The Replacement

Mar 09, 2011

Amelia, the pragmatic idealist rated it

Shelves: 2010, ya-kids-teen, arcs, penguin, own, paranormal

I absolutely adored the originality of The Replacement. I think the fact that this is the author's first published book is phenomenal. The story's major strength was in its imagery and attention to detail. The eerie town of Gentry and the House of Mayhem under the slag heap were so detailed, so vividly imaginative, that it turned Replacement from a fun book to an edge-of-the-seat thrill ride.
The characters were also fleshed out very well and very creepily, I might add. The Morrigan and t...moreI absolutely adored the originality of The Replacement. I think the fact that this is the author's first published book is phenomenal. The story's major strength was in its imagery and attention to detail. The eerie town of Gentry and the House of Mayhem under the slag heap were so detailed, so vividly imaginative, that it turned Replacement from a fun book to an edge-of-the-seat thrill ride.
The characters were also fleshed out very well and very creepily, I might add. The Morrigan and the "creatures" of her court were so hideously delightful, unlike anything I've read before. I liked how they were portrayed, too. They weren't evil, and yet they were so creepy and so ominous that you couldn't help but feel apprehensive. Side note: Don't you just love it when books make you FEEL? Though the story deals with 'changelings' I liked how The Replacement seemed to have its own original, tailor-made folklore. Never once did the word 'faerie' get attached to any of the characters, therefore I felt like I was reading a brand-spanking new take on an old concept. I'm almost positive you haven't read anything like this before.
As to the MC himself, Mackie Doyle is one of the most endearing, likable and heroic guys I've seen in YA fiction in a loooooooong time. You could not find a better guy to root for in a story like this. His voice is perfect.
- Months after reading The Replacement, I think that the book's actual story definitely held up to its awesome, breathtaking cover. Cover design lures you in, story keeps you satisfied. Period.
All these things being said...

I did have some issues with the pacing of the story. Seemed like an emphasis on the high school "drama" subplots and not really enough of a focus on the "creatures" until halfway in. Replacement's thriller/suspense tone was offset by high school popularity issues and two chapter-long parties (which included underage drinking, of course - y'all know that I find that really annoying). It may sound like nitpicking, but in a fantasy story with horror overtones, those things were distracting and threw the pacing off. And personally, I could have done without the 'Alice' character. I didn't really see any purpose to her inclusion in the story, although I just loved it when Tate beat her up :P
**As to content, be aware that there is strong language throughout this book, as well as some moderate-level sexual content, again just FYI for the viewer's discretion.

But did I enjoy this book? Definitely. Would I recommend it? I'd say it's one that would be worth your time, yes. The Replacement was a fascinating, thoroughly original story that I absolutely devoured. To my knowledge, it's a standalone novel, and in an age where most authors are birthing out [random] sequels after-the-fact, a good ol' single installment story is worth its weight! Check this out :D(less)

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Dec 11, 2010

Cara rated it

Shelves: 2010, paranormal, male-protagonist, series

While reading this I felt like I was in a dark funk, and that's because Mackie Doyle has been in this kind of funk for almost his whole life. He has never felt like he belongs because he's just a replacement. A replacement that has to keep that a secret at all cost, but that can't last for long can it? His secret is jeoparized when Tate's little sister is thought to be dead, but Tate doesn't believe that and presses Mackie to give her some answers. How can he do that though, when he doesn't even...moreWhile reading this I felt like I was in a dark funk, and that's because Mackie Doyle has been in this kind of funk for almost his whole life. He has never felt like he belongs because he's just a replacement. A replacement that has to keep that a secret at all cost, but that can't last for long can it? His secret is jeoparized when Tate's little sister is thought to be dead, but Tate doesn't believe that and presses Mackie to give her some answers. How can he do that though, when he doesn't even know what he really is himself?

The relationships that Mackie has are the strongest part of the book. My favorite one being Mackie's relationship with his sister Emma, but his friends also were top notch. What also was done well was the feel of the oppressive cloud that Gentry has over it's head. You can tell the secrets are being buried, but no matter how hard the people try, the secrets bubble up to the surface again.

Now, I wasn't feeling the chemistry between Mackie and Tate at first. I kept wondering why Mackie even liked her, but as the story progresses the romance between them does get better. Then there is this scene where the "ugly" things undergound play a concert and I'm assuming you were suppose to feel the music and just how great it was. I guess I'm not that intuitive because I tried but I couldn't get it. All I kept thinking was, "Ok, so they play really good and..." Those are little irks though because I could understand Mackie. He tries so hard to be normal, and aches to be like everyone else, but he knows deep down he won't be able to do that. Along the way he comes to learn that people do actually love him despite and because of what he is.

The cover is very fitting to the book, and I think it's interesting how the author put old superstitions into pratical ways it would hurt a person like Mackie. I'm not sure, but it looks like there might be a series. Either way the story can stand on it's own. Just so people will know, there is teen drinking and some profanity.

Get lost in the world of ugly things, but coming out you might realize maybe, just maybe, they aren't as ugly as they seem.(less)

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Dec 03, 2010

Jillian -always aspiring- rated it

Shelves: covers-i-love, fab-writing, out-of-the-box-ideas, writing-to-which-i-aspire, favorite-books, couldn-t-stop-reading-it, 2010-reads, prose-envy

I'll admit: I went into this book with lots of expectations. I'm a casual reader of the Merry Sisters of Fate flash fiction blog, contributed to by YA authors Tessa Gratton, Maggie Stiefvater, and Brenna Yovanoff, so I knew Yovanoff could write an engaging tale in few words. The question was, though, could she engage me for a full novel?

Yes. Yes, she could.

This book, however wonderful with its spooky and horrific factors, is not without its quirks and flaws. The fey lore...moreI'll admit: I went into this book with lots of expectations. I'm a casual reader of the Merry Sisters of Fate flash fiction blog, contributed to by YA authors Tessa Gratton, Maggie Stiefvater, and Brenna Yovanoff, so I knew Yovanoff could write an engaging tale in few words. The question was, though, could she engage me for a full novel?

Yes. Yes, she could.

This book, however wonderful with its spooky and horrific factors, is not without its quirks and flaws. The fey lore here is quite different from any I've encountered before, so getting used to the two Houses and their creatures was a bit difficult at first. Mackie, the hero, can be quite a jerk at times (though he is very well-written for s male protagonist from a female author). The heroine (I don't even know if I can call her that), Tate, is less of an active part of the plot and more of a way for the plot to have a reason for being and a way to surge forward when Mackie tries to avoid doing anything. The town of Gentry is strange and creepy, bound by traditions we never fully understand. Honestly, the book could have done with more fleshing out of plot here and there. BUT -- but where Yovanoff does shine, even with the flaws in her plot and its execution, is through her prose and the flaws of her characters. There's just a fragile human quality to all of these characters, and I loved that. The two best characters to me were Mackie's sister and his best friend Roswell. I guess I liked how self-sacrificial they seemed when it came to the people they loved, and I saw that quality in all the other characters to some extent too. So, yes, Yovanoff has things to work on, but she has great potential. I look forward to the next novels she will write. I also have to wonder if she will ever revisit the town of Gentry. There's a lot of potential with the stories to come there, so I hope she does.

Yes, I realize my review may have reinforced the misgivings people may have before they decide to pick up this book -- but this book is less about horror and more about humanity. The strangeness of the plot is just a way to show how precious humanity really is -- especially to the beings and creatures who can never truly have it. I hope the people who eventually read this will see and understand that. (less)

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Oct 10, 2010

oliviasbooks rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Fans of K. Creagh's "Nevermore" and D. Reeves' "Bleeding Violet"

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, urban-fantasy, love-story, ghosts-dead-people, faeries-elves-pixies, horror, read-2010, to-re-read, stays-with-me, male-point-of-view, i-cannot-tell-you-my-secret

Financially you are very lucky indeed, if you are born as an inhabitant of the small town Gentry: Although all around the industry’s prospects are bleak, Gentry still flourishes. This astonishing piece of luck is something best not talked about. That is the consensus of the supersticious townsfolk. Equally hushed are murmurs concerning the random bad luck which eventually strikes among the community: Every now and then an infant suddenly dies.

Mackie Doyle knows that he, too, would h...moreFinancially you are very lucky indeed, if you are born as an inhabitant of the small town Gentry: Although all around the industry’s prospects are bleak, Gentry still flourishes. This astonishing piece of luck is something best not talked about. That is the consensus of the supersticious townsfolk. Equally hushed are murmurs concerning the random bad luck which eventually strikes among the community: Every now and then an infant suddenly dies.

Mackie Doyle knows that he, too, would have died as a baby – were it not for his sister Emma, who as a tiny girl nursed him back to health, in spite of the knowledge that the crib held a replacement instead of her brother, and his parents, Gentry’s Methodist preacher and his wife, who taught their changeling son from an early age to keep his otherness (intolerance of blood, iron and sanctified ground and also heightened senses) hidden on all accounts. Their caution even includes a "no-visitors-to-the-house" rule, because they fear their iron-free household might start the community's rumors. Therefore Mackie is quite at a loss when his moody and fierce classmate Tate, whose baby sister Natalie just recently “died,” pesters him of all people relentlessly for answers and help and seems to be immune to his habitual elusiveness.
As Mackie’s physical condition worsens, because being perpetually surrounded by iron and blood seems to poison him slowly causing breathing difficulties and fainting fits, and members of his people repeatedly appear, inviting him to return to the dark and underground "House of Mayhem”, he decides to try to find out what really happened to Natalie, to his town and to himself. His visit to one of the two dangerous female rulers of the supernatural realms puts him smack into the middle of a ruthless power struggle between evil in the shape of beautiful decay and maybe-evil-maybe-less-evil in the shape of an ugly, capricious little girl with too many teeth.

I am usually not a great fan of horror tales. I am rather the girl with her head between her knees when things become gruesome at the movies. But Brenna Yovanoff does this mixture of urban fantasy, love story and eerie, eerie, horror fiction so beautifully, so vividly, colorfully, tenderly and poetically I simply had to love it and to savor each description without closing my inner eyes. The disclosure of the shocking facts also works great for the reader: It is clear from the beginning that Mackie knows more than he lets slip, but his eyes get opened wider along with the reader’s.

Mackie is an unusual character, he stands out, but at the same time he is a quite normal sixteen-year-old: He admits admiring classroom bitch Alice because of her attractive exterior and detects only gradually the lovable layers of vulnerable daredevil Tate. I also liked how he interacted with the Morrigan – simultaneously tender and afraid.
I was always uneasy about Mackie’s parents: Was their love for their replacement son sincere? What did they hide? But I was kind of envious because of Mackie’s sister Emma and his best friend Roswell, who both loved Mackie so unconditionally and unwaveringly and chased away his fear of being an intruder within the human world and their lives. Brenna Yovanoff has a true talent of showing her readers love in all possible shapes – even that between antagonized celtic goddesses.

It's true, the world-building gets never fully explained. But if one reads the novel vigilantly, it becomes pretty clear that a complete understanding is not intended: “The Lady” illustrates at one point how her people has always been defined by the imagination, the superstitions and the limitations of the humans whose sacrifices, attention, admiration or fear keep them alive. They are what we imagine them to be. They are repelled by what we imagine them to be intolerant of. And that changes with our culture. Interesting, isn’t it?

This book is very good, Brenna. I like it and its ending as it is. It does not need a sequel!
(less)

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Jan 22, 2011

Thomas rated it

Somewhere between a two and three on this one... I'll go with 2.5.

There seems to be a reasonable amount of hype for this book. Honestly, the only reason I picked it up was because one of my favorite authors, Maggie Stiefvater, heartily endorsed it with an extolling review. Did it live up to what I had predetermined it to be? No, not quite.

This is the epitome of a paranormal story gone wrong. Take an interesting concept like faeries that do not belong in the human world bu...more

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Dec 19, 2011

Ace rated it

Shelves: 2011-challenge, dtb-own

The simple truth is that you can understand a town. You can know and love and hate it. You can blame it, and nothing changes. In the end, you’re just another part of it.

Why I Read This

People say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and for the most part that is true, but I can’t help being drawn to a gorgeous cover. The cover for The Replacement is haunting and dynamic. Also, the blurb from Maggie Stiefvater, one of my favorite authors, didn’t hurt.

Main Chara...more

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Aug 13, 2011

Lea rated it

Shelves: boring-as-hell, confusing-as-hell, contemporary, creepy, dark, depressing-as-hell, epic-fail, had-potential, horror, not-what-i-thought-it-would-be, wtf, lazy-writing, made-me-want-to-punch-something

So to put it simply, I was not a fan of this book.

Like, at all.

Actually, I kind of hated it.

I'm really not sure what I was expecting it to be, but I definitely wasn't thinking it would be a lame high school drama mixed with painfully dull characters and even more painfully boring and lackluster writing. I guess the cover is what attracted me to read this book in the first place, but honestly, great packaging and poor content does not equal a good book.
...more

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Jun 13, 2011

Book Chick City rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: books-for-review-full-list, fantasy, fiction, young-adult, reviews

Reviewed by Jo for Book Chick City.

