Review: Dualed by Elsie Chapman

Two of you exist. Only one will survive.

West Grayer is ready. She’s trained for years to confront her Alternate, a twin raised by another family. Survival means a good job, marriage—life.

But then a tragic misstep leaves West questioning: Is she the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future?

If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from herself, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.

Fast-paced and unpredictable, Elsie Chapman’s suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a chilling, unforgettable world.

PUBLISHER: Ember (a division of Random House)

PAGES: 290

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So, I was pre-approved for Dualed’s sequel, Divided, on NetGalley and I accidentally accepted. While I can sometimes read the second book in a series before the first (if I really have to), I felt like I couldn’t do that for this series. So, when I came across the first one at a bookstore, I picked it up!

It’s been awhile since I’ve read through the night and finished a book in twenty-four hours. Dualed is a gripping thriller and I simply had to finish it before going to sleep… which ended up being around 4am. I have no regrets. 🙂MORAL RATING:

PG-13: I’d only give this book this rating because of the violence. It’s premise is based on murder (though it’s justified at bit?) and children between the ages of ten and twenty are killing their “twin” to be worthy of continuing to live life. Not a happy-go-lucky plot and there is some graphic violence. If you’re squeamish, this may not be the book for you! Also, there may have been a few cuss words, but I don’t remember anything excessive.

THE GOOD:

Elsie Chapman is a good writer! Conversations, characters, and the plot flow effortlessly. While the premise of this book may seem a bit cliche, I really enjoyed it. I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did! It’s classic Dystopian genre, but there’s also unique elements as well. The world that Chapman creates is pretty complex; one needs to pay attention throughout the book for the terms and locations that represent West’s reality. I loved West’s character and her determination to survive against all odds. I also enjoyed the flashbacks that Chapman interspersed every once-in-a-while that helped me catch a glimpse of how she came to be her fifteen-year-old self. Morality does play a role in her life, though she tries to distract herself from her twisted and dark job as a Striker (read the book, learn the terms). West’s love life appears natural as well and did not seem forced or annoying.

THE BAD:

I kept having to remind myself that West Grayer was only fifteen. After reading about all of the ordeals that she endured and her romance with a certain someone, I couldn’t imagine her being fifteen. I remember how I was at fifteen. I was enrolled as a sophomore in high school, read a ton of books (AKA had no life), and I always called my brothers to kill the spiders/insects that entered my room. I was not murdering my twin (obvi). Granted, I know that West lives in an alternate universe, but her thoughts and words seemed like they came from someone way more mature than fifteen. Because of this, I found it a bit hard to connect to her. While I loved her, I also had some problems with that aspect of the novel.

SOUNDTRACK:

THE VERDICT:

Overall, I’d give this novel 4/5 hearts. I would definitely recommend it and I will be reading the sequel! 🙂