Synopsis:
Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her “other”, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.
But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.
Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.
What Eva finds is a grief-stricken family; parents unsure how to handle this echo they thought they wanted; and Ray, who knew every detail, every contour of Amarra. And when Eva is unexpectedly dealt a fatal blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom to be an original. To be Eva.
From debut novelist Sangu Mandanna comes the dazzling story of a girl who was always told what she had to be—until she found the strength to decide for herself.
This book definitely is unique. What an interesting, and horrifying, concept... echoes that are woven into life just to be there as waiting replacements when someone dies. It's kind of creepy to think about. If you die, would you want someone who looks just like you, who has studied you and your habits, likes and dislikes, your entire life to step into your place? To hug and love YOUR loved ones?
And what if your significant other died, could you love their echo? Knowing that inside, underneath the twin exterior, there's a different soul residing within? *shudder* This book will REALLY make you think!!
The Lost Girl introduces us to Eva, an echo who has been studying to replace Amarra her entire life. Eva resents having to learn to be someone she isn't but she knows that if she isn't called to replace Amarra at some point, she will likely be unwoven when it's decided she is needed no longer. And although she's been preparing for it her whole life, it comes as a total shock to her when Amarra is killed and Eva must leave everything, and everyone, behind to go resume Amarra's life.
Eva finds it hard to assimilate into Amarra's world, especially when there are people who seem suspicious of her. Will she be able to perform and have everyone believe that Amarra lives on? Will she be able to let go of her own past and of the boy she loved? And when the time comes, will Eva choose to be Amarra or to take the risky route--the route that may allow her to be herself?
As stated above, The Lost Girl will really get you thinking. It seems like echoes are really given a raw deal in the world that Mandanna has created. Solely created to be someone else, they are given no chance to develop into their own individual self. The thing I liked about Eva though is that she is independent, independent enough to carve out facets of her own personality. And while it's dangerous and against all the laws, Eva really is her own person.
I only rated this book 3 stars on goodreads, though I was leaning towards 3.5. And that is because this book really really drags the first half. I had contemplated putting it down for good SEVERAL times. Now that I've read the whole thing, I'm really glad that I didn't quit and I'm hoping the next book (cause there's got to be one!) will pick up with the same pace that the second half of The Lost Girl had. I would recommend this book to others with the caution to not give up. It gets better! Enjoy! *XOXO*
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