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Chloe thức dậy trong một căn hầm tăm tối và chợt phát hiện mình chỉ là một cái đầu đã đứt lìa khỏi cổ. Cô chỉ còn là một cỗ máy, một “bản sao”.
Nghẹt thở và căng thẳng trong từng khoảnh khắc là những cảm xúc thật sự bạn sẽ có trong cuộc hành trình đi tìm chính mình của nhân vật Chloe.
Rốt cuộc, Chloe là ai? Hay ai là cô?
Nghẹt thở và căng thẳng trong từng khoảnh khắc là những cảm xúc thật sự bạn sẽ có trong cuộc hành trình đi tìm chính mình của nhân vật Chloe.
Rốt cuộc, Chloe là ai? Hay ai là cô?
326 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2014
11 people are currently reading
401 people want to read
About the author
Jack Heath
67 books825 followersJack Heath wrote his debut novel, The Lab, in secondary school and sent it to a publisher at age seventeen. He's now the award-winning author of forty novels for adults and children, including the international bestsellers Hangman, The Wife Swap and 300 Minutes of Danger. His books have been translated into ten languages, optioned for TV and adapted for film. He lives on Ngunnawal/Ngambri country in Canberra, Australia, with his wife, their children, several chickens, a few fish and a possum named Oreo.
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September 5, 2022
Truyện chắc dành cho tuổi mới lớn. Đọc giải trí khá ổn.
July 25, 2014
Replica builds on ideas explored in Ink, Inc., one of my all-time favorite single-issue sci-fi books. The story is told from the first-person perspective of a newly awakened and freshly printed person! She is a copy of her maker, but unlike her maker has no human rights legislation to protect her. As it turns out, that’s the least of her problems, as she’s being tracked by nefarious parties for reasons she doesn’t understand. She must not only dodge vastly superior forces out to get her but must do so as a stranger in a strange land and as someone who has yet to discover the intricate workings of her own mind. What’s more, it’s vitally important at all times to her survival that her true identity not be known, meaning she must past one Turing test after another on the fly as police, the real Chloe, her own “parents,” and best friends, all put poignant questions to her that could easily trip her up and betray her imposter status.
The author excels at the sci-fi thriller format, writing with an immediacy, an urgency, and a frenetic pacing that is non-stop. Anyone contemplating what it might be like to be scanned or uploaded into robot bodies in the days ahead, as Ray Kurzweil and others predict will be an option in the not too distant future, or is fascinated by the “print everything” economy many futurists also say is lurking around the corner, will enjoy this book nearly as much as its predecessor.
Young adults and teens will find much to enjoy here also, as the story follows a high-school aged girl (the replica is built to pass for.) The high school high jinks and teen psychology was as realistic as the forecasting of things to come. This is great futurism done in a highly enjoyable format; why be simply intrigued by insights into tomorrow-land when you can also be entertained by them?
Some ways in which this novel contrasts with Ink, Inc. is in the pervasive use of black humor. It’s by no means a comic thriller, but Chloe’s replica has some die-for snarky reactions to what’s going on around her that had me reeling on multiple occasions.
I also found myself fascinated by the humanizing process the replica underdoes and the author’s ability to keep such a difficult transformation highly believable at all times.
As to my nitpicks, the story starts as a promising psychological thriller slash sci-fi horror but wanders quickly into what feels more like a mystery thriller with more of a who-done-it format as the replica continues to investigate just what kind of intrigue she finds herself embroiled in, who is after her, and why. I personally think the author’s writing style fits the action-thriller format better than the mystery thriller, but you can’t blame a writer for wanting to stretch himself, and a reader for wanting something that isn’t entirely predictable from one story to the next. This is arguably not a flaw in the writing, just something to be mindful of depending on the reader’s preferences. Moreover, as the action thriller aspect of the story periodically dials back up as the mystery thriller aspect takes more of a backseat.
The author excels at the sci-fi thriller format, writing with an immediacy, an urgency, and a frenetic pacing that is non-stop. Anyone contemplating what it might be like to be scanned or uploaded into robot bodies in the days ahead, as Ray Kurzweil and others predict will be an option in the not too distant future, or is fascinated by the “print everything” economy many futurists also say is lurking around the corner, will enjoy this book nearly as much as its predecessor.
Young adults and teens will find much to enjoy here also, as the story follows a high-school aged girl (the replica is built to pass for.) The high school high jinks and teen psychology was as realistic as the forecasting of things to come. This is great futurism done in a highly enjoyable format; why be simply intrigued by insights into tomorrow-land when you can also be entertained by them?
Some ways in which this novel contrasts with Ink, Inc. is in the pervasive use of black humor. It’s by no means a comic thriller, but Chloe’s replica has some die-for snarky reactions to what’s going on around her that had me reeling on multiple occasions.
I also found myself fascinated by the humanizing process the replica underdoes and the author’s ability to keep such a difficult transformation highly believable at all times.
As to my nitpicks, the story starts as a promising psychological thriller slash sci-fi horror but wanders quickly into what feels more like a mystery thriller with more of a who-done-it format as the replica continues to investigate just what kind of intrigue she finds herself embroiled in, who is after her, and why. I personally think the author’s writing style fits the action-thriller format better than the mystery thriller, but you can’t blame a writer for wanting to stretch himself, and a reader for wanting something that isn’t entirely predictable from one story to the next. This is arguably not a flaw in the writing, just something to be mindful of depending on the reader’s preferences. Moreover, as the action thriller aspect of the story periodically dials back up as the mystery thriller aspect takes more of a backseat.
