Long Lankin

Jul 16, 2012 Giselle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own, favorites, gothic

Long Lankin is a tale that is quite slow paced, but in such a way that makes you fall addicted to the story. Its depictions of the creepy atmosphere, blood-curling ghostly creatures, and fascinating history leave you absolutely glued to its pages, not to mention chilled to the bone!

Set in the 1950's, Long Lankin brings us to a time where WW2 was just over and poverty was very much a reality. Electricity was scarce, so were methods of communication. With this setting, we've got just a dash of di...more Long Lankin is a tale that is quite slow paced, but in such a way that makes you fall addicted to the story. Its depictions of the creepy atmosphere, blood-curling ghostly creatures, and fascinating history leave you absolutely glued to its pages, not to mention chilled to the bone!

Set in the 1950's, Long Lankin brings us to a time where WW2 was just over and poverty was very much a reality. Electricity was scarce, so were methods of communication. With this setting, we've got just a dash of dialect that makes the dialogue incredibly compelling; it gives the voices a genuinely convincing feel along with aiding the atmospheric countryside vibe to come to life. Our two main characters, Cora and Roger, both have legitimate teenage personalities. Their narrations are realistic, animating this story from both of their perspectives. The regular POV switches are very well managed throughout the book; the story move swiftly regardless of its slow-ish pace, in addition to keeping our curiosity and eagerness alive. Aunt Ida's perspective also makes sporadic appearances, bringing us into the mind of this cold, angry old woman who has incredible depth to her character. No matter how awful she seems, you will be taken by her, I guarantee it!

" Then, among the tombstones, out of the air, small figures appear. They are all the size of little children, but their colourless faces are old and rotten, like the faces of the dead, their eyes nothing more than black holes, their hair grizzled and sparse. "

Aside from the character voices, the descriptions in the book are a work of art. The gloominess of the town, the forsaken church, Auntie Ida's decaying, creaky old home, and best of all: the apparitions (ghosts/horrific children freak me OUT!); it's all so brilliantly enticing: vivid and ominous. It's more than enough to induce chills. Once you get close to the ending, especially, I would even consider terrifying.

We get this mystery solved in tiny bits and pieces, mostly from old research and townsfolk. I constantly wanted to know more, yet too caught up in the book to make up my own theories. This caused the actual story to remain a mystery until the very end. It's not the type of plot you can really guess, even if you try, however. It's unique, encompassing witchcraft, dark legends, engrossing history, and folklore. In fact, as seen along with the book trailer, -- I wasn't familiar with the Long Lankin song before -- it's "inspired by a haunting folk song about murder, witchcraft and revenge." This all comes to a close a bit too narrow for my taste. Not that I didn't like the ending; it's shuddersome with plenty of suspense and a good completion. BUT, I will admit that I was secretly hoping for a shocking revelation or disturbing twist that left me breathless, so the neat ending is a little underwhelming in that sense. I do blame this on my masochistic horror loving taste.

Haunting and tension-filled, Long Lankin is a gripping read that you absolutely must read if you love Gothic horror novels. Expect a slow, but terrific story that brings together excellent writing, amazingly lively characters and a spine-chilling tale.

--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

(less)

18 likes · like · see review

Apr 05, 2012 ☆Jessie☆ (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, netgalley-arc, arc, tales-of-fae-and-faery-tales, creeeeepy, coverlove, 2012-reads, 2012-reviews, reviewed, i-love-you-for-your-words, gothic

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

Though the blurb used most for this truly spine-chilling tale is the one above, all the publishers and author really need to do in order to freak their audience out and interest them at the same time is is use the poem in the prologue:

"Said my lord to my lady, as he mounted his horse,
Beware of Long Lankin that lives in the moss.
Said my lord to my lady, as he rode away
Beware of Long Lankin, that lives in the hay.
Let the doors be all bolted and

...more Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

Though the blurb used most for this truly spine-chilling tale is the one above, all the publishers and author really need to do in order to freak their audience out and interest them at the same time is is use the poem in the prologue:

"Said my lord to my lady, as he mounted his horse,
Beware of Long Lankin that lives in the moss.
Said my lord to my lady, as he rode away
Beware of Long Lankin, that lives in the hay.
Let the doors be all bolted and the windows all pinned,
Except one little window,
where Long Lankin crept in..."

