Synopsis:
Phoebe MacIntire, who is a servant to her father and sisters in her own house in Scotland in 1855, is an ordinary girl, with no big dreams for the future. She's perfectly happy in her humble life, with her cot in the basement and her little garden in the backyard. But when her father up and sends her to Newfoundland to be the lifelong servant to Lord Jacobs, she finds her life gets turned upside down.
When she arrives at the manor on a small island, she finds the beautiful place abandoned and only a note waits for her explaining her duties, the strange dietary requirements, and sleeping habits of her new master.
The very first night in her new home she's haunted in her dreams by a woman who clearly does not want her there and a strange blue-eyed man-wolf creature that follows the woman. Her dreams become more and more violent and mysteries start to be uncovered about a woman who was killed in a fire on the island, a creature that preys on anyone that comes to the island and a love story gone wrong that dates back over a hundred and twenty two years.
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads).
My Thoughts:
The moment I saw the cover for Somber Island, I knew I had to read it. I fell in love with the cover. The way Phoebe's red hair contrasted with the blue/dark grey background was almost magical. After reading the synopsis, and learning that the book is about a girl with a disability, and vampires, I knew it was the book for me. I loved it. Days after reading it, I still couldn't get the way it ended, or the characters, out of my head.
The thing that really made the book a great read for me was Phoebe, the main character. She had a disability that was difficult to manage, but she never let that get her down. In fact, she had quite a bad lot in life. She had a crippling disability, and her uncle was a jerk. His daughters got everything they wanted in life while she got nothing, and he sold her off to someone from a different country to practically be a slave for someone she had never met before. Throughout all of that, she always kept a positive attitude. I don't see how she did it. She definitely earned my respect and admiration.
As for the storyline, I don't even know where to begin. If I didn't know better, I would say that the author graduated from Hogwarts. That's the only explanation for her ability to write a story that captivated me so much. It was like magic. That's the first time a book has made me feel that feeling in a very long time. From the very beginning, I was so invested in Phoebe's world. I needed to know more about her, her "boss", the mysterious lady that kept showing up in her dreams, and so much more. I was on the edge of my seat. Every time a new twist was revealed, I was shocked. There was only one plot twist that I saw coming beforehand, and that was because the author made it very obvious.
I loved Somber Island. It's the only book I've read so far in 2016 that I felt myself get truly immersed in. The book ends in a way where I don't think a sequel is possible. However, I want one desperately because I need more of these characters in my life. I recommend this book to everyone, regardless of age or gender.
I give Somber Island: 5/5.
Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://tlynnetolles.me/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/T.LynneTolles.Author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tlynnetolles
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4132968.T_Lynne_Tolles
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
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