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kristinasshelves's review
4.0
3.5 stars, rounded up. I was planning to un-haul this book after reading it, but it's earned a spot on my shelves.
I was presently surprised at how much I enjoyed this YA historical fiction story steeped in the supernatural. Set in Cambridge, England in 1901, the story opens with a séance put on by a con-woman. Kate, an orphan, is employed as the specter during the ceremony, but finds herself fired and on a new path. She travels to the home of Mr. Thompson, the man she feels responsible for having her fired. There she meets Asher, an American boy who has family ties to the Thompsons. The trio is quickly rounded out by Elise, the Thompson's niece who has been sent to their home after contracting a disease similar to epilepsy and for behaving in a way that is not approved by her parents.
The trio find themselves involved in a mystery when several bodies are found under bizarre circumstances. This is much less a whodunnit as it is an exploration of attitudes toward the supernatural in the early 20th century, which I found refreshingly different. The young people discover more about The Metaphysical Society, of which they all have some connection. As someone who was fascinated by paranormal experiences and history as a teenager, and while my beliefs have drastically changed, I loved the historical aspect of this novel! There was discussion of early theories of telepathy, spiritual realms, electroshock therapy and more.
I was presently surprised at how much I enjoyed this YA historical fiction story steeped in the supernatural. Set in Cambridge, England in 1901, the story opens with a séance put on by a con-woman. Kate, an orphan, is employed as the specter during the ceremony, but finds herself fired and on a new path. She travels to the home of Mr. Thompson, the man she feels responsible for having her fired. There she meets Asher, an American boy who has family ties to the Thompsons. The trio is quickly rounded out by Elise, the Thompson's niece who has been sent to their home after contracting a disease similar to epilepsy and for behaving in a way that is not approved by her parents.
The trio find themselves involved in a mystery when several bodies are found under bizarre circumstances. This is much less a whodunnit as it is an exploration of attitudes toward the supernatural in the early 20th century, which I found refreshingly different. The young people discover more about The Metaphysical Society, of which they all have some connection. As someone who was fascinated by paranormal experiences and history as a teenager, and while my beliefs have drastically changed, I loved the historical aspect of this novel! There was discussion of early theories of telepathy, spiritual realms, electroshock therapy and more.
budswillberoses's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.75
I definitely enjoyed reading this book which is not something I expected from a paranormal young adult novel (which I have learned to have low expectations towards)! I liked that it forshadowed enough that I wasn’t upset with the twists, but his enough that I was still mildly surprised. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it focused more on character development and less on character reveals, but that is more of a personal preference rather than an actual critique.
eviebookish's review
5.0
Set in 1901 Cambridge, England, The Dark Between is a beautifully written and delightfully atmospheric Gothic murder mystery that follows the adventures of three extraordinary teenagers as they investigate the mysterious death of a friend.
Sonia Gensler's new book is a magnificent work of fiction. I loved every page of it. Revolving around spiritualism and seances - two subjects I find extremely fascinating - The Dark Between is quite eerie and dark, but also very fun to read. And the fabulous cast of colorful characters makes this book even more entertaining and absorbing. Kate, Elsie and Asher are so very different from each other, and yet they make such an awesome team! I can't tell you which one of these wonderful characters I liked the most. One thing for sure, I connected with all of them. Kate's background story was probably the most heartbreaking one and I often found myself wanting to hug her, protect her, comfort her (not that she needed that, she was so tough and brave!). The beautiful and fragile Elsie was equally fascinating, though not nearly as strong and sassy as Kate. Asher was the perfect gentlemen - at least until you got under his skin - charming, protective and chivalrous. They all have dark pasts filled with secrets, they're all running away from something, and they're all real and three-dimensional. I loved watching them interact with each other and thought the dynamics of their relationship was crackling with sweet chemistry!
