Publisher: Speak
Release Date: August 15, 2013
Pages: 384
Source: Own
The Story:
You stop fearing the Devil when you're holding his hand...
Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White's sleepy, seaside town... until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet's crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet's grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet's already so knee-deep in love, she can't see straight. And that's just how River likes it.
A gothic thriller romance with shades of Stephen King and F. Scott Fitzgerald, set against a creepy summertime backdrop—a must-read for fans of Beautiful Creatures, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, and Anna Dressed in Blood.
Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White's sleepy, seaside town... until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet's crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet's grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet's already so knee-deep in love, she can't see straight. And that's just how River likes it.
A gothic thriller romance with shades of Stephen King and F. Scott Fitzgerald, set against a creepy summertime backdrop—a must-read for fans of Beautiful Creatures, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, and Anna Dressed in Blood.
Rating:
One-word Review: CREEPY
Reading Tune: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by XYLO
Tag Line:
Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White's sleepy, seaside town ... Until River West comes along.
Opening Line:
"You stop fearing the Devil when you're holding his hand."
My Review:
Plot:
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea was not at all what I expected. The opening line was such a fantastically, wicked hook.
"You stop fearing the Devil when you're holding his hand."
But after the first some odd pages the story was slow to get juicy. And still didn't get all that juicy. There were gruesome murders, lies, secrets. But no passion or sizzle really... And all the good bad stuff wasn't what I thought it be - it was two faced. If that makes any sense at all - it's more of you have to read Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea to really understand.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea pacing was slow for me, honestly. I expected more bang for my buck. More fast-paced evilness. I expected to be flipping through pages of devilish delights. *sigh* Tucholke's writing was not amateur, she was good at conveying Violet internal struggle with knowing better and being unable to resist the temptation of the Devil. However, overall, I needed more. More fright, more passion, more gothic lure. As for the world-building, Tucholke made decent work of it. Violet's small, seaside town felt real to me. The magic of her old-money estate on a cliff felt real to me.
Character Breakdown:
The characters were an ... interesting lot. But no one really popped at me.
Violet White - To be honest, the protagonist seemed one-dimensional to me. While I didn't truly connect with Violet, the most interesting aspect of her character was her struggle with her feelings for River and knowing there was something not right with him, and that I could connect with. I get the falling for someone who could destroy your entire world but not being able to resist their charm.
"I felt as if I knew him already. Like how I knew Sunshine, and luke, and my parents. Like how I knew Freddie.
But I didn't. At all. And that knowing feeling, based on nothing, was dangerous. And, I felt, not quite sane."- pages 117
River West - While River had the potential to be wicked. The buildup of his devilish character was on point but then he just fell flat. And that's all I will say about River. You will have to read Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea and learn for yourself.
"I was worried, I was. I felt a sharp tingle in the pit of my stomach that said All Is Not Right Here, even as I looked at River's smiling face and firefly eyes."- pages 114
Meet the Author:
April Genevieve Tucholke's debut novel, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, was a 2014 YALSA Teens Top Ten nominee and received numerous starred reviews. Its sequel, Between the Spark and the Burn, was published in 2014. She is the anthologist for the YA horror/thriller anthology Slasher Girls & Monster Boys, and her third novel, Wink Poppy Midnight will be released in 2016 from Dial/Penguin. Tucholke has lived all over the world and currently resides in Oregon with her husband Nate Pedersen.
***Check out April Genevieve Tucholke's website for more information about her and Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: HERE
Happy Reading!
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