Tag: book review

• Book Review: “The Boy on the Bridge” by Natalie Standiford

  Posted at 8:03 am by Laura, on September 5, 2013

  The Boy on the Bridge by Natalie Standiford 

  Publisher: Scholastic
  Published: July 2013
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780545334815
  Goodreads: 3.4
  Rating: ★★★.5

  Laura Reid goes to Leningrad for a semester abroad as Cold War paranoia is peaking in 1982. She meets a young Russian artist named Alexei and soon, with Alexei as her guide, Laura immerses herself in the real Russia–a crazy world of wild parties, black-market books and music, and smuggled letters to dissidents. She must keep the relationship secret; associating with Americans is dangerous for Alexei, and if caught, Laura could be sent home and Alexei put under surveillance or worse. At the same time, she’s been warned that Soviets often latch onto Americans in hopes of marrying them and thus escaping to the United States. But she knows Alexei loves her. Right?

  Nineteen-year-old Laura Reid has always been fascinated with Russian language and culture. Russia was the country of poetry, passion, soul, violence, and despair. She studied Russian language in high school and now in college she finally has the chance to spend a semester in Leningrad and truly immerse herself in the culture in the middle of the Cold War. Homesick after two weeks and desperate to not be paranoid about the KGB, Laura begins to wonder if this opportunity was a waste. It all changes when she meets Alexei after he prevents gypsy women from snatching her wallet. His attentions seem honest, but Laura can’t help but wonder if he’s only friendly because she’s American and wants an easy ticket out of the USSR.

  My interest in this book is three-fold. First, I am my mother’s daughter, and have some strange fascination with Cold War Russia. Second, I have been to Russia, back in 2004 when I was a young teenager. I remember the very cool summer weather, glittering palaces and museums, carbonated water, strange chicken meals and beet salad, markets, and gypsy children playing accordions. In a way, I was curious to see if this Laura saw the same things I did, and viewed them the way I did: dirt poor people living among the lavish buildings, terrible food yet beautiful culture. Third, this book simply looks like a nice light read, a little love story to warm the heart.

  The third reason for my interest crashed. Laura is paranoid just like the Russians at the beginning of the book, and she does view Moscow and St. Petersburg similarly. And while this is a love story, it’s one that’s also filled with doubts and does not quite leave the heart filled with warmth and joy. Alexei, nicknamed Alyosha, is fascinated by American culture and introduces Laura to his friends. Any time Laura is with him, she believes they are in love. He means every word he says, and every interaction is filled with a natural love. Like Laura, you fall in love with Alexei when you’re with him, and have your doubts when you’re away. Does he truly love her? Or does he just want to marry her and get out of the country? And no matter which one is true, how could Laura bear it if Alexei was discovered and arrested by the KGB?

  The author could have used more descriptions, more ways to make the reader both trust and distrust Alexei, more ways the readers could love St. Petersburg while also fear it. Albeit through the most simple of sentences, it’s a heartbreaking story filled with fear and hope, love and doubt. Every page is filled with passion and emotion.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: history, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Longbourn” by Jo Baker (ARC)

  Posted at 10:00 am by Laura, on September 4, 2013

  Longbourn by Jo Baker 

  Publisher: Random House
  Publishing Date: October 8, 2013
  Genre: historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780345813602
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  A brilliantly imagined, irresistible below-stairs answer to Pride and Prejudice: a story of the romance, intrigue and drama among the servants of the Bennet household, a triumphant tale of defying society’s expectations, and an illuminating glimpse of working-class lives in Regency England.

  Our heroine is Sarah, an orphaned housemaid beginning to chafe against the boundaries of her class. When the militia marches into town, a new footman arrives under mysterious circumstances, and Sarah finds herself the object of the attentions of an ambitious young former slave working at neighboring Netherfield Hall, the carefully choreographed world downstairs at Longbourn threatens to be completely, perhaps irrevocably, up-ended. From the stern but soft-hearted housekeeper to the starry-eyed kitchen maid, these new characters come vividly to life in this already beloved world.

  Orphaned housemaid Sarah mends, washes, cleans, and cooks for the Bennet household, with the help of little Polly, Mrs Hill, and Mr Hill. Life is simply a never-ending list of chores for Sarah till a mysterious new footman catches her attention. Occupied with thoughts of his origins and distracted by Bingley’s servant, Sarah and the rest of the downstairs household is turned upside down as each Bennet daughter is exposed to society’s forms of acceptable love.

