The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart (Magic Most Foul, #2)

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The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart (Magic Most Foul #2)

by Leanna Renee Hieber (Goodreads Author)

3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 · rating details · 265 ratings · 78 reviews

I'm coming for you.

The whispers haunt her dreams and fill her waking hours with dread. Something odd is happening. Something...unnatural.

Possession of the living. Resurrection of the dead. And Natalie Stewart is caught right in the middle. Jonathon, the one person she thought she could trust, has become a double agent for the dark side. But he plays the part so well, Natal...more

Paperback, 332 pages

Published November 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks Fire

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YA Historical Fiction 2012

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Nov 25, 2012 Mitch rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart picks up right where Darker Still leaves off, with Natalie and Denbury on a train out of New York in the aftermath of their confrontation with Denbury’s demon. It takes only a few paragraphs to remind me why Darker Still was such an interesting read, from its fairly unique epistolary form, telling the story through journal entries and newspaper clippings, to its take on gothic horror, almost like there’s a poetic quality to the writing, because luckily...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Hylary Locsin rated it 1 of 5 stars

Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

Lord Denbury is free from his prison inside a cursed painting and the demon who was inhabiting his body has been vanquished. Now he and Natalie are on the run, seeking refuge with one of Denbury’s longtime friends in St. Paul. Not sure where the answer to their troubles lies, they are shocked upon arriving in St. Paul to learn that the Society that cursed Lord Denbury in the first place now has mu...more Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

Lord Denbury is free from his prison inside a cursed painting and the demon who was inhabiting his body has been vanquished. Now he and Natalie are on the run, seeking refuge with one of Denbury’s longtime friends in St. Paul. Not sure where the answer to their troubles lies, they are shocked upon arriving in St. Paul to learn that the Society that cursed Lord Denbury in the first place now has much larger and more sinister plans in store. It seems that the Society has capture Rachel Horowitz, a friend of Natalie’s from New York, who cannot hear or speak but has the ability to communicate with spirits. Through visions and premonitions, Natalie is able to see Rachel being held captive, forced to draw spirits out of objects, mementos, even body parts. What is the Society planning and how does it relate to the demon that once cursed Lord Denbury?

Author Leanna Renee Hieber continues her love-affair with Victorian literature in this sequel to her 2011 novel, Darker Still. Unfortunately, where her first novel shone in its marriage of mystery, romance and suspense, the sequel falls markedly short. There are several reasons why The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart is not a successful follow-up to its predecessor. The first is that Darker Still had a very intriguing and well-written plot: Lord Denbury’s imprisonment in the painting, Natalie’s inability to communicate due to being mute, a murder mystery on the streets of Victorian New York. The plot of the sequel, however, is muddled, convoluted and not very entertaining. The “big reveal” at the end of the novel is very anti-climactic, and the build-up to that point is lackluster. Characters are introduced then never really expanded upon, and the romance between Natalie and Lord Denbury doesn’t really go anywhere. The charm of the setting in Darker Still is also absent, with little attention given to the Victorian surroundings and sensibilities that the author obviously cares for. There is an attempt at a cliffhanger that does little to motivate the reader to want to pick up the third novel which is set to be released in November of 2013. Overall, a disappointing follow-up to a story that had loads of potential.

Darker Still was one of my favorite young adult books that I’ve read within the past few years. I was really excited for the sequel, so much so that I held off on reading it for awhile so that I could really enjoy it when I finally got to crack it open. Unfortunately, I was exceptionally unimpressed with The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart. I’m not sure what happened, it just took a complete turn into dullsville for me. Where Darker Still was original and charming, the sequel was very blah. I am really sad about how much I didn’t enjoy it because I still really love the first novel. Hopefully the author can turn it around for the third installment, but I do have to say, it’s unlikely I will bother completing the series. (less)

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Dec 31, 2012 drey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, ya

Natalie Stewart did the impossible, and managed to rescue Jonathon from his portrait, in Darker Still. You’d think she would be able to look forward to her happily ever after now. But no… Ms. Hieber has more trials and travails for these two lovebirds.

Needing to get away from the evil that’s tainted their lives so far, Jonathon and Natalie hop on a train headed west, and stop in on one of Jonathon’s friends – only to find the same taint there. So they head back to the city, where Jonathon decide...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Annette rated it 3 of 5 stars

Compared to the first book, Darker Still: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart left me wanting.

I found Darker Still to be macabre, tense, and clever in it's solution. Twisted Tragedy seemed superficial, unnecessarily complicated, and somewhat difficult to follow. There's the demon, and the Society, which are both "bad." But, I had a hard time following how they were related.

