I can only muster 3 stars rounded up to 3.5 for this Supernatural Murder Mystery!
*Happy Publication Day*
Deadhart, Alaska has a population of 673 livinI can only muster 3 stars rounded up to 3.5 for this Supernatural Murder Mystery!
*Happy Publication Day*
Deadhart, Alaska has a population of 673 living humans, and on its outskirts reside the undead (although technically they aren’t as these bloodsuckers are mortal, but you get my drift), a colony of vampyrs (the ancient word for vampires}.
In this version of 2024 (where everything remains the same with the exception of the introduction of vampyrs, who have been around since the beginning of time), vampyrs have been declared a protected species since 1983, although they are not permitted to live, work, or socialise among humans, hence the ‘colonies’ they inhabit, and as a result they are highly feared and prejudiced against by a lot of humans.
So, when a human teenager, 15-year-old Marcus Anderson, is murdered, and the evidence points to a vampyr attack, the town of Deadhart is hellbent on revenge and vigilantism. Enter Dr. Barbara Atkins, a New York based Forensic Vampire Anthopologist, who is called in to investigate, and naturally her arrival is met with hostility, suspicion and anger. It’s up to Barbara to find Marcus’ killer because if a vampyr is responsible then human law dictates that the entire Deadhart colony will need to be ‘culled’ (wiped out).
Did you follow all of that?
An intriguing, original, and compelling premise, don’t you agree? I thought so too, but unfortunately one that didn’t entirely work for me. I enjoyed the fresh take on the vampire myth, and the changes to the lore, and the bigotry and discrimination against the vampyr race had me feeling a spectrum of emotions. But the fact that I sympathised with them and given that our race held all the power (political and technological) prevented the vampyrs from being scary and threatening for me, even when they were intended to be. And, when I think about the vampire fiction that has resonated with me in the past, the fanged monsters depicted were truly terrifying.
There were one or two decent twists, and I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the mystery was predictable, but at the same time the resolution was lacklustre. The characters weren’t bad, I liked Barbara and others well enough, but nor were they particularly memorable. Although I do commend authors like Tudor who, more and more, are using older women (50+) as their main protagonist as going back twenty, thirty years you rarely found a competent, respected female character over 35. Now to the setting – I just never felt that closed-in trepidation and tension. And I never got the impression that Barbara was in any real danger – the characters that tended to be targeted were the unlikeable ones. Overall, the dialogue was Tudor’s usual high standard, with the exception of (and this is going to sound picky, but it really irked me so I’m including it!) Barbara’s constant use of the word ‘Sir’ when addressing male characters – I understand it was meant to placate them, but honesty it was every second sentence, and it was distracting. Dare you not to notice it now! Maybe I can’t talk because I’ve used the words ‘human’ and ‘vampyr’ a lot in this review.
Anyway, to sum up, I think I went into this book with too higher expectations following the dizzying heights of last years The Drift (5 stars all the way baby!). And my disappointment is set to continue as it looks like The Gathering is the start of a series for C.J. Tudor, and I just can’t generate enough enthusiasm for a second instalment. Boo-hoo for me, but fantastic for those who loved it – which was the majority of early reviewers.
I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Michael Joseph Penguin Random House, and C.J. Tudor for the e-ARC....more
Something monstrous is preying on the people of Shanghai.
No one is safe.
No one is immune.
1926 – Two rival gangs, the Scarlets and the White Flowers, Something monstrous is preying on the people of Shanghai.
No one is safe.
No one is immune.
1926 – Two rival gangs, the Scarlets and the White Flowers, rule Shanghai with an iron fist. Communism and colonialism are ever present challenges, but their biggest threat is each other. That is until seven people die in gruesome, unexplained ways, and sightings of a repulsive supernatural type creature are reported. As the death count and terror rises, Roma (White Flower) and Juliette (Scarlet), once friends and lovers (torn apart by betrayal and the blood feud that exists between their families), must put aside their hatred to stop the ‘madness' penetrating their city. Because if they fail, everyone will die.
A sea monster slithering out of the Huangpu River and infected people with a sickness that drove them crazy enough to kill themselves, before disappearing into the murky depths once again, played on my worst fears. The very idea of something foreign invading the brain and taking control gave me the heebie-jeebies. Chloe Gong did a masterful job with the action, horror, and gory scenes. I really felt the city's dread, panic and urgency the entire time I was reading.
The setting was a unique one with interesting politics, seediness, corruption, and violence, but there was also beauty to be found even in the darkest of times. The gang culture aspect – the rules, customs, practices, code of conduct – and the rivalry and blood feud that existed between the two families was equally fascinating and appalling. Roma and Juliette were constantly pulled in two directions, with betrayal, bloodshed, and very personal losses on both sides – torn between love and loyalty. And These Violent Delights ended on, not one, but two explosive cliff hangers, both of which will have far reaching consequences. The fall-out is going to be epic!
But I'm afraid I had some issues. My biggest was that a lot of the dialogue was somewhat confusing and disjointed, and just didn't strike me as how people speak or behave. There were ill-timed jokes and teasing too that didn't fit with the seriousness of the situation, as well as unnecessary conversations that neither furthered the plot or revealed anything about the character's personalities. What’s more, the language was far too modern for the time period. The emotions felt off too. Characters cared more about how they were going to clean bloodstains from their carpet than the horrors of people ripping their throats out in front of their eyes.
I also struggled with Juliette. She was such a bitch and a bully, and no matter what the situation she always responded with threats and/or violence. Roma, I liked, but I have no idea what he saw in Juliette. The main characters had zero romantic and sexual chemistry. What's more, the promised Romeo and Juliette romantic sub-plot was almost non-existent, which was one of the main reasons I was drawn to this book. The two characters shared all this history that was barely touched on. I feel the story could've benefitted from flashbacks to their first meeting, early friendship/relationship. Maybe the author intends to step-up the romance in book 2, but at 449 pages I expected more from this volume.
I'm an adult who has always loved YA but I feel I was too old for this and that it is better suited for a teenage and new adult audience. There's no question that These Violent Delights has been a phenomenal success for Chloe Gong, and I'm thrilled that a NZ based author is doing so well.
I'd like to thank Tandem Collective Global, Hachette NZ, and Chloe Gong for the gifted copy....more
You wouldn't want to be stranded at sea with this snooze-fest
Bleak, bland, and pointless!
So apparently the seafloor split, and water from beneath theYou wouldn't want to be stranded at sea with this snooze-fest
Bleak, bland, and pointless!
So apparently the seafloor split, and water from beneath the earth slowly rose up, and over the next estimated 100 years, covered the world in water. But even that's wishy-washy, because even though they only lost communications – internet, TV, radio – thirteen years beforehand, there is no concrete record of exactly what occurred, and it's also unclear how much time has passed since the flood began?
For seven years Myra has been relentlessly searching for her daughter Rowena (Row), kidnapped by the child's father. Just when she's about to give up hope, Myra receives information regarding Row's last known whereabouts. And the journey begins – a very long and tedious one.
A major issue I had with After the Flood was the main character, Myra. I did not feel an ounce of sympathy for her, she was unlikable and a bad mother to boot. Her obsession with finding Row, came at the expense of the safety of her youngest daughter Pearl, who she constantly put in danger situations, and didn't seem to care about at all. This was clear from the first chapter, as the boat containing Row was sailing away, a heavily-pregnant Myra jumped into the treacherous floodwaters, risking one child in an attempt to save the other. And this was the theme throughout, poor Pearl didn't stand a chance.
I'm still perplexed over why Myra's husband/partner? Jacob took Row in the first place? There was a weak explanation given, but it just didn't ring true. Even more puzzling was why Myra still had feelings for Jacob as not only did he possess not a single redeeming quality but he stole her daughter, and left her behind, pregnant with his child!
