Jenn Marie Thorne

“There is a darkness in me.”

What a fun little dark, creepy read. Anna is on vacation with her family, again, this year. She's the mess up, the disappointment - the black sheep of the family. So as the trip goes horrible sideways - as they experience things they can't explain and things go bump in the night - it's easy to blame Anna for all their troubles.

But Anna knows better. She's googled the house - and it has a very dark history. Do they know where they are saying? And what do they show more do now that they've done the one thing they shouldn't have?

Gloriously dark and eerie - the writing had the perfect creepy, doom-filled dread. The turns were shocking, the family's reaction jaw-dropping. I love Anna and her dark story. I'll definitely look for more from this author! show less

Lila and Tess Ford's lives have taken them in two different directions. On the evening of Lila's debut, Tess would rather be helping her father - world renowned archaeologist Dr. Warren Ford - excavate a tomb of some sort in the deserts of Egypt than have to get dressed up and deal with pretentious socialites. What Tess doesn't understand is that Lila is mingling with Manhattan socialites because her father's expeditions are extremely expensive and the family's money is quickly dwindling. show more Lila has to make a good match in husband for the sake of the family - at least that's what her grandmother keeps reminding her. Lila seems to have caught the attention of Williams Hendricks whose family has no shortage of power and money. Truth be told, Lila has always been a little jealous of Tess.

But then Tess is kidnapped and Lila, determined to find her, enlists the help of her estranged father. Come to find out, Tess was taken because Dr. Ford has a piece to the legendary puzzle of the Serpent's Crown.

Now, in a high-stakes chase across the ocean and into Paris then on to Egypt, they'll find there's more on the line than fortune and glory.

I thought it was interesting in the fact that they almost do a sister swap. I feel like each started out wanting certain things and then for whatever reason their prerogatives changed and they almost settled. Lila, for her part, wanted more scholarly pursuits but having lost her mother, she was kind of groomed by her grandmother to be this beacon of hope for the family financially speaking. Tess on the other hand wanted her father's approval so much that she inserted herself into his space. She does have a fondness for history, but I think a lot of it stems from wanting to please her father. Then they each find themselves turning in the other direction and I think they really got to understand each others' perspective for the first time.

I think both Lila and Tess are shown as very three dimensional characters. Both with strengths and flaws and vulnerabilities. This makes both of them really likable. I would get caught up in each chapter to the point where when point of view changed with each new chapter, I'd almost have to acclimate myself again with where we left off with that sister previously. It makes me interested to find out if each author wrote for one sister.

Probably one of my favorite things was how for me, it's like Indiana Jones from the point of view of his children. From the outside he's this cool, confident, handsome and adventurous archaeologist. But if you look at him in the guise of father - like with Dr. Ford - you see all the ways he's lacking. Questionable morals and seemingly aloof where his daughters are concerned. Being absent when they needed him the most. It's a little less glamorous for sure. This, of course, ensures that Lila and Tess remain front and center of the story. Because really it's about them and their relationship and trying to build something back that might be lost.

Of course not everything is as it seems with the story at face value. For me, being that this is an adventure novel, I kept waiting for the twists and turns to happen. I knew that things couldn't be so straightforward. I think I was on such high alert for the twists that when they happened, I wasn't surprised by anything.

I did enjoy how the story builds. It's a slower build, laying out the groundwork of the mythology and the stakes at risk, but I think the end payoff was perfectly executed.

I had not read anything previously by Lee Kelly or Jennifer Thorn. I like this type of adventure story and the time period in which it's set. I think there are plenty of opportunities for more stories and I felt like there was a hint that more could be possible. I would definitely check it out.

Overall, I think this is a fun read. Even though it's technically a historical fiction, I still felt like it had a lot of very relevant commentary. show less

After a whirlwind romance aboard a cruise ship, the newly married Nina Treadway, a Florida Native finds herself on the small British Island of Lute. Nina has always struggled to fit in and is finding it difficult in the small close-knit community especially since she married Lord Hugh Treadway and she is now Lady Treadway. Now, Nina is in her seventh year on the island and is a mother of two. The family is supposed to take a vacation on the summer solstice, but bad luck and circumstance keep show more the family on the island. Lute has always had a strong tradition around the summer solstice that Nina has never quite understood. The locals simply call every seventh summer solstice The Day. The Day is when the island takes its tithe for good weather, good luck and overall harmony for the next seven years. Hugh's father died seven years ago on the last Day, so Nina is no stranger to what it can bring, but still doesn't believe the superstitions of the people of Lute surrounding The Day; until now, when Nina has no choice to be part of the day as Lady Treadway.

Lute is folk horror combining the mythology of the shining ones with a dash of Midsommar and Final Destination. The horror and tension surrounding The Day builds slowly as Lute prepares. The story is told through Nina's point of view alone, so everything about The Day is new and confusing as an outsider, wondering how an island could possibly make seven people die every seven years. Then, the terror hits, sneaking, taking it's time, making your wonder what is next, questioning every move you make and if it could somehow do you in. I was really interested in the source of The Day, a mysterious, supernatural power. Through Nina, some of the history of the island unfolds, but I really wish there could be a deeper dive. Intense, well-drawn characters create an even more interesting atmosphere. Nina's backstory unravels with the day as she finds her place amongst the town as a leader of Lute while Hugh descends into resentment of his position on Lute and what it means for his family. With all horror, the source of the worst parts aren't what you can't see, but what you can. A surprising ending left me wanting to know more about Lute and its future.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. show less

In 1980, The Midnight Show debuted. A first of its kind format (a la Saturday Night Live) that made the stars of those early seasons rise to immense heights of fame. Maybe none more so than Lillian Martin. She had a unique sense of humor that endeared her to many. Behind the scenes was a different story. Lillian struggled in the limelight, but nothing has solidified her legend more than the mystery surrounding her disappearance, and later declaration of death, on February 18th, 1983. Now, show more approaching the 40th anniversary of that fateful night, journalist Madeline Cohen has gotten together those who knew Lillian best to celebrate her comedic genius and possibly figure out the true cost of being a female comedian.

This is possibly one of the few reads for me that really deserves a comparison to Daisy Jones and the Six. Both being told in the same oral history format. Any other time I’ve read that comparison I’ve been let down, but not this time. I really would love to listen to the audiobook of this one.

I love an oral history format. When done well, it works as a means to learn about the different characters at the same time as we learn about the past but also the present day in which the interviews are taking place. In this case, it’s building toward that infamous night so there’s a natural progression for how events will take place. It’s finite, and I think it helps the story become such a compelling read because it is a rather slow-burn.

The whole idea of truth is such an interesting concept throughout. Each time someone “speaks” they tell a little more about Lillian and her eventual downfall. Now whether or not they’re telling the truth as they see it or the truth that will be most beneficial to them is something that was difficult to pick up on at first, but as we sit with these characters it’s easy to begin to understand them. The best parts are where their stories intersect where you see the similar or conflicting views.

I appreciate that the story actually “goes there”. We, as readers, don’t have to leave too much up to supposition. The story doesn’t leave you hanging with a supposed ambiguity. It’s very satisfying.

Overall, a great use of the oral history. Each interview keeps the momentum moving toward Lillian's disappearance. Despite being a rather slow burn. The tragedy of fame and being a woman in a male-dominated field is deftly felt. show less