Slumber by Tamara Blake | Book Review

Slumber
Tamara Blake
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Supernatural, Romance
Publication Date: July 16th 2013
Number of Pages: 192
Source: Netgalley

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Once upon a time, Ruby believed in magic... 

When Ruby volunteers to take her mother's housecleaning shift at the gothic Cottingley Heights mansion, she thinks it's going to be business as usual. Clean out the fridge, scrub toilets, nothing too unusual. But nothing could prepare her for the decadent squalor she finds within. Rich people with more money than sense trashing their beautiful clothes and home just because they can. After the handsome Tam discovers her cleaning up after him and his rich friends, Ruby has never felt more like a character from her sister's book of fairy tales. 

Tam sees beyond Ruby's job and ratty clothes, and sweeps her off her feet, treating her like a real princess, but Ruby is sure this beautiful boy is too good to be true. And as one tragedy after another befalls Ruby and her family, Ruby painfully learns that magic is all too real, and it always comes with a price.

Slumber is an incredible and crazy whirlwind tale about 17 year old, Ruby and her family's struggles in life. Ruby, her mother and her sister, Shelley, live near the Hamptons but they don't live the 'typical' Hamptons lifestyle. The three of them live in a Trailer Park and struggle to pay the bills each month. As Ruby's mother becomes ill, Ruby is forced to take her mothers place for a scheduled cleaning job at the Cottingley Heights mansion. When Ruby enters the house she is absolutely appalled by the state it's been left in after an 'elite' party - empty alcohol bottles have been left everywhere, drugs dust every counter, and Ruby even uncovers a group make-out session which she's even invited to attend! With all the crazy goings on at home and at Cottingley Heights, its a welcome distraction when handsome, tall and charming Tam saves her from the other Cottingley Heights residents. But all is not what Ruby expects with Tam and she is launched into an even crazier world that she wishes she hadn't found.

Slumber is a fantastic debut author novel - the story quickly absorbed me and I couldn't put the book down. This is not your 'typical' supernatural, romance YA book. There's violence, bitchiness and Ruby does not fall for Tam easily (if even at all) which is endearing and a change from the usual. This story was super fast paced which I loved and every one of the 192 pages is gripping - even when I thought things couldn't get any worse, they did! The only quarrel I have with this book is the ending and that's because I was super shocked and so upset there's no sequel to read straight away... what will happen to Ruby!

I highly recommend this book for all supernatural YA fans, and even if you don't like supernatural - I suggest you at least try it. This book is not your 'typical' supernatural story and has so many great elements to it that you'll no doubt find something you love.