Reviews

Into The Old by Claire O'Connor

kaz_loves_books's review

dark mysterious 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? No

5.0

Here is my review of Into The Old by Claire O’Connor

I just loved this second book which follows Over The Wall and we follow Keziah on her journey back into the cult to infiltrate them to get intel on what is actually going on in there. It is told in such a sensitive and brilliant way, it is almost like true life. I like the characters and this time, the build up seems more real with more riding on the outcome. Keziah has to learn who she can trust. That she can take no-one into her confidence that she is working undercover but she mustn’t tell anybody about the pager device she uses to contact the outside world but then she starts to mistrust them and their plans. I found I got to the stage where I couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to know what happened next and I was sitting on the edge of my seat at times. This is such a good series, I’m so pleased I gave the first book a read.

Blurb : 

Will she emerge triumphant, or will the shadows of the past consume her once more?

Eighteen agonizing months after her daring escape, Keziah seizes the opportunity to go undercover, to infiltrate the heart of the cult that once enslaved her. After months of clandestine training, she’s ready to face those she left behind.

Doubts spread like wildfire, and Mother Abi, the carer who brought Keziah up like her own daughter, reveals cracks in the foundation of The Genus. Keziah realizes everyone seems to be questioning their revered leader’s abilities after a strange appearance in the dining hall.

When she stumbles upon a secret enclave within the cult, a revelation shatters her hopes of succeeding in her mission. A strange new leader introduces himself, and workers in the forest are ill and hungry. The detectives go cold and offer cryptic advice, leaving Keziah to navigate the treacherous environment alone. While guards enforce new rules, secrets multiply, and the stakes deepen. Keziah's quest for justice and redemption becomes a maelstrom of fear and conspiracy . Her focus shifts to getting a few chosen loved ones over the wall and safe, before things escalate. Will she make it on time?

In this heart-stopping second instalment of the Over The Wall Trilogy, Keziah's adventure unravels complexities she never imagined, and fuels her determination to disband The Genus.

nic_readsbooks's review

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed the first book from this series and was a bit nervous about going into the second and not having as good a time but I am so pleased that I was worrying for nothing. This book was a fantastic read - possibly even better than the first. 

 

In this book we follow on from events of the first book and see Keziah trying to forge her way in this new way of living. The setting in this book is much broader than the first but that enabled the author to do so much more with the plot and it really paid off. 

 

This book is packed with plot twists and surprises. It really kept me guessing throughout and I had plenty of moments which shocked me. 

 

The pacing of this book was great, the writing style is easy to read and I found the characters fascinating - I had to keep reading to find out what would happen to them next. 

 

Another fantastic book from this author.