Review: Uninvited

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Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Grade: B+
Release date: January 28, 2014
This ARC was provided by Read Between the Lynes in exchange for an honest review.
Summary: When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

**Warning: the following review does contain a few spoilers**

The Good and The Bad: This book raised some amazing questions.  It made me really contemplate what causes all of the rampant shootings of late.  Could it possibly be genetics?  Should the government work harder to reform mental illness treatment and containment?  Is gun control really doing any good?  That first question is the most pertinent to this book.  It's an undetermined time in the future (although Brad Pitt, the Beatles, and reruns of Glee are referenced), and the government has determined a gene called Homicidal Tendency Syndrome is the cause of serial killers, school shootings, and psychopaths.  It's an interesting concept that works well.  Davy (short for Davina) was an intriguing character (the theme of this review is 'interesting').  She's basically a music prodigy who was a bit Mary-Sueish at times, but I did like her.  Mitchell, Gil, and Sabine were my favorite secondary characters.  Is it bad that I actually found myself hoping Gil and Davy would end up together, not Sean and Davy?  I loved the concept of Mount Haven in the second half of the novel.  I wish more time had been spent there and details about Davy's training hadn't been skimmed over.  It was also very interesting, in a good way, how Davy's friends and school turned against her so quickly.  She's a star student, mildly popular, and a nice girl.  It reminded me a lot of the internment camps during World War II and how people started avoiding their German and Japanese neighbors and friends out of fear.  The ending of the book was a bit predictable (the escape and all), but I have high hopes for the sequel (it's a duology!).  Finally, there are a couple continuity errors with how Davy's hair is shown (the cover) and described.  Hopefully that's corrected in the final edition.

The Ugly: A bit of swearing, some semi-intense romance, particularly during the first half of the book, and violence.  Violence was definitely the worst, but it wasn't too graphic.  There was also underage drinking at a party.

The Verdict: Definitely a must-read.  Like I said, it raises amazing, tough questions and really makes you think.  Plus, bonus points for an awesome cover.