ARC REVIEW #166: Once We Were (The Hybrid Chronicles #2) by Kat Zhang

Title: Once We Were

Series: The Hybrid Chronicles #2
Author: Kat Zhang

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: September 17, 2013

Pages: 352, Hardcover
Source: ARC obtained from BEA

Summary from Goodreads:

"I'm lucky just to be alive"

Eva was never supposed to have survived this long. As the recessive soul, she should have faded away years ago. Instead, she lingers in the body she shares with her sister soul, Addie. When the government discovered the truth, they tried to “cure” the girls, but Eva and Addie escaped before the doctors could strip Eva’s soul away.

Now fugitives, Eva and Addie find shelter with a group of hybrids who run an underground resistance. Surrounded by others like them, the girls learn how to temporarily disappear to give each soul some much-needed privacy. Eva is thrilled at the chance to be alone with Ryan, the boy she’s falling for, but troubled by the growing chasm between her and Addie. Despite clashes over their shared body, both girls are eager to join the rebellion.

Yet as they are drawn deeper into the escalating violence, they start to wonder: How far are they willing to go to fight for hybrid freedom? Faced with uncertainty and incredible danger, their answers may tear them apart forever.

"We experienced that day as we'd experienced the past fifteen years of our lives. As Addie and Eva, Eva and Addie. Two souls sharing one body. Hybrid. But the thing is, sharing hands doesn't mean sharing goals. Sharing eyes doesn't mean sharing visions. And sharing a heart doesn't mean sharing the things we love."

This quote really embodies what this book is all about. More than anything else, Once We Were is a book about what it means to be hybrid, like really means. Now that Eva has more control over her body, she's becoming her own person. And Addie has to meet her half way. And after the events that transpired in What's Left of Me, Addie and Eva are looking at an entirely different future for themselves. For both of them, this is a time filled with so much uncertainty. They are hopeful but doubtful, excited but scared. They are testing their limits, defining new boundaries.And it was completely absorbing.

I really appreciated how this book further defined the idea of being hybrid, and developed Addie and Eva as characters. I was a bit frustrated after reading What's Left of Me because I thought it was too idealistic. Addie and Eva got along great. They agreed on pretty much everything. Really, there was very little to argue over (i.e. no love interests to really complicate things, etc). So the concept of hybridity wasn't tested fully. But in the second book, Kat Zhang doesn't shy away from challenges, imperfections, or disagreements. Boys were finally in the picture. Addie and Eva had differences of opinion. They had a lot to learn about being their own person while sharing a body. This was more or less new territory that they hadn't yet figured out how to navigate . And while they still haven't gotten it completely sorted out, they have come so far from where they started.

In addition to the character development, Kat Zhang explored a bit of the underground hybrid circuit. We meet more people like Addie and Eva and find out about the movement that is ongoing to change the current attitude about hybrids. There is a bit of adventure and excitement as Addie and Eva get pulled into the action. And we see a bit of conflicting opinions on what needs to be done. I enjoyed this part of the story, but not a whole lot happens in terms of progress. I'm curious to see where Kat Zhang will take things next.

After reading Once We Were, I feel like I am a third soul that shares a body with Eva and Addie. This book brought me closer to them both, shared the essence of being hybrid, made me feel what they were feeling. And that is a gift. This story really is unique, and while it hasn't completely blown me away, it has definitely kept me tuned in.

What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles, #1) by Kat Zhang

Title: What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles, #1)
Author: Kat Zhang
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Pages: 343, Hardcover
Source: Audiobook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:

I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

---

"Addie started to cry but she no longer controlled enough of our body to produce actual tears. Her crying was silent and invisible to everyone but me. Like mine had been to everyone but her all those days, and weeks, and months after we first settled. After I was shunted aside and locked up in my own body. My skin a straightjacket. My bones, prison bars."

---

This book reminded me of a crossover between The Host and Delirium!! If you liked those two books I would suggest picking this one up!!

Addie and Eva were born as two souls that share the same body. Eva, being the recessive soul, should have faded long ago, and left Addie, the dominant soul, alone and in full control of her their body. However, Eva didn't go away. Although she lost full control of her body, she now resides in Addie's head as a silent observer to Addie's life. If people discovered that Addie and Eva never "settled" they would be taken away for posing a threat to society. 

---

“I was terrified. I was eleven years old, and though I'd been told my entire life that it was entirely natural for the recessive soul to fade away, I didn't want to go. I wanted twenty thousand more sunrises, three thousand more hot summer days at the pool. I wanted to know what it was like to have a first kiss. The other recessives were lucky to have disappeared at four or five. They knew less.”

---

It has to take some serious writing talent to be able to create two distinct personalities in one body, and keep them clearly separate and distinguishable throughout the story. Not to mention, both characters were extremely relatable too. I felt for Eva. She lost the ability to move her own body, make her own choices, hell, not even her parents knew she still existed. To the outside world it was just Addie. Eva was forced onto the sidelines to watch Addie have everything she was denied. I could also relate to Addie. She was the dominant soul which according to society meant she was entitled to that body. But now Eva was in her head which meant that Addie could never be alone. And Addie had to display a unified and normal front to society for fear of the truth coming out. Addie also depended on Eva. She was usually the first one to give in after they fought. But Addie loved Eva and Eva loved Addie. Their bond was a beautiful testament to sisterhood. Even though Addie hated to relinquish control and was terrified of being discovered, she knew what it would mean to Eva and so she agreed to certain risks out of the love for her sister. Addie and Eva are the best part about this book.

Early on, Addie and Eva meet Hailey/Lissa and Devon/Ryan, other Hybrids who taught Eva how to become strong again and be able to take back control. But too soon they are captured and whisked away to a facility for hybrid children. When they are there they start to discover secrets that are being kept, lies that are being told, and ultimately have to fight for their lives. Ultimately the plot moved along well and this book was interesting. 

BUT I needed more detail. I needed to know the background story and the world a little better. Why are there two souls in a body? How does that work? Why and how does one just fade away? How can some recessive souls stay? Why are hybrids considered a threat? I didn't fully understand or believe it nor did I feel the threat that this book kept alluding to. Furthermore, I felt like things were a little too simple and avoided a lot of the complexities of two souls inside one body. Eva and Addie do not agree on everything. When Addie overrided some of Eva's wants and feelings I couldn't help but be like "HOW CAN YOU BE SO CALM EVA?" "HOW CAN YOU LET ADDIE DISS YOUR FEELINGS LIKE THAT EVA?" And what about when two strong souls want to have control of their shared body at the same time or to say something, etc. How would that work? Addie and Eva's specific problem was briefly addressed at the end but overall I felt like these details were avoided and things were too easy. 

Anyway, I'm thinking that most of what brought down my rating this time around won't be a problem in the next book. And since I enjoyed this book regardless, I will definitely be reading the sequel!