SPSFC3 Slush Review: Replacement by Jordan Rivet

As we work through the SPSFC3 slush phase, some team members have decided to read books in full as they go if they feel like a potential contender has been found.

None of us are posting scores at this time and the team is not announcing advancement of any book yet. We are simply choosing to read and review a book in full. All thoughts are mine alone and not reflective of team decisions.

You can see all our official announcements and reviews here at the team hub

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For my second full read of the slush phase, I tackled Replacement. Let’s take a look at the book and then I’ll share my thoughts.

Bookish Quick Facts

• Title: Replacement
• Series: The Lost Clone, #1
• Author: Jordan Rivet
• Release: Self, 2022
• Length: 314 pages
• Rating & Recommend: for fans of YA sci-fi, clones, ethics, mysteries

Here’s the synopsis

Jane is a leftover clone. Created for an unknown purpose, then abandoned at a rundown facility outside Grid City, she has a knack for trouble and a burning desire to find out why she was made.

When a powerful tycoon hires her to replace his son Isaac’s best friend, a girl from the same clone batch as her, Jane jumps at the chance to finally get some answers. All she has to do is convince the charming Isaac that his friend is still alive, without getting too close to him. Stepping into someone else’s life isn’t easy, though, even when you have the same genes.

As Jane struggles to survive at Isaac’s elite private school, she discovers the other clone’s death was no accident—and she might be next. She must solve her batchmate’s murder and unravel the mystery of their origins before the killer comes for her too.

From Am*zon

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My Thoughts

As I am reading through our allocated slush books, I am looking for well edited books that really catch my attention. The first 20% of Replacement yielded clones, danger, potential ethical conundrums, and a mystery to be solved.

There is a teenaged clone trying to figure out her purpose in life. Are there batchmates? Who’s setting the birthing area on fire? What does a business tycoon want with her? I was drawn into this whirlwind mystery and almost immediately started rooting for the main character.

The danger and stakes keep increasing as Jane uncovers more and more about shady implant companies and corruption in the business world. We get rival factions and two very different boys helping Jane along the way. We get hints of potential romance but thankfully nothing develops as I am not a romance fan in scifi. That said, sign me up for the Isaac and Jane friendship all day long. I liked that element a lot despite their brief struggles with feelings, that the friendship was front and center.

My only quibbles are that 1) I don’t personally care for teenage drama like grades and boys and college applications and 2) I wanted a little more in terms of wrap up and answers from the ending, although it mostly set itself up for book two. We got enough answers to be satisfied although I’m looking for a little more closure in an individual competition like this.

Overall: while the book feels very Young Adult oriented, it was easily enjoyable for me as it explored themes of clone ethics, identity, and loyalty. It accomplished these things while integrating easily digestible technology and building a believable future world for these clones to exist in. There is a good pace and plenty of excitement along the way, also while remaining 100% YA appropriate in terms of language and content.

Long story short: I liked it!

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Thanks for checking out my book review of Replacement by Jordan Rivet. I was provided an ecopy for judging purposes and as always, all options are my own 🚀⭐