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In the Shadows
From the remarkable imagination of acclaimed artist Jim Di Bartolo and the exquisite pen of bestselling author Kiersten White comes a spellbinding story of love, mystery, and dark conspiracy, told in an alternating narrative of words and pictures.
Cora and Minnie are sisters living in a small, stifling town where strange and mysterious things occur. Their mother runs the local boarding house. Their father is gone. The woman up the hill may or may not be a witch.
Thomas and Charles are brothers who’ve been exiled to the boarding house so Thomas can tame his ways and Charles can fight an illness that is killing him with increasing speed. Their family history is one of sorrow and guilt. They think they can escape from it . . . but they can’t.
Cora and Minnie are sisters living in a small, stifling town where strange and mysterious things occur. Their mother runs the local boarding house. Their father is gone. The woman up the hill may or may not be a witch.
Thomas and Charles are brothers who’ve been exiled to the boarding house so Thomas can tame his ways and Charles can fight an illness that is killing him with increasing speed. Their family history is one of sorrow and guilt. They think they can escape from it . . . but they can’t.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2014
19 people are currently reading
4028 people want to read
About the author
Kiersten White
64 books13.9k followersKiersten White is the #1 New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning, and critically acclaimed author of many books for readers of all ages, including the And I Darken trilogy, the Sinister Summer series, the Camelot Rising trilogy, Star Wars: Padawan, Hide, Mister Magic, and Lucy Undying. She also has a very large tortoise named Kimberly, which isn't relevant, but she wanted you to know.
Visit her online at kierstenwhite.com.
Visit her online at kierstenwhite.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
September 1, 2017
Another disappointment. This isn't necessarily a bad book, but it isn't good either. The writing is incompetent and immature. The whole plot is in complete shadow of the graphic novel. It didn't even stood a chance against the art, which is the reason why I rated this with two stars, not one. It hadn't caught my interest in any way.
This is a book in two parts, half graphic novel and half prose, set in two different time periods and mostly telling separate stories. Cora and Minnie are sisters living in a boarding house in Maine. Two brothers, Charles and Thomas, come to stay there for the summer. Another young man named Arthur is also staying there, and he has taken the role of protector of the girls because he knows about a secret organization whose members seem unable to die. The illustrations take readers across the decades and across several continents to make clear how widespread their influence has been.
If this had just been a graphic novel, I would've really liked it. The art is beautiful, expressive, and tells a clear and fascinating story. The illustrations were simply breathtaking. On the other hand, the prose part is dull and mediocre. There was no world building nor the plot was executed very well.
The characters were bland and I had no connection with any of them. Despite having different reactions to what was happening around them, they all looked very similar to me and I couldn't tell them apart. They weren't likable nor three-dimensional and they lacked depth. The romance was so boring I'm not even gonna analyze it separately.
This is a book in two parts, half graphic novel and half prose, set in two different time periods and mostly telling separate stories. Cora and Minnie are sisters living in a boarding house in Maine. Two brothers, Charles and Thomas, come to stay there for the summer. Another young man named Arthur is also staying there, and he has taken the role of protector of the girls because he knows about a secret organization whose members seem unable to die. The illustrations take readers across the decades and across several continents to make clear how widespread their influence has been.
If this had just been a graphic novel, I would've really liked it. The art is beautiful, expressive, and tells a clear and fascinating story. The illustrations were simply breathtaking. On the other hand, the prose part is dull and mediocre. There was no world building nor the plot was executed very well.
The characters were bland and I had no connection with any of them. Despite having different reactions to what was happening around them, they all looked very similar to me and I couldn't tell them apart. They weren't likable nor three-dimensional and they lacked depth. The romance was so boring I'm not even gonna analyze it separately.
November 9, 2014
This is a book in two parts, half graphic novel and half prose, set in two different time periods and telling (mostly) separate stories. If this had just been a graphic novel, I would have really liked it. The art is beautiful, expressive, and tells a clear and interesting story despite being entirely wordless. The prose part, on the other hand, is dull, feels overly drawn out, and features characters that are no more fleshed out than in the wordless comic. At about the three quarter mark, I started skimming the prose sections, and I don't feel at all bad about it. Di Bartolo is a remarkable artist, but White just isn't up to his standard.
July 18, 2016
Let's talk about how great this book is, shall we?
First, I should say that I won it as an ARC in a First Reads giveaway, but that has no bearing on the rave review I'm about to give it. In fact, when I win books, I generally have low expectations. This time was no different-- I wasn't expecting much. I was unfamiliar with both the author and the illustrator, and the title and cover didn't do much for me. They're a bit generic for the fantasy genre, but once I cracked the book open, I was completely smitten.
The artwork is phenomenal. Really dark and moody and powerful. At first, I was thrown off by the back-and-forth between the two storylines of illustration and text, but after a while, once the dichotomy of the two clicked for me, I really admired and appreciated the decision to keep them separate.
The plot is full of action and suspense, and despite its swift pace, the author also takes time to flesh out the five main characters. For such a short book, I was surprised by how quickly I was able to connect with and root for them, which is a real testament to Kiersten White's writing. Also-- the ending is perfection. I won't say anymore.
This book completely won me over and is a new favorite of mine, which so rarely happens these days. I would recommend it to all YA fantasy and graphic novel lovers. It's such a treat for the eyes and mind. READ IT!
You can also find my review on my book blog: http://rkgutmann.blogspot.com/2014/04...
First, I should say that I won it as an ARC in a First Reads giveaway, but that has no bearing on the rave review I'm about to give it. In fact, when I win books, I generally have low expectations. This time was no different-- I wasn't expecting much. I was unfamiliar with both the author and the illustrator, and the title and cover didn't do much for me. They're a bit generic for the fantasy genre, but once I cracked the book open, I was completely smitten.
The artwork is phenomenal. Really dark and moody and powerful. At first, I was thrown off by the back-and-forth between the two storylines of illustration and text, but after a while, once the dichotomy of the two clicked for me, I really admired and appreciated the decision to keep them separate.
The plot is full of action and suspense, and despite its swift pace, the author also takes time to flesh out the five main characters. For such a short book, I was surprised by how quickly I was able to connect with and root for them, which is a real testament to Kiersten White's writing. Also-- the ending is perfection. I won't say anymore.
This book completely won me over and is a new favorite of mine, which so rarely happens these days. I would recommend it to all YA fantasy and graphic novel lovers. It's such a treat for the eyes and mind. READ IT!
You can also find my review on my book blog: http://rkgutmann.blogspot.com/2014/04...
June 21, 2014
3.5 stars
If this had been only a graphic novel, this review would've been a fangirling mess and a shower of stars. The illustrations were breathtaking and the story they narrated was fascinating. Unfortunately, this book came with text, and it's not so much the story but the way it was written which was, I'm sorry to say, very mediocre. The story is engaging, the idea behind the characters is very interesting and the art adds a mystifying atmosphere that I've come to associate with Di Bartolo and his gorgeous drawings, but the written part of the book robbed the novel of all that. There was no world-building; the characters were dull, even if, admittedly, they did have clearly defined and different personalities; the pace of the story was slow and it focused inordinate amounts of time to the romance; it failed to capture the wonder, magic and mystifying essence of the story that the illustrations effortlessly carried; and the writing was simply subpar and left way too much to be desired. Di Bartolo should've employed his magnificent wife Laini Taylor to write this; the effect would've been very different and this probably would've become one of my favorite books ever. Sadly, it didn't turn out that way. This book is still, strictly speaking, exquisite. It is fascinating and beautiful, but between the mediocre writing and the happily ever after, it felt just the tiniest bit short.
