Marissa KennersonCritiques

I enjoyed reading it, but it wasn't really a good book. There were a lot of parts that I found unbelievable, the characters were all really flat, and the ending was really unsatisfying-- Deus Ex Machina is always unsatisfying. The sudden appearance of her father (who is totally willing and able to help them within hours after not seeing them for over 10 years?) is....I have no other word other than to say unsatisfying again. Also, the implication that the rest of the cult members will still be stuck there is pretty nuts. Are they really just rescuing Twig? Is she not planning on getting them out after? It doesn't matter how happy some of them think they are, people have been extracted from cults like this before.
I think the only reason I enjoyed this book on any level is because I'm always interested in cults as a topic. But for a YA cult book, I would sooner recommend [b:The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly|17185496|The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly|Stephanie Oakes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1412065594s/17185496.jpg|23634541].

This was a cover buy.
And a title buy.
I love Tarot cards.
It was different.

When it comes to book worlds, this one takes the cake. I wanted to dive into the pages and never resurface. It was tropical, eerie, and magical. I'm not usually one for details, but every description led to a deeper connection to the story. I found myself painting pictures of the chapters as they played out and quickly became entranced by the plot.

Tarot is about a princess named Anna who has been locked away in a tower for years. She lacks real life skills and is basically a newbie to everything outside her tower. Her escape is creating lush tapestries and sewing wondrous clothing. When word circles that she is to be executed, her friends/advisers aid in her escape. She isn't sure where to run, but when a bridge mysteriously appears, she can't help but cross.

Anna ends up in a lush landscape with beautiful people and a cult like feel. It is there that she starts to let go and live. She doesn't completely trust her new situation though and begins weaving stories like she does fabric. It doesn't take long before she is entwined in her own lies. When it all comes to a head and the truth surfaces, the friendships she has formed dwindle and her love interest becomes uncertain. The ending is a bit of a whirlwind, but it doesn't once lack surprise or suspense.

I think what I loved most about this read was the unique atmosphere and the simplicity of it all. The way art was portrayed was quite magical. I was surprised by how it all played out and in the end was rooting for characters that I wasn't sure about at the beginning. I thought the pace was great and the idea was really well developed. My only complaint would be that I craved more Topper and in more ways than just seeing his name pop up in the pages.... He was a wonderful character that really made the romance interesting.

All in all, I recommend this book to all who want to explore fantasy, but also stay true to contemporary romance. It's truly the best of both worlds. I can't wait to read more by this Author.

The Family was such a thrilling read from the very first page. The novel gives an in-depth look at a cult through the eyes of a teenage girl. Even though Twig is faithful to the group’s leader, she starts to have underlying doubts about everything that has been taught to her from the beginning. This especially comes into play after she gets a small taste of what it’s like to be in the “outside world”, and Twig seriously considers escaping from the life she’s always known.

Right off the bat I noticed that Twig was very different from the others in her “family”. Not only is she intelligent, but she is also a bit wary of the rules and the cult’s leader Adam, while the others are seem very trusting of his every word. Twig is kind, caring, loyal to her family, and quite brave considering she sneaks around in the forest for solitude without being caught. She is also a bit naive, and this is to be expected since she was force fed lies from when she was a young child. She’s not sure who to trust, but becomes a lot smarter over the course of the novel. She begins to follow her own instincts and start asking some serious questions in order to get to the bottom of things.

One of the reasons this book is so thrilling and a bit frightening is because stories like Twig’s pop up in the news now more than ever before. It’s scary to think that there are people out there who steal girls, boys, and even adults from their homes and take them into these cults. A lot of the time, there is so much psychological damage done to these individuals that their minds cannot always be undone.

Overall I really enjoyed this novel. There was smooth plot progression throughout the entire story and the book constantly keeps the reader entertained. An added bonus was that it was cleverly split up into three separate sections as well. I also think it would have been cool if we got to see a pov’s from some of the other major characters in the book. Considering this is Kennerson’s first novel, I think she did a excellent job of weaving together a gripping and dramatic story.

I needed something different... A change of pace from my normal reading, and this one provided just that. Talk about a whole new book world. The Family crawled under my skin and burrowed deep within my soul. It uprooted thoughts and left my feelings uneasy.

The life of the collective is tragic and brutal. Basically everyone worships Adam, the leader and thinks they deserve punishment when they don't follow "the rules".They all believe that infection will consume them if they leave and are very content in confinement. All but the main character Twig that is... When she gets into an accident and is taken to a hospital all her views are altered. Nothing is as she expected. People explain how infection spreads and helps her to see that maybe everything she knows is based on lies. When she returns to the collective she struggles with the new found knowledge and starts to crave whats on the outside. Through brutal punishments and belittling, Twig tries to hold it together long enough to hopefully be freed. It's a long shot, but she doesn't give up through the final page.

I'm not even sure how the Author came up with such a gut wrenching, real feeling story. I felt like I was trapped in the jungle with Twig. Tears streamed down my face at one part and I had to stop reading to catch my breath at the end. It was all consuming. My heart ached for the lifestyle she lived. It made me appreciate my freedom and it opened my eyes to what may be living within our world. The writing was great and the story line was fast paced. I definitely recommend it to every reader with an open mind.

*A slight warning though....* You will want the next book- There is a slight cliffy.

Full of Emotions that Carry You Through the Book

Never having been in this situation, the author paints what I feel is a very realistic picture. The main character Twig experiences so many different emotions and experiences so many highs and lows, just as I'd imagine it would be in that situation. I found myself swept away on Twig's journey and was never quite sure what would happen next. For an author to continually surprise me is a wonderful thing and I highly recommend this book. Just make sure you have a few hours to spare as it is almost impossible to put down!