City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab {review & setting spotlight}

Something a little different with this review! I just recently finished reading City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab after finding out that it was set in the beautiful city that I had just visited only weeks before!! What a fun coincidence! Not to mention, I've missed it from the moment I got back from my trip, and this book was the perfect way to revisit it! So I've slipped a few of the photos from my own adventure into the review since I'd visited so many of the same places as City of Ghost's main character, Cass!

City of Ghosts
by Victoria Schwab
♦publisher: Scholastic Press
♦release date: August 28th, 2018
♦hardcover, 285 pages
♦intended audience: Middle Grade
♦series, Cassidy Blake, book 1
♦source: arc from publisher for review consideration
Cassidy Blake's parents are The Inspectres, a (somewhat inept) ghost-hunting team. But Cass herself can REALLY see ghosts. In fact, her best friend, Jacob, just happens to be one.

When The Inspectres head to ultra-haunted Edinburgh, Scotland, for their new TV show, Cass—and Jacob—come along. In Scotland, Cass is surrounded by ghosts, not all of them friendly. Then she meets Lara, a girl who can also see the dead. But Lara tells Cassidy that as an In-betweener, their job is to send ghosts permanently beyond the Veil. Cass isn't sure about her new mission, but she does know the sinister Red Raven haunting the city doesn't belong in her world. Cassidy's powers will draw her into an epic fight that stretches through the worlds of the living and the dead, in order to save herself.

{Becky's Thoughts & a virtual tour of City of Ghost sites!}

City of Ghosts, Victoria Schwab's dive back into middle grade fiction, was such a fun adventurous tale. Perfect for young fans of the paranormal. Also, this book was a veritable love letter to Harry Potter and the city of Edinburgh---fair warning, my review may be slightly biased as someone who's just recently left my heart in this gorgeous city! ;P

Cass's 12-year-old life is definitely not an ordinary one.  Since being brought back to life after a drowning accident, she sees ghosts everywhere. One of them, Jacob---the ghost who saved her in the accident---is now her best friend. On top of that, her parents are experts on opposing sides of paranormal theories, which lands them a TV show gig traveling the world chasing ghost stories, and of course, taking Cass along for the ride!

First stop is Edinburgh, Scotland---a city absolutely teaming with ghostly legends. There she meets Lara Jayne, a girl with a similar gift, and the first person who may actually be able to help her understand her own powers. These three characters were such a fun group together. Cass is snarky, clever, and definitely has an adventurous streak, Jacob is cautious and a little bit chicken (especially for someone who is, himself, a ghost LOL), and Lara is a bit snooty and bossy, but she has a soft side, too. I loved how it's told as Cass sort of telling the audience the story---it really pulls the reader right in. Their banter and her inner dialogue were really well done and kept what was a fairly dark premise on the lighter side.

The only negative thing I would say about this is that the story did seems a little rushed at times, a little short, and...over-simplified? It's hard to judge that since, obviously as a middle grade book, this is not written for adult readers. But with so much complex and strong storytelling in middle grade out there, this just seemed a little too light at times. Still, it was absolutely enjoyable and fun, witty characters, beautiful setting and a few good spine-chilling moments.  I can't wait to see what city Cass and Jacob take on next! 

The story truly used the sites and sounds of Edinburgh to it's full advantage. 

When Cass and her family first step off the bus, she's steps out onto Waverley Bridge---same as we did! 

This is the old town skyline, probably the first view Cass would have had after stepping off the bus and the side of the city where she and her family stayed (there is a New Town and Old Town). Gorgeous, isn't it??

Cass mentions seeing the Edinburgh castle and a huge garden by the bridge. That would be Princes Street Gardens, pictured here, with the beautiful castle looming far above. 

One of the scariest parts of Cass & Jacob's adventure takes place when they go into the Edinburgh castle. Here's the gateway they would have taken to get in!

Cass is a die-hard Harry Potter fan (my kind of girl!), so one of the places she is most excited to come across is the Elephant House cafe. Known as the "birthplace of Harry Potter" because JK Rowling wrote a good portion of the first book sitting right at one of their tables. 

