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Edgar Wilde and the Lost Grimoire
Eccentric teenager Edgar Wilde lives with his grandmother and runs his own cemetery tour business in the quaint, coastal New England town of St. Edmund. Determined to offer the very best tours, Edgar volunteers at the local library on Saturdays, where he secretly digs through old town documents for interesting historical tidbits.
Among his recent discoveries is the name of a man who seems to be missing from the official town records. Edgar’s curiosity deepens the further he digs — if he didn’t know better he could swear the mysterious figure had been intentionally removed from St. Edmund’s history. But it’s when two members of the local historical society forcefully tell him to mind his own business that he begins to realize he’s stumbled into something very, very big.
St. Edmund’s cemetery manager, Corinthian Harknell, has been Edgar’s confidant and father figure for some time, and the curious mystery of the missing man seems to have whetted his appetite for a good adventure as well. Corinthian knows Edgar better than anyone, and instantly picks up on the chemistry between Edgar and high school acquaintance Shelby Emerson, whose curiosity draws her deeper and deeper into Edgar Wilde’s compelling world of Victorian garb, cemetery iconography and passion for mystery.
Together, the three find themselves on a tantalizing quest involving centuries-old clues hidden around St. Edmund, a forgotten witch trial, and a mysterious book of spells — the Lost Grimoire — that promises untold power to the one who wields it.
Among his recent discoveries is the name of a man who seems to be missing from the official town records. Edgar’s curiosity deepens the further he digs — if he didn’t know better he could swear the mysterious figure had been intentionally removed from St. Edmund’s history. But it’s when two members of the local historical society forcefully tell him to mind his own business that he begins to realize he’s stumbled into something very, very big.
St. Edmund’s cemetery manager, Corinthian Harknell, has been Edgar’s confidant and father figure for some time, and the curious mystery of the missing man seems to have whetted his appetite for a good adventure as well. Corinthian knows Edgar better than anyone, and instantly picks up on the chemistry between Edgar and high school acquaintance Shelby Emerson, whose curiosity draws her deeper and deeper into Edgar Wilde’s compelling world of Victorian garb, cemetery iconography and passion for mystery.
Together, the three find themselves on a tantalizing quest involving centuries-old clues hidden around St. Edmund, a forgotten witch trial, and a mysterious book of spells — the Lost Grimoire — that promises untold power to the one who wields it.
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First published March 17, 2013
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About the author
Paul Ramey
4 books6 followersPaul Ramey is a writer, graphic artist, musician, and unrepentant cemetery buff. He has just published his first novel, "Edgar Wilde and the Lost Grimoire." Other recently published works include a two-CD goth/rock musical album, "Veil & Subdue," and "Zen Salvador," a limited-edition book of zen-styled dog wisdom. He has also had numerous tourism-related articles published in Courier, the official magazine of the National Tour Association. Originally from Frankfort, Kentucky, Paul now lives in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife and child.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 6, 2013
Disclaimer: This is actually a 4.5 star rating, just so you know. And the things that make me shave off that half star are (largely, I think) a matter of personal taste. So take my “half star” comments at the end of this review with a grain of salt. ☺
As a debut YA novel, this was an impressive opening adventure in what I hope will be a nicely complex series about the title character, Edgar Wilde. The characters were believable, as was the Mayberry-esque island New England town in which it is set. Edgar Wilde is every bit the sort of boy that I would have crushed on in high school: socially aloof, intellectual, a friend of history and of curious, oddball people who aren’t supposed to be in “his circle.”
Most of all this is a story about loyalties, the cost of truth-seeking, what forms a solid friendship, and the lengths that people will go to in order to keep the past buried. When Edgar uncovers some secrets pertaining to a man who’s been dead 300+ years – and wholly forgotten, so far as he knows – he instantly kicks over a hornet’s nest. Every odd duck that St Edmund Island has to offer comes out of the woodwork, and each one has a strong opinion about Edgar's interference. A few try to help Edgar as he scrambles to uncover the tightly guarded truth; but most are set against him, and intend to do whatever they must to keep St Edmund’s past as cold and untouched as her cemeteries.
