The Abandoned (The Graveyard Queen Book 4)

I thought this would be a nice creepy ghost story. While it was a ghost story, it lacked suspense. The plot was predictable, and the characters were flat. On the plus side, it was free, so at least I didn't waste any money.

This book was defiantly shorter than the rest I read. I didn't know if it was less pages or if it was just so good I flew right threw it! I thought it was a good mystery plot but also with a twist of a love story! I found this book to be a different plot than a typical mystery plot! I highly recommend!

One of my favorite authors! I love this series, but I read this one last. Stevens imagery is vivid. You feel like you are in the book, but don't stop with this one. Each book in the series gets better and better!

Now that the Sookie books are over I finally found a new series that I absolutely love. And one that will hopefully be around while. I'm excited to start the series after reading this prequel. I love diving into a new world!

This was a pretty interesting short story. I must say I liked it but it is typically not the sort of Supernatural style book I read. That being said I can honestly state I have nothing negative to say about it.

The main character Ree is someone you get a pretty good feel for early on and the Amelia character, who I believe is the main character of the later books, is introduced fairly well with just enough information and feel to see where the future works could be leading.

A good read but only 4 stars as the writing style was very matter of fact and only ok descriptively. It was not picturesque. Harsh I know but true. Still I would recommend it to all who like romantic-supernatural thrillers

4.5 Stars... This prequel novella to “The Graveyard Queen Series” had all the elements of a paranormal read that I love; psychiatric hospital, vengeful ghosts, decades old mystery, secret societies, supernatural abilities that have yet to be fully revealed, and of course a touch of romance... add in smart characters with a touch of wit and you have the making of a phenomenal read leading into an intriguing series... I am hooked and look forward to how this series will unravel:)

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A story reflecting the consequences of opening yourself up to ghosts.

Opening Sentence: Ree Hutchins was dozing at the old woman's bedside, a dog-eared copy of The Call of the Wild open on her lap, when Violet Tisdale passed away.

The Review:

In the past, I have been very harsh with novellas claiming to be prequel's when the truth of that statement is in question. Yes, The Abandoned, is a prequel. It does introduce major characters in the main series, including the backdrop for the first book. The difference is that this story is not about the main characters, but two separate people who also are drawn into Amelia and Devlin's ghostly world. I will note, however, that both Ree and Hayden are lightly mentioned in the second book, The Kingdom.

Ree Hutchins is a woman who firmly believes in things that are explainable. She is a psychology major at Emerson University and a part time employee at Farrante Psychiatric Hospital. When the passing of one of the patients leads Ree to discover a conspiracy to cover up heinous crimes, her sheltered world is forever changed. Ree begins to obsess over the mysterious disappearance of a former patient, Ilsa Tisdale. Little does she realize that Ilsa's vengeful ghost is the one driving her to find out the truth. Can a person who does not believe in ghosts come to accept that they are being haunted by one? If you don't know the rules on how to deal with ghosts, is there any hope to break free of them?

Hayden Priest finds the lovely Ree dancing around a graveyard in the middle of the night. He doesn't yet realize that she is being possessed by a ghost until she wakes up in the middle of kissing him. Of course, he believes it's possible because he happens to be a ghost investigator. So his interest with Ree is purely professional, right? It has nothing to do with how his body responds to hers, not at all. Right! Whatever the reason that brought them together, Hayden will do everything in his power to keep Ree safe. Even if that means inviting the ghost to inhabit him so that "she" can exact her revenge.

Ree and Hayden's search for the truth of Ilsa's past puts them in harm's way. Not everyone wants to truth to be known, even if the death occurred so many years ago. Will the people behind Ilsa's demise and subsequent cover-up finally pay for their crimes? Or will the unwilling helpers of the ghost be the ones to pay the ultimate price?