Effective, yes? It continues in that same grisly, eerie tone and snared me without hesitation. I was both creeped out ~~by the third stanza~~ and interested before even starting the actual novel. There is a reason that I refused to read this book at night (and am writing the review in daylight) and that is because this book? Is effing creepy as fuck. And yes, expletives are needed because this book got under my skin in a way that few other suspense novels have, especially ones in the YA genre, geared at kids younger and ~~supposedly~~ less mature than me. Long Lankin is a deliciously creepy treat that perhaps persists just a bit long for the thrill to last entirely but one that exceeds at building tension and setting an excellent atmosphere and presence for such an intimidating but rarely-seen-on-the-page creature.

Cora and her sister Mimi are the girl leads of this venture and they are paralleled in their male counterparts, Roger and Pete. In each case, I found the elder to be the more interesting and worth attention. The POV shifts between Cora and Roger were hard to discern, but that can hopefully be laid at the feet of formatting for an ARC copy instead of the final product. So while it was distracting trying to constantly figure out the who's who of a dialogue, it was easy to like both inner monologues of the kids. Cora is what my mom would term "a handful." She's adventurous and interested in the world around her and is smart, if not exactly the most obedient of nieces. It's easy to root for her and her spirited nature when one realizes how alone and abandoned this child and her sister really are; Cora realizes that she is literally all Mimi has and is quite caring. Roger is like Cora in many ways; he's from a house that really can't keep him, he's open to adventures and exploring and he's always followed by his brother. Though this is YA, neither Cora nor Roger talk down to the audience or overact their fear; Long Lankin is largely so effective as a antagonist because of how sparsely and eerily he's presented to the quartet of kids.

Ida, the aunt of Cora and Mimi, and the owner of Guerdon Hall, is also a POV character. While I could understand the necessity of having the children as POV characters and they grew into the roles naturally as the book went on, I got the most from Ida's inner monologue. I have to admit that Lindsey Barraclough establishes herself early as a talented writer and storyteller, one that favors lots of creepy descriptions in very tactile narrations. Ida benefits the most from this as she's not innocent and eager; she knows only too well what happens when the tide goes out in her little haunted English village.

The first two hundred and thirty pages of this smashed me, absolutely knocked me back a step with its flair. I was in awe of how creeped out I was, how very much I loved how creeped out I was, and how effective the author was at setting such a tense atmosphere and then.. it died. There's a lull midway through the novel where there is too much rushing about and old letters and no one talking things with the other party and all that accomplished was a sharp decline in my overt interest. The incredible amounts of tension built up to that took a while to climb back to their previous heights (my shoulders were literally riiiight under my earlobes), but climb back they did. I may complain - slightly - about the extended lull midway but the ending was entirely satisfying. It was tension-wracked and emotion-filled and thoroughly engrossing. I am dutifully impressed by this book, even though I won't reread it. My nerves can't take it.(less)

13 likes · like · see review

Jan 04, 2012 Bonnie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-thriller, ya, gothic, arcs-read, netgalley

Date Posted: 1/4/2012
Expected Publication Date: July 10, 2012
Long Lankin was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Candlewick Press.

Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!

'Everything was all right until they came.'

The Storyline

When Cora and her little sister Mimi are sent to live with their Great-Aunt Ida, it is clear from the start that they are neither wanted nor welcome in her house. For the time being the children must stay with her but she immediately sends word to their father th...more

10 likes · like · see review

Aug 01, 2011 Jo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: creepycreepy, good-grief, history-smishtory, ya, you-got-a-friend-in-me, hometown-ya

"I look over at the bed. I should lie down for a nap, get rid of this thick headache, but I hear things when I'm half asleep and they give me goose pimples. You're supposed to be able to die from fright from a nightmare, but I don't think these things are nightmares. I think they're real."

Initial Final Page Thoughts.
Um… yeah, just going to make sure my window is closed properly. And double glazed. And bolted… twice. But I can’t help feeling a tad underwhelmed but I’m blaming my immune system… Le...more

13 likes · like · see review

Dec 24, 2012 Book Chick City rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, book-list-2011, paranormal-ya

7/10 on the blog

"Long Lankin" is a really good debut novel from new author Lindsey Barraclough and is based on an old traditional poem that's actually quite gruesome. However, I'll just give you a snippet...

Let the doors be all bolted and the windows all pinned,
And leave not a hole for a mouse to creep in.

The doors were all bolted and the windows all pinned,
except one little window where Long Lankin crept in.

The novel certainly keeps the atmosphere and creepiness of the poem and the imagery Barr...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jul 12, 2012 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction, read-in-2012

4.5

This book's atmospheric writing only makes the creep factor in the end that much more powerful. For a long time, I was taken with the setting itself and thought it wouldn't deliver on the fear factor (because at 300 pages I was still unsure exactly what would be the scary part since I knew what was coming) but oh, those last 100 pages pulled it out. My heart definitely raced a bit.

