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awexis's review against another edition
4.0
I forgot to give this book a review. I haven't written any review for the past days or I mean, for a week now. I'm really sorry. Well, in any case...
The Lost Girl was brilliantly made by Mandanna. A totally different dystopian book. Different cause there's no ONE eating one another (I just suddenly remember The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda) and even though there's no one hacking one another (besides the thing with Ophelia).
The world building was so good and I don't know why but it reminds me of The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I know, they are different. Anyway, it's pretty good, cause... cause... Do I need a reason?
One, Echoes are like having a clone. Now that I think about it, it's really about clones. Although as far as I know, clones today are um, artificial intelligence only? Um... so, in here, they are woven by well, weavers. These echoes have their own mind and feelings. They are supposed to learn how their other self. They received journal entries written by their other self so that when it was time to replace them they know what happened to their life. Who's who, what's what, etc.
It was really good to have idea like that but let's face it, the echoes have their mind on their own. They might not like the life you are offering to them. I mean, you are replacing someone cause they died. For me, I don't want that kind of thing. Cause how could I heal if every time, every moment, every breath, I could see someone I love here? Sure it might ease my pain but still, it's like replacing the memory you have with that person. You know that that person in front of you is NOT them and never will be no matter how much he/she copied your loved one. It will never be the same.
And yes, I totally understand Ray. So I wish that Eva will have her OWN life in the next books. But yes, I know that it'll not happen soon cause of that CRAZY man, Adrian. :O
The Lost Girl was brilliantly made by Mandanna. A totally different dystopian book. Different cause there's no ONE eating one another (I just suddenly remember The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda) and even though there's no one hacking one another (besides the thing with Ophelia).
The world building was so good and I don't know why but it reminds me of The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I know, they are different. Anyway, it's pretty good, cause... cause... Do I need a reason?
One, Echoes are like having a clone. Now that I think about it, it's really about clones. Although as far as I know, clones today are um, artificial intelligence only? Um... so, in here, they are woven by well, weavers. These echoes have their own mind and feelings. They are supposed to learn how their other self. They received journal entries written by their other self so that when it was time to replace them they know what happened to their life. Who's who, what's what, etc.
It was really good to have idea like that but let's face it, the echoes have their mind on their own. They might not like the life you are offering to them. I mean, you are replacing someone cause they died. For me, I don't want that kind of thing. Cause how could I heal if every time, every moment, every breath, I could see someone I love here? Sure it might ease my pain but still, it's like replacing the memory you have with that person. You know that that person in front of you is NOT them and never will be no matter how much he/she copied your loved one. It will never be the same.
And yes, I totally understand Ray. So I wish that Eva will have her OWN life in the next books. But yes, I know that it'll not happen soon cause of that CRAZY man, Adrian. :O
krisis86's review against another edition
4.0
This book is more of a 3.5 star book, but you know. GR, when you gonna allow half star ratings?!
I liked this book a lot. I started it intending to only read a chapter and go to bed, but ended up reading half the book and staying up a few hours later than planned. You know a book is good when that happens. The characters were so well done. Mandanna nailed the uncertainty and fear and rebelliousness and stubbornness of Eva. Not that I've ever been in Eva's situation, but if I were, I could imagine reacting just as Eva did.
I really would have liked more information on the Loom and the Weavers. I was really hoping this book would start a series (I would even allow *gasp* a trilogy! It's THAT well done) but I have a sinking suspicion that this is no series. It's a self contained book, which is great, but I NEED MORE ANSWERS.
I kind of wish it was longer. I want more depth on Mina Ma and how she came to be Eva's guardian (same with Erik - wut's UP with him?)
Beautiful language, interesting premise, great setting and fantastically done characters. Definitely read this one!
I liked this book a lot. I started it intending to only read a chapter and go to bed, but ended up reading half the book and staying up a few hours later than planned. You know a book is good when that happens. The characters were so well done. Mandanna nailed the uncertainty and fear and rebelliousness and stubbornness of Eva. Not that I've ever been in Eva's situation, but if I were, I could imagine reacting just as Eva did.
