The Clearing

by Samantha Cook

Despite danger lurking between the trees, the banished always run into the forest. Ruby doesn’t understand why. Until rebellious behaviour gets her sentenced. Now, Ruby is about to learn first-hand why the banished must run.

Sixteen-year-old Ruby is not supposed to question the way of her village life. She is expected to settle down with her best friend and focus on bearing children, all while respecting the whims of the local psychics. But Ruby is frustrated with living within the confines of ridiculous village rules, that is, until her increasing rebellious behaviour gets her sentenced.

Now, Ruby finds herself amongst the banished and facing a forest that has swallowed up so many before her. No one has ever returned from the trees alive, but no one seems to fear them either. Why, when all Ruby knows of them is monsters and madness? With no choice in the matter, Ruby is going to discover what it is about the forest that entices the sentenced to brave its demons.

Genres: Young Adult

268 pages, Unknown Binding

About the author

I write about reckless girls in broken worlds with gifts that will be the death of them. But life isn’t all doom and gloom, so my books are also sprinkled with humour and jam packed with magic, much like a really good doughnut. Bon appétit!

During the day, I work in publishing for an academic press. By night, I write, read, and review. Now published by Evernight Teen.

And now I review books on YouTube too: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZay...

*My views and opinions are my own and not representative of my employer.*

Reviews

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Samantha Cook.)



“I know there’s more life outside the village than inside.
I am going to find it.”



Wow! I was really impressed by this book!

I liked Ruby, she started out with strong ideas, no matter how naïve, and she really did try so hard to achieve them. She was a little immature and short-sighted, but it was good to watch her grow throughout the course of the book, and to gain understanding of things she would otherwise not have considered.

“It’s the perfect plan.”



The storyline in this was good, and it reminded me a little of ‘The Forest of Hands and Teeth’ (if you liked that I think you’ll like this). I liked that I never knew what was about to happen next, and I liked the twists that kept being thrown into the story. Ruby lost so much during this book, and the hits just kept on coming!

“There’s no going back.”



There was a little bit of romance in this book, and I liked the way it built slowly throughout the book. It was nice to see the way Ruby slowly learned what her feelings meant, and how much a certain person came to mean to her by the end of the book.

“But if he asks for me, then I have to give myself to him. The only way I can put him off is to postpone him from asking.”



The ending to this was so good! I totally didn’t see it coming, and I loved how it totally changed everything! Yay! Can’t wait for book 2!
Overall; impressive YA zombie story, with a killer twist at the end,
8.75 out of 10

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

The clearing is a post-apocalyptic book first set in a small village where life has returned to a time of no technology and limited resources. Their village is protected by a fence to keep out the Soulless and to prevent them from infecting the villagers.

The protagonist, Ruby, is a teenage girl who is determined that there must be more to the world. She refuses to believe that they are the last people on earth and struggles to follow the way of life in the village. After one too many encounters with the leaders, Ruby is set to discover what life is like outside of the fence.

I like Ruby and think her determination is admirable. She is a little naive and immature at times but she grows throughout the course of the story which is how it should be. As she encounters different situations, she adapts accordingly and begins to show more maturity and (mental) strength. She's not the greatest fighter in the world, which is one of her downfalls, but she is learning.

I also like the romance and the fact that it doesn't overpower the rest of the plot. This makes a really nice change as there's a tendency nowadays to have a big focus on the romance and the action becomes a sub-plot. I feel like both complemented each other well and there was just the right amount of both.

I did not see the ending coming at all. Just as I thought it was heading down one path, it took a completely different turn and really took me by surprise. I can't wait to see what happens next in book two!

(I received a copy of this book from the author).

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley I got to indulge in this fantastic read. It just took me a day (not even) because I just had to keep knowing what was happening. I wish we got more information about the characters, not much was told about the secondary characters, but I hope the sequel will offer more!
Thank you for this story! I can’t wait to find out what happens next!!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to beta-read this book, and thank god I did!

Something you should know about me before you read this review: I am NOT a fan of the paranormal genre in books. So imagine my surprise when, after the first chapter, The Clearing had me completely enraptured.



Let's start with the main character, Ruby. If you're anything like me, you'll know what I mean when I talk about the "typical annoying teenage protagonist." With this in mind, it was so refreshing to have Ruby, a girl who actually has half a brain! Sure, she had her moments of naivety, but there was never a time where I thought: "Wow. There's no way anyone could be this stupid." Not only this, but the rest of the cast was great as well! A handsome love interest, a joke-maker and strong female characters? Count me in!

