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Damnatio Memoriae #1
None Shall Sleep
Librarian Note: This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN B00N08XL9G.
Nothing ever happened at Bickerby. Located on an island off the coast of Maine, its prestige, remoteness, and near-inaccessibility in the winter months were the reasons that Enim Lund’s father sent him there in the first place. With only a year left of school until graduation, Enim’s only focus is to keep his grades high enough to scrape by and keep his unforgiving involvement in his mother’s critical accident secreted away. But when a body washes up on the school’s shore and a teacher vanishes without explanation, the thought of a quiet, uneventful year becomes unlikely – especially given that his best friend has planted himself in the middle of the crime. Worse than the thought of a killer loose on the island with them, though, is that the unfolding events are dredging up horrors in Enim’s past that, if uncovered, will result in his own misdeeds being found out.
As Enim is pulled further and further into crimes that he both has and hasn't committed, he finds that his mind is slowly unraveling and his grip on reality is faltering, and unwanted comparisons are being drawn between his mother's withering health and his own. Soon, discovering who the killer is becomes his only concern. Yet before long, it becomes clear that there's an even more difficult task at hand than who's responsible for the horrid crimes: getting anyone to believe him.
Nothing ever happened at Bickerby. Located on an island off the coast of Maine, its prestige, remoteness, and near-inaccessibility in the winter months were the reasons that Enim Lund’s father sent him there in the first place. With only a year left of school until graduation, Enim’s only focus is to keep his grades high enough to scrape by and keep his unforgiving involvement in his mother’s critical accident secreted away. But when a body washes up on the school’s shore and a teacher vanishes without explanation, the thought of a quiet, uneventful year becomes unlikely – especially given that his best friend has planted himself in the middle of the crime. Worse than the thought of a killer loose on the island with them, though, is that the unfolding events are dredging up horrors in Enim’s past that, if uncovered, will result in his own misdeeds being found out.
As Enim is pulled further and further into crimes that he both has and hasn't committed, he finds that his mind is slowly unraveling and his grip on reality is faltering, and unwanted comparisons are being drawn between his mother's withering health and his own. Soon, discovering who the killer is becomes his only concern. Yet before long, it becomes clear that there's an even more difficult task at hand than who's responsible for the horrid crimes: getting anyone to believe him.
677 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2014
97 people are currently reading
521 people want to read
About the author
Laura Giebfried
9 books23 followersLaura Giebfried is the author of seven novels. As a native Mainer, her stories are often set in New England. Giebfried has a master’s degree in Forensic Psychology. She also has three certificates in screenwriting from UCLA, NFTS, and the Film School in Seattle.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 10, 2016
I was offered this book by the author in exchange for my feedback.
The book has a lot of potential and the storyline is a good plot, it really does unfold slowly and with a nice pace to it.
This could be enhanced by the leaving out of some descriptive actions that got on my nerves a little....
I know its good to describe things to the reader i.e 'I rolled my eyes and turned back to my assignment once again' OK, we need certain details to describe how a person is reacting, but there is a fine line in a sentence and how it is said and the way it is said, but also emphasizing this with descriptive movements being examined too often within one page can become quite tedious to a reader.
I feel [personally] there has to be a balance between the two.
So sometimes I did find my own eyes rolling to the ceiling and thinking 'oh no, that wasn't needed'
Maybe a good editor would have suggested more input to that I am no expert on that case.
Like I say, the story line plot is good, it has a good pace, just for me it needs a little more adjustments.
March 19, 2015
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
Damnatio Memoriae is a thrilling read from start to end, and even though it’s over 500 pages, it doesn’t feel like it’s that long. The plot goes fast, the characters are well fleshed-out and feel like real people, and the setting is sufficiently depressing and chilling to make for a suspenseful read.
Enim is one year away from graduating from Bickerby, a boarding school his father forces him to attend. Enim barely talks to his dad, who seems more than happy to let his younger brother deal with his teenage son instead. Enim tries to make the best of it, but he always ends up in trouble somehow, mot of that courtesy of his best friend.
But now, things have gone above and beyond ‘trouble’. A body washed up on the school’s shore, a teacher vanished, and Enim’s best friend ends up in the middle of the crime. And on top of that, a secret from Enim’s past threatens to be revealed. The more Enim is being pulled into the crimes, the more his mind starts to unravel, and his grip on reality starts to fade. Who is committing these crimes? And when he finds out – how can Enim convince people to believe him?
Enim is an interesting character, an enigma of sorts, and I enjoyed finding out more about him and his past and the events that shaped him. The ending comes not totally unexpected, but still is surprising enough to leave me impressed. The characters carry this novel, as much of it is about Enim’s internal struggle.
A great read for fans of thrillers.
Damnatio Memoriae is a thrilling read from start to end, and even though it’s over 500 pages, it doesn’t feel like it’s that long. The plot goes fast, the characters are well fleshed-out and feel like real people, and the setting is sufficiently depressing and chilling to make for a suspenseful read.
Enim is one year away from graduating from Bickerby, a boarding school his father forces him to attend. Enim barely talks to his dad, who seems more than happy to let his younger brother deal with his teenage son instead. Enim tries to make the best of it, but he always ends up in trouble somehow, mot of that courtesy of his best friend.
But now, things have gone above and beyond ‘trouble’. A body washed up on the school’s shore, a teacher vanished, and Enim’s best friend ends up in the middle of the crime. And on top of that, a secret from Enim’s past threatens to be revealed. The more Enim is being pulled into the crimes, the more his mind starts to unravel, and his grip on reality starts to fade. Who is committing these crimes? And when he finds out – how can Enim convince people to believe him?
Enim is an interesting character, an enigma of sorts, and I enjoyed finding out more about him and his past and the events that shaped him. The ending comes not totally unexpected, but still is surprising enough to leave me impressed. The characters carry this novel, as much of it is about Enim’s internal struggle.
A great read for fans of thrillers.
October 16, 2014
Riveting. Dark and very surprising. Very impressive for a first time author. It has a bit of a Catcher in the Rye vibe. I am satisfied with the ending, but very much looking forward to a sequel I hear the author is currently writing. The book moves fast with several story lines including the most powerful, I think, which is within the main character, Enim's, head. The murder mystery is second, but they are all woven together in a surprising way. This is a page turner and thought provoking too.
October 1, 2014
An absolutely stunning and thrilling read. The novel begins as a solid crime/mystery novel and then deconstructs the genre in a dark yet brilliant way. The pyschological aspects of the book were very believable and clearly shows that they were carefully researched. The book frequently alludes to the opera "Turandot," which is an actual opera, and interweaves many aspects of the opera with the book masterfully. If you enjoy carefully crafted novels, I highly recommend this novel.
November 6, 2014
I just finished reading Damnatio Memoriae for the first time, and I already can't wait to read it again. From the first page to the last, the author has woven a complex plot that makes you question the motives of every character. The protagonist in particular, Enim, is a fascinating character whose story compels you to want to read more.
Simply put, it's a book that's impossible to put down! I can't wait for the next book in this series!
Simply put, it's a book that's impossible to put down! I can't wait for the next book in this series!
October 11, 2014
Very well written novel which was depressing but still kept me involved to the very end. Hard to believe that the author is so young!
November 5, 2014
Amazing book! I absolutely loved all of the twists in this one and it kept me guessing the whole way through! This is a must read for people who love plot twists!
February 22, 2016
I got this book during a pomotional free period as listed on free reading deala. I am reviewing this in reference to my own life right now, and may sound as crazy as the characters in this book. This may contain spoilers, so be wary if you continue to read.
On Feburary 4th, I lost my maternal grandmother. She had been isolating herself from the family and refused any sort of medication - including her diabetes and liver medications. A few days before her passing, she stopped responding to my aunt, and she was rushed to the ER. On the day they chose to remove her life support, due to her no resuscitation clause in her medical forms, her family gathered around her for their final goodbyes. I stayed by my aunt and my mother's side as we watched her vital signs lower hour by hour, listening to her gasps for breath from her agape mouth. At 11:50 at night, she had a seizure which brought her out of her coma long enough to struggle to mouth the words "I love you, Magan" to my aunt before she flatlined.
The grief, anger, and the tragic loss of someone so close to you is something the protagonist in this book and I share. I was angry at my grandma for refusing to take her medications, as I felt it was her suicide in anger at my aunt about the expenses of her extravagant burial wishes, her desire to move out even though she couldn't afford it, and her many resentments toward my aunt for having a relationship and kids come in priority of letting my grandma rule her life by forcing her to take care of her every whim and wish. She gave her an amazing quality of life, but like everything else, it was never enough and she always demanded more.
I relate very deeply to Enim. The description of his tragic loss of life brought me to tears and reminded me of my grandma in her hospital bed. The inability to handle the details of her passing, whether it was suicide or if she was genuinely ill torment me. Should I blame myself for not saying or doing something sooner? I cannot decide and it is eating me alive. Next week I have to attend her Celebration of Life. The emotions from his telling of the wake are most likely what I will feel... as I already feel them. While my grandmother was not scitzophrenic, she was possiby very mentally ill and I can relate strongly to him on this.
Now the other details of this book were genuinely well-written and this was a fast-passed novel I devoured in one sitting. I laughed, cried, and then hit this book's mind bending plot twist. To find out whether his retelling of the events are real, or just his terrifying decent into madness, I already bought the rest of the series. 10/10 would read this book again.
On Feburary 4th, I lost my maternal grandmother. She had been isolating herself from the family and refused any sort of medication - including her diabetes and liver medications. A few days before her passing, she stopped responding to my aunt, and she was rushed to the ER. On the day they chose to remove her life support, due to her no resuscitation clause in her medical forms, her family gathered around her for their final goodbyes. I stayed by my aunt and my mother's side as we watched her vital signs lower hour by hour, listening to her gasps for breath from her agape mouth. At 11:50 at night, she had a seizure which brought her out of her coma long enough to struggle to mouth the words "I love you, Magan" to my aunt before she flatlined.
The grief, anger, and the tragic loss of someone so close to you is something the protagonist in this book and I share. I was angry at my grandma for refusing to take her medications, as I felt it was her suicide in anger at my aunt about the expenses of her extravagant burial wishes, her desire to move out even though she couldn't afford it, and her many resentments toward my aunt for having a relationship and kids come in priority of letting my grandma rule her life by forcing her to take care of her every whim and wish. She gave her an amazing quality of life, but like everything else, it was never enough and she always demanded more.
I relate very deeply to Enim. The description of his tragic loss of life brought me to tears and reminded me of my grandma in her hospital bed. The inability to handle the details of her passing, whether it was suicide or if she was genuinely ill torment me. Should I blame myself for not saying or doing something sooner? I cannot decide and it is eating me alive. Next week I have to attend her Celebration of Life. The emotions from his telling of the wake are most likely what I will feel... as I already feel them. While my grandmother was not scitzophrenic, she was possiby very mentally ill and I can relate strongly to him on this.
Now the other details of this book were genuinely well-written and this was a fast-passed novel I devoured in one sitting. I laughed, cried, and then hit this book's mind bending plot twist. To find out whether his retelling of the events are real, or just his terrifying decent into madness, I already bought the rest of the series. 10/10 would read this book again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2014
Fantastic book! It gripped me from the first page and continued to surprise me all the way through. Normally I can figure the mystery/plot out midway through, but this one had so many twists and turns up until the very last page. Will read again just to pick up on the details and clues throughout ... Completely took me by surprise.
August 12, 2016
Not my preferred genre, but a very well-written book nonetheless. Well-crafted characters, rich descriptions of the world, and a good (albeit a bit slowly developing) plot-line. Worth a read!
May 13, 2017
This is, for me, a hard book to review. I thought it was well written. The author clearly has talent but it was very long and took me a long time to read because I also found it very slow.
