Scan barcode
hannahsophialin's review
4.0
The first in the Legends saga, Crane by Stacey Rourke is a chilling retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Hoping to start life over after a bad breakup, Ireland Crane moves from New York to the small town called Tarrytown. But a quiet life isn’t what she gets as she discovers the monster from the tale lives inside her; if she doesn’t learn to take control of the Headless Horseman, she’ll leave a trail of rolling heads and dead bodies behind her.
Written in a parallel structure, Crane alternates between Ichabod Crane in the 18th century and Ireland in the 21st century. Those not familiar with the original tale will not be confused as Rourke provides enough information through Ichabod’s eyes; though some information is changed to fit the plot, the major details remain the same. Although it may seem as though Rourke didn’t make much effort with the original, the novel has a great balance of entertainment and suspense. Each of the characters have traits that make them memorable in their own way: Ireland has a sassy personality despite being cast as a villain by the universe and Rip Van Wrinkle has endearing quirks despite waking up years later.
Crane is engaging and horrifying, perfect for readers who want a modernized version of Sleepy Hollow or a character struggling with good and evil inside her.
This review was originally posted on 60 Seconds Online Magazine
Written in a parallel structure, Crane alternates between Ichabod Crane in the 18th century and Ireland in the 21st century. Those not familiar with the original tale will not be confused as Rourke provides enough information through Ichabod’s eyes; though some information is changed to fit the plot, the major details remain the same. Although it may seem as though Rourke didn’t make much effort with the original, the novel has a great balance of entertainment and suspense. Each of the characters have traits that make them memorable in their own way: Ireland has a sassy personality despite being cast as a villain by the universe and Rip Van Wrinkle has endearing quirks despite waking up years later.
Crane is engaging and horrifying, perfect for readers who want a modernized version of Sleepy Hollow or a character struggling with good and evil inside her.
This review was originally posted on 60 Seconds Online Magazine
softrosemint's review
3.0
Cross-posted on Knizhnitsa
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am always excited to explore classic stories through a female viewpoint and integrate them into a female-driven narrative. In that sense, “Crane” did not disappoint. In fact, it delivered a wonderfully entertaining modern retelling of “Sleepy Hollow” that is action-packed as any male-led pieces of fiction.
Centuries after Ichabod Crane’s mysterious disappearance, another Crane arrives at Sleepy Hollow. Ireland Crane has moved from Manhattan in search of a new start. Alas, her arrival at the famous town coincides with the re-appearance of the legendary Horseman.
Now no one is safe. And is on Ireland, accompanied by the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle, to find out the truth behind the gruesome murders.
The Plot
The plot was fast paced and deliciously action packed. While the official blurb lets out a lot about the turns and twists the narrative takes, the story still manages to remain interesting and entertaining. It may not be the most original plot of the year - even though the concept is plenty intriguing - it is still gripping and highly enjoyable.
I liked that the narrative alternates between Ireland’s and Ichabod’s POV’s. The opportunity to present its own take on the famous story, works in favour of the novel. The balance between Ichabod’s and Ireland’s personalities gives every reader something to hang on to and look forward to.
The Setting
I found the book very atmospheric. Maybe I have seen too many TV shows set in creepy small towns, maybe it’s because of the “Sleepy Hollow” TV series, maybe the setting, attached to this sort of plot, has been overused. But the fact remains - the plot sits comfortably within the fictional world of Rourke’s Sleepy Hollow.
The Characters
I know quite a few people didn’t like Ireland but I feel like, at the end of the day, she is a good character. She is funny, sarcastic, and self-deprecating. She is a suitable female lead for a series that require her to be pro-active and self-sufficient; she is perfectly capable of surviving on her own and dealing with everything that comes at her. I am not saying that she is the best in the genre - just that she is a refreshing lead in a genre where authors either aim too high or not high enough.
The Verdict
“Crane” is a deliciously entertaining book for late summer days. Would it suit lovers of the horror genre? Unlikely. But if you are looking for an adventure that will fully grab your attention for a few hours, this is your book.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am always excited to explore classic stories through a female viewpoint and integrate them into a female-driven narrative. In that sense, “Crane” did not disappoint. In fact, it delivered a wonderfully entertaining modern retelling of “Sleepy Hollow” that is action-packed as any male-led pieces of fiction.
Centuries after Ichabod Crane’s mysterious disappearance, another Crane arrives at Sleepy Hollow. Ireland Crane has moved from Manhattan in search of a new start. Alas, her arrival at the famous town coincides with the re-appearance of the legendary Horseman.
Now no one is safe. And is on Ireland, accompanied by the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle, to find out the truth behind the gruesome murders.
The Plot
The plot was fast paced and deliciously action packed. While the official blurb lets out a lot about the turns and twists the narrative takes, the story still manages to remain interesting and entertaining. It may not be the most original plot of the year - even though the concept is plenty intriguing - it is still gripping and highly enjoyable.
I liked that the narrative alternates between Ireland’s and Ichabod’s POV’s. The opportunity to present its own take on the famous story, works in favour of the novel. The balance between Ichabod’s and Ireland’s personalities gives every reader something to hang on to and look forward to.
The Setting
I found the book very atmospheric. Maybe I have seen too many TV shows set in creepy small towns, maybe it’s because of the “Sleepy Hollow” TV series, maybe the setting, attached to this sort of plot, has been overused. But the fact remains - the plot sits comfortably within the fictional world of Rourke’s Sleepy Hollow.
The Characters
I know quite a few people didn’t like Ireland but I feel like, at the end of the day, she is a good character. She is funny, sarcastic, and self-deprecating. She is a suitable female lead for a series that require her to be pro-active and self-sufficient; she is perfectly capable of surviving on her own and dealing with everything that comes at her. I am not saying that she is the best in the genre - just that she is a refreshing lead in a genre where authors either aim too high or not high enough.
The Verdict
“Crane” is a deliciously entertaining book for late summer days. Would it suit lovers of the horror genre? Unlikely. But if you are looking for an adventure that will fully grab your attention for a few hours, this is your book.
laurenamanda315's review
3.0
I started this book back in October with all intentions of finishing it before Halloween. As you see that did not happen. I enjoyed the book it was not my favorite and I can't exactly explain why. The beginning intrigued me and the end did but the middle kind of just carried on in my opinion. I finished the book with no intention of finishing the series but I might give the series another chance at another point but right now I have no plans on finishing the series.
see_sadie_read's review
3.0
3.5
Pretty good. I finished the book still confused about some of the hows and whys of both the Horseman and the ghosts' reenactments, it's a bit hand-wavy, but I enjoyed my time with the characters (Ireland more than Ichabod). The loves are both a tad too insta-love for me, but there were hints that there might be a reason for this (some draw) that will be revealed in future books, so I'll forgive it. The dialogue and writing were witty and the narrator did a nice job with them. I liked her voice for the modern characters a lot more than the historic ones, but I think some of the reason might have been because they were written to be more formal (fewer contractions and such). All in all, enjoyable and I look forward to more. Karen Krause did well with the narration.
Pretty good. I finished the book still confused about some of the hows and whys of both the Horseman and the ghosts' reenactments, it's a bit hand-wavy, but I enjoyed my time with the characters (Ireland more than Ichabod). The loves are both a tad too insta-love for me, but there were hints that there might be a reason for this (some draw) that will be revealed in future books, so I'll forgive it. The dialogue and writing were witty and the narrator did a nice job with them. I liked her voice for the modern characters a lot more than the historic ones, but I think some of the reason might have been because they were written to be more formal (fewer contractions and such). All in all, enjoyable and I look forward to more. Karen Krause did well with the narration.
ctorretta's review
4.0
Being a fan of everything that I've ever seen about Ichabod Crane and Sleepy Hollow I suspected that I would enjoy this greatly! I was fabulously not disappointed!
This is a variation and a completely new take on an old story. I wouldn't let that scare you away. The old characters are still there but this is now set to today and how the story affects Ireland Crane.
I have to say, I love the characters. I have so many highlights in my Kindle and I wanted to highlight even more! They are all quite different but at the same time they are all snarky or funny in their own ways. In the middle of battle I always found myself laughing! This also, of course, attributes to Stacey's fantastic writing and world building. Everything was believable so I didn't have to push to understand what the characters were going through and I completely understood when a character broke out in a one liner.
