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reader44ever's review
4.0
This story was really pretty excellent, and I sort-of laughed twice and cried three times, but for whatever reason, it's not hitting "that was amazing!" levels for me.
(Though I suspect that one reason is because I can't see myself ever wanting to reread this story.)
But I am very glad to have taken a chance on it. (This was a book that I saw displayed cover-facing-out on my library's New Fiction Books display and checked out solely because I thought the cover looked interesting, especially when combined with the title and author's name.) :-)
I didn't know what this story was about at the time I checked it out, and I didn't read the description or anything about it before I read it. So I am very pleased with how enjoyable this story was. :-)
This is the story of Alice Dartle, a 22-year-old medium and clairvoyant, and Tomás Cordero, a 30-32-year-old tailor haunted by an evil spirit. It is set in Florida (Cassadaga and Ybor City), mostly during the month of January 1920 (the final chapter took place on February 1, 1920).
I am pleased to report that I always knew that this was an historical story. Unlike another book I read recently that was set in the 1930s, this one was always very clear that it was 1920.
(Though I found it a little confusing how accepting everyone was of the "colored" concierge. No overt racism was ever expressed, which seemed slightly incongruous to me. Especially seeing as how yesterday's book was set in the 1920s through to the 1960s and racism was alive in the U.S. - realistically, unfortunately - in that story.)
So that was one thing that "sounded off" for me. :-(
But the story as told by our two protagonists, Alice and Tomás, was otherwise pretty great. I was a little concerned at one point, as it seemed kind of slow in parts of the first 75 (give or take 15) pages. I was afraid my lack of sleep these past few days would overtake me and I'd have to pause for a nap. Thankfully, though, the action picked up and, when combined with the fact that I started doing reading sprints with friends in one of my groups, I never needed to pause for sleep. :-)
So this was a fun story. I enjoyed howAlice, Tomás, and the others vanquished the evil spirit - Heinrich Kramer - in the end. Though it sort of took me aback that the three spirits that came to their aid were "normal, everyday" people from Tomás's life: his deceased neighbor, employee, and wife, to be specific. I think I was expecting archangels or someone...just someone more.
So that also seemed slightly "off" to me. (I'm thinking that maybe four stars IS the right rating from me, after all.)
But I mentioned humor and tears? Humorous lines - for me - were on pages 4 and 74. And I found myself crying after reading lines or scenes on pages 67-70, 144, and 316. I'll share. . .
First, on page 4 in Chapter 1 (an Alice chapter), Alice had this thought:
Next up, on page 74 in Chapter 7 (another Alice chapter; she was lead in all of the odd-numbered chapters), Alice shared this thought with us:
And I cried three times. Three! With tears falling down my face each time!
The first time I cried was on pages 67-70 in Chapter 7, when Alice was giving her first open reading. All I'll say about that is that the spirits she communed with really tore at my heartstrings. :-)
Next was on page 144 in Chapter 12 (a Tomás chapter; he had the lead in all of the even-numbered chapters): Tomás was in his kitchenafter the fire that consumed his neighbor's house. He had been given her little chihuahua, who survived the blaze. (The neighbor was missing; we learned in Chapter 14 that she died in the fire.) And when little Felipe dragged his mango box, with pillow, into the kitchen to rest by Tomás's feet. . . That scene, which closed out Chapter 12, put me in tears.
And lastly, I cried on page 316, at the close of Chapter 26, when Tomás sharedthe things left behind after the spirits of his neighbor, employee, and wife vanquished the evil spirit: And I sobbed. I think the blame for those tears can be placed on the dog collar. :'(
In sum, this was an excellent story that was slightly diminished by the three complaints I made above. So four stars, meaning "a very good story that I really enjoyed," is the right rating from me. :-)
Oh! One more thing: I was slightly disappointed that Alice and Tomásdid not appear to be headed for romance. And instead, a romance seemed to be blossoming between Alice and Silvio. (!!!) And even though those latter two seem to be closer in age. . . That really seemed to come out of left field. :-(
So again, four-very-good-stars is the right rating from me.