  I never knew I needed to read the downstairs version of Pride & Prejudice till I read this book. It’s an absolutely fascinating account of what life was truly like in Regency England for the lower classes. How a pig not only provides meat but also soap. How the chamber pots must be taken out daily, the ways people bathed and cleaned laundry and interacted with one another. Though Sarah is only a maid, she too must abide by society’s rules and uphold the Bennet family honor. She cannot fool around or behave mischievously; it would reflect poorly on the family.

  The reader is not only given a glimpse of Sarah, but also of Mrs Hill, Mrs Bennet’s maid. We learn her history and her connections to Mr Bennet and the new footman James. Mr Collins is explored outside of Elizabeth’s painful judgment, and James’s history with the militia gives the reader further clues to Wickham’s misdemeanors. The reader is exposed to life before, during, and after the original book, and I loved reading the decisions the characters make and their motivations for their actions. Downstairs intermingles with upstairs so fluidly it was as if I was still reading the original classic.

  Thank you, Random House, for providing this book for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: classics, genre: fiction, genre: history, review

• Book Review: “Deception” by C.J. Redwine

  Posted at 12:36 pm by Laura, on September 3, 2013

  Deception by C.J. Redwine 

  Publisher: Balzer + Bbray
  Published: August 2013
  Genre: young adult, dystopian, post-apocalyptic
  ISBN: 9780062117205
  Goodreads: 4.25
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander’s whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father’s death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it’s up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington’s army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.

  But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one.

  After the fire that destroyed Baalboden, Logan and Rachel do their best to lead, train, and care for the 150 survivors. The only way to stay out of the Commander’s grasp, Rowansmark’s eyes, and Carrington’s army is to flee through the Wasteland to Lankenshire, a scholarly city-state that may be able to help Logan recreate the device that controls the Cursed One. But the travels prove harsh, and Rachel’s grief and sanity is tried and tested. Someone within their band of travelers is a killer.

  I loved how Redwine goes into depth to explain the territory and history of the Wastelands. The reader finally gets a glimpse of just how much time has passed since the Cursed One burst through the earth. Some of the weary Baalboden travelers remember their childhood before the city-states, and comment on the city-scapes, structures, and a Ferris wheel they pass. It’s rather eerie, just how close to modern day this takes place. I also found the differences between each city-state fascinating. Rowansmark is technologically advanced, Carrington runs like a military state, Baalboden was uneducated and backward, and Lankenshire is very knowledgeable, advanced, and aware of the history of the city-states. So neat, seeing how the separation of the survivors turned out vastly different cultures.

  The character development improved ten-fold, as well. Logan breaks out of his introverted shell and leads the best way he knows how: by coming up with as many intelligent plans and back-up plans as possible. Rachel, understandably, is filled with grief and vengeance, and appears to have PTSD triggered at the sight of blood. She struggles to maintain a strong facade, but it takes Quinn’s wisdom to help her come to terms with her emotions.

  As far as the traitor in the camp, I found the person to be an obvious one — but their intentions and purpose was a complete surprise. The whole journey in this trilogy takes a major turn in the final 100 pages, and I am on the edge of my seat to see what Redwine brings next!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 3 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: dystopian, genre: fantasy, genre: post apocalyptic, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” by April G. Tucholke

  Posted at 7:57 pm by Laura, on August 24, 2013

  Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April G. Tucholke 

  Published: August 2013
  Publisher: Dial
  Genre: gothic, horror, paranormal, young adult
  ISBN: 9780803738898
  Goodreads: 3.89
  Rating: ★★★★

  Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery…who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

  Violet and her twin brother Luke are practically orphans, their artists parents gone on a long European artistic holiday for over a year. In order to pay for their crumbling seaside manor, Violet puts up a notice for a renter in their guesthouse. Within hours, River West blows in, with his vintage car and linen slacks and devil-may-care smile. Violet is drawn to him without understanding why, and knows that every word out of his mouth is a lie. As children become bewitched, a man commits suicide, and news of nearby towns going insane, Violet begins to connect the events to River, and is determined to stop it.

