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Wicked Souls #1
Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault
QUINSEY WOLFE'S GLASS VAULT YOUNG ADULT EDITION OUT OF PRINT
Some see it… Some don’t…
Perrie Madeline is a normal girl living in a normal world. Her only concern is deciding whether or not to let herself fully fall for August Hartley after her past relationship failed miserably. That is, until a strange museum, known as Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault, appears overnight and people around her begin to go missing.
To uncover what hidden secrets the Glass Vault may behold, Perrie then embarks on a pursuit with August. They soon realize, not everything is as it seems. While stumbling through the museum’s obscure collection, Perrie and August must find their way out before discovering what may truly not be for the faint of heart.
Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault is the start of a thrilling duology full of magic, danger, and romance.
Some see it… Some don’t…
Perrie Madeline is a normal girl living in a normal world. Her only concern is deciding whether or not to let herself fully fall for August Hartley after her past relationship failed miserably. That is, until a strange museum, known as Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault, appears overnight and people around her begin to go missing.
To uncover what hidden secrets the Glass Vault may behold, Perrie then embarks on a pursuit with August. They soon realize, not everything is as it seems. While stumbling through the museum’s obscure collection, Perrie and August must find their way out before discovering what may truly not be for the faint of heart.
Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault is the start of a thrilling duology full of magic, danger, and romance.
Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2022
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2687 people want to read
About the author
Candace Robinson
61 books1,111 followersI spend my days consumed by words and hoping to one day find my own DeLorean time machine. My life consists of avoiding migraines, admiring Bonsai trees, watching classic movies, and living with my husband and daughter in Texas—where it can be forty degrees one day and eighty the next!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
February 2, 2020
A deliciously dark YA horror debut!
I received an eARC of Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault from the author, Candace Robinson, in exchange for an honest review. Some of you might know Candace as a book blogger and a prolific Goodreads reviewer. I, for one, was really excited to see her debut novel is coming out and was thrilled to receive an early copy.
Those of you who have read the book might remember a certain sign above the glass museum. I think it sums up the book perfectly:
Yup. That’s all you need to know.
Okay, in case you still need to know more, here it is. We hear this story from Perrie, an ordinary girl with seemingly ordinary problems: school, going to college, first love and heartbreak, parental abandonment, etc, etc. Her introduction was great. Drawing a flower on the mirror, like she used to do with her mom, immediately humanizes her and makes her feel like a real person. She’s not without flaws – she can be melodramatic (the whole Neven business), she can be rude (meeting August for the first time), but it’s all realistic for her age, and she’s ultimately a good and a caring person. I like it that she’s not petty and she worries about Neven even after they had a fight. I would have liked a bit more character development from her – she didn’t seem to change much after all she went through – but I suppose she’s fine as she is.
Her cousin and best friend, Maisie, is by far my favorite character. Quirky, fun, relatable, caring about every cause big or small, brave, kindhearted, responsible. I have just one nitpick with her, but I’ll get to that later.
I like it how there are constantly little things adding to Perrie’s personality and making her multi-dimensional, such as, she likes to draw doodles but realizes she’ll never be as good as Maisie, just like she knows she’ll never be as good as August at playing cello, but she’s not jealous and just admires them.
The story itself is fabulous. If you’ve watched Westworld and/or Once Upon a Time, this book will likely remind you of them. We have ordinary contemporary people end up in an alternative reality, and we witness a marvelously disturbing mash-up of fairy-tales, legends, and classic literature. But if you think you’ll have some happy fun fairy-tales, you’re reading the wrong genre!
Yes, that’s what you are in for!
There are plenty of twists and turns in this novel, and while some are easy to predict, others completely blow you away. The flashbacks worked quite well too.
I like it how when Perrie is faced with extraordinary circumstances, she doesn’t become a hero out of nowhere. She’s a coward and often she hides quietly while others suffer, which may be frustrating, but in her case it really looks like the best thing to do. Objectively, there is nothing she could have done, apart from dying as well, so her choices made sense.
Now I’m going to nitpick a bit with these areas of improvement :
In terms of writing, at points there was too much telling instead of showing, which prevented me from completely getting into Perrie’s head. For example, when she encounters a bunch of trolls, we hear many statements along the lines of “I was really disturbed by the disturbing sounds,” and all I could think was, “Hm, good for you, Perrie, thanks for telling me this and all, but I am not disturbed. Perhaps if you’d describe those sounds, we could be disturbed together?” Compare this to how Perrie describes the sleeping trolls. Perrie never says “they are disgusting,” but instead describes every slimy, gruesome little detail. I was completely disgusted and needed brain bleach, and that’s great! That’s an example of showing and not telling done right. I just wish we could have seen more of it. Right now there were some parts where I thought I’m supposed to be scared, but wasn’t scared at all.
There was also quite a bit of telling instead of showing in the beginning when Perrie introduces all the characters. Speaking of, it’s really great the author wanted to make the book realistically diverse, but at points it felt a bit superficial. It was all, “This is Maisie. Her father is Middle Eastern. And this is Neven. His father is Chinese and his mother is Italian.” I felt there were more organic ways to present this, without making it sound like she’s reading the population census – describe the parents, mention a relative living abroad, mention some tradition, etc. Right now, combined with the fact that all characters were written as quite culturally homogeneous, it all felt a bit shallow. The descriptions somewhat worked because the story is in first person, but there were ways to make it less of an infodump.
I think some of the dialogue could have used more copyediting to avoid some chunkiness and redundancies, but I’ve read an early version of this book. Probably the final draft is more polished.
And here comes my final nitpick. It’s a small thing, but it has been driving me crazy for some reason. For those of you who haven’t read the book, Maisie has no physical disability but always wears an eyepatch in solidarity with people who only have one eye. It mostly worked really well, but Maisie driving with an eyepatch on really bugged me. It’s irresponsible – you can’t see as well with one eye, and your ability to estimate spaces and distances is compromised. In fact, with a single eye we can only see 2D. It looks like 3D because the brain fills up with blanks and creates a full picture based on what it assumes is there, but it might not all be real. People who have lost vision in one eye need to take extra driving courses and learn how to make more use of all the mirrors, and it takes a lot more time and effort. And we know for a fact that Maisie, in spite of practice, doesn’t see as well with one eye as she does with two. Once she ends up inside the display, she removes her eyepatch to have a better look. I could attribute her driving with the eyepatch on to her being irresponsible and not giving it much thought, but this is the same Maisie who always drives exactly at speed limit and never lets the car move before everyone has buckled up. It just felt out of character.
The rest of the review is mostly some random thoughts that contain major spoilers, so it’s only for people who have read the book.
Overall, this is a good read for you if you enjoy YA, urban fantasy and horror, and don’t mind darkness in your book.
I recently wrote a post about the #LetsReadIndie challenge. If you’re participating, that’s a great book to add to your list!
I received an eARC of Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault from the author, Candace Robinson, in exchange for an honest review. Some of you might know Candace as a book blogger and a prolific Goodreads reviewer. I, for one, was really excited to see her debut novel is coming out and was thrilled to receive an early copy.
Those of you who have read the book might remember a certain sign above the glass museum. I think it sums up the book perfectly:
Not for the Faint of Heart
Yup. That’s all you need to know.
Okay, in case you still need to know more, here it is. We hear this story from Perrie, an ordinary girl with seemingly ordinary problems: school, going to college, first love and heartbreak, parental abandonment, etc, etc. Her introduction was great. Drawing a flower on the mirror, like she used to do with her mom, immediately humanizes her and makes her feel like a real person. She’s not without flaws – she can be melodramatic (the whole Neven business), she can be rude (meeting August for the first time), but it’s all realistic for her age, and she’s ultimately a good and a caring person. I like it that she’s not petty and she worries about Neven even after they had a fight. I would have liked a bit more character development from her – she didn’t seem to change much after all she went through – but I suppose she’s fine as she is.
Her cousin and best friend, Maisie, is by far my favorite character. Quirky, fun, relatable, caring about every cause big or small, brave, kindhearted, responsible. I have just one nitpick with her, but I’ll get to that later.
I like it how there are constantly little things adding to Perrie’s personality and making her multi-dimensional, such as, she likes to draw doodles but realizes she’ll never be as good as Maisie, just like she knows she’ll never be as good as August at playing cello, but she’s not jealous and just admires them.
The story itself is fabulous. If you’ve watched Westworld and/or Once Upon a Time, this book will likely remind you of them. We have ordinary contemporary people end up in an alternative reality, and we witness a marvelously disturbing mash-up of fairy-tales, legends, and classic literature. But if you think you’ll have some happy fun fairy-tales, you’re reading the wrong genre!
Hansel and Gretel eating the witch that they cooked, Ariel cutting off her own fin to become human, Pinocchio sewing a suit of what appears to be skin to wear over his wooden body
Yes, that’s what you are in for!
There are plenty of twists and turns in this novel, and while some are easy to predict, others completely blow you away. The flashbacks worked quite well too.
I like it how when Perrie is faced with extraordinary circumstances, she doesn’t become a hero out of nowhere. She’s a coward and often she hides quietly while others suffer, which may be frustrating, but in her case it really looks like the best thing to do. Objectively, there is nothing she could have done, apart from dying as well, so her choices made sense.
Now I’m going to nitpick a bit with these areas of improvement :
In terms of writing, at points there was too much telling instead of showing, which prevented me from completely getting into Perrie’s head. For example, when she encounters a bunch of trolls, we hear many statements along the lines of “I was really disturbed by the disturbing sounds,” and all I could think was, “Hm, good for you, Perrie, thanks for telling me this and all, but I am not disturbed. Perhaps if you’d describe those sounds, we could be disturbed together?” Compare this to how Perrie describes the sleeping trolls. Perrie never says “they are disgusting,” but instead describes every slimy, gruesome little detail. I was completely disgusted and needed brain bleach, and that’s great! That’s an example of showing and not telling done right. I just wish we could have seen more of it. Right now there were some parts where I thought I’m supposed to be scared, but wasn’t scared at all.