April 3, 2015
Jack Heath, I feel, is one of the most underrated thriller writers in the business. True, his material can be uneven, but it’s all startlingly original, which is a welcome thing in a genre that is unfortunately stagnating. Replica is one of his most original works, and certainly one of his most important. Although he probably could have done more with this novel, what he did end up doing was absolutely amazing in its originality and implications.
Replica is filled with twists and turns and if I tried to keep all of them secret, I probably couldn’t write a review. I’m going to assume that anything the publishers decide to reveal on the back cover is fair game. SO! Replica starts with a young girl named Chloe, who has been acting extraordinarily oddly as her paranoia mounts tenfold. For unknown reasons, Chloe creates an android copy of herself and then disappears. This leaves the android – we’ll call her Chloe, too, for simplicity’s sake – left on her own in a hostile world.
Chloe is left with no choice but to determine what the hell is going on with her creator before someone realizes she isn’t human. Her investigation leads her to discover some uncomfortable truths about herself and the world around her, be attacked by a private military company, and, most uncomfortable of all, fall in love with Human-Chloe’s sort-of girlfriend. Love is confusing enough for humans, but it turns out it’s even more confusing for androids.
Throughout the story, Heath doesn’t miss an opportunity to investigate the philosophical and ethical conundrums of Chloe’s existence. Is she sentient or does she just think she is, and is there a difference? Can she really fall in love? What really makes a person human? And, perhaps just as pertinently, how did Human-Chloe manage to create her in the first place? And why? He also doesn’t miss an opportunity to throw twists and turns at us, along with plentiful action. Add a really adorable LGBT romance, and this is a damn good book.
It’s not without its flaws, of course. The primary flaw in this book is its relatively short length. Heath throws a LOT at us over the course of this book, and the whole thing felt very breathless. I thought this book could have benefited if we’d have a few moments to catch our breath between one shocking revelation and the next. The ending is also pretty terrible – although an upcoming sequel may rectify this. It’s not terrible because of how tragic it is, but because of how contrived that tragedy is.
But despite its flaws, Replica is one of the finest examples of thriller out there from a master of the genre. It has engaging characters, plentiful twists, interesting ethical conundrums, a believable romance for once, and left a gaping hole in my heart. One that I hope will be filled with a sequel!
Replica is filled with twists and turns and if I tried to keep all of them secret, I probably couldn’t write a review. I’m going to assume that anything the publishers decide to reveal on the back cover is fair game. SO! Replica starts with a young girl named Chloe, who has been acting extraordinarily oddly as her paranoia mounts tenfold. For unknown reasons, Chloe creates an android copy of herself and then disappears. This leaves the android – we’ll call her Chloe, too, for simplicity’s sake – left on her own in a hostile world.
Chloe is left with no choice but to determine what the hell is going on with her creator before someone realizes she isn’t human. Her investigation leads her to discover some uncomfortable truths about herself and the world around her, be attacked by a private military company, and, most uncomfortable of all, fall in love with Human-Chloe’s sort-of girlfriend. Love is confusing enough for humans, but it turns out it’s even more confusing for androids.
Throughout the story, Heath doesn’t miss an opportunity to investigate the philosophical and ethical conundrums of Chloe’s existence. Is she sentient or does she just think she is, and is there a difference? Can she really fall in love? What really makes a person human? And, perhaps just as pertinently, how did Human-Chloe manage to create her in the first place? And why? He also doesn’t miss an opportunity to throw twists and turns at us, along with plentiful action. Add a really adorable LGBT romance, and this is a damn good book.
It’s not without its flaws, of course. The primary flaw in this book is its relatively short length. Heath throws a LOT at us over the course of this book, and the whole thing felt very breathless. I thought this book could have benefited if we’d have a few moments to catch our breath between one shocking revelation and the next. The ending is also pretty terrible – although an upcoming sequel may rectify this. It’s not terrible because of how tragic it is, but because of how contrived that tragedy is.
But despite its flaws, Replica is one of the finest examples of thriller out there from a master of the genre. It has engaging characters, plentiful twists, interesting ethical conundrums, a believable romance for once, and left a gaping hole in my heart. One that I hope will be filled with a sequel!
August 23, 2014
An awesome possible-near-future sci-fi novel with a fantastic premise and lots of killer twists. It's very, very difficult to talk about Replica without accidentally revealing any of these twists (and I hate to be a plot spoiler, I do) but I will say things that are pretty clear from the outset: it's a novel about a replica of a teenage girl, created via 3D printer with silicone skin and a consciousness downloaded as open-source software - technological details that ground Replica in our reality. Replica raises lots of interesting questions about the nature of consciousness and what makes us human. I love thinking about the possibility that I am a robot, or in the Matrix, or that we're all aliens (I use the excuse that I'm imaginative and a writer but I'm actually just a bit odd) so I found this premise immensely engaging. It's set in Canberra but nothing feels overtly Australian about it. Without being horrifically spoiler-ish, I love that for once there's a non-hetero romance in a YA sci-fi/thriller novel - I want to see more of this!
The ending is of the open variety, clearly set up for a potential sequel with a lot of things left unresolved. I am not a fan of endings that spell it all out for the reader and tie up all loose ends - I like to both write and read endings where it's up to the reader what happens next. That said, as much as I love open-ended stories and concise novels, there are things I would've loved to have seen explored further and in more depth - it's a very plot-driven novel and while characters are authentic and believable (Narrator Chloe is realistic and likeable and complex), there's a necessary economical use of detail at times to maintain pace. Between the nefarious organisation and the conspiracies and the robotic clones it was difficult to get to know Chloe's family and friends as well as I'd like (as a reader of primarily character-driven novels) so I'm really looking forward to a sequel.
