Psychocat Reads Review + Blog Tour: EMPTY CUP

Psychocat Reads Review of EMPTY CUP by Suzanne Costigan

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

Today we're pleased to participate in the blog tour for Suzanne Costigan's first novel, EMPTY CUP. Sometimes being on tour host lists means a book crosses my radar that I might have otherwise missed. Sometimes those books scream very loudly that while they might not fall into the normal spectrum of books we review, they need to be read. When that happens, we tend to listen. 

EMPTY CUP is one of those books. As such, the review categories are slightly different for this one.

The Subject Matter: I'll warn you now, this book is a serious one. EMPTY CUP doesn't dance around issues. It plows head on into them. More than once it left me saying "No! No! No!" even as I couldn't put it down. It deals with rape, mild drug use, unhealthy relationships, and what many would consider some level of child neglect or abuse. This is not an easy read. It is not  a fun filled book meant to make you laugh. It will tug at your heart, make you cringe, and possibly make you cry. Proceed with caution, but if you feel you can handle it, do proceed.

The Characters: The book is told from Raven's point of view. She is young (just turning seventeen), has had a hard life, and doesn't always make the wisest choices. However, you can see she wants to figure things out. She wants a better life, and you find yourself hoping very much that she'll find it even when things are at their darkest. 

There are a mix of both teenage and adult characters in Raven's story. Within both groups there is good, bad, and sometimes downright ugly. None of these characters are living fairy tale lives, and the story presents us with some of the harsh realities found in less than ideal circumstances. 

I will say that given the relatively short length of the novel, there were a few minor characters that could have been cut as outside of a few brief parts they were largely ignored throughout the story. 

The Relationships: I can't really go far into this category without spoiling things, so I'll keep it brief. There are plenty of unhealthy relationships that will make you shake your head (or possibly stronger reactions). There are also so small surprises that might make you smile even as Raven's life crumbles around her. While I felt the relationships were, for the most part, handled quite well as part of the story, I do think there was room to develop some a bit deeper. The novel is short enough that more could have been added to create an even richer story. 

Jen's Final Rating: 4 STARS! EMPTY CUP could have benefited with a bit more length to really flush out some of the pieces, but the overall story was well done and emotionally engaging. Suzanne Costigan is an author I'll be keeping my eye on in the future. 

Psychocat's Final Rating: No snark from the Psychocat this time, but she's got an entire hit list formed from this book. The pretty kitty is pissed and ready to draw blood. This time I'm not even going to try to talk her out of it.

Title: Empty Cup
Publication date: November 3, 2014
Publisher: Rebelight Publishing Inc.
Author: Suzanne Costigan

Mom’s new boyfriend is creepy.

On the night of her seventeenth birthday, Raven finds out he isn’t just creepy, he’s dangerous. He leaves Raven broken and bleeding, but Mom blames her for what happened. She kicks Raven out of the house with nothing but a blanket to protect her from a frigid winter night.

Alone.

Devastated.

Abandoned.

As Raven struggles with the aftermath of the ultimate betrayal, she seeks solace in her imagination and a teacher who seems to understand her situation. She ultimately discovers that her world won’t change if she relies upon someone else to do it. Real change begins within.

“…Sure to prompt reflection and provocative discussions on important issues.”
-Allan Stratton, author of Leslie’s Journal

“Not an easy story, but an important one. Compelling, powerful, and engaging.”
-Eric Walters, author of Power Play.

Find EMPTY CUP on Goodreads.

Buy EMPTY CUP at Chapters Indigo | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | TBD | IndieBound

GIVEAWAY

Winner will be drawn March 27, 2015

·        Two (2) winners will received a physical copy of Empty Cup by Suzanne Costigan (US/Canada)

·        Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Empty Cup by Suzanne Costigan(INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway















About the Author:

Suzanne Costigan is a child welfare advocate, supporting high risk children in her home, and an active member of the Winnipeg writing community. Empty Cup is her first novel.

Connect with the Author:   Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  | Goodreads