Dualed by Elsie Chapman

Summary:
Two of you exist. Only one will survive.

The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.

Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her. (from GoodReads)

Review:
When Dualed was announced however long ago, I thought it sounded so cool. You have a twin that you have to kill? That sounds so awesome and it would be like watching a thriller. Unfortunately, my expectations were way too high for this book.

Honestly, I did not like this book at all and it's sad to say that I can't think of that many redeeming qualities. I just felt like nothing was explained, especially in regards to West and her decisions. There was no backstory, no development, no reasoning behind her actions. Become a trained assassin? Sure! Run away from her alt, even though she's been killing other ones for money no problem? Why not! I think her becoming a Striker was the worst part. Essentially they're assassins for hire, which is technically illegal. But somehow everyone still knows about them and even when West is noticed killing people, no one seems to care. I just don't understand why she decided to join them and why they even let her since she's only 15?! She's not described as being a great fighter but then somehow she is. Seriously what is going on with this book?

Another part that drove me crazy was her relationship with Chord. Definitely not enough backstory there because the set-up is supposed to be that they really like each other but West pushes away Chord for his safety. However, that's not how it comes across. It seems like the author was trying to push them together but it wasn't happening naturally. Therefore I didn't really care about either of them but was confused that Chord kept going back to her even after she ignores him and ditches him multiple times.

All I can say is: I have no interest in the sequel.

Rating: 4 out of 10.
FTC: bought (unfortunately)

2013/Random House/292 pages.