Nightspell

Mistwood #2

by Leah Cypess

Here be ghosts, the maps said, and that was all. In this haunted kingdom, ghosts linger—not just in the deepest forests or the darkest caverns, but alongside the living, as part of a twisted palace court that revels all night and sleeps through the daylight hours. Darri's sister was trapped in this place of fear and shadows as a child. And now Darri has a chance to save her sister . . . if she agrees to a betrothal with the prince of the dead. But nothing is simple in this eerie kingdom—not her sister, who has changed beyond recognition; not her plan, which will be thrown off track almost at once; and not the undead prince, who seems more alive than anyone else. In a court seething with the desire for vengeance, Darri holds the key to the balance between life and death. Can her warrior heart withstand the most wrenching choice of all?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Magic, Ghosts, Young Adult Fantasy, Teen

326 pages, Hardcover

First published May 12, 2011

About the author

I wrote my first story in first grade. The narrator was an ice-cream cone in the process of being eaten. In fourth grade, I wrote my first book, about a girl who gets shipwrecked on a desert island with her faithful and heroic dog (a rip-off of both The Black Stallion and all the Lassie movies, very impressive).

After selling my first story (Temple of Stone) while in high school, I gave in to my mother’s importuning to be practical and majored in biology at Brooklyn College. I then went to Columbia Law School and practiced law for almost two years at a large law firm in New York City. I kept writing and submitting in my spare time, and finally, a mere 15 years after my first short story acceptance, I sold my first novel to Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins).

I live in Silver Spring, Maryland (right outside of Washington, D.C.) with my husband and four children.

Reviews

[book_nymph_bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me eight days to finish. Which for someone who reads most books in 1-3 days, says a few things:
1) It wasn't a book that enthralled me, one that I couldn't put down. I didn't have to know what was going to happen next.
2) It was interesting enough to finish. If I'm bored with a book, I don't finish it.

I enjoyed Cyress' first book, Mistwood, more than Nightspell. She is an amazing world builder, as apparent in both books. I also find her very original. There are a lot of ghost books out right now where the main character falls in love with a ghost. I don't think I'm giving anything away when I say, that isn't this book. Cypress creates original worlds and characters and problems. I like that.

However, I thought the plot was a little slow. That it took along time for things to happen. A lot of that has to do with the lack of romance in this novel. I like romance in my books. It doesn't have to be a large part of the plot or even have to do with the main character. But in most cases, it has to be somewhere. It was nowhere in Ghostland. I missed it. Lovelessness made it not so enjoyable for me.

The ending was very exciting. I was wanting to know what was going to happen. Then...the last ten pages. ARG! I was disappointed. I wanted it to end differently.

Here's the spoiler:
At the end of the book Darri has a decision to make. Break the spell that keeps the dead living, or don't. She's about to break it, then doesn't because of her sister Callie's insistence that it would be murder. The dead wouldn't get to choose it, Callie says, and Darri didn't have the right to make that decision for them. So Darri doesnt' do it. Which bothered me. Since when do people get to choose when to die? Why should the dead get to choose? They'd had two lives lived, that was plenty. Time to let them go. Especially the ones who were just shadow because they'd been around for so long. So I was disappointed in Darri. Not only that, but the Guardian had said he didn't know what would happen to the dead when the spell was broken. And now we don't either. I would've liked to find.
End of spoiler

Anyway, solid world building and interesting characters. Great for fantasy lovers who don't care if there are actual lovers in the novel.

[Susana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not going to be a review, because I read this years ago, and I can't remember anything besides the pointless last part.

[Chachic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted here.

So I'm usually not a fan of ghost stories but I made an exception with Nightspell because of its intriguing premise. Besides, even if the Ghostland setting is a bit creepy, it wasn't really scary. I'm a big scaredy cat when it comes to ghosts, I don't even watch horror films. I didn't have to worry about that in this book. Darri travels to Ghostland, a country where every murdered person comes back as a ghost to avenge his or her death, only then could they move on. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked out that way in the past hundreds of years. Most ghosts are content to just pretend to be alive instead of focusing on vengeance. They distract themselves with various amusements and the intricacies of court life. The dead would rather exist as ghosts than fade away into the unknown. Also, the ghosts in Nightspell only become insubstantial when they want to. Foreigners are never even sure whether a Ghostlander is alive or dead until they get confirmation. Darri, with her brother Varis, land right smack in the middle of the political conflict between the living and the dead in Ghostland. Add to that her shaky relationship with her both siblings, Callie and Varis, and Darri is one unhappy Ghostland visitor.

I've heard others say that they liked Nightspell more than Mistwood but I like both about the same. Both books are set in the same world but in different places and they share only one common character. Just like Mistwood, there's also a lot of court intrigue in Nightspell and you never know when a character is telling the truth or keeping secrets. I did figure out one plot twist but I was kept guessing for the rest of the book and I enjoy that kind of suspense. I wanted to keep on reading until I discovered how everything fell into place. One minor quibble about the book, I didn't feel like there was enough romance in it but maybe that's just me. I'm kind of used to having a swoon-worthy male lead in my YA fantasy reads. Darri reminded me a bit of Harry from Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword because their names rhyme. Just kidding! It's because Darri is strong-willed, loves to ride horses and is more comfortable in the company of the warriors in her tribe than with the courtiers of Ghostland. Recommended for readers who like their YA epic fantasy with a dash of political intrigue. I'm curious where Leah Cypess will go with her next novel.

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok I'm sorry, I just thought this book was so stupid. It seems a little harsh to give it 1 star but I can't think of anything I liked about it.

First of all, this book is about a place called Ghostland where the dead live among the living, it should be eerie and creepy and suspenseful - it was none of those things, I felt nothing as I read this book. It reminded me of the movie Casper starring Bill Pullman.

This is a 'stand alone companion novel' to Mistwood, the linking character being Prince Rokan's sister, Clarisse. I'm a little embarrassed to admit how far into the book I was before realizing that this was the sister from Mistwood (in my defense, it's been a while since reading Mistwood). However, at the same time, is it my fault that her character is so completely unrecognizable? Once I FINALLY made this connection I was angry at what her character had become and angry that we get absolutely NO explanation on why she turned out the way she did.

