ARC Review : The Scroll by K.B. Hoyle (YA)

Goodreads

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Book Blurb

Darcy Pennington may once have been an average teenager, but not anymore. Living each year twice, once in her world and once in Alitheia, has made her into someone who cares little for normal teenage activities. She’s got more important things to do, like save the mythical, magical world of Alitheia. But this time, Darcy can’t save Alitheia until she saves Tellius, the love of her life.

A window between the worlds allows Darcy to see Tellius from her home in Chicago. But, far from being reassured, she plunges into despair when she sees Tellius captured, imprisoned, and tortured. All her plans for her future life in Alitheia are put on hold as Darcy faces a singular goal: save Tellius, even if it means giving Tselloch something in return.

Intrigue is high upon her return to the castle, where old friends tell new lies, best friends hide crucial secrets, deceptive apparitions roam the halls, and betrayal lingers around every corner. The only way to unravel the mysteries and protect Alitheia is to bring Tellius home, but Darcy lacks the necessary magic for that.

As time runs low, Rubidius keeps to himself, and even Sam has her own secret this year. Darcy wonders if anyone else cares the way she does, and why it’s always a fight to get anything done. Still, she’ll do anything to rescue her future husband, including surrender herself to the fate she knows is coming anyway. Now, if only The Six could unveil the scroll, they might learn the greatest secret of all, before everything burns to ashes around them.

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Toot's Review by Stacy Sabala

This is the fifth book in the Gateway series. This is probably the best one yet. Darcy finds out that Tellius has been captured during her year in her world. She uses the compact to see into Alitheia. As a result she feels helpless and has to hold herself together until it is time to go back. When the six go back, no one knows that Tellius has been captured. Tselloch is demanding the bottle that the Oracle gave YahtoVeni in exchange for the return of Tellius. He also tells Darcy that she alone has to make the trade.

Darcy is beside herself with worry and frustration. Rubidius has a plan and is working night and day. He is keeping secrets from Darcy. Her frustrations and fear lead her on a fool’s mission where she loses a trusted friend and gains a new one.

She is fighting her curse and her fears while Tselloch is playing on those exact things to get her to do what he wants. He sends Darcy apparitions of Tellius begging for her to save him. Her guilt is pushing her hard. It takes all her friends to help her keep herself under control.

Once the plan is ready, Rubidius entrusts Darcy with the rescue of Tellius from Tselloch. She knows that she may never leave once she saves him. She has to be the one and she has to go alone. Saving Tellius is the most important thing to her.

This book blew my mind. It was harrowing and had danger at every turn. You, the reader, will not see some of the things coming. It had a lot of surprises. Darcy’s fear and frustration jump from the page. You can almost physically feel it. The journey to rescue Tellius was full of twists and turns and I had no clue what would come next. Then the last day in Alitheia for the six was intense and shocking as was the time right after they get back to their own world. I can not wait to read the next one. I am a bit sad that I have to wait.

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I give this a 5 out of 5