Publishers Weekly
01/27/2014
Merging a contemporary setting with a believable speculative premise, Jordan (the Firelight series) introduces Davy Hamilton, who appears to have it all—a gorgeous boyfriend, a future at Julliard—until she is diagnosed with "Homicidal Tendency Syndrome," a genetic predisposition toward violence. She is "uninvited" from her private high school, assigned an unsympathetic caseworker, and forced to attend school in a "Cage" with other HTS kids. Among them are the sweet, smart Gil, and Sean, a lifetime "carrier" who's more protective than violent. Jordan skillfully hints at a rapidly disintegrating, near-future America, using chilling chapter interstitials—texts, fragments of interviews, lists—that illustrate a society prepared to sacrifice civil rights for an illusion of safety. Are those diagnosed with the HTS gene really destined to kill, or is their behavior the outcome of being treated like criminals? The first half is slow, as Davy feels the impact that the HTS label has on her privileged life, but the action becomes more immediate when Davy, Sean, and Gil are recruited for an elite government school designed to exploit their violent instincts. Ages 13–up. Agent: Maura Kye-Casella, Don Congdon Associates. (Feb.)
BooklistBooklist on FIRELIGHT
Jordan’s compelling addition to the supernatural star–crossed lovers theme is equal parts taut suspense and sensuous romance.
Kerrelyn Sparks
Magnificent and masterful! A world so captivating, you’ll never want to leave!
Kiersten White
Firelight soars to dizzying heights, combining forbidden love, scorching romance, and thrilling danger.
Colleen Houck
Praise for the Firelight series:“The Firelight series is a rare sparkling gem. I delved into the mystical world and discovered a fast–paced, gripping story. …Anytime my readers ask for a book recommendation, I always say, ‘Read Sophie Jordan!’
Booklist
this fast-paced story is a solid addition to the dystopian genre.
Rachel Vincent
A riveting, disconcerting vision of a near–future corrupted by genetic profiling. Thoroughly unputdownable.
Carrie Ryan
UNINVITED asks the question: will you let the world define who you are or will you choose to define yourself? Put simply: I loved this book!
Kirkus Reviews
2013-12-07
She's tagged as a killer. But that's not so bad. Beautiful, blonde, wealthy 17-year-old Davy Hamilton attends a posh private school in her Texas hometown and spends page after page mooning over her rugby-playing, Zac Ephron–esque boyfriend, Zac. All goes awry, however, when it's discovered that she has Homicidal Tendency Syndrome, which means she could grow up to be a serial killer (!!!!!). She's then whisked away from her school and social life and forced to attend a special juvielike school for students with the same diagnosis. At this point, readers might think that terrible things happen to Davy—that she could be put into terrifying danger or might struggle against her own genetic code. But no—she goes to class, slaps her ex-boyfriend, gets tattooed as punishment for acting out and pines after another hot boy in her new school. This nonthriller is packed with more overwrought, lusty musings than a Harlequin romance. Some of the sentences actually work, while others are so preposterous they'll have readers giggling: "Closing my eyes, I savor the sensation of Zac's lips on my throat." But there's no vampire here, and there's not that much action. And Davy comes off as a weak, whiny, boy-chasing protagonist who makes Bella look like Lara Croft. A schlocky bodice-ripper disguised as a dystopian romance. (Dystopian romance. 14 & up)
