17.4.20

BOOK REVIEW: The Memory Wood by Sam Lloyd

Elijah has lived in the Memory Wood for as long as he can remember. It’s the only home he’s ever known.
Elissa has only just arrived. And she’ll do everything she can to escape.
When Elijah stumbles across thirteen-year-old Elissa, in the woods where her abductor is hiding her, he refuses to alert the police. Because in his twelve years, Elijah has never had a proper friend. And he doesn’t want Elissa to leave.
Not only that, Elijah knows how this can end. After all, Elissa isn’t the first girl he’s found inside the Memory Wood.
As her abductor’s behaviour grows more erratic, Elissa realises that outwitting strange, lonely Elijah is her only hope of survival. Their cat-and-mouse game of deception and betrayal will determine both their fates, and whether either of them will ever leave the Memory Wood . . .
Publisher: Bantam Press
Pages: 384
The Memory Wood is Sam Lloyd’s debut novel and it is truly gripping! I have sat and thought about how to review it as I really don’t want to give the plot away so apologies if this is rather short.
Elijah lives in the Memory Wood with his Mum and Dad and brother Kyle, he knows nothing else. He finds Elissa being held captive in a cabin in the wood and she’s not the first girl he’s found but Elissa is different and Elijah wants to be her friend. Elissa realises quickly that her only way to get out of there is to befriend Elijah, she is a very intelligent girl but she has no idea who Elijah is or how he got there too. Both of them are using each other but it is difficult to see who will win. 
This book is so clever and the pace is fantastic. It very much reminded me of Belinda Bauer’s books with it’s dark, intense atmosphere, the tension does not let up from beginning to end. I lost count of the amount of twists and turns and the final one totally blew me away, Sam Lloyd knows how to shock his readers! Elijah and Elissa are both vulnerable but during the story they both have to face danger and take risks. Elissa is a chess player and Lloyd employs a chess analogy throughout the story which works so well. Elissa especially has to consider all of her moves and she is constantly striving to stay one step ahead of both Elijah and her captor.
The Memory Wood is beautifully eerie, I felt that Sam Lloyd’s descriptions were highly cinematic and this would be a fantastic film. Although you gradually become aware that this book is set in the UK, it has a slightly other-world feel. Elija’s point of reference is so narrow, this is what really played on my mind afterwards; he has been cut off from so many people and experiences, his behaviour is not normal but how could it be?
The Memory Wood will definitely be in my list of favourite books this year, I can highly recommend it. 

1 comment:

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