Review: And The Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich

Title: And The Trees Crept In 

Author:  Dawn Kurtagich
Publisher:  Little Brown Books For Young Readers

Publishing Date: Sept 6th 2016

Pages: 352
Genre: YA Psychological Horror

Series:  Stand Alone
Source: ARC

 

Stay away from the woods…

When Silla and Nori arrive at their aunt’s home, it’s immediately clear that the manor is cursed. The endless creaking of the house at night and the eerie stillness of the woods surrounding them would be enough of a sign, but there are secrets too—questions that Silla can’t ignore: Why does it seem that, ever since they arrived, the trees have been creeping closer? Who is the beautiful boy who’s appeared from the woods? And who is the tall man with no eyes who Nori plays with in the basement at night… a man no one else can see?

When I read The Dead House... I fell in love with this author. I was so excited when another one came out. I read this a while ago and failed to do the review. So I did read it as soon as I received this ARC and I just couldn't put it down. It was so amazing. I actually enjoyed it more than The Dead House and I didn't expect that. I am amazed by this author and her stories and her storytelling abilities. If you love horror, twisted reads, and psychological craziness... this is for sure the book for you. 

This is the story about Silla and her sister Nori. This is the story that is told after they arrive at their aunt's house, meet a mysterious boy, and find that there is something so strange going on inside this house. This is a story about two sisters that have been through a lot, a lost boy that wants to help, and a very scary house... oh and don't forget about the trees that seem to surround the house and creep in more each day. 

There is so much to say about this book and so little I can actually say. This read is my favorite type of read. Creepy and a bit lost. A sense of I don't know what the heck is going on but I need to know and I need to know now. In the end, it's a read that makes you go wow what did I just read and man did I love it. 

I devoured this book. I was hooked from the very beginning and I just couldn't put it down. The characters are amazing, the story, the setting, the tone... all creepy as all get out. There is suspense, thrills, horror, goosebumps, a bit of romance and a whole lot of whoa...... 

The main character, Silla is a pretty strong character. Her only care in life is to protect her little sister, Nori. She would do anything for her. In this house, her aunt's house, she is put to the test when all kinds of strange and bad things happen. She is brave and devoted, loyal and honest. She is a good kid. Nori a bit odd but sweet. She has secrets and Silla needs to figure them out. Well really the entire house and everyone in it has secrets... but Nori... well she is a strange one. The relationship between the two is amazing. 

The story was told uniquely and I loved it. It was told from letters and documents and from Silla's point of view. It was told with madness and it was messy. It was dark and twisted and questionable. It was told with whimsy and with imagination. It was just CRAZY.  It was like following the rabbit down the rabbit hole. It was an adventure. 

The ending was just great. I loved it and it was very fitting for the story. I was surprised but not and I was perfectly content and happy and blissful at the end of this book. 

One of the best reads of this year for me and I can't wait for more from this author. She is amazing. 

Dawn Kurtagich is a writer of creepy, spooky and psychologically sinister YA fiction, where girls may descend into madness, boys may see monsters in men, and grown-ups may have something to hide. Her debut YA novel, The Dead House, is forthcoming from Hachette in 2015.
By the time she was eighteen, she had been to fifteen schools across two continents. The daughter of a British globe-trotter and single mother, she grew up all over the place, but her formative years were spent in Africa—on a mission, in the bush, in the city and in the desert.
She has been lucky enough to see an elephant stampede at close range, a giraffe tongue at very close range, and she once witnessed the stealing of her (and her friends’) underwear by very large, angry baboons. (This will most definitely end up in a book . . . ) While she has quite a few tales to tell about the jumping African baboon spider, she tends to save these for Halloween!
She writes over at the YA Scream Queens, a young adult blog for all things horror and thriller, and she is a member of the YA League and Author Allsorts.
Her life reads like a YA novel.