There was also quite a bit of telling instead of showing in the beginning when Perrie introduces all the characters. Speaking of, it’s really great the author wanted to make the book realistically diverse, but at points it felt a bit superficial. It was all, “This is Maisie. Her father is Middle Eastern. And this is Neven. His father is Chinese and his mother is Italian.” I felt there were more organic ways to present this, without making it sound like she’s reading the population census – describe the parents, mention a relative living abroad, mention some tradition, etc. Right now, combined with the fact that all characters were written as quite culturally homogeneous, it all felt a bit shallow. The descriptions somewhat worked because the story is in first person, but there were ways to make it less of an infodump.
I think some of the dialogue could have used more copyediting to avoid some chunkiness and redundancies, but I’ve read an early version of this book. Probably the final draft is more polished.
And here comes my final nitpick. It’s a small thing, but it has been driving me crazy for some reason. For those of you who haven’t read the book, Maisie has no physical disability but always wears an eyepatch in solidarity with people who only have one eye. It mostly worked really well, but Maisie driving with an eyepatch on really bugged me. It’s irresponsible – you can’t see as well with one eye, and your ability to estimate spaces and distances is compromised. In fact, with a single eye we can only see 2D. It looks like 3D because the brain fills up with blanks and creates a full picture based on what it assumes is there, but it might not all be real. People who have lost vision in one eye need to take extra driving courses and learn how to make more use of all the mirrors, and it takes a lot more time and effort. And we know for a fact that Maisie, in spite of practice, doesn’t see as well with one eye as she does with two. Once she ends up inside the display, she removes her eyepatch to have a better look. I could attribute her driving with the eyepatch on to her being irresponsible and not giving it much thought, but this is the same Maisie who always drives exactly at speed limit and never lets the car move before everyone has buckled up. It just felt out of character.
The rest of the review is mostly some random thoughts that contain major spoilers, so it’s only for people who have read the book.
Overall, this is a good read for you if you enjoy YA, urban fantasy and horror, and don’t mind darkness in your book.
I recently wrote a post about the #LetsReadIndie challenge. If you’re participating, that’s a great book to add to your list!
August 15, 2018
this review has been edited for the latest addition after the author sent me a copy
Perrie Madeline's cousin and ex boyfriend are the latest people in their town to disappear. At the same time a mysterious building seems to have appeared, claiming to be a museum. Maisie, Perrie's cousin, had approached the person owning the museum for a job and disappeared the night of her first shift. Perrie and her friend August set out to look for Maisie but find themselves caught up in something they couldn't even have imagined.
I really like the unique concept of the story, especially since most of the YA books I read tend to have some version of the same three plot lines. Especially with the new release through a publishing house the books pacing is really good.
I do think that this book would be better for a younger audience though and that I would've enjoyed it much more when I was like 14-16. As I get older I really prefer when things aren't made as obvious or told to me up front. I would rather work things out over the course of the book on my own. But again it is aimed at a younger audience and I think the writing style is fitting for that.
I also liked Maisie to being with when reading the original version that was released but a lot of the things that rubbed me the wrong way about Perrie aren't there in the latest version. Also can I just say it's refreshing that there wasn't some kind of instant love between Perrie and August, and that instead it builds up through out over time.
3.5 stars from me mostly because I might be a little too old for this book and prefer more depth or ambiguity now when I read.
Perrie Madeline's cousin and ex boyfriend are the latest people in their town to disappear. At the same time a mysterious building seems to have appeared, claiming to be a museum. Maisie, Perrie's cousin, had approached the person owning the museum for a job and disappeared the night of her first shift. Perrie and her friend August set out to look for Maisie but find themselves caught up in something they couldn't even have imagined.
I really like the unique concept of the story, especially since most of the YA books I read tend to have some version of the same three plot lines. Especially with the new release through a publishing house the books pacing is really good.
I do think that this book would be better for a younger audience though and that I would've enjoyed it much more when I was like 14-16. As I get older I really prefer when things aren't made as obvious or told to me up front. I would rather work things out over the course of the book on my own. But again it is aimed at a younger audience and I think the writing style is fitting for that.
I also liked Maisie to being with when reading the original version that was released but a lot of the things that rubbed me the wrong way about Perrie aren't there in the latest version. Also can I just say it's refreshing that there wasn't some kind of instant love between Perrie and August, and that instead it builds up through out over time.
3.5 stars from me mostly because I might be a little too old for this book and prefer more depth or ambiguity now when I read.
June 30, 2017
To see my Q&A with author Candace Robinson and to see my full reviews for her current two books, please visit www.readrantrockandroll.com
I picked up Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault as soon as it was released after reading the blurb and viewing the cover. I love retellings and the idea of intermixed horror really pulled me in. I’m amazed at how perfectly matched this cover is after reading the story.
The story starts out with the main character Perrie and her cousin Maisie. They are really close and live next door to each other. Perrie is thinking about what she wants to do with her life while juggling the mystery that’s going on around town with people who are just disappearing without a trace. Everything is uncertain and one day while driving down Oak Street with Maisie and their friend August, something strange appears. A building they’ve never seen before. A building that is there one moment, and gone the next.
Nobody knows what’s going on with the mysterious building, but as more people start to disappear, Perrie and August begin to search for answers. As they enter the Vault world, they are unable to leave and have to discover a way out. This is where the story takes off and becomes an adventure like no other. A nightmare that you just want to get out of. There were some really grotesque parts in the story when the horror came in. I liked the addition of the horror paired with the fairy tales and romance because it really makes the book unique.
I personally liked the story and there were some surprises that I totally unexpected, including an interesting twist at the end. I love the way this author writes and this was a fast- paced read that kept me interested. I found only a few parts of the story a tad boring, but then it picks back up again and leaves you wanting answers. Anyone who enjoys retellings and horror will love this book.
I can’t wait for the second book in the series! 4****
I picked up Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault as soon as it was released after reading the blurb and viewing the cover. I love retellings and the idea of intermixed horror really pulled me in. I’m amazed at how perfectly matched this cover is after reading the story.
The story starts out with the main character Perrie and her cousin Maisie. They are really close and live next door to each other. Perrie is thinking about what she wants to do with her life while juggling the mystery that’s going on around town with people who are just disappearing without a trace. Everything is uncertain and one day while driving down Oak Street with Maisie and their friend August, something strange appears. A building they’ve never seen before. A building that is there one moment, and gone the next.
Nobody knows what’s going on with the mysterious building, but as more people start to disappear, Perrie and August begin to search for answers. As they enter the Vault world, they are unable to leave and have to discover a way out. This is where the story takes off and becomes an adventure like no other. A nightmare that you just want to get out of. There were some really grotesque parts in the story when the horror came in. I liked the addition of the horror paired with the fairy tales and romance because it really makes the book unique.
I personally liked the story and there were some surprises that I totally unexpected, including an interesting twist at the end. I love the way this author writes and this was a fast- paced read that kept me interested. I found only a few parts of the story a tad boring, but then it picks back up again and leaves you wanting answers. Anyone who enjoys retellings and horror will love this book.
I can’t wait for the second book in the series! 4****
July 24, 2020
After reading/reviewing a book co-written by Candace Robinson earlier this year, I immediately added another of her independently written books, Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault, to my summer reading queue. Mid-way through the book, I learned it's a series and book two will be coming out in about a week (8/17/18). One thing's for sure... Robinson is fantastic at writing YA/NA characters and story lines that appeal to a wide variety of reader types. I'm not normally a fantasy reader, but this is a prime example of why I could love the genre. From wicked twists on fairy tales to utterly shocking characters, I'm all in for the series!
The debut in this series starts off rather quiet. A few people are missing, but no one's super worried. Best friends Maisie and Perrie are in their own world about to graduate from high school. Perrie's angry with her former boyfriend for doing something and she's now making googly eyes at a new boy named August. Suddenly, people they know begin to disappear, including some from their own small group. At the same time, a mysterious museum pops up, but it's made of stone and couldn't just appear out of no where, could it? When Perrie finally gets into the building, everything changes. Imagine large snow globe-like glass objects with cute little scenes... imagine being inside them and meeting people you thought were only fictional characters! So... that's all I will say as even that might be considered a bit of a spoiler, but in my opinion, that's the exact reason why someone will pick up the book.
Effortless reading. It's not quite a suspenseful thriller as much as it is an immersive must-read to understand what's happening type of book. The rules aren't clear yet, but we know from the prologue, there's evil lurking somewhere inside someone -- we just don't know who it is. You'll be drawn in from the beginning. You'll care more about the story and the plot than the characters, as to me, this is all about how's it gonna turn out? A fairy tale ending or complete and crazy destruction? Robinson's writing style is strong and I wholeheartedly recommend diving into this book. I've already secured a copy of the second book and I will be reading it next month. Care to join?
The debut in this series starts off rather quiet. A few people are missing, but no one's super worried. Best friends Maisie and Perrie are in their own world about to graduate from high school. Perrie's angry with her former boyfriend for doing something and she's now making googly eyes at a new boy named August. Suddenly, people they know begin to disappear, including some from their own small group. At the same time, a mysterious museum pops up, but it's made of stone and couldn't just appear out of no where, could it? When Perrie finally gets into the building, everything changes. Imagine large snow globe-like glass objects with cute little scenes... imagine being inside them and meeting people you thought were only fictional characters! So... that's all I will say as even that might be considered a bit of a spoiler, but in my opinion, that's the exact reason why someone will pick up the book.
Effortless reading. It's not quite a suspenseful thriller as much as it is an immersive must-read to understand what's happening type of book. The rules aren't clear yet, but we know from the prologue, there's evil lurking somewhere inside someone -- we just don't know who it is. You'll be drawn in from the beginning. You'll care more about the story and the plot than the characters, as to me, this is all about how's it gonna turn out? A fairy tale ending or complete and crazy destruction? Robinson's writing style is strong and I wholeheartedly recommend diving into this book. I've already secured a copy of the second book and I will be reading it next month. Care to join?
June 8, 2017
If anyone has kindle unlimited, you can read this book =) As of this review, not sure how long it will be on KU.
I loved the very beginning of the book. I fell right in love with Perrie, Maisie and August as well. I thought they were awesome characters and I want Maisies as a friend. Lol
Then . . . they are traveling down the road and see this random old museum off in the woods. It seems to be a museum that comes and goes. It's called, Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault.
I'm not going to tell you what all happens after that or what happens when you enter the museum. I will say that it's a crazy train ride and just when you think it's over . . . it's not!
I look forward to what book two has in store because, Questions People!
I loved the very beginning of the book. I fell right in love with Perrie, Maisie and August as well. I thought they were awesome characters and I want Maisies as a friend. Lol
Then . . . they are traveling down the road and see this random old museum off in the woods. It seems to be a museum that comes and goes. It's called, Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault.
I'm not going to tell you what all happens after that or what happens when you enter the museum. I will say that it's a crazy train ride and just when you think it's over . . . it's not!
I look forward to what book two has in store because, Questions People!
May 10, 2017
See this review, and more of my discussions around the reading community on www.bookbastion.net
__________________________
I've been a fan of horror for almost as long as I've been a fan of fantasy. I remember many instances as a kid where I gave myself nightmares after sneaking away to watch the Sci-fi channel showings of classic horror movies like A Nightmare On Elm Street and >The Exorcist. But for some reason, I was just as hooked by those stories as I was about knights in shining armor. I think it's the way both genres engage the imagination that I find the most compelling.
This story was definitely full of that imagination that calls me to horror. The premise felt a bit like an update to the 80's horror film classic, Waxwork. with the sinister museum setting that really allowed for Robinson to stretch her creative wings and fly free.
This is a fast-paced story, for the most part, although I will say that I found the first 30% of the story a bit disjointed in terms of tonal quality when placed against the rest of the story. Robinson does a great job of introducing Perrie and her friends and making the reader like them, but it felt lacking in the same sinister and dark tone that permeated the remainder of the story.
In some ways, I wish this had been a bit longer so Robinson could have explored a bit more within the setting, which was always mysterious and compelling enough to keep me reading.
Similarly, the fast pace at times felt like it became too reliant on telling the reader about things that were happening, rather than showing. Because of this, certain scenes felt a bit underwritten for the Upper Young Adult readers that it's recommended for. Robinson often chooses to have characters focus on humor to get them through some of the horrific events that are occurring around them, which I think distracted a bit from the precarious and dangerous atmosphere that was being generated otherwise.
All in all, this was a really fun and creative read! I was doubly impressed with the fact that Robinson actually managed to surprise me a few times too with some events that I didn't see coming.
I think with some fine-tuning and dedicated focus on really diving into and expanding her prose, future offerings from Robinson will definitely be ones to watch out for. I know she's on my to-watch list!
★★★✩✩ = 3/5 stars!
Thank you to Candace Robinson, the author of this book, for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
__________________________
I've been a fan of horror for almost as long as I've been a fan of fantasy. I remember many instances as a kid where I gave myself nightmares after sneaking away to watch the Sci-fi channel showings of classic horror movies like A Nightmare On Elm Street and >The Exorcist. But for some reason, I was just as hooked by those stories as I was about knights in shining armor. I think it's the way both genres engage the imagination that I find the most compelling.
This story was definitely full of that imagination that calls me to horror. The premise felt a bit like an update to the 80's horror film classic, Waxwork. with the sinister museum setting that really allowed for Robinson to stretch her creative wings and fly free.
This is a fast-paced story, for the most part, although I will say that I found the first 30% of the story a bit disjointed in terms of tonal quality when placed against the rest of the story. Robinson does a great job of introducing Perrie and her friends and making the reader like them, but it felt lacking in the same sinister and dark tone that permeated the remainder of the story.
In some ways, I wish this had been a bit longer so Robinson could have explored a bit more within the setting, which was always mysterious and compelling enough to keep me reading.
Similarly, the fast pace at times felt like it became too reliant on telling the reader about things that were happening, rather than showing. Because of this, certain scenes felt a bit underwritten for the Upper Young Adult readers that it's recommended for. Robinson often chooses to have characters focus on humor to get them through some of the horrific events that are occurring around them, which I think distracted a bit from the precarious and dangerous atmosphere that was being generated otherwise.
All in all, this was a really fun and creative read! I was doubly impressed with the fact that Robinson actually managed to surprise me a few times too with some events that I didn't see coming.
I think with some fine-tuning and dedicated focus on really diving into and expanding her prose, future offerings from Robinson will definitely be ones to watch out for. I know she's on my to-watch list!
★★★✩✩ = 3/5 stars!
Thank you to Candace Robinson, the author of this book, for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 17, 2017
Actual rating 3.75 stars.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Candace Robinson, and the publisher, CreateSpace, for this opportunity.
This book begun in an entirely predictable fashion and, for the first quarter, I felt there was nothing inspired or unique about the plot. But, my gosh, did all that change!
Perrie Madeline's home town is plagued with mysterious disappearances. After both her best friend and ex-boyfriend join the names of the missing, she vows to discover what secrets her town is hiding. During their search Perrie, along with new boy in town August, discover the museum of a mad creator and get sucked into a world of magic and mayhem when the doors close behind them. But will this adventure lead them any closer to discovering where the missing have gone? Or will they just becomes names added to the list of the lost and forgotten?
This novel was one bizarre and peculiar adventure I did not see coming! The first quarter is set up to deceive the reader into believing this book to be something predictable but it soon becomes evident that it is far from true! From Jack the Ripper to the Legend of Sleepy Hollow to Snow White and the huntsman: this book encroaches on a plethora of famed fairy tales and legends and weaves them seamlessly into this horrific mystery, that sees both the reader and the characters sucked down the rabbit hole and into Wonderland.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Candace Robinson, and the publisher, CreateSpace, for this opportunity.
This book begun in an entirely predictable fashion and, for the first quarter, I felt there was nothing inspired or unique about the plot. But, my gosh, did all that change!
Perrie Madeline's home town is plagued with mysterious disappearances. After both her best friend and ex-boyfriend join the names of the missing, she vows to discover what secrets her town is hiding. During their search Perrie, along with new boy in town August, discover the museum of a mad creator and get sucked into a world of magic and mayhem when the doors close behind them. But will this adventure lead them any closer to discovering where the missing have gone? Or will they just becomes names added to the list of the lost and forgotten?
This novel was one bizarre and peculiar adventure I did not see coming! The first quarter is set up to deceive the reader into believing this book to be something predictable but it soon becomes evident that it is far from true! From Jack the Ripper to the Legend of Sleepy Hollow to Snow White and the huntsman: this book encroaches on a plethora of famed fairy tales and legends and weaves them seamlessly into this horrific mystery, that sees both the reader and the characters sucked down the rabbit hole and into Wonderland.
June 19, 2018
Review for updated, Shiny Gem version!
Do you ever re-read a book? I do. This time out, Candace Robinson’s QUINSEY WOLFE’S GLASS VAULT has had a makeover, and it shines like a diamond! There is still something dark going on in Perrie’s town and it can be downright terrifying, especially knowing that not everyone can see the new establishment in town.
Written for a young adult audience, this new, shiny gem screams READ ME, no matter how old you are! A fabulous dark mystery, true evil and Perrie, filled with her own brand of attitude and snark, is determined to discover what is going on and is just the girl to put a stop to it!
Candace Robinson listened to what people said, she went back to the drawing board and she has created a reading masterpiece of entertainment to get lost in, reality left far behind…Yes, this gem now has “meat” enough to sink your reader’s teeth in!
Old Review:
There is something strange going on in Deer Park and it all started with the unusual museum that seems to disappear at the most inconvenient times. Author Candace Robinson has conjured up a tale of magic, mystery and horror that even blends fact and fairy tale! QUINSEY WOLFE’S GLASS VAULT will peck at your imagination and challenge you to keep up as Perrie and August enter the museum to find their missing friends, only to discover there is more to each horrific display than meets the eye, as well as more to the mysterious owner than Perrie could ever imagine.
Looking for a very dark, very busy read with more twists than a Twizzler? Candace Robinson has it right here. The concept is fabulous, dark and at times truly evil. There will be moments of sadness and moments of relief as Perrie goes in search of her best friend only to find that sometimes, one can never escape their fate.
This definitely felt like a young adult read,sometimes I thought that it would be perfect for middlegrade/younger YA readers, except for the liberal use of profanity. Perrie came across as a one tough cookie on a mission, although she also felt very young to me. I could see this tale being expanded into more than one book and I wanted more meat, but for a younger reader, it was great, again without the profanity. (And I am not a prude, I can *#@ with the best of 'em)
I applaud Candace Robinson’s talent to take on more than one genre, to give me the creeps and to make me recognize the scenes she has created or re-created.It just didn’t feel like an upper YA read to me and I think there is a huge younger audience out there that would fall all over this one!
I received this copy from Candace Robinson in exchange for my honest and voluntary review!
Publication Date: May 16, 2017 * New Re-release: June 26, 2018
Publisher: Candace Robinson * New Publisher: The Parliament House
Genre: YA | Horror
Available from: https://www.amazon.com/Quinsey-Wolfes...
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Do you ever re-read a book? I do. This time out, Candace Robinson’s QUINSEY WOLFE’S GLASS VAULT has had a makeover, and it shines like a diamond! There is still something dark going on in Perrie’s town and it can be downright terrifying, especially knowing that not everyone can see the new establishment in town.
Written for a young adult audience, this new, shiny gem screams READ ME, no matter how old you are! A fabulous dark mystery, true evil and Perrie, filled with her own brand of attitude and snark, is determined to discover what is going on and is just the girl to put a stop to it!
Candace Robinson listened to what people said, she went back to the drawing board and she has created a reading masterpiece of entertainment to get lost in, reality left far behind…Yes, this gem now has “meat” enough to sink your reader’s teeth in!
Old Review:
There is something strange going on in Deer Park and it all started with the unusual museum that seems to disappear at the most inconvenient times. Author Candace Robinson has conjured up a tale of magic, mystery and horror that even blends fact and fairy tale! QUINSEY WOLFE’S GLASS VAULT will peck at your imagination and challenge you to keep up as Perrie and August enter the museum to find their missing friends, only to discover there is more to each horrific display than meets the eye, as well as more to the mysterious owner than Perrie could ever imagine.
Looking for a very dark, very busy read with more twists than a Twizzler? Candace Robinson has it right here. The concept is fabulous, dark and at times truly evil. There will be moments of sadness and moments of relief as Perrie goes in search of her best friend only to find that sometimes, one can never escape their fate.
This definitely felt like a young adult read,
I applaud Candace Robinson’s talent to take on more than one genre, to give me the creeps and to make me recognize the scenes she has created or re-created.
I received this copy from Candace Robinson in exchange for my honest and voluntary review!
Publication Date: May 16, 2017 * New Re-release: June 26, 2018
Publisher: Candace Robinson * New Publisher: The Parliament House
Genre: YA | Horror
Available from: https://www.amazon.com/Quinsey-Wolfes...
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
July 19, 2017
Oh, dear! I'm in love with a YA book yet again.
It's always a pleasure to find a gem among all the unnecessary angst out there, in the genre.
Some see it... Some don't...
People in the town of Deer Park, Texas are vanishing. There is a strange museum, known as Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault, that appears overnight. Perrie Madeline's best friend and ex-boyfriend are among the missing. Perrie, along with her friend August, go on a pursuit to search for them in the mysterious museum. Could the elusive Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault have anything to do with their disappearances?
A book that intertwines horror elements and retellings, with humor and darkness.
One of the best things about this book is that Perrie is not a virgin. Yes, she dared have sex!
Mind you, this is not erotica. It's safe to be read by a teenager. Just that you don't get the naive virgin who's silly and wanders all day if the guy likes her or not. She even dares leave her first lover, and I like that in Perrie. A relationship gone bad is not the end of the world, and we all can start all over again (and again, if necessary).
Perrie is also a kick-arse lady without being the typical hero. She gets scared, and takes it from there. Also, the moment she gets face to face with Vale is utter perfection. I didn't see that coming. Kudos to Candace Robinson for that.
That said, is the next book out yet?
P.S. Telling you the real reason why I love this book would be a huge spoiler!
*I thank Candace Robinson, the publisher, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2017
Perrie Madeline has had her best friend and cousin, Maisie and their friend August by her side ever since her terrible break up with her ex boyfriend Neven. When out together they come across a new museum that seems to have come out of nowhere and when spotting a now hiring sign Maisie decides to apply and soon finds she's gotten the job.
In the meantime Neven just can't seem to take no for an answer when it comes to their break up and when he shows up to talk yet again they get into another argument. However when Perrie gets a call from Neven's mother the next morning that he never came home she immediately thinks of all the news stories around their town of Deer Park, Texas and fears the worse may have happened.
After Neven's disappearance Perrie is really worried about the missing people around town so when Maisie needs to report to her new job she warns her to be careful. The next morning however Maisie is found to not have come home that night and is now among the missing too. Perrie and August wonder if the new museum has something to do with the disappearances and decide to investigate on their own.
Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault is a young adult story that mixes fantasy and horror along with a mix of retellings involved in the story which was certainly interesting. I found myself immediately engaged as the story started and introduced the characters and immediately loved the quirky Maisie but enjoyed all of the characters involved.
As much as I was enjoying the story all throughout I was wondering if this would end up a five star read or not as I still had a few questions towards the end but was more than pleasantly surprised when those were answered. The ending in here also was just one of those wow moments that I would have loved to continue reading even though it had come to an end. Would definitely recommend checking this one out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
In the meantime Neven just can't seem to take no for an answer when it comes to their break up and when he shows up to talk yet again they get into another argument. However when Perrie gets a call from Neven's mother the next morning that he never came home she immediately thinks of all the news stories around their town of Deer Park, Texas and fears the worse may have happened.
After Neven's disappearance Perrie is really worried about the missing people around town so when Maisie needs to report to her new job she warns her to be careful. The next morning however Maisie is found to not have come home that night and is now among the missing too. Perrie and August wonder if the new museum has something to do with the disappearances and decide to investigate on their own.
Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault is a young adult story that mixes fantasy and horror along with a mix of retellings involved in the story which was certainly interesting. I found myself immediately engaged as the story started and introduced the characters and immediately loved the quirky Maisie but enjoyed all of the characters involved.
As much as I was enjoying the story all throughout I was wondering if this would end up a five star read or not as I still had a few questions towards the end but was more than pleasantly surprised when those were answered. The ending in here also was just one of those wow moments that I would have loved to continue reading even though it had come to an end. Would definitely recommend checking this one out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
September 20, 2017
Release date 05/16/2017 in eBook format, but is available for purchase in paperback format on Amazon and
Barnes&Noble now!
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This book was sensational!
To be honest, I was leery towards this book due to the fact it was labeled as a horror story. But after seeing that it was also young adult, (as well as seeing the cover,) I figured it probably wasn't at the level of today's typical horror books and films. Of those, I am not a fan at all. So, saying that this book was sensational, and coming from a person who normally has nothing to do with anything "horror," is a big deal. And, that means it may appeal to those of you who join me in their lack of intrigue through horror.
The first thing I loved about this book was its length. It didn't have excess, and it didn't lack in detail. It is the perfect concoction of setting, world building, character development, and submersion, without all of the unnecessary "filler" pages in between.
Instantly, we meet the characters to whom we follow through the tale. It is told from the perspective of Perrie, a high school girl, who is in the mess of experiencing the typical high school things. Her close friendship with Maisie is obvious and natural. This, too, is a feat of its own.
This brings me to the second thing that I loved. To create characters that share uninhibited dialogue that flows and feels real, is hard. This is one of those areas that I naturally scrutinize because it is easy to force characters into the plot-line, rather than allow them to lead the author and read through their story. This story felt nostalgic in a sense, as I found myself thinking back to my high school days and comparing my background to the experiences of these characters.
We are also introduced to Perrie's past love interest, Neven, along with his friend, August. Between the four of these characters, a plot unfolds, involving them in situations that they do not expect.
The third thing I loved about Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault was its sheer originality, and ability to neutralize common cliches riddling the young adult genre. Weaving the life of a teenager, into fairy tale retellings, along with some horror, really made this tale shine (for me, at least.) Perrie is not a common girl who becomes a heroine in a ridiculously short time frame. She's not overly amazing, either. I cannot divulge much in detail in order to keep this a review spoiler-free. I would, however, like to make a recommendation:
If you are a person who likes to skip Prologues and Epilogues, do not skip them in this book!
The last main point that I loved about this book were the plot twists! I dare you to guess what happens!
Now, this is categorized as "upper young adult," as stated in the synopsis, and I would like to reinforce that here. There are scenes of gore, coition, and some profanity, and I would not deem it appropriate for all young adult readers.
There may be some minor issues here and there. Honestly, there were none that were noteworthy to me. Overall, this book's level of entertainment was 100%
4 stars.
A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!
This review can also be viewed on my blog: She's Going Book Crazy
Barnes&Noble now!
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
"You die here, you stay here."
This book was sensational!
To be honest, I was leery towards this book due to the fact it was labeled as a horror story. But after seeing that it was also young adult, (as well as seeing the cover,) I figured it probably wasn't at the level of today's typical horror books and films. Of those, I am not a fan at all. So, saying that this book was sensational, and coming from a person who normally has nothing to do with anything "horror," is a big deal. And, that means it may appeal to those of you who join me in their lack of intrigue through horror.
The first thing I loved about this book was its length. It didn't have excess, and it didn't lack in detail. It is the perfect concoction of setting, world building, character development, and submersion, without all of the unnecessary "filler" pages in between.
Instantly, we meet the characters to whom we follow through the tale. It is told from the perspective of Perrie, a high school girl, who is in the mess of experiencing the typical high school things. Her close friendship with Maisie is obvious and natural. This, too, is a feat of its own.
This brings me to the second thing that I loved. To create characters that share uninhibited dialogue that flows and feels real, is hard. This is one of those areas that I naturally scrutinize because it is easy to force characters into the plot-line, rather than allow them to lead the author and read through their story. This story felt nostalgic in a sense, as I found myself thinking back to my high school days and comparing my background to the experiences of these characters.
We are also introduced to Perrie's past love interest, Neven, along with his friend, August. Between the four of these characters, a plot unfolds, involving them in situations that they do not expect.
The third thing I loved about Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault was its sheer originality, and ability to neutralize common cliches riddling the young adult genre. Weaving the life of a teenager, into fairy tale retellings, along with some horror, really made this tale shine (for me, at least.) Perrie is not a common girl who becomes a heroine in a ridiculously short time frame. She's not overly amazing, either. I cannot divulge much in detail in order to keep this a review spoiler-free. I would, however, like to make a recommendation:
If you are a person who likes to skip Prologues and Epilogues, do not skip them in this book!
