Shadowlands

Ok I'm going to write a review soon, but first CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THE ENDING????????? I am seriously sitting here like WHAT!?!?!? I had no clue and I still don't!! WHY?????

REVIEW:
Rory Miller was stalked and attacked by a serial killer (her math teacher, Mr. Nell). Somehow she managed to survive, but Mr. Nell got away.... and he's not one to give up. Now that he got so close to having Rory, he won't quit until he finishes his plan. The FBI are out of options and decide to put Rory, her sister Darcy, and their dad into the witness protection program. When they get to their destination, they realize they've been sent to a small island-resort town. Darcy and Rory make friends easily as the townies are quite show more friendly... but also maybe a little too friendly. Rory can't quite shake the feeling that she's being watched again and starts thinking maybe Mr. Nell is close. She's met with a lot of dismissiveness... but maybe she should listen to her instincts because people are disappearing on Juniper Landing and it's only a matter of time before she's next.

This book got me hooked from page 1. It starts out so INTENSE!! The first 50 pages are insanely thrilling and scary! Imagine if a serial killer was after you or your family?? It's crazy! I thought it was odd that the sister and dad didn't take it as seriously as I wanted them to. Hello, your sister/daughter was just almost killed by a man who's already killed 14 girls, can you be a little bit more thankful that she's still here and take some precautions to make sure it stays that way?? But I guess with the death of the mother years earlier they had some family issues that made them not act right.

After they arrived at Juniper Landing, the girls immediately connect with a group of kids all wearing these weird leather braided bracelets. At that point I knew there was some kind of secret... but no clue what it could be. They were extremely friendly people, but they were just taking a little bit too much interest in Rory for my liking... stalkerish.

I flew through this book. It was so addicting that I just had to know!! There were short chapters where we would hear from Mr. Nell and they freaked me out to where I had to continue reading and make sure Rory was going to be okay!

I must say I loved the island setting. The foggy small-town was a perfect creepy setting. Plus I just happen to love island books! I love that isolated feel.

Now we get to the end. While I was reading this book I noticed how quickly the end was coming and there were still no answers!! I started getting really nervous, until it was revealed on the very last page (so don't read the last page unless you want to ruin the book for yourself). I WISH I could tell you what happens because it made me be like "WTF" for a good hour or so. I seriously was just sitting around being like "What the hell???" until my husband told me to go read another book. I'm not going to lie I had to email someone who already read the book to completely understand what exactly happened... and now that I know?!?!?! I'm not sure what I think! I guess I'll just have to read the next book in the series to truly know if it's going to be for me or not.

Overall: A really great thriller with an exciting twist. I would totally recommend if only for the fact that you will get addicted once you start reading it. If you liked Hysteria by Megan Miranda or Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook or The Lying Game by Sara Shepard, this reminds me slightly of those books (but I think it's even better).


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Do you ever start reading a book, and go "Whoa. This is different. And scary. Me likey."? Don't lie! Anyway, my point is that Shadowlands was a very unique book that also had me prominently feeling the chills of suspension rolling from the pages. Kate Brian is a genius!

The beginning is very chilling, violent, and totally sucks you into the plot. That killer is so creepy and evil. The chapters in his point of view were disturbing, once again, good job Kate Brian! We are also introduced to the characters, amidst the action. There is never a dull moment! While not everything is a raging car chase, there is always a heavy layer of suspension clouding the problem with the killer, the town, and it's people. This keeps the readers on their show more toes, and may perhaps even bring nightmares.

The characters are also very well-devolped for a Thriller, which is the genre I find usually lacks the development. I loved seeing the relationship between Rory and her sister, Darcy, as well as with her Dad. Darcy has been rebelliously acting out ever since their Mother died, and the dad has simply become a shell. The family has a lot of tension building around them, and I loved how you got to see the relationship evolve and bonds mended.

The island itself, the place where the FBI kept Rory and her family in disguise to keep them from the killer, was a very memorable setting. If we ever have another "Top Ten Book Settings" list, the island, Juniper Landing, would definitely make it, perhaps even placing itself at the very top. Juniper Landing is mysterious, vivid, and odd. It leaves the reader with this strange sensation in their stomach, which I loved! The people inhabiting the island are also pretty odd. Why are they turning their head when people disappear? Does everyone except Rory and a few other suspicious teens have amnesia?

Also, I enjoyed that there was close to no romance. I see some in the future of the series, which I know I will like. I am not fond of first books that lay heavy-romance. Where is the rom to expand the relationship? What about the plots? Where is this "love" going to go? (Or, my common reaction, "They met a freakin' WEEK ago! C'mon!") In Shadowlands, we see plenty of eligible males yet none so far have legitimately "fallen hard" for Rory. I possibly see a well-done romance in the future, that is not the main plot, and I have no idea who it will be between! Yay! And if there isn't, I don't care because the plot is a wild enough ride and, in general, support for the series.

And, lastly, that ending! I loved it! In one simple sentence, everything came together. (SPOILER: I KNEW it wasn't a dream... SPOILER OVER) It is such a creative and startling twist. This also makes my lists of top endings. It is utter brilliance, and well thought out, so the audience won't pick up on the twist until the end. I literally looked at the pages, and then closed the book, smiling. However, it is pure evil of the author to make us wait for the sequel, Hereafter.

Overall, Shadowlands is a highly recommended read, especially to those who are a fan of creepy, suspenseful stories with unpredictable twists and well thought out characters. Also, the book was very well written, and set the readers in the right mood. Now, go read the book. I especially want to see your reaction to the end. *duh, duh, duh*

4.5/5 Stars show less

I absolutely hated this book. You shouldn't read it. I don't normally say stuff like that, because I know that people enjoy different things in books, and just because I don't like it that doesn't mean someone else won't love it. BUT OMG THIS IS SO BAD. It has a twist at the end, which, whatever. Twists are fine. But the story itself is insanely aggravating. It builds tension on several separate mysteries throughout, but pays out on none of them. Unless you count a single line on the last page which reveals the twist. Which is SO UNSATISFYING. I don't read an entire stupid book just to discover that the REAL story is in the next book.

I don't care if it's the first in the series and there will be more explanation later, it's ridiculous show more to have the entire book's plot build to such an anti-climatic ending. I love thriller stories, usually. And I was so interested in the way this book portrayed PTSD, and then the twist completely undid everything I'd appreciated about it. ARGH.

I can't even articulate how much I disliked the way this story played out. Mainly, I'm reduced to INCOHERENT SPUTTERING. Anyway. If you'd like to know the twist, I'll tell you and you can save yourself the aggravation of reading the book. show less

Going in to Shadowlands, I really wasn't sure what to expect. The summary had a mystery-thriller-type feel to it, and since it had been a long time since I'd read anything like that, I was pretty eager to start this one. What I got instead was a crazy, intense ride for all 336 pages of the book. I literally could not stop reading this one, and even after finishing, was left feeling uncertain about how on earth I could review a book that had left me reeling, for fear that I would give too much away. Yes, it was THAT good!

The book starts off with a bang, when we're placed inside the head of a serial killer, who is currently waiting for his newest victim, Rory, to walk past him. She escapes, and that escape sets off a chain reaction of show more events that finally culminates in her, her father, and older sister, Darcy, having to go into Witness Protection. However, Brian continues to allow us inside the killer's head, so while Rory and her family are thinking they're getting away, the reader knows just how close he is to them. This made for a very unsettling and absolutely gripping reading experience, because I simply had to know what would happen next.

