Hush

A stunning debut novel .A fantasy novel so imagenitive so creative ,a book that takes you out of your armchair into the world written on the pages. Highly recommend an author I will be following so exciting when a new novelist writes this beautifully,#netgalley#.martinspress

4.5 Stars. A nearly-perfect read. I couldn't stop turning pages. It was deeply compelling, rich and truly felt. I really hope to read more from Farrow in the future! Highly recommended!

Wow! This is one powerful story. Right from the start I was invested with Shae, wanting the answers she craved. And then the questions deepen with the death of her mother. And they deepen again. And again. It's amazing how the story unfolded, each layer richer than the next. I was easily able to imagine the world, feel the weight of the fears, and beliefs, and that is due to how wonderfully real Shae was portrayed. As the story evolves so does she and the way you feel for her. Her determination is admirable and I love the way she handled herself as each new twist wrapped her, spinning her world each time you though she was going to find her footing.

The power of words is amplified both with themes and the plot but more strikingly through the author's deft use of them to weave a world so rich and absorbing. This an intelligent YA fantasy with sharp edges that can be as profound as you wish while still being the fantasy escape you crave. The end sets up for more to come and this pleases my heart.

This is a story about bravery & risk.

When I found out Dylan Farrow wrote a book, I knew I had to read it. I deeply admire her, and anyone who speaks truth to power while coping with trauma.

This book was so good! It’s about words, and truth and courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable circumstances, even when the character is all alone in the world because no one else is ready to be as brave as her. The magic system is unique & it seems fitting that real magic comes from telling. The world is bleak- but the protagonist doesn’t lose hope. It’s a fantasy, murder mystery/thriller... with a tiny hint of romance. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. Looking forward to the sequel!

Thanks Netgalley & , St Martins Press for this advanced e-ARC! Hush will be available for purchase on October

Hush is an absolutely stunning debut novel by Dylan Farrow. The world created is so well layered and intriguing that you cannot help but feel slightly sad and disappointed when the novel ends.

This book was so insanely good. I really appreciated the entire premise and the characters. It was a well-developed and well-written. I can't wait for this book to be published!

"The more I tell you, the more you believe, the more it becomes true. The madness and the idea that women were somehow more susceptible to it, was just another lie to control me."

I have been incredibly hyped to read this book since it was first announced and I'm happy to report that it did not disappoint! I love that Farrow took YA fantasy and used it to look at the power of the written word, whose stories get told and believed, etc. The pacing was good and I was immediately immersed in the world and appreciated that the magic and world-building wasn't overly complicated. I am already looking forward to the sequel and seeing where the story goes from here!

What an excellent debut novel! I was thoroughly impressed by the unique idea of the Blot and the magic that words yielded. As someone who loves writing, these ideas grabbed my attention and drew me into the story. Shae’s character is someone that most of us who have had to be brave and take risks can relate to. She has such human qualities with her self-doubt and low self-confidence but she’s filled with immense power that she is unaware of.

This book will take you on a thrilling adventure with lots of surprises. It’s an addictive page-turner that will keep you guessing until the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read this ARC. I can’t wait to see what this author has in store next.

First, I want to say thank you for the complimentary copy of this ebook ARC from the publisher, author and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness! Y'all are not ready for the awesomeness that is Hush by Dylan Farrow! I opened this book and I could not put it down! I wanted to keep reading even though I had to work and do other things that kept getting in the way of a good reading time.

"In the land of Montane, language is literal magic to the select few who possess the gift of Telling. This power is reserved for the Bards."

A land where language is literal magic and the written word is forbidden due to a strange disease called the Blot. A young girl whose life has been riddled with negative events, goes off on an adventure to find the truth, and discovers so much more than what she bargained for!

This world is riddled with uncertainty and it is a woven masterpiece of many levels of hidden secrets. To uncover the truth, is to uncover the world.

I highly recommend this book for those that love fantasy and a magic system that is quite as mysterious as it sounds!

Wow! What an amazing debut novel! It reminded me some of "The Red Queen" and "Children of Blood and Bone". I adored it. Honestly, it struck fairly close to home during this pandemic at first, but I am so glad I read it!

