Author: Bethany Griffin
Series: n/a
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: October 7th, 2014
Source: Received from Publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Madeline Usher is doomed.
She has spent her life fighting fate, and she thought she was succeeding. Until she woke up in a coffin.
Ushers die young. Ushers are cursed. Ushers can never leave their house, a house that haunts and is haunted, a house that almost seems to have a mind of its own. Madeline’s life—revealed through short bursts of memory—has hinged around her desperate plan to escape, to save herself and her brother. Her only chance lies in destroying the house.
In the end, can Madeline keep her own sanity and bring the house down? The Fall is a literary psychological thriller, reimagining Edgar Allan Poe’s classic The Fall of the House of Usher.
So I wasn't sure when I was going to get to read The Fall. Things have been hectic around here so my "to read" schedule went out the freaking window. Then my daughter picked it to color for Judging a Book By It's Cover, so I just had to push it up the list!
I've been having a hard time getting into book lately, but The Fall sucked me right in. Maybe it's the time of year it is, but curling up with this one after work on a chilly fall evening... Perfection.
I've never read Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, but I do know how to use google, and so I read up on it a bit. I can't say that it made me understand the story anymore! lol. But that's okay, I didn't need too. I was thoroughly creeped the F out and that's what I wanted. A book to scare my mom sweatpants off.
That it did, The Fall is pretty freaky. I think the best character of all is the house. Even though it's questionable what the real villain is, are they crazy? Or is this house really out to get them? Well if they are crazy than I am too, because that house was whacked.
The story is told through Madeline Ushers POV. I really liked her and I felt so bad for her and the curse she's dealing with. I was never a fan of her twin brother though. He came off as a bit of a jerk to me. And Omg, the opening to this story was great!
I don't get into classics and such, so I'm not sure how this retelling compared to the original, but I have to say it was very well written. I was captivated. I kept bugging my husband about it. If you are looking for a spooky book to read this month, give this one a try!
My only complaint is the ending is still kinda confusing to me, but I'm thinking maybe I'm just not deep enough to get it? lol. I think I'll re read the ending tomorrow morning when my brain is refreshed. Over all, I really enjoyed The Fall. I feel like I need to find time to read Masque of the Red Death soon, because it's been sitting on my kindle for ages.
Loved that house!
About the author:
Bethany Griffin is a high school English teacher who prides herself on attracting
creative
misfits to elective classes like Young Adult Literature, Creative Writing, and Speculative Literature. She is the author of Handcuffs & MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (April 2012). She lives with her family in Kentucky.
Find Bethany:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
I loved this one too. You gotta read Masque of Red Death. It's just as good! And, I gotta say it does match up with the original. It's a short story so if u liked this is definitely recommend u read the original! I just posted my review today too :)
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I just finished reading Masque of the Red Death and loved it. I can't wait to read The Fall. I plan on it being my next book purchase.
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One does not need to have read the original by Poe, but it does help to help to know the story. Good Gothic horror story. Reminded me of House of Leaves because this house also played with time and space.
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