Name: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Author: April Genevieve Tucholke
UK Release date: 3rd April 2014
Summary: Faded Gatsby glamour and thrilling gothic horror meet in this gorgeously told, terrifying and dreamy YA romance.
You stop fearing the devil when you're holding his hand...
Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White's sleepy, seaside town...until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet's crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Violet's grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who likes coffee and who kisses you in a cemetery... Violet's already so knee-deep in love, she can't see straight. And that's just how River likes it.
Review: When I started reading this book I wasn’t prepared for how well written it was, how good the characters were, and how creepy the story would be. Blending horror, mystery, old school glamour, spooky settings, and paranormal elements, this was an eerie thrilling tale of romance and danger.
Seventeen year old Violet was a wonderful protagonist; a perfect mix of eccentric, outcast, snob, brave and down to earth. She wore her late grandmother’s clothes, was a recluse, and drank espresso like a stylish European teen. I loved the way her sleepy life was shaken up with the arrival of River and how she came out of her shell and dealt with everything that happened.
The writing was beautifully descriptive giving the story real atmosphere and tension. Citizen Kane, the house where Violet and Luke lived, reminded me of the glamorous Gatsby house crossed with a dilapidated mansion from a Dicken’s story. It was filled with history but had faded and fallen into disrepair, making it the perfect setting for the mysterious and creepy events following River’s arrival.
River exuded charm and sophistication and despite the fact that there was something dangerous and suspicious about him I couldn’t help but find him completely appealing and fascinating. Not long after his arrival, strange and horrifying things started happening making me wonder just who River was. What I was thinking might be the truth behind River was absolutely wrong – I couldn’t second guess this story at all.
There was obviously a lot of chemistry and magnetism between Violet and River, and for Violet it meant that she was doing and feelings that she had never experienced before with a boy. Whilst the two of them together were smoldering I still wanted Violet to get some sense and kick him out.
A mix of horror, romance and paranormal, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea was brilliantly written, gripping, creepy, and spine tingling good!
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