Nextly, I felt no connection to any of the characters and no connection between any of the characters: there's the brother and sister who hate each other, there's the two estranged sisters who don't even know each other anymore, there's the dead prince and Darri and nothing's going to happen between them because, let's face it, he's dead.

Next, I didn't understand Darri's repulsion with the dead, the constant shivering in disgust and 'swallowing her bile' (seriously, that phrase appeared on every other page). I mean, these aren't rotting corpses walking around, they're ghosts. Perhaps they're a little creepy and unsettling but to be constantly on the verge of dry heaving made no sense to me.

And finally (well, there are other things but I'll wrap this up), the way it all played out in the end was ridiculous. Everyone kept coming up with all these miraculous conclusions, like a light bulb would go off and suddenly they would just... figure it all out and know EXACTLY what was going on, and I'm sitting there thinking "WAIT, WHAT?? How did they possibly come to that conclusion?!?".

I loved Mistwood, but I thought this 'companion novel' was so dumb, I was very disappointed. I'm not going to NOT recommend this, lots of other people liked this book. If you were a fan of Mistwood, go for it. But it wasn't for me (obviously).

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's terribly confusing that this is supposedly book #2 in the Mistwood series, because I came in with the expectation that I would recognize some characters or at least some elements of the fictional world on which it was based. It would be less misleading if it were labeled a standalone. As it was, I had to force myself to go back and read the excruciatingly bad book #1, and thus now have relegated myself to finish two thoroughly terrible books that are completely unrelated. And now I'm extra grouchy because I've had to read the former book twice for nothing. Oh wait, I knew a name was familiar, Clarisse is the link between the books. The only link.

I don't think I'm particularly stupid, but I had trouble keeping track of the confusing and not terribly original plot. The characters were a bright point, at least two of them were; I found the relationship between the sisters complex and their dynamic interesting, the rest of the characters were as faded as the ghosts that populated this mythical world.

The premise is promising enough. Darri and Callie are princesses of a plains people; to avoid war, Callie (younger sister) is sent off to be a bride in Ghostland. Ghostland is a kingdom where the dead and the living exist side by side. The dead who do not die in peace, or have some unresolved mission in their life remain as ghosts; they are able to become corporeal and are able to occasionally eat or drink. It is now five years later, Callie has grown more familiar with her new world, and harbors a deep resentment of her older sister, Darri, for allowing her to be bartered off to a strange land. Darri is sent there with their brother, to become a bride herself, this time to the prince of the land. There's just one problem, the prince is now a ghost, having been murdered a few weeks before. As foreigners to this strange land, Danni and her brothers are incredibly wary and find the idea of living with ghosts distasteful. Darri has to try to solve the murder of the prince before attempting to escape Ghostland with her siblings.

I didn't like the switching POVs between the characters, it would have worked if it had been just Callie and Darri, but adding in their brother was too much. I didn't feel like he contributed anything to the plot. The ending, like in the previous book, had me scratching my head. What was the point?

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was interesting enough that I finished the whole thing, but the problem I had with both this book and Mistwood was that there was much too much critical information that was just left for the reader to infer. Both books focus very heavily on court intrigue and characters seems to betray each other and change sides endlessly. Now, I love court intrigue books, but I kept feeling like the book thought I was stupid for not understanding what was going on. A bit more context would have really helped.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four years ago, Callie was forced to leave her home and family as part of an arranged marriage to the prince of Ghostland, despite being too young to marry at the time. Still she remained in Ghostland - essentially as a hostage to ensure a tenuous peace between their two countries.

From the day Callie was sent away, Darri vowed to rescue her beloved younger sister. Finally Darri gets her chance when she and her subtly cunning brother Varis travel to Ghostland to deal with the dangerous inhabitants there. More than a simple rescue mission awaits Darri in Ghostland however. Her sister is much changed, the politics of Ghostland are seemingly endless, and the people of Ghostland themselves prove extremely ruthless. That and the fact that it is almost impossible to tell who is still among the living and who is actually a ghost.

Once again, Leah Cypess has caught me with her unique writing, her unforgettable characters and her fantastic pacing in Nightspell. Even after experiencing the fantastic world building of her debut Mistwood, I was enthralled by the complex territory of Ghostland and its inhabitants. Leah Cypess doesn't write easy characters by any means. With the point of view switching from Darri to Callie to Varis and even various Ghostland inhabitants, you are given time to occasionally mistrust or love every single character. Literally everyone had some secret or other up their sleeve and the added tension of complicated court politics ensured that someone was always up to No Good. And that includes the enigmatic and devious Clarisse whom you may remember from Mistwood, who true to form, manages to stir up trouble whatever land she happens to reside in.

As one of those authors who respects her readers enough to not have to spell out every single detail within her stories, Leah Cypess leaves much of the puzzle of Nighspell to her audience to discover. It's a quality I highly appreciate actually. It's also a quality that had me continually flipping back pages trying to work out details and the significance of certain passages. It's work, but a type of work that I enjoy as a reader and something that makes the reading process that much more enjoyable in my book. In other words, Nightspell was one heck of an enjoyable book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. I enjoyed reading this book - it was certainly good entertainment - but I'm not sure if I would recommend it. It's a little slow, and I only stuck it out because the premise - that of a land where murder victims always come back as ghosts and live among the living - was so enthralling. The characters (with one exception) were run-of-the-mill epic fantasy stock, and the plot wasn't particularly complex, but the idea that the living and the dead lived together with hardly any real distinction between the two was really fascinating. It was interesting to see the interplay work out, what with the ghosts' powers and limitations (they must avoid sunlight and silver, they can become transparent and immaterial, some cam change form) and the humans' reactions to them. But I have to be honest, the story itself was unremarkable (seizing the throne, ghosts taking over, blah blah blah), the romance ridiculous, the characters two-dimensional (except for one), the villain unexciting (almost unforgivable - he had such potential), and the resolution nonsensical. BUT one character that I did enjoy was Callie, the younger sister who is trapped in Ghostland (yeah that's its name). She was the only one who I felt was both believable and enjoyable to read.

[diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

rtc

[Whatchyareading]

When I reviewed Mistwood by Leah Cypess last year, I talked about was how refreshing it was to read a young adult book that wasn’t focused solely on a romantic plot. This was also one of my favorite things about Mistwood’s companion novel, Nightspell, which I was lucky enough to get my hands on last week (it comes out tomorrow!). I should really stop saying lucky, since I almost always find books in the bookstore before their release, so I am probably not special. Alas.

I love the plots in the Mistwood novels. There’s enough mystery to keep me interested without it being overly convoluted with red herrings. And her plots move for me. The ghosts made for interesting twists and turns (and an interesting moral question at the end). I will admit that the plot of Nightspell is less fast-paced than that of Mistwood, but this was also a very different book. The mystery drove Mistwood. The characters drive Nightspell.

A book with three different points of view is something I might not normally enjoy as multiple points of view tend to give too much away. Nightspell completely avoided that, and I thought hearing from the three siblings helped keep the plot moving. It was also interesting to see how three people with similar backgrounds and upbringings could be so incredibly different.

Really, that’s what Nightspell is about: Darri and her siblings. The plot in this novel is secondary to the family. That was the plot that drew me in the most. Darri and Callie desperate for the other’s love and approval. Varis, war weary and battle hardened and not at all sure how to be a brother anymore. Darri most of all broke my heart, because she was the one who showed the most willingness to change and the most willingness to help. I loved how she was completely tough as nails when she had to be, but she still had a heart. Not that she was perfect. She wasn’t. The prejudice that she fought to overcome was a great plotline, even better when balanced with her ability to stay true to the life she wants.

Though the world building is great in Nightspell, I almost wish there was a little bit more background given. The plot moves so well that the action really starts at day one with hints about Ghostland dropped throughout. But I wanted to know more. I knew the siblings so well, but I’d have liked to know some of the ghosts better as well. Prince Kestin was a good exception, and I felt we saw a lot of who he was through what we were shown, rather than what we were told.

If I was going to complain about one thing, it would be Clarisse. I loved Clarisse in Mistwood. In fact, when I wrote my review, I said a companion novel would be fine and dandy with me if it was about Clarisse. Her story in this book was so interesting, but I never got enough of it to be satisfied. She felt more like familiar a name than the character I loved and wanted to know more about. That made it hard for me to see this as a “companion” novel. Really, I don’t think it needed to be though. This book stood strong on its own.

Nightspell is a good read, and it’s good fantasy (even if I have to admit to liking Mistwood more). The world-building has a solid foundation which makes the plot so much more readable, and I really liked Darri and her supporting cast, especially Callie and Prince Kestin. And I really, really liked the ending. Really.

Review posted at WhatchYAreading on May 30, 2011.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A place where the dead are both as solid as the living and as shadowy as ghosts - that is where Darri and her brother Varis are riding. Darri’s purpose for coming to Ghostland is simple: to save her sister Callie, who’s been trapped in that ghastly place since she was a child. We’re not sure what is driving Varis: he is all strategy in his stoic, detached way. What we do know is that he strives unwaveringly to do the will of his father, the king, and what’s in the best interest of their country on the plains. But when they finally arrive it’s clear that Darri and Varis’s well-made plans will not last as Callie seems irrevocably changed and Darri’s betrothal to Prince Kestin an unlikely solution for her escape.

The premises to the books in Leah Cypess’s Mistwood series always appear straightforward but anyone who has read Mistwood knows in actuality nothing is as it seems and the motivations of every character will come under question. I appreciated that knowledge going into Nightspell , the companion book to Mistwood . I knew it would make it easier to connect with characters who have slippery motivations without the plot twists that accompany them becoming predictable. It certainly helps that Cypess has created an original, intriguing setting in Ghostland, one I will not forget. Its mysteries slowly begin to unfold in the first chapter and keep you hooked with each reveal of its are-they-or-aren’t-they ghostly players and their machinations.

Going along with the worldbuilding are the themes that accompany a land where everyone becomes a ghost at death. Technically Ghostland inhabitants find immortality in death if they aren't killed permanently by silver or sunlight. But should they exist because they can talk, walk, and look just like their living counterparts? Is the type of existence they have worth living? I personally was enthralled by these ethical questions and the ever present unknown of who is dead and who isn't. In the end though Nightspell is most about the sibling relationships between Darri, Varis and Callie and how underneath the differing motives that drive them there’s still love, devotion, and commitment to each other. As the ending neared I wasn’t sure how all the plot points could be tied up but I was very satisfied in their resolution. Recommended for fans of court politics, intrigue, and young adult fantasy.

[Hirondelle (not getting notifications) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two royal siblings from a Mongol (Hun?) like culture, each sibling with their own agenda, visit the ghostfilled kingdom to which their youngest sister was sent as a treaty bride. It is a different concept, not cookie-cutter fantasy (or is it supposed to be YA?) at all. It is concept, creepy but in a good way. I really liked this.

It is a sequel of sorts to Mistwood, but different in tone. Mistwood was a sort of a fantasy mystery, where plot turned on psychological twists. Nightspell is as well a fantasy mystery, perhaps more politically oriented, but where plot depends a little less on psychological twists. Creepier as well.

It can be read on its own, I think. Maybe it works better on its own. I liked it better, thought it was better written than Mistwood (Browsing other GR reviews, I might be alone in thinking that). Also as a sequel it slightly tarnishes the hope for a Happily Ever After for Mistwood, there are things implied here that feel a bit like a dark shadow looming over parts of the ending of Mistwood. Because of you know dark political forces threaten the welfare of Mistwood in the near future and the Shifter´s powers are no longer tied so strongly to the protection of that Kingdom. I think nobody should really trust Varis for anything.. And then there is that the author really did *this* to Clarisse. The author and character managed to convince that it might not be so tragic after all, but still, oh girl, I was hoping for flowers and puppies for you.

