Series: Jinxed #1
Release Date: 9th August 2018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 323
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review.

Synopsis

Lacey Chu has big dreams of becoming a companioneer for MONCHA, the largest tech firm in North America and the company behind the  “baku” – a customisable smart pet that functions as a phone but makes the perfect companion too. When Lacey finds out she hasn’t been accepted into Profectus – the elite academy for cutting edge tech – it seems her dreams are over. Worst of all, rather than getting to choose one of the advanced bakus, she’s stuck with a rubbish insect one.

Then, one night, Lacey comes across the remains of an advanced baku. Once it might’ve been in the shape of a cat but it’s now mangled and broken, no sign of electronic life behind its eyes. Days of work later and the baku opens its eyes. Lacey calls him Jinx – and Jinx opens up a world for her that she never even knew existed, including entry to the hallowed halls of Profecus. Slowly but surely, Jinx becomes more than just a baku to Lacey – he becomes her perfect companion. But what is Jinx, really? His abilities far surpass anything written into his code or built into his motherboard. He seems to be more than just a robotic pet. He seems … real.

Review

When I picked up Jinxed I had expected to really enjoy this book. What I didn’t expect was for this book to completely blow me away, and be one of my favourites of 2018. Amy McCulloch has written a wonderful gripping story, and I absolutely could not put it down.

There were so many things I loved about this book. Lacey Chu is a fantastic protagonist. She’s strong, determined, she works hard and all she wants is to succeed in reaching her dream job at Moncha. I really loved her character, seeing her develop as she ends up at Profectus, bonds with Jinx and meets new people at this prestigious school. There’s an intense amount of character development, and it really made me fall in love with Lacey.

The story is fast-paced and gripping and has definitely left me wanting more. I thought the concept was so fascinating – curing the world’s addiction to smartphones by having a companion with all your smartphone needs built right in. But as always there’s that question – how far is to far? What happens when the robotic pet starts to seem real?

It was such an addictive read and I loved so many things about it, the science and technology, the romance that was a slow burn and didn’t take over from the main story as well as the buzz of the school and its secret goings-on. This book is entertaining and fun and I guarantee you will love it. This has been my first time reading a book by Amy McCulloch (Amy Alward) and it definitely won’t be my last.