Two years ago, when it was released in the United States, Brenna Yovanoff's The Surrogate was already highly anticipated by readers. After several positive reviews and a great response on social media, the book caused a huge stir and definitely won over the public. On the surface, it seems like just another great horror and suspense story. It's much more than that: it's also a love story about the trials of a young man searching for self-understanding and acceptance of his characteristics. Commonplace? Add to that the fact that this young man comes from a sinister, dark, and inhuman world. Mackie Doyle isn't normal. He lives in the small town of Gentry, but he comes from a world of tunnels and dark, muddy waters. He's a surrogate—left in the cradle of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, due to a fatal allergy to iron, blood, and consecrated soil, Mackie is slowly dying in the world of men. This imminent death forces him to emerge from his cocoon and search for answers. In this town where children are exchanged at a young age for beings from the underworld, surrogates are known, though unacknowledged, beings. Many families have experienced this, but they can't understand why. And, to avoid confronting reality, they accept it without complaint. The striking thing is that the exchange is easily noticed, but, perhaps out of resignation, the town's passivity is so great that no one does anything to change it. Sounds crazy? Appearances can be deceiving. The Surrogate presents the beautiful and moving story of self-discovery of the protagonist, a young man searching for an explanation for his origins and acceptance by his fellow human beings. From an introverted and fearful boy, with only the support of his kind sister and a faithful friend, to a courageous man, aware of his limits and his peculiar characteristics. Some situations will certainly move readers: Mackie's relationship with his sister, Emma, who, even knowing the truth, never stops loving him; the discovery of his passion for young people; the exclusion the protagonist experiences until he truly understands who he is; among others. Despite the otherworldly beings, The Replacement isn't the story of a fantastical or paranormal hero, like a vampire, a zombie, an angel, or an alien. It's a true portrait of today's society, where thousands of people suffer from relationship problems and exclusion, and out of fear and shame, they end up withdrawing into their own world. To make matters worse, family and friends pretend not to see the problem, just as the characters in the book pretend not to notice Gentry's strangeness. In the end, one thing is certain: readers will identify with Mackie Doyle and love him. "I loved the book! Mackie Doyle is one of the sweetest and strangest heroes I've ever seen. He captivated me, and the story kept me up at night!" - Lauren Kate, author of the Fallen series
