Title: Where Silence Gathers
Author: Kelsey Sutton (Twitter)
Publisher: Flux
Publish Date: July 8, 2014
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 360
Source: Publisher

Seventeen-year-old Alexandra Tate sits outside Nate Foster's house, clutching a gun. After serving ten years for the drunk driving accident that killed Alex's family, Nate has been released from prison. Every night, Alex waits out of sight, building up the courage to exact her own justice. There's just one problem: Forgiveness.

Alex has been able to see personified Emotions for as long as she can remember, and Revenge is her best friend. But when Forgiveness suddenly appears, he offers Alex a choice—getting even or moving on. It's impossible to decide when Revenge whispers in one ear . . . and Forgiveness whispers in the other.

After being significantly charmed and enamored by Some Quiet Place in 2013, I knew that I needed to get my hands on Where Silence Gathers, if only to see that winning formula in action yet again. There was a beauty to the first novel in that it broke the mold for me by offering up a premise that was different, alluring and slightly unnerving. There is something epically fascinating about the concept of being able to actually see and visually recognize emotions in a more tangible manner than we normally experience them. And, as such, Kelsey Sutton brings something new to the paranormal genre; something imaginative, creative and just a little bit scary.

From the start, I felt back at home with Ms. Sutton's writing style. She has a fluid, almost languid way of writing that's both easy and eloquent at the same time, giving readers the very best of both worlds. If for no other reason than that, Where Silence Gathers is worth a read. What struck me with this novel though was how poetic the story got with its emotions. It seemed as though she struck her characters down to the core, making them come alive through tragedy and it's in this raw, vulnerable form that we are truly able to see who and what these people, emotions and characters really are - bare and open for all to see.

Where Silence Gathers was tricky for me in some aspects though, too. I struggled very much with Alex's character from the start. She's been broken and battered by the horrors that her family and she had to endure, but there's a selfish, angry and resentful side to her that left a bitter taste in my mouth. Though believable, I wanted to slap her at times and tell her to just grow up and understand that vengeance wouldn't make everything better. At the same time though, it's through this shattered state that we see her find her way from Revenge to Forgiveness. And, as these are both personified emotions, we do sort of enter that dreaded love triangle - though we see it through new eyes, as these are their base forms, which is far more powerful.

As a companion novel to the first powerful installment, in many ways, Where Silence Gathers soars. However, I found myself longing for the character, Fear, of the previous novel. Though Fear appears from time to time through the novel, he contributed a powerful magic to the first book that neither Forgiveness nor Revenge fully embodied. I will say though, that this book stood out because of the difference in the protagonists. In the former novel, Elizabeth didn't feel anything. In this novel, we see and experience as Alex feels far too much. Reading and understanding this vast and powerful difference is what made this story really work for me and won me over in the end.

Overall, I really enjoyed Where Silence Gathers, though it's definitely different than its predecessor. I enjoy that both novels can stand on their own, and it's clear that Ms. Sutton has a truly powerful gift for storytelling and complexity that I will seek time and time again. I give this book a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it for all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy paranormal novels.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Some Quiet Place
Author: Kelsey Sutton (Twitter)
Publisher: Flux
Publish Date: July 8, 2013
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 350
Source: Publisher

Elizabeth Caldwell doesn’t feel emotions...she sees them. Longing, Shame, and Courage materialize around her classmates. Fury and Resentment appear in her dysfunctional home. They’ve all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn’t succumb to their touch. All, that is, save one - Fear. He’s intrigued by her, as desperate to understand the accident that changed Elizabeth’s life as she is herself.

Elizabeth and Fear both sense that the key to her past is hidden in the dream paintings she hides in the family barn. But a shadowy menace has begun to stalk her, and try as she might, Elizabeth can barely avoid the brutality of her life long enough to uncover the truth about herself. When it matters most, will she be able to rely on Fear to save her?

Once a normal child, Elizabeth now possesses a very unique gift. Rather than feeling the emotions that people experience from day to day life, she can see them. Carefully guarded though, Elizabeth has always managed to ward off these emotions by keeping them at arm's length. But these emotions are tangible and, as is the case with Fear, they can be relentless. Something wants to know the truth about Elizabeth though, and she's not as safe as she might think. Will she discover the truth about her past in time, or will her past come back to haunt her?

There are very few books that enter the YA market today that truly capture me with the sheer originality of their premise, but Some Quiet Place was definitely one of those few. Author, Kelsey Sutton, has crafted a haunting debut novel in which a girl is lost in the deadly throes of an unimaginable power and emotions are every bit as tangible as you and I. With a deft hand, evocative prose and overflowing originality, Some Quiet Place carves a spot for itself in the YA market, promising readers a powerful journey of self-discovery and rich, heartfelt emotion.

I have to say, I was completely blown away (and, admittedly, somewhat confused) by the premise of Some Quiet Place. Elizabeth sees emotions as personified beings that meddle and tinker with people's lives. Rather than just feelings, the emotions within the story are actual entities, which took me a while to wrap my head around, though I loved the concept. I thought I'd have a very difficult time getting into Elizabeth's head because of her inability to feel, but we're provided a well-rounded, deep and highly accessible character, mostly through her, often times, painful interactions with others, as well as her stark and honest voice. I also really loved how emotions were actually portrayed in the novel. They skulk around in the shadows, only intervening when they want to be felt, and it's both a complex and fascinating idea to ponder. I really, really loved the relationship between Elizabeth and Fear. It wasn't so cut-and-dried as many paranormal romances that I've seen before. Naturally, the two characters have significant hurdles to overcome simply to relate with one another properly. Their interactions are complex and profound, and Fear is an unlikely, but extremely swoon-worthy, love interest. On the flip side though, I was a bit disappointed that Some Quiet Place presented a love triangle, too. Personally, I thought the relationships already established presented enough of a challenge to Elizabeth as it was, and it seemed like a touch of an afterthought to pacify some of the YA romance crowd. I also felt that there was so much put into the illustrative prose and fantastic primary characters that the secondary characters felt like mere stereotypes of what they represented. 

Overall though, I really enjoyed the originality that Some Quiet Place brings to the YA market. This book can easily stand alone, which is a treat, however, I think it would also serve as a strong stepping stone to a great series. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy paranormal and paranormal romance stories.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.