Tara O'Connor

Interesting premise, disappointing execution. The drawings were lovely, and the narrative style is actually pretty engaging. The problem is that the well-explored parts of the story are all pretty standard Mean Girls kind of stuff. The original part of the story could easily have been replaced with anything at all since there was very little explanation of the books, the magic, the process, etc. etc. The ending didn't really feel like much of a resolution either. It all felt too easy and too quick.… (more)

The dark graphics and limited color palette go far in both sharing and exploring the darkness that is the story unfolding as well as the emotions swirling around our leading lady, Dee. She’s suffered a terrible loss, and I admire her courage in coming back “home” to try and lend a helping hand to the search for her twin. Her home life wasn’t a walk in the park, but once the adults stepped out of their heads and into their hearts, they were able to come together enough to assist rather than resist. Speaking of resistance, it’s pretty much EVERYWHERE in this small town, from the disappearances to the big company trying to take over the pinelands and the severe lack of support the townspeople have in fighting them; it’s a battlefield that once was a town. Add to that the strange disappearances, occurrences, and things that go bump in the night, and you’ve got a mystery you didn’t know you were taking on...with the potential for DIRE consequences!

I was taken aback by the strong environmental messages that ran right alongside the story because they made clear the changes that needed to be made while at the same time nature (and something darker) was whispering the same message for change. I was befuddled as to the motives of those involved because money is one thing, but I just knew there was something more sinister lurking right before our eyes. I appreciated the myth/lore brought to life with a greater purpose, as well as the yin and the yang represented. I agree with the tag line on the book...monsters aren’t always who or what they appear to be. The SCARIEST of them all can be sitting right beside you and you may never even know it...


**copy received for review; opinions are my own… (more)