Lee Nichols (1)

DECEPTION has reminded me that it has been entirely too long since I’ve read a good ghostly mystery. When I picked up the novel I thought it looked good, but I wasn’t prepared for how much I would end up enjoying it! I found myself furiously flipping pages and, when I found myself on the last page, lamenting my wait until the next installment.

At first, I wasn’t sure how well I was going to like the author’s treatment of the dialogue. It seemed almost inconsistent: casual one moment show more and formal the next. Eventually, I either stopped noticing or started to like it, I’m not sure which. As I read, it started to flow very realistically and it was easy to imagine that Emma was sitting next to me narrating the story.

I really enjoyed Nichols’ portrayal of ghosts and Emma’s powers. I’m impressed that each YA ghost novel that I’ve read brings something new to the table. It seems almost easy to differentiate paranormal creatures like vampires and weres, but ghosts require a bit more creativity. Now that the scene has been set, I’m excited to discover what Emma will face in the next book and to see a greater exploration of her powers.

I have mixed feelings about DECEPTION’s romantic plot line. At the beginning of the novel, Emma was extremely immature, which had me worried. I thought that her relationship with Bennett would turn out to be only a school girl crush on her older brother’s friend. Thankfully, Emma morphed throughout the novel. By the end, I could definitely see how a relationship between the two could develop. Nichols throws readers for a bit of a loop at the end of the novel, so I’m desperate to see how Emma and Bennett will find a way around the complication presented.

And holy cliffhanger! I raced to that last page, only to find a cliffhanger of epic proportions! I adore cliffhangers. show less

Quick & Dirty: A completely compelling and suspenseful read.

Opening Sentence: Six weeks ago, my parents disappeared.

The Review:

Emma Vaile plans to live it up and break all the rules while her parents are gone on a business trip, but naturally things take a turn for the worse. Emma’s appointed guardian leaves her all alone to be closer to her own daughter. Now, Emma is stuck with running her parents store, as well as maintaining her school duties. To make matters worse, Emma’s best friend show more is no longer speaking to her and she doesn’t understand why. Alone and feeling isolated, Emma turns to her new friends. Wanting to be accepted into the group, Emma agrees to throw a party at her house. The party comes to an abrupt end when the police arrive. One of Emma’s so called friend’s reports her to Child Protective Services. Betrayed, Emma finds herself facing some pretty bleak options. Become a ward of the state or enter the foster care system. Luckily, Emma is saved in the nick of time by Bennett, her brother’s friend. He takes Emma to New England and enrolls her at Thatcher Academy.

Deception is set in a rich, imaginative world that blends mystery, suspense, and romance. Emma is funny, strong and driven. She went from being immature to accepting major responsibilities head on. Some of the scenes are a touch melodramatic, but Emma is a very sympathetic character. Emma is lonely and worried about her family. She’s essentially been abandoned. Emma can’t seem to get a hold of them and she’s battling danger at every turn. Emma discovers that she has powerful abilities, and battling evil ghosts is just the beginning. She’s a Ghostkeeper, which means that she can communicate with ghosts. I’m definitely intrigued by the Ghostkeeper mythology.

I’m not really sure how I feel about Bennett. I never established a connection with him and he didn’t come off as a particularly likable character. He’s a bit too mysterious, suspicious, and I’m not sure what his real motivations are.

Overall, Deception is a great gothic ghost story. Deception has plenty of twists and a number of intriguing events. Strongly drawn characters and plenty of conflict help draw the reader deep into this genuinely spooky tale. The result is a wonderfully creepy, well-written story. Readers will eagerly await Betrayal, which is the next book in the series.

Notable Scene:

I smelled and felt the cold salt wind as it rose from the ocean and heard the waves rippling against the rocks below. The soft glow of the house fell into the darkness over the cliffs, as a thread of spectral fog thickened in the air and crept toward us.

As we watched, the fog morphed into a shape that looked nothing like other ghosts I’d seen. It had a skeletal, malformed body and wore tattered clothing. Except that it wasn’t clothing. It was skin. Its bones were joined in the wrong places somehow, making it look more insect than human.

FTC Advisory: Bloomsbury provided me with an ARC of Deception. 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

I love reading 'young adult' novels, which are marketed at teen readers but well written and creative enough to appeal to all ages. Yes, the characters and storylines can become slightly formulaic, as with most genres - Emma and her ghosts in Lee Nichols' novel could easily be switched with Rose in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series, for instance - but I can almost guarantee a fast-paced, entertaining read whatever the subject.

Deception is exactly that - an imaginative introduction to show more the 'Haunting Emma' series, about a sixteen year old girl who discovers that she is a 'ghostkeeper' when she moves to the New England town of Echo Point. Told in the first person, Emma is a quirky, witty and youthful narrator, who has to come to terms with her supernatural role - and the fact that her parents have been lying to her all these years. The two love interests are both appealing, although Coby is too good to be true, and the ending pulls no punches. I did find the 'community' of ghostkeepers, controlled by an organisation called The Knell, to be slightly convoluted - nearly everyone in Emma's life turns out to be just like she is - but I'm sure that these unlikely coincidences will start to make sense in the sequels.

Nichols' world-building is typically imaginative for this genre, from the ghostkeepers' abilities to summon, compel, communicate with and dispel ghosts, to the varied types of spirits - ghosts, ghasts, ghouls and wraiths - and I can't wait to read more of this series. show less

I loved this book - Nichols is one of my new favorite chick lit authors! The story is amusing and entertaining, and though it's fluffy there is a real core to the book that helps you forget the fluff. There are definitely moments when you are yelling at Elle to stop, to think for a second, isn't it OBVIOUS what's going on??!!, but really, her naivete is part of what makes her such a charming character. You want to take her home and feed her soup and take care of her. The ending is a bit deus show more ex machina, but in Elle's charming world it definitely works. show less