Do you like fantasy? Do you like learning about languages? Have you ever wondered what would happen if you created a fantastical world based on language? Here is your next book. I was intrigued because I wasn't sure how this world would play out a magic system based on language. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to imagine the world, but as I turned the pages I became lost in Shae's world.

Shae is a 17-year-old female who is in awe of the Bards, the Bards have the magic of storytelling and it is a power reserved for men. Shae also fears the magic because she knows that the Blot is real it killed her younger brother years earlier. I don't want to go into spoilers but Shae's growth was refreshing, when she learns of her mother's murder Shae seeks justice. It is during this quest for justice that Shae learns that not all Bards are men. I won't say anything more because you need to go on this journey with Shae and experience her sense of wonder as she learns through each trial thrown at her. Highly recommend. Look forward to reading more from the author. Grab a copy for yourself you won't regret it.

This book was received as an ARC from St. Martin's Press - Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I needed this book right now. I absolutely love books that transport you back into an alternate universe where all is unknown and all you have is your upbringing. For Shae, what she thought she knew was not at all the truth. Her mother gets killed by the golden dagger by the group she admires the most (so she thought) as it turns out, they are a much different group than she expected AND to top that all off, believing that she is cursed ever since her little brother dies of blot disease and all that is left is for Shae to train undercover as a Bard and uncover the truth. This book was so brilliantly written that I could not help but be drawn in.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Hush is an amazing debut novel by Dylan Farrow that continuously left me wanting more, and to know what happened next. It was engaging and such a unique story, that I am DYING to know what happens next. Spoiler alert, this book ends on a cliffhanger. I wasn't aware until I reached said cliffhanger that it was part of a series, so be warned!

One of things that I've seen others comment on is the lack of character development. Personally, I kind of liked that the characters weren't fully fleshed out to begin with. It added an air of mystery to them and also went along with the concept that all of the characters, no matter their role size, kept to themselves and didn't share things about them to begin with.

Overall, this was a stunning debut that I can't wait to get my hands on as it was definitely a favorite read of mine this year, and the cover is gorgeous! This is definitely one that I recommend!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this opportunity!

Dylan Farrow is definitely a new author to watch, this debut was stunning. Highly original and full of relevant themes while being so engaging, I could not stop turning the pages to see what happened next. I will definitely be recommending this one to anyone that asks.

"The more I tell you, the more you believe, the more it becomes true. And deep down that is what you wanted, is it not" The power of the written and spoken word and the search for truth drives the narrative of this first novel written by Dylan Farrow. Shae, is ostracized by her village after her brother falls victim to the "blot', a disease originating from ink, After her mother is mysteriously killed she travels to the High House to search for answers. Shae's discovery of her hidden powers while attempting to determine what is reality, leads her to discover important truths about her self and those she loves.
Dylan Farrow has created a captivating world that Teen Readers will enjoy visiting. This first book in the series leaves the reader enthusiastically waiting for the sequel.

Shae is a young girl trying to survive in a village with vastly dwindling resources while being ostracized for having a family member who died of the plague known as The Blot. If that wasn’t enough to deal with reading and writing are strictly forbidden in this world as the plague was caused by ink. As an added taboo speaking certain words is said to bring about tragedy. This is not just a simple story of growing up but a story of the hard decisions you have to make when you decide to stand by your beliefs in a society that wants you not just quiet but gone. The magic system isn’t really fleshed out in this first book but I wouldn’t really expect it to be because you’re following a girl who’s never known anything but her desolate village. It’s difficult to world build when you only see small glimpses of the world through the eyes of someone who doesn’t have the ability to verbalize what she’s seeing/experiencing let alone to explain a complex system the reader is told it takes years and years to get some form of concept of.

The first book I’ve read in recent years that I was truly frustrated when I had to stop reading to do everyday tasks. Reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984 with the theme of can you trust your government to do right by its people but with the inclusion of magic. There’s something about reading about a plague while living through a global pandemic that makes it all a little more real despite the fantasy element to the story. Hush is a reminder that it’s not just the government you should question when forming your own beliefs but those closest to you. Corruption isn’t solely the people in charge but every person who agrees it’s easier to look the other way and keep their head down than to openly question the system. Overall I see Hush as more of a societal conversation starter than a fantasy novel but I wouldn’t consider that a bad thing. I’m very curious to see where the story goes in the second book.