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?
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- Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy #1)
Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy #1)
Author(s)
Publisher
Genre(s)
Age Range
12+
Release Date
September 11, 2012
ISBN
978-0375870415
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Editor reviews
4 reviews
Overall rating
3.7
Plot
2.5(2)
Characters
4.0(2)
Writing Style
4.5(2)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A(0)
ALL THE BANTER
(Updated: November 03, 2014)
Overall rating
4.3
Plot
3.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
what I Liked:
Paranormal romance novels, more than some other genres, seem to follow a particular formula really strongly and that, I think, was what I expected. Sarah Rees Brennan is clearly well-acquainted with that formula, but she’s playing with it rather than repeating it by rote. For example, on the surface, there’s a love triangle with the good guy and the bad boy, but it’s not really that cut and dried when you get into it. The relationship dynamics aren’t simple and there’s no instalove anywhere.
Then there’s Kami, who I have to describe as plucky, determined and reckless. Kami’s highly intelligent and driven. She wants to be an investigative journalist and is starting the school paper. There’s no mystery she doesn’t want to research and solve. As such, she’s highly curious about the Lynburns, who have returned to Sorry-on-the-Vale after many years away. No one will tell her anything, though, so she’s going to have to interrogate the Lynburn boys, Ash and Jared, both incredibly hot. Poor girl. In pursuit of truth, however, Kami can be really reckless. She considers danger worth the price of a good story and sometimes I’m like GURRRRRL.
Still, I think Kami’s great. She’s very much herself, even when she’s making some terrible decisions. In fact, the cast is pretty great all around, though I’m not a hundred percent certain how I feel yet about Ash or Jared. I have a feeling that will come. From that, you can probably surmise that I’m not completely set on a ship for Kami yet, and you would be right. Obviously I know what the ship will be and I think it’s probably the right ship, but my heart has yet to fully buy into it.
On the other hand, I do love Kami’s connection to Jared, who heretofore was her imaginary friend. Suddenly he’s there in the flesh. This is where I mean the book is much more complex than anticipated. I think this would be used by most authors as a way to jumpstart a really cheesy romantic love. Not so Sarah Rees Brennan. Actually, both Kami and Jared are a little bit disappointed to learn that their imaginary friends are real. It complicates things, because it’s a lot easier to trust in someone who cannot tell your secrets. Sorting out what they are to one another isn’t a simple task
My favorite character by far is Angela, Kami’s best friend. Again, she seems like a cliché for about three seconds until you get to know her. I mean, she is the most beautiful girl in town, a fact which Kami does envy a bit. However, Angela’s not the typical best friend stereotype by a long shot. She’s lazy and violent, in that order. Angela hates people and is my spirit animal. She spends as much of her time napping as possible. When roused however, she will kick whatever asses need it most. Also, my ship for her didn’t seem like it would come true and then it DID, so YAY.
What Left Me Wanting More:
The plot itself was, at times, a bit predictable or meandering. It wasn’t my favorite element of the book. The reveal of who the evil doers were wasn’t the shock that it could have been. However, the ending itself was surprisingly dark and I think the scariness could be ratcheted up in later installments. Brennan does seem like she might be willing to do some truly nasty things to her characters, which excites me, for I am a cruel reader. That ending gives me much hope for what is to come, even if I think it’s a paranormal trope. Whatever, I must know.
The Final Verdict:
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan has all of the banter. It’s a case study on banter. At times it’s pretty close to laugh out loud funny. That alone will keep me coming back for more. Expect to immediately need book two when you finish this one. I feel such pain not having it.
Paranormal romance novels, more than some other genres, seem to follow a particular formula really strongly and that, I think, was what I expected. Sarah Rees Brennan is clearly well-acquainted with that formula, but she’s playing with it rather than repeating it by rote. For example, on the surface, there’s a love triangle with the good guy and the bad boy, but it’s not really that cut and dried when you get into it. The relationship dynamics aren’t simple and there’s no instalove anywhere.
