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The 100 Year Miracle
"Ashley Ream has an absolutely astounding voice—she is one of the most compelling, sharpest writers working today. The 100 Year Miracle is already one of my favorite novels of 2016."
—Gillian Flynn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl
Once a century, for only six days, the bay around a small Washington island glows like a water-bound aurora. Dr. Rachel Bell, a scientist studying the 100-Year Miracle and the tiny sea creatures that create it, knows a secret about the phenomenon that inspired the region’s myths and folklore: the rare green water may contain a power that could save Rachel's own life (and change the world). When Rachel connects with Harry and Tilda, a divorced couple cohabiting once again as Harry enters the last stages of a debilitating disease, Harry is pulled into Rachel's obsession and hope as they both grasp at this once-in-a-lifetime chance to save themselves.
But the Miracle does things to people. Strange and mysterious things. And as these things begin to happen, Rachel has only six days to uncover and control the Miracle's secrets before the waters go dark for another hundred years.
—Gillian Flynn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl
Once a century, for only six days, the bay around a small Washington island glows like a water-bound aurora. Dr. Rachel Bell, a scientist studying the 100-Year Miracle and the tiny sea creatures that create it, knows a secret about the phenomenon that inspired the region’s myths and folklore: the rare green water may contain a power that could save Rachel's own life (and change the world). When Rachel connects with Harry and Tilda, a divorced couple cohabiting once again as Harry enters the last stages of a debilitating disease, Harry is pulled into Rachel's obsession and hope as they both grasp at this once-in-a-lifetime chance to save themselves.
But the Miracle does things to people. Strange and mysterious things. And as these things begin to happen, Rachel has only six days to uncover and control the Miracle's secrets before the waters go dark for another hundred years.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 24, 2016
55 people are currently reading
1888 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Ream
3 books186 followersAshley Ream got her first job at a newspaper when she was 16. After working in newsrooms across Missouri, Florida and Texas, she gave up the deadlines to pursue fiction. Her debut novel, Losing Clementine, which sold at auction, was a Barnes & Noble debut pick, a Sutter Home Book Club pick and was short-listed for the Balcones Fiction Prize. She and her books have appeared in L.A. Weekly, Los Angeles Magazine, Bust Magazine, the Kansas City Star and Marathon & Beyond Magazine, among many others. After a decade in Los Angeles, she recently moved to Wisconsin where she runs ultramarathons and is finishing her next novel. Her new book, The 100 Year Miracle, is coming in Spring of 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
December 29, 2016
The stunning cover first attracted me. The idea of tiny sea creatures that once every hundred years for six days make the water glow phosphorescent green was fascinating. It is understandable that scientists would want to study them. Dr Rachel Bell is one of the scientific team. To her though there is more involved than just studying the creatures. She has heard many mythical stories about these tiny creatures and hopes they will provide answers to her own painful secret. The other main characters are Harry who is dying and his ex-wife Tilda who has returned to the island to look after him in the last stages of a debilitating diseases.
The mythical aspect to the story was interesting and the writing so descriptive that at one stage I could have sworn I could smell the fishy smell of these tiny sea creatures. However the further I got into the novel, the more I disliked the characters, with perhaps one exception but he is not a prominent character. They were all so focused on their own needs they never gave any consideration to others or to the ethics of what they were doing. Even though the writing was good, and the characters well drawn with their obsessions and selfish pride, I was left feeling flat and dissatisfied. The ending was ramped up to a fever pitch and then kind of fell flat. To begin with I thought this book would be easily a four star or more read. In the end three was the best I could manage, however others may well react differently to this novel than I did and enjoy it more. I found myself skipping through bits.
The mythical aspect to the story was interesting and the writing so descriptive that at one stage I could have sworn I could smell the fishy smell of these tiny sea creatures. However the further I got into the novel, the more I disliked the characters, with perhaps one exception but he is not a prominent character. They were all so focused on their own needs they never gave any consideration to others or to the ethics of what they were doing. Even though the writing was good, and the characters well drawn with their obsessions and selfish pride, I was left feeling flat and dissatisfied. The ending was ramped up to a fever pitch and then kind of fell flat. To begin with I thought this book would be easily a four star or more read. In the end three was the best I could manage, however others may well react differently to this novel than I did and enjoy it more. I found myself skipping through bits.
January 26, 2016
If you are looking for a feel-good book, keep looking. Although I found the overall story somewhat compelling, I developed no warm feelings for any of the characters. The ending of the book was irritating and aggravating on many levels and I was actually happy to have it over with.
February 19, 2016
Gripping, atmospheric...an almost exhausting (in a good way) read. These characters and this story will stay with me for a long time.
July 3, 2018
Poignant and haunting.
Read
July 21, 2016It is, primarily, a story of hubris.
The 100 Year Miracle begins with Dr. Rachel Bell, a member of a small research team who have set out to study the Artemia lucis, a small sea creature that glows a bright green during it’s mating period, which lasts for five days every 100 years, only around an island off the coast of Washington. Dr. Bell, however, betrays her research team to conduct a study of her own – investigating the mythical painkilling properties of these sea creatures in order to cure her chronic pain from a childhood accident.
The story has a very mystical quality – because of the nature of these sea creatures that anchor the story, the tone is set that we are witness to something strange and delicate, something otherworldly and mythical. And indeed, Dr. Bell’s research about these creatures involves Native American folklore surrounding them, which is what sets her on her quest. According to the stories she’s found, the people native to the island used the Artemia lucis as both painkiller and hallucinogen, and as a way to access the spirit road. It is clear that these creatures are not to be disturbed, however, Rachel’s quest leads her down a destructive path. When she meets Harry, a resident of the island who is also suffering from chronic pain, she begins to unlock the powers of the Artemia lucis despite the negative effects it begins to have on her and those around her.
However, Rachel’s obsession is, on one level, understandable. It’s a very human thing to want the pain to stop, especially if it’s a pain that’s been ailing you for the majority of your life. It’s very human to get greedy with it, to become to single-minded that we fail to see the chaos that is happening on the other side of our blinders. I’m sure that a lot of people with chronic illnesses – especially illnesses that effect who we are as people and take away parts of us that we value – would jump at the chance to find a painkiller that would make it stop, even if that painkiller comes with some pretty intense side effects. It’s a matter of the good outweighing the bad, or rather, it’s a matter of priority.
And maybe Rachel’s ego gets in the way a bit. Maybe she goes overboard, and certainly there are ethical issues involved with her research and the disturbing of the Artemia lucis’ mating season. But would any of us be any different, given the chance? It is so easy to access those darker parts of humanity – the parts that allow us want to play God, to be selfish to the point of destruction. It’s a thin line between ground-breaking discovery and dangerous obsession.
Ream does an incredible job of showing us something mythical being torn apart and analyzed, being overtaken by human egoism and destroyed. It’s important to look at nature in this way – as something not to be disturbed – and to recognize how our human greed can effect the lives around us.
The 100 Year Miracle begins with Dr. Rachel Bell, a member of a small research team who have set out to study the Artemia lucis, a small sea creature that glows a bright green during it’s mating period, which lasts for five days every 100 years, only around an island off the coast of Washington. Dr. Bell, however, betrays her research team to conduct a study of her own – investigating the mythical painkilling properties of these sea creatures in order to cure her chronic pain from a childhood accident.
The story has a very mystical quality – because of the nature of these sea creatures that anchor the story, the tone is set that we are witness to something strange and delicate, something otherworldly and mythical. And indeed, Dr. Bell’s research about these creatures involves Native American folklore surrounding them, which is what sets her on her quest. According to the stories she’s found, the people native to the island used the Artemia lucis as both painkiller and hallucinogen, and as a way to access the spirit road. It is clear that these creatures are not to be disturbed, however, Rachel’s quest leads her down a destructive path. When she meets Harry, a resident of the island who is also suffering from chronic pain, she begins to unlock the powers of the Artemia lucis despite the negative effects it begins to have on her and those around her.
