Cackle, By Rachel Harrison ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Alcoholism, Humor, Magical Realism, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: October 5th, 2021

304 Pages

Synopsis: A darkly funny, frightening novel about a young woman learning how to take what she wants from a witch who may be too good to be true, from the author of The Return.

All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate. She’s stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation.

Then Annie meets Sophie. Beautiful, charming, magnetic Sophie, who takes a special interest in Annie, who wants to be her friend. More importantly, she wants Annie to stop apologizing and start living for herself. That’s how Sophie lives. Annie can’t help but gravitate toward the self-possessed Sophie, wanting to spend more and more time with her, despite the fact that the rest of the townsfolk seem…a little afraid of her. And like, okay. There are some things. Sophie’s appearance is uncanny and ageless, her mansion in the middle of the woods feels a little unearthly, and she does seem to wield a certain power…but she couldn’t be…could she? (Goodreads)

I enjoyed Rachel Harrison’s The Return, so Cackle has been one of my most anticipated books of 2021 and I’m pleased to say that it surpassed my expectations.

Annie spends a good portion of the book dealing with the breakup of her long term relationship with Sam. Some readers may be put off by her wallowing in misery and insecurities, but having gone through something similar, I completely understood the process she went through. Balancing her tendency to rely on alcohol to numb her pain, is her sharp sense of humor which had me laughing out loud more than once. Slowly, over the course of the story, she comes to realize who she wants to be, and I loved watching her journey of self-discovery. Sophie, while seemingly confident and self-possessed, has her own insecurities underneath which come out near the end of the book, but for the most part she turns out to be the best thing that could have happened to Annie.

The story itself is scarce on scares, but full of charm, whimsy, and black comedy. And, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think Ralph the adorable spider has cured my arachnophobia! Seriously though, Cackle is deliciously wicked and fun, and I easily gobbled it up in one sitting. While the ending wraps everything up, in my humble opinion there’s also plenty of material for another book and I’m hoping Rachel Harrison will revisit the small town of Rowan, its inhabitants, and Annie and Sophie. This is coming out the beginning of October which is wonderful because it’s an ideal read for the Halloween season!

The Ladies of the Secret Circus, By Constance Sayers ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Redhook for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: March 23rd, 2021

469 Pages

Synopsis: 

Paris, 1925: To enter the Secret Circus is to enter a world of wonder—a world where women tame magnificent beasts, carousels take you back in time, and trapeze artists float across the sky. But each daring feat has a cost. Bound to her family’s strange and magical circus, it’s the only world Cecile Cabot knows—until she meets a charismatic young painter and embarks on a passionate love affair that could cost her everything.

Virginia, 2005: Lara Barnes is on top of the world—until her fiancé disappears on their wedding day. Desperate, her search for answers unexpectedly leads to her great-grandmother’s journals and sweeps her into the story of a dark circus and a generational curse that has been claiming payment from the women in her family for generations. (Goodreads)

The Ladies of the Secret Circus is a darkly magical read, that I enjoyed so much I didn’t want it to come to an end. The first quarter of the book delves into the life of Lara in 2004/2005 as she struggles to move on after the mysterious disappearance of her fiancé on their wedding day. You find out a little bit of her background, and her family’s magic, but the real revelations come when her great-grandmother Cecile’s journals fall into her hands. The majority of the book alternates from Jazz Age Paris to the early 2000s and what Lara discovers involves the supernatural, star-crossed lovers, a family curse, and the question of what you’re willing to sacrifice to save the one you love. It’s exquisitely told and although it’s almost 500 pages long, I had to make a concentrated effort to slow down. There are so many elements to this atmospheric novel: demonology, history, art, circuses, and magical realism. Sayers skillfully builds layer upon layer, until I felt as though I was within the pages of the book. There’s a little bit of romance but this isn’t really the focus of the story. All that’s left to say is that The Ladies of the Secret Circus is creative, mesmerizing storytelling at its finest, and perfect for fans of The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. 

The House at the Bottom of a Lake, By Josh Malerman ~ 3.0 Stars

Tags

Magical Realism, Mystery, Romance, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: December 1st, 2020

208 Pages

Synopsis: Both seventeen. Both afraid. But both saying yes.