Like in Mistwood, there is potential for a compelling romance Kestin and Clarisse, obviously which feels wasted. There is tension, there is history, there is no resolution, no on-screen coming to terms. I am not even requiring a HEA for those two. Just that we see where their relationship stands by the end of the book, but again, it will happen off screen. I feel slightly cheated about it, specially since I thought this romance much more interesting, in a twisted way, than the one in Mistwood.

Ps - despite it being totally original, Darri and Callie did both, at turns, sometimes remind me a bit of Daenerys Targaryen in AGOT.

[ambyr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is that rarity: an idea-driven YA fantasy. And it's a big idea--big enough to fill all 300+ pages, and, unfortunately, big enough to leave very little space for characters or worldbuilding or anything else. What if the murdered dead came back as ghosts? Not just one exceptional protagonist or antagonist, but all of them? How would this affect society, as the centuries passed and ghosts piled up on ghosts, filling every hall to the rafters? If you knew your afterlife would look just like your life--that you could still talk, dance, and inhabit the spaces you loved (minus, okay, a little sunlight)--would you engineer your own murder? Would you murder a loved one, knowing it would in fact give you more time with them? What does it mean, really, to be alive? Are the ghosts lying to themselves about their existence, or is it truly possible for them to be happy?

I like idea-driven novels, and I find these questions fascinating--enough so that I'm willing to forgive the fact that the country in question is, literally, called "Ghostland," and its culture (except for the ghosts) is Generic Decadent Court #217. (There is a very brief mention of where all the food comes from. I instantly wanted more about that. And how do all the country ghosts hide from the sun? Or do people just not commit murder in the country?) But I wish this were a longer book, one with space for characters, not just archtypes. (Clarisse is the best of the lot--but only because I know her backstory from the otherwise entirely unconnected Mistwood. Without that, she'd just be bafflingly random.)

[ephrielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was more of a two and a half stars read.

The ending was such a disappointing waste of time. I feel as if the whole book was rather a waste. Why bother going through all of that anyway? They didn't accomplish anything. Replacing one evil with another and leaving things in such a tangled way is just sad. I guess I really just don't buy the whole argument that they exist and aren't really dead. That existence shouldn't just be taken from them. Yeah, dead is dead. And sorry but the author took such pains to show us that in fact none of the ghost are happy. They want to be rid of the existence but have no way out. So why the ending is supposed to be satisfying is beyond me. What a messed up conclusion.

On top of that they whole dead thing makes it really hard for me to develop any feelings for them. Perhaps it was my own prejudice, but I suspect it had more to do with the way the whole thing is setup. I am sure I have read books in the past where I was able to connect to a dead person and long for them to be living again. This was certainly not the case. Who cares they are all shallow wispy insubstantial beings I could care less about. Pathetic.

[Liza Wiemer]

NIGHTSPELL is terrific. Leah Cypess created a fascinating & surprising world - Ghostland - where the dead walk around like the living, so much so that it's hard to tell who is alive and who is dead. That is until Leah does an amazing job of describing these ghosts - their smells, their decaying bodies, their special abilities like shifting their shapes into something grotesque. In Ghostland the dead and the living move around side by side, but it isn't all good. The dead want respect, power, and some will do anything to get it, including murder. There are strong female characters - Darri and Callie - and ghosts who create lots of mischief. There were moments when I stopped reading and said to myself, "Wow, how did Leah come up with THAT? So cool!" NIGHTSPELL is part fairy tale, part fantasy and 100% imaginative. Anyone who appreciates YA fantasy novels should not miss this one. I'm really looking forward to the next one. I just hope I don't have to wait too long.

[Christina Lawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably the dumbest book I've read in a long time. If I could compare this book to something, it would be a food that leaves a bad taste in your mouth. I wasted quite a bit of time finishing it, considering the fact that I would either fall asleep or find something more interesting to do - like clip my nails.

Please read this and spare yourself.

I didn't care about any of the characters. The only slightly interesting one was Varis. The pacing dragged and was boring because the characters were acting stupidly with zero reasons. When the reasons are revealed, they are shrug worthy, 'cause like I said, I felt nothing for the characters.

This book inspired me to make a new shelf. I shall call it "snoozeville".

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. I MUCH preferred the first one- Mistwood.

Although this was interesting and refreshing, there was no romance and I still don't quite understand what happened at the end.

Did Callie Make It? Guess well never know. And that, is so damn frustrating.

[Tammie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had a lot of potential but just didn't live up to it. More romance and growth for the characters would have helped.

[Thea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story:

Raellian Prince Varis and Princess Darriniaka, or Darri for short, travel to their neighboring country Ghostland in order to marry off Darri to the Prince of Ghostland to form an alliance with them. However, Darri has other motivations for accepting the proposal; she just wants to take Callie, her younger sister who was also sent off years prior to be married off, out of Ghostland and take her back home to their plains. On the other hand, Varis also has other motivations and is determined to follow through with his father's plan.

When they arrive at Ghostland, they are caught up in a centuries-old conflict between the Living and the Dead while thinking about the alliance between their nations and the relationship between each other.

Nightspell is told in the perspectives of the three Raellian siblings, and it alternates each chapter, or in between each chapter. Having three perspectives was really nice to see because it gave more depth to the Raellian siblings, what they thought of each other, and what happened to them as they end up falling deeper into the events they were dragged into.

For the most part, the story was captivating. The mysteries surrounding the motivations of each character, the conflicts of the Dead and the Living, and the conflicts between the characters themselves were very intriguing. It was so intriguing that I got lost a sometimes ^^;;

But everything made sense when the book ended. :3

What I liked about this book was that the story revolved around sibling relationships; I don't see that often (because every freaking YA book revolves around "not-so-special girls" being attracted to "new, handsome guy in town").

But more about the siblings will be put below~

Another thing that I liked about the plot was that everything was connected -- from the past to now, from the countries, from the people, from the Living and the Dead. I can't exactly describe how I felt, but I'm gonna try. Picture an image showing a thin string. As you zoom out of the image, you can see other strings connected to the first string, and then more strings connected to the newly-seen strings, and then more, and more. Until finally, you get the full picture: a spider web. My experience reading this book is similar to that.

What I didn't like about the story though was that it ended in a semi-cliffhanger! The conflict has found its resolution, but what about the characters?! Will the Raellian siblings find peace back home? What about Kestin? Will he be alright ruling a country that does not want their ruler to be Dead?!

It just leaves some things open, and that just bothers me... I can understand that Cypress might have left it open for the readers to speculate or just imagine what happens next, but...it just doesn't feel satisfying when that happens.

Characters:
The characters in this book are really admiring. They all had their distinguished personalities and motivations, their own thoughts and feelings; they were all believable, and I found myself rooting for them or feeling sorry for them. (They didn't reach "My Children" or "My Precious Child" status, but they reach "Friend" status, and that's pretty close XD)

Varis, the Prince of Raellia, is the eldest brother of Darri and Callie. I pictured him as the anime trope that's cool and collected and badass all at once. He can't be anything but that! Raised out in the plains and as a warrior, Varis is very collected and calm. Given time, he can figure out something from hints or by observation, and he usually is right about his speculations. He's also a great fighter, fast on his feet and fierce by nature. Varis is incredibly loyal to the people he cares about and will do what he can for them, even if they bother him.
I enjoyed his "screen" time. :)

Darrianaka is the first Princess of Raellia, and like her brother, is also quite fierce and intelligent. She is incredibly loyal to Callie and will do whatever it takes for her because Darri promised Callie when they were little. Darri has taken great lengths for Callie, and I just found that admirable.

She has no shame on making social blunders, especially in front of the uptight Ghostlanders (except around Kestin, who makes me fluster from time to time). She has a steel heart and a harsh mouth, and can hold her own when surrounded by enemies; she takes matters into her own hands and will not hesitate to get them bloody in order to get what she wants. In many ways, Darri is a strong female character.

Callie is the youngest of the Raellian siblings, and is the harshest of all of them. Since she was sent off to Ghostland when she was young, she was left alone in the foreign country. With no one to turn to because she was ostracized for being a foreigner, Callie had to make a lot of effort to try to fit in. Now that her siblings are in Ghostland, she resents them for not knowing the customs of Ghostland and resents Darri for failing to uphold her promise years ago -- it's too late now.

Even if Callie is the harshest out of the three siblings, she still does care for Varis and Darri, though shows it the less. And like her siblings, she also is intelligent, plotting and scheming things behind everyone's back.

Kestin is the Prince of Ghostland, the one who Darri (and Callie, but she was too young) was supposed to marry. Out of everyone, Kestin is my favorite one XD He finds amusement from Darri's actions and helps her out with her plans, even if his father would not want him to. He has an easygoing personality and is quite a softy; he still harbors feelings for Clarisse, even though she does not anymore, and is still a gentleman even when he gets rejected in public.

He also quite the schemer as he "sabotages" his cousin's plan to woo Darri when they went hawk hunting (or something... they let hawks go after a prey, and then they go after the hawk), and offered her a way to marry him in case something goes wrong -- a safety net for Darri and for Raellia. He keeps this option open when the Raellian siblings leave in case their nations are on the brink of war in the future.

I love the interactions with Kestin and Darri. They make such a good team XD For example, when Darri "attacked" him, he didn't resent her, and understood that she was doing it for Callie. Once she got what she wanted, he helped enact her plan.

Now let's look at the sibling relationship between Varis, Darri, and Callie. All act hostile to each other, but still show signs of caring for each other. Varis and Darri do not meet eye to eye because Darri blames Varis for Callie moving to Ghostland to be married off. Varis, as the elder brother, understands the responsibilities he needs to do for his nation, and that's why he was fine with his father's plan to marry off Callie. Darri, being the sentimental one and the one most close to Callie, resents Varis for his decisions, and has not forgiven him ever since. Now that they are in Ghostland, Darri can finally save Callie and take her back home, but once she arrives, Callie resents Darri and avoids her because she believes it's too late for Darri to save her.

It's all just a circle of hate between these siblings. But, as they all get caught up in events, they start to depend on each other more and become closer; they all resent another for doing things they don't like, but all three look out for each other because they still love each other. And I just find that beautiful. :')

More examples of their bond:
When Darri needed help, she sought for Varis even though she didn't want to, but she knows she can depend on him. To keep his sister safe, Varis agrees to help Darri and gives her a silver weapon that is concealed in steel (silver is illegal in Ghostland since it hurts the Dead). Varis also helps out Callie and prevents her permanent death when she was going to drink poisoned wine. Silver powder was mixed in with the wine, so if Callie drank it, she would have evaporated -- Darri would have been furious. Varis stopped her from drinking it in the nick of time, and covered up his fear by saying, "I didn't pour this for you." (Which was right, he poured it for Clarisse; he wanted her dead, but, clever as she is, Clarisse avoided it). Callie viewed his actions as brotherly since she was still 14 years old, and that's underage for drinking. Regarding Darri, both Varis and Callie understand her so well that they can predict how Darri would act and react around different kinds of people and situations.

What I absolutely love about the characters, other than their uniqueness and relatability, is that they all get character development (though I will only talk about the Raellian siblings)!

Varis and Darri both were terrified of the Dead because they found it disgusting and creepy that the Dead were wandering around with the living when they shouldn't be, but once they knew that Callie was Dead, they accepted what she is now and is not very bothered by it.

Varis went from being to a I-must-follow-with-my-father's-plans person to someone who thought for himself and what is best for his siblings.

Darri went from being set on freeing Callie from Ghostland to being allowing her to choose if she wants to stay or not. She also went from being focused on Callie to thinking about how other people might feel. When she was about to destroy the source of the spell that allowed the dead to come back to life, she didn't go through with it because she thought about what would happen to other people and their relationships if she does obliterate the spell.

Callie went from being totally resentful to both her siblings to wanting to be with them and come back home with them, even if she is a ghost.

Writing Style and Diction:
Cypress is amazing with her descriptions! They're always so vivid and fluid! I always get lost in the story once the momentum starts.

