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ebook, 432 pages
Expected publication: September 16th 2014 by Roaring Brook Press
Series: The Vault of Dreamers #1
Source: Netgalley, for review from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
From Goodreads:
From the author of the Birthmarked trilogy comes a fast-paced, psychologically thrilling novel about what happens when your dreams are not your own. The Forge School is the most prestigious arts school in the country. The secret to its success: every moment of the students’ lives is televised as part of the insanely popular Forge Show, and the students’ schedule includes twelve hours of induced sleep meant to enhance creativity. But when first year student Rosie Sinclair skips her sleeping pill, she discovers there is something off about Forge. In fact, she suspects that there are sinister things going on deep below the reaches of the cameras in the school. What’s worse is, she starts to notice that the edges of her consciousness do not feel quite right. And soon, she unearths the ghastly secret that the Forge School is hiding—and what it truly means to dream there.
This book was one of those that I simply could not put down. It kept me up well into the night, long past when I should have gone to sleep. I was completely immersed in it, from beginning to end. Since I was reading an ebook, I was absolutely floored when I realized it was over 400 pages, because it simply did not feel long in the least. It sped by, in a good way.
The setting of the book is The Forge School, which is both an elite art school and a reality show that allows viewers to decide who stays to continue their education and who gets sent packing. The students are filmed 12 hours a day, and the other 12 are designated for sleep. Is it creepy that this seems completely plausible to me? It did. It sounded like something that I could seriously imagine happening in the not-so-distant future. As if high school wasn’t stressful enough, the students/contestants have “blip scores” that will ultimately decide who stays and who goes. The students are constantly obsessing over the scores, since attending this school is a seemingly amazing opportunity. Of course, rarely are things what they seem.
The main character, Rosie, is quite likable, though I would have liked to delve a little deeper into her personality. She comes from a very rough upbringing in Arizona, and for her to be at the Forge School is an opportunity that she doesn’t want to squander. But Rosie is also very curious by nature, and willing to take risks, which of course lead to her making some startling discoveries about the school and its leaders.
Rosie was a bit of a loner when we first meet her, but she ends up making some friends and even finding a bit of a romantic interest in Linus, who is on the kitchen staff at the school. Her new group of friends aren’t particularly fleshed out, which is fine (I think it would have added more confusion to the story), but one group member, Burnham, has more of a storyline than the others and is quite likable. Rosie’s family is shown through some phone conversations, and of course some of Rosie’s own thoughts about them. While we don’t know a ton about them, we do get an idea via their limited communication of what Rosie dealt with growing up.
The plot gets exciting and creepy as Rosie starts to skip her sleeping pill and try to figure out what is going on at the school. I won’t get into it because obviously I don’t want to spoil things, but I didn’t know where the plot was headed at times (which was a huge bonus for me, and kept me wanting to keep reading).
The only thing for me that was missing was more character/world development. There were times that I felt like I needed to know much more about Rosie than I did so that I could connect better to her. I also wish I knew a bit more about the world around Rosie, the world that is fine with watching teens at school and voting on their fates, a world that allows some pretty intense stuff to take place without accountability. Perhaps it would have seemed more believable if we’d had more information.
At the end, things get really crazy. The book’s ending is very fast paced, and ends in a huge cliffhanger, one that left me reeling. When I read this book, I had assumed erroneously that it was a standalone, and I was mad. Like really, really mad. But after looking into it, on Caragh O’Brien’s website, she confirms that it is a trilogy, and I felt much better about the whole thing.
I definitely will be reading the next book, as I cannot wait to find out what is going on and how things will play out for Rosie, Linus, Burnham, and The Forge School in general.
This sounds freakishly awesome! I confess…I was kind of turned off just because of the whole “dreamers” thing in the title. Ohhh, if I had a dollar for every time I heard of a book about dreamers. *grinds teeth* BUT that doesn’t mean they’re all the same! So I shouldn’t be so judgy. And the cover is kind of awesome. 😉 But the plot’s exciting AND creepy? I need to read this.
I love the cover too! And I think, after reading, that it fits quite well with the book. At first I didn’t “get it”, since it is supposed to be about some art school, but it makes sense later. I think it’s creepy, and I think it has the potential to get much creepier and weirder, which I love! The ending really threw me, it upped the creep factor a ton!
“The only thing for me that was missing was more character/world development. “
I agree Shannon! I really enjoyed this one as well, I thought the premise and the whole setup of the story was really fascinating, but I would have liked more information as we went a long. Especially the end! THE END! So cruel 😉 I will definitely be picking the second book up as well, can’t wait!
I agree, it may be one of the cruelest endings in my reading history for sure! I was like, so confused, and I am still not completely sure what happened! I am glad you liked it too, and we can hope for some better development in the next book 🙂
Publishers Weekly had a webcast yesterday titled The Next Chapter: YA Authors Reveal New Directions featuring Julie Kagawa (Talon), Caragh O’Brien (The Vault of Dreamers) and Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis (The Map to Everywhere). After listinening to the authors talking about their upcoming books, I wanted to start reading them all right away especially The Vault of Dreamers. Hearing that there is a real cliff hanger, I might try to hold out until the series is finished and read the books back-to-back.
Oh wow, that sounds like a fun webcast! I want to read those books too. And I totally know what you mean, cliffhangers are rough! I love when I am “late to the party” on a series and get to read the whole thing without having to worry about them. Though, I admit, sometimes I do enjoy a cliffhanger! (Though this one is pretty crazy!)
Oh god, not another cliffhanger! I can’t be dealing with any more cliffhangers. Thanks for the advanced warning, will definitely steer clear of this one until the sequel is out. Thanks for the great review 🙂
It’s not a bad idea, this is a pretty gnarly cliffhanger. It was one of those “what just happened to me!?” cliffhangers. And when I thought it was a standalone.. well things almost got heated!
I’m just about to start this one, so good to hear that you enjoyed it!
Yay, hope you enjoy it!!
This sounds pretty awesome and mysterious and like something I need in my life even if it has a big cliffhanger ending! Can’t wait to get to this one now! =)
I hope you enjoy it! It is definitely unique, and I am excited to see what happens in the next book!
This sounds absolutely wonderful Shannon! 😀 I love the sound of the mystery aspect of the plot and the dystopian elements as well. It’s a shame that the world-building and your connection to Rose was a bit lacking, but otherwise it sounds pretty darn good! If you say a book keeps you thrilled, I’m going to trust you on that comment! 😉 Definitely going to try and get a copy of this! 😀 Thanks for sharing and intriguing me Shannon! BRILLIANT review! <3
~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf
I seriously couldn’t put it down! I was genuinely surprised at how long it actually was, because it felt very short, which is awesome in my opinion! And I am hoping that Rosie’s character gets more fleshed out in the sequel, fingers crossed!
Ooh, I am SO glad you enjoyed this one! I was intrigued from the first time I heard about this one!! I plan to read it soon as well, and your review just got me that much more hyped! 😉
Aw yay, I hope you enjoy it too!
I’ve been wanting to read this, but I haven’t managed to get my hands on a copy yet. It looks even better after your review. I hate to be continued endings, but at least I’ve been warned ahead of time. That also might be why there’s a lack of world building, since it’s a trilogy. Nice review, glad you liked it.