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The Lost Clone #1
Replacement
Jane is a leftover clone. Created for an unknown purpose, then abandoned at a rundown facility outside Grid City, she has a knack for trouble and a burning desire to find out why she was made.
When a powerful tycoon hires her to replace his son Isaac’s best friend, a girl from the same clone batch as her, Jane jumps at the chance to finally get some answers. All she has to do is convince the charming Isaac that his friend is still alive, without getting too close to him. Stepping into someone else’s life isn’t easy, though, even when you have the same genes.
As Jane struggles to survive at Isaac’s elite private school, she discovers the other clone’s death was no accident—and she might be next. She must solve her batchmate’s murder and unravel the mystery of their origins before the killer comes for her too.
When a powerful tycoon hires her to replace his son Isaac’s best friend, a girl from the same clone batch as her, Jane jumps at the chance to finally get some answers. All she has to do is convince the charming Isaac that his friend is still alive, without getting too close to him. Stepping into someone else’s life isn’t easy, though, even when you have the same genes.
As Jane struggles to survive at Isaac’s elite private school, she discovers the other clone’s death was no accident—and she might be next. She must solve her batchmate’s murder and unravel the mystery of their origins before the killer comes for her too.
Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2022
329 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Rivet
36 books527 followersJordan Rivet is an American author of YA science fiction and fantasy featuring determined heroines, vivid worlds, and daring missions. Originally from Arizona, she lives in Hong Kong with her husband.
Jordan's YA fantasy series include Steel and Fire, Empire of Talents, The Fire Queen’s Apprentice, and Art Mages of Lure. Her science fiction includes Wake Me After the Apocalypse, The Seabound Chronicles, and The Lost Clone.
Jordan's YA fantasy series include Steel and Fire, Empire of Talents, The Fire Queen’s Apprentice, and Art Mages of Lure. Her science fiction includes Wake Me After the Apocalypse, The Seabound Chronicles, and The Lost Clone.
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September 1, 2022(Leftover) Clones? Check.
Fake/mistaken identity? Check.
Murder mystery? Check.
Also - some sort of futuristic elite school? Check.
Obviously I have a weakness for these things. xD
Many thanks to the author for giving me an ARC today!
Fake/mistaken identity? Check.
Murder mystery? Check.
Also - some sort of futuristic elite school? Check.
Obviously I have a weakness for these things. xD
Many thanks to the author for giving me an ARC today!
October 28, 2023
As I am reading through our allocated slush books, I am looking for well edited books that really catch my attention. The first 20% of Replacement yielded clones, danger, potential ethical conundrums, and a mystery to be solved.
There is a teenaged clone trying to figure out her purpose in life. Are there batchmates? Who’s setting the birthing area on fire? What does a business tycoon want with her? I was drawn into this whirlwind mystery and almost immediately started rooting for the main character.
The danger and stakes keep increasing as Jane uncovers more and more about shady implant companies and corruption in the business world. We get rival factions and two very different boys helping Jane along the way. We get hints of potential romance but thankfully nothing develops as I am not a romance fan in scifi. That said, sign me up for the Isaac and Jane friendship all day long. I liked that element a lot despite their brief struggles with feelings, that the friendship was front and center.
My only quibbles are that 1) I don’t personally care for teenage drama like grades and boys and college applications and 2) I wanted a little more in terms of wrap up and answers from the ending, although it mostly set itself up for book two. We got enough answers to be satisfied although I’m looking for a little more closure in an individual competition like this.
Overall: while the book feels very Young Adult oriented, it was easily enjoyable for me as it explored themes of clone ethics, identity, and loyalty. It accomplished these things while integrating easily digestible technology and building a believable future world for these clones to exist in. There is a good pace and plenty of excitement along the way, also while remaining 100% YA appropriate in terms of language and content.
Long story short: I liked it!
This and all our other SPSFC content can be found at https://onereadingnurse.com/2023/09/1...
There is a teenaged clone trying to figure out her purpose in life. Are there batchmates? Who’s setting the birthing area on fire? What does a business tycoon want with her? I was drawn into this whirlwind mystery and almost immediately started rooting for the main character.
The danger and stakes keep increasing as Jane uncovers more and more about shady implant companies and corruption in the business world. We get rival factions and two very different boys helping Jane along the way. We get hints of potential romance but thankfully nothing develops as I am not a romance fan in scifi. That said, sign me up for the Isaac and Jane friendship all day long. I liked that element a lot despite their brief struggles with feelings, that the friendship was front and center.
My only quibbles are that 1) I don’t personally care for teenage drama like grades and boys and college applications and 2) I wanted a little more in terms of wrap up and answers from the ending, although it mostly set itself up for book two. We got enough answers to be satisfied although I’m looking for a little more closure in an individual competition like this.
Overall: while the book feels very Young Adult oriented, it was easily enjoyable for me as it explored themes of clone ethics, identity, and loyalty. It accomplished these things while integrating easily digestible technology and building a believable future world for these clones to exist in. There is a good pace and plenty of excitement along the way, also while remaining 100% YA appropriate in terms of language and content.
Long story short: I liked it!
This and all our other SPSFC content can be found at https://onereadingnurse.com/2023/09/1...
August 21, 2023
Holy moly! Just the other day I was lamenting the fact that there weren’t any modern sci-fi books out there. I wanted to see technology and read about what people thought society would be like in our future!
This is not your father’s sci-fi - with their handheld communication devices and video consoles (aka cell phones and tablets). I’m so excited to discover an author with a fresh voice about what the future might hold for our society.
This was a really fun and engaging story about a clone with a gripping mystery and a drive to learn more about herself. It ticked all my boxes with a realistic story and reactions that make sense for the world the author has created!
It was my 4th book by Jordan Rivet (I got caught by her bunker series!) and it won’t be my last. Can’t wait to read the rest of the Lost Clone series and get into more of what she has written!
This is not your father’s sci-fi - with their handheld communication devices and video consoles (aka cell phones and tablets). I’m so excited to discover an author with a fresh voice about what the future might hold for our society.
This was a really fun and engaging story about a clone with a gripping mystery and a drive to learn more about herself. It ticked all my boxes with a realistic story and reactions that make sense for the world the author has created!
It was my 4th book by Jordan Rivet (I got caught by her bunker series!) and it won’t be my last. Can’t wait to read the rest of the Lost Clone series and get into more of what she has written!
April 5, 2024
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I read this book as a judge for the third annual Self Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC), this review is solely my own and does not reflect the opinions of the whole team**
CW: violence, blood, injury, death, non-graphic murder, vehicle accident, kidnapping
--
Replacement is one of those books that feels like revisiting an old YA dystopian favourite at the same time as discovering an all new story and I really enjoyed it!
The book follows Jane, a leftover clone with a penchant for trouble who has grown up at an education and training facility for clones with no clue to her origins, no batchmates and no idea what tomorrow holds. Then one day a mysterious phone call lands her a fixed future and the opportunity to finally get some answers. Jane just has to step into the life of Janie – one of her own clones who is a teenage prodigy, is the best friend of the son of a powerful tycoon and who has recently died under questionable circumstances.