The last main point that I loved about this book were the plot twists! I dare you to guess what happens!
Now, this is categorized as "upper young adult," as stated in the synopsis, and I would like to reinforce that here. There are scenes of gore, coition, and some profanity, and I would not deem it appropriate for all young adult readers.
There may be some minor issues here and there. Honestly, there were none that were noteworthy to me. Overall, this book's level of entertainment was 100%
4 stars.
A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!
This review can also be viewed on my blog: She's Going Book Crazy
June 24, 2017
QUNISEY WOLFE'S GLASS VAULT by Candace Robinson is a fun fantasy roller-coaster ride where the pages fly by and the imagination soars as genres blend and big twists knock you sideways. The idea of the book itself is pure gold and executed very well and mysteriously, and as that mystery unravels at a quick pace the book becomes very exciting and impossible to stop reading, and sets the reader up for one heck of a twist that even I didn't see coming and was very happy to get smacked in the face by. Candace Robinson shows a lot of talent and potential as a storyteller and QWGV manages to be nostalgic and creative at the same time and is perfect for those who like when dark fairytale retellings and small town mysteries collide. I really love the cover, too! :D
June 29, 2018
*** Note: Many thanks to author for providing review copy of this, in exchange for an honest review. ***
Updated/NEW Review:
First edition I read was exactly a year before. It was bit difficult rewrite the review so this is mix of old and new review.
As it is re-read and it’s been a long time I can’t pinpoint what changes were made with this book but I can surely say reading was faster and smoother this time. There was some changes with Perrie and writing was much better. I guess the major change was in first few chapters. Some things I didn’t remember in detail that I enjoyed rereading. It was not as shocking for me when twists came as I knew the story but even though I enjoyed reading this book again.
Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault was a dark YA fantasy, mix of horror and retelling, about Perrie and her friends who get involved in mysterious disappearance of teens in the town of Deer Park. The book was about friendship, betrayal, trust and love.
I loved the all characters and the way author presented them.
Protagonist- Perrie was great friend and sister. She cared about her friends most specially Maisie. She was not as strong as Maisie but definitely was courageous. My heart went to her when she told about her mother and her messed up relation with Neven. But I liked that even after all that happened between them she never stopped caring for him and kept looking for him when he went missing. Her character was realistic.
Maisie is my all-time favorite character- She was crafty, loyal, smart, selfless, big-hearted and amusing character but was reckless and thoughtless that caused big problem in the book. I loved her patches, they were so creative.
I liked the way August helped Perrie in finding Maisie and Neven. He was so believable. The Antagonist was creepy and dark tricks were scary.
From the concept to the characters everything was very unique and interesting. The book was first person narrated by protagonist, Perrie. I liked her tone that captures the attention of Young adult readers.
The world building was most remarkable and creative. Museum and displays were depicted vividly, it had creepy feel of its own. I liked the way author turned famous happily ever after fairy tales into dark and twisted world where characters of those tales weren’t anything like original, some were twisted and some had better survival instinct. Most twisted and gruesome display was Snow White and Huntsman. It was most creative of all.
The twist and turns were cleverly written. I couldn’t guess where the story was going and how Perrie will figure out about her friends or in which display she will end up and how she will come out of displays. Theory characters put together during their journey through displays was brilliant. It made the book even more exciting and intriguing. I kept wondering who the hell Quisey is and when he will turn up.
The end was shocking, scary, and highly unpredictable. It ended with cliffhanger.
Overall, It’s fast paced, will keep you on the edge, something different to read. All in all I loved this newer edition more than first one.
OLD REVIEW:
First of all the prologue of the book was really creepy. I like the start of the book. Characters are most important part of the book and another important part was glass museum.
Characters – They were okay at their place. They were fine as author has portrayed. I am not too attached and not too detached with them. Character I loved the most was Maisie. She was smart and unusual character. I really liked her eye patches and I was amazed for her creativeness. Antagonist was a surprise package- Dark and horrible and uniquely created.
What I liked? Museum was wonderfully written. That display line for the museum -“Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault – a glass museum and not for the faint of heart”- that was really nice and exactly goes for the book. The displays in the museum and description of them in the book was creepy and cool.
I liked how story was progressing, turning all fantasy into dark and twisted world. From the concept of book to the characters everything was very unique and interesting. The book kept me on the edge and I was constantly thinking what is going to happen next.
The twist and the end! Brilliant! I didn’t see it coming. If I can give all stars I will give it to this part. If author has not win my heart during the book, she won it for this part by writing this amazing twist and cliffhanger.
I really want to read next book of the series, and want to see what’s going to happen next. I definitely recommend this book to YAs and dark fantasy readers.
Why 4 stars? Only thing I didn’t like was, combining past and present life of character in first 20% of the book. It was good and helped to know character more. But I feel, past life was coming so sudden while reading the present life. If that past part was in ‘italic’ then it could be easy to go with the flow, for me.
Overall, It’s fast paced book, will keep you on the edge, something different to read. I like it. YA lovers would love to read it.
Updated/NEW Review:
First edition I read was exactly a year before. It was bit difficult rewrite the review so this is mix of old and new review.
As it is re-read and it’s been a long time I can’t pinpoint what changes were made with this book but I can surely say reading was faster and smoother this time. There was some changes with Perrie and writing was much better. I guess the major change was in first few chapters. Some things I didn’t remember in detail that I enjoyed rereading. It was not as shocking for me when twists came as I knew the story but even though I enjoyed reading this book again.
Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault was a dark YA fantasy, mix of horror and retelling, about Perrie and her friends who get involved in mysterious disappearance of teens in the town of Deer Park. The book was about friendship, betrayal, trust and love.
I loved the all characters and the way author presented them.
Protagonist- Perrie was great friend and sister. She cared about her friends most specially Maisie. She was not as strong as Maisie but definitely was courageous. My heart went to her when she told about her mother and her messed up relation with Neven. But I liked that even after all that happened between them she never stopped caring for him and kept looking for him when he went missing. Her character was realistic.
Maisie is my all-time favorite character- She was crafty, loyal, smart, selfless, big-hearted and amusing character but was reckless and thoughtless that caused big problem in the book. I loved her patches, they were so creative.
I liked the way August helped Perrie in finding Maisie and Neven. He was so believable. The Antagonist was creepy and dark tricks were scary.
From the concept to the characters everything was very unique and interesting. The book was first person narrated by protagonist, Perrie. I liked her tone that captures the attention of Young adult readers.
The world building was most remarkable and creative. Museum and displays were depicted vividly, it had creepy feel of its own. I liked the way author turned famous happily ever after fairy tales into dark and twisted world where characters of those tales weren’t anything like original, some were twisted and some had better survival instinct. Most twisted and gruesome display was Snow White and Huntsman. It was most creative of all.
The twist and turns were cleverly written. I couldn’t guess where the story was going and how Perrie will figure out about her friends or in which display she will end up and how she will come out of displays. Theory characters put together during their journey through displays was brilliant. It made the book even more exciting and intriguing. I kept wondering who the hell Quisey is and when he will turn up.
The end was shocking, scary, and highly unpredictable. It ended with cliffhanger.
Overall, It’s fast paced, will keep you on the edge, something different to read. All in all I loved this newer edition more than first one.
OLD REVIEW:
First of all the prologue of the book was really creepy. I like the start of the book. Characters are most important part of the book and another important part was glass museum.
Characters – They were okay at their place. They were fine as author has portrayed. I am not too attached and not too detached with them. Character I loved the most was Maisie. She was smart and unusual character. I really liked her eye patches and I was amazed for her creativeness. Antagonist was a surprise package- Dark and horrible and uniquely created.
What I liked? Museum was wonderfully written. That display line for the museum -“Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault – a glass museum and not for the faint of heart”- that was really nice and exactly goes for the book. The displays in the museum and description of them in the book was creepy and cool.
I liked how story was progressing, turning all fantasy into dark and twisted world. From the concept of book to the characters everything was very unique and interesting. The book kept me on the edge and I was constantly thinking what is going to happen next.
The twist and the end! Brilliant! I didn’t see it coming. If I can give all stars I will give it to this part. If author has not win my heart during the book, she won it for this part by writing this amazing twist and cliffhanger.
I really want to read next book of the series, and want to see what’s going to happen next. I definitely recommend this book to YAs and dark fantasy readers.
Why 4 stars? Only thing I didn’t like was, combining past and present life of character in first 20% of the book. It was good and helped to know character more. But I feel, past life was coming so sudden while reading the present life. If that past part was in ‘italic’ then it could be easy to go with the flow, for me.
Overall, It’s fast paced book, will keep you on the edge, something different to read. I like it. YA lovers would love to read it.
February 14, 2023
"You die here, you stay here."
This book was such a wonderful surprise! It has a unique twist on fairytales, dark ones.
It is a bit creepy, dark, suspenseful, adventurous and of course romance. There are portals in in this story, but not time travel. They are stuck in Quincey Wolfe's Glass Vault, which is a Glass museum of fairytales. Not your average fairytales, but twisted fairytales. Anyway, they become stuck in the displays and these portals suck them from one display to the next.
The characters are very well written and you really grow to care about them. As they travel through the museum, from one display to the next (Sleepy Hollow, Jack the Ripper, etc), they hope the next portal will lead them home. Each display is well written and easy to picture and you can imagine you are there, which makes it all very intense and exciting!! The plot flows well, keeping you interested and turning those pages.
This book was such a wonderful surprise! It has a unique twist on fairytales, dark ones.
