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ARC Book Review: The Vault of Dreamers – Caragh M. O’Brien


thevaultofdreamersThe Vault of Dreamers
Author: Caragh M. O’Brien
Series: Untitled #1
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Science Fiction, Mystery
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Goodreads | Amazon | TBD

Summary:

From the author of the Birthmarked trilogy comes a fast-paced, psychologically thrilling novel about what happens when your dreams are not your own.
The Forge School is the most prestigious arts school in the country. The secret to its success: every moment of the students’ lives is televised as part of the insanely popular Forge Show, and the students’ schedule includes twelve hours of induced sleep meant to enhance creativity. But when first year student Rosie Sinclair skips her sleeping pill, she discovers there is something off about Forge. In fact, she suspects that there are sinister things going on deep below the reaches of the cameras in the school. What’s worse is, she starts to notice that the edges of her consciousness do not feel quite right. And soon, she unearths the ghastly secret that the Forge School is hiding — and what it truly means to dream there.

 
First Sentence: I missed night.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.

My Review:

The Vault of Dreamers was the book I was majorly wary of. A little under two months before I’ve even read it, I’ve heard and seen a lot of not so good reviews and talk about it. People were DNFing The Vault of Dreamers left and right while others just simply gave the book a low rating. Normally, I wouldn’t have gave The Vault of Dreamers a try after seeing all that, but since the publisher sent me an ARC of the book (thank you Macmillan!), I thought that I should at least give it a chance. In a way, I’m glad I did, but at the same time, I’m sad I gave it a chance too.

“This one?” It was the man’s voice, very soft. “What’s her blip rank?”
“Ninety-three.”
“A shame.” (ARC 9)

I was really nervous and skeptical about The Vault of Dreamers, but to my surprise, I really enjoyed the first 20% of the book. The beginning of The Vault of Dreamers was exciting, new, and just caught and kept my attention. I wanted to learn more about the Forge School, more about the competition happening, and I was really invested in Rosie’s character. From that point, The Vault of Dreamers was going to get a solid four stars from me. In fact, I enjoyed the beginning of The Vault of Dreamers so much that I actually thought that this is it! The Vault of Dreamers will finally be the book that makes me the black sheep for a book everyone else didn’t like! However, as I read on, I discovered that sadly, that didn’t happen.

After the competition aspect of the book was over, which is about the 20% mark, things started slowing down drastically. Rosie was just sneaking around, figuring out something was wrong with the school, but doesn’t know what. That happened for about two hundred and fifty long pages; Rosie was just sneaking around, talking to people, and I was just plain bored. When I finally reached the last fifty pages or so, I could care less about the big reveal because 1. I’ve already somewhat figured it out and 2. I was too bored to really care. Even that cliffhanger at the end didn’t help at all and just convinced me not to read the sequel.

“You’re still too good for this place,” he said.
“Go on,” I said, smiling.
“I mean it. Don’t forget that, Rosie,” he said. “Sweet dreams.” (ARC 177)

I am glad to say that The Vault of Dreamers doesn’t have insta-love (I was really afraid it would have insta-love once I met the love interest), but Rosie was immediately attracted and attached to her love interest right from the start. There are no “I love yous” happening yet, but Rosie and her love interest were willing to do almost anything for one another. There are also some hints of a love triangle that might be brewing, but I’m not sure if it’ll actually happen or not with the way The Vault of Dreamers ended.

Overall, I was desperately hoping that I would love The Vault of Dreamers after how much I enjoyed its beginning, but sadly, that didn’t happen. Even its strong beginning can’t convince me to read the sequel since I see it going nowhere I’ll be interested in.

twopointfive

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-Kelly

Posted by Kelly on 9-10-14 · 38 Comments
Categories: 2014 book, book review Tagged: 2.5 star

« Let’s Speculate: Judging A Cover By Its Texture
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Speak Your Mind

  1. Sara Stevens says

    9-10-14 at 2:35 PM

    Noooo….I was looking forward to this book. I liked the Birthmarked trilogy. I will probably skipped this book. :(