  The publisher’s summary is a lie. In a good way. Do not be misled into thinking Violet will be another dim-witted “heroine” who can’t help but fall in love with the bad guy. No, Violet is not in love. She never is in love. Her every action with and towards River is for a reason, and that reason is not blinding love. River and Violet are like Heathcliff and Cathy, only not as animalistic and passionate. Imagine if Heathcliff had a supernatural power that controlled Cathy’s emotions. River is Heathcliff in every possible way a character is a Byronic hero. Violet is Cathy, born of wealth but with a free spirit and an unexpected tendency to transgress social boundaries. Unlike Heathcliff and Cathy’s passionate love (and equal hate) for one another, River and Violet step around each other, one heavily drawn to the other while the other is filled with loathing.

  The connections between River’s family history, Violet’s family history, and other family histories in the town of Echo are a bit reminiscent of Great Gatsby and Wuthering Heights blended together, as well. There’s the wealth and parties and sex and drinking and drugs of the roaring ’20s, mixed with familial commingling, forbidden love, and supernatural fears of the devil and hell and sin. An absolutely fascinating blend.

  What’s so great about this book is that River isn’t exactly a bad guy or a good guy. His character is a very complex one. Tucholke urges the reader to face the complexities of humanity. River has power, and it’s not always used for good intentions or ill, selfless or selfishly. He’s an addict, through and through, and his words and his actions make it difficult for Violet, and the reader, to trust him. I love that.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: gothic, genre: horror, genre: paranormal, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Raven’s Gate” by Anthony Horowitz

  Posted at 1:18 pm by Laura, on August 19, 2013

  Raven’s Gate by Anthony Horowitz 

  Publisher: Scholastic
  Published: October 2006
  Genre: young adult, gothic, horror, sci fi
  ISBN: 9780439680097
  Goodreads: 3.91
  Rating: ★★

  Raven’s Gate was closed long ago by five children. On the coming Roodmas black magic festival, blood sacrifice can re-open the portal. Professor Dravid sees power in orphan Matt, 14. But all who help the lad die. His new guardian Mrs Deverill, with the Yorkshire village of Little Malling, are powering up the abandoned local nuclear plant for the evil Old Ones to return.

  Fourteen-year-old orphan Matt is accused of a crime he did not commit and is sentenced to a year’s time within the government’s LEAF project — Liberty and Education Achieved through Fostering. When Mrs. Deverill brings him to Hive Hill in Yorkshire’s Little Malling, Matt instantly realizes something is not quite right. The villagers are mad. All the roads lead back to the same intersection. And a strange abandoned nuclear power plant is lighting up at night. Matt risks his life to find the answers to all of his questions, included the most avoided of all: what is Raven’s Gate?

  Horowitz has made a name for himself in young adult fantasy and horror. He has everything a great writer should have: good plots, engaging characters, steady pacing, and enough mystery to keep the reader going. Unfortunately, this book was not for me and I found it lacking. It simply did not hold my interest.

  I will note though that there are plenty of chapters here that lived out my worst nightmares. There’s a whole section dedicated to Matt riding a bicycle in the middle of the night to escape Hive Hall. He comes to an intersection of five roads, and with each path he takes, he ends up back where he started. It was a never-ending nightmare, moving quickly and yet going nowhere, never escaping. The horror elements of this novel were spot on, and the science fiction aspects between nuclear energy and black magic could be very intriguing for those with that particular taste.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: horror, genre: sci-fi, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Beautiful and the Cursed” by Page Morgan

  Posted at 7:44 pm by Laura, on August 17, 2013

  The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan 

  Publisher: Delacorte Press
  Published: May 2013
  Genre: young adult, gothic, paranormal
  ISBN: 9780385743112
  Goodreads: 3.93
  Rating: ★★★★★

  After a bizarre accident, Ingrid Waverly is forced to leave London with her mother and younger sister, Gabby, trading a world full of fancy dresses and society events for the unfamiliar city of Paris.

  In Paris there are no grand balls or glittering parties, and, disturbingly, the house Ingrid’s twin brother, Grayson, found for them isn’t a house at all. It’s an abandoned abbey, its roof lined with stone gargoyles that could almost be mistaken for living, breathing creatures.

  And Grayson has gone missing.

  No one seems to know of his whereabouts but Luc, a devastatingly handsome servant at their new home.

  Ingrid is sure her twin isn’t dead—she can feel it deep in her soul—but she knows he’s in grave danger. It will be up to her and Gabby to navigate the twisted path to Grayson, a path that will lead Ingrid on a discovery of dark secrets and otherworldly truths. And she’ll learn that once they are uncovered, they can never again be buried.

