Book Blurb:
She meant to help a ghost...not unleash a curse. Amelia Dupree hasn’t seen the Woman in White since the night her brother died. The ghost seems to have disappeared from the woods surrounding Asylum, Pennsylvania—that is, until Charlie Blue moves into the creepy old MacAllister House next door. Amelia can’t help liking him, even though she spent her childhood thinking his grandmother was a witch. And she definitely can’t ignore the connection between his arrival and the Woman in White’s return. Then Amelia learns that the Woman in White is a prisoner, trapped between the worlds of the living and the dead. Devastated by the idea that her brother could be suffering a similar fate, Amelia decides to do whatever it takes to help the Woman in White find peace--and Charlie agrees to help her. But when Amelia’s classmates start to drown in the Susquehanna River, one right after another, rumors swirl as people begin to connect the timing of Charlie’s arrival with the unexplained deaths. As Charlie and Amelia uncover the dark history of Asylum, they realize they may have unleashed an unspeakable evil. One they have to stop before everything they love is destroyed.
My Review:
4 Out Of 5 Stars
Genre: Ghosts, Supernatural, Mystery--
Amelia has had a tough time coming to grips with her brother Mark’s death the previous year. He was her best friend, and she feels responsible for the car accident that he died in. For the most part, she has shut herself away from all her friends and activities that she use to participate in and her mother has sank herself into her work and is never around. When teenager Charlie moves in next door with his grandmother, the alleged town witch, Amelia is sucked into helping him with a historical project for her mother. Charlie’s arrival in town also causes the Woman in White, the spirit that Amelia use to see all the time before her brother’s death, to reappear. Amelia, Charlie and Amelia’s best friend Leah dig into the past with shattering consequences.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I thought that the synopsis was vaguely interesting and figured I would give it a go, but was completely invested in the plot and the characters by the first chapter in. This was nothing like I expected at all, and I don’t think the synopsis did the book justice. There was a ghost, strange visions and sleepwalking, unexplained murders, small town discrimination/life, mystery, supernatural happenings, magic, dark twists and secrets, dangerous situations, hidden passages, blooming romances, as well as teen angst and real life situations. Having so many things in one story makes it sound busy, but the author was able to blend all the elements together to create a cohesive plot. The characters were real and dynamic to me that even though I was pretty sure about half way through who the threat was (and I was correct) that I still was engaged in the story to see what would happen to these people I cared about.
Amelia was a little bit broken when the book began. She lost her brother and her parent’s relationship crumbled soon after, leaving her isolated. She has hidden within herself until beginning a friendship with Charlie drags her out of her shell. I liked that even when Charlie was made a target, Amelia stays true to what she knows about him, even when under duress. I thought the relationship between herself and her mother was really awkward, but I loved how she and her uncle interacted, he was there for her no matter what (and even when she did not want him involved). And Leah is really the best friend ever, to stick up with Amelia, force her to have fun, and not hold a grudge for being neglected when she too was hurting over the loss of Mark. Amelia makes some very stupid choices in the book, like going to a break in site alone, but I still liked her and didn’t think she tried to be the damsel in distress like some characters do. Charlie seemed like he was more upfront about things, like admitting that he had feelings for Amelia when she shied away from it, but he had hidden secrets. Charlie was full of layers and deflection that I feel like maybe I don’t know him as well as I thought when all is said and done. I still like his character, but he remains a mystery overall.
Even though I figured out the villain, I had not been sure of his motivations or what would happen next. And let me tell you, the ending was a shocking doozy! I felt equal parts angry, depressed and surprised by the last chapter of the book. Not to be spoilery, but I am positive Amelia and Charlie have a real relationship, despite everything. I did not know that this was going to be a series, but with the freaking awful cliff hanger of an ending, there will be at least one more book to come, and I will get my hands on it most certainly. I was impressed with the author’s writing and look forward to more from her in the future, be it this series or something else.
I received this title form the author in exchange for my honest review.
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