Friday, August 22, 2014

Cathy Reviews: Thorn Jack

I'm so pleased today to welcome my mother in law Cathy back to the blog to share her thoughts on Thorn Jack!

THORN JACK
Night and Nothing #1
Katherine Harbour
Fantasy/Fairy Tale Retelling
352 pages
Harper Voyager
Available Now
Source: Finished copy from publisher for review

THE STORY
Finn Sullivan has lost her older sister to suicide. Fleeing the memories left in San Francisco, she and her father move to an upstate New York town filled with socialities, hippies, movie and Theatre folk, where every corner holds possibilities and mysteries. As she settles in and begins college at the local university, HallowHeart, she discovers her sisters journal, filled with ominous musings on otherworldly beings.  She also meets the devastatingly handsome Jack Fata—and the rest of the enigmatic Fata family. 

As Finn’s fascination with Jack and his family deepens—and theirs for her does the same—she learns that they and the rest of the town denizens are far more than they seem, both for good and evil. Her sister’s journal suddenly seems much more menacing and realistic than she could ever have imagined.

Soon Finn learns that attention from the Fatas brings dangerous consequences. To free herself and save her friends and her love, Finn must confront the Fatas and unravel the secrets surrounding her sister’s death.

CATHY'S THOUGHTS
Most of us grew up hearing or reading fairy tales. Being Irish, I'd heard many stories about the fae but always thought of them as whimsical or benign. Not so true of the mystical characters that Katherine Harbour has created. Ms. Harbour has done a wonderful and titillating job of weaving a story where we can't distinguish good from evil until it's too late.

After the death of Finn's sister, Lily Rose, she and her father move back to the tiny town of Fair Hollow, her father's old home and hometown. This is a town filled with a sinister history. The description of the students at the college Finn attends reminds you of those you might see at a renaissance fair, complete with historical costumes. You can easily envision all of the students running around in velvet and lace.

Finn makes two immediate friends, Christie and Sylvia. The three of them soon discover that some of the residents of Fair Hollow are not exactly what they appear to be. Finn might not have delved deeper into the strange goings on in town if not for her sister's journal though. A journal filled with stories of faeries and other mythical creatures. And then there is Jack!!! Finn is captivated by Jack even after she realizes he is not what he seems and is missing something crucial.

Ms. Harbour does an excellent job of making our heroine the right combination of young woman with a savior complex and just plain frustrating. Like in any good horror story, Finn runs blindly ahead into danger, causing us to want to scream at her to STOP, but we're also glad that she's plunged ahead because we're hanging on to see what happens next.

Ms. Harbour uses literary references, such as Yeats and Shakespeare, to reaffirm the possibility that there may indeed be a faerie world and most of us just can't see it. There are a lot of Gaelic references as well, but don't be put off because there is a glossary at the back of the book. And thrown in for good measure is an old hotel that would rival the one in The Shining.

For me, Thorn Jack was a page turner, filled with mystery, dark thrills, and romance. As we read the epilogue, we hear soft voices that lead us to believe that we have not seen the last of the faerie world. I find that exciting and can't wait for the next book.

Rating: 4/5

Find Katherine:

 
This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review
I received no other compensation and the above is my (or in this case, Cathy's) honest opinion.

39 comments:

  1. Intriguing. Creepy cover too ;) Pretty and creepy

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  2. I've heard some good things about this one from a couple of bloggers and I'm intrigued. I especially like how you can't distinguish between good and evil until it's too late. I think that would make for an exciting read because there's bound to be surprises. Well, I need to try this book out.
    Lovely review, Cathy! :)

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    1. Nick, I found it to be a page turner, with a lot of unexpected twists. Glad you liked the review.

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  3. Excellent review Cathy. Sounds like a page-turner. Intense! Your description drew me in and sparked my curiousity immediately!!!

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    1. So glad you liked the review and it sparked an interest. Let me know if you want to read it! It's worth it!

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  4. I'm also Irish, and grew up reading stories about Fae; Katherine Harbour's approach is rather refreshing! I generally prefer my Fantasy to be on the darker side, so this book sounds perfect for me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Cathy!

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    1. Yea for the Irish! It is dark so you should enjoy the creepy factor. I did. I hope the review spurred you to get the book.

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  5. This sounds wonderful Cathy! I love these type of reads. Nice review!

    Happy Friday you two!

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    1. Happy Friday to you. So glad you liked the review. I am very lucky that Jenny passes these books my way and shares her space on the blog. Enjoy this book.

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  6. Asma, my co-blogger, really enjoyed this one, and I'm glad you did too! It sounds right up my alley (dark and thrilling!) and I cannot wait to read it myself.

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    1. Between this review and Asma's, I see this book calling to you. Enjoy

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  7. Wicked fae, classic lit references and an old hotel reminiscent of the one in The Shining? What's not to like? I haven't heard of this one before now, at least I don't think, but I certainly love the sound of it.
    Cathy's reviewes are always very welcome and fabulous! Thank you, Cathy, and thank you for sharing, Jenny!

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    1. It makes me happy that you enjoy the reviews. I appreciate Jenny's hospitality on the blog. Plus in this book there is sooooo much more in the way of creepiness that I didn't mention!!

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  8. Oh this one wasn't on my radar at all but I love the sound of it! It sounds pretty dark and thrilling which are two things the books i've been reading lately have lacked. Lovely review :)

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    1. Glad that Jenny and I can add to your book list! This is a good one to curl up with at night!!. It adds to he darkness.

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  9. It's interesting, I always love to learn more about tales and well I have a guge weakness for faes. Thanks for the discovery!

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  10. Not only will you love all the creatures in this one, but the glossary at the back really fills you in on the fae.

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  11. Love retellings so you had me there. Love the sound of the frustrating character, Finn. :) Also must know more about Jack. Darn it! I think you just added another book to my rather long wishlist.

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    1. You definitely want to know more about Jack! I love being so engrossed in a story that I need to tell the character what to do. This needs to be added to your pile.

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  12. I just want to chime in with my mad love for this book. It was so good, right up my alley!

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    1. So glad you agree. And after Jenny's review yesterday, your book jumped to the top of my stack!

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  13. Oh gosh this sounds terrific, I love dark fairy tales and to see that Ann Aguirre loved it, I must get it now. Thanks Cathy for your recommendation!

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    1. So glad to add to your book stack but this is definitely worth it

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  14. Hmmm, REALLY interested in this one. I'm curious to see the mystery in it. Also, I didn't know you were Irish. Yay to that. ;D

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    1. Yes, I'm very Irish ! And you won't be disappointed with the mystery.

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  15. "mystery, dark thrills, and romance?" Sign me up...this one sounds fantastic!

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    1. I know such a great combination! Put it on your list

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  16. I love stories where you cannot distinguish good from bad and I really love when you have to think about it and get surprised at the end. Not to mention that mystery and romance that sound so appealing to me. Great review :)

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    1. She leads you down several paths and has you holding your breath. Glad the review has you interested.

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  17. "the right combination of young woman with a savior complex and just plain frustrating" YES! This is Finn to a T! I really liked this because it had such a fantastical feel. Great story. *waves* Hi, Cathy! *hugs*

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    1. Waves and big hugs to you Mary! If I didn't want to know what was happening so badly I would have screamed. Finn is definitely action before thinking .

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  18. I'm usually not the biggest fan of stories about the Fair Folk, but this one sounds so very intriguing and fantastic! I really need to add this one to the TBR for sure!
    Great review Cathy!

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    1. I hope the review swayed you to check put this book. You are definitely kept on the edge of your seat.

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  19. I love inspired re-tellings, and after reading your review I'm even more excited about Thorn Jack! I love it when a story slowly unfolds, and you're never sure until the ending who is truly good and who is bad. I've actually already bought this because I really couldn't resist (even with way too many reads already) and now I'm going to have to bump this to the top. Thanks for the wonderful reivew :)

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    1. Definitely find a night when you can curl up and get swallowed up in this story. I don't think you will be disappointed.

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  20. I haven't heard much of this one but it sounds SO GOOD. I love dark faerie tales (I'm such a sucker for a solid retelling) and the characters seem so intriguing in this one. Thanks for putting this on my radar, Cathy--I need to find myself a copy ASAP!

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  21. Ooh this sounds wonderful! I hadn't heard of it but now I want to get myself a copy. I do love that wonderful blend of frustration and thrills that accompany heroines who dive blindly into danger, but in a book like this you wouldn't have it any other way. So curious about the hotel that rivals the Overlook, and about the literary references to faeries. Lovely review!

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