Review: Harbinger

Harbinger
by Sara Wilson Etienne
Hardcover
309 pages
Published February 2nd 2012
by G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR

Summary from Goodreads:

Plagued by waking visions and nightmares, inexplicably drawn to the bones of dead animals, Faye thinks she's going crazy. Fast. Her parents beleive Holbrook Academy might just be the solution. Dr. Mordoch tells her it's the only answer. But Faye knows that something's not quite right about Dr. Mordoch and her creepy, prisonlike school for disturbed teenagers. 

What's wrong with Holbrook goes beyond the Takers, sadistic guards who threaten the student body with Tasers and pepper spray; or Nurse, who doles out pills at bedtime and doses of solitary confinement when kids step out of line; or Rita, the strange girl who delivers ominous messages to Faye that never seem to make any sense. What's wrong with Holbrook begins and ends with Faye's red hands; she and her newfound friends--her Holbrook "family"--wake up every morning with their hands stained the terrible brown of dried blood. Faye has no idea what it means but fears she may be the cause. 

Because despite the strangeness of Holbrook and the island on which it sits, Faye feels oddly connected to the place; she feels especially linked to the handsome Kel, who helps her unravel the mystery. There's just one problem: Faye's certain Kel's trying to kill her--and maybe the rest of the world, too. 

Thoughts:
Harbinger is a tale so mesmerising as it is confusing. At the heart of the story you have Faye; a girl plagued by nightmares and hallucinations of being overwhelmed by ocean waves since she was a little girl. Her bizarre conditions led her to be sent off to an asylum for teens in an isolated island. Now this is where the creepiness starts.
Every morning, Faye and her group of friends found their hands red with blood when they woke up in the morning. While uncovering the truth behind it, Faye discovered some terrifying past about herself and the connection she had with her friends and the Holbrook Academy.

Likes
I'm so happy to be able to read another stand alone book without the unnecessary wait of a whole series. And Harbinger is certainly unique and complex enough for even adults like me to enjoy. It feels oddly like a mystery/ thriller instead of a YA fantasy because of the eerie setting and the clues leading us to the big reveal. I love the writing style eventhough the writer has the tendency to repeat certain words so much.
And the message that the book is trying to send to it's readers is nothing new but quite enlightening. Sometimes we all need to be reminded of the importance of taking care of the environment and loving Mother Earth.

Dislikes
I have to be honest. Sometimes I was so confused by the story and some questions are left unanswered just like the Story of the Red Paint People which the book is sort of based on. I literally have to googled the word Harbinger and Red Paint People. So Harbinger actually means one that indicates and foreshadows. Is it something like a Seer perhaps? And the mystery of the disappearance of the Red Paint People is actually real.

I must say that this book fits into so many genres. It can be dystopian, paranormal, fantasy and even mystery/thriller. If you're looking for a light YA read then this is not it but if you're prepared for more intricate plotline then this might just be for you.

Recommended for: fans mystery/thriller, crazy teenagers
Verdict: 4 stars.

In my Debut Author & Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon