Archetype

By: M. D. Waters

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Introducing a breathtakingly inventive futuristic suspense novel about one woman who rebels against everything she is told to believe.

Emma wakes in a hospital, with no memory of what came before. Her husband, Declan, a powerful, seductive man, provides her with new memories, but her dreams contradict his stories, showing her a past life she can't believe possible: Memories of war, of a camp where girls are trained to be wives, of love for another man. Something inside her tells her not to speak of this, but she does not know why. She only knows she is at war with herself.

Suppressing those dreams during daylight hours, Emma lets Declan mold her into a happily married woman and begins to fall in love with him. But the day Noah stands before her, the line between her reality and dreams shatters.

In a future where women are a rare commodity, Emma fights for freedom but is held captive by the love of two men - one her husband, the other her worst enemy. If only she could remember which is which....

The first novel in a two-part series, Archetype heralds the arrival of a truly memorable character - and the talented author who created her.

©2014 M. D. Waters (P)2014 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Archetype is the literary equivalent of a big-screen blockbuster with its beautiful but deadly heroine, tragic love triangle and grim futuristic setting. The closest thing in print may by Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, but Emma is Offred with mixed martial arts training...Archetype finished with a cliffhanger made even more tantalizing by Dutton's promise to publish the sequel, Prototype, in six months. The prospect has me more excited than the next Hunger Games movie." (Associated Press)

"Emotional involvement powers this absorbing gothic thriller in science fiction trappings." (Publishers Weekly)

"Readers looking for a great thriller with a strong female protagonist mixed with a hint of science fiction should pick this up immediately." (Library Journal, starred review)

One of my ask time favorites

I've listened to this book several times. I love the story. The narrator does a great job also.
This story was so unexpected for me. I can't put my finger on what I love so much about it. But it's a fantastic plot!!
I often find myself scouring for any other books written by this author. She did such a phenomenal job with this book, but does not seem to have done many other books, and that makes me very sad!
If you are out there Mrs Waters, you've got a great talent and I would love to read more from you!!

MINDBLOWING!!!!!

Any additional comments?

Okay, that was absolutely fantastic!!!!! I don't know, this one might be one of the best books I have read in awhile. Author M.D. Waters paints a picture that is all at once mysterious, suspenseful and intriguing. The story reflects around Emma who wakes with no memory of her previous life and has to depend on Declan, her husband, who she does not completely trust for answers. And then there is Noah, a man Emma believes she knows as well, but how does he fit into this bizarre picture? Who is actually telling the truth? Archetype is the type of book that will have your mind spinning. I just did not know who to believe or what was actually going on. Every time I thought I had it figured out the author would throw in another piece to the puzzle and completely mess me up again. When I actually found out what was going on I was completely floored!!!!! This is a spectacular novel from a very talented author that will take you on a ride you will not soon forget........ Just a warning Archetype is the first book in a two-part series and the second book Prototype does not come out until July......I am really not feeling the wait!!!!

interesting

the storyline is interesting. nice little twist there. thought I had it figured out but glad I'm not that smart.
the voice actor could do better with the male voices but she kept the momentum going.
I liked the flash backs or memory recollections. kept me glued to the book to find out more.
I didn't know this was a series book and was pleasantly surprised at the en since I was Yello g at the main character for being stupid. HAHA
one descriptive sex scene didn't need to be in there but is easily skipped over without losing any of the plot or character development.

Will Give You a Good Book Hangover

I've seen slightly mixed (but edging towards the favorable side) reviews on this, so when I saw this available on a BOGO sale at Audible I figured, "Why not?" Ended up listening to it almost immediately (within a day or two of purse) and I was hooked. You've got 'futuristic' elements such as intensive holograms and teleporters, you've got romance, you've got mystery as Emma tries to figure out herself, her dreams, her lost memories of her husband and her life before an 'accident', add a hospital and dystopian world and stir.

I can't give away much, because - you know- spoilers! But my heart ached, physically ached after finishing this book. I was crying, I was so touched and emotional that even my husband was asking me just from one minute on the phone, "What's wrong?" I finished my book and it tore my heart out in the best way- that's what's wrong!

I don't often get a book hangover, but this one left me so raw that I had to balm my soul with some music, and then it turned into an Archetype playlist of sorts... and I had to share:

Going Under ~ Evanescence
Untouchable Face ~ Ani Difranco
Hold On ~ Sarah McLauchlan
Yellow ~ Coldplay
Broken ~ Seether featurig Amy Lee
Ever Fallen in Love (with Someone You Shouldn't) ~ Buzzcocks
Romeo and Juliet ~ Dire Straights
Pictures of You ~ The Cure
In Dreams ~ Roy Orbison

I NEED Prototype (the next book in the series) but I'm fearful of it at the same time. If it cuts me like Archetype did, I may not survive it. Although, death at the hands of a book might be a great way to go...

Good story

This was an intriguing story. I'm looking forward to Prototype. As a psychologist, I'm really interested in the genetic transfer of memories (archetypes).

Reader's choice: social commentary or sci-fi?

If you've read Atwood's Handmaid's Tale, you will sense some similarities with this book... maybe not directly, but there is a similar tone/setting. Waters is much less "literary" than Atwood, however, so you can enjoy the story as a relatively light read if you want... (or you can think more deeply about the underlying women's issues if you so choose). Oh, and it has a "fantasy" component that doesn't exist in the Handmaid's Tale.

I really enjoyed the story - it started off with a lot of gaps in where and what was going on but these were filled in as the story developed. Kinda in parallel with the main character's development, actually; she learned what was going on at the same time the reader did. The story was thoughtful and depressing at the same time... it's fundamentally a fantasy/sci-fi story (the central premise requires a suspension of disbelief) but the human concerns and underlying social issues are very realistic.

The narration was good. There is a bit of sex which was mildly detailed but not graphic and I don't recall much, if any, swearing. There is no overt violence. I will be reading the next book in the series.

Archetype Was A Very Entertaining Sci-fi Book!

What did you like about this audiobook?

I loved the main character and the narrator. She held my interest for the entire story and was very believable in her role. Could definitely watch this as a movie!

How has the book increased your interest in the subject matter?

I already love a good sic-fi movie. This was my first book and I don't regret it!

Does the author present information in a way that is interesting and insightful, and if so, how does he achieve this?

The author told the store exactly how the character would have seen it. Excellent perception and characters. Easy but detailed read.

What did you find wrong about the narrator's performance?

I do not think the narrator had flaws in telling this story. The perfect voice in my opinion.

Do you have any additional comments?

I enjoyed this read so much that I purchased the second, Prototype.

Slow start

It took to chapter 10 to get somewhat interesting and then to chapter 35 to really get going. I only stayed with it because of other positive reviews. I will listen to the next one only because I already bought it when I got this one and I’m invested in the story to see where it goes. Khristine does a wonderful job on narration as always. She is the saving grace!!

Confusing but entertaining

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Expected.

Any additional comments?

Slow start, little hard to follow when the story jumps back and forth and from main story to back story within the same scene. Also, hard to identify characters when names interchange with first and last names specially when there are many characters that come and go or have little part in the story. This was one of the books that you have to try listen in one swoop. If you try to listen or read in parts ( in my case during my 35 min commute) it will be hard to remember if you skip days in between. Overall I finished the book. I liked the SciFi and the futuristic dystopian angle. Midway the book it came clear and with typical ending.
Like I rated 3 stars.

Wow!

This book initially came on slow. It took a little bit for me to grass all of the elements going on. Once I did however and the book came together it was quite a fantastic story. I hope there is a part 2!