Author: Moïra Fowley-Doyle
Published: August 18th, 2015
Series: N/A
Genre: YA Paranormal
POV: 1st person
Pages: 304
Publisher: Kathy Dawson Books
Format: electronic ARC
Source: First to Read
Rating: Great
Every October Cara and her family become inexplicably accident-prone. Some years it’s bad, like the season when her father died, and some years it’s just a lot of cuts and scrapes. They know what they need to do—stock up on bandages and painkillers, cover sharp table edges with padding, banish knives to locked drawers, switch off electrical items. They buckle up, they batten down.
But this accident season—when Cara; her ex-stepbrother, Sam; and her best friend, Bea, are seventeen—none of that will make a difference.
Because Cara is starting to ask questions. And the answers were never meant to be found.
A haunting, untethered, addictive read that perfectly captures that time in our lives when our hearts crack open and the raw secrets of our true selves burst forth—whether we are ready or not.
Scrapes, cuts, bruises, bumps, broken bones, and even death - with October comes the accident season, and this year, it's a bad one. Cara, the narrator, has a penchant for seeing more than others do, her best friend Bea is skilled in (and mocked for) reading tarot cards, Sam is in love with a girl he can't have, and Alice is hiding secrets from everyone around her. But in October, their world turns upside down as they fall prey to accident after accident, and as they try to find a missing girl who might have something to do with it all.
Decidedly different, and with a touch of magical realism cutting through the pages, The Accident Season is an eerie tale of friendship, family, love, and, of course, secrets. Moira Fowley-Doyle writes this story in a darkly enchanting voice that draws you in and leaves you wishing for more. The point-of-view mostly sticks with Cara, but every now and then, it shifts and gives readers a glimpse into the past of this curious family. And while some parts of the story are easy to see coming, this novel is undeniably intriguing and captivating.
Highlights: The settings, especially the old house Cara and her friends find, are so atmospheric and haunting. Fowley-Doyle's vivid writing style made everything easy to envision. The characters are quirky and unique, and their normal everyday lives have just enough magical realism to make every page intriguing. The Accident Season is like a daydream - vivid, magical, short enough to leave you wanting more.
Lowlights: Some aspects are predictable, and I feel like there could have been a bit more development with the characters. While I was fascinated by this story and the writing style, I didn't care for the characters as much as I wanted to.
Final thoughts: While the characters and story didn't end up being as developed as I hoped, the daydream & nightmarish quality it brings was enough to keep me curious and entertained. This is a quick, fascinating story to curl up with for a few hours.
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher for review consideration.
This is no way affected my opinion of the novel.
Awesome review, Lea! I completely agree with you. While I loved the writing style, the setting and the touches of fantasy, I was disappointed a little bit with the characters. I really felt removed from them and I wish I cared for them more. Other than that I felt like it would be a really fun read for Halloween and the fall season. I'm glad you enjoyed this one!
ReplyDeleteIt felt it was almost there - it just needed to be fleshed out more.
DeleteOh, agreed! Definitely a great story for October / Halloween :)
The term "magical realism" kind of scares me after trying and failing to read One Hundred Years of Solitude but I know that it can also apply to books like Sarah Addison Allen's Southern fiction which I love so maybe I'd like this one. It definitely sounds like a good pick for Halloween.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good book (so long as you don't expect a lot of character development). The atmosphere / vibe is perfect for Halloween!
DeleteI like the new rating system! I've heard so many mixed things about this one, but I totally dig it. I'm happy this one nonetheless.
ReplyDelete"Decidedly different" is definitely a perfect way to describe this one! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it for the most part. I agree there were definitely parts that I guessed about pretty early on, too , but I loved watching it all unfold and that writing and imagery was just delicious to me! Fantastic review, Lea!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous review Lea. <3 So glad you liked this book a lot :D I have heard many great things about it. And it looks so pretty :) Yay for good writing. <3 And good story too, despite it not being fully perfect :) But yeah. It seems awesome :D Thank you for sharing about it. <3
ReplyDelete