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The Unliving #1
The Longing and the Lack
Lucinda Hightower is no stranger to death.
Since she was a child, Lucinda has been haunted by rabid dogs, suicidal crows, and the ghost of a woman in white. All are omens signaling someone's imminent demise—except Lucinda's friends and family are still breathing.
The omens follow her to Ireland and the quiet university in her father's hometown, increasing in strength and frequency once she meets Damien Reed. A handsome third year student, Damien thrusts himself into Lucinda’s life almost immediately and caresses away the unsavory reputation that shadows him.
It’s not until the ghost sinks her nails into Damien that he reveals his secret: the death omens are for him.
They’re the manifestations of a curse that claims the life of the eldest Reed son every generation. Damien’s time is nearly up. If Lucinda is to save him, she must solve the mystery of her family curse, and lay a spirit's rage to rest.
Since she was a child, Lucinda has been haunted by rabid dogs, suicidal crows, and the ghost of a woman in white. All are omens signaling someone's imminent demise—except Lucinda's friends and family are still breathing.
The omens follow her to Ireland and the quiet university in her father's hometown, increasing in strength and frequency once she meets Damien Reed. A handsome third year student, Damien thrusts himself into Lucinda’s life almost immediately and caresses away the unsavory reputation that shadows him.
It’s not until the ghost sinks her nails into Damien that he reveals his secret: the death omens are for him.
They’re the manifestations of a curse that claims the life of the eldest Reed son every generation. Damien’s time is nearly up. If Lucinda is to save him, she must solve the mystery of her family curse, and lay a spirit's rage to rest.
245 pages, Hardcover
Published September 19, 2017
111 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Spivey
9 books101 followersC.M. Spivey is a speculative fiction writer, author of high fantasy FROM UNDER THE MOUNTAIN and the gothic mystery THE LONGING AND THE LACK. His enduring love of fantasy started young. Now, he explores the rules and ramifications of magic in his own works—and as a trans, panromantic asexual, he's committed to queering his favorite genres. In his spare time, he plans his next tattoo (there will always be a next tattoo) and watches too much Netflix. Anything left over is devoted to his tireless quest to make America read more. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his darling husband Matt and adorable dog Jay.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 27, 2017
Very cool cover on this one. Excellent representation if the story. Good use of graphics. Great composition and interesting title work.
I enjoyed the hell out of this one. I thought it was well written and well paced. At first, I thought I might be bothered by the way these characters speak and act as it is very formal and a bit old fashion in its nature but very soon I was sucked into the story and came to love this author's writing style. The plot was unique and had plenty of twists and turns. There is a bit of romance weaved throughout the book and one implied sex scene but don't go into this thinking it's a romance book because it is not. There was also a great cast of interesting characters both secondary and primary, and I hope we get a more in-depth look at a few of them in the next book.
That said, there was an issue that kept this book from being a 5-Star read for me. I felt the author needed to provide us with much more background and world building. There were things that are mentioned (vampires for instance) that are just dropped into the story without any explanation and to be honest felt a little out of place in this book. I almost felt like this was the second book in a series. I needed more background on Lucinda's life before moving to Ireland. I needed more background on Morgan. On his sister's disappearance. The fates. Lucinda's brother.
So apparently there are previous books that give us background history. I See the Web (The Web #1) and A Single Thread (The Web #2) by C.M. Spivey. Kind of wish I was aware of that before I started this one and even though this can be read as a standalone it would be this reviewers recommendation to read those prior books first for a fuller experience.
But like I said above even with that issue I still enjoyed this one a lot and can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. So two thumbs up from yours truly.
Want to read
September 14, 2017“Gothic curses, deadly love affairs, and vengeful ghosts combine to make this paranormal mystery a compelling page-turner.” — Tina Connolly, Nebula-nominated author of Ironskin
May 30, 2019
3.5
I enjoyed reading this. I thought it was the first book, but it seems there are two that come before it. There are some call back scenes that sort of made it feel that way, but I think it makes you want to read the entire series even more, for me it wasn't a big deal, nor did it interrupt the plot.
The occult info on how the supernatural act and how to defend against them was absolutely brilliant! I loved all these details. I really connected with the spooky elements in this story and would enjoy reading the others in the series.
I enjoyed reading this. I thought it was the first book, but it seems there are two that come before it. There are some call back scenes that sort of made it feel that way, but I think it makes you want to read the entire series even more, for me it wasn't a big deal, nor did it interrupt the plot.
The occult info on how the supernatural act and how to defend against them was absolutely brilliant! I loved all these details. I really connected with the spooky elements in this story and would enjoy reading the others in the series.
February 21, 2018
The Longing and the Lack is a modern Gothic novel with elements of both mystery and romance. There were a few things I didn't like about it, but there was enough suspense and intrigue to keep me interested. It has all the elements that you would look for in a gothic novel: deadly curses, unsettling apparitions, haunting visions, unexpected plot twists and devastating betrayals.
The main character, eighteen-year-old Lucinda Hightower, has been tormented all her life by strange omens of death. Although they don't seem to be aimed at her or her family, they nevertheless deeply affect her and she longs to understand their meaning. In an attempt to gain some peace and distance from her troubled past, she relocates to her father's hometown in Ireland to attend university.
But unfortunately, the strange occurrences only increase and intensify and her brother even starts to have premonitions about her. Lucinda is particularly terrified by the chilling 'woman in white' who haunts her, probing her body with icy fingers. I loved these spooky apparitions and they gave the novel a really ominous, suspenseful feeling.
Lucinda's roommate Naomi tries to look out for her by warning her about the notorious womaniser Damien Reed. But inevitably, Lucinda soon runs into the handsome third-year student and there is an instant chemistry between them. I wasn't really a fan of the insta-love aspect to this story, but I suppose it can be explained by the supernatural connection. The Reed and Hightower families have a complicated history and are linked by a tragic curse.
Lucinda starts to investigate the mysteries and secrets hiding in her family tree, but there are some characters trying to sabotage her quest for truth and not everyone is who they seem to be. When Lucinda finally figures everything out, there is a shocking twist which is really horrible and painful, but there is also a satisfying conclusion. The book is the first in a series and hints of more adventure for the characters.
One thing that bothered me about this book was that all the characters speak in a very formal way that comes across as quite unnatural. At first, I even thought that the book was set in the past, until there was a mention of texting. This style fits the more old-fashioned gothic novels, but it felt out of place in a modern setting and made Lucinda and Damien seem a little pretentious and grandiose. Despite this, however, I did like most of the characters. There is a diverse cast representing different races, religions and sexualities. Lucinda is attracted to both men and women, for example, and it's still quite rare to have this level of diversity in a novel.
Lucinda is the centre of a love-triangle, a cliche in many romance novels. Unfortunately, it put me off her character quite a bit because I didn't think she was honest or fair to either of her love interests. We also aren't told much about Sri, so I felt it hard to relate to her or understand her motivations. Another thing that I found strange was that Lucinda is only supposed to be eighteen, yet her behaviour is more plausible for someone in her mid twenties. For instance, she drinks whiskey and already has a long romantic/sexual history.
It would have helped to have more background and detail on the characters and the world they inhabit, as sometimes things were mentioned briefly (such as the existence of vampires) and then not expanded upon. We don't get to know much about Morgan, Lucinda's brother or her life before moving to Ireland. Although The Longing and the Lack can be read as a stand-alone novel, two other books by C.M Spivey, See the Web and A Single Thread apparently provide a good introduction to this story.
I gave The Longing and the Lack 3 stars because some aspects such as the insta-love, lack of backstory and the love-triangle were not really my thing and did not appeal to me. However, there was plenty that I did enjoy about this book, including the creepy paranormal descriptions, the diverse characters and the suspense and mystery, which I found really compelling. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA and NA paranormal romance or TV shows such as Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries.
