HeartsickBy: Caitlin Sinead
Published: February 16, 2015
Publisher:
Carina Press
Source: eARC from publisher for an honest review
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GR's Summary:
Quinn is looking forward to her senior year at Poe University. She has big plans to hang out with her best friend, flirt with a certain boy genius, party at her favorite dive bar and figure out what she's going to do after graduation with her not-so-useful art major. But that's before she meets Luke, a hot townie who's moved back home to help take care of his dying sister. And it's before a weird epidemic sweeps across campus, mysteriously turning people's eyes purple.
Is it an odd side effect from a new party drug?
Is it a rogue virus developed in a campus lab?
Is it the mark of the devil?
Soon the town starts blaming the university and the student religious group becomes frighteningly aggressive in their on-campus accusations. Quinn and Luke are caught in the middle—until a tragic accident forces Luke to reveal the one part of himself he's kept carefully hidden. That he's so much more than the happy-go-lucky boy next door Quinn had believed him to be isn't a surprise…but this truth might be too dangerous for her to handle.
My Thoughts:
Heartsick by Caitlin Sinead was a book unlike any other that I've read, which is saying a lot. After reading so many books, I tend to pick up on similar themes, phrases, and ideas. It was such a refreshing treat to read a book that was unique and hasn't been overdone or as far as I know, been done before. I love the beautiful book cover, and once I read the synopsis for the story, I was curious. I am happy to say that Heartsick kept my attention from the beginning to the very end.
In Heartsick, we are dealing with a story that encompasses mystery, suspense, and a little bit of romance. College Art major, Quinn is in her senior year. One night after she goes to a college frat party with her good friend and roommate, Mandy, their lives are turned upside down. Mandy wakes up the next morning with purple eyes. Soon Quinn, and other students eyes also begin to turn people, with interesting side effects, and no known reason.
Quinn is determined to solve this mystery. Religious fanatics think that people with purple eyes are evil and going to hell, others hypothesize that this is a side effect from a new recreational drug, or that this was a manufactured virus. As Quinn begins digging with the help of Rashid, a science nerd, and Luke a detective, (both are guys that she's dating,) she gets closer to the truth... Simultaneously, chaos is breaking out with murder, mandatory quarantine, looting, violence, and danger all around.
I enjoyed the elements of mystery and suspense in this story. I was determined to solve the mystery right along with Quinn, and had fun coming up with my own theories of what was happening. There was a little bit of romance between both Quinn and Rashid, as well as Quinn and Luke, but it was not the focal point of the story. Quinn just wanted to have fun with both guys and wasn't looking for a commitment. The end of the story left room for a sequel. We are given an answer to the mystery behind the purple eyes, but there are a couple of loose ends that made me think there will probably be a sequel.
My Rating:
I give, Heartsick, 4 Mysterious, Suspenseful, Imaginative, and Intriguing Stars! If you are looking for a story with a new idea that hasn't been overdone, puzzle solving, and a small amount of romance, try out Heartsick.
About Caitlin Sinead:
I have been writing since the second grade when I drafted a riveting piece about witches who turned out to be friendly. My writing has earned accolades from Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Glimmer Train, and Writers & Artists, and my stories have appeared in multiple publications, including The Alarmist, The Binnacle, Crunchable, Jersey Devil Press, and Northern Virginia Magazine. I earned a master's degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University and have also studied writing at the College of William and Mary and Yale University. I am represented by Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger, Inc.
n my writing, I enjoy mashing the fluffy aspects of life right up against the not-so-fluffy aspects, while sneaking in fun words I wished more people used (e.g., nincompoop, ragamuffin, and peccadillo, to name a few). I live with my husband and two cats in Alexandria, Virginia.
That does sound like an interesting mystery. I may have to add this one to my TBR.
ReplyDeleteIt was!!!
DeleteGreat review! I like the cover and synopsis. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway!! Review is awesome!! Heartsick sounds very interesting!! The Goodreads summary and review made my decision very easy. I am looking forward to reading it soon!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome Review the synopsis also intrigued me and I do love to read mysterious and suspense books and this books looks right up my ally!
ReplyDeleteThat is different.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds unique and most definitely interesting. Basically, it had me at Poe! I read a shite ton of books, and I always seem to pick up things in every book I read that are similar to a previous book. A lot of the times, from one book to the next. So for you to say that this is a unique concept, and rarely if ever been done before? That in itself makes me want to get this book. Like, right this very minute!
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