One of the nice things about this book that Paul does very well is weaving the parallel stories between 18th century and 21st century St Edmund Island. While most of the story takes place in the present, the characters from the past are equally real and engaging. Paul did a great job at communicating their formal language without making it so archaic that it would lose younger audiences. It felt authentic, but not disconnected; and when the characters were in danger – whether in the past or the present – as a reader I felt compelled to keep turning pages to learn what happened next.
As for my 4.5 star rating, I didn’t give it a full five for essentially two reasons. (1) There is some mature language in a couple chapters – which is neither here nor there; I'm not squeamish and I certainly know it’s not taboo in YA lit – but I felt like it was jarring or somehow out of step within the context of the Mayberry-esque environs of the tale, and even the characters themselves. It just didn’t seem to fit, somehow. But that may be just me. (2) There are a couple small “deus ex machina” moments in the final chapters that I felt were a bit too convenient; BUT none were so over-the-top that they robbed my joy of reading the book, nor dampened my excitement when I heard that Paul was writing a sequel.
Will I be snapping up that sequel when it comes out? You betcha. If this is his debut novel, then I know that the Edgar Wilde adventure is only going to become more complex and engaging from here on out.
As a debut YA novel, this was an impressive opening adventure in what I hope will be a nicely complex series about the title character, Edgar Wilde. The characters were believable, as was the Mayberry-esque island New England town in which it is set. Edgar Wilde is every bit the sort of boy that I would have crushed on in high school: socially aloof, intellectual, a friend of history and of curious, oddball people who aren’t supposed to be in “his circle.”
Most of all this is a story about loyalties, the cost of truth-seeking, what forms a solid friendship, and the lengths that people will go to in order to keep the past buried. When Edgar uncovers some secrets pertaining to a man who’s been dead 300+ years – and wholly forgotten, so far as he knows – he instantly kicks over a hornet’s nest. Every odd duck that St Edmund Island has to offer comes out of the woodwork, and each one has a strong opinion about Edgar's interference. A few try to help Edgar as he scrambles to uncover the tightly guarded truth; but most are set against him, and intend to do whatever they must to keep St Edmund’s past as cold and untouched as her cemeteries.
One of the nice things about this book that Paul does very well is weaving the parallel stories between 18th century and 21st century St Edmund Island. While most of the story takes place in the present, the characters from the past are equally real and engaging. Paul did a great job at communicating their formal language without making it so archaic that it would lose younger audiences. It felt authentic, but not disconnected; and when the characters were in danger – whether in the past or the present – as a reader I felt compelled to keep turning pages to learn what happened next.
As for my 4.5 star rating, I didn’t give it a full five for essentially two reasons. (1) There is some mature language in a couple chapters – which is neither here nor there; I'm not squeamish and I certainly know it’s not taboo in YA lit – but I felt like it was jarring or somehow out of step within the context of the Mayberry-esque environs of the tale, and even the characters themselves. It just didn’t seem to fit, somehow. But that may be just me. (2) There are a couple small “deus ex machina” moments in the final chapters that I felt were a bit too convenient; BUT none were so over-the-top that they robbed my joy of reading the book, nor dampened my excitement when I heard that Paul was writing a sequel.
Will I be snapping up that sequel when it comes out? You betcha. If this is his debut novel, then I know that the Edgar Wilde adventure is only going to become more complex and engaging from here on out.
May 7, 2013
'Edgar Wilde and the Lost Grimoire' was such a delight to read! A lot of the time with short books I feel like the story and character development can be rushed in order to keep to a lower wordcount, but Paul Ramey wrote this book expertly, with the storyline and character development perfectly balanced!
The storylines alternated between the 1700s and the present day, and the manner in which it was done was brilliant as it didn't detract from the present day story, instead giving you another small clue to solving Edgar, Corinthian and Shelby's present day mystery.
I loved that Edgar is not your typical teenage hero, and for that reason I found myself really connecting to his character. It was nice to see a fifteen year old boy who wasn’t worried about school, girls or social status, but was enthused by historical research, and had a goal that he wanted to achieve. This really made him stand out from his peers, and it was nice to see that not all teenage boys are as arrogant as the ones I used to go to school with. I also chuckled reading some of Edgar's narrative about Shelby, both bewildered and taken with her female charm. It was a refreshing change to see the strange creatures that men see in women.
Shelby is a brilliant example of a young girl who I'd have wanted to be friends with in school. The way she started off by teasing Edgar for his fashion sense and constant presence in the local library made me laugh. A classic example of how girls act when they don't want to seem too obvious! I loved how fiercely loyal she was to Edgar when her friends teased him, and I whooped with delight when she put them in their place.
“We’ve already kissed,” Shelby boasted defiantly. “Last night, in fact. I don’t know where he learned to kiss like that, but he’s pretty amazing. You two don’t know what you’re missing.”
You go Shelby! Loving a bit of girl power!
Corinthian's character was also great fun. I liked seeing how fond he was of Edgar, but how little things made us begin to doubt him. Despite some of the bad things he does, I really felt sorry for him. His whole life had been consumed by his desire to find the lost grimoire and when he fails, it makes you wonder what he will do with his life.
The storyline of the healers and witches was one that I always find thought provoking. Being Pagan myself it breaks my heart to see how these people were treated all because of their desire to help heal the sick. It is often a common reaction to place blame with the church, so it was a wonderful change to see how the reverend was not involved in the witch hunting, and saved the woman he loved despite the fact that it was against the teachings of his religion.
A wonderful, fun, thought provoking read. A definite recommended read and 5 stars!
The storylines alternated between the 1700s and the present day, and the manner in which it was done was brilliant as it didn't detract from the present day story, instead giving you another small clue to solving Edgar, Corinthian and Shelby's present day mystery.
I loved that Edgar is not your typical teenage hero, and for that reason I found myself really connecting to his character. It was nice to see a fifteen year old boy who wasn’t worried about school, girls or social status, but was enthused by historical research, and had a goal that he wanted to achieve. This really made him stand out from his peers, and it was nice to see that not all teenage boys are as arrogant as the ones I used to go to school with. I also chuckled reading some of Edgar's narrative about Shelby, both bewildered and taken with her female charm. It was a refreshing change to see the strange creatures that men see in women.
Shelby is a brilliant example of a young girl who I'd have wanted to be friends with in school. The way she started off by teasing Edgar for his fashion sense and constant presence in the local library made me laugh. A classic example of how girls act when they don't want to seem too obvious! I loved how fiercely loyal she was to Edgar when her friends teased him, and I whooped with delight when she put them in their place.
“We’ve already kissed,” Shelby boasted defiantly. “Last night, in fact. I don’t know where he learned to kiss like that, but he’s pretty amazing. You two don’t know what you’re missing.”
You go Shelby! Loving a bit of girl power!
Corinthian's character was also great fun. I liked seeing how fond he was of Edgar, but how little things made us begin to doubt him. Despite some of the bad things he does, I really felt sorry for him. His whole life had been consumed by his desire to find the lost grimoire and when he fails, it makes you wonder what he will do with his life.
The storyline of the healers and witches was one that I always find thought provoking. Being Pagan myself it breaks my heart to see how these people were treated all because of their desire to help heal the sick. It is often a common reaction to place blame with the church, so it was a wonderful change to see how the reverend was not involved in the witch hunting, and saved the woman he loved despite the fact that it was against the teachings of his religion.
A wonderful, fun, thought provoking read. A definite recommended read and 5 stars!
May 16, 2013
This is a fast read, yet a compelling one. A short book (this runs to an estimated 126 pages: estimated since it is on Kindle) needs to pull you quickly into its own universe, and with Edgar Wilde Paul Ramey achieves that deftly and swiftly. That his characters are well-developed and three-dimensional despite the low word-count is testament to the talent of this author. This tale of New England teens investigating a centuries old mystery is always engaging and tantalising.The book has what Stephen King (in Misery) calls ‘The Gotta’; that elusive element in a story that compels you to want to find out what happens next. “You don’t know exactly where to find the gotta, but you always know when you did.” The Gotta keeps you up all night, because you simply have to read ‘just one more chapter’. Well OK, maybe not all night given the length of this adventure, but if you read it on the bus I guarantee you will miss your stop.