Replica has an amazing concept and a terrifically intriguing opening scene, and it's stacked with thrills/twists/action that means it's probably inadvisable to start reading it at ten p.m. if you'd like to be asleep at a reasonable time. If you like sci-fi, action, mystery, thrillers or some combination thereof, it's definitely worth a look. Robotic replicas, you guys. How could you not want to read this?
The ending is of the open variety, clearly set up for a potential sequel with a lot of things left unresolved. I am not a fan of endings that spell it all out for the reader and tie up all loose ends - I like to both write and read endings where it's up to the reader what happens next. That said, as much as I love open-ended stories and concise novels, there are things I would've loved to have seen explored further and in more depth - it's a very plot-driven novel and while characters are authentic and believable (Narrator Chloe is realistic and likeable and complex), there's a necessary economical use of detail at times to maintain pace. Between the nefarious organisation and the conspiracies and the robotic clones it was difficult to get to know Chloe's family and friends as well as I'd like (as a reader of primarily character-driven novels) so I'm really looking forward to a sequel.
Replica has an amazing concept and a terrifically intriguing opening scene, and it's stacked with thrills/twists/action that means it's probably inadvisable to start reading it at ten p.m. if you'd like to be asleep at a reasonable time. If you like sci-fi, action, mystery, thrillers or some combination thereof, it's definitely worth a look. Robotic replicas, you guys. How could you not want to read this?
May 4, 2015
YAS ACTUALLY, SURPRISINGLY GOOD??? ESPECIALLY FOR A NOVEL WHERE THE GIRL WAKES UP AND DOESN'T KNOW SHE IS AND BLAH BLEH BLAH BLEH BLAH ew. Plus, um robots? Yes please. And let us not forget the fact this was SET IN AUSTRALIA. Well Canberra. Which kind of loses a few points but hush.
And the twists! I really did not see them coming. That is some good work there Jack Heath.
Please come to my school :(
And the twists! I really did not see them coming. That is some good work there Jack Heath.
Please come to my school :(
August 1, 2014
The ending, quite frankly, is absurd.
June 29, 2015
REVIEW BY JOSEPHINE 8:7
Replica is a thrilling story that keeps you guessing the entire time and never stops with the action and puzzles. Chloe Zimetski wakes up as a disembodied head and with someone who looks exactly like her working on a headless body. Hers. Of course, this is a lot to take in for a head on a shelf, but what’s worse is this copy of her is taking over her life. Or is it the other way around? What does this girl want with her family? And who is she? Chloe has to find this all out in a time where nothing is as it seems. No biggie, right? Try adding secrets and lies and a stolen device. Biggie now?
My favourite part of the story was when Chloe (the one who woke up without a head) went to school, was getting nervous and jittery and just that entire section was funny and well written with the sudden plot twist. Replica is written in a familiar setting so it was easy to identify with and how awkward and paranoid Chloe was made it funny. Then, when the plot twist happened, Chloe changed completely making the plot intense and gripping.
There aren’t many characters in Replica, out of the few characters there weren’t many very important characters so my choice for favourite was quite narrow. Chloe had a split personality and went from scared and innocent to bad-ass and quick thinking which made her really unpredictable and exciting to follow in the storyline. She came up with theories of what was happening and plans of escape really well, and it made me excited to discover if she was right and how the plan was going to work out. At the start, she seemed slightly dumb and not very interesting, but as the plot went on she revealed her quick mind and brave actions and became a very likeable character.
Chloe’s parents didn’t feature much but when they did they seemed like very average parents. Then you discovered a HUGE secret!!! Learning about that made you spend more time thinking about Chloe’s parents and how involved they actually were. Henrietta- Chloe’s best friend- was a normal teenager who drew the reader towards her with her bubbly, friendly and funny nature. She noticed Chloe wasn’t quite herself and it put the reader on edge, wanting to protect Chloe but also wanting to see what would happen if someone found out. Then there was the glaring girl in Chloe’s classes- Becky. She was an utter mystery for a short while then her secret was unveiled as well. Another turn in the maze that is Replica‘s storyline.
The ending of Replica was a massive surprise and I was definitely not expecting it. It made me want a second book even though most of the loose threads were tidied away by the conclusion. I don’t know if I’d have written it differently though, because it was a really interesting way to end the book and it makes you want to re-read the chapter again and again in case you missed anything to make the end make more sense. It doesn’t, but it would make the book more popular because readers would tell people about the ending and make people read it too so they could discuss it.
I would like to read more books by this author mainly because of the plot twists and ending. It made the book really interesting and I think other books by this author would have the same sort of style. His writing also includes mature themes that made it even more interesting to read about and was educational too. I would (and have) recommended this book to my friends and family because it was a really good read and was also gripping. However, I think it wouldn’t be suitable for children under 12 because of the mature themes and ideas. Also, if anyone over this age is uncomfortable with themes like homosexuality, I would suggest not reading it. I found it very enjoyable and these types of themes just gave the story an edge for me but I understand that others may feel differently.
Overall, I would give Replica four out of five points because it was a very good plot and ideas but the secondary characters were lacking in depth and there were a few grammar/spelling mistakes I spotted. But otherwise I really enjoyed it.
Replica is a thrilling story that keeps you guessing the entire time and never stops with the action and puzzles. Chloe Zimetski wakes up as a disembodied head and with someone who looks exactly like her working on a headless body. Hers. Of course, this is a lot to take in for a head on a shelf, but what’s worse is this copy of her is taking over her life. Or is it the other way around? What does this girl want with her family? And who is she? Chloe has to find this all out in a time where nothing is as it seems. No biggie, right? Try adding secrets and lies and a stolen device. Biggie now?
