Of Breakable Things

Of Breakable Things #1

by A. Lynden Rolland

When Chase dies tragically, Alex embraces her own mortality. What she didn’t expect was that she’d have to make a choice: forget the years of pain and suffering once and for all, or linger as a spirit and get another chance at life and love.

Alex doesn’t hesitate to choose; she’d follow Chase anywhere. But the spirit world is nothing like she expected, and Alex finds she's forced to fight for her life once more. For even in a world where secrets are buried much deeper than six feet under, a legacy can continue to haunt you—and in a place this dangerous, no one is resting in peace.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction, Romance, Ghosts, Supernatural

300 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 2014

About the author

A. Lynden Rolland was born and raised in a picturesque town obsessed with boats and blue crabs. She has always been intrigued by the dramatic and the broken, compiling her eccentric tales of tragic characters in a weathered notebook she began to carry in grade school. She is a sports fanatic, a coffee addict, and a lover of Sauvignon Blanc and thunderstorms. When she isn’t hunched behind a laptop at her local bookstore, she can be found chasing her two vivacious children. She resides in Maryland with her husband and young sons.

Reviews

[Lindsay Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

the cover!!! so creepy pretty. can I have it now?!

[Oli · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, because it seemed interesting and creative at first, but I had some issues with it:
1. Most of the characters fell flat. In fact, I felt like all the reader ever really knew about Chase is that he was perfect and Alex loved him.
2. The writing style seemed immature at times. Which would have been fine for an older children's book, but I was expecting a little more depth and refinement from a young adult novel.
3. The typos and grammar mistakes were distracting to me. Really needed some better editing.
4. The big twists and reveals were... not really big at all. They were mostly predictable.
5. The ending left me feeling unsatisfied.
6. It reminded me very strongly of Harry Potter at times.
7. I wanted more about EDS. I wanted it to be more relevant to the story. I thought it was really cool that the author was bringing attention to an illness that most people don't know anything about, but I was a little disappointed with how it was handled.
(As a side note, I was also annoyed by the demonizing of mental health treatment and the facetious use of terms like anorexic, bipolar, and "mental case". I just rolled my eyes at first, and I wouldn't base my opinion of a book on just that, but it eventually wore on me.)

[La La · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars on my blog. I am so in love with this story. I was in a horrible reading slump when I picked this book up. It was probably the fifth or sixth book I had tried. I wasn't expecting to become fully engaged within the first few pages, so I was happily surprised. Even though this book is nothing like Harry Potter it had this certain vibe to it that gave me that same comforting feeling. I recently read another review that said very much the same thing. The otherworldly setting is unique, and the characters have great chemistry. Even the secondary characters are well thought out and detailed enough so that I didn't have to search back in the story to remember who they were (one of my pet peeves). I am in another slump right now, wishing I had another Of Breakable Things to pull me out. I paid full regular price for the ebook and it was worth every penny! Full 4 1/2 star blog review:
http://lalatoadstone.blogspot.com/201... This book is currently $3.03 as an ebook and FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

[A. Rolland]

I think my rating is obvious considering it's my creation. An afterworld manipulated by the mind was so fun to write.

[Paula Stokes]

Whoa. This sounds jam-packed with awesome. And LOVE the cover.

[Ash Wednesday]

Wow. Ehler-Danlos Syndrome. Really? This will be interesting.

[Kat Montemayor · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 Stars

Of Breakable Things has a very interesting beginning. An ill teenager, destined to die young, outlives her best friend/soul mate who is killed in a freak car accident along with his three brothers.
Alex, the young girl, is admitted to a psych hospital where she subsequently dies. She is given the choice to go on to eternal glory, or take a chance as a ghost at seeing her true love again. We all know which path she takes.

When she gets to the ghost side, we learn that ghosts have to attend high school!


And of course there are the high school cliques to contend with.


There's the legacies-those who come from long lines of ghosts. Think of them as old money.
The Movers- those with the ability of telekinesis.
The chokers- those who haven't come to grips with the fact that they no longer have a pulse.

What I liked: A different kind of ghostly world-building. Ghosts can eat, have study projects, have to work at haunted houses, and prepare for Solstice festivals. And most importantly, they can get injured and die. Especially if a Banshee is involved. The kids in the school are called Newburies (Newly buried). Reminds me of calling the freshmen fish when I was in school.

