Author: Marta AcostaRelease Date: July 3, 2012
Publisher: Tor/MacMillian
Pages: 368
Source: NetGalley
Summary: Orphaned at the age of six, Jane Williams has grown up in a series of foster homes, learning to survive in the shadows of life. Through hard work and determination, she manages to win a scholarship to the exclusive Birch Grove Academy. There, for the first time, Jane finds herself accepted by a group of friends. She even starts tutoring the headmistress’s gorgeous son, Lucien. Things seem too good to be true.My Favorite Lines:
They are.
The more she learns about Birch Grove’s recent past, the more Jane comes to suspect that there is something sinister going on. Why did the wife of a popular teacher kill herself? What happened to the former scholarship student, whose place Jane took? Why does Lucien’s brother, Jack, seem to dislike her so much?
As Jane begins to piece together the answers to the puzzle, she must find out why she was brought to Birch Grove—and what she would risk to stay there...
“I'm driving so it's your job to make small talk.""Oh.""Not that small." He waved at the security guard as we left the club. "Make medium talk.”Why I Loved It: First off, there are so many books that I read over last semester that I never had a chance to review. I went back and made a list of the books and counted over twenty books that I loved that deserved some awesome reviews. The next few weeks are going to get crazy. Anyways, this is one of the books that needs desperately to be given some love and devotion.
"For a brief moment, I imagined that if I took Jack’s hand in mine, we really would be in a place where the trees lifted their roots and danced in the night, a place where I really was fierce and beautiful and brave. The illusion was so overwhelming that long seconds passed before I could form a sentence."
I truly loved this book. I went into the book with all kinds of expectations, got in a few pages, and threw all those expectations out. The Dark Companion was not paranormal but much more Gothic-isque. The Gothic influences all throughout the book added a new dimension of awesome to the book. The book was a wonderful equal parts creepy, equal parts alluring. I was held in its grip for a few days as I grew to truly empathize with the choices that Jane was facing. If I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking about the book. The book was merveilleux which is French for amazeballs.
One of the biggest strengths of this book was the awesome set of characters living within the pages. Mary Violet is one of Jane's new friends at Birch Grove, and I seriously wish I could find a Mary Violet in my life. She's vibrant and gorgeous in her own quirky way, and she is always there for a good laugh. I loved the way she talked because she was this fascinating combination of surreal and realistic all at the same time. Jack was fantastic, and I loved the huge contrast between who Jack is and who his brother Lucky is. The story had so many interesting parallels and gorgeous contrast among the characters. No wonder I couldn't put it down.
As the story progresses, Jane has to start making some very difficult decisions. I love how the book makes you think. Would you have done the same thing if you were offered so much in exchange for taking on a role for the rest of your life? Taken from Jane's perspective where she had grown up with almost nothing, that question becomes even more complicated.
Don't go into this book expecting vampire paranormal. Vampire fanatics would just end up a little disappointed. The beauty and treasure of this book is just how fresh and Gothic the story is. There is just that tint of paranormal flushing through the pages to keep it just a little fresher.
I am thrilled that I requested this book. It was an incredible reading experience.
Who Should Read It: Lovers of creepy meets realism. I know you are out there. Really if you just like a well-spun story. Don't pay attention to the ratings on this book. There is just so much conflicting ideas on this book. That is why it is up to you to figure it out for yourself. Enjoy.
Need a Second Opinion?
I LOVED this book! The cover drew me in initially, but the blurb sealed the deal. And I honestly loved the story. I was hooked from the beginning and I could not put it down. But I will say there have been quite a few not so great reviews. It really is a book that is made for certain types of readers. Thankfully, I am one of those types!
ReplyDelete