My favourite part of the story was when Chloe (the one who woke up without a head) went to school, was getting nervous and jittery and just that entire section was funny and well written with the sudden plot twist. Replica is written in a familiar setting so it was easy to identify with and how awkward and paranoid Chloe was made it funny. Then, when the plot twist happened, Chloe changed completely making the plot intense and gripping.
There aren’t many characters in Replica, out of the few characters there weren’t many very important characters so my choice for favourite was quite narrow. Chloe had a split personality and went from scared and innocent to bad-ass and quick thinking which made her really unpredictable and exciting to follow in the storyline. She came up with theories of what was happening and plans of escape really well, and it made me excited to discover if she was right and how the plan was going to work out. At the start, she seemed slightly dumb and not very interesting, but as the plot went on she revealed her quick mind and brave actions and became a very likeable character.
Chloe’s parents didn’t feature much but when they did they seemed like very average parents. Then you discovered a HUGE secret!!! Learning about that made you spend more time thinking about Chloe’s parents and how involved they actually were. Henrietta- Chloe’s best friend- was a normal teenager who drew the reader towards her with her bubbly, friendly and funny nature. She noticed Chloe wasn’t quite herself and it put the reader on edge, wanting to protect Chloe but also wanting to see what would happen if someone found out. Then there was the glaring girl in Chloe’s classes- Becky. She was an utter mystery for a short while then her secret was unveiled as well. Another turn in the maze that is Replica‘s storyline.
The ending of Replica was a massive surprise and I was definitely not expecting it. It made me want a second book even though most of the loose threads were tidied away by the conclusion. I don’t know if I’d have written it differently though, because it was a really interesting way to end the book and it makes you want to re-read the chapter again and again in case you missed anything to make the end make more sense. It doesn’t, but it would make the book more popular because readers would tell people about the ending and make people read it too so they could discuss it.
I would like to read more books by this author mainly because of the plot twists and ending. It made the book really interesting and I think other books by this author would have the same sort of style. His writing also includes mature themes that made it even more interesting to read about and was educational too. I would (and have) recommended this book to my friends and family because it was a really good read and was also gripping. However, I think it wouldn’t be suitable for children under 12 because of the mature themes and ideas. Also, if anyone over this age is uncomfortable with themes like homosexuality, I would suggest not reading it. I found it very enjoyable and these types of themes just gave the story an edge for me but I understand that others may feel differently.
Overall, I would give Replica four out of five points because it was a very good plot and ideas but the secondary characters were lacking in depth and there were a few grammar/spelling mistakes I spotted. But otherwise I really enjoyed it.
December 20, 2014
Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.
I found the premise of Replica by Jack Heath so intriguing! A strange doppelganger, consciousness outside of a body, and danger?! Sounds sinister, kind of scary, and all kinds of awesome! And coupled with that oh-so-creepy cover, reading it was a no-brainer. Replica turned out to be a different story to what I was expecting, but seriously good! My summary below gives a little more away than the synopsis above, but it's not spoilery - we find these things out very early on in the story.
When Chloe wakes up in the garage, paralysed, with no memories, she is filled with fear. There is a body without a head on a table near by, and a girl who looks exactly like her. Chloe soon learns that she's actually a machine - the body is hers, her head not yet attached. She's a replica of the real Chloe, created to take her place and live her life. The real Chloe has discovered that she's being followed by strange man, so has decided to create replica Chloe to use as bait, and follow the stalker. But neither Chloe realises the danger they are in, that a group of people are after real Chloe. Soon replica Chloe is on her own, trying to figure who these people are and why they want her creator, without letting them catch her.
Oh my god, Replica is so, so good! I can't even begin to tell you just how amazing and original this story is! My summary above barely scratches the surface of what we discover in this book. It's so clever,, full of action and mystery, and I couldn't put it down! There's not much I can really say about it without spoiling the story, but wow, it's one hell of a ride! It's quite a short book at 256 pages, but there's so much going on, and never a dull moment. If you read it - and I highly recommend you do - you'll fly through it so quickly, not just because it's a short book, but also because the story is incredible!
(N.B. You may be wondering why, if it's such a short book, it took me six days to read - it's Decemeber, there's a lot of busy CHristmas preparation going on, and I'm also very busy at work. It was hard not to be able to just sit down and read this all the way through!)
There is a small romantic subplot in the story, but it's very much a subplot. The focus is all on the danger Chloe is in. However, it was awesome to see the LGBTQ romance, and how the fact that it's to do with same-sex attraction is not even mentioned. It's just attraction, a big deal is not made out of it, and it's not even really thought of. It's a very small part of this story, but it's wonderful to see a same-sex attraction be the completely non-issue it should be.
If I had one issue with Replica, it would be how easily replica Chloe, and later, another person I won't mention, accept the fact that she's a machine. There's freaking out at first, but then almost like that, completely acceptance. This is what she is, let's carry on with life. I would have thought if you woke up to find out you actually weren't human like you believed, and were a machine, that would have a serious impact on your identity, but it doesn't really. Replica Chloe has questions about what will happen to her later, after - as a machine, once she's done what's required of her, will she be switched off, for all intents and purposes killed? But no real identity issues after the initial, very short freak out. I found that really quite strange. But this only a tiny thing that is overshadowed by the brilliance of the story!
Action-packed and keeping you on the edge of your seat, Replica is an absolute page-turner, one of the most addictive sci-fi thrillers I've read in a long time.
Thank you to OUP for the review copy.
I found the premise of Replica by Jack Heath so intriguing! A strange doppelganger, consciousness outside of a body, and danger?! Sounds sinister, kind of scary, and all kinds of awesome! And coupled with that oh-so-creepy cover, reading it was a no-brainer. Replica turned out to be a different story to what I was expecting, but seriously good! My summary below gives a little more away than the synopsis above, but it's not spoilery - we find these things out very early on in the story.