    Reply
  2. Kaitlin @ Reading is My Treasure says

    9-10-14 at 2:54 PM

    Well, at least you liked the beginning! I’m reading this one soon and I’m hoping I at least like the same things you did. :)
    Kaitlin @ Reading is My Treasure recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday (36) ~ A Con Artist as a HeroineMy Profile

    Reply
  3. Hillary R. says

    9-10-14 at 3:09 PM

    I feel like giving this one a try because I’m super interested in finding out what interested you in the first place. Though I’m scared of those two-hundred-and-fifty long pages of sneaking around you mentioned. Things like that make me tired of reading quickly. I think I’m going to have to sit on the idea for a while and see if I should read this one or not.

    Reply
  4. Jenna @ Rather Be Reading YA says

    9-10-14 at 4:29 PM

    Sorry this one didn’t work for you. I’m unsure about it myself. I’ve read some of her other books but while I liked them, I didn’t love them.
    Jenna @ Rather Be Reading YA recently posted…Review + Giveaway: Playing with Matches by Suri Rosen (Blog Tour)My Profile

    Reply
  5. Lisa Loves Literature says

    9-10-14 at 5:01 PM

    I agree with you. I didn’t love it as much as I’d hoped. Great review!
    Lisa Loves Literature recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday – Unleashed (Uninvited #2) by Sophie JordanMy Profile

    Reply
  6. Sarah E says

    9-10-14 at 6:14 PM

    I have started this one and liked what little I have read so far, but I’m also reading another book – and it’s definitely attracted my attention, so I’m focusing on it more (not on purpose necessarily, but it’s what I do when I read multiple books). I hope that it’s not too bad and I don’t DNF it – your review doesn’t sound too harsh :)
    Sarah E recently posted…Pumpkin Pudding Toffee Nut CookiesMy Profile

    Reply
  7. Laquesha @ BookLover2.0 says

    9-10-14 at 6:44 PM

    I literally posted about how much I wanted to read this book like five seconds ago and I read your review and now I’m not so sure anymore because I really trust your reviews. The premise sounds amazing and the cover is beautiful and why can’t the actual story be fantastic? I’ll probably pick it up anyway but my expectations have dropped drastically.
    Laquesha @ BookLover2.0 recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday #5: The Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O’ BrienMy Profile

    Reply
  8. simonet says

    9-10-14 at 8:34 PM

    I think I’ll still give this a go just because books people usually don’t hate but don’t love end up being good to me. Also the idea of the book sounds interesting.

    Reply
  9. Victoria T says

    9-10-14 at 9:29 PM

    I had not even heard of this book before your review. It just doesn’t seem like something up my alley. Can’t say I’d ever give this book a try but maybe, one day, when I have absolutely nothing to read, I’ll pick it up.

    Reply
  10. Jaime Lester says

    9-10-14 at 10:57 PM

    I was so excited for this book when I first heard about it because 1. it sounds amazing, and 2. I loved the Birthmarked trilogy. That series was impressive and unique and beautiful, with wonderful characters and a story that captured my heart. I had no doubt that any book that Caragh M. O’Brien wrote would be fantastic. Then, I started seeing reviews coming in. And they were not good. I can honestly not recall reading one positive review for it yet, and that is disappointing. I had been geared up to try it regardless, but after reading your review, I think I will have to sadly pass. I don’t want this book to overshadow my great experience with the author previously. Still, it is disappointing to decide to turn down a book you have been so excited for. Sigh… Thank you for your review!
    Jaime Lester recently posted…Amanda thinks Becoming Audrey Hepburn would look good on TVMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Abbe Hinder says

    9-11-14 at 12:57 AM

    Even if the ‘I love you”‘s aren’t said, feeling the insta-love is enough for me! I’m going to push this one further back on my TBR list. Great review though! Hopefully your next read is a solid four stars because I know how it feels when you love roughly the first quarter and then not so much the rest of it.
    Abbe Hinder recently posted…Book Review: Don’t Touch by Rachel M. WilsonMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Kara @ Diary of a Teen Writer says

    9-11-14 at 2:24 AM

    Shame about this one. I had such high hopes for it! I’ll probably avoid it, now, unless I happen to chance across it in my library or something.
    Kara @ Diary of a Teen Writer recently posted…Book Review: More Than This by Patrick NessMy Profile

    Reply
  13. bn100 says

    9-11-14 at 7:51 PM

    Interesting info about a competition

    Reply
  14. Jessi @ Novel Heartbeat says

    9-11-14 at 8:47 PM

    Ugh, this just solidified my decision to DNF it. I didn’t like the beginning, and if it got worse then I’m glad I didn’t bother reading the rest!
    Jessi @ Novel Heartbeat recently posted…Life of a Blogger: Where were you 13 years ago?My Profile

    Reply
  15. Sarah K. says

    9-12-14 at 6:51 AM

    I was really interested in The Vault of Dreamers, but it seems like everyone has had the same opinion about it. Suck :(.

    Reply
  16. Crystal @Crystal in Bookland says

    9-12-14 at 11:03 AM

    WELL you just made me glad I DNF’d this one!! O.O I was sad I didn’t care for what I read because I was REALLY looking forward to this one, BUT glad I didn’t continue it for sure now!!
    Crystal @Crystal in Bookland recently posted…Books I Have Been OBSESSING Over + GiveawayMy Profile

    Reply
  17. Heather MacLaughlin says

    9-12-14 at 3:05 PM

    This wasn’t one that I had ever heard of before, doesn’t sound like the kind of book that I would even pick up in the first place. Sorry that you didn’t quite like it, I hate it when a book starts out great and then just fizzles out in the middle and end.

    Reply
  18. Wendy Liu says

    9-15-14 at 12:00 AM

    Great review! I also don’t like it when it’s pretty predictable who the love interest is and then it makes you not want to read the rest of the book anymore because it’s not that much fun to guess or create tension which is fun to read. I may still give this book a shot because the writing seems good from the quotes and now I know not to go into it with too high expectations. Thanks!

    Reply
  19. kara says

    9-20-14 at 2:22 PM

    Happy to see a book w/ out insta love also, but sad to see the the 1st book didn’t hold interest.

    Reply
  20. Lina says

    9-22-14 at 11:59 PM

    Ack, I feel like my heart is getting to blows! I had so much hope that this book would be good because it’s right up my alley, and hearing that it started out SO GOOD but then deteriorated is even more devastating. To know that the book real could’ve been so good but then took a turn for the worse. **sigh** I kinda still ant to read it, but I don’t think I have time for something that won’t pan out.
    Lina recently posted…Guest Post on ‘Oh, the Books!’My Profile

    Reply
  21. Alexandra A says

    9-23-14 at 5:37 AM

    Oh man, I have this book on TBR, I have no idea if I should read it or not….

    Reply
  22. Kelly says

    9-28-14 at 12:50 PM

    This is unfortunate. I was so interested in reading this one. It seems like everybody doesn’t seem to like it very much.
    Kelly recently posted…Panic – Lauren OliverMy Profile

    Reply
  23. Monica M says

    9-28-14 at 5:14 PM

    That’s too bad that you didn’t enjoy it! This book is really high on my to-read list. I think I am going to have to go ahead and read it anyway since it seems to have a mix of good and bad reviews, and my tastes tend to be a bit different anyway :)
    Monica M recently posted…Review: Firebug by Lish McBrideMy Profile

    Reply
  24. Diana Grace says

    9-28-14 at 8:50 PM

    This book sounds highly intriguing. I enjoyed your review, thanks :)
    Diana Grace recently posted…Cover Reveal and Giveaway: REBORN (Angel Creek 3) by Ada AdamsMy Profile

    Reply
  25. Alexandra A says

    9-29-14 at 5:24 AM

    Well I guess, I`ll skip this one!
    Great review! :)

    Reply
  26. Maridel Alemios says

    9-30-14 at 5:52 AM

    I found the book plot interesting! :)) But thanks for the review I might have to lower down my expectations.