At the beginning, from the first sentence, everything hit off. There was action; the Dead and what Varis and Darri are like are introduced right off the bat. Cypress does not dilly-dally and delay the story (unlike some novels =___=), and that's what I like about her beginnings.

When there is a fight scene, I can always picture what the characters are doing. It's like I'm watching a shounen anime, and the protagonist is fighting one of the antagonists, like, "HECK YEEEAAA BEAT 'EM UP!! STAB THAT GUT" *fist pump*

Overall Enjoyment:
Nightspell is really a nice book. I liked the allusions to Isabel and Rokan here. References of characters from previous books are always nice XD

The sibling relationships -- not just in the Raellian siblings -- were really nice as well. Family bonds are hard to break since there's always a connection between each other, even if siblings fight most of the time.

The hint of romance developing between Kestin and Darri was also cute to see. It would have been nice to get a conclusion though! This is not a shoujo series, Cypress! It sucks when the author dangles a string of romance in front of you, but never actually delivers! *pulls hair* I can understand why Cypress did not fully go into the romance element since the story revolves around siblings, but that unanswered side plot is leaving a huge hole of unsatisfaction in my heart *clutches chest* Whyyyyyy

Final Verdict:
With all those things taken into consideration, Nightspell gets a 3.5 out of 5 Silver Daggers.

Even with the amazing cast and their nice interactions, the unraveling of the story, and the beautiful linguistics, the book still does not make me feel like I enjoyed it. I don't know... This book is higher than average, but it does not reach "Amazing" or "Masterpiece" status, though it could have been if it elicited some feelings from me other than sympathy, shounen feels, and some satisfaction... It would have a 4 if it met all those mentioned, AND CONCLUDED THE SIDE PLOT BETWEEN KESTIN AND DARRI!

[Alison (AlisonCanRead) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The young adult genre is full of fast, easy reads. And that is fine with me. I like being entertained without having to think too much. Sometimes though, having to do a little work to read a book is worthwhile. Leah Cypess' novels are not easy. You aren't flipping through the pages in great suspense; instead, you carefully read each page, because the little things are important. You don't spend half the novel sighing over the handsome hero; instead you savor complex, not always likable characters. Add to that a completely foreign world, where the only features familiar to us are political intrigue and human frailties and you have a lot to learn in one novel.

Leah Cypess is one of the new great high fantasy authors. She writes novels geared to teens, but mature enough to be enjoyed by adults. While high fantasy is still a relatively new genre for me, she is one of the best I've read at world-building. Nightspell is set in Ghostland, a kingdom where ghosts and the living reside together. Most of the novel takes place in a single castle and its surrounding grounds. With a limited setting, the reader becomes intimately familiar with the castle rather than be confused by an entire town's worth of houses, shops, etc. The castle feels medieval - I picture richly colored clothing and tapestries but a pervasive sense of darkness. It keeps the characters - and the reader - constantly on guard.

The idea of the ghosts is also fully explored. We learn what the ghosts are, how they came to be, and the difficulties of living/dead interactions. The ghosts are delightfully spine-chilling. At various times in the book, I hated, feared, cared for, and pitied the ghostly characters.

Ultimately, Nightspell is a character driven novel. It's slow and meandering. The plot flows smoothly, but takes its time to make sure the reader understands the good and bad of all the main characters. In addition to focusing on the individuals, Nightspell is a tale of family - of the bonds between siblings and how they can be broken and strengthened. The story alternates between the points of view of three siblings: Darri, Callie, and Varis. It takes a few chapters to get used to the switch, but I soon recognized each character's inner voice as soon as the viewpoint changed.

Darri is a fierce, hardened fighter. She is determined to save her little sister from a life in Ghostland, even if it means sacrificing Darri's future. Varis is the oldest brother, groomed to rule their land. He knows the ins and outs of the local politics of his kingdom and appears to place that ahead of his sisters. Callie is no longer the scared little girl who came to Ghostland four years before. She appears as refined and haughty as the Ghostland natives. To Darri's surprise, she doesn't welcome her siblings with open arms and isn't looking to go home. Callie was my favorite character. I loved understanding the mixture of anger, love, and resentment she had for her siblings. I enjoyed seeing how she adapted to Ghostland life, knowing the intricacies of the culture but always being an outsider. Overall, I loved how the relationship between the siblings broke down and healed over the course of the book.

While the characters are the most interesting part of Nightspell, there is a plot. Or more appropriately, plots, for there are multiple. Darri is trying to rescue Callie. Prince Kestin of Ghostland is trying to secure his place in the kingdom, which is not the sure thing it once was. The ghosts and the living are grasping over power. The stories are mysterious. It's not particularly suspenseful, but is consistently interesting. There was one specific point about halfway through where I gasped at the end of a chapter when the story took a turn that I never expected.

My only disappointment with Nightspell was Clarisse. I loved her enigmatic personality in Mistwood, her intelligence, her mixed motives. I was thrilled to see her in Nightspell, but I didn't think she lived up to Mistwood. She isn't a one-dimensional character, but she doesn't have the depth that she did in Mistwood. Perhaps it's because she's not as central a character.

Nightspell is a wonderfully intelligent story. It's not the easiest book, but if you put a little into it, it will give ten times back. If you like character-driven novels, family relationships, fabulous world-building, and nearly romance-less book, you'll love Nightspell.

Rating: 4 / 5

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a giveaway!!! Make sure to check out Bewitched Bookworms were you can find my review of both Mistwood and Nightspell, plus enter the giveaway for a copy of each of these books!! The giveaway closes on July 1st, 2011.

Let's indulge cutie for a moment whilst she explains the obvious.
So, a story line is the A to B to C which eventually will get us to Z of a story. It's everything that happens and then some, whilst a plot is the twists and turns that are thrown into the story which manipulate it or in other words, it's all the drama and dum.dum.dum moments. The plot gives the story substance, meaning, a reason. It makes the story interesting and helps drive it toward point Z. See, college ain't a complete waste of time.*rolls eyes at self*


cutie now gives ya her thoughts:
If Mistwood's plot was confusing, Nightspell's was nonexistent. There was a story, that's for sure. It's setting was mysterious and beautiful, however, I have no clue how it was the same setting as Mistwood (??). It's back history was interesting if not muddy. And it's characters were plentiful, powerful, and yet they really didn't do anything. I think there were a few love stories... but I'm not sure. I think the world was made better.... but I'm not sure. I think.... I'm beyond confused.

