Some Quiet Place

Some Quiet Place #1

by Kelsey Sutton

I can’t feel sadness, anger, or fear. I can’t feel anything. I've grown talented at pretending.

Elizabeth Caldwell doesn't feel emotions... she sees them in human form. Longing hovers around the shy, adoring boy at school. Courage materializes beside her dying friend. Fury and Resentment visit her abusive home. They've all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn't succumb to their touch. All, that is, except beautiful Fear, who sometimes torments her and other times plays her compassionate savior. He’s obsessed with finding the answer to one question: What happened to Elizabeth to make her this way?

They both sense that the key to Elizabeth’s condition is somehow connected to the paintings of her dreams, which show visions of death and grief that raise more questions than answers. But as a shadowy menace begins to stalk her, Elizabeth’s very survival depends on discovering the truth about herself. When it matters most, she may not be able to rely on Fear to save her.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Magic, Mystery

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2013

About the author

Kelsey Sutton is the award-winning author of Some Quiet Place, The Lonely Ones, and Smoke and Key. Her work has received a Kirkus Star, an IndieFab Award, an IPPY, and has been translated into multiple languages.

She lives in Minnesota, where she works in the tech industry by day. By night she writes in a cozy apartment overrun by books, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a rotating cast of bird feeders, and her sweet foster-fail dogs never far from her side.

Reviews

[Emily May · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
I'm sorry but so much of what I want to say about this book requires spoilers. All spoilers have been placed in spoiler tags but they are very real ones. Only click if you have read/have no intention of reading this book.

There was a short period near the beginning of Some Quiet Place when I truly believed I might have found another 5-star read. It started out beautifully with some excellent, evocative language that made up for the lack of emotions felt by the protagonist. This main character - Elizabeth - was shockingly well-rounded despite her inability to feel emotions (or perhaps because of it); the problems this causes put Elizabeth in a situation which, to me, was entirely unique amongst other young adult paranormal novels. I thought the concept of emotions appearing as physical beings - either draping themselves over the shoulder of their victim or lurking in the corner or staggering in (whichever was appropriate for that emotion's personality) - was fantastic, original and fascinating. Especially when applied to the subject of domestic violence like this was; there's a particularly well-told, horrifying scene not too far into the book that was very powerful.

However, I think this is one of those cases where the author takes an excellent concept and fails to utilise it's full potential when it comes to the plot/story. As for the fantastic idea to create physical manifestations of emotions that only Elizabeth can see, I believe there is a point about a quarter to a third of the way in where the novelty wears off. Once I got over the use of such a creative technique, my eyes were drawn back to the plot and the love triangle that may impress readers who prefer romance over everything else but left me bored and unsatisfied. When the novelty period ended, for me, this became just another typical paranormal romance story with a couple of questionable love interests (one much more so than the other and the one she picks).

Yes, this has a love triangle. And it has the characteristics that most young adult love triangles do: mysterious bad boy (Fear) vs good guy (Joshua) who the heroine has known forever. Both of which come with their own set of problems but I still think Elizabeth should have picked Joshua and ran a mile in the opposite direction from Fear, whose actions from start to finish made me pretty uncomfortable.

I also didn't like how Sophia was presented as a mindless mean girl. Introduced as such a shallow, evil character who picks on Elizabeth and randomly slams into her in the school corridors. I understand that there is a lot of pettiness that goes on in high school, often between girls, but this was ridiculous and felt unnecessary for the most part. I will give the author credit where it's due and say that she did give a reason as to why Sophia behaved in this way. But I don't think it was enough to make it worth it.

Just to conclude, I would recommend this for readers who have enjoyed many paranormal romance stories in the past. However, I think those who prefer books that go beyond that will find themselves more and more disappointed as the book progresses. But there is definite potential here with Sutton and I still find myself interested enough to check out her future work - hopefully it will be something with less of a romantic focus.

[Simona B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

"It’s the way humanity is; give them what they want, and it turns out it’s not what they wanted after all.

I've said it before and I say it again: I started this book with high expectations. Very high expectations. But, in contrast to what I though, not too high. Which may seem contradictory considering that my rating is 3 stars out of five, and here I have to ask you to believe me: I was somehow able to impose on myself as much objectivity (speaking about literature and books and art in general, that of objectivity is maybe the trickiest idea you could ever stumble on, so never forget to interpret it rather broadly; I should have probably said 'lucidity' instead) as I needed in order to rate and review the book. I know I was, and that I am not speaking out of disappointment. And now here I am.

• The concept of Some Quiet Place is wonderful: the Emotions, incarnate in actual creatures of blood and flesh with human aspect, walk among us. So does the Element: Moss, Wind, Fog, but also Life, Death, Nightmare. And then there is this girls, Elizabeth Caldwell, whom Emotions cannot touch. The whole book is the story of her discovery of herself, of her journey toward the truth.
The problem?
It didn't feel like one.
Some Quiet Place is supposed to be a sort of coming-of-age novel. It is after all concerned with Elizabeth's struggle to find out who she is and where she comes from. But, maybe due to the fact that she's unable to feel Emotions, the reader does not perceive her journey as an effective element of the plot, does not feel involved in it, is not brought to care about it.
Now, I think that in chosing a protagonist with no Emtions the author was aware that this path could bring her to two different outcomes: cause a deeper empahy in the reader, as a opposite reflex, or cause nothing at all. She succeded in the latter.

• The plot development is articulate, complex, and I appreciated its being non-linear, but it should have been handled as not to seem so blundering and disorganized. Not that I had particular difficulties in following it, but it isn't the well-composed picture it should have been to be great.

• The characters, all of them, are kind of shrouded in a sense of mystery and secrecy that adds a lot to their charm, but it's only a superficial impression. They didn't manage to actually touch me. And, if I have to be honest, the discovery of the truth about Elizabeth, at the end of the book, made me despise her a little more instead of helping me warm to her. I know it is maybe a little presumptuous of me to judge her, but for me she acted like a coward, not in trying to hide from Nightmare, but in trying to hide herself from the pain. I'm not saying I wouldn't have chosen the same thing (even though I think I actually wouldn't), and if I did I would call myself a coward as well. It's just not a choice that I can support. Thus, the protagonist is a big no for me.
Fear and Joshua never really spoke to me. And that's all there is to say.
Another character that I really loathed, but this time for the right reasons, because she is really well-rounded, is Sarah, Elizabeth's mother. I get she didn't have the strenght to sustain her family's situation, but you never give up on your children. And the fact that she believed that Elizabeth wasn't her true daughter is not an excuse for me, because she raised her for thirteen year as if she was. I think that's cowardice too.

So, in a nutshell, Some Quiet Place is a book that has many flaws, but it's also a fascinating and peculiar read that you will not forget. Its weaknesses are the development and, to some extent, the characters, while the concept is astounding. If you are interested in it, you should give this book a shot.

[shady boots · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is also available over at my blog.

_______________________

Everything about this book called to me. From its eerily gorgeous cover to its intriguing and original premise, I was hooked, and I dove right in as soon as I got my hands on a galley of it.

Final thoughts? Well . . . this book could have been fantastic. And don't get me wrong, it was. At least, during the beginning parts. I was grinning from ear to ear most of the time because seeing the world Kelsey Sutton built was so fascinating. The whole concept of this book is just so damn cool. Not only are there personified emotions, but also elements, like Light, Rain, Fog, etc. So many were showcased in this book and I was really glad about that, because ultimately that was what I was the most excited to see, and the author gave it to me.

What bogged the book down a little in my opinion was how it dragged. The pace was extremely slow. I got the feeling that the author was going for more of the character-based, emotional route rather than focusing on the fantasy element, but . . . it was kinda hard for me to get into that because our main character is incapable of feeling. Literally. She gives a whole new meaning to the term "wooden plank protagonist". But because she couldn't feel, that also kind of made me disconnected from the side characters as well.

There are some pretty serious issues that are in this book, like the main character's abusive father, and her only friend who is dying of cancer, but due to Elizabeth's inability to emote, I just . . . didn't really care all that much. That probably made me sound like a horrible person, but it's true. >_< I really just wanted to get to discovering more about the fantasy element of the story, and I was aching to find out what exactly made Elizabeth the way she is. But the story just kept dragging and building up for hundreds of pages and I was seriously hoping the payoff would be satisfying.

When the big revelation came, I was . . . a bit underwhelmed. I guess I was just expecting something else, because I saw that twist coming a mile away, and I can't help but feel as if it's done before in YA. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but it definitely felt familiar. There's another reveal not long afterwards that I was kind of impressed with, but when the end came I was still pretty underwhelmed. The ending did leave the small possibility of a sequel, but I think it'd work just fine as a standalone.

