Thursday, February 14, 2013

Review: MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza

Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.
Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past —that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.
Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.
Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity–style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel.
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Publishes in US: March 12th 2013 by Katherine Tegen Books
Genre: science fiction
Source: Harper Collins via Edelweiss
Series? Yes, the 1st. Novella published Jan 2013, and no information or titles on Mila 2.0 #2 or Mila 2.0 #3

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Blkosiner's Book Blog review

Did I like it, love it, or think it was just okay? I loved it!!

The characters: I really felt for Mila, and I connected with her because her emotions were so real and vivid. Driza wrote her with passion and where what she is feeling and thinking really jumped off the page. I think that her struggle when she found out that she was an Android was so compelling, and very realistic. I can't imagine finding out something like that when my whole time I thought that I was a human. She feels, thinks, and has friends, sure there are some hazy memories, but everything seems so real.
It draws up an interesting question for me of what makes defines real. I never failed to connect with her, and she was always fighting for the person that she loves, so what really makes her different from me? What's inside? Metal vs not? It is just weird if you really think about it.
I liked Lucas, he was well written and though I can't say a lot about him without being a spoiler. But how he questioned things and then became loyal to what he believes in really inspired me.
As for her friend, Kaylee... Well, I can't believe the changes in her. I really don't understand how she was so friendly and including, and then NOT. I hope that there is some explanation in the next book.
I loved Mila's relationship with her mom, and how it changed several times with the circumstances. I think it reflects a real mother/daughter relationship because they aren't usually always good or bad, but fluctuating. But I think that how they learned to talk to one another and really learned that they could trust each other was beautiful. I couldn't believe what happened to them, and I wish there were things that couldn't be fixed, that I want desperately to be fixed.

The romance: I just wasn't feeling it. Friendship yes, the possibility that more could be there, sure... But hopefully the next book will pick a guy and really develop that, because I think I will have a hard time if they are both developed and fleshed out and then one of them won't be with her.

The cover: I like the colors, and the parts of her face. It catches my eye, and I think that it is a good fit for the story.

The pacing: It kept me wanting to keep flipping pages, there was always something going on, lots of action, and lots of feelings, as well as character growth and development.  I didn't know HOW they were going to fix things at every turn.

The world/setting: I felt like it was authentic--the high school experience as well as when she ends up in the lab.

The ending: Oh my goodness,  it was definitely a twist! I can't believe what happened! I am very eager to read the next one.

Bottom Line: Great start to a series that I can't wait to keep reading.

Books similar to MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza : What's Left of Me by Kat ZhangThe Lost Girl by Sangu MandannaBeta by Rachel Cohn

My question to you, my lovely readers:
What do you think you would do if you found out you weren't a human?

45 comments:

  1. You have me curious about the ending!! Happy Valentines Day Brandi <3

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  2. Definitely curious about the end! wow. It's too bad that the romance fell a bit short for you, but that the friendship was strong. Sometimes I wonder why in YA they can't just leave it at a friendship, there doesn't HAVE to be a romance. Too bad the best friend threw you for a loop, I hate when characters act all wonky without a solid explanation.

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    1. True! Why does there have to be a romace? Don't get me wrong, I love romance... but... still.

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  3. Looks great and sounds like a book I'd enjoy, thanks for the recommendation.

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  4. I'm upset the romance wasn't up to par, but I have been contemplating whether or not I want to get this book or now when it releases. Your review makes me want to. I love a character you can connect to :) Awesome review!

    Janina @ Synchronized Reading

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    1. It was just me liking a bit of what I saw in the guys and not wanting either to get hurt

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  5. If I found out I wasn't human,I'd throw out what I thought was impossible and just do it, what ever it was.

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  6. I love a book with good pacing, but I hate when I don't feel a love connection between characters...it kind of grates on me, you know? Fab review, Brandi! (:

    I think that if I found out I wasn't human I'd probably throw a tantrum...but Melanie (above) brings up a good point! (:

    Loves,
    Megan@The Book Babe

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    1. I am hoping there will be more romance in the next

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  7. I honestly haven't given any thought to reading Mila 2.0. But your review was so informative, and insightful that you've definitely perked my curiosity. Thanks!

