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Slumber
Once upon a time, Ruby believed in magic…
When Ruby volunteers to take her mother's housecleaning shift at the gothic Cottingley Heights mansion, she thinks it's going to be business as usual. Clean out the fridge, scrub toilets, nothing too unusual. But nothing could prepare her for the decadent squalor she finds within. Rich people with more money than sense trashing their beautiful clothes and home just because they can. After the handsome Tam discovers her cleaning up after him and his rich friends, Ruby has never felt more like a character from her sister’s book of fairy tales.
Tam sees beyond Ruby’s job and ratty clothes, and sweeps her off her feet, treating her like a real princess, but Ruby is sure this beautiful boy is too good to be true. And as one tragedy after another befalls Ruby and her family, Ruby painfully learns that magic is all too real, and it always comes with a price.
When Ruby volunteers to take her mother's housecleaning shift at the gothic Cottingley Heights mansion, she thinks it's going to be business as usual. Clean out the fridge, scrub toilets, nothing too unusual. But nothing could prepare her for the decadent squalor she finds within. Rich people with more money than sense trashing their beautiful clothes and home just because they can. After the handsome Tam discovers her cleaning up after him and his rich friends, Ruby has never felt more like a character from her sister’s book of fairy tales.
Tam sees beyond Ruby’s job and ratty clothes, and sweeps her off her feet, treating her like a real princess, but Ruby is sure this beautiful boy is too good to be true. And as one tragedy after another befalls Ruby and her family, Ruby painfully learns that magic is all too real, and it always comes with a price.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 16, 2013
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 14, 2015
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
3.5 stars
This was a nice blend of fairytales and faries. Not that it's unheard of to do that, but the author did a good job of mixing them up into an interesting story that I really enjoyed. In fact, I started reading it in the afternoon and couldn't put it down until I finished it last night.
Dear Baby Jesus, please forgive me for feeding my kids Spaghettios and ice cream for dinner....again.
The plot was great (evil fairies using humans as disposable playthings), but what really stood out to me was the main character, Ruby. She was a believable teenager, but she also had a strong moral compass. You don't see that much, unfortunately. She's the kind of heroine that I would gladly want my girls to want read about.
See? I care. I am a good parent.
*pats self on back*
Ruby has a pretty shitty life. Her father died years ago in a car accident, so her mother and little sister are all she has left. Fleeing her mother's abusive boyfriend has left the three of them broke and living in a grody trailer park. Her mom works for a houskeeping company, but it barely pays the bills. This means Ruby has to stress about things most kids don't worry about...like keeping her sister fed.
Due to exhaustion and stress, her mother get's sick, and without health insurance the bills really start racking up. Since they can't afford to lose any money, Ruby decides to stand in for her mom at a cleaning gig. No big deal, she's done it before.
Enter the evil fairies,and their house of debauchery.
Everything that happens to Ruby after she enters the house is intertwined with a fairytale. And to be totally honest, I'd never heard of that particular story/curse before, so I'm not sure how it compares to the original. It was cool, though, so I'm not complaining.
Most of the fairies in this story are pretty vile, with little to no redeeming qualities. You immediately know that Violet is deep-fried evil on a stick, but a few of the others are a little less obviously nasty. Take Tam, for example. He's the hunky love interest, and so sweet to Ruby. He stands up to his friends for her, and then follows her around like a puppy dog. But Ruby doesn't totally trust him...and neither does the reader.
This is one of the many reasons I loved Ruby. She looked around at all of the hinky shit these guys were doing, and didn't automatically think Tam was the Exception to the Rule just because he was nice to her. She had the sense to assume that if someone chooses to hang out with horrible people, they might not be all that nice themselves. Duh.
As the story progresses, we see Ruby's life spiral from bad to worse. Thanks to a crazy necklace and her sister's book of fairytales, it soon becomes obvious to her that something more than just Bad Luck is at work in her life. The only question is whether or not she can reverse the curse. Does she have what it takes to give her story a Happily Ever After?
Ok, just so you know, there's a pretty big OhMyGod! moment at the end. Is it a cliffhanger? No idea. There's no listing for a sequel, but the last page sure leaves it open for one.
And if Ms. Blake decides to write more about Ruby, I'll definitely read it!
3.5 stars
This was a nice blend of fairytales and faries. Not that it's unheard of to do that, but the author did a good job of mixing them up into an interesting story that I really enjoyed. In fact, I started reading it in the afternoon and couldn't put it down until I finished it last night.
Dear Baby Jesus, please forgive me for feeding my kids Spaghettios and ice cream for dinner....again.
The plot was great (evil fairies using humans as disposable playthings), but what really stood out to me was the main character, Ruby. She was a believable teenager, but she also had a strong moral compass. You don't see that much, unfortunately. She's the kind of heroine that I would gladly want my girls to want read about.
See? I care. I am a good parent.
*pats self on back*
Ruby has a pretty shitty life. Her father died years ago in a car accident, so her mother and little sister are all she has left. Fleeing her mother's abusive boyfriend has left the three of them broke and living in a grody trailer park. Her mom works for a houskeeping company, but it barely pays the bills. This means Ruby has to stress about things most kids don't worry about...like keeping her sister fed.
Due to exhaustion and stress, her mother get's sick, and without health insurance the bills really start racking up. Since they can't afford to lose any money, Ruby decides to stand in for her mom at a cleaning gig. No big deal, she's done it before.
Enter the evil fairies,and their house of debauchery.
Everything that happens to Ruby after she enters the house is intertwined with a fairytale. And to be totally honest, I'd never heard of that particular story/curse before, so I'm not sure how it compares to the original. It was cool, though, so I'm not complaining.
Most of the fairies in this story are pretty vile, with little to no redeeming qualities. You immediately know that Violet is deep-fried evil on a stick, but a few of the others are a little less obviously nasty. Take Tam, for example. He's the hunky love interest, and so sweet to Ruby. He stands up to his friends for her, and then follows her around like a puppy dog. But Ruby doesn't totally trust him...and neither does the reader.
This is one of the many reasons I loved Ruby. She looked around at all of the hinky shit these guys were doing, and didn't automatically think Tam was the Exception to the Rule just because he was nice to her. She had the sense to assume that if someone chooses to hang out with horrible people, they might not be all that nice themselves. Duh.
As the story progresses, we see Ruby's life spiral from bad to worse. Thanks to a crazy necklace and her sister's book of fairytales, it soon becomes obvious to her that something more than just Bad Luck is at work in her life. The only question is whether or not she can reverse the curse. Does she have what it takes to give her story a Happily Ever After?
Ok, just so you know, there's a pretty big OhMyGod! moment at the end. Is it a cliffhanger? No idea. There's no listing for a sequel, but the last page sure leaves it open for one.
And if Ms. Blake decides to write more about Ruby, I'll definitely read it!
July 11, 2013
2.5 to 3 stars
I've read quite a few books on the topic of Fae- although this book is different from the others. Whether that’s a good or bad thing, I’m not entirely sure, as my feelings for this book are very mixed.
Slumber is a novel that is categorized as fantasy, and rightfully so. But, I found values in this book strangely reminiscent of a coming-of-age novel, stressing the importance of family, going into the nature of relationships, and displaying the growth of a teen girl.
While I appreciated this, it kind of took away from the fantasy feel of the novel I was looking forward to. I’m not saying I don’t like these kinds of teachings in my novels, I just wish the author handled it better and somehow made a balance between the two. As a chiefly fantasy reader, I was missing that magical feel these types of books tend to have. To be more specific, I was hoping that Ruby would venture into the actual world of the Fae, instead of merely having a glimpse into it.
Which brings me to my next point. The Fae weren’t very developed, and I didn’t learn much about them. The author didn’t exactly delve into this, unfortunately.
The third person POV, I felt, was unsuitable for this novel. I’m used to books with first person POV, and I’m glad for the change, but it didn’t really fit this book very well.
Personally, I wasn’t terrified of Violet. Sure, she was pretty bitchy, but that’s not the only trait villains have. She’s kind of pathetic and I just couldn’t take her very seriously.
The protagonist, Ruby, is a heroine I greatly admire. She actually uses her brain. She doesn’t easily fall for Tam, is not unbelievably naïve, and actually has a lot of strength. But what I find most interesting about her is her devotion to her family, which I find quite lacking in most other characters in books. At first, I was scared that Ruby would fall head-over-heels for Tam the moment she set eyes on him, but thankfully, that didn’t occur. It was easy to sympathize with her, and I didn’t find that she was too whiny or anything.
At first glance, it may seem like I have many more complaints about this book than likes, but as a whole, Slumber was pretty good. A solid debut, and while I was confused for a majority of the book, it still managed to entertain me. This is perfect for anyone looking for a short, easy fantasy read. In fact, I even think that lovers of contemporary would enjoy this book.
I've read quite a few books on the topic of Fae- although this book is different from the others. Whether that’s a good or bad thing, I’m not entirely sure, as my feelings for this book are very mixed.
Slumber is a novel that is categorized as fantasy, and rightfully so. But, I found values in this book strangely reminiscent of a coming-of-age novel, stressing the importance of family, going into the nature of relationships, and displaying the growth of a teen girl.
While I appreciated this, it kind of took away from the fantasy feel of the novel I was looking forward to. I’m not saying I don’t like these kinds of teachings in my novels, I just wish the author handled it better and somehow made a balance between the two. As a chiefly fantasy reader, I was missing that magical feel these types of books tend to have. To be more specific, I was hoping that Ruby would venture into the actual world of the Fae, instead of merely having a glimpse into it.
Which brings me to my next point. The Fae weren’t very developed, and I didn’t learn much about them. The author didn’t exactly delve into this, unfortunately.
The third person POV, I felt, was unsuitable for this novel. I’m used to books with first person POV, and I’m glad for the change, but it didn’t really fit this book very well.
