I'm a little conflicted about this novel. There are some parts that I really loved and some parts I did not. The writing was great. I love Wiggins writing and found it very enjoyable to read. However, some parts of the book seemed to drag for me and felt a bit boring. There were a number of times where I wanted to start another book just for a bit of a reprieve.

The plot was also interesting. Cole, a citizen of a dystopian society of rather emotionless beings in a place called Refuge, seek to survive by monotony. This helps ensure they are not taken by the Mara, a monster that feeds off of dreams and desires. Cole is also haunted by a ghost named Cadence, who she believes fills her head with lies and imaginings. She also harbors an odd fascination with the dead. Cole overhears a conversation that enlightens her about the dishonesty in what Refuge is being told. She seeks to announce their corruption, yet becomes distracted with other characters while seeking allies to help in her aim.

I am a huge YA dystopian fan. I could honestly read them all day long. While I really liked some aspects in this plot line, some other parts, especially in the middle, fell a little flat for me. This is what really made it drag in the middle too. I was a little disappointed in that. However, I am glad I stuck with the book until the end because I did really enjoy the end. It tied up a lot of loose ends and while I guessed some of the ending early on in the book, it was thrilling for it to unfold the way it did.

All in all, it was a pretty good read if you stick with it to the end.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

this is one strange little book.

Blind The Eyes follows our main character Cole—a probation worker in a dystopian society called Refuge which is haunted by dream-eating monsters as Cole herself is haunted by a ghost named Cadence. Cole harbors a very odd obsession with death, which blooms into bizarre visions of dead people’s past. as the death toll in the Refuge increases due to the dream-eating monsters, Cole decides to join a sort of resistance group called Freedom, and finds an ally in Freedom’s leader, Ravel. or does she?

this book was one big “or does she?”. or really, it was one big question mark. that plot up there sounds all good and nice, except that this book was probably the most confusing book i’ve ever read. i’ll get into that in a bit, but to be fair, i do think Blind The Eyes would make a fantastic plot for a video game. the visuals would be amazing, for sure.

so. this book was confusing as heck. the writing was gorgeous, i’ll tell you that. if i took anything from the book, it’s that K.A. Wiggins definitely has a way with words. however, something very strange happened as i was trying to get into the book. there’s definitely a line here somewhere where the stunning writing overpowered the actual storytelling, and being a good writer won’t guarantee that you’re a good storyteller, or vice-versa. the plot was all over the place and then nowhere at all. the writing kept a lot of things from the reader, which makes me think that Wiggins probably thought she was doing a lot of showing rather than telling, when actually she was doing neither.

most of the time it was hard to keep up with the story since there wasn’t really a lot of world building. as a reader you are thrown into this world with the most unreliable narrator in the entire world and nothing to defend yourself with. most of what would be considered world building was only implied here, and there were no rules. this book was truly the ultimate terrordome. the writer doesn’t explain anything, so the main character doesn’t either. you’re all on your own with a plot that bounces all over the place and characters that have no backstory and no relatable or redeemable qualities.

but there was something enthralling about this book. something that made you want to keep going despite the fact that you can’t seem to understand what’s happening. i know i’m not alone here since most reviews i’ve read share my opinion that Blind The Eyes was confusing as heck, yet felt captivated by the book until the very end.

this book is definitely one of a kind.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I have been on a big YA dystopian future kick and the description of this book made me think that I'd enjoy it as well. Instead I found this book to be confusing and hard to get through. I enjoyed the second half a lot but really had to force myself to get there. I am not sure other readers will want to give this book that same courtesy. the packing is off and the plot is overly complex with characters that don't really hold your attention. I did like the writing style and thought the author did a nice job with building the world of novel. This has a lot of potential but it left me feeling unsatisfied. I know it is part of a trilogy but I don't think I'll be picking up the sequel.

Initially drawn to this book by its intriguing premise of a dystopian future world where being different is frowned upon and mysterious beings known as the Mara feed upon the hopes, dreams and desires of people. Only the Refuge is safe, but life there is strictly controlled and tightly monitored. The protagonist of the book, Cole, is a probationer in one of the monitoring centres, but is struggling with the demands of homogeneity.
Unfortunately this book is beyond confusing to read, it is not until well past the halfway point that anything even begins to make sense, and I fear many readers will lack the patience to wrestle with the chaos for so long. The writing style itself is interesting, and kept me going when I might otherwise have given up. However I have to say that the pacing, overly complicated plot and the lack of connection to any of the characters were the books downfall for me

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for sending me a digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The story is set in a Dystopian future where monsters called the Mara feed off desires and dreams. The remaining human population is largely defenseless against them. The book follows Cole who is a somewhat self aware “drone” or worker in a place called Refuge, an organization which protects people by making them more complacent, so to speak, and removing irregularities between them which may result in them wanting to do more with life. Cole has a weird fascination with death and is haunted by a ghost named Cady. One day, they tumble into a mess which makes them realize that Refuge is not what it seems and it might just be up to Cole to save everything.

The story starts out pretty slow. Cole is not a character you immediately like, and even by the end of the book, she hadn’t grown on me much. The explanation regarding the Mara seems both adequate and a little vague. Cole’s fascination with death made me uncomfortable at a number of places and even I could tell it wasn’t just because I’m not a fan of paranormal fantasy. The book is told in Cole’s POV which should work given the premise of the book but because the character is not very likable, the commentary actually gets annoying and her attitude towards a number of characters is frustrating and mostly didn’t make sense. She has too many thoughts for a “drone” and then the ideas she does have are not usually her own so it’s hard to find things to admire bout her and I had to rely on the few supporting characters to keep me engaged.