As for the romance, I . . . don't really have much to say about it. There was a little bit of the whole "connected" and "meant to be" thing that I almost always loathe in YA, but it wasn't that bad in this one. And there's also a love triangle, sort of, but it's blatantly obvious who the main love interest is, who the main character is going to end up with in the end. Oh, and some of you might be thinking, "How the hell could there be a romance if the main character can't even feel?" Well, I'll let you find that out for yourself.

So all in all, this book really could have been an absolute masterpiece, if only it were executed a little better. But I still applaud the author for coming up with the incredibly original concept.

Many thank you's to NetGalley and Flux for sending me this galley!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth can see emotions as people. That hooked me as soon as I read that line. She lives in an abusive household with a father that physically and verbally abuses her and a mother that verbally told her that she doesn't want her, that she isn't her child. Elizabeth doesn't feel. Anything.

"I guess pretending can be similar to hiding. Hiding doesn't seem like the right word to use, though. I would say that when someone is pretending to be something, or hiding who they are or what they believe, they're really more... Protecting themselves."

Guys you will never understand how much I'm in love with this book. It makes me sit and think about things. I have those wonderful, beautiful moment when I read something put my book down and just feel my heart expanding and a smile growing on my face. I love those moments. This book always causes those moments. :)

"There's no expression, no light, just bones and skin and organs that are fast losing their purpose. How odd, for something to lose its purpose."
"My grip tightens, as if I hold on tight enough she won't drift away in this current, as if I hold on tight enough she won't hurt so much."

Both these parts wreaked me. It's my second favourite part in the whole book when Elizabeth is sharing that sweet story to Maggie. It makes me cry every time.

"Sometimes the things you see aren't very nice, are they?
Fear whips around, his glare burning through me. "I'm nice!" He protests."

Oh my goodness. Fear. I am in love with this character. I've got only one book boyfriend and it's him. It's sad that there's isn't a well known fandom for this book so I'm all alone. It's horrible. But I love him. He's hilarious and lovable as soon as you meet him. <3

"Her story isn't finished, and for once she's picked up a pen."

I feel for Elizabeth's mom. I really do. She has her own pain and though it's not right to tell our child that she isn't yours and emotionally wreaks them (even if the child doesn't feel emotion) isn't right. She's living in an abusive relationship and she just wants to be free. She has passions and hobbies that she doesn't get to enjoy anymore. She has a life to live but she can't due to the horrible husband that's holding her back. When she finally makes her decision to fly I was routing her on.

"I just wanted to go to... Some quiet place. To forget. To be someone else."

I think we can all relate to this one. We want to just go to our special place where we can be ourself. Where we can be free. Our quiet place.

"As a wise human girl once told me, you fear what you don't understand.
Humanity is a choice, power or no power."
"If we don't take any risks, then we won't find the things worth living for."

I love this book with all I've got. I'll be re reading this again at some point this year. I wanted this book to be the first one I read and finished for my 2017 reading challenge. It's my all time favourite and I hope you guys take the time to read it. It's amazing.

100/100 stars.
But sadly it only goes up to 5 starts so
5/5 stars. ;) <3

[Kira Simion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes! I finally got the book today! :D

Edit:

Okay, I have given this book 4 stars but it should really be 4.5. The only reason I'm not giving it five is because the love triangle didn't seem to help anything (I know that ending but still!) and I kind of wanted Elizabeth to end up with the secondary character and maybe Rebecca to end up with Fear, the other partial main character.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads

Thank you Flux for sending me this copy. No compensation was given or taken to alter this review.

'People are so complex. They want to hear the truth, but they want you to lie to them.'

This month hasn't been a happy month for me. Some Quiet Place is just another addition to the 'meh' pile. While the cover and synopsis scream with brilliance, in the collection on my thoughts, this book could only be summarised as insipid and inconsistent. Here's just a few teasers: love triangle, cliché school crap and poor execution.

Elizabeth Caldwell is dead to the world. Or she may as well be. Ever since a tragic car accident, Elizabeth has changed greatly- she doesn't feel or show any genuine emotions. Not because of the trauma or shock though, it's actually due to something more paranormal and mind boggling. Something, no one is sure about yet, even now. Attempting to juggle along with her best friend's cancer, Sophia- mean girl at school- glares and mocks, and tight tension at home, Elizabeth commences to unravel the truth behind her change or personality and character.

Nothing about Elizabeth struck me as outstandingly remarkable. Yes, her disability to not sense or react with emotions was fascinating. Intriguing and eye-catching for a short span of time. Yet soon, this was lost in the sea of boring words. Thankfully enough, I could take time to appreciate Kesley Sutton's effort in building unique and touching family relationships. All held different types of moods and were highly complex in the sense that they all contained a second meaning within. There's Elizabeth and her mother, the connection is wary and even foreign, yet bittersweet all the same. Elizabeth's father stood a more viscous and broken connection. It was compact of fire and guilt. And lastly, Elizabeth and her brother. It's short lived, light but swaying.

What I feared most appeared in Some Quiet Place. It always does. The love triangle. No matter how much I try to rub it out with an eraser, it's still there glaring back at me. I want to erase it because it's a mistake. That is the point of the love triangle here? Our two love interests, Fear and Joshua, are rather trite in the sense that their ego is the same as every other YA paranormal novel. I wasn't awfully invested in either relationship but Fear was much preferable for me. He was clear minded and filled with emotion- a great contrast to our MC.

The writing was what kept me driving though Some Quiet Place. It was beautiful and picturesque in descriptions that just seemed to flow out effortlessly. Kelsey Sutton's words created an ideal setting and powerful mood. In contrast, the weakest link was the stereotypes being thrown about here. The major one was 'mean girls'. I don't get why every main character needs to have a girl bitching about them. It's irrelevant and shifts us readers away from the main plot.

An atmospheric novel intertwined with great writing skills for the most part. Yet many small points lead me to dislike and bore over this novel. Like many others have said, this is much like Another Little Piece. So if that was your cup of tea, this could be your next book to highly anticipate.

[Krissysch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Der Erzählstil dieses Buches ist ziemlich ungewöhnlich und ich musste mich tatsächlich etwas daran gewöhnen und hineinkommen. Ein bisschen hat er mich an Siren vin Kiera Cass erinnert, da auch dort sehr langsam mit diesem leicht melancholischen Unterton erzählt wird. Die Story an sich war gut und die Liebesgeschichte nicht typisch wie zumeist in anderen Jugendbüchern, aber obwohl mir das Buch gefallen hat war es doch eher was nettes für Zwischendurch ohne den grossem Wow-Effekt.

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Caldwell doesn't feel emotions... she sees them in human form. Longing hovers around the shy, adoring boy at school. Courage materializes beside her dying friend. Fury and Resentment visit her abusive home. They've all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn't succumb to their touch. All, that is, except beautiful Fear, who sometimes torments her and other times plays her compassionate savior. He’s obsessed with finding the answer to one question: What happened to Elizabeth to make her this way? As a shadowy menace begins to stalk her, Elizabeth’s very survival depends on discovering the truth about herself.


The short review...

I've read one other Kelsey Sutton book and I have to say I'm a fan! She's the queen of standalones (yes, I know I've only read one other of her books, but I still feel this way...) as I never feel like I missed out on anything in her stories. We get a complete standalone novel and its very satisfying. I find her balance between mystery and romance is spot on. There is a glut of paranormal YA books and yet if they were all as good as Some Quiet Place they would be selling like hotcakes.

Why did I enjoy it so much?! Well, this is a fascinating concept... Emotions personified in human form that must do their duty to help people feel. It's explored well and explained in a reasonable manner. And I quite fell for Fear, the emotion that is concerned with Elizabeth's condition. Sutton quite ably wove the threads of the world into Elizabeth's lack of emotion and then gave us an explanation that totally wows you. What I'm saying in a nutshell is that Sutton showed us this world, set us on a mystery in that world and then wrapped it up in a stellar way.

It's truly one of the best books I've read this year and its only January!


Cover & Title grade -> A+

Part of what I love so much about this book cover is that the art isn't literal. Elizabeth doesn't come apart like that at any moment in the book... at least not literally! The creepy atmosphere and the feeling of a wide open farmland is perfect to describe the setting and the vibe of the story. I love it so much... if you love the cover then you'll probably love the book as much as I did!


What makes Some Quiet Place stand out from other Paranormal YA?

-The otherworldly atmosphere!
Sooo creepy and surreal feeling. There is this pallor over the entire story that you feel so realistically. It comes out in the back history, in the present history and the ending. You wouldn't think its a feeling you'd want to linger in but its not depressing like you'd think.

-The believable problem!
Elizabeth can't feel. Yet we as humans are motivated by feelings, and she's motivated... to a point. And this is where Sutton conjures up magic... the way she shows Elizabeth's problems at home, at school. As we join her in exploring the mystery of her condition we come to agree with Fear... something is wrong.

