Kate Cann

Quick & Dirty: A vividly written novel that lends a genuinely creepy feel, and is sure to keep you away from the countryside.

Opening Sentence: Rayne sat on the end of her narrow bed next to Jelly’s cot, painting her nails.

The Review:

All Rayne can think about is escaping her miserable life in London. She lives in a rundown, crime laden, and crowded housing development with no real prospect of getting out. Rayne also feels suffocated and trapped by her mother, caring for her baby brother, show more and her controlling boyfriend, Damian. She struggles to maintain her sanity amid all the noise and violence. Rayne has the opportunity to take a break from her studies and decides to take a job at a secluded country estate, Morton’s Keep. The very idea of being near the mansion late at night paralyzes the locals with fear. Eventually, Rayne makes new friends and becomes enamored with the very creepy and mysterious St. John. Not only does Rayne believe that her newfound friends have something to hide, she becomes suspicious about the history surrounding Morton’s Keep and as she delves deeper into the Keep’s lore she finds a lot more than she bargains for.

Possessed is engaging and addresses a lot of real life issues. For example, Rayne does not possess an idyllic family life to say the least. Rayne also possesses certain foibles, such as her somewhat cavalier relationship with the truth. Strangely, flaws like these serve to make Rayne even more sympathetic. I was captivated by her struggle to strike out on her own so far away from her familiar life in London. Ms. Cann also doesn’t skimp on the supporting cast, which consists of well realized personalities that all speak with authentic voices. The interplay amongst these characters was authentic and captured the real vibe between young adults. The character of St. John is a special stand out. I thought that I had him all figured out, but I was completely wrong.

Needless to say I really enjoyed Possessed. Ms. Cann delivers a chilling and eerie world that will leave you wanting more. The pacing of the book is perfect and Morton’s Keep drips with atmosphere. I eagerly await a return trip to the world of Possessed.

Notable Scene:

The words liquefied her with terror. She broke cover and ran. She had no idea if the men were following – the cracking, crashing noise of her flight covered any sound they may have made. She hurtled on, arms out in front, shielding her face from the branches whipping at her, running anywhere there was a path through the trees, running, running, doubling back on herself, her breath coming in great gasps….

FTC Advisory: Scholastic provided me with an ARC of Possessed. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site. show less

This was a pretty good little ghost story. Rayne is the typical teenager in many ways, feeling smothered by both her dependent mother and her boyfriend. So, like many teens, her solutions is ultimately to run away. To facilitate this she finds a job in a tearoom at Morton’s Keep, a mysterious English countryside manor with a long, dark history. I would have actually liked to have learned more about the history of the Keep, and could have used more details such as who the Black Prince was. show more Not all of us are up to speed on English history, so thank goodness for Wikipedia! Things are spooky and mysterious, especially with Rayne’s new boyfriend, St. John, and his group of obedient friends. I actually could have used a little more ghostly activity, since a lot of what happens is more along the lines of 'things don’t feel right' than something tangible. All in all, though, I found Rayne to be believable and accessible, and this to be an entertaining read. show less

Rayne is so tired of her life in London – her possessive boyfriend, her needy mother and little brother, and all the noise & hassle of the city. When she lands a job at an inn in the country, complete with a small apartment, she believes she has found peace at last. But, when she starts hearing strange noises and people keep telling her stories of the estate’s painful past, she begins to wonder if she made the right choice.
This is a tale of suspense that is carefully crafted. The show more suspense builds slowly and the truth eeks out in small doses. I couldn’t wait to find out the real story – ghosts? Devil worshipers? Or worse? The story keeps the reader hooked until the very end. Unfortunately, the revelation of the true story is a little flat compared to the lead-up. I wanted a big, shocking finish, but I don’t think the climax suited the rest of the story. But all-in-all, not a bad suspense novel. show less

Lily is an outsider. Girls bully her, boys don't know she'd alive. She begins to hide from her troubles at the nearby Wakeless Woods. But she s not alone. The crows are there. Watching. When she finds the crows, she finds herself - and a burning need to show everyone at school the new Lily. Will this Halloween be a night to remember?

This book is a Barrington Stoke book - they specialise in books for struggling and dyslexic readers and their stories are varied and engaging. You could call it show more a 'quick read' book - at only 70 pages I picked it up and didn't put it down until I'd finished it, about 30 minutes later. Lily is a character that a lot of readers can identify with - she's the outsider, forced to be something she's not to avoid teasing and bullying from her fellow classmates. The story is simple yet engaging - I'd recommend it to any fans of YA books. You get to see Lily grow up and become who she wants to be, which kept me reading. She forms a relationships with a gang (well I suppose I could put murder) of crows and unwittingly, the crows really help her become popular at school. A must-read, I'm looking forward to reading the sequel. show less