The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1)
by Alexandra Bracken
Release Date: December 18th, 2012
Summary: 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 gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have been cursed with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.
Now sixteen, Ruby has spent nearly half her life desperately trying to hide the fact that she’s outwitted the camp’s sorting system—that she isn’t powerless, or safe. She’s one of the dangerous ones… and everyone knows what happens to them.
When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of teens who escaped their own camp, pursued along the way by terrifying bounty hunters. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close to him. 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. Before the end, Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.
Review:
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Darkest Minds was incredible –beyond incredible. I absolutely loved it and couldn’t put it down. The scenes were so vivid, I still can’t get them out of my head even though it’s been days. I need this book to become a movie. I need everyone to read this book. I need everyone to experience each moment.
The writing was superb and the characters were so well developed that I fell in love with most of them, apart from the ones I wasn’t supposed to like. The world building was spectacular; I felt thrown into the story (in a good way) and I soaked up each and every word eagerly. I don’t even know if I possess the words to truly convey how amazing this book was to me.
The Darkest Minds was horrifying and yet it was full of so much hope. I enjoy dystopian novels a lot and this book didn’t disappoint at all. In fact, I had forgotten how amazing the genre can be until I picked up this book and it hit me like a train. It is definitely one of my favorite books I’ve read so far this year. It was graphic and violent and terrifying, but also optimistic. I think a good dystopian novel should leave a trail of fear down your spine and a chill in your bones and yet also make you ache for the fate of each character and Alexandra Bracken was able to do this so well in this book. I felt like I really knew the characters and understood the need to remain optimistic in such a crazy world. While Ruby, Liam, Chubs, and Zu took tons of risks, it all made sense and each character was shaped by their own circumstances. The book was action packed, yet there were layers of depth on each page.
I want to share all the quotes I’ve highlighted, but I also don’t want to spoil a single moment of the book. It was just so vivid. Each moment is burned into my brain and I’m left with an ache now that I’ve finished. I cannot praise this book enough.
If you don’t mind violence and you are a fan of dystopian novels, this is the book for you. Even though it’s YA, even though there’s a touch of romance, it’s so more than that. It’s an incredible book full of adventure and one that I think shines within the YA dystopian genre. I definitely recommend it and I will read the rest of the series as it grows. It is a MUST READ. Labels: Review
