False Hearts

Pacifica #1

by L.R. Lam, Laura Lam

Orphan Black meets Inception: Two formerly conjoined sisters are ensnared in a murderous plot involving psychoactive drugs, shared dreaming, organized crime, and a sinister cult.

Raised in the closed cult of Mana’s Hearth and denied access to modern technology, conjoined sisters Taema and Tila dream of a life beyond the walls of the compound. When the heart they share begins to fail, the twins escape to San Francisco, where they are surgically separated and given new artificial hearts. From then on they pursue lives beyond anything they could have previously imagined.

Ten years later, Tila returns one night to the twins’ home in the city, terrified and covered in blood, just before the police arrive and arrest her for murder—the first homicide by a civilian in decades. Tila is suspected of involvement with the Ratel, a powerful crime syndicate that deals in the flow of Zeal, a drug that allows violent minds to enact their darkest desires in a terrifying dreamscape. Taema is given a proposition: go undercover as her sister and perhaps save her twin’s life. But during her investigation Taema discovers disturbing links between the twins’ past and their present. Once unable to keep anything from each other, the sisters now discover the true cost of secrets.

Genres: Science Fiction, Thriller, Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Adult

366 pages, Hardcover

First published June 14, 2016

About the author

Originally from sunny California, L.R. Lam now lives in cloudy Scotland. Lam is a Sunday Times Bestselling author whose work includes epic fantasy romance Dragonfall (The Dragon Scales Trilogy), the near-future space thriller, Goldilocks, feminist space opera Seven Devils and Seven Mercies (co-written with Elizabeth May), BBC Radio 2 Book Club section False Hearts, the companion novel Shattered Minds, and the award-winning Micah Grey series: Pantomime, Shadowplay, and Masquerade.

Their short fiction and essays have appeared in anthologies such as Nasty Women, Solaris Rising 3, Cranky Ladies of History, Scotland in Space, and more. Their romance alter ego is Laura Ambrose. Lam lectures part-time at Edinburgh Napier University and is Programme Leader of the Creative Writing MA.

*Please note I don't read my GR mail*

Reviews

[Emily May · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sign on, and … pretend to be my sister?”
“Yes. You’d go undercover into the deepest, darkest underbelly of San Francisco.”

4 1/2 stars. I guess I should be reading more science fiction because if this and Railhead are anything to go by, the genre is exploding with goodness this year.

Are you ready for a futuristic world full of criminals, twisted cults and undercover operations? Are you ready to delve into this dark future San Francisco, plagued by psychoactive drugs and shared dreaming? Are you ready to read about two formerly conjoined twins who are so similar, and yet they hide some very different kind of secrets?

Because, dammit, I was so ready for this book.

False Hearts is brimming with imagination. Lam has created this world in intricate detail, painting a time and place so different from the one we know, but so easy to picture in our minds. From the drugs that allow people to live out their ultimate fantasies (and the newest drug that threatens everything) to the flesh parlours that allow people to craft themselves new faces, this world is a plethora of fascinating imagery. It's hard to not get caught up in it.

The two twins at the centre of this story are Taema and Tila. Dark-skinned (part Samoan) and bisexual, they stand out from a white, heterosexual sea of protagonists. In fact, diversity is just another one of this book's strengths. These two sisters were brought up in a restrictive cult until the day their shared heart began to fail - then they escaped to the outside world of modern technology and started a new life in San Francisco.

Years later, Tila is arrested for murder after turning up covered in blood. Despite witnesses and an incriminating amount of evidence, Taema's sure her sister would never hurt someone. Isn't she?

Determined to clear her sister's name - or perhaps find out a horrifying truth - Taema goes undercover into the heart of the Ratel, dealers in Zeal, a drug that helps you enact your darkest fantasies and desires in a dreamscape. More and more is uncovered. Links to the twins' past emerge and dirty secrets come tumbling out of the closet. I couldn't look away.

Just to clear up any confusion: the author has said below (and the novel backs up) that this is not a YA book. It is being shelved as YA and has turned up on a lot of YA blogs, but the sisters are twenty-six, live in their own apartments and have their own jobs. While I think mature teens can also enjoy this, it is clearly an adult novel.

A fantastically original and fast-paced read, full of action, excitement and diversity. I can't wait for more people to read it.

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[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that was awesome!! There is so much to be found within these pages. Formerly conjoined twins, a creepy cult, a futuristic world filled with all kinds of neat tech such as hovercars, VeriChips, auditory & ocular implants (more on that later), psychoactive drugs that bring you into dreamscapes, an organized crime group similar to the mob, shared dreaming, a murder to start everything off, and so much more. I could not get enough!

I hadn’t heard much about this one. It’s quite surprising considering how freaking good it actually is. The world-building is incredible, the plot is exciting, the characters are diverse. I can keep going... I’ll let you know what it’s about first :)

The most accurate way to classify this would be sci-fi thriller. The story is set in San Francisco in the near-future. Things are dramatically different. There hasn’t been a murder in San Francisco in forty years. The world is full of all sorts of technology that doesn’t yet exist..people travel by hovercar. VeriChips are in every citizen making tracking whereabouts easy. Auditory implants make it possible to just ping a person (kind of like you are paging them). Replicators can give you whatever food you ask for and just appear. Flesh Parlours are the future’s version of plastic surgery. Psychoactive drugs, such as Zeal, allow for fantasies to be lived out in a dreamscape (also meaning violent fantasies hence LOW crime rate). There is so so much more. False Hearts is brimming with rich, imaginative world-building.

Enter Taema and Tila. The two were conjoined twins separated ten years earlier, now living separate lives when the first sixteen years they were never apart. The girls were born in Mana’s Hearth, a creepy cult that swears off modern technology and remains separate from society. At sixteen, they joined the modern world when their heart began to fail. Now twenty six, Taema is waiting for Tila to get done at work and come over for dinner. After Tila finally arrives covered in blood, begging for help, the police arrive to arrest her for murder.

I haven’t done anything, Taema. It didn’t happen the way they’ll say.

Taema insists her sister didn’t do it. With her heart set on proving her sister’s innocence, Taema agrees to go undercover as Tila in something much bigger than she can possibly realize. The Ratel has been dealing in Zeal. And Taema must go undercover in the Ratel as her sister. After a time when no secrets could be kept between the two, now the sisters will realize just how detrimental secrets can be.

Yes yes yes. And trust me....there is a whole lot more to the plot. The story is told from Taema’s perspective, but we get Tila’s perspective by way of her journal entries. False Hearts is a wild ride full of excitement, suspense, and twists. Diversity was an added bonus. The twins are part Samoan and bisexual. Diversity is also displayed in some of the smaller characters as well. I have one small, small issue with a plot point near the end that I can’t mention due to spoilers. That’s where my one star is knocked off. Other than that I have no reason not to recommend this book. If you’re looking for something fast-paced and completely engrossing, don’t hesitate to pick this one up!

[Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ · Rating 4 out of 5]

After years without reading science fiction (because really, who cares about aliens anymore?), I decided to try and find some new authors because you know what? The real world sucks sometimes, and escaping it seems wonderful to me right now. Please feel free to send me your recs, and a big thank you to Emily for her review without which I would have never heard of False Hearts.


*looking at the news*

*turning my ocular implants off*

I don't know what's worst, really : reading about a futurist world both fascinating and frightening, or putting my book aside to discover, if needed, that our real world is more fucked-up than anything writers could create.

Alright, I lied : the second possibility is much, much worst. Too bad it's the truth. As much as I've always prided myself on being able to see things in a positive light, I cannot deny that it's becoming harder and harder to stand the internet lately - and let it be known that I love technologies.

In that aspect, False Hearts asked the good questions in my opinion (well, I don't know if they are good, honestly, only that they're the ones I always wondered about) : where do we stop? Is there a boundary, some kind of limit where science shouldn't go? I've always been uncomfortable with people arguing against science or progress, because it reeked too much of censure for me, yet it does not mean that everything scientific or new is good by essence. What matters is what we, humans with twisted minds, do with it.

Everyone agrees (I strongly hope, at least) that experimenting on humans or animals is sick and inhuman. Everyone agrees that there are many countries that produce our stuff with no respect for basic human rights. Yet we welcome any novelty with open arms, we buy them cheaper and cheaper, and we're very sorry, and then we shrug and say -

What you wanna do?

I am guilty of this hypocrisy as well. Sure, I pay attention to what I buy and try to choose human and animal friendly products more often than not - especially clothes, food, and beauty products - yet I own a smartphone, a tab, an ereader, a computer, games consoles... I love the internet and the freedom of speech it allows, even if I often struggle with the cultural - and legal - differences between the US and France (where incitement to hatred is outlawed and not protected under the cloak of freedom of expression).

And now you're wondering why the fuck I am rambling about that and what this has to do with False Hearts. I'm coming to that, I promise.

It all comes down to : human beings are complex, our world is complex, and I need to find remnants of this complexity to be convinced by a fictional world.

Would I be able to live in the Hearth, the technology-free colony Tila and Taema come from? In this hidden cult where "meditation" allows you to share your neighbor's mind? Oh, no, absolutely not.

Would I enjoy living in the Pacifica, this futuristic country where appearances are never what they seem, where you can order an ersatz of coffee - and anything, really - through a replicator, where all your steps are monitored and analyzed by your brain nanobots? Where the aseptic atmosphere hides loneliness and corruption? Where a psychoactive drug enables you to share dreams, at the risk of losing any interest in your real life? No, I don't think I would.

And this, my friends - this imaginative and frightening world-building? It's what makes False Hearts stand out from the overtroped Fantasy and Scifi out there.

But there's more! Not only the murder investigation, filled with mistrust and twists, hooked me right away, but the depth (both with regards to the - diverse! - characters and to the questions asked) made my reading experience even better. If not for the writing that didn't always convince me, and the beginning that I found a little slow, False Hearts was damn near perfect for me.

► Give me more of this, please.*

Oh, also? I'll take some of these cleaning Bots, thank you very much. I'll keep my real coffee, though.

*Apparently there is a sequel coming, and I cannot wait to dive into it.

For more of my reviews, please visit:

[Kassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5*

I love the diversity and futuristic aspects. The technology is so fascinating and there are just so many cool aspects to this story. I would highly recommend!

[L.R. Lam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edit June 15, 2017: If you've read False Hearts and crosspost your Goodreads review to a book retailer (Amazon, B&N, Waterstones, etc), I'll send you a signed bookplate and a bookmark as thanks. More info here: http://www.lauralam.co.uk/signed-book...

--

I made this with my words.

A little about this book:

- Stars formerly conjoined twins (grew up conjoined and separated at 16). I imagine them looking like Suzana and Suzane Massena.


- They grew up in a cult set in the redwoods of Muir Woods


- San Francisco is obsessed with perfection and has lots of tech.


- A mob called the Ratel who do horrible things, unsurprisingly.


- Identity switches


- Brain hacking & drugged dream sequences in virtual reality.


It's being pitched by my publisher as Orphan Black meets Inception. It'll be released in June 2016. :-)

Image credits and more on my Pinterest board for False Hearts.

[Aditi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sister. She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.”

----Barbara Alpert


Laura Lam, an American author, pens a gripping and a mind-blowing psychological thriller centered around two twin sisters in her book, False Hearts where the author weaves a story where the two twin sisters who are so much similar in looks yet harbor secrets of their own, which are extremely dark. Born as conjoined twins, this story is unravels so much beyond their relationship, where escape is written in bold letters.

Synopsis:

Orphan Black meets Inception: Two formerly conjoined sisters are ensnared in a murderous plot involving psychoactive drugs, shared dreaming, organized crime, and a sinister cult.

Raised in the closed cult of Mana’s Hearth and denied access to modern technology, conjoined sisters Taema and Tila dream of a life beyond the walls of the compound. When the heart they share begins to fail, the twins escape to San Francisco, where they are surgically separated and given new artificial hearts. From then on they pursue lives beyond anything they could have previously imagined.

Ten years later, Tila returns one night to the twins’ home in the city, terrified and covered in blood, just before the police arrive and arrest her for murder—the first homicide by a civilian in decades. Tila is suspected of involvement with the Ratel, a powerful crime syndicate that deals in the flow of Zeal, a drug that allows violent minds to enact their darkest desires in a terrifying dreamscape. Taema is given a proposition: go undercover as her sister and perhaps save her twin’s life. But during her investigation Taema discovers disturbing links between the twins’ past and their present. Once unable to keep anything from each other, the sisters now discover the true cost of secrets.


Tila and Taema are the conjoined twins by birth who share a same heart and are also born in a cult society, but one day, their shared heart fails them which became an excuse to escape their dreadful and wretched life in a small town filled with superstitions and cult practices. Hence the twin sisters reach San Francisco, a city overwhelmed and contempt with latest technology, where the sisters get a surgery and finally manage to get separated from one another. So many years have passed, Tila is back in her hometown, laced with blood from head-to-toe, and she is soon convicted of a murder, now Taema knows that her sister can't commit a crime, hence she needs to save her before its too late. Taema's life-threatening journey begins from an organised crime group's den where they deal a deadly drug, Zeal, that can unleash the weird fetishes of any human being through dreaming that can be shared with another living soul, (think Inception) and many such other scary stuffs like lethal tattoo parlors to flesh parlors. So amidst all these dangers, Taema need to investigate the real culprit behind the murder, but little did she knew, that even though they look alike, the two sisters have so many unshared deep dark secrets.

The author's writing style is fantastic and articulate and the readers will be easy to comprehend with the story writing of the author. The narrative is engaging and mystifying that will keep the readers on their edges. The pacing is really fast as the readers sway with the flow of the story where on their way, they will be welcomed with bone-chilling events and adrenaline-rushing action scenes. The author has portrayed her story with so much vivid descriptions that the readers can easily visualize the scenes right before their eyes.

