Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Turning Book 1: What Curiosity Kills
    The Turning Book 1: What Curiosity Kills
    The Turning Book 1: What Curiosity Kills
    Ebook188 pages3 hours

    The Turning Book 1: What Curiosity Kills

    By Helen Ellis

    3.5/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    "What Curiosity Kills … cracks open the world of Upper East Side prep-schoolers and literally turns it wild, bringing together the best parts of Gossip Girl, Twilight, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer … funny, fierce, and full of surprises."—Hannah Tinti, ALA, Alex Award-winning author of The Good Thief

    Nobody can know your secret. Nobody can know your power. But if nobody knows who you are to begin with … what's stopping you?

    I whisper, "What's so special about me all of a sudden?"

    Nick says, "The Turning."

    Mary feels different, but can't explain why. The fainting, the strange cravings … and worse, the things she's noticed about her body.

    Mary doesn't know where to turn. If she tells her parents or her sister, she'll risk losing everything. She has no other family, no way of knowing if what she's going through is normal. Everyone she's ever known and loved could reject her …

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSourcebooks
    Release dateMay 1, 2010
    ISBN9781402253676
    The Turning Book 1: What Curiosity Kills
    Author

    Helen Ellis

    Helen Ellis is the author of Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge, Bring Your Baggage and Don’t Pack Light, Southern Lady Code, American Housewife, and Eating the Cheshire Cat. Raised in Alabama, she lives with her husband in New York City. She is a poker player and a plant lady. You can find her on Twitter @WhatIDoAllDay and Instagram @AmericanHousewife.

    Read more from Helen Ellis

    Related to The Turning Book 1

    Related ebooks

    YA Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Child’s Play

      Mar 10, 2023

      The blackmail began in the boys’ locker room. It started with Travis Downing’s least favorite person, Rory Paxton, cackling like a hyena behind his iPhone camera. Rory loved taking photos of boys while they were changing, making sure to capture just

      9 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Shipstead, Ryan, Walker, and More

      May 17, 2022

      Here’s a quick look at some notable books—new titles from Maggie Shipstead, Eimer Ryan, Sarai Walker, and more—that are publishing this week. Want to learn more about upcoming titles? Then go read our most recent book preview. Want to help The Millio

      5 min read

    • Article

      Promising Young Woman

      Mar 10, 2020

      Promising Young Woman
      4 min read

    • Article

      'Oprah's Book Club' Is Coming To Apple TV+. Here's Her First Pick

      Sep 23, 2019

      You get a book, and you get a book! And you get a book! "Oprah's Book Club" is coming to Apple TV+, the tech company and Oprah Winfrey announced Monday. The series will premiere at the platform's launch with a new episode available every two months.

      1 min read

    • Article

      Cooking with Octavia Butler

      Nov 30, 2018

      Cooking with Octavia Butler
      11 min read

    • Article

      The Other Child

      Dec 1, 2018

      The Other Child
      9 min read

    • Article

      I Am the Tooth Fairy

      Nov 14, 2019

      I Am the Tooth Fairy
      7 min read

    • Article

      Alix E. Harrow

      Oct 18, 2021

      I was a published fantasy author before anyone asked me why I write fantasy, and I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t have an answer. I never made a conscious decision to write fantasy any more than a flamingo makes a decision to be pink—it was just in th

      2 min read

    • Article

      Dark Side Of Buffy

      Mar 24, 2022

      Dark Side Of Buffy
      2 min read

    • Article

      'Mirage' Is A YA Marvel That Weds Sci-fi With Courtly Intrigue

      Sep 25, 2018

      Somaiya Daud's debut novel sets the story of a court rebellion in a Moroccan space fantasy.

      3 min read

    • Article

      'Dread Nation' Is A Rollicking 'Gone With The Wind + Zombies' Adventure

      Apr 20, 2018

      But don't underestimate the latest YA novel by activist Justina Ireland – it's also a biting commentary on contemporary race relations in America.

      3 min read

    • Article

      From ZARA to PRADA

      Jul 14, 2021

      From ZARA to PRADA
      7 min read

    • Article

      Ann Beattie

      Sep 15, 2017

      I’d started to visit Olivia more often because it was obvious she was lonely. The ALS lady who’d been moved to Hopkins had been Aunt Olivia’s closest friend, leaving aside Merton Hillstead, who actually went home. Even the friendly paperboy who somet

      23 min read

    • Article

      4 Delightful New Books For Middle-grade Readers

      Jun 7, 2018

      History, fantasy, humor, and drama mingle in these four wonderful new books for middle-grade readers – out just in time for summer reading.

      3 min read

    • Article

      Sutton Foster Setting Sail

      Jul 19, 2021

      Sutton Foster Setting Sail
      3 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Turning Book 1

    3.5/5

    27 ratings6 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 1/5
      This is an absolutely awful book. I have attempted to leave a more complete review a number of times, but somehow it keeps disappearing. So, I will keep it to this, if you even remotely like animals, feel a shred of compassion for living creatures, or like well-written books, don't try this one. It will only bring you pain.
    • 3/5
      I’ll admit, I picked this book up because of the cover. It’s pretty, colorful, she has a cat eye… Once I confirmed my suspicions that What Curiosity Kills was a story about a girl turning into a cat, I knew I had to read it. After finishing the novel, I must say that it reminds me a lot of the show (I’ve never read the novels) The Nine Lives of Chloe King, except the protagonist literally turns into a cat, not a person with cat features. What Curiosity Kills had some definite strengths. While the casual narrative style Ellis adopts may turn off some readers, I found the witty dialogue and thoughts refreshing and very funny. Mary’s internal narration, the banter between her and her sister and the other characters, and the things that happen to Mary as she slowly turns into a cat had me smiling constantly as the pages flew by.Sure, the novel has flaws. It’s short, a little absurd at times, possibly offensive to some in parts, some of the characters lack depth, the mythology is not thoroughly explained, and Mary and Nick’s relationship kind of comes out of left field. However, it’s a fast, fun read — especially for cat lovers like me. I hope Ellis does plan to release the sequel, because I look forward to spending more time with these wacky characters and seeing what happens next.
    • 3/5
      The Turning was a very quick read — at just over 200 pages I whipped through this bad boy like a cat slurps down a bowl of milk.The simple, interesting plot does away with all the convoluted back-story that others in the paranormal genre seem to feel is necessary in abundance. Don’t get me wrong, I could have done with a bit more, but it likely wouldn’t have influenced how I ultimately felt about the book. Well, that is unless it was 100 pages worth of old world stuff droning on and on. That likely would have turned me off, but I digress. Interestingly enough, I suspect given where this story ended (and the final revelation as to where Mary stands in the hierarchy of shapeshifting) we’ll have the opportunity to delve a bit deeper into that history in the next book.What did we have? We had a good group of central characters, some high school antics, realization of paranormal ability and an ascension to power. Seems super fun right? Right, it was!As far as characters go there was an interesting mix. We have Mary, the main character, a timid girl who just wants to blend in. Her wise cracking sister Octavia, a super-student who is most often the center of attention. A set of twins with an eccentric mother who provide the sisters an excellent escape. And finally, Nick and Yoon the boys who know all about Mary’s abilities. It was through these characters that we got to experience Helen Ellis’ fabulous sense of humor. Her sarcastic wit comes through most notably through Octavia’s words and deeds. I had many laugh out loud moments at the hands of Octavia’s dialogue that definitely made the story all that more enjoyable.So what about the paranormal elements? Oh, they were there for sure. But unlike some I’ve read within the genre it wasn’t heavy handed. In fact, I’d say the story was more about the idea of the turning than the actual act itself. Don’t get me wrong, we got the latter too but seeing it happen over and over again wasn’t the end all be all of what Ellis was trying to get across. I really appreciated that. I wanted to take the journey with Mary and I didn’t need the repetition of seeing her turn fifty times in two days to do it.The Turning is an excellent foray into the paranormal genre for those who may be a bit wary of it. It’s also appropriate for your middle grader. It’s highly entertaining, with some good laughs to liven up the more serious moments.
    • 3/5
      It's funny really. I had every reason to say no when I was approached to read The Turning: What Curiosity Killed. I nearly did. I am not even sure why I said yes exactly. Unlike so many bloggers out there, I am not smitten with young adult novels in general. Take Peanut Buster Parfaits. I like them, but only now and then. It's the same with Young Adult fiction. Then there is the little fact that people assume that because I go by the name Literary Feline that I love to read about cats. Sometimes I do. I tend to be picky in that regard though. Animal books and I don't always get along. I have a thing for shape shifters though and it isn't too often I come across a book about shape shifting cats. So, I was more than curious.I set aside an afternoon to read this book as part of my recent Reading Day adventure, and it made for the perfect light reading, especially after a heavier book that left me feeling a little sad. Helen Ellis has a great sense of humor that shines through in her writing. I really liked the characters, Mary and her sister Octavia in particular.Both Mary and Octavia were once foster children and have been adopted by a loving and well-to-do family. They attend an elite private school where there is the requisite bully (Ling Ling) and the handsome crush (Nick Martin). Life couldn't get any better for Mary. She has everything she could ever hope for. That is until she begins to notice little changes: a patch of orange fur here and a sudden and undeniable craving for milk, among them. Mary is scared and embarrassed at the changes coming over her. The turning throws her into an entirely new sub-world, one of a feud between cats, the Strays and the Domestics. Not only is Mary told she must choose sides, but she also faces the threat of losing the life she's come to love.Events unfold quickly in The Turning: What Curiosity Kills. And while I think that the author could have developed certain aspects of the story more fully, I never felt it suffered because she did not. Besides, she has to save something for future books, right? Overall, this was a fun and entertaining read. Mary is a likable character, thoughtful and kindhearted. She has the usual insecurities of a girl her age, and is a character most readers will be able to relate to. Her adopted sister Octavia is probably my favorite character. She doesn't think twice about standing up to the biggest bully in the school, but she is deathly afraid of cats, which makes things even more interesting and tests the sisters' bond. Okay, and so my affection for Octavia might have a little something to do with her love for books too, the hours she spends at the library book sale. Just saying.I do not often complain about an ending of a book, but I had a problem with the ending of this one. It had more to do with my own personal bias, however, than quality or fit. The ending made total sense in the scheme of things. It's just, well . . . I don't want to say. Spoilers, you know. While sometimes an ending can ruin a book for me, it did not in this case. Far from it. The book has so much going for it, and I really did enjoy reading it. I just wish I didn't have to wait so long for the second book in the series!
    • 3/5
      Mary is a pretty normal 16 year old. Having been adopted she's definitely living a better life now. But lately she has been feeling really odd, doing odd things that she can't explain. Mary learns that she is slowly turning into a feline, but it's not that simple. She's got some tough choice to make. So, much for normal.This was a fast fun read. I have a tabby cat who thinks he's human, so I enjoyed this story. The Turning was different but intriguing, very unique with boat loads of charm. It's like nothing I've ever come across before. It had some really funny-laugh out loud moments. Both Mary and her sister Octavia were great characters. While this wasn't a favorite of mine, I am interested to see how things play out in the next book. This book will definitely spark the interest of cat lovers.
    • 4/5
      The Turning: What Curiosity Kills by Helen Ellis Genre: YA, paranormal, romanceRating: 4Mary Richards always knew she didn't fit in exactly with everyone else, but she always attributed that to the fact that she and her sister were adopted. But when her long time crush suddenly starts showing interest in her, she randomly starts sleeping and purring in class, and she starts to turn into a cat, she knows things are never going to be the same.I was instantly pulled into The Turning. The story starts and progresses quickly, and I read the whole thing in one day, almost fully in one sitting. It's the kind of book that you don't realize you've gotten to the next page, or the next chapter, and before you know it, you're done… but the adventure was so engaging, you forgot who you were for a while, because you were living solely in the character's shoes. The writing was casual, but good. I rarely felt out of place or confused by what had just occurred. One of the only things that really bothered me about this book was the fact that Nick and Mary's relationship was very fast, and seemingly out of nowhere but lust. The ending, also, didn't quite have enough closure on the relationship aspect, nor on the actual story. It directly after the final exciting scene, with no smooth curve down. My heart was still racing when I got to the last page, and I felt like it should have lasted a little longer. Lastly, I wasn't sure if this book was for pre-teens, ages 12-14, or older. It would probably appeal to both age groups. My favorite part was watching the characters show themselves for who they were. Yoon being more than what meets the eye, Octavia confessing her secrets and being willing, for love, to face her fears, and all the others, too. They were all very unique. I loved the characters and their interaction and dialogue. Overall, I enjoyed The Turning, and look forward to the rest of the series. Content: Some language, no sexRecommendation: Ages 14-18, or if offended by language 16+

    Book preview

    The Turning Book 1 - Helen Ellis

    G ^book_preview_excerpt.html[[6 /ۑ{l)(ɶTcRtv'DfE@VՋD6f)9^̔TU|}{qYzO/V۩za[뫟֥+Foڪ{Wa݆pVե7o0Lw0c~ԋg0đ_&^tm!oxsSQomoCû;'3E [ա LU{P{43khJ,r6P&|q8|Tm>f-mYL.Į B=]͋?5>᥺oai쭬*!:{7҄t_O{[~e&YNnvջ1 2Jl ө ]խMN79 0UocR$ґ/an;mS:hj^=co!Nh1%]soQ+csvTgrk 5UC"9au7m`fU9N8vBXЮ,hȇA7 \E;6:6dEvQ*eDټTOm}pUj0׶&5(o}?=ln[_}Ϳ[~ym2\yĉS}g{lZ[k5Cǝkm;|qbx<2&8r'?P)B<~};o݀/a؟8PL[Ql6w?''AR,ï;1u]onJ;̠;Oئ}4b(z=h;Wď ׿0_v ]%Mcm,oڇck}`sK{[ m]_jtH;ToW0Fd 8vW0Ct6-IFL aWEMHpm?x}7ipSg.: PV`ȁEHfQh0 ;jE{2x?kMJqcLMjdK!o*sH\ 嫸j,vo,{ic]qT́U(pHHFې85p<'xrv6Pb%V!"L"zW71cc0ߏV@\k  +9Ncxptxc%iޏ]Xz0!},c`!wO~ cqZU8dkz*((qC쬘=L&"<5V1(b!@X,X!q|R;_SLx zk!("ևq dPc"HrNBc'o/K`|,;*统:(R8NBiS G'5+ l9T Pv+ Q𵺔l[R%܌b_cH%i|THwءhwjfb0DV:դPG<"Q~"s:j !srNGVzZP*Y_1H*t' J?_Iu!ҠN1wbEr_^-hJD=.1V)=*9pI^݉&  a=htaPZL**r*#"2‘[1kj)SջK#-.B}hA*{!ljMIuZF}aK?UO/ˏO [a5}71X wOҍ}x(wi0g|u( Z hspl L!"(>i`:TV,[*xi$ hAm ʼꣽFvJ>3KpJ ܅'3Z d #BoiŔoʶd0P]BQ 5p=1dl tfQ.4O+I- y9=-;LkH3'8mz3| ߋXYgU3]n+5(oB/A،G2c뀖%@v6gz[;:c09\IB(FBK= N" ks;kCvA4E+|{EI‹(,!NP"1G v7,(^oQ.E!F9'"]RX -Pb@vahW\P/~멷кkf/2 t0wGd,E;L.9yP(};&"کCe$Zm)?A@4262r|\n!4 *ls۠V*|O~rs"6fg ڻ؞kU6cK_ bk}vO ),cA`ԃ%Zm'$#YՠjA>3TH9in֎$ uLjǨ v&h̔5y,X<յ6#}?"C {%*۹\fyoMg2H^0: +3|ioUO 4sB"H6KbԔF/- 4 ZXaz\®Q`zLEF]m>ȧrXs kif㉭ > 'JӰY+`xPP) ,#@iBwe3m̭JAtb2>^], n4ڐ[zdv8h qKZ!QDdVK+RE4bTՔ>)`cl/oRA(P蒷#;OmDW=BBFD {ݔB8IwMؕ+ɓKa4Ժѱ(*L.Փoޱ\ d[i!$~cB,IlڠʋGם1?X :NY){#+ J. 﫲lU̍3zW`RplؒM`GAYX6&љKSEr߄+9!`4X ? iGyZ%f$yh:܈&݆K-dsuU[ȓ6f_Rfv߰+Of\bWmGڳ`}$ ע:> | m7mQ Рt~l:LK1V D]*bim.Xh:q$RvT+’ ġ>j|jM@m΄ȑ%2u:7,dԙb%&Jfv< dS9~v44E@l?JmW>C:.:+? GZq U!u\^R_(-7nș(v+;To9(F~\X)3qa`忧 3jkvl ? | -LnKoN{z2> Q fU.vlJRؼç}A5RtTs7"*]' L@$L@(^M"5U\pIC7rdKa!w[oyPnn)9IEfYQfkuE&Ѹ%l|NBQwe*݂%muz˔GEN?/sQƬz &u-l#ABl,tnx"{&%E,='sCgVUv4揷LNQ0'ET&  "\h<9|ܔ_IDA`hhjj)n~iJ  A1ÁlT{xoJon7Ps=4k9<FN]O >񟟦G-[BnH3U0RcBίP:=` *0OG:UWJʶp (hQ}#cjK)ʽC1Mr{vb dS *3I/[d,Y33t(QsxNQԐ) By/^zK膞hl#,/Ok&^B~xܜd G,,)$αN'KSd Fx';9gC/4~XI xRbLvn Eb$ZMNZ.Cws;'/nNV'q Ryޝй.yjɥ2JI:ˡ4 +ʻUOLZX iJSٵgC? S득(Ɠ" = ΡWI"azGݷ<*2MTo':U/`^;(&? M$“eIoii5NR - ܓvI!y.49S9G*Ha&Uq"GgУ>=!1>Q|B]f$eL#8v(x觙 -0]+9TqW "Avp@2w%Yn0iWTnR4&^/vU|Nfm|N(4w(]Nĉxp*Ef3';rLk5Qfr.*W+T;ˠz4X$ +=aovL)|IW[ 5b7e"$ͣG9!+)&#ZBO1﹋6< [޻\S'/;n y4hZZ,xqX!_9
    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1