Then there’s Kami, who I have to describe as plucky, determined and reckless. Kami’s highly intelligent and driven. She wants to be an investigative journalist and is starting the school paper. There’s no mystery she doesn’t want to research and solve. As such, she’s highly curious about the Lynburns, who have returned to Sorry-on-the-Vale after many years away. No one will tell her anything, though, so she’s going to have to interrogate the Lynburn boys, Ash and Jared, both incredibly hot. Poor girl. In pursuit of truth, however, Kami can be really reckless. She considers danger worth the price of a good story and sometimes I’m like GURRRRRL.
Still, I think Kami’s great. She’s very much herself, even when she’s making some terrible decisions. In fact, the cast is pretty great all around, though I’m not a hundred percent certain how I feel yet about Ash or Jared. I have a feeling that will come. From that, you can probably surmise that I’m not completely set on a ship for Kami yet, and you would be right. Obviously I know what the ship will be and I think it’s probably the right ship, but my heart has yet to fully buy into it.
On the other hand, I do love Kami’s connection to Jared, who heretofore was her imaginary friend. Suddenly he’s there in the flesh. This is where I mean the book is much more complex than anticipated. I think this would be used by most authors as a way to jumpstart a really cheesy romantic love. Not so Sarah Rees Brennan. Actually, both Kami and Jared are a little bit disappointed to learn that their imaginary friends are real. It complicates things, because it’s a lot easier to trust in someone who cannot tell your secrets. Sorting out what they are to one another isn’t a simple task
My favorite character by far is Angela, Kami’s best friend. Again, she seems like a cliché for about three seconds until you get to know her. I mean, she is the most beautiful girl in town, a fact which Kami does envy a bit. However, Angela’s not the typical best friend stereotype by a long shot. She’s lazy and violent, in that order. Angela hates people and is my spirit animal. She spends as much of her time napping as possible. When roused however, she will kick whatever asses need it most. Also, my ship for her didn’t seem like it would come true and then it DID, so YAY.
What Left Me Wanting More:
The plot itself was, at times, a bit predictable or meandering. It wasn’t my favorite element of the book. The reveal of who the evil doers were wasn’t the shock that it could have been. However, the ending itself was surprisingly dark and I think the scariness could be ratcheted up in later installments. Brennan does seem like she might be willing to do some truly nasty things to her characters, which excites me, for I am a cruel reader. That ending gives me much hope for what is to come, even if I think it’s a paranormal trope. Whatever, I must know.
The Final Verdict:
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan has all of the banter. It’s a case study on banter. At times it’s pretty close to laugh out loud funny. That alone will keep me coming back for more. Expect to immediately need book two when you finish this one. I feel such pain not having it.
Not What I Was Expecting
(Updated: November 22, 2012)
Overall rating
3.0
Plot
2.0
Characters
3.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Despite all the praises I had heard for Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan, I found that it was rather lackluster for me. The plot merely dragged along, there was a lot of pages that could have been caught up, and I failed to develop an interest in the storyline and the characters at all.
The characters were the strength of Unspoken. Jared, Ash, Angela, Kami, the whole crew really were all a great bunch. They were what kept me reading and I loved the shenanigans they would get themselves into.
I just love Sarah Rees Brennan's writing. It is so light and she spins such humor with it. This aside, I found much of the plot of Unspoken to be a bit dull. There were definitely the high points, but the parts in between tended to lag. It really wasn't until the last 100 pages when I thought things started to get interesting and was to a point that I really wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next.
One thing I will say for Unspoken is Sarah Rees Brennan knows how to go out with a bang. The ending is so powerful and a bit heartbreaking. The final line really spoke to me and made me really curious to see where things will go in the sequel.
Overall, Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan was not the book I was looking for at the time. It had strengths, but these were equally balanced with weaknesses I found throughout the entirety of the book.
The characters were the strength of Unspoken. Jared, Ash, Angela, Kami, the whole crew really were all a great bunch. They were what kept me reading and I loved the shenanigans they would get themselves into.
I just love Sarah Rees Brennan's writing. It is so light and she spins such humor with it. This aside, I found much of the plot of Unspoken to be a bit dull. There were definitely the high points, but the parts in between tended to lag. It really wasn't until the last 100 pages when I thought things started to get interesting and was to a point that I really wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next.