Rivet captured the YA voice really well and I really liked Jane and following her on her journey. Her character was written in a way that didn’t make her come across as annoying despite being a little too naïve and overly curious as sometimes YA protagonists can be. The layers of mystery to her own story and how it merged with everything she comes to experience and learn as she goes out into the world and stands in for Janie was really well done too.
There was an exciting/adventurous vibe overall despite there being an actual murder in the plot and I thought the character dynamics were great. You really get a sense for Jane’s emotions and see it through her relationships with others, those she meets as herself she has a very natural relationship with and then there is a slight uncertainty to her when she’s Janie even though she plays her part well. There is also a good balance of teenage shenanigans and commentary on the ethical side of cloning technology. The story itself felt like it could fit in as part of the same universe that Kate Dylan’s Mindwalker and Mindbreaker take place so if you enjoyed those books definitely check this one out!
The future-society worldbuilding was super interesting and I’m curious to explore more of the world. The pacing and how it was consistent is great for keeping you engaged but I will admit that it was sometimes too fast so things felt as though they were resolved too quickly. The ending especially. However, everything still wrapped up nicely and there was enough questions left unanswered by the end to set up the next book well. I’m definitely interested in picking up the rest of the series!
**I read this book as a judge for the third annual Self Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC), this review is solely my own and does not reflect the opinions of the whole team**
CW: violence, blood, injury, death, non-graphic murder, vehicle accident, kidnapping
--
Replacement is one of those books that feels like revisiting an old YA dystopian favourite at the same time as discovering an all new story and I really enjoyed it!
The book follows Jane, a leftover clone with a penchant for trouble who has grown up at an education and training facility for clones with no clue to her origins, no batchmates and no idea what tomorrow holds. Then one day a mysterious phone call lands her a fixed future and the opportunity to finally get some answers. Jane just has to step into the life of Janie – one of her own clones who is a teenage prodigy, is the best friend of the son of a powerful tycoon and who has recently died under questionable circumstances.
Rivet captured the YA voice really well and I really liked Jane and following her on her journey. Her character was written in a way that didn’t make her come across as annoying despite being a little too naïve and overly curious as sometimes YA protagonists can be. The layers of mystery to her own story and how it merged with everything she comes to experience and learn as she goes out into the world and stands in for Janie was really well done too.
There was an exciting/adventurous vibe overall despite there being an actual murder in the plot and I thought the character dynamics were great. You really get a sense for Jane’s emotions and see it through her relationships with others, those she meets as herself she has a very natural relationship with and then there is a slight uncertainty to her when she’s Janie even though she plays her part well. There is also a good balance of teenage shenanigans and commentary on the ethical side of cloning technology. The story itself felt like it could fit in as part of the same universe that Kate Dylan’s Mindwalker and Mindbreaker take place so if you enjoyed those books definitely check this one out!
The future-society worldbuilding was super interesting and I’m curious to explore more of the world. The pacing and how it was consistent is great for keeping you engaged but I will admit that it was sometimes too fast so things felt as though they were resolved too quickly. The ending especially. However, everything still wrapped up nicely and there was enough questions left unanswered by the end to set up the next book well. I’m definitely interested in picking up the rest of the series!
January 7, 2024
Replacement by Jordan Rivet was my final full read from the first round of the SPSFC-3 competition. As always the thoughts and scores below are strictly my own and may not reflect the overall scores from Team Peripheral Prospectors. I still plan to circle back and read some of the others that were intriguing to me but just didn't click with me or didn't seem as polished as others.
Let me start by saying the mystery within Replacement was amazing! I love a good mystery as a main focus or heavy backdrop for both science fiction and fantasy reads. I think one of my biggest hang-ups personally for the story was it seemed a bit more geared towards the young adult whether that was intentional or not.
The pacing was really smooth throughout this read. I didn't come across a lot of technical, typo or editing errors that stood out to me. I had not issues with any names of characters or places within the story tripping me up either. This was one of those very easy to read books.
The world building was solid. I'm starting to like these science fiction worlds where we see how our world has advanced and of course they have their own new set of issues with the technologies they've discovered over the years. Beyond the starting location which seems to basically be a campus of sorts where clones are raised to prepare to enter the rest of the world with their intended skills.
Lastly, the character development was done really well. The inclusion of the clones made things very interesting as this story progresses. We had some really good relationships in this story along with some solid arcs. Once again with the inclusion of clones this makes things really interesting and did have me guessing a few times on what was happening and I was usually wrong. I really like that feeling in reads like this!
All in all this really was a fun and easy read. I think if I was quite a bit younger I might have liked this one even more. I don't want to take away from the fact this is a good story and was well written. I just personally struggle connecting at times with younger characters. I do plan on keeping up with this series if that tells you anything.
Let me start by saying the mystery within Replacement was amazing! I love a good mystery as a main focus or heavy backdrop for both science fiction and fantasy reads. I think one of my biggest hang-ups personally for the story was it seemed a bit more geared towards the young adult whether that was intentional or not.
The pacing was really smooth throughout this read. I didn't come across a lot of technical, typo or editing errors that stood out to me. I had not issues with any names of characters or places within the story tripping me up either. This was one of those very easy to read books.
The world building was solid. I'm starting to like these science fiction worlds where we see how our world has advanced and of course they have their own new set of issues with the technologies they've discovered over the years. Beyond the starting location which seems to basically be a campus of sorts where clones are raised to prepare to enter the rest of the world with their intended skills.
Lastly, the character development was done really well. The inclusion of the clones made things very interesting as this story progresses. We had some really good relationships in this story along with some solid arcs. Once again with the inclusion of clones this makes things really interesting and did have me guessing a few times on what was happening and I was usually wrong. I really like that feeling in reads like this!
All in all this really was a fun and easy read. I think if I was quite a bit younger I might have liked this one even more. I don't want to take away from the fact this is a good story and was well written. I just personally struggle connecting at times with younger characters. I do plan on keeping up with this series if that tells you anything.
January 17, 2024
This is a really fun, fast-paced story that looks at what it means to be "you" when you are a clone. It takes ideas about clones that I have seen before (such as the nature/nurture aspect of personality development) and gives them a tweak. Since Jane knows she is a clone but doesn't know anything about her original or other clones from her batch, she doesn't know how much of what makes her "her" is DNA, and how much is her own unique personality.
I really liked how we were introduced to this world: we follow Jane as she starts in her boarding school for clones. She's an older teen at this point, and yet has been very sheltered — so when she leaves the school to take over the life of a batchmate who has died, a lot of what she sees in the wider world beyond the school is new to her. It worked well to introduce the reader to the world at the same time Jane is getting a proper look at it.
While Jane looks identical to Janie (the batchmate she is replacing), I appreciated that she had to study her actions and clothing styles to try to fit in better. There was a good amount of stress on Jane's part to mimic Janie well so that she didn't get found out. (And yet, as the reader, I was trying to figure out exactly what would happen to cause her secret to come out... it just seemed obvious to me that it would, and wondering when and how was a fun source of tension for me.)
The plot and pacing worked really well for me in this book. There were scenes that I was dreading reading as they started, but it turned out that I needn't have worried: the author gave us plot development in places I hadn't expected to find it. For example, at one point Jane attends a Halloween party with her (well, Janie's) school friends. I thought that if there was going to be any tension in that scene, it would be relationship drama among the teens. Instead, Jane sneaks off to do some investigating into the mystery of what happened to Janie.
Overall, this is a very fun and quick read. From the start, it had the feel of a movie to me. The pacing is quite good, and though character development is happening slowly, it is happening. I get the impression that the character development arc is spread out across the series, but you can get a definite sense of the direction it's headed from this first book. Speaking of series — I also greatly appreciated that there is a definite resolution to the book's plot while leaving series plot points open for future installments. Jane didn't get all of her answers by the end of book one, but we also have a good resolution and don't end on a cliffhanger.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
I read this book as part of the judging process for the 3rd Self Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC3), and while I was provided a review copy for judging purposes I read the book using the version available on Kindle Unlimited. My opinions are my own and do not reflect the thoughts of my SPSFC3 team or the competition as a whole.
I really liked how we were introduced to this world: we follow Jane as she starts in her boarding school for clones. She's an older teen at this point, and yet has been very sheltered — so when she leaves the school to take over the life of a batchmate who has died, a lot of what she sees in the wider world beyond the school is new to her. It worked well to introduce the reader to the world at the same time Jane is getting a proper look at it.
While Jane looks identical to Janie (the batchmate she is replacing), I appreciated that she had to study her actions and clothing styles to try to fit in better. There was a good amount of stress on Jane's part to mimic Janie well so that she didn't get found out. (And yet, as the reader, I was trying to figure out exactly what would happen to cause her secret to come out... it just seemed obvious to me that it would, and wondering when and how was a fun source of tension for me.)
The plot and pacing worked really well for me in this book. There were scenes that I was dreading reading as they started, but it turned out that I needn't have worried: the author gave us plot development in places I hadn't expected to find it. For example, at one point Jane attends a Halloween party with her (well, Janie's) school friends. I thought that if there was going to be any tension in that scene, it would be relationship drama among the teens. Instead, Jane sneaks off to do some investigating into the mystery of what happened to Janie.
Overall, this is a very fun and quick read. From the start, it had the feel of a movie to me. The pacing is quite good, and though character development is happening slowly, it is happening. I get the impression that the character development arc is spread out across the series, but you can get a definite sense of the direction it's headed from this first book. Speaking of series — I also greatly appreciated that there is a definite resolution to the book's plot while leaving series plot points open for future installments. Jane didn't get all of her answers by the end of book one, but we also have a good resolution and don't end on a cliffhanger.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
I read this book as part of the judging process for the 3rd Self Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC3), and while I was provided a review copy for judging purposes I read the book using the version available on Kindle Unlimited. My opinions are my own and do not reflect the thoughts of my SPSFC3 team or the competition as a whole.
October 5, 2022
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Victory Editing in exchange for an honest review.
I took a break from Fantasy again when I was gifted this ARC and found this to be an amazingly refreshing read.
While Replacement is touted as fans of Divergent and Orphan Black - I feel this reminded me more of Orphan Black and the Unwind Dystology. Basically if you love cloning, the implications and morality of it, then this is for you!
Replacement the first book in The Lost Clone series and set in a moderately futuristic world where cloning facilities are a norm, technology is quite automated and privacy/surveillance concerns are still afoot. It's not too farfetched to imagine this world as something achievable within our lifetime and this is what makes the story more realistic than actual "what if?"
Jane with her average name, and unknown clone status, sets the tone for being what you would expect her to be - plain, ordinary, unassuming, but a clone. We get a glimpse into the world of clone creation and the uniqueness between clones in a batch, something that Jane herself lacks. I loved seeing her friendships with clones from other batches and identifying their individuality. It's unfortunate that we don't get to see more of this once she leaves the facility to start her job of replacing Isaac's friend.
We are thrown into the mystery from the get-go as Jane faces puzzle after puzzle, with Isaac's family, their company, her strange teachers, and most of all the aunt of the clone she is replacing. We also get introduced to the mysterious Dean and the unknown organisation he works for. It's all one big set up for a giant conspiracy waiting to happen.
Jane faces constant struggle over who she should trust, while navigating the nuances of teenage life - something which she has never been taught. There are laughable moments where she completely misses the point of conversations alluding to romance between her friends, which only serves to remind you that despite all her average normalcy, she is still a clone, albeit human as she constantly reminds.
The mysteries and plot twists never dull here as we get jam packed action piled on top of each other, you solve one and uncover another one instead. Who made Jane? What is the purpose of her life? Why is her existence so heavily guarded? Who are all these different organisations up against each other that she's caught in the crossfire with? Also, will she ever get to experience love?
The book doesn't answer everything for you, neither does it end in cliffhanger, but prepare yourselves folks because we're going to be in for a long ride with this series.
I took a break from Fantasy again when I was gifted this ARC and found this to be an amazingly refreshing read.
While Replacement is touted as fans of Divergent and Orphan Black - I feel this reminded me more of Orphan Black and the Unwind Dystology. Basically if you love cloning, the implications and morality of it, then this is for you!
Replacement the first book in The Lost Clone series and set in a moderately futuristic world where cloning facilities are a norm, technology is quite automated and privacy/surveillance concerns are still afoot. It's not too farfetched to imagine this world as something achievable within our lifetime and this is what makes the story more realistic than actual "what if?"
Jane with her average name, and unknown clone status, sets the tone for being what you would expect her to be - plain, ordinary, unassuming, but a clone. We get a glimpse into the world of clone creation and the uniqueness between clones in a batch, something that Jane herself lacks. I loved seeing her friendships with clones from other batches and identifying their individuality. It's unfortunate that we don't get to see more of this once she leaves the facility to start her job of replacing Isaac's friend.
We are thrown into the mystery from the get-go as Jane faces puzzle after puzzle, with Isaac's family, their company, her strange teachers, and most of all the aunt of the clone she is replacing. We also get introduced to the mysterious Dean and the unknown organisation he works for. It's all one big set up for a giant conspiracy waiting to happen.
Jane faces constant struggle over who she should trust, while navigating the nuances of teenage life - something which she has never been taught. There are laughable moments where she completely misses the point of conversations alluding to romance between her friends, which only serves to remind you that despite all her average normalcy, she is still a clone, albeit human as she constantly reminds.
The mysteries and plot twists never dull here as we get jam packed action piled on top of each other, you solve one and uncover another one instead. Who made Jane? What is the purpose of her life? Why is her existence so heavily guarded? Who are all these different organisations up against each other that she's caught in the crossfire with? Also, will she ever get to experience love?
The book doesn't answer everything for you, neither does it end in cliffhanger, but prepare yourselves folks because we're going to be in for a long ride with this series.
September 24, 2022
4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5
This was the freshest and most original book I have read in a very long time! If you need a palate cleansing book, this is the book you to read right now! I was initially a little unsure about the premise. I wasn’t looking to read a book about clones, but I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really dove into this because like I said it was very fresh and brought up some interesting bioethical concerns about cloning, but in a way that made it feel personal. It was fun because I had no idea where the story was going so each development felt like a surprise. I read faster than I have for a while because I enjoyed it so much.
This book was just very clever and well planned. I thought I was on track to guess some of the twists, but I’m so glad I was wrong. There is one twist I’m still hoping to see though. Maybe it will be in the next book. This book had a great friendship and hints of romance.
