William Morrow | March 2020 | 384 pgs
Source: Purchased
First off, let me say My Dark Vanessa was NOT an easy read. Its dark and disturbing themes would unsettle any reader, yet it also features a few important and thought-provoking subjects which I think anyone shouldn't ignore.
In a nutshell, this story is about the psychological dynamics of the relationship between a 15-year-old precocious, innocent girl and a 42-year-old magnetic yet manipulative teacher. Jacob Strane makes use of Vanessa's innocence and vulnerabilities and disguise his predatory and manipulative advances towards her as a twisted form of "forbidden love". Vanessa, being a pure in heart and a precocious girl, falls into his trap and eventually come out as a changed and an emotionally damaged woman who still sees their relationship as something innocuous even she's now thirty-two and working as a concierge clerk at a hotel. Vanessa's present life is in no way better than the past despite she hasn't been in contact with Strane for a while and she's seeing a therapist for grief after the loss of her father. It's until the news of Taylor Birch going public with the allegations of abuse over Strane that Vanessa finds herself back into Strane's life; for the latter wants her reassurance that she'll remain on his side, in which Vanessa has assured him that she has no intention of putting him in an unfavourable situation. Thereafter begins the flashbacks of Vanessa's school life and her interactions with Jacob Strane, who was her English teacher then; alongside alternating with the present 2017 in which the reader learn about Vanessa's struggles in life and that no relationship seems like "normal" after Strane. What most heartbreaking is, young Vanessa allows herself to see that their relationship is more of a forbidden romantic affair than an abusive one and these thoughts follow her till her adulthood though occasionally she still think about him and question what he'd done to her.
My Dark Vanessa is a well-written piece of work despite the dark and disturbing theme. The author has done a great job in capturing the atmosphere of Browick School and its school system, as well as the characters' thoughts and emotions (especially Vanessa's fragile state of mind, both as a teenager and an adult). While this storyline comprises issues such as sexual abuse, power and manipulation, it also depicts the pressure the abused victims have to face as they brave in front of the public for justice and support though there are also some who are quick to judge and think otherwise. Although this is a work of fiction, sadly what happened in this story DO happen in reality and there are victims who are like Vanessa, who feel it's their fault instead of the men who manipulate and abuse them. This book isn't a fun read (I'd to set the book aside to take some breaks before continuing my reading) but it's also a powerful and a thought-provoking book which portrays the issues of today's society.
Last but not least, I want to thank Lark for "walking" through this dark reading journey with me. This book is our most difficult read among our buddy reads to date but we don't regret reading it. We decided to skip the questions this time around but we'll still continue with this feature for our next buddy reads. And finally, do visit Lark's blog for her thoughts about this book!
© 2020 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Park Row | May 2020 | 336 pgs
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
1995, Grotto, Iowa. 16-year-old Eve Knox was found in the caves after her family reported her missing. Based from the injuries of her body, the police suspected she was assaulted and then murdered. Her best friend, Maggie, and her sister, Nola, were the first to discover Eve's body and initial speculation was pointed to her then boyfriend, Nick. The two girls knew about his abusive behaviours towards Eve although Eve had tried to keep mum about the issue. But Nick had an alibi and as much as Nola was family to Eve, her strange characteristic and her obsession in animal dissecting practices easily make her a suspect but there wasn't any sufficient evidence pointed to her either. Maggie's father was the chief investigator who was in-charge of this investigation but with no clues and evidence the case was ultimately left unresolved.
Twenty-five years later, Maggie's father retired and has amnesia. Maggie is now a detective herself and even though she is married and is pregnant with a seven-month baby, it doesn't deter her from doing her job. Maggie has not forgotten about that fateful night and what happened to her best friend so when a new piece of evidence surrounding Eve was found, Maggie knew she has to reopen the case and to find out what really happened to Eve. As Maggie investigates, she begins to encounter problems as not only she receives strange items but also someone tries to burn down her barn. Apparently someone wants her to stop the investigations but Maggie has delved into the case too deeply. Plus, she has to check out something which she'd missed two decades ago.
Told in three narratives between the present and the past, this story explores the complex relationship between friends and family (how much do you know them, really?); secrets and deceptions, as well as teenage angst and abusive relationship. The characters are mostly flawed and while some are sympathetic, I've to say many of them have secrets and thus make the reader hard to like and believe them and this is where there are red herrings, twists and turns because every turn of events will make you change the suspect and have you wondering about their motive. This is my second Heather Gudenkauf book after Not a Sound and both books are compelling and unputdownable in my opinion, though I liked this one a little bit more due to the intriguing characters.
© 2020 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
St. Martin's Publishing Group | August 2019 | 320 pgs
Source: Library
The title may sound like a non-fiction but this is actually an uplifting and inspiring story that explores about family, forgiveness and love.
