Spark (Spark, #1) in The Spark Army

Oct 27, 2014 Cassie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, read-in-2015

7 hours and 20 minutes.
Could not put this down.
It is 6:20am and I regret nothing.

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Oct 30, 2014 Renee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

First of all: OH MY GOSH!!!! I HAVE JUST HAD THE WILDEST MOST EMOTIONALLY EXCITING READ EVER!!!! AARRRGGGHHHAFHLKJDSLHFKSJDHLKJFSHLKJHSDFKJHSLK

*takes deep breath* okay... let me try and form coherent thoughts now.

Spark is the first novel in the Spark Trilogy by Rachael Craw.

Set in the near future, a government organised human DNA genetic modification experiment has gone wrong, creating what are known as Shields, Sparks and Strays. The effects of these genetically coded humans are being tested a ...more

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Apr 09, 2014 Kelly (Diva Booknerd) rated it really liked it

Shelves: walker-books, loveozya, lovenzya

http://www.divabooknerd.com/2014/06/s...
Spark was a mix of science fiction and contemporary, but felt more like a unique spin on the superhero and savior role. It was intense, and entertaining. Not often does a young adult storyline take me by surprise, but Spark certainly did. I adored Evie's character, not only has her world fallen apart with the loss of her mother, she lives each day with the knowledge that she never knew her father and the only family she has now is her Aunt Miriam, whom she http://www.divabooknerd.com/2014/06/s...
Spark was a mix of science fiction and contemporary, but felt more like a unique spin on the superhero and savior role. It was intense, and entertaining. Not often does a young adult storyline take me by surprise, but Spark certainly did. I adored Evie's character, not only has her world fallen apart with the loss of her mother, she lives each day with the knowledge that she never knew her father and the only family she has now is her Aunt Miriam, whom she now lives with. The only constant in her life, is spending each summer with her best friend Kitty. Evie has known the Gallagher family for the best part of a decade, including Jamie.

Jamie is Evie's Achilles Heel. Having shared a brief, but embarrassing kiss before he left three years ago. But now Jamie's eighteen and back in Evie's life. But Jamie isn't without his secrets and the relationship between the two is as intense as it is forbidden. The romance reminded me of that of Rose and Dimitri in the popular Vampire Academy series, the student teacher aspect and forbidden romance that follows. I really enjoyed Evie and Jamie's relationship, the two teens shared a history together so the seemingly instant love felt more natural.

My only one real complaint was the overload of information once Evie is told exactly who she is. There were so many descriptions and acronyms, that I knew I'd never be able to remember. But I didn't need to. As the storyline progresses, you'll learn what being a Shield entails alongside Evie, as she navigates her new role. First time author Rachael Craw is a born storyteller, she's taken what are seemingly normal teens who are still finding their feet, and throwing them into a world of killers, protectors are rules of how they must now live their lives. But what made the characters so engaging, was her use of dialogue. It's quick, it's witty and realistic between the characters. If you're looking for a sassy, intriguing and unique read, this one is definitely it. Already eagerly awaiting book two in the series, Stray. ...more

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Jun 27, 2014 Ella rated it really liked it

Ok, this was excellent! I didn't think I'd enjoy it this much but I really did!! And I just love the fact Rachael is a kiwi author because her writing is so good and she's such a lovely person but also because I read hardly any good YA books written by NZ authors and so I'm just really happy ok?!!!

I need STRAY like, NOW! ...more

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Jun 11, 2014 Jeann (Happy Indulgence) rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-copy, young-adult, arc

This review originally appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!

Spark features an interesting concept about genetic mutations in a select number of humans, that determine their role to play people based on their DNA - the Shield (protector), the Spark (igniter) and the Stray (the aggressor).

Evie is the Shield who has just been sparked by her best friend Kitty, and she finds herself developing great reflexes, enhanced senses, a healing ability, the ability to see people's memori This review originally appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!