A hundred pages into the story I had no clue where it was going, what the main goal of the characters were, nor did I understand why I was reading this tale. And by the end of the story I felt no resolution nor was I any closer to understanding who the antagonist was or what the premise of this story was.

Nightspell is told from the prospective of at least three characters who are all siblings: Varis (a know-it-all warrior who was constantly being taken by surprise), Callie (the youngest sibling who had been sent to Ghostland to marry the prince), and Darri (an extremely head-strong and stubborn character who wants to save her sister). Outside of Callie who grows somewhat, all the characters remained steadfast in both their convictions and prejudices. I didn't feel there was any resolution to this story nor to their relationship issues. Added to this, each of the characters seemed to have love interests: Varis' never made sense, Darri was muddy at best and I was sad it wasn't more flushed out, and Callie's assumed main squeeze was tossed away without acknowledgment.

But mostly, I'm just unsure what was going on. There were moments when characters would suddenly just get it but I never did. For example, Varis at one point confronts a secondary character Clarssie about her past and her family, but I'm still not sure what it all meant, it was so vague and without substance or explanation, and yet it was this huge moment in which they connected.... And the sudden ending, with so many loose ends left unexplained, just left me on edge.

However, despite all of this, the story was enjoyable (I know, right? I'm not sure how), if for no other reason then I was completely drawn into the setting and found the writer's style both beautiful and enchanting. I have never felt so conflicted whilst reading a book. A part of me was completely in love with the story line, the potential for epic greatness, while the other part of me wanted to call up the author and ask her what the hell was going on!

[Brandy Painter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars I did like it better than Mistwood

Originally posted here.

Nightspell by Leah Cypess is a companion novel to her debut, Mistwood. It can be read as a stand alone novel, the two only share one character and you don't need to know her story from the first novel to enjoy or understand this one.

Despite what the synopsis may lead you to believe, Darri is really not the main character. Or at least not all by herself. She shares that position with both her siblings, Callie and Varis, and also with Clarisse. Of the lot of them Darri was actually the one I found the least interesting. She is one of those hard headed stubborn types who has firm opinions, but doesn't seemed to have done much analyzing to arrive at those opinions. Varis and Clarisse were by far my favorite characters. They were certainly not always likable, not even a little bit, but man oh man are they are interesting. They too have firm ideas about what needs to be done, but at least there is evidence that they think things through carefully, and even when you think the choices they make are reprehensible you can see why they are making them. The interactions between the two of them were my favorite parts of the book.

Cypess has a real talent for drawing a reader into a story. There is plenty of intrigue, mystery, and complicated maneuvering going on amongst the members of the court to keep a reader engrossed until the end. However, once I reached the end I was so frustrated. (This happened when I read Mistwood too.) The troubling thing about it is I can't explain why I'm frustrated because that would involve giving away spoilers. I'll just say that I felt there were several holes left in the plot at that the end.

I do like the way the ghosts were portrayed as clinging to an artificiality and that they were not enjoying eternal life, but rather eternal death. I also enjoyed that this was a sibling story as much as it was a ghost or fantasy intrigue story. The relationship between Varis, Darri, and Callie is portrayed very realistically and I loved that element.

This is a good book to recommend to anyone who enjoys slightly creepy stories and complex relationships.

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com.

I love Historical Fantasy. Maybe not as much as Small, but plenty, but my obsession is healthy enough. When I read Mistwood last year, I was pleased with it, but also aware of a slight dissatisfaction. I think it stems from the fact that, though Cypess' novels (and I say this based on the only two she's written) do not quite make the "Smidge of romance" grade. They have happy endings in that the conflict is resolved--not, generally without some kind of loss--but the romance generally ends with some acknowledgment (unspoken, probably) that the couple has feelings for one another, but circumstances force them to part. This is simply too much for my poor little romantic heart. If a couple has to part at the end of the novel, I like to be assured in some small way that there is hope for them in the future. Leah Cypess does not give me that, which I can only say is disappointing, given her clear ability to create characters that I grow to care about, and in whose happiness I find myself invested.
I also found that Cypess erred on the side of caution regarding exposition. As every reader knows, exposition can be both wearisome and an inducement to eye-rolling. It's generally considered bad form, and writers avoid it at all cost (well, not all writers...anyway, you get it), but Cypess goes so far out of her way to avoid exposition, that there were times when I was downright lost. If you're going to create an alternate world with rules different from ours, you have to do a little expositing. The ability to do so skillfully is a thing that defines a really, really, greatly awesome writer.
Now, that doesn't meant that I didn't enjoy Nightspell. There was a lot to like here, and I hope that Cypess keeps creating within this world, and in the historical fantasy vein. If she never lets her heroine get her man, I might reconsider that statement. I think Cypess is a really talented writer to watch out for. My hope is that she'll continue to hone her incredible potential and one day, it'll be her name on the cover of the book that makes smile and sigh as I reach the last word on the last page.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nightspell was an incredibly unique and alluring high fantasy novel. Even though this is considered a companion novel to Mistwood, you don't have to have read it (like me) to comprehend what is going on. I think my favorite aspect of Nightspell was the originality and world building. The idea of Ghostland was so different from anything I've read before and the characters were all complex and well developed. The story opens with Darri and her brother, Varis, riding to Ghostland to rescue their younger sister, Callie. Callie was taken from her homeland and brought to this frightening kingdom where the dead and living roam side by side when she was just a child. Now, Darri finally has the chance to go rescue her, but things turn out a lot differently than she ever imagined.

There is tons of action in Nightspell and the plot twists kept me guessing until the end. I loved how I never knew where the story was going and whether a character was dead or alive. This may sound strange, but, as I mentioned above, the living and dead reside together in Ghostland. Because of a curse put on the land years previous, anyone who is murdered in Ghostland comes back as a ghost. The dead work hard to blend in with the living and you aren’t always sure who is still “breathing”. I loved this aspect of the story and it was an original idea for sure. Nightspell is part mystery, part fantasy, part romance, and so much more.

