Editorial Review

The #1 New York Times bestseller is available for the first time in a mass market paperback edition, featuring a striking movie tie-in cover.


Bella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear.

Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite. ... Read more

Reviews

Good for a rainy day fantasy..., July 27, 2008
It seems this book has received massive amounts of acclaim, but I never heard of it until I decided to watch The Dark Knight. A preview for the movie Twilight came on and mentioned that it was based on the best-selling novel by Stephenie Meyer. Since the preview looked good and I prefer to read books before seeing the movie, I picked up a copy.

Now that you know why I purchased the book, I should also mention that I'm not necessarily the target demographic and haven't been for a few years. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the good YA fantasy fiction book every now and again. (I've been called a perpetual teenager on more than one occasion.)

I'm going to try and keep this review as spoiler-free as possible. In case you haven't already gathered it from other reviews, or the book description itself, Twilight is about a young girl named Bella Swan who moves to Forks, Washington and finds herself in love with a vampire named Edward Cullen. The climax of the story happens when a vampire who doesn't abstain from feasting on humans, as the Cullen coven does, decides he wants Bella. Up until this point (first three quarters), the novel progresses at a moderate, but not lagging pace and then instantly picks up.

The book itself is a rather easy read, however, the characters seem somewhat shallow. Bella is supposed to be an honour student, but behaves exactly the opposite. Edward, who has been in existence for more than a hundred years, should be more intelligent and far wiser than is portrayed in his character. Armed with this tidbit about him, Meyer had plenty of room to play around and mold him into so much more, but never truly took that opportunity.

In fact, after finishing the first book (I've read both Twilight and New Moon), I wondered what a century old vampire might find utterly attractive in a seemingly average 17 year old girl, besides the fact that she smelled delectable, could pick out a common tune by Debussy, and had a penchant for identifying the mitotic phases of an onion. Even Bella herself wonders the same thing and makes it plainly obvious by asking almost every other page what this magnificent Adonis can possibly see in her, which became rather tiring.

(On another note, I'm still trying to figure out how any person with dark circles under his eyes and lavender eyelids can be likened to Adonis. It could just be me, but the way Meyer described their features, I couldn't help imagining a well-fed crack fiend half the time.)

While I don't understand how the love between Bella and Edward can be so true and deep as made out in the book, considering they only knew each other for a few months, I can understand how Bella formed such a strong attachment to Edward: he saved her life on more than one occasion and, in a sense, has become her personal Superman. Is this right thinking? Dunno, but I guess constantly saving a girl who can barely walk without tripping does equate to being inexplicably lovable.

By the end of the novel, I realized that Bella's character, though stubborn, was unbelievably insecure--more so than one would expect from the typical teenage girl--and Edward, arrogant as he can be, used this insecurity to his benefit (whether consciously or not), thus causing multiple crises of conscience for "putting [her] in harm's way".

When one really steps back from this novel and looks at the entire scope of it, the true dysfunction of their unhealthy relationship is obviously apparent.

Plus, Meyer's overuse of the word incredulous began grating on my senses, not to mention all the glaring, whining, cringing, grimacing, and her overwhelming need to append a "he said" or "she said" to almost every bit of dialog that transpired. (Surely, even truly young minds are able to keep up with the general flow of dialog). And let's not get started on the editing: You know the editor was asleep at the wheel, or either non-existent, when there's a glaring grammatical error within the first ten pages.

But, despite all of that, I enjoyed the book. Meyer is a wonderful storyteller. There was a cliffhanger at the end of each bite-sized chapter pressing the reader to continue on, if for no other reason than to see whom else is glaring or grimacing at whom. The story also had a light-hearted comedic edge which played in its favor.

Rather than feeling as though I were trudging through a heavy piece of fantasy fiction, I was able to let my mind relax and float into the story as if I were watching some strangely intoxicating reality show about a clumsy teenage girl and a thoroughly confused vampire. In the end, despite their flaws and not fully understanding their logic or reasoning, I even enjoyed the characters Meyer created.

This is a novel you should pick up when you just want to shut off your brain for a little while and escape reality. Basically, you shouldn't try to read this novel with too serious an eye. Ideally, it should be read while curled up in your most comfortable outfit eating your favorite snack with the lights dimmed, and television and phone turned off.

Are you guys serious?, December 1, 2008
I don't get it. I just don't get it. I thought young adult fiction had hit its low point with Eragon, but apparently I was wrong. Bella Swan (literally, "beautiful swan," which should be a red flag to any discerning reader) moves to the rainy town of Forks, and the whining begins on page 1. She goes to live with her father Charlie, and is quickly established to be a mopey, ungrateful, self-pitying little toerag. Bella then attends her new school, which turns out to be an all-out caricature of high school with about zero (rounding up) grounding in real life. Her classmates' reaction can be summed up thusly: "OMG. NEW STUDENT. OMG YOU GUYS, NEW STUDENT. STARE AT HER, FOR SHE IS CLEARLY SUPERIOR TO US." Bella Sue is promptly adored by everyone in the school, except the mysterious Cullens, who spend their time brooding, being pretty, smoldering, being perfect, and sparkling. No, seriously. NO, SERIOUSLY. Bella meets Edward, the Culleniest of the Cullens, (meaning he is more perfect and emo than the rest of them,) they fall in love within thirty pages, (much of this time is spent in Bella's head going back and forth between "Does he like me?" "Does he hate me?" "Do I like him?" "Why does he hate me?" and on and on and on AND ON. That is, when she's not being a horrible snobby twit to the boys at school who show affection in genuinely sweet ways, i.e., not breaking into her house and watching her while she sleeps. While she sleeps. Not knowing that he's there. IN HER HOUSE.) The plot shows up somewhere in the last fifty pages, which involves an EVIIIIIILL vampire named James who wants to eat Bella. James is the only character I like.

I generally try to find something redeeming about books, but I honestly have nothing good to say about this drivel. Meyer writes as if the reader is an absolute idiot who has to be told every sing tiny little thing; we are never given the chance to interpret what's going on in the characters' heads. There is no mystery, no intrigue, no suspense. The characters themselves are cut-and-dried, stereotypical, and maddeningly unoriginal. Bella's (supposedly) the clever, beautiful heroine, Edward's the dark, brooding bad boy, James is... uh, the guy that wants to eat Bella. Meyer clearly wants Bella to be a strong female character, but the horrible sad truth is that she's pathetic. Bella follows Edward's every word religiously, never sticks up for herself, has no spine to speak of, plays Suzie Housewife to her father, and has no existence outside of her "romance" with Edward. On that note, let it be said that Nathaniel Hawthorne got more romance into a few lines about a rosebush than Meyer managed to cram into 400 pages. Edward and Bella's relationship consists almost entirely of staring at each other dewey-eyed and arguing about who's prettier (NO I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP.)

You know what? This could have been a great book if Meyer had focussed more on the relationship between the leads, (and treated it for what it is: unhealthy, creepy, pathetic, borderline psychopathic,) and less on how perfect Edward is (interesting note: the word "perfect" or related terms like "flawless" are used to describe Edward more than a hundred times. That's just bad writing, guys.) What burns me up most about this book is that Edward and Bella are obviously meant to portray the perfect couple. Yeah, I really want my hypothetical daughter to walk out on her family for a guy she barely knows, invite said guy to sleep in her bed, have absolutely no life outside of said guy, and turn into a sniveling wreck when this guy looks at her the wrong way. And I also really want my hypothetical son to break into his girlfriend's house and watch her sleep (SERIOUSLY, GUYS?) , abandon whatever life he has so he can stalk this girl, and be so possessive of her that he throws a fit whenever she so much as looks at someone other than him. And people think these two are good role models? WHAT. JUST WHAT.

This book really wouldn't bother me if it were being taken for what it is: a silly, sappy, shallow, juvenile, wish-fulfilling rag. The fact is, everyone is going on about how its literary merit rivals the frakking "Scarlet Letter" and how Bella Swan is the new Elizabeth Bennet (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?). "Twilight" should be rotting on some publisher's desk in a pile of rejection letters; not being lauded as the greatest novel since "Pride and Prejudice." I weep for literature.

The legends are true; the vampires sparkle, May 27, 2008
I wasn't going to read this, but all the sparkly text and hystrionics on the internet piqued my curiosity. It took a couple of goes to get into it, but once the story hooked me, I found it difficult to put the book down -- except for those moments when I had to stop and shriek at my friends, "SPARKLY VAMPIRES!" or "VAMPIRE BASEBALL!" or "WHY IS BELLA SO STUPID?" These moments came increasingly often as I reached the climactic chapters, until I simply reached the point where I had to stop and flail around laughing.

The plot revolves around Bella Swan, a Mary Sue whose primary skills seem to be having a martyr complex, attracting trouble, and falling down. She moves to the rainy town of Forks to live with her father after some banal shenanigans make it impossible to live with her mother. Or so she likes to claim, but like I said, one of Bella's superpowers is Being a Martyr. At her new school, Bella is instantly feted as the queen of the social scene -- everyone likes her except (shock!) the impossibly beautiful Edward Cullen. Who is a vampire.

(Particularly grating is Bella's OUTRAGE that the normal boys of Forks like her and want to spend time with her, and express this by being friendly and openly indicating that they have a romantic interest in her. I mean, sure, it's awkward being the subject of unwanted romantic attention -- or so I've heard -- but at least they're not playing creepy mind games and breaking into her house to watch her sleeping, because that would be -- oh, hang on...)

Edward doesn't actually hate Bella, he simply lusts after her. I mean, wants to suck her blood. I mean, sniff after her creepily. Bella apparently poses a threat to the entire non-evil vampiric subculture, so of course Edward asks her to go steady with him. But not until they've spent many, many, many chapters engaged in tedious 'banter' that is possibly intended to remind the reader of Pride and Prejudice, or at least, remind the reader of some fanfic based on a loose film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

Then they hook up, and Edward glitters in the sun a bit.

Then some evil vampires turn up, one of whom is obsessed with Bella. Why? Because her blood just smells that good. Apparently there are sequels -- well, there's no "apparently" about it, I can see the sequels from where I'm sitting -- but unless they involve Bella Swan and the entire town of Forks being obliterated in a nuclear devastation, I don't intend to read them.

Twilight should be taken as mindless fun, but it has a lot of subtextual ugliness that makes its popularity disquieting. Bella is one of the most useless, insipid heroines I've encountered in a long time -- and I genuinely love Fanny Price, btw -- while Edward is like a textbook example of a creepy stalker boyfriend. There's a strong element of wish fulfillment -- average girl attracts bad boy who's willing to change for her -- but I cannot be comfortable with a text that portrays abuse as love. Apparently, the series is popular for its abstinence subtext -- Edward and Bella can't be together until their relationship has taken the proper form, that is, Bella's a vampire -- but possibly parents should be wondering if it's really a good idea to conflate "marriage" with "death".

Or, possibly, I'm overthinking. When a series has become this massive, I don't think it hurts to give some serious brain-time to the question of what, exactly, is being consumed.

did anyone actually read this book before it went to print?, November 29, 2007
there are so many problems with this book that i can't even begin to address them all. but i will say this, 'twilight' is probably one of the worst, if not THE worst, books i've ever read. the writing is amateurish at best [cliches, stereotypes, purple prose--how anyone can applaud meyer's prose is puzzling]; the editing--or lack thereof--is appalling [this is a 200 page novel, no more and probably less]; the grammar and syntax are unforgivably bad; the plot is onion-skin thin; and the characters are uniformly dull and uninspiring.

it's hard to imagine how so many people got suckered into this book. the novel's protagonist, bella swan [really? i mean, really?], is a complete idiot. she has no dreams, no motivations, no ambitions, no hopes, no goals, and not a single original thought of her own. she spends 500 pages spewing endless platitudes and commenting on edwards 'perfect face,' 'amber eyes,' and 'perfectly-muscled chest' ad nauseum [those references number in the HUNDREDS, easily]. she constantly wonders why edward, a 100-year old domineering vampire, wants her. apparently she's the only one who doesn't realize how 'beautiful' she is. honestly, this is the kind of novel you'd expect see selling for $1.99 at the supermarket checkout, not winning all sorts of awards. at one point i was half-expecting to close the book and find de-shirted fabio on the cover. and a glittery vampire? gimme a break.

frankly, i'm mystified at its popularity. if nothing else, i guess it goes to show what clever marketing and stories of wish-fulfillment and so-called 'forbidden love' can do to some women. it's made meyer a multi-millionaire, i'm sure, and turned her publisher into a cash cow. i don't begrudge anyone his or her success, but when it comes via a turd like 'twilight,' it's well, more than a tad saddening.

what's even more disheartening are the 'twlight' apologists who say that 'at least young women are reading!' [as if reading trash is preferable to not reading at all.] i guess you could make that argument, but with that kind of logic you might as well congratulate an anorexic for eating a marshmallow.

aromatic airhead meets vacuous vampire, August 19, 2008
I wanted to like this book. For one thing, it came highly recommended by reputable reader-friends (sorry guys, nothing personal). It took me a good 200 pages to even realize that I didn't like it, but as the pages slipped by, so did this book's potential to tell a convincing, complex and emotionally-gripping story.

I didn't mind the slow start. Bella Swan's teenage over-reaction that "the world is going to end, or at least suck for a while" when she moves from Phoenix to Forks, WA was a familiar yet believable theme for a young adult book. I forgave her silly name and her paralyzing (literally) clumsiness. For a while.

Then Bella discovers the attractive, standoffish, teenage vampire clique. Don't get me wrong, I knew there would be vampires. I had hoped they would bring some intrigue, interesting character interaction, and a few creative supernatural twists to the mix. I was wrong: Edward, the main vampire/love interest must be the most blatant example of author-male fantasy insertion in a story I have ever read--the way his beauty is praised ad-nauseum, as is his ability to out-play/perform/karate/run etc. every mortal/immortal on the planet in any game/sport/musical instrument/hand-to-hand combat/race etc. certainly attests to that. Edward and his (almost) equally Hollywood Hot family are less creatures of the night, and more a blend of Greek god and barbie doll whose baseball games are confused for thunderstorms by us mortals. They are also apparently perpetual high school students, moving to schools every few years to keep anyone from catching on. Is this consistent with Meyer's view of noble "vegetarian" vampires who only want to alleviate the mortal misery of their weak human neighbors? With Dr. Carlisle the one notable exception, I can't quite suspend my disbelief that a hundred years would NOT be enough time to fake your age, get into law school, med school, the foreign service branch of the state department...(or at least use certain inherent skills to become pool boys or tennis instructors).

All this was mildly irritating, but what really brought the star-count down for me was that this book had so much potential to challenge my perception of the world, to make me think. I kept reading because I expected there to be a twist...not a "gotcha" moment, but one where the characters grow too big for the box they've been placed in, where they become bold and try to deal with their issues. I wanted to Bella to challenge the emotionally manipulative hold Edward has on her. I wanted Edward to fail at something and discover humility, and even have to rely on Bella for a change. I wanted Bella and Edward to discover that there are consequences for misinterpreting an attraction based scent/beauty for one based on communication, compromise, and time. I kept reading, sure that something complex and meaningful would happen...

I hope I don't spoil anything when I say that the characters start off in the shallow end, and end up in the pool parking lot. When the action finally started at around pg 400, all I could think of was what one of the robots on Mystery Science Theater 3000 sarcastically remarked during a B-movie that was being thoroughly panned: "And the reason this part works so well is that we care about the characters!" If a random "bad guy" is suddenly going to appear at the end of a book and try to kill one of the main characters for no apparent reason, I want to at least care about them!

Finally, a brief note on the writing itself. I thought some of the mood-setting description was pretty well done, and honestly didn't notice anything truly jarring until after the appearance of Edward. Suddenly, cliches like "a carved statue", "an Adonis", "his angel face" surface at least every page or so, as do numerous purple descriptions of eye color meant to substitute for character depth. Over-dramatic facial expressions abound, especially in the more intimate moments: grimaced, shuddered, gaped, glared. And finally, the awkward dialog tags. Characters "demand", "chuckle", "mutter bleakly", but never "say" anything unless they say it "harshly", "quietly" or "tenderly". The line '"Yes", she agreed' made me laugh out loud. All these "little" things, once I started noticing them, made the character's actions seem even more inconsequential and ridiculous.

Bottom line: obviously this isn't literature, but neither is it a thought-provoking or even "fun" frivolous read. There just isn't any substance there to care about, no challenge, just a pretty boy and a "good-smelling" girl who needs to be rescued half a dozen times. Some other reviews have compared this book to fan-fiction, and I think that's a fair assessment. I've written overwrought fan-fiction in my time, complete with the "seagreen eyes" and "nymphlike shoulders" but that doesn't mean everyone's wish-fullfillment fantasy needs to blow into a doorstop of a book.

For a more convincing and complex approach to the violence and passion inflicted by one man's uncanny sense of smell, try Patrick Suskind's book Perfume.

Oh man. I can't believe I spent nine bucks on this., July 27, 2008
I started this book two days ago. I'm currently more than 200 pages in, and I can't finish this, man. I just don't think I have the strength.

Seriously? This is what everyone is freaking out over? I've read better fan fiction on Livejournal. Really, truly, waaaaaay better. Like, with sparkling, funny, romantic dialogue, great characters, the whole shebang. This book is..well, crap. Sorry, I tried to like it, but...yeah. No go.

The major problem I have is that I just don't care about any of the characters. Meyer's character development isn't just lacking...it's absent. I don't know these people, and therefore I don't care about them. Describing their appearance (barely) isn't an adequate substitute for developing their personalities. Also, they make no sense. Is Bella a hottie? A plane Jane? Who the heck can tell? Boys at her old school don't know she's alive, but the second she gets to Forks she's Miss America. Boys in Phoenix are blind, maybe? There's a toxic waste dump in Forks that makes all the native residents fugly, and Bella is hawt by comparison? What is it, Stephenie? Come on now. How can I like this protagonist? Bella is boring. She's not funny, she's not even mildly amusing. All she does is fawn over Edward. I know that teenage girls always have and always will fawn over boys, but really, this is ridiculous. That's the only freaking thing she does. Everyone else has said this, but she's really only just a sounding board for wonderful, perfect, muscular, adonis-like, perfect faced Edward. She could have had one aspiration at least, yeah? Some Mary-Sues have aspirations, right? Right?

Note to Stephenie Meyer: Use a thesaurus and come up with some new words, please. She said clumsily. While glaring. And blushing.

Contrived and formulaic, February 23, 2008
The quick version of this book: If you're pretty and pouty, you too can land yourself a gorgeous vampire boyfriend who will continuously save your a**.

Let's take our main character first - Bella Swann. Yet another heroine who doesn't know she's beautiful and describes herself as shy but never exhibits the trait. The book is told in first person, which is unfortunate, because that means the reader is at ground zero for all of her insipid thoughts. She moves in with her father in his small town and holds contempt for just about everyone she meets at school, even though all they are doing is being friendly and including her. Not that any of this matters to Bella once she spots beautiful Edward. The next 500 pages are filled with purple descriptions of his magnificence, of how she's not worthy, of how could this god-like/Adonis-like creature stoop to love her.

I'm going to try to condense my irritation with Bella into a series of points:
* She's ridiculously clumsy, which is meant to be a fault, is passed off as charming, but basically just gives her an asinine reason not to run so Edward can save her.
* She "falls in love" with Edward within weeks of knowing him, and after a couple hundred pages, if he even mentions leaving, she hyperventilates and acts like her world will freaking collapse. Stalking is illegal in all 50 states, Bella.
* Whenever Eddikens so much as barely brushes his lips with hers, she either tries to rip his clothes off (natural) or her heart stops beating and she passes out. The girl hit the floor so many times in this book she put Giles to shame.

Which brings me to Edward. Angsty telepathic vampire Edward. While we have very little clear idea what Bella looks like, we get to hear about Eddiken's gorgeous, transcendental face and body over and over and over again. He's impossibly frustrating because he's been crammed with so many character traits, depending entirely on what the author wants him to be like at the time. He calls himself a monster and thinks he should have died all those years ago, but then totally lords his awesomeness over the mundane humans. And he is awesome. Lest you forget it, he's even awesomer than the rest of his vampire family at everything.

But the worst part about Edward is how he treats Bella. He is initially attracted to her because her smell is particularly attractive to him (okay, I'll bite) and because he can't read her thoughts. (Trust me, Eddikens, I'm lookin' right at 'em, and there ain't nothin' up there worth wondering about.) He knows he's a danger to her (woe!) and tells her straight off that it's better if they not be around each other (sorrow!)...and then he proceeds to hang all over her! He berates himself once every few pages for putting her in danger but never has the guts to fix the matter because he "just can't stay away from her" and "[she's his] life now." *wretch*

The author's writing style is unimpressive. Not bad, per se, but it wasn't giving me anything new. It all felt rather generic. Her vampires weren't bad - the "ultimate predators" and all that - but they were slightly ruined by her reasoning of why vamps can't go out in the sun. It's not because they'll burn up and die - it's because they glitter. That's right - these are GlamRock!Vampires. I also can see how Bella never takes Edward seriously when he tells her he's dangerous and she shouldn't want to be cursed with vampirism. Honestly, the author never shows us anything negative about the condition. It's all quick reflexes, superiority and baseball games with the fam.

The plot is bogus. Four hundred pages of ill-conceived romance and then a quick 100 pages of worse-conceived conflict. The romance, to put it frankly, is a little disturbing in how it borders on the obsessive, especially on Bella's side because he's just so, so, so beautiful!

And that's what bothers me the most about this book and the message that it sends to all of its rabid readers: the importance of beauty. Not inner beauty, either. Edward and his wonderful vampire family (all of whom are good because they don't feed on humans) are described over and over again in all of their wonderful physical qualities. They're cardboard characters for us to admire. Bella, of course, doesn't think of herself as beautiful, but the fact that she has four other boys in addition to the vampire falling all over themselves to please her begs to differ. I was willing to forgive the beauty of the vampires as a trait they acquire when they're turned, but a few others turn up later that are described as "nondescript" and ordinary-looking. And of course, they turn out to be the bad guys. Really, Stephanie Meyer?

I'm not buying it. Or your sequels for that matter.

Best book of the decade? Really?, April 16, 2009
I seem to be the only teen/preteen girl who isn't obsessed with Twilight. Unlike the doting fangirls who seem to make up about 80% of the reviewers, I found it to be a bit like pudding~ simple and easy to swallow, but with absolutely no nutritional value.

{{WARNING! THIS PARAGRAPH CONTAINS SPOILERS!}}
We all know the story: Isabella Swan (what a dumb name!) moves to the rainy town of Forks, Washington to live with her divorced father, who can't cook anything despite having lived on his own for years. Bella enrolls in the local high school and meets the impossibly beautiful Edward Cullen, who she falls madly in love with within the first few months of knowing him. That was the first half of the book--after that, there's a lengthy period where not much happens, we just get lots of purple descriptions of Edward's magnificence, and how Bella couldn't possibly be good enough for this "Adonis-like creature", blah, blah, blah. Then near the end, this random evil vampire shows up to kill Bella, and--* Gasp *!?--Edward comes to her rescue.

All of the characters are extremely flat and undeveloped (some, notably Eric, shouldn't even exist), except for the two leads, who are at least two-dimensional rather than one-dimensional. But am I seriously supposed to care about these people? The only character I did like was Jacob, because he had the essence of an actual person.

Twilight has got to be the most blatant reader insertion/wish-fulfillment scenario I've ever read. It might as well be told in the second person. I mean, what teenage girl doesn't want a gorgeous vampire boyfriend (Meyer's thinking)? This is made even more blatant by the fact that Bella is very much a blank canvas onto which the reader can project herself; she doesn't have much of a personality besides being clumsy and fainting easily basically so Edward can come save her, and we never even get a good idea of what she looks like. She has no goals or ambitions--she simply wants to be with Edward 24/7. [" `I would rather die than stay away from you.'"]

And that brings us to Edward. In case you haven't gathered this already, he's inhumanly beautiful, as we're reminded at least once on every page. We constantly hear about his "angel's face", his "perfectly muscled chest", his "flawless lips", his "gold-colored eyes", etc., etc. His only defining personality trait is being very, very moody.

The two leads love each other for incredibly shallow reasons. Bella loves Edward because he's beautiful and mysterious and has saved her butt on numerous occasions because of her own penchant for getting into damsel-in-distress situations. Perhaps it's understandable she's infatuated with him, but "unconditionally and irrevocably in love"? Not right. After the halfway point in the book, she becomes annoyingly obsessed with him, not wanting to be away from him for more than two minutes.
Edward loves Bella because she smells good and he wants to take a big bite out of her jugular vein. Really, Stephenie Meyer, you could've done better than that.
It's clear even to me that their relationship is not a healthy one--it often borders in the obsessive, including the fact that Edward is protective of Bella to the point of stalking her--but Meyer romanticizes and idealizes it so supposedly no one will notice or care.

The writing style is just mediocre, with a distinctly amateurish, almost fanfiction-like atmosphere to it, as if the author were purposely dumbing it down for the target demographic. The main problem is that the characters rarely just "say" anything. Almost always, they have to "muse" it or "agree" it or "retort" it or "promise" it or "mutter" it, a feature that gets annoying after a while. [" `Very different', I agreed."] Meyer also has a tendency to overuse adverbs and adjectives, clearly with the intent of stretching out sentences ["I followed two unisex raincoats through the door." "His low voice was cold."]. She doesn't seem to be able to mention Edwards's eyes--as she often does--without also noting their color. And didn't it bother anyone else how much cringing, grimacing, glaring, and scowling there is going on?
To conclude this rant about the writing style, I feel obliged to mention this wonderful line from early on in the book: "Now my horrific day tomorrow would be just that much less dreadful."

There is no message to speak of... well, not a good one, anyway. There seem to be three here that are particularly wrong to be sending to the intended teenage female audience. The first is about the importance of external beauty. The second is about how life is not worth living without a man. The third is about how infatuation equals love, and that when you "love" someone, you should give up everything for them, even if it's dangerous to your well-being.

Twilight may be unoriginal, poorly written, and flimsy, but "boring" is one thing it's not. Despite at its heart being a true Meyer lemon (if you'll pardon the expression), it has a strange addictiveness to it that makes you want to keep reading through the mediocrity and trashiness. Perhaps it should simply be taken as mindless fun; you can enjoy it as long as you don't use your brain too much (i.e., at all). So when you're reading the book, just do as the song says...

"Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream..."

~~LJB, age 12



(Just don't spend too much time reading it, or your IQ might drop a few points.)

I really wanted to enjoy this book..., August 19, 2008
***Of course there are spoilers below, sorry!***

OK, so after hearing about this book for ages, after having dozens of friends recommend it to me and hearing them laud it as the "next Harry Potter", I decided to pick up Twilight. Some quick background info on me (not really important, but just so you see where I'm coming from): I'm female, in my early 20's, LOVE fantasy and YA, LOVED BTVS and ANGEL w/ a fiery passion. Anyways, so I, and many others who know me, figured I'd love this book to pieces. Just finished reading it, and frankly, I thought it was horrible. The issues I have w/ this book are plentiful, and, this late into the game, have likely been discussed in other reviews, so to be brief (ok, not that brief):

1) Bella is the worst protagonist ever. She is the typical "Mary Sue" character (a quick glance at 1 star reviews also mention this, so I won't go into definitions of what a Mary Sue is). She's a big city girl coming to live in a small town where everyone knows her name and wants to be her friend. Guys line up and actually fight for the "privilege" to take her to a dance, yet she dismisses these friendly advances as annoyances. Her only flaw is that she's hopelessly clumsy, but even this isn't really a flaw since it makes her endearing and provides ample opportunity for a dashing man to sweep her off her feet. Oh, and this happens often. My main beef w/ Bella is that, as a main character, she does absolutely nothing to resolve the main conflict. In my opinion, this is a big no-no, especially in YA literature. Protags should be the one to resolve the conflict and not rely on other characters so heavily to do so. Bella is the quintessential "damsel in distress" who seem to only exist to get into grave peril so her dashing man can rescue her. In a world of strong YA protags who make heavy, sometimes life altering decisions to resolve a conflict, this is such a cop-out. Bella is just a victim and I would have had more respect for her is she had found a way to outsmart the villain and save herself. Bella herself says it best, she is the perpetual Lois Lane, and there's a reason why Lois never starred in her own movie/show! (now, don't get me wrong, I'm not some zealous feminist that hates this archetype, I feel that characters like these can serve a purpose in a well written story, just not as a protag/MC)

2) Edward is unbelievably boring. For a mysterious "creature of the night", Edward is an incredibly dull "Gary Stu". He's perfect in every way: perfect looks; super powerful; perfect looks; super fast; perfect looks; can play the piano like freaking Mozart; perfect looks; sparkles like a giant diamond engagement ring in the sun; perfect looks; is, for some absurd, mostly chemical, reason, completely devoted to Bella; and oh, he has perfect looks. Meyer seems to think it is important to mention his beauty, his perfection, his angelic, Adonis-like, model looks on a VERY regular basis (I swear, it was mentioned almost every other paragraph in one chapter). He's so oh-my-gosh beautiful, Bella literally faints every time he even touches her (but that's ok, it gives him yet another excuse to sweep her off her feet!). We get very little about his past (should I hope to see more of this in the sequels?) even though we get an entire chapter, really, almost 1.5 chapters, on the origins of Carlisle, a vampire who plays a minor role in this story. His mood changes rapidly from anger to condescending, back to anger, to undying devotion, exasperation, then, again, back to anger w/ a bit of mockery. Other than his mostly chemical attraction (and really, it is mostly chemical. Bella seems to let off some sort of exotic smell that makes vamps go wild), little is known about him, about what drives him to do the things he does.

3) Sparkling vampires? Look, I know vampires have been done in all forms of media for decades and I appreciate some originality. But really, vampires that sparkle in the sunlight? Meyer gives us no reason why they should sparkle, doesn't explain how this works, really, just uses it has some vague excuse why the vamps can't go out in bright sunlight. So overall, besides the drinking human blood aspect, which can obviously be overcome, there is no disadvantage whatsoever to becoming a vampire. You remain young and oh-my-gosh beautiful for eternity, become super fast and strong, get cool powers like telepathy, clairvoyance, and, well, whatever it is Jasper has, drive around in luxury cars, and basically, other than a troublesome Native American tribe, can live the good life. I would have FAR more respect for this book if the vamps were hideous in daylight, or if they couldn't go out in daylight at all, but really, sparkly, glittery, diamond like vampires? It's like stuffing every teen girl/woman's fantasies (looks, wealth, diamonds, power, everlasting youth) into a dull boring package. Despite my complaints about the vampires, I do like the characters of Alice and Jasper, Jasper because he seems to actually struggle with his choice to abstain from human blood, and Alice because of her spunky attitude and her mysterious past that was partially reveled in the end (I'd love to read more about Alice)

4) The conflict doesn't kick in until the end. Yes, thanks to Alice, we get a lot of foreshadowing, but even this doesn't come until later. The main conflict w/ the other vamps could have been woven in much earlier into the story.

5) The overall writing is blah. First off, 1st person is very, very tough to pull off properly, and, in my opinion, this story would have been much better in a tight 3rd person POV. I think this story suffers from this point of view is because Bella is just plain boring who is ineffectual as a main character. I know she's supposed to be the normal, everyday girl thrown into a wild predicament, but her voice is just plain boring and at times, snobby and superficial. Another issue I have is the number of times Meyer uses a hyphen to break up a train of thought, which, in the beginning chapters, is very annoying. The characters are all mostly one dimensional, some border 2-D, none are fully fleshed out. Rosalie, one of the vamps, is just described as oh-my-gosh beautiful and jealous of Bella (*cough cough, Mary Sue alert, cough*), and little else is done with her, indeed, we only hear her speak a couple of measly lines in the whole book, which is sad because it would be nice to know exactly why she feels about Bella the way she does. All the human characters besides Bella are 1-D stock characters that the author (and Bella) could care less about.

In conclusion, not a great book in my opinion, though I was intrigued by the conflict of Bella wanting to become a vampire. It's such an immature request, but that's why I liked it, because it was a way to remind the readers that Bella, is in fact a child tossed into a relationship with a much older boyfriend, a child who doesn't quite understand what she has gotten herself into or the potential consequences. The only time I ever liked Edward in this whole book was when he refused her request, despite the benefits to their relationship. A truly selfless act that sadly doesn't excuse the 450+ pages of drivel that came before it.

I will read the next book, not only because I'm the type of person that must finish whatever series I begin, not only because I truly want to see what the hype about this series is, but mostly because I hope that the flaws in this first book are remedied later in the series, hope the characters gain more dimensions, hope to learn more about Alice and see Jasper wrestle more w/ abstinence. And while I know Twilight is Meyer's first novel, it just doesn't excuse the excessive faults I found w/ this book. The next "Harry Potter" this is not, and frankly, there are other, far better written YA books out there that deserve more fanfare than what Twilight is getting

Wow. And I don't mean that in the good way, July 13, 2008
When I dislike a book, I often don't dwell on it, because what's the point, right? But my reaction to this book went BEYOND dislike, and I felt I had to vent about it a little bit to get it out of my system.

This book was horrible. Absolutely horrible. I bought it because it was featured in a magazine I read, and I'd heard good things about it, so I decided to give it a try...as a die-hard fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and fantasy literature in general, I thought it was right up my alley. I was wrong.

First of all, I was *disgusted* by the main characters. I actually think one can dislike a character and still like the book/writing, but in this case, the main characters were pathetic and boring. The female lead (Bella Swan. Really. Bella Swan. Why not just call her Pretty McPerfect and have done with it?) is completely vapid. She has no goals, no dreams, no ambition, no personality aside from being miserable and obsessed with her boyfriend. Now, ok, it's romance. Fine. But romance can be accomplished...and often in a better way...if the participants have strong, defining character traits. It heightens the tension and makes the results much more satisfying. Bella had no defining character traits. I don't even remember what she was supposed to look like. She was selfish and misanthropic for absolutely no reason, and she acted like a spoiled martyr for far too many pages. It's really quite depressing that this book is being touted for teenage girls, because the main character is a HORRIBLE role model in every sense of the word. Why not portray her as having goals? Dreams? Ambitions? It would serve to heighten the conflict and make the book better in the long run.

But anyway. The love interest, superhot vampire Edward, is downright scary. And not in like...the good way. He stalks her. He makes decisions for her. He doesn't listen to her views or opinions (not that she has any, really). He encourages her to lie. He puts her in danger...no matter how many times he whines about the emotional toll it puts on him, he still doesn't stop putting her in danger. He is cruel and arrogant. AND SHE ACCEPTS THIS! He keeps telling her how she needs him to look after her, how she would die or something if it wasn't for him. AND SHE IS NOT OFFENDED/ANNOYED BY THIS. Seriously! Even the most ambivalent feminist should find this insulting and derogatory!

There's absolutely no chemistry between the leads. She loves him because he is beautiful. He loves her because he wants to eat her and she smells good. Really. He tells her she is like his heroin. How is that in anyway healthy? She is willing to die for someone she barely knows, someone who plays mind games with her, who dominates her completely. She admits to being completely obsessed with him. And there are no consequences for this! She has no doubts about her emotions toward him!