When Chloe wakes up in the garage, paralysed, with no memories, she is filled with fear. There is a body without a head on a table near by, and a girl who looks exactly like her. Chloe soon learns that she's actually a machine - the body is hers, her head not yet attached. She's a replica of the real Chloe, created to take her place and live her life. The real Chloe has discovered that she's being followed by strange man, so has decided to create replica Chloe to use as bait, and follow the stalker. But neither Chloe realises the danger they are in, that a group of people are after real Chloe. Soon replica Chloe is on her own, trying to figure who these people are and why they want her creator, without letting them catch her.
Oh my god, Replica is so, so good! I can't even begin to tell you just how amazing and original this story is! My summary above barely scratches the surface of what we discover in this book. It's so clever,, full of action and mystery, and I couldn't put it down! There's not much I can really say about it without spoiling the story, but wow, it's one hell of a ride! It's quite a short book at 256 pages, but there's so much going on, and never a dull moment. If you read it - and I highly recommend you do - you'll fly through it so quickly, not just because it's a short book, but also because the story is incredible!
(N.B. You may be wondering why, if it's such a short book, it took me six days to read - it's Decemeber, there's a lot of busy CHristmas preparation going on, and I'm also very busy at work. It was hard not to be able to just sit down and read this all the way through!)
There is a small romantic subplot in the story, but it's very much a subplot. The focus is all on the danger Chloe is in. However, it was awesome to see the LGBTQ romance, and how the fact that it's to do with same-sex attraction is not even mentioned. It's just attraction, a big deal is not made out of it, and it's not even really thought of. It's a very small part of this story, but it's wonderful to see a same-sex attraction be the completely non-issue it should be.
If I had one issue with Replica, it would be how easily replica Chloe, and later, another person I won't mention, accept the fact that she's a machine. There's freaking out at first, but then almost like that, completely acceptance. This is what she is, let's carry on with life. I would have thought if you woke up to find out you actually weren't human like you believed, and were a machine, that would have a serious impact on your identity, but it doesn't really. Replica Chloe has questions about what will happen to her later, after - as a machine, once she's done what's required of her, will she be switched off, for all intents and purposes killed? But no real identity issues after the initial, very short freak out. I found that really quite strange. But this only a tiny thing that is overshadowed by the brilliance of the story!
Action-packed and keeping you on the edge of your seat, Replica is an absolute page-turner, one of the most addictive sci-fi thrillers I've read in a long time.
Thank you to OUP for the review copy.
January 1, 2023
Basically, the first and last 20 pages of this book were the best pages, the rest is a bit boring. The premise is amazingly interesting, however, I feel like the plot could've been more nuanced or intriguing, rather than a teenager going to school. The threatening nature of the company Ares wasn't enforced enough, only a bit towards the end. For a first novel -I think- it was good. The reason why Graeme stole the QMP ( awful abbreviation ) is unknown, why Nadine died, and basically, the entire plot was explained in the last 30 pages. I was debating whether to give this book 2 stars or 3, and I decided to give it 3 because the premise was brilliant, and I was slightly shocked at parts -mostly the beginning- however, I saw most of the plot twists a mile off.
Other than that, an OK book, I would recommend it for teenagers because it's an easy read, and it's got ok action.
But, there are better action books and much better plots. The action felt fine in this book, and I feel that the author didn't milk the robot feature as much as he could've.
Btw, after page 40, this book almost sent me head first into a reading slump, so beware of that.
Other than that, an OK book, I would recommend it for teenagers because it's an easy read, and it's got ok action.
But, there are better action books and much better plots. The action felt fine in this book, and I feel that the author didn't milk the robot feature as much as he could've.
Btw, after page 40, this book almost sent me head first into a reading slump, so beware of that.
December 16, 2014
This was fun! I'm glad I went in blind, because the story grabbed me from the start. The character development was much deeper than an earlier book I had read of Jack Heath's, so that was refreshing. I really liked Chloe and the way we discovered things with her. However, the plot became a little thin at times, and I felt like the world building was a bit lacking. I was confused as to how far in the future this was supposed to be, and the level of technology available to a middle class family, and a teenage girl... Overall though, I really enjoyed this book.
April 6, 2015
*4,5 stars*
Wow, denne var virkelig bra!
I løpet av mars mistet jeg hele leselysten, mest sannsynlig på grunn av hvor sakte og tungt det gikk med Anne Franks dagbok. Denne boken var perfekt "to get back on track", og endelig er det gøy å lese igjen. Den var kort, det skjedde alltid noe, den var spennende og morsom. Slutten var også litt trist, og selv om jeg fant et av hovedspørsmålene litt vel forutsigbart, var det flere plot twists som overrasket meg gjennom boken. Definitivt verdt å lese!
Wow, denne var virkelig bra!
I løpet av mars mistet jeg hele leselysten, mest sannsynlig på grunn av hvor sakte og tungt det gikk med Anne Franks dagbok. Denne boken var perfekt "to get back on track", og endelig er det gøy å lese igjen. Den var kort, det skjedde alltid noe, den var spennende og morsom. Slutten var også litt trist, og selv om jeg fant et av hovedspørsmålene litt vel forutsigbart, var det flere plot twists som overrasket meg gjennom boken. Definitivt verdt å lese!
October 30, 2014
This is a cinematic thriller with a chilling core wrapped deep within twists, turns and constant surprises.
