Review: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

11 August, 2012 Reviews 21 comments

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

Review: Unspoken by Sarah Rees BrennanUnspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Series: The Lynburn Legacy #1
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on September 11th 2012
Pages: 370
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Amazon Good BooksBook Depository
Goodreads
five-stars

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

I have a scale for YA books I read, since I’ve read so many.  It looks something like this.

-I hope this book dies.  Right now.  And takes a 100km radius with it just to be sure.

-Terrible book

-Not my thing

-Meh

-Yeah that was okay

-Hmmm.  Interesting

-I was pleasantly surprised

-Yeah I liked that

-That was a great book

-Wow I loved that book!

-FIZZJERBLEDEEGOOK!  That was Freaking AMAZEBALLS!

-I will read that book again

Allow me to lay down some perspective.  At this moment I have no fewer than sixty-three ARCs sitting around waiting to be read.  I have specifically enough time to scratch my head in bemusement between reading one book, reviewing it, contacting the appropriate people and picking up the next one.  I do not have time to reread books.  So whilst there are plenty of books that I greatly enjoy and even love, the pool for the number of books I reread is currently at five. Five.  This book makes five books I reread.

It is not that it’s a perfect book – but that it is perfect for me.  I loved everything about it.  Brennan’s writing style, humour, wit and dialogue shines in everything she writes.  This book is filled with atmosphere, mood and the perfect level of creepy.  It’s characters shine through as it’s strongest advantage.  Each independently strong and lovable, Brennan pulls out all the stops in creating a Scooby Gang of epic proportions.

Easily the biggest selling point is Kami and Jared.  But mostly Kami.  Kami was rocking so hard that I had residual whiplash.  Strong, smart, brave – a theme with almost all the women in the novel.  She was quirky enough to be cute, independent enough to be admirable, vulnerable enough to be loved – strong enough to lead this novel and stand on her own.  Jared with his flawed complexity and bad boy characteristics was lovable and pitiable.  I know I have a soft spot for bad boys, but it’s hard not to root for him and hurt for him throughout the novel.

The pacing and plot were pretty much spot on perfect, never getting boring or easing up on the good times which balanced with the action and suspense.

I think this book earned each and every one of those five stars.  It earned them hard and I need the next one NOW.

Kat Kennedy

Kat Kennedy

Co-blogger at Cuddlebuggery
Kat Kennedy is a book reviewer and aspiring author in the Young Adult genre. She reviews critically but humorously and get super excited about great books. Find her on GoodReads.
Kat Kennedy

21 Responses to “Review: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan”

  1. christinashoe

    Agh, this review makes me want to read it even more! The summary sounds amazing!

  2. StarryStorm

    I’ve been bitten by the jealousy bug. Unspoken has been on my wishlist for months. The release date seems so far away. The first chapters support what you say: That Unspoken will be a cute, funny, and awesome read. Thank you for the review!

  3. Addie R

    You just made me need this book even more. I mean, only 5 books you would actually re-read? I don’t re-read books either and I have maybe about 3 I’d actually re-read. So I can see where you’re coming from.

    • KatKennedy

       @Addie R Yeah it’s a pretty big deal for me to reread a book.  I really hope you like it!

  4. JeepinJaime

    Very excited about this book! The cover is one of my favorites. Your review “scale” is awesome! Your review is awesome. Just awesome all around!

  5. LauraQofU

    I found your blog on the list of “blogs to avoid” on the completely bullshit “Stop the GR Bullies” blog.  I figured just the fact that you were on that list meant that you had a decent blog, and I was wrong…you actually have an awesome blog.  I’ll be back again to read more and find new books to read and get a head’s up on what to stay away from

  6. Kara_M
    Twitter:

    I’m reading this next, Kat. I am so excited because of THIS review. I hope I love it as much as you did. I’m in quite a reading slump right now. 

  7. Scribing Shadows

    I am waiting so impatiently for this to be released. I have preordered it from my local indie and September is just taking it’s freaking sweet time to get here while August just sucks away at my existence. Anyway happy to hear you loved because I love the Demon Lexicon series and Sarah Rees Brennan and Team Human and just love all around.

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