Paragraph Review: Tunnel of Bones (Victoria Schwab)

Title: Tunnel of Bones

Series: Cassidy Blake, Book 2

Author: Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Scholastic
US Release Date: September 3, 2019
Genre: Middle Grade Paranormal Thriller
Content Rating: Teen (scary and near-death situations, briefly disturbing ghosts)
Format Read: Paperback
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase: Indiebound | B&N | BookDepo | Azon
Summary:

Trouble is haunting Cassidy Blake . . . even more than usual.

She (plus her ghost best friend, Jacob, of course) are in Paris, where Cass's parents are filming their TV show about the world's most haunted cities. Sure, it's fun eating croissants and seeing the Eiffel Tower, but there's true ghostly danger lurking beneath Paris, in the creepy underground Catacombs.

When Cass accidentally awakens a frighteningly strong spirit, she must rely on her still-growing skills as a ghosthunter -- and turn to friends both old and new to help her unravel a mystery. But time is running out, and the spirit is only growing stronger.

And if Cass fails, the force she's unleashed could haunt the city forever.

*          *          *

Series: This is the second book in the Cassidy Blake series. As of October 2020 there are two released books, with a third to release March 2021. You can read my review of Book 1, City of Ghosts, here.

Young ghost-hunter Cassidy Blake returns for another chilling adventure in Tunnel of Bones, the second installment in the Middle Grade paranormal thriller series. This time she, her ghostly best friend, her paranormal investigator parents, and their cat visit Paris, France, a city of light and life aboveground but tunneled with darkness and bones beneath. While taking us on a brief but engaging tour of the city's more ghostly locales, Cassidy accidentally attracts the attention of a young poltergeist and is forced to quickly seek out his long-lost story to send him on and save Paris from his menace and mayhem. Along the way she makes curious new acquaintances, finally learns about Jacob's deadly (and mysteriously intriguing) past, and catches a glimpse of the creepy future that no doubt awaits her in the next book. As with City of Ghosts it was overall a quick and engrossing read with a spooky setting and entertaining story that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I'm so eager for Book 3, Bridge of Souls, that I may just resign myself to reading the hardcover (a great compliment indeed).  

Scribble Rating: 

4.5 of 5 Scribbles

Other Reviews That Might Interest: 

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

The Archived by Victoria Schwab
Shutter by Courtney Alameda
The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot

Paragraph Review: City of Ghosts (Victoria Schwab)

Title: City of Ghosts
Series: Cassidy Blake, Book 1
Author: Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Scholastic
US Release Date: August 28, 2018
Genre: Middle Grade Paranormal Thriller
Content Rating: Middle Grade (frightening images and situations involving ghosts)
Format Read: Paperback
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase: Indiebound | B&N | BookDepo | Azon
Summary:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Schwab comes a sweeping, spooky, evocative adventure, perfect for fans of Stranger Things.

Ever since Cass almost drowned (okay, she did drown, but she doesn't like to think about it), she can pull back the Veil that separates the living from the dead . . . and enter the world of spirits. Her best friend is even a ghost.

So things are already pretty strange. But they're about to get much stranger.

When Cass's parents start hosting a TV show about the world's most haunted places, the family heads off to Edinburgh, Scotland. Here, graveyards, castles, and secret passageways teem with restless phantoms. And when Cass meets a girl who shares her "gift," she realizes how much she still has to learn about the Veil -- and herself.

And she'll have to learn fast. The city of ghosts is more dangerous than she ever imagined.

*          *          *

Series: This is the first book in the Cassidy Blake series. Two books are presently available, with a third currently scheduled to release March 2021.

