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Darkness
Seventeen-year-old Carly Lopez suffers from post-traumatic stress, though the “post” part technically doesn’t apply…not when the killer is still out there.
As the only survivor of the killing spree that left four dead girls in its wake, Carly fails to unearth her buried memories of that day and is consumed with guilt. After a year of silence, the killer is back, and Carly will stop at nothing to catch him.
With each new death, Carly’s reality shatters, propelling her deeper into the darkness where the dead haunt her—but where the truth lies. Her only firm grasp of reality is Hunter Jackson, whose mysterious overprotectiveness of Carly forces her to doubt the reason behind her guilt.
But Hunter has a secret.
And when Carly discovers a horrible truth, she questions her involvement in the murders. Was she directly responsible? Did she help the killer? Carly soon learns that finding answers may mean risking more than just her sanity.
As the only survivor of the killing spree that left four dead girls in its wake, Carly fails to unearth her buried memories of that day and is consumed with guilt. After a year of silence, the killer is back, and Carly will stop at nothing to catch him.
With each new death, Carly’s reality shatters, propelling her deeper into the darkness where the dead haunt her—but where the truth lies. Her only firm grasp of reality is Hunter Jackson, whose mysterious overprotectiveness of Carly forces her to doubt the reason behind her guilt.
But Hunter has a secret.
And when Carly discovers a horrible truth, she questions her involvement in the murders. Was she directly responsible? Did she help the killer? Carly soon learns that finding answers may mean risking more than just her sanity.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2014
About the author
Elizabeth Arroyo
9 books67 followersElizabeth is the Latinx author of speculative fiction & contemporary romance novels for teens.
Before she started writing, Elizabeth got her undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. She then went on to work in foster care programs, mental health facilities, and youth organizations within the Latinx Community, providing services to youth and families.
She now spends her time writing romance, binge watching anime, and spending time with her family.
Elizabeth currently resides in Chicago.
Before she started writing, Elizabeth got her undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. She then went on to work in foster care programs, mental health facilities, and youth organizations within the Latinx Community, providing services to youth and families.
She now spends her time writing romance, binge watching anime, and spending time with her family.
Elizabeth currently resides in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 12, 2014
**I was provided with a free ecopy of the Darkness via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.**
Such an awesome read. Everyone thinks Carly is a freak, probably because she has psychotic outbursts in class and was committed to the asylum twice since her best friend’s murder. But they have no idea how bad it really is. Carly sees shadows, hears voices and has terrible nightmares that could be mistaken for lost memories.
Worst of all is that Carly was there when her best friend Olivia was taken but she can’t remember the killer’s face. It’s like her mind refuses to remember that part, and it’s killing her because she feels responsible for the deaths since Olivia’s. And so, Carly is secretly trying to investigate these murders to find out who this killer is. The more she delves into the killings, the stranger her own behaviour gets until she finds it hard to distinguish between what’s real and what isn’t. In trying to rid herself of guilt and help other girls, will Carly lose herself?
Darkness is brilliantly written, and it kept me on the edge until the last page. Yes, it was confusing at times but I loved that because it helped me understand how chaotic Carly’s thoughts were. Yes, there is something abnormal about her brain, something that sets her apart from other ‘normal’ teenagers, but that doesn’t mean her opinion shouldn’t matter. What I liked most about this book was how it shows that even though Carly has a mental instability, she’s still an intelligent girl that cares about her family, falls in love and basically deserves to be loved back.
It’s horrible how her mother blames Carly whenever Carly has even a hint of a relapse and she wants to institutionalise her, like as if she can’t handle it so she prefers to shove the responsibility on to someone else. Carly knows she’s not normal but clearly it stings when her mother won’t even try to handle it. Her brother, Christian, tries to be supportive, but he’s really concerned about Carly and knows that the more she goes investigating, the greater danger she will put herself into. And dear Hunter; so adorable and protective, but he doesn’t want to get too close to Carly either. I don’t’ want to reveal too much about Hunter’s role but he certainly has his share of secrets too…
Darkness is a thrilling book and was such a delight to read that I am now looking at other books available by this brilliant author.
Favourite Quotes
“Don’t bother trying to figure me out. I can’t even figure me out.”
Hunter laughed. He also had dimples. She was doomed.
“…Are you, like, in between selves at the moment? I mean, it’s totally okay, I’m used to being around weird and have nothing against weird.” She’d been around herself for seventeen years. She’d perfected weird.
“Someone has to be putting him up to it. I’m sure he wouldn’t choose me to hang with unless he lost a bet or something.”
The doorbell rang again.
“Oh, grow up, Carly. Life is not like the movies. We popular guys don’t sit around making bets to de-hymenize the unsuspecting awkward female, or have time to try to schmooze a dweeb.”
Poor guy. He’d decided to help the wrong girl. She wasn’t a survivor. She just hadn’t caught up to her death yet.
“How are you?”
“Why do people ask that when they really don’t want to hear the truth?”
“Are you crazy?”
“Yeah, what’s your point?”
Such an awesome read. Everyone thinks Carly is a freak, probably because she has psychotic outbursts in class and was committed to the asylum twice since her best friend’s murder. But they have no idea how bad it really is. Carly sees shadows, hears voices and has terrible nightmares that could be mistaken for lost memories.
Worst of all is that Carly was there when her best friend Olivia was taken but she can’t remember the killer’s face. It’s like her mind refuses to remember that part, and it’s killing her because she feels responsible for the deaths since Olivia’s. And so, Carly is secretly trying to investigate these murders to find out who this killer is. The more she delves into the killings, the stranger her own behaviour gets until she finds it hard to distinguish between what’s real and what isn’t. In trying to rid herself of guilt and help other girls, will Carly lose herself?
Darkness is brilliantly written, and it kept me on the edge until the last page. Yes, it was confusing at times but I loved that because it helped me understand how chaotic Carly’s thoughts were. Yes, there is something abnormal about her brain, something that sets her apart from other ‘normal’ teenagers, but that doesn’t mean her opinion shouldn’t matter. What I liked most about this book was how it shows that even though Carly has a mental instability, she’s still an intelligent girl that cares about her family, falls in love and basically deserves to be loved back.
