Thornhill
Author: Kathleen Peacock
Series: Hemlock #2
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy
Release Date: September 10, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Summary:
Clues to Kyle’s whereabouts lead them to Colorado, but their reunion is cut short by a terrifying Tracker raid. Now Mac and Kyle find themselves trapped inside the tall electric fences of Thornhill, a camp specially designated for young wolves. However, as she devises an escape plan, Mac uncovers dangerous secrets buried within the walls of Thornhill – and realizes that the risk to the people she loves is greater than ever before.
First Sentence: Some rooms looked better in the dark.
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:
Ever since I’ve read Hemlock, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. With that dangling cliffhanger it left us, I had tons of questions left unanswered: Will Mac ever find Kyle? How will the whole werewolf situation end? And ultimately, who would Mac choose to be with in the end? Sadly, Thornhill only answered one of my many questions.
Thornhill started off with a bang. Right from the very first page, I was confused, awed, and wondering is this a joke? I even reread the first page just to make sure that I was reading it correctly. Three pages later, I discovered that it kind of was a joke. I didn’t know whether to be disappointed or relieved that it didn’t really happen after all. I’ll leave you guys hanging from there, wondering what on Earth I’m talking about.
However, I hate to be saying this after going on and on about how awesome the beginning of Thornhill is, but I think that Thornhill suffers from the middle book syndrome. It wasn’t as good as Hemlock; in fact, I dare to say it, it was quite boring. Most of the book took place in the rehabilitation camp, trying to find out what the warden of the camp, Sinclair, is up to. Basically, the entire book consists of this: being captured, bought into camp, sneaking around, plans made, sneaking around, etc.
“And that’s what Thornhill is? A way to help us keep the lid on?”
“For the wolves who commit fully to the idea of rehabilitation, yes.” (ARC 159)
The main problem I had with Thornhill was that everything in Thornhill was so predictable. I figured out what Thornhill’s (the camp, not the book title) ultimate goal toward werewolves was way before it was actually revealed. I just don’t know how every single one of the characters in the book just didn’t see it. If I was the one in that situation, I would have figured it out asap. I also figured out which (kind of) new character Mac will meet again before he/she made their appearance and how Jason would make an appearance in Thornhill.
Amy the ghost (is she a ghost?) or Amy from Mac’s imagination (is Mac really just imagining her there?) is back in Thornhill. Amy doesn’t really have a purpose in the book other than to give Mac cryptic messages and to scare Mac when she sleeps. Honestly, I don’t know why Amy is in Thornhill after the mystery of her murder was solved in Hemlock, although at the same time, I kind of know why. Maybe it’s because the first book was centered around Amy so much that it just doesn’t make sense for her to suddenly disappear in Thornhill? Maybe it’s also because, as Mac stated, that Mac, Kyle, Jason, and Amy’s lives were so tied together that you just don’t know where one person ends and the other one begins. In the end, I still don’t know.
“Three blind mice,” whispered Amy. “See what happens when they run.” (ARC 194)
As for whether I’m on Team Kyle or Team Jason, as of now, I’m currently on Team Jason. I was on Team Kyle, but after reading and finishing Thornhill, I’m definitely not on his side anymore. What Kyle did in Thornhill made me lose faith that he even truly wants to be with Mac. Kyle just gives up too easily and runs away when the going gets tough. Jason, however, is always there for Mac, even risking his life to support her when he could simply just walk away like Kyle did. I can also overlook Jason’s support of the Trackers, compared to Kyle’s situation with Mac.
“I love you. You know that, right?”
“Me too.” It occurred to me that the only times either of us had managed to say those words had been either during or just after mortal peril. (ARC 68)
Overall, I’m really sad and disappointed with Thornhill. I was expecting tons of action and cute romance like Hemlock had, and instead, I got a book that failed to impress me and a book that failed to keep me engaged with the story. Hopefully the third and final book in the Hemlock series will not disappoint. I’m hoping that a character from Hemlock will make a reappearance in the last book so we’ll finally get a full resolution to the series.
1) I’M SO JEALOUS THAT YOU GOT THIS ONE. I meant to request an ARC and forgot >.<
2) OH NOES!!! I've been dying to get my hands on this one, I hope I'm not as disappointed as you when I finally read it =/
Jessi @ Auntie Spinelli Reads recently posted…BtH Readathon Mini Challenge: Title Scramble
1. I’ll gladly mail you the ARC, but I’m all out of mailing money. D:
2. I hope you’re not as disappointed as I am too! -crosses my fingers for you-
Kelly recently posted…Book Review: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea – April Genevieve Tucholke
Oh no! I wasn’t completely in love with Hemlock, but I thought it was good enough to continue. It does seem like another book that falls for the second-book-syndrome. I hate it when things are SO obvious, but all the characters are “what is going on? I don’t understand!” and you are like “DUDE, it’s right in front of you..”
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted…A to Z survey.
I really enjoyed Hemlock, but Thornhill just disappointed me so much. ):
Exactly! I wanted to go inside the book and shake all the characters. Like, dude, is it THAT hard to figure out what the bad guy is up to?
Kelly recently posted…Book Review: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea – April Genevieve Tucholke
What a bummer that you didn’t enjoy it! I only skimmed your review since I haven’t read Hemlock, but I had planned to read it this month since Thornhill is releasing soon. But if the second book isn’t that great, there’s really no point in reading the first…
I really liked Hemlock, but Thornhill was so disappointing. :l
Hopefully the last and final book would be AMAZING so the series would be worth reading.
Kelly recently posted…Book Review: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea – April Genevieve Tucholke
Awww shucks books that are so predictable suck. Middle book syndrome sucks too.
Hazel recently posted…Review: Letters To Nowhere
Yeah, I was so disappointed with Thornhill. I usually don’t get along with books that are predictable. ):
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Things That Make Your Life As A Reader/Book Blogger Easier
Good review! I hate cliffhangers as well. It is too bad the story didn’t go as I hoped it would.
Thanks! :D
Yeah, it was disappointing. I thought Thornhill would be even better than Hemlock was, but alas, it sadly wasn’t. ):
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]
I was really looking forward to reading this, but a book that suffers from the middle book syndrome? Maybe not for me.
Aww, I’m sad to hear that Jane. D:
Kelly recently posted…Monthly Wrap Up: August 2013
I liked this follow up. I liked how it was it’s own story and we got more world building. We also get some great new characters that give us some insight into Mac’s past.
That said, I agree that it was predictable and that the first was better. But I’ve read a bunch of terrible second books recently, including the super disappointing Once We Were by Kat Zhang and I don’t include this book in my middle book syndrome pile.
Great post!
Christina recently posted…Guest Post by Blogger Lisa Marie Pottgen: What I Would Like to see More of in YA Novels
Yeah, there was more world building, but I felt that the new characters didn’t really contribute to anything. :l
Oh my goodness, Once We Were was super disappointing?! I’m reading that one next. D:
And ugh, I’ll hate to read several books suffering from middle book syndrome in a row. That sucks.
Thanks! (:
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [48]
It’s too bad that it is not as good as the first book. I think “middle book syndrome” is a common problem, but on the bright side, book threes are usually great!
Yeah, but I have high hopes for the next and final book. Hopefully it’ll be as good as Hemlock, or even better. -crosses fingers-
Ahem, sometimes book threes are not that good. -coughs at the book starting with a “R” and ending with a “m”. ;D
Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: The Chaos of Stars
I thought it was funny when someone pointed out that the girl on Thornhill looked like Jennifer Lawrence which is true. This is one of those series that I wasn’t sure about reading back when it was hardly making any buzz out in the reading community but once everyone started getting into it I felt like I had to read this series too. Sometimes I’d rather pick something up on my own but sometimes I need guidance from other readers like myself. I’m glad you told us that this one wasn’t as great as Hemlock. At least I know what to expect once and if I start reading this series :)