Haunted Waters

First of all I was interested in the author herself and wondering whether she could pull off writing a book of this genre after having immersed herself in such well known children's work. Mary Pope Osborne has done a wonderful job in proving that some authors are able to reach outside their comfort zone and hit the nail on the head.

First of all I don't really know what to say that has caught my attention on this book and kept it. The writing seems weak at times and very repetitive while Lord Huldbrand could absolutely drive you batty with his spinelessness. Undine, herself, is too sweet but off to also catch you while there is no great romance that pulls you in.

Instead the author does a great job of using words that weave around you show more in a sense that does remind you of fairytales. They are strong descriptors, seeming to flow like the water that fills the book. At the same time there is an eerie emotional undertone that oozes out to give voice so the book reads to you while you are reading it. This is truly an improvement against the sometimes bland voice of the Magic Tree House series.

And finally even though the story doesn't follow the true story of the Undine it is a beautiful and provocative story. What probably stood out to me the most is perhaps since I don't know how to think or feel after reading it.... There is an end to the book but it doesn't feel like the end and as one fellow reviewer mentions you are standing on a proverbial cliff while staring down into an abyss that has no mention, no definition or context but yet adds a yearning ache to you..... show less

Based upon the novel "Undine" written in the early 19th century by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, this short novel is spare and seems almost primative. The dialog is simple, the characters not very deep, but it has atmosphere in abundance and romance and obsession. It is the sad tale of a nobleman who is beguiled and ultimately falls in love with a mysterious young woman. It reads almost like a myth or a legend. It draws you into its pages and treats you to emotional ambiance that you won't soon forget. Some elements of the tale are never fully explained, but I did not find that to be a necessity because it is very dream-like or similar to being held under a spell. Anyone who has lived under an enchantment will understand. It is lovely.

This is a story based off the German tale of "Undine," though the author says that it departs from it widely (I haven't read the original so I can't be sure). The protagonist isn't sure whether Undine is human or something else, and Undine herself seems to know about half the time. He isn't sure whether to pull her close or push her away. The spirit that "haunts" her probably would help her more if it stayed away for a while- at least in the beginning. Despite the fact that the protagonist is slightly annoying, it's an interesting story and well told.