Supposedly Natalie and Jonathon are in grave danger throughout the entire book, but I ne...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Dorine White rated it 3 of 5 stars

Today I’m going to review the YA paranormal, The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart, by Leanna Renee Heiber.
The Story-
Natalie Stewart successfully rescued Jonathon from his picture frame at the end of book one, Darker Still. Now Natalie and Jonathon are on the run, trying to evade the police looking for Jonathan. Their travels bring them full circle when Jonathon discovers that demons are also after his friends and that back in New York something horrible is happening.
Home in NY, Natalie p...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Deborah Ideiosepius rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: not-quite-adult, supernatural

The Twisted Tragedy is quite well titled - it is kind of tragic. By page five I realised this was a continuation of a previous book though there had been no hint of this on the cover. I thought I might be able to enjoy it anyway (I have read books out of sequence before) so I kept going.

On page fifteen I suddenly ran into a small herd of inconsistencies; Corset? Cravat? Had they come from a Goth club? Gaslight on a train? Wtf. I went back to the first chapter and discovered what I had overlooke...more The Twisted Tragedy is quite well titled - it is kind of tragic. By page five I realised this was a continuation of a previous book though there had been no hint of this on the cover. I thought I might be able to enjoy it anyway (I have read books out of sequence before) so I kept going.

On page fifteen I suddenly ran into a small herd of inconsistencies; Corset? Cravat? Had they come from a Goth club? Gaslight on a train? Wtf. I went back to the first chapter and discovered what I had overlooked; rather than 1980 I was meant to be reading 1880 though in every other respect the people, language, behaviour were all so very modern day that it had taken me a while to notice.

By chapter four I was chaffing under what seems to me a very clumsy and inept attempt to represent the 1800’s. Walking onto a train platform and buying glasses for disguise? A middle/working class girl who has just been given a nice day dress wishing she did not have to wear the same dress all week? Actually, a girl of that class, dumb, yet is being sent to a school for disabled children? A young man and girl, unmarried share a private railway carriage sleeper? A dude (meant to be in restrained financial circumstances) hops on a boat from America to England, then spends a couple of nights there, then hops on another boat to go back... and seems to have accomplished all of this in less than a fortnight? I know the mail packets were quite fast but really!

By page 185 I was unabashedly and impatiently skim reading, waiting for something to happen or otherwise make sense. In the last part of the book things actually started happening and it was not a bad ending, but that is the nicest thing I can say about this one.

The writing style is somewhat blunt and clumsy, which would be forgivable if the plot and characters made up for it however the plot is all over the place and the characters flick past the reader without having been described or fleshed out, often too fast to make any impression. The magic use is neither consistent nor explained in any way, possibly if you had read #1 you would have the background to understand it.

I really get the feeling that the proof reading was neglected for this book because it does not hold together as a story at all. It is a sequel (and I am quite tempted to read the #1, just to know how it was), however as that is not blazoned on the cover I think it is not unreasonable to expect this book to hold together as it’s own novel. It does not.

The many ... issues with this book are the very kind of issues that give books targeting Young Adults a bad name and which are responsible for so many people refusing to read ‘YA’ books. There are many books written for younger people that are good but this is not one of them.
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Dec 03, 2012 Justin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Let me start by saying that this book is so much better than the first in the series. I enjoyed the first, but I really didn't feel the connection between Natalie and Denbury. In this book however, that connection is vibrant and so much more complex than it ever was in the first book. Leanna is an incredible writer, not only because of the amazing world she has created within the pages but the level of emotions the words that she writes can bring. It's such a gripping story, that I found to be a...more Let me start by saying that this book is so much better than the first in the series. I enjoyed the first, but I really didn't feel the connection between Natalie and Denbury. In this book however, that connection is vibrant and so much more complex than it ever was in the first book. Leanna is an incredible writer, not only because of the amazing world she has created within the pages but the level of emotions the words that she writes can bring. It's such a gripping story, that I found to be almost poetic in nature.

There are a lot of things you need when it comes to a good story. And you really get to see a lot of them in this second installment to this series. The main characters are more pronounced, as far as when they are talked about together. And even the other characters in this book are much more enjoyable than the ones in the first, even though several do cross over.

It's just a really elegant, dark, exciting and romantic story. I think those words are some of the best to describe it. But it is also surprisingly unique. There is just something about it that gives off this amazing vibe that I found to be quite enjoyable. I wouldn't go as far as to say that this book is a favorite, but there is no doubting the fact that this is an incredibly story written by an author that really knows what she is doing and knows how to really connect you with a story. I'm not really sure if there was much more I would of hoped to see in this second book, simply because it was such a huge improvement compared to the first one.

I'm really hoping this series continues, it feels like things could go on from here especially after the ending. I really, really enjoyed the ending. Leanna did a wonderful job wrapping things together, and the way it was done just felt so unique and I think that is testament to her skill as a writer. By far one of the better endings to a book that I have read.