The Replacement’s plot is very intriguing. In the town of Gentry, human babies are often given as tribute to the inhabitants of the town’s Underworld and as a replacement an otherworldly baby is left in its place. These babies usually sicken and die quite quickly, but our narrator, Mackie, has made it to High School. Even though Mackie has made it so far, he still is slowly dying of allergies to the world around him, and he longs to be human for as ...moreReviewed by Jo for Book Chick City.

The Replacement’s plot is very intriguing. In the town of Gentry, human babies are often given as tribute to the inhabitants of the town’s Underworld and as a replacement an otherworldly baby is left in its place. These babies usually sicken and die quite quickly, but our narrator, Mackie, has made it to High School. Even though Mackie has made it so far, he still is slowly dying of allergies to the world around him, and he longs to be human for as long as he can. After a classmate’s sister (another Replacement) is kidnapped by Them, he faces his origins and the creepy, dark creatures who live in the town’s Underworld to help his friend.

This book was wonderful! I really enjoyed the parallel worlds of Gentry, and the way the town people know but choose to ignore what is going on. Although never given a name, the underworld creatures seem to be Fae based on the fairy legends of changelings. I think not giving them their proper name added to their creepiness! Even though a replacement for their child, Mackie’s new parents love him, and try their best to protect him from all he is sensitive to, such as iron and consecrated ground, even though his Dad is a Pastor!

Mackie as a protagonist has a really good voice. I sympathised with his need to belong, but not sure of where he actually does belong. I think we have all felt that at some point in our life. Mackie’s friend, Tate was also a great character. After her sister is taken, she is expected to accept it and continue normally, another event to ignore. But Tate will not and she asks Mackie to help discover what is going on. I do enjoy characters that go against what is expected and together they, and their hint of romance, are very enjoyable to read.

The actual Underworld of Gentry, called Mayhem was very twisted, and dark. Deliciously so. It was really quite grotesquely beautiful in its descriptions, and I felt it was very real. The characters of Mayhem are very interesting, some are just as dark and twisty as the underworld itself, some were kind and nice.

The actual pace is quite fast after the first half, and the overall tone is quite dark and sometimes not an easy read. It really didn’t feel like a YA novel! The underlying message is one I think we can all appreciate and enjoy, that no matter who you are, we all need some love.

VERDICT:

Part thriller, part fantasy, part romance….The Replacement really is a mix of genres which I really enjoyed. The Replacement has action, humour, very good writing style and it’s full of brilliant characters. So far it is a stand alone book, but I would love to see more of this world.(less)

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Dec 13, 2010

Stephanie rated it

Shelves: young-adult, horror

The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas is a classic story by noted speculative fiction author Ursula K LeGuin, and is one that is bound to resonate with most readers for some time afterwards. Omelas is a utopian society in which everything seems to function in not simply an orderly, but in almost an enlightened manner. But the crux of the story is that the glory of Omelas rests firmly on the continued torment of a single child. The question posed by the story is a seemingly simply moral dilemma: wou...more

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Oct 19, 2011

Kana rated it

Shelves: fantasy, audiobook

I felt this story had a solid premise but as others have commented about, it dragged and was slow in several parts. (And the reader sounded like he was on the verge of coughing or tears throughout the entire book, so it was hard to read the character's emotions in alot of spots. Or maybe that was the intention of the book/author. I'd have to listen to other books read by him to know.) Overall I felt the background story, the characters, had a really good basis. But that too much of the book was ...moreI felt this story had a solid premise but as others have commented about, it dragged and was slow in several parts. (And the reader sounded like he was on the verge of coughing or tears throughout the entire book, so it was hard to read the character's emotions in alot of spots. Or maybe that was the intention of the book/author. I'd have to listen to other books read by him to know.) Overall I felt the background story, the characters, had a really good basis. But that too much of the book was 'filler' that could have been used to give the characters more than their two dimensional feel. Alot of the language felt odd for teenagers to use (50cent words, or way of phrasing things, especially in arguments). Alot of the reactions were under or over exaggerated, especially for Tate - there was no build-up or middle ground. She either has a really good theory of what's going on in the town and is angry over it or totally oblivious when proof is presented to her and kept repeating 'what!?!?!?!' in astonishment, it felt silly. It was also very confusing what sort of relationship Macky and Tate really had throughout the book, which was frustrating. I didn't know if I should like her or be wary that she was just using him. It wasn't consistent. Macky's personality was timid and frail at one point and then BAM! heroic and a confident jock the next, then back to being an uncertain outcast teenager again. There was an attempt at character growth but it came in jolts which didn't fit the slow pace of the the rest of the book.
Like I said, I felt this was a great start, very interesting premise, and I didn't hate it. But it felt more like a rough draft then a final revision of a story. I know it was the authors debut. And I take that into consideration.
She did a great deal of research into fairies, but unless you did the same type of research (like I have), it was too subtle to catch. I know why she never outright said it, and only says the word 'Fay' in one sentence in the entire book. I know why, and not naming them is a very fairy aspect, but I think she should have found a happier middle-ground for those not fairy-crazy (like me). Otherwise people were left with 'what the hell are they!?!?!' Or at the very least, say it on the cover. Just get it out of the way so people aren't left so confused.
Having said all that I would still love to see a continuation or another attempt at the story, because I do think the premise is a very interesting one, and deserves more attention. I can see this turning into a movie if she works at it. And I would love to see it. (less)

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Jun 07, 2011

Rebekah rated it

Shelves: young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 10, 2010

Enna Isilee (Squeaky Books) rated it

Shelves: read-in-2010, reviewed-on-blog

http://www.squeakybooks.com/2010/07/repl...

This book was NOT for me. Probably one of my least favorite books of all time. I don't want to be mean. This isn't to say no one will like it. Heck, the author is published, so she's better than me in that way. But I just could not stand this book. So much profanity, so much vague-ness, so many things left unanswered.

*sigh* Sorry, world.

FULL REVIEW (posted on www.SqueakyBooks.com 7-27-10)

I have never given ...morehttp://www.squeakybooks.com/2010/07/repl...

This book was NOT for me. Probably one of my least favorite books of all time. I don't want to be mean. This isn't to say no one will like it. Heck, the author is published, so she's better than me in that way. But I just could not stand this book. So much profanity, so much vague-ness, so many things left unanswered.

*sigh* Sorry, world.

FULL REVIEW (posted on www.SqueakyBooks.com 7-27-10)

I have never given a book zero stars on my blog before. I don't usually like to review books that I have such strong negative feelings for. But there has been a lot of hype for this book around the blogosphere, and I just wouldn't feel right if I didn't give you guys my two cents. I'm going to try to be nice, I have nothing against the author. She's published, which is a lot more than I can say.

