Review of Possession

Possession by Elana Johnson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Description from Goodreads: Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself. 

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn. 

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.


My thoughts:
I love the idea behind the story. A dystopian society where people are controlled into behaving. They plug into transmitters at night telling them how to conserve the environment, help others, and be productive citizens.

Violet is an uncontrollable young woman. She stops plugging in, she likes to think for herself, but she has a hard time obeying the overly strict rules. She finds herself imprisoned for walking in the park after dark with a boy. He is her match, so it shouldn't be too bad.

This book is dystopian with a bit of a paranormal twist. Technology is in abundance as well as mind control. Violet is a natural at using mind control plus she can control technology. She is wanted by the ruling government and the factions fighting against the government. She is a hot commodity and the opposing forces are trying to sway her to work for them.

Of course, she meets Jag, the bad boy. Develops feelings for him while still harboring feelings for her match, Zenn. She has to come to terms with her abilities and her feelings. Plus there are more emotional twists in the book that I won't go into, it might be a bit of a spoiler.

The problem that I had with the story is that it gets confusing. It is hard to follow the author's transitions into other parts of the story. I think that she also gets a little over descriptive, also another distraction to the flow of the story.


I hope that there will be more books. I don't want the ending to be the ending. Just another transition to a different part of the overall story.

I received a copy to review from Simon and Schuster's Galley Grab.  The book release date is June 7th.