Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton

Feb 10, 2019 Carrie rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

Before I begin let’s just have a moment to appreciate the cover on this one, two thumbs up for the creator it’s probably one of my favorites so far this year. Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton is a young adult fantasy read that is one of those that has a bit of mystery and a bit of romance in the mix too.

The story begins with a girl falling into a mysterious dark cavern and not knowing where or even what she is. She meets a boy named Smoke who begins to explain that she is dead and has fallen out o ...more

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Mar 15, 2019 Umairah | Sereadipity rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Plot: 4/5 Characters: 4/5 Writing: 4/5

Smoke and Key was a creepy yet intriguing novel that captivated me from the very first sentence.

The book was about a girl who was dead but fell down from her grave into a mysterious world called 'Under'. She didn't know why she was there, she didn't have any memories of her life before Under and she couldn't even remember her own name. The only possession she had on her was a key, so she called herself Key. All the other residents of Under were named after t ...more

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Mar 30, 2019 Melanie (mells_view) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

“I suppose some things don’t have a proper explanation. They just are.”

You guys. Smoke and Key is such an amazing read! It’s like this suspenseful historical YA paranormal with a magical morbid feel to it. A genre mouthful I realize. While reading I kept thinking if The Wizard of Oz & the movie Clue had a love child in the early 1900’s and gave birth in a magical graveyard, then this book would be that baby. There’s a smidge of romance, but Smoke and Key is a highly plot driven story. We ar ...more

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Feb 04, 2019 Brittany rated it liked it · review of another edition

3 Stars!!
🌟🌟🌟

Smoke and Key begins with a girl falling out of her grave into a dark bottomless pit. As she struggles to come to terms with where she is, she starts to meet a group of others who share her fate and with no knowledge of what caused them to fall below into what they call "under".

She comes across a boy claiming to be no one, which makes her head spin. He then tells her that's she's dead. But she cant be dead. She sets off to uncover the secrets of the past with the hope of finding l ...more

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Mar 26, 2019 Schizanthus rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle-food, netgalley, content-warnings

“You’re dead, darlin’. This isn’t hell, but it’s the next best thing.”

She hears a voice imploring her to wake up. She falls and finds herself surrounded by dirt. In Under she meets a group of strangers whose bodies are in different stages of decomposition. While they can all remember general knowledge they do not remember anything personal from their lives. Each awoke with an item that was buried with them, an item that helps their owner decide their Under name.

The girl who wakes at the begin

“You’re dead, darlin’. This isn’t hell, but it’s the next best thing.”

She hears a voice imploring her to wake up. She falls and finds herself surrounded by dirt. In Under she meets a group of strangers whose bodies are in different stages of decomposition. While they can all remember general knowledge they do not remember anything personal from their lives. Each awoke with an item that was buried with them, an item that helps their owner decide their Under name.

The girl who wakes at the beginning of the book becomes Key. She meets Ribbon, Smoke, Journal, Handkerchief, Doll, and many others. Shortly after Key arrives in Under the first murder occurs and there’s no waking up from this death.

We are ghosts, but we are the ones being haunted.

Key’s flashbacks provide frequent snippets of information about her life before death, building towards revelations that may hold more danger than she could imagine. I found the flashbacks interesting but expect readers who aren’t a fan of multiple flashbacks could find their frequency and slow drip of information irritating.

Given the exponential growth of my TBR pile I was definitely attracted to a life after death that included books and no need for sleep. I loved guessing who the characters may have been before their deaths, the mysterious writings on the wall, the magic and Journal’s tower with all of his books.

I liked getting to know the main characters but found many of the minor characters interchangeable. I didn’t always know which minor character was being referenced as I didn’t know much more about them other than the item they were buried with. I was disappointed by the lack of resolution surrounding Doll; I did learn who she was in life but I have so many unanswered questions about her.

While I enjoyed some aspects of the love triangle I did find the kissing scenes when the characters were dead a tad squirmy, although I acknowledge I probably overthought it. Maybe if I hadn’t already read about the putrid death breath of other characters (who don’t need to breathe because they’re dead, but anyway) it wouldn’t have bothered me so much, but the idea of death breath kisses didn’t exactly make me want to go, “Awww!” I can only hope that Tintype found some toothbrushes and toothpaste for these kissing corpses to use that I wasn’t aware of.

