Member Reviews
A dark and twisted thriller, this was a rollercoaster of a read.
Although I figured out the ‘bad guy’ early on, at no point did I know where the story was going to take me and boy did it take me everywhere. Roque chucked everything at this book (maybe too much at times?) but, for the most part, it worked. While this could be read as a standalone (which I kind of wish it had been) the ending leaves the reader with unanswered questions and the set up for an equally jam-packed sequel.
All in all, this was incredibly addictive and action packed read, and definitely one for fans of Truly Devious and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
Wow! This book was incredibly tightly written! It had some of the most impressive language I've seen in YA before -- it wasn't super flowery, but definitely more descriptive/verbose than most YA.
The plot itself was good (no great) -- it was a pretty standard small town nefarious powers that be type mystery. I didn't really know what was going to happen, but the twists didn't really surprise me that much. It was really detailed and descriptive, but not super substantial if that makes sense.
The characters were nicely diverse -- some great amputee rep in the protagonist, who also had gay parents. One of the dads was Latinx, and there was good spanish integrated in the dialogue -- I really liked that it didn't translate what he was saying or put it in italics (I'm not sure if that's just because it's an eARC though and would like to confirm with a final copy).
The set up here is a solid one. A girl rescued from a dark past finds that her history is tied up in a larger town secret. We've got murdered teens and a company involved with street kids. Cia is a strong character surrounded by interesting figures. We're never quite sure who can be trusted as evidence continually points in myriad directions. With a plot that is constantly twisting it's a compelling read. That plot, though, goes is some awfully strange directions and ultimately stretches the bounds of believability perhaps beyond the breaking point.
Till Human Voices is a mixture of everything you need for a proper mystery YA book. It is a dark and twisty YA not a fluffy read.
A fantastic YA debut thriller that sees a teen girl with a prosthetic leg determined to prove her best friend didn't commit suicide. Full of twists, betrayals and amazing suspense. I loved this and couldn't put it down. Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of Veronica Mars. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait to see what's next in this series.
Unfortunately I had to DNF the book. After reading for couple of weeks, I only managed to reach 35%. By looking at other awesome reviews, its a case of 'it's not the book, it's me'.
This was probably the best YA Mystery book I have read since A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER and TRULY DEVIOUS. That should be enough to get you to read it!
TILL HUMAN VOICES WAKE US is twisty, dark, and I pretty much guarantee you will enjoy following Cia along on her quest to find out what happened to her best friend, Alice, and the rest of the teens who have died or disappeared without a trace. I'm so happy this is going to be a trilogy! I can't wait to read the sequel.
READ THIS AS SOON AS IT COMES OUT!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC.
Well written and gorgeous cover. The characters felt well developed and I think this will be a hit with the target audience. I’m just not sure I’m that audience so I felt disconnected.
This was my first book by this author but I hope there are many more to come. Part mystery, part learning about yourself and your family…growing up and who to trust. How the past can affect the future this is one book that is going to soar on the charts.
For all the NA fans out there, there is a new author in town. Check this out.
Till Human Voices Wake Us introduces the reader to a kickass (literally) female protagonist in Cia, short for Silencia. Cia has survived a fire that took the lives of her entire family and left her with burn scars and a prosthetic leg. She has since been adopted by the fireman that was there at the time of the fire and his husband. Book One in the Violet Hour Trilogy doesn't shy away from the modern life in which younger people are living.
The town in which Cia lives has a high count of missing youth, written off as suicides, drug overdoses, and victims of random fires. When Cia's best friend, Alice, begins to research into those missing kids and into Cia's own devastating brush with fire, she turns up dead. The authorities write it off as yet another suicide which leads Cia and her friend, Will, to take matters into their own hands.
The is a lot going on in Till Human Voices Wake Us with big Pharma Conspiracy theories, religious extremism (be sure to watch for characters names), teen pregnancy, expendable people, and dysfunctional families to name a few. Ok, so that is real life! But then we get to the kickass part. Who was Alice talking to on the dark web? Who is threatening Cia now. What is happening underground both figuratively and literally? Who can be trusted? I was hooked and wanted to know. As the book nears its conclusion, you know you're going to get a resolution and also feel the set up for the next book in the trilogy. I love that.
This is a great debut into the New Adult genre that leaves the reader wanting more Cia and Will and other things that would just be a spoiler to mention.
Mark this one down as it's coming March 2024.
Thank you to the author for providing an early copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I have to say, I honestly enjoyed this more than A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Something about the way it was written just hooked me a lot more and a lot faster. This was giving mysterious small town secrets, weird culty behavior, and a best friend dead under strange circumstances. This was really well written and tightly plotted--I flew through this and had a great time while doing it. I cannot wait to read more from this author because the way she writes is amazing!
