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The Vespertine #1
The Vespertine
It?s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to
take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing,
dreamlike visions she has only at sunset?visions that offer glimpses of the future.
Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. But when one
of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia?s world is thrown into chaos. And those
around her begin to wonder if she?s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.
take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing,
dreamlike visions she has only at sunset?visions that offer glimpses of the future.
Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. But when one
of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia?s world is thrown into chaos. And those
around her begin to wonder if she?s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.
293 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
44 people are currently reading
9620 people want to read
About the author
Saundra Mitchell
30 books577 followersSaundra Mitchell is the author of SHADOWED SUMMER, THE VESPERTINE, THE SPRINGSWEET, THE ELEMENTALS, MISTWALKER, and ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK. In non-fiction, she’s the author of the non-fiction THEY DID WHAT!? series for middle grade readers. Her first adult novel, THIS SIDE OF GONE, will be published by William Morrow in January 2026.
She’s also the co-author of the CAMP MURDERFACE series with Josh Berk, and the editor of four YA anthologies: DEFY THE DARK, ALL OUT, OUT NOW, and OUT THERE. She also adapted the hit Broadway Musical THE PROM for teen readers!
Mitchell writes under multiple pen names, including Jessa Holbrook (WHILE YOU’RE AWAY,) Alex Mallory (WILD,) and Rory Harrison (LOOKING FOR GROUP.)
SHADOWED SUMMER was the 2010 winner of The Society of Midland Authors Book Award for Children’s Fiction and a 2010 Edgar® Award Nominee. It was chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection and an ALAN Pick in 2009. In 2020, ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK was a Lambda Finalist, and the winner of the Indiana Authors Award for Young Adult Fiction.
Her short story “Ready to Wear” was nominated for a 2007 Pushcart Prize after appearing in Vestal Review Issue 27. Her short fiction and non-fiction has appeared in anthologies including TRANSMOGRIFY!, FORESHADOW, YOU TOO?, A TYRANNY OF PETTICOATS, FORETOLD, and DEAR BULLY.
For twenty years, she was the head screenwriter and an executive producer with Dreaming Tree Films on their various teen filmmaking programs, including the largest teen filmmaking program in the United States, Fresh Films. They produced more than four hundred films from her screenplays, and she earned Academy Award eligibility ten times during her tenure.
In other arenas, Ms. Mitchell was interviewed by the New York Times and the BBC for her part in exposing the Kaycee Nicole hoax, and she’s been tapped by morning radio shows all over the United States as a guest expert on Urban Legends & Folklore.
In her free time, she enjoys fandom, studying history, playing ttrpgs and video games, and spending time with her wife and daughters. Her pronouns are she/they.
She’s also the co-author of the CAMP MURDERFACE series with Josh Berk, and the editor of four YA anthologies: DEFY THE DARK, ALL OUT, OUT NOW, and OUT THERE. She also adapted the hit Broadway Musical THE PROM for teen readers!
Mitchell writes under multiple pen names, including Jessa Holbrook (WHILE YOU’RE AWAY,) Alex Mallory (WILD,) and Rory Harrison (LOOKING FOR GROUP.)
SHADOWED SUMMER was the 2010 winner of The Society of Midland Authors Book Award for Children’s Fiction and a 2010 Edgar® Award Nominee. It was chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection and an ALAN Pick in 2009. In 2020, ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK was a Lambda Finalist, and the winner of the Indiana Authors Award for Young Adult Fiction.
Her short story “Ready to Wear” was nominated for a 2007 Pushcart Prize after appearing in Vestal Review Issue 27. Her short fiction and non-fiction has appeared in anthologies including TRANSMOGRIFY!, FORESHADOW, YOU TOO?, A TYRANNY OF PETTICOATS, FORETOLD, and DEAR BULLY.
For twenty years, she was the head screenwriter and an executive producer with Dreaming Tree Films on their various teen filmmaking programs, including the largest teen filmmaking program in the United States, Fresh Films. They produced more than four hundred films from her screenplays, and she earned Academy Award eligibility ten times during her tenure.
In other arenas, Ms. Mitchell was interviewed by the New York Times and the BBC for her part in exposing the Kaycee Nicole hoax, and she’s been tapped by morning radio shows all over the United States as a guest expert on Urban Legends & Folklore.
In her free time, she enjoys fandom, studying history, playing ttrpgs and video games, and spending time with her wife and daughters. Her pronouns are she/they.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 632 reviews
April 10, 2011
This book should be the chiz, right? Gorgeous cover, intriguing premise, and interesting title. But no. No. Not at all.
I took me a couple months to read this book. DOS MESES. I had to force myself to read it, and I insisted on finishing it. This book was a test of my endurance, and I was not going to let it win.
This book was just a hunka hot mess. The prose was off and stilted. Mitchell tried to hard to sound like a Bronte or Jane Austen, but it just made the prose convoluted. I had NO IDEA what was happening most of the time, or who was speaking, because the vocabulary and sentence structure would be so jacked up. That is the opposite of what writing should do. I got a bad taste in my mouth from the very first sentence.
And nothing freaking happened in the book! Just Amelia and Zora being all dramatic and giggly. I hate dramatic gigglers. The cover has the girl running from something with this fearful look on her face.....yeah, nothing like that. Like I said, maybe it did, but I couldn't tell because the writing was so effin horrible.
And what was with Nathaniel? He was the wind or something? He was so creepy. He would just pop in, say something dramatic, touch Amelia's face, and then vanish. I don't get the romance.
I really, really, really, don't understand the the point of this novel. The reader knows the ending before hand, which makes the whole thing (why was it so long! It could have been 4 chapters, easy!) doubly pointless. Just a big anti-climax.
UGGGGHHHH.
SO FRUSTRATING
HOW THE HECK DOES SHE HAVE HER POWERS ANYWAY? That was barely even touched upon! Amelia was more concerned that some boy passed a freakin pencil to her cousin in school (since when do Victorian age ladies have co-ed classes!?), then these mysterious visions that foretell people's death.
Gah, so histrionic.
Dislike. Dislike. Dislike. If this book comes near me again, I will burn it. That's the most action it will have ever seen.
I took me a couple months to read this book. DOS MESES. I had to force myself to read it, and I insisted on finishing it. This book was a test of my endurance, and I was not going to let it win.
This book was just a hunka hot mess. The prose was off and stilted. Mitchell tried to hard to sound like a Bronte or Jane Austen, but it just made the prose convoluted. I had NO IDEA what was happening most of the time, or who was speaking, because the vocabulary and sentence structure would be so jacked up. That is the opposite of what writing should do. I got a bad taste in my mouth from the very first sentence.
And nothing freaking happened in the book! Just Amelia and Zora being all dramatic and giggly. I hate dramatic gigglers. The cover has the girl running from something with this fearful look on her face.....yeah, nothing like that. Like I said, maybe it did, but I couldn't tell because the writing was so effin horrible.
And what was with Nathaniel? He was the wind or something? He was so creepy. He would just pop in, say something dramatic, touch Amelia's face, and then vanish. I don't get the romance.
I really, really, really, don't understand the the point of this novel. The reader knows the ending before hand, which makes the whole thing (why was it so long! It could have been 4 chapters, easy!) doubly pointless. Just a big anti-climax.
UGGGGHHHH.
SO FRUSTRATING
HOW THE HECK DOES SHE HAVE HER POWERS ANYWAY? That was barely even touched upon! Amelia was more concerned that some boy passed a freakin pencil to her cousin in school (since when do Victorian age ladies have co-ed classes!?), then these mysterious visions that foretell people's death.
Gah, so histrionic.
Dislike. Dislike. Dislike. If this book comes near me again, I will burn it. That's the most action it will have ever seen.
February 17, 2011
God!! How to start this review!!!!!!!!!! First, I need to say that finishing this book was a real feat of strength and took every ounce of patience I had in reserve. This is me after I finished the novel:
Now that we established that let's start with the review: Amelia is a 16 year old girl who moves to Baltimore and to her cousin's house in the summer of 1889 in order to get acquainted with eligible young bachelors of similar status and find a husband. She and Zora, her cousin, quickly become best friends and Zora soon goads Amelia to explore and use her newfound gift-to see glimpses of the future-for entertainment. In the meantime Amelia falls in love with Nathaniel, a mysterious bohemian artist and thus a forbidden match for her, since he's beneath her station. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies but what happens when her forebodings turn inauspicious? And is Nathaniel keeping secrets of his own?
This was a book I REALLY wanted to read and the blurb sounded tantalizing and promishing, the reality though couldn't be more of a let down.
First things first I'll start with the good stuff, the novel had beautiful and lush prose that was even evocative at times and was really fitting of the Victorian like era. The description of the late 19th century Baltimore was wonderfully done as was the depiction of the society at that time. You get a very good picture of what was considered exceptable for a young lady back then (not many things) and you sympathise with Zora's and Amelia's frustration and tendency for mischief or "wicked acts" as the girls called them.
Amelia and Zora's personalities are satisfactory portrayed and there's depth to them with Zora being the bright star and Amelia being the more introvert type but with a dry wit and moments of audacity. It was nice watching their easy friendship bloom and how they came to rely upon and support each other!
And now THE UGLY STUFF
Though the first 10 pages or so manage to get you hooked by giving you a tingle of impeding DOOM ...200pages later nothing has happened!!!! SERIOUSLY NOTHING!!!!!!! We just see the girls talk about their feelings and wants, hung out together with other girls and boys in parks, promenades and balls, dance, practice archery, flirt and go to school. Sure Amelia sees glimpses of the future but even that she doesn't do it that often ...until after the middle of the book. I wouldn't mind (that much) all these if there was a plot somewhere in there, a momentum to carry the story forward, alas, what I was thinking while reading the book was Plot...where art thou? The second thought I had was poking my eyes out, I thout it would be far more interesting ...and less painfull? I know! Sick thought but I was growing desperate.
And what can I say about the romance between Nathaniel and Amelia? To say that it was under-developed would be an understatement!! The moment Amelia sees him feels an instant and overwhelming attraction while Nathaniel appears throughout the novel out of thin air, drops a sexy vague line and disappears the same way and that's almost what we know about him-ok we learn something more but would be a spoiler if revealed-so of course this is enough to lead to passionate declarations of love from both sides faster than you can say WHIPLASH!
So why 3stars instead of 2? Because of the last 80pages where everything literally go to hell, we're talking about ancient greek tragedy/going to hell proportions (being Greek I know what I'm talking about) the pace didn't just pick up in these last pages, it made an olympic record and the twist was so unexpected eventhough you knew it was coming that almost took my breath away!
So!! This was a book with a lot of potential and a failed execution.
This novel was received by NetGalley for reviewing, thank you NetGalley :)
Now that we established that let's start with the review: Amelia is a 16 year old girl who moves to Baltimore and to her cousin's house in the summer of 1889 in order to get acquainted with eligible young bachelors of similar status and find a husband. She and Zora, her cousin, quickly become best friends and Zora soon goads Amelia to explore and use her newfound gift-to see glimpses of the future-for entertainment. In the meantime Amelia falls in love with Nathaniel, a mysterious bohemian artist and thus a forbidden match for her, since he's beneath her station. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies but what happens when her forebodings turn inauspicious? And is Nathaniel keeping secrets of his own?
This was a book I REALLY wanted to read and the blurb sounded tantalizing and promishing, the reality though couldn't be more of a let down.
First things first I'll start with the good stuff, the novel had beautiful and lush prose that was even evocative at times and was really fitting of the Victorian like era. The description of the late 19th century Baltimore was wonderfully done as was the depiction of the society at that time. You get a very good picture of what was considered exceptable for a young lady back then (not many things) and you sympathise with Zora's and Amelia's frustration and tendency for mischief or "wicked acts" as the girls called them.