Cassie Hanwell is one tough woman. Being the only female firefighter with the Austin Fire Department, she works extra hard not only she loves her job but also as her life focus ever since her mother left her and her father on her sixteenth birthday. That day changed her mindset about trusting people and while she's good in dealing with emergencies, she's never good in connecting with others although she has a great comradeship with her colleagues. She's on her path towards promotion until two things turned her world upside down. First, upon seeing the city councilman who's going to present her with a valor award and he was the guy who's hurt her badly in high school. Then, her estranged mother called and said she needs her to move to Massachusetts given her eye problems.
"Choosing to love -- despite all the ways that people let you down, and disappear, and break your heart. Knowing everything we know about how hard life is and choosing to love anyway . . . That's not weakness. That's courage." ~ Pg 59
Cassie is reluctant to forgive her mother given she'd left them years ago. On top of it, she didn't want to leave her current place but her career with the Austin Fire Department is gone (she refused to apologise to the councilman after what he'd done to her on stage). Through her superior's recommendation, she ends up at Lillian Fire Department in Massachusetts; a smaller station which pale in comparison in all aspects and worst of all, the chief doesn't really think highly of women firefighters but is willing to take her in because they're short-staffed. So Cassie ends up moving into her mother's house and start her new life.
Cassie soon finds out that she's not the only newbie but there's a rookie who's joining Lillian FD, too. Being the only female and her capabilities in doubt, Cassie works extra hard to prove herself and along the drills and other works, she discovers that Owen Callaghan (who is often called the "rookie" more than his name) is nothing like his other subordinates. For starters, he treats her as an equal and even better, acknowledge her skills. Back at home, her relationship with her mother is lukewarm but as the days go, she soon finds out the real reason behind her mother's request.
This book evoked so much emotions in me during my reading journey. I admired Cassie's spirit and I think she'd made all women proud for undertaking a male dominated job and excelled in it. Her relationship with Owen, as well as the moments with her mother are both bittersweet to read. There may be some scenes which are cheesy or cliché, but to me how the book made me feel and reflect usually have me overlook them. I enjoyed this book a lot and would definitely check out the other books by this author.
© 2019 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Doubleday | April 2019 | 368 pgs
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
During the 1920s in Hartsboro, a woman named Hattie Breckenridge was accused of witchery and was hanged. Hattie was merely a woman who had the ability to foresee the future. When she predicted that there would be a fire, no one believed her until tragedy struck. Her daughter escaped since Hattie predicted it and as a result the community blamed Hattie. No one knew what happened to Hattie's daughter after Hattie was hanged and the case was closed but never forgotten.
Back to its present 2015, Helen and Nate left their comfortable suburban home and their teaching jobs to a rural land in Hartsboro where they build the house of their dreams. While they are excited of the project and their new life, their friends think otherwise. Helen and Nate never look back to their old life and immersed themselves in building their dream house. Then Helen discovers that the property they took over has a dark and violent past and this begins her interest and her intensive research.
On the other end, 14-year-old Olive is in search of her mother, who is believed to have ran off with another man. Olive doesn't want to believe in the rumours; she and her mother are closed and she's always enjoyed hearing stories from her about Hattie and her treasures. Her crossing path with Helen leads them to unearth the history of Hattie's tragic past as well as her descendants and how these three generations of the Breckenridge women had all died amidst suspicion; in which both Helen and Olive would find out the horrifying truths eventually.
Jennifer McMahon's past novel, The Winter People, has left a deep impression on me. It was an atmospheric and a creepy story that blends between the 20th century and the present day. The Invited has the same vibe with a sense of a mystery surrounding the ghost story but what stands out is not only the spooky Hattie but also the stories of her descendants and even Olive, too. The story was mostly narrated between Helen and Olive in the present and a few others of the past but the former took up the most narrative of this book.
And as much as this is a ghost story, it's also very much of a family story which spans from three generations, all involving the Breckenridge women. Not intending to spoil the story, all I could say is I was immensely hooked by the mystery. I didn't expect a twist either but there it is. This will be my second favourite McMahon book with The Winter People as my first. Let's hope her next book will surpass these two.
© 2019 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Penguin Publishing Group | January 2019 | 384 pgs
Source: Library
The story opens with Seraphine Mayes uncovering a family photograph while she's going through her late father's belongings. Seraphine's father, Dominic, fell while fixing the roof; leaving his three grown up children behind. Seraphine has lots of memories of her childhood living at Summerbourne, their family estate on the Norfolk coast. After all, she and her twin brother, Danny, were born in the middle of summer there.