Personally, I wasn’t terrified of Violet. Sure, she was pretty bitchy, but that’s not the only trait villains have. She’s kind of pathetic and I just couldn’t take her very seriously.
The protagonist, Ruby, is a heroine I greatly admire. She actually uses her brain. She doesn’t easily fall for Tam, is not unbelievably naïve, and actually has a lot of strength. But what I find most interesting about her is her devotion to her family, which I find quite lacking in most other characters in books. At first, I was scared that Ruby would fall head-over-heels for Tam the moment she set eyes on him, but thankfully, that didn’t occur. It was easy to sympathize with her, and I didn’t find that she was too whiny or anything.
At first glance, it may seem like I have many more complaints about this book than likes, but as a whole, Slumber was pretty good. A solid debut, and while I was confused for a majority of the book, it still managed to entertain me. This is perfect for anyone looking for a short, easy fantasy read. In fact, I even think that lovers of contemporary would enjoy this book.
August 1, 2013
Once upon a time, there was a very tired and exhausted reviewer, who had spent all day trying to get into the book she was reading. She wiped her brow and decided to take a look at her tbr pile which to her frustration, seemed to go on forever. Oh she sighed. How was she supposed to know what to read? Then - all of a sudden - a fairy godmother appeared! Reviewerella! She cried! Here's what to read! Then, a picture of Slumber came to her mind in a vision!
Ok, so that may not be entirely true but hopefully you get the idea. A major reading slump rescued by a fantastic book. Fantastic you say? Fantastic how? Well, I loved the idea of the book. The first time I have EVER read a book about a girl poor to that level. I was pretty much hooked from the moment that I learnt that. Then - to top it all off - she was a cleaner too!
The characters were genuinely pretty great. We have a down to earth girl with a brain and her super duper cute little little sister. Now, when I say Shelley is cute, I MEAN cute. Then there's Tam. The whole story I was kind of not sure whether to trust him and totally shared the main character Ruby's opinion of him. But of course there was a creepy villain (who goes by the name of Violet). Tamara Blake pulled her off so well, Violet was creepy and fitted in with the story perfectly. However, Ruby did really start to annoy me, there is only so many times she can say how poor she is. At one stage it felt like it was every other sentence that mentioned how poor she was. Such great characters lead to some pretty emotional moments that were both heartbreaking and happy.
I was very surprised at what Tam, Violet and all the others at the house where Ruby was employed to clean really were. Having not read the synopsis in a LONG time I had completely forgotten some parts of it that really would have made it obvious. I almost recommend not refreshing your memory because sometimes that can improve how much you enjoy the story and this was one of those times. The twist at the end was pretty good and I really enjoyed it.
This quote really stuck out to me:
"You'll be beautiful, rich and young forever. And...you can be with me" - Tam (55%)
I really enjoyed Slumber and greatly anticipate reading more about Ruby. I would recommend Slumber to people who are looking for a book that's a little different and enjoyable.
4/5 stars.
Ok, so that may not be entirely true but hopefully you get the idea. A major reading slump rescued by a fantastic book. Fantastic you say? Fantastic how? Well, I loved the idea of the book. The first time I have EVER read a book about a girl poor to that level. I was pretty much hooked from the moment that I learnt that. Then - to top it all off - she was a cleaner too!
The characters were genuinely pretty great. We have a down to earth girl with a brain and her super duper cute little little sister. Now, when I say Shelley is cute, I MEAN cute. Then there's Tam. The whole story I was kind of not sure whether to trust him and totally shared the main character Ruby's opinion of him. But of course there was a creepy villain (who goes by the name of Violet). Tamara Blake pulled her off so well, Violet was creepy and fitted in with the story perfectly. However, Ruby did really start to annoy me, there is only so many times she can say how poor she is. At one stage it felt like it was every other sentence that mentioned how poor she was. Such great characters lead to some pretty emotional moments that were both heartbreaking and happy.
I was very surprised at what Tam, Violet and all the others at the house where Ruby was employed to clean really were. Having not read the synopsis in a LONG time I had completely forgotten some parts of it that really would have made it obvious. I almost recommend not refreshing your memory because sometimes that can improve how much you enjoy the story and this was one of those times. The twist at the end was pretty good and I really enjoyed it.
This quote really stuck out to me:
"You'll be beautiful, rich and young forever. And...you can be with me" - Tam (55%)
I really enjoyed Slumber and greatly anticipate reading more about Ruby. I would recommend Slumber to people who are looking for a book that's a little different and enjoyable.
4/5 stars.
August 27, 2016
[Full disclosure: I received a free ARC ebook through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
I decided to request Slumber through NetGalley despite my misgivings about it being a typical Cinderella fairytale romance where fairies are only said to be vicious but are actually pretty tame. Boy, was I wrong.
Tamara Blake’s fairies go back to the roots of their legends and are really, truly vicious bordering on sadistic. Well, maybe passing into sadistic quite frequently rather than just bordering on it. They live a spoiled party life and have exactly zero morals or qualms about treating humans like dirt for their own amusement. It doesn’t take Ruby long to figure this out and although she slips down to their level a couple of times she actually comes out of the story with her human values intact. Trust me, considering she lived with the fae in Cottingley for a while, that is an enormous accomplishment.
Ruby was an awesome narrator. She falls in love with Tam slowly but never, ever puts her love for him ahead of her family. When her family gets in trouble and she learns that living with him at Cottingley is her only choice, she does. And although she loses sight of her goal through something not entirely her own fault, she remains loyal to her family in the end. As I said, she still retains her values by the end and I was incredibly impressed with that. So many narrators in YA books lose sight of their old lives when they’re swept up into a magical world of parties and riches, but not Ruby! She was truly amazing and carried the story on her shoulders.
At the same time the plot was actually quite fast-paced without leaving out character development. There is no sort of middle bloat as the middle is actually where Ruby discovers that she’s the cause of her mother’s illness and that there’s only one way to save her life. And just when you think things have settled down at the end, Tamara Blake threw a huge twist into the happy ending that leaves me with no doubt there’s a sequel coming. Tam and Ruby’s story isn’t finished and I can’t wait for the sequel, even though Slumber was technically just published three days ago.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
I decided to request Slumber through NetGalley despite my misgivings about it being a typical Cinderella fairytale romance where fairies are only said to be vicious but are actually pretty tame. Boy, was I wrong.
Tamara Blake’s fairies go back to the roots of their legends and are really, truly vicious bordering on sadistic. Well, maybe passing into sadistic quite frequently rather than just bordering on it. They live a spoiled party life and have exactly zero morals or qualms about treating humans like dirt for their own amusement. It doesn’t take Ruby long to figure this out and although she slips down to their level a couple of times she actually comes out of the story with her human values intact. Trust me, considering she lived with the fae in Cottingley for a while, that is an enormous accomplishment.
Ruby was an awesome narrator. She falls in love with Tam slowly but never, ever puts her love for him ahead of her family. When her family gets in trouble and she learns that living with him at Cottingley is her only choice, she does. And although she loses sight of her goal through something not entirely her own fault, she remains loyal to her family in the end. As I said, she still retains her values by the end and I was incredibly impressed with that. So many narrators in YA books lose sight of their old lives when they’re swept up into a magical world of parties and riches, but not Ruby! She was truly amazing and carried the story on her shoulders.
At the same time the plot was actually quite fast-paced without leaving out character development. There is no sort of middle bloat as the middle is actually where Ruby discovers that she’s the cause of her mother’s illness and that there’s only one way to save her life. And just when you think things have settled down at the end, Tamara Blake threw a huge twist into the happy ending that leaves me with no doubt there’s a sequel coming. Tam and Ruby’s story isn’t finished and I can’t wait for the sequel, even though Slumber was technically just published three days ago.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
July 8, 2013
The captivating cover drew me in and I knew that this wasn’t just another magic based book.
It is a thousand things more and then some.
Slumber is not just a story of magical beings, it is a story of family and the lengths we will go to protect the ones we love.
Ruby is one of the strongest characters I have come across in a while and I absolutely loved her resolve. Her family came first every step of the way (yes, even above the sexy, mysterious creature known was Tam), and I always appreciate that in anyone!
In the beginning, Tam was great. Nice, yet I suspected something was up his sleeve. We see that something isn’t quite right with him. Vampire? Wizard?
But he isn’t either of those, folks. He is something worse.
Fairy. Fae.
And once I saw that one word, all my hope for this book vanished and I prayed that it wouldn’t turn out like so many of the other Fae books I have read.
It isn’t. It’s so much better.
These fairies, Tam’s crew, are some of the sickest, most vile versions of fairies that I’ve read about and I’m pretty sure I hate the fuckers. They don’t give a shit about anyone else, especially humans, and just waste as much as they want. Material values. A life of luxury with no morals.
But as Ruby gets dragged into their world with a few slips here and there, she ultimately comes out with her standards in check.
And I love that shit.
Her family is sweet and had me choking up at more than one part.
I love the way Tamara Blake entwined Ruby’s life with Tam’s. It is perfectly thought out and I couldn't have asked for a better ending.
It is a thousand things more and then some.
Slumber is not just a story of magical beings, it is a story of family and the lengths we will go to protect the ones we love.
Ruby is one of the strongest characters I have come across in a while and I absolutely loved her resolve. Her family came first every step of the way (yes, even above the sexy, mysterious creature known was Tam), and I always appreciate that in anyone!
In the beginning, Tam was great. Nice, yet I suspected something was up his sleeve. We see that something isn’t quite right with him. Vampire? Wizard?
But he isn’t either of those, folks. He is something worse.
Fairy. Fae.
And once I saw that one word, all my hope for this book vanished and I prayed that it wouldn’t turn out like so many of the other Fae books I have read.
It isn’t. It’s so much better.
These fairies, Tam’s crew, are some of the sickest, most vile versions of fairies that I’ve read about and I’m pretty sure I hate the fuckers. They don’t give a shit about anyone else, especially humans, and just waste as much as they want. Material values. A life of luxury with no morals.
