I wanted to love this book so bad, but I couldn't get into to the point where things clicked for me. It went back and forth a lot and was hard to follow for me. I did love the story of the abandoned island and the history of it. I liked Cora's historical sections, which most of it was, much more than the later story. The medical portions were difficult for me to read.

The Vines by Shelley Nolden is a creative historical fiction meets medical fantasy story perfect for those who find reading plague fiction cathartic as we experience a pandemic in real life.

This is tricky to review because I found aspects of the writing itself difficult or lacking. Especially to read as an ebook where it's hard to flip around through the book, I found the time jumping not organized clearly enough to avoid confusion. The story is told with so much detail and explanation that it could tiring to read. In the beginning when the reader is trying to meet and track characters, I found the constant back story for each new detail stacked on each other hard to follow.

But with that said, the story is brilliant! The historical fiction combined with the contemporary dystopian-ish feel is super cool! There are a few twists that I did NOT see coming and were brilliant. This story is so sad yet with glimmers of hope. It's steeped in heart break, corruption, and the tension between right and wrong and the gray in between.

The epilogue from the author in the end absolutely blew my mind. First, I want to give Nolden a huge hug and I'm thankful that she shared her personal story with us. The behind-the-scenes is so cool! I'm amazed at the original inspirations and how she brought her idea to life. This is a cool story!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Freiling Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A story both timely and timeless, The Vines is an engrossing and entertaining book. I enjoyed the way the author wove in true historical details, and I found the characters believable. I only wish that I didn’t have to wait for the sequel! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The original description of The Vines definitely piqued my curiosity and I was surprised (pleasantly) with every chapter.

The Vines is a novel based on North Brother Island in the East River. North Brother had been used as home to the quarantine hospital, Riverside, and was home to Typhoid Mary. The main character, Cora finds herself on North Brother with her younger sister. The cast of characters grows and entwines much like the fauna does on North Brother after it is abandoned in the middle of the last century.

I only wished the story continued but understand the story will be continued in a sequel. I received a digital copy to read and review from NetGalley. The Vines by Shelley Nolden is due out March 23, 2021.

North Brother Island in NY harbor. An island that was once the home for those with incurable diseases. It’s the story of the Doctors and nurses who helped those patients but mostly the story of Cora. Cora and her sister arrive on the island in 1904, and there Cora remains. She becomes a experiment for a family of Doctors that use her to find an antigen for the many germs she carries. I wanted to put this book down many times but I’m glad I didn’t and will now wait for part two. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

The premise of this novel is very intriguing, but for me the writing fell flat. The story is a dual timeline, and while I did appreciate the historical context added, some of the descriptions felt like they droned on. There were times the plot moved at an achingly slow pace. While I am curious about what happens in the next book, I doubt I will ever read it.

Important themes including medical ethics, contagious quickly spreading diseases, secrets and the importance of families carry the reader on an intense journey through The Vines. I found the switching back and forth through time a bit confusing, but quickly righted myself and continued, entranced by the story.

1902- Across the East River in New York City lies North Brother Island, which houses the campus of an isolation hospital, built to quarantine patients with deadly communicable illnesses like tuberculosis, typhoid and measles. Cora, a patient in the facility, harbors the illnesses and can spread them to others, but doesn’t get sick herself. She lives a lonely life, isolated from everyone except the doctors who perform painful examinations to discover how this is possible.

Present day- Urban explorer Finn travels to North Brother Island to explore the ruins of the hospital. He comes upon a woman who is clearly living there, although the island has been long deserted. Who is she? What caused the many scars on her beautiful body?

This is a complex and intriguing story that will keep you guessing. It is also of note that North Brother Island and the hospital that was there are real places, as are some of the characters, like Typhoid Mary, who spent time there. This makes the story even more interesting.

Although this is a most enjoyable novel in its own, be forewarned that a sequel is apparently coming, so all the ends are not neatly tied up by the end of the book.

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of this book for the purpose of providing an unbiased review.

I wasn't sure if I would like this book. Then I read about ten pages and it sucked me in. I am eagerly awaiting the next book. Shelley Norden is most definitely on my list of preferred authors.
Finn's brother, father, granddfather, and even great-grandfather are all doctor's. But not only doctors, they have all done important research to find vaccines...antidotes to many of the dreadful diseases that have infected mankind. They are still researching, trying to stay ahead of the next wave of disease that will inflict itself on the world.
Most of thier research is done on North Brother Island off the shore of New York City. It was there that Finn's Great-Grandfather worked with patients sent to the Island's hospital and sanitarium for infectious diseases. Patients such as Cora, a child who had a virulent case of measles. Cora quickly becomes the focus of his research, and though she recovers from the measles in record time, she is not allowed to leave the Island. Ever. Even after the Sanitarium is closed, she remains on the Island, still the focus of his obsessive research. And not only his research, but his son's and grandsons. The research is horrific, methods are unethical, and Cora is treated as somewhat less than human with each passing generation.
Finn is not in the "family business" but has become more interested in what his father and brother are doing since finding some unsettling information pertaining to their work. As he digs into the present, it intersects with his family's past, and the fallout is unnerving to say the least.
I recommend this book highly.
I was given an advance copy of this book be NetGalley in return for an unbiased review

