Book Review: Ghost Slayer by Majanka Verstraete

Ghost Slayer by Majanka Verstraete is the first book in a new adult series. Twenty-one-year-old Kaelyn has spent half her life hunting ghosts and killing them. But she's not like the other ghost hunters who have to rely on spells and curses to banish ghosts back to where they came from, hoping that they don't come back. When Kaelyn kills a ghost, they stay dead. But in Mortimer Hall, a behemoth of a house, Kaelyn is about to face the most powerful Twenty-one-year-old Kaelyn has spent half her life hunting ghosts and killing them. But she's not like the other ghost hunters who have to rely on spells and curses to banish ghosts back to where they came from, hoping that they don't come back. When Kaelyn kills a ghost, they stay dead. But in Mortimer Hall, a behemoth of a house, Kaelyn is about to face the most powerful and life-threatening ghost she ever met, and what she doesn't know is that the ghost has been waiting just for her.

Ghost Slayer is an interesting read with a few problems. I liked the idea of the story, and the twists and turns that the story takes. Let's start with the good. I liked the twist on ghost hunting- that while most have to rely on tools and magic Kaelyn has a special level of control with the dead. I liked the role her mother plays and that she is doing her best to get by and get through college while working a less than typical job. I get her loner attitude, and her reluctance to take part in ghostly activities with her class. Now, I did think that there were several contradictions in the story that irked me as I read. I am not sure if this is supposed to be happening in the real world or an alternate world with different rules- as that is never made clear and either could be true. Kaelyn says that she is not a drinker- but downs straight vodka and a whisky and soda with ease and no effect. Also, she is very much a loner and refers to her classmates as people she barely knows but that quickly changes to one of the friendlier girls suddenly being her best friend. As I read bits of the story seemed vaguely familiar- but I think that boils down to having read enough paranormal books that feature ghosts and secrets as major plot points. I did like the book overall, but it did have its issues. I suspect that as the author continues to write this series it will improve- especially since they left themselves plenty of interesting directions to take the story. 

Ghost Slayer is an interesting read, but one that had both good and bad moments. Fans of the paranormal and gothic genres are most likely to enjoy it. 

Book Review: Serafina and the Seven Stars (Serafina) by Robert Beatty

Serafina and the Seven Stars is the fourth book in the Serafina series by Robert Beatty. I do recommend reading this series in order.

Serafina, the Guardian of Biltmore Estate, has won battle after battle against the dark forces encroaching on her home. Now, tranquility has returned to Biltmore. Serafina doesn't trust it. She patrols the grounds night and day, hardly sleeping, uncertain of her place after her best friend Braeden Vanderbilt's departure for boarding school in New York. When Mr. Vanderbilt, the kind master of Biltmore, asks Serafina to move upstairs into one of the house's grandest rooms, she's sure it's to keep an eye on the guests who have arrived for the estate's annual hunt. But as Serafina investigates, she becomes more and more unsettled by what Biltmore has become-a place haunted by nameless terrors where no dark corridor is safe. Even worse, she begins to doubt her own senses. Is Braeden really hundreds of miles away, or did he return to Biltmore for one strange night before vanishing? Is the bond between them truly broken or is it stronger than ever? Then Serafina witnesses a crime that turns her world upside down. How can all that once seemed good and worthy of protection now be evil? And how can she guard those around her when she can't even be sure of the truth of her own heart? 

Serafina and the Seven Stars is an thoroughly engaging read. I received an advanced copy from the publisher and kept putting off reading it because I was afraid it would not live up to my expectations. I should not have worried- I got lost in the book and read it in a single afternoon- including a couple breaks to bake and decorate my daughter's birthday cake. If you have enjoyed the series so far- just read it. You will be happy you did, and only sad because you finished it.

For those of you that want more information, this book hit me in the feels hard. Serafina is not trusting the peace- waiting for the next disaster to strike. I often waste peaceful moments doing the same, but in this case SErafina was right to be weary. She ends up doubting herself and the people she trusts most looking to keep everyone at Biltmore safe. I felt bad for her through the majority of the book, since so much of it is about Serafina learning to trust herself and wage the battles mostly on her own, and then to trust in those that support her. I will admit that I caught a few hints in the story and had a good idea about where the dangers were coming from fairly early in the story, but the search for the whole truth and how to come out on top was well worth the journey the book takes readers on. I felt like the story had a solid conclusion, with the danger past and a clear way forward in mind, but there is still room for more stories from the Biltmore.