I really would have liked more information on the Loom and the Weavers. I was really hoping this book would start a series (I would even allow *gasp* a trilogy! It's THAT well done) but I have a sinking suspicion that this is no series. It's a self contained book, which is great, but I NEED MORE ANSWERS.
I kind of wish it was longer. I want more depth on Mina Ma and how she came to be Eva's guardian (same with Erik - wut's UP with him?)
Beautiful language, interesting premise, great setting and fantastically done characters. Definitely read this one!
agilesong's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lostinagoodread's review against another edition
5.0
This review and others can be found at Cozy Up With A Good Read
I have been eagerly expecting the release of this book, everything about it sounds amazing and really draws you in. There is a strong message embedded in this story that really makes the reader think about things. I love that a lot of THE LOST GIRL comes from the story of Frankenstein, it gives the story a great start and a bit of creepiness.
I have really gotten into the books lately that give this idea of eternal life in a certain way and this is one of those that once you are finished reading you still think about the ideas that are brought up, long after you are finished reading it. Though this is not an action packed novel (there is a bit of action though), it is very moving and definitely thought-provoking. This is one novel that is hard to put down, you just want to read more about Eva's story of having to abruptly change lives.
The characters were a large part of what made this book what it is. Eva was such a strong character yet fragile at the same time, and she grows a lot throughout the novel. Though she understands what she was made to be, she still has her own personality which makes her life a lot harder and it is interesting to see how she deals with being in the position of having to take over another person's life.
I do have to say the most interesting character for me was Matthew, who is Eva's "weaver". We don't get to see a lot of him in this novel but I can tell there will be more of him in the future. He is a character that is really hard to get your head around the way he acts. There is something about Matthew that really makes you care for him even though a large part of you doesn't want to.
This is a book that is worth picking up ASAP, Mandanna has a beautiful writing style, especially for being a debut author and this novel really hits the spot ;)
I have been eagerly expecting the release of this book, everything about it sounds amazing and really draws you in. There is a strong message embedded in this story that really makes the reader think about things. I love that a lot of THE LOST GIRL comes from the story of Frankenstein, it gives the story a great start and a bit of creepiness.
I have really gotten into the books lately that give this idea of eternal life in a certain way and this is one of those that once you are finished reading you still think about the ideas that are brought up, long after you are finished reading it. Though this is not an action packed novel (there is a bit of action though), it is very moving and definitely thought-provoking. This is one novel that is hard to put down, you just want to read more about Eva's story of having to abruptly change lives.
The characters were a large part of what made this book what it is. Eva was such a strong character yet fragile at the same time, and she grows a lot throughout the novel. Though she understands what she was made to be, she still has her own personality which makes her life a lot harder and it is interesting to see how she deals with being in the position of having to take over another person's life.
I do have to say the most interesting character for me was Matthew, who is Eva's "weaver". We don't get to see a lot of him in this novel but I can tell there will be more of him in the future. He is a character that is really hard to get your head around the way he acts. There is something about Matthew that really makes you care for him even though a large part of you doesn't want to.
This is a book that is worth picking up ASAP, Mandanna has a beautiful writing style, especially for being a debut author and this novel really hits the spot ;)
cupiscent's review against another edition
4.0
All the reasons why I enjoyed this are probably also the reasons it doesn't seem to have set the world on fire. From the book description I sort of expected a standard-ish YA book about a girl against the system, about identity and choice, probably with a love triangle of the old environment's boy versus the new environment's boy. But it's actually a lot more complicated, more about grief and conforming to expectation, responsibility and self-determination. The heroine is noted as "reckless", but I found her far more sensible, introspective and aware than I'm used to in a YA heroine (so it was really interesting to watch her wrestle with her impossible situations). And that love triangle is a far murkier thing.
It wasn't all wine and roses. There are some brow-furrowing elements of the world. Some aspects of the Loom's operation seem logistically impossible (my major concern being) and the Weavers throughout manifested an "ineffable immortals playing games with the lives of men" that never quite came through in genuine plot intrigue. But I feel like this was meant to be a series and sadly never got to be, so perhaps those things would've been unravelled further if given space.
Probably more like three-and-a-half, rounded up because I'm generally feeling benevolent towards this book.
It wasn't all wine and roses. There are some brow-furrowing elements of the world. Some aspects of the Loom's operation seem logistically impossible (my major concern being
Spoiler
how on earth do you have short-haired echoes, of either gender, when they must not reveal what they are, but they're all marked on the back of the neck?Probably more like three-and-a-half, rounded up because I'm generally feeling benevolent towards this book.
loveisnotatriangle's review against another edition
4.0
Find this and other reviews on my blog Love is not a triangle
“Echoes are asked to sacrifice everything to make another family, other people, happy. To give them hope. You are the hope.”
What if there was an organization that could create perfect copies of your loved ones? Just in case something happened to your child, you could have another one fill their place. These copies or echoes would be taught everything your child is taught, learn to dress the same way and be given the same foods to eat. And if something tragic happened, they could step in and fill the place of the one you’ve lost. Then it wouldn’t be like you’d lost anyone at all. Right?
This is the world of The Lost Girl, where an organization called the Loom will undertake the creation and raising of this human copy of your loved one. Made by Weavers, echoes are essentially genetic clones, though they also share a slight mental connection with their Other (the person from whom they were copied)
Eva is an echo. Her Other is named Amarra, and though they’ve never met, Eva must copy everything that Amarra does. Eva cannot pick what she wears, how she cuts her hair, what she reads or whom she loves. She does not even have her own name until she gives herself one. She has been raised in England by a caretaker and two guardians who monitor her progress. They make sure that Eva stays on track with everything that Amarra does. Just in case Amarra dies and Eva is called to take over.
Eva is a copy of Amarra, but is she really the same? Eva longs to be able to make her own choices, but knows that she will be destroyed if she does not fulfill her purpose.
“You’re different. We’ve always known that. But it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Being different doesn’t make you something less than the rest of us.”
There are a lot of philosophical discussions in this book. About whether different means less. About wanting to belong. About wanting to be loved. About how much you'd be willing to sacrifice for the freedom to live your own life. There is also an interesting nature vs. nurture debate in this book. Because you are an exact genetic match as someone else, does it make you the same as them? If you were created as a copy, are you as important as the original? Should you have any rights?
I am a creature, a girl, life stitched from nothing. I am eerie and frightful. And I’m stronger than all of them.
I really loved that The Lost Girl approaches heavy issues, but does it from an artistic standpoint. Eva compares herself to Frankenstein’s monster, a book that echoes are forbidden to read. She sees herself as being stitched together, created but not loved by her Weaver. She longs to be loved, and to be able to choose. But she believes that both are impossible.
One of the most beautiful and tragic things about this story is that it is possible on some level to sympathize with every character in this book. Ms. Mandanna does a fantastic job at emotionally pulling the reader into Eva’s story. Letting us feel the injustice and horror of her situation, while also making us consider other characters’ perspectives. What about the girl who is forced to share every detail of her life with an echo, just in case she dies? What about the grieving family who brings the echo into their house? Does the Weaver who created the echo supposed to care for it?
However, though I found The Lost Girl to be a moving story and a really cool idea conceptually, practically I had trouble believing it. I couldn’t understand how an echo could ever truly replace their Other. Wouldn’t all echoes experience what Eva went through – feeling like an impostor, trying to pretend that they’re someone else? And wouldn’t all Familiars be able to tell that an echo is different from their loved one? Without meeting another echo in this book, it’s hard to imagine how the transition could ever work successfully. And the Loom has been active for hundreds of years? I just never really saw how it could work practically.
Perhaps I care because I'm jealous of what she had. That kind of love. That kind of freedom to love.
