Project Pandora

I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did. See, I really like young adult, mystery, and thriller but I can never find books that have those genres all combined that I actually like. So when I saw the blurb for Project Pandora on NetGalley, my inner antenna went “Hrrmmmm, sounds interesting“. I am glad that I requested the book because it was not what I expected and believe me, that is a good thing.

What you read from the blurb is not even half of what goes on in the book. Not even close. There is so much that is revealed in the book that I don’t even think that the blurb could cover it. I was amazed at how easy it was to switch between the storylines too and how the author made some of the chapters as Dr notes/case studies and the actual storylines. What made it easy to distinguish between the chapters was that the author chose to use each character’s code name at the beginning of the chapter.

I also liked how the kids matched up with their code names. Take Tyler for instance. His code name is Apollo and every single painting/drawing that I have seen of Apollo, he has been a blonde. Which Tyler was. Shannon was a red-head and as was Artemis. Persephone was always shown as a blonde with blue eyes and Elizabeth is a blonde. Hades…..he is always pictured as a dark-haired, pale man and 2 was just that. Again, it is these little details that really made the book for me.

The whole Pandora Project was scary, at least to me, because I have no issues imagining something like this going down. Creating (for lack of a better word) children who will rise to power in the military, goverment…etc is a scary thing. But what scared me, even more, was the description of the sensory deprivation tanks and the horror that Hades and Elizabeth felt when they were going into them. I do wish that more background was given about why the Pandora Project was started. There were hints but nothing that was said outright. Normally, that would have bugged me but seeing that this will be a series, I can’t wait to see what is revealed in the second book.

Hades really gave me chills when I was reading his scenes. He was not a bad person but was being molded into a killing machine (or as he put it “evolving“). The torture that they put him through to change him after he tried to escape was horrendous and I am glad that the author only chose to touch upon it. Electroshock, subliminal messages, mind altering drugs and long stretches of time in a sensory deprivation tank…..no wonder he turned into who and what they wanted him to turn into. But deep down, and this is what got me, there was a small piece of himself that was 2 and a small piece that was horrified at all the killing he did.

Tyler and Shannon were not aware of who they were until almost the middle of the book when Tyler broke free from the “training” he received and realized what he was doing. Shannon was having doubts and finally broke free of her “training” when Tyler was able to break her out of her fugue (for lack of a better word). Elizabeth’s realization came at the end of the book and it was almost too late.

The end of the book was not a happy ending. Oh no, it wasn’t and the storylines were left up in the air. Which I loved. Listen, I like a happy ever after as much as the next person but sometimes a story doesn’t get that. And in this book, it definitely didn’t.

To summarize my reading experience with this book

Project Pandora is not a cute teeny bopper book where everything is all sunshine and rainbows. Instead, it is a dark, gritty book that keeps you on the edge of your seat for the entire book. This is one book that will be going on my must keep shelf and this is also a book where I will be eagerly anticipating the sequel.

How many stars will I give Project Pandora: 5

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Older Teen

Why: Violence and language

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Really suspenseful and original! Teenagers are assassins, but they seem directed by something in their brains. Then they become unaware of what just happened. The characters are quite believable and the situations seem possible. Really liked the book. I definitely want to read more by this author!

With shades of Jason Bourne, morally ambiguous characters, and trained teenage assassins, I absolutely devoured this book in two days.  This is a dark, intense YA read I found difficult to put down.

Although this book is heavy on action, all the characters are captivating and well-developed - but by far, my favorite is Hades.  He's cunning, dangerous, and untrustworthy, but with such a tragic backstory, I dare you not to like him.  He made the book for me.  I've read the author is working on a novella detailing Hades's past - can't wait to get my hands on that one.

Told from four POVs, I'd highly recommend this YA sci-fi/thriller to older teens and fans of espionage, conspiracy theories, and psychological thrillers.  Project Pandora knocked it out of the park.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

“Project Pandora” is a really intense and creative YA sci-fi/thriller. We follow four teenagers who are all part of Project Pandora. Project Pandora grew children in artificial wombs and then raised them to be assassins and politicians. They all have code names from Greek mythology. Hades is the only one who is aware of his role/job, and he suffers greatly psychologically from the physical/emotional abuse and his role as a murderer. The others have varying degrees of anxiety/depression from their dissociative identities which are triggered with specific phrases.

Elizabeth, or Persephone, is a senator’s daughter and expected to behave and dress perfectly at all times. She finds herself drawn to a stranger at a banquet, Hades, and does not want to play her perfect role if it means staying away from him. They become closer and begin to date as things spiral out of control. Shannon (Artemis) and Tyler (Apollo) go to a nearby public school, and they are attracted to each other- unknowing that their extracurricular activities include murdering people together. Things really begin to change as Hades begins to evolve and break free from the reigns of his captors and Tyler is able to resist the assassination brain washing.

In part, the book follows teenage romance, but the bigger part of the book focuses on Project Pandora and the control a group of people have over the teens. We get the idea that this is all a very small part of a much bigger plot, and it seems that this will be continued in a sequel. There is main character death here, which I am including in my review for people who may want the warning! The book is extremely intense and really only appropriate for older teen audiences, mostly because of violence, torture, and abuse.

Overall, I found it enthralling and hard to put down as we follow these four unique but engaging characters on their journeys of self-discovery. Despite the many viewpoints, it was easy to follow and the story unfolds beautifully! I am looking forward to seeing where this series may go in the future.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.