The story focusses on Enim Lund and, to a lesser extent his roommate Jack, at an exclusive boy's boarding school on an island off the coast of some northeastern US state. Enim's mother tried to kill herself at the previous Christmas and he is wracked by guilt that he didn't foresee it and stop her. He appears depressed, lacks concentration, has no friends other than Jack, dislikes authority, and won't eat much. Does that sound like your typical teenager? Regardless, his fixation with his mother's favourite opera (Turandot) and his lack of interest in anything, including presumably living, just made me want to slap him. He was a walking bag of misery and hundreds of pages later nothing had changed (expresses exasperation).
There is a frisson of excitement when a local girl is found dead on a beach and, shortly thereafter, Jack's favourite (French) teacher, Miss Mercier, is found brutally murdered in the woods between the school and the island's township. Jack determines to find out who killed Miss Mercier and enlists Enim's help. Aha I thought, now we are getting to it, but no, it was just as convoluted and tedious and slow with Enim's lethargy as before. Slight spoiler here - the ending clarified very little and I guess if you want to know more about what was going on you will need to read books 2 and 3. I won't be doing that.
I can see why some people loved this book. The characters were well drawn, if a little stereotypically. I didn't find it dark so much as bleak, there was just no joy to be had anywhere. And a (very) long expose into one person's delusions is not my cup of tea, especially when so little happened in the story apart from Enim not eating. In the end you are left to wonder what actually did happen.
The story focusses on Enim Lund and, to a lesser extent his roommate Jack, at an exclusive boy's boarding school on an island off the coast of some northeastern US state. Enim's mother tried to kill herself at the previous Christmas and he is wracked by guilt that he didn't foresee it and stop her. He appears depressed, lacks concentration, has no friends other than Jack, dislikes authority, and won't eat much. Does that sound like your typical teenager? Regardless, his fixation with his mother's favourite opera (Turandot) and his lack of interest in anything, including presumably living, just made me want to slap him. He was a walking bag of misery and hundreds of pages later nothing had changed (expresses exasperation).
There is a frisson of excitement when a local girl is found dead on a beach and, shortly thereafter, Jack's favourite (French) teacher, Miss Mercier, is found brutally murdered in the woods between the school and the island's township. Jack determines to find out who killed Miss Mercier and enlists Enim's help. Aha I thought, now we are getting to it, but no, it was just as convoluted and tedious and slow with Enim's lethargy as before. Slight spoiler here - the ending clarified very little and I guess if you want to know more about what was going on you will need to read books 2 and 3. I won't be doing that.
I can see why some people loved this book. The characters were well drawn, if a little stereotypically. I didn't find it dark so much as bleak, there was just no joy to be had anywhere. And a (very) long expose into one person's delusions is not my cup of tea, especially when so little happened in the story apart from Enim not eating. In the end you are left to wonder what actually did happen.
August 9, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised by this book
I didn't know what to expect from this novel, but I know it wasn't what I got. I figured it was going to be a simple read, a basic read. Not because it is a YA novel, I'm a huge fan of YA novels, but because of the vague description that came along with the page on the Kindle store. But what I found in reading it was a total mind blow. Just when you think you have everything figured out, the plot goes in another direction and everything has changed. I have all three of the books and cannot wait to read the next one. I had two issues with the book, though. 1) sometimes the grammatical errors took away from the storytelling enough that I found that sometimes I had to read sentences twice before understanding what the author was saying, and 2) I found, as a life-long Mainer, her descriptions of Maine winters too embellished. I was surprised to see at the end of the book, that she lives here in Bangor, Maine. The way she portrayed winters in Maine, it kinda gave into stereotypes that us Mainers tend to avoid. But other than those two issues, it was an amazing read, and I'm excited to start the next one.
I didn't know what to expect from this novel, but I know it wasn't what I got. I figured it was going to be a simple read, a basic read. Not because it is a YA novel, I'm a huge fan of YA novels, but because of the vague description that came along with the page on the Kindle store. But what I found in reading it was a total mind blow. Just when you think you have everything figured out, the plot goes in another direction and everything has changed. I have all three of the books and cannot wait to read the next one. I had two issues with the book, though. 1) sometimes the grammatical errors took away from the storytelling enough that I found that sometimes I had to read sentences twice before understanding what the author was saying, and 2) I found, as a life-long Mainer, her descriptions of Maine winters too embellished. I was surprised to see at the end of the book, that she lives here in Bangor, Maine. The way she portrayed winters in Maine, it kinda gave into stereotypes that us Mainers tend to avoid. But other than those two issues, it was an amazing read, and I'm excited to start the next one.
March 7, 2018
A great book. I have no idea how long it has been sitting on my kindle, but I started it and could not put it down. I have just bought the second book and will probably stay up all night to read it :) it is dark, but fascinating, and I was convinced by the author’s insights into mental health issues.
June 6, 2018
None Shall Sleep
A gripping and psychological thriller leading to find a family secret is involved in a murder. Excellent writing by author Laura Giebfried. I Loved It!!!!
A gripping and psychological thriller leading to find a family secret is involved in a murder. Excellent writing by author Laura Giebfried. I Loved It!!!!
July 9, 2018
Bad book
I didn’t enjoy it at all. Way you repetitive, long and drawn out. Kept hoping it’d get better but it didn’t. Ending was entirely disappointing.
I didn’t enjoy it at all. Way you repetitive, long and drawn out. Kept hoping it’d get better but it didn’t. Ending was entirely disappointing.
April 1, 2019
Too morbid. Like happy endings or some type of solution. This book left nothing good.
February 16, 2017
I downloaded this book based on a recommendation. I knew nothing about it and had never heard of it, but I needed a book with an unreliable narrator for a book challenge I am participating in and it looked intriguing so I went with it, and I am glad I did. This book is a mystery told from the perspective a guy named, Enim, who is at a boarding school. A body washes up on the beach and a teacher goes missing. Enim's roommate, Jack, convinces him that they should investigate on their own to try to figure out who is behind it all. Enim is struggling over the loss of his Mother, and is trying to hold on to his sanity, and keep up the appearance that he is o.k. so agrees to help his roommate.
I ended up liking it more than I thought I would. The plot was interesting. I liked Enim as a character well enough, and the mystery was interesting and not predictable. Everyone seemed suspicious. The descriptions and setting was kind of surreal. The plot was slowly paced, but steady so it drug you in, and made you want to find out how it would all play out. Enim was definitely an unreliable narrator which kept you guessing what was real, and what was not, right up until the end. The story felt a bit wordy at times and had the tendency to over describe. I feel like some of it was repetitive, like the author wanted to keep reminding the reader of things that had already been explained, which was a bit frustrating and caused the story to kind of drag out longer than needed. I feel like Enim's descent into his mental illness was well-written and believable. He knew things weren't quite right, but he fought against it. He really wanted to appear normal, and live up to expectations of his Father and his Uncle, but you could tell that it was a struggle for him to keep it inside and try to pass off as "normal". I wish that there would have been a little more depth to the side characters and a little more interaction between them, but I think in some ways it was intentional as it was being told from Enim's POV. I wish he would have been a little stronger throughout and a little less vulnerable, but it played out well with his internal struggles and his mental decline. This is the first book in a trilogy so the end is left open, although I was pleased there was not a cliff hanger. I am interested enough to check out the next one.
