Origin

by Jessica Khoury

Pia has always known her destiny. She is meant to start a new race, a line of descendants who will bring an end to death. She has been bred for no other purpose, genetically engineered to be immortal and raised by a team of scientists in a secret compound hidden deep in the Amazon rainforest. Now those scientists have begun to challenge her, with the goal of training her to carry on their dangerous work.
 
For as long as she can remember, Pia’s greatest desire has been to fulfill their expectations. But then one night she finds a hole in the impenetrable fence that surrounds her sterile home. Free in the jungle for the first time in her life, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Unable to resist, she continues sneaking out to see him. As they fall in love, they begin to piece together the truth about Pia’s origin—a truth with nothing less than deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.
 
Origin is a beautifully told, electric new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever. But is eternal life worth living if you can’t spend it with the one you love?

• ISBN10: 1595145966
• ISBN13: 9781595145963
• Publish Date: 17 September 2013 (first published 1 September 2012)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 9 February 2022
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Razorbill
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 424
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781595145963

Reviews

[Artemis]

This book just wasn't for me. I wasn't a fan of the writing or the characters. Also knew the direction this was going to go it and just couldn't. Some books are just like that.

[layawaydragon]

Pia took a while to get used to and get her rolling. They really tried to turn her into a sociopath like them. And boy, did the scientists suuuuuck. I mean scientists have sucked like this before but they didn't even give good reasons for doing the experiment for those that signed up voluntarily.

What is the point of immortality? The better reflexes, blah, blah, blah I can see but living forever? Cuz it's not like we're overpopulated as it is, let's add immortality for the rich that are fucking us over! Fan-fucking-tastic. Living forever would be fucking awful, even if you had all the money in the world. People have a hard time already adjusting with the times, can you imagine an immortal dealing with it? I don't see that going well at all. People really don't think shit through.

And what was with the ants? Perfect example of "because I can" thinking. What happened to them? Sucked into a plot hole apparently.

It's comes off as "man becoming god" anti-science rhetoric but science is just a tool, people are the fucking problem. And basically every scientist in this novel is a fucking problem.

Pia and Eio are insta-loves but I enjoyed their time together. I did like the ending but I don't have any desire to continue as a series. I don't really see the point.

[Joséphine]

Truth be told, I picked up Origin only because I saw the cover of Vitro, which I thought was gorgeous. I loved it the moment I laid my eyes on it and when I learnt that it's the second book in the series, I decided I had to read the first, so I would have a reason to hold the pretty white cover with the test-tube that contains clear blue seawater and and island. Shallow, maybe. But what does it matter if a cover makes me pick up a book? The point of book covers is to make people pick up a book. So yes, I had not idea what Origin was about besides that it's science fiction. I didn't look up reviews, and barely even glanced at the blurb. With that, I started reading, knowing almost nothing about the book. Exciting, right? Hah. And very satisfying too because I ended up reading a mind-blowing book!

Origin is not for the faint of heart. It puts morality into question and also the pursuit of science. Let me back up though before I elaborate on those issues. The main character, Pia, is a 16-year-old girl, going on 17, with one sole dream: to become a scientist. More specifically, a scientist on the board of scientists that has worked over a century to genetically engineer a superior human race. She is the first human truly superior because it takes 5 generations to reach that goal, and that goal is immortal human beings. Pia is that, immortal. She cannot bleed, neither does she fall ill.

What it took to make her immortal is a mystery to her. Dr Paolo Alvez, known to her as Uncle Paolo won't tell her until she is ready to step up to be a scientist herself. She knows that she owes her immortality to a special flower only native to the Amazon rainforest. Also the place she calls her home. Cut off from the outside world, she knows nothing about the people, the countries and the history of the earth. All she knows is that she would be in danger if they knew who she was. Little Cam is where she was born and raised. Little Cam is her haven. Until she finds a hole in the fence and meets the people living in the nearby village. She recognizes that they are not scientifically advanced since they are tribal people but this boy, Eio, seems to know enough to plant seeds of doubts in her mind about the kind of research that has been done to create immortals like her.

