Title: The Evolution of Mara Dyer Author: Michelle Hodkin Series: Mara Dyer, book #2 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Publication Date: October 23, 2012 Source: purchased Purchase:Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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?
Even two weeks after reading this book, I'm still at a loss as to how to describe my reading experience. I want to just focus on how the book left me reeling, for risk of spoiling anything from this book or the first in the series. But I need to discuss this book with someone who's already read it so we can properly freak out over the mind#$@% that is The Evolution of Mara Dyer.
The second novel in the Mara Dyer series was creepy. It was thrilling, romantical, and ultimately, it was over too quickly. That's saying a lot because this book came in at 527 pages long. But I read every page quickly, with a rapid pulse and barely breathing. So, if you're wondering if it was better than The Unbecoming, the answer is a resounding YES. I loved the first book, but The Evolution expanded upon everything I loved about the first novel by ten-fold.
Where this novel lacks subtlety, it more than makes up for in completely over-the-top creepiness. I, myself, can get on board with either type of creepy. I'm less likely to have nightmares after the in-your-face scary because it's rather obvious, but it's that subtly psychological crazy stuff that can cause me to have a complete melt-down upon waking. That's because it sneaks up on you, catches you off guard and then scares the bejeezus out of you. I think The Evolution has plenty to appeal to both types of horror fans.
I had my suspicions about what was happening to Mara throughout the novel, but not knowing whether Mara was a reliable narrator or not made it difficult to give them any credence. She hardly knows whether to believe herself. But Noah, he believes Mara. And the fact that there's something different about him, as well, led me to believe that I could trust him as Mara does. I don't know if that's the right call yet, but he seems to legitimately care for this girl and wants to help her.
That being said, this second installment, while it's there, is a little lighter on the romance and more plot-driven than the first book. So much happens in the span of 527 pages. So many surprises. So many possibilities. So much of the surreal. Case in point: dolls that seem to move of their own volition, a murder of crows dropping from the sky dead, multiple stints in a psychiatric ward. Obviously, Mara's life is far from normal. And it just keeps taking a turn for the worse.
Enter the crazies. There's Phoebe, a fellow out-patient at Mara's treatment facility who just likes messing with Mara's head for the sake of it. And Jude...is he dead or not?!? Oh, and Jamie's back...and a fellow out-patient. And we get to meet his sister...the one that Noah supposedly defiled. All of these characters, while secondary, add a certain je ne se qua to the story. There's something significant about each of them, and I don't just mean in relation to that cliffhanger of an ending. But it's hard to put my finger on, you know, because I didn't particularly like or dislike any of them.
Speaking of cliffhangers...what a doozy! It was equal parts expected and unexpected, but it was fitting. I'm just glad there is going to be a third novel. Maybe the story could have been chopped down to only make two books, but then there wouldn't have been nearly enough crazy. And the crazy makes this story. I'll definitely be biting my nails until the next book is released.
Favorite quotes:
"I wish we could make out in your bed."
Noah sighed. "As do I, but I'm afraid we have a ritual burning to conduct."
"It's always something."
"Isn't it though?"
"The pages are worn, well-read, and I skim through them. I wonder if it's possible to know someone through the words they loved."
And this one I don't particularly love, but I did love how easily I was able to conjure up the image based on the cringe-worthy description:
"Dr. Kells leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs; her nude pantyhose crinkled over her knees like a second, artificial skin." --- Ewwwwww. Also, I hate pantyhose.
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
This week's teaser comes from the following book:
Title: The Evolution of Mara Dyer Author: Michelle Hodkin Series: Mara Dyer, book #2 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Publication Date: October 23, 2012 Source: purchased Purchase:Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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?
My teaser:
"Mara."
"What?"
"It wasn't Jude," Noah said quietly.
"What wasn't Jude?"
"The doll in your bedroom. He didn't put it there."
I blinked, not getting it. "Then who did?"
It felt like forever before Noah finally spoke.
"You." -- p. 190
Ack! I've got chills now! The Unbecoming was just the beginning of the creepy. I have a feeling that The Evolution is going to push the border on creeptastic. I say bring it on! I've been patiently waiting until I caught up on review books before I really dove into this novel, but now that I'm ready, I kind of want to savor it. A good book is like a fine wine...you don't just gulp it up, unless you desire to want for more sooner rather than later. =)
What are you teasing us with today? Share it in the comments or leave a link so I can stop by!
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's WoW selection is...