The author, however, has done a great job with world building. There are still mysteries left unanswered which will likely be served up in the sequels (since this is a planned trilogy). The idea of the Mara itself is interesting and their greater involvement in the second half is what really helps out the plot in my opinion. Speaking of, things pick up quite a bit in the second half and that is what kept me reading. I’m still confused by the Cole/Cady “ghost” relationship but maybe once the series is finished, I would consider reading the rest to find out how the story ends.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Received an Arc from Xpresso books for my honest review.
Unfortunately this book confused me from the very start, but I kept at it for a bit longer, but the confusion just grew and I couldn’t finish the book.

Actual rating: 4.5

For fans of Divergent and This Savage Song, Blind the Eyes is a fantasy dystopian post-apocalyptic adventure of dreams, choice, and desire, and the nightmares that feed on us.

"It had been a dream, and dreams lie. Dreams cannot be trusted. Dreams lure you in with promises of your heart's desire, of everything you hope for, of fantasy and fiction made flesh. And then as soon as you reach for paradise, they turn and crush you."

The Writing and Worldbuilding

Our protagonist is a shy, hardworking girl just trying to get through probation, so she can become a real worker and earn the golden band that will protect her dreams from the Mara, sinister shadowy creatures who lurk in the darkness of your desires and pose a very real physical threat, but before she can get that, she has to learn to deal with her ghost, Cadence. But then her world completely changes when she finds a dead body and is, strangely, drawn to it, sending her into a world of dreams and nightmares. Now she has to find an ally, someone powerful and capable, to stop the darkness and get the people of Refuge to safety, but she's learning new things about herself and her world, and she doesn't quite know who or what she can trust.

The first few chapters of this were somewhat difficult to get into, and I found myself somewhat confused at first, but once I got into it, I was totally hooked. The writing style is pretty unique, relying heavily on poetic-type prose and metaphorical imagery, which sometimes made what was actually happening a little unclear, but overall was excellent and made for a beautifully told story.

I loved how the world felt very real and unique despite the common aspects it shares with many other YA dystopias and urban fantasies. When it had a chance to break the mold, it did. There are hints of a love triangle, but the story is not very focused on romance, so it didn't bother me at all. The atmosphere was really tangible too, which added a level of realism to this fantastical adventure.

I loved the symbolism, motifs, and themes in this. The similarities and differences between grey Refuge, the oppressive society Cole serves, and the hedonistic, colorful Freedom were masterfully crafted.

The plot twists and character deaths were shocking and effective, and with each chapter, I felt more and more drawn in. I truly enjoyed this.

"It's okay to want things, Cole. It's okay to go after them, too."

The Characters

Cole: Cole's arc in this is wonderful, and I sincerely loved her and cared for her as a protagonist. She is caring and clumsy, and more than she seems.

"We’re strong, Cole. You just have to stop believing that all your strengths are wrong. Fight back. Stop waiting. Stop looking for someone else to save us. We’re enough, right now, just as we are."

Cadence: Cole's ghost, Cadence, is an imaginative yet determined girl who just wants Cole to think clearly and do what's right for everyone, not just herself. She was honestly so funny sometimes with her snarky commentary, especially about Ravel and Ange, but she proved to be a sincere and wonderful character, who I really cared about.

" "Not safe," I say, wondering if only using very short, clumsy sentences is what he means by being special."

Ravel: Ravel is honestly so great as a character. He's basically a morally dubious fairy prince who isn't a fairy but is kind of a prince. He's charming, but manipulative, and craves control in all things, a desire that he indulges in Freedom, his little party city, and in his vision of Victoire, his dream of who and what Cole should be.

"I close my eyes. Golden light shines through my eyelids in wavering patterns of red and yellow. Figures dance and sway in the light, dark eyes flashing. I feel Victoire’s eagerness rise as if it were my own. It ebbs almost in the same instant. What do I care for the pulse of a beat, for the eyes of many, for the touch of heat and sweat? That is Victoire’s passion, not mine. I will not succumb. I am not Ravel’s dream of me."

Ange: She isn't touched on too much in the book, but is definitely an important player in the plot, and will play a key role in the sequel, I'm sure. She's strong and sassy, and fights for what she believes in, despite the cost.

"Too many children have suffered. Too many families have been broken. Too many girls have grown up alone. Or not at all. I won’t let them ruin anyone else."

Sevorate: His introduction could have been done a tad better, but I did really enjoy his character and the intensity he brought to the story. He was honestly a surprise, and I was really happy with where his character went in the story.

Ash: He was probably the weakest character, but he also wasn't really focused on a whole lot. I liked what he represented in the story though. He was the mcguffin for the most part.

Conclusion

I thoroughly enjoyed this, which is great, because the cover is freaking gorgeous. I am eagerly awaiting the second book, which comes out next year, and I will get my hands on the prequel novella you can get by signing up for the newsletter on K.A. Wiggin's website ASAP.

"Failure. An echo of the Mara’s voice—or maybe it’s my own—hisses in my ear. No. Not a failure, but . . . not quite finished. I am enough—for now. But I could be more. I want to be more."