Title: What’s
Left of Me
Author: Kat Zhang
Series: Hybrid Chronicles #1
Published: 18 September 2012 by Harper
Length: 343 pages
Other Info: Book
Two should be called Once We Were. Book Three is expected.
Source: Publisher
Summary : 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.
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: Eva shouldn’t exist, but she does. In a world
where two souls get born into each body, and one fades after time, she’s the weaker one out
of her and Addie. After faking through tests, Addie is declared dominant and
Eva gone, but they both know she’s not. After meeting Hally and Devon, and
finding a way for Eva to take control of their body, they try to take it. But
then they get shipped off to another hospital, where they’re in more danger.
Ever since I heard of this, I was really excited about this.
It’s such an original idea and really interesting-sharing bodies with others, having to live like that, not having control
over what your body does, and such. Then there was the whole persecution thing,
and i was very happy at the differentness, the newness of this book.
It didn’t take long to get the hang of Eva and Addie’s
relationship. The whole, I love you but sometimes I dislike you, which you get
from being around one person for a long
time, so it’s easy to see that it was taken further when they’re together for
the entirety of their life.
I love the supporting characters. Hally and Devon are really
cool. The romance between Eva and Devon and Ryan is really sweet, but a little
annoying in places.
Eva really takes the stage here, despite the fact that she
is the weak one in her world. I love her voice, her determination to hang onto
life with everything that she’s got, and her strength to keep fighting even
though it would theoretically be best for her life to not.
I’d like some more world building.
There’s mentions of hybrids in other countries running around like normal, so
I’d like to see why America thinks they’re a threat. I’d also like to see how
they came about.
The writing is good. It’s simple,
but it gets across all the emotions really really well. There’s also little
things like using me and us which show how they change their views about
eachother.
The whole concept really makes you
think. What if it happened to me? What if a part of me was going to disappear
one day? What if I was hated and
threatened for not letting go of
it? Then you realise exactly how scary this concept is.
Finally, the amazingness of the cover. As in, there’s two
girls in that one shape.
Overall: Strength 4 tea to a beautifully original book.
looking forwards to the next one.
