Title: The Vespertine
Author: Saundra Mitchell
Details: Hardcover, 304 pgs.
Published: March 7th, 2011 by Harcourt Children's Books
isbn: 0547482477 (ISBN13: 9780547482477)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Netgalley
For review purposes
Description:
It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him. When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.
My Thoughts:
This book was refreshing and completely unique! It's a historical fiction but with an amazing paranormal twist.
I really liked Amelia, but I do have to say that I felt like I didn't quite connect with her. Like there was a connection just barely out of my grasp. Does that make sense? That's kind of how the entire book was actually. I really really liked it, but I still felt like I could have liked it just a bit more but something was just out of my grasp. Maybe it was just that I was reading on my ereader, it was really something very subtle and impossible to pinpoint exactly what it was.
I LOVED Nathaniel! He was the love interest and was perfect in pretty much every single way. I think it was his mysteriousness and that he's forbidden that helped with his appeal, but his whole demeanor was just, magical. I feel like we only barely got to know him and I look forward to getting to know him better.
I thought the historical part was perfect. It felt realistic in the language and actions of the characters (take note that I'm no historian). The paranormal aspect felt like it could be plausible even though one part of it was pretty out there, it still felt like it could be real. And I really love that!
You know how when you read a book you kind of want everything to go perfect for the character and everything? But if it all is perfect, then where's the conflict? Where's the emotion? Well, this book had that emotion. You wanted to scream at people, you wanted to jump into the book and throttle people for some of their ridiculousness. And it's the time period that really helps that along. You know it's all about finding a suitable match. Someone of the right class. Someone who is proper. And everything you do in public is measured. One improper step and your social standing may be doomed. But what was really infuriating was that she had this gift and everyone was willing to believe it, but when something goes wrong (not her fault!) they all jump on their high horse and blame her! Like she could control it! All that emotion definitely elevated this book for me, as hard as it was to watch all of it happen (hope that makes sense!).
Yes, I definitely loved this book and am very excited to read more!
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Disclosure: I received an e-galley of this book free of charge for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.
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