take Heam, a very addictive drug at 11 years old and watched her best friend be murdered. I think that would harden anyone. Faye is a survivor and being mentored by Gazer, a former police officer who also lost his loved ones to Heam. Gazer reminded me of Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He's wounded and tries to help save Faye by teaching her to fight to survive. The streets are harsh and cruel. Under Gazer's help, Faye does gain the confidence to confront her abusers.

Readers see the devastation of those who fall under the spell of Heam and the battle Faye continues to deal with on her own constant cravings for another hit.

Where this book is different is Faye has to find out if revenge is all it's cracked up to be. Then Chael, a mysterious guy, shows up everywhere and pushes her to face some very difficult truths. Faye, who doesn't trust, finds herself drawn to him. It's not like at first sight. Faye is angry that Chael keeps stopping her from killing the thugs who destroyed her life. But that doesn't stop the sparks between these two from igniting.

One huge plus had to be how Faye arcs at the end of this novel in a very unexpected way which had me look at this novel in a different way. It took me off guard and wasn't what I expected. I love when that happens!

Action-packed thriller with a determined heroine who needs to find redemption in a most unlikely way. Sure to have readers question what they think they know about the whole concept of heaven and forgiveness.