My review of Erased

Erased (Altered #2) by Jennifer Rush
Release Date: January 7, 2014
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They thought they had escaped. They were wrong.

After fleeing the Branch with Sam, Cas, and Nick, Anna is learning how to survive in hiding, following Sam's rules: Don't draw attention to yourself. Always carry a weapon. Know your surroundings. Watch your back.
When memories from Anna's old life begin to resurface--and a figure from her childhood reappears--Anna's loyalties are tested. Is it a Branch set-up, or could it be the reunion Anna has hoped for? Ultimately, the answers hinge on one question: What was the real reason her memories were erased in the first place?

Erased is the sequel to Altered with the same beloved science fiction boys and Anna. There's just the same amount of action, possibly even more than the first. We're thrown back into the world of hiding and trying to guess every move of the Branch. An interesting development within the plot line reveals to us that Anna's sister is in fact alive, but if she's good or bad, we do not know.

I am reluctant to say that Erased is better than Altered because I felt like the story line had so much more potential and it simply couldn't beat the high bar set by its predecessor. There was plenty of room for the characters to grow more, possibly find more about them. I liked the fast pace that the book set but wished that it slowed down at time to give more attention to the details that you really want to know about (like the characters.) I wanted more Anna and Sam (I always want more Anna and Sam time but still), and even more about the mysterious and moody Nick, which is why I'm looking forward to the series finale as I trust that Rush will round everything off with a BANG! (A good bang, like a "DAMN THAT WAS AMAZING AND JUST WOW" kind of bang.)

Erased has vaguely rounded off Anna and Sam's story, getting ready to introduce Nick as the story teller in Reborn. I'm looking forward to seeing how he thinks but also how he feels about Anna. Throughout Erased, it's slightly hinted that maybe Nick has an interest in her and I know that many are rooting for this potential romance to bloom. So I will definitely be picking up Reborn to see how it's all played out.

Despite feeling a little disappointed by Erased, I would definitely recommend the story (beginning at Altered) to those who enjoy science fiction and assassins as there are plenty of redeeming qualities that really shine through.

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