Mundie Moms

Friday, December 4, 2015

FORBIDDEN by Eve Bunting / Blog Tour: Book Review & Giveaway



Hello & welcome to today's stop in the FORBIDDEN blog tour, hosted by Rock Star Blog Tours.Today's stop features my review for Eve's newest release and a GIVEAWAY! Be sure to enter to win at the end of this post. 


By: Eve Bunting
Published by: Clarion Books
Released on: 12.1.2015
Find it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Goodreads
Source: arc to review from publisher, in exchange for my honest review

In early-nineteenth century Scotland, sixteen-year-old Josie, an orphan, is sent to live with an aunt and uncle on the rocky, stormy northwest coast. Everything and everyone in her new surroundings, including her relatives, is sinister, threatening, and mysterious. She's told that Eli, the young man she's attracted to, is forbidden to her, but not why. Spirited, curious, and determined, Josie sets out to learn the village's secrets and discovers evil, fueled by heartless greed, as well as a ghostly presence eager for revenge. An author's note gives the historical inspiration for this story.


My Review

There are two things this book had going for it. It's early-nineteenth century Scotland setting, and Josie, the main character. When you combine my love of historical settings, and strong female lead who goes against what's excepted of her in her time period, than you've got the makings of a book I'm going to like. At least hopefully. 

Let's talk setting. This book had me at 'early-nineteenth century Scotland'. I am a sucker for a historical setting, not to mention on set in Scotland. The setting was just as eerie, and dark as the synopsis makes it sound. I love how the setting came to life in the story. I felt like the setting itself was more of a key character in the story than a place to set the story in. I love that when authors do that. The lore, and the weather were key elements in the story as well, and really added to the eeriness and mystery surrounding Josie's new home. 

Josie is another thing I liked about the story. Despite what's proper and excepted of her during this time period, she breaks the mold a bit, When the time calls for it, she goes against being proper and does what she feels is right. This girl has had her whole life uprooted. Her parents have both recently died, leaving her in the care of Aunt and Uncle she's never met. She came from wealth and a close knit to family, to something that's completely opposite of all she's ever known. Her Aunt and Uncle are gruff, sinister, and cold. There's a lot of mystery surrounding them, and Josie's new home, but a lack of details and answers with things that are going on. I'll admit, as a reader it was just as frustrating as it was for Josie, trying to figure out what's going on. However, it's obvious that her Aunt and Uncle are up to something evil, as are the coastal town's people. 

I admired Josie for her not putting up with being ordered around. I also liked that she didn't accept the lack of answers she was being told nor did she like being told no when she questioned things that were going on. While she does uncover some truth and answers, there were still things I felt that were left unanswered. As a reader, I feel when there are specific things mentioned in the story, there should be a reason or explanation for why they are. I never got the why on some things, which in the end made me wonder why it was ever mentioned in the first place. Though I didn't love this story, I have to admit, with the way the story ended I would probably pick up the next book (if there was one), just to see how a certain something (I won't say what because of spoilers) was possible. 

Over all, I felt like FORBIDDEN was more of the kind of story that could be told around a campfire to unsettle and spook you, than it was a book that I'd take out and reread again. That's not a bad thing. In fact it's an unique thing to the story. Book wise, this book and I just weren't meant to be. I was left wanting more than I got. However, I would have definitely felt a little spooked had this been a story told to me outside, in the dark, by a campfire.

About The Author



Also known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.

Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.

Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.

In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
 


Find her on: Website | Goodreads



ENTER TO WIN

3 winners will receive a finished copy of FORBIDDEN, US Only.


Follow The Blog Tour
11/23/2015- The Cover ContessaInterview
11/24/2015- Book BriefsReview
11/25/2015- A Dream Within A DreamGuest Post
11/26/2015- Zach's YA ReviewsReview
11/27/2015- BookHounds YAInterview
11/30/2015- Just Commonly- Review
12/1/2015- Curling Up With A Good BookInterview
12/2/2015- Novel NoviceReview
12/3/2015- The Reading Nook ReviewsGuest Post
12/4/2015- Mundie MomsReview

1 comment:

  1. Gorgeous post Katie. <3 I'm glad you liked this book :) It sounds interesting, yet not a book for me, not really :p But thank you for sharing about it sweetie :)

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