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Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Review: Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

SHADOW HILLS by Anastasia Hopcus
Pub. Date: July 13, 2010
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Format: Hardcover, 400pp
Age Range: Young Adult
After her sister Athena's tragic death, it's obvious that grief-stricken Persephone "Phe" Archer no longer belongs in Los Angeles. Hoping to make sense of her sister's sudden demise and the cryptic dreams following it, Phe abandons her bubbly LA life to attend an uptight East Coast preparatory school in Shadow Hills, MA — a school which her sister mysteriously mentioned in her last diary entry before she died.

Once there, Phe quickly realizes that something is deeply amiss in her new town. Not only does Shadow Hills' history boast an unexplained epidemic that decimated hundreds of its citizens in the 1700s, but its modern townies also seem eerily psychic, with the bizarre ability to bend metal. Even Zach — the gorgeous stranger Phe meets and immediately begins to lust after — seems as if he is hiding something serious. Phe is determined to get to the bottom of it. The longer she stays there, the more she suspects that her sister's untimely death and her own destiny are intricately linked to those who reside in Shadow Hills.

SHADOW HILLS entices readers with its haunting mysteries and forbidden secrets.


Persephone enrolled into Devenish Preparatory after her sister passed away, in hopes of finding out why her sister was drawn to the place. Right off the bat, Hopcus lured me into SHADOW HILLS with Phe’s eerie dreams. Anytime there’s a creepy cemetery involved, combined with mysterious deaths, I can’t help but WANT to know what happened.

As soon as Phe arrived in Shadow Hills, I was full of anticipation in wanting to know more about the town and the mystery guy in her dreams. Which begs the question, what’s Phe’s link to Shadow Hills? Especially, when this town’s inhabitants are strange and weird things continue to happen all around them.

I adored Phe, the girl’s got sass! She’s strong willed and won’t back down from a challenge; even if it could ultimately have dire consequences. You know what they say: “Curiosity killed the cat.” But, Phe’s determined to get answers and she’s not about to let some weird incidents prevent her from finding out what’s really going on in Shadow Hills. Speaking of the mystery guy, Zach is alluring in his own right. As soon as Phe locked eyes with him, I could see the sparks flying. Talk about Magnetism! Hopcus's writing style and well paced plot kept me in suspense as I tried to fit the puzzle pieces together.

SHADOW HILLS takes haunting dreams and mysterious undertakings to a whole new level. I’m just glad we get to see more of Phe’s and Zach’s story in the next installment. I can imagine this series going in so many directions. I’ll be picking up the next book and immersing myself into it intensely. Now all I NEED to know is WHEN?

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

30 comments:

  1. Awesome review! Will be looking forward to it when it finally lands in the UK:)

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  2. LOVE your review...this is such a wonderful book, I cant wait for more!

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  3. Ahh! Another review that makes me want to get this book NOW!

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  4. I love a good mystery, and every review I have read has given rave reviews! Your review was fabulous!

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  5. This is great! I have got to check it out!!! I saw that you are a part of the Debut Author Challenge! That is so amazing that you are supporting debut authors and I only recently found out that I am going to be one!!! I wanted to ask if you wouldn’t mind heading over to my blog and giving me your opinion. As a blogger turned author I would really appreciate it and the publisher is still giving out ARCs so you might have a chance at a free copy! Thank you and I hope you will stop by and check out The Thirteenth Chime!

    Sincerely,
    Emma Michaels
    http://EmmaMichaels.Blogspot.com

    P.S.- My release date if Friday the 13th (August this year) isn't that crazy?

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  6. Great review! I'm going to add this to my list to read. I love mysteries.

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  7. Sounds amazing! I too am glad to see a book with my true mystery! I'll be looking at this one closer.

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  8. Oh!! This book sounds really good!

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  9. Great review! Makes me want to read the book even more!

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  10. 4.5 out of 5? sounds good! And the summary sounds very interesting!

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  11. I love strong female characters and Phe seems like one of them. I cant wait to get this book!

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  12. Great review! Glad you liked the book.

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  13. I like a story with a good mystery and Shadow Hill sounds like it has just that.

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  14. Great review! This book sounds amazing and I can't wait to read it :)

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  15. I have heard such great things about this book!! I want to read it terribly!! I haven't seen one bad review yet!!

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  16. Great review! I love reading strong female charaters. I'm really looking foreward to reading Shadow Hill's. Ooooh town secrets... ;) Can't wait!

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  17. Great review. This is one of my most anticipated books this year!

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  18. I love this review. After reading I must read this book NOW! :)

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  19. Great review sounds so good can't wait to read it I just keep hearing great things about it!

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  20. This review just makes me want to read it even more. I read the first chapter and it hooked me.

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  21. Creepy cemeteries, mysterious deaths, psychic townies... I have got to go get this book soon! Thanks for the review.

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  22. Phe sounds like a great character. I want to read this so bad! I love how the girls names are Greek goddesses.

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  23. At first I was a bit skeptical about this book, but now you've got me desperate to read it!

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  24. Love the review! It makes me want to read this even more!

    Briana

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  25. Great review based on the names of the characters I am guessing the author loves greek mythology so I was surprised she didn't touch on that based on your review

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  26. I totally get what you said "Anytime there’s a creepy cemetery involved, combined with mysterious deaths, I can’t help but WANT to know what happened." I feel the same way

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  27. I want to read this book so bad! It sounds amazing!

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  28. Awesome review! I really can't wait to read this! :)

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  29. GREAT review! I just cannot wait to read this book :)

    -Kaylee.

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