We embark on a coming of age fantasy story in 'TTEO: Take The Emotion Out’ by Ren Laws. 18-year old Brissy is gearing up to embark on the next stage of her life; finishing up her A levels with the aim of going to university. She tries to fit in and appear as normal as possible, but when the things that make her unusual turn out to mean something bigger than she ever could have imagined, the fantasy adventure begins. I like Brissy, from the start she’s an endearing and warm character with lots of similar concerns to readers of her age. I also like the way that the book begins focusing on the mundane, getting us settled in the world of A Levels and university offers, before the fantasy elements are slowly introduced. I personally feel that the writing could do with a little bit more polish, at times it was a little bit repetitive - Bus said three times in one paragraph on p. 17 and lake and water repeated twice in a similarly short space of time on page 16 - but when I became immersed in the story I found this didn’t really detract from the action. I found the plot of ‘Take The Emotion Out’ action-packed and entertaining, the ending leaving you eager to see what happens in future books. An enjoyable and quick read for fans of YA Fantasy.
The book charts the story of 18-year-old Brissy Jayne Yah. All she wants is to go to university and start her new chapter. Brissy does not want to dwell on the unusual things about herself, she just wants to be a normal teenager. When she finds out that she is a Gene Bearer – a Mutata. Brissy is forced to face the reality of just how different she is from the average person. She is about as far from normal as she can get. Dangers unfold as she starts to understand what it means to be a Mutata. She is a target for Acadia and Zraykus, two rogue organisations with quite different agendas. One wants to use her to further their goals of establishing Gene Bearers as superior to the rest of humanity. The other sees her as a genetic defect that should not exist, they want her dead. Soraya, Brissy’s Mutata Guardian helps her to navigate her new reality and her developing capabilities. It soon becomes apparent that Brissy is unique even amongst the Mutata. Her combination of capabilities is unusual, and the speed at which they are developing unprecedented. She must work with Martha, her Overseer to gain control of her capabilities. Trouble is, Brissy does not trust Martha. Martha was responsible for maintaining a block on Brissy’s memory that prevented her from remembering the events of the night her mother was killed. As Brissy’s capabilities grow, she fears that she will lose herself to whatever it is she is transforming into. The love of her foster family, especially her closeness to her foster brother Marcus help to keep her grounded. There are also her deepening feelings for Kade, as she allows herself to go with the flow in their developing relationship. When Brissy reads a letter left by her dead mother, she gets a disturbing glimpse into her family background. The letter reveals a shocking revelation that floors Brissy. She is left with little choice but to agree to meet with her grandfather. The very man who hunted her mother for most of her life, kidnapped her, and gave her a terrible choice to make. Brissy’s biggest fear is that she will turn into something unrecognisable to herself, something to be feared. That she will lose the love of her family, and the love of Kade as they realise what she is capable of. She desperately clings on to the hope that her capabilities can be used for good, to make the lives of those around her better. But her capabilities can also be a weapon, she can kill. Brissy prays that she can cope as it becomes clear that her journey and the challenges she will face are just beginning. She must cope and stay true to herself as she walks her true-life path. This fast pace urban fantasy will have you engrossed and turning the pages. The characters are wonderfully diverse, and they come to life with the developing story. Readers are thrown a curve ball with plot twists that are both intriguing and a genuine surprise. The book ends on a cliff hanger. The good news is that Brissy’s story continues in Book 2 which is expected to come out in 2022.
