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Mist

(Mist #1)

Kathryn James

3.91 · Rating details · 889 ratings · 102 reviews

Midnight: a mist-haunted wood with a bad reputation. A sweet 16 party, and 13-year-old Nell is trying to keep her sister, spoilt birthday-girl Gwen, out of trouble. No chance. Trouble finds Gwen and drags her through the mist. Only Nell guesses who's behind the kidnap - the boy she hoped was her friend, the mysterious Evan River. ...more

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Paperback, 336 pages

Published September 1st 2011 by Hodder Childrens Books

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Jan 02, 2013 Maja (The Nocturnal Library) rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed-in-2013, cover-lust, hachette, the-fae-are-so-scary, review-copy, magic, own-a-dtb, middle-grade

You wouldn’t think it possible, but when I was a little girl, I used to read even more than I do now, or just as much at the very least. (Now people are going, “Yeeah, right”, but I promise it’s true.) We moved around a lot in those years, and it was a difficult time for me. I was never very social to begin with, and having to make new friends and adjust to a new environment every couple of years didn’t help much in that department. So I read. And I read and I read and I read. I read Enid Blyton You wouldn’t think it possible, but when I was a little girl, I used to read even more than I do now, or just as much at the very least. (Now people are going, “Yeeah, right”, but I promise it’s true.) We moved around a lot in those years, and it was a difficult time for me. I was never very social to begin with, and having to make new friends and adjust to a new environment every couple of years didn’t help much in that department. So I read. And I read and I read and I read. I read Enid Blyton, and every other Middle Grade mystery I could find. And they made things better for me.

I still hide behind books all the time, but it’s been a while since I’d read a good Middle Grade mystery. (The Apothecary by Maile Meloy is the last that I can remember.) However, The Mist by Kathryn James was the perfect choice for me. I wish it had been around back when I was in constant search for a good MG read.

Behind the mist, there is a world full of giant musical harps, thorn-covered castles, wolves and unicorns that is equal parts scary and enchanting. The Elven and humans are at war, yes, but even hostile Elven can’t make their forest seem any less beautiful. There are no adults in it, not any more. Every grown Elven has been taken to the iron camps and only a handful of children are left. Their solution is to kidnap Nell’s sister and try to get her grandmother, the leader of Watchers, to open the camps.

”The watchers have from now until sundown to open the iron camps. And then set the Elven free.” He paused. “Or your sister will become ours forever.”

The first thing you’ll notice about Mist, even after a single chapter, is that it’s very well written, and not in a way that draws attention. Kathryn James in an expert in making her written word seem almost transparent, entirely unnoticeable, thus allowing the reader to slip directly into the story and really live through everything alongside Nell.

And trust me, you’ll want to take this journey with Nell. She is an amazing girl, a bit socially awkward, a bit withdrawn, but brave and outspoken when necessary. She is compassionate and open minded, resourceful and true to her word.

The romance between Nell and Evan is gorgeous and believable because it’s so age appropriate. I loved how timid they were around each other and how they were able to put aside the fact that they’re natural enemies and call each other friends. Their friendship and their puppy love never crossed any lines, but their feelings were somehow a part of every decision they made. They were both fierce individually, but toward each other they were tender and playful, even when they were seemingly on opposite sides.

Evan is such a tragic hero, a sad little boy whose parents and younger sisters were taken and he was left with no one but a half-crazy older brother. Kathryn James did an excellent job with him; he was distinctly otherworldly, and yet his emotions were very easy to understand. My heart ached for him and his kind.

I surprised myself by requesting the second book, Frost, for review the second I finished this one. I’m looking forward to spending more time with Nell and Evan.

...more

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Sep 29, 2011 Lynne weir rated it really liked it

Shelves: elves, teen-fantasy, series

I liked this book, it was addictive and a fun read. I had it read in 2 days I loved it so much.My only problem with it was the age of the girl, 13 years old. But it not a major problem, just that it was hard sometimes to see from her eyes when I myself am nearly 17. Also it meant that any romance in the book was a sort of sweet first crush type. But who knows maybe as the series goes on, she gets older or maybe just for once as a reader I can try and enjoy love back when it was simple and sweet ...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Aeicha rated it it was amazing

THREE WORDS: Hauntingly Beautiful & Spellbinding

MY REVIEW: Kathryn James’ Mist has enchanted and captivated me completely. If this book were an Elven hoping to lure me into its magical otherworld, well, I’d blissfully follow it into the mist, with dancing feet and all ;)

