26 Jun 2015

THE OUTSIDE (THE HALLOWED ONES #2).


THE OUTSIDE by LAURA BICKLE.

BACK COVER BLURB: One girl. One road. One chance to save what remains.

The world is not what it once was. Two thirds of the population has been killed by a plague of vampires, and the survivors hide out in isolated territories - both protected and trapped by forces beyond their understanding.

Exiled from her Amish community and shunned for her refusal to adhere to the new rules of survival, Katie enters an outside world of unspeakable violence with only her two 'English' friends and a horse by her side. Together they seek answers wherever they can find them - but each sunset brings the threat of vampire attack, and each sunrise, the threat of starvation.

- An abridged version, for the full synopsis which may contain spoilers click here.

FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter One}: The hard part about the end of the world is surviving it, surviving when no angels scoop you up to fly you away to heaven.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 39}: I shuddered at the sound of the squeak of fingertips on the window, the scrape of a fingernail.

SOURCE: A gift from Mr T.

MY THOUGHTS: Having previously read The Hallowed Ones, part one in this two part series, I was both delighted and yet anxious to read this. Delighted because the first book was one of my favourite reads of 2014 and anxious worrying could this possibly be as good.

Thankfully every bit as good and, depending on what you were expecting, even better.

I say depending on what you were expecting as if you were expecting this to be firstly and foremostly a vampire story you might be a tad disappointed as whilst, yes, there are vampires to me this was equally (probably even more so) a story of relationships, of survival, of faith (one of the highlights for me was Alex explaining the 'End Times' according to various religious beliefs), of science vs religion ..... and more.

Picking up shortly from the events that occurred in The Hallowed Ones (whilst there are some recaps as to what happened previously this is one of those series I recommend has to be read from the beginning) The Outside sees Amish Katie (aka Bonnet) and Englishers Alex and Ginger, not forgetting, Horace, their trusty steed, on the road throwing them (and us, the reader) into the unknown - an unknown populated by vampires (non-sparkly, 'traditional' vampires who are afraid of the light etc - and Kate on a journey that sees her horizons widened, her faith tasted beyond anything she had expected.

Like its predecessor this is a novel I could wax lyrical about for some time. I loved the mix of the scary (thankfully the not too scary) with the psychological, Alex's no-nonsense common sense with what could be thought of as Katie's blind faith.


13 comments:

Gina said...

How curious! Amish fiction fused with paranormal. *ponders* Can't say I've read that before but from your description combined w/the synopsis, I just might have to. Thanks for the tip about starting w/book one. :)

brandileigh2003 said...

Yay, glad to hear it was even better than the first

Brian Joseph said...

I tend to like the "Civilization has collapsed" typed novels even whether are not they are plausible.


I also strongly prefer traditional ghoulish vampires as opposed to the latest trends. It also sounds as if there are some interesting philosophical a ruminations in this one.

It is Interesting that the main character of this one is Amish. Perhaps there is some symbolism involved with that.

Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer said...

I loved this duology Tracy. I am glad to see you did as well!

Kelly said...

I had forgotten about the first book and, since it really interested me...especially for my daughter...I'm glad you reviewed this second in the series.

You might have said and I just missed it, but is this open-ended, a trilogy, or what?

I'm fascinated by the premise. Really glad, too, that it lived up to your expectations.

Sherry Ellis said...

It seems very unusual to mix Amish with vampires. An interesting premise!

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Apparently only a two book series Kelly.

Alexia561 said...

Love it when the second book is every bit as good as the first! Glad to hear that this one didn't disappoint, as it sounds right up my alley! And can I say a quick Yay for non-sparkly vampires? Will have to add these two books to my wishlist. Thanks for the great review, Tracy!

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

Oh I have the first book and have yet to read it. I'm so glad you enjoyed the second one as well. I so need to get started on this series.

Yvonne @ Fiction Books Reviews said...

Hi Tracy,

This probably isn't a series for me, even if I wasn't quite so confused about the concept of an Amish girl, her two English friends, a horse and some vampires!

As you have given this one such a glowing recommendation and so obviously enjoyed it, I am guessing that the rather eclectic mix of characters gelled together quite well in the end?

I really like the cover art for this book and your two chosen quotes are both so good, although I wouldn't be able to stand the sound of a nail scratching on glass! That's almost as bad as scratching a blackboard, or slicing a knife and fork across a patterned dinner plate - sheer torture!

Thanks for sharing and have a good weekend :)

Yvonne

Natasha said...

I like the sound of this it definitely sounds like the kind of story I enjoy - I love the mixture of horror and fantasy - will have to try and pick this up somewhere! - Tasha

Melliane said...

Oh yes I really enjoyed this one when I tried it

Literary Feline said...

I am glad this one lived up to your expectations, Tracy. It does sound interesting as did the first book. I really like the sound of this one.