Serafina and the Seven Stars is a perfect addition to this series, especially since I was not expecting about Serafina and the Biltmore after Willa's series began.

Book Review: The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts (Unbelievables) by K.C. Tansley

The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts is the first book in the Unbelievables series by K.C. Tansley is a young adult novel. Kat Preston doesn’t believe in ghosts. Not because she’s never seen one, but because she saw one too many. Refusing to believe is the only way to protect herself from the ghost that tried to steal her life. Kat’s disbelief keeps her safe until her junior year at McTernan Academy, when a research project for an eccentric teacher takes her to a tiny, private island off the coast of Connecticut. Accompanied by her research partner, her best friend, and another student, she investigates the disappearance of Cassie Mallory and Sebastian Radcliffe on their wedding night in 1886. Evan’s scientific approach to everything leaves Kat on her own to confront a host of unbelievables: ancestral curses, powerful spells, and her strange connection to the ghosts that haunt Castle Creighton. But that’s all before Kat’s yanked through a magic portal and Evan follows her. When the two of them awaken 129 years in the past with their souls trapped inside the bodies of two wedding guests, everything changes. Together, Kat and Evan race to stop the wedding-night murders and find a way back to their own time—and their own bodies—before their souls slip away forever. 

The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts is a book that captured my imagination. I liked Kat's intelligence and perseverance. She is not opposed to working hard, and is willing to pitch in even when it puts her personal safety at risk. Ignoring the ghosts has worked well thus far, but surrounding herself with the research about a murder and curse is not helping her keep the ghosts at bay.  Jumping in further with the research trip makes it impossible to keep her shields up. I liked the dynamic between Kat and her best friend Mallory, and the humor that fellow student Seth brings to the group. I will admit that I was initially creeped out a bit by the connection between Kat and Joshua- the next possible victim of the curse the group is investigating. I enjoyed the enemy to friend vibe between Kat and Evan, but I could enjoy a gothic style mystery without any kind of romance hinted at just fine- not all girls are looking to forge romantic relationships their entire lives. I would love to pick up a young adult or new adult novel that skips hints at love triangle and romance once and awhile, particularly when it is not vital to the mystery or larger story line. That being said, I found that the mystery and paranormal aspects of the story were the focus for the majority of the book. The magical time travel was well done, and I liked the explanation of ghosts, spirits, and the differences between them. The curse and mystery surrounding it were well constructed, and interesting to watch unravel. I liked the layers and complexity of the curse, mystery, and the paranormal aspects that connect them and the characters. I did get a little bored with some of the ritual and spell work, and the emotional games being played in the past. However, I did enjoy the read and might pick up the next book if I run across it. However, I am not going out looking for it at this point.

The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts is a good mystery with gothic and paranormal aspects. While I do not have patience with emotional games, I think there are many readers that will enjoy the read and get fully invested with the characters and mystery.

Book Review: The Graveyard Girl and The Boneyard Boy by Martin Matthews

The Graveyard Girl and The Boneyard Boy by Martin Matthews is a young adult novel. 16-year-old albino Drake Stevenson lives a life alone in his world of video games and comic books, dreaming of one day saving a real princess. But fantasy becomes reality when his lawyer father suffers a heart attack, and the Stevensons are forced to move to flyover country in order to take up the family business: Stewardship of the oldest and largest cemetery in the state. There, among the weeping angels and willows of Centralia Cemetery, Drake meets Scarlet, an unusual girl who needs his help to find her killer. Complicated by his albinism, a mentally unstable sister bent on high school domination at any cost, and a jock with a deadly secret, Drake sets out to find the shattering truth about a murder no one will speak of, to help a girl no one can see.

