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The Night of Elisa
The Night of Elisa is a dark tale for adults. Its writing experimental, mixing influences of cinema, genre fiction and comic books.
* The book is bound with 30+ pencil illustrations of ornaments, characters and objects and a unique layout.
Parental guidance: for 16+
Contains blood, nudity and dark themes.
.:The Night of Elisa - A Gothic Novella:.
Sometimes, life and love can follow the most obscure paths, just as they did for Elisa.
Her life becomes a dark, cold, lonely cage the day the devil takes her as his wife. He robs her of almost everything she holds dear: her health, her wealth and what is left of her family.
Trapped between the nuances of life and beyond-life, Elisa finds herself struggling for a better tomorrow. With her health deteriorating, how will she summon the courage and strength to stand her ground? And how far will she go in the pursuit of a dream?
Embark with Elisa on this puzzling Gothic adventure set in the late Victorian era, between the world of the Living and the picturesque, melancholic Duskland.
* The book is bound with 30+ pencil illustrations of ornaments, characters and objects and a unique layout.
Parental guidance: for 16+
Contains blood, nudity and dark themes.
.:The Night of Elisa - A Gothic Novella:.
Sometimes, life and love can follow the most obscure paths, just as they did for Elisa.
Her life becomes a dark, cold, lonely cage the day the devil takes her as his wife. He robs her of almost everything she holds dear: her health, her wealth and what is left of her family.
Trapped between the nuances of life and beyond-life, Elisa finds herself struggling for a better tomorrow. With her health deteriorating, how will she summon the courage and strength to stand her ground? And how far will she go in the pursuit of a dream?
Embark with Elisa on this puzzling Gothic adventure set in the late Victorian era, between the world of the Living and the picturesque, melancholic Duskland.
208 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2014
6 people are currently reading
3371 people want to read
About the author
Isis Sousa
27 books258 followers"I am a concept artist and illustrator who writes on my free time. But with all the imagination I have running lose, there came some stories… And there came some books!"
For the past few years, Isis Sousa started her Indie Author journey, publishing works of Gothic Fiction, which she writes on her free time. These have been so far a hobby, but the author intends to reach a larger readership through the publishing of her upcoming titles.
Her writing is mainly influenced by classic Gothic authors such as Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde and Mary Shelley with a hint of modern names such as Tim Burton, Stephen King and John Logan.
Her books have been featured on GOTHIC BEAUTY magazine, GINGER NUTS OF HORROR and many blogs worldwide.
For the past few years, Isis Sousa started her Indie Author journey, publishing works of Gothic Fiction, which she writes on her free time. These have been so far a hobby, but the author intends to reach a larger readership through the publishing of her upcoming titles.
Her writing is mainly influenced by classic Gothic authors such as Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde and Mary Shelley with a hint of modern names such as Tim Burton, Stephen King and John Logan.
Her books have been featured on GOTHIC BEAUTY magazine, GINGER NUTS OF HORROR and many blogs worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 8, 2016
Reading this novel reminded me of my younger years, when I would be so entranced by a story that I could think of nothing else. The Night of Elisa is not a story for children, but it evokes the feelings of wonder and fascination that I relished as a child.
Elisa is caught between two worlds. She spends some of her time in the world of the living, which, for her, is a cruel and dangerous place. She spends more gentle hours in Duskland, or the afterlife. Duskland's inhabitants are strange and delightful. Among them, Elisa meets Siamese twins who befriend her while remaining vaguely sinister. Her benefactor in this dreamlike world is Leonhard, a man with a dark past and a secret. Elisa and Leonhard form an instant bond that turns to attraction. Love and lust are indeed possible in the afterlife.
While hovering between the living and the dead, Elisa returns to the living world, where she is being pursued by her vile and greedy husband, Quentin. In evading him, she is aided by allies from both worlds, many of whom have their own reasons to pursue Quentin. With bravery and a bit of magic, all forces align to help Elisa. Ultimately, Elisa must decide in which reality she will choose to remain.
The story is illustrated by the author with lovely sketches, which add to the whimsical and fantastical elements of the book. According to a question answered by the author, there will be more to follow about Elisa and her companions. I look forward to reading further.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity in return for a fair and honest review. Many thanks.
Elisa is caught between two worlds. She spends some of her time in the world of the living, which, for her, is a cruel and dangerous place. She spends more gentle hours in Duskland, or the afterlife. Duskland's inhabitants are strange and delightful. Among them, Elisa meets Siamese twins who befriend her while remaining vaguely sinister. Her benefactor in this dreamlike world is Leonhard, a man with a dark past and a secret. Elisa and Leonhard form an instant bond that turns to attraction. Love and lust are indeed possible in the afterlife.
While hovering between the living and the dead, Elisa returns to the living world, where she is being pursued by her vile and greedy husband, Quentin. In evading him, she is aided by allies from both worlds, many of whom have their own reasons to pursue Quentin. With bravery and a bit of magic, all forces align to help Elisa. Ultimately, Elisa must decide in which reality she will choose to remain.
The story is illustrated by the author with lovely sketches, which add to the whimsical and fantastical elements of the book. According to a question answered by the author, there will be more to follow about Elisa and her companions. I look forward to reading further.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity in return for a fair and honest review. Many thanks.
July 21, 2016
What if you had to choose happiness over your life?
The author takes us into Duskland a place past the living where it is not really dark or light, it’s in between and the souls that make up this world exist in other worlds. Elisa shares some strange connection with some of these people and travels to this other world when her husband takes his life. She is instantly attracted in all sense to a man named Leonhard, she finds him kind, loving and amazing, nothing like her husband was to her when he was alive. But everyone has secrets and Leonhard is not immune to this. But will his secrets be enough to push Elisa off?
This is the first cover where the cover actually fits the story. The writing was engaging and such a different style then I’m use to reading. I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book, they gave the book a special edge.
The author takes us into Duskland a place past the living where it is not really dark or light, it’s in between and the souls that make up this world exist in other worlds. Elisa shares some strange connection with some of these people and travels to this other world when her husband takes his life. She is instantly attracted in all sense to a man named Leonhard, she finds him kind, loving and amazing, nothing like her husband was to her when he was alive. But everyone has secrets and Leonhard is not immune to this. But will his secrets be enough to push Elisa off?
This is the first cover where the cover actually fits the story. The writing was engaging and such a different style then I’m use to reading. I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book, they gave the book a special edge.
January 13, 2015
Every read is a personal reaction. Mine to The Night of Elisa was unexpected. Suddenly I was transported to 1980 and my ten-year-old self. This was a time when I watched all sorts of movies on TV. Aside from Westerns, martial arts flicks and Godzilla, I also watched a fair amount of horror. Old stuff from the Thirties never scared me; but British horror movies from the Fifties and Sixties were just twisted enough to make me pause when it got dark.
In particular, Hammer Films sunk their way into my memory. These imports were outrageous in their day. The British studio remade the Hollywood classics, keeping the conventional details but notching up on the violence. They look silly today, but before slasher flicks were common, stuff like this did scare little boys such as I.
Reading Elisa, I quickly felt like I was reading a Hammer Horror in print form. The story concerns Elisa, a super cute Brazilian girl (judging from her portrait on the cover) who's manipulated into a bad marriage with an abusive Englishman, who proceeds to kill both her and Elisa's father in order to inherit the latter's fortune. The attempt fails, however, and Elisa - not alive yet not quite dead - ends up in a place called Duskland, where she meets some interesting characters, including a pair of naughty Siamese twins and a reformed vampire.
Elisa stays in Duskland just long enough to fall in love with the vampire before she's forced back into the land of the living, where she and her aunt must first escape Elisa's bastard of a husband, then get rid of him themselves with the help of a peasant boy and his uncle.
These characters talk and, for the most part, behave primly, as you might expect from a Victorian-era story. But there's always the sense of lust (and bloodlust) beneath the surface. These passions are so subdued, in fact, that what Elisa does to herself later in the story in order to communicate with her vampire love still in Duskland shocked me in its severity. But I shan't reveal more....
I liked the atmosphere of Elisa, though I can definitely say I hope I never end up in Duskland! The story is a bit slow at first, but picks up once Elisa's on the run in England. It's that freakish end that really marks the book, however, just like when I watched The Horror of Frankenstein, whose creature, after a long build-up, suddenly goes on a bloody rampage.
The only complaint I have (a personal one, naturally) is
Four stars for suspenseful entertainment and an old-fashioned horror atmosphere!
In particular, Hammer Films sunk their way into my memory. These imports were outrageous in their day. The British studio remade the Hollywood classics, keeping the conventional details but notching up on the violence. They look silly today, but before slasher flicks were common, stuff like this did scare little boys such as I.
Reading Elisa, I quickly felt like I was reading a Hammer Horror in print form. The story concerns Elisa, a super cute Brazilian girl (judging from her portrait on the cover) who's manipulated into a bad marriage with an abusive Englishman, who proceeds to kill both her and Elisa's father in order to inherit the latter's fortune. The attempt fails, however, and Elisa - not alive yet not quite dead - ends up in a place called Duskland, where she meets some interesting characters, including a pair of naughty Siamese twins and a reformed vampire.
Elisa stays in Duskland just long enough to fall in love with the vampire before she's forced back into the land of the living, where she and her aunt must first escape Elisa's bastard of a husband, then get rid of him themselves with the help of a peasant boy and his uncle.
These characters talk and, for the most part, behave primly, as you might expect from a Victorian-era story. But there's always the sense of lust (and bloodlust) beneath the surface. These passions are so subdued, in fact, that what Elisa does to herself later in the story in order to communicate with her vampire love still in Duskland shocked me in its severity. But I shan't reveal more....
I liked the atmosphere of Elisa, though I can definitely say I hope I never end up in Duskland! The story is a bit slow at first, but picks up once Elisa's on the run in England. It's that freakish end that really marks the book, however, just like when I watched The Horror of Frankenstein, whose creature, after a long build-up, suddenly goes on a bloody rampage.
The only complaint I have (a personal one, naturally) is
Four stars for suspenseful entertainment and an old-fashioned horror atmosphere!
July 5, 2014
Looking for a dark and mysterious read that feels Gothic in its presentation? Want to venture between two planes of existence, one of the living and one of those dead, but not ready to move on? Duskland is a world beyond the living where it is never quite daylight, never quite night, but filled with souls who exist in another reality. They walk, they talk, they love, and in one particular household, they share a connection to Elisa, who travels to their realm after her mysterious and brutal husband has supposedly taken her life. The inhabitants of this world are both unique and unusual, but the most fascinating for Elisa is Leonhard, who is everything she could wish for in a loving, kind and caring husband, but he has a few secrets of his own. Torn between both worlds, there seems to be more to Elisa than meets the eye. Is she ready to let go of life to be happy?
The Night of Elisa by Isis Sousa has an almost dreamlike quality to it as the veil between life and the afterlife is breached in an eerily dark way. Isis Sousa writes with bold strokes tempered by the Victorian era she has created. I was captivated by Duskland and its inhabitants, and how their lives had crossed with Elisa in some fashion before. Is this their opportunity to redeem themselves? What does Elisa represent to them? She is gentle, caring and has been bullied and deceived by a selfish and evil man who only pretended to love her. Is it better to suffer in life or find joy in Duskland?
Isis Sousa took me to Duskland, and made me a part of this world with her unique writing style and plot development. Be prepared to take a fascinating journey through the darkness and into the unknown.
I received this review copy as part of The Night of Elisa Blog Tour stopping at Tome Tender July 9, 2014.
Publication Date: May 2, 2014
Publisher: Tragic Books, Isis Sousa
Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy
Print Length: 193 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Night of Elisa by Isis Sousa has an almost dreamlike quality to it as the veil between life and the afterlife is breached in an eerily dark way. Isis Sousa writes with bold strokes tempered by the Victorian era she has created. I was captivated by Duskland and its inhabitants, and how their lives had crossed with Elisa in some fashion before. Is this their opportunity to redeem themselves? What does Elisa represent to them? She is gentle, caring and has been bullied and deceived by a selfish and evil man who only pretended to love her. Is it better to suffer in life or find joy in Duskland?
Isis Sousa took me to Duskland, and made me a part of this world with her unique writing style and plot development. Be prepared to take a fascinating journey through the darkness and into the unknown.
I received this review copy as part of The Night of Elisa Blog Tour stopping at Tome Tender July 9, 2014.
Publication Date: May 2, 2014
Publisher: Tragic Books, Isis Sousa
Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy
Print Length: 193 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
May 20, 2015
Isis Sousa keeps saying that she’s not a writer and that “writing sucks.” Maybe. Maybe not. One thing I find certain —whether she uses words or images, she is a great storyteller. And in “The Night of Elisa” she tells a unique, absorbing story.
From the magnificent cover through the pencil sketches in the book to the beautiful flourishes on each page, Ms. Sousa’s ability to bring her characters to “life” in drawings as well as in words enhances the experience and fully draws the reader into the rich world of her story.