I adored the concept of this book and loved the initial world building but would have liked to learn more about Under and its residents. Had this book covered all of the details I craved it would have been close to twice the length though. The magic was interesting but could have been fleshed out (sorry!) more. I also found the mystery fairly predictable. The final few chapters wrapped up the story too quickly for my liking. Despite my need for more, most of my questions were answered and a sneaky tear did escape quite unexpectedly.

Content warnings include physical abuse and abandonment. Characters also discuss a death by suicide that occurred before the events in this book.

Overall this was an enjoyable read (one I can see myself rereading) and I am interested in reading more of this author’s books. I don’t usually wander into historical fiction territory but this book made me wonder what I’m missing out on. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Entangled Teen, an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC, for the opportunity to read this book. ...more

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Apr 17, 2019 JenacideByBibliophile rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Death, lost love, walking corpses, corsets, propriety, falling from graves, curious momentous and magic.

Finally.

The spooky Historical Romance that your Gothic little heart was searching for.

description

Smoke and Key was just as beautiful, dark, sorrowful and mysterious as I’d hoped it would be.
Kelsey Sutton is Queen when it comes to ingenious and creatively mind-bending YA plots. She brings fantasy to life and completely astounds me with her imaginative ideas for books. Countdown clocks to death in Garde ...more

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Mar 04, 2019 Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-book-read, kindle-books

4.5 Stars!
If there is one thing I love more in this genre than anything else, it is originality and Smoke and Key is packed full of it.

It is utterly unique and utterly engaging. From the very first creeptastic chapter I was hooked and couldn't wait to read more.

I absolutely loved the imaginative world of the Under. The characters, the setting, how it all came about slowly through memories and trials. Truly this story was so well done and so irresistible and hard to put down. A truly imaginative ...more

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Feb 09, 2019 D.M. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Smoke and Key is an interesting mysterious read and I know my review isn’t going to do it justice. It’s set in a dystopian world and has a tainted edge. It’s dark and has a twist.

Imagine waking up in a place close to death. Everyone has lost their memory and your body feels undead. The name given to you links to the object given to you in your new skin. Key is new to the dystopian world but she’s also different. She is the start of the cracks. Everyone has a story but nobody can remember how it ...more

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Mar 29, 2019 Dani - Perspective of a Writer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019, best-of-2019, fiction-young-adult, g-a-magic, g-a-strong-family, g-r-zombies, g-t-historical, genre-friendship, genre-mental-health, genre-mysteries

Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

The Buzz

I first read a Kelsey Sutton book when I first started as a book blogger. It was an intriguing premise, well executed and enjoyable. I loved the fusion nature of the story between slice of life, mystery, action and light romance. When I read my next Sutton book I really fell hard for the characters and was totally sucked into that mystery too. When I learned she had another standalone out I knew I HAD to read it... and now I considered t ...more

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Apr 07, 2019 ʙᴇʟʟᴀ.: ☾**:.☆*.:｡. added it · review of another edition

RTC

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Mar 18, 2019 Erin Arkin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2019

I was intrigued when I read the summary of Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton and that seems to be the trend with her books. I find that her stories have an interesting twist that grabs my attention and so far, I haven’t been disappointed.

The story begins with an unknown character falling and finding herself in a place where she has no recollection of who she is, why she is dead (yes…dead), and what the key around her neck means. Everyone who has fallen to Under has one identifier and as the main ch I was intrigued when I read the summary of Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton and that seems to be the trend with her books. I find that her stories have an interesting twist that grabs my attention and so far, I haven’t been disappointed.

The story begins with an unknown character falling and finding herself in a place where she has no recollection of who she is, why she is dead (yes…dead), and what the key around her neck means. Everyone who has fallen to Under has one identifier and as the main character has a key, that is what she is called by everyone. I loved how Sutton built this world and slowly revealed the story and characters. Its focus is on Key and how she is linked to all the characters in Under but there is also a bit of a mystery because once Key does show up, others in Under are showing up dead and no one can figure out who is doing the killing.

Key was an interesting character. She knew something weird was going on and as she kept having flashbacks of the characters in Under, she started to uncover what was really going on. I loved that even though it meant she was in danger, she wasn’t willing to stop digging into what was going on. She needed to figure things out to determine who she could trust, and, in the end, she was resigned to face whatever danger she needed to in order to figure out who was killing the others.

Smoke is someone Key meets when she finds herself in Under. He saves her from another character and she’s immediately drawn to him even though she doesn’t really know if she can trust him. Smoke has an air of mystery to him and it was hard, at first, to know what his story was but as Key’s flashbacks move the story forward and his background unfolds, it was hard not to like him.

