11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
More please!, Oct 31 2006
By Gregory Wild-Smith - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Wings to the Kingdom (Paperback)
Priests second novel, a follow-up to her bestselling debut Four & Twenty Blackbirds, will be more accessible to many casual readers without alienating her fans, or horror buffs.
Where the first novel was about the lead character, Eden Moore, and her journey to find the spooky, Florida swamp voodoo, origins of her ancestors, this book is much more about a place - a civil war battlefield - and Eden's quest to find out just what will explain the spooky goings on there.
Characters lead the day, and they are as real as the people you know. No stupid decisions here, they bring up exactly the questions you would have in their situation. They aren't glib wisecracking Buffy clones either.. they are just honest. Characters, combined with Priests writing style, are the strength of this novel.
Priest writes with a clear, flowing, friendly style that leads the reader along like your best buddy taking you around their favorite place. Priest is having fun doing this, and you have fun on the ride she takes you on.
This isn't as complex a story as 4&20, and is a little slower, but it is a fun read, and stands up on its own without much help from the first novel. Some small characters from that first book have larger parts in this, and the large cast helps the novel move rather than slowing it down.
While it would have benefited from another subplot to add extra complexity to the book I would still recommend it as a top notch ghost story that doesn't need to resort to gore and horror to make its point. This is after all about a mystery, and its a great one - especially as it has ghosts, monsters, and realistic characters.
Priests third Eden Moore novel is due in late 2007, with a couple of other works planned in between. This reviewer can't wait for more.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my new favorite authors!, Feb 12 2007
By Lupa - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Wings to the Kingdom (Paperback)
My husband gave me this as a gift recently, which earned both him--and the author--bonus points!
This book continues the Eden Grey storyline that Priest introduced us to in Four and Twenty Blackbirds. Eden is a young woman in her twenties now in this new book, and her ability to see and talk with ghosts is once again a key factor in this well-written page-turner. The ghosts in question are the fallen soldiers at the Chickamauga battlefield who, in 2006, have suddenly supplanted local cryptozoological interest Old Green Eyes as the main paranormal attraction. Though reluctant to get involved at first, Eden is drawn into the mystery surrounding these apparations, and the result is yet another wonderful tale.
Again, this isn't one of your bloody, gory, slasher horror stories. Instead, Priest regales us with a detailed tale, punctuated by believable dialogue and a colorful array of characters. Rather than selling us short with cardboard cutouts and a tired, predictable story, she offers one of the toughest books to put down.
I can hardly wait for the next one in the series!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic work!, Dec 31 2006
By S. Carrington - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Wings to the Kingdom (Paperback)
After her debut novel, "Four & Twenty Blackbirds", Cherie Priest kicked her writing up another notch:
Her ability to describe changing environments with a smug and uncanny familiarity is almost on par with Charles De Lint. The book switches back and forth between horror, thriller, and mystery without loosing beat. The plot is unforgivably fun.
I highly recommend you read this wonderful story.