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Awake
Scarlett Garner doesn’t remember anything before the age of four—but a car accident changes everything. She starts to remember pieces of a past that frighten her. A past her parents hid from her…and a secret that could get her killed.
314 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
1013 people are currently reading
28778 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Preston
43 books16.2k followers#1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Cellar and The Cabin. Romance and YA Thriller writer, boy mum, Tom Hardy enthusiast. Always buried in a book and a glass of wine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,994 reviews
February 7, 2021
La novela más diferente de la autora.
Ya sabemos que Preston es una artista del thriller juvenil, especialmente de aquel en el que jóvenes protagonistas se ven en medio de situaciones que no pueden controlar y deben encontrar soluciones para escapar de ellas. Así lo ha sido en La cabaña, El sótano, El anónimo e incluso en La gemela. Sin embargo, El despertar es bastante diferente.
Scarlett, la protagonista, tiene amnesia: no recuerda nada de sus primeros cuatro años de vida. Cuando un misterioso chico llamado Noah llega a la ciudad, conecta con él y comienzan a verse. ¿Pero por qué Noah tiene tanto interés en que recuerde su infancia? ¿Qué es lo que la familia de Scarlett le está ocultando?
Una de las mejores cosas de esta novela es lo bien que se va desgranando ese misterio durante la primera mitad de la novela. La mayoría de capítulos están narrados por Scarlett, pero hay unos cuantos desde el punto de vista de Noah, que nos hacen ir viendo poco a poco qué es lo que está pasando realmente. Una vez como lectores lo descubrimos, la novela cambia un poco de dinámica y se convierte en algo diferente, lleno de adrenalina.
No quiero revelar demasiado de la trama, porque creo que está bien disfrutar lo que se va cociendo poco a poco. Siento que esta novela es distinta porque el misterio recae en la protagonista en sí misma, en su identidad, en su pasado y en la realidad que le rodea. No hay un asesino que se ha cargado a alguien de su familia, no hay un anónimo buscando llamar su atención o una hermana gemela obsesionada con quitarle el puesto en el instituto. No, El despertar es otra cosa.
¿Algo que me haya molestado? La novela quizá va demasiado al grano, al meollo del asunto, y la primera mitad tiene saltos temporales un poco extraños. Es un poco en plan: Scarlett conoce a Noah, se gustan, pasan dos semanas, ya se conocen mejor, pasa un mes, ya tienen algo más sólido. Por un lado, creo que es un recurso interesante y más en una novela de este estilo donde el uso del tiempo y la tensión son más que necesarios, pero por otro lado sentía que me faltaba un poquito más del desarrollo de su dinámica. ¡Aunque tampoco es lo central de la novela! Así que te perdono, Natty.
En cuanto al argumento, como digo, no quiero decir demasiado porque sería estropear un poco las sorpresas. Pero os puedo decir que es un poco arriesgado. Quizá no lo lleva al extremo que me hubiera gustado que lo llevara, pero es suficiente para ponerte los pelos de puntas y sufrir durante capítulos con Scarlett. Cuando todo se va descubriendo... es bastante creepy.
El despertar es sin duda una novela diferente a las demás de Natasha Preston. Trata un tema que adoro y que sin duda recordaré como uno de sus libros más interesantes. Engancha, como siempre, y tiene giros inesperados. Preston no defrauda.
Ya sabemos que Preston es una artista del thriller juvenil, especialmente de aquel en el que jóvenes protagonistas se ven en medio de situaciones que no pueden controlar y deben encontrar soluciones para escapar de ellas. Así lo ha sido en La cabaña, El sótano, El anónimo e incluso en La gemela. Sin embargo, El despertar es bastante diferente.
Scarlett, la protagonista, tiene amnesia: no recuerda nada de sus primeros cuatro años de vida. Cuando un misterioso chico llamado Noah llega a la ciudad, conecta con él y comienzan a verse. ¿Pero por qué Noah tiene tanto interés en que recuerde su infancia? ¿Qué es lo que la familia de Scarlett le está ocultando?
Una de las mejores cosas de esta novela es lo bien que se va desgranando ese misterio durante la primera mitad de la novela. La mayoría de capítulos están narrados por Scarlett, pero hay unos cuantos desde el punto de vista de Noah, que nos hacen ir viendo poco a poco qué es lo que está pasando realmente. Una vez como lectores lo descubrimos, la novela cambia un poco de dinámica y se convierte en algo diferente, lleno de adrenalina.
No quiero revelar demasiado de la trama, porque creo que está bien disfrutar lo que se va cociendo poco a poco. Siento que esta novela es distinta porque el misterio recae en la protagonista en sí misma, en su identidad, en su pasado y en la realidad que le rodea. No hay un asesino que se ha cargado a alguien de su familia, no hay un anónimo buscando llamar su atención o una hermana gemela obsesionada con quitarle el puesto en el instituto. No, El despertar es otra cosa.
¿Algo que me haya molestado? La novela quizá va demasiado al grano, al meollo del asunto, y la primera mitad tiene saltos temporales un poco extraños. Es un poco en plan: Scarlett conoce a Noah, se gustan, pasan dos semanas, ya se conocen mejor, pasa un mes, ya tienen algo más sólido. Por un lado, creo que es un recurso interesante y más en una novela de este estilo donde el uso del tiempo y la tensión son más que necesarios, pero por otro lado sentía que me faltaba un poquito más del desarrollo de su dinámica. ¡Aunque tampoco es lo central de la novela! Así que te perdono, Natty.
En cuanto al argumento, como digo, no quiero decir demasiado porque sería estropear un poco las sorpresas. Pero os puedo decir que es un poco arriesgado. Quizá no lo lleva al extremo que me hubiera gustado que lo llevara, pero es suficiente para ponerte los pelos de puntas y sufrir durante capítulos con Scarlett. Cuando todo se va descubriendo... es bastante creepy.
El despertar es sin duda una novela diferente a las demás de Natasha Preston. Trata un tema que adoro y que sin duda recordaré como uno de sus libros más interesantes. Engancha, como siempre, y tiene giros inesperados. Preston no defrauda.
August 13, 2015
DNF at 106 pages.
So, what makes you want to throw a book in a river? Is it:
a. When the wishy-washy heroine is a total idiot;
b. When the love interest's creepy as fuck;
c. When there's a horrible case of let-me-ditch-my-friends-for-the-new-guy instalove;
d. When there's 95% more telling than showing; or
e. When you finally realize that you don't give a shit about the mystery?
Well, dear friends, I definitely wanted to throw this book in a river. (And yes, I did answer all a, b, c, d and e!)
I read and enjoyed Natasha Preston's novels Silence and Broken Silence back when she was still an unpublished Wattpad writer. I guess that's what made me do a little happy dance when Sourcebooks sent me a copy of her newest book. Unfortunately, it just wasn't my cup of tea... At all. Like, not even a little bit.
First and foremost, I just couldn't stand the heroine. Scarlett was one of the most naive and annoying heroine I've read about in a long time. Come on, she revealed her past to the new guy on page six. PAGE. SIX.
Oh and yes, let's talk about the romance. Really, I can't put into words how much I wanted to hurl into my mouth. Let these lines speak for themselves:
The love interest himself was pretty creepy as well. I know it's probably because of the mystery, but no. This is the type of creepy that teenage girls shouldn't trust--hell, at one point he even noticed how many times the heroine blinked. *shudder*
I really couldn't get into Preston's writing in this one as well. It was choppy and rushed--sometimes we could even switch settings three times within one 4-page chapter. It was just incredibly telly and had almost no showing. There was an entire major scene that was just told in one paragraph.
I could probably continue the book just to find out what happens in regards to the mystery aspect, but I really don't want to.
Deadly Darlings | The Social Potato | The Book Geek | Twitter | Instagram
So, what makes you want to throw a book in a river? Is it:
a. When the wishy-washy heroine is a total idiot;
b. When the love interest's creepy as fuck;
c. When there's a horrible case of let-me-ditch-my-friends-for-the-new-guy instalove;
d. When there's 95% more telling than showing; or
e. When you finally realize that you don't give a shit about the mystery?
Well, dear friends, I definitely wanted to throw this book in a river. (And yes, I did answer all a, b, c, d and e!)
I read and enjoyed Natasha Preston's novels Silence and Broken Silence back when she was still an unpublished Wattpad writer. I guess that's what made me do a little happy dance when Sourcebooks sent me a copy of her newest book. Unfortunately, it just wasn't my cup of tea... At all. Like, not even a little bit.
First and foremost, I just couldn't stand the heroine. Scarlett was one of the most naive and annoying heroine I've read about in a long time. Come on, she revealed her past to the new guy on page six. PAGE. SIX.
Oh and yes, let's talk about the romance. Really, I can't put into words how much I wanted to hurl into my mouth. Let these lines speak for themselves:
The guy standing beside Mr. Wells's door was gorgeous--like, shouldn't even be at our school gorgeous. (pg. 1, ARC)
Whatever was going on between us was real, and I was definitely not ready for that. (pg. 28, ARC)
It was me and him, probably about four years older than we were now, standing outside a beautiful wooden house, surrounded by a meadow. (pg. 35, ARC)
The love interest himself was pretty creepy as well. I know it's probably because of the mystery, but no. This is the type of creepy that teenage girls shouldn't trust--hell, at one point he even noticed how many times the heroine blinked. *shudder*
I really couldn't get into Preston's writing in this one as well. It was choppy and rushed--sometimes we could even switch settings three times within one 4-page chapter. It was just incredibly telly and had almost no showing. There was an entire major scene that was just told in one paragraph.
I could probably continue the book just to find out what happens in regards to the mystery aspect, but I really don't want to.
Deadly Darlings | The Social Potato | The Book Geek | Twitter | Instagram
May 28, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and NetGalley.)
“Wow, that’s a lot of people you’ve brainwashed. Nice one.”
This wasn’t awful, but I didn’t enjoy it much either.
Scarlett was a bit of a nothingness character, I didn’t really like her, I didn’t hate her, she irritated me a little maybe, but mainly I didn’t really feel anything for her.
“You can’t be serious? Why’re you doing this to me?”
The storyline in this one just didn’t really do it for me. I found Scarlett’s horror over not remembering anything before the age of 4 a little strange. I personally can’t remember a vast amount from before the age of 4, and I’m guessing that’s probably the same for a lot of people, and the way she basically introduced herself as ‘Hi, I’m Scarlett, I can’t remember anything before the age of 4’ was a bit weird.
“Tell me something about yourself.”…
“I remember nothing before the age of four.”
(Page 5)
We did get a slightly interesting plot point coming out at the 40% mark, but even that couldn’t save the book for me. I got bored, and I stayed bored.
We got some romance, which was pretty quick, and fairly sickening. If you have a problem with insta-love, I’d avoid this book.
“One hundred and eleven. That was how many texts had gone back and forth between me and Noah in the six days we’d known each other. It was a ridiculous amount of texts to send a virtual stranger. But he didn’t feel like a stranger.”
The ending was fairly happy, but we then got thrown a cliff-hanger at the end.
4 out of 10
“Wow, that’s a lot of people you’ve brainwashed. Nice one.”
This wasn’t awful, but I didn’t enjoy it much either.
Scarlett was a bit of a nothingness character, I didn’t really like her, I didn’t hate her, she irritated me a little maybe, but mainly I didn’t really feel anything for her.
“You can’t be serious? Why’re you doing this to me?”
The storyline in this one just didn’t really do it for me. I found Scarlett’s horror over not remembering anything before the age of 4 a little strange. I personally can’t remember a vast amount from before the age of 4, and I’m guessing that’s probably the same for a lot of people, and the way she basically introduced herself as ‘Hi, I’m Scarlett, I can’t remember anything before the age of 4’ was a bit weird.
“Tell me something about yourself.”…
“I remember nothing before the age of four.”
(Page 5)
We did get a slightly interesting plot point coming out at the 40% mark, but even that couldn’t save the book for me. I got bored, and I stayed bored.
We got some romance, which was pretty quick, and fairly sickening. If you have a problem with insta-love, I’d avoid this book.
“One hundred and eleven. That was how many texts had gone back and forth between me and Noah in the six days we’d known each other. It was a ridiculous amount of texts to send a virtual stranger. But he didn’t feel like a stranger.”
The ending was fairly happy, but we then got thrown a cliff-hanger at the end.
4 out of 10
June 19, 2015
Oh, what a flop.
Having read and loved Natasha Preston's The Cellar, I was ridiculously excited for her new book. And to say I was disappointed, would probably be a bit of an understatement. This book is a mess. Preston does disturbing and creepy very well, unfortunately the moment she throws romance into the mix it all goes to hell. I wasn't bothered by the romance in The Cellar at all, because it was such a minor element of the plot line, it pretty much faded into the background. In Awake, the romance plays a much bigger role and that's where the problems start. Unfortunately, they don't end there..
Teenage Scarlett doesn't remember anything before the age of 5, and apparently that is completely shocking. So much that, when people hear about this tragic fact, they are either amazed or horrified.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think not having memories from very early childhood isn't anything extraordinary. Or is it? Because my earliest memories are actually from around the age of 5-6. I have maybe a handful of memories that seem to be earlier, but I can't say with 100% certainty if they are my own memories, or if it's something my parents told me about something we did, etc. And even if some people do have those early memories, I don't think they're vivid and clear.
Anyway, back to the plot line. Scarlett was told by her parents that when she was 5, there was a fire and she suffered from a head trauma that resulted in her amnesia. She accepts this explanation and lives a happy life, at least until Noah shows up and starts asking uncomfortable questions and pushing her to remember. Then another head trauma caused by a car crash causes her to start remembering things from her early past. And the memories that start coming back to her reveal a disturbing past that does not match her parents' tales at all.
It seems to me that Preston had a pretty decent idea for a thrilling and disturbing plot line, but it all got lost somewhere along the way. The plot was very messy and filled with gaping holes. If you take a moment to consider the plot line, you'll see just how criminally implausible it is. Scarlett's real parents are the leaders of a dangerous cult and apparently Scarlett, as their daughter, was going to be sacrificed (stabbed in the heart, that is) in some sort of freakish ceremony. She was rescued and adopted by another family, where she had a real shot at a normal life. And that is all perfectly believable, but the moment the author introduces Noah (the single most disturbing and creepy character I have ever met), and we are told that the cult leader devised this brilliantly evil plan of luring Scarlett back to the compound by making her fall in love with this weird-ass teenager, my bullshit sensors started flashing red. I just don't believe this would ever happen this way. If she was traced down and kidnapped, drugged, jumped on the street, dragged into a white van or even simply told about her real past, I would have believed it (maybe). But to lure her in by making her fall in love with some teenage kid? It didn't make any sense.
Not to mention the whole romance was a disaster. A ridiculous case of insta-love that had no real basis other than physical attraction to the new guy at school. They went from "hi, I'm Noah" to "let's plan our future together" in the span of maybe 10 pages. I'm not joking, folks. It really was that crazy. Now, religious cults are creepy, but teenage insta-love and stalking tendencies a'la Edward Cullen, are creepier still.
I'm sad, because this story could have been much better, but the ridiculous plot developments, unrealistically portrayed situations and reactions, creepy characters and bland writing dragged it to the bottom of the deepest ocean. I really hate to be saying this, because Natasha Preston is a talented writer and an awesome person, but I feel like this book should be taken behind the barn. It's the merciful thing to do.
probably-not
July 23, 2015The cult thing... cool, I love the cult thing...
But memories before she was five? *I* can bring to mind exactly two memories of before I was five, and they're both related to pain. Having no memories before five isn't a big deal...
But memories before she was five? *I* can bring to mind exactly two memories of before I was five, and they're both related to pain. Having no memories before five isn't a big deal...
July 25, 2017
I set my mind back to when I was a teenager so that I could still remember the rush of so called love we feel at that age, so powerful, I don't remember instant love though, "cor look at him" type of thing, but not instantly a couple that in a week are planning their future. OK maybe its the cynic in me coming out.
The thing is, do you remember anything before the age of four? Well this girl did, right back to babyhood, anyway, I over looked that too.
Noah her boyfriend is so insistent for her to remember way back when. I found it remarkable but interesting at the same time.
We have a cult, human sacrifice and kidnapping. Not a great combination but a good one for a story I guess.
Scarlett's and Noahs relationship did not come across to me as loving at all, but really creepy and sinister.
I felt quite uncomfortable reading this book and I am not a YA.
Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Fire via Net Galley for me copy
February 22, 2021
No, no, no...
¿Que es esto?
¿Que es esto?
Encontré el peor libro de de la autora.
Para mi Natasha Preston fue de las primeras autoras con las que empecé a leer el genero thriller juvenil. Y me gustaron mucho, pero siendo honesta pienso que fue porque no tenia experiencia con el genero y porque no tenia con que otros libros compararlos, pero ahora como e leído mas y mejores, pues no puedo evitar compáralos, sorry, pero es que fue horrible en todo sentido. La trama es tan estúpida, o no estúpida en si, mas bien es como esta desarrollado lo que es estúpido y los personajes son malísimos. Y ni hablar del romance, ugh, tan tan cursi, sobresalió mucho en la trama y eso para mi es un gran no, porque cuando leo thrillers no me agrada nada cuando se le da mucha importancia y aquí fue tan molesto.
Este libro no me gusto nada, nadita. Realmente no se que mas decir mas que estar pensando en ciertos de mis gustos que han cambiado a lo largo de mi vida como lector, jaja.
¿Que es esto?
¿Que es esto?
Encontré el peor libro de de la autora.
Para mi Natasha Preston fue de las primeras autoras con las que empecé a leer el genero thriller juvenil. Y me gustaron mucho, pero siendo honesta pienso que fue porque no tenia experiencia con el genero y porque no tenia con que otros libros compararlos, pero ahora como e leído mas y mejores, pues no puedo evitar compáralos, sorry, pero es que fue horrible en todo sentido. La trama es tan estúpida, o no estúpida en si, mas bien es como esta desarrollado lo que es estúpido y los personajes son malísimos. Y ni hablar del romance, ugh, tan tan cursi, sobresalió mucho en la trama y eso para mi es un gran no, porque cuando leo thrillers no me agrada nada cuando se le da mucha importancia y aquí fue tan molesto.
Este libro no me gusto nada, nadita. Realmente no se que mas decir mas que estar pensando en ciertos de mis gustos que han cambiado a lo largo de mi vida como lector, jaja.
July 13, 2015
Shredded Book Reviews©2015. ARC provided via Netgalley
Oh boys and girls, what a mess this was.
I can deal with a piss poor female lead; as long as the heartthrob of the situation is on top of his game, we're good. But when you 1) don't have an engaging plot line or, 2) have monotone characters...
Well everything goes downhill from that point and there is no saving any of it.
Honestly, I couldn't get into the storyline. You've got Scarlet, who appears to be a lovestruck teenager. (Think Bella Swan)....And Noah, who is equally infatuated with this broad for whatever reason. We know he's hot, and that's pretty much it. Within 10 pages they've exchanged numbers, gone on friendly outings, met each other parents...and gone through a list of monotone questions.
"Tell me about yourself"
"I was in a house fire and I don't remember anything before the age of four" (Yea, I don't remember anything before the age of 4 either...so...)
She hates science. He's good at Science.
She wants to see the action movie, he's okay with it.
He spent a lot of time on his hair, and she waited...
It's meant to be.
It's just not up to par. I feel like I read a rough draft of an outline. A bunch of thoughts thrown into what resembles a book, but isn't...a book.
The fact that a publisher PAID to put this on netgalley, wow.
BEFORE READING:
25 % INTO THE BOOK:
50% INTO THE BOOK:
5 MINUTE BREAK TO CHECK THE PUBLISHERS NOTE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS WHAT THE "FINAL MANUSCRIPT" WAS INTENDED TO BE:
ANOTHER 5 MINUTE BREAK TO SWOON OVER HENRY CAVIL IN NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN COMIC CON TRAILER:
Then...I forgot what I was doing. (Forgive me). So I grabbed a bag of chips and had to mull it over...