Added to this the book dragged, and there was too much telling and not enough showing. The prose was poetic and there were a lot of action scenes, but since I wasn't emotionally invested, it was hard to care who lived or died. There was a heap of gratuitous violence as well. As a fan of the movie Waterworld and dystopian, I was very excited to read this, but it just didn't measure up.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Harper Collins Australia, and Kassandra Montag for the e-ARC.
Spooky, Imaginative, Creative, Entertaining, and Hilarious.
NOS4A2 –(Pronounced: Nosferatu. Meaning: German word for vampire).
1990 – Bing Partridge anSpooky, Imaginative, Creative, Entertaining, and Hilarious.
NOS4A2 –(Pronounced: Nosferatu. Meaning: German word for vampire).
1990 – Bing Partridge answers a magazine ad for a position in the security department of a place he's never heard of – Christmasland!
2008 – Notorious child serial killer and paedophile, Charles Talent Manx the Third, lies in a coma in the prison hospital ward.
2009 – Victoria McQueen is plagued by long-distance phone calls from the children of Christmasland – whispering threats down the line.
Christmasland is waiting for them all!
An epic 700 page in-depth masterpiece that effortlessly juggled decades, timelines, locations, and character POV's. Going in I wasn't sure how I felt over Christmas being used for evil, but the level of thought and detail Joe Hill put into turning a beloved festive holiday into something truly disturbing has made me a believer.
NOS4A2 is a mix of folktale, fairytale, and mythology where heroism, magical abilities, good versus evil, and particularly good triumphing over evil, are prominent themes. There is never any ambiguity regarding which characters fall into either category – never any doubt who the good and bad guys are. Joe Hill injected an abundance of humour into both his writing and dialogue – often making fun of his brainless or deserving characters. The entire chapter from Hicks' POV had me in stitches. His writing was faultless and contained some of the most vivid, complex and amusing metaphors I've ever read. I was delighted to uncover all the pop culture references littered throughout, including references to multiple works of Stephen King (Joe Hill's father).
It’s a novel filled with strong female characters, in particular Vic McQueen (nicknamed ‘The Brat' by her father), the ultimate heroine and protagonist. She's a total badass – smart, savvy, street smart, able to think on her feet, and is someone Manx continuously underestimates. She cares deeply for others and even at eight years of age uses her newly discovered powers to find lost items for family and friends – a dropped bracelet of her mother's, a best friend's missing soft toy. She is not without her issues, vices, and vulnerabilities, but that just endears her even more. Her partner, Lou is such a sweetheart, dude! (a word he uses constantly). If you don't fall in love with his character then there's something wrong with you! Their son Bruce Wayne (nicknamed ‘The Bat' by his father) encompasses the best qualities of both his parents, and does his fair share of out-witting, out-foxing, and out-smarting the baddies.
At the other end of the candy cane we have the villainous, nasty, Charles Manx – a vampiric-like being capable of draining the life force from children. He has a playful, gleeful personality – think Willy Wonka with a darker philosophy and agenda! The 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith (number plate NOS4A2) he uses to kidnap children and transport them to Christmasland also has paranormal aspects. Alongside Manx is his faithful follower and servant, Bing Partridge, who worships the ground he walks on. Bing is a repulsive, dim-witted, perverse sexual sadist who enjoys hurting people, particularly women. He has an annoying preference for speaking in rhyme and singing children's – and of course – Christmas songs!
I started reading on my kindle before switching to audible, because I had things to do, and couldn’t stop reading. I'm thrilled I did because Kate Mulgrew wins the title of best narrator ever! Her rendition was a ‘joy to the world’ to behold, and elevated the tale to a whole new level beyond anything I could've envisioned. Her voice for Manx reminded me of Robert Carlyle's Rumpelstiltskin from Once Upon a Time – the perfect amalgamation of creepy and sly!