If this had been only a graphic novel, this review would've been a fangirling mess and a shower of stars. The illustrations were breathtaking and the story they narrated was fascinating. Unfortunately, this book came with text, and it's not so much the story but the way it was written which was, I'm sorry to say, very mediocre. The story is engaging, the idea behind the characters is very interesting and the art adds a mystifying atmosphere that I've come to associate with Di Bartolo and his gorgeous drawings, but the written part of the book robbed the novel of all that. There was no world-building; the characters were dull, even if, admittedly, they did have clearly defined and different personalities; the pace of the story was slow and it focused inordinate amounts of time to the romance; it failed to capture the wonder, magic and mystifying essence of the story that the illustrations effortlessly carried; and the writing was simply subpar and left way too much to be desired. Di Bartolo should've employed his magnificent wife Laini Taylor to write this; the effect would've been very different and this probably would've become one of my favorite books ever. Sadly, it didn't turn out that way. This book is still, strictly speaking, exquisite. It is fascinating and beautiful, but between the mediocre writing and the happily ever after, it felt just the tiniest bit short.
December 31, 2015
The art in this book is absolutely stunning and I would give this book a 5 stars for the art alone, but I was disappointed in the written story. I found it easy to get lost while reading the story. I also had no connection with any of the characters. I didn't feel drawn to any of them, they each were kind of bland. It was an interesting story concept, but I don't think it was executed very well. I think it would have worked better if it was just a graphic novel.
February 4, 2019
I've been wanting to read this book for a long time, so when the March #weirdathon came along I finally pushed it up in my TBR pile. I have enjoyed Kiersten White's series Paranormalcy so I knew I really enjoyed her writing. This story is presented in text and an art story. Both telling a different story at the same time. The story is about 5 teens who get into some strange things back in the early 1900s. There are a few love instances in the book but at least for once there is no instalove which is common in a lot of young adult novels.
The art work is really great. Dark and spooky, makes it feel like a gothic novel. Though since it was telling a different story (though all tied together) then the text at times I was a little confused. Honestly.. I still don't really know who was in the art work??? I had to look to see if there was a scare or a hair color to determine who I was looking at. After I finished the book I went back looked at all the pictures again to see the story again. to maybe get a better understanding. The story and the illustrations are two different time periods. The text part of the book wasn't amazing. I feel like the story was just average. There was no world building. I also felt like there were too many questions all the way to the end of the book. Some of the answers maybe should've been revealed a little sooner. I am still confused about a few things after finishing. I can't stand being confused once a book is over.
Still it was a neat book. I love books that have formats that are different and make me think outside the box. What I really like and hope that comes out of this book is that it will introduce more people to graphic novels. I know a lot of people are kind of nervous about trying one out so I hope this will help them take the plunge.
The art work is really great. Dark and spooky, makes it feel like a gothic novel. Though since it was telling a different story (though all tied together) then the text at times I was a little confused. Honestly.. I still don't really know who was in the art work??? I had to look to see if there was a scare or a hair color to determine who I was looking at. After I finished the book I went back looked at all the pictures again to see the story again. to maybe get a better understanding. The story and the illustrations are two different time periods. The text part of the book wasn't amazing. I feel like the story was just average. There was no world building. I also felt like there were too many questions all the way to the end of the book. Some of the answers maybe should've been revealed a little sooner. I am still confused about a few things after finishing. I can't stand being confused once a book is over.
Still it was a neat book. I love books that have formats that are different and make me think outside the box. What I really like and hope that comes out of this book is that it will introduce more people to graphic novels. I know a lot of people are kind of nervous about trying one out so I hope this will help them take the plunge.
May 21, 2014
Simply breathtaking. In chapters that alternate between beautifully written text and vivid pictures, DiBartolo and White tell a fascinating story of misused power, love, and revenge. I could not put this down!
April 2, 2017
I really liked IN THE SHADOWS. It's a well written novel that has a classic "gothic" style. The main characters are well fleshed out and fit perfectly with their creepy and mysterious seaside setting. [Suitable for Middle-graders, YA, and Adults]
There are two backstories. The first belongs to sisters Cora and Minnie. They live with their family in a small New England town at the turn of the last century. After the death of their father, their mother opens their home to boarders, which is how they meet Thomas and Charles, and the mysterious, Arthur.
Thomas and Charles are the sisters counterparts. They are brothers, with Thom the older of them. He is interested in girls and the new music, Jazz, while Charles is unfortunately, slowly dying.
Thomas dotes on Charles and loves him fiercely, but sometimes the only way he can cope is to escape to a club where he can loose himself. It's coming back from a midnight escapade that Thom happens upon his father talking to a mysterious woman. For the only time he can recall, Thom notes that his father sounds afraid. The subject of the conversation isn't clear, but there is talk about a debt that must be paid, and that the sacrifice must be a large one. Shortly afterwards, Thomas and Charles are packed up and sent to Maine, where the meaning of the threat slowly becomes clearer.
~
IN THE SHADOWS is a hybrid novel. By which I mean that there are many graphic pages. And if I'm understanding these pages correctly, they are telling a slightly parallel story set partially in the future. (This might not make sense to you now, but it will, hopefully, after you get to the end of the book.)
The art is by Jim Di Bartolo's and it's amazing. Very striking and it is every bit as eery as the story which involves the blackest magic.
IN THE SHADOWS is full of action and suspense. It's a tale of love and friendship, good and evil, and I'd recommend it to readers looking for a good classically spooky story.
--review copy
There are two backstories. The first belongs to sisters Cora and Minnie. They live with their family in a small New England town at the turn of the last century. After the death of their father, their mother opens their home to boarders, which is how they meet Thomas and Charles, and the mysterious, Arthur.
Thomas and Charles are the sisters counterparts. They are brothers, with Thom the older of them. He is interested in girls and the new music, Jazz, while Charles is unfortunately, slowly dying.
Thomas dotes on Charles and loves him fiercely, but sometimes the only way he can cope is to escape to a club where he can loose himself. It's coming back from a midnight escapade that Thom happens upon his father talking to a mysterious woman. For the only time he can recall, Thom notes that his father sounds afraid. The subject of the conversation isn't clear, but there is talk about a debt that must be paid, and that the sacrifice must be a large one. Shortly afterwards, Thomas and Charles are packed up and sent to Maine, where the meaning of the threat slowly becomes clearer.
~
IN THE SHADOWS is a hybrid novel. By which I mean that there are many graphic pages. And if I'm understanding these pages correctly, they are telling a slightly parallel story set partially in the future. (This might not make sense to you now, but it will, hopefully, after you get to the end of the book.)
The art is by Jim Di Bartolo's and it's amazing. Very striking and it is every bit as eery as the story which involves the blackest magic.
IN THE SHADOWS is full of action and suspense. It's a tale of love and friendship, good and evil, and I'd recommend it to readers looking for a good classically spooky story.
