YA Book Review: Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Denard

Title: Something Strange and Deadly

Author: Susan Denard

Series: Something Strange and Deadly #1

Genre: Young Adult Steampunk, Zombies, Paranormal

Publisher: Harper Teen

Pub Date: July 24, 2012

Pages: 388

My Copy: Hardcover from my TBR pile

Book Summary:

There's something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia. . . .

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about.

Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she's just read in the newspaper:

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor . . . from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she'll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including the maddeningly stubborn yet handsome Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance. 

Book Review:

An interesting book. I really love the character of Eleanor Fitt and all the supporting cast, except Eleanor’s mother of course in this book. Eleanor Fitt is really in a situation that you don't expect. (RN: I love zombie books, steampunk books, so this seemed like a natural fit for me). 

I love how this book starts and how the dead play a part of it. Eleanor is looking for her brother at a train station and he never shows up. This is very bad. Then a member of the dead delivers a strange letter to her. One that really doesn’t make sense at first, but then she believes that he has gotten into some major trouble. Eleanor finds that she is in a weird place. Her mother is forcing her to socialize, so that she can find a wealthy suitor. They are in a difficult situation financially, according to her mother. I do like the fact that Eleanor doesn't really want to find a husband, but finds herself meeting some young men, but one in particular Clay seems to be someone that just is pursuing her. His sister Allie is someone that has had some history with Eleanor. They seem to be okay at first.

Then somehow Eleanor learns things about her brother, through the Spirit Keepers who somehow manage to stop the dead from doing things and turning others into dead through their instruments and sometimes magic. We learn that her brother was looking for a grimore. A Grimore is a book of magic that is very dangerous. I like how at first everyone views as Eleanor as something as a bit of a snob and a little high and mighty. I kind of feel bad for Clay as he is interested, but Eleanor is not.

This book took on some interesting twists that I didn’t see coming. Not to mention when things go bad, they go extremely bad. Also the fact that Eleanor wants to join the Spirit Hunters, because she is scared for her brother and what might or could have happened. They are an end to her goals. Her mother also thinks that she and Clay are dating one another and that she is on the right track, not realizing this is not true. 

Also Eleanor is starting to remember things about the past and her father’s relationship with his friends and that Clay’s father was really doing something and pulling certain things. I totally find that this leads to some more investigating and certain people having connections. I was surprised by how many people have done things. Not to mention the Dead is a threat that some people don’t consider serious or only do when they are threatened by one.

I found the way the last part of the book being a very bad place for Eleanor and her mother as we learn that her brother is no longer alive, but rather someone really bad has possessed his body. Then Clay dies and this ruins Eleanor’s mother plans and Eleanor’s future. Her mother says their fortunes are now ruined. I hope that in the second book things get better and much more intense. This book was very interesting and I’m looking to see where this series goes. 

Rating:

4 Hearts