Looking back at the photo she's holding, she realises that something is amiss. The photo was taken on the day the twins were born; and it showed their late mother, seated between her husband and their older brother, Edwin. However, she was captured holding just one baby instead of two. Seraphine has never seen her mother; from what she knew their mother threw herself from the cliffs just within hours of their birth. No one really knows what happened that day. In order to uncover the mystery surrounding the photo as well as their mother's death, Seraphine decided that the best person she could ask is Edwin's au pair, Laura. But first, she needs to track down Laura since there hasn't been any news of her since the tragedy at Summerbourne. And the mystery soon gets more complicated as Seraphine finds someone leaving her warning signs to stop her investigations.
This first novel by Emma Rous sucked me in right from the beginning till the end with a cast of intriguing characters and a well developed plot. And, I've no idea what to categorise this book as it combines mystery with domestic noir. As readers, we learn about this story through Seraphine's and Laura's eyes set in present 2017 and 1991 respectively. Both perspectives and timelines are an interesting read, but I was more drawn to Laura's voice. Laura works as an au pair partly because she wants to prove to her mother and her mother's partner that she could be independent while earning some money for her studies. She has no experience as an au pair but she's well liked by Ruth and young Edwin. And the more she gets to know the family she soon realises that Summerbourne not only has history but secrets as well. And speaking of Summerbourne, I've to say it is a character on its own. I was enamoured by its coastal beauty and the countryside atmosphere. Although this is very much about the mystery surrounding the missing twin in the picture, actually I felt it is much more on the family dynamics and the relationship between the Mayes' family and Laura. An impressive first novel and I'm definitely will be on the look out for the author's next release.
© 2019 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Penguin Publishing Group | March 2018 | 384 pgs
Source: Purchased
My blogger friend, Lark and I, decided to kick off the new year by reading Alma Katsu's The Hunger together and boy, what a good book it is! If you are familiar with the true event of the series of misfortunes and tragedy that struck the wagon train known as the Donner Party set in 1846-7, this book will interest you as it is a retelling of that historic event with a horror twist. The author mentioned that the names, locations, and dates have remained but much else has been changed to fit the story. I won't go into details of the true event on this review but if you're interested to read more, please click here.
During that period, a group of ninety people, consisted of men, women and young children as well, travelled from Springfield to California via route West; each family harboured a different dream in the hope of finding a better life. Amid the travel, the disappearance and the death of a small boy rippled their once peaceful atmosphere. To make matters worse, talks about an Indian tribe that is rumoured to perform human sacrifice to appease the devil further disturb the party. Tamsen Donner, the wife of George Donner, who took up the leadership role of the wagon party, wasn't spare either as some thought of her as a witch; both in concocting herbs and/or bewitching men. Whether it was her curse, their later ill-advised choice of an untested route through uncharted terrain or just plain bad luck, they soon found themselves stuck in dire and dangerous situations where aside from their fear and hunger, human nature under desperate circumstances is equally potent in setting one against another and before long they would all head into a disastrous route of no return.
Alma Katsu is a great storyteller. Taken the past event as the base of this story and through research and some re-imagination, she transformed the already harrowing experience of the original Donner Party into something more sinister with a horror element - something vague which question the reader what kind of horror that plagued them and pushed them to the brink of madness. Ms. Katsu's characters are fleshed out and she captured that foreboding and atmospheric feeling very well; meanwhile adding some backstory of a few characters so as to incorporate their emotions and how they will come to affect their outlook and judgement during their perilous journey. While many of the characters get more and more unlikable as the story progresses (a self-defense act I suppose), I do like one or two characters due to their characteristics. Overall it was a great read and I'd recommend this to anyone.
Below are some questions from Lark and my answers surrounding this story. I hope you'll visit Lark's blog for her review and the Q&A after reading this post. (Thank you, Lark, for this buddy read again!)
1. What if anything did you know about the Donner Party before you started reading this book?
I didn't know about the Donner Party until I came across this book and understand from other reviews that this was actually based on a true story. I was already fascinated by the blurb then and it was a great thing when Lark and I decided to read it for our next buddy read. Before starting the book, I Googled for more information regarding this unfortunate party and how their journey came about up till how it all ended up in tragedy. It was both so sad and horrifying.
2. If you had to team up with 3 characters from this book in order to survive, who would you choose and why?
Without a doubt, I'd team up up with Charles Stanton, Mary Graves and Elitha Donner. I choose Charles because he was the most practical and level-headed among all the men there; and he chose to use words first than fists when there are any disagreements and confrontations. As for Mary and Elitha, I chose them because both of them are sensible and are not afraid to voice their thoughts, in particularly Mary. I've to say she's my favourite character among all.
© 2019 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
HarperCollins Publishers | October 2018 | 480 pgs
Source: Library
This first novel of the Crown of Shards fantasy series tells a story of a royal family dynamics, politics and conspiracies with the combinations of magic and a hint of romance.
