In this conclusion to The Similars duology, Emma must figure out who 
she really is, decide between two boys with the same face, and stop a dangerous plan based on revenge.
Emma is still reeling from the events of her junior year at Darkwood. Not only is her best friend, Oliver, shockingly alive, but the boy she loves—his Similar, Levi—is still on the island where he grew up, stranded with his deranged creator.
More importantly, she is grappling with who she really is. Emma can’t accept the hard truths she learned last year and refuses to share her secrets with anyone, isolating herself from her friends and Ollie.
But when more of the Similars’ creator’s plot is revealed, Emma and her friends will have to try to stop him from putting a plan into motion that could destroy everyone she loves.
With it’s dark secrets, shocking truths, and political angles, the first book in this series hooked me, and I couldn’t wait to get to the sequel. It also hinted at a very bizarre love triangle.
The things I enjoyed in the first book – cloning, clone rights, and ethics – aren’t as prominent in this sequel. Instead, it focuses more on high school cliches and teen drama. Yes, this is a young adult novel, and those actions are to be expected in some of them; however, compared to the first book in this series, The Pretenders takes an entirely different path. Almost like The Similars, but in an alternate universe – Bizarro world, maybe?
Characterization is done well and I enjoyed the scientific aspects of the story. The message of not hating others for their differences is an important theme throughout. But the ending made me think of Scooby-Doo when masks are removed from the villains. Some big reveals occur, but the scene is chaotic, rushed, and felt out of place in comparison to the first book.
Overall, I’m glad I finished this series, but it didn’t work for me as well as the first book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Books and Such 
It’s too bad you didn’t like this book as much, but the series as a whole sounds pretty good.
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With the second book, it just seemed to lose steam. The whole part about clones’ rights in the first book fascinated me, Priscilla.
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A thoughtful review, Teri. It sounds like the series overall was good, but the conclusion could have been better. It reminds me of a book I just reviewed on my blog—great story, but the ending left me wanting more.
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Yes! The ending was a bit chaotic and absolutely left me wanting more.
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I really thought you were talking about the band when I first saw the picture! LOL!
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HaHa! That never occurred to me, Sue – was never really a fan of their music.
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I wasn’t either. But living with a DJ/Music person, I’m always hearing band names!
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Too bad the sequel was not as good as the first Teri! But sometimes what makes a book unique in its premices does not go on in the sequel. We lost the element of surprise!
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There were still some surprises in this one, Sophie, and some I doubt many readers could predict. Still, I enjoyed the series as a whole.
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I don’t fancy this one as much, Teri. The rights of clones in the first book does interest me though. Such a moral dilemma, cloning.
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Exactly – and they brought up some interesting points, Robbie. Really makes you think.
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Good review, Teri. Thanks.
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Thanks, John – and happy Friday eve!
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Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide Traci Kenworth YA Author & Book Blogger.
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