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Surrender (Possession #2)

by Elana Johnson (Goodreads Author)

4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 · rating details · 1,003 ratings · 197 reviews

Forbidden love, intoxicating power, and the terror of control…

Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.

All of that changes when Raine fall...more

Hardcover, 480 pages

Published June 5th 2012 by Simon Pulse (first published June 1st 2012)

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Surrender: A Possession Novel
by Elana Johnson (Goodreads Author)

Win a paperback of SURRENDER, and be ready to read the final installment in the Possession series when ABANDON releases on June 4.

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Giveaway dates: May 06 - May 31, 2013

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Countries available: US and CA

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Community Reviews

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Jul 02, 2012 Meredith Allen rated it 5 of 5 stars

can't wait to read!!!

Not a fan when author changes Point of view

loved it!!!!

8 likes · like · see review

Jun 22, 2012 Christine Fonseca rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

I loved Possession and the world created by Elana Johnson. And I loved Surrender even more. In this latest installment, we are introduced to new characters, new love, and new types of supernatural abilities. I loved Raine - everything about her. I loved her attitude, her complexities, and her relationship with Gunner. This is an action-packed fabulous second in a series. Where other series begin to falter with book two, this one is just taking off!

BRING ON MORE!!!!!!!!

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 31, 2012 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-arc, sophomore-challenge

Wow! I liked the first novel in this series, Possession. There were things that I really enjoyed and things I didn’t so much. BUT! I loved Surrender! Oh goodness was this book good! I’m not sure if I would call Surrender a sequel or a companion. We are in the same world and Surrender starts soon after Possession ends, but instead of Vi and Jag, we get Raine and Gunner. I guess it’s more of a sequel than a companion when I look at it like that! Either way, you will want to read Possession before...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 04, 2012 Amy Fournier rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sensational-seconds-challenge, arc

This book was just as fantastic as the first one, if not more. I absolutely loved it!! Raine and Gunner are fantastic characters with so much depth to them.I really enjoyed getting to know them and some of the other new characters we get introduced to. No worries, we still get Vi and Jag too. This is pretty fabulously action packed. Also very emotionally intense at times too. I was so engaged in this book, I didn't have a clue (or care) what was going on around me while I was reading.

I will star...more This book was just as fantastic as the first one, if not more. I absolutely loved it!! Raine and Gunner are fantastic characters with so much depth to them.I really enjoyed getting to know them and some of the other new characters we get introduced to. No worries, we still get Vi and Jag too. This is pretty fabulously action packed. Also very emotionally intense at times too. I was so engaged in this book, I didn't have a clue (or care) what was going on around me while I was reading.

I will start off with Raine. She is daughter of Van Hightower, the Director. She has a super powerful talent and is also part of the Insiders. She is basically working against her father. He is a pretty scary guy!! She is supposed to watch over Vi and report everything that Vi says or does. She is also not allowed to tell Vi anything or ask specific things like what colors she might like or favorite food. Vi is brainwashed to only like what she is told to. Raine eventually wonders what they are trying to keep Vi from remembering. It has to be something major. I really liked Raine. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to really connect to new characters as well as I had with Vi in Possession, but I was so wrong. I totally connected with the new characters in this one.

Gunner is wanted by Van Hightower. He too has a very powerful talent. Gunner is one of those characters the is just so intriguing you can't help but want to know more and become completely engaged in his story and everything about him. Van Hightower isn't the only one who wants him. He is also wanted by the Insiders. He discovers a lot of secrets and goes through a lot in this book. He is flatmates with Zenn, and he soon discovers there is a whole lot more going on than he could have initially imagined. Gunner is very smart, and very determined. He does what he thinks is the right thing even if it means sacrificing other things that are important too.

The romance is really well done. I really enjoyed Raine and Gunner both wanting something more, but fighting it too. Knowing that it's totally wrong, but sick of being told who they are supposed to be with and every aspect of their lives controlled and mapped out for them. They are both such strong characters and their chemistry was very apparent and believable. The romance is integrated into the story perfectly too. It's not in your face to the point where it takes over. The main story is still front and center, but their relationship is very important to the story.

Okay, so I don't really know how to go into the story without saying too much. This book is centering around Gunner and Raine, but Zenn, Jag, and Vi are still very much a big part of it. We are basically continuing on and expanding from the first book. This book steps it up a bit in my opinion. All I can really say is, if you like Possession, you need to read Surrender. I really felt like I was part of this story. I was so sucked into the book. I felt the emotions of the characters. It wasn't like I was just reading the pages of a book. I was experiencing them.

