Author: Bethany Griffin
Series: Stand Alone (possible sequel)
Published By: Greenwillow Books (October 9, 2014)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Fantasy/Horror
My Rating: 4 Stars!
Book Description:
Madeline Usher is doomed.
She has spent her life fighting fate, and she thought she was succeeding. Until she woke up in a coffin.
Ushers die young. Ushers are cursed. Ushers can never leave their house, a house that haunts and is haunted, a house that almost seems to have a mind of its own. Madeline’s life—revealed through short bursts of memory—has hinged around her desperate plan to escape, to save herself and her brother. Her only chance lies in destroying the house.
In the end, can Madeline keep her own sanity and bring the house down? The Fall is a literary psychological thriller, reimagining Edgar Allan Poe’s classic The Fall of the House of Usher.
I was memorized by Griffin's debut duology last year and devoured every single book. Her dark attention to detail and the vivid images she presented were hard to resist. Throw in a classic retelling of a Poe story with lots of equally dark twists and you have one heck of a story. I was so very excited to learn she was doing writing another one and was eager to start it.
I shouldn't have expected anything less from her latest twist on an old Poe tale, The House of Usher.
Once again this was deliciously dark and macabre. Everything you would expect from an Edgar Allen Poe tale with those small steps Griffin takes to truly make this her own story.
This one is hard to explain except to say that if you like those dark stories that will keep you thinking, keep you guessing and completely mess with your mind, this is one you need to try and experience for yourself.
I loved every single minute of it and ended up devouring it.
The ending left me feeling empty and longing for more as well as guessing if there would be a book two, which I am really hoping there will be. I wasn't ready for Madeline's tale to be over or the Usher curse to be broken.
*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*
I enevr read a Poe book but it's nice to see you found a great author like that. And this one is intriguing. I should try! Great review!
ReplyDeleteYou should give her a try and see what you think. :)
DeleteYES! I'm so glad you liked The Fall Ali! I should have picked this one up sooner when I had the chance dang it, but I'm so happy to hear its a great dark and macabre read - just as a Poe retelling should be. I can't wait to get my hands on this one :)
ReplyDeleteIf you are a fan, you are going to love it Kim!
DeleteGreat review, glad you enjoyed this one so much. I've read a lot of reviews, most of them really positive, but I still don't feel like this book is for me.
ReplyDeleteThe writing probably isn't for everyone but you never know until you try. ;)
DeleteI'm so nervous to read this one Ali! Poe scares me. A lot. That being said however, I did love The Masque of the Red Death, so I definitely want to give this one a try. I will overcome my chicken-ness!!! I might have to wait until I know definitively whether or not there's going to be a sequel, I don't want to be left hanging!
ReplyDeleteYou aren't left hanging, just wanting more. ;)
DeleteI think you will like this. It is more creepy than scary.
Great review Kindlemom, but ugh I just don't think this one's for me. Not really into horror. But If I was your review would convince me :)
ReplyDeleteAww thanks Debbie. Maybe next time. :)
DeleteI'm really glad you liked this, Ali. I'll be reading it soon and I'm really excited. The author's writing sounds like it's top notch! :)
ReplyDeleteLovely review!
Ooo so glad you are starting it soon Nick, I hope you love the writing style.
DeleteHouse of Usher is my favorite Poe tale and I can't wait to see what Griffin has done with it. I have a feeling I'll end up being quite impressed, based on the reviews I've read so far.
ReplyDeleteI bet you will love this Maja, a twist on the tale in a really good way.
DeleteCreepy cover! I'm not sure if this book would be for me or not but maybe I should consider it!
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't tried this author you should at least try her Candace, I really do love her writing style and how she twists tales. I think you would too.
DeleteThanks for the spoiler free review as I'm planning yo read this hopefully this week. I love dark reads and your 4 star rating is encouraging
ReplyDeleteYou will like this then. ;)
DeleteThis sounds like my kind of book! I need to stop reading your reviews, you're making me put a TBR lists together and I'm not supposed to be doing that anymore lol. But, if I write the books down on the back of a grocery receipt and it just happens to find its way into my library bag, that doesn't really count right? :D
ReplyDeleteOf course it doesn't. ;)
DeleteI think you will like this one though Heidi.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything by this author, but I do want too. This one in particular sounds great. I love Poe. :)
ReplyDeleteI think you will like this then. :)
DeleteI'd like to read a dark story that makes me think :) This looks just the ne I need if I feel like stomping out of my confort zone heh. Lovely review :)
ReplyDeleteI think you would like this one as well Lola. :) Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI haven't had the privilege to read any of this author's work but any authors willing to take on such a huge undertaking deserves my respect. ;)
ReplyDeleteSo true and she does it really well too which just makes it all the better. ;)
DeleteOh my gosh! YES, please! I love, love, love these kinds of books. Thanks for sharing! Great review, I cannot wait to read it. Although my TBR pile only grows and never lessens :)
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling Becca. ;)
DeleteI'm glad you liked this. I started it a couple days ago but stopped after 2 or 3 chapters. NOT because I didn't like it. I'm just pumping myself up to get in the mood for it.
ReplyDeleteOh good, you had me worried there for a bit Christy. I would think you would like how dark this one is. ;)
DeleteSo glad you enjoyed this, and I hope you get a sequel, it sounds like there is more to the story!
ReplyDeleteI am keeping my fingers crossed there will be one!
DeleteGreat review. This sounds promising. Hopefully there will be a sequel.
ReplyDeleteI am really hoping so. :)
DeleteI do love the thought of reading something twisted and it looks like it would be pushing me as it seems way out from my usual genres. I may have to check this one out. Never read Poe before either :/
ReplyDeleteI think this would be a great place to start!!
DeleteI love the creepy cover! I'm impressed with the blurb. It's vague and interesting :D
ReplyDeleteView this site for Indianapolis Web Design
It was a fun read. :)
DeleteThis was a great read; fast paced, creepy and realistic at the same time. Ending was sudden. Wish had another chapter.
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm not even sure how you found this post but I'm glad you liked the book, I remember liking it but I don't remember that much about it anymore sadly.
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