Replica
by Lauren Oliver
My rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC provided for review. Thank you!
Summary:
Gemma has been in and
out of hospitals since she was born. 'A sickly child', her lonely life
to date has revolved around her home, school and one best friend, Alice.
But when she discovers her father's connection to the top secret Haven
research facility, currently hitting the headlines and under siege by
religious fanatics, Gemma decides to leave the sanctuary she's always
known to find the institute and determine what is going on there and why
her father's name seems inextricably linked to it.
Amidst the
frenzy outside the institute's walls, Lyra - or number 24 as she is
known as at Haven - and a fellow experimental subject known only as 72,
manage to escape. Encountering a world they never knew existed outside
the walls of their secluded upbringing , they meet Gemma and, as they
try to understand Haven's purpose together, they uncover some
earth-shattering secrets that will change the lives of both girls
forever...
****
Okay, I
have to confess I’m one of the few people that didn’t find the format of this
book amusing or surprising. That’s because I’ve already read a book like this,
though it was a poetry book. That book was about the passions of the poet. One
half about love. The other half about POLITICS! For God’s sake! Our politics
sucks more than any politics in the whole world, so I have no idea why I read
it.
Anyway,
back to Replica.
I
started with Gemma’s side, I read five chapters, but after those five chapters I
needed a break because I found Gemma’s POV too slow and she was kind of whiny.
So I
turned to Lyra’s side. I fell in love right away with her story. Lyra’s the
replica. Her story begins with the rumor that someone escaped Heaven. We come
to know how the replicas are treated, how is their life inside the Heaven
Institute. And how her world is turned upside down when something terrible
happens in the island.
Her
story is heartbreaking and I loved how it reminded me Delirium. The awe of discovering
the world and the beauty of discovering her feelings. Lyra and 72, her
companion, are seeing the world outside Heaven for the first time. I loved
Lauren Oliver’s writing about it. I loved how “pure” they seemed.
There
were some twists and turns, some terrible revelations and a hopeful ending.
Then I
went back to Gemma. And here’s when something went wrong.
You see,
I loved Lyra’s story and I loved her and 72, but once the boring part of
Gemma’s story ends, her story is the once that carried the most shocking revelations.
I seriously wish I read her whole story first.
But
since most of those revelations were hinted with Lyra’s POV, they weren’t too
surprising anymore.
I even
skimmed some paragraphs because I already knew some of those things.
I’m
writing this to say that if you’re planning to read Replica, I’d recommend you
read it alternating chapters, that way you’ll be discovering the twists and
turns on both sides at the time. I wish I did that. But if you want to read their separate
stories, then start with Gemma.
Except
for that, Replica was a great book. Lauren Oliver’s writing is neat and past
paced. Every character, on both sides, is well developed and likable.
Some of
the twists were surprising and shocking, but some others I already expected
them.
I loved
how this book felt like science fiction and contemporary thriller at the same
time. It was highly enjoyable. That being said, I can’t wait to know what will
happen in book 2!
I do
recommend this book. I think both sci-fic and mystery readers will enjoy at
least one part of the story.