“The silence of the night was broken by a beautiful female voice singing a lullaby. It came from a distance and approached Leonhard slowly, surrounding him. He listened to the melody’s phantasmagoric cadence and the sounds penetrated his skin, his bones, until he could feel the music within him. He opened his eyes abruptly as he felt a heat spreading inside him; it was as though he had been covered by the most splendid earthly sunlight.”
So many of the elements of the Gothic novel are present here: Leonhard, the fallen hero, Elisa, the woman in distress, threatened by and fleeing from the evil Quentin, the general sense of unease and foreboding, the powerful love...
The writing has a hypnotic, dreamlike quality, achieved largely —I would say— by the use of the third person omniscient point of view, by the limited use of contractions, and by the almost screenplay feel of many of its paragraphs. The tone and the rhythm are perfect for this strange world where the dead and the living seem to coexist and to interact. And, Duskland, with its permanent gloom, is more than fascinating… Once having had a taste of it, I wonder, will one be able to stay away?...
“They want us to open a door but it takes a blood ritual to do such a thing, Elisa. Would you dare to try it?”
Dark, beautiful, haunting, “The Night of Elisa” is still with me days after reading the last page and will be for a long time…
From the magnificent cover through the pencil sketches in the book to the beautiful flourishes on each page, Ms. Sousa’s ability to bring her characters to “life” in drawings as well as in words enhances the experience and fully draws the reader into the rich world of her story.
“The silence of the night was broken by a beautiful female voice singing a lullaby. It came from a distance and approached Leonhard slowly, surrounding him. He listened to the melody’s phantasmagoric cadence and the sounds penetrated his skin, his bones, until he could feel the music within him. He opened his eyes abruptly as he felt a heat spreading inside him; it was as though he had been covered by the most splendid earthly sunlight.”
So many of the elements of the Gothic novel are present here: Leonhard, the fallen hero, Elisa, the woman in distress, threatened by and fleeing from the evil Quentin, the general sense of unease and foreboding, the powerful love...
The writing has a hypnotic, dreamlike quality, achieved largely —I would say— by the use of the third person omniscient point of view, by the limited use of contractions, and by the almost screenplay feel of many of its paragraphs. The tone and the rhythm are perfect for this strange world where the dead and the living seem to coexist and to interact. And, Duskland, with its permanent gloom, is more than fascinating… Once having had a taste of it, I wonder, will one be able to stay away?...
“They want us to open a door but it takes a blood ritual to do such a thing, Elisa. Would you dare to try it?”
Dark, beautiful, haunting, “The Night of Elisa” is still with me days after reading the last page and will be for a long time…
May 18, 2016
This is an absolutely lovely story about a sweet and frail young woman named Elisa who can travel between the land of the living and the dead. I was entertained from beginning to end. I loved Elisa's gentle spirit, and her inner strength and determination. Lots of twists and surprises. The ending for me was bitter sweet. I loved Marcel. My heart broke for him. I wanted her to be with Leonhard, but found the ending happy and sad. Cover, illustrations, and page borders are absolutely gorgeous.
October 2, 2014
As a few of you may know I've been quite poorly over the last few months. The only advantage being an opportunity to catch up on my reading. I found Isis Sousa,s Gothic tale to be thoroughly enchanting.
The story is very much 'told' as a lot of it is recounting earlier events, but this just adds to the feeling of reading an adult fairytale, and certainly doesn't detract from the quality of the book. I liked how everything fell into place as the story progressed. Isis Sousa,s artwork also deserves a mention. Beautiful.
A lovely little book.
The story is very much 'told' as a lot of it is recounting earlier events, but this just adds to the feeling of reading an adult fairytale, and certainly doesn't detract from the quality of the book. I liked how everything fell into place as the story progressed. Isis Sousa,s artwork also deserves a mention. Beautiful.
A lovely little book.
July 16, 2014
I have so much love for this book and author. It has been such a long time since I indulged in a book with illustrations. Usually I like to let my imagination build the scenes as I read, but Isis is so talented at sketching and drawing that whenever I read the illustrated edition, I stopped to soak in the scenery. I'm a visual person. There's a reason why I'm a cover snob. I like pretty things. I like artistic things. And that's what is delivered with The Night of Elisa. The story and illustrations are so vivid that this story seeps into your mind and pulls you into its darkness.
The characters in this story are so wonderful. Each of them felt so developed and real. I was constantly riveted by the twists and turns of this story. Nothing was as it seemed in Duskland and the characters fit in seamlessly as part of the world.
The Night of Elisa is such a fun book. Not in a sense that it's a cutesey read. But it's so fun to immerse yourself in the world of Duskland. This is a novel heavy on the Gothic side, and it's all done perfectly right. I honestly feel like Isis Sousa has transcended the confines of genres with The Night of Elisa. If you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for?!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.
The characters in this story are so wonderful. Each of them felt so developed and real. I was constantly riveted by the twists and turns of this story. Nothing was as it seemed in Duskland and the characters fit in seamlessly as part of the world.
The Night of Elisa is such a fun book. Not in a sense that it's a cutesey read. But it's so fun to immerse yourself in the world of Duskland. This is a novel heavy on the Gothic side, and it's all done perfectly right. I honestly feel like Isis Sousa has transcended the confines of genres with The Night of Elisa. If you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for?!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.
November 30, 2015
I received a free copy from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!
The Night of Elisa caught my eye, not because the leading lady has such an awesome name (which happens to be mine), but because I love Gothic literature. Isis Sousa says that she is not a writer and I have to disagree. This novella is perfectly written and all the characters are very well developed. They are a little over the top sometimes, especially the villain (who only needs a twirling mustache to fit into a silent movie), but you can't help but rooting for the good guys. It is also a love story with the ultimate obstacle between the lovers: one of them is dead. Last but not least, the exquisite illustrations complete the tale and the ambiance, without spelling everything out so much that they limit the readers' imagination. Ms. Sousa is an illustrator and graphic designer and these pencil drawings are breathtaking. This book is creepy and sweet at the same time. A five-star read!
The Night of Elisa caught my eye, not because the leading lady has such an awesome name (which happens to be mine), but because I love Gothic literature. Isis Sousa says that she is not a writer and I have to disagree. This novella is perfectly written and all the characters are very well developed. They are a little over the top sometimes, especially the villain (who only needs a twirling mustache to fit into a silent movie), but you can't help but rooting for the good guys. It is also a love story with the ultimate obstacle between the lovers: one of them is dead. Last but not least, the exquisite illustrations complete the tale and the ambiance, without spelling everything out so much that they limit the readers' imagination. Ms. Sousa is an illustrator and graphic designer and these pencil drawings are breathtaking. This book is creepy and sweet at the same time. A five-star read!
