The Haunted

February 1, 2011

Gr 8 Up-This sequel to The Hollow (S & S, 2009) finds Abbey home after recovering from the news that the unbearably beautiful boy she loves, Caspian, is actually dead. Neither vampire nor ghost, he is a Shade, a shadow "living within the shade of real life." The convenient plot slowly reveals that Abbey and Caspian are soulmates, but in order for them to be together as destined, she has to die. To that end, four Revenants, helpful sorts who are supposed to assist souls to crossover, appear. A fifth, Vincent, torments Abbey, but he wants her alive to prevent her union with Caspian. Set in Sleepy Hollow, NY, the series includes characters from Washington Irving's story "The Headless Horseman," and each chapter opens with a quote from the tale. Abbey's talent as a perfumer is the most interesting thing about her, but unfortunately this only results in lists of essential oils and nonessential details. Abbey and Caspian's unconsummated love-he can only touch her on the anniversary of his death-results in lines such as, "Desire hit me like a rock." Clumsy exposition and awkward sentence construction are not helped by cliched language replete with pedestrian minutiae. The big revelations are obvious rather than powerful, and the cliff-hanger conclusion is more gimmicky than intriguing. Purchase only where the first book has fans.-Janice M. Del Negro, GSLIS Dominican University, River Forest, IL

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