  Lady Ingrid and Lady Gabriella Waverly travel to Paris with their mother to help her set up an art gallery in an old, abandoned abbey they now have to call home. Upon their arrival, they are disturbed to find Ingrid’s twin brother, Grayson, missing. The staff seem unconcerned, but Ingrid and Gabby are determined to find him. Luc, a servant on edge the second he lays eyes on Ingrid, is the only one who hints of knowing Grayson’s whereabouts. As Ingrid and Gabby explore Paris and forge friendships with an American shopkeeper and rough Scotsman, they begin to discover a world of angels, demons, and gargoyles, and the foreboding connection between the fantastic and the recently murdered girls in Paris.

  An incredibly original idea and brilliant début. This book felt like Hunchback of Notre Dame meets Beauty and the Beast meets The Mortal Instruments meets Paradise Lost meets anything Wilkie Collins could write if he’d thought of writing fantasy. The whole concept of gargoyles being the protectors of humans on earth to do angels’ bidding is remarkable — and yet, so obvious. Of course gargoyles are humans’ protectors: they can be seen adorning every ancient holy building in Europe. They adorn the structures to keep evil out, to keep the demons away. And that is the premise of this novel. Brilliant.

  I especially liked that each chapter peeked into individual characters’ minds while other characters were out experiencing something else. There’s a scene where Gabby is out in Paris alone and a turn of events happens for her; meanwhile, Ingrid is discovering the truth from Luc; meanwhile, Grayson is somewhere dark and in pain. Occasionally scenes will overlap and the reader experiences it through a different character’s perspective, which is very exciting. That being said, I’m thrilled this was written in the third person subjective. A writer could have easily made the point of view in first person, but having the third person subjective allows the reader to not only feel what the character feels (like in first person) but also see all the vivid descriptions that no first person narrative would naturally describe. Each character had a specific tone and voice to their sections as well.

  On that note, I loved the complexity of each character. Gabby, though a bit snobbish and self-centered in the beginning, grew to be a fighter and determined to prove herself. She’d always felt overshadowed by her twin siblings and their deep connection to one another. The opportunities the events in this novel give her allow her to become who she’s always wanted to be: strong and independent. She’s very feisty, too , and I loved her interactions with Nolan, the Scot. Luc is a deeply troubled character, with such conflicting and opposing feelings, a brilliant epitome of an anti-hero. He’s corrupt yet moral, disturbed yet honorable. I felt the most for Ingrid, her private and patient ways, her loyalty and determination, and above all her deeply wounded heart. Her heartbreak is not melodramatic, like many young adult novels accidentally portray.

  This is a must-read.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: gothic, genre: paranormal, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “This Dark Endeavor” by Kenneth Oppel

  Posted at 3:08 pm by Laura, on August 9, 2013

  This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel 

  Publisher: Simon & Schuster
  Published: May 2012
  Genre: young adult, gothic, fantasy, sci-fi
  ISBN: 9781442403161
  Goodreads: 3.89
  Rating: ★★

  In this prequel to Mary Shelley’s gothic classic, Frankenstein, 16-year-old Victor Frankenstein begins a dark journey that will change his life forever. Victor’s twin, Konrad, has fallen ill, and no doctor is able to cure him. Unwilling to give up on his brother, Victor enlists his beautiful cousin Elizabeth and best friend Henry on a treacherous search for the ingredients to create the forbidden Elixir of Life. Impossible odds, dangerous alchemy and a bitter love triangle threaten their quest at every turn.

  Victor knows he must not fail. But his success depends on how far he is willing to push the boundaries of nature, science, and love—and how much he is willing to sacrifice.

  Victor’s twin Konrad, “the better” of the two, suddenly falls ill and no cure is available. Fearing for his brother’s life and determined to prove himself, Victor turns to the alchemy books he discovers in the Dark Library. With the help of his cousin Elizabeth and dear friend Henry, they concoct a potion said to restore life. But as the quest for the Elixir of Life proves more and more dangerous, Victor begins to discover a side of himself much darker than he ever thought possible, as nature, science, religion, and love pull his motivations apart.

