Imposters is set in Scott Westerfeld’s series Uglies future.  I have not read Uglies and from reviews of this book I felt I would be lost but that could not be farther from the truth. When Scott Westerfeld references Uglies he always explains in way you understand.

Rafia and Frey are twin sisters. Frey’s very existence is a secret. At the age of seven, Frey starts training to protect her sister no matter what, her weapon of choice being a pulse knife.  She acts as Rafi’s body double whenever Rafi attends events that might be dangerous. Rafi had to give a speech to the people and afterward an assassin was sent to kill her, but since Frey was there to switch places if needed, she was able to save her life.

Things are stressed between the different towns/families. Frey’s father makes a deal to trade metal from Victoria, allowing Aribella to take Rafi hostage to ensure he keeps his word.  No surprise when he sends Frey in her place, and while there she make friends with Col, Aribella’s son. He loves to hunt and confides he doesn’t know why his mom locked up his bow or hoverboard. She figures it out quickly that he doesn’t know why she is really there and that she is a hostage. As time goes, she trust him enough to tell him some of the truth, and in return he shows her a way to escape. Afterwards, she helps him to retrieve his weapon and hoverboard along with a pulse knife. Without knowing her father would go back on word, and with her training she is prepared when he attacks Victoria.

She helps Col to escape. When they get the chance to stop and talk, Frey suggests going to Shreve to see her father as he could help. As they travel to Shreve, the attacks on Victoria continue she realizes going to Shreve is not the answer. They stop to recharge the hoverboard and during their respite, Col takes Frey to his village’s weapon hideout. Zura, along with what’s left of the Victorian House Guard, show up to rescue Col believing he has been kidnapped by Rafi. Zura believes Col’s mom could still be alive due to a codebook that has dropped a hidden message in the feed that only Victorian forces can read. On their way following the codebook ping, they learn that Col’s brother, Teo has been kidnapped from his boarding school. They run into even more battles and while under heavy fire they are rescued by Teo and finally make it to where the codebook was directing them and find what’s left of their army.

After taking down some of Shreve’s armored cars to test her father’s defenses, they are followed by three more. They try to get away but end up taking the high ground to shoot them down. While setting up position the Shreve cars wave a white flag. They soon discover that it is some of Col’s friends and the rebels. They wanted to join in the fight. They head back to the rest of the group. Everyone rests up, eats and then they discuss plans. After dinner everyone, says their goodbyes in case things go wrong. Things start going their way but they are soon outnumbered and Col gets captured, while Frey and the rest get away.

Yes this story ends on a cliffhanger, but I can say it will not leave you reeling. It finishes this part and gets you ready for the next one.  This is book 1 in a 4 book series.