The story flips between the modern day and the 18th century. The modern scenes are far more engaging, possibly because the dialogue of the characters in the past occasionally comes across as clunky and forced. This is my sole criticism of the book, and by the end of the second chapter I found myself hooked. I had exclaimed in surprise, laughed out loud, and completely forgotten the stilted historical speech.
Edgar is an engaging hero, not least because he shares my love of old cemeteries, but the star of the book has to be the beguiling Shelby Emerson, a strong and intelligent female lead that reminded me of Joss Whedon’s women – capable, quick and perfectly capable of standing alone while preferring not to.
The plot is well-paced, and the language beautiful at times – “white cotton curtains billowed in the icy breeze like ghosts dancing on the air”. The book, while aimed at young adults, certainly delighted this grumpy old git. Do yourself a favour, give Edgar Wilde a couple of hours of your time. You’ll be delighted that you did.
April 15, 2013
The action started with the first couple paragraphs and kept on until the end. I had to put this book down a few times, but the characters were well-developed enough that I jumped right into the story when I picked the book up again. The protagonist, a 15-year-old boy, is intelligent, self-motivated, and very sympathetic. I'd gladly let my kids read about him, and have already recommended that my daughter read this book. Parents: there are a couple of cuss words. I say "a couple" and it's no exaggeration. A couple of cuss words, in one chapter toward the beginning of the book, said by disrespectful kids and chastised for it. The rest of the book is completely appropriate, IMHO.
May 4, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the characters were not only believable, but likable as well.
The story is set in modern & colonial New England, shifting between the two seamlessly. The protagonist and his friends are trying to solve a mystery on quaint St. Edmund Island, one that links to the islands mysterious & somewhat violent past.
This is a YA book, but I think it will appeal to just about anyone who likes a good mystery.
Yes, there is some mature language, but the book isn't written for young children & I believe most teens encounter much stronger stuff in school, so I wouldn't worry about it a lot.
The story is set in modern & colonial New England, shifting between the two seamlessly. The protagonist and his friends are trying to solve a mystery on quaint St. Edmund Island, one that links to the islands mysterious & somewhat violent past.
This is a YA book, but I think it will appeal to just about anyone who likes a good mystery.
Yes, there is some mature language, but the book isn't written for young children & I believe most teens encounter much stronger stuff in school, so I wouldn't worry about it a lot.
May 31, 2013
It's so hard to write a review without giving it all away. But I will try to keep spoilers to a minimum. If you like witches you'll like this book. Wait, let me clear up that it's more "The Crucible" type witches instead of "Harry Potter" type witches. In the book it is actually noted that the setting is not too far away from Salem so that's interesting (this fact also influences the story). The main character is likeable , although it seems like there should have been slightly more character development. Also, the mystery at the center of the story is a good twist, although a tad predictable. All in all it was a good book, I just felt there should have been a little more to it.
May 12, 2013
This book came highly recommended and it did not disappoint. From the beginning I was captured by Edgar and needed to follow his story, no matter where it took me. The author captured teenage behaviour really well, and all the characters were well developed - I especially loved the Historical Society ladies, a wonderful group of women.
This book is targeted for older teens and whilst I agree that this is the perfect age group, at 42 I really enjoyed it, and look forward to reading more of Paul's work. I can only hope he chooses to continue Edgar's story.
This book is targeted for older teens and whilst I agree that this is the perfect age group, at 42 I really enjoyed it, and look forward to reading more of Paul's work. I can only hope he chooses to continue Edgar's story.
