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The Asylum Saga #1
A Magic Dark and Bright
She meant to help a ghost...not unleash a curse.
Amelia Dupree hasn’t seen the Woman in White since the night her brother died.
The ghost seems to have disappeared from the woods surrounding Asylum, Pennsylvania—that is, until Charlie Blue moves into the creepy old MacAllister House next door. Amelia can’t help liking him, even though she spent her childhood thinking his grandmother was a witch. And she definitely can’t ignore the connection between his arrival and the Woman in White’s return.
Then Amelia learns that the Woman in White is a prisoner, trapped between the worlds of the living and the dead. Devastated by the idea that her brother could be suffering a similar fate, Amelia decides to do whatever it takes to help the Woman in White find peace--and Charlie agrees to help her.
But when Amelia’s classmates start to drown in the Susquehanna River, one right after another, rumors swirl as people begin to connect the timing of Charlie’s arrival with the unexplained deaths. As Charlie and Amelia uncover the dark history of Asylum, they realize they may have unleashed an unspeakable evil. One they have to stop before everything they love is destroyed.
Amelia Dupree hasn’t seen the Woman in White since the night her brother died.
The ghost seems to have disappeared from the woods surrounding Asylum, Pennsylvania—that is, until Charlie Blue moves into the creepy old MacAllister House next door. Amelia can’t help liking him, even though she spent her childhood thinking his grandmother was a witch. And she definitely can’t ignore the connection between his arrival and the Woman in White’s return.
Then Amelia learns that the Woman in White is a prisoner, trapped between the worlds of the living and the dead. Devastated by the idea that her brother could be suffering a similar fate, Amelia decides to do whatever it takes to help the Woman in White find peace--and Charlie agrees to help her.
But when Amelia’s classmates start to drown in the Susquehanna River, one right after another, rumors swirl as people begin to connect the timing of Charlie’s arrival with the unexplained deaths. As Charlie and Amelia uncover the dark history of Asylum, they realize they may have unleashed an unspeakable evil. One they have to stop before everything they love is destroyed.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
September 16, 2015
“I am a weapon, forged by fire, shaped by darkness, and destined for one purpose: Revenge”
This is one of my favorites this year. I honestly don’t have any negative thing to say. Except maybe why it has to end or why do I have to wait. WHYYYYYY.
Since words doesn’t come to me easily when I try to review a book that I really love (because Imma loser that way) I’ll just list down all the things that made this book such a success! This is Jenny Perinovic’s debut novel and her sequel hasn’t come out yet but I’m already asking for a new book. She is that good.
Okay, so on to the list!
The History, the mystery, the setting, the story..
Love. It. I’m sucker for books that is set on small towns with rich history settings. It reminds me of Mystic Falls from The Vampire Diaries. It’s like setting foot in a town and you can already feel that a lot has happened in that place. And you want to know them all.
At first, I wasn’t sure where the story was going (because I did not read the blurb because that’s just how I roll) ANYWAY, the story started unraveling once I was 2-3 chapters in and I enjoyed every moment of it. Secrets were revealed. History was found out. People got killed. And the most important thing of all, there were kisses. (hello priorities!!!) There are magic,
The whole plot that revolves around Amelia is interesting, so much that I was so invested in it. Then Charlie got thrown in and, well, I got sucked in more. Don’t you just love books that makes you forget you bladder and hunger so you can just read all day?
The atmosphere..
Uhm, have you read a book and while you’re reading it it feels like you’re not in your reading nook anymore? You were transported. You’re inside the book!!! Totally felt that in this book.
The romance, the kissing scenes!!!!!!!!!
If those exclamation point doesn’t tell you how much I love it, maybe this gif can!
Jenny Adams Perinovic is the bomb when it comes to kissing scenes. She makes me—okay, what’s a swonnier word than swoon? The chemistry of these two. UGH! SO FREAKIN GOOD!! They’re sweet and innocent but they can be heartmelting and sexy too. I WHOLE HEARTEDLY SHIP IT.
The characters..
Oh please don’t assume that our main character, Amelia, is perfect. She have her fair share of frustrating moments. You know those girls in movies? Those you scream at with ‘NO DO NOT GO IN THERE YOU DIMWIT! I REPEAT DO NOT- okay she’s inside. Crap’ Well, let’s just say that maybe Amelia isn’t a fan of movies that much.. because she wasn’t aware of those girls we scream at. I still liked her, a lot. Bacuse she has a lot of redeeming qualities and her relationship with her mother is something to be jealous about.
Charlie is perfect. Okay fine, he's perfectly flawed. He has his moments too but they're understandable. These characters act like how I expected them to act and I like that very much. Charlie is so adorable and swoony you guys. He gives me butterflies in the stomach. Or jumping unicorns.
The ending..
Oh man. WHY WOULD SHE DO THIS TO ME
I'm kinda pissed. I'm kinda sad. I kinda want to have the second book already in my hands. But I can't ignore the fact that the ending was epic. There was action, tears worthy moments (the tears were real!) and a couple of WHOAH scenarios.
Did I like the book? uhmm, DUH. Do I recommend it? YES I DO. This is definitely a 2015 favorite. A brilliant and marvelous debut! I want more.
January 31, 2016
I'm going through a spat of enjoying books like this. This book has ghosts, dead girls, Ouija boards, small town interactions, mysteries, an attic 225 years old, secret passageways, and more.
I loved the small town aspect and the suspenseful tone. The pacing was perfect. There was a bit of "insta-love" that I was eye-rolling at near the beginning, but there are factors at work we learn about later. The interactions between characters felt authentic otherwise.
The ending finishes with a bang and left me wanting more, but it didn't piss me off for some reason. I'm eagerly awaiting book #2!
Thank you Netgalley and Bookish Girl Press for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the small town aspect and the suspenseful tone. The pacing was perfect. There was a bit of "insta-love" that I was eye-rolling at near the beginning, but there are factors at work we learn about later. The interactions between characters felt authentic otherwise.
The ending finishes with a bang and left me wanting more, but it didn't piss me off for some reason. I'm eagerly awaiting book #2!
Thank you Netgalley and Bookish Girl Press for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2015
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Wow I loved this! It scared the crap out of me, but in a good way. The cover does not look scary at all, but do not be fooled.
Well some might not get scared. I just get scared easily.
Amelia has always been able to see a woman in white at the back of her house. She has not seen the ghost since the night her brother died.
One night, a car suddenly pulls into Ms. McAllister’s driveway. The ghost appears then. After six months of not appearing, the ghost is suddenly there again pointing straight at the McAllister house.
Almost everyone in town believes that Ms. McAllister is a witch. Everyone is a little wary of her and there are always rumors about the McAllisters.
The person in the car is Ms. McAllister’s grandson Charlie. Charlie and Amelia connect and a romance between them blooms. I loved Charlie! He was so cute and nice. He did not push Amelia into a relationship. He waited until she was ready, and he genuinely cared about her.
A lot of people were less than enthusiastic about Charlie and Amelia’s relationship; especially Amelia’s ex-boyfriend Ben. This guy was so annoying. He could not get the message.
Look Ben, Amelia is over you and you guys are never ever getting back together because you’re a douche canoe. Seriously, get over yourself.
A lot of people were already not approving of Amelia and Charlie’s relationship just because he was a McAllister. Now imagine what happened when dead girls were suddenly being found in the river. These cases were ruled as “suicides”, because there were no signs of struggling or any other sign that could mean there was foul play. But of course people and Ben in particular, blames Charlie for all these unexplained deaths.
I was pretty sure Charlie didn’t have anything to do with those deaths, but I wasn’t 100% sure. Amelia was, but I wasn’t. I guess I was just really paranoid and creeped out while reading the book, so my feelings made me suspicious of everyone, even the male protagonist. I’m alone at home reading this creepy book, so forgive me of my suspicions.
Amelia also dreams of a girl named Marin. Whenever she would dream about Marin, she would wake up somewhere else; mysterious and scary.
Let’s move on to the secondary characters Leah and Ransom. Leah is Amelia’s best friend. She was always up for anything and she always had Amelia’s back.
Ransom is Amelia’s mom’s intern. He stayed at Amelia’s house because he had complications with his living arrangements.
The four of them were always together, and they discovered things together.
I really enjoyed this book! I could picture everything in my mind and it was not always a good thing because this book gave me the chills. It kind of had a “Woman in Black” feels. For those who do not know, that’s the horror movie with Daniel Radcliffe in it. It scared the crap out of me. The story of that movie is not similar to this book, but it just gave me the same kind of feelings.
I cannot wait for the second book! That ending was just…ugh. Now I have to wait forever for the next one.
BLOG POST
Wow I loved this! It scared the crap out of me, but in a good way. The cover does not look scary at all, but do not be fooled.
Well some might not get scared. I just get scared easily.
Amelia has always been able to see a woman in white at the back of her house. She has not seen the ghost since the night her brother died.
One night, a car suddenly pulls into Ms. McAllister’s driveway. The ghost appears then. After six months of not appearing, the ghost is suddenly there again pointing straight at the McAllister house.
Almost everyone in town believes that Ms. McAllister is a witch. Everyone is a little wary of her and there are always rumors about the McAllisters.
The person in the car is Ms. McAllister’s grandson Charlie. Charlie and Amelia connect and a romance between them blooms. I loved Charlie! He was so cute and nice. He did not push Amelia into a relationship. He waited until she was ready, and he genuinely cared about her.
A lot of people were less than enthusiastic about Charlie and Amelia’s relationship; especially Amelia’s ex-boyfriend Ben. This guy was so annoying. He could not get the message.
Look Ben, Amelia is over you and you guys are never ever getting back together because you’re a douche canoe. Seriously, get over yourself.
A lot of people were already not approving of Amelia and Charlie’s relationship just because he was a McAllister. Now imagine what happened when dead girls were suddenly being found in the river. These cases were ruled as “suicides”, because there were no signs of struggling or any other sign that could mean there was foul play. But of course people and Ben in particular, blames Charlie for all these unexplained deaths.
I was pretty sure Charlie didn’t have anything to do with those deaths, but I wasn’t 100% sure. Amelia was, but I wasn’t. I guess I was just really paranoid and creeped out while reading the book, so my feelings made me suspicious of everyone, even the male protagonist. I’m alone at home reading this creepy book, so forgive me of my suspicions.