Lady Everleigh Blair lost her parents since young. Although she's seventeenth in line for the throne, her role in the royal court of Bellona is nothing but an assistant to the cook master. In their realm whereby one's magical power determines one's worth (i.e. magier, master and morph), Evie is considered the lowest since she's a mutt with no magical power. Her only strength is her enhanced sense of smell and the ability to be immuned of magic but no one knows of the latter since her late mother had warned her to keep it as a secret for her own good.
Bellona is a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition so it is not uncommon for a woman to have battling skills. Evie is no warrior, but her cousin Vasilia, who's the crown princess, is a skilled warrior and once upon a time they were close with each other until Evie learnt that it was all a lie. Evie steers clear from her path thereafter, and Vasilia couldn't care less considering she has big plans ahead. Although Vasilia's mother, Queen Cordelia, intends to marry her off to the prince of Andvari for Bellona's benefits and further securing the ties between the two kingdoms; Vasilia, on the other end, has already planned to assassinate the Queen and take the throne by force.
After the massacre, Evie escapes with the help of her secret immunity. For survival and a plan to avenge for the Bellona people, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. While the troupe perform to amuse, several of them are actually highly trained warriors. There, Evie met a few interesting people, in particularly Lucas Sullivan, a magier who seemed to have some secrets of his own. As she trains with the troupe, she soon learn more about the troupe leader, Serilda, who used to be the late Queen's royal guard and how the troupe came about.
I was totally fascinated with the world building and the cast of characters in this book. Add in a dose of magic and some actions and I was hooked. There's nothing that I didn't love about this story; except that Evie may be too much of a risk taker at times. Then again, a warrior is one who shouldn't be afraid to take risks, especially if she has the best of heart for others. I also enjoyed the banter between Evie and Lucas; although there isn't much romantic chemistry between them, yet, I'm hoping to see there's some changes in the next installment, Protect the Prince.
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
William Morrow | August 2018 | 416 pgs
Source: Library
Have you heard of the term "dark sky park"? I haven't until I read this book. Basically it's a park that offers dazzling views of the Constellations and the Milky Way with minimal lightings so as to keep the area as natural as possible (for more information click here.) In this story, the author had chosen Headlands International Dark Sky Park in Mackinaw City, Michigan as the model for the fictional Straits Point International Dark Sky Park.
Thirtyish Eden Wallace is a photographer who'd lost her husband, Bix, to a car accident. Before Bix's death, Eden is a person who doesn't have much drive or motivation when her ambition is concerned. This is partly due to Bix's job as an Army, which often requires him to travel and with her following around, it is hard to settle on something permanent. Now that Bix is gone, Eden finds no reason for any motivation and also plagued by night terrors there isn't a night she goes to sleep without the lights on. However one day, she finds paperwork in her husband's effects indicating that he reserved a week under the stars in a dark sky park meant for their tenth anniversary. Despite her paralysing phobia of the dark, Eden proceeds to the destination.
What she thought was a private retreat in a guest suite at Straits Point International Dark Sky Park turns out to be a group stay as there was a mistake made by the reception. Eden isn't keen to be stuck with six twentysomethings for their college reunion, so she decides to stay for a night and head home the next day. However, one of the six was later found murdered and Eden's hope of going home is dashed. While they are forced to remain at the guest house for the investigation, Eden discovered that the group's friendship isn't what she has thought initially as they each seem to harbour some secrets of their own. Now everyone becomes a suspect, including Eden herself. But what most bothered Eden is aside from the tricky situation she's in, she also discovered some secrets surrounding Bix before his death.
Under a Dark Sky was a brilliant locked-room mystery which had my attention from the beginning till the end, especially given the setting and not to mention a cast of intriguing characters. Eden was an interesting character, to say the least, and she carried lots of emotional baggage since the death of her husband and the things she's gone through thereafter. The rest of the characters are a mysterious lot, and while I was curious to know the murderer and his/her motive, I've to say this book was actually very much about Eden as there's also a storyline about herself and her late husband that are woven into the murder mystery's core. A gripping read and I'd recommend this book to readers who love a good mystery (or two).
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Picador | July 2018 | 352 pgs
Source: Library
In her latest release, Give Me Your Hand, Megan Abbott has weaved a compelling story about secrets and the beauty and complexity of female friendship between our two protagonists, Kit Owens and Diane Fleming.
Kit first knew Diane when they were both in high school cross-country camp. Kit's first impression of Diane is that she is both intelligent and a driven girl. Diane seems to excel in almost everything, and she comes from a wealthy family to boot. Kit, on the other hand, wasn't as driven and it was Diane who had fueled the ambition into her after they were both in the same AP Chemistry class. At that time, there was the "Dr. Lena Severin Stem Scholarship for Women in Science" program and Kit remembers her as the first female scientist she'd met during a talk for their summer science program. Kit and Diane's friendship began to grow after they'd found their shared ambition but then it was later ripped apart after Diane told Kit about her secret - a terrible thing which she'd done.
After they'd gone their separate ways after graduation, Kit has now risen to the top of her profession as she works for Dr. Severin and her team for a two-year study of PMDD (Premenstrual dysphoric disorder). However, with limited funds and such there will be only two staff who would be given the grant. Aside from Dr. Severin, Kit is the only female in the group and given her gender and her hard work all these times she thinks she has a higher chance of getting it ... until Diane joins their group.
After all the years which passed between them, Kit remains the only one who has known Diane's secret. But now Diane knows something about Kit too after an incident which may threaten Kit's career. Who will go down first?
I don't think I've come across any author who has written such a fascinating yet complicated female friendship like Megan Abbott. She has captured all the intricateness and darkness between Kit and Diane's friendship as well as their similarities and differences through their dreams and personalities. As much as I was intrigued by the two women's ambition and desire, I think the other thing which captivated me is about the difficulties and the challenges faced by women working in a male-dominated field. To be on par with their male counterparts, they work extra hard and push themselves harder even though they are not inferior to them in so many ways. And again, Ms. Abbott has beautifully captured that kind of feeling and atmosphere through our three female characters, including the cool, mighty Dr. Severin.
This book is a slow-burn for a thriller, but it's intriguing and an unputdownable one for characters development, the felicity and complications between female friendship as well as the subject of PMDD.
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Penguin | July 2018 | 512 pgs
Source: Library
I love stories with a school/college setting and all the more with alternating timelines and a various set of narratives. This story is basically about a 17-year-old Charlotte "Charlie" Calloway's search for the truth surrounding her mother's disappearance ten years ago as well as her school life at the prestigious Knollwood Augustus Prep.
When Charlie was seven, her mother, Grace, left home and never returned. Although Charlie's father, Alistair Calloway, was initially suspected for Grace's disappearance, there was no evidence to point that he is guilty. The Calloways have slowly put this unsolved mystery behind them and move forward until Charlie receives a note from her Uncle Hank, who is Grace's elder brother. Charlie rarely contact her mother's family so she is intrigued about his request to meet her. Her meeting with Uncle Hank has once again filled her with questions surrounding Grace's disappearance, for he believes there is something more than meets the eye after he has found a stack of photographs of Grace as well as Charlie and her younger sister, Seraphina, when they were small. The only thing that stood out is a note written in capital letters, I KNOW.
But this is not the only thing that troubles Charlie. At Knollwood Prep there is a secret society of sorts called the A's has tagged her to become an initiate into the group. Although no one really know who the members are, they are all aware that the members have some sort of authoritative power and those who are tagged to become one of them has to perform a task within their allocated time or else they will be outed by the group. Most often, the tasks they are assigned to have consequences and are of risk of expulsion if they are caught. As much as Charlie is intrigued by the group, she doesn't approve of the tasks they are asked to do. Then, there are also rumours about a student who had committed suicide years ago and Charlie soon learns that he used to be friends with her parents back then.
(Look at the book! At first glance it already makes you wonder about the story, isn't it?)
All These Beautiful Strangers is Elizabeth Klehfoth's first novel and I've to say it was well written and I was hooked by this multi-layered mystery from the beginning till the end. The combination of the two timelines and multiple narratives work wonderfully in this story and I was equally invested in these two setups. The characterisations are well developed though they are all flawed. Overall I enjoyed this YA thriller and I'll certainly look out for this author's next book.
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Ecco Press | May 2014 | 260 pgs
Source: Library
"Under no circumstances will either one of you remove your blindfold. If you do, I will hurt you. Do you understand?"
For four and a half years, Malorie and her two young children have not stepped out of their house near the river. Because there is something out there and whatever this is it must not be seen. There are news that one glimpse of it and a person is driven to deadly violence. Those who have seen will kill anyone around them before killing themselves. No one really knows what it is and how it happened but like a disease it has spread quickly and afar.
Before the children, Malorie had seeked refuge at a stranger's place which housed a few others survivors like her. Tom, who took on the role as a leader, had guided and supported the five other housemates, including Malorie, like his family. During those torturous years, they lived on canned foods, and Tom and Jules had risked their lives to go out to search for food while blindfolded. Like a blind man, they relied on their instincts and broomsticks and each time they are back they all count themselves lucky for escaping death and whatever was lurking out there. Until Gary, a newcomer, stepped into their house and changed everything.
Bird Box was a frightening read on many aspects. First of all, the unknown. Like the characters, the reader has no idea what the threat is. Is the "thing" a man, an animal or a creature? All we know is, it is scary and it could mess up your mind and make you kill. Interweaving between the past and the present, we learn that fear comes in various forms, and that our minds can be a scary thing. And despite the darkness we also see some light through Tom's courage and the things he's done for his housemates. This book will appease readers who like reading about the apocalyptic world with a dose of horror. A soon-to-be film starring Sandra Bullock, Sarah Paulson, Rosa Salazar, and John Malkovich.
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Bloomsbury Publishing | April 2018 | 352 pgs
Source: Library
Retellings can be tricky. Most often they offer a fresh perspective from the originals but if not done well they could be a miss. In Madeline Miller's Circe (Orange Prize-winning author of The Song of Achilles), I'm glad to say it not only offers an interesting perspective based from the Greek mythology but also it has a few underlying themes which I felt to be quite moving.
Circe is the daughter of Helios. He is the god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans. Unlike her other siblings, Circe is often cast as an outsider due to her mortal voice. Her looks isn't outstanding and in the eyes of the gods, she is only a plain nymph and that she is noticeable because she is Helios' daughter.
"The thought was this: that all my life had been murk and depths, but I was not a part of that dark water. I was a creature within it."
Then an unexpected act out of anger and jealousy had her exiled in a remote island, Aiaia. Out of boredom, Circe finds herself immersed in growing herbs and making use of them in her witchcraft (a specialty which she isn't aware until later). The days go by and countless ships had stopped by her island and she'll give the sailors food and wine but she'll turn them into swine should they dare to touch her. Life goes on until mortal Odysseus' arrival disrupt her isolated life and to protect what she holds dear, Circe will have to decide between the deities world where she belongs and the mortals she has come to love and protect.
"I thought once that gods are the opposite of death, but I see now they are more dead than anything, for they are unchanging, and can hold nothing in their hands."
Circe is a beautiful story. I loved Madeline Miller's storytelling and her prose; I loved that Circe has elements that vary from Greek mythology (yes, there are conflicts and there are obstacles which come in various forms) to coming-of-age and to love and kinship. Most of all, I liked Circe, the narrator, for her courage and her strong determination despite she made mistakes and that she is not afraid of dangers and consequences. Though a goddess, she has a mortal's heart which differ her from other deities.
I could go on and on, but this is a story you have to read it yourself and experience the journey (all the more if you love Greek mythology).
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Thomas & Mercer | May 2018 | 364 pgs
Source: Library
Set in a town of Beddmawr* in North Wales, this is a story about the disappearance of 8-year-old Lily Marsh and a horror novelist who is obsessed with finding out the truth surrounding her disappearance.
Two years ago, Michael Marsh was drowned while trying to save his daughter at River Dee. According to North Wales Police, Lily had run ahead out of sight and by the time they noticed she was missing, it was all too late. Her toy cat was found floating in the river, prompting Michael to jump in. Since Lily's body was never found, Julia thinks she might be alive and this has keep her moving on. She has then turned their house as a writers' retreat to sustain the cost of living and she has three guests under her roof when horror novelist, Lucas Radcliffe, joins them.
Lucas used to live in Beddmawr when he was a boy; but his real reason for revisiting is that he is hoping to rediscover his voice as he is stuck with his book and what's better place to find peace than your childhood home? However, within days of his arrival, the peace of the retreat is shattered by a series of eerie events. The other three writers claimed they'd heard something - someone's singing within the walls and when they confronted Julia it wasn't her. Then Lucas's pen and mobile phone have gone missing and by that point he was already invested in little Lily's disappearance after Googling the Marsh's family tragedy and he is keen to find out the mystery, to the extent of hiring a private investigator himself.
But Beddmawr is a small community where everyone knows everyone; and to complicate matters there have been legends that a Red Widow in the woods will hunt a girl every thirty-five years and Lily is believed to be one of her victims. Lucas didn't know what to believe yet he couldn't explain the strange things which are happening at the retreat. Yet as he digs deeper, he soon learns that Beddmawr has a dark secret and it might cost him his life should he continue with his investigation.
You know, I love a suspense with a bit of folklore or supernatural element connecting to it and this book was a treat because it was simply unputdownable. This book was haunting not only of the atmospheric setting of a secluded retreat but also how family dynamics, betrayal and superstitious minds could lead to frightening consequences. A great story with a cast of intriguing characters. I'll have to check out this author's work be it new or old.
* Under the author's note, Beddmawr is stated as a fictional site but if you want to find where it'd exist in map, it's very close to Llangollen in Denbighshire.
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Bantam Press | May 2018 | 352 pgs
Source: Library
This is the first book I read by Belinda Bauer and certainly not my last. To begin with, I loved how well executed this story is and how the characters made me feel throughout my reading journey. It may not have lots of twists and turns or a shocking ending which seems to be the current "in" thing for the thrillers genre, but I do miss a good old-fashioned suspense now and then and most of all, how much I rooted for the character despite his flaws and everything.
