Monday, November 19, 2012

Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

The Darkest Minds
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
When Ruby wakes up on her tenth birthday, something about her has changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government "rehabilitation camp." She might have survived the mysterious disease that's killed most of America's children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control. Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she's on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her--East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can't risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

Publishes in US: Dec 18th 2012
Source:
Series? yes, first in trilogy. I couldn't find any information about next



Buy it:
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Find Alexandra online:
Site
blog, or Tumblr.Blkosiner's Book Blog review

     Let the fangirling commence. Oh my goodness, what a story. I loved it from the first word to the last emotional scene. Alexandra has created a story with a unique plot, amazing characters, and she is one heck of a writer. I couldn't believe the emotional roller coaster that she took me on and this masterpiece that she wrote with the OMG moments, did she seriously just do that to this character that I love, she made me laugh, want to cry, want to rip people's hair out, and mostly just sit in awe of how beautifully she crafted The Darkest Minds.
    I loved the premise from the moment that I read it, and Alexandra really pulls it off well. She breathed her own breath of fresh air into the genre and wrote some awesome ideas and scary elements to the chilling world she has created in The Darkest Minds. The plot was woven together wonderfully. Alexandra told us what we needed to know at the moment and then filled in the details later by showing them and acting them out. While I admit I was a bit confused with some of the lingo and exactly what happened (I thought I missed something), I later saw how she put it all together.
    Ruby is an amazing main character. I loved how much she grew and changed in this story, and I really admire the person she turned into at the end even more so than the one that I connected with at the beginning. I love her fighter spirit and how much she cares for and would do anything for the people that she loves.
     There is also a great cast of secondary characters. Liam, so crushworthy and such a born leader. Speaking of, I admired how the romance in here was subtle, ie no insta love. I appreciated how they got to know each other, and even though there was physical attraction, there was also an emotional connection. On to the others though. Chubs, ever loyal to those he cares about, and full of surprises. Zu, the precious and strong younger character that you want to shield and hope the best for. And then there were the characters  like Clancy that I never knew what exactly to make of. There are also some awesomely written antagonists, that make me want to scream at them and wonder at their methods and how they sleep at night.
     All that said, I must warn that this is a dark book for mature teens. There's some (not on every page or anything though) cursing that I found slightly offensive, but given what was going on, I could overlook. There is also some fairly descriptive talk about injuries/blood. (All of this is in arc the advanced reader copy)
     Back to what I loved-- I so can't wait to get the next book in this series, and find out more about what happens to Ruby and what comes of the incredibly brave but heart wrenching choices that she made.
    Bottom line: Absolutely loved and recommend. Wonderful start to a new trilogy.

Awesome quote:
She didn't know there were two of me now; split between everything I had wanted and everything I would now have to be. One of me... would stay... (The other) thin as a wisp of air and had struggled so long just to be. 

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Would you try to escape if you thought it would hurt others?

28 comments:

  1. Awesome review!! I have an ARC of this book and now I can't wait to read it! It sounds AMAZING. And I've been hearing nothing but great things about it. :)

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  2. I love all the emotions it brought out in you! Makes me even more excited to read it.

    I am not sure if I would try to escape if it would hurt others. Maybe. :)

    ~Sara @ Forever 17 Books

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  3. Great review, I was very on the fence about this book, but it sounds exciting

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  4. Oooh, I'm glad you like this one so much. There have been a lot of disappointments in dystopian fiction, so I'm glad this one followed through with the implied awesomeness!

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  5. Great review, I love when a reviewer go all fangirl cos then it must be good

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  6. Sounds like quite a dark read, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, great review.

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  7. Wohhaa! I couldn't wait to see your review for this. Now I feel like a complete fool for not requesting this book over at NetGalley. Bravo me! I love the sound of this book I'll read it for sure! :)

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  8. Loved your review! I will admit that this book was not on my radar but, you haven't definitely changed my mind. I love it when a book has great secondary characters it makes a book that much more great!

    Kristin @ Young Adult Book Haven

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  9. Wow, what a fantastic review! I was just reading a couple of other positive reviews for this today and now want it ten times more! I'm so glad it impressed you. :)

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  10. This sounds awesome and now I have to read it! Delightful review and so glad its a little dark, little older.

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  11. Now I'm intrigued by the last emotional scene lol. I read another great review about this book, I'll have to ass it to my wishlist.

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    1. Yes, you should add it... don't know about assing it, lol

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  12. Wonderful review full of enthusiasm. Love it when bloggers get all fan girlie.I must check if I got accepted on NG. You sold me on this one:D

    Mich

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  13. Thank you for sharing such an awesome fangirling review :) It's wonderful to learn that the characters are amazing and the plot is intriguing.

    In relation to your question: I guess by means of escaping, there could be an assumption of not wanting to be trapped but the definition of being free is highly personal. If I know hurting others won't give me the sense of freedom that I desire, I don't think I could escape.

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    1. Great answer! So hard to know for me unless in situation

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  14. EEEEE This sounds amazing. I love the concept. I just requested it on netgalley. Hope I get it.

    Great review.

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  15. I should really get a copy of this soon. Thanks for the review!

    I think I will escape even if it might hurt others emotionally. I wouldn't if it will be the death of a person. I wouldn't get over the guilt.

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