What do I say about this
book?...I don’t really have any words other than wow! What a book!
I found this book on one of my many
Amazon browses for new reads and added it to my wish list. It was only a few
weeks later that I read reviews on the book that spurred me on to actually purchase
it. I am so glad I did!
This is one of the best books I
have read this year (and I have read a lot of books) from the first page I
loved it, it was different, and it felt completely fresh and new. The main
female protagonist Ruby is introduced straight away and you are quickly
absorbed into her heart breaking story. I am going to contain a portion of the
blurb just so you get the concept of the book:
When Ruby woke
up on her tenth birthday, something about her had 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.
Straight away from reading this I had to know what was
happening, where the story would go. This book is written so well, the detail,
description and the pull into the pages is incredible. You really feel for Ruby and
all the other characters, you cannot believe something so horrific is happening
to these children, and how parents are willingly handing their children over like this.
There is almost a feel of horror throughout the book, but not the scary sort of
horror, but shock at the treatment of these children, and how they are perceived and locked up.
Ruby is the main protagonist and we follow her journey right
from the start, before she got her abilities, straight up to her first day at ‘rehabilitation
camp’ . The fear radiates off Ruby for the entirety off this book, the fear of
what she could do, the fear of hurting those around her, and the fear of the
situation she is in. Her character grows stronger the more she starts to
understand her powers, not quite controlling them, but having a better
awareness of the feelings generated from it. Ruby is a great character, hearing
the story of how she ended up sent to Thurmond was truly heart breaking.
We also follow the characters Liam, Chubs and Zu, three
escapees from another rehabilitation camp. Liam being the leader of the group,
Chubs the knowledgeable medical one who is increasingly annoying throughout the
book, and little Zu, a young girl put through some terrifying experiences,
leaving her mute and afraid of her own shadow. I loved the development between
Ruby and Zu’s character, it was incredibly sweet and reassuring that even
within these dark times, it hadn't crushed their spirits or want, to take care
and help Zu be as normal a child she could possibly be in the current
situation. Chubs, was an incredibly annoying character, who never took to Ruby,
he saw her as a danger to the group, bringing trouble with her wherever she
goes. However with gradual development you see another side to him, and you
soften to his characters, understanding the good intentions he really has. A
true credit to Alexandra’s writing with these characters.
Liam was another great character; he took to the role of a
leader amazingly. Yet was forever full of turmoil, protecting the group,
feeling guilty at being the ring leader of the mass breakout and with so many losing
their lives because of it, and generally because he couldn't quite give them
what he promised them yet. The development between him and Ruby was amazing, it
wasn't in your face, it was a subtle and slow burn, it left you uncertain of
how it would pan out. But you loved it all the same. I really felt his guilt and
anguish throughout and Alexandra Bracken really enabled us to understand this
character whilst viewing him from Ruby’s POV.
Finally the character to save for last. Clancy Gray....i really feel like i shouldn't say too much about him for those who may actually want to read this book and decide for themselves first hand on what they think of him. But i have never hated a character as much as this...This guy makes Draco Malfoy look like a saint! A glorified angelic saint at that! Alexandra Bracken was very clever in the development and twist with this character and i am intrigued as to how she will continue it throughout the rest of the series.
The Darkest Minds is truly an amazing book; it creates a
detailed dystopian world of complete chaos and fear. The book is beautifully
written, bringing in that slightest bit of humour and sarcasm to help lighten
the many darker moments in it. However the ending left me heartbroken; I have never
finished a book, put it down and wailed ‘No!! I need to know what happens!’ as
drastically as i did when I finished this. Safe to say the next book, Never Fade
is in the post and on its way to me as we speak and I really cannot wait!
I thoroughly recommend this book if you like action, adventure
and dystopian novels. Alexandra Bracken is a remarkable author and i just
cannot wait to see what she brings in the next book. I need to know now!!!!!
This book is a definite
5 out of 5 stars for me!
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