Dualed (Dualed, #1)

Feb 21, 2013 Wendy Darling rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: rh, dystopian-post-apocalyptic-utopian, february, sci-fi-or-futuristic, 2013-publication, young-adult, read-2012, canadian, asian

Stop by The Midnight Garden to win a Dualed ARC!

3.5 stars Every person in the city of Kersh has a genetic Alternate--but only one will survive! Dun dun dun. At the age of fifteen, West Grayer has just been notified of her Alt's location, and it's a race against the clock to find and eliminate her...before she herself is killed.

I really enjoy YA science fiction, so Dualed is right up my alley. Who wouldn't be intrigued by a concept like that? The blurb sold it to me, and I'm guessing it will hoo...more

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Mar 20, 2013 karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: why-yes-i-ya, my-biggest-fear

i am so torn.

on the one hand - it is a book about twins (clones) where, by law, one must eventually kill the other, thereby leaving only one human instead of two, the way it should be (see shelf title). on the other hand, most of this "world" MAKES NO SENSE.

but how much does that matter, when you are reading a lightweight YA dysto-sci-fi novel?i have a tendency to shrug off inconsistencies depending on the answer to the following question:

is it fun?

well, yeah, it's pretty fun. but i'm not sure i...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Blythe rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-reads, almost-fell-asleep, caught-in-a-bad-romance, disappointments, highly-anticipating-2013, hooray-for-masochism, i-totally-saw-that-coming, judge-a-book-by-the-cover, meh, read-reviewed, snark-bait-ooh-ah-ah, unmet-potential, was-warned-not-to-read-this

Upon finishing Dualed, all I am overcome with is an overwhelming sense of complete and utter mediocrity. Running through my head last night, while reading, and ultimately finishing Dualed was a giant list of 'what-ifs' and 'should-haves' that, in my opinion, would have made reading Dualed a much more interesting experience. Should these issues have been addressed, Dualed could have easily been a four star read for me, but in the end, there are far too many holes in the world and the character de...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Giselle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ebook, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic

Dualed was one of my most anticipated books of this year, as soon as I saw the synopsis I was in. The book itself is entertaining, to say the least. I was easily kept on my toes during this story, it's just a shame to say that if you stop and think about it for a minute, there is quite a bit of empty space as far as the world building is concerned. The characters as well, left a little too much to be desired.

Dualed introduces us to a a world where they make it so for every person born, another w...more Dualed was one of my most anticipated books of this year, as soon as I saw the synopsis I was in. The book itself is entertaining, to say the least. I was easily kept on my toes during this story, it's just a shame to say that if you stop and think about it for a minute, there is quite a bit of empty space as far as the world building is concerned. The characters as well, left a little too much to be desired.

Dualed introduces us to a a world where they make it so for every person born, another will share the same DNA as a way to get only the best and brightest for their city. Which means one of them has to prove to be the stronger, better Alt. One of them has to survive! Fans of sic fi as much as fans of dystopian novels would get the urge to read a book with such a fascinating premise. Some of it is done quite well, too, like how their system for active Alts is put in place to make the "hunt" exactly that--a hunt. It's exhilarating and you always feel the need to look over your shoulder. The book is not without excitement and it's fair share of gore. You have to take it as it comes, however. If you start thinking to much about the ways of their world, how all of this would actually work in a society, you'll come by a few walls and greyed out areas. For instance, if this world would come to play, I'd presume there would be a constant problem of people--be the parents, or the kids themselves--killing the Alts before they even become active. It's not hard to make a death look like an accident when kids with guns are flying high in the streets shooting at their alter egos. Where bullet proof glass is needed in establishments because stray bullets are a thing of every day life. Details such as this left this world into a bit of an implausible slur. I'm aware this is a fictional sci-fi novel, but what makes dystopians especially poignant, like The Hunger Games for one, is the realistic setting they've been given. Details are fleshed out, every aspect of their world is explored making it easy to get submerged into the novel, but even more important, making it easy to sympathize, to feel the emotional consequences of it all.

West, our protagonist, is a difficult character to talk about because she lands in the middle of about everything. She's not weak nor tough, she's not super intelligent nor dumb, she just is. There are some parts where she shows a lot of strength and definite courage, but I was disappointed by her running and hiding once she became active. She could put a bullet into a stranger's head, yet she turns coward to her own completion. I'm fairly certain we were meant to understand the difference between killing a stranger versus your own face, but that wasn't communicated to me as a reader. May it be the lack of character or world building, or a simple miss in terms of emotional involvement, it was not made possible for me to put myself in her shoes and understand her hesitations.

Chord, the main supporting character, is the "boy next door" that we all love. It was great to have a character who knew when to leave well enough alone. He knew when he was welcome, and when he was not helping. Though he still found a way to make sure that West was ok. Those looking for a big romantic subplot won't find it here, however. These two do have a strong bond from being friends for so long, and there is definite attraction there, but the romance is not a part of the book at all. We see a glimpse of it towards the end and that's that. This is a positive aspect for me, though, since I've become a little tired of the cookie cutter romances dystopians often have.