It’s horrible how her mother blames Carly whenever Carly has even a hint of a relapse and she wants to institutionalise her, like as if she can’t handle it so she prefers to shove the responsibility on to someone else. Carly knows she’s not normal but clearly it stings when her mother won’t even try to handle it. Her brother, Christian, tries to be supportive, but he’s really concerned about Carly and knows that the more she goes investigating, the greater danger she will put herself into. And dear Hunter; so adorable and protective, but he doesn’t want to get too close to Carly either. I don’t’ want to reveal too much about Hunter’s role but he certainly has his share of secrets too…
Darkness is a thrilling book and was such a delight to read that I am now looking at other books available by this brilliant author.
Favourite Quotes
“Don’t bother trying to figure me out. I can’t even figure me out.”
Hunter laughed. He also had dimples. She was doomed.
“…Are you, like, in between selves at the moment? I mean, it’s totally okay, I’m used to being around weird and have nothing against weird.” She’d been around herself for seventeen years. She’d perfected weird.
“Someone has to be putting him up to it. I’m sure he wouldn’t choose me to hang with unless he lost a bet or something.”
The doorbell rang again.
“Oh, grow up, Carly. Life is not like the movies. We popular guys don’t sit around making bets to de-hymenize the unsuspecting awkward female, or have time to try to schmooze a dweeb.”
Poor guy. He’d decided to help the wrong girl. She wasn’t a survivor. She just hadn’t caught up to her death yet.
“How are you?”
“Why do people ask that when they really don’t want to hear the truth?”
“Are you crazy?”
“Yeah, what’s your point?”
September 3, 2014
Scary Mind Bender! Holy. Cow. First, my reader (my brain not my kindle) has been faulty all year. There is a "stack" of books on my kindle waiting for me, but every time I tried to sit down and read I just couldn't. After visiting some old favorites I decided to give my stack another try. This was at the top.
I wasn't sure what I expected, but I couldn't put this book down. I started it yesterday afternoon and grudgingly put it away to sleep. It was the first thing I thought of this morning, but I made myself play mom and go to the gym first. Then I rushed home and finished it before showering. Good thing no one was home. :)
Carly broke my heart. This is going to sound weird to anyone who is NOT a writer, but her problems with reality intruding into real life are so close to how out of control I feel with my own imagination. (Please don't lock me up!) Luckily my dreams don't involve dead girls and scary tall men hovering around to claim their prize.
Hunter was the perfect bad boy/good guy/hero hunk. I guessed his secret fairly early (I read a lot of suspense novels!) but it didn't harm my enjoyment of the read. There were plenty other things waiting to twist around and slap me in the face. And Hunter is hot!
Arroyo has grown as a writer. I read one of her first books The Second Sign and felt confused by a change in tone. This book didn't have that problem. The flow was great, the book well edited and easy to get carried away in. Loved it!
I give Darkness by E. Arroyo a solid 4.5 and highly recommend it if you like mind games and on the edge of your seat concern for the characters.
1-5 scale and what it means:1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love4: Solid mind candy / worth reading4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure
I wasn't sure what I expected, but I couldn't put this book down. I started it yesterday afternoon and grudgingly put it away to sleep. It was the first thing I thought of this morning, but I made myself play mom and go to the gym first. Then I rushed home and finished it before showering. Good thing no one was home. :)
Carly broke my heart. This is going to sound weird to anyone who is NOT a writer, but her problems with reality intruding into real life are so close to how out of control I feel with my own imagination. (Please don't lock me up!) Luckily my dreams don't involve dead girls and scary tall men hovering around to claim their prize.
Hunter was the perfect bad boy/good guy/hero hunk. I guessed his secret fairly early (I read a lot of suspense novels!) but it didn't harm my enjoyment of the read. There were plenty other things waiting to twist around and slap me in the face. And Hunter is hot!
Arroyo has grown as a writer. I read one of her first books The Second Sign and felt confused by a change in tone. This book didn't have that problem. The flow was great, the book well edited and easy to get carried away in. Loved it!
I give Darkness by E. Arroyo a solid 4.5 and highly recommend it if you like mind games and on the edge of your seat concern for the characters.
1-5 scale and what it means:1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love4: Solid mind candy / worth reading4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure
September 8, 2014
Original post on http://readingadd.blogspot.ro/
I received this book for a honest review. Thanks!
This book looked both interesting and creepy so I was kind of intrigued when I started reading it.
It was good, creepy sometimes, but I think that something was missing. I liked the idea and the plot, but I couldn’t sympathize with the main character and this for me is a huge thing. Also, there were some parts when I felt confuse, because everything was moving so fast, now we are here and then is a flashback and then here… and wasn’t well separated.
The story is a bit crazy and dark and even now after I finished it I ask myself what I just read. Because reality is missed with supernatural stuff and the line between them is so fragile; in the last few chapters I kinda lost it, because you don’t know, is happening just in her mind or is real? Even if I liked where the story went and how it ended I wanted more. More anwers and they spoken clearly. I think you need to read this book carefully because there are a lot of details that matter and if you lose them the story doesn’t make sense. And I’m sure that if I re-read it I will understand more.
What was my problem with the main character – I liked her ambition and her desire to discover the true, I understood her when she was lost and sad, and down, but sometimes I felt that she was plain. Her emotions didn’t reach me. It was like a wall of glass was between us and we couldn’t hear each other. But putting uside the ‘feelings’ part I liked her as a character and I liked the fact that she’s complexe and not just a girl with a ‘trauma’.
If you like this kind of books – dark, creepy, psychological thriller, suspense – then you should read this, because is really good and short and kind of original. Enjoy!
I received this book for a honest review. Thanks!
This book looked both interesting and creepy so I was kind of intrigued when I started reading it.
It was good, creepy sometimes, but I think that something was missing. I liked the idea and the plot, but I couldn’t sympathize with the main character and this for me is a huge thing. Also, there were some parts when I felt confuse, because everything was moving so fast, now we are here and then is a flashback and then here… and wasn’t well separated.
The story is a bit crazy and dark and even now after I finished it I ask myself what I just read. Because reality is missed with supernatural stuff and the line between them is so fragile; in the last few chapters I kinda lost it, because you don’t know, is happening just in her mind or is real? Even if I liked where the story went and how it ended I wanted more. More anwers and they spoken clearly. I think you need to read this book carefully because there are a lot of details that matter and if you lose them the story doesn’t make sense. And I’m sure that if I re-read it I will understand more.
What was my problem with the main character – I liked her ambition and her desire to discover the true, I understood her when she was lost and sad, and down, but sometimes I felt that she was plain. Her emotions didn’t reach me. It was like a wall of glass was between us and we couldn’t hear each other. But putting uside the ‘feelings’ part I liked her as a character and I liked the fact that she’s complexe and not just a girl with a ‘trauma’.
If you like this kind of books – dark, creepy, psychological thriller, suspense – then you should read this, because is really good and short and kind of original. Enjoy!
August 17, 2014
Carly Lopez is the only survivor of a serial killer that murdered four teenage girls. He was never caught, and she can't remember what he looks like. Now he's back, and she's determined to find the killer. Except she can't tell reality from dream sometimes. Her post-traumatic stress has left her questioning even herself. Can she find the truth without ending up in an institution again or getting herself killed?
This YA thriller with a supernatural edge takes the reader on a surreal journey. It's fascinating and frightening at the same time. Carly's post-traumatic stress disorder is captured vividly. Her nightmares, visions, and inability to remember things interfere with her desire to help the police. Carly is determined no matter that her own mind is holding her back.
Amidst the chaos, Hunter is the rock holding Carly together. He's one of those guys every girl crushes on an for good reason. Hunter has his own secrets, and they weave into the strange web that creates this extraordinary tale. A few times I felt lost, but that is merely because Carly feels that too. And when you discover the truth, it is even more fantastical than the illusions.
This YA thriller with a supernatural edge takes the reader on a surreal journey. It's fascinating and frightening at the same time. Carly's post-traumatic stress disorder is captured vividly. Her nightmares, visions, and inability to remember things interfere with her desire to help the police. Carly is determined no matter that her own mind is holding her back.
Amidst the chaos, Hunter is the rock holding Carly together. He's one of those guys every girl crushes on an for good reason. Hunter has his own secrets, and they weave into the strange web that creates this extraordinary tale. A few times I felt lost, but that is merely because Carly feels that too. And when you discover the truth, it is even more fantastical than the illusions.
March 28, 2015
I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I give this 6 stars! This book was amazing! I just couldn't put it down and kept trying to finish it in between working and helping my kids with school. The suspense was awesome! I loved Hunter and was hoping to see Carly and him together at the end. Everything Carly went through was scary but she was brave as hell to track down the killer . Wasn't a big fan of her mother. This definitely a book I will read again.
Thank you for letting me read your book:)
I give this 6 stars! This book was amazing! I just couldn't put it down and kept trying to finish it in between working and helping my kids with school. The suspense was awesome! I loved Hunter and was hoping to see Carly and him together at the end. Everything Carly went through was scary but she was brave as hell to track down the killer . Wasn't a big fan of her mother. This definitely a book I will read again.
Thank you for letting me read your book:)
June 3, 2016
Awesome read.
I could not put it down! It kept pulling me in for more. I wasn't expecting how things ended though.
I could not put it down! It kept pulling me in for more. I wasn't expecting how things ended though.
October 1, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
First I must compliment Elizabeth Arroyo on her cover art, it's absolutely brilliant! Like the story I see one thing and then suddenly BAM! my eyes open up to a whole new world!
We're introduced to Carly having a session with Dr Mason, he's trying to get her to remember the day her friend Olivia got abducted, but I think the events are so traumatic that she's buried them so deeply. She survived but Olivia didn't.
Carly has panic attacks and visions which has her labeled as a freak at school, and her mum is ready to institutionalize her! Fortunately, she has her brother Christian and Hannah, her best friend, on her side. The siblings are very different though. Christian is popular, outgoing, and easily liked, whereas Carly is a more reserved Doc Martin wearing girl. Hannah tries to distract her with girlie things, but how does make up and hair compete with an obsession of finding a killer?
The killer toys with the town for about a year, and then he disappears off the radar, but Carly can't help but feel it's not over yet.
Enter Hunter, the guy all the girls want but can't have. His long hair and a jagged scar adding to his no nonsense attitude. Carly and Hunter get paired for a school project, and this is start of "project protection".
I had a chuckle when Carly says to Hunter "Don't bother trying to figure me out. I can't even figure me out ." Hunter seems a bit of an enigma himself, and Carly's wit has me chuckling again "So what is it with you... seem uncomfortable with yourself... I'm used to being around weird... She'd been around herself for seventeen years. She'd perfected weird."
The killer is back and Carly pursues her "investigation" and goes for a walk to the stream to take photos , OMW, it's also where they found the last victim. Panicked and frightened she heads home into hurricane momma bear and this time I'm on her side.
Carly says something that makes my heart ache for here... "the urge to tell her mom everything she felt- the guilt, the visions, the memories... Maddie wouldn't understand... figure things out. But it would never be with her family." I can just imagine the guilt she must feel for surviving, and it frustrates me that no one can reach her, and that's she's being treated with a such disdain, like she's a total nutter!
As the story progresses, I start to look at everyone as a suspect, even Dr. Mason! Hunter is hiding something, but I'm not sure what and Carly's very perceptive and has picked up on it.
Her mother (Maddie) makes a decision regarding her therapy, and I find myself now suspecting her stepfather because of Dr. Mason's parting words to Carly.
Finally! Something happens that forces people to sit up and pay attention and stop laughing her off, but with the relief also comes fear... the hunt is on!
The stepfather has me really nervous and twitchy now, why? Hello!!!!! That concoction he feeds her just gives me the jeebies! There's something just off about him .
Carly has me worried, I understand her need to protect her loved ones and find closure, but she's playing with fire, and I'm afraid she's going to get burned!
Her nightmare is about to become reality, and this time she is bold and brave and doesn't run (which she's really good at) and I'm so proud of her! She's not going to go down without a fight, but that changes when Christian arrives and his life is at stake, but as scared as she is she keeps her wits about herself and manages to "save" Christian. They may be, safe but she knows it's not over yet .
Her mother's reaction pissed me off, but I did soften a little when I realized it was most probably out of fear and shock that she reacted that way. Carly has a tough time at home and school, and her mum is no easy person.
OMW! OMW! I'm biting on my knuckles out of fear when reality hits Carly, and I don't want to spoil it for anyone. So before temptation gets the better of me, let me move on... The last few chapters totally caught me off guard and was totally unexpected.
Darkness was very well written and the author is very clever and has her game on! It'll have you thinking about it for hours after you've finished. It's a constant game of cat and mouse.
What I would've liked at the end was a bit of "gossip" about what happens afterwards...
Darkness really was good and gets 5 bombs!
