Fabulosa trilogía terminada + sorteo

¿Habéis visto qué bellezón de portadas? Creo que he marcado un record personal al leer una trilogía del tirón. ¿Es algo que soléis hacer? Estaba empezando el primero, SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY, de Susan Dennard, cuando me aceptaron en el tour del tercero, así que fue el destino que intervino en mi favor ;o)

La primera portada corresponde a un relato y el resto a la trilogía. Aunque la modelo no se parece ni en una peca a la protagonista, los impresionantes vestidos sí que reflejan la época y son un reclamo indecentemente efectivo. ¿Alguien puede resistirse a ellos y a esos títulos tan mórbidos?

1- SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY (Algo extraño y mortal)

2- A DARKNESS STRANGE AND LOVELY (Una extraña y encantadora oscuridad)

3- STRANGE AND EVER AFTER (Extraño por siempre jamás)

No puedo hacer justicia a esta fabulosa trilogía con mis balbuceos. Lo siento, pero es así. Me ha fascinado y sorprendido y dejado con la cabeza loca. Dicen que un primer libro es bueno, el segundo suele flojear y del tercero se espera, con los dedos cruzados, que remonte. Para mí, ha sido todo lo contrario. Me encantó el primero, el segundo explotó todas mis expectativas y abrió el apetito para el tercero... wow. Estoy hecha una gelatina de emociones destrozadas. Ha sido un viaje de pura adrenalina con un final inaudito con el que sigo peleándome.

Os cuento de qué va, ¿no? Jajajaja. Son novelas góticas con un fuerte elemento de terror y romanticismo en las que destaca el carácter de la protagonista.

La heroína

Eleanor es una joven dama victoriana, vive en Filadelfia y está gordita. Su cintura no es lo único que ha desaparecido, ya que su hermano Elijah no vuelve a casa como se esperaba. Aparte de esa preocupación, su madre casi las arruina intentando aparentar que todo es perfecto desde la muerte del padre y, además, quiere casarla a toda costa.

¿Qué locuras increíbles pasan?

Nuestra heroína se embarca en una investigación para descubrir el paradero de su hermano mientras la ciudad está a punto de ser arrasada por una horda zombie. Conoce a los Spirit Hunters (cazadores de espíritus) durante la Exposición sobre tecnología, a los que pide ayuda a pesar de las restricciones sociales. Están especializados en combatir a los muertos vivientes y el peligro de la nigromancia con armas de estilo steampunk y con magia basada en la electricidad.

Esta chica es lista, fuerte y decidida. No se amilana ante las presiones de la época y su lealtad hacia su hermano es digna de admiración. Con ello, se ganará el difícil apoyo de los cazadores, junto a quienes se enfrenta a un terrible nigromante y a las hordas de zombies que amenazan la ciudad.

Lo mejor

El estilo narrativo de la autora es potente. Produce un torrente de emociones en aumento a medida que progresa la historia en el arco de los tres libros. No os imagináis la cantidad de elementos que combina para producir una trama compleja, delirante, apasionada y original. Acción a raudales a través de la magia y los combates, terror, romance imposible, decisiones arriesgadas, amistad puesta a prueba, un malo imbatible, aventuras por tierra y aire, y sacrificios que nunca terminan.

Mediante escenas que cambian sin parar, diálogos tremendos, personajes que sufren física y emocionalmente, y una heroína que pasa de damisela inteligente a luchadora con poderes mágicos, la autora construye una historia absorbente que mejora con cada libro.

La aventura continúa

Tras enfrentarse a la horda zombie en Filadelfia y sufrir unas pérdidas abominables, Eleanor se traslada a Francia tras la pista de los cazadores. El caballero con poderes Joseph, la guerrera Jie, y el inventor Daniel, del que se ha enamorado sin ser correspondida. En este segundo libro, Eleanor desarrolla poderes nigrománticos que la pondrán entre la espada y la pared de la moralidad. Además, se agencia de un demonio, Oliver, del que me he enamorado yo perdidamente. Mi personaje favorito, sin dudarlo.

París, conspiraciones, catacumbas, poderes y luchas y una aeronave al más estilo steampunk y romance peleón. Todo esto convierte este libro es una aventura que se disfruta al máximo. Lo relacionado con la magia, con los espíritus, el demonio y la ciudad de París es muy original.

Luego pasamos al tercero. Oh, dioses. ¡Nos vamos a Egipto! En una misión de rescate, Eleanor y los cazadores persiguen al malvado nigromante para darle fin. Parece un suicidio pero deben salvar a uno de los cazadores y destruir las hordas de zombies que se levantan a su paso.

