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aprilsarah's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely fell in love with this book. Everything in it really. Rosemary Clement-Moore is fast becoming one of my favorite authors.
It is true that this story follows a lot of the standard YA supernatural trops, but, in part, that is why I loved it. Place a girl in an old time-y setting with supernatural stuff going on, and you have won my heart.
It even managed to make me completely frustrated and tear up. I count that as a win.
It is true that this story follows a lot of the standard YA supernatural trops, but, in part, that is why I loved it. Place a girl in an old time-y setting with supernatural stuff going on, and you have won my heart.
It even managed to make me completely frustrated and tear up. I count that as a win.
trogdor19's review against another edition
5.0
Very classy for a YA paranormal. The attention to detail shows in the grace of the wording. Spot-on viewpoint, complete with appropriate ballet analogies. Skillful shading in of the paranormal stuff at just the right rate to be believable. The imagery was so good that the whole book played in my head like a movie. This author is fantastic, and I'm sorry I waited so long to try one of her books!
itsamyk's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I did Texas Gothic, which I loved. The Splendor Falls drags in places and I have to echo what a few other reviewers have said, way too much focus on the dog. Way, way too much. Having said that, however, I look forward to reading future books by the author.
sophiesstories's review against another edition
5.0
So far, AMAZING!!! and also, i hate shawn. he's annoying.
bookishdea's review against another edition
4.0
I have a thing for the Southern Gothic, YA, and mysteries. Oh, and I like novels about really talented people (in the arts) who either continue on in their talent, or have it taken away from them and have to deal. So in essence, this book was just what I wanted.
My problem with the book was that it was very slow moving at first. There's a lot of set-up. It takes awhile for the plot to get moving, because it's just hinted at. I would have really liked to know more about the family history, besides what is touched upon (like whatever happened to Jacob Maddox).
Once I got a bit more than halfway in, things really started to move. I enjoyed it a lot, and I liked the magical aspect. This wasn't just a ghost story -- the ghosts actually played less of a role than expected.
I debated whether I should give this book 3 or 4 stars, but finally went with 4 because of the subjects and the ending. It was very long (over 500 pages) and while it's not a bad thing, it probably could have been shorter and therefore moved along quicker. This was also a book that I didn't have problems setting down...which isn't really a good sign. On the other hand, I really did like the characters and story line, so I don't mind giving it 4 stars.
My problem with the book was that it was very slow moving at first. There's a lot of set-up. It takes awhile for the plot to get moving, because it's just hinted at. I would have really liked to know more about the family history, besides what is touched upon (like whatever happened to Jacob Maddox).
Once I got a bit more than halfway in, things really started to move. I enjoyed it a lot, and I liked the magical aspect. This wasn't just a ghost story -- the ghosts actually played less of a role than expected.
I debated whether I should give this book 3 or 4 stars, but finally went with 4 because of the subjects and the ending. It was very long (over 500 pages) and while it's not a bad thing, it probably could have been shorter and therefore moved along quicker. This was also a book that I didn't have problems setting down...which isn't really a good sign. On the other hand, I really did like the characters and story line, so I don't mind giving it 4 stars.
thompson3's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book! Fantasy, realistic fiction, and romance wrapped up beautifully.
bookishliz_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
inconceivably's review against another edition
4.0
From the beginning, Sylvie has a very strong voice.
It's funny how so much can hinge on one missed step. Not funny ha-ha. Funny that the moment that should have been the pinnacle of my seventeen years on this planet ends up making me famous for the entirely wrong reason. So I really don't mean funny so much as tragically ironic.
That is an early passage from the book that illustrates what a strong and perceptive personality she has. She also has a wonderful sense of humor, using phrases like the toes of my right foot were swollen like fat pink cocktail weenies and she feeds me like I'm an underweight turkey in September. There were so many little clever descriptions and asides like that, I could keep quoting for a long time. She is by far the most developed and fleshed out character, most of the other characters suffer from being slightly to extremely one-dimensional.
Anyway, back to the star of the show. She was more than a little petulant at first, but I found it more amusing than annoying. The fact that she had so many misconceptions and assumptions about the South made me laugh. The thought of her relatives opening an inn that would be at least two hours away from the closest airport was unbelievable. The fact that the people that stayed there would come for such mundane and hopelessly rural activities such as antique shopping and hunting? Frightening!