Amelia also dreams of a girl named Marin. Whenever she would dream about Marin, she would wake up somewhere else; mysterious and scary.
Let’s move on to the secondary characters Leah and Ransom. Leah is Amelia’s best friend. She was always up for anything and she always had Amelia’s back.
Ransom is Amelia’s mom’s intern. He stayed at Amelia’s house because he had complications with his living arrangements.
The four of them were always together, and they discovered things together.
I really enjoyed this book! I could picture everything in my mind and it was not always a good thing because this book gave me the chills. It kind of had a “Woman in Black” feels. For those who do not know, that’s the horror movie with Daniel Radcliffe in it. It scared the crap out of me. The story of that movie is not similar to this book, but it just gave me the same kind of feelings.
I cannot wait for the second book! That ending was just…ugh. Now I have to wait forever for the next one.
BLOG POST
February 7, 2017
WARNING: DO NOT READ THIS SYNOPSIS. The entire thing spoils the entire book. The synopsis is the end of the book.
3.5 stars.
Here's the thing, I never read blurbs. Ever. But for once I thought why the heck not and I read a blurb and I made a grave mistake. The blurb tells you that this event happened, yeah on the last page. The event in the blurb is actually the cliff hanger at the end of this book. So when I was reading the book I kept waiting for this event to happen and 200 pages in everything was pointing towards this book ending with the event I was expecting and I was just mad. Mad that the synopsis ruined the whole book (I edited it on GR so it would not contain spoilers) and mad that it ruined my enjoyment.
I enjoyed this book, I really did. I would have rated it higher, but I just spent the book waiting for the events in the blurb and it ruined everything else. So it was frustrating.
The story was good though. I enjoyed the characters and the plot and the town. I will say, I have an issue with the way the main character is treating the love interest at the end of the book but I assume that this is something that will be handled in the second book, assuming it's ever published.
So yeah, I recommend it, but don't read the blurb. Just don't.
3.5 stars.
Here's the thing, I never read blurbs. Ever. But for once I thought why the heck not and I read a blurb and I made a grave mistake. The blurb tells you that this event happened, yeah on the last page. The event in the blurb is actually the cliff hanger at the end of this book. So when I was reading the book I kept waiting for this event to happen and 200 pages in everything was pointing towards this book ending with the event I was expecting and I was just mad. Mad that the synopsis ruined the whole book (I edited it on GR so it would not contain spoilers) and mad that it ruined my enjoyment.
I enjoyed this book, I really did. I would have rated it higher, but I just spent the book waiting for the events in the blurb and it ruined everything else. So it was frustrating.
The story was good though. I enjoyed the characters and the plot and the town. I will say, I have an issue with the way the main character is treating the love interest at the end of the book but I assume that this is something that will be handled in the second book, assuming it's ever published.
So yeah, I recommend it, but don't read the blurb. Just don't.
March 29, 2015
Arc provided by Bookish Girl Press
Release Date: April 28 th
I am going to start with what I liked in this story: The first paragraph. It was creepy and atmospheric.
A woman haunted the woods behind my house.
I used to watch her from my bedroom window. She glowed silver in the moonlight, a pale wraith in a white dress that curled around her ankles and twisted in an ancient wind that didn’t touch the pine trees around her.
The characters
Well developed, with their own story and background, they never felt flat.
Amelia is a level headed girl who is going through a hard time in her life, and I felt for her.
The romance
Despite feeling as if thwarted what I was hoping to get from this story _ something way creepier _ it never felt over the top, because Charlie is one of the "good guys". He's sweet and caring, and doesn't appear to have an idiotic bone in his body.
Of course this is the first book of...I don't know how many more, and characters are known to change, lol.
No bloody love triangles in this story: thank you!
I'll confess that when another character appears _ Ransom_ I got a little scared: OMG, a love triangle..NO! o_O
Luckily that doesn't happen.
The writing
I had no problem with it, and I can't help appreciate the little clues that were hiding at plain sight...most of which completely escaped my notice.
The setting in which the story takes place that was inspired in actual facts.
The less than positives aspects:
For more than a third of it, the story doesn't seem to go anywhere.
It has a very "young" YA vibe to it. There were times in which I felt I could be reading an Enid Blyton's story with a mystery lurking at the background...
Even when the bodies start piling up, the tone of the story doesn't change: It continues the same old self, calm and quiet.
Slut shaming, there's some instances of that. Also there were comments on how a girl became bitchy to her friends _ my words _ after "her boobs" _the author's words _ developed.
This really got on my nerves.
Could this be more cliché?
The cliffhanger
The only reason I kept on reading _ despite the fact of this not being my cup of tea _ was simply because I wanted to know what was going to happen.
Unfortunately when things started becoming more interesting...it ends. -_-
I could even see myself reading the follow up, if it had already been released.
As it is, the sequel will probably be released next year_? _ and I can almost see the heavy emotional angst that a certain relationship will entail,_something for which I simply don't have the patience or interest_ so I'll probably never get around to reading it.
Bottom Line: This is not a bad book _ in fact, it is way superior to some YA bestsellers _ it just needs a different type of reader.
May 29, 2015
[I received this ARC from Netgallary in exchange for an honest review]
Ah, where do we begin? A Magic Dark and Bright by Jenny Adams Perinovic is one of those books that would always gain my attention:
It’s everything that I want in a ya novel, despite it (YA paranormal mystery) being done many times. But just because it’s been done before doesn’t mean that authors are forbidden to use tropes and similar storylines for their own books.
So, this book should be an easy read for me. At least, that’s what I assumed. I’m barely three chapters in when I notice a few things that managed to turn it off for me:
The first thing that peeved me was the awkward proses and run-on sentences (so many, oh my!). The sentences did not flow easily, some of them phrased awkwardly and making it difficult for me to digest. It’s not that the writing is bad, it’s that there’s a lack of transition. And since there are paragraphs that shift its focus onto a different topic, it made the reading quite tedious.
Plus, what is up with the over-descriptiveness of things that didn’t need more than a few adjectives compared to sentences chalked full of adjectives. It’s one thing to be descriptive, it’s another when it’s overwhelming and districts from the plot. The author focuses a lot on telling rather than showing, which gets repetitive when there’s an abundant amount of adjectives, overly describing things, and lack of transitions to make the story flow smoothly. [Hitting the halfway point, it seems as though the author hit her stride. By 70%, the story turns to fast pacing and stops focusing on giving detail to things that seem redundant and unnecessary (which also meant that there was less chance of awkward run-on sentences)].
Another thing that peeved me was how Amelia barely knew the guy for more than an hour and she’s already focused on trying to impress him. Just—ugh. I can understand the want to charm somebody—but Amelia was extremely self-conscious over things she shouldn’t have to worry about. Which is why it peeved me so much, because one second, Amelia is terrified of scaring Charlie off. The next second, she’s telling him things that are typically considered “crazy” to the norm. It’s why I’m having a hard time accepting how she keeps randomly and selectively picking things to be self-conscious over.
However, once I’m able to accept that I have no control over those things—and the fact that the story starts to pick up due to the mystery aspect—I’m able to ignore those little peeves.
Charlie is a fun, sweet, and nice male lead/love interest. While the romance is sweet and budding, I found myself annoyed at Amelia’s inner turmoils over how she wished Charlie would kiss her and whether or not their relationship is something more or not. It peeved me a lot because she’s the one that kept pushing him away, and then getting upset and worked up over the fact that Charlie wasn’t doing anything to ~give her a sign~. Seriously. It got old in the first few chapters—and it became repetitive by the time the book hit the 50% mark.
Nothing captivated me about this book. Nothing gained my interest except for the mystery behind the ghost and the deaths of fellow peers. I wished the author spent more focus on building and hinting and foreshadowing deaths instead of letting newly introduced characters drop like flies. I wished that the author spent less time with and spent more time on the mystery of the ghost. Heck, I even wished the author spent less time focusing on the fact that people disliked the MacAllister family. I get it. People don’t like them. People are terrified by the family. That doesn’t mean that I want to read passages and passages where one-dimensional characters harass and hiss and boo at Charlie, who has been nothing but sweet.
The characters in here are illogical and dimwitted as fuck (not the main ones, god bless. the side characters and the background characters). There are immature and unreasonable responses from adults and peers. Seriously. This town is full of characters that are too stupid and immature to live. A lot of characters made ludicrous claims and refused to think logically, which annoyed me. Seriously, how can one be that dumb? Majority of the characters are one-dimensional and flat, most of them are used to tell Amelia that Charlie is hot or that she should date him. Yeah. They serve no purpose except to create drama or something for Amelia's and Charlie's relationship.
That cliffhanger is making me want to read the next book, but only because it’s one of those cliffhangers that you want to see what happens next only because the protagonists managed to screw up big time and now there’s going to be consequences because of it.
2 stars for mystery/plot and the last 20% of the book (where things finally pick up, heck yeah!). 1/2 star for Charlie and how sweet and fun he is. 1/2 star for the MacAllister family: Charlie and his grandma (hell yeah! kick ass grandma!).
Ah, where do we begin? A Magic Dark and Bright by Jenny Adams Perinovic is one of those books that would always gain my attention:
eye-catching cover
interesting summary/blurb
a promise of a mystery
there’s paranormal/fantasy influences
and the promise of romance
It’s everything that I want in a ya novel, despite it (YA paranormal mystery) being done many times. But just because it’s been done before doesn’t mean that authors are forbidden to use tropes and similar storylines for their own books.
So, this book should be an easy read for me. At least, that’s what I assumed. I’m barely three chapters in when I notice a few things that managed to turn it off for me:
The first thing that peeved me was the awkward proses and run-on sentences (so many, oh my!). The sentences did not flow easily, some of them phrased awkwardly and making it difficult for me to digest. It’s not that the writing is bad, it’s that there’s a lack of transition. And since there are paragraphs that shift its focus onto a different topic, it made the reading quite tedious.
Plus, what is up with the over-descriptiveness of things that didn’t need more than a few adjectives compared to sentences chalked full of adjectives. It’s one thing to be descriptive, it’s another when it’s overwhelming and districts from the plot. The author focuses a lot on telling rather than showing, which gets repetitive when there’s an abundant amount of adjectives, overly describing things, and lack of transitions to make the story flow smoothly. [Hitting the halfway point, it seems as though the author hit her stride. By 70%, the story turns to fast pacing and stops focusing on giving detail to things that seem redundant and unnecessary (which also meant that there was less chance of awkward run-on sentences)].
Another thing that peeved me was how Amelia barely knew the guy for more than an hour and she’s already focused on trying to impress him. Just—ugh. I can understand the want to charm somebody—but Amelia was extremely self-conscious over things she shouldn’t have to worry about. Which is why it peeved me so much, because one second, Amelia is terrified of scaring Charlie off. The next second, she’s telling him things that are typically considered “crazy” to the norm. It’s why I’m having a hard time accepting how she keeps randomly and selectively picking things to be self-conscious over.
However, once I’m able to accept that I have no control over those things—and the fact that the story starts to pick up due to the mystery aspect—I’m able to ignore those little peeves.
Charlie is a fun, sweet, and nice male lead/love interest. While the romance is sweet and budding, I found myself annoyed at Amelia’s inner turmoils over how she wished Charlie would kiss her and whether or not their relationship is something more or not. It peeved me a lot because she’s the one that kept pushing him away, and then getting upset and worked up over the fact that Charlie wasn’t doing anything to ~give her a sign~. Seriously. It got old in the first few chapters—and it became repetitive by the time the book hit the 50% mark.
Nothing captivated me about this book. Nothing gained my interest except for the mystery behind the ghost and the deaths of fellow peers. I wished the author spent more focus on building and hinting and foreshadowing deaths instead of letting newly introduced characters drop like flies. I wished that the author spent less time with and spent more time on the mystery of the ghost. Heck, I even wished the author spent less time focusing on the fact that people disliked the MacAllister family. I get it. People don’t like them. People are terrified by the family. That doesn’t mean that I want to read passages and passages where one-dimensional characters harass and hiss and boo at Charlie, who has been nothing but sweet.
The characters in here are illogical and dimwitted as fuck (not the main ones, god bless. the side characters and the background characters). There are immature and unreasonable responses from adults and peers. Seriously. This town is full of characters that are too stupid and immature to live. A lot of characters made ludicrous claims and refused to think logically, which annoyed me. Seriously, how can one be that dumb? Majority of the characters are one-dimensional and flat, most of them are used to tell Amelia that Charlie is hot or that she should date him. Yeah. They serve no purpose except to create drama or something for Amelia's and Charlie's relationship.
That cliffhanger is making me want to read the next book, but only because it’s one of those cliffhangers that you want to see what happens next only because the protagonists managed to screw up big time and now there’s going to be consequences because of it.
2 stars for mystery/plot and the last 20% of the book (where things finally pick up, heck yeah!). 1/2 star for Charlie and how sweet and fun he is. 1/2 star for the MacAllister family: Charlie and his grandma (hell yeah! kick ass grandma!).
March 14, 2015
**Thank you Bookish Girl Press and Netgalley for providing this in exchange foe an honest review**
2.5 Stars
Amelia used to be your (almost) average teenager. She was a star on the swim team, had tons of friends, was dating a very cute, popular boy, and occasionally the ghost of a woman hanging around her the back of her house. Then her brother died in an accident and everything changed. She build up walls and kept everyone, but her best friend Leah, at arms length. She stopped seeing the woman in white. A year goes on and another summer rolls around. Amelia's hometown, Asylum, is about to celebrate its 250th anniversary. As head of the Asylum Historical Society, it is Amelia's mother's responsibility to get everything setup for the festival. For Amelia, this means she's about to be busy as free labor. Thankfully, her neighbor's (super cute) grandson has just moved in next door and is willing to help. However, not long after he arrives drowned girls start turning up. Then the woman in white returns. Could her seemingly sweet new neighbor have a dark side no one knows about? Or is there another sinister force taking over Asylum?
This was just an okay read for me. The story wasn't bad, but it wasn't really anything special either. It kept my attention just enough to finish it, but just barley. There were a few things I really liked. The book didn't suffer from absent parent syndrome, there wasn't a love triangle, and the love interest is actually a really nice guy. Even though the story was lacking, the character and world development were spot on. I did like the characters. They were all well developed and believable. Asylum was based on a real town and you could tell the author did everything she could to stay true to the town's actual roots while still putting her own spin on it.
I'm not sure if I'll continue with this series or not. The story did end on a cliffhanger, but I'm not really dying to know what happens next. I do know if Perinovic continues to refine her writing skills (this is a debut novel after all), I would definitely pick up future tiles by her.
2.5 Stars
Amelia used to be your (almost) average teenager. She was a star on the swim team, had tons of friends, was dating a very cute, popular boy, and occasionally the ghost of a woman hanging around her the back of her house. Then her brother died in an accident and everything changed. She build up walls and kept everyone, but her best friend Leah, at arms length. She stopped seeing the woman in white. A year goes on and another summer rolls around. Amelia's hometown, Asylum, is about to celebrate its 250th anniversary. As head of the Asylum Historical Society, it is Amelia's mother's responsibility to get everything setup for the festival. For Amelia, this means she's about to be busy as free labor. Thankfully, her neighbor's (super cute) grandson has just moved in next door and is willing to help. However, not long after he arrives drowned girls start turning up. Then the woman in white returns. Could her seemingly sweet new neighbor have a dark side no one knows about? Or is there another sinister force taking over Asylum?
This was just an okay read for me. The story wasn't bad, but it wasn't really anything special either. It kept my attention just enough to finish it, but just barley. There were a few things I really liked. The book didn't suffer from absent parent syndrome, there wasn't a love triangle, and the love interest is actually a really nice guy. Even though the story was lacking, the character and world development were spot on. I did like the characters. They were all well developed and believable. Asylum was based on a real town and you could tell the author did everything she could to stay true to the town's actual roots while still putting her own spin on it.
I'm not sure if I'll continue with this series or not. The story did end on a cliffhanger, but I'm not really dying to know what happens next. I do know if Perinovic continues to refine her writing skills (this is a debut novel after all), I would definitely pick up future tiles by her.
March 3, 2015
(ARC provided by Netgalley)
She meant to help a ghost...not unleash a curse.
I LOVED THIS. The plot is interesting and I didn't see some of the things coming.
I never felt bored while reading it, it was a fast reading who made me want to know what was going to happen next.
The characters are amazing. I completely fell in love with Charlie. And I really loved his relationship with Amelia, it wasn't that kind of 'insta-love' I read in almost every book.. they actually got to know each other.
tHE CLIFFANGER AT THE END MADE ME SCREAM. I'm pretty sure I'll read the second book, because I absolutely need to know what happens next.
She meant to help a ghost...not unleash a curse.
I LOVED THIS. The plot is interesting and I didn't see some of the things coming.
I never felt bored while reading it, it was a fast reading who made me want to know what was going to happen next.
The characters are amazing. I completely fell in love with Charlie. And I really loved his relationship with Amelia, it wasn't that kind of 'insta-love' I read in almost every book.. they actually got to know each other.
tHE CLIFFANGER AT THE END MADE ME SCREAM. I'm pretty sure I'll read the second book, because I absolutely need to know what happens next.
August 6, 2015
This book reminds me a lot of a minibar. You know those overpriced mini-refrigerators with an inventory from hell and prices so high, you might want to break down and put your life on hold. Anyway, you know how these minibars have everything from Michael Jackson’s frozen nose to Farrah Abraham’s frozen chin but lack essentials like freaking chocolate ice-cream? Yeah. This book kind of follows that same track.
A Magic Dark & Bright has everything that would make up the quintessential ghost book—it has a creepy forest, a haunted mansion, an over-eager protagonist, a curse, mysterious disappearances and subsequent deaths. But you know what essential item it lacks? Substance.
Star #1 is for the cover and the font. It is truly a treat to look it, this book, and I can only imagine how the gold scripted front cover would feel in my hands. Okay, I don’t completely understand the cover and find it kind of irrelevant to the happenings of the book but please feel free to correct me. Chances are I skimmed over some parts of the book that might have explained why the cover is what it is.
Star #2 is for the concept. While I wasn’t the greatest fan of the execution and the writing was nothing over-the-top, I do feel like the concept had a lot of potential. The whole Marie Antoinette angle could have been worked upon beautifully and I kept hoping for something to happen and it didn’t. Again, I adored the White Witch concept. It kind of killed me a little that this didn’t work out, considering the book was creepy af in the beginning.
Once it became a romance novel, it became more romance than anything else. Also, the romance was very insta-love and that Sucked but I was willing to look beyond that to the concept. None of the characters really made me want to care or cheer for them and I’m not even going to talk about the secondary characters that were paper thin. All in all, if it works for you, then it works but this book really didn’t live up to the hype for me.
*I was provided a free ecopy of this book in exchange of an honest review. This did not in any way, however, influence the content of this review.*
A Magic Dark & Bright has everything that would make up the quintessential ghost book—it has a creepy forest, a haunted mansion, an over-eager protagonist, a curse, mysterious disappearances and subsequent deaths. But you know what essential item it lacks? Substance.
Star #1 is for the cover and the font. It is truly a treat to look it, this book, and I can only imagine how the gold scripted front cover would feel in my hands. Okay, I don’t completely understand the cover and find it kind of irrelevant to the happenings of the book but please feel free to correct me. Chances are I skimmed over some parts of the book that might have explained why the cover is what it is.
Star #2 is for the concept. While I wasn’t the greatest fan of the execution and the writing was nothing over-the-top, I do feel like the concept had a lot of potential. The whole Marie Antoinette angle could have been worked upon beautifully and I kept hoping for something to happen and it didn’t. Again, I adored the White Witch concept. It kind of killed me a little that this didn’t work out, considering the book was creepy af in the beginning.
Once it became a romance novel, it became more romance than anything else. Also, the romance was very insta-love and that Sucked but I was willing to look beyond that to the concept. None of the characters really made me want to care or cheer for them and I’m not even going to talk about the secondary characters that were paper thin. All in all, if it works for you, then it works but this book really didn’t live up to the hype for me.