City of Ghosts is a spirited middle-grade paranormal thriller with a brisk pace, atmospheric setting, and compelling story. The writing style is brief but engaging with light banter and simple description, the haunted Edinburgh toured succinctly with interesting historical tidbits. The ghostly aspects were pretty canon but for a few unique exceptions, and although there were many frightening moments the horror was quick and light-handed. Cassidy was a good balance of childish bravery and naivete, her actions both bold and foolish and therefore realistic for her age without crossing the line into frustrating stupidity. Sidekick Jacob was a favorite with his playfulness and voice of reason, and the mystery of his power and death are the driving force behind my eagerness to soon continue the series with the next book, Tunnel of Bones. If you enjoy fast-paced ghost-hunting stories set in historical locations then I highly recommend City of Ghosts for a thrilling and chilling read.

For Fans Of: ghost stories

Scribble Rating: 

4.5 of 5 Scribbles

Other Reviews That Might Interest: 

The Archived by Victoria Schwab
Shutter by Courtney Alameda
The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot

Review: Something from the Nightside (Simon R. Green)

Title: Something from the Nightside
Series: Nightside, Book 1
Author: Simon R. Green
Publisher: Ace Books
US Release Date: May 27, 2003
Genre: Adult Hardboiled Urban Fantasy Horror
Content Rating: Adult (horror elements, strong violence, gore)
Format Read: Mass Market Paperback
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase: Azon | B&N | BookDepo | Indiebound
Summary:

John Taylor is not a private detective per se, but he has a knack for finding lost things. That's why he's been hired to descend into the Nightside, an otherworldly realm in the center of London where fantasy and reality share renting space and the sun never shines.

*          *          *

Series: This is the first in the 12-book Nightside series. All books, along with a short story compilation, are currently available for purchase.

Something from the Nightside is a darkly imaginative but heavily commentative adventure that covers a lot of genres - from urban/contemporary fantasy with both supernatural and paranormal elements, to hardboiled and noir mystery, as well as monster and survival horror. It has a little something for anyone who enjoys a quick story set in the sinister shadows, where few actually tread but many a mind loves to wander. I'm not sure how I discovered the Nightside over a decade ago, but it has been a favorite since and I've read almost all of the 12 novels in the finished series. They aren't perfect - far from it - but Green's world of unique characters and sinful delights is a guilty pleasure.

John Taylor is a classic hardboiled detective, albeit one with psychic powers and a mysterious past (even to him). He has loose morals but strong convictions, always finds himself walking into interesting situations, and has delightfully dangerous acquaintances. Having grown up in the Nightside, he knows its many hazards and secrets all too well, allowing him to unfortunately think and speak about it and its colorful regulars at length. Prone, both mentally and physically, to long-winded monologues about the places and people he encounters, John spends most of the book ruminating on the Nightside, and can take several pages at a time to describe his many, many thoughts and opinions about a single person or place out loud to his tag-along client. It's so unrealistic as to be comical, but commentary aside I found this second read to be better written than I'd originally remembered, and my opinion of the book has grown a little.

The mystery element of the story, however, did not grow better with age. It takes a backseat to the Nightside tour and was little more than a glorified treasure hunt, each stop only leading to the next stop of the mystery as a passing thought with no clues as to what they'll find at the end. The tour makes the book, but the clueless mystery was disappointing, especially when it ended with an unexpected horror climax.

But you don't read this book for the mystery - you read it for the Nightside. Green lets his imagination run wild and presents a dark world of deliciously disquieting offerings and residents. The darkness isn't overly disturbing, though - the brief descriptions only hint at the horrors inhabited within, most things mentioned offhand or in passing as tantalizing tidbits for the reader's imagination instead of painting the entire debauched and grotesque picture. Yes the violence and horror can get slightly unsettling at times, but for the most part Green's depiction of the debased world is a tame one with vague explanations and little language that is greatly appreciated by those of us with somewhat delicate sensibilities.

Conclusion: If you enjoy urban fantasies, detective stories, and/or soft horror set in dark and wild locations with dangerous characters, then I highly recommend you give the Something from the Nightside a try. I look forward to re-reading more in the series soon!