In regards to the book-- The premise was so interesting! A faerie trying to live in our world with all the downsides of being a faerie. It's cool, right?

I also really liked Mackie's sister Emma. She was the only person actually willing to do something about the chaos that was Gentry and Mackie's life. His parents... I was glad that they kept Mackie and didn't treat him like a freak, but they still bothered me. For reasons to be explained.

The entire book was extremely vague. No one in the town of Gentry ever talks about ANYTHING. They all know that there are strange things going on, but no one does anything about it. Even Mackie's best friend never questions his weird behavior. I recognize that there was probably a deep meaning behind this. But I just couldn't find it. I just found it extremely annoying, and it made the characters seem very two dimensional. So many questions were left unanswered that just made me so frustrated.

Also, the profanity. This book is described as "Edward Scissorhands meets The Catcher in the Rye." This probably should have tipped me off, since I couldn't stand TCitR. This book had so much profanity, and underage drinking, and immorality. *sigh* I just don't want to read books that gritty. I can handle some grit, but not to that level.

Anyway. Lots of people love this book, including plenty of people whose opinions I really respect. But just be aware when you pick it up that it is very edgy.

I hope I wasn't mean. I didn't want to attack the author or book in any way. Every book has its place, even if it's not on my shelf.(less)

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Sep 30, 2010

Amelia Robinson rated it

Shelves: own, best-character-set, best-original-idea, best-plot, recommended, reviewed, urban-fantasy, 2010-2011-reading

Originally posted on The Authoress: Book Review and More.

This is one heckuva creepy book. It took me some several moments of contemplation to pinpoint just what, exactly, made it so hair-raising. I'll tell you, most books are so straight-forward about what they have to offer. They tell you something is creepy--it's direct and it sucks the fun out of picturing the scene for yourself. Brenna Yovanoff went about it a different way. She just gave you what it was--straight up, wi...moreOriginally posted on The Authoress: Book Review and More.

This is one heckuva creepy book. It took me some several moments of contemplation to pinpoint just what, exactly, made it so hair-raising. I'll tell you, most books are so straight-forward about what they have to offer. They tell you something is creepy--it's direct and it sucks the fun out of picturing the scene for yourself. Brenna Yovanoff went about it a different way. She just gave you what it was--straight up, without flourishing it around unnecessarily. Then again, it's also what she doesn't say that gave me pause. Reading this book, I felt like I was constantly treading around broken glass--and I was so screwed if I happened to stray. So yeah, really creepy.

I love how the story progresses. Most times, when I can't get a handle on a book within the first few chapters, I reject it out of pure frustration. But there's something about this book...I slowly started to realize what was really going on as I continued to read the book. I knew that there was something dark about the town of Gentry, but what? I was left figuring it out as I read--and it was thrilling.

"The Replacement" is, in my mind, the literary equivalent of film Noir. Or, if you want to get technical, it's very much like Gothic fiction. It's very dark and progresses slowly, not continuing like you expect it to--it goes slow when you expect it to rush. There isn't a lot of humor and you start to expect a sad ending.

The antagonists freaked me out. Seriously, it's hard to write a creepy villain because it's difficult to keep it original--if you try too hard, it flops, but if you don't try at all, it still flops. I think that making a villain creepy is similar to how you make someone funny--you make them surprise you. If they don't follow the script, it switches your mind off and makes you more susceptible to buy in to whatever they're doing. Needless to say, I was getting really creeped out by the antagonists in this book.

I liked the romance. Going in, I wasn't sure what was going to happen. What was Mackie going to do? Who was he going to pursue? Alice was the typical queen bee but I thought it interesting how Mackie reacted to her. Tate was totally awesome, though she might come off as a creeper to some people.

Overall, I loved it. It was a refreshing change from the stock cut-out books that flood the shelves nowadays. This is a book full of originality and personality. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a break from the normalcy flood. A stunning debut.

Shew! I LOVE that cover. It's so appropriate for the book and just screams creepy. Love, love, love it.

WARNING! Lots of typical high-school language, so younger readers beware!(less)

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Oct 09, 2011

Holly rated it

Shelves: 2011, kindle, mystery-suspense, sci-fi-fantasy, urban-fantasy, young-adult, e-book, favorites, heartbreaking-heroes, horror, keepers, kick-ass-heroes, my-dream-men, obsessively-readable, male-pov, paranormal

5++++ stars

Every once in a while I stumble upon a book that takes me completely by surprise. I had no idea what to expect going into this book, but decided to take a chance on it because of the interesting synopsis and creepy cover art. I am so glad I did, because this was hands down one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I have had all year.

On the surface, Mackie seems like an average teenage boy. He goes to school, has a crush on a cheerleader and feels alienated...more

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Mar 03, 2011

Esther rated it

· review of another edition

My problem with this book - I just didn't care!

Now, I know that sounds terrible but first let me explain what I mean by it.
I had no idea what The Replacement was about when I began to read. I mean, obviously I'd read the blurb but I had purposefully avoided reviews due to the danger of it being spoiled for me. So, I had a very open mind about it.

First off, Mackie.
I just did not get the guy. Normally, I love reading from a guy's perspective. I find it extremely i...more

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Dec 12, 2011

Kyle rated it

Maybe it's just me, but I have a serious issue with books about faeries. I loathed the Iron King very deeply, and this was almost just as horrendous, except in the end, I don't think it got quite to the level of annoyance that The Iron King brought me to. I bought this very early on into the year, and I found myself bored after the first five pages, so I just let it sit on my Kindle for another eight months, until I tried reading it during my birthday/vacation the same day I couldn't get into Ma...moreMaybe it's just me, but I have a serious issue with books about faeries. I loathed the Iron King very deeply, and this was almost just as horrendous, except in the end, I don't think it got quite to the level of annoyance that The Iron King brought me to. I bought this very early on into the year, and I found myself bored after the first five pages, so I just let it sit on my Kindle for another eight months, until I tried reading it during my birthday/vacation the same day I couldn't get into Maggie Stiefvater's "Lament" (SURPRISE! ANOTHER FAERIE BOOK!) after 15% of annoyance, so I read the first 15% of this.

However, back in the beginning of this month, I sat down, and said, "Kyle, just get it over with and you never even have to think about it again." So, I sat down and basically devoured the entire thing in a few hours. An extremely unpleasant experience, one that I would not want to re-live, nor do I plan on it.

