A Long, Long Sleep...
A heartbreaking psychological drama with traces of the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty, that goes way beyond the normally used and abused clichés, focusing instead on one girl's psychological path to recovery.
In a way this reminds me of another novel, _ This Is Not A Test_ in the sense that you're expecting something, but in the end, you end up with a completely different tale.
In fact, both these two stories have a somewhat dystopic post-apocalyptic setting, but in the end, what really matters are the character's psyches. What has made them turn out the way they are? Can they change?
Can they overpass what has been done to them?
Do they want to?
This means that in this novel, the character of Rose may share some resemblances with Sleeping Beauty's "fairy tale" character,_ namely her sleeping patterns o_O _ but do not expect a fairy tale out of this story. That is not what the story is about.
What this is, is one girl's struggle to find her place in a world, that has moved on while she has been kept asleep.
This had a very strong beginning. The characters and the story were believable enough.
The writing is concise, and to the point, with occasional traces of lyricism, but never entering the purple prose domain.
Another point that I especially liked was how the author was able to keep us in the dark _for so long! _ regarding what had actually happened with Rose, making her spent sixty two years asleep.
And even when we finally find out what actually happened, we're still not ready for the full truth of it.
*Keep some tissues at hand*
The story however has a phase in which I felt my attention wavering for a bit.
You see, for awhile, we are left to think that this is going to turn into the typical YA book in which the character gets obsessed over a boy...but in reality, the truth is much more complex than that.
I will not give any more spoilers regarding this _ in fact the only reason I am mentioning this to begin with, is in the hope that this may avoid some "misguided" DNF's _, I will just say that the author really knew what she was doing, and that everything is explained in the end.
The last part of the story is actually brutal, because the reality is so much worse than what Rose could have expected.
I did intend to write a short review, but as you can see, in the end I wasn't able to.
But, if someone were to ask me to define this book in one word, heartbreaking, would definitely be my first choice.
In the end, I will just say that I am really glad I read this book _ even if it broke my heart _ and that I am anxiously waiting for the moment in which I will have the sequel, No Life But This in my hands.
I can't wait to read more about these characters.
Buy " A Long, Long Sleep"
Pre-order " No Life But This"
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