The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

This releases today! I would strongly suggest you go pick it up! It's a great read. Today, I'm including both covers. The e-galley had the top one, but the bottom one is so beautiful as well and it's the more common one. I love both, but I think think the top one has more to do with the actual story.

March 7th 2011, Harcourt Children’s Books

293 pgs., E-galley

Netgalley

First in The Vespertine Series

Young Adult

From Goodreads:

It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

Opinion:

What to say about this read? A touching story that dared to bring tears to my eyes. The first few pages the lyrical period voice was difficult to grasp, but by the third page in it was charming in a way that did not let me go. I resented getting thirsty in the middle of this book, because I simply did not want to put it down.

I found Amelia to be just the right mixture of impetuousness and good-heartedness. She is not in the least a boring character. She in fact is one that you must keep your eye on because you never know what she’ll dream of doing next.

Zora is utterly delightful, like a mischievous little doll. She is usually the leader in mischief and has the support from her family to not be afraid of doing so.

Amelia’s talents can be frightening at times and it’s not until late in the book we find out what Nathaniel’s secrets are.

If you like historical fiction, I’d recommend this, but those of more contemporary tastes may have a hard time relaxing into the slower voice that so represents those times.

 Rating: 4.5/5

Categories: 4.5 Stars, First, Mitchell, Review, Series, Vespertine, Young Adult