The Replacement
Written by Brenna Yovanoff Book Review by Miranda Moses (Fraser) ISBN: 9781595143815 The Replacement immediately gave off faerie vibes from the description alone. Though they never do call the "creatures" in this book by a name. It's clear that's what they are likened after and I love that. Brenna Yovanoff did a fantastic job with this one! I read one of her books last year, "The Woman in the Walls", and I remember being weirded out completely by the ending. This story was satisfying from beginning to end. While, this book is also listed as a horror I'm pretty sure that is more because of the themes of this story rather than the story actually being scary. (There is a lot of talk about blood, sacrifices, murder, etc.) Our story revolves around a teenage boy named "Mackie" Malcom Doyle. He lives in a small town called Gentry. I'm not 100% sure where this book is supposed to take place but I got upper Kentucky/lower Ohio vibes. A small town no one's ever going to bother with, one that's defined by its secrets. I remember passing through that area on our honeymoon, being on these steep roads high in the forest, looking at the sloping trees loaded down with fog. Then when the roads took us down to the town it was so small and gave off this feeling that we didn't belong there. I kept thinking, "this is a town with secrets". And that's how I picture Gentry. Lots of rain, families that never leave, and secrets that weigh them all down. In this town children go missing but they're always replaced by something not human. These children don't last long. Whether it's because their families kill them themselves or they die from sickness, they're always a temporary hold for the child the family knows deep down that they've lost. Even though the town doesn't want to talk about it. They know, after all these children are always buried on unblessed ground. Mackie is one of these children. But his family also had their secrets, and while they were devastated to lose the actual Malcolm, they did everything they could to raise him safely. The biggest issue with raising a Fae Folk is their extreme weaknesses to the world we live in. Iron and blood being the two biggest things. Malcom is able to mostly play these things off as being weak stomached but his family fears that town will turn on him if they realize that he's not human. All Malcolm wants to do is live a normal life. And if we're being honest, compared to A LOT of these stories, he's got a great start. His family knows and loves him, protects him even. His sister especially, she has given her whole life to looking after the boy she saw get switched. She knew from minute one, when she saw him placed in the crib, but she loved him anyways. His best friend Roswell, a remarkable boy who is loved by everyone but is happiest with Mackie. The twins Danny and Drew, the inventors and the ones who know the least about Malcom's secret. But it doesn't stop them from being there for him when he needs it most. And then there's their friend Tate. Her family was the most recent one chosen to lose a child. She is devastated and angry. She just wants someone to acknowledge that her sister was stolen and what died in her crib wasn't her. She fights for answers and pushes Malcolm to face his own truth as well as the town's sick underbelly. This story was very good. I actually enjoyed the wholesome elements of being loved by so many. It's very different from the overall dark vibes I've had from stories like Tithe. I still love it and Holly Black, but those are some deeply dark stories, lol. Overall the book has 4 out of 5 star reviews so it's well received... but oooh those negative reviews! People were mad it wasn't darker, people were mad it's a "high school drama". they found the writing "lack-luster" etc. I thought it was a very good story. I felt the perfect mix of despair and hope. And that's why I focused on the skeleton of the story. This involves a small town, high school age children, morbid topics, and family bonds. But there's also an underbelly with creatures, magic, and murder. There's a big bad boss. And ending I didn't expect. And an overall satisfied reader. Replacement may not be everyone's cup of tea. But I loved it! Hats off Brenna, you nailed this one. Read on my fellow book worms. May we one day have Belle's library! As always links to the author's pages can be found down below.
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