| TITLE: The Evolution of Mara Dyer SERIES: Mara Dyer #2 AUTHOR: Michelle Hodkin PUB: Simon & Schuster PUB DATE: 10/23/12 FORMAT: hardcover SOURCE: from pub for review |
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..
**There are slight spoilers for book one in my review. Also, I use the "f-word"**
THREEish
WORDS: Need. Book. Three...NOW
MY
REVIEW: With its deliciously
creepy atmosphere, irresistible humor, and enticing romance, The
Unbecoming of Mara Dyer quickly
became one of my favorite reads last year, and I've been eagerly and
anxiously awaiting its sequel...and thankfully the wait as been well
worth it! While I'll admit that I loved book one a wee bit more than
book two, The Evolution of Mara Dyer
is
a superb sequel and fantastic literary feat all on its own.
This
book picks up a few days after the climactic and cliffhangery events
at the end of book one, and Mara is in a fragile emotional and
psychological state as she struggles with what's real and what may
just be in her head. Mara finds herself placed in a program for teens
with “issues”, watched like a hawk by her parents; brother; and
therapist, and the target of a creepy and deadly stalker. She and
Noah search for any answers regarding their apparent abilities but
what they find is something they never saw coming.
Once
again, Michelle Hodkin has weaved a gripping and oh so addicting
psychological thriller with the perfect blend of mystery, chills,
humor, and romance. The
Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is,
in my opinion, a phenomenal story that is almost impossible to beat,
so while this second volume may not have matched book one in its
supreme awesome epicness, it most definitely delivers.
Hodkin
is a masterful storyteller and her lovely, almost lyrical, and always
impressive writing talent is undeniable. The
Evolution of Mara Dyer
paces
a bit slower than book one, but it has an enjoyable and seamless
flow. Like its predecessor, book one is told from Mara's first person
perspective, creating a captivating and intimate atmosphere, but
dispersed among the book are chapters that take place in India
sometime in the past and are narrated by an unknown (but easy to
assume) person. These Before chapters add even more layers to an
already complex story and bring readers and Mara that much closer to real answers.
Hodkin
definitely doesn't scrimp on the chills and creepiness in
The Evolution of Mara Dyer.
Toss
a seriously deranged stalker, a group of misfit, possibly cray-cray
teenagers, dead birds just falling from the sky, and a freaky doll
that just won't go away into a storyline that is already deliciously
dark and awesomely spine-tingly, mix it all together, and you've got
a wicked cool story that grabs you and doesn't let go (and you won't
want it to!). I love that the psychological aspects are actually
explored in this book and aren't just simply explained away by any
supernatural abilities. The psychological, emotional, and mental
issues/disorders are very real for many of the characters, whether or
not they're the cause of or an effect of any supernatural ability,
and these issues are given the attention, respect, and exploration
they deserve.
In
book one Mara and Noah's abilities weren't really explained, which I
didn't mind so much but some readers did, and those readers will be
happy to know that book two answers a lot of questions that The
Unbecoming of Mara Dyer created.
Some of these answers I didn't see coming (I had plenty of “WTF”
and “Oh no she didn't?!” moments) and some were easier to
decipher. Either way, I enjoyed unraveling the twisted mysteries with
Mara and Noah. And I enjoyed just being back in this world again with
Mara, Noah, Jamie (love him!), Daniel, and some intriguing new
characters. I didn't realize just how much I missed Jamie's humor or
Mara's snark or Noah's cheekiness.
Of
course, among all the chilling, creepy, craziness, we have the
steamy, eyebrow waggle inducing, makes you wanna sing “Let's Get It
On”, yet somehow also incredibly sweet, honest, and palpable
romance between Mara and Noah...hot? Check. frustrating? Check.
completely alluring, enticing, and believable? Check Check
Check...good times y'all...good, sexy times ;)
And
the story wouldn't be complete without a helluva ending to give us
ALL THE FEELS...*whispers* So. Many. Feels...Hodkin has definitely
set the scene for an electrifying and explosive conclusion, and I for
one, cannot wait to be electrified and e'sploded by book three.
MY RATING
Read my review of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Purchase: Amazon / B&N / Book Depository
At the age of sixteen, Michelle Hodkin lost the rights to her soul in a poker game with pirates just south of Natchez. Shortly thereafter, she joined an acting troupe and traveled the world performing feats of wonder and mischief. She has been seen on stages nationwide and earned rave reviews for her one woman performance of Titus Andronicus before writing the New York Times bestselling Mara Dyer Trilogy. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and its sequel, The Evolution of Mara Dyer are available now, and the third book in the trilogy, The Retribution of Mara Dyer, hits shelves Fall 2013. Michelle currently lives with her three pets and may or may not be a reliable narrator of her own life.
She really does write a good, creepy, twisty story. And I just adore Noah!
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