One thing I will say for Unspoken is Sarah Rees Brennan knows how to go out with a bang. The ending is so powerful and a bit heartbreaking. The final line really spoke to me and made me really curious to see where things will go in the sequel.
Overall, Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan was not the book I was looking for at the time. It had strengths, but these were equally balanced with weaknesses I found throughout the entirety of the book.
User reviews
6 reviews
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
3.7(6)
Characters
4.0(6)
Writing Style
4.2(6)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A(0)
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Great first book
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
3.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
As a child, Kami Glass had an imaginary friend, like so many children. But hers didn't disappear as she got older. She still talks to him even though doing that makes her an outsider in her small town called Sorry-in-the-Vale but Kami doesn't think it's hurt her to much. She has her best friend, she runs the school newspaper, and she's rarely caught talking to her imaginary friend out loud these days. Everything is going well. Until the Lynburn family moves back to town, twin sisters with their sons, Jared and Ash, and Kami is determined to get answers to why everyone in town is afraid of the Lynburns, why they ran so many years ago, why they're back, and why there's something so familiar about Jared.
This book ended up being a lot of fun to read. I loved the voice of the main character, it reminded me at times of Veronica Mars(which will never be a bad thing). The mythology surrounding the Lynburns and the whole town was really interesting and I enjoyed Kami and her group working to solve the mystery of who was behind the rituals in the woods.
Kami was a very likeable character. She made me laugh at a lot of her comments and thoughts. She reminded of Veronica Mars in more ways than just her voice, her determination to solve the mystery, getting her friends involved, throwing herself headfirst into her plan to uncover a clue. I liked that she was an outsider and it wasn't much of an issue for her. She had what she wanted and she was happy. Also, the relationship between her and her parents, especially her father, was great.
I also really liked the relationships she had and formed with other characters. Her best friend Angela was hilarious so much of the time, just wanting to sleep but going along with Kami anyway, making comments toward the Lynburn boys. Holly was added into the mix and she was really sweet. And then there were the two Lynburn boys. Jared and Ash, both mysterious but Ash was definitely more friendly and Jared was more of the troublemaker. I really liked the dynamic between Ash and Jared and it made me excited to see where it goes in the next book.
The supernatural mystery and the investigation was really well done. They would think they knew something, be wrong, come back to discover another clue and be off again. It was a good build-up to the final reveal where the action got really fast-paced. The whole book was just really well-paced, never slow, never too fast, never too much information or too many twists to handle.
I really liked the writing style, which I knew I would from Sarah Rees Brennan's other books. It worked so well with Kami's voice and it made for a book I just didn't want to put down.
I will definitely be reading the sequel, Untold, very soon.
This book ended up being a lot of fun to read. I loved the voice of the main character, it reminded me at times of Veronica Mars(which will never be a bad thing). The mythology surrounding the Lynburns and the whole town was really interesting and I enjoyed Kami and her group working to solve the mystery of who was behind the rituals in the woods.
Kami was a very likeable character. She made me laugh at a lot of her comments and thoughts. She reminded of Veronica Mars in more ways than just her voice, her determination to solve the mystery, getting her friends involved, throwing herself headfirst into her plan to uncover a clue. I liked that she was an outsider and it wasn't much of an issue for her. She had what she wanted and she was happy. Also, the relationship between her and her parents, especially her father, was great.
I also really liked the relationships she had and formed with other characters. Her best friend Angela was hilarious so much of the time, just wanting to sleep but going along with Kami anyway, making comments toward the Lynburn boys. Holly was added into the mix and she was really sweet. And then there were the two Lynburn boys. Jared and Ash, both mysterious but Ash was definitely more friendly and Jared was more of the troublemaker. I really liked the dynamic between Ash and Jared and it made me excited to see where it goes in the next book.
The supernatural mystery and the investigation was really well done. They would think they knew something, be wrong, come back to discover another clue and be off again. It was a good build-up to the final reveal where the action got really fast-paced. The whole book was just really well-paced, never slow, never too fast, never too much information or too many twists to handle.
