Hush by Dylan Farrow offers an intriguing premise, immersing readers in a dystopian world where words have the power to kill. The concept is original, and the underlying themes of censorship and truth resonate in today’s world. The protagonist, Shae, is relatable in her quest for empowerment, and the story’s darker tone sets it apart from typical YA. However, the worldbuilding can feel vague at times, leaving some elements underexplored. The pacing is uneven, with slower moments that hinder the narrative’s momentum. While it doesn’t fully realize its potential, Hush is a thought-provoking read for fans of dark, speculative fiction.

In Hush, Farrow addresses her own childhood trauma of not being believed after reporting her adoptive father’s molestation of her. No one believes Shae and she is dismissed over and over by those in power. This theme will resonate with teens who are often dismissed because of their age. Shae is a headstrong main character who isn’t afraid to go off on her own, seeking the independence most teens also want to find. However, there are moments where the plot drags and the writing is clumsy, making this a book that requires perseverance. Frustratingly, the disease that takes Shae’s brother starts out as an important plot point, it is quickly dropped in favor of the mystery of who murdered her mother, only to make a sudden reappearance at the end.

This book was action packed and gripping. The exact types of fantasy that I gravitate towards! It kept me trying to figure out what was going on throughout the book.

Atmospheric and well written, I enjoyed Hush by Dylan Farrow. Fast paced and easy to follow and read, this was a nice palate cleanser and I had a nice time with it.

*Hush* by Dylan Farrow is a novel that I had high hopes for, but ultimately left me feeling a bit mixed. The premise—a young woman seeking to uncover the truth about her past and her family's dark secrets—is intriguing and filled with potential. Farrow does a great job creating a tense atmosphere, and the exploration of trauma and the impact of silence is compelling.

However, while the writing is solid, I found myself struggling to connect with the protagonist, and the pacing felt uneven at times. There were moments where the story really captivated me, but there were also parts that dragged on too long. I also felt that some of the character development could have been more fleshed out. The twists toward the end were satisfying, but not entirely shocking.

Overall, *Hush* is a decent read, but it didn't fully live up to the suspense and emotional depth I was hoping for. I'd recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers, but it's not one I’ll be rushing to revisit.

An intriguing fantasy novel that blends mystery, magic, and dystopian themes. The story follows Shae, a young girl living in the land of Montane, where speaking the truth is forbidden, and the written word is feared. When a series of mysterious events disrupts her life, she begins to uncover dark secrets about her world and the magic that controls it.

The concept of 'Hush' is compelling, especially with its commentary on censorship, control, and the power of words. Farrow creates a vivid, atmospheric setting that draws you into a world where silence is safety. The themes of oppression and rebellion are woven throughout, adding depth to the narrative.

That said, while the premise is strong, the pacing can be uneven at times, and some of the character development felt a bit rushed. Shae is a relatable protagonist, but her journey occasionally feels predictable.

Overall, 'Hush' is a solid debut with a lot of potential, even if it doesn't fully break new ground in the genre. It's a decent read if you're looking for a quick escape into a world of magic and mystery. Three stars for an enjoyable, if not entirely groundbreaking, read!

Unfortunately I could not connect with the writing style in this book. It also felt very predictable in what was going to happen. I can see it connecting with the lower end of YA age range. I just don't think I am in the demographic for this book.

It was interesting, but not compelling. I wanted more in the way of world building and emotional connection to the characters.

I was initially drawn to this book by its intriguing synopsis, gorgeous cover, and all the buzz it generated. However, it ultimately disappointed. While the beginning had promise with its concept and writing style, the lack of world-building was a major issue, leaving the unique ideas muddy and confusing. This affected plot development, especially around the magic system, making the story feel disjointed. Shae's struggles felt ineffective, with random plot points that didn't deepen character arcs. Though Shae narrated adequately, her journey lacked growth, and supporting characters remained superficial. Despite my initial interest, Hush missed the mark, resulting in a disappointing read that didn't stand out in the YA fantasy genre.

This book had an interesting concept. And had the potential to build on it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

This book started out slow, but eventually picked up around the 40% mark. Although I enjoyed the story and found it thought-provoking, the world-building and magical system felt underdeveloped. The characters were also superficial. Despite its flaws, the book was entertaining, and the ending left me excited for the sequel.

