The Vespertine

By Saundra Mitchell

It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

This book features a teaser chapter from Saundra Mitchell’s third novel, The Springsweet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Mar 7, 2011
• ISBN: 9780547573854

Saundra Mitchell

Saundra Mitchell has been a phone psychic, a car salesperson, and a denture deliverer. She’s dodged trains, endured basic training, and hitchhiked from Montana to California. The author of fifteen books for tweens and teens, Saundra always picks truth; dares are too easy. She lives in the suburbs of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Book preview

title page

Contents

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Title Page

Contents

Copyright

Dedication

Oakhaven, Broken Tooth, Maine, Autumn 1889

One

Kestrels, Baltimore, Maryland, Autumn 1889

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Oakhaven, Broken Tooth, Maine, Autumn 1889

Ten

Kestrels, Baltimore, Maryland, Autumn 1889

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Oakhaven, Broken Tooth, Maine, Autumn 1889

Nineteen

Acknowledgments

Sample Chapter from THE SPRINGSWEET

Buy the Book

Read More from Saundra Mitchell

About the Author

Copyright © 2011 by Saundra Mitchell

All rights reserved. For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to [e-mail] or to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 3 Park Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10016.

Harcourt is an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

www.hmhco.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-0-547-48247-7 (hardback)

ISBN 978-0-547-72193-4 (paperback)

eISBN 978-0-547-57385-4

v5.1116

For Nick and Gwen—

          There are more things . . .

Oakhaven

Broken Tooth, Maine

Autumn 1889

One

I WOKE IN OAKHAVEN, entirely ruined.

The ballad notes of a quadrille lingered on my skin, remnants of a chaîne anglaise danced only in slumber. I heard a velvet voice against my cheek, and I burned in the dark and dreaming light of his eyes.

Morning had come, its watery brightness stealing shadows from the corners, but still I swayed.

Perhaps this once I could find my visions—my awful, eerie gift—without the fires of sunset. Perhaps this once I could abandon the vespers and go there on my own. To the place where I saw more than eyes could see. Where I knew more than minds could know.

Where I could be with him.

I had learned to do it for Zora, my sweetest friend—lost, and I was to blame! I couldn’t bear to wonder about her. I knew how I’d left her—wrecked and desolate, a shell because I’d cracked her open. I should have listened when she told me to bear it alone.

If some ethereal part of me counted sins, that part bore the darkest stain for the tragedy I brought her. Rocking until the floor kept time, I drew a breath elongated. I opened my arms to open my body.

If I could spill everything out, if I could but empty myself of sensation and thought, I could be filled again with the sight. If this were sunset, the visions would come. Through my mind’s eye, I would step inside someone else’s skin.

I’d walk on their legs, see with their eyes—whispers of all things to come. Until now I’d been too afraid to look for my older, wiser self. Today I whispered and rocked, and rolled my eyes, hoping to see anything at all.

The need overwhelmed me, my breath rushing like wind, blood pounding in my ears—all distractions, terrible distractions. I begged through bitten lips, Please, please, please . . .

My skirts washed around me. I made fists of my hands, nails digging into the palms. If only pain brought clarity! Locked in this hopeless attic room, I flung myself at the desk. How viciously darling of my brother. He’d jailed me with pen and paper, but no one to write to.

I had nothing. I had no one.

Weighted by the ornate train of my gown, I climbed up. Only on my toes could I see the world outside, the first peach and plum shades of morning in the distance. Something heavy in me turned. I flattened my hands on the glass.

Nathaniel, Nathaniel! I cried, then seized by a terrible rage, I screamed. How could you abandon me to this?

I beat at the windows. I imagined my fists shattering the panes, shards making ribbons of my flesh. I tasted the blood. I felt the cold that would come of letting it course from me. This was no premonition, just dread hope.

Intention weighed my arms. I stood coiled. I meant to spring! To have it done! To end it all!

But my craven nature restrained me. The threat of pain made me a coward. I could only slap the glass uselessly. Ashamed, I pressed my brow against the wall and wept.

Then the attic door swung open.

Startled, I lost my balance entirely. The desk tipped over, and my skirts dragged me down like an anchor. In a shower of writing paper and unstoppered bottles, I fell to the floor. India ink splashed in black puddles, and my hands came up smeared with it.

August, my pale and angled brother, hauled me to my feet. His fingers bit through my sleeves, writing five hot points of pain on my flesh.

What’s the matter with you? he demanded.

Nothing at all! I am fit and bright and sober as a priest.

With another shake, August asked, Shall I send you to the sanitarium after all?

You should! I shouted.

Don’t test me, Amelia, August said, his voice rising. I will beat the devil out of you. You have my word on that.

I couldn’t help but smile. You can’t. You’d have to beat me dead. What will you do with your devil sister’s body, Gus? How will you explain me away?

He answered me with a slap. It left a welt on my cheek, raised and burning, and all I could do was touch it gingerly—and laugh. Softly, but laughter all the same, for August was far more troubled by it than I.

Gray as wash water, he cast an accusing look at his hand.

I lay back, turning my eyes to the plastered ceiling to welcome a weary numbness. Just poison my breakfast. You can call it a fever. Be done with me, I told him as I dropped to the bed.

I doted on you once. Backing toward the door, August looked everywhere but at me. I used to pull you about in my wagon.

I’m much too heavy for your wagon now.

Taking out his key, August warned me as he once more locked me in, Stay away from the windows.

Perhaps tomorrow, I thought, I shall be brave enough to put myself through them.

Clattering footsteps came up the stairs, carried with the sounds of an argument well and truly started.

. . . cannot simply lock her away, August!

She is ruined. I do think I can . . .

. . . sent her to make friends and find a husband, you can hardly complain that she tried in earnest . . .

Flattening myself against the door, I pressed my ear to it to listen. Strange hope battered my chest. August’s tenderhearted wife intended to set me free. Loose in the house, I could devise a hundred methods to dispatch myself, ones painless enough to conquer my cowardice.

Enough! Lizzy stamped a foot, and I felt the floor vibrate with it.

Rushing back to the bed, I fixed my eyes on the ink-stained floor. My heart fluttered with shame. Here came a little brown bird of a girl, pleasantly ordinary in every way, to my defense without knowing the sort of chaos I could cause.

They whispered a moment more, and then the key ground in the lock. When the door swung open, Lizzy opened her arms to me.

Amelia Grace, she said. Welcome home.

We had always been cordial but never fond. This once, Lizzy embraced me tenderly.

I am glad to come to it, I murmured.

Lizzy folded her hands serenely and turned to August. Shall we to breakfast? Jennie’s still away, but can’t we cobble something together?

My stomach twisted, and I marveled at my body’s will against my mind. These hands would not break glass; this belly would not go hungry. Perhaps the truth was that I was weak and simple-minded, easy to beguile. I wondered if that meant all my feelings were false. Would every passion I’d known fade away with time and sensibility?

Finally, I said, I believe we can.

Splendid, Lizzy said. She put a hand on August’s arm, steering him with a great deal more subtlety than he had steered me the night before. While we meddle in the kitchen, could you see to it that Amelia’s room near mine is put right?

Oh, I could see the refusal on August’s tongue; he stuck it out, just the tip, then bit down to end his inward struggle. Forcing a smile, he offered me a slanted look. Of course, dear wife.

I should change, I said. Ink stained my gown and my hands. My hair hung in lank, weedy stripes over my shoulders.

We’re all family here. Lizzy smiled pleasantly, first at me, then at August.

Without speaking to me, without even once straying toward a glance, August took his leave.

Lizzy considered a knotty loaf of bread, touching the knife to it several times before deciding where to cut. I waited quietly beside her, playing with the cage on the long-handled bread toaster.

One for the bag, she said, tossing the heel into a muslin bag set aside for bread pudding. Then she made two more cuts and offered me thick, even slices on the flat of her knife. And two for you.

Perched on a little stool, I turned the toaster in my hands. My face stung with the heat rolling out, the flames drawing a fine sheen of sweat to my face.

Still slicing, Lizzy swayed, the satin of her tea gown whispering with the motion. There was a great deal to be said for keeping a tidy appearance. Though Lizzy’s curls were unremarkably dun and her features simply regular, she had a delicate air.

