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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
It doesn't feel right to categorise a book that is extremely impactful with something as arbitrary as star ratings.
Full review to come.
===============================
Read this review on my blog.
Content Warning(s) for the book: abuse, eating disorders, divorce, manipulation, rape, death
With moving words and electric prose, Muted brings the abusive side of the music industry to life. Seen from the eyes of a teenage lesbian Black girl, Muted fills you with unease as it progresses through step-by-step process of grooming, manipulation and abuse that has become a staple in the entertainment industry, across many parts of the world. Picking and choosing its words wisely, Muted presents a picture that is hard to look away from, harder still with the knowledge and realisation that it is inspired by real events, and this same story is happening to many people right now.
Muted follows Denver, a Black girl living in a small town, with overworking parents and a sister who is the epitome of perfection. She and her two friends, Dalisay and Shakira, form a group, bringing their music wherever they can, being ignored for being too loud, too big, too Black. All yearning for a chance, to be recognised, to be seen, to be told that their talent is enough, that they are enough – some more than the others. They find themselves drawn into the world of a R&B star – Sean “Mercury” Ellis -when they concoct a plan to gain his attention by serenading him before a concert. Merc, as he is called by his fans, is their god, living the life they can only dream of, making the world take notice of him and his music, a Black man proving that they too can make it. From there on out, begins the cycle of manipulation and abuse.
We see Denver willingly walk into the demon’s lair, knowing that something is wrong but not being quite sure what. Chasing her dreams, working very hard to make them come true, all the while falling deeper into a trap that seems so obvious to the reader. She is smart and she knows how to establish boundaries, but she is also lonely, neglected by her parents – who never see her worth, whose expectations lie in getting a 4.0 GPA (like her sister), and following the steps they have laid out to her to be successful. She doesn’t realise it, but she feels pressured by Dali, aka Dalisay, whose financial situation is much different than hers, who has been giving her mixed signals since eight grade, who she loves but does not know which form of love to expect back.
Denver is isolated, her diet controlled to get her into a shape that is “camera ready”, locked into her room when she is asleep, cut off from the outside world with no internet or phone, and she bears all of it because she thinks that just one more step will get her to her goal. All this while, Merc expertly manipulates her into publicly denouncing her parents, stealing the songs she has written, turning her into someone she barely recognises. It feels like Denver just keeps digging herself a deeper hole, as she is shackled to the idea of making it big in an industry where it is impossible to do so without influence.
Muted cleanly demonstrates the mindset of a victim of abuse and the perverse skills of their abuser. The constant push and give to keep the victim placated, while leeching off of them like a parasite. Just when you think, this cannot get any worse, it does. Denver sees and recognises her situation, but is constantly distracted by the gifts of benevolence that Merc chooses to bestow upon her. An impressionable young mind, preyed upon by someone who has absolute power over it. The novel is a horrific and impactful study in what goes on behind closed doors, a call to action, if we dare take it.
Thanks to Colored Pages Bookish Tours for having me on a promotional tour for Muted and to Scholastic Press for providing me with an ARC. This does not have an effect on my review, which is based on my honest opinion.
Full review to come.
===============================
Read this review on my blog.
Content Warning(s) for the book: abuse, eating disorders, divorce, manipulation, rape, death
With moving words and electric prose, Muted brings the abusive side of the music industry to life. Seen from the eyes of a teenage lesbian Black girl, Muted fills you with unease as it progresses through step-by-step process of grooming, manipulation and abuse that has become a staple in the entertainment industry, across many parts of the world. Picking and choosing its words wisely, Muted presents a picture that is hard to look away from, harder still with the knowledge and realisation that it is inspired by real events, and this same story is happening to many people right now.
Muted follows Denver, a Black girl living in a small town, with overworking parents and a sister who is the epitome of perfection. She and her two friends, Dalisay and Shakira, form a group, bringing their music wherever they can, being ignored for being too loud, too big, too Black. All yearning for a chance, to be recognised, to be seen, to be told that their talent is enough, that they are enough – some more than the others. They find themselves drawn into the world of a R&B star – Sean “Mercury” Ellis -when they concoct a plan to gain his attention by serenading him before a concert. Merc, as he is called by his fans, is their god, living the life they can only dream of, making the world take notice of him and his music, a Black man proving that they too can make it. From there on out, begins the cycle of manipulation and abuse.
We see Denver willingly walk into the demon’s lair, knowing that something is wrong but not being quite sure what. Chasing her dreams, working very hard to make them come true, all the while falling deeper into a trap that seems so obvious to the reader. She is smart and she knows how to establish boundaries, but she is also lonely, neglected by her parents – who never see her worth, whose expectations lie in getting a 4.0 GPA (like her sister), and following the steps they have laid out to her to be successful. She doesn’t realise it, but she feels pressured by Dali, aka Dalisay, whose financial situation is much different than hers, who has been giving her mixed signals since eight grade, who she loves but does not know which form of love to expect back.
Denver is isolated, her diet controlled to get her into a shape that is “camera ready”, locked into her room when she is asleep, cut off from the outside world with no internet or phone, and she bears all of it because she thinks that just one more step will get her to her goal. All this while, Merc expertly manipulates her into publicly denouncing her parents, stealing the songs she has written, turning her into someone she barely recognises. It feels like Denver just keeps digging herself a deeper hole, as she is shackled to the idea of making it big in an industry where it is impossible to do so without influence.
Muted cleanly demonstrates the mindset of a victim of abuse and the perverse skills of their abuser. The constant push and give to keep the victim placated, while leeching off of them like a parasite. Just when you think, this cannot get any worse, it does. Denver sees and recognises her situation, but is constantly distracted by the gifts of benevolence that Merc chooses to bestow upon her. An impressionable young mind, preyed upon by someone who has absolute power over it. The novel is a horrific and impactful study in what goes on behind closed doors, a call to action, if we dare take it.
Thanks to Colored Pages Bookish Tours for having me on a promotional tour for Muted and to Scholastic Press for providing me with an ARC. This does not have an effect on my review, which is based on my honest opinion.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book certifiably broke me and I'm okay with that. I at first had no idea that the whole book was written in verse and I really loved that, however I was not ready for this. Like all the signs were there, I know, but the ending really dropkicked me in the face.
This book follows the story of Denver, Dali and Shak as they try to become professional musicians and the whole mess that comes with it. It's written from Denver's perspective and the story kind of slowly introduces the looming threat, but never does it show you how far it goes and messed up it gets until the very end, like I was blindsided. Which I think is quite a good exploration of this theme and also since it really focuses on ownership of your voice and I felt that that fit so well with it. I really liked the little songclips that were in the audiobook as well.
This book follows the story of Denver, Dali and Shak as they try to become professional musicians and the whole mess that comes with it. It's written from Denver's perspective and the story kind of slowly introduces the looming threat, but never does it show you how far it goes and messed up it gets until the very end, like I was blindsided. Which I think is quite a good exploration of this theme and also since it really focuses on ownership of your voice and I felt that that fit so well with it. I really liked the little songclips that were in the audiobook as well.
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Here we have the story of Denver Lafleur, a 17-year-old aspiring singer who along with her two friends, Dali and Shak, get a chance to work with a R&B sensation known as Sean "Mercury" Ellis. You can see where this is going right?
The story is told in verse format, so it has that poetic, lyrical feel. I actually like most stories using this format because it feels more personal and really brings the characters to life. But there was something missing from this story. I can't exactly tell you what it is because nothing really stood out. Overall, it was an okay read.
The story is told in verse format, so it has that poetic, lyrical feel. I actually like most stories using this format because it feels more personal and really brings the characters to life. But there was something missing from this story. I can't exactly tell you what it is because nothing really stood out. Overall, it was an okay read.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
C - 6
A - 5
W - 8
P - 7
I - 8
L - 7
E - 7
Total - 6.86 (3 stars)
A - 5
W - 8
P - 7
I - 8
L - 7
E - 7
Total - 6.86 (3 stars)
That was...freaky and exciting. I can very much believe events in the novel is possible in the darker side of the music industry with real headline cases popping up in the media. Merc was very suspicious + manipulative from the start...why would a man (with a rep if one digs deeper) shower so much attention and investment on female strangers and later resort to methods that are akin to "bribing"/distractions. In addition other hints dropped include certain details like aspects of Merc's clock work tour operations (roadies not allowed to communicate with the girls hmmm) and curious use of VCR tapes as a suppose music making method (even if claim of anti-hack is legit + the sound quality would be horrible). Overall made for a riveting read and would interesting to have a companion story what went on from Shak + Gwen's POV during the entire ordeal.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes