Blackbrooke [Kindle Edition]

I reviewed a complimentary e-book copy provided in return for my fair and impartial review.

Review of Blackbrooke by Emma Silver
5 stars

I quickly became totally engrossed in this book, and by the midpoint I was turning pages almost faster than my e-reader could handle. "Fast-paced" has become a trite cliché, but believe me, if you're looking for that, "Blackbrooke" most definitely has it, along with plotting that twists around like a cobra's coil and an unforgettable cliffhanger ending. So thankful this is only the first of a set!

"Blackbrooke" is not post-apocalyptic, it is fully Apocalyptic, and the Apocalypse has been ongoing for centuries, and what a horrible situation it is. I kept pondering, Why doesn't the British Government step in, why keep throwing money at the Village, why not do something to protect the inhabitants? Instead, the Village is a daytime tourist infestation; and at dusk, everyone remains inside, locked in behind electronic steel shutters operating on a timer, according to the time of year and the length of the days.

Everyone above the age of eighteen has agreed to a set of Rules; but no one under that age even knows what the rules are, except for a few minor rules involving hair, hair colour, and so forth. The dangers are the "Crits" or Creatures, the four classes of almost Supernatural animals which live surrounding the Village, and which rule the night. Humans certainly don't, because humans are fair prey.

If you love urban fantasy (or semi-urban fantasy), paranormal (and yes, plenty of romance here too!), don't wait to grab "Blackbrooke." It's a winner!

Absolutely brilliant book. I was totally blown away by it. I loved the story and the way it was written. I was in tears several times throughout the book, I was angry, shocked at times and laughed at some of the interactions of the characters in the story.

I found Liberty to be a really likeable person and her friends were a good mix. I didn't like how her friends acted towards Cassius but that's generally what kids and teens do.

The Rules and the division of boys and girls were a little perplexing to begin with, throw in the Crits and you've got a great backdrop to the story.

I was disgusted by the pact that the parents had with the Queens and hope that in the next book some of the parents get what they deserve. I couldn't believe that the Government didn't do anything to get rid of the Crits. And I was really shocked at the end of the book. Cassius being alive, just about, Liberty being made to work for the government instead of going free as was promised and Gabriel being alive.

I really can't wait for book two. I highly recommend this to anyone.

Horror is not a genre I've read much of, but I might read a lot more if it's as well written as this one- though it was the mystery that grabbed me from the beginning. Making parallels with teenage suicide seemed like a good idea at one point, but not at others. Questions piled up on questions that hadn't quite been answered, and kept me guessing. What exactly was the `walk out' I wanted to know? What had happened in the town that made it so hidebound by those tightly restricting rules? And what made someone manage to escape those strictures and yet could still live there? The end was breathtaking, and I'll be reaching for the second in the series.