Constance by Matthew FitzSimmons does not fall into the hit or miss category, it is both a hit AND a miss. I think this novel is fun to read and one you will enjoy if like me, dystopians are your reading jam but the novel contains some sections that make zero sense within the plot and is why the novel is a miss because not all of it flows to create an immersive read.

It's not a hit or miss, it's a hit and miss because there are parts that are discombobulating and could have benefitted from additional depth to create an intenser read but it doesn't matter because the crazy plot and intriguing dystopian concept are a delight and allow you to overlook certain moments making Constance a hit and miss.

You may experience frustration with the plot when reading Constance. The concept of a future with clones allowing partial immortality which combined with the legality around said clones is quite intriguing but, for such a morally grey topic, the plot lacks conflict and therefore, can promote confusion.

The plot could benefit from a bit more contrast in decision making to reinforce the drive of the characters and is a big portion of my personal frustration when reading this, I wanted more depth! If you decide to read Constance, know the plot is unique with great world building but could have benefitted from more oomph to truly push that dystopian narrative and drive.

There is one main character who drives the story and that is Con, the clone of Constance. Having lost eighteen months of memory, Con is searching for answers about what happened to the original Con and if she herself, is actually Constance or a seperate entity all together? Con is a unique character for a dystopian as protagonists in this genre are traditionally steadfast in morality but Con isn't.

Constance is a character who briefly weighs the options and then chooses what suits her in that moment regardless of the danger. You will either like or hate Constance, there is no between as she is intense and calm simultaneously and so different from other dystopians protagonists I've read that I loved following her story because I never knew where it would go and that's why she is a dynamic character who does elevate the novel even if sometimes there a moments where you want to smack her.

You may find the ending a bit disjointing. The purpose is evident and there is zero confusion on what happens but what little drive the novel has is lost even further and I felt it could have been altered for more finality. This lack of finality should not be a deal-breaker as a second novel is being released and is a novel I hope continues to explore the insanity of this dystopian world.

Constance contains missing elements and unique elements making it a mixed-bag novel that is both worth and not worth your time. I recommend reading Constance with the knowledge going it that you'll be left with unanswered questions but will have a great time regardless.

I found Constance to be a novel containing a solid concept that was not as well executed as it could have been. The idea of clones, bodily autonomy, and scientifically created immortality captivated me and that captivation propelled me through the novel as I continuously wondered, what could happen next in this dystopian world? But, nothing really happened? I think the reason for this is that Con is flimsy. And damn, I liked that she was. I think her flimsiness suited her personality prior to the clone.

When we met Constance, she was still grieving and stumbling through life in a haze, she was a woman who let life happen instead of making it her own. We never saw the Con that regained her sense of self through pushing onward and realising that she can both grieve one individual and love another; the clone wasn't that person and to me I valued her wishy-washyness that caused such a tumultuous plot.

One moment Con was all business and another she didn't care. I also think her knowledge her life was temporary due to the memories allowed her to go with the flow; the guarantee of death regardless of her decision meant she could make whatever decision she wanted and the decisions Constance made were all to get answers. I didn't mind that she went with the flow and based her decisions on what would give her answers, not provide the world with safety, but I wish there had been a moral dilemma that made her decision to choose answers over the better good more antagonistic to provide her with determination and choice.

For example, when she was held captive by the CoA, if there had been a fight to ensure she escaped, that would have made the scenario more intense or when she decided to let Cabigail die, there had been more mirth or anger in her decision than just apathy. I think her apathetic nature would have worked better if there were more external situations that propelled her to fight and make tough decisions. I would have enjoyed more give and take in the plot that played off of Con's wishy-washyness.

Now, moving on to Con - the original. I wish we could have seen her in the last eighteen months because she sounded awful. She fell in love with a man, married him, and then was summoned by her not-dead aunt to find out she could resurrect her old love who in real-life had passed and then agrees. There was no guarantee and Con was willing to throw the life she created away for a fantasy? This is the Constance I wanted to know more about, what happened in the eighteen months that changed her decision from the new-Constance's decision regarding Zhi and downloading him? What was the rationale, what caused her ideas to change?

It all was so strange and it made zero sense that Vernon would discover Constance held the key to immortality. This discovery meant that Constance's decision only delayed the inevitable and led me to ask, why did she not want to give up the information to live? Was it a clone thing to want to only live once - again? Peter didn't clone again and Peter may I say, died in the most ridiculous way. He got inside an impenetrable fortress, powered past his dehabilitating injuries, and then overpowered a healthy and strong woman to inject her with a needle? There were quite a few moments like this that left me with questions, so many questions. If you read the non-spoiler review, you know that was a big issue for me - moments were confusing but not in a good way. I wish there had been more expansion and urgency within the novel.

I know I harped on about what frustrated me because I do think Constance could have been so much more but the crazy thing is, I still enjoyed it. I read this rapidly and I valued Constance's journey to find answers and heal herself. I liked the disposition between Vernon and the CoA leader and how the enemy required an enemy to fight against. I liked Levi a lot. I liked at the end how Constance was able to heal which I perceived as her ability to openly and comfortably discuss herself and life with her bandmates. This novel had many up and downs for me and in the end, I enjoyed Constance and am ready for the sequel.