Impostors

Scott Westerfeld is a prolific writer for teens and has made a name for himself with a variety of dystopian series. This book is the first in a new series that follows on in the same world as the series Uglies.  Having said this, I do not think that you need to have read his previous works in order to enjoy the current offering, although it would no doubt add some depth to the overall of the worlds and conflicting powers.  The central character in this book is Frey, the twin sister of Rafi and her body double.  While Rafi has been brought up as the pampered daughter of the leader, Frey has been hidden away and trained as a fighter in case she needs to stand in for her sister; well that time has come and Frey is sent on a dangerous diplomatic mission in place of her sister.  However she finds that events are not as simple and straightforward as she would have wishes and her loyalties are stretched, particularly when she meets Col, the son of a rival leader.

This is a fascinating story which takes the idea of a substitute to an extreme. The concept is quite popular in teen fiction, but usually the person is a clone and there is no true connection.  However in this story it is only a matter of 26 minutes that separate these two girls and their roles were truly dependent on the luck of the draw.  For me, this makes the whole situation even more chilling as we begin to understand that in reality Frey can trust no one, because she is seen as expendable.  Westerfield is an excellent storyteller and the plot pulls you along at a fast pace.  You also develop an empathy with the main character and hope that she will be able to unravel the complex plots that surround her.  It I a story about family and how bad that can be, which leads to having to reassess your life and what is important.  I look forward to seeing what happens in the following books.