Spark features an interesting concept about genetic mutations in a select number of humans, that determine their role to play people based on their DNA - the Shield (protector), the Spark (igniter) and the Stray (the aggressor).

Evie is the Shield who has just been sparked by her best friend Kitty, and she finds herself developing great reflexes, enhanced senses, a healing ability, the ability to see people's memories, feel people's frequencies, and an unhealthy fixation on Kitty's safety. It turns out she's a Shield who has developed her powers, and her job is to protect Kitty from her Stray, who will hunt her down to spark their own powers.

I really liked Evie, her determination to protect Kitty despite the odds and her strength of character, and it was funny seeing her act like a possessive boyfriend at times. Her behaviour was understandable given the Fixation Effect, to ensure she will be able to sense a threat to Kitty at all times. Their relationship reminded me of the girls from Vampire Academy, where one is the protector and the other is the best friend. Kitty took her best friend's new role all in stride as she was afraid of the impending attack.

The concept of DNA manipulation to breed fighters for private security was really interesting. Shields, Sparks and Strays have an interesting relationship with each other, as the Strays will hunt down the Sparks who will die once triggered. Having this secret world in society where super humans are about was a fascinating new twist. Although the sci-fi elements were explained in a brain burning scientific manner early on, I managed to pick up the concepts along the way as the story was told. I had to refer back to the explanation a few times during the book, as there'll be appreciations used such as KMT which wouldn't really be explained again.

There is a well-developed romance between Evie and Jamie, Kitty's brother. They have a history together but they will bond even further through their training and amplified attraction to each other. Both of them are Shields, and they have a rare, Synergist bond where they both amplify each others abilities. The couple have great chemistry, and I liked how it never overtook their main objective in protecting Kitty (despite what their families thought).

Spark felt like it could have been condensed into fewer pages, at over 400 pages it felt like the pace was rather slow at times. This could be due to the range of characters who were developed throughout the novel. It does pick up towards the end though, with an action-packed ending and lots of twists and turns along the way.

Spark's scientific twist on enhanced human beings was the highlight as it was developed well throughout the novel. Although it tended to be heavy on the concepts, I really enjoyed how they were weaved into the story. Featuring excellent character development and a romance I can ship, I really enjoyed Spark.

I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jun 23, 2014 maddie ♡ (thecosiestchapter) rated it it was amazing

Initial reaction: This book was exactly what I needed to pull me from the depths of my shameful reading slump. I was looking for something exhilarating and intense, that was exactly what I got from Spark. I was in a constant state of anxiety whilst reading this book and every page supplied me with intense action (as well as emotional exhaustion.) I am filled with love for this book! Thank you to the author herself, Rachael, for recommending it to me! I'm definitely out of my slump. Now I just ha Initial reaction: This book was exactly what I needed to pull me from the depths of my shameful reading slump. I was looking for something exhilarating and intense, that was exactly what I got from Spark. I was in a constant state of anxiety whilst reading this book and every page supplied me with intense action (as well as emotional exhaustion.) I am filled with love for this book! Thank you to the author herself, Rachael, for recommending it to me! I'm definitely out of my slump. Now I just have to figure out what to do with myself while waiting for Stray to be released.

Full review:

description

5/5 stars

I have been the victim of a terrible reading slump for the past three weeks, but it all ended when I picked up Spark. This book was exactly what I needed to pull me from the depths of my shameful reading slump. After starting and abruptly putting down several books, I decided that I needed something exhilarating and intense, something that would grab and keep a hold of my interest. That is exactly what I found in Spark.

The entire premise of the story had me intrigued from the very first page. I mean, DNA modification used for private security but then gone wrong? Count me in! The topics of people with abilities and modified DNA are two of the things that really seem to fascinate me. The entire idea of The Affinity Project, Shields, Sparks and Strays absolutely blew my mind. It was such an incredibly unique concept THAT I found it to be quite refreshing.