In 1998, eleven-year-old Jack Bright and his two siblings are sitting in their broken-down car while their pregnant mother left them to make an emergency call. She told Jack to be in charge and that she wouldn't be long. But time stretches and she is still not back. Worried and unwilling to sit in the stifling car any longer, Jack and his siblings decided to go look for their mother and found a dangling receiver at the telephone box instead. Later, they soon learned that their mother was brutally murdered and her body was found. Devastated, Jack's father left home and never returns after the tragedy and once again, Jack is left in charge of his siblings. To avoid being sent off to social services care, Jack and his siblings try to uphold a "happy family" image by giving others impression that their father's working hours are often unstable. With the help of an eccentric friend, Jack masters burglary so as to feed his siblings. Until one day a house he has broken into shake his equilibrium - a knife he is certain which killed his mother is found in the house.
DCI John Marvel used to be a homicide detective but was forced out by a single unfortunate incident that had resulted in the death of a suspect fleeing custody. As penance for his supposed transgression, he is now working alongside with DS Reynolds on burglary cases. Marvel has not given up hope on his so-called demotion yet as he works on the Goldilocks case; in which the burglar earns this nickname by making himself at home before he escape with his loot.
What turns out to be a different thread with no connection takes a turn as the story progresses and this is where the story becomes intriguing. This is one of those books which you've to "savour" it bit by bit as it focuses much on the characters in the beginning (from Jack to the two detectives) but once it hit the crucial part you couldn't put it down thereafter. Alongside the suspense, I also found it to be heartbreaking at times reading about Jack's unfortunate experiences in life. I felt so much for him as well as his siblings, Joy and Merry. Reading about his memories of their mother brought a lump to my throat; and all the more reading how he struggles to make ends meet despite his young age. All in all, this was a great book which I enjoyed immensely. A suspense with a touch of humanity . . . I love this combination and I'm hoping to see more of this in the thrillers genre.
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Mulholland Books | February 2018 | 304 pgs
Source: Library
Dr Janet Palmer is the new psychologist at HMP Halvergate prison.
Leaving her London home and boyfriend
behind, Janet wonders if her decision to move to Norfolk is right but she
loves her job and is willing to give it a try. However, both the staff and the
inmates pose a challenge to her. The former seems reserved and don't share much
of the information with her while the latter, as most sex offenders inmates
are, are either smirking behind her back or don't take her seriously. The worst
of the lot is Michael Donovan; as Janet thinks he is both charming and
dangerous at the same time. Most of the time, she doesn't really know what's on
his mind and this put him on her unreliable list, what with his words and the
way he put it.
As much as these bother her, Janet is also intrigue by her predecessor, Dr John Helkin and the number of the inmates who had committed suicide within a short timeframe during his tenure. There isn't much information about Dr Helkin and the deceased inmates either so this left Janet very perplexed and curious. There are speculations that they must've taken drugs or legal highs which pushed them off the limits but the tests came out clear. And most disturbing of all is, there are talks about an eyeless woman who stalks the prison, driving the inmates to suicide. Janet is adamant in finding answers, no matter if they are supernatural or not and the more she digs into it, she soon finds out that there is more than meets the eye (pun intended).
The Binding Song combines the elements of horror and suspense with a creepy, atmospheric setting, thus making this a very addictive read. The characterisations and the directions of the plot were great; and most of the time the story left me in doubts because I didn't know what to expect - a ghost story or unreliable characters? Janet was an interesting character and was troubled by the death of her twin sister years ago, as the reader will find out through snippets of their interactions in between chapters. Janet's friendship with the prison chaplain was the only happier moments among the dark and dreadful events happened at Halvergate. There was also mention of hypnotherapy and shared psychosis related to Janet's findings which I found both fascinating and scary at the same time, especially the latter meant as a form of malice and manipulation. Overall it was a good read and I'd recommend it if you don't mind bits of horror and some Greek mythology of demons and the likes.
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Penguin Publishing Group | July 2018 | 384 pgs
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
I enjoyed Riley Sager's first novel, Final Girls, a lot and when I learnt that he has a new book out I knew I'd to read it.
Fifteen years ago, Emma Davis attended a summer camp located at a secluded woodland. Camp Nightingale is privately owned by a family and it seems its land has a history and is passed down by generations. The all-girls camp is known to cater to the wealthier families and it is no wonder some girls called it the 'Rich Bitches Camp' behind their backs. While not all the girls are mean, Vivian Hawthorne stands out from the rest for her beauty, her bluntness and her confidence. It is easy to understand why Emma look up to her and wants to be accepted, after all Vivian is older and she seems to know what she wants and gets them eventually. Thanks to the overcrowdedness of the camp under her age category, Emma is assigned to share the same cabin as Vivian and her two friends, Natalie and Allison. Emma becomes part of Vivian's entourage as the story progresses, and she learned of a game they always love to play - two truths and a lie. Until one day Vivian, Natalie and Allison disappear and Emma's world is turned upside down.