Reviewed by Heidi
First I must compliment Elizabeth Arroyo on her cover art, it's absolutely brilliant! Like the story I see one thing and then suddenly BAM! my eyes open up to a whole new world!
We're introduced to Carly having a session with Dr Mason, he's trying to get her to remember the day her friend Olivia got abducted, but I think the events are so traumatic that she's buried them so deeply. She survived but Olivia didn't.
Carly has panic attacks and visions which has her labeled as a freak at school, and her mum is ready to institutionalize her! Fortunately, she has her brother Christian and Hannah, her best friend, on her side. The siblings are very different though. Christian is popular, outgoing, and easily liked, whereas Carly is a more reserved Doc Martin wearing girl. Hannah tries to distract her with girlie things, but how does make up and hair compete with an obsession of finding a killer?
The killer toys with the town for about a year, and then he disappears off the radar, but Carly can't help but feel it's not over yet.
Enter Hunter, the guy all the girls want but can't have. His long hair and a jagged scar adding to his no nonsense attitude. Carly and Hunter get paired for a school project, and this is start of "project protection".
I had a chuckle when Carly says to Hunter "Don't bother trying to figure me out. I can't even figure me out ." Hunter seems a bit of an enigma himself, and Carly's wit has me chuckling again "So what is it with you... seem uncomfortable with yourself... I'm used to being around weird... She'd been around herself for seventeen years. She'd perfected weird."
The killer is back and Carly pursues her "investigation" and goes for a walk to the stream to take photos , OMW, it's also where they found the last victim. Panicked and frightened she heads home into hurricane momma bear and this time I'm on her side.
Carly says something that makes my heart ache for here... "the urge to tell her mom everything she felt- the guilt, the visions, the memories... Maddie wouldn't understand... figure things out. But it would never be with her family." I can just imagine the guilt she must feel for surviving, and it frustrates me that no one can reach her, and that's she's being treated with a such disdain, like she's a total nutter!
As the story progresses, I start to look at everyone as a suspect, even Dr. Mason! Hunter is hiding something, but I'm not sure what and Carly's very perceptive and has picked up on it.
Her mother (Maddie) makes a decision regarding her therapy, and I find myself now suspecting her stepfather because of Dr. Mason's parting words to Carly.
Finally! Something happens that forces people to sit up and pay attention and stop laughing her off, but with the relief also comes fear... the hunt is on!
The stepfather has me really nervous and twitchy now, why? Hello!!!!! That concoction he feeds her just gives me the jeebies! There's something just off about him .
Carly has me worried, I understand her need to protect her loved ones and find closure, but she's playing with fire, and I'm afraid she's going to get burned!
Her nightmare is about to become reality, and this time she is bold and brave and doesn't run (which she's really good at) and I'm so proud of her! She's not going to go down without a fight, but that changes when Christian arrives and his life is at stake, but as scared as she is she keeps her wits about herself and manages to "save" Christian. They may be, safe but she knows it's not over yet .
Her mother's reaction pissed me off, but I did soften a little when I realized it was most probably out of fear and shock that she reacted that way. Carly has a tough time at home and school, and her mum is no easy person.
OMW! OMW! I'm biting on my knuckles out of fear when reality hits Carly, and I don't want to spoil it for anyone. So before temptation gets the better of me, let me move on... The last few chapters totally caught me off guard and was totally unexpected.
Darkness was very well written and the author is very clever and has her game on! It'll have you thinking about it for hours after you've finished. It's a constant game of cat and mouse.
What I would've liked at the end was a bit of "gossip" about what happens afterwards...
Darkness really was good and gets 5 bombs!
Reviewed by Heidi
November 15, 2014
Read more of my reviews at My Full Bookshelf Reviews
2.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Darkness just slightly missed the mark for me. My main problem with this book was the supernatural aspect of it. Done right, it would have been awesome. But it seemed to be just tacked on at the end, which is decidedly NOT awesome. Darkness was an okay book, don't get me wrong, but I really think that it had the potential to be great.
Main problem: Hunter. First off, the way that plotline ended up going with him, I think it's actually kind of weird that he's still a love interest for Carly. It doesn't feel right. Secondly, LOVE INTEREST. It is rare that love interests in YA are anything but Gary Stus. And, sadly, Hunter really is just the basic YA love interest. Aside from the plot twist that I found a bit creepy, he didn't pique my interest one bit.
Secondly; it took a long time for this book to get supernatural, to the point where I actually had kind of forgot that that was an element of the book. Yes, Carly is having weird "memories", but that could be chalked up to having mental issues due to what happened to her. I think the first time that it was confirmed that something paranormal was going on was around the 80% mark.
Also, due to the romance with Hunter, scenes like Carly going to a party with Hunter, and kissing Hunter, etc., etc., are sometimes in the book, and I just...didn't really care about those scenes, I guess. I mean, there's a murderer on the loose; the romance didn't seem like a pressing issue in comparison to that.
I did like the mysterious tone of the book. It motivated me to read the story, no matter if there were scenes with Hunter I didn't care for. I really wanted to find out how the book ended.
And the end...I definitely did NOT see it coming. HOLY PLOT TWIST! I had figured some of it out, but not the whole thing. That was definitely a bonus for me. I love when books surprise me.
Not exactly my favorite book, (but admittedly better than a lot of paranormal I've read recently) Darkness is a book that I'm rather lukewarm about. If you don't mind some stereotypical teenage romance, you may like this a lot more than me.
2.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Darkness just slightly missed the mark for me. My main problem with this book was the supernatural aspect of it. Done right, it would have been awesome. But it seemed to be just tacked on at the end, which is decidedly NOT awesome. Darkness was an okay book, don't get me wrong, but I really think that it had the potential to be great.
Main problem: Hunter. First off, the way that plotline ended up going with him, I think it's actually kind of weird that he's still a love interest for Carly. It doesn't feel right. Secondly, LOVE INTEREST. It is rare that love interests in YA are anything but Gary Stus. And, sadly, Hunter really is just the basic YA love interest. Aside from the plot twist that I found a bit creepy, he didn't pique my interest one bit.
Secondly; it took a long time for this book to get supernatural, to the point where I actually had kind of forgot that that was an element of the book. Yes, Carly is having weird "memories", but that could be chalked up to having mental issues due to what happened to her. I think the first time that it was confirmed that something paranormal was going on was around the 80% mark.
