REVIEW: The Spymaster's Lady

Source: Bought

Annique Villiers, a French spy known as the Fox Cub, is trapped in a prison. And not just with any other prisoners, but with two premier English spies: Robert Grey, one of the leaders of England's spy network, and a high-ranking spy called the Hawker. Still, they all want out and make a temporary alliance to help each other. Grey wants nothing more than to capture the Fox Cub and bring her back to London for questioning about the much-desired Albion Plans (Napoleon's plans for invading England). Taking advantage of a moment of weakness, Annique is bribed with water and captured by Grey and his henchmen. On the road to England, though, Annique becomes aware of a budding attraction to Grey, complicating matters considerably. Locked in a battle of wits, Grey and Annique get closer to each other.

OK, here's the thing…I really thought I'd like this book, and it didn't work for me. Which was super disappointing. I mean, there's a positive blurb on the cover from Diana Gabaldon (who is one of my favorite authors). So I was totally bummed. Here's what I did like. The plotting itself was very, very well done. The only reason that the ending dragged for me was due to my dislike of some of the characters (more on that later). Starting from the beginning, there was plenty of action, including an absolutely awesome scene where Leblanc, a French spy trying to get to Annique before the English can question her, open fires at the English spy headquarters. There's romance, fighting, politics, and they're all well-balanced throughout.

The romance itself between Grey and Annique developed well, and I liked that they were engaged in a battle of wit and skills that began to turn into a romance. Their attraction didn't seem forced, and it was not a love-at-first-sight kind of thing (which can work, but can also be a dull plot device). Instead, it's based on their appreciation for each others' intellect and skills as much as physical attraction.

Unfortunately, I need to like the main characters (especially in a romance), and I just didn't like Annique. At first, I did like her skill and smarts, and she's certainly one of the most independent romantic heroines I've seen. But, jeeez, this woman talked none stop. Every time she was explaining something or responding to something, she just went on and on. It got to the point where I couldn't even figure out her point, there was so much crap in there. I think it was a sort of cover; if she's chattering away, no one knows her mind is busy calculating. It sounds good in theory, but I just couldn't see Annique being able to do it. I definitely think she's one smart gal, but there were moments when she makes incredibly stupid mistakes (like falling for Grey's initial trap). True, Grey makes mistakes, too, but they seemed more like a way to make them seem more equal. I don't know, she just seemed a little less resourceful and clever than others made her out to be. But even that wouldn't have bugged me, if she hadn't chattered constantly. Plus, Ms. Bourne makes the effort to have the dialogue sound French (apparently she lived in France, so I assume it's pretty authentic), which is fine, but it became tedious because she talked way too much.

I did, however, like the English, especially Adrian and Doyle. I liked how easily they interacted with each other and with Annique, and my favorite part of the novel is when they're on the road to England. There's a lot of joking around, despite the seriousness of them trying to escape, and it was a lot of fun to read. They made up an interesting team, and the parts where they got to work (like when they posed as Germans on holiday) was really cool to read. This is where I could see how competent Annique was; for some reason, she just seemed to fade as a cool, competent woman and turned into a compulsive chatterer. It was an odd development, and her character didn't seem consistent to me. The last part of the novel is based on Annique coming to terms with who she is (which, by the way, was a so-so plot twist to me…I was expecting something grander, the way they went on about it), so the ending focusing on her and less on the entire cast made the ending drag for me. I just wanted it to end so she's stop talking.

Overall, the story is well-plotted, the writing is excellent throughout, and most of the characters were interesting. I just couldn't stand Annique, which just ruined the entire experience of reading the book. I do plan to read the next book, to see if some different characters change my experience of reading Ms. Bourne's books. I do really like her writing. I'm still bummed that this one didn't work for me. Still, definitely give this book a try; Annique is a cool character, and the story is excellent. Plus, you might really like her.

Grade: 3/5-only because I wanted to smack Annique on a number of occasions

REVIEW: Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

Source: Bought

Lisabeth Lewis was interrupted during her suicide attempt by none other than Death himself, who informed her that she was now Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. She thinks it's just a dream until she wakes up to find a horse that no one else can see eating her mother's shrubs, and a set of ornate scales that vanish and appear at random. As Lisa struggles with her new office, she also struggles to maintain the appearance of normalcy, for she's not just a Horseman, she's also anorexic.

When I first heard about this book, I was so excited, because I thought the premise was really cool, but I wasn't really sure about how the anorexia would be treated. Nothing drives me more crazy than inaccurate depictions of serious psychiatric conditions, particularly in movies (seriously, guys, the DSM isn't a tough read, it really isn't), but I was pleasantly surprised. I don't have any personal experience with anyone with this disorder, but many of the really scary changes (missed periods, hair loss, fatigue, feeling cold constantly) were described vividly. Through it all, Lisa can only focus on the fact that she could do more (the "Thin voice", as she calls it, eggs her on). Not only that, but the way her disorder completely highjacked her life was also clear, since she had stopped speaking to her former best friend and was fighting almost constantly with her boyfriend. I got the sense that the author really did her research, since both the facts and the emotional impact of anorexia were presented accurately.

SLIGHTLY SPOILY PARAGRAPH FOLLOWING:

Onto the story itself-even though it's a really short book (174 pages), there was a really well-told story in there. I didn't feel like any single scene was just glossed over. I would have liked a little more info about the Horsemen, and who everyone was, but maybe it's something that will develop as the series continues. The plot unfolded nicely, and the final scene was just awesome. The way that Lisa's struggle with anorexia mirrors her struggle with War (let's just say they get off to a rocky start) was really nicely done; plus, that final scene was a cure-all, everything's better type of ending, either, which was great! Lisa had to do the real work of getting better herself. Again, that's the author's respect of how complicated the disorder is.

I liked everything about this book. Lisa was a great character, really tough and smart, and the writing was lovely. It's a pretty tiny book, but I felt pretty satisfied when I finished it. I really can't wait for the next book, Rage, which is due April 4, I think. It's about a girl who self-injures. I know the author had personal experience with eating disorders, which probably helped her get the thinking behind Lisa's actions, but I'm pretty confident she'll do her research to get the mindset behind self-injury right. Plus, part of the proceeds of both of these books go to the National Eating Disorders Association, which is pretty cool.

Grade-4/5

REVIEW: Initiate by Tara Maya

Source: Free review copy from author

http://www.librarything.com/work/10924931

Dindi wants nothing more than to be chosen by the Tavaedies, the society of dancers, but she can't even manage to stop dancing with faeries long enough to complete her chores. Still, she hasn't had her Initiation yet, and she won't give up hope. In another part of the world, Kavio has been exiled for performing a taboo dance and must now find his own way in the world. Both are outcasts in some way.

Now, this book is a perfect example of why you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. The cover I see on the Kindle app seems really, well, Disney princess. My initial glance through the first chapter seemed like this would be a cheery fairy story, but I was curious. Although there are certainly some nice moments, there is a much darker undertone, because the world in which Dindi and Kavio live is fraught with civil wars, clan disputes, and other evils that plague society. Even the Initiation, to which Dindi looks forward to, has a darker element to it, since not everyone lives through it. It seemed to me that the book started out quite innocent in tone, but became darker and darker until the climax-I thought this was a great backdrop for a coming-of-age story. As Dindi and Kavio leave the world they knew, they really see that the world is a much less friendly place.

There were actually some really, really dark elements, which I was not expecting (seriously, not matching the cover at all). When Kavio first runs into some other exiles, they have captured an old man, and proceed to cut of hunks of his flesh, roast, and eat it. Goodness. Then there were the Deathsworn, who collect the sick and condemned to kill them for society. Even all the faeries aren't good-the Blue faeries in the water wait to drag humans to their deaths. All these elements grounded the world and made it seem much more real. I wasn't expecting to enter a world where clans were at war, clans willing to capture children to make into slaves. Definitely not a happy-go-lucky world. But this means that characters are going to be facing real conflict, and conflict is what drives the story.

Speaking of plot, I felt that the pace of the story was pretty well-paced. It's a tad confusing until about halfway through, because the novel is divided into sections within chapters that focus on specific characters, and it's somewhat tricky seeing how they'll all come together, but it came together smoothly. I felt like this element worked, especially because the story is still told in third person, so a unique voice wasn't necessary for each person. Basically, the narrator was able to keep the same way of talking, but each character felt unique in personality/actions, i.e. the uniqueness of each character felt natural, not forced, and switching between characters' first person narratives would have been very exhausting to follow. It was well-balanced.