I've made it to the 10% mark and something about Finn's character is unsettling and I can't really explain why. All the characters introduced so far haven't really given me a reason to continue on and see what happens. The mysterious woman at the abandoned hospital did peak my interest but something in the back of my mind is telling me I wouldn’t like the interaction between her and Finn later in the story, based on how the relationship with his girlfriend seems strain. There's a clear obsession with the mysterious woman and right off the bat he decides to hide everything from his girlfriend. I believe the story has the potential to be a possible 4 stars, the scientific aspect involving diseases and cures is intriguing. I think I’ll try reading this again at a later date.

PLOT (as described by the publisher):
In the shadows of New York City lies forbidden North Brother Island, where the remains of a shuttered hospital hide the haunting memories of century-old quarantines and human experiments. The ruins conceal the scarred and beautiful Cora, imprisoned by contagions and the doctors who torment her. When Finn, a young urban explorer, arrives on the island and glimpses an enigmatic beauty through the foliage, intrigue turns to obsession as he seeks to uncover her past—and his own family’s dark secrets. By unraveling these mysteries, will he be able to save Cora? Will Cora meet the same tragic ending as the thousands who’ve already perished on the island?
The Vines intertwines North Brother Island’s horrific and elusive history with a captivating tale of love, betrayal, survival, and loss.

WHAT DID I THINK?

This was an intriguing book to read while living during a pandemic. It sucked me in from the beginning and I always love when a book jumps back and forth from the present to the past. It was a mix of science fiction, thriller, and a smidge of romance. Cora’s character was fascinating, but at times the story was a bit too far-fetched for me. However, I had to keep reading to know what happened. The ending left too many loose ends, but that’s why there’s a sequel. Overall, this book didn’t fit my personal reading taste, but I think science fiction fans will enjoy it.

Thank you #netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Published: March 23, 2021
Freiling Publishing
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Shelley Nolden is an entrepreneur and writer, now residing in Wisconsin. Previously, she lived in the New York City area, where she worked on Wall Street and first learned of North Brother Island.

“If I die, the gift dies with me.”

Cora has lived most of her life in isolation. She has spent years close enough to see, but never be apart of, city life. In a tangled web, told over decades, Cora’s story gets unraveled in a twisted game of cat and mouse.

In a story told over decades, we get to know Cora, our main narrator. As far as debut novels go, this one is intense and packed with punches.

Interwoven with German lineage and a twisted sense of playing God, The Vines is a terrifying story of what happens when a man thinks he knows what is best. The ego outweighs the odds, and human life takes on a twisted meaning.

This is an enormously complicated story that drags you in and holds you down. When you think you know what is happening, a twist so dramatic happens, and you’re left sitting with no idea what will happen next.

The imagery used in the novel is so detailed and so explicit that you will feel like you’re standing on an isolated island among the rubble, like Cora.

What does family mean? What is a legacy? This book tackles so many important themes and deals with so many twisted issues that it is no wonder there will be a second book. I found the characters all very well developed, each with their struggles and vulnerabilities. There is such a raw human element to this story, and the characters within, that you cannot help but be drawn in.

The pacing is erratic, but it works with this plot, and the answers all start to reveal themselves as the twisted tale unfolds. There is something so scary about this story because something like this could happen. And the human element is terrifying because it is how some would genuinely react in this situation. In a world riddled with disease, what would you sacrifice for a cure?

If you like dark, medical thrillers, then The Vines is definitely for you. With a storyline that will engage you completely, characters you will love and hate, this novel is one hell of an introduction.

Really liked how relevant this book is although I felt thrust into the story right away and felt like I needed more background going in.

The Vines by Shelley Nolden is a very timely novel of a pandemic, as we go through one now. The dual timeline novel tells the story of Cora, who at the age of 18 was sent to North Brother Island, a victim of the Spanish Flu pandemic. She soon become asymptomatic, but if she tries to leave the island, all of her symptoms return. As a sort of medical marvel, she becomes the focus of medical experimentation for the Gettlers, a family of doctors, one of whom proudly serves for the Germans in WWII. In current times, Finn Gettler sneaks over to the island and finds her, this scarred woman who looks like she's only 18, not knowing that his family has been experimenting on her for decades and that she hasn't aged in the time she's been on the island.

This novel is hard to read in parts, but heartwarming in others. The science is fascinating, as are Cora's survival techniques. Nolden has taken the story of North Brother Island and made it even more fascinating than it was, which is hard to believe if you've ever done any research on this small island, visible from NYC. Believe me, once you start reading this book, you'll be researching it! Thank you to the author, Freiling Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I obtained this copy of "The Vines" from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

North Brother Island holds a tragic past, and one permanent resident has been witness to it all. Though nature has taken back the once esteemed medical facility, two things remain a constant... The Gettler men and Cora.

