Thursday 28 June 2012

The Glimpse by Claire Merle



In a near future, society is segregated according to whether people are genetically disposed to mental illness. 17-year-old Ana has been living the privileged life of a Pure due to an error in her DNA test. When the authorities find out, she faces banishment from her safe Community, a fate only thwarted by the fact that she has already been promised to Pure-boy Jasper Taurell.

Paperback, 432 pages
Published June 7th 2012 by Faber & Faber (UK) 

My Review

The Glimpse has a really different premise from all the others in the YA genre out there at the minute! I really can't put into words how much I enjoyed reading this disturbed version of the future. Claire Merle has crafted this world so brilliantly that it makes for a real chilling reading reading experience.I really can't fault Merle's writing style as it sucked me in but I will admit to enjoying the second half of the book far more than the first. But overall a really stunning debut that I won't soon forget in a hurry!

Ana is the only daughter of the man who made the tests that divide society into pures and crazies! Ana has always dreamed of being bound to a pure boy called Jasper, but when she asks the wrong questions to the wrong people her world falls apart. She finds out that there was a mistake with her previous test! The only way Ana will be aloud to stay in the pure communities is if Jasper still agrees to be bound to her. So her entire future rests purely on Jasper, who goes missing just before their binding!

Ana heads off in search of Jasper, to the dangerous crazies territory. While there she finds a love that is truly unexpected and she also finds out more knowledge than she bargained for. Ana is devastated and shocked, but will she find Jasper and put a stop to some of the big wheels that are already in motion?

The ending was brilliant, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! When I finished the last page I was like NO WAY I need the next book right away! So I am now biting my nails in anticipation for the next book. Main character Ana is what really made the book for me, I clicked with her quite early on, she is brave, intelligent, selfless and a real joy to get to know. Everyone needs to pick up this fabulous debut from Claire Merle, I can highly recommend it!

4/5 Stars

Carly :)

*Special thanks to Faber & Faber for the review copy*

2 comments:

  1. I have a copy and hope I can get round to it soon. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it! I love that this was a unique premise, one that stands out against the other books in this genre. Great review! :)

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  2. Every time I see this cover I think it's going to be a contemp love story, so I'm always surprised to be reminded that it's not! I love that you were kept on edge with this book, especially the ending, you definitely have me intrigued!

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