June 1, 2021
Gr 9 Up-Seventeen-year-old skeptic Stephanie Armand refuses to believe the stories that Moldavia, the Victorian estate her father is renovating, is haunted. Even when her younger sister claims to have spoken to the masked man in her closet who has lights for eyes. And even when Lucas Cheney, leader of an amateur team of paranormal investigators, takes an interest in the property, and in Stephanie herself. But then, there are strange occurrences. First, Erik, a charming British boy, steps out of another time period and into Stephanie's dreams-the same Erik who Stephanie connects to a tragedy that happened at Moldavia involving an occult gathering, a curse, and numerous casualties. Then, a seemingly malevolent entity makes its presence known. It seems that there is some truth behind the legend, and behind the mask. Creagh's supernatural gothic romance is a fresh, updated take on Gaston Leroux's classic novel, The Phantom of the Opera. The world of the novel is hauntingly beautiful and evocative of the familiar tale. The plot is intriguing and the prose well-paced; however, the story's central love triangle feels contrived and the explanation of the curse, though inventive, is underdeveloped. The true delight comes with the characters, particularly the eccentric team of teenage ghost hunters, who bring both exuberance and comic relief to an otherwise dark narrative. Overall, the novel is an enjoyable read, filled with secrets, twists, and a surprising amount of heart. Most characters' races aren't stated. VERDICT Fans of steamy supernatural romances should be first in line for this one.-Amanda Harding, Elmwood Elem. Sch., Wauconda, IL
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June 15, 2021
Stephanie and her family move into an old mansion rumored to have been put under a curse after a turn-of-the-20th-century rich boy meddled with an Egyptian mummy. After her young sister complains about strange events, high school student Stephanie befriends Lucas, a geeky, good-looking boy, and meets the other members of SPOoKy, the Scientific Paranormal Organization of Kentucky: Charlotte, Wes, and Patrick. Stephanie learns the history of her new home from Lucas, who attracts her romantic attention, but the usually levelheaded girl is soon drawn to Erik, the handsome phantom who first comes to her in dreams. The story is told in chapters narrated by Stephanie, Lucas, and Zedok, whose identity is initially a source of confusion to Stephanie. Zedok appears wearing different masks, "personified slivers" of his soul, representing states of mind such as Wrath, Madness, and Valor. Meanwhile, until gifted singer Stephanie came along and he could write songs for her, Erik's dreams were thwarted; he wanted to be a composer but his family expected him to become a doctor. In the gothic horror tradition, Erik's full background and connection with Zedok are slowly revealed. Romantic dream sequences are lush and swoon-y, but the long, drawn-out battle to end the curse, aided by a celebrity clairvoyant, is tedious, and the constant introduction of Erik's different personae is confusing. Most characters default to White; Patrick is Black. The Phantom of the Opera served as inspiration, but this wouldn't last on Broadway. (Horror. 13-16)
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September 15, 2021
Grades 9-12 Creagh gives a contemporary twist to standard Gothic fiction tropes in this story of three teens. There's Stephanie, who lives in a crumbling mansion; Zedak, a cursed walking corpse from the turn of the twentieth century, who lives in an alternate, not-so-crumbling mansion; and Lucas, a high-school classmate attracted to Stephanie. The curse afflicting Zedak caused his soul to splinter into different aspects of his personality (Wrath, Valor, Madness, and so on) and he can assume any of those masked forms. Chapters alternate among Stephanie, Zadek, and Lucas' perspectives, and the distinct voices in each narrative gradually meshes with the others to reveal the plot, which centers on the developing relationships. Stephanie is conflicted; she is attracted to Lucas but finds herself drawn to Zedak as she learns more about him. The ultimate resolution might be polarizing for readers, but Creagh makes it work, keeping the pace up throughout all 500 pages of the story. Hand to readers who adore a juicy love triangle with gothic flair.
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