I will say, though, that I have mixed feelings about the ending. I won't say what it is, just that it can be seen as a cliffhanger (I think it is). Technically, the plot of the novel is resolved, but in such a way that it's clear that not everything has been taken care of. Yes, it's a series, so of course there has to be more story to move on to in the next book, but I really like it when a book feels complete by itself, without leaving issues for the next book. I think I want to see how the story continues before I make a final opinion about the ending, because it might work nicely in context of the next book. Having said that, if you're the kind of person who can't stand unresolved issues and what to know everything that happens, you might want to wait until you have the next book before reading this one, or you might feel frustrated. I did, because I felt that the scene stopped halfway through, and that was the end; it was too quick for my taste.

As for the characters, I liked Dindi and Kavio. What's pretty cool is that romance wasn't a huge element in this book (not that it's bad, but every YA novel doesn't need overly passionate romance). I assumed, once Kavio was introduced, that they'd end up together. Of course, romance in later books would work, but this book actually stayed focused on Dindi's experiences leading up to her Initiation, and Kavio dealing with exile and helping avert a massacre. These are Very Big Events, and forcing a full-fledged romance into all that action wouldn't have worked. Both characters are figuring out where they belong, and I liked that that was the focus throughout. I really liked Dindi, because she had trouble fitting in but wasn't self-pitying or whiny, and she was unique. I keep seeing the same female leads over and over: pretty and stupid, ass-kicking and unappealing to men, awkward yet pretty. Dindi's independent, a very skilled dancer, but socially awkward and aware of her flaws. She accepts them, and doesn't whine about them. Kavio had plenty to complain about, but he was very much about moving on, and I liked that he had a strong moral compass that both led him to help others, but also got him into trouble. The characters were much more complex and interesting than I was expecting, which was really great.

Finally, the writing in this book was excellent. Another, rather unfortunate, trend in YA fiction is an overabundance of lackluster, even completely sloppy, writing. I feel like part of the writing process is chewing over words and phrases, then editing over and over to make sure that all the elements are working. I don't appreciate reading a novel where it seems like the author couldn't be bothered to do this, and I am always delighted to read a sentence that creates a vivid description or emotion. Take this:

            "Their voices hummed hypnotically, enticing her forward step by step. The lullaby lure of the faery ring shimmered all around her, a mixture of light and song. The fae clasped hands together, closing the circle about her. A chain of pixies undulated in the air, the sprites linked up, and then, in the last gap in the circle, a heron-winged kinnara soared toward the dancers to close the circle. 'Come dance with us, Dindi. Come dance with us forever…'".

            That's a lovely paragraph, and the writing stayed consistent throughout the entire. That, plus characters with depth and a plot driven by very tangible conflict, created a wonderful story.

Grade: 4/5-very enjoyable, but I'm still a little bummed by the ending

REVIEW: Elfland by Freda Warrington

Source: Bought

This is the second installment in the Women in Fantasy Challenge, and another absolutely fantastic one, at that. In this world, Aetherials live alongside humans, although the Gates to the Otherworld are usually open so that the Vaethyr (Aetherial living on earth) can get back to their roots and reconnect with their true selves. However, the Gatekeeper, Lawrence Wilder, who controls when the Gates are to be open, has shut them and kept them shut, telling everyone that it's for their own good.

With this background, we are introduced to two very different families: the highly dysfunctional, dark family of Lawrence Wilder and his sons, Sam and Jon, and the tightly-knit, loving family, the Foxes. I don't want to go into all of the plot details: there's love, adventure, a fantastically beautiful world to discover-basically, everything I love in a good story! The characters and their relationships drive the story, which I always like in a story (as opposed to Lord of the Rings, which is plot-driven, with characters I don't relate to, which I found terribly dull at times).