A lovely slow-burn romance is imbedded in this book. It is the show-not-tell variety (my favorite). It is the kind where each party puts the other's needs above his or her own, which always makes it feel more meaningful - and more tragic. I hope that we get more books so we can have more of these two.
We've each chosen. All of us. To take control or to stand back. To stop a friend from risking her life or to help her do it. To follow or not to follow. We will have to live with our choices, whatever the outcome.
Despite my misgivings, The Lost Girl is a beautiful, emotional story and I'm really hoping that some of these questions will be answered if there is another book. Captured in gorgeous prose, The Lost Girl asks some profound questions and ponders tough issues. But it is hope that shines through the brightest. Especially hope for Eva, the lost girl who makes the choice to find her way.
Love Triangle Factor: Mild
Cliffhanger scale: This book was sold as a standalone, but the author has written as a trilogy. There are still unanswered questions. READ IT so we can have more books!
“Echoes are asked to sacrifice everything to make another family, other people, happy. To give them hope. You are the hope.”
What if there was an organization that could create perfect copies of your loved ones? Just in case something happened to your child, you could have another one fill their place. These copies or echoes would be taught everything your child is taught, learn to dress the same way and be given the same foods to eat. And if something tragic happened, they could step in and fill the place of the one you’ve lost. Then it wouldn’t be like you’d lost anyone at all. Right?
This is the world of The Lost Girl, where an organization called the Loom will undertake the creation and raising of this human copy of your loved one. Made by Weavers, echoes are essentially genetic clones, though they also share a slight mental connection with their Other (the person from whom they were copied)
Eva is an echo. Her Other is named Amarra, and though they’ve never met, Eva must copy everything that Amarra does. Eva cannot pick what she wears, how she cuts her hair, what she reads or whom she loves. She does not even have her own name until she gives herself one. She has been raised in England by a caretaker and two guardians who monitor her progress. They make sure that Eva stays on track with everything that Amarra does. Just in case Amarra dies and Eva is called to take over.
Eva is a copy of Amarra, but is she really the same? Eva longs to be able to make her own choices, but knows that she will be destroyed if she does not fulfill her purpose.
“You’re different. We’ve always known that. But it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Being different doesn’t make you something less than the rest of us.”
There are a lot of philosophical discussions in this book. About whether different means less. About wanting to belong. About wanting to be loved. About how much you'd be willing to sacrifice for the freedom to live your own life. There is also an interesting nature vs. nurture debate in this book. Because you are an exact genetic match as someone else, does it make you the same as them? If you were created as a copy, are you as important as the original? Should you have any rights?
I am a creature, a girl, life stitched from nothing. I am eerie and frightful. And I’m stronger than all of them.
I really loved that The Lost Girl approaches heavy issues, but does it from an artistic standpoint. Eva compares herself to Frankenstein’s monster, a book that echoes are forbidden to read. She sees herself as being stitched together, created but not loved by her Weaver. She longs to be loved, and to be able to choose. But she believes that both are impossible.
One of the most beautiful and tragic things about this story is that it is possible on some level to sympathize with every character in this book. Ms. Mandanna does a fantastic job at emotionally pulling the reader into Eva’s story. Letting us feel the injustice and horror of her situation, while also making us consider other characters’ perspectives. What about the girl who is forced to share every detail of her life with an echo, just in case she dies? What about the grieving family who brings the echo into their house? Does the Weaver who created the echo supposed to care for it?
However, though I found The Lost Girl to be a moving story and a really cool idea conceptually, practically I had trouble believing it. I couldn’t understand how an echo could ever truly replace their Other. Wouldn’t all echoes experience what Eva went through – feeling like an impostor, trying to pretend that they’re someone else? And wouldn’t all Familiars be able to tell that an echo is different from their loved one? Without meeting another echo in this book, it’s hard to imagine how the transition could ever work successfully. And the Loom has been active for hundreds of years? I just never really saw how it could work practically.