The main character, eighteen-year-old Lucinda Hightower, has been tormented all her life by strange omens of death. Although they don't seem to be aimed at her or her family, they nevertheless deeply affect her and she longs to understand their meaning. In an attempt to gain some peace and distance from her troubled past, she relocates to her father's hometown in Ireland to attend university.
But unfortunately, the strange occurrences only increase and intensify and her brother even starts to have premonitions about her. Lucinda is particularly terrified by the chilling 'woman in white' who haunts her, probing her body with icy fingers. I loved these spooky apparitions and they gave the novel a really ominous, suspenseful feeling.
Lucinda's roommate Naomi tries to look out for her by warning her about the notorious womaniser Damien Reed. But inevitably, Lucinda soon runs into the handsome third-year student and there is an instant chemistry between them. I wasn't really a fan of the insta-love aspect to this story, but I suppose it can be explained by the supernatural connection. The Reed and Hightower families have a complicated history and are linked by a tragic curse.
Lucinda starts to investigate the mysteries and secrets hiding in her family tree, but there are some characters trying to sabotage her quest for truth and not everyone is who they seem to be. When Lucinda finally figures everything out, there is a shocking twist which is really horrible and painful, but there is also a satisfying conclusion. The book is the first in a series and hints of more adventure for the characters.
One thing that bothered me about this book was that all the characters speak in a very formal way that comes across as quite unnatural. At first, I even thought that the book was set in the past, until there was a mention of texting. This style fits the more old-fashioned gothic novels, but it felt out of place in a modern setting and made Lucinda and Damien seem a little pretentious and grandiose. Despite this, however, I did like most of the characters. There is a diverse cast representing different races, religions and sexualities. Lucinda is attracted to both men and women, for example, and it's still quite rare to have this level of diversity in a novel.
Lucinda is the centre of a love-triangle, a cliche in many romance novels. Unfortunately, it put me off her character quite a bit because I didn't think she was honest or fair to either of her love interests. We also aren't told much about Sri, so I felt it hard to relate to her or understand her motivations. Another thing that I found strange was that Lucinda is only supposed to be eighteen, yet her behaviour is more plausible for someone in her mid twenties. For instance, she drinks whiskey and already has a long romantic/sexual history.
It would have helped to have more background and detail on the characters and the world they inhabit, as sometimes things were mentioned briefly (such as the existence of vampires) and then not expanded upon. We don't get to know much about Morgan, Lucinda's brother or her life before moving to Ireland. Although The Longing and the Lack can be read as a stand-alone novel, two other books by C.M Spivey, See the Web and A Single Thread apparently provide a good introduction to this story.
I gave The Longing and the Lack 3 stars because some aspects such as the insta-love, lack of backstory and the love-triangle were not really my thing and did not appeal to me. However, there was plenty that I did enjoy about this book, including the creepy paranormal descriptions, the diverse characters and the suspense and mystery, which I found really compelling. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA and NA paranormal romance or TV shows such as Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries.
September 2, 2017
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You can find more of my reviews at https://spinesinaline.wordpress.com
This book opens with a lot of mystery - what is Lucinda afraid of? What is her family hiding? Who is this mysterious woman in white? These are important in setting up the suspense and tone of the story so I think you're better off with less information (which is also why I won't give much of the plot away below).
A welcome surprise were the diverse characters in this book. The main character never labels herself but she is attracted to men and women. Others close to her are also revealed to identify on the LGBTQ spectrum, and all quite naturally, so it was really nice to see this worked into the story and providing honest rep. There are also Black and Muslim characters, though I would've liked to see this extended to the main couple as well.
The only issue I had was with the MC's relationships. She's initially attracted to two different people and seems to think it's not necessary to let these people know of their conflicting interests when she begins dating both. Their anger is always described as being caused by distrust of the rival love interest, rather than possibly because their gf is dating someone else? I felt like we were slipping into the misconception of bisexuality as polyamory at times so the reading was a little uncomfortable.
Another source of slight annoyance was the dialogue between Lucinda and Damien. For some reason, they both use very formal language with each other, something never explained and that begins before the two even know each other very well. I didn't see the need for it and I didn't enjoy their scenes together much because of it. They come off as very hoighty-toighty people as a result so I liked that Lucinda at least regains her normal speech with her other friends. (I also just really don't like Damien :P )
One of the things that I felt most at odds with was reading Lucinda as an 18-year-old. I understand drinking is a big part of many college students lives (Lucinda's in Ireland so it's legal there), but not to the extent of these characters. Though there are some party scenes which seem to fit the norm, there are also several evenings where Lucinda is drinking wine or sipping whiskey (really?). This was way above her years, especially as she's only 18 AND from the States so she's not legal yet. I am confident that no one at 18 is sipping whiskey. There was also the issue of her "many lovers". It felt like this reveal was set up to showcase her turmoiled past (side note: turmoil seems to be only a noun but I think we should allow it in adjective form) but again it wasn't realistic for a young girl. Do 18-year-olds call their past relationships "lovers"? I also felt weird when she repeatedly called Damien a man (I'm 23 and still calling people 'boy' or 'guy', but that could be just me. What terms do you use?). Even without the alcohol and lovers storylines, I never really got the feel of Lucinda as a young student so something was missing with me.
However, even with all my issues, based on the fact that I was basically glued to the page the whole time I can definitely attest to it being a super entertaining story and that's really what a great story should be. It's a cool ghost story, a little creepy at times but nothing too bad so you should be fine! :P I think the author's set up a really interesting universe here too. There were some mentions in the story of an earlier timeline, which are apparently covered in previous stories the author has written. I'd recommend reading those first because it was a little difficult to follow along. Nothing some context can't fix.
This one looks like it's set to be the start of a series, which I found a little surprising. It seems to wrap up nicely at the end, with hints of what could come next for the characters, but obviously they've got much bigger adventures in store than what I was imagining.
This book opens with a lot of mystery - what is Lucinda afraid of? What is her family hiding? Who is this mysterious woman in white? These are important in setting up the suspense and tone of the story so I think you're better off with less information (which is also why I won't give much of the plot away below).
A welcome surprise were the diverse characters in this book. The main character never labels herself but she is attracted to men and women. Others close to her are also revealed to identify on the LGBTQ spectrum, and all quite naturally, so it was really nice to see this worked into the story and providing honest rep. There are also Black and Muslim characters, though I would've liked to see this extended to the main couple as well.
The only issue I had was with the MC's relationships. She's initially attracted to two different people and seems to think it's not necessary to let these people know of their conflicting interests when she begins dating both. Their anger is always described as being caused by distrust of the rival love interest, rather than possibly because their gf is dating someone else? I felt like we were slipping into the misconception of bisexuality as polyamory at times so the reading was a little uncomfortable.
Another source of slight annoyance was the dialogue between Lucinda and Damien. For some reason, they both use very formal language with each other, something never explained and that begins before the two even know each other very well. I didn't see the need for it and I didn't enjoy their scenes together much because of it. They come off as very hoighty-toighty people as a result so I liked that Lucinda at least regains her normal speech with her other friends. (I also just really don't like Damien :P )
One of the things that I felt most at odds with was reading Lucinda as an 18-year-old. I understand drinking is a big part of many college students lives (Lucinda's in Ireland so it's legal there), but not to the extent of these characters. Though there are some party scenes which seem to fit the norm, there are also several evenings where Lucinda is drinking wine or sipping whiskey (really?). This was way above her years, especially as she's only 18 AND from the States so she's not legal yet. I am confident that no one at 18 is sipping whiskey. There was also the issue of her "many lovers". It felt like this reveal was set up to showcase her turmoiled past (side note: turmoil seems to be only a noun but I think we should allow it in adjective form) but again it wasn't realistic for a young girl. Do 18-year-olds call their past relationships "lovers"? I also felt weird when she repeatedly called Damien a man (I'm 23 and still calling people 'boy' or 'guy', but that could be just me. What terms do you use?). Even without the alcohol and lovers storylines, I never really got the feel of Lucinda as a young student so something was missing with me.