Finally, I saw my Kindle on the couch and the torture commenced, with a brief cursing session at 80 %....
I did finish this, BTW.
I believe the author had good intentions with this book. But ya gotta stick to what you're good at. She thrives in Thrillers (The Cellar), not romance. Maybe if this book have been partially romance, like 10%, and 90% thriller this would've worked out.
I just don't know...
...and I'm done eating Hershey's trying to figure it out.
Oh boys and girls, what a mess this was.
I can deal with a piss poor female lead; as long as the heartthrob of the situation is on top of his game, we're good. But when you 1) don't have an engaging plot line or, 2) have monotone characters...
Well everything goes downhill from that point and there is no saving any of it.
Honestly, I couldn't get into the storyline. You've got Scarlet, who appears to be a lovestruck teenager. (Think Bella Swan)....And Noah, who is equally infatuated with this broad for whatever reason. We know he's hot, and that's pretty much it. Within 10 pages they've exchanged numbers, gone on friendly outings, met each other parents...and gone through a list of monotone questions.
"Tell me about yourself"
"I was in a house fire and I don't remember anything before the age of four" (Yea, I don't remember anything before the age of 4 either...so...)
She hates science. He's good at Science.
She wants to see the action movie, he's okay with it.
He spent a lot of time on his hair, and she waited...
It's meant to be.
It's just not up to par. I feel like I read a rough draft of an outline. A bunch of thoughts thrown into what resembles a book, but isn't...a book.
The fact that a publisher PAID to put this on netgalley, wow.
BEFORE READING:
25 % INTO THE BOOK:
50% INTO THE BOOK:
5 MINUTE BREAK TO CHECK THE PUBLISHERS NOTE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS WHAT THE "FINAL MANUSCRIPT" WAS INTENDED TO BE:
ANOTHER 5 MINUTE BREAK TO SWOON OVER HENRY CAVIL IN NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN COMIC CON TRAILER:
Then...I forgot what I was doing. (Forgive me). So I grabbed a bag of chips and had to mull it over...
Finally, I saw my Kindle on the couch and the torture commenced, with a brief cursing session at 80 %....
I did finish this, BTW.
I believe the author had good intentions with this book. But ya gotta stick to what you're good at. She thrives in Thrillers (The Cellar), not romance. Maybe if this book have been partially romance, like 10%, and 90% thriller this would've worked out.
I just don't know...
...and I'm done eating Hershey's trying to figure it out.
December 28, 2021
Scarlett Garner remembers scant details from her young childhood and all she does recall fails to match up with what her parents have informed her about her childhood. What secrets are they hiding from her? And does the new boy at school have anything to do with this secret past? Scarlett is determined to remember the truth, regardless of what it could expose or the consequences she could face.
Honestly, I'm unsure if my current reading mood and personal big life-changes are to blame for the low-star rating I seem to be awarding all of my current reads. My usual go-to genre of fantasy is failing to hold my scattered attention and so I'm binging through mysteries and thrillers and finding them all lacking in the same direction. So, maybe it's me..?
If not, my thoughts on this book in short are that I appreciated the split-POV and the unexpected content but not the overly dramatic directions this book took or the slightly cringey dialogue between the two protagonists.
Honestly, I'm unsure if my current reading mood and personal big life-changes are to blame for the low-star rating I seem to be awarding all of my current reads. My usual go-to genre of fantasy is failing to hold my scattered attention and so I'm binging through mysteries and thrillers and finding them all lacking in the same direction. So, maybe it's me..?
If not, my thoughts on this book in short are that I appreciated the split-POV and the unexpected content but not the overly dramatic directions this book took or the slightly cringey dialogue between the two protagonists.
April 7, 2017
I went into this book not knowing anything about it, i like the author and wanted to read more by her. Its a weird book to say the least but its a good book. It has a really interesting topic that kept me hooked throughout the entire book.
Their relationship started off so innocent but quickly turned diabolic (not entirely Noahs fault) but then it transitioned back to that innocence that made me fall in love with them.
The eternal light...
Their relationship started off so innocent but quickly turned diabolic (not entirely Noahs fault) but then it transitioned back to that innocence that made me fall in love with them.
The eternal light...
August 6, 2015
This was a truly terrible book, and, I believe, my first one-star read for the year. I'm not sure if cults are a new trend in YA, following up on the amazingness that was The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly, but this book did not do the genre justice.
In all honesty, I skimmed the last half of the book. The ending was entirely predictable and the execution was poor. There were times where I wanted to reach through and strangle the main character. Instead, I made a fun list: Reasons this Book is Terrible.
1. Instalove.There is an almost kiss within the first few Chapters, which quickly leads to passionate kisses and dating within the first 30pages. And also brought along these beauties:
I know we are all just balls of raging hormones at that age, but I really don't remember being this insufferable as a teenager.
2. Imogen. The supposed best friend who only really makes an appearance at the beginning of the book and only serves as a slutty contrast to the purity that is Scarlett. Her character ends up being ultra-sexualized, and the two girls treat each other like crap. Not to mention that fact that Scarlett completely ditches her 'best friend' pretty much the second she meets Noah. Not cool.
3. HUGE Inconsistencies.There were so many of these I stopped writing them down after a while. There was one point where Scarlett said her memories only extended back 10 years. Do some math, Scarlett - that would make you 14 if you lost your memories at 4, and you've already said you were 16. Another part, which I actually laughed out loud at, is when Scarlet says the following:
Are you kidding me!? The entire book she is movie obsessed, and rather than go and enjoy the outdoors with her outdoorsy boyfriend, she forced him to watch movies inside. Others included poor writing, as the author would forget that she had just told us Scarlet's parents were downstairs and then the next page they suddenly weren't home. Or when Noah is somehow very easily able to reach his cult community by phone when the author has continuously described how out of the way they are and that they had no service. And how does such a reclusive cult know how and where to find Scarlett in the real world if they hardly ever leave their commune? A lot of it just didn't make sense, which was really a missed opportunity.
4. Memory Loss?This was the most unbelievable part of the book. I have a terrible memory. I don't think I have a single memory before the age of 4. Maybe the time when I pushed my sister off the couch and she broke her arm (but I think I was 5 then). Sure, I've seen pictures, and it kind of reminds me a bit of feelings I had at that age. Otherwise, nada. So I really don't understand how this is such a big part of the story. If Scarlett wasn't going to remember anything, they should have made her memory loss occur when she was older. THAT would be more believable and much more debilitating.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
In all honesty, I skimmed the last half of the book. The ending was entirely predictable and the execution was poor. There were times where I wanted to reach through and strangle the main character. Instead, I made a fun list: Reasons this Book is Terrible.
