"Twilight...when greedy, grasping entities drift through into our world, seeking what they could never have again."
Following The Kingdom, The Restorer, and prequel, The Abandoned, The Prophet continues with Amelia Gray's adventures in graveyard restoration and romance (both to a lesser extent this time), and explorations of the unseen plane, where ghosts are seen and less material events are happening.
Amelia really caught my attention this time around. I loved her character! During the opening chapters, even her self-talk about rush hour traffic was interesting, and I just wanted to jump into her world, her living room, feeling my own experience through her. Made for a very relaxed and curious read.
Although I didn't find the storyline as frightening as the other novels, I found the topic of African root magic even more interesting. It reminded me of The Serpent and The Rainbow.
I read a review that complained that Amelia's relationship with John Delvin was a little tiresome this time around. I didn't think so, initially, but even the last lovemaking scene was disappointing in a way. It didn't hold my attention like in the previous novels. I can't pinpoint exactly why. Maybe I sensed a lack of love from Delvin, a very essential element missing (yet, he was haunted). Or maybe it was just my mood this time around.
Still, this novel was just what I needed on a cold, spring night. I'm so happy to have started the series.
Preview Book Four, The Visitor on the author's website.
I think I'll start with The Law of Similars - I love the opening quotes:
"Has it not got down as thin as the homeopathic soup that was made by boiling the shadow of a pigeon that had starved to death?" Abraham Lincoln - Oct 13, 1858
"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." Proverbs 17:22
I was browsing in Chapters and came across this book. It really wasn’t what I thought I wanted to read, but as I skimmed through the pages I felt a connection. It turned out to be a beautifully written and telling story with as much joy as horror and sadness coming through the pages.
The people of Mariatu’s story touched my heart right off, and at times I wanted for their life of simplicity - eating free run chickens and self-farmed vegetables, rice, and hot peppers, picking fruit right off trees, and dancing and celebrating at night under the stars and moon.
Mariatu grew up as a happy child in a village in Sierra Leone. She made a wish to go to school like the other children from wealthier villages. After a nightmare about palm oil, Mariatu was confronted by her worst fears when rebels invaded her village. After the attack, and after having her hands cut off by children close to her own age, Mariatu began a journey of survival through the forest, where she met black cobras and other animal spirits, helpful and loving people, and eventually ended up in Canada.
Mariatu’s journey came across as spiritual to me. I was very moved at the end when she had a conversation with her grandmother who’d warned her that to dream of palm oil will lead to blood spilling. Her grandmother said:
Mariatu, many things have changed because of the war. And witchcraft can’t change the past. I wish a spell could have stopped the attack on you. But you have turned your hurt and pain into something positive. When those demons reappear, think about all the angels who have come into your life since then.
Even though this is a small book, it’s full of information, heart and soul, and it’s worth every word. It made me believe that it does not matter where we’ve been, or are, but rather where we want to go that matters most. And that’s moving towards our heart’s desires and trusting our chosen path.
I really enjoyed Secret. It had more depth than I thought it
would, and the storyline was so much fun. I can’t remember where it was
suggested to me, but I wish every pick would be so great ;) As an added
benefit, since I read it on Kobo, I stumbled across notes on the pages made by
other readers, which made my experience all the better because of this interaction.
I noticed from the first few pages in that the words were genuine and
thought-provoking (not to the extreme, but just enough to make my reading
experience worthwhile and meaningful as well as entertaining).
Cassie, a waitress in New Orleans, lives a boring and
self-protected life. She finds a journal at the cafe where she works, left
behind by a confident and mysterious older woman who she’s been admiring and is
curious about. Although she doesn’t want to intrude on the woman’s privacy, she
takes a peek, and discovers pages of sexual fantasies played out on paper.
Events unfold and Cassie learns about an organization which exists to help
fantasies become reality in order to foster personal growth.
