Take a photo of a barcode or cover
The first of a sequel-series to the Uglies series, set years after those events, dealing not with a dystopia (now long fallen) but with an authoritarian dictatorship. Frey's father runs it with an iron fist, using nano-dust to spy on citizens to root out any dissent, and having produced Frey and her identical twin sister from his dead wife's eggs after she died in a kidnapping attempt. But nobody knows about Frey: she serves as her beloved sister's body double, to keep her safe at public events, living in secret rooms and passages so only a very few core staff know about her. When her father's latest scheme s involve sending his daughter to a neighbouring city-state as a sign of trust (aka hostage) during a joint venture, guess which daughter he sends. Out on her own for the first time, getting a taste of real life (albeit under her sister's identity), Frey at first feels out of her depth, but then starts to enjoy making a few friends. Then, of course, everything goes sideways.
The story is briskly-paced with a good balance of action and internal conflict. There is a touch of romance, which I could take or leave, but it's not overwhelming. As the first in a trilogy, its main arc somewhat resolves, but directly cliffhangs into new plans to be carried out in the next volume. Recommended for fans of non-mindless action.
The story is briskly-paced with a good balance of action and internal conflict. There is a touch of romance, which I could take or leave, but it's not overwhelming. As the first in a trilogy, its main arc somewhat resolves, but directly cliffhangs into new plans to be carried out in the next volume. Recommended for fans of non-mindless action.