August 20, 2014
It,s taken a while for me to find the time to write this review, so hopefully I can do justice to this very unique read.
The Night of Elisa is an unusual book, both in style and format. I love things that are 'a little different', and a story set in more than one plane of existence certainly fits that bill.
This is a story of love, revenge and mystery. Set between the ethereal realm of Duskland, and the grimy reality of Victorian England, the book oozes with Gothic charm.
After a slowish start, in which Elisa is introduced to the mysterious Leonhard, the pace quickens once we learn that many of Leonhards friends have reasons to feel aggrieved by the previous actions of Elisa,s abusive husband.
The story carries a dreamlike quality, and it reads like an adult fairytale. The illustrations add to this unusual feel. The best thing I can say about The Night of Elisa is that I really liked it. I liked it alot!
The Night of Elisa is an unusual book, both in style and format. I love things that are 'a little different', and a story set in more than one plane of existence certainly fits that bill.
This is a story of love, revenge and mystery. Set between the ethereal realm of Duskland, and the grimy reality of Victorian England, the book oozes with Gothic charm.
After a slowish start, in which Elisa is introduced to the mysterious Leonhard, the pace quickens once we learn that many of Leonhards friends have reasons to feel aggrieved by the previous actions of Elisa,s abusive husband.
The story carries a dreamlike quality, and it reads like an adult fairytale. The illustrations add to this unusual feel. The best thing I can say about The Night of Elisa is that I really liked it. I liked it alot!
June 18, 2016
Thank you to Isis Sousa, the author, and Booklover Catlady Publicity for providing me a free copy of The Night of Elisa in exchange for an honest review. My rating is 4 stars.
I would recommend this for all the gothic & paranormal readers out there.
For a debut novel this is great read. I was NOT disappointed! I read this in just under 4 hours. The illustrations were a really nice touch, loved the cover.
What this book is about:
Duskland, a place where the dead lives.
Leonhard, out for his usual stroll, comes upon a woman, Elisa, unconscious, lying on the freezing ground with a cut on her head. He takes her home and with the help of the barber, the Siamese twins and the Doctor, also living in the house, set out to make her better.
In no time he starts caring for her when suddenly she vanishes again and then only realising, with the help of the doctor, that Elisa is not dead…
I would like to read more of this author’s books in the future, for sure!
I would recommend this for all the gothic & paranormal readers out there.
For a debut novel this is great read. I was NOT disappointed! I read this in just under 4 hours. The illustrations were a really nice touch, loved the cover.
What this book is about:
Duskland, a place where the dead lives.
Leonhard, out for his usual stroll, comes upon a woman, Elisa, unconscious, lying on the freezing ground with a cut on her head. He takes her home and with the help of the barber, the Siamese twins and the Doctor, also living in the house, set out to make her better.
In no time he starts caring for her when suddenly she vanishes again and then only realising, with the help of the doctor, that Elisa is not dead…
I would like to read more of this author’s books in the future, for sure!
July 15, 2015
Dark and Beautiful
I loved The Night of Elisa in so many ways. The story is beautifully dark and intriguing. A woman caught between a desperate reality and the world she wants to be a part of. The story has a unique cast of characters; some you will love and others you will love to hate. This story contains all of the best parts of a paranormal romance twisted and turned to make it an individual experience. The artwork is beautiful and helps to set and keep the mood of the story. The dark theme of the story and the haunting simplicity of the pencil sketches are a perfect compliment to each other fully creating a world in and of itself.
This is absolutely one of only a few books I will read again and again. I will never get over how beautiful and consuming The Night of Elisa is for me as a reader.
This review originally posted at www.dowiesplace.com
I loved The Night of Elisa in so many ways. The story is beautifully dark and intriguing. A woman caught between a desperate reality and the world she wants to be a part of. The story has a unique cast of characters; some you will love and others you will love to hate. This story contains all of the best parts of a paranormal romance twisted and turned to make it an individual experience. The artwork is beautiful and helps to set and keep the mood of the story. The dark theme of the story and the haunting simplicity of the pencil sketches are a perfect compliment to each other fully creating a world in and of itself.
This is absolutely one of only a few books I will read again and again. I will never get over how beautiful and consuming The Night of Elisa is for me as a reader.
This review originally posted at www.dowiesplace.com
February 11, 2015
Delightful and Engrossing
What a pleasing find this novella was! If you are a fan of fun Victorian Gothic tales, then The Night of Elisa is a must read.
All of the formula for a great Gothic yarn is here. The heroine is reminiscent of Anne Radcliffe’s damsels in distress, who traverse great distances to rid themselves of the evil that haunts their steps and who are searching for the one great love that will make them whole. There are hints of Le Fanu in the lush description of exotic settings and the veiled, sinister villains whose presence is strongly felt throughout. The dash of paranormal romance adds just enough supernatural mystery to spice up the tale. The style and tone of the novella also reminded me of the milder, more eloquent way that stories were told before our harsh and desensitized modern era began to demand more shock value.
I also loved that the characters were all so endearing. They are human yet caricatures of different facets of humanity, much in the way that traditional Gothic characters are. Some are torn between virtue and human weakness, but not to the extent that shocks or appalls the reader. The twins are my special favorite, and I would have liked to have read a story devoted entirely to them and the brief history that they share with Elisa. In fact, I truly wanted to know more about all the characters, especially Leonhard and Quentin, Elisa’s dastardly husband.
Oh, and the illustrations…how lovely. I know I’m saying that this book reminded me of a lot of things but the illustrations reminded me of the titles during the film “The Others”, due to their simplistic yet eloquent nature. I like that the author left more the imagination. The drawings suited the time period of the story perfectly and the cover illustration is just gorgeous.
This is a great read that beckons you to cuddle up with it before a fire on a stormy afternoon with your favorite hot cup of something.
What a pleasing find this novella was! If you are a fan of fun Victorian Gothic tales, then The Night of Elisa is a must read.
All of the formula for a great Gothic yarn is here. The heroine is reminiscent of Anne Radcliffe’s damsels in distress, who traverse great distances to rid themselves of the evil that haunts their steps and who are searching for the one great love that will make them whole. There are hints of Le Fanu in the lush description of exotic settings and the veiled, sinister villains whose presence is strongly felt throughout. The dash of paranormal romance adds just enough supernatural mystery to spice up the tale. The style and tone of the novella also reminded me of the milder, more eloquent way that stories were told before our harsh and desensitized modern era began to demand more shock value.
I also loved that the characters were all so endearing. They are human yet caricatures of different facets of humanity, much in the way that traditional Gothic characters are. Some are torn between virtue and human weakness, but not to the extent that shocks or appalls the reader. The twins are my special favorite, and I would have liked to have read a story devoted entirely to them and the brief history that they share with Elisa. In fact, I truly wanted to know more about all the characters, especially Leonhard and Quentin, Elisa’s dastardly husband.
Oh, and the illustrations…how lovely. I know I’m saying that this book reminded me of a lot of things but the illustrations reminded me of the titles during the film “The Others”, due to their simplistic yet eloquent nature. I like that the author left more the imagination. The drawings suited the time period of the story perfectly and the cover illustration is just gorgeous.
This is a great read that beckons you to cuddle up with it before a fire on a stormy afternoon with your favorite hot cup of something.
January 27, 2016
I don't know how to describe this book, it's certainly unique! the story telling is amazing, and the characters so three dimensional, and the sketches just intensify the descriptions,
The story is very dark, and very unusual, not much can be said without revealing spoilers so I'm going to keep this short, rush and buy this beautifully illustrated Victorian era masterpiece, I can't recommend it enough
The story is very dark, and very unusual, not much can be said without revealing spoilers so I'm going to keep this short, rush and buy this beautifully illustrated Victorian era masterpiece, I can't recommend it enough
February 12, 2016
I don't know how to describe this book, it's certainly unique! the story telling is amazing, and the characters so three dimensional, and the sketches just intensify the descriptions,
The story is very dark, and very unusual, not much can be said without revealing spoilers so I'm going to keep this short, rush and buy this beautifully illustrated Victorian era masterpiece, I can't recommend it enough
The story is very dark, and very unusual, not much can be said without revealing spoilers so I'm going to keep this short, rush and buy this beautifully illustrated Victorian era masterpiece, I can't recommend it enough
April 24, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I loved Duskland. I'd live there if I was a ghost. It sounds like a wonderful place full of fascinating characters. I loved that Elisa got revenge on her evil husband. Lovely characters that played off each other wonderfully. It was masterfully written and illustrated. Great read.
August 5, 2023
1.5/5
Okay, I’m gonna be very honest, I expected more from this. It’s supposedly a gothic novel that takes place in the Victorian era but none of the descriptions or even dialgoues made me feel so. The way it is written is greatly lacking to pretend it’s a story that happens a few centuries ago. It cannot be more than a two star rating…Sorry…
The dialogues are often useless and do not bring much. Personally, I’d like to get more descriptions to imagine the atmosphere better. Here, it was really hard to do so.
The romance starting right away makes little sense and made me cringe way too much for my liking. I really wanted to skin myself alive.
It took me way more time than planned to read through it because of how hard it was to motivate myself, but I still wanted to read it fully to build my own opinion.
The positive side is that there is room for improvement! As we say practice makes perfect :)
Okay, I’m gonna be very honest, I expected more from this. It’s supposedly a gothic novel that takes place in the Victorian era but none of the descriptions or even dialgoues made me feel so. The way it is written is greatly lacking to pretend it’s a story that happens a few centuries ago. It cannot be more than a two star rating…Sorry…
The dialogues are often useless and do not bring much. Personally, I’d like to get more descriptions to imagine the atmosphere better. Here, it was really hard to do so.
The romance starting right away makes little sense and made me cringe way too much for my liking. I really wanted to skin myself alive.
It took me way more time than planned to read through it because of how hard it was to motivate myself, but I still wanted to read it fully to build my own opinion.
The positive side is that there is room for improvement! As we say practice makes perfect :)
October 13, 2014
**I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of Shut Up and Reads Read It and Reap program. **
This novella is the story of Elisa who goes on a "puzzling Gothic adventure" and I'd have to say that PUZZLING is a great adjective to describe how I felt reading this. Several things bothered me including the plot, the dialogue, and the romance.
Let's start with the plot. Nothing happens for the first 30% of the book, which I'm assuming was meant to build suspense, but really just left me wondering what the point of this story was. However, even when we do begin to get answers, none of them are presented in a way that reveals to the reader what the conflict of the story will be or why any of the characters matter, and it turns out that most of them don't. Also there is very little world building. Supernatural elements are introduced, but we aren't given any mythology to explain its origins or its rules; things I find necessary to consider the supernatural more than just a convenient plot device: What exactly is Duskland? Does everyone go there? What is the purpose of Leonhard's reveal? What are the rules to the magic in the story?
Next we have the dialogue. Essentially all information is told to us through awkward conversation. No one today, or during the Victorian era, speaks the way these characters do. Basically the characters just make statements that tell us what they're doing instead of the author describing their actions to us: "We will take care of the table later on. Now we'll heat the supper so you can take it to her." Add in some cheesiness "Tell me now or leave me forever." and you have conversations that just do not flow at all. On top of that, the pov shifts a lot and they were not executed smoothly, often leaving me wondering which character's internal/external dialogue I was reading.
Lastly, theres the romance. This is the worst case of insta love I've ever read. There is zero explanation for why these characters love each other. Almost from the very beginning Elisa and Leonhard describe each others strength and goodness, yet they never do anything together that establishes these character traits. Then theres a love triangle thrown in.
I did think that the idea of the story was interesting. If more focus was given to the details that establish the plot and a writing style that was showing, instead of telling, I may have enjoyed reading this novella. From the other reviews I feel like I read a different book, but we can't all agree and this story just did not suit my personal tastes at all.
This novella is the story of Elisa who goes on a "puzzling Gothic adventure" and I'd have to say that PUZZLING is a great adjective to describe how I felt reading this. Several things bothered me including the plot, the dialogue, and the romance.
Let's start with the plot. Nothing happens for the first 30% of the book, which I'm assuming was meant to build suspense, but really just left me wondering what the point of this story was. However, even when we do begin to get answers, none of them are presented in a way that reveals to the reader what the conflict of the story will be or why any of the characters matter, and it turns out that most of them don't. Also there is very little world building. Supernatural elements are introduced, but we aren't given any mythology to explain its origins or its rules; things I find necessary to consider the supernatural more than just a convenient plot device: What exactly is Duskland? Does everyone go there? What is the purpose of Leonhard's reveal? What are the rules to the magic in the story?
Next we have the dialogue. Essentially all information is told to us through awkward conversation. No one today, or during the Victorian era, speaks the way these characters do. Basically the characters just make statements that tell us what they're doing instead of the author describing their actions to us: "We will take care of the table later on. Now we'll heat the supper so you can take it to her." Add in some cheesiness "Tell me now or leave me forever." and you have conversations that just do not flow at all. On top of that, the pov shifts a lot and they were not executed smoothly, often leaving me wondering which character's internal/external dialogue I was reading.