Book two really helps bring this series together though, especially after my issues with the first. If you're looking to get into the series I would highly suggest it. Even if you have the same problems I did with the first book, hopefully this one will make up for it all like it did for me. And hopefully there will be a third book coming in the series, even though I wasn't really able to find out and information about one.
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Dec 04, 2012 Cocktails and Books rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reading-challenges, blog-tour, ya, paranormal

Natalie Stewart was hoping that she would be able to lead a somewhat normal life, now that her beloved Jonathan Whitby, Lord Denbury is freed from his prison. But they soon realize that Jonathan is wanted for murder and he must return to his native England to try and figure out what happened to his parents and exactly why he was imprisioned. But the Majesty Society is spreading and Jonathan is forced to play the double agent while trying to determine exactly what it is they plan to do.

I didn't r...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Stephanie Ward rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, for-review, owned

4.5 Stars

'The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart' is the second book in the Magic Most Foul series - a young adult paranormal series that follows Natalie Stewart as she continues to unravel the mystery behind Lord Denbury and the dark magic surrounding him. Once Denbury is accused of murder, things take an unexpected twist and he must travel to England to stop the demon that has taken his form. Natalie begins to suspect his true motives and must determine what's real and what's dark magic b...more 4.5 Stars

'The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart' is the second book in the Magic Most Foul series - a young adult paranormal series that follows Natalie Stewart as she continues to unravel the mystery behind Lord Denbury and the dark magic surrounding him. Once Denbury is accused of murder, things take an unexpected twist and he must travel to England to stop the demon that has taken his form. Natalie begins to suspect his true motives and must determine what's real and what's dark magic before it's too late for both Denbury and herself.

This is a fantastically unique and absorbing second book in an exciting and mysterious paranormal series. The characters are completely realistic and likable, especially the heroine of Natalie, who is not the usual main character seen in most novels. Denbury proves to be a dashingly handsome and mysterious character and he keeps both Natalie and the reader on their toes trying to figure him out. The setting of the novel is very richly detailed and full of descriptions that easily enable the reader to immerse themselves in the environment. The Victorian era New York and England fit the scene perfectly for the creepy storyline. The plot itself is refreshing and utterly unique - there isn't anything else like it out there. It breathes fresh air and a wonderful new voice into the YA paranormal genre. The narrative is set up as journal entries by Natalie with some newspaper articles and letters mixed in, much like a real journal would contain. I think this way of presenting the story brings the reader deeper into the thoughts and feelings of Natalie and thus gives us an inside view of the events as they unfold. The book is very well written and fast paced, which made this impossible to put down. There is a great mix of genres - paranormal, action, mystery, adventure, and romance - that's sure to keep readers enthralled. Overall, this is an enchanting second book in a refreshingly unique series that readers will simply devour.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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Jan 11, 2013 Alicia rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had my doubts as to whether or not the romance between Miss Natalie Stewart and her handsome Lord could continue to thrill me now that he's out of the portrait. I also wondered if I would like the direction their story took as they struck out West.

Thankfully, I was not disappointed! The story returns to New York, and our handsome hero spends plenty of time with our heroine in plenty of sweetly steamy ways!

The magic in this story was just as dark as its predecesor, and just as disturbing. Rean...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is a fun, quick read that allows for a much needed mental escape. I think Natalie is a really great character, in my opinion she is wonderfully written. She does brave things despite being scared, she's not content to be passive in her life but rather is strong & independent (with in her worldly constraints). I also really like Jonathan, he's protective without being overly so. He allows Natalie the freedom to be herself, but he's always there for her.

This book expands the nefario...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Lillie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley, arc-tour, book-or-blog-tour, series, sourcebooks, ya

See the full review at: Read My Mind

It's funny that I happened to read THE TWISTED TALE OF MISS NATALIE STEWART just before I read another gothic tale. Perhaps, after reading this wonderful addition to the DARKER STILL series, I still had a taste for a good gothic mystery. Regardless, this book continued the tale of Natalie Stewart and her love, Jonathan Denbury. having been rescued from the painting that he was trapped in, the two embark on a journey (figuratively and literally, at points) to...more See the full review at: Read My Mind

It's funny that I happened to read THE TWISTED TALE OF MISS NATALIE STEWART just before I read another gothic tale. Perhaps, after reading this wonderful addition to the DARKER STILL series, I still had a taste for a good gothic mystery. Regardless, this book continued the tale of Natalie Stewart and her love, Jonathan Denbury. having been rescued from the painting that he was trapped in, the two embark on a journey (figuratively and literally, at points) to find and uncover the villain they can't seem to shed. I've already slightly spoiled DARKER STILL, the first book in the series, and to avoid major spoilers for both, I won't speak too much on the plot.

However, Natalie has regained her voice, which makes her part in discovering more about the demon that walked about as Jonathan slightly easier, as now she can talk to her confidantes and help Jonathan don the personality of his demon doppelganger. In DARKER STILL, Natalie is an intelligent young woman, and rather unlike the truth of a majority of Victorian women. She has a freedom that is seldom contained, and a sharp mind that the reader gets to experience more of in THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART.

What I like about Leanna Renee Hieber's writing is that is has little touches here and there that seem to go beyond one-dimentional research. There is an authenticity employed in the dress, the speech, and the personalities that seem impossible for someone who could never have experienced Victorian or Gaslamp society themselves.

THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART was all that I could hope for in a follow-up to DARKER STILL. Everything that I liked about the characters from the first book has perfect continuity in this one. Hieber knows how to spin a great tale, where the setting is just as important as the story, and she captured my interest with the unusual tale of Denbury and Natalie. Starting out as a tribute to the Dorian Grey idea, the series has gone beyond what most know about the "picture". Hieber has molded and twisted the idea into her own with great success.

Book Rating:
13/15
4 Stars
A-

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Jan 21, 2013 Christina (Confessions of a Book Addict) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, for-review

In Darker Still, it ends with Jonathan (Lord Denbury) and Natalie on a train leaving New York City. They are pretty much on the run along with the help of Mrs. Northe, who is staying in New York. Just as in Darker Still, all three are still trying to solve the mystery. Natalie and Jonathan are running away from the evil that still lingers in the city; however, once they get to Jonathan's friend's house, they find something disturbing there as well. They decide to regroup and Natalie to heads bac...more In Darker Still, it ends with Jonathan (Lord Denbury) and Natalie on a train leaving New York City. They are pretty much on the run along with the help of Mrs. Northe, who is staying in New York. Just as in Darker Still, all three are still trying to solve the mystery. Natalie and Jonathan are running away from the evil that still lingers in the city; however, once they get to Jonathan's friend's house, they find something disturbing there as well. They decide to regroup and Natalie to heads back to the city. Jonathan makes an executive decision: to pretend to be on the dark side in order to figure out what is going on, including the mystery surrounding his murdered family. The Twisted Tragedy of Natalie Stewart is book two in the Magic Most Foul series by Leanna Renee Hieber and although it is deliciously gothic and entertaining, I didn't find it quite as absorbing as Darker Still.

One of the best parts of The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart is the relationship between Natalie and Jonathan. Although I definitely wanted more of this in book two, I still really liked them together as a couple. Another thing I enjoyed about The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart is Hieber's writing. She really creates such a spine-chilling atmosphere that I was thinking about long after the story was over.

I am not big on horror stories and was afraid that this series might push me to the edge, but I think it's more gothic than a horror story. But don't get me wrong! In The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart, there's still a demon running loose, a creepy doctor, a scary hospital, and an evil society; so, there's plenty of eerie parts to this novel. However, what I find most enjoyable are the gothic elements and the Victorian time period. Hieber does a really good job bringing it all to life.

Although The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart wasn't as good as Darker Still, it was still an entertaining read with gothic undertones truly as the star of the show. (less)

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Dec 04, 2012 Jeanbooknerd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

Leanna Renee Hieber’s The Twisted Tragedy of Natalie Stewart wastes no time in picking up where Darker Still ended. The adventure continues with Natalie and Lord Denbury escaping New York City from the nightmare and dark magic that almost got them killed. Once at their destination, they discover of more ghastly demon-related things that has Natalie going back and Denbury going to England to clear his name.

This beautifully written gothic tale resumes the style that readers liked in the first book...more

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Nov 27, 2012 The Bumble Girl {Margie} rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-paperback

Leanna Renee Hieber has done it again!
This time, she re-imagines the classic Frankenstein by Mary Shelley -
with her own gasping twists and turns!

The Twisted Tragedy of Natalie Stewart immediately picks up where Darker Still left off, not a moment or minute was spared in between these two books! Right from the beginning we're on another journey with Natalie and Lord Denbury, leaving New York City to try to leave behind the nightmare and dark magic that had tried to kill them both. But as soon as...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Ange (MarmaladeLibby of Libby Blog) Schmelzer rated it 5 of 5 stars

The plot thickens....

Voices that whisper in Natalie's head and haunt her dreams. Visions of a long ago friend being forced to connect spirits to items in boxes. A doctor looking for dead bodies. Everything seems to be connected to The Society who has seized Lord Denbury's home in England.

As Natalie and Jonathan try to find answers to all of the mysterious happenings, they realize that they are being pushed farther and deeper into danger...and the real question becomes...will they survive this ti...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Bonnie at A Backwards Story added it

Shelves: 2012, blog-tour, fantasy

When first picking up THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART, I expected the format to be the same as it was for DARKER STILL. The story was told as Natalie wrote her adventures. Now that she's no longer mute, the second book reads like a traditional novel in terms of format. While it's a little jarring to see the difference when reading back-to-back, it also allows for the addition of letters from Jonathon's experience in London, as well as a deeper look at the dreams plaguing Natalie. The...more When first picking up THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART, I expected the format to be the same as it was for DARKER STILL. The story was told as Natalie wrote her adventures. Now that she's no longer mute, the second book reads like a traditional novel in terms of format. While it's a little jarring to see the difference when reading back-to-back, it also allows for the addition of letters from Jonathon's experience in London, as well as a deeper look at the dreams plaguing Natalie. The book also feels more immediate now, and adds more tension designed to leave readers at the edge of their seats.