Also, due to the romance with Hunter, scenes like Carly going to a party with Hunter, and kissing Hunter, etc., etc., are sometimes in the book, and I just...didn't really care about those scenes, I guess. I mean, there's a murderer on the loose; the romance didn't seem like a pressing issue in comparison to that.
I did like the mysterious tone of the book. It motivated me to read the story, no matter if there were scenes with Hunter I didn't care for. I really wanted to find out how the book ended.
And the end...I definitely did NOT see it coming. HOLY PLOT TWIST! I had figured some of it out, but not the whole thing. That was definitely a bonus for me. I love when books surprise me.
Not exactly my favorite book, (but admittedly better than a lot of paranormal I've read recently) Darkness is a book that I'm rather lukewarm about. If you don't mind some stereotypical teenage romance, you may like this a lot more than me.
March 27, 2015
I received a free copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
Carly survived an attack that leaves her best friend dead and she is unable to remember anything to help catch the killer. Carly feels guilty about not doing enough to save her friend and the other victims and becomes obsessed with finding the killer. Carly puts herself and those she loves at risk to catch the killer once and for all.
I liked the idea of this story, it was intriguing and it involves mystery, suspense and the supernatural, and the author left enough clues throughout the book so you can work out who the murderer is. Even though I had guessed who the killer was early on, I was still interested enough in the story to keep on reading to the end.
There were a few things I didn’t like about the book, and that was to do with the characters. Carly was someone I could not relate to and sometimes wondered why she was behaving in certain ways, and I think for someone who was so completely engrossed in finding the serial killer, she certainly missed a lot of cues from the happenings around her and seemed clueless at times, not putting two and two together until it was completely obvious. Carly’s mother seemed to not want to have much to do with her and blamed her for a lot of things, but there was no explanation as to why this mother-daughter relationship was this way. Hunter, the love interest, was from the very beginning, overly interested and protective of Carly, and even though we find out later in the book a bit more about him, this didn’t really explain his behaviour toward her, and I found their interactions a little weird.
I also found I became a little lost towards the end of the book, the more the supernatural element came into play. Determining what was real and what wasn’t real became a little difficult and confusing.
I also wasn’t satisfied with the ending of the book as it left me wondering about a few things and I would have preferred to have everything tied up neatly.
Overall, this was a good book and I would recommend it to those who enjoy a good mystery with a paranormal twist.
Carly survived an attack that leaves her best friend dead and she is unable to remember anything to help catch the killer. Carly feels guilty about not doing enough to save her friend and the other victims and becomes obsessed with finding the killer. Carly puts herself and those she loves at risk to catch the killer once and for all.
I liked the idea of this story, it was intriguing and it involves mystery, suspense and the supernatural, and the author left enough clues throughout the book so you can work out who the murderer is. Even though I had guessed who the killer was early on, I was still interested enough in the story to keep on reading to the end.
There were a few things I didn’t like about the book, and that was to do with the characters. Carly was someone I could not relate to and sometimes wondered why she was behaving in certain ways, and I think for someone who was so completely engrossed in finding the serial killer, she certainly missed a lot of cues from the happenings around her and seemed clueless at times, not putting two and two together until it was completely obvious. Carly’s mother seemed to not want to have much to do with her and blamed her for a lot of things, but there was no explanation as to why this mother-daughter relationship was this way. Hunter, the love interest, was from the very beginning, overly interested and protective of Carly, and even though we find out later in the book a bit more about him, this didn’t really explain his behaviour toward her, and I found their interactions a little weird.
I also found I became a little lost towards the end of the book, the more the supernatural element came into play. Determining what was real and what wasn’t real became a little difficult and confusing.
I also wasn’t satisfied with the ending of the book as it left me wondering about a few things and I would have preferred to have everything tied up neatly.
Overall, this was a good book and I would recommend it to those who enjoy a good mystery with a paranormal twist.
October 1, 2014
When I received a copy of Darkness I expected a thrilling ride, having previously read Elizabeth Arroyo’s Second Sign series, however the difference here is that Darkness retains a sense of realism.
In Darkness Elizabeth Arroyo captures the atmosphere and hopelessness in a town where a number of young girls have been kidnapped and murdered. This pessimism resonates throughout the course of the story, particularly as the main character, Carly, is obsessed with the police investigation.
Carly is presumed to be depressed, after she was present when her best friend was taken from the playground a year prior to the start of Darkness. Carly’s therapist is unsuccessfully attempting to unlock her memories of the incident to help the police; instead the ones which resurface are not her own, but those of the missing girls.
The first-half of the novel is slow-paced and at times I felt as though I was wading through the narrative, but I never lost interest. I felt that this was an intentional move on the author’s part because she wants her reader completely immersed in the mystery, before the more frightening second half.
Carly’s determination to find the perpetrator means she makes stupid decisions, putting herself and those around her in danger, but I found myself asking if I would do the same. Elizabeth Arroyo taps into the psyche of a teenage girl who has suffered trauma and needs a resolution to the situation which now controls her. On the other hand the author reveals Carly’s need for something outsid of the investigation, manifested in her relationship with Hunter. Hunter’s involvement in her life is for reasons neither we, or Carly expect and this provides us with more drama!
For any reader, who like me thinks they have pieced the puzzle of Darkness together, be warned that Elizabeth Arroyo’s plot is more complicated than it appears.
I really enjoyed the originality of Darkness and Elizabeth Arroyo’s way of blending the supernatural and mystery with a dark reality. This is a fantastic book for mature Young Adult readers who want an edgy story!
In Darkness Elizabeth Arroyo captures the atmosphere and hopelessness in a town where a number of young girls have been kidnapped and murdered. This pessimism resonates throughout the course of the story, particularly as the main character, Carly, is obsessed with the police investigation.
Carly is presumed to be depressed, after she was present when her best friend was taken from the playground a year prior to the start of Darkness. Carly’s therapist is unsuccessfully attempting to unlock her memories of the incident to help the police; instead the ones which resurface are not her own, but those of the missing girls.
The first-half of the novel is slow-paced and at times I felt as though I was wading through the narrative, but I never lost interest. I felt that this was an intentional move on the author’s part because she wants her reader completely immersed in the mystery, before the more frightening second half.
Carly’s determination to find the perpetrator means she makes stupid decisions, putting herself and those around her in danger, but I found myself asking if I would do the same. Elizabeth Arroyo taps into the psyche of a teenage girl who has suffered trauma and needs a resolution to the situation which now controls her. On the other hand the author reveals Carly’s need for something outsid of the investigation, manifested in her relationship with Hunter. Hunter’s involvement in her life is for reasons neither we, or Carly expect and this provides us with more drama!