    Reply
  27. Maria Medeiros says

    9-30-14 at 10:31 AM

    It’s always disappointing when a book gets boring or circles around a character trying to figure out what happens. I read a book where the character is trying to figure things out but it was exciting and I loved the book. Great review!
    Maria Medeiros recently posted…M.C. Beaton The Blood of an Englishman-Book Review and GIVEAWAY!My Profile

    Reply
  28. Ida Suyanto says

    10-01-14 at 12:59 AM

    The Island movie meets The Equilibrium movie of a long time ago. I’m interested in the cover and read your review. But you only gave 2,5 stars. So I have to rethink to read this. And this book already has a sequel?! My my…

    Reply
  29. Molly Mortensen says

    10-01-14 at 9:30 AM

    I’ve been hearing mixed things about this book too. I’m glad that the beginning was good at least, but I don’t think I’ll be reading this book anytime soon. I hate cliffhangers! Why do authors think that’s a good idea to get readers to keep reading?
    Molly Mortensen recently posted…Immortal By Gene Doucette Review and InterviewMy Profile

    Reply
  30. FJ says

    10-01-14 at 1:06 PM

    one book that I have to skip, hahah :p
    FJ recently posted…Cover Reveal – Brand New Cover for Lancaster House and Middle Aisle + $25 GAMy Profile

    Reply
  31. Michelle @ Unraveling Books says

    10-01-14 at 8:34 PM

    My sister just got this one from the library! I read a really good review for it earlier today so I’m surprised to see a not so good one :/ I’m not sure I’ll ever read this one but I’m curious to see what my sister thinks.
    Michelle @ Unraveling Books recently posted…Horror October 2014My Profile

    Reply
  32. Terrie Fulk says

    10-02-14 at 12:54 AM

    Another well done review. I have read three of your reviews and I am looking forward to more of them. Your reviews are full of info, but your feelings come across wonderfully. After reading this review I am doubtful I will attempt this read.
    Terrie Fulk recently posted…Cover Reveal & Giveaway! STARTER WIFEMy Profile

    Reply
  33. Cali W. says

    10-02-14 at 12:48 PM

    Good review. I have heard some so-so book reviews for this book.

    Reply
  34. Maria Malaveci says

    10-02-14 at 4:23 PM

    Great review, sounded like an interesting book. I always look at reviews, so sadly won’t be picking this one up.

    Reply
  35. Myra White says

    10-02-14 at 9:12 PM

    I really liked the sound of this book so I’m really sad to see all the not-so-good reviews. There’s just too many books and too little time to read them all, so I think I’ll give this one a miss. Thanks for the review, I’m sorry it didn’t live up to the first 20% of the book.
    Myra White recently posted…Dragon Rising by Rachel E. Fisher Blog Tour – Excerpt + GiveawayMy Profile

    Reply
  36. Alyssa says

    10-03-14 at 7:27 AM

    I usually end up firing with rage when a book starts off really exciting and then ends up in the most boring way you could ever think of because you have predicted it already. I feel awful when a book I read has got a lot of potential yet was sadly a let down at the point of denouement. Like really, how could you book,?! We were getting along right from the start but then you let me down, I’m so disappointed in you. Haha. But yeah I dislike those books so I’m probably never going to read this one. Thank you for the honest review.

    Reply
  37. Thais Pampado says

    10-05-14 at 11:37 AM

    I added The Vault of Dreamers to my wishlist a while ago. This is the first review of the book I read. Too bad you didn’t like it. However, I’m still going to give it a try, the synopsis really caught my attention and that cover is way too cool to ignore.
    Thais Pampado recently posted…O Aniversário de AnyaMy Profile

    Reply
  38. Schen says

    11-01-14 at 4:32 AM

    Aww, Too bad you didn’t like this book.
    The cover is awesome (reminds me of Pawn by Aimee Carter)!
    I really am intrigued by the synopsis.
    Too bad you didn’t like it (many didn’t like it).
    But I really am interested to viewing this world.
    Nice review, Kelly! :)

    Reply

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