Title: H.A.L.F.: The Deep Beneath

Author: Natalie Wright

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Age Group: Young Adult

Rating: 4 stars

Purchase: Amazon

Review copy provided by Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.

H.A.L.F. 9 has taken his first breath of desert air and his first steps in the human world. Created to be a weapon, he proved too powerful for his makers, hidden from humans and sedated. But H.A.L.F. 9 has escaped the underground lab he called home, and the sedation has worn off. He has never been more alive. More powerful. Or more deadly.
Erika Holt longs to ride her motorcycle east until pavement gives way to shore. She bides her time until graduation when she’ll escape the trailer she shares with her alcoholic mother and memories of her dead father. But a typical night in the desert with friends thrusts Erika into a situation more dangerous than she ever imagined.
Circumstances push the two together, and each must make a fateful choice. Will Erika help H.A.L.F. 9 despite her “don’t get involved” rule? And will H.A.L.F. 9 let Erika live even though he was trained to kill?
The two may need to forget their rules and training if either is to survive the dangers of the deep beneath them.

This was an interesting read. H.A.L.F: The Deep Beneath is the first book in a trilogy, and it sets the mood nicely. We’re introduced to H.A.LF. 9, who was created to be a weapon yet ended up being too powerful and impredictable. His makers kept him sedated, but now the sedation has worn off, and he’s more alive and deadly than ever before. As a hybrid, only half-human, H.A.L.F 9 makes an interesting character. The author does a great job portraying him, his choices, and why he chooses to be anything but what he was meant to be – a killer.

Erika Holt and her friends run into H.A.L.F 9 by accident during a night out in the desert. When things go dire, H.A.L.F 9 — Tex — shows up to save Erika and her friends. Erika feels a strange connection toward the hybrid, who struggles to escape from the Commander, who wants him back, no matter what it takes. Tex and Erika had an interesting bond, and I can’t wait to see how it develops in the second book.

The characters are strong, in particular Erika. She didn’t have a great childhood, what with an alcoholic mom, but she has a lot of strength. Tex is intriguing too, because you never quite know how he’ll react.

The book starts out with a bang, and it keeps on going right until the end, fast-paced all the way through. If you like scifi, give this book a shot. I for one, am curious about the sequel.