May 31, 2013
I read this book in about 2 hours while taking a few breaks to play with my kids. It was an interesting read, one that I'd recommend to teens, or young adults, but as kind of hokey for adults. I found it very predictable and wasn't very attached to the characters but enjoyed the story. I had a hard time believing the age of Edgar Wilde, his language was WAY more advanced at 15 than most adults I've known, and the statement he made to Corinthian when he was 8 was completely unbelievable. I think if Paul had either dumbed down the language for the characters or increased their ages, I'd have enjoyed this book more. Also, I wasn't a big fan of all the little hints. I feel like he's setting this up to be the first in a series, and that's fine, but how do the 4 ladies in the Historical Society connect to the book, and what's up with his gram's powers? Is she a true witch? Did she get her abilities from the book? I feel like I almost love this book and am almost brought into it, but at the end, it falls short. I'm kinda bummed too because I really wanted to love this book.
May 9, 2013
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It's reasonably short (no idea what the page count is because of the Kindle format, but it took me about 80 minutes to read), but it sucked me in quickly. It felt like a YA version of a Stephen King or F. Paul Wilson novel (Wilson actually has a YA series about New Jersey that had a similar feel), which is a strong endorsement to me. The mysteries weren't profound, exactly, as is typical of novels in this genre, but the characters were compelling, and it was well-written and well-paced. I'd love to see more stories with these characters, to develop them more deeply - for example, I'd like to know more about Shelby's background. She's not a MPDG, but knowing more about her backstory would make her motivations clearer.
Excellent first novel - more!
Excellent first novel - more!
May 30, 2013
This books is well-researched, with like-able characters and a story that keeps twisting until the end. I recommend it for youth readers - the romance developing between the 15yr old protagonist, Edgar, and his sweet, newly discovered love interest, Shelby, is charming and believable as they race through mutual discoveries to find the true history of their New England town. Ramey does a great job of switching voices when he changes the character through which we are viewing the story's events.
March 21, 2013
Edgar Wilde and the Lost Grimoire is a charming light mystery/history novel. The action takes place in both the late 1700s and present day, on St. Edmund's Island. The transition between the two eras is handled with great finesse and the clues drag you into the mystery. My favorite character is Shelby, who becomes much more than just a love interest. Awesome!
May 30, 2013
The setting of this book was the backbone of a solid story. The graveyards were entertaining and the tour guide aspect of the character was a great springboard into a youth supernatural lit romp. Overall quite an enjoyable read.
April 16, 2013
I don’t know about you, but I love young adult literature. And when I say love, I mean that I am obsessed with it. It might be the enjoyment of watching a young character grow up, or it might be that it gives me the freedom to relax and be fanciful in a way that adult fiction just doesn’t allow. Whatever the cause, YA heroes from Harry Potter to the Beaudelaire siblings have won my heart, and the hearts of readers everywhere. Now, joining the ranks of this illustrious tradition is Edgar Wilde, a young man whose passion for cemeteries and the mysteries surrounding local history land him in a whirlwind adventure and no small amount of danger.
Fans of series like Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Stoneheart will definitely enjoy following Edgar as he searches his hometown of St. Edmund, Massachusetts for clues to the whereabouts of a mysterious book of healing and spells—a grimoire that was passed down through generations and is being by turns sought and guarded by multiple parties. Edgar is a young cemetery enthusiast and amateur tour guide who, as he competes with other locals for the solution to the mystery, must also learn to navigate the treacheries of high school and the fierce competition he has for his historical tour business.
Paul Ramey does an admirable job of combining past and present; it melds then and now through alternating chapters, at once immersing readers in a Witch of Blackbird Pond-type history and at the same time plunging the story and its characters into the present, where the ghosts of past wrongs haunt the living, even after two hundred years. It is a race to the finish line to figure out what happened all those years ago, and to see if Edgar will be able to emerge victorious. There is magic here, not only in the grimoire itself, but in the storytelling. Though there are a few slight historical anachronisms, they in no way detract from the overall satisfaction of the tale, and the characters are so vivid and sympathetic that it is likely they won’t even be noticed. One caveat: There are a few instances of adult language, which are highly realistic for high school characters, but if you are a parent reading this to a kid younger than high school, you might read it out loud so you can skip those if you want. It is certainly not a reason not to read the book. This is a tightly-woven, enthralling novel that will please readers both young and old. I devoured this novel in two days, reading through meals and staying up late into the night with my itty bitty book light. If that isn’t the sign of a great read, I don’t know what is. Pick up Edgar Wilde and the Lost Grimoire as soon as you are able.
Fans of series like Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Stoneheart will definitely enjoy following Edgar as he searches his hometown of St. Edmund, Massachusetts for clues to the whereabouts of a mysterious book of healing and spells—a grimoire that was passed down through generations and is being by turns sought and guarded by multiple parties. Edgar is a young cemetery enthusiast and amateur tour guide who, as he competes with other locals for the solution to the mystery, must also learn to navigate the treacheries of high school and the fierce competition he has for his historical tour business.
Paul Ramey does an admirable job of combining past and present; it melds then and now through alternating chapters, at once immersing readers in a Witch of Blackbird Pond-type history and at the same time plunging the story and its characters into the present, where the ghosts of past wrongs haunt the living, even after two hundred years. It is a race to the finish line to figure out what happened all those years ago, and to see if Edgar will be able to emerge victorious. There is magic here, not only in the grimoire itself, but in the storytelling. Though there are a few slight historical anachronisms, they in no way detract from the overall satisfaction of the tale, and the characters are so vivid and sympathetic that it is likely they won’t even be noticed. One caveat: There are a few instances of adult language, which are highly realistic for high school characters, but if you are a parent reading this to a kid younger than high school, you might read it out loud so you can skip those if you want. It is certainly not a reason not to read the book. This is a tightly-woven, enthralling novel that will please readers both young and old. I devoured this novel in two days, reading through meals and staying up late into the night with my itty bitty book light. If that isn’t the sign of a great read, I don’t know what is. Pick up Edgar Wilde and the Lost Grimoire as soon as you are able.
April 17, 2013
Short, good story. Enjoyable to read.
March 11, 2020
Great witchy mystery!
A wonderful tale of magic, love and destiny. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good love story/ghostly tale/witchy good ending. Loved it!!
A wonderful tale of magic, love and destiny. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good love story/ghostly tale/witchy good ending. Loved it!!
June 3, 2024
What a fun adventure story! It was an easy read and a nice escape.
February 6, 2014
I recently got around to reading Paul Ramey's Edgar Wilde and the Lost Grimoire and I’m glad I did. It was a very enjoyable read, and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
Before I go any farther, perhaps some bibliographical details are in order.
Edgar Wilde and the Lost Grimoire was written by Paul Ramey and published by Nine Muse Press (disclosure: I am Facebook friends with both parties, and was provided a free copy of the book for review purposes. All the same, if the book stank, I’d say so). It’s a YA novel, set in New England, with a couple of naughty words but, as other reviewers have pointed out, many fewer than the average teen would use in real life.
It is a very fast read. I started it on the train from Hangzhou to Shanghai, and finished it at about the half-hour mark of the return trip, which means I read it in about 2 hours. I am typically a very fast reader, so your mileage may vary, but it’s been a common thread in other reviews I’ve seen that most people were surprised by how quickly they went through it. In my opinion this is not a side-effect of being light in plot or characterization — this story is neither of those things — but rather a symptom of Paul Ramey’s very easy to read writing style. His prose is effortless to read.
I won’t get into too much detail about the story itself. If you want that sort of thing you should probably read the book. The story mixes some New England history, specifically the puritans and the witch trials, with a modern day cemetery geek, and a healthy dose of magical realism. The characters are, for the most part, engaging and enjoyable.
I did have a couple of quibbles about some of those characters, mind you. I've seen some comments to the effect that the bit of dialogue Edgar supposedly produced at the age of 8 or so seemed unrealistic, and I would tend to agree. Not because of the 8-year-old aspect, but because that type of speech seems out of character for Edgar. That is the nature of my other quibbles as well, as it happens; that occasionally some of them seem to fall out of character a bit. The behavior of Corinthian towards Shelby in the crypt, in particular, seemed not to fit his personality or serve any real purpose in the narrative. It bumped me out of the story a bit.
I would also have liked to see the ladies of the historical society developed more. As dramatic foils, they seemed to lack a certain amount of definition that might have made the story that much more enjoyable. Perhaps we’ll get to see more of their character arcs in the sequel.
I gave the book 4 of 5 stars. I enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to the second installment. If this is typical of modern YA literature, I’ve been missing out for the past 30 years.
Before I go any farther, perhaps some bibliographical details are in order.
Edgar Wilde and the Lost Grimoire was written by Paul Ramey and published by Nine Muse Press (disclosure: I am Facebook friends with both parties, and was provided a free copy of the book for review purposes. All the same, if the book stank, I’d say so). It’s a YA novel, set in New England, with a couple of naughty words but, as other reviewers have pointed out, many fewer than the average teen would use in real life.
It is a very fast read. I started it on the train from Hangzhou to Shanghai, and finished it at about the half-hour mark of the return trip, which means I read it in about 2 hours. I am typically a very fast reader, so your mileage may vary, but it’s been a common thread in other reviews I’ve seen that most people were surprised by how quickly they went through it. In my opinion this is not a side-effect of being light in plot or characterization — this story is neither of those things — but rather a symptom of Paul Ramey’s very easy to read writing style. His prose is effortless to read.
I won’t get into too much detail about the story itself. If you want that sort of thing you should probably read the book. The story mixes some New England history, specifically the puritans and the witch trials, with a modern day cemetery geek, and a healthy dose of magical realism. The characters are, for the most part, engaging and enjoyable.
I did have a couple of quibbles about some of those characters, mind you. I've seen some comments to the effect that the bit of dialogue Edgar supposedly produced at the age of 8 or so seemed unrealistic, and I would tend to agree. Not because of the 8-year-old aspect, but because that type of speech seems out of character for Edgar. That is the nature of my other quibbles as well, as it happens; that occasionally some of them seem to fall out of character a bit. The behavior of Corinthian towards Shelby in the crypt, in particular, seemed not to fit his personality or serve any real purpose in the narrative. It bumped me out of the story a bit.
I would also have liked to see the ladies of the historical society developed more. As dramatic foils, they seemed to lack a certain amount of definition that might have made the story that much more enjoyable. Perhaps we’ll get to see more of their character arcs in the sequel.
I gave the book 4 of 5 stars. I enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to the second installment. If this is typical of modern YA literature, I’ve been missing out for the past 30 years.
September 21, 2013
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Edgar Wilde is a fifteen-year-old who would rather be running cemetery tours than worrying about high school. He volunteers at the library so he can dig up the best historical research for his tours. When he finds records of a man who seems to be left out of the official records, his need to find the truth compels him to dig deeper. Along the way, he discovers a mysterious book with powerful secrets--the Lost Grimoire--a book that others would do anything to obtain.
Edgar Wilde and the Lost Grimoire is a quick read for a novel. The writing quickly sucked me into another world. I'm not always fond of books that start in another time and then change to present-day in the second chapter, Paul Ramey pulls off the duel timeline very well--with a few trips back in time, each is well-paced and provides another clue to Edgar's mystery.
Edgar... Do people these days really name their kids Edgar? When I picked up the book, I expected it to be about an old man not a fifteen-year-old. It isn't any wonder the kid isn't interested in school or girls, but instead prefers to spend his time doing historical research on cemeteries (that makes him pretty cool in my book). He's an interesting and strong character, with a unique perspective and voice. Then, we have Shelby, she's also not like the other high-schoolers. She gives Edgar a chance, and even more than that as the two develop a relationship. She supported Edgar and remained loyal to him--even in the face of her friends.
Despite the high school protagonists, I forgot that this was a Young Adult novel as I got wrapped up in the mystery and storytelling. The characters weren't cliche--they may have been "outcasts" as far as the rest of the High School was concerned, but they were the kids I would have enjoyed hanging out with. There were a few places where problems seemed to be solved too conveniently, but overall--considering this is his debut novel--Paul certainly has a handle on weaving a good, mysterious novel.