This book was close to 5 stars for me. I would have liked a little more drama with her friends at school. Also, if the book was a little longer, the tension could have been drawn out which would have made it even more satisfying. Maybe I just read it so fast that it didn’t feel long enough. I can’t wait to see where the next book takes us!
If you haven’t read a book from Jordan Rivet before, I highly recommend. She writes fantasy and dystopian and I enjoy both.
This was the freshest and most original book I have read in a very long time! If you need a palate cleansing book, this is the book you to read right now! I was initially a little unsure about the premise. I wasn’t looking to read a book about clones, but I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really dove into this because like I said it was very fresh and brought up some interesting bioethical concerns about cloning, but in a way that made it feel personal. It was fun because I had no idea where the story was going so each development felt like a surprise. I read faster than I have for a while because I enjoyed it so much.
This book was just very clever and well planned. I thought I was on track to guess some of the twists, but I’m so glad I was wrong. There is one twist I’m still hoping to see though. Maybe it will be in the next book. This book had a great friendship and hints of romance.
This book was close to 5 stars for me. I would have liked a little more drama with her friends at school. Also, if the book was a little longer, the tension could have been drawn out which would have made it even more satisfying. Maybe I just read it so fast that it didn’t feel long enough. I can’t wait to see where the next book takes us!
If you haven’t read a book from Jordan Rivet before, I highly recommend. She writes fantasy and dystopian and I enjoy both.
February 28, 2024
Replacement tells the story of Jane, a leftover clone with no batchmates (that is, no other clones that are identical to her, made from the same template), just kind of drifting from day to day in a clone training academy which is sort of like future-Hogwarts where the houses are made up of different clone batches all being trained for specific things. Clones are the new robots, doing jobs that humans no longer need or want to do, and that robots and AI can't handle. And Jane, frequently in trouble for her disobedience and curiosity, is just trying to figure out who she is and where she comes from. And where her batches at.
That's the last 'batch' joke. I swear.
It's an immediately interesting future-society setup. Where are the resources for all this coming from? Are we finally post-currency? It doesn't seem like it, since there are still very much haves and have-nots. But this is the stage as it's set. Clones, despite their quite laughable bill of rights (there aren't many rights in there, and it's more of a bar napkin than a bill), are not-quite-people. They're not property, but that really feels like a wink-wink sort of agreement that nobody really believes. They are "free" to do the job they were grown and trained for, or fail miserably and fall through the cracks, just as they please. I feel like the whole story could have been a lot darker, and there is extraordinary promise in this complex and well-imagined world for future books.
For this book, we focus on Jane. You see, sometimes, people make special clones to fill in for real people or replace lost kids, but it never really works because without special training to be that thing, the clone can't do it. Clones look the same and their brains are kind of the same, but their personalities are never going to match up exactly. Nevertheless, Jane finds herself embroiled in a whole ... thing. Okay, where to start.
After the intro where, as I mentioned, she is shown to be a big damn troublemaker, always asking questions, sneaking around and trying to find out more about herself and her situation, Jane is "adopted" by a Daddy Warbucks type. Space Daddy Warbucks, if you will. His name is actually Henry Ironside, which ... look, if it was slightly less cool a name, I might go on just calling him Space Daddy Warbucks instead, but Henry Ironside is great. No notes. Henry contracts Jane to replace Janie, a clone from her batch who was a friend of his son, Isaac - and who had been killed in mysterious circumstances. It may or may not have been Isaac's fault, and Henry Ironside wants Jane to pretend to be Janie, indefinitely postponing his son's grief and guilt, and avoiding a big old family scandal. This was apparently the best idea they had, and it's all a bit rushed because Isaac was also getting impatient and asking questions about Janie and stuff.
This disastrous clone-tissue of lies gets even more convoluted and impossible as we go along. Jane makes friends with Isaac, goes to school, goes to parties, and starts to uncover a big old plot that her old batchmate Janie had begun to snoop around in. In a pretty darn seamless melding of high school interpersonal drama and espionage thriller (and like I said, the potential to go super dark in places, but it always seemed to veer back to the safe warm waters of young adult sci-fi, and that's okay), Jane takes up where her "sister" left off. What is Henry Ironside up to? What was Janie up to? What are Isaac and Dean and Auntie Clem up to? And the twists and the action proceed very nicely from there.
Sex-o-meter
There's something of a charged atmosphere in this story but it is consistently respectful and up-front about what it is. Are Jane and Isaac going to get it on? Jane and Dean? What about Janie's past life with Isaac? They're teenagers, but not adult teenagers, really. So yeah, ultimately there's well-written tension in this book but no sex. And that makes sense. A nice innocent clone helpdesk representative out of a possible what clones would almost certainly end up being illicitly used for in a future like this one.
Gore-o-meter
It's not an excessively gory one either, although people do get hurt and even killed. There's a bit of shooting, some burning and classic tech-dystopian robot dog mayhem that I really enjoyed (it was brief, but it was there!), but no gore as such. Again, it could have been a whole lot worse. One ragged bloody flesh-gobbet out of a possible five for Replacement.
WTF-o-meter
I was somewhat puzzled by how a society where clones are a thing would really work, but obviously that was the premise of the story and it was well done. It just didn't make much sense to me and I had to consciously set the questions aside whenever they piled up. It was fine. The [SPOILER] batch seemed like a bit of a training oversight and security risk. Come to think of it, shouldn't every clone type be super well known and publicised, making any new clone batch (that nobody recognises as a clone) kind of a huge deal? Given what we learn about Jane and Janie by the end, I am also a little puzzled about (among other things) what Henry Ironside's motivation was, but there is a solid exposition-dump conversation towards the end of the book that kind of satisfies the requirement for answers. There are a lot of big-picture questions that I would hope the ongoing series answers, one little piece at a time. This is a benefit, ultimately, not a drawback. Even so, it leaves me without much WTF to pick up on the WTF-o-meter. A lot of questions, and plenty of good espionage-tech-thriller mystery, but no WTF. Three Duncans Idaho out of a possible five The Doctor's Daughters.
My Final Verdict
This was pretty damn good! It opens onto a series, which I'm glad to see. A heartily recommended read for anyone who has ever dealt with impostor syndrome, found themselves having to fill someone else's shoes, or wondered about their place in the world and how much of their behaviour is free will vs. conditioned response. That ... should be everyone. If it's not you, I recommend you read this book and then seek help because you may be a sociopath or heavily, heavily concussed due to an industrial accident. Four stars.
That's the last 'batch' joke. I swear.
It's an immediately interesting future-society setup. Where are the resources for all this coming from? Are we finally post-currency? It doesn't seem like it, since there are still very much haves and have-nots. But this is the stage as it's set. Clones, despite their quite laughable bill of rights (there aren't many rights in there, and it's more of a bar napkin than a bill), are not-quite-people. They're not property, but that really feels like a wink-wink sort of agreement that nobody really believes. They are "free" to do the job they were grown and trained for, or fail miserably and fall through the cracks, just as they please. I feel like the whole story could have been a lot darker, and there is extraordinary promise in this complex and well-imagined world for future books.
For this book, we focus on Jane. You see, sometimes, people make special clones to fill in for real people or replace lost kids, but it never really works because without special training to be that thing, the clone can't do it. Clones look the same and their brains are kind of the same, but their personalities are never going to match up exactly. Nevertheless, Jane finds herself embroiled in a whole ... thing. Okay, where to start.
