The Retribution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #3)

“This is a love story. Twisted and messy. Flawed and screwed up. But it’s ours. It’s us. I don’t know how our story will end, but I know how it will start. I pick up my pen and begin to write.

My name is not Mara Dyer, but my lawyer told me I had to choose something.”

Title: The Retribution of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin

My Rating:  5 stars

It’s finally here. The third and final book in the Mara Dyer trilogy. Frankly, I was both terrified and excited to read it and was completely mind-blown by the final installment of Mara’s and Noah’s story.

Mara wakes up strapped to a hospital bed, which, as we all know, is nothing unusual for her. Dr Kells continues to ‘experiment’ on her and keeps her in a state of pain and passiveness until Jude ends up helping her. Yes, that’s right- Jude helps Mara escape the center with Jamie and Stacey and they race to New York to find Noah. On their journey, they finally uncover the reasons of Mara’s supernatural abilities and the characters’ predestined fates.

I loved the key presence of Jamie throughout the book but deeply missed Noah and Daniel who came in only towards the end. Mara was both creepy and funny as she began to use her power more and more. It turns out that both Stacey and Jamie also possess powers and that all of them are a part of an experiment to uncover the secret of immortality. The surreptitious mystery of Abel Lukumi and Amitra Dyer are solved and the mysterious David Shaw (Noah’s father) is introduced. Noah is faced with a Herculean choice and must choose between the lives of two people he holds dear.

The book ties up all loose ends and evokes a lot of questions in the reader’s mind. Although, I had suspected how the ending would be and was correct- it was still enjoyable to read it in the author’s words. All in all, I adore the Mara Dyer trilogy and will forever cherish it as one of my favourite series.

Spoilers-

• Abel Lukumi is Mara’s maternal grandfather- he conceived her mother Indi, with Amitra Dyer- both of whom are immortal.
• Jude finally dies.
• Mara and Noah both ‘die’ but are revived later on.
• Daniel learns the whole truth about Mara’s powers and such.
• Noah's password for his laptop is 'marashaw' ^.^ He also draws a portrait of hers- albeit a poorly drawn one but hey, it the thought that counts.
• None of the characters names are ‘real’- ‘Mara’ writes this trilogy using different names to spread her story to others like her, Noah and Jamie.*

*Everyone has been inquiring about the characters real names but the author, Michelle Hodkin has revealed that she won't reveal them- it is all part of the 'mystery.'

There are a lot of other exciting and unimaginable things that take place but you must read them for yourself.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #2)

“If I were to live a thousand years, I would belong to you for all of them. If we were to live a thousand lives, I would want to make you mine in each one.”

Title: The Evolution of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin

My Rating:  5 stars

The Evolution of Mara Dyer is just as good as its predecessor, if not better. And trust me, that is saying something. I have to admit, I was a tad wary that the sequel would not live up to the first book, but boy was I wrong! And I am supremely glad that I was.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer is mysterious and thrilling and will send shivers down your spine as Mara’s story continues. Jude is revealed to be alive and continues to stalk and torture her. He is out for revenge and looms over Mara’s life like a dark shadow. Mara herself begins to experience memories and visions of who turns out to be her deceased grandmother, who is revealed to have also possessed a supernatural power. The synopsis continues to be intrigue and mystify as we delve deeper into Mara’s and Noah’s past.

The romance in the book is adorable; I absolutely love Noah and Mara! Plus, Jamie and Daniel are back too, and there are a few new characters.

My favourite part of the book is Daniel’s speech at Horizons- it was heart-wrenchingly endearing. I also immensely enjoyed conversation exchanged between Noah and Mara. The book ended on a cliff-hanger again. Sigh. Why? Why must you do this, Michelle Hodkin? Oh well, I suppose I will go and start a countdown for the next book. And spend my time obsessing over the characters.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1)

“Thinking something does not make it true. Wanting something does not make it real.”

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin

My Rating:  5 stars

This book had me entranced from the very first sentence. With its suspenseful synopsis, captivating characters and delightful dialogue, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is truly one of the best paranormal books I’ve read. It has a vague blurb, an eerie cover and a curious title, all of which I loved because it beckoned me to read it. This book is dark and light, joyous and tragic and humorous as well as sombre, and altogether is a paradoxical delight to read.

Mara Dyer is a seventeen year old girl who has no memory of the night of the accident in which her best friend Rachel, boyfriend Jude and his sister Claire died. Mara, the sole survivor now suffers from hallucinations and PTSD and begins to discover a newfound supernatural power. Not only this, but Mara is witty, intelligent and an outright comedian. A fun and feisty character, I loved her narration throughout the book and am eager for more.

And don’t even get me started on Noah Shaw. An arrogant, rebellious ‘bad-boy’, that too with an English accent no less, I am well aware that Noah sounds like a clichéd YA male protagonist, but let me enlighten you by saying that he is anything but. Also intelligent with a remarkable memory, good looks that would put Michelangelo’s David to shame and a wit to match the brightest genius, Noah is intrigued by Mara and reveals that she may not be the only one ‘different’.

I especially loved the side characters, namely Daniel Dyer, Jamie Roth and Indi Dyer. Daniel, Mara’s brother was supportive and sweet and his clever brotherly banter and caring instincts made me pang for a sibling like him. Jamie Roth, Mara’s new friend at her new school was hilarious and another one of Hodkin’s brilliant characters I approved that he wasn’t made to be a love interest; I am sick of love triangles and besides, it’s good to have an insightful, helpful friend who has other concerns than pining after the protagonist . Last but not least, I absolutely loved Indi Dyer, Mara’s mother. She was maternal, protective and loving- all the things a mother should be. I felt that Indi was very well portrayed and was a realistic character. I could understand her perspective and wholly approved of her character.

The book ended on a suspenseful cliff-hanger and I am very much eager to read the next one.