--review copy
May 29, 2014
This was my first ever graphic novel... and I think I like it. :)
First up, the plot. I really liked the story and the characters. Once I got invested {which took a few chapters}, I was unable to stop reading. This isn't a whimsical book that takes its time to world build; it gets to the point as there really isn't a whole lot of time to story tell. I loved how the pieces finally start to come together and when it's over, you're left smiling and going "Well played, Kiersten. Well played."
Now, the art. IT'S GORGEOUS! Jim Di Bartolo did such an amazing job with the art and art story. I found it interesting that this book starts with an art story and then alternates chapters with the written story. Not gonna lie, it took me until dang near the end to realize what in the heck was going on in the art story chapters. I had my guesses and most were wrong but once I realized it, holy spiccoli....
The writing + the art = I'm a fan. This comes together beautifully in the end and I am so glad that this book was recommended to me {Thanks, Anika}.
If you're looking for a book that's visually pleasing, a little dark and full of twists and adventure, then this is your book!
First up, the plot. I really liked the story and the characters. Once I got invested {which took a few chapters}, I was unable to stop reading. This isn't a whimsical book that takes its time to world build; it gets to the point as there really isn't a whole lot of time to story tell. I loved how the pieces finally start to come together and when it's over, you're left smiling and going "Well played, Kiersten. Well played."
Now, the art. IT'S GORGEOUS! Jim Di Bartolo did such an amazing job with the art and art story. I found it interesting that this book starts with an art story and then alternates chapters with the written story. Not gonna lie, it took me until dang near the end to realize what in the heck was going on in the art story chapters. I had my guesses and most were wrong but once I realized it, holy spiccoli....
The writing + the art = I'm a fan. This comes together beautifully in the end and I am so glad that this book was recommended to me {Thanks, Anika}.
If you're looking for a book that's visually pleasing, a little dark and full of twists and adventure, then this is your book!
January 23, 2023
This was quite an interesting read. This book is unique in that it is half told through illustrations and the other half through text. You follow two (mostly) different storylines from different time periods and they somehow come together in the end. The story itself was intriguing and the illustrations were beautifully rendered, however the writing itself could have been better. I feel like I got more from the illustrated and completely wordless portions of the book than I did the written sections. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and it was fun to read something in this different style format. If you are wanting to dip your toes into the world of graphic novels, this may be a good book to start with.
April 22, 2014
You might wonder what this book is about, since the title is super bland and the cover features pretty colors, but little other detail. Then, by design, it's a little hard to figure out what it's about once you start reading. There are plucky children and zombies and mysterious meetings, and it all ties together in the end in a cathartic, rewarding ending.
Jim Di Bartolo is an artist probably known by most for his work in his wife Laini Taylor's novel LIPS TOUCH: THREE TIMES. He conceived of IN THE SHADOWS and created somewhere around half of the finished work. His half of the book is a wordless graphic novel following a young man with a distinctive scar through the years. Since there are no words, the reader must piece together who the man, his enemies, and his goals are for themselves. The art is beautiful and full of little details that are quite rewarding upon a reread. (After I finished IN THE SHADOWS, I went back though the graphic novel sections only.)
Kiersten White's half of the book is a prose novel following a pair of sisters, a pair of brothers, and a mysterious orphan boy. They come together partially because they're the only young people in the boarding house, but they stick together after they witness a suicide-that-didn't-happen and seek to figure out what in the world happened. I loved the feel of White's prose, which had a nostalgia to it. As events got creepier, it still felt like the characters' world was constantly bathed in golden sunlight. It made an interesting contrast to the increasingly modern graphic novel interludes, and made me question by perception of when the prose events where happening in relation to the graphic novel events.
I loved how much IN THE SHADOWS prompted me to use my mind. It is an easy read in many ways. Di Bartolo's sections have no words, White's could come from a middle grade novel. But the connections between events and characters are obscured. One half of my mind was unraveling the mystery with Minnie, Cora, Thomas, Charles, and Arthur, and the other half was unraveling the mystery of the boy with the scar, and both halves exclaimed every time they recognized a green necklace or a man with a beard.
IN THE SHADOWS is a bold, inventive work that will delights fantasy fans. It's dark, clever, and a brilliant mix of conventional and unconventional storytelling, right down to the two endings. Life and death are perennial themes of literature, and White and Di Bartolo speak of them beautifully.
Jim Di Bartolo is an artist probably known by most for his work in his wife Laini Taylor's novel LIPS TOUCH: THREE TIMES. He conceived of IN THE SHADOWS and created somewhere around half of the finished work. His half of the book is a wordless graphic novel following a young man with a distinctive scar through the years. Since there are no words, the reader must piece together who the man, his enemies, and his goals are for themselves. The art is beautiful and full of little details that are quite rewarding upon a reread. (After I finished IN THE SHADOWS, I went back though the graphic novel sections only.)
Kiersten White's half of the book is a prose novel following a pair of sisters, a pair of brothers, and a mysterious orphan boy. They come together partially because they're the only young people in the boarding house, but they stick together after they witness a suicide-that-didn't-happen and seek to figure out what in the world happened. I loved the feel of White's prose, which had a nostalgia to it. As events got creepier, it still felt like the characters' world was constantly bathed in golden sunlight. It made an interesting contrast to the increasingly modern graphic novel interludes, and made me question by perception of when the prose events where happening in relation to the graphic novel events.
I loved how much IN THE SHADOWS prompted me to use my mind. It is an easy read in many ways. Di Bartolo's sections have no words, White's could come from a middle grade novel. But the connections between events and characters are obscured. One half of my mind was unraveling the mystery with Minnie, Cora, Thomas, Charles, and Arthur, and the other half was unraveling the mystery of the boy with the scar, and both halves exclaimed every time they recognized a green necklace or a man with a beard.
IN THE SHADOWS is a bold, inventive work that will delights fantasy fans. It's dark, clever, and a brilliant mix of conventional and unconventional storytelling, right down to the two endings. Life and death are perennial themes of literature, and White and Di Bartolo speak of them beautifully.
March 29, 2014
4.5 stars
I've only read a couple of graphic novels, they're not usually my thing. And I've struggled with the 1/2 graphic novel 1/2 story thing because I over think it. However, this story? It's magic.
First off, the art pages are so vibrant in the e-arc, I can't wait to see what they look like in a physical copy. The pairing of Jim's artwork and Kiersten's words is damn near perfection.
I loved the characters: Minnie, Cora, Arthur, Thomas and Charles. They are all different and yet the same. Their combination of personalities was fun and their sudden drop into a mystery was like a reimagined Scooby-Doo gang.
I will not say anything about the plot because it was pretty much one scene that clicked and then it was OMG I JUST NOW GET IT. All I will say is that I throughly enjoyed every page and I can't wait to get my greedy hands on a finished copy.
**Thanks to Scholastic and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
I've only read a couple of graphic novels, they're not usually my thing. And I've struggled with the 1/2 graphic novel 1/2 story thing because I over think it. However, this story? It's magic.
First off, the art pages are so vibrant in the e-arc, I can't wait to see what they look like in a physical copy. The pairing of Jim's artwork and Kiersten's words is damn near perfection.
I loved the characters: Minnie, Cora, Arthur, Thomas and Charles. They are all different and yet the same. Their combination of personalities was fun and their sudden drop into a mystery was like a reimagined Scooby-Doo gang.
