Review: The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff  
Publisher: Razorbill
Published: September 21, 2010 
Genre: Young Adult fantasy 
paperback-352 pages

Summary:

Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, Mackie 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 slowly dying in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with 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. (Summary from author’s website)

My Review:

The Replacement is a YA fantasy by Brenna Yovanoff. The book is told from Mackie’s (Malcolm Doyle) point of view. He is a replacement, or changeling, that was switched when he was very young for Reverend Doyle’s son Malcolm.

The town of Gentry is a strange town where strange things happen. The most important thing of all though, is that you don’t talk about anything strange. You live your life as normal as possible and ignore people that are different. You morn when someone dies, but don’t think about it beyond that. Most of all, you don’t ask questions and don’t talk about the odd superstitions.

Replacements don’t usually last, but Mackie with the help of his friends and sister Emma manages too. Eventually though, the world among humans becomes too much for him, and he must either seek help from his own kind or die.

At school, a girl named Tate, confides in Mackie that she doesn’t believe the girl who died and was buried as her sister was really her sister. Mackie of course believes her, but what can be done. He’s not a part of Gentry’s dark underworld, not really. He doesn’t know where he belongs.

The world created here is fantastic. Gentry is such a dark but unique place. Then there’s the House of Mayhem which was just fantastic! Fantastic and horrible all at the same time, I can’t begin to explain it.

All of the characters added so much to the story. There were the smaller ones, both human and nonhuman alike, who all added so much to the story and the world. Mackie’s family was very interesting to me. I mean, how would you feel if you knew it wasn’t really your son/brother you were talking to? As for his friends, they were great and were a perfect balance to Mackie, especially Roswell. Then there’s Tate whose interaction with Mackie is like a rollercoaster.

So overall, I really enjoyed this book! Fabulous characters, dark world, great imagery and a storyline that grips you. The most amazing thing is watching Mackie progress as he discovers more about where he comes from and who he can be. The question is, who will that be?

 

*This book was bought by me. You can win my copy HERE.

 

 

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