Silence

Based on the short blurb I read about Silence when I received it, I thought it was going to be about a teenage girl who visits the graveyard to talk with her ghost boyfriend. I was wrong, Silence is so much more.

Yes, in Book One of The Queen of the Dead series, Emma visits the gravesite of her deceased boyfriend, Nathan, almost nightly. But it's while she's there that she runs into the new boy from her class, Eric and a mysterious old lady who tries to give her a strange gift. Soon after she's struck with terrible migraines, which soon turn into an ability see, touch, and speak to the dead. Emma's a Necromancer and that means there are some higher ups who want to see her dead. But all Emma wants to do is help the spirits, particularly a little boy who is stuck in the burning house in which he died.

This book was awesome! The world Michelle Sagara creates within the pages is unique to anything else I've read in the paranormal genre and I really enjoyed it. Sagara takes her time with the novel; we meet Emma and we learn about her life, her friends and slowly we begin to unravel her new Necromancer world along with her. Instead of it being described to us in some background paragraphs, we get to learn about with with her, which I loved. Additionally, Sagara writes a wonderfully detailed scene - I could picture the action very clearly while reading the book.

The characters in Silence were also fantastic. Instead of Emma and her friends all having the same type of personality, they were uniquely different. I really liked seeing Emma, Allison, and Amy work together even though they were from different social circles at school. Michael was also a great character - it was heartwarming to see some of the more popular girls at school befriend an autistic classmate and it was refreshing to see such a character at all. The only thing I felt was lacking was information about Nathan - we know Emma and Nathan were in love, but why? I'm looking forward to reading more about Nathan in future novels.

In short, what I really loved was Silence deeper than other mainstream YA out there. Sagara doesn't talk down to her YA audience, which is appreciated. Instead, she draws them into an interesting new world and involves them.

Four stars! The last two pages of the book have left me salivating for Book Two, which as far as I know has no title or release date scheduled yet. Nevertheless, I cannot wait to continue on with this series, which I suggest you read because I'm sure it's going to be a hit.

Rather than follow the overused vampire or werewolf schtick, Sagara's new character Emma Hall is a budding necromancer with a strong sense of right, a cadre of loyal misfit friends, and no need at all to be anything more than a teenager mourning her father and her boyfriend. She tells everyone she's "fine" and goes though the motions of proving it to keep her mother at a distance. Emma takes her dog Petal for long walks in the graveyard to visit her boyfriend, and writes her dead dad e-mail telling him about her day. It all seems just grey and the same until a mysterious stranger in the graveyard hands her a lamp that sticks to her hands, then disappears. At the same time, the new (and cute!) boy at school starts following her around. And when she is taken to the hospital after a blinding collapse, her dead father shows up to talk about it.

The first half of the book is all about the mysteries and discoveries as Emma works through becoming a necromancer and some of the odd problems it brings. The second half of the book actually narrows the plot down to only a few specific problems to solve rather than continuing to pile on the complications. The main quest, if you can call it that, is that Emma and her friends (who all believe her) are working to save a dead child from a once-burning house.

The strengths of the book are the solid cast, the believable dialog, and Sagara's sense of self-control in not spreading the plot wider than a YA book can reach in one sitting.The straightforward plot made the book lighter to read, and all the more memorable because I wasn't wading through layers of unnecessary twists and turns. Sagara's smooth flow and constant context made the book accessible to a younger audience, and I know some just-13-year olds who enjoyed it too.

There is one wrinkle to the book that I want to call out separately from Sagara's storytelling skills. In the core group of Emma's friends is Michael, a high-functioning autistic boy. He is different, yes. But so is Amy the rich-and-beautiful, and so is Allison the totally-not-Amy. Michael contributes to the story with his strengths and weaknesses just like any other supporting character. I think this expansion of the usual high school cast is both useful and engaging, and adds more depth to the dialog as well as more challenge to the social juggling act that is every high school party.

I picked up this book because it was recommended by Seanan McGuire, and because it was written by the same author as my favorite Cast in Courtlight. I recommend this to the people who know what real friendship is like, who love their parents dearly, and who can embrace death and reject it in the same breath.

(This review was first published in Geek Speak Magazine's May 2012 edition.)

Beautiful covers and intriguing descriptions are really all we as readers have to go on with new books. In the case of SILENCE, it had both looks and a solid premise to hook readers, unfortunately, I found both to be misleading.

The initial character development is very good, especially for Emma's friend Michael who is described as "a high functioning autistic." I really took to his character and the subtle ways his autism was incorporated into the story. It felt very real and extremely believable. I also liked how Emma's friendship with Michael revealed a fierce protective side of her personality that helped to explain some of the decisions she made later on in SILENCE.

As the start of the new Queen of the Dead series, there is a lot of groundwork that needs to be established. The character work is for the most part done well, but the mythology and worldbuilding is frustratingly scant. There are ghosts and there are necromancers. That is about all we are told. Not why or how or what it means to be one or the other. There are necromancer hunters too for some reason, but we are told almost nothing about them. When Emma meets them and is told they might have to kill her, she just accepts this and asks zero questions. That's pretty much the pattern for all the supernatural things that happen in this book. People see them or learn about something and don't question anything. I can't remember a time I read a book where all the characters without exception were so content with their own ignorance. It was unbelievably frustrating.

Beyond that, there was something about the writing style that I didn't connect to. It was a little choppy and tended toward long winded conversations. But really is was the confusions and lack of explanation in regards to the worldbuilding that really kept me from engaging with SILENCE. I don't think I'll be picking up the sequel.

Sexual Content:
N/A

In theory this book sounded very good, but I really didn't feel like it explained a lot. It's
Iike the characters were not told anything and they just accepted it. It's like everybody was keeping secrets from the main character knowing she was going to need that info to survive but nobody would spill. Frustrating cause I didn't understand it either.

Emma's life isn't the same since her boyfriend died. Life seems bleak, and though she still has friends, she no longer cares about anything much. One night while taking her usual stroll to Nathan's grave, she meets Eric, the new boy at her school. With him is an ancient looking woman who gives her a lantern and kisses her, making her black out. When she wakes up, Emma discovers that she can see the dead! Eric seems to know a lot about her powers, but he seems reluctant to enlighten her. It'll be up to Emma to choose the path she wants to take with her powers.

As always Sagara's prose was excellent. I love her way with words, and this is what keeps me coming back to her books. Emma was a curious character to meet. She is oblivious about her true nature for most of the book, but at no point she freaks out. Emma tries to deal, and she does it with wit and a lot of dry humor. Eric was a charming romantic interest, as was Chase. Don't worry. This is not a love triangle, and there's not much romance going on. My only issue with these two is their reason for keeping Emma in the dark. It really bothers me when something has to be kept in the dark because 'something horrible' might happen and we can't tell you what that is either. Communication people! Communication is the key to everything.

The rest of the cast was a very quirky bunch. Emma is a great friend to all of them, and so she has their complete trust. There's Allison (introvert, observant and very cunning), Michael (a highly functioning autistic), and Amy (extrovert, and queen bee). Oh, and let's not forget Petal, Emma's Rottweiler. They all make the story come to life, even when the story itself starts to drag a little.

In the end, I wanted more romance, more info on the necromancers, and clearer definition of the magic being used. It's a quick read, drags a bit, but I think the story has potential. The last three lines in the book completely melted my brain and I MUST have the next book now.

First Impressions: When Silence arrived for me to review, it made its way to the very top of my To-Read pile. I had been looking forward to this one ever since I feel in love with its gorgeous cover and its promise of a unique plot line. I haven't read too many books that contain necromancy and I was interested to see Michelle Sagara's take on that subject. Just from reading the synopsis, it also sounded like there would be a good contemporary story weaved in with the paranormal, which to me is a plus.

First 50 Pages: I've always enjoyed Michelle Sagara's style of writing and Silence is just a good, if not better than her other books. Silence was a fast-paced book with a unique and interesting, darker then most plot line, a vast amount of characters, imaginative word play, and plenty of suspense that kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat. I loved how Michelle included an animal, Emma's Rottweiler, which I thought was charming and super cute since he even became of character of sorts! I basically flew through the first 50 pages of Silence and I felt invested into the story. It's nice when an author makes their book easy for you to read and enjoy. I honestly can't say that I found anything majorly wrong with this novel, and that is pretty rare for me.

Characters & Plot: If anything is wrong, it might just be that I think the book blurb reveals too much of the plot. When I was writing down notes while reading Silence, my book synopsis mirrors the book blurb. It gives away far too much information for my taste, so instead of spitting out the same synopsis you can find above, I'm going to focus on the characters with all of their awesomeness.

All of the characters in Silence were very likeable and had personality, even the minor characters. I was so glad that this book had a great female protagonist, Emma. She is a super strong and determined character that had been through some tough times in her life. She had to deal with the death of her boyfriend, and the author really makes you feel for her character. Even though Emma has had to deal with a ton of heartbreak, she is always willing to do for others and consistently puts the people that she cares about before herself. Emma is only of my favorite characters I have come across so far this year.

I've been feeling burnt out when it comes to stories that include love triangles because they are so overused now, which drives me crazy. It was so nice to read a book that finally didn't have a love triangle. I thought there was one at first, but throughout the story it was clear that Emma only had one suitor. Even though there was no love triangle, there are still two guys who are around Emma quite a bit. Eric and Chase were very interesting characters because they began the story with the intent to kill Emma for their own reasons, but that doesn't really work out after they get to know Emma and find out more about her special abilities and how she intends on using them. It was definitely a different approach and it made the book way more entertaining than it would have been otherwise.

Final Thoughts: I am so excited for the next book in the series to come out! Michelle Sagara has impressed me yet again with another fantastic story. I loved how realistic and emotional Silence was and how the author handled some of the tough topics that were included and pivotal to the plot. I would recommend checking around your local bookstore for this one when it is released. I think fans of the paranormal, fans of Michelle Sagara, and people who enjoy rich characters with a unique plot line will definitely fall in love with Silence!

I just finished Silence late this morning. Yes, started the book and stayed up until 3:00 a.m. to finish it. I did enjoy the characters, plot line and the premise of the book. The only reason I did not give the 5 star rating is because of some of the language used in the book. I have yet to understand why Young Adult writers feel it so necessary to use unneeded swearing to bring about a point. The book totally had the ability to stand on it's own without the extra "f" words thrown in the mix. Otherwise it was a decent read, but unfortunately not one I would recommend to a younger audience.

Silence by Michelle Sagara is an outstanding entry in the Young Adult paranormal genre. Emma is an engaging heroine. Necromancers and necromancy is an area of the paranormal that has not been flooded with entries like vampires, werewolves and even ghosts. Even if it had, there is always room for a well-written book about them, and Silence is that.

This is the opening book in a series, and as such, there is a lot of exposition and getting to know the characters. They are all intriguing and fairly well fleshed out. They are a little bit impossibly good-hearted and loyal for typical teenagers, but fascinating nonetheless. There is a tenderness in handling the characters, particularly a high-functioning autistic boy and even the family dog. The characters are integrated into the story and not tacked on. They reminded me a little of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Scooby gang in their loyalties and interactions, and that's not a bad thing.

The world of necromancy and the powers of necromancers is exciting. Emma is at the center of forces eager to use her powers or to prevent them from being used. This book barely scratches the surface of those powers, but hints at a wealth of possibilities to fill more entries in the series.

Sagara wisely keeps the plot narrowly focused here so that the story keeps moving along briskly. You get to know the characters and the situation as you are moving forward, rather than have the book stop for heavy bouts of exposition. The story moves along briskly and the pages fly by, while leaving the impression that only the tip of the iceberg has been explored and so much more awaits to be discovered. It is a complete story in and of itself, but leaves you eager for the next chapter. Highly recommended. I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.

You can read the preview for a synopsis of the story, however that won't tell you whether or not it is worth reading. Silence is a remarkably well-written, satisfying pleasure to experience. Deep well-rounded characters that you connect with and by the end of the story even care about. A complex plot that grabs you on the first page and doesn't let go. Smooth flow of words with not one glitch to throw you back into reality, not one unbelievable moment in the whole story. This is so far above the usual YA fiction that I don't see it in the same category. I didn't know until I finished the book that this is the author who wrote Hunter's Oath and Hunter's Death which I have re-read many times. Ms. Sagara is very obviously growing and evolving as an author. I will be looking for more of her work. And the next one comes out when??
I received this book as part of the Goodreads First Reader program.

Michelle Sagara makes her young adult debut with Silence, a spooky and emotionally moving urban fantasy. The heroine, Emma, is mourning her boyfriend Nathan, who died in a car accident. She feels most at peace when she visits the cemetery in the evenings -- until one night she has an uncanny encounter on the grounds. And the weirdness doesn't end there. Now Emma can see and touch the dead, and may be able to affect these spirits in other ways as well...

Emma is a well-rounded character with both good qualities and flaws. She has a little bit of youthful egocentricity, as when she thinks that Nathan's mother's grief is "almost" as bad as hers (and if this irks you while reading, stay tuned -- it's part of her character development). Despite this, she's anything but a selfish person. She looks out for her friends, both the ones who are popular and the ones who aren't. She loves her dog, who is so true to my own experience with an aging Rottweiler that I think Sagara must have secretly met my dog at some point. And the risk she is willing to undertake, when she learns of the suffering of a child ghost, is downright heroic. She is likable in the beginning and grows during the novel's events to become an even more compelling heroine.

As for those friends, they are delightful characters too. Michael is on the autism spectrum and his different worldview is crucial to the story at several points. Amy is the school's queen bee, and is given more depth, warmth, and humor than is usually afforded to this type of character. Allison is plain and awkward but fiercely loyal, and at one point delivers an awesome verbal smackdown. I wish I could make ten clones of Allison and deploy them into various other YA novels so she could tell off the overbearing males in those books too.

The male lead, Eric, is part of an organization that classifies Emma's abilities as necromancy and wants to kill all necromancers. This might seem like the typical "guy is a threat to girl's life" plot, but he actually isn't a threat to her for very long, which makes him much easier to stomach. As soon as he gets to know her, he realizes she's a good person and urgently coaches her on how to evade the organization. Later, he actively helps and defends her. Then comes the really surprising part: there's no romance between the two. Emma is still grieving Nathan, and Eric seems sometimes interested in her friend Amy and sometimes not really interested in anyone at all. Sagara may develop a romance between Emma and Eric later, but it works well as a friendship, and even if it does become romantic it'll be all the stronger for the gradual build.

This organization isn't the only threat to Emma. Evil necromancers are after her too, and the heroic act she's about to undertake for the child ghost is itself inherently dangerous. All of these perils come together in the climactic scene. This scene, perhaps, goes on a little too long and has a few confusing moments. The length saps some of the urgency from it; we know it must actually be taking place in less time than it takes to read about it, but its length makes it feel like it takes more time than it really would. However, this scene is also filled with intense emotion and vivid imagery, and there are parts of it that had me on the edge of my seat with nervousness. Then, Silence finishes with Emma gaining a new perspective on her life and Sagara introducing a couple of wicked plot hooks for book two: one that shakes up Emma personally, and one regarding the passage between our world and the next one and what has gone wrong with it.

Silence distinguishes itself in a glutted field of YA paranormal fiction. Sagara starts with some of the popular plot tropes, but doesn't take them in the directions you might expect, and the lovable characters and authentic emotion help set the book apart too. It's a story of loss, grief, and the way life goes on after tragedy, sad at times but hopeful rather than depressing. I highly recommend it to YA urban fantasy fans.