RMS Review: H.A.L.F.: The Deep Beneath by Natalie Wright

Title: H.A.L.F.: The Deep Beneath
Author: Natalie Wright
Published: 29 January, 2015 
Rating:

H.A.L.F. 9 has taken his first breath of desert air and his first steps in the human world. Created to be a weapon, he proved too powerful for his makers, hidden from humans and sedated. But H.A.L.F. 9 has escaped the underground lab he called home, and the sedation has worn off. He has never been more alive. More powerful. Or more deadly.

Erika Holt longs to ride her motorcycle east until pavement gives way to shore. She bides her time until graduation when she’ll escape the trailer she shares with her alcoholic mother and memories of her dead father. But a typical night in the desert with friends thrusts Erika into a situation more dangerous than she ever imagined.

Circumstances push the two together, and each must make a fateful choice. Will Erika help H.A.L.F. 9 despite her “don’t get involved” rule? And will H.A.L.F. 9 let Erika live even though he was trained to kill?

The two may need to forget their rules and training if either is to survive the dangers of the deep beneath them.

“I was designed to be a weapon, Erika Holt. I was not trained to feel regret for killing.”



This was an interesting YA sci-fi story, and I liked the action.

Erica was a good character, and I liked how she was willing to sacrifice herself to save her boyfriend and her best friend. Offering yourself up to be raped in order to stop your boyfriend and best friend from being killed is certainly heroic.

“Look, it’s dark out. They haven’t seen your faces. You’ve got me. I’ll go with you. I’ll do whatever you want. Just… just don’t kill them.”



HALF 9 was a more difficult character to understand, and I did find his chapters a little awkward at points, but I think that was the author’s way of showing that he was different, and thought differently to normal people though, so in that respect she did a good job.

“I am the weapon,” H.A.L.F. 9 said.



The storyline in this was pretty good, and I liked the sci-fi angle. There was lots of action, lots of bad guys, and lots of sticky situations!

“Temporal translocation,” Sturgis said. Her voice was a whisper. “I’d never considered this as a potential ability. It’s inconceivable. It’s… can you do it?”



There was a tiny bit of romance, but not a lot, although I do wonder if we have a little bit of a love triangle possibly developing here.

“Remember me?” he asked softly. “I’m trying to forget you Jack Wilson.”



The ending to this was good, but certainly left us with plenty of questions still to be answered, and these kids possibly being in even bugger trouble! It will be interesting to see what happens in the next book!Review submitted by Sarah Elizabeth, RMS Reviewer.