Saturday 2 June 2012

The Vanishing Game

Review: The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers

The Vanishing Game

by Kate Kae Myers
Release Date: February 14th, 2012

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Seventeen-year-old Jocelyn follows clues apparently from her dead twin, Jack, in and around Seale House, the terrifying foster home where they once lived. With help from childhood friend Noah she begins to uncover the truth about Jack's death and the company that employed him and Noah.

Jocelyn's twin brother Jack was the only family she had growing up in a world of foster homes-and now he's dead, and she has nothing. Then she gets a cryptic letter from "Jason December"-the code name her brother used to use when they were children at Seale House, a terrifying foster home that they believed had dark powers. Only one other person knows about Jason December: Noah, Jocelyn's childhood crush and their only real friend among the troubled children at Seale House.


But when Jocelyn returns to Seale House and the city where she last saw Noah, she gets more than she bargained for. Turns out the house's powers weren't just a figment of a childish imagination. And someone is following Jocelyn. Is Jack still alive? And if he is, what kind of trouble is he in? The answer is revealed in a shocking twist that turns this story on its head and will send readers straight back to page 1 to read the book in a whole new light.


An intense YA thriller that sticks its leg in many different categories is the only way I can even begin to describe the mindboggling adventure that is The Vanishing Game. For me, this was like my childhood scavenger hunts combined with manhunt with a sprinkle of the Da Vinci Code and a pinch of x-men like abilities. Really it quite baffled me at all the different points that this novel tried to hit. Immediately grabbing readers with no rest stops, readers are taken on a nonstop, mind-bending journey that will test both their minds and sanity as they are sucked deeper and deeper into Jocey’s race to solve the clues her brother left behind.

Shockingly, this book is not as it appears to initially be. The cover gives off the impression that the real evil hides within the house, and for the most part this is true. However, this book is not really about having a main villain, and instead focuses on the idea of Jocey delving back into her buried past in order to solve a long, deeply hidden truth. However, readers are kept in the dark – like Jocey – until the very end, and for me that made this book all the more enjoyable. I like figuring out things along with the characters, and I loved the amount of suspense that this author seeped into every page. Puzzles are constantly being thrown, and make a lot of sense; these puzzles and codes relate to Jocey, Jack and Noah’s childhoods, and help in exploring their pasts. Each one leads to its own revelation, and it is not until the end that the reader – and Jocey- are fully aware of its significance.  

From the get go, readers are introduced to the creepy evil that lurks within Seale House, both within its walls and owner. Make no mistake; the character of Hazel – the foster caretaker – has enough bitter and maliciousness to sit alongside Miss Hannigan and Ms. Trunchbull as ‘Those that should NOT be around children’. But let’s not keep the real star of this story: Seale House itself. This place is downright creepy, eerie and takes on a life of its own throughout the book. In fact, this house is what gives off the supernatural, paranormal vibe but the real ending is in fact a better twist than a simple haunted house ending.

As for the Jocey & Noah: both characters work well off of each other. They balance each other out, and work together to make sense of Jack’s puzzles and codes. The build-up between the two characters works at a good, even pace and does not automatically rush into things; instead they have to rebuild their trust in each other, which doesn’t start off on the best foot. Yes, let me just say that there is some romance in this book but it is in no way the main focus. For me, I was too entranced with the mystery and creepy Seale House to pay it much attention. However, Jocey and Noah are focuses on as childhood friends with a pinch of romantic crush thrown in for some added spice.

Now, the ending is definitely one that I did NOT see coming! It actually blew my mind because in all honesty I was not expecting that M. Night Shymalan style twist! I mean I expected one of the revelations because Jocey herself had mentioned it but the second one was a big shocker. However, there were moments reading the book where I now wish that Jocey were perhaps more aware of the reasons for all the supernatural events happening around her; those parts really confused me, and enhance the idea of the poltergeist theory thrown around in the book.

Overall, this is definitely a read worth checking out more than once. If I went back and read it again, I know that I would be hitting my head with the amount of hidden bunnies hopping along each chapter. That aside, this read is one that will keep readers engaged and invested in Jocey’s journey. The thrills are definitely aplenty, the suspense is mega, and the mystery is through the roof. In my opinion, definitely a book that will keep readers out of the cellar and up late into the night; I highly recommend it!  
RATING

4 out of 5

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