Cora and her sister Mimi are sent to live with their great Aunt Ida while their dad takes care of some business....more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 02, 2012 Kara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, british-literature, england, fantasy, for-review, net-galley, paranormal, young-adult, so-creepy-my-skin-crawls, favorites

I requested this book from NetGalley because the blurb really caught my attention. It sounded gothic, creepy, and atmospheric, which is something I usually like. This book was NO exception. I had no expectations going into reading this, I was just hoping I would like it a lot, and I did. It was absolutely amazing. Not a perfect read for me, but I really enjoyed Long Lankin and savored every page, taking my time.

I think my tastes are pretty transparent to all who read my reviews. I usually like...more I requested this book from NetGalley because the blurb really caught my attention. It sounded gothic, creepy, and atmospheric, which is something I usually like. This book was NO exception. I had no expectations going into reading this, I was just hoping I would like it a lot, and I did. It was absolutely amazing. Not a perfect read for me, but I really enjoyed Long Lankin and savored every page, taking my time.

I think my tastes are pretty transparent to all who read my reviews. I usually like strong world-building, a fair amount of descriptive passages (but not over-the-top description), and strong characterizations. These are the things I am usually always looking for while reading. And this book hit all of them except for the strong characterizations. While I think the characters were written well, I felt they were lacking depth. They were definitely more than just a name with a face, but I know that I didn't care for them as much as I should. It didn't feel right. Something was missing.

This is a very creepy book. While it's not gory in the least, there are some moments that really messed with my head. It's the atmosphere and tension that work together to really involve the reader in the story. I would read pages and pages of what I thought were unimportant conversations and scenes, and then something would happen that made it all worthwhile. I don't scare easily but this book made my skin crawl in a couple of places. It doesn't happen immediately though, which leads to my next point.

The pacing...is a bit slow. If you are looking for a quick payoff, this may not be the book for you. A lot of YA readers look for books that are quickly paced with a lot of plot. If that sounds like you, you may not like this one. It's not that there isn't a plot--there is, it just takes awhile to get there. Atmospheric settings and building tension are extremely important to the author and she takes her time telling the story. Once you get to the end, the payoff is worth it (although the last page left me a little confused).

I can't actually talk about the plot and what happens without revealing things that would be best left to the reader to discover. This is a book that needs to be experienced and definitely not rushed. I am extremely glad I read most of this on my vacation. It really enhanced the experience. Word of warning though--if you scare easily, I would not recommend reading this in the dark. Muahahahaha.

Also, apparently they are Americanizing the language for the US release. This makes me have a sad. Don't get me wrong, I understand WHY they are doing it, but part of the appeal for me was the British English. It somehow made the atmosphere that much more atmospheric. I read the British version. That's the one I really liked. So I hope they don't change it too much.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 21, 2013 Tanja rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-that-live-with-me, 2013-reads-and-rereads

Dear copy of Long Lankin,
where the hell are you? I put you somewhere safe, so I could read you after all those library books that were due, but then life and uni work go in the way. It's not because I didn't care, I was savouring you, waiting for the right moment, but now you're gone. I looked under B for Barraclough, I looked on all the nonfiction shelves just to make sure you hadn't been misplaced, I even looked under and in that massive pile of papers on my desk. I long to read you Long, I r...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 09, 2012 Cassi aka Snow White Haggard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: galleys, read-in-2012

3.5/5 stars
I have somewhat mixed feelings about Long Lankin. The mystery was good and the characters were complex. But somehow I didn't really connect with the book. Partially because I was in a hurry (I hate myself for that but I feel in the name of honesty I need to admit it) but also because the pace of the book. For me it just moved too slow. I wanted action! Fear! Monsters! Instead, it's a slow building story about a monster that has hunted generations of the Guerdon family. It preys on the...more 3.5/5 stars
I have somewhat mixed feelings about Long Lankin. The mystery was good and the characters were complex. But somehow I didn't really connect with the book. Partially because I was in a hurry (I hate myself for that but I feel in the name of honesty I need to admit it) but also because the pace of the book. For me it just moved too slow. I wanted action! Fear! Monsters! Instead, it's a slow building story about a monster that has hunted generations of the Guerdon family. It preys on the youngest--not because they are the weakest, but because they have the most life to steal.

Cora is very much the older sister--annoyed by little 4-year-old Mimi, but very protective when she feels that her sister is in danger. She's the perfect mix of love, protection and revulsion that makes up being a big sister. Mimi, for her part, is not developed. But she's 4-years-old so that's expected. For me Auntie Ida is where things get complicated. In some ways I feel sorry for Ida. Her whole life is one great big tragedy. On the other hand, she's overly harsh with Cora (i.e. abusively harsh) and way too secretive. I get frustrated when stories are prolonged by characters keeping secrets. Ida didn't tell Cora or anyone else about the monster until it's pretty much too late.

Unravelling the mystery of the Long Lankin involves delving into the history of the Guerdon family, the town and the creepy little church down the lane. It's the story of a crime, tragedy and witchcraft. It's a well developed myth, taking into account the region and religion.

After a slow-moving, gradually building story at about 88% everything starts moving at hyper speed. The action is tense, terrifying and suddenly I couldn't put the book down. The story flew towards an ending, which I found almost satisfying. For me the last line kind of fizzled, cutting into the improvement somewhat. I didn't understand the last line enough to check with other bloggers. (After consulting some wonderful bloggers I found out the last line was from the Song of Solomon.)

Overall the book was interesting and atmospheric but too slow for the reading mood I was in. In a different mindset I think I would have enjoyed it more.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Sep 12, 2012 slayra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads, uf-and-pnr, in-english, ya-uf-and-pnr, historical-fiction

RATING: 4 stars

Long Lankin is (according to Wikipedia) based on an English ballad called "Lamkin".

The author took this old ballad and developed an entire story around it. Personally I think she created a wonderful book.

Some things I noticed about this book that are relevant:
1. I believe the book has been mislabeled. It is being marketed as "young adult" but the level of exposition and the lack of a romantic sub-plot will probably not make it very appealing to people who enjoy typical young adul...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 12, 2011 Sammee (I Want to Read That) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review-read

Not only was Long Lankin one of those books I wanted to reread as soon as I'd finished it but I also wanted to thrust a copy into the hands of everyone I know and demand they read it. The story is as creepy and atmospheric as the cover suggests and I completely and utterly fell in love with it.

The story begins with Cora and her little sister Mimi arriving in Bryers Guerdon to stay with their Aunt Ada. It soon becomes apparent that their Aunt does not wish for them to stay with her, but not neces...more Not only was Long Lankin one of those books I wanted to reread as soon as I'd finished it but I also wanted to thrust a copy into the hands of everyone I know and demand they read it. The story is as creepy and atmospheric as the cover suggests and I completely and utterly fell in love with it.

The story begins with Cora and her little sister Mimi arriving in Bryers Guerdon to stay with their Aunt Ada. It soon becomes apparent that their Aunt does not wish for them to stay with her, but not necessarily for the reasons they first think. Quickly befriending Roger and his brother, the four are drawn into the mystery surrounding the village. Who is the strange man they see lurking in the graveyard? And why is Cora's Aunt adamant they do not go near the old church? Determined to find all the answers Cora begins to undercover the terrifying truth... but will it be too late?

I honestly don't know where to begin. I found the story completely mesmerising - I could not put the book down and I found myself transported back in time to the 1950's to this small village called Bryers Guerdon. Told in alternating viewpoints between Cora, Roger and Ada we slowly uncover the truth. This works brilliantly, cleverly infusing the book with an energy that might have been missing otherwise. It also gives readers the opportunity to get to know each of the characters really well.

Cora is great as the driving force behind the story. She is very determined to find out what is going on, and as such comes across as very strong willed. I found myself liking her straight away. Roger is a fabulous character and I instantly liked him. His segments provide amusement and I loved his family. He prevents the story from being too melancholy and I found myself laughing out loud many times during his narration. At first I didn't particularly like Ada, but as I learned more and more about the history of the village and everything that happens I came to understand and really like her.

The story itself is brilliantly crafted. It's completely believable and compelling - a slow and intense build up that pays off beautifully at the end. The scenes featuring Long Lankin towards the end are especially creepy - wonderfully so in my opinion. I can't fault this one at all. A stunning debut.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 26, 2011 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books, signed, uk-author, books-i-am-quoted-in, favourites

Long Lankin was a uniquely creepy read and one of the most original YA novels I have ever read. It is a stunning debut novel.

Long Lankin is a story about two sisters who are sent to their Great Aunt's to live. At first it seems like a story which is quite sad a bit of a comment on th social situation the children have found themselves to be in, in the 1950s but as the story develops it becomes so much more. It is told in first person and the person narrating chops and changes through the story b...more Long Lankin was a uniquely creepy read and one of the most original YA novels I have ever read. It is a stunning debut novel.

