Title: Rhymes with Witches
Author: Lauren Myracle
Type: Young Adult
Genre: Horror
Tea: Spice of Life. Sweet in appearance, but spicy and dark undertones.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Title: Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer
Author: Katie Alendar
Type: Young Adult
Genre: Mystery, Horror, Thriller
Tea: Strawberry Lemonade herbal tea: fun, different and not quite what you expected.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
*Warning! Here be Spoilers!*
When I first saw this book I was super excited. I loved Katie Alendar's Bad Girls Don't Die trilogy and couldn't wait to read another one of her books. I was not disappointed with Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer.
I wasn't really sure what to expect from the book. All I knew was that I loved Ms. Alendar's books, Paris and Marie Antoinette. I was excited to see a fresh take on Marie Antoinetteand what's a better way than making her a serial killing ghost?
Colette is your typical Midwestern privateschool girl who gets the shock of her life when her father leaves her mother and she's forced to, in her eyes, downgrade her life. She still gets to go to Paris though, due to her mother's hard work. Right from the beginning we can tell that Colette looks out for herself, sometimes to the detriment of others, though it's clear that's not who she wants to be. Colette's best friends are Hannah and Pilar, both spoiled rich girls. Pilar has a good heart, but Hannah doesn't care about anyone other than herself.
On the trip to Paris Colette feels she has to hide the truth from her friends, causing her to wonder, are they really her friends if she has to hide this? This book is more than just a thrilling mystery, it's a book about self discovery and growth. With the back drop of a murderous ghost.
The mystery is an interesting take on the history of Marie Antoinette. Ms. Alendar states at the end of the book that her story was fabricated, but its an interesting "What if?" What would you do if your best friends betrayed you and your family? Would it haunt you forever or would you be at peace?
This book has a few different things going on in it: mystery, lies, love and murder. Even though there is so much going on it ties together well and nothing is in there for no reason.
I really enjoyed this book, even though it was different to what I've come to expect from Ms. Alendar's first trilogy. I'm really looking forward to see what she writes next. Maybe another historical thriller. Like something with Cleopatra? We can only hope! Plus the cover is gorgeous. I want to put it on display.
Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer is a fun romp throughout Paris and can definitely hit the reader where it counts when it comes to emotions. That's not something you get in many YA novels today. Thank you Ms. Alendar!! :)