Review: Archetype by M.D. Waters

Goodreads Summary:

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.

Publication Date: February 6, 2014

Archetype was an incredibly original and suspenseful novel that I highly recommend you put on your to be read lists. It has been days since I finished the book and I honestly can’t stop thinking about it. I don’t know how I’m going to wait months and months for the sequel to be released.

Archetype starts out in a similar way as Before I Go to Sleep—the narrator has lost her memory and is reliant on her husband to guide her. The beginning could’ve been slow as Emma becomes acquainted with her environment, but the author kept things interesting by including dreams that Emma has—nightmares that could be memories of a former life she had.

There was such a strong sense of dread reading Archetype. I suspected something horrible was going on, but wasn’t able to fully figure out what had happened to Emma. Many of the big reveals were surprises and I also liked being exposed to the futuristic society gradually as Emma starts to learn what it means to be a woman in the dystopian future.

I liked Emma and she had great chemistry with both men in the book: Declan and Noah. The relationships were complex and Emma’s feelings for the men left her conflicted and I could empathize with how she had to rely on herself since she questioned the intentions of every one around her. I didn’t expect the sci-fi elements and although science fiction themed books can be hit or miss for me, I really enjoyed the direction the author went during the final third of the novel.

I honestly can’t rave enough over how incredibly original and well-written Archetype was. I loved every second and with the shocking ending, the sequel Prototype is definitely one of my most anticipating reads of next year.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book for review!