En este desbordante y trepidante final, las relaciones entre Eleanor y su amado Daniel, y entre ella y su demonio Oliver que sólo quiere la libertad para volver a su mundo, son apasionadísimas. Hay escenas de gran dulzura y escenas de violencia verbal inolvidables. Resulta impresionante el alcance del poder mágico de Eleanor, así como su capacidad de sacrificio y su resistencia al desaliento. Los combates contra los zombies llenan páginas de adictiva acción.

Aunque ese final... es una película épica de exotismo, magia y terribles consecuencias. Ojalá hubiera un cuarto libro. Qué pena más grande, qué bueno, pero qué pena.

STRANGE AND EVER AFTER
(Something Strange and Deadly #3)
by Susan Dennard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 22nd 2014
Rate:  AMAZING

Synopsis:

In the conclusion to the trilogy that Publishers Weekly called “a roaring—and addictive—gothic world,” Eleanor Fitt must control her growing power, face her feelings for Daniel, and confront the evil necromancer Marcus...all before it’s too late.

He took her brother, he took her mother, and now, Marcus has taken her good friend Jie. With more determination than ever to bring this sinister man to justice, Eleanor heads to the hot desert streets of nineteenth-century Egypt in hopes of ending this nightmare. But in addition to her increasingly tense relationships with Daniel, Joseph, and her demon, Oliver, Eleanor must also deal with her former friend, Allison, who has curiously entangled herself in Eleanor’s mission.

With the rising dead chomping at her every move and Jie’s life hanging in the balance, Eleanor is convinced that her black magic will see her through to the bitter end. But there will be a price. Though she and the Spirit Hunters have weathered every battle thus far, there will be consequences to suffer this time—the effects of which will be irreversible. And when it’s over, only some will be able to live a strange and ever after.

Susan Dennard will leave readers breathless and forever changed in the concluding pages of this riveting ride.

MY OPINION OF THE

SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY TRILOGY

A Victorian lady fending off petticoats and zombies? I'm happily hooked!

This trilogy made me swoon over the covers, but I want to shout and scream to the world that it goes wildly beyond superficial beauty.

Rules to love this trilogy:

- A fluid and clever writing style that turns into frenzied and emotional action.

- A mysterious, detailed and explosive plot that never ceases to surprise.

- A rich period setting

- A brave heroine who thinks, feels and acts on her own

- Entertaining details that spark with Gothic and Steampunk flair

-A romance that proves to be as difficult to attain as beautiful it turns out to be when it's fulfilled

All these things and many more make a great adventure that got better with each book. Hurray for this crafty writer. Dear Susan, I know you suffered through your writing, but let me tell you. It was worth everything 'cause you got one hell of a story there.

The author weaves a fast-paced tale of mystery, honor and dark magic set against a surprising Victorian background. I was fascinated by the plot unfolding into an investigation. In the first book, Philadelphia is drowning in a sea of corpses that are barely contained in the city's cemetery, but the authorities are trying to avoid too much scandal. After all, they want to preserve some stability due to the Exhibition and all the powerful, rich people visiting its technological wonders.  Zombies are a threatening plague, but there are so many other things going on! Among tea parties, social gossip and motherly pressure, Eleanor strives to solve her brother's disappearance before the city is run over by the Dead or her mother suffocates her in rules.

I admire Eleanor as a main character. She's not overly pretty, which is fine by me. With wit and determination, she keeps digging and uncovers many dirty secrets that lurk in the shadows of society and connect with the past. Clever, brave and unstoppable, Eleanor is still a girl who makes mistakes and misses her brother and falls in love with an impossible suitor. Whether she's fighting off zombies by the dozen or cracking puzzles, she's a cook character. Love you, girl!

The plot never wavers as it's full of mystery, action, and secrets to be discovered about 19th century customs or devices, the city of Philadelphia, the Exhibition... Lots and lots of events keep happening. The zombie part also spins a new angle to the topic and connects well with an era that was keen on séances and  new technology that somehow combines modern and steampunk notions.  

Amidst the crazy conspiracies, monster invasion and society pressure, there is also a heartening pinch of romance. Nevertheless, it never smothers the importance of the plot and it's the kind that is hard to come by.

At the end, it all comes to an explosion of action, horror and sacrifice. It is bittersweet, but also holds much promise for the future.

2

In very dire circumstances, Eleanor has to face so many new challenges that I can't imagine how she goes on. She does, and that makes for an incredibly exciting second book.

- She's got an exhilarating but worrying new power that weirdly makes up for something she lost last time

- That power will put her to the test morally and physically, and her loyalties too, both to and from her friends

- She can't trust anybody as family and friends desert and doubt her, and enemies pursue her in the most horrifying and not always obvious ways

- The horror gothic elements are ever present and get more and more intriguing

- She travels on a ship and the interactions with the characters there start an amazing plot line

- A surprising and charismatic young man who brings up more mysteries to delight the reader: Oliver, ah, Oliver.

Prepare to enjoy a wild ride through the vibrant city of Paris, hungry Les Morts, an intricate mystery, power-seeking enemies, horrifying magic, disorienting temptations, a reunion with the fantastic trio of Spirit-Hunters, a Zeppelin and fabulous French food. I gobbled this book up in a day. It's an amazing combination of Eleanor's fall into dark powers, the search for an enigma hidden in her brother's letters, and an impossible romance with inventor Daniel Sheridan.

Though I have to confess that my favourite character, besides valiant Eleanor, is Oliver. I love his flippancy, his nature, his tragedy, his wit, his far-from-subservient-yielding to commands.

The ending is superb; an electrifying confrontation with the Dead, a blood-thirsty villain, dark magic and sacrifices for loved ones. I am truly amazed at how good this sequel is!

3

Nothing can compare to the feeling of each book in a trilogy/series getting better than the previous ones (even if they were so good to begin with). Pure bliss. I loved every page of Strange and Ever After because it's brimming with rich and unstoppable action, characters driven by strong emotions and connections, and a plot that gets more textured, meaningful and deeper with every scene.

Such startling beginning. Eleanor is still losing precious things in her life full of sacrifice. I recoiled at the harshness that's exchanged between Oliver and she. Their relationship is becoming dangerously painful. After they reach their destination by airship (exciting Egypt!), the whole team embarks on a rescue mission. Secrets that will help them in their quest are unearthed here, but at an immense cost of magic and peril. There is an impressive and powerful confrontation that left me breathless!

Even on the third adventure, it still astounds me how tough things are for Eleanor. She's challenged every step of the way. Not only must she face hordes of Dead and countless dangers, but she's constantly questioned because of the dubious nature of her powers. This is definitely not your standard damsel in distress. She's fierce but flawed, she's in love but also independent.

My dears, love blossoms at last. And it was as exhilarating as I'd hoped, as hard-earned and deserving as a Shakespearean drama, but oh so bittersweet as well. Why, oh, why Eleanor? And at the end... why, Susan?

The level of action is unbelievable here and the torrential prose of the author just makes it epic. The past literally wakes to pass knowledge to Eleanor. Everything magical in this trilogy is so original and powerful. The addition of Egyptian lore takes this adventure to a cinematic, legendary level.

I feel captivated by the intimate, platonic, sad, violent passion that bonds Eleanor and her demon Oliver. Really, sometimes I just wished Daniel wasn't in the picture. Though their sweet moments of romance are incredibly beautiful too. When they share dreams of a future in the darkest moments, for example. Still, I love the romance in the story, but not Daniel himself.

I'm afraid I have no words that will do justice to the powerful imagery the author conjures with her talent. She creates raw emotions that break and make characters, thrilling adventures, masterful depictions of magic and the inner workings of the soul. She takes places and their cultures (Philadelphia, Paris, Egypt) and mold them as allies to the plot in the most fantastic and exciting way.

And as it should be, as it deserves, this book and this trilogy have the strangest and most heart-wrenching end that I would have never envisioned. Oh, so terrible, beautiful and sad. So much everything!

Unique. If nothing else, and I assure you a hundred times over this story is unconventional to no end, it is full of drama, action and emotion. I loved, and suffered, and sighed with longing at that unfair ending. A fourth book, maybe? A novella to soothe the pain? One can hope.

A well-plotted, cleverly written trilogy about an unlikely heroine who rises to a monstrous challenge and loses one thing after another while the Victorian world she lives in falls under a Gothic, magical, necromantic, zombie-infested mayhem. A boredom-killer for sure.

Perfect for fans of:

-historical flavour mixed with paranormal and horror

-lots and lots of surprises, action, and passionate dialogues

- a kick-ass, clever heroine 

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I am a writer, reader, lover of animals, and eater of cookies. I used to be a marine biologist, but now I write novels. And not novels about fish either, but novels about kick-butt heroines and swoon-worthy rogues (I reallylike swoon-worthy rogues).

I live in the Midwest with my husband and two dogs (Asimov and Princess Leia), and you can learn more about my crazy thoughts and crippling cookie-addiction on my blog or twitter.

My debut, SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY is now available from HarperTeen along with the prequel, A DAWN MOST WICKED, and the sequel A DARKNESS STRANGE & LOVELY.

Look for STRANGE & EVER AFTER in summer 2014 and TRUTHWITCH in fall 2015!

Note: I am on Goodreads to READ. So, if you want to discuss books and the joys of literature, add me as a friend!

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