-The shadowy villain!
We are so caught up in Elizabeth that we forget this part of the premise... but right at the right moment we start to get glimpses and we understand that our protagonist is running out of time. This person is tied tightly to everything and it plays to the world, the emotions and to Elizabeth's nightmares!


As a Writer...

Love triangles are quite offensive to some readers. I admit I've read some books with true love triangles and they make me roll my eyes and demand that the character just PICK already and stop being so self-centered!

But there are other relationships that some readers may call a love triangle but that I see differently. Instead of there being two characters the protagonist is falling for, they are in a relationship with a boy the protagonist likes as to kiss and a relationship with a boy the protagonist likes as a person. Sure there are similar feelings involved toward both but its not the same.

Look at it this way... if the protagonist is heterosexual and has the same liking as a person relationship with a girl there is no love triangle. It should be the same way with the opposite sex. I think readers love to anticipate the protagonist getting to choose. And actually it adds a touch of tension to moments that otherwise may be flat. But in the end the foreshadowing all points to her choice in the end. I don't find this an offensive "love triangle" at all!

Some Quiet Place is an excellent paranormal YA with mystery and romance in equal measure. We explore a world where emotions are personified in human form and it takes us to heights and depths we didn't know could be in such a down to earth story. If you like a tad of creepy and a ton of surreal realism then this book will wow you!


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ World Building

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Please like this review if you enjoyed it! *bow* *bow* It helps me out a ton!!

[Katrina♡•• · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. At first it was a bit dragging but then I started to understand Elizabeth, protagonist, more.:

Elizabeth

Short synopsis
When Liz was 4 she got in an accident and then on does not have any feelings. No love, anger etc. She can see and touch the emotions and they look like people but no one else can see them. Fear has an interest in her, BTW he is an emotion. He wants to find out what happened, make her feel again.


Fear
So she has weird dreams and they try to put pieces together. Another guy is Joshua.... You will see how he fits in. The book got more interesting towards the middle. It is something I will always remember, a fresh breath of air. Applause to author! The emotions and elements are really interesting. BTW a villain is also trying to kill the protagonist.

[Stefanie! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of reading an earlier draft of this book back when I first met Kelsey, and I was completely blown away then. Such a unique, clever concept! Such gorgeous, thought-provoking writing! And also, FEAR. Yes. Fear. I have only one thing to say to him:



Recently, Kelsey and I caught back up and she sent me the final draft version, which I happily dove into, and just...wow.

It's very rare (for me, at least) to find a book where everything --the writing, the plotting, the characters-- captures my attention and imagination. Kelsey Sutton has that rare ability to write beautiful, envy-inducing prose while at the same time keeping the story moving and the plot twists twisting and the romance swoon-worthy and the characters intriguing and just...gah.

Bottom line? You NEED this book. Trust me. You'll thank me later.

[Dear Faye · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my review in any way.

Once again, a book that is stamped with such a lovely, eye-catching cover, but with a storyline and heroine so bland and dull that it hurts. Honestly, I expected a lot because that pretty dress made of flowers and sepia tint just screamed "UNIQUE" in bold, capitalized letters. And it's true, it is unique. The premise was definitely interesting. I mean, dude, how often do you see a story that portrays personified emotions - with their own feelings, faces, and personalities - in fiction? Not much, I bet.

But I think we're all too familiar with books with great premises but subpar delivery and execution. Some Quiet Place is one of them, truth be told. What could have been a great read was dampened nearly halfway through. As the other 2 stars reviews of this book have said, the story started excellently - beautiful, almost musical narration, a practical realistic protagonist void of any emotions, and side characters that I felt were unique and dynamic. It had a great start, but after some "twists" were introduced almost halfway, I found myself getting tired and exhausted that I stopped reading this book and put it aside for a few months.

Main Character eventually becomes too bland and empty for my taste. And she's already emotionless to begin with, so that's like adding insult to injury. I didn't feel for her at all, and there were times I wished she'd just disappear from the face of the earth (I know, how mean of me...). Despite the vivid and expressive details and whatnot, it was hard for me to take her seriously. She became extremely annoying, too - from practical and realistic to just downright infuriating. Like, I know you have no emotions whatsoever, but girl, seriously. If you're being slapped around and beaten up by your dad, you fricking defend yourself, call the cops, or ask for help! You don't just limp there and do nothin'. T_T Thanks to the heroine being so useless and dull, it kinda quenched the reading experience, and I only felt exhausted whenever I tried picking it up again. Sorry :(

The twists and turn of events which linked the MC to this strange, mysterious, dead boy just made things confusing. Another one of the factors that contributed to the headache this book has given me. As previously stated, it started excellently, but as I read further, the escalation of events and the revelations just made me scratch my head and wonder, "What the flying fuck is going on here?? I thought I missed some things and would go back, and then become even more confused. Also, the dream scenes felt pretty lame and dragged out, and I just couldn't appreciate them overall. When I got to the end, I only felt relief from the fact I was finally free of this book.

Don't get me wrong, friends. This isn't a bad book, but it just didn't work out for me. In the end, I couldn't appreciate it and eventually disliked it. A lot of my points were subjective, so if you wanted to try this book out, by all means go ahead. A lot of people did, but it's just not my cuppa tea. I will still read the author's future books, though. She does have a musical prose :)

Read this and other giveaways at The Social Potato!

[starryeyedjen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact that Kelsey Sutton was eighteen when she wrote Some Quiet Place notwithstanding, this is a phenomenal debut.  It would be a uniquely captivating story regardless, but when you take into account the author's youth, it makes it even more so.  The mystery of Elizabeth's existence was compelling and her isolation from the feeling world was complete.  And yet I wanted to know the why and how, unravel the enigma that was Elizabeth in her emotionless state.

Some readers will find it difficult to connect with such an uncaring and unfeeling character as Elizabeth Caldwell.  But that's if the reader chooses to view Elizabeth as she portrays herself.  The deeper you delve into Elizabeth's life, her world, the easier it is to see that she is unable to emote like the rest of us.  She feels twinges and twitches that alert her to the fact that she should feel something...the emotions just can't break through the barrier that's been erected around her.  Emotions can't touch her -- not the Emotions personified, nor the sensations they radiate.

But Fear is enraptured with her very existence.  His touch alone should leave her enveloped in terror, yet she feels nothing.  He tests her again and again, sure that her hard exterior will have to crack one day.  While everyone else, those in her human life and those in the other plane (the other Emotions and Elements) have all but given up on her, Fear becomes more and more intrigued by Elizabeth.  Oddly enough, this obsession didn't squick me out.  Maybe because I'd already figured out what role Fear was to play or maybe because he was the only one who seemed to care about Elizabeth anymore, but whatever the reason, I was hopeful that his presence would do just as he intended.

Just as I was shipping a Fear/Elizabeth romance, though, Joshua entered the picture.  And I thought to myself, This could be the kid that breaks through the wall.  I know, I know...a love triangle?  How is that even possible when the girl feels NOTHING?  It wasn't...not really.  And I think I'll leave it at that...except to say that this romantic triangle won't leave you with a bad taste in your mouth.  Because it's almost nonexistent.  But there are feelings that need to be resolved...and they are.  And now I've said more than I meant to.  *sigh*

Anyway, the Emotions and Elements themselves were a nice addition to the cast of characters.  To see each one embodied, to see the sway they held over humans...it was atmospheric and intense.  And kind of creepy.  The setting only added to that, with all the corn fields, the shadowy barns, and creaky screen doors.  Not to mention that Emotions like to appear out of nowhere.  Not that that really bothers Elizabeth.

I'd already guessed the big reveal halfway through the book but not to the detriment of my reading experience.  In fact, knowing what likely happened to Elizabeth made concentrating on the how that much more intriguing.  Usually, I mind coming to revelations pages or chapters before the characters do, but in this case, it made complete sense that it took Elizabeth so long to get there.  It did make for some slow pacing at times, but the beautiful imagery and the shock and awe of it all kept me engrossed in the story.  I should mention that the story does touch upon some rather tough subject matter, and yes, maybe it should have been examined further, but as it wasn't the primary focus of the story, I am going to refrain from judging it too harshly. Since the rest of the story was so compelling, I'm willing to overlook it this time.

I really love how this story came together.  I loved the beings from the other plane.  I even loved the tragedy of the fact that Elizabeth couldn't experience sorrow or hope or fear -- even when she knew she should feel them -- and how she was portrayed in those moments.  I think I kind of even love Fear.  I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to read this story, and I was even more excited to learn that the author is slated to write another story set in this world, scheduled for release next year.  I hope the cover is just as gorgeous as this one!

Thanks to Flux and Netgalley for providing a copy for review.