Scribble Rating: 

3.5 of 5 Scribbles

Other Reviews That Might Interest: 

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Love, Lies and Hocus Pocus: Beginnings by Lydia Sherrer
Made to Kill by Adam Christopher 

Manga Review: Pandora Hearts Series (Jun Mochizuki)

Title: Pandora Hearts
Author: Jun Mochizuki
Volumes Reviewed: 1-24 (complete)
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: December 15, 2009 - March 22, 2016
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Horror Fantasy
Content Rating: Older Teen (heavy violence and disturbing images, monster violence, some child abuse and neglect, mental instability, murder, some minor language)
Format Read: Paperback (own)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary (for Volume 1):

The air of celebration surrounding fifteen-year-old Oz Vessalius' coming-of-age ceremony quickly turns to horror when he is condemned for a sin about which he knows nothing. Thrown into the Abyss - an eternal prison from which there is no escape - Oz meets a young girl named Alice who is not what she seems. Now that the relentless cogs of fate have begun to turn, will they lead only to crushing despair for Oz, or will Alice provide him with some shred of hope?

*          *          *

Pandora Hearts is an extremely convoluted series with a multi-layered plot and extensive cast that hurt my brain more often than not. The paranormal fantasy story was an interesting one with many heart-stealing characters (darn you, Break *sniffles*) and intriguing twists, but with every volume the plot complicated more and more until I was less interested in the reveals and more in just finishing the series and being done with it. Despite my story frustration I really enjoyed following the character progression for most of the cast, especially my favorites - Break, Gil, Echo (although her climax still doesn't fully make sense to me) - but prepare your feels because with a violent and tragic story such as this one no one emerges unscathed, and many don't emerge alive.

Ultimately Pandora Hearts is a story of self-acceptance, grief, and forgiveness of yourself, your past, and the selfish and misguided actions of others. With seriously creepy monsters and several mentally unbalanced characters running about a twisted Alice-themed nightmare setting, it's a chilling tale of the darkness within us all, but ultimately ends in redemption. It's definitely not a read for the faint of heart, but if you enjoy epic, convoluted alternate dark/ horror fantasy stories then I recommend a Pandora Hearts binge.

Scribble Rating: 

3 of 5 Scribbles

Blog Tour Review: A Poison Dark & Drowning (Jessica Cluess) + Giveaway

Welcome to the first stop on the blog tour for A Poison Dark and Drowning, the second book in the Kingdom on Fire series by Jessica Cluess from Random House! I found the first book, A Shadow Bright and Burning, an engrossing and enchanting read (you can peruse my full review here), so I am excited to start off the tour for the second book! Check out my review of A Poison Dark and Drowning below, and enter to win a shiny finished copy at the end!

Title: A Poison Dark and Drowning
Series: Kingdom on Fire, Book 2
Author: Jessica Cluess
Publisher: Random House
Release Date: September 19, 2017
Genre: Young Adult Alternate Historical Horror Fantasy
Told: First Person (Henrietta), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (scary situations, some gore, magical battles, some sensuality)
Format Read: ARC (publisher)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

The magicians want her to lead.
The sorcerers want her to lie.
The demons want her blood.
Henrietta wants to save the one she loves.
But will his dark magic be her undoing?

In this seductive and explosive second book in the Kingdom on Fire series, Jessica Cluess delivers her signature mix of magic, passion, and teen warriors fighting for survival. Hand to fans of Victoria Aveyard, Sarah J. Maas, and Kiersten White.

Henrietta doesn't need a prophecy to know that she's in danger. She came to London to be named the chosen one, the first female sorcerer in centuries, the one who would defeat the Ancients. Instead, she discovered a city ruled by secrets. And the biggest secret of all: Henrietta is not the chosen one.