It is a bit creepy, dark, suspenseful, adventurous and of course romance. There are portals in in this story, but not time travel. They are stuck in Quincey Wolfe's Glass Vault, which is a Glass museum of fairytales. Not your average fairytales, but twisted fairytales. Anyway, they become stuck in the displays and these portals suck them from one display to the next.
The characters are very well written and you really grow to care about them. As they travel through the museum, from one display to the next (Sleepy Hollow, Jack the Ripper, etc), they hope the next portal will lead them home. Each display is well written and easy to picture and you can imagine you are there, which makes it all very intense and exciting!! The plot flows well, keeping you interested and turning those pages.
August 9, 2018
Actual rating 3.5 stars
ARC re-edit courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
So after receiving a nice email from author Candace Robinson about my original review for Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault I was incredibly surprised that she had even read the review, let alone cared about what I had to say. I was insanely impressed that she then offered an ARC of the re-edited version of her novel, ensuring me that she did not expect anything and that if my review stayed the same that was totally fine.
While my original review wasn't all that favorable, I am an avid believer that every book deserves a second or even a third chance, and that how you feel about a story can be vastly influenced by who you are as a person at the time of reading, as well as your life circumstances and general outlook. Even location of reading can make a huge difference; I find I rate books higher when I read them on vacation, especially if I'm in a beautiful locale.
The long story short is that this time I read QWGV, I was in a much better place emotionally, and once I learned to chill out and not be such a snobby bitch, I really enjoyed the story for the journey it took me on. While I like Perrie, Maisie is definitely my favourite. I would 100% buy her eye patches if she had an Etsy lol.
The new edit cleaned a lot of areas up, though there are still quite a few punctuation redundancies, but they didn't take anything away from the story. One thing that hasn't changed from my original review is that I still feel the writing style is best suited to middle-grade readers, but that the content would have to be "PGed" up a little for that. This is, again, absolutely not a bad thing. In fact, I think QWGV would do massively well commercially if marketed for a middle-grade audience. There's definitely a Coraline-esque vibe that I really dig.
Thank you again to Candance Robinson for caring what I think haha and for writing a fun and creepy story that I think everyone will have a good time reading.
ARC re-edit courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
So after receiving a nice email from author Candace Robinson about my original review for Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault I was incredibly surprised that she had even read the review, let alone cared about what I had to say. I was insanely impressed that she then offered an ARC of the re-edited version of her novel, ensuring me that she did not expect anything and that if my review stayed the same that was totally fine.
While my original review wasn't all that favorable, I am an avid believer that every book deserves a second or even a third chance, and that how you feel about a story can be vastly influenced by who you are as a person at the time of reading, as well as your life circumstances and general outlook. Even location of reading can make a huge difference; I find I rate books higher when I read them on vacation, especially if I'm in a beautiful locale.
The long story short is that this time I read QWGV, I was in a much better place emotionally, and once I learned to chill out and not be such a snobby bitch, I really enjoyed the story for the journey it took me on. While I like Perrie, Maisie is definitely my favourite. I would 100% buy her eye patches if she had an Etsy lol.
The new edit cleaned a lot of areas up, though there are still quite a few punctuation redundancies, but they didn't take anything away from the story. One thing that hasn't changed from my original review is that I still feel the writing style is best suited to middle-grade readers, but that the content would have to be "PGed" up a little for that. This is, again, absolutely not a bad thing. In fact, I think QWGV would do massively well commercially if marketed for a middle-grade audience. There's definitely a Coraline-esque vibe that I really dig.
Thank you again to Candance Robinson for caring what I think haha and for writing a fun and creepy story that I think everyone will have a good time reading.
dnf
June 13, 2017DNF @ 36%
Received from netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This has nothing to do with the book but with me. The writing, premise, and characters are really good but I feel like this is not my cup tea since I'm not really a horror girl and I'm dragging my feet with it. Also I read in the book of the book so I know what the " twist" is. So it's best for me to put it down before I force myself to finish it and give it a bad review.
Shout out to the Author Candace Robinson who I'm proud of getting published!!
Received from netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This has nothing to do with the book but with me. The writing, premise, and characters are really good but I feel like this is not my cup tea since I'm not really a horror girl and I'm dragging my feet with it. Also I read in the book of the book so I know what the " twist" is. So it's best for me to put it down before I force myself to finish it and give it a bad review.
Shout out to the Author Candace Robinson who I'm proud of getting published!!
October 8, 2020
Dark retellings, romance, and magic! I may be biased but I had so much fun writing this book!
April 23, 2017
*I RECEIVED A FREE ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*
WOW!!!
So the wonderful Candace from Literary Dust has finally released her first book!!!
The synopsis pretty much says everything. Perrie is still recovering from a break up and is trying to figure out if she has feelings for August, one of her friends. But one day the see a weird mansion on the road which they're pretty sure has never been there. As the people closest to Perrie start to disappear, it isn't long before her investigation leads her and August to Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault. And before she knows it, she and August are thrust into a dark world filled with terror and they uncover a plot far more sinister than they ever could have imagined.
Mystery meets horror meets twisted fairy tales meets tragedy!!! This book was so unusual and yet so unique!!!!
I instantly connected with Perrie from the moment her cousin, Maisie, tapped her on the shoulder and she almost jumped out of her skin. I'm also pretty jumpy like if you just pat my shoulder and i don't see you, i will literally scream. And the weird thing is Horror movies don't scare me at all! Anywho, Perrie was a tough and smart MC! I loved the realism of her thoughts-everything i was thinking i only had to read a few lines below and she'd echo my thoughts!
All the characters were unique and developed and that was a real bonus because normally the side characters are totally flat and neglected. I loved Maisie's uniqueness and her obsession with Eye Patches! She was a bright and bubbly character with a super big heart!
My only issue with this book would be that at the beginning, the writing felt a little bit awkward but then about 10% through, the writing really started flowing as the story came together!!!
This book had to have one of the best cliffhanger/surprise twist endings-I did not see it coming AT ALL. I was staring at my kindle for like a minute after i finished trying to figure out if i want a sequel or just be morbidly happy about the ending? GAH i don't know!!!! I just LOVED the ending. LOVED IT.
The villain, Vale, -we encounter him in the prologue-was extremely dark and creepy and yet there was this kind of allure to him. He was by far the my favorite character because i feel like there is so much more to him despite his thirst to destroy everything and everyone. The way he toys with people and manipulates them was genius-he reminded me of Iago from "Othello". He was a fantastic villain you can't help but love :P
"This time he will make sure the world ends in flames."
It was just so much more sinister then i ever could have imagined!!! It was beautiful!!!!!!!!I had the privilege of reading the prologue for book 2 and i am EXCITED, The originality of the story was off the charts!
Hope you guys have an awesome week!!!!!
WOW!!!
So the wonderful Candace from Literary Dust has finally released her first book!!!
The synopsis pretty much says everything. Perrie is still recovering from a break up and is trying to figure out if she has feelings for August, one of her friends. But one day the see a weird mansion on the road which they're pretty sure has never been there. As the people closest to Perrie start to disappear, it isn't long before her investigation leads her and August to Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault. And before she knows it, she and August are thrust into a dark world filled with terror and they uncover a plot far more sinister than they ever could have imagined.
Mystery meets horror meets twisted fairy tales meets tragedy!!! This book was so unusual and yet so unique!!!!
I instantly connected with Perrie from the moment her cousin, Maisie, tapped her on the shoulder and she almost jumped out of her skin. I'm also pretty jumpy like if you just pat my shoulder and i don't see you, i will literally scream. And the weird thing is Horror movies don't scare me at all! Anywho, Perrie was a tough and smart MC! I loved the realism of her thoughts-everything i was thinking i only had to read a few lines below and she'd echo my thoughts!
All the characters were unique and developed and that was a real bonus because normally the side characters are totally flat and neglected. I loved Maisie's uniqueness and her obsession with Eye Patches! She was a bright and bubbly character with a super big heart!
My only issue with this book would be that at the beginning, the writing felt a little bit awkward but then about 10% through, the writing really started flowing as the story came together!!!
This book had to have one of the best cliffhanger/surprise twist endings-I did not see it coming AT ALL. I was staring at my kindle for like a minute after i finished trying to figure out if i want a sequel or just be morbidly happy about the ending? GAH i don't know!!!! I just LOVED the ending. LOVED IT.
The villain, Vale, -we encounter him in the prologue-was extremely dark and creepy and yet there was this kind of allure to him. He was by far the my favorite character because i feel like there is so much more to him despite his thirst to destroy everything and everyone. The way he toys with people and manipulates them was genius-he reminded me of Iago from "Othello". He was a fantastic villain you can't help but love :P
"This time he will make sure the world ends in flames."
It was just so much more sinister then i ever could have imagined!!! It was beautiful!!!!!!!!I had the privilege of reading the prologue for book 2 and i am EXCITED, The originality of the story was off the charts!
Hope you guys have an awesome week!!!!!
July 6, 2017
Holy Toledo this book is outstanding! Wow. I don’t even know where to start with this review. I don’t have much experience with this genre, but I was completely blown away. If you are a fan of horror, retellings, and romance, do yourself a favor and snatch this book up. I promise that you are going to love it!
The complex characters are so well-written, and they have the best names! Perrie is a terrific main character whom I became attached to immediately. I admire her strength and unwillingness to be the type of girl that puts up with a lousy boyfriend as well as her unconditional love for her friends and family. Maisie and her obsession with eyepatches is original and I adored her other quirky personality traits. August’s character reminds me so much of my guy friends in high school with his ongoing patience and support; I love that he is a cello-playing prodigy and such a sweetheart. We don’t get to learn much about Nev, but it is clear we will in the second book, and I can’t wait to see what happens with him. Quinsey is a sick, sadistic SOB who deserves what I hope is coming to him, but I have to admit, I am a bit fond of the despicable villain. I can’t help but snicker at the humongous plot twist that I had to read a few times because I was in complete disbelief.
Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault is such a cool place and one that I would probably visit if it really existed. I loved each beautifully-depicted nightmarish situation Perrie and August fell into. The twist with Jack the Ripper had me laughing so hard; I freaking loved it. I don’t want to give away any of the other rooms they experience because I really enjoyed having them come as a surprise to me!
The ending still has my mind reeling. It will leave you asking questions and eagerly anticipating the answers. I absolutely love where the story is headed and giddily look forward to seeing what horrors await us in the next book.
I received a copy of this book and volunteered to review it.
The complex characters are so well-written, and they have the best names! Perrie is a terrific main character whom I became attached to immediately. I admire her strength and unwillingness to be the type of girl that puts up with a lousy boyfriend as well as her unconditional love for her friends and family. Maisie and her obsession with eyepatches is original and I adored her other quirky personality traits. August’s character reminds me so much of my guy friends in high school with his ongoing patience and support; I love that he is a cello-playing prodigy and such a sweetheart. We don’t get to learn much about Nev, but it is clear we will in the second book, and I can’t wait to see what happens with him. Quinsey is a sick, sadistic SOB who deserves what I hope is coming to him, but I have to admit, I am a bit fond of the despicable villain. I can’t help but snicker at the humongous plot twist that I had to read a few times because I was in complete disbelief.
Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault is such a cool place and one that I would probably visit if it really existed. I loved each beautifully-depicted nightmarish situation Perrie and August fell into. The twist with Jack the Ripper had me laughing so hard; I freaking loved it. I don’t want to give away any of the other rooms they experience because I really enjoyed having them come as a surprise to me!
The ending still has my mind reeling. It will leave you asking questions and eagerly anticipating the answers. I absolutely love where the story is headed and giddily look forward to seeing what horrors await us in the next book.
I received a copy of this book and volunteered to review it.
November 20, 2019
This was lots of fun! I loved that there was a horror twist to some fairy tales! I know some of the original version of some fairy tales go more towards the gruesome side, so it was interesting to see Candace Robinson's take. I love that the characters go into many stories, and to many different settings. They were all wonderful! There was only one that seemed a little out of place in the book, but I still enjoyed it! Perrie is the lead, and the whole story is told from her point of view, she's a tough cookie, and she really holds her own while dealing with some really crazy things. All of the characters in this book are rather quirky, and I loved that! The ending would normally put me off, but I think it fit with this story, and I'd be interested to see the story continue. It almost felt like a Goosebumps type of book, but a more grown up version, and I loved the Goosebumps, so I was totally down with that! Unique, fun, and entertaining! Looking forward to more!
June 25, 2018
In this story, everyday citizens of Deer Park, Texas are vanishing. Then a mysterious museum appears seemingly overnight. The likable lead character, Perrie Madeline with sidekick, August, venture there in search of their missing friends. Through the strange museum, there is travel to other famous stories such as Sleepy Hollow, and Jack the Ripper.
Candace Robinson twisty tale, Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault is full of imagination. It is creepy and suspenseful yet also light-hearted and fun at times, reminding me of R.L. Stine's works. I think it is awesome for all readers who enjoy imaginative retellings and adventure!
Candace Robinson twisty tale, Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault is full of imagination. It is creepy and suspenseful yet also light-hearted and fun at times, reminding me of R.L. Stine's works. I think it is awesome for all readers who enjoy imaginative retellings and adventure!
July 13, 2020
Quinsey Wolfe's Wax Vault by Candace Robinson perfectly blends fantasy and horror genres. Fairy tales are given an even more gruesome twist, and weaved in with some of the more nefarious crimes in our actual history, to create a time traveling YA horror novel, that is surprisingly sweet, and leaves you wanting more.
April 6, 2017
I'm a huge fan of horror books, of all flavors, and anyone who reads the genre knows they come in a million tastes like gourmet lollipops. "Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault" is good and almost old-fashioned funhouse darkness, which is rarely seen today, and holy crud it is a good ride.
Every character is developed, there is a lot of twists and turns and something is going on just constantly. And early on you get the idea that the evil being faced is supremely more powerful than first guessed, and the world is heavy with sensory details that underscore that. It's a wonderful read that no horror fan should miss, but especially for those who want the nostalgic taste of spook and tragedy we haven't seen a lot of in recent books, this is for you .
Every character is developed, there is a lot of twists and turns and something is going on just constantly. And early on you get the idea that the evil being faced is supremely more powerful than first guessed, and the world is heavy with sensory details that underscore that. It's a wonderful read that no horror fan should miss, but especially for those who want the nostalgic taste of spook and tragedy we haven't seen a lot of in recent books, this is for you .
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November 17, 2025A mix of fairy tales and horror, Candace Robinson masterfully blends these genres. This is a unique and completely original story-telling. A young adult read that will mystify. And boy, was it an imaginative take on the classics with an extremely dark twist.
If you are looking for a HEA, then this is not the book for you... It truly wasn't my cup of tea but that being said, I couldn't help but appreciate Robinson's imagination. If I was rating on originality, I'd have to give Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault 5 stars. But sadly, I'm rating it on how I liked the book and I'm not a fan of horror or stories with tragic tellings. Tragic tellings sums this book up in a nut shell. I, honestly, struggled with this story every step of the way. I kept waiting for some clue why this was all happening. Then when the shocking twist was revealed, I discovered that I still felt like I was in the dark without knowing WHY.
I know there are plenty of you out there that will eat this book up. If you like horror, tragic endings, then pick up a copy of Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault.
I received this ARC copy of Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault from Candace Robinson. This is my honest and voluntary review.
If you are looking for a HEA, then this is not the book for you... It truly wasn't my cup of tea but that being said, I couldn't help but appreciate Robinson's imagination. If I was rating on originality, I'd have to give Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault 5 stars. But sadly, I'm rating it on how I liked the book and I'm not a fan of horror or stories with tragic tellings. Tragic tellings sums this book up in a nut shell. I, honestly, struggled with this story every step of the way. I kept waiting for some clue why this was all happening. Then when the shocking twist was revealed, I discovered that I still felt like I was in the dark without knowing WHY.
I know there are plenty of you out there that will eat this book up. If you like horror, tragic endings, then pick up a copy of Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault.
I received this ARC copy of Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault from Candace Robinson. This is my honest and voluntary review.
July 13, 2017
OH MY GOODNESS!! I must say that I absolutely LOVED this book! The book begins with the spotlight on the sinister villain named Vale who goes by many names, one of them being Quinsey Wolfe. He speaks on his master plans and then we are introduced to freshly 18 year old High school student Perrie and her delightfully quirky cousin, Maisie. You soon learn that there has been a string of disappearances in their small town of Deer Park, Texas and the mysterious Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault has sprung up over night but only some people can see it. Before you know it both Neven (Perrie's ex boyfriend) and Maisie are missing. Perrie and her maybe more than friend August go in search of them in the Glass Vault where there are gruesome glass sculptures and only one way in and out of the building....and this is where the story gets EVEN BETTER as they are sucked into the worlds within the glass sculptures and have to fight for their survival one exhibit to the next.
This book was so imaginative, spooky, and at parts (Bridge scene, I'm looking at you!) Just plain gruesome, it had great characters, great story line, and lets not forget that beautiful cover art and material. I started this book thinking I'd read a little at a time but I was drawn in and then just couldn't put it down till it was finished and even then I thought about it well after it was finished. From the moment they are sucked into the first exhibit I found myself constantly going...."oh my gosh, YES! This is so cool!". I'm excited for the second book, Glass Bride, to come out!!
If you like horror mixed wonderfully with dark fantasy this is another must have for your collection.
I give this book 5 Stars and add it to my favorite books list.
This book was so imaginative, spooky, and at parts (Bridge scene, I'm looking at you!) Just plain gruesome, it had great characters, great story line, and lets not forget that beautiful cover art and material. I started this book thinking I'd read a little at a time but I was drawn in and then just couldn't put it down till it was finished and even then I thought about it well after it was finished. From the moment they are sucked into the first exhibit I found myself constantly going...."oh my gosh, YES! This is so cool!". I'm excited for the second book, Glass Bride, to come out!!
If you like horror mixed wonderfully with dark fantasy this is another must have for your collection.
I give this book 5 Stars and add it to my favorite books list.
June 23, 2017
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault by Candace Robinson. The sinister prologue spooked me and made me curious at the same time. Perrie is an only child living with her single father, since her mother left years ago. Her best friends are her next door neighbor and cousin, Maisie, and August, the teenage boy she has more than just friend feelings for. There's an odd mystery about the breakup with her ex-boyfriend, Neven. One day, on their way home from school, Perrie, Maisie and August see a large building that they've never seen before, Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault. A sign stating there are job openings is hanging on the door. Curiously, Maisie has a job there by the next day. The characters are charming and the humor is refreshing, while something creepy lurks in the background. People are disappearing from their community and August and Perrie enter the Glass Vault when Maisie can't be found. I don't want to give anything away, but the twists floored me! A wonderful supernatural horror story full of fairy tale and historical retellings, worthy of 5 stars! Look closely at the cover for hints of retellings in this story!
August 5, 2017
I have a very complicated relationship with young adult horror novels. You see, I was well acquainted with classic eighties horror (think King, early Koontz, for the Brits think Herbert, and all the eighties horror movies such as A Nightmare On Elm Street and Child’s Play that we all think of when someone mentions horror reaching the peak point) before my school friends were brave enough to pick up Goosebumps. This can be taken in one of two ways. First, my mother was amazing. She introduced me to all elements of her younger years from the heavy metal of her youth through to her creepiest horror films. Second, which quite a few will probably consider when they imagine a young child sitting watching A Nightmare On Elm Street and laughing at their father for being a coward, is that my mother has some serious issue. I, myself, flicker between the two. She certainly didn’t bring my sister up in the same way and she turned out very different, so I’m not at all sure what that says.
