Review: Duplicity by N. K. Traver

Duplicity
Author: N.K. Traver
Release Date: March 17, 2015
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Source: Macmillan
Review by: Nahomi

A computer-hacking teen. The girl who wants to save him. And a rogue mirror reflection that might be the death of them both.

In private, seventeen-year-old Brandon hacks bank accounts just for the thrill of it. In public, he looks like any other tattooed bad boy with a fast car and devil-may-care attitude. He should know: he’s worked hard to maintain that façade. With inattentive parents who move constantly from city to city, he’s learned not to get tangled up in things like friends and relationships. So he’ll just keep living like a machine, all gears and wires.

Then two things shatter his carefully-built image: Emma, the kind, stubborn girl who insists on looking beneath the surface – and the small matter of a mirror reflection that starts moving by itself. Not only does Brandon’s reflection have a mind of its own, but it seems to be grooming him for something—washing the dye from his hair, yanking out his piercings, swapping his black shirts for … pastels. Then it tells him: it thinks it can live his life better, and it’s preparing to trade places.

And when it pulls Brandon through the looking-glass, not only will he need all his ill-gotten hacking skills to escape, but he’s going to have to face some hard truths about who he’s become. Otherwise he’ll be stuck in a digital hell until he’s old and gray, and no one will even know he's gone.

2.5 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an early copy of this title from the publisher but it did not influenced this review in any way.*

This book is not what I expected. After having read the synopsis I was expecting a fast paced mystery full of suspense and action, and that is not what I got. To begin, I never really connected with the main character, Brandon. I couldn't identify with him on any level. Both Emma and Brandon came of as generic characters.

In theory, the plot was interesting but when in came down to the actual story it wasn't executed well and I lost interest. The overall story was bogged down by a lot of techie language which at times made my mind wander so I had to keep trying to focus on the story. At the climax of the story, which is almost at the end, one moment we are in the thick of it then in the next chapter poof! the issues are resolved (although not completely). It's like the magic wand effect which is really annoying. Then the ending... is way too open ended, there is no real resolution. I didn't get any closure for the characters in this story; just a possibility for a second book. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get into Duplicity like I hoped I would.