Saturday 15 September 2012

Review: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan


Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy, #1)

  Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
  Publisher: Random House Children's Books
  Publication Date: September 11th 2012
  My rating:  4 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?

Unspoken is not the story I was expecting, and I enjoyed that.  Somehow I thought this would be a dark and serious tale, and some of it is.  Mostly, it was a story full of wit and fun, a little romance, and magic. 

Unspoken is centered on Kami Glass, a high-school student, and ambitious journalist-in-training.  She’s head of the school newspaper, and always on the trail of a new story.  But now Kami’s focused on uncovering secrets, because the founding family of Sorry-in-the-Vale, The Lynburn’s, have come back, after a seventeen year absence, and no one thinks this is a good thing.  There’s one more thing you need to know about Kami: she’s grown up with an imaginary friend (or so she thinks), Jared.  When the Lynburn boys show up in school, Kami finds out that Jared is not an imaginary friend at all, but a real live flesh and blood boy.  A boy not happy to find out that his imaginary friend is anything but.  Kami is shocked, as well, but this has to take a backseat to the strange occurrences that start happening around her. 

Animal sacrifices, an attempt on her life, and the murder of a girl, become the mysteries that must be solved.  Is it a coincidence that all this has happened since the Lynburn’s return?  Kami doesn’t think so.  Everywhere she turns she gets a warning to stay away from the Lynburn’s, they’re dangerous, but why?  Even her mother begs her to stay away from Jared, but Kami knows she can’t.  To stay away from him would be like tearing herself in half. 

Kami is such a quirky, unstoppable, and fun force.  Her sense of humor was dry, witty and sharp.  It was impossible not to be enamored with her from the get-go.  Kami’s always thought of herself as a bit crazy, knowing normal people didn’t have an imaginary friend.  When she finds out Jared is real, she knows that some sort of magic must exist and be involved.  Kami can’t help but be tentative and frightened of Jared, because he knows so many of her inner thoughts and secrets.  Someone like that can hold so much power over you. 

Jared is angry to find out Kami is real too, for the same reasons.  He’s a moody, broody, male and doesn’t like that he’s so vulnerable to Kami.  But soon they sort out most of their anger, and become closer than ever before.  Jared is fiercely protective of Kami now that he knows someone’s out to kill her.  He can’t lose Kami, the most important connection in his life; someone who’s always been in his corner, even when his family has not.  I found myself rooting for their brewing romance even as they fought so hard against it.  I wanted to scream: “Kiss her, dammit!”  These two go back and forth and had me laughing some of the time.  Here’s a fun quote:

“A leather jacket,” Kami said as he shrugged into it. “Aren’t you trying a little too hard to play into certain bad boy clichés?”
“Nah,” said Jared.  “You’re thinking of black leather.  Black leather’s for bad boys.  It’s all in the color. You wouldn’t think I was a bad boy if I was wearing a pink leather jacket.”
“That’s true,” Kami said.  “What I would think of you, I do not know.  So what does brown leather mean, then?”
“I’m going for manly,” Jared said. “Maybe a little rugged.”
“It’s bits of a dead cow, don’t ask it to perform miracles.”-Kami

There are a few twists and turns that keep you guessing who’s at the bottom of this mystery.  Suspicion is cast on everyone.  There’s a fun cast of secondary characters, as well: Angela, Kami’s perpetually annoyed and unfailingly loyal best friend. Rusty, Angela’s brother, a self-defense instructor always leaping out on the two of them to keep their defenses sharp. Holly, the eager new friend.   Kami’s father and little brothers, Ten, who is ten, and seven year-old, Tomo, also bring a lot of random and silly humor to the story.  The Lynburn family figures in prominently, but they are far from fun. 

I had two complaints with the story, one bigger than the other.  First, the writing felt a little disjointed and choppy in places.  Not a smooth transition from one happening to the next.  Not a huge issue but it took some getting used to.  My second complaint is a much bigger deal to me: the HORRIBLE cliffhanger we’re left on!! Why, why, why?!!  Ugh!!  I have no patience whatsoever, and now I’m forced to wait until next June to find out what happens!  In spite of these complaints, I did really enjoy the story and I’m eagerly anticipating the sequel. 

Thanks to Random House Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for allowing me to read this.


10 comments:

Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings said...

Yep, the ridiculous cliffhanger totally ruined the book for me, I was so irriated that I don't think I will continue the series, especially if she continues to use cliffhangers, I just don't have the patience for them anymore. I like the quirky characters but I thought the book was slow.....

Sam (Realm of Fiction) said...

I found myself rooting for their brewing romance even as they fought so hard against it. I wanted to scream: “Kiss her, dammit!”

Tell me about it! I felt that way too, but despite the frustration, I loved the subtle romantic vibes between them. Hopefully we will see that develop into something more in the next book. :)

I'm glad you enjoyed this, Rachel! Brilliant review, darling!

Keertana said...

Rachel, I finished this one last night AND THAT CLIFFHANGER WAS SO ANNOYING! WAS THAT REALLY NECESSARY? I WAS GOING TO PICK UP THE SEQUEL ANYWAY! Argh! *smashes more plates*

Anyway, that cliffhanger aside, I loveeeed this book! It wasn't what I was expecting at all either and I'm so glad you loved it! I really wish Jared and Kami had kissed at least once though... Seriously, it would have made me less scared for the sequel and now I'm TERRIFIED she'll wind up with Ash and...I'm going to stop thinking about this book so I can sleep at night and not worry about Kami and Jared even though I know I inevitably will. Sarah is just such a phenomenal author, isn't she? :) Yet another fantastic review, dear! :D

Rachel said...

Thank you lovely! I hope we get more in the sequel too. Just wish I could read it NOW! :)

Rachel said...

Thank you Keertana! I was NOT happy with that cliffhanger either and she better now end up with Ash! I wish the same thing with Jared and Ash. There was a lot of nice build-up between these two though. The humor was excellent though. :)

Celine said...

Aaaaa, I've heard that the book ends in a cliffhanger and now I'm worried! But this book sounds really interesting. I haven't read any books by Sarah Rees Brennan except her collaboration with Justin Larbalestier in Team Human but I can't wait to read Unspoken! And love the funny quote too ;)

Awesome review, Rachel! ♥ So glad you enjoyed it!

Unknown said...

Gah! A huge cliffhanger?!? I'm definitely interested in reading Unspoken, particularly b/c I love a great, witty story. I think I may wait until book two releases and read both. I'm really glad you enjoyed the book. Great review!

Anonymous said...

I've heard lots of great things about this book! So glad you liked it, Rachel! And I can't wait to meet Kami! Based on this, I have a feeling she could by me best friend because she's just so fun. Haha.

AND THOSE EVIL CLIFFHANGERS!

Great review, Rachel!

Michelle Fluttering Butterflies said...

I keep reading good things about this book, can't wait to finally read it!

Livvy said...

“It’s bits of a dead cow, don’t ask it to perform miracles.”-Kami

Favourite line of the quote! After your review and Sam's review, Rachel, I really want to read this book. I wasn't really keen, but you've pursuaded me otherwise.

I like the sound of the witty humour and mystery that I feel could really draw me into this novel. I'll definitely be looking out for this one! :)

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