Jessica (HDB)

Once again, Some Quiet Place falls into the list of books that I just never got around to reviewing. I read Kelsey Sutton's dark and beautiful story as an ARC originally, but the story struck a cord with me that just made it really difficult to review. Elizabeth's story isn't a happy one. It isn't filled with quirky characters and sweet romance. It's filled with blackness, with the lack of emotions, and with the type of events that make you cringe inside. Reading this a second time didn't change my mind about how much I loved it. It only reminded me of why I was so impressed the first time.

Elizabeth is an intriguing character. Unable to feel emotions since a childhood accident she can only slightly remember, her personality is a little hard to stomach at first. She's literally unfeeling. Dead inside. Every now and then a twinge of emotion will try to work its way past her defenses, but it rarely ever even makes a difference. Eventually I wanted to follow this girl. I wanted to see past her outer shell, and see what made her tick inside. Most of all, I wanted to know her story. Wanted to know what would cause her to go through life a near zombie.

I fell in love with the atmosphere that this story evokes. Elizabeth isn't just unable to feel emotions, she can see them. See them, and many of the other beings who inhabit our plane, normally invisible to the naked eye. Sutton weaves a tale filled with gorgeous otherworldly beings. The ones who come to us, in our time of emotional need, to fulfill their duties. It's beautiful, sad, and so interesting. Add in the overall tone of the story, with Elizabeth's drunk and abusive father, and you have a book that begs you to read on. No matter how dark it all gets.

I would gush on, about Fear personified and his charm. About the quiet despair of being unable to feel pain when someone dies. I won't though. It's for you to experience yourself. This is a very different type of story and, while I wasn't perfectly satisfied with the ending, I know I'll be back for more. Elizabeth may not have been able to feel anything, but I definitely could. This book broke my heart more than once.