Reviewer: Andrea
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The Summary:
IN SEARCH OF THE MEANING OF DEATH, SHE’LL FIND THE MEANING OF LIFE.
The Ceruleans: mere mortals infused with power over life and death. Five books; one question: If the might of the heavens were in your hands, would you be sinner or saint?
Seventeen-year-old Scarlett Blake is haunted by death. Her estranged sister has made the ultimate dramatic exit. Running away from school, joining a surfing fraternity, partying hard: that sounds like Sienna. Butsuicide? It makes no sense.
Following in her sister’s footsteps, Scarlett comes to the isolated cove of Twycombe, Devon, with grand plans to uncover the truth. Alone. But she hasn’t reckoned on meeting two boys who are determined to help her. Luke: the blue-eyed surfer who’ll see the real Scarlett, who’ll challenge her, who’ll save her. And Jude: the elusive drifter with a knack for turning up whenever Scarlett’s in need.
As Scarlett’s quest for the truth unravels, so too does her grip on reality as she’s always known it. Because there’s something strange going on in this little cove. A dead magpie circles the skies. A dead deer watches from the undergrowth. Hands glow with light. Warmth. Power.
What transpires is a summer of discovery. Of what it means to conquer fear. To fall in love. To choose life. To choose death.
To believe the impossible.
The Review:
I didn’t read this novel; I devoured it! The first thing I do when I receive a novel to review is check out the length, and when I saw the length of this one, I cringed. This new genre, new-adult, is a bridge for those YA readers wanting something more mature, and three hundred pages is a commitment many YA readers don’t want to make in this ultra-busy life where their attention is so divided. But this is one I would definitely recommend to my YA/NA readers. It is worth the time.
The story isn’t entirely a new one, but the twist is interesting. Scarlett is in search of answers about herself (That’s the well-worn story.) but also about her sister, who drowned in a cove near the cottage where her grandparents once lived. In her need to solve the mystery of whether or not her sister committed suicide, Scarlett discovers a much deeper mystery. At times, I felt I was reading two different stories until the two became woven into one unusual paranormal tale. The characters are endearing and well-defined, and the writing is lovely. The ending will leave you wanting more. You will be left with unanswered questions, but isn’t that the whole point of a series?