I ended up liking it more than I thought I would. The plot was interesting. I liked Enim as a character well enough, and the mystery was interesting and not predictable. Everyone seemed suspicious. The descriptions and setting was kind of surreal. The plot was slowly paced, but steady so it drug you in, and made you want to find out how it would all play out. Enim was definitely an unreliable narrator which kept you guessing what was real, and what was not, right up until the end. The story felt a bit wordy at times and had the tendency to over describe. I feel like some of it was repetitive, like the author wanted to keep reminding the reader of things that had already been explained, which was a bit frustrating and caused the story to kind of drag out longer than needed. I feel like Enim's descent into his mental illness was well-written and believable. He knew things weren't quite right, but he fought against it. He really wanted to appear normal, and live up to expectations of his Father and his Uncle, but you could tell that it was a struggle for him to keep it inside and try to pass off as "normal". I wish that there would have been a little more depth to the side characters and a little more interaction between them, but I think in some ways it was intentional as it was being told from Enim's POV. I wish he would have been a little stronger throughout and a little less vulnerable, but it played out well with his internal struggles and his mental decline. This is the first book in a trilogy so the end is left open, although I was pleased there was not a cliff hanger. I am interested enough to check out the next one.
July 23, 2018
This is a very long, complicated, dark story. There are many moving parts. The writing is quite descriptive, foreboding, and slow in pace. I felt drawn in.
Enim is the narrator of the story, and he is not a reliable narrator. By the end, I wasn't sure what was truth and what was fiction and what was a figment. I'm happy to see there is a book 2 which may provide more answers. In any case, Enim has quite the story. He is truly a complex character.
The writing is strong. However, the paragraphs can be drawn out with detail upon detail. That certainly contributes to the slow pacing. I guess it all feels bogged down just like how Enim feels bogged down.
Be prepared that this story is depressing and dark. Literally dark and metaphorically dark. And depressing. It is also a bit predictable, but only if you can decipher what is true. I'll need to wait a few weeks before reading the next book in the series.
Enim is the narrator of the story, and he is not a reliable narrator. By the end, I wasn't sure what was truth and what was fiction and what was a figment. I'm happy to see there is a book 2 which may provide more answers. In any case, Enim has quite the story. He is truly a complex character.
The writing is strong. However, the paragraphs can be drawn out with detail upon detail. That certainly contributes to the slow pacing. I guess it all feels bogged down just like how Enim feels bogged down.
Be prepared that this story is depressing and dark. Literally dark and metaphorically dark. And depressing. It is also a bit predictable, but only if you can decipher what is true. I'll need to wait a few weeks before reading the next book in the series.
June 20, 2016
I actually finished reading this book a long time ago but hadn't come around to leave a review. This is one of the best psychological thrillers I've read in a long time. It's very well written, the plot intriguing enough for me to keep turning the pages and the pace, perfect. I loved the dark, strange and mysterious setting from the onset and I wanted to find out more about the boys and the occurrences in their school. It's definitely original and captivating. The only thing that didn't work for me was the ending. I'd have preferred a more definitive closure but you'll enjoy this if you like a little suspense in the end. I'd definitely recommend this one.
September 15, 2015
This book was amazing, but I really felt like the ending was kind of fuzzy. I mean, with the themes of schizophrenia running rampantly through this novel, maybe it's supposed to be that way? Either way, it ended up being a really great read, and I am looking forward to getting into the second book, and finding out what goes on with Enim and crew! An intriguing and gripping read - highly recommended.
April 16, 2015
The story is kind of slow, but there's just something about this book that makes you crave for more. Enim, the main character is absolutely genial, you feel attached to him really quickly and really want to know what happens to him. This is the book that made me fall back in love with reading after a very hard depression.
October 2, 2015
Damnatio Memoriae is a great book. All along the plot you can find mystery, intrigue, and unexpected twists which make your mind wonder what will be in the end! The author uses a language that is very easy to read and to understand, even for a foreigner! The book is worth reading! Now I cannot wait to finish IN ABSENTIA!
March 6, 2016
Wow this was a very long book, but I didn't mind it a bit! I enjoyed this book it was different from other books I have read before. The story line was engaging to me and I enjoyed the characters. It was some mystery in it and some internal struggles. I was very surprised and happy to read such a great book. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
October 21, 2014
It started out well and went steadily downhill. I have only one word "depressing". Confusing, sad and troubling.
February 16, 2015
Review coming soon.
Read
May 1, 2019DNF @ 20%.
I tried ya'll. Not for me. Maybe at another point in time.
I tried ya'll. Not for me. Maybe at another point in time.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews