Falls the Shadow

Falls the Shadow is by debut author Stefanie Gaither.

When Cate Benson was a kid her sister, Violet, died.  Two hours after the funeral, Cate's familt picked up Violet's replacement.  Like nothing had happened.  Because Cate's parents are among those who decided to give their children a sort of immortality- by cloning them at birth- which means this new Violet has the same smile. The same perfect face. Thanks to advancements in mind-uploading technology, she even has all the same memories as the girl she replaced.

She also might have murdered the most popular girl in school.

At least, that's what the paparazzi and the anti-cloning protestors want everyone to think: that clones are violent, unpredictable monsters. Cate is used to hearing all that.  She's used to defending her sister, too.  But Violet has vanished, and when Cate sets out to find her, she ends up in the line of fire instead.  Because Cate is getting dangerously close to secrets that will rock the foundation of everything she thought was true.

The Breakdown:
1. I loved this book! It is a beautifully written dystopian thriller that the topic it addresses in human cloning is still relevant in current society. Gaither does a great job of make this world different from ours, but at the same time addresses things we worry about like biological warfare and environmental impact of society.

2. The thriller aspect of this book kept me on the edge of my seat. Gaither kept me guessing on who was trustworthy, and what everyone's end game was. Not everyone's motives are what they seem on the surface.

3. Cate is such a wonderful character.  As much as she tries to blend into the background in the beginning, it is easy to see she is a standout character. While she never accepts Violet's replacement is the same as the original, she still loves her and defends her. She risk so much to help Violet, and even goes so far to push the boy she likes away to be a good sister.

4. Speaking of the boy, Jaxon, he obviously has strong feelings for Violet, but he is still dealing with the beliefs he was raised on.  Despite that, he does help Violet, and is trying to figure out what is right and wrong without his mother's influence. Probably my favorite scene is when he comforts Cate after her first confrontation with Violet.

5. Violet is an interesting mix of strength and vulnerability.  She is physically superior to normal humans, but she is vulnerable emotionally.  She wants so much for Cate to love her, and for them to be close as they were in the memories from the original Violet.  She wants to protect Cate, despite what orders she has been given.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

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