For any reader, who like me thinks they have pieced the puzzle of Darkness together, be warned that Elizabeth Arroyo’s plot is more complicated than it appears.
I really enjoyed the originality of Darkness and Elizabeth Arroyo’s way of blending the supernatural and mystery with a dark reality. This is a fantastic book for mature Young Adult readers who want an edgy story!
September 21, 2014
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
Darkness is a YA psychological thriller full of mystery and suspense. The first third of the book was intense, making it impossible to put down. Unfortunately that didn't continue throughout. I have to say that main character Carly really brought out my mothering instincts. I couldn't relate with her on any level, but I sure felt for her while reading.
Carly survived an attack that resulted in the death of her best friend. Due to PTSD or something else, she has little memory of what happened. The poor girl felt so guilty that she embarked on a personal crusade to catch the culprit. In the beginning I liked Carly, felt tons of empathy for her... but as the novel progressed and her overall craziness continued, it started to become annoying.
I didn't really like romantic interest Hunter. From the beginning, it was obvious he was either disturbed or other (can't say- spoiler). His intense interest in Carly was creepy, especially after his secret was revealed. So every interaction between those two kind of grated on my nerves. Carly's family annoyed me as well, especially her mother. She was quite the self-centered woman.
Like I said earlier, the novel started off with a bang, and I was hooked. It wasn't until about 1/3 of the way through that things started to slow and drag. Carly's episodes and craziness became old, and I just wanted things to move forward. When I reached the last quarter, things weren't moving too fast, but I never felt a sense of closure. Carly remains unsure what happens, and so does the reader. There was an intriguing plot in there that was never fully revealed. Perhaps I just missed something, but I was looking for more information after the build-up. I was left with too many questions to be satisfied with the story.
Darkness is a YA psychological thriller full of mystery and suspense. The first third of the book was intense, making it impossible to put down. Unfortunately that didn't continue throughout. I have to say that main character Carly really brought out my mothering instincts. I couldn't relate with her on any level, but I sure felt for her while reading.
Carly survived an attack that resulted in the death of her best friend. Due to PTSD or something else, she has little memory of what happened. The poor girl felt so guilty that she embarked on a personal crusade to catch the culprit. In the beginning I liked Carly, felt tons of empathy for her... but as the novel progressed and her overall craziness continued, it started to become annoying.
I didn't really like romantic interest Hunter. From the beginning, it was obvious he was either disturbed or other (can't say- spoiler). His intense interest in Carly was creepy, especially after his secret was revealed. So every interaction between those two kind of grated on my nerves. Carly's family annoyed me as well, especially her mother. She was quite the self-centered woman.
Like I said earlier, the novel started off with a bang, and I was hooked. It wasn't until about 1/3 of the way through that things started to slow and drag. Carly's episodes and craziness became old, and I just wanted things to move forward. When I reached the last quarter, things weren't moving too fast, but I never felt a sense of closure. Carly remains unsure what happens, and so does the reader. There was an intriguing plot in there that was never fully revealed. Perhaps I just missed something, but I was looking for more information after the build-up. I was left with too many questions to be satisfied with the story.
April 15, 2015
So I don't usually write reviews, but this book was gifted to me for a honest review so why not.
Carly is a teenage girl who has suffered the loss of her best friend. She's on a mission to find her friends killer. Carly wasn't able to give the police any description of the person who took her best friend Olivia even though she was there when she was taken, her mind is a complete blur. Her brother Christian, friend Hannah and love interest Hunter try to discourage her from investigating the murder because of her unstable state.She has outbursts in class and was sent to a asylum twice since the murder. Carly has nightmares showing her faint details about the murder/s, but she isn't sure if they are just figments of her imagination or something that could actually prove useful. The killer remains on the loose and more girls are disappearing and turning up dead. She has to find the killer to end the disappearances and murders.
Ok so at first I couldn't get into this book. It started off kind of slow for my taste, but once it picked up it was one hell of a book. I couldn't put it down!
This book had parts that were creepy because while you're reading it you aren't sure if she is imagining some of the things she is seeing or if it is actually happening. Carly's mind is a mess and no one really takes her seriously. Carly sees Shadows in the woods and hers voices that aren't really there. This book keeps you wondering who Carly can trust because some of the characters turn out to be not exactly what they seem.
Carly is a teenage girl who has suffered the loss of her best friend. She's on a mission to find her friends killer. Carly wasn't able to give the police any description of the person who took her best friend Olivia even though she was there when she was taken, her mind is a complete blur. Her brother Christian, friend Hannah and love interest Hunter try to discourage her from investigating the murder because of her unstable state.She has outbursts in class and was sent to a asylum twice since the murder. Carly has nightmares showing her faint details about the murder/s, but she isn't sure if they are just figments of her imagination or something that could actually prove useful. The killer remains on the loose and more girls are disappearing and turning up dead. She has to find the killer to end the disappearances and murders.
Ok so at first I couldn't get into this book. It started off kind of slow for my taste, but once it picked up it was one hell of a book. I couldn't put it down!
This book had parts that were creepy because while you're reading it you aren't sure if she is imagining some of the things she is seeing or if it is actually happening. Carly's mind is a mess and no one really takes her seriously. Carly sees Shadows in the woods and hers voices that aren't really there. This book keeps you wondering who Carly can trust because some of the characters turn out to be not exactly what they seem.
September 22, 2014
I feel like I'm on an unlucky streak with my reading right now, as this was another book that I could not get into and fit into the same mold of throwing too many questions at you and not enough answers.
High schooler Carly is thrown into the middle of a police investigation into a murder. This is because she was the only living victim of the killer they suspect is behind the latest body. This information didn't come from the book--because the author throws the reader into the middle of things without giving you a clue as to what's going on--it's from the synopsis. Carly is understandably still very shaken from her experience, but she's also determined not to let the killer strike again.
In a not so surprising fashion, here is where hottie new guy Hunter enters..and gasp, he has a secret! At this point I'm so tired of reading this in YA I'm not even going to go into it, but you should know that this type of dude is a huge cliche, but of course he's sexy so Carly falls for him fast.
I wasn't interested enough to finish the book and find out Hunter's secret, or even what happens with the killer. The only cool aspect of the book for me was getting a glimpse into Carly's psyche, as her imagination runs wild as so many of ours do.
