Review: Beware the Wild by Natalie C. Parker

Beware the Wild by Natalie C. Parker

Published October 21st 2014 by HarperTeen

Hardcover, 336 pages

Series: Stand-alone

Genre: Young-Adult Paranormal

Source:  I got a copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss  in exchange of an honest review.
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads

It's an oppressively hot and sticky morning in June when Sterling and her brother, Phin, have an argument that compels him to run into the town swamp -- the one that strikes fear in all the residents of Sticks, Louisiana. Phin doesn't return. Instead, a girl named Lenora May climbs out, and now Sterling is the only person in Sticks who remembers her brother ever existed.

Sterling needs to figure out what the swamp's done with her beloved brother and how Lenora May is connected to his disappearance -- and loner boy Heath Durham might be the only one who can help her.

This debut novel is full of atmosphere, twists and turns, and a swoon-worthy romance.

With Halloween on the horizon, and so many of my friends enjoying this book, I knew I had to put a few things aside and fall into this world that Parker created.

Welcome to Sticks, Louisiana. A small town, with a swamp that has put a lot of fear into the residents surrounding it. When Sterling's older brother Phin runs away from home and into the town swamp and doesn't return, a girl named Lenora May climbs out of the swamp instead and alters the memories of the town folks. The only person that seems to remember Phin is Sterling herself and as she struggles to hold on to those memories, she needs to find a way to bring Phin back and learn the truth behind Lenora May.

What I like...

• The story. I thought it was fun. The idea felt fresh and original about a small town with what seems to be a dark history surrounding a swamp where scary things loom and no one really wants to talk about. It was creepy, somewhat dark, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Once I picked it up, I found myself so engrossed in the plot that I had a really difficult time putting the book down, finishing it in a day. I love books that capture my attention from start to the very finish.
• The setting. It was dark and creepy and I like the way it read. Plus it was in a small town of Sticks, Louisiana - which I also found kind of appealing to the entire story line and the community of people within it and how that played in the book. But it had sort of Gothic appearance to it, and I couldn't pass that up.
• The relationships. The bond between siblings in this book is very clear. Especially between Phin and Sterling. It's obvious how much they love each other and how that played in Sterling doing everything she can in saving her brother. That same bond and love was clear in Lenora May's case, but I cannot go too much into detail there in fear of exposing too much. But there is a lot of sibling relationships in play and strong friendships that kept Sterling going, as well as parental involvement and obviously a cute romantic relationship.
• The romance. Heath and Sterling were two very easy characters to like in this book. I found them enjoyable and I liked their developing friendship turned into romance. Two people who needed each other most provided them both hope that they aren't as crazy as other people seemed to believe.
• The ending. I like the way everything ended. No loose ends and no cliffhangers. I was a little nervous to see how it would end, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that I actually liked the way the story wrapped up - it was almost kind of comforting.
• The writing. It's obviously Natalie Parker really knows how to write and it's clear in this book. It's smooth, flowing, and entirely engrossing. She captures the reader's attention and never lets them go. There is something both beautiful and creepy in her writing and I found that this is the perfect book for this time of year for anyone to pick up and enjoy.

What I wasn't fond off...

• Thought I liked the way the book ended. I found myself with a lot of frustrating questions.
• One of them was Sterling's best friend Candy and for anyone who read the book and knows that she was deemed "Special" would know what I am referring to. Why was she the special one? How did it not affect her? And if she was special and it didn't affect her. Why couldn't she remember Phin then? Shouldn't she then be one of the few people in town with full memories of him?
• The old woman Clary. Her family obviously goes a very long way back with the swamp history but we learn absolutely nothing about that. Every time Sterling has questions, the woman fend her off. In the end, we get nothing in return. We don't know how Clary is connected to the swamp, how the family knows so much, how are the bracelets made, how did they know how to make it? When did it all begin? The fact that this all looks like a stand-alone make this even more frustrating because so much I wanted to know.
• What started this whole thing? I think I would have loved to hear a little more about the origins of the swamp, where it all began.
• Sterling's parent's dislike of Heath so easily...

Overall this really was an amazing read. I loved the writing, the plot-line, the characters, and the creepy setting. This was just what I needed as far as October reads went and I wasn't at all disappointed but quiet satisfied.