 | Title Beautiful Lies Author Jessica Warman Genre Young Adult, Mystery, Urban Fantasy (slight) Publisher Walker Childrens Publication Date August 7, 2012 How I Got This Book NetGalley Hardback 422 Pages Stand-alone or series Stand-alone My Average 10.5 pages a day Reading Difficulty 3 (on a scale of 1-5 5 = dictionary vernacular)  |
| The Great Switch | |
Rachel and Alice are an extremely rare kind of identical twins-so identical that even their aunt and uncle, whom they've lived with since their parents passed away, can't tell them apart. But the sisters are connected in a way that goes well beyond their surfaces: when one experiences pain, the other exhibits the exact same signs of distress. So when one twin mysteriously disappears, the other immediately knows something is wrong-especially when she starts experiencing serious physical traumas, despite the fact that nobody has touched her. As the search commences to find her sister, the twin left behind must rely on their intense bond to uncover the truth. But is there anyone around her she can trust, when everyone could be a suspect? And ultimately, can she even trust herself?
I am reminded of a Robot Chicken moment with claymation M. Night Shyamalan "What a twist!"
This isn't what I typically read, that's why I loved it so much. I enjoy finding that gem, unique to that which is popular right now. It's labeled as realistic fantasy because there are hints of the uniquely fantastical, but it doesn't lead the story. There aren't sparkly vampires or witches who cast beauty spells. Just your average missing sister story... maybe not so average. If it were average, it would be boring.
Warman does a fantastic job of characterization. The only characters who were hard to tell apart were, go figure, the identical twins. I don't hold that against Warman. In real life, twins do that, they talk like, move like, and act like their twin. That's because they have spent every waking moment with them. Their other half.
Huge twists! There are huge twists in this book that took me by surprise every time. I actually re-read several parts because I wanted to see where the author was hinting at the twists to-come.
This novel also has intense suspense, among other emotions the author makes you feel. Throughout the novel, I found myself feeling anxious as the suspense built. I could see it in my mind, like a water bead being fed. Growing. Eventually the bead will burst.
"No matter where I am, no matter where she is, I have always felt her presence from somewhere within myself. Until this moment. It is as though the thread connecting us has snapped, like something deep within me has been severed. She is simply gone."Hit The Mark:
Warman does a fantastic job of characterization. The only characters who were hard to tell apart were, go figure, the identical twins. I don't hold that against Warman. In real life, twins do that, they talk like, move like, and act like their twin. That's because they have spent every waking moment with them. Their other half.
Huge twists! There are huge twists in this book that took me by surprise every time. I actually re-read several parts because I wanted to see where the author was hinting at the twists to-come.
This novel also has intense suspense, among other emotions the author makes you feel. Throughout the novel, I found myself feeling anxious as the suspense built. I could see it in my mind, like a water bead being fed. Growing. Eventually the bead will burst.
Needs Improvement:
There really wasn't much about this book that I didn't like. The only thing that I felt dragged the plot down were all of the flashbacks. At the same time, they were definitely important to a degree, you really get a good sense of the twins, especially Alice.
There really wasn't much about this book that I didn't like. The only thing that I felt dragged the plot down were all of the flashbacks. At the same time, they were definitely important to a degree, you really get a good sense of the twins, especially Alice.
Rating: A
If you like The Unquiet, Mind Games, Dead Time, & Hush, you might like this novel.
About the Author
I waited it out to see if the author would email me back about a quick e-interview... But I never heard a peep, so I have up. Sorry. : (
ReplyDeleteGave up. I gave up, not have up... That's what I get for posting the review & commenting from my phone.
ReplyDelete