Book Review

Life First is the first book in a thrilling dystopian trilogy that illustrates the “Sacrifice a few for the good of the many” mentality in a truly frightening way.

Life First by RJ Crayton, was released in the spring of 2013 and is book #1 in a really exciting trilogy. A mix of two of my favourite genres, Medical Thriller and Dystopian Sci-fi, Life first had me hooked by the first chapter!

The Premise

Strong-willed Kelsey Reed must escape tonight or tomorrow her government will take her kidney and give it to someone else.

She’ll need the help of her true love, Luke, to make this dangerous escape. This dystopian future Kelsey lives in was forged by survivors of pandemics that wiped out 80 percent of the world’s population. Here, life is valued above all else. The mentally ill are sterilized, abortions are illegal and those who refuse to donate an organ when told, are sentenced to death.

Determined not to give up her kidney or die, Kelsey and Luke enlists the help of a dodgy but brilliant doctor to escape. The trio must disable the electronic tracking chip in Kelsey’s arm for her to flee undetected. If they fail, Kelsey could be stripped of Luke, her kidney and everything else she holds dear.

“The prospect of being the human parts drawer society reaches into to cure its neediest patients would drive anyone mad.” – Kelsey Reed, Life First

My Thoughts

I am totally obsessed with books and movies that give us a glimpse of what our future could look like, particularly if we continue on the path that we have been. The idea that the government can force you to donate organs to strangers for the betterment of society is horrifying. Imagine if humanity decimated most of its population and in order to preserve whatever population remains, you lose control of the only thing that is really yours, your body.

In Life First, the population that live in the FOSS regulated states have better healthcare, education, etc… while the free state of Peoria supposedly live a poorer quality of life. However, Peorians have free will. Because they decided not to allow a government to force its citizens to donate or die, they are believed to have second-rate “everything” At least that is what the citizens of FOSS are brainwashed to believe. Enter Kelsey.

Kelsey donates blood monthly, believes in everything she has been indoctrinated to believe until her best friend experiences an incredible tragedy. Then she starts to question everything. All of a sudden she is marked for donation and her greatest fears become a reality.

This is some hardcore stuff guys! The moral and ethical themes in First Life will make you contemplate things you never thought you would. Kelsey Reed is a fantastic character. She is strong and brave but she is also fearful, nervous and impulsive. She is a person with all of the feelings, faults and good qualities that make her human.

First Life is very well written. It is exciting, nerve-wracking and intense. As I mentioned, the characters are very real and you easily become wrapped up in their story. I enjoyed this book immensely and I can’t wait to continue reading the next 2 books, Second Life and Third Life: Taken. I only wish, I had come across it sooner.

 

Rating… A

 

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