White Space

by Ilsa J. Bick
2/5 stars
Egmont USA, 2014
550 pages
YA Horror Fantastical

Source: Received an e-ARC from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I have read several Bick novels and appreciated how they were challenging unique titles that tackled topics not frequently seen in YA and didn't follow a cookie cutter mold. So while I knew to expect something out of the norm when picking up this latest release, I didn't really have any way to prepare myself for what was to come.

The book was very confusing in the beginning, purposefully so as we are introduced to a wide assortment of characters and their connections are not immediately obvious. As the book progresses, their narratives start to overlap and some things begin to make sense. Luckily the characters themselves explain a lot instead of just leaving it up the reader. If I had to piece together everything on my own, I would have understood far less. As it stands though, I spent much of the book confused and, because this is first in a series, I am still left puzzled by some aspects albeit with zero interest in continuing the series to find out more.

At this time in my life, it was a struggle to read this massive book with all of its meandering passages and seemingly unconnected plotlines. It did move faster as I got further in to the book but my attention span was not well suited for this story. Another hindrance for me was the extended horrific imagery. Some terrifying things happen in this book and Bick does not stint on the details. There is oozing and creatures of the dark and of the mind. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to sleep tonight but if not, I know what will be causing my nightmares!

Still I can point out some of its virtues. Generically it is very meta, looking at the nature of stories, writing, and characters. I can't provide any concrete examples for this because they might end up being spoilers so you will just have to trust me. Specifically it seemed to reference other works of literature, primarily HP Lovecraft, Charles Dickens, and Sylvia Plath. I am only familiar with Dickens so I'm not sure I got the full benefit of these allusions. In general the writing was more literary than my usual taste but that will be a good thing for some readers. And as I referenced above, it is quite unlike the YA I usually read and see around the blogosphere. These positives were not quite able to outweigh my early confusion and its horror genre but I can see there being a passionate audience for it.

Recommended: for the ambitious reader, well-versed in literature; the lover of horror stories; the patient reader who is in it for the long haul.

ARC Review: The Sin-Eater's Confession

The Sin-Eater's Confession by Ilsa J. Bick
4/5 stars
Carolrhoda LAB, 2013
287 pages
YA Contemporary LGBTQ
Scheduled to release March 1

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've read a previous book by Ilsa J. Bick and enjoyed its mix of historical and paranormal elements so I knew her name, which is why I picked up this book. Additionally I was wondering about the title as I've never heard the phrase "sin-eater" before. What does it mean? This reason is explicitly described in the book but you can also read about it on wikipedia.

This book is very different, being roughly contemporary with the main character opening his narration in Afghanistan and leading us through the events that led to his enlisting.  Growing up in small-town Merit, Wisconsin has been mostly good for Ben who seems on track for Ivy League acceptance. However events go awry when Ben is the subject of a sexually charged photo by a younger boy, eliciting a tremendous amount of gossip. Soon after, that young boy is found brutally beaten to death (reminding me of Lauren Myracle's excellent Shine) and Ben struggles with the aftermath. I don't want to go to much in detail in case I spoil anything for you.

The two big elements here, I feel, are the character of Ben and the small-town atmosphere. I have mixed feelings about Ben. He has a lot of anger and he makes some very bad decisions that were hard for me to support. He also really likes talking, not always with a purpose and I got bored some times. As for the setting...honestly it was hard for me to picture the whispers and bigotry on display (compounded by the conservative religion of the photographer's family). I've been lucky to live in pretty open places for my adult life and I can't imagine the claustrophobia and limited decisions imposed on the young people here.

Overall: Not entirely my cup of tea but full of ambiguity and lots to think about.

Other Opinions:
Annette's Book Spot
In Bed With Books

Draw the Dark

Draw the Dark by Ilsa J. Bick
Carolrhoda Lab, 2010
337 pages
YA; Fantasy
4.5/5 stars

Source: Received a free e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

At first I found this book really hard to get into. Christian lives with his uncle in Winter, Wisconsin as both of his parents have disappeared into a sideways world and he feels that it is his responsibility to figure out how to join them. This is derailed when he wakes up, having defaced a prominent wealthy businessman's barn while sleepwalking.  He is sentenced to community service and therapy, having always been considered a weird kid.  See, he can draw the worst fears of a person such as his teacher who killed herself after one of his drawings.  Additionally he is having out-of-body flashbacks to post-World War II Winter where he is learning history the town would prefer forgotten.

Although it took me a while to get engaged, once I did, I sped through. Christian is baffled by these mysterious happenings but being of a curious nature, does not shy away from exploring more.  Even as the situations in which he finds himself become more and more bizarre, he attempts to confront them and act.  He tries to be brave and figure out why he seems so different and in the process solves a decades-old case, finally bringing justice to so many people hurt in long-ago Winter.

I don't want to spoil anything about the plot because I want you to enjoy how it unfolds but there are a few things I feel comfortable revealing. One of those is the plot point that German POWs came over to America, providing cheap labor and eventually becoming enmeshed into those communities. I did not know anything about these but according to Bick's author's note, they really happened.  Another is that there are some very intense scenes so I would recommend this for older YA although I leave it up to your discretion, of course. A third is that I feel like this is not your stereotypical YA book, with little focus on romance, its focus on flashbacks to the past as well as Christian's mysterious abilities, and it's pretty dark.

For me, this all made for an unforgettable, exciting read that I highly recommend!

Read for ebook challenge.