I wasn’t going to review this until later but I read a couple of bad reviews about the book and felt compelled to launch a defense of it. In my own way, of course.Of course the best way to proceed with this is to narrate the reasons I liked the book, why it spoke to me the way it did and perhaps that will convince you. I actually read a review where the reviewer encouraged people to not read this book and I believe that to be the worst thing you could do.This book is written in the aftermath of a horrific murder. Avery lost both her parents to a brutal murder and despite being found at the scene with their bodies, she has no recollection of the events that led to their untimely demise. Now, you have to understand that the fact that she is going through grief means that her character – what we see of it – is as though it’s through a veil. Because you cannot end the feelings of devastation with a sentence or two, or a chapter of intense pathos. It is infused in your daily life, your eyes will prick at the most random moments, you will be half a person. And all those people who are criticizing Avery’s character need to understand this. It is because Ms. Devlin so honestly portrays Avery trying to deal with her grief that I liked the book initially.Another thing people criticized was the relationship between the two protagonists. That it was too fast. I don’t deny it. It moved pretty fast but, to me, it was written convincingly. Unlike in Paranormalcy, I actually did connect to the heroine and her feelings, reluctant as they were, rang true. Whether it was because of the “bond” that formed almost instantaneously or something else, all that mattered to me was that they had chemistry.I also loved how Ms. Devlin takes the forest and sort of personifies it – it has a voice through Avery and I feel that the subsequent books in the series will deliver just as this one did. The atmosphere in the book ranged from sinister to sweet, there was a whole range of emotions and I liked that Ms. Devlin spent time on each character. Especially the grandmother.So, read it. Make up your mind. You may end up not liking it but at least you’ll be the one deciding that, eh?
