Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

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This book took me through a whole spectrum of emotions. As I told Christina, I liked it, then loved it, then hated it....then ended up liking it but having some serious reservations. I can't be completely candid without spoiling it horribly, but I'll try to give my general impression. On the positive side, this book gripped me. Once I got past the early part, I found myself really intrigued by the mysteries in the story. The special "glow" power, the mysterious stranger River, the creepy cavalcade of child vigilantes stalking the cemetery, searching for the Devil. The atmosphere was very old-timey ghost story, which was eerie and spine-chilling and I loved it. I also loved River's character. He's a morally ambiguous vigilante-type and Violet is constantly thrown between loving him and finding him absolutely reprehensible. It was great to see a character so steeped in grey when so many young adult stories stick to black and white.

What I didn't like was the villain (who shall remain unidentified), because by this point, it was all black and white. The earlier gray area was gone, and suddenly it was a good vs evil situation that was totally trite and uninteresting. Some of the romantic elements also bugged me. It could have been a great investigation of a narcissistic God Complex, of the dangers of controlling behavior and the ambivalence it can cause girls who get caught with such guys. However, when the book ended, I feel like Violet hadn't really learned anything. She'd gone through such an intense, ambivalent moral struggle, and then totally backslid. In addition, the teenage dialogue was somewhat stilted and the writing style teetered between fascinatingly fresh and totally purple. I ended up enjoying the book, but with a lingering ambivalence that I still can't shake.

plot . 3/5
I knocked off two points because the climax and final villain struggle so deeply ruined the plot for me. The villain was flat, almost straw-man-like, and clearly set up just to make some of the other characters seem more acceptable. I nearly threw the book at the wall. Only it was a traveling ARC, so I controlled myself. Not to mention, Violet's total backslide at the end, which I mentioned already. Which worries me for how girls view these manipulative guys. However, if you slice out the last quarter, the rest of the book was phenomenal. It starts a little slow, but once River arrives, stuff gets real. It's supernatural in the best way, where you aren't sure what's going on for a while. We have devil sightings, Children of the Corn toting stakes in the cemetery, witch hunts, mysteriously-dead drunks, and just general chaos. It's like an M. Night Shyamalan movie without the expectedly unexpected uber-twist, but with all the atmosphere.

concept . 4/5
Gah, I can't even. Tucholke takes such an interesting view of moral ambiguity and the nature of heroism. When is psychopathy successful? When is murder heroism? Where is the line between love and manipulation? And for most of the book, she does a fantastic job of toeing the line between these concepts and drifting in the gray area. Then there's Mr. Meanie McVillain on the scene and all that lovely gray gets shoved pretty hard into black and white. I can't talk too much about it without a spoiler; so leave it that I thought Tucholke copped out to make her hero seem more heroic, when she could have left the reader with some interesting questions.

characters . 4/5
Most of the characters are great. They're obviously caricatured but it goes with the frothiness of the book. It's a little old-timey, a little overly stylized. The characters follow. Violet is a compelling main character. She's smart, independent, and feisty, but she also has some deep vulnerabilities and uncertainties. But she doesn't angst about it. She's a straight shooter and an "old soul." Her brother, Jake, and best friend, Sunshine, start out a little flat and become pretty dense. It's an interesting set-up, with this weird trio of people who don't seem to like each other that much but who hang together from necessity. Then you see more of Jake's and Sunshine's own inner struggles, and the trio makes more sense. There's also a nice cast of side characters, although some of them could have easily been cut. It's a little cutesy, maybe. Kitschy? Small towny? You have to suspend a bit of disbelief.

Then comes River. Don't get me started. He has all the potential of a fabulously morally ambiguous character, and in some ways, he sticks true to that. He's manipulative, sneaky, and has a major God complex. He's also conflicted about his role and his power. In this way, his power isn't just some weird super thing like it could be. It's an integral part of his character. It drives who he is. The way his brother, Braeden, watches out for him is so complex, considering River walks a fine line between good and evil. And then there comes Brodie and everything is ruined.

style . 4/5
I love pretty writing, but Tucholke goes a little too far. In one way, she's beautifully different. She gives Violet a unique voice; Vi sees things, simple things, that others wouldn't notice, like the feel of a barrel of beans running through your hands. It's those nice, concrete, unusual bits that I loved. What I didn't love: the excess. It's effusive, and I use that purply word because I think it demonstrates the problem. Tucholke seems to get caught up in her own prettiness. And I, as a reader, felt tangled in all these strings of metaphors when one or two would do. She has an "and" problem. And all the characters do too, meaning their voices all sound kind of the same. But it didn't make me hate the book, either, so take it with some salt.

mechanics . 5/5
The pacing really saved the style. It was gushing, but she kept things moving along. Even when I wanted to stomp the book into the ground, I couldn't put it down, because then I'd miss something. It's compelling, and clever, and quick.

take home message
An ornate supernatural story that grapples with the line between good and evil.

This was a lovely, gothic thriller of a book. Reading the description, I thought "well, here's another paranormal YA romance" and boy hardy was I wrong.

This is not your usual YA romance At. All. This is a story about different shades of Evil. Do you know what evil is? Is is two artsy parents leaving alone their teenagers in a crumbling house? Is it having the special power to make people believe what you want them to? Is it using that power to hurt bad people? Is is letting a hurtful person hold you at night and ignoring the fact they hurt other people?

And the writing was distinctive enough to set this book apart from your usual flavor of paranormal YA. Both gothic-esque and eccentric in a way that lets the main characters' personalities really seep through the text.

Violet White and her twin brother, Luke, live in a crumbling old mansion by the sea. One day, a mysterious boy, River West, with a crooked smile and a tantalizing way of running his hand through his hair shows up and rents their guest house.

Strange things start happening in Violet's small town. Children say they see the devil. The town drunk gets close up with a knife. Violet's best friend sees a mad man in a tunnel.

Violet knows it has something to do with River, but she can't deny that River is the first boy she's ever been interested in letting get close. The first boy who's ever taken her side over Luke's, and the first boy not put off by her straight-forward, brash honesty.

But how long can she ignore the connections between River, her beloved grandmother Freddie's mysterious past, and the weird stuff happening in town?

Violet is great. She's got this mix of forthrightness and cluelessness that is charming. River and his brother are satisfactorily twisted and charming. The creepiness factor is right up there in the best gothic manner with buried family secrets, graveyard hijinks, and the neck-tingles of someone watching you at night through your second floor window.

This one has some blood and gore, and while the actual onstage physical affection is rather tame, some pretty yucky stuff is implied. While it's compared with Beautiful Creatures and Anna Dressed in Blood, I think the final showdown at the end is horrifyingly bloody, nasty, and cruel that I wouldn't necessarily want my elementary school aged daughters to read it. Maybe not even my sixth grader.

Still, I will definitely be picking up the sequel as there was only a partial resolution to the burning issues of what kind of person River is, and his ultimate control over his power (not to mention what Violet will do with her love/hate relationship with him-- or his brother Neely).

This Book's Snack Rating: Garlic Parmesan Kettle Chips for the buttery, garlicky goodness of charmingly twisted bad boys with sturdy crunch of gothic creepies

When you first start reading "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea," it's truly bewitching -- April Genevieve Tucholke has a magical way with words, and there's a haunting gothic undertone to the story.

Then you encounter the protagonist, and it all falls apart. Yes, like many a paranormal romance in recent years, "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" crumbles because of its heroine -- a pretentiously snotty little brat ("I can't get a job. If you come from old money, you have to run through it all and then drink yourself to death in the gutter") who becomes more annoying the longer you read about her.

Since her parents are carefree irresponsible "artistes" bouncing around Europe, Violet and her brother Luke live alone in a rambling old mansion. To make money, they advertise for a guest-house boarder -- and get "panther-hipped" River West. Of course, Violet immediately becomes preoccupied with him, even as her supposed-friend Sunshine sees something strange in a nearby tunnel.

And then worse things happen -- a girl is abducted, and messing around with a Ouija board leads to a message from the devil. Of course, River knows something about it... which Violet is too dim to realize until she literally stumbles across his secret, and discovers that River is not even truly human.

It's undeniable that April Genevieve Tucholke has writing talent -- her descriptions are full of sensual color and crumbling, gothic beauty. She also presents us with a paranormal romance whose answers are not immediately obvious -- it's clear something weird and "sexy bad boy" is up with River, but you're left guessing exactly what it is for quite some time.

But the story... is what you would expect from a promising yet awkward teenager. For one thing, Tucholke tries to eroticize some rather silly things. Let's face it: grocery shopping at overexpensive imports-only stores is NOT sexy. Yet there's a silly scene where Violet almost gets turned on by watching River fondle comestibles. It's like a bad commercial.

Also, he characters are named things like "Sunshine Black" and "River West" (no irony!) and Tucholke romanticizes the neglectful, irresponsible parents of Luke and Violet who don't "believe in rules." Why? Because they are "artists." After all, this allows Violet to do whatever she wants without any kind of supervision, while also giving her a giant rotting mansion to lounge around in (and despite supposedly being broke, they have no problem buying expensive imported foods).