But as Ruby gets dragged into their world with a few slips here and there, she ultimately comes out with her standards in check.
And I love that shit.
Her family is sweet and had me choking up at more than one part.
I love the way Tamara Blake entwined Ruby’s life with Tam’s. It is perfectly thought out and I couldn't have asked for a better ending.
August 9, 2016
Edgy YA with sleek writing and surprising twists.
July 9, 2013
*I was provided with an advanced electronic copy of this book from the author and Diversion Books in return of an honest review. No monetary compensation was provided in this exchange.*
This review will be posted on Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf.
For a high school student, Ruby Benson has definitely lived the opposite of the good life. Already without a father, Ruby and her family live in a trailer park outside of New York City, spending each day struggling to get by and hoping to one day be accepted into NYU’s drama program after she graduates. Ruby has always tried to help her mother with every opportunity that she gets, and she definitely doesn’t shy away from the challenge of cleaning a mansion in Cottingley Heights for a couple of hours in place of her unexpectedly ill mother. It should have been easy. Clean for a couple hours, remain undetected, and collect the money that her family needs. Only it isn’t.
At Cottingley Heights she meets Tam, a beautiful and rich boy who, for reasons unknown, becomes interested in Ruby. His friends at the mansion are either high, drunk, or rude beyond belief. But Tam is different. Tam is normal. Tam is kind and understanding and non-judgmental in the ways that his companions are not. So when Ruby finds herself agreeing to a permanent cleaning job at the mansion, things should have changed for the better. A steady job, a solid income, a beautiful boy; things change, but not for the better. When Ruby and her family become victim to tragedy after tragedy, she finds the events connected with Tam. Suddenly that innocent boy is not so innocent after all… And Ruby must find it within herself to discover the truth that has been in front of her all along, and somehow save the rest of her family in the process.
This was a fantastic quick read that approached the topic of love and family, with paranormal aspects that are so very different from the typical YA novel. It is the story of a teenage girl who is willing to go to the ends of the earth to protect her family, a story of love and loyalty and sacrifice that warmed my heart until the very last page. Ruby is one of the stronger characters that I have seen in a YA novel in a very long time. I loved her. I loved how real she was and how loyal and protective she is of the people that are close to her heart. Her priorities held true despite of Tam, and I was so glad to see that. Blake portrayed Tam’s companions and world in a way that was horrifying and terrible, yet I was intrigued the whole time. I have always felt that many paranormal stories minimized the true nature of their characters for the sake of a romantic angle. But Blake doesn’t follow that, and I really enjoyed that.
In Slumber, Tamara Blake tells the story of a girl who finds herself in the need to save and protect her family from types of people who should not even exist, all because she volunteered to work a shift when her mother was to ill to attend herself. On her journey, she sees terrible things. Death. Abuse. Maltreatment. She even loses sight of herself for a while. But her loyalty and willingness to protect the ones that she loves shows, even up to the very last page.
Tamara Blake has shared a terrifying world, one in which humans are used for sex, jokes, and hunting. But in this world, she creates the simple story of a teenage girl who’s loyalty is tested and who’s life is changed forever. And in Ruby, I see a character that each reader could find their own way to relate to. I definitely recommend Slumber to readers of young adult and paranormal books.
This review will be posted on Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf.
For a high school student, Ruby Benson has definitely lived the opposite of the good life. Already without a father, Ruby and her family live in a trailer park outside of New York City, spending each day struggling to get by and hoping to one day be accepted into NYU’s drama program after she graduates. Ruby has always tried to help her mother with every opportunity that she gets, and she definitely doesn’t shy away from the challenge of cleaning a mansion in Cottingley Heights for a couple of hours in place of her unexpectedly ill mother. It should have been easy. Clean for a couple hours, remain undetected, and collect the money that her family needs. Only it isn’t.
At Cottingley Heights she meets Tam, a beautiful and rich boy who, for reasons unknown, becomes interested in Ruby. His friends at the mansion are either high, drunk, or rude beyond belief. But Tam is different. Tam is normal. Tam is kind and understanding and non-judgmental in the ways that his companions are not. So when Ruby finds herself agreeing to a permanent cleaning job at the mansion, things should have changed for the better. A steady job, a solid income, a beautiful boy; things change, but not for the better. When Ruby and her family become victim to tragedy after tragedy, she finds the events connected with Tam. Suddenly that innocent boy is not so innocent after all… And Ruby must find it within herself to discover the truth that has been in front of her all along, and somehow save the rest of her family in the process.
This was a fantastic quick read that approached the topic of love and family, with paranormal aspects that are so very different from the typical YA novel. It is the story of a teenage girl who is willing to go to the ends of the earth to protect her family, a story of love and loyalty and sacrifice that warmed my heart until the very last page. Ruby is one of the stronger characters that I have seen in a YA novel in a very long time. I loved her. I loved how real she was and how loyal and protective she is of the people that are close to her heart. Her priorities held true despite of Tam, and I was so glad to see that. Blake portrayed Tam’s companions and world in a way that was horrifying and terrible, yet I was intrigued the whole time. I have always felt that many paranormal stories minimized the true nature of their characters for the sake of a romantic angle. But Blake doesn’t follow that, and I really enjoyed that.
In Slumber, Tamara Blake tells the story of a girl who finds herself in the need to save and protect her family from types of people who should not even exist, all because she volunteered to work a shift when her mother was to ill to attend herself. On her journey, she sees terrible things. Death. Abuse. Maltreatment. She even loses sight of herself for a while. But her loyalty and willingness to protect the ones that she loves shows, even up to the very last page.
Tamara Blake has shared a terrifying world, one in which humans are used for sex, jokes, and hunting. But in this world, she creates the simple story of a teenage girl who’s loyalty is tested and who’s life is changed forever. And in Ruby, I see a character that each reader could find their own way to relate to. I definitely recommend Slumber to readers of young adult and paranormal books.
July 20, 2013
This book was really...weird. I didn't dislike it. But I also don't think that I would go so far as to say that I loved it, either. Going into this book, I thought that it was going to be one of those recently popular fairytale retellings (of Cinderella), but while it does have some similar elements, that's really not what it is.
Slumber is about a 17-year-old girl named Ruby, who lives with her mother and younger sister in a trailer park. When her mother falls ill, Ruby takes over for her at her job cleaning Cottingley Heights mansion, where she meets the mysterious and handsome Tam and a bunch of his rowdy drug- and sex-crazed friends, including a jealous ex-girlfriend. Ruby isn't interested in that kind of scene, but decides that she likes Tam enough to hang out with him...just not in the mansion.
As her family situation gets bleaker and bleaker, Ruby realizes that she needs to rely on Tam's help more than she wants to. After visiting him at the mansion again, she realizes that there is more to his crowd of friends than meets the eye. There's something wrong with them. All they're interested in is partying, and they seem to take a sick joy in causing pain in others. But, man, do they make good coffee.
I really, really liked Ruby's character. She was well developed, three-dimensional, and we learned a lot about who she is throughout the novel. My feelings about Tam were constantly going back and forth. His character's actions were very inconsistent, so I was confused about how I should feel about him. Is he Ruby's prince charming in disguise...or just a sexy asshole?
I also wish that the second half of the book had been way more developed. It could've used 100 more pages in order to round out all of the exciting and important things that happen after she figures out Tam's secret. There was a lot of potential there, but it ended so quickly that I almost didn't have enough time to fully absorb and enjoy everything that went down.
**Thanks to Netgalley and Diversion books for providing me this free advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.**
Slumber is about a 17-year-old girl named Ruby, who lives with her mother and younger sister in a trailer park. When her mother falls ill, Ruby takes over for her at her job cleaning Cottingley Heights mansion, where she meets the mysterious and handsome Tam and a bunch of his rowdy drug- and sex-crazed friends, including a jealous ex-girlfriend. Ruby isn't interested in that kind of scene, but decides that she likes Tam enough to hang out with him...just not in the mansion.
As her family situation gets bleaker and bleaker, Ruby realizes that she needs to rely on Tam's help more than she wants to. After visiting him at the mansion again, she realizes that there is more to his crowd of friends than meets the eye. There's something wrong with them. All they're interested in is partying, and they seem to take a sick joy in causing pain in others. But, man, do they make good coffee.
I really, really liked Ruby's character. She was well developed, three-dimensional, and we learned a lot about who she is throughout the novel. My feelings about Tam were constantly going back and forth. His character's actions were very inconsistent, so I was confused about how I should feel about him. Is he Ruby's prince charming in disguise...or just a sexy asshole?
I also wish that the second half of the book had been way more developed. It could've used 100 more pages in order to round out all of the exciting and important things that happen after she figures out Tam's secret. There was a lot of potential there, but it ended so quickly that I almost didn't have enough time to fully absorb and enjoy everything that went down.
**Thanks to Netgalley and Diversion books for providing me this free advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.**
August 7, 2013
Slumber is an incredible and crazy whirlwind tale about 17 year old, Ruby and her family's struggles in life. Ruby, her mother and her sister, Shelley, live near the Hamptons but they don't live the 'typical' Hamptons lifestyle. The three of them live in a Trailer Park and struggle to pay the bills each month. As Ruby's mother becomes ill, Ruby is forced to take her mothers place for a scheduled cleaning job at the Cottingley Heights mansion. When Ruby enters the house she is absolutely appalled by the state it's been left in after an 'elite' party - empty alcohol bottles have been left everywhere, drugs dust every counter, and Ruby even uncovers a group make-out session which she's even invited to attend! With all the crazy goings on at home and at Cottingley Heights, its a welcome distraction when handsome, tall and charming Tam saves her from the other Cottingley Heights residents. But all is not what Ruby expects with Tam and she is launched into an even crazier world that she wishes she hadn't found.
