Archetype by M.D. Waters

Archetype by M.D. Waters  

Release Date - February 6, 2014 (or February 11, 2014 depending on market)
Publisher Website - Penguin
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 384 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received in exchange for an honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Introducing a breathtakingly inventive futuristic suspense novel about one woman who rebels against everything she is told to believe.

Emma wakes in a hospital, with no memory of what came before. Her husband, Declan, a powerful, seductive man, provides her with new memories, but her dreams contradict his stories, showing her a past life she can’t believe possible: memories of war, of a camp where girls are trained to be wives, of love for another man. Something inside her tells her not to speak of this, but she does not know why. She only knows she is at war with herself.

Suppressing those dreams during daylight hours, Emma lets Declan mold her into a happily married woman and begins to fall in love with him. But the day Noah stands before her, the line between her reality and dreams shatters.

In a future where women are a rare commodity, Emma fights for freedom but is held captive by the love of two men—one her husband, the other her worst enemy. If only she could remember which is which. . . .

The first novel in a two-part series, Archetype heralds the arrival of a truly memorable character—and the talented author who created her.

What if you had no memories? What if you didn't remember the person you were married to? What if you had dreams that contradicted everything you had been lead to believe? What would you do if you could not even trust yourself? This is the reality Emma wakes up to in this thrilling debut novel. Archetype is not only a pulse pounding read but an intelligent look at memories and how they define us.

M.D. Waters, a debut novelist, has given me the New Adult novel I've been dreaming of. As the New Adult genre changes and grows, I can only hope that more novels like this will be the result. A strong plot driven novel that weaves in the sexy stuff without making it be the focus. A step away from the usual contemporary that has been the main focus of New Adult, Archetype, was like a breath of fresh air. This, along with M.D. Waters' compulsively readable writing, made putting down this novel nearly impossible. I was instantly captivated by Emma, and her story.

This story is one that begs to be read without being spoiled. It's one that you need to experience along with Emma, and take that journey with her. Part of this novel's appeal is the piecing together of Emma's past right along with her. The confusion she feels is felt by the reader, and allows the reader to step into her shoes.

Memories and how they define us is the question at the heart of Archetype. Our past and our life experiences make us who we are. Without that history, and those memories, who are you? Emma struggles with this through the whole novel. She's trying to piece together her life, and it's jarring to see how lost one would be without these memories. Our sense of self is wrapped up in the little details of our lives, and not having that would be crippling.

As the story unravels, and as Emma's past becomes more clear, the world building M.D. Waters laid out pays off. A world where women are scarce is shiver inducing enough, but the added detail of the bride camps is decidedly terrifying. M.D. Waters manages to create a world that is both alluring, and alarming all at once.

The science fiction elements were wonderfully woven into the story. As someone who is not proficient in sci-fi, I found these elements were laid out logically, and clearly. This aspect of the story was not overwhelming, and served to add to the world, and plot instead of distracting from it. I can not speak to it's authenticity, but I believed it. Being able to immerse myself into the story is the most important aspect for me, and this allowed that in spades.

Emma is pulled toward two scorchingly sexy, but different men. Declan, the man who claims to be her husband, and Noah, the man who haunts her dreams. Each of them could be dangerous. Each has their own motivations, and agenda The notion of who she should trust is a huge part of the unraveling of the mystery surrounding Emma. Which man is telling her the truth, and who can she trust? This is something that is tantalizingly teased. It's filled with some thrilling twists and turns that directly relate to who Emma is. Both of these men are just a little untrustworthy, and it makes stakes just a little higher for Emma.

A riveting, intensely readable debut that electrifies and demands to not be spoiled. Once you pick up Archetype, prepare to clear the rest of your day, because it will consume you. M.D. Waters is an author to watch, and the sequel to Emma's story can not come quickly enough.