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Girl on Fire #1

The Butterfly Code

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My name is Aeris Thorne. I am a genetically modified human.

PAINFUL SECRETS.
STARTLING TRUTHS.
UNDENIABLE LOVE.


All it took was a chance meeting--one tingling glance across a darkened street to change my life.

I'd been searching for my two best friends in the crowded Zenith Club, which was a really bad idea because I'm totally claustrophobic.

I burst outside, and that's when I came face-to-face with the incredibly gorgeous Hunter Cayman. Dark-haired, tall, and leaning against an insane sports car, my pulse went haywire. Maybe things weren't so bad after all. The young doctor had his long muscular arms crossed over his leather jacket clad chest, and all his six-foot something would make any girl's knees turn weak. But then, if what Ella said was true, Hunter was the kind of guy who left behind a trail of broken hearts. And heartache was the last thing I needed right now.

Yet there's something strange, something almost superhuman about Hunter. It's more than that infuriatingly knowing grin. I'm trying to stop thinking about him, and I get the feeling he's avoiding me, too. Yet Deep Cove is a tiny town and every time we run into each other the tension literally crackles, sparking around us. It just figures that when suddenly I'm in danger, he's there to save me.

In truth, I should be dead. By all the logic in this world, I should be shattered to pieces. How fast was I going on that ATV when I smashed into those iron gates? Ninety? A hundred? And the men who were chasing me, where did they go?

Somehow I'm whole.

Maybe better than whole.

There's no one I can talk to, not even my best friend, Gage. Gage hates Hunter. He wants Hunter's laboratory to be shut down. He thinks Hunter's a monster. And yet, if that's true, if Hunter's a monster...than what am I? I'm not sure what terrifies me more, the metamorphosis taking place inside me, or the intensely powerful connection with a guy whose heart and soul has become linked with mine.

346 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2015

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About the author

Sue Wyshynski

8 books85 followers
Sue Wyshynski's writing style has been described as immersive, emotional, and action-packed.

According to Sue, "Writers must do more than write; they must try to speak to the hearts of the world."

Sue wants to connect with you.
@suewyshynski
facebook.com/authorsuewyshynski
www.suewyshynski.com

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
Profile Image for Lo Bookfrantic.
790 reviews589 followers
August 10, 2017
4★★★★ Stars

Genre: Mystery/Science Fiction
Type: Book 1 of The Butterfly Code Series
POV: First Person – Female

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"This is my legacy. To find her killer and to know what answers she’d been bringing to Switzerland."


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Aeris Thorne is a violinist who recently was given the opportunity of a lifetime to play in the New York City Philharmonic and do what she does best Play Live on stage with her Violin. She comes back to her home town to visit her father and old friends for the summer before her big dream begins. The book starts with her hanging out with Gage and her best friend at a nightclub. She meets Dr. Hunter Cayman outside the club; well she sees him and she immediately feels attracted to him; something she couldn't explain. He was beautiful and dangerous at the same time and that intrigued her. Her father had warned her to stay away from him and of course she becomes more curious about him.

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At the club she sees another girl with Hunter she was as gorgeous as Hunter; her name was Victoria and they looked good together but Aeris didn't know if they had a love relationship or not she was just in lust with him but for the love of god she couldn't figure out what was it about him that kept her wanting to see him; she wanted to know him. Gage has a military history and he had a great childhood memories with Aeris; he also wants to have more than friendship with her but she only saw him as a brother.

Honestly, this book started very slow I was having trouble getting into it until finally the fun began. I found myself unable to stop reading it. Aeris curiosity about her father's relationship with Dr. hot Hunter was too much; she had to know what the mystery was about him and his lab was. She desperately wanted to solve the mystery behind the gate of the Phoenix Research lab. What exactly where they hiding? Was it really a contagious diseases lab that had to be so private? Why was her father against it but at the same time talking to them? So many questions she had that curiosity got the best of her. Little did she know that she was about to get a ride of her life. A life she had no idea could even be possible.

"In this small world of two, he’s everything to me and I’m everything to him... Sensations mirrored, echoing back on each other , on and on until infinity...We understand everything. We know everything...What he wants, I want. What sends fireworks exploding in his mind, sends them exploding in me, too."


Hunter liked Aeris ok I hope he did his actions were different though they were all over the place I felt like I was going out of my mind; one day he is helping her the next he didn't want to see her and I was a mess in my head. Like seriously?! Hunter make up your mind!!. Aeris had an accident trying to run away from bad people aka Brewster King. She landed at Hunter's lab and an experiment was performed and tested for the first time. This bad guy "Brewster King" wanted to what these lab goods; he had wanted the formula that Hunter had and he was not going to stop until he gets it.

"The caterpillar melts inside its protective shell. And gradually their cells become new things. A new body, new eyes. New arms and legs. And something extra the caterpillar didn’t have before. Something special." "Wings," Hunter grinds out. "Exactly. And when it’s ready, when its change is complete, it crawls out and emerges like a phoenix. Reborn into something new."




