Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I DNF’d this book at 25%. I’m sure there’s a good book in there somewhere, this just isn’t the read for me.

I requested an ARC of this because the description sounded very interesting, but I just couldn’t connect with the story or the characters. I think the writing was just too descriptive without furthering the plot for me to really become invested in what was happening.

There was also an unnecessary amount of describing people based on their larger body size. The only time a body was described was when they were ‘plump’ ‘chubby’ ‘buxom’ or ‘Clydesdale-like.’ While other characters were not described by their body-type, rather by being fair-skin, blonde, auburn-hair. Felt a little fatphobic to me.

I hadn’t really ever heard of North Brother Island and Riverside Hospital and I think this book was probably very well researched. In the 25% that I read, there were a lot of facts about the hospital and region that were told, but they overshadowed any of the groundwork being laid for the plot.

Can you overcome a dark family history and right their wrongs? Finn Gettler comes from a family of doctors and medical researchers. Despite his father’s wishes that he too should become a doctor he sets off on a different career path and becomes an avid explorer. Finn’s explorations bring him to the now deserted North Brother Island located across the water from New York City. In the past Finn’s grandfather worked on this island treating and researching communicable diseases including the treatment of the notorious Typhoid Mary. While exploring the vine covered abandoned buildings Finn discovers a mysterious woman who is covered in scars and learns that his family is responsible for giving her those scars. Desiring the help this woman, Finn works to unravel the truth.

This was a very fast-paced read which was part psychological thriller and part historical fiction. I was unaware of the history of North Brother Island and enjoyed reading about it’s history as a location to quarantine and treat contagious illnesses including the treatment of Typhoid Mary.

This was a DNF for me. I struggled right from the beginning with the writing style and couldn not get into the story - having to look up meanings on the first page was a rough start. The cover is gorgeous though.

I thoroughly enjoyed this psychological thriller. This was my first novel by this author and it did not disappoint.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for fair and honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book as well as provide an honest review. The Vines takes the reader from the present day to as back as 1904. The island in which in essence is an isolation camp for those with contagious diseases so to stop the spread. The book's focus around finding cures or vaccines for diseases. The Vines, which is set at North Brother Island in New York, goes back and forth between present day and historical time periods. The reader really gets an eerie feeling from the abandoned hospital on the island This book brought several ethical issues to mind, such as is it ok for one person to suffer for the benefit of mankind and how much medical testing is too much. I would highly recommend this book to any historical fiction fans

Cora is a host to two viruses, small pox and typhoid, without showing symptoms. Finn, whose family conducted most of the research, must figure out how Cora lived so long through so many contagious diseases and still keep her youth. The Vines, an extremely slow burn, captivated my interest mainly because of the setting in which the story takes place. An abandoned hospital along with all its history peaked my interest as well as disgusted me to the scope of a human's determination to find a cure and the treatment of specimen's .The way how History and Science were infused was just perfect and definite page turner. It's a fine blend of engrossing characters, and a plot that twists and turns and ultimately resolves in a satisfying ending that left me wanting more. Me being a medical student was taken back by how the explanations of pathogen mechanisms were accurate while still being “reader-friendly”. This historical story is interesting and full of suspense, survival, love and heartbreak. I liked that the storyline was set in a real abandoned place called North Brother Island, which is in New York City

I am not usually a scientific reader but the mix with historical fiction drew me in and I found this novel very interesting.

If you like mystery along with your historical fiction The Vines by Shelley Nolden is for you! I had never heard of North Brother Island before so I was really eager to find out more. Especially during the time of a pandemic I was really interested in this early history of contagious diseases and how they were treated. This is a real page turner from start to finish! Highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley for an early copy!

I reviewed this book for Historical Novels Review, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. Per their policy, I cannot post a review online until after it is posted in the magazine in May 2021 . I will update this review after that date.

* Thank you to Netgalley for the early copy for my honest review*

I give this book a 3.5/5

Finn, who is a young urban explore, comes to the island to find answers of his family’s past. And he’s fascinated with the way the nature grows amongst the island itself. This island holds the remain of a shattered hospital, where experiments happened, and Finn’s family was a part of. During his exploration, he sees a strange women through the foliage bathing herself. This island shouldn’t be inhabited. We flash back from Finn’s story to Cora’s.. Cora was brought to the island due to a disease spreading amongst the city. She has hopes to return home, but in turn is held prisoner and experimented on.

The whole concept is interesting and I love the two different storylines that merge. The writing was a little hard to get into and a bit muddled in the beginning, but I really liked the ideas the story had.

This book was quite an interesting and somewhat timely read due to the underlying theme of being in the midst of a global pandemic. The ethical dilemma posed in the book (hurt one person to save the rest of the world) was extremely compelling.

