The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell


Published: March 7th, 2011
Publisher: Harcourt's Children Books
Series: The Vespertine, Book 1
Rating: YA 13+
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley
Amazon ❘ Goodreads ❘ Website







It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.
When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.


**This Review is based on an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy). The final text may be different!**


I love YA Paranormal Historical Fiction, and this one is no exception. The Vespertine reminds me of The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray, and is just as good. An AMAZING and different story, I must say. It certainly captured me from the first page, it had me enthralled in the story and I read it non-stop.

I'm still agonizing the fact that I hadn't picked it up earlier, closer to the release date. But because of exams, other books due etc. I wasn't able to read the book until recently, around a month and a half after it's release.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?!?!

The writing is so rich...almost what's expected in a classic. I love the "Victorian era" thing (although it's set in the US) but it's just so vibrant and classic that it seems so...British classic worthy. There's something about Saundra Mitchell's writing that captures the readers deep into the plot, through fantasy, romance and dark secrets. It's spine-tingling, I'll tell you that!
All her characters are top-notch (did I really just say that?) and brilliantly described. You can immediately feel close and actually know these characters. Amelia is an awesome character, not too caught up in "airs" and actually is mischievous, but is always there to help a friend. CANNOT ask for a different heroine. Nathaniel...*swoon*...that's all I can say! Deep and Mysterious, that's for sure. I really also love her cousin and her "beau" Zora and Thomas. I really liked Thomas as well, but not as much as Nathaniel! 

The story starts off in the fall of 1889, and then we travel back in a flashback with Amelia to the summer of that year where everything changes. She has these visions and it's quite creepy in the way that they are described. It gets even creepier when things start to change. There was one line which really got me freaked out...I have no idea why, but still:

Today in the Vespers, I am happy now he is dead.

I'm not gonna spoil anything for you...you just have to see what happens in the book!

I really do love how History and the supernatural come together in this book. It really does combine two of the most amazing genres I've read and creates something more. I think it really does give it a richer, fuller purpose. The tone and mood in this book gets deeper and haunting as the book goes on, and everything starts to fall into place. There's also a VERY big twist on things...I think the ending line of the blurb kinda gives that away, but how it all plays out is really surprising!

The Vespertine is a fascinating book, one of a kind. It's hauntingly beautiful yet terrifying as the course of the novel changes from something sweet and mysterious to dark and dangerous. I Loved it so much! Can't wait for the next book, The Sweetspring.


If you like this book, try...






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Friday Finds - Week 12

"Friday Finds" is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. It's to share what amazing new or old books I've discovered this week!


This week I found...




Above by Leah Bobet ([unfortunately no Amazon link] ❘ Goodreads)
The Devouring by Simon Holt (Amazon ❘ Goodreads)
Ripple by Mandy Hubbard (Amazon ❘ Goodreads)






Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens (Amazon ❘ Goodreads)
The Amanda Project: Invisible I by Stella Lennon (Amazon ❘ Goodreads)
Winter's Shadow by M.J. Hearle ([unfortunately no Amazon link] ❘ Goodreads)




That's it for this week's Friday Finds! Aren't the covers stunning?! There's also an Amanda Project Contest being held...check out my post here. What did you find this week? Leave a link/comment!
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Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert


Published: April 1st, 2011
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Series: Memento Nora, Book 1
Rating: YA 13+
Format: ARC
Source: Sent from Publisher
Goodreads ❘ Amazon


Nora, the popular girl and happy consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora’s near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting. Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother’s secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope. She turns to two new friends, each with their own reasons to remember, and together they share their experiences with their classmates through an underground comic. They soon learn, though, they can’t get away with remembering.




**This is a Review based on an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy). The final text may be different!**


This is certainly a different view on dystopian for me. Although it doesn't "seem" so different from our world, there's definitely some major differences such as, of course, the forgetting clinic, then there's the more technological updated stuff, etc. A very different concept, this book was (yes) short and pretty small, but very powerful.
This book is narrated by the three main characters, which is really cool because we get to learn through different perspectives and learn new things through each character. The chapters have very cool little heading things that tell which character was narrating so NO confusion for me! :D


I must say though, because it's quite a short book, you don't really find out so much about each character more than the basic things. Nora is the pretty popular girl, Micah is a skater dude, and Winter...the artsy one. But I do love how their friendship (and love! <3 Nora and Micah) breaks through the walls of "social status" and that they become friends no matter what other people say! There's also the very cool grandpa of Winter's who knows Kung Fu I believe...or is he a ninja?? I can't really recall. It's pretty cool though!


I really found the plot easy to follow, and things twisted and surprised me during the middle. Nice ending too...although I though there would be book 2?? The ending could have ended better than! but I have no idea. But the twists in this story were pretty shocking. I mean, I was surprised at first, but then it all made sense...ooohhh, there's a bit for you mystery lovers!
The writing in this book was short and easy to follow, nothing so complicated that made my head spin. For a short book, it really did fit a lot of action and suspense! I finished this book in around an hour and it really did keep me wanting more, so I COULDN'T put the book down!!


Memento Nora is a small but action-packed book that will keep you hanging onto your seats wanting more. Dystopian Fans, Adventure Fans and just anyone who wants an amazing read should pick up this book! 
NOW.


**Thank You so much to Marshall Cavendish for sending me Memento Nora for review!**




If you like this book, try...



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WWW Wednesdays - Week 11

"WWW Wednesdays" is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Basically, to participate, just answer the 3 questions:


1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you'll read next?




What are you currently reading?


I just started Crystal Bones by C. Aubrey Hall, which is in a new series The Faelin Chronicles. I received this one for review from the publisher, and I'd never heard of it before they sent it to me. Pretty good so far! :D


What did you recently finish reading?


I finished The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell yesterday. It was an eGalley (already published!) and so I rapidly had to finish it...it was really good!! Look out for a review soon :)


What do you think you'll read next?


I need to get started on How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend by Gary Ghislain. This one released today (I believe) and I will need to get onto reading it. It sounds very funny!! :D


That's what I'm reading currently, and what reviews you can expect sometime soon! What are you reading now?? Read any good books lately? Leave a link/comment!
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