ARC Review: Beware the Wild by Natalie C. Parker

Beware the Wild
Author: Natalie C. Parker
Publication: HarperTeen (October 21, 2014)

Description: Southern Gothic gets a whole new twist in this debut novel, sure to appeal to fans of the New York Times bestselling Beautiful Creatures series.

The swamp in Sterling's small Louisiana town proves to have a power over its inhabitants when her brother disappears and no one but Sterling even remembers that he existed. Now Sterling, with the help of brooding loner Heath, who's had his own creepy experience with the swamp, must fight back and reclaim what—and who—the swamp has taken.

Beware the Wild is a riveting and atmospheric page-turner readers won't want to miss.

My Thoughts: BEWARE THE WILD was a fascinating story about a girl who has to find her inner bravery to rescue her brother. Sterling Saucier has always been protected by her older brother Phineas. But now Phin is graduating from high school and moving on to Tulane University. Sterling is terrified about surviving without her brother and stops eating which terrifies her brother and her friends.

Adding to the atmosphere is the swamp that is outside of town. There have been years and years of scary stories told about people who went in and didn't come back out or who come out forever changed. After an argument, Phin runs into the swamp. Then weird things start to happen. Suddenly, no one but Sterling even remembers Phin. Then a girl named Lorena May comes out of the swamp and everyone recalls that she has always been Sterling's older sister.

Sterling is determined to go into the swamp and rescue her brother. She teams up with a boy she has had a crush on for a while. Heath is the only one who remembers that his best friend Nathan also disappeared into the swamp. Together, they keep those two in their memories.  But Heath couldn't force himself into the swamp to look for his lost friend.

This is a scary story about love and courage and how, sometimes, love goes wrong. It is also a story about sacrifice. I liked the story and really liked Sterling's determination to be strong and to rescue her brother.

Fans of spooky stories who like strong female characters will enjoy this one.

Favorite Quote:

If I was afraid to live in a town without Phineas, I'm plain terrified of living in a world without him. With an unexpected combination of fear and guilt and recklessness, I set a foot on the bottom rung of the fence and rest my fingers on the top. Shine licks at them. I jump back, clenching my hands to fists and glaring at the sinister coils.

The swamp continues to beckon.

I can do this.

"Phinias Harlan Saucier,"I say to whatever might be listening. "I'm coming for my brother."

I got this ARC from Edelweiss. You can buy your copy here.