1. Instalove.There is an almost kiss within the first few Chapters, which quickly leads to passionate kisses and dating within the first 30pages. And also brought along these beauties:
"I loved him and our matched up future so much I thought I might burst" (p. 35)
"I was fairly certain that unless he cheated or killed someone, he was the one I wanted to spend my life with"(p. 36)
"Yeah, me and Noah were pretty much joined at the hip lately, but I was pretty sure he was my future husband, so I wanted to spend as much time with him as possible" (p. 78)
I know we are all just balls of raging hormones at that age, but I really don't remember being this insufferable as a teenager.
2. Imogen. The supposed best friend who only really makes an appearance at the beginning of the book and only serves as a slutty contrast to the purity that is Scarlett. Her character ends up being ultra-sexualized, and the two girls treat each other like crap. Not to mention that fact that Scarlett completely ditches her 'best friend' pretty much the second she meets Noah. Not cool.
3. HUGE Inconsistencies.There were so many of these I stopped writing them down after a while. There was one point where Scarlett said her memories only extended back 10 years. Do some math, Scarlett - that would make you 14 if you lost your memories at 4, and you've already said you were 16. Another part, which I actually laughed out loud at, is when Scarlet says the following:
“I didn’t like to be still for long, especially not in the same place”
Are you kidding me!? The entire book she is movie obsessed, and rather than go and enjoy the outdoors with her outdoorsy boyfriend, she forced him to watch movies inside. Others included poor writing, as the author would forget that she had just told us Scarlet's parents were downstairs and then the next page they suddenly weren't home. Or when Noah is somehow very easily able to reach his cult community by phone when the author has continuously described how out of the way they are and that they had no service. And how does such a reclusive cult know how and where to find Scarlett in the real world if they hardly ever leave their commune? A lot of it just didn't make sense, which was really a missed opportunity.
4. Memory Loss?This was the most unbelievable part of the book. I have a terrible memory. I don't think I have a single memory before the age of 4. Maybe the time when I pushed my sister off the couch and she broke her arm (but I think I was 5 then). Sure, I've seen pictures, and it kind of reminds me a bit of feelings I had at that age. Otherwise, nada. So I really don't understand how this is such a big part of the story. If Scarlett wasn't going to remember anything, they should have made her memory loss occur when she was older. THAT would be more believable and much more debilitating.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
January 14, 2018
I can't help but be very disappointed in what I read. I came into this book with high hopes, like all books. But this book was one book that was extremely hard to keep reading once I got 32% into it. I don't want to make a decision for you on what you should think of this book, because if you enjoyed it I am glad. But I didn't enjoy my read. Giving it 2 stars is being generous. I understand where the author wanted to go with this book but it never got there and was way to all over the place for me. I also am aware that these were kids and falling in "love" is easy at 16 but it was not well written. Once again it maybe a book you love so don't not read it based on what I say because its my own opinion.
February 17, 2021
No es el estilo que nos tiene acostumbrados pero la verdad que esta muy bien el libro
Read
July 21, 2015Received from NetGalley.
The blurb made it sound interesting, but within the first few pages, when Scarlett tells handsome Noah, the new boy at high school, that she has no memories before she was four (and then admits that she hates telling anyone that) I felt the authorial hand shoving these two together. Sure enough: insta-love.
I think Preston does a reasonable job of depicting a creepy stalker who is determined to make this teenage girl fall in love with him, so he says everything right ("You are so special!" in a thousand different banal ways) and behaves as if he's fallen for her. But when he really does fall for her, the story becomes painful as the characters get more and more cardboard. Told in prose with frequent grammar errors.
Slowly we begin to find out that Noah and his family belong to a health and purity cult. That's fine, but then we get glimpses of the fact that the cult leaders feel they have to sacrifice a girl in order to . . . well, the short version is, it makes little sense.
Scarlett has repressed memories of the early attempt when she was four. And her supposed parents grabbed her, left the cult, and will not tell her anything about what happened. They also don't seem to recognize Noah or have any suspicions about him--meanwhile we're to believe that he is sent by the evil cult leaders to make Scarlett fall in love with him so he can bring her back to be sacrificed. Wouldn't a snatch-and-grab be easier and less expensive?
I suppose there are authors who could have made this a really creepy horror story (though I never would have opened page one) but Preston always opts for the sentimental cliche rather than any kind of emotional complexity, and the result was painful to slog through. The setup for a sequel pretty much shipwrecked the ending--though I think thirteen year olds who have no idea how older people actually think, and who have not read much, might find the whole book exciting.
The blurb made it sound interesting, but within the first few pages, when Scarlett tells handsome Noah, the new boy at high school, that she has no memories before she was four (and then admits that she hates telling anyone that) I felt the authorial hand shoving these two together. Sure enough: insta-love.
I think Preston does a reasonable job of depicting a creepy stalker who is determined to make this teenage girl fall in love with him, so he says everything right ("You are so special!" in a thousand different banal ways) and behaves as if he's fallen for her. But when he really does fall for her, the story becomes painful as the characters get more and more cardboard. Told in prose with frequent grammar errors.
Slowly we begin to find out that Noah and his family belong to a health and purity cult. That's fine, but then we get glimpses of the fact that the cult leaders feel they have to sacrifice a girl in order to . . . well, the short version is, it makes little sense.
Scarlett has repressed memories of the early attempt when she was four. And her supposed parents grabbed her, left the cult, and will not tell her anything about what happened. They also don't seem to recognize Noah or have any suspicions about him--meanwhile we're to believe that he is sent by the evil cult leaders to make Scarlett fall in love with him so he can bring her back to be sacrificed. Wouldn't a snatch-and-grab be easier and less expensive?
I suppose there are authors who could have made this a really creepy horror story (though I never would have opened page one) but Preston always opts for the sentimental cliche rather than any kind of emotional complexity, and the result was painful to slog through. The setup for a sequel pretty much shipwrecked the ending--though I think thirteen year olds who have no idea how older people actually think, and who have not read much, might find the whole book exciting.
dnf
December 6, 2017Holy shit, this was really immediately bad. The writing is just awful and the plot is so banal and instalovey and creepy and DO NOT PASS GO. Yikes.
The premise, also, is ludicrous. A LOT of people don't have memories before the age of four. I mean, okay, most don't wake up from a TRAGICAL FIRE forgetting who their parents are, but bitch, you ain't special.
The premise, also, is ludicrous. A LOT of people don't have memories before the age of four. I mean, okay, most don't wake up from a TRAGICAL FIRE forgetting who their parents are, but bitch, you ain't special.
January 21, 2018
Another great read by this Author. Had my heart racing quite a few times wondering what was going to happen. Grabbing the edge of my seat.
July 6, 2015
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
I thought this book was pretty good. For some reason I didn't read the end of the blurb and had no idea this book was headed in the direction it took.
Scarlett meets Noah as the new boy in school. They become instant friends then instantly in love. It seemed weird to me because Noah was a very handsome boy, but also very nice. He never pushed Scarlett to do things that most boys of that age would do. He was always wanting to be with her and reeling her right in. I thought it was weird how he always wanted her to try to remember what happened to her when she was young. Why would he be doing that?
I don't want to give away too much of the book but lets just say there are some freaks in a cult that come into play. A whole lot of crazy happens at one point and a bunch of nuts that want to sacrifice a children from their group at certain times so they can have a more prosperous life. What? The book goes from sweet to wackadoo in no time at all.
Unlike a lot of the bad reviews, I actually enjoyed the book. I think adding in the cult made the book even better. I just kept wanting to know what was going on, I like when a book does that for me. What is going on? Who did it? Excuse me?
I would recommend to those that don't mind, what people are calling, insta-love and crazy cult people.
**I would like to thank NETGALLEY and SOURCEBOOKS for the opportunity to read this ARC.**
I thought this book was pretty good. For some reason I didn't read the end of the blurb and had no idea this book was headed in the direction it took.
Scarlett meets Noah as the new boy in school. They become instant friends then instantly in love. It seemed weird to me because Noah was a very handsome boy, but also very nice. He never pushed Scarlett to do things that most boys of that age would do. He was always wanting to be with her and reeling her right in. I thought it was weird how he always wanted her to try to remember what happened to her when she was young. Why would he be doing that?
I don't want to give away too much of the book but lets just say there are some freaks in a cult that come into play. A whole lot of crazy happens at one point and a bunch of nuts that want to sacrifice a children from their group at certain times so they can have a more prosperous life. What? The book goes from sweet to wackadoo in no time at all.
Unlike a lot of the bad reviews, I actually enjoyed the book. I think adding in the cult made the book even better. I just kept wanting to know what was going on, I like when a book does that for me. What is going on? Who did it? Excuse me?
I would recommend to those that don't mind, what people are calling, insta-love and crazy cult people.
**I would like to thank NETGALLEY and SOURCEBOOKS for the opportunity to read this ARC.**
March 8, 2021
Después de leer este libro me ha quedado claro que esta autora, definitivamente, no es para mí.
He leído La cabaña, El anónimo y El despertar, en ese orden, y con cada lectura iba gustándome su estilo un poquito menos, pero con este libro ha bajado demasiado el nivel. Es un libro muy diferente a lo que nos tiene acostumbrados, aunque para mí eso no ha sido un punto positivo.
Me han fallado muchas cosas que no me permiten ponerle mejor nota a este libro.
Es cierto que es un libro adictivo, que se lee muy rápido y quieres seguir leyendo para saber qué ocurre (sobre todo las últimas 100 páginas aprox), pero me pareció demasiado juvenil la manera en la que estaba escrito, y al mismo tiempo demasiado macabro y turbio como para que fuera juvenil, no sé si me explico.
No he conseguido conectar con los personajes a lo largo de ninguna las páginas, es más, me han resultado muy insignificantes; llegando al punto de caerme mal. Scarlet me ha parecido una chica muy molesta, ilusa e inútil, demasiado. Y ya ni hablemos del enorme INSTALOVE que hay en este libro. No es un libro de romance, es un libro de misterio, pero se supone que la protagonista tiene un pasado con secretos... y lo que hace es encapricharse del chico nuevo del instituto y a los dos días contarle todo su pasado para que luego lo utilice en su contra... de inteligente no es, eso está claro.
Toda la trama me ha parecido muy apresurada. Desde el principio la historia empieza muy de sopetón, no nos da ni siquiera un par de páginas para situarnos y conocer a los personajes. Los acontecimientos era necesario contarlos de manera más lenta, aumentar el misterio y el nivel de nerviosismo y estremecimiento del lector. Opino que si no ocurriera todo tan rápido, de manera que el libro tuviese muchas más páginas y el libro en general hubiera estado más desarrollado, habría estado muchísimo mejor.
La idea tenía mucho potencial, pero faltan muchas páginas y más páginas para completar la historia y desarrollarla como es debido.
En resumen, es una libro con una trama y un romance para nada creíbles, una historia turbia que se lee rápido pero le falta mucho desarrollo para que a las personas que les guste el misterio puedan disfrutarlo.
He leído La cabaña, El anónimo y El despertar, en ese orden, y con cada lectura iba gustándome su estilo un poquito menos, pero con este libro ha bajado demasiado el nivel. Es un libro muy diferente a lo que nos tiene acostumbrados, aunque para mí eso no ha sido un punto positivo.
Me han fallado muchas cosas que no me permiten ponerle mejor nota a este libro.
Es cierto que es un libro adictivo, que se lee muy rápido y quieres seguir leyendo para saber qué ocurre (sobre todo las últimas 100 páginas aprox), pero me pareció demasiado juvenil la manera en la que estaba escrito, y al mismo tiempo demasiado macabro y turbio como para que fuera juvenil, no sé si me explico.
No he conseguido conectar con los personajes a lo largo de ninguna las páginas, es más, me han resultado muy insignificantes; llegando al punto de caerme mal. Scarlet me ha parecido una chica muy molesta, ilusa e inútil, demasiado. Y ya ni hablemos del enorme INSTALOVE que hay en este libro. No es un libro de romance, es un libro de misterio, pero se supone que la protagonista tiene un pasado con secretos... y lo que hace es encapricharse del chico nuevo del instituto y a los dos días contarle todo su pasado para que luego lo utilice en su contra... de inteligente no es, eso está claro.
Toda la trama me ha parecido muy apresurada. Desde el principio la historia empieza muy de sopetón, no nos da ni siquiera un par de páginas para situarnos y conocer a los personajes. Los acontecimientos era necesario contarlos de manera más lenta, aumentar el misterio y el nivel de nerviosismo y estremecimiento del lector. Opino que si no ocurriera todo tan rápido, de manera que el libro tuviese muchas más páginas y el libro en general hubiera estado más desarrollado, habría estado muchísimo mejor.
La idea tenía mucho potencial, pero faltan muchas páginas y más páginas para completar la historia y desarrollarla como es debido.
En resumen, es una libro con una trama y un romance para nada creíbles, una historia turbia que se lee rápido pero le falta mucho desarrollo para que a las personas que les guste el misterio puedan disfrutarlo.
May 28, 2025
[ENG]
I had a feeling this book wouldn’t be great — I kind of knew what to expect, but I still hoped for the best. Sadly, I lost that hope within the first few pages. A lot of things just didn’t make sense, and I’m not even talking about the cult itself, but the relationships between the characters and everything that happened in general. Some parts were so absurd, I honestly had no idea what was going on anymore. The author could really benefit from a writing course — the plot was messy, and the writing style didn’t help. This was my first book by this author, and I truly hope her other works are better written.