However, even with all my issues, based on the fact that I was basically glued to the page the whole time I can definitely attest to it being a super entertaining story and that's really what a great story should be. It's a cool ghost story, a little creepy at times but nothing too bad so you should be fine! :P I think the author's set up a really interesting universe here too. There were some mentions in the story of an earlier timeline, which are apparently covered in previous stories the author has written. I'd recommend reading those first because it was a little difficult to follow along. Nothing some context can't fix.
This one looks like it's set to be the start of a series, which I found a little surprising. It seems to wrap up nicely at the end, with hints of what could come next for the characters, but obviously they've got much bigger adventures in store than what I was imagining.
October 1, 2017
Holy hell. I am at a loss of words. Well. The book is phenomenally well-written and one of the most interesting reads I have read in a while. I cannot wait to read more. Now this is not a romance. It’s a mystery.
This book is about Lucinda, a young woman that is cursed. And she is sick of it. So she travels to Ireland to study and break the curse. But what she does not know is there is another side of the curse. When she meets Damien and learns his half of the curse she is even more determined to break it. She feels he should not have to suffer too. Only when she figures it out something truly horrible happens and I was so shocked. I couldn't believe what happened to her. That this person was such a ass. But in the end never cross a witch or you may just get burned. I so hope there is a next book as I cannot wait to see what Lucinda gets up to next.
Now before I ruin this for you I will leave off here. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. If you do like this book, please consider leaving a review. The Authors really like it when you do; they value your opinions too
This book is about Lucinda, a young woman that is cursed. And she is sick of it. So she travels to Ireland to study and break the curse. But what she does not know is there is another side of the curse. When she meets Damien and learns his half of the curse she is even more determined to break it. She feels he should not have to suffer too. Only when she figures it out something truly horrible happens and I was so shocked. I couldn't believe what happened to her. That this person was such a ass. But in the end never cross a witch or you may just get burned. I so hope there is a next book as I cannot wait to see what Lucinda gets up to next.
Now before I ruin this for you I will leave off here. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. If you do like this book, please consider leaving a review. The Authors really like it when you do; they value your opinions too
August 15, 2017
This was both a great and terrible reading experience for me.
The good: An intriguing story about a girl who has been haunted by death omens her whole life. She later learns that the omens are not meant for her but for Damien Reed who I found to be rather creepy.
The Bad: The writing is pretty bad, especially the way the characters interact with each other. If you enjoyed The Fault in our Stars then maybe you won't mind but I found Damien Reed and Lucinda Hightower very pretentious.
The Ugly: A forced love triangle with a one dimensional character.
The good: An intriguing story about a girl who has been haunted by death omens her whole life. She later learns that the omens are not meant for her but for Damien Reed who I found to be rather creepy.
The Bad: The writing is pretty bad, especially the way the characters interact with each other. If you enjoyed The Fault in our Stars then maybe you won't mind but I found Damien Reed and Lucinda Hightower very pretentious.
The Ugly: A forced love triangle with a one dimensional character.
September 12, 2017
This was such a great read. It was really interesting and had a lovely gothic feel to is, with the main character’s connection to death. The pace kept the read exciting and plenty of detail meant that it was really easy to get attached to the story.
I felt the author did a wonderful job creating a character that I truly wanted to get to know. There was clearly a lot of effort and detail put into making the character full of depth and personality. This gave the feel that the character was very real and easy to get to know.
The pace was brilliant and really match the story and writing style. It led to me feeling a sense of ‘i need to know what happens next’ and having to read just a few more pages, so I didn’t have to wait to know what the author was building toward. I loved that, as it kept the story interesting and very addicting.
Overall, this was a brilliant read, and I am excited to see where the series goes. It has a lot of potential and is definitely a story that lots of readers will enjoy.
**I received an arc and chose to provide my honest opinion.
I felt the author did a wonderful job creating a character that I truly wanted to get to know. There was clearly a lot of effort and detail put into making the character full of depth and personality. This gave the feel that the character was very real and easy to get to know.
The pace was brilliant and really match the story and writing style. It led to me feeling a sense of ‘i need to know what happens next’ and having to read just a few more pages, so I didn’t have to wait to know what the author was building toward. I loved that, as it kept the story interesting and very addicting.
Overall, this was a brilliant read, and I am excited to see where the series goes. It has a lot of potential and is definitely a story that lots of readers will enjoy.
**I received an arc and chose to provide my honest opinion.
September 19, 2017
Find This and Other Reviews At Craves The Angst.
I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
45% - DNF
The Review:
I rarely DNF a book and I tried to like this one, I really did. I loved the blurb and I loved the cover, so I thought I would enjoy it, but it just wasn’t for me. The heroine, Lucinda, felt very bland. I couldn’t connect to her character. And the hero, Damien, didn’t work for me at all. He was always lurking around and instead of him being intense and mysterious as I think the author intended him to be, he came off as creepy stalker guy with very little personality and no sexual appeal at all. And their interactions felt forced and stilted with no romantic spark between them.
As for the story itself, I couldn’t get into the writing enough to enjoy what I felt was an exciting plot. There was a mixture of gothic and traditional writing styles with overly formal dialogue, and for me, it didn’t read well.
All in all, this one just wasn’t for me.
I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
45% - DNF
The Review:
I rarely DNF a book and I tried to like this one, I really did. I loved the blurb and I loved the cover, so I thought I would enjoy it, but it just wasn’t for me. The heroine, Lucinda, felt very bland. I couldn’t connect to her character. And the hero, Damien, didn’t work for me at all. He was always lurking around and instead of him being intense and mysterious as I think the author intended him to be, he came off as creepy stalker guy with very little personality and no sexual appeal at all. And their interactions felt forced and stilted with no romantic spark between them.
As for the story itself, I couldn’t get into the writing enough to enjoy what I felt was an exciting plot. There was a mixture of gothic and traditional writing styles with overly formal dialogue, and for me, it didn’t read well.
All in all, this one just wasn’t for me.
July 20, 2017
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
What a GREAT read! This book was sweet, entertaining, suspenseful, and intriguing. It was full of surprises and interesting details. The writing kept you interested, kept your mind wondering, and provided an excellent reading experience! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and am so glad that I was able to read it.
My favorite thing about this story were the details and descriptions that author used. I think it really set the stage for an interesting read but really all delivered a very thorough, intriguing story. There are some pretty intense scenes and it was so easily to vividly picture the events, the characters during those events, but also the surroundings. They really amplified the story telling. They made the experience of reading this story much more enjoyable!
What a great cast of characters! There were characters from all walks of life and they really came together to provide a wonderful reading experience. Again, I applaud the author for the work that they put into developing such great characters.
I definitely recommend you to read this story. It was such a delightful surprise of a read and I do think you’d be missing out on a great story if you didn’t give it a chance.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
What a GREAT read! This book was sweet, entertaining, suspenseful, and intriguing. It was full of surprises and interesting details. The writing kept you interested, kept your mind wondering, and provided an excellent reading experience! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and am so glad that I was able to read it.
My favorite thing about this story were the details and descriptions that author used. I think it really set the stage for an interesting read but really all delivered a very thorough, intriguing story. There are some pretty intense scenes and it was so easily to vividly picture the events, the characters during those events, but also the surroundings. They really amplified the story telling. They made the experience of reading this story much more enjoyable!
What a great cast of characters! There were characters from all walks of life and they really came together to provide a wonderful reading experience. Again, I applaud the author for the work that they put into developing such great characters.
I definitely recommend you to read this story. It was such a delightful surprise of a read and I do think you’d be missing out on a great story if you didn’t give it a chance.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
May 29, 2017
I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
Usually I fear reading gothic romances, since sometimes they tend to lean into the thriller side. With the exception of the author Grace Draven, this series by Cal Spivey, made me re-approach my view of the genre.
Lucinda has a horrible ability which would make even the most brave people run for their lives. When mysterious appearances of a ghost lead her to Ireland and to Damien, the deadly occurences begin to become frequent with the result of colliding Lucinda's and Damien's lives together.