This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ESTRELLAS QUE SE LLEVA EN ESTA RELECTURA, SÍ SEÑOR.

Primera frase:

"Fear is coming."

Reseña:

Como muchos sabréis, Some Quiet Place es mi mejor lectura de este 2013: con un planteamiento original a rabiar, una pluma poética y unas escenas increíbles, superó con ventaja a todas las demás. Lo leí en primavera pero no pude reseñarlo, así que aproveché la Christmathon para releerlo... y lo he encontrado aún más perfecto si cabe. Así que preparaos para leer una de las reseñas que más me ha costado escribir.

Elizabeth Caldwell ha crecido extrañamente conectada con el otro plano: tiene la capacidad de ver las distintas emociones y elementos en su forma humana y los efectos que causa su toque en los demás... pero no a ella. Por mucho que lo intente, es incapaz de sentir tristeza, rabia o anhelo, ni siquiera sucumbe a los constantes intentos de Miedo (Fear) de saborear su terror. Al mismo tiempo, extrañas pesadillas azotan los sueños de Elizabeth, ¿Estarán conectadas con la extraña barrera que le impide sentir nada?

¿Por dónde empezar? El planteamiento de este libro es impresionante, nunca había leído nada igual y Kelsey Sutton lo plasma con una elegancia y un estilo evocador, de tal forma que el lector puede imaginarse perfectamente cada una de las emociones, no sólo físicamente si no también sus distintas personalidades. Sin olvidar a Fear, uno de mis mayores amores literarios, misterioso, cruel, dulce, intenso... Y sí, hay una especie de triángulo amoroso, pero no del todo, ¿Cómo puede haber un romance de tres partes cuando una de ellas es incapaz de sentir nada? Y Joshua es la persona más adorable y tierna del mundo *llora* ESTE LIBRO ES PERFECTO, ¿VALE?

Ya he mencionado antes lo mucho que me ha cautivado el estilo de la autora, pero siento la necesidad de repetirlo: nos encontramos con una pluma intrincada, clásica y detallista, llena de imágenes preciosas y con unas escenas tan intensas y un clima tan sofocante que oprimirán el corazón del lector hasta romperlo en pedacitos, sobre todo cuando describe las escenas de todos los personajes miserables que llenan la novela y las emociones más oscuras del ser humano. Es sorprendente como, siendo esta su novela debut y contando con una edad tan joven, el estilo de Sutton destaque por encima de muchos autores de renombre. Incluso aunque Some Quiet Place no contiene muchísima acción, la autora mantiene enganchado al lector, detalle del que no muchos escritores pueden vanagloriarse.

En la primera lectura, comenté que el único elemento que no me había convencido de la novela había sido el final y ahora, tras la relectura, lo retiro. No sé si ha sido mi amor infinito por el libro o bien que tras leerlo por segunda vez he podido pensar con mayor profundidad en el mismo, pero la verdad es que me ha impresionado lo bien hilado que ha resultado y la perfección de las últimas escenas.

Si con todo esto aún no estáis convencidos de leer esta increíble novela, resaltar que es un libro auto-conclusivo y que el nivel de inglés es bastante asequible con la excepción de algunas palabras. De verdad espero que alguna editorial española le de una oportunidad porque lo vale. Si queréis sumergiros en una novela única, con unos personajes muy desarrollados, un misterio constante y un estilo incomparable, Some Quiet Place os cautivará.

[Karina Halle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this strange little book. I had a lot more to say about it back when I read it last year, actually quite a bit more. Alas, I never wrote it down and my scatterbrain can't recall anything, so I'll just have to do a quickie. Quickies are great if they get the job done.

Some Quiet Place was unique and at times challenging. I enjoyed the relationships between the MC and the character of Fear (though I kept picturing Spike from Buffy), the complexity of her family life, and her most interesting affliction - the fact that she doesn't feel emotion.

At times it bordered on paranormal romance, others it felt like a coming-of-age, maybe all these elements together made it stand out from the pack. The mystery surrounding her past, however, was the main draw to me flipping through the pages, though the romance with Fear was a nice - if not primary - plot.

I mean, damn, when a guy whose job it is is to terrorize the world falls in love, there's nothing so...challenging as that.

It was also well-written and compelling, a huge plus for me. It wasn't perfect - there were a few confusing timelines and moments and maybe a plot hole or two - but not so distracting that I couldn't recommend this to a YA reader who wants a bit of mystery and a change from the cookie cutter set-ups.

[Lala_Loopsie [fire breathing B!tch Queen] · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this.

May contain mild important spoilers. And they're not hidden.

When I saw that she didn't feel emotions, I imagined some strange psychological disorder, or maybe that since she had suffered so much trauma that she just shut off from emotions and the rest of the world, not some inhuman shit.

The author just went crazy with that. But that's OK. I'm down for crazy, anytime.

Anyway, everything was cool and dandy, when it just started taking epic turns, and I was left confused. Like what the hell is going on confused.

But everything was solved in the end.
And it wasn't a perfect ending, but it served it purpose.

GVoT. (General View on Things)

It's an interesting read. Worthwhile.

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

First book in the Some Quiet Place series

3.5 stars

Elizabeth Caldwell has always known she was different, but it isn’t easy for to hide. She doesn’t feel emotions, but she can see them. All of the emotions surround her classmates and family. All the emotions have given up on her because she doesn’t succumb to their touch, except for Fear. He wants to figure out who Elizabeth really is and why she can’t feel anything. Something is stalking Elizabeth, but how can she understand what is going on if she can’t remember who she is and how she got to such emptiness? I’ve been meaning to review forever, but vacation got in the way, so apologies to the publishers and how I’m so terrible at this. I apologize. On to the review, I’m not really sure if I like Some Quiet Place. I loved it at first thought it was going to be a five star book, but the middle just halted and it all went downhill for me. I would like to give the reason as to why this book just stopped working for me, but it’s a huge spoiler. That means if there’s a spoiler tag, it’s best not to read it at all if you are interested in this book.

Whimsical Writing Scale: 3.5

The main female character is Elizabeth. I actually like Elizabeth, but she can be so much of a Debbie Downer. It made me like her less and less the more she would deny how she couldn’t feel, which I thought was ironic since she isn’t supposed to feel anything, but she can obviously deny stuff. This book is really just one big contradiction of itself. It works at the end, but not the beginning. You can’t have a character who is not supposed to feel things, but can deny things. According to Ms. Sutton, Denial is an emotion. This annoyed me to no end. I would occasionally skim a review before starting this book and I saw that a lot of reviews mentioned this. At least I think I saw this. (I’m not sure since I’ve been having dreams about books and reviewing and Goodreads, so I don’t know if it happened or not. I think I saw this though.) Anyway this is really the one thing that bothers me about Elizabeth. I also really wanted to slap her at the last 80% of the book, but she got better at like 98%.

Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 3.5

The main male characters are Fear and Josh (or Joshua). I love Fear. He is amazing and it is as simple as that. I don’t need reasons to love him because my love isn’t an obsession like some of my fictional character lovers loves. I just really enjoyed him as a character and he was one of my favorites in the novel. Then we have Joshua, who I wish was a nonexistent entity in the novel. He had absolutely no point and I want him gone. I will scream if I see him in the upcoming books and I know I will. I really dislike unnecessary love triangles and Joshua just needs to go away and let Fear be happy with Elizabeth or Rebecca.

Swoon Worthy Scale: Fear-4.5 Josh-2.5

The Villain- I shouldn’t seen this plot development coming. It has been done quite a bit. There is always a rogue something or other from a race of people not humans. It gets tiring sometimes. Plus this guy is literally your worst nightmare and I felt like he was a mediocre YA villain. It would’ve been more interesting if we got to see something, I don’t know more sadistic, but this is YA. So for a YA villain he was a good one.

Villain Scale: 4

I have to address this one character that I absolutely love, but hate how she was just another tool in this book.Maggie’s death tore my heart out and it was one of the cruelest character deaths I’ve encountered. Why had this been done? It proved nothing other than just more stuff for Elizabeth to deal with this and I hated how it was used like that. This is where I totally lost most interest in the book because it felt forced upon the reader I also liked Elizabeth’s “brother”. I also wanted to see more of Morgan who held a lot of promise as being an actual character, but I must admit that ending with her made me tearing up a bit with happiness. I also don’t like how Sophia just didn’t like Elizabeth when they were once besties. Once again another mean girl meant to terrorize the heroine. At the same time, I actually enjoyed how she was an actual mean person and not just someone who would just say cruel names, but went out of their way to cause physical humiliation.

Character Scale: 4

I really enjoyed Some Quiet Place, but I wish some things would’ve been done differently. I will be continuing the series though. I really like where it is going, but I wonder if it’ll be enough for an actual plot.

Plotastic Scale: 4

Cover Thoughts: It’s absolutely gorgeous. One of my favorite covers of the year.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Flux for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Also I'm sorry it was passed the "deadline".

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some Quiet Place is definitely an intriguing novel. The summary felt very original and exciting to me, so of course I was eager to pick it up. I have mixed feelings about the cover - yes, it's beautiful and it does portray the mood of the story well, but . . . it's creepy. I think I would like it a lot more if the model had arms. I remember picking this up a long time ago in the bookstore and reading the first chapter, thinking it was good, and then putting it on hold at the library. It took me a little longer to finally read than I normally would have, but I have this thing where I put off starting a novel if I've already read the beginning, because it's annoying to have to go over the same thing again even though it's necessary because I don't quite remember the exact details, and I wouldn't want to miss something important.

I was a tiny bit skeptical at first about the protagonist lacking the capacity to experience any type of emotion I mean, how could you possibly live life like that? It would be so bleak, boring and terribly uninteresting. Feeling things - the good and the bad - are part of what makes us human. Sure, we have to endure things like guilt, regret and fear. Be we also get happiness, love and humor - things that make life worth living more. I wasn't sure how the author would go about writing a character like that, and even if she did, how on earth was I supposed to form any kind of connection with Elizabeth when she felt nothing? For the most part, I thought Sutton did a great job in making her exactly what the summary promised she would be - instead of feeling, she was extremely logical about everything. She said and did things that she knew other people would expect of her, like go to school and interact with other people, but nothing bothered her. This was particularly difficult to swallow especially when Elizabeth's friend, Maggie, is in the hospital about to die because of cancer. Elizabeth goes to see her, yet she's fairly indifferent towards the whole situation. So I was partially right in thinking she would be very difficult to like. It's not too hard to shift your attention away from the detachment of the narrator, though, mostly because the writing is so lovely. The descriptions and characters were all beautiful - it was definitely one of those novels that had me wishing I could write in such a fashion.

Once I got used to Elizabeth, I did start to care about her somewhere towards the end of the novel somehow. Watching her internal struggles was engrossing - she's constantly haunted by a dream that concerns a girl holding a dying boy in the forest. She has no idea how these people relate to her or why she keeps seeing them. She knows that it somehow ties into the car accident that happened when she was four years old and miraculously survived, but she has no idea how. I loved how everything was answered in the end - if there's one thing that really annoys me, it's a mystery novel that leaves a bunch of questions dangling. It's fun to guess who the villain of story is, and the concept was great overall. Elizabeth sees emotions just like people; they all look a certain way, and they're named for their feeling - Courage, Denial, Joy and a bunch of others make many appearances, simply touching the human that's experiencing them and then fading away.

Of course, the one Emotion that continuously pops up in Some Quiet Place is Fear. For some reason, he's completely obsessed with finding out why Elizabeth is the way she is. He was a shady guy from the start and I was never completely sure what his motives were; but I love characters that keep me on my toes. You wouldn't think that Fear would be the best love interest for the main character - I mean, who wants to be frightened all the time? Somehow, though, it works. I ended up really liking him by the end of the book. There's a bit of a love triangle with Elizabeth, Fear and a human boy named Joshua. As usual, I was a bit annoyed by this. But since there was no real feeling going on for either of them for quite some time, the drama that usually exists in that type of situation was absent, so really there was nothing to be upset about. Thankfully, it's settled by the time the book ends. For the most part, I was pleased with the resolution, though I wished Elizabeth gave given the loser of the triangle a more graceful goodbye like he deserved. It's hard not to feel bad for him because he was really only a pawn when you look at the big picture. Some Quiet Place could have easily been a standalone, but there's a sequel coming out next year. I'm curious about what else in this story needs to be said, so I'll be reading it then.

4 stars

[Booknut 101 · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The little girl I see in the pictures doesn't really look like me. The physical details are the same, of course. The wild blond hair, the blue eyes, the smooth, sun-darkened skin. But if someone else hadn't said that the little girl was me, I wouldn't have known. It's not that I don't remember being so young...I just don't know how I became what I am now.

There's something missing in the girl I see in the mirror compared to the one in those pictures: a sort of soul. A light inside.'

She can't weep, lust, cower in terror, or even celebrate. All she can do is pretend.

The only sensation Elizabeth Caldwell is able to feel is nothingness. An ever-present nothingness that consumes her, eating away at her.

She learns to observe, to give people the reaction they expect and to pretend that she isn't the freak who can't feel...who has never experienced love, anger, denial or fear.

But though Elizabeth has never experienced any of these emotions she knows they exist all too well. She can see them...in the flesh.

They stand right behind you. They stand nose-to-nose with you. You can't tell...but she can.

Shame, Longing, Jealousy, Courage, Anger - they wander the halls of Elizabeth's school, stand around her dinner table, walk along side pedestrians and hang out at high school parties. But they never bother Elizabeth, having given up on trying to get through Elizabeth's numbness a long time ago. Instead, they target those around her: her dysfunctional and resentful family, nasty classmates, the shy Joshua Hayes.

But one refuses to give up. One refuses to be defeated.

Shaking in your boots? Shivers down your spine? Fear must be close.

Fear has always been fascinated with Elizabeth, ever since she was a child. A tantalising mystery, she is the one human who is immune to his touch, unaffected by his powers and the aura of terror he wears as a second cloak. No matter the number of trials, tests and illusions he throws at her, not once does she cave. Not once does she feel.

Intrigued, and a little irritated, Fear vows to get to the bottom of it - he will discover her secret, and when he does she better prepare herself for the fright of a lifetime.

Is it a sweet dream...or a beautiful nightmare?

Darkened woods. Screams. Terror. Sorrow. A girl clutching the lifeless body of the boy she loves.

The dream refuses to change, no matter how many nights it plagues Elizabeth - it refuses to give up its secrets. But as the draw to it becomes greater, Elizabeth can't help but sense that it is more than a figment of her imagination. That this dream may hold the key to her past, to her condition and to the menacing shadow that seems to be lurking over her shoulder, dogging her steps.

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing
and rightdoing there is a field.
I'll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass
the world is too full to talk about.”*

A tale that explores what it is that truly makes us human, Some Quiet Place is a hauntingly beautiful book that will rattle you, tear you apart and then lovingly put you back together again.

A big thank you to Netgalley and Flux Publishing for giving me the chance to read and review this :)

*quote by Rumi


For this review and more see my blog here: http://21stcenturyonceuponatime.blogs...

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some Quiet Place surprised me. Here was a book I had never heard of from an author who I had never heard of and I was completely satisfied.

Elizabeth Caldwell isn't quite normal. She can't feel emotions. Every action or encounter she has with other people, she fakes. She is acting every moment of her life, except for those moments where she is completely by herself. Her unfeeling nature doesn't go ignored by others. Everyone knows there's something wrong with this girl, but they just can't seem to figure out what.

But even though she can't feel emotions, she can see them. Actually see the bodies of the emotions as they are summoned to the humans. Aside from seeing the emotions, she can also see the elements. And they can see her. Most ignore her - she's just the girl who can't feel - but some communicate with her and one just wants to figure out what's wrong with her.

Enter Fear (my favorite character). Fear comes to Elizabeth almost every day and overloads her with gruesome images and terrifying emotions just to try to get a reaction out of her. But nothing works. He's intrigued by her mystery and also drawn to something inside Elizabeth that he can't figure out. But whatever happens, he's always there.

Then there's Joshua, one of her classmates, who also realizes that Elizabeth is different, he just doesn't care. The author describes Josh as "...a paradox; he's simple yet complex, direct yet thoughtful, eager yet patient." And that couldn't be more right. No matter how many times Elizabeth tries to push him away, he comes back. And it's with Josh that the feelings inside of her start to stir.

This book worked for me on many levels. First, there was world building. Yes, it was set in modern life, but there was this alternate plane of existence that we, as humans, just aren't aware of. Here is where the elements and emotions live and work. Each individual description of the emotions was so precise and visual, it was as if you tried to take what made an emotion and give it a physical description.

Then there were the characters. I'm not going to lie, it was hard to relate to Elizabeth, but come on, the girl had no feelings. If she doesn't care about something, how are we, the readers, supposed to care? Who I was drawn to were the boys: Fear and Josh. Josh was intrigue and easy. He was the one who made Elizabeth start to feel. Did she use him? Yes, I believe that she did and for that, I was extremely sad. Josh really cared for.

But ultimately it was Fear who won this book over. Here was an emotion that we are all on a first name basis. Everyone feels fear. Sometimes fear is exhilarating, other times fear is so overwhelming and terrifying that you can't move or breathe. Fear was all of these...but he was also safety. And bravo to the author for taking fear and making it safe.

Excellent debut.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley for my honest opinion and review.