Ugh. I could go on, but I won't. I just want to say that this is probably the worst book I have ever read, and I'm not too far removed from the teen audience this book is geared to. I see no redeeming features at ALL, except perhaps the character Jacob, who seems like the only person in this entire book that has any interesting and healthy character traits. But now that I've gotten this out of my system, I do feel better.

In short...please don't read this book. Please. ... Read more

Editorial Review

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end. ... Read more

Reviews

Light, Fun, but not a Keeper, March 28, 2007
While I won't go so far as to nitpick Clare's creative (sometimes too creative) use of adjectives, I do have some critiques of this book. If you've read the fanfiction, you'll be well-prepared for this novel, and in fact you'll have fun recognizing some of your favorite characters back, thinly veiled. This is actually Clare at her best, lots of improbable but fun dialogue, good pacing for once, no long dragged out subplots that make the reader forget what the main plot is, with bits that make the reader laugh aloud (at least me). I read the story straight through, and I enjoyed it. I even bought it after telling myself I wasn't going to. It is the kind of book that you binge on, read in one go and enjoy.

However, there were things that really bugged me.

1. Self-referencing. Two things that jerked me out of the narrative were the use of the word 'asshat' which is widely used now, but not so widely used that I think it's a coincidence it's in this book, and giving Luke a 'Still Not King' bumper sticker, also fairly common, but still in-jokey. I suppose if the reader hasn't read anything else of Clare's, they wouldn't notice, but I don't look at that and feel superior for knowing the joke, I feel irritated with the author for waving at her friends instead of writing the story.

2. It's a soap opera. Admittedly, an enjoyable one, but the story is all drama and passion and twists, and not all that much character development, or even consistent characterization. I sincerely doubt a girl who refers to herself as 'shy' would slap a guy she barely knows who saved her life, and then make out with a near stranger. Not really shy actions. Jace, too, is uneven. Isabelle's fanfic alter ego was one of the most fun parts of Cassie's fanfic, so I enjoyed her, and I think she has fairly good characterization, but I didn't feel like there was a lot of real character development. Sure, they learned things, and supposedly changed, but Alec is the only one who appears to grow.

3. It's derivative. This story is like the happy offspring of Harry Potter, Uglies, Inksheart, Star Wars, with Lord of the Rings as a distant cousin and Buffy as the down the street neighbor. It does combine some of the better elements--friends, a knowledge of occult mythology, sectarian groups and violence, fun villains who may or may not be related to you, etc--but that doesn't mean it's original. You take lots of strikingly beautiful things and blend them together to come up with something generically pretty.

Valentine reminded me of Capricorn the entire book, and he only made an appearance at the end. For readers of Clare's fanfic series, you'll enjoy picking out how she changed some of her scenes and characters to fit this story, but it's also like "ooh! this is like the scene where Draco and Hermione get locked in the wardrobe! Only instead of Hermione it's Ginny--er Clary!"

People who enjoy this genre will enjoy the book. People who enjoy Clare's writing will enjoy this book. I'm glad it got published. But it's not exactly the kind of story that you imagine lasting through generations.

Funny, but ultimately uncreative., March 20, 2007
[Moderate spoilers ahead, beware, beware!]

City of Bones was an incredibly frustrating book.

Holly Black - an author whose work I'm rather fond of - called it "funny, dark, and sexy." Was it funny? Absolutely. Was it dark? There was a lot of killing, but only of nameless monsters - it was about as dark as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 1. (Which is to say, not very.) As for sexy? There are two kisses in the entire book, and neither of them could be described as particularly sexy. Huzzah for romance!, yes, but not sexy.

Now, moving on.

An urban fantasy in which a young artist named Clary goes clubbing and sees a cute guy attack people with claws and get murdered. Unfortunately, by the time her adorably nerdy best friend Simon brings the bouncer to check on it, the body's vanished, and no one seems to be able to see the murderers. Then, later, she attends some poetry readings where people wail about their loins, and gets stalked by one of the murderers who seems intent on lounging about invisibly, talking about how good-looking he is, and belittling her a lot. She goes home to find her mother's vanished, and a demon like an alligator from the sewers crossed with a hairball ready to eat her face.

It had some good dialogue, (nothing particularly quotable, but funny at varying points - not unlike Jennifer Crusie in her better novels, only without the sex) a fast-paced plot, and very varied characters. That being said, the writing is stuffed with errors like "bending like a blade of grass bending sideways". There is an overabundence of similes as well, meaning that "as if"s, "as though"s, and "like"s are found in plenty. Usually, this doesn't bother me much, but when there are three to every page, it grows extremely tiresome. Her prose is clear - if not particularly inspired - but those similes may make you skip them in chunks.

What bothered me most about it was the exposition-heavy dialogue. There was nothing remotely subtle about it, though it usually came under the guise of telling the new Shadowhunter Clary about their world. On the other hand, heavy exposition tends to slow down the narrative, and City of Bones certainly slowed down a lot. Despite the fact that all the exposition was of a subject typically interesting to me - how to kill demons, types of weapons to kill demons, demons themselves, the characters' Pasts of Pain (TM) - the blatant obviousness of the ploy made me want to toss the book across the room.

Neither should you pick up this book if you're looking for a subtle read. The author doesn't hesitate to hit you with brief, immediate emotional descriptions: "she was stunned." "he felt nauseous." and so on and so forth. The characters may lie to each other, but Clary - who seems to be a very perceptive sort except when it pertains to her best friend Simon - seems to find it easy to spot those lies immediately. But those occasions where it's necessary for Clary to pick up on something aren't as common as they could be, though not for the best of reasons; for the most part, they tell each other painful truths from their pasts immediately. You find out fairly quickly about Jace's tragic past and rapidly identify him as the anti-hero who conceals his inner pain with witty ripostes. (He tells Clary a bit of it as a bedtime story, and you might think that this can be explained by the fact that he is minorly obsessed with her. On the other hand, when a minor character who doesn't even like them tells them about a vicious incident involving his father in his childhood, you know something's up.)

And then, of course, there is Alec, whose secret Clary notices pretty much immediately, though adults who've known him all his life can't see it. It would matter less if she were marketed as perceptive, but it doesn't feel as though she is; her nature seems to happen by accident, a convenience for the author to let on more about her characters.

The people who are good tend to fall into varying shades of gray. Unfortunately, the antagonist receives no such treatment. He abused his son emotionally! He gathered loners while he was going to school and made friends solely in order to have loyal followers! He hates all demons indiscriminately and wants them all razed off the face of the earth! There's what seems to be a half-attempt to explain his evil towards the end of the book, but it's never explored very much, and honestly doesn't alleviate any of his evil into something that even resembles humanity. At present, the villain's not a character; he's a plot point on legs.

Many of the other reviews have already covered the romance angle, so I'll simply add that I agree with the ones who called it a Star Wars moment in an urban fantasy novel. There never seemed to be much depth invested in it; there were some minor sparks, but it was hardly given any build-up before Jace and Clary were kissing before her room, and Simon - in love with her for the past ten years* - opened the door be confronted with the pair of them.

Then, of course, he stormed off after throwing his love in her face, but came back to drive her to the Shadowhunters' next assignation with the forces of darkness.

* They've only known each other for ten years, mind. And they were five when they first met, I assume. When he tells her about the ten years, rather than sympathise with Clary and Simon, I rolled my eyes. He's been in love with her since the moment he knew her?

That's probably what I find most annoying about the whole thing. Character development wasn't carried off in the least - in one chapter, Clary definitively identifies herself with the human race - the "mundies", as Jace calls them, scornfully. Once the next arrives, she doesn't bother to defend her best friend Simon when the Shadowhunters mock him, and she's thinking of herself very much a Shadowhunter. Simon's just had his heart broken, and a few lines later all is well with the two of them again. Isabelle is mentioned to dislike Clary, but there seems to be nothing in it other than a few glancing lines of mild slighting. Alec, who dislikes her because Jace is straight and only a blind English teacher could fail to notice all the chemistry, concludes the first book fine with her.

(What I dislike most about this is the fact that Clary tells Alec, essentially, that the boy he has a crush on Jace - called him a coward for never having killed a demon. He hits her, and I felt rather vindicated for Alec, primarily because most of the cast is either indifferent to Clary or fond of her. Later, he comes back and apologises. She doesn't, and they both behave as if she stated some sort of truth. Jace himself says it - Alec's probably never killed a demon because he was too busy protecting Jace and Isabelle. That's not cowardice - that's secondhand glory, and Alec is incredibly brave for not wanting all the glamour when surely Isabelle and Jace must be pushed into his face all the time for being the great demonhunters that they are. That Clary is wrong and no one calls her on it deeply irritates me, particularly since I suspect that the reader wasn't meant to empathise with Alec in that situation.)

As well, there was the Really Old Cliche of the heroine being beautiful and not knowing it. Perhaps she's only beautiful in Jace's eyes - for Jace is the one who tells her so - but really, the amount of people who show up in fantasy books unaware of their own good looks is supremely annoying, and is not growing any less so.

The main reason I've picked it all to bits is because it could have been so much better. The writing was amateurish (the similes! they're massing for an attack!), the characters were barely fleshed out - you couldn't tell one's lines from another's, as if they were merely devices for throwaway one-liners - and the plot was unfortunate. On the other hand, there were some funny bits, ("It's the Mortal Cup, Jace, not the Mortal Toilet Bowl.") but it didn't give a new look on vampires, demons, or werewolves the way Holly Black gave a new look on Faerie. It's funny, but for the readers who want more from a book than funny, it doesn't quite cut it.

The random first-person narrative section -- told to add depth to Clary's mother's story, I presume -- was unnecessary to the extreme. At the time the tale was being told, they were in terrible danger. The character in question chose that time to pause and to expound -- in depth -- on Clary's mother's history? As I said: highly, extremely, incredibly unlikely in a character.

There was also an unnecessary reference -- I say unnecessary because I've heard something about accusations of plagiarism, and since the author doesn't specifically cite the text when she makes the reference, I assume people will be all over it like stink on cheese? -- where Luke asks Clary not to call him Uncle Luke, because it reminded him of Uncle Tom's Cabin. As his name is not Tom, this doesn't quite work as well as it did in the text it came from originally: Fire and Hemlock, by Diana Wynne Jones. I seem to recall a few other instances, but nothing that hasn't been repeated through culture, or that sticks particularly in the mind.

To summarise an extremely long-winded review: City of Bones had excellent dialogue for humor. Unfortunately, that one shining point was rather bogged down by the places where it lacked. It shows promise, and the humor nearly makes you want to wait for it, but I had no problem putting it down to attend to work - and that, for me, was the sign that it didn't work as well as it should have.

Deja vu, May 20, 2007
This whole book just felt tired and done before, like I've read or seen the same concepts in other fictional universes many times (such as Buffy and Star Wars).

I picked this up because I liked the title and the description and am willing to give anything a chance and it just didn't do anything for me. Besides the above mentioned, it was a bit dense as well, to the point I don't know that it would hold a YA audience. The writing was a bit flowery, leading the mind to wander. Several details simply didn't add up about the characters and their personalities. The characters were strained and flat. I forced myself to finish it because I'd paid full cover price and felt cheated out of my money. If you're interested, I suggest picking City of Bones up at your local library and seeing how it fits.

putting it on paper doesn't make it yours, July 25, 2007
Before I begin my review, I want to go into a brief back-story. I did not pick up this book of my own volition. The only reason I bought it was because I was told that the author, who has some kind of fame in the HP fandom, had gotten this book published and I wanted to be able to discuss it with my friends. That being said, I give this book one star because I cannot be objective about it. And also because [...] does not allow no-star reviews.

City of Bones was not a bad book. If I overlooked the character inconsistencies, the purple prose, the unoriginality of some of the plot twists, and the leftover editing mistakes, it was an engaging book that had me reading from start to finish. Since I was not a fan of Star Wars, nor have I ever watched Buffy, the characters seemed very original to me, although they all had their problems (and, no, I don't mean the necessary character flaws).

The main character, Clary Fray, was the biggest problem for me. She is a Mary Sue, which means, essentially, an unbearably perfect character who easily overcomes all obstacles, discovers that she has some amazing powers that she can wield better or equal to people who have been trained in it for years, and ends up with the love and respect of most if not all of the other characters no matter what she does.

At the beginning of the book, she is a 'shy' girl in a nightclub with her best friend, Simon. By the end of the book, she knows how to use a variety of runes, she's discovered that she's daughter to the Big, Bad Villain, and, despite the fact that she broke Simon's heart and almost indirectly caused Alec's death, both characters have forgiven her by the end of the novel with little or no effort on her part. I won't discuss the Mary Sueish ties between Clarissa Fray and the author because this review is about the work, not the author, but I will mention that they are there.

The other problem for me was Jace, not because he wasn't a perfectly nice character, but because of the lack-of-objectivity I previously mentioned. Coming from the HP fandom, I can recognize fanon!Draco when I see him. For those who don't know, the Draco of fanon is sophisticated, exasperatingly arrogant, and always has a sarcastic quip on hand so that he can make himself look better and wittier compared to whomever he's speaking to. This description fits Jace to a tee and I don't think it's a coincidence that Jace's physical appearance is identical to that of fanon!Draco. I think this might have been intentional, to give fanon!Draco a life outside of fanfiction, but it's in no way original and, for someone like me who is familiar with fanon!Draco and doesn't wish to see him renamed and reproduced in what is supposed to be an ORIGINAL NOVEL, it's also irritating.

Clary's appearance is like that of Ginny Weasley and Simon's is like that of Harry Potter, if one wants to go so far in drawing parallels, but I found their personalities different enough from Ginny and Harry's for me to ignore that.

A third, more personal problem I had with the book, was the two instances in which Clary mentioned things obviously not original to Clare. The first instance was her suggestion that Simon go out with a "Jaida Jones" who apparently goes to their school. Once again, if you are familiar with the HP fandom, you will recognize Jaida Jones as being a real person, another famous member of the fandom. The other instance was when Clary and Jace were riding through the city, and Clary notices two homeless kids whose descriptions match those of Val and Luis from Holly Black's VALIANT. Someone before me said it best: I found myself wishing that Clare would just write the novel instead of taking the time to wave to her friends.

It wasn't until after I'd finished City of Bones that I was notified that the great plot twist - that Jace and Clary are related, both children of the villain, Valentine - has been done before, in Star Wars. Exactly the same way, too.

My final nitpick with the book was that it was unnecessarily full. I know that Clare painted a picture of an entire Downworld in which existed fairies and vampires and werewolves and other things that only exist in stories ("all the stories are real" seems to be an accurate tagline for this book), but was it really necessary to put so many of them in one book? Clary and company go from eating in a caf� filled with fairies and such to attending a party thrown by a warlock and containing phooka and other creatures to infiltrating a vampire lair to being chased by werewolves.

I just felt that half the creatures that made an appearance in this book, no matter how brief, were unnecessary and could have been saved for a future book in the series or not been mentioned at all. The vampires, I thought, could have been written out entirely as their only purpose seemed to be to introduce the flying motorcycles that were ripped from Harry Potter (though, now that the series is over, what WON'T be ripped from Harry Potter?)

I give Clare a lot of credit. She brought this story alive for me and set it in Manhattan, my favorite city. She gave me three loveable characters, Alec, the introverted protector with unrequited feelings for Jace, Magnus Bane, the flamboyant, glittery warlock with a thing for Alec, and Simon, the painfully ordinary geek who, like me, finds this whole magical world "awesome." Without any outside influence, the story can be enjoyable.

However, since, like I said, I came into this without an objective viewpoint, my one-star review still stands. I hope others, outside of fandom, get more enjoyment out of this book than I did.

Just... not very good., October 3, 2007
I think the problem with this book is that it's like looking at every movie or tv show about teens and the supernatural for the last twenty some odd years. It's loaded with cliches and wise cracks, and if it seems like you've read or seen a story like this before, you probably have.

Teen vampire stories tend to be fairly similar anyway - you can't call the monsters vampires or werewolves unless they follow certain conventions, but this book wasn't even interesting. It's dull. You'll figure out the story long before the characters do, and by the time they catch a clue, you'll be tearing your eyes out from the purply prose.

But I would have tossed it two or three stars just because I do like teens battling demons.... except that it was so poorly edited. Characters described completely different, subplots that went nowhere... Either the publisher didn't care or the author... but someone sure didn't.

Skip it unless you can buy it cheap.

Surprisingly Entertaining..., October 14, 2009
I almost didn't buy this book because of all the negative reviews I read on here. But one day I saw this book at a bargain bin. For $3.00 why not try to read it? I honestly didn't really expect much, but was pleasantly surprised at being quite entertained with the characters and the plot. This book is a great quick read and you will find yourself wanting to get lost in Jace & Clary's world. It will keep you wanting more.

Disappointing and unoriginal: Do not buy, March 20, 2007
The book has a number of problems. These problems all add up to make a book that is not worth buying.

The main character is a Mary Sue. The more obvious clues include her name, and where she lives. If you were to read this book and run Clary through a Mary Sue Litmus Test, she would score a raging Mary Sue. The Mary Sue Litmus Test would advise you to do a serious rewrite. Most people don't enjoy reading Mary Sues. [...]

The book does too much telling, very little showing. This happens frequently. The phone is across the room. You don't need to tell me that. How about "Clary ran across the living room and picked up the retro-red phone which sat on a table." That is better than, paraphrasing here, "The phone was retro-red. It sat on an antique table in the hallway, which connected to the living room. Clary ran to answer it." There are numerous scenes which do that. Many of them are much lengthier than that example.

The point of view frequently shifts and in doing so, characters will repeat what other characters have said. It makes things repetitious. Clary describes something. Shift in point-of-view, sometimes mid-scene, Simon describes something that Clary has just described. When this happens, it doesn't add to the plot, nor the understanding of the characters.

[...]

The plot is highly derivative. It rips from Harry Potter (Why hello there Draco, I mean Jace. Hello there Harry Potter, I mean Simon). It rips from Buffy. (Why hello there Spike, I mean Jace.) It rips from Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunters. (And she sent Cassandra Claire, her agent and publisher a cease and desist note on the use of the word Dark-Hunters.) You can read parts of the work and wow, [...] It whole sale rips from Star Wars. The plot involving parents, siblings, the reveal of relationships, the battle against evil, just lock stock and barrel Star Wars. The foreshadowing is so heavy that you know this plot is coming by the second chapter. And the book delivers on it, as promised. This plot could be written in an original manner, adding new insight into the genre, into that plot. Plenty of fantasy authors and science fiction authors do that. Cassandra Claire? Not so much.

[...] The passages are randomly inserted into the text, clearly designed to trick the reader into assuming that the passages are original to the book. They aren't changed substantially to give new insight into the characters, the scene, the authors mind. They add nothing to the book. But maybe this is really a game the author is playing with her fandom audience: Spot the quotes from her fan fiction.

Descriptions are problematic. You can read this whole book and not really know what Clary looks like. Her hair color is never really described. The length of her hair is only described compared to her mother's hair. The length of her mother's hair is not described accurately. It is only described as long. Clary's eye color is not described. There are other things which would help in developing a visual which the author fails to describe. As such, the reader is left with an unclear view of what is happening. Some one else said that it is likely the author had a picture of Clary in her mind and thought the reader did too. The writing reflects that.

The problems discussed above are why people should give City of Bones, Mortal Instruments a pass. Don't buy it.

Awkward and unrealised, but has potential, March 19, 2007
A new entry to the young adult urban fantasy genre, but not really one that adds anything new to it.

Overall, I wouldn't say this was a great book, nor would I recommend it for younger teen readers - it's plodding and slow-going, and people will tear their hair out waiting for the pace to pick up. I think this book probably suits adults more in that respect (in a way - I wouldn't say the subjects were interesting to adults in general, just those with an interest in young adult fiction) - it's like the very long introduction of the first half of a longer story.

It was surprisingly uncool (setting/character descriptions, dialogue etc) as far as books with vampires/demon hunters in it go (sorry - I'm from the Buffy generation and that's just how I saw it), and I thought, given the supernatural element of the book, there were many missed opportunities to present new ideas on how a demon hunting otherworld might exist. Instead, old, pre-existing ideas were rehashed, and not in a way that would make them more compelling than before.

Given that the book is part of a trilogy, I expected there to be a lot of boring set-up pieces for the benefit of the next two volumes, but that's no excuse for this novel to be dull. There was potential for more here, and even though the book is quite long (because of the laboured, awkward way a lot of it is written), by the end it still felt like there was a rush to fit in important plot elements (the location of the most important relic of the book was really boring; it should have been one of the most - if not *the* most - exciting things that happened). I felt a bit ripped off that some of the more interesting things in the book were not given enough attention, and things like the colour of people's hair in certain shades of light was (I like that sort of detail, as well, but not all of the time. That the physical appearance of certain characters was constantly made light of was distracting. It even made them seem less attractive than they were portrayed as being).

There was one big emotional pay-off at the end from otherwise unrealised lead characters. Unfortunately, despite that one pay-off, it wasn't enough to make up for the rest of it.

The parachute pants are still the best part., April 21, 2007
I was familiar with Cassandra Clare during her BNF days in the Harry Potter community. But I never read any of the fanfiction that she was so famed and maligned for -- frankly, the subject matter just didn't interest me. I understand there were leather pants.

But I did get a chance to see the first chapters of this book at the end of last year, and I've since flipped through a copy in the bookstore. And you know, it made me really glad that I didn't waste any time and eyestrain on her fanfic.

The book is a clumsy attempt at being witty and literary, full of the purplest prose and dubious metaphors. The characters are two-dimensional and unoriginal, and the POV is incosistent and jerky, and the plot is derivative and cliched -- recycled from a half-dozen mainstream sci-fi and fantasy TV shows, films, and books, and cobbled together rather shamelessly.

The jokes are flat at best, and the author's grasp of the age group about which (and for whom) she is writing seems tenuous. The main characters are utterly unconvincing as adolescents, and their forced dialogue is predictable at best, painful at worst.

Overall, it's a ridiculous and uncompelling train wreck of a YA fantasy novel. And while I don't recall if leather pants were involved, there were parachute pants.

They were the best part, really.

It's like watching an overly-expository trainwreck, only more boring., March 25, 2007
In an underage Goth club where kids openly are handing out pills without fear of conveniently missing bouncers, the "shy" fifteen-year-old NYC native Clary charges unarmed and alone into a confrontation where strangers with knives are trying to kill each other, where she intends to stop them by talking them down. Some may call this suicidal; the reader is supposed to see it as heroic. This scene is exemplary of what you're getting into if you pick this book up.

This isn't Clary's first stupid action: she makes a habit of putting herself in harm's way by doing things she has little or no reason to, especially when there's others around telling her to stop. Other characters also do unreasonable things, if only to further the plot. A character is caught hiding in someone's bushes because he decided THEY were suspicious while he was sneaking around their house, but never gives a reason for his initial trespassing. He later drinks a magical potion with unknown effects for no good reason whatsoever, despite having someone who'd know better at his side telling him not to.

The book has no sense of continuity. Characters' eye colors, voices, abilities, and builds change, sometimes within paragraphs of their initial descriptions. (Clary's mother goes from "compact" to "tall and willowy" in paragraphs on page 24; Madame Dorothea's voice goes from familiarly "shrill" to familiarly "gravelly" on page 95; Alec's eyes go from blue to black and back again throughout the course of the book; Isabelle's skin is as "unblemished as the surface of a bowl of cream" on page 58, but all Shadowhunters are later described as covered in scars from their Marks.) A character puts himself and his love interest in mortal danger without hesitation, but later blames his poor performance in a fight on his worry for her. A fire hot enough to melt metal and turn bricks to ash (bricks melt at about three thousand degrees and don't contain enough organic material to burn to ash) doesn't reduce any bones - even an infant's bones - to ash, and manages to leave cloth fragments behind as well. Clary can do magic with runes that she literally should not be able to know, and Simon is able to see a magical glow to things and the invisible Shadowhunters even though he's supposed to be a magicless human.

A good editor would pick these problems out - but unfortunately, upon comparison with the "uncorrected proofs" of the Advance Reader Copy, it seems that the most basic problems haven't even been touched. For example, screaming characters still switch indiscriminately between italics and ALL CAPS, and the missing quotation mark from page 449 of the ARC is still missing on page 452 of the hardcover. Other words and descriptions still stand out as extremely out of place. Horses "snarl." Arrows make "hot buzzing sounds, like a huge bumblebee." Octopuses have "tendrils" instead of tentacles, and antifreeze and spring grass are somehow the same color. Another world's sun is described as hanging "limp in the sky like a burned cinder" - I don't even know where to start with that one. Water is described as being "the color of lead, churned to a whipped cream consistency." What feels like whipped cream again - the water, or the lead? And how would that even work?

Also, very few things in the work hail as original. Clary Fray (not Whedon's Slayer Melaka Fray) goes to Pandemonium (not The Bronze from Buffyverse), sees something she shouldn't, and is taken in by the Shadowhunters (not Dark-hunters), who call normal humans "mundanes" or "mundies" (from the set-in-NYC-comic Fables) and who power up and do magic by carving or drawing runes on themselves or other objects, just like in Weis and Hickman's Death Gate Cycle. They do this with a particular wand/knife hybrid called a "stele" - which, unlike the Stiehl of Terry Brooks's Shannara series, is a real word...for a headstone. The secret group of Shadowhunters is trying to rescue a magical relic before the big bad guy Valentine (whose past is Voldemort's, only without any character depth whatsoever) gets it, a plot that's been done completely to death. Finally, the "twist" of this book comes straight out of Star Wars and is guessable from chapter two.

The characters are also terribly flat, clich�, and inconsistent. Clary is "shy" but slaps people she barely knows; she's "clumsy" but the reader never sees her act that way. Jace is the stereotypical snugglebug in a jerk suit, straight out of a bad romance novel and so blindingly beautiful that absolutely everyone must comment on it. It frequently seems that cast of characters doesn't have personalities; only unbelievable dialogue, redundant and clunky metaphors, and little tics that are supposed to identify them.

Granted, there are some hilarious parts. Clary's makeover sends her out on the streets of New York City in a shirt (worn as a dress) that barely covers her rear, with high-heeled boots, fishnet stockings, lots of makeup, and no bra. Then she fights vampires while dressed like this. Later on, no one can figure out why her mother's won't come out of a coma.

(I'm not sure if those two events are related, but I'd like to think they are.)

The sheer number of errors, derivative ideas, and pages of copy & pasted fanfic bits is hideously sloppy and exemplary of lazy writing and lazier editing. It's as if no one cared to check things over before putting the book on the shelves. It's insulting to the reader to not try to fix any of these problems, and then to expect the consumer to shell out their money for something that isn't new, isn't different, isn't even coherent, and frankly just isn't very good. Don't waste your money on it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

My name is Chloe Saunders. I'm fifteen, and I would love to be normal.

But normal is one thing I'm not.

For one thing, I'm having these feelings for a certain antisocial werewolf and his sweet-tempered brother—who just happens to be a sorcerer—but, between you and me, I'm leaning toward the werewolf.

Not normal.

My friends and I are also on the run from an evil corporation that wants to get rid of us—permanently.

Definitely not normal.

And finally, I'm a genetically altered necro-mancer who can raise the dead, rotting corpses and all, without even trying.

As far away from normal as it gets.

Reviews

Great series but disappointing ending, 3.5 stars, April 11, 2010
In her final installment of the Darkest Powers trilogy, The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, Book 3), Kelley Armstrong returns us to the safe house where Chloe, Derek, Simon, and Tori are hiding from the Edison Group. Unsure of their new protectors and sometimes uncertain of each other, Chloe and her friends feel trapped and hesitant about what to do next to save themselves and to free Rae and Aunt Lauren. Combined with dangerous new ghosts, increasing romantic feelings, and the impending likelihood of Derek's first full Change, things are tense for all involved.

Like the first two books in the trilogy, I enjoyed Armstrong's strong writing and the world she has created. Pacing was solid, and the plot's twists left me guessing whom to trust and surprised when the answers were revealed. Character development continued with Chloe, Derek, and Tori, though Simon became more of a secondary character. The romantic subplot was done well again, but the romance was stronger and answered the long-awaited question of Simon versus Derek. The reader also got glimpses (though not always clear) into how the Darkest Powers trilogy relates to Armstrong's Otherworld series.

Even with these strengths, I finished feeling disappointed. This book did not provide the satisfying ending to the trilogy that I had wanted. Too many plot threads were left unexplored, unfinished, and unexplained. Nothing felt settled at the end except the romance. I understand why Armstrong may have left things as she did: the ending was just enough to close the series but also enough to leave readers wanting more, either from her adult series or from her new YA trilogy, set in the same universe, to be released next year. Though I understand this, I didn't like it. In this book, characterization also felt uneven sometimes, especially with Derek and his interactions with one character in the second half of the book. Tori's character also changed significantly within a few days' time without explanation. Though necessary to move the plot along (and in ways I liked), it didn't fit with how they had been portrayed before.

Despite these problems, I still enjoyed the book a great deal and plan to read Armstrong's future YA books. However, I will do so knowing to not expect a sense of closure from her books, even when it's the end of a trilogy or series. With her strong writing, likeable characters, and creative worldbuilding, Armstrong has the ability to craft a wonderful series of books and draw the reader in. I just wish she knew when to provide a real ending and let the reader go.

not with a bang but a whimper, June 8, 2010
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.


Unlike the previous two installments of the Darkest Powers Series, which are driven both by plot and character development, The Reckoning is driven solely by a few of its action sequences. That a few of these scenes did keep me near the edge of my seat is, unfortunately, the only positive thing I can bring myself to say about this utterly disappointing conclusion to the trilogy.

My main criticism is that the author builds up a number of compelling issues in the previous two books which are left completely unresolved at the end of the third.

Of all of these, the most disappointing for me deals with the character development, particularly the romance between Chloe and Derek. I have to say, I was impressed with the build-up of this romance in the first two books. Derek and Chloe did seem to share a unique understanding of each other. And there were the necessary frustrating, yet interesting obstacles to their being together. But in The Reckoning, this romantic tension completely fizzled, in my opinion. None of the obstacles between Chloe and Derek are actually resolved, but somehow they magically seem to go away? The way I see it, the primary obstacle to Chloe and Derek being together is Derek's selflessness. This manifests itself in two concrete ways: 1) he is a genetically modified werewolf and fears he will lose control and hurt her (hence his shock and horror when he suspects that she likes him earlier in the series); 2) he knows his brother Simon has a crush on her and would never want to hurt Simon.

As to the first: Derek completes his transformation for the first time, realizes he retains his basic humanity even as a wolf, and therefore assumes he'll never hurt Chloe? Too convenient. What about that evil poltergeist that haunts the house, always reminding Chloe and the others that their genetic modifications will drive them to insanity before long? What about Derek's uncontrollable strength that sometimes leads to violent outbreaks with disastrous consequences? We're just supposed to forget all of these issues, which only a few days ago were apparently so crippling that when Derek suspected Chloe might have feelings for him, he responded with shock and horror? More importantly, we're expected to believe that Derek would allow himself to forget it so that he could be with Chloe? Completely out of character for him. Really corny, really unrealistic - laughable, even.

As for the second obstacle: I'm sorry, but Simon's drawing a poignant little comic to show Derek that he doesn't mind him being with Chloe is, in a word, lame. the selfless Derek that we have come to know and admire would never accept that so quickly. Plus, Derek had basically already attached himself to Chloe before Simon even gave him the comic.

Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying Chloe and Derek should never end up together. I'm just disappointed that these two very serious, very compelling obstacles were erased so easily. Did Armstrong just get lazy? For me, it cheapened the romance and the series as a whole.

Putting Derek and Chloe's not-so-star-crossed romance aside, there are about a hundred other issues that are unresolved. I'll just list several off the top of my head:

-Chloe's father. Why keep bringing him up in the books if he's never going to make an actual appearance? If Chloe's never actually going to contact him?

-Chloe's mother. Why show us glimpses of her ghost if she's not actually going to play a role?

-Chloe's dream to be a film director. Personally, I found all the director/screenwriter references kind of grating. That said, this was an interesting component of Chloe, and I was kind of hoping we'd have some kind of epilogue or something showing that she didn't give it up.

-Tori and Simon being siblings, and Kit being Tori's father. Why in the world does Tori never find out about this? Would have been really interesting to see her reaction. What's the point of all the build up in the previous books, of planting the suspicion in the reader's mind about it, if there's not going to be any resolution or follow through???

-Simon's character in general. What a boring, one dimensional person. I kept thinking there would be some revelation about Simon. No idea what it might be. But just something to make him more than this flat, boring, friendly preppy dude - "Whoa, bro, cool it, bro" - ughhhh. No such luck.

-Liz. Ever since she and Chloe have that heart wrenching scene in the 2nd book, where Liz accepts that she's a ghost and warns Chloe she'll have to cross over to the other side eventually (but isn't ready yet) - I've been bracing myself for it to happen. I really thought it would at the end of The Reckoning - would have been so perfect and bittersweet. But nope! Apparently Armstrong forgot about that scene.

-Chloe's necklace. Where did it come from? How was it made? How does it work? Again, I kept thinking there was going to be some back story here, some revelation. But we got nothing. Apparently it was just a handy plot device, and something pretty to put on the jackets.

-The Demi-Demon. I found the Demi-Demon enormously interesting. I was very excited when Chloe had to make a deal with her so she'd help break the crew out of the Edison Group building; couldn't wait to find out what horrid things she'd have to do in return. But...she winds up not having to do anything, because in a typical manipulation of the plot, the Demi Demon is somehow sucked back down into hell, never to bother Chloe again. Seriously? Soooo boring.

-The warning that Chloe and the band of genetically enhanced supernaturals will eventually go insane because of their powers. This was a very interesting and stressful part of the plot. I kept waiting for it. When's the insanity going to kick in! How are the characters going to cope!? I couldn't wait for them to support each other and show some real strength in the face of their impending doom. But, no. This never happened. One of the most interesting components of the whole story, which is, predictably, left utterly unresolved.

I really do feel like the author just got kind of bored and decided to just slap this story down as fast as humanly possible, so she could get it over with and move on to the next series. From a marketing standpoint, I suppose the content of The Reckoning doesn't really matter. Most anyone who read the first two books would buy the third just to find out what happens. But I have to say, as a reader, I find it offensive. I felt manipulated when I finished the Reckoning. As you read the first two books, Armstrong makes you think she's got some master plan worked out, that all the little hints and clues she's dropped along the way will eventually add up to something. I suppose I have only myself to blame for this disappointment--for allowing myself to have faith in this author!

One of my favorite series, April 6, 2010
This is the third book in the Darkest Powers trilogy and it does not disappoint. The book was just released today so I don't want to give anything away. The plot continues at the quick pace of the other books and the relationships between Derek, Simon, Chloe, and Tori continue to develop. During this book they continue their rescue of Dr. Fellows and Rae and their search for Simon and Derek's dad. Kelley Armstrong does a good job of really capturing the character personalities and making you root for them all the way. It seems like I have been waiting for this book forever and it met my expectations. The only thing that bothers me is it seems like the series could continue. A few things are left loose that I thought would be cleared up at the end of a trilogy. I definitly recommend this book but the other two in the series should be read first to understand everything.

