Title: Whisper
Author: Lynette Noni
Rating: 4/5 stars
I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a spoiler free review.
Content Warnings: Discussion of suicide, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, panic attacks
Summary
Jane Doe, as they call her, has spent over two years trapped in a government facility called Lengard. Everyday is the same, she wakes up, goes through the same therapy sessions, physical training, and medical procedures. She eats the same bland food and walks through the same colorless halls. Throughout her extended stay in this facility, she has not spoken a single word. Why has she resolved to stay silent for all these years? Will Jane ever speak again and what will the consequences be?
Review
This book opened up interesting, but slow. I was intrigued by the mystery that surrounded the setting and characters. The reader is constantly curious why the main character is being treated the way she is and why she will not speak. I was very curious how this story was going to resolve. It was not until the middle of the book that things began to pick up. I was on the edge of my seat when things began to unfold and the reader began to understand all that was shrouded in mystery at the beginning of the story.
The detail and world building in this book is really well done. I can clearly imagine what the facility, Lengard, looks like. There are clear descriptions of her daily life and the impact it has on her. For example, she is shocked by human touch because she has not come in contact with another human in over two years. It is so sad and demeaning that Jane (Chip/JD/Subject 684) must wear a shapeless gown everyday and is not allowed to wear shoes. However, this is an example of the attention to detail in this novel. There are super intricate backstories to so many of the characters and the setting. The book even connects to current event in the real world, like the Ebola outbreak in 2014. This brought the reader deeper into the story than expected. I was not expecting this level of depth and I highly appreciated it.
There are some pretty awesome messages in this book, one being to never give up. The main character exemplifies this incredibly, through her determination. By far my favorite message was the power of words. There is a huge emphasis on how powerful words can be and I think this message needs to be brought into the real world. In this story, words are weapons, and this is true in society.
“Words are too precious to throw around carelessly… I’ve seen it. Words demand respect. They are beautiful; they are terrible. They are a gift and a curse.”
Random side note… I adore Schrödinger! I am not used to characters in YA novels to have pets and this made me unbelievably happy.
I will be over here waiting for the sequel!
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