I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Ven wrestles with these contradicting truths every day. A clone of wealthy eighteen-year-old Raven Rogen, Ven knows everything about the girl she was created to serve: the clothes she wears, the boys she loves, the friends she loves to hate. Yet she’s never met the Authentic Raven face-to-face. Imitations like Ven only get to leave the lab when they’re needed—to replace a dead Authentic, donate an organ, or complete a specific mission. And Raven has never needed Ven . . . until now. When there is an attack on Raven’s life, Ven is thrust into the real world, posing as Raven to draw out the people who tried to harm her. But as Ven dives deeper into Raven’s world, she begins to question everything she was ever told. She exists for Raven, but is she prepared to sacrifice herself for a girl she’s never met?

Raven Rogen has everything. She is rich, popular and does what she wants, at least that’s what it seems like to Ven, Raven’s clone. Ven has to watch Raven’s life everyday to learn how to be her if needed. Clones are only created for one reason, and that’s to replace the Authentic when and if needed. None of the clones who where sent to replace their Authentic ever return so the clones know nothing about the outside apart from what they are allowed to see from the glimpses of their Authentic’s videos.

Ven is called to duty and is equal parts happy and anxious. Ven knows her job is to be Raven, down to the littlest detail, but as Ven lives Raven’s life she sees its not as glamorous as she thought. For a start she wasn’t told that Raven’s life was in danger and that Ven is now the bait! She must figure out what is going on before its too late.

Ven was a brilliant heroine. She knows her place in life is to be Raven yet she still has her own personality. The clones are lead to believe that they are nothing but emotionless beings put on the earth to serve their Authentic. Ven doesn’t believe this though, how can she be like that when she has every kind of emotion flowing through her. When she is sent to be Raven, she hates how Raven treats everyone, she hates how Raven uses people and while she has to behave like Raven, or else she will be killed, she doesn’t enjoy it.

Titus, Raven’s father, is the one who made the clone for Raven. He treats Ven like she is nothing. He is more than willing to make Ven the bait just so he can capture the people after Raven and question them. He doesn’t care what happens to Ven nor any other clone. He is heartless and cruel. Ven hates him and will do anything to be free of him.

Then we have Linc. I loved this serious, mysterious character. He is Raven’s, and now Ven’s, bodyguard and is always there for her. He hates that Titus is putting Raven out there, just to catch and “question” the people after her. To Linc it seems that Titus doesn’t care about his own daughter, but little does Linc know that Raven isn’t herself. He knows something is different with her but he doesn’t know what. Since the first time she is attacked Raven seems nicer and Linc thinks maybe it made her realize life is precious. He finds himself drawn to the new Raven but what will he do if he finds she isn’t who he thinks??

This is my first clone book and I have to say, I loved the plot. I loved how the Imitations are made specifically for their Authentic and can be used for parts or can be used if the Authentic dies. The mainstream people have no idea that the Imitations are there, they are only used by the very rich an powerful, so anyone could be a clone and you’d never know. It was a fascinating concept.

Overall I loved Imitation. It has everything a great book should have, suspense, mystery, great characters and plenty of action. From the very first page we are dragged into a world of corruption, a world where the elite thrive and the rest are forgotten about. The clones are made to follow orders or else face the kill switch. I loved everything about this book and need book 2 now!