Sunday, July 15, 2012

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

Title: What's Left of Me
Author: Kat Zhang
Release Date: September 18th 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Read synopsis: Goodreads

Rating: 4 stars


The first time I saw this I wasn't really that interested. Although the premise does sound intriguing it wasn't that enough for me to be very excited about this one. So when I saw this in Edelweiss I wasn't really planning on requesting it, however my fingers have their own minds and took the liberty to click it and started typing why I wanted a review copy. And to my surprise I actually got approved. Then comes the glowing reviews from my GR friends and I was like, maybe I should thank my fingers for requesting this, this could only be so good. And so I read it and boy I couldn't thank my fingers more because this book is just great, really great!

The originality of this book is one of the major aspects that made this book so good and very intriguing. The concept of this book was definitely a first for me; I never encountered a book with the idea of a world where people lived with two souls. That idea although made me interested also made me anxious to read it; wouldn't it be difficult? How can I like the MC if there are two personalities in them? How could there be a romance in this one? Wouldn’t that be awkward? Can the author pull it off? 

But all those worries soon fade away as I find myself gradually being devoured by the author's writing! Kat Zhang is an amazing writer and she definitely pulled this one off! Her writing was simple but gorgeous and the pacing was comfortably fast. The world and the characters she created were all very well thought and written. The world-building is one of a kind and although I had some little issues with it I can wait for them to be resolve more in the following books. The characters were my favorite part of this book. I loved how she wrote them especially the relationship of the sisters, Addie and Eva. 

The relationship and the emotional struggles they had were very realistic and heartbreaking. I saw the conflicting feelings each shared with one another. And how they struggled in doing and choosing things they wanted for their own but not wanting to hurt or be selfish to the other one. I love how Zhang showed that with all the hurting, Eva and Addie really care and love each other. Through the different circumstances and obstacles thrown to Addie and Eva we were able to see the two differently - how they take and handle things, how they talk and think, their expressions and mannerism. So as the story went on, when they shift it wasn't really confusing. She wrote the sisters in a way that we could really see them separately, two entirely different and unique characters, sharing one body. 

Other characters like Hally and Lissa, Devon and Ryan, and Kitty and Nina were great supporting characters. They were never left on the sides and I liked how they contributed on the development of the main character.  

There's a very light touch of romance in this one and it surprised me that it was actually fine with me. Because I am a major sap and I love romance! It's one of the things I always consider when reading a book but throughout the course of the story I was just so busy thinking of how they're gonna overcome their problems and obstacles. So when this one sweet moment came I was just like, aww. It made me really smile and for some reason I was pretty satisfied with it...for now, even though I still have very little idea of how the romance will gonna work. But I hope it would be more apparent in the next book.  

With original plot, great world-building, and well written characters this book promises a definitely wonderful and engaging reading experience. This book did not disappoint. I highly recommend this.

*Thanks to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for providing an ARC of this book! 

12 comments:

  1. I'm really looking forward to when I can read this, so I'm glad you loved it as well! It's great that all the characters have their own distinct voice and each make their own contribution. Lovely review, Eunice. :)

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  2. Eunice, I'm so glad that the author's writing made it possible for you to overcome you reservations about this story. I love reading about relationships with sisters, as I love mine so much. Wonderful review Eunice. :)

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  3. I will have to get around to this sooner than planned! The premise sounds fantastic and I'm really intrigued to see how it plays out. Plus I'm pleased to hear there is some romance. ;) Great review!

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  4. Ohmigosh, I'm desperate to get this book and the cover is so gorgeous! I'm glad the author made you forget all your worries about the book and that you enjoyed it! The premise is definitely intriguing, imagine having two souls? I'm interested to see the conflict between Eva and Addie and I'm a totaly sap for romance too so I'm glad to hear that it was enjoyable despite having only a light touch of romance!

    Thanks for this lovely review, Eunice <3 You've just made me even more eager to read it!

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  5. I really need to read this story. I have it from Edelweiss as well. Your review got me even more excited to read the book!
    I love originality in YA books. It seems so rare nowadays. Plus, I have a feeling I'll love the characters. I'm a huge romance sap as well, but I don't mind if it's light if the plot is great.
    Love the review, Eunice ! :D

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  6. Every book you review makes me want to read it, too! Your reviews are so amazing, Eunice! Zhang sounds like such a great writer, I'd love to try out her style.

    And THIS COVER! I love the simplicity of it, it's so gorgeous.<3 Eva and Addie sound like they have such a real relationship as sisters. I really want to meet them both!

    I love romance, too. :D Thanks for making me even more eager to read this, Eunice!(:

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  7. LOL aren't you glad your fingers have a mind of their own? Sometimes you've just gotta trust them because they might lead you to gems like this one! :) I was never really epically intrigued about this book before (although the cover DOES look really cool) -- it was only seeing it on so many people's WOWs that made me want to read this, and now your review too! I have a weakness for brilliant writing and sister relationships and originality in books. This one seems to hit all three! :)

    Amazingly brilliant review, Eunice! Can't wait to read this! <3

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  8. Wonderful review! Not only does the cover look so interesting but the premise sounds engaging too! The characters and romance all sounds so awesome. Thanks for sharing@ I am definitely looking forward to this one.

    SeeitORreadit

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  9. I loved how you reviewed Eva and Addie's relationship with each other. Even though I have not yet read this book, I can already get a rough sense of how they interact with each other. This book sounds really interesting. Great review!

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  10. Great review Eunice, when I first heard of this book I was also a little skeptical, but all these amazing reviews keep pouring in that I may just need to request a copy myself! :)

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  11. I have this one on my ereader and am really excited to read it! Thank you for writing such a wonderful review, Eunice! I must read this, ASAP.

    P.S. I was also surprised when Edelweiss accepted my request for this. They usually don't. ;)

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  12. I wanted to read this as soon as I saw the cover, now I want to read it even more!

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