I loved, loved, loved the historical backdrop, as well as the lushly described settings! Sonia incorporated enough period detail into her story to make you feel like you were there, right in the middle of it all, breathing the same air as her characters. At the same time, though, she kept the story fresh and entertaining by weaving in the paranormal elements and spooky situations (loved reading about the psychic phenomena and spirit photography, as well as witnessing Elsie's disturbing and blood-chilling visions!). I found the historical content to be portrayed realistically and accurately, without overwhelming the plot line or taking away from the pacing. Sonia herself admits that doing research for her books is her favorite part of the writing process, and it's really no surprise that The Dark Between's setting is so rich and flavorful. In other words, this story is a real treat!
If you enjoy Gothic fiction, spooky settings and intricate plot lines, you'll definitely fell in love with The Dark Between.
Sonia Gensler's new book is a magnificent work of fiction. I loved every page of it. Revolving around spiritualism and seances - two subjects I find extremely fascinating - The Dark Between is quite eerie and dark, but also very fun to read. And the fabulous cast of colorful characters makes this book even more entertaining and absorbing. Kate, Elsie and Asher are so very different from each other, and yet they make such an awesome team! I can't tell you which one of these wonderful characters I liked the most. One thing for sure, I connected with all of them. Kate's background story was probably the most heartbreaking one and I often found myself wanting to hug her, protect her, comfort her (not that she needed that, she was so tough and brave!). The beautiful and fragile Elsie was equally fascinating, though not nearly as strong and sassy as Kate. Asher was the perfect gentlemen - at least until you got under his skin - charming, protective and chivalrous. They all have dark pasts filled with secrets, they're all running away from something, and they're all real and three-dimensional. I loved watching them interact with each other and thought the dynamics of their relationship was crackling with sweet chemistry!
I loved, loved, loved the historical backdrop, as well as the lushly described settings! Sonia incorporated enough period detail into her story to make you feel like you were there, right in the middle of it all, breathing the same air as her characters. At the same time, though, she kept the story fresh and entertaining by weaving in the paranormal elements and spooky situations (loved reading about the psychic phenomena and spirit photography, as well as witnessing Elsie's disturbing and blood-chilling visions!). I found the historical content to be portrayed realistically and accurately, without overwhelming the plot line or taking away from the pacing. Sonia herself admits that doing research for her books is her favorite part of the writing process, and it's really no surprise that The Dark Between's setting is so rich and flavorful. In other words, this story is a real treat!
If you enjoy Gothic fiction, spooky settings and intricate plot lines, you'll definitely fell in love with The Dark Between.
barefootsong's review
4.0
I really enjoyed the setting of this -- Cambridge, England in 1901. I loved all the details of the college town and the height of the spiritualism craze. The story is set primarily at the fictional Summerfield College (for women), where the lives of three young people intersect. Elsie, Asher, and Kate were all interesting to read about and I liked the change in perspectives between them, but Kate was my favorite. This is primarily a mystery, with a side of paranormal/supernatural elements, which was a good balance for me (I'm not normally a huge paranormal reader). A perfect October read!
(I'm internet friends with the author, but this is an honest review.)
Spoiler
I was sad/worried about Elsie at the end, though. :((I'm internet friends with the author, but this is an honest review.)
katrinamarie's review
3.0
The Dark Between wasn’t what I was expecting. The cover gave me the creeps, and I thought going in I’d get a great gothic horror. Even though it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, I enjoyed it.
We follow Kate, Elsie, and Asher through the streets of Cambridge. Kate is my favorite character. She doesn’t really care what others think of her. Her downfall is she’s not very trusting. She honestly has no reason to be, but I think it helps develop her into the strong young woman that she is. She has no filter, and tends to say whatever is on her mind. Kate tends to find trouble. She’s inquisitive and isn’t ashamed of it. Elsie is very much a girly character. She has hopes of love and fairytale endings. She also realizes that this may not be possible for her because of her secret condition. Asher is a confused boy. He’s reserved, but also goes on the whims of the girls in this group.