Cass visits the eerie but absolutely beautiful grounds of the ancient cemetery, Greyfriar Kirkyard a few times in the course of the story. The exciting climax actually takes place here and you can almost picture the villainous Raven in Red haunting these dramatic ornate graves.

Cass also has creepy times at Mary King's Close and Grassmarket (which I had no idea how I don't have good pics of since we literally walked this area every day LOL)

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of some of City Of Ghosts settings! I hope you enjoy reading City of Ghosts! 

{ABOUT THE AUTHOR}

Victoria is the product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a southern upbringing. Because of this, she has been known to say "tom-ah-toes," "like," and "y'all."

She also tells stories.

She loves fairy tales, and folklore, and stories that make her wonder if the world is really as it seems. 

WEBSITE   •   TWITTER  •   INSTAGRAM

Purchase the book:  Indiebound  •  BookDepository  •  Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking the Spine. A spin-off of the meme called "Can't Wait Wednesday" is now hosted at Wishful Endings. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are jumping-up-and-down excited for.

Amber & Dusk

by Lyra Selene

hitting shelves November 27th, 2018  

from Scholastic Press

Sylvie has always known she deserves more. Out in the permanent twilight of the Dusklands, her guardians called her power to create illusions a curse. But Sylvie knows it gives her a place in Coeur d'Or, the palais of the Amber Empress and her highborn legacies. 

So Sylvie sets off toward the Amber City, a glittering jewel under a sun that never sets, to take what is hers.

But her hope for a better life is quickly dimmed. The empress invites her in only as part of a wicked wager among her powerful courtiers. Sylvie must assume a new name, Mirage, and begin to navigate secretive social circles and deadly games of intrigue in order to claim her spot. Soon it becomes apparent that nothing is as it appears and no one, including her cruel yet captivating sponsor, Sunder, will answer her questions. As Mirage strives to assume what should be her rightful place, she'll have to consider whether it is worth the price she must pay.

My thoughts:  Magical illusion, danger, and intrigue in a royal court---it's no wonder why I'm drawn to this one. But with Roshani Chokshi's recommendation, calling it a "sexier Versaille" with characters full of heart and worldbuilding drenched in beauty, I knew I needed to put this at the top of my fall wishlist!

What book are you eagerly anticipating this week?

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are jumping-up-and-down excited for.

*A little note*

 I decided to throw a linky down below for anyone who'd like to use it to hop around to other WoW posts.  The Waiting on Wednesday meme is still very much credited to Jill @ Breaking the Spine, but with the current linky at her site stretching to well over 1300 links, I thought it might be nice to have a fresh one.  This is just for the time being, and I'll do it weekly if it's something people want to use. And of course, I'll discontinue as soon as Jill returns!

Ink

by  Alice Broadway

hitting shelves January 2nd, 2018

from Scholastic Press

There are no secrets in Saintstone.

From the second you're born, every achievement, every failing, every significant moment are all immortalized on your skin. There are honorable marks that let people know you're trustworthy. And shameful tattoos that announce you as a traitor. 

After her father dies, Leora finds solace in the fact that his skin tells a wonderful story. That is, until she glimpses a mark on the back of his neck . . . the symbol of the worst crime a person can commit in Saintstone. Leora knows it has to be a mistake, but before she can do anything about it, the horrifying secret gets out, jeopardizing her father's legacy . . . and Leora's life.

In her startlingly prescient debut, Alice Broadway shines a light on the dangerous lengths we go to make our world feel orderly--even when the truth refuses to stay within the lines. This rich, lyrical fantasy with echoes of Orwell is unlike anything you've ever read, a tale guaranteed to get under your skin . . .

My thoughts: Ah, this sounds so interesting!  As much as tattoos are just part of everyday culture these days, I can't wait to hear more about this story's concept. Plus family legacy, mystery, and a really gorgeous cover! 

What book are you eagerly anticipating this week?

Umberland by Wendy Spinale {review}

Umberland
by Wendy Spinale
♦publisher: Scholastic
♦release date: May 9th, 2017
♦hardcover, 275 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦series: Everland, book 2
♦source: ARC from publisher for honest review

Gwen, Pete, and the others have escaped from Everland. But the safe haven they hoped to find at Alnwick Castle doesn't exist. With the Queen of England on her deathbed, Duchess Alyssa has stepped in to lead, but things have gotten worse as the cure Doc created for the Horologia virus has mutated, accelerating the disease. The only possible solution he can think of is to go back to the virus's origin: an extinct poisonous apple.

