Magnificently creepy.
The first in a deliciously macabre trilogy for middle graders and young teens channels Dickens crossed with Lemony Snicket.
The Iremongers made their fortune scavenging the discards of London, and now the enormous extended family resides in the eponymous agglomerated mansion surrounded by feral rubbish heaps. Sickly Clod Iremonger, on the cusp of being “trousered” and saddled with adult responsibilities, is distrusted for his queer talent: He hears voices from those assorted “birth objects” (including his own sink plug) to which every member of the household is bonded for life. But now the objects are going astray, there are reports of an ominous Gathering, and storms are brewing in the heaps. When Clod teams up with the spunky servant Lucy Pennant, the sinister heritage of the Iremongers can no longer be concealed. Morbid black-and-white portraits reminiscent of Charles Addams and Edward Gorey punctuate a Gothic tale in turns witty, sweet, thoughtful and thrilling—but always off-kilter—and penned with gorgeous, loopy prose just this side of precious. The malevolent setting and delightfully loathsome cast highlight the odd likability of Lucy, so gleefully felonious and brash, and poor, strange, diffident Clod, whom she inspires to genuine heroism. Suspense and horror gradually accumulate into an avalanche of a climax, leading to the most precipitous of cliffhangers, yet what lingers are uncomfortable questions about treating things—and people—as disposable.
Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4683-0953-9
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Overlook
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2014
PROFILES
You'd think life couldn't get more complicated than discovering your boyfriend is a werewolf, as Jess did in 13 to Life (2010). Pietr and his Russian-American family are all werewolves, a product of Cold War experimentation. Normal, middle-American Jess will do anything to protect her friends from the forces stalking them, which range from the CIA to the Russian mafia. Pietr's mother is a prisoner of the CIA, and, worse, Pietr is openly dating Jess' friend Sarah. His motivations for doing so (and Jess' motivations for dating football star Derek) are murky but tie into the general air of mystery. Is there anyone in this town who isn't secretly part of the semi-scientific paranormal conspiracy? Complications ensue, with plenty of threads left unresolved for the inevitable next volume. For passionate lovers of the genre only, but they'll appreciate the virginal sexual tension, the snarled das and nyets, the testosterone-fueled feuds and the titillating glimpses of tragic history. (Paranormal romance. 12-14)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-312-60915-3
Page Count: 320
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Review Posted Online: Dec. 29, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2011
This book begins and ends with a diary entry from the journal of Donna Underwood, whose strongest childhood memory—seeing her father killed—was followed by her mother’s entry to a private sanatorium. His killers, vicious wood elves, mangled Donna’s hands and arms so badly that only magical surgery would save them. Now the wood elves are back; they’ve kidnapped Donna’s friend, Navin, and, it’s up to Donna to save him. The protagonists of this fantasy adventure—Donna, Navin and romantic interest Zan—are well drawn and engaging. Secondary characters (mostly adults)—sketchily developed humans and fey—mainly exist to drive the solid plot. And what a plot! Complex in structure, it includes a secret society of alchemists whose motives are veiled, the mystery of Donna’s dad’s death and a budding romance between Donna and the half-fey Zan. The success of the story depends heavily upon the geographical contrast between small-town Ironbridge, Mass., and the dark forest that leads to the home of the wood elves. The suspense and tension built into the story lead to a smashing climax and an ambivalent solution. Enough plot threads are left dangling that readers should expect at least one sequel. This story has it all for fans of (sub)urban: vicious adversaries, devoted friendship and first romance. (Fantasy. 13-16)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7387-2582-6
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Flux
Review Posted Online: Jan. 8, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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