The Dolls

June 23, 2014
Eveny Cheval has traded her beloved Brooklyn for the remote bayou town of Carrefour, La., her family’s longtime home and the place where her mother committed suicide. She soon meets the Dolls, mysterious, model-gorgeous teenagers (one of whom carries a slithering snake with her at all times) who rule Carrefour. The Dolls pull Eveny into their elite group, and it isn’t long before she learns that they’re all about voodoo, and that she’s the most powerful voodoo queen in town, thanks to her mother. The magic-induced makeover is a bonus (that’s how the Dolls get their amazing looks), though the bodily possessions are a little off-putting; the real downside, however, involves being hunted down by a centuries-old organization determined to kill them. First-time author Sullivan’s Dolls call to mind the Cullen clan, and the setting has echoes of the Beautiful Creatures books. But while the setup and gothic Southern atmosphere are familiar, Sullivan’s talent for moving the action forward makes for a breezy, engaging read. Ages 13–up. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Literary Agency.

July 1, 2014
A variation on an increasingly familiar formula involving a Louisiana setting, voodoo or related magic, a star-crossed romance, and a protagonist conflicted about or unaware of her tremendous inherited powers.When Eveny Cheval's guardian, Aunt Bea, moves her from New York to her original hometown of Carrefour, Louisiana, on her 17th birthday, Eveny immediately and inexplicably finds herself involved with a circle of uber-glamorous, impossibly gorgeous, privileged teens known locally as the Dolls. She begins to slowly understand that her connection to them involves a deep family history and some strong magic. But big questions remain, such as whether her mother really committed suicide all those years ago, where her father might be and what are the true motives of a certain gorgeous boy sending very mixed signals. Oh, there is also a society bent on destroying Carrefour and its magic, a threat that never feels quite authentic, probably because readers aren't convinced that the main characters and their dubious way of life are worth saving. There are enough mysteries to keep the pages turning, though many will see the final bit of treachery coming well before the big reveal.Only the most ardent fans of paranormal/romantic thrillers will be enthralled by this one and its inevitable sequels. (Supernatural thriller. 12-18)

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June 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-Eveny Cheval's life is turned upside down when she and her Aunt Bea move away from their New York home just before her 17th birthday. Eveny hasn't set foot in Carrefour, Louisiana since her mother's suicide 14 years earlier. Returning now, she is stunned by the stately old houses and the pristine gardens. Even her new classmates are flawlessly beautiful-so much so that most people call them the Dolls. Drawn in by Peregrine Marceau and Chloe St. Pierre, Eveny is soon at the center of the decadence that is the Dolls's world. But beneath the wealth and charm, Carrefour is hiding a secret, one that leads to murder and dark turths about Eveny and her past. Atmospheric writing and genuine chills enhance this story that is populated with familiar mean girls, gorgeous boys, and a generally clever narrator. Sullivan capitalizes on the Southern setting here to spine-tingling effect as the story moves in a surprising direction involving voodoo magic and sinister forces at work around Carrefour. Sure to be popular with fans of the "Vampire Academy" (Razorbill), "Hex Hall" (Hyperion), "Caster Chronicles" (Little, Brown) or "Pretty Little Liars" (HarperCollins) series.-Emma Carbone, Brooklyn Public Library

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