Legend has it a tree bearing the apple might be found at the center of a deadly labyrinth hidden deep within Germany. A place that no one in their right mind enters. Leaving Pete in charge of the survivors, Alyssa sets out with only her sword, her wits, and the help of Maddox Hadder, a wild boy who oversees the castle gardens. To get to the center of the maze, she'll be forced to battle monsters more terrifying than her darkest nightmares.

But can anyone truly survive the madness of the maze? And what if there's no apple to be found there?

Review: After falling in love with the world of Everland last year, I couldn't wait to dive back in with Umberland, especially after learning that not only would the entire fantastic Peter Pan crew be returning, but they would be joined on this adventure by the characters from Alice in Wonderland!! Now, if you've followed this blog for any amount of time, you know what a huge lover of all things Alice I am. So this was very exciting news indeed! And this sequel did not disappoint---another dark adventure with familiar threads of the old stories plus a fantastic steampunk twist.

The story is once again told in alternating view points between three of the characters: Alyssa, Pete, and Jack, though my favorite new face has to be  Maddox Hadder. Pete, while brimming with boyish charm and bravery in book one, is full of broodiness and self-doubt this time around, and while that is understandable with the grim turn of events and the weight of protecting the Lost Kids on this shoulders, I admit it was hard to take how brooding and angsty he was, especially how hard he was on Doc. The world around them is crumbling and it puts a definite strain on Gwen and Pete, so there was not a happy or romantic tale this time around for them.  

The main storyline revolves around Alyssa and Maddox, as they venture off to a mysterious and dangerous labyrinth to find an elusive poison apple (hm...a big hint, maybe, on what fairy tale the next book will be inspired by? :D) that is their last hope in fighting the now mutated Horologia virus. While Maddox definitely starts out as a shady character, as they fight to survive the dangers of the labyrinth, Alyssa finds out he is much more than she originally took him for, both on the surface and in his buried past. I was so drawn in to their part of the story.

While I really loved this one as a whole, I couldn't help but feel the three storylines going on were a little disjointed. Pete and Gwen are on the brink of war at Alnwick, Alyssa and Maddox are battling the labyrinth, and Jack and Hook are also in the labyrinth, but they almost feel like theirs was such a small part of the story that it didn't add much. It wasn't bad, and it's definitely not what I would call second-book slump because everything is going on is individually very exciting, but it's more a sense of waiting to see everything come together.  There were a few more things that point to Snow White being the ispiration of the third book (though there's been no definite word on that), so that's exciting!! 

•ABOUT THE AUTHOR•

Wendy Spinale is a former character actor for the Disneyland theme park (so she's very familiar with the world of make believe). Everland was her debut novel. Wendy lives with her family in the San Fransico Bay Area.

WEBSITE  •  TWITTER  •  INSTAGRAM  •  GOODREADS

Purchase Umberland:

 Indiebound   •  Amazon  •  Book Depository

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are jumping-up-and-down excited for.

Umberland

by Wendy Spinale

hitting shelves May 9th, 2017

from Scholastic Press

Gwen, Pete, and the others have escaped from Everland. But the safe haven they hoped to find at Alnwick Castle doesn't exist. With the Queen of England on her deathbed, Duchess Alyssa has stepped in to lead, but things have gotten worse as the cure Doc created for the Horologia virus has mutated, accelerating the disease. The only possible solution he can think of is to go back to the virus's origin: an extinct poisonous apple.

Legend has it a tree bearing the apple might be found at the center of a deadly labyrinth hidden deep within Germany. A place that no one in their right mind enters. Leaving Pete in charge of the survivors, Alyssa sets out with only her sword, her wits, and the help of Maddox Hadder, a wild boy who oversees the castle gardens. To get to the center of the maze, she'll be forced to battle monsters more terrifying than her darkest nightmares.

But can anyone truly survive the madness of the maze? And what if there's no apple to be found there?