These three have found themselves in the middle of a mystery. They don’t know exactly what they are looking for. They just know they need to find the culprit behind the dead body that has been found. Each of them are lucky to have found themselves at Summerfield. They learn things about themselves that they otherwise would not have known. While I was expecting a full out ghost story, I’m not disappointed with the mystery. There are paranormal touches, and they come about in shocking realizations.
The ending was sort of a cliffhanger, and it made me want to know what happens next. I will be watching for more of Gensler’s work because I love the way she’s able to set the scene for events to come. She also has the ability to completely shock the reader. Just when you think you know what’s going on, she turns the tables on you.
We follow Kate, Elsie, and Asher through the streets of Cambridge. Kate is my favorite character. She doesn’t really care what others think of her. Her downfall is she’s not very trusting. She honestly has no reason to be, but I think it helps develop her into the strong young woman that she is. She has no filter, and tends to say whatever is on her mind. Kate tends to find trouble. She’s inquisitive and isn’t ashamed of it. Elsie is very much a girly character. She has hopes of love and fairytale endings. She also realizes that this may not be possible for her because of her secret condition. Asher is a confused boy. He’s reserved, but also goes on the whims of the girls in this group.
These three have found themselves in the middle of a mystery. They don’t know exactly what they are looking for. They just know they need to find the culprit behind the dead body that has been found. Each of them are lucky to have found themselves at Summerfield. They learn things about themselves that they otherwise would not have known. While I was expecting a full out ghost story, I’m not disappointed with the mystery. There are paranormal touches, and they come about in shocking realizations.
The ending was sort of a cliffhanger, and it made me want to know what happens next. I will be watching for more of Gensler’s work because I love the way she’s able to set the scene for events to come. She also has the ability to completely shock the reader. Just when you think you know what’s going on, she turns the tables on you.
skelleycat's review
DNF at 27%. There's nothing wrong with it, really. It just wasn't really holding my attention, even though I wanted to see where it was going. Shrug.
melissa_clark78's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book, but it was missing something. I'm not sure if it was the characters (I liked Kate, but couldn't stand Elsie) or the plot itself that was lacking, but I just felt like it didn't quite hit the mark. Still a good, clean read, though.
lshu9's review
3.0
This book is a solid tale for YA paranormal enthusiasts. Set in an older era, setting and characters build an entertaining narrative.
I do feel that there were way too many character names thrown around, especially male ones. It was a little difficult to keep them all straightened out, especially ones who were mentioned in name only and never actually appeared in the story.
I also personally think the final chapter was a bit of a let down. It should have stopped a chapter earlier. (Though some readers may find it gives more closure and is deserved.)
Not sure if the author intended to create a series or at least a sequel, but there is room for it. However, this does work well as a stand alone book.
As far as horror, this book did not provide any “scares”. But it has a darkened atmosphere which I enjoyed.
I do feel that there were way too many character names thrown around, especially male ones. It was a little difficult to keep them all straightened out, especially ones who were mentioned in name only and never actually appeared in the story.
I also personally think the final chapter was a bit of a let down. It should have stopped a chapter earlier. (Though some readers may find it gives more closure and is deserved.)
Not sure if the author intended to create a series or at least a sequel, but there is room for it. However, this does work well as a stand alone book.
As far as horror, this book did not provide any “scares”. But it has a darkened atmosphere which I enjoyed.
sylviamariereads's review
4.0
Full review: https://sylreads.wordpress.com/2019/01/04/review-the-dark-between/
Actual rating: 3.75
I loved how haunting this book was. The historical backdrop was fantastic, and I thought the characters were actually written like teenagers, which was refreshing. I just wish the ending had been more solid!
Ignore how long it took me to read this. I only read it on desk at work, so it was pretty minimal reading time.
Actual rating: 3.75
I loved how haunting this book was. The historical backdrop was fantastic, and I thought the characters were actually written like teenagers, which was refreshing. I just wish the ending had been more solid!
Ignore how long it took me to read this. I only read it on desk at work, so it was pretty minimal reading time.