Lastly, theres the romance. This is the worst case of insta love I've ever read. There is zero explanation for why these characters love each other. Almost from the very beginning Elisa and Leonhard describe each others strength and goodness, yet they never do anything together that establishes these character traits. Then theres a love triangle thrown in.
I did think that the idea of the story was interesting. If more focus was given to the details that establish the plot and a writing style that was showing, instead of telling, I may have enjoyed reading this novella. From the other reviews I feel like I read a different book, but we can't all agree and this story just did not suit my personal tastes at all.
June 4, 2015
Also see my review at: http://karissasbookblog.blogspot.com/
Let me just say, I was extremely excited for this book when I saw it on a giveaway. I immediately signed up, and when I got the book I read it right away. I was not disappointed. While this is not the best novel in the world, I still was captivated by it. The entirety of this novel felt much like a Tim Burton story, and let me just say now: I love Tim Burton.
The illustrations of this story were, by far, the best part. I don't say this to sell the story itself short; it felt incredibly unique and held true to its gothic origins. But this author has some major talent in drawing as well. Every image I saw took my breath away and I couldn't help but fall more in love with the story as a result.
When putting images in novels, there are generally two outcomes; I've read both. Like this story, it can either greatly enhance the reading by clarifying objects or giving a better physical imagery, or, like another book I've read and reviewed, it can actually detract by having little or no relation to the plot.
While there was a lot I loved about this novel, there's also a few things that bothered me. The first is the romance. It was very insta-love on all sides, but I'm VERY happy to see that Every character has some sort of immediate connection with another, and while I can appreciate connections, they were totally head over heels for each other within a week.
Another thing that bothered me was the writing flow. At times, there were a large amount of simple sentences put together, pulling me out of the story because of disruptive sentence breaks.
Finally, Elisa herself really made it hard for me to like her. For a vast majority of the book, she's laying in bed sleeping or in pain. While I get that it did work for certain parts, it honestly dragged on with how little action occured during the middle, where she stayed in bed for days at a time. I must say, Elisa did a great job at impressing me at the end though.
Overall, I'm glad to say this novel did NOT disappoint. I've been reading some novels that really didn't deliver like I expected them too, and this novel was a ray of sunshine in my dull reading experiences recently (pun intended).
See this review at: http://karissasbookblog.blogspot.com/
Let me just say, I was extremely excited for this book when I saw it on a giveaway. I immediately signed up, and when I got the book I read it right away. I was not disappointed. While this is not the best novel in the world, I still was captivated by it. The entirety of this novel felt much like a Tim Burton story, and let me just say now: I love Tim Burton.
The illustrations of this story were, by far, the best part. I don't say this to sell the story itself short; it felt incredibly unique and held true to its gothic origins. But this author has some major talent in drawing as well. Every image I saw took my breath away and I couldn't help but fall more in love with the story as a result.
When putting images in novels, there are generally two outcomes; I've read both. Like this story, it can either greatly enhance the reading by clarifying objects or giving a better physical imagery, or, like another book I've read and reviewed, it can actually detract by having little or no relation to the plot.
While there was a lot I loved about this novel, there's also a few things that bothered me. The first is the romance. It was very insta-love on all sides, but I'm VERY happy to see that Every character has some sort of immediate connection with another, and while I can appreciate connections, they were totally head over heels for each other within a week.
Another thing that bothered me was the writing flow. At times, there were a large amount of simple sentences put together, pulling me out of the story because of disruptive sentence breaks.
Finally, Elisa herself really made it hard for me to like her. For a vast majority of the book, she's laying in bed sleeping or in pain. While I get that it did work for certain parts, it honestly dragged on with how little action occured during the middle, where she stayed in bed for days at a time. I must say, Elisa did a great job at impressing me at the end though.
Overall, I'm glad to say this novel did NOT disappoint. I've been reading some novels that really didn't deliver like I expected them too, and this novel was a ray of sunshine in my dull reading experiences recently (pun intended).
See this review at: http://karissasbookblog.blogspot.com/
November 1, 2014
This beautiful, haunting Gothic novel will leave you desperate for more!
Synopsis:
In Duskland, Leonhard takes his nightly stroll through the forest where he comes upon the body of a young woman. Finding her still alive he takes her home, she awakens and remembers nothing of who she is, where she has come from - or even her name. And who are these strange people? The gentleman Leonhard, the mysterious severe Doctor Charles and the Siamese sisters Gerania and Iphigenia.
We soon discover Elisa walks the border between life and death, but with her health slowly deteriorating, she might fight to stop her husband destroying everything she has ever known, and then there's her feelings for Leonhard, but what can she do when he resides in one world, and she the other?
Review:
I absolutely LOVED this book. It definitely isn't your traditional story, and I cannot wait to read the prequel Isis Sousa is working on. If you’re a fan of Gothic fiction, purchase this now! It has all the wonderful traditions of the genre, the damsel in distress, the shadowy realm and beautiful haunting mansion - and of course the dastardly villain who attempts to ruin everything.
The story is told in a very sweeping, elegant way and is very reminiscent of classical Victorian Gothic novels. The story is very captivating it has something for everyone: mystery, intrigue, a touch of the supernatural as well as a beautiful romance aspect. The Night of Elisa is a very unusual book, and one of the things I really loved was the beautiful sketches that are littered throughout the novel. They are wonderful drawn and kept very simple, done in black and white and they very much fit the tone of the novel. Coupled with the gorgeous cover it really adds to that wonderful dark Gothic feel of the story.
I have seen several people mention Tim Burton in reference to The Night of Elisa, and I have to agree. It has a very Tim Burton-esque Corpse Bride feel to it, and being a fan of Burton myself, it really made me want to immerse myself in the story even more. I love the characters, they’re so well written and you start to feel really attached to them. I have so many favourites - the Siamese sisters, Elisa’s aunt Berenice and Marcel to name but a few. So if you’re looking for a lovely, fun, beautiful autumn read, Night of Elisa should definitely be on your list.
Synopsis:
In Duskland, Leonhard takes his nightly stroll through the forest where he comes upon the body of a young woman. Finding her still alive he takes her home, she awakens and remembers nothing of who she is, where she has come from - or even her name. And who are these strange people? The gentleman Leonhard, the mysterious severe Doctor Charles and the Siamese sisters Gerania and Iphigenia.
