Darker Still: A Novel of Magic Most Foul

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Overview

A lush gothic tale that begs for reading...I couldn't put it down." —New York Times bestselling author Sarah Maclean

I was obssessed.

It was as if he called to me, demanding I reach out and touch the brushstrokes of color swirled onto the canvas. It was the most exquisite portrait I'd ever seen—everything about Lord Denbury was unbelievable...utterly breathtaking and eerily lifelike.

There was a reason for that. Because despite what everyone said, Denbury never had committed suicide. He was alive. Trapped within his golden frame.

I've crossed over into his world within the painting, and I've seen what dreams haunt him. They haunt me too. He and I are inextricably linked—bound together to watch the darkness seeping through the gas-lit cobblestone strets of Manhattan. And unless I can free him soon, things will only get Darker Still.

Raised in rural Ohio and obsessed with the Victorian Era, Leanna's life goal is to be a "gateway drug to 19th century literature." An actress, playwright and award winning author, she lives in New York City and is a devotee of ghost stories and Goth clubs. Visit leannareneeheiber.com

Editorial Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

Fans of Victorian gothics can get another fix with this new twist on The Picture of Dorian Gray. Framed as a "diary" confiscated by baffled 1880 New York police, the story finds Miss Natalie Stewart entranced by the portrait of tragic young Lord Denbury. She soon learns that Denbury did not commit suicide as reported but still lives, trapped inside his portrait. She allies herself with Mrs. Evelyn Northe, a wealthy and knowledgeable spiritualist, in an effort to battle the demon that has imprisoned him and to release Denbury from the evil magic cast upon him. Natalie, however, is mute, having lost her voice at age 4, when her mother died. But surprise! Natalie can enter the portrait to meet Denbury face to face, and when she does, she can speak. Of course, she and Denbury instantly fall in love, thrilling to every accidental and forbidden touch and building up to the all-important, breathless goal of Victorian gothic romances: The Kiss. Although she follows most of the conventions of the genre, Hieber applies some real imagination to the story. Her depiction of the dark magic involved and of the demon's murderous activities adds some good suspense and stands out as the strongest element of the novel. Characterizations work fine, although none surpasses two dimensions. A good romp for those who enjoy the genre, with some effective suspense. (Paranormal romance. 12 & up)

School Library Journal

Gr 7–10—Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart, mute since a traumatic childhood incident, records a life rife with incident in the journal gifted to her on her exit from the Connecticut Asylum. Her mannered, overwrought prose suits the character of a privileged young woman from the 1880s, and her descriptions of 19th-century New York City have charm. An encounter with a cursed painting draws Natalie into the world of spiritualism and demonic possession. Jonathon Denbury, a young English lord missing and presumed dead, is actually trapped inside a portrait acquired by Natalie's father for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Natalie is the only connection Denbury has to the real world, and she and Mrs. Northe, a wealthy intellectual spiritualist, strive to free him before his soul is forfeited. The premise of this novel has great appeal, but dense narrative dampens both momentum and suspense. Characterizations are convenient rather than organic; mid-novel the oft-nearly-swooning Natalie suddenly emerges as a master of disguise with sword-and-staff fighting skills. Convenient plotting undermines any accrued believability. (Denbury decides he can project himself to Natalie's side to protect her; Natalie's voice returns because "something supernatural" cures it.) Elements of melodramatic gothic and supernatural swashbuckler never quite meld, and the conclusion is foregone long before the climax. Readers seeking historical adventure, romantic or magical, should look to Philip Pullman's Ruby in the Smoke (Knopf, 1985) or Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty (Delacorte, 2003).—Janice M. Del Negro, GSLIS Dominican University, River Forest, IL

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781402260520
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Incorporated
Publication date: 11/1/2011
Pages: 336
Sales rank: 79,020
Age range: 12 - 17 Years
Lexile: 830L (what's this?)
Product dimensions: 5.00 (w) x 7.70 (h) x 1.10 (d)

Meet the Author

Read an Excerpt

June 1, 1880

Sister Theresa handed me this farewell gift with such relief that it might as well have been a key to her shackles. I'm a burden to her no more. Someone else will have to glue her desk drawers closed and exchange her communion wine for whiskey.