Slumber is a fantastic debut author novel - the story quickly absorbed me and I couldn't put the book down. This is not your 'typical' supernatural, romance YA book. There's violence, bitchiness and Ruby does not fall for Tam easily (if even at all) which is endearing and a change from the usual. This story was super fast paced which I loved and every one of the 192 pages is gripping - even when I thought things couldn't get any worse, they did! The only quarrel I have with this book is the ending and that's because I was super shocked and so upset there's no sequel to read straight away... what will happen to Ruby!
I highly recommend this book for all supernatural YA fans, and even if you don't like supernatural - I suggest you at least try it. This book is not your 'typical' supernatural story and has so many great elements to it that you'll no doubt find something you love.
Slumber is a fantastic debut author novel - the story quickly absorbed me and I couldn't put the book down. This is not your 'typical' supernatural, romance YA book. There's violence, bitchiness and Ruby does not fall for Tam easily (if even at all) which is endearing and a change from the usual. This story was super fast paced which I loved and every one of the 192 pages is gripping - even when I thought things couldn't get any worse, they did! The only quarrel I have with this book is the ending and that's because I was super shocked and so upset there's no sequel to read straight away... what will happen to Ruby!
I highly recommend this book for all supernatural YA fans, and even if you don't like supernatural - I suggest you at least try it. This book is not your 'typical' supernatural story and has so many great elements to it that you'll no doubt find something you love.
July 9, 2013
This book confused the heck out of me. I feel as though I should have been on some form of drugs before reading the book. But that doesn't mean I didn't like it. I have just never read such a creepy, weird book like this before. The faeries definitely aren't what they are normally portrayed as. They are murderous, vengeful and like to use human as sex/play toys. This book definitely isn't for the faint of heart or anyone who shy's away from cursing. The cursing isn't overdone but the words that are used are on the strong end.
The main character, Ruby, is a very strong willed person and I like that a lot about her. She would do anything in her power to save her mother and make sure her sister is safe. I like the strong sense of family pride and awareness. Most of everything now-a-days, whether it be books or real life, don't really have a strong sense of family at all.
The character of Tam confuses me and angers me at the same time. With the way his personalty changes throughout the book it makes me wonder if the faeries themselves can be affected by Slumber. Tam is supposed to be considered the proverbial "Knight in Shining Armor" but Ruby could have used a better knight.
Violet is a sick and twisted harlot. She has half naked humans on leashes. She enjoys torturing people and she definitely wants Tam all to herself. Violet most definitely makes the perfect villain in this book.
Ruby's young sister, Shelley, is an adorable, everyday type of little sister. She seems totally unaffected by anything that is going on around her. I still would like to know how Violet got Shelley into Cottingley Heights and why Shelley wasn't more upset than she was about being locked away in a room in a strange house.
Overall, I have a lot of unanswered questions and I am thinking there might be a sequel with how the book ended. But I definitely wasn't expecting that ending. And I really want to know what happened to Tam.
The main character, Ruby, is a very strong willed person and I like that a lot about her. She would do anything in her power to save her mother and make sure her sister is safe. I like the strong sense of family pride and awareness. Most of everything now-a-days, whether it be books or real life, don't really have a strong sense of family at all.
The character of Tam confuses me and angers me at the same time. With the way his personalty changes throughout the book it makes me wonder if the faeries themselves can be affected by Slumber. Tam is supposed to be considered the proverbial "Knight in Shining Armor" but Ruby could have used a better knight.
Violet is a sick and twisted harlot. She has half naked humans on leashes. She enjoys torturing people and she definitely wants Tam all to herself. Violet most definitely makes the perfect villain in this book.
Ruby's young sister, Shelley, is an adorable, everyday type of little sister. She seems totally unaffected by anything that is going on around her. I still would like to know how Violet got Shelley into Cottingley Heights and why Shelley wasn't more upset than she was about being locked away in a room in a strange house.
Overall, I have a lot of unanswered questions and I am thinking there might be a sequel with how the book ended. But I definitely wasn't expecting that ending. And I really want to know what happened to Tam.
July 11, 2013
When I picked up this book, I was ready for an interesting read based on the blurb. However, nothing prepared me for the utter darkness of the inhabitants of Cottingley Heights. This story is quite dark, in my opinion, and deals with pretty depressing topics that I would only recommend to the older end of YA readers. To me, this story would be a little too scary for younger YA readers - but it is very interesting, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it.
Ruby is a very likable protagonist, and her family is very sweet. Tam is likable as well, although the further the reader progresses into the story, the less s/he is inclined to trust Tam and those at Cottingley Heights. I think that Ms. Blake really captured the essence of a small family, though, in creating Ruby's family - the closeness of Ruby to her younger sister, Shelley, and the hard-working mom who always tries to provide for her daughters, even doing the worst of jobs to keep them fed and clothed.
The only problem that I had with this book was its ending. As far as I know, this is not the beginning of a series, and I feel like a sequel - or even an epilogue - would have been appropriate. It's such a feel-good ending... right until the last few paragraphs. It just left me hanging, wondering what actually happens after the last paragraph. But overall, yes, 4/5 stars. Well done, Ms. Blake, for writing a fascinating novel that takes a look at the darker side of magic.
Many thanks to Diversion Books via NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Ruby is a very likable protagonist, and her family is very sweet. Tam is likable as well, although the further the reader progresses into the story, the less s/he is inclined to trust Tam and those at Cottingley Heights. I think that Ms. Blake really captured the essence of a small family, though, in creating Ruby's family - the closeness of Ruby to her younger sister, Shelley, and the hard-working mom who always tries to provide for her daughters, even doing the worst of jobs to keep them fed and clothed.
The only problem that I had with this book was its ending. As far as I know, this is not the beginning of a series, and I feel like a sequel - or even an epilogue - would have been appropriate. It's such a feel-good ending... right until the last few paragraphs. It just left me hanging, wondering what actually happens after the last paragraph. But overall, yes, 4/5 stars. Well done, Ms. Blake, for writing a fascinating novel that takes a look at the darker side of magic.
Many thanks to Diversion Books via NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 10, 2013
3.5 stars
I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVE THIS COVER!! It is what initially drew me in and made me want to read this book. I wanted to love this book, not only because I loved the cover but I loved the storyline, but it was so friggin weird. I really enjoyed the first half of the novel, once the second half hit you could tell the story was dealing with a creature that wasn't human but it didn't come right out and tell you what it was until about 60-70% in (I had guessed before then). That's the point where all hell broke loose and we begin to lose time and things got confusing until the very end.
These characters were fun to read about. I really liked Ruby, she was a great female lead. I was really excited to see that she chose family over "love", if you could call it that lol. It showed that she was an independent and strong woman and that she gave a crap about her family. Tam was okay, he pissed me off a lot because in one sentence he would care so much then the next he didn't give a shit about anyone or anything, like make up your mind!! He was too hot/ cold for me. For some crazy reason I liked Violet the best. I think that she probably had a shitty go with men and was definitely the scorned woman and I really want her story!!
Overall this was a pretty good read. I was quick and easy to get through, despite a few confusing areas. I would definitely read a spin-off of a few of theses characters because I found them to be very intriguing. I would recommend this to readers who love "faery" tales.
I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVE THIS COVER!! It is what initially drew me in and made me want to read this book. I wanted to love this book, not only because I loved the cover but I loved the storyline, but it was so friggin weird. I really enjoyed the first half of the novel, once the second half hit you could tell the story was dealing with a creature that wasn't human but it didn't come right out and tell you what it was until about 60-70% in (I had guessed before then). That's the point where all hell broke loose and we begin to lose time and things got confusing until the very end.
These characters were fun to read about. I really liked Ruby, she was a great female lead. I was really excited to see that she chose family over "love", if you could call it that lol. It showed that she was an independent and strong woman and that she gave a crap about her family. Tam was okay, he pissed me off a lot because in one sentence he would care so much then the next he didn't give a shit about anyone or anything, like make up your mind!! He was too hot/ cold for me. For some crazy reason I liked Violet the best. I think that she probably had a shitty go with men and was definitely the scorned woman and I really want her story!!
Overall this was a pretty good read. I was quick and easy to get through, despite a few confusing areas. I would definitely read a spin-off of a few of theses characters because I found them to be very intriguing. I would recommend this to readers who love "faery" tales.
July 15, 2013
Ooh, what a delightful little find. This is why I love Netgalley. Because in amongst a load of good books (and a few not-so-good), now and then I come across a real gem that I probably would never have read otherwise. And now it's my job to convince you that you want to read it too!
The mesh between urban life and magic is perfect here. Ruby is as real as it gets - reduced to sorry circumstances, living in a trailer park with her mum and little sister, her grades at school slipping because she has to work and look after her sister too much. Then there's Tam. I'm not going to reveal what Tam is, because it's not mentioned in the summary and I don't want to drop a spoiler. He's, shall we say, different. In a non-spoilery way he's too gorgeous for words, rich, and surprisingly gentle. His friends are all spoiled brats just looking for the next high, but Tam is different. Blake leaves us plenty of clues as to just how different he is, scattered like a sparkling trail of glitter, so I'm fairly confident that you'll figure it out - at least before Ruby does. You can't blame her though - I would have found the truth hard to swallow too.
Full review at http://escapeintowords.blogspot.co.uk...
The mesh between urban life and magic is perfect here. Ruby is as real as it gets - reduced to sorry circumstances, living in a trailer park with her mum and little sister, her grades at school slipping because she has to work and look after her sister too much. Then there's Tam. I'm not going to reveal what Tam is, because it's not mentioned in the summary and I don't want to drop a spoiler. He's, shall we say, different. In a non-spoilery way he's too gorgeous for words, rich, and surprisingly gentle. His friends are all spoiled brats just looking for the next high, but Tam is different. Blake leaves us plenty of clues as to just how different he is, scattered like a sparkling trail of glitter, so I'm fairly confident that you'll figure it out - at least before Ruby does. You can't blame her though - I would have found the truth hard to swallow too.