The Graveyard Girl and The Boneyard Boy captured my attention right away, and kept me guessing through the entire book. Drake has a self effacing sense of humor. while dealing with his own issues and the family issues around him he keeps his feet fairly well grounded while still able to laugh at himself and wonder how things could be better. I liked the introduction of setting and characters, it was faced well and worked perfectly in the story. I did not care for some of the love triangle hints, thought it was unnecessary. Why couldn't he just be friends with Sasha or Scarlett, or both for that matter. Why would he pursue both, and why would Scarlett pursue Drake when she was in a happy relationship before all this began? I just do not understand the need for all relationships to include a romantic component when sometimes a good friend is much more important. Love triangle rant over, because that was really the only fault I could find with the book. I adored Drake's character, while sometimes he felt really young and I did not always agree with his decisions, I think he was a well built character. His parents and sister were important to the arch of the story, and the way Drake connected with others.The dichotomy of his sister's personality, the way everyone viewed her, and the way everyone viewed him was realistic and still hit me right in the feels, because doesn't everyone sometimes feel like they have gotten the short end of the stick socially, in the family, or in some other way.  I like how thorough and well planned that built up the family and personal dramas were. Even the secondary characters had plenty of family or personal information shared to make them dynamic and explain them. The mystery surrounding Scarlet, the car accident, and more had me at the edge of my seat and turning pages well past my bedtime. 

The Graveyard Girl and The Boneyard Boy is a well done young adult novel with complex characters, compelling mystery and coming of age drama, and a solid resolution. Although, I admit that I would love to see a follow up about our characters in five or ten years to see just how things end up in the long term. 

Book Review: Dark Hero (Reluctant Hero) by Lily Silver

Dark Hero is the first book in the Reluctant Hero series by Lily Silver. Elizabeth is a survivor. Her existence has balanced on the edge of a knife for much of her life--a knife held by her cruel stepfather. Betrayed, kidnapped and more, she awakens on a ship bound for the Indies, in the bed of a stranger claiming to be her husband. Soon the gift of the seer emerges; the ability to see and speak with the dead. A descendant of druids, Elizabeth knows she must hide her strange gifts as her new husband could claim she's insane and commit her to a madhouse. Can Elizabeth trust this Dark Hero conjured from the Gothic romances she once devoured? Donovan survived betrayal, imprisonment and torture. Deception and subterfuge are the weapons used to keep people at a distance. He maintains separate identities--the terrifying Count Rochembeau, a reclusive nobleman rumored to disfigured, and the amiable Mr. O’Rourke, the count's servant. Donovan’s penchant for deception may be his undoing when his bride awakens after her rescue and doesn't know him. As he struggles to rekindle their love, he fears he may be locked in a prison of a different kind; a loveless marriage to a woman who fears him and cannot abide his touch. 

Dark Hero is a Gothic romance with all the expected tropes. There is the abused heroine, who has survived much but is still naive. There is the tortured hero, still hurting but loving and over protective to his lady. There are siblings, secrets, betrayal, and of coarse some ghosts and magic to make things more dramatic and dangerous. My only problem with the book is that sometimes there is just too much. Readers get the complete background of the courtship between Elizabeth and Donovan, so there is no wondering if he is lying. I also felt like there was a little too much focus on Elizabeth being weak or ill as she recovers from the trauma she endures (that you need to read the book to discover). Yes, she has issues, but did she need so many? With seeing ghosts and leaving family, and all else that she had to face did she really need to be so "ill". I did like some of the twists and turns that the story took, but others made me cringe a bit- which were mostly choices Donovan makes in order to protect Elizabeth. In the end, I found myself eager to get back to the book when ever I had to put it down, but occasionally frustrated with the pace and what I saw as unnecessary complications. 

Dark Hero is a solid Gothic romance. It offers everything a fan of the genre is looking for, and then some. I think it also does a good job of introducing the characters that will be the focus of the next two books in the series. I think it just tried to do too much in one book.  

Book Review: The House of Months and Years by Emma Trevayne

The House of Months and Years by Emma Trevayne is a middle grade novel with a Gothic or horror feel. When her distant aunt and uncle die, Amelia Howling is forced to move into their home when they leave her parents in charge of their children. Her parents assure her that it will be like having a grand adventure with three new siblings, but Amelia is not convinced. Luckily, the house is large, filled with nooks and crannies perfect for hiding from her cousins. But even with all the nooks and crannies, the rumbling and crumbling rooms are more sinister than they seem. The house was built years ago by a creature named Horatio, and he’s been waiting for the perfect human inhabitant: Amelia. Horatio has the power to travel through time and memories, and lures Amelia into his world. The memories of children, he told her, were the best, and Amelia agreed—her cousins were full of good memories. Until she noticed that once she and Horatio visited a memory, it was gone forever. And she had been stealing the good memories of her cousins and their parents without even noticing! Horrified and scared, Amelia lets her cousins in on her secret, and asks them for help. Together, they must race through time to recover their minds and break the perfect clockwork of the evil Calendar House.

