The wilderness - Review

The wilderness by C.J. Harper

The disappeared book two.

Available now

simonandschuster.co.uk 

What's it about?

On the run after the uprising at the Academy, Blake and Kay have ended up with the criminals and the crazies in the place of childhood nightmares, the Wilderness. Here, in a ghost city, they find a bloodthirsty captain training a ruthless Resistance who are everything Blake has hoped for, except for one thing: they're a bunch of kids. Blake thinks he can use the Resistance's plans to get close enough to kill his father, The Leader, ending his brutal and bloody treatment of the underclass. Simple. But what Blake discovers about his father and the devastating methods of the Resistance is anything by simple. Who is controlling the country? And who can he really trust?

My review

I don't know why, but it felt like I waited a million years for this book, when in truth, it was about ten months ago that I read the first, I guess I've just been that excited to read it and luckily it didn't disappoint. The first book, The disappeared, was a great introduction to this world and we got to learn a great deal about it from Blake because he started his life in one part of it and ends up seeing a whole new side to his world when he is forced into an Academy. In The wilderness we see and learn even more when he escapes into the Wilderness and joins the resistence, we literally see the other side of the fence and how people live there and as usual its not all as it seems. I liked the way the story played out and I liked how the book ended, basically I really, really liked it! C.J. Harper is great at telling a story and building up the tension until the final moments.
I have to be honest though, sometimes Blake got on my nerves, he's way to negative about everything and can be pretty big headed and judgemental but his heart is in the right place and his budding relationship with Kay is all kinds of cute so I forgive him because he does at least try to do the right thing. Kay on the other hand I really like, she's a hardass and smart but people always underestimate her because of a limited vocabulary which is a shame but something she can use to her advantage. I also have to mention new guy Ven because I just loved hating him lol He's a total dick out loud but his sarcasm made me laugh and a lot of the time I could see through it, by the end I felt like I could read him, no pun intended!
So, yeah, if you liked the first book then don't miss this because its frigging awesome!

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The disappeared - Review

The disappeared by C.J. Harper

Available now 

simonandschuster.co.uk 

What's it about?

n a future where children are segregated into institutions that range from comfortable “Learning Communities” to prison-like “Local Academies”, seventeen-year-old Jackson is an academic high flyer, living in a top Learning Community and destined for a position in the Leadership. But when he is sent with his best friend Wilson to deliver a package to a factory block, the two boys are attacked, leaving Jackson badly beaten and Wilson dead.

Confused and upset, Jackson returns to his Learning Community only to be dismissed by his teachers who claim not to know him. Sent to an Academy, an institute set up to train factory workers, Jackson finds himself immersed in a world that couldn’t be further removed than the comfortable life he’s used to; a harsh, violent, semi-articulate society where the students have created their own hierarchy based on fighting ability.

Using his wits to survive, Jackson starts to realise that his whole life has been based on half-truths. And in order to survive he needs to expose the lies that surround the Academy and find out the truth about who he really is. As he builds alliances and begins to educate those closest to him, a plan for rebellion and escape gradually comes into shape...

My review

The disappeared was a brilliant debut novel, full of action, mystery and suspense. I really enjoyed discovering the darker side to Jackson's world alongside him and was constantly intrigued to find out more, I wanted to get the bottom of things and make a change just as much as him. Harper has created a great future, dystopic, world where everyone is segregated and oppressed without even realising it. That is, until Jackson comes along, moved from one class to another he notices the differences and realises just how much he was controlled before when he thought he was happy. Rather than keep his head down, he picks at the foundations and is persistent in trying to figure out why things are, how they are, even though he knows it could lead him into trouble. I really like this about him and liked his curious nature. I enjoyed the friendships he made and all the characters in the book.
The plot was paced well and I felt the mystery was revealed with good timing, I didn't get bored of waiting to see what was happening or what would come next and I never got overloaded with info either, it all came out a bit at a time.
I thought this was a stand alone novel but I've just literally found there will be a sequel which I really can't wait for as I'm dying to see what happens next after the ending of the book!

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Nail your books (13)

'Nail your books is a feature started by Cristina at The princess of storyland, where we share our book inspired manicures.

This weeks manicure is inspired by the cover for The disappeared by C.J. Harper.

Here's the cover

And here's my nails

I used, Rimmel 'Black pearl,' Rimmel 'Blue eyed girl,' The new black 'Blue shimmer,' and Barry M white and black nail art pens. Picture is also shown with a base coat, Barry M 'Matte white' as a base colour and a top coat.
Of course I didn't really fancy trying to draw loads of tiny little people so this is my take on the cover and I really like how it came out, I love all the colours mottled together underneath and the lines on top kind of give it a gingham feel.
What do you think?