(Though I suspect that one reason is because I can't see myself ever wanting to reread this story.)
But I am very glad to have taken a chance on it. (This was a book that I saw displayed cover-facing-out on my library's New Fiction Books display and checked out solely because I thought the cover looked interesting, especially when combined with the title and author's name.) :-)
I didn't know what this story was about at the time I checked it out, and I didn't read the description or anything about it before I read it. So I am very pleased with how enjoyable this story was. :-)
This is the story of Alice Dartle, a 22-year-old medium and clairvoyant, and Tomás Cordero, a 30-32-year-old tailor haunted by an evil spirit. It is set in Florida (Cassadaga and Ybor City), mostly during the month of January 1920 (the final chapter took place on February 1, 1920).
I am pleased to report that I always knew that this was an historical story. Unlike another book I read recently that was set in the 1930s, this one was always very clear that it was 1920.
(Though I found it a little confusing how accepting everyone was of the "colored" concierge. No overt racism was ever expressed, which seemed slightly incongruous to me. Especially seeing as how yesterday's book was set in the 1920s through to the 1960s and racism was alive in the U.S. - realistically, unfortunately - in that story.)
So that was one thing that "sounded off" for me. :-(
But the story as told by our two protagonists, Alice and Tomás, was otherwise pretty great. I was a little concerned at one point, as it seemed kind of slow in parts of the first 75 (give or take 15) pages. I was afraid my lack of sleep these past few days would overtake me and I'd have to pause for a nap. Thankfully, though, the action picked up and, when combined with the fact that I started doing reading sprints with friends in one of my groups, I never needed to pause for sleep. :-)
So this was a fun story. I enjoyed how
So that also seemed slightly "off" to me. (I'm thinking that maybe four stars IS the right rating from me, after all.)
But I mentioned humor and tears? Humorous lines - for me - were on pages 4 and 74. And I found myself crying after reading lines or scenes on pages 67-70, 144, and 316. I'll share. . .
First, on page 4 in Chapter 1 (an Alice chapter), Alice had this thought:
. . . Mother said it was proof enough right there that I was crazy, if I'd turn down a good-looking boy with a fortune and a fondness for a girl with some meat on her bones, but Daddy shrugged and told me there's a lid for every pot, so if Harvey isn't mine, I ought to look elsewhere. The world is full of lids.:-)
Next up, on page 74 in Chapter 7 (another Alice chapter; she was lead in all of the odd-numbered chapters), Alice shared this thought with us:
. . . Mabel frowned sternly at me, as if this were no time to be noshing on sandwiches and tea---but she was wrong about that. There's no greater time to eat then when one has freshly awakened from a sudden faint at the hands of peculiar spirits. That's what I always say. Or that's what I'm going to say, from this day forward.*snicker, snicker* :-)
And I cried three times. Three! With tears falling down my face each time!
The first time I cried was on pages 67-70 in Chapter 7, when Alice was giving her first open reading. All I'll say about that is that the spirits she communed with really tore at my heartstrings. :-)
Next was on page 144 in Chapter 12 (a Tomás chapter; he had the lead in all of the even-numbered chapters): Tomás was in his kitchen
. . .I resisted the urge to awaken the small dog and pull him into my lap.
I sat there beside him instead, petting him just to feel him breathe.
And lastly, I cried on page 316, at the close of Chapter 26, when Tomás shared
But in the center of the room, the site of the explosion (or whatever it was), an enormous black stain was burned into the floor. At the center of the stain were three small gifts, left behind.
A dog collar. A silk pocket-handkerchief. A bouquet.
In sum, this was an excellent story that was slightly diminished by the three complaints I made above. So four stars, meaning "a very good story that I really enjoyed," is the right rating from me. :-)
Oh! One more thing: I was slightly disappointed that Alice and Tomás
So again, four-very-good-stars is the right rating from me.
elizabethrichey's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story of a young psychic at a spiritualist community in 1920s Florida and a widower in Ybor City who are drawn together by dreams of fire.
ctgt's review against another edition
4.0
An enjoyable story of love, loss, and acceptance with a little witchiness thrown in.