[PL]
Już od początku miałam przeczucie, że ta książka może nie być dobra — niby człowiek wiedział, a jednak się łudził. Niestety, po kilku pierwszych stronach wszystkie nadzieje prysły. Historia szybko zaczęła tracić sens, a wiele rzeczy było po prostu kompletnie nierealistycznych. I nie chodzi tu nawet o sam motyw sekty, ale o to, jak postacie się zachowują i jak dziwnie rozwija się fabuła. Momentami miałam wrażenie, że autorka sama nie wie, co chce przekazać. Styl pisania również pozostawia wiele do życzenia — dialogi sztuczne, narracja chaotyczna. To była moja pierwsza książka tej autorki i szczerze mówiąc, mam nadzieję, że kolejne są napisane z większym wyczuciem i warsztatem.
I had a feeling this book wouldn’t be great — I kind of knew what to expect, but I still hoped for the best. Sadly, I lost that hope within the first few pages. A lot of things just didn’t make sense, and I’m not even talking about the cult itself, but the relationships between the characters and everything that happened in general. Some parts were so absurd, I honestly had no idea what was going on anymore. The author could really benefit from a writing course — the plot was messy, and the writing style didn’t help. This was my first book by this author, and I truly hope her other works are better written.
[PL]
Już od początku miałam przeczucie, że ta książka może nie być dobra — niby człowiek wiedział, a jednak się łudził. Niestety, po kilku pierwszych stronach wszystkie nadzieje prysły. Historia szybko zaczęła tracić sens, a wiele rzeczy było po prostu kompletnie nierealistycznych. I nie chodzi tu nawet o sam motyw sekty, ale o to, jak postacie się zachowują i jak dziwnie rozwija się fabuła. Momentami miałam wrażenie, że autorka sama nie wie, co chce przekazać. Styl pisania również pozostawia wiele do życzenia — dialogi sztuczne, narracja chaotyczna. To była moja pierwsza książka tej autorki i szczerze mówiąc, mam nadzieję, że kolejne są napisane z większym wyczuciem i warsztatem.
April 3, 2016
https://anaslair.wordpress.com/2015/1...
Within the first few lines of Awake I began wondering what the heck I had gotten myself into.
Scarlett's so-called best friend is portrayed as a self-centred, attention-seeker, cynic bitch. So that made it extra easy for our little innocent and lovely Scarlett to ditch her the second Noah steps in the picture.
After that, everything was pretty much Noah-Noah-Noah.
Eurgh. Romance. Teenage romance on top of all.
I didn't even get the insta-love. Scarlett specifically says Noah drilled her with questions and wanted to know every single thing about her and instead of finding that creepy it is cute?? I mean, there is showing interest and then there's interrogating.
So I spent almost this entire read hoping against all hope that the story would improve. There was this mystery behind the first 4 years of Scarlett's life which she could not recall at all (honestly, I don't think that's that weird; I don't think I recall anything from way back then) and I was interested in the duality of Noah.
The writing flowed well for the most part. It did get repetitive and annoying with all the feels and teenage drama. And some things did not add up. Examples:
- One minute we are told Scarlett is just 16, then she is back to 15 and similar stuff happens with Noah's age.
The book needs editing. Some sentences didn't even make sense.
Alas, I believe that teenagers will enjoy Awake very much but it just wasn't my cup of tea. There was a lot of frowning and pouting and swooning and I just wish that main character had a bit more depth. In the end, she just annoyed me beyond words.
There were lines like "Hey," he said, flashing me his cute smile I loved so much.; I think my heart actually melted into a puddle; She pouted adorably. which I would say almost made me gag but, you know. :)
And then there was the drama, like and I cried until I literally couldn't shed another tear (you have no idea how much I hate the wrong use of literally, and it was abused in this book; It was another hard kick to the stomach. The thought of (...) was like a knife rip through my heart. and so many more.
The entire relationship of Scarlett and Noah was just so ridiculous! This is the epitome of insta-love. Everything was perfect. Everytime they were even close to arguing Noah was the perfect gentleman and not only dropped it but apologized for it. For so long they kept apologizing to each other and melting to each other and I just wondered when the torture would end.
All in all, I felt that there could be a pretty interesting story behind all the teenage drama. If the cult thing had been properly explored, this could have been so much more and so much better.
Instead, I did not even get why Scarlett had the role they said she did. It kills me when an author presents a premise that has such weight in a book and just expects me to accept it, with no explanation whatsoever.
So in the end the book gets rounded up to 2 stars because I feel I was not the audience for it, but it's still very weak.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Within the first few lines of Awake I began wondering what the heck I had gotten myself into.
Scarlett's so-called best friend is portrayed as a self-centred, attention-seeker, cynic bitch. So that made it extra easy for our little innocent and lovely Scarlett to ditch her the second Noah steps in the picture.
After that, everything was pretty much Noah-Noah-Noah.
Eurgh. Romance. Teenage romance on top of all.
I didn't even get the insta-love. Scarlett specifically says Noah drilled her with questions and wanted to know every single thing about her and instead of finding that creepy it is cute?? I mean, there is showing interest and then there's interrogating.
So I spent almost this entire read hoping against all hope that the story would improve. There was this mystery behind the first 4 years of Scarlett's life which she could not recall at all (honestly, I don't think that's that weird; I don't think I recall anything from way back then) and I was interested in the duality of Noah.
The writing flowed well for the most part. It did get repetitive and annoying with all the feels and teenage drama. And some things did not add up. Examples:
- One minute we are told Scarlett is just 16, then she is back to 15 and similar stuff happens with Noah's age.
The book needs editing. Some sentences didn't even make sense.
Alas, I believe that teenagers will enjoy Awake very much but it just wasn't my cup of tea. There was a lot of frowning and pouting and swooning and I just wish that main character had a bit more depth. In the end, she just annoyed me beyond words.
There were lines like "Hey," he said, flashing me his cute smile I loved so much.; I think my heart actually melted into a puddle; She pouted adorably. which I would say almost made me gag but, you know. :)
And then there was the drama, like and I cried until I literally couldn't shed another tear (you have no idea how much I hate the wrong use of literally, and it was abused in this book; It was another hard kick to the stomach. The thought of (...) was like a knife rip through my heart. and so many more.
The entire relationship of Scarlett and Noah was just so ridiculous! This is the epitome of insta-love. Everything was perfect. Everytime they were even close to arguing Noah was the perfect gentleman and not only dropped it but apologized for it. For so long they kept apologizing to each other and melting to each other and I just wondered when the torture would end.
All in all, I felt that there could be a pretty interesting story behind all the teenage drama. If the cult thing had been properly explored, this could have been so much more and so much better.
Instead, I did not even get why Scarlett had the role they said she did. It kills me when an author presents a premise that has such weight in a book and just expects me to accept it, with no explanation whatsoever.
