I wanted so badly to like Hush. It's a compelling concept--an illness spread by ink, where telling stories and speaking certain words is forbidden. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get hooked no matter how many times I tried to pick it up. I'm a big proponent for finishing all the books I start. I don't often DNF. So I finished Hush, but it took me over 4 months. Here's a bit of a rude thought I had... sometimes when I read a book written by a celebrity, I wonder if they got published because of true talent or because of connection. Jury's out on this one.

As I mentioned, the book doesn't lack conceptually, but in execution. It took 150 pages for anything resembling a plot to set in, and didn't even make up for it with worldbuilding. I don't really understand the magic, the history of the world, or anything else that could be considered notable and original. So much got crammed into the last half of the book--there's something to be said for the reader being in the narrator's mentality, but my word, do we really have to go through it *all* with them? Shae has to learn all about the Bards and we go through that with her for most of the book. Not having any background information until she learns it means that the story's stakes rely on readers being invested in Shae herself.

I didn't view Shae as an especially interesting narrator either, but that might just be me holding her to a heightened standard. The moment her training montage started, around 40% through the book, was the beginning of the plot and her intrigue as a narrator. Unfortunately, that was also the beginning of her misplaced insta-love romance. Authors, I love you, but readers do have appreciation for platonic friendships and books with no romance! Not all fantasy novels need a tall-dark-and-handsome love interest.

Hush is fairly appropriate for younger teens, despite seeming kind of dark at the outset. There's brief depictions of "madness" and some violence, but not that many graphic images.

I wouldn't call Hush an especially sparkling novel... it just didn't speak to me. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't pick it up! This could just be me wanting an inciting incident to actually incite something instead of having to wait 50 pages. I think Hush could also be considered a coming of age novel, which is something I typically dislike mixed into my high fantasy books. Shae leaves her village and learns the truth about her world. On the basis of "it's not you, it's me," I'm giving Hush 3/5 stars.

Hush by Dylan Farrow really took me by surprise, in the best way. I don't typically read books that focus on diseases or plagues, but I'm so glad I didn't pass this one up. The main character takes you on a journey of relationships, learning how to stand up for yourself, and that words really do have power. The magic system was something I've never seen anybody else come close to, and the message behind it all gives it that much more substance. I'm not sure I've ever wanted a character to 'win' and get what they desired as much as with this book and characters.

Wasn't really feeling this one.

Following Shea after the death of her brother from Indigo death; a blue rash that takes life :Sounds an awful like Cress. That is thought to be brought on by ink. So writing and books even stories are forbidden.

After her brother dies her family is shunned out of town and her mother never speaks again and she takes up embroidery which has an odd habit of bringing what she sows to life.

When she starts thinking the curse is leaking into her she goes to the Bards to ask them to heal her.

The Bards are the "godly" idols. The poor towns bring tributes in hope that they will bless their land with rain and bountiful harvest but if it is not enough they will leave the town in drought and ruin.

After the murder of Shea's mother she ventures off to High Place home of the Bards. To where she hopes to find answers.

We get a brief glimpse of the trip to get there... which Other than a lot of walking and a fire. ...seemed pretty easy.... then when she get to high place....she just kind of still has it easy.

Spoilers alert.
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My problem! how does she get into a strong hold OF TRAINED GUARDS! easily. She sneaks around the castle easily. She isn't trained she's a farm girl. Plus, the training she does she's like subpar, but when she thinks she's destroyed something and runs away she ALL the sudden has control over said powers?

And also Mads is literally the sweetest thing.

Loved the premise of this book . I started reading it and kept on getting a little bored with it at times; however, I did enjoy the book enough to finish it. I think I will attempt to read this book again now that life has calmed down a little. The author did a good job of creating a riveting world it just takes a little bit to see it.

A very good start, unfortunately I didn't have time to finish it. I really liked what I read, though!

A refreshing change from the standard fantasy fare. It kept me up all night, interacting with the complex characters..

I began reading this book very excited about the story. There's certainly some very interesting concepts and ideas, like the disease of the Blot, the banning of reading and certain words, the mysterious High House. The pacing and construction of the story however is a bit questionable, and I found myself a bit confused at times as well. I think that the story has so much potential if there was more details and just overall a more immersive experience, but unfortunately the characters are quite two-dimensional even by the end of the story. I might still pick up the next book to see if there's more character development, but at this point, not holding my breath.

This novel is an interesting beginning to a series. The heroine is not self assured or confident and at times comes across as whiny and self pitying but throughout the novel her determination and desire for truth endear her to the readers. Some of the characters are very one dimensional and the plot sometimes gets muddled but overall the story is interesting and the ending is satisfying.

It was a good start for a debut author. What confused me was the backstory. I needed more information about the Blot. How did it start and where did it come from? It was confusing and how it was related to the Bards magic system. Other than that I enjoyed it, and I’m interested to see how Shae’s magic progresses.

Hush is the excellent first novel in a new series by Dylan Farrow. I was honored to read an ARC from NetGalley and these opinions are my own. Shae is a young woman of seventeen. She leads a simple, quiet life with friends and family. All this changes when her mother is murdered. Shae discovers that what she thought were dreams, are reality and a group of elite magic-users called Bards are using language based magic to alter reality. In the midst of all this Shae has to deal with disease and quarantine, making this a timely read. Fortunately there is so much magic and mayhem that Hush makes for a welcome escape. Young adults and anyone who is a fan of dystopian fantasy will enjoy this fascinating novel by a first-time author.

The description of this book is so intriguing. And the cover is gorgeous. Shae lives in a world where reading and storytelling is the cause of a sickness referred to as the Blot and poverty. Her village relies on a Telling from the bards. Usually, a Telling is granted when the village has gathered enough of an offering for High House (where the bards live) or if they have done something to gain the approval of High House.

When her mother is murdered, no one believes Shae. In fact, the word "murdered" is forbidden because of the meaning behind it. You must be careful with what you say in this world. Everyone believes a narrative that has been spun that her mother died due to a landslide. So Shae decides to follow the bards to High House in order to seek their assistance in finding her mother's murderer.

One thing I really liked in this book was Shae's abilities manifesting within her embroidery. To me, it's a form of storytelling, so it provides a voice for her she didn't know she had.

I loved the idea the author conveyed of the power of words and language, or storytelling.

There are some issues I had with the book, though. For example, her immediate attraction to one of the bards when she had a good guy at home. Seriously? And the obvious bad guy in Cathal. For me, I didn't understand what made Shae so special that he believed she could get the Book of Days for him. "Only an incredibly gifted Bard can navigate through the spells of protection, to its heart." Honestly, to me, Shae didn't do enough to prove herself, and this made Cathal extremely suspect for me from the get-go.

My copy of this ebook seems to have been removed from my Kindle account so I am unable to provide a review. Sincere apologies.

The magic system was confusing and not really explained very well. This is the first book in a series though, so maybe the second book will be better.

Great story and loved the slight romance. Really enjoyed the characters and how the plot moved and how the characters changed throughout the book. I would read this author again.

This is a YA fantasy that features a great, strong female protagonist whose inner monologue is extremely relatable. The world-building is stellar, as well, but I found the narrative confusing at times.

The Blot a plague where ink takes over peoples bodies and kills them. Shae is concerned she might have the Blot and has not told anyone that what she see in her dreams come true. Hush is set in a dystopian world where a few control the plague and where people are forbidden words and stories. When Shae's mother is murdered she needs justice. She goes in search of the Bard's to see if they will help her. When Cathal, the leader of the Bards discovers that Share has magic he takes an interest in her. He agrees to help her find justice for her mother if she helps him get a book. Yet things are not what they seem. You can't believe everything you see or trust everyone. Will Shae be able to find out who killed her mother?