Violet is also the sort of protagonist you'd expect that promising-yet-awkward teen to produce -- a pretty bookish blonde who is smarter than everyone else, and spouts a lot of faux-ironic hipster remarks and awkward literary references. She also drops mentions of her well-traveled, cooler-than-you life whenever possible, which kept snapping me out of the narrative. Please note: Actual cool, well-traveled people don't talk about feeling "European."

She's also the kind of post-Bella-Swan heroine who looks down on everyone with contempt (including her brother and her supposed "best friend"), with the exception of her smoldering love interest. There's also a nasty misogynist streak in Violet -- whenever Sunshine is around, Violet regards her as a skanky bimbo because... well, she's prettier than Violet. And she finds boys attractive. Ah, the smell of feminism.

In fact, the only person Violet seems to actually like is River, mainly because he's the only person with the right clothes, attitude and sophistication for her. He has to be worthy of her, after all! The fact that he has the personality and sexual allure of a Ken doll doesn't help.

"Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" shows that April Genevieve Tucholke has a lot of writing talent, but she also has a lot of pretension and an obnoxious heroine. Skip this in favor of "Beautiful Creatures" or something by Maggie Stiefvater.

My favorite covers tend to have pretty dresses on them (see Wither for example) but something about the font for this one immediately caught my interest and had me positively salivating for its release. I'm so glad I've finally had the chance to pick it up!

Now that I've finished, I'm of two opinions. On the one hand, I loved the writing. I found it absolutely atmospheric and arresting, nearly impossible to put down. But I hated the characters and the fact that the plot felt pretty aimless for the majority of the book before ratcheting up the horror.

Violet and her twin brother Luke live in a falling apart mansion unsupervised while their parents pursue their art abroad. Desperate for some cash, she advertises for a renter and soon enough along comes the charming River West. Coinciding with his arrival are some strange occurrences, ones that have Violet mistrusting her senses as River seems to possess extraordinary powers of persuasion. But he's not the only devil in town...

We'll start with the good, which was the beautiful writing. I found myself completely sucked in and nearly incapable of putting the book down for long. I'd set it down after a chapter, intending to do something else but kept finding myself drawn back to find out what would happen next. BUT then we reach a plot twist that would be a spoiler that led to me thinking what was the point?! We were all set up to believe one thing and then that is taken away and twisted. True, that is the point when things really start getting horrifying and really had me clutching my pearls but it also negated a lot of the information that had previously been shared with us. And not in a way that had me doubting the reliability of the narrator, which was already shaky; rather it is in a way that left me upset with the author for this poor contrivance.

Moving on to the distinctly negative, I didn't feel much of anything for any of the characters and when I did, it was anger with them. I never got much of a feel for Violet outside of her relationship with River, Luke is so disgusting with his machismo, and their neighbor/friend Sunshine seemed to be entirely defined by her sexuality without being allowed a brain. River's manipulation rubbed me the wrong way and obviously I hated that other character who shows up.

Overall: Beautiful writing with some truly horrific events, the writing about which only drives home their horror but with poor characters leading the way. I'm still inclined to check out the second book in this two-part series if only to see if the characters can be deepened and redeemed enough for me to care.

Well, this was different. It's nothing like any book I've ever read. I can't decide what to think. I was so excited to read this book that I even made up a theme song for it. Curious? Here it is:

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
I want River to come kiss me.
Little Violet how can't you see
That he's nothing but plain crazy?

That is the extent of my song writing skills there, folks. Anyway, the book is gorgeously written and extremely gripping. I made it two-thirds of the way through and I would have read the entire thing in one night, but my husband woke up and told me that I should consider getting some sleep. Once I put the book down, I couldn't bring myself to pick it back up. Okay that's a lie. I did pick it back up and made it most of the way through before I had to quit again.

Now I'm going to just own up to the fact that I am a mega weenie. Always have been and always will be. Things that bother me tend to stick with me for a long time. Books like this have the tendency to weave their way into my imagination and take root, causing me to dwell on them for days or weeks at a time. So for the sake of my precious shut eye time, I made the executive decision not to pick the book back up (again).

But please don't misunderstand. The book is an incredible juggling act of crazy, creepy, beauty, manipulation, murder, and first love. The story is gripping, the characters are interesting, and the writing is to die for. I think that M. Night Shyamalan should team up with Ms. Tucholke to make this book into the best thriller movie ever. A movie that I would never see because I am such a wimp.

This book is definitely for older teens. There are lots of minor curse words, heated kissing, and very disturbing scenes. If you like having your skin crawl and things that go bump in the night, this book is for you.

I had a hard time connecting with this story, and was just starting to think about giving up on it when at about halfway through the book, things started to really come together in a way that held me captivated for the remaining 150 or so pages. This is a dark, romantic, gothic story that's light on the suspense but eventually manages to tell a very compelling story of gothic horror.

I didn't enjoy the beginning of this book at all. The author tries so hard to create the gothic atmosphere that I ended up rolling my eyes on every page over clichéd descriptions and dialogue that were just so over the top, the entire thing was totally unbelievable. The romance angle did not appeal to me, although I can see where teen readers might find this kind of attraction inviting. This book struggles along for over 150 pages without doing much of anything.

Just when I was about to give up and kick this out the door, the author really starts to make her story take shape. The overwriting disappears, and the plot delivers on some welcome (and violent) twists that serve to kick start this story and make it live up to its dark, gothic leanings. The characters at the center of the tale really come to life as the author manages to manifest some truly evil images. There are plot developments that strain credulity, but in the end it's the powerful interactions between these characters that push this book up to a three star rating for me. It finally delivered on more than its share of chills. When the author quit trying so hard and decided to tell her story, I was surprised to find that it was a good one. A frustrating, yet ultimately satisfying read.

My Thoughts: Alright, so I had heard both really great things about this one, and some not so good things. I always try to give a novel a chance anyway, to see if I like it. And most of the time, I end up loving it!

This one, it was alright. I finished it, but I just felt like something was missing.

We are introduced to Violet who lives with her brother. Her parents are away right now. They tend to do this a lot. She lives down the road from her best friend, and they live in a really quiet sleepy town. Not much happens here. There are the old ghost stories of course. Violet's grandma used to tell her a lot of them.

A new boy shows up. His name is River and he's here to rent one of the rooms. She needs money so she put up an ad about having extra space.

River brings with him a whole set of problems. He's mysterious, charming, and Violet takes a liking to him really fast. River was a little scary for me.

I did love how they would go and watch old movies. So cute!

A girl goes missing and everyone thinks the devil did it. Children are out hunting in graveyards just waiting for the devil.

I liked Violets brother and best friend the most. They were interesting characters, never a dull moment with them.

River, I didn't really feel drawn to River like I wanted too. I didn't love him. He had a lot of problems and at first I wasn't quite sure what they were or who he really was.

I'm glad I did get some answers though. The plot of this one was interesting enough. I just didn't fall in love with this one.

The setting was neat though. I liked how quiet the town was, and how peaceful Violet was at times.

Overall: I did finish this and it was ok. I am hoping maybe I'll get sucked into the next novel and things will improve for me from there. A lot of people loved this one, so maybe it was just my reading mood, because I had a hard time really getting into it, and I would find myself sitting it down and not really wanting to come back to it. It was weird, but in a good way, and I did finish it. Probably more of a 3.5 cupcake rating for me!

This series has potential, I just think it needs more time to grow on me I guess.

Interesting premise, and characters.

Cover: Its spooky, I like it!

What I'd Give It: 3/5 Cupcakes
___________
Taken From Princess Bookie

Before I moved down south, I didn't truly understand the phrase "soft Southern nights" or the curious mix of new and old that permeates pretty much every inch of the South. Now that I'm down here, I can fully appreciate it and, I have to say, BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA captures the atmosphere beautifully, even though this is actually set in Maine. There's a Southern Gothic vibe, big time. Violet and her brother, Logan, are the town weirdos, hiding out in their crumbling mansion by the sea while their parents paint their way around Europe. But they've run out of money (because those absentee parents seem to have forgotten that they even have children, much less underaged kids who need money to live) and Violet decides to place an ad to rent out their guesthouse.

Then into their lives walks River. He's enigmatic, strange and Violet is instantly attracted to him, even though she doesn't know quite why. She knows he's bad and, with the voice of her dead grandmother ringing in her ears, she knows she should avoid him but she...can't. His darkness calls to her. (Just an FYI -- this is not a case of insta-love. It's more of being drawn to something despite knowing it's not good for you and not being able to resist its sneaky, tricksy temptation-filled self. Like cake. Or Cheetos.)

Odd things happen when River comes to town. Creepy things. Like wide-eyed little kids armed with pointy sticks patrolling the local cemetery because they believe the devil has stolen one of them. Or sudden outbreaks of unexplained violence. Violet believes that River has something to do with it, that he's somehow responsible but she's not sure how or what he's doing...and then there's that undeniable attraction that also makes her hope it's all just a coincidence.

The writing's beautiful and evocative, turning the setting into a character of its own. My favorite character, by far. I enjoyed Violet, as she struggles to deal with her attraction to a person she knows is not good for her and to survive without her parents and with a brother who's more of a pain that a help. As for River...he's one of the most unusual characters I've encountered in a long while. I don't want to say too much about him or his motivations because that's part of the draw of the story -- unfolding the mystery that is River.

