Non-Spoiler Book Review: True North By: L.E. Sterling

Abandoned by her family in Plague-ridden Dominion City, eighteen-year-old Lucy Fox has no choice but to rely upon the kindness of the True Borns, a renegade group of genetically enhanced humans, to save her twin sister, Margot. But Nolan Storm, their mysterious leader, has his own agenda. When Storm backtracks on his promise to rescue Margot, Lucy takes her fate into her own hands and sets off for Russia with her True Born bodyguard and maybe-something-more, the lethal yet beautiful Jared Price. In Russia, there's been whispered rumors of Plague Cure.

While Lucy fights her magnetic attraction to Jared, anxious that his loyalty to Storm will hurt her chances of finding her sister, they quickly discover that not all is as it appears…and discovering the secrets contained in the Fox sisters' blood before they wind up dead is just the beginning.

As they say in Dominion, sometimes it’s not you…it’s your DNA.
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Pages: 400
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genres: young adult, science fiction, post apocalyptic, contemporary, romance, mystery, political intrigue, action, adventure. 
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Disclaimer: This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Neither the author or the publisher have influenced the review in any way and all opinions are my own. 

The pacing for this book wasn't my favourite. The beginning was much too slow and even though there was the mystery of trying to figure out what Storm is up to it had me itching to just get onto whatever was coming next. Once Lucy made the decision and followed through on it to save Margot it got a lot better. I felt as stifled as Lucy in the first half and wishing that we could just move on from the politics and get to the bigger picture. 

I kind of love that there is a marked difference between the girls' at the beginning of the first book and the ending of the second. I don't like what they went through but you can definitely see their loss of innocence and how the situations they have lived through as well as how the world they live in has changed them as they become aware of the world outside of their influence.It really shows the character development in them both. I sometimes forget that the girls are still only teenagers since they really don't act like it, nor does the world they exist in let them act that way. 

I got really angry at Jared again in this book with the hot and cold attitude. He only slightly redeemed himself when he explained his reasoning. I just feel like he is leading her on, since he has his loyalty to Storm, he isn't intending to have a committed relationship with her and yet he won't really let her move on either. I found it controlling of him and frustrating that Lucy lets him treat her like that.

I still don't like Nolan Storm. I think he is exactly like the girls' father but he puts a nicer face on it. He says he is their guardian but like Lucy says, really the girls have only exchanged one prison for another. I can't wait to see where the dynamic goes in the third book and how Lucy and Storm finally come to a head. 

It was really interesting to hear about the Gilt. It is hard to imagine a world outside of the Upper Circle, but it looks like the Gilt is it. Storm is supposed to be richer than anyone in Dominion, so is he a member of the Gilt as well? I feel like he isn't since he then wouldn't need the girls to get into the Upper Circle parties. 

I'm now interested in what exactly the girls' blood is. What did they do to it? I can't believe that we haven't got more answers by this point in time but that just makes me more excited to find them out later. I'm sure I am as frustrated as the girls are that we don't have answers.

Overall while I have some small problems with this book and the series I am enjoying it and I am looking forward to diving back into the world when the next book comes out. I am particualrly enjoying this different take on DNA and the science behind it. I think this series is an interesting take on the dystopian and I just want to know more and more and see what is possible inside this world. I hate having so few answers to even the most basic questions but it just makes me eager to read more so I can finally get them. It is a really good science fiction book for someone like me who doesn't read too much of the genre, but I definitely recommend you pick it up for the swoony romance. If you haven't started this series already, go out and pick it up now!