Secrets of PEACE | By T A Hernandez
BBNYA 2023 Finalist | TheWriteReads | Blog Tour | Dystopian fiction | Book Review
Synopsis :
Nearly 30 years ago, the PEACE Project rose from the ruins of a global war to take power over a new America. Providing stability in exchange for absolute authority, the Project controls every aspect of citizens’ lives through each of its five units:
Protect
Enforce
Advance
Control
EliminateRaised in the Project since infancy, eighteen-year-old Zira has been trained as an assassin under the stern guidance of unit E-2’s Chairman Ryku. After she makes a careless mistake on an assignment, the chairman partners her with Jared, the best operative in her unit. Their partnership transforms into friendship as they work together and learn to rely on each other. But when misinformation causes a solo mission to backfire, Zira’s deepest loyalties and strongest relationships are tested in a place where even a hint of doubt can be perceived as treason.
The life she knows is falling apart, and nothing will ever look the same again.
My thoughts
Narrative and Plot
Secrets of PEACE is your classic dystopian institutionalized trope where the hero who follows the rules of this society finds out who she really is and is forced to make a decision.
While the premise and world-building of the story are entertaining enough, this one didn’t stir enough emotions in me as a reader. The stakes were definitely high for the characters. However, there needed to be a bit more emotional build-up to find that deeper connection with the characters.
Characters and Conflicts
Zira and Jared are the two main leads of the story. Zira is your protagonist and her character has an effective external arc. However, we never get an insight about her other than who she is according to her profession. It seemed, for the most part, that work was the only thing that governed her life. Because of this, there is a lack of emotional connection between you and the reader. Naturally, you do not feel much for her when things go wrong and the tables turn.
The conflict was quite predictable and, apart from the obvious, there was nothing more that was brought to the table.
Conclusion
Overall, Secrets of PEACE was a quick one-time read for me. However, I am curious to know how this story would end and would love to read the sequel. If you want to get into a dystopian society with shady secrets and the protagonist questioning their existence, you can give this one a try, but keep your expectations checked.
I received a copy of the book from TheWriteReads in exchange for an honest review. This review is published in association with TheWriteReads blog tour for the BBNYA finalist 2023.
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