An interesting storyline and it ends with a cliff hanger. I liked it but didn't love it. I just felt something was missing from the story that would make me love it. The magical system could have been developed more but that is just my view. Also the characters in the book didn't leave a lasting impression on me but like I said overall not a bad story.

I wanted this to be a four or five star read, but something about it kept it from reaching those heights for me. The concept of the illness, the blot, and the unfolding plot full of magic and mystery, lies and truth, and misdirection were well done. I tried hard to like each of the characters or try to find some quality that would appeal, but they each fell short in some way. All this being said, I will still give the sequel a chance when it comes out.

When I saw the description for Dylan Farrow’s YA fantasy debut Hush, I was intrigued by the premise. There’s an original, magical world with exciting elements to be explored here, but unfortunately, the overall development is half-baked at best.

Seventeen-year-old Shae lives in a world without books and written language due to the Blot, a pandemic-style disease that infects people through the use of ink. The only people allowed access to such materials at the magical Bards who oversee the nation, traveling to the villages to grant “miracles'' that sustain the communities… if they gain the Bards’ favor. On top of banning books, the Bards have a slew of taboo words and activities for the everyday citizen. Disobeying means death.

Years after her brother died from Blot, Shae and her mother are outcasts in Montane. The people fear that they, too, have Blot. Then Shae finds her mother viciously murdered and is told by the Bards that what she saw was not real-- her mother died in an unfortunate accident. The experience opens up a new revelation: That Shae has reality-altering magic of her own. Suspecting a murderer among the Bards, she joins their ranks, training to become one of them while secretly trying to hunt down a killer.

Thrilling premise, right? I wish the rest of the novel lived up to it.

To give the novel some kudos, the early worldbuilding really worked for me. Montane felt like a dreary but very real village. Its mistrust of Shae jumps off the page in a pretty visceral fashion. The way townspeople are expected to turn on each other to appease the Bards is chilling. As Shae travels, the places she goes to leave a mark. The magical system that rules over the kingdom and gives the Bards their power, however, is never clearly defined. Nor is the history of the kingdom beyond Blot occurring and somehow allowing the Bards to take power.

The worldbuilding shortcomings could be forgiven if there wasn’t a much bigger issue with plot and pacing. Shae’s magical abilities cause her to lose grip on reality often, thrown into a chaotic state where she can be sure of nothing. This is fascinating TO A POINT. The novel quickly becomes so caught up in Shae’s real-or-not-real fever dreams that it forgets focus on a plot beyond that. Shae is investigating her mother’s potential murder, but everything is interrupted by her breaks from reality. Perhaps it’s meant to be purposefully jarring and drag you into an unsettling headspace, but instead it’s tedious.

The repetitive nature of her illusions is not helped by the fact that, to me, obvious villain is obvious and the minimal red herrings provided felt wafer-thin. Throughout the novel, Farrow is trying to deliver a message about victimization and gaslighting that should be particularly poignant coming from her, but it’s tangled up in so many distractions that it never fully develops. That was probably the most frustrating part for me.

There’s also a wet cardboard love interest. It’s been a couple months since I finished the book and honestly, I don’t remember his name.

I’m not saying Hush is a horrible book. I just think it wasn’t fully there yet. Farrow’s ideas are good, but need finesse and development. As a writer, there’s plenty of potential, it just feels like Hush needed a few more brainstorming sessions to shore up the plot and more investment in the character interactions.

First of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity to read this novel.
It started out great but lost steam halfway through and it took me two tries to get through it. I can’t give it more than 3 stars so I won’t post a review anywhere else.

I enjoyed learning the world that was portrayed in the book and would like to explore more.. I have no doubt that I will read at least one future novel. I do not like obvious cliffhanger endings and did not like our main character's fate left dangling.
That said, I believe that Ms. Farrow has talent and will read at least one more novel written by her. Hopefully the next will have better character development and not leave so many gaps in the story. At times It was a frustration read because I lost my mooring.