REVIEW: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Name: Unspoken

Author: Sarah Rees Brennan

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Release Date: September 13th 2012

Pages: 370, Paperback

Source: For review (from publisher)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Kami Glass is in love with someone she's never met - a boy the rest of the world is convinced is imaginary. This has made her an outsider in the sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale, but she doesn't complain. She runs the school newspaper and keeps to herself for the most part - until disturbing events begin to happen. There has been screaming in the woods and the dark, abandoned manor on the hill overlooking the town has lit up for the first time in 10 years. The Lynburn family, who ruled the town a generation ago and who all left without warning, have returned. As Kami starts to investigate for the paper, she finds out that the town she has loved all her life is hiding a multitude of secrets- and a murderer- and the key to it all just might be the boy in her head. The boy who everyone thought was imaginary may be real...and he may be dangerous.

Beverley's Review

Unspoken was not what I expected but I loved it even more for that.  It surprised me and swept me from my feet.  A truly unique and original read that is sure to get your spine tingling...

Set in a quiet town in England, Sarah Rees Brennan perfectly captured the eerie, chilly atmosphere: the ancient buildings, the dark depths of the woods, the authority with which Aurimere House stood.  Brennan's writing is like a not-so-subtle poke in the back from out of nowhere, awakening all your senses and making you look behind you warily as you turn the pages frantically.

You can't have such a wonderfully evocative setting without equally wonderful characters.  I'm happy to report that Brennan delivered!  There's Kami, one of the main characters, who was so full of exuberance and enthusiasm I could feel her vibes jump right off the page.  She was the perfect protagonist, breezing in on my reading slump like a welcome gust of fresh air.  Her bright, witty one-liners kept me reading through the night.  Although the way she spoke was unlike any other teenager I've met, I adored her even more for it.  She is such a quirky, in-your-face (in a good way, of course!) character, I'm sure she will carry on capturing hearts.

Perhaps because of Kami's bright presence, she overshadowed some of the other characters.  I felt mostly indifferent to Jared.  He was your typical 'bad' boy and I found him a little clichéd. I didn't fall for him or swoon, which was slightly disappointing.  I'm looking forward to seeing more of him in later book, though.

And lastly but not least... the PLOT.  Sarah Rees Brennan must have a wild imagination, crafting such an eccentric, complex story.  It was so different from other books I've read... yet it felt familiar, if that makes sense.  The whole 'imaginary friend in you head becoming real' fascinated me and I loved the way with which Brennan dealt it.  However, the pacing at the beginning was a problem for me.   Going through a reading slump, you naturally need a book to keep you on your toes which meant things only picked up in the later two-thirds.

Overall, Unspoken is a darkly refreshing read, bringing all its originality into the YA world.  It has all the elements of a intriguing read, throwing the reader in a world of mystery and magic.  I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the trilogy! Are you brave enough to venture into the woods?

4.5 teacups for Unspoken!

'Many thanks to Simon & Schuster for the review copy*