"You have the curiosity of a cat and the common sense of a goldfish." -Something Strange a

THIS BOOK. Okay, so Susan Dennard’s masterpiece deserves a 9 out of 10 jellybeans. I couldn’t get enough of this book. There were only a few minor set-backs that I will mention that didn’t give this book the complete 10 out of 10, but it is a definite must-read. Also, I’m super stingy with jellybeans nowadays.

Family life is wrecked. Social life is bleak. And dead people come back to life. Eleanor is already living it rough. Her brother is missing, supposedly taken by the Dead, her father is dead, and her mother is desperate to marry Eleanor off because the money is simply running too low. Eleanor is not satisfied with such an arrangement, however, and seeks out the help of the Spirit-Hunters. Using electricity, weapons, and tools, the Spirit-Hunters have been running ragged to defeat the Dead. In their eyes, Eleanor’s request to find her missing brother is low on the list. But they can’t seem to get rid of her. Eleanor tags along to find out what happened to her brother and who is behind the raising of the Dead. But along the way, secrets about the Spirit-Hunters’ past are revealed, and Eleanor may be caught in her own dilemma.

Deep breath. I loved this entire trilogy (I promise no spoilers, but it does tear apart your very being). Normally I’m not a zombie kind of person. World War Z – Good, but gross. Umm…other zombie books? I didn’t really get into that sort of thing. Something Strange and Deadly, on the other hand, was like a drug. The walking Dead don’t really take away from the story as much as in some other zombie books, and although they are frightening to bits, I thought they totally worked with the book. They helped develop the characters and made for a super awesome part of the book. Good job, Susan!

The pacing and character work in this book is fantastic. It was quick; action was always waiting just around the corner. Eleanor had decent time to meet up with the Spirit-Hunters and the serious issue despite being basically trapped in the upper class. It wasn’t like a movie with every scene jam-packed with fighting and monster killing. Eleanor had some serious time in her thoughts while surrounded by the other bureaucrats to pull herself together and find her brother. Transitions were a bit like Mara Dyer. It was every so slightly frustrating that Eleanor kept getting knocked out, and Daniel always had to save her. Jie was definitely a favorite for me, though. I couldn’t get enough of the confidence she radiated through the pages, and I loved all of the characters whenever they began to piece themselves together. Jie definitely got Eleanor on that track. It was awesome.

Warning: There’s a love triangle. Honestly? It’s not as bad as the romance is in some books. Like in The Madman’s Daughter when the main character loves both and spends large periods of time thinking about how one could possibly be better than the other. She even forgets about the huge problem that everyone is dealing with! I hate those characters. In Something Strange and Deadly, however, Eleanor has one clear character she likes, and she puts up with the other one. That totally works for me like it did in Crown of Midnight (READ THRONE OF GLASS NOW). Also, the romance doesn’t take up a large portion of the book. The characters are more wrapped up in the plot and situation than they are deciding who is more attractive and funny and smart and amazing. *cough* Daniel. *cough*

My recommendation is for fantasy readers. If you’re hoping to take a stab at fantasy, this book is a little harder to get into. But if you’re not so sure about zombies, do not fear! Something Strange and Deadly is here! The main focus is on who is behind the whole plot rather than the zombies themselves. Also, they don’t turn you into a zombie if they bite you. You will die, though! Good times. Also, this book is historical fantasy, so if you were interested in Miss Peregrine’s School for Gifted Children, this book has that sort of quality to it. And no, this is not an episode of The Walking Dead.

Formula: Fantasy + Victorian Era + Walking Dead + Necromancy = Spell-Casting Lessons

#katie #fantasy #historical #death #sassy #superpowers #plottwist