Eden Royce

Life is different in the late 22nd century. We’ve had wars, drones watch all of our movements and ghosts are used as a power source. When someone dies their spirit is taken to a containment unit where for eternity their energy is used in place of fossil fuels to light up the city of Charlotte. One of the workers at the Spectral power containment facility is a devil-human hybrid named Feast. Feast is a rare breed and different form most people in the city. He has had his run ins with the show more city and the dead seem to be more attracted to him than anyone else.

Feast doesn’t necessarily agree with the way the city is run but goes along with it because he appreciates the benefits he gets from working for the city. All of that changes when Feast has to help bring down a powerful entity that has the ability to make you see your worst fears or your greatest desires. Feast starts to see that he is more than he thought he was, but it might not be enough to keep him from becoming a ghost trapped in the containment unit.

Containment by Eden Royce is a book that hooked me right away. The concept of ghosts being used as a power source in the future is an original idea unlike anything I’ve read before. I also love how the book starts off, Eden makes you feel compassion for Feast as you hear what he thinks about the ghosts trapped in the Containment unit. Feast has a sense of hopelessness, he sees what happens to spirits when they die and knows everyone ends up in the same horrible space. You also sees how he lives in a society where there is little freedom.

Despite what looks like a bleak existence for Feast he is still grateful for many things, he likes the benefits from his job and he talks with the ghosts in the containment unit despite being a little freaked out by them. He may not like how things are but he doesn’t see everything as bad either. One of my favorite parts of this book was when Feast tells how he thinks we should live life and later says that the ghosts in the containment unit are not the only ghosts there are. Feast is a fascinating character and the descriptions of the world he lives in are equally as interesting.

Another thing I like about this book is how the story is told. In the beginning the story seems deceptively simple. As the plot moves along its like Eden is adding more layers to the story. There is a lot going on in this book which leads me to my one complaint, its short. From reading Containment you get the impression that it is part of a much bigger story and there are unanswered questions. On a positive note there is a sequel to Containment available so I’m hoping that this becomes a series. Containment is a beautifully written story that shows that there are a lot of original story ideas out there. show less

Reading ROOT MAGIC was such a joy — can I give it more than five stars? The protagonist, 11-year old Jezebel Turner, is a mighty and memorable middle grade heroine. Set in South Carolina in 1963, the story follows Jezebel as she begins to study rootwork, a tradition passed down from her Gullah ancestors.

Root magic is misunderstood by many to be something evil, but her Uncle Doc is teaching her the good ways it helps the community. She must use her newly developed powers to save herself and show more her family from malevolent forces threatening them, and not just otherworldly ones.

There’s so much I loved about this book, and Jezebel is such a relatable character. What stood out for me in particular was the message of friendship and discovering it in someone unexpected. The story was suspenseful and creepy at times, which kept me glued to the pages. The ending chapter was so moving, and of course, I was sad to see it end! I would love to read a sequel about Jezebel and her family, and find out what their futures hold. show less

Things that impressed me about this book:
No shying away from terrible things (police brutality, racism in the 1960s, grief, prejudice against magic, isolation and loneliness)
A LOT happens in the book, but the pacing is steady throughout
I know very little about Gullah-Geechee heritage and this book drops the reader into it and shares that background effortlessly
It's a complicated story, but really engaging and the scary parts are well delivered and tempered to be not as scary
Love the family show more relationships, the Sheriff who wants to help, the twins themselves, Jezebel's strong spirit show less

I gave Psychopomp & Corcumstance 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5—not because I have any quibbles about the book, but because I just wanted more of everything. More of the main character, more of the magic with which this version of Reconstruction is imbued, more time getting to know characters and reading about them getting to know one another.

Phee (short for Phaedra) St. Margaret is just reaching adulthood in New Charleston in the aftermath of the Civil War. All her controlling mother wants is show more is for Phee to marry into a good family, regardless of what her husband might actually be like. Phee dreams of having a career and independence.

At her last (what a relief!) cotillion of the season, Phee finds herself thinking of her Aunt Cleo, her mother's sister. Cleo was cast out from the family as a result of some scandal at her own mother's funeral, and Cleo now realizes that she hasn't written to or heard from Aunt Cleo in quite some time.

The next morning, a magical messenger (there's magic in New Charleston) arrives to announce Aunt Cleo's death. When the messenger asks who will "pomp" for Cleo, Phee's mother refuses, and Phee impulsively volunteers. Pomping involves making all the necessary arrangements for the funeral, but this is a particularly difficult and risky job. The Pomp must create a perfect service because the departed's spirit needs needs that to move on, a journey known as "homecoming" among those who share these beliefs. And, if someone's pomping isn't judged worthy, that person may actually face jail time.

The next day, Phee embarks on the journey to Aunt Cleo's home and, somewhat daunted, begins the task she's taken on. The rest of the novel concerns the choices Phee makes for Aunt Cleo's homecoming and the people she meets and comes to know.

Watching Phee come into her own is a joy, if also a bit of a nail-biter. So much can go wrong. So many decisions to make. I am, as I said at the beginning, eager for more time with Phee, and I'm very much hoping there will be at least on sequel to Psychopomp and Circumstance. Eden Royce's earlier works have been young adult fiction, this is her first adult novel. What she actually delivers is a treat for readers: satisfying for both adult and YA reades. If you've been wanting a buddy read to share with a teen family member or friend, Psychopomp and Circumstance would be an excellent choice.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own. show less