Retellings. BUT with a twist. A DARK twist. A really dark twist. This book was sold to me with the promise of horrorish-retellings with a bit of humour and darkness. I got exactly that. I really enjoyed this novel quite a bit. Going in I didn’t know exactly what to expect other then well, retellings and horror. Now I am not a huge horror fan (since I am a wimp), but this novel did the horror aspect in a very gruesome yet Rendz-readable way

It was entertaining, spooky and mysterious. I absolutely ADORED the ending because it was a slap in the face and I kept thinking about it days after I had finished the novel. The writing style was not my favourite, but it was overall an amazing novel.

My feelings about this book are a bit complicated. Overall, this wasn't quite the right book for me right now. Call me a crabby old lady, but I've read a few books lately with a young narrator and first person POV they have just got on my nerves a bit. BUT there were some things I loved about this book, and one of the things I didn't like was that it finished too soon - the pacing wrapped up the end too quickly for me and I wanted to know more about these characters!

I think wanting more is the mark of a Good Book, so I thought I'd share my top three favourite things about it:
There was some super creepy writing. This was a proper horror twist on fairytales, and there were bits that were gross and kind of scary. In particular I loved the prologue and epilogue (which both happened to be written in 3rd person POV) - they were some of the creepiest passages I've read in a long time.
The plot felt really original to me - I don't want to say too much because spoilers, but it was different to anything I'd read before. I thought the way the fairytales were linked, and there movement from one to the next, was really cool.
The characters were quirky and individual. I really wanted to get to know them more, and when I finished the book I wasn't ready to let them go - I'm pleased to see on Good Reads that this looks like it will be the first in a series. I wanted to know more about the villain in particular, and what happens to everyone next.
I know I said top three, but I can't not mention how much I love the cover of this book!

I gave it 2.5 stars (not quite my cup of tea, but you might love it).

Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault by Candace Robinson is out now. I received an e-book copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had a really hard time getting into and staying interested in this book. The writing felt really amateur, and childish. It didn't read like it was written by an adult a lot of the time. The characters were pretty flat, and since I didn't feel any connection to any of the characters, I didn't care when they went missing.

(I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review)

Perrie is a normal high school girl in a normal town, until people start disappearing. And then a mysterious castle-y museum appears on a road and her best friend decides this would be the perfect first job and doesn't bat an eyelash when she's hired via email. And also Perrie's boyfriend cheated on her, but insists it never happened. And then stuff happens.

I wanted so badly to like this book, but it fell way short for me.

I did not like most of the characters. <spoiler>I didn't understand how quick the MC was to believe her boyfriend had cheated on her, even though he was the love of her life, blah blah blah, and said he didn't remember any of it. I also didn't understand how quickly Maisie (the best friend) went from being an AWESOME CHARACTER to being a non-entity.</spoiler>

The story was okay, and I really loved the Snow White scenes. I'm not much of a horror person, but these were stand-out in their construction as well as the sheer psychological value of twisting our beloved fairy tales. Great!

The other 94% of the book had major pacing issues, and a serious case of "telling" vs. "showing." I almost DNF'ed this book for those.

"Dad doesn't want me to go out anymore and only to school. I understand from his point of view, but what you should do and what you feel like you need to do has a way of clashing sometimes. After my dad goes to bed around nine, I stay up and slowly watch the clock until it's five minutes until eleven. Then I sneak out the door. Thank goodness Dad's bedroom is at the opposite end of the house, so he shouldn't hear me leave."

The writing is clunky, and the word choice is haltingly awkward.

"I don't know where August's head is at right now, but mine is sucking everything in."

Head-sucking? What?

This book needed a few more rounds of editing before publication, which makes me sad to say because the writer's ambition and soul is evident.

I’m weird when it comes to my entertainment preferences and normally embrace it but decided to throw caution to the wind with this one and thankfully I was not disappointed. I’m not a fan of the horror genre when it comes to books; I’ve been known to immediately give away anything that could even remotely be part of this genre, avoid it altogether or leave it in the garage so I don’t bring anything ‘bad’ spiritually into my house. And yet…..I’m a horror movie addict and thrive on that adrenaline feel I get from getting freaked out even when I know I’m going to have nightmares.

Thankfully Robinson did not give me nightmares and I ended up enjoying her mesh of fairy tales and horror as she blended them into this unique and seemingly original YA novel. It was pretty interesting to read her take on classic tales besides I currently live in Texas and since the story is supposed to be based here I felt I had to check it out on that alone.

Once you really dig into it, the story will definitely feed that adrenaline junky like need through its mystery, clever plot twists, adventure and crazy cool characters. It was like a book version of a Tim Burton movie, completely twisted and yet oh so satisfying.

