by Sarah Jude
Rowan’s Glen is a community shielded from modern society. Although the kids go to school in town, they are ostracized for the way they dress and the way they live. The Glen is a place of old superstitions and customs that the people in town don’t understand. But Ivy doesn’t mind. She has lived her whole life in the Glen and loves her home. She’s bonded strongly with her cousin Heather and her friend Rook, who she has begun thinking of as more than a friend. She’s always felt safe and happy in the Glen. That is, until animals begin disappearing only to be found mutilated. Then, Heather starts keeping secrets and pushing her away. Now, she must unbury the dark secrets of her beloved home and hope the fractures aren’t too big to mend.
The atmosphere of this book is unique; I’d describe it as Gothic Amish Horror, which I haven’t seen much of. It struck the same chord as the M. Night Shyamalan movie The Village, but a bit more PG-13. The buildup of the tension and horror is fantastic. The characters are very genuine and loveable. The main character, Ivy, seemed a bit too oblivious to me but she has lived a secluded life. I still loved her, there were just moments I wanted to shake her! I did correctly guess a few twists before they happened. The last twist I didn’t see coming and seemed unnecessary but that’s just a personal opinion.
Overall, the story is very intriguing and felt like something new and special since it is a new take on a genre I read a lot of. It’s nice to find something just different enough to spice things up!
For All Story Lovers! 