Shadowlands by Kate Brian
3.5/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
328 pages
YA Thriller
Source: Library
This book grabbed my attention with its stunning cover and the promise of a serial killer. I don't know why but stories with serial killers are of great interest to me so that was enough to hook me despite mixed reviews.
I ended the book myself with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I found it a very fast read where I could not stop turning the pages. I'd put the book down to go do something else only to find myself picking the book back up. I also found the chapters from the serial killer's point of view totally gripping. But on the other hand, the characters were not well-developed and I didn't find the twists and turns that interesting. I was just reading because it was easy.
Main character Rory lives in the shadows. Her older sister Darcy is a cheerleader, popular and pretty while Rory studies science intently and consistently places third in her track meets. But she is marked out when a serial killer goes after her although she manages to escape, with her family sent off to an island. There Rory is the special one to Darcy's dismay, falling in with a group of mysterious teens on an island where nothing is what it seems.
My summary emphasizes the sister-sister relationship partly because that is something I always find interesting and partly because I feel like the comparison of the girls was important to the story. Rory is blond to Darcy's brunette (I think); Rory is shy to Darcy's extroverted personality; Rory is nervous while Darcy easily flirts. However I did feel like Rory was made out to be perfect and Darcy near villainous at times especially with Rory easily attracting the attention of all the guys Darcy liked.
The main reason for reading this book though is for the plot, which ends on a big twist (do not read ahead if you are the kind of person who reads the last page first). It helps put most of the book in a different perspective but I still have some lingering questions. I'm undecided if I definitely want to read the second book or if I just want to beg for some answers from someone who reads it.
Cover: Not sure why the girl on the cover is brunette as it is very clearly established that main character Rory is blonde. There is a blonde girl on the back cover but she ought to be on the front.
Other Opinions:
Buried in Books
Good Books and Good Wine
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics
I agree. I think I said in my review that I actually found Darcy a more interesting character than Rory, who didn't have much of a personality. I also found the killer creepy, and … after that twist at the end I'm trying to figure out where the next book is going!
ReplyDeleteYou can find me here: Jen @ YA Romantics
I am so curious as to what will happen in the next book-where is Brian taking this story?
DeleteI can't wait to read this book. The cover is beautiful, but indeed it's weird why they put the girl with the blonde hair (who you said is the main character) on the back. Mmmmmm...anyways, it sounds really good, but I think I'll wait untill the sequel is out as well.
ReplyDeleteSo weird! I'm very keen to find out what direction Brian is taking this story.
DeleteYou know, I never really thought about the fact that she was blonde and the cover girl isn't. Hmm, wonder how that happened. Hopefully if you decide to read the next one, you'll enjoy it a little more. :D
ReplyDeleteJenea @ Books Live Forever
I think the cover's cool but I was just disappointed that it didn't quite match the character description.
DeleteBooks with serial killers are always so scary! Sometimes it's nice to have an easy read, despite some minor flaws :) I always like sister-sister relationships!
ReplyDeleteMel@thedailyprophecy
The moments with the serial killer were very creepy-made me glad I wasn't reading this at night.
DeleteWell it is something that you didn't want to put it down, but sad that the characters didn't live up to what they could have been.
ReplyDeleteI wanted so much more from the characters but it was easy enough to read.
DeleteOh man! I keep on seeing such mixed reviews for this one - I'm kind of interested but not interested enough to buy the book. Neither of the libraries in which I'm a cardholder has purchased a copy yet so I'll have to keep checking back.
ReplyDeleteAnd since I'm such a cover person, it completely bothers me when little details like the hair color (on this cover) are a little off. This cover is really neat, so why not just make the gal blonde?
Anyway, I've heard it is a really thrilling, fast, exciting page-turner and I've also heard it isn't great. We'll see if my libraries ever get a copy! Thanks for the review. :)
I think this is definitely one to borrow from the library-it's not a must-own.
DeleteI have this one and I have heard some REALLY good things and some less good things about it. So I'm not sure if I'll love it or not. But since my TBR is so massive it'll probably not get read until later in the year and then I won't have to wait for the next one so long (though I don't think I knew for sure it was a series until now). I'm glad you enjoyed it, even if you didn't love it.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun enough to read but I bet you have more enthralling books in your pile to go through.
DeleteI thought this was a standalone novel so I'm glad to have read your review first. I enjoy reading YA suspense especially with serial killer storylines. I will pick this up from the library in case I don't like it. It can be fun to read a mindless fast paced story sometimes and I like that it has a big plot twist. Thanks for your review!
ReplyDeleteI think it would have worked as a standalone but I saw that it's a series so that's something for fans to look forward to.
DeleteGreat review :D I'm sorry you didn't love it, though :\ I don't think I will ever read it. I do love the cover, but that's about it, lol ;p Thank you for sharing your honest review. <3
ReplyDeleteLove, Carina @ Carina's Books
The cover was one of the things that drew me in-I just wish it had been more accurate!
DeleteI agree with the blog, it definitely gives you a new perspective on the whole thing. I think I liked it a bit more than you, but I didn't think it was perfect at all. There were some things that could have been worked on. Oh, and yes, the sister comes out sounded kind of evil, which I didn't really like.
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
I really disliked how awful Darcy was made out to be instead of being more subtly drawn.
DeleteI know-serial killers are just so intriguing!
ReplyDelete