Thirteen year old Nell has always felt a bit different, like an outsider, even in her own family. She isn’t close with her father, her mother is always busy at work and her soon to be sixteen year old sister, Gwen, is too busy be THREE WORDS: Hauntingly Beautiful & Spellbinding

MY REVIEW: Kathryn James’ Mist has enchanted and captivated me completely. If this book were an Elven hoping to lure me into its magical otherworld, well, I’d blissfully follow it into the mist, with dancing feet and all ;)

Thirteen year old Nell has always felt a bit different, like an outsider, even in her own family. She isn’t close with her father, her mother is always busy at work and her soon to be sixteen year old sister, Gwen, is too busy being the Queen Bee of school, surrounded by her adoring friends, to care about her awkward little sister. Nell is friendless, until she meets mysterious, pale Evan River; the boy nobody seems to notice or remember and who lives beyond the mist in the woods. Nell grew up listening to her Nan’s stories about young girls being abducted by the fairyfolk, but she thought they were just old wives tales…that is until Gwen disappears during her sweet sixteen party in the woods, attacked by a white wolf and taken by a tall, pale boy into the mist. Nell then knows that the old stories are true and she too must travel beyond the mist to rescue her sister, but time is running out.

With a truly fantastical and enthralling story, a wonderfully compelling main character and stellar writing, Mist definitely delivers and does not disappoint. James weaves an exciting story full of mystery, intrigue, romance, heartache, poignant real life situations and razor sharp humor.

There’s a fabulous fairytale like quality to Mist, but the fairytale Kathryn James tells is delightfully dark and eerie in the most stunning and startling ways. I really loved the chilling and haunting setting and tone James has created. James begins the book with a short tale- The Curse of the Lost Girls- and I was simply hooked after this first page! James’ world of the Elven is breathtaking, vivid and full of the unexpected. She has created such a layered and well-developed setting that a part of me desperately wants to find my own mist in the woods to follow, just in case this Elven world is really real…*whispers* and I totally believe it is!

One of the things that I loved most about this book is the main character Nell. Nell is so endearing and impossible not to love. There’s a very natural awkwardness to her when the book begins that I think many readers can relate to; she’s a superbly crafted character. She’s has a fantastic acerbic wit, she’s very clever and in many ways she’s quite mature for her age, yet she still feels like a thirteen year old girl. She makes for a believable heroine because she’s brave, but she’s not afraid to show her fear. I love the fact that she goes on this journey, this dangerous mission to save her sister, not knowing if she’ll succeed or if she’ll even survive and fully believing her sister wouldn’t do the same for her, but she does it anyway because she knows she’s the only one who will, she simply knows she must. Nell also grows a great deal throughout the book; her character goes from a shy, awkward girl to a young woman, who is sure of herself and confident in her abilities.

Evan Rivers is a charming and mysterious character that readers will have no problems becoming attached to. The more Nell interacted with him, the more I wanted to get to know him…and the more I loved and wanted to see the two of them together. Nell and Evan have such an effortless and bright spark between them.

Kathyrn James also does an excellent job of exploring the very fragile and treacherous world of teenage girls. If you've ever been a teenage girl or around teenage girls, then you know how mean, hurtful and confusing girls can be, especially those in cliques or social groups, and James writes about this with very thought-provoking honesty. With Gwen, James has created a very spoiled, vain, shallow Queen Bee teenage girl character, but she’s anything but cliché and turns out to be quite surprising, which I loved.

Nell’s journey is a thrilling and heart pounding one; I felt like I was on this journey with her and not just reading about it. Through Nell, James took me to some unexpected, amazing and fantastical places and I loved every minute of it.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Kathryn James’ Mist shines with imagination, excitement and dark beauty. This is a fantastic and must read MG book for any fantasy lovers, especially those who love fairytales with a wicked twist. I loved this book and cannot wait to read the sequel!

Read the original and complete review at Word Spelunking ...more

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Oct 22, 2016 Rebecca rated it liked it

Shelves: 2016, series-to-complete, paperbacks-i-own

This book was a short and easy read with an interesting storyline which is very well executed.

The main character is Nell, a teenage girl who doesn't fit in to well with a sister who fits in too well they are completely different. Nell befriends a strange boy that comes out of the 'mist' and learns of the war between the elves and the humans. And her sister after having a birthday party in the woods goes mysteriously missing. It is up to Nell and her Elven friend to create a peace between the tw ...more

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Apr 18, 2018 Vitoria rated it it was amazing

I think it’s an amazing story that’s both funny, intriguing and very lovely. You have an amazing character development just in the first book, so I’m really exited to see how the second book is.
I couldn’t lay it down, read it through the day and it was definitely worth the time, I really recommend it.