Edgar Wilde is a fifteen-year-old who would rather be running cemetery tours than worrying about high school. He volunteers at the library so he can dig up the best historical research for his tours. When he finds records of a man who seems to be left out of the official records, his need to find the truth compels him to dig deeper. Along the way, he discovers a mysterious book with powerful secrets--the Lost Grimoire--a book that others would do anything to obtain.
Edgar Wilde and the Lost Grimoire is a quick read for a novel. The writing quickly sucked me into another world. I'm not always fond of books that start in another time and then change to present-day in the second chapter, Paul Ramey pulls off the duel timeline very well--with a few trips back in time, each is well-paced and provides another clue to Edgar's mystery.
Edgar... Do people these days really name their kids Edgar? When I picked up the book, I expected it to be about an old man not a fifteen-year-old. It isn't any wonder the kid isn't interested in school or girls, but instead prefers to spend his time doing historical research on cemeteries (that makes him pretty cool in my book). He's an interesting and strong character, with a unique perspective and voice. Then, we have Shelby, she's also not like the other high-schoolers. She gives Edgar a chance, and even more than that as the two develop a relationship. She supported Edgar and remained loyal to him--even in the face of her friends.
Despite the high school protagonists, I forgot that this was a Young Adult novel as I got wrapped up in the mystery and storytelling. The characters weren't cliche--they may have been "outcasts" as far as the rest of the High School was concerned, but they were the kids I would have enjoyed hanging out with. There were a few places where problems seemed to be solved too conveniently, but overall--considering this is his debut novel--Paul certainly has a handle on weaving a good, mysterious novel.
January 12, 2014
I found Ramey’s writing compelling to read, his descriptive imagery is wonderful. Every now and then, the book cuts between the past and the present keeping the reader entwined with the words, research has clearly been done to keep the dialogue and other aspects of the past accurate to the time.
I found myself invested in the characters and I really cared about what happened to all of them – even the minor characters — which, to me, is a sign of well thought out writing.
Edgar’s dialogue is advanced for his age, and while some may find that difficult to believe, it told me that he was brought up differently to the other characters his age. The book includes humour in the way that Edgar addressed Corinthian at the age of eight and in the character of Sarah the Barista.
I loved this book and I really hope to see a sequel.
To read more of this review visit: Adofaer & Arkhdrauth
I found myself invested in the characters and I really cared about what happened to all of them – even the minor characters — which, to me, is a sign of well thought out writing.
Edgar’s dialogue is advanced for his age, and while some may find that difficult to believe, it told me that he was brought up differently to the other characters his age. The book includes humour in the way that Edgar addressed Corinthian at the age of eight and in the character of Sarah the Barista.
I loved this book and I really hope to see a sequel.
To read more of this review visit: Adofaer & Arkhdrauth
October 26, 2015
Beautifully unusual and intriguing!
This story held my attention and delighted me with its wonderful description and characters. This is a tale of gothic fantasy and contemporary relationships which will intrigue you.
Edgar is a teenager with an obsession for graveyards and history. He very soon finds himself in direct competition with the local society of ladies hunting down the fabled lost grimoire. Some fabulous characters emerge, one of my favourites being Corinthian, the cemetery attendant, who helps Edgar in his search. Edgar enlists the help of fellow teen Shelby and they get wrapped up in a beautifully described relationship and detective work.
You will love the history intertwined with the contemporary setting and a tale that will both delight and enchant you. I am looking forward to reading much more from this author and Edgar Wilde!
This story held my attention and delighted me with its wonderful description and characters. This is a tale of gothic fantasy and contemporary relationships which will intrigue you.
Edgar is a teenager with an obsession for graveyards and history. He very soon finds himself in direct competition with the local society of ladies hunting down the fabled lost grimoire. Some fabulous characters emerge, one of my favourites being Corinthian, the cemetery attendant, who helps Edgar in his search. Edgar enlists the help of fellow teen Shelby and they get wrapped up in a beautifully described relationship and detective work.
You will love the history intertwined with the contemporary setting and a tale that will both delight and enchant you. I am looking forward to reading much more from this author and Edgar Wilde!
July 17, 2014
The way the author tells the story makes me want to know what the characters find out next. :)
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