Avoid this one if you hate cliches.
High schooler Carly is thrown into the middle of a police investigation into a murder. This is because she was the only living victim of the killer they suspect is behind the latest body. This information didn't come from the book--because the author throws the reader into the middle of things without giving you a clue as to what's going on--it's from the synopsis. Carly is understandably still very shaken from her experience, but she's also determined not to let the killer strike again.
In a not so surprising fashion, here is where hottie new guy Hunter enters..and gasp, he has a secret! At this point I'm so tired of reading this in YA I'm not even going to go into it, but you should know that this type of dude is a huge cliche, but of course he's sexy so Carly falls for him fast.
I wasn't interested enough to finish the book and find out Hunter's secret, or even what happens with the killer. The only cool aspect of the book for me was getting a glimpse into Carly's psyche, as her imagination runs wild as so many of ours do.
Avoid this one if you hate cliches.
March 25, 2015
First of all, a big thanks to Elizabeth Arroyo for gifting her book to me in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed reading this one. I thought that her portrayal of Carly, a teen suffering from PTSD, was well done. I loved Carly because she was a realistic character.
I also really loved Hunter and Christian. The relationships in the book felt real and helped me connect to the story, with the exception of the Mom, who was probably my least favorite character, including the bad guys. She was a horrible mother, and she showed no concern whatsoever for Carly, which, as a mom, I just did not understand.
There were some minor editing issues, odd word choices, poorly worded sentences, and at times the story was difficult to follow, as if I had lost a day or two of the story, but I think that may have been because I received the ARC version, before final edits were made. I think some of it may have been intentional, too, because of Carly's mental state during the story, but it was distracting at times.
Overall, I thought it was an interesting story and I enjoyed it. I would definitely be up for reading some of her other books now.
I also really loved Hunter and Christian. The relationships in the book felt real and helped me connect to the story, with the exception of the Mom, who was probably my least favorite character, including the bad guys. She was a horrible mother, and she showed no concern whatsoever for Carly, which, as a mom, I just did not understand.
There were some minor editing issues, odd word choices, poorly worded sentences, and at times the story was difficult to follow, as if I had lost a day or two of the story, but I think that may have been because I received the ARC version, before final edits were made. I think some of it may have been intentional, too, because of Carly's mental state during the story, but it was distracting at times.
Overall, I thought it was an interesting story and I enjoyed it. I would definitely be up for reading some of her other books now.
September 28, 2014
I received this book via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
This was a good story. It kept you reading and guessing, trying to piece everything together. I also liked Hunter,Carly,Christian and Hannah. It was a good thriller,but I hated how people treated Carly!
If you seen your best friend abducted wouldn't you have PDST too? That's what's wrong with Carly she has nightmares,see's things, has depression and is on a lot of meds.
I understand her why she is the way she is and others should too! The poor girl is ridiculed,called a freak, and blamed by her own Mother. Sorry Maddie that you have to be a real Mother and actually be there for your kid who need's you!Come on people what about being there for victims not trying to make them feel like shit!
The worst part of this all is that she believes it. When really she is acting like many other girls would in her situation. Well for the most part anyway (you'll have to read)
Thank you so much for the publishers for letting me read this I enjoyed it!
This was a good story. It kept you reading and guessing, trying to piece everything together. I also liked Hunter,Carly,Christian and Hannah. It was a good thriller,but I hated how people treated Carly!
If you seen your best friend abducted wouldn't you have PDST too? That's what's wrong with Carly she has nightmares,see's things, has depression and is on a lot of meds.
I understand her why she is the way she is and others should too! The poor girl is ridiculed,called a freak, and blamed by her own Mother. Sorry Maddie that you have to be a real Mother and actually be there for your kid who need's you!Come on people what about being there for victims not trying to make them feel like shit!
The worst part of this all is that she believes it. When really she is acting like many other girls would in her situation. Well for the most part anyway (you'll have to read)
Thank you so much for the publishers for letting me read this I enjoyed it!
March 28, 2015
** I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest review **
I really enjoyed the mystery and story arc. Some things were easy to figure out but not because it was spelt out, but because the author lead you through the clues. The main character, Carly was easy to connect with. Her brother Christian and best friend Hannah were great too. The relationship between Carly and her mom was a little strange and I wish I knew why. All that we know is that her mom has been married 3 times and didn't seem to have any empathy for the tragedy that her daughter experienced.
Hunter was another mystery to me. Since it was in Carly's point-of-view you could easily see her feelings develop for him, but I didn't really understand how Hunter felt the way he did for her. I did love their interaction though. It felt very natural, never forced. The only thing I didn't like was the ending because I felt too much was left unsaid.
I really thought the book moved along well and I would recommend reading it.
I really enjoyed the mystery and story arc. Some things were easy to figure out but not because it was spelt out, but because the author lead you through the clues. The main character, Carly was easy to connect with. Her brother Christian and best friend Hannah were great too. The relationship between Carly and her mom was a little strange and I wish I knew why. All that we know is that her mom has been married 3 times and didn't seem to have any empathy for the tragedy that her daughter experienced.
Hunter was another mystery to me. Since it was in Carly's point-of-view you could easily see her feelings develop for him, but I didn't really understand how Hunter felt the way he did for her. I did love their interaction though. It felt very natural, never forced. The only thing I didn't like was the ending because I felt too much was left unsaid.
I really thought the book moved along well and I would recommend reading it.
November 23, 2014
Although this may be just what some readers like, I did not. I found the story confusing and the end unsatisfying. Frankly I was glad when I had finally finished it. Other than Carly, I thought the characters were poorly developed, especially the mother. She was selfish and uncaring. I was stunned when she slapped Carly and blamed her for Christians injuries. The mom just never seemed to have any compassion for what Carly had experienced as a survivor of a kidnapping and murder of her best friend. Carly was left on her own far too much for reality. If Rodimer was as crazy as he turned out to be, I think there could have been more hints of his psychosis sprinkled through the story. The story had shades of Stephen King weirdness to it, but wasn't as well done as Mr. King does. This was my first experience with an Elizabeth Arroyo story and probably will be my last. I will not be recommending this book to anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2015
Thank you for gifting this book to me for this review.
The main character, Carly, is the survivor of an attack which leaves her firend dead. On top of this she has no real memory to catch the killer with. Driven by guilt she become obsessed with the murderer, putting herself and those around her in danger.
The idea of the story is good, although the execution of it could have been done a little better. The mystery is a little too easy to solve, but this didn’t make the story less enjoyable.
My biggest problem was with the characters. Carly did things sometimes that didn’t seem to make sense. Her mother is completely unlikable (although, I think that’s the point) and Hunter was the obvious love interest.
There are a few minor issues with the edits. Nothing huge but I did re-read a few sentences to make them make sense to me.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to a teen audience. It was fun to read but didn’t capture me as much as I would have liked.
The main character, Carly, is the survivor of an attack which leaves her firend dead. On top of this she has no real memory to catch the killer with. Driven by guilt she become obsessed with the murderer, putting herself and those around her in danger.
The idea of the story is good, although the execution of it could have been done a little better. The mystery is a little too easy to solve, but this didn’t make the story less enjoyable.
My biggest problem was with the characters. Carly did things sometimes that didn’t seem to make sense. Her mother is completely unlikable (although, I think that’s the point) and Hunter was the obvious love interest.
There are a few minor issues with the edits. Nothing huge but I did re-read a few sentences to make them make sense to me.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to a teen audience. It was fun to read but didn’t capture me as much as I would have liked.
September 27, 2014
How do you like your thrillers? Pedestrian? Obvious? Boring? No? Thank goodness, because if that is what you're looking for in a book, you simply won't get it with this one.
Carly is ... different. She escaped. But she cant remember, and that is what is driving practically her entire existence. As a character, she is well written. I didn't particularly identify with Carly, but that really didn't affect my enjoyment of the story.
The relationship with Hunter is tense and frustrating, but with a spark of attraction there.
Carly's confusion and exasperation with her situation really seep out of the pages. And I found the storyline intriguing, and somewhat unexpected in parts.
For me, an enjoyable read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Carly is ... different. She escaped. But she cant remember, and that is what is driving practically her entire existence. As a character, she is well written. I didn't particularly identify with Carly, but that really didn't affect my enjoyment of the story.
The relationship with Hunter is tense and frustrating, but with a spark of attraction there.
Carly's confusion and exasperation with her situation really seep out of the pages. And I found the storyline intriguing, and somewhat unexpected in parts.
For me, an enjoyable read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2014
Full Review at: What's Beyond Forks?
I love books that keep you guessing, and that's what this one did. I pegged everyone as guilty at some time or another while reading, but I never predicted it completely. My main issue was Carly. I understand everyone deals with grief and trauma differently, but she lacked any sense of self preservation what so ever. As a reader, that wore on me quite a bit after a while. The story reminded me of a Steven King novel in ways, only minus all the extra fluff pages which is bonus points in my opinion.
The ARC of Darkness by Elizabeth Arroyo was kindly provided to me by the author for review. The opinions are my own.
March 27, 2015
this book was better than i thought it was going to be. carly was an awesome main character. you could feel her craziness when it did show up...which wasnt as often as other people made her believe. i did not care for her mother one bit. she treated carly almost like she was to blame for all of lifes problems. and honestly..i didnt like her brother. he appeared caring but in my own opinion i didnt feel it. hunter....ahh hunter. so perfect. so caring. so, i dont even know what else. theres so much more to say but i dont wanna spoil it. the ending tho, OMG! that alone was worth reading the book for. the book overall was pretty amazing. i have already recommended this book to plenty of my fellow book lovers. i will add this author to a list of authors to read
April 2, 2015
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book. The story was original with a very interesting twist. I don't want to give too much away because I really think you should just read the book for yourself but I did begin to guess the twist and Carly's part in it but it really wasn't long before the twist began to unfold and I have to be honest and say I was completely surprised by the background story of Hunter as that unfolded.
The book is well written, descriptive enough to get a good image in your mind but not so much to bore and the character development is just right.
I am sincerely grateful for having the opportunity to review this book and I will definitely be looking for more work by this author.
I absolutely loved this book. The story was original with a very interesting twist. I don't want to give too much away because I really think you should just read the book for yourself but I did begin to guess the twist and Carly's part in it but it really wasn't long before the twist began to unfold and I have to be honest and say I was completely surprised by the background story of Hunter as that unfolded.
The book is well written, descriptive enough to get a good image in your mind but not so much to bore and the character development is just right.
I am sincerely grateful for having the opportunity to review this book and I will definitely be looking for more work by this author.
March 24, 2015
*I was gifted this for an honest review***
This story is about Carly who survived a serial killer attack a year ago and now the killer has returned. The first few chapters of this book move fairly quickly and then it gets confusing.
There were times where I had to reread sections because I read them too quickly and didn't fully understand what was going on the first time. The last few chapters jam in a lot of information that I think would have worked a little bit earlier in the story.
I gave it a three of five stars because I did find it enjoyable but as I said before I had to read parts over again. It is interesting enough to read though.
This story is about Carly who survived a serial killer attack a year ago and now the killer has returned. The first few chapters of this book move fairly quickly and then it gets confusing.
There were times where I had to reread sections because I read them too quickly and didn't fully understand what was going on the first time. The last few chapters jam in a lot of information that I think would have worked a little bit earlier in the story.
I gave it a three of five stars because I did find it enjoyable but as I said before I had to read parts over again. It is interesting enough to read though.
October 1, 2014
Wow. This was a great book. It was a twisting and turning ride that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Everyone at school doesn't really care for Carly. Her best friend was murdered and she was there to witness it. But she doesn't remember the killer. She is unstable. When the killer starts killing again, she beings to see it happening. Carly wants to help find the killer before its too late. She doesn't want to live with the guilt anymore.
At times, i felt confused about what was happening, but I think that this was a great book overall.
Everyone at school doesn't really care for Carly. Her best friend was murdered and she was there to witness it. But she doesn't remember the killer. She is unstable. When the killer starts killing again, she beings to see it happening. Carly wants to help find the killer before its too late. She doesn't want to live with the guilt anymore.
At times, i felt confused about what was happening, but I think that this was a great book overall.
May 22, 2015
Starts out good
At first I was really into this book but the closer it got to the end and the more complicated things seem to get, the more I lost interest and was just ready for it to be over.
At first I was really into this book but the closer it got to the end and the more complicated things seem to get, the more I lost interest and was just ready for it to be over.
December 26, 2014
WOW, the ending is surprising, I didn't see it coming.
December 30, 2014
It was pretty good for a youth book.
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