Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟(I love, love, love the cover of this book! It's dark, mysterious, and gorgeous!)
Summary/Tagline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 ("The End is Only the Beginning." Hold for a minute while I think of the line from The Mummy, "death is only the beginning." I do love the tagline for this book, it makes me want to see what that cryptic line means.)
Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (I like the unique names of the characters in this book. Instead of the names they had in life they are named by the objects with them when they come back from their graves. Key, Ribbon, Smoke... unusual, but kind of cool character names. I thought the characters were reasonably developed, I feel like I got a good handle on their personalities.)
Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟(This book, above all things is creative, and that definitely extends to the worldbuilding. I enjoyed seeing the world through Key's eyes... The world of Under is dark and delightfully creepy which I absolutely loved!)
Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟(This book is so unique and creative... there's just something so different about it. I was hooked from the beginning and the story did not let me down. It was a little confusing at times and dragged in a few places but overall, it was a good read! The writing is easy to get into which makes for a quick read that will keep you dying for answers alongside Key to the very end.)
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.4 of 5 Stars!

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.

Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton is a young adult fantasy with a darker side. Set in the mysterious Under, it is the story of a young woman who finds herself there with no idea of who she is or how she got there . The one thing she soon learns is that everyone in the Under is dead, and none of them have any more memories of their lives before than she does. Instead they have created a society of their own, chosen names from the items buried with them and carried on to the best of their ability. Key as she becomes known because of the peculiar key around her neck begins to make friends including the welcoming Ribbon, reclusive Journal and charming Smoke, and is just starting to settle into her new existence when the murders begin. The only way to kill somebody who is already dead is to burn them, and as the charred corpses begin to mount up Key realizes that she may be the connection between the victims. Will finding the lock for her strange key help her to uncover her memory, and will that in turn explain the weird feelings of familiarity she has been experiencing?
As a murder mystery this book works really well, as we the readers, along with Key try to figure out who is killing the dead and why. The setting is really original and well executed , and when the mystery is revealed it makes for a very satisfying ending, but to say anymore about that would only spoil things. There is of course something of a love triangle, which is important to the story but does not take over from Key's quest to find out who she really is. The book is fast paced and not a sentence is wasted , I found myself eagerly turning the pages as the layers of mystery were peeled back.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

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 take and a breath of fresh air in the YA genre.

The cover is what pushed me to ask this book on NetGalley and I must say this book is different from my usual readings.

Imagined a movie-like world similar to Tim Burton's Corpse Bride . In this book, a number of people wake up after their death in the world below named Under. Their state of decomposition varies and they have no memories of their previous lifes. But suddenly there are a number of murders in this world and the big question is why? Personnaly I found the world simple but catchy, the book is a one-shot and does not require a crazy development on this point. I had in mind the movie and it aesthetic while I was reading the descriptions which brought me a nice touch.

Our heroine is Key, she is lost when she arrives in the world below, but unlike others she will start to remember her life before and quickly understand that she is surely at the heart of the why and how of this whole story. She is a heroine that I appreciated but I did not hang on to. The more we discover her story the more we realize that she was passive at some points and I did not liked her actions or motivations all the time but she remains pleasant to read.

For the plot, I must say that I was not surprised by much, the book was really classic on that side. Besides, we can easily guess the final revelation and I think it's the book downside, the lack of originality. However my reading was rather pleasant and from time to time a little one shot it feels good but I find it unfortunate that the author has not dared much in her story

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 place of dirt and secrets, and Key is determined to discover the truth of her past in order to escape it.

She needs help, but who can she trust? Ribbon seems content in Under, uninterested in finding answers. Doll’s silence hints at deep sorrow, which could be why she doesn’t utter a word. There’s Smoke, the boy with a fierceness that rivals even the living. And Journal, who stays apart from everyone else. Key’s instincts tell her there is something remarkable about each of them, even if she can’t remember why.

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.

Key fell down into Under without any recollection of her identity or memories of her life before her death. Throughout the whole book she has short memories that come back to her about her previous life.

“How can I not know my own name? Everything has a name. I can tell him what the oceans and continents of the world are called, so why can’t I recall that one word that defines the entirety of my being.”

I found the concept of Under to be quite extraordinary to be honest. All of Kelsey’s books have interesting worlds and let me just say that Under really grabbed my attention. One of my favourites.

“Now I believe it. I can feel the boy looking at me as he answers. “Well, we call it Under.” At this, I frown. “Why-“ “Look up.”
Instead of sky, there’s a ceiling, of sorts. More dirt and what appears to be tree roots. Scattered among these roots are splotches of shadow, though it’s too far away to tell their purpose or origin. “What are those?” “Those are the holes each of us fell through. Out graves are right over them.”

As Key starts to remember things about her previous life she must also find the one killing off the others. She must unlock secrets, both from this world and the living.

“Smoke smiles, a ghost of what s smile should be. “Nice to meet you, Key. Welcome to Under.”

This book was phenomenal. It grabbed my attention from page one. And towards the end had be on the edge of my seat guessing about who each character was and where they were tied in with the story. Amazing!

“Just remember. You can kill what’s already dead.”

5/5 Stars!

Thank you to Entangled Publishing, LLC for the release of this via NetGalley.

I love Entangled Publishing, LLC and what they publish. I have worked them before on releases and when I seen this one I knew I had to request. This sounded so intriguing to me. A dead girl falling from her grave??? What?? How can that happen?? But the she did, it was into a dark hole. She is fighting against time and the key may be her only answer.

I enjoyed this. It was dark at moments and found that I did not want to stop reading. I do want to own the hard copy of this book. And lets not forget to view the amazing book cover. Eye candy! Kudos to the designer.

Note: I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review in any way. All opinions shared are my own.

I didn’t know what to expect going into Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton. The synopsis sounded interesting, and I assumed it would wind up with Smoke and Key together based upon the title. It truly turned out to be a page-turner. Sutton crafted a mysterious story that makes the reader wonder what happened before all the people died and ended up in Under. It’s fantasy with mystery and some romance thrown in. The story did get confusing at times, but I really loved it and had difficulty putting it down.

In Smoke and Key, Key wakes up in a coffin and winds up falling into Under. This place is literally under people’s graves and perhaps an in-between life and the afterlife. The problem is no one knows who they are or remembers their life before. No one knows why they’re in Under. All they have are items that they fall with. Key starts having flashbacks to her life, and people start turning up murdered. Somehow it’s all tied to their life before death.

The best part of this story for me was the mystery. I was completely engrossed in finding out who everyone was and what happened before. The story did get confusing at times when you’re trying to sort through the flashbacks versus what’s happening in real time. Overall though, I think I was able to follow the story fairly well. The biggest thing that confused me was the relationship between Key and Kathleen from her past. Things really came together for me, once I figured out their relationship.

Despite the title, the romance in the story isn’t the main focus. Yes, romance plays a big part in the mystery of everything. This story just isn’t really about two people falling in love. It’s about Key, Smoke, Journal, Ribbon, and everyone else in Under, and figuring out why they’re there.

I can understand how Smoke and Key may not be for everyone. It can be confusing at times. I’m hoping the story is cleaned up a bit between the copy I received as an eARC and the finished copy. However, I honestly hope that if you’re intrigued by the synopsis, you give Smoke and Key a chance. I truly found the mystery very intriguing. I figured out who was behind the murders pretty early on, but I was engrossed in understanding the history of the people. By the end of it all, I had a fondness for everyone in Under.

Smoke and Key is a really hard one to rate and review, the premise whilst not unusual, is executed in a pretty unique style and the final third of the book is fantastic with great reveals and a race against time feel. However, there was also I lot that I didn’t enjoy about it too which was a shame.

But starting with what I loved! Firstly, the cover is fantastic and the blue tones have an eerie quality really fitting with the story. I found it refreshing that the story actually started at the beginning. I know that sounds strange, but too often books start at a random point throwing the reader into the middle of everything straight away, but our journey starts as Key’s does and we are in the dark just as much as she is. The use of items the dead were buried with to name the residents of Under was a lovely touch and it actually made it easier to remember the characters, of which there are a lot. It’s a very character driven story and whilst there isn’t really scope in the Under for world building the vision elements that Key undergoes gives the story it’s depth and colour. Although the first vision felt strangely placed in the story I found their continuation was done really well with Key gliding between the two as she puts the pieces of her history and the Under together. At it’s heart Smoke and Key is a mystery which I don’t read a lot of and I have to say that I enjoyed this part of it very much, the closing stages are really exciting and I was really willing Key to figure it all out.

Smoke and Key as characters make for interesting protagonists, whilst I found their initial connection a bit creepy (because well, they’re dead) that dissipated as we learn more and whilst there were the beginnings of a triangle, the period setting of the piece stopped that from forming strongly. I don’t really want to say much more about the characters as it’s their mystery that needs to be solved! I just wished we learnt more about Brooch as her character seemed the most intriguing, yet she ended up pretty redundant in the story.