However, Rachel’s obsession is, on one level, understandable. It’s a very human thing to want the pain to stop, especially if it’s a pain that’s been ailing you for the majority of your life. It’s very human to get greedy with it, to become to single-minded that we fail to see the chaos that is happening on the other side of our blinders. I’m sure that a lot of people with chronic illnesses – especially illnesses that effect who we are as people and take away parts of us that we value – would jump at the chance to find a painkiller that would make it stop, even if that painkiller comes with some pretty intense side effects. It’s a matter of the good outweighing the bad, or rather, it’s a matter of priority.
And maybe Rachel’s ego gets in the way a bit. Maybe she goes overboard, and certainly there are ethical issues involved with her research and the disturbing of the Artemia lucis’ mating season. But would any of us be any different, given the chance? It is so easy to access those darker parts of humanity – the parts that allow us want to play God, to be selfish to the point of destruction. It’s a thin line between ground-breaking discovery and dangerous obsession.
Ream does an incredible job of showing us something mythical being torn apart and analyzed, being overtaken by human egoism and destroyed. It’s important to look at nature in this way – as something not to be disturbed – and to recognize how our human greed can effect the lives around us.
July 17, 2016
This was one of those odd books where I never really liked any of the people in the story. I didn't care what happened to any of them so the story kind of got lost for me. Even though the "miracle" is only made up in the author's mind, I thought she did a good job of making it appear realistic. I did like that part of the story. I just wish she'd given her people some more likeable qualities. Even if we just had one or two likeable people, the story would have been better.
It was a decent story and I would recommend it but I can't give it more than a three star rating.
It was a decent story and I would recommend it but I can't give it more than a three star rating.
May 30, 2016
As in her debut novel, Losing Clementine, the author employs an almost flippant approach to her prose and to her character's inner conversations. In the first novel, this approach played brilliantly into the main character's own disregard for convention and paved the reader's way on a wholly enjoyable read.
In this work, however, the same playfulness serves to dampen any compelling tension as it begins to form. Loosely defined characters arrive, mill about for a while and are then discarded easily. It almost feels as though Ream never really committed herself to fully developing these characters. They come off as wooden and two-dimensional. John, the aboriginal who serves as the "moral compass" immediately becomes arch enemy to Rachel--the maddened scientist with a blistered past (no pun intended) and a deeply personal interest in her work. Department head Hooper is a weather-beaten field work veteran whose devotion to Science has taken a heavy toll on his health, his personal life, and his finances. Tilda is the recently displaced over-achieving ex wife who answers her dying ex-husbands call to be his care-giver. Of course, he is a tempermental artist who, though he reached out to Tilda for help, regularly resents her interference with his decsions. I can't escape the notion that I've met all of these characters in B movies.
The device of Tilda's adventure at sea seemed mechanical and superfluous to the story. Tip's inclusion in the story seems to serve no purpose other than a thinly developed justification for that very sea adventure. And I am left wondering why we even met Juno.
I cringe to write this review only because I wanted so much to love this book. I looked forward to reading it since finishing the author's debut novel 2 years (?) ago. In fairness, perhaps my anticipation built unscalable expectations. I suppose I was expecting something with more depth than one might find in a light summer read.
On those terms, this book is very good. It moves quickly. The reader is never mired into pages of inner dialog or Dickensian descriptions of hall sconces. For that, I most grateful. And I love the many facets of the premise of the luminescent anthropods who mate every 100 years.
I can not say that I did not, at least, LIKE this book. In my mind, I'm putting this work into the "very talented artist exploring the craft" bin. As such, I will patiently wait for her next offering.
Read this book for yourself. Form your own opinion.
March 15, 2016
It’s been a long time since I was so caught up in a book that I forgot about (and burned) my dinner. I found The 100 Year Miracle riveting, inspiring, heart-breaking and evocative. I became a fan of Ream after reading her first novel, Losing Clementine. Ream’s writing is both dynamic in prose and narrative. She creates so many well-drawn characters. Even when someone behaves badly in The 100 Year Miracle, you can’t help but feel their pain and put yourself where they are. As someone who copes with a progressive neurological disease, I suppose I was especially touched by the grief and loss that goes with having one; and the suffering of family around you. The world-building of the fictional “100 year miracle” is atmospheric and breath-taking, it vividly pops from the pages and I truly enjoyed both the scientific research and legends that surrounded it. This a powerhouse of a story – it makes you feel, think, consider and be grateful.
June 17, 2016
This book has a fascinating premise - a microorganism living off the coast of an island in the Puget Sound becomes luminescent for six days every 100 years. Scientist flock to the island to discover the properties of this organism. A young scientist with debilitating chronic pain has read in Indian Lore that people who drink the water with this organism become pain free. She is determined to discover if this works and if this will help her personally.
The plot becomes tangled as she gets involved with an elderly man with a debilitating disease. His ex-wife has come in to aide him in end of life care. This plot gives me more than I wanted in terms of strange relationships and rude behavior and the author leaves me hanging without as much scientific information about the organisms as I would have liked.
This book is entertaining, but misses being as fantastic as it could be.
The plot becomes tangled as she gets involved with an elderly man with a debilitating disease. His ex-wife has come in to aide him in end of life care. This plot gives me more than I wanted in terms of strange relationships and rude behavior and the author leaves me hanging without as much scientific information about the organisms as I would have liked.
This book is entertaining, but misses being as fantastic as it could be.
May 7, 2016
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you...
(Full disclosure: I received a free electronic ARC for review through NetGalley. Trigger warning for suicide and child abuse.)
It did things to people, this miracle. Strange and not wholly wonderful things.
“Do you know what it’s like to be terrified of a shower?” Harry asked. Rachel did know. Unfamiliar showers sometimes had abrupt changes in temperature, which hurt her back terribly, but she did not say this to Harry, who had continued talking without her. [...]
Most people, Rachel knew, didn’t want you to talk about your pain, not unless it was temporary like a twisted ankle or hitting your thumb with a hammer. If you did not hold up your end of the bargain and get better, things fell apart quickly. People would avoid you. It was easier to keep hidden, and she felt sorry for Harry because he could not hide.
Every hundred years, the Artemia lucis - tiny, eight millimeter long arthropods - come alive. They hatch from ancient eggs and spend the next six days mating, or trying to, before laying the next generation of eggs and dying. During the nighttime, they emit a neon green glow, turning the whole of Olloo’et Bay - their only known habitat - into a wondrous light show. The phenomenon is known as The 100 Year Miracle.
Yet, despite the colloquialism, few people are aware of the insects' more miraculous properties. The (fictional) Olloo’et - southern Northwest Coast peoples who resided on (the fictional) Olloo’et Island until they were forcibly relocated in the 1920s - believed the (fictional) Artemia lucis sacred. During their infrequent periods of activity, the Olloo’et men partook in a ceremony: accompanied by a shaman and tribal leader, the men spent six days and nights drinking the bay's water (complete with insects), which had hallucinogenic effects. The men reported having visions, slipped into trances, experienced great physical pleasure - and even claimed that the bugs cured their physical illnesses. Occasionally someone died; "usually by walking out into the water and never coming back."
The shaman's presence was necessary for everyone's safety, as the ingestion of the insects created a sort of window between this world and the next:
The Artemia lucis doesn't just hold a professional interest for Dr. Rachel Bell, but a personal one too. When she was six year old, her mother's boyfriend threw a pot of boiling water at her, leaving thick, painful, disfiguring scars from the back of her neck down to her waist. Her days are filled with unrelenting, chronic pain. Though painkillers take the edge off (if she's lucky), the Vicodin has already started to damage her liver and, by her count, will lead to respiratory and/or heart failure in a year. Rachel has contemplated suicide many times since the accident, but for the past two years - since she was put on the research team tasked with studying them - the Artemia lucis has been the only thing keeping her going.
If only she can test their purported analgesic effect on herself. If only she can study them, keep them alive and breeding in captivity, identify and isolate the active compounds, synthesize them in a lab. Then, maybe, she could live. If only.
Rachel goes rogue, as it were, pursuing her own agenda under the radar. Along the way, she pulls Harry Streatfield and his family into her scheme. Harry has a progressive neurological disease that's slowly killing him - along with an extra room that will afford Rachel more privacy with which to conduct her illicit experiments. But his ex-wife Tilda, a former state senator who's moved back in to care for him, isn't as trusting of this woman who kinda-sorta vaguely resembles their dead daughter Becca. Nor is John, a local ecologist and a descendant of the Olloo’et who joined the research project at the last minute.
It's not just time Rachel is racing against as she struggles to decode the secret of the Artemia lucis - but also those wishing to protect the endangered insects (or profit from them themselves), and her own increasing paranoia and fear.
The 100 Year Miracle is a surprisingly dark read: creepy, atmospheric, and increasingly manic as the Artemia lucis near the end of their cycle. Yet the most haunting aspects concern Rachel and Harry's disabilities - and the chronic, unrelenting, unspeakable pain they cause - rather than the paranoia and hallucinations caused by the insects.
Both characters are made vulnerable by their illnesses and injuries - a condition they both struggle against, with varying success. Harry and Tilda's interactions are an emotionally fraught dance: Tilda tries to assist him when possible, without either of them acknowledging the reality of it. Harry looks away from his plate, and when he turns back, his shrimp have magically dissected themselves into bite-sized pieces. Harry is going to die - just as surely as the Artemia lucis - and yet it's an inevitability he cannot entertain, even as he must. There seems to be a ton of compartmentalization going on there.
Likewise, the only people who know about Rachel's scars are her doctors. During her waking life, she keeps them covered - with shirts, high-necked jackets, her hair - and refuses to reveal the physical impairment they cause. Given her lack of mobility, not to mention how much pain she's in, this is a testament to Rachel's will and determination. In Harry, Rachel could find a kindred spirit and confidant: if only she were up for some personal disclosure. We see a hint of this when Harry complains about how difficult it's become for him to navigate the shower - a problem to which Rachel can relate - but, alas, she doesn't take the bait, no matter how much I wanted her to. I can't help but think that things might have turned out different, if only she'd opened up to Harry. Or found a good support group. Something.
In any case, it's this - the possibility of being betrayed by your own body - that's really the scariest part of The 100 Year Miracle. Pain, whether physical or emotional (or both), is a sort of shadow MC in this story, lurking in the background but rarely, if ever, spoken of aloud.
But Rachel's descent into madness takes a close second. Told from multiple viewpoints, The 100 Year Miracle features a plethora of unreliable narrators - both unwittingly and intentionally so - who further muddy the waters, as it were. Like Rachel, by story's end you won't know who to trust - or even who the "real" villain is. (I'm still not 100% on the ending.)
And yet: I found myself empathizing with many of the characters, even as I feared (or feared for) them. They're all complicated and flawed, but in a way that tugs at the heartstrings. Well, except for Tip and Hooper. Eff those guys.
Read it if: You crave a dark, suspenseful, and weird-but-not-too-weird story.
http://www.easyvegan.info/2016/06/01/...
(Full disclosure: I received a free electronic ARC for review through NetGalley. Trigger warning for suicide and child abuse.)
It did things to people, this miracle. Strange and not wholly wonderful things.
“Do you know what it’s like to be terrified of a shower?” Harry asked. Rachel did know. Unfamiliar showers sometimes had abrupt changes in temperature, which hurt her back terribly, but she did not say this to Harry, who had continued talking without her. [...]
Most people, Rachel knew, didn’t want you to talk about your pain, not unless it was temporary like a twisted ankle or hitting your thumb with a hammer. If you did not hold up your end of the bargain and get better, things fell apart quickly. People would avoid you. It was easier to keep hidden, and she felt sorry for Harry because he could not hide.
Every hundred years, the Artemia lucis - tiny, eight millimeter long arthropods - come alive. They hatch from ancient eggs and spend the next six days mating, or trying to, before laying the next generation of eggs and dying. During the nighttime, they emit a neon green glow, turning the whole of Olloo’et Bay - their only known habitat - into a wondrous light show. The phenomenon is known as The 100 Year Miracle.
Yet, despite the colloquialism, few people are aware of the insects' more miraculous properties. The (fictional) Olloo’et - southern Northwest Coast peoples who resided on (the fictional) Olloo’et Island until they were forcibly relocated in the 1920s - believed the (fictional) Artemia lucis sacred. During their infrequent periods of activity, the Olloo’et men partook in a ceremony: accompanied by a shaman and tribal leader, the men spent six days and nights drinking the bay's water (complete with insects), which had hallucinogenic effects. The men reported having visions, slipped into trances, experienced great physical pleasure - and even claimed that the bugs cured their physical illnesses. Occasionally someone died; "usually by walking out into the water and never coming back."
The shaman's presence was necessary for everyone's safety, as the ingestion of the insects created a sort of window between this world and the next:
According to the missionaries, the glowing green ribbon that appeared around the island once every one hundred years represented to the Olloo’et either a path from the ancestral world to this one or the other way around, depending on how it was translated. So those who drank of the bay’s waters would either receive spectral visitors— a sort of personal haunting—or their souls would be transported to a spectral plane, which is an entirely different kind of thing.
The Artemia lucis doesn't just hold a professional interest for Dr. Rachel Bell, but a personal one too. When she was six year old, her mother's boyfriend threw a pot of boiling water at her, leaving thick, painful, disfiguring scars from the back of her neck down to her waist. Her days are filled with unrelenting, chronic pain. Though painkillers take the edge off (if she's lucky), the Vicodin has already started to damage her liver and, by her count, will lead to respiratory and/or heart failure in a year. Rachel has contemplated suicide many times since the accident, but for the past two years - since she was put on the research team tasked with studying them - the Artemia lucis has been the only thing keeping her going.
If only she can test their purported analgesic effect on herself. If only she can study them, keep them alive and breeding in captivity, identify and isolate the active compounds, synthesize them in a lab. Then, maybe, she could live. If only.
Rachel goes rogue, as it were, pursuing her own agenda under the radar. Along the way, she pulls Harry Streatfield and his family into her scheme. Harry has a progressive neurological disease that's slowly killing him - along with an extra room that will afford Rachel more privacy with which to conduct her illicit experiments. But his ex-wife Tilda, a former state senator who's moved back in to care for him, isn't as trusting of this woman who kinda-sorta vaguely resembles their dead daughter Becca. Nor is John, a local ecologist and a descendant of the Olloo’et who joined the research project at the last minute.
It's not just time Rachel is racing against as she struggles to decode the secret of the Artemia lucis - but also those wishing to protect the endangered insects (or profit from them themselves), and her own increasing paranoia and fear.
The 100 Year Miracle is a surprisingly dark read: creepy, atmospheric, and increasingly manic as the Artemia lucis near the end of their cycle. Yet the most haunting aspects concern Rachel and Harry's disabilities - and the chronic, unrelenting, unspeakable pain they cause - rather than the paranoia and hallucinations caused by the insects.
Both characters are made vulnerable by their illnesses and injuries - a condition they both struggle against, with varying success. Harry and Tilda's interactions are an emotionally fraught dance: Tilda tries to assist him when possible, without either of them acknowledging the reality of it. Harry looks away from his plate, and when he turns back, his shrimp have magically dissected themselves into bite-sized pieces. Harry is going to die - just as surely as the Artemia lucis - and yet it's an inevitability he cannot entertain, even as he must. There seems to be a ton of compartmentalization going on there.
Likewise, the only people who know about Rachel's scars are her doctors. During her waking life, she keeps them covered - with shirts, high-necked jackets, her hair - and refuses to reveal the physical impairment they cause. Given her lack of mobility, not to mention how much pain she's in, this is a testament to Rachel's will and determination. In Harry, Rachel could find a kindred spirit and confidant: if only she were up for some personal disclosure. We see a hint of this when Harry complains about how difficult it's become for him to navigate the shower - a problem to which Rachel can relate - but, alas, she doesn't take the bait, no matter how much I wanted her to. I can't help but think that things might have turned out different, if only she'd opened up to Harry. Or found a good support group. Something.
In any case, it's this - the possibility of being betrayed by your own body - that's really the scariest part of The 100 Year Miracle. Pain, whether physical or emotional (or both), is a sort of shadow MC in this story, lurking in the background but rarely, if ever, spoken of aloud.
But Rachel's descent into madness takes a close second. Told from multiple viewpoints, The 100 Year Miracle features a plethora of unreliable narrators - both unwittingly and intentionally so - who further muddy the waters, as it were. Like Rachel, by story's end you won't know who to trust - or even who the "real" villain is. (I'm still not 100% on the ending.)
And yet: I found myself empathizing with many of the characters, even as I feared (or feared for) them. They're all complicated and flawed, but in a way that tugs at the heartstrings. Well, except for Tip and Hooper. Eff those guys.
Read it if: You crave a dark, suspenseful, and weird-but-not-too-weird story.
http://www.easyvegan.info/2016/06/01/...
June 9, 2020
There's a lot crammed into this, essentially two plot lines that begin to overlap fairly early. A scientific research team arrives on a small island in Washington's San Juan Islands to study the climax of a 100-year cycle in which bioluminescent creatures arrive in the bay to mate. Among the researchers is Rachel, who has personal reasons to study the creatures in her own private way. At the same time, a crusty local resident with a neurodegenerative disease has called his ex-wife to come and help him in his last, difficult months. I actually found the book hard to put down. Some reviewers have said they developed no positive feelings for the characters, but as difficult as each member of the couple could be, I liked them; Rachel was more off-putting. Certain other members of the research team were not developed as well as they could have been, and the outcomes for them were not clearly shown. There was a lot of drama toward the end, which required the pages to keep turning late into the night.
May 30, 2016
Find all of my reviews at http://ultraviolentlit.blogspot.ca!
Once every century, the water around a small island in the Pacific Northwest glows green, caused by tiny sea creatures called Artemia Lucis. The miniscule arthropods complete their lifecycle in six short days, and their occurrence becomes known as “The 100 Year Miracle.” Ream’s new novel is set in the fictional Olloo’et Bay, within the actual San Juan Islands. Olloo’et Island is the traditional home of the First Nations people who share its name – although they have mostly disappeared, those that remain feel honour and respect towards the Miracle. The scientists that have invaded the island, however, do not all come with pure intention.
Rachel is one of these scientists. She has travelled to the island as part of a team of specialists, working long days and nights to study the phenomenon before it disappears again. She also has ulterior motives: struggling with chronic pain due to a childhood injury, Rachel sets up her own secret laboratory to study the creatures, seeking a miracle cure for herself and others like her. However, one of her colleagues is suspicious of her secrecy – he is an Olloo’et man named John, and his goal is to protect the island’s habitat. John’s people believe that the Artemia Lucis do have healing powers, but that they can also destroy those who consume them.
Meanwhile, Henry and Tilda are a divorced couple who are once again living together in a beach house on the bay – Tilda has moved back in to care for Henry as he suffers from a fatal and debilitating disease. The couple separated partly due to the death of their young daughter, and being together in their family home again brings back many memories. When Henry sees Rachel on the beach, he transfers his fatherly feelings onto her (she is around the age his daughter would have been, had she survived). When he spontaneously offers his house to Rachel during her short stay, she agrees to move in – it will be easier to hide her secret lab if she is separated from the rest of the team.
Before Henry realizes what is happening, he finds himself drawn into Rachel’s obsessive research, and the two experience the hallucinogenic side effects of the “miracle cure.” There could be a rational explanation, but according to local mythology, the Artemia Lucis is a channel for one’s deceased ancestors to pull the users to the other side. Science or supernatural – we as readers do not know for sure. In fact, I was expecting the novel to take more of a supernatural/horror turn, but instead it followed the path towards more typical thriller territory, as Rachel faces imminent discovery of her unusual research methods.
I found Tilda to be the most relatable and likeable character. She gave up her political career to care for her ex-husband, despite the fact that she can’t help blaming him at least partially for their daughter’s death. While caring for Henry, she finds a new passion for sailing and a romance with a much younger man. While both burn her in the end, she develops greatly as a character, instead of getting lost in false hope like Rachel and Henry.
As the novel heads towards its conclusion, situations become increasingly contrived. The supposed suspense didn’t really work for me, so the thriller aspect of the novel kind of fizzled out. What I liked more was the development of the characters, and I wish Ream had remained focused on them. I also don’t see this as fitting into the “unreliable narrator” genre, because we know Rachel’s intentions from the start. There were several unresolved issues, and the characters’ actions weren’t always realistic, but I was steadily drawn into the story and found it very entertaining.
I received this novel from Flatiron Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Once every century, the water around a small island in the Pacific Northwest glows green, caused by tiny sea creatures called Artemia Lucis. The miniscule arthropods complete their lifecycle in six short days, and their occurrence becomes known as “The 100 Year Miracle.” Ream’s new novel is set in the fictional Olloo’et Bay, within the actual San Juan Islands. Olloo’et Island is the traditional home of the First Nations people who share its name – although they have mostly disappeared, those that remain feel honour and respect towards the Miracle. The scientists that have invaded the island, however, do not all come with pure intention.
Rachel is one of these scientists. She has travelled to the island as part of a team of specialists, working long days and nights to study the phenomenon before it disappears again. She also has ulterior motives: struggling with chronic pain due to a childhood injury, Rachel sets up her own secret laboratory to study the creatures, seeking a miracle cure for herself and others like her. However, one of her colleagues is suspicious of her secrecy – he is an Olloo’et man named John, and his goal is to protect the island’s habitat. John’s people believe that the Artemia Lucis do have healing powers, but that they can also destroy those who consume them.
Meanwhile, Henry and Tilda are a divorced couple who are once again living together in a beach house on the bay – Tilda has moved back in to care for Henry as he suffers from a fatal and debilitating disease. The couple separated partly due to the death of their young daughter, and being together in their family home again brings back many memories. When Henry sees Rachel on the beach, he transfers his fatherly feelings onto her (she is around the age his daughter would have been, had she survived). When he spontaneously offers his house to Rachel during her short stay, she agrees to move in – it will be easier to hide her secret lab if she is separated from the rest of the team.
Before Henry realizes what is happening, he finds himself drawn into Rachel’s obsessive research, and the two experience the hallucinogenic side effects of the “miracle cure.” There could be a rational explanation, but according to local mythology, the Artemia Lucis is a channel for one’s deceased ancestors to pull the users to the other side. Science or supernatural – we as readers do not know for sure. In fact, I was expecting the novel to take more of a supernatural/horror turn, but instead it followed the path towards more typical thriller territory, as Rachel faces imminent discovery of her unusual research methods.
I found Tilda to be the most relatable and likeable character. She gave up her political career to care for her ex-husband, despite the fact that she can’t help blaming him at least partially for their daughter’s death. While caring for Henry, she finds a new passion for sailing and a romance with a much younger man. While both burn her in the end, she develops greatly as a character, instead of getting lost in false hope like Rachel and Henry.
As the novel heads towards its conclusion, situations become increasingly contrived. The supposed suspense didn’t really work for me, so the thriller aspect of the novel kind of fizzled out. What I liked more was the development of the characters, and I wish Ream had remained focused on them. I also don’t see this as fitting into the “unreliable narrator” genre, because we know Rachel’s intentions from the start. There were several unresolved issues, and the characters’ actions weren’t always realistic, but I was steadily drawn into the story and found it very entertaining.
I received this novel from Flatiron Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2016
How I Came to Read This Book: I was honestly intrigued by the fact Gillian Flynn named it a favourite. The publisher sent me a copy.
The Plot: Dr. Rachel Bell is on a (fictional) island to witness a miracle - the emergence of a unique sea creature that only appears once every 100 years and has been said to have incredible healing properties. Rachel suffers from chronic pain after a childhood incident and is desperate to find a way to capture the creatures and make them reproduce, but doing so quickly draws the scrutiny of her fellow researchers, even when she escapes through a chance encounter to live in a mansion on the beach with a dying man named Harry, and his ex-wife Tilda, who has moved in to see him through his final days. Harry and Tilda are at odds with each other at the outset, even though they have a deep bond, and things only amplify between them as Rachel's interference further boosts tensions.
The Good & The Bad: I mostly didn't care for this book. It had some interesting elements - I thought Ashley Ream brought her island to life quite well - but on the whole, the story didn't make a lot of sense to me. Tilda's storyline with Tip and her boat felt wholly unrelated to what I took to be the crux of the story (or at least, what I was most interested in) - the miracle. I was definitely moreso engaged when Harry or Rachel was the focal point, although even their behaviours became increasingly erratic, which was only vaguely explained as a side effect to the painkiller Rachel is experimenting with.
Rachel herself was definitely the oddest / least realistic character. Even before she starts treating herself, she seems manic; her idea of going to the island for this sole purpose and pursuing this career she's in seems bizarre, as do most of her actions. They explain her pain (although I didn't realize it would be that chronic) but they don't ever entirely explain her nuttiness.
Between Rachel's insanity and Tilda not really having a huge tie to the story, that leaves us with Harry. I probably cared about him the most, but his hallucinations went on for too long and were confusingly lucid at times (see: the opera). It did add an eerie element to the story though. And I did like the sort of domino effect of the story...how if Rachel didn't resemble their daughter, she never would have been involved with Harry and Tilda, for example.
All in all though, I just didn't really 'get' much from the story. I wasn't really invested in any of the characters, and when success seemed close, it all just came (literally) crashing down in a few short chapters right at the end. Based on how everything is resolved, it almost makes you feel like, "So the point of that was...?" Not a great feeling to walk away with.
The Bottom Line: An interesting concept but a nonsensical execution.
Anything Memorable?: No.
60-Book Challenge?: Book #29 in 2016.
The Plot: Dr. Rachel Bell is on a (fictional) island to witness a miracle - the emergence of a unique sea creature that only appears once every 100 years and has been said to have incredible healing properties. Rachel suffers from chronic pain after a childhood incident and is desperate to find a way to capture the creatures and make them reproduce, but doing so quickly draws the scrutiny of her fellow researchers, even when she escapes through a chance encounter to live in a mansion on the beach with a dying man named Harry, and his ex-wife Tilda, who has moved in to see him through his final days. Harry and Tilda are at odds with each other at the outset, even though they have a deep bond, and things only amplify between them as Rachel's interference further boosts tensions.
The Good & The Bad: I mostly didn't care for this book. It had some interesting elements - I thought Ashley Ream brought her island to life quite well - but on the whole, the story didn't make a lot of sense to me. Tilda's storyline with Tip and her boat felt wholly unrelated to what I took to be the crux of the story (or at least, what I was most interested in) - the miracle. I was definitely moreso engaged when Harry or Rachel was the focal point, although even their behaviours became increasingly erratic, which was only vaguely explained as a side effect to the painkiller Rachel is experimenting with.
Rachel herself was definitely the oddest / least realistic character. Even before she starts treating herself, she seems manic; her idea of going to the island for this sole purpose and pursuing this career she's in seems bizarre, as do most of her actions. They explain her pain (although I didn't realize it would be that chronic) but they don't ever entirely explain her nuttiness.
Between Rachel's insanity and Tilda not really having a huge tie to the story, that leaves us with Harry. I probably cared about him the most, but his hallucinations went on for too long and were confusingly lucid at times (see: the opera). It did add an eerie element to the story though. And I did like the sort of domino effect of the story...how if Rachel didn't resemble their daughter, she never would have been involved with Harry and Tilda, for example.
All in all though, I just didn't really 'get' much from the story. I wasn't really invested in any of the characters, and when success seemed close, it all just came (literally) crashing down in a few short chapters right at the end. Based on how everything is resolved, it almost makes you feel like, "So the point of that was...?" Not a great feeling to walk away with.
The Bottom Line: An interesting concept but a nonsensical execution.
Anything Memorable?: No.
60-Book Challenge?: Book #29 in 2016.
December 19, 2017
Mir wurde dieses Buch vom Verlag über das Bloggerportal zur Verfügung gestellt, dies wird jedoch nicht meine Meinung beeinflussen.
Ich habe von dem Buch eine Geschichte erwartet, die sich mit diesem Wunder auseinander setzt und sich auch mit der vergänglichkeit dieses Wunders auseinander setzt. Doch stattdessen hab ich eine unsympatische, egoistische Hauptperson bekommen, der groß Teil der Geschichte handelt von Personen, die nicht einmal auf dem Klappentext auftauchen und letzt endlich geht es nur um Schmerzmittel bzw. Rauschmittel.
Also wie würde ich die Handlung beschreiben?
Harry Streatfield ist unheilbar krank, so krank, dass er seine Ex-Frau Tilda bittet wieder bei ihm einzuziehen. Dr. Rachel Bell leidet seid ihrer Kindheit unter schwersten Verbrennungsnarben, doch nun gibt es Hoffnung, ein Wunder, wenn man so möchte. Ein Wunder das alle Hundert Jahre vor Olloo`et passiert. Kleine Tierchen leuchten im Wasser wie Glühwürmchen und können der Schlüssel zu einem Revolutionärem Schmerzmittel sein. Durch Zufall scheint es als könnten Harry und Rachel beide davon profitieren.
Das klingt jetzt vielleicht etwas nach Liebesdrama, aber das kann ich euch jetzt schon sagen, zwischen den beiden passiert nichts. Die haben im Buch kaum vernünftig miteinander geredet, also macht euch da keine Hoffnung.
Das Buch an sich zieht sich sehr in die Länge, Seiten lang wird über die Experiment geschrieben. Immer wieder handelt Buch nur von Tilda, als von irgendjemand anderem. Nebencharaktere, die dann doch ganz interessant scheinen, werden komplett links liegen gelassen und nicht weiter thematisiert. Auch scheint Rachel ständig vor den gleichen Problemen zu stehen, die dann einfach langweilig werden, erst auf den letzten 60/70 Seiten wurde es dann etwas spannender und ich habe mich dann tatsächlich für das ende interessiert. Das Ende dann war enttäuschend, es wirkte so als wenn die Autorin keine Lust mehr auf die Handlung hatte und so schnell wie möglich dieses Buch beenden wollte.
Fazit
Auch wenn das Buch einfach zu lesen war hat mir der Inhalt nicht sonderlich gefallen. Es ist durch aus angenehm zu lesen, wenn man ihn der bahn feststeckt und kein anderes Buch in Reich weite ist. Ich werde es nachdem momentanen Stand der Dinge nicht noch einmal lesen.
Auf meinem Blog lesen
Ich habe von dem Buch eine Geschichte erwartet, die sich mit diesem Wunder auseinander setzt und sich auch mit der vergänglichkeit dieses Wunders auseinander setzt. Doch stattdessen hab ich eine unsympatische, egoistische Hauptperson bekommen, der groß Teil der Geschichte handelt von Personen, die nicht einmal auf dem Klappentext auftauchen und letzt endlich geht es nur um Schmerzmittel bzw. Rauschmittel.
Also wie würde ich die Handlung beschreiben?
Harry Streatfield ist unheilbar krank, so krank, dass er seine Ex-Frau Tilda bittet wieder bei ihm einzuziehen. Dr. Rachel Bell leidet seid ihrer Kindheit unter schwersten Verbrennungsnarben, doch nun gibt es Hoffnung, ein Wunder, wenn man so möchte. Ein Wunder das alle Hundert Jahre vor Olloo`et passiert. Kleine Tierchen leuchten im Wasser wie Glühwürmchen und können der Schlüssel zu einem Revolutionärem Schmerzmittel sein. Durch Zufall scheint es als könnten Harry und Rachel beide davon profitieren.
Das klingt jetzt vielleicht etwas nach Liebesdrama, aber das kann ich euch jetzt schon sagen, zwischen den beiden passiert nichts. Die haben im Buch kaum vernünftig miteinander geredet, also macht euch da keine Hoffnung.
Das Buch an sich zieht sich sehr in die Länge, Seiten lang wird über die Experiment geschrieben. Immer wieder handelt Buch nur von Tilda, als von irgendjemand anderem. Nebencharaktere, die dann doch ganz interessant scheinen, werden komplett links liegen gelassen und nicht weiter thematisiert. Auch scheint Rachel ständig vor den gleichen Problemen zu stehen, die dann einfach langweilig werden, erst auf den letzten 60/70 Seiten wurde es dann etwas spannender und ich habe mich dann tatsächlich für das ende interessiert. Das Ende dann war enttäuschend, es wirkte so als wenn die Autorin keine Lust mehr auf die Handlung hatte und so schnell wie möglich dieses Buch beenden wollte.
Fazit
Auch wenn das Buch einfach zu lesen war hat mir der Inhalt nicht sonderlich gefallen. Es ist durch aus angenehm zu lesen, wenn man ihn der bahn feststeckt und kein anderes Buch in Reich weite ist. Ich werde es nachdem momentanen Stand der Dinge nicht noch einmal lesen.
Auf meinem Blog lesen
May 18, 2017
An intrigueing plot that went nowhere. Every 100 years, for only 6 days, the bay around a Washington island glows. Naturally scientists pull out all the stops in trying to determine what are the tiny sea creatures that cause the flow - within that 6 day window. One scientist is Rachel Bell, who has suffered since childhood with the burn scars covering much of her body. She is nearing the peak - or the end of pain medication available to her. Her scientific work deviates from her team's: she wants to determine if the sea creatures can lead to a miracle cure or a pain reliever. So, she must secretly gather the creatures, discover a way to keep them alive beyond the 6 days - and experiment with different parts of the creatures to yield a magical drug. Rachel uses herself as the human test.
On the island are Harry and Tilda - a separated couple. Tilda has come back to the island to take care of Harry in his final days. Could Harry be another human test for Rachel's discoveries?
It seems that so much more could have been done with the story line. Harry and Tilda's son shows up - to be nothing more than a household accessory. He adds nothing to their story as a couple, parents or islanders. A fellow scientist, John, bugs Rachel with his mere appearance even though she never met him before the island trip. John talks about some spiritual voo-doo having to do with the 100 year miracle. Rachel - for some unsound reason - other than her own mental instability, is convinced that John is after her and her discovery. Tilda has a love affair with a younger neighbor- which goes nowhere. She rebuilds a sailboat; her survival against a storm at sea destroys the boat. Yet, not the love affair, the pride at fixing the boat or the horrors of almost drowning affect the development of the character.
I felt nothing for any of the characters. Even confused by the inclusion of some of them. The ending was disappointing and dare I say, meaningless. I finished the book before bed. Woke up the next morning and picked up the book to read the ending - again. It was that forgettable.
On the island are Harry and Tilda - a separated couple. Tilda has come back to the island to take care of Harry in his final days. Could Harry be another human test for Rachel's discoveries?
It seems that so much more could have been done with the story line. Harry and Tilda's son shows up - to be nothing more than a household accessory. He adds nothing to their story as a couple, parents or islanders. A fellow scientist, John, bugs Rachel with his mere appearance even though she never met him before the island trip. John talks about some spiritual voo-doo having to do with the 100 year miracle. Rachel - for some unsound reason - other than her own mental instability, is convinced that John is after her and her discovery. Tilda has a love affair with a younger neighbor- which goes nowhere. She rebuilds a sailboat; her survival against a storm at sea destroys the boat. Yet, not the love affair, the pride at fixing the boat or the horrors of almost drowning affect the development of the character.
I felt nothing for any of the characters. Even confused by the inclusion of some of them. The ending was disappointing and dare I say, meaningless. I finished the book before bed. Woke up the next morning and picked up the book to read the ending - again. It was that forgettable.
May 25, 2016
3.5 stars. "The 100 Year Miracle" is the story of Rachel, Tilda, and Harry, three characters who come together in some very surprising ways. Every 100 years, water surrounding the area where Harry and Tilda glows green with bio luminescence. Rachel believes that she knows how to harness the power of the water in order to create life saving substance. It'll change the lives of her and those around her. This is a very original story that captivated my mind and imagination.
The characters in this book fascinated. Rachel is especially fascinating. She is a scientist driven in doing something good with the glowing green water even if it means sneaking around in order to do it. I really wanted to know more about what made her tick. She is so secretive throughout the book that it was hard to really get to know her throughout the story because I felt like I was being held at arm's length. I wanted to know more about her and why she wants to do what she does throughout the book.
Overall, the writing of the book was pretty good. The story is very original, which kept me engaged in seeing where it goes. I love books that can surprise one and this one definitely did that. The ending especially surprised me!
The characters in this book fascinated. Rachel is especially fascinating. She is a scientist driven in doing something good with the glowing green water even if it means sneaking around in order to do it. I really wanted to know more about what made her tick. She is so secretive throughout the book that it was hard to really get to know her throughout the story because I felt like I was being held at arm's length. I wanted to know more about her and why she wants to do what she does throughout the book.
Overall, the writing of the book was pretty good. The story is very original, which kept me engaged in seeing where it goes. I love books that can surprise one and this one definitely did that. The ending especially surprised me!
July 8, 2016
This book was pretty amazing! Following the 2 main characters relive their daily pain and when they believe they have found, not a cure but a strong pain reliever which would be all natural and could possibly save the world. But sadly they are choosing to ignore the horrible side effects, while family and friends are terrified of their behavior, all for a few hours of what they consider a normal pain free life. In the end, it was all for naught because in the very short time they thought they were saving themselves, only to isolate themselves and send them to the grave faster. As amazing as the book was, I did not like the abrupt ending. Most stories make you feel as you're walking a certain mile trail and in keeping track of your progress you feel refreshed in the end..and go about your business. This story made me feel as if I was walking down the street and I ran full force into an invisible wall and I have no clue what to do other than wanting to move forward. Overall, this book deserves 4.5/5 stars.
July 25, 2016
This book was fascinating and intriguing especially with how all the characters seemed to center around this 100-year miracle. Dr. Rachel Belle was believable and it made you feel sorry for her at the end. What I liked most about the story was how real the characters were. They weren't perfect by any means, but that is what made the story more real to me. In fact, their faults seemed to make them more human such as Dr. Belle's paranoia and reluctance to ask for any help whatsoever. Another great aspect of the book was that the further you go, the more you learn about the characters themselves that makes it seem like it's retelling a true story rather than a fictional account. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and how all the different perspectives brought life to the story. The ending was bittersweet but then again, it is a good reminder that not everything in life has a happy ending.
August 9, 2016
3 1/2. There is a lot to like about this, solid four star book for maybe the first 200 pages or so. I felt like it really fell apart in the end and I don't know why every storyline had to ramp into high drama. (Tilda and Tip's story was the most believable/least dramatic, everything else went overboard for me.) Nitpicking, but the "one month later" chapter at the end made it feel very rushed; a LOT happened in a month! Would've made more sense to be three months later. I really liked her first book and I'm still interested in what she does next.
December 8, 2015
My very favorite kind of book is one that you continue living in while and after you are finished reading it.
This is one of those books. It is so sensory, so sharply vivid… frankly, I am wondering if the author has cast a spell with language that causes her reader to slip in to hallucinations along with her character, Rachel.
The 100 Year Miracle doesn't need my words to dampen the spell its words cast. Get your hands on a copy as soon as possible.
This is one of those books. It is so sensory, so sharply vivid… frankly, I am wondering if the author has cast a spell with language that causes her reader to slip in to hallucinations along with her character, Rachel.
The 100 Year Miracle doesn't need my words to dampen the spell its words cast. Get your hands on a copy as soon as possible.
March 30, 2017
Things I really liked about this book: a local author, local settings--the San Juan Islands, a place I'd like to know better, that's now nearby. The plot was fascinating and unique. I love how scientifically minded many of the characters were.
The thing I didn't really connect with in this book: the characters. I just didn't care about a few of them as much as I would have liked to.
The thing I didn't really connect with in this book: the characters. I just didn't care about a few of them as much as I would have liked to.
May 18, 2017
Slow, and not worth the struggle to finish. Spoilers.