This book was just awesome!! We get more action, more secrets, more twists, and a killer ending!! OMG I was like "What?!! You can't be serious!!" The ending made my mouth drop and I am DYING for the next book. Totally need it!!! I feel like this review was so lame, but I can't do justice to the book and I doubt you want me to ramble on and gush. All I can say about it really is, do yourself a favor and get this book ASAP. It's so good!!(less)

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Nov 15, 2012 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

********May Include Spoilers if You have not read POSSESSION*********************

Well, I feel like two completely different authors wrote Possession and Surrender. While Possession posed so many questions and had things that just didn't sit right or make sense, Surrender reads smoothly and continuously with the viewpoints alternating between Gunner and Raine, two characters not seen in Possession. I love that kind of narration as I love to hear the male POV, but this one wasn't quite as much abo...more ********May Include Spoilers if You have not read POSSESSION*********************

Well, I feel like two completely different authors wrote Possession and Surrender. While Possession posed so many questions and had things that just didn't sit right or make sense, Surrender reads smoothly and continuously with the viewpoints alternating between Gunner and Raine, two characters not seen in Possession. I love that kind of narration as I love to hear the male POV, but this one wasn't quite as much about feelings. There was a lot of action, but this is a book mainly about hiding out, mind control, who knows what, and stealth.

Raine is someone I instantly liked. She defies the most powerful person in Freedom, somewhere we know from Possession is the place we are most likely not inclined to want to go if we were to be gifted. But Raine is gifted and her talent leaves her drained and shamed when she is forced to use it. So she joins a resistance group to defy the man that makes her do this and thumb her nose at the authorities. She wants freedom. Her match is her best friend, but like a brother to her and she finds herself falling for Gunnar despite trying hard not to. I liked Raine for her spunkiness, her know how to fight the system and her empathy for Vi.

Gunnar, well, let's see. He loves his mom so much that he leaves before her memory can be wiped of him when he shows up on the Director's list of talented kids that he wants to recruit. He has "sick" skills on a hoverboard and he is empathic as well as having techno skills (can control technology with his energy or voice) and has a very compelling voice. And when I say compelling I mean he can make you do anything. He's one of the good guys though and doesn't want to brainwash people. He feels the same way about Raine as she does about him even though he's matched to Starr, someone he feels nothing for.

Then there is Violet who is a shell for most of this book and Zenn, her escort and informant for most of this book. Violet has been brainwashed and her memory wiped by Raine (she was forced) so that she doesn't remember Jag. Zenn, for his own reasons, keeps her in the dark.

This entire book is about relationships, the resistance, escape, Raine's memories and what she sees happening if people get what they most desire. It's about hiding out, planning a revolution and not knowing who to trust. Stolen moments, stolen memories, regaining those memories and how a song or a smell can bring back those memories.

This novel was really well written. It was so different from the first novel. I enjoyed it a lot and can't wait for the novella coming out Regret and the conclusion (I think) Abandon. There is also a short story available on Goodreads for download called Resist.
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Nov 08, 2012 Stephanie Ward rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, owned

4.5 Stars

'Surrender' is the second book in the Possession series - a young adult science fiction/dystopian that follows our fearless main characters as they fight against the Rules and the Thinkers. In this book, the focus turns to Vi's new roomate - Raine. Raine's father is the Director in Freedom, and she has always been Good and followed all the rules. Raine finds herself falling for Gunner, even though she knows she shouldn't. When she finds out how Gunner is connected to Zenn - Vi's boyfrie...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Alyssa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Well...

It was such a let down! After I loved Possession so much, I couldn't believe how disinterested I was in Possession. I don't know..maybe it was the lack of Vi and Jag and Zenn.

First of all, I really didn't connect with the characters very well. Raine was sweet and obviously very good, but...nothing...no sparks. And Gunner? Well he's no match for Jag.

I really did like Thane Myer though, and the relationship between Raine and the Director was really interesting.

Oh, and Starr...well, she was...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 21, 2012 Brian Bigelow rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A worthwhile read

This book was pretty much what I expected for a dystopian adventure. It spoke of some things that could be pretty disturbing for someone as everything is watched constantly. An average person must get clearance for many aspects of their personal life. The hover boards are especially cool and I’d really love to have one. It would sure make my daily commute easier but that’s just my imagination running away from me unfortunately.

It is actually quite a quick read for a full length...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-by-kayla

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick and Dirty: A girl and guy join the rebels to try to overthrow Freedom. If you didn’t like Possession (*me*) you should definitely give Surrender a chance; it’s unbelievably better!!

Opening Sentence: Someone is always watching.

The Review:

So I was a tad leery of reading Surrender after reading Possession. The plot was great, I admit, but the writing overall was hard to follow and the characters bugged me (namely, Jag). But once I started Surrender, I coul...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Rhiannon Ryder rated it 3 of 5 stars

Oh how I wish I'd read Surrender first! All that was confusing and unclear about Johnson's world, the technology and the various forms of control, all that was muddied about relationships and powers- was beautifully described and fleshed out in Surrender. Right from the outset, everything was described more fully, and clearly, before the story started to weave it's sordid tale, so I could sit back and enjoy the complex story arc instead of constantly trying to figure it out

Surrender follows a ne...more Oh how I wish I'd read Surrender first! All that was confusing and unclear about Johnson's world, the technology and the various forms of control, all that was muddied about relationships and powers- was beautifully described and fleshed out in Surrender. Right from the outset, everything was described more fully, and clearly, before the story started to weave it's sordid tale, so I could sit back and enjoy the complex story arc instead of constantly trying to figure it out

Surrender follows a new set of characters in a new city, so although it harks back to the story in Possession, and Vi, Zenn, Thane (and eventually Jag) are all a part of the action that's unfolding, in essence Johnson is starting with a fresh slate. It was exactly what I needed to re-invest myself in a story that had lost me by the end of possession. This time around Johnson takes the time to explain the technology that's so imbedded in these kids lives, she explains it and then she shows you how it works, and its much clearer but also done in a way that still kept the story pacing lively and interesting. Power structures, the types of control, government and the many nuances between cities was delved into, and I finally started to grasp her world and how her characters and her revolution fit into it.

Raine, Gunner, Cannon, Starr and Trek (notice the play on Star Trek there?, uh, huh. It took me awhile to put that toghther in the story, but I still like them) were great characters, with an intriguing set of relationships and a wealth of mysteries to unravel. It's always impressive to me when an author can bring in new characters to a series and manage to not loose the interest of the reader. After all it can be very disconcerting when you've become attached to a character only to have them made secondary at a later point. But the change in perspective was exactly what this series needed, and Vi, Zenn and Thane were shown from an entirely new perspective which really helped flesh them out in way you wouldn't normally get in a series. It reminded me a lot of George R.R. Martin's technique of flipping from one perspective to the next to really delve into the power plays and politics of his world. Here Johnson uses it well to show the layers of double dealing, spying and betrayal necessary for a potential greater good. By the end of the book, when Gunner is getting Thane's story you've seen enough different sides of the story to believe what he's saying.

A much more masterfully crafted story, I would almost suggest first timers to the series read Surrender first. I think much that was unclear about Possession would likely be better understood if you read them out of order. So if like me you were put off of the series by book one, then make sure to reconsider, Surrender is well worth your reading efforts.

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Jun 28, 2012 Alexa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

well i think alot of ppl like raine so don't read this if u like her or if u r in love with gunn or zenn
I liked the book i just got super bored through the beginning and i didn't like hearing or reading this book from gunner's pov. I didn't like him in the beginning the way he was kinda crazy about raine i get that he had a crush but come on.
Oh and toast come on what was up with that toast is the authors favorite snack cuz the characters kept eating toast.
Now raine's power well i didn't like i...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 05, 2012 Mitch rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really didn’t like Possession, but I’m glad I gave Elana Johnson another try. Surrender's a massive improvement over the first book, and I really think this series is morphing into one that I’ll really like, and I’m not saying that lightly, I’m not a fan of dystopians at all. Maybe the next book will really impress me.

But what most impressed me about this book was how Johnson seems to have taken the criticism of her first one to heart, I know I wasn’t alone in thinking Possession was too confu...more I really didn’t like Possession, but I’m glad I gave Elana Johnson another try. Surrender's a massive improvement over the first book, and I really think this series is morphing into one that I’ll really like, and I’m not saying that lightly, I’m not a fan of dystopians at all. Maybe the next book will really impress me.