The relationship and romance that ensues between Pia and Eio didn't entirely make sense to me. I suppose that is one of the inherent problems behind instalove: there's not enough time given for the characters to get to know each other. Sure, there's the initial attraction but that hardly accounts for why anyone might be willing to put their life down for another. Usually I would've rolled my eyes at least but I was too distracted by the what I deemed to be the main plot. Eio becomes a big part of it but to me, he remained mostly out of focus, a character who drove the plot from the sidelines, so that a conflict could be set up for the main character.

Ultimately, I was really drawn into the book because of the pertinent issues that are brought up. What is the goal of science? How do motivations factor in? Even if the intentions are good, is it right to reach for something that is beyond ourselves? As in the case of Origin, the aim of these scientists is to create immortal humans. Take away death. Sounds idealistic. It also makes for interesting thoughts of whether or not a genetically engineered human truly is human:

Then I remember that I'm immortal and that my body doesn't work like everyone else's. Who knows if I even can feel love?

See, humans aren't just made up of their physical manifestation. There are thoughts and emotions as well that contribute to who were as humans. Then there also comes the sadness of having to see more deaths in one life than anyone ever will:

For these mortal humans, birthdays are a kind of countdown to the end, the ticking clock of dwindling life. For me, birthdays are notches on an infinite timeline. Will I grow tired of parties one day? Will my birthday become meaningless?

Reflections like these called into question the worth of being able to live forever. Instead of a victory, is it a curse more than anything else? At the same time, Pia's motivations are balanced against her reservations. She wants to live with others of her kind, so it's only natural that she aspires to be a scientist.

At some points, I felt myself questioning the science behind the book. I thought some aspects presented more magic than science. After some thought, I decided that it's a good thing. Were it all technical without any form of mysticism, it would've felt too chillingly real because given the accelerated advance in technology, who knows if there aren't some mad scientists trying to gain immortality? Besides, the mysticism ties in well with the Ai'oans, the villager nearby. They have their legends and their prophecies, which science cannot explain.

On a side note, Mitch Albom explores cryonics as an option to preserve life in his fictive work The Time Keeper. Issues like these are important to discuss, I think and I was glad to find this in Origin.

As for morality, talking too much about it would give too much of the plot away but Origin also calls into question the need to be "above morality" in order to engage in scientific research. If the end justifies the means is an overarching theme I found to be well-explored too.

This review is also available on dudettereads.com.

[nannah]

Content warnings:
-animal abuse
-racism
-sexism

(3.5 stars) What really attracted me to Origin was its concept and setting: a girl is made to be the first of an immortal race deep in the rainforest. Sci-fi in a fresh location (at least, in YA fiction)--what could be better? But it didn't take me long to realize that the intriguing science fiction set-up was a clever mask disguising a much simpler and much less original romance-driven fantasy plot line.

Characters:
Pia, the protagonist, is literally born to be perfect. She can't forget or bleed (although she can bruise, which is bleeding on the inside, so unless there's an explanation I simply missed I'm assuming this is a plot hole?). Now, I've seen a ton of people on this site moan about her perfection, but I loved it. It was her flaw, and it made her interesting. I mean, how many self-entitled douche bags of the here-and-now think they're the epitome of perfection without being placed in Pia's situation? I thought this was nice, to be honest. You go, Pia! Yes, at times her attitude bordered on insufferable, but I looked forward to the breakdown of her "I'm perfect because I was made to be" mentality. You had to know it was coming; it's an arc foreshadowed from the get-go.

Eio, the love interest, posed a problem for me, mostly because I wanted to love him so much until it became clear that it was Khoury's intent to have him glide through the plot only as the "incredibly hunky-chested love interest driven only by his love for her." He was basically there to propel Pia's storyline and provide her with a reason to change. He's a plot point, not a character, and as he doesn't undergo any major arcs himself as one of the leads, it seems a bit problematic. Sure, he reacts to certain events as he should (e.g., his father's death), but it's only a reaction, and he's not altered or motivated by them. His whole being and purpose revolves around how he can save/serve the protagonist, Pia, and I feel kind of cheated.

