Hostage by Karen Tayleur

What if you could have your life over again.

Would it be different?

Tully becomes a hostage when she is abducted from a chemist on Christmas Eve. Her ordeal lasts 24 hours.

Or so she says (from publisher's site)

Like the cover - where the world is flipped upside down - nothing in Hostage is as it seems. It begins with Tully being taken Hostage by a boy from her school during a chemist scene gone wrong. From there - you witness Tully's life and childhood, what really happened while she was hostage in the car and also what's happening in the interrogation room at the Police Station.

It's not a story of terror, outwitting and escape. It's an unexpected story of one girls life - where she is and how she got there and where she is headed. It's addictive and unassuming and probably not at all what you think it will be. Which makes it a compelling and stunning read.

Told in snazzy, strangely addictive, bite-sized chapters, it seamlessly zooms backwards and forwards in time. It has a languid pace, where you slip into the story but with an undercurrent of urgency that keeps the pages flipping and flying past.

Using a clear, fresh prose, atmosphere is evoked that draws you in and keeps you in the scene. The dialogue is straight up - adding authenticity and a layer of depth and soul to the characters.

The characters are stark, whittled down throughout the book - exposing their fears and flaws, hopes and strengths,secrets and dreams - successfully burrowing their way into your heart.

And then - when I was least expecting it - Tully shares a story - and I learnt about Sasha - and, mate, I felt such an ache. It's tear jerking stuff. It's powerful.

I love that a story of sorrow and abandonment and love and  wishes is set against Christmas and Christmas Eve - it's a perfect juxtaposition. This book has layers you can keep peeling back and seeing just how masterfully crafted and imagined it is.

Recommended: Raw, poignant and gripping, Hostage is a book that will hold you fast, keep you guessing and break your heart - maybe, just a little... This is a thinking person's YA - complete with character growth, a touch of bleakness, triumphing hope and unexpected friendships, it's a beautifully told story that will resonate long after the last page has been read...

...speaking of the last page. Argh, I missed some clues! It's a bit of a doozy and I so need to go back and figure out exactly what the final memory means. Did I mention that there's twists and turns and clues and stuff? It really kept me guessing - love that!

I really liked this one, hey :)  It's currently available in Australia.

Also, I love the design elements inside: page numbers and chapter numbers flipped sideways and upside down :)

Karen Tayleur @ black dog books
Karen Tayleur's website
Hostage @ goodreads

Many happy thanks to black dog books for providing me with this review copy