But what most impressed me about this book was how Johnson seems to have taken the criticism of her first one to heart, I know I wasn’t alone in thinking Possession was too confusing and had too much hard to follow technobabble and weird geography and was just generally weird, and Surrender is *almost* nothing like that. The futuristic world building felt a lot more natural, seamless, didn't make me want to bash my head against my desk at how confusing everything was. Liked the new characters, Raine and Gunner, I really felt like I connected with them and their struggle to break free from the Director's power as the book progressed, maybe because with how confusing Possession was it was really hard to get a read on Violet and Jag and especially Zenn. Even better, liked how Violet, Jag, Zenn, even Violet's father Assistant Director Myers are all back and all play huge roles in the plot. The twist with AD Myers I can say I did not see coming, but given what I knew about Lyle Schoenfeld from the last book and the new things learned in this book really made sense.

Now, what I still didn't like. Zenn, his role in the last book made almost no sense and I still don't know what his role in this book is. Everyone else, Raine, Gunner, Violet, Jag, all seem to have powers and more importantly clear roles in the Director's and AD Myer's plans, and Zenn, I just didn't know. Is he working with AD Myers or being forced to work with Violet's father against his will? I just couldn't tell from the book. The Violet/Zenn/Jag triangle didn't work at all, but I'm glad that's been mostly abandoned. Although parts of the book, because of all the mind games that everyone is playing, is still a little hard to follow. And the ending once again made me incredibly angry. It's like every time the good guys make one move against the establishment, the establishment knocks them ten steps back. Sigh. I know that's the point, Johnson intended for the ending to be that way, there are even hints of the bigger things that will happen in the next book, but at some point I know I'm not going to be the only one who'll be frustrated with the apparent lack of progress against the Director.

But I'm glad that Johnson is on the right track with this book, Surrender clears out almost all of the stuff that made me really dislike Possession. A little more clarity to and movement on the plot and I'll add another two stars to my rating of the next book.(less)

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Jun 04, 2012 Nancy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Possession. Elana Johnson's series is right on par with "The Uglies" first two books.

Why this story stands out in the dystopian writings: Johnson creates a world that is detailed enough to be believable, including all the tech gear, mind control tactics, and sectors, but not so detailed to bore the reader. Also, the supposed technology is new and interesting.

The other stand-out feature is the characters, their abilities and their relationships with one another....more

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May 19, 2012 Taffy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Fist line:

"Someone is always watching."

Dude! I love Elana! And her writing. And she is a master promoter/marketer/genius.

Let's get down to it.

Elana has introduced us to new characters in SURRENDER. Raine and Gunner are struggling with the rules they are forced to live by. Their matched is picked as well as their jobs, food, how much they sleep and what their free time entails. I know I would be one of those people brainwashed into total submission because I have a bit of a problem with people te...more

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May 08, 2012 Jen Bigheart (I Read Banned Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

Move over Vi and Jag, here comes Raine and Gunner. Same world, same problems, and the Resistance is staying strong. Raine's father is the head honcho of Freedom and Raine and Gunner are oh so valuable to him. Both kids juggle their abilities, their secret role in the Resistance, and their controlled role in a not-so-perfect society. Johnson is a pro at character building and you will fall in love with Raine and Gunner in the same way you love Vi and Jag. Raine is such a strong and resilient girl...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Trini rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Possession series continues through a different set of eyes in this book. Raine and Gunner are our main characters in Surrender and we get to see their story from the inside out of this dystopian world. Possession is a story that deals mostly with the outside world but this one takes you in to the dragon’s layer so to speak.
In the ironically named city, Freedom Raine is appointed a roommate with a specific job to do. Watch and report, everything. Vi is her name and she seems to be wiped of...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Laura Pauling rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! Raine and Gunner are incredible characters that I fell in love with. The story is told from both point of views and I enjoyed both of them.

Possession ended not so happily for Vi. But she appears again in Surrender as Raine's roommate and she's totally brainwashed. Remembers nothing. Raine is aware of that but she's involved in her own battles. Her father is the director of everything and he wants to control her and use her special powers. Raine secretly fights this control in...more

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Sep 05, 2012 April (Books4Juliet) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, 2012-releases, dystopian-fantasy-paranormal

This book is one of my favorite reads this year and once again I was reminded how much I enjoy dystopian novels. Surrender is the second book of Possession Series, and if you've already read the first book, then you already met Violet Schoenfield, Zenn Bower, and Jag Barque. You already know what happened to them in the end of the book, and how Violet and Zenn end up at Freedom City. (Freedom City, as weird and as crazy as it is, Freedom City doesn't live up to its name, because here, the Citize...more This book is one of my favorite reads this year and once again I was reminded how much I enjoy dystopian novels. Surrender is the second book of Possession Series, and if you've already read the first book, then you already met Violet Schoenfield, Zenn Bower, and Jag Barque. You already know what happened to them in the end of the book, and how Violet and Zenn end up at Freedom City. (Freedom City, as weird and as crazy as it is, Freedom City doesn't live up to its name, because here, the Citizens are controlled, and free-will isn't an option.)

