Book Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Book Title: The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Series: The Darkest Minds #1
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Genres: Sci-Fi, Dystopia, Fantasy, Romance, YA

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When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that had killed most of America’s children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who have escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living.

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I’ve always wanted to read this but I haven’t gotten around to buying a copy for myself. Luckily, one of my friends has the entire trilogy so she let me borrow them. Viv, if you’re reading this, I love you.

I don’t know how to fully express my love for this book. Oh. My. God.

I went into this with nothing but hopes of liking it and WOW, I was not disappointed.

I was not expecting most of what happened in the story. I also was sent on a roller coaster of emotions while reading.

You will not believe the amount of times I became so anxious about certain stuff that I will not mention due to spoilers. There even came a point when I literally threw the book, (at my bed of course, wouldn’t want to damage such a beaut especially when it’s not mine) jumped up and down because I was so shocked, scared and anxious all at the same time.

There was never a dull moment in it and a lot was going on for just this one book. I never felt bored, not even the tiniest bit.

Now, my favorite character has got to be Ruby. Some people didn’t like her as much as I did, they say she was really annoying and whiny but that was what I liked about her. She’s not numb or cold-hearted to everything right away nor is she brave and kickass at the start of the story. Ruby is a flawed character: afraid and vulnerable and fragile.

Let’s be honest here. If most of your friends died from a disease you somehow survived from, then you discover your freak abilities, but then you get locked up in a hellhole brutal “rehabilitation camp”, and you’re freaking 10 years old, wouldn’t you be scared shitless? Because I know I would.

I don’t often like love stories when it comes to dystopian and/or sci-fi books. But the romance in this one—it just tickled me in all the right places. It sounds weird, but I can’t explain it any other way.

It took me a week to finish this, not because I didn’t like it but because I can’t find time to read. This is definitely one of those books that I need to force myself to put down because I would’ve kept on reading all day which is totally fine if you ask me but my mother believes otherwise.

Would I recommend this?

This has earned it’s spot in my favorites shelf on Goodreads. I recommend this book to everyone, especially if you like young adult sci-fi & dystopian books.

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Have you read The Darkest Minds? Is it on your TBR? Let’s chat!

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