As the next and final entry on this week's Mark This Book Monday I have another ARC review, this one I was approved on NetGalley by Flux Books, so a big thank you to them!
As an ARC it is part of my 2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge!
The Truth Against the World by Sarah Jamila Stevenson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
When I requested The Truth Against the World on NetGalley I read the synopsis and was drawn towards the Wales setting and the paranormal touches, but then for some reason I got it confused with something else and kinda was expecting this one to be another dystopian!
It took me a little while to realize it was told in dual POV, I kept getting confused and was wondering who was Gareth and why all of a sudden everything seemed different and the narrator was referring to himself as Wyn but then it was not a he but a she? I usually don't get confused too easily, but it took me quite a few pages to actually figure who was who and where were they and what was going on with them.
If there was something I completely loved in this book was the setting, I adored how genuine and well researched all the Welsh and the locations in Wales seemed to be. I felt very much present in the place and location and it made me wish I was there walking those green rolling hills. I loved the Welsh proverbs at the start of each chapter. And I loved the lil tidbits of history we keep on snatching here and there about life in the Welsh countryside during World War II.
The paranormal aspect was quite well done, with enough plausibility to it, with enough creepiness and tension added with the dreams, visions and strange happenings related to the ghost.
The mystery of sorts that needs to be discovered or figured out to put the ghost to rest was intriguing enough but not so difficult to figure out since there was a lot of emphasis on the connection between the two main characters. Still, it was quite well woven, even if it seemed to have dragged at bit all over the book and was only solved in the two final chapters.
Wyn and Gareth felt like genuine teenagers and their frustration at being treated like kids and being watched too closely and feeling suffocated by their families came out quite well on the page. I was quite glad that despite their odd connection and strange happenings, no romance was thrown onto us on this book and for that I'm grateful.
With a very well done setting and genuine characters this was an interesting book, it just seemed a bit too leisurely paced, with not too much happening in it, though there are plenty of issues addressed. Still, I'd give it a 3 stars, maybe a 3.5 since it managed to really make me want to visit Wales soon!
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As an ARC it is part of my 2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge!
The Truth Against the World by Sarah Jamila StevensonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
When I requested The Truth Against the World on NetGalley I read the synopsis and was drawn towards the Wales setting and the paranormal touches, but then for some reason I got it confused with something else and kinda was expecting this one to be another dystopian!
It took me a little while to realize it was told in dual POV, I kept getting confused and was wondering who was Gareth and why all of a sudden everything seemed different and the narrator was referring to himself as Wyn but then it was not a he but a she? I usually don't get confused too easily, but it took me quite a few pages to actually figure who was who and where were they and what was going on with them.
If there was something I completely loved in this book was the setting, I adored how genuine and well researched all the Welsh and the locations in Wales seemed to be. I felt very much present in the place and location and it made me wish I was there walking those green rolling hills. I loved the Welsh proverbs at the start of each chapter. And I loved the lil tidbits of history we keep on snatching here and there about life in the Welsh countryside during World War II.
The paranormal aspect was quite well done, with enough plausibility to it, with enough creepiness and tension added with the dreams, visions and strange happenings related to the ghost.
The mystery of sorts that needs to be discovered or figured out to put the ghost to rest was intriguing enough but not so difficult to figure out since there was a lot of emphasis on the connection between the two main characters. Still, it was quite well woven, even if it seemed to have dragged at bit all over the book and was only solved in the two final chapters.
Wyn and Gareth felt like genuine teenagers and their frustration at being treated like kids and being watched too closely and feeling suffocated by their families came out quite well on the page. I was quite glad that despite their odd connection and strange happenings, no romance was thrown onto us on this book and for that I'm grateful.
With a very well done setting and genuine characters this was an interesting book, it just seemed a bit too leisurely paced, with not too much happening in it, though there are plenty of issues addressed. Still, I'd give it a 3 stars, maybe a 3.5 since it managed to really make me want to visit Wales soon!
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I am glad to hear you enjoyed this book in spite of the issues with the pacing! I actually saw this a while ago on NG too but I wasn't sure I'd like it. I love ghosts but I just wasn't sure. I really do want to give this a shot sometime in the future now.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Pili!!
Rashika @ The Social Potato
Thank you, Rashika! Let me know what you think if you end up picking it up!
DeleteBooks that are very realistic, setting-wise, and atmospheric are often some of my fav. I also like how you describe the paranormal - plausibility is a big reason why it's creepy. You start to imagine how this could actually happen and it freaks me out! I hadn't really read up much on this one but it sounds like a decent read if not mind blowing.
ReplyDeleteThank Giselle, it is indeed a decent read, even if not mind blowing. The whole ghost part of it is quite creepy!
DeleteI'm not sure that this would be for me, but I do really love the sound of the Welsh setting! I visit Wales quite often and am quite desperate to move. ;) It's not often that I read stories set in Wales, either.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this I really felt like I had to visit Wales, Sam!!
DeleteAwesome review as always Pili, it sounds like this one set in Wales was really interesting. I haven't read many books set in that place and it would be wonderful to discover more!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jeann! The whole Wales setting was probably my fave part of the book!
DeleteI find it interesting that such a hard-hitting novel has such a leisurely pace. That's almost unfortunate because I think it would take away from some of the urgency of the events of the book. Nevertheless, I can't help but be intrigued! Fantastic review, Pili!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, Melissa! I agree, the pacing was a bit at odds with the content.
DeleteOoo, Wales does sound nice! But I feel like this wouldn't be a book for me D: Ghosts aren't really my thing, which goes hand-in-hand with me avoiding witch books... it all makes sense now, eh? lol
ReplyDeleteFantastic review, Pili!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
No witches and no ghosts, gotcha! I won't be pushing any books containing those on you! ;)
DeleteAh, no romance. That's one hell of a good thing in my ears! :D I always look forward to books with little to no romance because it means emphasis will be put elsewhere (like plot! character development!). Sorry about the confusing dual POVs though... I had that same problem when I read Marie Lu's the Legend series. It happens often especially when the voices of the two are not as distinct! But still, 3 stars! That's not bad :)
ReplyDeleteFaye at The Social Potato Reviews
Aye, it was so confusing at first... till I noticed the change in language and location!
DeleteI'm always happy to read books without such a big presence of romance and I was glad this one was one of those!
I have not heard about this book before. But I'm glad you mostly enjoyed it sweetie :D It do sound interesting ;p I'm sorry though that you did fully love it. But still glad you liked it, hih :) Probably not a book for me. Maybe one day, though ;p
ReplyDeleteThanks sweetie! It was good just not awesome!
DeleteGreat review! I hadn't heard of this one before. And while you had a few issues with it, it sounds promising :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vivien! I saw it on NetGalley and thought it sounded interesting!
DeleteThis book doesn't seem like it's my usual read. I've only read and liked a handful of books with ghosts. I'm also a little wary because of the confusion you said you experienced with the POV's. It's good to read outside the box so I'll think about it.
ReplyDeleteThis is not a book I'd push on anyone, but if you feel like reading something different from your usual read, maybe give it a try.
DeleteThis is not the kind of book I use to read, but I really, really loved the title when I read the first time.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it, if I ever feel in the mood for this, I'll give it a try!
Great review!
If you read it, do let me know what you think, Lis!!
Delete