Crazy, thought-provoking, atmospheric and quite different than I expected -- that's my impression of BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA (but, holy cow, what a freakin' mouthful that title is! I mean, it works for the story, as you'll understand should you pick it up but wow.).

I am utterly bewitched by the author's confident writing style. It's clear and clean and sucks you right into her world. She sets the tone for the book and faithfully follows through on her story promise. This is a gothic story. There are constant elements of unease. Gray characters that you are never sure if you like or dislike. An unreliable narrator who can't quite explain why she does what she does. But we want to understand and so does she. When the moment of revelation comes, it's worth it. The is a story with a heart-pounding ending and an unbelievable twist that makes sense and yet you didn't see coming. I can't wait to dive into the sequel.

The setting of this story was absolutely perfect. There was a small, quiet town, a huge run-down mansion, two absentee parents, and a family whose wealth was all but gone. Violet and her twin brother, Luke, rattle around the old house, nicknamed Citizen Kane, while their parents are in Europe. Books with old houses always get me because I can't think of anything spookier, to be honest. Violet is curious, of course, so the secrets that the house is hiding are unknown even to her. Although she is not alive, the Grandmother (Freddie) plays a very big role in the book. Violet misses her desperately and is determined to find her letters, which are hidden somewhere in the house. This means a lot of trips to huge attics and empty bedrooms, which I loved because it really gave the story a Gothic feel. When River West comes to town, he integrates himself into Violet's life, but the weird things start happening right away. His secret, which thankfully takes a while to figure out, is pretty horrifying. I say horrifying because it makes him almost inescapable. I know I keep using the work scary, but that's the best description I can come up with. It gave me goosebumps, which almost never happens when I read a book.

Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea was quite gory and violent, at times, but not so much that I just couldn't read anymore. Rather, it really played into the fears that had been growing as I got deeper and deeper into the story. I could really feel Violet's confusion about River and her fear of what he might be. I really felt her fear for her brother and her friend, as well. Since the book took its time to set the mood, by the time you find out what is going on, you are ready to freak out as much as Violet is. I have to say that as more and more is revealed, I started to feel conflicted about River, as well. I couldn't tell you if River was a villain or just the victim of bad circumstances, and I know that feeling will make this series really fun to read. River's story becomes tangled in Violet's and with each surprising twist, things get more complicated and scarier. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea was all of the things that make me avoid reading a book after dark; spooky, mysterious, and downright scary. Gothic horror fans should run to this store right now to pick up this book because it's a series that you won't want to miss!

Note: My sections on the romance and the villain *will* contain spoilers. Watch out - I found it impossible to discuss either of those topics and why they made me feel that way without discussing what actually happened.

Ten likes/dislikes:

1. (+) Violet, the protagonist - Violet is unlike a lot of protagonists that I've read in YA lit. She embraces her eccentricity. She wears old clothes from her grandmother's closet, curls up with her books (and thus uses "odd, awkward words without thinking"), manages what little funds she and her artist/muscular jock-esque brother have (since their parents are on a trip to Europe and have not communicated with them in a while), already drinks coffee, and has a know-it-all gaze. She's smart; she quotes from obscure texts/poems and doesn't take her brother's crap when he tries to acting like a douche. Like her parents, she's also kind of an elitist and she paints. Here is what River says of her (p. 74, note that this could change in the final copy): "You're careful. Thoughtful. Perceptive. More honest than most. You hate recklessness but are impulsive yourself, when it suits you. You hate your brother, and you love him more than anything in the world. You wish your parents would come home, but you've learned to live without them. You like peace, but are capable of toe-curling violence, if pushed far enough."

2. (+) The Setting - This book is described as having elements of Stephen King (whose work I have not read) and F. Scott Fitzgerald (whose work I have read). As such, the Fitzgerald elements really show in the descriptions not only of Violet's old money family but also of her house, Citizen Kane, and its crumbling estate and guesthouse. And the town itself, where a lot of the creepy happenings occur.

3. (+/-) The Romance - River is certainly not portrayed as the typical romantic interest of young adult literature. Part of that is because of Violet - she notices his lean, panther hips and Byronic tendencies and linen pants (which she thought "only stubble-jawed Spanish men wore in European movies set by the sea") and swagger. While he grocery shops, he runs his hands through a barrel of cranberry beans and opens an egg carton to stroke the egg shells. He cooks and folds dollar bills into animal shapes and gives them to Violet because he worries about her current finances and because it's an apology of sorts. And he's deeply committed to "justice." I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to say that River is fishy and does fishy things. Violet, however, knows about these fishy things. She comments several times that she is not sure what to think of River, and yet she falls in love with him. I was okay with their relationship up to a point--and I think that it would have been better had Violet not specifically thought about how she loved him, because in my mind, everything that was said and done was not enough for love, and I don't think I would have gotten there as quickly as her, though their chemistry is obvious. (And yeah, the summary says that this is all a part of River's manipulation, but Violet is a smart girl; she still sees this going on. Is it *that* inevitable? The fact that she understood his manipulation and still thought she loved him is what makes me, personally, feel squicky.) At any rate, I do think that this is the kind of portrayal that will work for other readers, even if it didn't work for me.

4. (+) Creepy Factor - The horror in this story... Well, April Genevieve Tucholke does not waste any time before delving into the story and heightening the creepy factor. That mention of cemeteries? Nothing in comparison to what happens. And I love that there are twists in this not only due to the paranormal factors.

5. (--) The Villain - The portrayal of the villain offended me. At least his background, and his motivations for doing what he did. They seemed not only flat, but in the face of everything else, which was well done, this happened? I, personally, am tired of the mental illness stigma in YA lit and particularly thrillers - who's the villain? A psychotic person. Up until I read the part with the villain, I would have rated this book 4 stars (1 less because of the romance). I still haven't decided how much I would rate it now. But I also get the feeling that this might not bother a lot of other readers, so I'll rate technically.

6. (+) Side Characters - The writing is so strong and fluid that even if I don't necessarily understand the motivations for the side characters, I can picture all of them clearly. How they look and how they act and maybe even what their facial expressions are like when they deliver their lines. (I like the hint, too, of there being something else that drives every character and that Tucholke wasn't afraid to show her characters' flaws.) And just so you know, I'm not generally a visual reader. This writing though...

7. (+) Paranormal Parts - The paranormal takes a back stage in the horror and the setting and familial drama. I like that it was offered as an explanation for some things, and though its exact mechanisms are not as developed as other things, it fits well with the Gothic horror elements.

8. (+) The Writing - The synopsis promises gorgeous writing, and so this book delivers. Yes. Every last bit of it. It's not too much purple prose, though it is fluid and poetic. Here's an example from p. 81: "He kissed me. My lips met his and I just. Stopped. Thinking. I didn't think about the fact that River was still a stranger. I didn't think about the tunnel, or Jack, or the Devil, or anything. My lips melted into my heart, which melted into my legs, which melted into the earth beneath me. / Afterward, River walked me home in the moonlight. Neither of us talked. / And everything was damn near perfect."

9. (+) The Pacing - The pacing was done fairly well throughout the book. I mostly had issues with the beginning and end; first chapter is a bit slow, and toward the end, I started to get antsy, wondering when everything would be all well and good. Other than that, steady.

10. (+) The Cover - This cover is quite possibly the most gorgeous cover I have seen. I love the font choice and size. I love the colors. I love the Gothic element. I love the couple and how they're close to a cliff and the symbolism in that. I love the rushing waves and the black and white fog and just everything. Everything is a win there.

Bottom Line?

Readers looking for superb writing, well-established Gothic horror, unforgettable settings/settings & family history that play a role in the plot, and an unusually quirky protagonist will enjoy this debut from a truly talented author.

Violet and her brother Luke are old money but the money has run out. They're living in a crumbling mansion while their flighty artist parents are in Europe. To make some extra money Violet puts up an add to rent out the guest house, River West answers that add and suddenly Violets life is changed and so is the entire town.

I loved just how creepy this novel was. I was always trying to figure out what was happening and all signs constantly pointed back to River being behind all of the strange happenings around town. River is a lovely, wealthy, liar who makes Violet feel so at ease. I never trusted him because I don't think Violet ever does. While she likes him there is just something off about River and as the novel progresses I liked that Violet knew to keep her distance even if she wasn't sure she wanted to.

I immediately liked Violet. She is quirky, while still remaining rather dark. She was completely unapologetic about the way she acts and how she thinks. At times I felt Violet was rather judgment, especially regarding her friend Sunshine, but you can tell she has a good heart. I also liked the way she keeps her grandmother, who everyone including Violet calls, Frankie alive in her memory. Even though Frankie was never in the story I felt like I knew her through Violet.

Tucholke excels at writing dysfunctional sibling relationships. Violet and Luke are twins and one second it feels like they hate each other but the next you can tell just how much they truly care about one another. The dynamics just feel real and the sibling relationships between Violet and Luke as well as between River and Neely became one of my favorite aspects of the story.

My one gripe with Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is that I found the ending to be a bit of a cop out. I wanted it to be so much creepier then it actually was. If Tucholke had taken the novel to its natural conclusion it would have been dark, terrible, and I would have loved every word. Instead things wrap up rather nicely and none of our main characters are forced to be the bad guy.

