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The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (published by Simon Pulse, a division of Simon & Schuster UK, in 2013)
NOTE: Given that The Evolution of Mara Dyer is the second book in a trilogy, this review may contain spoilers from the first book.
I’m a sucker for a good, psychological and mind-bending, twisted read. This, is why I finally decided to pick up The Evolution of Mara Dyer. It’s a book that’s been sitting in my shelf for ages, and one that I’ve been meaning to read for a while.
The first thing you should know is that this isn’t the kind of book you can read without having read the first book. The events that occur in this book, is preceded by the cliff-hanger ending of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.
I think that part of the reason why it took me so long to read this book, is because I adored the first book so much; and was afraid that the second book wouldn’t live up to my ridiculously high expectations.
Second book syndrome, as the bookish muses like to call it.
Thankfully, from the moment I started reading, my reservations quickly dissipated. I ended up deeply immersed in a story filled with tension, intense creepiness and some gore-inducing, spine-chilling moments guaranteed to leave you feeling on edge.
When we last left off, Mara Dyer found herself reporting to the police in an attempt to surrender. However, instead of being locked up in a cell, she ends up in a psychiatric treatment centre, as no one seems to believe that her ex-boyfriend, Jude, is still alive.
Still struggling to come to terms with the death of her best friend and her lethal ability, Mara knows that the only way she can get out of the treatment centre, is by faking normality.
But, it’s easier said than done.
And with her (unwanted) ability to kill people with her mind, flashbacks to a past life she has no recollection of, and dealing with deliberate and gory reminders of events that have happened, Mara’s battle is only beginning.
If you love books that combine the sinister atmosphere of abandoned asylums with the supernatural, then you’ll love this.
Michelle Hodkin has a gift for creating an acute sense of menace, and the beauty of this novel lies in the fact that the sinister proceedings aren’t always overt (although when it is, it’s hectic). Most of the time if feels as if things are moving slowly and insidiously, creeping up on you in a way as there is a feeling of impending doom with each and every turn of the page.
Feeling inclined for a book to scare the wits out of you? Do yourselves a favour and pick this one up.
Read more of my reviews on my YA book blog.
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