Brad About Books: Between the Spark and the Burn by April Genevieve Tucholke

BETWEEN THE SPARK AND THE BURN
Expected Publication Date: August 14, 2014
Publisher: Dial (Penguin)
Format: ARC
Page Count: 320 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Series: Between, #2

This review is entirely spoiler free, even if you haven't read book one, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.

Read my review for book one here.

Between the Spark and the Burn was everything I hoped it would be and more. With an eerie atmosphere and prose that grabbed me right from the beginning, Between the Spark and the Burn is an absorbing, exhilarating sequel that shouldn't be missed.

It's no surprise that I absolutely adored Tucholke's first part in this duology, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. With its fantastic atmosphere and characters worth rooting for, what's not to like? So needless to say, I was thrilled to see just how things would wrap up for these dark, brooding, mysterious characters. And I loved this sequel. Absolutely, one-hundred percent loved it. Tucholke's writing has an eerie, spine-tingling vibe that comes off the pages, and I never knew if I could fully trust the characters. It's vivid, lush, and completely addictive. So many twists and turns shocked in Between the Spark and the Burn. Due to the events at the end of book one, I had no idea how River and Violet's story would pan out, but I certainly didn't expect a lot of things that happened in this sequel. And I loved how Tucholke always kept me guessing. There's never a dull moment in this duology. 

Violet and River were two of my favorite characters from my 2013 reads and seeing their character progression and development in this finale was stunning. Violet, though she's broken on the inside, is fierce and strong, and River is completely insane, but they make for even more dark, haunting characters. Following Violet as she searches for answers and secrets was thrilling. Tucholke shows the reader more sides of this eerie landscape, and getting an insight into the world of River and his past in Between the Spark and the Burn was seriously awesome. I didn't think I could like them more than I already did, but Tucholke definitely proved me wrong.

And can we just talk about this series as a whole? It's got everything a paranormal fan could want: fantastic world-building, characters you can never fully trust, and an ending you'll never see coming. Seriously, Tucholke's books have landed a permanent spot on my Favorites shelf. If you're looking for the next series to binge-read, completely dive into, and be hooked on, look no further. The Between duology is for you. We all know the dreaded Sequel Slump, but that completely passed over Between the Spark and the Burn. I loved this one even more than the first book. So, so good.

Overall, Between the Spark and the Burn is a sequel of epic proportions and twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. One of the best sequels I've read in a long time.

M Y   R A T I N G

Brad About Books: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Read on July 3, 2013

BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
Expected Publication Date: August 15, 2013
Publisher: Dial (Penguin)
Format: ARC
Page Count: 368 pages
Source: ALA
Series: Between, #1

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.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a fantastic debut that had me completely enthralled and left me checking over my shoulder. A new favorite book, for sure!

I'm honestly speechless of how phenomenal this book was. The atmosphere is so eerie and chilling, and the prose is absolutely gorgeous. Tucholke's debut starts with a bang and never quits - the first chapter hooks you in, and it is utterly impossible to put this book down. I loved how dark and mysterious the seaside town is, especially when River West enters the town. World-building is one of my favorite parts about books, and Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea has definitely one of my favorite worlds ever. April Genevieve Tucholke's debut was magnificent!

The characters... oh my gosh, the characters! I loved every single one of them! Violet was awesome - she's not a damsel in distress. She can stick up for herself and is strong, but she's not the over-strong type of girl to the point where it becomes annoying. Tucholke evenly balanced out her traits so perfectly; she's become one of my new favorite protagonists! I just loved being inside her head! And River (which, is a pretty awesome name)... he's dark, mysterious, and haunting. But when he and Violet are together, they become unstoppable. I had no idea what to expect from Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, but every single bit of this book was phenomenal. I can't get over how awesome this book was!

And the entire concept is so unique! This book brings so many elements to life: romance, paranormal, ghosts, friendship, and so many more. I highly, highly, highly recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a breath of fresh air in YA - you will never find a book like this, and trust me, you'll never want this book to end! I want the sequel so bad!

Overall, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is easily one of my new favorite books of all-time. Fantastic in every way possible, this debut is one of a kind and absolutely marvelous! 

M Y     R A T I N G