Overall, despite the ending I still really enjoyed Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. It was creepy, whimsical, and I enjoyed all of the old movie references. I will definitely be picking up the sequel, 2014 can't get here fast enough.

The cover did seem dark, but it definitely seemed good. :D And when my friend gave me the ARC, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and start reading. I just didn't really anticipate how good it actually was.

The Characters/Summaries:
Violet - Well, what can I say? Violet is a decent girl. She might be a bit gullible though. Just a bit. At least she knows how to take action. And well, suspect people. At first, I was mad at her for letting the obvious devil there, West, go even if he did something wrong. And then, well, the unexpected happened. She was right and I was wrong. That surprise ending there, I really didn't suspect. At all.

River West - Okay. Him. He sounded cool to me. At first. Like a joke-ster. Prankster. Quirky. Arrogant. Then, the shadow of him arrived. And his unique abilities. It was scary at first, but River doesn''t seem to go too far. He went from back and forth using glow, not using his glow. I got confused. Really confused. Throughout the book, I kept on asking myself if he's the devil or not. It got really confusing.

Of course, we did end up meeting that devil towards the end of the book.

The book got darker and darker as I got closer and closer to the ending. But I did read on. It was intriguing. It was quite a story to tell. It sucked in readers and never let them go until they finished reading and closed the final cover. So, oh yes. It was good. It was better than good.

Final Thoughts:
If you'd like a fast, foggy, dark read, have fun reading this book~

Throughout the book, it certainly got me confused. But in a good way. In a way that my head was whirling around thinking, trying to hit that exact spot. To find that ending. To get to know what really did happen and what really is happening. And who all these mysterious people are. And Violet's family history. There's something there also. *wiggles eyebrow. Ya'll know everything will make sense in the end. :D

Personally, I think if the book ended like this and not continue on in a series, I think it would make a better ending to the story. It was leave a gasping, needing for air ending. Instead of whatever ending that ends a series. And knowing from experience of reading, not writing it's hard to make a good series ending. Most of them turns out to be ghost endings.

'Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea' by April Tucholke is a tale about a brother and sister, Violet and Luke, who live a little outside of town in a huge mansion. One day a strange boy, River West, rents out their guest house due to an add Violet places for a renter. Coming from old money and an even stranger parental raising, Violet and Luke jump at the chance to meet someone new. But not everything is what it seems... children missing, people burning, kids running around talking about the Devil, and even some who have seen unbelievable things. Nothing is the same as it was and will not be the same when they come to the end.

This book cover really grabbed at me... and in fact was the reason why I picked it up. The writing style was easy to follow but at times it could confuse you with who is taking to who. Also be warned that there is some language and heated scenes that might not be appropriate for younger children.

The reason why I am in the middle is b/c I actually found myself yelling at Violet for her own stupidity... and even cringed on some of the choice words used to describe their teenage neighbor. But the deal breaker for me was how Violet is portrayed here.... a guy can be a total ass, even a killer, but if he can be sweet to me it's okay. NOT OKAY! Even when I got deeper into the story and certain River facts where revealed (via the glow) I was still not happy with her attitude and her easy acceptance of being treated this way.

Violet White and her brother Luke live alone in Citizen Kane, their crumbling family estate. Their parents are off in Europe, and have been for awhile. Violet's only friend is Sunshine, their neighbor who delights in flirting with the sexist Luke. To make money, Violet decides to rent the guesthouse - which brings River West into their lives.

Soon enough, strange things are happening in their little town. And it always seems like River is at the center of the strangeness, which is steadily becoming more sinister. Debut author April Genevieve Tucholke has good instincts for making Violet's continued attraction to River believable. For one thing, the first truly horrible thing done is partially done in defense of a child. There's Violet's lack of supervision and upbringing. And there's River himself, stacking the deck in his favor.

BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, like UNSPOKEN, is a modern Gothic. It has all the trappings of one of the classics: an atmospheric house, children in peril, an enigmatic man, possible supernatural shenanigans. That traditional feel commingles with modern attitudes and morality to create a truly absorbing read. There's mystery, romance, terror, and teenagers spinning out of control.

In some ways, I feel like I shouldn't like BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA. Or perhaps I feel that I should feel guilty about liking it. This is one twisted book. But it's twisted in such a fun, compulsively readable sort of way. I would've eaten it up back when I was a morbid teenager, and I ate it up pretty easily now. It's why certain types of horror are popular. There's a perverse pleasure in being disturbed.

Fans of paranormal romance looking for something with a lot of style and atmosphere should flock to BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA. It's both different and familiar, in all the best ways. It's certainly a promising beginning to Tucholke's career.

I have to stop taking book suggestions from the people who work at Barnes and Noble.

Am I reading the same book as everyone else?

Violet lives in the quiet, boring town of Echo. Nothing of interest ever happens in Echo, until a mysterious boy shows up on Violet's door step. Suddenly, children begin to disappear (sort of) and bodies begin to stack up.

I know my last few reviews haven't been very positive, but to be fair I had really high hopes for this book.

The book begins pretty slowly, and then it continues the same way until the end. The story itself had absolutely NO plot line what so ever. I don't understand how a book can be published without a plot line. It was more like ramblings with somewhat interesting minor things dispersed throughout. There wasn't any real depth to the story itself. There isn't any tension building for the rising action, there isn't really a climax either. I am disappointed.

Furthermore, the main characters are supposedly modern day teenagers however, none of them talk like it. The character development is greatly lacking. At times Violet seems unbelievably naïve for her age. I couldn't grasp her character at all, she wasn't believable by any stretch of the imagination.

This review was originally posted on [...] and [...]

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea was one of my most highly anticipated books of 2013... and when my good friend Bunny offered to lend an ARC of it to me?! I jumped at the chance. And let me tell you, this book did not disappoint. In fact, it was a one day read - seriously! I have never been a fan of horror but only because I have never had the opportunity to read it... but if this book is any indication of what I should expect from the genre, I won't hesitate in the future to check out more titles.

Let me begin by saying that the first thing that caught my eye about this book was the cover. It is gorgeous from the color scheme, to the picture, to the typography. Each of these three elements help to capture the spirit of the story and I don't think that Dial could have done a better job. I can't wait to see what BtDatDBS looks like in hard cover - I'm positive that it will be gorgeous.

Now, the biggest thing going for this book was Tucholke's writing style. I have never read a book that captured the eerie, creepy, American Horror Story feel quite like this book - and it was brilliant. Despite the fact that Echo is supposed to be a standard small town America place, Tucholke lets us know that something just isn't quite right... by her descriptions alone. It is easy enough for an author to tell her readers something... but to successfully show it? I was completely blown away - reading about Echo felt surreal... and I have never experienced that before.

Secondly, the characters were surprisingly well developed and kept me on my toes. Not to honk my own horn, but I am usually pretty good at calling out plot twists and surprises from miles away... but I could not figure this book out. Each character surprised me at different times in the story and I loved that. I never knew what to expect and there were times that I yelled, "Oh my God!" out loud.

And lastly (but certainly not least), the story. The story was amazing... and I don't know how to say it any other way. Like I said earlier, I've never really read anything that could be classified as horror so this was definitely a new experience for me. I felt like Tucholke was leading me in one direction, to make certain assumptions about certain characters, only to completely turn everything upside down. I was equally creeped out and intrigued - I could not put this book down.

My only regret about The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is that I did not read it closer to Halloween - I think it would be perfect for that time of year. But, despite reading it during the summer, I loved, loved, loved this book. I would recommend it to anyone - teens and up! I will put out this caution though - there are some pretty violent and disturbing scenes, as well as some harsh language.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is difffernt and different makes it exciting. I have a thing for gothic YA books and this one completely hit the mark. Through the whole book you know something is going on, but I never could quite figure out what the underlying problem was or who was perpetrating it. And that made the book even more excellent for me.

I liked the characters. At least the ones you are supposed to like. There is Violet who is the one caught in the middle of things and River who is the new boy in town surrounded by a lot of mystery. There are also people I kind of like and people I didn't like, but they were well done and I understood they were the somewhat iffy characters. Some of them I came around to liking once I understood and some I liked, I began to like less. But it's all part of the book and the intent, it's nothing that the author did wrong. In fact, it's something that the author really did right.

The plot is exciting and rather mysterious and dark. Which is awesome and just what I needed. And while things wrapped up in this book, I can't wait to see what happens in the next book in this series. I care about the characters, the town and what will happen next. Ms. Tucholke has scored a big hit with me with this one and I can't wait to read more!

I loved everything about this story and…the cover <3. The cover sold me and then the synopses was perfect for my taste so boom, it was mine. I read the story in 2 days and it would of been a day if I had the time.
It is a very creepy book, at times it's horrifying and that made it amazing.
The love story is sweet but it's not over the top which I truly enjoyed. I can't stand books that are all about a love story. Mainly because I'm a cynic when it comes to everlasting love and all I picture is them getting married, having kids, and 20 years down the line divorcing..haha and no, no personal experience there but I'm just a cynic.
Anyways, River was likable enough but what I truly enjoyed was the creep factor about him. At one point I was certain he was the devil and the next, I was unsure. I really had no idea where the story was going.
Violet was really likable too and I enjoyed her as the main woman.
I had no idea that there was a second book coming and I cannot tell you how excited I am to read it. The end leaves us feeling good, at the same time there is a cliffhanger.
There is a character in this book that pops out of nowhere and he is pure evil and I want to see him badly hurt in the second book. Read it!!