Amelia and Zora's personalities are satisfactory portrayed and there's depth to them with Zora being the bright star and Amelia being the more introvert type but with a dry wit and moments of audacity. It was nice watching their easy friendship bloom and how they came to rely upon and support each other!
And now THE UGLY STUFF
Though the first 10 pages or so manage to get you hooked by giving you a tingle of impeding DOOM ...200pages later nothing has happened!!!! SERIOUSLY NOTHING!!!!!!! We just see the girls talk about their feelings and wants, hung out together with other girls and boys in parks, promenades and balls, dance, practice archery, flirt and go to school. Sure Amelia sees glimpses of the future but even that she doesn't do it that often ...until after the middle of the book. I wouldn't mind (that much) all these if there was a plot somewhere in there, a momentum to carry the story forward, alas, what I was thinking while reading the book was Plot...where art thou? The second thought I had was poking my eyes out, I thout it would be far more interesting ...and less painfull? I know! Sick thought but I was growing desperate.
And what can I say about the romance between Nathaniel and Amelia? To say that it was under-developed would be an understatement!! The moment Amelia sees him feels an instant and overwhelming attraction while Nathaniel appears throughout the novel out of thin air, drops a sexy vague line and disappears the same way and that's almost what we know about him-ok we learn something more but would be a spoiler if revealed-so of course this is enough to lead to passionate declarations of love from both sides faster than you can say WHIPLASH!
So why 3stars instead of 2? Because of the last 80pages where everything literally go to hell, we're talking about ancient greek tragedy/going to hell proportions (being Greek I know what I'm talking about) the pace didn't just pick up in these last pages, it made an olympic record and the twist was so unexpected eventhough you knew it was coming that almost took my breath away!
So!! This was a book with a lot of potential and a failed execution.
This novel was received by NetGalley for reviewing, thank you NetGalley :)
December 28, 2010
Eh, nothing to write home about.
Two things work for this story: the gorgeous cover and the book's concept - a mix of supernatural and historical fiction. But the final product is just not very enticing. The prose attempts to be historically appropriate but comes off as labored and too flowery. As for the plot, I only have read two chapters and have no will to continue.
I am sure there will be readers satisfied with this novel, but I have read better. 30 pages is enough page-time to recognize this book is not going to work for me.
Two things work for this story: the gorgeous cover and the book's concept - a mix of supernatural and historical fiction. But the final product is just not very enticing. The prose attempts to be historically appropriate but comes off as labored and too flowery. As for the plot, I only have read two chapters and have no will to continue.
I am sure there will be readers satisfied with this novel, but I have read better. 30 pages is enough page-time to recognize this book is not going to work for me.
March 20, 2011
If The Vespertine had begun with the same awesomeness with which it concluded, it would have been a five-star read! Unfortunately, about eighty percent of the book was devoted to the sort of utterly terrible writing that made me want to pull my hair out. The plot inched along, hidden somewhere in the midst of fashion, parties and giggling girls.
Amelia van der Broek has been sent to Baltimore by her brother to contract a suitable marriage. She is invited to stay at her cousin's house, where she almost immediately becomes fast friends with the daughter of the house, Zora Stewart. Amelia also immediately falls for a penniless artist, Nathaniel Witherspoon, who is invited to dinner on her first day in Baltimore. She discovers on the very same day that she has suddenly acquired a new power, that of being able to foresee the future in a vision, but only at sunset. After this highly eventful first day, Mitchell decides to give her heroine a break from the drama and instead writes endlessly about mindless nothing. It isn't until much later that Baltimore society discovers Amelia's talent for prediction and begins to solicit her company. Inevitably, Amelia's visions turn dark, tragedy strikes, she becomes an outcast and begins to doubt her powers.
I really struggled with the writing style in this book. Who knew the left hand was also called the sinister hand?! And that Arabers, in Baltimore slang were actually outdoor vendors? But it wasn't just the use of archaic terms that made the writing hard-to-digest. In an effort to replicate a late-eighteenth century voice, Saundra Mitchell goes overboard. The conversations are overly-formal and phrased awkwardly. The descriptions are wordy and cumbersome. The entire tone of the book screams 'trying too hard'. This pseudo-Victorian work of fiction was harder to understand and process than all of the actual Victorian literature I have read.
The plot is like swiss cheese. Amelia's power is the worst-developed paranormal trope I have seen in a long time. For this sort of power, there ought to be a threshold, or a place of power; so why do her visions start only when she comes to Baltimore? What set them off? Why didn't she get them in Broken Tooth before? How did she get them in Broken Tooth after?
And it's not just the supernatural elements that are badly-thought out. There is also the fact that there are an unbelievable number of completely unnecessary side-dramas ruining the pacing of the book. For example, when Zora and Amelia are in Annapolis, they are sitting around the day after the ball and discussing their matrimonial prospects and then the daughter-heiress describes her ideal husband, etc, etc. This take up about ten pages, easy, but what's the point?! It doesn't develop plot or character, it's just randomly thrown in there because someone was too lazy to edit it out. Same with the incident where they all go to practice their archery and Amelia kills the dove. Why was that incident even there? It had no relevance beyond the immediate telling.
I have curiously mixed feelings about the romance in this book. On the one hand, Amelia's blind attraction Nathaniel repulses me; at the same time, I am excited by her bid for freedom and the intensity of her passion as she abandons all her scruples and dances with disaster. My inner conflict reminded me of my experience with I'll Never Be Young Again, one of my favourite Du Maurier books, so I had to grudgingly give Mitchell a brownie point for that. Just one, mind you.
Nathaniel is a very unconvincing love interest in and of himself. The author is stingy with details about him, and he ends up being a very flat character; I couldn't help but wonder why Amelia was so blindly and passionately in love with someone she knew so little. But that is the YA trend, be it Victorian America or contemporary, so I'll have to suck it up and deal with it.
This book got two stars only because the last quarter of the book became REALLY interesting and exciting. Once Mitchell got into the meat of the story, she lost her awkwardness, her writing smoothed out, and things got really heated! But as always, I have no patience with books that wait until the last fifty pages to actually produce a story. The rest of this book was an unutterably boring round of socializing, talking endlessly and dancing. My suggestion? Don't bother, unless you're really desperate!
Disclosure: A copy of this book was given to me by the publishers via Net Galley. No external considerations affected this review.
Amelia van der Broek has been sent to Baltimore by her brother to contract a suitable marriage. She is invited to stay at her cousin's house, where she almost immediately becomes fast friends with the daughter of the house, Zora Stewart. Amelia also immediately falls for a penniless artist, Nathaniel Witherspoon, who is invited to dinner on her first day in Baltimore. She discovers on the very same day that she has suddenly acquired a new power, that of being able to foresee the future in a vision, but only at sunset. After this highly eventful first day, Mitchell decides to give her heroine a break from the drama and instead writes endlessly about mindless nothing. It isn't until much later that Baltimore society discovers Amelia's talent for prediction and begins to solicit her company. Inevitably, Amelia's visions turn dark, tragedy strikes, she becomes an outcast and begins to doubt her powers.
I really struggled with the writing style in this book. Who knew the left hand was also called the sinister hand?! And that Arabers, in Baltimore slang were actually outdoor vendors? But it wasn't just the use of archaic terms that made the writing hard-to-digest. In an effort to replicate a late-eighteenth century voice, Saundra Mitchell goes overboard. The conversations are overly-formal and phrased awkwardly. The descriptions are wordy and cumbersome. The entire tone of the book screams 'trying too hard'. This pseudo-Victorian work of fiction was harder to understand and process than all of the actual Victorian literature I have read.
The plot is like swiss cheese. Amelia's power is the worst-developed paranormal trope I have seen in a long time. For this sort of power, there ought to be a threshold, or a place of power; so why do her visions start only when she comes to Baltimore? What set them off? Why didn't she get them in Broken Tooth before? How did she get them in Broken Tooth after?
And it's not just the supernatural elements that are badly-thought out. There is also the fact that there are an unbelievable number of completely unnecessary side-dramas ruining the pacing of the book. For example, when Zora and Amelia are in Annapolis, they are sitting around the day after the ball and discussing their matrimonial prospects and then the daughter-heiress describes her ideal husband, etc, etc. This take up about ten pages, easy, but what's the point?! It doesn't develop plot or character, it's just randomly thrown in there because someone was too lazy to edit it out. Same with the incident where they all go to practice their archery and Amelia kills the dove. Why was that incident even there? It had no relevance beyond the immediate telling.
I have curiously mixed feelings about the romance in this book. On the one hand, Amelia's blind attraction Nathaniel repulses me; at the same time, I am excited by her bid for freedom and the intensity of her passion as she abandons all her scruples and dances with disaster. My inner conflict reminded me of my experience with I'll Never Be Young Again, one of my favourite Du Maurier books, so I had to grudgingly give Mitchell a brownie point for that. Just one, mind you.
Nathaniel is a very unconvincing love interest in and of himself. The author is stingy with details about him, and he ends up being a very flat character; I couldn't help but wonder why Amelia was so blindly and passionately in love with someone she knew so little. But that is the YA trend, be it Victorian America or contemporary, so I'll have to suck it up and deal with it.
This book got two stars only because the last quarter of the book became REALLY interesting and exciting. Once Mitchell got into the meat of the story, she lost her awkwardness, her writing smoothed out, and things got really heated! But as always, I have no patience with books that wait until the last fifty pages to actually produce a story. The rest of this book was an unutterably boring round of socializing, talking endlessly and dancing. My suggestion? Don't bother, unless you're really desperate!
Disclosure: A copy of this book was given to me by the publishers via Net Galley. No external considerations affected this review.
November 23, 2010
"No. First, tell me you love me, as you have no one else."
The wind roared around us, like a great storm come off the waves. Nathaniel tightened his arms around me and said "Jump with me."
And I did.
Set in 1889 Victorian era, sixteen year old Amelia van den Broek is sent to Baltimore to stay her cousin Zora, in hopes to find a proper husband .
While I'm sure her brother wouldn't approve of an artist as a well suitor, never the less, Amelia as her eyes on the dashing Nathaniel Witherspoon. Only he has a secret that weaves with her future. A future Amelia can see and frightfully watches come true...
The Vespertine was a real treat to read since I've always been fascinated with Victorian era settings and love how each word just rolls of the tongue like a crisp caress.
Saundra Mitchell pens an elegant and beautiful love story of a girl who has a gift but spells out more like a curse, and a boy who harbors an unreachable talent of his own.
Not quite a forbidden romance, but more like kindred spirits who are entwined with hopeful possibilities.
My heart really went out to Amelia. To see such events and witness the reality was both sad and thrilling. I really enjoyed the bond she shared with Zora. It was comfortable with easy banter and wit.
Nathaniel's paranormal element was quite unique and I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. In brought more of a haunting-romance to the storyline that I thought fit the era smoothly.There flirt is like watching a well rehearsed dance and I just adored those moments. Beautiful words. Beautiful chemistry.
The only thing that confused me was the first chapter since the character has already been pulled back from the the initial storyline and we're actually reading flashbacks from that point on, but after the second chapter I caught on so it didn't take anything away from the experience.
Overall, I thought that The Vespertine was a charming and enchanting read. The characters are well defined, mysterious and tantalizing and the concept, while not entirely original, was still very captivating and entertaining. I'm going to have to pick up a copy of this book as soon as it hits the shelves.
Can't wait to see what Saundra Mitchell has in store for us next!
Well done!
The wind roared around us, like a great storm come off the waves. Nathaniel tightened his arms around me and said "Jump with me."
And I did.
Set in 1889 Victorian era, sixteen year old Amelia van den Broek is sent to Baltimore to stay her cousin Zora, in hopes to find a proper husband .
While I'm sure her brother wouldn't approve of an artist as a well suitor, never the less, Amelia as her eyes on the dashing Nathaniel Witherspoon. Only he has a secret that weaves with her future. A future Amelia can see and frightfully watches come true...
The Vespertine was a real treat to read since I've always been fascinated with Victorian era settings and love how each word just rolls of the tongue like a crisp caress.
Saundra Mitchell pens an elegant and beautiful love story of a girl who has a gift but spells out more like a curse, and a boy who harbors an unreachable talent of his own.
Not quite a forbidden romance, but more like kindred spirits who are entwined with hopeful possibilities.
My heart really went out to Amelia. To see such events and witness the reality was both sad and thrilling. I really enjoyed the bond she shared with Zora. It was comfortable with easy banter and wit.
Nathaniel's paranormal element was quite unique and I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. In brought more of a haunting-romance to the storyline that I thought fit the era smoothly.There flirt is like watching a well rehearsed dance and I just adored those moments. Beautiful words. Beautiful chemistry.
The only thing that confused me was the first chapter since the character has already been pulled back from the the initial storyline and we're actually reading flashbacks from that point on, but after the second chapter I caught on so it didn't take anything away from the experience.
Overall, I thought that The Vespertine was a charming and enchanting read. The characters are well defined, mysterious and tantalizing and the concept, while not entirely original, was still very captivating and entertaining. I'm going to have to pick up a copy of this book as soon as it hits the shelves.
Can't wait to see what Saundra Mitchell has in store for us next!
Well done!
November 7, 2017
This was an odd book. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either.
Girl is shipped to the Big City to live with Distant Cousin & find a suitable husband. Girl & Distant Cousin become BFFs. Girl falls into Insta-Lust with an unsuitable Artist Guy. Girl suddenly discovers she has a talent for catching flashes of future events when she stares at the sunset. Distant Cousin convinces Girl to reveal her gift to Distant Cousin's other BFFs. Antics ensue, some of which are wacky & some of which are deadly. Reason for Girl's despondancy is revealed. Cue the dramatic piano chords.
While the author didn't use present-tense (THANK YOU), the voice had an odd rhythm. Sometimes it sounded authentic & other times it was ethereal, like slow-plotted lit fic, & the metaphors could be jarring. The dialogue also had an odd cadence. I think the author was trying to be subtle, but she was a bit too heavy-handed with the mysterious conversations. It wasn't so much what was on the page, but what was NOT on the page -- text gaps & chapter breaks obviously had development that we-the-reader were not allowed to see, so the character growth could be clunky.
Re: MCs, Amelia has a tendency to judge based on appearance -- e.g., her sister-in-law is a Plain Jane, therefore she'll never understand how much it hurts to have one's heart compromised by sorrow & misunderstanding. *eye-roll* And Nathaniel, the Unsuitable Artist, is uber-beta. He doesn't really contribute much -- he just wears oddly-colored jackets to fancy dinners & lives in a loft with some other artist guy & has a Big Important Supernatural Secret that makes him the perfect match for Amelia, apparently. Whatever you say, hon. :P (My dearest Nathaniel, you're such a rebel. You wear bright plaid jackets to the park! *swoon*)
But for all the overly-subtle writing, it was nice to read a more delicate YA PNR. Amelia's 'supernatural gift' was interesting & I wish we'd seen more of the process. I thought the secondary romance was more interesting than Amelia's (possibly because Zora was more vibrant as a character); I also wanted to hear more about the BFFs, especially Sarah & her relationship with Caleb .
Despite the dark tinges it's a very clean story; some adults like gentle YA, but I prefer mine on the edgier side. It reminded me a little of The Book of Spells in that it's suitable for a younger reader looking to branch into more sophisticated areas of the bookstore, but I'd stamp this one hit-or-miss outside the target audience.
Girl is shipped to the Big City to live with Distant Cousin & find a suitable husband. Girl & Distant Cousin become BFFs. Girl falls into Insta-Lust with an unsuitable Artist Guy. Girl suddenly discovers she has a talent for catching flashes of future events when she stares at the sunset. Distant Cousin convinces Girl to reveal her gift to Distant Cousin's other BFFs. Antics ensue, some of which are wacky & some of which are deadly. Reason for Girl's despondancy is revealed. Cue the dramatic piano chords.
While the author didn't use present-tense (THANK YOU), the voice had an odd rhythm. Sometimes it sounded authentic & other times it was ethereal, like slow-plotted lit fic, & the metaphors could be jarring. The dialogue also had an odd cadence. I think the author was trying to be subtle, but she was a bit too heavy-handed with the mysterious conversations. It wasn't so much what was on the page, but what was NOT on the page -- text gaps & chapter breaks obviously had development that we-the-reader were not allowed to see, so the character growth could be clunky.
Re: MCs, Amelia has a tendency to judge based on appearance -- e.g., her sister-in-law is a Plain Jane, therefore she'll never understand how much it hurts to have one's heart compromised by sorrow & misunderstanding. *eye-roll* And Nathaniel, the Unsuitable Artist, is uber-beta. He doesn't really contribute much -- he just wears oddly-colored jackets to fancy dinners & lives in a loft with some other artist guy & has a Big Important Supernatural Secret that makes him the perfect match for Amelia, apparently. Whatever you say, hon. :P (My dearest Nathaniel, you're such a rebel. You wear bright plaid jackets to the park! *swoon*)
But for all the overly-subtle writing, it was nice to read a more delicate YA PNR. Amelia's 'supernatural gift' was interesting & I wish we'd seen more of the process. I thought the secondary romance was more interesting than Amelia's (possibly because Zora was more vibrant as a character); I also wanted to hear more about the BFFs, especially Sarah & her relationship with Caleb .
Despite the dark tinges it's a very clean story; some adults like gentle YA, but I prefer mine on the edgier side. It reminded me a little of The Book of Spells in that it's suitable for a younger reader looking to branch into more sophisticated areas of the bookstore, but I'd stamp this one hit-or-miss outside the target audience.
March 1, 2011
A beautiful, rich, Victorian era story that is both haunting and romantic. The Vespertine reads like a classic and has a voice that stays with you long after you read it.
Set in the 1800's in both Baltimore & Maine, The Vespertine quickly made me feel like I was apart of this world. With Saundra's rich, vivid writing I was able to see the world through adventurous Amelia's eyes. Amelia is a character I really enjoyed getting to know. Upon arriving in Baltimore for the purpose of finding a husband, she falls for someone she shouldn't. Which of course makes me like her that much more, as her spunk, and fierce independence are what drew me to her character. Amelia and her cousin Zora become well known upon society for Amelia's gift to see the future. Having visions isn't always a gift, as not all of them are pleasant, nor are they always what Amelia thinks she's seeing.
To match Amelia's character is an equally lovable character who you could deem as swoon worthy with an air of mystery about him. Believe me, Nathaniel Witherspoon will have you swept off your feet in no time and you'll find him just as charming as Amelia does. With Nathaniel there is no second guessing what he's feeling or thinking, as he's very straightforward, something rarely seen during this time period. Maybe it's that streak of defiance, or that you get what you see with him that I admire the most. Both Amelia and Nathaniel stand out as they know their place in society, but they push that envelope, so to speak. I adored the respect he shows to Amelia.There's just something about Nathaniel that I was drawn to and all I can say is you need to read the book so you can meet him for yourself.
There are other great characters that make The Vespertine a highly recommended story, but it's Saundra writing that really captured my attention. She has a talent for detail, no matter how great or small it is and she really brings her story to life. It wasn't hard for me to envision the settings or picture the characters in my mind. Her romance is beautifully written, the lines between Nathaniel and Amelia are brilliant and her plot twists make you wish you could read the pages faster to find out what will happen next.
The Vespertine is a breath taking, intriguing read that will make you feel that you're apart of 1800's Victorian Era. It's forbidden romance, mystery and paranormal elements will leave you both satisfied and wanting more when you're done.
Set in the 1800's in both Baltimore & Maine, The Vespertine quickly made me feel like I was apart of this world. With Saundra's rich, vivid writing I was able to see the world through adventurous Amelia's eyes. Amelia is a character I really enjoyed getting to know. Upon arriving in Baltimore for the purpose of finding a husband, she falls for someone she shouldn't. Which of course makes me like her that much more, as her spunk, and fierce independence are what drew me to her character. Amelia and her cousin Zora become well known upon society for Amelia's gift to see the future. Having visions isn't always a gift, as not all of them are pleasant, nor are they always what Amelia thinks she's seeing.
To match Amelia's character is an equally lovable character who you could deem as swoon worthy with an air of mystery about him. Believe me, Nathaniel Witherspoon will have you swept off your feet in no time and you'll find him just as charming as Amelia does. With Nathaniel there is no second guessing what he's feeling or thinking, as he's very straightforward, something rarely seen during this time period. Maybe it's that streak of defiance, or that you get what you see with him that I admire the most. Both Amelia and Nathaniel stand out as they know their place in society, but they push that envelope, so to speak. I adored the respect he shows to Amelia.There's just something about Nathaniel that I was drawn to and all I can say is you need to read the book so you can meet him for yourself.
There are other great characters that make The Vespertine a highly recommended story, but it's Saundra writing that really captured my attention. She has a talent for detail, no matter how great or small it is and she really brings her story to life. It wasn't hard for me to envision the settings or picture the characters in my mind. Her romance is beautifully written, the lines between Nathaniel and Amelia are brilliant and her plot twists make you wish you could read the pages faster to find out what will happen next.
The Vespertine is a breath taking, intriguing read that will make you feel that you're apart of 1800's Victorian Era. It's forbidden romance, mystery and paranormal elements will leave you both satisfied and wanting more when you're done.
January 3, 2011
The Vespertine is a haunting blend of romance, mystery, and the supernatural. Saundra Mitchell's writing is rich, and her imagery swept me away to another time. Her Victorian setting creates the perfect mood, and her descriptions touched all of my senses--it was like I could smell the scent of the apple, feel the touch of the silk, hear the music from the ball. Gorgeous writing, a lush atmosphere, and a forbidden romance combine into a heart-aching, intriguing novel.
I adore how a Victorian setting can make your heart ache at even a brush of a hand. Saundra is a master at setting your heart aflutter with a longing look or a glancing touch. She makes even a kiss on the hand so beguiling. The delicious flirting and tantalizing brief touches between Amelia and Nathaniel had me reading at a feverish pace to get to the next moment when they'd be together again. However, I grew tired of Amelia's teasing games and bossy orders to Nathaniel. At times, she seemed too capricious and prideful, and she didn't seem quite penitent enough at the end for everything that had happened.
In addition to creating a captivating forbidden romance, Saundra brilliantly develops a touching friendship between Zora and Amelia. So many heroines in young adult books seem to be loners or have terrible friends, so the admiration and support Zora and Amelia offer each other is refreshing.
Where I feel The Vespertine falters is in the supernatural aspects. Amelia and Nathaniel's gifts are fundamental to the story, but we receive no explanation or exploration into the origins of these gifts. The characters seem to accept their gifts with no questions asked, and I wanted much more asking. It was like the paranormal aspects were presented, we were all supposed to accept them, and there were to be no questions about where it all came from. Who is Nathaniel exactly? Perhaps the sequel will delve into the origins of these gifts and provide some answers.
The underdeveloped paranormal aspects aside, Saundra Mitchell's The Vespertine is lush and romantic with beautiful imagery and lyrical prose. Prepare to be swept away by a story that will touch all the senses.
I adore how a Victorian setting can make your heart ache at even a brush of a hand. Saundra is a master at setting your heart aflutter with a longing look or a glancing touch. She makes even a kiss on the hand so beguiling. The delicious flirting and tantalizing brief touches between Amelia and Nathaniel had me reading at a feverish pace to get to the next moment when they'd be together again. However, I grew tired of Amelia's teasing games and bossy orders to Nathaniel. At times, she seemed too capricious and prideful, and she didn't seem quite penitent enough at the end for everything that had happened.
In addition to creating a captivating forbidden romance, Saundra brilliantly develops a touching friendship between Zora and Amelia. So many heroines in young adult books seem to be loners or have terrible friends, so the admiration and support Zora and Amelia offer each other is refreshing.
Where I feel The Vespertine falters is in the supernatural aspects. Amelia and Nathaniel's gifts are fundamental to the story, but we receive no explanation or exploration into the origins of these gifts. The characters seem to accept their gifts with no questions asked, and I wanted much more asking. It was like the paranormal aspects were presented, we were all supposed to accept them, and there were to be no questions about where it all came from. Who is Nathaniel exactly? Perhaps the sequel will delve into the origins of these gifts and provide some answers.
The underdeveloped paranormal aspects aside, Saundra Mitchell's The Vespertine is lush and romantic with beautiful imagery and lyrical prose. Prepare to be swept away by a story that will touch all the senses.
February 15, 2011
I really did give this book a try.
The concept of this book is great and the new cover is beautiful (compared to the first ARC cover) but the biggest fault that lies with this story is the writing. It seems the author was trying to invoke the elegant and grandiose style of the time period, but instead it comes off as forced, difficult, and almost like she was trying too hard.
For a large part of the book I was very confused and it then in effect distanced me from the characters who I couldn't connect with. After over 100 pages, if I can't find something to attach to then what's the point? I never really got the feel from the prose of the whole late 1800s feel that this story is supposed to have. It seemed more of a half-hearted effort than something solid.
I'm sad I did not enjoy this book. I did give it a good try but it's just not for me. I'm sure a lot of other people will find enjoyment out of it though.
The concept of this book is great and the new cover is beautiful (compared to the first ARC cover) but the biggest fault that lies with this story is the writing. It seems the author was trying to invoke the elegant and grandiose style of the time period, but instead it comes off as forced, difficult, and almost like she was trying too hard.
For a large part of the book I was very confused and it then in effect distanced me from the characters who I couldn't connect with. After over 100 pages, if I can't find something to attach to then what's the point? I never really got the feel from the prose of the whole late 1800s feel that this story is supposed to have. It seemed more of a half-hearted effort than something solid.
I'm sad I did not enjoy this book. I did give it a good try but it's just not for me. I'm sure a lot of other people will find enjoyment out of it though.
February 15, 2010
Dark and luxurious with rich, compelling characters and a perfect blend of the mysterious and the fantastic, Saundra Mitchell's The Vespertine is Victorian gothic at its finest--at once evoking the lyricism of Bronte, the heart-pounding of Poe and a vivid, enticing voice that is entirely her own.
April 10, 2011
A beautiful, rich, Victorian era story that is both haunting and romantic. The Vespertine reads like a classic and has a voice that stays with you long after you read it.
Set in the 1800's in both Baltimore & Maine, The Vespertine quickly made me feel like I was apart of this world. With Saundra's rich, vivid writing I was able to see the world through adventurous Amelia's eyes. Amelia is a character I really enjoyed getting to know. Upon arriving in Baltimore for the purpose of finding a husband, she falls for someone she shouldn't. Which of course makes me like her that much more, as her spunk, and fierce independence are what drew me to her character. Amelia and her cousin Zora become well known upon society for Amelia's gift to see the future. Having visions isn't always a gift, as not all of them are pleasant, nor are they always what Amelia thinks she's seeing.
To match Amelia's character is an equally lovable character who you could deem as swoon worthy with an air of mystery about him. Believe me, Nathaniel Witherspoon will have you swept off your feet in no time and you'll find him just as charming as Amelia does. With Nathaniel there is no second guessing what he's feeling or thinking, as he's very straightforward, something rarely seen during this time period. Maybe it's that streak of defiance, or that you get what you see with him that I admire the most. Both Amelia and Nathaniel stand out as they know their place in society, but they push that envelope, so to speak. I adored the respect he shows to Amelia.There's just something about Nathaniel that I was drawn to and all I can say is you need to read the book so you can meet him for yourself.
There are other great characters that make The Vespertine a highly recommended story, but it's Saundra writing that really captured my attention. She has a talent for detail, no matter how great or small it is and she really brings her story to life. It wasn't hard for me to envision the settings or picture the characters in my mind. Her romance is beautifully written, the lines between Nathaniel and Amelia are brilliant and her plot twists make you wish you could read the pages faster to find out what will happen next.
The Vespertine is a breath taking, intriguing read that will make you feel that you're apart of 1800's Victorian Era. It's forbidden romance, mystery and paranormal elements will leave you both satisfied and wanting more when you're done.
Set in the 1800's in both Baltimore & Maine, The Vespertine quickly made me feel like I was apart of this world. With Saundra's rich, vivid writing I was able to see the world through adventurous Amelia's eyes. Amelia is a character I really enjoyed getting to know. Upon arriving in Baltimore for the purpose of finding a husband, she falls for someone she shouldn't. Which of course makes me like her that much more, as her spunk, and fierce independence are what drew me to her character. Amelia and her cousin Zora become well known upon society for Amelia's gift to see the future. Having visions isn't always a gift, as not all of them are pleasant, nor are they always what Amelia thinks she's seeing.
To match Amelia's character is an equally lovable character who you could deem as swoon worthy with an air of mystery about him. Believe me, Nathaniel Witherspoon will have you swept off your feet in no time and you'll find him just as charming as Amelia does. With Nathaniel there is no second guessing what he's feeling or thinking, as he's very straightforward, something rarely seen during this time period. Maybe it's that streak of defiance, or that you get what you see with him that I admire the most. Both Amelia and Nathaniel stand out as they know their place in society, but they push that envelope, so to speak. I adored the respect he shows to Amelia.There's just something about Nathaniel that I was drawn to and all I can say is you need to read the book so you can meet him for yourself.
There are other great characters that make The Vespertine a highly recommended story, but it's Saundra writing that really captured my attention. She has a talent for detail, no matter how great or small it is and she really brings her story to life. It wasn't hard for me to envision the settings or picture the characters in my mind. Her romance is beautifully written, the lines between Nathaniel and Amelia are brilliant and her plot twists make you wish you could read the pages faster to find out what will happen next.
The Vespertine is a breath taking, intriguing read that will make you feel that you're apart of 1800's Victorian Era. It's forbidden romance, mystery and paranormal elements will leave you both satisfied and wanting more when you're done.
January 12, 2011
Starting off with the positives, I thoroughly enjoyed the prose. It was enjoyable to read and didn’t feel overdone or pretentious. With such period settings, especially when written in 1st person, it’s all too easy to get carried away or let your guard slip but Mitchell does a good job with the prose; it was the thing that kept me reading the book through most of it. For the most part I also enjoyed Amelia, the protagonist. She’s practical and fully aware of the societal expectations weighing down on her as well as possessing a wit a little out of place for her standing in society. She wasn’t the greatest protagonist I’ve ever read in such a setting (I also give kudos to Mitchell for going with Baltimore as the setting, it’s a place I’ve never seen before in period drama YA, and much of it is described very well in the novel) but she was more than serviceable. Unfortunately, for me, she was also the only memorable character in the story.
As much as I loved the prose and liked Amelia, the deathly slow pace of the novel and sporadic appearances of the plot seriously disappointed me. The novel opened intriguingly yet Mitchell seemed to forget she was supposed to be writing a paranormal novel for large stretches of time. The paranormal element could have been dropped completely and it probably wouldn’t have made much difference. If the novel was shorter, maybe a novella, and a more straightforward period romance about a girl and the social expectations plaguing her life, it would have been much better. I wonder if Mitchell has ever written any short stories; if not she should definitely write some because her prose is excellent and I feel would be suited better to something less drawn out.
“The Vespertine” started off so promisingly and for all its faults there are also many positive things to say about it. Giving this book a rating was a tough one. The prose is very high quality for YA, I enjoyed the protagonist and the setting was well realised, but the plotting, pacing and under-developed paranormal elements are so poor in comparison that the novel is just so boring for long stretches. There’s a lot to like but getting through all the bad stuff to see it might not be worth your while. I do hope Mitchell can improve with her problematic areas because her prose deserves better (she is writing a companion novel to this, entitled “The Springsweet” and I think she’s definitely got the imagination to support it.
2.5/5.
As much as I loved the prose and liked Amelia, the deathly slow pace of the novel and sporadic appearances of the plot seriously disappointed me. The novel opened intriguingly yet Mitchell seemed to forget she was supposed to be writing a paranormal novel for large stretches of time. The paranormal element could have been dropped completely and it probably wouldn’t have made much difference. If the novel was shorter, maybe a novella, and a more straightforward period romance about a girl and the social expectations plaguing her life, it would have been much better. I wonder if Mitchell has ever written any short stories; if not she should definitely write some because her prose is excellent and I feel would be suited better to something less drawn out.
“The Vespertine” started off so promisingly and for all its faults there are also many positive things to say about it. Giving this book a rating was a tough one. The prose is very high quality for YA, I enjoyed the protagonist and the setting was well realised, but the plotting, pacing and under-developed paranormal elements are so poor in comparison that the novel is just so boring for long stretches. There’s a lot to like but getting through all the bad stuff to see it might not be worth your while. I do hope Mitchell can improve with her problematic areas because her prose deserves better (she is writing a companion novel to this, entitled “The Springsweet” and I think she’s definitely got the imagination to support it.
2.5/5.
April 7, 2012
Review/Giveaway published on 4/7/2012 on Page Turners Blog. Giveaway ends on 4/17/12
http://www.pageturnersblog.com/2012/0...
A rustle of silk. An empty dance card. And the wait, that agonizing wait spent wondering if the Boy-Who-is-Absolutely-Wrong-for-You will show up at the dance. We’ve all had that moment, haven’t we?
Saundra Mitchell pens a story of forbidden love, one in which the couple is not only separated by the rigid rules of society but also by their own secrets, which are kept hidden. As a reader, I understood that Amelia is husband shopping but as a woman in today’s society, I completely related to her determination to shop for love and her place in a society which swaps calling cards for favors. After all, even today, it’s all about who you know and how to get the right introductions to the right people at the right time.
Let me take a minute to pause and admire Saundra’s ability to meld the historical setting with a paranormal element because she does it so incredibly well. The 1880s were a time in the United States when people dabbled in séances and attended magic performances and Amelia’s ability plays so well into this historical trend.
I’m trying hard to stay spoiler-free in this review but, I will say that what kept me turning pages was Amelia herself. I loved her journey of self-discovery from the country girl who arrived from Broken Tooth, Maine to the girl who everyone wants to speak to in the most coveted social circles of Baltimore, Maryland. I adored her smart, true-to-herself, steadfast ways. And yes, I fell in love with her Nathaniel. Feel free to add him to your list of Fictional Boyfriends. He’s naughty, slightly inappropriate but he has merits you will only discover when you read The Vespertine.
If you love a historical read with a paranormal twist, be sure to pick up The Vespertine. If you stay away from historical stories, pick it up, you will find yourself drawing parallels to current society. Go on, I dare you – “jump with me.”
http://www.pageturnersblog.com/2012/0...
A rustle of silk. An empty dance card. And the wait, that agonizing wait spent wondering if the Boy-Who-is-Absolutely-Wrong-for-You will show up at the dance. We’ve all had that moment, haven’t we?
Saundra Mitchell pens a story of forbidden love, one in which the couple is not only separated by the rigid rules of society but also by their own secrets, which are kept hidden. As a reader, I understood that Amelia is husband shopping but as a woman in today’s society, I completely related to her determination to shop for love and her place in a society which swaps calling cards for favors. After all, even today, it’s all about who you know and how to get the right introductions to the right people at the right time.
Let me take a minute to pause and admire Saundra’s ability to meld the historical setting with a paranormal element because she does it so incredibly well. The 1880s were a time in the United States when people dabbled in séances and attended magic performances and Amelia’s ability plays so well into this historical trend.
I’m trying hard to stay spoiler-free in this review but, I will say that what kept me turning pages was Amelia herself. I loved her journey of self-discovery from the country girl who arrived from Broken Tooth, Maine to the girl who everyone wants to speak to in the most coveted social circles of Baltimore, Maryland. I adored her smart, true-to-herself, steadfast ways. And yes, I fell in love with her Nathaniel. Feel free to add him to your list of Fictional Boyfriends. He’s naughty, slightly inappropriate but he has merits you will only discover when you read The Vespertine.
If you love a historical read with a paranormal twist, be sure to pick up The Vespertine. If you stay away from historical stories, pick it up, you will find yourself drawing parallels to current society. Go on, I dare you – “jump with me.”
November 30, 2010
The Vespertine read like a late 1800’s dream dance, whispering on the wind, and spinning gracefully in the alluringness of a fire’s flames. It was beautifully written with the perfect feel for the Victorian age. The plot was intriguing, and the romance very nice. Finding out Nathaniel’s secret just firmly secured the intimacy and connection that he and Amelia shared. The haunting premonitions of Amelia’s sightseeing, while sometimes just instances of inconsequence for some people, revealed greater, harsher truths to others. I enjoyed reading Amelia’s story as she discovers her new found ability and finds her true love. The ending, while perhaps not wrapped up as nicely as it could have been, was still nice, especially the last part, which only cements Nathaniel’s and Amelia’s love and trust for each other.
Thank you to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the arc!
Thank you to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the arc!
July 2, 2019
I picked this book up at NetGalley, not thinking too much of it. When I began reading, I fell in love. First of all, I love historical settings. I love the refinement of the period. The way people spoke then just makes for better writing, as far as I'm concerned. Mitchell also leans toward the lyrical side in her writing style, which is fitting for this novel.
I was enamored with Amelia and Nathaniel. Their relationship is an interesting one from the start, and I loved watching it develop from playful games into something real. They're both great characters, with plenty of depth. Zora, Amelia's friend, was also one of my favorite characters. She had a lot of life and I hated to see so many sad things happen in her life. Every character, even those the reader doesn't know as well, was written perfectly into the story.
I was taken away by this story. I really got into it and saw all the scenes, as if I were watching a movie. It also made me soar through different emotions: happiness, excitement, intrigue, horror. I thought she crafted the plot twists well. I never saw them coming. It is obvious from the beginning of the book that things will take a horrible turn, but it's how they come about that is so genius to me. And I wasn't quite prepared for the ending, but I loved it. I recommend picking this one up in March. Don't worry. I'll remind you. I know I'll be going to buy my own finished copy.
I was enamored with Amelia and Nathaniel. Their relationship is an interesting one from the start, and I loved watching it develop from playful games into something real. They're both great characters, with plenty of depth. Zora, Amelia's friend, was also one of my favorite characters. She had a lot of life and I hated to see so many sad things happen in her life. Every character, even those the reader doesn't know as well, was written perfectly into the story.
I was taken away by this story. I really got into it and saw all the scenes, as if I were watching a movie. It also made me soar through different emotions: happiness, excitement, intrigue, horror. I thought she crafted the plot twists well. I never saw them coming. It is obvious from the beginning of the book that things will take a horrible turn, but it's how they come about that is so genius to me. And I wasn't quite prepared for the ending, but I loved it. I recommend picking this one up in March. Don't worry. I'll remind you. I know I'll be going to buy my own finished copy.
January 4, 2011
Wow. I really enjoyed Saundra Mitchell's Shadowed Summer but The Vespertine exceeded all of my expectations. It's been a while since I've read a historical novel--I've been a bit overwhelmed by paranormals--but I am so glad I picked this one up. I honestly felt like I was in 1889 with Amelia and the rest of the cast of characters. There was a perfect mix of historical and paranormal, and oh, the twists! There are so many, I can't even describe how often I was holding my breath. The romance and chemistry meters are high--Amelia and Nathaniel literally cannot stay away from each other. Amelia's gift of seeing the future at sunset is unique and hides quite a few surprises. Though it appears like a light read, The Vespertine is actually quite dark at certain points. Amelia and her best friend and cousin, Zora, are quite naive at the beginning of the novel, but they quickly realize that life is not simply about finding a husband and settling down. They both have to face some serious issues. I don't think I've given much away with this review and that's how it should be. If you decide to read The Vespertine be prepared for some heart-stopping moments. I loved it! I CANNOT wait to find out what happens next in the second novel of the series, The Springsweet, though I have absolutely no idea when it releases. Sometime in 2012, perhaps? Hopefully sooner. And isn't that cover gorgeous?
January 1, 2016
My first thoughts upon completion: “Wow, what a story. Very emotional, and very interesting.”
The Vespertine dives right on in, starting at a point where you HAVE to wonder what is going on – and what transpired before this point. How did we get here? How did Amelia end up where we first see her? Why is she ruined? Don’t worry, all of these questions are answered. This story is very interesting, very intriguing, and very touching. I don’t want to say too much, because I don’t want to give anything away. I liked Amelia. She was a character I could feel for; I could feel her anguish when appropriate. I liked Nathaniel, too – another swoon-worthy lead male character, in my opinion.
This was a very good book that had me from the beginning and wouldn’t let me go until I closed the back cover. It was another book that ended a smidgen too soon. Not because I felt unsettled or because it left unfinished business. Neither was true. I felt it ended too soon simply because I wasn’t ready to leave Amelia and her world. This is a book I likely will purchase and look forward to enjoying again.
The Vespertine dives right on in, starting at a point where you HAVE to wonder what is going on – and what transpired before this point. How did we get here? How did Amelia end up where we first see her? Why is she ruined? Don’t worry, all of these questions are answered. This story is very interesting, very intriguing, and very touching. I don’t want to say too much, because I don’t want to give anything away. I liked Amelia. She was a character I could feel for; I could feel her anguish when appropriate. I liked Nathaniel, too – another swoon-worthy lead male character, in my opinion.
This was a very good book that had me from the beginning and wouldn’t let me go until I closed the back cover. It was another book that ended a smidgen too soon. Not because I felt unsettled or because it left unfinished business. Neither was true. I felt it ended too soon simply because I wasn’t ready to leave Amelia and her world. This is a book I likely will purchase and look forward to enjoying again.
May 24, 2011
To be honest, I had a hard time getting into this book and almost set it aside. I haven’t read historical fiction—that felt like it was written in the nineteenth century—since college. And therefore, it was a bit of a challenge to get into the cadence, settle into the rhythm of these character’s lives and the way they see things. But once you do…oh, once you do! Captivating, enthralling, deliciousness. So if you’re struggling up front, hang in there. It’ll be worth it, I promise.
The author’s gift when it comes to description (“Longing felt like a thread, slipping between us, sewing us together”) and snappy dialogue (“Do forgive me,” he said, eyes meeting mine as he brushed gloved fingers over my boot. “I’ve no reputation of my own, and I forget they matter”) made me literally, repeatedly pause, rereading a line, then two. It’s been a long time since a book has made me do that. I’ll be looking for the sequel, due out in 2012.
The author’s gift when it comes to description (“Longing felt like a thread, slipping between us, sewing us together”) and snappy dialogue (“Do forgive me,” he said, eyes meeting mine as he brushed gloved fingers over my boot. “I’ve no reputation of my own, and I forget they matter”) made me literally, repeatedly pause, rereading a line, then two. It’s been a long time since a book has made me do that. I’ll be looking for the sequel, due out in 2012.
January 25, 2011
First impressions: The opening chapter takes place in the fall of 1889, which we soon find out is after the events that span the rest of the book. On first read it is captivating enough, with Amelia being imprisoned in her brother's attic, revealed to us as our "ruined" heroine. The brilliance of this first chapter is that as I progressed through the story, I could turn back and read it again, gathering more insights into the action. Just like the prologue to Romeo and Juliet, this opening chapter tells us of doomed love, and definitely got me interested in what events led to that outcome.
Lasting impressions: L'amour, l'amour! The relationship that gradually unfolds with Nathaniel is touching and mysterious and dangerous and...grand. Amelia knows she is not supposed to take an interest in this (by their standards) pauper, but she is intrigued by her strong attraction to him. After all, aren't we always drawn like magnets to those we shouldn't love? There is more to him than just his profession, however, and the more Amelia learns about Nathaniel, the more we understand why she doomed her reputation for him. These two left me aching for them.
Negative impressions: Every time I try to think of something negative to say, I talk myself out of it. I could say that I wish Amelia's visions had appeared sooner or taken a more prominent role earlier on, but then I like that the reader discovers them at the same time as she does. This novel is perfection, and I can't really think of anything I didn't like.
Overall impressions: For me, this is that book. The one that you know you will read over and over again. The one you will put at the top of your favorites list. The one that means something to you, even if you can't quite put your finger on what that something is.
Amelia is an everywoman...with a gift. She is eager and curious and shy and impulsive. She has this ability that she doesn't understand, and just when she starts to learn how powerful it can be, it's too late. She is rushed into the bustle of Baltimore, thrown into a whirlwind friendship with a bright star named Zora, and before she even has time to get her bearings, falls in love. Yet the story doesn't run away from her as you might expect. No, this story grabs her and won't let go, and I went right along with them.
Saundra Mitchell carried me through this novel with delicacy and ease. It swelled with period details, yet didn't get weighed down by them. The dialogue rang true, and told us everything we needed to know about the characters. Zora's mother is entirely revealed to us through her interactions with the girls, and she became one of my favorite characters because of that. Mitchell takes her time, revealing the details to us piece by piece, and I savored every moment. Each scene was like a sweet treat I wanted to take under the covers and unwrap where no one else could get at it.
For all of its lush setting and budding romance, this book really takes the cake with its ominous tone. Just as Amelia's first few visions come true, she begins to foresee more horrifying events. You would think, given that we know how Amelia's summer ends, that the story would lose its suspense, but it didn't. Instead, my heart raced with anticipation, desperate to find out what would truly come to pass.
If you like historical fiction, even in the slightest, you should read this book. Amazing, vibrant, and touching, this is what great books are made of.
Lasting impressions: L'amour, l'amour! The relationship that gradually unfolds with Nathaniel is touching and mysterious and dangerous and...grand. Amelia knows she is not supposed to take an interest in this (by their standards) pauper, but she is intrigued by her strong attraction to him. After all, aren't we always drawn like magnets to those we shouldn't love? There is more to him than just his profession, however, and the more Amelia learns about Nathaniel, the more we understand why she doomed her reputation for him. These two left me aching for them.
Negative impressions: Every time I try to think of something negative to say, I talk myself out of it. I could say that I wish Amelia's visions had appeared sooner or taken a more prominent role earlier on, but then I like that the reader discovers them at the same time as she does. This novel is perfection, and I can't really think of anything I didn't like.
Overall impressions: For me, this is that book. The one that you know you will read over and over again. The one you will put at the top of your favorites list. The one that means something to you, even if you can't quite put your finger on what that something is.
Amelia is an everywoman...with a gift. She is eager and curious and shy and impulsive. She has this ability that she doesn't understand, and just when she starts to learn how powerful it can be, it's too late. She is rushed into the bustle of Baltimore, thrown into a whirlwind friendship with a bright star named Zora, and before she even has time to get her bearings, falls in love. Yet the story doesn't run away from her as you might expect. No, this story grabs her and won't let go, and I went right along with them.
Saundra Mitchell carried me through this novel with delicacy and ease. It swelled with period details, yet didn't get weighed down by them. The dialogue rang true, and told us everything we needed to know about the characters. Zora's mother is entirely revealed to us through her interactions with the girls, and she became one of my favorite characters because of that. Mitchell takes her time, revealing the details to us piece by piece, and I savored every moment. Each scene was like a sweet treat I wanted to take under the covers and unwrap where no one else could get at it.
For all of its lush setting and budding romance, this book really takes the cake with its ominous tone. Just as Amelia's first few visions come true, she begins to foresee more horrifying events. You would think, given that we know how Amelia's summer ends, that the story would lose its suspense, but it didn't. Instead, my heart raced with anticipation, desperate to find out what would truly come to pass.
If you like historical fiction, even in the slightest, you should read this book. Amazing, vibrant, and touching, this is what great books are made of.
January 10, 2011
Full review, play list, author interview and swag giveaway at http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com
The Vespertine was a full sensory experience for me. I wanted to savor every page and soak in every detail. The first pull came from the fact that the majority of the novel is set in Baltimore, Maryland close to my childhood home. Main character Amelia van Broek describes places I know by heart and the sunsets she describes are ones I've seen. What most struck me about this book is that I truly felt the plot as if through Amelia's eyes, I saw things as if I were there. I sympathized with her chosen fate and her motivation.
Written in first person poetic prose The Vespertine has an ethereal feel peppered with historical and paranormal elements. The back history is well researched and author Saundra Mitchell adds finishing touches that make it authentic to the Victorian age.. The tone is pulled between dark and tragic overlapped with frivolity during Amelia's first summer season with her cousin Zora. The girls enjoy lighthearted outings with friends, picnics and archery. Their friendship as cousins is endearing and deep. All seems well enough, until Amelia begins to see glimmers of the future, premonitions that come at sunset. Soon the home is flooded with calling cards and visits from others seeking their fortune. When future telling turns to prophecies fulfilled all begin to question if Amelia possesses the power to make her foretold events come true.
1889 in Baltimore is also a summer of looking for the perfect husband, a coming of age. Formal dances with dresses made of lace and organza as well as courting and interested callers. Zora, Amelia's cousin has her heart set on Thomas Rae, son of the local doctor. He is genuine and of impeccable manners, my favorite character in The Vespertine. Amelia, on the other hand, is dangerously and mysteriously drawn to Nathaniel Witherspoon, a fourteenth by profession-- one hired to round out the odd 13 number at dinner parties. He's an artist who smells of turpentine and oil paints, one below Amelia's society. I personally found him a little creepy, but captivating none the less. Nathaniel holds a secret and Amelia wants to know more.
Words can't describe how much I enjoyed this book. Everything from the beautiful poetic writing to the minor details of dress making and courtship. The Vespertine is more than just a book, it an emotional journey that will whisper to you long after you've shut the pages. Everything about it is haunting and lush. Saundra Mitchell masterfully writes in the actual voice of a young girl in the Victorian age; it's is authentic, moving, and magical. I can not wait for the companion novel Spring Sweet to be released in 2012.
Thanks so much to Houghton Mifflin and Netgalley for allowing me to step into the world that is The Vespertine. Learn more by visiting http://www.thevespertine.com/
The Vespertine was a full sensory experience for me. I wanted to savor every page and soak in every detail. The first pull came from the fact that the majority of the novel is set in Baltimore, Maryland close to my childhood home. Main character Amelia van Broek describes places I know by heart and the sunsets she describes are ones I've seen. What most struck me about this book is that I truly felt the plot as if through Amelia's eyes, I saw things as if I were there. I sympathized with her chosen fate and her motivation.
Written in first person poetic prose The Vespertine has an ethereal feel peppered with historical and paranormal elements. The back history is well researched and author Saundra Mitchell adds finishing touches that make it authentic to the Victorian age.. The tone is pulled between dark and tragic overlapped with frivolity during Amelia's first summer season with her cousin Zora. The girls enjoy lighthearted outings with friends, picnics and archery. Their friendship as cousins is endearing and deep. All seems well enough, until Amelia begins to see glimmers of the future, premonitions that come at sunset. Soon the home is flooded with calling cards and visits from others seeking their fortune. When future telling turns to prophecies fulfilled all begin to question if Amelia possesses the power to make her foretold events come true.
1889 in Baltimore is also a summer of looking for the perfect husband, a coming of age. Formal dances with dresses made of lace and organza as well as courting and interested callers. Zora, Amelia's cousin has her heart set on Thomas Rae, son of the local doctor. He is genuine and of impeccable manners, my favorite character in The Vespertine. Amelia, on the other hand, is dangerously and mysteriously drawn to Nathaniel Witherspoon, a fourteenth by profession-- one hired to round out the odd 13 number at dinner parties. He's an artist who smells of turpentine and oil paints, one below Amelia's society. I personally found him a little creepy, but captivating none the less. Nathaniel holds a secret and Amelia wants to know more.
Words can't describe how much I enjoyed this book. Everything from the beautiful poetic writing to the minor details of dress making and courtship. The Vespertine is more than just a book, it an emotional journey that will whisper to you long after you've shut the pages. Everything about it is haunting and lush. Saundra Mitchell masterfully writes in the actual voice of a young girl in the Victorian age; it's is authentic, moving, and magical. I can not wait for the companion novel Spring Sweet to be released in 2012.
Thanks so much to Houghton Mifflin and Netgalley for allowing me to step into the world that is The Vespertine. Learn more by visiting http://www.thevespertine.com/
January 30, 2019
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
ACTUAL RATING: 2.5 stars
MY THOUGHTS
This wasn't a bad book, but it just didn't click with me and ultimately, it's forgettable.
Amelia is staying in Baltimore with family for the spring. She's supposed to be finding marriage opportunities and courting, as well as be in society. But a discovery of a new talent changes things. Amelia has the ability to tell the future and soon others flock to hear their future told, but things get worse when her abilities foretell horrible events. Also, Amelia is falling in love, but with someone who is forbidden to her.
This book begins in the fall of 1889, with Amelia "ruined" and it references events and people vaguely, which is confusing. Then it jumps back to the spring, telling the events leading up to the fall. From the beginning, you know that something bad will happen to cause Amelia to be in a dark place. It was very interesting knowing this and it made me read the book with dread. Some parts were very well-done, but I felt like the lead-up was sometimes slow. It was very vague and Amelia's abilities were passed over too quickly. The ending was well-done and connected nicely to the beginning, but the rest was a bit slow.
I do think the setting and characters were well-done. The historical setting was very well researched! The setting felt completely real, even with the magical elements. The characters were also nice. I liked Amelia and Zora's friendship (even though they're related, they acted like great friends). I also liked their other friendships, though those weren't as strong. Zora and Thomas's relationship was also a great one.
My main problem with this book was the romance. It's insta-love. Amelia falls for Nathaniel when she firsts sees him, they don't even really talk! Also, the romance didn't feel like it was very well-developed, the same for Nathaniel's character. Really, if it weren't for the romance, I would have given this book a higher rating.
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I'm pretty 'meh' on this book. The setting and characters are well-done, but while the premise is interesting, I felt like I didn't really get to see and understand Amelia's abilities very well. The main downfall, though, was the romance, which is the dreaded insta-love. I actually do plan on reading the sequel. It's from the perspective of a different character, so there may not be insta-love in that one!
ACTUAL RATING: 2.5 stars
MY THOUGHTS
This wasn't a bad book, but it just didn't click with me and ultimately, it's forgettable.
Amelia is staying in Baltimore with family for the spring. She's supposed to be finding marriage opportunities and courting, as well as be in society. But a discovery of a new talent changes things. Amelia has the ability to tell the future and soon others flock to hear their future told, but things get worse when her abilities foretell horrible events. Also, Amelia is falling in love, but with someone who is forbidden to her.
This book begins in the fall of 1889, with Amelia "ruined" and it references events and people vaguely, which is confusing. Then it jumps back to the spring, telling the events leading up to the fall. From the beginning, you know that something bad will happen to cause Amelia to be in a dark place. It was very interesting knowing this and it made me read the book with dread. Some parts were very well-done, but I felt like the lead-up was sometimes slow. It was very vague and Amelia's abilities were passed over too quickly. The ending was well-done and connected nicely to the beginning, but the rest was a bit slow.
I do think the setting and characters were well-done. The historical setting was very well researched! The setting felt completely real, even with the magical elements. The characters were also nice. I liked Amelia and Zora's friendship (even though they're related, they acted like great friends). I also liked their other friendships, though those weren't as strong. Zora and Thomas's relationship was also a great one.
My main problem with this book was the romance. It's insta-love. Amelia falls for Nathaniel when she firsts sees him, they don't even really talk! Also, the romance didn't feel like it was very well-developed, the same for Nathaniel's character. Really, if it weren't for the romance, I would have given this book a higher rating.
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I'm pretty 'meh' on this book. The setting and characters are well-done, but while the premise is interesting, I felt like I didn't really get to see and understand Amelia's abilities very well. The main downfall, though, was the romance, which is the dreaded insta-love. I actually do plan on reading the sequel. It's from the perspective of a different character, so there may not be insta-love in that one!
January 17, 2011
Fair warning: if you’re anything like me, and are just not into historicals, the first half will likely make you want to quit it. Past a certain point (if you’re still reading) things do pick up and get interesting.
I’ll start with what I didn’t like. It was very difficult (for me) to get into it. Have you ever felt that you might not like something because it would be too deep, too historically correct, or that the language would be too accurate (given the temporal setting) for a novel to be grasped/enjoyed? This is exactly why I steer clear of historical novels. The bulk of what I read is set in the present. The few historical novels that I’ve dared read were read because of acquaintances’ hard sells. And of those, there is only a handful that I do not regret reading (Clockwork Angel, Outlander, and Leviathan among them. Notice that these not straight shooting historicals, perhaps historical are just not my thing.) As for The Vespertine, (despite it being set in the Victorian era,) I went ahead and read it because I had been hearing positive things about it. That it was a solid mix of historical and paranormal got me interested, but it was this particular line from a GR review that sold me on it, “Not quite a forbidden romance, but more like kindred spirits who are entwined with hopeful possibilities.” That is freaking convincing if you ask me. So off I went to find out for myself.
Well, that I finished the book should be evidence enough that The Vespertine was an OK read. But that would be selling the book short. To reiterate, getting started was hard work (believe me,) but the second half paid off. It was pretty good. At that point the paranormal that I had been craving flowed from the pages.
(Oh, and I experienced moments of the 16th moon… wait was it 17th or was it 18th moon? Whatever… If you get the reference, both books are incredibly descriptive. The difference is that in this book said description weighed the flow of the story down some.)
