The Replacement

Image courtesy of
www.booksamillion.com

The Replacement
Brenna Yovanoff
2010

The Summary
Gentry is a small, picturesque town filled with average people living average lives and working average jobs.  But beneath this alluring, small-town façade lies something deep and dark - called Mayhem by its unnatural denizens - that has plagued the citizens of Gentry for centuries.

And, now, Mackie Doyle must face down this centuries old darkness or die trying.

The Good
Brenna Yovanoff has executed an exellent novel and crafted an intriguing story full of myth, fantasy, and adventure.  It's excellently executed and marvelously detailed, as well as intriguing.

Granted, the idea of something dark lurking beneath the layers of suburbia has been pounded into the ground.  It's been done time and again, I realize; however, Yovanoff managed to lend a special twist to her tale by creating a terrifying tale of murder, myth, and deceit centuries long.

And I can't help liking the characters created in this novel.  There's Emma, the kind and caring sister; Roswell, the friend willing to go through hell and back for his friends; Mackie, the poor misfit treading between two lives; and Tate, the indomitable gal willing and able to fight even the most frightening menace.

They're unusual, but endearing.

The Bad
I found some difficulty in discerning the myths that engulf this tiny town of Gentry.  It has such a dark, brutal history and a confusing mythos that it takes some time to sift through all the information, so it's a bit challenging to understand how this world works.

More importantly, I should mention The Replacement may be suitable for a more mature audience.  It isn't what you would call a "mild" book.  You will find some foul language, some violence, and some sexual content - but I wouldn't say anything worse than a PG-13 rating.

The Ugly
The world of Mayhem beneath Gentry is a dark and foreboding place.  The creatures which lurk there, the Lady who steals children from their cribs, the Cutter with his knives and sharp devices all have an ugly side - and it's the one the tend to show the most.