On the Horizon – someone like me (M.R. Carey)

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this fantasy thriller eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

someone like me (M. R. Carey)

Title: someone like me

Author: M. R. Carey

Publisher: Orbit Books

Publication Date: TODAY!! (hardcover/e-book)

ISBN: 978-0316477420

Source: NetGalley

I found out about the book from me matey, Paul @ paul’spicks and immediately had to read it.  I love this author’s work.  Now I didn’t read the blurb before readin’ this one, but I have to admit that it is a bit misleading.  It suggests that the main focus of the story is a woman named Liz.  Aye, she be one of them.  But equally important to the story is a young girl named Fran.

Fran is a young teen with post-traumatic stress disorder due to her kidnapping at the age of six.  She survived but every day is a struggle to cope with the aftermath.  One of the things that helps her get by is a cartoon fox that only she can see. Her hallucinations have begun to worsen, despite her medication.  Fran was the highlight of the novel for me.  She is intelligent, funny, lovable, and tenacious.

Liz is the mom of two kids and the survivor of an abusive ex-husband.  She works a low-paying job and does her best to raise her children with very little help.  Her children are her strength and she is determined to give them the best life she can.  Her ex-husband seems equally determined to make her life hell whenever he can.  Liz is caring, thoughtful, passive, and a bit stressed out.

The real onset of the action in the novel comes when Liz’ s husband violently assaults her.  Liz wants to fight back but old habits are hard to break.  Submissiveness and inaction are winning when suddenly a part of Liz she was unaware of takes over for survival.  But once unleashed, this rage filled personality seems bent on controlling her and dominating her personality with hatred and personality.

Liz and Fran’s worlds eventually collide.  Part of that arises from the trauma both have suffered.  Part of that stems from their relationships with Zac.  Zac is a classmate of Fran and Liz’s son.  He is sweet, thoughtful, conscientious, and a bit sheltered despite his negative relationship with his father.  I particularly enjoyed his interactions with Fran.  Interestingly, Fran’s relationship with her father was awesome.  It was fantastic to have such a wonderful father figure in this novel.

The fantasy elements of the novel were fun as well.  I don’t want to get into them here because of spoilers but the concepts were interesting and the ramifications fun to explore.  What happened with the other side of Liz was crazy and fascinating.  And rather scary.

The pacing was intense at the beginning and then it went to a more leisurely pace before picking back up again at the end.  I have to say that the ending didn’t work for me.  A little too convenient and unbelievable.  But I loved the book and couldn’t put it down.  And Fran won over me salty heart pretty quickly.  So I think that this be another win for M.R. Carey.  Arrr!

So lastly . . .

Thank ye Orbit Books!

Goodreads has this to say about the novel:

SHE LOOKS LIKE ME. SHE SOUNDS LIKE ME. NOW SHE’S TRYING TO TAKE MY PLACE.

Liz Kendall wouldn’t hurt a fly. She’s a gentle woman devoted to bringing up her kids in the right way, no matter how hard times get.

But there’s another side to Liz—one which is dark and malicious. A version of her who will do anything to get her way, no matter how extreme or violent.

And when this other side of her takes control, the consequences are devastating.

The only way Liz can save herself and her family is if she can find out where this new alter-ego has come from, and how she can stop it.

To visit the author’s website go to:

M. R. Carey – Author

To buy the novel go to:

someone like me – Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

Previous Log Entries for this Author

the girl with all the gifts – book 1 (Captain’s Log – Sci Fi)

the boy on the bridge – book 2 (On the Horizon – Sci-Fi eArc)