  I’m astonished, somewhat proud, and slightly embarrassed to say I’ve gone through my entire academic career not having reading Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. I’m not sure how it happened, and I’m surprised it was never assigned in my undergraduate Victorian lit and Gothic lit courses. It turned into a game, seeing how long I could go in my academic career — potentially my life — without reading this classic, just out of pure sport. That’s not to say I have no idea what happens in Frankenstein. I can easily give a full synopsis of the book and characters and big impact moments and themes, and that’s simply because I listened to conversations. I’ve never seen a TV show on it, I’ve never seen the movies, I haven’t even seen the play. But with this thesis, I must end this game and read the book.

  That being said, my enjoyment for Oppel’s prequel to Frankenstein might have been diminished simply because I have not read the classic first. I spotted all of the historical references to the birth of the story (Wollstonekraft Alley is based on Mary’s mother’s maiden name, Wollstonecraft; Polidori was named after the physician friend of Shelley and Byron’s who wrote Vampyre the same night Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein), all the references back to Frankenstein (from my meager listening skills), and it’s easy to see the madness begin in Victor Frankenstein. Armed with all of this information, though, I still did not fully appreciate it.

  The plot was good, the characters well-rounded, the action and suspense well-placed and paced. However, I believe all of the inner turmoil, the progression from mere brotherly competition to mad jealousy, could have done better in an adult fiction novel, or a much larger YA novel. This is book one of a series, but I still believe Oppel could have fleshed out more of Victor. He’s such a Byronic hero — I understand his selfishness and his inner conflict, he’s easy to love and easy to hate — but it was all too rushed and sudden. He needs to develop slowly, otherwise the sudden switch in personality can be jarring for the reader and almost cheesy.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 4 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: sci-fi, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Book of Blood and Shadow” by Robin Wasserman

  Posted at 10:01 am by Laura, on August 2, 2013

  The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman 

  Publisher: Ember
  Published: paperback July 2013
  Genre: young adult, thriller, gothic
  ISBN: 9780375872778
  Goodreads: 3.61
  Rating: ★★★★

  One night is all it takes to change Nora Kane’s life forever. Her best friend is dead; her boyfriend has vanished. And the trail of blood leads straight back to her: The person who might be responsible. The person who might be next.

  Desperate to save the people she loves and determined to find justice for the ones she’s lost, Nora unearths a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. Something to which Nora herself might hold the key. It turns out her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries—and solving it may be the only way she can save her own life.

  On the night Nora’s boyfriend disappears, her best friend is murdered, and his girlfriend is sent to an institution, she realizes the Latin translations of letters and manuscripts they worked on was not their crazy professor’s idea of torture but his truly sane quest to attempt to uncover an ancient, world-changing secret. Nora takes it upon herself to flee to Prague to exact revenge, but soon discovers she is key to centuries-old secrets, lies, and conspiracies.

  Deeply intelligent and immensely witty, Nora is quite the protagonist to follow and a pleasure to read. Already a wounded character from the start — dead older brother, workaholic mother, and recluse father — she shares the slow-building and enriching friendship she forges with Chris, Adriane, and Max. They work together to translate Latin manuscripts their strange, presumably insane, professor claims will change the world, and constantly reminds them that someone is watching their progress. None of them believe it till the night all four are ripped apart.

  Having been to Prague, I loved the descriptions of Old Town, and the wild history the city endured for centuries. The quest spent there was full of surprises, and it was difficult to know who to trust in this thriller. With two secret societies warring one another over an ancient machine that could potentially speak to God, Nora is dragged into making the discovery and destroying it. I had to remind myself there are no good guys in this story. One society aims to create the machine to speak to God, to know there is a Creator and we can communicate with Him; the other society aims to destroy the machine, to prove that God’s existence is in faith in Him, not in proof. In this sense, the book is quite realistic: there is no way to tell who is good and who is bad, and the decisions to be made have dire consequences either way.

  Wasserman’s writing style is artistic, with long descriptive sentences that have the potential to become run-ons till she loops it back to the subject. In these descriptions, we learn Nora’s thoughts and feelings, what she sees and hears, what brings back memories and what can link us to a clue into the future. While overabundant, and some sections unnecessary, it was easy to get pulled into the descriptions and the vast historical references, and fall into the story, making this book incredibly difficult to put down.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 3 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: gothic, genre: history, genre: thriller, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Dead of Winter” by Chris Priestly

  Posted at 8:50 am by Laura, on July 27, 2013

  The Dead of Winter by Chris Priestly 

  Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s
  Published: January 2012
  Genre: young adult, gothic, horror
  ISBN: 9781599907451
  Goodreads: 3.58
  Rating: ★★★

  After Michael’s parents die, he is invited to stay with his guardian in a desolate country house. He begins to suspect something is not quite right on the day he arrives when he spots a mysterious woman out in the frozen mists. But little can prepare him for the solitude of the house itself.