Anyway, I’m starting to slip off at a tangent. Think what you will of my mother, I skipped the children’s horror books stage of growing up. I read a few, but they never really held my attention. I’d always be on the lookout for the classic adult horror twists. I’d be disappointed when it was a mere creepy feeling rather than a brutal description of a blood and gore filled scene. My sister, however, followed the correct reading pattern – she did the children and young adult books first. During this stage, I borrowed some of her books to read. I’ve since grown more of an appreciation for young adult horror than I did when I was the right age, but it rarely never grabs me in quite the right way. I’m always waiting for something a little bit more.
Despite my complicated relationship with the genre, I was intrigued by Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault. It is one of those books I kept seeing across Goodreads. So many people I know seemed to be picking it up. Not to mention the cover is gorgeous. Not that you should ever judge a book by the cover – but we all know a beautiful cover can do wonders when it comes to deciding what book we’re to pick up.
Before starting the book, I pushed my preconceptions aside. I entered with the nearest thing to an empty mind that a reader can. Of course, there were little things that were hovering in the back of my mind. The main thing is that I had already read Candace Robinson’s Hearts Are Like Balloons. It’s a very different kind of book, but I enjoyed it a lot. If Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault had the same kind of punch, I’d enjoy it as well irrespective of my love-hate relationship with the genre.
I’ll be completely honest and say it did take me a bit of time to get into this story. Quite a lot of time passes before the horror feel kicks in. You’re aware that something is wrong, but the horror aspect of the story doesn’t come in for quite some time. Up until this point, the story had a rather contemporary feel about it. We had what you expect from young adult contemporary novels – high school drama, mainly of the relationship kind. The drama was interwoven with the details that allow you to fall in love with the characters, yet I did find myself growing expectant of the horror element. I know some people stopped reading this book because of this, but once the horror element is introduced things do become a lot more fun.
The story twists a number of wonderful elements together. We pass between so many different worlds in this one. History and fairy-tales come together in a wonderful way, leaving us unsure as to what we’re going to be given next. It certainly makes for a read that keeps you on the edge of your seat, pulling you in and leaving you excited about what would come next. You would think the story would become repetitive considering the characters have the same task over and over again, yet each situation is unique and leaves you intrigued regarding how everything will play out.
I’ll be completely honest, though. As addictive as the story was, I was considering a three star rating. It was interesting, yes, but it did not blow my mind. Some elements felt a bit slow and I would have liked more detail about certain aspects. I think this is just a reflection of why I’m not the biggest lover of young adult horror – it never quite reaches the depth I favour. I was more of a three-point-five in all honesty, as I enjoyed it more than a lot of other young adult horror books, but I was erring on the side of rounding down. A large reason for this rounding down is that I felt as though, at times, the writing seemed more for the lower end of young adult whereas the situations were calling for the upper end of young adult. It’s a fine line to walk, and this isn’t the only story where I felt as though the writing didn’t quite match up with the story. As this was Candace Robinson’s first book, I was willing to chalk it up to that. Having read Hearts Are Like Balloons, I’m well aware of what Candace Robinson is capable of when it comes to writing. I just think things weren’t quite as well matched as they could have been.
However, as you can see, I opted to give four stars in the end.
Why?
The ending. It hit me so hard. I was looking at the percentage on my Kindle thinking ‘how is this going to come together’, and then bam. It caught me completely off guard. I did not expect that to happen. It was great. I loved it. The book instantly went up to the four star rating. I was left bereaved, needing to pick up the next book instantly. There are so many ways in which the book could have ended, but the ending we were given was wonderful. I could not imagine any other choice. I love it when authors take us down the unexpected path, and such is what happened with Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault.
Without a doubt, I came to enjoy this one even more than I’d originally anticipated. For a debut book, it was a wonderful read. The moment I was finished, the second book in the duology was picked up. Answers were needed, and they were needed right away.
Anyway, I’m starting to slip off at a tangent. Think what you will of my mother, I skipped the children’s horror books stage of growing up. I read a few, but they never really held my attention. I’d always be on the lookout for the classic adult horror twists. I’d be disappointed when it was a mere creepy feeling rather than a brutal description of a blood and gore filled scene. My sister, however, followed the correct reading pattern – she did the children and young adult books first. During this stage, I borrowed some of her books to read. I’ve since grown more of an appreciation for young adult horror than I did when I was the right age, but it rarely never grabs me in quite the right way. I’m always waiting for something a little bit more.
Despite my complicated relationship with the genre, I was intrigued by Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault. It is one of those books I kept seeing across Goodreads. So many people I know seemed to be picking it up. Not to mention the cover is gorgeous. Not that you should ever judge a book by the cover – but we all know a beautiful cover can do wonders when it comes to deciding what book we’re to pick up.
Before starting the book, I pushed my preconceptions aside. I entered with the nearest thing to an empty mind that a reader can. Of course, there were little things that were hovering in the back of my mind. The main thing is that I had already read Candace Robinson’s Hearts Are Like Balloons. It’s a very different kind of book, but I enjoyed it a lot. If Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault had the same kind of punch, I’d enjoy it as well irrespective of my love-hate relationship with the genre.
I’ll be completely honest and say it did take me a bit of time to get into this story. Quite a lot of time passes before the horror feel kicks in. You’re aware that something is wrong, but the horror aspect of the story doesn’t come in for quite some time. Up until this point, the story had a rather contemporary feel about it. We had what you expect from young adult contemporary novels – high school drama, mainly of the relationship kind. The drama was interwoven with the details that allow you to fall in love with the characters, yet I did find myself growing expectant of the horror element. I know some people stopped reading this book because of this, but once the horror element is introduced things do become a lot more fun.
The story twists a number of wonderful elements together. We pass between so many different worlds in this one. History and fairy-tales come together in a wonderful way, leaving us unsure as to what we’re going to be given next. It certainly makes for a read that keeps you on the edge of your seat, pulling you in and leaving you excited about what would come next. You would think the story would become repetitive considering the characters have the same task over and over again, yet each situation is unique and leaves you intrigued regarding how everything will play out.
I’ll be completely honest, though. As addictive as the story was, I was considering a three star rating. It was interesting, yes, but it did not blow my mind. Some elements felt a bit slow and I would have liked more detail about certain aspects. I think this is just a reflection of why I’m not the biggest lover of young adult horror – it never quite reaches the depth I favour. I was more of a three-point-five in all honesty, as I enjoyed it more than a lot of other young adult horror books, but I was erring on the side of rounding down. A large reason for this rounding down is that I felt as though, at times, the writing seemed more for the lower end of young adult whereas the situations were calling for the upper end of young adult. It’s a fine line to walk, and this isn’t the only story where I felt as though the writing didn’t quite match up with the story. As this was Candace Robinson’s first book, I was willing to chalk it up to that. Having read Hearts Are Like Balloons, I’m well aware of what Candace Robinson is capable of when it comes to writing. I just think things weren’t quite as well matched as they could have been.
However, as you can see, I opted to give four stars in the end.
Why?
The ending. It hit me so hard. I was looking at the percentage on my Kindle thinking ‘how is this going to come together’, and then bam. It caught me completely off guard. I did not expect that to happen. It was great. I loved it. The book instantly went up to the four star rating. I was left bereaved, needing to pick up the next book instantly. There are so many ways in which the book could have ended, but the ending we were given was wonderful. I could not imagine any other choice. I love it when authors take us down the unexpected path, and such is what happened with Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault.
Without a doubt, I came to enjoy this one even more than I’d originally anticipated. For a debut book, it was a wonderful read. The moment I was finished, the second book in the duology was picked up. Answers were needed, and they were needed right away.
April 5, 2017
I thought this book was very well written. It was a very unique concept and the characters were likable. Character likability is a big deal to me!! I love a good suspense novel with a twist and this definitely had a twist! If you like horror/suspense, give Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault a go!
April 26, 2017
I like retellings, so I decided to give this book a try, even though horror isn't normally a genre I gravitate towards. Heads up, there is no HEA, so if that is enough of a deal-breaker for you, you might want to avoid this book. But, normally I really want a HEA, too, and I still really ended up enjoying this book. It was incredibly original. There was a very big twist at the end that I was not expecting. Even though I'm bummed by that ending, I'm still giving the book 5 stars, because the journey getting there was really wonderful. This book was hard to put down. I would recommend this book to people who like original stories, and definitely fans of horror stories.
I was lucky to receive an ARC of this book.
I was lucky to receive an ARC of this book.
June 27, 2018
The whimsical almost fairytale like tone of the book paints a deceiving portrait of lighthearted fun and romance with a little mystery thrown in. Even the cover makes you smile and want to curl up with your favorite throw and a cup of tea. But please, don’t be fooled. I was, as I smiled at Maisie’s obsession with eye patches, tried to figure out which team I was going to be on, Neven’s or August. Yes, I knew they were bound to venture into a creepy place called, Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault, but somehow, I foolishly believed everything was going to be okay. I WAS DEAD WRONG!!! My smile quickly evaporated, illusion shattered, when one of the first characters I became invested in went missing. My heart skipped a beat when the next person went missing. And I started staring at the shadows in my room, the ones that weren’t there a few minutes ago, as I walked the halls of Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault with Perrie and August. Now, I’m pacing the floor waiting not so patiently for October 23, 2018 for Bride of Glass. Hey, Tim Burton, I’ve found your next movie project!
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