Review: In the Shadows by Kiersten White & Jim Di Bartolo

Title: In the Shadows

Authors: Kiersten White & Jim Di Bartolo

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date: April 29th, 2014

Source: Purchased

My Rating: 4.5/5

From the remarkable imagination of acclaimed artist Jim Di Bartolo and the exquisite pen of bestselling author Kiersten White comes a spellbinding story of love, mystery, and dark conspiracy, told in an alternating narrative of words and pictures.

Cora and Minnie are sisters living in a small, stifling town where strange and mysterious things occur. Their mother runs the local boarding house. Their father is gone. The woman up the hill may or may not be a witch.

Thomas and Charles are brothers who’ve been exiled to the boarding house so Thomas can tame his ways and Charles can fight an illness that is killing him with increasing speed. Their family history is one of sorrow and guilt. They think they can escape from it . . . but they can’t. (Summary from Goodreads)

When I first heard about In the Shadows, I was beyond excited. I mean, it's a new Kiersten White book, so obviously I would be jumping for joy! But, it was the concept that seriously intrigued me. A story told in illustrations and writing, in YA? That's pretty much unheard of. I couldn't wait to pick it up and In the Shadows did not disappoint. 

I have to say that, despite my excitement, this book took me a bit to get into. I was mesmerized by the beautiful illustrations and very by the spooky writing, but I wasn't sure how the story was going to work. There waere a lot of characters and different scenes pictured and I wasn't sure how they were all going to fit together. That said, once I found the rhythm (about fifty pages in) I could barely put the book down! I was absolutely fascinated by every aspect of the story. 

I was blown away by Jim Di Bartolo's artwork. I had seen the little sneak peeks that had be posted, but seeing the illustrations in person was just incredible. There was so much detail, so much talent poured into those pages. The vivid scenery was gorgeous. The creepy characters were gorgeous. And the ominous vibe was almost palpable. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the artwork and found myself trying to soak in every detail. They were just simply stunning, and worked perfectly with the written story. 

Now, onto the written story! Seriously, Kiersten White? You are a GEM. A talented, incredible gem. I am constantly wowed by your writing talents and your enchanting storytelling. In the Shadows was another book added to my "awesome" column. That opening chapter was just spooky, and I was dying for more. The writing itself was so fitting of the story, and just simply amazing. I read some lines over and over and ended up bookmarking a bunch of them! And then there was the characters! I think Kiersten White is so talented, not just in In the Shadows but in all of her novels, because of her ability to create distinct and original voices while still maintaining her crazy amazing writing style. From Evie's quirky voice, to Fia's destroyed psyche, to Isadora's creative mind, White delivers again and again fresh and intriguing characters with unique perspectives. In the Shadows is no exception. Minnie obviously stole my heart right away, because who doesn't love a spunky girl? But she wasn't the only stand-out! I was dying to unravel the mystery behind Arthur, felt so much pride in Thom's fierce protectiveness, loved Charles positive attitude in the face of death, and enjoyed Cora's blooming confidence. Each character added so much to the story, and every word had me itching for more!

I was so disappointed when I turned the last page because I didn't want it to end! This book was magical, and I can't wait to go back and read it again and again. Everything came together to create one heck of a book unlike anything I've read before. This book is worth the buy, guys. And I seriously recommend you run to a bookstore and do just that!

I don't normally include book trailers, but I think you guys need a taste of In the Shadows to know exactly the fantastic-ness I'm talking about! Check out the teaser trailer below!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Find This Book: Amazon | Chapters/Indigo | Goodreads | Kiersten White's Website | Jim Di Bartolo's Website