Title: The Evolution of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Series: 2nd book in the Mara Dyer series
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 23, 2012
Two days after Mara walks into a police station in Miami at the close of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, she is committed for psychiatric treatment for what her parents believe is a mental breakdown. But what seems like a hallucination to everyone else is a chilling reality for Mara. Someone from her past has discovered her strange, disturbing secret and that someone wants her to pay. But she's about to discover that the price is more than she can bear.
Dark and thrilling, suspenseful and passionate, The Evolution of Mara Dyer will have readers breathlessly turning pages to find out what will become of Mara Dyer next.
Why I'm waiting: Noah Shaw. The guy who started off as a cocky bad-boy turned into a smooth romantic. Also, I guess I kinda want to know what happens to Mara. :P Seriously, this mystery is intriguing and we don't even know the half of it yet.
Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer Author: Michelle Hodkin Series: Mara Dyer Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Publication Date: September 27, 2011 Links:Amazon | Goodreads Rating:
From Goodreads:
Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.
Review:
I was so excited to get my hands on an ARC of this novel, and it did not disappoint. (Thanks to the ladies at Good Choice Reading for offering up their copy for an ARC tour.) I’m still reeling from it! And what I love about this book is the fact that I STILL don’t have a flipping clue what’s happening to Mara Dyer!
I loved the author’s use of nightmares/flashbacks to tease the reader with the details of the tragic accident and its ensuing chaos on Mara’s life. It was also refreshing to be thrust right into Mara’s tale of woe. No slow build-up here. Just crazy, crazy, surprise, and then more crazy.
Mara’s story is as unpredictable as it is unique. She’s been in a horrible accident, and she keeps seeing the ghosts of her friends, the ones who died in the accident that she miraculously survived. Mara thinks she might be crazy. She might be right. But that’s not going to stop her from trying to move on, to live as normal a life as she possibly can. So, Mara’s family moves away, giving her a fresh start. But things only get weirder. Only now, she’s met someone who might understand, if she’ll only let him in.
Mara is a snarky, keep-you-on-your-toes kinda heroine. I love the voice that Michelle Hodkin has given to this character, and the novel wouldn’t have been the same without the witty repartee between Mara and Noah. Noah is the guy our mothers all warned us about, but despite Mara’s best efforts, she can’t help falling for him. (What is it with those sarcastic bad-boys, with their good looks and British accents?)
This novel had my mind pulled in so many directions, and I’m still trying to sort it out. I still have so many questions, and I’m terribly afraid I’ve missed something vital in my attempt to inhale this novel. The story is so captivating, though, that it warrants a second reading, just to clear up the confusion. But even so, I have a feeling that the author is going to leave us guessing right up until the end.
Michelle Hodkin has a fantastic debut novel on her hands, one that I’ll definitely be picking up when it’s released next month. I’ll just have to remember to spend more than two days reading it so I don’t miss anything the next time around.
I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Series: Mara Dyer, book #2
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 23, 2012
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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?
Even two weeks after reading this book, I'm still at a loss as to how to describe my reading experience. I want to just focus on how the book left me reeling, for risk of spoiling anything from this book or the first in the series. But I need to discuss this book with someone who's already read it so we can properly freak out over the mind#$@% that is The Evolution of Mara Dyer.
The second novel in the Mara Dyer series was creepy. It was thrilling, romantical, and ultimately, it was over too quickly. That's saying a lot because this book came in at 527 pages long. But I read every page quickly, with a rapid pulse and barely breathing. So, if you're wondering if it was better than The Unbecoming, the answer is a resounding YES. I loved the first book, but The Evolution expanded upon everything I loved about the first novel by ten-fold.
Where this novel lacks subtlety, it more than makes up for in completely over-the-top creepiness. I, myself, can get on board with either type of creepy. I'm less likely to have nightmares after the in-your-face scary because it's rather obvious, but it's that subtly psychological crazy stuff that can cause me to have a complete melt-down upon waking. That's because it sneaks up on you, catches you off guard and then scares the bejeezus out of you. I think The Evolution has plenty to appeal to both types of horror fans.
I had my suspicions about what was happening to Mara throughout the novel, but not knowing whether Mara was a reliable narrator or not made it difficult to give them any credence. She hardly knows whether to believe herself. But Noah, he believes Mara. And the fact that there's something different about him, as well, led me to believe that I could trust him as Mara does. I don't know if that's the right call yet, but he seems to legitimately care for this girl and wants to help her.
That being said, this second installment, while it's there, is a little lighter on the romance and more plot-driven than the first book. So much happens in the span of 527 pages. So many surprises. So many possibilities. So much of the surreal. Case in point: dolls that seem to move of their own volition, a murder of crows dropping from the sky dead, multiple stints in a psychiatric ward. Obviously, Mara's life is far from normal. And it just keeps taking a turn for the worse.