Its been quite some time since I've truly disliked a book quite as much as I do this one. I'm not sure what I missed that those who gave such glowing reviews on the book jacket clearly saw, but I found it to be incredibly hollow and honestly just disappointing. It took me two weeks to trudge through , and as a person who regularly reads one to two books per week it said something about my lack of commitment to the story and characters that I had to convince myself it was time to pick up again as if I were working on a particularly dull term paper rather than enjoying a novel for funsies. I had initially been quite excited to dig in, the brief description seemed like something I would really enjoy for several reasons: I particularly enjoy stories that combine science or science fiction with realistic locations and believable premises. I love political mysteries and intrigue. I am a sucker for a good romance, and if it's one made of rekindled connection in the face of impending tragedy, bonus points. Finally, on a personal level, I am a person who suffers from a debilitating disease that causes me to live with chronic widespread pain, and also come from a family with a high prevalence of ALS, MS, and similar conditions well known for causing symptoms very much like those Harry suffers from in the story. That said, I thought for a moment prior to beginning the book that I may have just stumbled upon my perfect novel! I was very quickly let down. Rachel was not at all a fully fleshed out character. There was zero heart, and her actions and interactions did not make sense when compared to her description as a very intelligent young woman. Even a person completely lacking in social graces wouldn't lack the wherewithal to intelligently deal with a situation such a s described between she and John early on in the book. As someone described as a respected member of her scientific team, albeit perhaps unpopular, as well as her directors pet, there is no logical reason she would not have just gone to Hooper from the get go to ask about John and inform him that John had been seemingly trying to invade her personal cabin and intimidating her and could they please just keep an eye out, etc. Instead she was drawn as a jealous child incapable of rational thought, who stupidly set herself up for blackmail rather than just dealing with a bully. And, at that, any scientist worth their salt would have put in for research funding based on their studies of their subject which may not necessarily match others level of understanding. Had she not been given clearance for funding, I can't think of a single logical reason that a team of apparently world renowned scientists would have barred her from studying a branch topic on her own time. The whole premise is just ridiculous.
John. He is cast as this big brute of a bully who is supposedly a scientist though were given no back story regarding how Hooper just happens upon him conveniently right as he's leaving for a study in the territory of Johns heritage. How did he get his foot in the door? How did he somehow just "know" what Rachel was doing? If it truly had been an issue of a colleague breaking protocol, why the secrecy and intimidation tactics? And at the end, how did he somehow know that Rachel had ODd and why was he suddenly the hero? Soooo much more could have been done with his aspect of the story.
Harry. Of all of them his was the most believable and likeable, but again there is no follow through.
Tilda was portrayed as this icy yet needy wench, there's hope for something interesting with her a few times but inevitability all the moments that could have pulled through into a real and fully developed story are just left hanging and half finished.
There are a few other menial characters who truly should've just been scrapped on the editing table, and by the end of the novel I was left wondering if perhaps my copy of the eBook didn't fully download, because there MUST be more to it than this, right? The whole book was essentially a drawn out first three chapters wherein we meet the characters and learn the storyline and eventually move on to the good meaty stuff, except that we never make it to the good meaty stuff. And its topped off with an ending that was clear!y intended to be some sort of cerebral thinking mans cliffhanger where we are left to ponder and argue whodunnit, it the problem is, the while thing was so stingy and boring that if one actually manages to slog through to this clever twist, they haven't been given any reason to be invested enough to actually care.
I gave one star because hey, the author wrote it and published it, so there should at least be a participation trophy.
Its been quite some time since I've truly disliked a book quite as much as I do this one. I'm not sure what I missed that those who gave such glowing reviews on the book jacket clearly saw, but I found it to be incredibly hollow and honestly just disappointing. It took me two weeks to trudge through , and as a person who regularly reads one to two books per week it said something about my lack of commitment to the story and characters that I had to convince myself it was time to pick up again as if I were working on a particularly dull term paper rather than enjoying a novel for funsies. I had initially been quite excited to dig in, the brief description seemed like something I would really enjoy for several reasons: I particularly enjoy stories that combine science or science fiction with realistic locations and believable premises. I love political mysteries and intrigue. I am a sucker for a good romance, and if it's one made of rekindled connection in the face of impending tragedy, bonus points. Finally, on a personal level, I am a person who suffers from a debilitating disease that causes me to live with chronic widespread pain, and also come from a family with a high prevalence of ALS, MS, and similar conditions well known for causing symptoms very much like those Harry suffers from in the story. That said, I thought for a moment prior to beginning the book that I may have just stumbled upon my perfect novel! I was very quickly let down. Rachel was not at all a fully fleshed out character. There was zero heart, and her actions and interactions did not make sense when compared to her description as a very intelligent young woman. Even a person completely lacking in social graces wouldn't lack the wherewithal to intelligently deal with a situation such a s described between she and John early on in the book. As someone described as a respected member of her scientific team, albeit perhaps unpopular, as well as her directors pet, there is no logical reason she would not have just gone to Hooper from the get go to ask about John and inform him that John had been seemingly trying to invade her personal cabin and intimidating her and could they please just keep an eye out, etc. Instead she was drawn as a jealous child incapable of rational thought, who stupidly set herself up for blackmail rather than just dealing with a bully. And, at that, any scientist worth their salt would have put in for research funding based on their studies of their subject which may not necessarily match others level of understanding. Had she not been given clearance for funding, I can't think of a single logical reason that a team of apparently world renowned scientists would have barred her from studying a branch topic on her own time. The whole premise is just ridiculous.
John. He is cast as this big brute of a bully who is supposedly a scientist though were given no back story regarding how Hooper just happens upon him conveniently right as he's leaving for a study in the territory of Johns heritage. How did he get his foot in the door? How did he somehow just "know" what Rachel was doing? If it truly had been an issue of a colleague breaking protocol, why the secrecy and intimidation tactics? And at the end, how did he somehow know that Rachel had ODd and why was he suddenly the hero? Soooo much more could have been done with his aspect of the story.
Harry. Of all of them his was the most believable and likeable, but again there is no follow through.
Tilda was portrayed as this icy yet needy wench, there's hope for something interesting with her a few times but inevitability all the moments that could have pulled through into a real and fully developed story are just left hanging and half finished.
There are a few other menial characters who truly should've just been scrapped on the editing table, and by the end of the novel I was left wondering if perhaps my copy of the eBook didn't fully download, because there MUST be more to it than this, right? The whole book was essentially a drawn out first three chapters wherein we meet the characters and learn the storyline and eventually move on to the good meaty stuff, except that we never make it to the good meaty stuff. And its topped off with an ending that was clear!y intended to be some sort of cerebral thinking mans cliffhanger where we are left to ponder and argue whodunnit, it the problem is, the while thing was so stingy and boring that if one actually manages to slog through to this clever twist, they haven't been given any reason to be invested enough to actually care.
I gave one star because hey, the author wrote it and published it, so there should at least be a participation trophy.
February 21, 2023
A two part review...
First, the audio book. I received this as a GoodReads First Read. FANTASTIC. Xe Sands narration was brilliant. I highly recommend this audio book and I might have to look for others narrated by her. She brought the story alive and painted a vivid picture.
Second, (a digression from the book itself) I purchased the June Muse Monthly box, and this was the hardback included. I was unimpressed with Muse Monthly customer service this month. My first box with them arrived timely and the tea selection was top notch. This second box, while I still got it in June, barely made it in time as it arrived at 5pm on the last day of the month. The tea though smells amazing and I cannot wait to try it. The book selection once again though was top notch. The only problem is they were promoting the book for so long before I received it I could have purchased it for myself long before it arrived (which I already know their July and August books and the July book is already out and most book clubs have it as a June book...)
Anyways, back to the story. I LOVED it. Though I love a happy ending I loved how realistic this story was and that it wasn't a "happily ever after". Not only are the characters relate-able but the "miracles" that occur are not outlandish and you can imagine yourself there with this small group of people suffering right along with them. I cannot recommend the story highly enough! I am excited to share this book with my friends.
First, the audio book. I received this as a GoodReads First Read. FANTASTIC. Xe Sands narration was brilliant. I highly recommend this audio book and I might have to look for others narrated by her. She brought the story alive and painted a vivid picture.
Second, (a digression from the book itself) I purchased the June Muse Monthly box, and this was the hardback included. I was unimpressed with Muse Monthly customer service this month. My first box with them arrived timely and the tea selection was top notch. This second box, while I still got it in June, barely made it in time as it arrived at 5pm on the last day of the month. The tea though smells amazing and I cannot wait to try it. The book selection once again though was top notch. The only problem is they were promoting the book for so long before I received it I could have purchased it for myself long before it arrived (which I already know their July and August books and the July book is already out and most book clubs have it as a June book...)
