I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.
Published by BASTEI LÜBBE on November 1st 2017
Source: Netgalley
Genres: Action & Adventure, Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic, Coming of Age, Dystopian, Fantasy, Fiction, General, Paranormal, Romance, Romantic, Science Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 289
She thought she knew who she was and where she came from. Then her home was destroyed. Her little brother gone. Her boyfriend taken. She owed her own survival to a mutant - the very forces behind the destruction that has ripped her life apart. Now Sorrel will never be the same again.
There is no "Before", there is only "Now". Because now there's no internet, no TV, no power grid. Food is scarce, and the world's a hostile place. But Sorrel lives a quiet life in the tiny settlement of Amat. It's all she's ever known ...
Until a gang of marauding mutants destroys the village, snatching her brother Eli, and David, the boy she loves. Sorrel sets out after them, embarking on a journey fraught with danger, spurred on by the thought of Eli and David out there somewhere, desperate for her help ...
THE NEW DARK is the first book in a scintillating new YA trilogy.
Note: Kristin reads and reviews both Christian and secular fiction on A Simply Enchanted Life. Out of respect for my readers, I am including a content review. This content review will help you decide whether this book is suitable for you.
Content Review:
Christian or Secular: Secular. Possibly offensive to Christians.
Profanity: Mild
Sex&Violence: Mild.
Trigger Warnings: Sexual abuse. Infanticide.
Disclosure: This has a subtle storyline involving a religious sect. Martin reminds me of David Koresh—the community doting on his leadership while he abuses his power. This representation of religion may be offensive to some readers.
Where do I start? Where? Usually, I have a good idea. I start with the negative—if applicable—and move to the positive. When a book is overwhelmingly negative or overwhelmingly postive—it throws me.
I suppose I’ll just do my best. Which is going to be hard because this book was so boring to me that I’m having trouble even retaining the story.
“The New Dark” by Lorraine Thomson left me in the dark.
The world was not developed—at all. The “Before” describes the world before something apocalyptic in nature happened. What? Well, I’m not entirely sure. But, there are mutants now and they’re usually killed at birth. We’re told how things are and we’re to accept it without a backstory. Sorry, that’s something I can’t accept.
The characters were one-dimensional and clueless. I don’t think they knew why their world had mutants or why society collapsed.
The symbolism is apparently a really big thing. The tattoo on Sorrel’s wrist means something. Who knows what. I don’t really care at this point. It’s a tattoo looking thing. Cool. Tattoos are all the rage. I guess a tattoo looking birthmark is a good enough reason as any to become the face of a revolution!
The whole book was a mishmash of every YA Dystopian you’ve ever read-only, without a plot.
The cover is lovely though. Not lovely enough for me to continue reading this series but lovely nonetheless.
Hope you enjoy your next one more.
Thanks! Hopefully. Can’t like them all.
Too true :)