Book 1 in a new series
AUTHOR: Katherine Peacock
PUBLISHED: 2012
CATEGORY: YA
GENRE: Werewolves, drama
PREMISE: Mac's friend Amy is killed by a werewolf and her death sparks a huge investigation in her small town.
MY REVIEW: Theoretically there isn't anything totally wrong with Hemlock. It's readable, it's probably relateable, and stuff does happen, and there's a clear plot. However, it's just so...uninspired. It's like the author literally had a checklist of every possible YA cliche/trope that is popular now.
Love triangle? It's there. Saw it coming in the third chapter. Angst? Loads of it. Most of it ridiculous. Token characters used to say "look how diverse I am!" but not used very much in favor of the white cast? Check. Plain Jane main character who is totally not shallow unlike popular girls of course. Check. Bitchy feminine character whois demonized because she's feminine? Yup. Over-agressive males who fight over female lead for no real reason that is discernable? Check. Female lead who basically does nothing except maybe inquire about her friend's death? Check. "Twist" that is totally obvious? Yup. Literally NOTHING was new or that big of a surprise in this.
I'm sorry but I don't think it's over the top to ask for at least a little creativity. Cliche doesn't have to be boring. I mean Mortal Instruments is cliche as hell but it takes cliches and throws in new things and it manages to be entertaining while doing so. This? Is not entertaining. This was a big yawn and quite frankly a lazy first effort.
WHO SHOULD READ: Twilight fans, those who don't mind cliche after cliche
MY RATING: Two out of Five eye rolls
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