Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Becky's View: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke


Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genvieve Tucholke
♦publisher: Dial/Penguin
♦release date: August15th, 2013
♦hardcover, 360 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦series: Between, book 1
♦source: from publisher for honest review
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 guest house 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.


Review:
You hold this book in your lap, stare for just a moment taking in the breathtaking cover. Then you open it up, start to read, and fall head-long into a dark and disturbing story that is thick with atmosphere.   

Violet and Luke live in their decaying cliff-side mansion, their negligent artist parents have taken off to Europe and the family money has run out. To keep them going, Violet decides to rent out their guest house---and along comes River West. With his mystery, worldliness, and crooked smile, (not to mention a gift for cooking) he draws the somewhat sheltered Violet in immediately. She’s an interesting character: unsocial but sweet, often consults with her dead grandmother for advice, and marches to her own drum. River seems so kind to her and has this sort of old-world charm, but you just know something is off with him.  While some will think she falls for River just a little too fast, rest assured that she falls into suspicion of his actions just as quickly.  To be very honest, I have mixed feelings about the love story.  It was mesmerizing in a horrific sort of way.  It’s hard to say much more without spoilers, but I often found myself hoping they wouldn’t end up together. 

The story as a whole was gorgeously told. It’s so incredibly creepy and has such a mysterious, sinister air from start to finish.  There is a very artsy, small-town Twilight Zone feel to it.  The scene in the cemetery with the town’s children running amuck with stakes, hunting down the Devil, was chilling.  The author lets loose imagery of nightmarish monsters in deep dark caves, ghostly little girls delivery warnings, and bloody gore in the town square. The writing and storytelling in Between the Devil and Deep Blue Sea is YA gothic horror at its very best, and when this series continues, I’ll definitely be eager to find out where the story goes next. 
Find April Genevieve Tucholke online: Website  •  Twitter 

Purchase the book:  Amazon  •  BookDepository  •  Indiebound

14 comments :

  1. I have this one but I haven't read it yet! I can't wait though! Great review!

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    1. I thought this was definitely worth the wait, Christianna! Hope you enjoy!

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  2. "...dark and disturbing story that is thick with atmosphere" is enough to entice me! The setting/atmosphere sounds awesome. Definitely can't wait to read this one, thanks for the review! :)

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    1. The whole feel is just kind of back-woods eerie and small town creepy---you know, urban legends and townsfolk that seems to kind of suffocate eachother. The atmosphere is really well done. Can't wait to see what you think, Liz!

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  3. I'm so glad you loved this one. I kept hearing mixed things about BTDATDBS, so now I have more hope that I will like it. The cover is stunning and the whole concept is just creepy cool. Thanks for the great review Becky.

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    1. I can definitely see where this one might have been a love it or hate it type of book. The style is pretty distinct and the love story, like I said, is a bit disturbing. But for me, it all added up to a super creepy gothic horror story. I hope you give it a try, Shannon!

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  4. If I wasn't excited about this book in the first place, I would be now. This book seems to have everything I look for in a story :D

    Mel@thedailyprophecy.

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    1. LOL, I've been excited about this one since i spotted that cover---I'm a bit of a font junkie. So I'm just glad the story lived up to the cover for me!

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  5. "The writing and storytelling in Between the Devil and Deep Blue Sea is YA gothic horror at its very best" - so glad to hear that! I'll have to check this one out soon.

    Great review :D

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    1. Yup, the author added just the right amount of spookiness and nightmarish moments and even a little gore to push this just between the line of goth and horror. I hope you get a chance to read it!

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  6. Oooooooooooo sounds creeepy. I might need to try it for Halloween.

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  7. That would definitely be the perfect time to read this one, Juju!

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  8. I'm organizing my TBR pile and I think I'm going to move this up to my next read, it looks so good! Thank you for the review.

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  9. I so have to read this book! I'm thinking about doing it on Halloween.. :P

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