I really liked the writing style, which I knew I would from Sarah Rees Brennan's other books. It worked so well with Kami's voice and it made for a book I just didn't want to put down.
I will definitely be reading the sequel, Untold, very soon.
Unspoken
Overall rating
3.3
Plot
3.0
Characters
3.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Really 3.5 Stars
Background: Kami has always had an imaginary friend. His name is Jared and she talks to him and tells him all her fears, troubles, and going-ons. He answers and talks back and tells her about his life too. For a long time she has kept him a secret, because as a teen you shouldn't have an imaginary friend. Everything explodes when Kami realizes that Jared is a real person and he has moved into her town. Sorry-in-the-Vale is a strange town, full of secrets and mysteries about Jared's family. Kami is on a mission to find out those answers and report back to the community.
Review: This was a fun read, very Nancy Drew meets Twilight... the only reason Twilight is the example is because of a mysterious boy who can hear thoughts, in this case only Kami's thoughts. I really enjoyed the build up of this book, it was a mystery, and the answers unraveled slowly, always making the reader want more. Kami is eccentric, fast-paced, a reporter for the school paper and fun; her friend Angela is pessimistic, always napping, and brooding about how people annoy her, and Jared is dark, mysterious, and yet playful and emotional with Kami. It was a wonderful lineup of characters.
So... why three point five stars... the build up was great, the characters were awesome and fun to follow...really the ending is what irked me. All the mysterious pieces start to form a clear picture of what is happening, the characters develop, and then...... the characters failed me.....(sad face) I was so upset. I know that this will be a series and there is more to come, and I know that the cliff hanger is doable, but not in this fashion. I wanted to punch Jared and scream...well I did scream and if the book had been a physical copy it would have been thrown due to frustration.
I think is this a great book...very good writing and like I said, every part is captivating, except that I was left disappointed at the ending
Background: Kami has always had an imaginary friend. His name is Jared and she talks to him and tells him all her fears, troubles, and going-ons. He answers and talks back and tells her about his life too. For a long time she has kept him a secret, because as a teen you shouldn't have an imaginary friend. Everything explodes when Kami realizes that Jared is a real person and he has moved into her town. Sorry-in-the-Vale is a strange town, full of secrets and mysteries about Jared's family. Kami is on a mission to find out those answers and report back to the community.
Review: This was a fun read, very Nancy Drew meets Twilight... the only reason Twilight is the example is because of a mysterious boy who can hear thoughts, in this case only Kami's thoughts. I really enjoyed the build up of this book, it was a mystery, and the answers unraveled slowly, always making the reader want more. Kami is eccentric, fast-paced, a reporter for the school paper and fun; her friend Angela is pessimistic, always napping, and brooding about how people annoy her, and Jared is dark, mysterious, and yet playful and emotional with Kami. It was a wonderful lineup of characters.
So... why three point five stars... the build up was great, the characters were awesome and fun to follow...really the ending is what irked me. All the mysterious pieces start to form a clear picture of what is happening, the characters develop, and then...... the characters failed me.....(sad face) I was so upset. I know that this will be a series and there is more to come, and I know that the cliff hanger is doable, but not in this fashion. I wanted to punch Jared and scream...well I did scream and if the book had been a physical copy it would have been thrown due to frustration.
I think is this a great book...very good writing and like I said, every part is captivating, except that I was left disappointed at the ending
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brenan
Overall rating
3.3
Plot
3.0
Characters
3.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
This was definitely a fun read. As someone who studied journalism, I could understand Kami and her need to know everything. I connected with her right away. Even if I did think she was a llittle crazy in the beginning.
When we first meet Kami Glass she has just sstarted the school newspaper with her best friend. She tells her other friend all about it, but he just so happens to be in her mind. Yes you read right, in her mind. Kami has an imaginary friend named Jared who she has been teased and lost friends over since she was a little girl. Then one day she meets a boy named Ash Lynbourn. The Lynbourns are an old family that left town a long time ago, but have mysteriously come back for some unknown reason. Ash wants to join the newspaper and Kami wants an interview about them, so she allows him to join. Everything is going fine, until his cousin comes along. His cousin is nothing like him and gets into a fight with the Cricket team. Kami goes to interview him for the paper after the fight and low and behold , his name is Jared. She believes its a huge coincidence... Until they're in the same place at the same time and their thoughts finally collide.....
Man the premise of this book was AH-MAZEING! When I saw "And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy..." I knew I had to read this. It seems so dramatic and wonderful that I had to know what happens. But it was a lot different from what I was expecting. It turned out that this was more funny than the synopsis made it seem. I remember thinking "Is this a parody?" because I was laughing so hard. Kami is really a weird character and I loved that I was able to connect with her. Another thing that I loved about her, was the fact that she was Asian. Yay for diversity! Not every character in every YA book has to be the same race.
One thing I do wish was different was the setting. I wish it was described more. I was pulled to Kami's world, but not completely as I could not see anything of the setting. All I saw was what was going on. I've never been to England, so I was excited about actually seeing it from Kami's point of view.
Finally, I loved the big secret towards the end. Another thing that sets the book apart from other books that I've read. Jared and Kami haven't been all over each other and the situation that's going on isn't about Kami or Jared being a werewolf or vampire. It was a refreshing way to add something different to my paranormal fetish.
When we first meet Kami Glass she has just sstarted the school newspaper with her best friend. She tells her other friend all about it, but he just so happens to be in her mind. Yes you read right, in her mind. Kami has an imaginary friend named Jared who she has been teased and lost friends over since she was a little girl. Then one day she meets a boy named Ash Lynbourn. The Lynbourns are an old family that left town a long time ago, but have mysteriously come back for some unknown reason. Ash wants to join the newspaper and Kami wants an interview about them, so she allows him to join. Everything is going fine, until his cousin comes along. His cousin is nothing like him and gets into a fight with the Cricket team. Kami goes to interview him for the paper after the fight and low and behold , his name is Jared. She believes its a huge coincidence... Until they're in the same place at the same time and their thoughts finally collide.....
Man the premise of this book was AH-MAZEING! When I saw "And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy..." I knew I had to read this. It seems so dramatic and wonderful that I had to know what happens. But it was a lot different from what I was expecting. It turned out that this was more funny than the synopsis made it seem. I remember thinking "Is this a parody?" because I was laughing so hard. Kami is really a weird character and I loved that I was able to connect with her. Another thing that I loved about her, was the fact that she was Asian. Yay for diversity! Not every character in every YA book has to be the same race.
One thing I do wish was different was the setting. I wish it was described more. I was pulled to Kami's world, but not completely as I could not see anything of the setting. All I saw was what was going on. I've never been to England, so I was excited about actually seeing it from Kami's point of view.
Finally, I loved the big secret towards the end. Another thing that sets the book apart from other books that I've read. Jared and Kami haven't been all over each other and the situation that's going on isn't about Kami or Jared being a werewolf or vampire. It was a refreshing way to add something different to my paranormal fetish.
Unspoken
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Characters
Jared-Oh my, I almost don't know what to say about him. He had so many sides to him, but there was only one true side: he was kind, funny,caring, and passionate. From the very beginning, I kind of liked him. Maybe just because I always knew from Kami's perspective that he wasn't a "bad" boy. He had feelings and people didn't seem to realize that, all they saw was just another evil Lynburn. And that made him all the more likeable.
Kami-She was an amazing character. She was so sarcastic and witty, it was impossible not to like her. I liked how she wasn't a bystander and would immediately go into action, even if she might hurt herself in the process. She was so hilarious also. When there was a moment of despair or sadness, she always had a quip to try to cheer everyone up. She was smart(most of the time). I may have mentioned this before but, I hate when the main character is stupid and thankfully, Kami was actually quite smart. But, probably what made me like her the most is her kindness. People might disagree with me on this, but she was actually really kind to everyone. Even when she was mad at Jared, it seemed she couldn't hate him for more than a day, although that may be because she couldn't stand him being furious in her head for more than a couple of hours. But, really, she was nice to everyone.
Other important characters-Holly and Angelina were also a gigantic part in this story. They definitely deserve some attention. They were both amazing and I couldn't ask for more. They made the story more in depth and comical. They were such trustworthy friends which made then all the more great.
Plot
It was the perfect pacing is the first factor that I loved. This book did take me awhile to devour because I had so much stuff going on, but I finally decided to sit down and finish it. I'm glad I did because I enjoyed it so much. The uniqueness(?) of the book is what made me love this book the MOST. I can't think of ANY other books like this one, that's how different it is. I mean a boy talking in your head and a family of .......I can't tell you that since it would spoil much of the book :D But, it just astounds me how the author came up with this book!
The Finale...or not quite
The ending in this book made me want to throw my e-reader at the wall in frustration and sadness all at the same time. I can already tell the next book in the trilogy is going to have some...drama. But the finale of the first book did what it was meant to do: draw you into the second book to find out what happens next. And I most definitely will be looking out for the second book!
Jared-Oh my, I almost don't know what to say about him. He had so many sides to him, but there was only one true side: he was kind, funny,caring, and passionate. From the very beginning, I kind of liked him. Maybe just because I always knew from Kami's perspective that he wasn't a "bad" boy. He had feelings and people didn't seem to realize that, all they saw was just another evil Lynburn. And that made him all the more likeable.
Kami-She was an amazing character. She was so sarcastic and witty, it was impossible not to like her. I liked how she wasn't a bystander and would immediately go into action, even if she might hurt herself in the process. She was so hilarious also. When there was a moment of despair or sadness, she always had a quip to try to cheer everyone up. She was smart(most of the time). I may have mentioned this before but, I hate when the main character is stupid and thankfully, Kami was actually quite smart. But, probably what made me like her the most is her kindness. People might disagree with me on this, but she was actually really kind to everyone. Even when she was mad at Jared, it seemed she couldn't hate him for more than a day, although that may be because she couldn't stand him being furious in her head for more than a couple of hours. But, really, she was nice to everyone.
Other important characters-Holly and Angelina were also a gigantic part in this story. They definitely deserve some attention. They were both amazing and I couldn't ask for more. They made the story more in depth and comical. They were such trustworthy friends which made then all the more great.
Plot
It was the perfect pacing is the first factor that I loved. This book did take me awhile to devour because I had so much stuff going on, but I finally decided to sit down and finish it. I'm glad I did because I enjoyed it so much. The uniqueness(?) of the book is what made me love this book the MOST. I can't think of ANY other books like this one, that's how different it is. I mean a boy talking in your head and a family of .......I can't tell you that since it would spoil much of the book :D But, it just astounds me how the author came up with this book!
The Finale...or not quite
The ending in this book made me want to throw my e-reader at the wall in frustration and sadness all at the same time. I can already tell the next book in the trilogy is going to have some...drama. But the finale of the first book did what it was meant to do: draw you into the second book to find out what happens next. And I most definitely will be looking out for the second book!
Good Points
Everything!
Modern day Nancy Drew/ Imaginary Friends
Overall rating
3.3
Plot
3.0
Characters
4.0
Writing Style
3.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Background: Kami has always had an imaginary friend. His name is Jared and she talks to him and tells him all her fears, troubles, and going-ons. He answers and talks back and tells her about his life too. For a long time she has kept him a secret, because as a teen you shouldn't have an imaginary friend. Everything explodes when Kami realizes that Jared is a real person and he has moved into her town. Sorry-in-the-Vale is a strange town, full of secrets and mysteries about Jared's family. Kami is on a mission to find out those answers and report back to the community.
Review: This was a fun read, very Nancy Drew meets Twilight... the only reason Twilight is the example is because of a mysterious boy who can hear thoughts, in this case only Kami's thoughts. I really enjoyed the build up of this book, it was a mystery, and the answers unraveled slowly, always making the reader want more. Kami is eccentric, fast-paced, a reporter for the school paper and fun; her friend Angela is pessimistic, always napping, and brooding about how people annoy her, and Jared is dark, mysterious, and yet playful and emotional with Kami. It was a wonderful lineup of characters.
