Erin A. Craig

Nope. No no no no.

For the first half of this, I felt like Oda Mae (à la Ghost) saying “Verity, you in danger, girl” every other page. Then it switched to “Verity, you a dum-dum, girl.”

I really enjoyed Annaleigh’s story in the first book. It was a gothic tale but never dipped into WTF territory. Verity’s book on the other hand took an overly dark and disgusting turn. I genuinely wish I had read some spoilers beforehand to warn me. That way I wouldn’t have ever read this and I show more could remain blissfully ignorant of what was really happening in f’ing Bloem.

If you’ll excuse me, I need to go wash my brain. show less

After reading four of Erin A. Craig's novels, including her most recent one, A LAND SO WIDE, I remain somewhat unimpressed by them. While she excels at establishing tone and mood, I feel her stories are mediocre, lacking anything that would set them apart from their peers. A LAND SO WIDE doesn't even have atmosphere going for it,

Half the intrigue of A LAND SO WIDE is the unknown Bright-Eyeds. Who or what they are and what they want is the biggest mystery of the story. Once Ms. Craig unveils show more that secret, the rest of the story falls flat because the truth does not compare to anything you imagined. Never have I been so disappointed by the inclusion of vampires in a story. While Ms. Craig plays around with vampire mythology for her creatures, at the end of the day, they still consider humans as inferior and more of a food source than any partner in a harsh living environment. Once again, there is nothing new here. At least these vampires don't sparkle.

I also feel the romance within A LAND SO WIDE is mediocre as well. I didn't believe that Greer's emotions were as deep and everlasting as she professes. She sets off to rescue Ellis because she is the only one who can and because the alternative of staying in the village is the worst of the two options available to her. There is no chemistry between them, which makes it all too easy to see Ellis as a love interest of convenience and a lack of worthy competition. There is greater heat between Greer and her mysterious helper.

I struggled with Greer as the heroine anyway. In addition to the lack of chemistry or real connection between Ellis and her, she strikes me as a very stereotypical female hero these days. The high position of her father within the small community, her unusual "powers," her mapmaking skills - they all make her the savior of the tale, as you would expect. Even the fact that her best friend questions her loyalty seems formulaic and unsurprising.

The funny thing is that for all its faults, I finished A LAND SO WIDE in two days. Part of that is because I wanted to know the secrets behind Mistaken and the Bright-Eyeds. Had the big reveal been earlier in the story, I doubt I would have finished the book as quickly as I did. Another reason I finished the book so quickly is that Ms. Craig does know how to build suspense. Greer may not be my favorite heroine of the year, but the forests of the Canadian wilderness are creepy and could hold a variety of creatures, both real and fictional. The potential for something big and scary is what really kept my interest.

Her publisher may market A LAND SO WIDE as Ms. Craig's first adult novel, but it certainly doesn't feel like an adult novel. Ms. Craig skirts any true intimate scene; I've read more explicit scenes in other YA novels. Also, Greer doesn't sound like or act like an adult. She acts like an inexperienced teenager who acts first and thinks second. Her reactions are emotional rather than carefully planned, and she is another sheltered princess who wants to break the mold her father designed for her. The storytelling was decent enough to keep my interest, but it was the mystery of the Bright-Eyeds that had me reading A LAND SO WIDE at such a fast pace.

Now that I have read four of her published books, I am not certain Ms. Craig is an author whose work I would continue to read. I look for something a little extra in the books I read, and so far, Ms. Craig fails to provide it. As always, though, so many other people love A LAND SO WIDE, so either they got something out of the novel I did not, or the fault lies with me and not Ms. Craig. show less

The Twelve Dancing Princesses is my second favorite fairy tale (second only to East of the Sun, West of the Moon) and so of course I wanted to read this retelling of it. And I mostly enjoyed it. However, I think this story would have been stronger without the need to stick to the fairy tale elements (especially given how far we veer from the fairy tale in this story... for starters, the dancing doesn't even start until after 4 of the 12 girls (who aren't princesses—they're the daughter of show more a duke) are dead). The strongest aspects of this book were the setting and the relationships between Annaleigh, Verity, and Camille. But most of all I really loved the way the sea felt present throughout this book.

The last third of this book really picked up the pace, but also threw cohesiveness out the window. Without going too far into spoiler territory, I was left at the end of the book not knowing exactly what was real and what was not, or who had been murdered and who died of natural causes, and honestly not caring all that much. I was a very quick end of the book (I read the last 50% in one sitting) but I think it's the opening few chapters and the description of the manor and customs that are more likely to stick with me. show less

Most of Erin A. Craig's novels that I've read have left me wanting. The exception to that is THE THIRTEENTH CHILD. It is such a beautiful story and so well-written. I devoured each page as I followed Hazel's difficult path. Now that I know what Ms. Craig is capable of writing, I hope that she has plenty of other fascinating stories waiting for us!

THE THIRTEENTH CHILD would not work half as well had Hazel not been a fantastic main character. Her tragic upbringing, with parents who hate her, show more definitely impacts her self-esteem. When you combine that with her visual reminders of each one of her failures, you have someone who suffers more than most. Yet, throughout the entirety of her life, she maintains an admirable sense of peace and determination while growing into her self-identity. Grace, humility, and a deeply held belief in service make Hazel one of the better main characters I've read.

There is a lot to love in THE THIRTEENTH CHILD alongside Hazel. Her relationship with her godfather is one such high point of the story, as is her sacrifice. Hazel's quiet strength is what shines brightest for me, though. Hers is not a flashy heroism, and I think the story is better for it. THE THIRTEENTH CHILD is a welcome respite from the constant barrage of negative headlines and fits well into the holiday season with its focus on helping others. show less