Perhaps I care because I'm jealous of what she had. That kind of love. That kind of freedom to love.
A lovely slow-burn romance is imbedded in this book. It is the show-not-tell variety (my favorite). It is the kind where each party puts the other's needs above his or her own, which always makes it feel more meaningful - and more tragic. I hope that we get more books so we can have more of these two.
We've each chosen. All of us. To take control or to stand back. To stop a friend from risking her life or to help her do it. To follow or not to follow. We will have to live with our choices, whatever the outcome.
Despite my misgivings, The Lost Girl is a beautiful, emotional story and I'm really hoping that some of these questions will be answered if there is another book. Captured in gorgeous prose, The Lost Girl asks some profound questions and ponders tough issues. But it is hope that shines through the brightest. Especially hope for Eva, the lost girl who makes the choice to find her way.
Love Triangle Factor: Mild
Cliffhanger scale: This book was sold as a standalone, but the author has written as a trilogy. There are still unanswered questions. READ IT so we can have more books!
nverjudgeabook's review against another edition
4.0
From the moment I received this through the post, I knew this would be a books for me. Through the inspiration of Frankenstein, I was curious to see how the classic could influence or combine the nature of novel in to this YA. All I can say is... Forget Frankenstein, try The Lost Girl.
But first I'd like to say Thank you to Jessica over at Booked Up for doing a Read-along with her. As she would say: "We *fangirled* together" . You can see her review here.
Warning some minor spoilers.
Mandanna has created a refreshing and a unique take on the classic. The plot intrigued from the very beginning; an Echo, a creation stitched by the Weavers as a replacement of human nature. Is she real?Does she have a choice in her own life? No Echo does and that's the pain of watching someone's life flash through your eyes, knowing that your going to be next. Eva was stitched at the Loom in London, its argued whether she was born at all or rather than made. But I felt quite strongly about this subject, she living, she breathing, she has a brain and she unlike Frankenstein's Monster, is the living embodiment of a normal human being. How Mandanna was able to make me feel and empathise with these character is a brilliant trait in writing that I admire her for. The pace Part 1 was slightly off and didn't have the constant for that the rest of the novel had. However what I loved about TLG was the transition between Amarra and Eva, London and Bangalore and a human and an Echo.
The main protagonist, Eva, is strong, opinionated, artistic, passionate and a brave soul for an Echo. She is especially unique echo, gutsy and fight for what she believes in. However, she has a vulnerable side, one that makes her realistic, makes her human. Its said in the history of Echos, they only have one chance, Eva has 3. Sean the green-eyed love interest and Guardian, lets just say everybody needs one. His charisma and characteristics broke your heart at Part 1, *sniffles* and then he's the beating heart of the novel. The moment when you just want them kiss is overwhelming and horrible- but that is one of the many rules that the Weavers set in place; no relationship between Guardian and Echo. But hey, she 's broke all the rules, what's one more?
"Eva", he says, and my eyes tear. "Do you still dream of cities?""Yes", I say. I hear the sound of him swallowing. "Do you still dream of me?""Yes". I thought things might have changed."No" he says. "I haven't either," and he hangs up.
Some of the secondary characters were equally brilliant; Matthew, Eva's creator is the arrogance of Frankenstein, he's the unfeeling consciousness of the Loom. He sees no reason only the craft of his creations. Matthew's character is infuriating at best, when he states the line between both sides of human nature. Eva is no more than a human than everyone else! (*Grrrrr*) I loved Sasha and Nikhil, the Familiar's family was more than accepting of Eva's status and Sasha was the bubbliest character of them all. Ray, Ammara's love interest, was cunning, deceiving and the cause of Eva's downfall. Finally, Lekha, Eva's best friend, she may have seen through her eyes, but she is the spark that Eva needs to continue this life.
Mandanna has created a spectacular achievement and expectation for her debut novel. For a Standalone its brilliant, yet the ending leaves you wondering. Wondering whether where it will take you next. I hope Mandanna has a sequel in the making, because I will be the first to buy it. This is one of my very first reads of 2013 and it has set me on a high for something different and fresh.