Read more here http://raven-reads.blogspot.co.uk/
Read more here http://raven-reads.blogspot.co.uk/
October 1, 2020
Replica is a well-paced story. The plot is engrossing from the very first pages, and the subject is potentially intriguing for anyone. The fact that there is a lesbian relationship as the central romance but it isn’t pushed as a plot ‘issue’ is phenomenal. *minor spoilers* Not to mention that the AI program arguably also falls in love with Becky. *end spoilers* There is positive representation in this book for lesbians/bisexual girls, for girls who struggle with mental illness, and in general for relationships between women, whether that be romantic (Becky and Chloe) or purely platonic (Henrietta and Chloe). The ending was only a little disappointing because I wish more time had been taken to show the effects of everything that happened to Chloe and her family. Overall Replica is an exciting title that I would definitely recommend.
August 13, 2017
1: I only picked up this book and read it because of the cover and how 'scary' it had seemed.
2: I liked it because it was like a thriller and action, the story line was great and the plot twist near the end was just amazing.
3: Everything is not what it seems like.
4: I liked "Chole" she tried so hard to do what she was told even though she had know she was a clone. She stayed to help instead of running off.
2: I liked it because it was like a thriller and action, the story line was great and the plot twist near the end was just amazing.
3: Everything is not what it seems like.
4: I liked "Chole" she tried so hard to do what she was told even though she had know she was a clone. She stayed to help instead of running off.
April 29, 2020
Một cuốn sách thú vị cho chủ đề sci-fi dù mình không phải fan của thể loại này lắm. Cách mở đầu khá thú vị, khi một cô gái tỉnh dậy và thấy các bộ phận cơ thể của mình đang tách rời nhau.
Mở đầu lạ, plot twist có, diễn biến truyện cũng thú vị nữa. Một cuốn sách đày hứng thú với thể loại sci-fi. Với lượng sách đang có hiện tại thì việc đọc lại trong thời gian tới có vẻ hơi khó, sẽ cân nhắc trong tương lai.
Mở đầu lạ, plot twist có, diễn biến truyện cũng thú vị nữa. Một cuốn sách đày hứng thú với thể loại sci-fi. Với lượng sách đang có hiện tại thì việc đọc lại trong thời gian tới có vẻ hơi khó, sẽ cân nhắc trong tương lai.
Read
October 16, 2025It’s a short read, but very fast paced, and Heath has really thought carefully about the logistics of the plot. It’s very cleverly done. I love sci fi books that really go the extra mile to explain the science behind something they could just put down to suspended disbelief, and this does that really well.
The plot near the end got a little complicated, and I couldn’t really keep track of what was happening. But apart from that a great read!
The plot near the end got a little complicated, and I couldn’t really keep track of what was happening. But apart from that a great read!
September 2, 2019
This book has many problems and plot holes, super unrealistic aspects and the finale is ridiculous, but I still enjoyed it immensely.
Also, this is written by a dude, but he managed to write a believable female perspective, which I respect. Oh, and the narrator is a woman who likes women and that's always a big plus.
Also, this is written by a dude, but he managed to write a believable female perspective, which I respect. Oh, and the narrator is a woman who likes women and that's always a big plus.
February 7, 2025
It was a good book I thought it was a thriller when going in to it but it more like a suspense story and I hated the ending but it was good and it was short. I got really attached to the characters and the surprises were heartbreaking and always kept me on the edge of my seat. But I just can't get over the ending because all I know is there is no second book.
June 6, 2020
This novel is indeed exciting to read. Very well structured and written. But I really couldn’t stand the cover and didn’t like bringing it to bed. The main character is lesbian, which is quite surprising, I would say......
November 8, 2021
YAS IT WAS GOOD I READ IT WHEN I WAS LIKE 12 AND IT WAS FUN A FUN BOOK!!!!!!!!
I loved the use of suspense.
maybe it is due to my lack of knowledge of the thriller genre, but it was very original, nothing like anything else i've ever read! I really enjoyed it :)
I loved the use of suspense.
maybe it is due to my lack of knowledge of the thriller genre, but it was very original, nothing like anything else i've ever read! I really enjoyed it :)
May 15, 2020
A badass android in Belco. I mean, this is everything I needed.
August 24, 2021
I wasn’t expecting too much, but this book impressed me. Unexpected plot twists and surprising depth. I would recommend it to others, and look for more books by the same author.
May 10, 2022
This book is really good!! I loved all the plot twists and the changes! The image is kinda weird at first, but it makes sense when you start reading. 100000/10 definitely recommend!!! <3
March 9, 2023
i think i guessed every plot twist about 20 pages in advance if not more
March 20, 2022
This book was actually pretty good. The beginning felt slow and then the actual plot felt rushed but I expected that since it was a short book. Lots of super interesting twists and turns
February 17, 2017
Melihat covernya sungguh seraaaamm!! Bertanya-tanya dalam hati apakah ini novel horor pembunuhan, atau thriller hantu, rasa penasaran ini sudah tertunda selama setahun. Yap! Setahun sudah saya menunggu untuk bisa baca novel ini, dan akhirnya kesampaian juga. Hehe sabar menanti banget yes?
Kisah diawali dengan Chloe yang terbangun di basemen rumahnya, beberapa bagian ingatannya hilang. Seorang gadis duduk di dekatnya, memandang komputer dan dirinya, lalu Chloe melihat di seberang tempatnya ada tubuh tanpa kepala yang terbujur kaku. Siapa gadis yang ada di dekatnya ini? Mengapa dia memerintah-merintah Chloe seolah dia adalah masternya? Dan saat akhirnya gadis itu menoleh, wajahnya sama persis dengan dirinya! Siapa dia?