Others
I'm very conflicted in my opinions on the supporting and side characters. For the most part, I liked Harriet, although she seemed a bit scripted (an odd thing to say about someone whose whole being is a series of lines and actions, but I mean her words were so predictable or forcibly charming that I was afraid I'd create wrinkles in this beautiful book from squeezing it so hard). Her whole arc seemed to unfold like an actor who knew her lines too well, even if I do admit I still had interest in her and her character. Like I said: conflicted.

Now, to nitpick to the extreme, I have to say that although Pia's father made me want to jump up and cheer near the end, there was this specific couple of lines that really struck a wrong nerve with me. Pia tries to explain his shyness as though it's something that needs to be explained. As if shyness or awkwardness are negative personality traits caused by some past trauma or drama and are not normal to be had. Again, I'm really being specific here, but it was the way those thoughts were worded that really bothered me.

Speaking of bothersome, those dang scientists. Almost every scientist in Origin was a cliche: cold, heartless, unsympathetic. In short, sacrificing humanity in the name of SCIENCE. (Also, there were too many characters that received names in this book, I think--shoot! who was this again? I kept thinking that, but I was too lazy to flip back and check.)

Setting:
Oh. Khoury, this is where you shine. It's obvious that she did her research, because the jungle came to life with such beauty and vivid imagery. I LOVED the setting, and I would read Khoury's future books just based on the life of her setting imagery, because that is such a huge part of making a story breathe, and she nailed it.

Plot:
Okay, so the plot is clearly fantasy when it's being marketed as science fiction, and though I do love good fantasy, it was annoying to be fooled. But I think Khoury had every intention to make this book fit the sci-fi genre and just didn't realize what sci-fi actually meant . . . or something.

For the plot to work, it really needed to rely on Pia being kept in the dark, but Pia is super intelligent--kind of comes with being born perfect. So why didn't she ever ask any of the important questions? For the sake of plot convenience? I refuse to believe she was so easily duped and manipulated, not someone so smart.

As the emotion and drama heightened in the last quarter of the book, things began to get a little silly. The suspense became nothing but a predictable capture-tag game where Pia turns around only to find her antagonists once again a step ahead of her, using someone she loves as leverage for her to cooperate. And this happened over and over and over.

About the content warnings:
The animal abuse is just ridiculous. It feels as though it's used for dramatic effect only to show how serious things really are (like, really really), and it made me want to scream until I hurled. Animal abuse for special effects? And this is no little matter. It happens a lot more than once, and these scenes are described with great detail. Seriously, if this kind of thing affects you, please don't read.

Regarding racism . . . okay, I understand the need for creating cruel and horrid characters and letting the readers know that they act the way they do because they're frigging disgusting people, but Pia continued to call Eio, the boy she was infatuated with, as her "wild boy," in her thoughts until the end. This I'm not so okay with, because it was presented in a neutral, even positive light. And the whole plot ended up seeming like another "white savior" story (think Avatar).

There were a lot of sexist themes running amok in this book, too, with Eio giving Pia a necklace that basically means she belongs to him . . . without her consent. When this finally comes to light, Pia even likes it. I just didn't see any reason for this. There's also a pretty blatant sexist comment, one that Pia takes no offense to and even regards as complimentary:

"'I will take you back.' he [Eio] repeats in a firmer tone. 'It's not good for a woman to walk alone in the jungle without a man to protect her.'
He thinks I'm a woman. I stand a little taller."

I just . . .

Overall
I realize I tend to be pretty darn critical on reviews, but I did enjoy reading Origin. It had the potential to turn into something much greater than a simple love story, but I don't fully regret the ride. And I applaud Khoury for writing a book with a setting and characters the genre hasn't seen much of. If you like love stories and don't take the plot on the jacket as advertised, then this is an okay read.

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

This review is also posted at Pages Unbound Book Reviews.

Origin is an original debut novel that is on the forefront of the growing fad of genetic engineering but combines the science with a bit of magic. Readers’ reactions to this approach, however, will probably vary until they figure out it is the intended approach.