I will not say anything about the plot because it was pretty much one scene that clicked and then it was OMG I JUST NOW GET IT. All I will say is that I throughly enjoyed every page and I can't wait to get my greedy hands on a finished copy.
**Thanks to Scholastic and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
May 19, 2016
This was such a different read. Part novel, part (picture only) graphic novel. It flips periodically, back and forth. It is not a straight forward story. Imagination, the ability to follow multiple times lines and the capability to draw conclusions are all needed to truly appreciate this story.
This book takes place in many different times in the 1900s. From early years to more modern and everything in between. It is dark but wonderfully done. The story is really well written, the art is fantastic. You will meet a vast array of characters, and even the smallest roles have depth.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. Very different from my normal reading. An interesting combination is used to tell the story. You do need a bit of patience at first. It can seem a bit confusing, but it all pulls together nicely.
*I was loaned a copy of this book in exchange for a fair, honest review.
This book takes place in many different times in the 1900s. From early years to more modern and everything in between. It is dark but wonderfully done. The story is really well written, the art is fantastic. You will meet a vast array of characters, and even the smallest roles have depth.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. Very different from my normal reading. An interesting combination is used to tell the story. You do need a bit of patience at first. It can seem a bit confusing, but it all pulls together nicely.
*I was loaned a copy of this book in exchange for a fair, honest review.
January 17, 2021
This had to have been one of the most interesting reads I've had so far. It's like half novel / half graphic novel. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it. It's almost like there were two different stories going on - the drawings and the words - and it really didn't click how they connected until the end.
I adore Kiersten White which is why I picked this one up. All I knew going in was that it was different and she worked with an artist to tell the story - the artist happened to be Laini Taylor's husband which I thought was super cool.
So let's start with the story part - Kiersten's part. In it we meet sisters Cora and Minnie as they run a boarding house with their mother. In the span of a year, 3 boys have come to stay and end up turning their lives upside down. There's Arthur, the mysterious possibly related boy who shows up with a letter and a suitcase. Then there's brothers Thomas and Charles, the later being deathly ill, who's father sent them away to keep them safe - or did he?
I fell for these characters hard. Arthur hurt me because you could tell he was hiding something but he was just so broken that he didn't trust anyone to help him with his burden. Then there was Charles who knew he was dying but was determined to spend his remaining time living. These real stories were then mixed in with a secret society, witches, and sacrifice just to add that extra element of emotion.
In between the chapters written by White were illustrated chapters. These illustrations were telling a different story, one that I wasn't quite sure of but slowly started picking up the meaning as the book went on. The illustrations were vivid and bright, creating this world of mayhem and mystery that just added to White's words.
I really enjoyed this one, even if I was confused on how they connected for the most part. If you're not sure how you feel about graphic novels, this is a good one to start with as it's only half of the book.
I adore Kiersten White which is why I picked this one up. All I knew going in was that it was different and she worked with an artist to tell the story - the artist happened to be Laini Taylor's husband which I thought was super cool.
So let's start with the story part - Kiersten's part. In it we meet sisters Cora and Minnie as they run a boarding house with their mother. In the span of a year, 3 boys have come to stay and end up turning their lives upside down. There's Arthur, the mysterious possibly related boy who shows up with a letter and a suitcase. Then there's brothers Thomas and Charles, the later being deathly ill, who's father sent them away to keep them safe - or did he?
I fell for these characters hard. Arthur hurt me because you could tell he was hiding something but he was just so broken that he didn't trust anyone to help him with his burden. Then there was Charles who knew he was dying but was determined to spend his remaining time living. These real stories were then mixed in with a secret society, witches, and sacrifice just to add that extra element of emotion.
In between the chapters written by White were illustrated chapters. These illustrations were telling a different story, one that I wasn't quite sure of but slowly started picking up the meaning as the book went on. The illustrations were vivid and bright, creating this world of mayhem and mystery that just added to White's words.
I really enjoyed this one, even if I was confused on how they connected for the most part. If you're not sure how you feel about graphic novels, this is a good one to start with as it's only half of the book.
October 2, 2017
Fascinating storytelling format. Usually I'm not a fan of authors doing graphic novels, as I've always just ended up being sad it wasn't as enjoyable as their previous full novels. However, this format made the most of both image and text-only content. Without getting into spoilers, the book basically alternates a few pages of zero text images - either full spread or "comic" style linear boxes that tell a snippet of a story - with a chapter of a novel about a bunch of teens in the late 1800s. There's supernatural goings-on and a central mystery that maintains its tension right up to the end, and it may be that I suck at visual observation, but I didn't figure out what the connection was between the image story and timeline and the text story and timeline, which are pretty obviously divergent and not at all related riiiiiight up until the end. Adds in an appealing way to the sense of mystery, intrigue and tense/dark/creepy/confusing-ness. Being less visual in general, I'd have been just as happy with a novelization of the whole thing sans graphics, and I'd argue you could still get the sense of things coming together in a major way with a significant emotional payoff if you'd kept the two timelines in only text format, but it was pretty cool to see it and experience the penny drop in the last tenth of the narrative. Full points for innovation and execution.
April 27, 2014
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book - I initially thought it would be in more of a straightforward graphic novel format. Instead there are parallel stories told alternatingly through written chapters and the drawings. This is one of the few times that I'm really sad that I had an ebook version of a novel because I'm sure the illustrations are even better in the hardcover. I spent quite a bit of the book a bit confused about what was happening in the visual part. By the end I realized what it was, but it definitely took a while. Because of the transitions between the text and illustrations, the book can be a bit harder to follow than if it was exclusively text based. However, Di Bartolo's artwork fits in perfectly with the style of the rest of the story. I ended up going back and looking over the narrative from the pictures after I finished the book and got so much more out of it on the second go round. The plot isn't a wild thrill ride, but instead relies on creating and unsettling and mysterious atmosphere while lettting the mystery slowly unfold in a surprisingly short number of pages. I did wish that there would have been a bit more explaination around the mythology of the evildoers, but I always want more!
The characters were all quite well done. Since the beginning of the story is told in chapters that center on the different characters before they all meet, it's easy to get a sense of their individual natures before the main action takes place. Although there's romance between various characters, it doesn't feel false. None of them immediately fall in love with one another; in fact, some of them even mention just having fun and flirting with someone they just met! The shock. What's nice about having an ensemble book rather than one with a single main character (and their love interest) is that everyone responded to the situations differently. Thus, White was able to explore a vastly greater range of human emotion and action. Arthur had a completely different history and knowledge base from, say, Thomas and thus acted in another manner entirely. Even though the book was short, the characters got time to grow, change, and connect with readers.
I really enjoyed this book. It's definitely something different in a good way. If you're tired of all the paranormal romances, but still want something magical this could be for you. I would strongly recommend getting the physical book because I think it might be a better experience rather than reading it on a computer/tablet.
ebook from Publisher
The characters were all quite well done. Since the beginning of the story is told in chapters that center on the different characters before they all meet, it's easy to get a sense of their individual natures before the main action takes place. Although there's romance between various characters, it doesn't feel false. None of them immediately fall in love with one another; in fact, some of them even mention just having fun and flirting with someone they just met! The shock. What's nice about having an ensemble book rather than one with a single main character (and their love interest) is that everyone responded to the situations differently. Thus, White was able to explore a vastly greater range of human emotion and action. Arthur had a completely different history and knowledge base from, say, Thomas and thus acted in another manner entirely. Even though the book was short, the characters got time to grow, change, and connect with readers.