The world building of the author is very much well-developed, as the author invents an innovative world filled with modern gadgets and technology both in science and philosophy. This make-believe world is so well portrayed by the author that the readers will be transported to this fictional futuristic land in no time with the progress of the story. It seems the author's imagination knows no bounds, while creating this future world, although she has projected such a world with logic and reason so the readers can contemplate with the systems and the technologies. The horror is so vivid into the descriptions of this city, that the readers will find the fear creeping up behind their backs.

The characters are well-etched out and are multi-dimensional. The main characters, both Tila and Taema are flawed, bisexual and are somewhat realism, yet their demeanor is quite brave and strong even though they are faced with number of challenges. All through out the story, they will have that psychological hold on the minds of the readers as the author laces them with their striking back stories that will only make the readers root for them till the very end. Even the supporting cast of characters are distinct and highly interesting and flawed, thereby turning the story into something enticing and intriguing.

The mystery part is highly unraveling and puzzling as she devises the story with enough suspense, tension and twists that will only make the readers anticipating for the truth till the very last page.

Overall, this story is a must read as it will keep the readers occupied till the very end and will also find it hard to turn away their heads from the book.

Verdict: Such a compelling and a riveting read!

Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Laura Lam's publishers for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/07/17/...

I really enjoyed this book. Clearly author Laura Lam has been busy honing her craft in the years since her debut Pantomime, the novel that first introduced me to her wonderful writing and storytelling. She’s taken those skills to a whole other level with False Hearts–a very different novel from her previous work to be sure, but it’s no less gripping and emotionally impactful.

Taema and Tila are two of the most amazing characters you’ll ever meet. For one thing, for the first sixteen years of their lives the sisters shared one heart. Even though this book takes place in a high-tech future where most medical conditions have been eradicated or can be cured, the conjoined twins were born to parents who were members of a cult that rejects any kind of advanced technology and medical treatments. In the closed compound of Mana’s Hearth where access to the outside world is limited, the girls grew up under the tutelage of a cult leader called Mana-ma, participating in the kind of mind exercises that keep all the Hearth’s members happily brainwashed. However, knowing that their shared heart will fail one day, worn down by the strain of supporting two bodies, the girls manage to escape Mana’s Hearth to San Francisco where they are surgically separated and given new mechanical hearts.

The main story of False Hearts actually starts ten years later, after Taema and Tila have both pursued their own lives separately but still remained close. One night, Taema is preparing dinner when Tila suddenly bursts into her apartment, terrified and covered in blood. The police arrive to arrest Tila, claiming that she killed someone, but Tila insists that she didn’t do it and Taema wants badly to believe her. After all, separated or not, after everything they’ve gone through together in their first sixteen years, she thinks she knows her sister better than anyone. Tila couldn’t have done it, she isn’t capable of being a murderer…is she? Just how much does Taema know about Tila now that they’ve been living their own lives for the past decade? As Taema embarks on a mission to save her twin, she begins to wonder if perhaps she has been wrong about everything. It turns out that Tila has been involved in some very dark and dangerous activities, and now her secrets are the only hope for Taema’s own survival.

While Taema is working undercover for the police to try to clear her sister’s name, Tila starts writing about her past in a journal as she waits in a holding cell for her upcoming trial. In this way, two stories are woven together, the past and the present unfolding side by side. This duality is further emphasized by the differences in the twins’ personalities. Tila is the more open and outgoing sister who pursued a career in art before getting hired to work at one of the city’s hottest nightclubs. There she works as a hostess to clients who come to the club to experience Zeal, a drug that allows its users to live out their deepest darkest fantasies in a dreamscape. In contrast, Taema is the more reserved, quiet and introspective one with few close friends. The differences between the two women can be seen in the way they speak, think, and act, and I thought Lam did an incredible job giving each twin a unique voice.

I also really enjoyed the book’s atmosphere. The dual themes continue, as beneath the bright and shiny surface of this futuristic version of San Francisco (where crime is supposedly non-existent) there actually lurks a dark and violent side of the city, where a criminal organization called the Ratel holds all the power. And while the use of Zeal has helped many people live happier and healthier lives, for those who become physically and mentally dependent on it, it can also lead to the exact opposite. I was as shocked as Taema to go from the safe, clean environment she knows into this gritty world of treacherous gang bosses and seedy drug dens. And as if that’s not enough, the twins’ past also comes back to haunt them. There was always this air of tension that kept me on my toes, bracing for the other shoe to drop. This part-thriller, part-mystery story is addictive as hell.

Of course, sisterhood also plays a huge part in all of this. There’s a larger message in here about growing up and realizing that everyone must follow their own path. Taema’s loyalty to Tila certainly moved me, but it also felt so innocent and naïve at the end of the day, when it was clear that their lives were already diverging even when the two of them still shared a heart. Of course, the irony is that the more one tried to protect the other from change, the more they actually put them in danger, and the secrets just hurt all the more in the end. Taema and Tila both attempt to hold on to the past in their own individual ways, and it’s just one wild ride as difficult truths emerge to turn everything upside down.

I was overjoyed when I found out that Lam is planning a follow-up to this. False Hearts works perfectly fine as a self-contained standalone, but believe me when I say that I wouldn’t mind revisiting these characters or even this world if Taema and Tila’s tale is done for now. Yes, I definitely want more after this one. Highly recommended.

[Elliot · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say right up front: I really dislike writing negative reviews. I'll try and be as specific as possible on what my issues were so you can judge whether or not you think those issues will bother you as well. I strongly believe just because one person loves/hates a book it doesn't mean everyone will. Still, this is one of those times where I feel like I read a very different book than the bulk of the reviewers out there. With glowing reviews at every turn, and ample comparisons to several things I love (Orphan Black meets Inception?!) I had to read it. And I wish I had given it a pass.

I knew early on this was one I should put down, but I kept reading because I'm one of those people who very rarely fails to finish a book. It's the prose that killed me on this book more than anything else. It felt very sophomoric. The sort of prose I read by the fistful in college critique classes, and that I myself wrote when I was younger. It's serviceable. It gets you from point A to point B. But it doesn't have a developed voice. It suffers consistently from telling rather than showing, sometimes even telling you the same thing over and over and over again, while skipping over opportunities for meatier character moments in favor of world building or plot progression. No matter how interesting I found the ideas Lam was playing with they were consistently overshadowed by the fact they all felt borrowed rather than owned - there was that constant comparing with countless other movies/books that have tread this ground before. More than anything it felt like a kitchen sink book, where the author cribbed cool ideas from a hundred other places and tossed them all in together without lingering too long on any one idea or explanation.