At least, even with the world building issues I had with this novel, there was enough going on to keep most of my questions at bay. The constant moving, running, killings, easily invested me in the plot, making it an easy and quick read through to the end. An end, might I add, that I was really satisfied with. There were great plot shifts that kept it exciting, giving it the perfect pacing, not anticlimactic nor too drawn out. I've also been noticing that often when it comes to a series, the world building gets halted until the sequel which is where we really start to collect details that brings this world into existence. I guess it will all depend in what you're expecting, if you want an exciting, non stop ride and you're a fan of dytopians, then yes, this is one for you, my friend!(less)

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Jun 20, 2012 Katy rated it 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars - I really thought I would love this book. To think somewhere in this world, there's an alternate version of you that grew up in a different home, had different friends, was a different person and only one of you will survive a showdown. And the first chapter had me hooked with West's grief over losing her family, her concern for Chord who just received his assignment, their playful banter and the tragedy that just broke my heart.

But that was as far as my loving it went. After that, th...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Kara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, didn-t-live-up-to-expectations, dystopian, dropped-series-graveyard, for-review, net-galley, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, so-much-potential-wasted, young-adult, you-call-this-world-building

Ready? Let's do this. Dualed was a very underwhelming read for me. It started off with several chapters of infodumping and dialogue that did nothing to hook the reader. A much less patient person could have easily put this book down and moved on to something else and I would not have faulted them for that. There was too much dialogue, too much set up, and hardly any excitement.

One of the things that is really important to me as a reader (and an editor) is imagery. What does the world smell like,...more Ready? Let's do this. Dualed was a very underwhelming read for me. It started off with several chapters of infodumping and dialogue that did nothing to hook the reader. A much less patient person could have easily put this book down and moved on to something else and I would not have faulted them for that. There was too much dialogue, too much set up, and hardly any excitement.

One of the things that is really important to me as a reader (and an editor) is imagery. What does the world smell like, taste like, feel like? I want to see it through the protagonist's eyes. I want to feel like I am there. I want description but not too much description. It has to be the right combination of plot, setting, and characters. You know what was missing here? Setting. Full out. It was disappointing too. There was so much potential to expand the writing and make me believe in this world-building, and I can't help but feel it was a missed opportunity. Now this may be because this is the author's first novel and these are skills that can be expanded with time. I do hope so, because this book did have a lot of potential.

I loved the plot. I really did. It got a little repetitive at times, but I think the whole idea of ALTs and taking down your ALT was incredibly exciting. I thought all the time that West spent hiding from/hunting her ALT was pretty fun and there were some great action sequences that had me turning the pages quickly. It wasn't all bad.

But...I have to say, I was not at all impressed with the characters. West wasn't bad, but she wasn't developed as much as she should have been. Neither was Chord. And again, this has to do with writing ability. I didn't get enough background. There was too much telling in the writing. Because of the telling, I never felt like I really knew West or could sympathize with her. I didn't believe in her relationship with Chord. And when West became a Striker and started killing people, even though it was a normal thing in this world, I really disliked her even more. She was a murderer. And though she felt SOME guilt for what she was doing, I didn't feel that it was nearly enough.

And then there is the world-building. Or lack of it, really. A cold vaccine really did all of this? I find that truly hard to believe. Supposedly it made people infertile and then the government had to get involved and start making people in a lab. They made two doppelgangers, they grew up separately, and somehow before their 18th birthday they were to get an assignment to take each other down. The one left standing was the strongest and got to live/be a soldier. (The author never tells you exactly what these soldiers will be fighting for.) Supposedly this was to control population (I think) which makes absolutely no sense because you could have just made one person in the first place, amirite? And what exactly IS going on outside those walls? They never exactly tell you that.

I just had a lot of problems with this one. It was suspenseful enough, the characters were developed enough, and the book was all pretty mediocre for me. I wish I had liked it better. I was really looking forward to it, but before I started reading I had seen some mixed reviews so I had lowered my expectations a little. I'm glad I did or I would have been utterly disappointed.

Do I recommend it? I cannot honestly say I do. It's just that there are SO MANY dystopians these days and there are so many that are better. And I think it might be better to invest your precious reading time in one of those. That being said, it's not very long and it does go fast, so there is that. I don't think I will be reading the sequel. It's just not worth it. And that makes me sad.(less)

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Nov 12, 2012 Ashleigh Paige rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, recieved-through-netgalley, back-in-the-oven-with-you-dear-book, could-have-been-so-much-better, provided-by-publisher, such-a-disappointment, the-shameful-shelf-of-get-rid-of-it, why-oh-why-did-i-fall-for-the-hype, so-close-yet-so-far

See more of my reviews on The YA Kitten! My copy was an ARC I received from the publisher for review.

2.5 stars.

Writing reviews that overuse "I" are the bane of my existence, but this is going to be one of those reviews. Dualed is highly reminiscent of Divergent in a number of ways and there are therefore going to be many people who will love this novel, but Divergent was not my cup of tea when I read it last year and neither was Dualed. An intense storyline and a strongly developed main characte...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Steph Sinclair marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2013-release, really-looking-forward-to-this-book, random-house, young-adult, gimme-gimme-gimme, i-need-it-like-a-fat-kid-needs-cake, thirteeners, cool-author, print-arc

Look what's back up on NetGalley! https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/sho...

Oh, this sounds right up my alley! DO WANT!

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Oct 05, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-kayla

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A society pits yourself vs. yourself to breed a city of fighters in a war no one really knows about.

Opening Sentence: I’ve buried nearly everyone I love.

The Review:

What would you do if you had to fight yourself to stay alive? Everyone in Kersh has a twin: an exact look-alike with the same mannerisms but grew up in a different home. Sometime when you’re 10 years old to 21 years old, you will be activated. The Board (government) will knock on...more

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Jan 17, 2013 B. Rose rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wish-i-hadn-t-finished, ya-fantasy, arc

The problem with Dualed, aside from its irritating title (I just find it, personally, irritating, and think this could have come with a way better title) is that it just doesn't make sense. [SPOILERS] [TO AVOID SPOILERS, DO NOT READ FURTHER.] I can accept some very wild, crazy premises. Heck, one of my favorite series is about high society London in the 1800's being ruled over by werewolves and vampires. Crazy premise. But Gail Carriger pulls it off excellently. But here in Dualed, nothing actua...more The problem with Dualed, aside from its irritating title (I just find it, personally, irritating, and think this could have come with a way better title) is that it just doesn't make sense. [SPOILERS] [TO AVOID SPOILERS, DO NOT READ FURTHER.] I can accept some very wild, crazy premises. Heck, one of my favorite series is about high society London in the 1800's being ruled over by werewolves and vampires. Crazy premise. But Gail Carriger pulls it off excellently. But here in Dualed, nothing actually makes any sense. The world is all like a crazy set-up for the author to pull off her story, but it never feels rational or logical, and was in fact so frustrating to read that I couldn't bear it at points.

So, the idea of this being a dystopian society, and the one "safe" city, is kind of ridiculous. Because people walk around killing each other all the time. I kept waiting for it to make sense, like, tell me why the Board (government) essentially decides to kill off HALF OF ITS POPULATION. To make an "army" of citizens? Except then they let them get desk jobs and get old and fat and decidedly un-army like? So, what was the point of making your people kill their alternate before they turn 20, if you're just going to let them dwindle into something entirely useless, should there ever be a war? And also, the few times the outside ("Surround") is mentioned, it sounds like they have high-tech warfare equipment, such as bombers and fighter jets. So what is the point of making your citizens kill with knives and guns?

Also, there are so few rules surrounding the kids killing their alternate thing. Like, dude, totes okay if you accidentally kill a passerby in the job? So, not only do you have your population killing half of itself off every single day, you also have them killing more of the people around them. You're effectively reducing your population by 3/4's every single time you send an alt their kill code. What is the point of that? If you want to create a population of soldiers, just enforce them to enlist into the army and train them all. What I'm saying is, the furiously ill-thought out premise makes the entire book shaky and ridiculous.

I didn't even care about the main character or her very infrequently mentioned love interest by the end. When the end comes, I was just glad it was over. This book failed entirely on its promising idea, and also cluttered up the middle with endless kill scenes that did nothing to further the plot. It was a huge disappointment, to say the least.

(I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
(less)

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Jan 27, 2013 Jaiden rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: waiting-in-2013, arc-copy, crushes, dystopian, e-books, favorites, for-review

Originally posted at: Girls on YA Books

~Review:
This book drawed my attention from the very start. From its total kick-ass cover (props to the cover designer!!) and its even awesomer synopsis/book blurb...I knew I had to read it! The whole fighting to the death..with yourself blew my mind. The concept! Could you imagine?

From the beginning Dualed hooks, lines, and sinkers you. I was fully enthralled in its pages not wanting to put it down. Elsia Chapman is an amazing and talented writer. Not onl...more Originally posted at: Girls on YA Books

~Review:
This book drawed my attention from the very start. From its total kick-ass cover (props to the cover designer!!) and its even awesomer synopsis/book blurb...I knew I had to read it! The whole fighting to the death..with yourself blew my mind. The concept! Could you imagine?

From the beginning Dualed hooks, lines, and sinkers you. I was fully enthralled in its pages not wanting to put it down. Elsia Chapman is an amazing and talented writer. Not only is her imagination genius to produce a book like this but her writing is very well done. I will admit that at times I had trouble following along. There seemed to be things missing every now and then. At points it wasn't smooth like books should be and I don't know if that's because of the ARC or the writing. The things that did make sense and flowed were writing wonderfully and had my full attention.

I think I would have liked more background. More history and facts. At the beginning I had a hard time understanding the Alt business. I had questions like "So is one a clone with no real personality?", "Do they have the same families and it just be like them in an alternate life?". I kind of had to make my own assumptions after awhile and I would have liked it all just better explained I guess. Other than that and the piece parts at times...AMAZING! I trully loved this book!

I enjoyed West. She was a rock solid girl from the beginning that slowly unraveled showing a more vulnerable side but at the same time she never truly unraveled. She just had minor setbacks which in the end made her even stronger. She had to go through some self-finding issues along with grief and trust. West had to obstacle after obstacle and her past haunted her. I liked how she got stronger the weaker she became. (If that can make any sense). I really liked Chord too. Well...ok I really really loved Chord. ;D He was persistent and protective. He is the only stable thing West has throughout the book and as much as she tries to push him away, literally running from him at times...he stays and he follows and he protects. They drove me absolutely bananas cause you could literally feel the attracted tension seeping through the pages and I was yelling at them to hurry up and freaking kiss!!! Then of course when everything went well...it was worth the wait! ;D

Dualed is a wonderful debut you are not going to want to miss this 2013 year! Edgy, action packed and motivational this book has some awesome factors tied in. I honestly don't know where book 2 is going to go but I guess we will have to wait and see. I highly recommend this book to all you dystopian lovers! It kicks butt for sure! I wanted to give it a full 5 star rating but because of the time-to-time pieciness and the lack of more explaining I will give it a 4.5 but hell...only .5 got deducted. It was seriously good no doubt about it!

~Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars!

*Disclaimer..a copy was provided by Netgalley for review purposes*(less)

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Dec 20, 2012 Whitney (Vivid Reads) rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

DNF Review:

Dualed by Elsie Chapman, was dual.
I found it really difficult to get into, for many different reason.
One, was I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style. It was really stiff and impersonal. Another, is the main character, West. She reminds me of a lot of other YA characters, like the author meant for her to be a strong, kick-ass character. But she really just came off like she was playing dress up. I guess it just wasn't believable, to me.

Another problem was the world building. When I...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Katrina (Kindred Dreamheart) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, random-buzzers, blog-review, own

Could you kill someone with your face? Could you kill at all if faced with certain death? In the world of Dualed, if you want to make it into adulthood you will become a murderer.

Dualed centers around a society when everyone has a genetic alternate complete with government medically "timed" wiring that can be activated at any time a little before or during puberty. Such internal devices make killing your twin an undebatable command. But where there are laws, there are criminals willing to break...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Kevin rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-arc, reviewed

1.5 stars

You know that Grumpy Cat Meme that has been floating around the inter webs the last few weeks? Well if you have forgotten here is a friendly reminder of the true face of evil

That pretty much sums it up for me when it comes to Dualed.

It's one thing for an author to make their character a complete badass, it's a whole other thing when said character is utterly unlikable. West has got to be one of the worst main characters I have ever had the misfortune to of met. From the first cha...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Ashelynn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: recommend

Holy crap, I loved this book. I loved that Elsie Chapman knows how to weave an intricate action-packed story with just the right amount of romance. Since I’m a huge romance girl, you know Dualed was amazing for me to love the action more than the romance. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. A MUST read for the science fiction fans.

***

So, I read Dualed in June. June 2012. That’s a really long wait for the sequel, but the good news is: there isn’t a cliffhanger. Which makes me super happy becau...more Holy crap, I loved this book. I loved that Elsie Chapman knows how to weave an intricate action-packed story with just the right amount of romance. Since I’m a huge romance girl, you know Dualed was amazing for me to love the action more than the romance. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. A MUST read for the science fiction fans.

***

So, I read Dualed in June. June 2012. That’s a really long wait for the sequel, but the good news is: there isn’t a cliffhanger. Which makes me super happy because maybe now the wait will be bearable.

I doubt it. I’ll just have to reread Dualed because HELL YEAH IT IS THAT AWESOME. I do love a good action-packed novel, even when I do love the romance. I love that Elsie Chapman worked both into this fantastic debut, and she does such a great job with it.

I love love love West. She’s so mature for her age, and in this world Chapman created, it works. You sorta have to be mature instead of a young teenager when you know you might have to kill your Alt soon. Or have them kill you.

I have to admit that I did think about this idea a lot—You or your Alt?—and came to the conclusion that if I had to face against my Alt, and be the person that I am today, I wouldn’t make it. BUT if I lived in that world and had been training for killing my Alt? I think I could, because hello, I have been TRAINING for this moment, so it makes this book’s premise a little OH HOLY CRAP. What BIG thing happened to West to make it seem like she couldn’t do this?

You guys, I just absolutely adored the idea behind Dualed. It was unique and made me REALLY think, and I love thinking. I love books that challenge me to think of an alternate world.

Such a fantastic idea. Anyway. The romance fan that I am wanted more kissing; West and Chord have amazing chemistry between them, and man, I LOVED Chord. He was so sweet! Like he’s probably the sweetest YA love interest out there. LOVED HIM SO MUCH. He’s just . . . amazing. All the hearts for Chord.

The ending totally made this book for me, especially the big climatic event. I reread it after I finished the book because omg it was just perfect. And no cliffhanger! Yay! I’m really excited to see where Elsie takes the sequel. I can’t WAIT for that one. I would sell parts of my soul for it. (less)

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Feb 19, 2013 Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars

of weeks ago I read a copy of Dualed because a friend had posted a clip of the audio version on their facebook page, it intrigued me. As I walked by my book case I noticed I had an advanced copy on my TBR pile so I thought Why Not?

Dualed by Elise Chapman brings together bits and pieces of all my favourite YA Dystopian novels yet stands all on its own. West Grayer is a strong female character that I’m pretty sure could take down Katniss (especially the Katniss in The MockingJay), could give Triss...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Cherie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm conflicted about this one. There were things I loved, but then other things...not so much. Thus, the middle-of-the-road three star rating.

The general idea is this (from the book):

When the universal cold vaccine had the nasty side effect of irreversible infertility, it was the Board who managed to keep the human race alive through a system of constant and carefully controlled biological intervention. But human nature has a way of disintegrating no matter how many chances it’s given, and the...more I'm conflicted about this one. There were things I loved, but then other things...not so much. Thus, the middle-of-the-road three star rating.

The general idea is this (from the book):

When the universal cold vaccine had the nasty side effect of irreversible infertility, it was the Board who managed to keep the human race alive through a system of constant and carefully controlled biological intervention. But human nature has a way of disintegrating no matter how many chances it’s given, and the world fell into war. An offshoot of the Board broke off, claimed the upper West Coast of North America as its own, and turned its back on everyone else. It called the massive gated city Kersh, the last war- free zone in the world.

The Board, in its genius, created Alts, manipulating genes so two identical children are born to two sets of parents... both active Alts must hunt each other down until only one remains. It’s the ultimate survival- of- the- fittest test, allowing only those capable of killing to go on and become adults in Kersh.

