Enhanced by Caroline J. Trussell

Blurb:

A gripping and thought-provoking dystopian thriller that blends intrigue, rebellion, and emotional depth into an instant YA classic. Perfect for fans of Divergent, Legend, Suzanne Collins, and Scott Westerfeld.

When THEA turns seventeen, she’s accepted into The Elite society of New America and given her dose of the Elixir—a substance that promises to eradicate all negative aspects of ‘mental illness’ and enhance natural abilities. With the Elixir declaring one’s place in society, Thea is astounded when she is declared not one, but two roles—a Moodist and an Analyst.

With her newfound skills, Thea is determined to use them to help others. After throwing herself into her studies and befriending the intelligent Seer HARLEY, Thea uncovers a web of lies and deceit surrounding the distribution of the Elixir.

As more and more horrendous truths surrounding the government and the Elixir are unearthed, Thea abandons everything she used to believe in and joins an underground rebellion known as the Disorder.

Bonding with the insurgent ELIAS, they make it their mission to find out why the Elixir is being held back from those who need it most. To take down the corrupt agenda of New America’s governing body, Thea will have to face the mysterious scientific Order of Alchemists and someone closer to her than she could imagine.

Review:

Thea turns seventeen expecting the best out of her young life: she’s been accepted into The Elite Society of New America. She’s given her dose of a substance—a potion—called the Elixir, a kind of substance that swears to remove all her woes. Specifically, the woes she faces due to the mental illnesses she faces, such as exhaustion, paranoia, and any other relevant symptoms. Not only that, but it promises to enhance whatever natural abilities she possesses. Thea is thoroughly unprepared for the Exilir, which will determine where she stands amid the throes of society, to signify she holds two roles: that of a Moodist and that of an Anylist.

Wielding her newfound abilities as a Moodist and an Analyst, Thea decides she’ll use her enhanced skills to aid others. Yet when she befriends a clever, cunning seer named Harley and immerses herself in her studies, she discovers a string of interconnected lies, deceptions, and corruption regarding the creation and distribution of the Exilir.

Uncovering countless truths and lies about the government and the Exilir, Thea decides to abandon the life she’s been so determined to live—including everything she previously knew—to join an underground rebellion known as the Disorder. Befriending a rebel named Elias, she makes it her sole goal to find out why the Exilir is being withheld from those who need it most, and dismantle the deceptive, cruel agenda of New America’s authoritarian government. But to succeed, Thea will need to conquer the Order of Alchemists, an elite and prestigious society, and maybe even someone close enough to her to ruin all of her plans.

Caroline J. Trussell is a good friend of mine, and I was so thrilled to receive a copy of her debut novel, Enhanced, to review! The first thing I’ll state is that Trussell is a phenomenal writer, and this novel proved that for me even further than I already knew it. With a unique plot, authentic characterization, and a magic system that’s truly groundbreaking, Enhanced is enjoyable for all audiences—not just young adults!

I also have to touch on the audience label of this novel. It’s so infrequent that I read a “young adult” novel that is truly meant, primarily, for young adults. Yet Trussell manages to do exactly that. While as I said above this novel could be read and enjoyed by a variety of audiences, I love how perfectly appropriate it is for young adults. With vivid, emotional, and complex stakes and internal conflicts that focus on the characters themselves rather than the world as a whole, this book is the young adult novel I’ve been looking for but haven’t been able to find until now.

Trussell also has a wonderful grasp on dialogue. I’m very picky about dialogue, because it needs to sound authentic. Sometimes, I can get around clunky dialogue if the rest of the book is truly spectacular or original, but that wasn’t a concern I had with Enhanced. Packed with realistic, candid, and whip-smart dialogue, it felt like I was reading read conversations happening between real people. 

I have to mention my absolute adoration for the characters themselves. I rarely see so many marginalized characters in one book, and never with as much emphasis as Trussell puts on the characters in this story. Marginalizations are not merely hinted at or hedged around this story—no, disabilities, disorders (and so much more) takes center stage.

There were so many analogies and metaphors to do with disabilities, especially in regard to disorders, that I found particularly impactful. Even the name of the rebels struck me! I loved how the focus on mental illness was so prominent, and how it affected the main cast so much.

I cannot WAIT to read the sequel, Liberated!