warnings: I don't completely remember. There was definitely some mild language, with possibly some action violence and innuendo.
I would love to give this book four stars, so I rounded up. There were just too many issues in my reading experience, but Unspoken was really a lovely book which I would recommend to those who are more interested in character development, atmosphere, and humor than plot and action. That description pretty much sums up me as a reader, but even I will admit that this became pretty slow at times.
I'll start with the positive stuff. Sarah Rees Brennan is hilarious. If there is one reason I would reread Unspoken, it would be for the humor. It's quirky, clever, and creative, and she's not afraid to be a little silly. I adored it. The characters are also wonderful. Kami is the friendly, funny, brave, kind-of-out-there MC who loves mysteries and wants to be a reporter one day. Plus, she is half-Japanese, (yay for diversity in ya!) Her best friend, Angela, is gorgeous, dry-humored and rather anti-social. I loved the way SRB alludes to a lot more depth beneath these initial characteristics, so the characters don't feel shallow and gimmicky. Same with Holly, the newfound friend who joins their school newspaper staff. On the outside, she's the pretty, flirtatious blonde, but author subtly shows that there is way more to her than that. And then there's Jared. I quite loved him...he captured my fangirl heart instantly. He's a dark and broody, yes, but I have a weakness for those sorts of characters, and he’s not at all the typical bad-boy. He doesn't even drink, and he only has "floozy aspirations". As with the great Prince Zuko, he’s sulkiness just makes him lovable, and I just wanted to hug him. Which leads me to the third thing I loved...the concept and execution of Jared's and Kami's relationship, in which they've communicated telepathically all their lives. They are attached on a deeper level that that of everyday romance, and they know each other better than anyone else in the world.
While the atmosphere and setting were lovely, they were a little bit hit and miss for me. That may just be because I’m overanalyzing atmosphere in books at this point in my life, as I’ve haven’t heard about anybody else having this issue with SRB’s writing. Overall, it’s really lovely writing with a sleepy-english-town/gothic-y atmosphere. There was also a quirkiness to the book’s writing style which was oh-so-fun, but at the same time, distanced me from the emotions of the story.
The plot was also an issue. I found myself to be only vaguely interested in the plot, revolving around the powerful family of sorcerers in the town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. I’m picky with plot anyway, and I’m especially not into the action-driven ones, but because the plot didn’t carry the book along, it wasn’t really a page-turner for all its loveliness, and when the book did focus on it in the last few chapters, I just wasn’t very interested.
The verdict: Unspoken had its issues, but it’s humor and characters are enough to make me consider going back to it in the future. Also, I would love to meet Sarah Rees Brennan, as she seems like a funny, intelligent, thoughtful woman.