However…..Much of Under was put down to magic, which wasn’t for me really ever properly outlined or explained, so a lot of the time I found myself questioning what was happening which led me to become needlessly distracted – if there is no air how are the torches staying lit? is it magic? – which took away from the story. My biggest bug bear though was the use of working class “cockney” British English, I have to say that it was utterly cringey and I’m surprised it’s excessive use wasn’t picked up at editing stage. It’s like watching Dick Van Dyke during Mary Poppins; “parf” instead of “path” and “nawmal” instead of “normal” were some of the worst inflections. A working class accent can be easily attributed without feeling like a parody, and I was left wondering if the author has even spoken to a working class Brit? I can tell you I sound nothing like that!! I don’t like it when authors force readers into an accent because it makes me think to much about how i’m reading it rather than what i’m reading and I end up pulled from the story. It also felt for the first half at least that the story didn’t really know how to get to where it needed to get to and lacked real structure. I also have to say that after vividly describing people in various states of decomposition, the quick flip then to Key’s fluttery feelings about Smoke and his “generous” mouth were pretty mistimed in the story line and felt a little gross.

Ultimately, I feel like Smoke and Key was a real missed opportunity, the premise was great, the last third was outstanding but I can’t let that cloud my judgement that I very nearly DNF’d this halfway though. If you don’t mind ploughing through the start, the pay off is a rich reward in this book but I can’t let my love for the closing pages pretend that this is more than a 3* read.

What do you do when your memories have been taken from you, including your name. All you are left with is one single item that now identifies you, but you have no idea what it means to you.

Who do you trust in the place called Under? What do you do when your memories begin to seep back to you, but with those memories come murder?

Smoke and Key is a beautiful written tale about Key trying to find out why she is in Under, who she is, and what the key around her neck means to her.

The suspense of this story kept me reading and I was eager to solve the mystery surrounding Key with her! Although it was easy to predict parts, it didn't take from the story, but rather added to my suspense as I waited for Key to realize what I knew already.

I think the concept was fun and unique! I liked it a lot and thought the author was great at bringing this unique plot to life. It was interesting seeing her fall into the Under with the other characters. That concept was so cool and was executed well. My issue with this book was that it was slow paced. I didn’t mind in the beginning but I felt it should have picked up throughout the novel and it never felt like it did. I just wanted things to happen and it fel like the storyline dragged. It was also really predictable and I felt like the mystery of this novel feel flat because of that. Overall I enjoyed the premise and the plot along with the characters but again my enjoyment was lowered because it was really predictable. But I highly suggest checking this book out of your into paranormal mystery type novels.

I admit it was coverlove at first sight when I saw this title for the first time, but it was the blurb that convinced me that I had to read Smoke And Key no matter what. The promise of what basically can be called a Corpse Bride inspired fantasy story with both a paranormal and a thriller twist just sounded too good to pass up on... And I still believe the premise of and idea behind Smoke And Key is one of its strongest elements as a whole. Under is such a fantastic, magical and daunting world and I would love to have seen in even more developed, although I do understand that the lack of information only adds to the overall mystery and intrigue around the place. I loved the fact that the characters in Under are named after something they had with them when they arrived. Simple, but fascinating as you try to find out the stories behind those objects and names... The beginning of Smoke And Key made a huge impact on me, and a lot of this impact had to do with the worldbuilding and writing style. It was able to put me under a spell straight away, and for a little while I was sure I had found myself a new favorite. Where did it go wrong for me then? I can't put my finger exactly on the why, but part of it has to do with the fact this story has a very slow pace. I didn't mind in the beginning, but I started to notice it more and more as things continued. The plot itself could have been stronger, as for a story with such a fantastic premise the actual story didn't live up to expectations for me. The idea behind Key reliving those memories in such a real way is really interesting, and it is used to add a little suspense to the story as you try to guess who is behind the attacks and how the characters fit together. I did see the final reveals coming from a mile away, which was a bit of a disappointment for me. My main problem was with the appearance of the romance scenes and of course the dreaded love triangle though. Why does this story have to have one?! I absolutely loved the beginning of Smoke And Key and as I've stated before, I still love the premise of this story. Sadly, the executed was a bit underwhelming for me. Fans of romantic paranormal suspense will probably have a more positive experience though.

This book was unlike anything I have ever read before! All of the characters are dead and have fallen from their graves. They have no memories of who they were before they died, not even their names. So, they are called whatever they came from the grave with like Smoke, Key, and Ribbon. I adore any book that is a little dark and different, because of that I think that the part that I enjoyed the most about this book is the fact that the characters are dead and are all in different stages of decomposition. There is also a really fascinating mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. This was such a unique and interesting read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Netgalley and Entangled: Teen for giving me the chance to read and review this book early!

