Review: False Memory by Dan Krokos

8 March, 2013 Reviews 19 comments

Review: False Memory by Dan KrokosFalse Memory by Dan Krokos
Series: False Memory #1
Published by Disney-Hyperion on 14th August 2012
Pages: 327
Genres: Sci-Fi, Young Adult
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
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three-half-stars

Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a boy who isn’t at all surprised by Miranda’s shocking ability.

Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn’t easy—especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can’t remember loving.

Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn’t seem to matter... when there may not be a future.

Dan Krokos’ debut is a tour-de-force of non-stop action that will leave readers begging for the next book in this bold and powerful new series.

This review may contain spoilers.  And by may, I mean most certainly will.

False Memory by fellow Horde player, Dan Krokos, caught my attention.  Mainly because, well, FOR THE HORDE!  But also, because it looked badass.   The basic idea is that Miranda wakes up with no memories and no real clue who she is.  She soon discovers that she’s a superhero and part of a team of four Roses with the ability to cause fear and panic to normal people.

I mean, it’s an alright ability. Not as good as the ability to burn people with your eyes or use an alien ring to wish anything into existence.  But you take what you can get!

So what I might have expected was good writing and interesting, action-packed pages.  But that author, he has a soft spot the size of the Mariana Trench.  This book was a little more saucy than I expected and I liked it! Probably one of the few love-triangles that I’ve truly liked.  Miranda gets more action in a few days than I did throughout all of 8th grade!

Miranda was a bit like a rogue sneaking up behind you to stab you in the back.  She was fun to read.  Then, out of nowhere, BAM! She just kicked the shit out of me and I was left going, “Woah! Woah! Woah!”  That sneaky woman just emulsified my cold, withered heart until I was truly rooting for her. Which was a weird experience.  I’m not sure how to describe it.  There I was thinking I generally liked the book and didn’t mind Miranda, only to suddenly realize that there was no way in hell I was putting the book down and Miranda better live, goddammit!  As for the other characters, Peter, Noah and Olive, I was hot and cold on them.  Peter was definitely my favourite.  I loved the tension between Noah and Miranda.  Drama!  Beautiful, beautiful drama!

So here’s my problem with it, and this part gets spoilery so only proceed if you’ve read the book.

So I was all cool with Miranda et al being weapons to be sold off to the highest bidder. OF COURSE. That is just the kind of sense-making that I like to see.  But then things get a little more complicated.  Not just weapons but also clones.  And not just one set of clones but another and another.  Okay. FINE.  Everyone’s a clone.  And a clone of a clone.  And nobody’s memories are real and everyone’s memories can be replaced and nobody is just a weapon and FINE. Fine, okay?  I can deal with that, I guess.  I can deal with two Miranda’s and the real Miranda being dead and the real Miranda being only a clone of Mrs. North and Mrs. North being HERSELF a clone.  I can deal with ALL of it.  Okay?!  I’m fine.  I’m just absolutely fine.  I can handle it, okay?

There are too many truths.  So many truths that, whilst I can keep them straight, I’m not sure that I want to.  I threw my hands up in the air and yelled for Miranda to go join the fucking peace corps and travel to south east Asia or something.  Just get out, Miranda!  If you’re reading this, just go.  The truth isn’t worth it, sweetie.  You know what’s worth it?  Spending the rest of your life bumping uglies with Peter.  And I guess that destroyed some of my enjoyment of the book.  Because them being developed as a weapon was really the only reasonable truth I could imagine for their cultivated existence.  And whilst I am practically POSITIVE that Krokos is going to come up with something brilliant, I’m simply too emotionally exhausted after False Memory to summon the will to read anymore.  I refuse.  In my mind, Peter and Miranda ran off to a tropical island and lived happily ever after. The end.

Over all, I really liked this book.  I just feel so exhausted by it.  Incredibly, incredibly exhausted.  I want to pick up the next one because I want to see how Miranda and the others deal with the situation they’re in.   But part of me is afraid to.  I don’t know if I’m ready for it.  With False Memory, I wanted to feel THIS much.  But I wasn’t ready to feel THHHHIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSS much.  And with all those truths revealed in the first book?  Well, how else is Krokos going to break my heart in the next one?  HOW, HUH?!

