Between the Spark and the Burn

May 15, 2014
After a heady summer full of romance and danger, Violet's quiet seaside life seems dull, leaving her wishing for the return of the beautiful and dangerous Redding brothers (Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, 2013).River, with his mysterious glow, was the first to arrive. Then came Neely, the affable brother and self-appointed caretaker of River. The last was Brodie, a brother with a gift for mayhem and a thirst for blood. In this volume, Neely returns at Christmas, and with him comes the promise of adventure. When a late-night radio show begins reporting strange events, Violet, her twin brother, Luke, and their friend, Sunshine, decide to accompany Neely on his quest to find his dangerous siblings. Dead ravens, a mysterious sea king and a deadly pied piper all lie in wait for the quartet. Violet is both intuitive and naive, capable of profound revelation as well as remarkable stupidity. Her lust for danger as well as her heart divided between good and evil make her a frustrating but compelling heroine. Even when her selfish recklessness threatens the lives of those she loves, she presses forward. The faded opulence of the setting is an ideal backdrop for this lushly atmospheric gothic thriller, which, happily, comes with a satisfying conclusion.Darkly romantic and evocative. (Paranormal romance. 14 & up)

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June 1, 2014

Gr 10 Up-In this conclusion to Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Dial, 2013), a restless Violet is itching to leave the little town of Echo. She longs for news of liar and mind-manipulating River Redding, like a self-aware junkie bent on her next score. Taking travel cues from a late-night radio show pedaling supernatural tales, and joined by a cast of new, old, and always uniquely depicted misfits, Violet follows reports of devil-boy and sea-god sightings, on the chance she'll be reunited with River or put an end to sadistic half-brother Brodie. Her growing attraction to River's superior, self-sacrificing brother, Neely, occasionally and refreshingly tempers her lust for the former. Disturbing yet sensual flashbacks via grandmother Freddie's newly discovered journal further illustrate the intoxicating, perilous path of a Redding boy abusing his power and the dangers of loving one. The lush and polished prose, eerie locales, and pervading sense of dark unease are as engrossing they were in the first installment. Like Violet, readers may miss the gloriously deteriorating Citizen Kane; fortunately Tulchoke's new settings, especially Captain Nemo, prove as distinct and dangerous. While not quite as gripping as the first book, the twists, secrets, and Redding-brand mayhem make this a worthy successor. The open-ended conclusion will leave readers hypothesizing the fates of Citizen Kane's increasingly hodgepodge inhabitants.-Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ

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