ARC Review: Control - Lydia Kang

Title: Control
Author: Lydia Kang
Pub Date: December 26th, 2013
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Page Count: 400

An un-putdownable thriller for fans of Uglies

When a crash kills their father and leaves them orphaned, Zel knows she needs to protect her sister, Dyl. But before Zel has a plan, Dyl is taken by strangers using bizarre sensory weapons, and Zel finds herself in a safe house for teens who aren’t like any she’s ever seen before—teens who shouldn't even exist. Using broken-down technology, her new friends’ peculiar gifts, and her own grit, Zel must find a way to get her sister back from the kidnappers who think a powerful secret is encoded in Dyl’s DNA.

A spiraling, intense, romantic story set in 2150—in a world of automatic cars, nightclubs with auditory ecstasy drugs, and guys with four arms—this is about the human genetic “mistakes” that society wants to forget, and the way that outcasts can turn out to be heroes

Buy Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Chapters Indigo

My Thoughts

Control blows readers away with the mind-blowing science and equally thrilling... chemistry. - Nova @ Out of Time

This review is really hard to write. I received this book via Razorbill Canada and though Lydia’s Agent. I was so excited for this book and really wanted to like it. My first impression was that this book was too good and mind blowing. After thinking harder and picking at it, I found my rating going down. My feelings for it haven’t changed, but I have thought a little more thoroughly on it.

We open to a girl named Zelia. It’s set in a future. There’s the first problem. I didn’t understand so much of the world because it was being thrown at me. And I can’t catch. There were some new terms that I didn’t get. The characters did things that appeared to be ­normal for them, but I was just like “what?” The world is shaky at best, at least for my first impression.
There was world building, but it wasn't enough for me to actually get it. And I wasn't as impressed with the world as I should've been, if there was more building.

Bunch o’ stuff happens and Zelia’s transferred to some kind of place off the grid. This is where the story picks up. Basically, there’s a place where no one knows about you if you’re different. Different like you have powers and stuff.

The other kids at the place are underdeveloped. All the characters are so underdeveloped with the exception of Zelia. I don't know anything about them and they're so bland to me. And the only character I happened to hate is... Zelia. See how this works?

Characters like Ana and Marka seemed interested but I didn’t get anything about them unless it directly tied with Zelia’s path, which was too clear to be realistic.

However, I pretty much love the love interest. Cy is a guy who’s got the power of self healing. Like, the dude is indestructible and he’s a brilliant chemist. When he’s first opened on, he seemed like some creepy, goth kid. I didn’t see a reason to make him hate Zelia as strongly as he did because when they got together, it was kind of a 180.

Cy compliments Zelia. When Zelia is being stupid and trying to be courageous, Cy’s like “no.” He sees what Zelia’s blind to. Of course, it would be a bit more helpful of Zelia actually listened to a guy she called her boyfriend.

...CYLIA FOREVER. (Sorry, I had to add that in the review.)

I’d love to make a whole paragraph on Zelia and my feelings for her, but no. Basically, I don’t like Zelia because despite her best interests, she’s an idiot. Instead of thinking logically for a solution where everyone wins, she runs in the path of danger and causes everyone else to run with her. Though, I do have to admit, I hated Zelia less nearer to the end and I loved the development done with her. Though somewhat of an idiot, she became stronger as the story went one.

Something I noticed is that the first half of the story was shaky and a total TURN OFF whereas the second half seemed stable and professional. There’s a progression, not just with the story, but with Lydia’s writing that I kind of like. It shows the change in the way things are told and other aspects of the story. I can’t decide if that’s good or bad, but right now, I’m leaning towards the good.

Overall, I as a reader, enjoyed the story. Picking apart at it, I found faults, but it wasn’t that bad of a book and I would definitely read the second one. (Especially because of the crippling ending; you have been warned.)

Author Info

Lydia's Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Website |

I love salt more than chocolate. I'm somewhat small, yet deceptively strong. Sort of like an ant.

I write YA fiction, poetry and narrative medical nonfiction. I'm a part time doc, full time family member, and rather oxygen dependent.

My YA sci-fi novel, CONTROL, will debut December 2013 (Dial/Penguin). I'll be holding my breath until then. Watch me.