This gothic tale had some interesting twists and turns that kept me interested until the end.

Our heroine and her brother have been left alone for months in their old, decrepit mansion by the sea when a young man, River, comes to rent out the guest house. From here, things get weird.

What I liked:
The dark and gritty plot was both a positive and a negative. It was very interesting to read about, but I did have issues with Violet's ability to overlook her new love's twisted sense of justice and fun.

The gothic local and vivid descriptions were interesting to read about.

What I didn't like:
I didn't care for Violet's immaturity at times;however, I was not bothered enough by it to stop reading. She is just different enough to pull it off.

The names were so bizarre that I kept thinking that they must have some deeper meaning....still thinking about it.

Again, River's semi-evilness was a little bit of a problem for me.

Overall, I was very entertained, so even with these negatives, I would still be interested in reading the next in the series. If you are a fan of a darker themed novel, you will probably enjoy this YA addition.

I was disappointed with this book. First and for most because I really expected River to be some sort of devil. Or at least the son of one, or something like that. But just a boy with an odd power? No. Even though River had a sometimes warped personality, I found I kind of liked him. Violet was a very normal girl, which I liked because it's easier to relate too. But she did have a disturbing obsession with wearing her dead grandmother's clothes. Violet's brother (can't remember his name) was too often just a jerk and Sunshine just bugged me with her annoying being. The story did get more interesting when River's brother(s) showed up but marginally so. And the end....really?

I may or may not read the next book only too see how this gets wrapped up, but even if I don't, I'm okay with that.

My girlfriend lovedy-loved this book.

"Aside from having a gorgeous title font (seriously...I swoon), is pretty original. It's a gothic horror, in that crumbling-old-houses-and-secrets way. But it's also got a unique voice in Violet, who is intelligent but self-indulgent, patient but with occasional violent thoughts, and whose daredevil curiosity leads to some horrific things."

It's honestly difficult to say more about it without giving things away. So she said she'd say this:

- Violet is an amazing, if not entirely likable or relatable, character. Portraying some characters as both murderously wicked and responsibly compassionate, in a realistic and believable way, is utter genius.
- I read this book in three days, so compelled was I to figure out what was going on and whom to trust.
- I highly recommend it to fans of magical realism, mystery, gothic novels, those who like contemporary with a touch of supernatural, folks who are tired of repeated YA tropes about independence/adulthood/romance/etc, and people who enjoy getting a poetic imagery of place.

17 year old Violet White is leading an uneventful and secluded life until River West appears and rents the guest house. With him comes a grimness and Violet can well believe that the devil has entered her life. River West is indeed an unreadable presence, and a quite disturbing one.

This is gothic horror reminiscent of Daphne Du Maurier. The pace is slow, and often lyrical. April Genevieve Tucholke has a definite style which I for one enjoyed. There's a prosaic beauty in her style and it is this style that so fits the gothic setting.

River West is an inscrutable character and the interplay between him and Violet is tense.

This does have sex and violence in it making it a bit strong for the targetted high schooler audience, but basically, I recommend it. This book will certainly keep you awake, quite likely for a bit after you've finished reading it.

EWWWW, my brother and his girlfriend have cooties, I need to interrupt them instead of just walking away when they show affection, ! Oh hey, cute boy in the backyard is a killer, I'm cool with that.. what's my age again?

Between the devil and the deep blue sea is told in the first person from the prospective of Violet. Violet and her brother are pretty much alone, her parents are in Europe, they are artists. River, a strange boy, rents the carriage house. There are ghosts, bad boys, maybe bad boys.. this should be a great book, but it's merely good, mostly because the character of Violet is all over the place, and so is her voice.

There are a lot of stories going on, which tends to be scattered plot wise. This book could have been tighter. It's a good read but would have been really good had violet been more likeable.

After finishing the book, I was not happy with the ending. I hate reading a book, and the ending is not complete, and left to the imagination. No, just give me a nice ending so I will love your book!

*spoiler alert*

When I read the first few chapters of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea of the store's "Look Inside", I was hooked. Curious to know more about Violet and River, I saw the overall the store review at at four stars, so why not? I should have known better and read more of the reviews (not just the four and five stars).

Cons:
- Violet's character was very childish. Sure she's young.. but still annoying.
- I did not understand how she dislikes River for what he does, but still ends up in bed with him (nothing bad happening)
- River started becoming mean and strange
- Her female neighbor, Sunshine.. don't get me started! *shakes her head* being all two-faced with Violet, and is secretly involved with Violet's brother.

After I got into the middle of the book, I did not want to continue on with reading. At the time, I had no new books waiting for me, I had to continue reading every other day. I can plow through a book in one day, or two. But this took me almost two weeks, for such a thin book.

Pros:
- Interesting development with some drama towards the middle-end of the book.

In ccnclusion, I am sorry, but I am not a fan of the author's way of writing. Will not be buying any future books of hers. Unless you can convince me otherwise.

I heard that this book had an element of creepiness to it but that it wasn't a horror novel, so I thought I would give it a chance and try to expand my reading genres (plus the cover is amazing!). I loved the tagline, about holding the Devil's hand and that immediately intrigued me. However, I was overall not that impressed with the book. I didn't care too much for any of the characters, and I thought that the plot line really wasn't that creepy at all. It did pick up a little bit at the end for me, however, it was just a middle of the road type of book. Still debating if I want to read the sequel.

For a more in-depth review, check out my book blog, A Nook of Blankets and Books!
http://anookofblanketsandbooks.blogspot.com/2014/11/between-devil-and-deep-blue-sea-book.html

Ever since I read and fell in love with Wuthering Heights, I've been a huge fan of Gothic fiction. That's why I picked up Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea--it's premise has a very Gothic feel and the potential for many things dark and torrid. However, while Tucholke does a great job of creating a Gothic atmosphere and developing the darker and more twisted aspects of this story, there was something about it overall that didn't quite work for me. What it came down to was the characters--I love reading about characters who make questionable decisions and seem to seek out terrible things, but I need to see their background and motivations in order to understand why they've made those decisions or done those terrible things. I found it difficult to invest in these characters and unfortunately, as a result, the overall story was less satisfying for me.

"There's truths and then there's truths, Violet. And some damn truths shouldn't be spoken out loud, or the Devil will hear, and then he'll come for you."

It's summertime in Echo, Maine; a small, quiet town on the shores of the Atlantic. Violet and her brother, Luke, live in their family's old, overgrown, decaying manor on a cliff overlooking the sea. Low on money and out of options, Violet rents out their guesthouse to newcomer River West, a mysterious, lying boy with a new-old car and a lazy, crooked smile. At the same time River comes to town, strange things begin happening around Echo; and Violet must choose between right and wrong, between truth and lies, between the Devil and the deep blue sea.

You know those books that you fall instantly in love with? This was one of those books for me. From the very first sentence, it was distinctive and lovely. The tone and the atmosphere of the novel wash over you immediately, so you are immersed from beginning to end.

I loved Tucholke's writing. The book is written in first person past tense and is just so in character for Violet. The writing is very matter-of-fact and quirky, because that's how Violet is. The things the author chooses to describe and the way she describes them make perfect sense. Those are the things Violet notices, the things Violet pays attention to, what matters to her. All of these things show us who Violet is as a character without telling, which I love. I think some people might not like Violet as a character. She's a bit weird and out of touch and definitely not an everygirl.* Personally, I thought she was fantastic. One thing's for sure, her characterization in spot-on.

The other characters we meet are great, too. River West, Luke, their neighbor and friend, Sunshine. I loved how they were fascinating characters in their own right, and also as characters representing different things to Violet. Even the characters we don't meet, such as Violet's dead grandmother, Freddie, feel real. None of the characters are perfect. All of them, including Violet, have a unique set of inherent flaws that aren't glossed over for the sake of likeability.

Another wonderful aspect is Violet's relationships with the other characters. Violet and Luke, who really only have each other to depend on and resent the one another for it. Violet and Sunshine, who aren't friends because they have anything in common or particularly enjoy each other's company, but out of age and circumstance. Violet and River, whose relationship develops quickly because of the made-up intimacies of a lonely girl and because all the firstness of it, but doesn't fall into the annoying YA trappings of insta-love.

This book reminded me a lot of how I experienced the world when I was younger. Like Violet and Luke, I had too much independence and, in a way, longed for less. Like Violet, I was always a bit out of touch socially and more in-my-own-head than most kids my age, so when I met the met the boy would eventually experience first love with, I made up intimacies and connections in my head that I knew made no sense, but I felt like they were real. I even had a friend like Sunshine; the only girl my age in our neighborhood growing up. A girl I became friends with through being constant companions and having shared history more than anything else, and who today occupies a place somewhere in between friend and sibling.

So, short story not-so-short, I loved this book. It's been at the top of my list for most anticipated reads of 2013 for a long time and definitely lived up to the hype I had generated around it in my head. I can't wait to read book two in the duology.

*Everygirl: A first person, female narrator with broad, obvious characterization; making it easy for the reader to imagine herself in place of the main character. Bella Swan is a prime example. (Yes, I made this up.)

This review was first published at ww.wrenreads.com.

Quite frankly, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke gave me ALL the feels. There's no other way to describe its highly addictive quality that makes me want to drop everything I'm doing and submerse myself into this breathtaking world. With an alluring blend of horror and romance, this is a perfect book to read while curled on a comfy couch on a rainy, Australian winter night. Personally I always had a soft spot for all things Gothic, so I found this story to be enjoyable on most part. If I still haven't convinced you to read this book yet, well then... just look at that gorgeous cover. Enough said!

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea can be seen as a coming of age story as we witness Violet growing up and facing the metaphoric horrors of the world. There is a strong sense of physical and emotional isolation that permeates throughout the whole book. Both Violet and Luke live alone in a large mansion by the sea that is withdrawn from the rest of society. Not only are they abandoned by their negligent parents, but they also have to deal the loss of their grandmother who was the only real parental figure in their lives. The novel's premise may seem unrealistic due to the convenient `Disappearing Parent Syndrome' which is very common to YA fiction. However it works well with the Gothic style of the novel in heightening the emotions of loneliness, despair and fear felt by the characters. With a bleak and foreboding atmosphere, Tucholke promises us darkness, death, melodrama and madness to come. And she does not disappoint.

One of my favourite things about Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is its beautiful setting. There is something alluring about an image of a huge old mansion that is on the edge of a cliff above the crashing waves. It serves as a perfect backdrop for the story's mysterious events, with the sea playing such a large role in shaping the character's moods that I could constantly feel its lingering presence in every page. Furthermore, the mansion was absolutely fun to read about as the characters explore the mysterious passages and secret rooms in all three floors. It is a fascinating, almost castle-like dwelling that is straight out of a magical childhood dream with its tennis courts, greenhouses, mazes, guesthouses, attics, cellars and even a library and a ballroom. Old, rundown structures that suffer a decline from former greatness are common to Gothic fiction and this book is no different. We are reminded of its decay through various details of paint chipping away from walls, grass growing out concrete as well as copious amounts of dust everywhere. Much of the action also takes place in foggy cemeteries and forests and although they may seem quite cliché, there is an aura of terror and dread that will still thrill many readers.

From the very first page, Tucholke's prose immediately stands out to the reader. Her descriptions are lush and are full of seemingly random details that add up to a vivid mental picture. She sets the mood and atmosphere perfectly and I was easily drawn to the story through the writing alone. Some readers may dislike the overuse of conjunctions although I can appreciate the rhythmic and melodic effects that Tucholke was going for. However perhaps it's just me being nit-picky, but the writing can be very dense and heavy at times as I had to reread a number of sentences in order to absorb everything. A few phrases also felt a bit awkward and out of place although that may change in the final version. Overall, the language is poetic but not overly so that it is excessive and doesn't make sense. It all comes down to the reader's individual tastes, however I thought that writing style was overall accessible and effective in slowly building up the suspense.

Along with the wonderful setting and atmosphere, Tucholke has also created an intriguing ensemble of characters. Mysterious, beguiling and morally ambiguous, River West is certainly a character that readers will either love or hate. Or both in my case. It is clear from the beginning that that there is a lot more to him than what meets the eye and we eventually uncover more about his background as the story progresses. Some readers may be turned off by Violet's immediate attraction and obsession to him as we are constantly reminded of how hot/perfect he is (If I had a dollar for every mention of his "crooked smile"...) Emotions run high in Gothic fiction as young women are often portrayed to be melodramatic and passionate. Violet fortunately doesn't swoon over him although in a way, she does come very close (and I won't elaborate due to spoilers).

Violet wasn't exactly my favourite character in the book however I could still sympathise with her situation. Despite being 17 years old, there is a distinct innocent and childish quality to her thoughts after being sheltered in a large mansion within a small town for so long. Some may find her frustrating as she can be too naïve, too trustworthy and too passive at times. I thought that she was easily manipulated by River in the beginning and was very accepting of things that would make other characters think twice. Part of this may be due to her confusion and inexperience as she is forced to grow up quickly without any proper adult role models. As the story progresses, it was interesting to see her falling more corrupt under River's influence, and she becomes a significantly changed person by the end.

The book starts off slowly with its dark and gloomy tone. The plot became a bit too predictable at times and I thought that the climax was quite underwhelming. Despite its flaws, the story was still quite entertaining and left me coming back for more. Like in true Gothic fashion, there are many violent and macabre events throughout the book including talks of Devils, witch burnings, mysterious disappearances and murders, strange behaviours and yes, there is even a fire. Deeply buried secrets are unearthed and the lines between good and evil begin to blur. Ultimately the resolution hints of exciting things to come in the sequel and I thought that the closing lines of the book were just perfect.

Overall, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a highly addictive, thrilling story that serves as a perfect escape from reality. I was torn between giving it either 3.5 or 4 stars, however I'm now learning towards 4 stars due to its lovely atmospheric qualities that set it apart from other YA novels. Whether or not you'll enjoy this book will most likely depend on how willing you are able to suspend your disbelief and put up with the slow pacing at first. Once you accept the intrinsic absurdity of Gothic fiction and let yourself to be caught up in its dark swirl of highly-charged emotions, this may well be the perfect book for you.

I have been searching for a "scary book" and this one had potential! I love to read love stories, but I also LOVE thrillers! There were a few things that bothered me in this book though! The author uses the word "damn" A LOT, and in most places it seemed totally unnecessary, like it was suppose to mean something...if it was suppose to mean something I missed it! It just seems out of place!

I do not like It when scary movies OR books involve children....

What I did LOVE is that I totally didn't expect the ending!!!!! Usually I can figure out what will happen and this one totally surprised me!

It's a little twisted and dark....but sometimes that's what I want in a book!!!

This lyrical and haunting debut is breath-taking! It breathes new life into yesterday's Gothic novel. Although set in a modern time, there is a quaint nostalgic feeling that haunts the pages of this book. With an adjective or metaphor, the author conjures up an exquisite and foreboding atmosphere. It is truly mesmerizing! Long after I finished the novel, I see the shadowy corridors and pink marble stairs, the provocatively intimate sofa scene, and still hear the crashing of the tides below with the scent of sea salt in the wind. And that eerie creature leaning over River's shoulder in the guesthouse! The book is so beautifully written and laid out. There are many twists and surprises to be found. If Tim Burton were to write a novel, it might be something like this... but nowhere near as eloquent.

"You stop fearing the Devil when you're holding his hand."

Violet's grandmother, Freddie, told her to be careful of the Devil countless times. But with Freddie dead and her parents indefinitely traveling through Europe, it's hard enough just to survive without thinking about the Devil. There are bills to pay, a twin brother to fight with and a neighbor to try and avoid.

In need of money, Violet takes a gamble and tries to rent out her family's guesthouse. She doesn't expect anyone to come. No one in the small town of Echo thinks much of Violet and her formerly-rich family.

Then River West drives into town all sly smiles and lazy grace to rent the guesthouse and turn the whole town upside down.

The closer Violet gets to River the more she finds herself drawn to him. But as she learns more about River and her own family's past the more obvious it becomes that Freddie was right all along. It's easy to lose sight of the Devil when he's the one giving you a crooked smile like no one else in Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (2013) by April Genevieve Tucholke.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is Tucholke's first novel. It is also the first of a duet. (The second volume Between the Spark and the Burn will be published in 2014.)

Violet is a great narrator with a cadence reminiscent of lazy days telling stories in a summer haze. Low level swear words (there are a lot of things that Violet has damn strong feelings about) and references to classic movies and books (like Casablanca and Hawthorne's short stories) are woven seamlessly into the story to give the whole novel an otherworldly air.

This story is also strangely devoid of theology or other non-secular discussions for a book that focuses so heavily on Devil mythology and the idea of evil. In some ways that is a good thing as it makes the book approachable for a wider audience. On the other hand, even for someone who is not religious, it felt strange to see so much concern for the Devil but no mention of God except to say that there must be some kind of god if there is, in fact, some kind of devil.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is an enjoyable book for readers who don't mind skipping over small details that don't quite make sense. Because it is often the little things that make this story frustrating. Where, exactly, is the town of Echo located? Why does Violet not question her strange and instant attraction to the stranger in her guest house? How many times can two teenagers realistically sleep in the same bed (naked) with nothing happening?

And, of course, the biggest question: How many chances for forgiveness does a sociopath really deserve?

Which leads to the biggest problem in Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Almost none of the characters are likable. While Violet is a sympathetic (if naive) narrator, none of the secondary characters are likable. Violet's twin brother is a brute, her neighbor friend is vapid to the point of meanness. River, the supposed male lead, is a villain in every sense of the word: he kills people, hurts people and creates mayhem everywhere he goes not because he has no choice but because he can. Because he enjoys it.

While there is always room for anti-heroes in literature--especially ones that readers will want to root for--it is impossible to find any redeeming qualities in River. He is a sociopath. The only times he is angry or shows regret about his actions is when he is caught in the act. Otherwise it's all in good fun. River is meant to be sympathetic but in the face of so many wrongs, that sympathy was never warranted. More to the point, River being so awful also drags down the other characters. Instead of seeing Violet and others who try to help River as steadfast or strong they only come off as enablers who are painfully, dangerously ignorant of the devil who has just come to town.

This blend of gothic horror and devilish anti-heroes will appeal to fans of Hush, Hush and Beautiful Creatures. Readers looking for a book with characters who are actually likable instead of just characters who say they are likable will be better served elsewhere.

Possible Pairings: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black, Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, Beautiful Creature by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel, Swoon by Nina Malkin, Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore, The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel

This was so frustrating for me. I realize the glow affects your emotions, but Violet comes off as a spineless, lovesick, spoiled rich kid. It's so irritating! The pacing is terribly slow, with a punch to the face with these extremely violent scenes. The characters are not likable; not a one. And there is so much plot. Tucholke should have focused on River and Violet and left the other stuff behind. It didn't really add anything to the story.

I was pretty clueless about this book before I read it. But I am so glad I did. This is an amazing horror mystery book. I never knew what was coming next and loved it. From the beginning I felt like I had traveled back in time and was reading a classic. The voice of the narrator is great and VI is the kind of girl you root for. She is weird and smart and gets to wear fabulous old flowing skirts. She describes the Citizen Kane so perfectly without being too wordy. But do be warned this isn't a fluff book. There is blood and violence, but in the best way. If you liked Anna Dresses in Blood you will like this!Anna Dressed in Blood

* spoilers *

Violet White and her brother live by themselves in a decaying mansion by the sea. Their parents are flighty artists who have been gone for months on end. Because their money is gone, she decides to put up fliers around town for someone to rent the guest house. A mysterious and attractive stranger named River West comes to stay and chaos almost immediately ensues. Violet's best friend Sunshine sees a monster in a cave. Then a little girl goes missing and the local children are convinced it's the devil that they have to kill with wooden stakes. Violet is already completely infatuated with River even as she suspects him of creating the chaos in the town. Her grandmother warned her against the devil, but never expected him to be so charming.

The cover of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea doesn't do it justice. It looks dark, gothic, and twisted, which it is, but it's more than that. The setting is a sleepy little southern town by the sea. The atmosphere starts as relaxed, kind of like time doesn't matter and days can be spent lazing in the hot sun, drinking iced tea all day. It also has a vintage feel. The Whites don't lock their house at night and watch old movies in the town square with their neighbors, like in bygone eras. All of that changes when River comes to town. Before, people trusted their neighbors and acted friendly. Afterwards, everyone is on their guard and suspicious. The children are super creepy, running around at night with wooden stakes and attacking random people. They refused to go home at night and it was bordering on Children of the Corn with the kids attacking people.

The drastic change in the town also happens with Violet. Before River, she's carefree, trusting, and generally happy. She knows everything in her town and nothing really comes as surprising. The loss of her grandmother and the absence of her parents have affected her, but didn't make her jaded. She seems more determined to get the most out of the little things in life and has a more introspective view of life. After River, she is unhappy and suspicious. She doesn't know what to believe or even if her own feelings are authentic. I found Violet to be likeable until the end, but a bit on the naive, immature side. I liked the way she observed the small thing swithin the people and the world around her. Her falling in love with River was very instalove-y, but it is later shown to be intentional.

My big problem with the novel is River. His personality is fine. He's charming and he's got that rich boy attitude that everything is attainable. He has the power to create illusions and make people do what he wants through touch. He reminds me very much of Loki from the Thor films, creating chaos and causing death wherever he goes. Anyway, he constantly touches Violet and this shows why she becomes so very infatuated with him in such a short amount of time. He basically made her fall in love with him with his power, which is so not ok. Then he goes on to almost rape her in her sleep. This is besides the fact that he forces the town drunk to commit suicide in front of the whole town and he feels absolutely no remorse for it. After that point, he ceases to be even remotely attractive to me with his rapey, murderous, creepy ways. Violet and River's whole relationship reminds me of a woman that loves an abusive man, but can't leave him because she loves him. That's just not a healthy relationship and it makes me feel gross to read it. Ugh.

Although I liked the writing and the setting, River and Violet's attitude towards him ruined the novel for me. I'm ok with bad boys in literature, but there has to be something redeemable about them. The murder and mind rape just make him an awful character that I don't want to read about. I lose respect for Violet for being obsessed with him even after she knows all these horrible things about him. I guess it could just be River's power, but it looks like just another girl trapped in an abusive relationship.

2 stars

I grabbed this from the library after reading Jen from YA Romantic's review. I normally like what she likes and this is one that wasn't that way for me, which is ok. I knew this was going to be a unique read and probably a little more thriller than I like, but I was still expecting to really like it. I really liked the middle of it, but not necessarily the beginning and not most of the end.

DISLIKES:
-Lots of mild language where I felt it was a little forced, like she had to use the "D" word to make a point or something.
-Lots of suggestive content, like a lot, and not in a good way, including the characters undressing.
-Super bad stuff that I didn't like happening, especially at the end. The stuff at the end was extremely psychotic and violent, which I have decided is really just not my thing. This isn't one of those books that leaves a happy feeling with you in the end. It's actually quite disturbing.

LIKES:
-I liked the MC's even though I didn't always agree with their decisions. I do have to say that I loved how real and straightforward Violet is. She is a great character! I also loved River and his brother. I loved how River was fairly complicated but true in his affection for Violet. He really is a tortured soul.
-The plot definitely drew me in for the most part until stuff really started happening towards the end that started getting to me.
-The writing is actually very well done, even though there were parts of it that bothered me.
-This isn't like anything I have every read before. It is quite unique.

I would recommend this to readers who like to read thrillers or suspense and who don't mind the disturbing violence.

Content: Language, innuendo, heavy making out and undressing, descriptive violence (including of children).

To make money over the summer, 17 year old Violet rents out the guest house to River. River says he's also 17, yet he's mysterious and strange happenings begin occurring in the town of Echo after his arrival.

A colorful cast of characters grace the pages of this vivid narrative. Authentic and character developing dialogue flow well alongside the plot.

As the mysteries unfold and the characters learn about themselves, life, and their ultimate journeys, it is fascinating to watch how everything has been intertwined.

Overall, a fun read!

Beautiful formerly wealthy twins live in a mansion built by their magnate great-grandparents with a handful of friends. As their cash runs low, Violet advertises for a lodger and opens up their guest house to the mysterious, glamorous and gorgeous River.

Violet finds herself drawn to River, even as there are strange disappearances and events.

Engaging and spooky, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is likely to appeal to YA readers who enjoy suspenseful, gothic tales.

This book was like Alisa Bait. Pretty cover? Check. Interesting premise? Check. So much hype? Check. Good quotes? Check. Rejection from Netgalley so I had to wait until the release date, heightening anticipation? Check.

Too bad it completely screwed up.

I was wary of reading this book after Khanh's review. She had good taste; I shouldn't touch that book. She didn't like the Fever series; never mind. And then I decided to be an idiot and pick the book up. But how can you blame me? Look at that cover!

There is a good thing about this book, though. The writing is beautiful. It doesn't actually do anything, but it well crafted. The old house seems to be a living part of the story, but other than that, there was nothing.

There was so much potential in this novel. I mean, it'd easily be gothic, mysterious, haunting, beautiful, and terrifying. If it didn't take over half the book to get to the plot. I'm fine with slow paced books- sometimes they end up amazing- but the plot was just so unimaginative and forgetful.

I said that the house was creatively imagined. But that was the only thing in this world that was well-described. Other than that, the town and the people were described minimally..

The worst part about Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea were the characters. River's clearly a psychopath; he gets off on people's fear, Violet's just idiotic, and her brother is a sexist pig. It'd be alright if there was this magical thing called character development, but no. The characters just stay the exact same throughout the entire book.

This was used twice, but it really got me annoyed. River's hips are described as "panther hips". First, no one notices hips. Second, say you have some hip fetish, why would you describe them as some animal?

And the insta- love! It's like, you have a glimpse of a guy and all of a sudden, you and him are insanely and unoriginally in love. And you ignore the fact that he's clearly a psychopath!

There are no parents here. But at least there's a sort of legit reason for them being gone. But how are their children supposed to pay for everything?

Slut Shaming is everywhere here. Violet's friend constantly is spoken about like the only thing that makes her who she is, is only her breasts.

There were so many opportunities for this book to be spectacular, but it failed at almost every turn. I will read the next book though, because I want to see if it'll get better. It probably won't, but one can hope.

I wanted to get the point. The book was definitely filled with suspense and just enough horror to keep one's attention. But when I got to the end of the book, I couldn't figure what all the uproar was about. The motivation of characters was just plain missing, and the explanation of why events happened turned out to be devilishly difficult for the author. I think there's a story possibility, but without more attention to detail, the book falls flat.

I've always imagined that winning the lottery is an exciting and pulse-pounding experience. Until the people and things around you become creepy, and then downright scary. When all the family starts showing up with their secrets and airing of dirty laundry, things start to go downhill. Finally, the batshit crazy muthatrucker that nobody has ever heard of comes along, demanding things and waving his gun around, pretty much ruining any good times to be had for everyone. This lottery metaphor pretty much sums up April Genevieve Tucholke's debut, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.

