Book Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

---

4.75/5 stars

---

Goodreads description: 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.’ to

---

For a long time, I had one of those reading slumps and it wasn’t fun at all. Whatever I would read, I found it very uninteresting and on weekends when I would normally read, I didn’t read at all.

However, what I needed was a very good and fast-paced book that would make me want start reading again. Ladies and gentlemen, I must say, The Darkest Minds is a book that got me out of the reading slump. Dear Alexandra Bracken, I thank you so much.

I’m not a big fan of dystopia but I still went in and I ended up liking it. It sure as hell made the whole genre something that I will for sure return to in the near future.

As for the plot, I liked that it was fast-paced and that things happened. The fact that you couldn’t trust any of the characters was something very interesting. Characters aren’t black and white, they’ve got their own issues and it shows us that nobody’s perfect.

This is dark because of all the bad things that happen in the world but also very light and emotional because even though a lot of bad things had happen to them in the past, those kids still have hope that future will be brighter.

Now lets say something about the most interesting part of the book in my opinion: Romance!

I liked the fact that Ruby and Liam liked each other and the both of them knew they were in love but they were so subtle about it. Their conversations were so beautifully written and I loved the romance. It wasn’t pushed but very natural and in the end, swoon-worthy.

One of the most interesting characters for me was Clancy. On the outside, very elegant and brave young man but when you scratch at the surface you see that his mind is very disturbing and that he isn’t a hero he presents himself to be. I like when villains turn out to be good but the opposite has happened with Clancy: I thought he was good but he became a villain.

The ending was something I kinda predicted would happen but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t shocked or heartbroken. That’s why I instantly picked up the second book and am reading it at the moment.

All in one, a great paranormal, dystopian book that I recommend to absolutely everyone!

---

The Darkest Minds: http://www.bookdepository.com/The-Darkest-Minds-Alexandr-Bracken/9781423159322?ref=grid-view