In this second book, I was introduced to a new set of amazing characters. If you loved Vi and Jag in Possession, you'll gonna love Raine and Gunner. These two new characters will fight for what is right no matter what the cost is. Just like Vi, Jag and Zenn, they possessed controlling powers that can destroy the whole Freedom City, its government and the whole society.

Every person has a season of knowledge. - Cannon

Raine Hightower has always been good in the eyes of her father, the Director of Freedom City. She was assigned to monitor and report every detail about Violet, her new non-student roommate. She doesn't understand why her father give too much interest about Vi, but Raine suspects that her roommate is not an ordinary citizen. Especially when she already saw how everything will end once Vi got what she desired most--to be free. In the vision, she also saw herself standing with Vi and with another boy--Gunner--as they watched Freedom City falls. Together, with their powerful abilities, they will destroy the city. The time that Raine Hightower realized this, she didn't stop until she recruited Gunner to be part of the Insiders where she too is a member. The Insiders (consist of different groups) are branches of the Resistance that are assigned to work and operate inside the Freedom City. When Jag, the leader of The Resistance was caught, Raine knows that the time has come to unbrainwash Violet and help Jag escape.

"Maybe if she saw Jag again...maybe that would wake her up. But if she sees him and remembers, I'm nobody. In more than ways than one." - Zenn

There are lots of things that I wanna say about the story and let me start with the characters. How could anyone love a book if the characters aren't well-developed, weak, even more so, annoying. But I tell you, I don't have any problem with that in Surrender. I loved Raine and Gunner. They absolutely have the five S qualities of a protagonist that I like--Smart, Strong, Snarky, Sneaky and Stubborn. Secondly, the plot and the setting. There was a slight difference in the setting of the two books. As far as I could remember anyway, Possession mostly happened outside the Freedom City, while in Surrender, everything took place inside (well, mostly). It was fascinating to read about high-tech gears and facilities, hovercrafts and even the High Rises buildings and apartments. It was so futuristic and scary at the same time. Especially when you know that there are people in the society who have the abilities to control you using their voices, their minds, their touch.

Okay, well, maybe the plot isn't that fast-paced. It was rather a bit slow for me and confusing, BUT, it was never a hindrance for me not to enjoy the story. When I first read Possession a year ago, I admit that it was confusing and I had to go back to a couple of pages and re-read them. There were questions that hadn't even answered even I reached the ending. I had the same experience with Surrender, but as I reached the last part of the story I began to see things clearly. I finally understood what truly happened in Possession and why certain characters acted that way. I'd say that Surrender surprised me with it's incredible twist and revelation! I suddenly want to read Possession again and see if I would have the same reaction as I had the first time I read it. So you must know that the people/characters aren't exactly who they seem, and you'll discover that in Surrender.

If you love dystopian novels, you should read this series. It might be a confusing and slow at the beginning, but overall it's amazing. If the ending of Possession killed you the last time, then be prepared with the ending of Surrender. It was another cliffhanger ending that made me want to read the next book now. It is really good! With the addition of new remarkable characters, the unexpected twist, the huge cliffhanger ending, this series just get more riveting. I can't wait for the next book!
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Aug 08, 2012 Jasmin rated it 5 of 5 stars

The sequel to possession was so good I can't even begin to describe my emotions.
First off, the fact that they started off with Raine and Gunner and then tying it up with Jag and Vi sorta just shows how big the book is. The author basically showed that the world (in the book) doesn't revolve around just two characters but around loads of characters.
Basically now im in love with Gunner and Jag and feel immensely sorry for Zenn because he tried to protect everyone but couldn't and failed to keep...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Kathryn Cooper rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed on Clean Teen Fiction

I didn't write any notes while reading this book besides the content stuff. Which means I enjoyed it and didn't want to stop to write notes. The only reason why this book gets 4 instead of 5 stars is because I was confused more than I'd prefer. The world and rules seemed different in this book than in book 1 so I had a hard time following the changes and understanding the settings.

