Sunday, March 20, 2016

The Replaced by Kimberly Derting

Series: The Taking (bk. 2)

Genera(s): Sci-fi Mystery/Romance

Subjects: abductions, abilities, aliens, government agencies, love, mystery

Setting: Washington state, Utah

POV/Tense: 1st person POV, past tense: Kyra Agnew

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 354 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary/ product description: “Romantic and action-packed, The Replaced is the gripping second installment in the Taking trilogy.

Kyra hasn't been the same since she returned from her mysterious five-year disappearance. Now, on the run from the NSA, Kyra is forced to hide out with others who, like her, have been Returned. Yet she is determined to find Tyler, the boy she loves who was also abducted—all because of her. When her group intercepts a message that Tyler might still be alive but is in the hands of a shadowy government organization that experiments on the Returned, Kyra knows it's a risk to go after him. What if it's a trap? And worse, what if the returned Tyler isn't the same boy she lost?

Perfect for fans of The Fifth Wave and the Body Finder series, The Replaced is both chilling and explosive, with creepy, otherworldly elements and twisty, psychological thrills that will have you questioning what exactly it means to be human.”







My Review:  I finally decided to start this series since I know the 3rd book is coming out in 2 months and it’s spring break, so why not series-binge? I read the Taking and now I read The Replaced. I’m really enjoying this series. This sequel does not disappoint. It’s just as good as the first book. The only probably I had with it was the lack of Tyler, and Kyra romance with him. The Taking series is a fun, entertaining and mysterious sci-fi read. Perfect for fan of the X-files. I watched the new 6-part series recently, so I felt in the mood for some alien stuff.

To recap The Taking, Kyra Agnew, a 16-year old girl from Burlington, Washington, was taken after her high school softball team won the championship in 2009. She got into an argument with her dad, exited the car and saw a blinding light. She wakes up on the ground behind a gas station thinking she somehow choose to sleep outside for the night. She doesn’t find out that actually 5 years have gone buy since that night until mistake her boyfriend’s younger brother Tyler for her boyfriend Austin. Tyler who was only 12 last time she saw him, and is now suddenly looking 17. She starts to fall for Tyler, since Austin already moved on. The NSA is after Kyra, and wants to experiment on her. Kyra meet Simon, another Returned who knows more about this stuff and she learns that normal Returned usually come back within 48 hours, not 5 long years. She can heal faster than the others, see in the dark, hold her break longer, sleep less and move stuff with her mind. Kyra finds out her blood is toxic and she infected Tyler accidently. Kyra tries to save Tyler by taking him to a place where abduction happen a lot and want the aliens to save Tyler by making him a Returned. Agent Truman comes after them. Kyra uses telekinesis to get the gun away. Fireflies appear and Tyler is taken, and Kyra is knocked out.

In the Replaced, Kyra, Simon, Jett and Willow are at a different camp than the one Simon ran, since that one was attacked. She makes friends with a girl named Natty. Thom runs the camp there. Simon’s camp stays separate from the Silent Creeker of Thom’s camp. They hear news of Tyler possibly being held captive by Agent Truman’s Daylighters (the shady NSA section). There’s also a message that may have be sent by Kyra’s father. Kyra, Simon, Willow, Natty, Thom, and Jett go on a rescue mission, which turns into a bust. They escape, but can’t go back to their camp, so they end up traveling all the way to another camp in Utah, outside Zion National Park. Since they’re being tracked and their photos are out there, the have to change the appearance. So in a gas station bathroom, Kyra dyes her blond hair a reddish brown, Natty dyes hers black and Willow’s hair goes from brown to brown (not much of a disguise).

The other camp is big, but is run by someone Simon and Thom had a falling out with. When they arrive, they’re treated like prisoners. The leader runs the camp like a boot camp for soldiers. Also, there may be a traitor in the mist, giving information to the Daylighters. Kyra runs into someone she never expected to find at the camp

I enjoyed this sequel. I really liked how many interesting twists there were. Especially near the end. I suspected as much just based on the title. I really think Kyra’s abilities and alien hybrid DNA stuff are cool. I like books about super powered teens. I still a little disappointed in the romance of this sequel. I kind of feel like the author wants out hearts to break over Tyler by making him so wonderful and then taking him away.

I recommend this series to fan of: The Rules trilogy by Stacy Kade, The Host by Stephanie Meyer, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, Unremembered by Jessica Brody, Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza, Blackout by Robison Wells, Rush (the Game Trilogy) by Eve Silver. Pretty much anything with aliens, or teens gaining superpowers. X-file fans, Fringe fans, Kimberly Derting fans (I only read the Body Finder series).


Cover Art Review: Cool looking cover. Looks like stars in the type. Too bad it’s not metallic.



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