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Feb 01, 2011 Kai rated it really liked it

Shelves: teens

Review posted at Amaterasu Reads

I was lured in to the story because of the cover, a thing of beauty, as Nell was drawn to the woods by the Mist surrounding it. Nell, different, misunderstood, always a step below her sister Gwen, blending in the shadows, without friends. Then she saw this boy, Evan, white haired and beautiful, hanging out in her school. He says his home lies within the Mist, a place often mentioned in her grandmother's stories. Nell was told to stay away, but as she sees Evan Review posted at Amaterasu Reads

I was lured in to the story because of the cover, a thing of beauty, as Nell was drawn to the woods by the Mist surrounding it. Nell, different, misunderstood, always a step below her sister Gwen, blending in the shadows, without friends. Then she saw this boy, Evan, white haired and beautiful, hanging out in her school. He says his home lies within the Mist, a place often mentioned in her grandmother's stories. Nell was told to stay away, but as she sees Evan more and more, strange things started happening to her town. There were power outages, bulbs spelling a name "Fen". Evan warned her to stop her sister Gwen's sweet sixteen party at all cost, but like always, no one listens. Then Gwen disappears, and all of a sudden it's up to Nell to save her, because her grandmother's stories and fairytales weren't only just that. They're real, and Gwen is in danger.

Let me say this outright. It's a given that I like stories that revolves around faeries and their long standing struggle with the humans, but what made me enjoy reading this is the way it highlighted Nell and her growth as a person. To always be discounted as the second sister, unreliable, different, a freak, Nell is a girl you just couldn't help but feel for, even sometimes pity. She was well loved by her mother, frowned upon by her father, yet despite all of the things that got thrown her way all her life, she broke her family's expectations and went after her sister Gwen to rescue her, alone. It's not that she's the black sheep of the family, Nell is just misunderstood, and often misunderstands a lot of things as well. She sees herself in a different way than the rest of her peers, having grown up in a family where not much is expected of her, but she's got a spark inside of her, a curious personality and an inquiring mind, both working to her advantage as she traversed through the Mist.

Evan is an Elven (not Elves, as he often would say) from a race that once shared the Earth with humans and was forced out of it rather unfairly. He's an interesting boy, having to grow up at fourteen and take up the task of taking care of the children of his race. He's got a certain innocence in him that is adorable, yet with all the growing up he had to do, he has developed this wary exterior to keep the humans disinterested. He grew up believing that humans are evil, but when he met Nell, always on the fringe, different, suddenly he wasn't so sure. He's funny, brotherly and responsible, and at times the readers get too peek into the child that he really is despite of the grown up things he had to do.

Like all the other faerie themed books, the fey in Mist are afraid of Iron. But unlike other faerie books I've read, the clash of the old and the new was very evident in the story, as bits and pieces of modern technology made their way to the fey, simple human inventions like riding a motorcycle, knowing what gum is, and ultimately, using Google. Still, they are mischievous creatures, powerful enough to be feared. Evan's brother, Fen, is a perfect example of a Fay to be feared. Although I think Fen's character needed a bit more "oomph", more impact, a little more darkness and hatred that can convince readers that he was a potential nefarious, vengeful leader who will bring upon Ragnarok, the threat he represents was convincing enough to make it the central conflict of the story. It also took me a while to realize what Nell's grandmother's role really is, for an important character she seemed to have little part in the story.

The romance took a step back, and focused on the Fey vs. Humans conflict instead, but Evan and Nell's companionship might turn out into something more, who knows? They both might be in for a greater future, one that can change the world they both live in, and someday they can be together because of it, as friend or lovers, maybe? The odd kind of friendship that formed between the two of them is something worth smiling about. It's as innocent as it can get between a fourteen year old girl and a young Elven, but that didn't stop me from feeling a little warm inside whenever Evan and Nell are together.

