I was obsessed.
It was as if he called to me, demanding I reach out and touch the brushstrokes of color swirled onto the canvas. It was ...
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reviews
Nov 10, 2011
Maria
rated it: 
Darker Still is a story that draws its inspiration from a number of great Gothic classics. Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” and Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray can be found in Darker Still, and yet this story still feels unique in a YA market that is flooded with witches, fairies, vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures. I love Victorian literature, and this book manages to tackle some fairly significant modern themes in a histor
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Jan 01, 2012
Kristin
rated it:
GrowingUpYA
Oh. My. God. I die!
My heart is (oh God) alight with joy!
Yeah, I know I just said that, but that's exactly how this book made me feel.
Darker Still was delightfully strange and charming. The book absorbed me within its first couple of pages. I was instantly captivated by Natalie Stewart, the book's unique protagonist, who was quick-witted, brave, and absolutely her own person. Let's not forget to mention her role as the novel's hero, sent by dest More...
Oh. My. God. I die!
My heart is (oh God) alight with joy!
Yeah, I know I just said that, but that's exactly how this book made me feel.
Darker Still was delightfully strange and charming. The book absorbed me within its first couple of pages. I was instantly captivated by Natalie Stewart, the book's unique protagonist, who was quick-witted, brave, and absolutely her own person. Let's not forget to mention her role as the novel's hero, sent by dest More...
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Nov 17, 2011
Heidi
rated it: 
Darker Still
A copy of this book was kindly provided by Sourcebooks Fire Publishing via Netgalley.
For Natalie Stewart destiny is scrawled across the morning paper's headlines. A story and a photo of a painting capture her attention. It is the handsome portrait of a Lord Denbury, who is reported to have committed suicide in England. Rumors swirl thick around the picture, some believe that it is haunted and that the essence of the young man is trapped inside. Our mute heroine, More...
A copy of this book was kindly provided by Sourcebooks Fire Publishing via Netgalley.
For Natalie Stewart destiny is scrawled across the morning paper's headlines. A story and a photo of a painting capture her attention. It is the handsome portrait of a Lord Denbury, who is reported to have committed suicide in England. Rumors swirl thick around the picture, some believe that it is haunted and that the essence of the young man is trapped inside. Our mute heroine, More...
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(6 people liked it)
Nov 08, 2011
Rane
rated it:
With the back blurb giving a sort of mishmash of well known books forced into one YA book, I was happily surprised (and relived) how well Hieber weaved the stories of Dorian Gray and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde into Darker Still taking well known stories and giving it her own twist on these tales and making it new.
New York City 1882:
Natalie Stewart a smart and clever seventeen year old life has been trouble since after a traumatic accident that killed her mother a
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Dec 09, 2011
Sue
rated it: 
The writing was decent, I loved the era and the setting, I thought the author did it justice but the plot is still poorly done. When you really think about it, we all know books have to have high stakes. There was no real stake for our heroine at all. She got drawn in by the painting, the only reason she helps is because she feels a certain pull to the ridiculously attractive lord and thus must help him (Honestly, what if he was butt ugly? Different situation entirely).
If our MC cho More...
If our MC cho More...
Nov 08, 2011
Cait
rated it:
Ohhh dear I'm already hooked just by the synopsis alone! My heart already did a bunch of little flip-flops :) This just sounds so....so....good :)
5 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Oct 30, 2011
Sarah
rated it: 
I've had Leanna Renee Hieber's Strangely Beautiful series on my wish list for a long time now so I was very excited to get my hands on an advanced copy of the first book in her new Magic Most Foul series. Darker Still is a fantastic Gothic paranormal story set in Victorian New York and I loved it.
The story is told in the form of diary entries written by our heroine, 17 year old Natalie. Natalie is a beautiful, intelligent young woman but since the trauma of witnessing her mother' More...
The story is told in the form of diary entries written by our heroine, 17 year old Natalie. Natalie is a beautiful, intelligent young woman but since the trauma of witnessing her mother' More...
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Dec 21, 2011
Nancy
rated it: 
I'm still trying to decide how I feel about Darker Still, there were things that I liked and things that I didn't. One of the things that I did like was the fact that the story line was very promising, it was fascinating that Lord Denbury was trapped inside the painting and the author did a good job in explaining how the magic of it worked, which I thought would have been very confusing.
There were a few other things in the story that I enjoyed, mainly that it was set in the 1880s. B More...
