Leanna Renee Hieber

I think this might be the best book I've ever read on the subject of ghosts. I highly recommend it, even if you're a skeptic or non-believer, as I am. It's not exploitive or sensationalized - in fact as a despiser of almost all true crime, I'm struggling to imagine how a true crime fan would receive a book like this. The authors are firmly grounded, not only in reality, but in respect, history, and a strong and holistic understanding of the pressures, anxieties, and fears that create and show more sustain ghosts and ghost stories. All of the ghost stories discussed are cited whenever possible; for example, among the first stories discussed in the book is the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, and the authors point out that there are no ghost sightings or stories associated with the incident that do not trace back to someone in the ghost or paranormal industries. They go on to discuss the implications of those ghosts being used for that industry, in the context of workers dying due to reckless profit maximization. The entire book is thoughtful and contextualized like that, it's excellent. show less

As a fan of Leanna Renee Hieber adult novels, I was curious to see how she could possibly translate into the young adult universe. It has been very interesting, as a long-time reader, to see some many adult novelist recently moving into the young adult genre, which only continues to grow. Some authors have succeeded in the transition, in some instances incredibly well, while others haven't. I'm always a little weary of the movement from adult to young adult, so I found myself approaching show more Darker Still with some trepidation. I'll admit, though, that the cover haunted me with its elegance, and the blurb captivated me with its throwbacks to classic literature.

Darker Still introduces young Natalie, the well-to-do young woman in 19th century New York City. And, a mute. Despite that, her father cannot bear to part with her, so Natalie is not hidden from society, though she finds that it can be a cold place indeed. Until the mysterious painting of the late British Lord Denbury showed up in some of New York's social circles, carrying a mysterious and tainted past. Natalie finds that the painting is more than it seems, and Denbury's soul is trapped inside it -and it is up to her to break the curse.

Not only does Darker Still evoke the classic tale of The Picture of Dorian Grey, but it throws in just enough Jekyll and Hyde and classic gothic romance to be dark and interested, but infuses enough mysterious and horror to still be surprising, unique and somewhat modern in its approach. Specifically, making our spunky protagonist, Natalie, mute was a very bold choice. Typically, readers bond most strongly with characters through dialog, which is one of the most easy to relate to aspects of a novel. Though Natalie could not speak, Hieber did an excellent job of showing Natalie's character in other ways and it didn't take long for me to become invested in Natalie and want to cheer her on through her adventures.

The best part? No sparkly vampires or titular werewolves, just a classic gothic romance with dark, fascinating magic and classic tales of horror brought back to life in an engaging way. From the very beginning, I was completely hooked on Darker Still and I thoroughly enjoyed every unexpected twist and wonder, classic gothic turn. I hope this book launches a new trend of YA novels closer to this formula. Highly recommended! show less

There were so many different styles in this book; I kept expecting them to crash and burn. I've seen it called gothic, paranormal, romance, mystery, and a ghost story. The wonderful thing is they jelled.

This book pleased me on so many levels. Six children were chosen to be "possessed" by spirits and become The Guard, a group responsible for policing the spirit activity of Victorian London. They're also given a prophecy concerning a seventh member to come, their goddess come again and the show more woman their leader will love.

Then they grow up and protect the city and settle into their lives. Some pair off. Some live with unrequited love. Some are still waiting for the prophesied woman. Nineteen years later she arrives. Both of her.

Most of The Guard believes Lucy Linden is their seventh, but Professor Alexi Rychmann can't deny the love he has for Miss Percy Parker, nineteen year old student at the academy where he teaches.

The relationship that grows between Alexi and Percy is fascinating. I enjoyed watching them deal with the difficulties of their situation: professor-student, an age difference but not one that is insurmountable or taboo in any way, ghostly forces trying to harm them both, and the identity of the mysterious seventh. And, because this is a romance set in Victorian times, there is a lot of wonderfully written sexual tension.

Things end well, but not before everyone is harmed in some way. This was a very satisfying read. If [a:Leanna Renee Hieber|1651952|Leanna Renee Hieber|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1250826580p2/1651952.jpg] writes more in this world I'll be right there. show less

This review is from my blog, Starting the Next Chapter.

Imagine my surprise when I began reading Darker Still and realized that it is an epistolary novel. I absolutely love books written in this style, so immediately my attention was snared. As I worked my way into the book, getting to know Natalie and discovering the intrigues of Victorian-era New York along the way, I became more and more absorbed until I felt as though I was part of the story. Sparks fly, magic is in the air (literally!), show more and an evil has taken residence in Denbury's body. The events that take place are nothing short of thrilling, terrifying, and exciting.

Usually when I read a novel set in the Victorian-era, the setting is somewhere such as London. I was looking forward to reading this book in part because of its setting in America, which is a novelty to me, having read little that takes place in such a setting. As for the plot, I was immediately sold upon reading the description. There is always a chance that a book won't live up to its description, but I would say that this one delivered and then some! The evil found in this book is so very chilling that you can not help but wonder if everyone will come out unscathed (though I'm not telling!). The level of romance contained is sweet, intense, and impetuous all at once. There is a wonderful variety of characters, though the most-developed character of all is Natalie, since the book is in the form of her diary (this only makes sense, as she would know herself better than anyone). Imagine my surprise to learn that Natalie is mute due to childhood trauma. I simply can not recall any other protagonist with this affliction, though I could be easily forgetting such a one. Seeing how she solved communication issues and reacted to people's reactions to her only served to make her even more interesting. There are other characters I made note of, as well. I couldn't help but become fond of Mrs. Northe and the real Denbury, irritated by Maggie, and disgusted by "Barry" (Denbury's doppelganger/jailor). All of these elements combined into one excellent, spooky novel that left me immediately wanting more.

If you are a fan of books that have a high concentration of magic and/or historical novels, then you should definitely try Darker Still. There is much more to this book than a pretty cover. You can expect great characters, an engrossing plot, and a vivid setting. I am very glad to have read this novel and can not wait for the sequel. Thank you for a great read, Ms. Hieber!

Obligatory legal statement: This eGalley was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review. show less