I am in shock. "The Vines" has stirred many emotions within me. Anger, confusion, sadness, and hope. This book was both challenging and easy at the same time for me. It took me awhile to get through this book, and I'm not really sure why because I enjoyed it a lot. It may be due to my extracurricular research on North Brother Island, which happens to be a very real place.

The plot was really good, but the ending seemed rushed and incomplete. This book was also very heavy on German verbiage. If you understand the German language you'll be fine, but as I do not, I found it distracting. Overall it makes sense why it's used so frequently, so it's not a deal breaker for me by any means.

I really look forward to reading more books by Shelley Nolden. Congratulations on your debut novel, and I hope you have an amazing release day! Pick up your copy of "The Vines" on March 23, 2021!

The Vines presents a mystery to determine the identity of a woman living on New York’s uninhabitable North Brother Island.. Supposedly the only structure on the island is a closed hospital where human experiments took place.. A young explorer, Finn appear as on the scene and observes the woman, Cora through the foliage. He seeks to discover the identity of the woman and why she is on the island. In doing so he discovers secrets involving his own family, as well. Will he be able to save Cora, or will she meet the same fate of other inhabitants
In the hospital’s mysterious past? The well written story grips the reader from the beginning, keeping a spellbinding mood from the first page to the surprising end.

Cora arrives on North Brother Island to be treated for a contagious disease, only to be used and studied. The story goes between past (beginning in 1904) and present, showing the reader Cora’s journey. What lengths will one family go to to try to prevent disease?

This author did her research, and it shows. I was very impressed with the details! Characters and story line is very relatable after living through 2020. A few mentions of Coronavirus among the diseases they wanted to cure. There are multiple points of view throughout, and I'm left wondering what I would do in any of their positions.

Human experimentation, family drama, survival, love and betrayal. What would you do to protect the ones you love most? What would you do to save the entire world?

Thank you Shelley Noland, Freiling Publishing, and Netgalley for this read!

The Vines, an original and interesting story set on the now abandoned North Brother Island in the East River off NYC, is a wonderful blend of sci-fi and historical fiction, that is also part horror and part mystery.

I love science fiction. One of the biggest differentiators, I find, between good and not-so-good sci-fi is how skillfully and quickly the author turns the strangeness of a new world into a totally real and engaging story. My first thoughts are - kudos to the author - as from the first few paragraphs, this book draws you in, and as we meet the main protagonists, Finn Gettler and Cora McSorley, and the events that unfold on the mysterious island, I found myself eagerly reading quickly, trying to piece together what was happening, and why.

Gradually and with mounting chill, themes began to unfold, - medical ethics, scientific responsibility, eugenics, personal accountability, freedom vs common good, how far one will go for love, what makes us human, - and I found myself totally engrossed in the story as it unfolded. The author does a great job weaving between timelines to help us understand Cora and her backstory, as well as the Gettler family, and in particular, their motivations and challenges, in all their layered complexity.

Around halfway through the book or so, however, I found myself drifting, and it was a bit of a chore to keep reading. It felt like perhaps the middle third of the book went on too long and could have been tightened.

Luckily the finale was well executed, with a twist or two thrown in, so overall I would say that the book was successfully executed. I debated and ended up at a rating of 3.5 stars. I would recommend this book as a very intriguing and compelling story, one which is also very timely in the current COVID-19 climate.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, Freiling Publishing, and the author for an advance copy of this book for review

This is the perfect book to read during a pandemic....or maybe its the worst book to read during a pandemic, I’m not sure! Set on North Brother’s Island in New York, former site of a drug rehab center but now a mass of ruins forbidden to the public, The Vines is the story of.a beautiful young woman trapped there by the strange and miraculous nature of her body and the twisted idealism of 3 generations of men who want to use that magic to save the world from disease...or at least some parts of the world, or some people. Cora has been trapped on the island since 1902, when it was a camp of sorts for those with typhus. But there is something special about Cora besides being young and beautiful: she may carry a disease, but she doesn’t get sick. Eventually she becomes the subject of a doctor who wants to use her to find cures or vaccines, in essence treating her as a human guinea pig. Over the decades, through the abandonment of the island, Cora survives not one, one two but three generations of men wanting to use her as a scientific experiment.

The Vines is the story of a young woman alone, dealing with men who have power but never losing her own sense of self. It’s a coming of age story in a way, of Cora, of the times, of science. There are also powerful questions about what can or should be done to someone in the name of the greater good, or at least, where the greater good is used as an excuse. How does someone used as a human experiment retain their humanity? Where are the lines, and what happens when they are crossed? While parts of the story are incredibly sad, and truly painful to read, the questions it raises are particularly timely given the pandemic.

I highly recommend The Vines; it’s a very worthwhile read!

Disturbing novel about the medical torture of a young woman with unheard of immunity in the name of "overall good for mankind", with a giant helping of Nazi sadism.
The history of North Brother Island in New York was very interesting.
Content warning - torture, animal abuse, sexual assault