Between the Devil and the Deep Blue SeaAuthor: April Genevieve Tucholke
Publisher: Dial, 360 pages
Publication Date: August 13, 2013
From Goodreads:
Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.
Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?
Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back.
Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.
Review:
GORGEOUS WRITING. I don't usually notice the writing, but the prose is beautiful. It adds to the atmospheric and dreamy quality of this book.
Dark and disturbing but also seductive in the sense that Violet (and everyone) is drawn to River, that crooked-smiling liar, even though he may be evil.
I loved the fact that Violet is so eccentric, wearing her dead grandmother's clothes, etc. I loved the setting, the old rambling house on the sea and the small town of Echo.
Very unique paranormal elements to this book.
Really enjoyed this one.
Between the Spark and the BurnPublication Date: April 14, 2014
From Goodreads:
The crooked-smiling liar River West Redding, who drove into Violet's life one summer day and shook her world to pieces, is gone. Violet and Neely, River's other brother, are left to worry—until they catch a two a.m. radio program about strange events in a distant mountain town. They take off in search of River but are always a step behind, finding instead frenzied towns, witch hunts, and a wind-whipped island with the thrum of something strange and dangerous just under the surface. It isn't long before Violet begins to wonder if Neely, the one Redding brother she thought trustworthy, has been hiding a secret of his own...
Review:
Again, absolutely beautiful writing.
Still just as creepy, but a different setting as the group searches for River.
Just when I thought it couldn't get any weirder, it did. So much madness. Unexpected twists and turns, I have to admit I did not see certain things coming and she took some characters in directions I wasn't prepared for and I'm still not sure what to think about.
So good…but I have to admit, there were times when I was confused about what was happening. There are scenes where I'm pretty sure the characters were having sex, but not positive.
The ending. Open.
I. Have. So. Many. Questions!
I definitely recommend this series, and if you read it, contact me so we can discuss!
Posted by: Pam
This is on my TBR so I'm happy to hear it was good! Great reviews, Pam!
ReplyDeleteI read the first one, it was so different. It was creepy, gothic and dark but the second book has kinda fallen off my radar. When I finally read it, I will let you know so we can discuss :)
ReplyDeleteAshley @ The Quiet Concert
I read the first book, but it was too creepy for me. Of course I couldn't put it down and was finishing it early morning with the house quiet and dark. Lol! I'm glad you've liked it. I just couldn't do it. Unless... Is the second one less violent than the first? And that brother!!! He's just scary evil.
ReplyDelete