I was holding my breath a couple of times, eagerly anticipating what will happen next as Nell crosses over to the world of the Faeries. The author was able to achieve a great balance between the contemporary side of Nell's story with her family conflicts and her personal difficulties as well as the fantasy, magical side of the Fay. There are plenty of characters to love, even Gwen, Nell's sister, and some to be intrigued with like Evan. Even the wolves in the story are interesting enough that they upped the action in the book. Great characterization of Nell, Kathryn James. If I had read this book when I was a tween, I'd probably enjoy it the same way I enjoyed reading it now. A steady solid writing and an even pace with a lovable heroine is what Mist is all about. Is there anything else to look forward to? Yes! There are still problems to be solved and Mist ends in a way that makes the readers crave for the second book, Frost, immediately!
...more

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Oct 10, 2011 Michelle (Fluttering Butterflies) rated it really liked it

Shelves: british-reading-challenge, books-read-in-2011

This review was originally published at Fluttering Butterflies

What really appealed to me about Mist by Kathryn James is, I will admit, the beautiful cover. I think it's lovely. And I was also quite curious about how and where British author Kathryn James would take this story. once I began, I couldn't stop reading Mist!

It's a book about a girl who travels into an Elven mist in order to rescue her sister. I love that Nell, our main character is 13 and that this book is aimed at 10+ but still this This review was originally published at Fluttering Butterflies

What really appealed to me about Mist by Kathryn James is, I will admit, the beautiful cover. I think it's lovely. And I was also quite curious about how and where British author Kathryn James would take this story. once I began, I couldn't stop reading Mist!

It's a book about a girl who travels into an Elven mist in order to rescue her sister. I love that Nell, our main character is 13 and that this book is aimed at 10+ but still this book is exciting and dangerous and thrilling. This book would be exactly what I'd want to read, both at that age and now. Especially as Nell is a bit different and stands out a bit by her unusual dress-sense and being the only person who can remember Evan River's name.

I really loved seeing how Nell's nan's stories of the Elven have come true in this book. Fairy stories and legends are always so fascinating that I love that storytelling aspect. And the mist and the woods that surrounds Nell's town is pretty creepy. I love that Kathryn James took inspiration from the British woodlands in order to create this fictional land of the Elven!

Despite warnings from the boy Nell is crushing on, Nell's sister Gwen has a late-night 16th birthday party in the woods and is taken by the Elven. It up to Nell and cute but mysterious Evan River to journey into the mist and rescue Gwen. Nell must use all her wits in order to go up against the Elven, to barter for her older sister, and to make it make it out of the Mist in time.

It's very exciting, this book. I'm pleasantly surprised with how addictive reading it became. I wanted Nell to succeed very badly and I just couldn't see how it could be accomplished throughout most of the book. I loved reading of Nell's relationships - both with her sister, Gwen and with Evan. The Elven sound pretty interesting with the different families and power struggles. I can see myself really enjoying learning more about this new world.

Bring on the sequel, Frost, published later this year! ...more

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Oct 04, 2011 Aras Redan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: good-on-my-shelves

You know when I first bought this, I thought it was going to be your typical romance fantasy boring bla bla bla story but when I finished reading this I could easily say that it is now one of my favourite books.

Firstly I love the adventure, lately all the books are about coming of age and love which bothers me a lot cause I'm fourteen and I'm not into soppy romances. But in this book something actually happens. I really loves it because it was like the fantasy books that came out during the tim ...more

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Dec 06, 2011 Josie rated it liked it

Shelves: childrens-fiction

I was pleasantly surprised when I picked this up and discovered that the MC is only 13. I was hoping for friendship and adventure rather than romance and angst, and while that was true to an extent, Mist reads like a 13-year-old wrote it too. Practically all the characters are caricatures, and there is some blatant wish-fulfilment going on, but... it was actually kind of endearing? Nell, the heroine, threatens to break bullies' legs with her karate skillz, and fights off wolves by spraying them ...more

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Oct 03, 2013 Fazianafizz rated it it was amazing

I loved this book! I have a copy at home and I read it over and over. Kathryn James herself came to our rather small school, and I had sadly forgotten to bring the book, but it already had a signature in it so yeah. OMG I need to read the sequel, it's been out for ages but I need to save up for it. I hope she continues it :D that would be awesome ...more

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Dec 10, 2019 Kat rated it really liked it

Re read
I loved this book. The atmosphere was good with the creepy woods at night, the mist, the wind and trees, nell (the main character) hearing people and music but not seeing anyone around. The story was interesting and seeing the characters in the other place. It didn't ever feel slow or boring. ...more

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Jan 01, 2021 Melissa Ashton rated it it was amazing

Gripping from the start. Fell in love with the main characters as soon as they were introduced, I felt so connected to Nell as if she was written about myself when I was 14 yesrs old. The setting is described beautifully that you can envision it as if you were walking among it yourself. I could place the Mist right in the woods in my own backyard.

