Never Let You Go: A Modern Fairytale by Katy Regnery

9:37 pm 7 June 2015

Never Let You Go: A Modern Fairytale - Katy Regnery

Book – Never Let You Go: A Modern Fairytale

Author – Katy Regnery

Publication Date –June 12, 2015
Genre –New Adult
Type – Stand Alone
Cliffhanger – No
Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars

Complimentary copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis

In this modern retelling of “Hansel and Gretel,” 13-year-old foster children, Holden and Griselda, escape from their abductor after three years of brutal captivity and try to cross the Shenandoah River on foot. Tragically, one of them makes it to safety but the other is left behind.

Ten years later, Griselda’s boyfriend drags her to a fight club grudge match where her world is turned upside down when she watches Holden step into the ring.

Though the connection between them is fierce, bitter regret, simmering rage and a cache of physical and emotional scars lie between them, just as dangerous as the whitewater of the Shenandoah.

Never Let You Go is a story of fear and hope, defeat and survival, and two people - once profoundly broken – who discover that love is the onlything that can make them whole again.

This is a standalone novel inspired by Hansel & Gretel. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to profanity, scenes of physical abuse and very strong sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. (Note: children are not sexually abused in this book.)

My Thoughts - Story
When I first finished this book, I was going to give it a lower rating but the damn thing stuck with me and I couldn’t stop thinking about the ‘past’ of these two characters. So based on that, the Ms. Regnery did a kick-ass job at creating a story that sticks.

The problems with the story….

~Some of my problems at first was the back and forth between the past and present and then the not so far past back to the past and then back to the present…I got a bit confused at times.

~Then it was some of the repetition of the past for these two characters that there were times I would just skim through the past scenes when they were kids.

~The other problem I had with it was around the 60% mark where there is a plot twist that I just wanted to bang my head against the wall…but….and that’s a big ‘butt’ that plot twist redeemed itself at the very end.

The positives of this story…

~Strong connection to the characters and the emotions that were brought out in me during very angsty times

~It was REAL…well, parts that weren’t fairy tale driven…like for example – Gris and Holden don’t magically win the lottery or become millionaires – instead the future for them is something that can very well happen and it’s not exaggerated.

~Their stories were INTENSE and their reunion was HEARTSTOPPING

~I found myself at times…holding my breath at what was going to happen next – I was captivated at times that everything else around me faded away

~The author did a great job at quotes that will stick with me for a very long time! “I jump, you jump”…..”Ask me if I’m whole” ---- Damn…those gutted me!

Re-Cap
I’m not going to waste your time with giving you a recap of this story – there is just too much going on that I will end up leaking a spoiler so I’m going to leave you with…

Two kids in the foster system get kidnapped…one gets away…one gets stuck…years later they reunite and the story goes from there.

Reason for Reading – Author Request
Story – 4 out of 5 Stars
Steam – 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Angst – 4 out of 5 Stars
Writing – 4 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow – 3.5 out of 5 Stars