Unremembered by Jessica Brody (review)

Found adrift among the wreckage of a fallen aircraft, Sera has no memory of who she is, how she got there, and how she survived the crash, and she is whisked away by social services to a foster home until they can find out who she is. Once settled, she realizes that not only does she have no memories of a personal past, but that her experience and understanding of ordinary things, like malls and the internet, are missing as well. She also discovers that she is a mathematical genius, knows several languages, and is freakishly strong. Her geeky younger foster brother is suspicious of her beauty and talent, but she enlists his help in trying to sort out who she might be. Between their efforts and the intermittent appearance of a boy called Zen, who sparks a physical reaction in Sera whenever they meet, she begins to find clues about a company called Diotech, but not before several people with clearly malicious intent are on her trail. Zen holds all the keys to unlock her story, but he is pulled away from her, so the reveal is parlayed through a cast of characters from what turns out to be her future. Pace and premise are the major draws here; serial captures and escapes propel the action forward as the story of Sera's genetically engineered existence unfolds along the way. Though the romance between Sera and Zen is pretty sappy, love that transcends time, circumstance, and the designs of evil scientists has undeniable appeal, as does the speculative treatment of the possibilities of engineered humanity. Readers who like their science fiction mixed with classic romance tropes will want to brave the dangers along with Sera and Zen.