My thoughts:  I wish you all could have seen my daughter's face when I told her the gang from Everland (one of her favorite books this year..and one of mine, too, actually!) was going to be mixing it up with Alice in Wonderland and running though mazes full of monsters in Germany. The. Pure. JOY. 
So, here we both sit...waiting on Wednesday, and every day until May 9th when we can get our hands on this amazing thing!! 

What book are you eagerly anticipating this week?

The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron {blog tour review + giveaway!}

Today I'm so incredibly excited to be part of the Rock Star book tour for one of my favorite author's newest book (out tomorrow!)  ---

The Forgetting

by Sharon Cameron

Guys, this book is incredible---definitely a new favorite for me. Check out my full review below and don't forget to scroll all the way down to enter to win one for yourself! :D

The Forgetting
by Sharon Cameron
♦publisher: Scholastic Press
♦release date: September 13th, 2016
♦hardcover, 416 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦stand-alone (with upcoming companion novel!!)

What isn't written, isn't remembered. Even your crimes.

Nadia lives in the city of Canaan, where life is safe and structured, hemmed in by white stone walls and no memory of what came before. But every twelve years the city descends into the bloody chaos of the Forgetting, a day of no remorse, when each person's memories – of parents, children, love, life, and self – are lost. Unless they have been written.

In Canaan, your book is your truth and your identity, and Nadia knows exactly who hasn't written the truth. Because Nadia is the only person in Canaan who has never forgotten.

But when Nadia begins to use her memories to solve the mysteries of Canaan, she discovers truths about herself and Gray, the handsome glassblower, that will change her world forever. As the anarchy of the Forgetting approaches, Nadia and Gray must stop an unseen enemy that threatens both their city and their own existence – before the people can forget the truth. And before Gray can forget her.

Review: I've read every book by this author, The Forgetting is her fourth---and this, in my opinion, is her best yet.  Not by too far---all of them are quite wonderful---but this one just took my breath away. With strong themes of family, community, and how our memories, our past, and where we come from make us who we are, The Forgetting dares to show us what humanity might become if we don't have that to learn from.  Weave in a romance that is absolutely swoon-worthy, and this is one story not to be missed!

In all of her books, and especially this one, Sharon Cameron creates the most incredible worlds and populates them with characters that just feel completely real. It's the kind of world that completely engulfs you, the kind that when you turn the last page, it feels like you've been spit back out into reality and left with a disoriented feeling. The kind that actually makes you miss the characters like old friends. 

In the city of Canaan, there is a bright light every 12 years that wipes out every person's memory completely. The people keep their own "book of truths" so that they can relearn who they were, who their family was, and what there role is in the community. The ones who lose their books are considered "Lost" and sometimes, there are those who try to change their fates by intentionally changing their books. Nadia remembers everything, though, and she's determined to find out why. 

I loved Nadia's rebellious spirit, her bond with her little sister, and how she is protective of her sister and mother even when they seem to push her away.  She doesn't speak much, especially  when she doesn't want to, but in Gray, she finds someone who makes her want to open up. Their relationship grows slowly as trust builds between them and they work together to find a cure to The Forgetting, especially when she finds a reason to not be forgotten.  

The Forgetting is beautifully told and so surprising at every turn. It's one more novel that makes Sharon Cameron's one of my very favorite authors. 

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sharon Cameron was awarded the 2009 Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for her debut novel, The Dark Unwinding. When not writing Sharon can be found thumbing dusty tomes, shooting her longbow, or indulging in her lifelong search for secret passages. She lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee.

WEBSITE  •  TWITTER  •  YOUTUBE  •  GOODREADS

*        *        *        *        *

GIVEAWAY!

Enter below to win one of three gorgeous finished copies!! 

•US mailing address only please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to stop by the rest of the tour stops for more about The Forgetting!

 Week One:

9/5/2016- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

9/6/2016- IceyBooks- Review

9/7/2016- Such a Novel Idea- Guest Post

9/8/2016- Jessabella Reads- Review

9/9/2016- Take Me Away To A Great Read- Interview

Week Two:

9/12/2016- Stories & Sweeties- Review

9/13/2016- Novel Novice- Guest Post

9/14/2016- The Book Shire- Review

9/15/2016- Tales of the Ravenous Reader- Interview

9/16/2016- The Best Books Ever - Review

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are jumping-up-and-down excited for.

The Forgetting
by Sharon Cameron

hitting shelves September 13th, 2016

from Scholastic Press

Seventeen-year-old Nadia lives in Canaan, a quiet city in an idyllic world, hemmed in by high walls that are constructed of a material no one in her town recognizes. Every twelve years, the people of Canaan undergo a collective Forgetting, in the days before which the town devolves into a chaos of bloody violence, and after which the people are left without any trace of memory of themselves, their families, their lives. Nadia has never forgotten, however.

As the next Forgetting approaches, Nadia is determined to find out what causes it and whether there is any way to stop it. With the help of Gray, the handsome glassblower's son, she discovers that there is a devious plot afoot... one that keeps the people of Canaan permanently subdued. Will Nadia be able to solve the mystery before the people forget the truth? And before Gray forgets her?
A remarkable story of memory and loss, love and indomitable courage. 

My thoughts:  WHAT?? How did I not know Sharon Cameron was coming out with this beauty?? And now this gorgeous cover?? The synopsis completely blows my mind and seeing this idea fleshed out by one of my favorite authors? NEED. NOW. 

The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender {review}

The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall 
by Katie Alender
♦publisher: Scholastic Point
♦release date: August 25th, 2015
♦hardcover, 336 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦stand-alone
♦source: from publisher for honest review

In this asylum, your mind plays tricks on you all the time…

Delia’s new house isn’t just a house. Long ago, it was the Piven Institute for the Care and Correction of Troubled Females—an insane asylum nicknamed “Hysteria Hall.” However, many of the inmates were not insane, just defiant and strong willed. Kind of like Delia herself.

But the house still wants to keep “troubled” girls locked away. So, in the most horrifying way, Delia gets trapped.

And that’s when she learns that the house is also haunted.

Ghost girls wander the halls in their old-fashioned nightgowns. A handsome ghost boy named Theo roams the grounds. Delia finds that all the spirits are unsettled and full of dark secrets. The house, as well, harbors shocking truths within its walls—truths that only Delia can uncover, and that may set her free.

But she’ll need to act quickly, before the house’s power overtakes everything she loves.

From master of suspense Katie Alender comes a riveting tale of twisted memories and betrayals, and the meaning of madness. 

Review: Once again, Katie Alender gives her readers a perfect blend of great characters, horrific  moments, and emotional impact. I know I've said this before, but she is one of those authors that I can always pick up and know I'm going to get a spine-chilling great story. 

The story starts off with Delia's family moving into the "house" that her aunt left her. Upon arriving they find a daunting old mansion that they discover was once an asylum---one where many women were wrongful held and where several people died. I love the way the beginning is written. They are short chapters inserted called "Observations after the fact" so you know some huge twist is coming, but when it does it's still left me shocked and heart-wrenched. 

Delia's character grows so much throughout this story, from headstrong and a bit angsty to courageous and smart, a caring sister and good friend who only wants to see the people she cares about safe. The other characters were all well written, and I loved the different personalities from different eras all thrown together in this terrifying situation. Most seemed content to accept their captive eternity, but Delia sparks them to action.  I do wish there had been more of Theo, that he'd had a bit more involvement in the story and maybe a bit more romantic buildup, but the story was still great without it. 

It's definitely a creepy story, perfect for those moments when you just want to be spooked!  But it's also a great emotional story about family and sisterhood, friendship and finding strength, forgiveness and letting go. If you can't get to it any sooner, I highly recommend this one for a perfect Halloween read!

Find Katie Alender online:  Website  •  Twitter  •  Instagram

Purchase the book:  BookDepository  •  Indiebound   •   Amazon  

The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough {review + giveaway}

The Game of Love and Death
by Martha Brockenbrough
♦publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
♦release date: April 28th, 2015
♦hardcover, 329 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦stand-alone
♦source: trade show/conference

Antony and Cleopatra. Helen of Troy and Paris. Romeo and Juliet. And now . . . Henry and Flora.