What didn't work: The middle part bogged down for me. The book boyfriend wasn't seen, other than flashback, until 48%. That's a long time, and it didn't give me much connection to him. Jonas, Chase's brother who is also after his woman, was given a lot more page time. And since he's a jerk, that wasn't a good thing. Some of the things we learn should have been exciting revelations, unfortunately it was so weighed down in details by the time we learned of it, I wasn't too interested anymore.

The writing is good and so is the premise. Maybe I'm just too old to enjoy it the way I should.
Recommended for a younger teen audience.

[Bèbè ✦ RANT ✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of Breakable Things is a story of hurt, raw emotions, love, and incredible strength of mind and soul. When I first looked at the cover and read the summary, I wasn't too sure of what to expect. A spirit world with rules, misbehavior, and simple teenager life had such a great detail and creativity, it was a roller coaster.

Story begins when Alex realizes that she is now dead and arrived at the after world. She is faced with a decision to either move on from this world or go on living as a ghost in the spirit world. Her decision is easy to make because of one person - Chase. He has been in her life since childhood and after his family died in a tragic accident, she knew that there will be a day when they will be reunited.

This story was so deep, it made me realize that paranormal stories can have those deep emotions that a lot of the contemporary novels have. Incredible story by this author, absolutely love it!

[Kathylill]

I want you
I want you
I want you
I want you
I want you
I want you
I want you



The blurb, it sounds awesome and the cover looks beautifully creepy ...

[Sara Raasch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The description had me, but then that cover locked me in. This world sounds so unique! I cannot wait to lose myself in it :D

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man this book was awesome and unique. Sure, there are plenty of ghost stories out there but this one takes the cake.

The plot is really interesting as we take a look at what happens after the long awaited death of the MC Alex, who had been living with a disease that she knew would end her. From her death, which is where the story starts, we learn about the choices one has to make immediately following a person's demise: forget everything and sort of "move on" or remain with the consequences but remember everything, pain included. This itself was so interesting and really makes a person think. From Alex's choice we head to a sort of "ghost school" where you learn to be a 'ghost' and the history of such. It's such a fresh a take on the topic I devoured it.

Alex herself is quite strong in her voice. She's used to being fragile and looked after because of her illness but that doesn't take anything away from her spunky personality. Plus, in death she is now just like everyone else. In essence, she's learning to live a whole different life: both as a ghost and without her impending doom. She's strong willed in her actions and doesn't go with the flow that other spirits have already predetermined. Alex is one of a kind.

The brothers are all absolutely amazing. It makes me wish I knew them in real life. The LaSalle's are also one of a kind it and was fun to get to know each of them. Obviously, Chase is my favorite and his relationship with Alex had me going from the first chapter. I have never been more excited for a romance to happen as I was this one (and it took longer than I was hoping for!) But everything just falls into place and is so fluid that you don't want to put this book down for a second.

The ending itself was so intense and action packed I really wish there was more of that throughout the book!

Overall, I cannot say enough good things about this novel! I am really hoping there will be a sequel because there are still some things left out there and I do not want to part with these characters yet.



Amazing story.

[Brittany (Brittany's Book Rambles)]

DNF at 50%

My standard policy when I DNF a book to read up to 25% of it before making that decision but in this case I decided to push further into this book because I could feel the potential from the writing. Sadly, I'm putting this book down today.

When I first started this book, I was really excited because the plot was interesting and the writing was beautiful. Unfortunately, I became overwhelmed with all of the details. There are a lot of characters with separate plot lines and it's not apparent how they all will come together. Instead of focusing on specific details and developing those as the book goes on you're given more characters and more side-plots and it's all very confusing. I never felt that I fully understood what was actually happening in the book with its characters and setting.

I also expected that this book would be more focused on Chase and Alex given the synopsis but it seems that there is a weird disconnect between the lovers despite their feelings for one another. I felt that their story should have been more of a focus but they are just one of many plots happening in Of Breakable Things.

[Jamie (Books and Ladders) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
DNF at 32%

I wanted to like this one and thought the premise was so interesting! However, it was oddly paced, jumped back and forth between character POVs without explanation, and was just strange at some points. I didn't mind the characters but it was too much to figure out who was doing what and I could sense a love triangle coming up and was all, "no thanks" to that. It is a creative book but it just was not the one for me.

Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

[Bookish Satty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side.

Firstly I would like to thanks the author for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this fabulous book.

Wow!!! I really loved the concept. Ah!!! The emotions that were portrayed in this story were soul-touching and I loved and cherished this awesome experience.

The characters were so mature and developed and I loved the crisp dialogues and the best part is that the heroine isn't the princess of 'Stupidland'. Hope you guys will understand that!!! The suspense and mystery part is good but it wasn't great because I saw some of the biggest twists coming from a long way.

The best part is the emotions that took my breath away. This is a great read and I would definitely recommend it to you guys. Hope you'll like it just as I did. Enjoy!!!

[Kristen Lippert-Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rolland's lyrical prose tells the story of a girl, Alex, and boy, Chase, who choose the posthumous, not-quite-dead-but-certainly-not-alive path of "spirits" after they die. They search for one another, not sure how and where their paths will cross, and both quickly discover that the spirit world has rules that must be learned and followed. Or else. Fans of Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter world will find this book -- with its "high school for spirits," layered mythology, and cast of interesting characters -- very much to their liking.

[K.L. Lantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with beautiful language, real-to-life characters, intriguing spins on the afterlife, and scenic imagery that draws you in, Of Breakable Things will move you.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of Breakable Things is a novel that begings with its heroine’s death. Then again, Alex, said protagonist, has been dying all her life of a rare illness that rendered her fragile and unable to do all the things she wanted to do. But through all of that, there were always the Lasalle brothers, first among them Chase. Chase and Alex shared a connection that was plain for anyone to see, though neither of them ever dared to really act on it. When the Lasalles all died in a tragic accident, Alex died inside as well. With her mother dead and her father placing the blame on her, there was nothing and no one else to live for.

Yet death doesn’t have to be the end. Souls with enough energy can choose to stay behind as spirits, and this is what Alex chooses with the hope that Chase made the same decision, that they could meet again. On the other side, Alex enters the spirit town of Eidolon, where new spirits are taught about the rules of their afterlife and how to use their powers. It’s basically like boarding school for the gifted dead, and Alex turns out to be plenty gifted. I really liked that since her body was always weak, her mind had to grow all the stronger and she now profits from that.

However, all is not dandy in the city of the dead. People stare at Alex because of how much she resembles the mother she never met… yet no one wants to answer her questions about her. Also, the other Lasalle brothers are there to take Alex into their midst again, but Chase is detained for breaking the rules. There is something more brewing in the town of Eidolon. Banshees have been sighted, which is highly unusual for the region. Things have gone missing. And Alex finds a box of old letters she feels compelled to read…

Something I really liked about the structure of Of Breakable Things is that it alternates between the present and between memories of Alex and Chase’s past. I found the beginning a bit cumbersome because there’s quite a lot of info dropped on Alex (and thus the reader) in a rather didactic way. I can see why that’s necessary because the world Rolland created is very complex and imaginative, but I was also glad for the change in pace that the memories brought with them. They made me understand the connection between Chase and Alex and I began rooting for them.

That whole ‘soul mates’ and ‘destined for each other’ stuff is not usually for me, but I could get behind it here because it’s not insta-love where the characters basically know nothing about each other. Alex and Chase grew up together from the time they were babies. They understand each other better than anyone else. However, the way their meeting again is dragged out for quite a while became a little annoying. On the positive side of it though, that gives the reader more time to get to know the other Lasalle brothers and the dynamics between them and how Alex fits into that. I really like sibling bonds in novels and that definitely came through here – the love as well as the rivalry. All four brothers have distinct personalities, and they all care about Alex in their own way.

As I’ve said, there’s a lot of world building in here. The rules for spirits are strict and there’s a schedule, but there’s also time for fun. Some of the teachers and school lessons reminded me a bit of Hogwarts, but not in a rip-off kinda way. I think it’s just hard to get around that comparison these days. Anyway, I really like how the novel plays with things we believe about ghosts, and how Alex and Chase’s hometown with its history of haunting figures into it. Also, spirit ‘brains’ work a lot faster than regular human ones, and who doesn’t wish they could devour a whole library in a few days and remember every word they’ve read?

