by Krystal (link)
Genre drama, angst, thriller
Pairings Isaac/OFC, Taylor/OFC, Zac/OFC
Length 58 chapters and epilogue
Status Completed
This story managed to stay below my radar until a sequel to it (written by a different author) popped up a few years ago. I skimmed over it and wasn’t sure that either story was really anything I would be interested in reading. However, a good friend of mine assured me that The Quiet One was definitely worth reading. With her endorsement in mind, I decided to give it a try.
I usually find myself rolling my eyes at the way writers try to incorporate real life into their stories, but I actually giggled a bit at how this Taylor apparently reads fan fiction. Other little mentions of their real fame in the early chapters serve to set the scene and establish the characters, and don’t feel out of place or unrealistic. I also really like the relationship between the three brothers; it isn’t perfect, but it also feels very real. There’s a subtle sense of humor through it all that I really enjoy.
The real horror begins about ten chapters into the story, and thankfully the worst details are glossed over. Still, anyone with a weak stomach might want to steer clear, but if I can handle it, most should be able to. That’s not to say it was an easy read by any means. What Taylor suffers, losing his voice, is horrible, even after it’s physically over.
That subtle sense of humor remains throughout the story, though. Even though Taylor is clearly suffering, I can’t help delighting in reading about his exploits, from the random dog to the rose tattoo. It’s that humor, I think, that keeps what ought to be a horribly heartbreaking story from being too much for me to read. That’s not to say that it isn’t still a very sad story, of course. It ends on a beautiful note, though, and it’s wonderful to watch all the various relationships — familial or otherwise — evolve throughout the tragedy.
Review by Bethany (website)