So... why three point five stars... the build up was great, the characters were awesome and fun to follow...really the ending is what irked me. All the mysterious pieces start to form a clear picture of what is happening, the characters develop, and then...... the characters failed me.....(sad face) I was so upset. I know that this will be a series and there is more to come, and I know that the cliff hanger is doable, but not in this fashion. I wanted to punch Jared and scream...well I did scream and if the book had been a physical copy it would have been thrown due to frustration.
I think is this a great book...very good writing and like I said, every part is captivating, except that I was left disappointed at the ending
Review: This was a fun read, very Nancy Drew meets Twilight... the only reason Twilight is the example is because of a mysterious boy who can hear thoughts, in this case only Kami's thoughts. I really enjoyed the build up of this book, it was a mystery, and the answers unraveled slowly, always making the reader want more. Kami is eccentric, fast-paced, a reporter for the school paper and fun; her friend Angela is pessimistic, always napping, and brooding about how people annoy her, and Jared is dark, mysterious, and yet playful and emotional with Kami. It was a wonderful lineup of characters.
So... why three point five stars... the build up was great, the characters were awesome and fun to follow...really the ending is what irked me. All the mysterious pieces start to form a clear picture of what is happening, the characters develop, and then...... the characters failed me.....(sad face) I was so upset. I know that this will be a series and there is more to come, and I know that the cliff hanger is doable, but not in this fashion. I wanted to punch Jared and scream...well I did scream and if the book had been a physical copy it would have been thrown due to frustration.
I think is this a great book...very good writing and like I said, every part is captivating, except that I was left disappointed at the ending
Good Points
Fun, mysterious, characters are interesting...
Mystery, Magic and Humor
(Updated: September 12, 2012)
Overall rating
4.7
Plot
5.0
Characters
4.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
“Noo! It couldn’t just end! NO!” This incredulous exclamation, followed by a lot of hopeful scrolling, was what happened immediately after I finished 'Unspoken'. It was a great read, and I truly, TRULY wanted it to continue. The end of the novel is a fantastic cliffhanger, but I cannot wait until the next book in the series comes out. I must say this: one should think twice before moving to a place called Sorry-in-the-Vale!
'Unspoken' revolves around Kami Glass, a curiosity-driven teen with ambitions to be an investigative newspaper reporter, who has lived in Sorry-in-the-Vale her whole life but has never truly fit into the town. She’s something of an oddball to the other inhabitants thanks to her Japanese ancestry and the fact that she’s had an imaginary friend, a boy named Jared, her entire life. Sorry-in-the-Vale becomes a much darker and stranger place as the mysterious and intimidating Lynburn family moves back into town. Before they all left, the Lynburns were the leading family in the town, the wealthiest and the most powerful...in more ways than one. There are two younger Lynburns: polite, chivalrous Ash and shadowed, sharp Jared. Yes. That Jared. It turns out that Kami’s imaginary friend isn’t so ephemeral after all, and he’s just as surprised to see that she exists outside his head as she is to realize he’s in-the-flesh real. Once the Lynburns return, dark secrets begin to bubble up from beneath the town’s surface, and murder and magic create a twisted mystery that Kami feels a deep need to uncover.
On a purely aesthetic note, the cover of this book snagged me before anything else. It’s simple, elegant and intriguing, and judging by my reaction to it, it has the potential to make readers want to snatch it off the shelf. Plus, I totally love the type font they used and the colors go so well together. Awesome job, cover designer! Huzzah!
'Unspoken' is one of those books that grabbed my attention and demanded that I read it, even when I was already reading other books. I stayed up super late reading it more than once, and even though some parts of the book seriously creeped me out, I just couldn’t put it down. The characters were fantastic, the storyline was captivating, and oh my gosh, magical forests of awesome! Plus, it's funny. I know, murder, death and gore don't always go along with funny, but in this instance, it works, mainly because most of the humor is in the witty dialogue. Some of it literally had me giggling and reading it outloud to my co-workers and friends, who had no idea what was going on...but it made me laugh!
