Cathrine Goldstein

This was the perfect continuation of book one. It had a great blend of the previous characters, as well as introducing new and interesting ones. It also had a lot of suspense, angst and surprise to build on the previous storyline. With a mix of biological parents and splitting the gang, we are left wanting to read 'just one more page,' until we find ourselves at the back cover.

I found the characters fantastic. They had a lot of depth and personality. I liked how much they stuck to their own personalities, which created a lot of great interaction throughout the read, though not all of it was happy interaction. I liked that the characters from the previous book were given more depth, letting us truly get to know them, but we were still thrown surprises about them. The new characters fit into the story excellently, and were also built from the ground up. This really made the story one that I could get into and become connected with the characters. I really cared about what happened to them and often found myself wondering where the author would take them next.

The story was continued well, and really connected to the first book, making it easy to pick right back up. I liked where the author took the next instalment, as I found it both exciting and intriguing. Throughout the book, we were given lots of detail, which made the story very believable, real and easy to feel a part of.

The pace was great. It was fast enough to really feel as though you've been thrown in the action. However, there are still plenty of moments that you were able to sit back and take in everything, to really understand the characters and the decisions they were making.

Overall, this was a brilliant read. I enjoyed it very much and would highly recommend.

**i received this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.… (mehr)

What I Thought

How often in life do we think we are doing right, right by ourselves, right by others and right by the world; only to find out that we have been wrong all along?

Ronnie is about to take that realisation to a whole new level.

In the Letting, we experience love, hate, turmoil, changes of heart, passion and fear - not to mention the hours of sitting on the edge of our seats, waiting for what's coming next. We are taken into a dystopian world, where things are not what they seem, which is similar to most worlds. The words, written by Goldstein, flow from the pages, wrapping your mind into their web. From page one, you find yourself so utterly locked up in these words that you can't and don't want to stop reading.

At each turn in the plot, each surprising moment, you are taken aback, as it is so much more than you expected. Just like any good book or film, you are always trying to guess what could be next, but Cathrine has written her tale so well that it is impossible to fully guess what twist will be thrown at you next.

Throughout the story you take complete turns of heart. First you love Ronnie and think she is the best, then you despise her, soon you come to feel pain and sorrow for her, then you fall in love with her sworn enemy, finally, you may even learn to love them both. With so many changes of emotion, blended with the thrilling action taking place, this is one of the best dystopian reads of the year!

The characters have a fantastic amount of depth, allowing you to feel with and for them. They build the story and take you on the journey with them. The pace is perfect for the story. You are frequently bombarded with action, the plot moving swiftly forward, but you still have time to take in the deep emotion and get to know the characters.

Overall, I think this was a very cleverly written work of art. It is a story I will definitely be going back to read again and again, in the future. I would highly recommend this to anyone from YA to elderly, as it is one of the best dystopian reads I've read. It is highly addicted and you truly immerse yourself into the world of The Letting. I, for one, cannot wait until the next story comes out. I also will be looking to read the other works by Catherine Goldstein, as she is a fantastic writer.… (mehr)