Heather Beveridge was a guest on my blog a few weeks ago with Mutate, the first book in a trilogy, which she wrote under the pen name of Hetty Waite. If you missed it, you can read it here. I’ve just finished the book and wanted to share my review with you.
Here is the blurb:
In the city of Galex, all that matters is your genetics.
Living with a virus that only affects the Y chromosome, men – Ys – are at risk of death or mutation and considered too dangerous to live freely. Women – Xs- rule the city.
Cara must navigate a world where the one she loves is considered a deadly enemy. With her sister Myla in charge of Galex and driven by a hatred of Ys, Cara has a dangerous secret. If discovered, it will not only destroy her relationship with her sister, but will threaten the life of the Y she loves.
Brown has spent his life enslaved, knowing he could mutate at any moment. After seeing his best friend killed, he volunteers for a deadly mission.
He is soon to face a difficult decision: protect Cara and sacrifice her sister, or betray his fellow Ys and place all his loyalty in the hands of an X.
My review:
I’ve read lots of YA books and Mutate is every bit as good as books such as The Eve of Man and Divergent. I found myself rooting for the main protagonist, Cara, and hoping a cure could be found for the virus. Heather has created a truly evil antagonist in Cara’s sister, Myla, and as the tension mounts, it’s clear she’ll stop at nothing to get her way. Add in some fearsome monsters and it’s a compelling read. I really didn’t know how things were going to go.
I read before I go to bed, and I found myself reading just one more chapter into the night. It was so gripping and I was so swept up in what was happening to these characters. The downside? I now have to wait until the summer of 2025 before book two comes out. I thoroughly recommend Heather’s book.
Esther Chilton 
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