Tuesday 2 September 2014

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Between, #1)

April Genevieve Tucholke's Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is the first of her Between series.

You stop fearing the devil when you're holding his hand...

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White's sleepy, seaside town... until River West comes along.  River rents the guest house behind Violet's crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet's grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back.

Violet's already so knee-deep in love, she can't see straight.  And that's just how River likes it.

The Breakdown:
1.  Tucholke attempts to give a gothic mystery and romance in this book. There are some elements are done really well, like the setting of a crumbling family mansion and the small seaside New England town. There are things that just fall flat.  She spends so much time setting up the romance between Violet and River, that the real mystery gets neglected.  It kind of comes out of left field at the very end.

2. I found that the characters were not very likable. Luke who was always rude to his sister. Sunshine who more like a frenemy to Violet, and is a little be on the trashy side.  River with his questionable morals, and possible lack of conscience. Violet is a little more likable, but she still gets a bit too in her head at times.  Honestly, the best character was Jack with his strong spirit and  his is one smart cookie.

3.  The romance between Violet and River felt forced at times, especially since she can't make up her mind if she loves or hates him. She knows he lies about so much of his life and activities, but yet she keeps going back to him.  It makes her appear weak.

4. I did like the copious amount of literary references.

To Read or Not to Read
Skip this one

Currently Reading:
Fable
by Chanda Hahn

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