The world-building and the back story of the Affinity Project was extremely in-depth but at times the new terms and jargon threw me off a little bit, and I was left a little bit confused. Not too much that I didn’t figure out eventually, though. I do appreciate the attention to detail that went into the backstory, and it was set in a way that made it seem totally plausible. Every element was explained properly, so there wasn’t the information overload that tends to plague a number of YA science fiction novels.

Evie was an incredible main character, there is no denying it. If there is one word that I would use to describe her performance throughout the novel it would be: genuine. I felt like her reactions to the circumstances were quite realistic for a teenage girl, and when they were a little bit extreme, I could understand that it was the influence of her modified DNA. It was wonderful to watch her develop as a character and grow as a person as she learnt to control her new abilities and use them to her advantage. But what I loved most about Evie was her loyalty and ever-present concern for the safety and well-being of those around her. I think this was incredibly effective because though she may have viewed herself as not being completely ‘human’ anymore or as a ‘mutt’ she retained these beautifully genuine human traits.

The complicated nature of Evie’s relationships with the Gallaghers and especially Miriam, were wonderfully done and really set a realistic tone to the novel. Evie’s relationship with Kitty was also very well done, and I was constantly in awe of her loyalty and protectiveness over her best friend. I wish I had a best friend like her! Oh, and we can’t forget about Jamie. Oh lord. That boy had me feeling some sort of way. His relationship with Evie, though it had its many ups and downs, felt very genuine to the situation and played a large factor in my love for this book.

The intense action and exhilaration that I had been craving were definitely there and they were beautifully done. Though there may have been a couple of slow spots, those were largely outnumbered by the mind-blowing plot twists and highs. There were some plot twists that had my hand over my mouth in pure shock, and I was turning the pages so quickly that If I hadn’t been reading on my kindle but a physical copy, the pages would have ripped right off. The mystery had me hooked from the get-go, and I was second guessing every character I came across in suspicion.

Spark had me hooked from the very beginning. It pulled me into it’s pages and put me in a constant state of anxiety while also providing me with intense and exhilarating action (and emotional exhaustion). I am filled to the top with love for this book, and I can confidently say it is one of my favourite YA sci-fi reads of the year. A massive thank you to the author herself, Rachael Craw, for recommending it to me on twitter and getting me out of my dreadful slump! I can’t wait to see what comes next, I’ll definitely be counting down the days until the release of Stray!

If you haven't already read this one, I definitely recommend that you do! ...more

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Dec 21, 2014 Elly rated it really liked it

Shelves: kick-arse-women, psychokinetica

I have now read this book three times, and I still love it.

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Dec 28, 2014 Samantha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Second read: I can only describe my current state as me being the heart eyed emoji. I love this story so much. I had a stupid smile on my face for most of the reread but still felt panicked in the right places, even though I know all the twists and turns. This book will be one of my all time favourites forever.

First read: I cannot handle my love for this book. I want it made into a movie and I want Liana Liberato and Lily Collins to star and I want the second and third books to come out now. Ti ...more

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Nov 21, 2014 Rachel Sanders rated it it was amazing

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book from a give-away and absolutely loved it!! It was one of those books which made you completely tune out of what's happening around you because you are so captivated by the plot. Would highly recommend this to anyone interested!! It kept me up a few late nights because I kept wanting to know what was going to happen and the end of each chapter kept wanting to read more and more! Would have liked a bit more science, but that is just personal preference as a science nerd :) ...more

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Oct 27, 2014 Kristy (Book Nerd Reviews) rated it really liked it

It is books like Spark that are going to have to make me re-evaluate my “take it or leave it” attitude towards sci-fi!

I have often said that I am not a huge fan of science fiction. I am not a lover of science, and I don’t like it incorporated into stories in an unrealistic way, but Spark is a modern world sci-fi, with just the right amount of sciencey stuff in all the right places.

