Title: What’s Left Of Me [The Hybrid Chronicles 1]
Author: Kat Zhang
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
Length: 343
Rating: 4 Star
Series Review: 1, 2, 3
Description/Synopsis:
I should not exist. But I do.
Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .
For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.
Review – MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
I loved this book. I through it in one sitting and was completely ready to jump onto the rest of the books in the series.
I found the plot to be very interesting and an original idea. The only other book that I have come across that comes close to this would be The Host but this one takes it a bit further than that book did. Imagine being burn with two separate identities living in the one body. Living together for 4-7ish years, getting to know them, even coming to love them. But in this world one of those souls is gradually becoming weaker, losing control, until one day they are just gone. In this book this is what is supposed to happen. This is the norm. Those who this does not happen to are considered a danger to society and put in facilities to try and ‘cure’ the dominant soul of the weaker one. In comes Addie and Eva.
I am so eager to see where they take this plot. Not only in just plain old development but in terms of emotional stuff too. For those of the people who lose their second soul, whats that like? Becoming to attached to someone who is literally always there with you, hearing your thoughts, and then have them just go away and you will always know that its your fault because you become the dominant soul? We see a moment of this kind of emotion with Eva and Addie’s brother. He suffers from health issues but at one point he was close to dying and he asked them if it meant he would get to see his brother soul again. This moment broke me.
I also really feel for both Addie and Eva. They don’t get any privacy from each other and they live in constant fear of being caught and sent away. They both have bad situations. Addie is scared of giving up any of her control as the dominant but also feels guilty about Eva’s lack of ability to do anything but talk to Addie in her head. Then Eva hates not been able to do anything, but also feels guilty about asking Addie to give up her control and risk them both so that she can do things again. The inner turmoil is great.
Character wise I liked Addie and Eva but I was not 100% attached to them. They were the only characters I really felt I got to know. At the beginning there was a lot of set up and then at the end there were plot advancements that really stopped you from getting to know any of the character that were being presented. One character that I wish I got more of was Devon. He was there being all quiet and… mysterious in the corner. I want more.
Parts at the end of the book seemed a little bit too easy, but I will not go into them anymore because I don’t want to ruin the end of the book for anyway. But can we take a moment to appreciate how beautiful and well suited for the story the cover is?
So I think thats where I will leave this review today. I cannot wait to start the next one and I suggest that everyone picks it up. I really had to hold off starting the next one right away.
Till Next Time…
