Amanda Steven's The Visitor is one of my most anticipated reads of this year. Like many fans of the Graveyard Queen, I have waited quite some time for this book to come out after the huge revelations that were revealed in The Prophet. The Visitor is well worth the wait and it is packed with surprises, twists and turns in the plot, and an abundant amount of creepiness. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy of the book.
Description: Restoring lost and abandoned cemeteries is my profession, but I'm starting to believe that my true calling is deciphering the riddles of the dead. Legend has it that Kroll Cemetery is a puzzle no one has ever been able to solve. For over half a century, the answer has remained hidden within the strange headstone inscriptions and intricate engravings. Because uncovering the mystery of that tiny, remote graveyard may come at a terrible price.
Years after their mass death, Ezra Kroll's disciples lie unquiet, their tormented souls trapped within the walls of Kroll Cemetery, waiting to be released by someone strong and clever enough to solve the puzzle. For whatever reason, I'm being summoned to that graveyard by both the living and the dead. Every lead I follow, every clue I unravel brings me closer to an unlikely killer and to a destiny that will threaten my sanity and a future with my love, John Devlin.
Review: Amelia has always known that she is different. She has the ability to see the dead thanks to her family history, but as we learn in The Visitor, her sixth sense is also the tip of the iceberg. Stevens does a wonderful job in introducing a new mystery and restoration subplot while also delving deeper into her own characters backstories and character arc.
Cleaning out the storage under her house, Amelia finds an item that kicks off her search to find the truth behind an image that looks exactly like her. She uncovers the mystery of a cult mass suicide and a family whose history intersects with her own. What I love about the mysteries in the Graveyard Queen series is that they are important and add to the overall plot arc to the series and are not treated as a subplot. The mystery had me invested right from the start and I had my guess that turned out right on a few things but the details surrounding Amelia surprised me.
Amelia continues to be a great heroine. She is smart, pragmatic, and brave especially in times where I would have gladly turned away and ran for my life. She is much more powerful than she thought she was and I'm curious to see how her new revelations will change her life.
There is romantic tension in this book, which thankfully does not involve a love triangle. Though Amelia and Devlin are close physically they still feel so far away from one another. Devlin's distance and his comings and goings were distracting and frustrating as I wished he would just spit out what was going on with him, but I am sure that was done on purpose. There is a hint that we will get more of his backstory in particular with his family's ties to a secret society. Though the book does not end in a cliffhanger, we have many unanswered questions about Amelia's future and thankfully, we don't have to wait long since the next book, The Sinner, comes out in September.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: There is some strong violence, disturbing images, some language, and allusions to sexual situations. Recommended for mature teens and adults.
If you like this book try: The Sinner (Graveyard Queen #5) by Amanda Stevens released September 2016, Phantom Evil by Heather Graham, Left to Die by Lisa Jackson, and for YA readalikes try Wake series by Lisa McMann and The Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting
Years after their mass death, Ezra Kroll's disciples lie unquiet, their tormented souls trapped within the walls of Kroll Cemetery, waiting to be released by someone strong and clever enough to solve the puzzle. For whatever reason, I'm being summoned to that graveyard by both the living and the dead. Every lead I follow, every clue I unravel brings me closer to an unlikely killer and to a destiny that will threaten my sanity and a future with my love, John Devlin.
Review: Amelia has always known that she is different. She has the ability to see the dead thanks to her family history, but as we learn in The Visitor, her sixth sense is also the tip of the iceberg. Stevens does a wonderful job in introducing a new mystery and restoration subplot while also delving deeper into her own characters backstories and character arc.
Cleaning out the storage under her house, Amelia finds an item that kicks off her search to find the truth behind an image that looks exactly like her. She uncovers the mystery of a cult mass suicide and a family whose history intersects with her own. What I love about the mysteries in the Graveyard Queen series is that they are important and add to the overall plot arc to the series and are not treated as a subplot. The mystery had me invested right from the start and I had my guess that turned out right on a few things but the details surrounding Amelia surprised me.
Amelia continues to be a great heroine. She is smart, pragmatic, and brave especially in times where I would have gladly turned away and ran for my life. She is much more powerful than she thought she was and I'm curious to see how her new revelations will change her life.
There is romantic tension in this book, which thankfully does not involve a love triangle. Though Amelia and Devlin are close physically they still feel so far away from one another. Devlin's distance and his comings and goings were distracting and frustrating as I wished he would just spit out what was going on with him, but I am sure that was done on purpose. There is a hint that we will get more of his backstory in particular with his family's ties to a secret society. Though the book does not end in a cliffhanger, we have many unanswered questions about Amelia's future and thankfully, we don't have to wait long since the next book, The Sinner, comes out in September.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: There is some strong violence, disturbing images, some language, and allusions to sexual situations. Recommended for mature teens and adults.
If you like this book try: The Sinner (Graveyard Queen #5) by Amanda Stevens released September 2016, Phantom Evil by Heather Graham, Left to Die by Lisa Jackson, and for YA readalikes try Wake series by Lisa McMann and The Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting
Labels:
2016 YRHMB Reading Challenge,
4 stars,
Adult,
Death,
Graveyard Queen Series,
Magic,
Murder,
Mystery,
Paranormal,
Romance,
Suspense
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You know, I read in a review somewhere that they don't communicate and I decided right then and there not to read this, at least until the next book comes out. That's the sort of thing I can't stand. I don't consider them a couple if they keep so much from each other.
Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed it more than I probably would. :)
I enjoyed this too, but I swear I wanted to kick Devlin in the arse! LOL I cannot wait for the next book.
Yay! So glad you liked this. This is one of my favorite underrated series and I was so glad when this book was (finally) released. I can't wait for more!
Are you ever struck, as I am now, how many different books, genres, types, authors, etc. that there are out in the world? I read reviews like this one, which is for a book series I've never heard about. It sounds quite good but I have never even bumped into #1 in the series. It amazes me. I guess I insulated myself in my little library and reading books selected for book club and I don't get far beyond the little world I have built up. That is what is good about spending time reading other's blogs, too, finding our about books and series which sound great and I should check out.