There were just too many unanswered questions by the end of the book though I need more answers so of course I will be patiently waiting for the next book in the series. This is a new author for me and I was pretty excited to know that there's more of this story. I must know what is going to happen next. I loved how Aeris father was so supported and carrying for her. I also liked how someway Hunter and Aeris were connected to each other even if it was not by choice I still loved it. I really hope that their connection does not end I am a bit scared though of what is coming but excited at the same time. I really enjoyed the ride packed with action, science mystery and suspense. Lovers of mystery and science fiction will really enjoy this one.

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"For now, I feel safe. I feel whole. I feel alive. I feel immortal."

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Book Order Series:
Girl On Fire (The Butterfly Code, #1) by Sue Wyshynski

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Profile Image for Jan.
424 reviews271 followers
April 4, 2016
3.50 stars

This was an interesting read for me, and a bit hard to put a label on...
This is a story that will certainly stretch the limits of your imagination, but for the most part the author actually makes it work well, without being too cheesy. (My gage for this is based on how many times my eyes roll when reading)

I'm not going to bother with a synopsis as I think I might butcher it and do more harm than good.
With elements of mystery, romance and science fiction all wrapped into one, I was pleasantly surprised at my level of engagement with this story. Even now that I've finished, I have so many questions that I want to know answers to. (Yes, there are teasers left open for a part 2) The author did a nice job at building up the secrecy, then revealing bits and pieces at just the right times. The story moved quickly, and while some of the scenes were overly imaginative-I was never bored.

All in all this was a fun read, and I look forward to finding out what is next in store for Aeris, Hunter, and the rest of the Winterborn Survivors.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Carrie.
3,329 reviews1,610 followers
July 11, 2016
Aeris Thorne is a talented musician that is taking the summer to visit her father before starting performing in the much sought after position she was offered. On a night out Aeris meets the mysterious Dr. Hunter Cayman and finds herself immediately drawn to him even though everyone warns Aeris to stay away from Hunter. When Aeris’s life is threatened Hunter comes to the rescue but then Aeris find herself in the middle of the secrets that Hunter has been hiding.

Starting out reading The Butterfly Code the first thoughts crossing my mind is this has a somewhat Twilight-ish vibe to it. The young somewhat naive girl is taken by the mysterious guy that she's been warned away from. Then the whole saving Aeris part really reminded me of Twilight so I was honestly thinking to myself what is this, a vampire book? The synopsis is a bit vague really but in the end there weren't any glittering vampires anywhere to be found and the story turns to an interesting sci-fi plot.

I would say my only complaint really when reading this was towards the beginning, I just felt it had a slow start to it when it took me a while to realize I wasn't reading another vampire novel. Instead this story has it's own twists and turns dealing with Hunter being with the Phoenix Research Lab for Highly Contagious Diseases and that will be the only hint I will give at where the story goes. It definitely picks up though and becomes very engaging once the meat of the plot starts to unfold.

Overall, a bit slow start but became a fast paced page turner in the end. A mix of sci-fi, thriller, and romance all wrapped into one.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

Profile Image for Beth.
3,133 reviews281 followers
December 2, 2015
The Butterfly Code is sure to be a crowd pleaser. This new, exciting and completely engaging scifi suspense thriller will have you guessing till the end.

Aeris returns to her father’s home town right before she heads off to a gleaming musical career. But secrets from Aeris past continue to haunt her. It is not surprising, while revisiting her home, many rof these secrets resurface. Searching for the answers will change Aeris life forever.

There is a mysterious lab, with extraordinarily beautiful people working at it. Somehow, Aeris knows the lab, these people, they all have ties into the death of her mother.

Some romantic interest, lots of intrigue and a good amount of action highlight this original plot.

I’m am confident this book will grab the young adult crew that favored Immortal Instruments and Twilight Saga.

I received this copy of The Butterfly Code from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for a honest review.
Profile Image for Grace.
2,111 reviews107 followers
February 19, 2016
3.5 stars

Way before I got into the romance genre, I used to read a lot of sci-fi books, particularly those from Michael Crichton. Ever since his passing *sobs* I've tried to fill the void with other books. So when I saw this book, not only did the synopsis catch my attention, but I loved the cover. Of course I requested it!

There are elements I liked and did not like about the story that led to me to my rating. Let's get the bad part over with.

What I didn't like:
This story is told from Aeris POV, and based on her thoughts, I can only conclude that she is a huge scatterbrain. She went back in forth in her thoughts I was getting whip lash.

To paraphrase:
I should tell me Dad.
I can't tell my Dad.
I hope my Dad is ok.
Why does my Dad not like Hunter?
I like Hunter.
I'm not sure I trust Hunter.

This is just how one chapter felt. All over the place.

Personally, I think this story would have been better from a third person POV. I just didn't enjoy being inside Aeris' head.

What I did like:
As someone who misses this genre, I really liked the sci-fi part of the story. I thought it was well developed and unique enough that it didn't feel like a repeat of anything I've seen before. Aeris first sees Hunter outside of a club. He's the most beautiful man she's ever seen, and her father's warnings about only him intrigue her more.

The initial interactions between Aeris and Hunter are very odd. It's obvious that there is something about her that intrigues him, but he keeps blowing her off in odd ways. Given her his coat to borrow but then not even striking up a conversation. Right or wrong, Aeris is desperate to interact with him, and takes some measures to get into his world. Little does she know how much her life will change afterwards.

