Book Review: Secrets of PEACE, by TA Hernandez

“Her clear, black-and-white views on the Project and its objectives had blurred, and she wasn’t sure yet whether that change was for better or worse.”
“Secrets of PEACE”, by TA Hernandez

I’m delighted to have once again been a panelist for the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2023, and to be taking part in this blog tour celebrating one of the 15 finalists.

My review today is on “Secrets of PEACE”, by TA Hernandez, the fantastic 14th place finalist!

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website or take a peek over on X. BBNYA is brought to you in association with The Folio Society (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group TheWriteReads.

The story:

In a future America that has been ravaged by war, Project PEACE ensures the safety of all citizens through the work of each of its five units. Trained to be the ultimate weapon, Zira is an operative for E-2, the most mysterious, and deadly, of the units. But are the missions she undertakes as part of Project PEACE really protecting the country? Or is there more going on in the outside world than Zira has ever been told?

My thoughts:

I read “Secrets of PEACE” by TA Hernandez as one of the finalists in the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Awards (BBNYA) 2023, and was delighted to see it finish in 14th place among such a strong shortlist!

Project PEACE (Protect, Enforce, Advance, Control, and… Eliminate) was established in 2095, in the aftermath of devastating war. America is now run by the Project, with operatives assigned to one of its five units. Zira, now 18, was assigned to unit E-2 at the age of 11, and has since been honing her deadly skills. The work of unit E-2 is a closely guarded secret, even from the other four units, but it becomes clear when we meet Zira on a mission that she is essentially an assassin.

A mistake on a mission leads to Chairman Ryku, the head of E-2, assigning her a partner — Jared, his top operative. Finally having someone she can talk to completely openly, it’s not long before feelings start to grow between the pair, and we get to see a (slightly!) softer side to Zira.

Following the rules of the project, Zira and Jared’s relationship has to be declared, and they can no longer work as partners. But things go very wrong in Zira’s next solo mission (to eliminate a group of rebels), and she finds herself wounded and a prisoner. As she recuperates, she starts to learn more about life outside the compound, and all is not as perfect as the Project has led her to believe…

This was a fast-paced and exciting book, with the story moving between Zira and Jared’s perspective. I enjoyed getting to know this future world, where it’s clear early on that the Project is, at the very least, hiding many secrets. It was interesting to see Zira’s growth throughout the book as she questioned everything she’d been taught. The book leaves the story with a lot more to tell, and I look forward to seeing what happens to Zira and her friends next. Recommended to all fans of young adult dystopian fiction!

Pages: 273
Published: 24th July 2016
Rating: 🐈🐈🐈.5/5

About the author

TA Hernandez is a science fiction and fantasy author and long-time fan of speculative fiction. She grew up with her nose habitually stuck in a book and her mind constantly wandering to make-believe worlds full of magic and adventure. She began writing after reading J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings many years ago and is now happily engaged in an exciting and lifelong quest to tell captivating stories.

She is a clinical social worker and the proud mother of two girls. She also enjoys drawing, reading, graphic design, playing video games, and making happy memories with her family and friends.