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January 19, 2015

Raving Review: Willowgrove by Kathleen Peacock - Everything I wanted the book to be

Willowgrove (Hemlock, #3)
Title: Willowgrove (Hemlock, #3)
Author: Kathleen Peacock
Publisher: Harper Collins Canada
Publication date: January 6, 2015
Genre(s): Young Adult (Paranormal/Werewolf)
Source: Won from author on twitter / Own HC copy too
Format: ARC / HC copy 
Pages: 368
Willowgrove is Kathleen Peacock's riveting conclusion to the Hemlock trilogy, a dark, romantic, paranormal suspense series that pits friendship against survival, and trust against love.

Ever since Mac's best friend, Amy, was murdered, Hemlock has been a dangerous place. But now that Mac, her boyfriend, Kyle, and Amy's ex, Jason, have investigated a mass breakout from Thornhill, a werewolf "rehabilitation" camp, the danger has only grown. Fear of the infection spreading is now at an all-time high, and anyone with a scar is suspected of being a wolf.

What makes Mac even more afraid, though, are the dark experiments that the warden of Thornhill was performing on wolves in a secret asylum called Willowgrove. Uncovering the truth about what happened may be the only way for Mac to save everyone she loves and end her nightmares for good.
I can't even begin to describe my love for this trilogy (if you don't believe me, read both my reviews of Hemlock and Thornhill!). This review will be spoiler free because I want people to know that this trilogy as a whole did not disappoint in the least bit and that the third and final book was everything I wanted it to be! Thank you so much Kathleen Peacock for creating such a refreshing take on the paranormal genre and werewolves. The Hemlock trilogy contains everything I love: Mystery, thrilling pacing, friendship, a fantastic romance, and a kick butt main protagonist. Don't think this trilogy is just a typical paranormal, it contains all that I mentioned in a winning blend. 
Willowgrove did not disappoint at all. I was never afraid of it being a disappointment, I was afraid of some possible outcomes that Peacock could write in Willowgrove. However, I loved everything about Willowgrove.. even the scenes that made me bawl my eyes out. I had to take a break, cry my heart out, then get back to the book. I love it when authors paint their world and the events in it realistically. Not everyone gets their happily ever after and not everything miraculously gets fixed. That's life (even if it is a non contemporary world). 
The characters make up this book. Mac, Kyle, and Jason. Those three are just so freaking amazing. I love love their friendship, even when it is screwed up, they still manage to love each other unconditionally. Even when it seems like one of them is lost to the rest, they manage to bring each other back. It is truly a friendship to be envied and admired. The love interest (It really isn't a love triangle but I still won't say who because that would be a book 1 spoiler), is just so so sweet and I love him to bits. Mac and him are just the most adorable couple and their romance is just so lovely. It truly restores my faith in YA romances. You guys know how many are underdeveloped or turn to be the main focus of a non contemporary book. However in Willowgrove (and whole trilogy) all I wanted was more of them and the three friends too. Not only that, but two other characters, Trey and Serena also stole my heart.  
The paranormal aspect in this novel is woven into the novel so naturally. Lupin syndrome is a disease that turns humans into werewolves (shape shifters). There are concentration camps and just so much fear and hatred towards werewolves. Some of our characters are werewolves. Mac's best friend, Amy, was killed by a werewolf. That was the setting to book one. So I didn't spoil anything for you. I just loved the development of the story from Hemlock all the way to Willowgrove; it is very thought out and I was gasping left and right at all the reveals. 
I can tell you to pick up Hemlock based on many things, either the friendship, the paranormal aspect, the plot progression, the mystery, the fresh take on werewolves, the romance, or even the side characters. There is just so much to love about this whole trilogy as well as the concluding book, Willowgrove. I personally did not have one thing I disliked about Willowgrove. So this point seems like a good stopping point. I am so so very sad that there are no more books to look forward to. The ending was so satisfying but I would still love novellas about some characters *hint hint*. I will definitely be reliving this world soon because I can't stay too much away from the Hemlock world <3 Thank you so much Kathleen for writing such memorable characters and books that have become one of my favorite books I ever read.
 
My raving reviews of Hemlock and Thornhill

2 comments:

  1. Aw, yay. <3 I'm so so glad you loved this book Juhina :) I knew you would, hih. I did like some parts of it as well :D And I just adore Kathleen. She's all kinds of sweet and amazing. <3 Thank you for sharing your amazing review sweetie :)

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  2. YESS, I so agree with what you've said here! I was SO scared that this would be a disappointment, but I loved it! To me the triangle isn't really a triangle...I love the romance and I also love the friendships in this one. YA paranormal is not my go to genre, but this trilogy just really caught me. I hope Peacock plans to write more YA books in the future!

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