Twenty years after the great drought of 2020, citizens in California and across the United States live under the government’s watchful eye. In this age of intrusion, competition for resources and jobs is fierce. One mistake can be disastrous.

Maggie, Jasmine, Sydney, and Lena are strangers with one thing in common: they each have nothing left to live for. All these women need is a fresh start, but they’ll find the cost is more than they could ever have imagined. A secretive biogenetics company offers them a mysterious serum that promises to change their identities, giving them great fortune and power. Is such a serum too good to be true?

The women find that their new success draws them into a world of rivalry and blackmail, and by the time they discover the truth about the serum, it’s too late. The evil scientist who created it only cares about money, regardless of how many people get hurt.

After reuniting for follow-up testing, the four women realize their only choice is banding together to stop testing of the serum. They’re watched from every side, but they must try to salvage what little is left of the humanity of Earth.

Available on Amazon.

 

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my ooewn and completely unbiased.

Identity is about the near future and what could easily happen, but hopefully not. Resources are low, jobs are difficult to keep, and the government knows everything about everyone. Optimal offers a new identity to people who have hit bottom. They have a drug that helps transform people into what they want to be and it gives them more confidence at the same time.

The current group is Maggie, Jasmine, Sydney, and Lena. Things dramatically change for them but they eventually learn that something that seems so good comes at a price. Will they be able to save themselves and everyone else from an evil man who will do anything for money and power?

It was a little difficult to follow at times because of the multiple characters. With so many characters, they weren’t as well developed as I would have liked.

Identity has a good premise and was a pretty good read. It would be much better with a good edit.

 

About the Author

Cynthia Kumanchik is the author of several young adult and women’s novels. She attended the University of Missouri–Columbia, graduating with a degree in journalism. She is a marketing and public relations professional. Cynthia lives with her husband in Pasadena, California.