Book Review: Sleep No More

I was hoping this book would be more "Minority Report" but it wasn't. Instead I got a teen horror mystery story. There was more blood and violence than I prefer but the plot was engaging and did not reveal the culprit too soon.

Aprilynne Pike has an engaging style of writing. She does not dwell too long on the emotional but carefully includes the characters' feelings as a way to advance the plot or emphasize an overall progression of mood. While targeted to high school readers, the story never alienated older audiences.

There were a few expletives, but far less frequent than a similar story on network television or PG-13 movie. There is also a make out scene that would cause the prudish to blush but barely brushes past heavy kissing. The biggest concern would be the violence witnessed by the main character. It could be argued that many of them are simply premonitions but the graphic details are not for the faint of heart.

One surprising is the author's dedication.

Also, unlike the movie Minority Report, the pre-cognitive abilities in this story are tied to ancient spiritual beliefs. While occult references are made, it is unclear where these abilities fall. It would appear that the choice of how to use these abilities would determine their merit.

One of the more surprising aspects of the book is in the author's dedication. Pike includes an epilogue to explain her actions, which helps to ground the book within a historical context. I think if I had read her explanation before reading the story, I would have better understood some of the more subtle themes of safety, reconciliation and fear of losing someone close.

If you are an older teen with a leaning towards the macabre, this could be a fun read. If horror is not your thing, leave this one on the shelf.

Sleep No More by Aprilynne Pike
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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