Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Review: ISAN by Mary Ting


ISAN
International Sensory Assassin Network
by Mary Ting
Vesuvian Books
Young Adult Science Fiction
330 pages






Meteors devastated the Earth. World Governments developed plans to help surviving citizens. The United States disbanded and salvageable land was divided into four quadrants—North, South, East, and West—governed by The Remnant Council.

Struggling to survive, seventeen-year-old Ava ends up in juvenile detention, until she is selected for a new life—with a catch. She must be injected with an experimental serum. The results will be life changing. The serum will make her better. To receive the serum Ava agrees to join a program controlled by ISAN, the International Sensory Assassin Network.

While on a mission, she is abducted by a rebel group led by Rhett and told that not only does she have a history with him, but her entire past is a lie perpetuated by ISAN to ensure her compliance. Unsure of who to trust, Ava must decide if her strangely familiar and handsome captor is her enemy or her savior—and time is running out.

    

 


MY TIDBITS

Reminding a bit of Nakita, action and intrigue hit high-speed to great an exciting read.

After Ava's mother died, she entered the world of foster care but soon ran away and landed on the streets. ISAN found her there, and discovering that she had a rare yet valuable gene mutation, pulled her into their secret society and trained her to be an assassin. Here, she knows she can fulfill her mother's wishes and change the world for the better. But when a strange text pops up on her screen with a person claiming to be from her past, her world is about to be swung around on its head.

I'm a fan of several of this author's books, and ISAN ranks as one of my favorites from her. It starts with a bang and jumps right into the action. This beginning did leave some questions...I like a little more background to get a better grip on the characters...but by the third chapter, the story pulled in and kept me reading until the last page. There are no lulls as the action rolls and secrets unfold. Ava's got her hands full at ISAN with a group of colleagues, who hold as many secrets and sharp edges as those who control her strings. Everybody wears a mask, and everyone has one goal—survive and succeed.

While the writing did feel a bit loose at times, the plot and Ava's character caught me up and created an enjoyable read. It was hard to guess what would happen next...or who to trust. Even when it came to the more romantic direction, which offered all sorts of sharp stumbles along the way. Friendship is even harsher, but that's exactly what this world of intrigue needs. I'm looking forward to seeing where all of this goes next.


And here she is...

International Bestselling, Award-Winning Author Mary Ting writes soulful, spellbinding stories that excite the imagination and captivate readers all over the world. Her books run a wide range of genres and her storytelling talents have won her a devoted legion of fans and garnered critical praise.
Becoming an author happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she had in high school. After realizing she wanted to become a full-time author, Mary retired from teaching after twenty years. She also had the privilege of touring with the Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children’s chapter book: No Bullies Allowed.
Mary resides in Southern California with her husband, two children, and two little dogs, Mochi and Mocha. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry



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