*I was provided a free ecopy of this book in exchange of an honest review. This did not in any way, however, influence the content of this review.*
Read
April 7, 2015This book aptly combines page-turning magic and murders with authentic small-town summer life. The relationships - friendships, rivalries, and romances - all seemed realistically charming instead of unnaturally glamorous. The awkward interruptions before a first kiss, the ice cream and movies sleepover with a best friend, the active presence of parents and other family were all kind of refreshing for a paranormal romance, presenting a heroine whose life doesn't begin or end with the entrance of her love interest. And the question of who's murdering a string of girls in the small river town - and what it has to do with the Amelia, the book's heroine, her new locket, and the strange visions she's been having - kept me intrigued. I fell a little in love with the adorable, awkward boy next door, Charlie Blue (also, what fantastic name for a hero!). I can't wait to read book 2!
March 2, 2015
REVIEW UP @ http://thebookishgod.wordpress.com
I received an ARC of this book thanks to Bookish Girl Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book brought me so many memories back; not because I felt that it was reminiscent of my own life but because the story reminded me of Beautiful Creatures. Perhaps an improved Beautiful Creatures. I loved the setting, I grew to love the characters, and I most definitely adored the direction the series took at the end of the book!
Premise taken off GoodReads:
She meant to help a ghost...not unleash a curse.
Amelia Dupree hasn’t seen the Woman in White since the night her brother died.
The ghost seems to have disappeared from the woods surrounding Asylum, Pennsylvania—that is, until Charlie Blue moves into the creepy old MacAllister House next door. Amelia can’t help liking him, even though she spent her childhood thinking his grandmother was a witch. And she definitely can’t ignore the connection between his arrival and the Woman in White’s return.
Then Amelia learns that the Woman in White is a prisoner, trapped between the worlds of the living and the dead. Devastated by the idea that her brother could be suffering a similar fate, Amelia decides to do whatever it takes to help the Woman in White find peace--and Charlie agrees to help her.
But when Amelia’s classmates start to drown in the Susquehanna River, one right after another, rumors swirl as people begin to connect the timing of Charlie’s arrival with the unexplained deaths. As Charlie and Amelia uncover the dark history of Asylum, they realize they may have unleashed an unspeakable evil. One they have to stop before everything they love is destroyed.
One of the things I thoroughly enjoyed while reading this book was the setting and dark atmosphere it had. The book is set in a small town called Asylum where everyone knows each other and families live off their reputation within the few paved kilometres. The rumours and myths eat at their souls and hunt them down throughout the years, but not all the stories told are just myths. For some reason, this concept is so interesting to me.
The writing was fast paced and it felt like the book was 100 pages long instead of more than 300 pages. It was a fun and quick read and when the second book comes out I will be rereading this one. Yes, I enjoyed it that much! If I wasn’t a horror addict I would’ve found this book creepy and unsettling so if you’re looking for a dark, creepy read go pre-order this book right now!
The characters were very likable especially Charlie and Leah. I found the main character, Amelia, a little bit annoying at first but once the story progressed I grew to completely love her! Leah, Amelia’s best friend, was the perfect sidekick. She was smart, funny, and too honest! On the other hand, I didn’t like Ransom at all since the very beginning. I felt like something was off about him and I just didn’t connect with him.
The plot was well organized and most of the times I did not see things coming, even though I guessed some of the girl’s deaths but it wasn’t damaging to the experience! There were moments where the story went all the way back to the origin of the town and revealed things that made the actual story way more interesting. The magical background of some of the characters is what made me want to pick up this book in the first place and it didn’t disappoint. We don’t get to see too much witchcraft on this book so I’m hoping we get a lot more in the second installment!
I just love witchcraft, okay?
I do highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a short, creepy read. The writing just won’t let you go and you’ll have to read it in a seating I promise! A Magic Dark and Bright comes out on April 28th so make sure you grab a copy!
I received an ARC of this book thanks to Bookish Girl Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book brought me so many memories back; not because I felt that it was reminiscent of my own life but because the story reminded me of Beautiful Creatures. Perhaps an improved Beautiful Creatures. I loved the setting, I grew to love the characters, and I most definitely adored the direction the series took at the end of the book!
Premise taken off GoodReads:
She meant to help a ghost...not unleash a curse.
Amelia Dupree hasn’t seen the Woman in White since the night her brother died.
The ghost seems to have disappeared from the woods surrounding Asylum, Pennsylvania—that is, until Charlie Blue moves into the creepy old MacAllister House next door. Amelia can’t help liking him, even though she spent her childhood thinking his grandmother was a witch. And she definitely can’t ignore the connection between his arrival and the Woman in White’s return.
Then Amelia learns that the Woman in White is a prisoner, trapped between the worlds of the living and the dead. Devastated by the idea that her brother could be suffering a similar fate, Amelia decides to do whatever it takes to help the Woman in White find peace--and Charlie agrees to help her.
But when Amelia’s classmates start to drown in the Susquehanna River, one right after another, rumors swirl as people begin to connect the timing of Charlie’s arrival with the unexplained deaths. As Charlie and Amelia uncover the dark history of Asylum, they realize they may have unleashed an unspeakable evil. One they have to stop before everything they love is destroyed.
One of the things I thoroughly enjoyed while reading this book was the setting and dark atmosphere it had. The book is set in a small town called Asylum where everyone knows each other and families live off their reputation within the few paved kilometres. The rumours and myths eat at their souls and hunt them down throughout the years, but not all the stories told are just myths. For some reason, this concept is so interesting to me.
The writing was fast paced and it felt like the book was 100 pages long instead of more than 300 pages. It was a fun and quick read and when the second book comes out I will be rereading this one. Yes, I enjoyed it that much! If I wasn’t a horror addict I would’ve found this book creepy and unsettling so if you’re looking for a dark, creepy read go pre-order this book right now!
The characters were very likable especially Charlie and Leah. I found the main character, Amelia, a little bit annoying at first but once the story progressed I grew to completely love her! Leah, Amelia’s best friend, was the perfect sidekick. She was smart, funny, and too honest! On the other hand, I didn’t like Ransom at all since the very beginning. I felt like something was off about him and I just didn’t connect with him.
The plot was well organized and most of the times I did not see things coming, even though I guessed some of the girl’s deaths but it wasn’t damaging to the experience! There were moments where the story went all the way back to the origin of the town and revealed things that made the actual story way more interesting. The magical background of some of the characters is what made me want to pick up this book in the first place and it didn’t disappoint. We don’t get to see too much witchcraft on this book so I’m hoping we get a lot more in the second installment!
I just love witchcraft, okay?
I do highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a short, creepy read. The writing just won’t let you go and you’ll have to read it in a seating I promise! A Magic Dark and Bright comes out on April 28th so make sure you grab a copy!
June 14, 2015
REVIEW on my blog - http://readingadd.blogspot.com/2015/0...
deals
February 10, 201610 February 2016: $1.99 on Kindle
April 4, 2015
Review was first up on For The Love of Fictional Worlds
I received a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The main reason I requested this book on NetGalley was because of the Woman in White in the blurb. Now Woman in White is a an enduring legend about a woman who has suffered tragic loss of her children and is now haunting the same place where she lost her life or where she wants revenge (Those of you familiar with Supernatural - American Drama would remember this as the first episode of the first season of this wonderful serial :D)
"She meant to help a ghost...not unleash a curse"
Amelia Dupree has lost her brother, a brother she adored but a brother believed she killed. Now, she and her family lived next to Mrs. McAllisters, who is considered to be a witch and her family cursed. Interesting right?
You are quite right. It really is interesting.
Amelia is an interesting protagonist. The story is told in her POV, and yet she still remains an enigma. Her emotions are definitely all over the place. Understandably of course, she has had her life turned upside down and yet has no idea how much more she will have to go through.
She has everything everything going for her. A good enough grades, a wonderful boyfriend (supposedly!) and a family that loves her. All that changes on one single night.
Her brother Michael was obsessed with the Woman in White, a ghost that was usually seen in the woods near her house. Compounded with this fact, is that she lives near a supposed witch, her paranormal needs are all met :D
The Woman in White has not been seen since the night of the accident that took away Amelia's brother, yet the day before Charlie Blue, her Witch neighbor's grandson arrives in town, she catches a glimpse of her.
First thing you need to know that the cover of this book, basically misleading piece of beautiful art. I have a feeling that the artist, wasn't given any indication as to what the story is all about. And that my dear was a brilliant strategy.
You look at this book and you read the blurb. You get the idea that while it shows hints of horror and paranormal, it will be this fluffy YA Read that will only focus on the horror. WRONG!! YOU WILL BE PROVEN WRONG!
"It's to-flea-tuh, he said. Not tah. Tuh."
"Do you like sounding like Hermoine Granger?"
Now, Charlie is an absolutely adorable guy. In fact, he is exactly the kind of geeky guy I could fall for head over heels. Case in point - the Hermoine reference. Any guy who can make Harry Potter reference of the top of the hat, as a reflex has my stamp of approval :D
Even if you want to ignore that (How can you?), Charlie got Amelia back to the land of living. He gave her the acceptance and the support she needed, especially when most would have considered getting her checked by a psychiatrist rather than humoring her. and that earned my respect and my unwavering loyalty.
When you couple these tendencies with the fact he didn't bat an eye even when a ghost was mentioned nor when magic was introduced, he did become quite a perfect fictional boyfriend.
"That's the thing about secrets. You don't have to tell them to anyone.
On the contrary. The best secrets are the ones you share with someone else."
The story itself is absolutely worth the read. While the focus isn't much on character development (because lets face it they are teenagers.), the plot itself is pretty much perfect. The reference to the European history, the legend of Woman in White all were so inexplicably tied that for a moment I actually felt as if that it was the real history instead of fictional one and that's exactly where this book wins points from me.
Do not forget that this book in it's essence horrifying and that is why the ending was the most brilliant ever. Yes, there were times that this story felt predictable but it's the author's skill that makes even the predictability seem enjoyable and it is here that Ms. Perinovic succeeds brilliantly.
I look forward to the next installment with one eye open as to what more havoc will the Woman in Whit would wreck on the world.
I received a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The main reason I requested this book on NetGalley was because of the Woman in White in the blurb. Now Woman in White is a an enduring legend about a woman who has suffered tragic loss of her children and is now haunting the same place where she lost her life or where she wants revenge (Those of you familiar with Supernatural - American Drama would remember this as the first episode of the first season of this wonderful serial :D)
"She meant to help a ghost...not unleash a curse"
Amelia Dupree has lost her brother, a brother she adored but a brother believed she killed. Now, she and her family lived next to Mrs. McAllisters, who is considered to be a witch and her family cursed. Interesting right?
You are quite right. It really is interesting.
Amelia is an interesting protagonist. The story is told in her POV, and yet she still remains an enigma. Her emotions are definitely all over the place. Understandably of course, she has had her life turned upside down and yet has no idea how much more she will have to go through.
She has everything everything going for her. A good enough grades, a wonderful boyfriend (supposedly!) and a family that loves her. All that changes on one single night.
Her brother Michael was obsessed with the Woman in White, a ghost that was usually seen in the woods near her house. Compounded with this fact, is that she lives near a supposed witch, her paranormal needs are all met :D
The Woman in White has not been seen since the night of the accident that took away Amelia's brother, yet the day before Charlie Blue, her Witch neighbor's grandson arrives in town, she catches a glimpse of her.
First thing you need to know that the cover of this book, basically misleading piece of beautiful art. I have a feeling that the artist, wasn't given any indication as to what the story is all about. And that my dear was a brilliant strategy.
You look at this book and you read the blurb. You get the idea that while it shows hints of horror and paranormal, it will be this fluffy YA Read that will only focus on the horror. WRONG!! YOU WILL BE PROVEN WRONG!
"It's to-flea-tuh, he said. Not tah. Tuh."
"Do you like sounding like Hermoine Granger?"
Now, Charlie is an absolutely adorable guy. In fact, he is exactly the kind of geeky guy I could fall for head over heels. Case in point - the Hermoine reference. Any guy who can make Harry Potter reference of the top of the hat, as a reflex has my stamp of approval :D
Even if you want to ignore that (How can you?), Charlie got Amelia back to the land of living. He gave her the acceptance and the support she needed, especially when most would have considered getting her checked by a psychiatrist rather than humoring her. and that earned my respect and my unwavering loyalty.
When you couple these tendencies with the fact he didn't bat an eye even when a ghost was mentioned nor when magic was introduced, he did become quite a perfect fictional boyfriend.
"That's the thing about secrets. You don't have to tell them to anyone.
On the contrary. The best secrets are the ones you share with someone else."
The story itself is absolutely worth the read. While the focus isn't much on character development (because lets face it they are teenagers.), the plot itself is pretty much perfect. The reference to the European history, the legend of Woman in White all were so inexplicably tied that for a moment I actually felt as if that it was the real history instead of fictional one and that's exactly where this book wins points from me.
Do not forget that this book in it's essence horrifying and that is why the ending was the most brilliant ever. Yes, there were times that this story felt predictable but it's the author's skill that makes even the predictability seem enjoyable and it is here that Ms. Perinovic succeeds brilliantly.
I look forward to the next installment with one eye open as to what more havoc will the Woman in Whit would wreck on the world.
May 18, 2015
Boooo for cliffhangers! I need the next book ASAP!
The historical aspect of this book was pretty cool! I'd never really read anything like it before.
Edited to include full review.
First Thoughts
That cliffhanger, though!! Why?!?!
I am definitely continuing this series because I'm itching to know what happens next!
I'm usually not one for creepy paranormal ghost stories, but A Magic Dark and Bright really captivated me. The characters were likable, the setting was eerie, and the mystery kept me turning the pages! I stayed up way too late reading this because I had to know the story behind Amelia's brother's death as well as find out what the in the heck the Woman in White's deal was!
What I Enjoyed
The historical aspect. Apparently, Asylum, Pennsylvania was a real place. It was a planned settlement for French refugees fleeing the French Revolution. Legend says that, before her execution, Marie Antoinette was supposed to live there with her two children.
The flashbacks. These were my favorite part of the book! I loved reading about the Woman in White's previous life. Her history fascinated me!
Charlie Blue. Charlie is serious book boyfriend material. Enough said!
The story behind Amelia's brother's death. Waah! The feels. Gosh. I couldn't even imagine. Devastating.
What Could Have Been Better
The pacing at the beginning. A Magic Dark and Bright starts off slowly. It just didn't grab me. I didn't fully begin to enjoy myself until about midway through the novel. This isn't a bad thing; I just feel like some readers could possibly lose interest, DNF the book, and miss out on this spooky story.
TL;DR?
The cliffhanger has me dying of curiosity. The characters were cool. The setting was historical and creepy. The Woman in White has an intriguing background. Slow at first, but steadily builds into a satisfyingly good story.
Pearl @ AsteriskPearl's Book Blog
The historical aspect of this book was pretty cool! I'd never really read anything like it before.
Edited to include full review.
First Thoughts
That cliffhanger, though!! Why?!?!
I am definitely continuing this series because I'm itching to know what happens next!
I'm usually not one for creepy paranormal ghost stories, but A Magic Dark and Bright really captivated me. The characters were likable, the setting was eerie, and the mystery kept me turning the pages! I stayed up way too late reading this because I had to know the story behind Amelia's brother's death as well as find out what the in the heck the Woman in White's deal was!
What I Enjoyed
The historical aspect. Apparently, Asylum, Pennsylvania was a real place. It was a planned settlement for French refugees fleeing the French Revolution. Legend says that, before her execution, Marie Antoinette was supposed to live there with her two children.
The flashbacks. These were my favorite part of the book! I loved reading about the Woman in White's previous life. Her history fascinated me!
Charlie Blue. Charlie is serious book boyfriend material. Enough said!
The story behind Amelia's brother's death. Waah! The feels. Gosh. I couldn't even imagine. Devastating.
What Could Have Been Better
The pacing at the beginning. A Magic Dark and Bright starts off slowly. It just didn't grab me. I didn't fully begin to enjoy myself until about midway through the novel. This isn't a bad thing; I just feel like some readers could possibly lose interest, DNF the book, and miss out on this spooky story.
TL;DR?
The cliffhanger has me dying of curiosity. The characters were cool. The setting was historical and creepy. The Woman in White has an intriguing background. Slow at first, but steadily builds into a satisfyingly good story.
Pearl @ AsteriskPearl's Book Blog
December 2, 2015
I want to say thanks to Bookish Girl Press and Netgalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.
***Rating 4.5 Stars***
Every since a young age Amelia was able to see a ghost called the Women in White. The night her brother died the ghost appearance stop. Until her brother Mark died. So when Charlie shows up the ghost shows up. Spooky?! Huh. I loved this book so much it had me on the very first page of the book. This book is very good. I'm not sure on how to describe this book. It is very different from other books I have read. It kinda had the Mara Dyer feel to it. Every so often it had flashbacks. But these flashbacks had a purpose were very well written not had confusing as Mara Dyer. What could have made this a five star book would be that it picked up a little more. Nothing really happened as a villain until the end of the book.
So these girls keeps dying and everyone thinks its suicide when it really is a murders . Everyone except a few people think its Charlie. Charlie isn't a book crush no but he seems very sweet. He gets more dark and moody towards the end he says he isn't Amelia's boyfriend. I was crushed because they are made for each other. Like no joke they need to get together. Amelia went through a lot of developing throughout the book. She broke through that shell she had from her brother's death. And it made her better person and a better female lead character.
The ending of the book was like wow. It had the biggest cliffhanger ever. I can't wait for the more books in this series. I hope to Charlie and Amelia get together. I hope they beat Marin and maybe even get some closure for Mark's death. I also hope to find out what Marin wants with them.
***Rating 4.5 Stars***
Every since a young age Amelia was able to see a ghost called the Women in White. The night her brother died the ghost appearance stop. Until her brother Mark died. So when Charlie shows up the ghost shows up. Spooky?! Huh. I loved this book so much it had me on the very first page of the book. This book is very good. I'm not sure on how to describe this book. It is very different from other books I have read. It kinda had the Mara Dyer feel to it. Every so often it had flashbacks. But these flashbacks had a purpose were very well written not had confusing as Mara Dyer. What could have made this a five star book would be that it picked up a little more. Nothing really happened as a villain until the end of the book.
So these girls keeps dying and everyone thinks its suicide when it really is a murders . Everyone except a few people think its Charlie. Charlie isn't a book crush no but he seems very sweet. He gets more dark and moody towards the end he says he isn't Amelia's boyfriend. I was crushed because they are made for each other. Like no joke they need to get together. Amelia went through a lot of developing throughout the book. She broke through that shell she had from her brother's death. And it made her better person and a better female lead character.
The ending of the book was like wow. It had the biggest cliffhanger ever. I can't wait for the more books in this series. I hope to Charlie and Amelia get together. I hope they beat Marin and maybe even get some closure for Mark's death. I also hope to find out what Marin wants with them.
July 9, 2015
Saying that I loved this book would probably be the under statement of the year. It would be completely accurate to say that I want the second book like yesterday.
This book scared me in the best of ways, ok scared was probably the wrong word, it was thrilling and intense and kept me on the edge of my seat. I mean a lot happens right off the bat.
The story you think you know starts to come a part as pasts are revealed and secrets are spilled. People die, people kiss, there is magic! And that is all before chapter five.
Yeah those kiss scene's... they were so well written and swoon worthy. I was so happy to find a book that did not have the typical love triangle. I love that the characters were so well rounded and developed, I could almost pick them out of a crowd milling through the city.
If I had to find the flaw in this book it would be that Amelia had those stupid girl moments that make you want to scream at your movie screen. I really wish a boy would have those moments for once.
I really look forward to a sequel... please let there be a sequel because the ending left me with so many mixed emotions and I am dying to know what happens next.
This book scared me in the best of ways, ok scared was probably the wrong word, it was thrilling and intense and kept me on the edge of my seat. I mean a lot happens right off the bat.
The story you think you know starts to come a part as pasts are revealed and secrets are spilled. People die, people kiss, there is magic! And that is all before chapter five.
Yeah those kiss scene's... they were so well written and swoon worthy. I was so happy to find a book that did not have the typical love triangle. I love that the characters were so well rounded and developed, I could almost pick them out of a crowd milling through the city.
If I had to find the flaw in this book it would be that Amelia had those stupid girl moments that make you want to scream at your movie screen. I really wish a boy would have those moments for once.
I really look forward to a sequel... please let there be a sequel because the ending left me with so many mixed emotions and I am dying to know what happens next.
November 2, 2015
I almost DNFed this book because of the teen drama in the beginning. I pushed myself a bit further though and got to the paranormal parts of the plot, boy, was I surprised. It's chilling and suspenseful, and once the plot picked up I couldn't put it down. Word to the wise, this is not the book to read when you're trying to sleep. I'm not ashamed to admit that it gave me goosebumps and made my heart race. This has to be the first time where I was pulled into a book by its plot and not its characters. That's not to say that the characters are bad because they're not, but the plot is so interesting and intense. I generally stray away from creepy paranormal books (Somehow I'm okay with romantic ones. Don't judge me haha), but I have to say this one impressed me.
To see my full review, visit my blog HERE.
To see my full review, visit my blog HERE.
October 19, 2015
A Magic Dark and Bright (The Asylum Saga #1) by Jenny Adams Perinovic is full of delicious secrets. I loved how Perinovic fused historic elements with today’s timeline in such a rich and satisfying way. This story pits a cast of likable protagonists against an ancient evil, and has all the magic, page-turning mystery, and swoony romance that I crave in a Gothic YA. With creepy ghosts haunting an old ruin, hidden staircases, and teen girls turning up dead, you won’t put the book down until the very end!
desperately-need-to-read
February 2, 2015I am reeeeeaaaallllyyyyy excited for this omg
April 19, 2015
Really cliche at times but still a pretty decent story
December 12, 2023
Ghosts and complicated family legacies drive the plot of this paranormal YA novel. I found this book interesting, but not engaging. While the conclusion was a cliffhanger, I don't know that I'm interested enough to continue the series.
April 8, 2015
~ 3.5 stars ~
Amelia is still reeling from the death of her brother and carries a fair amount of guilt on her shoulders in what she believes is her role in the accident that took him from her. She has donned a mask to hide her pain and has become something a recluse to keep people away, until the night Woman in White appears outside her house after a stranger arrives at her creepy neighbors house and her world turns upside down once more.
I didn’t know what to expect with this one, but I was hooked from the first page and found it to be a quick and interesting read with well developed characters and a decent plot line.
The story is told from Amelia’s POV and I actually enjoyed her voice and how she viewed the world around her. Though she is somewhat broken, she isn’t full of the typical teenage angst a girl her age would have, but is more level headed. Yes she has her freak out moments but they are understandable, and again, she is a teenager who has gone through a very traumatic experience. Charlie is a nice, sweet boy who also has secrets but has an easy going personality that I couldn’t help but like him. There is an instant attraction between Amelia and Charlie, but no insta love. Their relationship builds slowly and sweetly with a decent, but not annoying, dose of teenage waffling over just what they are to each other. Leah, Amelia’s best friend, was a fun character and helped to balance out Amelia and Charlie. She is sassy and vibrant and her loyalty to both of them is something I loved about her.
I liked the pacing of the story though some may find it too slow though and the reason is that it does take awhile to find out who the Woman in White is and what she wants. What I liked about it was that we were learning each piece of the puzzle along with Amelia and her friends and didn’t get ahead of them. There was now mass information dump that we had to sort through while the story continued on, and this goes for not only the magical elements but the characters secrets as well. Also, we get to know who Amelia and Charlie are, as well as the town of Asylum itself. The history of Asylum was very interesting. t was based on an actual town and the authors added details really brought it to life and gave a great backdrop to the overall story. While the twists and turns in the story were done well, and I’ll admit most I didn’t see coming, there some things that had me shaking my head because they fell into the realm of “If only you’d done this…” but they moved the story along and kept me turning the page to see how things worked itself out. My one issue, of sorts, is that there were some aspects that didn’t get explained as much as I would have liked, but they didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story at large and with the cliffhanger of an ending, they just might.
Overall: This is a good debut YA novel and I’ll admit that I’m intrigued enough to see where the author will be taking this story so will be on the look out for the next book.
~ Received an ARC from Bookish Group Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~
Amelia is still reeling from the death of her brother and carries a fair amount of guilt on her shoulders in what she believes is her role in the accident that took him from her. She has donned a mask to hide her pain and has become something a recluse to keep people away, until the night Woman in White appears outside her house after a stranger arrives at her creepy neighbors house and her world turns upside down once more.
I didn’t know what to expect with this one, but I was hooked from the first page and found it to be a quick and interesting read with well developed characters and a decent plot line.
The story is told from Amelia’s POV and I actually enjoyed her voice and how she viewed the world around her. Though she is somewhat broken, she isn’t full of the typical teenage angst a girl her age would have, but is more level headed. Yes she has her freak out moments but they are understandable, and again, she is a teenager who has gone through a very traumatic experience. Charlie is a nice, sweet boy who also has secrets but has an easy going personality that I couldn’t help but like him. There is an instant attraction between Amelia and Charlie, but no insta love. Their relationship builds slowly and sweetly with a decent, but not annoying, dose of teenage waffling over just what they are to each other. Leah, Amelia’s best friend, was a fun character and helped to balance out Amelia and Charlie. She is sassy and vibrant and her loyalty to both of them is something I loved about her.
I liked the pacing of the story though some may find it too slow though and the reason is that it does take awhile to find out who the Woman in White is and what she wants. What I liked about it was that we were learning each piece of the puzzle along with Amelia and her friends and didn’t get ahead of them. There was now mass information dump that we had to sort through while the story continued on, and this goes for not only the magical elements but the characters secrets as well. Also, we get to know who Amelia and Charlie are, as well as the town of Asylum itself. The history of Asylum was very interesting. t was based on an actual town and the authors added details really brought it to life and gave a great backdrop to the overall story. While the twists and turns in the story were done well, and I’ll admit most I didn’t see coming, there some things that had me shaking my head because they fell into the realm of “If only you’d done this…” but they moved the story along and kept me turning the page to see how things worked itself out. My one issue, of sorts, is that there were some aspects that didn’t get explained as much as I would have liked, but they didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story at large and with the cliffhanger of an ending, they just might.
Overall: This is a good debut YA novel and I’ll admit that I’m intrigued enough to see where the author will be taking this story so will be on the look out for the next book.
~ Received an ARC from Bookish Group Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~
February 13, 2015
I kindly got this ARC from Bookish Girl Press Via Netgalley
OH MY GOODNESS! What a story!
Okay, so this story held the promise to be scary, and i thought i'd be delightfully Ironic to read it on Friday the 13th.
"A woman haunted the woods behind my house....But that was before. I hadn't seen her in six months, not since the night she'd watched Mark die."
In the small town of Asylum Pennsylvania everything is perfect, from the white picket fence to the people. Neighbours have been friends for generations, everyone loves and support one another.
Or do they?
"You know what they say about small towns," I teased. "Low on crime."
"And big on secrets," he said.
Amelia has always known about the haunted woods at the back of her house, often she saw the woman haunting her woods. However, after he brother's death the woman disappears. One night after a bout of insomnia Amelia glances outside her window to see a car pull into her neighbour's driveway. This neighbour is rumored to be a witch, a guy about her age steps outs and when he does, the woman in white reappears and points straight to him.
Since arriving she's felt pulled to Charlie the new guy, with his warm blue eyes, loud laugh and his handsome face. Every time she sees him she feels more and more that this guy is something special for her. One problem, everybody is blaming him for the current deaths that has been happening.
All of them were girls her age, all of them died by drowning, they all began dying the moment Charlie stepped into town.
But how can this sweet guy do this? Does Amelia really know him?
Or is it something or someone else entirely doing this and blaming Charlie for it?
You'll have to read it to find out!
This book didn't scare me...but i don't necessarily scare easy, i fell asleep in paranormal activity movies.
So, it didn't have that feel for me but it was creepy!
Especially when i began to read this, i got so into it that i nearly jumped out of my skin when a thunderstorm began and my light started flickering, trust me I was thinking of calling it a day!
But I had to know what happens!
This book was beautifully written and intriguing and that ending nearly made my heart falter!
It's definitely a suspense read and if you're into the paranormal and ghosts then you'll be in for a treat!
There is a very lovely romance too which never hurts
but remember nothing in this book is ever as it seems!
There are plot twists and if you're like me (which is extremely observant) you'll be able to see all of them. However, that doesn't make it less shocking when it does happen!
Have an awesome read! :)
-The Book Herald
Find me on Twitter- @thebookherald
OH MY GOODNESS! What a story!
Okay, so this story held the promise to be scary, and i thought i'd be delightfully Ironic to read it on Friday the 13th.
"A woman haunted the woods behind my house....But that was before. I hadn't seen her in six months, not since the night she'd watched Mark die."
In the small town of Asylum Pennsylvania everything is perfect, from the white picket fence to the people. Neighbours have been friends for generations, everyone loves and support one another.
Or do they?
"You know what they say about small towns," I teased. "Low on crime."
"And big on secrets," he said.
Amelia has always known about the haunted woods at the back of her house, often she saw the woman haunting her woods. However, after he brother's death the woman disappears. One night after a bout of insomnia Amelia glances outside her window to see a car pull into her neighbour's driveway. This neighbour is rumored to be a witch, a guy about her age steps outs and when he does, the woman in white reappears and points straight to him.
Since arriving she's felt pulled to Charlie the new guy, with his warm blue eyes, loud laugh and his handsome face. Every time she sees him she feels more and more that this guy is something special for her. One problem, everybody is blaming him for the current deaths that has been happening.
All of them were girls her age, all of them died by drowning, they all began dying the moment Charlie stepped into town.
But how can this sweet guy do this? Does Amelia really know him?
Or is it something or someone else entirely doing this and blaming Charlie for it?
You'll have to read it to find out!
This book didn't scare me...but i don't necessarily scare easy, i fell asleep in paranormal activity movies.
So, it didn't have that feel for me but it was creepy!
Especially when i began to read this, i got so into it that i nearly jumped out of my skin when a thunderstorm began and my light started flickering, trust me I was thinking of calling it a day!
But I had to know what happens!
This book was beautifully written and intriguing and that ending nearly made my heart falter!
It's definitely a suspense read and if you're into the paranormal and ghosts then you'll be in for a treat!
There is a very lovely romance too which never hurts
but remember nothing in this book is ever as it seems!
There are plot twists and if you're like me (which is extremely observant) you'll be able to see all of them. However, that doesn't make it less shocking when it does happen!
Have an awesome read! :)
-The Book Herald
Find me on Twitter- @thebookherald
April 28, 2015
FOR MORE REVIEWS AND GIVEAWAYS, DO CHECK OUT MY BLOG:
A Magic Dark and Bright (The Asylum Saga, #1) by Jenny Adams Perinovic
PLOT: 4
CHARACTERS: 4
COVER: 5
OVERALL RATING: 4
A Magic Dark and Bright was a book that made me get out of my room, and continue reading in our living room because that was scared I was.
The first paragraph of this book was what really caught my attention and it goes something like this...
A woman haunted the woods behind my house.
I used to watch her from my bedroom window. She glowed silver in the moonlight, a pale wraith in a white dress that curled around her ankles and twisted in an ancient wind that didn't touch the pine trees around her.
After reading this, a few thoughts have passed through my head. Things like this ghost would be a kind one and the real enemy would be someone who is alive and then they'd live happily ever after. The book did not happen this way, which was sad but the events that happened was so much better.
Horror books has never been my thing.
Let us all keep that in mind so that if ever you do read this and don't feel scared you'll know the reason why. I guess scared wasn't really the correct adjective to use, more like spooked. I had to look left and right while I was reading this book just to make sure that no ghost would be near me.
The cover and synopsis really got to me so even with all my inhibitions I decided to read this book.
The story was about this girl who sees a particular ghost and she was sure was also the one responsible for her brother's death. She lives beside the supposed with in their town and when her grandson moves in with him, which was also hot, girls started dying and things get freaky.
When someone whips out the Ouija board you know things will go downhill from there. I was internally screaming trying to tell the characters NOT TO touch the Ouija board because in EVERY horror movie I've seen that has this, it all turns bad.
This book was really amazing and I was gripping my reader so bad because of what was happening and I cannot wait for the next book to come.
Received digital edition from publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
A Magic Dark and Bright (The Asylum Saga, #1) by Jenny Adams Perinovic
PLOT: 4
CHARACTERS: 4
COVER: 5
OVERALL RATING: 4
A Magic Dark and Bright was a book that made me get out of my room, and continue reading in our living room because that was scared I was.
The first paragraph of this book was what really caught my attention and it goes something like this...
A woman haunted the woods behind my house.
I used to watch her from my bedroom window. She glowed silver in the moonlight, a pale wraith in a white dress that curled around her ankles and twisted in an ancient wind that didn't touch the pine trees around her.
After reading this, a few thoughts have passed through my head. Things like this ghost would be a kind one and the real enemy would be someone who is alive and then they'd live happily ever after. The book did not happen this way, which was sad but the events that happened was so much better.
Horror books has never been my thing.
Let us all keep that in mind so that if ever you do read this and don't feel scared you'll know the reason why. I guess scared wasn't really the correct adjective to use, more like spooked. I had to look left and right while I was reading this book just to make sure that no ghost would be near me.
The cover and synopsis really got to me so even with all my inhibitions I decided to read this book.
The story was about this girl who sees a particular ghost and she was sure was also the one responsible for her brother's death. She lives beside the supposed with in their town and when her grandson moves in with him, which was also hot, girls started dying and things get freaky.
When someone whips out the Ouija board you know things will go downhill from there. I was internally screaming trying to tell the characters NOT TO touch the Ouija board because in EVERY horror movie I've seen that has this, it all turns bad.
This book was really amazing and I was gripping my reader so bad because of what was happening and I cannot wait for the next book to come.
Received digital edition from publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
March 7, 2015
"A woman haunted the woods behind my house....But that was before. I hadn't seen her in six months, not since the night she'd watched Mark die."
This was the second book I read through Netgalley, and I really liked it! The story had good pacing, interesting characters, and a nice plot. It just worked for me, and I enjoyed reading it.
So, the story goes like this: Amelia has lived in the town of Asylum for her entire life. The town is made up of a lot of old families, including creepy old Ms. MacAllister next door's family. After Amelia's brother dies, a death she blames on herself, she becomes somewhat withdrawn, plagued with sleepwalking and terrible nightmares. Shortly after enough time has passed for her to somewhat recover, Ms. MacAllister's cute grandson, Charlie moves in next door. He and Amelia form a strong friendship, along with their companions Leah and Ransom. But ever since Charlie came to town strange things have happened. A series of strange deaths occur that may tie back to a ghost and a generations old secret for the MacAllisters. This book is the story of Charlie and Amelia's journey into a world they had never dreamed existed to them.
That may not of been the best summary, but it serves it's purpose.
I really did enjoy the book. The aspect I'm most impressed with is the pacing. Many paranormal aspects are part of this book, but the discovery of them was never rushed. There was no, "'Yer a wizard, Harry" moment when everything was thrown at you. You got to discover slowly along with the main characters, taking small steps. And yet the book never felt like it was going to slow. There was always just enough going on to keep you on your toes, curious about what was around the corner.
I also enjoyed the characters. Amelia's guilt over her brother's death helped you relate to her character, and it was easy to feel her pain. She never fully gott over his death, but let it strengthen her by the end. Her love for Charlie was the kind of desperate love only possible in teenagers, and while in some books their kind of relationship annoys me, in here it was what made me love them. Also, *highlight spoiler* it turns out their relationship was manipulated by magic the whole time, which is why they fell in love so fast. This made up for any over-the-top moments that occurred with then relationship-wise. But it doesn't matter. I still ship it.
The ending though, is such a killer. I cant spoil it, but may I just say, I need the next book and the first one isn't even officially published yet!
To wrap up this quick review, I loved A Magic Dark and Bright. Although it had it's flaws, this book and good pacing, interesting characters, and an intriguing plot. I urge you all to pick it up when it's published next month!
This was the second book I read through Netgalley, and I really liked it! The story had good pacing, interesting characters, and a nice plot. It just worked for me, and I enjoyed reading it.
So, the story goes like this: Amelia has lived in the town of Asylum for her entire life. The town is made up of a lot of old families, including creepy old Ms. MacAllister next door's family. After Amelia's brother dies, a death she blames on herself, she becomes somewhat withdrawn, plagued with sleepwalking and terrible nightmares. Shortly after enough time has passed for her to somewhat recover, Ms. MacAllister's cute grandson, Charlie moves in next door. He and Amelia form a strong friendship, along with their companions Leah and Ransom. But ever since Charlie came to town strange things have happened. A series of strange deaths occur that may tie back to a ghost and a generations old secret for the MacAllisters. This book is the story of Charlie and Amelia's journey into a world they had never dreamed existed to them.
That may not of been the best summary, but it serves it's purpose.
I really did enjoy the book. The aspect I'm most impressed with is the pacing. Many paranormal aspects are part of this book, but the discovery of them was never rushed. There was no, "'Yer a wizard, Harry" moment when everything was thrown at you. You got to discover slowly along with the main characters, taking small steps. And yet the book never felt like it was going to slow. There was always just enough going on to keep you on your toes, curious about what was around the corner.
I also enjoyed the characters. Amelia's guilt over her brother's death helped you relate to her character, and it was easy to feel her pain. She never fully gott over his death, but let it strengthen her by the end. Her love for Charlie was the kind of desperate love only possible in teenagers, and while in some books their kind of relationship annoys me, in here it was what made me love them. Also, *highlight spoiler* it turns out their relationship was manipulated by magic the whole time, which is why they fell in love so fast. This made up for any over-the-top moments that occurred with then relationship-wise. But it doesn't matter. I still ship it.
The ending though, is such a killer. I cant spoil it, but may I just say, I need the next book and the first one isn't even officially published yet!
To wrap up this quick review, I loved A Magic Dark and Bright. Although it had it's flaws, this book and good pacing, interesting characters, and an intriguing plot. I urge you all to pick it up when it's published next month!
November 25, 2017
“A woman haunted the woods behind my house. I used to watch her from my bedroom window. She glowed silver in the moonlight, a pale wraith in a white dress that curled around her ankles and twisted in an ancient wind that didn’t touch the pine trees around her.”
This book starts out very eerie and creepy. From there, I continued to be intrigued and into the story enough that I could not wait to finish and see what was really going on in the small town of Asylum. The cover of this book can be slightly misleading, this is a ghost story and it is a lot creepier than the cover would have to believe, but I still think the cover is pretty. This book comes out April 28th and is a great ghost story with great characters.
As for the characters in the book, we mostly follow Amelia, Charlie, and Leah. Amelia is dealing with a lot in her life between seeing ghosts, losing her brother, and her father leaving all in the span of a year. Then you get the mysterious teenage girls dying in the town after Charlie appears. Charlie is the mysterious grandson of the town "witch" who also happens to be Amelia's neighbor. Charlie comes at the beginning of the summer and immediately there is a connection with Amelia. While I found it slightly cliche and predictable, I did like how the relationship between Charlie and Amelia progresses. Charlie is seen as this all-around good guy. The characters in this book were well developed and each one had their own background story that we slowly learned.
I also really enjoyed the writing in this book. Jenny Adams Perinovic has a very unique style that kept me entertained and wanting to read as fast as I could to find out what was going to happen next. I can also say that she is cruel with that ending. Now I’m going to have to wait over a year to find out what happens next.
As for the setting of this story, this was the best part of the book. Asylum is this small town with a lot of history surrounding it. I loved the jokes about a small town that come out at the beginning when Charlie first comes to town. My favorite was definitely: "'You know what they say about small towns," I teased. "Low on crime." "And big on secrets," he said." You can also tell that a lot of thought and research went into constructing the world and town of this book.
This book was a great start to what I know is a series, I just do not know how many books we can expect. This was a paranormal mystery. This book had ghosts, mysterious deaths, magic, and secrets that all wove into this story that I really enjoyed.
*I received a galley of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This book starts out very eerie and creepy. From there, I continued to be intrigued and into the story enough that I could not wait to finish and see what was really going on in the small town of Asylum. The cover of this book can be slightly misleading, this is a ghost story and it is a lot creepier than the cover would have to believe, but I still think the cover is pretty. This book comes out April 28th and is a great ghost story with great characters.
As for the characters in the book, we mostly follow Amelia, Charlie, and Leah. Amelia is dealing with a lot in her life between seeing ghosts, losing her brother, and her father leaving all in the span of a year. Then you get the mysterious teenage girls dying in the town after Charlie appears. Charlie is the mysterious grandson of the town "witch" who also happens to be Amelia's neighbor. Charlie comes at the beginning of the summer and immediately there is a connection with Amelia. While I found it slightly cliche and predictable, I did like how the relationship between Charlie and Amelia progresses. Charlie is seen as this all-around good guy. The characters in this book were well developed and each one had their own background story that we slowly learned.
I also really enjoyed the writing in this book. Jenny Adams Perinovic has a very unique style that kept me entertained and wanting to read as fast as I could to find out what was going to happen next. I can also say that she is cruel with that ending. Now I’m going to have to wait over a year to find out what happens next.
As for the setting of this story, this was the best part of the book. Asylum is this small town with a lot of history surrounding it. I loved the jokes about a small town that come out at the beginning when Charlie first comes to town. My favorite was definitely: "'You know what they say about small towns," I teased. "Low on crime." "And big on secrets," he said." You can also tell that a lot of thought and research went into constructing the world and town of this book.
This book was a great start to what I know is a series, I just do not know how many books we can expect. This was a paranormal mystery. This book had ghosts, mysterious deaths, magic, and secrets that all wove into this story that I really enjoyed.
*I received a galley of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
April 3, 2016
Received from NetGalley for review.
Holy headfuck. That’s about as succinct as I can get for this book. For 80% of it I thought I had it figured out, man was I wrong. It’s part ghost story, part romance, with a whole lot of dark twisty mystery thrown in at the end for good measure. And it’s done so well. This book wasn’t really what I was expecting but it was fantastic nonetheless.
A Magic Dark and Bright tells the story of Amelia, who is haunted by the death of her brother and a ghostly woman in white, during the summer before her senior year is due to start. Enter Charlie Blue, grandson of the strange woman next door who everyone thinks is a witch, and insta-attraction. Aside from the strange ghost lady I couldn’t really see where the magic and weirdness was going to come from at this point but it soon started making an appearance. I wasn’t sure about the blossoming relationship between Amelia and Charlie at first, either, but it slowly turned into a very sweet romance that I really enjoyed reading about. In fact, Amelia, Charlie and Leah (Amelia’s best friend) were just wonderful characters in general.
The presence of the ghostly woman has Amelia confused – who is she and what does she want? She can’t help but think she’s connected to her brother, Mark. Throughout the novel she tries to figure out why the woman keeps appearing to her, with the help of Charlie, Leah, and her mother’s intern, Ransom. That by itself would be a story, but then mysterious deaths start happening – all girls, all in the nearby river, and all ruled as suicides by the police. There is so much going on and it all seems to be interconnected, it’s just a case of figuring out how.
The nice thing about this book is it does about ten different things at once – ghost story, romance, mystery, witches, ghosts etc. – but it does them in a way that makes sense, and even though they seemed a bit scattered to me to begin with, they all come together in the end. A fast paced and incredibly interesting read, I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Oh, and a note to Perinovic: that ending was cruel, I need to know what happens next!
Holy headfuck. That’s about as succinct as I can get for this book. For 80% of it I thought I had it figured out, man was I wrong. It’s part ghost story, part romance, with a whole lot of dark twisty mystery thrown in at the end for good measure. And it’s done so well. This book wasn’t really what I was expecting but it was fantastic nonetheless.
A Magic Dark and Bright tells the story of Amelia, who is haunted by the death of her brother and a ghostly woman in white, during the summer before her senior year is due to start. Enter Charlie Blue, grandson of the strange woman next door who everyone thinks is a witch, and insta-attraction. Aside from the strange ghost lady I couldn’t really see where the magic and weirdness was going to come from at this point but it soon started making an appearance. I wasn’t sure about the blossoming relationship between Amelia and Charlie at first, either, but it slowly turned into a very sweet romance that I really enjoyed reading about. In fact, Amelia, Charlie and Leah (Amelia’s best friend) were just wonderful characters in general.
The presence of the ghostly woman has Amelia confused – who is she and what does she want? She can’t help but think she’s connected to her brother, Mark. Throughout the novel she tries to figure out why the woman keeps appearing to her, with the help of Charlie, Leah, and her mother’s intern, Ransom. That by itself would be a story, but then mysterious deaths start happening – all girls, all in the nearby river, and all ruled as suicides by the police. There is so much going on and it all seems to be interconnected, it’s just a case of figuring out how.
The nice thing about this book is it does about ten different things at once – ghost story, romance, mystery, witches, ghosts etc. – but it does them in a way that makes sense, and even though they seemed a bit scattered to me to begin with, they all come together in the end. A fast paced and incredibly interesting read, I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Oh, and a note to Perinovic: that ending was cruel, I need to know what happens next!
April 27, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Magic? Check.
An absolutely adorable romance? Check.
An awesome main character? Check.
A ghost? Check.
Count me in, please.
This book...wow. I was hooked on the first page. Everything about this book is absolutely fantastic, that I don't even know how to explain it other than "Squee!"
I've read my fair share of young adult books with interesting plot ideas that just fall short. This is not one of those books. This book should give out lessons on how to be an amazing book to other young adult books. This book was just...everything.
The story starts off with out main character, Amelia, looking out the window at a ghost she has been seeing in the woods for quite some time. The next day, she meets the grandson of her next door neighbor, Ms. MacAllister (who everyone thinks is a witch), and there is an instant connection between the two that just makes you go "Aweee" and get butterflies just by reading about it. I'm not one for the whole "Instant romance" concept, but this was just one of those circumstances that it isn't only acceptable, it's awesome. Also, it is necessary to the book, and if you read it, you'll understand why.
Now, Amelia is struggling with the loss of her brother, and one afternoon, when she and Charlie break out an old Ouija board, she believes it is her brother trying to contact her, only to find out later that it isn't her brother at all, but the ghost she has been seeing in the woods.
Amelia, Charlie, Amelia's best friend Leah, and Amelia's mother's intern, Ransom, explore this, as well as some other strange happenings going on in the small town of Asylum, Pennsylvania (mostly centered around Charlie and the rest of the MacAllister family).
This book is amazing, and I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book. It takes a lot for a book to land on my favorites shelf, and this one definitely has a permanent place there.
Magic? Check.
An absolutely adorable romance? Check.
An awesome main character? Check.
A ghost? Check.
Count me in, please.
This book...wow. I was hooked on the first page. Everything about this book is absolutely fantastic, that I don't even know how to explain it other than "Squee!"
I've read my fair share of young adult books with interesting plot ideas that just fall short. This is not one of those books. This book should give out lessons on how to be an amazing book to other young adult books. This book was just...everything.
The story starts off with out main character, Amelia, looking out the window at a ghost she has been seeing in the woods for quite some time. The next day, she meets the grandson of her next door neighbor, Ms. MacAllister (who everyone thinks is a witch), and there is an instant connection between the two that just makes you go "Aweee" and get butterflies just by reading about it. I'm not one for the whole "Instant romance" concept, but this was just one of those circumstances that it isn't only acceptable, it's awesome. Also, it is necessary to the book, and if you read it, you'll understand why.
Now, Amelia is struggling with the loss of her brother, and one afternoon, when she and Charlie break out an old Ouija board, she believes it is her brother trying to contact her, only to find out later that it isn't her brother at all, but the ghost she has been seeing in the woods.
Amelia, Charlie, Amelia's best friend Leah, and Amelia's mother's intern, Ransom, explore this, as well as some other strange happenings going on in the small town of Asylum, Pennsylvania (mostly centered around Charlie and the rest of the MacAllister family).
This book is amazing, and I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book. It takes a lot for a book to land on my favorites shelf, and this one definitely has a permanent place there.
April 14, 2016
I'll admit, this book wasn't exactly one of my favourites. Man, I wish it was. It just didn't do it for me.
This is the kind of story that I'd already read a hundred times before I opened up this book. Small town. Mysterious magic. New kid comes to town, mysterious magic seems weirdly related to them. Original, right? Amelia, our protagonist, wasn't overly lovable. I didn't hate her, but I can never stand characters whose main feature is they're in mourning. Amelia's brother died a year ago (I think?), and that was what defined her. She isolated herself from her friends, she was reluctant to let herself fall for the fantastic Charlie. Be sad, I completely get that. But don't forget to live! I wish wish wish it hadn't been done like that, because the actual mysterious magic was REALLY GOOD.
Amelia is being haunted by the Woman in White. Right away, that name had me hooked. The Woman is creepy as heck, and I couldn't wait to find out what she was all about. Adams led you one way, then all of a sudden there was a total change in what I thought was about to happen. I really like her writing style, and I would love to read another fantasy book by her. There was also a little weirdness around Mark's death. In the end, the way he died wasn't super exciting. But all the other stuff surrounding him was interesting.
As I read this, I was pretty meh about reading the second book. I was really just holding out hope the author would write another fantasy book, with a more original plot. But then, THE CLIFFHANGER. That completely changed my mind. Now, I NEED the next book. Like, ASAP. Honestly, I don't think I'll give it a very high rating. But I can't not read it!
This is the kind of story that I'd already read a hundred times before I opened up this book. Small town. Mysterious magic. New kid comes to town, mysterious magic seems weirdly related to them. Original, right? Amelia, our protagonist, wasn't overly lovable. I didn't hate her, but I can never stand characters whose main feature is they're in mourning. Amelia's brother died a year ago (I think?), and that was what defined her. She isolated herself from her friends, she was reluctant to let herself fall for the fantastic Charlie. Be sad, I completely get that. But don't forget to live! I wish wish wish it hadn't been done like that, because the actual mysterious magic was REALLY GOOD.
Amelia is being haunted by the Woman in White. Right away, that name had me hooked. The Woman is creepy as heck, and I couldn't wait to find out what she was all about. Adams led you one way, then all of a sudden there was a total change in what I thought was about to happen. I really like her writing style, and I would love to read another fantasy book by her. There was also a little weirdness around Mark's death. In the end, the way he died wasn't super exciting. But all the other stuff surrounding him was interesting.
As I read this, I was pretty meh about reading the second book. I was really just holding out hope the author would write another fantasy book, with a more original plot. But then, THE CLIFFHANGER. That completely changed my mind. Now, I NEED the next book. Like, ASAP. Honestly, I don't think I'll give it a very high rating. But I can't not read it!
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