So, for a basic synopsis of this book, it follows a boy named Malcolm “Mackie” Doyle, who lives in the small, depressing town of Gentry. He’s a “normal” kid who has three good friends, and a crush on a popular girl, who is starting to notice him. Soon, the reader finds out that Mackie isn’t exactly . . . human. The real Mackie was switched before he was a year old, and was then replaced by a changeling, who is our main character. So, it turns out Mackie (our narrator Mackie) is a faerie.

Now, very rarely do I have problems with the setting of a novel. Normally, it’s just not something I care for, unless it’s something like Prague and the Otherworld from Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone or Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, because those settings are interesting and unique. The small town of Gentry was neither interesting nor unique, but was dreary and boring. In fact, it reminds me a lot of my negative feelings towards Gatlin, South Carolina from Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (my current read at the moment). The reason these stand out so much is because the author, Brenna Yovanoff, seem to put an emphasis on the boringness of it all. Well, if the setting of a novel can make me bored, that’s typically not a good sign for me.

The characters themselves were just as boring and flat as the town they live in. Mackie is boring, and has to be coaxed into doing anything interesting or exciting. Tate was all headstrong, but really doesn’t do anything until the end (well, she did more than Mackie). The Cutter – a wimpy excuse for a villain, seeing that he did nothing and subsequently got beat up by a sixteen year old and then gave up. Everybody else was just boring, and not even worth being mentioned in this review.

The writing itself I have no comment on, since while I’m an aspiring writer, I’m not necessarily any good. However, something about the writing kind of bored me to. Not to say that it was bad, but nothing to add a little spice to it, you know? In the book I’m writing, my main female protagonist, Carly, is a fourteen year old girl who was raped and now has a six-month old child, and starts out really depressed, then the whole supernatural part comes in, and slowly she opens up more and gets this really sassy, funny (to me anyway) voice. Mackie is just really boring and monotone. Anybody else feel that way?

Overall, just so I don’t become too repetitive, this book just bored me and made me want to take a long nap. Plus, that ending (as in, the last page ending) was so happily ever after, that it made me want to throw up – don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind endings with happiness in them, but for the kind of atmosphere Brenna Yovanoff set up in the novel, you’d expect a much darker tone to it.

Anyway, 2/5 stars for The Replacement. Nothing special, and I wouldn’t recommend it . . . to anyone really. However, I do want to check out her new novel, because . . . well it has demons (I think), and I’m kind of partial to angel/fallen angel/demon novels.
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Oct 03, 2010

Alan rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 11, 2011

Heather rated it

Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.

A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make h...moreMackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.

A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world? (Summary from Good Reads)

Hmm. What a great cover! So enticing calling to me begging me to open the cover. So, I did. And I trudged through the sluggish beginning of the book. My mind started to wander and I decided to go to sleep. I tried it again last night and forced myself to finish it. The action definitely picked up, but maybe a little too late to redeem itself. It might just give Bleeding Violet a run for it's money as one of the weirder novels I've read this year. Anyway, none of this helps you understand what it's about.

Mackie Doyle is a changeling. No one has ever come out and said it, but he knows he is not supposed to be here and that he is a freak. He has a few friends at school and they seem to be good friends. I have a problem with the characters because they never fall out of their very narrow roles they are given. Danny and Dennis are the inventors/clowns. Roswell is the rescuer, but never asks Mackie, "Why are you sick? What's wrong with you?" There's this big pink elephant standing in the middle of the town of Gentry and nobody wants to talk about it except for the very determined Tate who's little sister was just buried. She isn't sad, she's angry because she swears that wasn't her sister, it was a replacement. Tate doesn't follow the rules.

It seems that Gentry has been having children disappear on a regular basis for years and turned a blind eye to it. And Mackie gets drawn into the lies and deceptions and doesn't like it when it touches too close to home. Now, as I said, the beginning of the book is slow. Mackie is sick all the time and he's lusting after the popular girl and always having to go home early, which Roswell dutiful does. Pretty boring stuff. Then things change and get all existential and I have no idea what's going on. Page 138 here is some of the conversation edited for brevity's sake. " So we just give them some kind of distraction. (Mackie says) Another lie."
Carlina, an underground dweller we'll call her, says "No, what we're giving them is the unvarnished truth. They just don't know it. When you go out onstage, you'll be closer to yourself than you've ever been, and that's a beautiful thing. It's what they paid to see." Mackie-"I just feel nervous, though. I feel weird and freakish and pointless, and nobody wants to see that. I can't be what they paid for." Carlina- "Then you have to feel like that, then let it go and do your job. We'll go out onto the stage in a minute, and when we do, you have to make them believe that whatever you show them is the real you because sometimes being believed in is just what it means not to die." Huh? If I wanted to think that hard, I'd have read Freud or Nietzsche. I still don't understand what it all means.

The good news it slowly starts to pick up from there even if doesn't make sense. In one world it does, in the other world it doesn't. But then the two worlds collide and Mackie is in the middle and does something so selfless that I thought surely something would intervene. Gentry's people have all been playing roles just like Mackie's friends and no one has ever questioned the rules. The rules are to bring prosperity and abundance to Gentry, but it's been raining for weeks and the lake in the town drained before Mackie was born. And children disappear from their homes and are replaced by look alikes. And Mackie wants it stopped. He can't believe it, that people put up with this. And as the worlds come together on All Souls Day, Mackie has a plan. To save Tate's little sister before she's sacrificed and save at least one child from being killed from this heinous underground world. You'll have to read to see if he succeeded and what the plan is and everything that goes on. The end is touching and makes the reading of it worthwhile and I see why the author wrote it the way she did. Even some of the existential stuff made some sense, but when you read it in the middle of the book, unless you are very perceptive, you're going to go "What the hell is she going on about?". In fact, it's probably a book that you need to read twice. Because once you get to the end, things make sense that didn't before and if you reread it understanding everything, I think I for one would like it much better. The best thing I can say about it is that Mackie is pure and innocent and truly tries to be the best he can be. He feels guilty for what he is and tries in every way to make up for it. And I think that is what drives him to his ultimate gift. Oh, just read the book. Twice!

There isn't much profanity and very little sexual reference, some kissing. Maybe for ages 13 and up but it is very dark so perhaps 14 and older. It talks about ripping babies throats out and dead living things. It's, as the cover shows, very dark. But redemptive in the end.(less)

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Oct 07, 2011

Missie rated it

Shelves: ya

Unbreak my heart. Say you will love him. Do it, and you will save him!

It's not often (or ever) that I read a book from a teenage boy's POV and feel so connected to the character, but that was exactly the case with Malcolm Doyle.

As a replacement, Mackie has struggled his whole life. He struggles to blend in, to be part of the crowd, yet he know he has to try; he has to go unnoticed, even though he will never be one of them, never be human.

