Review: What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles #1), by Kat Zhang

What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles #1)
By Kat Zhang
Publication Date: September 18th, 2012 (HarperTeen)
ARC Paperback, 343 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi; Dystopia; YA
Source: Goodread's First Reads Giveaway and HarperTeen

DESCRIPTION:

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 more 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.

—from goodreads.com

REVIEW:

The whole idea around souls in What's Left of Me, by Kat Zhang, is Golden-Compass-esque—only instead of the one soul being in a "daemon" and the other in the human as in The Golden Compass, both souls are inside of the human.

The two souls sharing one body in What's Left of Me were Addie and Eva, although the spotlight was more on Eva because she was the "recessive soul," the soul that was suppose to die, but never did for some reason, which of course, the government hates. Eva had more redeeming qualities and was more likable that Addie, but she's still just an average "meh" character that I didn't really have an emotions invested into. Both Addie and Eva, but especially Addie, did a lot of sniveling and crying. :/ Honestly, I did not care much for any of the characters.

But (once again), I love the idea. If Addie kisses a boy, Eva is only an observer: she can't move or speak, but it's awkward for her and maybe she doesn't want to kiss the same boy Addie wants to. Maybe Eva doesn't love the same boy as Addie. I guess it's like being Siamese twins with your sibling, and one of you gets a boyfriend/girlfriend and the other twin is that awkward third wheel.

I wish there was more action, inspiring speeches, better description and such. I was confused a few parts in the book about what was happening because the writing seemed unclear.

What's Left of Me leaves a lot of unanswered questions by the end. Hopefully, they'll be answered in the next book.

RATING: