by: Alexandra Bracken
Ruby was just 10 years old when her parents locked her in the garage and sent her away. By then, kids in her class were dying, or being sent to rehabilitation camps. Ruby has a gift so dangerous that to reveal it would mean execution. After six years in Camp Thurmond, Ruby is discovered and barely makes it out with her life. She's on the run and trying to get anywhere that will keep her safe from the camps, and keep others safe from her.
I was a huge fan of Bracken's first novel, Brightly Woven. So, it was with great eagerness that I picked up The Darkest Minds. It is, of course, a very different story.
There is a lot about The Darkest Minds that I've read before. Kids in camps separated from their parents. Kids dying at a certain age. And, kids with special powers that keeps them from getting close to others. This proved to be a problem for me at the beginning. I just couldn't quite get the hook. Though the plot was moving at a pretty steady pace, I wasn't engaged in the story. I could see what was lurking around every literary corner. I just wanted more out of the story, expected more.
About 250 pages in, it finally clicked and the reason to stay showed itself. There were some changes in plot, and addition of a romance that I really liked, and Ruby started getting hit with some tougher decisions. And it was all over from there. I was hooked. I tore through the rest of the book in mere hours, and felt like my heart got hollowed out with a melon baller at the end. Honestly. The ending is so wonderfully perfect, you'll need to catch your breath.
This is a very promising start to the series. I can't wait to see what comes next!
At least you found your back at some point. I can't imagine not at least liking a Bracken novel after Brightly Woven. Although any guy is going to have a hard time standing up next to Wayland North. I'VE GOT to read my ARC TODAY. Or sometime this week. WHATEVS.
ReplyDeleteI think you may like the boy that Ruby falls for. I liked him very much.
DeleteI think I might give this one another try. I just couldn't get past the beginning.
ReplyDeleteYeah, give it another shot. It was a slow start for me too, but it gets really good.
DeleteGreat review. I really enjoyed this and the ending was fantastic. I need more now.
ReplyDeleteJenea @ Books Live Forever
I've been pretty much dying for this book, so it's a bit disappointing to hear that the beginning is a bit slow and predictable. However, I still think I'd enjoy the book, since it seems to get much faster after 250 pages. =) And I LOVE those endings that tear your heart out! Those are always the best kinds. ;)
ReplyDeleteLovely review Emily! <3