(extra)ORDINARY: A Young Adult Sci-Fi Dystopian Novel

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at first when I saw *another* ‘teen assassin with amnesia’ premise—but (extra)ORDINARY won me over by refusing to play it safe. Davies’ Bianca isn’t a plucky underdog; she’s a weapon who *likes* being good at killing, and that moral ambiguity makes her compelling. The story’s first act is disorienting in the best way, mirroring Bianca’s fragmented mind, though I’ll warn listeners that the initial worldbuilding dump (via training montages) feels a bit clunky in audio. Once the plot kicks in—around Chapter 5—it’s a white-knuckle ride, especially when Bianca’s past collides with her present in a way that had me rewinding to catch details. Shelton’s performance is stellar, particularly in how she handles the duality of Bianca’s voice. Her delivery in fight scenes is almost mechanically calm, while her softer tones during flashbacks make the emotional whiplash hit harder. My only critique? The male voices occasionally blur together—minor characters like the Paragon agents lack distinct cadences—which can be confusing during rapid dialogue exchanges. The production quality is flawless, though, with crisp audio and no distracting edits. What sticks with me most is how the book subverts expectations: the ‘twist’ isn’t a bombastic reveal but a slow unraveling of complicity, and the ending (no spoilers!) leaves room for sequel bait without feeling cheap. If you love dystopian with psychological grit—think *Red Rising* meets *Black Mirror*—this’ll grip you. Just be ready to sit with some uncomfortable questions about agency and consent.