Rating: 4.5
But first I'd like to say Thank you to Jessica over at Booked Up for doing a Read-along with her. As she would say: "We *fangirled* together" . You can see her review here.
Warning some minor spoilers.
Mandanna has created a refreshing and a unique take on the classic. The plot intrigued from the very beginning; an Echo, a creation stitched by the Weavers as a replacement of human nature. Is she real?Does she have a choice in her own life? No Echo does and that's the pain of watching someone's life flash through your eyes, knowing that your going to be next. Eva was stitched at the Loom in London, its argued whether she was born at all or rather than made. But I felt quite strongly about this subject, she living, she breathing, she has a brain and she unlike Frankenstein's Monster, is the living embodiment of a normal human being. How Mandanna was able to make me feel and empathise with these character is a brilliant trait in writing that I admire her for. The pace Part 1 was slightly off and didn't have the constant for that the rest of the novel had. However what I loved about TLG was the transition between Amarra and Eva, London and Bangalore and a human and an Echo.
The main protagonist, Eva, is strong, opinionated, artistic, passionate and a brave soul for an Echo. She is especially unique echo, gutsy and fight for what she believes in. However, she has a vulnerable side, one that makes her realistic, makes her human. Its said in the history of Echos, they only have one chance, Eva has 3. Sean the green-eyed love interest and Guardian, lets just say everybody needs one. His charisma and characteristics broke your heart at Part 1, *sniffles* and then he's the beating heart of the novel. The moment when you just want them kiss is overwhelming and horrible- but that is one of the many rules that the Weavers set in place; no relationship between Guardian and Echo. But hey, she 's broke all the rules, what's one more?
"Eva", he says, and my eyes tear. "Do you still dream of cities?""Yes", I say. I hear the sound of him swallowing. "Do you still dream of me?""Yes". I thought things might have changed."No" he says. "I haven't either," and he hangs up.
Some of the secondary characters were equally brilliant; Matthew, Eva's creator is the arrogance of Frankenstein, he's the unfeeling consciousness of the Loom. He sees no reason only the craft of his creations. Matthew's character is infuriating at best, when he states the line between both sides of human nature. Eva is no more than a human than everyone else! (*Grrrrr*) I loved Sasha and Nikhil, the Familiar's family was more than accepting of Eva's status and Sasha was the bubbliest character of them all. Ray, Ammara's love interest, was cunning, deceiving and the cause of Eva's downfall. Finally, Lekha, Eva's best friend, she may have seen through her eyes, but she is the spark that Eva needs to continue this life.
Mandanna has created a spectacular achievement and expectation for her debut novel. For a Standalone its brilliant, yet the ending leaves you wondering. Wondering whether where it will take you next. I hope Mandanna has a sequel in the making, because I will be the first to buy it. This is one of my very first reads of 2013 and it has set me on a high for something different and fresh.
Rating: 4.5
navsy's review against another edition
4.0
Where do you draw the line of loving someone? If you lose a loved one, would you go to any extent to get them back? How do you make yourself let someone go?
I pondered over these questions while reading this book. I'm sure you too would have at some point.
Where do I even start with my review? Before reading this book, I was expecting a dystopian world where a girl who is nothing but an echo of another person searches for her true identity and fights against her creators to have a life of her own; what I wasn't expecting was a book so rich in human emotions and relationships that is wonderful in its simplicity with a beautiful writing style and brilliant characterization.
I don't think of this book as entirely dystopian; dystopia hints towards a futuristic society, yes, but other than weavers creating life in the form of echoes, other elements of a dystopian world are not touched. I'd consider it more as an alternative reality, a world where weaving started 200 years back. It's not an issue for the book, but since I would have liked to know more about weaving, I feel a teensy bit disappointed. I can overlook it, because that's not what makes this book so great, but I can't entirely because when I'm going into a book expecting it to be dystopian, I'd like to know more about the how and why of the world building.