The secondary characters are interesting as well and help to move the story along. As I alluded to, a number of them link to Key from her life when she was alive and although I won’t say anything specific here, it is important to note that through each of them, Key starts to tie everything together. I really appreciate that as the reader, I was learning everything right along with Key and it made it so that I didn’t want to put the book down.

If you are looking for a book that will introduce you to a unique story and interesting characters, consider checking this one out when you can. I have enjoyed the books I’ve read by Sutton so far and will definitely be looking forward to her next one.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Mar 30, 2019 Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, reviewed-on-blog

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Kelsey Sutton sucked me right into Smoke and Key.
I thought Smoke and Key would be a fascinating murder mystery set underground with the dead. But as I got in the story, I discovered I was so so wrong. From early in the novel, Sutton sucks me into the world of Under. Key wakes up dead with no memories other than a key around her neck. Others wh ...more

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Mar 27, 2019 Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: from-publisher, physical-books-i-own

Book provided by Entangled Teen for review. RTC

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Feb 01, 2019 Lili Marcus rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, romance

The story opens with a dead girl who fell down from her grave into a world called Under. She has no recollection of her past or why she fell down. She didn’t even know that she’s dead. The only thing that connects her with her past is a key in a chain around her neck, so eventually she was named Key. As everyone else in Under, she’s named after the only possession she has with her. In Under, she met Smoke, Doll, Journal, Ribbon, Tintype and others. All of them had bodies that looked like they al The story opens with a dead girl who fell down from her grave into a world called Under. She has no recollection of her past or why she fell down. She didn’t even know that she’s dead. The only thing that connects her with her past is a key in a chain around her neck, so eventually she was named Key. As everyone else in Under, she’s named after the only possession she has with her. In Under, she met Smoke, Doll, Journal, Ribbon, Tintype and others. All of them had bodies that looked like they already started decaying. Key, though, is different. Her body is intact. Then she started remembering things. And then the murders start; bodies that are burnt to a crisp. After being burned, the dead stay dead. Key is running out of time to discover who she was—and what secret someone is willing to kill to keep hidden—before she becomes the next victim…

The beginning of the novel really pulled me in, it started right where the interesting part of the story begins. It was so intriguing and atmospheric. First, because Key and the others are being too mysterious, mainly because they can’t remember a thing about their lives before they died. Like, who are they? I was immensely curious. And they kept me interested in them till the last page. I also think their character ARCs are well done and even though there are sad parts about the characters’ lives, I was content as to how everything ended for everyone. Especially Key. The reveal of her past and her relationship with Smoke. It was really interesting and intriguing.

And there’s Under. I find Under as one of the most interesting fictional world I’ve ever read. It’s so eerie and so secretive. Like something would pop out in its walls any moment.

As for the overall plot, it’s worth reading. I love the idea of dead people being murdered and a setting that’s a pure mystery. My only issue on this book is at some point, the pacing turns too slow. I put down my tablet (it’s where I read since I haven’t bought a new Kindle yet after I lost my old one) twice before I finished the whole novel. There are also parts, that for me, are just fillers and the novel can do without. Same with the Romance. It was fine it’s part of the story, but even if it’s not, it would be fine.

Overall, this is an amazing read. It’s actually a little refreshing. I know this won’t be the last book I’ll read from this author. Kelsey Sutton’s writing is almost lyrical and really atmospheric. I just love her devices and overall writing style.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more

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Apr 24, 2019 Lili Marcus rated it really liked it

The story opens with a dead girl who fell down from her grave into a world called Under. She has no recollection of her past or why she fell down. She didn’t even know that she’s dead. The only thing that connects her with her past is a key in a chain around her neck, so eventually she was named Key. As everyone else in Under, she’s named after the only possession she has with her. In Under, she met Smoke, Doll, Journal, Ribbon, Tintype and others. All of them had bodies that looked like they al The story opens with a dead girl who fell down from her grave into a world called Under. She has no recollection of her past or why she fell down. She didn’t even know that she’s dead. The only thing that connects her with her past is a key in a chain around her neck, so eventually she was named Key. As everyone else in Under, she’s named after the only possession she has with her. In Under, she met Smoke, Doll, Journal, Ribbon, Tintype and others. All of them had bodies that looked like they already started decaying. Key, though, is different. Her body is intact. Then she started remembering things. And then the murders start; bodies that are burnt to a crisp. After being burned, the dead stay dead. Key is running out of time to discover who she was—and what secret someone is willing to kill to keep hidden—before she becomes the next victim…

