Mud Vein - Review

Mud Vein

By: Tarryn Fisher

Published: April 5, 2014

287 pages

Source: Personal Kindle Library

(Goodreads / Amazon)

Genre: Suspense, Romance, Contemporary, Psychological, Drama - you name it, it probably fits there, however it definitely is not YA.

Summary:

When reclusive novelist Senna Richards wakes up on her thirty-third birthday, everything has changed. Caged behind an electrical fence, locked in a house in the middle of the snow, Senna is left to decode the clues to find out why she was taken. If she wants her freedom, she has to take a close look at her past. But, her past has a heartbeat…and her kidnapper is nowhere to be found. With her survival hanging by a thread, Senna soon realizes this is a game. A dangerous one. Only the truth can set her free.

MY REVIEW:
Senna Richards is a best-selling author. She goes from being known by that to being known by other labels - rape victim, cancer patient. But she doesn't really know herself. She prefers to be alone. She doesn't like to talk about feelings (which is why she writes). She's a very emotionally scarred person. And then she wakes up cold, alone, in a log cabin and the craziness really starts as she realizes she's been kidnapped. It's amped up times 1000 when she walks into a room and realizes there's a man tied to a bed.

The story alternates between present and past events, all told from the POV of Senna. It has a slow build in the beginning. Tarryn does a fantastic job of keeping you guessing, leaving just enough bread crumbs to make you want to know what is going on. I loved the constant mystery!

I don't think I can even put in to words my feelings after reading this book. Part of me was left raw by some of what Senna goes through - and not necessarily the kidnapping part. This book is not a feel-good, happy ending type of story. It's raw and real and deep and disturbing. It's sacrifice and love and survival. It's brutal and depressing. It's complex and crushing. It's heart breaking.

Parts of this story have a very Stephen King vibe, particularly his book Misery - which is terrific because he writes some crazy stuff - though I don't personally read them because they are scary and not my cup of tea. (I have seen enough movies of his to know)

The book cover will make you think this is some kind of erotic novel - but I promise you this is far, far from that. To tell you what the cover represents would give away too much of the book.

Upon reading the last page, I just felt so empty and sad. But hey - not all good books can end in a happily ever after. If you like deep, emotional reads, this is one you must check out!

Favorite Quotes: (Narrowing these down to my top 5 was tough!)
He's going through a kidnapped version of the seven stages of grief. By the look of his bloodshot eyes, I'd say he was well into Acceptance.

"It's your darkness that pulls me in. Your mud vein. But sometimes having a mud vein will kill you."

Love sticks, and it stays and it braves the bull...

It's a painful thing to look inside yourself and see the whys and the hows of your clockwork.

You are my truth...and you set me free.

Final Rating - 4.5 stars