Evie is a normal girl who thinks that the hardest thing she has to deal with is her grief over her mother’s death an ...more

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Nov 08, 2014 Fizzabelle Lewis rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

This book is flawless. I love the plot of the story and such interesting characters! Evie is a strong female character (Which I very much appreciate) and Kitty and Jamie really help shape her character. I love the style of writing and I actually met the author at the Perth writers festival! Yes, Rachael Craw is awesome and so so so nice! I will treasure the picture I got with her forever. Spark is definitely one of my all time favorite books and I NEED MORE.

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Sep 18, 2014 Ynah rated it it was amazing

This book is so compelling! I am proud to say that I suffered from sleep deprivation because of this book's awesomeness. Thanks to its great author, Rachael Craw aka The Saint of Writing.
I loved the science in it. It was probably the major reason why I couldn't put the freaking book down and concentrate on my homework and assessments which due dates were all so close to each other. (I love school though. Just can't stop reading once I've started a good book such as Spark.) This book gave me 'sp ...more

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Apr 09, 2014 Kate rated it really liked it

Shelves: scifi, young-adult, debut-author, walker-books, 4-5-stars

Sci-fi isn’t usually my kind of thing but Spark looked interesting and I am so glad I gave it a go. This book is fantastic. There’s action and romance with moral dilemmas and all sorts of secrets behind the scenes. Evie’s transition from regular teenage girl to suped up genetic protector could have gotten confusing. There’s a bit of jargon and acronyms but it is all explained so well with the reader is learning about this world and Evie’s role in it alongside her.

To break it down for you, due to Sci-fi isn’t usually my kind of thing but Spark looked interesting and I am so glad I gave it a go. This book is fantastic. There’s action and romance with moral dilemmas and all sorts of secrets behind the scenes. Evie’s transition from regular teenage girl to suped up genetic protector could have gotten confusing. There’s a bit of jargon and acronyms but it is all explained so well with the reader is learning about this world and Evie’s role in it alongside her.

To break it down for you, due to some DNA altering and the introduction of synthetic genes, there are now some people who are born with certain abilities and powers. We now have Sparks, Shields and Strays. Sparks are civilians who trigger the Shields and Strays. Once triggered a Shield is compelled to protect the Spark from the Stray who is similarly urge to eliminate the Spark. The Strays aren’t necessarily bad people but the trigger for them manifests itself as psychotic delusions and causes extreme homicidal feelings for the Spark. The Shields and Strays are both stronger, faster and taller than regular civilians with assorted powers. It’s all very intense and trust me – Rachael Craw explains it so much better in the book than I ever could but you get the general idea.

Evie’s first ever Spark is her best friend Kitty – and that brings its own set of complications. Along with trying to understand what is happening to her, Evie has to cope with the need to make sure Kitty is okay. And then there’s Kitty’s brother – Jamie.

I have something to confess. I can’t stand the name Jamie. It makes me cringe a little (I’m sorry if you’re reading this and you are a Jamie. I’m sure you’re lovely). And as a testament to the writing – despite his name, I really liked Jamie thought this name was a great choice for him. He’s the kind of guy that you wouldn’t want to cross and the way the romance developed over the course of the novel was great to read. Despite them being a perfect match their interactions aren’t perfect. They still had to work for the relationship and Jamie had to make up from the history by the river.

The action in Spark is really exciting. Evie is learning to be kick-arse though a combination of her training as well as her super gene learning. There are times when it seems that Evie is the most special of all the Shields but there is reason behind that which is explained. She’s confused and there is confusion surrounding much of what is happening to her BUT this book is never confusing to read. The reader is always right there beside Evie learning about her world and her new place in it as Evie figures it all out. There’s a bit of a mystery as to who the Stray is and some drama surrounding the mysterious Affinity group who are responsible for the Shields/Strays in the first place. I wanted to know more about how The Affinity run things but there is always the chance that this secret organization will be explored more in book 2. The supporting characters are interesting with all of them having their own stuff going on. They have their own agendas and priorities and what I liked is that sometimes it is in direct opposition to Evie. It’s great to see the parents have a role and not just be written out because its easier.

