Review: Amazing.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 17, 2014
I don't know what bothers me more - the fact that this book (and part of the second one) kept me up until 4 a.m. or that I just discovered it was a 7 book series and I have to WAIT for the next four. Ugh. It is a testament to how amazing this story is that I am willing to wait and not just blow the author off and give up the series (like I have with other cliffhanging books).This book.  What can I say about it? It is not for the weak-hearted because some of the things that happen to the heroine are so awful because the author has written her innocence so perfectly.  Because of that, when it is suddenly and completely ripped away from her you feel all her anguish at former "friends-mentors" turning into enemies.  Everything that happens to her is horrid and if you have problems with sexual abuse, this book is not for you.  It is graphic without being overly so (if that is possible) because the author stops before you begin to hyperventilate. It isn't even the act itself that bothered me (much) so much as it is the heroine's reaction in her innocence. She is a survivor but also a victim of manipulations just beyond the reader's eyesight.  You somehow know it's there but you have no idea how it is going to play out.The author has done an unbelievable job of keeping the heroine from becoming a "poor-pitiful-me-feel-sorry-for-me" character. She is unique and strong, yet still innocent in so many ways even though her life has been a nightmare. And even though she's a young character, that never really crosses your mind (i.e., like some YA books do).  This book describes how she arrived to the place where she is now free but you just know there is more - that's how good the author is at keeping you on edge without telling you anything.  You can hear the "da DUM" (Jaw's music) because you know... "It's coming" - the other shoe dropping.  That's what forces you on to the next book and then the third because you pray she finds peace but you know, you just know she's not there yet (of course not, there are four more books).I really didn't think there were any books out there that could catch me off guard and surprise me.  I've read so many and they are so cookie-cutter in type even if the plots differ. This one is so beautifully different and so well written. Someone reviewed and said the story is unrealistic. How does that person know? I've heard of and known of unbelievable things happening to people so yes, this plot could have happened. Even if it couldn't, it is called fiction for a reason - just go with the flow because it is a wonderful (and horrible [for the h]) story.