There were a few other things in the story that I enjoyed, mainly that it was set in the 1880s. B More...
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Feb 19, 2012
Kathleen
rated it:
Premise had a lot of potential in a "take Oscar Wilde, romance novels, and Victoriana--throw it in a blender" type way. But, as with the other Hieber book I've read, I can't get past her really stilted, clunky, nonsensical prose and her highly artificial, superficial courtship plots.
I also had a REAL issue with the way disability is handled in this novel. While the narrative of finding one's voice, despite societal expectations, is a sound one, I thought that Hieber's decision to make her chara More...
I also had a REAL issue with the way disability is handled in this novel. While the narrative of finding one's voice, despite societal expectations, is a sound one, I thought that Hieber's decision to make her chara More...
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Dec 16, 2011
Crystal Starr Light
rated it:
A little bit of everything, but just not for me.
Natalie Stewart is a 17 year-old living in New York with her father, a worker at the Museum of Art. They acquire a painting of a young man, Lord Denbury, who died under mysterious circumstances. Natalie, and her mentor, Mrs. Northe, become interested in this painting and investigations prove that this is no ordinary painting.
My feelings about this book are slightly confused. The description--Pride & Prejudice meets Pictur More...
Natalie Stewart is a 17 year-old living in New York with her father, a worker at the Museum of Art. They acquire a painting of a young man, Lord Denbury, who died under mysterious circumstances. Natalie, and her mentor, Mrs. Northe, become interested in this painting and investigations prove that this is no ordinary painting.
My feelings about this book are slightly confused. The description--Pride & Prejudice meets Pictur More...
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Oct 29, 2011
What a delightful and engaging read! I saw an advertisement for this book in the window at my local bookseller. I was intrigued by the cover and even more drawn in by the description. Since I was at the time finishing up The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, I was thrilled with the idea of reading another mystical-picture plotline.
I must admit I was a bit apprehensive when I saw it was intended for 12 and older. Being in my early 30s I figured it would either be too pre-teen a More...
I must admit I was a bit apprehensive when I saw it was intended for 12 and older. Being in my early 30s I figured it would either be too pre-teen a More...
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Feb 11, 2012
I have read many, many raving reviews for Darker Still, so I finally decided to give it a read. The synopsis likens the book to Pride and Prejudice, which just happens to be one of my favorite reads. So I was really glad to finally get started on the book.
The main character in the story is a seventeen year old girl named Natalie Stewart. I found Natalie to be a very interesting character. Not only is she strong willed and ambitious, she’s also mute. I think that just makes her char More...
The main character in the story is a seventeen year old girl named Natalie Stewart. I found Natalie to be a very interesting character. Not only is she strong willed and ambitious, she’s also mute. I think that just makes her char More...
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Dec 12, 2011
Monica
rated it:
I have long been in love with Ms. Hieber's work, ever since I got to pet the ARC of her first novel. I have also gotten to meet this wonderful author in person a few times and Ms. Heiber is nothing less than sparkling. Sorry, I just really heart her. Anyway, on with the book.
The Goodreads synopsis says "The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." I read Pride and Prejudice; I have long been in love with th More...
The Goodreads synopsis says "The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." I read Pride and Prejudice; I have long been in love with th More...
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Nov 13, 2011
Lauren (365 Days of Reading)
rated it:
3.5 stars!
There’s something innately magical about historical fantasy, and Darker Still brings it in spades. Its atmosphere is simply regal, and although Natalie’s New York is certainly not the prettiest place in reality, Leanna Renee Heiber makes it seem positively lush. The actual magic involved in Darker Still fits the setting quite like a glove. At first thought, having a painting move—or watch you—might seem nightmarish, but Hieber manages to make it romantic. The incorporation More...
There’s something innately magical about historical fantasy, and Darker Still brings it in spades. Its atmosphere is simply regal, and although Natalie’s New York is certainly not the prettiest place in reality, Leanna Renee Heiber makes it seem positively lush. The actual magic involved in Darker Still fits the setting quite like a glove. At first thought, having a painting move—or watch you—might seem nightmarish, but Hieber manages to make it romantic. The incorporation More...
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Oct 09, 2011
Because I love reading books about cute guys with their souls trapped in paintings. Because I think guys like girls with pointy shoulder blades. Because she's wearing purple. Because it's Tuesday. And that's why I want to read this book.
