Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

Release Date: October 23rd 2012
Hardcover: 544 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.
She can’t.
She used to think her problems were all in her head.
They aren’t.
She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.
She’s wrong.
In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

Hodkin has the incomparable ability to leave readers dying, literally, for more. The writing grabs your attention in a way and you can't never be sure of anything. I mean, I still don't know why Mara can do what she did, if her allucinations were real, or were they?  Even though, this may cause some impatience in some people, I was completely hooked all the way through the novel.

The Plot: I am blown away by the awesomeness that The Evolution of Mara Dyer provided me. I was up the whole night to finish it because I was unable to put it down, even for a second. The story picks up where it lefts off and Mara's life couldn't be more complicated. Someone is trying to make her life difficult and could this person be Jude? And not just that, her powers are still a mystery. However we do receive some new information about Mara's grandmother. It was interesting to read some chapters in her grandmother's perspective. The plot won't let you down, mystery and action walk hand in hand, not to forget the sweet romance between Mara and Noah that has its share of obstacles.

The Characters: What more can I say? I love every character in this series. I must admit that, in my opinion, everyone was a suspect. I found myself doubting every single character in this novel and that was completely amazing! I can only praise Hodkin's way of writing. Furthermore I enjoy reading from Mara's point of view so much, she really is an amazing yet complicated character. The new characters showed us some new aspects of the story that admittedly, I was really not expecting. Nonetheless it was a nice surprise.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer is a must-read. Actually, the whole series is a must-read, even though the last book is not out yet. I can only guess that it will be as amazing. The cliffhanger at the end is a killer, really. I may not survive until the release of the third installment next year. Certainly this novel changed my perspective of this novel but it didn't let me down, at all (I'm sure after reading it, you may get what I mean!) and now I totally get why Hodkin named the next novel "The Retribution of Mara Dyer".

At the age of sixteen, I lost the rights to my soul in a poker game with pirates just south of Natchez. Shortly thereafter, I joined an acting troupe and traveled the world performing feats of wonder and mischief before writing my first novel, THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER (Simon & Schuster BFYR), which is available now. Its sequel, THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER, hits shelves October 23, 2012, and the third book in the trilogy, THE RETRIBUTION OF MARA DYER, will be out Fall 2013. Website