Helpful Score: 3
Changelings.
I have always thought it fascinating that the fairy folk would steal children and replace them with their own, so this book was right up my alley.
I finished reading this one last night at 11:47 PM. It's the story of 16 year-old Mackie Doyle and his search for who he really is, his place in the world, love and just wanting be a normal teenager.
I loved Mackie. His personality developed nicely through the book and his best friend Roswell is the kind of best friend I think everyone needs. I loved that this book was written from the male point of view. You don't find a lot of YA novels with that POV and it was really kind of refreshing.
It reminded me a little bit of Tithe by Holly Black that I read last year. I mostly liked that one, but the language took it down several notches... Where as The Replacement was much better, only a slight use of the "f" word, not enough to bother me, and if I had kids I'm sure they hear it more in a day at school than the three or four time it appears in this book. so I'd let my kid read this.
This is the first novel by Brenna Yovanoff. The book was recommended to me by Maggie Stiefvater, author of Shiver and Linger, who is one of Ms. Yavanoff's critique partners and they are both members of the Merry Sisters of Fate website. (Where one of three people post a new short story on Monday. They're fun to read.) So yes, I read this book because another author told me too, and I'm glad I did. There were several editorial/grammatical errors, but not enough that I couldn't work out what the sentences were trying to get at. Brenna Yovanoff has room to grow from here. I hope this isn't the first of a trilogy (but it probably is) I don't want to get hooked on another series I have to wait for.
I have always thought it fascinating that the fairy folk would steal children and replace them with their own, so this book was right up my alley.
I finished reading this one last night at 11:47 PM. It's the story of 16 year-old Mackie Doyle and his search for who he really is, his place in the world, love and just wanting be a normal teenager.
I loved Mackie. His personality developed nicely through the book and his best friend Roswell is the kind of best friend I think everyone needs. I loved that this book was written from the male point of view. You don't find a lot of YA novels with that POV and it was really kind of refreshing.
It reminded me a little bit of Tithe by Holly Black that I read last year. I mostly liked that one, but the language took it down several notches... Where as The Replacement was much better, only a slight use of the "f" word, not enough to bother me, and if I had kids I'm sure they hear it more in a day at school than the three or four time it appears in this book. so I'd let my kid read this.
This is the first novel by Brenna Yovanoff. The book was recommended to me by Maggie Stiefvater, author of Shiver and Linger, who is one of Ms. Yavanoff's critique partners and they are both members of the Merry Sisters of Fate website. (Where one of three people post a new short story on Monday. They're fun to read.) So yes, I read this book because another author told me too, and I'm glad I did. There were several editorial/grammatical errors, but not enough that I couldn't work out what the sentences were trying to get at. Brenna Yovanoff has room to grow from here. I hope this isn't the first of a trilogy (but it probably is) I don't want to get hooked on another series I have to wait for.
Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
Helpful Score: 2
THE REPLACEMENT is an unusual debut novel that delivers on the lyrical creepiness that its cover promises. Despite some issues with plot development, it is a worthy read that will appeal to many different readers on many different levels.
Brenna Yovanoffs writing absolutely blows my mind. The first chapter is so well written in its mixture of character, setting, conflict, and mood development that you can easily fall under its spell and not be bothered by the few issues in storytelling. You might find yourself stopping every few sentences, eyes lingering on a particular phrase that takes your breath away. Mackies world is is a creepy yet magical one, and Brennas writing reflects that juxtaposition: you know you are reading about really creepy stuff, but the way in which the creepy stuff is written about is just so delightful.
As the story progressed I felt that there were a few things I wouldve wanted more. I couldnt get a firm grasp on the politics of the creatures living under Gentry. Why, exactly, are there factions among the world? The humans and creatures of Gentry share a tense but oddly efficient relationship, and I wanted more of a tangible wrongness about the deal, more immediacy of the wrongness. In a way, reading THE REPLACEMENT was like experiencing a dream: you know that the world you are seeing or feeling is weirdfantastical, evenand yet there is still a certain veil between you and that world, as if you know its a dream and cant entirely affect you.
