Compelling & Human: Linked - Imogen Howson

Linked by Imogen Howson 
Date Released: June 11, 2013
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 368 Pages
Format: ARC
Source: ARC from Teenreads as part of the TeenBoards program
Rating: Really Liked
Series: (Linked #1) 

Goodreads Synopsis: Elissa used to have it all: looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she’s been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere. 

Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes. 

Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed. 

Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world. 

Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human.  

From Goodreads

Linked was a book filled with promise and it did deliver in some parts but I was always looking for something more in the story to made it a stronger debut novel. I was so happy and excited to pick up Linked, it was such a great blend of all the good elements in a dystopian novel add action and suspense with complex characters that I love reading about! The best part, it wasn't a romance driven novel but Imogen gives us hints of it throughout the novel as a tease, so romance readers this might not be your forte. There was a lot of promise in this book, and I'll definitely recommend it to any reader in YA! :) 

Elissa used to have everything in her life she wants but behind all of it, she's dealing with strange visions and horrible pains she can't handle. Her doctor, Dr. Brien says that she can either have surgery to remove a part of her brain to stop all the horrible things happening to Elissa or live with it. But soon Elissa faces more challenges that made me like her a lot for her strength, especially when she meets Lin, a runaway girl. I love Elissa and Lin a lot! They were relatable and I liked seeing how each one adapted to the life in Sekoia. Both Lin and Elissa gave the novel that runaway/rebellious feel that speaks wide to any teen reader who picks this up. The characters aren't forgettable and I can't wait to see how they develop in the next book. Readers get some great sister love, some action scenes, and question humanity in this book. 

Linked also brings up cool and intriguing things like this connection with Elissa and Lin that could have been expanded more, the outer space world, and great action scenes. Some parts of the book fell, like how Elissa and Lin do something and final get on a ship it was just page after page all about space and this ship. I was crossing my fingers it wouldn't be that long but it was almost towards the ending! But there was tension and suspense within those chapters as a bonus. 

Linked was a "semi" fresh idea especially in YA and I know it can develop into a more complex and in depth book especially with the promise in the characters and plot. I would so recommend Linked to any one wanting a start of a great series with hints of romance, survival, and loads of action. I for sure liked this one a lot so definitely give Linked a try!

Find Linked On:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads