(ARC Review) The Haunted by Jessica Verday

THE HAUNTED
The Hollow Trilogy #2
Author: Jessica Verday
Source: Simon Pulse
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (August 31, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141697895X
• ISBN-13: 978-1416978954

SYNOPSIS:

An impossible truth. An impossible love. 

After a summer spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with--the boy who must not exist, cannot exist, because she knows that he is dead--Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, ready to leave the ghosts of her past behind. She throws herself into her schoolwork, her perfume-making, and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be her ticket to getting over Caspian once and for all.


But Abbey can never get over Caspian, and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side, for Caspian is a Shade, and Abbey is his destiny. They are tied not only to each other, but also to the town of Sleepy Hollow, and to the famous legend that binds their fates--a legend whose dark truths they are only beginning to guess....

MY THOUGHTS:

After the disappointment that The Hollow left me with, I was anxious to read the next in the series to see if it would be better.  I am so glad I gave this author another chance!

Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow after a breakdown caused by the death of her best friend Kristen and falling in love with a dead boy.  She has been living with her Aunt and finally comes home after the completion of the Sleepy Hollow bridge to dedicate it in the memory of her friend.  She is scared to return to the town that caused her such pain, but she puts a brave face on and decides it is time.  Just when things start taking off with Ben and getting back into the perfume creations, Caspian returns to Abbey.  She feels conflicted at first trying to figure out if she is going crazy again, or if Caspian truly is real in her world.  Along the way, we get to see the love between Caspian and Abbey grow, old favorites return in Abbey's life and new discoveries about The Shade.

I am amazed at how much the author's writing has progressed from The Hollow.  I admit, the beginning of this book moves slow like the first one, but as you get going in the story it really takes off. That is about the only negative thing about the book in my opinion. There is more suspense with a lot of the answers you were wanting from the previous book being answered.  The author still left a great climax at the end of the story though that will leave you frustrated because you have to wait for the final book.  Some things become clear in the plot, but other things are going to be left for the final book I assume.  Personally, I can't wait for the final book now.  I have crossed the Sleepy Hollow bridge and I don't want to turn back!

MY RATING:

Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS

THE HOLLOW by Jessica Verday

THE HOLLOW
Author: Jessica Verday
Source: Library

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416978933
• ISBN-13: 978-1416978930

SYNOPSIS:
When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead?and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

MY THOUGHTS:

I was so excited to finally get this from the library. I had been wanting to read this forever. I will admit, the cover is what captured my interest. I was instantly intrigued after reading the blurb on the book for this one. This was a plot completely different than what I would normally read.

Be prepared for a long read. This book is over 500 pages, but the format is largely spaced lines making it more like 250+ pages instead. I started out liking this book, but the further I read into this book, the more I started to get bored with it. Is there suppose to be a romance between Caspian and Abbey? At first I thought there was going to be, but as you go through the book, it is uncertain. Was there going to be a conclusion to the mysterious way her friend died? I couldn't figure it out. It never explained what happened to her. The last couple chapters the author rushes to explain some things, but at the end I was still stumped and wondering what was the point in reading all these pages when the ending had so many loose ends. I hate to give spoilers, so I won't go into detail on what was left unexplained.

I do hope the author plans on releasing the next novel quickly so we can get the ending we deserve to read. I understand she wrote this whole novel by hand, but that is no excuse for not finishing a story. Even books that are a part of a series have some sort of closure at the end of each book.

MY RATING:

A Decent Read.
Has Some Drawbacks Though.