{Review} The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: The Replacement

Author: Brenna Yovanoff

Genre: YA Fiction

 Publisher: Razorbill (Sep 2010)

                                             Hardcover: 352 pages

                                  ISBN: 9781595143372

                                  Source: Library

                                             Available on: Amazon

Rating: 4/5

Plot: 15/20

Setting: 20/20

Writing: 17/20

Characters: 17/20

Creativity: 17/20

Total: 86/100 = 4 of 5 stars

The inside flap description says:

Mackie 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 rules 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 slowly dying in the human world.


Mackie would give anything to live among us. He just wants to play bass guitar and find out more about an oddly intriguing girl named Tate. But, when Tate's 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.

Plot: Good: A good twist on faerie YA novels. It was different from a young girl falling in love with a handsome Fae or a girl figuring out that she is the lost princess of a magical kingdom. That being said, there were a few cliches but what good book doesn't. Bad: I like being surprised and I was able to predict the ending.

Setting: Good: I really enjoyed reading about Mayhem and Gentry and their dependence on each other. It's nice to read a book where the setting is a mayor character. 

Writing: Good: Mackie's voice sounded like that of a struggling young male. I am tired of books where the male character sounds like a girl obsessing over the clothes and makeup of other characters. Bad: I was lost a few times and had to re-read a few lines to figure out what was happening.

Characters: Good: Mackie is a likable, believable main character. His relationships with his friends and family where beneficial to the telling of the story. I especially liked his relationship with his sister Emma. I don't want to go over the rest of the Mayhem characters because I think discovering and getting to know them was what I enjoyed the most about this book and I don't want to ruin it for you. Let me just say that ugly creatures might be beautiful. Bad: His relationship with Tate and Alice where a little strange for me to understand. I see the importance of his relationship with Tate but I think that Alice was an unnecessary and annoying character. I think there could of been a different way to show his desire to be normal.

Creativity: Good: I love the creativity of Mayhem.  Bad: The idea of a fae living among humans is not original but I did enjoy Yovanoff's take on it.

EXTRAS

Cover Art: I really liked the cover of this book. There is just something about the creepy baby carriage with scissors, knifes and other metallic dangerous things hanging from it on a foggy dark background that captured my attention. I know you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover but The Replacement looks creepily awesome.

Romance: A little here, a little there not a major part of the story but Mackie has to deal with love problems just like any normal boy.

Overall: A must read if you like Tim Burtonesque stories or just want a creepy sweet book.

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