Saturday, July 4, 2015

Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan Review


"It's time to choose sides.... 

On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.

But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?

A darkly humorous take on Gothic romance, Sarah Rees Brennan's Lynburn Legacy weaves together the tale of a heroine desperate to protect those she loves, two boys hoping to be saved, and the magical forces that will shape their destiny."

Untold is the second book in The Lynburn Legacy. Ash and Jared and Ash's mother are the only ones who will protect the town from evil. However, the Lynburn family is in shambles. Jared and Kami are not having the best friendship, and Rob is getting more and more powerful. With Jared no longer being powered by Kami, everything seems to be bad for everyone (except for Rob and his rather power-hungry followers). The entire town of Sorry-in-the-Vale is pretending that everything is perfectly fine.

First of all, I have to mention Sarah Rees Brennan's slaying. She subverts a few particular topics, and I have a feeling Brennan enjoys deconstructing a small but important thing. That piece of dialogue, which mentions Holly and Angela, is pure gold. Ash, Jared, and Kami have their own parts in that section. 

Second of all, the storyline is wonderful. Never for a moment does the plot stall or get boring. It is so exciting to see Kami slowly trying to fight Rob's sorcerers even though she is completely powerless in magic. But she isn't powerless. She has her brains, and she has her wits. She has her memory, and I'm amazed by how Sarah Rees Brennan is capable of making a seemingly normal and quirky girl into a brilliant hero. 

As I said before, Kami is a strong character. Though she does have moments of weaknesses, she doesn't give up. She is unique, and her personality is wonderful. I can easily imagine this Asian girl right next to me, because she is so well-described. She stands out so much. Between Jared and her (and any other characters), Kami is the best. 

Jared is still the bad boy with snarky words, but I love him anyway (though I love Kami even more). He has his problems and issues, but they make him seem even more real. He has a good heart but also a terrible past. 

The world building of Untold is set in the real world... but with magic. Brennan does a brilliant job of recapping by using Kami's skills in journalism. Readers would probably love to visit Sorry-in-the-Vale, but it doesn't seem to be muggle-friendly. 

The ending is one of the most shattering and excellent parts of the book. It leaves me wanting more and darting for Untold's sequel. 

Overall, Untold is the brilliant sequel to Unspoken. It has a strong heroine and an amazing conflict against a creepy, cunning sorcerer. Most (or even all) of the dialogue is pure gold, and readers will treasure every snarky word. I recommend this to those who love magic and deadly but also adorable heroines. 

Rating: Four out of Five

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