Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Book Review | Gatsby-esque Horror Romance

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
(Between #1)
April Genevieve Tucholke
Genres: Paranormal, Horror, Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Publication Date: 3rd April 2014
Number of Pages: 360
Source: Netgalley

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You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back.

Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a modern day Gatsby-esque drama including vintage mansions, wealthy families with the drama and infidelity all mixed together.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is narrated through Violet's perspective, a 17 year-old book-loving, intelligent teenage girl who's quirky and vintage style all stems from her grandmother Freddie. After Freddie's death a couple of years ago, Violet now likes to remember her grandmother by wearing her vintage clothes and imagining she's speaking to her in her head. But since Freddie's death, Violet's family has let their historic mansion turn to ruins and when Violet's parents run off to Europe to divulge themselves in art, Violet and her brother Luke are left to think of ways to earn money. Since they've never worked a day in their lives and their family is major part of small town, Echo's, heritage they post a flyer advising their guesthouse for rent. Cue River, the mysterious handsome 17 year-old stranger, who rides into town and rents Violet's guesthouse. But River is not to be trusted and as Violet starts to become interested in him, she learns that River is a compulsive liar and he's hiding a dark and horrific secret.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea was an addictive read to begin with, I loved the Gatsby-esque similarities and location, and the beginnings of Violet's and River's relationship was intoxicating. Unfortunately though, as the story progressed and River's secrets began unravelling, the story started to become very predictable and began to feel a little rushed. Overall, a gorgeously descriptive and imaginative story but I would have preferred the action and horror aspects of the story to be a little more rounded and un-rushed.

If you're looking for a story with a vintage flair and will-they-won't-they romanic storyline then this is definitely a book to check out!

Soul Cutter by Lexa Cain | Supernatural Horror Mystery Story

Soul Cutter
Lexa Cain
Genres: Supernatural, Horror, Mystery, Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Publication Date: 6th December 2013
Number of Pages: 300
Source: Sent for review from the Author

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The Soul Cutter is hunting again.

Seventeen-year-old Élan spends her free time videoing psychic scams and outing them online. Skepticism makes life safe—all the ghosts Élan encounters are fakes. When her estranged mother disappears from a film shoot in Egypt, Élan puts her medium-busting activities on hold and joins the search.

In Egypt, the superstitious film crew sucks at finding her mom. When a hotel guest is killed, whispers start—the locals think their legendary Soul Cutter has come back from the dead. Élan's only ally is Ramsey, a film-crew intern, but he’s arrogant, stubborn—and hiding dangerous secrets.

When Élan discovers the Soul Cutter is no scam, she finds herself locked in a deadly battle against a supernatural killer with more than her mother’s life at stake.

Élan is fighting for her very soul.

When introduced to Élan, a psychic-disbeliever who has her own online website which uncovers psychic scams artists through video, I was sure this book was going to take on Scooby Doo-esque nature and we’d find out the Soul Cutter culprit at the end wasn't actually supernatural and had been a scammer the whole time. But as the book went on and we were introduced to Ramsey, the story started to take a different turn and I had no clue how it was all going to end.

When Élan, the supernatural disbeliever, and Ramsey, the believer, get thrown together to search for Élan’s mother who has gone missing, it makes for an interesting discussion between the two characters as to what their beliefs are and the reasoning behind them. Although Élan is an unbeliever and has evidence to prove most physic and supernatural things are unreal, she has her own reasons for wishing this and still remains skeptical that the supernatural may be real.

I really enjoyed this story - the writing was quick paced and aspects of the story were very gory. The scare factor of this book for me was mild, I was never creeped out or hiding behind the duvet or a pillow but I didn't mind that because the goriness and unraveling of the story had me absorbed and wanting to know what might be hinted at next. There was certainly a strong hint at what might be in Ramsey’s future near the end which makes me very intrigued.

Overall this was a well-written and exciting mild horror/supernatural/mystery story. I didn't really warm to the main characters Élan or Ramsey but I also didn't hate them either. I enjoyed the Egyptian setting and the cultural and language elements shared within this book. If you’re looking for a mild horror book with supernatural elements then this is right up your street! See if you can guess what the outcome of the story is before the end - I didn't guess correctly :-)

Skulk by Rosie Best | Urban Fantasy YA Book Review

Skulk
Rosie Best
Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Horror
Age Group: Young Adult
Publication Date: 1st October 2013
Number of Pages: 387
Source: Netgalley (Published by Strange Chemistry)

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When Meg witnesses the dying moments of a shapeshifting fox and is given a beautiful and powerful stone, her life changes forever. She is plunged into the dark world of the Skulk, a group of shapeshifting foxes.

As she learns about the other groups of shapeshifters that lurk around London – the Rabble, the Horde, the Cluster and the Conspiracy – she becomes aware of a deadly threat against all the shapeshifters. They must put aside all their enmity and hostility and fight together to defeat it.

London's true essence portrayed and paired with fantasy elements that perfectly match it's urban setting.

Skulk was truly one of those fantastic books that you only come across every so often. It was gripping and gruesome, and kept you guessing as to who the bad and goods guys actually were. The London setting within this book was perfect as it portrayed London's tourist, business and 'upmarket' areas brilliantly as well as showing the other side of London through its gritty back alleys and run-down tube stations. 

The main character, Meg, is also not your typical YA heroine. She's a curvy, food-loving graffiti artist from the luxurious and expensive Kensington in West London. Her mother, a Member of Parliament, would be mortified if she knew her daughter roamed the streets at night painting graffiti art on the side of bridges or run-down buildings but Meg (aka Thatch) has high aspirations of becoming as well known in the underground graffiti scene as her idol, E3. 

As Meg is out one night painting graffiti on her school's wall, she encounters an injured fox carrying a gem-like stone in its mouth, but what shocks Meg more is when the fox turns into a naked man and utters the words 'the fog' as his last words. What fog? What's the significance of this gem-like stone? A fox turns into a man? What the f***? All these questions are answers throughout the book and as more twists and turns are thrown at Meg (and us as the readers), we learn more and more about the shape-shifting world and how Meg fits into it all. 

My favourite aspect of this book is the seamless joining of all the 'normal' London elements with the urban fantasy elements. I mean shape-shifters whose animal shapes are foxes, spiders, ravens, rats and butterflies - these are all such British, especially London, creatures and not the most luxurious ones at that. It this true sense of London mixed with such realistic urban fantasy elements that makes for such great world-building within this book. I mean evil pigeons- perfection - name me one British person who likes pigeons? 

I strongly recommend this book to everyone, whether you're British or not, you will no doubt love this book!

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake | Paramornal Fantasy Romance Book Review

Anna Dressed in Blood
Kendare Blake
Genres: Supernatural, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Horror,
Age Group: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 2011
Number of Pages: 316
Source: Borrowed from my local library

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Cas Lowood, armed with his late father's athame knife, kills ghosts. In Thunder Bay, Anna, forever 16, drips blood on her white dress from throat slit in 1958, and rips apart anyone who enters her house - except Cas. He makes new friends - high school queen Carmel, jock Will, admiring nerd Thomas and Tom's voodoo grandpa Morfran - to fight this demon.

Plot

I really liked the synopsis for this book previous to reading it. It sounded similar to the Supernatural television programme which I adore, so of course it's something that intrigued me. 

Cas Lowood is a ghost hunter and supernatural killer, he is one of only a few with this ability and he is therefore tasked with carrying on his family's tradition after the murder of his father. His mother is a 'white witch' and helps Cas when needed by supplying healing lotions and other aids however she disagrees with his involvement in the family ghost hunting tradition. 

After a tip from a close contact raises curiosity in Cas, he heads up to Thunder Bay, Canada - with his mother and all their possessions in tow - to hunt down the 'Anna' ghost and stop her gruesome murders. However when Cas meets Anna all is not the same as his typical ghost killings and he starts to wonder what about Anna's death was different? 

Overall Impression

I was slightly disappointed in this story as the hype around this book from fellow booktubers was incredible. It was constantly described as chilling and scary but I actually found it bland in terms of it's supernatural content and the 'scary' bits were more gruesome that scary.

The best bits within this story were the aspects involving Anna. All the bits in between these scenes seemed irrelevant or long-winded for what was actually being discussed. The aspects involving Anna however were fantastic and I would have preferred discovering even more about her past and her life as a ghost.

I also didn't quite believe or feel for the romance within this novel which actually seemed secondary to the ghost hunting and father's death storyline.

The ending left me feeling bored. It all neatened up quite nicely and so knowing there is a second book in the series, I don't feel a rush to go out and read it. I would have preferred more of a cliffhanger ending which left me wanting more. I will be reading the second book however just not in a hurry.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness | Book Review

A Monster Calls
Patrick Ness 
Genres: Young Adult, Horror, Fantasy
Publication Date: September 27th 2011
Number of Pages: 215
Source: Borrowed from my local library

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The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming... 

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. 

It wants the truth.

A Monster Calls was a fabulous children's book which discusses saddening issues. With Conor's mother suffering from cancer and receiving ongoing treatment, Conor is understandably worried about his mum and the direction of his life. One night as Conor sleeps, he is awoken by a monster at his window, not the one he sees in his regular nightmare but another menacing creature. This monster has come to help Conor but his help isn't quite the help that Conor was hoping for, the monster instead insists on sharing three stories and in return Conor must share one back which is truthful.

This story tugged at my heart strings, and as the story progresses and Conor's mother's illness worsens I really felt for Conor and the turbulence within his life. The monster character is what made this book for me as the story he tells to Conor really makes you think about right and wrong, as well as other moral dilemmas. These stories are obviously aimed at helping Conor to except his mother's illness and relate to events in Conor's life.

Overall this book was a lovely quick read and the artwork within the book was fantastic at illustrating Patrick Ness' words. As I read the book I could easily imagine reading it to a child and although it is a sober tale, the story is as lighthearted as possible and would make an enjoyable afternoon read to a child, especially as the monster isn't really a 'bad' monster.