ebook, 352 pages
Published by Gallery Books
Expected Publication Date: February 10, 2015
Rating 2.5/5 Stars
Synopsis: In the tradition of Neil Gaiman (The Ocean at the End of the Lane), Scott Smith (The Ruins), and Jason Mott (The Returned), award-winning playwright Robert Levy spins a dark tale of alienation and belonging, the familiar and the surreal, family secrets and the search for truth in his debut supernatural thriller.
When up-and-coming chef Michael “Blue” Whitley returns with three friends to the remote Canadian community of his birth, it appears to be the perfect getaway from New York. He soon discovers, however, that everything he thought he knew about himself is a carefully orchestrated lie. Though he had no recollection of the event, as a young boy Blue and another child went missing for weeks in the idyllic, mysterious woods of Starling Cove. Soon thereafter, his mother suddenly fled with him to America, their homeland left behind.
But then Blue begins to remember. And once the shocking truth starts bleeding back into his life, his closest friends—Elisa, his former partner in crime; her stalwart husband, Jason; and Gabe, Blue’s young and admiring co-worker—must unravel the secrets of Starling Cove and the artists’ colony it once harbored. All four will face their troubled pasts, their most private demons, and a mysterious race of beings that inhabits the land, spoken of by the locals only as the Other Kind…
When up-and-coming chef Michael “Blue” Whitley returns with three friends to the remote Canadian community of his birth, it appears to be the perfect getaway from New York. He soon discovers, however, that everything he thought he knew about himself is a carefully orchestrated lie. Though he had no recollection of the event, as a young boy Blue and another child went missing for weeks in the idyllic, mysterious woods of Starling Cove. Soon thereafter, his mother suddenly fled with him to America, their homeland left behind.
But then Blue begins to remember. And once the shocking truth starts bleeding back into his life, his closest friends—Elisa, his former partner in crime; her stalwart husband, Jason; and Gabe, Blue’s young and admiring co-worker—must unravel the secrets of Starling Cove and the artists’ colony it once harbored. All four will face their troubled pasts, their most private demons, and a mysterious race of beings that inhabits the land, spoken of by the locals only as the Other Kind…
Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for my ebook copy of this book.
Although I think that this book has a decent writing style, I found it to be trippy and unsatisfying. The plot itself is unique and it held my attention but the details were too psychedelic for me to fully understand anything. "The Other Kind" are described to be like huge Praying Mantis' that can take the form of people but I can't say I have a full understanding as to what they are or what their purpose was exactly. The plot surrounding the humans was very interesting without the fantasy elements. In a way, I wish the book was just about its' characters and their relationships. It ends with a vague outlook for the future of its' characters and the reader with more questions than answers. I don't regret reading it but it had the potential to be better.
Strengths/Likes:
1) The plot is unique and makes you feel as fascinated by "The Other Kind" in the same way the characters are.
2) The four main characters have very interesting backstories and relationships. As I said above, I would have liked the book more if it had just focused on them as people and their lives without the fantasy aspects.
3) I really liked the writing style. All of the characters had distinct voices and was written in a very relatable and approachable manner.
Weaknesses/Strengths:
1) There is a big lack of details in this book. It's not exactly clear what "The Other Kind" are, or what is there purpose. You know that they are attached to nature and have mystical qualities but you're not sure why they need humans and what is their function. At the end of the book you don't feel as you've learned anything or that you've gained any type of closure.
2) I mentioned that this book is "trippy", what I meant by that is any time "The Other Kind" come into contact with the main characters the plot takes a weird turn. The character's start to hallucinate and remember the scars of their past but you're not sure as to why that's happening. It makes what's actually happening in the scene really unclear and the reader feel as if you have gotten a contact high.
Favorite Quotes/Moments:
1) "Goddamn allergies. Can't take me anywhere."
"It was for a good cause, though. You were really sweet with Donald."
"Maybe that's why I'm acting like such a bitch. I must have used up what little charm I had left."
2) "So, you were saying. About all the attention..."
"That we've become local celebrities, yes. Or really more objects of curiosity. There's this free press, called The Starling Cove Believer? It's birdcage liner. Bat Boy sightings and alien abduction testimonials. Weirdo gossip and rumors. "
"'Missing Woman Returns, Hungry for Lobster Roll.'"
"Something like that."
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