The Book of Living Secrets: A Dark YA Horror of Metafiction and Survival - Hardcover

Roux, Madeleine

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062941429 ISBN 13: 9780062941428

Publisher: Quill Tree Books, 2022

Synopsis

Perfect for fans of The Hazel Wood and Small Favors, this genre-bending page-turner from New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Roux follows two girls who transport themselves into the world of their favorite book only to encounter the sinister alternate reality that awaits them. 

No matter how different best friends Adelle and Connie are, one thing they’ve always had in common is their love of a little-known gothic romance novel called Moira. So when the girls are tempted by a mysterious man to enter the world of the book, they hardly suspect it will work. But suddenly they are in the world of Moira, living among characters they’ve obsessed about for years. 

Except…all is not how they remembered it. The world has been turned upside down: The lavish balls and star-crossed love affairs are now interlaced with unspeakable horrors. The girls realize that something dark is lurking behind their foray into fiction—and they will have to rewrite their own arcs if they hope to escape this nightmare with their lives.

About this title

About the Author

Madeleine Roux is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Asylum series, which has sold over a million copies worldwide. She is also the author of the House of Furies series and several titles for adults, including Salvaged and Reclaimed. She has made contributions to Star Wars, World of Warcraft, and Dungeons & Dragons. Madeleine lives in Seattle, Washington, with her partner and beloved pups.

Reviews

Gr 8 Up-Best friends Connie and Adelle share a love of classic literature, but their all-time favorite novel is Moira, a sweeping romance and period piece set in 1885 Boston. Adelle longs to find love like that of Moira and Severin. She dreams of what he would be like in real life. Connie hasn't told anyone, but she likes girls and Moira is her book crush. When creepy Mr. Straven, proprietor of oddities shop The Witch's Eye Emporium, tells her he can do a spell and place her inside her favorite book, Adelle jumps at the chance. Connie, skeptical, agrees to go with her, and both are propelled into the book, but at different points in the plot. Alone and scared, Connie falls in with some of the book's minor characters who were the villains, while Adelle gets to meet the wealthy Moira. Both girls encounter danger, though, because something is very wrong. The story that Connie and Adelle know is changing, and the more they struggle to find each other to escape, the worse things get. Expert worldbuilding and fully realized, likable characters make this a refreshingly different adventure. A gentle touch of romance adds to the drama as both girls fall for characters from the book world. A cryptic ending may leave some readers scratching their heads, but it leaves room for a sequel. All but one of the main characters are white. VERDICT Fans of The Hazel Wood, Inkheart, and other books about books will find much to love here. Recommended for general purchase.-Mandy Laferriereα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Quill Tree Books
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0062941429
• ISBN 13: 9780062941428
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 400