After the intro where, as I mentioned, she is shown to be a big damn troublemaker, always asking questions, sneaking around and trying to find out more about herself and her situation, Jane is "adopted" by a Daddy Warbucks type. Space Daddy Warbucks, if you will. His name is actually Henry Ironside, which ... look, if it was slightly less cool a name, I might go on just calling him Space Daddy Warbucks instead, but Henry Ironside is great. No notes. Henry contracts Jane to replace Janie, a clone from her batch who was a friend of his son, Isaac - and who had been killed in mysterious circumstances. It may or may not have been Isaac's fault, and Henry Ironside wants Jane to pretend to be Janie, indefinitely postponing his son's grief and guilt, and avoiding a big old family scandal. This was apparently the best idea they had, and it's all a bit rushed because Isaac was also getting impatient and asking questions about Janie and stuff.
This disastrous clone-tissue of lies gets even more convoluted and impossible as we go along. Jane makes friends with Isaac, goes to school, goes to parties, and starts to uncover a big old plot that her old batchmate Janie had begun to snoop around in. In a pretty darn seamless melding of high school interpersonal drama and espionage thriller (and like I said, the potential to go super dark in places, but it always seemed to veer back to the safe warm waters of young adult sci-fi, and that's okay), Jane takes up where her "sister" left off. What is Henry Ironside up to? What was Janie up to? What are Isaac and Dean and Auntie Clem up to? And the twists and the action proceed very nicely from there.
Sex-o-meter
There's something of a charged atmosphere in this story but it is consistently respectful and up-front about what it is. Are Jane and Isaac going to get it on? Jane and Dean? What about Janie's past life with Isaac? They're teenagers, but not adult teenagers, really. So yeah, ultimately there's well-written tension in this book but no sex. And that makes sense. A nice innocent clone helpdesk representative out of a possible what clones would almost certainly end up being illicitly used for in a future like this one.
Gore-o-meter
It's not an excessively gory one either, although people do get hurt and even killed. There's a bit of shooting, some burning and classic tech-dystopian robot dog mayhem that I really enjoyed (it was brief, but it was there!), but no gore as such. Again, it could have been a whole lot worse. One ragged bloody flesh-gobbet out of a possible five for Replacement.
WTF-o-meter
I was somewhat puzzled by how a society where clones are a thing would really work, but obviously that was the premise of the story and it was well done. It just didn't make much sense to me and I had to consciously set the questions aside whenever they piled up. It was fine. The [SPOILER] batch seemed like a bit of a training oversight and security risk. Come to think of it, shouldn't every clone type be super well known and publicised, making any new clone batch (that nobody recognises as a clone) kind of a huge deal? Given what we learn about Jane and Janie by the end, I am also a little puzzled about (among other things) what Henry Ironside's motivation was, but there is a solid exposition-dump conversation towards the end of the book that kind of satisfies the requirement for answers. There are a lot of big-picture questions that I would hope the ongoing series answers, one little piece at a time. This is a benefit, ultimately, not a drawback. Even so, it leaves me without much WTF to pick up on the WTF-o-meter. A lot of questions, and plenty of good espionage-tech-thriller mystery, but no WTF. Three Duncans Idaho out of a possible five The Doctor's Daughters.
My Final Verdict
This was pretty damn good! It opens onto a series, which I'm glad to see. A heartily recommended read for anyone who has ever dealt with impostor syndrome, found themselves having to fill someone else's shoes, or wondered about their place in the world and how much of their behaviour is free will vs. conditioned response. That ... should be everyone. If it's not you, I recommend you read this book and then seek help because you may be a sociopath or heavily, heavily concussed due to an industrial accident. Four stars.
October 4, 2022
*Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC for this book!*
*The story introduces us to Jane, a leftover clone, who doesn't seem to find her place anywhere in her school.
She might have friends, but deep inside she feels like she belongs with her batch of clones, who so happened to have disappeared, along with Jane's records.
One day, Jane receives a phone call from Mr. Ironside, an important man, who needs her help to cover up a murder and to wash away any suspicions following his actions.
Jane gets pulled into Jamie's rags-to-ritches life, but while she pretends to someone who might be a part of the same batch of clones as her, Jane starts to search for answers involving both her life, but also Janice's.
But some people would kill to keep some things secret, and Jane can't trust anyone.
*This was an enjoyable quick read, who, in my opinion, had everything it needed. The story played out at a quick pace, but none of it seemed rushed.
*Overall, I'll rate it a 5/5 stars.
*The story introduces us to Jane, a leftover clone, who doesn't seem to find her place anywhere in her school.
She might have friends, but deep inside she feels like she belongs with her batch of clones, who so happened to have disappeared, along with Jane's records.
One day, Jane receives a phone call from Mr. Ironside, an important man, who needs her help to cover up a murder and to wash away any suspicions following his actions.
Jane gets pulled into Jamie's rags-to-ritches life, but while she pretends to someone who might be a part of the same batch of clones as her, Jane starts to search for answers involving both her life, but also Janice's.
But some people would kill to keep some things secret, and Jane can't trust anyone.
*This was an enjoyable quick read, who, in my opinion, had everything it needed. The story played out at a quick pace, but none of it seemed rushed.
*Overall, I'll rate it a 5/5 stars.
September 12, 2022
I knew this would be good! The synopsis peaked my interest on the get go, so I was SUPER excited to get this ARC. And man, Jordan Rivet did NOT disappoint!
I loved every minute of Replacement! The first few pages did confuse me a little as I got used to the world, but I caught on pretty quickly and fell in love with Jane and her naughty curious ways haha
I'm a curious person myself and I love a good mystery so I thoroughly enjoyed putting the pieces together with Jane and Dean. Although, Dean has a lot to make up for, hmph 😤 lol
My heart ached for Isaac too and I liked how his friendship with Jane developed.
The ending left a lot of questions unanswered, but Jordan made it clear this would be a new series, and man the wait is going to kill me! I want to get my hands on book 2 right now 😂
Such a good book! Giving it 10 stars! I recommend it to everyone 👍👍
I loved every minute of Replacement! The first few pages did confuse me a little as I got used to the world, but I caught on pretty quickly and fell in love with Jane and her naughty curious ways haha
I'm a curious person myself and I love a good mystery so I thoroughly enjoyed putting the pieces together with Jane and Dean. Although, Dean has a lot to make up for, hmph 😤 lol
My heart ached for Isaac too and I liked how his friendship with Jane developed.
The ending left a lot of questions unanswered, but Jordan made it clear this would be a new series, and man the wait is going to kill me! I want to get my hands on book 2 right now 😂
Such a good book! Giving it 10 stars! I recommend it to everyone 👍👍
November 2, 2022
4.5 🌟
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.
When I first started reading this, I wasn’t very into it. Hearing YA might’ve put me off slightly.
However… I got HOOKED. Once the story got going, I couldn’t put it down! It’s teen drama, and clones, and mystery, and murder- and the storyline is so original!!!
I can’t wait for the next book!!!!
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.
When I first started reading this, I wasn’t very into it. Hearing YA might’ve put me off slightly.