Tomas has recently returned form The Great War (where he operated one of the new flame throwers) only to find that his wife, the love of his life has died of the flu. A series of small unexplainable fires leave some intriguing clues about the continued presence of his wife. Alice has traveled to Cassadega, Florida to join the community of pyschics and clairvoyants to explore her own gift of the supernatural. After the fires increase in intensity with tragic results, Tomas decides to travel to Cassadega to meet with Alice hoping she can provide answers.
8/10
Tomas has recently returned form The Great War (where he operated one of the new flame throwers) only to find that his wife, the love of his life has died of the flu. A series of small unexplainable fires leave some intriguing clues about the continued presence of his wife. Alice has traveled to Cassadega, Florida to join the community of pyschics and clairvoyants to explore her own gift of the supernatural. After the fires increase in intensity with tragic results, Tomas decides to travel to Cassadega to meet with Alice hoping she can provide answers.
8/10
etchlings's review against another edition
5.0
This has a lot of the best feelings of the Eden Moore trilogy all in one novel. It cries while it smiles, burrows deep, and fills you with a sort of aching hope.
kleonard's review
3.0
A fine but often repetitive first entry into what appears to be a series-in-waiting. Too bad some of the most interesting characters are killed off so early.
antij's review
3.0
Good book, engaging characters, but it took a little long for the plotlines to converge. When they finally do, the plot gets cooking (pun vaguely intended), but by then the book is nearly over.
stackwoodlibrary's review
4.0
1) Cassadaga, FL is a real place. Cool.
2) Here's a nifty review from NPR (I'm not much of a reviewer, let's be honest): http://www.npr.org/2017/04/11/521959808/brimstone-burns-brightly-despite-a-few-flaws
3) I basically agree with that review, thus the inclusion.
4) Fave quotes:
When Alice asks of a senior spiritualist: "Do we believe in saints?"
"Certainly we believe in people who've manifested extraordinary abilities throughout the ages. If they honed their skills through religion, we are prepared to respect their expertise. Who are we to say which path to grace is correct? How can we even know how many paths exist?"
[lovely tolerance, yes?]
"We seek the very Highest Good, to the best of our understanding - and we trust Him to honor our intent. Or Her. Or some combination of the two, or neither one. It's impossible to guess the gender of the universe."
[So mote it be.]
2) Here's a nifty review from NPR (I'm not much of a reviewer, let's be honest): http://www.npr.org/2017/04/11/521959808/brimstone-burns-brightly-despite-a-few-flaws
3) I basically agree with that review, thus the inclusion.
4) Fave quotes:
When Alice asks of a senior spiritualist: "Do we believe in saints?"
"Certainly we believe in people who've manifested extraordinary abilities throughout the ages. If they honed their skills through religion, we are prepared to respect their expertise. Who are we to say which path to grace is correct? How can we even know how many paths exist?"
[lovely tolerance, yes?]
"We seek the very Highest Good, to the best of our understanding - and we trust Him to honor our intent. Or Her. Or some combination of the two, or neither one. It's impossible to guess the gender of the universe."
[So mote it be.]
squidbag's review
3.0
Somewhat hard to get into for me, but still worth it. I suspect I am spoiled by Priest's Clockwork Century books, which have a frequent caper/roller coaster feel to them. This one slowly heats up, building a mood and then intensifying that mood, only really coming to the climax after somewhat exhausting not only the reader's capacity for sorrow, but also patience. Once the hurdles of a slow build and skeptical questioning are overcome, this is a fun read with well-developed characters and an emotionally moving payoff set in a richly detailed place that'll make you want to visit. Unless you're not partial to Florida. Either way, worth the read, and especially a temptation for those who like their slow-build scariness done gothic-style and not shying away from the horrors.
jameseckman's review
2.0
This was a hard book to finish, the characters felt a bit flat and there was too much readily available magic for something somewhat historical based. Also missing was the humor, dark as it can be sometimes of her other novels, the author has better works in print.
Cassadaga is a real place, though it may have seen better days based on my google drive-by.
Cassadaga is a real place, though it may have seen better days based on my google drive-by.
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