Monday 8 December 2014

Review: The Darkest Minds

Title: The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1)
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Released: December 2012
Pages: 488
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction
Favourite Quote: “I'm a monster, you know. I'm one of the dangerous ones.
No you aren't, he promised. Your one of us.” 
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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. 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

My Review

Initial Thoughts: This book had me on the edge of my seat for pretty much the whole way through. I loved the main character and supporting characters and I am so eager to get started on the next book.

The Darkest Minds follows sixteen year old Ruby who has been locked at a 'rehabilitation' camp by the Government after a deadly disease resulted in all children around her age to possess powers. Sent to a rehabilitation camp so that they can be 'cured', Ruby escapes and meets Liam, Chubbs and Zu who all have powers of their own. They are on the run, desperate to never return to the rehabilitation camps and eager to find East River, a place known to be a safe haven for people like them.

The Pros: I really loved the characters in this book. I loved the main character and I loved the supporting characters - Liam, Chubs, Zu. I loved how they were all different yet were all able to get along (well, mostly). When they did fight, it was for proper reasons and not for some dumb reason. I understood all sides to the story and why they were fighting (when they did). 

I also enjoyed the action in the novel. There are so many villains within this one novel so therefore it never got boring. It had its funny moments and serious moments.  I was always so eager to find out what happened.

The Cons: Nothing really. I can't think of any. Maybe that it is like nearly 500 pages? But really, that is not really a negative. It was enjoyable all the way through

Would I recommend this book? Yes of course. This book helped me to get out of a reading slump (a slump I seem to be having a hard time to get out of). It was been on my to-be-read shelf for some time now and I am so glad I finally read it. It is one of the stand out books that I have read this year