Next is the story-line. Talk about your twists and turns! Every time I thought I knew what was going to go down, I found myself being completely blindsided. The presence of slow-moving chapters in rare in The Clearing, so it's easy to stay committed to reading it, just for the sake of knowing what happens next! (Also appreciated is the fact that somebody finally wrote a book where the romance doesn't totally overpower the rest of the story.)

Last but not least is are the zombies, (or Soulless in this case.) Need I say more? As a huge fan of shows such as The Walking Dead, I was pretty excited when the first undead battle-royal scene came up. Who doesn't love some good ol' violence?

In conclusion, please read this book, you won't be sorry! And don't worry about the possibility of a disappointing ending, because I think you'll be quite impressed!

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I received a copy from the author, In exchange for an honest review.)

Ruby definately had her faults. She was impulsive, stubborn, and at times, naive. I did like her though, and it was nice to see her grow as the book progressed.

The souless, and the way they were dealt with, along with the people that got too close, reminded me of The Forest of Hands and Teeth - Although, they did have unique traits, so while they were very similar, they weren't a copy.

This was an enjoyable read, with a surprising ending. I'd definately reccommend it.

Overall, An Interesting read.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cool cover~

The Clearing felt like a mix between the Handmaid's tale and Maze Runner, regarding the settings and overall plot. It was really easy to get into, which is a huge plus in my opinion since most dystopian and fantasy books start with a long backstory and worldbuilding before actually getting into the story.

One of the most entertaining aspects of the book was the relationships. Between family, friends, and potential love interests.

"- We're here to listen.
- I'm pretty sure I came here to shout.
- And that's why she doesn't listen."

The overall plot was also really good. It had some unique elements to it and it constantly made you want to keep on reading.

"This is written in our blood. If you want it to be yours, you only need to enter."

If I should say one thing that wasn't top-notch for me, hence not giving it five stars, it was the lack of
worldbuilding and characters depth. I said before that I liked that it didn't have too much worldbuilding, in comparison to other books in the same genre. However, for me to feel more both for the characters and the settings I would have needed some more depth. On the other hand, I believe that that is what makes this book great for middle schoolers/high schoolers.

My absolute favorite part about the entire book was the ending. I did not expect that. It was unique, refreshing, and right up my alley!

Who do I recommend this book for?
Those who are either new to dystopian books, are younger teens, or simply want an easy read that still has elements of a "classic dystopian".

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The clearing by Samantha Cook.
In the last surviving village, Ruby has made a name for herself as a rebellious teen. She challenges the Seers who use their visions to execute criminals before they commit their crimes, and, just like her father, she faces banishment into the forest of the undead.
When a Seer sacrifices themselves to protect her, Ruby believes she has a future worth dying for – one that could help reconnect her village to undiscovered settlements. One worth waging the village's safety, just like her father.
With her friends risking their lives alongside her, Ruby must find someone who understands the psychic-undead link to uncover the Seer's not-so-heroic intentions. The psychic’s prophecy might be against her, but Ruby still has a chance to save her village if she is willing to go against everything she thought she believed in.
I really really enjoyed this book. Great story and characters. Ruby was my favourite character. Chilling spooky and eerie. I loved the cover too. That's what drew me to this book. Recommend. 5*.

[Tammy Ambrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I now see why this book is award winning. WOW! it is fantastic. The writing is top notch, and the ending blew me away. Ruby lives in a village with around 50 other people. They are ruled by the Seers, who punish people before they commit "crimes" by sending them outside the gate to the Soulless (think Walking Dead like zombies.) Ruby believes there are others and a better life waiting outside the gate, if she can only get past the Soulless without becoming one of them.
I struggled to like Ruby, I found her reckless and self-centered. She fought authority at every turn and made it hard on herself and those who loved her. She is dangerously, cluelessly, courageous and that courageous could kill everyone. She is determined though and willing to risk all to have a better life.
I was on the last page before I realized the author intended us to realize that life is all about the choices we make and how those choices effect those around us as well.
The ending hit me with a huge OMG!

