Plot Summary (taken from book jacket)
Jess has moved to a remote island called Lume off the coast of England. Her parents are restoring an old house, and Jess discovers an abandoned cottage on their property. Inside the cottage Jess encounters an eerie presence – something like a ghost but suffused with a comforting energy. She also finds three locked boxes. Inside each she finds antique papers that send her mind spinning.
As Jess unravels the mysteries of Lume, she finds the writings of Sebastian, a boy who lived one hundred years ago and whose life contains unsettling reflections of her own. To her horror, the dangers he unearthed in 1894 now begin to threaten Jess and her family. Something dark has awoken, and Jess doesn’t have much time to do something about it.
Jess has a talent for solving puzzles, riddles, and codes. She is confronted with a series of riddles that she must unlock in order to save her mother from a dark and ancient threat. Jess is guided by the creepy presence in the cottage. The mysterious guide is called Epsilon, but is he a guide from the bright side or the dark?
My Take
Maybe I’ve been living under a rock. Maybe I know absolutely nothing about YA literature and haven’t kept up well enough with bestsellers in children’s fiction. But I had never heard of this author or this book until I randomly picked it up in the library, decided I liked the sound of it, and gave it a shot.
And oh. my. goodness. This book is FANTASTIC!
I read the whole thing in about a day and a half, and it was just creepy enough to make me have to turn on the TV while I read. Christine Morton-Shaw is amazing at making the hair on the back of your neck stand on end!
I would definitely recommend this book, and I know she’s got another one out as well that isn’t a sequel but is the same sort of idea – solving riddles and whatnot. LOVED it. A great summer read!
Book Rating: PG for creepiness and a little bit of bad language.
Recommended For: People who loved books like The DaVinci Code where there are lots of riddles and word games; anyone who enjoys getting seriously creeped out; lovers of old houses in England.
Not Recommended For: People who are annoyed by riddles or lose sleep easily because of creepiness.
Overall Star Rating: 4/5.
Here’s one example of a title working for you… I saw it and just *clicked*!
Oh my gizzy, I love ALL those things! Great review; I love when bloggers review unexpected things, it’s like it opens up a whole new realm of reading possibilities. Have to get this one- thanks!
I have to find this book! Thanks so much for the recommendation!
Oooo, you make this sound really good. This is the first I’ve heard of it. I’ll have to check it out!
It sounds amazing, so my wish list grows.
Sounds good – but I’ll probably have to read it in the mornings…
I’d never heard of this author either, but this sounds like a book I’d like. Thanks for the review! It’s always neat to discover an entirely new author from a great review.
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Good and in depth article but full of useful information