{Review/Giveaway} REVEL by Maurissa Guibord

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I've previously reviewed WARPED, Maurissa Guibord's debut novel!

Check out today's short story by Maurissa Guibord, The Lighthouse, which takes place in the world of REVEL!

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O P E N I N G   H O O K:

MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN FROM THE beginning to stay away from Trespass Island. The signs were all there, as clear as flashing neon. Like Don't Eat at Joe's--I got Salmonella. I guess I was just too blind to see them.

(pg. 1, US hardcover first edition)

One of my favorite things about fantasy novels featuring mythical characters is when the author goes above and beyond in order to bring a new experience to readers. Maurissa Guibord has done this twice now, and I appreciate her unique spin and the way she builds intriguing worlds that are easy to fall into.

After Delia's mother passes away, leaving her alone in the world, she ventures to the well-hidden and hard-to-access Trespass Island to meet her grandmother. The town is largely untouched by technology, and the townsfolk are spooked by secrets lurking in the surrounding waters. Delia's grandmother tries to get Delia away before it's too late, but once you step foot on Trespass and know about its existence, you can never leave. Delia is no exception. She grows to like life on Trespass, but eventually she learns the truth about the deeper, darker mysteries hiding out of sight.

REVEL is hard to talk about without giving things away, hence the above barebones summary. The underwater creatures readers will encounter are creepy, as is the book's atmosphere at times. I haven't seen anything quite like this before. The descriptions really help me envision this unique world, though I definitely wouldn't want to live there! There is so much mystery and intrigue lurking in each chapter, and at times, I shuddered alongside Delia. I wasn't fond of the fact that there was a love triangle and some insta-love going on. I'm seldom a fan of these writing tropes. To me, it makes the book feel more rushed because there's less development when it's spread among more characters. I always want bigger, fatter books when these cases arise. There is one character I adored that had such an interesting fate, but it fell to the wayside due to length. Such an innovative idea, though! At the same time, I can forgive Guibord because there is such a great message in the novel. Tradition is torn on its head and ripped apart because one girl, one newcomer with untainted eyes, is able to stand up for everyone and speak the truth. Delia is easy to identify with and root for as readers explore the realities of Trespass Island alongside her.

Check out Maurissa Guibord's short story The Lighthouse, which you can read for FREE right here at A Backwards Story for a taste of the world of REVEL, the writing style, and more. You don't have to read REVEL to read The Lighthouse! And if you've already read REVEL, which is a stand-alone novel, here's your chance to return to the world for more!

*There are elements in REVEL that make the book one I can easily recommend to older, more mature teens rather than tweens.

C O V E R   D E S I G N:

This cover is very mysterious, isn't it? What's going on in this cover? It's like this on purpose, and echoes the mystery lying within the pages of REVEL, so I won't spoil it here. I really enjoy the intrigue of this cover, though. It wouldn't have been so meaningful if you knew exactly what to expect.

I'm also a fan of the way the design in the "V" from REVEL:

mimics each chapter heading:

Very creative!  You all know how I love for interiors and exteriors to match.

O F F I C I A L   I N F O:

Title:  REVEL
Author: Maurissa Guibord

Release Date: Feb. 12, 2013

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers / Random House

Received: Purchased

SUMMARY:

There’s an island off the coast of Maine that’s not on any modern map. 

Shrouded in mist and protected by a deadly reef, Trespass Island is home to a community of people who guard the island and its secrets from outsiders. Seventeen-year-old Delia grew up in Kansas, but has come here in search of her family and answers to her questions: Why didn’t her mother ever talk about Trespass Island? Why did she fear the open water? But Delia’s not welcome and soon finds herself enmeshed in a frightening and supernatural world where ancient Greek symbols adorn the buildings and secret ceremonies take place on the beach at night. 

Sean Gunn, a handsome young lobsterman, befriends Delia and seems willing to risk his life to protect her. But it’s Jax, the coldly elusive young man she meets at the water’s edge, who finally makes Delia understand the real dangers of life on the island. Delia is going to have to fight to survive. Because there are monsters here. And no one ever leaves Trespass alive.

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