I really enjoyed this book. It's definitely something different in a good way. If you're tired of all the paranormal romances, but still want something magical this could be for you. I would strongly recommend getting the physical book because I think it might be a better experience rather than reading it on a computer/tablet.
ebook from Publisher
September 7, 2015
This is not going to get the review it deserves because my laptop is currently off to get repaired getting its freaking everything fixed and I am not typing all this out on my phone.
This is so borderline for me. I feel like this will probably be the kind of book where I rate it 5 stars and then mark it back down to 4 and around and around in my hamster wheel of uncertainty. Anyways.
I read the beginning of this sporadically in a couple of settings and then sat down for the second half and read it straight through to the end. I knew I'd finish it as soon as I sat down. it was not a matter of if, only when. in case you were wondering, "when" is exactly 12:16 in the morning. Not bad for me *pats self on back*
Sometimes I just freaking want a happy ending. I read so much stuff that ends in heartbreak, or more usually leaves a bittersweet taste in my mouth, that I've made a conscious effort to try to find and weed out the happy endings. At some point, reading sad things just becomes un-fun. That being said, I went into this completely blind - I found it in the library, realized it was a comic /novel hybrid, and promptly freaked out as much as I could in public before depositing it in my 'REALLY? ANOTHER ONE?!' pile. Solid and enjoyable; an evocative story in both art and word. [insert applause here]
This is so borderline for me. I feel like this will probably be the kind of book where I rate it 5 stars and then mark it back down to 4 and around and around in my hamster wheel of uncertainty. Anyways.
I read the beginning of this sporadically in a couple of settings and then sat down for the second half and read it straight through to the end. I knew I'd finish it as soon as I sat down. it was not a matter of if, only when. in case you were wondering, "when" is exactly 12:16 in the morning. Not bad for me *pats self on back*
Sometimes I just freaking want a happy ending. I read so much stuff that ends in heartbreak, or more usually leaves a bittersweet taste in my mouth, that I've made a conscious effort to try to find and weed out the happy endings. At some point, reading sad things just becomes un-fun. That being said, I went into this completely blind - I found it in the library, realized it was a comic /novel hybrid, and promptly freaked out as much as I could in public before depositing it in my 'REALLY? ANOTHER ONE?!' pile. Solid and enjoyable; an evocative story in both art and word. [insert applause here]
March 7, 2015
Hmmm...interesting and innovative. I'm going to have to break this review out into "Things I Liked" and "Things I Didn't Like", 'cause it has a lot going for it on both sides.
Things I Liked:
--The two different story lines in two different mediums (words vs. art). Part of the suspense of the story involves trying to figure out how the two stories are intertwined, and once you figure it out you want to go back and look at the whole thing again. Kinda Memento-ish.
--Supernatural/creepy/ominous tone
--The art is really unique and interesting -- colorful and dark and eerie and kinda Dave McKean-ish
Things I Didn't Like:
--The sequential art is...kinda awkward and confusing. It felt like a painter's first attempt at the graphic novel format. The time between panels is too big...if that makes sense. Like, too much time passes between each panel, and my brain had trouble filling in the gaps. I spent a lot of time look at one picture and then the next, and thinking, "Huh...wait...what happened inbetween?"
--Also, I had trouble (in the art) telling who was who. Everyone kind of looked the same, and I found myself having to look really closely at people's faces to see if a certain scar was present to make sure I was looking at the character I thought I was.
--The romance is really dumb. It just didn't need to be there...it would have been a fantastic adventure-ish, creepy suspense story and didn't need the random love stories thrown in.
Overall this was an intriguing effort, and a good experiment in mixed-media story telling. I think it could easily lose some readers with its somewhat confusing story line, but I can think of some readers who would really get into it and find the perplexingness of the plot intriguing instead of frustrating.
Things I Liked:
--The two different story lines in two different mediums (words vs. art). Part of the suspense of the story involves trying to figure out how the two stories are intertwined, and once you figure it out you want to go back and look at the whole thing again. Kinda Memento-ish.
--Supernatural/creepy/ominous tone
--The art is really unique and interesting -- colorful and dark and eerie and kinda Dave McKean-ish
Things I Didn't Like:
--The sequential art is...kinda awkward and confusing. It felt like a painter's first attempt at the graphic novel format. The time between panels is too big...if that makes sense. Like, too much time passes between each panel, and my brain had trouble filling in the gaps. I spent a lot of time look at one picture and then the next, and thinking, "Huh...wait...what happened inbetween?"
--Also, I had trouble (in the art) telling who was who. Everyone kind of looked the same, and I found myself having to look really closely at people's faces to see if a certain scar was present to make sure I was looking at the character I thought I was.
--The romance is really dumb. It just didn't need to be there...it would have been a fantastic adventure-ish, creepy suspense story and didn't need the random love stories thrown in.
Overall this was an intriguing effort, and a good experiment in mixed-media story telling. I think it could easily lose some readers with its somewhat confusing story line, but I can think of some readers who would really get into it and find the perplexingness of the plot intriguing instead of frustrating.
September 11, 2015
In the Shadows is a gorgeous, gothic, paranormal tale that follows five children in a small mysterious sea-side town as they uncover a conspiracy, the breadth of which constantly astounded me. The book tells two parallel stories - one written and one graphic - that are connected in a way you will never guess until the end, when it will blow your mind. The characters are so unique and different from each other, and even though the story was quite short, I was invested in them and genuinely concerned about how they would get themselves out of trouble. It was a captivating tale that I couldn't put down.
As soon as In the Shadows arrived in the mail I knew it would be my favourite book on the shelf. It's a beautiful, cloth-bound hardback with magical artwork on the jacket. The story is printed on glossy paper, in sepia ink with ornamental borders. As if the book was beautifully illustrated enough, Jim Di Bartolo's art story is breath-taking. Although the first time I read it, I had more questions than answers about what was happening (all becomes clear in the end), I couldn't help but stop and admire the gorgeous illustrations he had created.
I recommend In the Shadows to everybody. If you have never read a graphic novel, this is the perfect way to start. You won't be able to help falling in love with Kiersten's beautiful children or Jim's stunning artwork.
As soon as In the Shadows arrived in the mail I knew it would be my favourite book on the shelf. It's a beautiful, cloth-bound hardback with magical artwork on the jacket. The story is printed on glossy paper, in sepia ink with ornamental borders. As if the book was beautifully illustrated enough, Jim Di Bartolo's art story is breath-taking. Although the first time I read it, I had more questions than answers about what was happening (all becomes clear in the end), I couldn't help but stop and admire the gorgeous illustrations he had created.
I recommend In the Shadows to everybody. If you have never read a graphic novel, this is the perfect way to start. You won't be able to help falling in love with Kiersten's beautiful children or Jim's stunning artwork.