The Lost Girl presents a world where a few have found a way to give life to the dead. No, don't think zombie, think a replacement for the dead ones you can't seem to let go. Sounds so morally wrong and creepy right? You're in for a surprise. Getting back to those people; they call themselves weavers. We are only introduced to three of them in this book, maybe because there are only three present in the whole world or because the story is only focused on London's loom of weavers. They make echoes for the sole purpose of replacing a person in case of their deaths. The echoes look and sound exactly like their Other and have to live their life learning the Other's mannerisms so that they can fit into their life when their Other dies.
Our protagonist Eva is an echo. She has spent her life trying to be like Amarra, her Other who lives in India. She doesn't want to be her but follows the rules of the Loom to survive. However, that doesn't stop her from being a little rebellious whenever she gets the chance. Eva is impulsive where Amarra is controlled, temperamental where Amarra is calm, loves art where Amarra is more into archaeology. Eva has always wanted to escape, to have her own identity but she can't give in to her whims for the fear of her life.
The ethical question of creating life is a nagging reminder in the entirety of the book. Eva as an echo doesn't know what her existence means. She is considered a monster, a husk of a shell with no feelings or dreams of her own by people who think echoes are unnatural creations that shouldn't even exist; but she is considered human, a who and not a what by people who know her and love her, who realize how very alive she is if they try seeing her as something other than an oddity.
Eva's connection to Amarra is puzzling but convincing at the same time. The loss of Amarra's death not only affects her family and friends but also Eva and in a way she couldn't have been prepared for. Eva is haunted by Amarra's presence all along the way and her loneliness and confusion is so beautifully painful. Every character in this book has a personality of their own and the author has made them all real rather than using them as convenient tools for the plot. From Alisha's hopes of finding her daughter somewhere in Eva to Neil's pragmatism of accepting Eva as a different person; from Nik's unselfishness to Sasha's undulated love; from Ray's anger, grief and hatred to Lekha's understanding and friendliness; everything is written in a way that you not only understand what they're going through but you feel it with them.
Other characters, be it the ever caring Mina ma, the ever vigilant Erik, the ever friendly Ophelia or the ever mysterious Sir Matthew, all of them cared for Eva in a different way and Mandanna has done a great job in portraying each one of them. There isn't really a love triangle but two love interests. One is the forbidden love and the other is the supposed-to-fall-in-love love. Sean is the composed, calculating, practical guy who abides by the law and hides his feelings towards Eva as best as he can. Ray is the guy who loved Amarra and would do anything to find her in Eva so that he could forgive himself a little. The author has done a great job in building Eva's relationship with both of them.
The book flows by smoothly without any predictable twists. The ending came out of nowhere. I had no idea how things would end and I definitely hadn't guessed what happened at last. I would like to believe that they got their happy ending too. I'm a believer like that. I don't care if it's not likely but what they had, what they went through, makes me wish for the best and I don't want anyone to burst my bubble so just DON'T! There are a few things I would have liked to end differently. I definitely wanted to know more about the Loom, Adrian's experiments and Matthew's change of character. Elsa seemed like an intriguing character but there was only one scene that included her.
All in all, this was a book that would tug at your heart strings and make you fall in love with all the characters. Eva begins her journey being unsure of everything but slowly finds her way through her life. She learns to respect herself and accepts that she's worth living. Her journey is not easy but filled with fear, love, hope, sacrifices, betrayal and trust; but she keeps fighting and wins even if it's a bittersweet victory. I really enjoyed it. 4 stars.
I pondered over these questions while reading this book. I'm sure you too would have at some point.
Where do I even start with my review? Before reading this book, I was expecting a dystopian world where a girl who is nothing but an echo of another person searches for her true identity and fights against her creators to have a life of her own; what I wasn't expecting was a book so rich in human emotions and relationships that is wonderful in its simplicity with a beautiful writing style and brilliant characterization.