As a result of the wooden prose, and the hodgepodge nature of the plot/world-building, the characters suffered gravely. I wanted to like them. The idea of the characters was appealing - the cast was diverse and strong. But for me the idea of them was overshadowed by the execution. They felt like archetypes without any real depth rather than real people. I couldn't bring myself to care what happened to them, which can be deadly when reading a thriller. Will they survive this perilous situation and solve the mystery? *shrug*

Here's the thing: Over the years I've read a lot of sci-fi, so at this point I've gotten picky. If you're new to the genre I think you'll find a lot of new ideas and interesting things in this book. The plot does move forward at a decent pace, and there aren't any gaping holes. Like I said, it's serviceable. The book isn't fundamentally broken. However, if you're a veteran to the genre you're not going to find much here to surprise you, and if you read for character rather than plot this one will likely leave you cold. Clearly I'm in the minority out here, so your milage may vary.

[Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

My non-spoiler video review:

https://youtu.be/NMJiQdJrwwE

[Veronique · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

What an arresting premise! A twin has to take her sister's identity to enter a criminal syndicate in order to save her life. Well, that attracted my interest right there.

The story is set in a future San Francisco where everyone has been altered to be beautiful and crime is nearly extinct - well, on the surface of course - due to a drug called Zeal that allows people to purge their non-social and violent tendencies safely, while also pacifying them. Clubs offering this miracle cure, as well as Flesh Parlours where you can alter your appearance easily and quickly, are everywhere and basis of this utopia. Lam portrays a really intriguing world, with towering high rises, greenhouses skyscrapers, green-glowing bays from algae farms, flying 'cars', etc. It does have a tad of Blade Runner, especially with the billboards and the pyramid, but apart from that, it feels different while keeping that 'film noir' atmosphere.

The narration is shared by the siblings, who used to be conjoined until the age of 16 when they escaped a cult that rejected everything modern, including medicine. This was fascinating too, especially witnessing how two people can be so close and yet evidently be their own persons. As for the sect, it felt captivating and revolting at the same time - particularly their use of methods that could be beneficial but for their nefarious use to gather power over the other.

With all these compelling aspects, especially the psychological ones, how did the plot fare? Very well. This novel is very much a murder mystery in a scifi setting, fast-paced and thrilling. A couple of features were a little convenient but not enough to dim my enjoyment.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic SF mystery thriller about a future San Francisco, a cult and now-separated conjoined twins who escaped the cult.

Taema answers the door to find her blood-covered twin sister Tila there. Soon after the police turn up and take Tila away, the first arrest for the first murder in San Francisco in decades. The use of the drug Zeal has suppressed most peoples violent urges and city is apparently peaceful and crime free. Of course the police want to interview Taema as well, but things get strange fairly quickly, and Taema ends up deeply involved in a police investigation and where her cult upbringing is critical.

The story is told from both twins point-of-view with Taema getting the lions share of the narrative as she goes undercover as her sister into the vast criminal underbelly of San Francisco and an organization that actually threatens to take over the government and the largest corporation based there. From her jail cell Tila writes a memoir of her and Taema's time in the cult of Mana's Hearth and their escape from it and it's psychotic leader Mana-ma.

I read this in nearly one sitting. The sister's devotion to each other is so profound, but so is their separation from each other. This future San Francisco is also compelling and the author has put a lot of thought into the technological underpinnings of the society as well as the effects of substances like Zeal and Verve and where cheap and ubiquitous body-modification might take us. In another way it's a little cartoonish though. Even a drug like Zeal wouldn't reduce crime to zero; humans are too diverse for that. Also, the backlash from everyone making themselves model-perfect would be just about immediate, and you'd expect to see punkish body-mods almost immediately. But it's ok, the detail is fleshed out enough for the story to move on and move on it does. Relentlessly.

This is another one I'd give 4.5 stars to if I could. It's not perfect, but it's damn good, and it should get a read. I don't mind bumping it to 5 stars.

One final note: I don't see how people are shelving this as YA. The twins are twenty six and Tila's memoir of when they're sixteen is a very minor part of the story.

[The Reading's Love Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

LA RECENSIONE COMPLETA QUI: https://thereadingslove.blogspot.it/2...

2055: False Hearts è un romanzo distopico molto originale, ricco di colpi di scena, di missioni segrete e scenari alquanto vicini al nostro presente.
Dopo aver letto la trama ho capito che questo libro mi sarebbe piaciuto. E così è stato. Sono rimasta affascinata fin da subito da questa storia che tratta temi avvincenti che personalmente mi attraggono quali i sogni, i misteri e la mente umana. Questo romanzo non è soltanto distopico ma anche un thriller a tutti gli effetti che intreccia l'aspetto arcano e l'aspetto futuristico. Una storia, quella di Tila e Taema che va al di là di una semplice sorellanza e del tipico senso di protezione. Un romanzo travolgente, avvincente e con una buona dose di suspense. Verrete catapultati nel mondo futuristico colmo di complotti, colpi di scena, segreti ed inganni di San Francisco. La parola d'ordine è: non fidarsi di nessuno.
Laura Lam riesce a travolgere il lettore fin dalle prime pagine in un mondo moderno in cui la tecnologia ha preso possesso della vita degli individui e la plasma alla sua volontà.
Un'interpretazione escogitata nei minimi particolari che raffigura con tratti crudi un futuro del tutto vicino all'odierno. E' stato interessante e curioso poter addentrarsi nella mente umano e poter vivere il sogno come fosse realtà. False speranze e desideri ingannevoli che modellano la mente umana e la portano alla follia. Tila e Taema sono sorelle siamesi nate con un unico cuore, hanno vissuto la maggior parte della loro vita unite e quando finalmente riescono a fuggire da Mana's Hearth, un luogo avverso in cui la dirigente si professava messaggera di un Dio irreale, decidono di sottoporsi a San Francisco ad un'operazione chirurgica molto delicata per ottenere due cuori artificiali...

CONTINUA SUL NOSTRO BLOG. VENITE A TROVARCI
https://thereadingslove.blogspot.it/

[Amy Plum]

I loved this book. The world-building totally sucked me in, the pace was relentless and I fell in love with the characters. Can't wait to dive into Shattered Minds now!

[ash | songsforafuturepoet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I WROTE A WHOLE REVIEW AND GOODREADS SOMEHOW LOST IT. I HATE YOU SOMETIMES, GOODREADS.

I'm going to try and rewrite everything again without throwing my laptop on the floor. I probably sound a bit snarky because writing this again is making me reflect, for the second time, all the things I didn't like about this book and that isn't pleasant.

The first thing I thought after I put down the book, after giving up halfway through it, was that it was nothing like Orphan Black or Inception. Both of them just happen to be my favourite TV show and my favourite film, so needless to say, I was mildly offended. I wasn't surprised, though - I don't know what possessed me to trust the blurb. False Hearts is by a stretch, somewhat similar to Orphan Black and Inception, but it has neither the intricacy of the intimate and one-of-a-kind relationship the clones have and the exciting storyline of Orphan Black, nor the masterful detailing of the dreamworld and the heist in Inception. Yes, it does have the 'similar-looking girls pretend to be one another to discover things' plot and yes, in the story criminals steals info from people's dreams while they are doped up on drugs, but that's about it.