Enter the crazies. There's Phoebe, a fellow out-patient at Mara's treatment facility who just likes messing with Mara's head for the sake of it. And Jude...is he dead or not?!? Oh, and Jamie's back...and a fellow out-patient. And we get to meet his sister...the one that Noah supposedly defiled. All of these characters, while secondary, add a certain je ne se qua to the story. There's something significant about each of them, and I don't just mean in relation to that cliffhanger of an ending. But it's hard to put my finger on, you know, because I didn't particularly like or dislike any of them.
Speaking of cliffhangers...what a doozy! It was equal parts expected and unexpected, but it was fitting. I'm just glad there is going to be a third novel. Maybe the story could have been chopped down to only make two books, but then there wouldn't have been nearly enough crazy. And the crazy makes this story. I'll definitely be biting my nails until the next book is released.
Favorite quotes:
"I wish we could make out in your bed."
Noah sighed. "As do I, but I'm afraid we have a ritual burning to conduct."
"It's always something."
"Isn't it though?"
"The pages are worn, well-read, and I skim through them. I wonder if it's possible to know someone through the words they loved."
And this one I don't particularly love, but I did love how easily I was able to conjure up the image based on the cringe-worthy description:
"Dr. Kells leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs; her nude pantyhose crinkled over her knees like a second, artificial skin." --- Ewwwwww. Also, I hate pantyhose.
Rating:
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Teaser Tuesday #34: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
This week's teaser comes from the following book:
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Series: Mara Dyer, book #2
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 23, 2012
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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?
My teaser:
Ack! I've got chills now! The Unbecoming was just the beginning of the creepy. I have a feeling that The Evolution is going to push the border on creeptastic. I say bring it on! I've been patiently waiting until I caught up on review books before I really dove into this novel, but now that I'm ready, I kind of want to savor it. A good book is like a fine wine...you don't just gulp it up, unless you desire to want for more sooner rather than later. =)
What are you teasing us with today? Share it in the comments or leave a link so I can stop by!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Waiting on Wednesday: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's WoW selection is...
Dark and thrilling, suspenseful and passionate, The Evolution of Mara Dyer will have readers breathlessly turning pages to find out what will become of Mara Dyer next.
Why I'm waiting: Noah Shaw. The guy who started off as a cocky bad-boy turned into a smooth romantic. Also, I guess I kinda want to know what happens to Mara. :P Seriously, this mystery is intriguing and we don't even know the half of it yet.
What are you waiting on this week?
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
ARC Tour Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Series: Mara Dyer
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Publication Date: September 27, 2011
Links: Amazon | Goodreads
Rating:
From Goodreads:
Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.
I was so excited to get my hands on an ARC of this novel, and it did not disappoint. (Thanks to the ladies at Good Choice Reading for offering up their copy for an ARC tour.) I’m still reeling from it! And what I love about this book is the fact that I STILL don’t have a flipping clue what’s happening to Mara Dyer!
I loved the author’s use of nightmares/flashbacks to tease the reader with the details of the tragic accident and its ensuing chaos on Mara’s life. It was also refreshing to be thrust right into Mara’s tale of woe. No slow build-up here. Just crazy, crazy, surprise, and then more crazy.
Mara’s story is as unpredictable as it is unique. She’s been in a horrible accident, and she keeps seeing the ghosts of her friends, the ones who died in the accident that she miraculously survived. Mara thinks she might be crazy. She might be right. But that’s not going to stop her from trying to move on, to live as normal a life as she possibly can. So, Mara’s family moves away, giving her a fresh start. But things only get weirder. Only now, she’s met someone who might understand, if she’ll only let him in.
Mara is a snarky, keep-you-on-your-toes kinda heroine. I love the voice that Michelle Hodkin has given to this character, and the novel wouldn’t have been the same without the witty repartee between Mara and Noah. Noah is the guy our mothers all warned us about, but despite Mara’s best efforts, she can’t help falling for him. (What is it with those sarcastic bad-boys, with their good looks and British accents?)
This novel had my mind pulled in so many directions, and I’m still trying to sort it out. I still have so many questions, and I’m terribly afraid I’ve missed something vital in my attempt to inhale this novel. The story is so captivating, though, that it warrants a second reading, just to clear up the confusion. But even so, I have a feeling that the author is going to leave us guessing right up until the end.
Michelle Hodkin has a fantastic debut novel on her hands, one that I’ll definitely be picking up when it’s released next month. I’ll just have to remember to spend more than two days reading it so I don’t miss anything the next time around.
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starryeyedjen
- I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
View my complete profile