I liked the plot though sometimes I was very afraid. That's on me only, but no one can disagree that the gothic element was represented beautifully and the twists in the mystery were very compelling.
I really am excited for the sequel too!
Usually I fear reading gothic romances, since sometimes they tend to lean into the thriller side. With the exception of the author Grace Draven, this series by Cal Spivey, made me re-approach my view of the genre.
Lucinda has a horrible ability which would make even the most brave people run for their lives. When mysterious appearances of a ghost lead her to Ireland and to Damien, the deadly occurences begin to become frequent with the result of colliding Lucinda's and Damien's lives together.
I liked the plot though sometimes I was very afraid. That's on me only, but no one can disagree that the gothic element was represented beautifully and the twists in the mystery were very compelling.
I really am excited for the sequel too!
September 7, 2017
Review to come!!
Update 9/7/17:
See more reviews on my blog Novels and Necklaces
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I was given an advanced copy of this book by Xpresso Book Tours as part of the upcoming blog tour next week
I was pretty surprised at the low ratings for this novel because I enjoyed it a great deal! It was well written and fast-paced, and the perfect weekend/rainy day read. It had the perfect mix of spooky and supernatural elements with a hint of romance. I will say that when I first started reading this novel, I was slightly worried at how the characters were speaking. Every character in this book speaks very formally, and it felt a little unnatural because people don't typically speak like this in real life. However, I quickly got used to this aspect and was able to enjoy the book a lot more afterward. I do think this is where a lot of people may have a hang up though as the characters do come off a bit pretentious. But for me, it really wasn't that big of a deal (plus Lucinda or any of the characters aren't pretentious at all once we get to know them), and I liked the unique aspect it added to the story.
The plot is incredibly original and unique. I loved the curse aspect and the search conducted by Lucinda and Damien. You could feel their desperation to find a way to break the tragic curse that has plagued their families for hundreds of years. I personally loved that Lucinda was bisexual. This is not something you see in many books right now, but is something that really should be incorporated into novels more often. Additionally, other characters around her are revealed to identify on the LGBTQ spectrum...which added diversity to the story and was very welcomed from my view. Lastly, there were many twists and turns that I never saw coming, and further add to the mystery that is occurring. The ending was mind-blowing and incredibly well done. Everything came together in a heart-stopping finale and was exactly how I wanted this book to end!
There was 1 thing that I did have an issue with but it wasn't enough to make me give the book a rating lower than a 3. The biggest problem for me was the fact that we are just dropped into the story. It felt almost like I was reading the second book in the series rather than the first. I felt there needed to be more world-building and more background given before fully delving into the story (or even as the story went along like in flashbacks). For example, there are mentions of other supernatural entities, but it's not elaborated on further besides small sentences. Also, I would have loved to know more about Lucinda's brother and Morgan. I only learned after I was done reading that there are actually 2 books by C.M. Spivey that do give us more of a background. I really wish I would have known this prior to reading (maybe better marketing or something) because I would have definitely checked those out first before starting on The Longing and the Lack. Even though you can 100% read this as a standalone, I think it would be better to read these 2 other books prior to this novel.
Overall, this is a great new start to an interesting series. C.M. Spivey has crafted a fascinating world that I am eager to get back to! I'm excited to see where this series will go and whether or not it will be about another character or a continuation of Lucinda's story. The Longing and the Lack is an intriguing read with plenty of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end! Add this one to your TBR now!
Happy reading :)
Update 9/7/17:
See more reviews on my blog Novels and Necklaces
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I was given an advanced copy of this book by Xpresso Book Tours as part of the upcoming blog tour next week
I was pretty surprised at the low ratings for this novel because I enjoyed it a great deal! It was well written and fast-paced, and the perfect weekend/rainy day read. It had the perfect mix of spooky and supernatural elements with a hint of romance. I will say that when I first started reading this novel, I was slightly worried at how the characters were speaking. Every character in this book speaks very formally, and it felt a little unnatural because people don't typically speak like this in real life. However, I quickly got used to this aspect and was able to enjoy the book a lot more afterward. I do think this is where a lot of people may have a hang up though as the characters do come off a bit pretentious. But for me, it really wasn't that big of a deal (plus Lucinda or any of the characters aren't pretentious at all once we get to know them), and I liked the unique aspect it added to the story.
The plot is incredibly original and unique. I loved the curse aspect and the search conducted by Lucinda and Damien. You could feel their desperation to find a way to break the tragic curse that has plagued their families for hundreds of years. I personally loved that Lucinda was bisexual. This is not something you see in many books right now, but is something that really should be incorporated into novels more often. Additionally, other characters around her are revealed to identify on the LGBTQ spectrum...which added diversity to the story and was very welcomed from my view. Lastly, there were many twists and turns that I never saw coming, and further add to the mystery that is occurring. The ending was mind-blowing and incredibly well done. Everything came together in a heart-stopping finale and was exactly how I wanted this book to end!
There was 1 thing that I did have an issue with but it wasn't enough to make me give the book a rating lower than a 3. The biggest problem for me was the fact that we are just dropped into the story. It felt almost like I was reading the second book in the series rather than the first. I felt there needed to be more world-building and more background given before fully delving into the story (or even as the story went along like in flashbacks). For example, there are mentions of other supernatural entities, but it's not elaborated on further besides small sentences. Also, I would have loved to know more about Lucinda's brother and Morgan. I only learned after I was done reading that there are actually 2 books by C.M. Spivey that do give us more of a background. I really wish I would have known this prior to reading (maybe better marketing or something) because I would have definitely checked those out first before starting on The Longing and the Lack. Even though you can 100% read this as a standalone, I think it would be better to read these 2 other books prior to this novel.
Overall, this is a great new start to an interesting series. C.M. Spivey has crafted a fascinating world that I am eager to get back to! I'm excited to see where this series will go and whether or not it will be about another character or a continuation of Lucinda's story. The Longing and the Lack is an intriguing read with plenty of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end! Add this one to your TBR now!
Happy reading :)
October 1, 2017
Disclaimer: There are a couple of things you should know about this book before you choose to pick it up. 1) There are lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals, and straight people in this book. This personally doesn’t bother me, but if it does bother you, look elsewhere. 2) There is a huge case of instalove between Damien and Lucinda. They have literally known each other for a week or less when they decide to have sex. 3) There is a pretty detailed sex scene in here, so if you’re looking into this book for your son or daughter, be aware of that.
Although this review is going to seem like all negative things about this book, I did enjoy it and give it 3 ½ stars. This book was quite interesting, but I felt it could have done with a little more editing. The Longing and the Lack is about a young woman named Lucinda who is cursed by death omens that follow her everywhere she goes. She moves to Ireland, where her father grew up, to find some answers. There, she meets Damien, an attractive young man who may hold the answers she seeks.
There are a lot of characters in this book, but I think my favorite would have to be Naomi. Naomi is Lucinda’s college roommate. I thought Naomi was so supportive and kind toward Lucinda. She basically just met her, but already she’s super sweet to and worried about Lucinda. I almost feel bad for her because Lucinda doesn’t tell her about the curse and everything until 2/3 of the way into the book.
One thing that bugged me about Naomi was how stereotypically Irish she was. She says “ye” in place of “you” when she speaks a lot of the time. She also can tolerate whiskey better than Lucinda can and when Lucinda questions it, Naomi says something like “I’m Irish. Of course I can hold my whiskey.” I don’t know about the whiskey part, but I recently took a two-week vacation around the coast of Ireland, and I can truthfully say I only heard one server say “ye” that whole time.
The speech in this book was a little formal for college kids, in my opinion. Here’s one example from when Sri, a fellow classmate, meets Naomi: “Good to meet ye,” Naomi said. “The pleasure is all mine,” Sri answered. “I’m quite looking forward to this class. I hear the professor is wonderful.” I just don’t think a college kid would talk like that, and I’m fresh out of college, so I should know.
