March 27, 2012
Balzer + Bray
Young Adult | Contemporary Paranormal
Slide #1
Pages: 256
Source/Format: Publisher/ARC
Rating: ★★★
Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.
Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.
Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.
Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.
Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.
Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.
Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.
Review:
Slide has an
interesting premise; I love that Vee is able to slide into other people’s
bodies, and then when she slides into a killer’s body… dun dun dun. However,
the execution behind the premise makes for a very predictable read.
I liked Vee as a character. Her voice pulled me in right away
and hooked me. However, as I read, the book sort of fell apart. Vee doesn’t
pick up on everything until the entire picture is pulled up, which annoyed me,
a lot actually, because I figured out all the twists waaay before they came to
light.
The mystery is a bit clichéd and predictable. While I
understand the killer’s motivation, I didn’t QUITE get it. REALLY? You’re
destroying peoples’ lives over THAT? The secondary characters were a little
blah, and seemed more 2D than 3D. The high schoolers sounded like high
schoolers, but I didn’t like Maddie and Amber at all—especially for what they
were doing to Sophie. It annoyed me immensely. If you’re friends with somebody,
you don’t try to ruin them because they like a guy you like.
I think readers are supposed to like Rollins, but I didn’t.
I hated his very being. We never really
know why he was pulling away from Vee… and it was SO OBVIOUS he’s in love with
Vee (of course! In YA, there’s always the best friend who is in love with the
main character.)
But I’m SO TORN over this book. It hooked me right away and
I read it all the way through in the same day. It was an emotional
rollercoaster of liking it and being disappointed. I think what really did it
in for me was the ending. I just didn’t LIKE the motivation behind the killer.
I will be reading the sequel, because that has a premise I’m
just so freaking curious about. I wonder how Hathaway will execute it.
What say you?
What say you?
That sounds like an awesome premise!!! It's too bad it fell apart in the execution. Le sigh. I was also hoping you'd say it was a standalone. I wish there were more standalones.
ReplyDeleteActually... the more I think about it... I might have to pick it up based on that premise and see if I agree on the execution. How much of a series book is it? Can I read the first book and walk away?
ReplyDeleteDo pick it up! I know some people LOVED this book, and my problem is I grew up reading tons of mysteries and trying to piece the clues together--I guess twists people say they never saw coming.
DeleteAs for it being a series book, it's very much a standalone book. Most--if not all--of the threads are all tied up at the end.
I love mysteries so I really want to read this...even though I keep seeing mixed reviews! I'm sorry this was a disappointment, hope your next read is better.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm dying to see what you'll think of GRAVE MERCY!
Wendy @ The Midnight Garden
I love mysteries too, so boo!
Deletehaha, of course you are! I'm a little sad I haven't been able to read it in a few days! Really good so far. :)
I like the premise of this book, but I'm worried about its predictability. I like when a book doesn't do what I think it's going to do, or goes in a different direction from what I expect. Where's the fun in predicting all the major plot points?
ReplyDeleteNot sure if I want to read this one, but you're review is great and super helpful!
Yeah, the murder thing was a bit... disappointing in the end. Especially how things were solved and ... gah. It was just so flat. :( I wish we'd have gotten a better ending to the mystery part, but I'm super curious about the sequel.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised I didn't fall for Rollins! Or even Zane. I was just meh towards them. They were likable but nothing more. o:
Great review!
This is the first review that has not been a raving one. I am very curious. I have not read it myself. Great review.
ReplyDelete- FABR Steph