Full review at http://escapeintowords.blogspot.co.uk...
July 8, 2013
When I first read about this book I was thinking I was going to be reading the typical sugar coated tales about magic and fairies and vampires. Oh was I ever wrong. And I am soooo happy for that. This book went along with the natural backgrounds of the fey, and I loved it. I'm so tired of the sugar, spice and everything nice. I want them to be how they were originally portrayed, beautiful but cruel, and this book gets it exactly right. You also get a glimpse of how tricky and brilliant they are. Even the most caring of them would never be kind by our standards, unless it suits their needs as Ruby learns. She finds herself in her very own fairytale and I love the way that Tamara Blake was able to lead through her story. The ending of the book upset me, though not because it was bad, but because it left it so that it could either be ended there OR go on to another book. I hate those kind of endings. I want to either be given an absolute ending or know i'm going to get a sequel soon. I absolutely do hope she ends up writing a sequel if not more, because I would love to follow Ruby on her new journeys.
July 13, 2013
When I saw that this was about a girl working as a cleaning woman at a mysterious manor house, I was hoping it would have some Gothic elements, but instead, it's pretty much straight paranormal. This was a quick read and entertaining at times, but nothing particularly memorable, and the writing and characterization were mediocre at best. There was at least one giant plot hole that bothered me, though the rules of magic in this world were consistent, which is a point in its favor. This wasn't terrible, but there's nothing in it that would make me recommend you go out of your way to read it.
July 8, 2013
I read this book because 1, I like the cover and 2, my daughter is called Ruby. I'm so glad that the Ruby in this 'fairy' story has morals and balls!
She shows the faeries up for what they truly are: beautiful, selfish and evil.
The ending is left open, so maybe Ruby can make a comeback in another tale...
She shows the faeries up for what they truly are: beautiful, selfish and evil.
The ending is left open, so maybe Ruby can make a comeback in another tale...
June 28, 2015
For the full review, please visit: Thoughts and Pens
If I have to describe this book in one word, it would be CRAZY! Crazy as hell for totally blowing me off my seat leaving me breathless from one rollercoaster ride. I know it’s exaggerated but that’s what I felt after reading this book. And to think that when I first requested this from Netgalley, I really didn’t have high hopes for it. I didn’t know the author and the title wasn’t that great. The reason why I selected it because the summary had the word magic in it and everyone knows that I’m a sucker for books that particularly talk about magic or anything weird.
And I am glad to announce that this book did more than justice to my reason of selecting it from the countless titles in Netgalley. I loved it and I can’t wait for the sequel to come out if this book is planned to become a series. An urban fantasy at its best, Slumber follows the story of a 17-year old, fatherless girl named Ruby. Ruby and her family were poor; her mother doing shitty jobs to make ends meet while her adorable sister, Shelley has learned to make the best of things out of the worst. And Ruby, despite her big dreams of being an actress in the Big Apple, chose to forgo all that and took a lowly job as housecleaner in one of the biggest mansions in their area. It is there that she met Tam, a mysterious guy shrouded by a perplexing history of combined danger and magic. And if Ruby isn’t careful, she might as well find herself on the brink of demise.
Enough with that dramatic summary, friends. Let’s get on with the review. As I’ve said earlier, this is one Crazy book. The first chapters give us a background of Ruby and her family’s life then slowly, crazy things began to unfold when she went to Cottingley Heights to do some housecleaning works. And by golly, that’s where the madness started. From the bizarre manor to the wild parties and to the callous residents themselves, everything was unnerving. Slumber is rich with darkness and gory scenes especially that Tam and the other residents of Cottingley Heights were revealed to be faeries, ancient magical beings who chose to live with humans. And instead of being the stereotype version, these faeries are capable of toying with humans and killing them after. They glorify on violence, deception, and enslaving humans with their magical powers. And their idea of fun is hideous and hair raising. Tamara Blake’s faeries may be likened to that of the faeries in Mortal Instruments. Yeah, they’re very similar if I think of it but then, Tamara had gone out of her way to put these faeries into a different light making them a product of your worst nightmare.
And Ruby was an exceptional person to be the one dealing with these nasty beings. She’s strong willed, very compassionate, has no-nonsense attitude, and her devotion towards her family is outstanding. Yes, she might have desires for the good life but she chose to endure the hardships that come her way for the sake of keeping her family from falling apart. And though she was attracted to Tam and had nearly fallen for him badly, she still came through for her family at the end. She didn’t let her craziness over Tam deflect her from her priorities. And I salute her for that.
What about Tam? I actually share a love-hate relationship with him. Most of the time, I can see his innate goodness but there are times that his faerie nature overcomes his good side and he acts all weird. But I think, Tamara did an excellent job in portraying him like this, like he was torn from doing good and from his true nature. And it makes Tam an even more interesting subject because you’d never know what he’d do in the succeeding sequel (which I hope there would be).
Apart from these two, almost all the characters of Slumber are loveable and hateful (not in a way that I hate them because they’re flat). Ruby’s mother and Shelley—Ruby’s younger sister—are adorable. With them, I could really feel that heartwarming familial devotion that put me on the verge of tears.
Slumber’s villain/s especially Violet is a revenge-crazed bitch and a total slut. And because of that, she’s perfect to play the act. Even the background villains are an interesting bunch of characters.
Slumber also has strong points when it comes to mystery, horrific action scenes, and abhorent orgy parts that successfully made me nervous but that did not stop me from turning the pages like I can’t get enough of it. And yet, despite that, this book is oozing with heart… the close-knit relationship between Ruby and her mother and her sister is a real gem to this dark book.
Overall, except for a few typos, Slumber is a perfect prelude to what I hope a magnificent series in the making! A must-read for Y/A lovers who likes extreme violence and grossness.
If I have to describe this book in one word, it would be CRAZY! Crazy as hell for totally blowing me off my seat leaving me breathless from one rollercoaster ride. I know it’s exaggerated but that’s what I felt after reading this book. And to think that when I first requested this from Netgalley, I really didn’t have high hopes for it. I didn’t know the author and the title wasn’t that great. The reason why I selected it because the summary had the word magic in it and everyone knows that I’m a sucker for books that particularly talk about magic or anything weird.
And I am glad to announce that this book did more than justice to my reason of selecting it from the countless titles in Netgalley. I loved it and I can’t wait for the sequel to come out if this book is planned to become a series. An urban fantasy at its best, Slumber follows the story of a 17-year old, fatherless girl named Ruby. Ruby and her family were poor; her mother doing shitty jobs to make ends meet while her adorable sister, Shelley has learned to make the best of things out of the worst. And Ruby, despite her big dreams of being an actress in the Big Apple, chose to forgo all that and took a lowly job as housecleaner in one of the biggest mansions in their area. It is there that she met Tam, a mysterious guy shrouded by a perplexing history of combined danger and magic. And if Ruby isn’t careful, she might as well find herself on the brink of demise.
Enough with that dramatic summary, friends. Let’s get on with the review. As I’ve said earlier, this is one Crazy book. The first chapters give us a background of Ruby and her family’s life then slowly, crazy things began to unfold when she went to Cottingley Heights to do some housecleaning works. And by golly, that’s where the madness started. From the bizarre manor to the wild parties and to the callous residents themselves, everything was unnerving. Slumber is rich with darkness and gory scenes especially that Tam and the other residents of Cottingley Heights were revealed to be faeries, ancient magical beings who chose to live with humans. And instead of being the stereotype version, these faeries are capable of toying with humans and killing them after. They glorify on violence, deception, and enslaving humans with their magical powers. And their idea of fun is hideous and hair raising. Tamara Blake’s faeries may be likened to that of the faeries in Mortal Instruments. Yeah, they’re very similar if I think of it but then, Tamara had gone out of her way to put these faeries into a different light making them a product of your worst nightmare.
And Ruby was an exceptional person to be the one dealing with these nasty beings. She’s strong willed, very compassionate, has no-nonsense attitude, and her devotion towards her family is outstanding. Yes, she might have desires for the good life but she chose to endure the hardships that come her way for the sake of keeping her family from falling apart. And though she was attracted to Tam and had nearly fallen for him badly, she still came through for her family at the end. She didn’t let her craziness over Tam deflect her from her priorities. And I salute her for that.
What about Tam? I actually share a love-hate relationship with him. Most of the time, I can see his innate goodness but there are times that his faerie nature overcomes his good side and he acts all weird. But I think, Tamara did an excellent job in portraying him like this, like he was torn from doing good and from his true nature. And it makes Tam an even more interesting subject because you’d never know what he’d do in the succeeding sequel (which I hope there would be).
Apart from these two, almost all the characters of Slumber are loveable and hateful (not in a way that I hate them because they’re flat). Ruby’s mother and Shelley—Ruby’s younger sister—are adorable. With them, I could really feel that heartwarming familial devotion that put me on the verge of tears.
Slumber’s villain/s especially Violet is a revenge-crazed bitch and a total slut. And because of that, she’s perfect to play the act. Even the background villains are an interesting bunch of characters.
Slumber also has strong points when it comes to mystery, horrific action scenes, and abhorent orgy parts that successfully made me nervous but that did not stop me from turning the pages like I can’t get enough of it. And yet, despite that, this book is oozing with heart… the close-knit relationship between Ruby and her mother and her sister is a real gem to this dark book.
Overall, except for a few typos, Slumber is a perfect prelude to what I hope a magnificent series in the making! A must-read for Y/A lovers who likes extreme violence and grossness.
August 29, 2013
A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher as part of the blog tour. No compensation was involved.
I really liked Slumber. It was a super fast read; I read it in one sitting! I actually love that it wasn't too long and didnt drag. I haven't read a succinct story all year. I also want to mention how I loved the cover. The cover is what drew me in-- mainly the color. Going in I really didnt know what to expect at all. By the time I started I had forgotten what the blurb said and just knew because of the title it had something to do with sleep and paranormal whatsits.
Ruby. My, I have mixed up feelings about this chick. She's strong and loving, all the traits of a good human. I loved Ruby (for the most part) and felt sympathy for her. I also felt proud of her that she didn't break down nearly as much as I would have, given the circumstances. She's one tough cookie. Perhaps like one more burst of tears would've made it more believable.
So Ruby is selfless but she's also DAFT. Thats what really frustrated me; her lack of common sense. How can you not know something supernatural is going on? Does the girl you see in the hospital who tells you she never met you before and you just saw her jump off of a building NOT clue you in? Sorry Ruby, you're great but not too bright. Besides the fact that Ruby can't pick up on any major hints; she is a good girl. She stays true to her principles, even when I kinda wanted her to sway a little more towards Tam.
Ruby won't give Tam a chance. She's annoyed with him and wants to leave him but I'm confused as to why. She changes her feelings toward him when he does nice things to her. If I can see he really care about her--why can't she? I mean I get how he's sketchy. But he's trying to help her and spends time with her and her family. I really liked him. I felt like I could've seen more reasons why he was so conflicted-- but my mind made ample suggestions and I'm sure it'll be explored in the sequel.
The ending was a big mindfuck. I mean, I kinda suspected it but then dismissed it...I really didnt like the last sentence. It bothered me, but I guess in a good way because it's a total CLIFF hanger (PUN INTENDED). I guess it served its purpose because I'm biting my nails in anticipation of the sequel! When is it coming out?! I have no idea. But not soon enough.
P.S. Why not more kisses with Tam? I mean, just because it's YA they can't snuggle in bed together and mess around...or allude to messing around?
Dream sex?
No?
Darn. He was so hot.
I really liked Slumber. It was a super fast read; I read it in one sitting! I actually love that it wasn't too long and didnt drag. I haven't read a succinct story all year. I also want to mention how I loved the cover. The cover is what drew me in-- mainly the color. Going in I really didnt know what to expect at all. By the time I started I had forgotten what the blurb said and just knew because of the title it had something to do with sleep and paranormal whatsits.
Ruby. My, I have mixed up feelings about this chick. She's strong and loving, all the traits of a good human. I loved Ruby (for the most part) and felt sympathy for her. I also felt proud of her that she didn't break down nearly as much as I would have, given the circumstances. She's one tough cookie. Perhaps like one more burst of tears would've made it more believable.
So Ruby is selfless but she's also DAFT. Thats what really frustrated me; her lack of common sense. How can you not know something supernatural is going on? Does the girl you see in the hospital who tells you she never met you before and you just saw her jump off of a building NOT clue you in? Sorry Ruby, you're great but not too bright. Besides the fact that Ruby can't pick up on any major hints; she is a good girl. She stays true to her principles, even when I kinda wanted her to sway a little more towards Tam.
Ruby won't give Tam a chance. She's annoyed with him and wants to leave him but I'm confused as to why. She changes her feelings toward him when he does nice things to her. If I can see he really care about her--why can't she? I mean I get how he's sketchy. But he's trying to help her and spends time with her and her family. I really liked him. I felt like I could've seen more reasons why he was so conflicted-- but my mind made ample suggestions and I'm sure it'll be explored in the sequel.
The ending was a big mindfuck. I mean, I kinda suspected it but then dismissed it...I really didnt like the last sentence. It bothered me, but I guess in a good way because it's a total CLIFF hanger (PUN INTENDED). I guess it served its purpose because I'm biting my nails in anticipation of the sequel! When is it coming out?! I have no idea. But not soon enough.
P.S. Why not more kisses with Tam? I mean, just because it's YA they can't snuggle in bed together and mess around...or allude to messing around?
Dream sex?
No?
Darn. He was so hot.
July 18, 2013
I received Slumber as an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Ruby's family seems to live under a dark cloud. Her mother, overworked and underpaid, has fallen ill. Ruby herself has to help care for her younger sister with practically no money. Her dream of attending an NYU drama program seems like an impossible fantasy. Then one day Ruby takes a shift in a mysterious Hamptons 'castle' as a housekeeper and everything changes.
Tam is gorgeous and charming. In a short time, he practically sweeps Ruby off of her feet. From here, everything spirals out of control.
'Slumber' for me was excellent in concept. A different approach was taken to supernatural entities. The issue I have with this book is the execution of the concept. It took me far too long to read this book because I couldn't get into it until more than half way through it.
The introduction and the 'truths' we learn in the first half of the novel build at a snail's pace. The fact that a mysterious castle exists, undiscovered, in the Hamptons (not far from a trailer park) is fairly ridiculous. I mean, I'm from Eastern Long Island and I would be hard-pressed to fathom the existence of this magical place.
The character development of Ruby is written fairly well. The reader learns about her interests, her aspirations and her living situation quickly. Her personality becomes apparent and familiar throughout the novel.
The book as a whole, however, seems disjointed over all. Events skip from one moment to the next without really developing each scene. I understand that parts of the novel are supposed to skip around, but reading something that seems rushed on the good parts and lengthy on the developmental parts caused my impatience to complete the novel by the end.
Had the novel been more so drawn out (at about 75% of the way into the book) during Violet's challenges especially, I probably would have liked the book more. The idea of a dangerous competition, to me, is highly interesting and is what drew me into books like 'The Hunger Games' and 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.'
Finally, I finished the book liking it, but not loving it in the end. Had the novel been more so developed in the second half, I probably would have given the book a higher rating.
Ruby's family seems to live under a dark cloud. Her mother, overworked and underpaid, has fallen ill. Ruby herself has to help care for her younger sister with practically no money. Her dream of attending an NYU drama program seems like an impossible fantasy. Then one day Ruby takes a shift in a mysterious Hamptons 'castle' as a housekeeper and everything changes.
Tam is gorgeous and charming. In a short time, he practically sweeps Ruby off of her feet. From here, everything spirals out of control.
'Slumber' for me was excellent in concept. A different approach was taken to supernatural entities. The issue I have with this book is the execution of the concept. It took me far too long to read this book because I couldn't get into it until more than half way through it.
The introduction and the 'truths' we learn in the first half of the novel build at a snail's pace. The fact that a mysterious castle exists, undiscovered, in the Hamptons (not far from a trailer park) is fairly ridiculous. I mean, I'm from Eastern Long Island and I would be hard-pressed to fathom the existence of this magical place.
The character development of Ruby is written fairly well. The reader learns about her interests, her aspirations and her living situation quickly. Her personality becomes apparent and familiar throughout the novel.
The book as a whole, however, seems disjointed over all. Events skip from one moment to the next without really developing each scene. I understand that parts of the novel are supposed to skip around, but reading something that seems rushed on the good parts and lengthy on the developmental parts caused my impatience to complete the novel by the end.
Had the novel been more so drawn out (at about 75% of the way into the book) during Violet's challenges especially, I probably would have liked the book more. The idea of a dangerous competition, to me, is highly interesting and is what drew me into books like 'The Hunger Games' and 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.'
Finally, I finished the book liking it, but not loving it in the end. Had the novel been more so developed in the second half, I probably would have given the book a higher rating.
September 8, 2013
Review taken from: http://ramblingsonreadings.blogspot.com
So I, like many reviews I have read, assumed this would be your run-of-the-mill fairy tale retelling. Fortunately, I was VERY wrong. I’ll agree with other reviewers that this book is weird. But it’s definitely not the weirdest thing I’ve ever read.
I really liked Ruby. She was a tough girl; she didn’t complain about her horrible situation, she sucked it up and dealt with it. And did her situation get HORRIBLE.
I mean, literally anything that could have gone wrong for her happened. It was miserable. And Tam. I didn’t really like him until the last chapter. Because he was totally playing her the whole time and she knew it! But it made for a different relationship than most YA books nowadays, so that was refreshing. I mean, sure, he had the whole sexy adorable charming smooth talker rich thing going for him, but I didn’t trust him one bit through the entire book.
Those antagonists…they were CREEPY. Sadistic. Hedonistic. All in all a pretty terrible crowd. They murdered people, had orgies, drank until they were completely wasted, did drugs, and did all manner of other bizarre and dangerous things. They set the tone for the book, meaning this book is DARK.
I was pleased with Ruby’s reaction to this creepster group. She was horrified. As she should have been.
I really would have just turned to complete and utter denial. She literally steps into a nightmare. There’s really no other word for it. Which was an AWESOME conflict. The stakes were so high, she was literally suffocating (no, literally. She was actually suffocating).
Ruby’s main concern was taking care of her ailing mom and her younger sister. I liked that there was a big focus on her being the caretaker, because as a 17 year, that’s an impossible situation, which added a nice layer of conflict outside of the fantasy conflict.
All in all, this book was creepy, dark, and all around AWESOME. With a terribly infuriating cliffhanger of an ending, I am anxiously awaiting the sequel. Highly recommended for fans of fairy tale retellings, paranormal and fantasy novels!
So I, like many reviews I have read, assumed this would be your run-of-the-mill fairy tale retelling. Fortunately, I was VERY wrong. I’ll agree with other reviewers that this book is weird. But it’s definitely not the weirdest thing I’ve ever read.
I really liked Ruby. She was a tough girl; she didn’t complain about her horrible situation, she sucked it up and dealt with it. And did her situation get HORRIBLE.
I mean, literally anything that could have gone wrong for her happened. It was miserable. And Tam. I didn’t really like him until the last chapter. Because he was totally playing her the whole time and she knew it! But it made for a different relationship than most YA books nowadays, so that was refreshing. I mean, sure, he had the whole sexy adorable charming smooth talker rich thing going for him, but I didn’t trust him one bit through the entire book.
Those antagonists…they were CREEPY. Sadistic. Hedonistic. All in all a pretty terrible crowd. They murdered people, had orgies, drank until they were completely wasted, did drugs, and did all manner of other bizarre and dangerous things. They set the tone for the book, meaning this book is DARK.