The story revolves around once-conjoined twins who escaped a cult and rejoined society. One of them is accused of murder and the other twin goes undercover as her to find out stuff and clear her name. Good premise and worldbuilding, unfortunately, False Hearts brings nothing new to the science fiction genre. Its plot isn't new to the genre, understandably, as the genre is made up of reused and revisited ideas - but it doesn't even do its own plot justice. For the life of me I cannot figure out why the cult background and the conjoined twin angle is important to the plot. It has not shown itself to be so. The plot is disjointed with too many unrelated details - hot undercover partner that the twin fucked, cult, conjoined twin-ness, nightclubs, painful whining by twin who feels like she isn't good enough. The twin plot could have been brought out by better characterisation, but without that the connection between the twins is superficial.

I was surprised to learn that the author did not intent for this book to be YA, although people thought it was. I actually went into this book hoping to go easy on it because it's YA, because I know I would have enjoyed it if I was a few years younger. However, I am not, and this novel just seems really shallow.

I feel like I have higher standards, though, because I can see why it would have interested science fiction lovers and younger adults. Especially as a fun romp. Guilty pleasure for me, if I liked it. Sad that I didn't.

[Asghar Abbas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, sisterly love! Was it terribly contrived? Believable? I felt that that love was believable, what do we believe though, what do we know, what are we even talking about, I believe I do not know. Of Men and Monsters. I do know. Sigur Ros. Men are monsters. Simple. No matter the new Songs these days.

Since I can't seem to shake off the concept of twins, the very notion, an illusion of loyalty to be sure- in other words, quite borrowed from the White Rabbit I assure you, I am going for a swim so might as well get wet. Might as well jump into the water. But Aurora Aksnes is right; why do we jump in?

Anyway, let's cut to the bone, shall we? This novel was heavily billed as Orphan Black meets Inception. Which is weird, because it was neither like the Orphan Black nor Inception. Quite frankly it wasn't trippy enough to be anything like Inception. It was more like the Matrix which in turn is a facsimile of Johnny Quest in my honest opinion. But it worked. I fell for it hook line and sinker and rushed to get a copy, after months of waiting. I was excited about this, too. So how was it? Fuck, when will I ever learn? In regards to this kind of marketing, and trickery of people in general? Sheer fourberie of it. Yuck.

Anyhow, I don't know why this is listed as YA when the protagonist- or should I say protagonists, are in their late twenties. Maybe it's the theme, content, and intended target. To her credit, Lam didn't flinch from depicting the darker shades of her characters; their actions, and consequences. The horror of it all. Bleak stuff thus making it all too real. There is plenty of blood, gore, profanity, and very well-written sex scenes here, you know the ones that don't make you cringe. But it's the dull prose that killed it for me, it was just so unexciting. If I was to say one thing about this book, it would be that I wasn't overly impressed by it. You know what was truly scary? That one day the US can dissolve into this pristine squalor, that felt accurate. However, what didn't feel accurate was the Perfect Phoenix that rose from the ashes as it's shown here, sure future, SF and all, but how exactly did that Utopia come about from all that chaos and destruction? I mean, I am sure it was explained properly, an adequate explanation must have been given, but I didn't catch any of that. Just how did they make a diverse albeit bland populace so docile, was it Zeal- the fantasy drug or the plastic surgeries? But tell me this, how do you quell a rage that's inherent and human- that is to be human?

As I read this, I felt that we were spending time with the wrong sister. Tila's parts were way more interesting, to say the least. I wished there was more interaction between the twins. Though it looks like there will be since this is a setup of a series. It did end without a cliffhanger so there is that, but it was so uninspiring. It would be interesting to see what they will do if they turned this into a movie, a lot of potentials there. But here it wasn't enough. I enjoyed Stitching Snow more, granted I was on much better cloud nine and there I was much more willing to be forgiving about sloppy works. Here I demand.....an effort. This has always been the case with SF with me, always stuck in the middle. Either I am drawn to the overblown works such as Dune, or simplistic stuff like False Hearts. Need moderation, ugh.

I'll admit I enjoyed seeing some of my very favorite words in this book; it was lovely like coming across dear friends in a bookstore in Paris.

Otherwise. Here's to hoping I'll avoid books with attractive covers and clever titles. One can hope, haha. It just nauseates me that mediocre and clearly lacking books such as this are getting published properly, while books like Until Her Darkness Goes and Only Human have to go through a more independent route.

Friends, if you wanna suggest good SF I am all ears :D I must quiet all of me.

Addendum: My own sister whose opinion means a lot to me, for she is a song that truly matters, said something that I didn't even think about. She pointed out that the writing was very basic, childish, and immature. But that wasn't my main issue with this novel. My biggest gripe is that this wasn't the Prince That Was Promised - excuse me Jon Snow- it was promised this would be like Inception and Orphan Black and it was nothing like those two! Just feeling duped and angry still. Really must stop getting fooled by beautiful book covers.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Terrific Sci-fi thriller!

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

False Hearts was a dream read in more ways than one. Tagged as “Orphan Black meets Inception” that is actually not a bad analogy – but as well as all the scifi geekery and gorgeously imagined settings both in and out of the mind, this is also the story of two sisters and their changing relationship.

This is one of those novels that comes alive, not only because Laura Lam has a deft and extraordinarily imaginative eye for the small details that create a vivid world but because it has a surreal vibe and a totally addictive flow. Taema and Tila are a right pair, growing up within the confines of a (very creepy at times) cult then being thrown out into a real world that changes their entire existence. No longer are they joined but separate. And what a world it is.

False Hearts walks the line between hugely entertaining story and decent character development really well – it seems as if this is a part one, I do hope so because I need to know what comes after – this was a really banging story, so wonderfully descriptive. The dreamscape portions taking on a nighmarish quality that does stay with you and some of the wildly dark imagery is beautiful in its complexity. I do love a book that really digs deep into your subconscious and this book has that in spades.

The relationship between the sisters is classically absorbing, the realities of being so close and then so far is a theme that embeds itself into the wider story as well as defining the two girls themselves – I loved how we were drip fed their upbringing against the backdrop of one trying desperately to save the other. Once they had no secrets, it was impossible, now though secrets abound and Laura Lam takes the reader on a deeply delicious, darkly immersive journey of discovery, with identity very much a running theme.

Basically its *really* very good and comes highly recommended from me. Indeed.

[ᒪᗴᗩᕼ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easily addictive and fascinating listen set in a ingenuously futuristic San Francisco.

A futuristic setting where we have flying cars, flesh parlors, and stasis for people who commit crimes. A seemingly meek society where there is virtually no crime…or is there? There are so many intriguing aspects to this…from conjoined twins who are separated and given false (mechanical) hearts to cult living and so much more…a must read for anyone that likes a complex setting mixed with hidden corruption with a splash of romance. I was addicted to this marvelous narrator's voice, so much so, that I want to listen to more books she's narrated.

⇝Will I continue this series?⇜ Oh yes, this world that Laura Lam has created has me hooked.

⇝Ratings Breakdown⇜

Plot: 5/5
Main Characters: 5/5
Secondary Characters: 5/5
The Feels: 4.7/5
Pacing: 5/5
Addictiveness: 5/5
Theme or Tone: 5/5
Flow (Writing Style): 5/5
Backdrop (World Building): 5/5
Originality: 5+/5
Book Cover: 5/5
Narration: 5+/5
Ending: 5/5 Cliffhanger: nope
Steam Factor 0-5: 4
Genre: Futuristic | Science Fiction | Mystery
Setting: San Francisco
Source: Own Audible Audiobook
Total: 5/5 STARS - GRADE=A+

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. I really enjoyed this futuristic sci-fi x murder mystery novel. Great characters, wonderful sense of place, and a very interesting technological world.

I listened to this and was very impressed with how skilful the narrator was!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on life in the future, I'd certainly take advantage of the youth, weight and hair colour advances!!

Conjoined twins, growing up in a cult seek life, individuality and a brighter future.

[Marc Aplin · Rating 4 out of 5]

How would you react if the most important person in your life was being accused of a murder you know they couldn’t possibly have committed? How far would you go beyond your comfort zone to prove them innocent? Would you risk your future, even your life, to save theirs?

Taema and Tila were born as conjoined twins. The majority of their life they grew up in a cult-like environment within a small rural town, connected to a forest. Their life was quiet, secluded and literally together. Then, at the age of 16, everything changed. The two found themselves in the technologically advanced San Fransisco and were being given an operation to separate from one another. It would allow them to live separate lives…

Moving on from this existence, where you are never alone and ‘limited’ to what nature has to offer, life after the procedure is a complete shock for both twins. They’ve gone from a world that rejects technology to a world that embraces and abuses it. The people of San Fransisco chase perfection and bliss. Whether this is through cosmetic changes to their appearance, implants that improve their senses or the ability to enter ‘dreams’ and indulge their desires, it’s all easily available in Lam’s near-future world.

The novel starts when Tila tears into Taema’s place covered in blood. She refuses to explain what has happened and moments later the police show up demanding that Tila come out. We learn that we are 10 years post-operation and whereas Taema has withdrawn into a quiet home life, Tila’s life has gone down a more volatile path. Before Taema can get any answers as to what is going on, the police swarm in and arrest Tila for murder. Although Taema has worried about Tila growing increasingly distant and being more difficult to reach, she knows her twin could not have killed a living person.

After rushing to speak with the officer in charge of Tila’s case, Taema is able to convince him to listen to her. Although reluctant to show it, the officer seems to have a soft spot for Taema – perhaps because she is attractive, but more likely it is due to her being unlike people who grew up in San Fransisco. He offers her a way to prove (or dis-prove) her sister’s innocence. Because no one knows Tila has been arrested, he tells Taema there is an opportunity for her to take Taema’s place and get to the bottom of how and why this murder took place.

The full extent of Tila’s life needs to be understood by Taema first though, Tila is involved with some very shady activities and extremely dangerous people. By taking on Tila’s identity, she is agreeing to enter a world of organised crime, deadly dream drugs and brain-hacking. The people she interacts with will be either addicts or those coming up with new ways to exploit those who need a fix.

Dreams are a very important part of the novel. Like alcohol dream drugs are legal, but the government has strict rules surrounding their use. We have clubs, kind of dream parlours, where people can go to experience lucid dreams. These dreams work in a way that the old tragedies of Shakespeare’s time were said to work. That is, the customer goes there in order to experience darkness and extreme emotions – things they would never dream of doing in real life. For example, hitting one’s boss or killing one’s wife, or partying like a lunatic, having sex with someone you shouldn’t, etc. The acts purge these emotions from your system and mean you are unlikely to actually do them day-to-day or even think about them. Like any other drug though, dreams can get addictive and there is plenty of money to be made from those who are addicted. And, as we all know, where there is money to be made, dangerous people tend to flock.

In this instance, the bad guys are the Ratel. The Ratel are keen to introduce a new drug that allows dreams to get far, far darker than the government would ever sanction. In addition, the purge effect doesn’t seem to happen with these drugs. So, rather than leaving the negative emotions (such as rage) in the club, people will end up leaving with the dark emotions whirring around in their heads, which could lead to some serious crimes.

The world Laura Lam has created is reminiscent of masterful sci-fi novels of old, such as Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? That is, it’s a world where everything is innovative and interesting, whilst at the same time being well explained and fitting in logically. Nothing is there for novelty value, it all feels like natural evolution: whether these are eye implants that allow improved vision or the technology that allows people to cross into another’s dream. There is a real feeling of authenticity and likeliness to this future world that I feel is often lacking in the modern-day sci-fi genre, which tends to be primarily space opera based.

Laura Lam’s writing style is also very fluent and filled with emotion. Although this isn’t a young adult novel, there are certainly traits of a YA shelved title within. The exploration of sexuality, the intense/intimate feelings that are passed to the reader, the wonderfully easy to read and compulsive prose. The surprising effect of all this beauty and ease is the contrast it has with its subject, which is very dark, edgy and atmospheric. I don’t imagine this was a purposeful device choice by the author, but it is one that works very well. I imagine this contrast is a big part of why BBC Radio 2 was so keen to include it as part of its Book Club.

The story rolls along at a fantastic pace. Although we have a multitude of characters and concepts introduced to us, the story is always suspenseful and tempting the reader to turn just one more page. This is achieved by the blend of dangerous scenes, questions raised and answers teased at but not given until the very end of the novel. Additionally, in typical Laura Lam fashion, the relationships between characters are interesting, sexy and believable. Lam has won awards in the past for her comfort writing LGBT characters and our protagonist is a great example of why.

Speaking of characters and relationships, there are more than just Taema and Tila, however they aren’t the kind that you expect we will be seeing spin-off stories of. Rather, as Taema navigates through this strange, dark world that the author has created, we run into these interesting people that have been affected or adapted themselves in some way to suit life in San Fransisco. In this way, I guess we can pick up on the inspiration from the fantasy novels that Laura Lam has undoubtedly read – the type where a character is on a journey and meets new and interesting individuals who reluctantly give up clues. Whether these characters are addicts, drug dealers, enhanced detectives, over-worked and under-payed morgue attendants, etc. – they aren’t too far off from rogues, assassins, guards and clerics who we’d expect to meet in the works of Tolkien, for example.

An added effect of this novel is that we, the reader, always know that the Tila that these other characters are meeting is really Taema. Told in the first person, Tila is very nervous about having to act as Taema and there is always the feeling that a bomb could go off at any minute should she set a foot wrong. Again, this adds to the suspense of the novel and ensures that each and every meeting is worth our time and attention. Even if Tila thinks she got away with the encounter, we may not think she has.

