Review: Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst

Title: Conjured

Author: Sarah Beth Durst

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Publication Date: 9.3.2013

Pages: 368

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Series: No

Source: ARC from a friend

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Eve has a new home, a new face, and a new name—but no memories of her past. She’s been told that she's in a witness protection program. That she escaped a dangerous magic-wielding serial killer who still hunts her. The only thing she knows for sure is that there is something horrifying in her memories the people hiding her want to access—and there is nothing they won’t say—or do—to her to get her to remember.

At night she dreams of a tattered carnival tent and buttons being sewn into her skin. But during the day, she shelves books at the local library, trying to not let anyone know that she can do things—things like change the color of her eyes or walk through walls. When she does use her strange powers, she blacks out and is drawn into terrifying visions, returning to find that days or weeks have passed—and she’s lost all short-term memories. Eve must find out who and what she really is before the killer finds her—but the truth may be more dangerous than anyone could have ever imagined. 

Review:

I will never think of a circus the same again! I honestly have never read a book quite like this. Nor have I ever read anything about a circus. This book is a confusing, bewildering ride on a never ending coaster paralleled with Inception.

I have got to give it to Sarah in the way she writes. I was reading the beginning, and I promise you I was giving this book the stink eye while reading with my cocked sideways. I had no ideas what was going on or who was who and why they were there. But all of that confusion and ???? popping up over your head is perfect with Eve. It allows you to become her and understand her struggles. You learn with her. And as her pieces fall together, you slowly out them together in your head.  With the way she wrote this, you are literally in Eve's shoes. It allows you to form a "relationship" with her.

Not only was Eve made to become a part of the reader, but so was everyone else. Sarah put so much emotion into characters that it was actually quite touching. I'm pretty sure I had a stray tear at the end. These characters are easily imaginable. And that's something I love about books.

I couldn't put this down (I'm surprised I didn't get in trouble at work). It was so riveting and intriguing I just couldn't stop until I was done. I would love to hear more about Eve, Zach, and The Triplets as I call them. Second one? Maybe, please. 

Buy: Amazon