Feral by Holly Schindler Review!

     

Title : Feral
Author : Holly Schindler
Pages : 432
Published : August 26th 2014
Publisher : HarperTeen
Source : Edelweiss

The Lovely Bones meets Black Swan in this haunting psychological thriller with twists and turns that will make you question everything you think you know.

It’s too late for you. You’re dead. Those words continue to haunt Claire Cain months after she barely survived a brutal beating in Chicago. So when her father is offered a job in another state, Claire is hopeful that getting out will offer her a way to start anew.

But when she arrives in Peculiar, Missouri, Claire feels an overwhelming sense of danger, and her fears are confirmed when she discovers the body of a popular high school student in the icy woods behind the school, surrounded by the town’s feral cats. While everyone is quick to say it was an accident, Claire knows there’s more to it, and vows to learn the truth about what happened. 

But the closer she gets to uncovering the mystery, the closer she also gets to realizing a frightening reality about herself and the damage she truly sustained in that Chicago alley….

Holly Schindler’s gripping story is filled with heart-stopping twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very last page.

My Thoughts : 

Claire has her whole life ahead of her. She is a budding journalist and loves writing the truth. When a new kid arrives in school Claire and her BFF, Rachelle, try to be nice to him, only for him to sneer at them. When some drugs are found in Rachelles locker, Claire knows that the new kid put them there. She shows everyone the truth and the new kid is expelled. A while later Claire is on her way home from the library when she is attacked by a gang of boys. the new kid included. She suffers an horrific attack and is left for dead. 

When Claires dad is offered a six month job in Peculiar he decides to take it. Both he and Claire figure it will be a new start and take Claire away from the reminders of what happens. But in Peculiar, a girl is murdered. A girl who used to live in the house Claire is renting out. When Claire starts seeing freaky things she knows that its up to her to solve Serenas death quickly before time runs out. 

My initial thoughts on finishing Feral was to shiver because wow those cats were freaky!! Then it was to be in awe of the authors mind. This book was just mind boggling!! 

Poor Claire!! I felt so bad for her but I also admired her spirit. After the beating she suffered in Chicago she just wants a normal life. She wants her best friend back and not to be treating her like she is breakable. When her dad is offered the sabbatical she thinks it is a great idea and hopes that life in a small town will help her heal. When she gets there the first thing she sees are the towns Feral cats. they seem to be everywhere. Then at the gas station she hears about the missing girl and is concerned about her but since she didn't know her she isn't to upset. Not long after that though she stumbles upon the missing girls body in the woods, which by the way is being eaten by the cats, and from then on her life spirals out of control. 

Rich was the best character. Claire describes him as a man mountain. I loved how kind, understanding and just how much of a nice guy he was. He lives across from where Claire is renting and used to be best friends with Serena when they were young. I loved his friendship with Claire and how supportive he was.

Becca on the other hand annoyed me at times. She was best friends with Serena and the whole way through the book she is riddled with guilt about how she treated Serena and tries to cling to Claire. Becca seemed so needy and whining and I found it hard to really like her. I know she was hurting but yet we never really see a big change in her. 

No onto the cats. I think if I ever saw that many cats in one place from now on Id freak. They were so scary and I think I'm going to have nightmares after reading certain parts. *Shudder* 

Overall Feral was such a surprise. I adored the authors style. She drew you in and made you think a certain thing was going to happen and then bam she turned it right around. I thought I knew who the murderer was but I was wrong, although the actual murdered was my number 2 suspect! Holly Schindler has created a hauntingly creepy book. It was thrilling, spine tingling and as I said earlier mind boggling! With its ghosts, chilling subject matter and down right fereeeeky cats, Feral is a must read. While this is my first book by this author, it definitely isn't going to be my last.