For centuries Love and Death have chosen their players. They have set the rules, rolled the dice, and kept close, ready to influence, angling for supremacy. And Death has always won. Always.

Could there ever be one time, one place, one pair whose love would truly tip the balance?

Meet Flora Saudade, an African-American girl who dreams of becoming the next Amelia Earhart by day and sings in the smoky jazz clubs of Seattle by night. Meet Henry Bishop, born a few blocks and a million worlds away, a white boy with his future assured — a wealthy adoptive family in the midst of the Great Depression, a college scholarship, and all the opportunities in the world seemingly available to him.

The players have been chosen. The dice have been rolled. But when human beings make moves of their own, what happens next is anyone’s guess.

Achingly romantic and brilliantly imagined, The Game of Love and Death is a love story you will never forget.

Review: What captures you first in The Game of Love and Death is the atmosphere. We see two figures on a dark stormy night, putting their mark on the lives of two small infants—the players of a game that will span their lifetimes. The two figures are Love and Death, and this is a game they’ve played again and again through eternity. Death is confident, cocky even, but Love is ever hopeful that this time he will be the victor. It quite a story setup, and could happen in any timeframe, but there is something about Brockenbrough’s beautiful unique writing that just breathes life into this era. It’s not just the mention of obvious historical moments from the late 30s that places the story there, or even the clothes or the music or the poverty (though all of these details are intricately woven in).  The way it’s written just makes you feel the world surrounding these characters--- the laid back pressure-release of listening to an alluring song in a nightclub, the intensity of an attraction forbidden by the racial issues of that time, the desperation of grasping at a dream that seems completely impossible because of your color or situation. 

Each character is so well thought out and interesting.  Love is patient and hopeful and all-encompassing, but also loves his player and desperate to see him win.  Death, though she seems wholly sinister, starts to let slip other sides of herself and you realize there is something of both beauty and horror of the way she takes souls.  And through the span of the game, you start to see the complexity of their relationship.   I loved that their players mirror a bit of themselves, but also the world they each live in—Henry with his insistence to see connection in everything, an unfailing kindness and a rather naïve hopefulness about him.  Flora desperation to escape into the sky and her no-nonsense look at the world make her strong but weak at the same time, as she fights to keep control of her life and her emotions. 

The fluid way this story unfolds is as bewitching and sultry as what I imagine Flora’s night club performances would have been. It encompassed issues of race, privilege, sacrifice, and love in all its complicated forms.  I was so wrapped up in these characters that I didn’t want it to end, but when it did, it took my breath away. I don’t cry often at books, but with this touching and beautiful end, there was no escaping it.  

Read this book.

Find Martha Brockenbrough online:  Website  •  Twitter  •  Tumblr

Purchase the book:  Indiebound  •  BookDepository  •  Amazon

*GIVEAWAY!*
This is definitely one that I'll be buying myself a lovely finished copy of..so I'm passing along my signed (not personalized) ARC! 
•US mailing address only (sorry!)
•Must be 13 or older
•Ends 7/24/15

a Rafflecopter giveaway

First Impression Review: The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough

 First Impression Reviews is a new feature here at Stories & Sweeties where I give my first thoughts at 50-100 pages into a book. For a details about this feature, go here!

where I'm at:  pg 105

first impressions: OH such gorgeous writing. The atmosphere of this story drew me in right away---there's something haunting and almost ethereal about Brockenbrough's storytelling.  It starts off with the characters of Love and Death carefully picking out their players in a game they've played against each other many times before.  Then we're introduced to Henry and Flora, get wrapped up in their story as their paths finally cross.  Everything stands in their way from family expectations to racial tensions, to Love and Death themselves stepping in in sneaky guises in an effort to sway the game.

 The late 1930s era is absolutely brought to life as these characters stories play out in a world of jazz clubs, zepplins, and Hoovervilles. I also love how Henry and Flora's personalities seem to each be shaped by their "sponsor's" influence: one is unfailingly kind and can see connection in all things, one is determined to escape and is all about a means to an end.  But more than anything, there's just such a unique tension to this story, I suspect that it's propelling toward something either beautifully triumphant or horribly tragic.  I'm absolutely captivated!