***The Starry-Eyed Revue***: between

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Thursday, July 17, 2014

Review: Between the Spark and the Burn by April Genevieve Tucholke

Thursday, July 17, 2014 with 14 comments

Title: Between the Spark and the Burn
Author: April Genevieve Tucholke
Series: Between, book #2
Publisher: Dial
Publication Date: August 14, 2014
Source: ARC received from author
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The conclusion to Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea, this gothic thriller romance with shades of Stephen King and Daphne du Maurier is a must-read for fans of Beautiful Creatures and Anna Dressed in Blood.

Freddie once told me that the Devil created all the fear in the world.

But then, the Devil once told me that it's easier to forgive someone for scaring you than for making you cry.

The problem with River West Redding was that he'd done both to me.

The crooked-smiling liar River West Redding, who drove into Violet's life one summer day and shook her world to pieces, is gone. Violet and Neely, River's other brother, are left to worry—until they catch a two a.m. radio program about strange events in a distant mountain town. They take off in search of River but are always a step behind, finding instead frenzied towns, witch hunts, and a wind-whipped island with the thrum of something strange and dangerous just under the surface. It isn't long before Violet begins to wonder if Neely, the one Redding brother she thought trustworthy, has been hiding a secret of his own . . .

Prepare yourselves, friends, because Between the Spark and the Burn is no less of a wild ride than the previous book. And if I hadn't double-checked a thousand times, I wouldn't believe this was the conclusion to the duology. I'd have been completely satisfied with this book, if I knew another was on the way. But as it is, I'm left with even more questions and an undeniable desire for more of these characters' story.

I have to believe the author planned it that way, to leave her readers with a burning need for more. It almost seems like a cruel trick, though...like she's got a bit of River in her, too. Some will probably think that where she takes the romance is a trick indeed. But it felt right to me. At the end of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, I think Violet, River, and Neely were all connected by their shared experiences. And Violet was still questioning whether what she felt for River was real or just an effect of the glow. So, I don't think it was altogether unrealistic for her and Neely to find comfort and solace in each other while on the road in search of River and Brodie. I liked them together, even more than I liked Violet and River as a pairing, and that's all I'm going to say about that.

Between the Spark and the Burn is a road trip book of sorts. Violet and Neely set off in search of River or Brodie or whoever is causing the ruckus that they've been hearing about on Wide-Eyed Theo's Stranger Than Fiction radio show at 2am. Along the way, they meet some crazies and make some new friends and hear even stranger stories that lead them on wild goose chase after wild goose chase. But one of their leads pans out and that's when things get really weird.

I thought the fact that we were no longer in Echo would be off-putting, but each new destination, each new group of zealots left me awestruck. It's nearly unfathomable how gorgeously and morosely Tucholke describes each new locale. Her gothic settings become characters themselves, and I want to get to know them better.

All the characters I loved -- or loved to hate -- are back in this sequel, plus a few new friends. The prose is still as visceral and haunting as ever, maybe even more so. And the creepy has reached new levels, especially when all is revealed. It all culminates into what is probably the perfect sequel to Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. And yet. And yet...I still want more. I'm hoping Tucholke is a lying liar like River and writes another book in this series. But I can see why she wouldn't. The saying is, "always leave them wanting more," is it not? I know I'll be picking up whatever the author decides to write next.

Check out my Review in a GIFfy for Between the Spark and the Burn, too!

GIF it to me straight:

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Between, #1)

Between the Spark and the Burn (Between, #2)

About the author:

April Genevieve Tucholke is a full-time writer who digs classic movies, redheaded villains, big kitchens, and discussing murder at the dinner table. She and her husband—a librarian, former rare-book dealer, and journalist—live in Oregon. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is her first novel.

Find April:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

Labels: all the swoons, april genevieve tucholke, beautiful covers, between, demons, favorites, gothic horror, must-read, penguin, reviews

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

{Review in a GIFfy} Between the Spark and the Burn by April Genevieve Tucholke

Tuesday, June 17, 2014 with 10 comments

So, I've seen a few others doing early reviews for books pre-release by doing a less formal review and sorta just fangirling over the title prior to publication, which may be months away, depending on when they read the book. Jamie from The Perpetual Page-turner has a Save the Date feature, and Heather over at The Flyleaf Review showcases her pre-release thoughts in a Mark Your Calendars post. I have the same problem. I want to tell the world about some of the awesome books I read pre-publication, but I can't wait until just a few weeks before the release date to shout it from the rooftops.

My dilemma led me to an awesome -- if I do say so myself -- idea: Reviews in a GIFfy. I already sometimes post my reactions to a book via GIFs on Goodreads. (The one I did for World After was very well received.) But I wanted to make it a thing for those titles that I just can't wait until they appear on the ole reading schedule, and I wanted to share my reactions via GIF with all of you. Essentially, these are going to be GIF-only reviews to tide you -- and me! -- over until I can expand on my thoughts in a legitimate review closer to the book's release date.

This week, since I just finished the phenomenal sequel to Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, I thought I'd give Between the Spark and the Burn the ole GIFfy treatment.

Previous Reviews in a GIFfy: Of Metal and Wishes & The Kiss of Deception

The conclusion to Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea, this gothic thriller romance with shades of Stephen King and Daphne du Maurier is a must-read for fans of Beautiful Creatures and Anna Dressed in Blood.

Freddie once told me that the Devil created all the fear in the world.

But then, the Devil once told me that it's easier to forgive someone for scaring you than for making you cry.

The problem with River West Redding was that he'd done both to me.