A little bit dark, a little bit young-adult and overall a fun read for those who love young-adult fantasy or horror.

Synopsis: This tells the story of a group of high school friends who unwittingly get caught up in a missing persons investigation. Overnight, a museum called Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault appears and opens, but more and more people end up missing. Quinsey and her friend August head to the museum and fall into another world.

Pros: Overall, I liked this book. I found the story interesting and it was a quick read. The concept of this novel was unique to me and I was interested in what scene the author would write next.

Cons: The writing/storyline were a bit confusing for me at times. I felt like the writing, overall, was for a much younger reader and the characters did not seem like high school seniors in terms of their maturity levels. In general, the story seemed rushed - each scene within the glass vault was quickly rushed through. I would have liked the author to set the scene better and describe the environments to really set the creepy vibe. Also, the ending seemed extremely rushed without much elaboration. I think we should have had more build-up about Quinsey and Perrie before the big reveal.

Overall, this was a fun read and different than other stories I've read recently. It does NOT give you those feelings of fantasy de-ja-vu that I've been feeling with so many novels recently. I'm surprised at the upper young-adult classification, as I would have characterized it as younger young-adult read with the noted minor sexual scene, language and violence. Beyond those, the book felt like a younger read.

Interesting premise but I really couldn't get along with the writing style. As others have said, too much telling, not enough showing. I may come back to it at some point, but right now, the writing style is not for me sadly.

Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault by Candace Robinson (2017)

Page count:
242

ISBN:
1544274653

When a surge of missing person cases occurs in Deer Park, Texas, Perrie isn’t as worried as her father. That is until her ex-boyfriend and best friend go missing too. Perrie and her friend slash would-be-boyfriend August venture to the mysterious Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault to find answers. Can Perrie and August save their friends or will they need saving too?

I really enjoyed the plot for Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault. It puts an fresh spin on the folk/fairy tale retellings that have had a recent resurgence and throws in a true crime for good measure. I loved the selection of tales that have been woven into Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault and the way they fit together despite being quite different.
Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault has built a good framework of characters and I’m looking forward to seeing some of them developed further in future novels.

No spoilers, but the end of Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault was surprising and had me rushing to put the already announced sequel on my TBR list.

Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault has a fascinating concept, interesting characters and some good twists. It is sure to please fans of YA novels in the horror or fantasy genres.

Rating:
4/5

The most terrifying book I read so far, and no matter how old you are there is a high probability you will be scared of this book. It is beautiful but a scary book

BUT WHAT DID I JUST READ

Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault is a novel like no other. Sure it starts off like any normal wannabe YA novel, but then something spectacular happens and it becomes this weird amazing blend of several different genres.

At its barest, Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault is about several teens who discover a random (almost ancient) building that has seemingly gone up over night. the main character, Perrie, goes to check it out with her best friend August and is sucked into an unbelievable world full of horrors she's never known. At its barest, Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault is a horror/retelling/YA/fantasy read. And it's great.

The beginning is slow. But the writing style is so easy to read that it never becomes unbearably slow.

And then BOOM.

Shit. Just. Got. Real.

And then the whole novel becomes a roller coaster from that moment onward. The stakes get bigger, the character relationships get even more intense...

...and the gore gets gorier.

Overall, this was a really great book. I am beyond glad I picked it up. And a little irritated I have to wait for the next book to come out....

Character Development: 5/5
Character Diversity: 3/5
Ending Bang: 5/5
Horror: 3.5/5
Plot: 5/5
Romance: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Gore Level: Pretty Intense

Overall Rating: 3.928

** I received this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
***Full Review on my blog: http://heathertooreal.blogspot.com/ goes LIVE 5/14 12:00 PM EST.

This book will suck you in and not let go until the very end!! A series of twisted fairy tales and a group of teenagers stuck within these stories, you follow them through out their journey hoping and praying they make it home. The crazy twist At the end is something you never expect and like myself will be dying for a second book !

Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault by Candace Robinson.
Some see it... Some don't...

People in the town of Deer Park, Texas are vanishing. There is a strange museum, known as Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault, that appears overnight. Perrie Madeline's best friend and ex-boyfriend are among the missing. Perrie, along with her friend August, go on a pursuit to search for them in the mysterious museum. Could the elusive Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault have anything to do with their disappearances?
A fantastic read with brilliant characters. The Glass Vault sounded like something I would like to see but not go in. I loved the story and the characters. This book definitely had imagination. 5* for sure. Netgalley and weaponry co-op.

I’m not sure I can’t start describing the plot without spoiling the story.
This is one of those book where you should just jump in without knowing much about it.

I truly enjoyed this. It was very well paced and I enjoyed the action as much as the characters. There were several retellings in this book and it was captivating to see the author’s take on all of these stories. The author has lots of imagination and created an incredible world. I cannot wait to read more of it.
However, the writing sometimes put me off. Some sentences seemed worded in a way that didn’t sound right to my ear. It got me out of the story at times. Shame.

The first 30% of this book was ho-hum. The story was monotonous. It was one detail after another in a very factual-like tone. I was having a hard time connecting to the story or the characters.

But then at about 35% the book took off.

"The next one has a wolf that is equal parts man, howling at the moon and wearing shredded clothing. Little Red Riding Hood is sprawled out on the ground underneath him with her red cape twisted and mangled, her eyes wide open."

After that I was knee deep in the author's imagination. This book blurs the lines between fantasy and horror. It's fairy tales gone wrong. I kept thinking I knew what was going on but I didn't have a freaking clue. And the book ended in the most amazing way. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

There were a few cases of the author trying to tell us what we should be feeling rather than describing what was going on. But it wasn't enough to turn me off the story. This is the author's debut work so I definitely look forward to seeing her work grow.

***Advanced copy obtained from Candace Robinson via Netgalley***

Perrie Madeline has had her best friend and cousin, Maisie and their friend August by her side ever since her terrible break up with her ex boyfriend Neven. When out together they come across a new museum that seems to have come out of nowhere and when spotting a now hiring sign Maisie decides to apply and soon finds she’s gotten the job.

In the meantime Neven just can’t seem to take no for an answer when it comes to their break up and when he shows up to talk yet again they get into another argument. However when Perrie gets a call from Neven’s mother the next morning that he never came home she immediately thinks of all the news stories around their town of Deer Park, Texas and fears the worse may have happened.

After Neven’s disappearance Perrie is really worried about the missing people around town so when Maisie needs to report to her new job she warns her to be careful. The next morning however Maisie is found to not have come home that night and is now among the missing too. Perrie and August wonder if the new museum has something to do with the disappearances and decide to investigate on their own.

Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault is a young adult story that mixes fantasy and horror along with a mix of retellings involved in the story which was certainly interesting. I found myself immediately engaged as the story started and introduced the characters and immediately loved the quirky Maisie but enjoyed all of the characters involved.

As much as I was enjoying the story all throughout I was wondering if this would end up a five star read or not as I still had a few questions towards the end but was more than pleasantly surprised when those were answered. The ending in here also was just one of those wow moments that I would have loved to continue reading even though it had come to an end. Would definitely recommend checking this one out.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

"You die here, you stay here."

This book was sensational!

To be honest, I was leery towards this book due to the fact it was labeled as a horror story. But after seeing that it was also young adult, (as well as seeing the cover,) I figured it probably wasn't at the level of today's typical horror books and films. Of those, I am not a fan at all. So, saying that this book was sensational, and coming from a person who normally has nothing to do with anything "horror," is a big deal. And, that means it may appeal to those of you who join me in their lack of intrigue through horror.

The first thing I loved about this book was its length. It didn't have excess, and it didn't lack in detail. It is the perfect concoction of setting, world building, character development, and submersion, without all of the unnecessary "filler" pages in between.

Instantly, we meet the characters to whom we follow through the tale. It is told from the perspective of Perrie, a high school girl, who is in the mess of experiencing the typical high school things. Her close friendship with Maisie is obvious and natural. This, too, is a feat of its own.

This brings me to the second thing that I loved. To create characters that share uninhibited dialogue that flows and feels real, is hard. This is one of those areas that I naturally scrutinize because it is easy to force characters into the plot-line, rather than allow them to lead the author and read through their story. This story felt nostalgic in a sense, as I found myself thinking back to my high school days and comparing my background to the experiences of these characters.

We are also introduced to Perrie's past love interest, Neven, along with his friend, August. Between the four of these characters, a plot unfolds, involving them in situations that they do not expect.

The third thing I loved about Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault was its sheer originality, and ability to neutralize common cliches riddling the young adult genre. Weaving the life of a teenager, into fairy tale retellings, along with some horror, really made this tale shine (for me, at least.) Perrie is not a common girl who becomes a heroine in a ridiculously short time frame. She's not overly amazing, either. I cannot divulge much in detail in order to keep this a review spoiler-free. I would, however, like to make a recommendation:

If you are a person who likes to skip Prologues and Epilogues, do not skip them in this book!

The last main point that I loved about this book were the plot twists! I dare you to guess what happens!

Now, this is categorized as "upper young adult," as stated in the synopsis, and I would like to reinforce that here. There are scenes of gore, coition, and some profanity, and I would not deem it appropriate for all young adult readers.

There may be some minor issues here and there. Honestly, there were none that were noteworthy to me. Overall, this book's level of entertainment was 100%

5 stars.

A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!