Intriguing premise and plot. Clunky writing makes it difficult to get through.

Lately, I have enjoyed reading books that tie actual places and events to fictional stories. I appreciate learning about places I have not been and the impact they had on the world at that time. This is the case in this debut novel and North Brother Island in New York and the facilities that were located on the island in the early to mid-1900s.  The facilities sheltered the sick and mentally ill and probably the most famous person housed there that most people know is Typhoid Mary. There is also a reference to a ship that caught fire and many died not able to escape the blaze or drowned in the river.

The story focuses on Cora, a young woman that is brought to the island with her sister to hopefully isolate them from spreading disease until they are well. However, what ensues is lifelong imprisonment for Cora and subjected to the whims of the Gettler men who happened to be doctors on the island.

The story flips between the past and the present and while it seems unbelievable, it also held me captive wondering how things could have happened as they did and how did Cora survive the cruel and unusual behavior of the doctors on the island? Why did she not try and leave? The answer to that question might blow your mind.

I don't want to reveal too much, but there are some events that shocked and surprised me and also broke my heart knowing what Cora went through. She may be a tough woman on the outside, but she still endured emotional and physical pain that most would not have survived.

When I got to the end, it is revealed that there will be a sequel to follow. This is good because there is quite a cliffhanger at the end and I have to know what happens next for Cora and all of the Gettler men. Will they change their ways? How will it impact their families? Inquiring minds want to know.

I am giving this book 5 paws up. There are times when the story drags a little bit but overall this story held my attention and left me wanting more.

4.5 stars, but rounded up.

She deserved better.

What would you do if you had to be isolated for so long due to the greater good of society? Oh wait, that's happening now. This novel is so relevant to things happening in our world today that it was easy to get into the book with what we are going through now.

The plot and idea of the Vines is so original in it's own way and I loved the historical fiction surrounding how the book is done. As much as I wanted to love this book, it just wasn't for me.

The storyline starts out really strong with Finn encountering a woman on the island and his quick getaway before things got hazy. We are then transported back to the 1900's to learn more about Cora's life on the island before it became restricted to everyone.

I felt a bit confused with the way that things transitioned within the novel, I felt that one moment we were reading about how Cora was talking about her sister, and then the next, she's out on the beach and there's a fire. I also felt that there was too much detail for me that didn't surround the build of the story enough. I know a lot of readers enjoy a lot of details, so as a writer, Shelley Nolden did a fantastic job. I just personally felt it was too much for my liking.

All of my comments do not take away how interesting and unique that this book is. I would urge everyone to pick up this book and give it a try. Just because it wasn't for me, doesn't mean you won't love it!

Just couldn't get into this.

Finn Gettler has a penchant for urban exploration. Drawn by the mystique surrounding North Brother Island, Finn launches his kayak and navigates himself toward the abandoned and forbidden island that is now a heron sanctuary. What Finn discovers on the island is shocking and surreal when he is confronted by a mysterious woman riddled with scars.

Eager to unravel the mystery behind the island and its enigmatic occupant, Finn returns only to find out that his family’s past possesses some deep and dark secrets. Secrets that have laid dormant until now.

Surreal and creepy, The Vines is a compelling read that will draw the reader in. Never letting go until the end.

The author, Shelley Nolden has composed a spine-chilling historical fiction novel with well researched details of the North and South Brother Islands as well as details surrounding “Typhoid” Mary Mallon.

As compelling of a read that it is, the reader should Google the North Brother Island and Mary Mallon. It is with this added knowledge that the reader will come to appreciate the narrative of The Vines. Four deserving stars.

I received a digital ARC of the novel from Freiling Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

THE VINES is a twisted and dark bit of contagious fun! Like a historical-mystery-thriller-fantasy-sci-fi mash up of secrets and lies - and I loved every minute!⁣⁣

I’ve been down all the Google rabbit holes wondering what quarantine was like on North Brother Island. I had the unfortunate pleasure of having tuberculosis a few years ago and thank science I wasn’t banished to an island! Shout out to modern medicine!
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This decaying NYC island is the site of a shuttered hospital used for quarantines and human experiments. Cora, remains imprisoned there by contagions and some super shady doctors. When Finn discovers her, it ignites an obsession to uncover her past — and his own family's dark secrets in turn.⁣⁣
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There’s some really fun twists and turns that The Vines takes - told in dual timelines, and cleverly meeting in present day. It’s a haunting story that questions the ethics of medicine - in particular, a family of doctors who stand out in some pretty horrific scenes. But the courageous and strong-willed Cora outshines their controversial objectives and steals the story with her unwavering spirit. ⁣⁣
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A haunting story that is definitely taken up a notch reading in a pandemic - Coronavirus even makes a cameo! It’s funny how truth really is sometimes just as strange as fiction!⁣⁣

Such a fascinating read! I did not know much about North Brother Island, but this book fascinated me from the beginning so I had to do some of my own reading. This is such a unique read, full of multi-generational family conflict and scientific mystery.

This book follows Coraline, an 18 year old who became sick in the early 1900's. She was moved to North Brother Island, and not long after was showing no physical symptoms of being sick. However, when she tried to leave the island, the symptoms began again and she would not be able to survive long. After contracting other diseases, she became an asymptomatic prisoner of the island. Her only hope is the Gettler family, in which the men were all determined to find her cure as well as provide medical answers to even bigger problems. With their own motivations and experiments, Cora had to find a way to survive for more years than she ever expected.

The ending was such a cliffhanger to the point where I stared at the page in disbelief that this author made it to where you NEED to read the second book.

I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next!

So straight off, I am going to say, this book ends in a cliffhanger. I'm not a fan of not knowing that from the get go, so here is my warning to others who are like me and prefer going into a book with that knowledge.

On to my review...I enjoyed this one a lot. It was well written and quite relevant to our situation at present (pandemic). It had a captivating plot. Intriguing characters. An atmospheric setting. Some real historical facts and people mixed in. I'm looking forward to the next book!