I loved that the book was set on an island outside of New York City. Reminded me of the movie Shutter Island at times. As a whole, I found the writing to be extremely descriptive and it really helped me clearly visualize what was being discussed. This book was so well researched and I learned so much. Finn was an interesting but flawed character who kept me wondering how it would all end. Cora’s character I felt was so compelling and sad but a bit underdeveloped.

The only negative: the multiple POVs and timelines in the book made it hard to keep track at times.

All in all, this was a good entertaining read. If you like a medical historical thriller mixed in with some sci-fi elements, this book is perfect. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book and provide my honest feedback.

I enjoy the mystery that seem to surround this book just like the vines on the island. It followed a grey curtain of real life history, but yet a fictional tale at the same time.
There were so parts that drawn out but all in all the author did a incredible job incorporating the The research of the island.

I was really interested in the synopsis this book gave. I however, was disappointed. The book jumps around too much and makes it annoying and hard to pay attention. The ending cliffhanger was also just irritating - it’s not that good of a novel to end like that and encourage readers to buy a second book. The characters are also unlikeable, and I found myself not caring about what would happen to them. The idea of this book was great, but poorly executed.

The vines
When I read the description of "The Vines" I thought this is a book for me. I was pleasantly surprised as I read the book that it was a book for me.

The story was well written in the most part. There were areas that were slow and lost my attention, but that was only a few sections. The book was intriguing, suspenseful and realistic. The main characters were very likeable and you look forward to so them involve in the plot.

I will gladly recommend this book to others.

I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars

I received this complimentary e-book from publisher via Netgalley for a honest review. All thought and opinions are mine.

This book was just ok to me. I did struggle reading it because it wouldn’t keep my attention.
I know some will enjoy it but this one just wasn’t for me

I requested this book because the cover is ridiculously appealing, great job on that department. Also, the plot sounded VERY interesting.

I have to say I tried, but the story left me with the feeling that there was something missing. I didn't enjoy it. I think it wasn't the book for me, that's all.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I could barely even get through the first chapter of this book, I couldn't get into how it was written. It was way too simplistic.

Thanks to NetGalley, Freiling publishing, and the author Shelley Nolden for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

This story is about Finn Gettler, a descendant of medical researchers/microbiologists who have been trying for generations to create vaccines for highly contagious diseases. This study takes place over many years, going back and forth between past and present and eventually tying it all together. Finn’s family (Finn excluded) have been conducting medical procedures/testing on patients on North Brother Island at Riverside Hospital, a quarantine hospital for those suffering from contagious diseases such as small pox, typhus, tuberculosis, etc. The testing however, very cruel, inhumane, and often against the will/rights of the participants. Finn who is left in the dark of it all, is after answers about his family and their past, trying to help a young woman named Cora, who still resides at Riverside hospital under experimentation of the Gettler family.

This book did take me a while to really get into, I wasn’t really captured until around the 35 percent mark but once I got past that I did really enjoy it. I found it very interesting to read about the real life events that actually happened on North Brother Island. I was infuriated reading about the inhumane medical procedures and experimentation on these poor souls and found some parts hard to read, but couldn’t put the book down at the same time.

I very much enjoyed this book and can not wait to read the sequel to pick up where it leaves off. The sequel can’t come soon enough. Definitely recommend!

The Vines is an intriguing and disturbing read. I loved the science and the setting, it's a well written and smart book. The premise was very unsettling and made me dread reading certain parts. Another positive is that I will never think about lab experiments (on people or animals) the same way again.

**I received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Okay... everyone take a deep breath! This book is going to keep you on the edge of your seat. You’ll dream about it. You’ll question moral and ethical lines. You’ll want to scream at some of the characters. You’ll cry.

Yes, it’s that kind of book. Cora’s story completely shattered me. I felt so much revulsion and anger towards the Gettler family and that surprised me. Everything that Shelly wrote was so real and poignant. You will truly find yourself immersed in this novel. I haven’t felt that deeply invested in a long time.

Shelley obviously did her research on this book! I can’t wait to purchase it to pass on to my high schoolers as they read Microbe Hunters (one of her source materials) last year. I highly recommend reading this book!

I throughly loved reading the mesmerizing, spellbinding, and engaging novel by the awesome & amazing author, Shelley Nolden. When Finn goes to North Border Island, a place of his family's dark past, he meets a young woman, Cora, who has been tortured and experimented on, and Finn wants to save her. Cora and her mysterious past of living on the island wants nothing to do with anyone from the evil Gettler family including Finn. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and riveting storyline that grips and enthralls the reader from the beginning of the story until the end of the story.
I reviewed a copy of the book through NetGalley.

I wasn't sure if I would like it as a read - I admit I was biased, but I decided to give it a try. I do not regret. The author has a good style, the story holds my attention and I will continue to read more from the author. Thank you for the early access via NetGalley.