Review for Sanctuary Bay, written by Laura Burns, Melinda Metz
This was nothing like I had expected.
Sarah Merson has lost her parents when her home was invaded, and only she was able to escape the assailants. After years going from one family to another, having the worst experiences, she was invited to an elite school with an immersion program. This meant she was to live there for two years receiving top grade education, which would increase her chances of getting into college. To make the deal sweeter, she actually enjoys her roommates and feels she can finally trust people for the first time since her parents death.
I confess I wanted to read this book because the description teased me more than informed the content. Half the story keeps the rhythm. We arrive at this beautiful school, filled with rich but friendly people, and I'm not exaggerating when I say this reminded me of Hogwarts. This isn't a witchcraft school but it felt magical and warm, which was the ideal for Sarah, who was more scarred than Harry Potter. So what happens? The thriller you feel building on in the details-they live on an island that had been both an asylum and a POW prison? And people forget important events or even fail to notice them?-keeps you turning a page after the other.
I confess I didn't buy much of Sarah but this didn't irritate me. The romance sounded like someone read the story and said, "you know, this lacks some love interest," and the author(s) edited it in afterward. It not only didn't play any part in the events but the two boys around the MC's life didn't seem meant for her. Which was also okay. I should add I found all the characters, or at least the non-evil ones, quite likable. The villain(s) was(were) more on the plain type of characters.
What really matters with a plot as such is whether development lives up to expectation. Here I'd say it surpassed what I realistically expected of a Young Adult book but it was only average when it came to my optimistic expectations. You have a resolution, you don't want to kill anyone for it but there were still issues. First, the explanations lacked depth. And second, but somehow connected, the ending was to quick-paced in a bad way-to the point I wondered, did she have a page limit? Or a time limit?
Also, even though it does have a conclusion to the main story, I'd say there is a sequel at least planned. As I feel I understood enough, I'm not sure I want to read it, even if more books could give more depth to what is happening-what would be of Harry Potter if it weren't seven books?-but I do want to follow the authors' next stories. They have that something different we always appreciate on our YA's.
Sarah Merson has lost her parents when her home was invaded, and only she was able to escape the assailants. After years going from one family to another, having the worst experiences, she was invited to an elite school with an immersion program. This meant she was to live there for two years receiving top grade education, which would increase her chances of getting into college. To make the deal sweeter, she actually enjoys her roommates and feels she can finally trust people for the first time since her parents death.
I confess I wanted to read this book because the description teased me more than informed the content. Half the story keeps the rhythm. We arrive at this beautiful school, filled with rich but friendly people, and I'm not exaggerating when I say this reminded me of Hogwarts. This isn't a witchcraft school but it felt magical and warm, which was the ideal for Sarah, who was more scarred than Harry Potter. So what happens? The thriller you feel building on in the details-they live on an island that had been both an asylum and a POW prison? And people forget important events or even fail to notice them?-keeps you turning a page after the other.
I confess I didn't buy much of Sarah but this didn't irritate me. The romance sounded like someone read the story and said, "you know, this lacks some love interest," and the author(s) edited it in afterward. It not only didn't play any part in the events but the two boys around the MC's life didn't seem meant for her. Which was also okay. I should add I found all the characters, or at least the non-evil ones, quite likable. The villain(s) was(were) more on the plain type of characters.
What really matters with a plot as such is whether development lives up to expectation. Here I'd say it surpassed what I realistically expected of a Young Adult book but it was only average when it came to my optimistic expectations. You have a resolution, you don't want to kill anyone for it but there were still issues. First, the explanations lacked depth. And second, but somehow connected, the ending was to quick-paced in a bad way-to the point I wondered, did she have a page limit? Or a time limit?
Also, even though it does have a conclusion to the main story, I'd say there is a sequel at least planned. As I feel I understood enough, I'm not sure I want to read it, even if more books could give more depth to what is happening-what would be of Harry Potter if it weren't seven books?-but I do want to follow the authors' next stories. They have that something different we always appreciate on our YA's.