However… I got HOOKED. Once the story got going, I couldn’t put it down! It’s teen drama, and clones, and mystery, and murder- and the storyline is so original!!!
I can’t wait for the next book!!!!
October 15, 2022
I received this eARC from NetGalley.
I’ve been looking for a book that gave me Murderbot and corporation espionage feels - and I got it! Cue in some dystopian feels and viola!
This book takes place centuries in the future.
It was so much more than I thought it would be and exactly what I wanted/needed. .
It’s a science fiction murder mystery with clones.
Perfection.
What did I like? The characters, the mystery, the way the author let Jane’s past unfold, just the right amount of technology and secrecy.
What did I dislike? Nothing. I liked all of it. I just chewed my poor husbands ear off about that book. I genuinely look forward to reading more books from this author.
I’ve been looking for a book that gave me Murderbot and corporation espionage feels - and I got it! Cue in some dystopian feels and viola!
This book takes place centuries in the future.
It was so much more than I thought it would be and exactly what I wanted/needed. .
It’s a science fiction murder mystery with clones.
Perfection.
What did I like? The characters, the mystery, the way the author let Jane’s past unfold, just the right amount of technology and secrecy.
What did I dislike? Nothing. I liked all of it. I just chewed my poor husbands ear off about that book. I genuinely look forward to reading more books from this author.
October 15, 2022
A thoroughly riveting fast-paced mystery with broad appeal.
I was intrigued by the premise of this story and it delivered on all counts. The characters are really well done, their actions and motivations are entirely plausible and logical given the context of the plot. On the subject of the plot, it's a thrilling, complex mystery with surprises and turns that we get to unravel with the characters. Rivet writes tension like a master.
There are some questions that still need to be answered, and mysteries to be solved, and I look forward to reading more of this series – I'll absolutely be sticking with it to the end.
I was intrigued by the premise of this story and it delivered on all counts. The characters are really well done, their actions and motivations are entirely plausible and logical given the context of the plot. On the subject of the plot, it's a thrilling, complex mystery with surprises and turns that we get to unravel with the characters. Rivet writes tension like a master.
There are some questions that still need to be answered, and mysteries to be solved, and I look forward to reading more of this series – I'll absolutely be sticking with it to the end.
October 16, 2022
This story was a blast and begins a new series that made me think as it sucked me into it all. It is really a murder mystery story set in the future with lots of characters that seem to have hidden secrets. At its heart is Jane a abandoned clone seeking answers who gets drawn into a bit of a mystery. Glued to the end to see what would happen next and what Jane would discover along the way. Loved it and cannot wait for the next one.
October 6, 2022
Brilliant read. Original series about a world with clones.
Very interesting reading of what could happen in the future.
I found it to be totally captivating and intriguing. The storyline kept my interest throughout.
Lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
I await the next book with undisguised impatience.
Thoroughly recommend this.
Very interesting reading of what could happen in the future.
I found it to be totally captivating and intriguing. The storyline kept my interest throughout.
Lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
I await the next book with undisguised impatience.
Thoroughly recommend this.
September 17, 2022
ok when is the next book out!! really enjoyed this book a real page turner i couldn’t wait to find out about jane/janie, so many questions to be asked that remain unanswered.
October 24, 2022
Entertaining
This was really good. I couldn’t stop reading it. But I’m happy with where it ended. I don’t feel like I need to read the sequels. Guess I’m just not that inquisitive.
This was really good. I couldn’t stop reading it. But I’m happy with where it ended. I don’t feel like I need to read the sequels. Guess I’m just not that inquisitive.
November 1, 2022
very interesting
This is a good idea. A composition of big businesses and is very close to real life (maybe not the clones it this stage.)
This is a good idea. A composition of big businesses and is very close to real life (maybe not the clones it this stage.)
August 23, 2025
This book was so good!! I’m just sad I have to wait till spring to continue the series. I absolutely love Jordan Rivets writing style. It is unique and very engrossing.
November 25, 2023
Replacement follows the story of Jane, a forgotten clone in a factory-like facility where most of the others are part of larger "batches" who have been cloned/designed to take on specific roles in society. Jane is yearning and searching for "batchmates" and for answers. She wants to know who "sponsored" her to be cloned in the first place and why. To connect with her identity.
She thinks she might get answers when she is sent to replace/pretend to be Janie, one of these batchmates she has been yearning to find, but she find a whole bunch more questions!
This was a great, well-written read that had mystery and explored the ethical issues that arise from cloning in an entertaining way. Since Jane is a teenager there was a bit of school life/teen relationship stuff that was written in a realistic way that didn't overpower other aspects of the story. It all served to move the story along and help explore Jane's struggles, because on the one hand she has to convince everyone she's Janie, but on the other hand, she's starting to actually get emotionally connected to different aspects of Janie's life and that's making it harder for her to just pretend. Great storytelling overall.
I also really enjoyed the other dimensions to the story beyond her trying to fit into Janie's place. She does her own exploring and digging and uncovers a lot of information and also makes some allies and enemies along the way. There's spying, implant technology, secret factories and shady characters.
One aspect of the ending, and how some things ended up being done by only one character where I expected it to be a larger issue, kind of annoyed me, but it did allow this first book in a series to have its own ending, so I guess it was good in a way.
Overall. a great read and it sets the bar high for the other SPSFC Quarterfinalists that I will be reading as part of my judging for team Peripheral Prospectors. This review is only my own opinion on the book. The decision will be made on whether to move the book forward in the competition or not as a team once we've all read the books!
She thinks she might get answers when she is sent to replace/pretend to be Janie, one of these batchmates she has been yearning to find, but she find a whole bunch more questions!
This was a great, well-written read that had mystery and explored the ethical issues that arise from cloning in an entertaining way. Since Jane is a teenager there was a bit of school life/teen relationship stuff that was written in a realistic way that didn't overpower other aspects of the story. It all served to move the story along and help explore Jane's struggles, because on the one hand she has to convince everyone she's Janie, but on the other hand, she's starting to actually get emotionally connected to different aspects of Janie's life and that's making it harder for her to just pretend. Great storytelling overall.
I also really enjoyed the other dimensions to the story beyond her trying to fit into Janie's place. She does her own exploring and digging and uncovers a lot of information and also makes some allies and enemies along the way. There's spying, implant technology, secret factories and shady characters.
One aspect of the ending, and how some things ended up being done by only one character where I expected it to be a larger issue, kind of annoyed me, but it did allow this first book in a series to have its own ending, so I guess it was good in a way.
Overall. a great read and it sets the bar high for the other SPSFC Quarterfinalists that I will be reading as part of my judging for team Peripheral Prospectors. This review is only my own opinion on the book. The decision will be made on whether to move the book forward in the competition or not as a team once we've all read the books!
October 12, 2023
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Victory Editing in exchange for an honest review.
I took a break from Fantasy again when I was gifted this ARC and found this to be an amazingly refreshing read.
While Replacement is touted as fans of Divergent and Orphan Black - I feel this reminded me more of Orphan Black and the Unwind Dystology. Basically if you love cloning, the implications and morality of it, then this is for you!
Replacement the first book in The Lost Clone series and set in a moderately futuristic world where cloning facilities are a norm, technology is quite automated and privacy/surveillance concerns are still afoot. It's not too farfetched to imagine this world as something achievable within our lifetime and this is what makes the story more realistic than actual "what if?"