The beginning of the novel really pulled me in, it started right where the interesting part of the story begins. It was so intriguing and atmospheric. First, because Key and the others are being too mysterious, mainly because they can’t remember a thing about their lives before they died. Like, who are they? I was immensely curious. And they kept me interested in them till the last page. I also think their character ARCs are well done and even though there are sad parts about the characters’ lives, I was content as to how everything ended for everyone. Especially Key. The reveal of her past and her relationship with Smoke. It was really interesting and intriguing.

And there’s Under. I find Under as one of the most interesting fictional world I’ve ever read. It’s so eerie and so secretive. Like something would pop out in its walls any moment.

As for the overall plot, it’s worth reading. I love the idea of dead people being murdered and a setting that’s a pure mystery. My only issue on this book is at some point, the pacing turns too slow. I put down my tablet (it’s where I read since I haven’t bought a new Kindle yet after I lost my old one) twice before I finished the whole novel. There are also parts, that for me, are just fillers and the novel can do without. Same with the Romance. It was fine it’s part of the story, but even if it’s not, it would be fine.

Overall, this is an amazing read. It’s actually a little refreshing. I know this won’t be the last book I’ll read from this author. Kelsey Sutton’s writing is almost lyrical and really atmospheric. I just love her devices and overall writing style. ...more

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Apr 10, 2019 Michelle rated it really liked it

**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Smoke and Key is a young adult paranormal by author Kelsey Sutton. First off, I have to just point out how crazy beautiful the cover is. I was immediately drawn in because of it, but then the mysterious summary really hooked me. I had to know what Smoke and Key was all about. And talk about starting the book off with a bang. The first chapter was completely creepy and spooky and set the stage for a haunting and myste **You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Smoke and Key is a young adult paranormal by author Kelsey Sutton. First off, I have to just point out how crazy beautiful the cover is. I was immediately drawn in because of it, but then the mysterious summary really hooked me. I had to know what Smoke and Key was all about. And talk about starting the book off with a bang. The first chapter was completely creepy and spooky and set the stage for a haunting and mysterious story that I simply could not put down. Smoke and Key was fascinating and something wholly different than I was expecting. If you are a fan of gothic style mysteries, I think you will absolutely love this novel. In Smoke and Key we start out with Key finding her way into the Under. The Under is a world where some individuals find themselves after death. It is named the under because it is literally the ground underneath their graves, and the only way to enter it is to fall into by bottoming out your grave. Totally creepy, right? No one in the under has any memories of their life on earth. Our story starts out with our main character waking up in her grave and falling into the Under. She can't remember her name, but she quickly learns that no one can. Each of her new inhabitants picks their own name from whatever belongings they had with them when they fell out of their graves. Key enters the under with a Key hanging around her neck. Key is determined to get her memories back. I really loved Key right from the start. She was an immediately engaging character for me, and actually so was Smoke. I loved the world of the Under that Kelsey Sutton created. I loved all of the curious characters, and I loved meeting them through Key's eyes and deciding together who we could trust and who we couldn't. Take this fascinating world and couple it with a really creepy mystery, and you have a paranormal read that felt totally fresh and unique to me, which is no easy feat. The mystery was excellent as well. Murders in the under! Who would kill so many people that are already dead? And why? Smoke and Key's twisty plot is sure to keep you turning pages in anticipation for the entire novel. I really applaud Kelsey Sutton on what she has created in Smoke and Key. It is a fascinating world with intriguing characters and a mystery plot that kept me guessing and engaged until the very end. This is a book that I would easily recommend to anyone looking for a creepy paranormal mystery.

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs ...more

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Apr 04, 2019 Lindy rated it really liked it

My Thoughts:

Smoke And Key was a unique story. It begins with "Key," hearing a voice urging her frantically to "Please wake up." She finds herself lying down in darkness, and starts to panic when she realizes she is trapped inside of a casket. As she tries to break out by hitting, kicking, and screaming, she finds herself falling to down below. She soon learns that she is in a place where nobody has memories of their names, or their pasts; including herself. Instead, everyone refers to themselves My Thoughts:

Smoke And Key was a unique story. It begins with "Key," hearing a voice urging her frantically to "Please wake up." She finds herself lying down in darkness, and starts to panic when she realizes she is trapped inside of a casket. As she tries to break out by hitting, kicking, and screaming, she finds herself falling to down below. She soon learns that she is in a place where nobody has memories of their names, or their pasts; including herself. Instead, everyone refers to themselves by an item that they had on them when they woke up in "Under." She had a key around her neck, therefore "Key" becomes her new name.

Nobody really knows what under is, other than a place where each of it's inhabitants fell from their caskets to down below or under. This place is made of dirt, with no sky, homes or civilization as we know it. The inhabitants have made the best of this place. Friendships have been made, individuals have their roles to play, and there are those that are nice and welcoming, as well as those with malicious intent. Some inhabitants in under are well-preserved, while others are grotesque looking.

In Under, Key meets Ribbon, Spoon, Doll, Journal, Handkerchief, Tintype, and many others. However, no one catches Key's eye the way that Smoke does. He instantly becomes her protector, and these two share a connection. Shortly after arriving in "Under" "Key" begins to have memories of her past return to her. Simultaneously, murders are taking place in Under, and the bodies are being burned. Key is desperate to uncover her past, and the closer she gets, the closer she comes to becoming the next victim.

Smoke And Key was an intriguing mystery. I rapidly read the story, and was riveted with each new memory that Key unlocked. There was danger, magic, romance, deceit, a curse, and love interwoven throughout the plot of Smoke And Key. While the beginning of the story had a slower start, and had me confused at times, the second half of the story had me devouring pages and excited to unravel the mystery of Key and Smoke's past, as well as all of the other inhabitants down in Under. If you enjoy a story heavy on mystery, light on romance, and a mixture of paranormal and historical fiction; Smoke and Key will be a delight for your senses!

3.5 Stars! ...more

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Mar 24, 2019 Raven_Blake (dreamy addictions) rated it liked it

Shelves: 2019, netgalley, young-adult, historical, horror, romance, stand-alone

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars!
Same Review Also Posted On My Blog: Dreamy Addictions

*eARC received from the publisher Via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Smoke And Key is a stand-alone novel written by Kelsey Sutton. It was a very unique read set in historical time period. The concept of the book was very dark and intriguing. I loved the mystery aspect in this book, but as for the romance part I’ve mixed feelings about it. Other than that, this was an engaging read and I really enjoyed i Actual Rating: 3.5 stars!
Same Review Also Posted On My Blog: Dreamy Addictions

*eARC received from the publisher Via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Smoke And Key is a stand-alone novel written by Kelsey Sutton. It was a very unique read set in historical time period. The concept of the book was very dark and intriguing. I loved the mystery aspect in this book, but as for the romance part I’ve mixed feelings about it. Other than that, this was an engaging read and I really enjoyed it. It was actually my first book by the author and it definitely won’t be my last.

The story begins with a girl falling from her grave to under where she meets other people who’re also fallen under just like her. As soon as she falls, she meets a broody guy named Smoke who tells her that she has died and she had to spend the rest of her afterlife in under. She doesn’t remember anything about herself not even her name. She calls herself Key because it’s the only thing that was found on her. Key isn’t ready to give up and tries to search for answers. Soon she makes new friends and gets acquainted with Under but suddenly she starts to regain memories which never happened to the other people in Under. When a series of murders takes place, she wants to know the true purpose of their existence in Under and her memories might be the only key to the answers.

Key is a pretty likable protagonist. She’s a brave and stubborn girl. I enjoyed her character but I wouldn’t say she was my favorite either. Smoke on the other hand is your typical broody guy with dark charms. His character was both mysterious and dark. From the start, I really wanted to know his backstory. The romance between Smoke and Key was pretty much insta-lovey which isn’t my favorite trope but In the second half, I grew to love them because we finally get the answers about their instant connection. I’m not going to say anything more because it’s a spoiler. And also there’s a light triangle in this book which I know many people aren’t fond of. As for the supporting characters, I liked Journal, doll, and maybe Ribbon too. There’re still some other characters but I didn’t paid much attention to them.

The plot was a perfect mix of mystery and a light romance. I found the story dragged in some places but overall the pacing was okay. I loved the mystery and the fantasy aspect in this book. As the story progressed, the secrets unfolded with each memory . The backstory was pretty interesting and I liked how everything was connected but sadly I predicted the villain from the start. The author’s writing style was easy to follow. The whole book was written in Key’s POV which was shifted between the past and the present. The shifting might confuse some readers but I didn’t had any issue with it. I think I enjoyed the backstory more than the present one. The setting was pretty good. I liked the dark and creepy atmosphere the author had set in the story. Before getting into this book, I really didn’t know it was a historical fantasy.

Overall, it was a good read with decent plot, unique concept, and interesting characters. Despite the issues, I enjoyed the story and the refreshing concept which was weirdly interesting and compelling. I would definitely check out this author’s other works.

Recommend it?
YES

If you’re looking for a good YA historical fantasy read with mystery aspect then definitely give it a shot. ...more

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Apr 08, 2019 Nicole Hewitt rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-addiction-read

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction. Also on the blog is a list of Kelsey Sutton's Top Ten Addictions!

One woman’s choices in life follow her into the afterlife … and she can’t escape the consequences without unraveling the truth of her past.

What Fed My Addiction:

Creepy and atmospheric.
The book takes place Under, which is a creepy afterlife that’s literally under the graveyard. All of the characters show signs of their deaths–often quite gruesome–and th ...more

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Feb 24, 2019 Carrie (brightbeautifulthings) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, i-do-believe-in-spooks, horrorshow, romance, ya-fantasy

Flash Book Review: A dark, atmospheric afterlife story with a dash of romance. Exactly my kind of weird.

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I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Entangled Publishing, LLC. Trigger warnings: death, body horror, eye horror, violence, blood.

When Key falls into Under, a world of dirt and forgotten objects, she has no memory of who she is or why she’s dead. All she has is the scar on her back and a key around her neck. All the residents of Under are named for the objects th Flash Book Review: A dark, atmospheric afterlife story with a dash of romance. Exactly my kind of weird.

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I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Entangled Publishing, LLC. Trigger warnings: death, body horror, eye horror, violence, blood.

When Key falls into Under, a world of dirt and forgotten objects, she has no memory of who she is or why she’s dead. All she has is the scar on her back and a key around her neck. All the residents of Under are named for the objects they brought with them: Ribbon, the kind girl who tries to make Under feel like home, Doll, the spooky child who never speaks, Smoke, the mysterious but protective boy with a scar across his neck, Journal, the reclusive bookworm, and enough others to fill the strange town. Key is desperate to remember who she was, but when bodies turn up burned almost beyond recognition, she realizes that even the dead can be killed and some secrets are meant to stay buried.

This book is exactly my kind of weird, with a side of gruesome. Sutton’s world of Under calls up images of Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (2005) without the slapstick humor or the singing. It’s dark, grim, and imaginative, and it’s a case of a fascinating premise given the execution it deserves (pun totally intended). Undead mysteries can keep my mind spinning for days, and the plot of Smoke & Key is interesting without ever being too over the top. Occasionally, the pace lags when Key is more wrapped up in her returning memories than what’s happening in Under, but there were also times those captured more of my attention too. Sutton’s old-world England is almost as interesting as Under. I guessed the overall villain but not some of the minor twists; I wasn’t expecting a dose of witchcraft with my undead, but it works well.

The main cast is spooky and well-drawn. It’s easy for a book with undead characters to drag readers down in the misery of being dead, but these feel very much alive. I admired Key’s bravery and her willingness to bend the conventions of her time, Ribbon’s sweetness and level head, Doll’s spookiness, and Journal’s obsession with books. There’s a heavy dose of romance to balance out the horror, but Smoke is a mysterious and somewhat dashing love interest. I enjoyed their interactions perhaps most of all, which is unusual for me.

There’s a love triangle element, but it’s nowhere near the worst I’ve read. In fact, it forces some pretty interesting character development on either side. There’s some angst while Key wallows in her guilt about not returning someone’s feelings that started to wear on me; I’ve rarely seen a male character that feels bad about this, but it seems to be the default for females. However, Sutton ultimately takes it to a healthy place, which is nice to see in fiction. If you’re looking for a mix of horror and romance or simply something that’s off the beaten path, I highly recommend it.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com. ...more

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Mar 29, 2019 Vanessa B. ☽♡ rated it liked it

Smoke and Key is one of the books that I am not quite sure how to rate. I settled for 3 stars.

The book begins with a girl falling from her grave to what is called Under. There she meets other people that experienced the same thing and she discovers that no one remembers anything from their previous lives, not even their names. A boy informs her that she should pick a name and that the rest of them has chosen theirs from an object they found on them. He is Smoke she is Key. As the story unfolds K ...more

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Apr 09, 2019 Kirsti rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

This is one of those books you just wish you had time to read sooner. Unfortunately we will never read every book we want to, but I'm so glad I found the time to get into this one, because I adored it. It had like a Coraline vibe to it; our main character wakes in a grave, only to fall through the earth into a dingy kind of hell below. Named only by the objects they possess, Key must work out why she's the only one with me ...more

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Apr 07, 2019 Stephanie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: anticipated-releases

Thanks to Dani@perspectiveofawriter I was introduced to the amazing author Kelsey Sutton and all of her amazing work. I plan on buying all of her books sometime this year because wow.

The whole story itself is so special and well written and ugh, I don’t even know how to properly articulate my feelings. The words on the pages are a lyrical masterpiece, so imaginative. Sutton has a way with words that just sucks you right into a story. I am, however, am not feeling the insta connection between Key ...more

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Mar 08, 2019 Jazmen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I rather enjoyed this unique fantasy. It was unlike anything I've ever read and it's a book I won't soon forget.

Key is in under. Under Earth? In hell? In between hell? We're not sure. But she's just fallen from her grave into another world. She's dead and the only clue she has to her former life is a key that lies around her neck.

The "Under" world was an intriguing yet scary and beautiful place. This in-between world with dead people living and not breathing was one I found very thrilling. I ado ...more

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Feb 04, 2019 Kelsey Sutton added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Update on September 12th, 2018:

The truly incredible Salome Totladze sent me the completed character portrait I commissioned from her. I can't stop staring at it. She got Smoke and Key so right.

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Apr 07, 2019 Sophia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-new-release-challenge, historical-pnr-uf-fantasy, review-requests, ya, 2019-owls-rat

Waking up dead in an afterlife purgatory with no memories of life before confronts a young woman who must figure it out fast when the murders begin. Talk about a made for me book. Gothic fantasy romance should be written more often. I enjoyed this one by a new to me author.

Smoke and Key is a standalone YA fantasy suspense set in England- maybe Regency or Early Victorian. I enjoyed how this one was strong on atmosphere from the beginning. Some details were stark and clear while others were wispy Waking up dead in an afterlife purgatory with no memories of life before confronts a young woman who must figure it out fast when the murders begin. Talk about a made for me book. Gothic fantasy romance should be written more often. I enjoyed this one by a new to me author.

Smoke and Key is a standalone YA fantasy suspense set in England- maybe Regency or Early Victorian. I enjoyed how this one was strong on atmosphere from the beginning. Some details were stark and clear while others were wispy pieces of background. Characters were unique and not the least because they are all dead and in various states of decomposition. None of the people in Under have memories until they wake up there. They are named by any items found on them when they wake.

The main character and sole first person narrator is Key. The story begins when she wakes in Under. Her presence is the catalyst for things to be set in motion. The key she holds is a powerful clue, but it is also the symbol because she is the trigger for people to begin remembering and for someone to feel threatened by the memories and start killing. Meanwhile, Key gets to know the characters and senses connections that she can't quite remember. She forms friendships and starts to care about this odd community of the dead who try to make the most of what they have in this underground world below the land of the living. There is a friendship with scholarly Journal and sweet Ribbon. The enigmatic Smoke draws out deeper emotions in her as he acts as protector and more. But, someone leaves her messages knows more about her than she does.

This was a book that it's somewhat unfair to punish it by saying I slowly went from riveted to more moderated feelings as the story progressed.
The unknown and mystery of a fresh storyline and world were captivating, but of course as Key remembers her past life and figures out what is happening now it becomes more familiar territory so less fascinating by default.
I said its unfair because of course I want to know the answers to the mystery of it all even while I wanted to hold onto that initial feeling of wonder when I looked around at the bizarre-ness of the early pages.

It is also not this book's fault that when the situation settled into place about half-way through and I got an inkling of what was behind it all and the pieces started to fall into place then I was less enamored though still very much engaged with the story. The romance is a small part of things in the present of Under, but played a huge role in the past. I wished it was a different romance trope (unrequited love was involved). Though, that said, I applaud the author for making the romance a key element without tipping the balance into unneeded angst.

In truth, there are going to be a great many people that will find the end and how things resolve to be a let down, romance and other wise if they they had certain expectations. I did feel a little disappointed, but it fit. The situation had to resolve this way- bittersweet as it was.