Fantastic conclusion!, April 7, 2010
The Reckoning picks up right where The Awakening left off, with Chloe and her group of genetically modified supernaturals safe from the clutches of the Edison Group at last. Once they get a chance to rest and stop running, the teens finally start learning how to use their powers. But it quickly becomes evident that no one is ready for what the Edison Group's experiments have created. When their safe house suddenly doesn't feel so safe, Chloe and her friends are forced to run again, and this time the stakes are even higher.

The Darkest Powers trilogy does a wonderful job of building on the supernatural world created in Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series without ever leaning on those characters to propel the story. Like the first two books in the series, The Reckoning is an action packed adventure that will keep you guessing as the story unfolds and loyalties are put into question. Never knowing who to trust keeps the reader in the same mindset as the characters, and heightens the suspense as things progress to the high-stakes conclusion. I actually found this series to be scarier than the Women of the Otherworld books, and was often on the edge of my seat as Chloe battled her ghosts and demons.

The character development in The Reckoning is fantastic! As usual, Kelley Armstrong's characters are so layered and authentic that you miss them when they're not around. Chloe, Derek and Tori all really grow and change throughout the course of this novel. Simon's role is reduced quite a bit in The Reckoning, but this makes sense as the other characters powers continue to grow.

Between the action, suspense and great characters, The Reckoning is a gripping adventure set in an amazing supernatural world that meshes seamlessly with our own.

What to recon about the reckoning, May 26, 2010


From a marketing perspective this is a good book. Proven author, popular series and a storyline that draws the reader in. The Reckoning has everything it needs to get read and make sales.


Probably by now you are getting the impression there is a hitch. Unfortunately being a problem with the end I am unable to continue without SPOILERS of some form.


As fans will recall, Chloe our necromancer protagonist has gotten herself away from the Edison Group, a group of dubious supernatural experimenters with no one's other then themselves' best interest in mind.


The Reckoning largely deals with the Chloe's allies (the other children from the institute) striking back at the Edison Group. Everything about the storyline is good, loose ends are tied up, relationships are solidified, and the action adventure tension builds as the heroes find themselves in the clutches of the Edison Group again.


Then the balloon pops. "Oh its my Dad." one of the boys of whom I cannot tell apart says. Plot ends.


(remember SPOILERS) You see, one of the main themes of the series is Chloe's ever increasing power and whether its going to get her into trouble or if she's going to become more dangerous than the bad guys ever were. Well it turns out her powers won't. In fact they manifest in a perfect manner to solve all the heroes problems, but not cause any of their own at all. Then someone' Dad turns up (unlike everyone else's random family appearances there is nothing suspicious about him) and they all live happily (OK always on the run) ever after.


I lurve Kelly Armstrong, but something happened with this book that made it feel like a movie that ran out of production money. At first I thought I had just daydreamed past the climax, but after conferring with another reader we agreed it was a fault of the book not the readers.

More of the same, April 18, 2010
I love Kelley Armstrong. I love her adult "Women of the Otherworld" series. I do not love her YA books, I think they are just OK reads, with overabundance of action but lacking actual plot and satisfying story resolutions. The same applies to this final book in the Chloe Saunders trilogy.

Most likely, if you enjoyed "The Summoning" and "The Awakening," I expect you will like "The Reckoning," because it's basically more of the same - the same running around scenarios with little story progression. Just like in the first two books, the majority of the story is devoted to the same hiding from the bad guys, figuring out if the good guys are actually good, trying to learn the nature of the Genesis project and... that's it. Although this book takes place mostly in the same house, there is the same going back and forth, planning and discussing escapes, just like in the previous two books. The story goes around in circles coming back to the Edison group each time. The novel is entertaining, but the constant action/walking around/scheming eventually gets tiresome. Some characters' miraculous appearances are surprising. Considering the villains are so quick to kill off kids, why some meddling adults are left alive and free is a mystery to me.

Fortunately, "The Reckoning" is more like "The Summoning" in terms of plot, there is a more defined high point/climax in the novel, where "The Awakening" was 90% running without any resolution. In addition, there is also more "meat" to the story - I enjoyed learning more about the project the kids are a part of and about everyone's powers. I also liked the budding romance between Chloe and Derek, their relationship is written well, it is healthy (unlike many portrayed in YA literature) and the teens themselves feel real and not in the least annoying. For us, fans of Armstrong's adult books, there is a nice surprise too - a tiny bridge to her "Women of the Otherworld" series.

The rest - well, the book is more entertaining than the 2nd in the trilogy, but ultimately it is not as satisfying as Armstrong's adult novels which all have definitive endings and completed story arcs. Even this final book in the trilogy leaves the story wide open for more sequels with many loose ends left unexplored (I wish to at least know why Chloe's necklace changes colors). I still believe (as I did after finishing the 1st book in the trilogy), that this trilogy has just enough story for one good YA novel, but instead is unwisely stretched into a series. I will however most likely read the next book in the Dark Powers - "The Gathering," because in spite of the flaws, Armstrong's books are better than 90% of the YA literature out there.

Love it as an individual book, mixed on it as ending to trilogy., July 23, 2010
The Reckoning is the final book in the Darkest Powers trilogy. This is NOT a series that can be read out of order as each book picks up essentially where the last one leaves off and it is a continuous storyline throughout the three books. All three of the books are filled with non-stop action as the teens must contend with a variety of obstacles to their freedom.

Just looking at this book individually, I loved it. Chloe and her friends all continue to grow as they learn more about their powers and how they were altered. They learn a bit more important information about their larger role in the experiments and who is really behind the Edison Group. Their relationships within the group continue to evolve as each teen takes on new roles as necessary. There were a few times when I thought I knew something that was happening only to find out a bit later that it wasn't exactly the way I thought. This kept me a bit off balance which is exactly how the teens felt most of the book. The things they thought they understood were constantly shifting.

However, as much as I loved the book, I did not think it was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. There were many loose ends and unanswered questions. After reading a bit more on Kelley Armstrong's website, I do now understand why she left things this way. The Darkest Powers trilogy is actually the first in a series of trilogies. While the next set of books will focus on a different group of characters, Armstrong says we will see Chloe and her friends again at some point in the series. The next trilogy is called Darkness Rising and will begin with The Gathering (Spring 2011). I can see how using another set of characters will be useful for approaching information about the Edison Group from a different direction. I do have one question about Chloe specifically that I wish had been answered because there was an obvious significance to another character but it is never explained fully. Knowing that Chloe and friends won't show up until at least the third book in the next series is an awfully long time to wait and I hope this question won't get lost along the way. (Yes, I'm being intentionally vague because I don't want to give away anything in the story.)

Fantastic non-ending!, April 8, 2010
It's nearly impossible for me to write a review for books that I love. I'm never able to do them justice, but I'll give it a whirl. "The Reckoning" is the final installment to Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers Trilogy. If you haven't read "The Summoning" and "The Awakening", I would advise you not to read this installment until you have. The Darkest Powers' world is constantly evolving and Armstrong doesn't waste her time catching readers up to what they should already know, which I have to admit, is part of what I love about her writing.

I devoured this book. Read it in one setting even and I was glad to see "The Reckoning" took us back to "The Summoning's" eerie roots. To a place meant to be a sanctuary, but is eerily much more similar to a prison, where the do-gooders may pull a Judas, and the menaces make for the best allies. While this series may have a red-herring or two, I was so caught up in these characters and their journey that I didn't even notice them until I had read the last page. In my mind, that is a testament to good writing, to see a flaw, and not register it or care because the story is just that good.

Chloe is equally impressive. She has shown tremendous growth and has somehow avoided the Mary Sue pitfall. It seems as though writers pen two types of heroines, the uber sweet, oh so pretty girl, despairing over her shortcomings as a mortal, who somehow rises to the challenge and smites everyone, becoming the bestest superhuman ever and miraculously saves the day or the oh so snide and cynical girl, jaded by everything and everyone, who has a hard edge, but somehow softens and like her counterpart, rises to the occasion and saves the day. Both types are clich�, neither apply to Chloe. Chloe is a necromancer, but as she often admits, isn't of much use unless there is a corpse nearby. She is petite, but not overly pretty, or exceptionally smart. The word that comes to mind is average. And yet, Chloe doesn't despair over things she lacks, nor does she turn into Chloe, Necromancer Goddess, though she is an extremely powerful necromancer. Rather, Chloe does what she can, and admits, that sometimes the best she can do is keep out of the way, and let those with more suited gifts run the show. Can we say refreshing?

I'm also enamored with Derek, who like his leading lady, avoids the stigma attached to leading men. He doesn't kiss Chloe's arse, nor is he mocking. He is honest and frank, protective and insecure, yet confident in his abilities. I appreciated the fact that Armstrong allowed him to lay into Chloe when she had made a mistake, and didn't then force him to grovel as though honesty were a sin. And I'll admit, I think Armstrong might lace her books with a bit of magic, cause she made me lust after someone, who upon first description, is very physically unattractive. That is simply unprecedented.

But what ultimately garnered my attention is the stereotype that Armstrong herself manages to bypass with ease. She can write and adult series, filled with some of the best steam I've read, and then turn around, write a book about supernatural teens, whose scenes together are so freaking sweet and endearing, that my stomach flips. Kudos.

All in all, a great non-ending to a series. While there was certainly a conclusion to the trilogy, Armstrong has left Chloe's story fairly open ended to allow for more adventures with Chloe and Co, and hopefully, we'll see her again, in Women of the Otherworld.

Disappointed...this is the "Conclusion" to the Series?, April 11, 2010
I was EXTREMELY disappointed in the ending. I was thrilled *SPOILER* that Chloe and Derek finally got together, but I was annoyed and kind of upset that so many issues were left unresolved. After all they did to fight the Edison group, THEY'RE STILL ON THE RUN!? But Chloe, in the end, seems okay with this. She's happy-go-lucky after spending the first two novels desperately trying to get AWAY from them. And the fact that she shot Mrs. Enright? Excellent. She deserved to die. But I felt like it was a quick solution to a problem that Chloe could have done much earlier in the novel- it was almost too easy.

What about the sibling relationship between Simon and Tori? Totally ignored. You'd think Kelley would want to semi-acknowledge that, but apparently not.

And WHERE THE HECK IS RACHELLE? That was TOTALLY unresolved and it really bothered me. After all this time, her birth mother shows up out of nowhere and steals her? She manages to break into the lab and take an entire person who was under guard, without anyone noticing? And Chloe is STILL not bothered by the fact she doesn't know where her best friend is?

Never mind the whole mysterious rebel group who opposed the Edison group. They're big players, I suppose, but we don't get to learn much about them.

Idk. I was genuinely extremely disappointed. The novel started off so interesting and exciting- I loved the plot twist with Andrew. But as I realized I was getting closer and closer to the ending, I found myself getting more and more anxious. I had a nasty feeling Kelley wasn't going to resolve anything, and she didn't. After the novel, I wondered if there would be a book 4. I was saddened to discover there wasn't, but instead an excerpt from a new trilogy. In my opinion, Kelley started off great, but didn't deliver in the "final" novel of the Darkest Powers trilogy. If I were her, I would write a book 4 just to clear everything up, as the series really wasn't concluded...it just seems like the author wanted to move on to other projects. :(

Awesome series, but not my fav book, July 7, 2010
Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers series has been a big hit for me. Although I felt like the series started off a little slow in The Summoning, I saw much potential plot and character-wise. Luckily, I stuck with the books and was rewarded with some truly fabulous storytelling in The Awakening. I loved everything about Chloe's gradual discovery of her powers and the way her relationship with the other Edison Group teens was allowed to naturally develop - all of which left me with some very high hopes for the conclusion of Chloe's story in The Reckoning.


The Reckoning picks up right where The Awakening so cruelly left us hanging: Chloe, Derek, Simon, and Tori are hiding out (again) in hopes of finally evading the nefarious Edison Group, who used the four teens - and others - as lab rats in hopes of genetically altering their supernatural powers. The Edison Group didn't exactly succeed with their little experiment which resulted in some super-charged teens who don't have the foggiest notion of how to control their powers. While Simon can barely cast a spell to save his life, Tori is picking up powerful spells with no apparent effort, and Derek is struggling to cope with his first change into a werewolf with absolutely no direction. Chloe herself is a impressive necromancer but doesn't have a clue how to control her abilities. What these four teens have become masters at however is loyalty. Hoping they have finally stumbled upon allies they can actually trust, Chloe et al set out to rescue the remaining super-teens from the clutches of the Edison Group in hopes of finally shutting the laboratory down once and for all.

I am so sad to see this series at an end. The entire concept of a group of extra-powerful genetically altered teens held under lock and key caught my interest from the first but the well-developed characters and non-stop action kept me happy. Even though much of the story arc and plot devices were similar to those found in the earlier two books, The Reckoning was vastly different from its predecessors. The pace itself was set at a much slower rate: the teens spent much of their time waiting around, gathering information about the Edison Group a bit at a time. This left a lot of time for Chloe to digest her feelings on the Boy Front. To me at least, it's been obvious all along which direction her hormones would lead her, but when Chloe finally admitted to herself which guy she was crushing on, well, my heart did a happy little flip-flop of joy. Despite the fact that I wanted to shake her (repeatedly) for taking so long to figure it out.

Chloe is a powerful necromancer but aside from being able to raise the dead, she's short, average, and doesn't have a clue when it comes to boys. There is much to like about Chloe. I found it intriguing to watch her grow as a character over the course of this series. She's finally got a better grip on her necromancer powers and was even learning to stand up for herself now and again *gasp* - my only complaint is that in The Reckoning Chloe decides she needs to tell us that fact several times. Which quickly got old. On multiple occasions, Chloe repeats that she is no longer a little girl or that her Aunt Lauren was finally seeing her 'all grown up.' Just let the story tell us for itself, mmmkay Chloe? Other than a few issues of that nature, I was happy with this final conclusion - it wasn't as great as The Awakening, but still a solid read. ... Read more

Editorial Review

What real reader does not yearn, somewhere in the recesses of his or her heart, for a really literate, first-class thriller - one that chills the body with foreboding of dark deeds to come, but warms the soul with perceptions and language at once astute and vivid? In other words, a ghost story by Jane Austen.

Austen we cannot, alas, give you, but Susan Hill's remarkable Woman In Black comes as close as the late twentieth century is likely to provide. Set on the obligatory English moor, on an isolated causeway, the story has as its hero one Arthur Kipps, an up-and-coming young solicitor who has come north to attend the funeral and settle the estate of Mrs. Alice Drablow of Eel Marsh House. The routine formalities he anticipates give way to a tumble of events and secrets more sinister and terrifying than any nightmare: the rocking chair in the nursery of the deserted Eel Marsh House, the eerie sound of pony and trap, a child's scream in the fog, and, most dreadfully, and for Kipps most tragically, the woman in black.

The Woman In Black is both a brilliant exercise in atmosphere and controlled horror and a delicious spine-tingler - proof positive that that neglected genre, the ghost story, isn't dead after all. ... Read more

Reviews

Tremendous Atmosphere, September 26, 2003
The most similar book I can compare this to is The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. Like that book, The Woman in Black starts peacefully and builds up to a frightening crescendo that will "haunt" you long after you put the book down. Another similarity in the books is the tremendous sense of atmosphere. Eel Marsh House, where the haunting takes place, is set off by itself in flat, bleak, marshy wetlands and is connected to drier land by a single causeway, which becomes completely covered by water when the tide is high. When the protagonist, the young and foolishly stubborn lawyer Arthur K., sets off to spend a few days sorting out old documents by himself in the isolated mansion, you just want to scream, "Are you crazy? Don't stay there overnight, you idiot!" I particularly liked the way the spectral happenings were presented. There is no blood, no gore, just a brooding sense of evil and mystery. I also enjoyed the relationships Arthur establishes with the kindly Samuel Daily, a local landowner, and the little dog Spider that Samuel lends to him to keep him company in his ill-advised sojourn to the haunted house. All in all, a wonderfully-written ghost story that would appeal to those who find Stephen King's more lurid and less subtle books a bit distasteful.

"...an atmosphere, a force of evil and uncleanness, of terror and suffering, of malevolence and bitter anger." Haunting!, October 27, 2005
I discovered this really disturbing, truly scary ghost story just in time for Halloween. Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House" is probably the only other novel that terrified me as much as "The Woman In Black" by Susan Hill. Set in Victorian England, this atmospheric, supernatural tale of evil, terror and revenge sent chills down my spine on more than one occasion.

Ms. Hill begins her well-written narrative happily enough in the home of Arthur Kipps, who is surrounded by his loving wife and family for the Christmas holidays at their country home, Monk's Piece. Kipps is a full partner at a prestigious London law firm. Esme is his second wife. He lost his first love as a very young man. It is Christmas Eve and the grandchildren are all in bed. Their young parents, the Kipps' grown children, gather around the fire for a cozy ghost story session. At one point Kipps, obviously agitated, gets up, leaves the room and goes outside. He has hidden something significant about his past from his wife and family for years now - a tragically real ghost story of "haunting and evil, fear, confusion and horror" - of which he was a part. These events will certainly effect him all the days of his life. Kipps realizes that for his own peace of mind it is time to write his experience down and exorcise the demons, at last. He had hoped this inextricable part of his life would never have to be consciously recollected...but it is time. He decides that, at least during his lifetime, the tale will remain for his eyes only, and so he begins to write. He is our narrator.

At the very beginning of his career, many years before, Arthur Kipps, an energetic, idealistic junior solicitor was sent by his employer to attend the funeral of an elderly widow woman, Mrs. Drablow, one of the firms former clients. As the deceased owned property, including her home on the salt marshes near the town of Crythin Gifford, and had no heirs, no children or extended family, Kipps was asked to go and sort through her papers, and generally tidy-up the old woman's affairs. The Drablow manse, called Eel Marsh House, is quite isolated, situated in the middle of an estuary, connected to the mainland only by the Nine Lives Causeway, a small pathway barely visible through the marshes and quicksand, and only navigable a few hours a day. The road is underwater the rest of the time due to the strong tides.

It was at the funeral that Arthur Kipps first saw the tall, emaciated woman dressed in black. Despite his many questions to the locals, they refused to discuss the woman or address his concerns surrounding the Drabnow house, although they were extremely amiable and ready to speak out on every other topic. Suffice it to say/write that at the funeral, Kipps was the only one to see the woman in black. No one else even glimpsed what was so apparent to him. Obviously, as his work led him to spend time at Eel Marsh house, (What a creepy name!), there were to be be many more surreal episodes, each more frightening and dangerous in nature. Although these encounters are really scary, there is a mystery here also. Who is this mysterious woman...and if she is a ghost, why can she find no peace? The puzzle and ultimate denouement really left my mouth hanging open - after I let out a small scream! Good stuff, if you like to be scared...REALLY scared!

The author packs this novel with twists, turns and the unexpected at almost every turn of the page. The description of the brooding countryside, the house and surrounding marshes is at times beautiful, but always spooky. There were a few occasions when I wanted to shut my eyes - but unlike a scary movie, if one shuts one's eyes while reading, well it gets too dark to continue.

Arthur Kipps is an intelligent, level-headed man, not much given to drama or a belief in the supernatural. Thus the outright terror he experiences causes more consternation than it would coming from another character. At one point he reflects back, "It was true that the ghastly sounds I had heard through the fog had greatly upset me but far worse was what emanated from and surrounded these things and arose to unsteady me, an atmosphere, a force - I do not know exactly what to call it - of evil and uncleanness, of terror and suffering, of malevolence and bitter anger."

An excellent ghost story - little blood and gore, lots of fright. Highly recommended!
JANA

Absolutely Terrifying, June 17, 2002
I first saw this as a Broadway play, and it has been to this date the only theatre piece that gave me nightmares. I could not wait to read the novel, and just as the play was, it scared me senseless.

The novel plays heavily on atmosphere and mood. Susan Hill brings the black moors surrounding the Eel Marsh Hosue to life with vivid imagery. It's a "beautiful" setting for the frightening ghost that lives there. The characters are incredibly realistic and interesting to follow. You feel for Arthur Kipps in his trials and tribulations dealing with the Woman in Black in Eeel Marsh House. All in all, a wonderful ghost story that seems as if it should've been written by Jane Austen.

Long Live the Ghost Story!, September 9, 2006
There's something irresistable about a really well-written ghost story - the mysteries of the supernatural that we'd all like to believe while perhaps never wanting to experience in full.

And "The Woman in Black" is the classic English ghost story: a creepy, damply atmospheric tale set in the traditional moors complete with the obligatory haunted house. This told in the style of Jane Austen, this is a period piece set in a slightly more contemporary early 20th Century. Arthur Kipps, a London solicitor, is now retired and living is final days in peace and tranquility surrounded by a second family in his country estate. He recounts the harrowing events he experienced as a young man that irrevocably changed his life - a tale so unsettling that only now, near his life's end, is he able to tell it.

Decades prior, he is assigned by his employer to visit Crythen Gifford, a remote village in eastern village, to settle the estate of Mrs. Alice Drablow in her even more remote Eel Marsh House - an apparently benign and uninteresting task. But as in all good ghost stories, the terror is meted out gradually, building from veiled warnings to a final climax of bone jarring terror. But setting this apart of the average supernatural tale is an unexpected final twist that will keep this story in your subconscious long after other books have faded.

So successful was this book that it was the basis for an extraordinary play running in London for a streak that has broken all record, as well as a movie of the same name. For all fans of traditional gothic horror, a must read.

Classic and Classy, September 10, 2004
Simply one of the most elegant ghost stories ever written, subtle, genteel, and remarkably frightening. Reminds us that the things we can't see, like the proverbial something under the bed, can be far more terrifying than those we can. A must read for ghost story enthusiasts; but not to be read when you are alone in the house in the dark unless you are very brave - or very foolish.

I'm so glad people are still writing books like this, January 4, 2007
For me, the book's strength is in the character of Arthur Kipps. He's immensely likable and level-headed -- I wouldn't mind meeting him again in another book.

What I liked best about the character is that it was so easy to relate to him. He's naturally skeptical when first presented with the possibility of a haunting, but unlike characters in other books, who dither around refusing to believe their senses, putting themselves in danger for no good reason, Arthur accepts the evidence and deals with it.

I could also relate to the premise of the haunting itself. If something similar had happened to me, I might haunt a place too. It was heartbreaking, and I felt myself sympathizing with the ghost.

I read the book in one sitting and left a lot of lights on when I went to bed. It's the best ghost story I've read in years, and as others have said, it's right up there with Shirley Jackson's book.

Guaranteed good read!

An Old English Ghost Tale, January 23, 2007
A story of rainy, salt-spray marshes, twisted lives, and tragic deaths. The most frightening aspect of this story is what is implied...not stated. A great, quick read for grown-ups, and teens as well.

Guaranteed to haunt you, September 19, 2006
The Woman in Black is a first class "traditional" ghost story with no blood and gore, just lots of atmosphere and suspense. Neatly plotted and tightly written, this compact little tale of supernatural revenge makes for a perfect fall read--just make sure you have a nice, cozy fire because without it Hill's eerie claustrophobic setting will have you looking over your shoulder to make sure the Woman in Black isn't watching you too. Perfectly paced and all-out creepy, The Woman in Black will keep you on the edge of your seat to the last page.

Nightmares WILL follow, May 21, 2004
This is singly THE best supernautral thriller i have ever had the pleasure reading. i decided to read this book after seeing the play in London, West-end. The play had everyone screeming and constantly looking around themselves. The story is the most sping tingling tale i have ever read. It is relatively short but packs a punch! the portrayal of the Woman in Black makes it seem like she is in he room with you. WARNING!! you will prbably get nightmares after reading this book. most people i know have.! a must read

almost great, January 21, 2009
I like ghost stories that are more psychological than violent. This one fits the bill, almost. The 1st 3/4s of the book are exactly what I wanted - atmospheric, chilling, some parts actually made me put the book down for a while until my nerves settled. So why 3 stars? Thanks for asking. The ending was an enormous let down. It was telegraphed (I saw it coming before the protganist even begins recounting his story), and although tragic, it is completely missing the terror and dread of the rest of the book. To make matters worse, the logical flow of the ending actually undercuts the rest of the story. Very frustrating. If Ms. Hill had just known when to stop this would have gone on my list of great ghost stories. 4 stars for the 1st 3/4s of the book, 1 star for the ending. ... Read more

Editorial Review

You don't have to be alive to be awakened.

Chloe Saunders is a living science experiment—not only can she see ghosts, but she was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. She's a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control, which means she can raise the dead without even trying. Now Chloe's running for her life with three of her supernatural friends—a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch—and they have to find someone who can help them before the Edison Group catches them.

Or die trying.

Reviews

Supernaturals on the run, May 2, 2009
It' a pretty cool idea -- a secret cabal devoted to genetically engineering and controlling supernatural creatures like witches and werewolves.

Kelley Armstrong continues to do the idea justice in "The Awakening," the second book in her urban-fantasy series aimed at kids and young adults. It's a solid novel that lags somewhat in the middle (when it seems like not much is happening beyond bickering), but has plenty of suspense, a dash of necromantic horror, and likable characters with realistic flaws and self-doubts.

Recap: Chloe has been imprisoned by the Edison Group along with Rae (who turns out to be a half-fire-demon), while Dr. Davidoff tries to track Simon and Derek.

But Chloe's terrible situation gets worse as she discovers that Rae actually LIKES the Edison Group, and that other boys and girls who weren't "rehabilitated" were killed. Oh yes, and an uber-creepy demon is whispering rotten nothings in Chloe's ear. When a shopping trip gives her the opportunity to escape the Group, she takes her chance -- only to suffer a devastating loss, and find herself unexpectedly allied with her former nemesis Tori.

Escaping is not the end of their problems, though -- life on the run is hardly glamorous, the streets are full of thugs, and neither girl has anyone they can go to. And reuniting with Simon and Derek only multiplies their problems, as the already-strained relationships start to fray under tension. With a million-dollar bounty on Chloe's head and the Edison Group in pursuit, the kids must find a place of safety before they end up permanently "terminated."

"The Awakening" picks up directly after the first book of the series, and it's a pretty different sort of story -- our heroes are just trying to stay alive, free and semi-hygienic, while they search for Derek and Simon's dad. The plot lags a little in the middle when the Edison Group seems to fade into the background, but fortunately it picks up again for a suitably suspenseful climax at the boys' house.

Armstrong is able to maintain an atmosphere of "The Fugitive"-like suspense all throughout the book. It has plenty of balanced dialogue (with much bickering), solid descriptions, a sense of humour (much mocking of bad movie cliches) and some gloriously eerie scenes that dip into the realm of horror, such as Chloe being assaulted by rotting zombie bats ("The bat was decomposing, one eye shriveled, the other a black pit"). And even when the Group isn't near, she uses switchblade-wielding thug girls and redneck werewolves to remind us that this is a dangerous world.

But as solid as the plot is, the real standout here is how Armstrong develops the characters -- all have their own flaws and insecurities, and some of them are exploring their supernatural powers. Chloe in particular struggles to overcome her "damselitis" and be more assertive, even as she reluctantly faces the prospect of what her necromantic abilities might unleash.

Derek and Tori also get some exploration: he continues to struggle with his bestial instincts and his temper, while the cause of her disgust and dislike for Chloe are explored. Nice twist on the usual "snotty teen queen torments our heroine." And Armtrong gives a chilling look at the brainwashing and cold-blooded methods of the Group, behind all the smiles and pretty promises.

"The Awakening" is a suitable sequel to Armstrong's first young adult book, and it ends with the promise of new problems and solutions in her next one. Definitely a good read, whether for teen or adult fans of werewolves, witches and zombies.

Just as riveting and suspenseful as its prequel..., April 28, 2009
In the sequel to The Summoning, Chloe Saunders finds herself betrayed, and back in the hands of the Edison Group. There she discovers the truth: she's part of an experiment, her genes modified in an attempt to suppress her supernatural powers. But when she manages to get away--with the help of an unlikely ally--and join Simon and Derek again, she finds that the Edison Group is relentless and ruthless, and keeping away from them will be harder than they originally thought. In the meantime, Chloe learns that controlling her powers is a lot harder than she imagined, and there's too much she doesn't know...

The Awakening is even more riveting and full of nonstop action than its prequel. Armstrong offers an unflinching and oftentimes grim look at what life on the streets is like for teens, with the added appeal of a perfectly sinister and powerful enemy and the suspense of unknown supernatural powers. Armstrong's teen characters are smart and resourceful, and each obstacle thrown their way requires them to use every bit of caution, wits, and intelligence they possess. Armstrong focuses a little more on the technical aspects of the teens' powers and abilities as Derek and Chloe especially explore their capabilities and restraints. Their difficulties and the tension that they face help them grow as characters and make them more appealing characters to the reader. This dark, gripping, and highly suspenseful read will have readers chomping at the bit for a sequel.

Can't Wait for the Next Book!, June 1, 2009
If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl--someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I'm as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment--not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control; I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.

Now I'm running for my life with three of my supernatural friends--a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch--and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

Okay I'm just going to do a real quick review on this book because it's been out for a while and I know there are a ton of reviews on it. I just had to put my two cents in though because it was sooo good! This book is even better than the 1st in the series (The Summoning). You know that feeling when you finish a book and you are panicing because it just came out and now you have wait like probably a year before the next one comes out? YES! That was me last night...Anyway, without spoiling anything for you guys who haven't read it yet. I'm rooting for the underDOG to get the girl! My only real complaint about the book (if you can call it that) is that I really wan't to strangle Tori...she is so annoying! Is it bad to want a character to be "offed" so you don't have to listen to her whine anymore? Just kidding, but seriously!

Okay there you have it, not really a review more or less just me saying, "Read this series!" Oh and if you don't know yet this series is a trilogy and the thrid book The Reckoning is due out May 2010

The Awakening, July 7, 2009
Chloe Saunders is back in the second book of the Darkest Powers series. If you haven't read The Summoning yet read it before reading this review. SPOILERS.

At the end of the first book Chloe and Rae go to Chloe's Aunt Lauren for help, not knowing that she is working for the very group that they are trying to escape from. As a result, Chloe and Rae end up locked in a high security warehouse that houses the Edison Groups many experiments. Luckily, Derek and Simon are still on the run and on the lookout for Chloe and Rae.

After encountering ghosts of some of the former Lyle House occupants Chloe decides to take matters into her own hands and figure out a way to escape, this time for good. With the help of Liz's ghost and a trapped demi-demon Chloe manages to find more information about the Edison group and how she can possibly escape from them.

Once away from the Edison group Chloe is forced to face the reality of living on the run with nowhere and nobody to turn to other than Tori, Derek, and Simon. Her father has posted a $500,000 reward for her safe return and the Edison group is no longer worried about keeping any of them alive.

Will Chloe and the others be able to outrun the Edison group or will their luck finally run out? Will Chloe ever figure out what her true feelings are for Derek and Simon?

The Darkest Powers series is full of paranormal happenings, betrayal, and budding romance. I highly recommend this series for any fans of the Twilight series. Definitely not the same story line but just as good.

Good Second Book..., May 12, 2009
I really enjoyed this book. It's YA so it's a pretty quick read but well worth it. My only complaint is that I wish Chloe would admit she has feelings for Derek. They seem to spend a lot of time together during this book and I was hoping for at least some sign that they were interested in each other. But he keeps telling her to go talk to Simon! All in all I really liked this book and can't wait until The Reckoning comes out. I recommend reading The Summoning and The Awakening. Kelley Armstrong is a great author. Check out her Women of the Other World series too. Those are great books!

She Still Sees Dead People, October 11, 2009
I was lucky enough to win this book from J. Kaye's Book Blog through one of her many giveaways. The book I read was an ARC, and I have to say it is the first ARC I have touched, let alone read. One day...one day I will be sent an ARC by an author or publisher!!

I was so pleasantly surprised with the first book in the series, The Summoning, when Chloe Saunders first begins her story and I personally think this book was better than the first...and I loved the first one.

Spoilers for Book One, The Summoning

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is no way to give a synopsis or summary without giving away part of the first book. Again we have zombies, ghosts, witches, sorcerers, werewolves...and much more. The only thing we are missing is vampires!

One of the most endearing things about this book is the growing love triangle between Chloe, Derek, and Simon. Derek and Simon are foster brothers and best friends. All three teens have supernatural powers. Chloe is a necromancer and can not only talk to the dead, but can reanimate them (YES! There are ZOMBIES in this book for all of you zombie lovers out there!!!), Derek is a werewolf...er well...Derek is becominga werewolf, and Simon is a sorcerer. The budding romance between Chloe and Simon is much more obvious. He is a cute, sweet guy with tons of personality. Derek is not quite the obvious choice, but his affections are growing very apparent. The whole thing is done in such a sweet, innocent manner. Come to think of it, this is a very clean read. The only thing that might be questionable is running away, but it is from an institution that wants to kill them...Oh...and while they are on the streets, there is mention of shoplifting.

The Awakening picks up right where The Summoning left off. I do have to say, I had to grab my copy of The Summoning to see if I had missed something in the last chapters. There seems to be a part missing where Chloe tells Liz she is a ghost. I loved the constant adventure and following along as the teens discover new twists and turns with their powers.

I feel like this has been a very rambling review. I'm going to apologize and attribute it to being sick! My overall impressions; fantastic series! I can't wait for the 3rd book, The Reckoning, due out May 2010. If you haven't already, check out Kelley Armstrong's website. Funny enough, she mentions the same problem I had. How do you give a description of the second book in a trilogy without giving away too much information about the first!

[...].

A good read but just another episode of a series, January 6, 2010
OK so I admit that I haven't read the book before this one The Summoning. I was so excited to see a new Kelly Armstrong that I blindly grabbed it without realising it wasn't from the Otherworld series but a newish one called the Dark Powers.
So I do recommend reading the first one, as it'll set the beginning scenes better for this novel.

The series is about a group of teenagers with various special powers, that will be familiar to any Kelly Armstrong fan (i.e. werewolves, half-demons and necromancer types)

The teenagers are part of some sort of conspiracy to study and control supernatural powers, leaving them with no-one to trust but each other.

The unusual thing about this novel, or my reaction to it, was that it started pretty crappy, but got better as I read through it. I'm more used to novels going pear-shaped as it seems in todays publishing world people really care about hooking readers and selling books not so much whether readers are spitting after they put the book down.

anyways when the book begins, we're hit over the head with a bunch of ideas, there is some demon/ghost thing predicting the apocalypse, Chloe the narrator is arguing with a bitch/bimbo character, and the adults are trying to find some of her escaped friends.

I suspect that Armstrong relied too heavily on the previous boook to set the scene for the opening of this one. Now I know that I should have read that book first, but would you tolerate a film sequal that had the characters out of costume and before a blue-screen?

Aside from that gripe, I did find that Armstrong maybe struggled to write for young adults. Potentially I'm the one out of touch, but I felt like the characters were heavy-handily given temper tantrams or immature lines just to make them 'teenagers'

My final rant (And really the book is good I just enjoy ranting too much) Is that the novel is so blatantly just an episode of the whole saga. I have nothing against multiple novel story arcs, and gradually introduced plot pieces, but i feel that each story line needs to have at least a mini resolution each book (not just vaguely introduced for later plotting). Thats just a minor gripe really.

