Audiobook Review: Variant by Robison Wells

Variant
Variant #1
Author: Robison Wells
Reader: Michael Goldstrom
Reading Level: YA
Run-time: 8 Hrs & 5 Mins
Published: October 4th 2011
Review Source: HarperAudio
Available: HarperCollins

Summary: (from goodreads) Benson Fisher thought a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.
He was wrong.

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.

Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

My thought on the audio portion first: Once again I have a Male POV reading the book. This time it was easier to follow the story. The reader Michael does a good job. In the beginning its feels a little slow but then his voice picks up speed just like the story does. I don't have complaints on how Michael read the book for the most pat. Some of the pronunciations were a little off for me, but that can just be my personal hearing or how I personally sound a word out. Overall the audio is great and really do mesh with the book. 

My review for the actual story now: Variant like I mentioned started off a bit slow for me in the beginning. Was it because I was listening to it instead of reading, that I'm not sure. Then Variant picked up speed and if you didn't have your seat belt on, you would have been thrown from the car. Variant kept me on the edge of my seat literally since most of the audio I listen to in the car and at time I'm sure I might have been speeding. The intensity is incredible. Variant is not a book that will let you doze off while you read it. 

Hopefully if you read Variant you are not in a boarding school, because after reading this book if you are, I can see you running for the hills. Variant follow Benson, a young guy who gets a scholarship to a boarding school called Maxfield Academy. Benson is kinda pleased with this notion, he feels he will be ale to start a new life in a new school with students who are well off. Benson can't be any further from the truth. Benson finally arrives at Maxfield and what if I tell you this school has no adults, wire fencing and camera all around. You are basically trapped inside once you cross in. Benson is given a crash course on how the system works inside the school, one wrong move and it might cost you your life. You can only imagine now what is running inside Benson's head. Just when Benson begins to figure things out on how to perform daily and the whole teams or gangs in school, he discovers the real truth. That hope Benson had at escaping just might have gone up in smoke. 

If you enjoy thrillers or Dystopian reads, then this book or audio needs to be in your pile. I think anyone that picks up Variant and begins to read eventually will be suck in with Robison excellent writing. Robinson created and masterfully plotted every scene out. If I had the time in my reading scheduled I would definitely read Variant again. Also what a crazy cliff-hanger to leaving you wanting book 2 already. Well done!