None would handle her roughly nor pull the pins from her hair. Certainly none would leave ragged the edges of her Irish lace. She wore respectability like earbobs, a subtle touch noticed by all who knew her.

I spun the toaster’s handle again and tried to find my voice. You’re good to have me downstairs.

You’re family.

It would please August if I weren’t, I said. It was shockingly wrong to hint at the reason for my return, and yet how could I not? I never intended . . .

Softly, Lizzy said, I believe you’re making charcoal.

Jerking the toaster from the stove, I shook it to put out the flames. I’m sorry!

I scrambled for a cloth to wrap around my hand and yet managed to burn myself all the same. When I went to apologize again, nothing came out but a plaintive sob, and suddenly I found myself cosseted in Lizzy’s arms again.

You should know, she said, patting my back in a matter-of-fact kind of way, that there’s still life left in a ruined girl.

You’re kind, I said, and mostly meant it. But it’s not so. I intended to be good, Lizzy. I meant to make myself a good match and a wholesome friend, but . . .

But what? she asked.

I lifted my face to her, brokenly certain. But now I’m not fit for anything but haunting my brother’s house.

You’d make a fine lady clerk or teacher, Lizzy said. She took a step back, squaring me with her hands on my shoulders. If that’s what you’d choose. But believe me when I tell you, little sister. Time rubs away most stains, and it is with utmost certainty that I assure you . . .

For a long moment, she said nothing. Then her voice went low as she confided, There are good men who won’t care that the package is dented, should its contents delight them.

Did she mean she’d been . . . I took a breath when she nodded, confirming it. I should’ve been shocked to find out Lizzy had ever sinned, let alone sinned so much as to ruin her. I should have been shocked, but I wasn’t. Instead, numbness soothed me, a balm for my ragged heart that still yearned for a monster.

Squeezing Lizzy’s hand, I swore, It would be a wasted soul to find you anything but delightful.

Well then, Lizzy said brightly. Shall we attempt our toast and jam again?

Kestrels

Baltimore, Maryland

Spring 1889

Two

UNLIKE THE SEEMLY, segregated docks in New York City, Baltimore’s northwest harbor was a fantastic place to step into an adventure.

Though my cousin Mrs. Stewart did her utmost to keep me from oggling at the sailors and shoremen, only a hood would have hidden them from me completely.

What marvels they were, some fine in uniforms from the best and worst steam lines, a Cunarder cap there, and the crisp, familiar white and red of the White Star Line on down the way. But the coal men and crabbers I found the most fascinating, for I had landed in Maryland on an unseasonably warm day.

My blouse clung to my flesh in those rare places my corset didn’t confine, but these men all adock had no such troubles. Half of them had stripped to the skin, muslin shirts hanging from their belts, suspenders crossing bared chests and broad shoulders.

Move along, Mrs. Stewart said, herding me with her parasol against my bustle. In spite of her hurry, I gazed my fill.

Young men, thin as whippets, ranged before us. They tipped hats and called hello in a way that said they knew they had no business greeting ladies this way. Some had accents, melodious hints of countries I’d read about but never seen. Others spoke with the same down-home tones Mrs. Stewart did.

Out of the way, she threatened when one blue-eyed tease of a lad, this one at least fully dressed and no more than ten, fell into step beside us.

It’s trouble on the docks for ladies alone, he said, pulling his hat off and pressing it to his chest. He implored me, as if I had any say in the matter of my direction. Beg you let me see your way to your carriage.

We have not one penny for you, young man. Good day.

Mrs. Stewart not only led visiting cousins by the rod of her parasol, but she drove off churls with it, too. She threat ened with its lace and silk, and the boy melted into the crowd again. When he did, Mrs. Stewart made a triumphant sound, then looked to me.

Have no doubt of it, Miss van den Broek, Baltimore is everything brash and forward. She hooked my elbow and steered me neatly around a broken board. We’ll make you a good match yet, but we won’t find it here—mind your step.

Fair enough, I said softly, laughing when a fruit vendor, an Araber, tossed up a pale green trio of apples to juggle.

A single yearning Oh escaped my lips.

My trip from Broken Tooth to Baltimore had lasted barely three days, but it had left me oversalted and undersweetened. The perfume from those apples burned my nose, sharpening my appetite with raw hunger.

I had no pocket money of my own. The price for keeping me was folded in a thick leather folio, tucked safely in Mrs. Stewart’s coat. There was enough for a few gowns and necessaries. I’d need those to make proper friendships, hopefully a marriageable match, this summer—there was nothing more necessary than that, as far as my brother was concerned. Apples, however tempting, could hardly be considered so important.

Mrs. Stewart glanced at me, then traded a coin for an apple before hurrying me into the cobbled brick street. Save it ’til we’re on the road, she said.

Of course, I wouldn’t thwart her; I clung to my apple and followed gratefully, until we came to a roundabout and an unattended victoria.

Though the leather seats shone a bit, worn in places from use, it was a glorious little car. The bonnet top was folded back, its wheel spokes painted gaily red—this carriage was worlds more delightful than the funereal rockaway carriage August kept at home.

Mrs. Stewart put her foot in one of the front spokes, looking over her shoulder at me. In you go.

A flutter filled my chest, watching her hitch her skirts daintily and climb into the driver’s seat. Trailing my gloved hand along the hitched horse’s flank, I asked, You’ll be driving, ma’am?

We’re no relation to the Commodore, she said, and of course intended to remind me that though I was a van, mine was den Broek and not der Bilt. I’ll drive or we’ll swelter all day here. If it’s all the same to you, I’d prefer suffocating at home.

"Where is Mr. Stewart?" I inquired, still lingering.

With brisk, gloved hands at the reins, Mrs. Stewart looked down at me. At his office, I expect. The law’s as much a calling as the cloth.

I see, I said.

Come on now. Lizzy told me you weren’t the precious sort. Even if you are, I’m the driver you’ve got.

Chastened, I blushed and moved to climb in the carriage. But at once, I stopped.

I’m not entirely sure what possessed me. Maybe the loneliness of the cab, or the novelty of a lady driver, or just the wild air of the Inner Harbor in my lungs, but I asked, Is there room up front, Mrs. Stewart?

Mrs. Stewart answered my question with a distinct slide to the right. I folded my skirts as I’d seen her do and stepped up. From this perch, I could see the whole of Baltimore—it was a magnificent view.

Have that apple now, Mrs. Stewart said, seamlessly urging the horse into traffic. Caesar here will want the core.

My teeth cut into the fruit’s firm

Reviews for The Vespertine

[linnnnie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ok Here I go..

When I first thought of reading The Vespertine I really thought I would not like it... it was a period piece set in 1889, there would be no Hot Vampire or Awesome supernatural beings.. It is going to be BORING.. Then I started reading it maybe it caught my interest so quickly because it is set in Maryland where I live, I have been to Baltimore to many times to count. Or, maybe it was because I knew the setting, with its familiar places like the Inner Harbor, Druid Hill, Mt Vernon Place and Greenmount cemetery (one of my favorite places to take photos>>!!!).

For whatever reason, I was quickly immersed in their world. Their manner of dress and the atmosphere that Ms Mitchell created were so vividly described down to the sounds and smells, without forcing some sort of history lesson or being too wordy to understand.

Here is an example of Why I LOVE THIS BOOK===> "Before I boarded, I turned back to look at the city of my summer. All the huddled row houses clung together, making blocks of streets, and neighborhoods of blocks. Horse cars rang their merry bells, and Arabers called-- apples apples apples and an orange! oranges! All the color of it seared on my skin, red brick white marble, blue skies."

Ms Mitchell's style of writing is very melodic, and her story telling is wonderful. I feel that she caught the essence of these characters and I truly wanted to find out what happened to them. I was left curious about some untold futures, and I was also left saying what a wonderful read.

Amelia, thrust into an unfamiliar world was sent from her home in Maine by her brother to find a suitable husband, instead she found Zora her distant cousin and two became fast friends. She went in search of a husband and found a life.

Now I am not going to spill the beans about what the twists of the story are, but let it be known there are some good ones :O) I can't wait to read more...

