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A review by stuckinafictionaluniverse
The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
5.0
4.5
We were alive. I remember it that way. We were still alive, and we couldn't see how close we were to the end.
I can describe this book with one word: Haunting.
Explaining the plot is quite challenging, even thought it’s not that complicated at first glance.
We follow two completely different teenage girls. Violet is an ambitious ballet dancer while Amber is in a juvenile detention center. They do have something in common: Orianna.
Is she real or is she a ghost?
The walls around us is a story of friendship and crime and viciousness.
It’s incredibly atmospheric and creepy.
This is my flavor of horror, where nothing is in your face but instead it’s subtle and so well done, keeping you on edge.
Nova Ren Suma’s writing style is stunning, particularly in Amber’s chapters. It’s vivid and beautiful and made me want to cling onto every sentence.
I haven’t read anything set in a prison before, and honestly thought The Shawshank redemption was ridiculously over-hyped (put down your pitchforks!).It would’ve been a much better movie if he did it.
The setting is one of my favorite parts of this book. The juvenile detention center where we meet Amber is a world of its own; with dangerous bloodthirsty girls and a few who are trying to make the best of the situation. Each one is fleshed-out and has a distinct personality. I really loved the relationships that formed between them, flawed yet heartwarming.
It’s a slow-moving psychological mystery cleverly tied together.
The mystery isn’t unnecessarily confusing, but you do have to figure some things out for yourself. Nova Ren Suma’s writing talent shines when she gives the reader just enough details to have a clue what’s happening, but enough to
come up with different theories.
And thankfully, the ending is perfect. No loose ends, nothing. It’s bittersweet but deserving. Everything I want from a creepy book.
Not to mention that this book and Haunting by Halsey fit perfectly together.
Cause I’ve done some things that I can’t speak
And I’ve tried to wash you away but you just won’t leave
So won’t you take a breath and dive in deep
Cause I came here so you’d come for me
I’m begging you to keep on haunting me
And The walls around us is still haunting me.
It's a book about justice and injustice, about loneliness and guilt. It benefits from the slow pacing because this is first and foremost a book about people and questioning their innocence.
Amazing setting, amazing characters, flawless writing. I need to buy the rest of Nova Ren Suma's books as soon as I can.
We were alive. I remember it that way. We were still alive, and we couldn't see how close we were to the end.
I can describe this book with one word: Haunting.
Explaining the plot is quite challenging, even thought it’s not that complicated at first glance.
We follow two completely different teenage girls. Violet is an ambitious ballet dancer while Amber is in a juvenile detention center. They do have something in common: Orianna.
Is she real or is she a ghost?
The walls around us is a story of friendship and crime and viciousness.
It’s incredibly atmospheric and creepy.
This is my flavor of horror, where nothing is in your face but instead it’s subtle and so well done, keeping you on edge.
Nova Ren Suma’s writing style is stunning, particularly in Amber’s chapters. It’s vivid and beautiful and made me want to cling onto every sentence.
I haven’t read anything set in a prison before, and honestly thought The Shawshank redemption was ridiculously over-hyped (put down your pitchforks!).
The setting is one of my favorite parts of this book. The juvenile detention center where we meet Amber is a world of its own; with dangerous bloodthirsty girls and a few who are trying to make the best of the situation. Each one is fleshed-out and has a distinct personality. I really loved the relationships that formed between them, flawed yet heartwarming.
It’s a slow-moving psychological mystery cleverly tied together.
The mystery isn’t unnecessarily confusing, but you do have to figure some things out for yourself. Nova Ren Suma’s writing talent shines when she gives the reader just enough details to have a clue what’s happening, but enough to
come up with different theories.
And thankfully, the ending is perfect. No loose ends, nothing. It’s bittersweet but deserving. Everything I want from a creepy book.
Not to mention that this book and Haunting by Halsey fit perfectly together.
Cause I’ve done some things that I can’t speak
And I’ve tried to wash you away but you just won’t leave
So won’t you take a breath and dive in deep
Cause I came here so you’d come for me
I’m begging you to keep on haunting me
And The walls around us is still haunting me.
It's a book about justice and injustice, about loneliness and guilt. It benefits from the slow pacing because this is first and foremost a book about people and questioning their innocence.
Amazing setting, amazing characters, flawless writing. I need to buy the rest of Nova Ren Suma's books as soon as I can.