I read this novella first before I started on the main series. I usually try to make an effort to read series in order, including any extra stories that are available, because I am a stickler for timelines. After finishing the first book, I reread The Abandoned. I have to say that, even though I enjoyed the novella as a stand-alone, it was much better after reading The Restorer. I recognized characters and places mentioned in this novella from the main book that gave me a better understanding of the whole picture. I would recommend this to readers that are already fans of the series. If you do happen to read this novella first to see if the whole book would interest you, I recommend that you revisit it after you finish the book. Otherwise, I think that you will be missing out on many of the subtle references spread throughout the novella.

The Graveyard Queen Series:

0.5. The Abandoned

1. The Restorer

2. The Kingdom

3. The Prophet

FTC Advisory: Harlequin/Mira provided me with a copy of The Abandoned. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.

4.5 Stars

Amanda Stevens manages to zero in to fear with pinpoint accuracy, and exploit it down to the bone with a chilling single-mindedness. In her debut prequel to her stunning Graveyard Queen series, Stevens casts her web to set the stage for a full complement of characters that will end up dangling from her threads.

The Abandoned and its mysteries centers on a largely decrepit cemetery adjacent to Emerson University in Charleston. For numerous years, Oak Grove Cemetery has remained abandoned and forgotten-with good reason. To some, the old cemetery has been rumored as a place for trysts, and for others it has been a fixture for more evil pursuits. Charleston residents now steer clear of it. But none can deny the overwhelming malevolent atmosphere waiting to be unearthed.

For Reanna Hutchins, a student at nearby Emerson and volunteer at Milton H. Farrante Psychiatric Hospital, her life is just beginning. But when one of her patients at the hospital dies, she is plunged into a ghostly mystery that will possess her body and haunt her relentlessly until she is able to piece together the puzzle.

What Rhee doesn't know is that the ghosts at Oak Grove hunger for justice, and will not stay buried, and will not rest until their voices are heard. When the trail points the hospital, Rhee becomes entwined in a decades old murder, a sexy law grad who has a penchant for parapsychology, and an immense cover up that some would kill to keep from surfacing.

After having the opportunity to dive into The Restorer prior to reading The Abandoned, it's apparent that Stevens has an innate knack of focusing on settings and behaviors in her characters that instantly evoke a sense of unease-a deeply chilling unease. This is ideal for the type of ghost story Stevens is trying to tell- romantic suspense with high tension and strong paranormal elements. I couldn't help but flash back to watching Shutter Island and Session 9, both possessed the same off balance feeling that I get from Stevens' gripping series.

Rhee Hutchins and Hayden Priest are a fantastic team and the uncertain attraction between them works in Stevens' favor-as does the spectral hitchhiker that has taken an almost obsessive interest in them. It almost cultivates a see-saw of trust/distrust between her leads that keeps the reader guessing and the tension high. Does Rhee trust Hayden even though she knows he belongs to the Order of Coffin and Claw? Can she stop herself from falling for him when he could be involved in the cover up of the murders?

The Abandoned might be a novella, but represents the same quality, the same chilling forthright writing style that had me sucked in for The Restorer.

Highly recommended!

A Fiendishly Bookish Review (and one grumpy cat)

I have some mixed feelings about this story. First, let me say that I loved The Restorer (The Graveyard Queen) and I was very excited when I found out that this prequel was available. The events take place shortly before Amelia is hired to restore the old cemetery. But she isn't the main character here. This story centers on Ree, a graduate student who is interning at a psychiatric hospital. When an old patient named Violet dies, Ree is unexpectedly drawn in to the bizarre and haunting circumstances of her life and the life of her mother, Ilsa.

One of the doctors at the hospital knows Violet's secrets. In fact, his family had a hand in her tortured past. Ree overhears a conversation that tips her off to all this, placing her in danger. She makes an ally in a paranormal investigator named Hayden and the two of them become involved, while trying to figure out what happened to Violet's mother and its connection to the mysterious Order of the Coffin and the Claw.

All of this is great. Mysterious and foreboding. But I got lost (*spoilers*) in the love scene where Hayden seemed to be possessed. It makes sense that Ilsa may have used him to get her revenge at the end. But why would she take him over while he was having sex with Ree? And if it wasn't Ilsa, who was it? There was a definitely sinister vibe to Hayden from that point on, turning him into essentially an entirely different character than we knew for the first part of the story. And even though he saves Ree when she needs him, I still don't feel like she can trust him. It bothers me that all of this is left hanging.