I'm wrapping up without having said too much specific because I think the strength of this piece is going in blind and the discoveries that await each reader. It's going to be best suited for those who prefer an even blend of the elements rather than romance front and center and particularly those who enjoy macabre gothic situations.

My thanks to Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Mar 08, 2019 Julia (ten_thousand_books) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: most-anticipated-of-2019, 5-star, arcs, books-i-own, books-i-read-in-2019, books-that-made-my-heart-cry, fantasy, favourite-stand-alone-s, favourites, i-wish-i-could-rate-this-10-stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I received a copy of Smoke and Key from NetGalley, Riki Cleveland, Entangled Publishing and the author Kelsey Sutton in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:

A sound awakens her. There’s darkness all around.
And then she’s falling...

She has no idea who or where she is. Or why she’s dead. The only clue to her identity hangs around her neck: a single rusted key. This is how she and the others receive their names- from whatever belongings they had when they fell out of their graves. Under is a p ...more

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Apr 03, 2019 Lindy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: blog-review, ya-fantasy

My Thoughts:

Smoke And Key was a unique story. It begins with "Key," hearing a voice urging her frantically to "Please wake up." She finds herself lying down in darkness, and starts to panic when she realizes she is trapped inside of a casket. As she tries to break out by hitting, kicking, and screaming, she finds herself falling to down below. She soon learns that she is in a place where nobody has memories of their names, or their pasts; including herself. Instead, everyone refers to themselves My Thoughts:

Smoke And Key was a unique story. It begins with "Key," hearing a voice urging her frantically to "Please wake up." She finds herself lying down in darkness, and starts to panic when she realizes she is trapped inside of a casket. As she tries to break out by hitting, kicking, and screaming, she finds herself falling to down below. She soon learns that she is in a place where nobody has memories of their names, or their pasts; including herself. Instead, everyone refers to themselves by an item that they had on them when they woke up in "Under." She had a key around her neck, therefore "Key" becomes her new name.

Nobody really knows what under is, other than a place where each of it's inhabitants fell from their caskets to down below or under. This place is made of dirt, with no sky, homes or civilization as we know it. The inhabitants have made the best of this place. Friendships have been made, individuals have their roles to play, and there are those that are nice and welcoming, as well as those with malicious intent. Some inhabitants in under are well-preserved, while others are grotesque looking.

In Under, Key meets Ribbon, Spoon, Doll, Journal, Handkerchief, Tintype, and many others. However, no one catches Key's eye the way that Smoke does. He instantly becomes her protector, and these two share a connection. Shortly after arriving in "Under" "Key" begins to have memories of her past return to her. Simultaneously, murders are taking place in Under, and the bodies are being burned. Key is desperate to uncover her past, and the closer she gets, the closer she comes to becoming the next victim.

Smoke And Key was an intriguing mystery. I rapidly read the story, and was riveted with each new memory that Key unlocked. There was danger, magic, romance, deceit, a curse, and love interwoven throughout the plot of Smoke And Key. While the beginning of the story had a slower start, and had me confused at times, the second half of the story had me devouring pages and excited to unravel the mystery of Key and Smoke's past, as well as all of the other inhabitants down in Under. If you enjoy a story heavy on mystery, light on romance, and a mixture of paranormal and historical fiction; Smoke and Key will be a delight for your senses!

3.5 Stars! ...more

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Feb 02, 2019 The Book Valkyrie rated it it was ok

This ARC was sent to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinions of this novel!

I have to admit, Smoke and Key wasn't really my cup of tea.

While I found the concept of the book intriguing, I don't feel like the author carried it out in the best possible way.

For one thing, the pacing was terribly slow. Whilst reading this novel, I was constantly fighting off the urge to skim pages due to my severe boredom and desperation for action. Every now in then, I fo ...more

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Mar 19, 2019 Isabelle rated it liked it

Shelves: from-blog-tours, arcs-review-copies, from-netgalley

I received a review copy through YA Bound Book Tours. This does not affect my rating or opinions. You can find my blog tour post here.

“You’re dead, darlin’. This isn’t hell, but it’s the next best thing.”

The premise and setting of this book are so unique, and it really comes through; Under is super creepy, with kind of a Tim Burton-esque cast, and I personally didn’t find the descriptions too graphic (YMMV). For me this was definitely the biggest draw, and I’m also intrigued by the idea of disti ...more

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