This also helped the ebb and flow of the book. It can't be all blood and horseman, there has to be something to the characters and to the storyline. Again, she built this beautifully!
If I were to pick a favorite character I would have to say I loved them all. I was quite curious what was going to happen to everyone. Even the horseman! He is a great villain and I love great villains!
The only slight downside for me was twofold. Firstly, it is a bit of a mystery and I found myself getting tired even though I really wanted to continue reading! The second was about 75% through and there is a redundant portion of the story. I understand why it was happening but I was on the edge of my seat by that point and that part kind of slowed me down. What happened with Ichabod and Katrina at that part though was fabulous and I actually liked how THAT ended. Whew... this is hard without spoilers!
So... all in all the storyline was fantastic. The characters were built brilliantly and left me wanting more! I'm glad I already have Raven or I might be having a book hangover!
In short: Not too gruesome. There's some blood but not too much. The storyline is definitely worth reading! Great for the upcoming fall season!
This is a variation and a completely new take on an old story. I wouldn't let that scare you away. The old characters are still there but this is now set to today and how the story affects Ireland Crane.
I have to say, I love the characters. I have so many highlights in my Kindle and I wanted to highlight even more! They are all quite different but at the same time they are all snarky or funny in their own ways. In the middle of battle I always found myself laughing! This also, of course, attributes to Stacey's fantastic writing and world building. Everything was believable so I didn't have to push to understand what the characters were going through and I completely understood when a character broke out in a one liner.
This also helped the ebb and flow of the book. It can't be all blood and horseman, there has to be something to the characters and to the storyline. Again, she built this beautifully!
If I were to pick a favorite character I would have to say I loved them all. I was quite curious what was going to happen to everyone. Even the horseman! He is a great villain and I love great villains!
The only slight downside for me was twofold. Firstly, it is a bit of a mystery and I found myself getting tired even though I really wanted to continue reading! The second was about 75% through and there is a redundant portion of the story. I understand why it was happening but I was on the edge of my seat by that point and that part kind of slowed me down. What happened with Ichabod and Katrina at that part though was fabulous and I actually liked how THAT ended. Whew... this is hard without spoilers!
So... all in all the storyline was fantastic. The characters were built brilliantly and left me wanting more! I'm glad I already have Raven or I might be having a book hangover!
In short: Not too gruesome. There's some blood but not too much. The storyline is definitely worth reading! Great for the upcoming fall season!
witchyficbindery's review
4.0
I've had my eye on Crane ever since I saw that AMAZING cover! I couldn't really figure out what the super weird, painted face had to do with the Headless Horseman, but I knew it was probably good. I'm a sucker for a good retelling and this one was truly unique!
Right off the bat it's obvious that this is not a normal retelling of the classic myth. This is primarily the story of Ireland Crane, a distant relative of Ichabod himself. She's had a rough breakup and moves to Sleepy Hollow to make a new start for herself as a guidance counselor at the local school, but nothing goes quite as she planned.
I really liked Ireland's attitude immediately. She has kind of a "meh" attitude that I can really identify with. Like, "well, this happened and I can't do anything about that so I'll just crack a sarcastic joke and move on." She's a strong character who rolls with the punches and doesn't take crap from anyone. Ireland's love interest, Noah, was not really in the book enough for me to make a real judgement call on him, but I like what I've seen so far. He seems to be very caring and accepting and I can't find much fault with what I know about him at this point. I really hope he'll be a little more fleshed out in future books!
The characters in the flashbacks were also really great! Because they had almost half the book to themselves, I felt like I really got to know them. I didn't care very much for Katrina, but I think that had a lot to do with the time period, to be honest. I loved Ichabod! He was not what we've been led to believe Ichabod Crane is and I really enjoyed his no-nonsense approach. Rip Van Winkle was an interesting addition who I also greatly enjoyed! He was hilarious at places, but still a serious, main player in the story. I do wish there had been more of the book devoted to Ichabod's story though!
