Origin (Corpus, #1) in Around the World in 80 Books

Mar 27, 2012 Kimberly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2012-bookshelf, library-books-read-2012, w-o-w-refs

4.5 STARS
Here is another book that I waited for for months to read until last month when I finally got my hands on a copy from the library. Then when I brought it home I read a couple iffy reviews so I went into it very hesitantly, expecting the worst but I was surprised at how much I really enjoyed Origin.

The story centers around Pia (love the name) who is a genetically enhanced human who has the gift of being immortal. She's raised in a jungle compound where she is heralded in as the future 4.5 STARS
Here is another book that I waited for for months to read until last month when I finally got my hands on a copy from the library. Then when I brought it home I read a couple iffy reviews so I went into it very hesitantly, expecting the worst but I was surprised at how much I really enjoyed Origin.

The story centers around Pia (love the name) who is a genetically enhanced human who has the gift of being immortal. She's raised in a jungle compound where she is heralded in as the future of humanity and expected to be as cold and calculating as those around her and she is almost convinced that she will be until she escapes the compound and meets the boy of her dreams Eio. However a series of events take place and she finds out what kind of sacrifices were made for her to gain the immortality that those around her so value and she has to fight for the life she truly wants.

I thought that the book was great. In many ways it reminded me a lot of The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna click here to read my review. Because both novels focus on strong female characters that were somehow made different through scientific advances and there was secrecy and romance in both of these. However, I found that in Origins the author did a much better job at developing the plot a lot more because a lot of the questions I had about how and why Pia was the way she was were answered. I appreciated how well explained the plot was because it created a steady story line.

Pia though has to be one of my favourite heroines of the year. She was so strong willed, smart, and kind that there was very little that I couldn't like about her though I do wish she had grown a backbone when it came to certain things a wee bit sooner but it wasn't anything major in terms of effecting the novel. I loved how despite growing up in such a cold atmosphere in the compound where she was raised that she still had a lot of goodness in her.

Eio, was a good side character as well I liked how much he showed his love for Pia but it was sadly a week case of the dreaded insta-love that I tend to dislike. However, I didn't mind it as much as I usually would though for me that is the one major draw back in the book.

The other side characters were also well developed enough for me to find them interesting enough that I wish I knew more about their side stories as well as Pia's but then the book would have been really long.

I really enjoyed learning about how Pia was made/born and the reasons why. I thought the whole immortal flower was a great idea and one that I've only heard about a few times and hopefully it won't be the new thing and other authors start putting them in there novels all of a sudden. I also liked that there was a bit of intrigue and a lot of action in the book as well so that it kept me guessing the whole way through.

Overall I thought that this was a great debut by Jessica Khoury who is only a couple months older than I am. In my mind this proves that young authors do have talent and are capable of penning successful novels. With a well developed plot and a great heroine I think this is going on my favourites list of books I've read this year. I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone especially those who like YA novels. I hope Jessica has another book in the works because I think she's going to be an author to watch out for in the future. ...more

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Aug 26, 2013 Nadine in NY Jones rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, suspense-thriller, romance, stayed-up-way-too-late

This book is fantastic!! I don't understand why its not being raved about more ... This is a well-written, engaging debut YA with slight fantasy elements (nectar of a tropical flower can - with generations of work - make an immortal person) but there are three things that make it stand out:
1. This is not a dystopian.
2. This is not a series.
3. There is no love triangle!! (and there was much rejoicing)

I wasn't really expecting much, reviews on this site seemed mixed and the plot sounded kinda ho-h ...more

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