The Replacement

Brenna Yovanoff's The Replacement was my All Hallow's Read gift this year. It's about a changeling who doesn't really fit in with the humans who raised him, but also isn't so sure that he fits in with the people who live under the ground of his town and swapped him for a human child 14 years prior. As he's trying t navigate both worlds and figure out where he belongs, another child is taken, and there's a chance that he can save her.

This book is full of teen angst. The premise makes it pretty easy. A teenager who doesn't fit in anywhere and is considered a freak by basically everyone? Yeah, it's ripe for lots of woe-is-me and my life sucks and no one understands. But beyond that depressing layer is a pretty cool world.

My favorite part of the book is how much thought Yovanoff put in to this world. I'm not sure I understand why a bunch of people who are deathly allergic to iron would set up underneath a steel town, but it does add an extra layer to the main character. Most faeries are susceptible to iron, but it usually has to be pure iron. In this book, the main character is affected by trace amounts. And it really drives home how common iron is in our lives. The fact that he can't even be in the same room as blood is a bit extreme, but it is entertaining when he kisses a girl who happens to have a tongue ring and basically goes into anaphylactic shock.

Overall, the book was entertaining. It was a pretty quick read, and the plot and characters kept me engaged throughout.

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