Just when everyone thought the past was behind them, having trapped the demon posing as Jonathon into the portrait and pulling the real Jonathon back into the world, it seems that dark magic is still afoot. Other demons are around, performing foul experiments even more horrible and tragic than before. Leanna Renee Hieber again blends gothic horror with historical fantasy for a unique blend of story that's easy to be sucked into. Rather than fall into the trap of "Now that Book One romantically tied the two main characters together, what do I do?" moment that makes many authors create love triangles or break-ups/reunions, Hieber splits the two up by distance. Natalie remains in New York City, while Jonathon investigates what happened to his estate in London. Apart, the two investigate the supernatural world they've been pulled into, while still working together to fight evil.

I love seeing the twist of classic fiction mixed in with this series. The first book, DARKER STILL, had remnants of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, while TWISTED TRAGEDY dips its fingers into Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The atmosphere of both books is creepy and intense, much in the vein of these traditional tales, and are certainly not posers in the gothic romance category like so many other books being published. The new book evens out elements that were rougher in the first book and builds better character relationships. It's also less mythological and more religious this time around, though also more focused on ghosts and the afterlife. Due to the new writing style, it's also easier to slip into Natalie's head and feel the events in a way I didn't in the first book. It will be interesting to see where Hieber goes next with this story, and what tales she manages to twist up next in the fight against evil.(less)

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Dec 13, 2012 Hpboy13 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Leanna's writing is as exquisite as ever, making the nineteenth century come alive in a way few other writers can. Where "Darker Still" was "Picture of Dorian Gray" updated, this book throws in the legend of Frankenstein for good measure. This book expands upon Darker Still, with new characters, and an ever-more menacing and omnipresent Society.

Natalie is a refreshing female protagonist - no damsel in distress, she takes charge and leads the fight against the bad guys. Also, thank god she and De...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Patti Loves FAB Romance rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

PJV Quickie: This beautifully written gothic tale is a can’t miss for fans of the first book, Darker Still: A Novel of Magic Most Foul. Both horrifying and hopeful, once you open the cover you will be spellbound by this fantastical world Ms. Hieber has created!

Review
I absolutely loved Darker Still: A Novel of Magic Most Foul (my review here), and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the next installment. My wait was not in vain – Ms. Heiber really delivered in The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Ste...more PJV Quickie: This beautifully written gothic tale is a can’t miss for fans of the first book, Darker Still: A Novel of Magic Most Foul. Both horrifying and hopeful, once you open the cover you will be spellbound by this fantastical world Ms. Hieber has created!

Review
I absolutely loved Darker Still: A Novel of Magic Most Foul (my review here), and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the next installment. My wait was not in vain – Ms. Heiber really delivered in The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart.

In Darker Still, Jonathan’s soul had been trapped in a portrait while a demon possessed his body and committed horrible crimes. With the help of Natalie and some of her acquaintances, he is freed from the portrait and decides to pursue the mysterious organization that trapped him in the portrait.

Twisted Tragedy picks up where we left Jonathon and Natalie in Darker Still: On a train leaving New York to visit Jonathon’s friend in an attempt to get more information about the secretive Association and their nefarious experiments. Before they can get very far into their investigation, they realize things are worse than they imagined and Jonathon must travel to England while pretending that he is still possessed by the demon. Natalie heads back to New York to face her father, seeing as how she left unannounced to run off with Jonathon.

As Jonathon delves deeper into the Association to find clues, Natalie is being stalked in her dreams by an old foe. With the help of some old friends and new, they must fight adversaries on both the spiritual and corporeal plane.
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I thoroughly enjoyed The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart. Ms. Hieber has taken these unique characters and shaped them in ways both surprising and curious. We meet again Mrs. Northe and her niece Maggie, and meet new characters like the intriguing Reverend Blessing and Natalie’s dear friend Rachel, who has a mystical talent of her own. There were a couple of spots where I thought the villains missed a bit of the obvious, but for the most part they were eerily horrifying in their beliefs and actions.

Ms. Hieber combines a beautifully constructed Victorian world where mysticism masquerades as a popular hobby but in reality is dangerous to both body and soul. The romantic relationship between Natalie and Jonathon continues to move at a pace appropriate for the times, at once both sweet and frustrating in the restrictions placed on the characters by ‘proper’ society.

One of the things I love about this series is that I just can’t trust any of the characters: At different points throughout the story I have suspected each of the characters (except Natalie and her father), and I’m still cautious about trusting anyone’s motivations. The story was delightfully creepy (can those two words be used together, really?) and the set-up for the next book leaves me anxious for Natalie and Jonathon about what’s coming next.

When I spoke to a friend a few weeks ago about Darker Still, I told her the book was “like velvet” and she laughed, but it’s true! Sometimes you get involved in a story and the author does such a good job of describing the surroundings that you can feel the textures of the fabrics and smell the scents in the air – and that’s exactly what Ms. Hieber has done with this wonderful series.

