A Darkness Strange and Lovely (Something Strange and Deadly Series #2)

by Susan Dennard

Overview

Perfect for fans of Libba Bray's The Diviners and Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices series, this spellbinding sequel to Something Strange and Deadly delivers a mix of supernatural forces and intense romance, set against the enchanting backdrop of nineteenth-century Paris.

With her brother dead and her mother insane, Eleanor Fitt is alone. Even the Spirit-Hunters—Joseph, Jie, and the handsome Daniel—have fled to Paris. So when Eleanor hears the vicious barking of hounds and sees haunting yellow eyes, she fears that the Dead, and the necromancer Marcus, are after her.

To escape, Eleanor boards a steamer bound for France. There she meets Oliver, a young man who claims to have known her brother. But Oliver harbors a dangerous secret involving necromancy and black magic that entices Eleanor beyond words. If she can resist him, she'll be fine. But when she arrives in Paris, she finds that the Dead have taken over, and there's a whole new evil lurking. And she is forced to make a deadly decision that will go against everything the Spirit-Hunters stand for.

In Paris, there's a price for this darkness strange and lovely, and it may have Eleanor paying with her life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062083296
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	07/23/2013
Series:	Something Strange and Deadly Series , #2
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	790,352
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.34(h) x 1.30(d)
Lexile:	HL650L (what's this?)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Susan Dennard is a writer turned marine biologist turned writer again. The Something Strange and Deadly trilogy is her debut. Among the traits she shares with her heroine Eleanor are a weakness for Shakespeare quotes, a healthy appetite for baked goods, and an insatiable curiosity. Sadly, Susan does not get to wear a corset or wave a parasol on a daily basis.

Editorial Reviews

A wonderfully brisk pace sweeps readers into an intriguing mystery. Eleanor serves as a highly entertaining guide and readers will find themselves settling in among the undead just fine.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Thrilling, charming, and dark, Something Strange and Deadly is a delicious sandwich of harmonious flavors. I fell for Daniel, I soaked in the zombie mayhem with glee, I delighted in the steampunk fashion and gadgetry. If you enjoyed The Clockwork Angel, you’ll love this. Fantastical fun.

Marie Lu

A dark, glittering world, full of unforgettable characters, swashbuckling action, and heart-stopping romance. Susan Dennard’s books now have a permanent place on my All-Time Favorites shelf!

Sara J. Mass

Oh. My. God. IN LOVE! This book takes the walking dead to a whole new level! This whole book keeps you on the edge of your seat… chewing your nails waiting to see what is going to happen next…This book is a MUST read.

Melissa - Mysteries on Mainstreet

praise for Something Strange and Deadly: A wonderfully brisk pace sweeps readers into an intriguing mystery. Eleanor serves as a highly entertaining guide and readers will find themselves settling in among the undead just fine.

The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books

A wonderfully brisk pace sweeps readers into an intriguing mystery. Eleanor serves as a highly entertaining guide and readers will find themselves settling in among the undead just fine.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the first page, readers will be awakened to an 1876 Philadelphia replete with animated corpses, irresistible romance and a game of intrigue. Those who enjoy Cassandra Clare’s the Infernal Devices series will be spellbound by Dennard’s macabre and impressive debut.

Shelf Awareness

Praise for SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY

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A dark, glittering world, full of unforgettable characters, swashbuckling action, and heart-stopping romance. Susan Dennard’s books now have a permanent place on my All-Time Favorites shelf!

Sarah J. Maas

praise for Something Strange and Deadly: A wonderfully brisk pace sweeps readers into an intriguing mystery. Eleanor serves as a highly entertaining guide and readers will find themselves settling in among the undead just fine.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

11/01/2013
Gr 9 Up—In this zombie thriller set in 19th-century Paris, 17-year-old Eleanor Fitt is left behind in Philadelphia to take care of her mentally fragile mother while the three "Spirit-Hunters" she met in Something Strange and Deadly (HarperCollins, 2012) move on to their next job of protecting Paris from the reanimated dead. However, when hellhounds and the yellow eyes of a dangerous necromancer appear to her, Eleanor quickly boards a steamer to find the Spirit-Hunters, knowing she can't fight Marcus on her own. Along the way she meets a demon named Oliver and begins to discover the depths of her own power. Upon arriving in Paris, these experiences clash with the Spirit-Hunters' adamant stance that all magic is dark and corrupting. While they battle reanimated corpses, Eleanor must also battle within herself to either embrace or deny her burgeoning powers. Eleanor is a strong female protagonist forgoing corsets, fighting dark forces, and finding her own way in the world. At the same time, she battles insecurities about her looks, her family, and her crush. Her sassy dialogue will further endear her to teens. Dennard describes amputations, mutilations, and corpses with stomach-churning realism. In addition, she does a great job of reminding readers what happened in the first book without boring those who have read it recently. Darkness is enjoyable as a stand-alone, but will especially thrill fans of Something Strange and Deadly.—Sunnie Lovelace, Wallingford Public Library, CT

School Library Journal

Still reeling from the zombie cataclysm that took her hand and left her necromancer brother dead and his body possessed (Something Strange and Deadly, 2012), Eleanor Fitt sets her sights on Paris, where the Spirit-Hunters who had helped her are now battling its Dead. Strange occurrences--the sound of howling dogs, yellow eyes glittering in the darkness and, most disturbingly, the on-again, off-again reappearance of her hand--and the knowledge that the evil spirit who took over Elijah's body is after the letters he sent to her hasten her departure from Philadelphia. On the boat, she meets Elijah's demon, Oliver, a charismatic, haunted young man who begins to teach her necromancy, which she finds intensely pleasurable--almost addictive. Unsurprisingly, her reunion with the necromancy-hating Spirit-Hunters is fraught, and it is further complicated by her ambivalent feelings toward Daniel, whom she fell hard for in Philadelphia. This outing lacks its predecessor's focus, sending Eleanor hither and thither across Paris after the Dead and clues to Elijah's necromantic research. A rotating cast of characters--Oliver, the various Spirit-Hunters, new French friends and acquaintances--keeps both Eleanor and readers busy, and plot transitions come thick, fast and often clunky. But pastry-loving Eleanor remains an appealing character, and Oliver is an intriguing new addition. Fans will likely give weaknesses the benefit of the doubt and look forward to the third volume; here's hoping it repays their faith. (Paranormal historical fiction. 12 & up)

Kirkus Reviews

Oh. My. God. IN LOVE! This book takes the walking dead to a whole new level! This whole book keeps you on the edge of your seat… chewing your nails waiting to see what is going to happen next…This book is a MUST read.

bookseller at Mysteries on Mainstreet Melissa

praise for Something Strange and Deadly: This debut novel is quite compelling and features a plot that moves at breakneck speed. The plot is full of action, betrayal, and romance.

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

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