[Emmeline Everdeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Book! It is an incredibly exciting post apocalyptic adventure with a strong female main character. It is a pretty quick read but it packs a lot of plot and character development. The writing is engaging and keeps you turning the pages. I ABSOLUTELY loved the ending. One of the better “zombie apocalypse” books I’ve ever read (and I’ve read a lot!) I would love if she wrote a prequel. The village is so incredibly intriguing.
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only. I reviewed it because it was awesome!

[Tracey Philpott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author for free in exchange for a review.
This book had me reading in my lunch break at work, something I haven’t wanted to do in a while. It was well written and engaging from the outset. I felt that I knew the characters personally. And as for the ending I didn’t see that coming. No spoilers from me. I’ll just say well worth the read.

[Lori Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as a review copy, this an honest review. This one of those books that is beautifully haunting as it is bone-chilling for how the women are treated in the village that Ruby grows up in and rebels against the rules that are set to follow.. At sixteen, Ruby doesn't want to marry and be a mother; all she wants is her father back but when the village elders banish you, you become "Sentenced" and lost to the Soulless that haunt the woods around the village. And Ruby nearly becomes a person sent to the woods but saved their Seer, making Ruby's life complicated and she becomes determined to see what is truly out beyond the town's protective walls. Highly recommended.

[Myra McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A free book from Voracious Readers thank you

The soulless roam, the village is safe behind the fence until the rebellious Ruby is sentenced. Unexpected twists with strong characters make this an interesting read

[N.M. Mac Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Clearing by Samantha Cook is a suspenseful post-apocalyptic novel about a teenage girl named Ruby. Ruby desperately wants to see what lies beyond her tiny village of 300 people, but no one is allowed outside—unless of course you’re Sentenced. Sentenced people are forced to leave the village and venture out into an unknown world filled with “soulless”—otherwise known as zombies. Every Sentenced person has willingly run from the clearing and away from the only home they’ve ever know and Ruby doesn’t understand why. I mean, running into a forest filled with the undead is almost certain death, right? After Ruby gets into a bit of trouble with the town’s leader, Orwin, she and her friends embark on a heart-pounding journey of survival and heartbreak as they look to answer the question: are they really the last people on earth?

This book was very well written—I would expect no less from a professional editor—and held my interest from beginning to end. Ruby is a very interesting character, and although it took me a while to warm up to her, I ended up rooting for her in the end. The people who accompany her on her journey (her older brother, her boyfriend—for lack of a better word—her best friend, and the guy who’s got a crush on her best friend) are all wonderful characters who each bring something unique to the group. Although the story was, at times, difficult to read–as my poor heart can only take so much at a time–this post-apocalyptic novel did what it was supposed to: it kept me on the edge of my seat pretty much the entire way through.

The plot moved quickly, and there didn’t seem to be one unnecessary scene in the entire novel. Though I would have liked to get to know Ruby’s companions a little better, I got a general overview of who they were and what they stood for from the way they interacted with the main character. Overall I think all of the characters grew into better versions of themselves by the end of the story, most especially Ruby. The character development didn’t bog down the story with tons of insignificant details—like some stories tend to do—and everything progressed at a natural pace.

For those of you who like quick, suspenseful reads with twist endings, The Clearing will definitely be the book for you. I say “will” because Samantha is looking to have her amazing book professionally published right now, so, unfortunately, you won’t see it on the shelves of your local bookstore for a while. However, until then, you can visit Samantha’s blog, Scookie Reviews, and check out her writing advice and novel reviews.

[Sarah Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Clearing begins in a dystopian world where the modern era has melted away and lifestyles in Ruby's village have regressed to those more commonly found in earlier centuries because of limited resources. They are haunted by the paranormal beings known as the Soulless, which the villagers can only keep out with two fences. Ruby longs to for a world outside those barriers, the one she can only read about, and as her mouth gets her in trouble once again, she might just get that chance.


The plot is quite gripping, come part two onward, I could hardly put the book down to find out what would happen to the ensemble of characters who each bring unique views or skills to the group. Ruby is a opinionated and stubborn teen whose journey to self-growth is fun to follow. I might not always agree with her choices and actions, and occasionally want to shake some sense into her, but luckily her friend Alex and her brothers are there to do that for me. I did want to see more development of some of the secondary characters like Jack. The first person narration sometimes makes that harder to achieve if Ruby is fixated on other issues.