Some of the tragedies that happen along the way were a little too extreme and created some soap opera drama, but I also felt like they worked in the story. It is a different world, after all, and the tragedies were necessary for the plot to move along as needed. One tragedy in particular (don't want to spoil it, but, trust me, you'll know it when you get there) was disconcerting, but it was rather necessary to allow the romance between Rosie and Sam, and it involved a character's image to shift.

Having said that, on to the characters, since I don't want to vaguely ramble about the plot in an effort to not spoil the story: the story is told by all the characters, switching the focus from character to character multiple times in a single chapter. This never bothered me, because it followed the action well (as in, a fast-paced scene wasn't interrupted by some unrelated conversation happening miles away, although it sometimes took a while to see how everything linked together). There were a few cliff-hanger moments, which was frustrating at times when the action was really picking up, but it was never halted for too long, and the aside was necessary to the plot of the other scene. I can't remember grinding my teeth as the perspective shifted to another character.

The most interesting characters were the ones whose roles weren't well-defined at the beginning. First, there's Sam Wilder, who goes from complete psycho to Rosie's secret love, and there's Sapphire Wilder, the wicked stepmother, who might be evil, but whose actions might also be justified in another light. Even the characters who are traditionally "good", like Rosie Fox's almost perfect parents, Auberon and Jessica, don't remain static and have secrets of their own. This made the story much more interesting (and the plotting was already wonderful, as it was); it added another layer of richness to the story.

The main element that I loved was the romance between Sam and Rosie. Now, yes, it does create utter chaos and ruins Rosie's marriage, which she never should have consented to. If you aren't a big fan of romance, and lots of drama centered around a love triangle bugs you to no end, this book won't work so well for you. But this was another interesting element-the love triangle that seems to be really common (especially in YA books) was there, but it wasn't like the Twilight love triangle, with teens gazing longingly after each other. These characters are in their early 20s, so the complications they faced were so much different. Marriage and duties to the family created complications that seemed much more realistic than characters with infinite time to weep and wail over their love lives. There is some element of that to the story, of course, but the tragedy was real, as a marriage fell apart and another relationship got off to a rocky start. The romance was wonderful, but there was also a realism to it, too, that helped ground it.

Then, there was the wonderful Otherworld that Sam and Rosie are forced to travel through. It was so beautiful, and I could so easily visualize it, since Ms. Warrington creates vivid descriptions. The world was very cool. Now, here is where I admit that I have never actually read a book focused on faeries (not sure how it's been so long since I finally read one, but, there it is). This world might not be completely original, I wouldn't know. It is completely new to me, and I found it just wonderful. The adventure, which really didn't pick up until the very end, with a very fast-paced climax, made the pacing a tad odd, since it was romance, romance, then, boom, crisis. In fact, I wasn't 100% sure that all the plotlines would be resolved, until it became clear in the last 50 pages that they were. The ending was very satisfying, which cemented my enjoyment of the book.

Here's an aside concerning the reaction other readers from this challenge have discussed. I can completely understand why this book might not work for everyone (see the review from Jawas Read, Too!, and the great discussion below it). I was perfectly happy for there to be a romance at the center of the story, and fantasy/magic elements just serving as a backdrop, but I also read a lot of romance. I was very content, because I had interesting, likeable characters, wonderful prose, and a fantastic world, plus a very, very satisfying ending. Although there were a few elements I didn't like as much (I'll admit, the soap opera drama did get a little tiresome), the main things I look for in a good romance were there. I think it also helps that I don't read enough fantasy to expect a certain amount of elements beyond the romance story, though; I think my background possibly helped me enjoy it more than a really avid fantasy reader might (but if you read lots of fantasy and like the romance element, that's cool, too!). I'm working off the comments left-it seemed like some people were bothered that the romance took over the story, and the world of the faeries was less important, for the most part. This makes sense, and I do agree that seeing more of the Otherworld would have been very cool. Still, I'm always happy with a good romance!

Grade: 5/5-absolutely wonderful, I loved every second of it! I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel!

Next up: The Initiate, which I'm half-way through! Again, so sorry for the delay!

Quick Update

OK, so I've been crazy busy with school, and am now greviously behind in my reading, but reviews are coming, I promise. Coming up, my reviews of Elfland and Tara Maya's debut novel The Initiate, part of a new series, which is my first (drum roll, please) free review copy!!!!!! I am so very excited about this, and a big thanks to the author for contacting me and giving me this opportunity!