Jane with her average name, and unknown clone status, sets the tone for being what you would expect her to be - plain, ordinary, unassuming, but a clone. We get a glimpse into the world of clone creation and the uniqueness between clones in a batch, something that Jane herself lacks. I loved seeing her friendships with clones from other batches and identifying their individuality. It's unfortunate that we don't get to see more of this once she leaves the facility to start her job of replacing Isaac's friend.
We are thrown into the mystery from the get-go as Jane faces puzzle after puzzle, with Isaac's family, their company, her strange teachers, and most of all the aunt of the clone she is replacing. We also get introduced to the mysterious Dean and the unknown organisation he works for. It's all one big set up for a giant conspiracy waiting to happen.
Jane faces constant struggle over who she should trust, while navigating the nuances of teenage life - something which she has never been taught. There are laughable moments where she completely misses the point of conversations alluding to romance between her friends, which only serves to remind you that despite all her average normalcy, she is still a clone, albeit human as she constantly reminds.
The mysteries and plot twists never dull here as we get jam packed action piled on top of each other, you solve one and uncover another one instead. Who made Jane? What is the purpose of her life? Why is her existence so heavily guarded? Who are all these different organisations up against each other that she's caught in the crossfire with? Also, will she ever get to experience love?
The book doesn't answer everything for you, neither does it end in cliffhanger, but prepare yourselves folks because we're going to be in for a long ride with this series.
I took a break from Fantasy again when I was gifted this ARC and found this to be an amazingly refreshing read.
While Replacement is touted as fans of Divergent and Orphan Black - I feel this reminded me more of Orphan Black and the Unwind Dystology. Basically if you love cloning, the implications and morality of it, then this is for you!
Replacement the first book in The Lost Clone series and set in a moderately futuristic world where cloning facilities are a norm, technology is quite automated and privacy/surveillance concerns are still afoot. It's not too farfetched to imagine this world as something achievable within our lifetime and this is what makes the story more realistic than actual "what if?"
Jane with her average name, and unknown clone status, sets the tone for being what you would expect her to be - plain, ordinary, unassuming, but a clone. We get a glimpse into the world of clone creation and the uniqueness between clones in a batch, something that Jane herself lacks. I loved seeing her friendships with clones from other batches and identifying their individuality. It's unfortunate that we don't get to see more of this once she leaves the facility to start her job of replacing Isaac's friend.
We are thrown into the mystery from the get-go as Jane faces puzzle after puzzle, with Isaac's family, their company, her strange teachers, and most of all the aunt of the clone she is replacing. We also get introduced to the mysterious Dean and the unknown organisation he works for. It's all one big set up for a giant conspiracy waiting to happen.
Jane faces constant struggle over who she should trust, while navigating the nuances of teenage life - something which she has never been taught. There are laughable moments where she completely misses the point of conversations alluding to romance between her friends, which only serves to remind you that despite all her average normalcy, she is still a clone, albeit human as she constantly reminds.
The mysteries and plot twists never dull here as we get jam packed action piled on top of each other, you solve one and uncover another one instead. Who made Jane? What is the purpose of her life? Why is her existence so heavily guarded? Who are all these different organisations up against each other that she's caught in the crossfire with? Also, will she ever get to experience love?
The book doesn't answer everything for you, neither does it end in cliffhanger, but prepare yourselves folks because we're going to be in for a long ride with this series.
December 11, 2023
This is definitely a refreshing concept in a world of overdone plots taking place in the near-future. There were a lot of things I appreciated about Rivet's writing — that they didn't spend an egregious amount of time bringing us up to speed on all the new future lingo and trusted us to figure it out for ourselves, that they focused more on the characters than a lot of people do so that we were invested in the plot by virtue of liking the characters, that there was a good mystery set up that we found ourselves embroiled in. I genuinely enjoyed reading this book. I enjoyed Jane. I found her likable, relatable (to the extent a clone can be relatable to a nonclone), and very human, which was a welcome change from a few very dry books I've read lately. The writing itself was great, although Rivet shies away from commas (ex: "I'm a person not an it" should be "I'm a person, not an it"), but honestly it mattered little in the grand scheme of things.
If I was to offer any criticism for this book/series specifically, I would say that it seems like nonclones are a little too accepting of clones — though Rivet does mention that there are anti-cloning lobbies and protests, just doesn't focus on them, so I can let it slide and assume that it's a world that has had enough time to get used to the cloning technology that it has become semi-normal. Totally not a big deal.
I'm starting the second book now and excited to see what the future holds for Jane, Isaac, and Dean!
If I was to offer any criticism for this book/series specifically, I would say that it seems like nonclones are a little too accepting of clones — though Rivet does mention that there are anti-cloning lobbies and protests, just doesn't focus on them, so I can let it slide and assume that it's a world that has had enough time to get used to the cloning technology that it has become semi-normal. Totally not a big deal.
I'm starting the second book now and excited to see what the future holds for Jane, Isaac, and Dean!
January 13, 2023
Rivet is such a tease with giving answers from ominous government organizations, Jane’s lineage, and what is her purpose. And by tease I mean sis needs to release book 2 like yesterday. I’m losing sleep over this.
Listen, Dean has some drawbacks but I can’t help myself. I’m a sucker for toxic behavior and male characters that make me question my life choices. I’m darkly praying for a redemption arc. Sue me. 😂
Now to Jane. Her curiosity is hands down one of the most adorably frustrating things about her. I loved her realness with her age: the humor inserted throughout the book and during conversations was a breath of fresh air considering most cyborg-based stories have minimal humor and a whole lot of drama. I mean, don’t get me wrong, teenage Jane is the epitome of internal dramatics with her grappling on that whole trust issue thing, but can someone point out a single teenager from the future who won’t have some trust issues? I’ll wait. I LOVED her dynamic relationships with each of the other clones. I hadn’t considered up until reading this book that AIs would be interested in differing relationships and personalities, but now I find myself going through every single AI in pop culture asking would they be as open-minded and progressive as Jane? And then I wonder if Jane’s humane side win out?
Oh, and I’m still not over Isaac. 😭😭
Listen, Dean has some drawbacks but I can’t help myself. I’m a sucker for toxic behavior and male characters that make me question my life choices. I’m darkly praying for a redemption arc. Sue me. 😂
Now to Jane. Her curiosity is hands down one of the most adorably frustrating things about her. I loved her realness with her age: the humor inserted throughout the book and during conversations was a breath of fresh air considering most cyborg-based stories have minimal humor and a whole lot of drama. I mean, don’t get me wrong, teenage Jane is the epitome of internal dramatics with her grappling on that whole trust issue thing, but can someone point out a single teenager from the future who won’t have some trust issues? I’ll wait. I LOVED her dynamic relationships with each of the other clones. I hadn’t considered up until reading this book that AIs would be interested in differing relationships and personalities, but now I find myself going through every single AI in pop culture asking would they be as open-minded and progressive as Jane? And then I wonder if Jane’s humane side win out?
