Cipher (The Shadow Ravens, #1)

by Aileen Erin

Alone and on the run, Cipher doesn't talk about her secrets, her powers, or the people chasing her. She can’t let anyone get that close. At least, she shouldn’t.

Knight is working undercover for the bad guys. He’s done things that have marked his soul, but it’ll all be worth it if he can save the girl who means everything to him—the girl who saved his life by putting herself in danger. It’s been twelve years, but Knight knows she’s still alive, and he’s made it his mission to find her and keep her safe.

When Knight finally catches up to Cipher, electricity sparks. He’s crazy gorgeous, stupid brilliant, and begging to lift the burden from Cipher’s shoulders. Can she really trust him with her secrets? With her life?

She doesn’t have long to decide, because Knight isn’t the only who’s been looking for her. Now Cipher can’t run without leaving him behind. What good is being together if they’re both dead?

• ISBN10: 0989405087
• ISBN13: 9780989405089
• Publish Date: 31 October 2014
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Ink Monster
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 330
• Language: English

Reviews

[Silvara]

Check out my other reviews, discussions and link ups at Fantasy of the Silver Dragon.

The story is told in alternating chapters between Cipher and Knight's point of views. I pretty much fell in love with the book from the first pages. Totally the kind of book where I started reading it, and didn't put it down again until the book was over.

I loved Cipher. Besides having power over electricity, she's a total bad-ass hacker. A smart-mouth red-head (though her hair was blue for most of the book). She isn't perfect, far from it. She can't actually control her electricity power, and has moved near-constantly since she was 8-ish because of this. Her evil uncle has been tracking her since her parents died, and she's been on the run ever since. She also has the abused-child mentality of not understanding why anyone would want to stick their necks out for her. Even as she tries her hardest to protect the very few friends she's managed to make against her better judgement.

Knight was also another love at first read character. He was funny and caring, smart and also a tech-nerd. He'd spent 10 years trying to track down Cipher after she saved his life when they were kids. The secondary characters were nicely fleshed out as well. I liked Dex and Oliver and Mona. I'm hoping we get to actually meet The Lady in the next book.

There were lots of action packed scenes, as well as stealth and intrigue, and a dash of romance. I loved the world, and the bits and pieces of how it works that we picked up. I want to learn more about the other helixes and how the Shadow Ravens have managed to stay hidden so long. I'll be picking up the next book as soon as it's out, and if you haven't read this book yet I highly recommend you do the same!

This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon

[Angie]

Cipher is an exciting, Sci-Fi, New Adult Romance set in the distant future starring a female hacker! Cipher, as the gaming community knows her, doesn't get close to people. Physically she can't because of her power to attract and dispel electricity (she's fried her fair share of computers). But she's also been on the run since she was eight years old because her uncle and the Black Helixes are after her. At birth, Cipher was marked as a Red Helix, meaning she has unstable DNA and was destined for death. She avoided that fate until she killed a man, revealing her unusual ability. Twelve years later, she's still hiding out, but someone else is looking for her.

Cipher had me hooked from the beginning! I don't think I had read about a lady hacker before, so that was a lot of fun. Cipher is looking for information on the Red Helixes in super secret government files, which might be the only way she can continue surviving or it just might get her killed. But Cipher doesn't know that she's also a Shadow Raven, part of a secret rebel group that rescues other girls marked for death. At least until a blast from the past in the form of super sexy Knight storms into her life. She saved his life as a kid, and now he's out to save hers. Neither expects to fall in love in the process.

I just really enjoyed Cipher. It's different than other Sci-Fi/Paranormal Romances I've read before. The plot is really strong as Knight attempts to bring Cipher to safety and she seeks revenge on her evil uncle. The romance never got insta-lovey or melodramatic, probably because the characters already knew each other from before. There's a ton of non-stop action, explosions, car chases, helicopter chases, and evil scientists! It's just great!

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