What’s Left of Me: The Hybrid Chronicles, Book One, by Kat Zhang

[rachelmanija]

In an alternate future America, everyone is born with two souls in a single body. They are given two names, like the novel’s protagonists, Eva and Addie. But by about age five, one of the personalities fades away-effectively, it dies. The rare “hybrid” children, who grow older with both personalities intact, are considered a menace to society and

Comments

[tool_of_satan]

Have you ever read Patricia McKillip's Stepping From the Shadows?

[rachelmanija]

I have, but I don't remember it that well. Was it a kind of surrealist fantasy-or-madness novel?

[tool_of_satan]

More or less. As far as I could determine the protagonist was one of two personalities in a single body, which is what reminded me of it. (Whether it is an accurate portrayal of multiple personalities, I have no idea.)

[sovay]

In an alternate future America, everyone is born with two souls in a single body.

Is there any explanation given for this premise, or is it really not the point of the novel?

[asakiyume]

Heh: interesting question.

[rachelmanija]

No, that's just how it is and always has been. I didn't have a problem with that; it's kind of like, "Some people/everyone can do magic."

[asakiyume]

This sounds very interesting, and it's a shame that it wavered in the second two-thirds, but what's especially interesting for me is what you say about *why* it wavered: that it moved from a type of story and storytelling that the author was strong with to one she was weaker with. If you have a story with an intimate facet and also a larger, more world-stage facet (or a quiet element and an action-packed element), this seems like an obvious risk--that either one or the other facet will not be as strong.

.... This is of selfish interest to me because of the project I'm working on finishing, which has those same elements and therefore those same risks. (*gulp*)

[ext_448688]

Nice thoughts! I enjoyed this one quite a bit but agree that the beginning was better than the end. What I wished was addressed were the religious outcomes of such a set-up. We have a world where souls are confirmed real (and there are two of them!). That alone would change the paradigms of our religious completely.

[rachelmanija]

I didn't even think of that, but you're right. They should have a settling funeral.

[ext_448688]

Oooh, yes. Time for fanfic, perhaps.