I have serious love for this one... Well done to Sandra Mitchell and thanks to NetGalley for the wonderful read. I will be purchasing a Hardcover copy to add to my collection. Twitter

[ishanella · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. To be fair, I have a soft spot for period fiction. I love reading about the mannerisms and the social interactions from the past. Seeing how much we've changed, but yet not changed has always been fascinating to me, so when I read that the book was based in the 1800s I knew that I was in for a treat.

The story follows Amelia, who has an odd power to see the future at sunset. Her brother sent her from their home in Maine to live with cousins in Baltimore so she could find a suitable match. However, she ends up falling for a man her brother would not approve of and getting into a lot of mischief along the way.

Amelia and her cousin, Zora, are quite likable. Their friends are quickly introduced and, with the exception of Sarah and Mattie, we don't find out a lot about them. It would have been wonderful to read more of their relationship with their friends and acquaintances. However, we do see a lot of Thomas and Nathaniel, as well as the whirlwind romance as the two court their ladies.

I cannot deny that I wished there were more pages to this book. I love the way Saundra described the period and the way the girls pushed the limits of their time. I loved the interactions and insight into how society worked with its rules and etiquette, as well as the parallels that could be drawn with society today. I loved the paranormal twist to the story and the fast paced ending . The Vespertine was a lovely tale, that left me wanting more.

[review of arc via netgalley]

[rosa.mill · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Amelia is sent by her brother to Baltimore to catch a husband. In Baltimore she stays with her cousin Zora. While in Baltimore the two girls quickly gain fame when Amelia begins having visions of the future. Amelia has some trepidation about these visions although she is distracted from it all by Nathaniel an artist she meets at a family party that is below the standing, however she can't seem to keep herself from wanting him.

It took me a long time to figure out how I felt about this book. There were a lot of things about it that drove me crazy. Mainly I felt like certain parts of the plot were just glossed over, and there was one point I'm still kind of confused about regarding Nathaniel, particularly the ending. (I'm not going to go into detail because I don't want to spoil anything for anybody.) Those are the gripes, now onto the good stuff.

I absolutely adored the writing style and ambiance. While it was written in a standard prose style there was something very poetic about the writing. Even the simplest of descriptions sounds absolutely gorgeous. The beauty of the language is just absolutely entrancing. My favorite descriptions were of her visions, particularly the happy ones. When Amelia has a vision, she experiences it as though it were happening to her; the happy scenes are lovely and moving. The sad and painful ones are down right gut wrenching and painful, especially when they are for someone Amelia likes or loves.

The language definitely contributed to the ambiance the book has. (Although I feel like I don't have the right kind of language to describe it.) At the opening of the book we actually start at the end, when Amelia has returned home from her adventures in Baltimore. The despair that she feels over the outcomes can be felt in every word. You feel for Amelia and how for her the sun will never shine again. Then we switch to Baltimore and Amelia's initial arrival. You feel her excitement and nervousness and it's a sharp contrast to the despair the novel opens with. Through out the book we go back and forth and I think this serves to heighten the tension in the novel, because you already know it will go wrong and just how bad it will really be.

[sensitivemuse · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was an okay book. Certainly not the best, but it had it’s moments where it did engage me as a reader. The book had some gothic overtones and the setting of the story (which was Victorian but in the USA era) was interesting - which kept my curiosity going. I really enjoyed reading about Amelia because she didn’t care what others thought of her or what society thought. She did whatever she wanted to do despite the consequences. I really liked her paired up with Zora. They were like two kindred spirits and made an interesting duo to read. The other characters were also pretty good. I’m trying to figure out whether Nathaniel is some other worldly creature, or just someone with paranormal powers. I was a bit confused there (I’m sure that’s probably explained in the other two books)What bugged me about this book is, it went at such a great pace, and then halfway through the book it slows to the pace of waiting for the entire carton of molasses to empty. It goes SUPER SLOW. Almost to the point where I wanted to give up the book. I’m not sure why it became this way, after being halfway in the book you’re then set back on pace and the book gets interesting in the end. In fact it’s the ending that makes up for the snail’s pace. Sort of. Worth a read and if possible, try and work your way through the snail trail in the book. The ending makes the reading worth it. Otherwise if you don’t have the patience, you might as well pass this one by.

[ceilidhann · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Starting off with the positives, I thoroughly enjoyed the prose. It was enjoyable to read and didn’t feel overdone or pretentious. With such period settings, especially when written in 1st person, it’s all too easy to get carried away or let your guard slip but Mitchell does a good job with the prose; it was the thing that kept me reading the book through most of it. For the most part I also enjoyed Amelia, the protagonist. She’s practical and fully aware of the societal expectations weighing down on her as well as possessing a wit a little out of place for her standing in society. She wasn’t the greatest protagonist I’ve ever read in such a setting (I also give kudos to Mitchell for going with Baltimore as the setting, it’s a place I’ve never seen before in period drama YA, and much of it is described very well in the novel) but she was more than serviceable. Unfortunately, for me, she was also the only memorable character in the story.

As much as I loved the prose and liked Amelia, the deathly slow pace of the novel and sporadic appearances of the plot seriously disappointed me. The novel opened intriguingly yet Mitchell seemed to forget she was supposed to be writing a paranormal novel for large stretches of time. The paranormal element could have been dropped completely and it probably wouldn’t have made much difference. If the novel was shorter, maybe a novella, and a more straightforward period romance about a girl and the social expectations plaguing her life, it would have been much better. I wonder if Mitchell has ever written any short stories; if not she should definitely write some because her prose is excellent and I feel would be suited better to something less drawn out.

“The Vespertine” started off so promisingly and for all its faults there are also many positive things to say about it. Giving this book a rating was a tough one. The prose is very high quality for YA, I enjoyed the protagonist and the setting was well realised, but the plotting, pacing and under-developed paranormal elements are so poor in comparison that the novel is just so boring for long stretches. There’s a lot to like but getting through all the bad stuff to see it might not be worth your while. I do hope Mitchell can improve with her problematic areas because her prose deserves better (she is writing a companion novel to this, entitled “The Springsweet” and I think she’s definitely got the imagination to support it.

2.5/5.

[leftik_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Vespertine is a gorgeously written, paranormal novel with the lush historical setting of turn-of-the-century Baltimore to serve as its backdrop. I enjoyed the development of characters - slow and steady - as well as the twists and turns of the paranormal side of the book.

While there are a few excellent love stories in The Vespertine (yay for Nathanial!), I found the relationships between Amelia and her cousin and host, Zora, to be even more interesting. Their support of each other was interesting to watch develop over the course of the book and made the ending all the more heart-wrenching.

Another set of bonuses for this book were the paranormal angle - visions in the vespers is a pretty new concept (for me, at least) - and how slowly Amelia's gift build throughout. Her visions aren't in your face and, while they do factor into the plot, I think the plot is enhanced by the paranormal storyline instead of relying on it.

There were a few slow-moving spots for me, but I never found any of the characters to be cardboard and, as mentioned above, I thought Mitchell's writing was gorgeous. As a bonus, I loved the historical setting. While I know numerous YA books with historical settings exist, I never seem to get around to them. So this was a treat.

[a_reader_of_fictions · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Amelia lived a rather boring, country life in Maine until she was sent to spend a season with cousins in Baltimore. During this time, she was intended to meet a man of good station and get married. What she did instead was discover that she sees visions of the future, become famous/infamous for the former thing around Baltimore, behave rather indecently with a man who would not be a good marriageable prospect and ruin her reputation. Drama, drama, drama.

The Vespertine is one of those books that I cannot decide whether or not I liked it overall. I really thought the premise was interesting. I have always had a soft spot for high society/season things (I even made it through Godbersen's Luxe series). Plus, there's the magic element, which came off with a hint of magic realism (super cool). Still, there were other aspects that were less well done or just not fully used.

For instance, the opening chapter is pretty astounding. Amelia is shut up in a room for having brought shame upon herself and the family. Locked up by her own family. With that and the period piece element, I was thinking back on Wildthorn, although the books really are quite different. This chapter grabs the reader's attention and takes a powerful hold. You want to know all the gritty and dirty details about what Amelia has done. But that atmosphere never really comes back again.

What bugged me the most was how much like a trashy romance novel the story was at times (okay, only when Amelia is with her boy). Seriously, the dialog and descriptions would not be out of place in the latest Judith McNaught book. Plus, I never really got to liking Nathaniel (that's his name). Or mostly I just couldn't take him seriously, because he's such a stereotypical flirty bad boy leading her down a bad path in his introduction. Then, you get a description of him on a usual day: "His coat was cut in green and gold tartan, and he'd pinned the pocket with a nosegay of tangerine silk" (73). Yikes! That's some color combo.

The Vespertine makes a nice change from some of the more typical teen fare. Some important issues are brought up, along with magic, love, romance and ruination. Not for everyone, but some will enjoy this late nineteenth century romp.

[darkfaerietales_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Romance and paranormal talents consume the life of one teenage girl in Victorian America leaving a path of death and destruction in her path. Opening Sentence: I woke in Oakhaven, entirely ruined. The Review: Set in late 19th Century America, Amelia van den Broek trades her life cooped up in her brother’s attic in frigid Maine with the bustle of society with cousins in Baltimore. The book starts with insinuating that Amelia has ruined herself socially. What happened in Maine is never discussed, which instantly made me interested to see what would happen in the rest of the book. Following social structures of the upper middle class of the time, Amelia’s only hope is to secure a good match in Baltimore society. Comparing this practice to what we experience today drives home how much society has and has not changed since the Victorian period. Girls today have more freedom to choose whom they marry, but there are still social and family structures in place to urge what they consider to be a good match based on wealth and status. The two main characters that we see are our narrator, Amelia, and her cousin Zora Stewart. The two have never met before Amelia moves in with the Stewarts for the season, but they become fast friends, and behave like sisters. We learn a lot about each girl through their interactions with each other. Amelia is strong willed, but knows the proper rules of society. Sometimes she breaks the rules intentionally, which normally gets her in trouble. For example, when she starts school with Zora in the one room school, Amelia is assigned the last desk farthest from the stove until she can challenge someone for their desk the next week. Instead of waiting until Monday, Amelia speaks up and challenges Thomas, Zora’s crush who arrived late to class. Instead of allowing it, the teacher sends Amelia, Thomas, and Zora home. Her rule breaking only increases after meeting the handsome artist, Nathaniel Witherspoon. Nathaniel and Amelia instantly have chemistry that is literally warm to the touch. He is a poor artist, but respected enough to be invited to dinners with families like the Stewarts to ensure an even number of guests. He is not the same class as Amelia, thus not a suitable match for her, but she doesn’t care. I’m siding with Amelia on this one. Amelia doesn’t really care about being part of the upper class, so she would rather marry for love. At first Amelia tries to deny that she loves Nathaniel, but in the end, it becomes clear that she would rather be with him than anyone else. Nathaniel is handsome, talented, and can fly. Amelia is new to her paranormal talent of seeing prophetic visions of the future, but Nathaniel can ride the winds and appear wherever he wants. Both of their gifts are strong, and compliment each other. She is the fire and he is the wind. While Amelia’s talent is well known around Baltimore after a few social calls, only Amelia knows Nathaniel’s secret. Amelia’s ability to see at sunset snippets of what will happen to people, whether it be menial or important, makes her a target when one of her prophesies comes true, and people she trusted turn on her. Zora is sweet, but also mischievous, which makes her a perfect companion for Amelia. Often Amelia follows Zora’s lead when doing something that they know they should not, like attending a spiritualist show unchaperoned, save for Thomas, after getting sent home from school. Zora cares fiercely about her friends and family, and will do everything she can to make sure they are taken care of. She grew up in Baltimore society, but is not condescending towards Amelia when she doesn’t know the social protocol. Zora is still so young even though she and Amelia are the same age since she hasn’t experienced any sort of tragedy in her life until the very end of the book. It is in Saundra Mitchell’s next book, The Springsweet, that we learn even more about Zora Stewart. Overall, I enjoyed this book for the blending of paranormal into the normal society of Victorian Baltimore. I would recommend The Vespertine for anyone who is interested in period romances with a splash of hidden abilities. Notable Scene: Outside our room, footsteps crossed the stairs. We must have roused Mrs. Stewart with our laughter. We held our tongues until the night watch had passed. Once it had, I murmured, “I was looking out the window, right when the vespers bells tolled. My thoughts drifted, and I saw you. In a new dress.” This was hardly the relevant bit of the vision, but it suddenly occurred to me that perhaps I should test Zora’s patience for supernatural whimsies before admitting mine. I wasn’t sure about it. It was a singular event. I’d never been struck by premonition in Maine, never had the slightest sensation of it. Spiritualists and seances and reincarnations were fashionable. Considering my anxiety, I might have simply retreated into a hundred stories I’d read before in magazines. So this vision, of Zora in lilies — I decided to let her think I wasn’t too serious about it. What if it turned out to be nothing but a gilt-edged fantasy? How stupid I would feel. “Was it a very good dress?” she asked. “I picked one from the Harper’s book, but Mama said it would have to wait. It called for twelve yards of Irish lace. Twelve! But it was glorious!” With a light smile, I said “I hope it has lilies embroidered on the sleeves. That’s the dress I saw you in, dancing with Thomas.” “It does! The entire polonaise is lace, embroidered with lilies!” “Twelve yards!” The bed groaned again when Zora pulled me to sit with her. She clutched my fingers, imploring me with wide eye. “Did you see it, really? All of it?” I abandoned my studied lightness at once. “All of it,” I swore. The Vespertine Series: 1. The Vespertine 2. The Springsweet 3. Aetherborne FTC Advisory: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt provided me with a copy of The Vespertine. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[pacey1927 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love picking up a random book and finding out to my surprise that I love it. This is what happened when I read "The Vespertine" recently. I actually received an arc copy of the follow up novel "The Springsweet" which sounded amazing. I wanted to dig right into that one and then I realized it was a sequel. I just don't care to read books out of order so I immediately purchased "The Vespertine" and began to read it once it arrived. I read a lot of YA paranormal but not a lot of historical novels, which these books are. I immediately found myself immersed in the world of Baltimore in 1889. Amelia's brother has sent her to Baltimore for the season. Hopefully Amelia will find a proper gentleman to marry. She immediately befriends her cousin Zora and then promptly falls for a completely unproper marriage prospect named Nathaniel. Nathaniel is an artist, a dreamer and not one of their circle. I found this story entertaining enough and that was before the paranormal aspects became involved. At dusk each night, Amelia finds she can see visions of the future. At first its all games and fun. It is a social advantage to Zora and Amelia to visit and share these fortunes. But when she starts to see dark visions, the town becomes very unhappy with her.Wow, wow, wow. I loved the setting and adored the characters. I had some twists figured out before they happened but there were MANY others that I never saw coming. I found some daring choices that the author made to be completely heartbreaking. I enjoyed the day to day activities and seeing how parties and dances happened in this time period. One thing is for sure and that is that teenage girls a hundred plus years ago were still at heart teenage girls. They want to be pretty, socially acceptable, and they want to flirt and catch the eyes of a handsome boy. There were more challenges presented to them to find a proper marriage partner though. The paranormal plot was just icing on this cake. I would have enjoyed the story even without it, although things wouldn't have unfolded the way they did. I loved Amelia but I have to admit I only 'liked' Nathaniel. He didn't impress me as much as he probably should have. I really liked Zora's beau Thomas though.I highly recommend this story and I am already reading "The Springsweet". I think this author is a talent and I can't wait to see if she releases more stories in this series.

[coranne_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a book you need to read. I loved this book! The plot line was incredibly original- it was not a normal ya paranormal romance. I loved the detail about the historical setting the book was placed in. I loved the relationship between Zora and Amelia. The relationship between Amelia and Nathaniel was smoking! (And I don't really use that phrase, ha ha!) I thought that the author added a great touch by going back and forth between the present time and telling the main story in a "past tense" point of view.The only thing I was sad about- that it was over. I wanted the story to go on for another 100 pages. I had so many unanswered questions: where did Amelia's powers come from? Where did Nathaniel's powers come from? What happened after the end (the author tied it up nicely, but there are still so many unanswered questions!I noticed on Goodreads that there is going to be a companion novel next year. I am excited to do a little more research about this next novel. All of that to say- go check this book out!

[savvyescapades · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I will admit it. I am a skimmer. A fast reader. Forget about sentence construction— give me the plot! But every now and then, I stumble across a writer that demands that I read more slowly. John Green is a usual culprit. He stays fairly light for a lot of his books, but then BAM! There are a few passages that read like poetry. Libba Bray’s A Great and Terrible Beauty was like that for me too; she demanded that I read the descriptions of the magical elements slowly, and multiple times (though I will note that this lyricism isn’t really present in Going Bovine, but I think whether that’s a good, bad, or merely different thing depends on who you would ask). Prior to reading The Vespertine, I had never run into a YA book that consistently demanded that I pay attention to the flow and poetry of the words. For example, from the first chapter we have:Morning light had come, its watery brightness stealing shadows from the corners, but still I swayed.Perhaps this once I could find my visions— my awful, eerie gift— without the fires of sunset. Perhaps this once I could abandon the vespers and go there on my own. To the place where I knew more than eyes could see. Where I knew more than minds could know.Where I could be with him.I had learned to do it for Zora, my sweetest friend— lost, and I was to blame! I couldn’t bear to wonder about her. I knew how I had left her—wrecked and desolate, a shell because I’d cracked her open. I should have listened when she told me to bear it alone.Now, not all of the book is that angsty, but I stand by my previous statement that at least 85% of the book is this lyrical. In fact, this sad, broken Amelia is contrasted with a bright and bubbly young debutante, and the reader is left wondering how exactly Amelia was “ruined” and left to wallow in a very “Yellow Wallpaper”-like setting. There is plenty of plot, especially the further Amelia develops her power to see into the future. There is also lots of period romance, with emphasis on little touches and gestures and looks that convey passion in a stifled society. It took me a while to warm up to Nathaniel, but this was probably because we are repeatedly told that he is exactly wrong for Amelia and his mysterious air kind of left me feeling ambiguous about him for most of the book. I imagine this has more to do with me than the book itself though– I take a lot at face value generally, so the narrator telling me a guy is no good for her over and over again means I tend to accept that fact and wait for the guy that is right for her. Regardless, I hold off on stronger judgment of Nathaniel until I re-read the book; I am reminded that I wasn’t terribly thrilled with Jace Wayland from the Mortal Instruments series until 2/3s of the way through City of Bones either.In short, I enjoyed it immensely in spite of it being a smidge outside of my standard reading zone (I mean, seriously. What is with me and the historical fiction this month? Prior to Revolution, I don’t think I had read a historical fiction book in years). I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes slightly gothic period romances, because this book manages to be the archetypical gothic period romance while still being surprising. And now this pretty, pretty book will go on my pretty, pretty bookshelf until I read it again (and I already know that I will).Rating: 5 stars Reading Mitchell’s flowing style was a bit of work for me, especially coming out of “lawyer reading and writing” world like I was… but I still managed to finish the book in two days. That must mean I liked it a lot. Especially as GoodReads has just kindly pointed out that I have now been reading Emma for 76 days. Oops.

[bookworm_lisa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was thinking three stars throughout the book. The ending brought it up to about 3.5 stars for me. . I rounded up.This book is dark and cryptic. It reminded me of a thunderstorm. Occasionally there would be a flash of lightning and then you would be able to see clearly the events in this book.The book begins with Amelia's reputation ruined. Her brother sent her for a season to marry. When I first started reading, I had to check and make sure that this wasn't a sequel, I knew that there was a lot of back story that I was missing. I didn't realize that after the first, the book went on to tell the story behind her ruination.Youth can be reckless and play with fire. Amelia begins to have visions at Vespers. I didn't know what Vespers was until I read the book. It is the time in the evening when good Catholics say their evening prayers. What appeared to be harmless, letting others know that Amelia was having visions of the future turns into tragedy. I won't let you know what the tragedy is, because you should read it for yourself. Amelia is staying with a cousin, Zora. The girls bond quickly and enjoy their season together. They both fall in love and help each other in their efforts with boys who are not totally appropriate for their station.The romance between Zora and Thomas seems more natural and less contrived. There has been a long time admiration of Thomas by Zora. Their relationship develops and is sweet. Thomas is the perfect gentleman. He does things the way that a good boy in Victorian times should. Amelia on the other hand falls for a struggling artist, Nathaniel. He is penniless and way beneath her station. Their relationship is literally a whirlwind. (You will understand if you read or have read the book.)The book is set in the United States in the Victorian Era. I found Saundra Mitchell's details of the time period to be fascinating. She did a great job in describing the feel of the time and even in describing a corset.If you like historical fiction with a little bit of a paranormal element. You would enjoy this book. Just be prepared to try to put the pieces of the puzzle together at the beginning.

[icecream18 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I both liked and was consistently annoyed with the main character. This novel was written in, I guess, Old English. This type of speaking was annoying to me, too much flimsy, lacey language. The story began with the main character seeing people's fortunes and futures as the sun went down. She soon began giving out fortunes to all of her school friends, and becoming involved with a boy who can transport himself anywhere via the air. The novel ends well, but I really would have preferred less flowery, excitatory characters. This novel is great for teens/young adults (females).

[resugo · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book, a lot actually. It was a quick read and one I got lost in. I started reading at 6pm, and suddenly it was 9. I thought it was original and interesting and exciting and mysterious. Though I must say that it isn't a happy book. A lot of sad things happen and though Amelia gets the guy, it's rather bitter-sweet. I did feel like there was more story to tell. It's never explained why Amelia can see what she sees and why Nathanial can do what he does. There isn't a lot of set up and not much of a conclusion. This wasn't necessarily bad, I was just left wanting more of the story. (And a happier ending).

[titania86_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In the summer of 1889, Amelia van den Broek is sent to Baltimore to live with her cousins and find a suitable match. Her brother also expects her to start anew and make acquaintances to elevate her social standing so she won't be his responsibility any longer. With the freedom and excitement of being in a new city, Amelia ignores her brother's orders and enjoys a bit of trouble and fun with her cousin Zora. Then she meets Nathaniel, an artist paid to go to parties to make the numbers even, and she falls in love. He's obviously not a proper match, being not even close to her in terms of social standing, but she is inexplicably drawn to him. In addition to this budding romance, Amelia discovers by accident that the setting sun, the time of the vespers, reveals visions to her of things to come. At first, Amelia is frightened, but once word spreads and she gains quite a following, it seems fun. That is until a gruesome visions comes true and suspicion is cast on her as perhaps the cause of the accident instead of just a seer.I didn't really know what to expect when I started The Vespertine, but it was a quick enjoyable read that held my interest. The characters were all different and full of life, despite what everyone assumes about that era. Amelia had a real joie de vivre and isn't above doing some supposedly indecent things to enjoy her life. She and Zora put on a show to be proper ladies of society, but in private, they were just normal teenage girls with the same fears and anxieties of modern teenagers. Even though they wear different clothes and don't have as many opportunities as modern women do, I could see myself in them. I loved their relationship and how they interacted. They were more friends than just cousins. Amelia's relationship with Nathaniel was also realistic and palpable. Unlike some other YA novel heroes, I could see why she was drawn to him and, even though he was socially inferior, he wasn't a bad boy or a jerk. He treated Amelia with tenderness and made sure he was there for her when she needed him. I looked forward to his appearance throughout the book. Even Amelia and Zora's school friends, all pretty minor characters, had their own fully realized personalities that were conveyed in short passages. My only complaint about the novel would be the pacing and how little paranormal events there were in comparison to everything else. Much of the book was just about Amelia and Zora's day to day lives: their friends, the parties they went to, the clothes they wore, the social expectations of the day, etc. While I still find this interesting, I felt that Amelia's visions and the other paranormal aspects figured in as fairly minor. When the accident happens, causing her friends and family to turn on her, there were not very many pages left and I felt it was a rushed ending. Based on the description, I figured the bulk of the conflict would be after that event, but this was not the case. The Vespertine was a fluid and fun read that had relatable characters and featured excellent, descriptive writing from Saundra Mitchell. I hope there is another book in the works and I will be sorely disappointed if there isn't. I would recommend this to all lovers of young adult fantasy and historical fiction.

[karen813 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am having a hard time writing a review for The Vespertine because I have such mixed feelings about it. On the plus side I loved the historical setting and the beautiful language. The author has a great talent for painting a picture in the reader's head. I found it to be a very well written book, descriptive and detailed. However I thought the story lacked action and the plot dragged for me. It took me a long time to finish because I just couldn't get into the story enough. So while I appreciate the beautiful language and descriptions I wish the book had an equally engaging plot.

[jjameli_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Vespertine feel in the middle for me. I loved the time period, as well as Saundra Mitchell's writing. Very clean, and consistent with the period. Nathanial, the main character's love interest is worthy of Amelia's feelings. YA's main love interest are tending to fall short for me, but Nathaniel is the real thing. I loved his headstrong personality. What didn't do it for me so much was Amelia's sidekick, Lizzy. I could not stand her. Also, it took a while to get to the meat of the story. I would have liked the plot to have began moving quicker than it did.Overall, I'm not gushing, but it was a solid okay read.

[renkellym · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Amelia is sent by her elder brother to live with her aunt in Baltimore. Whilst there, she finds herself experiencing strange visions come sunset. She and her lively cousin Zora decide to begin telling the fortunes of young ladies who seek the future. It’s quite fun until Amelia’s enterprise begins to get her in trouble, and her visions become decidedly more serious. In addition to the troubling visions, Amelia must also determine her feelings towards Nathaniel, a boy outside her social circle, but charming nonetheless…My thoughts: The Vespertine is one of the best-written YA books that I’ve read in a while. I do not say this lightly! Saundra Mitchell’s writing is absolutely stunning. From the imagery to the descriptions of daily life in New England, 1889, and Amelia’s experiences in the vespers, everything was written beautifully.I felt as if I was in a completely different world— a world where everything was gorgeous and mystical, and girls wore lovely dresses and were courted by handsome men. I wanted to live in Amelia’s time!Saundra Mitchell expertly switches between telling of Amelia’s time in Baltimore and her sad fate in Broken Tooth. It built the tension perfectly—I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for something to go horribly awry. The whole story, in fact, is intriguing—even the bits that do not involve the supernatural (though I must admit Amelia’s gift was haunting and tempting). I enjoyed the ins and outs of life in 1889, and Amelia’s interactions with her friend Zora and their male courters were great fun.Although it may be difficult to connect to characters from a different time (particularly the past), I found myself fond of Amelia. She bore the weight of her gift quite well, and I admired her for it. She also didn’t want to conform to society like her friends, which made her a bit rebellious, a trait most teens can relate to.Nathaniel and Amelia’s forbidden romance was so wonderful! Though they can’t do more than gaze intently into each other’s eyes, and sometimes sneak a kiss, I felt their passion, and it made me want to cheer them on. The added bonus of sharing a supernatural secret only made their bond stronger.Overall, I cannot express how much I loved The Vespertine. It is written so beautifully, and its story is so intriguing, that it was difficult to stop reading. I’d recommend The Vespertine to fans of historical fantasy and general YA readers alike. You won’t want to leave Amelia or the vespers anytime soon.

[alana_leigh_6 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

II appreciate Saundra Mitchell's The Vespertine for trying to find uncharted paranormal waters in the YA market, but despite a lush depiction of 1889 Baltimore society, I was somewhat turned off by an overly-dramatic narration that seemed to take itself just a little too seriously for a book where personification of the elements was snuck in as a key relationship issue.The book opens on a rather confusing note, but if you manage to make it through, you realize that our story deals with Amelia, a girl shut up in her brother's house and believed to be mad -- but we quickly jump back in time to see the path that brought her to that point. Fresh from Maine, Amelia is sent to board with the Stewart family who has a daughter Amelia's age so Amelia can have a Season in Baltimore and find an eligible match. Her family doesn't have much money, so this will likely be the only Season she can get, and of course, her very first dinner party has her falling for the wrong man. Nathaniel Witherspoon is a "Fourteenth," a young man paid to attend a party where otherwise there would be thirteen guests and superstition demands an addition. An artist without independent means, he is the very last person Amelia should be encouraging... but try as she might, she cannot quite help herself. Meanwhile, Amelia stumbles upon a gift that she also cannot seem to help -- when gazing in to the fading sunset light, she catches a flash of a vision that heralds the future. At first, it's an image of her new friend Zora, dancing with a young man she fancies in a gown with lilies on it. When the vision comes true, Zora begins to tell others of Amelia's gift and suddenly the girls are becoming popular with more and more people as word leaks out. They aren't always visions of consequence -- sometimes it's something as simple as a lost glove or a voyage, and with just a flash, the whole story can hardly be seen. But Amelia's visions come at a time when society is clambering for all kinds of this clairvoyant behavior -- seeing in to the future, communing with dead spirits, reading minds at parties. Others might be shams, but Amelia knows her visions are real... but some have very real consequences. What eventually drives Amelia back to Maine compromised and in shame is a twisted sequence of events that even Amelia could not have foreseen.The two things in Mitchell's favor are her grasp of the time period coupled with the subtlety of her paranormal twist. The description of American society in 1889 pulls the reader in with her attention to detail and unique setting. I've never come across a novel set in Baltimore at this time, so it has the benefit of a city's polish with the rougher America surrounding it -- which is certainly evident in Amelia's home town of "Broken Tooth." Hardly an address a girl would care to own up to, and so the need for a girl to rise into higher society is obvious, giving the society parties and gowns a grander scale as seen through her eyes. In addition, unlike other novels where a heroine falls into an entirely new paranormal world, Amelia's world seems rather true to reality, save for her strange ability to see glimpses of the future. She cannot direct her visions, save focusing on a specific person, and there appears to be no one else with any abnormal gifts (until we start learning more about a certain someone who has a rather strong appeal for Amelia). As a result, Mitchell has formed the basic plot of a story with great potential and demonstrates her ability to write historical fiction well... so what goes wrong? Let me say that I wanted so badly to like this book. I love the published cover but I actually prefer the cover that was attached to the galley I received (pictured here). It's really quite beautiful -- but then, the published one is also pretty. I also like the idea of a slight paranormal tinge to an otherwise historical romance, as stated before. The descriptions of the time period are woven with rich detail, yet it isn't as though that attention is quite to blame for most of the characters being sketched just a little too lightly. Still, there is still plenty to interest anyone who would choose to enjoy themselves while reading it. Unfortunately, Mitchell's writing is a bit over-wrought with flourishes and complications, particularly at moments when she's deliberately trying to be evasive with fantastic experiences that hint at the paranormal. The prologue is almost incomprehensible, which might be forgiven if Amelia actually were in any way crazy, but it still makes for a hard couple of pages to muddle through before the actual story begins. While Mitchell eventually settles into a better rhythm, the scenes which ought to be savored are the ones that suffer the most from a desire to make them that much more beautiful by offering both too much and too little for the reader to be satisfied. I worry that Mitchell spent far too long working and re-working these particular passages, for the reader should be sighing with pleasure instead of confusion. Amelia's illicit relationship with Nathaniel Witherspoon is a bit odd... they are drawn to each other without much reason, though to be fair at least Amelia seems to recognize how absurd it is to feel like she's on fire for this young artist. The ultimate explanation is acceptable, one supposes, but as a result they seem too fated for each other, which goes against all of the wonderful emotions that Mitchell had manages to describe, like a girl's anxious wait for a boy at a dance, particularly when the boy in question is totally unacceptable as a proper match. His appeal seems to rest solely in his beauty and his forbidden status -- this isn't a novel where the love interests spend time in much discussion and you feel as though they're realistically falling in love so much as they're simply attracted to each other on a number of levels. It's a pity, too, because when one learns Nathaniel's secret, he becomes much more interesting and yet we don't have much time to explore that side of him. Amelia herself is a bit one-note, but pleasantly so as a girl who doesn't realize the trouble she's falling in to. Zora, her friend, is a delight in the beginning and eventually fades into something less vibrant once she falls in love and yields up her independent character and presence to a storyline that simply needs her to play a part. There are parts of The Vespertine where I saw great potential, but ultimately I finished the novel feeling rather disappointed. The opening of the novel is so dramatic as far as it concerns Amelia's sanity and stained reputation, but when all is played out, I was disappointed that Amelia didn't kick it up a notch and actually do something to merit it all. The ultimate ending for Amelia is predictable and somewhat anti-climactic. Such a shame, really, as the idea of a girl with flashes of clairvoyance in an otherwise realistic setting was quite intriguing -- and the actual historic detail is excellent and interesting. When all is said and done, though, Mitchell's novel only has its own sparks of good moments and is trying much too hard to shine. Perhaps her next book will find some benefit in the fact that, presumably, she'll have less time to fuss and obscure the clarity of what she's really trying to say with such affected flourishes. ARC courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via NetGalley for reviewing purposes.

[meags222_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was very excited to get this book for review from NetGalley. It has been getting a lot of hype lately and I am glad that I was able to read it. It is set during the last 19th century and I really liked reading about all the clothes and customs of that time. It is funny to compare the way Amelia date to the way that dating happens today. Then they went to dances, with date cards, and had to have escorts to court. Kissing was scandalous, dating always lead to marriage and you had to marry within your own class or higher. Nowadays dating doesn't have to be about getting married, sex is barely scandalous and you can date whomever you want regardless of social class, race or sex. I'm not sure which is better; I believe there are advantages and disadvantages of both. Dating in the 19th century has a certain kind of mystery and naiivity that just isn't present today. That being said there was so much prejudice back then and I sometimes think that many people who got married were essentially strangers. I also enjoyed the future teller part of the story. Amelia is able to see things that will happen in the future and not all of these things are positive. I found it interesting how the author tied this into the plotline. The reason I only gave this book 3.5 stars is because I found at times that the book lagged a bit. It seemed that there would be long periods where not too much was happening. I also wasn't too sure on the ending of the novel. While the rest of the book was slow I found the ending to be a bit rushed. I'm fairly certain there will be a sequel to this book and it will be interesting to see where the story goes. I would recommend reading this if only for the vivid picture of the 19th century.

[dukesangel002 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm normally not a huge fan of historical fiction, but occasionally one will catch my eye and I have to pick it up. This one was definitely not a disappointment. The Vespertine pulled me into the 1800s and kept me captivated and interested with every page. I really felt like I was living in that time period and caught myself talking like it once I put the book down.Amelia is a young, spunky girl, gone to live with family in order to find a suitable mate. She falls for a guy who could never be suitable to marry, someone with no prospects, and starts a whirlwind romance. Their romance was full of heat and passion, yet it was written subtly, with sweet stolen touches and kisses, which I really enjoyed. Amelia also sees glimpses of the future in the sunset each day. When word gets around she soon becomes well-known and is called on by many. But these visions may not turn out to be the gift she first thinks it to be.Zora, the girl Amelia is rooming with, is a spunky girl who fought against the rules at the same time she followed them. She toed the line and was great fun to read about as she did! I really enjoyed her funny and lively character! The other side characters all had their own distinct personalities and really added to the rich atmosphere of the story.As the book took a drastic turn and tragedy starts striking Amelia over and over again, I found myself on the edge of my seat, wondering what this poor girl would do next. The ending was extremely satisfying, all threads tied up and a great surprise that still has me smiling. I recommend this one to anyone who loves a great paranormal romance, even if you are like me and not one for historical fiction. I didn't regret branching into the genre and I don't think you will either!

[bookswithbite · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite genres is historical fictions. And it works better for me if you add a little paranormal twist in there. Now this book I really like. Amelia is sent to Baltimore to find someone worthy to be a husband. What she finds instead is crowd of people coming to her for her visions. And one boy in particular can hear her in the wind.I loved the plot of this book. While it was a bit slow in the beginning, it certainly picked up once Amelia visions began to come true. Amelia is a very smart girl who knows whats she wants despite what her brother thinks. Amelia may be different, but she has a spark that anyone can enjoy. Nathaniel was like no other boy I have encountered in a book. He, unlike most boys in books, knew where he stood in society and refused to bring Amelia down with him. He wanted better for her. What got me was his lack of confidence in their relationship. Most of the time you see the girl running away, this time we see the guy. Amelia is strong and wanted Nathaniel no matter what. The paranormal part was good and I like how it something that can be related to real life. There was no great shown down or great powers. Just Amelia who can see the future, who's life is hanging in the balance of her decisions.

[_lily__1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Vespertine by Saundra MitchellReviewed by Moirae the fates book reviewsIt’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him. When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.(Synopsis provided by goodreads)I really wanted to like this book. The writing was good the dialog was good the concept was good. Normally I enjoy historical settings in novels, but for me, I found myself bored with this book. The descriptions were vivid and the story was imaginative. The characters were strong, I really enjoyed Amelia and Nathaniel. Lizzy bothered me, she just seemed not to care as much about Amelia as she should have at least for me, she came across like she was faking being kind to Amelia. This is probably just me and the way I read it as so far in all the reviews I read before getting the book myself, I haven’t seen anyone else with the opinion. I really wish I could have enjoyed it more.I’m not sure, what it was about it that was dull for me, but it was. I have seen many positive reviews for this book and I would encourage everyone to read those before making up their mind as to weather or not they read the book.I do plan to read this book again in the future, in hopes that I will grow to like it. There have been titles in the past that this has happened to me with and I do hope to like this book. Again, I encourage you to read other reviews and to give the book a chance, I am in the minority of not loving the book.Overall rating:**1/2 2 ½ stars out of 5 (I want to give it more I do!)Cover art:This has got to be the one of the best covers I have seen I love it!Obtained:I got a copy from the publisher via Netgalley Thank you.**THIS BOOK WILL BE AVAILABLE MARCH 7 2011**

[theepicrat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first Saundra Mitchell book that I have read, but what an introduction! The Vespertine is fantastic read with all the good trimmings of scandalous romance and mysterious premonitions that come calling at sunset. Right from the get-go, Amelia draws us into the middle of her story where she is basically locked away by her brother for doing something unspeakable - and from there, we get thrown back to the beginning and race through the pages with breathless curiosity. Almost like the girl on the cover, though I'm still not sure why she's running exactly...I fell in love with the characters and writing - not to mention the time period that Ms. Mitchell chose to set the story in! Very lush, very provocative, very tempestuous. I have a fondness for calling cards and dances, not to mention handsomely-dressed men! :) It was fun to follow Amelia and her cousin Zora around as they got measured for gowns and spied on boys under the pretense of picnicking or walking. The Vespertine reminded me a little of The Witch Of Blackbird Pond which is one of my favorite childhood classics that I haven't read for a long, long time. Amelia's arrival to Baltimore as the "new girl" reminded me about Kit's arrival to Connecticut from Barbados, although Amelia managed to keep her tongue in check most of the time.As far as Amelia's Vesper visions go, I felt that this aspect of the story was a little downplayed and perhaps left open to interpretation as to the why and the what happens next. I was a little surprised at how things turned out for Amelia and her visions - I had expected a little more severe consequence based on the time period, but a different route had been taken. Not to mention Nathaniel's secret - I am more than curious about what's going on with him! Overall I think her Vesper visions played an important part in the story, but they weren't the important part of Amelia's life - at least, not until they foretold of dark futures.There will be a companion piece to The Vespertine, but I'm not sure if it will be directly related to Amelia or Nathaniel. From the looks of it, it might be of different story altogether - but I would think a "companion" might have cameos? We shall see in 2012!

[bookaddictdiary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Set in Victorian-era Baltimore, The Vespertine is a modern Victorian Gothic novel about the coming of age of young society woman Amelia. Amelia is sent from her small country home to live with her relative Zora in Baltimore for a season and, of course, find a very eligible and wealthy husband. Amelia finds the magical world of society parties and other gaieties entertaining, until she begins having strange visions at sunset and, even more frightening, those visions start coming true. It's not long until Amelia gains respect as a medium, and garners followers in the most elite social circles of the city. Just when she's on top of the world, however, she meets an artist named Nathaniel, an alluring and fascinating boy who Amelia finds herself falling in love with. Her forbidden romance is just the beginning in an unexpected spiral that will send Amelia to disgrace.The first thing I noticed about The Vespertine is Mitchell's phenomenal writing talent. Her words are lush, descriptive, dreamy and just downright gorgeous. I was sucked in from the very first sentence and found myself drifting from word to word up until the very end, almost as if I was experiencing some kind of romantic dream with dark edges and wonderful, believable characters that drew me in.One of the few small flaws with the Vespertine, at least that bugged me, was that it is such a slim volume. I really wanted to read more about Amelia, Zora and their adventures in the fascinating world of Victorian Baltimore. Most importantly, I wanted to continue to devour Mitchell's amazingly beautiful writing and just bask in her lush, almost dreamy world of gowns, paranormal edge and romance that was tinged with just enough gothic darkness to give it something unique. It was also a little bit slow at the beginning, but that's being super picky.It's been a long time since I've read something as beautifully dark and haunting as The Vespertine. Mitchell perfectly combines young adult historical fiction with a unique and engaging paranormal element and a realistic and believable romance. A truly dazzling and incredible novel. I can't wait for the follow-up novel, The Springsweet, slated for release in March 2012.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amelia comes from Maine to stay with her cousins in Baltimore to make a match for herself. But the young man she is attracted to is completely ineligible named Nathaniel. He is an artist and only invited to the dinner parties as a Fourteenth - someone paid to atten the party so that numbers are even. Amelia meets her cousin and her cousins friends and gets involved in their lives and hopes. Her role is magnified when she starts seeing visions at sunset and the visions begin coming true. This is historical fiction set at a time when spiritualists were all the rage but most were frauds. Amelia's visions are frighteningly real. Moody, atmospheric and romantic!

[readingfever · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This review was originally published at: The Reading FeverThe Vespertine began as a book after my own heart. The setting Saundra Mitchell created was historically accurate, and full of the intrigues of the time period. I loved the season, with its balls, gowns, and gossip. Mitchell did well, in created characters who chafed at the restraints of the time period, each reacting in different ways. Her writing was eloquent, her prose spectacular.My interest was peaked when the book opens with the aftermath of scandal. It begins with the protagonist, who is sent home in shame and rumor, still pining after the boy she loves, hinting at the lives she ruined. The book then switches back and forth for a few chapters, between the end and the beginning of the story, before settling into telling the story. And that's where it started to feel like there wasn't much happening. After so much juggling back and forth, dangling the scandal, the book begins setting up the events leading up to it...and not much happens. It was very slow-paced, and after about 100 pages, the only thing that kept me reading was Mitchell's beautiful prose. It picked up again in the last 50 pages, but then the ending felt very rushed, and didn't give as much explanation as I would have liked. By the time I finished reading The Vespertine, There were a few other things that I did not enjoy. For one thing, think a lot more could have been done with Amelia's visions. They never seemed to progress. And--given the time period--I was waiting for more repercussions to come from her visions than there were. I don't think anyone would have thought them merely "parlor tricks", especially once people started showing up in numbers. On the other hand, the paranormal aspect of Nathaniel's ability was a little too much, and very confusing. There were no explanations as to why, or how, he has this ability, or even how it works. Without it--or at least with more explanation--I think the story would have flowed better. But as it is, I think it is unnecessary to the plot.In the end, this book was very hard to give a rating. I did like it, and I very much enjoyed the writing. I found the friendship between Zora and Amelia endearing, and I smiled during the scenes when they talked at night. But then, I felt so disappointed in the plot. With such high quality writing, I had expected more from the book.I was given a copy of this book for review, courtesy of Netgalley.

[emmyson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm very into historical fiction, so this book looked like it would be right up my alley. Little did I know just how much. The Vespertine blends elements of historical fiction with a touch of the supernatural to create a beautifully written tale that had me from hello.Mitchell's prose is gorgeous. I never once felt like it was wordy, over the top, or contrived. It was so real. It brought with it images of Victorian Baltimore so nicely crafted that I felt like I was there. The thing is, Mitchell didn't have to use flowery language to do it. She just did it, and I can't explain how. All I know is that for the few hours I spent with this book, I was right there in Baltimore.And the characters. Wow. I'm an absolute sucker for this time period, so I feel like I have a good idea of what Victorian characters should be. And Mitchell nailed them. A little bit naughty, mostly nice, concerned with what the town would think, longing for belonging, etc. Loved them all. Amelia was strong and yet vulnerable. She was just what I'd imagine a back woodsy sort to be then, always kind of on the outside looking in. I feel like I lived her story right along with her. I ached for Nathaniel with her. I mourned with her. I despaired with her. I felt the ruination keenly. And at the same time, I felt a connection with other characters too. Not as much as with Amelia, but still there to an extent. I cared about each and every one of them, and wept with their misfortunes. I'm telling you, it's a rare book/author that does that for me.So this book isn't yet published. When it comes out in March, I do believe I'll be right there to pick up my hard copy, and I strongly encourage you to do the same. I'm giving The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell my 'Pick Me' rating.

[crazyhippo37 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The Vespertine was not as good as I expected it to be. Though I liked most of the characters, I found the main one annoying. Amelia was so hot and cold, and I found her inauthentic. I liked Nathaniel but Amelia and Nathaniel's relationship seemed implausible. They barely knew each other, and suddenly they were saying they were in love? It just didn't ring true to me. Also, the prose was just so flowery, and while I understand that this is historical fiction and this was probably how an 18th-century woman spoke, for me it just distracted from the story. The paranormal element was never fully explained, but I think this is going to be a series, so I'm hoping some of the questions I have about the visions will be answered. For me, Thomas and Zora's relationship was the best part of the book. Though this was not my favorite book, it did have some good aspects, so I will most likely be reading Saundra Mitchell's next book.Favorite Quotations:"I've no reputation of my own, and I forget they matter." page 80"Everything's extraordinary. And everything that isn't sweetens the rest." page 241

[sch_94 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My Summary: Amelia was raised in Maine, and after the death of her parents, she is sent to live with her brother August and his wife, Lizzie. After a few weeks of boredom, her brother decides it would be best to sent Amelia to Baltimore to visit with her cousin Zora for a few months during the summer - he hopes the experience will help her mature, and maybe even result in an engagement for 16-year-old Amelia. Amelia arrives in Baltimore and quickly becomes close with her cousin Zora, who throws a welcome-party on Amelia's first night. At the party, she is introduced to all of Zora's cousins and her circle of friends, though one person in particular stands out among the rest: Nathaniel Witherspoon.When she confides in her cousin, Amelia learns that Nathaniel Witherspoon isn't really a member of their social circle; he's an a struggling artist, a Fourteenth - someone hired to even out the number of guests at parties - which means he's off-limits to someone well-off like Amelia.But Amelia can't seem to get this handsome stranger out of her head, and fate seems determined to throw them together at any given moment...Then, one night, Amelia dreams of her cousin dancing with the boy she's been pining after for years. Brushing it off, Amelia is shocked when her vision comes true. She confides in Zora, who playfully suggests that Amelia is able to predict the future. Neither one can believe it when more of Amelia's visions begin to come true, and a chain of events is set off that destroys both their lives.My Thoughts: As I've mentioned before, I adore historical fiction - especially when it has a paranormal element to it, and lemme just say, Saundra Mitchell has reminded me just how awesome this genre is! This book was a treat to read. Really. The writing was amazingly smooth and easy to follow, and there were enough plot twists and surprises to keep me reading into the wee hours of the morning. The characters were really well-developed as well - I loved that Zora was mischievous and rebellious, but also knew when to be the sweet little girl she was expected to be. And Nathaniel? *drools*. Let's just say you'll be wanting to read a lot more about him in the future! ;) Amelia's conflicting thoughts about Nathanial were really believable as well, and they added another layer to the story that I was grateful for (don't you just hate when the heroine falls in love with the hero and can't see any of his flaws anymore? I know I do!). Another thing I really liked about this novel was the fact that the story wasn't all based on the 'forbidden-love' element - the romance was there, but it didn't overpower the plot like in other novels I've read lately. Also, just look at that gorgeous cover!Final Thoughts: I adored this novel, and I'll be pre-ordering it as soon as I publish this review (seriously). If you're a fan of historical fiction, I DEFINITELY recommend you check out this awesome book... and if you're not, I think you should give it a try anyway - you never know! It may be the start of a beautiful friendship!