West has lost her entire family and has recently gone "active." She is also a "striker" - an assassin hired to kill other people's alts. While she has no trouble completing her striker assignments, she is conflicted about killing her own Alt.

The thing I was really most disappointed in was the world-building and the backstory. I want to know why and how the world disintegrated to the point that Kersh had to wall itself off. I want to know what the world is like outside of Kersh. I want to know why people just go along with this idea of killing their Alt. Why does no one rebel? Why did no one rebel when it all started? I wanted to know more about the structure of the city. Chapman gives us bits and pieces - how the city is sectioned and what each section produces - but I didn't really get a great picture of how things would look. I'm hoping that some of these things will be explored more as the series continues.

I was also surprised at where this book led. The ending didn't really shock me, but I was surprised that there wasn't much of a rebellion against the status quo. Most dystopian novels show a progression from acceptance of how things are to questioning of the status quo to full out rebellion and change. Here, there really wasn't any of that. Sure, there were some things that hinted at rebellion - the strikers, for instance - but there is no great fight against the Board. This is really just the story of one girl following the rules in this society. On the one hand, I like that this book didn't follow the same formula as every other book in the genre, but on the other hand, I wanted to see these horrible practices come to an end. Again, I'm hoping that this will change as the series continues.

I really loved the characters. I loved how West was conflicted. She carries an immense amount of guilt, she is angry, she feels defeated. Yet, through it all she is strong. She is convinced that her rutheless Alt is the one who should win, never really acknowledging that her own perseverance, smarts and will to live make her just as worthy.

I loved that there is a hint of romance between West and Chord. West continually pushes him away, feeling that if he is too close, he is in danger. The tension and frustration (not just sexual in nature) is written well. I wanted to smack her for pushing him away, yet I understood why she felt she had too. The romance never overtakes the plot as it does in so many other books. It's important to the book but does not overwhelm it. I look forward to seeing where things go with West and Chord.

Overall I enjoyed Dualed. I look forward to reading the second book in the series in hopes that some of my questions will be answered. This is a good original storyline that could be great if fleshed out a bit more.(less)

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Apr 14, 2013 Summer the last Airbender rated it 5 of 5 stars

I personally LOVED this book. This book was an amazing dystopian story that is a fast read and worth every minute you spend reading it. *spoiler* this book is not a dystopian novel about rebellion, which is a complaint many people are hating it for, but despite not being that type of book, I still found it a really interesting read. Also, if you do not like books where the main character is not all goody-two-shoes and innocent and always the good guy, do NOT read this book. Yes West could be col...more I personally LOVED this book. This book was an amazing dystopian story that is a fast read and worth every minute you spend reading it. *spoiler* this book is not a dystopian novel about rebellion, which is a complaint many people are hating it for, but despite not being that type of book, I still found it a really interesting read. Also, if you do not like books where the main character is not all goody-two-shoes and innocent and always the good guy, do NOT read this book. Yes West could be cold at times, but she did go through a lot, and overall in this setting people are raised with the mind set that they will kill someone else, so I don't know why people made such a big deal about how she became a striker in an environment where killings are common. Yeah, she may be less likable because she kills people as a job, but she does it for training since she can't pay for private lessons. I still don't see it as a reason to hate the book just because you can't connect with the main character, and can one honestly say in a situation where you knew in order to live you'd have to kill someone just like you, you wouldn't take any extra practice, even if it was cruel? I mean in the hunger games, Katniss killed people, yes in revenge, but they were still people whose lives mattered to someone. Did they deserve to die just because they were ruthless in the hunger games? In that situation where you're fighting for your life, I'm sure anyone would try killing others if it raised there chances of survival. Long story short, if you want a story about rebellion and a main character who is only good, don't read this. But if you want a story about a bad-ass who has a sad back story and an action packed adventure where she fights for her life, and a dystiopian story where the people have to go along with what's happening or they all will be killed, this is the book for you! Just don't expect a heartfelt happy get-together story where all the people join together and overthrow the bad government, because this book is much more realistic. Because in real life, with a government this powerful, and people this poor, people wouldn't be trying to begin a rebellion soon since it would probably just be another Stalin incident. (less)

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Apr 13, 2013 Klava rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

** SPOILER ALERT**

Dualed is a young adult novel about West Grayer, a 15-year-old girl living in a world very different from ours. The city she grew up in, called Kersh, has a novel way to stave off a war with surrounding areas where everyone has an genetic Alternate (a twin raised by another family).

West's family has had a lot of tragedies, and she ends up almost alone when she is called to for the assignment she has trained for all her life and has to prove that she is the better fighter by hu...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Heidi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars: A thrilling and frightening world where one must kill or be killed!

West is dreading the day when she receives her assignment. It is the day where the clock starts ticking and she must kill her alternate identity or die. West lives in a terrifying and brutal futuristic society where humanity was nearly destroyed by a vaccine for the common cold. She resides in a city where everyone must train to be a soldier to survive. The Board in an attempt to ensure only the survival o...more Three and a half stars: A thrilling and frightening world where one must kill or be killed!