Anyways, back to the story. I LOVED it. Though I love a happy ending I loved how realistic this story was and that it wasn't a "happily ever after". Not only are the characters relate-able but the "miracles" that occur are not outlandish and you can imagine yourself there with this small group of people suffering right along with them. I cannot recommend the story highly enough! I am excited to share this book with my friends.
May 22, 2017
I was excited to read this novel chosen as the Whidbey Reads for 2017. While the novel takes place on a fictional island in the San Juans, the author notes that she borrowed heavily from Whidbey Island of which I am a resident and native.
The plot revolves around an event that happens once every hundred years. For six nights a bay on a small island glows, tiny creatures giving off light. The event has been a part of native lore, passed down from generation to generation. Researchers descend on the bay. One of them has an ulterior motive and that will change the destiny of many.
I enjoyed this novel, mostly because it takes place nearby. The characters were not developed as well as I would have liked. The character driving the plot is Rachel, an organic chemist who is obsessed, hoping to find an answer to her physical pain in the luminescent animals. She is probably the best developed character although it took nearly half the book to find out the source of her physical pain. Other characters help provide a subplot that I thought was a little far fetched.
I was disappointed in the ending of the novel – not what happened to whom but how it all came to be. I felt the plot was moving forward but then it all seemed to spread out and just end.
I recommend this novel to those who would like to get a flavor of life in the Pacific Northwest and the San Juan Islands. You'll learn some about sailing and boat repair too.
The plot revolves around an event that happens once every hundred years. For six nights a bay on a small island glows, tiny creatures giving off light. The event has been a part of native lore, passed down from generation to generation. Researchers descend on the bay. One of them has an ulterior motive and that will change the destiny of many.
I enjoyed this novel, mostly because it takes place nearby. The characters were not developed as well as I would have liked. The character driving the plot is Rachel, an organic chemist who is obsessed, hoping to find an answer to her physical pain in the luminescent animals. She is probably the best developed character although it took nearly half the book to find out the source of her physical pain. Other characters help provide a subplot that I thought was a little far fetched.
I was disappointed in the ending of the novel – not what happened to whom but how it all came to be. I felt the plot was moving forward but then it all seemed to spread out and just end.
I recommend this novel to those who would like to get a flavor of life in the Pacific Northwest and the San Juan Islands. You'll learn some about sailing and boat repair too.
August 19, 2018
While reading this book, I would have rated it 4 stars, I really enjoyed it. The characters were well developed, the plot was interesting, and the general idea was cool. However,
May 5, 2020
One of those books for me which sounded like an intriguing premise but fell flat on delivery. I am unsure of the point of the novel, as there were a few subplots but the overall theme (I would have thought to be nature preservation) didn't really emerge except within one character, and at that, a very weakly developed one. Any discussion involving species preservation/respect was done through arguing and it would seem to me that no one really learned anything, so major flop on what I thought to be a prevalent theme.
Supernatural/paranormal themes emerged and fizzled out with little real exploration/explanation. "It happens sometimes." Okay. I guess? I mean, if you're going to have said paranormal aspect capable of aiding in a suicide, I feel like you should maybe follow that up with some kind of knot. The way to tie up loose ends in this novel was to have people die or just conveniently disappear into thin air with all the evidence, which I rarely if ever appreciate as a reader.
Supernatural/paranormal themes emerged and fizzled out with little real exploration/explanation. "It happens sometimes." Okay. I guess? I mean, if you're going to have said paranormal aspect capable of aiding in a suicide, I feel like you should maybe follow that up with some kind of knot. The way to tie up loose ends in this novel was to have people die or just conveniently disappear into thin air with all the evidence, which I rarely if ever appreciate as a reader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2020
I loved most of this book right up until the ending. I took off a star for the ending. You've been warned spoilers ahead.
First, I have to say I adored Rachel. As someone who suffers from chronic pain I can understand her drive to solve it. I don't share a lot of her traits, but I can understand that drive. Her pain basically took over her life until nothing else mattered. She was by far my favorite character in the book. I liked Harry too. Tilda annoyed me beyond belief and I just wish she and Tip weren't in the book at all. Tilda was somewhat important but she still annoyed the hell of out of me.
First, I have to say I adored Rachel. As someone who suffers from chronic pain I can understand her drive to solve it. I don't share a lot of her traits, but I can understand that drive. Her pain basically took over her life until nothing else mattered. She was by far my favorite character in the book. I liked Harry too. Tilda annoyed me beyond belief and I just wish she and Tip weren't in the book at all. Tilda was somewhat important but she still annoyed the hell of out of me.
July 22, 2023
Compelling premise and suspenseful story. However, none of the characters were likeable, and the ending felt rushed Read for “book by an author with the same initials as you” (Popsugar 2023 reading challenge).
January 11, 2021
*sigh* I’m confused as to what this story was trying to convey.
The premise is interesting enough and what intrigued me in the first place. I think what started to bore me about this was how unlikeable one of the main characters was. Dr. Rachel Bell was depicted as a loner but she’s expressed as such a cunning, detached and selfish individual. I’d consider myself a loner and I was a bit bothered with the negative connotations that were attached to the term. Even with the little backstory we got as why Rachel is the way she is, that didn’t help me feel much for her character.
Harry’s character I liked a bit. I feel that his character was fleshed out a bit more and helped me settle in to his voice quicker than I did Rachel’s. Tilda’s character was just kind of there though I liked how descriptive and observant her thoughts were.
Another thing that kind of irked me about this story was that even at over 300+ pages ( a medium book length in my reader opinion) it still felt soooo long to me. I read it quickly but not because it was interesting. More like I just wanted to get it read and done so I could move on to something else. I wonder if this would’ve read better to me if it was a short story or even part of a short story collection. Who knows
Overall Thoughts: I thought this was boring. The characters weren’t the worst I’ve ever read of course but having to follow along with a really unlikeable main character (Dr. Rachel) along what turned out to be a lackluster plot.... just wasn’t for me.
⭐️ 2 out of 5 stars.
The premise is interesting enough and what intrigued me in the first place. I think what started to bore me about this was how unlikeable one of the main characters was. Dr. Rachel Bell was depicted as a loner but she’s expressed as such a cunning, detached and selfish individual. I’d consider myself a loner and I was a bit bothered with the negative connotations that were attached to the term. Even with the little backstory we got as why Rachel is the way she is, that didn’t help me feel much for her character.
Harry’s character I liked a bit. I feel that his character was fleshed out a bit more and helped me settle in to his voice quicker than I did Rachel’s. Tilda’s character was just kind of there though I liked how descriptive and observant her thoughts were.
Another thing that kind of irked me about this story was that even at over 300+ pages ( a medium book length in my reader opinion) it still felt soooo long to me. I read it quickly but not because it was interesting. More like I just wanted to get it read and done so I could move on to something else. I wonder if this would’ve read better to me if it was a short story or even part of a short story collection. Who knows
Overall Thoughts: I thought this was boring. The characters weren’t the worst I’ve ever read of course but having to follow along with a really unlikeable main character (Dr. Rachel) along what turned out to be a lackluster plot.... just wasn’t for me.
⭐️ 2 out of 5 stars.
July 21, 2025
Ach, I can't believe I put myself through reading two of her books back to back. Why would I do that to myself-- reading this when I so disliked the first?
When I started this I had to keep reminding myself that it was a different book from "The Peculiar Gift Of July", which I had just finished. They are both written in the same style, with similarly overwrought, overreacting characters, both involve a bit of magical realism, and both take place in the same setting. The setting, a small town on an island in Puget Sound, is what I'm a sucker for.
Anyway, this one was different enough that I stuck it out. I had to find out what happened with this strange new drug! But I'm sorry I did that to myself and I don't recommend it.
When I started this I had to keep reminding myself that it was a different book from "The Peculiar Gift Of July", which I had just finished. They are both written in the same style, with similarly overwrought, overreacting characters, both involve a bit of magical realism, and both take place in the same setting. The setting, a small town on an island in Puget Sound, is what I'm a sucker for.
Anyway, this one was different enough that I stuck it out. I had to find out what happened with this strange new drug! But I'm sorry I did that to myself and I don't recommend it.
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