After reading Spark – I can’t wait to see what’s next in this series. Secrets, Sparks, Shields, Strays, other Affinity goodness. And of course, more Jamie and Evie interactions! Action, mysterious organizations and a dash of romance – I think this book would appeal to fans of books with strong female main characters in a world with a bit of an edge like Divergent by Veronica Roth and Delirium by Lauren Oliver.

Thanks to Walker Books Australia for the review copy. ...more

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Jun 26, 2014 Eugenia (Genie In A Book) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sci-fi, 2014-release, arc

*This review also appears on the blog Chasm of Books*

4.5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The undeniably awesome cover for Spark may have been what initially drew me to this novel, but it is the outstanding plot which cinched the deal. With a concept dealing with the intriguing topic of genetic mutations, fair share of action-packed suspense and a romance which adds the cherry on top, after reading this impressive book, I can't wait to see wh ...more

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Sep 22, 2016 Book Chatter-Cath rated it it was amazing

Shelves: to-read-review, reviewed, favourites, review-to-come, bought-it, 2016, nz-author

Initially, I simply set out to read a book from cover-to-cover without getting distracted and loosing interest as my recent track record has been - but very quickly, all that changed...

Spark is the first book in a YA trilogy about genetically engineered people with superhuman powers and a creepy secret organisation that tries to control everything and everyone associated with it (it has a very cool 'The Tomorrow People' vibe to it).

Evie is an average girl who has just buried her mother and she's ...more

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Nov 27, 2014 Teva Woolf added it

This book is refreshing and different, it drew me in immediately and I was hooked but had to wait for a week for my friend to finish it first, once I had it in less the 24 hours it was finished. I love this book and applaud the author for such a different and dynamic plot

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Feb 02, 2015 Alex M rated it it was amazing

Fantastic, interesting plot

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Apr 21, 2014 Abbey rated it it was amazing

Spark is a brand new YA title from debut author, Rachael Craw.
The writing is easy to read and while the explanations of how the world works may seem complicated, Rachael has explained them in such a way that it does actually make sense.
You're almost guaranteed to love the characters and all their flaws, which is great to see that they DO have flaws and aren't perfect at all.
Plus the twist at the end will sucker punch you right in the face.
Love love love it and I can't wait for Book 2! ...more

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Oct 17, 2014 NicoleHasRead rated it it was amazing

Loved it! Free will, genetic predeterminaton, genetically modified humans.

Must read.

http://nicolehasread.blogspot.com.au/... ...more

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May 12, 2014 Emily Mead rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi

Wow, awesome read. Dat ending O_O review to come :)

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Nov 27, 2014 Amanda rated it really liked it

Shelves: giveaway-freebies-gifts

Having obtained my copy of Spark as my first win from the Goodreads giveaways I was excited to get around to reading it.

Going into this novel I'd had an open mind with no expectations. At first the storyline felt a little too 'girlie' for my liking but this was soon balanced out by the action and science fiction.

As the storyline delved into the science fiction my interest was piqued. From the moment I was hooked on the storyline I found it hard to put this one down, managing to read most of it i ...more

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Sep 07, 2014 Hannah Smit rated it it was amazing

I loved this book. Sci-fi is right up my ally and I love all the twists and turns that the amazing author gave us keeping us on our toes the whole time.

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Jun 28, 2014 Rou Min rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aussie-reads, sci-fi

Check out my blog for the full review and pretty pictures: http://rowreads.blogspot.com/2014/12/...

Disclamer: I won this from a giveaway hosted by the author

4.5 spark!!! I meant stars :P

Spark is a unique sci-fi twist to the contemporary genre. I enjoyed the concept and plot of the story along with the amazing cast of characters.

Follow Evie who's mum recently passed away and moves in with her Aunt Mariam, she suddenly goes trough a growth spurge and developers an odd urge to protect her best fri ...more

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