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  8. Not going to read your review cause I still have this one to read. glad you really liked it though!

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  9. I love books about family and friendship, and I'm always fascinated by stories that have androids with not just intelligence but also feelings. If I found out I weren't human, I guess my first reaction was to frown and then my mind would go, 'but... this can't possibly be true, is it a joke?' Bet I'd need lots of convincing before I'd accept the statement. ;)

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  10. I am so happy that you loved this book!! And what a great review! I totally agree that Mila's struggle with being an Android was realistic. How funny that she's super realistic when she's not even human! It's awesome!

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    1. I know, that is funny. But I can only imagine how I would react

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  11. I wasn't entirely convinced with the romance either, but I agree that Lucas was an interesting cover. I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series, but if I do, I hope we get to find out more about him. Great review, Brandi!

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  12. oooh it's a first book... I was sure it was not. So I didn't ask for it... so sad now!

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  13. This sounds so awesome. I love the books with good parental relationships with their children. I can't wait to read it.

    Jenea @ Books Live Forever

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  14. I'm glad you enjoyed this book Brandi, it sure does have a intriguing premise, along with great secondary characters and brilliant pace I think I would enjoy this book too! Great review! :)

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  15. I'm happy to see that this is light on romance. YAbooks are essentially romance novels cloaked in fantasy or something else.

    But I'm here because of that bombshell you dropped on our blog. You sneak! I never! Happy you are not in that rel anymore.

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    1. Oh, sorry bout that. I am very happy I am not either.

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  16. It seems like I have heard a few mixed things about this book but your review has me much more interested in it. And that it's light on the romance definitely has me MORE interested. I like something that takes more time to develop.

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  17. I am reading this book next month. I can't wait. So happy to hear it was good. I don't need a strong romance presence to love a book so I think I will still like it.

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  18. This sounds amazing! I plan to read it some time soon.

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  19. I'm not human... I'm a bookworm... Wow that was lame please ignore that. In other non lame news this is a great review. Still to sure if it is a book for me but I'm glad you loved it.

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  20. Glad you enjoyed this one so much and that Mila jumped off the page for you. I can't wait to see what they do with the TV show for this book. Great review!

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  21. I have heard so many great things about this book and I am soo intrigued by the whole concept of this and I can't wait to see how the characters and the storyline will turn out. Definitely excited to pick this up and very curious about the twisty ending! I'm glad you enjoyed this! :D

    Fabulous review!

    And well, I don't think I would have any reaction if I found out I was not human. I'd just be like, "Oh okay..whatever." sort of thing. LOL ;p I don't know...now that I think about it. Great question!

    ~ Maida
    Literary Love Affair

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  22. Great review :D I'm glad you loved this book. <3 Sorry about the romance :\ Not sure if this book would be for me, but I do think it sounds pretty awesome :) Thank you for sharing. <3
    Love, Carina @ Carina's Books

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  23. Oh I'm so happy that you loved this one! :) I've seen this book around and everyone was super excited to read it :) I'm happy that it didn't disappoint! :) Great review :)

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  24. Great review! I have the ARC and can't wait to read it, the buzz has been wonderful!

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  25. Oooh, I'm so glad you loved this one! It sounds so good! And yay for parents in YA! I love it when the family is somewhat of a large part of the story. And I love twists, so this one sounds like it'll be a great fit for me. Great review!

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  26. I'm glad you enjoyed this one. I'm also glad to hear that the parents in this one are a good representation, I normally have a lot of issues with the parents in YA (when they do show up). Great review!

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    1. Yeah, I've written a book before I know the challenged of involved parents that are realistic, so I love when it is well done.

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  27. I'm so glad you like this one! It saddens me that the romance is not that great, though. :(

    Jennifer
    YA Sisterhood

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