The world building was good too, but I wish I had felt a little more dread when the town was being established. It felt a little off somehow, but I never got the feeling of gloom and total creepiness I would expect from Sleepy Hollow.
I can't say too much about the story without spoiling it, but suffice it to say I definitely enjoyed this unique take on a retelling! Nothing was quite as it seemed and there was plenty of mystery in this story that's already so well known to keep it fresh and interesting! I'm definitely planning to read book two and find out what happens next in the saga!
//I compared this book to the movie Sleepy Hollow on my blog as part of a feature called Paper vs. Popcorn//
dtaylorbooks's review
3.0
Now, when I read something about Sleepy Hollow, I can’t help but picture the show, with Tom Mison as Ichabod Crane. Granted not a bad image to have in my head but it can get in the way, especially when the two don’t have too much to do with each other outside of the Sleepy Hollow legend. With that being said I think Rourke did something unique with the tale while still holding on to its roots. I wasn’t on board with the voice for a portion of it but ultimately it had me interested enough to want to read the sequel.
The story timeline hops between post-Revolutionary Sleepy Hollow and current Sleepy Hollow as events unfold that mirror each other. I think Rourke did a great job with the times and I think the historical portion of the story was my favorite out of the two. The voice was good and I think she did a good job of portraying Crane as a nominally meek school teacher who’s forced into a crappy situation. It did irk me that Washington Irving was called Irv. It felt disingenuous to the time but it was something I was able to overlook. What I really liked was how the historical portion felt more like a tale, a scary story told in the dark. It was creepy and set a great tone that carried over into the present day story.
I was less than impressed with that portion of it and I think that was in large part due to the voice. It was just trying so hard to be quirky and snarky that it was overwhelming. At times it was just downright inappropriate for the situation and it came off just so contrived. It even made me cringe at times to read it. I also felt Ireland was a bit much as a character. Not necessarily unlikeable but she was a bit over the top with per personality. Again I think a lot of that played into her voice since the story was limited to her POV when it was in current time. It wasn’t bad enough to detract from the story but I did find it overwhelming and was grateful when the timeline switched to Ichabod’s time. It was a nice reprieve from Ireland’s overbearing personality.
I liked how both stories came to intersect at the end and how the horseman was played out. It’s a different spin on how that whole ghost story works. I liked how Rourke handled it. I didn’t find it over the top and I think it actually leveled Ireland out a little. Especially toward the end I didn’t find her voice so insufferable because she was dealing with the ghostly Hessian. The jury’s still out on Rip. Very Tom Mison/Crane-esque being in stasis and waking up hundreds of years later to thwart the Hessian. His narcolepsy was annoying and I wasn’t sure of its purpose other than to provide ill-timed comic relief. He was a source of information but the fact that Ireland let him fester in her house for an extended amount of time and then got cranky when he showered was just off. She was snarky, on the edge of nasty, to him for a lot of the story but she really didn’t go out of her way to help him at all. But at the same time demanded a lot of him, which he willingly gave. It was a bit of a crappy situation for him and I hope he grows a bit more of a spine in the sequel.
And I would like to read the sequel eventually. I’m not in a rush to but there’s enough intrigue and interesting story here to get me through another book. I would just hope that Ireland’s toned it down a bit. If I have to deal with her voice in any greater quantity than what CRANE gave me I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle it.
3
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story timeline hops between post-Revolutionary Sleepy Hollow and current Sleepy Hollow as events unfold that mirror each other. I think Rourke did a great job with the times and I think the historical portion of the story was my favorite out of the two. The voice was good and I think she did a good job of portraying Crane as a nominally meek school teacher who’s forced into a crappy situation. It did irk me that Washington Irving was called Irv. It felt disingenuous to the time but it was something I was able to overlook. What I really liked was how the historical portion felt more like a tale, a scary story told in the dark. It was creepy and set a great tone that carried over into the present day story.
I was less than impressed with that portion of it and I think that was in large part due to the voice. It was just trying so hard to be quirky and snarky that it was overwhelming. At times it was just downright inappropriate for the situation and it came off just so contrived. It even made me cringe at times to read it. I also felt Ireland was a bit much as a character. Not necessarily unlikeable but she was a bit over the top with per personality. Again I think a lot of that played into her voice since the story was limited to her POV when it was in current time. It wasn’t bad enough to detract from the story but I did find it overwhelming and was grateful when the timeline switched to Ichabod’s time. It was a nice reprieve from Ireland’s overbearing personality.
I liked how both stories came to intersect at the end and how the horseman was played out. It’s a different spin on how that whole ghost story works. I liked how Rourke handled it. I didn’t find it over the top and I think it actually leveled Ireland out a little. Especially toward the end I didn’t find her voice so insufferable because she was dealing with the ghostly Hessian. The jury’s still out on Rip. Very Tom Mison/Crane-esque being in stasis and waking up hundreds of years later to thwart the Hessian. His narcolepsy was annoying and I wasn’t sure of its purpose other than to provide ill-timed comic relief. He was a source of information but the fact that Ireland let him fester in her house for an extended amount of time and then got cranky when he showered was just off. She was snarky, on the edge of nasty, to him for a lot of the story but she really didn’t go out of her way to help him at all. But at the same time demanded a lot of him, which he willingly gave. It was a bit of a crappy situation for him and I hope he grows a bit more of a spine in the sequel.
And I would like to read the sequel eventually. I’m not in a rush to but there’s enough intrigue and interesting story here to get me through another book. I would just hope that Ireland’s toned it down a bit. If I have to deal with her voice in any greater quantity than what CRANE gave me I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle it.
3
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
shubba_the_emoreader's review
3.0
My Mini Thoughts
Everyone has heard of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Whether it's the story or the movie, you have heard of it. I loved the movie and I have read the story but I can't really remember all the details but I remember the main plot. This book takes the legend and makes it into something new and twisted.
Review Link http://totally-bookalicious.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/book-review-crane-legend-saga-1-by.html
Overall Even though I found the start of the book a bit of a slow starter and I wasn't a big fan of the character Ireland, I did end up really enjoying the story. I loved how the author has put her own twisted spin on the original "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" making it fresh and unique. I am very looking forward to seeing how the rest of the series will continue.
Everyone has heard of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Whether it's the story or the movie, you have heard of it. I loved the movie and I have read the story but I can't really remember all the details but I remember the main plot. This book takes the legend and makes it into something new and twisted.
Review Link http://totally-bookalicious.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/book-review-crane-legend-saga-1-by.html
Overall Even though I found the start of the book a bit of a slow starter and I wasn't a big fan of the character Ireland, I did end up really enjoying the story. I loved how the author has put her own twisted spin on the original "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" making it fresh and unique. I am very looking forward to seeing how the rest of the series will continue.
beautyandherbooks's review
4.0
This book was a really good story on Ichabod Crane and the Headless horseman.
It just didnt have ENOUGH excitement in it for me.
I loved the twists it had on the story of the legend.
It starts with Ireland Crane coming to the town of sleepy hollow, The very next day after moving in her landlord is beheaded and that's where it all changes for Ireland.
As she changes the alarm code one night she discovers a secret room in her basement which has homed a man named rip for centuries. He was the original ichabod's friend and war buddy.
From there they work together realize that Ireland is actually the headless horseman and history begins to repeat itself.
Ireland must find Katrina's soul before time runs out.
In the end Ireland and rip start a new journey to find the person responsible for her tattoo and link to the headless horseman.
I'm starting to read Raven book two in the legends saga.
I hope it to be more exciting than the first.
It just didnt have ENOUGH excitement in it for me.
I loved the twists it had on the story of the legend.
It starts with Ireland Crane coming to the town of sleepy hollow, The very next day after moving in her landlord is beheaded and that's where it all changes for Ireland.
As she changes the alarm code one night she discovers a secret room in her basement which has homed a man named rip for centuries. He was the original ichabod's friend and war buddy.
From there they work together realize that Ireland is actually the headless horseman and history begins to repeat itself.
Ireland must find Katrina's soul before time runs out.
In the end Ireland and rip start a new journey to find the person responsible for her tattoo and link to the headless horseman.
I'm starting to read Raven book two in the legends saga.
I hope it to be more exciting than the first.