Keesokan harinya Chloe terbangun masih di tempat yang sama, dengan beberapa bagian ingatannya yang kembali. Gadis yang berwajah sama dengannya itu memberinya sederet perintah. Dan saat Chloe protes, dan menyerang gadis itu dengan kata-kata bahwa dia tidak bisa seenaknya mengambil alih kehidupannya, gadis itu malah mengatakan bahwa Chloe adalah ciptaannya. Nah lho! Kita masuk ke dunia cloning, kah ini?
Complete review on my Blog: Syl's Reading Corner
Kisah diawali dengan Chloe yang terbangun di basemen rumahnya, beberapa bagian ingatannya hilang. Seorang gadis duduk di dekatnya, memandang komputer dan dirinya, lalu Chloe melihat di seberang tempatnya ada tubuh tanpa kepala yang terbujur kaku. Siapa gadis yang ada di dekatnya ini? Mengapa dia memerintah-merintah Chloe seolah dia adalah masternya? Dan saat akhirnya gadis itu menoleh, wajahnya sama persis dengan dirinya! Siapa dia?
Keesokan harinya Chloe terbangun masih di tempat yang sama, dengan beberapa bagian ingatannya yang kembali. Gadis yang berwajah sama dengannya itu memberinya sederet perintah. Dan saat Chloe protes, dan menyerang gadis itu dengan kata-kata bahwa dia tidak bisa seenaknya mengambil alih kehidupannya, gadis itu malah mengatakan bahwa Chloe adalah ciptaannya. Nah lho! Kita masuk ke dunia cloning, kah ini?
Complete review on my Blog: Syl's Reading Corner
September 3, 2014
Replica by Jack Heath Review
So, right off the bat I should mention that I bought this book because I was in Dymocks and they were featuring it and it was written by someone I went to primary school with, so I was curious. I haven't seen them since 6th grade, so I don't actually know them or anything.
Replica
Genre: YA Science Fiction
What's it about: I think it's better going in not knowing much about this, so rather than telling you what it's about, I'll stick to how it starts. A girl wakes up in a basement with no memories, unable to move. Across from her is a headless body on a table. She is being held prisoner by a girl who looks exactly like her... and when she asks whose body is on the table, the girl tells her, 'it's yours'.
What did I think: I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It will be really difficult to discuss this without giving away spoilers, so this review will be brief. It was entertaining and I think it was well written. It does require suspending quite a bit of logic though. Quite a bit. It is very young YA, like almost bordering on middle grade and it comes across as quite a simplistic story on the surface, but it actually has some deeper ethical issues hidden underneath which was good (or at least for someone like me who tutors bioethics and is thus interested in such things). I liked that although there were some twists that I saw coming a mile away, there were some that actually threw me, and I wasn't expecting that. I was completely engrossed in it while I as reading it and didn't want to put it down, but I wasn't dying to pick it up again once I did. That being said, I did read this in two days (it's a very short book.) That brings me to my biggest criticism was that it was too short (which is an odd things coming from me because I love quick reads), but It did feel rushed, particularly the ending. I feel like the whole book could have been fleshed out more and we could have got to know the characters better as there wasn't much in the way of character development.
It was so weird to read a book set where I live though.
Anyway, overall I found this book enjoyable, far more so than I thought I would and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick YA sci-fi read.
I'm thinking of also reading another of his books Ink Inc. which I believe is about a serial killer in a world where everyone is telepathic or something.
3/5 stars
So, right off the bat I should mention that I bought this book because I was in Dymocks and they were featuring it and it was written by someone I went to primary school with, so I was curious. I haven't seen them since 6th grade, so I don't actually know them or anything.
Replica
Genre: YA Science Fiction
What's it about: I think it's better going in not knowing much about this, so rather than telling you what it's about, I'll stick to how it starts. A girl wakes up in a basement with no memories, unable to move. Across from her is a headless body on a table. She is being held prisoner by a girl who looks exactly like her... and when she asks whose body is on the table, the girl tells her, 'it's yours'.
What did I think: I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It will be really difficult to discuss this without giving away spoilers, so this review will be brief. It was entertaining and I think it was well written. It does require suspending quite a bit of logic though. Quite a bit. It is very young YA, like almost bordering on middle grade and it comes across as quite a simplistic story on the surface, but it actually has some deeper ethical issues hidden underneath which was good (or at least for someone like me who tutors bioethics and is thus interested in such things). I liked that although there were some twists that I saw coming a mile away, there were some that actually threw me, and I wasn't expecting that. I was completely engrossed in it while I as reading it and didn't want to put it down, but I wasn't dying to pick it up again once I did. That being said, I did read this in two days (it's a very short book.) That brings me to my biggest criticism was that it was too short (which is an odd things coming from me because I love quick reads), but It did feel rushed, particularly the ending. I feel like the whole book could have been fleshed out more and we could have got to know the characters better as there wasn't much in the way of character development.
It was so weird to read a book set where I live though.
Anyway, overall I found this book enjoyable, far more so than I thought I would and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick YA sci-fi read.
I'm thinking of also reading another of his books Ink Inc. which I believe is about a serial killer in a world where everyone is telepathic or something.
3/5 stars
April 19, 2015
Jack Heath sent me this book as a review copy, so I want to be up front about that, but it takes nothing away from the fact that this is a FABULOUS read. I finished this in one day, so it was definitely a page-turner.
Chloe, the protagnoist, is thrown into a bizarre and dangerous situation.
These are the first three paragraphs:
If that doesn't grab you from the gate, you don't have a pulse. Chloe. the Chloe who speaks to us, is a replica. It is not a spoiler to reveal this. The real questions are why does she exist at all? Why does "real Chloe" feel she is being followed and in danger? How will Chloe function with the parents and friends of "real Chloe"?