Kat Kennedy

Kat Kennedy

Co-blogger at Cuddlebuggery
Kat Kennedy is a book reviewer and aspiring author in the Young Adult genre. She reviews critically but humorously and get super excited about great books. Find her on GoodReads.
Kat Kennedy

19 Responses to “Review: False Memory by Dan Krokos”

  1. AlwynFJH

    I got so. freakin’. addicted to this book. I started off enjoying it and hten just like you I became unable to put it down. Ultimately after sneaking bits in all day on tube, excercize bike and lunch break my body forced me to sleep mid page and I wound up going through the whole day groggy until I could finally finish it! I actually really liked each new reveal. I felt like the bits with the rogue especially really pumped up the emotional stakes. I seriously cannot wait to potentially give myself a heart attack reading the next one!

  2. AlwynFJH

    I got so. freakin’. addicted to this book. I started off enjoying it and hten just like you I became unable to put it down. Ultimately after sneaking bits in all day on tube, excercize bike and lunch break my body forced me to sleep mid page and I wound up going through the whole day groggy until I could finally finish it! I actually really liked each new reveal. I felt like the bits with the rogue especially really pumped up the emotional stakes. I seriously cannot wait to potentially give myself a heart attack reading the next one!

  3. MaijaSteinbrika

    I actually really enjoyed this book, it was interesting and action-packed, although the love square, or wathever, bothered me a bunch.
    I guess having a selective attention is kind of good, beause I didn’t think that the whole clone thing was that messy 😀

    • KatKennedy

      MaijaSteinbrika I actually liked the love square!  Which surprised me a helluva lot.

      • MaijaSteinbrika

        KatKennedy. I just feel like there’s no need for it anywhere, it doesn’t happen in real life often enough for authors to write so much about love squares. Maybe that’s my cynic “me” talking….
        In False Memory the love square was between two girls and two guys as far as I can remember, so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been if there were three guys and one girl. 😀

  4. Realm of Fiction
    Twitter:

    I haven’t read the spoiler section, but I’m curious about what didn’t work for you here. I’ll have to come back and check later after I’ve read this book. On the whole, it sounds pretty interesting and I think I’d like Miranda well enough, though I’ll be sure to lower my expectations ever so slightly. Great review, Kat!

    • KatKennedy

      Realm of Fiction I think the start, whilst action-packed didn’t really grab me, but the second half was great.  Also, the spoilered bit bothered me a little.

    • KatKennedy

      Realm of Fiction I think the start, whilst action-packed didn’t really grab me, but the second half was great.  Also, the spoilered bit bothered me a little.

  5. AnimeGirlAlex

    LOL! 
    I can handle the truth!! and the truth is that this isn’t for me, *Sigh* 
    I don’t think I could deal with a book that leaves me tired since I’m already perpetually tired, lol
    Still, I’m glad it was worth your while! and I hope you like the sequel .

  6. Ambrluvsports

    – Is this the same author that caused all hell to break loose when he left a comment on a review of Tempest on GR?
    – Does the whole “everyone is a clone” idea seem too similar to the twist in Aeon Flux (the movie)?
    – Do you have to be a hardcore sci-fi fan to enjoy this, or can those of us who just dabble in the genre like this as well?

    • KatKennedy

      Ambrluvsports  
      -Yes, Dan Krokos is the same author.
      -Not EVERYONE is a clone.  Just… a lot of people.
      -No, this is definitely a dabbler book.

    • KatKennedy

      Ambrluvsports  
      -Yes, Dan Krokos is the same author.
      -Not EVERYONE is a clone.  Just… a lot of people.
      -No, this is definitely a dabbler book.

  7. cynicalsapphire

    Kat! *fistbumps* This is one of the books I usually list if people ask for non-obnoxious love triangles. He really made that work, and his female MC read like a girl. It’s pretty boss.
    The powers, especially the team name, are a bit lame, but, hey, it’s good enough to still be worth it.
    I’d sort of forgotten how much I liked this. Now I really want False Memory. *begs*

  8. godisnarcissus

    I love this review. I don’t think I experienced the same emotional attachment you did, but I did enjoy all the twists and turns. Now I’m starting to get kind of excited about False Sight.

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