Uncharted
by Erin Cashman
♦publisher: Page Street Kids
♦release date: September 4th, 2018
♦hardcover, 416 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦source: received from publisher for review consideration
Seventeen-year-old Annabeth prefers the fantasy of her books and paintings to reality—because in reality, her mom is dead, and it was all her fault. When she accompanies her father to the funeral of some family friends who drowned, she’s surprised to find her grief reflected in the face of Griffin Bradford, the son of the couple who died. Griffin is nothing like the carefree boy she once knew. Now he’s irritable, removed, and he’s under police investigation for his parents’ deaths.
One night following the memorial service, Annabeth’s dad goes missing in the woods, and she suspects Griffin knows more about the disappearance than he’s letting on. He refuses to answer her questions, particularly those related to the mysterious “expedition” his parents took to Ireland, where they went missing for seven months.
Annabeth fears her father isn’t lost, but rather a victim of something sinister. She launches her own investigation, tracing clues that whisper of myth and legend and death, until she stumbles upon a secret. One that some would die to protect, others would kill to expose—and which twists Annabeth’s fantasy and reality together in deadly new ways.
One night following the memorial service, Annabeth’s dad goes missing in the woods, and she suspects Griffin knows more about the disappearance than he’s letting on. He refuses to answer her questions, particularly those related to the mysterious “expedition” his parents took to Ireland, where they went missing for seven months.
Annabeth fears her father isn’t lost, but rather a victim of something sinister. She launches her own investigation, tracing clues that whisper of myth and legend and death, until she stumbles upon a secret. One that some would die to protect, others would kill to expose—and which twists Annabeth’s fantasy and reality together in deadly new ways.
{Becky's Thoughts}
There was so much that drew me to Uncharted, even beyond cracking open this gorgeous cover. If you are a lover of contemporary fantasy, Irish legends, stories of far-off travel, family secrets, or mysterious secret societies, Uncharted is not one to be missed.
Annabeth is in a dark place in life, hiding away from past guilt, having lost her mother in an accident she blames herself for. Even so, when she knows her dad needs her support after the death of two close family friends, she's sure to be there for him, no matter how far she wants to run. She finds herself back among the Magellans, a group of her parent's friends who once traveled the globe together, chasing after any worldly mysteries they could find. And bring her back to butt heads with an old childhood friend/rival, Griffin.
Which brings us to the love story,... lately I just seem to be picking up all books that know just what kind of love story I enjoy! Yay for romance with a ton of history behind it! I love it when my characters already have a long shared history that really ties them together. In Annabeth and Griffin's case, they start at still having that little bit of childhood angstiness (is that a word? LOL) between them, she's a little short tempered with the boy who once put spiders in her bed, etc. But as the tragedies and mysteries and secrets pile up around them, they fall into each other for support and suddenly they find themselves needing each other for even more.
This story really had some great surprises, lots of twist and turns, unexpected revelations. I loved the mix of science and mystery. Admittedly there was a little bit of lull for me somewhere in the middle, where the action and propulsion of the plot seems at a bit of a standstill, but it kick-started again after not too long as secrets start to spill out and Annabeth really starts to realize what she's in the midst of.
I absolutely can't wait for this story to continue--I must know more, more, more,...about these characters and the mystery and legend that unraveled (trying so hard not to give anything away here!). This was dark and dangerous, and a wildly entertaining story!
{ABOUT THE AUTHOR}
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| {Photo Credit: Peter Su} |
Erin Cashman is an award-winning writer of Young Adult fantasy. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, three children, and their very energetic dog. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading (of course!), walking her dog, hiking, and watching TV with her family (all diehard fans of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek), and running the First Five Pages Workshop. She also loves to bake and is known for making her family and friends ugly but yummy birthday cakes.
