Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson

Release Date: 2nd June, 2011

Publisher: Orchard

Pages: 410pgs

The Story

Once upon a time there was a girl who was special.

This is not her story.

Unless you count the part where I killed her.

Sixteen-year-old Alison has been sectioned in a mental institute for teens, having murdered the most perfect and popular girl at school. But the case is a mystery: no body has been found, and Alison's condition is proving difficult to diagnose. Alison herself can't explain what happened: one minute she was fighting with Tori - the next she disintegrated. Into nothing. But that's impossible. Right?

The Review

ULTRAVIOLET is one of the few books that has surprised me this year, mainly because the story itself turned into something that I least suspected. And I LOVE books that surprise me in many ways! When we first met our heroine, Alison, she's strapped to a bed in a room in an asylum, and soon after she's questioned by a police officer who escorts her to another asylum - Pine Hills. Already convinced as the murderer, Alison still can't remember what exactly happened on the night when Miss Popular was 'killed' or why she hears objects, tastes syllables and feels numbers . . . nothing can be explained. But that's until a psychology student named Sebastian Faraday comes along and he alone has the answers.

Now before I started this book, I imagined another paranormal storyline slapped onto the table especially since it was set in a mental institution. One of my favourite settings by the way. Judging by the plot a lot of readers knew it was a mystery but it was more than that and I really mean more than that. At a particular point in the book, everything changes and all the missing pieces of the puzzle are put back together to create something really special. It takes a lot of talent for an author to surprise me and I'm so very thankful that the author, R.J. Anderson, managed the impossible. Her writing - which was so spot on - was beautifully crafted, her world-building was strange-but-so-out-of-this-world, and most importantly, despite the crazy circumstances, her characters blew me away in all their little details . . . it was just awesome.

What I really loved about ULTRAVIOLET was Alison herself. She was a fantastic character and I loved her almost immediately. It was clear she had no idea what was going on and seeing how confused she was about her situation, it was easy to empathise with her. I mean, being forced to doing something you don't want to do is everyone's nightmare, but it's even more heartbreaking when you're held against your will by your own flesh and blood. Her mother. It was crazy to say the least. As for the other supporting characters, they were wonderful too. But for me I have to mention Sebastian. Wow, what a character he was and just like the storyline he too surprised me in ways I didn't see coming AT ALL. I will say no more because you will have to read it to find out for yourself!

This is my first book of R.J. Anderson's and trust me it won't be the last I'll read of hers. She's ultra-amazing! What she's done with this true beauty of ULTRAVIOLET . . . I can definitely say that if you want something twisty, unique and something totally out of your own comfort zone and far apart from the paranormal you see nowadays, then clearly this is the book for you and one you will love til the very end!

The Rating

5/5 stars