This review can also be seen here at my blog.

[Marguerite (M) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating : 3.75 stars ?
I'm going with a 4 stars rating thinking it's too much. But giving it only 3 stars would not be fair because it deserves more and I really liked it.


Elizabeth can't feel emotions. But she can see them, they look like you and me. Courage, Joy, Anger, Fear, ... They wander from human to another, never stopping for her.
Elizabeth can't feel anything but an emptiness that eats her alive.

Personified emotions ? I have to say, it sounds awesome. And it is ! Add to this a beautiful writing and a strangely likeable main character and you have a wonderful book.
But unfortunately, after a great start it kind of fell short.

I really liked it. I was drawn into the story, I found it beautiful and tragic, original and it had me feel and think lots of things. I couldn't help to get attached to Elizabeth because despite being a nothing, like she would say, she had a certain gentleness and was always caring in her weird sort of way.

It could have been a 4+ stars rating.

But around the middle, when the plot grew more complex, I didn't enjoy it as much. I was so dettached it was disturbing, I was enjoying the read and the words but not the bigger picture. I didn't find the plot sponteneous. Like the author had found a great idea and didn't know what to make of it.
And that was disappointing.

And then, there is the love triangle. Is it really a love triangle ? No, I don't think so. Remember, Elizabeth cannot feel.
The love plot was wrong. The love plot was useless. Joshua and the love were important but they didn't feel like it to me. It was not developped, it didn't have any sparks, it was boring.
I know, I know, I'm not being objective here. I don't like love triangle. I don't hate it, but they're generally poorly executed and they make me want to kill myself.
I didn't disliked Joshua, I just barely aknowledged his presence. I liked Fear a lot, but not in a romancic interest. It felt wrong. False. Pretend.

Saying that, I feel my 3+ stars rating is probably too much. But even if I didn't like the plot, I really found the book great. It was original and beautiful.

[Amanda Thai · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.
She is void of Emotion.

Some Quiet Place is subtle. It doesn’t force its values onto you, nor is it showy or extravagant. It’s so subtle that for a while, I wasn’t sure where it was headed and what it meant to me.

But I know now. In those last forty or so pages, it finally broke through. The darkness ebbed away to reveal a message so applicable to my past experiences, to anyone’s future.

Elizabeth Caldwell can’t feel. Instead she sees Emotions in their human form. They’ve all lost interest in her because their touch does not affect her. Everyone except Fear. He finds her condition fascinating and is determined to find out what, or who, made her numb and unfeeling. Through Elizabeth’s vivid dreams, she must fend of an unknown villain and discover the secrets of her past.

The premise was beautifully executed: personified Emotions and a girl who feels none. Not only are Emotions personified (Fear, Resentment, Joy, Sorrow, Anger) but Elements are too (Winter, Fog, Moss, Death). Unique appearances were given to each and I like their diversity and how well they fit with their purpose. The idea of Emotions being people made me think and draws a parallel. Some people like to drown in one particular emotion, let it wash over and consume them. It’s similar to how one person may give you all of one emotion, Love, Hatred, or Envy for example, so much that you come to associate the person with the feeling. It’s reality’s version of personified emotions.

Elizabeth, our protagonist has an unknown past which fuels and drives the story. Even though she is completely emotionless, I found her pretending relatable. On many occasions, people expect me to feel a certain emotion, one that isn’t in my heart at the moment. If one doesn’t rely on feelings, they rely on logic. Elizabeth is calculating and mathematical. Her detachment from events only adds to the chilling mood.

Fear is one of most intriguing love interests I’ve ever seen. He is the one most cower from, the one who instils an emotion that make your gut clench, your palms sweat and your logic diminish. The funny thing about fear or terror is that, when you are in love, you feel the same symptoms.
“Love is beautiful fear,” as Kiera Cass said in The Elite. Fear is cocky, and sly but with a softer, sweeter side. He’s also quite seductive and, dare I say, sexy. There just something captivating and alluring about someone who’s very name elicits terror and shivers down the spine. He’s quite dominating and intimidating, a little manipulative but I can see he has the best intentions. His breath holding the scent of strawberries was a nice quirk. I find it representative of those who relish in fear, terror, adrenaline, like it their forbidden fruit.

Humans are naturally rebellious: we want the things that aren’t good for us, that people tell us we can’t have. Delicious, terrifying Fear being one of them. His relationship with Elizabeth reminds me of adrenaline junkies or thrill seekers. They do crazy stunts and life-threatening activities just to feel that rush of emotion: hope, courage, exhilaration, and fear. It’s a weird concept. But sometimes, all you want to do is lose control, all sense, and let yourself succumb to the rush of being scared and helpless. I loved how Fear challenged Elizabeth with taunting illusions and horrific scenes, trying to push her limits and see beyond the numbness that defines her. He did push her boundaries, sometimes going too far, but with good intentions.

Yes, there is a love triangle, but one that I believe has somewhat of a purpose.

Joshua is our other contender and he kind of reminds me of Julian from the Delirium series. As an opposite to Fear who has seen every dark corner of the world, Joshua is sweet and innocent. I like his patient persistence and also how he understands Elizabeth and accepts her.

As for he and Elizabeth, it did feel like she was using him a lot of the time but I understood her motives. I like how he tried to understand her, even though her world was so unknown to him. The short, sweet letter Elizabeth wrote him really touched me.

The conclusion of the love triangle is rather predictable but I like the bittersweet mood. I liked how she chose Fear but how Joshua played a major role in her story too.

Elizabeth’s best friend, Maggie, didn’t get much time for development but she was a strong, emotional point of the novel that showcases Elizabeth’s lack of emotion.
The Caldwell family was damaged and lost but somehow they had that glimmer of hope for their future. Except Tim, who really exploited just how emotionless Elizabeth was.

Mystery elements usually aggravate me because I don’t know what the hell is happening. The core of Some Quiet Place is the mystery behind Elizabeth but, for once, it was one that I enjoyed. Sure, I was completely in the dark, even more so than usual. Instead of annoying me however, it compelled me to keep reading and discover Elizabeth’s true identity.
In many mysteries, the conclusion comes out of the blue and doesn’t do much to connect the various clues collected throughout the novel. In SQP, it wasn’t until the last splash of paint fell from the brush that I realised what had happened. As that drop of colour bled onto the canvas, it blossomed to reach all the plot points that I had once been so confused about. It’s the kind of book that can only evoke that experience on the first read. But I will definitely reread it sometime this year because it’s also the kind of book that has a beauty in detail, something I tend to overlook on the first read.

What does it mean to be human? SQP touches on the themes of humanity and human nature, how we consume and want, then hate and envy, all with the help of Emotions. Through Elizabeth, we see a view of finding your identity and seeking your past. The Caldwells add the heavier themes of a dysfunctional family and physical abuse, and Maggie brings friendship and illness. It’s a well-rounded set of themes that provide a dark backdrop to the story.

The pacing is extremely slow. The thinness of the book deceives you, making you think it will be a quick read. It’s not at all. It’s like a fungus, slowly spreading and carefully changing. But if you don’t have the tolerance or patience for slow pacing, you will easily get frustrated with SQP.

The prose was gorgeous, one of the most beautiful parts of the novel. I loved its dreamy contemplation and description. In Elizabeth’s voice, it was detached and blunt but also insightful and thoughtful.

The combination of prose, pacing, mystery and fantasy elements create a very chilling, slightly creepy mood. It’s disorienting and dream-like—dark and unknown. Haunting. It fits with the cover very well with its sepia tone and disintegrating girl.

It is a standalone, something I was quite pleased about. The ending leaves some things open but ties up everything that needs to be. A companion novel, set in the same world but with different characters, is to be released in July next year and I will approach it with hopes that it will be as good, if not better than Sutton’s debut.

The following spoiler contains my story regarding Some Quiet Place, what quotes haunted my mind and what message the ending resonated back through my life—past, present and future.

It is darkness, Some Quiet Place. The mystery has you so lost, so confused, you don’t know what sort of world will be there when the storm clears. When I reached that world, I knew I loved it, I just wasn’t sure why. After some thought, sitting down and trying to untangle my threads of thought, it hit me like Elizabeth’s memories.

It’s her escape.

The idea of escape is something that’s been constantly on my mind for years now. Every day of our lives, we escape, into books, activities, games, movies and gossip. The main character is escaping her past, something we don’t realise until the very end.

I just wanted to go…some quiet place. To forget. To be someone else.

Rebecca used Elizabeth and a wall of nothingness to escape the grief of losing her twin. The nothingness, the protection from the Emotions was her “some quiet place.” It was her escape from the bitter truth she denied and denied and denied.

I hide, I protect, I pretend.