If you're looking for the typical strong female protagonist in dystopian settings, Ruby comes off a bit differently. She is very brash and impulsive, so her personality is very strong and defiant. The author does well developing her mental maturity throughout the book and it shows as Ruby's perceptions of those around her evolve. There was only a moment or two when I didn't quite follow her motivation. Personally, I hoped that throughout her journey she'd also pick up some defense skills and start to be able to hold her own, but that's more of a preference than anything.

I found the idea of the Soulless quite intriguing and it developed throughout the story. It starts as more of a permanent issue in their lives but as more gets uncovered about the different villages, their origins become clearer and it leads to even more questions as to how this world came to be. I'd gladly pick up a sequel just to learn more about the world that Samantha Cook has built.


I'd rate this 4.5 and highly recommend it to fans of young adult dystopian, adventure, paranormal stories. I'm an adult reader and still found the story quite enjoyable. The story is well written and compelling. I received a working copy to beta read, so any issues I had may be resolved in the final copy.

[Samantha Jacklan Comer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will not be able to give a good accurate review of this book because it would not however be able to read the book on the netgalley app every time I clicked on the book to read it it would come up to the cover page of the book which looked very good by the way but the second and third pages and then on would not appear they would all be blank

[JAPartridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled across a sample of this story and begged to be a beta-reader. I have to confess that I love zombie stories. Ever since I saw Night of the Living Dead a couple of decades ago, long before they became fashionable, I’ve read and written zombie stories. Now zombie stories are so popular you can’t turn around without finding one. The Clearing does what only the good zombie stories do, it focuses on the survivors and their struggle for survival. Even so, these zombies come with a twist that leaves the reader curious to find out what’s going on with them, especially their possible connection with the seers.

The setting is nicely detailed and presented well without hitting the reader over the head with a lot of exposition. This is what I like to call a post-post apocalypse story where the disaster is history and the survivors are starting to carve out a new life where they can. The characters and their culture are interesting and believable, especially the main character Ruby who comes across with all the passion and impulsiveness of a real teenager and not an adult dressed up as one.

The plot unfolds at a nice steady pace. Some readers might have a problem with the ending, but only if they're looking for the typical type of resolution. The end was quite surprising (despite some clever clues that I totally missed) and it both answers a big question presented at the very start of the book and clearly sets up for a sequel. I genuinely want to know what happens in the next book.

There is so much I'd love to talk about, but you'll just have to read it yourself. You won't be disappointed.

[Goss · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Clearing is a wonderful story. It’s a dystopian Land of the Dead/Razorland series with psychics and other crazy abnormalities. Zombies are thinking and strategizing, and people in power are as corrupt as ever. Honestly, I would actually argue the typical term ‘zombie’ in this story. There’s something different about these ‘zombies’ and it’s not just because they’re thinking and grouping together. Cook has put a great twist in the zombie genre with this piece and again I’m not entirely certain ‘zombie’ is the right word here – they are definitely a different breed. The author calls them the Soulless, which is super intriguing because in certain situations (regarding the main characters father) they seem not so soulless. There’s going to be a big ‘boom’ in regards to these creatures for sure.

The characters, particularly Ruby for me, are extremely relatable. Ruby has that naïve yet rebellious loyalty that really gets her in trouble. The best thing about all the characters is that they’re real. They all make mistakes and try to fix them. When someone important to Ruby makes a large mistake she doesn’t forgive him within a matter of seconds either. That’s a huge plus for me and really makes the characters realistic. The end floored me when Ruby finally found what she’d set out to find in the beginning (not trying to give away too many spoilers here). There are so many places the sequel could go. That reason alone is enough for me to want to read it!

[AJ Cypher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for books with endings like this, ones that make me go back through the entire story in my head, replaying as much of as I can, wondering what clues I picked up on and framing events in a new light. But there's more than a good ending here. The Clearing has a strong female protagonist, which is still surprisingly lacking in books today. Cook does a great job of staying true to her character's age and voice as she takes on a wild adventure in a post-apocolyptic society that is refreshing in the sense that it's not solely about rebelling against an oppressive government, but also about fulfilling one's dreams and knowing there's more to life, and then finding it.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bear in mind I am an adult reviewing a book written for teens which I got as a member giveaway from LibraryThing! This book was an enjoyable read with very obvious influence from The Walking Dead series and also The Hunger Games. As a teen, who won't have read so much as me it would be a welcome addition to this genre although a bit too 'influenced' in parts. The boy/girl interactions and general teen experiences will feel very familiar and close to any 13-16 year old's world and be easy to get involved in. The characters are well thought out with the sort of different personalities, which occur in any group of school friends.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.