I loved getting to know these new characters Raine and Gunner. They were awesome wit...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Anna Silver rated it 3 of 5 stars

Elana Johnson's Surrender, the follow-up to her successful dystopian Possession, fell a little short of the mark for me. Ultimately, I gave it a 3.5. Once, I might have rounded up to four stars, but the last couple of times I did that still haunt me as inauthentic. So I've vowed not to do it anymore.

Frankly, I wasn't in love with Possession, but I really enjoyed it. I had hoped to feel the same or better about Surrender. While it didn't live up to Possession's standards, by my calculations, it d...more Elana Johnson's Surrender, the follow-up to her successful dystopian Possession, fell a little short of the mark for me. Ultimately, I gave it a 3.5. Once, I might have rounded up to four stars, but the last couple of times I did that still haunt me as inauthentic. So I've vowed not to do it anymore.

Frankly, I wasn't in love with Possession, but I really enjoyed it. I had hoped to feel the same or better about Surrender. While it didn't live up to Possession's standards, by my calculations, it does still have a lot to offer the YA/dystopian/sci-fi reader.

On the up-side, Surrender takes action-packed to a whole new level. Like her characters, Johnson's readers get no rest in this nonstop plot. And the world-building is deep and exhilarating. The fast pace of her story meant I didn't always have time to fully absorb the world Johnson created, but I relished it nonetheless. And above all, like its predecessor, it has a rocking premise. I just adore the whole rebelling against mind control thing.

Here's where Surrender let me down a little. I was very disoriented for much of this novel. I remember a touch of that while reading Possession, but nothing like I experienced this time. The constant action and fast-pace meant that I felt like things were coming at me left and right as I read and I never had time to rebound from one before the next hit. It just left me dizzy, reeling in a world and a story where I could never quite get my bearings.

This was only deepened by the constant character waffling. I never knew where anyone stood from one moment to the next. I couldn't get a firm grip on their intentions, motivations, or loyalties and in the end I didn't trust ANY of them, which translated into a lack of emotional investment for me. If I'm not emotionally invested in a story or its characters, then I don't care what happens to them. Long story short, the point of no return never came for me on this one. I could have put it down anywhere in the plot, walked away, and never looked back.

Finally, the romance left me wanting. In Possession, I was swept away in Vi and Jag's passion. By comparison, Raine and Gunner fell flat. That left me frustrated to be reading about a romance I didn't care for as opposed to the one I did. All the while, Vi and Jag were dangled tantalizingly before me, just out of reach.

Still, Johnson is a gifted writer and not all will walk away with the same issues I came away with. My daughter loved this book and had no trouble orienting herself in Johnson's world and plot. We both agreed that though we had some initial reservations about the sequel being written through a new protagonist's eyes, Johnson faired better than we expected. I wouldn't rush to get the next installment here, but my daughter likely will. (less)

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Oct 07, 2012 Sydnie O'very rated it 5 of 5 stars

After reading Possession I was so excited to read Surrender as soon as it came out! But when I picked it up I was truly shocked, could a book really be better then Possession? But it was, it pulled me farther than Possession pulled me; tell I felt as if I was one of the characters! The new points of views changed my perspective, it taught me that books can change and still make sense and who were these new characters, Rain and Gunner! These new characters are strong ones who push the laws (very...more

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May 26, 2012 Kay Mcgriff rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love how Elana Johnson begins Surrender (Simon Pulse 2012*): "Someone is always watching. Always listening. Freedom doesn't exist in the city of Freedom, what with the glinting silver surfaces recording thoughts everywhere and the surrounding walls keeping everyone and everything in--or out."

Gunner and Raine live in a city where everything is provided for you and everything is controlled by the government. Students are tracked into classes that will prepare them for the career that best comp...more I love how Elana Johnson begins Surrender (Simon Pulse 2012*): "Someone is always watching. Always listening. Freedom doesn't exist in the city of Freedom, what with the glinting silver surfaces recording thoughts everywhere and the surrounding walls keeping everyone and everything in--or out."

Gunner and Raine live in a city where everything is provided for you and everything is controlled by the government. Students are tracked into classes that will prepare them for the career that best complements their talents. Each person has a Match chosen for them. Food dispensers provide nutritionally balanced meals from your recommended food plan with the push of a button. Even your free time activities are monitored a guided. No one has to think for themselves because Thinkers are there to do it for them.