We soon discover Elisa walks the border between life and death, but with her health slowly deteriorating, she might fight to stop her husband destroying everything she has ever known, and then there's her feelings for Leonhard, but what can she do when he resides in one world, and she the other?
Review:
I absolutely LOVED this book. It definitely isn't your traditional story, and I cannot wait to read the prequel Isis Sousa is working on. If you’re a fan of Gothic fiction, purchase this now! It has all the wonderful traditions of the genre, the damsel in distress, the shadowy realm and beautiful haunting mansion - and of course the dastardly villain who attempts to ruin everything.
The story is told in a very sweeping, elegant way and is very reminiscent of classical Victorian Gothic novels. The story is very captivating it has something for everyone: mystery, intrigue, a touch of the supernatural as well as a beautiful romance aspect. The Night of Elisa is a very unusual book, and one of the things I really loved was the beautiful sketches that are littered throughout the novel. They are wonderful drawn and kept very simple, done in black and white and they very much fit the tone of the novel. Coupled with the gorgeous cover it really adds to that wonderful dark Gothic feel of the story.
I have seen several people mention Tim Burton in reference to The Night of Elisa, and I have to agree. It has a very Tim Burton-esque Corpse Bride feel to it, and being a fan of Burton myself, it really made me want to immerse myself in the story even more. I love the characters, they’re so well written and you start to feel really attached to them. I have so many favourites - the Siamese sisters, Elisa’s aunt Berenice and Marcel to name but a few. So if you’re looking for a lovely, fun, beautiful autumn read, Night of Elisa should definitely be on your list.
October 25, 2014
*I was given this book in exchange for an honest review*
Dark and twisted, filled with unique characters!
4 Stars!
Series: None, Illustrated Novella
Characters: Elisa
Setting: Duskland and Human Realm
Mature Themes: Blood, Dark Imagery
Elisa is a young woman who has had everything she's loved ripped from her by a backstabbing husband. She's thrust into the world of Duskland and encounters a wide variety of interesting characters who embrace her with open arms. After being separated from her new friends, Elisa learns of the betrayal from the man she married and with help from her friends, vows to take him down.
The construction of this novella was interesting to me, Elisa, the main character was rather boring and blank. This didn't feel like a negative thing though, in fact quite the opposite. Elisa felt like a clean white canvas for me, the reader, to project my feelings and emotions on to in response to the situations around her. In a novella of this length, this is a great addition and helped me feel more connected to the wide variety of other characters supporting the plot.
Throughout the story, Elisa finds herself in a variety of locations and worlds and when they are explained there is a descriptive difference beautifully crafted to alert the reader to where they are. Simple touches of the setting are described to create a rich feeling environment, and weather conditions are used to enhance the overall mood of a scene.
Recommendation: Finishing up at under two-hundred pages, The Night of Elisa is an enjoyable quick read that transports the reader into the world of Gothic intrigue and excitement. It's highly addictive, immerse and a beautifully illustrated journey.
Dark and twisted, filled with unique characters!
4 Stars!
Series: None, Illustrated Novella
Characters: Elisa
Setting: Duskland and Human Realm
Mature Themes: Blood, Dark Imagery
Elisa is a young woman who has had everything she's loved ripped from her by a backstabbing husband. She's thrust into the world of Duskland and encounters a wide variety of interesting characters who embrace her with open arms. After being separated from her new friends, Elisa learns of the betrayal from the man she married and with help from her friends, vows to take him down.
The construction of this novella was interesting to me, Elisa, the main character was rather boring and blank. This didn't feel like a negative thing though, in fact quite the opposite. Elisa felt like a clean white canvas for me, the reader, to project my feelings and emotions on to in response to the situations around her. In a novella of this length, this is a great addition and helped me feel more connected to the wide variety of other characters supporting the plot.
Throughout the story, Elisa finds herself in a variety of locations and worlds and when they are explained there is a descriptive difference beautifully crafted to alert the reader to where they are. Simple touches of the setting are described to create a rich feeling environment, and weather conditions are used to enhance the overall mood of a scene.
Recommendation: Finishing up at under two-hundred pages, The Night of Elisa is an enjoyable quick read that transports the reader into the world of Gothic intrigue and excitement. It's highly addictive, immerse and a beautifully illustrated journey.
December 2, 2016
Dark, Beautiful, Gothic...
If you've been following my blog postings for any length of time, you know I adore entering giveaways for books, especially on Goodreads.com. One day, I found this lovely: The Night of Elisa, and knew I had to have it! So I skipped entering the giveaway and contacted Isis Sousa, the author and illustrator. Thankfully, she agreed to send me a copy.
The story, set back in the 1800's, tells of Elisa, the main character who doesn't seem to thrive in this world, but in another. A place world called Duskland, set near the North Pole,in a perpetual state of never-ending sunset. It's a place where dead people go...
Without giving away SPOILERS, the lovely Elisa has issues. She's gifted with a talent that's more of a curse. She has the ability to drift from one world into another. In one, she's tormented by a cruel husband, and in the other she's deathly ill and surrounded by strange people. One is a set of conjoined twins, another is a moody scientist and doctor... and the other is mysteriously handsome, gentle and kind.. It's not until she finds her Aunt Berenice that she discovers what she is and an explanation for what she can do. Given a purpose (her own possible murder), she finds herself on a mission to either stay alive or stay in a world where she feels he doesn't belong. Can she decide which world she's truly destined for?
...
*Full Review: http://bit.ly/TheNightofElisaNovel Isis Sousa
** CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
If you've been following my blog postings for any length of time, you know I adore entering giveaways for books, especially on Goodreads.com. One day, I found this lovely: The Night of Elisa, and knew I had to have it! So I skipped entering the giveaway and contacted Isis Sousa, the author and illustrator. Thankfully, she agreed to send me a copy.
The story, set back in the 1800's, tells of Elisa, the main character who doesn't seem to thrive in this world, but in another. A place world called Duskland, set near the North Pole,in a perpetual state of never-ending sunset. It's a place where dead people go...
Without giving away SPOILERS, the lovely Elisa has issues. She's gifted with a talent that's more of a curse. She has the ability to drift from one world into another. In one, she's tormented by a cruel husband, and in the other she's deathly ill and surrounded by strange people. One is a set of conjoined twins, another is a moody scientist and doctor... and the other is mysteriously handsome, gentle and kind.. It's not until she finds her Aunt Berenice that she discovers what she is and an explanation for what she can do. Given a purpose (her own possible murder), she finds herself on a mission to either stay alive or stay in a world where she feels he doesn't belong. Can she decide which world she's truly destined for?
...
*Full Review: http://bit.ly/TheNightofElisaNovel Isis Sousa
** CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
February 12, 2016
The Night of Elisa by Isis Sousa Review:
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity in return for a fair and honest review.
Many thanks!
If Penny Dreadful and American Horror Story were to be combined into one super project, it would look a lot like Isis Sousa's "The Night of Elisa".
This beautifully illustrated horror and suspense novel takes readers through a unique story in a Victorian era setting with a phenomenal
array of various characters. The story follows Elisa, a mysterious girl who is fleeing a troubled past, and Leonhard, the man who finds Elisa
but fears she'll discover his dark history.
Taking the reader through an almost Beauty and the Beast style story with some more mature and
horror filled elements for sure, this is a story that needed to be told, and the cinematic and visual representation of the story through the
mixture of art and story makes this one of the most unique reads I've read in 2016. The interesting take on this story made it almost feel like
a classic novel written in the Gothic era the story is based on, as if it were a manuscript previously unknown to the world and recently discovered
by historians. That is the power of Isis Sousa, and her beautiful tale of Duskland and the characters in this mystery land is one of the most
original horror stories to come out in recent years. Visually, character development wise and settings wise, "The Night of Elisa" is a must
read novel that readers will be fully engrossed in, and this reviewer hopes to see a sequel to this incredible tale.
September 25, 2014
I read the first chapter of this as a stand-alone short story, but now it has turned into a novella, continuing with the characters’ lives.
The story has a nice otherworldly atmosphere, reminding me a little of fog-enshrouded Victorian England. I found a bit of awkwardness in the writing: stilted internal dialogue, point of view shifts, overly dramatic word choice here and there, etc., but it was edited pretty well. The plot felt “told,” since much of the action had already happened, and we didn’t really live it with the characters. However, it was nicely creepy how everything came together, and the drawings throughout the book are beautiful: deceptively simple and rather haunting.
Warning: one drawing of an unclothed woman.
*I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
The story has a nice otherworldly atmosphere, reminding me a little of fog-enshrouded Victorian England. I found a bit of awkwardness in the writing: stilted internal dialogue, point of view shifts, overly dramatic word choice here and there, etc., but it was edited pretty well. The plot felt “told,” since much of the action had already happened, and we didn’t really live it with the characters. However, it was nicely creepy how everything came together, and the drawings throughout the book are beautiful: deceptively simple and rather haunting.
Warning: one drawing of an unclothed woman.
*I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
December 1, 2015
A very different book, not really dark fantasy in my book, more of a supernatural/ghost story with “extras”. A lovely story of Elisa and adventures in different worlds in Victorian times, and how one has affected the other and how she thinks and acts. The pictures are simple but lovely, portraying the characters just as you imagine- with one surprise. The descriptions are perfect, and the characters have depth- or do they? Are they ghosts or real? It does as the author set out to “maximise story- telling and heighten imagination” which it does in spades. Love, and revenge, friends and lovers.
An imaginative plot, and a very enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an open and honest review.
An imaginative plot, and a very enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an open and honest review.
December 5, 2022
This was a great read, the only thing I thought was similar to it was this animated movie with the dead bride... Okey out of topic.
The not-so-cool: Some misplaced words, okay the odd edition of the book.
The cool: the story come one was really original and I didn't have a clue how was going to end.
The awesome: I don't know why but I thought the drawings were so great how they were so simple yet descriptive still leaving space for the imagination.
I'm a weird person... Maybe that's why I liked this book.
-I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of Shut Up and Read’s Read It and Reap program.-
The not-so-cool: Some misplaced words, okay the odd edition of the book.
The cool: the story come one was really original and I didn't have a clue how was going to end.
The awesome: I don't know why but I thought the drawings were so great how they were so simple yet descriptive still leaving space for the imagination.
I'm a weird person... Maybe that's why I liked this book.
-I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of Shut Up and Read’s Read It and Reap program.-
November 21, 2014
This book entangled me into its story withing the first chapter. The characters, plot and pictures where amazing. Though most of the time I prefer stories that don't have pictures so I can use my imagination while I read. The pencil drawing are beautiful and add so much the the story. I would have given it 5 stars but I was not moved by the ending as much as I was the rest of the story.
This is a great read and I had a hard time putting it down. The new twist on the plans between the living and the dead was intriguing.
I received this book from LibraryThing and the author for free for an honest review.
This is a great read and I had a hard time putting it down. The new twist on the plans between the living and the dead was intriguing.
I received this book from LibraryThing and the author for free for an honest review.
October 8, 2014
As soon as I saw this book I knew I would love it and Isis was nice enough to send me a copy =)
It was such a cool story that I devoured it in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down. The characters were really interesting and I found myself torn as to where I wanted Elisa to end up.
I love the illustrations throughout the book, they were so beautiful and really helped you become more involved in the story.
It's just such a lovely gothic tale and I really enjoyed the writing style. I will definitely be reading this one again.
It was such a cool story that I devoured it in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down. The characters were really interesting and I found myself torn as to where I wanted Elisa to end up.
I love the illustrations throughout the book, they were so beautiful and really helped you become more involved in the story.
It's just such a lovely gothic tale and I really enjoyed the writing style. I will definitely be reading this one again.
November 11, 2014
*I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads*
It was an entertaining read. Even though I found the storyline quite simple I've read this book in one sitting. There was something about it that kept me going. The novelty of the genre, maybe? I haven't read anything like this before, that's for sure. I liked the setting of the book - the bleak Duskland and the sinister world of the living, the peculiar characters and the artwork that was complementing the text.
It was an entertaining read. Even though I found the storyline quite simple I've read this book in one sitting. There was something about it that kept me going. The novelty of the genre, maybe? I haven't read anything like this before, that's for sure. I liked the setting of the book - the bleak Duskland and the sinister world of the living, the peculiar characters and the artwork that was complementing the text.
December 21, 2014
I won a copy of this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review
This book is not from a genre I normally read. Paranormal, supernatural yes. Gothic, no. That is probably the only reason why I took so long to complete it. But I will say this it was an interesting experience. It read like a Tim Burton movie, with the same dark tones and morbidity. And for a debut this was excellent work. Loved the artwork too. Good effort Ms Sousa.
This book is not from a genre I normally read. Paranormal, supernatural yes. Gothic, no. That is probably the only reason why I took so long to complete it. But I will say this it was an interesting experience. It read like a Tim Burton movie, with the same dark tones and morbidity. And for a debut this was excellent work. Loved the artwork too. Good effort Ms Sousa.
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