Hurt (Solitary Tales, #4) in David C Cook

Feb 25, 2013 Michelle Griep rated it it was amazing

I was seriously afraid to read HURT. I’d waited like a puppy at his dish for this baby to arrive, but once I held it in my hot little paws, I set it on my desk for weeks without cracking it open…not that I didn’t look at the cover every time I passed by.

There were two reasons for my fear factor, and neither of them involve creepy mannequins or broken doll heads. I was afraid to read HURT because I feared I wouldn’t like the ending, that there just wouldn’t be enough closure to satisfy me. And I ...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Mojoboy31 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, mystery, christian, thriller

You won't want to put it down.
Travis Thrasher finally delivers. Hurt is not only the best of the series, but easily one of the best books I've read for a long while. Chris is one of the most real protagonists of any book I've ever read. The supporting characters all feel real as well, and you grow to care about them, even when their actions frustrate you.

This book follows Chris as he struggles to keep his loved ones safe while waiting for whatever is supposed to happen on Memorial Day. All he kn You won't want to put it down.
Travis Thrasher finally delivers. Hurt is not only the best of the series, but easily one of the best books I've read for a long while. Chris is one of the most real protagonists of any book I've ever read. The supporting characters all feel real as well, and you grow to care about them, even when their actions frustrate you.

This book follows Chris as he struggles to keep his loved ones safe while waiting for whatever is supposed to happen on Memorial Day. All he knows is that if he doesn't play along with whatever the bad guys say, they'll harm his mother, or the girl he loves, or both.
He also struggles with his new-found faith, knowing he tried it his own way and failed, but also knowing that his faith has been forbidden by the bad guys.

Twists, turns, mysteries, suspense, hope, angst-- oh, the angst!
This book also delivers on something the other books in the series did not: thrills.
Hurt brings thrills and then some.

This book is very affecting. It makes you feel.
It makes you care, it raises your pulse, it makes you laugh, it turns your face red, it warms your heart, it punches you in the gut. You want to stop, but you can't; you have to keep going, have to know what happens. You can't put it down, because you're afraid you won't be able to summon the will to pick it back up again.

The first half of the book is pretty stellar, very enjoyable, some annoying drama, but for the most part: stellar.

It starts to drag towards the middle as it goes into a strange kind of holding pattern; things get worse with some frustrating plots that were completely unnecessary.

Once the holding pattern ends, you won't want to put it down for any reason. The stakes are raised, the suspense and dread build again, the conflict escalates, and the last leg of the book is truly something.

In all, this book was very enjoyable, emotional, gut-wrenching, inspiring. I loved it. And though I have many complaints, I loved the series.

I'd recommend it to anyone who likes suspense, mystery, angst, spiritual warfare, and just all around good reads. ...more

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Nov 01, 2013 Deborah rated it it was amazing

His Rebellion Will Soon Turn to Hope.

When Chris Buckley first encountered the mysteries of creepy Solitary, North Carolina, he had little idea how far he would fall into the town’s shadows. After losing the love of his life, Chris tried to do things his way. He hunted answers. Then he gave up trying to find them.

But now Chris comes back to Solitary knowing there’s a purpose for his being there. As he watches his place in a twisted and evil bloodline become clear, Chris waits for the last battle— His Rebellion Will Soon Turn to Hope.

When Chris Buckley first encountered the mysteries of creepy Solitary, North Carolina, he had little idea how far he would fall into the town’s shadows. After losing the love of his life, Chris tried to do things his way. He hunted answers. Then he gave up trying to find them.

But now Chris comes back to Solitary knowing there’s a purpose for his being there. As he watches his place in a twisted and evil bloodline become clear, Chris waits for the last battle—and wonders who will be left when he finally makes his stand.

The fourth and final book in the Solitary Tales shines light into deep darkness as Chris’s journey to Solitary comes to a dramatic close.

My Review:

Turning that final page of Hurt really makes me feel like my life is over. My life in Solitary has come to an end, and never again will I be a first-time spectator. The ending isn't at all what I expected it to be, yet I was pleasantly surprised that there is a hole left by the absence of my daily forage into the town of Solitary.

At this point, I am pretty well acquainted by Chris and his turmoil, and I was just as anxious to find out where Thrasher was taking me. This amazing author doesn't disappoint. Chris's vision is finally clear, and he understands where he falls into the past and future of Solitary. I've very literally dragged this series out for eight weeks. As a reader who reads at least a book a day, that was a tough thing to do. But I wanted to savor every word, every page, and every new experience.

I have to admit that for the first time in my life, I've slightly fallen in love with a male literary character. And a man-child no less. I've read about Chris's deepest fears and biggest mistakes, and I am going to miss the quirky fellow. Chris is a guy who tries to do right, and often ends up involved in something he had no intention of being a part of. I am going to miss him, his friends and family, and the town of Solitary. I've never been so emotionally involved in a story as much as I have this one, and for that Thrasher, I thank you.

And finally, for those of you reading my words, give this series, this genre, and this author a chance. Thrasher will not disappoint you or let you down. His words will inspire you, teach you things you will never forget, and take you places that you will never regret.

This book was provided by the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jun 10, 2013 Jeanie rated it liked it

The final book of the series. And this series, you do have to read in order are you will get lost and not see the signficance of it being all brought together. It is a fast read. The audience for these series is for young adults, however as a older adult, I did enjoy these series and the lesson of how spiritual battles are fought.

I was a very uncomfortable about the theology of the signficance of the blue jay. Even though it was a assumption of Chris (our main character), it can lead a reader t ...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Julia Reffner rated it liked it

Very suspenseful and enjoyable series thus far I can't help but wish he had condensed into 3 books as this book was much slower paced than the other books and seemed to be largely resolution. ...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Diana Montgomery marked it as to-read

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Jun 05, 2014 Christian marked it as to-read

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Jan 23, 2021 Kristofer Strid marked it as to-read

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