It's after she leaves his place that this whole story picks up. Hunter and Victoria's special conditions. Her father's secrets. Gage's military history. The bad guy- Brewster King. All of these factors/people come to play to put Aeris' life in jeopardy.

I was a little confused about Hunter's feelings for Aeris, even at the end. I get the sense that there will be another book after this. There were just too many unanswered questions. We'll just have to wait and see . . .

*A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

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Profile Image for Pia.
236 reviews20 followers
September 5, 2016
This book is very well written, the story flows and is full of twists and turns, but I had big problems with the main characters and the plot.

First of all, I hate women who literally melt when they meet handsome men. There must be something besides being a tall dark stranger, right? At least this book doesn't seem to be a romance novel where sweeping a girl of her feet is all that matters.

Secondly, I just thought the plot too unbelievable. I know I've read books set in other planets, with all kinds and forms of main characters, but the bionic men and women in this book just didn't work for me.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Stacy.
191 reviews69 followers
December 4, 2015
5+++ Stars!

From the very first few pages of this book to the very last page, I was completely and utterly consumed. I had read the blurb a while back, so when it came time to actually read the book I had already forgotten what it was supposed to be about. So I went into this book totally blind to the story, and holy crap am I glad that I did, because I was able to have a better reading experience than I ever could have imagined. This story truly moved me, and this book has now become one of my favorites of this year.

I’m not even sure how to break this book down because it was so many things rolled into one. If I had to describe it in a genre sense I would call it a new adult/romantic suspense/science fiction marvel! I could easily see this being turned into a movie, EASILY! And more than that, I want to, and I would pay good money to watch that movie!

Aeris Thorne is a young woman who recently graduated from Juilliard, she’s a very talented violinist who’s just trying to figure out what to do next in her life. It’s pretty much laid out for her though, considering her talent. She has a bright future with plans already in place. She decides to stay with her dad for the summer in Deep Cove, Maine, before heading off to New York in the fall. And can I say how much I LOVE the setting of this book, it really truly added so much to the story. Everything from the cool weather to the low creeping fog had a place in this story, if weather and climate could be its own character, in this book it definitely would.

Hunter Cayman… Oh Hunter. This man is just, Ohhhhhh Myyyyyy... Is that a good description? Wait, my apologies, DR. Hunter Cayman is the elusive mystery that has Deep Cove whispering and wondering about everything. He’s young, in his late twenties, he’s hot, and he’s also a doctor at a research facility that supposedly tests highly contagious diseases. If that’s not enough to keep a small town talking, I’m not sure what is. The facility alone is controversial to the town, and the mystery behind Hunter and his friends is even more intriguing.

These two immediately have some sort of crazy chemistry going on, but it’s not your typical romance, lust filled kind of chemistry that you would think of, except that it is. But it’s not. I can’t really go much further into the story because like I said before, there is SO much stuff going on. Not too much, I just don’t want to spoil anything. This story has it all! Mystery, angst, danger, twists and turns galore, dark secrets, love, hate, and just about every emotion you could think of.

The Author paints a beautifully descriptive picture of everything she wants you to see, hear, and smell. It was such an amazing experience reading her descriptions, I can’t praise her enough. I could smell every smell, see every movement and touch every object as if it were right in front of me. It was completely mesmerizing and all consuming. It felt like I fell into the story, and who doesn’t crave that when reading a wonderful novel. Just writing this review, I want to jump back in. The writing was so SO great!

There are so many characters in this book, good guys, bad guys, mysterious guys and girls, friends and family members, but my favorites were Aeris and Hunter. They were both so strong, and captivating and perfectly flawed. Hunter was tough as steel, and at the same time soft and warm. He was everything in this book. And Aeris complimented his character so well, she’s seriously an awesome heroine that I truly loved. I don’t normally read books with sci-fi stuff at all, like ever! And like I said, I didn’t even know it was coming, but I am so happy that I went in blind because I might have missed out on one of the best books I’ve read this year. So please, PLEASE don’t let that scare any of you romance junkies away because this book deserves your attention, it was beautiful and rare and it totally filled my heart in every way. And I can’t wait for more, there is a second book coming out and I have no clue when, but I need it like yesterday!
Profile Image for Meags.
2,259 reviews554 followers
September 1, 2017
4 Stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It kept me engaged from start to finish, and I have little doubt that a book like this – and its subsequent sequels – will go a long way in the popularity stakes (once readers catch on…which they no doubt will). This story will also appeal to a diverse readership due to its vast coverage of different storytelling genres. Wyshynski effortlessly mixed romance, suspense and mystery, under the umbrella of a unique science-fiction plot, and she did it all while still appealing to a wide age demographic – seriously, I could recommend this to my teenage cousins or I could get my mum to read it and there probably wouldn’t be much of a difference in their overall enjoyment.

It was extremely well written. The characters were likeable and the plot, while unique, wasn’t overly complicated, yet it held enough intrigue to keep me guessing for most of the story. It also held an impressive pace; whether the scenes were full of action and suspense, or simply between two characters having a conversation, the story flowed smoothly, keeping me absorbed and interested the entire way through.

