Friday, February 15, 2013

Review: The Murmurings by Carly Anne West

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The Murmurings
Carly Anne West
Genre: YA Thriller
Publication date: March 5th 2013
by Simon Pulse

A teen girl starts hearing the same voices that drove her sister to commit suicide in this creepy, suspenseful novel.

Everyone thinks Sophie’s sister, Nell, went crazy. After all, she heard strange voices that drove her to commit suicide. But Sophie doesn’t believe that Nell would take her own life, and she’s convinced that Nell’s doctor knows more than he’s letting on.

As Sophie starts to piece together Nell’s last days, every lead ends in a web of lies. And the deeper Sophie digs, the more danger she’s in—because now she’s hearing the same haunting whispers. Sophie’s starting to think she’s going crazy too. Or worse, that maybe she’s not….

*A copy was provided by Simon & Schuster for review*

 

This cover…

…She is looking into my soul!! *rocks back and forth*

This cover is going to give any reader the expectation of a major creep-fest, and it does start out pretty fantastic on that front, hooking you from the first few pages. It’s bizarre and freaky, the MC seeing things from the corner of her eye and hearing unwelcome mutterings. It definitely gave me the heeby-jeebies. Along the way, however, I did feel like the book veered a little too off course for me, trapped in a web of Takers, Seers, and other explanations behind the story. There was also the lack of character development that stopped me from being one hundred percent immersed into it all. Furthermore, the romance is one I did not care for. I feel the book would have been better off without it. If I based it just on the creepy, though, it would be getting a 4!

As far as characters go, I liked Sophie well enough–although I did forget her name within minutes of finishing the book. To me she’s what I consider a surface character. She’s good for the story, she fills her role, but there isn’t much more to her. With this superficial personality I don’t feel like I really got to know her. In turn, this affected the romance in the book even further I’m quite sure, which is a part I didn’t particularly enjoy either. The way they meet and “connect”, the way they interact, even the way they kiss it all felt out of place. I’m not sure if it was my impatience towards wanting to move along and get more creepy happenings, but I don’t even understand how they got to be together. Suddenly, he was just there. Then poof, we’ve got a romantic subplot. Even though it wasn’t an insta-love in the sense that they were madly in love within days, the connection and the chemistry missed its mark for me.

Oh the murmurings! Whispers and strange mutterings, unable to understand what’s being said, feeling breath on your neck, mirrors that start to shimmer and move like liquid, seeing something from the corner of your eye; this is all pretty disturbing. I have to give props for this book’s creepy factor. While it wasn’t as constant as I was hoping due to the story kind of wandering off, this book has some great spine-chilling moments that gives its reader a bit of a rush. Those were my favorite parts hands down, and the way it’s played out in the plot is interesting enough with a unique way about it. It’s different from what I was expecting, though, it being a lore rather than unexplained phenomenon messing with your mind–which you gotta admit is much funner. Either way, a creepy book is what we have, it’s just unfortunate there isn’t much more to it than that.

For fans of thrillers, The Murmurings brings us an ominous mental institution with questionable doctors, and patients who are suffering a terrible curse. Its potential was bigger than its execution, had it had stronger characters and a tighter plot, but the book is great for an entertainingly eerie read.
 

3 Hot Espressos

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Giselle

Canadian blogger, wife, mother, coffee lover, and sarcastic at heart! She has had a love for all things bookish since before Amazon and eReaders existed *le gasp*. You can also find her organizing tours and other fun things at Xpresso Book Tours.

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22 Responses to “Review: The Murmurings by Carly Anne West”

  2. Amy

    Aww I was really hoping this one was going to be crazy awesome!! I actually didn’t request in on Edelweiss because I didn’t think I had time for it, but I really wanted to read it. Now I’m not as excited. I might eventually pick it up though. Fab review chicky!!

  3. Savannah Bookswithbite

    I liked this book! Of course, I love psychological thrillers and when you began to hear voices..it intrigues me as to where its coming from. Really surprised by the supernatural twist in the end though.

  5. Nick

    I had high hopes for this book so I’m upset to hear that it’s not as awesome as you expected it. I feel like the lack of character development and the strange almost instant-romance would put me off. At least the creepy factor is well done!
    Thanks for the honest review, Giselle! 🙂

  10. Sam

    I can see why romance in a book like this might hinder the creepy. Plus Sophie sounds far too much like the hundred of other forgettable characters floating around in my head. Still, I’m glad this was decent enough to get a 3. 🙂 Lovely review, Giselle!

  15. Renae M.

    That whole forgetting the main characters name immediately after finishing the book? It happens to me SO OFTEN. Glad I’m not the only one! Well, I definitely like the creepy aspect this book has to offer, though I’m disappointed you didn’t like it more—I was really looking forward to this one. Oh well!

  17. Bellas Bookshelf

    I had high hopes too. I will still check this bad boy out, but I know what its like to get your hopes up and then have them dashed to bits 🙁
    On a lighter note I am enjoying Barbie Girl. I’m not snowed in anymore.
    If our street didnt get plowed I would of been in said mental hospital! lolz.
    We were stuck in 5ft of snow for 3 days!!
    Anywho, thanks for the review Gigi 🙂

  18. Aneeqah

    *clutches heart* MY SOUL. CREEPY GIRL IS LOOKING INTO MY SOUL.

    Aaaaanyways, I’m a tad bit disappointed that this one doesn’t have more creepiness to it. While the whole muttering thing and people breathing down your neck sounds fantastically creepy, it’s sad that the creepiness isn’t the major focus, especially with a cover like that. The romance definitely seems like it would fall flat for me, as well.

    I’m glad that you managed to at least like this one, Giselle! Hopefully I’ll have a bit more luck with it! <3

  20. Shooting Stars Mag

    Aw, bummer it didn’t quite live up to that awesome summary (but I do love the cover!) I think more books need to leave out the romance. I wouldn’t have read this summary and expected one, so it probably isn’t needed.

  21. Kris C

    The summary and cover are chilling. It’s too bad that the story doesn’t flesh out the creepy factor enough. I love a good thriller that has me on the edge from beginning to end.

  22. Alexa Y.

    Ooh intriguing! This book (and its cover) does sound creepy, and I’m glad there are some creepy moments to enjoy (if it’s possible to enjoy creepy moments, that is!). I’m sad that the characters weren’t really stellar though, as I’ve always considered that important in the books I read.