A page-turner for me, and for anyone who has felt their desires (sexual
and otherwise) to be unexpressed in any way, I'll say Secret will be comforting and encouraging. But
I’m learning by other reviews that this does not include everyone :@) -- So, maybe this novel will be most appreciated by those who can relate. I haven't as of yet found one male reviewer. To be expected, I guess.
One other note: I’m finding the people who didn’t like this
novel didn’t, in part, because of the ending. This is one of the reasons why I liked it.
The very point of this novel, exactly, for me is that women are often so caught up in the emotional idea of a happy ending that we don’t express and live our true desires
and selves (whatever they may be) in the present moment. Of course the extreme to this end is probably not that healthy for one's self-esteem or growth, either, and so balance is the key.
It looks like Secret 2 is coming out in Oct of this year.
“We are all star
stuff, but different star elements and minerals accumulated in different parts
of the world."
If you have an interest in the periodic table and what the
universe and matter are made of, read this book. If you are already an expert
in this department, I'm sure you will still get something out of it. If you are
a complete amateur - all the better, it's written in way that anyone can
understand and appreciate, and it’s so very informative and interesting. Packed with information about famous and
important scientists since the beginning of time to current time, including
political, romantic, tragic, heroic, and triumphant historical shenanigans, TheDisappearing Spoon is as exciting as a novel to read. I can’t recall every – sometimes jaw-dropping
– story and the loads of knowledge because there’s just so much, but below are
a few quotes and notes I made along the way. *I apologize if I should add
quotes and leave them out in places, I wrote these notes on my phone while
lying in bed so that I wouldn’t forget. The quotes may not be exact.
There is a section about the belief by some how every 26 million years or so, mass
extinctions by asteroids or comets happen:
"The goddess nemesis punished hubris. She made sure no earthly
creature could grow too proud by striking down anyone more powerful than the
gods. The analogy to the sun's companion star was that if earthly creatures
evolved towards intelligence, Nemesis would wipe them out before they got
traction." -- “The sun is dragged along our spiral solar system, getting
closer with time, loosening debris like comets as it gets closer, which may hit
earth if we are not saved by planets like Jupiter.”
Another topic is about mining for cell phone minerals
in the Congo,
and the destructive behaviour that can ensue when wealth pours into a resourceful
region.
The biology section was one of the most interesting to me,
ESP how viruses invade cell DNA, and how poisonous elements, such as the less
talked about cadmium, thallium and polonium, wreck havoc in the body, and how
radon causes lung cancer. Sulphur (like
in garlic) prevents bacteria from reproducing by interfering with folic acid
production. Copper and silver are strong
antibacterials (money - coins - are mostly made of nickel and zinc and are covered
in copper to prevent bacteria from spreading). The gadolinium used in MRIs
could be a potential cancer treatment because of its ability to absorb neutrons
and become radioactive, producing a "nano-nuke" in the body. However,
this element may be toxic to eliminate, if not transformed. Pasteur's take on life and disease was that
disease is caused by bacteria, hormones, and chemicals, etc., but that lab work
could not mimic the workings inside the human body. Life is chirality... and
side handedness in the smallest life matters (see teratogen drug causing birth defects 1950s,
thalidomide). *This last part, chirality, I’m still trying to understand, I have to
confess.
Read the excerpt
from the website (the wonderful first chapter about mercury).
I wish my review could do this book justice. It really is
fabulous. I loved the writer’s humour, sincerity,
detail and intellect. I look forward to TheViolinists Thumb, and hopefully! more titles down the road.
“He extended his hand, and I thought at first he meant to
introduce himself, but instead he uncurled his fingers, and I saw my necklace
coiled in his palm."
This is the second book in the Graveyard Queen series,
following The
Restorer (and there’s also the prequel, The
Abandoned).
Amelia, graveyard queen, is summoned to South Carolina,
Asher Falls, to restore a wealthy family’s graveyard. There’s another graveyard
in town which is completely underwater due to flooding, and this is not the
only strange thing about Asher Falls.... With a beautiful landscape,
history, and a man who’s seductive (and possibly untrustworthy...), and a
strange and evil force amidst - Asher Falls captivates Amelia. She feels
she’s been brought here for a reason. What she discovers about the place and
herself is beyond her wildest imagination or nightmare.
