Review & Giveaway: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: August 15, 2013
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch

My Thoughts:
I love to read creepy books, it has been that way for the past few months and in these past few months I have only read a handful of books that have truly scared me.  Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea has officially shown me what a creepy book can do.  I woke up last night from a nightmare with the night sweats and my heart pounding!  After I settled down I realized that my nightmare was caused by reading this book and I have to admit I was giddy.  Most books don't have that kind of effect on me and when one does I know the book at least in my opinion is amazing and one I will never forget.

Vi lives with her brother in an old mansion that has been named Citizen Kane by their late grandmother.  Their parents are off in Paris somewhere painting leaving Vi and Luke to fend for themselves.  When they run out of money Vi puts up an ad to rent their guesthouse.  The ad is answered by River, a boy who is as mysterious as they come and admits to lying 99% of the time.  Vi for some reason feels drawn to River, but when the town goes into crisis mode looking for a little girl who appeared to have been kidnapped Vi starts wondering who River really is and where exactly he was when the little girl went missing.  With little kids in cemeteries holding stakes and sticks, druken mad men killing themselves in the town square, and people accused of being witches and burned to death Vi doesn't know what to do.  All she knows is River is the connecting tie to everything, she just has to figure out what he is doing before she falls under the spell.

I can't tell you enough how much I loved this book.  It was creepy and gory and had my heart pounding from the start.  I might have read this somewhere and I agree with whoever said it that this book is for people who will eventually go on to read Stephen King.  The writing to me was very similar of Kings and the story was one that I could see him writing.  When I started reading King I wasn't quite ready so I really wish I would have had this book or one like it to give me a stepping stone into the thriller genre. 

The characters were all a vital part of the story and each had their own quirks.  I will say that these characters could possibly turn some readers off because of the dialogue.  It was a little weird at times but I think it worked with the story really well and it made everything more memorable.   I have seen this type of character writing before and it hasn't honestly worked for me until now.  I know you are probably wondering what I am talking about and it is a little hard for me to explain.  The characters aren't your typical everyday teenagers we see in YA.  They talked different and gravitated more towards old fashioned type things.  I just loved it!

I need to look and see if this is going to be a series because with the way it ended I am hoping with every fiber of my being that it will be.  I want to know more!  Awesome creeptastic book that will leave you with nightmare, I mean really what more could you want?!

4 snowflakes 

I am giving away my ARC copy of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea to one lucky follower!  I love this cover and I have to share it! 

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