I have experience with this type of attitude being from Oklahoma. I’ve been asked everything from “Have you ever seen a tumbleweed?” to “Wow, Oklahoma huh? So do people really live in teepees?” (By the way: yes I have, and no we don't.)
The irresistable South (and the irresistable leading man) quickly grow on her though, and she starts embracing her roots and discovering things about her ancestors. I don't want to give anything away on the supernatural end, because the story is pretty slow for awhile as it slowly builds up and Sylvie discovers what is going on. If I explained it, you would be pretty bored for awhile. That is the only gripe I have with the book actually, it just moved too slow. For about the first two hundred pages I didn't mind, because I loved being in the South. But it was the middle section that really lagged for me. Don't let that stop you from reading this though, because if you stick with it the story overall really is very good.
So, as far as the leading man -Rhys- goes...I definitely enjoyed his part in the book. Like I mentioned before, his character wasn't as well developed as Sylvie's, but he still definitely had a voice of his own. As to his name-that is pronounced "Reese" right? Because saying it "rice?" Not sexy. Just sayin'. Anyway, he is mysterious and Welsh and pretty darn wonderful.
Far and away the best thing about this book is the writing. Rosemary Clement-Moore is a wonderful descriptive writer, and she brings the South to life in a wonderful way. It is one of my favorite settings and she does it proud. She was also great at writing tension and chemistry between the characters. Not only Sylvie and Rhys, but just the all the characters' interactions in general.
So, overall I definitely recommend giving this a read if you'd like to escape to Alabama for awhile.
It's funny how so much can hinge on one missed step. Not funny ha-ha. Funny that the moment that should have been the pinnacle of my seventeen years on this planet ends up making me famous for the entirely wrong reason. So I really don't mean funny so much as tragically ironic.
That is an early passage from the book that illustrates what a strong and perceptive personality she has. She also has a wonderful sense of humor, using phrases like the toes of my right foot were swollen like fat pink cocktail weenies and she feeds me like I'm an underweight turkey in September. There were so many little clever descriptions and asides like that, I could keep quoting for a long time. She is by far the most developed and fleshed out character, most of the other characters suffer from being slightly to extremely one-dimensional.
Anyway, back to the star of the show. She was more than a little petulant at first, but I found it more amusing than annoying. The fact that she had so many misconceptions and assumptions about the South made me laugh. The thought of her relatives opening an inn that would be at least two hours away from the closest airport was unbelievable. The fact that the people that stayed there would come for such mundane and hopelessly rural activities such as antique shopping and hunting? Frightening!
I have experience with this type of attitude being from Oklahoma. I’ve been asked everything from “Have you ever seen a tumbleweed?” to “Wow, Oklahoma huh? So do people really live in teepees?” (By the way: yes I have, and no we don't.)
The irresistable South (and the irresistable leading man) quickly grow on her though, and she starts embracing her roots and discovering things about her ancestors. I don't want to give anything away on the supernatural end, because the story is pretty slow for awhile as it slowly builds up and Sylvie discovers what is going on. If I explained it, you would be pretty bored for awhile. That is the only gripe I have with the book actually, it just moved too slow. For about the first two hundred pages I didn't mind, because I loved being in the South. But it was the middle section that really lagged for me. Don't let that stop you from reading this though, because if you stick with it the story overall really is very good.
So, as far as the leading man -Rhys- goes...I definitely enjoyed his part in the book. Like I mentioned before, his character wasn't as well developed as Sylvie's, but he still definitely had a voice of his own. As to his name-that is pronounced "Reese" right? Because saying it "rice?" Not sexy. Just sayin'. Anyway, he is mysterious and Welsh and pretty darn wonderful.
Far and away the best thing about this book is the writing. Rosemary Clement-Moore is a wonderful descriptive writer, and she brings the South to life in a wonderful way. It is one of my favorite settings and she does it proud. She was also great at writing tension and chemistry between the characters. Not only Sylvie and Rhys, but just the all the characters' interactions in general.
So, overall I definitely recommend giving this a read if you'd like to escape to Alabama for awhile.