The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

RATING: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑(4/5 moons)

Published: December 18, 2012

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 488

 

 

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“The darkest minds tend to hide behind the most unlikely faces.”

 

SYNOPSIS:

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that had killed most of America’s children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who have escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living.

THOUGHTS:

Dystopian, like any other genre, can be explored in many ways that could turn out poorly or perfectly depending on the execution of the story itself. It is undeniable that elements of dystopian is visible to each book under the said genre; and it is just a matter of adding the right element to standout.

I can say that The Darkest Minds is like any other dystopian books with its plot, the characters and superpowers. However, what appeals to me the most in this book is Alexandra Bracken’s writing style. This is not the first Alexandra Bracken book that I have read but reading this book makes me rethink if I have read the same author. The way she writes Ruby’s adventure and misfortune really appeals to me as a reader. I’m more of a plot-center book rather than character-center book; with this book, I became the latter rather than the former. I feel so close to the characters, like I am with them in every step of the way. I can feel what they feel at the moment which makes the story more thrilling because I’m dreading the death of the characters in the story with every cliffhanger chapters. And for that I gave the book 4 moons.

But of course, my plot-based self is quite disappointed when I predicted the plot twist of the story. The climax and most of the plot are quite predictable which killed the momentum for me yet the story is still good nonetheless. On the contrary, the ending cemented my love for this book. Although the (WARNING SPOILER FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T READ ‘CHAMPION’!) amnesia part in Champion does not appeal to me, when a similar situation was played out in the ending of this book it felt right. You can understand the logic of the reason as to why “it” needs to be done. Alexandra Bracken knows how to play with your emotions.

All in all, I love the book and the characters. I have never felt so attached in characters for a long time. It is a good thing that there is a 4th book in their world because I need more!

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I’m looking forward to reading the next books in this series. Highly recommending to anyone!

Till next time!

Maria ❤