Gunner has always played by the rules, but now he is running out of time. Will he join the Insiders? Will he use his considerable talents to brainwash and control the rest of the population? Raine has always given the appearance of playing by the rules--especially to her father, Director Hightower--but she is a rebel with a secret power of her own. Both Gunner and Raine have a role to play in the fight against the total control of the government, but first they have to sort out the attraction between them. They must also discover the secrets locked within the brainwashed mind of Raine's roommate, Vi, and decide if they can trust her boyfriend, Zenn, who is playing both sides in a deadly game. Zenn is not the only one playing both sides. Someone offers help with disrupting the constant technical surveillance and sending warnings just when they need it most.

Surrender is the companion to Possession, which I haven't read yet. I definitely want to read it to learn more about Vi and Zenn and the mysterious Resistance leader Jag. I also want to revisit this world where the possibility of control has grown to such terrifying abilities. How do you keep secrets in a world where your every word and action is recorded. Even your thoughts are recorded as you send messages via an implant for communication? In this world some people are born with extraordinary abilities to manipulate and control others. Those people--like Gunner, Raine, Vi, and Zenn--are groomed to lead the rest of the population. How do they resist the temptation of so much power to spread freedom?

I hope there is a third book coming soon because the ending was chilling. Three of them got away, but the one left behind faces a fate worse than death.

*I read an ARC I won from a contest.

first published on my blog at http://kaymcgriff.edublogs.org/2012/0...(less)

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Jul 24, 2012 Darlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, books-given-for-review, 2012-sophomore-reading-challenge

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.

This series just keeps getting better and better!

Surrender is the second book in the Possession series. Until now, the novella, Regret, was my favourite in the series but that one just got bumped into second place! This latest installment in the series focuses on the city of Freedom, which is actually a misnomer – the residents don’t...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Erika rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction, science-fiction, young-adult

Welcome to Freedom. In Surrender, Elana Johnson's second book of the Possession trilogy, we are treated to a new set of characters and a new place. Where Jag and Vi came from the Goodgrounds and Badlands, this time around the characters live in the city of Freedom. Those who've read Possession might remember learning about Freedom and well, just how deceiving this name is for the city. If anything, people are even more controlled here.

Freedom is also the place filled with people who have special...more Welcome to Freedom. In Surrender, Elana Johnson's second book of the Possession trilogy, we are treated to a new set of characters and a new place. Where Jag and Vi came from the Goodgrounds and Badlands, this time around the characters live in the city of Freedom. Those who've read Possession might remember learning about Freedom and well, just how deceiving this name is for the city. If anything, people are even more controlled here.

Freedom is also the place filled with people who have special talents and training schools for those who will serve the city, becoming rulers over people to make it "safer". This is where we meet Raine and Gunner. Raine has the ability to "drain", touching people and in the process seeing their deepest desires. Gunner has voice talent. He can speak and make people do or believe what he wants. As the two find out, just because they have special talents doesn't make them any more free than the normal people Thinkers reside over. Raine's dad is the director of the city and wants to use both of them to get what he wants.

I enjoyed this story, even more than the first. Raine and Gunner were awesome. Gunner was my favourite character and I thought the most interesting. I said that in Possession Vi and Jag's love for each other came too quickly for me. In this one Raine and Gunner fall in love quickly as well. But there was one huge difference that made that more realistic for me and that is backstory between the two. It's not a love at first sight scenario and I really appreciated that.

Also, Vi, Zenn, and Jag are back! We get to know much more about Zenn and we find out what happened to Vi. It was nice to see something from Zenn's side. He was such a complex character in Possession but I felt not enough scenes with him in it to really figure him out. I really enjoyed his friendship with Gunner and seeing which side he was really on this time around. There wasn't very much of Jag, but hopefully he'll be back and up to more in the next book.

This installment of the series opened up a whole new world. I wonder what the author will show us next. I'm looking forward to seeing if and how the characters crash the system in the next book. I feel also that the author has grown a lot in her craft between book one and two. My only problem was I felt the timeline was a bit disjointed in places and they kept revealing things about people's abilities. Since every one of the characters had different abilities this got a little confusing for me. A solid book, otherwise, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it since it is my favourite of the series so far.