I think this book is the first in a series, so it does end with things somewhat unresolved. I mean, it’s not a cliffhanger by any means, but there is room for a second book at the same time. I’m not sure I’ll seek out the next book in the series, but if this book is still stuck in my mind when it comes out, I might just have to pick up book 2.
Although this review is going to seem like all negative things about this book, I did enjoy it and give it 3 ½ stars. This book was quite interesting, but I felt it could have done with a little more editing. The Longing and the Lack is about a young woman named Lucinda who is cursed by death omens that follow her everywhere she goes. She moves to Ireland, where her father grew up, to find some answers. There, she meets Damien, an attractive young man who may hold the answers she seeks.
There are a lot of characters in this book, but I think my favorite would have to be Naomi. Naomi is Lucinda’s college roommate. I thought Naomi was so supportive and kind toward Lucinda. She basically just met her, but already she’s super sweet to and worried about Lucinda. I almost feel bad for her because Lucinda doesn’t tell her about the curse and everything until 2/3 of the way into the book.
One thing that bugged me about Naomi was how stereotypically Irish she was. She says “ye” in place of “you” when she speaks a lot of the time. She also can tolerate whiskey better than Lucinda can and when Lucinda questions it, Naomi says something like “I’m Irish. Of course I can hold my whiskey.” I don’t know about the whiskey part, but I recently took a two-week vacation around the coast of Ireland, and I can truthfully say I only heard one server say “ye” that whole time.
The speech in this book was a little formal for college kids, in my opinion. Here’s one example from when Sri, a fellow classmate, meets Naomi: “Good to meet ye,” Naomi said. “The pleasure is all mine,” Sri answered. “I’m quite looking forward to this class. I hear the professor is wonderful.” I just don’t think a college kid would talk like that, and I’m fresh out of college, so I should know.
I think this book is the first in a series, so it does end with things somewhat unresolved. I mean, it’s not a cliffhanger by any means, but there is room for a second book at the same time. I’m not sure I’ll seek out the next book in the series, but if this book is still stuck in my mind when it comes out, I might just have to pick up book 2.
September 21, 2017
3,5
Does love conquer all? Or it destroys everything?
First, I was curious about the meaning the author wanted to give to the title. That because, next to the apparent meaning, the expression could have a deeper significance and in total harmony with the story (but it’s possible to be a little too much for today NA generation to perceive it - sorry, but I believe that).
So, having in mind the deeper significance of the title, I enjoyed the book better.
The key words of the story are love/hate, justice and choices. What is the true love and what love or the true love makes you do it? When in love, what are choices to make between your lover, revenge and your own survival? And could be love more powerful than hate insomuch that could break an old curse? Is the one who brought the curse able to accept redemption through another couple love? When can the justice be served and by the hand of whom? How fair is it to be the judge and the executioner? How fair is it to pay the supreme penalty for crimes you didn’t do it and how relevant is your own survival instinct? In the end, the important characters acted exactly how I didn’t like it, but understandable in the context. Too bad… (not for the story).
There are some aspects that it seems to me a bit forced… and without bigotry, those aspects should have been introduced, if necessary, in a different way. If the reasons of the events that happened in the past are well integrated and in accordance with the mores of that time, the contemporary ones (I refer strictly to Lucinda’s attitude to love) seems shallow and characterize the main character as a frivolous person and that is in a serious disagreement with the rest of her personality (except maybe for the drinking, but heavy drinking as a habit is so present even in “Adult books” that is really concerning!) even in the absence (or especially because) of the background that is to be found in other books of the author. In plus, this attitude of Lucinda makes her last choice to look more as a personal revenge than an act of justice and of grace for the next generations. And this is bad… but… like I said… Longing and the Lack…
So, try this interesting story, but among Irish curses, death omen, supernatural journeys, love relationships of the past and present, don't forget to look for a more meaningful sense of the mystery.
Enjoy!
Does love conquer all? Or it destroys everything?
First, I was curious about the meaning the author wanted to give to the title. That because, next to the apparent meaning, the expression could have a deeper significance and in total harmony with the story (but it’s possible to be a little too much for today NA generation to perceive it - sorry, but I believe that).
So, having in mind the deeper significance of the title, I enjoyed the book better.
The key words of the story are love/hate, justice and choices. What is the true love and what love or the true love makes you do it? When in love, what are choices to make between your lover, revenge and your own survival? And could be love more powerful than hate insomuch that could break an old curse? Is the one who brought the curse able to accept redemption through another couple love? When can the justice be served and by the hand of whom? How fair is it to be the judge and the executioner? How fair is it to pay the supreme penalty for crimes you didn’t do it and how relevant is your own survival instinct? In the end, the important characters acted exactly how I didn’t like it, but understandable in the context. Too bad… (not for the story).
There are some aspects that it seems to me a bit forced… and without bigotry, those aspects should have been introduced, if necessary, in a different way. If the reasons of the events that happened in the past are well integrated and in accordance with the mores of that time, the contemporary ones (I refer strictly to Lucinda’s attitude to love) seems shallow and characterize the main character as a frivolous person and that is in a serious disagreement with the rest of her personality (except maybe for the drinking, but heavy drinking as a habit is so present even in “Adult books” that is really concerning!) even in the absence (or especially because) of the background that is to be found in other books of the author. In plus, this attitude of Lucinda makes her last choice to look more as a personal revenge than an act of justice and of grace for the next generations. And this is bad… but… like I said… Longing and the Lack…
So, try this interesting story, but among Irish curses, death omen, supernatural journeys, love relationships of the past and present, don't forget to look for a more meaningful sense of the mystery.
Enjoy!
September 20, 2017
I'm not one to usually leave a bad review. Two reasons. First, I usually enjoy most stories I read. I'm a curious sort so I will always continue to the end and usually end up liking it. Second, I don't know what to say without giving spoilers away.
I'll start with what I liked;
The cover! This cover is absolutely gorgeous. It drew me in and made me want to read this book.
The ending. Mostly because it ended (it was a struggle to finish this book), but also because I found it somewhat funny. I thought it was a bit kickass!
Now I'll move onto what I didn't like;
The whole story read as a historical. No 18 year old talks like this. Both the main characters, Lucinda and Damien, spoke as if they were a lot older and not from this time period. Example:
"Yes, she was drawn to him, but it wasn’t as though this was the first time her body had acted against good sense. She had a string of beautiful but impertinent lovers notched into her bedpost. But she was eighteen now, and past the point where every temptation could be discounted as a learning experience."
The entire book felt way too formal and stuffy. This is an 18 year old in college, well I think she went to maybe two classes, but she should still be a little looser. Even the date with Damien felt extremely out of date.
Moving on, I'm a paranormal junkie. If you follow my reviews you'll see I read that genre more than any other. I also love romance. So most my books will always include romance, whether it's slow burn or instalove. This was more of a folk story to me. Not much paranormal, yes yes there was ghosts and curses and a mention of witches, but it wasn't steeped in paranormal. More mythology and folk. Now to the romance. When I saw "dark romance" I thought it'd be more of a happyish romance. Not what was depicted. My fault there if I misunderstood "dark romance", there just wasn't much romance to them. Especially towards the end.
Who would I recommend this to? Well if you are into every thing I didn't like, then read it.
I'll start with what I liked;
The cover! This cover is absolutely gorgeous. It drew me in and made me want to read this book.
The ending. Mostly because it ended (it was a struggle to finish this book), but also because I found it somewhat funny. I thought it was a bit kickass!
Now I'll move onto what I didn't like;
The whole story read as a historical. No 18 year old talks like this. Both the main characters, Lucinda and Damien, spoke as if they were a lot older and not from this time period. Example:
"Yes, she was drawn to him, but it wasn’t as though this was the first time her body had acted against good sense. She had a string of beautiful but impertinent lovers notched into her bedpost. But she was eighteen now, and past the point where every temptation could be discounted as a learning experience."
