Review: The Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O’Brien

20518838The Vault of Dreamers
By: Caragh M. O’Brien
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Published: Sept. 16, 2014
Genre: Sci-Fi YA
Rating:
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The Forge School is the most prestigious arts school in the country. The secret to its success: every moment of the students’ lives is televised as part of the insanely popular Forge Show, and the students’ schedule includes twelve hours of induced sleep meant to enhance creativity. But when first year student Rosie Sinclair skips her sleeping pill, she discovers there is something off about Forge. In fact, she suspects that there are sinister things going on deep below the reaches of the cameras in the school. What’s worse is, she starts to notice that the edges of her consciousness do not feel quite right. And soon, she unearths the ghastly secret that the Forge School is hiding—and what it truly means to dream there.

 
 
1thoughtsRosie was selected to take part in the Forge Show in order to get a good education. Something she wouldn’t have received had she stayed home. However, one night she decides to not take the mandatory sleeping pills and witnesses people coming in to take one of the other girls away in her sleep. The next morning the girl acts as if nothing happens. However, the next night, Rosie finds herself next on the list. The dean is up to something and Rosie has decided to figure out what that is.

Rosie was an interesting character. She was sort of all over the place to be honest. One minute she’s being careless and the next she’s totally in recon mode. I suppose it would be exactly what any 15 year old would do in her situation.

The fact that a good chunk of the scholars from Forge end up dying young or committing suicide was an interesting twist. Especially considering that Rosie starts having mental issues while at Forge. It makes you wonder what they do to them while they are under the sleeping pills power. When you do find out what’s going on, it’s a bit creepy. Not to mention, the sleeping pills that the attendees are required to take so that they get enough sleep to help their artistic minds added a whole new level to the story. It made you wonder, was Rosie really awake and witnessing this? Or was it all just a dream?

This was a good sci-fi thriller for young adults. However, it felt like it was missing something. I just wasn’t blown away by it like I thought I’d be. Rosie and other characters made some bad decisions that just seemed odd, the villain didn’t seem villainy enough, and I wasn’t that freaked out by the events that take place. Again, I’m not a 13 year old, so maybe if I were I’d have a totally different reaction to this one but it just needed a little more oomph to it. It was like it was on the edge of being a thriller but wasn’t quite there yet.
 
 
1favequote“I don’t believe in worry. It doesn’t change the outcome, but it make the now miserable, so I don’t do it.”
kRISTIN

4 Thoughts on “Review: The Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O’Brien

  1. I absolutely love the sound of this one! It’s kind of creepy, weird, but also really interesting. Why would they have to take sleeping pills in the first place, and who would actually agree to that? Wouldn’t that be weird…”oh, one the requirements to attend this school, is to take sleeping pills every night”…?? Anyways awesome review, and you also picked an awesome quote!

    Lisa
    http://www.turningpages94.blogspot.com

    • Yeah. The sleeping pills were to make sure they got the right amount of sleep so that they could be well rested and therefore more artistic. It was a trippy read.

  2. It certainly sounds interesting by the synopsis and the cover is very cool so it’s disappointing that it didn’t have the impact you were looking for. The talk of having pills necessary to sleep and her skipping it really intrigues me. I think I’ll wait to read this since it didn’t meet your expectations, but maybe when I do read it, I’ll feel more positive about it!

  3. Mhmm… interesting. I’ve been really wanting to read this book… because who could resist that cover!

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