Sarah Dalton
Auteur de The Blemished
A propos de l'auteur
Séries
Œuvres de Sarah Dalton
A Wild and Whispering Curse 6 exemplaires
The Land of Fire and Ash: The Complete Series Box Set 6 exemplaires
When Darkness Falls - Six Paranormal Novels in One Boxed Set — Contributeur — 3 exemplaires
Shadow (Mary Hades #1.25) 1 exemplaire
Oeuvres associées
Legacy: 10 Complete Novels and Novellas From Your Favorite Fantasy Authors (2015) — Contributeur — 12 exemplaires
California State Library Foundation Bulletin, Number 79, Fall/Winter 2004 (2004) — Contributeur — 1 exemplaire
Étiqueté
Partage des connaissances
- Sexe
- female
- Lieux de résidence
- Derbyshire, England, UK
Membres
Critiques
'At 2am, a veil lifts. But what happens when you don't know the time? What happens when the light never goes off? That's what it's like, in the white room. It's limbo. It's neither real nor fantasy. It's not life and it's not death. Time doesn't matter here. I'm not sure what does, really.'
Plot
Mary Hades has never been afraid of the dark. Mary's fears are very real things; illness, physical pain, death. Before long, Mary discovers that the dark makes everything worse. Mary's psychiatrist advises her to have a short stay in a psychiatric ward, but how can she get better in a place that fills her with dread?
Something sinister is stalking the hospital corridors, and the death toll is rising beyond explanation. If Mary wants to survive her stay, and save the other patients too, she must confront the Things that she sees; it's the only way to uncover the truth.
My thoughts
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a review, and I read it as part of a Halloween horror book challenge. I found this book to be incredibly interesting, as I've never read a book set in a psychiatric hospital before. I recently watched a horror film set in an old psychiatric hospital,and this was fresh in my mind when I read this, which definitely added to the creepy atmosphere. The descriptions of the hospital and characters are very vivid; I was able to imagine everything, and again, this added to the eerie feeling I got from this book.
Although this only a short book, there's a lot packed into the pages. The pacing is great; it's fast paced without giving away too much too soon. When I've read novellas before, I've found that there didn't seem to be enough time to get to know the characters and get a feel for the setting before the book ended. However, this wasn't the case with this book; the pacing of the book allowed enough time to really get a good image of the setting and characters.
The characters were great in this book. Mary is incredibly brave, she's dealing with a lot of her own problems, but she still feels the need to help the other patients in the hospital. I loved this about her, since she could have just kept her head down until she left the hospital and forget all about the other patients. I also loved the character of Lacey, Marys' roommate. The relationship that they develop over a few short days is great, they laugh and joke together which is incredible, given the situation that they're in.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. For such a short story, the Author has really created something special. The only downside for me is that I want there to be a sequel so I can see what happens to Mary. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a quick and enjoyable read.
… (plus d'informations)
Mary Hades has never been afraid of the dark. Mary's fears are very real things; illness, physical pain, death. Before long, Mary discovers that the dark makes everything worse. Mary's psychiatrist advises her to have a short stay in a psychiatric ward, but how can she get better in a place that fills her with dread?
Something sinister is stalking the hospital corridors, and the death toll is rising beyond explanation. If Mary wants to survive her stay, and save the other patients too, she must confront the Things that she sees; it's the only way to uncover the truth.
My thoughts
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a review, and I read it as part of a Halloween horror book challenge. I found this book to be incredibly interesting, as I've never read a book set in a psychiatric hospital before. I recently watched a horror film set in an old psychiatric hospital,and this was fresh in my mind when I read this, which definitely added to the creepy atmosphere. The descriptions of the hospital and characters are very vivid; I was able to imagine everything, and again, this added to the eerie feeling I got from this book.
Although this only a short book, there's a lot packed into the pages. The pacing is great; it's fast paced without giving away too much too soon. When I've read novellas before, I've found that there didn't seem to be enough time to get to know the characters and get a feel for the setting before the book ended. However, this wasn't the case with this book; the pacing of the book allowed enough time to really get a good image of the setting and characters.
The characters were great in this book. Mary is incredibly brave, she's dealing with a lot of her own problems, but she still feels the need to help the other patients in the hospital. I loved this about her, since she could have just kept her head down until she left the hospital and forget all about the other patients. I also loved the character of Lacey, Marys' roommate. The relationship that they develop over a few short days is great, they laugh and joke together which is incredible, given the situation that they're in.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. For such a short story, the Author has really created something special. The only downside for me is that I want there to be a sequel so I can see what happens to Mary. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a quick and enjoyable read.
… (plus d'informations)
3.5 stars
Seeing as Elena was one of my favourite characters from The Blemished it was great to read a whole novella about her. I also liked finding out more about the GEMs, and about how they live their lives. The plot was very interesting, with just enough excitement to stop me being able to put it down. I was scared that I'd get bored just reading about a pageant, but during the first half we get to learn so much more about Elena and her family, and in the second half so much other stuff is going on that I didn't once get bored with it.
The only problem was that some things happened too quickly. There was enough going on in this book to make it about 50-100 pages longer. That way there would have been enough time for better descriptions of everything, and the romance would have moved at a more realistic pace. As it wasI hadn't got to know Jake well enough be be really upset about what happened at the end, I only felt a little sad.
All in all a really good in-between book (usually they're not great) and I hope that Elena and Mina will meet again during The Unleashed, which I can't wait for. :)… (plus d'informations)
Seeing as Elena was one of my favourite characters from The Blemished it was great to read a whole novella about her. I also liked finding out more about the GEMs, and about how they live their lives. The plot was very interesting, with just enough excitement to stop me being able to put it down. I was scared that I'd get bored just reading about a pageant, but during the first half we get to learn so much more about Elena and her family, and in the second half so much other stuff is going on that I didn't once get bored with it.
The only problem was that some things happened too quickly. There was enough going on in this book to make it about 50-100 pages longer. That way there would have been enough time for better descriptions of everything, and the romance would have moved at a more realistic pace. As it was
All in all a really good in-between book (usually they're not great) and I hope that Elena and Mina will meet again during The Unleashed, which I can't wait for. :)… (plus d'informations)
All in all this was a very nice, conclusive end to the series, perhaps even a little too conclusive for my liking, but still a good end to The Blemished series.
I really liked the characters in this one. They've developed a lot since the first book and have become more and more real to me. Some of the personality traits that annoyed me in the first book have been explained somewhat. For example, it now makes more sense to me why Mina was constantly switching from whimpering little girl to kick ass heroine in The Blemished. It just brings things together nicely.
If you're going to read this book I suggest you read both of the Fractured novellas first. I learnt so much about Elena in The Fractured: Elena that really helped me understand her in this book. I wish I'd read The Fractured: Maggie too, so that I could've had more insight into her life and the reasons behind what she does in this book. Unlike with some in-between novellas these are actually quite relevant to the story and definitely worth reading, although you'd still be able to read this book without having read them.
The story in this was much more fast paced and I really liked that. I loved that it switched from Angela's, Mina's and Daniel's point to view so we knew what was happening in all the different places. Because of this when there was a not-so-interesting part with one of the characters there was sure to be something interesting going on with one of the others.
Oh yeah, one problem I had was the predictability of one part. I knew exactly what would happen, which was quite annoying. It wasn't me knowing what would happen that was worse though, it was all the other characters apparently falling for it. I don't believe for one second that the Mary who was presented in the second book would have fallen for the trick (which was extremely cliché, and really unoriginal).Come on! Letting an enemy cook you a meal and then being surprised when she drugged everyone!! It's just silly!
But still, it was a good book, a good series, definitely worth reading. Plus, these covers would look beautiful on a bookcase. :)
P.S. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.… (plus d'informations)
I really liked the characters in this one. They've developed a lot since the first book and have become more and more real to me. Some of the personality traits that annoyed me in the first book have been explained somewhat. For example, it now makes more sense to me why Mina was constantly switching from whimpering little girl to kick ass heroine in The Blemished. It just brings things together nicely.