Long Lankin is a story about two sisters who are sent to their Great Aunt's to live. At first it seems like a story which is quite sad a bit of a comment on th social situation the children have found themselves to be in, in the 1950s but as the story develops it becomes so much more. It is told in first person and the person narrating chops and changes through the story between the the main characters. I found it a little confusing at first but soon grasped all the differing characters in my head enough to keep up. It wouldn't be one of my reviews if I didn't say how much I loved the glimpse into the time period of the 1950s and how much everyday life contrasts with ours today.

I loved the voice of the main character Cora. I loved how she interacted with her younger sister and how she dealt with the new life she had been thrown into and loved following her as she began to unravel the mystery surrounding Long Lankin.

As the story progresses you start to get the idea that all is not well in the household and especially when Cora's great Aunt starts to behave and react to situations in peculiar ways. There are some really weird scenes where you are not sure if the main characters are seeing things or if they are actually there.

I was warned this book was creepy but really didn't think it would be that creepy from the first half. I was really enjoying it but not creeped out. However in the last 100 pages or so everything kicked off and it changed the whole tone of the book. It was definately the creepiest YA I think I've ever read and totally unputdownable. I ended up laying in bed reading late into the night because I needed to know what happened (this is not advisable practice if you have a vivid imagination and want to be able to sleep afterwards). The scenes with Long Lankin himself in were really creepy and those final few scenes were incredibly fast paced and I ended the book in a semi stunned state about what had happened!

All in all an awesome debut novel from an author I am sure we will start to hear loads about in the future. An awesome host of characters and geniunely creepy read!(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 02, 2012 Allie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Deep in the backwoods of England stands a little old house with a sole inhabitant. In 1953 her two granddaughters are sent to the countryside to live with her, due to family problems back in London. Upon arrival, the girls find the house shut up tight and are promptly told not to open any windows or doors. Though there are few other children around the girls find friends in the boys down the street. Together they explore the abandoned church and graveyard, ignoring the grandmothers warning about...more

like · see review

Oct 22, 2012 Dolores rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's 1958 and sturdy Cora and her 4-year-old sister Mimi are deposited unceremoniously on her Great Aunt Ida's doorstep. They are most decidedly unwelcome. The house is creepy and derelict. Long deep scratches mar the front door, even in the stifling heat of the summer, every window is nailed shut, and Aunt Ida is obsessed with the tides in the surrounding marshes. The girls are sent out the next day to deliver a letter demanding that their father retrieve them, and told that they must, under NO...more

like · see review

Oct 21, 2012 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, rebecca-favorites, recommended, aunts-fiction, grade-5, grade-6, grade-7, grade-8, horror, junior-high-fiction, sisters-fiction, young-adult, england-fiction

This book was recommended to me by Ruth and I'm passing on the recommendation. A lot happens in this 455-page book, so I'm finding it a challenge to encapsulate it.

12-year-old Cora and her four-year-old sister, Mimi, are a bigger burden than their feckless father can manage. Their poor tormented mother is, for all intents and purposes, out of the picture so the youngsters are foisted off on great aunt Ida (whom they've never met). Aunt Ida, however, is not a cozy, cuddly, cookie-baking great aun...more

like · see review

Oct 02, 2012 Sistermagpie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kiddie-lit, supernatural

Like many people, I love the old song "Long Lankin" and have spent a lot of time wondering about the many questions it raises, such as: why exactly did Long Lankin decide to murder this family? And why did the nurse help? So I'm always happy to read someone's take on it.

Lindsey Barraclough has her own interesting take, hinting at Lankin being perhaps something of a changeling connected to the marshy land where he lives. The church the local children are warned to stay away from is suggested to s...more

like · see review

Sep 15, 2012 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A bit disappointing.

I'm the most easily scared person there is, I don't do laundry in my basement after dark, can't watch zombie movies, and sometimes make my housemate check for monsters before I go to bed. Yes, seriously.
This book did not frighten me in the least. Vaguely spooky? Yeah, I'll give it that. I think the scariest part of the book is the old poem that inspired it, and the idea that something truly scary was going to happen. It just never did.

I picked the book up while I was check...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 25, 2012 Erin Stuhlsatz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was really creepy! The whole time I was reading it, I had to keep myself from doing the "suspension of disbelief" thing because I didn't want to get as freaked out as I knew the book could make me!

