Review: Dark Companion

Jul •  9 •  2012
Review: Dark CompanionDark Companion by Marta Acosta
Series: Stand Alone
Published by Tor Teen on July 3rd 2012
Genres: Young Adult- Fantasy/ Paranormal
Source: FTC: Exchange for honest opinion, Netgalley
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"When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent urban neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove.

Something's not quite right about the school -- or is it Jane? She thinks she sees things in the birch grove at night. She's also beginning to suspect that the elegant headmistress and her sons are hiding secrets. Lucky is the gorgeous, golden son who is especially attentive to Jane, and Jack is the sardonic puzzling brother.

The school with its talented teachers and bright students is a dream for a science and math geek like Jane. She also loves her new friends, including hilarious poetry-spouting rich girl, Mary Violet. But the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member.

Jane discovers one secret about Birch Grove, which only leads to more mysteries. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to stay at this school...and be bound to Birch Grove forever?"

 

I have to say that book lately have been giving me a whole new perspective. Especially this one. What if you had a hard life, I mean a really hard one. One full of abuse, fear, and loneness. And someone offers everything to you. Education, money, a car, all for your blood. Would you take the offer?
I love books like these that really make you think. The reader meets Jane, a foster kid who has a rough life and only for once in her life, wants a break. Jane finds it in a unusual town with a strange fetish. Now, when I got to this part I was all like,”WHAT?” Just looking from the outside in, the offering is tempting. Jane has been through it all and as the reader being heaving invested in Jane’s life, wanted nothing but something good for her. She fought for normalcy and she should get it.
The plot of the book is strange yet addicting. I like watching Jane become more aware of herself. She learned more about her past but also is introduced into a community would love and care for her if she accepted them. This part is where it gets tricky for me. As I read through this part, I felt as though Jane is like a wounded gazelle, and the community around her is using her weakness to their advantage. *shrugs shoulders* That’s the way I interpreted it.
There is a love interest that grows over time and I adore it. I like that he didn’t force his way into her life, but was simply there for her. He helped her look at things differently, when she failed to see it any other way. I admire that he took each step with her slowly. To not only gain her trust, but tot truly love her.
Dark Companion is a dark, edgy tale that quickly consumes the reader. A new twist on strange addictions, Dark Companion is unique yet intensifying!

I give it 3 BITES!

Happy Reading!

FTC

3 Comments

  1. Addie R.
    Jul 9, 2012

    I agree that this was a very bizarre and strange book. But definitley something unique and intriguing. Great rveiew:)

  2. Savannah Valdez
    Jul 9, 2012

    @Addie, the intriguing part kept making me read more 🙂

  3. Strange, dark and a sweet romance. I like! I have this one coming up on my review pile quickly and I can’t wait to read it.