West is dreading the day when she receives her assignment. It is the day where the clock starts ticking and she must kill her alternate identity or die. West lives in a terrifying and brutal futuristic society where humanity was nearly destroyed by a vaccine for the common cold. She resides in a city where everyone must train to be a soldier to survive. The Board in an attempt to ensure only the survival of the strongest and fittest conceived a brutal plan. Every child has an alternate. Twins born to two sets of parents. Once the child reaches eleven, they can be activated at any time and forced to kill their alternate or be killed. Failing to act results in death for both children. West receives her assignment just days after a tragic loss. Reeling from trauma, she does the one thing she thought she would never do.... run and hide from her Alt. Will West step up and kill her Alt or be killed?
What I Liked:
*Ms. Chapman does a terrific job in presenting a terrifying Hunger Games type story where children are forced to kill in order to survive. However, in this story their opponent is much more terrifying since everyone must fight their genetic twin. Imagine coming face to face with someone who shares your same DNA and being forced to murder them or be killed?! It is a chilling concept for sure, and it certainly set my imagination on fire and got my heart pounding. If you are a fan of dystopians with thrilling and terrifying concepts and lots of action, you should give this one a try.
*Ms. Chapman does a good job presenting her futuristic dystopian world. She provides just enough details to provide solid framework, but refrains from info dumping. Her world is horrific and scary in that ordinary citizens go about their daily business not thinking twice about the murders that go on all around the city as children battle and kill their alternate identities. Accidental kills are common, but just another harsh reality of life in Kersh. I wasn't lost with the world building and thought the detail was adequate, which is always a bonus for me when reading a dystopian.
*This book certainly got the gears of my mind churning as I pondered over all the shocking aspects of life in Kersh. For instance, imagine being a parent having survived your own murderous encounter with your Alt. Now you have earned the right to enjoy your life, marry, have children, etc. Then as a parent you give birth to a child knowing that somewhere out in the city there is an exact duplicate of your child, growing up and someday the two will meet and only one will survive. Your child has a fifty-fifty survival chance. I cannot even imagine the terror of knowing that once my child turns eleven that they could at anytime be forced to kill their Alt. Not only is the thought of losing your child scary, but you must face the daily threats of Alts murdering each other in the streets, and there is always a chance your child could be in the wrong place at the wrong time and become an errant victim. The story presents some interesting and frightening ideas. I definitely enjoyed mulling them all over.
*The romance in this one is simple and straightforward. It involves two long time friends thrust together in dire circumstances, finally after a great deal of conflict, they open up and express their feelings. There is not a love triangle, which is always nice.
*This book culminates with an adrenaline fueled, heart pounding scene that had me racing through the pages. Thankfully, everything draws to a complete and satisfying resolution with no cliffhanger. This book works well as a stand alone, but I understand a sequel is in the works. I don't know if it will be a continuation of West's story or a companion novel. I will be interested to follow up as I did enjoy the action and ideas of this book.
And The Not So Much:
*For me, and I think many other readers, the biggest problem with this book is that it is extremely difficult to connect with West. She is an impossible character to like sometimes. In the beginning, she comes across as a tough as nails, forceful, determined and brave, but after a traumatic incident in the first chapters, West changes. From that point on, West appears to be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Granted, I can understand why she pushed Chord, her best friend away. She was scared of losing him, too, but she is so mean and ungrateful toward him that it made me dislike her. Also her behavior is erratic and at times irritating. Gone is the forceful girl who is determined to take on and kill her Alt. Now West is damaged and hiding. Furthermore, she takes on the role of a Striker. An assassin for hire if you will. I couldn't believe that she was hunting and killing others Alts while hiding from her own. In all honesty, there were times that I thought she deserved to be killed. In the end, I settled with a love hate relationship with West. Part of me admired her, while another part of me was frustrated with her stupid behavior.
*There were a couple of questions I had regarding the whole Alt issue. I was still a bit confused over how and when someone received their assignments. Everything was determined by the mysterious and powerful Board. Once a child turns eleven they could be activated to kill their Alt. How did they determine who would be activated? Was it a lottery type thing or what? People were often errantly killed while in the path of an Alt conflict. So if your Alt was killed by a stray bullet did you automatically get a free pass and become Complete without having to go through any type of trial? It doesn't seem fair that someone could become Complete and enjoy all the benefits of life without having to endure the Alt showdown. These were a couple of minor concerns I had with the plot.
*The Board and the government control lacked a bit of detail. I wanted to know how the Board formed? Who sat on the Board? How were the leaders determined? Why didn't the government maintain stricter control over the Alt conflicts? Why didn't they hunt down and punish those who used Strikers?

Dualed is a fast paced, exciting and terrifying story will entertain you despite a few flaws. If you enjoy gritty reads that keep you flipping the pages until the bitter end, you should check out Dualed. I enjoyed the overall story and I think Ms. Chapman does a solid job with her dystopian vision. I would certainly be interested to check out her follow up: Divided.
Favorite Quotations:
"Besides, paper books smell like the past, an alien world."
"I need to believe it's possible to keep going the way I am and not change too much, not leave too much of myself behind."

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@ Rainy Day Ramblings.

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Mar 24, 2013 Regina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: childhood-friends, dystopia, 2013

I wanted to like this book. I really did but I just cant. First of all, I never understood why this society had to create alternate clones of their children and then forced the twins to fight each other to the death or they both detonate. What? At first i was intrigued by the idea of being forced to fight the clone of yourself but then I found the idea too unexplained to work in this novel. The book sort of gives an explanation that it has to do with survivor of the fittest or something but to b...more I wanted to like this book. I really did but I just cant. First of all, I never understood why this society had to create alternate clones of their children and then forced the twins to fight each other to the death or they both detonate. What? At first i was intrigued by the idea of being forced to fight the clone of yourself but then I found the idea too unexplained to work in this novel. The book sort of gives an explanation that it has to do with survivor of the fittest or something but to be honest I think it comes off incredibly stupid and a waste of resources.
I also wanted to like West but I couldn't connect with her character. Her decision to be come a striker early on did not help my impressions of her. Her romance with Chord was also just sort of there. Chord was not really fleshed out besides playing the role of West's childhood friend that obviously has a thing for her.
No one except for West was fleshed out really. It is almost like this novel was written to be an action movie like "RepoMan" with Jude Law because there was a lot of action and some killing involved but not too much connection or explanation with the characters. West's alt(the twin) was written off as a bogey man of sorts that she needed to kill rather than another teenage girl faced with the same problem. Some thing that annoyed me greatly was that no one questioned the system too much or even fight it. Strikers were supposed to be the vilgilantes of the system but all they really do is kill kids not rich enough to hire them. No better than assassins honestly.
Again, this is another book with an interesting concept and very poor execution.
It reads better as an action movie but wont give you the emotion punch of a great novel. Some parts of it made me think of hunger games/battle royale(forcing kids to fight each other to the death! oh joy!) except no one bothered to question why.I finished with a "what?.....meh" reaction. I'm not sure I want to give the sequel a try...maybe if its out in the library.(less)

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Mar 16, 2013 Adrienne rated it 2 of 5 stars

Every child born in the city of Kersh has an Alt--a replica of themselves who lives in a different family. At some point in their preteen or teen years, they will get the assignment to fight each other to the death. West, whose entire family is dead, knows that her time to fight her Alt will come. When she's given the chance to become a striker (which is an illegal job killing off other people's Alts for payment), she takes it, thinking it will help her prepare to face her own Alt.

I might have...more Every child born in the city of Kersh has an Alt--a replica of themselves who lives in a different family. At some point in their preteen or teen years, they will get the assignment to fight each other to the death. West, whose entire family is dead, knows that her time to fight her Alt will come. When she's given the chance to become a striker (which is an illegal job killing off other people's Alts for payment), she takes it, thinking it will help her prepare to face her own Alt.

I might have liked this book better if I could get myself to just read it and not think too much...but there it didn't have that power over me, so I thought quite a bit and there are several flaws that I just can't get past.
1) I don't think the author did a good enough job establishing why they have Alts. Yeah, it's supposed to be some survival of the fittest so they're prepared against the outside world type thing...but we never see ANY sort of threat from the outside world, and it's made to seem like everything is okay once a person has completed their assignment and their Alt is dead--life is suddenly great for them. Except if there's a threat from the outside world that they needed to be prepared for, then why the heck would things just suddenly be all okay?
2) Because #1 isn't established well-enough, it just makes it seems like a gory game...kinda like the Hunger Games...except this book is nowhere near as good as The Hunger Games and it makes it seems like the author just jumped on the bandwagon, rather than fully developing her own world and own reasons for that world.
3) West doesn't really seem to question her world. She doubts herself and whether she should be the one to live, or if her Alt should be the one, but it never seems to occur to her that maybe it's wrong for either of them to win or lose. She never questions her society in the sense of wondering why they really have to have this stupid Alt competition killing anyway. This was especially weird to me because a lot of people are calling this book a dystopia, but in most dystopias, the character realizes there's something wrong with his/her world, and West never seemed to have that realization.
4) I was never convinced West had a very good reason for becoming a striker. It's supposed to prepare her for killing her own Alt...but is becoming a hit man really supposed to make her a sympathetic character? She's killing for money and for her own "training" (although she doesn't actually get any training beyond what she already had; she just gets assignments and goes out there and kills people)...so, for entirely selfish purposes. And I'm supposed to really like her? I didn't. I didn't hate her, but I didn't like her.

So..yeah, didn't work for me. Other people will love it, I'm sure, but it didn't do it for me.(less)

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Mar 07, 2013 Step Into Fiction rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sana

Wow seriously read the summary of this book again. Sounds intense right? Dualed is the type of book that you pick up on a day off from work (or school) and once you start it you just can't put it down. I read this book in one sitting. Now for me, that is a big deal. For a book blogger, I am actually a pretty slow reader. It usually takes me about 3 sittings to read a book, on average about 2 and a half days around my work schedule. But this book was just so good, that I just had to keep going. I...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Lisa Miller Chandler rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, blogged, netgalley

This book was completely mind blowing. I actually laid in bed and thought about this book between readings it was so utterly creepy in its possibilities as non fiction. I was captivated from the beginning at how the teens were raised to kill their genetic twin. The fact that the killings happened right on the streets or in public buildings and everyone just kept going as though it was nothing. The killing of one's alt (alternate self) was nothing...EVERYONE had to kill or be killed by their alt....more

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Feb 25, 2013 Niki rated it 3 of 5 stars

Dualed was one of the books I was most looking forward to reading in 2013. The blurb is just fantastic and I admit -- I have a soft spot for dystopian stories. Not only is the concept of Dualed is thrilling, but the writing, I soon discover as I read Dualed, is absolutely amazing. There's a lot of suspense in the way Elsie Chapman writes.

However, I also discover that as I read Dualed, I found some things I didn't like as much.

