The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
Book 1 in The Darkest Minds trilogy
Genre: YA dystopian
Pages: 488
Format: paperback
Source: bought
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Another strike against the hype. I tried literally for days to get through this book, but I couldn’t. One more unpopular opinion to add to my record: I DNFed The Darkest Minds 51% through (253 pages). 😐

the plot

I saw someone else describe this book as a dystopian version of Disney’s Frozen, and I think that’s accurate. I love dystopians and I love Frozen, but I just couldn’t get into this. The plot felt really slow and not much really happened. It’s more of a dystopian road trip than anything else, at least to the point I got to. 😐

the characters

Of the four main characters, I loved one, liked one, was indifferent toward another, and disliked the last. In that order, the characters were: Zu, Liam, Ruby, Chubs.

Zu was absolutely adorable and I felt so bad for her. I wanted to keep her safe and take her shopping and give her a hug. ❤

Liam was nice, and I thought his awkwardness was kind of cute and amusing, but I don’t see what makes others love him so much. 😐

I didn’t see anything special about Ruby, and I didn’t like how dishonest she was with the others. I could understand why: she’s the Elsa of the story. But what was she expecting? Zu was one of the “dangerous ones” too, but she got it under control and Liam and Chubs loved her like a little sister. I just don’t understand her. >.<

And I disliked Chubs basically from the moment he was first introduced. He had a really bad attitude and despised Ruby for no reason. I get that in the world they live in, they can’t really trust people. But if she escaped a camp and didn’t even know the year, wouldn’t that classify as genuine? I didn’t understand him, either. 😐

the setting

However, I will give Alexandra props on the dystopian world she created. At first glance, it’s fairly typical, but a few descriptions and some imagination made me realize: it’s scarily realistic. It felt like something our modern world could eventually turn into. -.-

the relationships

One of the most loved things about this book for many people is the bond between Liam, Chubs, and Zu, and eventually Ruby. People say they’re like a little, improvised family, and I can agree with that. But it’s hard to like a family when you only like two of the members. Maybe if I liked Ruby and Chubs I would like the dynamic between the three/four of them. I don’t, though, so…I can’t. 😐

the twists

Unfortunately, there are no twists to speak of. There was an escape scene and a car chase that resulted in a bit of a fight, and a flashback of something else, but none of that was crazily intense or nerve-racking. I kept hoping something would happen that would really pull me in, but no luck. 😐

overall

So, sadly, The Darkest Minds isn’t for me. The hype was too much, and the slow story didn’t click with me as I read. To be honest, Zu, Liam, and the world-building are all that kept me from giving a lower rating. 😦

my rating: 2 out of 5 stars

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** Note: I wasn’t trying to be harsh in any way. If you love this book, that’s awesome. If you want to read this book, go for it. You might like it even though I didn’t. Don’t take my opinions personally. 🙂

Have you read this book? Is it on your TBR? If you have read it, what did you think? I’d love to know! 🙂

I might start Truthwitch tonight, but I might also save it for in the morning and play Splatoon. 😉 I hope you’re all having a fabulous day/night! ❤

Until next time… stay fresh! (anyone get that reference? haha.)

Come visit me! 😀