Today I’m going to be reviewing The Memory Wood by Sam Lloyd
Here’s the blurb
Elijah has lived in the Memory Wood for as long as he can remember. It’s the only home he’s ever known.
Elissa has only just arrived. And she’ll do everything she can to escape.
When Elijah stumbles across thirteen-year-old Elissa, in the woods where her abductor is hiding her, he refuses to alert the police. Because in his twelve years, Elijah has never had a proper friend. And he doesn’t want Elissa to leave.
Not only that, Elijah knows how this can end. After all, Elissa isn’t the first girl he’s found inside the Memory Wood.
As her abductor’s behaviour grows more erratic, chess prodigy Elissa realises that outwitting strange, lonely Elijah is her only hope of survival. Their cat-and-mouse game of deception and betrayal will determine both their fates, and whether either of them will ever leave the Memory Wood . . .
Review
Wow… oh wow.. I’ve not read anything so good in a while and what makes it funnier..the synopsis sucked me in so much I bought the book twice ha ha. Likely won’t be the last time but after finishing the story I reckon everyone should buy at least two copies.. it’s well worth the money.
Elissa is a young girl, she’s smart and loves nothing more than a game of chess. On one fateful day while attending a chess competition she’s abducted.. she’s alone without any idea why she’s been taken but there’s a ray of light in the form of Elijah..
Elijah stumbles upon Elissa, he lives near where Elissa is being held but from the off you get the sense that there’s something different about Elijah and while he wants to help he knows he can’t set her free… he would be without a friend then…
There’s a naivety to Elijah.. and Elissa needs a way to convince him to help her even if he doesn’t know it..and all before the bad man who kidnapped her returns.
She quickly learns there’s one rule to survival.. follow the rules… but how do you do that when you don’t know the game?
It’s an epic struggle for both Elijah and Elissa.. both are fighting something.. While Elissa’s struggles are much more clear, Elijah remains a mystery.
The twists come fast, and boy were they good. There’s so much packed in, some aspects of which you have inklings about.. others… wow.. like out of nowhere!
I heard many a good thing about this book and I can tell why.. this plot..captivating is the only way to describe it and the character development is a masterpiece in itself.
The hook was there straightaway and the ending has the knock out blow…the author gives a masterclass in preoccupying the reader.. once you get started the rest of the world outside won’t matter.. it’s a readers prefect story.. something that really envelops you.
5/5 Stars