Eden's Everdark

I read this because I am judging the Middle Grade Speculative Fiction division of the Cybils Awards. Announcement of the winners in all divisions will be announced on Feb 14 after which I’ll post full reviews. <br /><br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.cybils.com/">https://www.cybils.com/</a>

I read an early copy of this and it was FANTASTIC. You all need to put it on your TBRs.

If you're interested in hearing my full thoughts about this be sure to check out my video here: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1pmGMKJnSU&amp;t=241s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1pmG...</a>

This is a fantasy that explores grief and connecting to your heritage. I really liked the family aspect of this and was hoping to see more of the present day island. I thought the world of Everdark was interesting though the nature of the world allowed the story to be a little repetitive.

After her mother’s death, Eden and her father visit Safina Island, her mother’s childhood home. During her first day on the island, she finds her mother's old sketchbook, filled with haunting images. Days later, Eden follows a black cat into the forest, and stumbles into the world of Everdark, which looks eerily similar to her mother’s drawings. Now, the Witch of Everdark wants to make Eden her eternal daughter and keep her in Everdark forever.<br /><br />Atmospheric, haunting and touching, <i>Eden’s Everdark</i> explores grief, love, and magic. Author Karen Strong writes a realistic, yet heartbreaking story about how a young girl navigates the loss of her mother, but also commemorates heritage and family. This is a tale of not only grief, but also the dark history of America’s past: slavery. Yet, despite all the grief and darkness, this book made for a hopeful and magical read, filled with family and love. <br /><br />I adored this book! It was such a haunting and emotional read, with wonderful writing. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an eerie, yet also hopeful and magical, tale. <br /><br />Reviewed by: Riya B., grade 8<br />

What a treasure! I was immediately enthralled with this book – from the cover, to the first page, all the way through to the end. It hooked me and kept me wanting more.<br /><br />At its heart, this is a book about grief and how hard it is to escape. But it is also a book that celebrates the beauty of family and our roots. There is culture and love packed into these pages. Even the regional dialect is a joy to read. <br /><br />This book is so many things. It is creepy and atmospheric. Beautiful and haunting. It is a reminder of the past – the decadence of wealth and the barbarism of slavery. But it is about hope for the future. <br /><br />Even though this is marketed as a Middle Grade novel, adult readers will inevitably take more from it than the younger audience – the regrettable result of having more experience with grief. I highly recommend this book for readers of all ages. <br /><br />Truly exceptional.

I subjected this to the hardest challenge a book can face, and it passed-I read it, engrossed and emotionally invested, while my car was failing inspection and The Price is Right was blaring overhead.

Gorgeously life and death-affirming.

What starts out as a desire to meet family and gain footing after the loss of a mother turns into a trip to another realm, where death and magic refuse to let anyone go.<br /><br />After her mother's passing, Eden has finally convinced her father to take her to meet her mother's side of the family. Her mother avoided returning to her home on the island, despite Eden's father claiming they are kind, warm-hearted people. And he isn't wrong. The family is more than excited to meet Eden and accept her without a second's thought. The island is also a wonderful place, where tourists enjoy frequenting. But when Eden discovers her mother's old sketchbook, the nightmares begin. The family claims they are nothing more than her mother's imagination, but also admit that the island and it's mansion, no doubt, hold too many tortured souls. Little do they realize that a witch has taken over the spirit world, which runs parallel to reality on the island. When Eden takes a walk between the trees, she accidentally stumbles through a rift between the worlds. Now, she's stuck in the Everdark and the witch refuses to let her go.<br /><br />The setting is a real treat with the moss, trees, and humid climate that only the South can offer. This not only lays the perfect background for the haunted mansion and wild surroundings of the Everdark, but also makes meeting family for the first time a true adventure. The author has built a nice contrast between reality and the Everdark, one full of life and warmth, while the other holds darkness and evil. It was fun to venture through the different scenes. Plus, the Southern foods and culture were like added icing to a cake.<br /><br />Eden comes across like a nice, down-to-earth girl, and it's no problem to understand her desire to learn more about her mother's family. The positive atmosphere the family and their neighbors radiate is inspiring, and makes the reader wish they could visit the island, too. They support each other and offer words of wisdom, which make everything feel like home.<br /><br />This is a spooky read, but it doesn't feel like one until more than a few chapters in. So, horror fans of this age group might be a bit disappointed, at first, while fantasy/paranormal fans might be surprised at how creepy things get. I think the slide into the scarier side was nicely done and let the reader get a handle on Eden and her reality first. I would have liked some scenes more built out than they were (such as the festival happens but we never really get to see it, or the days in Everdark fly by, at first, but it's not clear what Eden's doing the entire time), but this is a well-written read and does flow smoothly with a quick-pace. It does keep the reader at the edge of their seat, wondering how Eden will make it through.<br /><br />Fans of paranormal and fantasy with a creepy twist will enjoy this one quite a bit. I received a DRC and enjoyed diving into Eden's world quite a bit.

For a middle grade…creepy and I absolutely loved it