Still, she must play the role in order to keep herself and Rook, her best friend and childhood love, safe. But can she truly save him? The poison in Rook's system is transforming him into something monstrous as he begins to master dark powers of his own. So when Henrietta finds a clue to the Ancients' past that could turn the tide of the war, she persuades Blackwood, the mysterious Earl of Sorrow-Fell, to travel up the coast to seek out strange new weapons. And Magnus, the brave, reckless flirt who wants to win back her favor, is assigned to their mission. Together, they will face monsters, meet powerful new allies, and uncover the most devastating weapon of all: the truth.

*          *          *

Review copy provided by publisher for an honest review. Thank you, Random House!

In a Sentence:  A solid and entertaining sequel with enchanting magic, vivid description, and dark twists.

Series Note: This is the second book in the Kingdom on Fire series. I re-read the first book, A Shadow Bright and Burning, right before reading this sequel. You can check out my review of the first book here.

After quite enjoying A Shadow Bright & Burning last year, I was eager to get my hands on the sequel and continue Henrietta's endeavors to control her powers and defeat the horrific Ancients that terrorize her alternate historical England. A Poison Dark & Drowning opens some two months after the end of the first book, with Henrietta settling into her secondary Sorcerer training and required duties. Determined to learn more about the otherworldly Ancients, her investigations soon lead her to a mysterious and magical house in search of weapons that could possibly turn the tide of the war. But as Henrietta and her companions struggle to wield the unnatural tools, information about the Ancients' origins as well as Henrietta's past and connection to them is uncovered, revealing dark and painful truths that may destroy them all.

This was a solid middle book with vivid description and a good pace. The first few chapters were a little quiet as we delved more into the Sorcerers' world, but things quickly picked up as the team began to reassemble and travel and soon there was plenty of action and tension and mystery to engross me. As with the first book a lot of the twists were generally predictable, but a few did take me by surprise, especially one complete shock near the climax whose fallout I enjoyed right to the end. The action finished a little too early for me leaving the last few chapters a bit sedate, but they wove a disquieting hopefulness for the final book that has me looking forward to the series end with a little dread but great interest. While I still hold to a few small unresolved predictions, given the surprising dark turns of the first two books I'm excited to say I really don't know what to expect with the third.

Henrietta continued to be the powerful but floundering girl of the first book, inexperienced and unsure how to proceed but desperate to do something to save those she cared about. Her fumbled failures - and even successes - tended to mire everyone deeper into trouble and tragedy, but for the most part her heart was in the right place and her fierce loyalty to Rook was commendable. The unfortunate first-book love triangle grew into an uncomfortable second-book square as a new and possessive prospect threw his hat into Henrietta's ring. Due to an unsettling personality turn, and my still firmly held predictions about him, I didn't like his addition even more than Marcus, so all his romantic overtures were rather hard for me to read. I also didn't like Henrietta's reaction to his advances (or to Marcus's before) as every time a boy shows her a hint of affection our strong heroine goes weak in the knees and questions her feelings for the one she really loves. I guess it could be considered realistic given her childhood insecurities and the mountain of pressure she's under, but I felt sorry for Rook being in love with an unassured girl like Henrietta. Still, despite serious spoilers, I will continue to root for Henrook (Rooketta?) to the series end.

Conclusion: A solid second book with good tension, interesting magic, and a few surprising plot twists, even if other twists were predictable and I had problems with the romance. Not much is currently predictable about the final book, so I will be going into it with definite excitement!

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

Jessica Cluess is a writer, a graduate of Northwestern University, and an unapologetic nerd. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she served coffee to the rich and famous while working on her first novel. When she’s not writing books, she’s an instructor at Writopia Lab, helping kids and teens tell their own stories.

Website | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Tumblr

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Review: A Shadow Bright & Burning (Jessica Cluess)

Title: A Shadow Bright & Burning
Series: Kingdom on Fire, Book 1
Author: Jessica Cluess
Publisher: Random House BYR
Release Date: September 20, 2016
Genre: Young Adult Alternate Historical Horror Fantasy
Told: First Person (Henrietta), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (scary images, minor horror/gore, fantasy fighting, sensuality)
Format Read: ARC (publisher)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

I am Henrietta Howel.
The first female sorcerer in hundreds of years.
The prophesied one.
Or am I?

