Saturday, February 16, 2013

Book Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Book #1: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Synopsis:

 Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can't.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren't.

She couldn't imagine that after everything she's been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She's wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly.What will become of Mara Dyer next?

***
The Evolution of Mara Dyer is the second book in the Mara Dyer trilogy by Michelle Hodkin, and it is the first book I read this year. It starts up exactly where the previous book left off. If you didn't think Mara's life could get any weirder, you are wrong. This sequel increases the craziness by about 500 levels. Reading this book will make you just as confused by what is happening as Mara herself. There are a lot of questionable events that occur that make you wonder what is real and what isn't. It is the perfect mix of paranoia, mystery, romance, and action. 

If you are unfamiliar with the plot of these books, here is a brief summary without spoiling anything important: Mara Dyer is a 17 year old girl go gets in an accident with her boyfriend and two friends, but she is the only one to make it out of the accident alive. From there, Mara and her family move to Florida for a fresh start. After that things start to get...complicated. Mara starts seeing the ghosts of her dead friends and people keep dying around her. So what is her issue? Well, you find that out by reading, of course! Along the way we are also introduced to the infamous Noah Shaw. He's your typical bad boy--handsome, flawed, and seductive with just a touch of a romantic side. Needless to say, I fell for him pretty hard. 

In this book, things continue to evolve for Mara and her mysterious knack for making bad things happen. The ending takes a dark turn which I must say I was not expecting whatsoever. The characters develop wonderfully, and Hodkin is a gorgeous writer. It's hard for me to even say what my favorite thing about this book is because every aspect is so well-done. Hodkins had me hooked from the very first page, and trust me when I say that this book is insanely addicting. Once you start, you won't be able to stop until you finish. The dialogue can be witty or deeply beautiful. The characters are incredibly likable which I thought was great because so many female narrators annoy me, but I found Mara realistic and interesting.

There is so much potential for the final book in the trilogy, The Retribution of Mara Dyer which comes out Oct. 22, 2013. It is definitely a book I will be picking up on the day of release because I cannot wait to see how everything finishes. I highly, highly recommend this trilogy to YA book lovers! I admit I was skeptical of these books at first because I am generally not one to read anything categorized as paranormal romance, but I was pleasantly surprised in the best way possible. 

Stars: 5/5

Favorite Quotes:

“Everyone is a little crazy. The only difference between us and them is that they hide it better.” 

“We are far too screwed up for a goddamned love triangle.” 

“What do I sound like?" I asked, more breathily than I intended. God, so predictable.
He considered his answer for a moment before he gave it. "Dissonant," he said finally.
"Meaning?"
Another long pause. "Unstable."
Hmm.
He shook his head. "Not the way you're thinking," he said, the shadow of a smile on his lips. "In music, consonant chords are points of arrival. Rest. There's no tension," he tried to explain. "Most pop music hooks are consonant, which is why most people like them. They're catchy but interchangeable. Boring. Dissonant intervals, however, are full of tension," he said, holding my gaze. "You can't predict which way they're going to go. It makes limited people uncomfortable - frustrated, because they don't understand the point, and people hate what they don't understand. But the ones who get it," he said, lifting a hand to my face, "find it fascinating. Beautiful." He traced the shape of my mouth with his thumb. "Like you.” 

“Someone always says, 'Kids are mean.' 'Kids will be kids.' Which implies that the kid bullies will grow out of it someday." The muscles in his jaw tightened. His stare was unfocused and far away. "I don't think they do. I think kid bullies turn into adult bullies” 

No comments:

Post a Comment