Each day, without her knowledge, Rebecca was hiding from the demons that crawled up on her from her past. She was protecting herself from the barrage of Emotions that threatened to break her, destroy her. She was pretending to be someone else, someone who didn’t have the kind of problems she did.

It’s a façade. It’s a struggle. I know.

At times, all I want is to escape the world and the life I know. To get away from my own volatile emotions and a temperament that threatens to break me.

Then someone comes along and tears that escape away from you, forces you to look around you, within you and find that feeling again. You hate them for shattering your walls but can’t because they let you live again.

This is what Some Quiet Place meant to me. This is where it found me on a deeper level and struck me.

Its message is clear and applicable:
Live.

Each and every one of us has Life in them. The other Emotions may swarm around us—Sorrow, Anger, Resentment, Longing, Fear—but our Life is still there, shining through the darkness. When we can set our eyes on it and see through the blackness, we can move on from our struggles and fully embrace what it means to be human. We may be volatile. We may break ourselves. We may become so overrun with feeling that we cause our own demise. But at least we’re not hiding anymore. The other Emotions will come for us, they’ll find us eventually. But we have created something better than some quiet place.

A haunting and subtly beautiful debut to treasure. Beneath the darkness, Some Quiet Place is about dreaming and discovering, about the diverse palette of Emotions painting the masterpiece that is Life.

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know what to say about this book!
This is either the greatest book ever or the weirdest one... I don't know but it was a trip... if you want a unique story this is a book for you...

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton
Publisher: Flux Books
Publication Date: July 8, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

I can’t weep. I can’t fear. I've grown talented at pretending.

Elizabeth Caldwell doesn't feel emotions . . . she sees them. Longing, Shame, and Courage materialize around her classmates. Fury and Resentment appear in her dysfunctional home. They've all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn't succumb to their touch. All, that is, save one—Fear. He’s intrigued by her, as desperate to understand the accident that changed Elizabeth’s life as she is herself.

Elizabeth and Fear both sense that the key to her past is hidden in the dream paintings she hides in the family barn. But a shadowy menace has begun to stalk her, and try as she might, Elizabeth can barely avoid the brutality of her life long enough to uncover the truth about herself. When it matters most, will she be able to rely on Fear to save her?

What I Liked:

I don't even know where to begin with how I feel about this book. I expected to like this book (I even pre-ordered it without reading it a couple of months ago!), but I didn't expect to like it so much! It's safe to say that this book blew me away in the best way possible.

So, Elizabeth can't feel anything, but she can physically see Emotions, as people. They are immortal beings who show up when someone starts to feel a certain way. For example, if a person felt embarrassment, then Embarrassment would show up around the person.

Why can't Elizabeth feel anything? What makes her so different? It takes the entire book to understand why. Fear is the only Emotion that is interested in the "why", enough to talk to her and be around her. The other Emotions have no use being around her, because she doesn't feel anything, so she doesn't need them.

It was really heart-breaking to go through this book, following Elizabeth and her emotionless state. As a reader, I just knew that there had to be a reason why she couldn't, but I also could tell that she truly could feel emotions. Sutton leads readers to this realization, and as we get closer to the end of the book, more and more starts to make sense.

Nevertheless, the plot of this book was never dull or boring. I wanted to know what would happen to Elizabeth at school, or with her father, or with her mother, or with Fear. I was completely sucked into the mystery of her emotionless being.

I was also completely sucked into Elizabeth and Fear's relationship. Not a lot happens between them, but when things happen, they happen. As we learn the truth about Elizabeth's condition, things between her and Fear become even more heartbreaking, but they start to make sense.

The scenes with Fear are my favorite. Whether he is acting jealous over Joshua, or he is accompanying Elizabeth to a party, or he is saving her from her father, Fear is there for Elizabeth. Any scene with Fear made my heart beat a little faster. In his own way, he is swoony and perfectly male and all-around a wonderful Emotion, despite his purpose.

Elizabeth's predicament at home made this novel all the more three-dimensional. Her father is a drunk who tends to yell at her and take his rage out on her because she isn't the perfect child like her brother. Her mother basically hates her, and wants to run away from the house as fast as possible. And Elizabeth's brother - he might be the worst. He ISN'T the perfect child his father thinks he is. He avoids Elizabeth, and wants to take the easy way out of everything. He dropped out of school and wants to leave the farm.

I'm glad this book ended the way it did, with Elizabeth choosing what she did. She didn't deserve how her family treated her. That being said, the ending is probably the happiest part of the book! I was pleased by the ending, because the tone of the entire book is very melancholy (not a bad thing!) - until the end.

Okay, there is a sort-of love triangle, but in my opinion, it's not love triangle at all. Elizabeth can't feel love. So whatever relationship (friendship) she had with Joshua wasn't real. Fear is the primary interest, and I said there was a happy ending. So... there.

What I Did Not Like:

There really wasn't much I didn't like. Maybe, there could have been more physically swoony scenes with Fear.

Would I Recommend It:

YES! Oh my gosh, yes! This one is going on my end-of-the-year favorites list for sure!

Rating:

5 stars. I'm so glad I got the chance to read this one! And I'm even more glad that I took the chance and pre-ordered it without reading it first - because it's a really good book.

[Jade Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly, for an original concept such as this it reminded me very much of another Summer release - Another Little Piece in the way it was written and the general gist of it. Not that this is a bad thing, I really enjoyed both of these books and I do think that Some Quiet Place was the better of the two, I just couldn't help but find similarities and wonder if this kind of thing could be a trend.

Aside from the absolutely amazing cover, what drove me to request this book was the interesting premise. Elizabeth is empty, she literally can't feel anything! In a world of overly dramatic YA heroines this was such a refreshing and fantastic idea! This girl has to figure out who or what she is whilst also not crazily overreacting! This is fantastic, right... RIGHT?!

Well, sort of... whilst the whole empty protagonist thing is done very well and the mystery aspect is extremely compelling and interesting to read, it's this whole concept itself that sort of brings itself down. The idea of someone without emotions is so interesting, however since it's the main character it kind of makes some bland and boring reading especially when the author is trying to keep a romance afloat as well.

However, I honestly can't fault Sutton's writing, I would happily read anything by this author because the writing style was so enchanting and beautiful and it really grabbed me, every single page seemed magical and I am aware that I am kind of overdoing the adjectives right now!

Overall, Some Quiet Place was a compelling and beautiful read, however at times the emotionless heroine was quite boring to read, so this book didn't quite reach it's potential.

[Allyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the description of "Some Quiet Place," I was immediately intrigued and the gorgeous cover filled me with a need to read this book ASAP. Thanks to Netgalley, I was able to dive right in.

Elizabeth has not been able to experience emotions since a mysterious childhood accident, which she doesn't remember. Despite her abusive home life, her status as a 'freak' in her Wisconsin farming community, and her one friend's losing battle with cancer, Elizabeth has to pretend to feel anything about it. While she can't feel emotions, she can see their personifications. Most of them don't bother with her because she is immune to their touch but Fear is completely intrigued that a human cannot feel. Once he starts researching her past, it becomes apparent that Elizabeth must remember.

Kelsey Sutton has written a truly original story. Although the main character has serious emotional limitations, the story is completely engaging. There are real problems, mystery, fantasy, and romance. The only thing I have to say against this book is that sometimes the writing style made it apparent that the author is still trying to find her voice and solidify her writing style but this doesn't detract from the story at all. I loved this book and I look forward to reading Kelsey's future publications.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Some Quiet Place is an extremely imaginative and original debut novel by author Kelsey Sutton. The story is shrouded in mystery and takes some dark and creepy turns, which all in all make for a very memorable read.

The concept of this novel... I just love it. Elizabeth doesn't feel emotions, but she sees them - physical presences in the world that haunt the humans and make them feel their influence. She talks to them. But why can she see them? And why can't she feel? This mysterious element makes the plot absorbing and keeps you turning the pages. Elizabeth's life is far from perfect: she is haunted by dreams of death and faces domestic abuse and bullying at school. Some parts of the novel thus get rather dark and creepy, filled with twists and turns that will surprise you. This is not my normal cup of tea, but man did I enjoy it.

The writing is quite powerful. Writing from the perspective of someone who lacks emotion is challenging, but Sutton did a great job. Throughout the course of the novel, certain scenes are so emotionally laden, you can't help but get swept up in the story and sympathize with the main character. It's a great rollercoaster of highs and lows - the balance is perfect.

The romance was surprisingly addictive and engrossing. Fear is obviously a sort of bad boy character, and the chemistry is off the charts. I'm not typically one who goes for paranormal romance with a bad boy character but this one is so unique and touching... It was just perfect! I haven't felt so emotionally involved in a relationship in quite a while.

