Review: Shadowlands by Kate Brian!

Shadowlands (Shadowlands #1)

by Kate Brian

Release Date: 01/08/13

Disney-Hyperion

Hardcover/e-book

336 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived… and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye.

Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?

***ARC received by Disney-Hyperion for review purposes***

"This time, everything was going to happen as planned.  This time, nothing and no one would stop him.  This time, she would be his."

I’ll admit that I am a chicken and I scare quite easily so I tend to stay away from thriller books.  But Shadowlands had a The Body Finder vibe to it (I really like that series) and I am equal parts scared and fascinated with serial killers.  Plus, would you check out that gorgeous cover!  Honestly, this book could be about killer birds and I would still want to read it because of the cover.  Luckily, this isn’t just another disappointing book with just a pretty cover.

Rory Miller is on her way home from school when she is attacked.  She barely escapes with her life, but her attacker isn’t just another guy, he is serial killer Steven Nell.  Steven Nell has been evading the police for 10 years, he has killed 14 girls and the only girl who ever escaped was killed a few days later along with her entire family.  After the serial killer leaves a threatening note in her house, which has been under constant police surveillance, the only safe choice they have left is to enter the witness protection program.  Rory, her dad and her sister Darcy are sent to live to Juniper Landing which is a small remote island.  Juniper Landing is a vacation-like place but Rory feels something is off about it and the people there.  For starters, the locals are really secretive and intense, there is no phone or wireless signal, there is no mail, and there are no news channels or newspapers.  But when a few people start disappearing without anyone even remembering them, Rory starts to question everything.  Has Steven Nell found her or is something else going on with the people on Juniper Landing.

This book was not what I was expecting, at all!  But that wasn’t a bad thing.  The biggest thing was that I thought this book would have a romance in it, and although we get a tiny hint at a possible romance, the whole plot is focused on this mystery of Juniper Landing.  After I realized and came to terms with the fact that I wouldn’t get a romance, I really started to enjoy the book.  After reading so many books with so many of them having a lot of similarities, it is getting harder to completely shock me.  To say that this book shocked me would be a severe understatement.  The entire book, from the very first page had me guessing what was coming next and wondering what the hell was going on!  When I got to the last paragraph of the book I was in awe and I was completely mind blown.  I started questioning and going back and rereading a few parts now that I knew what was going on.  I’m still confused on a few things but I am still putting the pieces together.

Shadowlands is a creeptastic thriller full of mystery, surprising twists and plot turns that you will keep you guessing until the very last page.  I still have so many questions and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series to hopefully get some answers.  I hope we also get a little bit of romance in the next book too.  Plus, being inside the mind of a serial killer was a huge plus.  (I also can’t wait to see the cover for the next book because we know it’s gonna be just as gorgeous as this one). 

4 out of 5 stars!

(My favorite quotes were too spoilery)

About the Author:

Kate Brian is the prolific author of many books for teens including the Private series, the new Privilege series, and Sweet 16. She lives with her husband in New Jersey. She writes under the pseudonym Kate Brian, instead of using her real name: Kieran Scott.

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