In terms of negatives, I find it hard to point out too many. Certainly, this book won’t be for everyone. If you aren’t a fan of science fiction/futuristic crime thrillers, then you probably won’t pick it up. If you like really dark, gritty crime thrillers or want something with a really complex plot, then, again, you probably want to look closer at those specific genres.

What Laura Lam has come up with in False Hearts is a book that is as retro as it is modern. It is a book that Phillip K. Dick would have been proud to have his name on, but at the same time explores all kinds of modern topics such as drugs, sexuality and human-enhancement. The recent inclusion of Laura Lam to BBC Radio 2’s Book Club and the national press should mean that she picks up a huge audience for this title and many new fans for subsequent ones too. If you want a fast, compulsive read for the summer, you can’t go wrong with False Hearts.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

When her twin sister comes home covered in blood and is promptly arrested for murder Taema is convinced that there must be some kind of explanation. She is sure that Tila must be innocent no matter how much evidence is stacked against her. With the police determined to press charges there is only one thing standing between Tila and the death penalty and that's Taema. The police offer her one chance to save her twin's life, if Taema goes undercover as her sister and helps them bring down a drug syndicate they claim Tila was involved in then Tila's life will be spared. Taema will do whatever it takes to clear her sister's name but the deeper she digs into Tila's life the more she starts to realise that she never really knew her sister at all.

False Hearts is Laura Lam's first foray into the world of adult sci-fi thrillers and what a great start it is. As a huge fan of the author's Pantomime series I had high hopes for this one but the genres are so different that I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Laura Lam has created a believable futuristic world full of completely believable advances in technology. Even people's dreams can be monitored and there are drugs that allow people to live out their fantasies in dreams that feel so lifelike that they never want to leave. Crime rates have fallen considerably and Tila is the first person arrested for murder in 10 years because violent personalities are able to play out their dark fantasies in dreamscapes rather than reality.

Conjoined twins Taema and Tila were born in an isolated commune that had no access to all the technology the rest of the world take for granted. They'd still be living in Mana's Hearth now if they hadn't started suffering with health issues. When their heart started to fail their only option was escape and it was at this point they were successfully separated and for the first time ever they were able to lead their own lives rather than spending all their time together. It was so interesting to see how they went from knowing every little thing about each other to keeping so many secrets from each other. Tila was the outgoing twin who found it much easier to adapt to being separate, she had a large circle of friends and was the life and soul of any party. Taema on the other hand was shyer and more reserved, she'd built a successful career for herself but was more isolated than her sister and found it harder to fit in.

Their completely different personalities made it so much harder for Taema when she went undercover as her sister but playing a role actually really helped to build her confidence and it was great to see her blossom as she became more sure of herself. I don't want to say too much about the direction the investigation takes her in but it definitely kept me guessing. The story is told across two different plot threads, Taema talks of the present and shows her fight to clear her sister's name while Tila writes about the past from her prison cell working forward to show how she ended up in her current situation. Gradually the two narratives come closer together and we find out exactly what is going on in their world.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I loved the characters, the world building was fantastic and the plot was brilliantly woven together. I'm so glad that Laura Lam is writing another book set in this world, even though it will feature different main characters, and I'll definitely be picking up Shattered Minds as soon as it's released.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[LoveBooksAndCats]

Orphan Black meets Inception

[Greyson | Use Your Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

False Hearts: 4 ★'s
Shattered Minds: Lost Interest in Series
—
Orphan Black meets Inception
This was all it took for me to be sold on this book.
I could write a whole review on just how much I love Orphan Black but that's obviously not what we're here for so let me just say that when I stumbled across a book being marketed as similar as Orphan Black I was here for it and I had hella high hopes for it. I pretty much set if up for failure. But False Hearts hit every single expectation with a sledgehammer.

Now, I did take a while to get into the story, it's not that I wasn't super intrigued- I was, and it wasn't that it started out slow- it sure as hell did not, but I've been babysitting all this week. To Laura Lam's credit, False Hearts kept me staying up late every night this week because I needed to know what happens next.

False Hearts centers on used-to-be-conjoined twins Taema and Tila living in a futuristic San Francisco where everyone has telecommunication devices and all sorts of modifications in their brains, anyone can change their face as easily as going to the doctor, poverty is virtually non-existent and crime is at an all time low.
The story begins with Tila stumbling into Taema's apartment covered in blood, claiming she didn't do what Taema thinks she's done, begging for help to get out of town and go into hiding. Only Taema is the pragmatic sister of the two and know's none of that will do her or her sister any good, the government can track anyone, anywhere. The SFPD makes their entrance and Tila is arrested for murder, the first civilian murder in decades. The SFPD then give Taema a choice, to go undercover as Tila to help them bring down the Ratel, the biggest mob in the city, and clear her sisters name in the process or walk away, allow her sister to be put on trial knowing its incredibly likely she will be found guilty and then put in stasis- essentially frozen forever or at least until she's found innocent and defrosted possibly years later, if the power doesn't shut down in her sector and kills her first.

The diversity in this book is amazing, we have half Samoan sisters, who are both bisexual and used to be conjoined twins with mechanical hearts now beating in their chests. On top of that they used to be in a cult where it was common for birth defects to pop up throughout the people living out in the middle of the Muir Woods, surrounded by a man made lake to keep them in so everyone's at least a little distantly related. I'm always trying to diversify my reading so to find a book that hits racial, sexuality and medical diversity all in one without feeling forced or contrived is incredible and a testament to Lam's writing ability. For just that alone I am excited to read more of her work.

The plot was exciting, I loved that we had the dual POV with Taema talking to the reader as she fell into the underground of San Francisco on her journey to clear Tila's name but also to discover for herself the secrets her sister has been keeping from her. Then we have Tila writing to Taema while in a cell, talking about the girls' past as cultists and trying to explain to her sister how she got into this mess in the first place without actually admitting to anything so her journal can't be used against her at her trial. Lam has you feeling deeply for both girls. They are the yin and yang of each other. Taema has the pragmatic sister while also having always been the bigger believer of the world that Mana-ma, the leader of the Mana's Hearth cult, created. She's the scientist whilst Tila is the artist, charmer and cynic. Tila is the first one of the two to doubt the world they've been brought up to believe is good and pure. Both girls would do anything to protect their sister, and we watch as both girls both carry out questionable actions to do just that.

The tech in the book, though extensive, was believable. From flesh parlors where you can alter your face, Verichips that track and record their humans every move and detail, modifications tucked into people's brains to make them stronger, faster, smarter, more perceptive. and who can forget the Zealscape, a virtual reality where users can plug in, be dosed up, and live out the darkest of their fantasies without consequences and without them leaking out into their real lives. That is until Verve comes into play and threatens everything with its ability to not only make those fantasies a hunger in real life but could also alter and reprogram and person's entire personality. All this is only a short step from where we are now and it's so easy to envision a world where this is all a possibility.