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 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 adored these characters and their quirky back stories, and deathly outward appearances. The author does an amazing job of not only creating and describing the world of Under—but also describing the morbid and eery details of the characters looks—which if you'd imagine is something.

There is romance, of course—but it comes in the form of a sort-of-love-triangle. Don't fret. There will be no angst-y back and forth. But, it tugs at the heartstrings.

The book is well-written and bewitching. I was fully and wholly invested in these characters and their deserved happy endings.

A solid read in my honest opinion.

This was a really original and really detailed story, with an incredible cast of characters and a brilliantly contrived world. Sutton did a fantastic job creating Under, the world that a group of the Dead have found themselves in after a mysterious fall from their graves. The secrets are thick on the ground, and the way things unfold is masterful, with Key - the main protagonist and heroine - slowly unlocking her memories and figuring out what happened and, more importantly, why.

This is a dark and Gothic tale that unfolds beautifully. The revelations are teased out slowly, but there is enough mystery surrounding them to keep you wholly engaged and thoroughly engrossed in the tale. I was hooked from the opening lines, and will definitely be on the lookout for more from Sutton.

If I had been able to this would have been a one-sitting read. Fantastic murder mystery with the murdered person trying to solve it. The fact that a curse was involved was a plus. The characters were all likable and the story flowed well. I was worried about how it would end but it turned out to be satisfying. The flashbacks were done well and not confusing. Cover is beautiful. Looking forward to more by this author!

3.5 out of 5 Stars

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own, thank you.***

Key at woken up in the Under with no memories of who she is only that she is dead. So is everyone else. I truly enjoyed the premise of this book, I liked the idea of the Under. Its a form of purgatory and the book covers why these characters are there. As the book continued I liked how more of the backstory of the characters is explained.

I really liked Key as a main character, in fact I really liked all the character. Even the main villain as you got to learn more about her story I felt for her. Yes, there is a bit of cliche when it comes to a spurned woman but I felt for her. She saw something possibly good in her dark life and her response, even if twisted, still felt real to me. The romance of the story never felt like it was overshadowing the mystery of the story. Its a main driving force behind everything but it never bogged down the rest of the story.

The atmosphere of the world felt dark and small, the fear of what happens if you die while already dead made me keep pressing forward with the book. Wanting to know what this world is and why these characters were down there. My biggest complaint is the ending felt a little more rushed than I wanted. I didn't mind the way the book ended, just the conflict didn't feel as fleshed out as I would have expected from the rest of the book. Still overall a good book.

Giving this one a 3.5/5 stars.

I really wanted to rate it higher but, there quite a bit of things that just bugged me.

1) The pacing. This book. Moves. So. Slow. There are scenes that last longer than they should, scenes that have no place in the book at all, and scenes that just don't have enough. It's really a mixed bag, There's no better way to explain it without spoiling some major clues of the mystery. I just found it quite slow and a bit jumbled.
2) The characters. The ONLY character I truly enjoyed was Smoke. That's not a good thing. Smoke is in and out of this book, especially being quite MIA in the beginning. Key was an MC that I could tolerate, but that's as far as that went. I couldn't get into her, and it desperately made me wish that this book was dual POV. Journal, Handkerchief, Ribbon, Doll, TinType...they were alright. Journal is the other one I enjoyed a bit too, but I wanted MORE from him. Really a shame, because there was a lot that could have improved the impression of these characters.
3) THE ENDING. Extremely rushed, There was even a large action sequence where I had to reread mutiple times in order to understand what was happening, This book was mostly an easy, straightforward read, so having the ending be so weird was just off. I found it just rushed, as if it didn't know what else it could've done. The buildup didn't feel like much of one, and the fighting was just a no. When we reach our final pages of dialogue between characters, I was just disappointed. I expected something else, and that ending was just not satisfying at all.

Overall, I actually did like the PLOT, but a lot of the details surrounding it were just a bit messy. I'd love to rate it higher, but there's too much bugging me. I would actually recommend for people to check this out, as some may enjoy it far more.

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

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

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.

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 of her grave into the area inhabitants call the “Under”.

Those that fall into Under are then named by whatever item they carried under with themselves, so now we have “Key” for our lead character. Key is not like the others in under as she fights to hold onto her memories of the before and this lead her to look for more answers to what brought her there.

Smoke and Key is one of those books that I hesitated on while trying to decide what to rate this one. There are things I liked but then things I didn’t too so I’m going down the middle at three stars after much debate. The biggest positive is this is certainly creative and dare I say different. But the biggest downside was it was a bit confusing in parts the way it jumps from one thing to another and still had some slower moments in it too. Overall though I did like the ideas behind it and think others may too.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.