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    Impostor: Variants
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    Impostor: Variants
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    Impostor: Variants
    Audiobook8 hours

    Impostor: Variants

    Written by Susanne Winnacker

    Narrated by Emily Rankin

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    CAN TESSA POSE AS MADISON . . . AND STOP A KILLER BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE?

    Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she's spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI.

    When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.

    Tessa hates everything about being an impostor-the stress, the danger, the deceit-but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she'd do anything to keep.

    Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMay 28, 2013
    ISBN9780804123839
    Unavailable
    Impostor: Variants
    Author

    Susanne Winnacker

    Susanne Winnacker studied law and is currently doing her legal clerkship. She lives with her husband in the Ruhrgebiet, Germany. As an offset to hours brooding over law and its meaning, she spends every free minute in fantastical private worlds, posting on her blog and contributing to many others.

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    Reviews for Impostor

    4/5

    34 ratings8 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Actual rating: 3.5 starsFor more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.One of the tough things about blogging is those unsolicited sequels. I only searched out Impostor because Defector arrived. Sometimes I would just pass it along to someone else, but I was just intrigued enough to put the effort in. Largely, this was because Blythe (Finding Bliss in Books) read them both really quickly and was impressed. Blythe and I often have different taste, but she told me some things that made me curious to try the book. I actually had to get my dear librarian bestie to interlibrary loan Impostor since my local library didn’t have it. Turns out the struggle was worth it, because Impostor was just my sort of book.Two subjects that fascinate me are humans with powers, because come on evolution I want one, and serial killers. I’m not going to think too hard about why the latter is so interesting to me, but it’s the exception to my general disinterest in mystery novels. Impostor has both. I really don’t know how this book wasn’t on my radar when it came out, since it’s such obvious Christina-bait. Basically, I love the plot of this book. It is perfectly up my alley.The heroine is Tessa, who has the power to change her appearance to look like other people. She lives with a bunch of other Variants in a government facility. What’s cool, though, is that this would normally be a dystopian evil government control thing, but they’re all happy there. They’re the only people who have ever understood her and supported her, because her mom sure didn’t. She has friends there and all of them chose to work for the government with their powers, in a special branch of the FBI called the FEA.At the start of Impostor, Tessa gets her first mission: to impersonate a victim of the serial killer. See, this girl Madison survived barely but never made it out of a coma state. As soon as she dies, her body will be saved in the morgue, Tessa will take on her form, and they’ll pretend she had a miraculous recovery. Then, Tessa will try to find out who murdered Madison and three other people. This involves some rather convoluted pretense to selective amnesia, but I was totally willing to roll with it because the plot was so much fun.The mystery worked pretty well for me. It’s not one of those where you don’t suspect the person who turns out to be the one who did all the murdering, but I also wasn’t sure who it was. The thing is that there are so many shady people surrounding Madison that it was not an easy call to make. Basically, it met my main qualification, which is that I don’t want the resolution of the mystery to make me roll my eyes. It didn’t blow my mind, but it was creepy enough to make for a good read.The novel tries to get into some of Tessa’s emotional struggle in being someone else. She comes to enjoy being Madison, what with having a family and a normal life. I like this in theory, but I don’t think enough time with the family to really sell her connection to them. There was definitely more telling than showing on this part, which I think is a shame, since it could have been really powerful. I wanted to feel her loss when she had to leave town at the end of the mission and I really didn’t.The other aspect that I didn’t care for was the romance. Tessa has this long-standing mega-crush on Alec, who is dating the gorgeous and bitchy Kate. The romance element with him pretty much goes how you would guess it would. He’s over-protective and flip flops between the two and I really do not care for this guy. He may be hot and strong, but he is boring and the girl needs a better ship, which I’m hoping is on the way. I have a ship, but it would have been super creepy if it happened in this book, so I’m crossing my fingers.Impostor was a total surprise. It was one of those books that my intuition told me wasn’t going to work for me and then I had trouble putting it down. I’m very much looking forward to getting to Defector now!
    • 3/5
      See this sentence from the book description up there?--"She could be a hero, but all she wants to do is fall in love ..."--Ignore it. Absolutely ignore it. It makes you think that's all the book is about and that isn't true. Sure, Tessa is scared. She's going into the field on her first mission before she's even finished her training. She's going to use her Variant power to impersonate a dead girl, someone who was horribly murdered by a suspected serial killer. She's got to blend in, investigate, and stay alive. Sure, she's in love with Alec, a fellow Variant and agent at the government agency for which she works, but that isn't the focus of the story.

      Winnacker is very good at dealing with Chekhov's gun. She laid some very important things throughout the book and all were used by the end.