It sounded like the perfect first date: canoeing across a chain of lakes, sandwiches and beers in the cooler. But teenagers Amelia and James discover something below the water’s surface that changes their lives forever.

It’s got two stories.

It’s got a garden.

And the front door is open.

It’s a house at the bottom of a lake.

For the teens there is only one rule: no questions. And yet, how could a place so spectacular come with no price tag? While the duo play house beneath the waves, one reality remains:

Just because a house seems empty, doesn’t mean nobody’s home.

I enjoyed Malerman’s Bird Box, so even though I’ve had mixed success with novellas, I requested A House at the Bottom of a Lake on NetGalley as soon it was offered. The main issue is that contrary to what the cover and synopsis imply, it’s not horror. Maybe magical realism with a touch of eeriness, but definitely not horror. I overcame my disappointment and actually did enjoy this little tale, but I don’t think it was one of Malerman’s best works. Amelia and James are likable enough and I did find myself connecting with them, although I was puzzled over their sudden expertise in scuba diving. There are a few plot holes like this and the fact that not one person questions where these two seventeen-year-olds are disappearing to for hours every day. The ambiguous ending was also much too rushed, but it did leave me pondering the book for several hours after I finished. Overall, A House at the Bottom of a Lake is an intriguing read full of symbolism and the exploration of first love. While I was left wanting more in the end, Malerman’s deft writing still pulled me in and I finished this in less than two hours. If you’re a fan of his and haven’t read it, I’d recommend you check it out.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January, by Alix E. Harrow ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Coming of Age Stories, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Racism

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit/Redhook for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 10th, 2019

384 Pages

Synopsis: In the summer of 1901, at the age of seven, January Scaller found a Door. You know the kind of door—-the lead to Faerie, to Valhalla, to Atlantis, to all the places never found on a map.

Years late, January has forgotten her brief glimpse of elsewhere. Her life is quiet and lonely but safe on her guardian’s estate, until one day she stumbles across a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds in its pages, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure, and danger. A book that might lead her back to the half-remembered door of her childhood.

But, as January gets answers to questions she never imagined, shadows creep closer. There are truths about the world that should never be revealed.

“Books can smell of cheap thrills or painstaking scholarship, of literary weight or unsolved mysteries. This one smelled unlike any book I’d ever read…It smelled like adventure itself had been harvested in the wild, distilled to a fine wine, and splashed across each page.”

January Scaller ~ The Ten Thousand Doors of January, by Alix E. Harrow

What drew me first to The Thousand Doors of January, was that breathtaking cover, and that coupled with its intriguing synopsis made me request it. You know how sometimes a book will suck you in so completely that when you surface it takes you a little bit to re-acclimate yourself to the real world? Well, fair warning. That’s exactly what’s going to happen if you chose to dive into this exquisitely written debut novel, by Alix Harrow.

All of the characters—heroes, villains, and faithful canine companion alike—are so well-written that they fairly leap from the pages. January though, is the star, and my God what a memorable character! The way she grows and develops from a sullen unhappy, but imaginative child, to a young woman who has embraced her past, present, and future, in a little less than 400 pages, is nothing short of brilliant. Her voice even as that seven-year-old at the beginning is so distinctive and alive, by the end of the book I felt as though I had met her in real life. The world building is beyond amazing, with the story jumping from America of the late 1800s and early 1900s, to not one but three “elsewheres.” It’s seamlessly done and I felt as though I was visiting these different settings along with the characters. And finally, there’s the actual plot. Alix Harrow has taken the concept of hidden doorways to other worlds and spun an entirely new and ingenious mythology around them. From the ending this could very well be a standalone, but I’m hoping not. I want more!

The Ten Thousand Doors of January was one of my most anticipated reads of 2019, and I’m thrilled to say it’s now my favorite, which is saying something as I’ve been luck enough to read some pretty spectacular books this year. It’s a magical ode to storytelling and…well, let me just finish with this: Read this if you’re a fantasy fan. Read this if you’ve never picked up a fantasy novel, yet have been tempted to veer out of your usual comfort zone. Read this if you’re a bibliophile and believe in the magic and power of stories. Read this if you love books with strong, diverse and kick-ass female characters who will have you cheering for them. Most importantly, read this if like me, you’ve ever wondered, even if just for an instant, about the possibility of magical doorways that can transport you to other worlds and wished with all your heart you could find one and walk through.

 

Gray Wolf Island, by Tracey Neithercott ~ 3.0 Stars

Tags

Coming-of-age stories, Coping With Loss and Grief, Magical Realism, Sexual Assault, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

336 Pages

Synopsis: Right before Sadie died, she begged her sister, Ruby, to do the one thing she could never do herself: Find the treasure on Gray Wolf Island. 

With just a mysterious treasure map as a guide, Ruby reluctantly allows some friends with her on the hunt, each of whom is touched by magic: a boy allegedly born to a virgin, a girl who never sleeps, a boy who can forsee his own death, and a boy with deep ties to the island. Each of them is also keeping a secret—something they’ll have to reveal in order to reach the treasure.

As the secrets come to light, Ruby will have to decide: Can she make peace with her friends’ troubled pasts and continue to trust them? Can she forgive herself for doing the unspeakable? Deep in the wilderness of Gray Wolf Island, Ruby’s choices will determine if they make it out with the treasure—or merely with their lives.

Gray Wolf Island is the debut novel of Tracey Neithercott, and although it wasn’t quite what I expected, I still enjoyed it. One word of warning: There is a sexual assault (not rape) scene that’s briefly talked about. It takes place in the past and it’s not graphic, but it could be a trigger for some readers.

The story centers around the familiar trope of a group of misfits who are on a quest. This particular one is led by Ruby, who is still grieving the loss of her twin sister Sadie who died the previous year. Ruby was already more of an introvert than her vivacious twin, but there’s a secret that Ruby is hiding concerning Sadie’s death from cancer, that has made overdraw even more into herself. I have to admit I didn’t like Ruby at first. She’s very standoffish and cold in the beginning. But once she and the other teens arrive at the island, she slowly opens up more and I felt more connected.

The other characters are delightfully quirky, but they’re all hiding secrets as well, some darker than others. I thought they were all likable, but they seem immature for the sixteen-year-olds they’re supposed to be. There’s also a romance that develops between Ruby and Elliott, the so-called bad boy, that came off rather forced.

There were a few other issues that kept this from being a perfect read for me. First, the rather cavalier manner in which Ruby’s parents permitt her to go off on this excursion just wasn’t realistic, especially given that that they had lost their other daughter. The pacing was also a bit strange. There were some moments of excitement and action, but many others where the story was too wordy and dragged, and I found myself skimming. And the ending was much too rushed and abrupt for my taste.

Despite the problems I had with Gray Wolf Island, I still enjoyed it. It’s definitely more character-driven than plot-driven, so if you like that style of writing, coupled with a trace of magical realism, than I recommend you give this a try.

The Luster Of Lost Things, by Sophie Chen Keller ~ 5++++++++++ Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Bullying, Disabilities, Family Bonds, Friendships, Magical Realism, Societal Roles

Thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing an ARC in exchange for and honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

304 Pages

Synopsis: Walter Lavender Jr. is a master of finding. A wear of high-tops. A maker of croissants. A son keeping vigil, twelve years counting.

But he wouldn’t be able to tell you. Silenced by his motor speech disorder, Walter’s life gets lonely. Forth he has The Lavenders—mother’s enchanted dessert shop, where marzipan dragons breathe actual fire. He also has a knack for tracking down any missing thing—except his lost father.

So, when the Book at the root of the bakery’s magic vanishes, Walter, accompanied by his overweight golden retriever, journeys through New York City to find it—along the way encountering an unforgettable cast of lost souls. 

Steeped in nostalgic wonder, The Luster of Lost Things explores the depths of our capacity for kindness and our ability to heal. A lyrical meditation on why we become lost and how we are found, from the bright, broken heart of a boy who knows where to look for everyone but himself.

You guys! This book! I’m not sure how to even begin except to say that while I’ve read some fantastic books so far this year, The Luster of Lost Things surpasses them all!

Walter Lavender Jr. is a thirteen-year-old boy who is not only dealing with a motor speech disorder that makes it difficult for him to communicate, but he longs for his father who went missing before he was born. Because he’s “different” from his classmates, he doesn’t have any friends, and is the victim of bullying. But he has his loving and devoted mother, Lucy, and their magical bakery, The Lavenders. There, it’s completely normal to see chocolate mice jump rope with licorice, and other desserts come to life. The source of the magic is the Book, a gift given to Lucy, one cold winter’s night by a woman to whom Lucy gave shelter. I’m trying really hard not to include any spoilers, so I’m just going to say that ever since the Book was left, the, desserts came to life and the shop prospered. 

When the Book mysteriously disappears, the magic also departs and the future of the shop is in peril thanks to a new greedy landlord. So, young Walter, who has an uncanny knack for finding lost things, accompanied by his best friend and Golden Retriever, Milton, embarks upon a quest to find the missing book. Along the way he meets some incredible people who turn his journey into much more than a quest to find a magical book. This turns into a voyage of self-discovery, where Walter gains confidence in himself which in turn leads him to successfully form lasting connections to the people he meets. 

Walter is one of the most likable, charming and relatable characters I’ve come across in a very long time. By the end of the first chapter he stole my heart and I felt as though I was inside the story accompanying him and Milton as they traveled through the gritty streets of New York City on their mission. All of the characters in this book, including Milton are vividly brought to life, and each of them have a hand in young Walter’s transformation. 

There are really three parts to this book. The beginning which is set in the bakery and is full of magical realism. Then there’s the middle, where Walter is away from the warmth and safety of his mother and their shop. And finally, the ending which has Walter back where he began, albeit a much different boy then when he left. There have been many reviewers who have commented that they loved the beginning, but found Walter’s journey too slow. I have to respectfully disagree. While Walter’s quest does depart from the magical realism the book opens with, that doesn’t take away from the connections he makes with the quirky people he meets. And while, they all help him in some fashion, the positive impact he has on them is truly remarkable. 

Writing an adult book from a child’s perspective can’t be easy, and when that child suffers from a speech disorder, well, that’s almost unheard of. The only other book I’ve read that’s successfully done this is The Curious Incident of the Dog In Night-Time, by Mark Haddon. Sophie Chen Keller brilliantly brings to life this young boy who is highly intelligent and knows what he wants to say, yet frustratingly struggles to say the words out loud. We see the story unfold through his eyes and thoughts, and it’s a wondrous thing because Walter’s world is amazing and beautiful. 

The Luster of Lost Things is one of those rare books that if you read it, you’ll remember for it a very long time. I wish I had tons of money, because I’d buy hundreds of copies and leave them in train stations, subways, park benches, restaurants, mail them to all of you and, well, you get the picture. As I’m not rich, I’m just going to encourage everyone who reads this review to buy themselves a copy, or borrow it from their library. This is an uplifting and beautifully told tale with a boy who will touch your heart in ways you can’t imagine. It’s a confectionery delight that is a lovely respite from the real world. Please, give yourself a gift that will not only give you the warm fuzzies, but will also remind you what’s truly important in life.

 

Carnivalesque, by Neil Jordan ~ 2.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Magical Realism

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

288 Pages

Synopsis: It looked like any other carnival, but of course it wasn’t. The boy saw it from the car window, the tops of the large trailer rides over the parked trains by the railway tracks. His parents were driving towards the new mall and he was looking forward to that too, but but the tracery of lights above the gloomy trains caught his imagination…

Andy walks into Burleigh’s Amazing Hall of Mirrors, and then he walks right into the mirror, becomes a reflection. Another boy, a boy who is not Andy, goes home with Andy’s parents. And the boy who was once Andy is pulled–literally pulled, by the hands, by a girl named Mona–into another world, a carnival world where anything’s might happen.

After reading the synopsis for Carnivalesque I was so excited to dive into it. I love stories about changlings and carnivals and this sounded like an entirely new take on the theme. But sadly it just didn’t live up to my expectations. The biggest problem I ran into was that I couldn’t connect with the characters. They were a little too one-dimensional and there was really no obvious development to them even by the end of the book. The story is told from the POVs of Andy and his mother, but there was little distinction between their voices which left me confused at times when the narrative switched between them. I also found that, except for a few instances, the plot moved too slowly. The world-building is beautifully descriptive, but in many ways, is too wordy and overly-descriptive. I think what frustrated me the most though, was that Carnivalesque is filled with so much potential, but it seemed to stay just out of reach…at least for me. There are reviewers, however who did enjoy this, so please check out their reviews before making up your mind as to whether you want to try this. Ana, over at Ana’s Lair enjoyed this more than I, so if you’d like to see another opinion, please read her review at https://anaslair.wordpress.com/2016/12/19/carnivalesque

 

The Ugly Teapot (Book One: Hannah) ~ By Fred Holmes – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Coping With Loss and Grief, Family Relationships, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to the author for providing an ebook in exchange for an honest review.

251 Pages

Synopsis: Fourteen-year-old Hannah Bradbury loved her father so much that she worried about constantly. After all, he was a photographer who traveled to the most dangerous places in the world. 

To allay her fears, each time he came home he brought her silly gifts, each one with supposed magical powers: the Seal of Solomon, the Ring of Gyges, even Aladdin’s Lamp. It was that lamp that Hannah found the most unbelievable, for it looked like an ugly teapot. Nevertheless, her father assured her it was real, and made her promise to save her three wishes for something very special.

Then…six months later…the unthinkable happened. Her father was killed while on assignment to Baghdad. And so, on the day of his funeral, Hannah did something she never thought she’d do.

She took out that teapot and gave it a rub…

I always have mixed feelings when I’m personally contacted by an author who would like me to read/review their book. Part of me is excited and humbled that they’ve reached out to me, but at the same time I’m afraid of the possibility that I won’t like what they’ve written. I hate the thought of hurting anyone’s feelings. After finishing The Ugly Teapot though, I am overjoyed to be able to say that I absolutely loved it. Hannah Bradbury is a character that middle-grade readers can relate to, particularly ones who have experienced the loss of a loved one. She has such a sweet personality, yet she’s also extremely courageous and willing to do anything for her father. Their relationship is the heart of the story and it reminded me of the one I had with my dad, who died when I was 16-years-old. The moments between them are quite touching and more than once I found myself tearing up. While much of the story focuses on Hannah and her father, her mother is not to be forgotten and at the end of the book, Hannah realizes what a close bond they share. While the story is obviously inspired by Aladdin, it expands upon the original tale by bring the lamp into the modern day world. It combines elements of fantasy, adventure, magical realism, and even a little bit of horror, into an exciting and fast-paced story that I finished in one sitting. There’s a plot twist near the end that caught me completely by surprise and added an even more emotional element to this multi-layered story. There were a couple of questions which arose that I didn’t think were fully addressed, but nothing that spoiled my overall enjoyment of the book. In the end, The Ugly Teapot is an exciting middle-grade novel that manages to balance a fun and action-packed story while at the same time, exploring weightier topics including coping with the loss of someone you love. It’s a perfect book for a book-discussion group or a family read. I am very interested in seeing where Fred Holmes takes this series next.

When the Moon Was Ours ~ By Anna-Marie McLemore – 5.0 Stars

Tags

LGBT, Magical Realism, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Dunne for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: October 4th, 2016

288 Pages

Synopsis: To everyone who knows them, best friends Miel and Sam are as strange as they are inseparable. Roses grow out of Miel’s wrist, and rumors say that she spilled out of a water tower when she was five. Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees, and for how little anyone knows about his life before he and his mother moved to town. 

But as odd as everyone considers Miel and Sam, even they stay away from the Bonner girls, four beautiful sisters rumored to be witches. Now they want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin, convinced that their scent can make anyone fall in love. And they’re willing to use every secret Miel has fought to protect to make sure she gives them up.

If you’ve been following me for any length of time you can probably guess why I requested this book on NetGalley. Yep. As soon as I saw the cover my finger hit that little request button! But honestly, can you blame me? It’s absolutely gorgeous, and it also happens to fit the enchanting story inside. When the Moon Was Ours is an unforgettable tale that encompasses magical realism, cultural diversity, gender identity, and romance. The beginning is a little slow, but don’t let that deter you. Everything about this, especially the characters will pull you in. What really got to me were Miel, the girl who grows roses out of her wrist, and Sam, a boy from Pakistan. Their love is so pure and innocent that it literally took my breath away. Reading Anna-Marie McLemore’s writing is like reading poetry. 