Cora and Mimi are two abandoned little girls who are sent to live with Great-Aunt Ida. Little do they know that an evil beast hundreds of years old (who likes to eat little children) will rise again and start hunting Mimi. Everybody in the town has lost a family member to the beast; Ida has l...more

like · see review

Aug 18, 2012 Beverly rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: 14-16 year olds

Recommended to Beverly by: indie next list/indiebound.org

Long Lankin is classified as a YA novel. I don't know why, unless it is because the protagonist is an adolescent. The story, although excellent, will be too demanding for many YA readers. Long Lankin is written in the style of a classic folk tale. It has all of the best folk tale elements - a creepy setting, a long ago witch trial gone wrong, a curse, ghosts wandering the cemetery, an evil presence stalking the characters, and a harsh, cold elderly relative hiding a long held family secret. The...more

like · see review

Jul 15, 2012 Kimmy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read Kelly’s review of this at Stacked and immediately wanted to get into this book! Here is the Kobo store’s summary:

In an exquisitely chilling debut novel, four children unravel the mystery of a family curse and a ghostly creature known in folklore as Long Lankin. When Cora and her younger sister, Mimi, are sent to stay with their elderly aunt in the isolated village of Byers Guerdon, they receive a less-than-warm welcome. Auntie Ida is eccentric and rigid, and the girls are desperate to go...more I read Kelly’s review of this at Stacked and immediately wanted to get into this book! Here is the Kobo store’s summary:

In an exquisitely chilling debut novel, four children unravel the mystery of a family curse and a ghostly creature known in folklore as Long Lankin. When Cora and her younger sister, Mimi, are sent to stay with their elderly aunt in the isolated village of Byers Guerdon, they receive a less-than-warm welcome. Auntie Ida is eccentric and rigid, and the girls are desperate to go back to London. But what they dont know is that their aunts life was devastated the last time two young sisters were at Guerdon Hall, and she is determined to protect her nieces from an evil that has lain hidden for years. Along with Roger and Peter, two village boys, Cora must uncover the horrifying truth that has held Bryers Guerdon in its dark grip for centuries before its too late for little Mimi.

If you’re looking for a spooky, atmospheric read, this is most definitely it!

In 1958, Cora and her younger sister, Mimi, are sent to their Aunt Ida’s home in a tiny village, where they make friends with Roger and his brother Peter. They also learn that Aunt Ida has a lot of rules: windows must always stay closed; they must only use the back door; and many rooms of the large home are off limits. Their Aunt Ida is not very welcoming, and does not hide that she doesn’t want the girls staying there.

Soon, Cora, Mimi, Roger, and Peter begin to see and hear things they can’t properly explain, and that Aunt Ida won’t explain. Looking for explanations, the children turn to others in the village and search for the truth behind all of the secrets of Byers Guerdon.

The third-person narrative alternates between Cora, Aunt Ida, and Roger, and it’s very effective because the reader picks up on hints sprinkled throughout the story, but for the most part, the reader is just along for the ride while Cora and Roger figure things out. I liked the way they would get close to something, and then some sort of interruption would pull them away. It’s like the author was teasing the reader, building the suspense and pacing up, only to stop and turn the attention somewhere else. I thought this was very effective, because it only made me want to read more.

The suspense and tension of the story build right up until the end, and trust me when I say that this book is spooky! There isn’t really horror and gore, but this book is unsettling at times, in the ways that a proper scary story should be. Given the time and the setting, and the fact that Aunt Ida does not yet have a telephone, there is also a feeling of isolation woven into the story, which I think makes scary stories scarier!

There are a number of secondary characters in this book, and I liked reading about life in the village, mostly in Roger’s narration. Some of the villagers provide the children with answers to some of the mysteries they’re investigating, while others provide some nice background and character building. I definitely liked the characters of Roger, Peter, Cora, and Mimi, and even grew to like Aunt Ida as I learned more about her.

I suggest you go read Kelly’s review, because it says many of the things I want to say about this book, such as appreciating that the author wasn’t afraid to go where she went with this story. She could have taken the easy way out but instead went where I wanted the story to go, which was refreshingly unexpected.

I definitely recommend this one!

(From http://www.pingwings.ca/long-lankin/)(less)

like · see review

Jul 13, 2012 Rebekah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, young-adult

Hmmm . . . Although there were moments of good grisly terror, this debut book by Lyndsey Barraclough didn't quite make the grade for me.

I've long been fascinated with the ballad of Long Lankin, although I prefer the version made popular by the folk/rock group Steeleye Span--slightly different lyrics than the ones this author uses, and to me, more chilling.

