{Review} Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Book: Unspoken
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Series: The Lynburn Legacy #1
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Publisher: Random House Books
Pages: 370
Links: Goodreads /  Purchase 
Stars: 5/5

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

I have lots to say about this book, firstly though:

A definite thumbs-up for our extremely talented writer, Sarah Rees Brennan!

It feels as if I have discovered my true love upon reading Unspoken. I know I say that quite often in my reviews but I truly mean it this time. I have fallen deeply in love with this book's writing, characters, plot, its everything! All of it was sweet, perfect, and utterly perfect (wait, I said perfect twice). I began this book with expectations that soared high above the sky. I will admit that I am easy to impress and quick to fall for books, but this book I was truly blowen away by it!

Before I began this book I did not know that it took place in England, and when I discovered this, I had some very fangirly moments because I love anything British or having to do with England. At time this book was so cute and so British that it made me want to squeal. Just looking at its deliciously pink cover was enough to get me to start fangirling. In short, I wish that this book was a cute boy so that I could flirt with it. (Just kidding...kind of.)

As a little girl, I never had an imaginary friend, but I always did find the prospect quite intriguing and thrilling. My imaginary friends were always my storybook characters, not legit imaginary friends. Several times I pretended to talk to an imaginary friend when I was little, but I'd always get bored with them and go back to my books. Well, this book displays the idea of an imaginary friend, but at the same time, the imaginary friend is not so imaginary after all! Even though I never had an imaginary friend, I just tried to imagine what it would be like if my imaginary friend was, in fact, real.  That was what got me interested in the story: its amazing synopsis. Well, that, and the several people who practically convinced me to buy it!

The beginning of this book was quite slow and dull but to be honest I didn't mind because I was just busy absorbing the beautiful writing. I don't mind slow-paced books as long as they have action eventually, and this book definitely started to get action-packed, which was my favorite part of the book. Sarah Rees Brennan did a splendid job of portraying the action. This book's plot was crystal-clear, and there was no confusion or messiness. The author eased the reader into the plot carefully, and then when things started to get more complicated, she swooped into things fearlessly and ended up with an amazing, amazing book.

The characters are really what make this book shine, although all aspects of it are perfect. Our heroine, Kami Glass, is indeed one of the best heroines of all time I might venture to say. She is witty and kick-butt (while at the same time manages not to be an assassin or Hunger Games tribute) and I simply adored her. Ah, and she is a writer! Any heroine who writes is a favorite heroine of mine. Kami is definitely the most colorful character in this book, but that doesn't mean that the other characters weren't great as well. They were almost as good as Kami. Sarah Rees Brennan did an excellent job foreshadowing events to come in the book, and it gave me an idea of which characters to trust and which not to trust, although I never would've guessed...never mind never mind! I am making this is review spoiler-free. But anyway, the characters were remarkable, and let's give Sarah Rees Brennan a hand, shall we?

But wait! I'm not done with them.

Jared. He is a very flawed character and sometimes it was hard to see past those flaws, but as I often say, the flawed characters are the best. He was incredibly hard to figure out and was a man of mystery to me as we as the reader don't get to know Jared very well, despite the fact that he can communicate with Kami through his mind. I think I liked him but I am not entirely sure, as I didn't get to spend enough time with him. I hope his character will be further developed in this book's sequel (which by the way...I need. Like, NOW.)

And Ash. Ohhh Ash. I had trouble figuring out whether I hopelessly loved him or whether I wanted to do this to him:

(Hey, I used 2 Santana gifs. Points, anyone?)

And yet, at times, I felt:

(HA! I used 3 Glee gifs!! Now I should really get some points!)

Ash was not a very big part of the story but to be honest I wish we had more of him. That is my only complaint: Sarah Rees Brennan did not spend enough time with characters I would have liked to have spent more time with.

All in all this book was simply fabulous! I think it is my new true love and an amazing story. The ending was quite ambiguous and I honestly have no idea where this story will go in the book following it. One thing is for sure, though, I cannot wait to read it!!

I feel the need to share a few quotes that I think are key to this book:

“Sorry-in-the-Vale, Sorriest River, Crying Pools," said Jared. "Is the quarry called Really Depressed Quarry?”

You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back at school.
“They said that about all the great visionaries.”.
“You know who else they said it about?” Angela demanded. “All the actual crazy people.” 
“She clenched her fist in his T-shirt, put her other arm around those too-broad, too-real shoulders. When he tried to pull away, she held on tight. Kami felt the surrender in his mind a moment before he laid his face in the curve of her neck. The whole world was so real it hurt. Kami whispered into Jared's hair, "I'm always on your side.” 

“I can try to wheedle information out of people," Holly offered. "For which I'll need a lower-cut top.” 

“I only date college guys.”
“You don’t know any college guys,” Kami pointed out.
Angela’s gaze went to Kami, and she smiled. “Which leaves me with more time for napping.” 

“You couldn't do it?" Rob Lynburn sneered.
"I know her," Ash said in a low voice. "I can't... hurt someone I know.” 

Well, that pretty much sums it up! This book was a pleasure to read and it was like discovering a whole new world. I hope if you decide to read this book that you'll enjoy it as much as I did. :)