Recommendations
Fans of YA historicals, gothic classics, and dark YA romance will enjoy The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart.(less)

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Jan 23, 2013 Christy B (Readin' and Dreamin') rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, historical-fiction, neo-victorian

A really good sequel to Darker Still.

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart picks up right where Darker Still left off. And due to possible spoilers, I will refrain from saying exactly what that is. I was wondering how the series would continue after Darker Still; I couldn't see what could possibly happen next.

I will say that the beginning of the book was slow going and I was a bit fearful that the whole book would be like this. Thankfully, once the story settled, it took off and I was engr...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Teresa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, own-it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 06, 2012 Veronica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned-books, teen-books

I still had the feeling of can't-put-it-down I-want-to-finish-it-now. Unfortunately, most of the action happens in the last 30-50 pages so there are a lot more scenes of Natalie writing, avoiding thinking about Jonathan, etc. The writing was still decent, I just wish the action/adventure was more spread out through the book to make it move more smoothly. That said, the action was very intense and the imagery was particularly gruesome (in a good way). I'm assuming there will be another book in th...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Marcie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart is the second book to the Magic Most Foul series. This book picks up literally where the last one left off. Natalie and Jonathan are on a train trying to escape the demons that plague them. However in running away they come face to face with what they were trying to escape in the first place. Natalie and Jonathan are torn into two different directions, and must learn to trust each other.
This is a good book, but I didn't like it as much as Darker Still....more

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Mar 13, 2013 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, ya-paranormal

The thing I loved best about Darker Still - besides the ever-increasing stakes and thrills - was the relationship between the characters. Jonathon and Natalie knew that this was instalove, knew it probably shouldn't be, and decided to screw social norms - but be careful about it. They poked fun at the trope that so irritates me and then managed to pull of their own in a way that I didn't feel screwed over.

And like Darker Still, The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart failed to disappoint in...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Maryann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won a copy of this book via a GoodReads First Reads Giveaway!

I might have won my copy of this book, but I was intrigued by it from the moment I saw the cover. The blurb further piqued my curiosity, so when I received my copy I was ecstatic. And the anticipation was well worth it. The book is about Natalie Stewart and the people around her. Natalie is sucked into a world of dark magic and crazy science that threatens to tear her and those around her apart. The man she loves was once possessed b...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Christa (More Than Just Magic) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, genre-gothic-southern-gothic, genre-paranormal-supernatural, part-of-a-series, publisher-sourcebooks, young-adult

This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic

Way back in 2011 I read and reviewed Darker Still, the first book in the Magic Most Foul series by Leanna Renee Hieber. It was dark and dramatic and had this amazing gothic feel to it. And there was Lord Denbury. Yum. It was just an excellent and exciting book.

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart, book two in the series promised more of the same. More adventure, more romance, more Lord Denbury. And now Natalie can speak! You get to expe...more This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic

Way back in 2011 I read and reviewed Darker Still, the first book in the Magic Most Foul series by Leanna Renee Hieber. It was dark and dramatic and had this amazing gothic feel to it. And there was Lord Denbury. Yum. It was just an excellent and exciting book.

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart, book two in the series promised more of the same. More adventure, more romance, more Lord Denbury. And now Natalie can speak! You get to experience the adventure alongside of her, instead of after the fact through journal entries. Needless to say I was excited to get my hands on a copy of this book. I couldn’t wait to see where the adventure took Natalie and Jonathan next.

But despite all my excitement and my love for Darker Still I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed when I finally sat down to read this book. Right off the bat it didn’t have that same gothic, creepy Dorian Grey feel that Darker Still had. It still had so much great detail and the time period seemed quite authentic. But the tone felt different. Maybe it was the change of writing styles. Everything was so much more straightforward and it didn’t carry that air of mystery that Natalie’s diary entries had. I think by giving us more information it took away some of the suspense – which was one of the elements I loved the most.

Related to the lack of suspense, was the slower pacing. With Natalie’s diary entries we were restricted to just the highlights of the events unfolding. No one spends a ton of time writing down the mundane details in their diary. But in The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart there is so much time spent worrying and talking about how dangerous everything is and what their plan should be. Some scenes felt like they dragged a little and at times the plot could be difficult to follow.

On the positive side there is this insane hospital scene. It is incredibly creepy and intense and was by far my favourite part of the entire novel. I can’t say too much about it since it’s at the end of the book but I think the entire sluggish journey was worth it to get to the drama and suspense of this scene. It had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen and if all the characters would make it out alive.

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart is an interesting continuation of the Magic Most Foul series. There’s a lot of detail which is both a positive and a negative. It made it feel very vivid but sometimes I got bogged down with all the little facts and pieces. But in the end I was left mostly impressed with the complex tale Leanna Renee Hieber has weaved and are intrigued about what will happen next.

Recommendation: If you enjoyed Darker Still I think it is worth it to continue on with this series. The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart is not nearly as enjoyable but it does answer some questions and the final few scenes leave you eager to find out what will happen to these characters next.(less)

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Dec 25, 2012 J. rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book continues where Darker Still left off, and it was just as dark and twisty and delicious. This novel, especially, really had the feel of a period piece mixed with Supernatural as Natalie, Jonathon, and Mrs. Northe seek to uncover the secrets held by a malevolent society bent on messing with souls and what happens to them in the afterlife.

The nature of the demon that imprisoned Jonathon in the portrait in Darker Still remains a mystery. Natalie feels a darkness within herself, is still...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Chelsey rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love the world that is created in this series. It is truly a gothic story and one that often reminded me of works written by Edgar Allen Poe, probably because he was often alluded to. This book does take place in the past, but even while reading I could sense the darkness that surrounded all of our main characters. It almost felt a bit steampunk at times, even though it is not. Chills continued to run down my spine as I read certain sections and learned secrets belonging to some of our most im...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: have, 4-stars, favorites

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart starts from where Darker Still, the first book of the Magic Most Foul saga, left off. Natalie and Lord Denbury are on the run because they need to run away from people who might think that Lord Denbury is a murderer and also because the magic still lingers on them and they need some space from the magic that’s in Manhattan. On their run they learn of a society that’s held responsible for the demon that terrorized them and realise that banishing the dem...more The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart starts from where Darker Still, the first book of the Magic Most Foul saga, left off. Natalie and Lord Denbury are on the run because they need to run away from people who might think that Lord Denbury is a murderer and also because the magic still lingers on them and they need some space from the magic that’s in Manhattan. On their run they learn of a society that’s held responsible for the demon that terrorized them and realise that banishing the demon wasn't the end of the story.

When I first decided to read this book I thought it would be exactly the same as Darker Still but with other demons and no one’s soul captured in a beautiful, life like, painting. But as soon as I read the first thirty pages I realized that a lot more was different. The book wasn't written in diary format like Bram Stokers Dracula this time, but it was written regularly with the exception of letters and telegrams. With a whole society out there it was seriously different because u weren't looking at one demons plan to murder and conquer. Also, in this book you deal with more runes and exorcists.

The old characters were the same as they were in Darker Still. Natalie Stewart is still a kind, clever, brave character that loves to know everything that’s going on and loves to protect her loved ones. Jonathan Whitby, Lord Denbury, is still absurdly handsome, smart, and British. I still really love his London accent because people with London and British accents in general are just simply awesome. Mrs. Northe changed because throughout the book they mention how they don’t know her intentions and will forever be in debt to her, because of that I looked at her differently. In this book you also learn a bit more about her past before Natalie and the painting showed up in her life. Maggie in this book was plain crazy. I don’t want to spoil the book, but the shrine she made, and the way she acts with Lord Denbury is just creepy.

As for new characters, you have Nathaniel Veil (which is an awesome name) and Rachel Horowitz. Nathaniel Veil is Lord Denbury's best mate, is an actor, and hails from London as well. I loved his description because he had blue eyes, black hair, a london accent, but looked rugged. He was a great character because he reminded me of William Henry Herondale from The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare. Also, he helped a lot on their adventure even thought he only showed up twice in the book. he looks like hes a very loyal friend to Lord Denbury, as well. Rachel was a very kind character that could feel ghost and hear them talking to her despite the fact that she can't hear and shes mute. Because of her entering the story and plot you could learn more about Natalie when she was at the Asylum(the one for people with disabilities).

I loved the references in the book because they were so much fun. They referred to Jack the Ripper because the book is set a couple years before Jack the Ripper appeared in white chapel, so one of the society members stated how they could kill people by ripping them apart without anyone discovering who did it. I loved when I read that because I’m betting the author is suggesting that a demon did it. There were many references to Shakespeare, Edger Allen Poe and Mary Shelly's Frankenstein I liked that because the book is set in 1880 and is of course a Gothic, macabre, steampunk age.

When the author, Leanna Renee Hieber, made Nathaniel say that everyone is either born with darkness or darkness is thrust upon them and that you either die with it or you learn how to live with it, it showed me that gothic edge to the Victorian age. Also, there's something about people understanding their in a macabre gothic age that I really liked because it showed that people can acknowledge the age their in and accept it. When Mrs. Northe states that, it was quite interesting to see how she interpreted theater and how it's refreshing to see people that do acknowledge pain and darkness.

Overall, I adored the sequel to Darker Still, The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart, and thought it was a great follow up. I hope that despite the way that it ended that their will be a third book in this wonderful saga.

Thanks for reading my review! AND, if you have time check out my blog? :)
Click HERE ! DO IT! :D (less)

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Oct 22, 2012 Anna (Gatsby's Girl) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Natalie Stewart thought that after they vanquished the demon from Jonathon's body and the painting that had trapped him was destroyed, they would finally be able to breathe easy. Once they reach the medical practice of Jonathon's friend Samuel out west, they realize that the demon they got rid of was just the beginning and one part of a much larger and far more evil organization. Determined to find out the real reasons behind the hijacking of his body by the demon, Jonathon makes a voyage to Eng...more Natalie Stewart thought that after they vanquished the demon from Jonathon's body and the painting that had trapped him was destroyed, they would finally be able to breathe easy. Once they reach the medical practice of Jonathon's friend Samuel out west, they realize that the demon they got rid of was just the beginning and one part of a much larger and far more evil organization. Determined to find out the real reasons behind the hijacking of his body by the demon, Jonathon makes a voyage to England the infiltrate the secret society responsible. Natalie returns to New York to face Mrs. Northe, her partner in crime, and her Father, who she left behind with only her diary for explanation when she and Jonathon ran away. Then she is contacted by her friend Rachel, from the sanitarium she lived in, who is being forced to tie the spirits of the dead back to mysterious items in locked boxes. Also, Natalie is having sinister dreams, where something evil is carving runic messages on her arms. Mrs. Northe, Natalie, Rachel and Jonathon must pool all their knowledge and resources together if they're going to stop Rachel's employer the "Doctor" before he brings upon them something evil that is beyond destruction. And is the demon from Jonathon's past truly gone or is it in the shadows, waiting to strike one final, deadly time? I had been looking forward to this book since last December when I first read Darker Still in ARC form. It was beautiful, haunting, fresh and the writing sent chills down my spine. The sequel picks up right where the first book leaves off, with Natalie and Jonathon (Lord Denbury) leaving the city by train, to go see one of Denbury's old friends who may be able to help them. I felt like this book wanted to have as much action as the first one, but never quite managed it. Also, the romance between Natalie and Denbury felt very stilted in this book versus in the first one. Mrs. Northe came across as very condescending and interfering, especially the way she has struck up a relationship with Natalie's widowed Father. The whole monster with spirits tied to it was grotesque, but it had also been done before in Frankenstein and wasn't different enough to be truly original. The only "new" characters that really intrigued me at all were Rachel and Denbury's spiritualist performing friend, Nathaniel Veil. Overall, not my cup of tea but a decently well written book. I just feel very lukewarm about it, which is extremely disappointing for me as an ardent admirer of the first novel.

VERDICT: 3/5 Stars

*I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie. No favors or money were exchanged for this review. It will be available for purchase on November 7th, 2012.*(less)

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About Leanna Renee Hieber

Author, actress and playwright, Leanna grew up in rural Ohio, graduated with a BFA in Theatre, a focus in the Victorian Era and a scholarship to study in London. She adapted 19th Century literature for the stage and her one-act plays have been produced around the country. She is a 4 time Prism Award winner for excellence in Futuristic, Fantasy, or Paranormal Romance. Her debut novel, The Strangely...more Author, actress and playwright, Leanna grew up in rural Ohio, graduated with a BFA in Theatre, a focus in the Victorian Era and a scholarship to study in London. She adapted 19th Century literature for the stage and her one-act plays have been produced around the country. She is a 4 time Prism Award winner for excellence in Futuristic, Fantasy, or Paranormal Romance. Her debut novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, first in the "Strangely Beautiful" saga of Gothic Victorian Fantasy novels (Barnes & Noble Bestseller) won two 2010 Prism Awards (Best Fantasy, Best First Book) and is currently in development as a musical theatre production. DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, begins a Gothic paranormal saga set in 1880 New York City, named an INDIE NEXT title; a recommended buy by the American Book Association, a Scholastic book fairs "Highly Recommended" title and is a finalist in the 2012 Daphne du Maurier awards for excellence in Mystery/Romantic Suspense. The sequel, THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART released to acclaim and in the manner of the Victorians she writes about she is serializing the finale, THE DOUBLE LIFE OF INCORPORATE THINGS, on her blog. Her next Gaslamp Fantasy saga for Tor/Macmillan, THE ETERNA FILES, releases in 2014. A character from THE ETERNA FILES is featured in her short story included in QUEEN VICTORIA'S BOOK OF SPELLS (Tor, 3/13) and all her Victorian-set series feature crossover characters.

Leanna is a proud member of member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and the International Thriller Writers. She is a proud co-founder of Lady Jane's Salon Reading Series in New York City. A member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, Leanna works often in television and film. She is playing the role of Deputy Kellion in Auror's Tale web-series. When not writing or on set, she loves a good Goth club, adventuring about her adopted hometown of New York City, where she resides with her real-life hero and their beloved rescued lab rabbit.(less)

More about Leanna Renee Hieber...

Books by Leanna Renee Hieber

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker (Strangely Beautiful, #1)

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker (Strangely Beautiful, #2)

The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess (Strangely Beautiful, #3)

A Midwinter Fantasy (Strangely Beautiful, #2.5) (Sylph, #2.5) (The Magic Knot, #3)

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The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart (Magic Most Foul #2)

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