Edgar Allen Poe LIVES!! -- Review of Kelly Creagh's "Nevermore" and "Enshadowed"

NEW SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY REVIEWS

Reviews Of Recently Published Science Fiction And Fantasy Books

Reviewer: Forrest Schultz schultz_forrest@yahoo.com 770-583-3258

Blog Address: http://newsciencefictionandfantasyreviews.blogspot.com/

July 27, 2013

Edgar Allen Poe LIVES!!!!

A Review of

Kelly Creagh Nevermore (Atheneum Books For Young Readers, 2010)

                     $9.99    543pp    ISBN: 978-1-4424-0201-0

Kelly Creagh Enshadowed: A Nevermore Book (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2012)

                     $17.99     429pp  ISBN: 978-1-4424-0204-1

Reviewed by: Forrest W. Schultz

     If you think history is something that is over and done with, think again! This is definitely not the case with Edgar Allen Poe. Recently a film titled The Raven was produced about a killer whose methods are copied from Poe's horror stories. And Kelly Creagh's two recently published paranormal Nevermore books are not only permeated by Poe-ic concepts, but Poe himself is a character in her tale. And the story begins with two high school students doing a project on Poe for their English teacher.

     One of these students, Isobel, the head of the school's cheerleading squad, is the hero of the story about whom it can be said as it was of the cheerleader Claire in the TV Series Heroes, "Save the Cheerleader -- Save The World!!" Izzy is assisted by the class brain, Gwen, who provides her with important insights into the nature of Lilith, the arch-villain of this tale, who also is important in other contemporary fantasy works, such as T. L. Gray's The Blood Of Cain. And the tale reaches its climax in the graveyard in Baltimore at Poe's tombstone. (As an aside, the author takes some well-deserved potshots at the City of Baltimore.)

    There is other interesting stuff in Creagh's story, such as the demolition of stereotypes about parents of high school students and a real shocker about what the star football player, Brad, really thinks about football. The second book has a mysterious ending, which I guess will be clarified in the third (as yet unpublished) book, which I intend to read as soon as it comes out. You can check the author's website for that and other info, http://www.kellycreagh.com/.

     I strongly encourage you to read the excellent story found in these books -- the tale itself, the characters, and the world-building is first rate. And, although the libraries catalog these books under "Young Adult" (i.e. teens), these books will be enjoyed just as much, if not more, by adults. If you like Poe, you will like this tale! In it Poe LIVES!! Super-kudos to Kelly Creagh for this gem!