Sunday, April 24, 2016

Review: The May Queen Murders by Sarah Jude


The May Queen MurdersTitle: The May Queen Murders 
Author: Sarah Jude
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Publishing Date: May 3rd 2016
Pages: 304
Genre: YA Thriller/Suspense
Series:  Stand Alone
Source: ARC
 

Stay on the roads. Don’t enter the woods. Never go out at night.

Those are the rules in Rowan’s Glen, a remote farming community in the Missouri Ozarks where Ivy Templeton’s family has lived for centuries. It’s an old-fashioned way of life, full of superstition and traditions, and sixteen-year-old Ivy loves it. The other kids at school may think the Glen kids are weird, but Ivy doesn’t care—she has her cousin Heather as her best friend. The two girls share everything with each other—or so Ivy thinks. When Heather goes missing after a May Day celebration, Ivy discovers that both her best friend and her beloved hometown are as full of secrets as the woods that surround them.



I was so super excited to get to this book. It was a priority this season. I love the cover. creepy, I love the synopsis, creepy, I love the title, creepy, I loved the book, creepy. It was all just so super creepy and written so well. I just fell for the main character and her struggles. I loved the romance. The murders got to me. It was all put together so well. 

Ivy is a mountain folk. She lives up in the hills with her people. They live a simple life. The only time that Ivy and her friends see the towns people is at school. They just don't mix. Her best friend, which is her cousin, starts to disappear at night, sneaky out, seeing someone, hanging out with towns people. This worries Ivy. Its really bad timing because some one is killing at night. Killing animals and they are afraid they this person is a danger to people too. Heather comes up missing and everything starts to fall apart.

I think the best thing about this story was the writing. The writing was magnificent and took me to a place that was so new and vivid to me. I felt I was part of Ivy's world and I loved it. Such a simple life filled with honesty, friendship, family, loyalty, and life. I loved it and wanted to be living it. The author did an exceptional job and creating this world. 

The writing was definitely my favorite part but the good did not end there. The mystery, the creep factor. It was off the charts for me. The mystery and the story that surrounded the mystery, it was woven together so effortlessly and perfectly. I was intrigued, I was curious, I was lost in the mystery. It was full of twists and turns and reveals I just wasn't ready for. It was done seamlessly to fit this book in such a dark and twisted way that felt so natural. Nothing felt forced or out of placed. Nothing  felt missing or forgotten. It was what it was and it felt right. 

The characters. the main character, Ivy. I loved Ivy. I felt her, I understood her. I thought she made some bad decisions but I understood why she made them. I enjoyed watching her grow into her own person, feeling things she never felt before. Love, fear, sorrow. Her life was pretty good and simple until now. Her world begins to fall apart and I was able to watch how strongly she held onto what little was left. 

I also really loved Rook. He was a really great character. Loving, loyal, sweet, strong, brave. He was a great love interest for Ivy and they worked well together. I loved the romance between the two. It starts off so innocent and sweet. It felt right and belonged in this world. 

This was for sure a page turner. Once I started I didn't want to put the book down. I needed to know more. To follow the mystery. To follow the romance, To follow Ivy's life. 

So awesome. Great thriller and great mystery. Great everything. 





Sarah Jude

Sarah Jude lives by the woods and has an owl that lands on her chimney every night. She grew up believing you had to hold your breath whenever you passed a graveyard or a bridge spanning water. Now she writes about cemeteries, murder, and ghostly apparitions. She resides in Missouri with her husband, three children, and three dogs.


14 comments:

  1. I'm so glad that you liked this one!! I have a copy for review that I'm going to be reading rather soon. Now I'm even more excited to check it out!
    Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian

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    1. I did love it. I was surprised by it really. I thought I would be let down because i loved the synopsis so much. Usually happens that way. It was good though. A real gem.

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  2. OOoh nice!! I can't wait to read this one! I recently discovered that the author is somewhat local for me! Super excited! I plan to attend her signing event come release day! I love a good thriller and this one sounds awesome! Great review!

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    1. oh cool local. Tell her i adored her book and can't wait for another book from her comes out.

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  3. Ooo, I've really been getting into mysteries lately, so I'll definitely need to try this one out! Sounds great and the cover is goregeous too <3

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    1. this one is really good with the mystery. Totally had me shocked at the reveal.

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  4. I am so excited for this release! I was first pulled into this story by its cover and now I want to read it even more! Thanks for the review!

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    1. Yes all that for sure pulled me into and it held up to its side of the bargain. I bought it for the cover and the synopsis and it delivered.

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  5. This sounds awesome! We love a good thriller :) Adding this one to the TBR!

    ~Michele & Mckenzie

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    1. It is a good book. A slow thriller. the kind that kind of makes you still, not shaking. It was really good.

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  6. So happy I stopped by your blog today :) I have this ARC and feel like I have a TON of May stuff to read and I was like ... eh... should I skip this? But you've convinced me that it's a must-read!

    Jen @ YA Romantics

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    1. This was definitely a wonderful surprise for me. I loved the tone and the setting. It was so creepy yet beautiful it really pulled me in. I hope you do love it too.

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  7. I don't dabble much in YA anymore, but wow this sounds like one of those books that is worth the trip. I love how dark it sounds and I'm curious about the murders.

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    1. I think its worth the trip. Its not the normal ya cliche stuff. SO yup its good. try it, i think you may like it.

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