So in the end the book gets rounded up to 2 stars because I feel I was not the audience for it, but it's still very weak.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 3, 2021
Reseña completa: https://elcaosliterario.blogspot.com/...
Este thriller de Natasha Preston es el más inquietante y oscuro hasta la fecha. Tanto la trama en sí como la historia de amor que surgen me han dejado boquiabierto. Poco se puede revelar de la trama en esta ocasión, ya que de hacerlo, desvelaría datos importantes que debéis descubrir al leerlo.
El nuevo libro de la autora es bastante distinto a los demás. Es complicado conectar con los personajes y sentir simpatía por ellos, algo que en este caso beneficia mucho al ambiente oscuro de la historia.
Uno de los aspectos que menos me ha gustado es lo rápido que surge el romance en esta historia. Pero esto no ha sido lo único, ya que la autora, en muchas ocasiones, basa sus avances en la trama en meras casualidades y no en demostraciones o acciones debidamente justificadas, algo que le resta bastante credibilidad y termina siendo un lastre para su desarrollo. Y esto es algo que ya arrastraba en otras de sus obras, pero esta vez ha sido demasiado obvio.
En resumen: el nuevo thriller de la autora no dejará indiferente a nadie. Muy oscuro y desconcertante, pero con algún que otro lastre en el desarrollo de la trama. No es el mejor thriller de Natasha Preston, pero sí el más arriesgado.
Este thriller de Natasha Preston es el más inquietante y oscuro hasta la fecha. Tanto la trama en sí como la historia de amor que surgen me han dejado boquiabierto. Poco se puede revelar de la trama en esta ocasión, ya que de hacerlo, desvelaría datos importantes que debéis descubrir al leerlo.
El nuevo libro de la autora es bastante distinto a los demás. Es complicado conectar con los personajes y sentir simpatía por ellos, algo que en este caso beneficia mucho al ambiente oscuro de la historia.
Uno de los aspectos que menos me ha gustado es lo rápido que surge el romance en esta historia. Pero esto no ha sido lo único, ya que la autora, en muchas ocasiones, basa sus avances en la trama en meras casualidades y no en demostraciones o acciones debidamente justificadas, algo que le resta bastante credibilidad y termina siendo un lastre para su desarrollo. Y esto es algo que ya arrastraba en otras de sus obras, pero esta vez ha sido demasiado obvio.
En resumen: el nuevo thriller de la autora no dejará indiferente a nadie. Muy oscuro y desconcertante, pero con algún que otro lastre en el desarrollo de la trama. No es el mejor thriller de Natasha Preston, pero sí el más arriesgado.
December 9, 2020
This was okay for a book. But I hated how Scarlett literally reveals everything to a stranger in the first conversation. If you aren't into insta-love, then don't read this.
June 18, 2015
Who says you have to enter the world of fantasy to discover who and what you really are? Far more frightening, just as unbelievable is the real life world of cults, some who celebrate life and Mother Earth, some who worship Satan, there are so many in the world and they range from harmless to deadly and twisted. Scarlett has no memory of her life before around four years old, but an accident brings her past memories to the forefront, piece by agonizing piece. Are they nightmares from the trauma of the crash or the hidden truths of well-intentioned lies that her world has been built on?
Just when her life was going so well, the new hot guy at school had eyes only for her, his family was kind and loving and her over-protective parents allowed her to see him, the rug was pulled out from under her and she is plunged into a nightmare of twisted power, dark cults and the insanely warped leaders. Who is she, what is her purpose on Earth? Has she been betrayed by those she loves and trusts as they stand behind the monsters who want her for one thing only, her life and her blood?
We read about cults, they make the headlines, and the phrase “Drink the Kool-Aid” comes from a heinous cult incident. Awake by Natasha Preston is an up close and thankfully fictitious look at one dark cult and the extent their depravity will go, like slithering eels searching for the magic bullet into a better world, created just for them. Ms. Preston does not go so deep into her tale that the reading becomes like a horror story unwinding, instead, it is written to make the reader uncomfortable as true life cults come to mind. It asks the readers to independently question how a group of people with the same weaknesses or character flaws actually find each other and fall in line with a mentally unstable leader. There wasn’t a huge amount of interaction “on page” from the characters, instead it read like a re-telling of a front page story.
Perfect for the curious, those who like a bit the unbelievably dark, and anyone looking for a quick read that is unlike anything out there. Ms. Preston writes vivid scenes that play out as if watching it all on a screen, without invoking too much sympathy for the characters, but rather to be jolted by the entire event that unfolds.
I received an ARC edition from Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: August 4, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
ISBN 9781492618522
Genre: YA Mystery Thriller
Print Length: 336 pages
Available from: Amazon
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Just when her life was going so well, the new hot guy at school had eyes only for her, his family was kind and loving and her over-protective parents allowed her to see him, the rug was pulled out from under her and she is plunged into a nightmare of twisted power, dark cults and the insanely warped leaders. Who is she, what is her purpose on Earth? Has she been betrayed by those she loves and trusts as they stand behind the monsters who want her for one thing only, her life and her blood?
We read about cults, they make the headlines, and the phrase “Drink the Kool-Aid” comes from a heinous cult incident. Awake by Natasha Preston is an up close and thankfully fictitious look at one dark cult and the extent their depravity will go, like slithering eels searching for the magic bullet into a better world, created just for them. Ms. Preston does not go so deep into her tale that the reading becomes like a horror story unwinding, instead, it is written to make the reader uncomfortable as true life cults come to mind. It asks the readers to independently question how a group of people with the same weaknesses or character flaws actually find each other and fall in line with a mentally unstable leader. There wasn’t a huge amount of interaction “on page” from the characters, instead it read like a re-telling of a front page story.
Perfect for the curious, those who like a bit the unbelievably dark, and anyone looking for a quick read that is unlike anything out there. Ms. Preston writes vivid scenes that play out as if watching it all on a screen, without invoking too much sympathy for the characters, but rather to be jolted by the entire event that unfolds.
I received an ARC edition from Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: August 4, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
ISBN 9781492618522
Genre: YA Mystery Thriller
Print Length: 336 pages
Available from: Amazon
For More Reviews, Promotions and all things Books visit: http://tometender.blogspot.com
October 10, 2017
DNF'ing this. Now my least favorite book of all time (yes, including 13 reasons trash). Only got 90 pages in but you better bet your ass that I'm counting it as read for all the hell I had to go through with just those 90 pages.
Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqW2J...
Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqW2J...
June 17, 2017
Great quick read!
It ends with a lot of unanswered questions and I'm hoping that means there will be another book. *fingers crossed*
It ends with a lot of unanswered questions and I'm hoping that means there will be another book. *fingers crossed*
January 17, 2022
Tragedia nie czytam tego
dnf
July 1, 2022dnf early on, mc too dumb for my taste, and there is insta love right away
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