      She's also very good at making the character of Tessa realistic. Tessa is a teenaged girl, and one who never had a stable family. It's no surprise she'd enjoy her time spent pretending to be Madison. What was a surprise to me was how she realized that none of it was truly real because she wasn't Madison. Tessa struck me as mature in that way, and in the way she dealt with Alec and her feelings.

      I didn't figure out who the killer was, so I was right there with Tessa when she found out. I was duped, as I was supposed to be, so that made for a very satisfying ending for me.

      I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

      (Provided by publisher)
    • 5/5
      I just finished this book and am looking forward to reading the next one.

      I thought this was a crazy good book!
      The story keeps on twisting and turning, and you think you know who the killer is, but then you change your mind, and then again. It's very well written, and I got so involved in the story I found myself gasping out loud, or yelling at my kindle.

      It kept my heart pounding throughout reading.
    • 4/5
      This is the first book in the Variant series by Susanne Winnacker. It's reminiscent of The Alchemy of Forever (Avery Williams) wherein the main protagonist can "copy" a person, and Vanishing Girl (Laura Thalassa) wherein she is sent by the government to a dangerous mission. That being said, Impostor is quite an interesting read.We meet Tessa who has been living in a branch of the FBI called FEA (Forces of Extraordinary Abilities) where she can freely hone her "gift." Soon she is sent to a dangerous mission and she has to assume a different identity in order to catch a serial killer. As she tries to uncover the identity of the killer, she also discovers surprising secrets of the girl whose body she inhabits, all while coming to terms with her feelings for Alec, a fellow Variant.I enjoyed reading this and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel - Defector.
    • 4/5
      NOTE: I received this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

      When I requested Impostor, I was a little worried that it'd turn out just like all other books where special kids are used in governmental agencies to spy or do other covert things. But I thought I'd check it out just in case. 'Cuz you know, X-Men reference and what not sort of called to me.

      Then I started reading it and it pulled me in right away, which is pretty good and not all that common.

      I liked the easy going writing style, how realistic everything seemed even though we're talking paranormal activity here.

      The story wasn't anything original - I mean special girl needs to go all spy in a city with a criminal, and is in love with a guy she can't have - but I honestly didn't mind it. It was nice, there was a mystery, some action, internal turmoil and lots of drama. And of course the romance - forbidden it may be, but it was even more delicious.

      Now the characters. The main ones were all Variants, i.e. with special abilities. They were supposed to investigate several murder cases in a small town in Oregon and so they had to infiltrate the family of the last victim - a high school girl. Tessa, a variant with the abilities to transform physically like any person she touches is shipped off to gather clues.

      Tessa is a nice girl with secret crush on a forbidden team member - Alec, who's got a secret that I still can't figure out. Anyway, Tessa likes her Variation, until she has to impersonate a dead girl and fool the family of the victim that Madison has returned from the dead. But Tessa starts to feel that she can lose herself in this new character she's supposed to play. Because her new family is kind to her, and she actually feels the same for them. The question is, can she follow her mission through and does she even want to? Can she figure out who is the murderer without endangering herself or the people who think she is their daughter?

      Alec is obviously attracted to Tessa, but geez, something doesn't add up with those two. There's the can't, not the don't want, which makes it even more intriguing to figure out. So, Alec is hot stuff. He trains the Variants in strength and agility - which are his Variations. He's got some internal struggle, and a mania to keep Tessa safe.

      Kate is Alec's "half", who reads the minds of females. She's mean and a total bad-ass. I think, in a way, I liked her. She was tough and ready to go help a girl in danger.

      Devon is Madison's brother. He knows nothing about Variations, but he's smart, and easily figures out that he isn't just an ordinary guy. Of course, he had to experience some ... events... before he figured it out, but still. It didn't take him long.

      If you're in the X-man kind of super powers thing, this book is for you.
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: In this quick and easy read, a murder mystery is brought to life full of action, romance, and humor.Opening Sentence: The straightjacket corseted my body so tightly my arms tingled and my fingers turned numb.The Review:Impostor is the story of Tessa, a Variant who has special powers, and can become the physical appearance of others just with a thought. Tessa’s a part of the Variant secret agency that works for the government. When she gets an assignment to pose as an almost victim of an at-large serial killer so she can investigate, Tessa must intrude in someone else’s life in someone else’s house with someone else’s family. Can she keep it together long enough to find the killer, or will she be discovered as an impostor?Almost immediately I could tell that Impostor was going to be a short, refreshing read, and I was right: I finished within 2 hours. The plot was very straightforward and clear. I was happy with the book, and as some mystery books are I could not tell who the murderer was right off the bat. You constantly change your mind and switch between suspects, so it was an engaging time for both the reader and the characters.Although Tessa was an okay heroine, she wasn’t very thought-provoking and I found it slightly difficult to connect with her in a way that I did with Katniss or Bella. (The Hunger Games and Twilight) Her mind was very simple, ordinaryish. I look for extraordinary and insightfulness in my characters, and with Tessa I feel that fell a little short. I didn’t very much like Alec (Tessa’s love interest) either because he seemed so uncaring and devoted to his girlfriend most of the time. With most romances it happens gradually — in this one, it seems completely turned off except for slight lapses at random intervals where they’re acting like they’re hopelessly in love. This confused me. When these tiny lapses weren’t happening they were two friends, or two enemies, nothing more.This novel was quick, but didn’t leave anything out. There were no plot holes and everything was detailed and explained, and from the start you are hooked in. It’s one of those books that you can read on a plane, or when you’re bored, just because you want to read something. And let’s not forget it is also a mystery —- and a good one at that!Altogether this was a very well-done story! Maybe this can be a New Year’s present for yourself, now that you’ve been introduced to it? Is it extremely thought-provoking? No. Does it have a unique, never before seen writing style? Nope. But should you check it out? Most definitely!Notable Scene: A figure stood on the other side of the street, clearly watching my window. His hoodie hung low over his eyes and the evening fog obscured the rest of him. It was impossible to make out who he was. Spotting me, he took off running down the street.It wasn’t Alec. Who was it? The killer? I doubted he had the audacity to show up in front of my house so soon after my return. It was probably just some curious snoop who wanted the rumors confirmed.I rubbed my arms and let down the blinds, double-checking that the window was locked before I finally crawled into bed.FTC Advisory: Razorbill/Penguin provided me with a copy of Impostor. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 5/5
      Ms. Winnacker is quickly becoming my favorite author. I went into this book expecting a typical YA story and instead I got something much deeper. It came with secrets, calculated plots with lots of twist and deaths.Plot: You know a plot is written well when your reading it and all of sudden you have to put the book down cause of the nerves that are racking up your system. The plot is done well you actually feel like you are in the story, experiencing every moment in Tessa shoes. Each chapter builds up nicely to another, leading up to an amazing ending.Love: Can this relationship be any more complicated? It’s not a love triangle with a guy. More like the guy can’t pick a girl. GAH! It really made my heart race and want to scream! It made me happy then sad. Nervous then excited. Basically, I felt like a teen and with that said, the author clearly got her point across well.Variants: I totally love this idea. To be able to mimic another persons DNA by just touching them. Imagine Mystic from X-men, but in teen form. And she is posing as s girl trying to stop the killer. All the while she is dealing with keeping her form, living with a family, and going to school. I think everything weaved well and left me totally excited for the next book.Cleverly packed with a stunning plot, Impostor is brilliant. Not predictable, but giving the reader exactly what they need… a fresh new story that leaves you on a threshold for more. A vibrant read that is unique and creative, Impostor rules.
    • 3/5
      Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyIMPOSTOR, the first book in Suzanne Winnacker’s Variant series, is kind of like a teenage Sydney Bristow from Alias meets X-Men‘s Mystique. Tessa has been recruited to the FEA (Forces with Extraordinary Abilities) branch of the FBI. She’s been training for two years and honing her chameleon-like ability to take on the appearance of anyone she touches. At sixteen she gets her first mission tracking a serial killer.The premise is really strong and the investigation takes a number of cool turns, not the least of which is the whole Variant concept which includes all kinds of abilities from invisibility to mind reading. The Variant idea isn’t groundbreaking, nor is Veronica Mars-esque teen investigator, but what made IMPOSTOR work was the mystery/thriller plot which, apart from an uneven start, kept me guessing and engaged until the very end.While the story and concept were solid, there were a couple significant weaknesses. The writing isn’t quite as good as I was hoping. It’s very melodramatic, and the pacing was rushed. And Tessa as a character was really immature for someone in her situation. She was thoughtless and childish and realistically would never have been given as much control in a HUGE investigation based on her behavior. Which brings me to my second gripe with this book: the romance. It never came close to working for me. Alec, Tessa’s slightly older trainer, is her longtime crush. He’s got a girlfriend (who is a catty, vicious, witch–but a great guy like Alec is still into her), but he still has cuddling movie dates with Tessa and tons of almost-kissing moments. It made no sense that he would be interested in a girl as immature as Tessa despite their shared love of horror films.Despite the flaws, the strength of the story carried me easily to the very last page of IMPOSTOR. Hopefully, Tessa will grow by the next book in the Variant series since I’d kinda like to see where her story goes.Sexual content:Kissing. References to sex.