I found The Kingdom to be less frightening than The
Restorer, but more intriguing in many ways – especially the characters! I felt
like I was in a game of Clue, where the storyline was not predictable and the
characters, so sinister! I loved the town’s landscape and cemetery – especially
the creatures who roam about the forest and graveyard. The cover was the
least appealing to me of all the novels, until I noticed the statue's hand – so
Asher Falls ;)
I have to mention (again) when I’m reading these novels I
really do feel a deeper connection and understanding to and of the otherworld.
I don’t know what it is, but it’s there every time, and as I read through the
pages, I’m absorbing something. That’s why I like them so much!
The Kingdom ended on a suspenseful and romantic note, and I
am excited to find out what will happen when Amelia returns to Charleston in The
Prophet.
Yesterday I downloaded these fairy tales, free
of charge, from Kobo and started with Lily and The Lion.
First off, I wasn’t sure what to make of it.
It seemed short and sweet with underlying wisdom, but it wasn’t until really early
in the new year after waking in bed that I realized the wisdom: love requires sacrifice.
At the same time, I also had a memory from
my 20s, and I thought about the princess in Lily and The Lion and how she
reminds me of Aphrodite. Aphrodite is not always all bliss and flowers and
dreams come true. She’s a Goddess
who will steal your husband, like the princess in the story, and demand
something in return to set you free again to love. While begrudging Aphrodite,
I thought more about my memory.
When I was in my late 20s I felt unlucky in love. My friend
bought me a small Aphrodite statue made of iron - from Greece, nonetheless - to help my love life. I thought, “Finally, my love troubles are over”.
I had the tiniest apartment known to man in those days, and searched for a
space to put Aphrodite. The next day, my phone
caught on fire because of a nearby candle and the cord was burned in two. Then, my Buddha fell off my bookcase and cracked. On top of that, no change
in my love life occurred. Aphrodite began to give me the creeps and every time I looked at the statue I felt like it was out to get me. She’s now tucked
away in a box somewhere. If I find her, I will take her out of hiding. Maybe.
The point of sharing my experience is that
Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, is a force to respect. She is no fool and does
not deliver the gift of love without demanding something in return. The
Grimm Brothers’ tale seems to have stimulated this insight, and the opening of a door in my mind
to a place where experiences, feelings, and images, similar to the story, were found. I find this
very interesting and will try another tale soon to see if this will happen again.
“The force that played havoc with the cortisol in my blood was the same force that helped my body recover; if I felt better one day and worse the next, it was unchanged. It chose no side. It gave the girl next to me in the hospital pneumonia; it also gave her white blood cells that would resist the infection. And the atoms in those cells, and the nuclei in those atoms, the same bits of carbon that were being spun into new planets in some corner of space without a name. My insignificance had become unspeakably beautiful to me. That unified force was a god too massive, too inhuman, to resist with the atheism in which I had been brought up. I became a zealot without a religion.” ― G. Willow Wilson
“There was a genteel
tap of the knocker and the musical voice asked, again, ‘Where do vanished
objects go?’ ‘Into non-being, which is to say, everything,’ replied Professor
McGonagall. ‘Nicely phrased,’ replied the eagle doorknocker, and the door swung
open.”
Year seven (the final) at Hogwarts is turning out to be
tough for Harry and his friends. Voldemort and his entourage (Death Eaters) are
aggressively searching for Harry, have infiltrated just about everywhere else –
especially the Ministry, and have committed horrendous crimes using the Dark Arts.
Harry, Ron and Hermione have to discover where Voldemort has hidden the Horcruxes
(bits of his soul), destroy
them, and they have to do it under immense pressure and often heartbreak (It starts with Hedwig!!!).
The moment I started to really get into the story was when
Scrimgeour (Minister for Magic) arrives to tell Ron, Hermione and Harry, what
they’ve inherited from Dumbledore: a Deluminator,
an ancient runes text, the silver-winged gold Snitch from Quidditch, and a special Gryffindor
sword. The last few chapters were also wonderful! – I always knew about Professor Snape :). He was always one of my favourite characters –
the novels (or movies) would not have been the same without him.
I especially loved learning more about some of the other
characters’ Patronuses, and the role they played in this final novel. There’s a
stag, doe, hare, badger, phoenix, cat, weasel, and others. And also I loved
learning what each wand is made of: Holly and phoenix feather, Hawthorn and unicorn
hair, Walnut and dragon heartstring, Elder and thestral tail-hair, etc. (the latter, the elder wand, I don't remember the description from the novel but looked it up after).
I could go on but I have to stop. The only thing to do now
is to reread The Philosopher’s Stone
and begin the journey again! And join Pottermore ;)
One last note: I borrowed this book and have to return it. When
I opened it to begin reading I found a bookmark left by the owner. It’s of
Regensburg. I love it when things like this happen! Although...I have no idea
what this means, if anything.
"Seven years after graduating from university, Rowling saw herself as "the biggest failure I knew." Her marriage had failed, she was jobless with a dependent child, but she described her failure as liberating:
Failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy to finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one area where I truly belonged. I was set free, because my greatest fear had been realized, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter, and a big idea. And so rock bottom became a solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.
I had every intention of finishing this before Halloween,
but before I knew it - November was here. The last month has been one of the
most life-altering for me, and so I haven’t really had the time or the focus to
read or update my blog.
A Discovery of Witches came at the right
time – a birthday gift from my cousin. Both
she and my aunt read it and have decided to move on to Shadow of the Night. They are both
speedy readers and have inspired me to pick up the pace a little ;)
So...the book:
Diana Bishop is a historian of alchemy. This, the Oxford
setting, and the ancient magical book, was all I needed to get and keep me interested. Then, romance entered the scene and the story
took off in a different direction. At first I wasn’t sure about the element of
love (what about the book, Ashmole 782!?), but vampire, Matthew Clairmont
started to grow on me. Mostly after he told the story about how in the past
courtship involved going in a closet or room with your beloved to just talk,
all night long, to better understand each other. Diana and Matthew’s romance is
traditional yet modern and made me yearn for these simple customs that made our
ancestors so happy. Their relationship
is connected to Ashmole 782.
I enjoyed the last few chapters when DNA of vampires,
witches, and demons, got discussed, as well as how evolution will include the
merging of different lineages, allowing offspring to carry favourable traits
for the future. And, I loved how vampires, demons and witches (typical enemies)
hang out together in a (really imaginative) haunted house, trying to make sense
of the past and future.
Diana’s parents were brutally murdered and this reminded me of Harry Potter. The seven-year theme also showed up, as age seven is when Diana’s witch powers started to develop. I actually decided that I will finish Harry Potter (book seven) next because of this, and also because my cousin’s two boys threw on the last movie when I was visiting. I simply can’t wait any longer!
I would recommend this novel. I only wish I hadn’t been so
distracted because there are lots of references – books, elements, etc. that I found
fascinating and would like to have researched further as I read. In attempt to do this later, I visited a
local library and found a book called Magic
and Alchemy by Rosemary Ellen Guiley. In this encyclopedia, I discovered a
few photos that reminded me of the manuscript pages Diana found. One of the
photos was Robert Fludd’s rose with seven petals.
I look forward to Shadow
of the Night and diving further into the topics of alchemy and time travel, as well as exploring some of the author's other works!
“I want this story. Your story.
The tale of what brought us to this place, in these chairs, with this
wine. I don't want a story you create from here” - he taps his
temple with his finger - “I want one that is here.” He lets his
hand hover over his heart for a moment before sitting back in his
chair. (The man in the grey suit).
I decided right away there would
be two ways to read The Night Circus: as it is - an
exceptionally creative and visual story – and/or as a portrayed
journey with hidden messages. Everything is like this (loaded with
symbolism), and in this case it seemed intended.
The plot of The Night Circus is unique
and I loved it right from the opening: The circus arrives without
warning.
Opens at Nightfall
Closes at Dawn.
A mysterious black and white circus –
Le Cirque des Reves - travels around the world, materializing
out of nowhere. Two magicians/illusionists – Celia
and Marco – are destined to compete. Only one can win. Celia has
been trained rather harshly, in a physical manner, making her very
strong (or else she would've been physically harmed), and Marco has
been educated well since a young age and is prepared to win. Their
battle turns into a romance – one that holds the entire circus
together. As things start to crumble, and as the circus experiences
interference, Celia and Marco must come up with a plan to keep it
going - without only one of them coming out a winner.
There's a lot more to The Night Circus than I
initially processed, I sensed. This made it exciting. I didn't spend
time analyzing to figure out what all the numbers, symbols, and
chapter names, mean (even though I found these details interesting) -
I just wanted to enjoy the experience and see what I got out of it,
intuitively.
By chapter: Tete-a-Tete: London,
August 1896, I decided, to me, this novel is about polarities, and
reflection, or better still, balance, as well as the possibilities
and creation that come out of this. It made me feel, or reminded me,
that anything can be materialized at will - once the belief in it is
mastered and skill, strengthened (although, in it it is said
that the key is endurance: “Such pain is not lived with. It is
only endured...”). What we want to be will be materialized or
created (choose your own illusion). Of course others have their own
ideas about this, respectfully, and so it is a bit of a game, it
seems – a circus.
I hope one day a movie will do it justice. I would love to see it! Below are a few inspirational
illustrations I found on the internet that are similar to how I
pictured the characters.
I haven't really been reading
The Disappearing Spoonfor
three months. I started it and then had to fit in a few novels,
leaving only a few chapters left. Although I have enjoyed it, It's
a book that can be read in spurts, and so that's what I've been
doing.
The Violinist's Thumb
is also on my to-do list - I'm just waiting for it to come out in
soft cover so that I can own a copy.
And finally, I've also not been
reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for a year. I was
waiting for the right time (timing is everything), which is very soon.
I
plan to finish that last two novels in the Graveyard Queen series in
the upcoming months, but first, A Discovery of Witches (a birthday gift from my cousin), and
hopefully!, if I enjoy the first, the follow up to it, Shadow of the Night.
I got so excited when I discovered Wake. The cover is so beautiful, and I couldn't resist reading it. It was magical in many ways, just like the cover. And, going with my theme lately, horrific and suspenseful, also.
Like many lead characters in teen fiction today, Gemma is seemingly ordinary, and then one day things change. She is an avid swimmer, has recently fallen in love with Alex, a long-time friend, and has a supportive family and her share of misfortune. During one of her night swims, Gemma is persuaded by a group of beautiful, unusual and seemingly dangerous girls to join them in a cove. They give her a drink and, after losing her sense of her reality, she wakes as a different being. She's changed, that's for sure and, after realizing this, hunts the girls down to find out what they gave her.
The suspense is great, and the desire to find out about these girls, what they want with Gemma, what they gave her, and what she's become, drives the reader forward. On the side, Gemma is falling in love and dealing with a family who are desperately trying to figure out what's going on with her and this gives the novel a human quality.
I love the characters and the relationships they have with each other. Gemma and Alex have a sweet and budding romance, and her sister, Harper, is falling, despite her wishes, for a caring and carefree guy who lives on a boat. Gemma, her sister, and their father, have the type of family that makes you realize home is where the heart is.
I was disappointed, however, when I realized Wake is part of a series. This means I will have to wait to find out what happens. I guess I was hoping for a little closure.
The next books is Lullaby, available November 27, 2012.
The Diviners opens with a group
of teenagers in Manhattan in the 20s playing a game to summon
spirits. They summon N-A-U-G-H-T-Y-J-O-H-N (who has work to
do). So, of course, I had to continue.