The characters in Nightspell were strong and independent. Darri was an extremely brave protagonist and she did whatever she could to help her sister. Darri and her brother, Varis, learn a lot about both Ghostland and their long lost sister over the course of the story and there are some surprising things revealed.

I am so glad I took the time to read this, it was a great sophomore novel and I am even more anxious to read Mistwood now to find any connections between the two.

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nightspell is an alluring spellbinding fantasy with a fantastic twist. The story's strong characters, and unique world, Ghostland, make Nightspell the perfect companion novel to Leah Cypess's debut novel, Mistwood.

The story centers on Darri who's traveling with her brother, Prince Varis, to rescue their youngest sister Callie. Callie was taken a few years ago and brought to the dreaded Ghostland. In this land where the living and the dead live side by side, nothing is what it seems, even for Callie. Darri, the story's main character and Callie are both strong characters, and I was really surprised at how much I ended up liking Darri. By the end of the story I completely understood her motives for her actions through out the book. The character who surprised me the most was Clarisse, who is also in Mistwood.

I am a sucker for strong, independent, well written characters, which Nightspell has a lot of. I loved the action, the subtle romance, the tension and character chemistry that happens between both the living and the dead. The deception between the characters was brilliant. It kept me glued to the pages, because I had to know what happened next. Leah Cypress really delivers a one of the kind fantasy story filled with in-depth plot twists. I really enjoyed the mythology that centers on Ghostland, as it explains why ghosts and the living are allowed to live side by side, and it's this part of the story that I was the most fascinated with.

Leah Cypess is an engaging fantasy story teller, and has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I loved her debut book Mistwood and really enjoyed reading Nightspell. I want to point out that Nightspell is not a sequel, but a companion book in the series, which can also be read as a stand alone. If you love reading fantasy I highly recommend picking up both books!

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe more like three and a quarter stars. Better than her first book in this series/universe. Not by a whole lot, but more than enough to be an interesting read. I don't know whether the author found an editor or got a different one, but the writing improved to the point that it seems to be one or the other. Far more showing instead of telling, the mystery was more engaging and puzzling (still easy to figure out, but it still unfolded far better than the last one), the characters were much more three dimensional and as such, I was able to care about them and their situations. Granted, there were exceptions to that; anyone outside the main characters tended towards the two-dimensional side, but they were still interesting.

The narrative itself managed to convey a real sense of the creepy, which I appreciated. Nothing in this book should've been comfortable and it wasn't, at all; well done in that respect. The ending could've fallen into the trap of a pat resolution, and it didn't. The harder road was taken which isn't something I see much of in YA fiction, and I like it. Sometimes life doesn't have a good solution and it's nice to see a fantasy novel reflect that.

Overall a much better read and better writing all around. I won't be raving about this one, but unlike the previous book, I'd probably recommend this one.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me just say right up front that I will read anything that Leah Cypess writes. She could make the contents of Cheerios interesting. This book clinched her spot in my top ten authors so I hope that she will write quickly and produce more, more and more!

The characters in this book were varied and had a depth that was carried throughout the novel. Darri was well drawn and a heroine who will do anything to get her sister back. Her fierceness was evident in every breath. The places that Cypess takes her character leaves the reader saying she did not just do that, but oh yes she did.

The political intrigue which was front and center in Mistwood is also evident in this book. One of the characters from Mistwood makes her appearance and manages to manipulate the situation just as she did in Mistwood. This character is one of the most well developed background characters I have read. She is complex and layered leaving the reader to wonder exactly what she is going to do next.

I hope there will be more to the Mistwood series. I see that Cypess is writing a different series, but that won't be published until 2014. Sigh.

[Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2011/03/...


MY REVIEW

It’s been years since Darri’s sister Callie was taken to Ghostland to marry the prince and solidify a political relationship between their people. Darri blames herself every day for allowing Callie to be taken away, and vows to bring her home. When Darri turns 17 and her father decides to offer her as the prince’s bride instead, she sees her chance to rescue Callie and bring her home for good. Instead, when Darri and her brother arrive in Ghostland, nothing is as it seems, and Darri could never have guessed that maybe Callie doesn’t want to be rescued.

I really enjoyed this novel! This was my introduction to Leah Cypess and I was so glad I picked it up! Ms. Cypess creates a world where the living and the dead live side by side, in not so perfect harmony, court intrigue abounds, and no one can be trusted! Lost of adventure, and a hint of romance round out a very nicely crafted fantasy! I’ll definitely be back for more from this author!

[Becca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh..... this book was okay, maybe a 1.5. I kind of liked Mistwood, so I thought that this book would be just as interesting. But no. No it's not. The plot is confusing, thee characters are all static and basically do the same things over and over again....about halfway through the book I just wanted it to be over. With less then 100 pages left, I had to stop. I couldn't read anymore. There was also the extremely disgusting part where she is describing a murder, and vividly talking about how the red blood flowed and splashed, and the slicing of the knife and all sorts of nasty. Also, after a while the whole ghost thing and there little tricks just gets old and boring. And then there's even the cover, with St. Mont-Micheal on it, which is a French castle-what does that even have do with anything?! I would not reccomend this book. You will either get really bored or really annoyed halfway through.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise about two neighboring kingdoms that misunderstand one another, one kingdom composed of the living and the other composed of the dead. This had remarkable potential for an off-beat love story, or for discourse on family relationships, or even the challenges of making sense of our differences. It would also have been interesting to further explore what death means. In the end, I wasn't particularly impressed with the plot or the characters. It always seemed like something lovely was about to happen that never actually happened. Leah Cypress writes well, but I couldn't help but feel like this was a lackluster effort. Possibly rushed out by a publisher? In fairness my criticism may come on the heels of The Graveyard Book. I can't help but compare all ghost stories to Neil Gaiman's perfect book.

Recommend for: fans of young adult fiction, ghost stories, princess tales, strange princes.