Once the first 100 or so pages are read the book gets very good, one does get the sense of these kids living on the run, Chloe's powers get all Sixth Sense on her which leads to some complications and a potential love triangle begins to flare.

The book is a very easy read, a must read for urban fantasy fans

Good second installment (but leaves you hanging again), 3.5 stars, January 3, 2010
In The Awakening (Darkest Powers, Book 2), the second in Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers trilogy, we catch up with Chloe, Derek, Simon, Tori, and Rae. Chloe learns more about the extent of her special powers, the intent of the Edison Group's experiment becomes clear, and the threats to each character's safety become more apparent. New alliances are built, old ones are rekindled, and current ones are questioned, all while trying to escape the clutches of the Edison Group.

Like the first book in the series, I enjoyed immersing myself in Armstrong's world. Her writing is strong for a young adult series, and her characters are well-drawn. The roles of some characters are expanded, especially Derek, and relationships are both strengthened and tested between characters. There's more exploration of each character's special skills and how well he/she can master them. Chloe remains a strong teen heroine with a conscience, though she comes off more clich� in this book. Again, the action and the trials the characters experience remain the focus of the novel, not any romantic subplot. There's romantic tension, but it's limited when it appears.

However, also like the first book, the ending leaves the reader without any closure. The series feels like a serialized novel, not a series of books. In this installment, there's no sense of plot other than running from the Edison Group. Though character development and discovery does happen during the journey, the book is almost entirely one flight scene that changes a bit, based on the circumstances. Compared to The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1), it was a lot less satisfying as a stand-alone book.

Despite these misgivings, I'm looking forward to the conclusion of the trilogy this spring with The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, Book 3). Like the first two books, I'm sure it will be a good read and I hope it will provide readers with a satisfying ending to the series.

Great second installment!, October 5, 2009
I seriously love the Darkest Powers books! I'm not sure what it is about them: the characters, the supernatural elements, or the tension between Chloe and Derek, but I suspect it is all those amazing aspects.

I love the characters in The Summoning and The Awakening. Chloe is an awesome main character. I'm enjoying finding out more and more about her powers. I've read Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake novels, and Chloe is a bit like a younger version of Anita, which I love. Derek might be my favorite character though - I just love the brooding guys - plus I know that he's going to make it through puberty and be one of those guys that you wish you would have given a shot before the hotness kicked in! ;) The fact that he is smart just makes him even more appealing.

The awkward, yet trusting relationship Derek and Chloe have definitely keeps me turning pages! They are one of those relationships that, as a reader, I want so badly to turn into a relationship. They'd be so amazing together... !!

I'm liking the sinister Edison Group plot line that is starting to develop. The fact that the boys' father is missing reminds me of Supernatural, which is a definite PLUS (I know there are some Supernatural fans out there)! Kelley Armstrong found a way to weave all those different supernatural powers and creatures into one amazing story - there is never a boring moment and it all comes together perfectly!

Excellent YA Read, August 17, 2009
enjoyed the first book in this series, The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1), and thought this sequel was a good follow-up. As with the first, it leaves the ending open for another book in the series.

This book picks up with Chloe being held in the facility she was taken to after running away from Lyle House. Simon and Derek are still on the run, Chloe is trying to deal with her aunt's duplicity as well as her abilities as a necromancer.

I think this series is excellent for YA readers. It's got strong characters and a good storyline, and most teen readers will love it.
... Read more

Editorial Review

In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them

Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed -- but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away.

In Unwind, Boston Globe/Horn Book Award winner Neal Shusterman challenges readers' ideas about life -- not just where life begins, and where it ends, but what it truly means to be alive. ... Read more

Reviews

Disturbing but fascinating tale, February 23, 2008
Imagine a society where a war was fought between Pro-live and Pro-choice. And the end result is more horrifying than either side could have thought.

Such is the premise of UNWIND by Neal Shusterman.

In the future being a troubled teen means something worse than being sent to a camp to get straighten out.

From The Bill of Life:

The Bill of Life states that human life may not be touched from the moment of conception until a child reaches the age of thirteen.

However, between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, a parent may choose to retroactively 'abort' a child...

...on condition that the child's life doesn't 'technically' end.

The process by which a child is both terminated and yet kept alive is called 'unwinding.'

Three teens find out that they are to be unwound. Conner's parents want to get rid of him as he's a troublemaker. Risa is a ward of the state and is being unwound to cut state costs. Lev is a tithe as part of his parent's strict religion.

When Conner fights not to be unwound he ends up causing an accident in which he meets both Risa and Lev. Through their journey they meet others who are against the law and help them. Lev also finds out what really happens to those who end up getting the parts of those who were unwound.

They fight to make it till their eighteenth birthday. What they all learn on this terrifying journey will haunt readers long after the finish the last page.

This story both disturbed and fascinated me. The whole idea that a society would use rebellious teens to harvest body parts is beyond belief. I stopped more than once thinking what would happen if such a law existed? Would the desire to replace damaged body parts cause someone to become so numb to how the newer parts came into existence?


Chilling, this story will make you think about your ideas of life and what it means to be truly alive.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too, January 7, 2008
In his chilling new novel, Neal Shusterman paints a picture of a world where there aren't any cures and doctors, just surgeons and replacements.

Three unwanted teenagers face a fate worse that death -- unwinding. Their bodies will be cut up, and every part of them used, from their brains to their toes. But if they can stay out of the authorities' clutches until the age of eighteen, they just might survive....

The most frightening science fiction novels are always the ones that are most similar to our world. Shusterman doesn't fail to describe how a wrong solution to a modern issue can affect generations to come. Thought-provoking, terrifying, and almost inconceivable, UNWIND will keep you reading late into the night.

Reviewed by: The Compulsive Reader

Spellbinding story!, August 20, 2008
The idea behind this story is what intrigued me to buy it, and I am really glad that I did.

Shusterman has creates a world were a human being can be viewed simply as valuable parts. Unwinding is the outcome of a war based on the pro-life and pro-choice debate. Unfortunately, unwinding means different things to different people. For some it has become a huge money making business, to the kids it happens to, is a horror and for some parents and some parts of society, it is a nice convenience.

The story follows Conner, Risa, and Lev and how, for different reasons, they all have been selected to be unwound. Conner and Risa hate the idea of being unwound and have been selected against their wills. However, Lev has grown up knowing that this was his path in life, and he looks forward, with trepidation and conviction, for being offered up as a gift to God because of the unwinding. Due to an accident caused be Conner, Risa and Lev end up joining Conner as he tried to escape his unwinding. Together and apart, their fears and hopes are tested as they strive to stay alive in a world that believes they shouldn't be. The answer is, will they make it?

I would recommend this book to people for different reasons. First, I think that Shusterman did an excellent job in keeping the storyline going; there were no parts that I become bored or wanted to skip. Second, he makes the characters very realistic, and not without flaws. These are kids going through a horrific event and I fell that they acted true to real human nature. Third, the idea and premise behind the book is so intriguing and horrifying that you can't help but want to read the whole thing. All the way around it was an excellent book.

Disturbing satire - and did I mention it is disturbing?, January 17, 2009
Unwind by by Neal Shusterman is based on the premise that there is a war in the U.S. between the pro-choice advocates and the pro-life advocates. The outcome of the war leads to a crazy compromise: retroactive abortions, which means that a child is protected until he or she is 13, at which point the parents can choose to have the child "unwound." Being unwound means that the child harvested for all of the parts and organs, which will then "live on" in other people. The children who are to be unwound are called "unwinds," and if they try to escapse they are hunted down mercilessly by the "juvie cops" because the unwinds' harvested parts are big business. There are three main types of unwinds. Some are unwinds because their parents can't cope with their behavior any more, some are unwinds because they are orphans and the state can't afford to support them any more, and some are unwinds because they are "tithes" to the church or religion. Of course, there are exceptions, such as the boy whose parents got divorced and couldn't come to a custody decision, so they decided to have him unwound so that neither would have to deal with the other getting custody of him. One of each of thes main types of unwinds is, of course, a main character in this book: Connor the troublemaker, Risa the orphan, and Lev the tithe. They all meet when both Connor and Risa, escape, coincidentally, at the same time, knowing that if they can survive until their 18th birthday they will be safe because they will be adults. When they escape, however, Connnor unintentionally drags brainwashed Lev along with them. Their escape is a harrowing one with many close, and even closer, calls as they try to find somewhere to hide until their 18th birthdays.

I liked the book, but it was very disturbing - especially for a teen book, but fairly original. And disturbing.

Unwinding at the end of the day is NOT a good thing, November 23, 2007
Unwind, Neal Shusterman's newest novel, is the story of three teenagers in a futuristic society. Mankind now believes in the sanctity of life - or do they?

Because abortions have been outlawed, many unwanted children are now raised in state homes. Other unwanted children are left on the doorsteps of unsuspecting families, who, by law, must take them in and raise them. Then there are those children who are born into families who love them and who live a fairly normal life.

However, once a child turns 13, a family can chose to have the child "unwound." (The decision does not have to be made immediately - the adults are given a five year window in which to make it, but once the child turns 18, he or she cannot be unwound.) The child becomes known as an Unwind and is taken to a harvest camp where he or she will spend his or her last days living life as they have known it. When their time comes, the children are unwound - their organs and tissues are removed and used for transplants. The child does not cease to live, but lives in an altered state.

How humane. How generous of the adults who have raised these children who become Unwinds.

This is the story of three of those Unwinds: Conner, Risa, and Lev. Each is being unwound for a different reason, but of course, the end result will be the same: Conner will cease being Conner, Risa will cease being Risa, and Lev will cease being Lev.

However, things do not go as the adults planned. Conner, Risa, and Lev escape from their captors as they are being transported to the harvest camp and must run for their very lives. How do they survive? Are they able to escape the fate that adults chose for them?

This is one of the best and most thought provoking YA books I have read in a long while. I laughed out loud, cried, and became angry at characters. I kept wanting to question the adults - "Why haven't you learned from history?"

Unwind

A Disturbing Future, January 6, 2010
Connor Lassiter is an AWOL Unwind. In a society that has eliminated abortion, they have a new solution to the problem of unwanted children. At the age of thirteen a child's parents have the option of having their teen unwound. With unwinding, a child doesn't die because all of the parts of him or her are harvested and used in other people. Connor wanted to keep his parts to himself, and decided the best way to do that was to escape.

Risa Ward grew up in Ohio State Home 23. As a ward of the state she knew she had to be exceptional in her chosen vocation. Who knew five small mistakes in a musical recital would have her on a bus to Harvest camp where she would be unwound.

Lev always knew his purpose. He was one of God's chosen, and was willingly giving himself to God. Lev is his parent's tithe of 1/10. They have 10 children and Lev is going to be their tithe to God. He planned to fulfill his role dutifully, until the freeway accident that killed a State Home bus driver and led an AWOL unwind and a crazy state home girl to kidnap him for their escape. Who knew that those grand plans could change in an instant?

They are three teens on the run to keep themselves whole in a world that only wants them for their parts.

Unwind by Shusterman was an interesting read. As a parent myself, I can't believe that parents would willingly unwind their children, so the concept of unwinding is difficult for me. Once I got past that aspect of the story, it is interesting to see the society that Conner, Risa, and Lev live in. In the beginning, you have difficulty liking Connor. You can understand his reasoning for getting away, but you can't understand why he did the things he did that got his parents to sign the unwind order. Risa is a more sympathetic narrator. Nothing she did has gotten her into this situation--she tried to be perfect, but perfection isn't something that comes easily to humans. Lev's ideas were the most foreign to me, I had difficulty understanding why a child would willingly become an unwind, but Lev has had his whole life to prepare. He knows his purpose in life.

This novel is shocking, violent, alarming, and thought provoking. You keep wondering throughout the novel, how did this world get so messed up that something like unwinding would become an acceptable solution? These characters and their stories are well developed. You can't help feeling the urgency they feel and the betrayal.

Enthralling and repelling, February 20, 2008
Neal Shusterman's harrowing new novel, UNWIND, is set in the years following the Second Civil War in the United States, also known as the "Heartland War." Shusterman imagines a world in which today's debates over abortion ultimately lead to armed conflict, in which pro-choice and pro-life armies clash.

Just like today's wars of words over the abortion issue, however, there can be no clear winners or losers in such a conflict. Instead, at the close of the war, the two sides come to a compromise that fails to adequately address the situation. As a result of the agreement, abortion is outlawed, and there is a place for every baby, wanted or not --- either at one of the State Homes or on the doorstep of other families, who are legally obligated to take care of each of these "storked" babies.

That is, until they are 13. At this point, any children who are unwanted can be, effectively, retroactively aborted. They're not exactly killed. Instead, their body parts live on, thanks to recent medical advances that enable every single body part --- from hair to feet to internal organs --- to be donated to others who need (or at least can afford) them. From the age of 13 until 18, millions of kids are at risk of undergoing this procedure, of becoming "unwound."

No one knows the dread of this situation or the contradictions inherent in the new social order better than the three teens at the heart of Shusterman's thought-provoking novel. There's Connor, a troublemaker whose parents find it easier to sign an unwind order than to deal with his disruptive tendencies. There's Risa, a ward of the state whose excellent piano playing abilities are not quite enough to save her from unwinding in the face of budget cutbacks. And there's Lev, whose parents are unwinding their tenth child as part of the church's mandate to tithe, or to give one-tenth of their earnings back to the community.

Even Lev, who might agree with unwinding on a philosophical level, finds it hard to accept the reality of being unwound. And when he, Connor and Risa learn the stories of countless others who face the same terrifying outcome, the three teens become desperate enough to seek any alternative to what appears a certain, horrifying fate.

Shusterman's extrapolation of current political tensions into a horrific dystopian vision results in a riveting portrayal of a future that could, however terrifying, still seem a real possibility. His comprehensive examination of a world in which a single moral issue results in countless questionable moral actions gains a human face in the person of these three young people, whose compelling personal stories will draw readers in. In fact, this human dimension is one of the reasons UNWIND is simultaneously enthralling and repelling, as harrowing descriptions of capture and unwinding procedures result in a narrative that will engage readers with every fiber of their bodies --- shocking their hearts and emotions even as it engages their minds.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

Captivating, August 19, 2010
This book had me hooked from page 1. I could not put it down. I had to find out exactly what was going ti happen next. It kept you in suspense because the plot took many twists. I found the three min characters to be fascinating and relatable. The concept of this book is very interesting and really gets you to call in to question your own beliefs. I recommend this to anyone who loves sci-fi, controversial issues, and teen romance.

A Beautifully Written Book . . ., August 6, 2010
This story unfolds beautifully. It takes second on my list of favorite books, just under "Against Medical Advice" by Hal Friedman and James Patterson. This book was hard to set down. I stayed up until 4 in the morning most nights reading this book. Everything happens just as it's supposed to in the end, and satisfies until the last word. The twists that are peppered throughout the book are perfectly placed. It was like I was watching it in my head like a movie. Also, I like the way that the book is laid out. It tells you whose eyes to look through, to pretend you are that person, to see what they see, feel their feelings, think their thoughts, and react to events. Before you read this book, however, be sure that you are not extremely offended by morbidity. Great book. That's all I can say.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman, May 24, 2010
I just finished Neal Shusterman's Unwind yesterday and all I have to say is wow. It was definitely an amazing read, and it is something that I would recommend to everyone. The trials that the kids in this novel go through are heart-wrenching. You never know what exactly is in store for them.

At first, I didn't know how I felt about the book. I wasn't sure about the characters because of the portrayal of Connor. I didn't know if I could relate to him, or Risa, or Lev. They are all so different that I wasn't sure how to react to them. As the novel moves on, Shusterman does an fantastic job of making these characters relateable.

I'll start with Connor. He is flawed and that makes him a great character. He's impulsive and that is clearly seen in numerous instances throughout the novel. Connor seems to be the bad boy of the novel at first (but I won't give anything away!)

Risa seems to be just a normal girl that isn't given a chance. That is why we want to relate to her. We want her to succeed because of what the Ward does to her. She's a great character and the exact opposite of Connor, IMO. Calm, calculating, she's the counterbalance in the relationship.

Lev is a completely different story. He's a tithe. That concept really made the novel. He was the surprising character in the novel, and I eventually learned to love him. Too bad it was too late. I wanted to give him a chance just like Connor and Risa, but Lev's character was up in the air most of the time. He kept changing and that made it hard to follow him easily, but in the end, the reader will understand Lev's decisions.

The plot line of the novel was great. I am a sucker for dystopian fiction, so this book was right up my alley. I have to applaud Shusterman for his use of pro-life and pro-choice. It has been such a hot topic, I'm surprised that I haven't seen more books about it. The creation of the Heartland war and Bill of Life are fantastic starting points and created a great conflict for this young adult novel. I hope to read more from Shusterman in the future, but what I have read so far gets a big thumbs up. ... Read more

Editorial Review

As the Midnighters search for the truth about the secret hour, they uncover terrifying mysteries woven into the very fabric of Bixby’s history, and a conspiracy that touches the world of daylight.

This time Jessica Day is not the only Midnighter in mortal danger, and if the group can’t find a way to come together, they could lose one of their own . . . forever.

Reviews

An exciting, mysterious adventure, April 4, 2005
"Touching Darkness" continues the saga of the five midnighters: Rex the Seer, who can sense Focus and has a knack for history, Melissa the Mindcaster, a mysterious, reclusive psychic, Dess the Polymath, who's brilliantly mathematically inclined (and also my favorite character), Johnathan the Acrobat, who can literally leap tall buildings in a single bound, and our heroine Jessica, who's recently discovered powers of Fire-Bringing can incinerate scourges of darklings (read: the bad guys) in a single shine of her flashlight. A new threat against the Midnighters has arisen in their small town of Bixby, Oklahoma. It turns out traitorous humans are now working for the darklings, meaning the daylight 24 hours of the day (as opposed to the single secret hour) are no longer safe for our heroes. And they seem to be after Rex in an effort to transform him into a grotesque half-human half-darkling beast...

This sequel definitely doesn't disappoint, and I was pleased that it went into such great depth about the characters, especially Melissa, who was the biggest mystery of Book One. Like a previous reviewer, I was however disappointed about the lack of fight scenes. The fight scenes we do get end pretty quickly, thanks to Jessica's unstoppable Fire-Bringer power. I'm interested to know what the darklings will be trying in the next installment, because their plan sure failed miserably this time -- Jess burned them to a crisp! I like Scott Westerfeld's simple, easy-to-follow writing style, and the creativity put into the storyline, especially the bit about tridecalogisms, is just wonderful.

I highly recommend this book (but don't touch it before you've read the first!) and will be anxiously awaiting Blue Noon! I'd love to find out about the "metallurge" power that was briefly mentioned!

Wow!, March 9, 2005
A great follow up to The Secret Hour, this book is one that I, personally, found hard to put down...Westerfeld weaves a great story about the midnighters, people who can see the 'blue hour' and move about in it: Rex, Melissa, Jessica, Dess, and Jonathan. As before, it seems that trouble is brewing among the darklings, and one of the midnighters is in danger (I'm not the best at plot descriptions, in case you haven't already noticed, lol), and it is not Jessica. The story of the midnighters and basically history of Bixby is explored more in this book, and a few things are pulled together, but the third volume of the series still has a long way to go (guessing by how my side-plots splintered out of Touching Darkness)...and so I will happily await the third installment.

The few complaints I have are as follows: Westerfeld uses the word 'maelstorm' way too many times to make the word, which normally is a good, mature adjective, into something forgetable. He used this once in Uglies, his other book which I am not finished reading, and I almost groaned at the thought of seeing this word another 5-billion times, but thankfully he only used it once there...I digress, however. This was not the major disappointment of the book. Just an annoyance. But the major complaint I had was that there weren't many interesting battle scenes up until the end, which was OK as it helped to focus on the characters but was also a bit of a let down. Westerfeld delves more into the midnighters and their fragile cooperation in this novel, relationships, etc, which is interesting. I was hoping to see more of Jessica, the kick-@$$ fire-bringer, but again, not really until the end. Still, it was a great, enjoyable read with a AWESOME ending, I think, semi-cliffhanger-ish but not to an extreme degree.

I would recommend this to all of my friends.

The Second Journey, February 7, 2006
Jessica and her frineds are part of a secret world. A world of special ablities and meatls that destroy. A world that only opens at the stroke of midnight and last for only one hour each day, halting time in the daylight realm, and opening the door was to the blue hour of midnight. Jessica and her midnighter friends are faced with a major problem, a daylight person knows of the secret midnight hour, and is stalking Jessica! Now it is a rush aginst time as they learn of a deadly plot, of the secrets of the darklings, and a grusome fate that could await one of their friends. Can they save him in time, or will he fall, helplessly, into the hands of their darkling enemys and their daylight allies. Can they save him? Find out in. Midnighters #2: Touching Darkness.

A Real Ride, March 29, 2007
In the town of Bixby, anyone born at midnight has access to a secret hour. The hour is also inhabited by dark creatures that prey on man. The first volume ended as one young midnighter discovers her midnighter power as a Lightbringer. It is now two weeks later. Now that the Midnighters have a powerful new weapon to use against the darklings trouble arises from a completely different direction.

Midnighter talents can be used for more than just the battle against the darklings. They can also be used to detect patterns in the Blue Time. These patterns detect a null spot in town that hides a secret. A secret that has worked very hard to remain hidden and something inside the null area is toying with the group's Mindcaster. Discovering what is inside the null area also reveals more about the town of Bixby and its history with the Secret Hour. Now the Midnighters learn their true destinies and why they seem to be the only Midnighters.

This volume is rich in revelation. National trends had a different affect in Bixby due to its unique situation. This use of history meshed with the series framework works very well. The revelations go a long way to solidifying the series premises. I will not reveal any of these revelations as that would take away a lot of the fun of this volume. If you liked the first book and want more then will find plenty of it in this second volume of the trilogy. Check it out.

excellent teen reading, May 29, 2006
In the genre of teen books, this is an excellent addition. While obviously not Tolstoy, still -- compared with adult books in the same genre, this is very well done. The characterization is consistent, the storyline interesting. This is the second book in the series about a group of teens in a small town in Oklahoma that has an extra hour each day, during which monsters come out. OK, sounds hokey. But actually, this is very readable. I recommend for young folks.

A Satisfying Second Book of the Midnighters Trilogy, October 29, 2006
Midnighters 2: Touching Darkness is a wonderful book. It's basically about a girl, Jessica, who has discovered a secret hour that happens every night at the stroke of midnight. Only certain people who were born at 12:00 exactly and it only happens in Bixby know about this hour: Rex, the Seer; Melissa, the Mindcaster; Dess, the Polymath; and Jonanthan, the Acrobat. In the previous book, Jess discovered that she was also a part of the Midnighters group, she was the Flamebringer. She also found out that there were dangerous creatures around at midnight only, called the darklings which the Midnighters had to face quite a few times since Jessica arrived.

My favorite part was when the stalker came into the story. Jonathan and Jess were hanging out in the secret hour and they looked over at her house and there was a non- Midnighter frozen in time in her front yard (normal people can't experience the hour) and he was taking pictures at the exact stoke of twelve. Later on, the group realizes that the stalker is working with the darklings on an evil plan that they all try desperately to figure out.

I reccommend this book to people who like mystery, romance, and a real good page-turning book. Teens would love it! I think that the Midnighters trilogy is one of the best books because while there are major unusual problems they're facing, they're also dealing with difficulties that most teens deal with. It's just a great book!

Best Book after all of my already favorites, May 27, 2006
If you liked The Uglies and the like you would love the triology of books called The Midnighters by Scott Westerfield. This is a great book to read after you read the first book. The second I think so far was the best book. It really captured and pulled me in and it was very emotional for me too. It is basically about some teenagers who live in Bixby, Oklahoma. For all you Midnighter's fans you know how many letters are in the city and state! They all can move around during the blue time and fight off the really creepy buggy things. I know real descriptive but, I cannnot remember what the name of them are, well I will get back to you on that. So, I rate it a good book for summer reading after or before you read your required reading if you have any! Happy Pre-Summer! *Tinkfairy_reader34

Another Westerfeld winner, and not just for YA'a, October 13, 2007
Review of Midnighters trilogy:

Yet another YA science-fantasy winner from Westerfeld, with appeal well beyond the target audience, if your reviewer is a fair guide.

"Jessica Day moves into the small town of Bixby from Chicago, and although she hits it off with the "in" crowd, she also falls in with a bunch of weirdos who don't like the daylight, wear black a lot and are covered in metal jewelry. In the middle of the night she wakes up and discovers the world asleep with the exception of her weirdo chums and weird black slithery things..." -- from the best online review I saw of vol. 1; google farah-sf[dot]blogspot[dot]com

I know, it sounds sort of hokey and comic-booky, but actually works pretty well. The kids are fun, the action is fast & furious, and the pages turn most satisfactorily. There's even a nice touch of moral ambiguity in the wrapup volume.

Note that this is really a single novel, split into thirds by the publisher. You'll know by the end of #1 if you want to continue. I'm betting you will. But do start with #1! Midnighters #1: The Secret Hour

The story is set in Bixby, Oklahoma, now a suburb of Tulsa. I grew up about an hour away, and the problem with Westerfeld's Bixby is, it doesn't much resemble the real eastern Oklahoma. Westerfeld has numerous references to desert and salt flats, but this part of Oklahoma is pretty well-watered -- the native vegetation is a scrub-oak & pine forest. This won't affect your enjoyment of the story, really, but I have no idea why Westerfeld used a setting that would fit better in west Texas or New Mexico. Curious, seemingly pointless, and annoying.

Happy reading--
Peter D. Tillman
... Read more

Editorial Review

Suze is a mediator -- a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations.

But the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it's not that easy. There's a ghost with revenge on her mind ... and Suze happens to be in the way. ... Read more

Reviews

Wonderful first book in the Mediator series., January 14, 2005
Ever since she saw her first ghost at the age of two, Susannah Simon has been a mediator - in other words, a contact person between the living and the dead. It's her responsibility to help troubled spirits move on to the next world. And it's a responsibility she has always resented. At sixteen, Susannah just wants to be a normal teenage girl, worried about clothes and boys, not dead people. And now that her mom's remarried, she's had to leave New York City, the only home she's ever known, to move all the way to northern California. Her new stepdad's not too bad, but her three stepbrothers are a pain, and on the first day of school, she's confronted by the angry ghost of Heather, a girl who committed suicide over Christmas break. Susannah figures it won't be too hard to get Heather to move on - until it becomes clear that she's the most violent spirit Susannah has ever encountered. Heather won't rest until she gets revenge on her ex-boyfriend for breaking up with her.

This book starts off a great series by Meg Cabot that is one of my favorite series ever. The next five books are just as great. This series combines mystery, suspense, humor, and romance, and so will appeal to teens with various tastes in reading. I also highly recommend that all of Meg Cabot's fans give it a try - even though this series is very different than her other books, in my opinion, it's her best ever.

Fun read, great characters, March 22, 2001
I enjoyed SHADOWLAND so much that I immediately ordered the second book and WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES, a non-Mediator book by Jenny Carroll. Susannah doesn't just see dead people: she touches them, talks to them, and occasionally deals with them much more firmly. She's a mediator, someone who can set things right between the dead and those people still living the dead want to communicate with. For some reason this makes her life a little more difficult than most. People call the cops on her when she enters their yards to pass on messages, or when she damages property in her efforts to send a really troublesome spirit on its way (did I mention that being dead means you can learn to move, and throw, heavy objects?). Sh's just left her beloved New York and her best (and only) friend for California, a stepdad and three step brothers, and the very handsome ghost who haunts her bedroom. Susannah is definitely a grrl for the new century, trying to fit into a new family, a new school, and a new culture. She's believable in her struggles with dating, school, her old-fashioned roommate, and the death of her dad. And a number of the secondary characters are interesting, funny, and their own people: intellectual CeeCee, hormone boy Adam, Susannah's step-brothers, her mother and step-dad, Jesse the ghost. My favorite at the moment is Father Dominic, the head of Susannah's new high school, a priest who's kind, clever and idealistic without being syrupy. He's trying to teach Susannah that sometimes a gentler approach with people works far more efficiently than a right hook to the gut . . . He's got his work cut out for him! Great fun, a great read--now I just have to be patient and wait for the third Mediator book!

A New Start in California, March 4, 2005
Suze Simon is starting a new life. She has just joined the rest of her family in Carmel, California. The rest of her family consists of her mother, a new step-dad and three new step-brothers. This would be hard enough if it wasn't for the fact that Suze sees dead people.

Suze is a mediator. That means she is able to see and interact with ghosts. These are people with some unfinished business. As a mediator she is to help them cross over. She came upon this talent at the age of two and has had a hard time dealing with it. Her personal record has been far from spotless as she tries to be a mediator and not look insane to the rest of the world.

Now in her new home with her new family, Suze has new challenges. One is a 150-year-old ghost named Jessie that lives in her bedroom. The other is a new ghost at her new school. This one is very angry and bent on destruction and mayhem. Suze must protect the lives of others, the lives of herself and her family, and try not to look completely crazy in her first days at school. But Suze manages to get some help from two unexpected sources.

A pretty good story. I would like to know more of Suze's pre-Californian adventures but there are only vague hints. What we do get is a fast and wild story that is sort of a cross between Fearless and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A good read.

A fantastic first instalment, June 24, 2002
Sixteen-year-old Susannah is a mediator, meaning that she can see and talk to ghosts who, for one reason or another, have not passed on to the next world. Having been plagued by these spirits for the past fourteen years, Suze had hoped that moving from New York City to a quiet town in Northern California would offer her a fresh start. However, the moment she steps into her new bedroom, Suze knows that that isn't going to happen, because she finds herself sharing her room with a 150-year-old ghost of a boy named Jesse. Not only that, but the first day of school brings more trouble: Susannah's locker comes accompanied by the ghost of a girl who killed herself and who is now out for revenge on her ex-boyfriend. Suze is determined to persuade the girl to pass on, but when it seems the usual methods aren't working, will more unconventional action be required?

Shadowland, the first book in the series, is one I really recommend as an ideal book for any teens into fiction with a supernatural theme. I found it impossible to put down and can't wait to get started on the next instalment in the series. Definitely worth five stars.

~Jenna~

Jenny Carroll is THE BOMB!, June 29, 2002
Susannah Simon is not your average 16 year old girl, although she would very much like to be. That is because Suze is a mediator, a contact person for people who have died with unfinished business. Having left Brooklyn, New York (her home) to move to Carmel, California to live with her mother, her new step-dad, and those stupid boys also known as her step-brothers Suze hopes to make a fresh start by putting up the facade of being a normal teenager. However Suze is not to get her wish because as soon as she steps into her bedroom she meets Jesse. Jesse is a ghost. A very HOT ghost. To top it off accompaning Suze's new locker is Heather, a very pissed ghost who committed suicide over the Christmas break. Heather is hell bent on getting revenge on her ex-boyfriend. On the up-side though Suze makes friends (a very rare occurance for her) and finds a fellow mediator in her principal.

This series is AWESOME! READ IT!!! Suze is hilarious...

The Mediator #1: The Mediator, March 7, 2001
This was a thrilling and humorous yet scary first book of THE MEDIATOR series, and the author Jenny Carroll writes with a very intriguing expression. Suzannah was born a Mediator, a person who can see and talk to ghosts -- and using this power , she must help ghosts to the place they're supposed to go when they die. But she has never considered this power a gift. She thinks it's a horrible curse she has to live with forever. But her life , weird as it is, is about to change. Now that she's moved with her mom to Northern California to live with her new stepdad and her annoying stepbrothers, Suzannah will face danger greater then she knew. Besides for the ghost Jesse that won't leave her room, there's an angry ghost at her new school -- Heather -- and she's not to happy about her death. She wants revenge, and she is so powerful Suzannah knows Heather will prevail. Somehow Suzannah needs to stop Heather. But that would take more then an ordinary human, wouldn't it? This was an excellent and frightening read and I can't wait to read the rest of THE MEDIATOR series by Jenny Carroll.

A great new series for teens., October 25, 2000
Ever since she saw her first ghost at the age of two, Susannah Simon has been a mediator - in other words, a contact person between the living and the dead. It's her responsibility to help troubled spirits move on to the next world. And it's a responsibility she has always resented. At sixteen, Susannah just wants to be a normal teenage girl, worried about clothes and boys, not dead people. And now that her mom's remarried, she's had to leave New York City, the only home she's ever known, to move all the way to northern California. Her new stepdad's not too bad, but her three stepbrothers are a pain, and on the first day of school, she's confronted by the angry ghost of Heather, a girl who committed suicide over Christmas break. Susannah figures it won't be too hard to get Heather to move on - until it becomes clear that she's the most violent spirit Susannah has ever encountered. Heather won't rest until she gets revenge on her ex-boyfriend for breaking up with her. This is a great read for teens who enjoy supernatural-themed shows such as Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Great way to start a series, January 16, 2005
As you can tell this is the first book in another series by Meg Cabot. They were originally published under another name and have just been reissued with spiffy new covers and everything. I bought the first two books and the series and got right to reading the first one.

The books about Suze who is a mediator and she can talk to ghosts. She is supposed to help them move onto the next phase or plane or whatever they are supposed to do when they die. She also just moved to California to live with her mom, new stepfather, and new stepbrothers. She also has to deal with the fact that her room is haunted by a hottie ghost.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest of the series. Meg's familiar humor is laced throughout the book, which is wonderful. The best thing though is that this book is about something a little more substantial than some of her other stuff. It also lacks a bit of the angst that some of other books have, which for me is a plus.

If you like Meg Cabot's books and you like her humor I would definatly recommend this book!

first - but not last, May 21, 2003
This is my first book by "Jenny Carroll." I've read all the Princess Diaries book, but I didn't know that Jenny Carroll was Meg Cabot until after I finished the book.

IN "Shadowland" (the first of the Mediator books), Suze Simon moves to sunny, bubbly Californa with her mom. She's moving into an old, historic house that her stepdad and three stepbrothers (Doc, Dopey, and Sleepy) live in. When Suze finds out it's an *old* mansion, she freaks out. You see, Suze has powers. She can talk to ghosts, in fact, she has to help them go to the afterlife. Suze is right ~ there's a Spanish cowboy from the 1800's (named Jesse) living in her room. At first, shes kind of alarmed, but soon she becomes friends with Jesse ~ he watches out for her, and seems to have an attraction to her.

At Suze's new school, there is also a ghost. Heather, the pretty, popular girl who committ suicide the week before Suze arrived. Heather is jealous and seeking revenge on her ex-boyfriend Bryce, and will stop at nothing to kill him.

Suze keeps trying to prevent Heather's attempts to murder Bryce, but in the end - will she succeed?