As for the tie-in with The Restorer... we meet a few of the main characters, but we only really see them from Ree's perspective. It sets up the series less from a character or ghostly perspective, and focuses more on laying the foundation for the Order of the Coffin and the Claw and its nefarious activities. It was a good story, but I hate feeling confusion when I finish a book. 3 stars.

Ree Hutchins is a psychology student who volunteers at a private mental hospital. When an elderly patient dies Ree begins to experience odd events. One of these odd events results in her meeting amateur ghost hunter Hayden Priest. Together they set out to settle the reason for Ree's unease.

This is a delightfully creepy prequel to The Restorer. While the main story is about Ree and Hayden, we do get a sneak peek at some of the characters from The Restorer, including Amanda, Detective Devlin and Dr Shaw. Having already read The Restorer, it was awesome to catch a glimpse of these familiar people before the spotlight turns on them.

Ree is a charming woman who has a great heart. Her concern for Violet is touching, and very obvious, as exhibited by her willingness to read to her, even while she sleeps. It is always great to have a heroine you can so readily cheer for.

Hayden was a dreamy addition. His gentlemanly behaviours brought a smile to my face. Even when some of his actions seemed a bit off, he still seemed to always be striving to do the right thing.

This is a quick read, and a great addition to the series.

Novella length story, which is supposed to be a sort of prequel to The Restorer.
I have to admit to being disappointed in this after reading books 1 to 3.
The author chose two new characters and then connected them on the periphery with the old ones. It was rushed, lack the lustre and finesse of the other books and also seem inconsistent in parts.

Where did Ree read about what had been done to Ilsa and who was involved? The answer is she didn't. One minute we are reading records that contain hardly any info at all and the next Ree is giving a detailed account of what happened.
This has the general feel of 'needed to get something out quickly' and it doesn't matter what.
It doesn't do the series any justice at all.
It is suitable for a fun quick read and a bit of info on the Graveyard Queen.
AVP-UK

” madness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.”
“Rule Number One: hope for the best and prepare for the worst".
“A restoration could draw media interest. Some nosy reporter might decide to find out why Oak Grove was abandoned in the first place. That kind of attention could be disastrous.”
A dirty and distasteful secret is hidden behind the disappearance of Ms violet mother's (Ilsa)
This is a short story before the Restorer book .

It seems that this book had very mixed reviews. Overall, it was a nice, quick read with two interesting characters. I thought the story came together nicely with the main characters meeting up in the graveyard, although I wish there was a little more story development such as more about the secret society, the details about the psychiatric patient, and exacly how the ending rescue occurred. I felt it ended abruptly.

That being said, the story flows well, and it really is pretty easy to make all the connections between all the players in the story. It is of course a short story, so those details can be forgiven especially in light of the enjoyment I had with the creativity of the story. I found myself having to know what happened next. I look forward to reading her other books in the seies!

it was a nice enjoyable story, somewhat scary with the whole ghosts thing.

Ree and Hayden were good together, and though I gussed the bigger part of the mystery there were the little thing I didn't see coming.

This is not the story of Amelia or Devlin, here they are just sidekicks, and barely even that. yet, the goal was achieved- I now want to meet Amelia, and get to know her better. In that regard, it was a wonderful setting of the world and the ground to the next book.

from what I've seen here, Amanda Stevens sure knows how to create an atmosphere.

Ree Hutchins is a volunteer at a swanky mental hospital. When one of its longtime residents passes on in her presence, it sets off a series of strange events. Ree doesn't believe in ghosts, but she is starting to have her doubts as she stumbles upon the age old secrets of the century old facility.

The Abandoned is the prequel in the Graveyard Queen series. It's a short read (66 pages) but it's enough to completely tell Ree's story and sets the stage for Book I, The Restorer (which was just released on 4/26/11). I am so glad that I was able to read the prequel first...that hardly ever happens. Loved the story and the characters, but mostly I really enjoyed Amanda Stevens' writing style. How has she eluded me all these years???

If you haven't heard about this series, you should get started with The Abandoned...TODAY!

I read, The Restorer (The Graveyard Queen), the first book in The Graveyard Queen series and really loved it. So I picked up this prequel freebie. While the story is good, it doesn't represent the series very well. In fact the story doesn't even follow Amelia Grey, but a side character named Ree.

Ree works at a mental hospital. When one of her patients dies she overhears some shadey secrets. Then Ree finds herself sleeping walking strange places and thinks maybe a ghost is involved. Now she has to figure out what the ghost wants so it will leave her alone.

I was a bit disappointed that Amelia is only in this story very briefly. Most of the story is told from Ree's perspective. It is mainly a mystery romance type of story and I didn't think it had any of the magic that the first book in the series had. The romance is cute and some of the graveyard descriptions are beautiful and haunting.

While the story is decently written, I didn't find Ree an engaging character and didn't really enjoy reading about her that much. This story is definitely not a good intro to this series; it touches on ghosts but doesn't have any of the beauty and mystery of Amelia's character.

Overall this was an okay short story. I do not recommend reading this for a preview of the Graveyard Queen series; this story only loosely touches on Amelia and what she does and wasn't nearly as well-written as the book was. So if you have read the book and want to read a little more, then by all means pick it up. Please do not read this and then decide not to read the book, the book was a million times better than this brief story.

I read the first book in the Graveyard Queen series, The Restorer, and loved it. The Abandoned is an off-shoot of the series, not what I would call a prequel. Although Amelia Gray does appear briefly, the protagonist is a new character who knew Amelia as a child. I would have loved to see the stories of Ilsa and Violet expanded because theirs is the tragic heart of the book and what fascinated me the most. I thought the romantic thread was rushed. If I had read this novella without having read the Restorer first, I don't think my interest would have been piqued enough to dive in fully.

This is a Prequal to the Graveyard Queen series. We meet Amelia in this short story, however we do not see much of her or Devlin. The main characters are Ree and Hayden. They are well written and the story moves at a quick but steady pace. This is a good introduction to the series. First Book 'The Restorer'

A young women in college working on her dissertation works part time at a well known hospital for people with mental problems. One evening she is sitting with an elderly women who has been in the hospital for longer than any of the employees could remember. She passes away quietly in her sleep without saying a work. She talks to the nurse on duty and wants to know if the family should be notified. She is told that the director will take care of it himself. She gets a chance to go to the basement to leave some files and takes the opportunity to look for the deceased women's file. What she finds is so disturbing. The women's mother was from a very wealthy family. As a teenager she is raped by her step-brother. What happens to her and the resulting baby is the backbone of the story. It makes you wonder if it can still happen today. Does having a lot of money allow you to have privileges that the rest of can not even dream about.

Graveyards, a mental hospital, ghosts, and secret societies, all things combine to make a short story interesting. A lot of info in a few pages, make a good start to a series, too bad it wasn't a full story not just an introduction. I would have loved it fleshed out with more on the hospital and it's inhabitants. Will definitely read the rest of the series.

My biggest problem with this book was that it just seemed too short. I liked the plot and characters and was left wanting more. Having just read some of the other reviews, it has come to my attention that this is a prequel to a series. I'll have to go take a look at the other books in the series. Maybe those will be a bit (longer) more to my taste. :)

I like this prequel. Period. It's clean; the characters are vivid to me already; and I'm intrigued enough to read the rest of the series. The novella has done its job, and I'm reading a genre that typically I would not choose to read. So many reasons to give it a try yourself.

I liked the book and I have not read any of her other books so I have nothing to compare them to. I did think the story was rushed and the characters were not developed enough but it was fast and I did enjoy it. I will be reading her other books. Yes, I recommend reading this book but I would not pay for it.

I love this series! Set in Charleston, one of my favorite places to visit, these books will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Between the ghosts and the evil humans, you will be looking over your shoulder at any sudden noise.
Excellently written, with great character development, these books are great for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of Charleston.