The House of Months and Years is an eerie adventure with a Gothic atmosphere that comes alive. The writing style is lyrical, with significant metaphors and descriptions that paint the picture of the moods of the characters and the atmosphere of the house. I liked Amelia’s character, who has to make some big changes and knows that what she is feeling towards her now larger family is not fair to them, but cannot change those feelings. The concept of the Boogeyman stealing good memories and the steps Amelia and her cousins had to take together make for a compelling story. I could find no fault with the story, but I never really felt enthralled by the story even though it was exactly what I normally like. Good characters, a creepy atmosphere and big bad, and coming to terms with relationships and life were all there. I think the volume of descriptive text was what

The House of Months and Years had all the things that usually make me love a book, but for some reason I just never got completely drawn in. The story had suspense, character development, and some good creepy moments. I am not sure why the book and I never connected, but I think it will be a favorite for many readers.

Early Book Review: The Jolly Regina (The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters) by Kara LaReau

The Jolly Regina is the first book in The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters series by Kara LaReau. This middle grade novel is currently scheduled for release on January 10 2017.

Meet Jaundice and Kale Bland, two sisters who avoid excitement at any cost. Together, they patiently await the return of their parents, who left on an errand years ago and have never returned. One day, the Bland sisters are kidnapped by an all-female band of pirates. They’re unwillingly swept into a high-seas romp that might just lead to solving the mystery of what happened to their parents.

The Jolly Regina is a quick, fun read. The Bland sisters like thinks simple since their parents disappeared on an errand. They need to learn how to deal with adventure and surprises, and become very good at it. There is a good amount of humor here, but it is a dry subtle style that might go over the heads of some readers. I like the semi-reliable narrators that the girls made. They are very observant, but often fail to connect the dots of the facts they face. I enjoyed the ending and the twists tossed in along the way, the coincidences were great fun.  I have mixed feelings, and I think that this is one of those books that readers will love or hate with very little middle ground. the adventure is wacky and fun, but has the undertone of dry humor that can amuse and entertain.

The Jolly Regina is a fast and fun read. I think it would be a good read for those making the transition from easy readers to chapter books, and those that want reads that combine a slightly Gothic feel with a zany adventure. 

Book Review: The Haunted Pub by Melanie Tushmore

The Haunted Pub by Melanie Rushmore is a contemporary novel that will appeal to adult and new adult readers. Suffering from depression, and going through a rough time because of it, Fizz's misery culminates in his parents throwing him out, leaving him with two bags, twenty pounds, and nowhere to go. Desperate, he calls his brother, who takes him to The Queen Anne's Revenge, where Fizz winds up living in a room that hasn't had a human inhabitant for more years than anyone can actually count—a room that seems to already have an occupant.

The Haunted Pub is full of characters with flaws. Fizz has struggled with depression, and perhaps more, all his life. His parents have just kicked him out of the house, and the only place for him to stay is with his cousin at a pub that is rumored to be haunted- in the creepiest room to boot. The majority of the pub’s staff lives in the upper floors as well, and one roommate’s band also reverses there. The story is about the haunted inhabitants of the pub, and the connections the living inhabitants make as well. I really felt like I got to know five or six characters really well, and enjoyed reading about their interactions and growth individually. The ghostly aspected built slowly, but that was the perfect pace to make the big conflict at the end so real and high emotion. I became so enthralled with the characters that I really have not stopped thinking about them, and how they might be doing, since I finished the book. Since it is the characters that hook me, I know I will be looking for more from the author.

The Haunted Pub has a little bit of everything. Readers that are offended by LGBTQ relationships or characters will want to steer clear, but readers that do not care how the characters identify as long as they are well written and that their book is compelling will enjoy the read. There is a gothic feel, with plenty of adult angst and mental and emotional struggles to keep readers (and characters) guessing at every turn. I only wish I could read more about how the characters deal with whatever comes next, because life always throws something new at you when you least expect it. 

Book Review: Diary of Anna the Girl Witch: Foundling Witch by Max Candee

Diary of Anna the Girl Witch: Foundling Witch by Max Candee is a middle grade to young adult novel. The book blends ancient folklore with a coming of age tale about a young witch on the brink of womanhood. Anna Sophia has always known she was different. She didn’t know just how different until now. On the eve of her 13th birthday Anna wonders about her past. She never knew her parents, and all she has to go by is an unbelievable fairy tale her uncle used to tell: that she was found as a baby, tucked among a pack of bear cubs in the wilds of Russia. To make matters even more complex, Anna has discovered that she can see and do things that no one else can. It’s only when Anna receives a letter from her mother that she discovers some of the truths about her past, and begins to uncover the possibilities in her future. As Anna continues to learn more about her secret abilities, she finds out that her neighbors are hiding something of their own: a plot to harm Anna and her friends. Can Anna Sophia use her newfound supernatural powers to stop them? Can she fight back, without endangering her own soul? And maybe, just maybe, is her own secret tied up with theirs?

Diary of Anna the Girl Witch: Foundling Witch is a coming of age story, wrapped up in a magical package. Anna is our orphan recipient of great power and a future that will surly include plenty of danger. She is a good girl, that sometimes finds herself in trouble despite her good intentions. She is missing her Uncle and wondering about her family when adventure comes to find her. The rise and powerful couple that adopts girls on a regular basis is interested in her, but she does not trust them and sees that there is something wrong among those they have adopted. She receives a mysterious package via her solicitor from her mother, and things only get strangers from there. A magical card, a strange carved hand, and the slow realization that she is a witch and so is most of her lost family. The adventure is solid and there is a nice, slow reveal of the details while still keeping the readers on their toes. I really enjoyed the pacing, it let me connect with Anna, and get to know some of the secondary characters as well. A well written story with nice inclusion of folklore, even when characters from those legends are not named as I would expect.

Diary of Anna the Girl Witch: Foundling Witch is the first book in a series, and I am glad that most of the series has been released and is available for me to read now. I am looking forward to following up on Anna’s adventures sand seeing what she discovers about herself and her family as she grows.  

Book Review: HooDoo by Ronald L. Smith

HooDoo is a middle grade novel by Ronald L. Smith. Twelve-year-old Hoodoo Hatcher was born into a family with a rich tradition of practicing folk magic: hoodoo, as most people call it. But even though his name is Hoodoo, he can't seem to cast a simple spell. Then a mysterious man called the Stranger comes to town, and Hoodoo starts dreaming of the dead rising from their graves. Even worse, he soon learns the Stranger is looking for a boy. Not just any boy. A boy named Hoodoo. The entire town is at risk from the Stranger's black magic, and only Hoodoo can defeat him. He'll just need to learn how to conjure first. Set amid the swamps, red soil, and sweltering heat of small town Alabama in the 1930s, 

HooDoo is a solid middle grade book with a gothic or horror overtone. There are little bits of humor tossed in, along with a little historical fiction, but this is not for the easily creeped out readers. I liked the character of HooDoo, he is trying to do right by his family and find his way in the world but he is still very much a boy becoming a young adult.  He is facing the evil of the Stranger while coming to terms with himself, and learning new things about himself. The danger is solid, and there is a almost constant feeling of wondering what is coming next. HooDoo's family and friend Bunny are less well developed characters than HooDoo, but are still well written and described enough that I cared about all of them before the story was over. I will admit that it took me awhile to read this one, but I am very glad that I saw it through and finished it. I can see this being a well loved book by many of my middle grade readers.

HooDoo is an interesting and unique read. It combines the best qualities of historical fiction, coming of age, and horror reads and leaves the reader looking for a bit more. I think fans of The Night Gardener and similar books will particularly enjoy this read. 

Early Book Review: Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio, Will Staehle

Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye is a middle grade novel with a Victorian feel written by Tania del Rio and illustrated by Will Staehle. It is currently scheduled for release on November 24 2015. Warren the 13th is a cursed 12-year-old Victorian bellhop who’s terribly unlucky. Despite how hard he works and the troubles he faces, he is still optimistic and curious. Orphan Warren’s pride and joy is his family’s hotel, but he’s been miserable ever since his evil Aunt Anaconda took over the management. Anaconda believes a mysterious treasure known as the All-Seeing Eye is hidden somewhere on the grounds, and she’ll do anything to find it. If Warren wants to preserve his family’s legacy, he’ll need to find the treasure first, if the hotel’s many strange and wacky guests don’t beat him to it!

Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye is a fantasy adventure  with two-color illustrations that help capture the attention of readers. the book has a spooky feel and a fun mystery. warren works hard to keep his new Aunt happy, although he never can. he works even harder to keep his family's hotel, and legacy, running as well as he can by himself. He thinks the all Seeing Eye is just a myth, but when his aunt's sisters, and then a slew of mysterious guests, all come hunting for the treasure warren knows he needs to stay a step ahead of his aunt. Things get dicey for Warren as he tries to do his work and hunt for the eye, and both friends and foes seem to be everywhere. I liked how good-natured and hard working Warren was, and the perpetual residents of the hotel do their best to assist him and save the hotel. A mysterious girl and the new, wacky guests add extra spice to mystery and keep readers turning pages. I will admit that I was not expecting the end! There were small aspects of it that I was ready for, but the big picture was much bigger than I was prepared for, and I loved it.



Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye is a wonderful mix of gothic fiction, mystery, and magic. The story draws readers in and keeps them guessing. Even when you think you have it all figured out, there is another surprise around the corner. 

Book Review: Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty is a middle grade novel with a Gothic or horror feel to it. Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of the Biltmore estate.There's plenty to explore in her grand home, although she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate's maintenance man, have secretly lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember. But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is; a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore's corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of the Biltmore's owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak's true identity before all of the children vanish one by one. Serafina's hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear. There she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic, one that is bound to her own identity. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must seek the answers that will unlock the puzzle of her past.

Serafina and the Black Cloak is a story with mystery, adventure, and a little magic. Serafina does not know much about anything outside her daily life of hiding in the shadow and hunting the rats that try to call Biltmore their home. She knows nothing about her mother, or why she and her father secretly live in the basement. When she sees the man in the black cloak take a girl she begins searching for answers, not just about what happen to the girl but also about herself. Serafina and Braeden are characters that see themselves as ‘other’ and some of their friendship finds root in that, but they are both interesting characters on their own. I found myself deeply invested in both children’s lives, and interested in their history. I enjoyed the unfolding of Serafina’s history, though not all of it surprised me. I was disappointed that we did not get more about Braeden and some of the side characters did not get a solid resolution as far as I was concerned. I was enthralled with the read, and enjoyed it. The lack of small bits of resolution just left me hoping that Beatty would revisit the Biltmore, since this story concluded but left plenty of room for more adventure.

Serafina and the Black Cloak is an engaging middle grade read with a good balance of mystical and coming of age themes. I think this will be a popular read for many.

Book Review: Of Shadow and Stone by Michelle Muto

Of Shadow and Stone by Michelle Muto is a gothic or paranormal fantasy. Gargoyles were created centuries ago to protect mankind but something went horribly wrong. Now only the sentinel, a mortal chosen to control the stone beasts, stands between them and their human prey. Kate Mercer is destined to be the next sentinel. But she has a skyrocketing film career, a delusional ex-boyfriend, and a crazed stalker who will stop at nothing to get to her. However, Kate is transported to Shadow Wood, a mysterious castle that serves as a sanctuary for the supernatural. Shadow Wood is beautiful but no safe place for a mere mortal. Yet Kate is drawn not only to the gargoyles but also to Ian McGuire, a charming novelist who might be in the greatest danger of all.

Of Shadow and Stone is a novel with a little bit of everything. There is a gothic feel to the whole story, with mysterious people and creatures that have even more mysterious intentions. Readers first meet Declan, the Lord of the Netherworld looking fore a replacement sentential. He thought his friends and author Ian might be the perfect candidate- but he has a different fate in store for him. Kate is the chosen sentinel, if she will accept the responsibility. Throw in some supernatural creatures running around Shadow Wood, a stalker, and a delusional ex boyfriend and you have a good idea of what this book holds in its pages. Despite the number of intense things happening, and the variety of viewpoints the story is told from, you still get characters that are multidimensional and some serious suspense. It was an intriguing read, and one I was afraid to look away from because I might miss something. I still feel a bit like if I go back and read it again I will get more from the book, and perhaps a completely different story.

I would highly recommend Of Shadow and Stone to readers that enjoy paranormal fiction and gothic stories. While there is a romance tied up in the story, it does not over shadow the suspense and supernatural aspects of the story. A great read for those that feel like they are trapped in a rut, or keep reading the same basic story over and over. This is something different and unique.