Hidden Deep
(Book 1 of the Hidden Trilogy)
by Amy Patrick
Release Date:
03/23/15
Oxford South
Press
319 pages
Summary from
Goodreads:
Give in to the
Glamour…
Sixteen-year-old Ryann Carroll has just run into the guy who saved her life ten years ago. You might think she'd be happy to see him again. Not exactly. She's a bit underdressed (as in skinny-dipping) and he's not supposed to exist.
After her father's affair, all Ryann wants is to escape the family implosion fallout and find a little peace. She also wouldn't mind a first date that didn't suck, but she's determined not to end up like her mom: vulnerable, betrayed, destroyed. Ryann's recently moved back to her childhood home in rural Mississippi, the same place where ten years earlier she became lost in the woods overnight and nearly died.
She's still irresistibly drawn to those woods. There she encounters the boy who kept her from freezing to death that long ago winter night and was nowhere to be seen when rescuers arrived. He's still mysterious, but now all grown-up and gorgeous, too. And the more she's with him, the greater the threat he poses to Ryann's strict policy-- never want someone more than he wants you.
Seventeen-year-old Lad knows the law of his people all too well: Don't get careless and Don't get caught. It's allowed his race to live undetected in this world for thousands of years, mentioned only in flawed and fading folklore…
Lad's never been able to forget about Ryann since that night ten years ago. When he sees her again, his fascination re-ignites and becomes a growing desire that tempts him to break all the rules. He's not even supposed to talk to a human, much less fall in love with one.
And the timing is atrocious. The Assemblage is coming, the rift between the Light and Dark is widening, and mysterious celebrity fan pods are becoming more and more widespread and influential. Lad may have to trade his own chance at happiness to keep the humans, especially Ryann, blissfully unaware and safe.
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Review: If you have been around the blog for awhile, then you know that I pick a lot of the books I read, especially the ones I read for blog tours, based on the covers. Recently, I have realized this is probably not the best method to go about things (I realized it before now, obviously, but I didn't follow through with it). When I received the email for this book, I am glad that I scrolled down and actually read the synopsis because that is what really grabbed my attention. The cover is nice, but that synopsis will get you! I enjoyed reading a book that was outside what I normally read, and while I did not love everything about it, there were definitely some amazing things about it!
The main character in this book was likeable enough, I think, though a little bit immature and naive at times. I guess that teen girls can have those moments, but Ryann seemed to push it a bit for me at times. I do like how we know something about the past already, and how that brings in a huge part of the story for us. The two main characters already know each other, at least in some way, so it is interesting to see them reunite and develop into something more. Lad was a great character as well. Definitely likeable and charming, which is something that I enjoy very much in a male lead. There is also Nox, who brings some complexity to the story, and I am very interested to see the part he plays in the following books.
I did really enjoy the fantasy elements of the book as well. I do not read a lot of books with any sort of supernatural characters, so it was neat to see that occur. I also thought that a lot of good, unique traits were given to the elves in this story that we might not see in other stories that had the same elements. While fantasy and supernatural still are not my favorite genre, I found that I did not mind them when it came to reading this book.
The plot was very well thought out as well, though I did feel some times there was too much information; too many subplots that at times it was a bit difficult to keep up with everything that was happening. I think that a few things could have been taken out of the plot and the story would have still been just as good. The writing was quite good as well, though I did think that there were some points when the descriptions were incredibly repetitive, and that did get a bit obnoxious for me a couple of times. It was never too bad that it caused me to stop reading altogether, though. The epilogue was also very good, with a wonderful cliffhanger that has me looking forward to the next book.
I would definitely recommend this read to other fantasy fans, especially if they are interested in supernatural elements. I will also say that it helps if you're a fan of insta-love because you will definitely find that here (it's hit or miss for me). I think, overall, this book was an enjoyable, interesting read.
The main character in this book was likeable enough, I think, though a little bit immature and naive at times. I guess that teen girls can have those moments, but Ryann seemed to push it a bit for me at times. I do like how we know something about the past already, and how that brings in a huge part of the story for us. The two main characters already know each other, at least in some way, so it is interesting to see them reunite and develop into something more. Lad was a great character as well. Definitely likeable and charming, which is something that I enjoy very much in a male lead. There is also Nox, who brings some complexity to the story, and I am very interested to see the part he plays in the following books.
I did really enjoy the fantasy elements of the book as well. I do not read a lot of books with any sort of supernatural characters, so it was neat to see that occur. I also thought that a lot of good, unique traits were given to the elves in this story that we might not see in other stories that had the same elements. While fantasy and supernatural still are not my favorite genre, I found that I did not mind them when it came to reading this book.
The plot was very well thought out as well, though I did feel some times there was too much information; too many subplots that at times it was a bit difficult to keep up with everything that was happening. I think that a few things could have been taken out of the plot and the story would have still been just as good. The writing was quite good as well, though I did think that there were some points when the descriptions were incredibly repetitive, and that did get a bit obnoxious for me a couple of times. It was never too bad that it caused me to stop reading altogether, though. The epilogue was also very good, with a wonderful cliffhanger that has me looking forward to the next book.
I would definitely recommend this read to other fantasy fans, especially if they are interested in supernatural elements. I will also say that it helps if you're a fan of insta-love because you will definitely find that here (it's hit or miss for me). I think, overall, this book was an enjoyable, interesting read.
Rating: 3.0 / 5.0
About the Author
Amy is a two-time Golden Heart finalist (2013 and
2014). She lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two sons and actually
craves the heat and humidity of Mississippi, where she grew up. She's been a
professional singer and news anchor and currently narrates audio books as well
as working as a station host for a Boston TV station.
Author Links:
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Like you I am someone who ends up choosing books because of the covers as well and don't often read the synopsis. I doubt I will ever change xD But yes, this sounds like a good one and I like the cover as well!
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