This was a great book, even better than the Princess Diaries. It's a book that you won't want to put down, and won't be upset at the end. Everything comes together. Overall grade: A+

Wow OH WOW!!!!!!!!, June 14, 2005
Okay the first thing i have to say is that the Mediator series is one of the best series i've read in a long time. I loved it. It's about Susannah (Suze) Simon who is a Mediator. Which means she can see, talk to, touch, and even...kiss the dead. They are almost like real people to her. Her job is to help them move on. Of course sometimes the goasts try and kill her or people she knows and she applys her brute strength...well basically she applys her fist to their jaw lol. Susannah really didn't even like her job all that much until her mother remarries and she gets shipped off to California to live with her mom, her new stepdad, and her 3 new step brothers. She finds in her room the hottest dead guy she's ever seen. Well each book is an adventure in it self. I mean if you're more of a romance kinda person...don't worry i am to, and i loved these books. Yeah they are alot of adventure...but Jesse (the hott dead guy) could possibly be the love of her life. You got to read the series just to find out how that works out lol. YOU HAVE 2 READ THEM IN ORDER! Do NOT i repeat DO NOT read the last one first or the 3rd on first. You will be much more happy if you read them in order. Meg Cabot did a splendid job with this try it out you'll love em.
If you have any questions about them or your a fellow book aholic email me and we'll talk books. cmurry@houston.rr.com ... Read more

Editorial Review

The five teenage Midnighters of Bixby, Oklahoma, thought they understood the secret midnight hour—until one morning when time freezes in the middle of the day.

The noise of school stops. Cheerleaders are frozen in midair. Everything is the haunted blue color of the midnight hour.

As the Midnighters scramble for answers, they discover that the walls between the secret hour and real time are crumbling. Soon the dark creatures will break through to feed at last . . . unless these five teenagers can find a way to stop them.

Reviews

Third Time Still A Charm, August 11, 2006
I bought Scott Westerfeld's Midnighters #3: Blue Noon back when it came out in March because I'm just that way, but I didn't get down to reading it until last week.

(An aside: that was stupid. Why wait so long? The thing only took two days to read, and only that long because I didn't have to wait in the doctor's office as long as I anticipated. So go on and get the three books and read them, back to back to back, if you've not already. If you start now you can be done in a week.)

Holy wow, Batman. What a good book.

Westerfeld took a darker turn in Midnighters #2 and accelerated down that path in this volume. Beyond just a ripping good tale, he explores the rugged terrain of fear, power and their uses, while drawing together disparate plot points from the previous books that tie up the series satisfyingly. He does, however, leave just enough hanging and unresolved at the end to give it a genuine feel--including the bitter twist at the end.

I note with both trepidation and excitement that Westerfeld seems to have deliberately left the door open for future Midnighters stories. I hope that he won't become a victim of the "genre-series-that-never-die" syndrome, but given the results of these three books, I'll certainly give a chance to whatever he puts out next.

Highly recommended

Shocking ending left a bitter taste, June 6, 2007
I loved the first two, couldn't put them down. They cut into sleep, eating, ect, possibly best book series I had read all year... then I got to number three. Maybe I hadn't payed attention in the store, but I thought I saw a book six, or something... so I never realized how near I was to the end till I reached the end... and what an ending. It was... different for sure, but ten hours after finishing the book has still left me with a bitter taste, one that has cast a shadow over the entire series for me. The end of the story was so sudden, unexpected and just... harsh, that I no longer know what to say about the trilogy. It took me half of the epologue to even figure it all out that something bad had really happened, not just that the one character was in the hospital or something. I refused to believe it and ended up having to reread the ending.... maybe its just me, but I like my books to have their happy endings. It's why I read, and while everything up to the end was a great thrill ride, it felt like the Midnighters ride suddenly went flying off the tracks and crashed in a flaming explosion as the third book ended. I never judge books by their covers, or even their beginnings, but the endings... those can make all the difference, and that's only too true for the Midnighters.

Poor Ending To A Great Series (spoiler warning after paragraph 2), November 27, 2009
Wow. Scott W. has stuffed Bixby, OK with five believable, distinct main characters. Even Jessica's family, with Beth (the little sister), workaholic mom, and stay-at-home dad Don seem real and not types. And he's given us a dark, intense story that moves and jumps like Jonathon's acrobatics.

So what do you say when 98% of a trilogy keeps you ripping through pages and neglecting important life duties, only to have the climactic end fizzle, stumble, and fall flat? It's not just artistic license that I personally don't like. It's not some bittersweet, catch-in-the-throat sadness. The ending is horrid.

Spoilers ahead: despite the main plot lines about the darklings and the dangers found in dusty Oklahoma, the reader (by the third book in the trilogy) has the greatest emotional investment in the two teen couples: Jonathon and Jessica, and Rex and Melissa. We are hoping against hope that Rex and Melissa will have a happily-ever-after following years of struggle and staying by each other. The author arbitrarily rips our hopes apart. Jonathon and Jessica don't get what they want either; they are ripped apart, too, but at least this is done with poignant artistry and purpose. Our emotions are deflated and left there. This is truly an artless ending with the one exception of Jessica.

I, along with other readers here, hope that this is not the last book in the series. It would lower my opinion of the writer's skill if it is.

Excellent young adult fiction, June 9, 2006
In Bixby, Oklahoma, there are 25 hours to each day. In the 25th hour, clocks stop, people turn into what looks like store dummies, rain stands in midair, to resume falling at the end of the 25th hour. Only a few humans (the midnighters of the title), who happen to be teens (except for one other person), are awake during this hour, and they battle ancient evils that exist and come out during this time.

This book is the latest in the series (or final in a trilogy?) that finds the kids in an armegeddon sort of situation. In the final battle, each teen uses his or her special power (flight, mathematics, lore knowledge, power to use light) to fight these nightmares. The end is actually sad, and I don't want to reveal it. But I do recommend this series!

okay, December 31, 2007
this book was really good, until the ending. It seemed that westerfeld really wanted to finish his book, so he shoved a whole bunch of stuff into 10 measly pages and boom- the end. but, if you're hooked on the other 2 midnighters, this is a must.

fabulous young adult horror, March 1, 2006
Every midnight in Bixby, Oklahoma time freezes for a blink enabling creatures to come out of the darkest shadows seeking human prey. Most people remain blissfully ignorant of this phenomena; however, five teens born at midnight and calling themselves the Midnighters, are keenly aware of how dangerous the Blue Time can be. Still they know it happens like clockwork and are prepared to help those ignorant enough to be outside in Bixby when the clock strikes 12.

That is until now when the blue time occurs for the first time as far as they know in the afternoon leaving the school and other places frozen in blue that seems even eerier than the usual midnight scenario because everyone is about stuck in time; noise except for them and the prowling monsters is creepily silent. Jessica, Melissa, Jonathan, Rex, and Dess fear the monsters will soon begin a feeding frenzy like nothing ever seen at least in recent memory. This quintet that makes up the Midnighters need answers quickly to stop a catastrophe that has been in the making for centuries.

This is a terrific entry in a fabulous young adult horror series due to a wonderful twist that brings the frozen blue light out of midnight and into the daylight. The five teen heroes know they up against it as this time their confidence wanes though they do not back down because failure leads to unbelievable consequences. Scott Westerfeld writes a wonderful suspense that can stand alone though enhanced by the previous two adventures. Adults and teens will fully appreciate this fine thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Turn back now while there is still time!, July 6, 2010
Ok I read all 3 books in this series because I read scott westerfeld's other series the uglies (which I loved), but I was extremely disappointed. I actually felt embarrassed for the writer after reading these books. The story is stupid and at the end nothing gets explained. I had my Mom and a friend read them just to make sure it wasn't just me and they hated them too. However I highly recommend reading The uglies series by the same author!

Blue Noon, a fine finale to the thrilling Midnighters trilogy, July 7, 2006
The Midnighters are a group of five teenagers that live in the secret hour, the twenty-fifth hour of the day that only humans born at the stroke of midnight can experience. That midnight hour is called the secret hour, the blue time, the midnight hour.

And the secret hour only exsists in Bixby, Oklahoma, where certain factors join together in ancient times to form this unique time of day. All normal people are frozen during this single hour and electricity is useless.

The Midnighters have had many dangerous encounters with the deadly creatures that lurk in the midnight hour, but do not exsist in normal time, in the two or three months the five of them have been together.

But one day, the blue time comes-- at nine in the morning, while they're at school. And it only lasts for fourteen minutes.
Every one of the Midnighters knows that something is terribly wrong.

And they come to a horrible realization: there is a growing rip in the boundaries of the secret hour, and soon the darklings and slithers (the creatures of midnight) will be able to do what they have been unable to for a long time-- feast on their natural prey, humans. It will be midnight for twenty-five whole hours, one day a year.

So the Midnighters, Jessica and her friends, must find a way to stop this from happening, but time is running out and their plans may unfold in unimaginable ways...

This is the tale of Blue Noon, the final book in the thrilling Midnighters trilogy. It is a fantastic read, and though the ending and epilouge is a little hazy and maybe rushed, it is still a wonderful end, with readers only wanting more.

The third and most exciting installment of the Midnighters series, June 21, 2006
He whirled back around to face the creature, crouching down into a fighting stance. Its eight legs had extended to full length, pressing against the ground to lift the central body mass up into the air. The legs were covered not with hair, but with glistening spurs, like thorns on some vast and hideous rosebush. The entire beast was dripping with a viscous black substance, as if it had been dipped in crude oil. Rex flexed his empty hands, realizing that he was completely unarmed...

Rex is more fearful of spiders than anything --- and those clever darklings have assumed the form he most hates. Yes, the darklings are back! Rex is now half-darkling himself. While this has given him some insights, it has also created new feelings in him that he does not understand. The darklings now want all of him and even more.

The secret hour still arrives every midnight but something new is happening. The blue time is appearing at random times during the day. Rex and his four teenage friends know that this is a more dangerous situation than they've faced before. As they try to figure out what might be causing this, they all must deal with personal issues and relationships. Jessica (the flame thrower) and Jonathan (flyboy during the blue time), Melissa (the mindreader), and the brilliant Dess, who works on the numerical calculations and weapons used against the darklings, are all thrown into a frantic race against time. Now, according to Dess's figures, it will be only a matter of a few weeks until Halloween --- and that is when the world as they all know it will end. In other words, the darklings will take over and blue time will envelop them all.

One of the many things complicating their investigation is Jessica's very curious and interfering little sister Beth, who wants to know why Jessica is disappearing at midnight and how she can get involved in the great adventure. Jessica wants to protect her sister but even Jessica is unable to prevent Beth from finding out the truth in a most frightening way.

As the barrier between the secret hour and normal time is growing weaker, other mysteries must be sorted out. What are the connections between the Grayfoot family and the darklings? How is the first Halfling, Anathea, connected to the early takeover of the darklings, and how can Rex and his friends stop these powers from destroying everything they hold dear? And is there a reason they hate and fear Jessica Day more than anyone? Does she have more power than she realizes?

Scott Westerfeld pulls no stops in this third and most exciting installment of the Midnighters series. Giant spiders, flying monsters, gore, magic and unexpected twists --- it's all here and more. First-time readers should start with book one. Midnight will never be the same.

--- Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts (stibbetts@maine207west.k12.il.us)
... Read more

Editorial Review

It's another awful year at Bathory High for Vladimir Tod. The evil vampire D'Ablo is hunting for the ritual that could steal Vlad's powers. His best friend doesn't want to be his drudge anymore. And it's getting harder for Vlad to resist feeding on the people around him. When months go by with no word from Uncle Otis, and D'Ablo shows up demanding Vlad's father's journal, Vlad realizes that having a normal high school year is the least of his concerns. Vlad needs to act fast, and even his status as the Pravus won't save him this time. ... Read more

Reviews

Courtesy of Teens Read Too, July 1, 2009
TENTH GRADE BLEEDS takes readers on the continuing adventures of a young vampire named Vladimir (Vlad) Tod.

Vlad is different than most vampires. He was born a vampire instead of created. Since the death of his parents - vampire father and human mother - he's been living with his aunt. There have been some bumpy times, but with the help of his vampire uncle and his best friend and drudge, Henry, he's survived his first year in high school and is about to begin his second.

The previous years have held some challenges for Vlad, but his tenth grade year is threatening to reveal some of the more potentially serious vampire issues. Uncle Otis headed off on his own adventures; however, Vlad wasn't really worried about his absence since the two have a mental connection that allows them to easily communicate. Otis isn't gone very long when Vlad discovers that the comforting communication seems to be missing. Now he doesn't have a clue where Otis is or how to get in touch with him.

Another new challenge is Henry. Their best friend relationship seems a bit strained. Henry finally admits his desire to be released as Vlad's drudge. First of all, is it possible? Secondly, can Vlad survive without the support and protection offered by a vampire's drudge?

The scariest change in book three is the fact that Vlad is beginning to have urges more typical of vampires. His blood supply has always come courtesy of his aunt's access to the blood bank at the hospital where she works, but he now is finding that the sweet scent of live human blood may be a temptation he might be unable to resist.

Combine these immediate concerns with continued problems from distant vampire councils, and Vlad may have more than he can handle. As evidence mounts that he might, in fact, be Pravus, life as a one-of-a-kind vampire is quickly turning dangerous.

Heather Brewer has joined the legions of authors writing vampire tales, but THE CHRONICLES VLADIMIR TOD series has many twists and turns that make it unique and will have teens excited to read each upcoming book.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

good for a teenager, August 28, 2009
This doesn't have the gore of Rice books and the sexual content in the Meyer series, so a good vampire read for a 12-16 yr old. Good story line and characters you can relate to.

The Series Keeps Getting Better, July 1, 2009
So far, I've been rather so-so on the Vladimir Tod Series. As an older teen, I've felt the first book was rather childish, meant for middle school and elementary kids. I never had a really strong feel for the characters or the plot, which felt lacking. I did like it enough, however, to keep reading. The second book was better, if only by a little. But this third book in the series is a vast improvement. I loved it!

In this new installment, Vlad grows as a person, changing from a naive preteen to a (at least somewhat more mature) young man. More and more problems are being thrust Vlad's way, giving the story more layers and depth. Tenth Grade Bleeds has a somewhat more darker tone to it than the previous books, especially when it comes to Vlad dealing with his growing bloodlust, but that's what I like best about the book. I also like how, for the first time, Henry didn't just follow Vlad around like a typical sidekick, and actually had his own opinion on some things. I like Vlad's relationship with Meredith, although the loser-hooking-up-with-popular-girl routine is nothing new, and Meredith seems a little too good to be true. I especially like how Vlad started hanging out with the goths at school. I couldn't help but think "it's about time!"

There were still quite a few things to keep me from giving this book five stars--the writing still seems too childish at times to be a Teen book, and there were still quite a few inconsistencies and illogical moments in the plot (especially how Vlad wound up at his final confrontation with D'Ablo). But what I like about this series is that, so far, every book has gotten better. Tenth Grade Bleeds was a great new installment in the series, and I have high hopes for the rest of the books to follow.

Tenth Grade Bleeds, July 2, 2009
Vladimir Tod, growing vampire and probable Pravus, knows things aren't going to be easy when he begins his tenth grade year, even if he does have a wonderful girlfriend, Meredith. For one thing, his uncle Otis is leaving, just when Vlad thinks he's most needed; for another, his best friend Henry seems to be slipping away as a friend. Most troubling of all, though, is the increased thirst for blood that Vlad is constantly fighting. Oh, and yes, D'Ablo, his archenemy, is still after him, even slipping into Vlad's room to demand Vlad's father's journal. So when does that leave a fifteen-year-old time to study?

The third book in The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series follows the standard formula of a school year in the life of Vlad. But things are becoming more difficult on several levels for Vlad. He realizes he's not the most popular kid around, but with Henry wanting distance from being his drudge, and other kids teasing Meredith about liking him, Vlad suffers in silence. Otis is MIA for most of the book, and Nelly begins to realize that raising a vampire isn't an easy task. At least half of the book is teenaged angst, which of course makes sense, but when the action does pick up, it's fast and furious.

Like the other two, I liked this installment well enough, even if I did get tired of Vlad's insecurities at times. There were times when I felt the writing definitely was more childish than young adult, making me wish that the author would adjust as the character grows older (much as JK Rowling did with the Harry Potter series). And speaking of HP, I really did get a sense of a very Harry Potteresque ending when Vlad was facing D'Ablo for the big ending. Though not all of the final action made sense as a fight scene, I did enjoy it in general. I also feel that the final chapters really set the stage for major conflicts for Vlad in the future, and that makes me anxious to see how it's all going to turn out. Recommended for those who like books of the vampirish flavor. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Everything is going great for Suze. Her new life in California is a whirlwind of parties and excellent hair days. Tad Beaumont, the hottest boy in town, has even asked Suze out on her very first date. Suze is so excited that she's willing to ignore her misgivings about Tad... particularly the fact that he's not Jesse, whose ghostly status--not to mention apparent disinterest in her--make him unattainable.

What Suze can#146;t ignore, however, is the ghost of a murdered woman whose death seems directly connected to dark secrets hidden in none other than Tad Beaumont's past. ... Read more

Reviews

Thrilling second book in the Mediator series., January 14, 2005
High school sophomore Susannah Simon - Suze for short - is getting used to her new home in southern California following her mother's remarriage. It's a pain living in the same house as three annoying stepbrothers, but at least she's making friends at school and even has met a guy who seems interested in her. But as usual, her role as a mediator - a human who helps guide wayward spirits to their final resting place - gets in the way of her social life. One night, the ghost of a woman appears to Suze, begging her to tell "Red" that he wasn't responsible for her death. Suze does some asking around and comes to the conclusion that the woman means "Red" Beaumont - who, unfortunately, is the father of Suze's prospective boyfriend! Of course she's upset that the only guy who's ever asked her out may be the son of a murderer. But nothing can prepare Suze for the web of intrigue she uncovers, which includes a corrupt businessman, a string of disappearances, and possibly even a vampire! This entertaining teen series combines mystery, suspense, and humor for a great read. I'd recommend that all of Meg Cabot's fans give this great series a try.

A wondeful continuation of this great new series., January 31, 2001
High school sophomore Susannah Simon - Suze for short - is getting used to her new home in southern California following her mother's remarriage. It's a pain living in the same house as three annoying stepbrothers, but at least she's making friends at school and even has met a guy who seems interested in her. But as usual, her role as a mediator - a human who helps guide wayward spirits to their final resting place - gets in the way of her social life. One night, the ghost of a woman appears to Suze, begging her to tell "Red" that he wasn't responsible for her death. Suze does some asking around and comes to the conclusion that the woman means "Red" Beaumont - who, unfortunately, is the father of Suze's prospective boyfriend! Of course she's upset that the only guy who's ever asked her out may be the son of a murderer. But nothing can prepare Suze for the web of intrigue she uncovers, which includes a corrupt businessman, a string of disappearances, and possibly even a vampire! This entertaining teen series combines mystery, suspense, and humor for a great read. I'd reccomend this series to ages thirteen and up.

Suze has a new challenge, February 19, 2001
When Suze is comfronted by a screaming ghost asking for her to find Red and tell her that he didn't kill her, she knows she has to act. SO when she finally finds a Red, named Red Beaumont, she shocked to find out that he's the father of the first guy she's even dated, Tad Beaumont. But as she continues into this case she finds herself involved in something much bigger. Is this what she was supposed to do? Or has she found herself involved in something a little too supernatural.

Just like the last book in the series this book was entertaining and a great ghost story. Don't always go for the obvious answers, becasue you never know what to expect. This book is just as good as the last. Even though another book hasn't announced for the series I hope another one is at least in the works!

Another exciting edition to the series, June 1, 2002
Suze is not your normal sixteen year old girl. She is a mediator---a person who guards wayward souls(ghost)back to where they should be. Of course being a mediator also causes some social problems for Suze. After moving to California, so far for Suze things have been a fab. Even the hottest guy in town, Tad Beaumont, asked her out! Everything couldn't be better. That is until the ghose of a dead woman shows up in the middle of the night and scream for Suze to find a guy named "Red" and tell him he isn't responsible for her death. Tracking down a murderer is pretty hard but when things lead to "Red" Beaumont, Tad's dad thing get alittle tricker. After not listening to Father Dominick, a fellow Mediator, who also happens to be Suze's principal, Suze goes all by herself to see Red only to find out he might be a vampire. Things get even crazier as Suze digs deeper into the mystery and finds out about coverups, mysterious disappearances, and a web of deceit.

Another good edition to the Mediator series. A lot of unexpected twists and turns and I like Jesse and Suze a lot!

Another great installment, May 14, 2005
Suze is not your normal sixteen year old girl. She is a mediator---a person who guards wayward souls(ghosts)back to where they should be, their final resting place. Of course being a mediator also causes some social problems for Suze. After moving to California, so far for Suze things have been fab. Even the hottest guy in town, Tad Beaumont, asked her out! Everything couldn't be better. That is until the ghost of a dead woman shows up in the middle of the night and screams for Suze to find a guy named "Red" and tell him he isn't responsible for her death. Tracking down a murderer is pretty hard but when things lead to "Red" Beaumont, Tad's dad, things get alittle tricker. After not listening to Father Dominick, a fellow Mediator, who also happens to be Suze's principal, Suze goes all by herself to see Red only to find out he might be a vampire. Things get even crazier as Suze digs deeper into the mystery and finds out about coverups, mysterious disappearances, and a web of deceit.
Another good edition to the Mediator series. A lot of unexpected twists and turns and Jesse and Suze are such a cute couple!

Can It Get Weirder Than This, August 29, 2003
The second installment of The Mediator series is full of fun, action and romance (something new for Suze)! Suze is of course a mediator, a person who can see ghosts and she helps them move on to the afterlife, but it doesn't make it any easier if the ghost appears in Suze's room screaming at the top of her lungs in the middle of the night! She only asks Suze to tell "Red" that he didn't kill her, but didn't give anymore info leaving Suze basically clueless. Not only that, she also acquired "monster hands" when she accidentally grabbed some poison oak, had to take care of this wild, ugly cat by the request of the ghost of a little boy and also got a reading done by her friend Cee Cee's psychic aunt with unexpected results! But her investigation of "Red" continues when she meets another female ghost leading to Suze being asked for a date by this cute, rich boy named Tad and getting her first kiss!
All is not well, however, when she finds out that Tad may be in a family of killers and vampires and that she has actually got the wrong "Red". Things got out of hands in the end when murder was planned for our mediator though Suze may finally realise who "Red" really was.
This does live up to its predecessor with the plot twists and funny incidents - I particularly liked Jesse's (handsome ghost haunting Suze's bedroom)reaction to Tad and Suze's adventures with the cat. We get to find out a bit more of Suze's stepbrothers and the meaning of the Ninth Key which is actually a card in the tarot deck. The story never bores and though a great book on its own, if you like this then you should read all in the series, cos why not, it's fun!

A Good Sequel, August 6, 2007
Book #2 in the Mediator series by Meg Cabot opens about a week after the first book ended. Suze, mediator at large, is suddenly visited in the middle of the night by a screaming ghost begging her to tell "Red" that she knows he didn't kill her. With a cryptic message like that, Suze checks around to find out who might be called Red, leading her to a prominent businessman and his hunky son, Tad. Delivering her message is easier said than done, and Suze becomes uneasy when she's rushed out of the strange home of Red Beaumont (even though she's definitely attracted to Tad). Imagine her surprise when the ghost reappears, accusing her of not delivering the message at all, and she runs into a second ghost who tells her Beaumont is responsible for HER death. What's going on? Does Suze have the right person? Is Red Beaumont a cold-blooded murderer? Is he a vampire? What about Jesse, the hot ghost living in her bedroom? Will Tad ask her out?

This is a very good sequel to the first book in this series. Suze is finding an ally in Father Dominic, a fellow mediator, and her circle of friends is growing in her new home. We also meet her father, a ghost who has traveled across the country to give his daughter advice. This story, while of course focusing on the mediator aspect, also brings Suze into a more complex mystery and shows us her survival skills outside of her ghostly talents. There's a pretty good twist towards the end, and the tension between Suze and Jesse is intensifying. This is a fun series, not meant to be taken too seriously, and I look forward to reading more. Surprisingly well done, if you enjoy paranormal romance and suspense, you'll definitely like this one.

The Mediator: The Ninth Key, February 16, 2006
The Mediator: The Ninth Key
By: Meg Cabot


Suze is back for another adventure, and this time a vampire is after her. Susannah Simon is a 16 year old mediator, this time she has to tell a man named Red that he didn't kill his wife. But she suspects him of being a vampire and when he tries to kill her, she gets him right back. I would recommend this book to any one who likes adventure and mystery books or likes books about ghosts and vampires.

I liked that in this book, it still had the same characters in the book and they just evolved a little bit. You could just read the first book and just follow up with the second book and not miss anything.

I liked how the book changed around and had new characters coming into the book. Suze has new friends then in the other books and she seems to be happier because Jesse is finally leaving her alone for a while.

Even thought I liked the book, I didn't like the fact the way that it ended. After Suze and Tad were locked in the office, Red just took them and tried to drown them in the pool and when they got out all they really did was hold him down and call the police.

Besides me not liking the ending I enjoyed this book. I am also looking forward to reading other books in the series.

TA

Another hilarious installment in the Mediator series, July 31, 2005
In NINTH KEY - the second of the Mediator books - Suze Simon is back, and funnier than ever. She wakes up one night to a woman screaming bloody murder, and the woman says "Tell Red he didn't kill me." So, Suze is looking all over for Red, and finds one...Red Beaumont, businessman. When she goes to tell him the message, she finds him totally strange - he keeps looking at her neck, doesn't like sunlight, and has no red hair...so why is he called Red?
When Suze tells Father Dom all about this, he comes to the stratling conclusion that Red Beaumont is a vampire. Suze doesn't believe in vampires, but is a little afraid of Red. She goes back there, and ultimately gets into much deeper trouble than she could ever have imagined.

Will Suze get into more trouble than she can handle with the possible vampire?

This book's really good, I'd say better than the first...from the first line (which I believe is "Nobody told me about the poison oak") to the last, this book is absolutely hilarious. You won't be able to put it down, I highly reccommend this.

Overall grade: A+

Ghostbuster vs Vampire, March 4, 2005
In a series that reads like a cross between Fearless and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it is not surprising to get a tale where the subject of vampire actually arises. Suze Simon, mediator to the dead, is confronted by a screaming ghost in her room one night. Suze needs to get a message to "Red" in order to satisfy the screaming specter.

But delivering messages for the dead is not usually an easy task. Recipients may not believe you or they may think you are crazy. But this time Suze runs into someone who may be crazy and very dangerous. This time she might be in over her head.

Once again we get a fast-paced story as Suze tries to balance her unwanted role of mediator with her life as a teenager. Add a possible new boyfriend, her new family, and a case of poison oak and Suze really has her hands full even without being a mediator. But Suze manages to weather it all in her own way, and sometimes with a little help. Another fun book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Perfection; Read in one Sitting!, November 18, 2007
This is one of my top 5 books of all time. I absolutely loved the story of Helen and her struggle to leave this world peacefully. I had no idea it was a young adult book until I saw the reviews on here! Anyone who enjoys unique, beautiful stories will devour this book. Told from a unique perspective and mingling with the living and dead, I couldn't put it down. The ending was wonderful. I'm buying it as gifts for all my 'bibliophile' friends. Kudos to the cover artist as well.

Wonderful and much better than I expected!!!, April 6, 2007
I bought this book for my two older daughters to read due to the reviews and the subject matter being similar to other books they have enjoyed. However, I read the book before they did just to see what it was about, and I am so very glad I did! At the end I was just crying, but in such a good way.

I don't consider myself religious, more of an agnostic. Even though the book spoke about heaven, etc., it wasn't in such a way that made it overbearing. It actually questioned certain beliefs more than anything, so I did not think there were any sort of religious overtones in the book that tried to explain life, death, and what comes after in an arrogant, this-is-the-way-it-is-so-do-NOT-ask-questions-or-doubt-it-in-any-way tone.

What it was is an extremely touching, moving book with such a great conclusion. I most definitely did not think there should have been more, it was, as another reviewer called it, beautiful. It is an atypical love story which shows the power of forgiveness, all in a story that teens and adults can relate to.

Really, this is a wonderful book, you just have to read it. I know my children will love it, although since they are not adults, as the characters in the book are, they may not be able to relate to some aspects of the story, like how strong a mother's love is and why you would punish yourself for things you thought you had done wrong.

I hate to think there are people that think this book is only for older teenagers. If your kids are allowed out in the real world at all without earplugs and blinders, the sex, language, and drug references in this book are *not* going to surprise them. Sorry for having to say that, but it isn't cynicism, just unfortunately, reality.

Richie's Picks: A CERTAIN SLANT OF LIGHT, October 1, 2005
"The pain, once I was dead, was very memorable. I was deep inside the cold, smothering belly of a grave when my first haunting began. I heard her voice in the darkness reading Keats, 'Ode to a Nightingale.' Icy water was burning down my throat, splintering my ribs, and my ears were filled with a sound like a demon howling, but I could hear her voice and reached for her. One desperate hand burst from the flood and caught the hem of her gown. I dragged myself, hand over hand, out of the earth and quaked at her feet, clutching her skirts, weeping muddy tears. All I knew was that I had been tortured in the blackness, and then I had escaped. Perhaps I hadn't reached the brightness of heaven, but at least I was here, in her lamplight, safe."

It was more than 150 years ago when the dead woman's tortured spirit became a "prisoner on leave from the dungeon." Helen can not be seen, nor heard, nor felt, although her emotions can occasionally send "a ripple into the tangible world." During those years, Helen has cleaved to a series of unwitting hosts, learned through trial and error the rules by which she must abide in order to prevent a return to her hell, and has periodically chosen another acceptable and convenient person to haunt (preferably one with some tie to literature, which she so loves) for when her current host grows old and dies.

The latest of Helen's hosts is an English teacher, Mr. Brown, and it is in his classroom that it happens:

"Someone was looking at me, a disturbing sensation if you're dead. I was with my teacher, Mr. Brown. As usual, we were in our classroom, that safe and wooden-walled box--the windows opening onto the grassy field to the west, the fading flag standing in the chalk dust corner, the television mounted above the bulletin board like a sleeping eye, and Mr. Brown's princely table keeping watch over a regiment of student desks. At that moment I was scribbling invisible comments in the margins of a paper left in Mr. Brown's tray, though my words were never read by the students. Sometimes Mr. Brown quoted me, all the same, while writing his own comments. Perhaps I couldn't tickle the inside of his ear, but I could reach the mysterious curves of his mind.
"Although I could not feel paper between my fingers, smell ink, or taste the tip of a pencil, I could see and hear the world with all the clarity of the Living. They, on the other hand, did not see me as a shadow or a floating vapor. To the Quick, I was empty air. "Or so I thought. As an apathetic girl read aloud from Nicholas Nickleby, as Mr. Brown began to daydream about how he had kept his wife awake the night before, as my spectral pen hovered over a misspelled word, I felt someone watching me. Not even my beloved Mr. Brown could see me with his eyes. I had been dead so long, hovering at the side of my hosts, seeing and hearing the world but never being heard by anyone and never, in all these long years, never being seen by human eyes. I held stone still while the room folded in around me like a closing hand. When I looked up, it was not in fear but in wonder. My vision telescoped so that there was only a small hole in the darkness to see through. And that's where I found it, the face that was turned up to me.
"Like a child playing at hide and seek, I did not move, in case I had been mistaken about being spotted. And childishly I felt both the desire to stay hidden and a thrill of anticipation about being caught. For this face, turned squarely to me, had eyes set directly on mind."

So begins the teenage love story of the year, and a supernatural one at that.

The young man who can see and hear Helen is Billy Blake, a human whose body has been taken over by a ghost named James at the moment its drug-addled teen owner checked out.

The two main difficulties facing Helen and James are:

Can Helen get a body of her own?

What happens when you suddenly become a troubled teenager but are not familiar with those thousands of details about the life you've supposedly been living.

Here this scenario takes on a whole different dimension from THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER.

Alternating between sensual, gritty, dark, delightful, and frightening; between atmospheric fantasy and down-and dirty contemporary YA realism, A CERTAIN SLANT OF LIGHT is absolutely awash in literary quality and an award winner waiting to happen.

You'll be seeing this one on my Best of 2005 list later this year.

Lyrical and Poetic, November 7, 2005
Laura Whitcomb has written a simply stunning book imbued with phrases as lyrical and poetic as any I've read. The story captured my imagination and the attraction between James and Helen was the perfect combination of adolescent yearning and mature desire. I couldn't put it down and am eager to read what Whitcomb produces next.

Interesting take on the afterlife for older teens, June 16, 2006
First of all, let me say that the person who rated it low for his own mistake of not realizing it was a YA book is wrong. You can't down a book for meeting the criteria of its genre. That's your fault. And the person who rated it low as a parent who didn't like the sexuality, understand this: the characters were not teenagers. They were using teenagers as vessels, but they were adults when they died and they'd been "around" for a lot longer than that. That being said, I still think this is for older teens (17+).

There are some interesting books that have come out recently that get people to question what happens to us when we die and how the decisions we make in this life affect that. A Certain Slant of Light does this in a very interesting and somewhat creepy way. If you want something for younger teens, check out Elsewhere.

Imagine punishing yourself for generations because of a mistake you thought you made. Imagine having to attach yourself to human beings to avoid the pain that you think you will endure in hell. Imagine getting close to these humans, only to see them leave you again and again as they LIVE and you do not. Now imagine feeling love but not knowing how to realize that love. If you had another chance at life, would you take it? At any cost? These questions and more are explored in the provocative tale A Certain Slant of Light.

A Certain Slant Of Light, November 10, 2006
Ghost story. What comes to mind? Hauntings? Possessions? Some crazy death and they're a ghost? Yes, naturally. But Laura Whitcomb puts a crazy new twist into the meaning of ghost. In "A Certain Slant Of Light", you're probably thinking: What is that? But in fact it is probably one of the best breakthroughs of the supernatural ever.

Helen is a ghost. And in order to keep from returning to her icy death, she must have a host. Not like a host to possess, but a host to merely cling to and follow. But after 130 years of doing this, something is wrong in her newest hosts class one day. She's being watched. Human eyes can see her. James is a ghost too. But he has come to possess an empty body, a body that the soul has left but it still lives. In this amazing novel you will not be able to put down, you read about the love between Helen and James and how they begin to learn about their past and about the teenagers they possess.

In my opinion, this is an amazing book. I was on a camping trip and I still couldn't put this book down. It's just a completely different perspective of ghosts. Laura Whitcomb has an amazing imagination and way of writing. This book has an age rating of 14 and up. That is the age I would suggest as well for a couple of reasons.

One: The language in this book does in fact go so far as the big "F" bomb, as I would say. Now, hopefully you are mature enough to read the book without problems. Maybe the language isn't appropriate, but the book isn't intending for very young readers. Maybe even the language can add to the story, because it helped me realize the status of the situations. It didn't bother very much.

Two: The sexual content in explicit. Once again hopefully you are mature enough to read this for it not to bother you. The descriptions in these scenes are in depth and I would not recommend it to be read if you can't handle that. Yes, it can be inappropriate, but it is a love story as well. It happens.

So my overall ration is 10 out of 10 because of the uniqueness of the book. You will not come across a book like this ever. It puts a whole new genre and meaning in the subject of ghost story...

M.N.W.

Captivating, November 22, 2005
This book was a gift from my boyfriend who had recalled that I had commented on the 'interesting title' when we were leaving a book store the day before. The title was not a red herring in the least as the entire book was increadably amazing. The characters are wonderfully crafted, the guilt and love of those characters are exposed in a highly entertaining fashion which does not allow you to simply put the book down at the end of a chapter and sleep... this is a book to be read from cover to cover... and then re-read.

