E-ARC, 300 pages
Release Date: February 26, 2012
Published by: Random House Children’s Books
Series? Dualed, #1
Source: Netgalley*
For fans of: Dystopia, YA
You or your Alt? Only one will survive.
The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.
Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.
Elsie Chapman’s suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a novel full of fast-paced action and thought-provoking philosophy. When the story ends, discussions will begin about this future society where every adult is a murderer and every child knows there is another out there who just might be better.
*MY THOUGHTS*
a little upset by it. I wanted this book to be so absolutely good that I wouldn’t be able to put it down for anything, but it fell just short of that. It started
out really slow and I just felt like nothing was really happening. It took me
until about the ending mark when I really fell for it.
5 Stars, but unfortunately for me it was. For the most part I felt like nothing
was going on. It seemed like there was nothing going on. Either there was
someone dying or she was hiding. It just got weird for me, like repetitive.
Maybe I’m being picky, but I wasn’t really feeling it. Then when it finally was
a killing, it wasn’t gruesome and drawn out and cool like, it was just like “Oh
someone else is dead.” *shrugs* I can’t lie it was a little disappointing.
With West I just felt she was a little flat. She was so dead set on everyone
else’s Alt’s but when it came to her own she just seemed afraid. She was like a
real life contradiction. But maybe its just me. I’m sure plenty of people would
have trouble killing “themselves,” but at the same time, if you can do anyone
else, you shouldn’t have any worries.
I understand it wasn’t the main focus of the story, but when there’s not much
else happening, it might be better to add a little “umph” to it.
building. There were so many details that were well thought out. It was so well
planned that I would have thought it was researched, but since the premise was
so unique, I’m sure she made up things as she went along.
about it. I was expecting a lot more out of the story, but it just fell flat. But,
the world building in itself was really cool and gave the story a very unique
feel.
I've seen a bunch of very mixed reviews on this book. I agree that this one seems to be a highly anticipated book and you either really love it or you're not a fan. Well thought out review 🙂
I'm sorry this one didn't work for you. I have been seeing mixed reviews. I personally had some issues with West but overall, I enjoyed the story. I can't imagine where the author will take it next. Great review! 🙂
~Sara @ Forever 17 Books