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May 22, 2020 Olivia Bolton rated it it was amazing

Hooked me from the start. A very well written book, transported me to that world and followed everything that happened with ease. I've re-read this one several times and enjoy it each time. Very happy with this pick. ...more

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Jan 13, 2021 Novi Lene rated it it was amazing

Gosh this is one of the best book I have ever read, along with Frost. I fell inlove with the adventure of the character and all the weird characters involved. So good!!! Defo recommend if you’re into fantasy adventure :)

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Aug 16, 2018 Isabel rated it it was amazing

full of magic, secrets and Mist, but beyond the Mist is the interesting part.:)

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Aug 18, 2018 the_sun rated it it was amazing

I would say this book was amazing, I really believe that you guys also should. It kinda is spellbinding, amazing, mysterious. That’s the 3 words I would describe for you.

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Sep 09, 2018 BooksAndRae rated it liked it

Pretty good book but I don’t think I’ll continue reading the series as I’m satisfied with how this book ended and don’t want to ruin it

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Feb 13, 2020 Hollylovesbooks added it

Shelves: dnf

DNF at 40%.
Not for me.

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Dec 19, 2012 Shaz Goodwin rated it really liked it

Mist opens with Nell going into the ancient wood at the back of her home. Despite her mother’s warnings, she has gone after dark. She’s following the mystery boy, Evan River. Conjecturing how it would be if she died there compared to her sister Gwen, we find out how different they are.

Evan River has been at Woodbridge Community College for a short time and is different from the others with his white hair and dark eyes. The college community do not see him or remember him. Straight away the reade Mist opens with Nell going into the ancient wood at the back of her home. Despite her mother’s warnings, she has gone after dark. She’s following the mystery boy, Evan River. Conjecturing how it would be if she died there compared to her sister Gwen, we find out how different they are.

Evan River has been at Woodbridge Community College for a short time and is different from the others with his white hair and dark eyes. The college community do not see him or remember him. Straight away the reader intuits that Nell is different from everyone else as she does.

An interesting confrontation in the woods with another couple of boys from a neighbouring estate had me hooked!

Evan warns Nell that there is danger that night in the woods …

Nell and Gwen’s mother, Jackie, is a cop. Due to the recent powercut she is going to have to do a double shift and so the way is prepared for Gwen’s 16th birthday party to take place in the woods.

Nell can feel the danger in her mind and body but when the church clock strikes midnight, she starts to relax, after all, Evan said that “night” and after midnight it’s a new day. It’s when she relaxes that Gwen is noticed as missing and the adventure begins …

Nell is a fabulous character. Always on the outside of her community, walking to the beat of a different drum to everyone else, she invents an alter-ego who is more daring and allows her to be something she thinks she isn’t. As the plot progresses, she becomes stronger and stronger until finally, she comes into her own… still walking to the beat of a different drum but with her head held high and a strong belief in herself. I adored her!

Another interesting character in Mist is the girls nan, Dru Church. She rides a Harley and goes to festivals. As head of the British Folklore Society, we find out her responsibilities go much deeper than the caretaker of the iron house she lives and works in at the edge of the forest.

The relationship that intrigued me the most was that between Nell and her father, Tom Church. Separated from her mother, Nell doesn’t have a lot of respect for him. By the end of the story, we realise that neither Nell or Tom’s perception of each other has been accurate and a bond begins to form. I can’t wait to see how this develops in Frost!

The Elven world is beautifully crafted and has everything you would expect from a fairytale/folktale (with a few surprises too!) The relationship between Nell and Evan is one that is honest and open despite the differences in their ‘race.’ This is another thing I’m looking forward to being a part of in Frost … their developing connection.

The plot itself is not new, however the subplots are. The way the author combines the myth with the modern is refreshing and gives it a new feeling. I loved it that Lettice, who had been taken in 1913, told her side of the story. Modern technology is used with Google Earth playing a part and the brilliant creation of how Nell uses a modern tool to help her.

You’ll find magic, mystery, suspense and intrigue in Mist. The characters and their relationships are brilliant and carried me along on Nell’s quest to find her sister. I’m looking forward to finding out if, and how, it will be possible for the two worlds to live together. Definitely a YA series to get lost in!