As for the characters, I am seriously attached to them. Kami in particular is a great character; I think she's realistic, clever, insanely curious, a little selfish (in a good, character-flaw way!), confused and delightfully human. Jared is an awesome male lead; personally, he isn’t my pick for boyfriend of the year because of his internal angst and possessiveness, but I love his attitude and his personality. Most of the other characters seem well-rounded as well, and I liked that everyone seems to have faults; gotta love the characters who aren’t the epitome of perfection, they’re so much more interesting that way. There were just a couple character growth choices that I didn’t particularly like, but they didn’t ruin the book for me, and most people will probably be fine with those choices. I liked the flow of the story and Brennan’s good mix of dialogue and description. I’m very curious to know more about the magic in this book; it wasn't really explained except for the idea that it seems to be a nature-based kind of magic. I’d love to learn more about it in future books in the series. All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and I will impatiently wait for the next one to be published!
I received the ARC copy of 'Unspoken' through NetGalley.com thanks to the publisher Random House Children's Books. Thank you!
{This review is also published on my blog, Scribbled Flyleaf.}
'Unspoken' revolves around Kami Glass, a curiosity-driven teen with ambitions to be an investigative newspaper reporter, who has lived in Sorry-in-the-Vale her whole life but has never truly fit into the town. She’s something of an oddball to the other inhabitants thanks to her Japanese ancestry and the fact that she’s had an imaginary friend, a boy named Jared, her entire life. Sorry-in-the-Vale becomes a much darker and stranger place as the mysterious and intimidating Lynburn family moves back into town. Before they all left, the Lynburns were the leading family in the town, the wealthiest and the most powerful...in more ways than one. There are two younger Lynburns: polite, chivalrous Ash and shadowed, sharp Jared. Yes. That Jared. It turns out that Kami’s imaginary friend isn’t so ephemeral after all, and he’s just as surprised to see that she exists outside his head as she is to realize he’s in-the-flesh real. Once the Lynburns return, dark secrets begin to bubble up from beneath the town’s surface, and murder and magic create a twisted mystery that Kami feels a deep need to uncover.
On a purely aesthetic note, the cover of this book snagged me before anything else. It’s simple, elegant and intriguing, and judging by my reaction to it, it has the potential to make readers want to snatch it off the shelf. Plus, I totally love the type font they used and the colors go so well together. Awesome job, cover designer! Huzzah!
'Unspoken' is one of those books that grabbed my attention and demanded that I read it, even when I was already reading other books. I stayed up super late reading it more than once, and even though some parts of the book seriously creeped me out, I just couldn’t put it down. The characters were fantastic, the storyline was captivating, and oh my gosh, magical forests of awesome! Plus, it's funny. I know, murder, death and gore don't always go along with funny, but in this instance, it works, mainly because most of the humor is in the witty dialogue. Some of it literally had me giggling and reading it outloud to my co-workers and friends, who had no idea what was going on...but it made me laugh!
As for the characters, I am seriously attached to them. Kami in particular is a great character; I think she's realistic, clever, insanely curious, a little selfish (in a good, character-flaw way!), confused and delightfully human. Jared is an awesome male lead; personally, he isn’t my pick for boyfriend of the year because of his internal angst and possessiveness, but I love his attitude and his personality. Most of the other characters seem well-rounded as well, and I liked that everyone seems to have faults; gotta love the characters who aren’t the epitome of perfection, they’re so much more interesting that way. There were just a couple character growth choices that I didn’t particularly like, but they didn’t ruin the book for me, and most people will probably be fine with those choices. I liked the flow of the story and Brennan’s good mix of dialogue and description. I’m very curious to know more about the magic in this book; it wasn't really explained except for the idea that it seems to be a nature-based kind of magic. I’d love to learn more about it in future books in the series. All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and I will impatiently wait for the next one to be published!
I received the ARC copy of 'Unspoken' through NetGalley.com thanks to the publisher Random House Children's Books. Thank you!
{This review is also published on my blog, Scribbled Flyleaf.}
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