But now I trade the prison of the asylum for another. The prison of home.

Oh, I suppose I ought to clarify the word asylum, as it has its connotations.

The only illnesses the students of the Connecticut Asylum have are those of the ears and the tongue. The mute, or the deaf, are not the mentally ill. Those poor souls are cloistered someplace else, thank God. We had enough troubles on our own.

But now that I'm home, a prison undercurrent is here too. The desperate question of what is to be done with me lingers like dark damask curtains, dimming the happy light of our dear little East Side town house. For unfortunates like me, firstly, a girl and, secondly, a mute girl, life is made up of different types of prisons, I've learned. If I were a man, the world could be at my command. At least it would be if I were a man and could speak.

Every night I pray the same prayer: that I may go back to that year of Mother's death and startle my young self to shake the sound right out of that scared little girl. Maybe I'd have screamed. A beautiful, loud, and unending scream that could carry me to this day. A shout that could send a call to someone, anyone, who could help me find my purpose in this world. But since that trauma, I've yet to utter a word. Not for lack of trying, though. I simply cannot seem to get my voice through my throat.

I've often thought of joining a traveling freak show. At least there I wouldn't have to deal with the ugliness of people who at first think I'm normal and then realize I can't speak. I hate that moment and the terrible expression that comes over the person's face like a grotesque mask. The apologetic look that thinly veils pity but cannot disguise distaste, or worse, fear. If I were already in a freak show, people would be forewarned, and I could avoid that moment I've grown to despise more than anything in the world. But would I belong beside snake charmers and strong men, albinos and conjoined twins? And if not, where do I belong, if anywhere?

? ? ?

As a child, I heard a Whisper, a sound at the corner of my ear, and saw a rustle of white at the corner of my eye. I used to think it was Mother. I used to hope she would show me how to speak again or explain that the shadows I see in this world are just tricks of the eyes. But she never revealed herself or any answers. And I stopped believing in her. I stopped hearing the Whisper. But what does remain are the shadows that come to me at night. There are terrible things in this world.

I don't have pleasant dreams. Only nightmares. Blood, terror, impending apocalypse. Great fun, I assure you. (Perhaps it's good I can't speak; I'd share dreams at some normal girl's debutante ball and send her away screaming or fainting.) There are times when I feel I need to scream. But I can't.

I've so much to say but don't dare open my mouth. The sounds aren't there. I tried, years ago. Therapists soon gave up on me, saying I was too stubborn. But it wasn't me being stubborn. I was anxious, nerve-racked, afraid; I hated the foreign, unwieldy sound that crept out from behind my lips so much so that I haven't dared try since. Perhaps someday.

That's why I was given this diary. Other girls were given lockets or trinkets. When I've nothing to occupy my mind or my hands, I resort to mischief. Now if the asylum had just had more books (I'd read them all, twice, within my first two years), I'd never have bothered with the communion wine. I wouldn't have had the time for glue, tacks, or spiders.

I'd have been reading about trade routes to India, the impossible worlds of Gothic novels, or even the tedious wonders of jungle botany-anything other than this boring, dreary world we live in. And so, dear diary, you'll bear my written screams as I yearn for a more industrious, exciting life.

Unless I find an occupation or a husband, which in my condition is laughable, I'm destined to languish in solitary silence. Most men of Father's station would have whisked me off to some country ward upstate never to be seen again. (I've been continually reminded of this by scolding teachers who insist I ought to be more grateful for a doting father.)

And I am grateful for sentimentality on Father's part. I look too much like Mother for him to have sent me off, and goodness, if my sprightly nature doesn't remind him of her. So I've always felt a certain security in my place here a few blocks from Father's employer, the ten-year-old Metropolitan Museum of Art. A building and an institution I've come to adore.

Tonight, Father's having a dinner party with his art scholar friends. They're quite boring, save for his young protégé, Edgar. I could suffer Edgar Fourte's presence under any circumstance. But make no mistake, I positively hate that wench he proposed to. If only I could have fashioned some mad plot and sent Father away, I would have thrown myself at Edgar's mercy and become his lovely, tragic young ward. I'd have made myself so indispensable to him, not to mention irresistible, he'd never have considered another woman.

I've been told I'm pretty. And he's a man who likes quiet. What could be more perfect than a pretty wife who doesn't speak? But alas, I'll have to find some other handsome young scholar with a penchant for unfortunates since Edgar stupidly went and got himself engaged to one. So what if she's blind? She can't see how beautiful he is. What a waste!

Ah, the clock strikes. I must help Father with preparations and then make myself particularly presentable, if nothing else than for Edgar's punishment. I'll return with any notable gossip or interesting thoughts.

Later...

They've clustered into Father's study for a cigar, having stuffed themselves as scholars do at a meal they didn't pay for themselves, leaving me a few moments with these dear pages.

We're in luck; they did discuss something fascinating at dinner.

An odd painting is coming to town. An exquisite life-sized oil of a young English lord named Denbury is about to arrive for a bid. And they say it's haunted.

Now if there's one thing I can't help but adore more than Edgar Fourte's face, it's a ghost story. Perhaps it stems from that long-ago Whisper. Or the shadows I see at night. Wherever the thrill comes from, I can't deny my obsession.

Evidently Lord Denbury simply disappeared one day. Locals assume that it was suicide, that he was overcome with despair at losing his family. But it was odd, for he was so well loved by everyone in town. Such a tragedy! Only eighteen years old with no siblings, he lost his parents when they died in a sudden accident. Having to take on such a mantle of responsibility must have weighed heavily upon him, or so everyone supposed. He inherited money and lands with his title, but with no surviving family to help him, he simply went and drowned. A fine piece of clothing bearing a pin with his crest washed onto the bank of a quieter part of the Thames. A damaged body was later found farther downriver and assumed to be his, but was that conclusive?

In such a troubling case, people tend to seek a reason. Once they find one suitable, they'll close the matter in their minds and hearts for their own comfort. But I wonder...

He was devilishly handsome, they say, and studied medicine. Supposedly he helped open a clinic for the underprivileged in the heart of London. So absorbed in learning medicine, he hadn't taken the time to court anyone, though he was continually sought after. He attended a Greenwich hospital nearly round the clock, absorbing all the knowledge he could. I should like to have known him and commended him for being a credit to his class. They say he was a good-natured fellow, if not a bit mischievous, as most clever boys are, and had a way of talking to all sorts of people. Perhaps he could have found a way to help me.

All that survives him is a grand portrait by an artist who remains unknown despite the vast sum paid for the commission, as recorded in Denbury's personal ledger. Considering the portrait is of such fine quality, it's odd that no one sought attribution. Discovered behind a curtain by surprised housekeepers after Denbury's disappearance, the painting is said to appear nearly alive with the soul of its subject.

How a group of men like Father's friends managed to absorb and retain this fantastic gossip is beyond me, but since it involves art, it comes into their territory. Mr. Weiss suggested that when the item makes its way to New York, where the estate broker plans to sell the piece, my father and the Metropolitan ought to consider buying it.

I desperately want to see it. To see him. I must convince Father he ought to at least put in a bid, so that "the Met" seems fashionable. The supernatural is all the rage these days, and America's foremost art museum must stay ahead of the times.

Dear me, I've forgotten their coffee, and they'll be clamoring for it. I'll return once I've served them and given Edgar an unbearably sweet smile. Did I mention that his cheeks went red when I descended the staircase and waved? Perhaps there's something about a girl back from boarding school that makes a man see her differently. Too late, Edgar, too late. Not that I'd fault you for breaking off your engagement...maybe there's a way I can assure it...Drat. Coffee first. Schemes later.

Later...

I hate them. All of them. Especially Edgar. Don't they know I might be at the door at any moment? I may be mute, but I am not dumb.

I'd hesitated outside the study, the coffee tray carefully balanced in my hands. Their cigar smoke wafted beneath the door, acrid tendrils making that threshold a foreign passage where women are forbidden to go-unless, of course, they are there in service. And then I heard my father say something he'd recently said directly to my face:

"I don't have the foggiest idea what to do with her. I've no idea what would be best..."

Which was, sadly, the truth. It was the subsequent response from Edgar, of all people-I'd know his voice anywhere-that shocked me:

"Why don't you just send her off to a convent, where you wouldn't have to worry about her, Gareth? She could become a nun and change out her own communion wine for whiskey for a change. A vow of silence certainly wouldn't be difficult!"