Oh, and I’m still not over Isaac. 😭😭
October 15, 2025
I’ve read a few clone-themed stories before, but Replacement takes the concept to a whole new level. Jordan Rivet manages to twist familiar sci-fi ideas into something that feels original, emotional, and deeply human. The science behind cloning is fascinating, but what really makes this book stand out is how personal it feels—Jane isn’t just a lab experiment; she’s a mystery wrapped in flesh and memory.
From the first chapter, I was hooked. The pacing keeps you guessing without ever feeling rushed, and every answer seems to open three new questions. Jane’s search for her batchmates and her struggle to understand who she truly is drive a story that’s as thrilling as it is thoughtful. The relationships—especially between Jane, Dean, and Isaac—add a layer of tension and heart that makes it hard to stop reading.
Rivet doesn’t dumb anything down. The story respects its readers, exploring moral gray zones, identity, and the cost of creation. Even with a satisfying ending, I closed the book wanting more—and not just because of the cliffhanger, but because I wasn’t ready to leave this world.
So different, so compelling. Replacement is a knockout start to what promises to be a phenomenal series.
From the first chapter, I was hooked. The pacing keeps you guessing without ever feeling rushed, and every answer seems to open three new questions. Jane’s search for her batchmates and her struggle to understand who she truly is drive a story that’s as thrilling as it is thoughtful. The relationships—especially between Jane, Dean, and Isaac—add a layer of tension and heart that makes it hard to stop reading.
Rivet doesn’t dumb anything down. The story respects its readers, exploring moral gray zones, identity, and the cost of creation. Even with a satisfying ending, I closed the book wanting more—and not just because of the cliffhanger, but because I wasn’t ready to leave this world.
So different, so compelling. Replacement is a knockout start to what promises to be a phenomenal series.
March 28, 2025
So glad I picked this up !! Great read !!
This book was truly amazing !! It caught my entire focus, and held on 4 dear life !!
Jane , I a clone . But not just any clone. She is a clone alone. No batchmates. No other that looked like her. She is in search of others that look like her.
But , she hasn't come across anyone.
This book is set in a future that has lots of technology and clones can fill just about any occupation. But she has only received a basic education. No one has claimed her.
Until one day.
Henry Ironside is a very wealthy man , who just so happens to need Jane !!
Is her her sponsor???
What we find out is , no , he is not her sponsor, but Jane is supposed to take the place of a clone she has never met.
Janie. Who looks just like her !!!
As Janie tries to solve the mysteries about her beginning, she finds herself embroiled on much, much more then she could have ever bargained for !!
This book was a fascinating read , with lots of action and adventure !!! So glad I picked this up !!
This book was truly amazing !! It caught my entire focus, and held on 4 dear life !!
Jane , I a clone . But not just any clone. She is a clone alone. No batchmates. No other that looked like her. She is in search of others that look like her.
But , she hasn't come across anyone.
This book is set in a future that has lots of technology and clones can fill just about any occupation. But she has only received a basic education. No one has claimed her.
Until one day.
Henry Ironside is a very wealthy man , who just so happens to need Jane !!
Is her her sponsor???
What we find out is , no , he is not her sponsor, but Jane is supposed to take the place of a clone she has never met.
Janie. Who looks just like her !!!
As Janie tries to solve the mysteries about her beginning, she finds herself embroiled on much, much more then she could have ever bargained for !!
This book was a fascinating read , with lots of action and adventure !!! So glad I picked this up !!
June 6, 2023
Well developed futuristic world
The best aspect of the book is the attention to sensory details and the futuristic systems. Although the writing level is geared toward high school readers, the story is engaging for adults, too. The plot is brisk, and the mystery unfolds at a good pace. There is some emotional connection between characters, but it is very shallow as the relationships are quite new. The protagonist is doing her best in a weird and dangerous situation. She doesn’t have much depth of character as she’s trying to be someone else. It will be good to discover more about her in the next books in the series.
There are very few errors in the writing, which makes for a more immersive reading experience. There are references to parties, brief moments of violence and peril, and a mention of kissing. The story ends at the 96% point, and an exciting teaser for the next book follows.
The best aspect of the book is the attention to sensory details and the futuristic systems. Although the writing level is geared toward high school readers, the story is engaging for adults, too. The plot is brisk, and the mystery unfolds at a good pace. There is some emotional connection between characters, but it is very shallow as the relationships are quite new. The protagonist is doing her best in a weird and dangerous situation. She doesn’t have much depth of character as she’s trying to be someone else. It will be good to discover more about her in the next books in the series.
There are very few errors in the writing, which makes for a more immersive reading experience. There are references to parties, brief moments of violence and peril, and a mention of kissing. The story ends at the 96% point, and an exciting teaser for the next book follows.
October 9, 2023
Definitely not my typical genre, but it was fun to read something different! It wasn’t too futuristic that I couldn’t picture this world. Sponsors, generally large companies, pay a lot of $$ to create batches of clones. All for different purposes. Jane’s purpose is to be curious and figure things out. Her batch also has illegal monitors implanted at birth, which grow and infuse into their entire body as they get older. So they are essentially non consensual spies; everything they look at is recorded and monitored. The big question is by whom and for what? That’s where the book ends.
Jane is brought in to replace her clone batch mate, Janie. Jane has been searching for batch mates and her sponsors her whole life. She’s supposed to pretend to be Janie, so that Janie’s best friend, Isaac, can’t tell that she was killed.
Jane is brought in to replace her clone batch mate, Janie. Jane has been searching for batch mates and her sponsors her whole life. She’s supposed to pretend to be Janie, so that Janie’s best friend, Isaac, can’t tell that she was killed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2024
I read Replacement as part of a judging team in the third annual Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC3), where it is a semifinalist.
Replacement is a fast-paced YA thriller in which a clone is asked to infiltrate someone else’s life, only to discover a web of secrets to uncover. And if you like fast-paced YA thrillers, go give this a read, because it is one of the more bingeable books I’ve read in a long time.
If anything, my complaint is that it sometimes goes too fast and doesn’t give the big emotional moments time to breathe, which prevented me from developing the kind of investment I usually want. But I sure wanted to know what was going to happen next, and there were plenty of satisfying twists and turns, with a solid ending and a sequel hook for those who want a larger story.
First impression: 14/20. Full review and SPSFC score to come at www.tarvolon.com
Replacement is a fast-paced YA thriller in which a clone is asked to infiltrate someone else’s life, only to discover a web of secrets to uncover. And if you like fast-paced YA thrillers, go give this a read, because it is one of the more bingeable books I’ve read in a long time.
If anything, my complaint is that it sometimes goes too fast and doesn’t give the big emotional moments time to breathe, which prevented me from developing the kind of investment I usually want. But I sure wanted to know what was going to happen next, and there were plenty of satisfying twists and turns, with a solid ending and a sequel hook for those who want a larger story.
First impression: 14/20. Full review and SPSFC score to come at www.tarvolon.com
November 24, 2025
My falling asleep book. It is definitely YA, and that is not a bad thing, but I'm clearly not its target audience. It had good characters, a fun plot, good mystery, only hints of romance, and some interesting opinions on cloning. I don't entirely get how a cloned human could be looked at as something of an android by the populace who live in this dystopian future. So, that sorta threw me, but it did speak to typical human prejudices in a real way. The ending untied most of the knots but was a definite set up for the sequel, which always ticks me off. Overall, I enjoyed it and most likely won't read the next book.
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