Early Review / ARC Giveaway: Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Something Strange and Deadly

by Susan Dennard

 

Expected publication: July 24th 2012 by HarperTeen

ISBN:0062083260 (ISBN13: 9780062083265)

Arc copy provided by Harper Teen

YA, Strong heroine, Victorian era, walking dead, action, steampunk

                                                                           

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

Review:

A story that puts you back in time and feels very realistic, although the walking dead are featured in this book, there is no true horrific scenes.


Eleanor is living her life where woman wear dresses and must act like a lady, although Eleanor is far beyond acting or doing anything anyone says. She comes across as strong-willed and cunning.
We begin our adventure at a train depo, where Eleanor, wise beyond her years is waiting for her brother to arrive from the big city. The alarm rings for the walking dead and we learn right away how people live, running and hiding from these creatures, whom are zombies. Eleanor runs straight inside the depot trying to find a message to where her brothers whereabouts are, when a zombie comes close enough and drops a crumbled letter to the ground, the same letter she was waiting for -a message from her brother.

From then on this book is a mystery, filled with action, and suspense with Eleanor trying to find out where her brother is and why he still hasn't come home. She tries to enlist help from the Spirit-Hunters a three-person group who travel and follow these dead walking and try to assist the cities in which they are invading. The Spirit Hunters are looked down upon by society, but that won't stop Eleanor, nope she's headstrong and determined as she goes headfirst into assisting the Hunters, and soon they agree to help her. A slight romance seems to be building between Eleanor and one of the Spirit Hunters, Daniel, although they seem to lock horns at first, he does care for her. Maybe in the next book their love will blossom into something stronger.
When the mystery deepens and more humans are found
dead, and those dead happen to be in the same circles of her brother, things suddenly turn from bad to worse for Eleanor.


 I really enjoyed Susan's writing style and how she wrote the book with essence to being transported back to 1847, and living the lifestyle of this era. I also loved the light Steampunk aspect to this book, with great gadgets sprung from Susan's imagination.
Great depiction to the time period and the Centennial Exhibition, which was the first World’s Fair in the United States.
4/5 stars
                                              

                                                 

Susan Dennard









Alright, now for the giveaway
-1 Winner of an ARC copy of Something Strange and Deadly
-US /Canada only
-Must fill out Rafflecopter form below
-Open to all ages
-Winner will be notified by e-mail and will have 48hrs to respond failure to do so will result in choosing another winner
-Giveaway open 7/10-7/24
-GOOD LUCK!


 a Rafflecopter giveaway