My only qualms with the novel are that some things lacked believability. For example, Joshua (the other angle of the love triangle) inexplicably chases after Elizabeth while she's being an unfeeling jerk to him. Elizabeth, victim of domestic abuse, gets ignored (and bullied) by her peers and teachers at school. I mean, honestly, someone shows up with massive bruises, you don't just have a counselor sit and ask once, "Is there anything you want to tell me?" Hell no. The world building could have been better developed - I didn't quite get why some "elements" existed, like Moss - that's an element? And the big one, the antagonist (spoilers) - how is that an element? If these things were explored a bit more, Sutton could have created a truly magical and unforgettable world.

Summing Up:

This debut novel's uniqueness and creativity will definitely have me recommending it. Though a story with such dark and creepy elements is not my normal thing, I feel like Sutton delivered on her unique premise. When you're in the mood for something totally different, why not give it a shot? I'll be eagerly awaiting the sequel (although this one can be read as a stand alone - no cliffhanger here).

Recommended To:

Fans of paranormal romance who want something just a bit different.


*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review.

[Isamlq · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s a dream like feel to the story both in her present and her past. It left me feeling confused countless of times, so that now I feel like this could have been great had it not been so confusing but also feeling like it was an excellent read for the very same reason! The more I think on it the clearer it is that that its different vibe is its strength:

From Elements to Emotions and how they all play a part in her reality… a reality completely her own. What is she exactly? And why her almost easy acceptance of things? There’s that odd split again of her taking as fact the odd and out of this world and all that drew me but baffled me, had me wondering while plodding on. I say plodding on because point here were the same thing again and again and… and there I was forcing myself to the next chapter at which point something odd for me but real for her would happen. There’d be Fear or Courage or Love or whatever else that made her life “different” so that I was half in, half out. Out, because it was so darned confusing, but IN, for the same reason. (Am I definition of contrary?)

So here we have this unreal dreamy quality in a present that had me doubting if she was saying what she was… and a past that’s dream-like as well, (but more nightmarish, really.) Still, I feel that all that could have been great, but things did get a bit much at times. Too much of the “different” and belief already stretched is pulled taut… except if I’m being really honest here: it wasn’t really the “different” that I had a problem with. It’s the brief foray into YA la-la land, of boy-meets-girl and what’s that? The sound of her woes being over. But it’s a brief stint… a blip really in this otherwise completely different feeling read. (OK… not really a blip if we consider how there’s someone key who avoids death-by-truck-crushing… echoing that scene from that other book that I don’t really want to compare this one to.)

Anyway, the different: first the creatures of her world, then the paintings that made no sense, then people of the ordinary, plus the more ordinary types of sadness: of a family that’s there, but not there (worse: not wanting to be there!) then the more ordinary bits of boy loves girl. Minus the last: this was pretty good… the girl especially is a breath of fresh air with all her why’s. Why me? What’s here? Why the attraction? She’s self-aware at times too self-aware in fact.

Reading this was an exercise, as each reveal turned things around; I was struggling to see what this or that stood for if they in fact did stand for anything… because the girl sometime was disconnected.. Yet I like that about her (at least, I think I do.) It’s all real for her, but not for the rest; her reality’s peopled by the natural but odd of Element and Emotion… of a different sort.

> Good stuff as it reads like a mix of what makes Rebecca Lim’s MERCY books so darned impressive and what had me confused but enthralled in ANOTHER LITTLE PIECE.

[Steph | bookedinsaigon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Debut author Kelsey Sutton took a big risk in deciding to write about a protagonist who can’t feel any emotions. After all, one of the biggest criticisms of unsuccessful YA is about bland characters. And while there is an external reason for why Elizabeth is like a shell of a person, I am sorry to say that, instead of being a bold experiment in defying common YA problems by facing them head on, SOME QUIET PLACE merely fell into those very traps.

I’ll be straight with you: Elizabeth has no personality. And it’s not just her being her usual emotionless. She literally doesn’t have anything that distinguishes her from a blank slate other than what’s imposed on her from the outside. When describing Elizabeth, one has to resort to external descriptors: she has rotten parents, an absent brother, she likes to paint. This doesn’t tell us ANYTHING about Elizabeth. People need not be defined by the abuse of their families nor the fact that she paints with all the investment of one doing the dishes. Even sociopaths, who medically do not feel empathy, can have personalities. Elizabeth doesn’t, and that’s not a symptom of her problem.

The lack of personality is not just limited to the MC. Side characters are flat with (again) no personality of their own. Elizabeth’s father is the cardboard drunk and abusive character, while Elizabeth’s mother is the repressed and resentful housewife. Elizabeth’s best friend is the dying girl scared of dying. These are tropes, not to be confused with characteristics. With personality.

SOME QUIET PLACE furthermore falls into common YA pitfalls regarding its plot and mystery. Like too many other YAs that describe themselves as mysteries, SOME QUIET PLACE’s unfolding of its mystery is stuttering and unsatisfying. A great mystery reveals just enough hints in unexpected yet narratively consistent intervals to keep readers ensnared and invested. The “mystery” in this book—of what in Elizabeth’s past caused her to be the way she is—remains a mystery until its sudden anticlimax. The purported “hints” dropped throughout the book are not, actually, hints. “Hints” implies relevance to the plot and mystery; it’s not supposed to be a foray into a dull miniadventure leading into a dead end that the book insists to be a hint, but is in fact just pacing weakness, Insert Dramatic Red Herring Here. The so-called suspense in this book, unfortunately, was so unsatisfying as to frustrate me into apathy.

I could write more, but I’ll stop there and say this: It is completely possible to write from the point of view of a person who can’t feel emotions. But SOME QUIET PLACE was an amateur’s attempt, and sadly it wasn’t long before I realized that I could not feel anything towards Elizabeth and her predicament. And it’s not because I can’t feel emotions.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Flux Books and Netgalley.)
17-year-old Elizabeth doesn’t feel emotions, but she does see them – as people hovering around those who they’re affecting. To Elizabeth they are very real, whilst to everyone else, they are totally invisible.

Elizabeth doesn’t know why she is unable to feel emotion, and she doesn’t know what exactly happened to make her this way, but deep down inside she knows she’s not the real Elizabeth, she’s an imposter.
Fear is one of the few emotions that hasn’t given up on ever making Elizabeth feel, but things are changing, and soon Elizabeth may know exactly what she is.
What happened to make Elizabeth this way? Will ‘Fear’ ever leave her alone? And who is she if not Elizabeth?


This was one hell of a weird story.

Elizabeth knew that she wasn’t really Elizabeth, as did her family, but no-one knew who she really was. She did seem to generally lack emotion though, which was weird, and I totally got why people thought she was a freak. I’m even pretty convinced that her classmates feared her slightly.

The storyline was quite interesting, and the mystery of what Elizabeth really was enough for me to keep reading. I liked the way that the emotions were portrayed as invisible people, hanging around the person that they were acting on. I did guess what Elizabeth was in the end, and I thought that it was quite fitting.

There was some romance in his one, in the form of Joshua and also ‘Fear’, and I was team ‘Fear’ from the start! Yikes, there was even a love triangle in this!
Overall, this was a really strange story, but it was entertaining, and was very different from anything else I’ve read. I suppose this could be described as ‘haunting’, and probably fits into the category of ‘Gothic Romance’. I think if you like this kind of weird, haunting story you’d probably like this.
7 out of 10.

[Annette · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found Some Quiet Place to be confusing. I’m not opposed to some confusion in books, but I think my problem with Some Quiet Place is that I didn’t get any hints at all.

Elizabeth doesn’t have any feelings. Since she was a small child, she hasn’t been able to feel any emotions. However, she can see emotions. They appear as people, and she can see them hanging around others. Like, if someone is sad, she can see Sad (the emotion) hanging around that person. She can communicate with some of these emotions.

Elizabeth has dreams, and she paints the images she sees in the dreams. Usually it’s the same girl and boy, and the boy is sometimes dead and the girl is crying. Elizabeth finds out she was in a car wreck when she was young, but can't find out anything about this accident.

She’s also being visited by a mysterious woman, who really doesn’t tell her anything – but Elizabeth thinks she knows something.

That’s it! I read 45% of Some Quiet Place and that’s all I got. I like to try to figure out what’s going on in a book that is obviously supposed to evoke that desire in the reader. But I got the feeling that I was going to be totally confused until the last 50 pages, and then it would suddenly all come together and make sense.

I need some breadcrumbs. I need something to at least make me think, “Oh, I bet THAT’S what happened....” Even if I’m wrong, I need to try to work it out. I got frustrated because it didn’t seem like anything useful was happening, so I quit.

The writing is fine. I tried to catch Elizabeth "feeling" something, but Sutton does a great job of really making her seem emotionless. I couldn't find any slip-ups. If you like confusing stories that pretty much leave you in the dark the whole time, then you will want to check out Some Quiet Place.