This book was so intriguing! It took me a while to read it and I don't know why I waited so long! I was hooked from the first page and need to read the next book soon.

I really enjoyed the storyline in world building in the novel. I also really liked the characters. I thought this was a solid read, and I will definitely be reading more by this author.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

I received this arc on NetGalley in 2020. Since that time I’ve grown away from reading young adult books very much. That being said I did like this one. I wish there was more explanation about the magic system, why the Blot started, more history on their society, etc but I liked the heroine and the story well enough that I will probably pick up the second book so I know how the story ends.

**thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc I received in exchange for my honest review**

I wanted to love this book - the synopsis is intriguing, the cover is gorgeous and I had been hearing a lot of hype surrounding this book.

Unfortunately, it fell really flat. The beginning had me hooked with its concept and I liked the vibe of the writing style, but it all went off the rails pretty quickly.

The main issue for me was the absence of world-building. There was a severe lack of clarity that caused all of the unique and exciting ideas to be muddy and confusing.
This issue leaked into the plot development, as so much of the plot had to do with the magic system and its place in the ruling of the world. It felt very disjointed, and without a strong base of understanding,

Shae's struggles were ineffective. Plot points seemed to come out of nowhere and had little to do with furthering any character arcs. Shae as a narrator was fine, but there was nothing special about her that allowed me to connect on a deeper level. Her journey was convoluted and she never developed from where she began.
We only got a surface level experience with all of the supporting characters, which was disappointing as they had the potential to be really interesting with complex dynamics.

In a fantasy or dystopian novel, having a strong and clear foundation of your world is arguably the most important thing, because it directly informs every other aspect of the novel.
While Hush had great potential, the lack of this crucial element overtook the book's positives, delivering a murky and unfulfilling story.

If you've read the blurb above, then you know that this book hinges on a magic system involving language and the silencing of many voices. The premise is fantastic and timely; however, I found that the execution didn't quite meet today's YA fantasy standards. There isn't much explanation into how the magic system works which leaves a gaping hole in the world building of the story, and a vague exclamation of "Magic!" is usually the blanket explanation for any scene that couldn't be logically explained away. I'm the type of reader who needs to understand how this magic works and why some people have it while others do not.

Another aspect that felt misleading is that this is being marketed as a "feminist fantasy", but I didn't find any portion of this plot to be particularly feminist. The main character falls into a typical insta-love relationship with the only boy available, which I don't personally have a problem with, but might be a turn off for readers expecting a story of solo female triumph or strong platonic bonds.

I'd like to end on a positive note by saying that the story is a page turner, and I think the right reader will really connect with Shae and her plight, and I'm truly excited to see how Dylan grows as an author with the second part of this story. Also? Wow, that cover. Excuse me while I drool over it for eternity.

As someone who LOVED Inkheart growing up, I felt like this was a more grown up version! It was still unique, but I couldn't help but make that comparison while reading. It was fast-paced, action-packed, and gripping, and I always love books that play on how powerful words and stories are. Highly recommend!

In Montane, writing is outlawed due to a disease thought to spread through ink and people are careful with their words to not invoke something unintended. Seventeen year old Shae lives on the outskirts of her village with her mother - mute since the death of Shae's brother from the Blot. When her mother is murdered and her concern over her ability to manifest things into reality from her embroidery, Shae is determined to find answers.

Hush mixes a fantasy world with some well-known tropes of the YA Dystopia genre. I thought the fantasy worldbuilding was original and interesting, but on the dystopian side of things it was all pretty typical. Overall it's a fun, fast paced read and I'm definitely interested enough in the cliffhanger to pick up the next book in the series.

"Hush" by Dylan Farrow presents a fantasy world with intriguing elements, yet falls short of its full potential. The premise, combining magic, secrets, and a quest for truth, has promise but lacks the depth required for a truly immersive experience. While the concept of a girl seeking justice and uncovering hidden powers is compelling, the execution at times feels rushed, leaving character development and world-building underexplored. The book's resemblance to other established fantasy works is evident, and while it attempts to stand out, it occasionally struggles to carve out its unique identity. Despite these shortcomings, Farrow's narrative does offer moments of suspense and mystery that manage to maintain reader engagement. While "Hush" possesses the foundation of a gripping tale, it falls short of fully delivering on its potential to captivate and differentiate itself within the genre.