THE EDGE OF OVER THERE
The Day the Angels Fell, Book 2
by
SHAWN SMUCKER
by
SHAWN SMUCKER
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Publisher: Revell
Date of Publication: July 3, 2018
Number of Pages: 384
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The captivating sequel to the award-winning The Day the Angels Fell
Abra Miller carries a secret and a responsibility she never expected.
Before the Tree of Life, everything in Abra Miller’s life had been predictable. Safe. Normal. But after the Tree, everything has felt fragile . . . like holding a soap bubble in the palm of her hand. After years of fruitless searching for the next Tree, she begins to wonder if it was nothing more than a vivid dream.
Now sixteen, Abra finds a clue to the whereabouts of the next Tree of Life when an ominous woman—who looks exactly like a ghost from her past—compels her to travel to New Orleans where she’ll find one of seven gateways between this world and Over There. But she’s not the only one interested in finding the gateway. There’s also a young man searching for his father and sister, who escaped through it years before. As Abra enters the Edge of Over There and begins her pursuit of the Tree once more, she doesn’t know whom to fear or whom to trust.
She’s also starting to think that some doorways should never be opened.
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Praise for The Edge of Over There:
“Blending Biblical elements and urban myths, Smucker creates an enthralling story of supernatural battles between the forces of good and evil.” -- Publishers Weekly
“The Edge of Over There is a mesmerizing, menacing fantasy. Shawn Smucker fuses New Orleans lore, Christian themes, and dystopian landscapes in a thorough exploration of love and its unintended results.” -- Foreword Reviews (Starred Review)
I was subtler with my wily ways in getting selected to
review THE EDGE OVER THERE by Shawn Smucker, when this beauty popped up in our
blogger group. This time, I relied upon my trusty lock-picking kit to unlock
the door that leads to Kristine’s Super-Secret-Sign-Up Room and entered undetected.
Unlike Smucker’s character, Abra, I do not have a key that
can open, lock, and seal every door. I had to rely upon my crafty, racoon-like
ways in order to get chosen to review the continuing story that originally
began with a cat in a tree … or did it?
You’ll recall (I’m sure you haven’t forgotten!) that I reviewed
the first book in this series titled THE DAY THE ANGELS FELL last year. If you
need a refresher, click
here to pop over to the review. But be forewarned, for once you
enter this story, you are bound to stay with it until you see it through to the
end. Putting this story aside may very well be a mortal sin!
Within these pages are forbidden doors, gates that should
never be opened, pools that are windows to other times, and an ancient key that
can open, close, and seal them shut … a key that isn’t really a key at all, but
a sword that has existed since the beginning of time. And why should such a key
exist, you ask (for I have asked the same question)? To extinguish the Tree, of
course!
My eyes shift, instinctively, to the blazing cover of THE
EDGE OF OVER THERE by Shawn Smucker, and come to rest, as if drawn to it by
some deep magic, on the ancient tree that has cast deep roots into the center
of a strange, forbidden city that lies at the edge of Over There. I inhale a
deep breath, thinking of all those trapped inside that city … thinking of how
they’d gotten in there in the first place … and a shiver runs up my spine.
The tomb of none other than Marie Laveau serves as the door
to The Edge of Over There.
Can you guess who opens the door to allow entrance?
I flip open the back cover of the book (gingerly, of course,
because … as y’all know by now … I like my books to remain eternally new) and examine
the photo of the author. I squint my eyes and gasp at the realization that I’m fairly
certain (though I have no concrete proof) that, like Mr. Tennen and Mr. Henry,
Mr. Smucker is one of Them … the ones
tasked with watching for a resurgence of the Tree. For I cannot … no … I refuse to believe this story to be a
work of fiction. Frankly, it is too real!
Of course, I could be wrong. But, just between you and me, I
seriously doubt it. His characters are real, alive, and multifaceted. It is
impossible for them to be merely constructed of words!
Abra is a strong female character who wields an ancient sword
that only two others have held since the beginning of time. Like Harry Potter,
she alone is tasked with saving humanity. I pause a moment and realize that I’m
very close to giving away spoilers, and y’all know how I am loath to spoil a
good story for anyone.
But I will comment here that I found the meaning this
character's name to be of great interest. Not only is Abra the feminine of
Abraham (a very important man in the Bible), the name also means “lesson” and “example.”
There’s something to be
said about a lesson or example.
It’s never easy being the chosen one … but someone’s gotta
do it.
Abra isn’t the only important character in this book. There
really aren’t any minor characters, for they all play an extremely important
part in this story of real life … oh, ahem … I mean fiction. There are a few
new characters who show up in this book. One of them is named Leo, which means “lion”
and “brave.”
No more hints. STOP ASKING, DAGNABIT!
THE EDGE OVER THERE is written in a rhythmic exchange between
past and present, the same style employed by the bards of old who captivated
their listeners around a glowing campfire late into the night. And this is why I
have my suspicions about Mr. Smucker. I believe he is one of the Ancient Ones. (But
don’t tell him I said this!)
Though THE EDGE OF OVER THERE is a sequel, it is written like
a stand-alone. And as I’ve done in this review post, there are lots of Easter
Eggs dropped throughout the book … enough to keep the reader informed of what
happened before.
I’ve got my trusty lock-picking kit at the ready for sneaking back into Kristine’s Super-Secret-Sign-Up Room, for I sense there will be another occurrence
of the Tree. If you haven’t read both of Smucker's books, I urge you to do so
immediately! Stop dilly-dallying around, and grab a copy now so you’ll know
what to look for when the Tree begins to emerge once more.
Oh, and don’t
forget to scroll down and enter the very generous giveaway below!
Shawn Smucker has done it again. He’s woven a story so
mesmerizing that I slept no more than two hours together until I read the last
sentence!
And that’s why I give THE EDGE OF OVER THERE by Shawn
Smucker
5 GLORIOUSLY FORBIDDEN BROOMS!
Shawn Smucker is the author of The Day the Angels Fell and The Edge of Over There. He lives with his wife and six children in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. You can find him on his website, where you can also sign up for his newsletter in order to find out when and where the Tree of Life will turn up next.
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
GRAND PRIZE: Both Books in the The Day the Angels Fell series + Color Changing Tree Mug + $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
(US ONLY)
July 17-26, 2018
CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
7/17/18
|
Author Interview
| |
7/17/18
|
Book Trailer
| |
7/18/18
|
Excerpt
| |
7/19/18
|
Review
| |
7/20/18
|
Review
| |
7/21/18
|
Top 10 List
| |
7/22/18
|
Notable Quotable
| |
7/23/18
|
Author Interview
| |
7/24/18
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Review
| |
7/25/18
|
Guest Post
| |
7/26/18
|
Review
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HA! Mr. Smucker is one of THEM! (I think you may be right!) Glad you were able to pick the lock to get in on this one. Great review.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fantastic book with delicious world-building. I haven't read a book this enthralling since I read THE DAY THE ANGELS FELL last year!
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