Release Date: October 7, 2014
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 400
Source: eARC for Review
Pages: 400
Source: eARC for Review
ISBN-10: 0062107852
Rating: 4.5 Hearts
Book Description
"Madeline Usher is doomed.
She has spent her life fighting fate, and she thought she was succeeding. Until she woke up in a coffin.
Ushers die young. Ushers are cursed. Ushers can never leave their house, a house that haunts and is haunted, a house that almost seems to have a mind of its own. Madeline’s life—revealed through short bursts of memory—has hinged around her desperate plan to escape, to save herself and her brother. Her only chance lies in destroying the house.
In the end, can Madeline keep her own sanity and bring the house down? The Fall is a literary psychological thriller, reimagining Edgar Allan Poe’s classic The Fall of the House of Usher."
Review
Short and Sweet:
The Fall currently holds my top pick for Most Awesomely Creepy Book of the Year. I want to smile because I enjoyed it so much, but it still scared me pretty well several times (and I ended up with this face).
To Elaborate...
Madeline Usher is the current chosen cursed one in the House of Usher. Generations before her have been lost to the madness, and when the house favorites you, the madness is ten times worse. As she searches for a solution to rid her and those she loves of the ancient despair, the house will do its best to keep her in her place.
If you're looking for an eery, dark read, this is quite possibly the book for you. This was my first Bethany Griffin Poe retelling (I've had Masque of the Red Death on my shelf for months but haven't gotten to it), and I'm so glad I read it. I'm really not much of a Poe fan, but I love the transformation Griffin gave The Fall of the House of Usher. This is a clever, distinct, and all together consuming story that will have you biting your nails by the end. I love all the twists so much that I'm literally writing a paper on it for one of my classes this semester.
I really struggled with giving this 5 hearts or 4.5. I decided to go with 4.5, because as much as I loved it, I did have some unanswered questions. There were some areas where the house did something weird, and I wanted a little more information. I know the house is supposed to be mysterious, but it was almost like I needed more information for it to feel mysterious and not random. This definitely wasn't a big problem (it's actually kind of hard to label something a problem when it's a reflection of how much more I wanted to read in the story after having so many great parts already), but I still feel the need to mention it.
Overall, this is an exciting and haunting story that has made me want to start reading Masque of the Red Death as soon as possible.
Great review! I hope to get to this one soon :) I LOVED LOVED Masque of red death and the sequel. Magnificent! I definitely recommend you read it. Have u read the original Poe story? How close was if to the original (if you've read it)? I really love poem he's one of my favorites and I think Griffin has a good take on the retellings. ;)
ReplyDeleteOhhhhhhh I'm really looking forward to this book! Another amazing review from you lovely ladies!! I'm so into creepy types right now for Halloween :-)
ReplyDeleteI am really really intrigued by this one and I'm quite inclined to get it, even if the other book by this author I tried I ended up putting it aside for a while (and still have to return to it), but I'm all for creepy reads these days!
ReplyDeleteGreat review Samantha!
This book has been getting quite the buzz. I'm glad that it lived up to the hype in your case, anyway. Just in time for Halloween. :)
ReplyDeleteYAYYYYY I was hoping you'd say it was supercreepyawesome! So excited about this one!
ReplyDeleteI'm such a huge chicken! I'm scared to even go to the restroom in the middle of the night.
ReplyDeleteWhen I do read creepy books, I only read them during the day time :)
I haven't gotten to do an in-depth read of the original yet, but it's hard to really get 'close' to it. The version I have is under 10 pages (so there's a whole lot to expand on instead of a whole lot to stay true to), and I believe the perspective is from an outsider visiting the house instead of Madeline. It definitely stays true to the themes though, and both endings are on the ambiguous side. I really need to read Masque soon though, especially since you enjoyed it so much. :)
ReplyDeleteTotally understand that mood! I'm feeling it myself! :)
ReplyDeleteI've heard a few reviewers mention that they didn't really like Masque of the Red Death, but they loved this one if that helps. Just based on the synopsizes, I definitely think this one sounds creepier. :)
ReplyDeleteYes! It was a wonderful almost-October read! :)
ReplyDeleteSupercreepyawesome fits it exactly. :) Hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteI feel you!!! I'm really intrigue by 'creepy' books, but I stay as far away from serious horror books as I can. I stay farrrr away from anything Stephen King (other than his non fiction book).
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It’s an enthralling story that
ReplyDeletewill keep readers engaged, horrified and hopeful throughout. With a
protagonist who is interesting and intriguing and oddly likable, one
readers will find themselves rooting for more and more as the story
progresses.
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It’s an enthralling story that will keep readers engaged, horrified and hopeful throughout. With a protagonist who is interesting and intriguing and oddly likable, one readers will find themselves rooting for more and more as the story progresses..
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That does help! Thank you, Samantha!
ReplyDelete