352 pages Expected publication: September 10th 2019 by HarperTeen
Thank you to HarperTeen and Edelweiss who continue to trust me with their books.
Last summer I had the chance to read THE LIGHT BETWEEN WORLDS while on vacation in the UK. I was so enthralled by it that I rushed through touring the sights in London and Scotland just so I could go back to the Airbnb to read it. I couldn’t wait to get back home to review it. After, I became a lifelong fan of Laura Weymouth. If you have a chance, add her on Twitter. She is the sweetest author I have ever had the opportunity to converse with on social media!
I don’t know how she does it, by Laura takes us into a world where a girl is devoted to a magical house in England. After the father was accused of treason and sentenced to house arrest, Violet was sent away only to return some years later after the caretaker’s death. When she arrives, she finds the house in disrepair. After being told she’s to “cure” the house in a specific timeframe, Violet realizes the depth of her devotion to the sentient building and to those she loves. With sweeping emotional turmoil, Violet navigates the world of secrets her father had built up and first love to discover that her fate is not sealed and that she can be whatever she wants to be, despite the promises she made.
This premise is unique in that it brings us to a world built entirely around this house, that seemingly has emotions of its own. Violet’s devotion borders on obsession. She almost loses sight of what is truly important, and I think, at least to me, that s the lesson I took from it. This may not be what Laura intended, but we all see stories differently and relate to them in a way that coincides with our own emotions in real life. It is also a testament to finding our place in the world, and just like in THE LIGHT BETWEEN WORLDS, Violet pours her heart and soul into what she loves and what she believes will ultimately make her happy.
Upon asking Laura what her inspiration for the story was, she told me that it was partly based on The Crawley family and their devotion to their home in DOWNTON ABBEY. She sprinkled in some magic and TREASON OF THORNS came to be. Part of me can see that, and another part was reminded of THE HAUNTING OF HILLHOUSE (the show on Netflix) and how these people were drawn to this house that would or would not ultimately decide their fate. Though not as horrific as the show, TREASON OF THORNS gave me a gothic feel. It was beautifully written (as always) and drew me in from page one. I cannot express how much I adore Laura’s writing, but I know she will always be one of my favorites.
Plus, LOOK AT THAT COVER.
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