An Ethereal, Stunning Novel, February 18, 2008
This is a lovely, hauntingly beautiful book. The gentle, poet souls of bygone times -- James and Helen -- are ethereal pair of protagonists, pitted so abruptly, so starkly against the very ugly modern world. It is a murky book; we tread only shallowly in this shadow, grey area between life and death, where the only sources of light throughout are the ghostly characters.

Cast into mortal, teenaged bodies, these two, adults at their death, live a very real, very human passion, though hampered at so many turns. It's touching and yet painful, given their human "hosts'" circumstances, and if the day is dreary, I wouldn't recommend starting in. Although short, "A Certain Slant" is by no means light, and the ending is touching to the point of being a tear-jerker.

Surely not to be missed, and a very rare gem. I'd recommend it to fans of "Twilight" -- though be advised that it is a shade sadder and a bit heavier on the mature content.

8.5/10

Hauntingly Terrific!!!, January 25, 2008
Laura Whitcomb writes a superb story featuring the idea of Heaven and Hell mixed with a wonderful ghost story to emphasize the wonderment of an afterlife. I received this as a gift and could not put it down for a second!

"A Certain Slant of Light" follows the story of Helen Lamb who relives her own Hell after each host dies and moves on to an "afterlife." Being a ghost, she has attached herself to one man, Mr. Brown, since he was seventeen years old. Later in his life, where he's now a teacher at a high school, Helen wonders the halls and his classroom thriving on literature. Soon enough, Helen notices a boy staring right at her. Eventually, the two confirm that they see each other and the story begins to develop in earnest. The boy, James, has inhabited the body of a teenager whose soul has disappeared. Now, James is keen on finding a body for Helen to inhabit so the two may be together. This intense story gains momentum the moment the reader discovers the two widely different lifestyles the teenagers: one being radically religious, the other coming from a "rough" life and neighborhood.

Curiosity will urge on the most reluctant of readers in this book. Whitcomb has done a magnificent job of making this book suspenseful, adventurous, romantic, and mysterious. The struggle to discover what these two ghosts did wrong in their past life will captivate the audience and the startling outcome will bring tears to the eyes. It's a wonderful read that isn't easy to put down until it's completely finished. I would definitely recommend this book the young adults!

A haunting, beautifully-written, and complex novel, December 16, 2005
Helen's ghost has haunted different "hosts" for well over 150 years. Since she loves to read, she is especially attracted to the poetic or literary types --- at this moment in time she is haunting Mr. Brown, a high school English teacher who aspires one day to become a writer. She lingers as near as possible, reading over his shoulder, giving him gentle hints with his writing and enjoying his classroom life. Sometimes she grows a little jealous of his other life --- the one he has with his new wife. Sometimes she grows weary that she never seems to pass on as other spirits have done. Helen is herself haunted. A deep grieving guilt holds her:

I couldn't remember my sin, but I knew it was deep. My banishment from heaven was proof of it.

There is a quiet sameness in her life, but all of this changes one day when she realizes that someone can actually see her. Billy, one of Mr. Brown's students, looks right at her. She is both frightened and thrilled. It turns out that the body of Billy has become the host for the ghost of a man named James. In Helen's world, spirits are known as Lights and living beings are Quicks. Thus an astounding journey of four lost souls begins: Billy, Jenny, James and Helen.

The Quick:
Billy --- Drugged out most of the time and trying never to think of the horrible night his drunken father attacked his mother, teenage Billy has lost hope. His emptiness drives him to attempt suicide, and it is then that he becomes the "host" for a young man killed during World War I.

Jenny --- Her parents keep her under strict supervision. Her father rules over her and her mother through his fanatically desperate religion. Jenny has given up trying to read anything other than her bible. She is empty and eventually becomes the "host" for Helen.

The Light:
James --- A soldier during World War I, James sees his friend killed. He has no time to recover from this shock and horror before he is shot. The pain and guilt of those last moments have kept him from moving on in the spirit world. Now he has found Billy and through Billy has found Helen.

Helen --- Only pieces of her life drift back to her from so long ago. She feels a fear of water and remembers something about a dear child. When James finds her and begins to fall in love, he helps her move into the body of Jenny. Now she must fight for Jenny, for James, for a lost child, and for herself...

The relationship between Helen and James is romantic and intense. As they explore who they are in their physical forms, they bring new dimensions to their living hosts, Billy and Jenny. Discovering their pasts, confronting their fears and accepting their fates, they all learn from each other. From the depths of four desperate beings love binds them and eventually releases them to their freedoms.

With some of its complex themes and sexual tensions, A CERTAIN SLANT OF LIGHT is definitely better-suited for high schoolers and adults. Laura Whitcomb has told an intriguing and highly imaginative story. From its beautifully rendered cover art to its sweeping end, this is a book that will haunt you long after you close the final page.

--- Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Seductive Winter Madness, November 7, 2001
When I was in the eighth grade I accidentally picked up this book out of boredom during a study hall. When I returned to study hall I began reading it and I have never been the same since. It is my favorite book of all time. I've read it at least eight times and hope to read it more. Cynda reminded me so much of myself- unsure, emotional, a child of divorced parents. As the book progressed I felt myself falling in love with Vincent alongside of her. Now on every snowy night I turn off the lights and stare out into the darkness, imagining that he is there, and a shiver goes down my spine. I recommend this book to everyone- it has many important lessons to teach about trust and the naivety of young teenage girls.

Becky Blantons Look for Me by Moonlight Review, November 6, 2005
This was one of the best books I've ever read. I can relate with Cynda, I under stand how she's feeling. In the begaining of the story her father leaves her family for an 18-year old student in his english class.
Then when she goes to stay with her stepmother and her father she has the time to worry about everything. She becomes frightened that Suson(her stepmother) and Tod(her hafe brother) will not like her. Then she worries that she will not like them. When she gets to the airport she discovers that no one is there to great her.
The waitingroom is completly emty. Soon she begains to worry some more about her father's safty. After almost two hours of waiting he finaly get there.
On the way to the inn thay stop at a small dinner for some coffie and a bite to eat. After they've finished they set off again. When they finaly step out of the truck in front of the old in Cynda is very wormly greated by Suson and Tod.
Early the next day a young boy by the name of Will shows up. Cynda find out that he is quite the artist. With in the hour she has a crush on Will. Later that night a handsome stranger named Vincent M. shows up at the inn looking for a room.
When they envite him in they learn that he is a writer. Cynda quikly falls for the hansome stranger. When Cynda learns the truth about him she trys to fight him off but has no luck.
So she goes to will for help. Together they devise a plan to get rid of Vincent once and for all. Once Vincent is gone they return to the inn to find that her father and stepmother had phoned the cops for fear that THEIR children were kidnapped. Cynda finaly feels at home at the inn. She learned that Suson and her father realy did care for her.
This story goes thore some real life pain, fear, love, and hate. This is the book that I will read to my children and I hope that in the years to come it shall become a tradition in our family.
Becky Blanton

This book is good, December 10, 1999
I really loved this book. It was excellent. I couldn't put it down for second. I think Mary Dawning Hahn is a very good writer. I've read a lot of her books, but I think this onewas the best of all of them. the story is about a girl named Cynda that is 14. Her mom and step-father travel around the world, so she has to go live with her dad. While she's there she meets a guy she likes and his name is Vincent. He is way older than she is. One thing I like about this book is when they first meet. One thing I disliked about this book was it started kinda slow.I think people who like vampire romance novels should read this book. If you want to know more about this book this book read it.

Look for me by Moonlight- By Mary Downing Hahn, November 1, 2006
First of all, I have to say this is an excellent book. It's about a girl who feels quite left out of her family life, because her parents are divorced and they have both remarried, and her dad has a kid.
She's staying with her dad since her mom and stepdad steve are in Italy for the summer. While there she meets a handsome stranger. (Actually a vampire by the way.)
Things spiral out of control as it gets worse and worse with Vincent (stranger). Eventually, she can confide in a friend, and it has quite literally a killer ending. (hint hint)

Look For Me By Moonlight, December 12, 2005

Cyndas parents are divorced she lives with her mom and Steve "step-dad" in Maryland. Sense they are goin to move to Italy Cynda is goin to live her dad, Susan "step-mom" and Todd " step-brother" in Maine. They own an inn called Underhill on the coast of Maine they also live in the inn. The maid that cleans the inn told Cynda that long ago there was a girl murdered in the inn she was about 16 the same age as Cynda. The police said that there was a strange man staying at the inn when all this happened but when she disappeared the man did to. They never thought that he could have been the killer but they still haven't found the killer. One snowy night a strange man named Vincent came to the inn to stay. He never showed his face and always dressed in dark clothing. Cynda fell in love with Vincent he did to. Every night Vincent would come to Cyndas window at midnight and take her for a walk on the beach. One night they got separated in the blizzard and Todd saw them together and told Susan. Susan didn't believe Todd. Todd hated Vincent. One night Vincent came to Cyndas room and started to kiss her on the neck but after a while he bit her and started to suck her blood like a vampire would. Vincent told Cynda if she ever told anyone he would kill her. Cynda felt tired, weak and didn't have an appetite for anything. Vincent started to suck her blood every night except when he started to do it to Todd also he would be late then he would do it even longer on Cynda.

Cynda is a good-looking 16-year-old. She just moved in with her dad, stepmom and stepbrother. She loves reading and doing many activities. Cynda has never fallen in love nor have a boyfriend before until Vincent arrived at Underhill. Then everything changed some good but mostly the things couldn't get any worse but it did.

I liked Look for Me by Moonlight because it was like a mystery book so good that I didn't want to put the book down. It made you think of one person to be the killer but then it would tell you a little more information then you would change your mind. You had many choices to choose from. After you finsih the book you still think about it and wonder what else could have happened or it should have happened this way.

Very good vampier story for beginers!, November 20, 2001
I found this story very interesting and creative, the part I enjoyed the best was when everything in Cynda's world was changing, although it was a superb book, I found it quite predictable, with the way Vincent was acting towards Cynda and how she was infatuated with him. A great mysticle story for beginer vampier horror stories. Be warned once you pick it up you won't be able to put it down, trust me, I got detention because I couldn't put it down in class...hehe...english teachers are purly evil.....Well, as always, enjoy the book, very thrilling story!

Wow, April 22, 2000
I first read 'Look For Me By Moonlight' two years ago on recomendation from my school's librarian, and I fell in love with it immediatly! I rarely read stories in the horror or romance genres, but I read this book several times when I borrowed it from the library and now I'm lucky enough to own it. I can't get enough of this book, every time I read it, especially at night, it sends shivers down my spine. Great if you want to get someone hooked on vampire stories, also for veterens of the genre (I made my mom, a horror afficianado, read this, and she loved it, too)

Predictable, but good, April 18, 2000
Even if this book by Ms. Hahn is VERY predictable, that does not by all means make it a bad book. It is obvious from begginning that Mr. Morthanos is an evil character, despite his wit and charm. It is obvious that Cynda will be captivated. Though it doesn't have a very strong ending you will find yourself unable to put the book down and will read it over and over again.

Bad Guys ARE Out There!, December 23, 2004
This book is definitely pushing the message to young people that bad guys are out there and so you had better beware. I thought the author using a great looking guy as the bad guy and an average girl as the victim was a slip-up in the plot; it kind of shouts If it seems too good to be real then it probabaly is! Which I thought the message could have been done better if the average looking guy who seems great then turns out to be sinister would have sent the message that bad guys can come in all forms.
I love fantasies, both adult and young, and I love romantic gothic tales; you will find neither here. It does have a vampire, it does have a forbidden age romance, and it does have the age old I'm a child of a divorce who just wants my biodad without his extra family; but it is a tale of what usually happens in this case, things go terribly wrong and of course to the young, naive plain-looking girl. Don't worry, the author finally gives us a knight in shining armour, that has absolutely no reason to be one, to save our stupid victim....uh heroine just cannot fit...and then leaves us with the fear most real victims have: will the evil return or is it truely gone for good?

In all, a great read to give younger girls out there, in the hopes the fake plot line will lure them to read it for their own good...haha. I did read it more than once, once when younger I liked it fairly well; then once as an older person who then saw the thinnly veiled Large BEWARE blinking sign throughout the story and still finished the book.

Great Vampire Romance but looses it's momentum, November 5, 1999
This book was a wonderful vampire romance and I enjoyed it the whole way through until he doubted his feelings for her. The ending was good, but I would have definatly changed Vincent's character. He was mezmerising at the start but when he turns mean you loathe him. The characters were well described and creative and overall I enjoyed this book alot. Thanother one of Mary Downing Hahn's books. This was a wonderful book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

A moving, disturbing, depressing, but also touching tale, December 31, 2004
Much like Bram Stoker's "Dracula", Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is a story we all think we know, but really don't. Very few films have consciously attempted to follow the novel too closely (which shouldn't detract from the excellent James Whale/Boris Karloff film, or its masterpiece-sequel, "The Bride of Frankenstein). Thus, everything popular culture "knows" about "Frankenstein" does not originate from literature, but from films. This is a shame, in a way, because the novel itself is, if not the progenitor, an early vessel of so many archetypes found science fiction and horror.

The basic plot remained intact when transferred to other media. Swiss medical student Victor Frankenstein discovers the secret of life (which he never reveals, lest someone repeat the mistake). He then puts together a body, essentially a man, from various corpses. He then becomes horrified by the creature he has built, and abandons. The creature, suffering a great deal of neglect and abuse, still manages to get a thorough education, and learns of his lineage. After murdering Victor's younger brother, and framing the family maid, the creature tells his (admittedly) sad tale to his "father", and then demands a mate. Victor, in a panic, agrees, then thinks better of it at the last moment, destroying the new bride. In retaliation, the creature murders all of Victor's loved ones (including his wife), and leads Victor on a merry chase across the world.

Most probably know that Mary Shelley wrote this book in response to a challenge issued by Lord Byron, during a vacation at Lake Geneva. (Along with this story came John Polidori's "The Vampyre", the first English vampire novel.) Most probably also know that Shelley went on to write other works of imaginative gothic fiction. Still, her modern reputation rests with this book, understandably.

As stated, numerous archetypes (themes, plot lines, characters) are present here. The basic fear of what evil technology may bring along with the good is a central theme, as is the warning against playing God. So is the implicit admonition to be responsible in all things, be it during innovation or being a parent. The creature is, for all intents and purposes, an android-everyone from Gort to C-3PO owe their existence to the Frankenstein monster. And the monster that slays all but one protagonist is a staple of horror, be it traditional monster movies, like "Alien", or more realistic slasher movies like "Halloween".

But, as I noted at the beginning of this review, certain of these elements have been lost in most interpretations. The creature is actually intelligent, and well-spoken, quite different from the inarticulate grunts or slow, half-sentences of the movies (again, no disrespect to Karloff). Further, while the films have made lightening a staple of the creatures creation, Shelley never really explains the process (probably knowing that she might interfere with the plausibility of her work). Finally, one of the staples of the films is the explanation for the creatures "evil" nature. Often, the problem lies with the brain used, which almost invariably is a criminal brain, or is damaged before implantation. In the book, the creature is really a child that's horribly neglected, but with the strength and intelligence to strike back: id without superego, and without restraints.

Thus, "Frankenstein" will be a new experience for readers who have never experienced it. Unlike "Dracula", there aren't any moments where a reader might look up and suddenly realize how quiet it is in the house, or how dark it's gotten outside. In that regard, "Frankenstein" has not aged particularly well. Throughout, however, it is a moving, disturbing, depressing, but also a touching and beautiful tale. Those qualities have withstood the test of time. While it is not always a rollicking adventure, it is a rewarding read.

DO NOT BUY THIS EDITION!!!!!!, January 31, 2007
This "enriched classics" is a bowdlerized version of Mary Shelley's original text. It eliminates passages, changes the diction, abridges the chapters, and changes the entire structure of the novel. Our school bought this edition thinking that the additional notes would be helpful to students studying the text, but there was no indication at all on Amazon's website that this version had been substantially altered by the editors. The book is so bowdlerized that our school bought an entire new set of texts for the students at a considerable finanacial loss for the school. WHATEVER YOU DO, BUY SOME OTHER VERSION OF FRANKENSTEIN. THIS ONE IS A MONSTER CREATED BY SOMEONE WHO HAS NO RESPECT FOR THE AUTHOR. BANTAM, PUFFIN, OXFORD -- THEY ARE ALL FINE. Irene Nicastro, English teacher, The American School of The Hague.

underestimated classic, December 18, 2000
The 19th Century bequeathed us four immediately recognizable, vibrant & enduring fictional icons: Shelley's Frankenstein; Stoker's Dracula; Melville's Moby Dick (& Ahab); and Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. Each of them has, I fear, suffered a horrible fate: they are so familiar to us, in their many modern incarnations & imitations, that too few people return to the original texts. This may be particularly true of Frankenstein, whose portrayals have been so frivolous and distorted. In fact, in addition to being written in luxuriant gothic prose, the original novel is one of the most profound meditations on Man and his purpose and relation to God that has exists in our literature.

Victor Frankenstein is a young man of Geneva who is fascinated by the sciences and the secrets of life and death:

My temper was sometimes violent, and my passions vehement; but by some law in my temperature they were turned not towards childish pursuits but to an eager desire to learn, and not to learn all things indiscriminately. I confess that neither the structure of languages, nor the code of governments, nor the politics of various states possessed attractions for me. It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied me, still my inquiries were directed to the metaphysical, or in its highest sense, the physical secrets of the world.

While at University in Ingolstadt, his life course is set when he hears a professor lecture on modern chemistry:

'The ancient teachers of this science,'said he, 'promised impossibilities and performed nothing. The modern masters promise very little; they know that metals cannot be transmuted and that the elixir of life is a chimera. But these philosophers, whose hands seem only made to dabble in dirt, and their eyes to pore over the microscope or crucible, have indeed performed miracles. They penetrate into the recesses of nature and show how she works in her hiding-places. They ascend into the heavens; they have discovered how the blood circulates, and the nature of the air we breathe. They have acquired new and almost unlimited powers; they can command the thunders of heavens, mimic the earthquake, and even mock the invisible world with its own shadows.'

Such were the professor's words--rather let me say such were the words of the fate--enounced to destroy me.

Victor goes on to discover, through the study of chemistry, the secret of bringing dead flesh to life. Inevitably he tests his discovery and of viewing his creation cries:

How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavored to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips.

And so, repelled by the mere appearance, the inevitable imperfection, of his work, Frankenstein rejects the creature utterly. However, unlike the mute stupid monster of the movies, Shelley's monster is articulate and sensitive and longs for companionship, but all of humankind reacts to him with horror. And so he demands that Frankenstein build him a mate. When Frankenstein refuses to provide him with a companion, the creature resolves to destroy those who Frankenstein loves.

Finally, Frankenstein determines that he must destroy the creature and pursues him into the frozen wastes of the North.

It all makes for a rousing adventure, but there is much more here. Frankenstein, through his work, has attempted to become a god, but his creation is a horrible disappointment & so, is banished from him. Meanwhile, his flawed creation, filled with ineffable longing and confusion, wanders in exile seeking the meaning of his existence. And what is the impulse that he settles upon, but another act of creation; a mate must be created for him. The Biblical parallels are obvious, but they work on us subtly as we read the novel. In the end, the uncontrollable urge to create, to imitate God, stands revealed as Man's driving force. And the inevitable disappointment of the creator in his creation, is revealed as the serpent in the garden.

If you've never read this book, read it now. If you've read it before, read it again.

GRADE: A+

More Relevant Today Than When First Written, November 18, 2003
Modern readers must jump through a number of hoops to enjoy this legendary novel. Written between 1816 and 1818, this is very much a novel of its era, and both language and ideas about plot are quite different from those of today. That aside, and unlike such contemporaries as Jane Austen, author Mary Shelly has never been greatly admired for her literary style, which is often awkward. But perhaps the biggest hurdle is that of our own expectations: while it certainly sent icy chills down the spines of 19th Century readers, FRANKENSTEIN is not a horror novel per se.

While Mary Shelly might have been stylistically weak, her story was not. Nothing like it had been written before, and the concept of a student endowing life upon a humanoid creature cobbled together from charnel house parts was unexpectedly shocking to the reading public. But even more shocking were the ideas that Shelly brought to the story. Having created this thing in his own image, what--if anything--does the creator owe it? And in posing this question, Shelly very deliberately raises her novel to an even more complex level: this is not merely the conflict of man and his creation, but also a questioning of God and his responsibility toward his creation.

In some respects, the book is written like the famous philosophical "dialogues" of the ancient world: a counterpoint of questions and arguments that do battle for the reader's acceptance. More than anything else, FRANKENSTEIN is a novel of ethics and of ideas about ideas, with Mary Shelly's themes arrayed in multiple layers throughout: God, self, society, science; responsibility to self, to society, to the things we bring to society, to the truth; life, integrity, and death--these are the ideas and issues that predominate the book, and any one expecting a horror novel pure and simple is out of luck.

Mary Shelly is a rare example of a writer whose ideas clearly outstrip her literary skill--but whose ideas are so powerful that they transcend her literary limitations and continue to resonate today. And indeed, as science continues to advance, it could not be otherwise so. Mary Shelly could not see into the future of DNA research, laboratory-grown tissues, test-tube babies and the like--but between 1816 and 1818 she wrote a book about the ethical dilemmas that swirl around them. And for all its flaws, FRANKENSTEIN is perhaps even more relevant today than it was over a hundred and fifty years ago.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Gothic at its best, December 16, 2006
Mary Shelley was the daughter of the famous feminist and author, Mary Wollstonecraft, who is best known for her work The Vindication of the Rights of Women. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, a young university student, Victor Frankenstein, obsesses with wanting to know the secret to life. He studies chemistry and natural philosophy with the goal of being able to create a human out of spare body parts. After months of constant work in his laboratory, Frankenstein attains his goal and brings his creation to life. Frankenstein is immediately overwrought by fear and remorse at the sight of his creation, a "monster." The next morning, he decides to destroy his creation but finds that the monster has escaped. The monster, unlike other humans, has no social preparation or education; thus, it is unequipped to take care of itself either physically or emotionally. The monster lives in the forest like an animal without knowledge of "self" or understanding of its surroundings. The monster happens upon a hut inhabited by a poor family and is able to find shelter in a shed adjacent to the hut. For several months, the monster starts to gain knowledge of human life by observing the daily life of the hut's inhabitants through a crack in the wall. The monster's education of language and letters begins when he listens to one of them learning the French language. During this period, the monster also learns of human society and comes to the realization that he is grotesque and alone in the world. Armed with his newfound ability to read, he reads three books that he found in a leather satchel in the woods. Goethe's Sorrows of Young Werther, Milton's Paradise Lost, and a volume of Plutarch's Lives. The monster, not knowing any better, read these books thinking them to be facts about human history. From Plutarch's works, he learns of humankind's virtues. However, it is Paradise Lost that has a most interesting effect on the monster's understanding of self. The monster at first identifies with Adam, "I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence." The monster, armed only with his limited education, thought that he would introduce himself to the cottagers and depend on their virtue and benevolence; traits he believed from his readings that all humans possessed. However, soon after his first encounter with the cottagers, he is beaten and chased off because his ugliness frightens people. The monster is overwrought by a feeling of perplexity by this reaction, since he thought he would gain their trust and love, which he observed them generously give to each other on so many occasions. He receives further confirmation of how his ugliness repels people when, sometime later, he saves a young girl from drowning and the girl's father shoots at him because he is frightful to look at. The monster quickly realizes that the books really lied to him. He found no benevolence or virtue among humans, even from his creator. At every turn in his life, humans are judging him solely based on his looks. The monster soon realizes that it is not Adam, the perfect being enjoying the world, which he is most alike. Instead, he comes to realize that he most represents Satan. The monster is jealous of the happiness he sees humans enjoy that he has never attained for himself. The monster tells Frankenstein that he found his lab journal in his coat pocket and read it with increasing hate and despair as he came to understand what Frankenstein's intent was in creating him. The monster curses Frankenstein for making a creature so hideous that even his creator turned from him in disgust.

Shelley's intent here is plain to see. "The fate of the monster suggests that proficiency in `the art of language' as he calls it, may not ensure one's position as a member of the `human kingdom." In a sense, she is showing that both her parents were mistaken when they advocated greater education reform for people. They thought education would make people better, which in turn would improve society for all. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein contradicts this belief.

Starting with the full title of Mary Shelley's book, Frankenstein: or The Modern Prometheus one can instantly see that mythology was integral to her book. Lord Byron, poet and friend of the Shelley's was writing a poem entitled Prometheus, and Mary was reading the Prometheus legend in Aeschylus' works when she had a dream, which was the impetus for her book. The Greek god Prometheus, is known for two important tasks that he performed, he created man from clay, and he stole fire from the gods and gave it to man. The stealing of fire really angered Zeus because the giving of fire began an era of enlightenment for humankind. Zeus punished Prometheus by having him carried to a mountain, where an eagle would pick at his liver; it would grow back each day and the eagle would eat it again.

The presence of fire and light in this gothic story helps to point to the similarities to Prometheus and Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the monster, in Shelley's book. The book uses light as a symbol of discovery, knowledge, and enlightenment. The natural world is full of hidden passages, and dark unknown scientific secrets; Victor's goal as a scientist is to grasp towards the light. Light is a by-product of fire that the monster learned quickly when he is living on his own. The monster experienced fires' duality when he first encountered it in an unattended fire in the woods. He is mesmerized by the fact that fire produces light in the darkness in the woods, but is shocked at the sensation of pain it gives him when he touches it. Victor is defiant of god in the same way that Prometheus was defiant of Zeus. Victor steals the secret of life from god and creates a human out of spare body parts. He does this out of an altruistic wish to spare humankind from the pain and suffering of death. Thus, Victor Frankenstein embodies both aspects of the Promethean myth creation and fire. Victor in a sense has the same experience with the fire of enlightenment similar to his monster; he is "burned" by the fire of enlightenment. Victor also suffers from the classic Greek tragic condition of hubris for his transgression against god and nature.

The book also adopts two other great mythic legends. One is Adam from the Bible. Victor Frankenstein bears striking resemblance to Adam and his fall from grace for eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. The other is Satan, a mythic figure that Shelley admired from her readings in Milton's book Paradise Lost. In an interesting juxtaposition of booth myths, she expands on the motif of the fall from grace in her book when she portrays the monster comparing himself to Adam; after he read, Milton's book Paradise Lost. The monster tells Victor, that he at first identifies with Adam God's first creation. "I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence." However, after several incidents of mistreatment that he suffered from the humans he encountered in his travels; the monster soon realized that it is not Adam, the perfect being enjoying the world, which he was most alike. Instead, he came to realize that he most represented Satan. The monster's feelings of hatred and despair stem from the fact that humans found him grotesque to look at and would not accept him as a member of human society. The monster cursed Victor for making a creature so hideous that even his creator turned from him in disgust. Thus, it is obvious for all to see that Shelley's Frankenstein is replete with mythological references and they are central to the plot.

This was required reading for a graduate course in the Humanities. Recommended reading for anyone interested in history, psychology, philosophy, and literature.

A complex, poignant examination of human nature, July 30, 2002
Those who know Frankenstein only from movies and television may well be surprised to read the original book by Mary Shelley. Indeed, one may well look back to the cover to see if the book is in fact Frankenstein because the first pages consist of messages from an R. Walton to his sister concerning his expedition to the northern polar regions. Victor Frankenstein appears as a wretched creature stranded on an ice floe beside the ship. After he is rescued and recovers somewhat, he tells his incredible story to Walton, who in turn preserves the story in writing. Frankenstein reminisces about his happy childhood, particularly the close relationship between himself and his "cousin" Elizabeth, and then explains how his interest in discredited natural philosophy led him to create a living man of his own design. The creature is a hideous, misshapen, giant of a man who so disgusted Frankenstein upon his awakening that he fled his laboratory and residence. The creation process, it should be noted, in no way involved an elaborate machine powered by lightning such as is portrayed in the movies; in fact, beyond the fact that chemicals are involved, we are told nothing of the process. For two years, Frankenstein goes about life with a clinging sense of guilt and nervousness, hoping the creature has perished. When his little brother is murdered, though, he returns home and soon discovers that it was the monster who committed the deed. In an isolated mountainous area, the monster appears before him and explains his actions. Although the creature does nothing more than grunt in the movies, the original Frankenstein was possessed of great eloquence and intelligence, and he tells a moving story about his attempts to make a connection with a society that is revolted at the sight of him. He describes living in a small hovel at the back of a small house for many months, watching the interaction of the family inside, learning how to speak their language and eventually even learning how to read. When he eventually tries to interact with the family, he is assaulted and runs away, and it is at this point that his virtuous and peaceful nature begins to become inflamed into a torrent of hatred for mankind. When he rescues a girl from drowning, he is rewarded with a bullet in his shoulder. Each time he performs a good deed, mankind runs from him in disgust or attempts to harm him. Living in total isolation and loneliness, his one purpose in life eventually becomes tormenting his creator, and many terrible misfortunes ensue for Frankenstein, who himself eventually becomes dedicated to the sole purpose of destroying his tormentor.

Both Frankenstein and his monster are tragic figures. The complete alienation of the creature makes him a very sympathetic character in many respects, and he does perform many kind deeds for humans early on. Frankenstein is an utterly pitiable character utterly destroyed by his mad decision to create the monster; he burdens his soul with responsibility for every crime the monster commits, and his inability to tell anyone his secret for so long destroys him in body, mind, and soul; everyone and everything he cares for is taken from him by his horrible creation. His tendency to bemoan his fate at every turn of the narrative can get rather tiresome, but one cannot question the depth of his turmoil. Both creator and created seem to be mirror images of each other in important ways, their fates clearly tied to one another, each soul deserving both blame and pity. There is much about human nature, both good and bad, revealed in the monster's life as well as Frankenstein's; the novel is a far cry from horror for the sake of horror. This is actually a very complex, compelling story full of human pathos; it is unfortunate that modern media have turned Frankenstein's creature into a simple, heartless, mentally deficient monster for the sake of scares and laughs.

Gothic at its best, December 16, 2006
Mary Shelley was the daughter of the famous feminist and author, Mary Wollstonecraft, who is best known for her work The Vindication of the Rights of Women. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, a young university student, Victor Frankenstein, obsesses with wanting to know the secret to life. He studies chemistry and natural philosophy with the goal of being able to create a human out of spare body parts. After months of constant work in his laboratory, Frankenstein attains his goal and brings his creation to life. Frankenstein is immediately overwrought by fear and remorse at the sight of his creation, a "monster." The next morning, he decides to destroy his creation but finds that the monster has escaped. The monster, unlike other humans, has no social preparation or education; thus, it is unequipped to take care of itself either physically or emotionally. The monster lives in the forest like an animal without knowledge of "self" or understanding of its surroundings. The monster happens upon a hut inhabited by a poor family and is able to find shelter in a shed adjacent to the hut. For several months, the monster starts to gain knowledge of human life by observing the daily life of the hut's inhabitants through a crack in the wall. The monster's education of language and letters begins when he listens to one of them learning the French language. During this period, the monster also learns of human society and comes to the realization that he is grotesque and alone in the world. Armed with his newfound ability to read, he reads three books that he found in a leather satchel in the woods. Goethe's Sorrows of Young Werther, Milton's Paradise Lost, and a volume of Plutarch's Lives. The monster, not knowing any better, read these books thinking them to be facts about human history. From Plutarch's works, he learns of humankind's virtues. However, it is Paradise Lost that has a most interesting effect on the monster's understanding of self. The monster at first identifies with Adam, "I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence." The monster, armed only with his limited education, thought that he would introduce himself to the cottagers and depend on their virtue and benevolence; traits he believed from his readings that all humans possessed. However, soon after his first encounter with the cottagers, he is beaten and chased off because his ugliness frightens people. The monster is overwrought by a feeling of perplexity by this reaction, since he thought he would gain their trust and love, which he observed them generously give to each other on so many occasions. He receives further confirmation of how his ugliness repels people when, sometime later, he saves a young girl from drowning and the girl's father shoots at him because he is frightful to look at. The monster quickly realizes that the books really lied to him. He found no benevolence or virtue among humans, even from his creator. At every turn in his life, humans are judging him solely based on his looks. The monster soon realizes that it is not Adam, the perfect being enjoying the world, which he is most alike. Instead, he comes to realize that he most represents Satan. The monster is jealous of the happiness he sees humans enjoy that he has never attained for himself. The monster tells Frankenstein that he found his lab journal in his coat pocket and read it with increasing hate and despair as he came to understand what Frankenstein's intent was in creating him. The monster curses Frankenstein for making a creature so hideous that even his creator turned from him in disgust.

Shelley's intent here is plain to see. "The fate of the monster suggests that proficiency in `the art of language' as he calls it, may not ensure one's position as a member of the `human kingdom." In a sense, she is showing that both her parents were mistaken when they advocated greater education reform for people. They thought education would make people better, which in turn would improve society for all. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein contradicts this belief.

Starting with the full title of Mary Shelley's book, Frankenstein: or The Modern Prometheus one can instantly see that mythology was integral to her book. Lord Byron, poet and friend of the Shelley's was writing a poem entitled Prometheus, and Mary was reading the Prometheus legend in Aeschylus' works when she had a dream, which was the impetus for her book. The Greek god Prometheus, is known for two important tasks that he performed, he created man from clay, and he stole fire from the gods and gave it to man. The stealing of fire really angered Zeus because the giving of fire began an era of enlightenment for humankind. Zeus punished Prometheus by having him carried to a mountain, where an eagle would pick at his liver; it would grow back each day and the eagle would eat it again.

The presence of fire and light in this gothic story helps to point to the similarities to Prometheus and Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the monster, in Shelley's book. The book uses light as a symbol of discovery, knowledge, and enlightenment. The natural world is full of hidden passages, and dark unknown scientific secrets; Victor's goal as a scientist is to grasp towards the light. Light is a by-product of fire that the monster learned quickly when he is living on his own. The monster experienced fires' duality when he first encountered it in an unattended fire in the woods. He is mesmerized by the fact that fire produces light in the darkness in the woods, but is shocked at the sensation of pain it gives him when he touches it. Victor is defiant of god in the same way that Prometheus was defiant of Zeus. Victor steals the secret of life from god and creates a human out of spare body parts. He does this out of an altruistic wish to spare humankind from the pain and suffering of death. Thus, Victor Frankenstein embodies both aspects of the Promethean myth creation and fire. Victor in a sense has the same experience with the fire of enlightenment similar to his monster; he is "burned" by the fire of enlightenment. Victor also suffers from the classic Greek tragic condition of hubris for his transgression against god and nature.

The book also adopts two other great mythic legends. One is Adam from the Bible. Victor Frankenstein bears striking resemblance to Adam and his fall from grace for eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. The other is Satan, a mythic figure that Shelley admired from her readings in Milton's book Paradise Lost. In an interesting juxtaposition of booth myths, she expands on the motif of the fall from grace in her book when she portrays the monster comparing himself to Adam; after he read, Milton's book Paradise Lost. The monster tells Victor, that he at first identifies with Adam God's first creation. "I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence." However, after several incidents of mistreatment that he suffered from the humans he encountered in his travels; the monster soon realized that it is not Adam, the perfect being enjoying the world, which he was most alike. Instead, he came to realize that he most represented Satan. The monster's feelings of hatred and despair stem from the fact that humans found him grotesque to look at and would not accept him as a member of human society. The monster cursed Victor for making a creature so hideous that even his creator turned from him in disgust. Thus, it is obvious for all to see that Shelley's Frankenstein is replete with mythological references and they are central to the plot.

This was required reading for a graduate course in the Humanities. Recommended reading for anyone interested in history, psychology, philosophy, and literature.

Very thorough look at Mary Shelley's original work., May 2, 2004
This Norton Critical Edition makes an excellent value in literature. If you are a student of literature, this volume will help you gain a thorough knowledge of Mary Shelley's original text (lots of context and critical essays included), as well as editions that followed. It contains her original preface (supposedly much influenced by Percy) as well as her 1830 preface. If you do not know, Mary's monster is not the monster one finds in the movies, nor is Dr. Frankenstein. Further, if you have not read an edition other than the first, you don't know about the incest issue that is in the first edition, but not later editions. As you will find in reviews below, this is not a flawless novel, but it is a must read for any well-read person. What is rarely discussed is the influence of John Locke, whose Essay Concerning Human Understanding Mary Shelley read closely just prior to writing the novel. The influence of his work on hers is substantial. Read in the light of Romanticism's reaction to the Enlightenment and Locke et al gives one a completely different perspective for understanding the work. I think you'll find Mary's philosophy appropriately and interestingly feminine, without being feminist; another surprise, considering her lineage. Definitely a good read!

Frankenstein plus writings contemporaneous of the novel, August 25, 2002
Mary Wollenstonecraft Shelley's "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus" is a major novel in Western Civilization. I always think of it as representing the paradigm shift from religion to science, embodied in the contrast with the myth of Faust with the story of Victor Frankenstein. The crucial question in this novel is simply which is Frankenstein's createst sin, bringing the creature to life or abandoning it once he had done so. However, this review is not really about Shelley's novel, because if you are a teacher you have already decided whether or not you want to use the novel in your class. The question here is what value this Longman Cultural Edition would have over a regular edition of "Frankenstein."

This Longman Critical Edition includes Shelley's introduction to the 1831 edition and a revision of the section of the novel dealing with the adoption of Elizabeth. There are three main sections to the Contexts part of this volume. First, Monsters, Visionaries, and Mary Shelley puts the novel in the context of what her contemporaries were writing and talking about. Consequently there are other writings of Shelley along with Edmund Burke, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, among others. There are also some descriptions from Richard Brinsley Peake's dramatic adaptation of the novel and even Dr. Spock's chapter "Enjoy Your Baby" from his famous book (interesting choice, you must admit). Second, Milton's Satan and Romantic Imaginations looks at both Milton and the Bible, as well as additional writings from Byron, Shelley, and Keats. Third, What the Reviews Said all dealing with commentaries written between 1818 and 1832.

What this should make quite clear to you is that this Longman Cultural Edition relies mainly on what I would consider primary documents the vast majority of which are contemporarneous with the writing of Shelley's novel. This is a synchronic rather than a diachronic perspective, which is of more value to a class that is considering "Frankenstein" in the context of the time and place in which it was written (i.e., 19th century gothic novels rather than horror literature through the ages). Susan J. Wolfson has edited a volume that will help readers understand the world in which Shelley wrote her classic novel. If doing so is important to your class, or is a perspective you enjoy exploring, this edition of "Frankenstein" will certainly fit your needs.

A Classic... Yet Relevant, October 30, 2009
I've seen the movie and the many spoofs so I thought I knew the plot, but when I finally sat down to read the Mary Shelley classic, I was taken back by the intellectual undertones and concept by which the plot of the book plays out. Yes there is a scientist who creates a being and brings it to life. And yes there is a central "monster" that creates havoc. However, it is more than just a scary story. The commentary on the potential risks to society caused by technology can be taken into account today. You also learn that the "monster" is not some mindless being, but there is a back story. I'm only disappointed in the fact that it took me so long to pick up this book to read. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

Reviews

The love story here is tender & sweet, the threat pulse-pounding & terrifying, & the supernatural elements utterly believable, March 17, 2010
Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.[...]

I was fortunate enough to win an ARC of The Body Finder through a
giveaway that Kimberly Derting held on her blog earlier this year, and I had no idea just how fortunate I was until I read it. This book raised the hair on the back of my neck one chapter (there was a point while reading this book where I audibly gasped), then sent my pulse racing the next. If you're looking for a scary and sexy read, consider it found.

I typically loath reading books with chapters written from the perspective of serial killers, but in this case I'm actually glad I didn't know that there were serial killer POV chapters in The Body Finder as I probably wouldn't have read it. Don't let that fact frighten you off. Kimberly Derting does a wonderful job of providing readers with just enough insight in to the mind of a monster without forcing an unwanted intimacy with his depravity. This glimpse added to the trepidation and real dread felt throughout the story.

I also really appreciated the well crafted balance between Violet's very realistic feelings for Jay (who I just loved! He was the kind of best friend/crush that every girl should get to have), and the equally real threat of a killer in this story. Had more emphasis been given to either one it would have greatly diminished the impact of the other. As it is, the aspects of love and death in this story serve to bolster the realism of both in a truly beautiful way.

Go read this book. The love story here is tender and sweet, the threat pulse-pounding and terrifying, and the supernatural elements utterly believable. The Body Finder surprised me in the best possible way; it didn't exceed my expectations, it shattered them. The sequel, Desires of the Dead, is due out in 2011.

Sexual Content: (YA titles receive a more thorough breakdown) Kissing, a scene of mild sensuality, references to a sex act, references to homosexuality, implied sexual assault/rape.

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Courtesy of Teens Read Too, March 17, 2010
Gold Star Award Winner!

Bear with me for a moment as I gush fanatically about how much I loved THE BODY FINDER like some crazed Twilighter who has just caught a glimpse of Robert Pattinson. I loved this book. Absolutely, totally, completely loved it. I want to, as I used to say when I was seven, marry this book. If I could, I would erase it from my memory and go back and read it all over again, just to experience it anew. And, right this minute, I would gladly give up either of my children to have another book featuring Violet and Jay to read right...this...minute.

Okay, end of maniacal gushing about how awesome this book is.

THE BODY FINDER has to be one of the most unique YA books I've ever read. It deals with a serial killer, which I've never run across before in a book marketed to teens and young adults. Since reading about serial killers is one of my favorite pastimes (no cruel jokes about my tormented psyche here, please), I knew before I even began reading the story that it was probably going to be great.

It also deals with a teen who can sense death. A sound, a smell, a feeling, a presence - somehow, ever since she was little, Violet Ambrose could find things that had died. It started out as finding dead animals, but one particularly horrifying experience at age eight had Violet discovering the body of a young girl. So far, Violet has never been overly-traumatized by her special ability. She has the full support and understanding of both her parents and her best friend, Jay Heaton, so she's never had to deal with this talent all alone.

This year, though, things are about to change.

First, she's having some definitely non-friendly feelings towards Jay. Somehow, she's begun to notice not just how funny and smart he is, but also how hot and sexy he is. The more she tries to convince everyone around her that she doesn't have a thing for Jay, the harder it is to convince herself of the same thing.

Secondly, someone is abducting and killing young girls in the area around where Violet lives. With the ability to sense not only those that have recently died, but the lingering effects of death on those that have caused it, Violet is determined to figure out who is wreaking havoc on her town. With or without Jay's help, she plans to follow her senses wherever they take her, hoping that they'll lead her to the killer so that she can point him out to her uncle, who happens to be the sheriff.

But as almost always happens in cases like this, Violet and Jay find themselves up against something - or someone - a whole lot more crafty and cunning than they could have imagined. If they're not careful, they could end up being the next victims of this vicious killer.

Okay, just a little bit more gushing. Not only is the storyline of THE BODY FINDER amazing, so are the characters and the dialogue. I have to give Kimberly Derting the highest praise for writing a story that never, ever patronizes its intended readers. I have had problems in the past with a few YA titles, due only to the fact that certain authors feel the need to tone or water down their writing, since they're not writing for adults. Ms. Derting doesn't do that - her story is scary, sexy, emotional, and downright riveting at all times; she never "writes down" to the teen or young adult who will pick up the book.

Pre-order THE BODY FINDER now, today, right this second. And please, Ms. Derting, pretty please, I'm begging you here, write another story featuring Violet and Jay. These are two of my favorite new characters, and I really, really need to read another story featuring them!!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

Dangerous, memorable, suspenseful!, March 16, 2010
Violet has always felt the echoes of the murdered, both human and animal, around her, and for as long as she can remember they have haunted her until she found them and gave them a proper burial. Only five people know about her morbid ability: her parents, and her aunt and uncle, and her best friend, Jay. When it becomes evident that a serial killer is at large in her community, Violet is certain that she can find the killer and bring him to justice. But even with Jay and her family trying to protect her, it may not be enough to keep her from the killer.

Kimberly Derting's debut novel about a girl attempting to use her unusual gift for good while caught in the throes of danger and first love is memorable and suspenseful. Derting's writing is sharp and detailed, and the frequent chapters from the unknown killer's point of view keep the story tense. Violet is a good, strong character who really will appeal to teen readers because of her well described emotions. Her fear of the serial killer is palpable, but her determination and sense of duty and justice even more tangible, and her confused and love struck feelings for her best friend Jay make her even more relatable and likable to the average girl. Derting will keep you on edge long after the final page with this action-packed romantic drama.

Cover Comments: I like the black and blue color scheme, and this blue flower. It's a very nice combination of eeriness and beauty, and the simplicity of the cover is just great. Very nice!

3.5 stars - It was a fast, easy read, but too watered-down for my taste, April 10, 2010
Plot Summary: Violet Ambrose inherited a rare family gift - she can sense dead bodies, whether human or animal. As an eight-year-old girl, she discovered the body of a murdered child in the forest, and at the age of 16 she finds another victim. With a serial killer on the loose, Violet is determined to use her ability to track him down, and she needs help from her long-time best friend, Jay Heaton. Only things have been strange with Jay lately, because Violet finds herself attracted to her friend, along with every other girl at school.

Before a mob with torches and pitchforks shows up on my front lawn, I want to state upfront that I thought The Body Finder was pretty good, but no, I'm not in the camp that thinks this is a five-star book (I'm thinking 3.5 stars). Please consider this an opinion from the minority. Kimberly Derting has written a solid young adult thriller, and I'm super impressed that this is her debut. The Body Finder is like `serial killer lite.' It's a watered-down version of the adult thrillers that I enjoy, and I think it's wholly appropriate for teen readers.

I had a few "Twilight" flashbacks while reading this book. There was the porcelain-skinned heroine tramping (and tripping) through the soggy forests of the Pacific Northwest, lots of high school scenes, and a lurking menace. However this time, it's the heroine who gets the special ability, which enables her to find dead bodies. Don't get me wrong, Violet is no Bella, but there are just enough similarities to make me think that Twilight fans could really like this book.

The reason I'm not raving is because the story lacked sophistication. The heroine was wrapped up in the most loving family a girl could hope for, there was no real mystery regarding the serial killer because there were no clues, and although the romance was sweet, it never rose above the standard high school crush. I thought it was rather odd that no details were provided about what happened to the girls taken by the serial killer. Sure, we know they were killed, but there were no clues about how it happened, or whether there was any rape. Call me crazy, but that's usually the first question that comes up when a female body is found. Perhaps Ms. Derting was trying to avoid these disturbing details because this is a YA novel, but that lack of authenticity bothered me.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book for a teen reader, but I don't think this story packs enough punch for adult suspense fans. It was certainly a fast, easy, entertaining read, but it was too diluted to satisfy my expectations for a thriller.

Authentic Characters with a Brilliant Story Line - can only equal 1 thing - AMAZING!, March 16, 2010
Where to start with this review? You know, I am not even sure! This book is such a jumble of everything all mixed up together; a huge mystery, a paranormal twist like I have never seen before and a love story that just enveloped me from the first few pages - You would be hard pressed to find a "genera" not represented with in the pages of The Body Finder.

And with so much going on, you might wonder - how do you keep up? The answer to that is simple - the excellent writing, of course. I know this is Kimberly's first novel but what a first novel! It's exceptionally written, in a way that I never felt lost as a reader, like I honestly expected I might be. I never once wondered what was going on, or where I was with in the book, if that even makes sense.

Kimberly has written this novel in such a way that I might compare it to a person spreading jam over an English muffin. The muffin has lots of nooks and crannies where the jam might fall, that is, IF it were something less substantial (something like butter). The prose written here are much the same, thick, yet juicy - Kimberly uses meaty words, getting to the heart and soul of the story. She has beautifully created characters in which I cried for, yelled at (once again, I can sit here telling you honestly that I YELLED at this book), and rooted for.

Our main protagonist Violet is as strong as she is brave - I have no idea how I would handle a gift such as the one she has, but I can tell you it would be with far less grace and strength than she displays, I can just about guarantee that! She's brilliant, likable and extremely unique, and yet she still rings very "real" above all else.

Jay is also a wonderful character, he's the character some might say is much to clich�, for such an otherwise very unique story - however, I didn't feel that way, not at all. Jay for me was much more than a clich�d perfect boyfriend, he's much to real for that. He is after all a teenage boy, there's a few times when he does things that set him below what one might call "perfect" - however, because of these "flaws" (if you will) he becomes more real. He brings so much life to The Body Finder, with his gentle spirit, glowing personality and quick wit, I found myself falling in love, just a little bit.

There are also several characters which supported the story - from Violet's friends, to her parents, all of which rang real to me...I mean you had the boys always talking about cars and sports, the girls worrying about make-up and gossiping, there's also tons of witty banter - which added such a light touch to this otherwise heavy novel. And the parents - yes, you read that right there's actually parents with in the pages of The Body Finder! Not only that but they are supportive, loving and attentive. It was nice to see a novel in the YA genera, where the parents are not part of the problem, but rather part of the solution (mostly, no one's perfect).


Bottom Line - This book is an intense ride, I picked it up and finished it in about 7 hours, though I did not want it to end, I just had to know what would happen next...and the ending, nothing I can say short of WOW, it's intense!

With it's authentic characters, it's brilliant story line, and a love story that's like no other - Kimberly Derting has, what I can only assume will become a best seller on her hands, I can't wait to read much more from this author!

something just didn't sit quite right, June 9, 2010
For as long as she can remember, Violet Ambrose has experienced what can only be called a compulsion to seek out the bodies of those that have been killed - animal or human and especially those that came to a violent end. Not only does the body 'call' to Violet through her senses (sound, color, taste, smell etc.) but she can also 'see' the traces on those that have killed. For years, Violet has spent her free time roaming through the woods near her house with best-friend Jay digging up small, broken animals to re-bury in order to bring both herself and the animals some peace. Having been best friends since elementary school, Violet and Jay have always shared everything - even her special ability - but at the outset of their Junior year, Violet suddenly finds herself experiencing some decidedly non-platonic feelings for Jay which she just can't share. Confused and unsure, Violet's primary fear is that she's going to lose her best friend until several teens begin to disappear in her small town and the police suspect that a serial killer is targeting teenage girls. With danger striking so close to home and the police floundering to uncover the culprit, Violet knows her ability may be the only only way to stop such a hardened killer once and for all.

I really wanted to like Kimberly Derting's debut novel. Truly, I did. I've heard from numerous reviewers how much they enjoyed it, but something about The Body Finder did not sit quite right with me. The concept of someone being able to hear 'echoes' from the dead and their killers is an extremely compelling idea, one with much potential. However, the idea didn't translate very well in Violet's case. Don't get me wrong: she was a very likable character although a little dense at times (but what teen isn't? I often was), but her narrative was often repetitive - such that I can only describe it as being overwritten. Especially with her constant obsessions over her relationship with Jay. And how can I describe my feelings for Jay? I thoroughly enjoyed Jay's character for the first half of the book in his supportive, teasing role but once he became Mr. Alpha Protector and Obsessor over Violet did he turn me off. Feel free to also add "The Body Finder" to the fast-growing ranks of nonexistent, oblivious parents of a single child in a YA novel. At the point when I thought Violet's parents would want to place more restrictions on her (since a SERIAL KILLER targeting TEEN GIRLS was on the loose) they basically exited stage left with nary a parting word. Boggles the mind.

Above all, one major issue I had with "The Body Finder" was the inclusion of periodic chapters from the viewpoint of the killer. These were odd, creepy and threw me out of the story every time one popped up. Personally, I do not want to be in the head of a psychopath. So much so that I felt that this book was trying to turn itself into a YA friendly romantic-suspense novel sans the actual sex. I'm not a huge fan of the romantic-suspense genre in the best of circumstances and "The Body Finder" didn't do much to change my opinion in that regard either.

A deliciously suspenseful romantic thriller!, April 5, 2010
Romantic, intense, and suspenseful! Those are the first three words that come to mind when describing Kimberly Derting's impressive debut novel, The Body Finder. Part heart-pounding suspense and part heart-racing romance, readers will find themselves unable to put this book down! Set in a small town in western Washington, this romantic thriller seamlessly blends romance and mystery as a teenage girl uses her unusual paranormal ability in an attempt to trace the imprints left by a serial killer before he strikes again. A word of warning: Don't start this book at bedtime if you intend to get any sleep because you won't want to set it down until you reach the last page.

What I Liked:
- The playful and flirtatious romance! Since this book is about a girl who senses dead bodies and gets entangled in a serial killer investigation, I expected creepy suspense from this novel (and it delivered). But I did NOT expect the completely intoxicating romance! Violet's crush on her best friend leaves her distracted by his casual touch, flustered by his comforting, familiar scent, and blushing at his every teasing grin. The romance is sweet, sexy, and believable. If you adore best-friend love stories, this book is definitely for you!
- Violet is a well-rounded teenager. She isn't defined solely by her unique body-finding ability or by her relationship with Jay. She interacts with her parents, goes shopping with friends, babysits for her aunt and uncle, feels the sting of social rivalries at school, and finds herself frustratingly focused on her changing feelings toward her best friend. She also handles her paranormal talent well, deals with social pressures responsibly, and stands up to her best friend when he seems over-protective or demanding. She makes her own decisions at every turn.
- Violet has a healthy self-image. To pull a line directly from the text (p.122): "She never wanted to be one of those girls who looked for flaws, picking themselves apart with unjust criticisms." I really enjoyed that about Violet's personality. She isn't arrogant and she isn't totally free of insecurities, but she is self-confident and relatively comfortable in her own skin.
- Jay is a good guy. He is kind and thoughtful. He genuinely cares about Violet and is not afraid to show it. He is funny and sweet, and he and Violet have basically been inseparable since the first grade. Since Jay has been her constant companion for so long, it makes sense that he feels and acts protective at times, and Violet's specific situation truly does warrant a lot of caution. I found Jay's protective nature endearing, and I like that he listens to Violet (who isn't shy about calling him out on his missteps & won't tolerate being bossed around). I seriously adored Jay!
- The chapters from the killer's point of view are used to excellent effect and will leave readers nervous to be out alone at night.
- This is a romantic thriller that can be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. Although it involves disturbing abductions and murders, it is never gory or graphic. The romantic scenes are steamy enough to have readers running to turn up their air conditioners, but they are not graphic either. Both the suspense and the romantic tension remain PG-13, yet the frightening moments are still chillingly scary and the romantic moments are still deliciously sexy.
- Violet's parents care about her and are present in her everyday life. That may sound like an unusual thing to comment on, but it is surprising how often a YA protagonist's parents are dead, drug-addicted, missing, abusive, totally oblivious, or otherwise excluded from the plot.
- The overall high school atmosphere rang true, as did the intensity and all-consuming nature of Violet's newly-discovered feelings for her best friend. Readers will feel Violet's excitement and nervousness & will fall for Jay right along with her.

What I Wished:
- This is probably only because I've read too many mystery novels and watched too many suspenseful thrillers over the years, but I wanted the manhunt and the investigative aspect of the plot to take center stage a little more often. In the final third of the book, I wondered what the police and FBI were discovering while we were following Violet, and I wanted a few more twists and turns in the investigation.
- I wanted more. I have no complaints about the way this novel ended, and I was pleased to see the suspenseful elements of the plot thoroughly wrapped up. But I wasn't quite ready to close the book on the main characters yet. I look forward to re-reading The Body Finder, and I wish we didn't have to wait until next year to read Desires of the Dead, the next book in this exciting new series.

If you are looking for a fast, suspenseful read with believable characters and a sweet romance, I would definitely recommend The Body Finder. I was impressed by the well-paced balance between the frightening serial killer mystery and the sweet love story. It is pretty rare to find a book that is just as likely to give you pleasant, romantic dreams as it is to give you terrifying, serial killer nightmares. Readers who enjoy romantic YA novels like Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's Beautiful Creatures, Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely, and Claudia Gray's Evernight should pick up Kimberley Derting's The Body Finder. Fans of paranormal mystery novels like Charlaine Harris' Grave Sight (Harper Connelly Mysteries, Book 1), may also be interested in reading The Body Finder. I look forward to reading Kimberly Derting's next book, Desires of the Dead, which is due out in 2011.

Bodily Harm & Deadly Charm, March 16, 2010
Quick & Dirty: An exciting and heart-stopping tale that will leave you begging for more.

Opening Sentence: Violet Ambrose wandered away from the safety of her father as she listened to the harmony of sounds weaving delicately around her.

The Review:

When Violet Ambrose was eight years old, she stumbled across the body of a teenage girl. Violet has the ability to sense death echoes of both animals and people as well as the ability to sense "imprints" on those who have caused death. She's compelled to seek out the echo's of the dead and make sure that they are properly put to rest. Only Violet's family and her best friend, Jay, know about her ability. With the overwhelming love and support of Jay and her family, Violet is able to cope with her paranormal ability. When people she knows start turning up dead, Violet is determined to help catch the killer.

The Body Finder is a well-written novel with a unique premise. Ms. Derting has crafted a strong debut that deals with realistic teen issues head on. I appreciate the fact that the parents in this novel weren't killed off or tragically "damaged" in some way as to impair their ability to parent. I really enjoyed the dynamics of the loving and supportive Ambrose family. I like Violet because she's such an authentic character. Even though she struggles with the average teenage insecurities, she's strong, compassionate, and unassuming. I'm also impressed with the way she deals with her ability.

What can I say about Jay? I simply loved his character. Jay is loyal and very protective towards Violet so at first blush - readers might dub him as the one dimensional/clich�d "perfect" best friend turned boyfriend, but you soon realize that he's so much more. Violet and Jay share an intense love story. When Jay seemingly turns into a young man over the summer break, Violet struggles to deal with her new and not so innocent feelings towards him. Eventually, Jay makes the first move and the sparks that ignite between them burn up the pages. I like the fact that Jay was a responsible and mature teenage boy able to show Violet in many ways his love for her, and that he wasn't solely driven by his sexual desires for her. The awkwardness and sexual tension between them is really cute and realistic.

The Body Finder will have your heart racing double-time and your pulse-pounding dangerously out of control. The story is well crafted and the tension pulses and rises as the story unfolds. While I did like the ending, I felt that it wrapped up rather quickly. It would have also been nice to see more from the POV of the killer. Those parts of the novel were really creepy and I loved every minute of it.

Overall, The Body Finder is a MUST read. Ms. Derting crafted a suspenseful page-turner that won't disappoint. The characters are well developed and believable, making it easy to become invested in the outcome. Rich with clever dialogue and filled with gripping suspense, The Body Finder is an intense thrill-ride. I'm looking forward to visiting this chilling and fascinating world again in the sequel, Desires of the Dead.

Notable Scene:

Violet stumbled backward, nearly tripping over her own feet in an effort to escape him. She covered her mouth with her hand, stifling her own terrified yelp as she caught herself before she fell and then froze, praying that he hadn't noticed the sound of her clumsy feet crushing the twigs beneath her. Suddenly everything she did seemed too loud to her...each carefully plotted step she took echoed loudly off the trees, each labored breath she took was like an explosion. She tiptoed away, but even that seemed too obvious, and she told herself that she needed to act normal...to behave as though nothing had happened and to sneak away unnoticed. He never even looked up from his position.

FTC Advisory: Harper Teen provided me with an ARC of The Body Finder. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don't receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.

A thrilling treat!, March 16, 2010
Violet has the strange ability to sense an "echo" from people (and animals) that have been killed. The echo is unique for each killing although it matches the echo given off by the killer. Usually, this "talent" is a nuisance - Violet can't even go near her cat because he kills mice. But when a serial killer starts offing teen girls in her area, Violet's power might just come in handy.

If that premise sounds enticing to you, take note: the actual novel is 1 part thriller to 6 parts teen romance. Now, on paper, such a set-up shouldn't work for me, since I don't seek out romance as a genre. And, truthfully, I was a bit worried at first. Once Violet's ability is established and the serial killer makes his first snatch, the plot concentrates on Violet's super-crush on her best friend of many years - once just Jay, now the hottest guy at school. Everyone but Violet can see that Jay carries a major torch for her, and there are a bunch of high-sexual-tension and avoidance scenes that make you scream "get it on already you two!"

But let me tell you, once those two best friends finally connect romantically, the resulting fireworks are totally worth it. I am a very emotional rater and this one got a big fat satisfied 5 star rating from me for the emotional impact alone.

5 stars for a book that had a character taking foolish risks to fit the plot (a pet peeve of mine)? Yep, it was THAT emotionally engaging that when all was said and done, I came away able to overlook certain deficits (such as the at times strange pacing and some logic problems concerning the serial killer part), and just revel in the experience of reading.

Pulse racing, heart stopping YA paranormal romance., September 18, 2010
Pulse racing, heart stopping YA paranormal romance. It is rare for a book to elicit a strong physiological response but The Body Finder brought me to near hyperventilating. Twice. This book is a fine example of young adult, paranormal romance, mystery thriller, supernatural fiction. Kimberly Derting's characters are fully developed and three dimensional. Violet Abrose is at once lovable and vulnerable. Her best friend Jay Heaton is one of the most endearing characters I've had the pleasure of reading and his presence on the page almost always brings a smile. The challenges that they face together, and the secret that they must keep, feels entirely plausible. Violet was born with the ability to sense the bodies of the dead by visual and auditory imprints that their deaths leave behind. These imprints are stronger on those who have suffered a violent death and leave a similar imprint on the person who killed them. I'm often disappointed with the reasons given for a character to hide their supernatural talents but Derting does a fantastic job of demonstrating the dangers of discovery. This adds to the overall suspense of The Body Finder making it one of the most thrilling novels I have read this year.

I would recommend The Body Finder to readers of paranormal romance, young adult, mysteries, and suspense thrillers. Though the romance of The Body Finder is filled with the innocence and discovery of young adulthood I believe it is enjoyable for readers of all ages. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In every generation, there is a Chosen One. A slayer destined to protect the human race. She alone must fight the demons of hell. She alone must risk her life to stop the spread of evil. Buffy is the Chosen One.

A night at the fair becomes a night of terror for Buffy and her friends when their personalities start matching the amusements in the park in Carnival of Souls.

In One Thing or Your Mother, Buffy must face a fear worse than her typical demon: children.

In Blooded, Willow accidentally turns her body into a vessel for the spirit of an ancient warrior—and he’s out for revenge. ... Read more

Reviews

Three Cheers For Volume Three, November 28, 2010
Volume 3 has a far better flow than Volume 2. In "Carnival of Souls", you have the devoted Angel and a timid Willow; "One Thing or Your Mother" gives the reader Angelus and computer savvy Willow; and in "Blooded", Angel is back (remorseful and devoted once again) and a Willow who has cemented herself as a fighter against evil. Buffy is at her sassiest in "One Thing or Your Mother". After Angelus ruthlessly taunts Buffy with heart breaking words and violence, Buffy in turn delivers a ego bruising insult to Angelus that the reader will relish in delight. I never thought I would ever be interested in knowing the background story on Principal Snyder, but Kirsten Beyer weaves a realistic tale that will endear the reader to the weasel-like dictator, only momentariy. "Blooded" is the stronger story in which all of the characters prove how devoted they are to each other. If you are a fan of Oz, sorry, he's not really present, but any Buffy fan will enjoy BTVS Volume Three. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Suspicious and uneasy about the atmosphere at her new boarding school, fourteen-year-old Kit slowly realizes why she and the other three students at the school were selected. ... Read more

Reviews

Wonderful, March 22, 2000
I remember years ago when I first picked up this book I really didn't expect much from it. I must say I was blown away with because it had elements that I loved. Ever since I read this book, I've been a Lois Duncan fan. The book is about a a fourteen-year old girl named Kit going to a special boarding school named Blackwood while her mother and her new stepfather take a long Honeymoon. But Kit soon finds out some thing strange: they are only four girls in the boarding school. What follows is a supernatural mystery. Kit and her new friend Sandy soon find out the reasons why they were selected to attend Blackwood. Soon their lives are at stake and it's up to Kit to find a way out.

Great read. I highly recommend it.

I'm 22, and it scares me like I'm still 12., September 12, 1997
Here's the deal: I read a spooky book when I was twelve. I couldn't remember the title or the author; all I knew is that the memory of long, dark hallways, doors locked from the inside and four lonely girls trapped in an institution haunted my nightmares for ten years. My concrete memories consisted of the thread of a plot: Four young girls, gifted with ESP, are brought to a private school so the headmasters can channel dead artists through their minds and sell the art as originals.

About a month ago, I mentioned the elusive book to a friend, who immediately named the title and the author, admitting his fear, as well. Pretending to buy for a younger sister who doesn't exist, I bought the book again -- with a new cover no longer featuring the young heroine with a candle -- and was overcome once more by Lois Duncan's ability to surround the simple narrative with swirling mists, dark corners and flickering candlelight.

DOWN A DARK HALL introduced me to the glorious world of wondering what's behind the door, a passion that extended into Stephen King, Clive Barker and even dark comic books. But even the "adult" writers can't capture atmosphere the way Duncan can. Like King's Carrie, Duncan illustrates the pain and chaos of adolescent girlhood, and the impossibility of escaping a world that doesn't understand. The difference is that your little sister can read Duncan while she's still young enough to feel the character's confusion... and the impact is strong enough to last a decade.

THis book is hard to put down!, April 24, 2002
Have you ever read a book and you were on the edge of your seat the whole time? Down a Dark Hall, by Lois Duncan is a suspenseful and engrossing book.

A fourteen year old girl named Kit Gordy is sent away to an all girls' school called Blackwood. Madame Duret is the head of the school and the other teachers are her son Jules and Professor Farley. Kit and the other girls that applied had to take a "special test" that determined if they had "special powers" in order to be accepted. Kit has a bad feeling about the place from the minute she arrives. She then realizes there are only three other girls that will be attending the school Sandy, Ruth, and Linda. A few months after they arrive, famous dead people started taking over their bodies. The famous piano player Franz Schubert took over Kit, the poet Emily Bronte took over Linda, and the two other girls were taken over by more than one person. Do they escape the dangerous Blackwood school?

I never wanted to put this book down. It had a plot that was twisted and the details through out the book were incredible. It is the kind of book that makes a person scared to walk through his own house after he reads it. Lois Duncan made it feel like I was actually there, in the story. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read suspenseful books.

Down A Dark Hall, March 8, 2003
Down A Dark Hall was the best Lois Duncan book I have ever read. I can say with assurance that Lois Duncan has achieved her goal as a mystery/horror author.
It is about a 14-yearold girl named Kit Gordy who is sent to an all girls' school called Blackwood. When she arrives, she has the fear in her heart and the reluctance in her mind that this is and evil place, and she doesn't want to attend.
What mostly digs up the strange feelings in her mind is that only 4 girls are accepted, and for only one mysterious quality, ESP.
Famous artist's, musicians, and writer's dead souls possess the lives of these four teenage girls. And when it is time for them to escape the sinister clutches of Blackwood School For Girls, the evil in everyone begins to corrupt.

I say with a firm assurance, that this is defiantly one of the best Lois Duncan books EVER! And I would recommend it to everyone.

Eerie, October 6, 2000
This book is really good. I was really scared when I read it because Lois Duncan is such a good author you never know what is going to happen next. She can really write books that give you the chills. This is a book about Kit who goes to a boarding school and she immediately feels something is wrong with it. She does make friends because there are only 4 students there. They all are discovering special talents they never knew they had before they arrived at Blackwood. Read for yourself and find out how this strange events are occuring.

Duncan's Best Book!, December 22, 1999
This book above all is Lois's greatest book! She makes the scenes and characters come alive. Not to mention this book is really creepy and scary. I started to read it and couldn't put it down. I finished it in less than 2 hours. Warning: Don't read it at night, like I did. It spooked me out!

Thrilling..., February 5, 2006
If you're looking for something thrilling to read in bed at night while everyone's gone to sleep...this is just the book you should pick up (but be prepared to stay up all night coz you won't be able to put it down before you've read till the very last page!!) Kit is a fourteen-year-old who goes to a boarding school that looked chilling at the very first sight. And then slowly the frightening mystery of Blackwood unfolds. Apparently the entire school and it's regular lessons are a mere act. A show-off. Because neither the so-called headmistress nor the teachers are at all interested to teach anything to the students. What they want from them is something very different. Something evil...
If you ever liked anything by Lois Duncan previously don't miss reading this. You'll love every part of it.

Lois Duncan Does It Again., November 3, 2002
I'll start off by saying I am a huge Lois Duncan fan. I read Summer of Fear and I Know What You Did Last Summer. I loved both of them. This novel blew me away; I could not put the book down at all. When Kit Gordy, a teenage girl, gets accepted to an exclusive, private, all-girls school little does she know what she's getting into. Her parents signed her up because they are honey-mooning all around Europe. Kit gets there and immediately suspects something is "evil". When Kit arrives she finds that she has only three roommates. This confuses her greatly. Throughout the course of the book Lois Duncan foreshadows dark happenings. Sooner or later it happens. All four students begin having abnormal dreams. Not dreams with little bunnies and rainbows, dreams of terror. I'll let you read the book to find out the mystery of Blackwood School For Girls. If you get the chance read this book and I promise you will like it. Lois Duncan is a literary genius in my point of view. She brings everything into a teen's perspective...except I'm not a girl, not that it matters. I enjoyed it greatly and I hope you do to.

Do you dare to walk down a dark hall?!, March 22, 2001
Down a Dark Hall was an EXCELLENT book!:) I thought that is was the best book I have ever read because I like cliff hangers. The story was about a girl named Kit Gordy who was fourteen years of age. Her mom was getting remarried and getting ready to go on her honeymoon. Kit was sent away to an all girls school called Blackwood. But not anyone one in particular could go to the school. Each girl would have to take a "special" test. Whoever had what Madame Duret wanted... went to the school. Well, when the time came, the four girls that passed the test made it. Their names were Kit, Sandy, Ruth, and Linda. Each one of the girls had a special power called ESP. While attending the school, a famous person each took over their bodies. Franz Schubert took over Kit and Emily Bronte took over Linda. The rest of the girls were took over by more then one person. Down a Dark Hall was an excellent book. I am not going to tell you anymore so you are just goping to have to read it for yourself!:)( I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND IT!!)

