UNWILLING - UNWILLING (1 DVD)

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He parked in front of their house, and thought, as he often did, how empty it felt. That, too, was about the war. They’d buried their oldest son, then watched his twin brother return from the same conflict only to spiral into violence, drugs, and prison. In that regard, Vietnam had killed two of their three boys, Robert with a bullet to the heart, and his brother more insidiously. Jason never talked about the things he’d done in the service of his country, but Burklow had a friend at the Department of Defense. He refused to provide details, but said once that there was war and there was WAR, and that Jason had fought the latter kind. This book is haunting. There’s no better way to put it. I read it slowly and thoroughly and even when I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about it. And this is a big volume of the book, so I mean it when I said I took my time. It’s almost a feat for me that I didn’t binge a book for once. But this isn’t something you can binge. It’s dark. It’s a lot. And it’s difficult. But, I mean that in all the best ways!

This is my second John Hart novel and this one broke my heart! He is an amazing writer and storyteller, and my heart was torn apart for this family. The ending was slightly disappointing, it requires further closure and explanation by way of a sequel. This is definitely not a fast-paced and plot driven book, however there is plenty in it to keep you occupied. I do hope there is a sequel…. The good news! I liked it. At first the wording was a little confusing. I stopped and told myself to keep reading and the world would become more familiar. It did! But, the best part of the book was the characters. I really loved the main character Judah. Which is a girl, despite the name. She is tortured and wounded and all things that make you root for someone and love them. The book is about magic and power. But, at its core it's about love and free will. I’ve already discussed what impressed me the most regarding The Unwilling (its choice to make its lead character a man suffering from mental illness and make him the hero-not the monster), but what I didn’t discuss was the performance given by David Lipper as the obsessive compulsive and agoraphobic hero David Harris.One thing which The Unwilling did particularly well was create a sense of claustrophobia. The entire film takes place almost entirely within the house, although the house doesn’t exactly stay in the same place, so to speak. Firstly, it seems like it’s somehow transported to another plane of existence (where the stars don’t shine), before a concrete-like substance begins to form around the walls. And, as will happen in any situation when people who aren’t necessarily friends are placed in close proximity to one another for an extended period, they’re soon at each other’s throats. Literally, in one case.

As someone with severe OCD (and someone who at one time struggled to go outside for fear of what might happen), I can honestly say that I found his performance believable and respectful. What’s more I found the rest of the cast’s performances to be on par with David Lipper’s. Set in the South at the height of the Vietnam War, The Unwillingcombines crime, suspense and searing glimpses into the human mind and soul in New York Timesbestselling author John Hart's singular style.He took his hand from the switch, wondering if she’d known or merely guessed. As his eyes adjusted, he saw more of her shape. Water rose to the curve of her breasts, and her arms were wrapped across her shins.

She left the rest unspoken, but he understood the deeper fears, her worries about corruption, deception, dangerous ideas. John Hart presents us with characters so tarnished and so broken by the actions of a life that rejects them. Characters sent adrift by their own deeds and by the deeds and faulty decisions of others. There is something about a Hart novel that allows you to sink deeply below the surface. Hart guarantees that the storyline is not a simple one or that the individuals here are swirled in storms that seem relentless. It's what he does best and it's what he does here in The Unwilling......raw, dark, aching people who only wish for validation.The things I liked-It kept me reading—Racing toward the eventual climax. The author managed o keep some of the secrets until the end. A tale of a much mis understood veteran. You just knew there was more to the story than was first revealed. Set in the South at the height of the Vietnam War, The Unwilling combines crime, suspense and searing glimpses into the human mind and soul in New York Times bestselling author John Hart's singular style. It was definitely an intriguing fantasy plot intertwined with a medieval world. The Slonimi people - a traveling, gypsy-style clan - had worked for generations to breed their strongest Workers (Work being a sort of cross between magic and creation), to create an individual strong enough to work against some dudes who tried to eliminate the Work (I think? The original crime was a little murky for me). Much of this isn't explained til near the end. As Judah navigates a complicated world full of deception, she must discover who she really is and how to wield the tremendous power that she carries within.

A compulsively readable work propelled by not only race-against-time action, but also the endearing bonds between siblings put at loose ends by war, prison, and addiction, John Hart’s The Unwilling provides a unique thriller, well-suited for our times. Hart’s novel proves very much successful, as it allows readers a bit of escapism from the tumultuous world around them.” — North Carolina Literary Review That is seriously just the basics, folks. I found the characters to be engaging, and had a degree of sympathy for almost all of them (okay, Lord Elban really was just a sadistic asshole). One of the most important things for me with any fantasy book is the ability to actually imagine the world the author has set up. While I'm not entirely confident in saying I sort of get what the Work was, I think that was also part of the point. The Work was a mystery, and could never be fully explained even if it was real, if that makes any sense. Gavin and Judah and born on the same day in very different circumstances. Gavin, high born and an heir while Judah is an orphan and taken in by the elite out of duty. The bond between Gavin and Judah grows intense day by day and they have a strange connection and both feel each other's emotions and sensations. Gavin's father, Lord Elban has plans for all of them while his healer Nate has been planted in the family to represent his people and keep the pair alive since if one is gravely injured, the other will die as well. So Judah is both treasured and a pariah. Her head tilted, then, and a glint showed in one of her eyes. “You haven’t come home midafternoon since we were newlyweds. I’m asking if Jason is the reason you’re here.” The girl who started life with no name and no history will soon uncover more to her story than ever imagined.” 3.5 stars.Yes, the book is lengthy but Kelly’s prose is lush and not a word is wasted. And I hope that there will be so much more from this mystical universe in the very near future… a psychopath ) on death row calling the shots in a prison. I realize it’s fiction but this just doesn’t work for me. The other villain was a psychopath too. An enforcer. Gory beyond all imagination He was one of the creepiest characters I have read in a long time. The ending-It wasn’t tied up completely and left some things hanging. Not to give the ending away, but again-totally implausible. Overall all if you are looking for a horror like Stephen King and the writing talent of Leigh Bardugo, this book is for you.