While the twins are the clear stars of the show, the secondary characters are still incredibly complex and interesting from the boy who "dies" back in Mana's Hearth, Mia the woman who left the Hearth before the twins did, who becomes addicted to the false realities provided by the Zealscape, the detective Nazarin who is Taema's partner while undercover, covered in physical scars while clearly still trying to heal from emotional ones, Kim the scientist friend of Nazarin who helps quite a bit along the way. Mana-ma the cult leader, who is painted as a mother figure but we quickly learn there is far more to her. The Ratel leaders are both complex and horrific, their story is wonderfully intricate. I was left wanting to know more about all these characters, this world. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, hopefully its just as captivating as its predecessor.

If you loved Orphan Black or just love a good sci-fi, you need to give this one a shot, I can't imagine anyone being disappointed.
___
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[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read only one story about conjoined twins who are raised in a cult but later escape to 22nd century cyberpunk-y neo-San Francisco where they go undercover in the mob and use psychedelic drugs to solve a murder, make it this one.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every once in awhile I come across a book that feels like it was written specifically with me in mind. It's flattering, despite the fact it obviously wasn't literally written specifically with me in mind. It's nice to know there's an author out there who was thinking "there are people out there who will want to read just this very thing" and one of those people turns out to be me. It's like getting a gentle ego massage from a total stranger. I greatly appreciate it.
False Hearts is a sci-fi thriller set in an eerily plausible future San Francisco (where I was born and raised), and if it were supper, the entrée would be a David Cronenberg casserole, with a small side of Strange Days, garnished with a smidge of Blade Runner. Despite its derivations, it still manages to be a very spicy and unique dish, never ordinary or run-of-the-mill. There are a few small plot contrivances that are hand-waved past, and I was a little disappointed with how one of the important relationships in the story developed, but otherwise this was a very delicious meal indeed.

[Beige · Rating 3 out of 5]

A BR with the group SpecFic Buddy Reads

I was truly mixed on this one.

Liked:

- The author's vision of a future San Francisco and USA - In fact, I wanted to know more about the history of how it came to be.
- The backstory told by the formerly conjoined twin Tila was interesting and I thought the confessional journal format worked well

Liked Less:

- The bulk of the story is a murder mystery told by the other twin Teama and the writing style just didn't work for me. I don't have the skills critique it properly, but to me, it just seemed choppy like someone just dictating a synopsis. Another reviewer described it as a lot of "and then, and then and then" which I think better describes the experience
- The murder/mystery/romance aspect felt limp and predictable

I'd be willing to give the author another go on her future books, but I won't likely read bk #2 of this series

[Katharine (Ventureadlaxre) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The type of book that is hard to write anything about because it's just so MUCH. And I can't say anything anyhow, as I read this in beta format and IT'S ALL SECRET. Mwuaha! All I'll say is that this is very, very fantastic, I love it, I need more and I don't want it to be over. But I DO want to see cover art and hold it once it's all shiny and published and re-read it again!

SO dang good Laura. SO GOOD.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally received this to review, and then didn’t get round to it, because I suck. So I bought the paperback last week, picked it up to read a page — and looked up 170 pages later. Suffice it to say, it sucked me in and I’m glad I finally read it — and that I have an eARC of Shattered Minds to read. And Lam’s other trilogy, too! Her writing works really well: it’s not stylised and beautiful like, say, Patricia McKillip or Ursula Le Guin, but it’s competent and strong and she brings across the voices of her characters. That makes it both easy to read and absorbing.

The best part about it is that the whole thing relies on the bond between the sisters, Taema and Tila, and Taema’s trust for Tila. The whole drive behind the story is the sisters’ need to protect one another, and that’s what makes solving the mystery and going through all the tension worth it. The thriller aspects in themselves aren’t revolutionary, but coming at it from this angle made it feel fresh and urgent.

I enjoyed the supporting characters, too. It’s a little odd to be reading a book in which people seem to be, on the whole, good. Sure, Mana-ma and the Ratel don’t exactly have people’s best interests at heart, but Nazarin and Kim, Taema and Tila, the other characters they come across — they’re all trying to do the right thing. It’s a nice antidote to the total cynicism of other books I’ve been reading lately, in this genre and others. There are bad things, but there are good people too. And there are good people who get caught up in bad things, and regret it, and remain good people.

The ending of the book feels good; it all unfolds smoothly and stops just at the right point, with Tila and Taema reunited — for good or for bad.

Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.

[Izzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

False Hearts is set in a near-future San Francisco, and it's about Taema and Tila, who are twins and were born conjoined on a cult called Mana's Hearth, a place where all the technology advancements are rejected and people live like they did in simpler times. The girls lead a quiet life until they're sixteen, and the heart they share begins to fail. Since there's no modern medicine allowed in their cult, they need to find a way to escape and to go into the city to have a chance at surviving — and they manage to do that, finally integrating with the place they only heard (bad things) about for all their lives, and they end up leading quite successful lives.

That is, until a night ten years later where Tila shows up in Taema's apartment covered in blood and is arrested by the police for a murder she maybe didn't commit.

This book was crazy entertaining. The worldbuilding was absolutely fantastic. Laura Lam really invested in the futuristic setting, describing a world that seemed a lot like The Jetsons' in my head. Actually, for a good chunk of the novel what made me keep reading was my need to glimpse more into this world rather than the plot itself. There are fleshparlors, that allow people to change their appereance at will; replicators that will provide you with any drink or meal you wish; chips implanted beneath your skin that kind of work like phones; a drug that allows you to enact your most secret fantasies in a dreamscape, to get some steam off. It was so rich and fascinating.

And as a plus, the book is just brimming with diversity. Tila and Taema are part Samoan, and both are bisexual; the whole entourage of characters depicted in this one differ from the usual white and straight we see, showing that you can write a book that is diverse without making it sound preachy in any way (which is what I usually notice when authors actually set out with a mission to write diverse books; it's not something that you should try hard to accomplish, you should just do it!).

The plot was also good. Like I said, it took me a while to really get interested in it, but the second half of the book really gripped me. It's a very ambitious plot, mixing a lot of different elements: there's a cult, an underground criminal ring, psychoactive drugs, twins switching identities, etc; it's freaking crazy but also so good? I was engrossed.

The writing I found a little subpar — there's nothing particularly wrong with it, it does a good job of telling a nice story, but I tend to prefer a sort of richer prose, erring more towards the poetic side, and this was not it.

I keep seeing this being shelved as YA, and I should warn you guys: this is definitely not YA. It's an adult sci-fi mystery, and there are adults things happening here. Namely, sex. Quite a bit of it. Keep that in mind before picking it up, because it might not be something that you're yearning to read about, but other than that — this is a richly imaginative and entertaining read that I definitely recommend.