The plot takes a while to really get going. I think in part that’s because a lot of things have to be built up and set in motion, but there were also times when I think some scenes could have been shortened to make it a bit tighter. There’s more action and twists as things go along though, especially after Alex finds the box of letters I mentioned above. I really liked reading those and trying to piece together what was going on, and how that figures into what is happening now, more than a hundred years after they were written. Eidolon is a city of secrets, alliances, and legacies. Some families have had spirits showing up there for years and form an elite. Others are shunned and taunted. All of them have plans… and spirits can still die a final death.

Of Breakable Things is a compelling story about love, death, and family. It took me a moment to find my footing in the story, but then the writing flowed easily and I found myself in tune with the characters, their hopes and fears, and their world. The world of spirits was created with a lot of care for those little details that make an imagined world real to the reader, and I found myself wishing I could spend a few hours exploring the town and the school. While the first part of the book focuses more on the relations between characters, the pacing and action pick up later on, so there’s something for everyone. Despite death being a topic, the quirky characters and banter make sure there’s enough fun among the darker and creepier side of things. The ending round the novel off nicely and without a cliffhanger, but I’m also very curious to see where Alex and Chase’s story is going in the next book!

[Mutmainna · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALSO CROSS POSTED ON MY BLOG

One thing I would like to confess, I read this book in a real rush. One reason is because I picked it up a little late, due to some unavoidable issues, and another one is that once I started reading it, it was so intriguing that I was cursing myself for not being able to read faster (lol that happens when I get too excited while reading a book) So if I miss out a few points here and there, please excuse me.

Having said that, I can now move on to my thoughts on the book. Firstly, it was the cover that blew my mind. It’s at a time creepy and intriguing and gives me a kind of weird (in a good way) feeling. And when I'd dived into the story, it was way more than that. Oh, the palpitations my heart had O_O

The theme of a romance prevails the story. And it’s not some normal creepy love story, it’s purely transcendental. With Alex and Chase the author has created a world that cannot be compared to anything in general, and its uniqueness is sure to fill up the heart of the reader inside you with butterflies. Still, the author didn’t seem to overdo anything. The romantic tone was there most of the times, but it never overshadowed any of the other themes.

Talking of themes, I liked how the author has dealt with some other important themes in the book, like family and friendship. She didn’t shy away in portraying a family with its own plus and minus sides. The friendship between Alex and Chase is something that makes the book really beautiful. Chase became friends with Alex and even after her flaws, she is special to Chase. What I loved was the fact that the author didn’t show it as an insta-love thing, because I get a little annoyed at that. Their relationship grew eventually and the process may leave you with tears (of both happiness and sadness).

I loved the narration technique. I feel its easier to connect to a character if the readers get to see the story from their povs. There are also alternating descriptions of different times that may feel a little complicated if you’re not paying enough attention, but those also, are no less interesting. There were some moments where the story seemed a little dragging but the overall story makes up for it really well.

I loved the afterworld building done by the author. It was nice to get to know things that are not earthly at all, and yet manage to look so realistic. You may even feel like you are out visiting a normal city in the human world. Even though the book deals with death and spirits and afterlife it’s not overly serious, to make you start yawning at a point (I do that with overly serious books) and the author makes it sure. One good part about the ending is you won’t feel like it’s a cliffhanger, yet it keeps some things unanswered, I guess that’s the whole point why I, or anyone who likes this book, would be looking forward to reading the second. Even if you have or haven’t read anything like this previously, I recommend you do read this…it’s really worth your time :D

[Carla Stafford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of Unbreakable Things is a story of a love so strong that it continues to live, long, and search, even after death. Alex is a teenage girl who spent her entire life knowing two things for certain: the disease that took her mother's life during Alex's birth and has plagued Alex all of her life has left her tiny body as fragile and as breakable as that of a china doll, and that she does not/cannot truly exist without Chase-her companion in life(and as we later learn, in death.) When Chase dies tragically in a car accident, Alex shatters inside-her mind breaks apart, she attempts suicide and she is sent to a psychiatric ward. Shortly afterward, her frail body follows suit and Alex enters the after life where she makes the choice she is certain will lead her to Chase.

As it turns out however, the afterlife is bursting with mysteries, histories, and of course, ghosts...which as is often the case, have their own stories, vendettas, and crosses to bear. The afterlife Alex has chosen for herself is perilous, messy, and confusing. Before long, Alex realizes that she is tangled up in a past and a lineage she never knew existed. She realizes that even in death, the Happily Ever After she hungers for with Chase may be too good to be true.

I enjoyed this book, at times, it was hard for me to put down. I did however, feel that it had some issues. While the ending certainly suggests a sequel, I felt there were too many questions left unanswered. There were key characters abandoned and left hanging. There was false foreshadowing...you know, where the author makes you take mental note of details and situations in the text, flags them with the nonverbal, "you will need to know this later on,"then fails to fulfill the unspoken promise of tying up the loose ends. Maybe I am getting too old for unrequited love, because while I thought the author did an adequate job of explaining why Chase and Alex were hesitant, fearful even of acting on their life long love for each other, their romance, for me at least, had a glossy, wheel spinning quality that didn't have texture or go anywhere-it seemed too idealized to be realized. The connection that motivated the lives and deaths and afterlives of Alex and Chase, took a backseat to the action of the story. This seemingly futile inconsistency was difficult for me to overlook as a reader, in spite of the sometimes fascinating after world the author created.

[Lissette · Rating 5 out of 5]

All her life, Alex Ash has lived a fragile existence. It's not because she's wanted to, mind you. It's because she was born that way. Part of her has always resented the fact that she's been so breakable. Anything and everything hurts her, and there's nothing she can do about it. Or so she thinks.

Her life is further shattered when she unexpectedly loses the one thing she's loved the most--her beloved Chase LaSalle, as well as the rest of his family. Deep inside, she knows that all things happen for a reason, yet it's hard for her to accept that he's well and truly gone. So much so, that she eventually chooses the one path that just might take her to him.

With death comes clarity, and Alex soon realizes that perhaps things aren't what they seem to be. In the new world she now inhabits, things are certainly different. Granted, she's no longer breakable, but that doesn't mean she won't experience pain and heartache like she did when she was alive.

Knowing that Chase and his brothers are around in this ghostly world, Alex does her best to blend in, and get used to the way things are now. Sure, things aren't easy, but she's willing to learn whatever is necessary in order to make her new life bearable. Sadly, doing so might not be the best choice for her.

The secrets surrounding who and what she is are slowly percolating. Though she's not sure as to what's going on around her, Alex is determined in finding out what it is that people seem to be keeping from her. Part of her knows that she might not like the truth, but knowing is better than being kept in the dark about everything. If only people were more forthcoming, however. It would make things so much easier in the long run!

Of Breakable Things was honestly a great read. I enjoyed it so very much. The book tackles death in a very unique way, leaving you wanting to know more about the world the author has created. Alex and Chase are two beautifully bonded characters whose love persists even in death. Granted, not everything turns out right for them, but that's the beauty of having someone to love. You live, you learn, you love, and you grow together. (I actually get to use my own favorite quote here, hehe.) I hope there's more to come for these wonderful characters. The book is certainly series material. Thanks for such a great story!

[Jaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. I knew it was about a girl with a rare sort of "wasting" disease and that somehow her life started after she died, and that was about it.

But y'all, this book! Immediately, I was sucked into the writing. I'm a huge fan of great YA stories with a bit of literary flair to the language and this didn't disappoint. I underlined a ton of beautiful sentences.

Anyway, this is the story of Alex Ash, who upon her death, is given a choice of two doors. One is basically "heaven", the other is to return to her life before as a spirit. Because there's a chance she might find her tragically deceased best friends, a group of four brothers, the LaSalles, she chooses afterlife.This is where as a reader, I was kind of like whaaaaa? Rolland has built this amazing spirit world where newbies (the newly dead and young) are kept for eight years to learn about how to be a proper spirit before they are sent out into the world. At times, the school environment and professor relationships rang a teeny bit like Harry Potter but in my mind that is an excellent thing. Love those big casts of characters and twisted relationships.

Attention to visual details in the environment and wonderful thoughts on humans as energy and mind over body and the capacity of our brain really made this a JRo kind of read. Yes there was romance (though I was torn, even after the big "thing" at the end, I may ship the one I'm not really supposed to, of the LaSalle brothers that is) and it was never really a love triangle. More like the whiff of potential (and like I said, oh that whiff :)), but it was the world and the thoughts on who we become after death that I loved the most. There's also a mystery under the surface of Eidolon (the world) that propels the plot forward and leaves me hoping for a sequel.

A very cool book, beautifully written, and a delightful surprise as I had no idea the depth I could expect between the pages. One I'll think about for a while.

[Tonyalee · Rating 4 out of 5]

See this review and more on my blog Lilybloombooks

You can also enter to win an eBook copy of Of Breakable Things and also, a chance to win $10 Gift Card. Ends 5/6/14

*I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

First of all, the cover! Amazing, right!?

Of Breakable Things was a unique and very engaging story of the afterlife. There is a nice blend of mythology, paranormal and fantasy, and I loved the underlining meaning of the whole story. The mind is a powerful thing.

Rolland's writing is very smooth, and the world building was very solid and fascinating. I was initially worried about how I would connect to Alex and her relationship with Chase, but there are flashbacks, showing us beautiful and heartwarming scenes throughout the book. We see how the connect, and how Alex's relationship was strong with not only Chase, but the other brothers as well.

We get more than just Alex's POV. It alternates between quite a few characters throughout the book, and while this is something that I don't like, it was well done and very insightful to the story as a whole. There was a lot going on, and it was nice to see more a bigger picture than just the Alex bubble.

Alex, being frail and breakable in life, soars in the afterlife. She is very strong; able to do things that takes other spirits a long time to perfect. It was interesting trying to figure out why, and also why everyone was so nervous around her. She is loving and her connection to Chase and his brother's was so sweet. I also admired her for not succumbing into the hate and cliques.

My Peeve - Since we get several different POV and the flashbacks, it took a little time to figure out what was going on. Other than that? Nope. :)
Overall -
I really liked it! Of Breakable Things is a fun, exciting and unique blend read that will appeal to many readers. I am hoping for a sequel, because there are a few unanswered things. I recommend it!

 

[A.M. Supinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of the characters are dead, but that doesn't mean the novel is dreary or boring. A. Lynden Rolland tells a beautiful story with lovely, almost poetic prose. Reading her work is like stepping into a dream.

The concepts and worldbuilding are imaginative and fun--and so well written!--but it was the emotions and characters that really carry this from good to great for me. I'm big on characters. I think plot is awesome, but if the characters aren't real, or don't speak to me, I can't get into the story. Rolland's knack for balancing her characters made this a pleasure to read--especially since the setting is practically a character all on it's own!

I'm hooked and can't wait for more!

[Trinh · Rating 4 out of 5]

*85%*

This book ... WHERE DO I BEGIN?!?

I adored the writing style. The relationship between the characters was amazing! I loved the Lasalles brothers so much (well not all of them ...). Chase and Alex's relationship was the cutest thing. I LOVE YOU, CHASE LASALLES!

The book set place in the afterlife. So basically, everyone was dead. But here's the thing, it didn't feel like it! The afterlife life is like life when you're alive. There's school, homework, teachers, friends, enemies, etc.

The plot was very interesting. But throughout the book, I felt like it was all over the place. AND I WISH THERE WERE A FEW CHAPTERS AT THE END!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

And I want to thank A. Lynden Rolland for signing my book at the book festival :)

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful love story, containing some of the most stunning prose I've read in a long time. Seriously, if I could've pulled myself away from the story to fetch a pen and piece of paper, I probably would've written some of them down. This is the type of read you don't want to rush through, but instead, take it in slowly, like a glass of pumpkin-spice eggnog (hey, it's fall and I don't like wine). Savour it with all your senses, and experience all the different elements that make it so wonderful. :) Such a fabulous read!

[Jen McConnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally curled up with this book last week, and it blew me away. Rolland paints a beautiful, sinister portrait of an afterlife that's nothing like the characters expected, and her heroine, Alex Ash, is a fascinating character; she's stronger in death than she was in life, for one. There are chills, there are some heart palpitations and swoony moments, and through it all, the story and prose are truly beautiful. A fantastic merging of What Dreams May Come, magic, Celtic festivals, horror, and romance. I can't wait for more!

[Sydney Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique? Very
Believable? As believable as fantasies usually can be. I liked the ideas about death.
Characters? I love Alex and Chase. I want to find my Chase.
Holds attention? Yes. Explanations were good but slowed it down at parts
Great ending? Yes but leads into the sequel or series?

4.5




I know Miss Rolland from my school but my review is honest.

[Tratchka · Rating 5 out of 5]

In all honesty, this was the absolute best book I've read in a long time, or possibly ever! Please visit Yellow, Green, and Read All Over to read my review:-)

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[Theresa]

Can't wait to read this book!

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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