Review: Wild by Alex Mallory

Posted September 29th, 2015 in book review / 18 comments

Review: Wild by Alex MalloryWild by Alex Mallory
Publisher: HarperTeen on July 8, 2014
Genres: Retelling, Contemporary Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 448
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Rating: two-half-stars

The forest is full of secrets, and no one understands that better than Cade. Foraging, hunting, surviving— that’s all he knows. Alone for years, Cade believes he’s the sole survivor. At least, until he catches a glimpse of a beautiful stranger…

Dara expected to find natural wonders when she set off for a spring break camping trip. Instead, she discovers a primitive boy— he’s stealthy and handsome and he might be following her. Intrigued, Dara seeks him out and sets a catastrophe in motion.

Thrust back into society, Cade struggles with the realization that the life he knew was a lie. But he’s not the only one. Trying to explain life in a normal town leaves Dara questioning it.

As the media swarm and the police close in, Dara and Cade risk everything to get closer. But will the truth about Cade’s past tear them apart?

A YA Tarzan retelling.

At A Glance

I am so conflicted.

The Good

I have a lot of crap I can say about this book but for some dang reason I kind of enjoyed it. Yeah, it’s slow, yeah, it’s too long, but I just sat back and let the story flow, and it wasn’t half bad. After finishing Wild, I was going to give it 3 stars because it was a good relaxing, fluff book. But after a couple days I started getting annoyed about a lot of stuff that you will read about in The Bad. If I had written the review the second I put this book down, it would have been 3 stars. I know, it’s stupid but true. The more time I think about a book, the more critical I get. And it’s only been two days!

Well, enough of that. I loved the concept: a retelling of Tarzan. I really liked Cade. He felt true to a boy living in the wild but with basic knowledge of what the real world is like. His internal monologue was so heartbreaking. I wanted him to fit in so bad, but I could tell that wasn’t going to happen. I do feel like he could have tried harder, but what are you going to do? What’s done is done.

I loved reading about Cade in his natural habitat. Very fascinating stuff. Him in the real world was pretty fun at times. The ending wasn’t perfect, but we get a preview of a maybe hopeful future.

The Bad

The pacing was so slow, I think I might have grown a few gray hairs while reading. So much could have been cut from this book, like half of it. A lot of unnecessary scenes.

The writing is very descriptive, which was nice in the beginning, but as the long ass story went on it was too much.

The characters were just okay. Dara was not the best main character. She was whiney and unrealistic in her thinking.

A lot was set up but nothing ends up happening. And this book is over 400 pages, so that really sucked. I kept waiting for something, anything to happen. I feel like I wasted my time.

The Snuggly

The romance was slow as all get out. I did like Dara and Cade together though. She really understood him. Very YA when it comes to sex, which means there is none.

Final Thoughts

I can’t bring my self to recommend this book to anyone. It’s just too dang long and drawn out. But it definitely had potential. I think if there was a second book, I could see things getting interesting, but I have a feeling there’s not. Not really recommended.

Quotes

The bear growled, trying to shake off the blow. Oddly human, it pawed its own ear. The boy struck again. Roared again. ANd although he grew paler by the moment, he did not stagger.
Terror ran through Dara. He saved her and he was going to die.

“What the hell? Dara, we’re leaving. Let’s start getting this stuff together.”
Dara surprised herself when she said, “No.”
“Wait, what?”
“No,” she repeated. Tugging the necklace away from him, she tucked it in her pocket. “I’m not afraid. I’m curious. I mean, if he wanted to hurt us, he could have slit our throats last night while we were sleeping.”

 

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18 Responses to “Review: Wild by Alex Mallory”

  1. Lekeisha

    I remember this from last year and I put it on my TBR. Tarzan retelling? Sounds fascinating, but I have no time for long winded tales these days. I think I’ll pass. Tell me, was there a “Me man, me strong” line? LOL! That’s what pops in my head whenever I think of Tarzan. OAN: have you seen The Jungle Book trailer? I really want to see that movie.

    Reply

  3. kindlemom1

    I do that sometimes as well and I feel bad because a five star book sometimes turns into a four star book for me. I don’t know why but it happens. 😉

    Great honest review!!

    Reply

    • Jennifer Bielman

      I know. It’s weird how a small amount of time can change things so much.

      Reply

  4. Aimee @ Deadly Darlings

    I’m normally okay with slow books, but if a lot of the events have no real purpose… No thanks. Especially if I have to go through more than 400 pages of it! Well, at least the angst–er, I mean the slow romance and main guy character–sound great. Sorry you didn’t love this more, Jennifer. But I totally get what you mean about getting more critical after you’ve had some time to digest! Happens to me all the time.

    Reply

    • Jennifer Bielman

      I like to digest books because I think the real rating comes out that way.

      Reply

  6. Jaclyn Canada

    I usually write my review immediately after reading, but don’t rate it until I put it up on the blog. That way, anything I may have missed in the meantime will come out and I can update my review and rating accordingly. I know how you feel about the longer you sit on it, the more critical you can be. I am the same way. I don’t think I’m going to read this one, but thanks for the great review! 😀

    Reply

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