Though her plot was essentially good, the author breaks the flow and build of the story by repeating details that only needed one telling to...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 28, 2012 Ms. Yockey marked it as to-read

Shelves: creepy-scary

Candlewick
July 2012
net galley

Booklist (April 15, 2012 (Vol. 108, No. 16))
Grades 8-11. It’s 1958, and sisters Cora and Mimi are unceremoniously dumped by their father into the arms of Aunt Ida, a haunted, solitary woman who lives in the small town of Bryers Guerdon. All is not well in the dank, depressed village—to say the least—and slowly, with the help of two new friends, the girls begin to turn up ancient and ghostly clues about a vicious child-stealing creature named Long Lankin. This is a st...more Candlewick
July 2012
net galley

Booklist (April 15, 2012 (Vol. 108, No. 16))
Grades 8-11. It’s 1958, and sisters Cora and Mimi are unceremoniously dumped by their father into the arms of Aunt Ida, a haunted, solitary woman who lives in the small town of Bryers Guerdon. All is not well in the dank, depressed village—to say the least—and slowly, with the help of two new friends, the girls begin to turn up ancient and ghostly clues about a vicious child-stealing creature named Long Lankin. This is a story to get lost in: the gloomy, rain-soaked atmosphere recalls Wilkie Collins’ The Woman in White, and the endless stories of woe related by various adults become something of a dense forest—there is enough plot here for a trilogy, and it will drag down readers looking for quick thrills. Those who appreciate old-fashioned chillers, though, will be rewarded by incident after unsettling incident: witchcraft, exorcisms, fire, plagues, and a blood-drinking murderer who walks on all fours. It’s a lot to wade through, but you can’t deny the freakish power of the final 50 pages: at long last, hell does break loose.

Kirkus Reviews starred (June 15, 2012)
A thoroughly terrifying, centuries-old monster stalks two children sent from London to stay with their great-aunt in the country. Cora and little sister Mimi's Auntie Ida could hardly be less welcoming when they show up at her door, sent by their father while their Mum, always prone to "funny moods," is away--again. They must keep the windows and doors locked, even though the crumbling old house is steaming in the summer heat. They mustn't explore in the house, or go down to the marshes, or--especially--go down to the old church. Roger and his brother Pete, local boys, are also forbidden to go there, but when the four children fall in together, down to the church they go--and wake up Long Lankin. He likes them young. This atmospheric, pulse-pounding debut makes the most of its rural, post--World War II setting, a time and place where folklore uneasily informs reality. Barraclough controls her narrative with authority, shifting voices and tenses to provide both perspective and the occasional welcome respite from tension. The actual threat remains mostly unknown for almost the first half of the book, evident mostly in the long scratches by the door, the fetid stench of the church, the secretiveness of the villagers and, overwhelmingly, Auntie Ida's frank terror. If some of the historical exposition comes very conveniently, readers won't care--they will be too busy flipping the pages as Long Lankin closes in. A good, old-fashioned literary horror tale for sophisticated readers. (Historical fantasy. 10-14)

Publishers Weekly (June 11, 2012)
Something's wrong with Cora and Mimi's mother, so their father sends them to live with their Aunt Ida, and she is none too happy when they arrive. Guerdon Hall, the sisters' temporary home, is immense, dark, and terrifying, both to them and to Aunt Ida. First published in the U.K., Barraclough's debut, which is based on a centuries-old British ballad, is a ghost story through and through, chock-full of mysterious apparitions, strange voices, cryptic warnings, and townsfolk who chorus beware, all of which frighten Cora and her new friend, a local boy named Roger, and compel them to uncover the mystery hovering over Guerdon Hall. Told in alternating first-person narratives belonging to Cora, Roger, and Aunt Ida, Barraclough's prose is often poetic; while beautiful, it also makes this strange story dense and initially difficult to access. Readers will likely get a sense of where the story is headed early on, but uncovering the complicated, sad history of Ida's life and the ways in which Cora and Mimi have become tangled in its legacy will compel them to its finish. Ages 12-up. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(less)

like · see review

May 21, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tweener-lit, netgalley

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

like · see review

Aug 04, 2012 karen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: why-yes-i-ya, distant-lands

this book is an anomaly.

most books with multiple POV's, where the perspective changes as much as three times per page, will be fast-paced. the benefits of this style, for a writer, are that you can keep the reader interested and frustrated all at once. you want to keep them guessing, you want to make them scream, "no, get back to that character, i want to know what is happening!" and it fragments the narrative so you can show a ton of things happening at once, and usually, the result is a book...more

37 likes · like · see review

Jan 03, 2012 Carole Holland rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Wow! It's quite some time since I read a book that kept me reading so intensely. I quite literally didn't want to put it down - it was compulsive reading AND it had me so creeped out I didn't dare stop.