  On the day of his mother’s funeral, Michael’s family lawyer offers him a new life to live under the guardianship of the man his father defended in the war. Sir Stephen is a wealthy man and eager to take in Michael as a ward, and Michael, with nothing to his name, cannot refuse. But the journey to Hawton Mere proves to only be a precursor for what’s to come at the manor. He spots a woman in the mist, terrified, wet, and screaming — but no one else can see her. As he steps foot in the manor, stranger things begin to take hold, and each night is filled with chilling haunts.

  The elder Michael recalls his visit to Hawton Mere and the strange Christmas he spent there. This epistolary beginning and ending to the book was reminiscent of Susan Hill’s Woman in Black — the reader knows no matter what the narrator encounters the narrator will live, but will clearly be haunted by it. Although not as spooky as the previous ghost stories I’ve read, I can easily see why the older Michael would still be disturbed. The creepy, massive house; the mad and deeply disturbed guardian; strange noises, creaking floors, and turning knobs; and the dripping woman from the mist looming around the moat.

  The language recalls the Victorian writing style easily, and I was left quite impressed. It’s difficult to emulate that language without it sounding forced or cheesy. Priestly also threw in some classic gothic elements, like the woman in all white, a nightgown, wild among the marshes, the setting as the marshes, childhood traumas, burning manors, and everyone somehow connected to one another. Overall, it was a good, quick read.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: gothic, genre: horror, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Ashes on the Waves” by Mary Lindsey

  Posted at 10:17 pm by Laura, on July 21, 2013

  Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey 

  Publisher: Philomel/Penguin
  Published: June 2013
  Genre: young adult, gothic, paranormal
  ISBN: 9780399159398
  Goodreads: 4.15
  Rating: ★★★ 1/2

  Liam MacGregor is cursed. Haunted by the wails of fantastical Bean Sidhes and labeled a demon by the villagers of Dòchas, Liam has accepted that things will never get better for him—until a wealthy heiress named Annabel Leighton arrives on the island and Liam’s fate is changed forever.

  With Anna, Liam finally finds the happiness he has always been denied; but, the violent, mythical Otherworlders, who inhabit the island and the sea around it, have other plans. They make a wager on the couple’s love, testing its strength through a series of cruel obstacles. But the tragedies draw Liam and Anna even closer. Frustrated, the creatures put the couple through one last trial—and this time it’s not only their love that’s in danger of being destroyed.

  When Liam and Anna meet on an island far off the coast of Maine with deep Irish roots, the world as they know it ends. He is completely engrossed with her. She is deeply enchanted by him. Everyone else, from banshees to Selkies to villagers, has a different plan in mind for these two. Trial after trial is thrown upon them, and their love for one another is tested to the limit. Based on Poe’s chilling, haunting poem, “Annabel Lee,” one may know the ending — but the journey is a deeply heart-wrenching tale.

  Celtic folklore mixed with my favorite Poe poem is bound to be a recipe for greatness. Lindsey’s knowledge of Irish fairies — true fairies, not the pixie Tinkerbells of Disney — truly helped to flesh out this haunting tale. Liam is such a tragic character, so full of love and hope and determination to live despite the horrible way the villagers treat him. Anna is a unique character, one with a face for the dramatic press and tabloids, and a heart with deep dreams, aspirations, and compassion. They are meant to be, and it’s easy to fall in love with their love.

  The setting was absolutely remarkable, but I wish it didn’t have to be an American coast. Why was it necessary to have the island close to Maine? Why have all these deep Celtic roots on a fictionalized American island? It would make far more sense for the island to be closer to the homeland. There are plenty of ways for Anna’s character to be famous — she can fly to the island from Dublin, Edinburgh, London. Not that the island’s location is central to the story, but that bit did ruffle my feathers.

  Liam’s mind is like reading a very lyrical poem. I was completely mesmerized.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: gothic, genre: paranormal, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• 

• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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  • Deal Announcement: Nina Moreno, YA Romance
  • Deal Announcement: Sharon Choe, YA Fantasy
  • Deal Announcement: Hanna R. Neier, MG Historical/Contemporary