Darlene's Book Nook: Book Review: Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh

Friday, October 12, 2012

Book Review: Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh

SERIES: Nevermore, Book #2
AUTHOR: Kelly Creagh

PUBLISHER: Atheneum Books
PUBLICATION DATE: August 28, 2012

FORMAT: Hardcover, 429 pages
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy/Paranormal

ISBN: 9781442402041

True love takes a twisted turn in the second book of this modern gothic romance trilogy channeling the dark brilliance of Edgar Allan Poe.

While Varen remains a prisoner in a perilous dream world where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life, Isobel travels to Baltimore to confront the dark figure known throughout the world as the Poe Toaster. This man, the same man who once appeared to Isobel in her dreams and abandoned her in Varen’s nightmare world, holds the key to saving Varen.

But when Isobel discovers a way to return to this dream world, she finds herself swept up in a realm that not only holds remnants of Edgar Allan Poe’s presence, but has also now taken on the characteristics of Varen’s innermost self. It is a dark world of fear, terror, and anger.

When Isobel once more encounters Varen, she finds him changed. And now Isobel must face a new adversary—one who also happens to be her greatest love.

MY REVIEW:

I received this Advance Reader's Copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.

Because I recently finished reading Nevermore, the first in the trilogy, I thankfully did not have to wait 1.5 years to continue the story!

Enshadowed picks up approximately two months after Nevermore ends, where we left off at The Grim Facade ball on Halloween. Now, the setting is Christmas and Isobel is determined to get to Baltimore for Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday on January 19^th because she believes that the Poe Toaster will make an appearance and that he will lead her back to Varen. I was eager for Isobel and Varen to be reunited, and I was approximately 300 pages into the story before the monumental event of Poe’s birthday finally took place! Even though Varen was absent for the majority of the book, we learn some valuable insight into what is going on through Isobel’s interactions with Pinfeathers (love him!) and Lilith. I flew through the final 130 pages of the book, and I was horrified that the book ended on such an emotional cliff-hanger that I was rendered speechless!

Creagh does not disappoint, and the momentum that she built up through the first two-thirds of the story were anxiety-inducing! I found Enshadowed to be slightly darker than Nevermore. Isobel seems obsessed and driven to find Varen and will stop at nothing. Even knowing that her family will be hurt at her betrayal does not persuade her to change her mind. There is a particularly poignant moment, the restaurant scene in Baltimore, where Isobel even comes to grips with her own mortality. She realizes that she may not come back.

I love quirky Gwen, and I hope that she will also figure prominently in the next book. I have to admit that I missed Varen. I was so hoping for Isobel and Varen to be reunited, and what happens is just tragic. I am aching to find out what happens next!

The final book in the trilogy is slated for release in 2013. In the meantime, since Creagh has re-awakened my interest in Poe, I plan to read The Fall of the House of Usher and other works.

MY RATING: