'Five Hundred Years Into The Future' and the world has changed. Society is segmented into the 'Centrals', those living with all the conveniences money can buy, the 'Bankers', those living on the banks of the river and barely getting by, and the 'Ferals', those who live wild with nothing but there wits to sustain them. Though different in many ways they all have one thing in common, anyone of them is susceptible to the deadly MalX, get bitten from the wrong mosquito and there is no cure only death.

Living on the banks, Rosie knows all to well the dangers of MalX.She watched her mother die from the disease, the mutated strain that Mother Nature threw down upon the world. That was why she was always careful in her expeditions to the old city, the dangers not being enough to keep her away from her explorations, besides the items she found she sold and they desperately needed the money. But when she found the box, the dark blue metal box with its distinct and somehow familiar icon stamped onto the lid, she knew what she had found was special, what she didn't know was just how many lives were going to be lost because of what she uncovers inside.

Pip wasn't always a feral, all but homeless with only his wits and a fear of the deadly MalX to drive him. He may be nothing but a feral now but was smart and he had a plan for the future, besides being a feral had its advantages too. He was all but invisible to the world and could therefore go places, find out things that others could not, and others were willing to pay for skills like that, others that were restricted by there place in society. Pip got by on the jobs his bosses gave him, but when asked to go after a girl and a box, he had no idea just how life changing that task would be, and not just for him.

Genesis takes you on a journey from the banks of Newperth through the blackness of space all the way to the Genesis colony on Mars. Having triggered a chain of events that will spark an explosive revelation, Rosie and Pip are drawn deep into a mystery that leaves death in its wake. Through the many layers of deceit and deadly encounters they will uncover a truth but at a great cost. For Rosie it was only ever about saving her family, for Pip is was about loyalty to the only family he had left, but when both are betrayed and hundreds of innocent lives become at risk it becomes about surviving long enough to expose the truth. ( )

This was non-stop action and the twists and turns made the story interesting and constantly unpredictable. The only criticism I would have is that Morgan loves her characters so much that she has difficulty letting them go and so the plot is longer than it needs to be. Otherwise a great, enjoyable read. ( )

Overall, this was quite a good book. Rosie was a strong, gutsy protagonist, although I thought she lacked common sense at times. There was action aplenty, especially in the second half of the book where it became quite a thriller, but I felt that it was too long and the sci-fi elements didn't really appeal. Also, the book failed to engage me enough to want to read the next two in the series. ( )

A very interesting book, I actually found myself unable to put it down. Its about a teenage girl living in the future. I found myself very involved with the teenage love story, cringing between the pages. It was very inticing and the suspense of what would happen next always made me want to read more.

The Rosie Black Chronicles: Genesis by Lara Morgan

Our world is a different place 500 years into the future. The Melt has sunk most of the coastal cities and seperated Rosie’s home town, the “Centrals”; the have-nots, the “Bankers”; and the fringe dwellers, the “Ferals”. Rosie’s family are Bankers.

While out with her friend, Rosie discovers an unusual box, she has no idea of the consequences of her discovery. A mysterious organisation wants it – and they’ll kill to get it. Forced to rely on two strangers, Rosie is on the run. But who can she trust? Pip, the too attractive Feral, or the secretive man he calls boss? From Earth to Mars, Rosie must learn the secrets of the box. Before it’s too late

Fast paced and action packed this series will grab the attention of futuristic fans. A good plot line with easy to read language. More in dept details of the background story would have been preferred to enhance characterisation of the ‘badies’. I enjoyed the strong female character, in a world of everything needing to be written for boys. The ending of the book leaves the reader wanting more, and I am sure the Trilogy will be a hit. ( )