Reviews

The Dark Hills Divide by Patrick Carman

rosemina's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.5

adelle_bookworm's review against another edition

1.0

Tak a dost, končím, tohle se nedá. Fakt je to spíš pro mladší. Hrozně se to táhne, předvídatelný děj a úplně pitomé postavy. Odkládám a už se nevrátím.

jokiwi's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

A pretty solid offering from a Scholastic Imprint, though I've read some in a similar vein with better writing.  I did appreciate the riddles and puzzles and chess lesson.  Felt like the main character could have experienced more emotion about what was happening to her (and that it could've been shown more than told to us).  Fine for ages 8+.

selahmay's review

adventurous hopeful lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

emmabrennan117's review

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

5.0

dorians_library's review

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ran_sophia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I was glad to read this book.  I liked the writing and storytelling style.  The book remained consistent, except for a minor pause in the middle.  The plot was constructed excellently, and I also enjoyed it.  And I was drawn into the plot very quickly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Confinement

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Classism and Alcohol

onceuponacarm's review

4.0

The Land of Elyon consists of cities connected by roads, all surrounded by walls built to keep out the evil forces of the Dark Hills. Alexa has always lived within these walls, but her curiosity drives her to try to peer over the wall to what is out there. She stumbles upon a mysterious passageway leading from the library to the forest outside the walls where she encounters a tiny man named Yipes. Yipes puts her through tests to determine if she is the one who can help defeat a terrible band of criminals planning to attack the city of Bridewell; Alexa passes each test, acquiring the ability to communicate with animals along the way. She discovers that someone living within Bridewell is actually the leader of the convicts that plan to take over her city, and it is up to her to discover who the traitor is and to protect her city from the attack.

oceanoruins's review

adventurous mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A childhood nostalgia pick. I decided to reread as an adult. It has great world-building, character development, and suspense. It was an easier read for a fantasy novel. 

lattelibrarian's review

4.0

I read this series when I was much younger and thought that I may as well give it another go!  Usually with series--especially fantasy series--there's a scene or two that really sticks out to me and makes me want to reread it, to see if it still holds up.  The scene I remembered was the imprisonment Pervis, the city's chief of police--he's frequently drunk, and upon his imprisonment he has a nasty hangover involving a bucket and a couple pauses to vomit.  As a kid who hated vomit more than anything, this was nightmare fuel.  But as an adult, I mean...been there, minus the imprisonment.  

Reading this as a child and then an adult was utterly fascinating.  Alexa is so young, Pervis is nowhere as old as I thought he was, and oh my god, how is Alexa not traumatized by Warvold just flat out dying next to her?  That being said, these differences made, well, all the difference, and certainly made for a nostalgic and fun re-reading experience.

When Alexa Daley goes to Bridewell with her father, as is tradition every summer, she uses her free to time to try to continue to find a way outside of a wall.  But this year, the city's founder has died, she's learning more about engraved jewels, and discovers the magic that's lurking in the hills.  What could possibly go wrong?  What history is true, and what hasn't been discovered yet?  

As Alexa attempts to put all the pieces together, she realizes that time is running out, as there's an infiltrator in the town of Bridewell who is about to unleash a fury of angry convicts, threatening to destroy everything she and the townspeople have known and loved.

Overall, I truly enjoyed rereading it.  With talking animals, councils, and inner-city politics, there's certainly a lot to love.  It was a fun romp as an adult, but I'd certainly recommend this to children who don't mind mystery and fantasy intertwined, and who appreciate a slow burn.

Review cross-listed here!