October 30, 2016
My book IN THE SHADOWS by KIERSTEN WHITE a non fiction book is a three star rating in my opinion,also it was ok but not the greatest because i thought it was going to be a little more different than it was. The main characters in the book is Arthur,Arthur is a very sweet and charming person. another main character is Cora who is in love with Arthur she is a very persuasive person. The main conflict of the story is Arthur is trying to figure out a mystery about why did the witch hang herself. The settings of the story is Mrs. Johnson house and the witches house. The main plot of the story is, Arthur and the gang are trying to figure out why the witch hung herself. Mean while Arthur and cora are falling in love. in the book it states we've got to help her! cora stood up wanting to look away from the gently swinging body of the witch My claim for the book is I thought the book was going to be a lot more different because I thought it was going to be more of a mysterious book then romance because its more romance then anything. In some parts of the story it was confusing but for most of the part it was pretty predictable my recommendation some people might like it but others may not because its more of a war and a lot of death.
mondation
mondation
August 12, 2019
Read for the ReadMoarComics readathon, prompt was to read a comic you know nothing about, and this one I had just recently picked up at a library book sale and hadn't heard of before.
It has a very interesting structure of alternating a few pages of artwork, and than a few pages of text. Initially, I wasn't sure how closely the visual and text stories were which at some points I found a bit frustrating, but at other times felt very engaging and drew me right in.
I hesitate from sharing the plot, because part of what made it an interesting experience to read was that I didn't have any references for it. But I can say that it has a strong sense of intrigue, a menacing threat, and a bunch of youths who get wrapped up in it all. Great illustrations, complex characters and an interesting mystery to boot. Took me a bit longer to read that I expected, but I am glad I stuck with it.
It has a very interesting structure of alternating a few pages of artwork, and than a few pages of text. Initially, I wasn't sure how closely the visual and text stories were which at some points I found a bit frustrating, but at other times felt very engaging and drew me right in.
I hesitate from sharing the plot, because part of what made it an interesting experience to read was that I didn't have any references for it. But I can say that it has a strong sense of intrigue, a menacing threat, and a bunch of youths who get wrapped up in it all. Great illustrations, complex characters and an interesting mystery to boot. Took me a bit longer to read that I expected, but I am glad I stuck with it.
January 14, 2015
Wow. This book was unlike anything I've ever read. The art was so gorgeous and the characters so interesting. The two stories worked so well together. And the ending. It made the book.
July 11, 2018
I usually don’t read scary books. And this book kept me from sleep on a few nights leaving me with all the lights on cursing myself for reading this book at night. Now I am a chicken when it comes to anything scary so read at your own risk.
I love Kiersten’s story telling abilities and the illustrations by Jim Di Bartolo were dark and whimsical and creepy.
I love Kiersten’s story telling abilities and the illustrations by Jim Di Bartolo were dark and whimsical and creepy.
May 20, 2015
Full review posted here with artwork from the novel.
You guys. This book is SO freaking cool! While combining prose with art is not an entirely new concept for young adult with novels like The Invention of Hugo Cabret, The absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Winger, etc, I do think that In the Shadows is unlike anything you've ever seen before, even Lips Touch: Three Times, Jim's gorgeous collaboration with Laini Taylor.
What makes In the Shadows so unique? Well, Jim's art is not just illustrations that match up with Kiersten's prose; instead, In the Shadows tells two interconnected stories in separate locations and separate timelines. Interconnected....but how? Well, that's actually a huuuuuge spoiler, and not one I'm going to give you because that would be rude. Also a major spoiler: we don't know who Jim's protagonist is.
That's right. This handsome devil has an unknown name. There are three male protagonists in Kiersten's story, and he could be any of them. Or....OR...he could be someone else entirely. You may think you know, but I guarantee you won't know for sure. I kept guessing all the way until The Big Reveal, and only occasionally was I right. The mystery of it all is thrilling and utterly mesmerizing. In addition to the art story being completely compelling, it's a veritable feast for the eyes. Jim's colors are simultaneously bright yet muted for a vintage look. He masterfully plays with light and, yes, shadows to draw your eyes to important details, especially in busy, crowded frames. Your eye is guided toward the action, but then you could spend hours poring over each individual frame at all the intricate details he includes. My favorite drawings are on pages 316 & 317, in Chicago, and 368 & 369. I can't share because spoilers but OH. MY. GOSH. I could spend all day looking at the hands on 368 alone. (Kiersten told me that's one of her favorites too!)
As for Kiersten, I think this book is her best yet. Her writing is incredibly poetic and super sensory. At the very beginning of chapter three, Thom's fingers are "pounding violently instead of....caressing," and Kiersten mentions the "cool ivory" of piano keys. I could see it, hear it, feel it. Later on, there are smells and tastes, and it's absolutely captivating. She draws out each of the characters–Minnie, Cora, Charles, Thom, and Arthur–and they stand individually, but they also all work in any combination. I love that Kiersten plays with those combinations too: the sisters; the brothers; all three boys; and any mixture of two or three of the group. I love that all of them has a unique relationship with each of the others, and all those relationships, romantic, friendly, and otherwise, make me feel things. If I had to pick, my favorite, though, might be Charles because of his good humor. He's (seemingly) effortlessly charming, and he's got such a sweet spirit, even if he's a bit mischievous at times. I love how his mind runs with thoughts and plans as he tries to put everything and everyone in their own place. Favorite lines of Kiersten's: "[SPOILER] and [SPOILER] found in each other someone to both take care of and be taken care of by, and they were happy and content and had ridiculously fat babies whose laughter was like liquid joy." *dies* FAT BABIES WITH LAUGHTER LIKE LIQUID JOY. *dies again*
The very last thing I want to say is something I NEVER say. If you want to read In the Shadows, do not read the ebook. Either buy a physical copy or borrow from the library. Scholastic allowed me access to the DRC before publication, but I stopped reading almost immediately. I knew that the art would not be displayed to its fullest, and I didn't want to read the book without that full experience so I waited until I had a physical. The ebook is, understandably, fairly expensive because of the art (not only are Jim's pages in full color, but the prose has beautiful formatting as well). I think it's definitely worth the price BUT I also strongly feel that if you are going to invest in a copy, you should go ahead and invest in a stunningly gorgeous physical copy you can enjoy the way it is meant to be enjoyed so you can hold it and cuddle it and stroke the pictures. NOT that I've done that or anything.... *coughs* This is awkward.... Oh, like YOU'VE never done it.
In the Shadows is a beautiful novel. Both stories are so alive and vibrant in their own unique way, and Kiersten and Jim clearly work well together as the prose and art blended together seamlessly, even though they take place in different times and places. I have enjoyed Kiersten and Jim's other work, but I really hope they consider working together in the future because combined, these two powerhouse storytellers are a winning duo!
All pictures featured in this review were reposted from Kiersten's blog with both authors' permission. Check out additional In the Shadows art samples on Jim's website here. Artwork copyright owned by Jim di Bartolo. Please do not reproduce or repost art without permission.
You guys. This book is SO freaking cool! While combining prose with art is not an entirely new concept for young adult with novels like The Invention of Hugo Cabret, The absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Winger, etc, I do think that In the Shadows is unlike anything you've ever seen before, even Lips Touch: Three Times, Jim's gorgeous collaboration with Laini Taylor.