I would like to thank the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Aug 18, 2013 Tali rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paranormal-fantasy, quietly-funny, young-teen, fairy-tales

I haven't really read many stories about elves (or elven, as the book insists), but I saw the cover of this book and it just drew me in. There's more to this than just the pretty cover though. This book is meant more for the pre-teen audience (I'm a wee bit older than that) and so the story and mini-romance in it are written accordingly. What I'm absolutely positive about though is that if I had read this book when I was 10-11, I would've loved it probably as much as I really liked it now. Altho I haven't really read many stories about elves (or elven, as the book insists), but I saw the cover of this book and it just drew me in. There's more to this than just the pretty cover though. This book is meant more for the pre-teen audience (I'm a wee bit older than that) and so the story and mini-romance in it are written accordingly. What I'm absolutely positive about though is that if I had read this book when I was 10-11, I would've loved it probably as much as I really liked it now. Although the story takes place over the course of just two days, the plot moves fairly fast and deals with some pretty weighty issues while still being appropriate for the audience.
I loved the character of Nell as she realised what was going on with the elven and resolved herself to rescuing her sister, Gwen, no matter what. The relationship between the two sisters - so important to the plot of the book - was realistically constructed too and in that I think James has done a fabulous job. As a younger sister myself, those combined feelings of love, annoyance, fondness and competition really hit the mark and that was a really pleasant element of this book that I hadn't expected beforehand. I did love the way elements of modern life as a teenage girl were written though - all the drama and social quirks - those parts of the book made me smile.
Another part of this book that really hit me was the plight of Evan, the elven boy, and his family who were struggling to survive. At times the story here became a lot darker than I would've imagined considering the age of reader that this book is aimed towards - issues of insanity, imprisonment and genocide are discussed - but I think these issues are skilfully dealt with, albeit a little too lightly. It's to be expected that more detail isn't gone into in this story, but I couldn't help wondering whether that was because of the style of the book and it's immediate plot, or because Kathryn James has included all of this in the sequel to this book, in which case it's a little disappointing.
This book isn't completely perfect, of course. For example, I couldn't understand why Nell felt the need to change her appearance as well as her clothes in the middle of rescuing Gwen. It seemed very unnecessary particularly as she was in a hurry. I also thought a couple of scenes between Nell and the girls at her school were a bit unnecessary as they didn't seem to add anything either to the plot or her character development.
Still, I did really enjoy this book and sped through it in a few hours one afternoon. Definitely one that keeps you on edge, but is charming and sweet at the same time.
5 stars. ...more

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Oct 22, 2011 CiderandRedRot rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, kickass-heroine, romance-didnt-make-me-puke, badass-parenting

If I'd bothered to read the back cover, instead of going 'Oh yes, I've heard of that, it's meant to be good, it's...horror, right?' (blame Stephen King), I never would have picked up this gem. As a rule, I don't like 'fairy books'. I'm all about the paranormal and the folklorific, but something about the fae genre generally bores me to tears. Good thing this story is about the elven - not elf, elves, fairies, fae etc. Elven. Got it?

This book is a page turner. Our heroine, Nell, is younger than y If I'd bothered to read the back cover, instead of going 'Oh yes, I've heard of that, it's meant to be good, it's...horror, right?' (blame Stephen King), I never would have picked up this gem. As a rule, I don't like 'fairy books'. I'm all about the paranormal and the folklorific, but something about the fae genre generally bores me to tears. Good thing this story is about the elven - not elf, elves, fairies, fae etc. Elven. Got it?

This book is a page turner. Our heroine, Nell, is younger than your average YA protagonist - this is one of those YA novels that balances on the cusp of children's and teen fiction - but it would be a mistake to describe the deceptively-simply written storyline as childish. James writes well, conjuring up for the reader a world that is familiar - with it's secondary school cliques, Queen Bees and teenage parties - but which also has the menace of the elven world lurking around the edges through the mist.

Nell and her sister Gwen live in Woodbridge, where their divorced policeman parents are often away from home investigating a spate of attacks on the local power grid that, more often than not, leaves the town in darkness. Surrounding the town is the forest, where legend has it that young girls have been known to disappear. Scorning the warnings laid down by their hippie-biker-folklorist nan Dru (more of her please!), popular Gwen takes advantage of the situation to throw a sweet sixteen birthday party in the woods. Dreamy, clever Nell, a couple of years Gwen's junior, tries to intervene, tipped off by that Mysterious Loner Dude at school, who no one else can quite remember seeing, that this is a Bad Idea. Of course, things go wrong, and the gates to the Elven kingdom through the mist are opened to the sisters.

James has done a fabulous job of combining folklore, crack storytelling and believable characterization; the dynamic between the two sisters, with their snarky banter overlying a deep love for each other is a joy. For the more hesitant like myself, the elven aspects gently invade the human side of the story, until it all makes a perfect kind of sense, with international elven-human agreements, labour camps, secret watcher-like societies and plenty of betrayal on both sides. But at the heart of it is a genuinely unsettling and threatening fairyland populated by people who seems like us, but who are definitely Other. The romance is a teaser around the edges, with friendship being the main focus, although Evan is all manner of intriguing. ...more

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May 27, 2013 BakerStreetBat rated it liked it

OK, since a fairly thorough summary of the book is given above, I won't waste my time on that - straight to the opinion.
James' main strengths are her ability to plot and to evoke a sense of mysticism. The idea of the mist being a portal to the Elven's world is haunting and intriguing. The world of the Elven is elegantly drawn, and considering how many times faeries have been portrayed in literature, impressively original. The extracts from antiquated fairy tales also give it a sense of antiquit OK, since a fairly thorough summary of the book is given above, I won't waste my time on that - straight to the opinion.
James' main strengths are her ability to plot and to evoke a sense of mysticism. The idea of the mist being a portal to the Elven's world is haunting and intriguing. The world of the Elven is elegantly drawn, and considering how many times faeries have been portrayed in literature, impressively original. The extracts from antiquated fairy tales also give it a sense of antiquity, and one of their elements involved in the story and details about the Elven plight help to ground it. Meanwhile, the original mystery of Evan developing into a ticking time-bomb is well-considered and plotted. I also liked the cover design: it perfectly suits the book.
Now, onto the bad parts.
As it says above, this is a fantasy for 10+ year old girls. I'd extend that to say that it's really meant for 10-14 year old girls. James isn't a BAD writer as such; what I would say is that she could have done with more drafts and/or a better editor. She hasn't obeyed the 'show don't tell' rule at all. We are TOLD what every character is like, with no subtle characterisation at all. The real problem, though, is that the narrator Nell is more than a bit of a Mary-Sue. All the characters who have a problem with her are rendered two-dimensional, and some completely reverse their opinion of her by the end of the book. She goes through a coming-of-age, which would have been interesting except we are told exactly how she is changing rather than being allowed to see it for ourselves. She's meant to come off as shy and insecure while being sensitive and imaginative at the start, but I just found her annoying. Her original friendship with Evan is illogical too: he's mature beyond his years due to supporting the Elven while she still has the mindset of a little girl. What could they possibly have in common? One good note though on characterisation - Evan is described by the blurb as being something of an Edward Cullen, but he's far more interesting and detailed than that. He ended up being my favourite character by far.
In conclusion, this book is entertaining and well worth a read if you're looking for a light escape. Just don't expect anyone but pre-teen girls to consider it great. ...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Rachel S rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Mist sounded very intriguing when I first read the back of it. I picked this book up with hopeful expectations and, d'ya know what? It exceeded them! I wouldn't say it was an absolutely flawless book but it was just the sort-of story I was in the mood for: adventurous, fun, mysterious and not too long. It reminds me of the books I used to read before I became part of the book blogging world and was opened to a world of genres I never knew anything about, and I'm glad Mist opened those doors once Mist sounded very intriguing when I first read the back of it. I picked this book up with hopeful expectations and, d'ya know what? It exceeded them! I wouldn't say it was an absolutely flawless book but it was just the sort-of story I was in the mood for: adventurous, fun, mysterious and not too long. It reminds me of the books I used to read before I became part of the book blogging world and was opened to a world of genres I never knew anything about, and I'm glad Mist opened those doors once again.

Nell Beecham is used to looking in from the outside. She's not as popular as her big sister, Gwen, and the only two best friends she's ever had dumped her for a life of make-up and boys. She knows she's different, but she never guessed how so...
Nell has talked to Evan Rivers a few times. He's different too. Not one to play by the rules. She never for one minute thought that a disastrous birthday party in the spooky woods would collide both of their very different worlds together, and set Nell a dangerous rescue mission into one of her grandmother's old fairytales.

This book had a great plot. Different and very refreshing. Not to mention pretty cool! You are sucked up into the action quickly and, even though a little build up would have been fine by me, it still worked well. The storyline was probably one of my favourite factors, along with the characters.

Nell, the main character, was brave and fought for those she loved which you can't help but admire. I love a brave heroine and of course she had a kind, gentle side to boost! Evan was my other favourite character though. He gave himself such a hard time when all he done was be kind and sweet and thoughtful and just pretty awesome!

Overall I found Mist quite an enjoyable read. I will definetly be looking out for the next in the series, Frost, which comes out sometime in June this year! This book would be suitable for a rainy day (a sunny one will do just fine too!) and I'm sure you'll like it if you try it! Hint, hint... ;)
...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Becky rated it it was amazing

This is another book I have had out of the library for ages, i almost gave it back a number of times but something kept me holding onto it, I just couldn't give it up. And I'm so glad I didn't because I really enjoyed it.
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect with this book, one website classed it as a 'thriller' which put me off a bit but it's not scary at all, just exciting.
Nell is our protagonist, a bit of an outcast, not into hair or make up - the opposite of her super popular sister Gwen. ...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Kirsty Bicknell rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, review-copy, couldn-t-put-down, ya, fae

Although I feel that the main target audience for 'Mist' is Middle-Grade I was enchanted by the magical Elven world ("not Elvish or Elves!") that Kathryn James had created.
The main female character Nell is immediately a figure the reader can feel empathy for, because of her loneliness and isolation from the other teenagers in the village. Despite this she genuine, loyal and likeable and I felt I wanted to read more of her story.
'Mist' begins with Nell following a mysterious boy she has met at sc ...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Zulekha rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-own, 2012

So it took me a while to read this book, mainly cause when I started reading it, it was the beginning of my exams so I had to focus on them, and then I had to go in search of the book to buy it. So when I finally bought it, I started reading from where I left off and I must say the book didn't shatter any of my expectations.

'Mist' is one of the most spellbindingly addictive reads, and as much as I hated to have to put it down at the time of my exams, I'm glad I finally read it and can sadly sa ...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Caroline Victoria Murphy (CazzReadsYA) rated it really liked it

For more reviews, check out my blog
www.musicmindedbookfreak.com

Mist follows a girl called Nell who meets a mysterious boy called Evan who she's immediately attracted to. Then one night, her sister Gwen has her birthday party in the woods and mysteriously disappears. Nell discovers her sister has been kidnapped, and she discovers a fairy world where all is not as it seems.. Including Evan.

Nell is thirteen years old so I couldn't relate to her because I'm 19 so I'm quite a bit older than her. How ...more

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Oct 23, 2011 Carly rated it really liked it

Shelves: for-review

Mist is a stunning first instalment that is beautiful, eerie, mysterious and managed to pull me in from the very first chapter!

This right here is world building at it's best and I simply loved getting lost in this dangerous but highly intriguing world. The writing is superb and is full of really rich descriptors - I had no problem visualising the chilling dark forest.

The characters are wonderful. Main character Nell is a really quirky, down-to-earth girl who I think a lot of young teens will be ...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Brittany | BookRamblings rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Different!! My friend recommended this book and don't get me wrong - the cover looks superb but the blurb on the back of the book just didn't intrigue me.(its different on goodreads) Well, lets just say I got hooked in the first chapter. The plot was just so different; putting a twist on an old folks tale I had never heard of. Detail was written beautifully but I didn't feel emotionally involved with some of the characters.

I t was one of them books that I was on the edge of my seat praying thin ...more

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Dec 08, 2014 Nomi rated it liked it

Recommend to Teen Girls
FYI: there's some profanity; B*tch is used about 4 times.

I didn't really get into the book until half way through. I wasn't a fan of her style of writing (could be the amount of sarcasm?) but I think there's a slight improvement as the story progresses. I think the next book could be promising.

I do like that it's a light read, however, chapter 13 was almost 40 pages long?!?!?!?

The protagonist is only thirteen, which doesn't quite add up... But at least the author kept the ...more

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About Kathryn James

Kathryn James

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Kathryn lives in Leicester with her family, writing full time (and loves that!) Kathryn always wanted to become an author and wrote her first story at age eight. But it took quite a while and lots of different jobs before she got published.

She's worked with gypsy and traveller children, working from a converted bus with a rainbow on the side, doing video and photography projects, and documenting t ...more

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Mist (2 books)

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Quotes from Mist

“So, we're not enemies anymore?" She said.
"I never said I wanted to be, believe me. When I saw you sitting in your own, eating lunch, all I wanted to do was fool around and make you smile." He shot her a shy glance.” — 9 likes

“He leaned in and kissed her cheek. Just the lightest touch of lips, but it took her breath away.
"What was that for?" She said, when she could talk.
He held out his hands to the street and the town. "See, the world didnt explode. I think we can be friends” — 6 likes

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