The story felt like a stran...more

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Apr 05, 2011

Kate rated it

Shelves: 2010, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book grabbed me right from the beginning. I loved how gloomy it felt, like Gentry was a town over which an Eeyore-esque cloud constantly hovered, but no one was willing to admit that it was there or that no one else had to suffer it. The setting and feeling of the novel is really unique – dark without trying to be edgy or scary, just gray enough to leave the reader uneasy and a little creeped out.

Mackie’s situation cements this unease. He doesn’t belong in the above ground world ...moreThis book grabbed me right from the beginning. I loved how gloomy it felt, like Gentry was a town over which an Eeyore-esque cloud constantly hovered, but no one was willing to admit that it was there or that no one else had to suffer it. The setting and feeling of the novel is really unique – dark without trying to be edgy or scary, just gray enough to leave the reader uneasy and a little creeped out.

Mackie’s situation cements this unease. He doesn’t belong in the above ground world of Gentry, but you also get to know him well enough to know that he’s too human to not. It’s sort of like a kid being raised by wild wolves – sure, he’s not a wolf, but you can’t just send him home to his human parents anymore either. And the human elements of Mackie were what I loved best. I love that he’s a kind of typical teenage boy, eyes drawn to the pretty girl – that girl who high school kind of revolves around but anyone out on a Pluto orbit kind of loathes. And I also deeply loved that he could see past that – he could appreciate her for what she was, a pretty thing with no function. To me, that signified the sort of perfect balance that epitomizes Mackie’s character.

I also loved Roswell and Emma, Mackie’s best friend and sister. They were both loyal and their unquestioning love for Mackie added a very real, very human element to the story, as did the very different ways they expressed this love. And Tate, who I grew into loving as the book progressed. The rest of the background characters were all fun and had personality, but they stayed far enough in the background that the book didn’t feel bogged down by people you had to follow.

My favorite character, though, was The Morrigan. She reminded me of every creepy thing that somehow you kind of want to cuddle anyway, which is strange, I know, but so am I. She was such a great contrast between the innocence her appearance belied with the something sinister simmering underneath. She wasn’t all good, but she wasn’t all bad, and that kind of depth is important. Sure, the villain of the novel didn’t have that balance, but she didn’t need to. The Morrigan was enough to show that the world the people of Gentry were so good at ignoring wasn’t as black and white as they might have liked to think of it. That world lived in the same shades of gray that they themselves existed in every day.

The one thing I wish I could change about this book was how often we’re reminded of the blind-eye the people of Gentry like to turn on the odd parts of their town. I felt like I couldn’t go more than a few pages without being reminded of the fact that people don’t like to talk about things that are difficult or things they can’t understand. Maybe a lesser book would have needed these reminders, but I don’t think that The Replacement did – the story and Mackie and the Morrigan were all enough for us to see that rather then be reminded of it.

As far as first novels go, this is a pretty compelling debut. Hell, as far as novels go in general, this is pretty compelling. When someone new comes onto the YA scene, I look for a couple simple things: can their writing suck me in and do they have an imagination. Brenna Yovanoff succeeds on both counts. She’s come up with a world that draws on the legends we already know and expands on it in a way that’s never really been done before.
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Sep 21, 2010

Laura rated it

Shelves: mt-bookpile-2010

This is not a series! For that alone it deserves five stars... but wait - there's more.

This is a dark story, about the town of Gentry and the, well, I don't know what to call them but they're dead and live underground and Gentry pays tribute to them. The tribute can be in the form of love and devotion, or in the form of sacrifice (and usually little babies, at that).

Mackie is one of the replacement children, a thing left in place of the real Malcolm Doyle. Usually thes...more

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Aug 17, 2010

Liz L rated it

Recommends it for: Mid-Older teens

Shelves: favourites, first-reads, arc

There are books that I put on my shelf when I am done, and never touch them again. These books are ones that I know the basics about, but were not good enough for me to remember wholly.

The Replacement will be put on my shelf, opened many times, and re-read. It will not be forgotten in the depths of my mind, because it was just that fantastic.

This book dabbles in what a lot of YA books are about now - fantasy, paranormal and that whole lot. But inside that appealing outsi...moreThere are books that I put on my shelf when I am done, and never touch them again. These books are ones that I know the basics about, but were not good enough for me to remember wholly.

The Replacement will be put on my shelf, opened many times, and re-read. It will not be forgotten in the depths of my mind, because it was just that fantastic.

This book dabbles in what a lot of YA books are about now - fantasy, paranormal and that whole lot. But inside that appealing outside wrapper is a message. Brenna Yovanoff writes an intriguing story, but the main message is that we all need some love.

This story is told through Mackie Doyle, who literally finds out who he is. It's not a coming of age story where there's a figurative "finding out". No, Mackie learns that he's actually not human, but one of Them. Even though his story includes immunities to blood, iron and consecrated ground, it relates to people. Sometimes, you have to dig deep to find your self. Sometimes, you don't like what you find. But there is always someone that loves you.

The plot of this story is fantastic. There is a brilliant climax, tons of action, and some pretty damn awesome characters. How Yovanoff came up with such a diverse array of characters, I'm afraid to know. A side from the real, truthful message in the book, it's super entertaining. There's humor in here, a bit of romance, and just normal things.

The only thing that I don't like about this book takes place on page 176 in chapter Normal Enough. This is YA fiction, and that really wasn't needed. That's why I gave it four stars instead of five...

As for humor - brilliant. My favourite quotes were: "...I hate that no one can just leave it alone. And I hate Nathaniel Hawthorne." & ""Why does she (Roswell's mom) always seem to think you drive like we're holding a bank up?"..."Because that's what teenagers do, right? They also carve swastikas into their arms, steal prescription drugs from old people, and freebase cocaine. I need to institute a policy where she stops watching 60 Minutes and pretty much all public service announcements."

My favourite characters were Roswell and the twins; Danny and Drew. They were great additions to the story. I think The Replacement will be a big hit when it's released and that there is much more to be expected from this new author. She's one to keep an eye on!

Note: I received an ARC version of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.(less)

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Oct 25, 2010

Megan rated it

Shelves: young-adult, urban-fantasy, not-mine-library, horror

The Replacement started out so strong; cool, creepy and a little disturbing. The story takes place in a small town where children are abducted and then replaced with unnatural replicas. No one knows who takes the children, where they go or why they are stolen. People just know that once they leave, they are gone for good. The replacements never live for long. Adding to the eeriness is the fact that none of the towns people talk about the oddness of their town. Despite living in modern times, the...moreThe Replacement started out so strong; cool, creepy and a little disturbing. The story takes place in a small town where children are abducted and then replaced with unnatural replicas. No one knows who takes the children, where they go or why they are stolen. People just know that once they leave, they are gone for good. The replacements never live for long. Adding to the eeriness is the fact that none of the towns people talk about the oddness of their town. Despite living in modern times, the community adorn their homes with iron to ward off the thieves and make witch totems in the fall. When we meet the beasties responsible for stealing the children, they don’t disappoint. Brenna Yovanoff created wonderfully spooky and unsettling monsters. Unfortunately, the story fell apart soon after.