Still, both main and supporting characters are strong and likable, and the uniqueness of the story propelled me forward through my few qualms. THE REPLACEMENT is a great choice for an unusual read this fall, and Im pretty sure I will be going back to this to reread my favorite parts.
Brenna Yovanoffs writing absolutely blows my mind. The first chapter is so well written in its mixture of character, setting, conflict, and mood development that you can easily fall under its spell and not be bothered by the few issues in storytelling. You might find yourself stopping every few sentences, eyes lingering on a particular phrase that takes your breath away. Mackies world is is a creepy yet magical one, and Brennas writing reflects that juxtaposition: you know you are reading about really creepy stuff, but the way in which the creepy stuff is written about is just so delightful.
As the story progressed I felt that there were a few things I wouldve wanted more. I couldnt get a firm grasp on the politics of the creatures living under Gentry. Why, exactly, are there factions among the world? The humans and creatures of Gentry share a tense but oddly efficient relationship, and I wanted more of a tangible wrongness about the deal, more immediacy of the wrongness. In a way, reading THE REPLACEMENT was like experiencing a dream: you know that the world you are seeing or feeling is weirdfantastical, evenand yet there is still a certain veil between you and that world, as if you know its a dream and cant entirely affect you.
Still, both main and supporting characters are strong and likable, and the uniqueness of the story propelled me forward through my few qualms. THE REPLACEMENT is a great choice for an unusual read this fall, and Im pretty sure I will be going back to this to reread my favorite parts.
Helpful Score: 2
Maggie Stiefvater's quote on the book covers says "a beautiful story of ugly things", and I couldn't agree more. This book was completely creepy but not horror movie scary. Gentry is a town scared to stand up for itself. Children disappear and ugly things take their place, but no one says or does anything about it, until Tate refuses to except the disappearance of her little sister. Mackie, one of "the replacements" is growing sick from all the iron in the world he lives in, he's drawn to Mayhem to find a remedy. Mayhem is full of beautifully ugly creatures, and Mackie soon gets in over his head.
I really loved the characters in this book. Mackie was completely naive, but while he thinks of himself as weak, he really has a great inner strength that shines through. He was smart, funny, and brave, even when he was sick and scared. Mackie's best friend was also a great character, he was so loyal to Mackie that it made me smile every time he showed up. As for Tate, our female lead, normally I like girls who are smart-mouthed and generally surely, but Tate takes it a little too far. I never really felt a connection to her because she never really lets us in. My favorite character of all though was the Morrigan. She's innocence and wisdom all wrapped up in one package. I adored her!
Overall, this book was creeptastic and I loved every minute of it. Fast paced and full of suspense. I loved all of the descriptions of the ugly creatures that live in mayhem. I especially loved the scene where Mackie plays on stage with the other ugly people, it's electric and just a fantastic description of the power of music! The books ending wrapped up nicely, there's not really a lot of loose ends, but like real life, it didn't really end with everything perfect and tied up in a bow. I look forward to reading more from Brenna Yovanoff.
I really loved the characters in this book. Mackie was completely naive, but while he thinks of himself as weak, he really has a great inner strength that shines through. He was smart, funny, and brave, even when he was sick and scared. Mackie's best friend was also a great character, he was so loyal to Mackie that it made me smile every time he showed up. As for Tate, our female lead, normally I like girls who are smart-mouthed and generally surely, but Tate takes it a little too far. I never really felt a connection to her because she never really lets us in. My favorite character of all though was the Morrigan. She's innocence and wisdom all wrapped up in one package. I adored her!
Overall, this book was creeptastic and I loved every minute of it. Fast paced and full of suspense. I loved all of the descriptions of the ugly creatures that live in mayhem. I especially loved the scene where Mackie plays on stage with the other ugly people, it's electric and just a fantastic description of the power of music! The books ending wrapped up nicely, there's not really a lot of loose ends, but like real life, it didn't really end with everything perfect and tied up in a bow. I look forward to reading more from Brenna Yovanoff.