This was my first Joe Hill read, but upon completing this I've already purchased The Fireman. If anyone has any other recommendations for any of his books, let me know?
Trigger Warnings! Contains Spoilers!(view spoiler)[The kills are graphic, but none of the murders shown are of children. The kidnappings of the children (aside from Vic’s son, Wayne) and what happens to them after is not shown, nor stated explicitly. Bing does a fair bit of boosting regarding women and men he raped, but again these scenes are not shown, but a lot of his dialogue is hard to stomach, so just to warn you. I should also mention that Manx is not a paedophile, that was something Vic made up in order to make certain he was convicted. The family dog is killed, and it's brutal and horrible, but is necessary to the story. If you can cope with above, it's an amazing story, and I think you will be more than satisfied by the close of the novel. (hide spoiler)]...more
What happens in The Grace Year stays in The Grace Year.
4.5.
In Garner County sixteen year old girls are exiled, forced to spend a year shut up togetherWhat happens in The Grace Year stays in The Grace Year.
4.5.
In Garner County sixteen year old girls are exiled, forced to spend a year shut up together in a fortress like encampment deep in the woods. Why? Because that is the age they come into their magic, powerful enough to seduce and ensnare all men, and send women into a jealous frenzy. Year long isolation enables girls to rid themselves of their magic, and return to society cleansed, ready to be dutiful wives. But, The Grace Year is fraught with danger – poachers, illness, starvation, the elements, and most deadly of all – each other. Who will survive The Grace Year?
The Grace Year is a blend of The Handmaid's Tale, The Hunger Games, and The 100. So you can imagine how bleak things got? A dark YA dystopian fantasy fairy tale focusing on womanhood, oppression, cruelty, control, and gender roles. Left to fend for themselves with no supervision, the girls quickly turned on one another, with the leader of the pack, Kiersten, and her bitchy clique preying on the weaker kids.
A strong beginning immediately immersed me in the plot, and the plight of protagonist, Tierney James. The level of description and detail Kim Liggett used to create her brutal fictitious world, where the ruling elite manipulated, governed, and ruled its followers, was both imaginative and believable, and had me excited for what was to come. Since you were never provided with a backstory leads me to believe that Garner County was an imagined society rather than a futuristic one, but I could be wrong.
The middle was where things took a somewhat, drawn out turn. I'm a huge supporter of the romantic subplot in any genre, would even go as far as saying it's my favourite kind since I'm not a big reader of novels that are exclusively contemporary romance. However, this one was too instant for my taste, the male love interest was one dimensional, and as a couple they shared zero intimate chemistry. But, and this is a big but, by the end of the book it did make sense why the relationship was rushed, and now I pretty much approve of why it was done the way that it was. I was dead set on a 4 rating, but then the pace picked up again, and finished on a real high note. I absolutely embraced the final chapters.
How violent is it you ask? The physical torture tended to be described after the incident, rather than a scene depicting it, but not always. Details included, injury, mutilation, blood, and pain. It's not an uplifting story by any means, although there is hope to be found.
Thanks for the intense, harrowing read, Kim Liggett. If there’s more to come, then I am so there. ...more
As exhilarating, powerful page-turner... but boy was it dark, grim and dismal.
Raxter School for Girls – A remote island boarding school off the coast As exhilarating, powerful page-turner... but boy was it dark, grim and dismal.
Raxter School for Girls – A remote island boarding school off the coast of Maine, for girls aged 11-18.
Eighteen months ago the tox began.
It infected every living thing on the island – humans, animals, plants.
Some died, including all the teachers, bar two.
Others turned crazy, murderous, suicidal.
The remainder were afflicted with deliberating, horrendous mutations and disfigurements – a dead eye for Hetty, lid fused shut, with something growing underneath – Reese's left hand turned silver, with sharp scales for fingers – and Byatt’s second spine digs into her flesh.
The school has been under quarantine ever since, desperately praying for the Navy and the CDC to find a cure.