If you're going to read this book I suggest you read both of the Fractured novellas first. I learnt so much about Elena in The Fractured: Elena that really helped me understand her in this book. I wish I'd read The Fractured: Maggie too, so that I could've had more insight into her life and the reasons behind what she does in this book. Unlike with some in-between novellas these are actually quite relevant to the story and definitely worth reading, although you'd still be able to read this book without having read them.
The story in this was much more fast paced and I really liked that. I loved that it switched from Angela's, Mina's and Daniel's point to view so we knew what was happening in all the different places. Because of this when there was a not-so-interesting part with one of the characters there was sure to be something interesting going on with one of the others.
Oh yeah, one problem I had was the predictability of one part. I knew exactly what would happen, which was quite annoying. It wasn't me knowing what would happen that was worse though, it was all the other characters apparently falling for it. I don't believe for one second that the Mary who was presented in the second book would have fallen for the trick (which was extremely cliché, and really unoriginal).
But still, it was a good book, a good series, definitely worth reading. Plus, these covers would look beautiful on a bookcase. :)
P.S. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.… (plus d'informations)
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Statistiques
- Œuvres
- 29
- Aussi par
- 7
- Membres
- 614
- Popularité
- #40,946
- Évaluation
- 3.8
- Critiques
- 77
- ISBN
- 22
- Favoris
- 2
In a world full of beautiful clones, Mina Hart is Blemished. Her genes aren't perfect, which makes them useless. In this world, being Blemished takes away your rights to an education, a normal life, and even to have a child.
Mina has a dark and dangerous secret that she's never shared with anybody until now. Angela is the first real friend that she's had, and she feels like she can trust her straight away. However, that friendship is put to the test when Mina meets Daniel, Angela's adoptive brother.
Mina finds herself drawn to Daniel's mysterious power and his impulsive nature. Then there's Sebastian, a gorgeous clone that Mina is forbidden to even talk to. But something keeps drawing her to him, and she will suffer consequences for her rebellion.
My thoughts
I read this book for a group read through December and was provided with a copy of the book by the Author. Although this was for the group read, I'd been interested in reading this before, as I'd read a novella by the same Author and enjoyed her work.
This book is set in a frightening Dystopian world in the near future. Britain has been taken over by the Genetic Enhancement Ministry, who are obsessed with perfection. Anybody with faulty genes were declared Blemished, and as such were banned from having children. People with perfect genes were chosen to have perfect children, cloned from perfect DNA. The GEM children are considered superior over the Blemished children, and they have access to education and wealth. The Blemished only learn how to serve the GEM's.
What made this book so real to me, is the fact that elements of this could very well happen in the future. We know that it's possible to clone genes now, so this book really gave me something to think about. Of course, cloning people to keep society perfect is ridiculous, as human beings aren't meant to be perfect. Having flaws is what makes us human, so for me, the clones in this story are not human at all.
Mina has a hard enough life already, being Blemished. She lost her mother when she was young, and has grown up only knowing her father. Blemished girls are expected to wear a uniform, and cover their hair with a headscarf around GEM's, as well as keeping their head down and not drawing attention to themselves. This is made all the more difficult for Mina, as she has a power that must be kept secret at all costs. If she is discovered, it could not only mean death for her, but also her father and friends.
As if this wasn't enough, there are boys on the scene too. Blemished girls are forbidden to look at boys, so it's bad enough that she starts to develop feelings for Daniel, who is also Blemished, but Sebastian, a GEM, is another matter altogether.
I really enjoyed this story and thought that it had everything to keep me entertained. It was fast paced and exciting and had me turning the pages frantically to see what happens to Mina and her friends. There were shocks and revelations that I wasn't expecting at all, which definitely made the story even more enjoyable. Just as you think they're safe from harm, something else comes bursting into the story and puts them in danger again.
If I had to say that there was anything wrong with this book, it would be that I didn't get to know the characters as well as I would have liked. While I enjoy a fast paced story, this didn't seem to leave enough time for the characters to develop in my opinion. However, I loved the story, and definitely want to read the next in the series.
… (plus d'informations)