When the novel opens, the impression is that all will be based on cold scientific fact. So it is jarring when some of the science Khoury carefully explains to add realism to her novel is not quite sound. To start, the scientific community is truly convinced that Pia is immortal. In reality, what they know is that she has impenetrable skin, is very fast, and has lived for seventeen years. She may be immortal, but the use of the word is careless for a scientist. The facility also has immortal rats (i.e. They have rats that have lived a hundred years and who might still die.) Additionally, reactions in rats and humans may vary. Pia could die early or perhaps develop an adverse reaction to her “immortality.”

These details are, in some sense, trivial. Maybe the scientists got excited so they are using words loosely. The rest of their experimental procedures seem sound. The initial explanation of immortality process is, however, downright mystical, seemingly involving a magical flower and a mysterious process no one can properly explain. This is pretty mind-boggling upon first reading—until one continues reading and comes to understand that it is supposed to be mystical, that somehow science and magic are colliding in the book and there are things that can be explained by legend that cannot be explained by reason. Then, everything starts to fall wonderfully into place.

Pia slowly emerges from her cold scientific world into one based as much on the heart as on the head. Her teacher is Eio, an attractive boy from a nearby village, who is in turn loyal, courageous, vulnerable, and profound. No wonder Pia gets all swoony! He acts as companion, guide, and catalyst, and makes Origin as much a romance as it is science fiction.

His purpose is thus divided between winning Pia (and the reader?) over and showing her that there is more to life than can be seen with one’s eyes. He introduces the magic, as he introduces Pia to the villagers—who surprise her by knowing much more about immortality and its causes than her scientists do. Her struggle is to come to terms with the idea that the “ignorant” natives might have a lot of things to teach her, including things about the evil lurking in her own home.

Origin is intensely creative and manages to combine a number of genres with ease. The plot, the characters, and the ideas are strong, making it a fantastic debut.

[Kelly]

Stunning setting, could almost feel the tropics through the description alone. Beautifully written and quite liked Pia, the main character. While I really enjoyed the first half, the second half left me skimming through lengthy dialogue from the 'Natives'. There was too much information all at once.

First half: 4.5 Stars. Loved the build, the development of Pia's character.
Second half: 2 Stars. Dialogue was too lengthy and confusing and tried to explain the motives and vision of the 'Natives' in a few information packed paragraphs.

[Ashley]

booknook — Young Adult book reviews

Origin wasn't a perfect book, but I found it to be a really enjoyable and intense read! I got through it really quickly and was never bored! But that being said, I can completely understand how this is a love it or hate it kind of book. The overall conflict isn't very original, it suffers from insta-love, and I thought there were a lot of plot holes with the science/immortality aspects.

The story of Origin is really cliché. It's like Avatar: really cliché plot about the scientists vs. the natives, but then loaded with creativity. If these kind of "typical" overarching plots bother you, then Origin might not be for you. But personally, cliché plots don't bother me! As long as the story is good and there are interesting elements, I have no problem with a scientists vs. indigenous plotline.

At the beginning, Pia was not at all a likable character. She always talked about how she was "perfect" and "immortal" and "never forgets anything." Any time anyone made a comment like "Did you forget you had this assignment today?" she'd scoff at them and be so insulted that anyone could accuse her of forgetting. Because she's perfect and has a perfect photographic memory. And then she started referring to her wild side as another person. This brought back some unpleasant memories of Ana's "inner goddess" in Fifty Shades of Grey.

Wild Pia whispers that she has no intention of doing so, but I ignore her as best I can. She's brought me this far, and that is enough.
—ARC of Origin, Page 72

I always think it's weird when people refer to a different side of themselves as a whole other person.

Luckily, Pia improved as the story went on. By the end, I didn't love her, but I no longer disliked her. It was more of a neutral, accepting feeling. The romance between Pia and Eio is a little bit of insta-love, but it's not as bad as in some other books. By the end of the story, I think they've known each other for like 2 weeks and they're professing their undying love and risking their lives for one another. As a result, I wasn't totally in love with the romance. I never giggled with excitement or swooned at the thought of it. It was lacking an extra layer of depth and emotion. Not to mention the fact that they're going on about how they love each other when they never even kiss.

