Review: Dualed by Elsie Chapman

Title: Dualed (Dualed, #1)

Author: Elsie Chapman

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Publication date: February 26, 2013

Genre(s): Young Adult (Sci-Fi/Dystopia)

Source: NetGalley

Format: Digital ARC

Pages: 304

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You or your Alt? Only one will survive.

The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.

Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.

When I first read the synopsis for Dualed, I was immediately interested as to how the story will turn out. I actually find the idea very interesting, and unique. Dualed talks about West Grayer, who is a 15 year old girl living in the city of Kersh. West has been training all her life, preparing herself for the day when her assignment arrives, telling her that she has 30 days to kill her alt. Killing your alt makes you the worthy one. Killing your alt means education, jobs, and marriage. Basically, if you were to kill your alt, you have proven to everyone that you deserve to live. I really liked how Dualed immediately got to the point. In other words, it was fast-paced, but not too fast to be confusing or anything. As soon as I started it, it was action packed and full of excitement. I don't even think there was a time when I actually felt bored. 

West was a very mature character, despite her being only 15 years old. I think it's because of how most of her family members died, leaving only her brother Luc. We also got to meet Luc's friend, Chord. Things happen, and a major turn on happens for West. I don't want to spoil anything, but things get more interesting then. When West actually gets her assignment, it was crazy fun. West had to go into hiding, spying on her alt, and figuring out her daily patterns, etc. I'm such a fan of anything that has to do with spy, so I really enjoyed reading the part where she was hunting for her alt. We also got to know more about Chord, and I really got to like him as well. He was always there for West, providing her money, getting her food, and sometimes even cleaning her wounds. 

I tried guessing how the book would end, but fortunately, my guess was never right! I'm glad that the book was full of surprises, and I really am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. If you're into sci-fi/dystopian books, I totally recommend you reading Dualed. It's got everything you need in a book; action, romance, and great characters!