A very intriguing story with intriguing
topics, such as New York’s history, including its underground
business lords. All of this is rather vague and does not connect with
the rest of the story, entirely, but keeps the reader guessing to
grasp the intended meaning and symbolism.
There are many characters and, at
times, I lost a few of them. However, the main characters were unique
and solid, especially the lead, Evie. Evie is psychic and has intense
abilities, but she is also shallow, mouthy, determined, and very
curious. She’s sent to live with her uncle (who owns an occult
museum) in New York after being sent away from her hometown because
of ‘bad behaviour’. She is curious to find out all she can –
good and bad – about city life and its inhabitants and this leads
her to the scene of Naughty John’s grotesque work.
I did enjoy it and was happy to
discover it is part of a series - although, I can’t find any information
about the next book. For more about the book and to view the
trailer, visit: www.thedivinersseries.com
My Enemy, My Friend
is an account of a life lived with juvenile arthritis, from the very young age
of two. Lauren Vaknine explains how this
disease influenced her (mind, body, and spirit) and her family, right into her
adult years.
When I started this autobiography I was moved to tears a few
pages in. I must’ve sensed the pain and discouragement the author experienced
because of chronic illness, and I fell into the story quite naturally. Despite
being a true story, it flowed like a novel and kept my interest.
Lauren is an advocate for The Royal London Homeopathic
Hospital, homeopathy, natural medicine, and she mentions throughout the novel the
different alternative therapies she used to heal. She explains how these therapies
did not solve all of her problems, but how they helped set her ahead of others
with juvenile arthritis who did not use healing modalities other than
conventional, and how these therapies helped prevent her disease from
worsening.
One of the most interesting of the therapies she mentioned is
one offered in Israel and North America, IPEC
Therapy, which aims to eliminate sensitivities (or overreaction) to everyday
substances by the patient, like food. I guess
you could call these allergies or autoimmunity.
With this therapy, from what I understood,
an underlying (or subconscious/unconscious) emotion, thought, or experience - the likely cause - is worked on to dissolve the weakness or block causing dysfunction
and sensitivities in the body. It also aims
to balance Chi (energy) to various
organs, tissues, and cells, and changes programming or function if it’s not
healthy.
Regardless of the support offered to the body by various therapies, conventional
and otherwise, an underlying destructive force, such as an emotional or psychological block,
causes regression and disease if it’s not dealt with. It makes sense, then, why healing is often a
lifetime event for many, regardless of the external corrections. Working on
these patterns is how many complementary, alternative, or natural therapies
work, including homeopathy, but the novel piqued my interest to learn more about IPEC Therapy in particular, which I’d never heard of.
The novel is called My
Enemy, My Friend because Lauren hated her disease growing up (naturally)
but learned, later in life, to take on a positive attitude about the lessons arthritis
could offer her. It encouraged her to
learn more about herself and reach for her dreams in a way she may not have
done without the strong incentive of disease.
I have to mention now how I personally related to the author,
especially her childhood. We both: had eye surgery (and both received made cards
from our classmates – I still have mine), had a German Sheppard puppy we had to
give away (mine I found in an alley during snowfall, brought him home, but
could not keep him forever. I too found a farm home for him), wanted to be a
vet (but couldn’t dissect), swam in the ocean and natural sulphur springs,
loved swimming, were terrible at math, and were rebellious teenagers! It
was all very coincidental and strange.
I would recommend this novel regardless if you have an interest in natural medicine or juvenile arthritis, because it was interesting and
heartfelt all the way through.
Below is a short video from YouTube of Lauren talking about
homeopathy.
Sometimes books are therapeutic. Even if they are horrific
tales (like the last few I’ve read) vs. positive overload. And sometimes they
offer comfort in the sense that they often ring true (or ring back) what’s
similar in us, letting us know we are not alone, and healing trauma through
similar trauma.
This is my theory for continuing with my ghost story binge.