I don't think of this book as entirely dystopian; dystopia hints towards a futuristic society, yes, but other than weavers creating life in the form of echoes, other elements of a dystopian world are not touched. I'd consider it more as an alternative reality, a world where weaving started 200 years back. It's not an issue for the book, but since I would have liked to know more about weaving, I feel a teensy bit disappointed. I can overlook it, because that's not what makes this book so great, but I can't entirely because when I'm going into a book expecting it to be dystopian, I'd like to know more about the how and why of the world building.
The Lost Girl presents a world where a few have found a way to give life to the dead. No, don't think zombie, think a replacement for the dead ones you can't seem to let go. Sounds so morally wrong and creepy right? You're in for a surprise. Getting back to those people; they call themselves weavers. We are only introduced to three of them in this book, maybe because there are only three present in the whole world or because the story is only focused on London's loom of weavers. They make echoes for the sole purpose of replacing a person in case of their deaths. The echoes look and sound exactly like their Other and have to live their life learning the Other's mannerisms so that they can fit into their life when their Other dies.
Our protagonist Eva is an echo. She has spent her life trying to be like Amarra, her Other who lives in India. She doesn't want to be her but follows the rules of the Loom to survive. However, that doesn't stop her from being a little rebellious whenever she gets the chance. Eva is impulsive where Amarra is controlled, temperamental where Amarra is calm, loves art where Amarra is more into archaeology. Eva has always wanted to escape, to have her own identity but she can't give in to her whims for the fear of her life.
The ethical question of creating life is a nagging reminder in the entirety of the book. Eva as an echo doesn't know what her existence means. She is considered a monster, a husk of a shell with no feelings or dreams of her own by people who think echoes are unnatural creations that shouldn't even exist; but she is considered human, a who and not a what by people who know her and love her, who realize how very alive she is if they try seeing her as something other than an oddity.
Eva's connection to Amarra is puzzling but convincing at the same time. The loss of Amarra's death not only affects her family and friends but also Eva and in a way she couldn't have been prepared for. Eva is haunted by Amarra's presence all along the way and her loneliness and confusion is so beautifully painful. Every character in this book has a personality of their own and the author has made them all real rather than using them as convenient tools for the plot. From Alisha's hopes of finding her daughter somewhere in Eva to Neil's pragmatism of accepting Eva as a different person; from Nik's unselfishness to Sasha's undulated love; from Ray's anger, grief and hatred to Lekha's understanding and friendliness; everything is written in a way that you not only understand what they're going through but you feel it with them.
Other characters, be it the ever caring Mina ma, the ever vigilant Erik, the ever friendly Ophelia or the ever mysterious Sir Matthew, all of them cared for Eva in a different way and Mandanna has done a great job in portraying each one of them. There isn't really a love triangle but two love interests. One is the forbidden love and the other is the supposed-to-fall-in-love love. Sean is the composed, calculating, practical guy who abides by the law and hides his feelings towards Eva as best as he can. Ray is the guy who loved Amarra and would do anything to find her in Eva so that he could forgive himself a little. The author has done a great job in building Eva's relationship with both of them.
The book flows by smoothly without any predictable twists. The ending came out of nowhere. I had no idea how things would end and I definitely hadn't guessed what happened at last. I would like to believe that they
Spoiler
Sean and EvaAll in all, this was a book that would tug at your heart strings and make you fall in love with all the characters. Eva begins her journey being unsure of everything but slowly finds her way through her life. She learns to respect herself and accepts that she's worth living. Her journey is not easy but filled with fear, love, hope, sacrifices, betrayal and trust; but she keeps fighting and wins even if it's a bittersweet victory. I really enjoyed it. 4 stars.
rebecca_hedger's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars but I rounded down. Loved the concept and how the plot moves forward and all the different characters and relationships we get to see. On occasion there was just a bit too much description that wasn't needed.
astroprojection's review against another edition
3.0
this book would have been better if it didn't try so hard to make me care about the white characters tbh