Review: Where Silence Gathers by Kelsey Sutton

In this companion novel to the critically acclaimed Some Quiet Place, Alex must choose between Revenge and Forgiveness.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandra Tate sits outside Nate Foster's house, clutching a gun. After serving ten years for the drunk driving accident that killed Alex's family, Nate has been released from prison. Every night, Alex waits out of sight, building up the courage to exact her own justice. There's just one problem: Forgiveness.

Alex has been able to see personified Emotions for as long as she can remember, and Revenge is her best friend. But when Forgiveness suddenly appears, he offers Alex a choice—getting even or moving on. It's impossible to decide when Revenge whispers in one ear . . . and Forgiveness whispers in the other.

Publication Date: July 8, 2014

This is a companion novel to Some Quiet Place and since I really enjoyed the first book (besides the heartbreaking ending) I was very excited to read this. I still enjoyed the premise (characters see the physical manifestations of emotions) but my interest waned in certain portions of the book.

The good thing about the protagonist Alex is that unlike the narrator of the first book, Alex can feel emotions. It was hard to connect with the dead inside main character of the first book. Alex has gone through a lot in the past six years and she is trying to decide whether to seek revenge or forgive the man who wrecked her world.

The writing was lyrical and beautiful in the book and I enjoyed Alex’s narration. It was interesting again to read about the physical manifestations of emotions, but in some parts, I found it distracting. It took me out of the story and there were so many emotions, I never remembered their exact appearance anyway when they popped up again. The pacing was slow in this book and I kept waiting for more to happen.

The second half of the novel luckily picked up and I became interested in the mysteries surrounding the death of Alex’s family. There were also a few intense interactions between Revenge and Alex. Revenge was mysterious enough that I liked never knowing what exactly his intentions towards Alex were. The character of Forgiveness was also intriguing to read about.

I enjoyed Where Silence Gathers, but I did wish for more excitement between the pages. I think the premise is unique enough that there’s room for growth in the series.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

Summary:

I can’t weep. I can’t fear. I’ve grown talented at pretending.

Elizabeth Caldwell doesn’t feel emotions . . . she sees them. Longing, Shame, and Courage materialize around her classmates. Fury and Resentment appear in her dysfunctional home. They’ve all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn’t succumb to their touch. All, that is, save one—Fear. He’s intrigued by her, as desperate to understand the accident that changed Elizabeth’s life as she is herself.Elizabeth and Fear both sense that the key to her past is hidden in the dream paintings she hides in the family barn. But a shadowy menace has begun to stalk her, and try as she might, Elizabeth can barely avoid the brutality of her life long enough to uncover the truth about herself. When it matters most, will she be able to rely on Fear to save her?

Publication Date: July 8, 2013

This book was an addictive read that had me turning the pages into the wee hours. However, the end was so unexpected and dissatisfying that it made me doubtful that I would continue to read subsequent books in the series.

I loved the premise of the book: a main character that can see emotions, but is unaffected by them. Elizabeth goes through life pretending to feel and it causes strife with the people in her life. Her family knows something is off about her and it causes them to fear her. There was so much originality in the plot and I really loved the unique style of storytelling.

Elizabeth is interesting and I sympathized with her despite her lack of emotional responses. The visions she has made me curious over what exactly made her the way she was. I liked the descriptions of the emotions and it was interesting to see how they tried to get a rise out of her.

The pacing was good and there were a lot of twists and turns I didn’t expect. Some of the things Elizabeth endures were hard to read, especially at the hands of her father. I thought he would be more central to the plot, but his role diminishes as the book goes on.

The romance totally missed the mark in my opinion. SPOILERS I thought the story was headed to a nice ending with Elizabeth and Joshua together. He was a sweet romantic lead and really put up with a lot to be with her. But then the reveal is made that Elizabeth is Rebecca and she ends up with Fear. It was too twisted for me to wrap my head around, especially since Fear tortures Elizabeth time and time again to “taste” her fear and try to get a rise out of her. END OF SPOILERS

I think this is an interesting book and a very unique YA paranormal romance. I’d read another book from the author, but my disappointment with the ending will make me hesitant to pick up the next book in the series.

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book for review!

Stacking the Shelves and In My Mailbox #32

I got some really good books for review this week! So excited!!!

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and features books you've added to your shelves, both physical and virtual. In My Mailbox from the Story Siren is another meme that highlights the books that bloggers have bought or received for review.

For Review:

Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

After Math by Denise Grover Swank

Residue by Laury Falter

Shallow Pond by Alissa Grosso

Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton