Review: Of Monsters and Madness

A gothic, Poe tale with a creeptastic cover? I am on board.

Title: ‘Of Monsters and Madness’

Author: Jessica Verday
Pages: 288
Publisher: Egmont
Available: NOW at your local library or bookstore
Source: Netgalley

 

Summary (from Goodreads):

A romantic, historical retelling of classic Gothic horror featuring Edgar Allan Poe and his character Annabel Lee, from a New York Times best-selling author.

Summoned to her father's home in 1820's Philadelphia, a girl finds herself in the midst of a rash of gruesome murders in which he might be implicated. She is torn romantically between her father's assistants-one kind and proper, one mysterious and brooding-who share a dark secret and may have more to do with the violent events than they're letting on.

My Thoughts:

I am struggling a little with this book because I have mixed feelings. I liked a lot about it, and I disliked a little about it, but sometimes that little dislike is enough to ruin the whole experience of the novel.

First, let me deal with the plot. This I enjoyed, for the most part. I enjoyed being a part of gothic Philly—the sites, the sounds, the murders. We meet Annabel Lee just as she is about to meet her father for the first time, and it is a precarious time in Philadelphia because of mysterious deaths. Murders. And Annabel Lee’s household seems to be in the middle of it all—but the question revolves around how the puzzle pieces fit together. Some of that will be answered by novel’s end.

While I have read other reviews that said they did not find this novel to have a gothic feel, I have to politely disagree. Gothic lit deals more with setting than with the plot, and with that the author does deliver.

Actually, the author delivers a lot with this novel, until the ending. This is where Verday lost me as a reader, but I plan to read the next installment just to see where she takes her plot. If I am not satisfied with the next step, then I will not return as a reader.

That’s about all I can say without revealing important plot points—and trust me, they would ruin the overall storytelling for you.

Now I want to deal with the characters of the novel, namely the novel’s main character, Annabel Lee herself. Man, I loved her character. I enjoyed experiencing her building relationship with her grandfather (making me miss my own) and her friendship with her maid. She is what made me keep wanting to turn the page. She immersed me into the world, experiencing it with her as events unfolded. Her confusion and curiosity were my confusion and curiosity. For me, this is where the story thrived. It was Annabel Lee and her relationships with the other characters that kept me coming back to the novel.

One character I could have done without? Edgar Allen Poe. I am sorry to say it, but for me, he just added nothing to the story. He felt more of a burden on the page than anything else. Every time I saw him coming, I shuddered. And not in the way the author was intending. His original introduction into the story worked, but as a whole, this story belonged to Annabel Lee—and his character seemed to not be having it.

I am a fan of Poe’s work. I find him a fascinating man with many layers to his life as well as his work. I enjoy reading “imagined” fictional tales of many American writers; but this one did not work for me in the way I was hoping.

Maybe I missed something vital—maybe I am not being fair to Mr. Poe’s character. And as I stated above, I plan to read the next installment to see where the story goes next. But if he is on the page in the same way, I will not be a returning reader.

Now, I don’t want that to discourage you from making your own decision. I still think the novel is worth reading, I really do. But what the author was trying to accomplish with his character did not work for me—but that does not mean it won’t work for you.
 

Do I recommend this book?

With reservation—yes. If you are a Poe fanatic and devour all books Poe, then definitely add this one to your list. If you enjoy reading “fictional” author imaginings, then add this to your list. But if you are looking for a scare to pump your heart and keep the lights on at night, this might not be for you. It is not that type of book. It is just an interesting look into Poe (who is really in the book very little), but most especially an interesting take on Annabel Lee.

Let’s talk about books—what’s your favorite Poe tale?

Happy Reading!

-      The Hodgenator

 

This novel has cast its spell on me...

I am always looking for a great, witchy tale. I was excited about this novel because (1) it was about witches and (2) it is going to be a series. After I bought the novel it was immediately on my "next to read" list. It took me a few days to get into the novel - not because it was not a great read but because I seemed to be in a reading slump. I just could not concentrate, and this novel deserved my undivided attention. After three days, the slump was broken and I raced to devour every single word.

Book jacket summary

The three Beauchamp women--Joanna and her daughters Freya and Ingrid--live in North Hampton, out on the tip of Long Island. Their beautiful, mist-shrouded town seems almost stuck in time, and all three women lead seemingly quiet, uneventful lives. But they are harboring a mighty secret--they are powerful witches banned from using their magic. Joanna can resurrect people from the dead and heal the most serious of injuries. Ingrid, her bookish daughter, has the ability to predict the future and weave knots that can solve anything from infertility to infidelity. And finally, there's Freya, the wild child, who has a charm or a potion that can cure most any heartache.

For centuries, all three women have been forced to suppress their abilities. But then Freya, who is about to get married to the wealthy and mysterious Bran Gardiner, finds that her increasingly complicated romantic life makes it more difficult than ever to hid her secret. Soon Ingrid and Joanna confront similar dilemmas, and the Beauchamp women realize they can no longer conceal their true selves. They unearth their wands from the attic, dust off their broomsticks, and begin casting spells on the townspeople. It all seems like a bit of good-natured, innocent magic, but then mysterious, violent attacks begin to plague the town. When a young girl disappears over the Fourth of July weekend, they realize it's time to uncover who and what dark forces are working against them.

My thoughts

Wow - great storytelling! That is the first thing that comes to mind about this novel.  I would love to work in a library with Ingrid and live in a town like North Hampton.

Here's why I loved this novel: (1) Joanna, Ingrid, and Freya; (2) Killian Gardiner; (3) strong, fresh, clever plot; (4) minor characters; (5) setting.

I want to first address our three heroines in the novel: Joanna, Ingrid, and Freya. What can I say? They each bring a strength to the story that kept me wanting more. I enjoyed the narrative style of the novel where I was treated to each of their stories, sometimes simultaneously and sometimes not. Each of these women bring a fresh perspective to the witchy world of literature that really worked for me. Joanna, the mother who maybe cares too much but still allows her daughters space. Ingrid, who hides behind her work in the library while pinning away, ignoring her own needs. Freya, the spicy one who brings a bit of heated romance to the tale in a variety of ways. I loved all three of them and look forward to having their tale unfold in the next novel.

And then there's Killian Gardiner. What a H-O-T character; spicy hot! While Freya has promised herself to Bran, she cannot seem to keep away from Killian. While he seems to be a minor character, he plays into the plot in a surprising and clever way. One I definitely did not see coming.

The strong, fresh plot I will not say much about for one reason: spoilers! I am so afraid of revealing something, so all I will say is this - if you read a lot of witchy lit like myself, you will enjoy fresh take de la Cruz takes with this novel. This was not just a novel about three witches, it was an unfolding mystery that needed solving. I also enjoyed the way she wrapped up the mystery. It was not in a cheesy way - it was well-done.

The minor characters that are scattered throughout only add to my love of this novel. From those who work with Ingrid in the library to the little boy who steals Joanna's heart to those Freya encounters while working in a bar, it is clear that de la Cruz understands how important minor characters are to strong storytelling. There was not one single character where I thought, "What was the point of that one?" Every character was needed to move the plot forward.

Finally the setting - North Hampton, NY. The creation of this setting really worked for me. It acted as the perfect background for what de la Cruz was trying to accomplish with novel. I had this quaint island in my mind while I read with a town not unlike Salem, MA (which happens to be alluded to throughout), with just as much mystery to it as its inhabitants. This is a town I could see myself living in.

I look forward to the continuation of this series, one I expect mighty things from...after all, after that ending, it can only get better.