Where to begin? It’s hard to critique without giving away spoilers. But let me say that there was a weird connection between adoration and rock music that I just didn’t get. And frankly it didn’t seem that Yaovanoff was that invested in it either, because after explaining and touching on it briefly, the whole thing was never addressed again.

But what bugged me even more is that this turned into a very typical teen story. Protagonist Mackie Doyle is special. He sees the world with fresh, teenager eyes and is appalled that adults are so willing to accept their horrid fate rather than change it. Mackie, with the help of his loyal friends, sets out to right generations worth of wrongs with… wit? Intelligence? Talent? No, he simply barges in without a plan, cusses a little bit and challenges everyone in his path. Because he is right and they are stupid.

Mackie himself isn’t too believable either. In the beginning we are introduced to an awkward, isolated boy with few friends. But when faced with adversity and the opposite sex he suddenly becomes quite calm, collected and sure of himself. Sorry, I’m not buying it. It would have been great to have see this kid grow into a different person, but when faced with a challenge he always approached his foes with tons of bravado. We never saw any character development from him. He was just a weird kid one minute, and a self-assured little adult the next.

The horror aspect of The Replacement was amazing. And the rest is okay. But, like so many other YA novels, my discontent stems from the fact that, as an adult, very little of this is new material to me. I definitely get why there was so much hype around this book. And hopefully other adults who have read this will get why I’m just giving it two stars.
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Mar 17, 2010

Krista (One Love) (Critical) rated it

Shelves: own-ab, yst, ya

So, this isn't going to be funny, because, well, I'm just not that good!

This books is dark but not quite depressing, and it really didn't seem to have much of a point.

It went a little something like this:

Hero gets sick.
Creepy freak tells hero he is dying.
Hero gets sick again.
Sister makes a deal with creepy freaks.
Hero is blackmailed by the creepy freaks.

We get a little heroine action, thank God, because Mackie isn't much...more

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Oct 17, 2010

Mery rated it

Shelves: e-book, english, i-love-its-cover, fantasy-paranormal-ya

Malcolm Doyle, cowok berusia 16 tahun yang bisa dibilang aneh. Bukan aneh karena dia geek atau outcast. Tapi aneh karena dia gak bisa dekat-dekat dengan besi. Dia gak bisa juga masuk gereja. Semuanya itu bikin dia lemah dan kesakitan. Tapi ternyata ada penjelasan tentang kenapa dia bisa begitu. Karena dia bukan Malcolm, dia bahkan bukan manusia. Apaan dong dia? Yah gitu deh... :D

Pertama lihat buku ini ada di blog temen goodreads. Covernya keren. Serem. Kereta bayi, trus atasnya ada gun...moreMalcolm Doyle, cowok berusia 16 tahun yang bisa dibilang aneh. Bukan aneh karena dia geek atau outcast. Tapi aneh karena dia gak bisa dekat-dekat dengan besi. Dia gak bisa juga masuk gereja. Semuanya itu bikin dia lemah dan kesakitan. Tapi ternyata ada penjelasan tentang kenapa dia bisa begitu. Karena dia bukan Malcolm, dia bahkan bukan manusia. Apaan dong dia? Yah gitu deh... :D

Pertama lihat buku ini ada di blog temen goodreads. Covernya keren. Serem. Kereta bayi, trus atasnya ada gunting, pisau, dll. Keren kan. Dan bener-bener bikin penasaran. Awal baca bikin merinding setengah mati. Apalagi bagaimana Mackie cerita tentang mimpi-mimpinya dan bagaimana Emma, kakaknya cerita kalau dulu dia mimpi ngeliat Mackie ditukar dengan makhluk lain.

Suatu hari ada anak kecil meninggal, namanya Natalie Stewart, dia adik dari temannya Mackie, dan setelah kejadian itu, Mackie (nama panggilan Malcolm) ketemu orang asing aneh yang bilang kalau dia bisa nyelamatin hidup Mackie. selamat dari apaan? Mackie kan gak kenapa2... Yeah ternyata maksudnya selamat dari kesakitannya terhadap besi. Orang asing itu ngebawa Mackie ke suatu tempat di bawah tanah, yang ternyata ada Morrigan. WOOW. Lagi-lagi ketemu tuh mahkluk...
Tapi Morrigan di sini baik loh ;D

Yah intinya sih Morrigan ngasih Mackie obat mujarab yang bikin dia jadi kayak manusia normal. Gak kesakitan gara-gara besi. Dan ntar Mackie nyelamatin Natalie Stewart yang ternyata belom mati. Lah kok bisa?
Jadi tuh ada psikopat yang namanya Lady, beuh psikopat aja namanya Lady. >.<
Nah si Lady ini seneng banget ama anak kecil cewek, trus nyulik mereka, ngeganti tubuh asli mereka dengan sesuatu kayak Mackie, dan akhirnya mati. Dan anak-anak kecil yang asli itu dikoleksi ama dia, dan diminum darahnya...
Mirip kolong wewe gak sih? ;D
*ngebayangin kolong wewe namanya Lady*

Ceritanya cukup bagus, bikin merinding, dan si Mackie ini kelihatannya cakep *gak penting*. Cuma plotnya rada lelet. Bab 30-an baru ada aksi gitu deh. Trus si Mackie ini karena dia rentan sama besi jadi bawaannya nyusahin mulu. errrrgggg... gregetan bacanya. Tapi aku suka sama Mackie, walaupun dia bisa dibilang gak normal, tapi dia penyayang...Selain itu aku suka sama salah satu dialognya. Kira2 begini: "siapapun kamu, walaupun dulu mereka menukarmu dengan Malcolm yang asli, bagiku kau tetap Malcolm."

Yah, setiap kota punya rahasia mereka sendiri, punya kepercayaan mereka sendiri terhadap rahasia-rahasia itu.

2 bintang buat ceritanya
1 bintang buat covernya
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Jul 25, 2010

Becky rated it

Shelves: 2010, fantasy, horror, multi-dimensional, mythology, owned, reviewed, romance, young-adult, zombies, blog_etb, arc

Before I start talking about the book itself, I want to talk about the impressions that I had about it before I read it, which includes the cover and blurbs on it. First, right up front, I want to mention one thing that bothered me, which is that the cover indicates that the recommended age group for this book is for 12+ readers. If it was just about the scare level, I'd say 'yes sure fine', because I didn't think that there was really anything that was overtly scary, or too scary for adolescent...moreBefore I start talking about the book itself, I want to talk about the impressions that I had about it before I read it, which includes the cover and blurbs on it. First, right up front, I want to mention one thing that bothered me, which is that the cover indicates that the recommended age group for this book is for 12+ readers. If it was just about the scare level, I'd say 'yes sure fine', because I didn't think that there was really anything that was overtly scary, or too scary for adolescents. But there was quite a bit of cursing, with more than a couple F-Bombs thrown in, drinking, references to drug use, sex, touchy-touchy stuff. I have no problem with this, and probably wouldn't have any problem with my own kids reading it (had I any), but some people are more concerned about this kind of thing, and I just thought I would mention it, just in case. :)

Back to my impressions pre-read, I expected this one to be a lot like the cover art: creepy, half-seen, antique and dirty and just all around eerie. With the rusting file, the knife and the scissors hanging over an antique baby carriage, with a background of grayish fog, this is what came to mind. And especially when I read the quote from Maggie Stiefvater that says {paraphrasing here - I don't have it in front of me} "...This is a story of ugly things that should be read in the dark at a whisper..."

So, I really enjoyed this one for what it was, but I have to admit that it was not what I'd expected at all! One doesn't usually expect this type of story to be told from the point of view of the scary creature, going on the assumption that in order to scare us, the mystery and the unknown and the fear of these things must be left intact - and showing us right off the bat how fearful and vulnerable it is definitely detracts from that. I'd also expected it to be more surreal and eerie and clammy and dark, but it was surprisingly real and modern. Maybe this took a little away from the scariness for me as well, but I can see how this very aspect would increase the scare-factor for others... IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU! ;)

I really liked Mackie Doyle, and liked him for his vulnerability and his knowledge that he was different in all manner of substantial ways, but still he tried to fit in, to be normal. I couldn't always identify with him, but really, who could? He's caught between two worlds, one of which is twisted and demented and mythical, and so he doesn't really belong anywhere, but still he tries to find a place for himself, so that he can carve out a little happiness and stability. He's somehow managed to find a group of some of the best friends anyone could have, let alone someone as uncommon as Mackie. Roswell (which I thought was an awesome name) is probably one of the most interesting and unswerving friends a guy could have. He collects cool pens and rebuilds clocks. That's pretty cool. Drew and Danny are twin inventors and are also solid-like-the-rock friends who just generally accept life as it comes and Mackie as he is. Tate is interesting as well, and I really liked her fire and her passion and unwillingness to give up for what she believes, even when she doesn't really know what that is. Emma of course is awesome, and shows the kind of sibling love and devotion that knows no bounds.

I was surprised by the musicality of the story, and how music played an integral part in not only Mackie's life, but in the town and in the story. I LOVED that he played bass, which is my favorite "rock band" instrument. I love the deepness and the range of feeling that it can evoke. I love that he used it in this way as well, that it wasn't just a hobby or something to do to clear his mind - he actually used it as an outlet for his emotions and thoughts. I loved that. :)

I really liked the unique take on the fey (I'm assuming here, because there was nothing that ever named them), and I liked the way that ancient lore was brought into the new millennium and kept modern. Overall, I really liked the story, and the feel of it. It was a very quick read and kept me turning the pages to see where it would go. I liked it quite a bit. :)(less)

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May 22, 2011

Krys rated it

Shelves: young-adult, horror-thriller, medium-length-book, own, first-person-narrative, twins, fairy-pixie-themed, read-in-2010

Mackie Doyle has always had a severe allergy to metal. Riding in cars makes him nauseous, touching jewelry gives him shocks, and smelling blood weakens him. He lives in the little town of Gentry where children disappear and are replaced with inhumane creatures... and Mackie begins to suspect he is one of them. When a classmate's little sister goes missing Mackie finds himself spiraling deeper and deeper into the mystery of what happened to the little girl.. only to discover more and more truths ...more

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Jan 10, 2012

Susan P rated it

Shelves: audio-books, ya-fiction

Mackie is a replacement - a creature left behind in place of a human child when it is stolen. Which happens a lot in Gentry, the town where Mackie lives. He's obviously different from everyone else at school, and his whole goal is to not attract attention to himself. Then a girl at school who Mackie has a crush on loses her little sister. And after the funeral she tells Mackie that what they buried wasn't human. Against his better judgement, Mackie is drawn into an underworld of others like...more

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Dec 21, 2010

Jessica (Khar) rated it

I can without a doubt say I have never read a book quite like The Replacement before. I'm convinced Tim Burton needs to purchase the rights to make this into a movie. I'm sure we can find a role for Johnny Depp.

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Feb 03, 2012

Rhiannon Ryder rated it

This book had ambiance in droves! Grey, rainy and and filled with mystery, The Replacement was everything I'd hoped for over the past year while it mouldered away in the To-Be-Bought file I'm always carrying around in the back of my head.

From Goodreads:
Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the ...moreThis book had ambiance in droves! Grey, rainy and and filled with mystery, The Replacement was everything I'd hoped for over the past year while it mouldered away in the To-Be-Bought file I'm always carrying around in the back of my head.

From Goodreads:
Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, but when a friends baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

Brenna paints a wonderfully wicked world in the Replacement, it's almost Burton-esque in it's depressing greyness and understanding by all that you just don't talk about the strangeness. The ambiance was so impressive it became the flavour of the book for me. Against this backdrop she's lined up an impressive array of characters who were intriguing enough to make me want more of them in another book. Mackie's friends include twins Danny and Drew- who can build or repair almost anything from their mom's vast hoarding collection, Roswell who's charming, kind,and never crabs about having his night ruined, or by the secrets Mackie obviously keeps, and Tate, the tough ass love interest he's known forever but only recently realized he's attracted to. And don't forget his sister Emma, who loved him so much, from the time he was switched with her brother, that it's the only reason he's still alive.

Like in Cold Kiss, real life teen issues were mixed really nicely into this horror/tragedy story. Mackie has spent his life struggling to fit into the crowd without drawing any attention to himself, hoping to live life but not draw the ire of the community. But in the end it leaves him with a very remote half life, where he's constantly in fear of people suspecting him. The way he longs to be normal, while trying to get by in a world that's slowly killing him makes him lovable despite his background. Mix in the conundrum his friends and family are in because they love him despite what he is and represents, and you have the main reason I loved The Replacement.
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7507908-the-replacement?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327088378m/7507908.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7507908-the-replacement?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff[/url]

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