My Favorite Lois Duncan book, July 15, 2000
Down a Dark Hall is my favorite Lois Duncan book. Even from the first, the book drew me into the intricate plot. From start to finish, you could have never guessed the ending. It's a story about this girl, Kit, who attended this exclusive school, Blackwood. She's only one of the four "special" students. Along the way, Kit learns about the dangerously eery history about Blackwood, solving mysteries after mysteries and unlocking hidden secrets that could have cost her life and the other students if they had stayed hidden. Down a Dark Hall is truly a gem and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good suspenseful mystery. I couldn't put the book down until I had finished. The ending left me breathless. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The RLS Angels are out for blood, and only Suze can stop them--since she's the only one who can see them. The four ghostly teenagers died in a terrible car accident, for which they blame Suze's classmate Michael... and they'll stop at nothing until he's joined them in the realm of the dead.

As Suze desperately fends off each attempt on Michael's life, she finds she can relate to the Angels' fury. Because their deaths turn out not to have been accidental at all. And their killer is only too willing to strike again. ... Read more

Reviews

The thrilling third book in The Mediator series., June 28, 2001
Sixteen-year-old Suze Simon never likes being a Mediator, a person able to see and communicate with ghosts. But it can be especially annoying when she's trying to enjoy a sunny California spring day on the beach and encouters the spirits of four teenagers who died in a tragic car accident. The ghosts are out for revenge and want to kill Michael, who was in the other car and who they believe deliberatley ran them off the road and over a cliff. Now Suze has to protect Michael, which means pretending to like him, and going out on an actual date with him! But when Suze, Father Dominic, and Jesse visit the scene of the accident, they discover evidence that leads Suze to wonder if Michael truly did murder those teens. And if her suspicions are true, her own life may be in grave danger. I highly reccomend this book to readers who enjoyed the first two books in the series.

Thrilling third book in the Mediator series., January 14, 2005
Sixteen-year-old Suze Simon never likes being a Mediator, a person able to see and communicate with ghosts. But it can be especially annoying when she's trying to enjoy a sunny California spring day on the beach and encouters the spirits of four teenagers who died in a tragic car accident. The ghosts are out for revenge and want to kill Michael, who was in the other car and who they believe deliberatley ran them off the road and over a cliff. Now Suze has to protect Michael, which means pretending to like him, and going out on an actual date with him! But when Suze, Father Dominic, and Jesse visit the scene of the accident, they discover evidence that leads Suze to wonder if Michael truly did murder those teens. And if her suspicions are true, her own life may be in grave danger. I highly reccomend this book to readers who enjoyed the first two books in the series, and all of Meg Cabot's fans should give this wonderful series a try.

Suze meets a few angels., July 20, 2001
While at the beach with her best friend, Gina, Suze just happens to see four teenagers dressed up for the prom trying to steal a twelve-pack of beer. Now the guy at the counter isn't an Einstein, but he's bound to notice them trying to steal it, but he doesn't and that's when Suze get a good look at them, and realizes that they're ghosts. And Suze, being the lucky person that she is, just happens to be a mediator, someone who can see dead people. It turns out the four were killed in a car accident and are out for blood. The person they blame for their deaths is Michael Meducci, who isn't the most popular guy in school. In order to protect Michael from the four teenagers, who have been dubbed the RLS Angels, she's going to have to date him. This isn't exactly making her like being a mediator. But Suze, Father Dominic, and Jesse find out that the RLS Angels might not be wrong about Michael. And if their suspicions are true a member of Suze's family might be the next ghost she sees. This book is definitely worthy of being in the series and I recommend it to fans of the series.

Better than the last!, November 11, 2001
In this book Suze is happy to have her friend from NYC visit her in California. She plans a fun filled visit for her friend filled with sun, fun, and watching cute lifeguards. So of course, everything goes wrong. Suze starts to see the ghosts of four recently deceased teens who died in a horrible car accident. Which wouldn't be such a big deal but these four ghostly teens have decided to terrorize a gawky, and awkward teen that attends Suze's highschool. And to top that off this same gawky teen forms a strange infatuation with Suze. Suze soon realizes that the only way to stop these attacks is to solve the mystery behind their deaths. But as she starts to get involved she soon realizes that she's way over her head. and this case may be deadly.

I was very happy with this book. Once again Jenny Carroll delivers a great work of fiction. Her mediator stories have always been page turners for me and this one is not an exception. I can't wait till I get my hands on Darkest Hour. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did! I reccomend it to any fans of the series or of the 1-800 WHERE ARE YOU Seires.

Great for what it is., July 2, 2001
Jenny Carroll brings us the third installment of "The Mediator" series. Like the previous two books, this one was fast paced and action packed, the kind of book that is best if flipped through quickly in one sitting.

Susannah is still adjusting to life on the west coast with her new family. To make the transition easier on her, her mother and stepfather let her best friend Gina come for a visit. This is not quite the vacation Gina was planning on. With Suze busy trying to stop four teenage ghosts from getting revenge on the guy who caused their deaths, Gina has to find other ways of amusing herself.

This is a fun, not too serious series for teenagers interested in the paranormal. Also, any of "The Mediator" books are good for a first time reader of the series, because although it does build off of the previous books, there is enough recap throughout the book that you'd never be lost. This actually can be a little annoying to someone who is already familiar with the story, because there is no handy recap first chapter or short summary that you can skip over. Even still, it is an absorbing, fun read that lets you forget yourself, if only for a little while.

Four teens out for alittle revenge, May 14, 2005
When Gina, Suze's longtime friend from NYC comes to visit her in sunny California, Suze hopes to have some fab times. Unfortunately four dead students nicknamed the "RLS Angels" from Robert Louis-Stevenson High School aren't going to let her. Not only are these four kids the most popular people in the school, they were everything. It turns out that after a wild party the four were heading home when they got into a car accident with Suze's fellow student Micheal Meducci, a geek, and crashed throught the barriers by the cliff falling to their deaths. These four headstrong teens aren't about to just let go of that wonderful life before destroying the geek that killed them, Micheal. For Suze it is just another everyday problem of being a Mediator---a person who guides wayward soul back to their final resting place. Unfortunately these four are not your regular ghosts, and they will stop at nothing to get revenge, even if it means killing anyone who stands in their way. Suze finds herself having to pretend to like Micheal so that she can protect him. Suze soon finds out that things aren't so simple and begins to find a deeper side of what happened in that accident, an accident that might not have been an accident at all. But why would Micheal Meducci want any part in killing four people he hardly knew? Nothing right? Think again...
This was anothe great edition to the Mediator series. It has so many twists and turns you wouldn't expect and illustrates the dark side of teen popularity, parties, and clinques.

Better and better . . ., June 4, 2002
Jenny Carroll's (a.k.a. Meg Cabot) books just keep getting better and better. Her novels enjoy suspense, romance, humor, adventure -- almost every genre is incorporated.

Sixteen-year-old Susannah (Suze) Simon is a mediator. That means that she can talk to ghosts. The only people who know are her principal, Father Dominic, and (eventually) her best friend. She just moved to California in January, soon after her mother married Andy Ackerman. She now has three step-brothers, and is going to Junipero Serra Mission Academy, a Catholic school.

In this particular book, Suze's best friend, Gina, is visiting her in California from New York, where Suze used to live. Four students at Robert Louis Stevenson High School were just killed in a tragic accident -- but it might not be an accident.

Carroll gives the reader no more information than he/she needs, and keeps the reader guessing until the last twist is taken.

As good as i expected, July 4, 2001
This book was defiently worth the 5 month wait. Its just too bad I'm going to have to wait another 5 months for Darkest Hour. Anyway I liked how they brought Gina into this book. And even sorta liked the RLS Angels the "beakons of thier community" Definetly worth reading. Also read the Meg Cabot books they are by another pen name of Jenny Carroll.

The price of popularity, June 3, 2002
When Gina, Suze's longtime friend from NYC comes to visit her in sunny California, Suze hope to have some fab times. Unfortunately four dead students nicknamed the "RLS Angels" from Robert Louis-Stevenson High School aren't going to let her. Not only are these four kids the most popular people in the school, they were everything. It turns out that after a wild party the four were heading home when they crashed with Suze's fellow student Micheal Meducci and crashed throught the barriers falling to their deaths. This four headstrong teens aren't about to just let go of that wonderful life before destroying the geek that killed them, Micheal. For Suze it is just another everyday problem of being a Mediator---a person who guides wayward soul back to their final resting place. Unfortunately these four are not your regular ghosts, and they will stop at nothing to get revenge, even if it means killing anyone who stands in their way. Suze finds herself having to pretend to like Micheal so that she can protect him. Suze, however, soons begins to find a deeper side of what happened in that accident, an accident that might not have been an accident at all. But why would Micheal Meducci want any part in killing four people he hardly knew? Nothing right? Think again...

This was anothe great edition to the Mediator series. It has so many twists and turns you wouldn't expect and illustrates the dark side of teen popularity and clinques.

The Four Teens of Revenge, March 10, 2005
Suze is having a good time as her best friend from back East is visiting for the week. But soon a quartet of ghosts enters her life.

Four students from a rival school died in an auto accident. The other car was driven by a student in Suze's school. Now the ghosts are after him for revenge. To complicate things, he seems to have the hots for Suze. But is he an innocent or did he orchestrate the accident? Suze will have her hands full with this one.

Another good chapter in the life of mediator Suze Simon. The plot moved well and there was good development of characters and major threads. The series continues to be good. ... Read more

Editorial Review

When the nineteenth--century ghost of Maria de Silva wakes her up in the middle of the night, Suze knows this is no ordinary visitation -- and not just from the knife at her throat, either. In life, Maria was the fianc#233;e of Jesse -- the same Jesse who was murdered a hundred and fifty years before. The same Jesse Suze is in love with.

Maria threatens Suze: The backyard construction must cease. Suze has a pretty good idea what -- or rather, who -- Maria doesn't want found. But in solving Jesse's murder, will Suze end up losing him forever? ... Read more

Reviews

A very important book in the series, November 27, 2001
(...)Suze, a 16-year-old Mediator, is looking foreward to a summer of fun in the sun. Unfortunatly for her both her step father and a couple of ghosts have other plans for her. Her stepfather has made her sign up for a summer job, babysitting kids at a rich country club. Suze hates it, considering the kid she usually sits has something against ever leaving the house or moving away from the TV screen. She's shocked when she finds out the same kid she's babysitting is a mediator, an a very scared one at that. Her other problem arises when the ghost of her not so alive roomate Jesse (who she is secretly obsessed over) ex-fiance, Maria, wakes her up with a knife with threats. Suze finds her self thrown into a strange mystery that took place over 150 years ago. She soon realizes that in solving this mystery she may lose someone she cares about very much, Jesse.

I was shocked with this book. Once again Jenny Carroll manages to mingle humor with horror and mystery to create a great book that's even better than the last! Darkest Hour is a very important book in the series that I reccomend to any fans of the series. It's the best so far. I can't wait till Jenny writes another tale of Suze. The ending is quite a cliffhanger. Have fun!

We find out about Jesse!, May 14, 2005
It's Suze's sixteen summer---her first in sunny California---but instead of relaxing and getting a tan, she's stuck working as a baby-sister at a hotel resort, not to mention the boy she is babysitting, Jack, turns out to be a young, budding mediator and that his older brother Paul does have some boyfriend potential. Things start going from okay to bad when Suze is awakened by Maria de Silva---the ex-finacee of the 150 year old hot ghost that shares Suze's bedroom, Jesse---with a knife to Suze's neck, telling Suze to stop her stepdad, Andy, from digging up Jesse's body from her own backyard. Suze has a good idea that when the body of Jesse is discovered she might lose him forever, but she isn't about to help Maria de Silva. Suze knows, however, Maria de Silva will do anything to stop the digging, even if it does mean killing Suze. As Suze digs deeper into the mystery surprising things happen in a world that Suze can't control, but even though helping Jesse might risk certain death onto herself, Suze is ready for the challenge.

Wow! What can I say? The best Mediator book yet with revelations at every corner that are more shocking that before. This is definitely a pivatol book in the series and a turning point. The cliffhanger ending makes you want the next book, Haunted, like crazy.

Here he is.... Paul, August 12, 2004
Ahhhhh, the introduction of Paul. Calling all Mediator fans who have only read Haunted because they did not know there were other books in the series (made the same mistake myself no worries) this is EXTREMELY important to read and will explain questions about Paul brought up in Haunted. Definitely for all Suze/Jesse fans or fans of the series. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the series the order goes:
1.Shadowland 2.Ninth Key 3.Reunion 4.Darkest Hour 5.Haunted
Unless you buy them used you cant get any of the books except for Haunted until December when they will be re-released under Meg Cabots name instead of her Pen name, Jenny Carrol. Enjoy!!

Darkest Hour Shines, December 2, 2001
What a great read! The fourth installment in the Mediator series will delight fans and newbie's alike.

Mediator Suze Simon and her gorgeous ghost roommate Jesse face the challenge of their lives when Jesse's past comes back to haunt him. A well-written story that involves Jesse's vengeful ex-fiancee and her husband, a young mediator in training, and a new enemy make this a book I just couldn't put down. The book is full of suspense, but, thanks to Jenny Carroll's trademark humor, it is fun as well.

I can't wait for more books in this series.

The thrilling fourth book in the Mediator series., December 4, 2001
All her life, Suze Simon has been a mediator, a person with the ability to see and speak to dead people. Because of this, her social life is constantly being interrupted by ghosts with unfinished business on Earth. But there is one plus to being a mediator: Jesse, the cute ghost who lives in her bedroom. Suze is determined not to fall for Jesse, but she does, and it's a relationship that will never work - he is dead, after all. And in spite of her complicated love life, Suze is determined to enjoy her summer break from school. Too bad her stepfather insists she get a job. She ends up working as a babysitter at a fancy resort, where her young charge is eight-year-old Jack Slater, who turns out to be a mediator himself. But then the ghost of Maria de Silva, the woman who had Jesse killed, shows up. She's determined that the truth never come out - even if it means killing Suze. This book contains a lot of amazing revelations that I won't spoil, so you'll just have to read to find out! I highly recommend this book to all fans of The Mediator series and Jenny Carroll's other books.

Thrilling fourth book in the Mediator series., January 14, 2005
All her life, Suze Simon has been a mediator, a person with the ability to see and speak to dead people. Because of this, her social life is constantly being interrupted by ghosts with unfinished business on Earth. But there is one plus to being a mediator: Jesse, the cute ghost who lives in her bedroom. Suze is determined not to fall for Jesse, but she does, and it's a relationship that will never work - he is dead, after all. And in spite of her complicated love life, Suze is determined to enjoy her summer break from school. Too bad her stepfather insists she get a job. She ends up working as a babysitter at a fancy resort, where her young charge is eight-year-old Jack Slater, who turns out to be a mediator himself. But then the ghost of Maria de Silva, the woman who had Jesse killed, shows up. She's determined that the truth never come out - even if it means killing Suze. This book contains a lot of amazing revelations that I won't spoil, so you'll just have to read to find out! I highly recommend this book to all fans of The Mediator series and Meg Cabot's other books.

Great, Great, Great, July 2, 2002
Fourth in Jenny Carroll's Mediator series, this is also the best so far! I looked for months to find this book, and my obsession with the series rivals Suze's obsession with Jesse. I recommend any of her books to all teens.

Suze's plans of relaxing on the beach all summer are ruined whne her stepdad makes her get a summer job. Even worse, she ends up as a babysitter at a resort with a tacky uniform, constantly assigned to babysit the same boring kid. But when Jack turns out to be a mediator, albeit a lousy scaredy-cat one, she takes it upon herself to teach him.

Meanwhile, Andy's trying to install a hottub in the backyard, and unknowingly digging up other things as well, things that inspire a certain vengeful 'MDS'to try and shut everyone up, permanently. This includes Jesse since, apparently, killing him once wasnt good enough.

Jack's hot older brother, meanwhile, has the hots for Suze. But when she turns him down repeatedly, he becomes a tad more sinister. A couple of coincidences, and the reader starts to become suspicious, even if Suze doesnt...

Cabot is on a roll!, August 10, 2005
Suze Simon is a mediator. Yes,a mediator - meaning she can talk to ghosts. Instead of spending summer vacation hanging out at the beach with her friends, she's working as a babysitter at a fancy hotel for some extra cash. Suze gets assigned to Jack, a lonely, boring, always-nervous eight year old. Jack NEVER wants to do anything but sit inside, and his older brother Paul is a total creep.
So, when Suze is off babysitting Jack, her stepfather (Andy) and stepbrother (Brad...aka Dopey) are digging a hole in the backyard to install a hot tub ~ but when Suze is woken up in the middle of the night by an angry ghost, warning her that if the digging doesn't stop there will be "hell to pay." Then, after the message from the ghost, Suze's best friend (and longtime crush, Jesse)disappears. Suze is sure that the ghost has something to do with it, and retaliates, but also brings Jack and Paul into the problem.

This book is the best in the series...each one gets better, but DARKEST HOUR still has the honor of being my favorite. The best part? We finally get to find out what happened to Jesse.
I totally recommend this book!

Turning point in this great series!, June 6, 2002
It's Suze's sixteen summer---her first in sunny California---but instead of relaxing and getting a tan, she's stuck working as a baby-sister at a hotel resort, not to mention the boy she is babysitting, Jack, turns out to be a young, budding mediator or that his older brother Paul does have some boyfriend potential. Things start going from okay to bad when Suze is awakened by Maria de Silva---the ex-finacee of the 150 year old hot ghost that shares Suze's bedroom, Jesse---with a knife to Suze's neck, telling Suze to stop her stepdad, Andy, from digging up Jesse's body from her won backyard. Suze has a good idea that when the body of Jesse is discovered she might lose him forever, but she isn't about to help Maria de Silva. Suze knows, however, Maria de Silva will do anything to stop the digging, even if it does mean killing Suze. As Suze digs deeper into the mystery surprising things happen in a world that Suze can't control, and helping Jesse might even risk certain death to herself, but Suze is ready for the challenge. Wow! What can I say? The best Mediator book yet with revelations at every corner that are more shocking that before. This is definitely a pivatol book in the series and a turning point. The cliffhanger ending makes you want the next book like crazy. Unfortunately Haunted: Mediator #5 isn't coming out until January 2003! I am really going to die waiting!!

The Mediator, April 24, 2006
The fourth book of the series The Mediator did not fail to deliver a great and wonderful thrill. Susannah is still trying to live a normal teenage life without any ghosts interfering, besides Jesse her ghost friend that haunts her room. Susannah soon finds out its going to be harder than she thought, when she discovers a young boy who is a mediator just like herself. Things also get worse when she discovers that the young kid's brother Paul has a crush on Susannah.
While she is trying to deal with all this stuff, her stepbrothers accidentally dig up Jesse's dead body in their backyard. Since Jesse's body was discovered Jesse has no reason to stick around in the real world and gets sent to the ghost world. Now Susannah wants to bring Jesse back to the real world, but when Susannah finds out that Jesse was killed by his girlfriend many years ago, Jesse's girlfriend comes back from the dead to try to stop Susannah from finding out anything else. How is Susannah going to get Jesse back and deal with everything that's going on at the same time? Read the book to find out
I loved this book this was the best book of the series so far, because it added new enemies that Susannah has to worry about. I liked this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes mystery and action books. I would also tell them to read the whole series first because they are all good books.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Suze has gotten used to ghosts. She's a mediator, after all, and communicating with the dead is all in a day's work. So she certainly never expected to fall in love with one: Jesse, a nineteenth- century hottie. But when she discovers that she has the power to determine who becomes a ghost in the first place, Suze begins to freak. It means she can alter the course of history ... andprevent Jesse's murder, keeping him from ever becoming a ghost -- and from ever meeting Suze.

Will Jesse choose to live without her, or die to love her?

Reviews

Wonderful sixth book from the Mediator series., September 16, 2004
Sixteen-year-old Suze Simon is a mediator -- a person who can communicate with ghosts and help them move on to the afterlife. And if that isn't enough, lately her life has been getting even more complicated. Suze is in love with Jesse, the ghost who died at her house 150 years ago. But he is dead, and she is alive, so they can never be together. And Paul, a fellow Mediator, is so determined to get Suze to date him that he threatens to do something that will prevent Jesse from ever meeting Suze -- prevent his murder 150 years ago. Paul thinks if Jesse isn't around, Suze will love him. But can mediators really travel through time? And if time travel IS possible, can Suze make the difficult decision to allow Jesse to live out his life in the past -- and doom herself to never meet him?

This book is a thrilling addition to the wonderful Mediator series. I highly recommend it to all fans of Meg Cabot's books. It has lots of action, suspense, romance, and humor, and the story kept me turning the pages, unable to put it down.

Marvelous Addition to 'The Mediator' Series, December 30, 2004
Sixteen-year-old Suze Simon hasn't had it easy since she found out she was a Mediator - a person who has the power to see and speak to ghosts, and must help their spirits move on to the afterlife. And being in love with Jesse, the ghost of a guy who died over 150 years ago in her bedroom, while her home was still being used as a boardinghouse, just adds to the confusion. After all, it's impossible for someone who is dead, to "be with" someone who's alive. Then everything changes when Paul, a fellow Mediator, classmate to Suze, and regular, all-around jerk, threatens to do something to change the way Suze feels about Jesse. Paul plans on going back in time over 150 years to the day that Jesse was killed, to prevent his murder. That way, Suze will have never met him, and Paul can take up residence as her boyfriend. But there's a catch. If Mediators can time travel, then Suze plans on going back in time to make sure that Jesse is murdered, and isn't saved by Paul at all. But watching your one true love die isn't the easiest thing to do, and maybe, just maybe, Suze doesn't have the heart to do it.

I have been a fan of THE MEDIATOR series since Meg Cabot was writing them under the name Jenny Carroll, and my love for the series has never wavered. However, in TWILIGHT, I found that my love for the series actually grew, as I will admit that it is probably the best book in the series. Suze's quick-comeback personality is right on target, while the budding romance between she and Jesse couldn't be sweeter. Paul, once again, makes his mark as the biggest jerk in the world; while everyone's favorite principal, Father Dom, is sympathetic and caring, as always. Overall, this was a fabulous addition to the series that will easily draw in a new group of fans for Cabot.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Meg has done it again!, December 31, 2004
This book has been highly anticipated by Meg Cabot fans. And luckily, the wait has been worth it.
The book not only has a strong, independent, and highly likeable herorine, it is absolutely impossible to put down. Meg's humorous writing makes the book even better.
It makes you cry, laugh, and smile all at the samet time.
I still can't believe it's the last book in the Mediator series. Read them all: Shadowland, Ninth Key, Reunion, Darkest Hour, Haunted, and Twilight!

Totally AWESOME!, May 10, 2006
I've bought all of Meg Cabot's Mediator books in the series, and I have to say that this was my favouritest!!!!!
Meg always writes with sarcastic humor and witty comments, but the mediator is totally different than her other works, at least to me. coz stuck in between the humor and wittiness, he had added a romance that transcended life and death...literally.

the part where I was so touched that I actually cried (yes, i'm sentimental...so sue me) was where Suze didn't want paul to go back and prevent Jess (the ghostly hottie) from dying that fateful night. which meant that Suze would never have had met Jess, and neither would they fall in love with each other. Yet when she saw the 'real' jess, the ALIVE and well Jess, she realized that what she had tried to do was unfair to the guy she really loved, and to quote: 'if you love something, let it go, if it was meant to be, it will come back to you' even though Suze knew perfectly well that the 'will come back to you' part didn't realli apply in this situtation, as Jess wouldn't be able to 'come back' as to say, becoz he wouldn't even remember her. however, suze still made the ''right'' choice *as in ritegeous choice* and decided to tell everything to Jess......Of course Jess didn't believe her *who would?!* yet when she mentioned ''the fact that Jess secretly wished to be a Doctor'', Jess finally believed her............

and I really loved what Suze said when Father Dom told her to let Jess go...::that even though she wouldn't be able to remember Jess, she'd know, deep down, that she's missing something/someone, and that it'll hurt her more than anything...


and the ending of this book was just extraordinary! it was the best ending, in my opinion, that Meg Cabot ever wrote. It was awesome and totally fit the entire series...even though it did come as a surprise for me. I never thought that this was actually an option...^^ I had, somewhat guessed during the series that Suze and Jess might end up together in this way, yet havn't figured out exactly 'how'..hoever, Meg Cabot's explaination was reasonable and not at all far fetched...she even explained how Jess got to the Hospital on time!!

and the ending was just unbelievably fitting! through the entire series, i'd been anticipating how the romance between Suze and Jess would end....somewhat pessimestically actually...
since actually I dispise *and they lived happily ever after* story endings, this one made me feeling some and fluttery inside, as if this was a real life story, and i was watching it unfold infront of ny very own eyes....basictly, I had anticipated the beginning of a romance, ^this strectched on for about 3 volumes^then the *romance* was slightly sour and maybe a little bleak,i mean...the guy's a ghost!.. yet after 4,5 and 9/10 of volume 6, the readers *and the characters*get their much deserved sweetness!!! ^^

so ppl, you've just GOT to read this book!!!!

Loads of fun! Highly recommended! **WARNING: SPOILERS***, May 1, 2005
Run, don't walk, to the bookstore and pick up Meg Cabot's "Mediator" series. Marketed for young adults, this series has enough fun, action, romance, and humor to appeal to people long past their "young adult" days.

Susannah Simon is a mediator, one whose job it is to help the dead resolve the unresolved issues that keep them from passing on to their next life, the afterworld, purgatory, hell, heaven, or wherever they are supposed to go. Too bad it's not a paid position, and "did anybody ask if I WANTED to be a mediator?" As Susannah explains it:

"I guess I should explain. I'm not exactly your typical 16-year old girl. Oh, I seem normal enough, I guess - I don't do drugs, or drink, or smoke. I don't have anything pierced, except my ears, and only once on each earlobe. I don't have any tattoos. I've never dyed my hair. All in all, I am a pretty normal, everyday, American teenage girl.
Except, of course, for the fact that I can talk to the dead. I probably shouldn't put it that way. I should probably say that the dead talk to me. I mean, I don't go around initiating these conversations. In fact, I try to avoid the whole thing as much as possible. It's just that sometimes they won't let me. The ghosts, I mean."

Susannah is sixteen, growing up, concerned about all the teenage things - do I look good, what about boys, do they like me, am I popular in school, etc. The author does a great job of outlining these concerns by having Susannah talk about her thoughts, worries, ideas and plans in first person (all the books are in first person). It's a difficult time for her - as the series opens, she has moved from New York to California - her mother has moved to Northern California to live with her mother's new husband, Andy, a man who has 3 sons. Susannah's father died 10 years ago, and Andy's wife also died some time ago. There's all the concern about a new marriage and a blended family, moving in to a new house, a new school, etc. This doesn't even take into account the ghost who is living in her bedroom!

"'Yeah' I said. 'Yeah, this is my room now. So you're going to have to clear out.' "I'M going to have to clear out?' He raised one black eyebrow. 'This has been my home for a century and a half. Why do I have to leave it?' 'Because,' I said. 'This is my room. I'm not sharing it with some dead cowboy.'"

Half the fun of the books is in the pairing of serious soul-saving with teenage angst. For example, concerns about attire and fashion: (SPOILER WARNING) In book 4 (Darkest Hour) Susannah has to go to the shadow realm (the afterworld?) to rescue her friend who has been trapped there by the machinations of his evil opponents. Father Dominic, her mentor, is a little concerned about her attire: "I looked down at myself. I had changed out of my pink slip dress and into a black one that had little red rosebuds embroidered on it. This I had paired with some totally cute Prada slides. I had had a hard enough time choosing an ensemble. I mean, what do you wear to an exorcism? I totally did not need Father D. dissing my duds."

It's hilarious to read about Susannah's interactions with her three stepbrothers, Sleepy, Dopey, and Doc. At the beginning of the series, she doesn't know them all that well, and thinks of them as some of the Seven Dwarfs from Snow White. As the series progresses, she gets to know them better, and starts using their real names (Jake, Brad, and David). As one who has grown up with teenage brothers, I can relate to her description of their appetites:
"'Really?' I wasn't actually listening to Sleepy. Instead, I was watching Dopey eat, always an awe-inspiring sight. He stuffed one-half an entire bagel in his mouth and seemed to swallow it whole. I wished I had a camera so I could record the event for posterity. Or at least prove to the next girl who declared my stepbrother a babe how wrong she was. I watched as, without lifting his gaze from the newspaper spread out before him, Dopey stuffed the other half of the bagel into his mouth, and again without chewing, ingested it, the way snakes devour rats."

Jake (Sleepy), the eldest stepbrother, is a sort of neutral character, who respects Susannah and mostly stays out of her way. Brad (Dopey) doesn't get along, tries to lord it over her, and gets regularly punched in the stomach for his troubles. David (Doc) the youngest, is a super-brainy kid who actually knows a little bit about what Susannah is doing and that she can see ghosts.

By the end of the series (SPOILER WARNING) the stepbrothers are calling Susannah's mother "Mom" and Andy is sort of taking the place of Susannah's father. (There is a touching scene in Book 6 (Twilight) about Susannah meeting with the ghost of her father for the last time).

Characters are well-drawn, including CeeCee and Adam (Suze's best friends at school), Father Dominic (the principal of the school and another mediator!), various boyfriends ranging from clueless to evil, and of course the romantic Jesse de Silva, the ghost in her bedroom, who over the series becomes more and more important to Susannah (and she to him.) But can their love flourish? At the end of Book 5 (Haunted):

"Jesse wanted to know. 'After what happened between us, Susannah, how could I stay?' 'What happened between us? What do you mean?' 'That kiss.' He let go of my hand, so suddenly that I stumbled. 'How could I stay?' Jesse demanded. 'Father Dominic was right. You need to be with someone your family and your friends can actually SEE. You need to be with someone who can grow old with you. You need to be with someone ALIVE.'"

Read Book 6 (Twilight) to find out how the course of true love ne'er does run smooth!

Wonderful Ending To A Great Series! SO Beautiful! (HUGE Spoiler Warning), April 8, 2006
The sixth and final book in the Mediator Series, Twilight, is so wonderful. Jesse and Suze's love for each other is put to the test when Paul threatens to go back in time to make sure Diego never killed Jesse, so Jesse could live.... So Jesse and Suze could never meet each other. When Suze goes back in time after Paul to prevent this from hapeening, she realizes that she can't do it... she has to let him live. After Jeese kills Diego himself and Paul, Suze, and Jesse get stuck in the middle of a fire-- resulting with Jesse saving Suze-- she accidentally takes him backto the present time with her. He's weak, and hardly what you can consider alive. They take him to a hospital and Jesse's spirit comes to say one last goodbye to her, and..... Well I won't ruin the WHOLE book for you.

Action and Romance But No Ghosts, January 29, 2006
Suze is back and once again there are no ghosts to mediate in the story. The is one just before the story opens but it is very minor to the story. Instead we have the continued story of Suze and Paul. Paul is making hints of threats and they seem to be aimed at Jessie.

Paul and his grandfather have made discoveries about mediators that no one else seems to know about. One of these talents is something Paul hopes to use to eliminate Jessie as a rival. Paul plans to travel back in time to prevent Jessie from being murdered and turned into a ghost. Then Suze and Jessie will never meet. Can Suze stop him? Should She? What would Jessie do?

Suze has to go through some real soul searching in this one. It also may go further to explain one of the inconsistencies in Jessie's history that was overlooked (or foreshadowed) in an earlier volume. I guess we will have to wait and see. But the rest of the book is strongly written with great character development. We need more but I fear it will be a while before another book in the series.

Great Last Book!!!!!!, June 23, 2005
This book was so awesome! I loved the relationship between Suze and Jesse soooooo much!!! How she didn't want to lose him and he didn't want to leave her was really sweet. I love the fact that he is so protective of her and won't let her be in harm's way because of him.

If anyone wants to know what this book is about the you better keep reading. Paul ( the evil but hot guy) tries to get rid of Jesse by making sure he doesn't die in the first place. So this way Suze will never even met Jesse! ( Shocking I know!) When Suze hears this of course she is absolutly heartbroken. But I won't tell you everything that happens, some of it is a surprise. But I really loved the ending it was soooo sweet. Jesse loves Suze so much any girl would want a relationship like that. Especially me! You really need to read this book it is so good. And don't just skip to the ending make sure you read it all the way through because there are alot of surprises and romantic moments. Meg Cabot is the best and I recommend all of her books! Another winner from Meg Cabot. I'm just sad that it's the last book of the series. But if I have my facts wrong and its not the last book then somebody please tell me. A great book go read it!

The Perfect Ending, February 1, 2005
I love all of Meg Cabot's romance books (The Princess Diaries) but I was leery of the Mediator series because I tend to be a scaredy cat when it comes to books about ghosts. I'm so glad I went ahead and read the books anyways. I quickly got wrapped up in the story of Suze Simon who not only can see and speak to the dead but happens to have a totally hot 19th century ghost, Jesse living in her bedroom. Throughout the series there are some parts that make you jump but for the most part these books are just as funny and romantic as her other books.
Twilight is the last book in the series and is by far the best. When Paul Slater, a cute mediator who wants to date Suze, begins teaching her how to fully utilize her abilities, she discovers they can travel through time. Unfortunately for Suze, Paul wants to test this out by going back in time to prevent Jesse her ghost boyfriend from being murdered, meaning they would never meet. Suze vows to do everything in her power to prevent that from happening. However, can she really watch her one true love die before her eyes?
The book was so good I had to read the last couple of pages again because I couldn't read through the tears. It's the perfect ending for the series. You won't regret buying any of the books in the series.

WOW!!! Meg Cabot rocks another one!!!, November 10, 2005
Twilight, book six of the meediator series is an amazing, witty, tale of ghostly adventure, impossible romance, beating the odds and having to make the hardest decision of all. Main Character Susanah Simon, 16 year old mediator, can see and speak to the dead. She has to help them move on to their next life, or heaven, or hell, or whatever comes after death. Suze unwittingly falls in love with Jesse De Silva, a hot ninteenth century ghost who was murderd in her bedroom about 150 years before. She is angry with her self for having fallen in love with a ghost. I mean, What kind of future can you have with a guy who is already dead? She is in love Jesse, and he is in love with her, but Paul, another mediator
(who is quite evil, even his own grandfather calls him the spawn of the devil), likes Suze- and knows how to send Jesse on for good. Soon Paul figures out a to go back in time and stop Jesse from being killed. This is all fine and dandy but if Jesse isn't killed that night he and Susanah will never meet. Suze is determined to stop Paul ripping Jesse- and even the memory of him- from her. But that saying "If you love somthing set it free, and if it was ment to be, it will come back to you" runs though her head. She follows Paul back to the past to try to stop him. Will she be able to go though with it and watch the man she loves be killed? This is an amazing book that is a really excelent read. Meg Cabot did a phonominal job writing this novel. I would recomend this book to anyone (of the female persuasion especialy). This is an excelent book for teens. I really enjoyed it. ... Read more