THE VAULT OF DREAMERS  BY CARAGH M. O’BRIEN

Genre: YA, Sci-fi, Dystopian

Source: Netgalley (In return for a honest review)

Publication Date: September 16th, 2014

Synopsis:

From the author of the Birthmarked trilogy comes a fast-paced, psychologically thrilling novel about what happens when your dreams are not your own.

The Forge School is the most prestigious arts school in the country. The secret to its success: every moment of the students’ lives is televised as part of the insanely popular Forge Show, and the students’ schedule includes twelve hours of induced sleep meant to enhance creativity. But when first year student Rosie Sinclair skips her sleeping pill, she discovers there is something off about Forge. In fact, she suspects that there are sinister things going on deep below the reaches of the cameras in the school. What’s worse is, she starts to notice that the ridges of her consciousness do not feel quite right. And soon, she unearths the ghastly secret that the Forge School is hiding—and what it truly means to dream there. [Goodreads]

This was not what I was expecting at all when I started this book. I am not really sure what I thought it was going to be about or such, but I was shockingly surprised by what I read. The Vault of Dreamers is based in a futuristic America setting in which this school of art students star in a reality tv show while going to school ( at a boarding school). Every minute of their life is broadcast beside at night when they are sleeping and that is when the truth of happenings come out at the school.

This was a fast paced a quick read for me. There was so much mystery surrounding the events that you just had to know what was going on. It was filled with suspense and left you wanting more. It was filled with technology and I always find it interesting to see what author imagine and create for futuristic worlds. I thought Caragh M. O’Brien did a fantastic job creating the atmosphere and really losing me in the hole that were created in Rosie’s memories and consciousness. You are really placed in the main character, Rosie Sinclair’s place as the story progresses, you become just as confused and lost in the divide between reality and dreaming.

Of course there is a romance, but with “Big Brother” watching every move and listening into every conversation, relationships face the struggles of putting on a show and hiding the truth. Rosie’s character is complex at times and I think that is due to the struggle and mostly inner struggle she faces during her time at the school, trying to make friends, earning her place at the school and deciphering the truth of what is going on. Rosie really grows and there is some great character development from the start of the book creating Rosie to be a stronger and more interesting character. I do have to admit I found myself becoming more involved with the story, events and mystery in the book rather than the characters. There were times I really liked Rosie and other times I just wasn’t completely sold.

Although I was captivated and highly drawn into most of the story due to the suspense and the unexpected twists, the ending kind of ruined the book for me. I am really picking about endings and I just thought the way it ended completely ruined the character development and such for me. There was some parts at the end that totally freaked me out because it had to deal with things that I personally have a fear of, but I won’t ruin it for anyone! Overall I did enjoy this book a lot. I thought it was captivating, unique and a suspenseful page turner.