Twice Lived
Release Date: February 20 Available for pre-order at Bookshop.org
3/5
For fans of: Parallel worlds, speculative fiction, coming of age, double lives, complicated families, supportive friends, drama
The Big Questions:
What genre is this in? YA science fiction, speculative fiction, queer
Are there any swoon-worthy characters? No
Is it spicy? No
Is it violent or gory? No
Should I buy, borrow, or pass on this book? If you like character-driven speculative fiction, borrow it!
Synopsis: There are two Earths. Perfectly ordinary and existing in parallel. There are no doorways between them, no way to cross from one world to another. Unless you’re a shifter.
Canna and Lily are the same person but they refuse to admit it. Their split psyche has forced them to shift randomly between worlds – between lives and between families – for far longer than they should. But one mind can’t bear this much life. It’ll break under the weight of it all. Soon they’ll experience their final shift and settle at last in one world, but how can they prepare both families for the eventuality of them disappearing forever?
Review: Straight up, this wasn’t for me. What I liked: The pacing was well done. I wasn’t too bored with either POV of Canna or Lily, which helped me get through the book. Both Canna and Lily have strong support systems, which for this world is a definite must. What I didn’t like: The concept of shifters was just not delved deep enough for me. I get that the focus of the book is more character-driven, but it just wasn’t enough. I wanted to know more about how shifters existed in both worlds and their impact on society. There were far too many questions that Canna only just started to explore by the end of the book. I also just couldn’t connect enough with Lily’s POV. She frustrated me with her lack of desire learn more about her shifter abilities. What I loved: Canna’s POV was great! She is a character I could resonate with and her integrity had me rooting for her. Her friends were wonderful supports. Her mother’s experience was so understandable and she was so supportive no matter what. Overall, I really was intrigued with the concept, but there wasn’t enough here to resonate with me and want me to keep reading.