The entire book felt way too formal and stuffy. This is an 18 year old in college, well I think she went to maybe two classes, but she should still be a little looser. Even the date with Damien felt extremely out of date.
Moving on, I'm a paranormal junkie. If you follow my reviews you'll see I read that genre more than any other. I also love romance. So most my books will always include romance, whether it's slow burn or instalove. This was more of a folk story to me. Not much paranormal, yes yes there was ghosts and curses and a mention of witches, but it wasn't steeped in paranormal. More mythology and folk. Now to the romance. When I saw "dark romance" I thought it'd be more of a happyish romance. Not what was depicted. My fault there if I misunderstood "dark romance", there just wasn't much romance to them. Especially towards the end.
Who would I recommend this to? Well if you are into every thing I didn't like, then read it.
September 9, 2017
The description of this book appealed to me but, I felt that there was something missing. I now realise that there was a prequel which would explain some of the issues that I encountered.
Lucinda has been plagued by death omens, such as dead birds and the ghost of a woman amongst other things. She travels from the US to Ireland, the birthplace of her father in the hope of escaping these phenomenons.
She becomes good friend with Naomi, her room mate. Whilst in the pub, she has her first encounter with a suicidal bird. From then on, her experiences become more frequent and some of them are scary.
Damien is from one of the original family in this small town. He befriends Lucinda and she is attracted to him despite her friend's warning of being cautious. She becomes aware that her family has a long and dark history with his family. She has been kept in the dark about the facts and realising that a curse is at play, she starts researching the family history. Her aim is to find a solution to eradicate this curse.
She discovers whose death is impending and works with Damien to find the solution. It's a real puzzle. One which appears to be impossible to solve. She carries on regardless, and then she is betrayed. Will she persevere or give up and allow the curse to take its course?
The story has a good foundation but, lacking in background information on some of the characters. It builds up gradually and, becomes more interesting and mysterious. The twist here is unpredictable! I like the portrayal of the vindictive ghost and the fates. Once I got past the initial issues, I enjoyed the rest story.
I was kindly issued with an eARC and the views expressed are my personal opinion.
Lucinda has been plagued by death omens, such as dead birds and the ghost of a woman amongst other things. She travels from the US to Ireland, the birthplace of her father in the hope of escaping these phenomenons.
She becomes good friend with Naomi, her room mate. Whilst in the pub, she has her first encounter with a suicidal bird. From then on, her experiences become more frequent and some of them are scary.
Damien is from one of the original family in this small town. He befriends Lucinda and she is attracted to him despite her friend's warning of being cautious. She becomes aware that her family has a long and dark history with his family. She has been kept in the dark about the facts and realising that a curse is at play, she starts researching the family history. Her aim is to find a solution to eradicate this curse.
She discovers whose death is impending and works with Damien to find the solution. It's a real puzzle. One which appears to be impossible to solve. She carries on regardless, and then she is betrayed. Will she persevere or give up and allow the curse to take its course?
The story has a good foundation but, lacking in background information on some of the characters. It builds up gradually and, becomes more interesting and mysterious. The twist here is unpredictable! I like the portrayal of the vindictive ghost and the fates. Once I got past the initial issues, I enjoyed the rest story.
I was kindly issued with an eARC and the views expressed are my personal opinion.
September 11, 2017
I received a copy of The Longing and the Lack from Xpresso Book Tours for an honest review. Everything I say is my opinion. No compensation was made.
The first thing that grabbed me was the cover. I'm a sucker for a beautiful cover and just look at it! It's downright gorgeous. I just want to put it out there that the cover screams gothic with an edge. Very nice.
That said, I am torn with the book, to be honest. On one hand, I am eating up the almost gothic story prose, but, on the other hand, I am trying to understand Lucinda Hightower.
Even though this is a first book in her story, she is a minor character in another book. You are given enough information about those books to get an idea on what she is like background wise. This can be good, but I did find myself wondering if I was missing something important in her personal narrative.
Because of that, Lucinda was hard to grasp as a main character. What I did like was her determination for the truth and her ease in relationships. There was no clear sexuality about her and that was refreshing.
The writing is quick to get into and has that dark gothic feel without feeling foreign. I actually liked this book. I only wish I read the books where Lucinda was a minor character first. I feel I would have understood her character more.
The first thing that grabbed me was the cover. I'm a sucker for a beautiful cover and just look at it! It's downright gorgeous. I just want to put it out there that the cover screams gothic with an edge. Very nice.
That said, I am torn with the book, to be honest. On one hand, I am eating up the almost gothic story prose, but, on the other hand, I am trying to understand Lucinda Hightower.
Even though this is a first book in her story, she is a minor character in another book. You are given enough information about those books to get an idea on what she is like background wise. This can be good, but I did find myself wondering if I was missing something important in her personal narrative.
Because of that, Lucinda was hard to grasp as a main character. What I did like was her determination for the truth and her ease in relationships. There was no clear sexuality about her and that was refreshing.
The writing is quick to get into and has that dark gothic feel without feeling foreign. I actually liked this book. I only wish I read the books where Lucinda was a minor character first. I feel I would have understood her character more.
September 15, 2017
This book was not what I expected at all and I couldn’t be happier about it. This author clearly did her research on all things codes and encryptions and it made for a story full of surprises. I pride myself on being able to guess a story’s plot, but I couldn’t have guessed at how this story was going to end in a million years.
There is romance, unrequited love, murder, mystery, suspense, ghosts, curses, and so much more packed into this book. If There are any readers that want an extremely well written paranormal suspense, this is the book for them.
The main character’s quest to discover more about her family’s past and the strange curse that plagues her, will take you on a roller coaster of events that will leave you gripping the edges of your book. The characters are well thought out and defined. Their personalities and dialect of speech distinct and unique. I was left rooting for the main character and heartbroken over what she had come to learn. Five out of five stars for sure!
There is romance, unrequited love, murder, mystery, suspense, ghosts, curses, and so much more packed into this book. If There are any readers that want an extremely well written paranormal suspense, this is the book for them.
The main character’s quest to discover more about her family’s past and the strange curse that plagues her, will take you on a roller coaster of events that will leave you gripping the edges of your book. The characters are well thought out and defined. Their personalities and dialect of speech distinct and unique. I was left rooting for the main character and heartbroken over what she had come to learn. Five out of five stars for sure!
April 7, 2019
I was given a review copy by the author.
The book was queer enough, with a voice that started firmly wedged in the Austen style, though without the deprecating humour and wit, and that slowly seemed to grow more modern as the book went along.
The plot was without much urgency, until the last 25%, where the author added some with an artificial deadline that meant nothing, in the end.
As some other reviewer has stated, this is a book in another series, which explains some very odd world-building; vampires are mentioned as existing off the cuff, a love interest introduced we only meet at the end.
Nonetheless it was interesting.
The magic, such that existed, was not fully explained. There seemed no rhyme and reason for some of it, and thus I struggled with the world building.
I would have liked to see more of that, more exploration of the world the author created, less of the bisexual-as-promiscuous trope.
The book was queer enough, with a voice that started firmly wedged in the Austen style, though without the deprecating humour and wit, and that slowly seemed to grow more modern as the book went along.
The plot was without much urgency, until the last 25%, where the author added some with an artificial deadline that meant nothing, in the end.
As some other reviewer has stated, this is a book in another series, which explains some very odd world-building; vampires are mentioned as existing off the cuff, a love interest introduced we only meet at the end.
Nonetheless it was interesting.
The magic, such that existed, was not fully explained. There seemed no rhyme and reason for some of it, and thus I struggled with the world building.
I would have liked to see more of that, more exploration of the world the author created, less of the bisexual-as-promiscuous trope.
September 15, 2017
This book was so good! I didn't want to put it down. The pace was nice and I loved all the twists and turns! The characters are interesting and you just want to keep reading to see what happens next. Definitely a wonderfully written, suspenseful read that keeps you hooked until the last page! You need to read this one!
