Review: Delete

Author: Kim Curran
Series: Shift, #3
Released: March 31st 2015
Publisher: Xist Publishing
Length: 352 pages
Source: Publisher for review
Buy: Amazon

The country is at war. Beset by enemies within and without. And all because of the decisions changed by one boy, Scott Tyler. In this ravaged alternative world, Scott hardly recognizes himself. He's a war hero, a leader of a unit of Shifters and maybe the only one who can prevent the country's frail defenses from crumbling.

But all Scott wants to do is find a way back to the reality he knew, without losing the girl he loves. With every Shift he makes, Scott edges closer towards oblivion. With no one to trust - not even himself - how much is he willing to risk to get home? 

Once upon a time, there was a lovely imprint called Strange Chemistry. It was small, but reliable, and it always published the very best titles. But these days, quality often isn’t enough, and overnight, Strange Chemistry simply stopped existing. Everything about this was a tragedy, but no one suffered as much damage as Kim Curran and several other authors whose books were set for release. Delete was meant to be out ages ago, but with the disappearance of its publisher, this wonderful conclusion to Curran’s Shift trilogy was pushed back until Kim decided what to do with it. Now it’s finally out and we can say goodbye to Scott and Aubrey.


I have to admit to forgetting some details from Control, and especially from Shift (and who could blame me after all this time), but it didn’t take me long to remember them all and fully rejoin Scott’s magnetic tale. Just like its two predecessors, Delete is filled with excitement, danger and adventure, but the stakes are higher than ever before, and Scott, although much more powerful, is just a little bit lost.

There are traces of the nature vs. nurture debate subtly interwoven in this story. Scott can change his (and everyone else’s) reality in a single blink, but the Scott he finds in the new reality isn’t always the one who made the Shift. People are different in these parallel universes, defined by their circumstances, but can they truly change who they are inside? And can Scott rely on his past experiences when making judgments and accusations?

Shift could just as easily be a trilogy for adults since these kids have adult responsibilities and live very adult lives. On the one side, these books are fast and entertaining, but on the other, they are very mature. And I don’t mean that they aren’t suitable for a younger audience – they most certainly are. I just mean that they have many layers and they can satisfy even a more demanding reader.

Nothing is certain when you can alter your reality from one second to the next, but I liked where we left Scott and Aubrey and I really hope they’ve found the right path for them. This is a fast-paced, action-filled trilogy perfect for when you need some excitement. I highly recommend it.

A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review.