Before any of them had a chance to laugh or snigger at the insult, I threw wide the door, sending coffee spilling onto the tray. My nostrils flared as I narrowed my eyes and looked right at Edgar. He blushed again, this time not because he thought me pretty. Let him rot with guilt for everything he's done to cause me misery. He's never known how much I care-no, cared-for him, but surely now he knows I'll never respect him again.

I may be an unfortunate, but Father taught me never to stand for being made fun of.

"Edgar, shame on you," Father muttered.

There was deathly silence in the room as I served each of the men: first, Father, who was looking up at me apologetically, second, Mr. Weiss, who couldn't look at me out of embarrassment, and then finally Mr. Nillis, who never has a single interesting thing to say but always has a grandfatherly way of patting my hand, which I'll take over being teased any day. Mr. Nillis beamed up at me, entirely oblivious of the awkward moment, and patted me on the hand. I managed to offer him a grateful smile for his small, unwitting courtesy.

I turned and walked back out the door with the last cup of coffee, Edgar's, in my hand. He would not be served. Now I sit sipping it myself as I write this account and stare out the window at Eighty-Third Street three stories below, golden and dappled beneath patches of shade in summer's setting sun. Men in top hats and women in light shawls and bonnets stroll slowly along the cobbled street toward the gem that is our beloved Central Park for one last promenade before dusk. They have a slow but sure purpose to their movement, to their existence, which is more than I have. What am I going to do with myself?

Oh, Mother. If you hadn't died, I'm sure this wouldn't have happened. I'd speak. And you'd know what to do with me.

Customer Reviews

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Acanoffleas

Posted November 2, 2011

more from this reviewer

Lush Gothic YA Novel

Done with boarding school, Natalie Stewart returns into her father's care in 1882 New York City. She hasn't spoken since she was four years old, the age when her mother died in a carriage accident. Natalie is beautiful and intelligent, though she struggles to find her purpose in the world seeing as that everyone around her, save her father, sees her muteness as a complete disability. When Natalie comes across a stunning portrait rumored to be haunted, she finds herself unable to turn away. When the portrait changes before her eyes, she's even more stunned. The handsome lord seemed to be willing her toward him, almost as if pleading for her help.

I have a love of all things Gothic. Darker Still is more or less a mash up of The Picture of Dorian Grey, Jekyll & Hyde, and a dash of Ann Radcliffe. It's the embodiment of a Gothic novel, all dark, dangerous and romantic. It's quite lovely. Ms. Heiber weaves a wonderful story and it's hard to put the book down once we're drawn in.

Natalie possess what most Gothic heroines have - curiosity. Luckily for her, she's also wickedly smart. Our hero, Lord Jonathon Denbury, is the perfect Gothic hero. Strikingly handsome, he is also the epitome of a gentleman, though he struggles with a dark side as a result of his cursed imprisonment within the portrait.

Most Gothic novels have a certain "feel" for me - dark, haunted, lush, and mysterious - and Darker Still embraced that tone from page one. I loved that it was set in New York City - can we say Gangs of New York anyone? Go Five Points! Ha! I also was pleased that our heroine was anything but a simpering miss. She stood her ground and had no issues making her opinion known, regardless of the fact she couldn't speak.

I think it's safe to say that Mother Monster of Gothic Fiction Ann Radcliffe would have approved.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Truly_Bookish

Posted November 1, 2011

Really good gothic young adult novel!

Darker Still is such a unique novel, in a very good way! After witnessing her mother's death at a young age, Natalie Stewart stops talking. Now 17-years-old, Natalie communicates with other people through sign-language and writing on notepads. The story is told through Natalie's journal entries which is very appropriate for this story. While it may seem odd to read an entire book made up of journal entries (a first for me), Ms. Hieber makes it work very well and the story flowed wonderfully.

I am a character driven reader and Natalie is a very likable character. She is brave, spunky and smart. People don't expect much of her because she is mute, but she proves them wrong. She stands up for herself and refuses to be bullied or put down for her short comings. The women in Darker Still, Natalie and Ms. Northe, are the heroes of the story, the ones who do the sleuthing and the saving. I liked Denbury's swoon worthy character and I hope we get to know him better in the next book.

The setting of Darker Still is perfectly Victorian and the story is awesomely dark and gothic. The circumstances that got Denbury stuck in the painting and keeps him there are scary. Filled with dark magic, a gorgeous man trapped in a painting and an evil, possessed body, this is a great creepy read for this time of year when the weather is cold and gray. If you enjoy gothic stories like the Picture of Dorian Gray, you will love this book.

The ending of Darker Still is satisfying with no cliffhanger but there is more there to explore. I was very happy to find out that there will be a sequel coming out next year. I can't wait to read it!

Content: Kissing, violence.

My Rating: Really Good!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted March 11, 2012

This is a wonderful book, full of romance, suspense, and of cour

This is a wonderful book, full of romance, suspense, and of course "Magic Most Foul". I recommend it to anyone who loves a good historical fiction or even just a teen romance. I can't wait for the next one in this series!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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mlorio

Posted February 1, 2012

Tribute to the Portrait of Dorian Gray

This interesting story is part tribute to the Portrait of Dorian Gray. The story focuses on Natalie Stewart a mute in the 1880s born into a family of new money. Her father works at the Metropolitan Museum and Natalie discovers that the new painting at the museum is actually a vessel that holds trapped the soul of Lord Denbury. To free him Natalie has to learn about different aspects of spirituality, religion and myths. This was for the most part interesting although it did get bogged down with detail at times. While it was interesting to hear the story told in first person, the use of a journal as medium was awkward at times. Natalie seemed to be writing in it at the most unlikely times. The overall story was good and well worth the read. I will definitely check out the sequel.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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iheartyabooks

Posted October 31, 2011

more from this reviewer

Darker Still is a Halloween Treat!!!

Darker Still is definitely a Halloween treat. Leanna Renee Hieber has taken from the story of Dorian Gray and penned her own wicked tale, and believe me, the only similarity is the picture frame. Hieber's Darker Still is way more dark and twisted and spine tinkling. Darker Still screamed eerie, spooky suspense from the first page and its claws dug into me and didn't let go.

Natalie Stewart has not spoken a word since her mother died in front of her at the age of four. But words are not what draws seventeen-year-old Natalie to a painting in her father's art museum. It's the portrait of a gorgeous face. The face of Lord Denbury with the most beautiful blue eyes that calls to her. Natalie needs to know the mystery of this man Lord Jonathon Denbury. And with the help of Evelyn Northe who's a Spiritualist, Natalie will be the only one who can stand up against the dark powers of Hell and set the man she loves free. But that's where the real mystery comes in. How free are Natalie and Jonathon from this hell's dark Society?

Natalie isn't the only one who fell in love with this gorgeous blue eyed and dashing, black-haired Lord. I did, too. Jonathon is definitely a ladies man, but the lady whose capture his heart is Natalie, and their love is hotter than anything Hell can throw at them. Natalie and Jonathon's love will conquer all evil, even some of their own.

Darker Still is a masterpiece-twisted, dark, and chillingly possessive. I definitely got my treat with this dark romantic suspense, and I highly recommend Darker Still as a must read.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Icecream18

Posted October 29, 2011

Live To Read

A perfect novel for Halloween, this book will interest the reader till the very end. Natalie is mute, not to be confused with "dumb or deaf." Otherwise, she is a very pretty, smart young woman. She will be likable to the reader. Right when her life appears to have turned around slightly, she is worried her father will send her to a convent and doesn't know what to do about her inability to speak, Natalie stumbles onto a painting of a shockingly handsome man. The portrait, however, is not normal and may have been created by evil. Natalie must find a way to save Jonathan, the man in the painting, without losing her life and while guarding her heart.

The setting is perfect for this novel. The author managed to put in many qualities from the Victorian era. The writing is fluid and the events are fast-paced. The characters were fun, they will draw the reader into the novel. One might think it would be difficult to understand the story from the point of view of a mute character; however, Natalie was terrific, because she was mute she appears so much more observant and intuitive than the normal character. This book is highly recommended to young adult/teen readers.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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ReadingCorner

Posted October 28, 2011

more from this reviewer

Highly Recommended Gothic Romance

I loved this book. I found the writing and the story incredibly compelling. The characters were unique, the story appropriately creepy, and the setting absolutely perfect.

Let's start with the setting and atmosphere. Darker Still is set in Victorian New York (1880s). The gritty, dark parts of the city of contrasted against the opulence of the wealthy, flashier parts of town. It's a world where social status still reigns and wealth is openly flaunted through architecture and fashion. What I loved in Darker Still was that we got to see all sides of society--from Maggie and her high-fashion friends to Natalie and her father's modest living to the dark alleys of The Five Points. I felt like I had stepped into a real world, something I must attribute to Ms. Hieber's stellar writing.

Natalie was a really awesome MC to read about. To start with, she's MUTE. How many MCs have you read about who are mute? I thought it was really interesting to have a main character who struggled to communicate with the world around her. It made everything that she learned and did just a little more amazing. It also makes so much sense when you learn *things* later in the book. It also ensured that she wasn't some flaky chick, but instead, she was a tough, intelligent young woman who wasn't afraid to stand up for herself.

Lord Denbury was an enigma all unto himself. He has some of the same characteristics as our favorite typical male love interests (well, primarily that he is extremely gorgeous), but he's (a) not a "bad" boy and (b) trapped in a painting! I adored watching him interact with Natalie because he gave her a sort of confidence in herself and encouraged her to find her voice and be brave. She was already a strong young woman, but he really seemed to encourage her to...expand her horizons (I'm not really sure that's the turn of phrase I'm looking for, but you get the idea, right?). Also, I liked Denbury (or Jonathan, as he asks me Natalie to call him) in his own right. He handles the whole "I'm trapped in a painting" with fairly minimal whining (which would have drove me crazy).

While Darker Still isn't a fast-paced novel, the beautiful prose and intriguing storyline kept me turning the pages. I think what it may lack for some readers is a stronger sense of mystery and impending doom since you know who the bad guy is from the beginning and the only mystery is to solve the few clues (which comes together in a rather unexciting way). However, for the reader looking to dive into a well-written story of Gothic romance and intrigue, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this one.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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annmarie2011

Posted October 26, 2011

Best books review (brilliant book)

Natalie Stewart's has always been over looked she has not spoken a word since her mother's death. People normal look at her as if she is brain dead but when a strange but sexy painting walks into her life she finally finds that there is more to her then what meets the eye. As this strange painting brings Natalie happiness it also brings danger and heart ache.

The story is told by Natalie Stewart's the book is basically her dairy. She writes down what happens each day. You see Natalie is unable to speck since her mother death no words have come out of her month so now she write everything down. People seem to think she is stupid and dumb but she is far from it. I found Natalie bright and most of all interesting she writes in way that makes all her thoughts and feelings clear and she tells her story in a way that lets you see the whole thing unfold in front of your eyes.

Natalie was easy to like while the time the book was based in was far from what I would normal read, I found that time really did not change much Natalie was still a normal teen she hated the way she was treated and the way people could look at her like she was nothing. What really made Natalie likeable were the thoughts she sometimes had.

Now the storyline in the book was brilliant I loved the way the book progressed in a way that you were glued to your seat wanting more. The book was not to fast but not slow ether, There was lots going on that made you need to learn more. The book at times was really dark and alluring with evil magic and death but there were times that it was light funny and you hoped for that happy ending. I loved the characters and most of all a brilliantly written book that left you with a feeling like the pictures in your house was watching you.

4 Stars
by annmarie ager

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Ray-Venn

Posted January 10, 2012

For today's Wilde and Stoker fans

Love the homage to classic, Gothic supernatural novels.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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thereaderbee

Posted November 26, 2011

more from this reviewer

Intriguing!

I have read many, many raving reviews for Darker Still, so I finally decided to give it a read. The synopsis likens the book to Pride and Prejudice, which just happens to be one of my favorite reads. So I was really glad to finally get started on the book.

The main character in the story is a seventeen year old girl named Natalie Stewart. I found Natalie to be a very interesting character. Not only is she strong willed and ambitious, she¿s also mute. I think that just makes her character even stronger, and shows just how determined she can be. She was quick to put people in their placed when they thought she was slow, because of her disability. I love the point where she discovers that she can journey into the painting with Lord Denbury. Oh, Lord Debury¿ What a gentleman you are! He definitely reminds me a little of someone that would be in an Austen novel.

I really enjoyed the secondary characters in the novel. Natalie¿s dad and also Mrs. Northe, were both interesting to read about. I was curious about Crenfall and the painter as well, and was left with a few questions about them at the end of the book.

The plot of the story was really interesting. Imagine being trapped in a painting. Imagine having the ability to go through a painting. That¿s definitely not something I¿ve read about before. The book was a well paced, and was quite a quick read for me. I finished it in just a few hours time.

Overall, I found this book to be quite intriguing! I am so glad to discover it is going to be series read as well. I¿m really looking forward to seeing where Natalie will take us next.

Happy Reading!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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NookaholicAC

Posted May 23, 2012

Story was only 194 pages. A bit too short for me, but I did get

Story was only 194 pages. A bit too short for me, but I did get it for only $1.99. i grew somewhat bored in the middle, but then it got intersting again. I love the character of Natalie and also Mrs. Northe. Both were strong ladies who stuck by their beliefs. It would be nice if there were a sequal to find out what happens to Natalie and Jonathan.
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pagese

Posted January 3, 2012

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review courtesy of One Book At A Time

This was a different sort of novel and not really what I was expecting. But, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It was just a harder book for me to get into that most.

I think I had a hard time identifying with Natalie, which kind of surprised me. Normally when I read historical fiction the characters are royalty or of higher class. While Natalie doesn't quite fit that picture, she's close and associates with a lot of people from the higher class. But instead of being likeable, she came across as being really naive and way too trusting. I know part of this is because of her sheltered lifestyle because of her mutism. But, it actually felt like more of a personality flaw.

I did really enjoy the Victorian feel to the book. Even the the book is set in New York, I actually had to remind myself constantly that it wasn't in England. I liked the mystery and magic woven into the story. Plus the idea of someone trapped in a painting was interesting. I also really liked the idea that Natalie was able to step into that painting and gather clues.

I did feel the the curse was a little odd. The way it was undone seemed extremely simple and a little silly (basically just repeating specific parts of the curse back to the person who placed it). I also had a hard time believing that the person could walk around in Lord Denbury's body and no one was the wiser. It didn't feel explained very well.

I enjoyed the romance as well. Even though it had the typical love at first sight thing going for it, it felt more real and natural. There's also a character that pokes fun at it. She basically says that they are young and so many things could happen, and not say that they couldn't live without the other person. I was happy to see the romance recognized for what it is and what it could be.
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PhotographerReader_Julie

Posted November 18, 2011

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Diary style romance between a painted Lord and a mute girl

I felt the story could have had great promise, but I couldn't enjoy it fully due to the diary style. Things happened quiet fast, and I thought the downfall of the possessor was a bit too quick and easy. I got tired of her obsessively describing Jonathon's beauty and splendor. It was all too much. We get it that he's incredibly alluring already. So overall, I liked that it was had a slightly different plot, a great old era style, but it didn't entice me. I'd give it a 2.5.

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Regina_Linton

Posted November 10, 2011

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Nice Dark Romance!

This story of a mermaid turned Siren looking to find her sister that she feared was kidnapped is fun and endearing. Esmerine is looking for her lost sister Dosiria who disappeared after becoming a Siren and talking about humans. The likely story of a human kidnapping a Siren and stealing her belt and making her their wife commonly happens. So Esmerine assumes the worst. She gains permission from her family to go out into the world of the humans to find out if her sister was kidnapped or went willingly. What she discovers truly throws her for a loop. When Esmerine first arrives in town, she runs across her old friend Alandare who now is going by the human name Alan Dare and rekindle their lost friendship and start a journey of their own discoveries. Alan agrees to help Esmerine find her sister and get word back to her family. Along the way she finds more than her sister. This story if full of ups and downs and a few twists and turns. Recommended for YA Paranormal lovers

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Unwasted_Words

Posted November 2, 2011

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Darker Could be More Daring

Natalie Stewart's a forward thinking girl navigating a world at the cusp of the modern age. Unfortunately this femme fatal's frame of mind doesn't quite agree with the expectations of a demure Victorian lady. Her inability to speak leads others to think less of her but she is far more clever then most of her contemporaries. Yet her assets and handicaps will only aid her when she takes on the mysteries of a beautiful painting entirely too life-like and enchanting. The journey will only be the start of a very dangerous destiny.

Darker Still was an entertaining read. It had a nice romance between Natalie and Jonathan. I liked the historical element mixed with the supernatural but thought it was watered down. Hieber could have pushed the magic more. The magics mix of different cultures like Egyptian, was a nice touch keeping with the trends of the era, but like a lot of the book's magic and Natalie's abilities, I didn't think the author delved deep enough or put as much detail into the basis, mythology, or why of it. Because of this the story felt like a period piece plus magic patched together. I found Hieber's journal style concept interesting but not entirely successful. It was a bit confusing at the beginning and didn't quite work for telling certain parts of the story. Overall, while the journal idea set Darker Still apart from other similar books, I thought trying to constrain everything in this style also hindered or limited the author's writing.

If your looking for a nice little read and love the Victorian period and the paranormal but aren't too picky about the details, give this one a try. I hope the author takes some risks the next go around but it's still a good start to what could be a stand out series.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Amabe421

Posted October 29, 2011

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Could have been great, but fell a little flat.

When I saw this book and read the description, I knew I wanted to read it. The whole idea of it sounded so intriguing. And it was to a point, but in general just didn't quite do it for me. I found myself easily distracted and just not completely drawn into this book. It had a pretty steady pace, and interesting characters, but I felt that it should have had more.

Natalie Stewart is the heroine in the book. She is a 17 year old girl who doesn't speak. I couldn't really connect with her character, not because she didn't speak, but because I just didn't feel like we get to know her that well. The book is written from her POV as a diary, but I felt like it could have been better. She talks about how she feels and the events that happen, but I didn't get that emotional connection that I get with other characters in other books.

She becomes close with Mrs. Northe who acts as almost a motherly figure. Mrs. Northe helps Natalie in her quest to free Jonathon Denbury from the painting. It is Mrs. Northe who purchases the painting because she knows there is something more to it. She's a wealthy widow, and knows a bit about magic that can help reverse the curse put upon the Lord Denbury.

Jonathon Denbury's character was pretty boring to me. I guess if I had been stuck in a painting with no perception of time and nothing to do I would probably be boring too, but I expected more. He was unnaturally calm and collected about the situation. He did have a few little outbursts, but in general he was just dealing with it.

The relationship between Jonathon and Natalie seemed a little ridiculous. Yes they are meant to meet each other and it's fate and all that, but how they are instantly so familiar with each other put me off a little. Their romance is sweet, and it's not just "hey, lets make out" it does progress slowly, but their emotional connection seems too deep for not knowing each other, magic or not.

There were things that I really did like about this book. I liked how Jonathon Denbury was trapped in the painting while an evil spirit was using his body to gain power, and the magic used for the curse was explained well. My main problems with the book was just not really getting that connection to the characters. That's a very important thing for me when reading a book. There were a few other little things that irked me, but overall the story was good. I really wanted to like it much more than I did. I would give this 3.5 stars out of 5.

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Nancy_TumblingBooks

Posted October 25, 2011

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Just Average

I'm still trying to decide how I feel about Darker Still, there were things that I liked and things that I didn't. One of the things that I did like was the fact that the story line was very promising, it was fascinating that Lord Denbury was trapped inside the painting and the author did a good job in explaining how the magic of it worked, which I thought would have been very confusing. There were a few other things in the story that I enjoyed, mainly that it was set in the 1880s. Because I usually never read stories set in the Victorian Era, it was a nice change from what I was used to. However, there were many things that I didn't like. For example, the main character, Natalie, was crying every other page. It was too much. I wished she would just get over it and stop crying. She cried over everything. Another thing was that she fell for Lord Denbury too fast, it seemed forced and unnatural, which I found strange. I wished the characters were developed a little more, they fell flat for me. The book is part of a series. Maybe the next one will be better, though I'm not sure exactly what would be going on in the next books since the problem seemed to be resolved in this first book.

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Anonymous

Posted November 16, 2011

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Posted November 8, 2011

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Posted February 25, 2012

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