I think what stopped me from enjoying this book more is how it seems to be half science, half magic, and I don't usually like that mixture. I love reading about science stuff and believing that it's real, but I had a hard time with that in Origin. I just didn't buy into a lot of the science, and that was disappointing for me. It wasn't believable. And there were a lot of things that seemed downright impossible. For example, the elysia flower is what was used to create Pia—an immortal girl. But the elysia nectar is lethal until it is mixed with a catalyst. But at one point in the book, Pia and several others throw a bunch of elysia flowers into the river—which I assume is a water source for both people and animals. Wouldn't that then kill everyone who drinks from the river? And there were a lot of plot holes or unanswered questions with the immortality itself. What happens if Pia is stuck underwater for an hour? Can she breathe? Does she even need to breathe? What if she never eats? How does her body keep functioning?

I feel like this review has a lot of negativity, so let's focus on the positive things! Despite my gripes, Origin was a really intriguing read with some interesting, intense themes. This book is heavy. It's basically about what people will sacrifice for the sake of immortality. Therefore, we're faced with morals, murder, sacrifice, betrayal, love, and more. This book is also filled to the brim with mystery! Throughout the story, we get the sense that things aren't quite what they seem at Little Cam, but it takes a while to figure out the disturbing truth.

Honestly, this book also made me think a lot about the corporations in our world. How many corporations are out there doing illegal things and getting away with it? How many people just have zero respect for human life and run around killing people and animals like they don't matter? Maybe there is some corporation out in the Amazon trying to figure out the secret to immortality.

I think Origin was about what I expected it to be: a good, interesting read, but not a perfect book and not one of my favourites. It lacked the extra layer of depth and I never felt like I had a full and complete understanding of how the immortality worked. But still, I'm glad I read it!

[Suz @ Bookish Revelations]

Beautifully lush and mysteriously intriguing, Origin brings to life the age old clash between science and nature. Set in the vividly imaginative jungle surrounded by gorgeous landscape, exotic terrains and animals, it's filled with breath-taking romance and incredible dangerous peril. Jessica Khoury sets out to tell an amazing action filled suspenseful shocking adventure sure to engage and captivate readers. Wonderfully bold and deliciously original, Origin is a story that will answer questions with more questions and pique interests that will stay with readers long after the last page has been turned. Evockative and thrilling, Jessica Khoury weaves together a tale that explores the moral delimma's of science versus mankind and spiritual faith, while adding in a hint of the paranormal element so delicately.

Origin's pages are filled with bravery, intrigue, and heartbreaking action filled romance sure to titilate any sci-fi paranormal fan. Khoury brings to life a wonderfully written and developed herione, sure to grab any reader's attention. Pia is an extraordinary character that is likable, easy to connect with, and interesting. It's a wonderful reading experience getting to embark on the journey of self-discovery with her, as the story unfolds revealing dark secrets that have been kept from her and a chance at possible freedom from being so incredibly sheltered for seventeen years of her life. The passion that she exuberates for what she believes is right and wrong, is just as confusing as all of the dark secrets of her true identity and origin that have been kept from her, and yet it's beautifully written and dripping with insurmountable emotion that is just as real and palpable as the air she breathes.

Jessica Khoury explores a dark and terrifying outlook on the manipulation of science to further mankind's lifespan, that is so realistic that at times, parts of the novel was gruesome and extremely dismal. She pens a powerfully stunning story that evokes as much confusion and mystery, that reader's simply won't be able to put it down. The romance is such a wonderful element that helps to lighten the darkness and to push Pia head first into freedom, forcing her to make a decision between what she believes is right and wrong. It's beautiful and wildly imaginative and dripping with suspense. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys well thought out plot driven novels, that explore science versus humanity, and delivers a strong female herione and exciting sub-character's who come with their own stories to tell.