Firstly, there was the lack of background information. At certain time...more Dualed was one of the books I was most looking forward to reading in 2013. The blurb is just fantastic and I admit -- I have a soft spot for dystopian stories. Not only is the concept of Dualed is thrilling, but the writing, I soon discover as I read Dualed, is absolutely amazing. There's a lot of suspense in the way Elsie Chapman writes.

However, I also discover that as I read Dualed, I found some things I didn't like as much.

Firstly, there was the lack of background information. At certain times, I felt confused about which place was which, and I thought the description of places could be improved. I would also like to learn more about how their government works. As readers, we get learn some details of how Alts' lives work, but I feel like some more details are still needed.

Also, as I was reading Dualed, I found that the world-building isn't as solid as I would like it to be. From Dualed, I learned that the government is making doubles of people from two sets of parents, so they can each eliminate each other when they get older. That is to create a stronger society who will fight when war strikes. For whatever reason, I find that reason to be a really flimsy excuse. I wish that theory was further backed up with evidence or fleshed out more. Because the way I see it, whoever killed their Alt isn't neccesarily the strongest. It could always be luck, or as the story suggests, a striker for hire.

Next, there was the main character, West. I didn't hate her, but I didn't connect much with her either. At times, I couldn't really understand her actions. I was constantly asking myself why she wanted to be a striker (someone who was hired to kill another person's Alt). I think the reason why she started in the beginning was because she wanted to get practice for killing her own Alt. However, even after she got her assignment, she was still dealing with striker assignments rather than hunting down her own Alt. If anything, the plan to get practice actually backfired because she didn't truly work on her assignment until there were only a few days left.

Another reason why I couldn't connect with West was mainly because I was frustrated by how she couldn't kill her Alt. She kept dragging out the assignment, and a lot of unnecessary things have happened. I wish there was more of an actual plot going on, besides West trying to understand herself and getting the courage to kill her Alt.

However, at times, I found her to be really brave and kind. I liked how she helped Dess with training and I liked how she kept thinking about how to protect the person she cares about the most. I admit, I didn't always agree with what she did, but she had a good personality.

Lastly, there was Chord. Though his romance with West seem a bit forced (as they seem more like brother and sister), I did like him a lot. He was caring about West, and it really shows in the story. I also liked how the romance played a small part in Dualed. It was refreshing to see a story with just action and romance on the side.

So overall, Dualed was a good read, despite some things I mentioned in my review. There was a lot of potential in this story and for the most part, I did enjoy reading it. I couldn't completely agree with all the things West did, but she was an okay character most of the time. Chord was a fantastic character and the story was really fast-paced. I'm also looking forward to reading the sequel Divided because I'm curious about how this series will turn out. I would definitely recommend Dualed to readers who are looking for a quick, fun, dystopian book. (less)

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Feb 18, 2013 Liwayway rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-adventure, psychological, arc, science-fiction, dystopian, ya-fiction

For a good portion of West's story, I had to work my way through it. The world is interesting though lacking in a few ways that I suppose is understandable. It's a place where people killing people who look like them is very normal. It lacks in that people don't react much more to an ordinary killing on the street. It might be considered inhuman, but then I wonder about the world these characters are brought up in. Would we be the same if death and violence were the basis of society's success? I...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Mrs. Kenyon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1-2013-books

Be the one, be worthy. This statement is what every Alt hears when they become active and must kill their genetic Alternate. Everyone who lives in the city of Kersh must prove their worthiness to society by killing their Alternate sometime between the age of 10 and 20 years old. They are given 31 days from their date of activation to eliminate the other person. If at the end of this time period both individuals are still alive, then both will self-destruct and neither will be considered worthy....more

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Feb 08, 2013 Ophelia Mercy rated it 1 of 5 stars

Have you ever seen one of those Hollywood action movies with a bad plot, weak characters and some rather action packed scences that make you go, "woot". This is the best way to go about reviewing Dualed. I have made a pros and cons list for you all. Enjoy(better then the actual book.)

Pro+
+The book is a quick read.
+The action is written out very well.
+West is a great heroine, in her own right.
+This list will end soon, as in now.

Cons-
-West is just about as dimensinal as a slice of cheese. Her coh...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Skye rated it 2 of 5 stars

Set in a dystopian future where each couple who wants to have a child is paired up with another couple who wants to have a child. Their collective DNA is combined and two identical children (Alts) are conceived. The Alts are raised apart and at some point between their twelfth and eighteenth birthdays they are "activated" which means that each is sent to kill the other. The (somewhat fuzzy) reasoning being that the society wants only the strongest to survive, thus ensuring a population that can...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Laura Kreitzer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-in-series, from-publisher, nook, 2013

I received DUALED by Elsie Chapman via NetGalley.

5 of 5 stars

Elsie Chapman, I bow down to your spectacular writing. From the concept, plot, action, characters, and suspense, you nailed it. Books like this one are one in a million.

Let's cut to the chase, shall we? Would I recommend this book? Yes! Especially to fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT. Even lovers of zombie books would enjoy the non-stop, heart-pounding action.
This intense story will keep you flipping pages long past your bedtime a...more

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Should Dualed be a movie!	1	4	May 10, 2013 01:44pm
The Indie Exchang...: ARC Dualed by Elsie Chapman ((US Giveaway))	1	13	Feb 13, 2013 10:03am
Shut Up & Read: ARC Dualed by Elsie Chapman ((US Giveaway))	1	2	Feb 13, 2013 10:00am
Young Adult Reads: ARC Dualed by Elsie Chapman ((US Giveaway))	1	3	Feb 13, 2013 09:57am

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