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Shae has led a seemingly quiet, isolated life since her brother was taken by the plague. Her father died soon after. Now, her mother doesn’t even speak, and the only people who haven’t spurned her for being cursed by the ink plague are her best friend, Fiona, and Mads, the neighborhood boy who always knows how to make her smile.
But Shae is hiding a secret. Her dreams have begun to bleed into reality. She cannot stop it, and she begins to wonder if her family really is cursed — if it’s her fault her brother died in the first place.
Then one morning, she stumbles home to discover her mother dead. Murdered. Is this her fault too?
Not knowing who to trust, Shae journeys to the far-off stronghold of the Bards, who claim to use the magic of Telling to keep their lands safe. If anyone can help her, they can. But instead, as Shae begins to unlock the truth, she discovers dark secrets, an unfolding power she doesn’t know how to control, and an unknown enemy keen on destroying her.
I was fascinated by Hush from the very first page. The story straddles the dystopian and fantasy genres and reveals a unique story world terrified of a plague caused by ink and watched over by Bards who possess a unique power of manipulation. (Tell me more!)
However, I soon found myself confused by a few elements. Sometimes I thought the story might have had Celtic roots (the cover was definitely giving me Celtic vibes when I picked it up), but I could never get a clear picture or feel for the world. At times, I also couldn’t tell what was real or fake. Even the character found herself trapped in a fever-dream state, struggling to make sense of visions and alternate realities. I was lost right alongside her. Maybe this was the intention, but instead I felt even more distanced from the story.
Overall, I would have loved to dive deeper into the magic system and learn how things worked. The second book promises to explore more of Shae’s world, and I am looking forward to reading it when it releases. Hopefully, some of the more confusing elements will be cleared up as well.
In the meantime, Hush is a fast-paced read, and I would recommend it to others who enjoy stories featuring genre mashups or hidden morals.
Rated: Mild. There are around five uses of mild language. Violence is frequent without being too graphic. Shae discovers her home overturned and bloody and her mother murdered with a knife in her back. A character witnesses an old man’s throat slit by marauders. A vision alludes to people being tortured. Characters kiss.