And with danger closing in on them at every turn they are running out of time.
Rory Power definitely got my attention with this thrilling premise. The shocks, surprises and momentous twists kept my excitement high as I rushed to finish. The author did a fantastic job of showing the psychological, emotional and physical effects of a group of teenagers forced to live together, and what happens when that starts to break down. These characters were completely cut-off from the outside world, separated from parents, loved ones, technology and societal norms, with scarce resources, food, and medical care – not knowing if, and when, a cure was coming.
I was proud over how well these girls had adapted to their situation, and able to fend for themselves. They were independent, fierce, resourceful, brave, loyal, didn't whine or complain, and worked cohesively as a group. Physical appearance is crucial to most, especially female teenagers, and Hetty and her fellow students were not only horribly disfigured, but in constant pain, with the threat of more to come every time they were struck down with another flare-up of symptoms. I know they had bigger things to worry about than what they looked like, and it must've helped that they were all in the same boat – but still, they were amazing, strong and resilient.
The content was very graphic and brutal, especially for YA. I struggled to read the parts involving animals infected with the tox, and am grateful the school didn't have a pet dog or cat.
The amount of back story that was weaved into the plot was satisfactory, and I didn’t feel there was anything missing by the author not providing flashbacks. Not that I'd say no to them, if Rory Power decided to go that route. But, it gave the story an ominous uncertainty that the characters were just as much in the dark as we were with relevant information being drip-feed as it became pivotal to the plot. However, I would've preferred more of a delay to the romantic sub-plot. I liked the pairing, but things felt somewhat sudden and rushed without the natural build-up to their friendship/budding relationship.
The last chapter left things open-ended, although I felt there was enough closure to the most pressing storylines to hold me over. I'm 90% sure this is intended to be the first book in a series. and I for one will be back for more. Fans of dystopian, Lord of the Flies, or The 100 will love this one.
This was a buddy read with BernLuvsBooks (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas) over on Instagram, and we both rated the book 4 stars. I really enjoyed our chats, and we had a lot to discuss....more
In The Wicked King, Holly Black once again successfully immersed me in her innovative, as beautiful as itA slow-burn with a smouldering finish!
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In The Wicked King, Holly Black once again successfully immersed me in her innovative, as beautiful as it is dark, richly-detailed fantasy world Her magic system was as enchanting and imaginative as ever, her characters complex and diverse with a healthy dose of snarky wit. I’m going to avoid writing a plot synopsis for this one, since it’s a sequel, but I will say there was plenty of intrigue, power struggles, conflict, danger, betrayal, and blossoming, passionate romance. And, as mentioned in my mini-review, Part Two of this book is twists galore. And that ending – eek! It’s going to be a lengthy, impatient wait until the third instalment.
This is the second book in a series, so I strongly recommend you start with The Cruel Prince, as you would have a hard time following this one without having read the previous book. For those who read the first book many months ago when it first came out, and are worried over how much they have forgotten and are considering a re-read before starting this one, never fear, Holly Black does a wonderful job of providing little reminders when a plot point from The Cruel Prince is re-introduced to prompt our memories. Even I needed them in a couple of places, and I only read the first book last November!
Now to the negative. As much as I hate to say this I’m afraid I might have hyped this one up too much in my head, as I found a lot of the book pretty slow-moving, and would even go as far as to say that it was boring. Every time I’d finish a chapter I kept repeating to myself, “I’m sure it will pick up soon?!”, and it did, but not until very far through the book. The last 100 pages were everything I dreamed of, and more, and saved me from rating this book a three out of five. I think there was just too much focus on politics, hierarchy, and the inner workings of the royal court, which just didn’t hold my interest, and went on too long.
There’s no question that Holly Black is an amazing author, and with its phenomenal, cliff hanger ending, there’s no doubt in my mind that I will be buying book three as soon as it’s released. It’s just a shame this one wasn’t as good as I was expecting....more
Loved it! 💙💚💛🧡💜❤ Offered much-needed insight into Taryn's mindset and motivations during The Cruel Prince, and it was fantastic seeing favourite sceneLoved it! 💙💚💛🧡💜❤ Offered much-needed insight into Taryn's mindset and motivations during The Cruel Prince, and it was fantastic seeing favourite scenes from a different perspective. Also includes a sneak preview of The Wicked King (Release Date: 8 January 2019) which I am saving to read tonight....more
Overlooking our world is the magical land of Faerie. Few humans know of its existenc5 Spellbinding, Mesmerising, Captivating, Enchanting Crowns! 👑👑👑👑👑
Overlooking our world is the magical land of Faerie. Few humans know of its existence, and the ones that live there are viewed as the lowest of the low – playthings to be toyed with, the majority forced to work as servants, controlled by a glamour charm.
Seventeen year-old Jude Duarte, and her twin sister, Taryn, are two such mortals. Ten years ago their parents were murdered, and they, along with their older half-sister, Vivienne, were snatched away from the only home they’d ever known, by Vivienne’s faerie father, Madoc. Jude and Taryn are often told how fortunate they are to be raised by Madoc (general to the High King’s Court), educated alongside the privileged trueborn children of the fey, given that neither contain not a drop of faerie blood. But life is hard for the twins – they are ridiculed and ostracised by their peers, particularly Jude, who fights back, and doesn’t take their nastiness lying down. Her most hated enemy is Prince Cardan, the youngest son of the High King, his cruelness knows no bounds. Jude is determined to prove herself – to gain the respect and power she deserves. But in the process she becomes embroiled in a secretive plot to overthrow the royal court – one that puts her own life, and those she holds dear, in terrible danger.
The prologue sets things off with a hiss and a roar, with some pretty brutal violence. Subsequent chapters were tamer, drawing me into the fantasy world, as well as Jude’s plight. There’s a fairy tale feel to the story – castles, carriages, princes, coronations, ball gowns, jewels – the whole she-bang! Then things take a darker, more urgent tone, and from there the pace really picked up, culminating in a shocking ending that left me speechless, desperate for book 2.
From a young age, the hate-to-love romance has been a guilty pleasure of mine. Jude has spent the better part of her life hating Prince Cardan, and for good reason, his behaviour is deplorable. I would’ve hated him too, but you know there’s a reason why he acts the way that he does, another side to his character eventually to be revealed. I have to admit, their relationship was pretty dark, even abusive, in the beginning, which was a little off putting, but I was still curious to see where it would go, and it was so worth it. There was however one romantic sub-plot that saw my eyes glazing over with boredom, but not enough to affect my rating.
A make believe world, but I liked how Jude and Taryn’s routine was at least in small ways that of typical teenagers. They sit down to dinner as a family, Jude argues with her stepmother, plays with her stepbrother, falls out with her sisters, and the twins attend lessons in a school-like environment, where they have to deal with being bullied by their peers. Of course all of the above was to the extreme, often life-threatening, and definitely not things that teenagers face, but I appreciate that their lives were somewhat grounded and relatable.
I shifted between the book and the audio version, and Caitlyn Kelly was faultless throughout. The tone she used for a particular scene in chapter eleven saw me giggling like mad. A super choice to voice teenage narrator Jude.
This is the first book in a trilogy, and I’m grateful I didn’t read this when it first came out, meaning I only have to wait until the 8th January, 2019 to read the next instalment. I’ll still be counting down the days though....more
I never would’ve thought that I’d describe an apocalypse/dystopian novel as moving, poignant, enchanting, beautiful, and even go as far to say that itI never would’ve thought that I’d describe an apocalypse/dystopian novel as moving, poignant, enchanting, beautiful, and even go as far to say that it was uplifting, but that was exactly how Station Eleven made me feel.
Not, only that, I prefer my apocalypse/dystopian to be horrific, action-packed, adrenaline-pumping, and my top three reads – The Stand, The Passage, The Chrysalids – all fall into those categories, yet I loved Station Eleven just as much, and it will definitely top not only my favourites list for this year, but for all time.
The death of an actor, onstage during a performance of Shakespeare’s King Lear, is the catalyst for everything that follows. Within weeks, 99% of the population will have succumbed to a deadly flu virus, and the survivors will be forced to adapt to a life where the society they knew is no more.
The plot switched seamlessly between three timelines – when the pandemic hit, the before, and twenty years later, to where a symphony of Shakespearean actors travel from town to town offering entertainment and hope.
It’s written in a way that feels very surreal and dreamlike, but utterly impacting and resonating. I was riveted to every page. There were heartbreaking, difficult, and perilous scenes, but inspiration and love were always present even in the darkest of times. I thought Emily St. John Mandel did an amazing job of conveying just how much people mourned the loss of technology and the comfort and ease of life before, but also showed the dangers of overusing and relying on said technology, and just how much it has overtaken human interaction, and socialisation.
Every character had a place and purpose, and all were three-dimensional, unique, relatable and memorable. The plot held a lot of mystery, and clues sprinkled throughout, and how it all came together in the end absolutely floored me. This is a book that I can see myself reading over and over, and the mark of a great read. And, even though I was reading closely, I’m sure there were things that I missed that I will catch the second, or third, time around.
In the California town of Santa Lora a female college student falls asleep, and doesn't wake up. Then, a sA terrifying glimpse into what could happen.
In the California town of Santa Lora a female college student falls asleep, and doesn't wake up. Then, a second girl is unable to be woken, then a third – awake one minute, head lolling on the desk the next. Sleep studies show that those infected appear to be dreaming, but it's unlike any REM sleep specialists have seen before. The campus closes its doors, the affected dormitory floor is quarantined, but it doesn't stop the spread of the sleeping sickness, and pretty soon the hospital is filling up.
A timely topical thought-provoking book that played on my worse fears. Tense and suspenseful, I anxiously worried whether any of the main characters were going to be struck down with the virus, all the while hoping and praying that the experts would find a cure to wake the patients. It was particularly confronting and disturbing to realise the speed in which normal societal norms and rules broke down, with people scrambling for scarce food and resources, solely focused on looking out for themselves, and their family. There were also stories of immense courage, sacrifice, and altruism. As scary as things got, I didn't find this read as bleak or depressing as other novels, TV shows, or movies featuring the spread of an infectious disease. I think because those afflicted succumbed to sleep, the absence of blood and gore, and that the victims didn't appear to be suffering, made things less horrific.
The plot follows several separate character arcs, all with connections to the college, and whose stories eventually intersect in original and unexpected ways.
Mei: A shy, introverted freshman, far from home, who's struggling to fit in and adjust to college life. Roommate to the first victim, reluctantly quarantined alongside the other students on her floor.
Sara: A 12 year old, living with her younger sister and doomsday survivalist father – a janitor at the college.
Ben and Annie: Visiting professors, parents to a four month old girl, whose marriage is troubled.
Nathaniel: A biology professor, whose partner, Henry, resides in a nursing home, stricken with the late stages of Alzheimer's Disease.
Catherine: A visiting doctor, specialising in psychiatric disorders – single mother to a three year old daughter back in Los Angeles.
I know other reviewers have mentioned this but the writing really did have a sleepy dreamlike surrealism quality to it, which took me a couple of chapters to get into. Heavy on description and detail, light on dialogue, I wouldn't normally be a fan, but it was the perfect fit for this story. I also liked how there were snippet chapters – observations into what was going on in the wider community outside of the main characters, as well as reactions and outcry from the American public via internet and media. Made everything that much more real and extreme. I would class this as an epidemic rather than a pandemic or apocalypse story, since the virus, and plot, centres solely on one small town.
A psychologically disturbing and suspenseful, creepy modern folklore story, with a fairy tale feel!
Lauren Tranter gives birth to two healthy twin boysA psychologically disturbing and suspenseful, creepy modern folklore story, with a fairy tale feel!
Lauren Tranter gives birth to two healthy twin boys, Riley and Morgan. Her first night on the maternity ward, sore and exhausted from a tough labour, she hears, from the bed next door to hers. another new mother whispering to her own twin babies. The next morning a nurse informs Lauren that no one's sleeping there, and that hers are the only multiple births currently in the hospital. Night two, the sound of a horrible lullaby drifts through the dividing curtain, and getting up to investigate, Lauren finds an old woman, dressed in rags, a basket of what appears to be babies (although Lauren can't see them, can only hear them breathing and snuffling) at her feet. Before Lauren knows what's happening the woman tries to convince her to swap babies.
‘”I'll take yours and you can have mine. You'll never know the difference.”’
She then attempts to grab Riley and Morgan, but Lauren manages to escape, locking herself and her babies in the bathroom. But, when hospital security arrive on the scene, there's no sign of any intruder, and they don't believe her. Nor do the nurses, the police, not even her own husband.
Then, the woman follows her home...
Dark and absolutely thrilling, this story quickly captured my imagination and attention. Fairy tales, cartoons, Disney movies, and children's stories like Spike Milligan's, Bad Jelly the Witch teach us early on that the face of evil often belongs to an old women, and generally a little bit of that fear carries over into adulthood. So, I have to admit that the vile, hag-like, reeks of decay, dark magic casting, baby-stealing villain in this story scared the bejeezers out of me. And of course, I loved every minute of it. The folk tales, superstitions, and excerpts relating to changelings, twins, and babies, preceding chapters, upped the spooky ante.
Throughout the novel we're never quite sure whether Lauren has postpartum/postnatal depression combined with lack of sleep, or if her babies are really being threatened by a supernatural being, only visible to her, and the argument is strong for either.
Embracing and adjusting to new motherhood was a prominent theme. Lauren's strength, fragility and love for her children shone through the pages, and it was clear that she would go to any lengths to protect her twin boys from anything or anyone, and when she thought her children were stolen away, would sacrifice herself, and her freedom, at any cost to get them back.
For a debut novel, this one really impressed me, and I can't wait to read whatever Melanie Golding writes next.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Melanie Golding for the e-ARC.
There was nothing about this story that stood out for me.
I went in expecting something amazing, since it’s classed as one of the greatest children’s bThere was nothing about this story that stood out for me.
I went in expecting something amazing, since it’s classed as one of the greatest children’s books of all time, but it just didn’t do it for me. Maybe if I had of read it as a child I would’ve felt differently, the whole nostalgia factor. Having said that I’m not sure it would even have appealed to me back then. I will say that fantasy is not a genre I read a lot of, but there are fantasy books I consider favourites. This novel was well written, with excellent dialogue, but it was the plot that had me struggling. It started strong – the first few chapters had me excited, and I really liked the Murry family, especially Meg and Charles Wallace, but once they started on their journey/quest things really fizzled out. I loved the sibling bond Meg and Charles Wallace shared, but SPOILER AHEAD, was disappointed that when they found their father he didn’t seem to care much about them – came across as helpless and pathetic. Calvin cared for them more and he’d only known them a couple of days, and he wasn’t family. STILL IN SPOILER ALERT, it was stated that Charles Wallace had some kind of special powers/advantage, but went it came to facing the big evil, IT easily gained control of him? Furthermore, it felt weird to me that, Charles Wallace, such a young child spoke like an adult. I mean he wasn’t even school-aged? Was that why he was considered special? I did like that Meg stepped up and saved both her father and brother, rather than relying on a boy/man to save her. The reunion scene at the end was cute, and brought tears to my eyes, so maybe I was more invested than I thought. I wish I had more positive things to say as I went in expecting great things. I will be interested to see how it translates into a movie, and how many changes they make....more
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