Hidden

I received Hidden from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Sucker for dragons?
*raises hand*

I really enjoyed Hidden.

Tessa's great grandmother Sophie is the last living person in her village to remember the day the adults disappeared and the fog came. Since then, nobody stepped into the fog and came out alive. The fog lived up to every creepy expectation I had including what makes it, what's in it and what's on the other side.

When Sophie dies, Tessa, Bastion and Connor leave the village as other trios have regularly done for decades. They expect their step into the fog will be their last though each leaves with the hope it won't.

In their quest to get help and save their village from a deadly illness, they find things they didn't expect.

I liked Tessa and Bastion together though would have liked to see them together more. Tessa's choice to abandon him for his own protection makes sense. In a man it would be honourable but for a young woman it's selfish. Bastion returns to the village, thinking she's done the same. He's done it to protect her, which we expect of him as the hero.

Nobody is completely good. Each has their own flaws and gives us reason to judge them. I felt free to make up my own mind about the characters which allowed me to either cheer them on or shake my head, wondering why they don't avoid the wrong choice. (cue ominous music)

And the antagonist? Didn't like her at all, didn't feel I was supposed to and yes, I really wanted her to get it in the end.

I also liked the fighting and of course the dragons. The fog doesn't extend forever and I don't think the true reason the village was hidden is revealed. I'm more than sufficiently intrigued to need the next in the series, Hunted, and if it were out now I'd be nose deep in it.

Recommended for older YA readers. I wouldn't for my twelve year old due to the obvious off-sceen sex but in a few years that will change to a definite yes.

Four dragons out of five.

Loved the dragons and the heroine. I would have loved more foreshadowing but the pace, mystery and creepiness moved things along just fine.

I enjoyed this book greatly, but then I love dragons. So if you love dragons and a little bit of mystery in your fantasy reads this book is for you!