I’ll start with what I didn’t like. It was very difficult (for me) to get into it. Have you ever felt that you might not like something because it would be too deep, too historically correct, or that the language would be too accurate (given the temporal setting) for a novel to be grasped/enjoyed? This is exactly why I steer clear of historical novels. The bulk of what I read is set in the present. The few historical novels that I’ve dared read were read because of acquaintances’ hard sells. And of those, there is only a handful that I do not regret reading (Clockwork Angel, Outlander, and Leviathan among them. Notice that these not straight shooting historicals, perhaps historical are just not my thing.) As for The Vespertine, (despite it being set in the Victorian era,) I went ahead and read it because I had been hearing positive things about it. That it was a solid mix of historical and paranormal got me interested, but it was this particular line from a GR review that sold me on it, “Not quite a forbidden romance, but more like kindred spirits who are entwined with hopeful possibilities.” That is freaking convincing if you ask me. So off I went to find out for myself.
Well, that I finished the book should be evidence enough that The Vespertine was an OK read. But that would be selling the book short. To reiterate, getting started was hard work (believe me,) but the second half paid off. It was pretty good. At that point the paranormal that I had been craving flowed from the pages.
(Oh, and I experienced moments of the 16th moon… wait was it 17th or was it 18th moon? Whatever… If you get the reference, both books are incredibly descriptive. The difference is that in this book said description weighed the flow of the story down some.)
January 3, 2011
Vespertine isn't the average paranormal romance in the young adult section . It's extraordinary , Sandra mitchel brings a refreshing type of paranormal to the table . Introducing the character and the world of vespertine used breathtaking poetic prose to tell the story of a stubborn yet strong willed girl and transports readers into rich historical setting in irresitable victorian era baltimore 1800 a unforgettable story of forbidden romances, corsets , sophiciticated balls ,fortune telling and a girl's journey to womenhood. Give this toreaders who like victorian genre, forbidden romance and parnormal stories alike.
One of my favourite quotes "i call out he appears like i'm the only firefly in the dark for him"
extender verison
I give it 4.3/5
In the beginning it was a bit confusing because it transitions through the past and the future. When reading this book i felt as if i was in amelia's shoes and i love the poetic prose which makes the book unique also i enjoyed the characters Zora was the opposite of amelia she was bold , outspoken and i like how she's always there for Amelia . Of course there is the love interest Nathaniel was mysterious artist who is passionate about his work and you can't help but fall for. The chemistry between Nathaniel and Amelia was believeable i like how they trust and lean on each other and the fact they would accept each other for who they were. I felt the paranormal aspect could have been explore more and emphasize more in the novel overall it was an honour to read also i enjoy books on the victorian era i am looking forward to reading other books by Saundra and the companion novel Spring sweet out in 2012.
One of my favourite quotes "i call out he appears like i'm the only firefly in the dark for him"
extender verison
I give it 4.3/5
In the beginning it was a bit confusing because it transitions through the past and the future. When reading this book i felt as if i was in amelia's shoes and i love the poetic prose which makes the book unique also i enjoyed the characters Zora was the opposite of amelia she was bold , outspoken and i like how she's always there for Amelia . Of course there is the love interest Nathaniel was mysterious artist who is passionate about his work and you can't help but fall for. The chemistry between Nathaniel and Amelia was believeable i like how they trust and lean on each other and the fact they would accept each other for who they were. I felt the paranormal aspect could have been explore more and emphasize more in the novel overall it was an honour to read also i enjoy books on the victorian era i am looking forward to reading other books by Saundra and the companion novel Spring sweet out in 2012.
September 5, 2013
The Vespertine is set in 1889 Baltimore, where our protagonist, Amelia, is sent by her brother, August, to find a suitable husband. There, she stays with the Stewards and quickly finds herself friends with Zora Steward.
There, she also develops her inexplicable power to foresee the future. Word of her skill spreads, and soon she's sought after to tell fortunes. But when one of her darkest premonitions comes to pass, people have to wonder, does Amelia see these events, or cause them?
There are also interludes in the story which detail Amelia's life back with her brother. This effectively foreshadows an event that will drive her from Baltimore, which compliments her own power of premonitions: though she never foresees her own future, the story does.
The first thing I noticed about The Vespertine was how the prose is written in the language one would have used in 1889. The setting felt extremely well researched and believable - what I love in historical fiction.
In The Vespertine, also, the paranormal aspect is subtle, and takes a backseat to the romantic aspect. The romance itself added to the believability of the setting, in that it followed the social rules of course of the time.
If there was anything about The Vespertine that I less than loved, it would have been how long it took to get to the complication. But with Saundra Mitchell's beautiful way of storytelling and world building I would be lying if I said the lead up to the complication was at all dull.
The ending, without spoiling it, really hit the spot. It left just enough loose ends to maintain its mystique and tied up just enough to not be open-ended.
I give The Vespertine 5 out of 5, and now go off to add The Springsweet, the upcoming companion, to my already long TBR list.
There, she also develops her inexplicable power to foresee the future. Word of her skill spreads, and soon she's sought after to tell fortunes. But when one of her darkest premonitions comes to pass, people have to wonder, does Amelia see these events, or cause them?
There are also interludes in the story which detail Amelia's life back with her brother. This effectively foreshadows an event that will drive her from Baltimore, which compliments her own power of premonitions: though she never foresees her own future, the story does.
The first thing I noticed about The Vespertine was how the prose is written in the language one would have used in 1889. The setting felt extremely well researched and believable - what I love in historical fiction.
In The Vespertine, also, the paranormal aspect is subtle, and takes a backseat to the romantic aspect. The romance itself added to the believability of the setting, in that it followed the social rules of course of the time.
If there was anything about The Vespertine that I less than loved, it would have been how long it took to get to the complication. But with Saundra Mitchell's beautiful way of storytelling and world building I would be lying if I said the lead up to the complication was at all dull.
The ending, without spoiling it, really hit the spot. It left just enough loose ends to maintain its mystique and tied up just enough to not be open-ended.
I give The Vespertine 5 out of 5, and now go off to add The Springsweet, the upcoming companion, to my already long TBR list.
December 12, 2010
5 Stars
From the first line the lyrical prose flow beautifully. The dark poetic-style of each description sings along like a haunting carnival tune. The metaphors are juxtaposed and grounded in concrete images giving it just enough of a dreamy feel without leaving the reader floating in absurdity. I fell fast for this read and found myself enraptured with the story late into the night. I did not want to return from historical Baltimore anymore than I ever want to leave Victorian England. This is a historically dark romance that celebrates youth, love, expectations and fate. It possesses a touch of the paranormal that presents in the popular form of spiritualism or mysticism which was a growing fascination during this time period. It begins with what seems the end, much like a prediction, the finality of the picture is never certain. As the story continues the reader can only hope that the foreseen fate is not realized. Small tragedies are diverted only to reappear in another form, so it is plausible that a different ending might ensure. I adored this book and will read it again because the intensity of the prose-style left me breathless. I do not easily swoon, but Mitchell captured the painful hunger of first love and exploded it onto the page.
Without discussing key parts of the story, I will only comment that I wish a few parts were slowed down with a hint of explanation. I was left with a couple questions that would have been easily resolved with short paragraph.
From the first line the lyrical prose flow beautifully. The dark poetic-style of each description sings along like a haunting carnival tune. The metaphors are juxtaposed and grounded in concrete images giving it just enough of a dreamy feel without leaving the reader floating in absurdity. I fell fast for this read and found myself enraptured with the story late into the night. I did not want to return from historical Baltimore anymore than I ever want to leave Victorian England. This is a historically dark romance that celebrates youth, love, expectations and fate. It possesses a touch of the paranormal that presents in the popular form of spiritualism or mysticism which was a growing fascination during this time period. It begins with what seems the end, much like a prediction, the finality of the picture is never certain. As the story continues the reader can only hope that the foreseen fate is not realized. Small tragedies are diverted only to reappear in another form, so it is plausible that a different ending might ensure. I adored this book and will read it again because the intensity of the prose-style left me breathless. I do not easily swoon, but Mitchell captured the painful hunger of first love and exploded it onto the page.
Without discussing key parts of the story, I will only comment that I wish a few parts were slowed down with a hint of explanation. I was left with a couple questions that would have been easily resolved with short paragraph.
October 17, 2010
In 1889 Maine, finding a "respectable" husband is difficult so Amelia's brother and guardian sends her to cousins in Baltimore to find a suitable mate. I'm sure her brother does not consider a starving artist and "fourteenth" at the dinner table a suitable mate, but that is what Amelia goes for.
However, in Baltimore, Amelia begins to have visions and see tidbits of the future when she stares into the sunset. Thus while her and her cousin/friend Zora go to dances and prance around with girlfriends and giggle over boys, Amelia begins telling people's futures. Though she means well as far as warning people, she also developes a bit too much pride and her vision telling backfires with serious consequences... Amelia realizes her predictions can be postponed maybe, but fate really can't be changed.
I mentioned the starving artist above, Nathaniel, Amelia's love interest. About 75 percent into the novel, his errr.. "power" becomes known. I know this is a paranormal, but it just didn't quite fit for me. As he says (something along the lines of, "Yours (Amelia's ability) is a parlor trick, mine could be called witchcraft." (Not a direct quote. I don't remember it word for word and it is a digital galley.) His ability was too far fetched for the Victorian time and setting.
I also grew a bit weary of the girls' chatter and the "tell me you love me" and chasing each other stuff. Good book, just didn't send me reeling in amazement.
However, in Baltimore, Amelia begins to have visions and see tidbits of the future when she stares into the sunset. Thus while her and her cousin/friend Zora go to dances and prance around with girlfriends and giggle over boys, Amelia begins telling people's futures. Though she means well as far as warning people, she also developes a bit too much pride and her vision telling backfires with serious consequences... Amelia realizes her predictions can be postponed maybe, but fate really can't be changed.
I mentioned the starving artist above, Nathaniel, Amelia's love interest. About 75 percent into the novel, his errr.. "power" becomes known. I know this is a paranormal, but it just didn't quite fit for me. As he says (something along the lines of, "Yours (Amelia's ability) is a parlor trick, mine could be called witchcraft." (Not a direct quote. I don't remember it word for word and it is a digital galley.) His ability was too far fetched for the Victorian time and setting.
I also grew a bit weary of the girls' chatter and the "tell me you love me" and chasing each other stuff. Good book, just didn't send me reeling in amazement.
January 10, 2011
This was an entertaining read with a mixture of supernatural and forbidden Historical Romance - what's not to like?
The Vespertine is about a 16 year old girl named Amelia van den Broek who has been sent to stay with relatives in Baltimore. She is there to find a husband but eagerly indulges in what the city has to offer. But Amelia soon discovers she has a supernatural gift - she can glimpse pieces of the future at sunset. A mysterious young artist named Nathaniel with secrets of his own also enters Amelia's life and they indulge in a forbidden romance..
When Amelia discovers her gift it doesn't take her and Zora long before they are predicting many other peoples futures. But when one of her darkest visions happens Amelia's world turns upside down and her gift seems more like a curse than a gift.
This book had good entertaining characters - Amelia was a great main character and I deeply enjoyed reading the forbidden romance between her and Nathaniel. He was a great character and I think the way he moved in the wind is cool. Zora was also an entertaining character being not just Amlia's cousin but also like a best friend to her. The side characters were also entertaining like Mattie and Sarah. When they found out what Amelia could do they immediately wanted her to predict their futures.
Overall, The Vespertine was a great and enjoyable read. Saundra Mitchell created a great plot/story and I've seen that there will be a second one coming out - Yay!
The Vespertine is about a 16 year old girl named Amelia van den Broek who has been sent to stay with relatives in Baltimore. She is there to find a husband but eagerly indulges in what the city has to offer. But Amelia soon discovers she has a supernatural gift - she can glimpse pieces of the future at sunset. A mysterious young artist named Nathaniel with secrets of his own also enters Amelia's life and they indulge in a forbidden romance..
When Amelia discovers her gift it doesn't take her and Zora long before they are predicting many other peoples futures. But when one of her darkest visions happens Amelia's world turns upside down and her gift seems more like a curse than a gift.
This book had good entertaining characters - Amelia was a great main character and I deeply enjoyed reading the forbidden romance between her and Nathaniel. He was a great character and I think the way he moved in the wind is cool. Zora was also an entertaining character being not just Amlia's cousin but also like a best friend to her. The side characters were also entertaining like Mattie and Sarah. When they found out what Amelia could do they immediately wanted her to predict their futures.
Overall, The Vespertine was a great and enjoyable read. Saundra Mitchell created a great plot/story and I've seen that there will be a second one coming out - Yay!
March 12, 2025
i’m sorry what was this? i had to read this because it was a gift and being rude is not good but it was AWFUL. someone the girl in the book was having visions and then people kept dying and she tried to get the dude to say he loved her after knowing him for like a week💀. IT MADE NO SENSE. blud was literally having visions 💀💀💀💀💀💀
March 6, 2011
I think there is something so magical and romantic about YA historical stories when the characters speak and act accordingly to their time. There's something about corsets, courting and the sinful thoughts of young women, and the objects of their affection that ropes me and makes me otherwise useless to the world.
Saundra Mitchell brought to us everything I look for in a historical setting and story. She brilliantly painted a world that I could see as I played the part as the hidden guest as she unfolded a tale about a forbidden romance between two young equally mysterious individuals, Amelia van den Broek, a girl already facing misplacement in her chaotic world, and Nathaniel, an artist which is considered beneath her and an unsuitable beau.
There wasn't anything I didn't like about any of the characters I met on Amelia's journey. The characters, their dialog and their stories all played accurate to the year 1889, and kept me hanging onto their every whim.
I loved how Amelia saw the world, she wasn't stuck on herself, nor did she think she was willing to succumb to the social standards in which she was expected adhere to. She seemed pretty normal with worries and strengths, hopes and dreams. Her instant friendship with Zora is believeable and they happen to balance out each other and the story, when one is haughty the other absorbs the energy around her and when one needs a pick-me-up the other is there to reassure and hold her. More so, while Zora is willing to conform to societies rules for courting, Amelia finds herself unable to conform setting the tone for a story, pulling us both ways, excited and anxious all at once. When out from under her brother's thumb she allows herself to grow into the young woman she strives to be and not hide the unexplainable talent she possesses. Unfortunately, it is that talent which can be the reason for the burden and guilt she bears.
Nathaniel and Thomas were much like Amelia and Zora in relations to their thoughts on social status and life. Just as Amelia and Zora were the same, so were Nathaniel and Thomas. Just as Amelia and Zora were opposites, so were the guys. Both guys held an air of mysteriousness to them and their intentions, especially the rather smooth and secret Nathaniel. Like Amelia, Nathaniel possesses a talent, one equally as unexplainable and one even more hidden from the world.
Saundra Mitchell roped me in within the first few pages. I thought perhaps I had only read a few and was surprised when my nook told me it had been 24. Her writing was stunning and addictive. Then there was one line in the story that my throat began constricting and the tears threatened to spill over because of its weight and its truth. One line was all it took. Hook, Line, and Sinker.
"Am I with you there?"
When you read that line, you'll know what I mean. One thing I did notice. once I really thought about it, was the plot didn't seem thick in this book but it didn't take away from my complete love for the story or how I never stopped wanting more. There was a plot, and subplots, but the mysteries this book opened were subtle and instead of searching for answers I enjoyed the tale I was escorted on.
Just as Amelia is drawn to the enigmatic Nathaniel, I fell in love. Saundra Mitchell weaved a hauntingly extraordinary and sinful tale of love and the unexplainable magic instilled in life, magic which adds to the fairytale every girl wants and magic which turns into your deepest nightmares. With a wonderful conclusion, I couldn't have asked for me out of this story. Once I started there was absolutely no letting go.
Cover: 5
Characters:5
Plot:4
Overall:5
On the cover: Like the one line that hooked me and tested my emotions and investment into this story, this scene on the cover was even more brilliantly painted in the book. It couldn't be more fitting and I think it great representation on what you are getting when you read this book.
Saundra Mitchell brought to us everything I look for in a historical setting and story. She brilliantly painted a world that I could see as I played the part as the hidden guest as she unfolded a tale about a forbidden romance between two young equally mysterious individuals, Amelia van den Broek, a girl already facing misplacement in her chaotic world, and Nathaniel, an artist which is considered beneath her and an unsuitable beau.
There wasn't anything I didn't like about any of the characters I met on Amelia's journey. The characters, their dialog and their stories all played accurate to the year 1889, and kept me hanging onto their every whim.
I loved how Amelia saw the world, she wasn't stuck on herself, nor did she think she was willing to succumb to the social standards in which she was expected adhere to. She seemed pretty normal with worries and strengths, hopes and dreams. Her instant friendship with Zora is believeable and they happen to balance out each other and the story, when one is haughty the other absorbs the energy around her and when one needs a pick-me-up the other is there to reassure and hold her. More so, while Zora is willing to conform to societies rules for courting, Amelia finds herself unable to conform setting the tone for a story, pulling us both ways, excited and anxious all at once. When out from under her brother's thumb she allows herself to grow into the young woman she strives to be and not hide the unexplainable talent she possesses. Unfortunately, it is that talent which can be the reason for the burden and guilt she bears.
Nathaniel and Thomas were much like Amelia and Zora in relations to their thoughts on social status and life. Just as Amelia and Zora were the same, so were Nathaniel and Thomas. Just as Amelia and Zora were opposites, so were the guys. Both guys held an air of mysteriousness to them and their intentions, especially the rather smooth and secret Nathaniel. Like Amelia, Nathaniel possesses a talent, one equally as unexplainable and one even more hidden from the world.
Saundra Mitchell roped me in within the first few pages. I thought perhaps I had only read a few and was surprised when my nook told me it had been 24. Her writing was stunning and addictive. Then there was one line in the story that my throat began constricting and the tears threatened to spill over because of its weight and its truth. One line was all it took. Hook, Line, and Sinker.
"Am I with you there?"
When you read that line, you'll know what I mean. One thing I did notice. once I really thought about it, was the plot didn't seem thick in this book but it didn't take away from my complete love for the story or how I never stopped wanting more. There was a plot, and subplots, but the mysteries this book opened were subtle and instead of searching for answers I enjoyed the tale I was escorted on.
Just as Amelia is drawn to the enigmatic Nathaniel, I fell in love. Saundra Mitchell weaved a hauntingly extraordinary and sinful tale of love and the unexplainable magic instilled in life, magic which adds to the fairytale every girl wants and magic which turns into your deepest nightmares. With a wonderful conclusion, I couldn't have asked for me out of this story. Once I started there was absolutely no letting go.
Cover: 5
Characters:5
Plot:4
Overall:5
On the cover: Like the one line that hooked me and tested my emotions and investment into this story, this scene on the cover was even more brilliantly painted in the book. It couldn't be more fitting and I think it great representation on what you are getting when you read this book.
February 4, 2011
Historical fiction with a paranormal twist.
There aren't enough books out there combining historical fiction and paranormal. You have Libba Bray's Great and Terrible Beauty series and Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters series, but not much else. The Vespertine is a good addition to this cross-genre of books.
Amelia travels down to Baltimore from her rural Maine town to stay with her wealthy cousins and meet "the right kind of people." I loved her cousin Zora. She is daring and outgoing, the type of girl who's always out for a good time. Amelia is more straight-laced, but definitely willing to go out on a limb when encouraged. Zora and Amelia egg each other on to get into trouble (although initially not veering out of the bounds of propriety).
Amelia discovers that she has visions. It's never accurately explained, but essentially she blacks out and comes up with prophecies about events that will happen to certain people. Some are fun and happy while others foretell doom. Amelia and Zora take full advantage of Amelia's little parlor trick. It opens the door to high society that they never could have entered otherwise. It's all fun and games until Amelia's darker prophecies start coming true. Then Amelia begins to understand the burden of her gift.
In the meantime, Amelia falls for Nathaniel, a "fourteenth," a poor artist hired to attend dinner parties so there won't be thirteen people at a table. They are instantly attracted to one another, and Amelia soon steps far outside the bounds of proper Victorian behavior to be with him. It also turns out that Nathaniel has a supernatural power of his own.
I enjoyed Vespertine, but I had some issues with it. On the plus side, I really liked the writing. It's hard to do historical voices correctly. You don't want to be too modern, but you also don't want to be so old-fashioned that the book is unintelligible. Mitchell did a good job balancing these aspects. The old-style writing set the atmospherics of late-Victorian-era Baltimore without dragging the book down. I loved the idea of visions. It fits in perfectly with the love for the occult that was so popular during that time period.
On the down side, the book was very confusing as it started out. I also thought the paranormal element was never explained. I prefer paranormal books where the reader is let in on the secret behind the fantasy world. In this case, we knew that Amelia had visions, but didn't know why or how it fit into the greater universe. Nathaniel also has a supernatural power. His ability is completely different than Amelia's. I thought his ability was never adequately explained, and I didn't see a reason for it other than a plot device.
Back on the bright side, I loved the ending.
The Vespertine is an enjoyable, if flawed, historical fiction/paranormal novel.
Rating: 3 / 5
There aren't enough books out there combining historical fiction and paranormal. You have Libba Bray's Great and Terrible Beauty series and Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters series, but not much else. The Vespertine is a good addition to this cross-genre of books.
Amelia travels down to Baltimore from her rural Maine town to stay with her wealthy cousins and meet "the right kind of people." I loved her cousin Zora. She is daring and outgoing, the type of girl who's always out for a good time. Amelia is more straight-laced, but definitely willing to go out on a limb when encouraged. Zora and Amelia egg each other on to get into trouble (although initially not veering out of the bounds of propriety).
Amelia discovers that she has visions. It's never accurately explained, but essentially she blacks out and comes up with prophecies about events that will happen to certain people. Some are fun and happy while others foretell doom. Amelia and Zora take full advantage of Amelia's little parlor trick. It opens the door to high society that they never could have entered otherwise. It's all fun and games until Amelia's darker prophecies start coming true. Then Amelia begins to understand the burden of her gift.
In the meantime, Amelia falls for Nathaniel, a "fourteenth," a poor artist hired to attend dinner parties so there won't be thirteen people at a table. They are instantly attracted to one another, and Amelia soon steps far outside the bounds of proper Victorian behavior to be with him. It also turns out that Nathaniel has a supernatural power of his own.
I enjoyed Vespertine, but I had some issues with it. On the plus side, I really liked the writing. It's hard to do historical voices correctly. You don't want to be too modern, but you also don't want to be so old-fashioned that the book is unintelligible. Mitchell did a good job balancing these aspects. The old-style writing set the atmospherics of late-Victorian-era Baltimore without dragging the book down. I loved the idea of visions. It fits in perfectly with the love for the occult that was so popular during that time period.
On the down side, the book was very confusing as it started out. I also thought the paranormal element was never explained. I prefer paranormal books where the reader is let in on the secret behind the fantasy world. In this case, we knew that Amelia had visions, but didn't know why or how it fit into the greater universe. Nathaniel also has a supernatural power. His ability is completely different than Amelia's. I thought his ability was never adequately explained, and I didn't see a reason for it other than a plot device.
Back on the bright side, I loved the ending.
The Vespertine is an enjoyable, if flawed, historical fiction/paranormal novel.
Rating: 3 / 5
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