People here argued about what the moon smelled like. Some said it was a crisp scent, like pressed linen or new paper. Others said no, it was sweet and alive, like night blossoming jasmine on the first warm night of spring. Others swore it was new and silvery, like just washed spoons, still warm from a sink full of hot water and lemon soap. But to her, it was Sam. The metal and paper of his moons, the rosewater from his mothers kitchen, the sharp trace of paint and turpentine she only ever picked up when she was this close to him.

*Sniff.* Do you see what I mean? The entire book is written in this lyrical prose that draws you that much closer to its characters. While there are plenty of magical elements, the main theme is about accepting and being proud of who you are and not worrying about other people who may judge you for being different. This is the journey that Sam and Miel must take before they find their happiness, and it’s one that many teens and adults will relate to. When the Moon Was Ours is an exceptional novel that I highly recommend to well, all of you! It’s the perfect escape from this cynical world we live in and I guarantee it will reawaken that sense of wonder that seems to be lost all too soon as we grow older.

The Killing Jar ~ Jennifer Bosworth – 3.5 Stars

Tags

Cults, Family Relationships, Magical Realism, Supernatural, YA Fiction

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: January 12th, 2016

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Kenna Marsden has a secret. She’s haunted by a violent tragedy she can’t explain. Kenna’s past has kept people–even her own mother–at a distance for years. Just when she finds a friend who loves her and life begins to improve, she’s plunged into a new nightmare. Her mom and twin sister are attacked, and the dark powers Jenna has struggled to suppress awaken with a vengeance. 

On the heels of the assault, Kenna is exiled to a nearby commune, known as Eclipse, to live with a relative she never knew she had. There, she discovers an extraordinary new way of life as she learns who she really is, and the wonders she’s capable of. For the first time, she starts to feel like she belongs somewhere. That her terrible secret makes her beautiful and strong, not dangerous. But the longer she stays at Eclipse, the more she senses there is something malignant lurking underneath it all. And she begins to suspect that her new family has sinister plans for her…

The Killing Jar is another book whose cover immediately grabbed my attention, and when I read the synopsis I knew I was going to have to try it. While there are definitely some flaws, I still found this to be a mesmerizing read, which kept me up until the wee hours of the morning until I finished it.

I’m going to be honest and say I wasn’t a fan of Kenna’s in the very beginning. Except for her feelings about her twin sister I found her a bit cold. As more of her past is revealed though, I began to understand why she has closed herself off. With Kenna, I think Jennifer Bosworth has created a character that teens can relate to, even without the more supernatural elements that are in this story. She’s smart, secretive, and rebellious. I don’t want to go into the tragedy in her past because of spoilers, but it’s something that Kenna needs to deal with her part in it throughout the book. Her relationship with her mother is strained during the best of times, but I place most of the blame for this on the mother. She has a very close relationship with her twin, Erin, which is touching and explored in great detail. Actually, the passages involving Kenna and Erin were my favorite parts of the book. There’s a bit of a love triangle, but it never really plays a large part in the story.

The problem for me is that except for Kenna and Erin, I feel that none of the other characters were fleshed out enough. Particularly the girls mother and grandmother, both of whom have large roles. I didn’t really know that much more about what actually shaped them into the women they became at the end of the book than I did in the beginning. I found Kenna’s two love interests– Blake, the sweet boy next door, and  Cyrus, a gorgeous Eclipse member–affable, but rather flat, and I wanted to know so much more than was ultimately revealed about the other members of Eclipse. 

What saves this novel is its completely original and extraordinary take on the mythology of vampires, with an intriguing mystery at the heart of everything. The slow simmering pace was perfect for this storyline, and while there were quite a few plot twists, they were small ones that all add up to a satisfying ending.

The Killing Jar is definitely for older YAs due to some sexual content (not graphic) and violent situations. It’s not a novel I’d feel comfortable recommending to anyone under the age of fourteen. Despite my issues with the characters, I really did enjoy this book. While the conclusion wraps things up, you can definitely see there’s room for a sequel. I kind of hope there is one, because I’d be interested in seeing how much further Jennifer Bosworth could take this story and her characters.