Imagine 100% identical twins.
In the world we live in, this is quite imposible, there will always be a difference in the line of the hair, the pose of the shoulders, the shape of the eyes, the ears, the mouth or something else that would make them look different.. be different. But pretend that you have in front of you physically-identical twins – how would you tell them apart?
We define individuality on a physical level, but this story goes beyond that – we have 2 souls in a single body (and yes, you still tell them spart based on the mimics, on the look in their eyes, on the way they talk, they walk.. etc).
But we’ve got a problem: they are also not supposed to be like that. After a while one of them must fade away, and if this doesn’t happen.. Well, a book is written about that. In fact, this beauty here.
“I was terrified. I was eleven years old, and though I’d been told my entire life that it was entirely natural for the recessive soul to fade away, I didn’t want to go. I wanted twenty thousand more sunrises, three thousand more hot summer days at the pool. I wanted to know what it was like to have a first kiss. The other recessives were lucky to have disappeared at four or five. They knew less.”
THE GOOD
The concept:
I won’t tell you how unique the idea is, because you see, I’ve read The Host a while ago and 2 souls in one body, one not fading away is not really something new for me. But a story doesn’t need 100% originality to be a good story. It needs to to have an interesting plot that makes you turn page after page, it needs a pack of great characters to make you wish to know more about them, it needs an intrigue to keep you up all night reading and it needs a great ending that might make you want to read the next book (because yeah, this is a series).
But what I liked the most was the emotional writing.
I loved how close Abbie and Eva were. You could always tell them apart because deep inside they were as different as twins can be, as siblings can be, as people can be.
I loved how I could relate with both of them, how I wished for them to find a way to be happy sharing the same body, I loved how both made an impression on me – they were like 2 different sides of the same coin. You wouldn’t want one without the other. You couldn’t choose whom to stay, whom to fade away. They were both right even when they wanted different things (incompatible even) and it broke my heart to see how one’s happiness brought unhappiness for the other.
I understood Addie, yes she was a bit selfish at times, but all she wanted was a normal life.
She also cared for Eva and when she gave her the one thing that made her happy (a tiny bit of control) they got into trouble – didn’t she have the right to be angry? Also the relationship between Ryan and Eva was a struggle for her, she didn’t want to have anything to do with Devon/Ryan and Hally/Lissa, but she quite had no choice and I can understand her side in this.
The cover:
Oh, it is so beautiful. I should have started with it as it grabbed my attention from the first moment I saw it, and it has so much to do with the storyline. Wonderful indeed!
THE NOT-SO-GOOD
To put it simple: the second half of the book.
As emotional as the first half was for me, the second one left me in a state of indifference.
I don’t like it when things are made simple for the main characters and they don’t do much hard work to stay out of trouble or to manage to get out of a tough situation (the “escaping” was poorly managed and it left me with a bit of a biter taste).
Even the love story seemed forced, it happened too quick and without much background. The two characters involved didn’t spend enough time together to really know each other before everything started to fall appart so I couldn’t relate with their emotions at all. Add to this the fact that we have 2 souls in both bodies and it will make for a quite awkward situation.
Still, I did enjoy this book and I might even get to read the next one when it comes out.
There were some predictible moments, but they didn’t take away the pleasure of reading this story. There are still many questions to be answered, but I guess we’ll find more in the sequel.
Hope you’ll enjoy it too.
Happy midnight reading!
I own this book and hope to read it soon. I think the concept sounds really interesting. Although I am a bit sad to hear that the second half isn’t as good as the first half. I also love the cover of this book!
Maybe that was just me, so don’t worry too much about that second half.. I can’t wait to hear what you think of it too. As for the cover, yes, I love it so much as well, and it fits the story which is always appreciated 😀
Really glad you enjoyed this overall, Ari. 🙂 I agree, the first half of the book was the best part, and Eva and Addie had such a beautiful relationship! And there wasn’t much chemistry between Ryan and Eva, was there? :/
Great review, Ari!
I loved the girls, but I couldn’t connect much with the other characters. that might be why I liked better the first half of the book. As for the romance, it was just there, but I couldn’t really feel it. Maybe in the next one?