Now at twenty-eight, Emma is an artist but the things she's painted are mostly about her three friends back then. The day she holds her first gallery show, she meets Franny Harris-White. Franny is the owner of Camp Nightingale and the family property, and after closing the camp for so many years she is going to reopen it and she wants Emma to join her and teaches the girls to paint. Against her better judgement, Emma agrees to her invite despite the girls' disappearance still haunts her. And this is the setup of the suspense here.
Riley Sager has delivered another intense and breathtaking thriller in The Last Time I Lied. Like his first novel Final Girls, the story alternates between the present and the past and this was told in Emma's POV throughout the book. What made this book so intriguing is aside from the mystery surrounding the missing girls and Emma's credibility (after all the girls loved the game they played and the purpose was to seek the lies, not the truths), there is the history surrounding Lake Midnight (where Camp Nightingale is) and the gothic legend surrounding it. And once again, Mr. Sager excels in the characters developments and the way he tempts his reader into reading page after page until everything is clicked into place at its finale. An engrossing read and will appease to fans of the suspense/thrillers genre.
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Zaffre | March 2018 | 432 pgs
Source: Library
Have you ever thought of what you'd do if your superior treats you unfairly and sexually harass you and no amount of complaints or actions would do anything to him because the person has status whom everyone respect and like and on top of it, he is smart enough not to have witnesses so it's your words against his. Sure, there's law and order but what if the police couldn't do anything because you've no evidence and again, it's your words against his. These issues are part of the core of this story and will make you think what you'd do if you were the protagonist. Most of all, is it even right or wrong to take matters into your own hands?
Sarah Haywood works as a part-time lecturer in a University. She is separated from her husband and is working hard to raise their young son single-handedly. Aside from the financial issue, she is also worried about her job but what really troubles her is she is being sexually harassed by a top professor whom she works with. Prof. Alan Lovelock is an outstanding scholar and a gifted researcher and his works are often recognised not only in the academic world but also publicly since he also has his own BBC2 series. But what makes him untouchable is that he has landed one of the biggest grants given out to their English department and needless to say, he is like a priceless gem to the Uni.
Sarah is at a loss, until a chance encounter led her in rescuing a girl who happens to be the daughter of a Russian mob leader. Volkov is a man who lives by his own rules and he believes all debts must be repaid. Thus, he offers Sarah a one-time deal but that offer expires in 72 hours and that once Sarah agrees to it there is no return. 29 seconds is how long Sarah took for that phone call and a deal is made. But is there a consequence and could one really run away from law and justice?
This book blown me away on many aspects. The plot, the characterisations, and of course the morality issue behind what seemed to be a controversial decision Sarah made to solve a sticky situation. Then, there is the issue about sexual harassment and the question if the victims should risk their job or swallow their pain. Reading about Sarah's experiences had both saddened and angered me because I felt her helplessness. And in a moment of anguish and despair, Sarah made a decision which chilled my heart because although I felt her pain, I wasn't sure if it was a right path and what about consequences? I raced through the book because it was that compelling; and of course I'd hoped for a closure but I won't say anything as I'll leave it to you to find out yourself.
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
HarperCollins Publishers | January 2018 | 496 pgs
Source: Library
Alafair Burke's latest release, The Wife, is a domestic suspense which is part police procedural and part legal thriller and revolves around issues like secrets, deceptions, kidnapping and murder.
The story opens with the wife, Angela Powell being questioned by the police on her husband's whereabouts the day Kerry Lynch went missing. Jason Powell is an economics professor at NYU and aside from his lecturing profession, he also has a consulting firm and has written a bestselling book which put him (as well as his family) in the spotlight. As much as the fame and wealth are doing well for the Powells, Angela, on the other hand, is trying hard to avoid being in the limelight. She is worried that someday the media would find out about her past given her connection to Jason and that is what she fears most - her past identity exposed and an incident which has changed her life ever since. Jason didn't know about that past, and she intends to keep it under wraps until he is embroiled in a case with two women accusing him of sexual innuendo and rape respectively. Angela chose to believe and stand by Jason until one of the women disappeared.
The Wife was an unputdownable book filled with suspense and twists with the "he said, she said" information and I found myself engrossed in this complex story between husband and wife and how well do you really know your other half. Jason and Angela are both intriguing characters; and truth be told I'm not sure how I felt about them. They aren't really likeable, and there are times I didn't know who to believe (Jason or the women?) and why Angela chose to stand by him. When pieces of the puzzle began to fit to form a whole picture, I began to marvel at the author's skilful craft of weaving this story into something else which I'd guessed at some point but not wholly and definitely not what I'd anticipated. Recommended.
Note: The Wife will be adapted as a major motion picture by Amazon Studios according to the author's website and she will be writing the screenplay.
© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
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