Henrietta Howel can burst into flames.
Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she's shocked when instead of being executed, she's invited to train as one of Her Majesty's royal sorcerers.

Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the chosen one, the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorizing humanity. She also meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, handsome young men eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her.

But Henrietta Howel is not the chosen one.
As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers that the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, what does it mean to not be the one? And how much will she risk to save the city—and the one she loves?

Exhilarating and gripping, Jessica Cluess's spellbinding fantasy introduces a powerful, unforgettably heroine, and a world filled with magic, romance, and betrayal. Hand to fans of Libba Bray, Sarah J. Maas, and Cassandra Clare.

*          *          *

Review copy provided by publisher for an honest review. Thank you, Random House!

In a Sentence: An engrossing yet frustrating yet enchanting alternate historical horror fantasy with vivid characters and engaging prose.

It's rather fascinating how humans have the emotional capability to be engrossed in a book and yet at the same time frustrated with it as well. That was my constant state for most of A Shadow Bright & Burning - reluctant to put it down, but always upset about one thing or another. Usually it was main character Henrietta, a moderately clever girl in the beginning but flippant about serious matters and later so distractedly concerned with the opinions of others that she came to rely too heavily on them and rarely seemed to think for herself. Occasionally it was the setting, a mishmash of history and fantasy and gothic romance with an odd dash of the Fae thrown in (for reasons never explained) that I never really wrapped my mind around until the very end. And then there was the action, too short and choppy and rather nonchalant to excite me or make any kind of impact despite the thrilling things happening.

But in spite my frustrations, this was one of the best books I read in 2016. It started strong on the very first page, delivering an engrossing story with enchanting magic and chilling monsters I had not expected but nevertheless found sensational. While Henrietta was generally more frustrating than not, she was a vivid character with an entertaining journey full of unexpected twists and animated secondary characters that really made the story shine. And although the action fell disappointingly flat, the rest of the writing was expressive and engaging and brought the enigmatic world to life.

I didn't quite agree with how the book concluded (despite its logic, I guess), but by the end I realized just how fully developed the formerly frustrating world had become and how invested I now was in the story and its players. It took the full 400 and change pages but everyone and everything had grown on me, and I am now very excited to continue following Henrietta and her story in A Poison Dark & Drowning!

Conclusion: While frustrating at times, this was an engrossing story of magic and monsters that was one of my favorite reads of 2016. I definitely recommend it for anyone who enjoys alternate historical horror fantasy, and look forward to the next book with great anticipation!

Re-read?: Definitely

Scribble Rating: 

4.5 of 5 Scribbles

Review: Dark Energy (Robison Wells)

Title: Dark Energy
Series: standalone
Author: Robison Wells
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: March 29, 2016
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Science Fiction
Told: First Person, Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (gruesome visuals, violence, violent alien attacks, kissing)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

We are not alone.

Five days ago, a massive UFO crashed in the Midwest. Since then, nothing—or no one—has come out.

They have arrived.

If it were up to Alice, she’d be watching all of this on the news from Miami, Florida. Instead, she’s the newest student at a boarding school not far from the crash site—because her dad is the director of special projects for NASA, and if anything is a special project, it’s this.

And there’s no going back. 

A shell-shocked country is waiting, glued to televisions and computer screens, for a sign of what the new future holds. But when the aliens emerge, they’re nothing like what Alice expected. And only one thing is clear: Nothing will ever be the same again.

*          *          *

In a Sentence: A thrilling and chilling contemporary sci-fi with quick wit, engaging characters, and a compelling story, despite a creepy alien element.

Dark Energy was a genre roller coaster that began a light contemporary sci-fi, plunged into horror at the middle, veered into a tense adventure before a thriller climax, and ended on a romantic note. From the first sentence I was instantly engaged by easy, witty writing with great banter, simple yet realistic settings, and a diverse and relatable cast of characters. Except for a few instances of rather vivid and unnerving horror, the story was fast paced and engaging with exciting and surprising twists, including an ancient mystery I found quite unique and interesting. 

Alice was a fun and, in spite of the horror upbeat viewpoint character thanks to her easygoing attitude and adventurous streak, and the posse of fierce friends she collected were smart and snarky and I loved every one of them. (I especially adored her NASA dad and their close yet liberal relationship.) The romance was cute and sweet in the face of the action and adversity, and I appreciated that it took its time to build over the entire book. Given all the tension I felt the ending was plausible, and the story wrapped up nicely.

Conclusion: A thrilling read that always kept me engaged with effortless banter, relatable characters, and chilling twists. Despite a few rather squicky bits, I really enjoyed the quick and exciting read and look forward to trying more by Robison Wells.

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

Review: The Strange Library (Haruki Murakami)

Title: The Strange Library
Series: standalone
Author: Haruki Murakami
Publisher: Knopf
Release Date: December 2, 2014
Genre: Adult? Magical Realism Horror
Content Rating: Older Teen (serious creepiness, some violence, minor abuse, death)
Format Read: Paperback (library)
Find It On: Goodreads
Summary:

A lonely boy, a mysterious girl, and a tormented sheep man plot their escape from the nightmarish library of internationally acclaimed, best-selling Haruki Murakami's wild imagination.

*          *          *

I was excited to read a story by an "internationally acclaimed" Japanese writer set in a library, but this turned out to be a very strange and slightly disturbing read for me.

This "book" and I started off on several wrong feet. First, the folded cover was hard to read around. I had to get creative to keep it out of my way and yet not ruin it. Second, I'm (still) not sure if this is supposed to be a short story or a novella. While knowing really doesn't change the story, not knowing made me uneasy for some reason. 

Third, aside from the fact that the main character was still in school and living with his mother, I had no idea what age he was. I'm the type that prefers not to know every little detail about the main character, but here I would've liked a school range at the very least (grade school, middle grade, high school?). And fourth, the fact that the library shelved it in Adult Fiction aside, with the main character possibly a child I wasn't exactly sure what audience the story was meant for. With the possibly of a younger main character some might think it fit for a younger audience, and in its native Japan this may very well be considered fitting for children. But in my opinion it is much too unsettling for the younger American audience because of how it depicts libraries and librarians. Although Americans have our own "evil librarian" children's stories, all the ones I know of are in good fun. Here, librarians were made out to be brain-eating demons, and libraries horrific buildings one dare not enter for fear of kidnapping and enslavement. If this story was meant to put people off setting foot in libraries, then it could certainly do the trick.

The end was weird and rather depressing (although Japanese endings can tend to be), and after this short, quick read (at only 96 pages, offset with rather random images, I read it in a few hours) I was left feeling sad and confused and upset. Perhaps I didn't understand the story's full meaning because it's based on a Japanese legend or allegory of some kind that I've never heard of? I almost never come away with a book's theme or moral - fiction is pure entertainment to me. But possible underlying allegory or not, the surface story was confusing and unsettling to say the least, and I think I will forgo Murakami-sama's other works in the foreseeable future.

For fans of: horror

Scribble Rating:

1 out of 5 Scribbles

Review: Shutter (Courtney Alameda)

Title: Shutter
Series: standalone
Author: Courtney Alameda
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Genre: Young Adult Alternate Horror
Told: First Person Singular (Micheline), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (violence, gore, disturbing images [see Horror Content below], a few words of language, some minor sensuality, minor parental abuse)
Format Read: ARC (EpicLibrarian)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | TBD
Summary:

Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat—a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum. As one of the last descendants of the Van Helsing lineage, she has trained since childhood to destroy monsters both corporeal and spiritual: the corporeal undead go down by the bullet, the spiritual undead by the lens. With an analog SLR camera as her best weapon, Micheline exorcises ghosts by capturing their spiritual energy on film. She's aided by her crew: Oliver, a techno-whiz and the boy who developed her camera's technology; Jude, who can predict death; and Ryder, the boy Micheline has known and loved forever.

When a routine ghost hunt goes awry, Micheline and the boys are infected with a curse known as a soulchain. As the ghostly chains spread through their bodies, Micheline learns that if she doesn't exorcise her entity in seven days or less, she and her friends will die. Now pursued as a renegade agent by her monster-hunting father, Leonard Helsing, she must track and destroy an entity more powerful than anything she's faced before . . . or die trying.

Lock, stock, and lens, she’s in for one hell of a week.

*          *          *

Why I Read It: I almost never read horror, so I didn't give this creepy cover a second look until I happened to get an ARC. When I discovered it was about girl who hunts the undead with an analog camera, it was too interesting not to read!

Series: This is a standalone, although there was one mystery left unsolved that I certainly wouldn't mind seeing answered in a sequel.

Writing: Sharp and abused adjectives, verbs, even adverbs lent the style a raw feel that perfectly set the tone of this darker, violent story. Great flow, description, and movement.

Setting: Our world but alternate, with the roaming undead and a corporation that hunts them to protect the innocent. The book takes place mainly in San Francisco, which proved the perfect setting with all its creepy fog.

Story: This story was like a descent into a dark stairwell, each step down plunging the characters into more shadow, more hazards, and increasing the chances they would never make it back to the light alive. In other words, a horror story! But it wasn't just about the horror. The plot was engaging and interesting, the occasional violence and disturbing images there to chill and thrill at opportune moments. And the characters were highly skilled and almost fearless as they faced off nightmarish creatures in the name of duty - everything they did they did with purpose, and they did it well. Most will come to this book for the horror, but they will find it overshadowed by a stellar story with great pacing, tense action, and strong characters.

My Only Complaint: A big whodunit mystery was left unsolved. Throughout the book I was guessing who the culprit was, so when I didn't get an answer at the end it was frustrating. Hopefully there will be a sequel and the mystery will eventually be solved.

Characters: Micheline was fierce, both in her fighting and how much she cared for her friends and family. I think the best thing about her was how she fought for herself as well as others, none of that "I don't mind dying as long as I save my family" self-sacrificing drivel one can find with stories like this. She was 100% "I'm going to save us all and that's that" and stuck to it.

The boys were awesome. As a team they were perfectly balanced - all were strong and highly trained fighters, but they had their own individual personalities and areas of expertise as well. Ryder was wicked with weapons and the first line of Micheline's defense, both against violence and matters of the heart. Jude acted the lazy playboy but was sharp and powerful and passionate when he wanted and needed to be. Oliver was the brains - tech support and doctor rolled into one, and he was good at what he did. Together they were Micheline's backup, never trying to protect or shield her - they knew what she was capable of and let her take point and do her thing.

Romantic Relationship: Restrained, for the most part. Micheline and Ryder being together was against her father's rules, so they had to figure out just how far they were willing to go to be together. I won't say whether they got their happy ending or not (because in horror the couple doesn't always get to be together so I don't want to spoil it!), but I will say I was satisfied with the ending.

Horror Content: The ghosts can be very grotesque and creepy and do shudder-worthy things to both the dead and the living. There are really only a handful of gore-laced scenes, though. As for the violence, all the characters get put through the wringer more than once - fighting ghosts and demons is dirty, brutal work.

Conclusion: While most certainly horror with its disturbing images and bloody violence, Shutter was mainly a thrilling story with interesting original elements and stellar characters. If you like horror I highly recommend it, but even if you don't and can stomach a bit of squeamish imagery (like me) then I highly recommend it for the story and characters!

For Fans Of: Blue Exorcist, D. Gray-man

Scribble Rating: 

4.5 of 5 Scribbles