Book Review: Beta by Rachel Cohn

Beta
Annex #1
Author: Rachel Cohn
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Dystopian
Release Date: October 16th 2012
Review Source: Disney Hyperion
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) In a world constructed to absolute perfection, imperfection is difficult to understand—and impossible to hide.

Elysia is a clone, created in a laboratory, born as a sixteen year old girl, an empty vessel with no life experience to draw from. She is a Beta, an experimental model of teenaged clone. She was replicated from another teenage girl, who had to die in order for Elysia to be created.

Elysia's purpose is to serve the inhabitants of Demesne, an island paradise for the wealthiest people on earth. Everything about Demesne is bioengineered for perfection. Even the air there induces a strange, euphoric high that only the island's workers—soulless clones like Elysia—are immune to.

At first, Elysia's new life on this island paradise is idyllic and pampered. But she soon sees that Demesne's human residents, the most privileged people in the world who should want for nothing, yearn. And, she comes to realize that beneath its flawless exterior, there is an undercurrent of discontent amongst Demesne's worker clones. She knows she is soulless and cannot feel and should not care—so why are overpowering sensations clouding Elysia's mind?

If anyone discovers that Elysia isn't the unfeeling clone she must pretend to be, she will suffer a fate too terrible to imagine. When Elysia's one chance at happiness is ripped away from her with breathtaking cruelty, emotions she's always had but never understood are unleashed. As rage, terror, and desire threaten to overwhelm her, Elysia must find the will to survive.

AMAZING!! Simply amazing. I have never read a book like Beta. This is one of those books that grabs you from the very beginning and can’t stop reading it until you have read the very last sentence. What an awesome story. This is my first book from Rachel Cohn and I am in love! I want the next book now, ASAP!! LOL

Elysia emerged at age 16 an exact replica of her First. In order for her to exist, her First had to die. That was the only bit of information she was given when she awoke for the first time. You see, Elysia is a clone. She was created to serve the richest and most powerful residents of Demesne Island – a bio-domed island engineered by humans where only the privileged and wealthy can live. Everything in Demesne is perfect and meant to cause pleasure to all of its residents. Elysia was bought to replace the void that was left in Mrs. Bratton's home when her rebellious daughter, Astrid, went to the Main Land for college. Now, don’t think that the Brattons are all warm and fuzzy. The Bratton’s only concern is their social status in Demesne, especially since Mr. Bratton is the Governor. Elyisa is told to train their son, Ivan, who is to start training in the military. Then one day, Elysia starts to have these flashbacks while swimming under water. She sees an image of a guy, which by the way, sounds super hot. She doesn’t know what they are, but is suspicious that they are memories of her First. Then things start to go not so perfect in Demesne. There are rumors that some of the clones have gone “Defect”. The thing is that since clones don’t have souls, they shouldn’t have feelings or emotions – they are supposed to be empty vessels whose only purpose is to serve their owners. But now, some of the clones have begun to show emotions and it seems that a civil war might be brewing.

This is definitely one of those books that will leave you with many questions. Who is Astrid and what is her part in this? What’s going to happen to Tahir? The ending is definitely one of those cliffhangers that are completely twisted, but I’m not complaining. If you are into sci-fi and dystopian books, Beta is your book. Trust me, you are going to love it!