So, yes, Good Things are forthcoming. In the meantime, here's something happy-beagle dinner time:

REVIEW: The Wake Trilogy by Lisa McMann

Source: Library

I've decided to group all three into one review, since I basically read them all in together like one big novel, but I'll separate them by book…maybe that'll make up for it being so damn long. Sorry 'bout that.

Book 1: Wake

Janie has an unusual gift, and, as cool as it sounds, she's pretty damn sick of it. She falls into other people's dreams, totally against her will. Although she sometimes can get out of trivial dreams (especially those icky sex dreams that guy on the football team has when he falls asleep in study hall), she can't get out of nightmares, and they usually leave her paralyzed, numb, and blind after. Needless to say, she has enough to worry about, between high school and an alcoholic mother.

Enter Cabel, the weirdo Goth kid who lives a few streets down. He seems kind of nice, but he has a secret, which she only begins to figure out once she falls into his nightmares. As Janie gets closer to Cabel and to a blind woman at the nursing home where she works, she begins to understand more about her gift/curse, and about how she can shape it to suit her needs.

OK, I'm feeling slightly mixed about this first book, and I think it's because it sort of feels unpolished to me. The way the book is narrated took a few pages to adjust to, but I don't think that was it. The story is arranged tiny segments with the time as a heading, and short, declamatory sentences, which worked well, since Janie's world is always broken up by dreams. Here's an example of how it sounds:

"Janie Hannagan's math book slips from her fingers. She grips the edge of the table in the school library. Everything goes black and silent. She sighs and rests her head on the table. Tries to pull herself out of it, but fails miserably. She's too tired today. Too hungry. She  really doesn't have time for this."

Although it did work on one level, I also felt that this led to things I wanted to be stated left out, particularly in dialogue, which sometimes came across as way going way too quick, particularly when issues were being resolved. This was particularly a problem in the last third of the book, when the plot comes together, and it's more Janie talking to others than her making her way through dreams. The ending was what really bugged me: it was so rushed, and everything came together so perfectly at the last second. Considering how complicated everything in Janie's life is (like, super-duper complicated), Cabel's secrets and their relationship issues were resolved in about 50 pages. How convenient.

The final reason that the writing style bugged me was that there seemed to be little character development (in this book). I never really got a handle on who Cabel was, and I knew a lot more about other people's dreams at some points than Janie's thoughts and feelings. Again, some key moments in the story were too rushed, which is probably why I felt like I was left hanging.

Still, the concept of Janie's dream-catcher curse was soooo cool. I loved the story, in that it included both Janie's struggles at dealing with her family and her gift, as well as her budding romance with Cabel. So even though the narration worked for me at some points, it bugged me at others, and the ending really didn't work for me. Still, I thought that it was still a pretty fun book. I was eager to get to the next book.

Grade: 3.5/5

Book 2: Fade

*****SPOILER ALERT: Spoilers for first book, you've been warned!********

Now that Janie and Cabel are on board with the police department (I'll refrain from saying how it happens, so it's not super inundated with spoilers), and Janie is learning to control her powers, they are really put to the test. A tip that a sexual predator is in their high school leads them to team up to solve the mystery. And Ms. Stubin left a notebook for her successor which involves some dire news about dream-catching, which Janie must deal with, as well as new skills that she can use to further help her assignment.

This book was so much more exciting than Wake. Geez, Ms. McMann really puts her characters through hell in this book. I mean, I was biting my nails at the end. The pacing was so much better, and the plot was much more together. The story had multiple threads, and they were very skillfully tied together. The ending was much more satisfying, and everything was explained in a much more detailed way, without the quickly-paced narrative being dragged down.

Plus, the other main quip I had with Wake, a seeming lack of character development, was not a problem in Fade. Janie and Cabel always make the effort to sit and talk through their problems (which I really liked, more on that in a second), and there's one scene I loved, where they were having trouble expressing what was bugging them, and communicated really eloquently through emails. That's where I felt I really got a better handle on what was going on in Cabels' head, which was great, because it's really important later on in understanding how he feels about Janie.