I really enjoyed this book!
The author's style of writing was super easy to read and flowed really nicely. There may have been one or two times in the beginning of the novel where I was a little confused or felt like I might have missed some key information, but the story had me so enthralled and the characters were so interesting that I quickly got over that feeling.
The plot line always kept me guessing, which made for a book that was hard to put down.
I highly recommend this book to anyone!

[Iesha (In east shade house at...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a light read. I enjoyed the overall storyline, and I await the next book to find out if our main character succeeds. While I'm not much of a zombie fan, The Clearing is a story that didn't really give me the feeling of zombies. I'm not sure what her creatures are exactly, but they most definitely do not seem like zombies.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
This book is one I would recommend. I love dystopian. It definitely kept me interested and turning the pages to find out what was up next for dear ole Ruby. Her journey shows her growth as a character and I could feel her and Sapphire's heartbreak.. And boy, oh, boy what an ending !!! I loved it!!

[Laurie Tell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about seers being able to tell you what crimes you will commit in the future, and punishing you before it happens. We have seen this before in a book. However, this one has a different twist - there is only one village left on earth and survival depends on the seers. And punishment is banishment - to the woods where these creatures live.

So of course we have our heroine, who we know is going to be accused of a crime, and banished. Then she will find out what these creatures are, and maybe find another settlement, right? I mean, this is what I was expecting.

Well, what I received was different than expected. Not only was the plot different, the characters were also different,. The heroine wasn't a lonely, bitter girl - she had friends and family and a support system. And the "love interest" was really different (and thank you to the author for no insta love) and was a minor part of the story.

This book was really interesting, and darker than I expected. So why not 4 stars? I didnt like the main character - she was really interesting, but I thought she was immature, self centered and spoiled. I could not connect with her much as I tried. I liked her friends and family much more. But then again, I needed a little more motivation for the actions that they took. I really liked this book, but felt like something was missing.

I do want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

[Valeria · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It’s strange the way the Sentenced run into the forest. There’s more than what meets the eye, a puzzle hidden within their behavior, and I will be the one to decipher the truth."
-Samantha Cook, The Clearing

3🌟/5

I received this e-book from NetGalley.

The Clearing is a post-apocalyptic story, where the main character Ruby lives in a village with her brothers Jacob and Henry and her friends Sapphire, Jack and Alex.

Ruby, who is very sceptical about the Seers' powers and the Cult, wants to see and find out what lies outside of the village she lives in (where the Soulless roam), which is dangerous for anyone who tries or has no other choice but to venture, and the only obvious way to get out is to be Sentenced (much like her father's banishment).

The author's writing is good and the story was quite enjoyable, as you uncover about the Cult , the Seers , the Soulless and much more.

The ending was fine, since I presume there is going to be a second book (?).

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! I loved all the characters but especially Annie, of course. I loved her rebellious spirit and drive, and her dreams of life outside the gate. One of my favorite parts was when the kids were in awe of the view of the mountaintops and just twirling around, soaking it all in and being free. I loved their spirit. I wasn't expecting a twist but I loved it and the ending.

In the acknowledgments, Samantha Cook writes this to encourage other would be writers: "Writing can be a lonely journey full of rejection, so stay strong and don't let anyone be the gatekeeper to your dreams." This statement was the theme of this book and is such an amazing quote. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Thanks to LibraryThing's Member's Giveaway for this free book and this opportunity to read and review it.

[Vanessa Dodd · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I'd like to thank the author and voracious readers only for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the concept! The story is well written and the ending was really good. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and rooting for any of them unfortunately. Though the story had a lot of what I like, it never gave me this feeling of "I can't put the book down" which is a shame.
Having said that, the last 20% got me hooked, but it was a little too late.
Overall a good book, a great concept, really good writing but I wish I could have got into it more.

[P.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐⭐⭐⭐




- first book read from this author and did not dissapoint . it gotten be hooked from the first chapter .
i think the ending was lacking and need more answer but probably best if there is a season 2 for this and it will be answered . well recommended thriller!

+thankyou netgalley for the opportunity

❤️shaye.reads

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to read this book because I like dystopian themed story and this one had my interest peaked. It was a very well written story with great characters, an emotionally engaging storyline and wonderfully crafted scenes.

I requested a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.