Really good ya murder mystery, written well and kept me hooked throughout. Would rate 4.5 stars if that was an option but would definitely recommend to friends to read
Thank you Netgalley and Rebecca Roque for gifting me this ARC.
Till Human Voices Wake Us is a mind-breaking ya murder mystery where we follow seven-teen-year-old Cia. She is the only one in her family who survived a fire in her house created by her controlling cult-ish father. Cia now lives with her fathers and her cute dog in a house, all safe and sound (or so she thinks)
Cia and her best friend Alice get into an argument one day about Alice's investigation in her fire that might be linked to other mysterious missing teen cases. Not shortly after, Alice's body is found floating in the quarry. Cia knows something is up and goes investigate this whole situation. Further and further in the investigation, Cia doesn't know who to trust and discover more and more secrets about the people she thought the new best.
If you like murder mysteries, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, Black Mirror, mysterious small town vibes and a secret society, then you should definitely read this book!
Rebecca Rogue's debut novel is nothing short of a literary rollercoaster, delivering an eccentric and slightly chaotic narrative that resonates with a powerful and rhythmic quality. It's a tale that can be likened to a fusion of Black Mirror's mind-bending storytelling and the intriguing mystery elements found in A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Within the pages of this novel lies a small town riddled with its own idiosyncrasies and eccentricities, concealing a tangled web of deceit and an abundance of skeletons in the closet. It is a place where the town's most ardent secrets are buried deep, and the only one brave enough to unearth them is a young girl who has already suffered through a series of traumatic events. With unwavering determination, she embarks on a perilous journey to reveal the hidden truths, even if it means risking her own life in the process.
At the heart of the story is seventeen-year-old Cia, the lone survivor of a devastating fire, which was ignited by her own father. The mystery deepens when her best friend, Alice, is believed to have taken her own life while investigating her ex-boyfriend, Noah. However, Cia refuses to accept the tragic fate that has befallen her friend. Instead, she becomes resolute in her quest to uncover the real story behind Alice's actions. In her pursuit of the truth, Cia encounters a town filled with people willing to go to great lengths to safeguard their dark secrets. Yet, she understands that when a person has nothing left to lose, they become fearless, ready to confront the sinister reality lurking beneath the surface.
In conclusion, this debut novel by Rebecca Rogue is an unputdownable and addictive read that caters to the cravings of fans of true crime and psychological thrillers. The author excels in creating well-defined and relatable characters, ensuring that readers become deeply invested in their fates. The pacing of the narrative is nothing short of riveting, maintaining an atmosphere of tension and intrigue that grips readers from the very beginning. As the story unfolds and the revelations start pouring in, readers are left in awe of the unexpected twists and turns. Rebecca Rogue's fresh literary voice shines through in this work, leaving readers eager to explore her future creations.
I extend my sincere gratitude to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for generously providing me with a digital review copy of this heart-pounding book in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
I didn’t know what to expect from this book but I really enjoyed it and I’m sure readers of young adult mysteries will too.
Rebecca Roque's storytelling skillfully navigates the mysteries of the plot, making it a compelling read that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages. "Till Human Voices Wake Us" is an exceptional example of how a story can bridge different genres, providing an immersive and satisfying reading experience that leaves a lasting impact.
An extraordinary YA murder mystery from Rebecca Roque. I can’t reccomend this highly enough.
Cia a high school senior has more than had her share of tragic and distressing events - a fire caused by her father of which she is the sole survivor, her best friend Alice is found drowned in the quarry - when she decides to investigate the disappearance of so many young people from her town essentially to avenge Alice life gets even more distressing.
A fast paced detective story, which I never wanted to put down.
Thanks to NeGalley and Blackstone publishing for the ARC.
This book was so surprisingly good! I did not know what to expect but the horror elements really grabbed me. This cover drew me in and the book atmospheric kept me invested.
This book should be on everyone’s tbr list! We follow Cia, as she is thrown into a world her best friend has kept hidden, until it slowly unravels as she turns up dead and no one will believe it was murder. No one but Cia, her friend will and an unlikely ally. From her besties murder to her traumatic past before her adoption that led to the loss of her leg (A+ for disabled rep) to the disappearance of too many young teen for coincidence, nothing is as it seems. YA murder mystery has never been so intriguing and like Alice warns, you can’t trust anyone.
**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review**
Secrets and lies in a small town have a habit of coming to the surface. Unfortunately for those trying to unravel them, there are those who would rather they stay buried and will kill to make sure that they do. Or so Cia believes.
Coa's best friend Alice is dead. Local law enforcement quickly put it down to suicide but she doesn't believe this is true. She is riddled with guilt over the argument they had shortly before Alice's death and vows to try and work out what really happened... even if it means facing her her own tragic past and possibly hurting those she loves the most.