The crooked-smiling liar River West Redding, who drove into Violet's life one summer day and shook her world to pieces, is gone. Violet and Neely, River's other brother, are left to worry—until they catch a two a.m. radio program about strange events in a distant mountain town. They take off in search of River but are always a step behind, finding instead frenzied towns, witch hunts, and a wind-whipped island with the thrum of something strange and dangerous just under the surface. It isn't long before Violet begins to wonder if Neely, the one Redding brother she thought trustworthy, has been hiding a secret of his own . . .

I was dying to get my hands on this sequel, so when the author offered to send me an ARC, there may or may not have been some flailing. (There totally was.)

And then I heard tale of a love triangle. And I was all like, "What?"

Not that it was completely unexpected. I mean, that River...he's not exactly a good guy, ya know? He's a crooked-smiling liar, after all.

And though the triangle does pretty much span the whole of the novel, Violet's choice seems clear...or rather, her lack of a choice is pretty obvious. And the thing is, it never really has to be addressed in the story. You'll see what I mean...

Moving on.

I think what I liked best about this book is that Violet doesn't revert to her shrinking violet self once River takes off.

She's not taking crap from her brother or from Sunshine. Violet's got a plan. And it seems everyone else wants in on it, too. ROAD TRIP!!!

It all starts out fun and fancy-free. But then stories about red-headed devil boys turn up.

But the first story turns out quite differently than they all expect. Finn the forest-boy is everything Brodie the devil-boy is not. I may have swooned over this boy.

I know, I know. Quit giving me that look.

But then they discover River, kind of out of the blue. Or, at least, not where they were expecting.

Only he's not quite himself.

And now the real WTFery begins. Because River has been a bad boy. A very bad boy.

And I fully expected Violet to get crunk with one William Redding III.

Instead, they move on. Another story about a red-headed devil. Another trip across the country. And I got a little more twitchy.

I needed something big to happen. And I needed it to happen soon.

I got my wish.

Awesome twisty goodness. Like, I saw it happening. I didn't want to believe it. And I somehow convinced myself it wasn't happening until I could no longer avoid it. For that,

I didn't expect this story to be any more predictable than the first one was -- and that one totally wasn't, like at all -- but I'm still gratified that April could still surprise me, even when I was looking for the crazy.

And then I get to the end and I think to myself, "I thought this was just a duology." Then I proceed to check Goodreads. Yep. Just two books.

I mean, I like those sorta open endings that leave you hopeful or whatever, but damn. Talk about needing closure. I'm not ready to leave these characters or their scary glows, burns, sparks, and anti-whatevers yet. Fingers crossed for more at some point.

Otherwise, you're likely to see some of this:

Oh, who am I kidding? You're going to see that anyway. :P At least until I have something else from this author in my hands...

Full review closer to book's release date!!!

About the author:

April Genevieve Tucholke is a full-time writer who digs classic movies, redheaded villains, big kitchens, and discussing murder at the dinner table. She and her husband—a librarian, former rare-book dealer, and journalist—live in Oregon. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is her first novel.

Find April:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

Labels: april genevieve tucholke, beautiful covers, between, demons, favorites, gothic horror, must-read, penguin, review in a giffy, reviews

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: Between the Spark and the Burn by April Genevieve Tucholke & Meridian by Josin L. McQuein

Wednesday, October 30, 2013 with 13 comments

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

Title: Between the Spark and the Burn
Author: April Genevieve Tucholke
Series: Between, book #2
Publisher: Dial
Publication Date: August 14, 2014

The conclusion to Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea, this gothic thriller romance with shades of Stephen King and Daphne du Maurier is a must-read for fans of Beautiful Creatures and Anna Dressed in Blood.

Freddie once told me that the Devil created all the fear in the world.
But then, the Devil once told me that it's easier to forgive someone for scaring you than for making you cry.
The problem with River West Redding was that he'd done both to me.

The crooked-smiling liar River West Redding, who drove into Violet's life one summer day and shook her world to pieces, is gone. Violet and Neely, River's other brother, are left to worry—until they catch a two a.m. radio program about strange events in a distant mountain town. They take off in search of River but are always a step behind, finding instead frenzied towns, witch hunts, and a wind-whipped island with the thrum of something strange and dangerous just under the surface. It isn't long before Violet begins to wonder if Neely, the one Redding brother she thought trustworthy, has been hiding a secret of his own . . .

I loved Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea when I read it a few months ago. Such an atmospheric tale! I'm actually quite pleased that this series will be wrapped up in two books, though I can't wait to see what else the author has in store for us. Ack...and Neely! What's that guy been hiding?!?

Title: Meridian
Author: Josin L. McQuein
Series: Arclight, book #2
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: April 22, 2014

Marina thought that she had solved all of the Arclight’s mysteries. She had found her own history—that she was one of the Fade, that she never should have been human. She knows that the Fade who surround the Arclight don’t want to be the humans' enemies at all. She knows that the leader of those inside the Arc, Honoria Whit, never told the whole truth. But there is so much more that Marina is just discovering. There are more survivors out there. Only Marina—and her friends, all of whom have connections to the Fade they'd never known about—can lead her people to them. But there are also darker dangers, things that even the Fade fear. And Marina slowly realizes she may never have been “cured,” after all. The sequel to Arclight, Meridian is an intense, action-packed page-turner about the lines we draw between right and wrong, light and dark . . . and the way nothing is ever that black and white.

Arclight was another debut this year that I absolutely loved, and then I devoured McQuein's subsequent thriller, Premeditated. I've said it before, but this author has definitely earned a spot on my auto-buy author list. I liked the ending of Arclight but I was definitely hoping for more from this world, so I was ecstatic to hear that a sequel was in the works.