While Aeris made for an intelligent and agreeable heroine (and her name was the fricken bomb), my heart immediately belonged to Hunter. The intrigue and mystery behind this stories male lead was well-developed and executed perfectly, providing the reader with one of “those” lovable, yet mysterious hero’s, who I couldn’t help but swoon over. I have no doubt that my interest in these characters will only grow with exposure – so sequels are a must!

Sidenote: I went into this story completely unknowing of any plot details (like zilch) and I suggest other readers do the same!


***Special thanks to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Hanne.
657 reviews71 followers
September 29, 2016
4 -- Immortal -- stars

Paranormal romance is not a romance genre that I read often, but I can enjoy it. I definitely enjoyed and liked Girl On Fire. The book doesn’t end with a big cliffhanger, but there are a few things that aren’t solved yet. The cover was the first thing that drew my attention. It’s beautiful and unique. The blurb is very vague and it made me want to read this book even more.

When I started the book, I didn’t know what was paranormal about it. After a couple of chapters, I was still in the dark. I did however realize that it will be about Hunter, since the book is solely told from Aeris’ point of view and there is nothing paranormal about her. The single point of view added to the mystery about Hunter. I wanted to know who he really was. You really get to know the characters a little bit better first, before you know the paranormal aspect.

Aeris and Hunter are great characters. Aeris is sweet, caring and innocent. She’s very passionate about music and she’s over the moon that she has a job in the music business now she graduated college. She loves her dad and would do anything for him. Her dad is very protective over his little girl and warns her to stay away from Hunter.

Everybody actually warns Aeris to stay away from Hunter. There is something dangerous and mysterious about Hunter. His job also doesn’t help his bad reputation. Hunter is strong, tall, muscular and gorgeous. He’s passionate about science. He’s one big secret at the beginning and I wanted to get to know him. He has a couple of secrets that he keeps from Aeris.

I loved the development of the relationship. They spend some time together at the beginning and there is a spark, but Hunter pushes Aeris away. She is normal and he isn’t. But I did noticed in the little things that Hunter clearly wants Aeris. It wasn’t totally clear why Aeris wants Hunter, since she had never talked to him and only saw him once. She wants him from the start and I didn’t feel the connection then. I wished for more romance.

The book also has a couple of action scenes. They put me at the edge of my seat and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough at that moment. When the action was over, I was always curious about when the next action scene would happen and about the consequences of the action scene. It definitely wasn’t one action scene after the other. The focus was more on the secrets and a few things that needed to be discovered.
Profile Image for Uma.
Author 1 book65 followers
November 11, 2015
Hooked. Yup! That's exactly what happened as I started turning the pages. Honestly, I didn't know what the book was about when I picked it up. And I didn't even bother reading its reviews. SO UNLIKE ME! But guess what? I totally fell in love with it!

The main characters, Aeris and Hunter, were well developed and I enjoyed how the author portrayed their relationship. Aeris' relationship with her dad was also wonderful to read. That being said, even the other secondary characters were well portrayed. The author had a way with words and her descriptions gave me a very vivid picture of the characters and their surroundings.

I like to guess how a story is going to go while reading. The twist and turns in this book made it a little difficult for me to guess who Hunter really was - I mean, I thought he was a vampire in the beginning! 50% into the book, my Jessica Fletcher side kicked in and I kinda guessed some things - but not all of it. KUDOS TO THE AUTHOR FOR THAT!

Never was there a dull moment throughout the story. The plot flowed effortlessly. The absence of vulgarity and explicit scenes was what drove me to give it a 5 star rating. Reading it was simply a breath of fresh air. School kids can definitely read this book and learn a thing or two. The author had definitely done her research and I found myself being educated while reading The Butterfly Code.

Being a fan of mystery, fantasy and the paranormal, I was not disappointed in this book at all. It was truly an engaging and wonderful read. If you are looking solely for romance (erotica), then this book is not for you. But if you are looking for a mixture of romance and mystery, and sci-fi, then pick up The Butterfly Code. You will not be disappointed.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SEQUEL :-)


Profile Image for Carlene Inspired.
967 reviews262 followers
December 4, 2015
Find this review and associate book tour on my blog, Carlene Inspired, tomorrow 12/4.


Aeris is home with her dad for the summer after accepting a prestigious role as a concert violinist. She's hanging out with her old friends, spending time with her over-cautious father, and getting some seriously odd looks from the handsome Dr. Hunter Cayman. After a night out at the local nightclub, things are changing and quickly. What is behind the gates of the Phoenix Research Lab for Highly Contagious Diseases, why is her dad so against the company, and why does everything seem so familiar? As her curiosity increases, she finds herself learning about the mother she lost as a child and her father's desperation to protect her. It may not be enough to keep her away from Hunter though, something about him just keeps drawing her in despite the warnings and the secrets he seems to be hiding. What she finds will change everything.

I went into this book with the basic blurb every other reader gets, so I didn't expect anything when I opened up to the first chapter. The Butterfly Code stole my attention away from the very start. Not only are we immediately introduced to Aeris' old friends and the enigmatic Hunter Cayman with his flashing eyes, but Sue Wyshynski does an amazing job of setting the scene, the relationships, and giving you a glimpse of what's to come. You see, Hunter is older and her father has warned her to avoid his research lab at all costs, but Aeris seems to lose all common sense when it comes to him. I was obsessed as soon as I knew we had a forbidden relationship plot. Not only that, it's a completely new story line, because there is a scifi mix in this book. There's romance, action, suspense, and a twist you won't ever see coming. I loved the characters, every single one of them. Aeris is always curious, for a classic violinist she sure seems interested in adventure. She's a brave character whose POV is super entertaining to read from. I loved her thought process and her individuality. On the other hand, our two main men, Gage and Hunter, are super intriguing as well. Gage, one of Aeris' best friends, is the brooding type and his role in this book is so much more than just a friend. He's got quite a history, a huge secret, and I really liked his relationship with Aeris. Hunter is mysterious, dangerous, and about the hottest thing any of our characters have ever seen. The entire town seems to despise him, every woman lusts for him, and his attitude is that of a bad boy. He had a lot more depth to him that I expected him to and as the story grows he brings a lot to the table. He seemed to have new secrets after every page turn and even once I closed the book I felt like I had more to know about him. Every character is not what they seem and no plot line is ever what you are expecting as a reader.

I loved the use of symbolism in this book and the futuristic elements of transhumanism, that is the creation of superhumans. She successfully takes humanity into the future, mixing it with romance, drama, and action. Wyshynski's descriptions are vivid, everything we saw as the reader means something later on, from names to just small conversations between characters. The foreshadowing kept me curious, on my toes the entire time, and when the twists happened I was shocked to find it opposite of what I thought would happen. Everything flowed so well and at a swift pace. There was no over complication and I felt like this book could easily reach across many demographics.

I might have loved this book, can you tell? I have pulled away from the paranormal/scifi books I used to love, but this transhuman story might have pulled me right back in. This is a book that readers of all ages and all genre preferences could read and enjoy. I loved the well-developed characters, the realistic near-future story line, and the intrigue of the mystery that Aeris is so desperate to figure out. I cannot wait for a sequel and really hope this novel has the popularity it deserves.

Many thanks to Xpresso Book Tours and Sue Wyshynski for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for AudioBookReviewer.
949 reviews165 followers
April 28, 2016
My original The Butterfly Code audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Aeris Thorne returns home to Deep Cove to visit her father and friends, she is expecting a quiet rest. Her life is mapped out and includes jobs where her music can and will be appreciated.  Music connects her to her mother who died a violent death.  During her stay in Deep Cove, she meets Hunter.  She meets Hunter outside a club; a dark, mysterious man with reflecting eyes, a familiarity and a sinister secret that will rock her world.  Hunter and Aeris are connected by a chain of past and current events.

Not one to shy away, Aeris finds herself immersed in undercover operations, secrets, genetic research and more.  The connection between Aeris and Hunter forces Hunter to come to a sudden and deadly decision – can he save her before it is too late and at what cost?  Can Hunter protect Aeris against herself and the evils stalking her while still keeping her in the dark?

Sue Wyshynski captures her reader’s attention as she builds the story slowly and expertly developing characters and the plot in a rhythmic manner.  Further, Wyshynski’s writing style is smooth and almost poetic in description.  She does nothing gratuitously whether it is violence or love making.  Her words flow painting a sensuous picture without vulgarity.

“Gentle then more urgent; what he wants, I want; what sends exploding fireworks into his mind sends them exploding in my mind too.  … strong fingers … entwining legs …a sea of passion sweeps us aloft; a single soul, single mind, a single body.”

I enjoy Wyshynski’s writing skill; her ability to let the story develop while also keeping her readers hooked and feeling the same emotional plunge as the characters.

The Butterfly Code moves at a face pace but not so much as to leave one lost.  I found myself caught up in the action and waiting for the other shoe to fall, much like Hunter and Aeris.  Fast paced action and romance.

I felt this book was geared more towards older teens/young adults.  I look forward to hearing more by this author.

The narrator, Tanya Eby, did an excellent job of capturing and then projecting the rhythm of Wyshynski’s writing building excitement and using careful pauses. Eby's voice was calming and when appropriate she injected the right amount of emotion into the reading making the book come alive for me. The poetic prose rolled off her tongue.

There were no issues with production.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
Profile Image for Melanie.
1,986 reviews97 followers
February 17, 2016
Well, The Butterfly Code literally blew me away! I don't often tweet about books as I am reading them but this one I took with me everywhere throughout yesterday while I read it. I hadn't read a book by Sue before, so this was something new for me, the cover looked amazing, so I had some high expectations there and the synopsis, well just read it! Doesn't it make you want to read the book? So, I started The Butterfly Code and it was everything I wanted at the time. There's mystery/suspense, action, romance, sci-fi and drama. It really does have a little something for everyone!

The story is really good too, I loved Aeris from the get go. She seemed to know what she wanted with her self, she had goals and although she had suffered in the past a loss, she had moved on and become stronger for it I feel. Then we have Hunter, mysterious, hot Hunter. Yes he really did help make this book good too, I can't deny it. I loved that he was intelligent, a doctor and also hot. I also loved that he had secrets.

This story is gripping,I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. When I got to about 85% in I realised that this book couldn't be the end. I really didn't want a cliff hanger and especially now when you are reading a ARC as it can mean waiting even longer for a sequel, however the end was good still. I didn't feel totally left in the air, there was some conclusions (Although many questions still), I felt satisfied but yes, I wanted more.

I loved this book, I can't really explain how much without telling you what happens and I really don't EVER put spoilers in my reviews. What I will say is I can't wait to find out more of the story when its released (Sue mentions on Goodreads the first part may be early 2016). 4.5 stars, a gripping read and one I highly recommend, I loved this book!
Profile Image for Stefany Rattles.
Author 14 books30 followers
November 4, 2015
The Butterfly Code is a great book! Really loved it all the way and hope that this helps readers decide to also read it.
First, I think the book cover is awesome and that alone made me think this would be an interesting story.
I was not disappointed at all. The story line that was built around Aeris and all the other characters was definitely clever. It really did keep me in suspense through out the book.

I believe fans of most fiction would enjoy reading a unique story like this. They are definitely my favorite!
I can't imagine what Ms. Wyshynsky has planned next!
Profile Image for Harper Alexander.
Author 24 books10 followers
March 17, 2017
I picked up The Butterfly Code: Girl on Fire because I hadn’t read a contemporary YA paranormal in a while, and I wanted to see what was new in the genre these days. If you’re hoping for a break from the tired slew of vampires and werewolves but still looking for the same clause of ‘girl becomes infatuated with hunk from mysterious order of super special beings and proceeds to get caught up in paranormal conspiracies and adventures’, then you won’t be disappointed.

What struck me right off the bat was the author’s lovely prose. She has the gift of description, fleshing out scenes with poignant detail and a subtle poetic flair that isn’t over the top or too flowery. That’s something I really value in ‘good writing’. Anyone can put one word in front of the other to tell you what’s happening (well, not anyone…), but it takes a good writer to sweep you up in the art of the story itself. I’ve always been a sucker for a good metaphor (i.e. ‘the white dress, drenched, clings to me like crushed dragonfly wings’). Love it.

The opening scene was ripe with intrigue, crucial for hooking readers. Without giving anything away, I particularly liked the link created between two strangers when one lured the other’s interest by playing a classical song that meant something really meaningful to her. It’s unclear if the song choice was coincidence or a purposeful gesture, which piqued my interest to find out more. I found the use of music to be a really enchanting touch, which continued throughout the book.

There were a number of things that resonated personally with me – the aforementioned poetic undertones of the music theme, as well as glimpses into other sub-genres such as the horse scene. As a kid, horsey books were all I read, so I enjoyed that aspect.

I found Hunter’s initial interactions with Aeris to be a little over-dramatic and unbelievable, and thought maybe the intrigue between them would have been better presented as a subtler tension. Sometimes subtle nuances go farther than a forced impression.

As the plot develops and the theme becomes fully realized, the author proves to have some refreshingly original ideas, which actually leads me to the sort-of complaint that I just wish they’d been extrapolated on sooner in the book so that more of the story could have been spent immersed in the unique clause she’s created. While I appreciate the suspense of a good ‘unknown’, I think the ideas developed toward the end of the book would have really made the story stand apart from others in the genre if they had the opportunity to pervade the atmosphere more thoroughly. And maybe we’ll experience more of that in the sequels, I just couldn’t help feeling like it was a shame this one didn’t have more of the thing that would have increased it ‘standing out’, because it definitely has that potential!

Overall, a great contribution to the genre. Thanks for the twist on the usual paranormal plot-line! Curious to know what direction things go in the sequel.
Profile Image for Elaine - Splashes Into Books.
3,639 reviews119 followers
May 9, 2019
I really think the less you know about this story the better you'll appreciate it, so I'm going to try revealing anything about what actually happens in it. I actually read this book before it was released but, for some reason I don't know, I seem to have forgotten to post my review for it. I'm about to rectify that now and the fact that I can still remember so clearly what happened in it is definitely something in its favour - though I have re-read it to check my memory.

It is a somewhat unique mix of science fiction, mystery and romance though I initially thought it was going to be more like a paranormal (something like a scifi version of Twilight ). It starts slowly but definitely speeds up and it is a fun, enjoyable read. I particularly liked how the author slowly reveals secrets and aspects to the characters, developing the image of them and their actions as the story progresses. It is the first book in a series, so not everything is resolved at the end of this book but it definitely left me intrigued to know what will happen in future stories in this series.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it (and re-read it)!
Profile Image for Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice).
1,162 reviews161 followers
March 19, 2016
My friends say Hunter's dangerous
They say he's a threat to everyone in town.
But I'm not so sure.
As he stands before me in this crowded club with the lights shining around us, I catch something good under Hunter's dark facade. Something decent and profound.
I don't know who or what to believe.
But I will find out the truth.

Aeris Thorne is expecting a restful vacation in the remote town of Deep Cove. But on a stormy night, she meets the alluring and mysterious Hunter Cayman, and her life takes an exhilarating turn. Aeris is both drawn to him and determined to find out what he’s hiding. But what Aeris doesn’t know is that he’s tormented by a secret: the truth behind his research. As he and Aeris are drawn together, the walls he’s built to protect himself threaten to crumble. At the same time, she uncovers clues to her own tragic past, answers she never thought to find--and a love she can't resist despite the dark troubles it brings. When Aeris’s life is threatened, Hunter is forced to make an impossible decision about her future—one that could change everything.


This is a New Adult Romance Paranormal Adventure!


I would like to thank the Goodreads group New Adult Book Club and the author Sue Wyshynski for giving me a copy of The Butterfly Code for read and review.


I love the first sentence in this, "I stumble through the red-tinged nightclub haze and wonder if this is what purgatory looks like."


The story revolves around violin prodigy Aeris who returns to her hometown to spend time with her father and pet dog. Her mother was killed at the age of five. A chance meeting outside a nightclub sparks up an adventure involving lies, horses, science and remembrance.

Without wanting to give anything away, this was an exciting read full of plot twists. The ending chapters were just so thrilling that it was very difficult to not stop reading. I had to read through to the end, no matter what.

Overall star rating- 5/5 stars

Would I recommend this to anyone?- HELL YES!

Profile Image for Paula  Phillips.
5,112 reviews319 followers
October 29, 2015
I know that you should never judge a book by it's cover, but it's so hard and The Butterfly Code had such an amazing cover that it made me request to read the book and I am glad that I did as it was an interesting read. The book starts off with a new compound being built in a small coastal town and Aeris Thorne is home for the holidays before heading off to play in the Orchestra for her violin . In town, she catches a glimpse of Victoria and Hunter Cayman. They both work for the facility, which unfortunately been gaining some bad press around the town as some folks believe some dodgy dealings have been happening. Aeris is curious , so one day while her father is out - she makes a delivery to the compound and meets Hunter. A few days later, she is on her way home when she discovers that a group of clad men have attacked her home and her father, she runs and heads for Hunter, but as this happens she crashes and ends up clinging for her dear life. The next thing she knows, she is waking up - she should be dead, but nothing is wrong with her ? Aeris is about to discover though that her DNA has been compromised and that all is not what they seem and in her journey to discover the hidden truth and secrets - it will also lead her to discover some information about her mother Julia that she never realised and the truth about what happened the day she died .

Overall The Butterfly Code was a good read and had a hint of romance threaded with a science fiction feel in terms of Genetics along with Adventure and action.


September 3, 2016
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

This book has been one of my fastest reads in a looonnnggg time! I would probably rate this at 4.5s but because I read it so damn fast I'm giving it 5s! I received this book last night and got right into it! It was amazing, with the dynamics and details of the characters! At first I did think it was a Frankenstein-esque but it quickly changed into something fascinating.

While I was reading, I did have this slight image of Edward Scissorhands and how people didn't understand him, but yet he fell in love.

Soon, I learned that all my assumptions were wrong and Hunter was more or less a scientist and Aeries is like his project.

A fantastic read! I would totally read this again!
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Profile Image for Jennifer.
315 reviews36 followers
March 15, 2016
First, I would like to thank Sue Wyshynski for the ARC of this book.

This book is a solid 3.5 star read.

As other reviewers have said, the less you know, the better off you are with this book. And I assume that there will be a follow up book as the ending is unfinished and there is a clear Segway to a series.

The first half of the book was a little slow, in my opinion, but when things picked up, they really picked up and I raced through the second half. The one thing that bothered me was the story being told from the POV of Aeries. Her thoughts were all over the place and it got to be very confusing at times. Many times I had to re-read passages because I was lost.

Otherwise, this is a solid sci-fi thriller romance and once the action started, I really enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Olivia Wildenstein.
Author 49 books3,752 followers
October 6, 2016
Girl on Fire made me think of Twilight, but where Twilight grabbed me from the first pages, Girl on Fire was slower to sink its claws into me. I truly became invested in the story by 60% of it. I'm not really certain why that is, because the writing is pretty, the characters well-crafted, and the plot finely-tuned. Perhaps, it was because I didn't quite get what was happening in the first half of the book, and the birth of a foal, although sweet, didn't do much for me in the sci-fi context.
But once the story got going, and I understood what was happening, I was engrossed.

5 stars for the concept. It was believable and original!
Profile Image for J.B. Trepagnier.
Author 102 books734 followers
May 9, 2017
This appears to be a good solid start to a series. I was entertained throughout the book. This is also a hard book to write a review on because it's sort of a sci-fi mystery told in first person. The reader learns things as the narrator does. It's hard to review without actually spoiling anything in the book.

A few things that I can say without spoiling anything was that I wished this was either told in third person or Aeris had been written as less of a flighty narrator. She's constantly changing her mind or losing focus. I'm a classically trained musician and composer just like Aeris is. Composing and getting trained enough on your instrument to be offered first chair in a well known symphony requires HOURS of training and focus as well as discipline. I kind of feel like the Aeris' voice in the book was of a much younger person and not someone who has just been offered the best chair in a symphony.

Without giving away too much about the plot, the author appeared to have done a lot of research into genetics, but one thing stands out from a biological stand point. There are good guys that might not be good guys and bad guys. There's a lot of talk about blood and giving random people other random people's blood. This could only be possible if all of the characters they are trying to take blood from happen to be the same blood type or universal doners. With all of the medical personnel in this book, I would have thought one would have commented on blood types
Profile Image for Arbys Mom.
368 reviews5 followers
July 31, 2019
I was a bit torn on this book, despite my four star rating. It's very compelling, but the protagonist was a major head case and not in a good way. Still, the story was very interesting, and since it was free, I definitely got my money's worth. I don't think I'll read the other books in the series, based on the reviews, though.
Profile Image for Madeline Dyer.
Author 18 books226 followers
October 18, 2015
Wow, what a book.

Right from the start, we’re thrown into the action. I loved the narrative style so much, particularly the way the narrator questions everything. And I particularly enjoyed the who is he? what’s he doing here? intro for Dr Hunter Cayman.

This new adult paranormal thriller/suspense is so beautifully written, and it really was a delight to read. I loved Aeris, the main character. She felt real, and the way her character changes and progresses also felt believable. The little details we’re given about Aeris’s life and her past add so much authenticity too. And, as this book’s written in first person, she had a real voice. Her way of thinking constantly oozed through the writing, and at times was enough to make me forget I was actually reading a book.

One thing that struck me about the plot were the futuristic/SF elements. I hadn’t been expecting them as we’d already been given the paranormal/mystery/thriller elements, and they were a nice surprise, particularly as I LOVE LOVE LOVE speculative fiction.

And, I also love symbolism too–particularly in names. And there was a lot of this to keep me happy. A lot of work has obviously gone into this book, and I’m determined to reread it soon so I can spot all the foreshadowing–I noticed a few instances in my first reading, which were carefully incorporated, but I’m sure there’s more!

There’s just the right amount of action, suspense and tension in this book, and it kept me turning the pages. I particularly loved the relationship between Aeris and Gage, possibly more than that between Aeris and Hunter. It felt realistic, and that’s what I particularly loved about it.

But Hunter himself was such an interesting character. Right from the start, I was drawn to him–in much the same way that our main character seems to be. I was intrigued about this man who’s apparently dangerous and dark… and I was so, so curious. And there was just something so enigmatic and mysterious about him. He’s the perfect love interest! I really hope there’s a sequel to THE BUTTERFLY CODE.

I’ll definitely be looking for more books by this author!

(I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review).
Profile Image for Charlotte.
420 reviews1 follower
December 17, 2015
I received this direct from the Author in exchange for an honest review.

Sue Wyshynski has definitely made it to my top favourite Authors!



The Butterfly Code captivated me and all my attention from the very first page, this read is excellent. A fast paced and thrilling story that has you on the edge of your seat wanting more.

This is a master piece of a story it's not just exciting with an alluring romance but such an interesting story line. Sue manages to drag you upside down into a swirling whirlwind tunnel of flashing colours that is the Butterfly Code, Hot sexy Hunter a world of secrets hidden attractions, lies astounding strength and one girl who manages to find herself thrust into the middle of it all, genetic modification and so much more after one encounter out side the night club in her fathers home town.
She stand on the sidewalk staring into that ruggedly handsome face that screams hot sexy beast, Dr Cayman aka Hunter, and she knows there is something entirely different about him & this is where her life changes and she will never be the same again.

Aeris is one brave determined character, she is completely loveable. I adore her relationship between herself and Hunter. She manages to take everything in her stride, and I cant wait to see what happens in book 2. I hold a lot of hope that she becomes something entirely different in book 2 and she will be magnificent.

Hunter is a very brooding complex character and I love him!

This is so worth reading, I am now awaiting to find out when there is book 2!! As this leaves you with a huge book hangover wanting so much more
Profile Image for Uzma.
90 reviews
September 5, 2016
*** I got an ARC of the book, "Girl On Fire" in exchange for an honest review***
Its my first time reviewing a book, so here goes nothing:

It was my first time reading a book by Sue Wyshynski and one thing I can tell you for sure, she can write, and she can write well, not just story wise but also grammatically. Its usually a no-no for me if the writing goes amiss, both characterization wise and diction wise.
The pace of the book, for most part was pretty decent but a few times, it either got a bit too slow or a bit too fast that I had to reread or read ahead to make sense.
Characterization wasn't too strong but Sue made up for it by brilliantly penning the action and the drama, so as to make it remarkably easy for the viewer to visualize what was going on, where and how it was happening, with quite detail.
When I started with the book, it gave me the kinda vibe I got from the CW show, "Beauty and the Beast", and the good thing about the "mysteries" in the book was, that you could predict them, yet couldn't be 100% sure, and that's what kept me glued to the book.
The romance part is there but it does not over shadow the other plots, making it a good enough read on all fronts.
I give this book a 3.75 rating.

P. S. The book ends in a way that you would want to read more but you wont be spending your days in pure agony, and as a reader, I am extremely grateful to Sue for that.

Happy Reading everyone.
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