Wednesday Books — Roberta Cheadle, Through the Nethergate #RRBC #Bookreview
Wednesday, January, 29, 2020
[image error]Crystal had to hide under the covers to read a horror story.
Welcome to the first installment of Wednesday Books!
This post begins a new quarterly feature for Teagan’s Books. I’m not a book reviewer. Although I post a few at Amazon and Goodreads, I never do “real” reviews. However, when I recently bought my membership to the Rave Reviews Book Club (RRBC) I agreed to do four book reviews, of books from their catalog. So I’ll do my version of a “review.”
You may ask why I say I don’t do real reviews — 1) I don’t do the book summary or tell much about the book, beyond some things I liked or thought were important. 2) I do not rank books with stars, hearts, mermaids or anything else. Why? While reviews are essential to sales and to morale, ranking is harmful — because it is arbitrary. I saw how absurd it can be when someone wrote an absolutely glowing review. The words were so positive that I didn’t even notice that it was only four stars. …Until they apologized. “I’m sorry, but I only give 5-star reviews to ____,” their favorite, long-dead author. From that moment, I realized the rankings were meaningless. Now I’ll step down from my Julia Sugarbaker soapbox and get back to the point.
For the first book in this new feature I stepped somewhat outside my preferred fantasy genre and went to a horror book. You might already be familiar with Roberta Eaton Cheadle — known to many of us as Robbie, from her blog about children’s books and baking, Robbie’s Inspiration. Since I’m not a real reviewer, I thought it would be fun to ask Robbie a couple of questions along with the required review.
[image error]Roberta Cheadle, background by Pixabay, altered by Teagan
Questions for Robbie
1) Why ghosts? Of all the horror and/or supernatural beings and critters, why did you choose ghosts?
I have always liked ghosts as they have a sophistication and elegance that you don’t find in demons, werewolves, and other mythical creatures, which are quite crude in their killings and often eat their victims. I like the fact that they were previously human and usually have interesting and often tragic back stories. I am a big history buff so I enjoy finding out the little bits of information about each ghost’s past and the putting it all together as a fictionalised story.
The other reason I used ghosts is that it is reasonable to believe that a good person who dies badly, and chooses not to ascend to the afterlife, could later seek redemption and regret their choice. This is the concept I exploited in Through the Nethergate. It is also reasonable to assume that bad people might enjoy their ghostly life and not wish to make changes. The idea of the ghosts reincarnating is not a concept I can recall coming across anywhere else, but that is not to say that it isn’t out there somewhere. I enjoyed the idea that the ghosts could regain certain human characteristics allowing them much great and more deadly powers while still retaining some “ghostly” powers.
2) I like it when books with young protagonists have some “parental” or familial guardian character. What inspired you to use Margaret’s grandfather?
That is actually a good question, Teagan. I do believe that Steve Baker is a lot like my father, Dean. He has the same open mindedness about unusual activities and circumstances. My father introduced me to Wicca and astral travel as a young girl. Dean is not my biological father, but he has been there for most of my life and I am very close to him. I do think I see him as a strong and stable force in my life and I built my supporting figure for Margaret around him.
When my mother and I were involved in a home invasion in 2010, my father saved us. He was very brave in a confrontational and aggressive way, just like Steve’s character in Through the Nethergate. Interestingly enough, I have written a few characterisations for this book, but I have never done one for Steve. This is the first time I have actually thought about and captured his character in this way.
Wow. Robbie, thank you for sharing that very personal answer. It’s so much more than I expected. Dean sounds like a wonderful man.
[image error]Rudy and Peter Skitterians at Pixabay
Now, despite being outside my comfort zone, I’ll get to this review business.
Here’s the blurb from Amazon
Margaret, a girl born with second sight, has the unique ability to bring ghosts trapped between Heaven and Hell back to life. When her parents die suddenly, she goes to live with her beloved grandfather, but the cellar of her grandfather’s ancient inn is haunted by an evil spirit of its own.
In the town of Bungay, a black dog wanders the streets, enslaving the ghosts of those who have died unnatural deaths. When Margaret arrives, these phantoms congregate at the inn, hoping she can free them from the clutches of Hugh Bigod, the 12th century ghost who has drawn them away from Heaven’s White Light in his canine guise.
With the help of her grandfather and the spirits she has befriended, Margaret sets out to defeat Hugh Bigod, only to discover he wants to use her for his own ends – to take over Hell itself.
My Review
Not a ghost story, but a ghosts story — emphasis on the plural. What might happen if a teenaged girl, encountered terrible evil? Ah, but Margaret is not the average teenaged girl. She sees ghosts — and they see her!
[image error]Through the Nethergate by Roberta Eaton Cheadle. Image, Teagan R. Geneviene
I’ve read several of the author’s books for children, and found them delightful and imaginative. I was surprised when she began writing much darker stories, although I could imagine the need for “balance” that must have taken her from stories for young children to the horror genre. As children grow up, so might one’s genre of writing.
In Through the Nethergate Robbie bravely dives into the scary, ghostly stuff right away. Her love of history is evident. This adds positively to all aspects of the story. As a self-proclaimed research geek, I can tell that the author put considerable effort into her investigations.
Through the Nethergate takes place in a variety of settings. It also includes an abundance of vivid characters, from the girl and her grandfather, to ghosts and demons, to priests.
The Biblical aspect to the story was unexpected. Personally, this was neither positive nor negative for me, as I don’t tend to associate ghosts with religion. However, I think it will add to the story for many readers. There was a surprising detail with one of the otherworldly settings, which I thought was a terrific touch, but I don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun by describing it here.
Some descriptions are gruesome, but it’s horror — so to be expected. The Kindle version is 270 pages, if that helps you. Whether it is listed as “young adult” or simply “horror” I don’t think one can be too old to enjoy this otherworldly tale.
So, pour a glass of wine, or pull the covers up over your head like Crystal, and enjoy this read.
Robbie, I appreciate the time you’ve spent here today. I always say that true to the name of your other blog, you are an inspiration. Wishing you huge success with Through the Nethergate and all your books.
Thanks to everyone for visiting. I love your comments, so be sure to stop and say hello. I hope you will also visit Robbie. Hugs on the wing!
Copyright © 2019 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene
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