Playing on childish fears that you had forgotten about - movements in the shadows, the whisper of voices in the wind, the fear of strange places and old houses with locked doors - and mixing them with the chilling eeriness of witchcraft and folk legends, Long Lankin scares you in a subtle way that...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 08, 2012 Ellen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Long Lankin by Lindsay Barraclough (The Bodley Head-UK 2011/Candlewick) is an excellent first novel initially published in the UK 2011 and marketed as a young adult novel. Although two out of the three points of view are children’s this book should have great appeal to readers of any age. In the late 1940s, two young sisters from London are sent to stay with their great aunt in a small isolated village in rural England. Their aunt is a strange one and strict. The house in which they stay is haun...more

like · see review

Aug 27, 2012 Sergei Franson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, creepy, strong-female-leads, strong-male-leads

Long Lankin was such an interesting idea. I couldn't put it down. The pacing was very good, and allowed me to sometimes being sitting on the edge of my seat, while trying to peer over my shoulder to reassure that no one was sneaking behind me, and also get to know the characters well.

The book was not scary, but it had a sinister premise with scenes that evoked chills, and heart racing. The cover alone is enough to strike fear in anyone, but the pages did a fine job too. The cover sports two girl...more

like · see review

Aug 01, 2012 Erica K rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: family, fiction, historical, international, mystery, paranormal, teen

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a nicely-paced monster/ghost story that slowly but steadily amped up the suspense factor to the point that my heart was racing towards the climactic end. I didn't get a feeling that it was geared towards a specific audience as I was reading it. As an adult, I enjoyed the storyline, the plot development, and the interactions & dialogue amongst the characters. The age of the primary protagonists, Cora & Roger, is undetermined, though probably twee...more

like · see review

Jul 29, 2012 Liz Overberg rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Meh. I really wanted to like this one, but it just didn't live up to the expectations I had for. It was way more fun when I was reading it out loud! Once it was only me reading it in my head, it really fell flat for me.

As many other reviewers have said, this book is REALLY slow paced. That's not necessarily a bad thing, however. The story does continuously move forward, but a lot of the subplots really don't matter. The whole bit with the dad could really go. There are way too many minor charact...more Meh. I really wanted to like this one, but it just didn't live up to the expectations I had for. It was way more fun when I was reading it out loud! Once it was only me reading it in my head, it really fell flat for me.

As many other reviewers have said, this book is REALLY slow paced. That's not necessarily a bad thing, however. The story does continuously move forward, but a lot of the subplots really don't matter. The whole bit with the dad could really go. There are way too many minor characters, (many of whom could probably have been merged into 1 or 2 more major characters), and struggling readers will definitely mix those up, especially in such a long book. But these things aren't what made me give this book a low rating.

The problem, really, is that Long Lankin just ISN'T SCARY. It has all the elements of a scary story, (an old house, a dark and mysterious past, apparitions, a creepy villain/force/monster), but I read more than half this book exclusively late at night in the dark and didn't even get a chill.

Roger and Cora are very likable, and their characterization is excellent, but I wasn't sure about the characterization of the rest of the players in the story. Auntie Ida's chapters were blatantly inserted to give us back story, and they were more confusing than anything else. We were supposed to care a lot about Cora's mom and her situation, but we never even saw her or witnessed Cora interacting with her. We had no idea whether we were supposed to like or trust Cora's dad.

There were a couple times in this story when, after having read a lot about something, I was surprised to hear that it was different than I imagined. I don't want to give too much away, but it was a lot like this: "Then Cora said, 'I finally understood why the broccoli was so orange!'" Oh, and here I had been assuming that the broccoli was just regular green broccoli...you know, since you never mentioned until now that it was orange.

All in all, this was a fun read, but it went on a little too long. I can't imagine that many young adults will stick to this one all the way through, considering the slow pacing, the page count, and the plethora of minor characters.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jan 07, 2013 Rachael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had a hard time deciding how many stars to give this book. I had settled on a solid 2.5 until i got to the last hundred or so pages. Then things really started to get interesting. The final act of the book was enough to merit it an extra star. So technically I've given it 3.5 stars (which I had to round up to 4 on this website).

This is one of those books that takes way too long to set things up, but once things finally really start to get going it never lets up. But boy, did it take a LONG tim...more

like · see review

topics	posts	views	last activity
A Literary Tea with Lindsey Barraclough	2	15	Jan 13, 2013 06:19am
Read by Theme: Long Lankin	1	15	Aug 14, 2012 06:06pm

title link	preview: Long Lankin
avg rating	preview: Long Lankin Goodreads rating: 3.69 (759 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12908035-long-lankin?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1333579132l/12908035.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12908035-long-lankin?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough[/url]

Long Lankin

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (11)

Videos About This Book

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Long Lankin

Long Lankin

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (11)

Videos About This Book

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Long Lankin

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (11)