The family is sent to what's essentially a vacation island, where Rory finds herself the focus of the insanely gorgeous and aloof popular crowd. She's unsure what to think of them - and in fact, in the middle of the book, becomes downright suspicious of them when strange things start happening - which just adds to the uneasy feeling of the story. The only part that felt at all lighthearted was when Rory was spending time with Aaron, who I was pleased to see was a generally nice guy. I loved their windsailing adventure and the freedom and happiness that Rory experienced. Good feelings were something that were very few and far between for our main character so it was nice to see her get a bit of a break.

Without wanting to get into too many spoilery details, let me just say this: I did not expect the ending we received, and knowing this is part of a series has me instantly intrigued, because I cannot WAIT to see where the author is going to take the story. I have many questions I cannot wait to have answered!

If you're looking for something that has edge of your seat excitement, and keeps you constantly turning pages, then this is the book for you. It has something for everyone, from the bruised and battered main character, to the family drama dynamic, to the thrilling insights into the mind of a serial killer. Shadowlands is an exhilarating ride full of non-stop drama and mystery. I can't wait to see what comes next!

An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less

I had no idea that when I started this book that it would capture me so tightly, that I stayed up close to one in the morning to finish it. I literally could not put the book down and instead, found myself immersed in a world where death lurks around the corner.

Let me be the first to say," BRAVO! Ms. Brian." The plot is what every reader wants. Exciting and thrilling, lots of mystery and psycho killer on the loose. Once I started this book, there was no going back for me. I was hooked and would not put the book down. Every chapter, the reader is lead deeper into the mind of the killer as well as the victim. Things don't seem to add up and you just KNOW that something is missing...

The ending. O.M.G. The. Ending. It totally sealed the show more deal for me, leaving me jaw-dropped. I DID NOT expect that! I really didn't! The author had me so tied up amongst other things, that I failed to miss the clues. Well played Ms. Brian, well played.

Shadowlands is an awesome, amazing book that you want to read. It's one of those stories that will stick in your mind, days after reading it. You'll keep going back to parts, searching for the where you got lost. Clearly, it wasn't that the reader is lost, it's just that Kate Brian is one helluva of writer! show less

I’ve never devoured a book of this size so fast in my life! It took me just over four hours, and had me flipping pages like a lunatic.

The action starts right on the first page as the book opens with main character, Rory, being watched by a serial killer. For the first ninety pages or so I was absolutely terrified and almost stopped reading because I wasn’t sure I could handle it. As I was trying to decide whether or not to keep going, I did something I’ve never done before: I read the last page! =O (I know, I know, shame on me!) Anyways, that sealed the deal, I HAD to finish reading.

The chapters from the killer’s perspective SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME! Seeing inside his dark and twisted mind left me with a dark, unsettled feeling show more that I wasn’t too fond of. Luckily, as the story went on his chapters became far and few between, with the majority of the story told from Rory’s point of view.

While it was both terrifying and riveting, there were also a number of instances that were highly unlikely and plain unbelievable. For example why would the police send you into protective custody without so much as one officer to escort you? Once at said “safe house” why is there no alarm system, body guards, etc. AND if you had just survived an attack by a crazed serial killer, why on earth would you a) Go out for a jog by yourself b) sneak out in the middle of the night to go to a party! SERIOUSLY?!? Locking herself in a room and never leaving again would be more realistic, but I guess that would make for a pretty boring book, huh?

I have to admit that when it ended I was still really confused and unsure of what was going on. After scouring Goodreads for spoilers, I sat there in shock when I found out the truth. So if you’re like me and finish the book not knowing what happened, email me and I’ll let you know ;) show less

reviews to come.First impression: murder mystery/thriller

Second impression: woah, paranormal stuff?

After finishing this book I am left with so much to think about. I wasn’t expecting the switch, and I want to know why people keep disappearing. I need the next one right now, to hopefully answer the many questions I have floating in my brain. I won’t list them because they’ll cause spoilers. I’m definitely buying this for the high school; I have students who’ll love the twist, and some who’ll come back in and yell at me after they are done. Whatever—I love a reaction. It moves the books!