Review Archetype by M.D. Waters

Archetype (Archetype #1) by M.D.Waters
Publisher: Dutton Adult
Publication Date: February 6th 2014
My rating: 4.5 stars

Introducing a breathtakingly inventive futuristic suspense novel about one woman who rebels against everything she is told to believe.

Emma wakes in a hospital, with no memory of what came before. Her husband, Declan, a powerful, seductive man, provides her with new memories, but her dreams contradict his stories, showing her a past life she can’t believe possible: memories of war, of a camp where girls are trained to be wives, of love for another man. Something inside her tells her not to speak of this, but she does not know why. She only knows she is at war with herself.

Suppressing those dreams during daylight hours, Emma lets Declan mold her into a happily married woman and begins to fall in love with him. But the day Noah stands before her, the line between her reality and dreams shatters.

In a future where women are a rare commodity, Emma fights for freedom but is held captive by the love of two men—one her husband, the other her worst enemy. If only she could remember which is which. . . .

The first novel in a two-part series, Archetype heralds the arrival of a truly memorable character—and the talented author who created her.

 My Thoughts:

Seduce my mind and you can have my body, find my soul and I’m yours forever.—Anonymous

Archetype opens with that gorgeous quote and I find it completely fitting for this riveting story! My emotions were strung up tight and all over the place throughout this read!  I read all 384 pages in one sitting because I could not set this book down. I started the sequel which is the final book immediately after finishing, because I HAD TO KNOW what happens!

Emma wakes up with no memories whatsoever, the only thing she knows is that she’s Declan’s wife. He’s kind and patient, and Emma has no reason to question him, except her inner voice and dreams.  Emma has dreams and nightmares showing another life contradictory to what Declan and Dr. Travista tell her.  She dreams of a Noah, a man who scares her; she dreams of happy times on the beach in the arms of a man who she desperately loves, a man who is definitely NOT Declan. She also dreams of growing up in a Women’s Camp and being treated like merchandise or worse.

Emma questions what she can trust, and struggles as memories and dreams keep coming. Still, everything Declan does seem to show he loves and cares for her and Emma tries to shove everything aside and let the attraction she feels take over, settle into her life and move on. When Emma meets a living, breathing Noah, she knows that she hasn’t conjured up some of these scenarios, and must sort through what is real.

It is really hard to write a review and express my thoughts without spoiling things, but I’ll do my best.

Archetype is set in a futuristic world but one I could easily picture.  We already have the beginnings of some of the science described now, making this world believable to me.  On some levels the type of injustices done to women that are described are happening today, which is completely disturbing and made my skin crawl with the possibilities.

I felt for Emma and she brought out my protective instincts from the get go. I wanted to shield her and punish anyone who dared to harm her!  There were times I wanted to shake her and say “look at the truth in front of you!” but then I’d put myself in her position, and I really couldn’t fault her. Emma really showed strength and courage, and kept it together while I’d probably have been an incoherent, babbling mess! Plus, not is all as it seems to Emma or the reader! For much of the book I thought I had things figured out, and I did have some of it right, but I was surprised and thrown for a loop when all things were revealed.

Declan seems so very nice, patient, and perfect, which immediately stirred my suspicions. Even with my doubts it was evident that Declan did really care for Emma, but this is the kind of book where you suspect everyone, so I was still on high alert. I’m not sure what I could say about Noah without spoiling anything, so I let you figure him out when you read this.

It’s evident from the description there is a love triangle. I DETEST love triangles, but this one did not upset me. I was more upset by the revelations about Emma and how it related to the romance I was rooting for. There is an obvious choice, IMO and I think the reader is steered in that direction throughout much of the book.  I have to say my heart ached for Emma by the end *sniff*.

I can’t write this review without thanking the lovely Lauren @ Love is Not a Triangle for recommending this series to me!  I can’t believe this is a debut novel.  Bravo, M.D. Waters! This story was amazing and I’ve been consumed with it for the last two days! I’m almost done with Prototype.  While this doesn’t end with a cliffhanger per se, I felt very fortunate to have book two on my Kindle so I could start it immediately.