Here's the thing, 5 stars for Dylan Farrow speaking her truth, she's a survivor and I want only good things for her.

I really do understand and appreciate what she was trying to do here--the entire book is about gaslighting, the truth being obfuscated, victim blaming, all of that I completely get what she is trying to do and I think the bones are there, but the actual story itself suffers. What's the political organization here? How do the Bards actually use their magic? What can it do versus what can it not do? There was no chemistry between who I assume the love interest is and our MC and we know nothing about him short of him being grumpy.

I think there's the makings of a good book here--the writing really shines when Farrow talks about gaslighting and memory--but could have benefited from tighter editing and actual world building

Sadly this book just didn’t grab as much as I hoped it would. I put it down and picked it up multiple times but I just couldn’t connect with it. Super bummed.

Thank you Netgalley for this early copy of Hush by Dylan Farrow. This wasn't the book me. The characters lacked development and not much on the world building. I didn't feel any connection with the characters and wish there was more background. I believe this book had so much potential, but fell a little flat for me.

When I first started this one, I was a bit worried whether I'd liked it. It felt a little silly and over the top and I felt myself tuning it. I flipped to an aduio and settled in and felt myself drawn in. The world is completely different and it took a minute to understand it. I liked the bloody horror of the bards. I liked how strong-willed the MC was. I especially appreciated the twists near the end, ones I somehow didn't even think to figure out. I look forward to reading book 2.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Having read YA fantasy for 10 + years, I felt like this was a story I had read before. I found the concept of the Blot really interesting, but it didn't play as large of a role as I would have liked.

I was originally tempted by this book for quite a few reasons. I loved the cover art, and something about the title was intriguing as well! I was also a big fan of Graceling, and did enjoy Red Queen, so it seemed like this book would be right up my alley.

Unfortunately, I didn't end up enjoying this book. This book had quite a slow and long lead-in before the action started really happening, which meant it took me a while to really get into the story. It also just felt like something I'd read before, even with its unique concept, and it made the story feel more repetitive rather than fun and exciting. I feel like I might've enjoyed this book more when I had just been getting into YA Fantasy, but it just didn't quite hold up to most of my favorites in the genre.

What I really loved about this book was how the author brought all the pieces of plot they dropped along the way. I was confused for much of the book but when that story unraveled….wow. Spectacular, wonderfully crafted.

My least favorite thing about the book though was the romance. I felt like it wasn’t perfectly developed and could have used a lot more UMPH to it I guess.

Very wonderful introduction to a fantasy world and I think many fans of the genre would enjoy

Hush by Dylan Farrow was an interesting YA fantasy novel. It is the first in a series, with the sequel Hush already available. Both were good and I am glad I read them in close succession. The real-world social commentary was woven in well. I look forward to more from this author.

I really thought I would enjoy this story. When the author released a new book o figured I would give this a try, but alas the characters were not remarkable and the writing style not for me. I ultimately did not finish in full.

The cover art is what drew me in and the comparisons as well. When I started this I had high hopes, but was let down. It's extremely hard to understand and get into. So much struggle and less reading enjoyment. I couldn't get into it and for that, I just DNF.

I did not finish this book. I was putting it off because of the so so reviews. I usually like fantasy but I just could not get into it. Usually with fantasy you need a rich backstory in the beginning. We were kinda thrown into it and it just threw me off.

HUSH is a pretty decent fantasy story, though. I liked it, even if I didn't love it, and I think younger readers will enjoy it even more than I did.

I really wanted to like this book and I gave it a few tries but I couldn't seem to get into it. The idea is an interesting one, the characters appear to be compelling from what I have read so far, and I am curious to find out how the story ends. However, while the story seems interesting and I do want to know how the story eventually ends I don't think this was the right book for me right now. I am going to let it sit and come back!

This was a very hard read for me. There is a lot of tragedy and disturbing events in this novel. It was not what I wanted. I didn’t think this was a fantasy novel. It seemed like a science fiction novel. This, the synopsis was very misleading.

This wasn't my cup of tea. I am not sure if I read the description and thought it was something else, but I was a bit thrown off. I am sure other will like it, just wasn't for me.

DNF - Did not finish. I did not connect with the writing style or plot and will not be finishing this title. Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher for the early copy!

Seventeen-year-old Shae has lived a quiet life, despite experiencing losses. Her brother died of the disease called Blot, caused by ink. Writing and books are banned in their country. Her father also died and her mother never spoke again after her brother died. Shae lives in fear of the strange way her illusions bleed into her reality and of the Bards, who use their magic of Telling things into reality to keep the community safe. When Shae discovers her mother has been murdered, she must find answers, but no one else believes that she was murdered. Shae runs away to the capital to find answers, and she discovers a power she didn’t know was inside her.

I went into this story completely blind and I’m so glad I did. I loved this fantasy world. Writing and reading books are my entire life, so it was fascinating and scary to imagine a world where they are banned. That would be my worst nightmare, but I can believe that people can be told something is dangerous enough times that it becomes believable.

Shae was an unreliable narrator, because no one believed what she said. It even made me question if what she said was true, because everyone said she was wrong. This was a powerful story about speaking your truth despite others not believing it.

Hush is a beautiful story. I’m so excited to read the sequel!

Thank you Wednesday Books for providing a copy of this book.

A deadly disease spread via ink killed 17-year-old Shane’s brother five years ago. When her mother dies of mysterious causes, Shae’s life becomes more difficult. But she needs to discover the truth.

This fantasy novel had a very interesting concept that hooked me in. I wish that Farrow had expanded her fantasy world a little more and let the reader into it.

Good story!!

Description
Graceling meets Red Queen in this exciting debut novel by an electrifying new voice

"Hush has all the trappings of a great fantasy: a curse, a labyrinthine castle, many secrets, and powerful magic. At the center of it all, a girl unwilling to allow her world to be twisted by lies when she knows the truth. A truly gripping read." - Emily A. Duncan, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked Saints

They use magic to silence the world. Who will break the hush?

Seventeen-year-old Shae has led a seemingly quiet life, joking with her best friend Fiona, and chatting with Mads, the neighborhood boy who always knows how to make her smile, all while secretly keeping her fears at bay… Of the disease that took her brother’s life. Of how her dreams seem to bleed into reality around her. Of a group of justice seekers called the Bards who claim to use the magic of Telling to keep her community safe.

When her mother is murdered, she can no longer pretend.

Not knowing who to trust, Shae journeys to unlock the truth, instead finding a new enemy keen to destroy her, a brooding boy with dark secrets, and an untold power she never thought possible.

From Dylan Farrow comes Hush, a powerful fantasy where one girl is determined to remake the world.

The whole story rests on Shae, and I love a female hero. Her brother does, then her mother dies, and it is up to Shae to rework the world she lives in, or die trying.