Solid - Shelley Workinger

Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except the living, breathing, human products of his work.

Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed “open-book” military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes - its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air ‘athletes’; ‘indies’ as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance.

While exploring her own special ability, forging new friendships and embarking on first love, Clio also stumbles onto information indicating that the military may not have been entirely forthcoming with them and that all may not be as it seems…

I LOVE discovering new authors!  Shelley Workinger is a self-published author whose debut YA novel, Solid, was first available last year.  It is a sci-fi romance and is fabulous.  I think sometimes sci-fi gets a bad rap - we picture "geeky" people in Star Trek suits making the "live long and prosper" sign and not being able to integrate into regular society.  However, I've found in the last few years that it really is my favorite genre.  The premise pf this story reminded me a bit of Olivia's story on the TV show, "Fringe" - which I love! - but is not quite the same.

I think I have a bit of a weakness for boarding school romance and this definitely had that.  These teens (all gorgeous) are shipped off to a custom-made boarding school and attempt to access and hone their abilities - most of which they are unaware of how to use or even know what they are.  Clio immediately makes some intriguing new friends and they band together to try and find out what is really going on behind the scenes.

My only complaint with the story was that it was so short!  It is definitely a fast read.  You'll be turning pages quickly and the book is only 222 pages to begin with!  It was somewhat steamy yet clean, it was fun, it was exciting, it was romantic, and it didn't leave me with a horrible, cliff-hanger ending!  :)  Even with the nice resolution, there is still a question of what will happen next and I am left really looking forward to the sequel, Settling, which will be coming out sometime later this year, and then of course Sound, which is scheduled to come out in 2012!

This author is definitely one to watch!

Visit solidnovel.com and the Solid facebook page for more on the books and the author - including some chapter sneak peaks!

Thank you to Shelley Workinger for providing an ARC!