Janie and Cabel's relationship really developed. I loved that their relationship was so much more natural and healthy than is seen in other YA novels (cough, Twilight, cough). Cabel's always concerned about Janie, but it's partly due to the trauma he experienced as a boy, and he recognizes when he's overbearing and tries to back off. As in, he's responsive to what his girlfriend is saying. Janie tells him when to back off, and when she wants him to hover. They communicated really well, for the most part, and they seem to be on equal footing (as in, Cabel is the kind of guy who can cry, and he even cooks!). It was so great that their relationship, and their characters, didn't just confirm stereotypes. They both have strengths and flaws, without any of it being overbearing. Maybe it's because they matured as characters, and maybe it's because the writing itself seemed to mature, but I felt like the characters and their relationship was much more well-drawn, which was great to see.

Everything about the second book was so much better. I could not put it down, even though there were definitely some moments that were hard to get through (again, this book involves sexual predators and rape, and Janie gets into a pretty sketchy situation). Still, there wasn't an excess of awfulness. The narrative style and the characters were more well-established, and the pacing of the novel was very well done. I'm so glad that the series is improving so dramatically! On to the third book!

Grade: 4/5

Book 3: Gone

********Once again, SPOILER ALERT!*************

Graduation's done, the three teachers are in jail, and Janie and Cabel can finally be together. So everything should be great, right? But Janie feels like Cabel's feeling lingering doubts about staying with her as she goes blind that he won't talk about. Then, she gets a call that ruins her vacation: her friend Carrie had to drive her mother to the hospital after she found her stumbling drunk in the front yard. Turns out, her mother was upset because a former boyfriend is dying. Not just a former boyfriend, but Janie's father. Janie's torn about this new development, especially after she's sucked into his insane nightmare.

I felt like the action of the series was all contained in the second book, with the first book introducing the action and the final book tying up loose ends. Not entirely, but it's certainly true that the third book was not nearly as exciting. Basically, the entire thing is Janie contemplating the decision before her: isolate herself, leave Cabel, and stay healthy (although that gets complicated in the end), or stay with her friends and family and lose her sight. Her figuring out her dad's history by entering his nightmare helps her figure this out.

Now, although there was not nearly as much action as the second book, I was still riveted in figuring out all the final mysteries concerning the dream-catching gift. New dimensions were added to it, and there were a few new mysteries added, which solidified and enriched the entire concept of the dream-catching. This was great, because it kept the series from becoming stagnant (and, seriously, the ideas were so cool, especially with what her dad is seeing as he gets sick, and why he is sick). It was great that the series kept strong in plotting the whole way through, and I appreciated that Ms. McMann trusted us to keep up with the ideas she presents and adds new ones to it.

I only had one major beef with the book, although it's something that's kind of bugged me throughout, and it was mostly resolved by the end. I do not understand her mom at all, and their relationship. She's completely absent in the first two books, and Janie does as she pleases. OK, if the neighborhood is aware of the problem (that her mother is usually staggering or comatose, she's so damn drunk), and she's still in high school, why the hell does no one call child services? Is the school so clueless that they don't know one of their students is dealing with complete awful crap at home? I mean, yeah, OK, she lives in the poor section of town, but I still feel like it was a really bizarre situation. Then, in the third book, because Janie has to get information about her dad, she forces her mom to talk. I was shocked at how sick her mother is…jeez, the woman can barely speak English! And Janie just yells at her and is totally disgusted that her mom acts like a child. Now, I totally get that she's mad, since her mom seems to resent her and doesn't give a damn. But by the end, it's sort of left in the open about what, exactly, she's going to do (I guess help her, but it wasn't as specific as I'd have liked). Plus, I sort of got a blame-the-victim vibe for a few pages…I might be reading this totally wrong, and I felt, once she went to an Al-Anon meeting, she understood her mom's disease a little better, so that redeemed her for me. It's nit-picky, sure, but her relationship with her parents was key in the third book, and, again, because the narration is so clipped, it's sometimes hard to see how characters are developing until the end. This is really a blessing and a curse, since it's a cool style and a refreshing change, but it also leaves some plot points unresolved.

