Name: The Vines
ISBN: 9781950948406

Shelley Nolden

In the shadows of New York City lies forbidden North Brother Island, where the remains of a shuttered hospital hide the haunting memories of century-old quarantines and human experiments. The ruins conceal the scarred and beautiful Cora, imprisoned by contagions and the doctors who torment her. When Finn, a young urban explorer, arrives on the island and glimpses an enigmatic beauty through the foliage, intrigue turns to obsession as he seeks to uncover her past--and his own family's dark secrets. By unraveling these mysteries, will he be able to save Cora? Will Cora meet the same tragic ending as the thousands who've already perished on the island? The Vines intertwines North Brother Island's horrific and elusive history with a captivating tale of love, betrayal, survival, and loss.

The Vines

Lacy W

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A special thank you goes out to Freiling Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read this eARC. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.

tw: corporal punishment, nazis, unconsented human experimentation, experiments on animals, cancer, terminal illness, poor living conditions, death, attempted suicide, suicidal thoughts, sexist comments, use of word freak, use of work Indian, drug overdose, rape (repeated), medical procedures

Where in the heck do I begin with this book? The synopsis doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of this complex, multilayered book. I felt such a plethora of emotions; I couldn’t even begin to list them all. When I requested this book, I thought it was going to be just a basic story and I’d give it no more than a 3.5 star rating. Boy, was I wrong and I need to stop judging books so harshly. 

What I thought was a basic story ended up being so much more. The depth and the story that all three characters, Cora from the past, Finn and Lily from the present, had just astounded me! While I personally enjoyed Cora’s story more, Finn and Lily’s story was still very interesting. 

What really made this book good was that even though there is sympathy for Finns’s family and why they are doing what they were doing, Nolden makes sure you feel all the sympathy for Cora. There is a truly heartbreaking reason why Finn’s family is doing this awful thing but you remember to place your sympathies firmly with Cora. Even when she does some questionable things, you understand why she does what she does. You don’t judge her at all. That is excellent story writing, in my humble opinion. 

Overall, this was a great book! It took me a little bit to get into it. I had to get into Cora’s story for me to truly be interested in it. But once I read her story, I was hooked until the very end. I loved this book so much and the ending has me beyond excited for the sequel. I think it’s going to be way more darker than what this book offered and I am living for it.

danielle bush

Fin's family has some secrets, and he know they revolve around this island in New York. An island which was used as a quarantine for people with contagious diseases.. When he arrives the last thing he expects to find is a woman who seems to be living there. and she isn't happy about seeing him, especially after she realizes that he is member of the Gettler family.. 

The same family who has made her a prisoner on this island while using her body for their own experiments. When Fin realizes what his family has done to her he wants to help.. But what can he do as long as she can't leave? When his family realizes that Fin has uncovered some their shameful family secrets they try and convince him they are in the right.. .Who will he choose.. His own family, or the woman they have been using and abusing for years? 

I absolutley love Cora.. she is a woman who has been through unspeakable things and has managed to survive.. Which has to be even harder when she is completly alone except for the occasional visit from one of her tormentors.. The rest of the family with a couple exceptions are complely awful and I really hope they get some kind of consequence in the sequel and that at some point Cora can leave.. 

I didn't completely love all of the back and forth of the timelines, but did like seeing Cora when she first arrived on the island and learning first hand all of the things that she went through.. 

There are a couple really good twists that were a complete surprise and I really want to know where they will lead.. 

While im not 100% sure on my feelings about this book I did overall enjoy reading it and I definitely want to check out the sequel.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The Vines

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