I was pleased with Ruby’s reaction to this creepster group. She was horrified. As she should have been.
I really would have just turned to complete and utter denial. She literally steps into a nightmare. There’s really no other word for it. Which was an AWESOME conflict. The stakes were so high, she was literally suffocating (no, literally. She was actually suffocating).
Ruby’s main concern was taking care of her ailing mom and her younger sister. I liked that there was a big focus on her being the caretaker, because as a 17 year, that’s an impossible situation, which added a nice layer of conflict outside of the fantasy conflict.
All in all, this book was creepy, dark, and all around AWESOME. With a terribly infuriating cliffhanger of an ending, I am anxiously awaiting the sequel. Highly recommended for fans of fairy tale retellings, paranormal and fantasy novels!
March 2, 2015
What an odd book...
I'm almost at a loss for what to say about it. The whole book had this dreamlike quality to it. Not a bad read, but there were flaws. Let me start with the good though:
1. The fae. She let them be sadistic. Not just vain, beautiful creatures, but truly horrifying in that they just saw humans as something to play with and then discard as they saw fit. It just made me feel on edge during the whole book.
2. The setting. The creepiness of Cottingley is palpable. From the moment Ruby sets foot in that house, you can just tell that something bad will happen. I loved all the vivid descriptions of the mansion.
3. Ruby. She was a strong character that is very loyal to her family. She doesn't just fall in love and forget everything else. She's tempted with Tam's offer, but she stays true to her morals.
4. The cliffhanger. Yes, even I can't believe I'm praising it. I usually detest cliffhangers. I just feel like each book should be contained with the possibility of more but don't leave me hanging. BUT with this one, it was so good. I wasn't expecting it and it set up for an interesting next book.
Now on to the not so good:
1. Tam. I'm not really sure how to feel about him. I couldn't quite figure him out. Is he psychotic like the rest or is he actually a good guy in disguise? I'm still undecided.
2. The length of the book. While I think the pacing was pretty good in the beginning, somewhere close to the end, the book just started feeling rushed. I still like the ending but just wish Ruby's time spent with the fae would have been more fleshed out. It was a little vague before the whole hunt scene.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy and fae books. And I will be checking out any future books from this author.
*Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I'm almost at a loss for what to say about it. The whole book had this dreamlike quality to it. Not a bad read, but there were flaws. Let me start with the good though:
1. The fae. She let them be sadistic. Not just vain, beautiful creatures, but truly horrifying in that they just saw humans as something to play with and then discard as they saw fit. It just made me feel on edge during the whole book.
2. The setting. The creepiness of Cottingley is palpable. From the moment Ruby sets foot in that house, you can just tell that something bad will happen. I loved all the vivid descriptions of the mansion.
3. Ruby. She was a strong character that is very loyal to her family. She doesn't just fall in love and forget everything else. She's tempted with Tam's offer, but she stays true to her morals.
4. The cliffhanger. Yes, even I can't believe I'm praising it. I usually detest cliffhangers. I just feel like each book should be contained with the possibility of more but don't leave me hanging. BUT with this one, it was so good. I wasn't expecting it and it set up for an interesting next book.
Now on to the not so good:
1. Tam. I'm not really sure how to feel about him. I couldn't quite figure him out. Is he psychotic like the rest or is he actually a good guy in disguise? I'm still undecided.
2. The length of the book. While I think the pacing was pretty good in the beginning, somewhere close to the end, the book just started feeling rushed. I still like the ending but just wish Ruby's time spent with the fae would have been more fleshed out. It was a little vague before the whole hunt scene.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy and fae books. And I will be checking out any future books from this author.
*Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
July 12, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book really confused me. I’m not sure how to feel now that it’s over. Should I be happy with the ending? Should I have liked the main character? What about her love interest? I’m really not sure how I feel about any of it, except that I kept reading and it was completely not what I expected.
This book follows Ruby, a down on her luck teenager who is struggling to make ends meet. To take some burden off her mom, she goes to work at a creepy mansion where the really confusing craziness happens. Magic and chaos abounds. I’m not sure I could even describe all the twists and turns it takes. It’s like an updated and warped Alice in Wonderland story at the heart of it all, with a cliffhanger at the end.
At first, I was really sold on Tam as a character. I like the type of magical entities that this book revolves around, and I’m not opposed to fairy tale references, so I was on board. His character, however, really ends up not being very likable. Maybe if we had seen more of his decision making process, I would have been able to forgive him a few sins or moments that lacked any shown emotion (or crazy confusing emotion). All this aside, I was still rooting for him and Ruby all along the way, because I’m a sucker for paranormal romance scenarios.
Beware – this book will suck you in and end up being a wild and crazy ride that leaves you feeling slightly confused.
This book really confused me. I’m not sure how to feel now that it’s over. Should I be happy with the ending? Should I have liked the main character? What about her love interest? I’m really not sure how I feel about any of it, except that I kept reading and it was completely not what I expected.
This book follows Ruby, a down on her luck teenager who is struggling to make ends meet. To take some burden off her mom, she goes to work at a creepy mansion where the really confusing craziness happens. Magic and chaos abounds. I’m not sure I could even describe all the twists and turns it takes. It’s like an updated and warped Alice in Wonderland story at the heart of it all, with a cliffhanger at the end.
At first, I was really sold on Tam as a character. I like the type of magical entities that this book revolves around, and I’m not opposed to fairy tale references, so I was on board. His character, however, really ends up not being very likable. Maybe if we had seen more of his decision making process, I would have been able to forgive him a few sins or moments that lacked any shown emotion (or crazy confusing emotion). All this aside, I was still rooting for him and Ruby all along the way, because I’m a sucker for paranormal romance scenarios.
Beware – this book will suck you in and end up being a wild and crazy ride that leaves you feeling slightly confused.
August 2, 2013
3.5
Brief summary: Ruby and her family are poor, so poor in fact that Ruby has to work as a maid. One day she gets sent to clean at a strange estate, Conttingsly. There the people are all gorgeous, but their behavior is wild and reckless. She meets Tam, one of the beautiful residents, and Violt, who hates her practically upon site. When strange things start happening to her, her mother becomes sick, and the family s unexplainable evicted, Ruby goes to Tam for answers. Ruby must find a way to break the curse her family is under, keep her humanity, and resist the charms of a boy she knows she can't trust.
Review: The first half of the book was nice, but nothing special. I did like the description of Cottingsly; it reminded me of the castle in Beauty and the Beast. All the characters, though, felt a little too cliche and the story predictable. The second half, after Tam reveals what he is, what the Slumber is, and when Ruby goes to live at the estate was better. I really got into the fairy tale aspect of it then. Tam was a great, morally ambiguous character. I liked that this book didn't focus on a romance between Tam and Ruby; I would have respected Ruby less. The action involving Ruby winning her freedom and the ending were quickly and neatly done.
Recommendation: for people who love stories about fairies and fairy tale retellings
My reviews at http://www.fictionsnoop.com
Brief summary: Ruby and her family are poor, so poor in fact that Ruby has to work as a maid. One day she gets sent to clean at a strange estate, Conttingsly. There the people are all gorgeous, but their behavior is wild and reckless. She meets Tam, one of the beautiful residents, and Violt, who hates her practically upon site. When strange things start happening to her, her mother becomes sick, and the family s unexplainable evicted, Ruby goes to Tam for answers. Ruby must find a way to break the curse her family is under, keep her humanity, and resist the charms of a boy she knows she can't trust.
Review: The first half of the book was nice, but nothing special. I did like the description of Cottingsly; it reminded me of the castle in Beauty and the Beast. All the characters, though, felt a little too cliche and the story predictable. The second half, after Tam reveals what he is, what the Slumber is, and when Ruby goes to live at the estate was better. I really got into the fairy tale aspect of it then. Tam was a great, morally ambiguous character. I liked that this book didn't focus on a romance between Tam and Ruby; I would have respected Ruby less. The action involving Ruby winning her freedom and the ending were quickly and neatly done.
Recommendation: for people who love stories about fairies and fairy tale retellings
My reviews at http://www.fictionsnoop.com
July 17, 2013
4.5 stars:
I absolutely loved Outcast, published by Diversion Books and this time round I picked up Slumber. Boy, oh boy did I love it. The cover screamed at me to read it, then from the first page I was immediately drawn in. I couldn’t put it down.
Slumber isn’t just a story about magic (however awesome a story about magic is). It’s much deeper than that. It’s about family and how far many of us would go to protect the ones we love. In this case Ruby, our protagonist needs to save her sister and her mother from a curse. I absolutely loved the relationship between Ruby and her sister. It was just so heart-warming and relatable. My sister may be older than me, but I still feel the same protectiveness over her like Ruby does with Shelley.
Ruby herself is one of the best characters I’ve come across in this book genre. She’s so strong and protective over those that she loves. She was a real kick-ass character. I loved her! Tam is an intriguing character. I think I knew from quite early on that he wasn’t what he seemed. I started to wonder what exactly he was…
Tam is a Fae. The fairies he hangs around with are pretty vile fairies, particularly Violet. I absolutely loved to hate them. Ruby gets dragged into their world… but I don’t want to spoil what happens to her. Read it yourself and enjoy! I know I certainly did.
I absolutely loved Outcast, published by Diversion Books and this time round I picked up Slumber. Boy, oh boy did I love it. The cover screamed at me to read it, then from the first page I was immediately drawn in. I couldn’t put it down.
Slumber isn’t just a story about magic (however awesome a story about magic is). It’s much deeper than that. It’s about family and how far many of us would go to protect the ones we love. In this case Ruby, our protagonist needs to save her sister and her mother from a curse. I absolutely loved the relationship between Ruby and her sister. It was just so heart-warming and relatable. My sister may be older than me, but I still feel the same protectiveness over her like Ruby does with Shelley.
Ruby herself is one of the best characters I’ve come across in this book genre. She’s so strong and protective over those that she loves. She was a real kick-ass character. I loved her! Tam is an intriguing character. I think I knew from quite early on that he wasn’t what he seemed. I started to wonder what exactly he was…
Tam is a Fae. The fairies he hangs around with are pretty vile fairies, particularly Violet. I absolutely loved to hate them. Ruby gets dragged into their world… but I don’t want to spoil what happens to her. Read it yourself and enjoy! I know I certainly did.
October 15, 2013
Amazon's blurb:
When Ruby volunteers to take her mother's housecleaning shift at the gothic Cottingley Heights mansion, she thinks it's going to be business as usual. Clean out the fridge, scrub toilets, nothing too unusual. But nothing could prepare her for the decadent squalor she finds within. Rich people with more money than sense trashing their beautiful clothes and home just because they can. After the handsome Tam discovers her cleaning up after him and his rich friends, Ruby has never felt more like a character from her sister’s book of fairy tales.
Tam sees beyond Ruby’s job and ratty clothes, and sweeps her off her feet, treating her like a real princess, but Ruby is sure this beautiful boy is too good to be true. And as one tragedy after another befalls Ruby and her family, Ruby painfully learns that magic is all too real, and it always comes with a price.
My Thoughts:
I was drawn in to this book by the beautiful cover and the impression that this was a retelling of Cinderella. However, this wasn't really the case. I thought it was more a dark fairy story than anything else, and after trying repeadedly to read this, it just didn't draw me in like I'd hoped it would. I had to give up at about 70%. The writing was intriguing and well done, I think it was me, and the fact that my expectations were "off".
When Ruby volunteers to take her mother's housecleaning shift at the gothic Cottingley Heights mansion, she thinks it's going to be business as usual. Clean out the fridge, scrub toilets, nothing too unusual. But nothing could prepare her for the decadent squalor she finds within. Rich people with more money than sense trashing their beautiful clothes and home just because they can. After the handsome Tam discovers her cleaning up after him and his rich friends, Ruby has never felt more like a character from her sister’s book of fairy tales.
Tam sees beyond Ruby’s job and ratty clothes, and sweeps her off her feet, treating her like a real princess, but Ruby is sure this beautiful boy is too good to be true. And as one tragedy after another befalls Ruby and her family, Ruby painfully learns that magic is all too real, and it always comes with a price.
My Thoughts:
I was drawn in to this book by the beautiful cover and the impression that this was a retelling of Cinderella. However, this wasn't really the case. I thought it was more a dark fairy story than anything else, and after trying repeadedly to read this, it just didn't draw me in like I'd hoped it would. I had to give up at about 70%. The writing was intriguing and well done, I think it was me, and the fact that my expectations were "off".
March 6, 2014
Ruby's mother is sick and they are barely making enough money to live on. Residing in a mobile home, with her mother and little sister. Ruby takes over her mothers job to be able to say afloat. She is already on the verge of dropping out and when her mother becomes ill. Keeping her alive is the only thing on her mind.
The cleaning of Cottingley Heights is not an easy task. Especially just one person for a couple of hours at a time. Honey on the floor, stains in the carpet and clothing thrown onto every open spot in each room. Very expensive clothes, jewelry, drugs and alcohol are to be found everywhere, tossed aside as if they don't cost or mean a thing to any of them. Which sickens Ruby to the bone considering her own circumstances.
Tam makes his appearance in the story right from the beginning. Yet Ruby is a little cautious with opening up to him because of his lifestyle. But the interest he shows in her and the idea of a somewhat stable paycheck, she continues to work at the house.
Needless to say Ruby gets caught up in some mischievous agendas of the residents and it puts her and her whole family in turmoil. She will have to overcome several tests to regain any glimpse of normality back into her life. Least of all get out alive.
The cleaning of Cottingley Heights is not an easy task. Especially just one person for a couple of hours at a time. Honey on the floor, stains in the carpet and clothing thrown onto every open spot in each room. Very expensive clothes, jewelry, drugs and alcohol are to be found everywhere, tossed aside as if they don't cost or mean a thing to any of them. Which sickens Ruby to the bone considering her own circumstances.
Tam makes his appearance in the story right from the beginning. Yet Ruby is a little cautious with opening up to him because of his lifestyle. But the interest he shows in her and the idea of a somewhat stable paycheck, she continues to work at the house.
Needless to say Ruby gets caught up in some mischievous agendas of the residents and it puts her and her whole family in turmoil. She will have to overcome several tests to regain any glimpse of normality back into her life. Least of all get out alive.
July 14, 2013
3.5 Stars
When it comes to anything remotely fairy-tale-ish I am bound to end up getting my hands on it so I was really happy to read Slumber for review.
It’s an easy story to read and if I hadn’t started it really late one night I’m certain I would have finished it in one sitting. The book starts somewhat predictably; Ruby covers her mum’s cleaning shift because she’s sick. The house is old and weird, halfway through her shift Ruby meets Tam the mysterious and beautiful stranger. Ok I’ll admit it, at that point I was a little concerned BUT ooh the second half of this book is so good!
Ruby’s likable from the start but the more she gets sucked into Cottingley Heights the more she became the kind of protagonist I wanted to cheer for. Didn’t matter that Tam was handing her (his version) of heaven – Ruby did not forget what was important and she stood up for herself.
I loved the traditional tasks for the challenge and given my reaction to the ending I must have been hooked because… *drumroll*
“There has to be a sequel, do not leave me hanging like this!”
(I rarely say that.)
When it comes to anything remotely fairy-tale-ish I am bound to end up getting my hands on it so I was really happy to read Slumber for review.
It’s an easy story to read and if I hadn’t started it really late one night I’m certain I would have finished it in one sitting. The book starts somewhat predictably; Ruby covers her mum’s cleaning shift because she’s sick. The house is old and weird, halfway through her shift Ruby meets Tam the mysterious and beautiful stranger. Ok I’ll admit it, at that point I was a little concerned BUT ooh the second half of this book is so good!
Ruby’s likable from the start but the more she gets sucked into Cottingley Heights the more she became the kind of protagonist I wanted to cheer for. Didn’t matter that Tam was handing her (his version) of heaven – Ruby did not forget what was important and she stood up for herself.
I loved the traditional tasks for the challenge and given my reaction to the ending I must have been hooked because… *drumroll*
“There has to be a sequel, do not leave me hanging like this!”
(I rarely say that.)
August 2, 2014
This was nothing like I thought it was. I thought from the blurb I was going to get a Cinderella retelling or something, but was totally wrong. The story was so surprisingly dark and twisted. And I loved it. Once I got into it it was impossible to put it down.
I loved Ruby as a main character. Her voice and demeanour throughout was so together for a teenager thrown into the situation she was. And also liked that she refused to be swept off her feet into Tam's world with his obvious good looks and nice guy in a dark place routine.
The use of fairy magic was incredibly twisted and kind of morbidly fascinating to read about at the same time. One thing I particularly liked about Ruby was how she refused to get sucked into their debauchery and obscene life style of parties booze, drugs, anything. Even though she became tempted, she managed to keep onto her morals.
And the ending had a fantastic twist to it.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I loved it.
I loved Ruby as a main character. Her voice and demeanour throughout was so together for a teenager thrown into the situation she was. And also liked that she refused to be swept off her feet into Tam's world with his obvious good looks and nice guy in a dark place routine.
The use of fairy magic was incredibly twisted and kind of morbidly fascinating to read about at the same time. One thing I particularly liked about Ruby was how she refused to get sucked into their debauchery and obscene life style of parties booze, drugs, anything. Even though she became tempted, she managed to keep onto her morals.
And the ending had a fantastic twist to it.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I loved it.
September 8, 2013
I always know when I’ve loved a book – it doesn’t last more than 3 days and Slumber was one of those books. I thoroughly enjoyed it and really liked the Cinderella style character of Scarlet. I can’t say too much about the plot for fear of ruining the twists, but it really does keep you hooked.
From a writer’s perspective, it was clearly well written. The whole thing effortlessly flowed and it had the perfect mix for YA – not too adult but also not too patronizingly child-like either. It tackles some pretty evil issues and there is one scene in particular that is darkly disturbing – needless to say, I loved it!
The front cover is beautiful and it gives you a good idea of what Scarlet looks like. It’s kind of an odd visual – but when you read the book, this makes perfect sense – just weird enough to be interesting.
I’m so glad I read this book and would give it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to an older YA audience and adults alike.
From a writer’s perspective, it was clearly well written. The whole thing effortlessly flowed and it had the perfect mix for YA – not too adult but also not too patronizingly child-like either. It tackles some pretty evil issues and there is one scene in particular that is darkly disturbing – needless to say, I loved it!
The front cover is beautiful and it gives you a good idea of what Scarlet looks like. It’s kind of an odd visual – but when you read the book, this makes perfect sense – just weird enough to be interesting.
I’m so glad I read this book and would give it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to an older YA audience and adults alike.
July 16, 2013
For all of those that have a soft spot for the classic fairy tale retellings, Slumber by Tamara Blake takes on a darker spin on the classics. Blake's beautifully horrific and intoxicating tale is refreshing in the sea of the all-too-friendly, fluffy fairy tales. She does an excellent job portraying the mystical side as something more trecherous and really does show that everything comes at a cost. This is definitely deeper than a light beach read, but certainly one that should not be missed. Blake's writing style will lure you in and have you guessing until the very end and then hungry for more! While we don't know if there are plans for a sequel to Slumber, we certainly hope there is!
Slumber, the ebook, is available July 16th 2013 by Diversion Books. Grab your copy today and see if a happily ever after is in Ruby's future...
Slumber, the ebook, is available July 16th 2013 by Diversion Books. Grab your copy today and see if a happily ever after is in Ruby's future...
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