Author: Martin Matthews
Genre: Horror, YA, Fantasy
Length: 353 pages
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Publication Date: December 14, 2017
Source: NetGalley
Purchase: Amazon, Book Depository
Book Description:
16-year-old albino Drake Stevenson lives a life alone in his world of video games and comic books, dreaming of one day saving a real princess. But fantasy becomes reality when his lawyer father suffers a heart attack, and the Stevensons are forced to move to flyover country in order to take up the family business: Stewardship of the oldest and largest cemetery in the state.
There, among the weeping angels and willows of Centralia Cemetery, Drake meets Scarlet, an unusual girl who needs his help to find her killer.Complicated by his albinism, a mentally unstable sister bent on high school domination at any cost, and a jock with a deadly secret, Drake sets out to find the shattering truth about a murder no one will speak of, to help a girl no one can see.
My Opinion:
I enjoyed this tale and found myself laughing - A LOT. I found "Mirror Me" hysterical and found the author's sense of humor right up my alley. The writing was great and had me hooked from the first line of the book. I enjoyed reading this but I didn't like some of the plight of Drake. I really didn't like that he met Scarlet in the cemetery twice and was so in love with her but then was in kissing Sasha at every other turn. I guess it made for a semi-good love triangle but just didn't hit the right spot for me. So, I didn't really enjoy the love story part of this book. But, I did enjoy the other aspects of the book. The mystery, the humor and the detective work of his friends. Even his evaluation of Ms. Piggy, it really had me laughing out loud.
Drake and his family have to move back to the town his father grew up in because of his father's health and the marital problems, only to find that these things follow you. Drake and his sister have this weird sexually/abusive relationship. Which I don't know if at any point in this book I approved of. I didn't feel his parents even cared to take care of their kids and they always seem to be fighting and well just don't care I guess. Never really knew why they were like this, just bad parents, I guess. Anyway, life here seems to be better for Drake, he has made some friends and well, gets a job (father makes him). But, really it is perfect for his condition - he has albinism and photosensitivity to light. He manages it with dark clothing, sunglasses, hats, etc. So a graveyard job at night is perfect for him. Doesn't have to worry about that darn sun. He is a gamer and a recluse by habit and choice which is great. He uses these skills in his life which I thought was great.
He also finds himself talking to a ghost and finds out that ghost has been killed and he needs to find out who the killer is. As he is trying to do this, he is getting bullied and some bad things happen to him. A lot of bad things. Which is fine but just seems like to much. This book keeps you entertained and I did enjoy reading it and did laugh a lot at times like - "Blanco", "Mirror Me", and all the other hidden gem jokes in this book. I would definitely read another book by Martin Matthews, I find his humor delightful and entertaining and will look forward to another book by him.
I give the book 4.5 of 5 stars!
A favorite line in the book - Drake is standing over the grave of the Graveyard Girl looking at the picture on her headstone - "I thought about pulling out my cell phone and snapping a picture of the picture. But even I - mondo freakazoid - couldn't justify taking a photo of a dead girl's grave, no matter how beautiful she had been in real life. Not without changing my name to Norman Bates and borrowing Mom's clothes."
About the Author:Martin Matthews is an expat from England, Great Britain. After living in California for many years, he now lives in Central Illinois with his beautiful wife, amazing son, and a grumpy, old cat named Winston.
Martin began his writing career as a child, storyboarding Sonic the Hedgehog comic books for his family. Later, he progressed to writing Star Trek fan-fiction before attempting his first novel Merlania at 16 — a 200,000 word science-fiction epic. He’s been writing novels and short stories ever since.
Martin holds degrees in Art and Design, Graphic Design, and Computer Information Science. When he’s not writing, he can be found producing music, art, and fried rice.
Connect with the Author
Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley/Black Rose Writing with no expectations of a review. No one sponsored or endorsed this post. All opinions are honest and they are my own. All information on the book or author can be found at the authors website. Thank you to Netgalley/Black Rose Writing for giving me a chance to read this novel.
the brother/sister relationship in this would prob def make me uncomfortable
ReplyDeleteIt made me also. But, you kinda just...look the other way...
DeleteYeah, not into the love triangle thing, but the other kooky and sad stuff along with the mystery would definitely pull me in. Great review, Mary!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was worth a read for sure.
DeleteEnjoyed your review.
ReplyDeleteThank you Becky!
DeleteOhhhh lovely review. This sounds unusual. Interesting though that he's a hermit, essentially and all of a sudden he has two girls to kiss? :D
ReplyDeleteAnd that weird sexually abusive relationship between siblings...I'd really like to know what that is about!
Yes, but it happens in a fun way. Things change for him when he moves, i.e. gets some friends and girls are some of them. Yes, read this. You will laugh I am sure of it.
DeleteGreat review. Awesome quote.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo! I hope you get a chance to read this, but I don't think you read YA books, but I could be wrong!
DeleteI love the review you did s great job on explaining about The book. And I love the quote it's now one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI would like to thank you for your continued great reviews. This review on The Graveyard Girl and the Boneyard Boy was extra special for me, as I would love to read this very soon.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get the chance to read it Jerry. I was really good!
DeleteThanks Mary! If you were to judge this book by the cover, you really wouldn't think of it containing humour at all!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a very interesting read.
ReplyDelete