The characters are all great in this novel. Malcolm is caring,
kind, and handsome, and has every intention of doing right by Jane. Their relationship is endearing and steamy! When
Malcolm is away on various business trips, Jane finds out first-hand about his
mother as she tries to take over the planning of Malcolm and Jane’s wedding without
giving any regard to Jane’s wishes or ideas. When Jane stands her ground
(finally, to avoid bursting at the seams – she’s not even allowed to pick out
her own dress! {are you sure that doesn’t
make you look fat, dear?!?}), things become spooky, and she realises she’s dealing
with a dangerous force with an agenda of its own – one that doesn’t include her
– one that wants to win at all costs! Throughout it all, Jane meets a few friends and lively
characters, and discovers also that love and magic can flow through her and
anyone else with magic – not just Malcolm.
And Malcolm comes face to face with confronting his family and their spells
or losing Jane forever.
A light, comical, little horrific and entertaining read. It
will also be turned into a hit series on ABC.
For anyone who liked the movie Monster in Law, which
was also very comical, this one might be good for you.
“Listen to me, Amelia.
There are entities you’ve never seen before. Forces I dare not even speak of.
They are colder, stronger, hungrier than any presence you can imagine.”
I was wondering how the last story would connect with this
one, despite having only a few of the same characters. I started to get a glimpse of how a few
chapters in when Oak Grove Cemetery (the cemetery in The Abandoned) is investigated because of several dead bodies found
there (ones that shouldn’t be there).
Just like The Abandoned, The Restorer is beautifully
written, is a great mystery and ghost story, and has intriguing, dimensional characters. It is also a bit of an exploration of the
occult/black magic and those who practice it (including vampires). And for some
reason - of all the novels, movies, and thoughts I’ve given to the occult over
the years - these novels seem to leak out a deeper understanding instantly and
effortlessly in comparison, without really going into much laborious detail. This was much appreciated and made for a very
entertaining and enjoyable read.
This time, Graveyard Queen (and restorer), Amelia, and police
investigator, John Delvin, join forces and dive deeper into a scandalous and murderous
secret society and its connection to Oak Grove Cemetery. The romantic chemistry
– again – is simmering below the surface and is touching and realistic as it
includes real obstacles, such as being haunted ;)
The difference between The
Abandoned and The Restorer is
that the latter is downright CREEEPY at times and really came close to crossing
my boundaries in terms of how much horror (and subsequent fright) I prefer and
can handle in a novel. Somehow the author manages to do this in good taste, so
all was well, but I felt I had my fix of the dark side and wanted to slow down
the adrenaline at one point. Regardless, I couldn’t stop reading – I was too enthralled
by the story.
I’m hooked and look forward to the next in the Graveyard Queen Series: The Kingdom!
Great romance, horror and suspense author! I would recommend these novels to anyone who
likes this type of genre. Fall is coming, and there’s no better time for a
ghost story!
The Abandoned is a
suspenseful, romantic, and a little horrific ghost tale about a psychology student who works at a psychiatric hospital.
After the death of her favorite patient, Violet, Ree Hutchins starts
to sense the undead around her. Because
of her concern and suspicion of ill treatment, she is forced to investigate a
secret society to uncover a centuries old secret and bring clarity to the
present.
What she discovers brings her deep into the merging worlds of
paranormal psychology, graveyards, the dead, the living, and a somewhat unconventional
justice system. With the help of her friends, including deemed Graveyard Queen, Amelia
Gray, Ree is escorted through the dangerous and sad terrain of past and present
to help an elderly lady and her mother who suffered for a lifetime.
It’s no surprise to me that Amanda Stevens has written
several romantic novels. The romance
between Ree and her paranormal investigator/lawyer friend, Hayden, is
believable, sensual, inviting, and is a wonderful companion to the suspense of
the novel. The suspense holds its own, regardless, and is unpredictable,
delivering a great ghost story with lively characters. But it’s not just a
ghost story; it’s also a scenic exploration of unknown energies and
the motives of the living and the dead.
I have never been a lover of graveyards, but I did recently visit one a few weeks ago. I took these photos of tombstones. They now mean more to me as I wonder about
the lives of the owners.