** As reviewed on One A Day Y.A.(less)

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Jun 15, 2012 Avery rated it 5 of 5 stars

In my review of "Possession" by Elana Johnson, the first book in her "Possession" series, I noted that on multiple occasions I was EXTREMELY confused by exactly what was going on in the novel, for a number of different reason- constantly changing relationships, lack of context/ explanation, and the likes of. However, I did not find that to be the case WHATSOEVER with this book. Everything in this book was so beautifully described, well executed and the likes of- it becomes evident that Elana has...more In my review of "Possession" by Elana Johnson, the first book in her "Possession" series, I noted that on multiple occasions I was EXTREMELY confused by exactly what was going on in the novel, for a number of different reason- constantly changing relationships, lack of context/ explanation, and the likes of. However, I did not find that to be the case WHATSOEVER with this book. Everything in this book was so beautifully described, well executed and the likes of- it becomes evident that Elana has grown tremendously as an author since she penned her debut.

That being said, I must admit that when I first started reading this book I had A LOT of difficulties differentiating between the narrators of this book and of "Possession", I felt that Raine and Gunner were essentially Vi and Jag 2.0. Vi and Raine had the same sort of "I don't give a freck" attitude, had many of the same mannerisms and used a lot of similar slang (despite having lived in cities that were almost entirely removed from one another). However, as the book progressed I found myself less and less bothered by this as I felt that the characters started to come into their own.

Furthermore, I also really enjoyed Gunner and Raine's relationship. In my opinion it seemed much more natural and much less forced than Vi and Jag's relationship (as I made note in my review of "Possession" Jag's and Vi's relationship is BY FAR one of the biggest instances of insta-love I have ever encountered before)- I have realized that I prefer seeing a relationship slowly, but surely, come into being rather than feeling that it came out of left field or was to 'in my face'.

All in all, I am EXTREMELY glad that I decided to stick with this series as I believe this book to be better in every way than "Possession" was. This series is quickly becoming one of my more favourite dystopian/ post-apocalyptic series, surpassing other such series as Ally Condie's "Matched" series and Moira Young's "Blood Red Road"- I cannot wait to see what Elana has in store for us (and the gang) next!
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Jun 23, 2012 Nikki rated it 3 of 5 stars

While I enjoyed this I didn't like Raine and Gunner near as much as Violet and Jag so that was a bit of a letdown. Also it got confusing at times. I didn't like how it seemed like sometimes the characters could do pretty much whatever they wanted (like breaking into a prison) with no consequence and other times they would sneeze wrong and get a citation. Just a little weird. I also don't get that if Gunner has the ability to make anyone do what he wants why he didn't just tell Hightower to take...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Patricia J. O'Brien rated it 4 of 5 stars

It had been a bit of time since I read the first book in this series, Possession, and it took me some pages to settle back into this dystopian world. But once I did, I really liked the new characters in SURRENDER, Raine and Gunner, who live in Freedom, where nobody is at all free. And it isn't long before we find out what's happening with Vi and Zenn, who ended the first book in a disturbing way.
Elana Johnson weaves a mystery into this thriller so that we're never sure who can be trusted, never...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Melinda rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit that at first I was a bit confused when I opened this book and started reading. I had just finished reading Possession and was eager to hear what happened next in the saga of Vi and Jag. I was a bit disappointed when the book centered on two completely different characters. It took a little bit to get into the flow of this book as it did with the first, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. It was great to see the author weave the new characters' stories in with those of the fi...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Raven rated it 5 of 5 stars

I couldn't put this book down. If you've read Possession, this book takes place in the same story world and involves some of the same characters. However, this book is told from the perspectives of two new protagonists, Raine and Gunner. Johnson's sophomore novel, this book is tighter and more cohesive than the first. The world has been crafted with care and delivered in a way that is approachable and easier to grasp than the first installment in the series. As I followed Raine and Gunner's deve...more

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About Elana Johnson

I am the author of the POSSESSION series, which includes novels POSSESSION and SURRENDER, and short stories REGRET (ebook only) and RESIST (free here on Goodreads). ABANDON releases on June 4, 2013.

In between all the smiling, I blog for the League of Extraordinary Writers and help to organize WriteOnCon.

I also teach, watch reality TV, and drive too fast.

Visit elanajohnson.blogspot.com to keep up...more

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“Every person has a season for knowledge.” — 9 people liked it

“Maybe if she saw Jag again... maybe that would wake her up. But if she sees him and remembers, I'm nobody. In more than ways than one.” — 5 people liked it

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