Violet and Luke White already have money... Well, they came from money, so they don't suffer from the sudden wealth from a lottery win. They are so broke with their parents in Europe that they are forced to rent out their guesthouse. Violet is socially awkward and has only two friends, so a love interest and ally in the new renter is like a windfall for her. Having River around and interested in her - not the sexy neighbor, Sunshine - is exhilarating for the girl. Well, until things get weird.

Apparitions in dark tunnels? Check. Ghosts communing with the living? Check. Kids running around the cemetery with stakes, claiming to have seen the Devil himself there? Check. (That's where creepy starts going scary.)

To this point, it all works for Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. It's mysterious and exciting. Sure, there's an instalove, but I like Violet - let her have it. She's a good kid, she'll figure out how messed up the situation is. But who always comes along, ruining such a wonderful evening? Yep, you guessed it - the family.

I like secrets and drama as much as the next person, but there were enough family members popping into this story to put The Bold and the Beautiful (an American soap opera) to shame. (And I don't think Violet and Luke's grandmother was named "Freddie" - it was Brooke Forrester, I shit you not.) And as with any soap opera worth its salt, things got strange and silly very quickly.

As I would with winning the lottery, I enjoyed Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea until the family showed up. They were tiresome and distracted from the story. It was creepy, chilly, and suspenseful until about sixty percent of the way in, when it just got absurd. Sometimes, family just ruins everything. Being as it was an ARC that I was reading, hopefully the final copy was cleaned up.

While Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea was not a lottery win for me, I do think Tucholke is a writer worth watching. I'll give the sequel a chance, and I'll be keeping an eye out for any future projects for her. There are a lot of positive reviews for Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, and I recommend that you check some of them out.

- 2/5 Stars -

To satisfy FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received an advance copy of the book briefly for reviewing purposes through Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for an honest review. The book was likely provided to the tour by the publisher or author, which has in no way affected the outcome of my review. All opinions expressed are rambling, honest, and completely my own.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke
Book One of the Between duology
Publisher: Dial
Publication Date: August 15, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Source: ARC borrowed from a friend

Summary (from Goodreads):

You stop fearing the devil when you're holding his hand...

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White's sleepy, seaside town...until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet's crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet's grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet's already so knee-deep in love, she can't see straight. And that's just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying--a debut to watch.

What I Liked:

I'm always terrified of writing a review for a book that I absolutely love and that is a new favorite because I know for a fact that I will not do this book justice. And I know that I will probably ramble a lot and say a lot of things and possibly too many things. And run the risk of spoiling things. But, here I go!

You all know that this book is my most anticipated debut of 2013, right? Heck, it's my most anticipated novel of 2013 in general (debut or not)! I've been dying to read this one since October 14, 2012, when YABC revealed the cover. I wasn't a blogger back then, but I was in AGONY, because I wanted to get an ARC. But as a reader and only a reader, I knew I would have to wait the almost-a-year wait for this book.

Well, I've been a blogger for seven months and I quickly realized that I still wasn't going to get any ARCs from Penguin for a while. And that's okay. But one lovely and amazing blogger (I won't name her, but she knows who she is) who has an amazing and very popular blog, took pity on me and mailed me her ARC.

What do I say about a book that I've been dying to read, and that I love so much? This book has met my very high expectations and standards, and then some. I almost cried when I finished this book, because I wanted so badly to love this book - and I did. The story, the characters, the feel of the book, the romance, the writing style.. everything was so, so perfect.

The story of this book isn't easy to describe, because there is more than one thing happening at once, making the plot complex yet very intriguing. Everything starts with River coming to live in Violet's guesthouse. Violet and her twin brother Luke live alone in the house, because their grandmother died, and their parents are still touring Europe. So, Violet decides to rent the guesthouse, and River appears and accepts the offer.

Strange things start to happen after River arrives. Little kids run around, talking about hunting the Devil. A man kills himself unknowingly. A girl disappears in a large, old, abandoned house. Things just don't make sense. And Violet feels herself drawn to River. She is unable to stay away from him and his hypnotizing touch. Little does she know that her touch fuels him.

This story is so much more complex than it seems! There is something else going on - Violet keeps looking for Freddie's (her grandmother) letters from when Freddie was younger. When she finds them, there is information there that Violet never knew. Something that ties Violet and Luke to a little boy, and a now-dead man.

The characters were so well-described and developed. Violet is the female protagonist, and the story is told from her perspective in first person. Violet is strange, but not in a weird way, if that makes sense. She cares a lot about her best friends, Sunshine, who only seems to care about Violet's brother, Luke. Violet loves Luke, though he acts like a rude, sexist, pain in the butt jerk of a brother. She cares about Jack, a boy that comes to live with her and Luke. But most of all, she truly cares about River, the boy that lies to her almost every time he opens his mouth.

I love how Ms. Tucholke portrays River. River is definitely my favorite character of the book, and not because he is the love interest. He is a complex and strange character himself. He lies about everything - to Violet, to Luke, to anyone. He doesn't tell Violet about who he really is. He doesn't tell Violet about his difficult past. When he does tell her about his ability, he tells her that hurting people doesn't really matter to him, and Violet thinks he is damaged.

River is not what I was expecting. In fact, none of the characters are what I was expecting. All of them have a small-town, old-time feel to them - as does the entire story. This book is written in a contemporary world, but the way the story is set up, it feels like the story is in a different, older time. Maybe it's just the small-town feel, or the spooky old house feel, or the Gothic feel. Whatever it is, I love it.

The romance is not what one would usually expect in Young Adult books. It's not a romance in which the love interests have to fight to be with one another. It's not a forbidden romance (not really). There is no love triangle. But, it's probably the most beautiful romance I've read in a while, and I'm sure why I think that! It doesn't FEEL like there is chemistry, even though readers know it's there between Violet and River. River almost never stops touching Violet, but readers are more intent on figuring out why, and what he is, and why he is touching her, versus thinking about the romantic side of him touching her. The romance sort of slips in quietly, and by the end of the book, it's obvious that River truly cares about Violet, and Violet truly cares about River, physical attraction aside.

The writing style - oh, the writing style. Possibly one of my favorites aspects of this book is the way Ms. Tucholke writes it. Her style is so beautiful and dream-like and unreal - I don't know how to describe it! It totally adds to the small-town, old-time, Gothic feel of the book. Ms. Tucholke's writing style is half of the reason why I love this book, because she twists the story together so beautifully. I was seriously so impressed by how well this debut author wrote - not that I expected her writing to be terrible or anything. I knew that when the synopsis and the early readers said something about gorgeous writing style, it would be amazing, but people. Ms. Tucholke's writing is... beyond words.

The climax is something that I did NOT see coming. Ms. Tucholke is kind of like a spider - she weaves a web around us and lulls us to sleep... and then BAM! She throws in the climax and a crazy character and things that we as readers do not see coming. I'm usually pretty astute with plots and characters and endings, but I didn't see any of that coming! All this time, everyone blamed River for everything, because what other reason could there be? Find out when you read this book...

Because I didn't see the climax coming, I guess I didn't really see the ending coming. Before I saw the climax coming, I honestly had no idea how Ms. Tucholke would insert a climax and ending into this book, but everything was just flowing along magically. But I understand why this book ended the way it did. It is a bit of a sad ending, BUT, I can say that while it seems sad, Ms. Tucholke has a way of writing the ending so that you don't think it's sad, necessarily. I know that makes no sense, but I feel like with any other book and any other writing style, I would have been ridiculously heartbroken, because of the ending. Instead, I'm all like, bring on the next book!

And there IS one more book to this duology, so yay for that! I'm so happy that this book is part of a duology and not a trilogy, because it would be really sad to see this book end like that (if it were a standalone), and I'm kind of tired of trilogies right now. So, I can't wait to read Between the Spark and Burn!

What I Did Not Like:

The fact that this book ended, and that I will have to wait a year to read the next one are two things that I dislike. Sigh!

Would I Recommend It:

YESYESYESYESYESYESYES!

My most anticipated novel of 2013 didn't disappoint - in fact, it was even better than I imagined!

Rating:

5 stars, and believe me when I say that I would give it more than 5 stars, if possible!

This is a beautifully written Gothic tale. I enjoyed Violet's quirkiness. I also liked the fact that she was a strong female character. I will say that I did not quite feel the love connection between River and Violet due to River's manipulation of Violet's feelings. I am hopeful however that River will someday redeem himself. This was a quick read and it was very enjoyable.

When Violet meets River in her backyard, she knows he's trouble but like most girls she just can't resist a bad boy. Especially when that bad boy might just be the devil himself! Her grandmother tries to warn her away but she just keeps getting closer and closer, falling harder and harder. What if you fell so far in love you fell to hell itself?

Between the devil and the deep blue sea happens to be one of my favorite books, I read it in two days, about two or three weeks ago, I found myself not being interested in reading other books, I realized this was because I couldn't get between the devil an the deep blue sea out of my head, so I won't read another book until I get the second book of this two book series thing. The book is very captivating to me, and it is really a book I recommend for people who aren't afraid of being a little scared.

April has some of the most refreshing, original, beautiful prose that I have read in a very long time. This book is equal parts terrible--in all the twisty ways--and breathtaking.

2013 Favorite

Tucholke made an attempt at a "mysterious" love interest and left herself very little room for character growth as she resorts to making him a compulsive liar. Weak characters except for the one redeeming antagonist that pops up in the last few pages of the book.