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Molly Fennig

Författare till InSomnus

3 verk 11 medlemmar 3 recensioner

Verk av Molly Fennig

InSomnus (2016) 5 exemplar
Starvation (2020) 4 exemplar
InSomnus (2016) 2 exemplar

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Thank you to Voracious Readers Only through StoryOrigin and Molly Fennig for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

There was a lot to like about this book, including a really interesting premise and some beautiful and interesting descriptions throughout. You could tell Fennig put a lot of thought into the alternate universe and what was entailed in being a Somnus.

There are two main reasons I could not rate this higher, the first being that the entire book seemed rushed, which in turn made all of the relationships Bryn developed also seem rushed and unbelievable, including her relationship with her love interest, Cedar. I would also have loved if Fennig had included more world-building information. An extra 100 pages of world and character building would have done the story wonders!

The second reason was I was not a fan of the writing style. Fennig seemed to be mainly writing for the YA genre which makes sense considering Bryn's age, but then she sprinkles in random descriptors and sentences that sound too adult and advanced for the teenage Bryn Fennig has created. It makes the writing feel very disjointed at parts and was a bit difficult to read.

Overall though I am in awe that Fennig managed to come up with this story when she was only 17 and it was a good debut novel.
… (mer)
 
Flaggad
IlonaA | 2 andra recensioner | Feb 9, 2022 |
When I read anything with speculative fiction elements, I am constantly reminded that I need to suspend disbelief in order to move the story along. The best novels so entrap me in their world that this suspension is automatic. Then there are those novels where I struggle at times to suspend my disbelief, mostly because I cannot put myself in the protagonist’s shoes as much as I like.

InSomnus by Molly Fennig is a Young Adult science fiction novel that sort of fits in both categories. I found quickly that InSomnus was published when Fennig was just 17, which does explain the tone and the very clear presence of adolescent angst. Bryn Winters is a teen with a very serious problem: she suffers from a condition called Somnus which allows her to harm people while dreaming. This is a novel concept and one that is explained a little. Personally, I would have liked a little more explanation.

Fearing for the lives of those she loves, Bryn seeks to find answers. To do so means leaving her family to attend a convention which aims to bring together others of her kind. Those with Somnus are not limited to harming others. Some can change their appearance while others can influence a person’s decisions. One of the people Bryn meets along the way is a teen named Cedar, and from that meeting comes a mild romance which has its ups and downs (and ups again) throughout the novel.

InSomnus was slow to start, and while the inciting incident was clear, the rising action dragged on a bit at first. I was anxious to get to the convention, but I do understand and appreciate the need to show rather than tell Bryn’s love for her family and the angst she suffers making her decisions. While the first act could be tightened, once the novel moved into the second act, it never really let up. The action was quick, sometimes confusing, but definitely moved the story along to its (rather predictable) conclusion.

I refer back to the point I made in the second paragraph: Fennig was only 17 when InSomnus was published. Count me impressed. The writing can be poetic and a little wordy at times, but it is still good. There are some cringe-worthy elements that I would have rather done without, but overall the novel was an entertaining read. I fully expect her second novel, Starvation, to be much stronger and after that…more good things.
… (mer)
 
Flaggad
bxwretlind | 2 andra recensioner | Jan 17, 2022 |
After a few days of non-stop reading and tedious nail biting, I have found my favourite read of 2016.

'Bryony "Bryn" Winters can harm people by dreaming. With no control over whom she hurts, a condition called Somnus, Bryn can't even be sure she won't kill her own family. Protecting them means running away and trusting a mysterious company that possesses as much authority as amorality. And when Bryn meets Cedar Blackthorne, a Somnus with captivating eyes, she can feel he's hiding something. So why can't Bryn help trusting him? And what if she's making a deadly mistake?'

I couldn't find a single fault with this book. Not one. Every page drew me deeper into Bryn Winters' world and truth be told, I didn't want it to end. I adored the characters and their unique abilities. Every one of them stood out to me, a remarkable creation within themselves. If I had to pick a favourite (besides Bryn herself), it would be Cedar Blackthorne. There is something so pure and genuine about his character, that no matter the situation we find him in, I always seem to be rooting for him.

I found the romance element to be written remarkably well. While it was introduced quite early in the novel, it didn't deter the reader from the plot, as some romances are want to do. Insomnus was fast paced. I found myself turning each page as though my life depended on it.
The emotions that came across to me most were Bryn's inner conflict with herself and with others. Her triumphs and failures were my own. I felt like I inhabited every scene, figuring out my next move.

As for the main idea of Somnus? This really intrigued me as I have always dreamt of such powers even when I was a small child. I would love to read more about their world and really hope that there will be a sequel one day. This talented young author certainly has me captivated. A well done plot, striking characters, and not a single flaw I could detect.
I would easily give Insomnus 5 stars and recommend it to anyone with a passion for reading.

Insomnus is a rare jewel of a read!

If you'd like to read it, you can find it on the links below:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31422243-insomnus
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1537001205/

… (mer)
 
Flaggad
Daxmunro | 2 andra recensioner | Dec 31, 2018 |

Priser

Statistik

Verk
3
Medlemmar
11
Popularitet
#857,862
Betyg
½ 4.5
Recensioner
3
ISBN
2