I really enjoyed this book! Thank you for the ARC! I would happily recommend this to others.
I really liked the slowness of the book; it made it very easy to develop likeable, well-rounded characters.
I wouldn't call this a suspense since you suspected very early what was going on, but as you read on you would discover more layers of the Nanny and how she was raised and really got to know the other characters.
It's a very interesting story. Eventhough there was not a lot of description, by the way it was written you really felt the despair and poverty some were suffering in.

I received an advanced copy to review. Entertaining young adult story! Very reminiscent of a Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew tale with a Scooby-Doo-like ending! I would have enjoyed this in elementary school, especially with all the Canadian references that my school's assigned reading lists were lacking. Even though I have not read the first book in the series, it felt as if it was a stand alone story. Well done!

I received an advanced copy to review. I have read many true crime novels and have always found them fascinating. With the internet nowadays, you can go and find so many versions and details at the click of a button, which is why I found this being a trilogy disappointing. It was a very easy read - I finished in less than a day. It is oddly written. It's almost as if it's being spoken allowed. Sometimes it's written more in evidence detail and some as if the character is speaking. Like if the person has bad English/poor education, it was written that way. I don't know if it was intended because when it was written more like evidence/police notes/facts it was still poorly written. Maybe the author was trying to write this way? It's hard to describe. Sometimes I felt like I was reading a fictional story, due to the amount of detail and description given that, unless the author was physically there, I found it hard to not think it was embellished. A lot of work and research was put into this. More than this sick individual ever deserves, but it was definitely a page turner and very disturbing.

I was selected and given an advanced copy. The summary of the book was very interesting to me, I like to read all sorts of genres but I have definitely been in a fantasy mood lately. It's taken me a few days to write this review and I still am not sure I know exactly what I want to say. This book has so much potential. Really, it does. I liked the characters and it had a good core story; it just really missed the mark for me. I won't give any spoilers, but there was so much description in small, almost insignificant things, such as how many steps it would take to cross a room, how many exits, how to inflict the most pain, etc... and then more important parts needed way more description. I was left with so many questions. I would have gladly read another 100-200 pages to get the full story. There was so much talk for no action. As I had mentioned, describing exit points and inflicting pain, yet never did she act on any of it... Just a bit at the start then it was just wasted, with some mentions of how it helped her in the past, yet there was never really much detail into her past. I just felt it could have gone deeper. Strange things would happen (her thinking something and it would happen - or the star) and no explanation was given. Were all three of them Neliem? Is that even possible? Was it all Ezra doing it, or was it Tristan and her as well???? Why weren't there more spirits and ghosts? Why wasn't that described more? There were just too many points lightly brushed show more over. I'm all for imagination (hello, fantasy!) but this was too much. Could have been great, to me it was just OK. Even if there was a sequel, there shouldn't be so much left to explain. show less

I received a copy early to review. When I read the description, I knew it was a book that I would be interested in. I was very excited when I was selected and given a copy. That feeling did not last. I was quickly turned off by the spelling mistakes (maybe because it was an early edition?) and the rushed dialogue/story. I didn't feel for the characters, the back stories were poorly described and was lacking in content. The main character was very inquisitive and none of his questions were ever really answered. Why ask the question if you're not able to explain it? It just left me with questions I may not have asked in the first place. It had a lot of great ideas, but in the end it was not a well-rounded story. I want to say more but I don't want to give any spoilers, but the ending- I was just thinking WHAT??? Not in a good way. It was not a plot twist and it added no value. Why wasn't, what was revealed about Nat, more of a theme throughout the book? Caused more internal struggle or something that was hinted or linked to an issue? It could have given Nat more character development; instead it was thrown in at the end for no purpose. It felt like an after thought that was just added in to be relevant with today's society. To get some award or to be thought of as progressive. Was I supposed to be shocked? Was it because it was in the 30s? If it was, then it should have been added throughout the story to add to it. That could have been a great theme throughout, but nope, show more just plunked in at the end.
I felt like I was reading a high school students creative writing story. There were elements that were great, maybe a longer story would have helped, instead of always saying, "don't try to fit everything into a box" or "it's not my story to tell" or "you'll figure it out as you go." So much was left without explanation. show less