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Feb 16, 2012
Makaelabaker
rated it:
Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber
Sourcebooks Fire 2011
317 pages
Young Adult
I had noticed Darker Still at my local Barnes and Nobel a couple weeks ago, of course the cover intrigued me, it was shiny, it was beautiful, and it was purple! But it wasn’t until a few weeks later that I actually picked it up. I’m not exactly sure what made me leave it behind that day save for the fact that I was a fool and was on a mission to buy Switched by Amanda Hocking. And I really should More...
Sourcebooks Fire 2011
317 pages
Young Adult
I had noticed Darker Still at my local Barnes and Nobel a couple weeks ago, of course the cover intrigued me, it was shiny, it was beautiful, and it was purple! But it wasn’t until a few weeks later that I actually picked it up. I’m not exactly sure what made me leave it behind that day save for the fact that I was a fool and was on a mission to buy Switched by Amanda Hocking. And I really should More...
Dec 26, 2011
Rachael
rated it:
It’s New York City in the 1880s, and seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart is a little bit of an odd girl. No one really knows how to deal with her because of her selective muteness, and as a result, Natalie is left mostly to herself. But when a mysterious painting of the British Lord Denbury arrives and is set to be displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Natalie’s life takes a turn for the more interesting. There’s something so striking, so alluring about this portrait that seems to draw Nat
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Dec 25, 2011
drey
rated it:
I’ve been drooling over this cover since I saw it, and am very excited to be able to share this with you!
drey’s thoughts:
There’s a dash of something for everyone in this lovely tale reminiscent of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. Romance? Check. Mystery? Check. Evil characters performing dastardly deeds in the cover of night? Check. Unexplainable magical happenings? Check. If I keep going on, there’ll be no surprises left for you…
Told through the diary entr More...
drey’s thoughts:
There’s a dash of something for everyone in this lovely tale reminiscent of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. Romance? Check. Mystery? Check. Evil characters performing dastardly deeds in the cover of night? Check. Unexplainable magical happenings? Check. If I keep going on, there’ll be no surprises left for you…
Told through the diary entr More...
Dec 05, 2011
Hylary
rated it:
Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!
At a young age, Natalie Stewart witnessed the death of her mother in a tragic accident and found herself unable to speak from then on. Now seventeen-years-old, Natalie’s existence is one of longing; yearning to live a normal life, have friends, and fall in love. The year is 1880, and Natalie’s father works for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. One day, Natalie and her fa More...
At a young age, Natalie Stewart witnessed the death of her mother in a tragic accident and found herself unable to speak from then on. Now seventeen-years-old, Natalie’s existence is one of longing; yearning to live a normal life, have friends, and fall in love. The year is 1880, and Natalie’s father works for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. One day, Natalie and her fa More...
Nov 19, 2011
If you are looking for a page turning paranormal, young adult ride then you have to read Darker Still by Hieber. If you like Dorian Gray then you will love this because Hieber pens her own version of and makes it all her own. Right from the start Darker Still engages the reader taking them on a spooky and eerie ride that all readers will enjoy time and time again. Darker Still takes place in one of my favorite museums, the Metropolitian Museum of Art. This is where our heroine, Natalie works. T
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Nov 18, 2011
Kadbury(Young Readers)
rated it:
Original Post @ Young Readers
I was really looking forward to reading this one.I've always found Dorian Gray interesting and I have to say that by the time I finished reading this one I was VERY eager to read The picture of Dorian Gray(I'm pretty sure it's available for free as it's a classic)
EDIT: it's available for free! YIPPEE!!!
I absolutely loved the letter that was in the beginning of the novel!
Here it is
Copyright 2011 Leanna Renee Hieber
Ne More...
I was really looking forward to reading this one.I've always found Dorian Gray interesting and I have to say that by the time I finished reading this one I was VERY eager to read The picture of Dorian Gray(I'm pretty sure it's available for free as it's a classic)
EDIT: it's available for free! YIPPEE!!!
I absolutely loved the letter that was in the beginning of the novel!
Here it is
Copyright 2011 Leanna Renee Hieber
Ne More...
Nov 16, 2011
Jenny
rated it:
Magic, mystery, and murder combine in this first book of Ms. Hieber’s new young adult series, catapulting us quickly into a world of what-ifs, hows, and whys while teasing us with just a touch of romance to ensure our hearts are as equally involved in the story as our minds. Written in journal entry format, we often find ourselves with Natalie after events have occurred, riveted to the page and dying to know what’s happened from the moment she put down her pen to the time she's picked it up agai
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Nov 09, 2011
Marisa
rated it:
Darker Still is a beautifully written book with lyrical prose wrapped in a Victorian setting where language is the paramount vehicle for communication and ironically where the heroine is mute. Author Leanna Renne Hieber has created a wondrous world where mystery, mayhem and magic abound. Where a young woman on the cusp of becoming an adult is open to all the untold possibilities the world has to offer; and where faith, courage and love are the touchstones needed to face the next step in her jo
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Nov 04, 2011
Mini-Review: A wonderful homage to the literary canon, Darker Still has all the drama and detail, including the required handsome English gentleman, of the classics mixed with magic and mystery all with the stunning backdrop of nineteenth century New York.
My Thoughts:
Natalie Stewart is your average nineteenth century teenage girl with the exception that she hears Whispers, is drawn to the exquisite painting of a presumed dead English gentleman, and was scared mute at a youn More...
My Thoughts:
Natalie Stewart is your average nineteenth century teenage girl with the exception that she hears Whispers, is drawn to the exquisite painting of a presumed dead English gentleman, and was scared mute at a youn More...
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Oct 29, 2011
Pamela
rated it:
Natalie Stewart leads us through the story of Darker Still, a haunting romance with a dark edge. Natalie is different to other girls her age – she isn’t attending parties, dinners and events in the hopes of finding a suitable match. She has just returned home from boarding school at a convent where her abnormality was hidden from society. Natalie is a mute, and has been since witnessing her mother’s death at a very tender age.
But things are about to change for Natalie. When she over More...
But things are about to change for Natalie. When she over More...
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Oct 27, 2011
Grace
rated it:
A delicious strawberry chocolate delectable treat. This book really was very good. It draws you in and takes you on a journey that you just can’t forget.
I like how both the heroine and her hero are both trapped. They both are trapped in very different ways. Natalie our heroine is a very attractive young woman. Yet she is a mute and doesn’t speak. So society basically says that since she is disabled she will be trapped by not being able to speak. Our hero Lord Denbury, who is quite More...
I like how both the heroine and her hero are both trapped. They both are trapped in very different ways. Natalie our heroine is a very attractive young woman. Yet she is a mute and doesn’t speak. So society basically says that since she is disabled she will be trapped by not being able to speak. Our hero Lord Denbury, who is quite More...
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Nov 14, 2011
ExLibris_Kate
rated it:
Darker Still brings the world of 19th century New York to life through a tale of murder, magic and romance Natalie is mute and her doting father goes against the custom of the day by bringing her home from the sanatorium and allowing her to attempt a "normal" life. (It was not uncommon for people with disabilities to be sent away from their families.) I like Natalie as a character. She is timid and shy, at first, but circumstances force her to grow and she becomes confident and bra
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Jan 23, 2012
Jessica
rated it:
I cannot help but notice how influential Victorian literature was on Leanna Renee Heiber when she was working on the plot for Darker Still. This is not a bad thing! I personally love Victorian and Gothic literature (Wuthering Heights, Frankenstein, etc)so I noticed a number of similarities in Hieber's narrative and that of Bronte, Shelley, and Austen. Not only does the story have similarities to these works, but Natalie, the main character, has similarities to some of the classic heroines as we
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 14, 2011
Rosy
rated it:
SOME SPOILERS BELOW – TREAD CAREFULLY IF YOU HAVEN’T YET READ THE BOOK
The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
New York City, 1882. Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury. Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her. As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing...
Jonat More...
The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
New York City, 1882. Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury. Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her. As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing...
Jonat More...
Nov 06, 2011
Gabby
rated it:
Originally posted @ The YA Bookworm
I have never read any classic novels in my life, my closest encounter to classic novels is when i watched them on the big screen, so I decided to pick this one up cause as said by the synopsis it is mash up of The Portrait of Dorian Gray (I have watched the movie and OMG BEN BARNES IS DORIAN GRAY! *Sighs*) , Pride and Prejudice and Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde, so i decided to give this one a try just to maybe have an idea on what's it's like having to More...
I have never read any classic novels in my life, my closest encounter to classic novels is when i watched them on the big screen, so I decided to pick this one up cause as said by the synopsis it is mash up of The Portrait of Dorian Gray (I have watched the movie and OMG BEN BARNES IS DORIAN GRAY! *Sighs*) , Pride and Prejudice and Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde, so i decided to give this one a try just to maybe have an idea on what's it's like having to More...
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