Friday, September 9, 2016

Review: The Sinner by Amanda Stevens

Title: The Sinner
Author: Amanda Stevens
Series: Book Five in the Graveyard Queen Series
Published By: Mira (September 27, 2016)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: Paranormal Mystery/Romance
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!


Book Description:
I am a living ghost, a wanderer in search of my purpose and place… 

I'm a cemetery restorer by trade, but my calling has evolved from that of ghost seer to death walker to detective of lost souls. I solve the riddles of the dead so the dead will leave me alone. 


I've come to Seven Gates Cemetery nursing a broken heart, but peace is hard to come by…for the ghosts here and for me. When the body of a young woman is discovered in a caged grave, I know that I've been summoned for a reason. Only I can unmask her killer. I want to trust the detective assigned to the case for he is a ghost seer like me. But how can I put my faith in anyone when supernatural forces are manipulating my every thought? When reality is ever-changing? And when the one person I thought I could trust above all others has turned into a diabolical stranger? 











Stevens never ceases to amaze me with the intricate and down right creepy tales that she can weave. The Sinner is no exception to the rule, in fact, I think with her latest installment in the Graveyard Queen series, she has out done herself. 

Reading this in the middle of the night was my first mistake. I should have known better than to start this when the house was quite and everyone else was asleep and snug in their beds. Reading by the low light of making me read by the light of my Paperwhite with darkness and shadows surrounding me might have been my second mistake. I can't remember a time I freaked myself out as much as I did  while reading this. Because truly, why wouldn't it be a bad idea to read about a story full of horrors, a story filled with all things that go bump in the night like ghosts, and deadly creepy cults, and killers, and sacrifices, in the dark when every little sound of the house settling seems like a monster is lurking around the corner, really, where could I go wrong with a setting like that one right? 

Needless to say, I had to stay up all night until it was finished. There was no way I was going to get any rest until I knew how it ended, how the darkness, the shadows, the evil, were defeated.

And while this did have an ending of sorts, we learn it is also a beginning. One that is sure to be challenging and painful and not without it's sacrifices. 

We get so much more about Amelia, about her powers and abilities and of course those dark forces that are out there that she has to stop, that she has to put an end to. It is creepy as all get out but yet we can't help but turn the pages to learn more, to see all the badness as well as what goodness there is.

It's enthralling and hypnotizing and so very addicting. I couldn't get enough of it and was so sad when I got to the last page because I wasn't ready for it to be over yet. I needed more. 

The ending was one heck of a doozy and it left me breathless and longing for the next book, it also reminded me all over again why this series is so fabulous, why it is a favorite and will continue to be one. 





*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

40 comments:

  1. At first glance, I thought this cover looked like a Stephen King novel. And by the sounds of it, it rans right up there with the creep factor. Thanks for sharing, Ali!

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    1. OH I can see that Tyler, definitely not King and no where near as scary but definitely creepy!

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  2. OOh great review Kindlemom, I've heard of this author but I've never read her. I think maybe its time to step up my game :)

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    1. You should her work is so much fun and just the right amount of creepy/scary.

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  3. Oh, I can absolutely tell how much you loved this, Ali. I wish I read more of her books, but I didn't think they're my kind of reads. Oh, well. You win some, you lose some. Lol.

    Have a great weekend, Ali!

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    1. That is true and I hope your weekend is great as well Joy!

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  4. Wasn't this good! I think it was the spookiest to date:) Now we wait for the next one!!

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    1. Yes! They just keep getting creepier for sure and that ending was a killer. I want to know what it all means!

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  5. I love when a book keeps me up all night because I have to finish it. Well the next day I don't love it, but still LOL! Great review and I need to try this series already.

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    1. I know exactly what you mean. :P It is worth it though, tiredness and all.

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  6. I love finding a book that I can't put down.

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  7. I can't wait to read this one. I will keep in mind not to read it in the dark in the middle of the night. No mention of the romance. I am curious to see how that goes down.

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    1. Yeah romance is lacking but the rest more than makes up for it. ;)

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  8. I've bought the first book in this series on audio. I plan to try it very soon. So glad to hear it is going strong on book 5. :-)

    Melanie @ Hot Listens & Rabid Reads

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  9. I NEED this book, lol! I'm drooling - this is a favorite series of mine as you most likely know. So thrilled you loved it.

    Hope you have a fabulous weekend!! :)

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    1. I'm so excited that you like it too Kim! It might still be on Netgalley?

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  10. I'm almost ready for this one. It is coming up in my review reading. Now I cannot wait to get to this one. I was trying to put it off because it is the last in the series but you have me wanting to get to it now! :)

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    1. It isn't the last! There will be another one too. ;)

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  11. The cover certainly gives off the creepy vibe. Glad you enjoyed it!

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  12. Just saw your review on Goodreads! God, I never would have noticed this book if it weren't for you!!

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    1. Yay! So happy to hear you say that because this series really does deserve more recognition.

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  13. LOL sounds like me when I watch some shows on tv. Ooo I know better than to start them in the middle of the night when I'm home alone! Heh

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    1. I'm such a wuss though, I like to scare myself but I don't necessarily like to be scared.

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  14. Haven't come across this series before but sounds like one to check out - although I hate when a book ends leaving you thirsting for more!! Way to drive the readers crazy.

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    1. Most definitely, I'm sure it's their ploy to get us to keep reading. :P

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  15. It's always so much fun to read her books!

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  16. Ohh, I am so curious about this one and to be honest, desperate to learn what Devlin's been up to. I just hope it's something I can live with and something Amelia can forgive.

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    1. I really hope so as well Maja, I think with the ending, we will find out next book. ;)

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  17. Yup, I loved it too. That ending ... it's what I figured, but still made my heart hurt in a good and bad way. We need to next book already!

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    1. I thought so too Christy but I still want to know more!

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  18. Great review! This is another series that I MUST start! It sounds SO good, glad this installment was great too

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  19. First off, that cover is awesome. Happy to hear the rest is too. I will read this one.

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    1. It is a great series, especially this time of year. ;)

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  20. Am going through my list of Blogs I follow on Google Reader and thought I would stop by and say Hi :). This book looks amazing and the cover is awesome - love the purples.
    Paula @ The Phantom Paragrapher

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    1. Thank you for stopping by and commenting and of course following, I really appreciate it!

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