There is also a plot in here about a technological weapon, and those who want it (some bad dudes, for sure), but I found it to be the less interesting part of the story for me (sorry Jack) even though it was well built and executed.
This novel raises all sorts of questions about what makes us, us. Is it exisiting as human, or can a copy of us, with all our memories, also be "us"? For me, that was the most interesting aspect of this tale and the one that would lend itself to study as a class novel. I cared about Chloe, even when I learned she was a replica, because she is vulnerable. It seems strange to think of a mechanical being as having weaknesses (in the age where we have had the Terminator), but it was this that kept me reading right to the end.
I would recommend this for anyone over the age of 13 who loves a suspenseful ride, with a bit to think about on the side. It was definitely worth the wait, Jack!
Chloe, the protagnoist, is thrown into a bizarre and dangerous situation.
These are the first three paragraphs:
I can't move my legs.
No matter how hard I puch or pull, nothing moves below my waist. It's like my feet are encased in concrete. When I try to reach down, searching for the problem, I discover that my arms are frozen too.
My shoulders won't flex. My fingers won't bend. I can't even turn my head.
Someone has glued me to the wall.
If that doesn't grab you from the gate, you don't have a pulse. Chloe. the Chloe who speaks to us, is a replica. It is not a spoiler to reveal this. The real questions are why does she exist at all? Why does "real Chloe" feel she is being followed and in danger? How will Chloe function with the parents and friends of "real Chloe"?
There is also a plot in here about a technological weapon, and those who want it (some bad dudes, for sure), but I found it to be the less interesting part of the story for me (sorry Jack) even though it was well built and executed.
This novel raises all sorts of questions about what makes us, us. Is it exisiting as human, or can a copy of us, with all our memories, also be "us"? For me, that was the most interesting aspect of this tale and the one that would lend itself to study as a class novel. I cared about Chloe, even when I learned she was a replica, because she is vulnerable. It seems strange to think of a mechanical being as having weaknesses (in the age where we have had the Terminator), but it was this that kept me reading right to the end.
I would recommend this for anyone over the age of 13 who loves a suspenseful ride, with a bit to think about on the side. It was definitely worth the wait, Jack!
May 18, 2015
I really enjoyed this fast-paced tale about robots, scary corporations and teenage issues. Chloe is a great main character, right from the moment she first wakes up all the way to the end. The way she battles with the idea of being replaced, or being a replacement, to what it actually means to be human and whether she has a right to the feelings her memories evoke if they aren’t even hers, make her a compelling, sympathetic heroine as this story deftly weaves between mystery and action while we piece together just what is going on in Chloe’s life.
True, some of the mystery isn’t particularly mysterious and some of the action is a bit ridiculous (the finale definitely has eyebrow raising moments), the idea of AI tech being so readily available was… interesting and the ending left things wide, wide open, but this was such a quick, intriguing ride that I could overlook the more unlikely moments and simply enjoy the fun.
And it is fun, though the humour occasionally borders on macabre (all the stuff with the decapitated head). It’s also a really quick read that makes you want to keep turning pages – and there’s a hint of romance too, and between two girls, which makes a pleasant change. In all this is YA sci-fi with a thriller twist and plenty of action to hold the interest. It’s quick, the heroine is intelligent and the ending leaves things open enough for a sequel. I really hope there’ll be more.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
True, some of the mystery isn’t particularly mysterious and some of the action is a bit ridiculous (the finale definitely has eyebrow raising moments), the idea of AI tech being so readily available was… interesting and the ending left things wide, wide open, but this was such a quick, intriguing ride that I could overlook the more unlikely moments and simply enjoy the fun.
And it is fun, though the humour occasionally borders on macabre (all the stuff with the decapitated head). It’s also a really quick read that makes you want to keep turning pages – and there’s a hint of romance too, and between two girls, which makes a pleasant change. In all this is YA sci-fi with a thriller twist and plenty of action to hold the interest. It’s quick, the heroine is intelligent and the ending leaves things open enough for a sequel. I really hope there’ll be more.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
June 29, 2015
This book was kind of meh.
I mean, it had a good premise, and had the potential to be a really interesting book, but the plot was all just on one level, playing off the whole "teenagers save the world because adults are clearly incapable of doing that" which is something I find a little cringe-worthy these days.
It was also incredibly confusing. Everything jumped around and made very little sense, and nothing was really explained. I did predict a couple of what was supposed to be significant plot twists which was annoying.
The one thing that this book did do right was the presence of a lesbian relationship. The author didn't make a whole song-and-dance about it, he just put it in there because "why the hell not" and THAT, my friends, is how you do it. That is how you normalise homosexuality in popular culture, whether it be in books or films or whatever. Well done. Much appreciated.
One thing that bugged me was that I couldn't figure out where it was set. The mention of dollars pointed to the USA, but the spelling of "mum" pointed to the UK. Turned out it was in Australia.
I mean, it had a good premise, and had the potential to be a really interesting book, but the plot was all just on one level, playing off the whole "teenagers save the world because adults are clearly incapable of doing that" which is something I find a little cringe-worthy these days.
It was also incredibly confusing. Everything jumped around and made very little sense, and nothing was really explained. I did predict a couple of what was supposed to be significant plot twists which was annoying.
The one thing that this book did do right was the presence of a lesbian relationship. The author didn't make a whole song-and-dance about it, he just put it in there because "why the hell not" and THAT, my friends, is how you do it. That is how you normalise homosexuality in popular culture, whether it be in books or films or whatever. Well done. Much appreciated.
One thing that bugged me was that I couldn't figure out where it was set. The mention of dollars pointed to the USA, but the spelling of "mum" pointed to the UK. Turned out it was in Australia.
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