Untold

by Sarah Rees Brennan

Series: Book #2 Lynburn Legacy
ISBN: 9780375870423
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 24th 2013
Number of Pages: 356
Source: Local Library
GoodreadsSummary: It’s time to choose sides… On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways. But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?

My Rating:  

Warning: Review contains spoilers

We pick up where Unspoken left off (read it first!). I wasn't too impressed with this second book and here are my thoughts:
 

Kami still annoys me to no end, as does Jared. Just because the connection is severed between them, why couldn't they work out their issues and just give their relationship a chance? At least towards the end of the book, they start being honest - yay for maturing! This quote seems to sum up the all-consuming love (or obsession) that Jared has for Kami:

"...in the book a guy said that he would rather touch someone's hand if she was dead than another girl who was alive. It's creepy I know that...nothing comparison. Nobody is real but her. So it feels sometimes as if nothing else matters at all, including other people. She wouldn't like that. Other people should matter." - Untold, 177 

I still wish that Kami and older brother of Angela, Rusty, could get more chemistry. Brennan isn't afraid of love triangles - evidence of Kami's affections for both Jared & Ash.

I really appreciate the writing of Angela's character and her sexuality. We don't see many lesbians in literature and the stereotypes and struggles Angela faces are true to life. I still think that Holly does feel the same way (or is at least confused) She sleeps with any guy she fancies and then she has this heart-to-heart with Rusty (after a very descriptive noticing of Angie).

"Her family would have minded a lot...'It's okay, if that's how you're born. I know that. But what if you weren't born that way, what if you were just some sort of freak, if you'd been with a ton of guys and still liked guys and then if you were...if you started noticing, what does that even make you? What kind of person can't just choose to be one way or the other?" -Untold, 181

Then Rusty's blunt answer - "Uh, bisexual people might be the kind of person you're thinking of?" (182). I love Rusty! I don't think anyone else is coming to the same conclusion, as Brennan drops the bomb of Holly admitting she is a sorcerer.

The biggest problem I had with this book was that it suffered from that dreadful SBS (second book syndrome). This book didn't further the story too much - just full of drama focusing on the romance. Kami does get some "investigating" done but not a whole lot was accomplished. The only real action comes at the end when we have the battle between Rob & his bad sorcerers vs. "the good guys" and we are left with a cliff-hanger again. (Not as bad as the first book, but still a cliff hanger!)

There were several things brought up that never were touched on again and I'm hoping these are resolved in the third book. Like Holly having magic?? Um, why wasn't this utilized? Also, what about the mystery surrounding Matthew Cooper?

So yes, I loved the character development in this book but without furthering the plot, how can you have a good book? This is why this book received two stars instead of a three stars from me.