The final book was like the first one in terms of action (well, lack thereof, actually), but the writing was as strong as in the second book. It was basically in-between the two in quality. I was fairly well-pleased with it, and the series overall; they were all fun reads, and the idea of dream-catching was awesome.
Grade: 3.5/5…it was lacking enough in action to knock it back down

REVIEW: The Red Tree by Caitlin R. Kiernan

Source: Bought

I don't remember where I heard about this book, but I forgot I had bought it used until it came in the mail, and I read the back and decided it sounded really cool. I'd never really read a modern ghost story (or is it…?), so I was really excited to try something new.

Sarah Crowe, a writer struggling for inspiration and motivation, has moved up to an old house in Rhode Island, leaving behind Atlanta and the baggage of her now-dead girlfriend. What seems like a decent situation (solitude and affordable rent) turns into something spookier, after she uncovers an old typewriter and an incomplete manuscript. This brings to life all this back-story about the huge red oak located a few hundred yards from the house, including stories of human sacrifice, murder, demons, and werewolves. As Sarah progresses through the manuscript, she starts her own journal on the typewriter, cataloguing the events concerning the tree.

The story is told in a combination of Sarah's journal entries, Harvey's manuscript, and even a short story by Sarah. I really liked Sarah's voice: she's sarcastic, smart, and direct. There were, however, a few moments where I wasn't quite sure where the story was going (as Sarah herself says more than a few times, she has a problem with digressing). At first, the story seemed like it was just her working through her health problems, issues with writing, and the grief she feels from her girlfriend Amanda's suicide. Not that it wasn't interesting, I just sometimes like to get hints; at times, I wasn't even 100% of what genre we were in. But as it was confusing, it was also refreshing, and I kept with it. A cool, albeit strange, way to forward the story was Sarah's tendency to narrate her dreams, to the point where reality and dream became incredibly blurred. This later led to some absolutely bizarre and freakin' creepy events.

Sorry if this is a tad rambling, but I'm having some trouble organizing my thoughts about the book. It makes since, as the book itself was a tad unfocused at points. Whether she's being truly haunted or is just seeing things (she's epileptic, after all) is never fully explained. Plus, the entire thing is in first person, so if Sarah was never sure about something, it won't ever be cleared up for us. On the same thread, there was one really key moment (which I can't reveal details of, I don't want to spoil the spookiness) involving the basement, where she sees something, but we never figure out what it was, because it freaked her out so much, she decides to leave it (she stopped when she has a seizure while writing). Which bugged the crap out of me!

Another element that sometimes made the story drag when it could have been exciting was the fact that Sarah was the narrator, writing in her journal. Where a sense of immediacy would have made the story really exciting, her writing about the event the next day takes it away. There are even times when she adds that she has a fallible memory and, since the habit dies hard, fills in gaps in the story with fictitious details. So she's telling us everything after it happened, and it's not even necessarily true. At the same time, though, her voice really drew me in. It made for a very interesting reading experience, following such an unreliable, yet fascinating, narrator. That, plus the mildly unresolved ending (no grand explanation, to me, although you could very well take it as a complete ending; it depends on how reliable you think Sarah is), left me baffled.

What I found super, super cool about this book was the way traditional Gothic elements were used. Finding a manuscript in the basement, bones near the tree, leaves in the house that didn't blow in, etc. Then, there was the way the book was presented: a manuscript discovered by an editor and printed, without someone changing the story, and the editor giving the back-story and details seemingly verifying the authenticity of the document. It reminded me so much of what is considered the first Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, who first presented his novel like an authentic manuscript found in a decaying Italian castle.

Overall, I found this book a very interesting, albeit spooky, experience, and I really enjoyed it. I'm currently studying lots of Gothic novels and their successors in my British literature classes, and seeing how those elements are still being used was very cool. I loved that the classic elements are still out there, 200 years after they were first used. I also liked Sarah, even though she's a very unreliable narrator, which made the novel both confusing (even rambling at points), but incredibly personal. It was very rich in details, and I was able to picture many of the scenes. Ms. Kiernan is a phenomenal writer, and even though the plot sometimes bugged me, I really enjoyed the novel. I definitely plan to check out her other novels.

Also, check out her website for some very cool evidence here.

Grade: 4/5