What makes In the Shadows so unique? Well, Jim's art is not just illustrations that match up with Kiersten's prose; instead, In the Shadows tells two interconnected stories in separate locations and separate timelines. Interconnected....but how? Well, that's actually a huuuuuge spoiler, and not one I'm going to give you because that would be rude. Also a major spoiler: we don't know who Jim's protagonist is.
That's right. This handsome devil has an unknown name. There are three male protagonists in Kiersten's story, and he could be any of them. Or....OR...he could be someone else entirely. You may think you know, but I guarantee you won't know for sure. I kept guessing all the way until The Big Reveal, and only occasionally was I right. The mystery of it all is thrilling and utterly mesmerizing. In addition to the art story being completely compelling, it's a veritable feast for the eyes. Jim's colors are simultaneously bright yet muted for a vintage look. He masterfully plays with light and, yes, shadows to draw your eyes to important details, especially in busy, crowded frames. Your eye is guided toward the action, but then you could spend hours poring over each individual frame at all the intricate details he includes. My favorite drawings are on pages 316 & 317, in Chicago, and 368 & 369. I can't share because spoilers but OH. MY. GOSH. I could spend all day looking at the hands on 368 alone. (Kiersten told me that's one of her favorites too!)
As for Kiersten, I think this book is her best yet. Her writing is incredibly poetic and super sensory. At the very beginning of chapter three, Thom's fingers are "pounding violently instead of....caressing," and Kiersten mentions the "cool ivory" of piano keys. I could see it, hear it, feel it. Later on, there are smells and tastes, and it's absolutely captivating. She draws out each of the characters–Minnie, Cora, Charles, Thom, and Arthur–and they stand individually, but they also all work in any combination. I love that Kiersten plays with those combinations too: the sisters; the brothers; all three boys; and any mixture of two or three of the group. I love that all of them has a unique relationship with each of the others, and all those relationships, romantic, friendly, and otherwise, make me feel things. If I had to pick, my favorite, though, might be Charles because of his good humor. He's (seemingly) effortlessly charming, and he's got such a sweet spirit, even if he's a bit mischievous at times. I love how his mind runs with thoughts and plans as he tries to put everything and everyone in their own place. Favorite lines of Kiersten's: "[SPOILER] and [SPOILER] found in each other someone to both take care of and be taken care of by, and they were happy and content and had ridiculously fat babies whose laughter was like liquid joy." *dies* FAT BABIES WITH LAUGHTER LIKE LIQUID JOY. *dies again*
The very last thing I want to say is something I NEVER say. If you want to read In the Shadows, do not read the ebook. Either buy a physical copy or borrow from the library. Scholastic allowed me access to the DRC before publication, but I stopped reading almost immediately. I knew that the art would not be displayed to its fullest, and I didn't want to read the book without that full experience so I waited until I had a physical. The ebook is, understandably, fairly expensive because of the art (not only are Jim's pages in full color, but the prose has beautiful formatting as well). I think it's definitely worth the price BUT I also strongly feel that if you are going to invest in a copy, you should go ahead and invest in a stunningly gorgeous physical copy you can enjoy the way it is meant to be enjoyed so you can hold it and cuddle it and stroke the pictures. NOT that I've done that or anything.... *coughs* This is awkward.... Oh, like YOU'VE never done it.
In the Shadows is a beautiful novel. Both stories are so alive and vibrant in their own unique way, and Kiersten and Jim clearly work well together as the prose and art blended together seamlessly, even though they take place in different times and places. I have enjoyed Kiersten and Jim's other work, but I really hope they consider working together in the future because combined, these two powerhouse storytellers are a winning duo!
All pictures featured in this review were reposted from Kiersten's blog with both authors' permission. Check out additional In the Shadows art samples on Jim's website here. Artwork copyright owned by Jim di Bartolo. Please do not reproduce or repost art without permission.
April 11, 2017
I enjoyed the way the pictures and words were mixed in together. After every chapter there were a few pages of manga style pictures.
February 27, 2022
4.25 stars.
The art in this book was incredible! I was hooked on this book, and really enjoyed the characters! And it all tied together beautifully!
The art in this book was incredible! I was hooked on this book, and really enjoyed the characters! And it all tied together beautifully!
August 14, 2017
Can I just say that I loved the art? But great art doesn't always mean that the book is just as amazing. I found that the drawings didn't communicate very well because I was extremely confused throughout the course of the book. The pictures would often look as if they had skipped a scene and I struggled to find a connection between the two stories up until near the end of the book. It made the reading experience less enjoyable. The connections are disjointed and jostle the flow of the book. In the Shadows lacked the storytelling aspect. The writing was bland and the plot was even more so. It lacked flavor and dragged a lot. It seemed like a lot of nothing was happening. Honestly, the back story and plot isn't explained at all until the last fifty pages. It's all rushed. The romance in this book was also shallow. It could have been something great, but instead it had the feeling of a summer fling .
Characterization wasn't terrible but it could have been better. It felt as if the characters had certain personality traits pasted on them but that these traits weren't constant. Some were obviously more strongly developed than the others although there were five principle characters. For instance, Minnie, Thomas, are significantly better developed than Charles. The execution of what could have been a great idea was sloppy and boring. Opposite the main characters, the villains were about as threatening as pansies. I didn't feel any suspense or tension about what was happening; it was all told in a way that eliminated all the emotion.
And the writing gets its own paragraphs because I have lots to say about it.
FIRST OF ALL. The worldbuilding sucks. It's downright terrible. It's like the author took a historical setting (which is 18-something? Might be earlier. It doesn't specify the exact date of the sections at the boarding house) and then stuck some type of supernatural/fantasy idea behind it. All of the worldbuilding is thrown into the last fifty pages (some of which were pictures) and as a result, is a discombobulated, non-descriptive mess. You get a small tidbit at the beginning, some scattered here and there in the middle, and the rest of it in the end. Badly developed, very unbelievable, and unsatisfying.
SECONDLY. The writing is choppy and repetitive. The flow is awkward. I see the same word used two or three sentences in a row. The sentences are broken up. Sometimes this works. Other times, it sounds awkward. Everything about the writing just screams awkward. It's like being in a conversation with someone you just met.
I wish I had just skipped this one. I expected so much from it but was disappointed. When it was over I was literally like, "That was it?" The sweet, funny ending didn't make up for the rest of the book. It worked, but at the same time, there were many elements missing that would have made it better. There was little to no actual content in this book. If you enjoy graphic novels, perhaps you would like this one, but otherwise, don't bother.
Side note: I did like the title of the book. It seems so generic but then once you read the book, it all makes sense!
Characterization wasn't terrible but it could have been better. It felt as if the characters had certain personality traits pasted on them but that these traits weren't constant. Some were obviously more strongly developed than the others although there were five principle characters. For instance, Minnie, Thomas, are significantly better developed than Charles. The execution of what could have been a great idea was sloppy and boring. Opposite the main characters, the villains were about as threatening as pansies. I didn't feel any suspense or tension about what was happening; it was all told in a way that eliminated all the emotion.
And the writing gets its own paragraphs because I have lots to say about it.
FIRST OF ALL. The worldbuilding sucks. It's downright terrible. It's like the author took a historical setting (which is 18-something? Might be earlier. It doesn't specify the exact date of the sections at the boarding house) and then stuck some type of supernatural/fantasy idea behind it. All of the worldbuilding is thrown into the last fifty pages (some of which were pictures) and as a result, is a discombobulated, non-descriptive mess. You get a small tidbit at the beginning, some scattered here and there in the middle, and the rest of it in the end. Badly developed, very unbelievable, and unsatisfying.
SECONDLY. The writing is choppy and repetitive. The flow is awkward. I see the same word used two or three sentences in a row. The sentences are broken up. Sometimes this works. Other times, it sounds awkward. Everything about the writing just screams awkward. It's like being in a conversation with someone you just met.
I wish I had just skipped this one. I expected so much from it but was disappointed. When it was over I was literally like, "That was it?" The sweet, funny ending didn't make up for the rest of the book. It worked, but at the same time, there were many elements missing that would have made it better. There was little to no actual content in this book. If you enjoy graphic novels, perhaps you would like this one, but otherwise, don't bother.
Side note: I did like the title of the book. It seems so generic but then once you read the book, it all makes sense!
November 19, 2014
This book was hard to review because it really is two stories (one in graphic novel form and the other written) that are hard to comprehend together until the VERY end. Both sides of the story mess with how much time passes, one in between chapters and the other between drawn frames in the graphic part that only add to the reader’s bafflement. Plus, I found it difficult to distinguish between characters in the graphic novel sections, even though I finally realized that one has a distinguishing scar around his eye.
The written part features two sisters who are bored of working in the boarding house run by their mother and suspect the woman who lives on the hill of being a witch since she predicted death the night before their father died. Cora has always believed her spying on the witch lead to her dad’s death so she has withdrawn into her shell, while her sister Minnie keeps trying to revive her sister’s passion for life.
Life picks up when Arthur arrives and is taken in by their mother due to something mysterious he knows about their family, but will not discuss. Then, two brothers, Charles and Thomas arrive for the summer at their father’s orders. Thomas is supposed to mature while he looks after his dying brother. They know their father sent them away to protect them, but they soon realize their security is up to themselves when suspicious characters appear around town and at the boarding house. With evil lurking in the shadows, how can these young people find their way to safety? How do the mysterious adventures of the man in the drawings connect to these kids?
This book would likely appeal to those who like darker stories, especially graphic novels, but I’m not sure they will have the patience to finish it due to a lack of understanding the two seemingly disconnected storylines. Fans of Kiersten White will like the romantic entanglements between characters and guys will like learning Arthur’s secrets and the bit of dangerous action toward the end.
The written part features two sisters who are bored of working in the boarding house run by their mother and suspect the woman who lives on the hill of being a witch since she predicted death the night before their father died. Cora has always believed her spying on the witch lead to her dad’s death so she has withdrawn into her shell, while her sister Minnie keeps trying to revive her sister’s passion for life.
Life picks up when Arthur arrives and is taken in by their mother due to something mysterious he knows about their family, but will not discuss. Then, two brothers, Charles and Thomas arrive for the summer at their father’s orders. Thomas is supposed to mature while he looks after his dying brother. They know their father sent them away to protect them, but they soon realize their security is up to themselves when suspicious characters appear around town and at the boarding house. With evil lurking in the shadows, how can these young people find their way to safety? How do the mysterious adventures of the man in the drawings connect to these kids?
This book would likely appeal to those who like darker stories, especially graphic novels, but I’m not sure they will have the patience to finish it due to a lack of understanding the two seemingly disconnected storylines. Fans of Kiersten White will like the romantic entanglements between characters and guys will like learning Arthur’s secrets and the bit of dangerous action toward the end.
June 14, 2014
Eh.
The book was okay. What drew my attention was the artwork, which at first was a little bit disorienting as it split up the written chapters. I like the idea of interweaving two different-seeming stories together, only to have them wrap-up at the end.
*spoiler*
The only thing I could put together at the beginning was the fact that the character illustrated was one of the characters in the written part of the book. It was the main reason why I kept reading it: to see who it was exactly.
The characters had a lot of potential, but I didn't feel at all attached to any of them, so when the love triangles began, I mainly just rolled my eyes. I think part of it was that there could have been more background, more detail behind the father, maybe foreshadow him a bit more. Maybe more on Charles sickness-- like how was it killing him. And why it took so long to kill him and why he was needed to become immortal or sacrificed. What plans did the immortals have.... Such and such.
I might have missed it, but more about the beetle necklaces (why were they in the shape of beetles?), why the blank zombie looks. There's a problem with world building here as well-- more depth so that the reader isn't too disoriented. Some is good, but we got that from the comic part.
In the end, the book made me think that the main point of the story was the relationship between Minnie and Arthur... Which comes around to full circle with how problematic that was in the above paragraphs. Yeah... There was a parallel between Mary and Alden, only it ended how it "should have," but it's no reason to cheapen world building and building character. And no, using artwork to explain your details doesn't work either.
The book was okay. What drew my attention was the artwork, which at first was a little bit disorienting as it split up the written chapters. I like the idea of interweaving two different-seeming stories together, only to have them wrap-up at the end.
*spoiler*
The only thing I could put together at the beginning was the fact that the character illustrated was one of the characters in the written part of the book. It was the main reason why I kept reading it: to see who it was exactly.
The characters had a lot of potential, but I didn't feel at all attached to any of them, so when the love triangles began, I mainly just rolled my eyes. I think part of it was that there could have been more background, more detail behind the father, maybe foreshadow him a bit more. Maybe more on Charles sickness-- like how was it killing him. And why it took so long to kill him and why he was needed to become immortal or sacrificed. What plans did the immortals have.... Such and such.
I might have missed it, but more about the beetle necklaces (why were they in the shape of beetles?), why the blank zombie looks. There's a problem with world building here as well-- more depth so that the reader isn't too disoriented. Some is good, but we got that from the comic part.
In the end, the book made me think that the main point of the story was the relationship between Minnie and Arthur... Which comes around to full circle with how problematic that was in the above paragraphs. Yeah... There was a parallel between Mary and Alden, only it ended how it "should have," but it's no reason to cheapen world building and building character. And no, using artwork to explain your details doesn't work either.
October 23, 2014
In an inspired collaboration, White, author of urban fantasies and all things paranormal, pairs up with artist Di Bartolo to create a dark, moody, and mysterious hybrid novel. The story consists of alternating narratives, one in prose and one in vividly colored, sometimes horrific, wordless graphic novel panels. It isn’t immediately apparent if or how the two narrative threads are related. That fact alone might keep readers turning pages. White’s story is about two sisters, Cora and Minnie, who live with their mother in a boardinghouse in Maine. After spying on the town witch and getting caught, Cora blames herself for the death of her father the next day. When a mysterious stranger, Arthur, comes to board, along with two brothers from New York, Minnie involves them in the folklore of their sleepy Maine resort town, only to discover that they are in an evil place, surrounded by watchers, and in more danger than she could have ever thought possible. What do you do when the web you weave ensnares not only the people you love, but the people and things you should fear the most? Di Bartolo’s stunning artwork takes readers across the globe and spans from the turn of the 20th century to the present. While not for nonlinear thinkers, this absorbing tale will reward patient readers with a thrill of an adventure. Upon completion, teens will find themselves thumbing through it all over again, if only to put together the pieces of the puzzle that Di Bartolo keeps in the shadows throughout this eerie volume.
School Library Journal, May 2014.
School Library Journal, May 2014.
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