September 15, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were fun, unique, andI really liked how they spoke. The story was difficult for me to get into, but the more I read, the harder it was to put down.
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September 13, 2017
I enjoyed reading this book, but I didn't fall in love with it.
I felt the idea of being tormented by death omens—suicidal rooks, rabid dogs, screeching owls, and a ghostly woman in white with icy fingers—morbid, yet intriguing.
However, this book just didn't click with me. I think one of the reasons was that the dialog between Lucinda and Damien seemed unnecessarily and falsely grandiose. I doubt there is one college student that has ever said, "When I'm not being courted to distraction" in this century.
While Lucinda and Damien were pretty well fleshed out, the attraction to Sri bothered me because she was completely one-dimensional. Why should I care anything about Sri, and her attraction to Lucinda, if I know next to nothing about her? It bugged me—maybe more than it should have—because it seemed like it was placed there to force the plot in a certain direction in order to reveal a twist later in the story.
Read this book if:
• You find death omens intriguing.
• Supernatural books are your thing.
• You don't mind insta-love and love triangles.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I felt the idea of being tormented by death omens—suicidal rooks, rabid dogs, screeching owls, and a ghostly woman in white with icy fingers—morbid, yet intriguing.
However, this book just didn't click with me. I think one of the reasons was that the dialog between Lucinda and Damien seemed unnecessarily and falsely grandiose. I doubt there is one college student that has ever said, "When I'm not being courted to distraction" in this century.
While Lucinda and Damien were pretty well fleshed out, the attraction to Sri bothered me because she was completely one-dimensional. Why should I care anything about Sri, and her attraction to Lucinda, if I know next to nothing about her? It bugged me—maybe more than it should have—because it seemed like it was placed there to force the plot in a certain direction in order to reveal a twist later in the story.
Read this book if:
• You find death omens intriguing.
• Supernatural books are your thing.
• You don't mind insta-love and love triangles.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
September 15, 2017
Book Tour Review that I am Involved with.
The Longing and the Lack C.M. Spivey(The Unliving #1)Publication date: September 19th 2017Genres: New Adult, Paranormal
“Gothic curses, deadly love affairs, and vengeful ghosts combine to make this paranormal mystery a compelling page-turner.” — Tina Connolly, Nebula-nominated author of Ironskin
Lucinda Hightower is no stranger to death.
Since she was a child, Lucinda has been haunted by rabid dogs, suicidal crows, and the ghost of a woman in white. All are omens signaling someone’s imminent demise—except Lucinda’s friends and family are still breathing.
The omens follow her to Ireland and the quiet university in her father’s hometown, increasing in strength and frequency once she meets Damien Reed. A handsome third year student, Damien thrusts himself into Lucinda’s life almost immediately and caresses away the unsavory reputation that shadows him.
It’s not until the ghost sinks her nails into Damien that he reveals his secret: the death omens are for him.
They’re the manifestations of a curse that claims the life of the eldest Reed son every generation. Damien’s time is nearly up. If Lucinda is to save him, she must solve the mystery of her family curse, and lay a spirit’s rage to rest.
A dark romance for fans of Diane Setterfield and the TV show Supernatural, The Longing and the Lack is a Gothic story for the modern age.
My Review
I was pretty disappointed that I didn't like this book as much as I thought I was going to. It took me such along time to get into the story and I didn't really care for Damien or even Lucinda that much. I did like her more than him. At first I was going to give the book 2 1/2 stars but decided to give it three instead. The reason I went with that rating is because the book had a really creepy atmosphere to it and it ended in a different way than a lot of books usually do. And I didn't see the book ending the way it did, so it did really surprise me. And I do love a book that can do that for me. So for those very reasons the book deserves that type of rating from me.
I really loved the ending even if it was pretty strange, I just wish I didn't have to struggle so much to get to that point. The reason I didn't care for Damien is too me at least he was such a wimp and he was just very hard to warn up to. Lucinda was pretty boring to me, until the last 75 pgs, then she started to get interesting. I blame that on how boring the book was for me until the last 100 pgs.
I am still really glad that I requested and was invited to take part in the book tour for this book. So thanks to all parts involved for picking me to do so.
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Author Bio:
C.M. Spivey is a speculative fiction writer, author of high fantasy FROM UNDER THE MOUNTAIN and the paranormal series, “The Unliving”. His enduring love of fantasy started young. Now, he explores the rules and ramifications of magic in his own works—and as a trans, panromantic asexual, he’s committed to queering his favorite genres. In his spare time, he plans his next tattoo (there will always be a next tattoo) and watches too much Netflix. Anything left over is devoted to his tireless quest to make America read more. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his darling husband Matt and adorable dog Jay.
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The Longing and the Lack C.M. Spivey(The Unliving #1)Publication date: September 19th 2017Genres: New Adult, Paranormal
“Gothic curses, deadly love affairs, and vengeful ghosts combine to make this paranormal mystery a compelling page-turner.” — Tina Connolly, Nebula-nominated author of Ironskin
Lucinda Hightower is no stranger to death.
Since she was a child, Lucinda has been haunted by rabid dogs, suicidal crows, and the ghost of a woman in white. All are omens signaling someone’s imminent demise—except Lucinda’s friends and family are still breathing.
The omens follow her to Ireland and the quiet university in her father’s hometown, increasing in strength and frequency once she meets Damien Reed. A handsome third year student, Damien thrusts himself into Lucinda’s life almost immediately and caresses away the unsavory reputation that shadows him.
It’s not until the ghost sinks her nails into Damien that he reveals his secret: the death omens are for him.
They’re the manifestations of a curse that claims the life of the eldest Reed son every generation. Damien’s time is nearly up. If Lucinda is to save him, she must solve the mystery of her family curse, and lay a spirit’s rage to rest.
A dark romance for fans of Diane Setterfield and the TV show Supernatural, The Longing and the Lack is a Gothic story for the modern age.
My Review
I was pretty disappointed that I didn't like this book as much as I thought I was going to. It took me such along time to get into the story and I didn't really care for Damien or even Lucinda that much. I did like her more than him. At first I was going to give the book 2 1/2 stars but decided to give it three instead. The reason I went with that rating is because the book had a really creepy atmosphere to it and it ended in a different way than a lot of books usually do. And I didn't see the book ending the way it did, so it did really surprise me. And I do love a book that can do that for me. So for those very reasons the book deserves that type of rating from me.
I really loved the ending even if it was pretty strange, I just wish I didn't have to struggle so much to get to that point. The reason I didn't care for Damien is too me at least he was such a wimp and he was just very hard to warn up to. Lucinda was pretty boring to me, until the last 75 pgs, then she started to get interesting. I blame that on how boring the book was for me until the last 100 pgs.
I am still really glad that I requested and was invited to take part in the book tour for this book. So thanks to all parts involved for picking me to do so.
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo
Author Bio:
C.M. Spivey is a speculative fiction writer, author of high fantasy FROM UNDER THE MOUNTAIN and the paranormal series, “The Unliving”. His enduring love of fantasy started young. Now, he explores the rules and ramifications of magic in his own works—and as a trans, panromantic asexual, he’s committed to queering his favorite genres. In his spare time, he plans his next tattoo (there will always be a next tattoo) and watches too much Netflix. Anything left over is devoted to his tireless quest to make America read more. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his darling husband Matt and adorable dog Jay.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter
GIVEAWAY! a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 2, 2019
The Longing and the Lack has the potential to be a great book. It has a unique plot, interesting characters, unpredictable twists and turns, and of course, a gorgeous book cover!
The story started where Lucinda moves in Ireland where her father grew up, and while staying in the pub, a raven swooped down in the street, and her roommate noticed that it was a big bird. Since there, I had seen how Lucinda was being haunted by these bad omens and how it only worsens when she moved to Ireland. She also met Damien whom Naomi wanted her to avoid at all costs, but she finds out that he might have answers on the things that she was experiencing.
The synopsis already told me that I would enjoy this book, and yeah, I did. But, there were just very few issues just like how the informational background of some characters in the story kind of lacking and one of my peeves in a story, the insta-love. But, overall, I really like the story, especially how the author has written this book. It is just easy for me to get connected with the characters, and as soon as I read it, I already got engaged. I just find myself done with this book after some hours or maybe, almost a day!
Most of the characters are likable, and I like how the author includes diverse characters here in the story. I just really hope that most of them will be given enough information about them and of which would help the readers understand them more.
The ending is really good! It is unexpectedly incredible for me. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I am recommending this book for everyone, especially those who like a combination of diverse characters and gothic story with a touch of curses and mystery.
Disclaimer: I received an advance readers copy from Xpresso Book Tours.
BLOG POST LINK: https://wp.me/p7AwHZ-4U8
The story started where Lucinda moves in Ireland where her father grew up, and while staying in the pub, a raven swooped down in the street, and her roommate noticed that it was a big bird. Since there, I had seen how Lucinda was being haunted by these bad omens and how it only worsens when she moved to Ireland. She also met Damien whom Naomi wanted her to avoid at all costs, but she finds out that he might have answers on the things that she was experiencing.
The synopsis already told me that I would enjoy this book, and yeah, I did. But, there were just very few issues just like how the informational background of some characters in the story kind of lacking and one of my peeves in a story, the insta-love. But, overall, I really like the story, especially how the author has written this book. It is just easy for me to get connected with the characters, and as soon as I read it, I already got engaged. I just find myself done with this book after some hours or maybe, almost a day!
Most of the characters are likable, and I like how the author includes diverse characters here in the story. I just really hope that most of them will be given enough information about them and of which would help the readers understand them more.
The ending is really good! It is unexpectedly incredible for me. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I am recommending this book for everyone, especially those who like a combination of diverse characters and gothic story with a touch of curses and mystery.
Disclaimer: I received an advance readers copy from Xpresso Book Tours.
BLOG POST LINK: https://wp.me/p7AwHZ-4U8
December 4, 2020
The Longing and the Lack, at its heart, is a romance gone horribly, horribly wrong to the point that it echoes down generations of two different families. It’s a contemporary fantasy that leaves you scratching your head for the first part of the story...but thirsty for more once the plot takes off.
Granted, I find the first part of the book to be a bit of a slog, the romance seems shoehorned (though that’s a bit of a clever ruse on the author’s part--well done!), and the dialogue seems stilted. However, the glimpses of the world in which Lucinda’s and her friends exist is fascinating and leave me curious to see where this book leads. With the foundation set down in The Longing and the Lack, Spivey sets himself up for a contemporary fantasy series that I would love to get my hands on once they're published.
Granted, I find the first part of the book to be a bit of a slog, the romance seems shoehorned (though that’s a bit of a clever ruse on the author’s part--well done!), and the dialogue seems stilted. However, the glimpses of the world in which Lucinda’s and her friends exist is fascinating and leave me curious to see where this book leads. With the foundation set down in The Longing and the Lack, Spivey sets himself up for a contemporary fantasy series that I would love to get my hands on once they're published.
September 16, 2017
**3.5 Stars**
Lucinda decided that she wanted a new start so she chose to attend college in Ireland, her parent's birth place. But really, she is hoping that the oddness that has followed her will go away, or at least stay away from her family if she is across the ocean. Unfortunately, she can't get away, and instead her visions and strange happenings have become more frequent and harder to tell if they are real or not. To add to matters, a boy is pursuing her, one she had been warned to stay away from and she is drawn to him...but then there just so happens to be a girl who makes her feel normal... Lucinda needs to figure out what is going on with her life before it is too late.
I am a sucker for a great cover and the cover on this book sold me. I had no idea what the story was about but I knew I had to read it since it was just so pretty! When I finally got around to reading the synopsis I was even more hooked due to the mystery and potential supernatural that was alluded to. I think it would be safe to call this a scary paranormal mystery with strong romantic elements.
At times I feel like I was missing some of the world building in the story, such as Vampires that the narrator Luncinda just casually mentions as being real, as if this was a second book in a series. After reading some other reviews on Goodreads I found that other’s felt the same way and there this is kinda-sorta a tie in to a series of novella’s by the author (which sounded really interesting and I wish I had read them first so maybe pick them up before this book). Another thing that I thought was interesting was that Lucinda is bisexual and actively dates two different gender characters at the same time, both which don’t seem to like the other, and they don’t know that she is dating the other. It made for such a confusing mess to me personally. I didn’t really care which one she picked, I felt ambivalent either way, I just wanted her to pick one (but as a side note, if she hadn’t dated Damien then the main plot of the book would have been moot).
My favorite part of the story was the spooky elements that dealt with the woman in white, scary visions and the suicidal animals (aka everything curse related!). I am a huge sucker for creepy books and the moments in the story were unexpected and at times shocking, keeping me on the edge of my seat waiting for more. At one point the woman in white reaches into Lucinda's chest and squeezes her heart, another a vision of her head slamming against the mirror, a crow flies into the window on purpose, breaking it's neck...each instance was perfect to raise my anticipation for more awfulness.
This was a really interesting concept for a story and the creepy elements were really well done. The ending was a huge freaking surprise and I can honestly say I have no idea what will come next for Lucinda. I know I will read more by this author because I have already picked up the Web series to fill in my world building gaps and so I can learn more about Morgan, who was probably my favorite character in the story. This was a very unique story, good for someone looking for a creepy mystery.
I received this title for review purposes.
Come visit the book's tour at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
Lucinda decided that she wanted a new start so she chose to attend college in Ireland, her parent's birth place. But really, she is hoping that the oddness that has followed her will go away, or at least stay away from her family if she is across the ocean. Unfortunately, she can't get away, and instead her visions and strange happenings have become more frequent and harder to tell if they are real or not. To add to matters, a boy is pursuing her, one she had been warned to stay away from and she is drawn to him...but then there just so happens to be a girl who makes her feel normal... Lucinda needs to figure out what is going on with her life before it is too late.
I am a sucker for a great cover and the cover on this book sold me. I had no idea what the story was about but I knew I had to read it since it was just so pretty! When I finally got around to reading the synopsis I was even more hooked due to the mystery and potential supernatural that was alluded to. I think it would be safe to call this a scary paranormal mystery with strong romantic elements.
At times I feel like I was missing some of the world building in the story, such as Vampires that the narrator Luncinda just casually mentions as being real, as if this was a second book in a series. After reading some other reviews on Goodreads I found that other’s felt the same way and there this is kinda-sorta a tie in to a series of novella’s by the author (which sounded really interesting and I wish I had read them first so maybe pick them up before this book). Another thing that I thought was interesting was that Lucinda is bisexual and actively dates two different gender characters at the same time, both which don’t seem to like the other, and they don’t know that she is dating the other. It made for such a confusing mess to me personally. I didn’t really care which one she picked, I felt ambivalent either way, I just wanted her to pick one (but as a side note, if she hadn’t dated Damien then the main plot of the book would have been moot).
My favorite part of the story was the spooky elements that dealt with the woman in white, scary visions and the suicidal animals (aka everything curse related!). I am a huge sucker for creepy books and the moments in the story were unexpected and at times shocking, keeping me on the edge of my seat waiting for more. At one point the woman in white reaches into Lucinda's chest and squeezes her heart, another a vision of her head slamming against the mirror, a crow flies into the window on purpose, breaking it's neck...each instance was perfect to raise my anticipation for more awfulness.
This was a really interesting concept for a story and the creepy elements were really well done. The ending was a huge freaking surprise and I can honestly say I have no idea what will come next for Lucinda. I know I will read more by this author because I have already picked up the Web series to fill in my world building gaps and so I can learn more about Morgan, who was probably my favorite character in the story. This was a very unique story, good for someone looking for a creepy mystery.
I received this title for review purposes.
Come visit the book's tour at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews