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Linked Imogen Howson Books

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Linked Imogen Howson Books

I normally don't go for thrillers, as the characters seem thin... and so why would I have an adrenaline rush reading about their chase scenes, because who cares if they die anyway?

But this one is different. My heart was racing through the first 100 pages. The chase scenes are so close to "normal life" (kids freaking out, skipping school in a mall, chased by cops...that might kill them) that they are actually really scary. Precisely because the story feels so real and human and ordinary (despite being science fiction), it is far more gripping than most novels in this genre.

Also, the characterization is spot-on. Elissa is not some non-descript romantically-successful container for teens to slip their vicarious self into, and she isn't some perfect ninja who is hopelessly perfect. She's extremely real--a tad proud, loving, disillusioned, easily flattered, confused, a mix of brave and cowardly, insecure and true to her own sense of what is good&bad. She is just so normal. Even the minor side characters are all fully-developed and extremely real---as I met each of them, I could name people I know who were just that way.

Probably because of the strong characterization, the book can be quite hilarious at moments (there is a pivotal scene where one character goes off into an ill-timed moral/political rant and everyone else tries to shut him up.)

But by far, the character that steals your heart is the victimized, slightly psychopathic (yet also wide-eyed innocent) character. I teared up nearly every time she spoke. That relationship is what made the book for me, it was golden, and very real. Granted, I'm an identical twin myself, and I have to say that Imogen Howson sure nailed the dynamics of that relationship.

Also, in an indirect way, the book brings up a host of thought-provoking issues about violence & family & loyalty & guilt & being human, without ever becoming ponderous or self-conscious or taking itself too seriously. This is what The Hunger Games should have been. If you are a young teen, I can tell you this is the sort of book that you will still love twenty years from now. It's that good.


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Linked Imogen Howson Books Reviews

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Linked by Imogen Howson
Book One of the Linked series
Publisher Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication Date June 11, 2013
Rating 4 stars
Source eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads)

Elissa used to have it all looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she's been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere.

Finally, she's promised a cure minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations she's been seeing the world through another girl's eyes.

Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl--Lin--who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed.

Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose--secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world.

What I Liked

I'm actually kicking myself for not reading this one sooner! It's a gem in the YA science fiction world! I did NOT know that this book was futuristic, and highly dystopian. I thought it was a contemporary read with science fiction elements. That was one of the reasons why I put this off for so long - because the summary didn't seem that interesting, and I had been reading way to many thriller contemporaries at the time.

Well, I'm so glad that I eventually pulled this book up on my and started reading. I was actually in a car ride that was an hour long one way, so I had time. I was very surprised to find out within the first couple of chapters that this book is set in a futuristic society! Like, floating cars, space travel, all-electronic kind of futuristic. Like, The Jetsons, or Star Wars. I did not expect that! This fact immediately drew me in, and I began to read with enthusiasm.

So, Elissa (GREAT name, if I may say so myself!) isn't normal. She sees horrible things - hallucination, the doctors say, and it prevents her from doing so many things in life, like concentrating on school, sleeping well, and so on. What she finally realizes is that she is seeing someone else's experiences. Elissa realizes this just days before the big surgery to end the catastrophe in her mind, but Elissa decides that she is going to find the girl and save her.

Elissa finds the girl, and soon, they are on the run. They decide to leave their planet and go to another one, to hide Lin (Elissa's twin). They board Caden's ship. Caden is several years older than Elissa, and is the highly accomplished best friend of Elissa's older brother. Once, Elissa used to adore and look up to Caden - but that was before the hallucinations started - before Caden started acting pompous around her.

So, the majority of the book is based in Caden's ship. Elissa doesn't trust Caden, and so she doesn't tell him the trust about her and Lin until it is too late - and then things start to get interesting. I found that while the beginning of the book, on Elissa's planet, was somewhat dull and boring, the rest of the book (the majority) was EXCELLENT. Fast-paced, interesting, and filled with heart-pounding goodness.

The story is told in Elissa's point-of-view, and not once was I frustrated by Elissa or her thinking. She's a tough person, and she doesn't put up with much, especially from Lin. yet she's so protective of Lin, and even Caden, as she tries to keep Caden in the dark about their fugitive status.

From the summary, I was wondering where the romance, if any, would come into play. As soon as we meet Caden (the first time he is introduced to characters is very quickly from the start of the book), and we see Elissa's negative thoughts about him, and her positive thoughts from their past, I had a feeling they would meet again in this book, and the romance would start there.

While there were no (or very, very little) physically swoony scenes, I found the relationship between Caden and Elissa very sweet. They don't reconcile until the very end, and so for the duration of the book, they are at odds. BUT, there are so many small, subtle things that Ms. Howson put in the novel that made the romance so beautiful. And there is no love triangle!

The ending is... WOW. So much happens at the very end - I could read it fast enough. As a novel, the ending wraps up very well, but you just know there is going to be at least one more book. And there another book! It's called Shattered. Woohoo!

What I Did Not Like

Like I said before, I found Elissa's time on her planet (the very beginning of the book) sort of boring. I completely understand why the author did so much explaining and describing, and her world-building is amazing, but the time on the planet was boring. When Elissa and Lin were on the ship was much more interesting.

I know I said that I loved the sweetness and beauty of Caden and Elissa's relationship, but I was hoping for a little more. Both are private, somewhat shy people, so I didn't really expect them to have more of a physical relationship, but I was left feeling like there should have been more between them, at the end. Perhaps in the next book, I can hope to see more.

Would I Recommend It

YES! I know for me, I wasn't really interested in this book at all, based on the summary. But after actually reading the book, I'm hooked! Just jump in and read it! Don't worry about the summary.

Rating

4 stars. I honestly can't wait to read the next book!
Really great story. Loved the characters.
I enjoyed Linked even though I could see mostly what would happen nearly from the start. While most of the book's plot was extremely predictable, I enjoyed the interactions of the characters. Each one had their own personality and made their own choices. No cardboard copies in the mix of main characters! An enjoyable first novel. I look forward to the second in the series, Unravel, which comes out next year.
I have to say, I really enjoyed this book. The premise was unique, and the writing well paced. The story hooks you in the beginning and keeps you interested the entire time. The way it leaves off, there is room for a second book, which I hope is the case.
I believe twins have a special connection with each other, even if they were separated when very young. This futuristic tale about such a link gives a very unique view of the evil that can result when some people value money more than human life. It is a fast moving story with a great moral and a shocking twist at the end.
I love anything to do with space or sci fi. I am also fascinated with how twins interact with one another. When I saw the blurb for this book, I knew I had to read it. It was a good read full of plenty of space and twin connections. It did raise lots of good questions about what it means to be human. Just because the governing authority declares you to be something other than a living human being does not make you any less human or deserving of life. I loved the character of Lin. She was strong, tough and totally messed up by her experience. Her sense of right and wrong is skewed, and it was interesting to see her grow as the book progressed. I very much want to read the next book!
I normally don't go for thrillers, as the characters seem thin... and so why would I have an adrenaline rush reading about their chase scenes, because who cares if they die anyway?

But this one is different. My heart was racing through the first 100 pages. The chase scenes are so close to "normal life" (kids freaking out, skipping school in a mall, chased by cops...that might kill them) that they are actually really scary. Precisely because the story feels so real and human and ordinary (despite being science fiction), it is far more gripping than most novels in this genre.

Also, the characterization is spot-on. Elissa is not some non-descript romantically-successful container for teens to slip their vicarious self into, and she isn't some perfect ninja who is hopelessly perfect. She's extremely real--a tad proud, loving, disillusioned, easily flattered, confused, a mix of brave and cowardly, insecure and true to her own sense of what is good&bad. She is just so normal. Even the minor side characters are all fully-developed and extremely real---as I met each of them, I could name people I know who were just that way.

Probably because of the strong characterization, the book can be quite hilarious at moments (there is a pivotal scene where one character goes off into an ill-timed moral/political rant and everyone else tries to shut him up.)

But by far, the character that steals your heart is the victimized, slightly psychopathic (yet also wide-eyed innocent) character. I teared up nearly every time she spoke. That relationship is what made the book for me, it was golden, and very real. Granted, I'm an identical twin myself, and I have to say that Imogen Howson sure nailed the dynamics of that relationship.

Also, in an indirect way, the book brings up a host of thought-provoking issues about violence & family & loyalty & guilt & being human, without ever becoming ponderous or self-conscious or taking itself too seriously. This is what The Hunger Games should have been. If you are a young teen, I can tell you this is the sort of book that you will still love twenty years from now. It's that good.