ARC review: Above by Isla Morley

Book synopsis(via Goodreads):

Blythe Hallowell is sixteen when she is abducted by a survivalist and locked away in an abandoned missile silo in Eudora, Kansas. At first, she focuses frantically on finding a way out, until the harrowing truth of her new existence settles in;the crushing loneliness, the terrifying madness of a captor who believes he is saving her from the end of the world, and the persistent temptation to give up. But nothing prepares Blythe for the burden of raising a child in confinement. Determined to give the boy everything she has lost, she pushes aside the truth about a world he may never see for a myth that just might give meaning to their lives below ground. Years later, their lives are ambushed by an event at once promising and devastating. As Blythes dream of going home hangs in the balance, she faces the ultimate choice&between survival and freedom.

**Many thanks to Net Galley and Gallery books for the advanced reader's copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. The date of publication for this novel is March 4, 2014.**


This insomniac's review:

It truly felt as though this was two separate novels crammed together into a single novel. Which was a bit disconcerting.

The first half takes place after Blythe's abduction and is within the bowels of the Earth in an abandoned missile silo. It is very reminiscent of Room by Emma Donogue with it's intensity and terror in confinement.

The second half of the novel takes a dramatic turn, however. It is hard for me to explain how different it becomes without giving much away. So, let's just say that shit gets crazy-really, really crazy. The novel turns from drama to sci-fi. I have to admit that Sci-fi is not my thing and I really did not enjoy the ending.

So, I'm a bit at a loss at how to rate this novel. Good writing, but very inconsistent.

Rating:

2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for Goodreads, simply due to the inconsistency of the novel.

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