Gypsy by Trisha Leigh
(The Cavy Files #1)
Publication date: May 13th 2014
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Inconsequential: not important or significant.
Synonyms: insignificant, unimportant, nonessential, irrelevant
In the world of genetic mutation, Gypsy’s talent of knowing a person’s age of death is considered a failure. Her peers, the other Cavies, have powers that range from curdling a blood still in the vein to being able to overhear a conversation taking place three miles away, but when they’re taken from the sanctuary where they grew up and forced into the real world, Gypsy, with her all-but-invisible gift, is the one with the advantage.
The only one who’s safe, if the world finds out what they can do.
When the Cavies are attacked and inoculated with an unidentified virus, that illusion is shattered. Whatever was attached to the virus causes their abilities to change. Grow. In some cases, to escape their control.
Gypsy dreamed of normal high school, normal friends, a normal life, for years. Instead, the Cavies are sucked under a sea of government intrigue, weaponized genetic mutation, and crushing secrets that will reframe everything they’ve ever been told about how their “talents” came to be in the first place.
When they find out one of their own has been appropriated by the government, mistreated and forced to run dangerous missions, their desire for information becomes a pressing need. With only a series of guesses about their origins, the path to the truth becomes quickly littered with friends, enemies, and in the end, the Cavies ability to trust anyone at all.
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Review:
This was a book where I didn't really know what to expect, but loved every minute of it! I had a hard time putting this down once I started to read about Gypsy's story and was constantly wondering what was going to happen next.
Gypsy has grown up on the old Darley Plantation in South Carolina. She and nine other teens, called Cavies are kept there, educated and tested due to their special abilities. Gypsy has the ability to to touch a person and know the age they will die, her friend Mole can make things burn, Reaper can make a person's blood stop, Haint can disappear. All they have ever known is the confines of their compound and what their Professor and Philosopher has taught them. Their lives all come crashing down when the police show up and shut down Darley. Some of the teens, like Gypsy find that they have fathers or other relatives, others go to group homes. Now in the real world the Cavies have to navigate things like schools and friendships without letting their powers get the best of them and trying to figure out what they really are and who they can trust.
I loved Gypy's character. She has a special gift, yet believes she is not special enough; she wants to live a normal life, but has a fierce loyalty to the Cavies. I absolutely loved how Gypsy related many of her high school events back to Molly Ringwald movies. The premise of this book was awesome, it reminded me a bit of of X-Men, but was not outrightly so. I was really interested in all of the Cavies abilities and wished that they would have been showcased more, especially once their powers grew. I was interested in Gypsy's power, even if she thought that it was useless. Her power is really only used twice within the book. There is of course a bit of a love triangle within the book; however it is not overwhelming and I like how Gypsy handled herself. A lot happens at the end of this book where the Cavies begin to find out who they are and who to trust, it will be interesting to see where the next book is going to go.
This book was provided for free in return for an honest review.
Trisha Leigh is a product of the Midwest, which means it’s pop, not soda, garage sales, not tag sales, and you guys as opposed to y’all. Most of the time. She’s been writing seriously for five years now, and has published 4 young adult novels and 4 new adult novels (under her pen name Lyla Payne). Her favorite things, in no particular order, include: reading, Game of Thrones, Hershey’s kisses, reading, her dogs (Yoda and Jilly), summer, movies, reading, Jude Law, coffee, and rewatching WB series from the 90’s-00’s.
Her family is made up of farmers and/or almost rock stars from Iowa, people who numerous, loud, full of love, and the kind of people that make the world better. Trisha tries her best to honor them, and the lessons they’ve taught, through characters and stories—made up, of course, but true enough in their way.
Trisha is the author of The Last Year series and the Whitman University books. She’s represented by Kathleen Rushall at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Author links:
trishaleigh.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5828387.Trisha_Leigh
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trisha-Leigh/463838867020091
https://twitter.com/trishaleighkc