Sutton Shields: Review of Mary Hades by Sarah Dalton

Absolutely Incredible!

*As spoiler-free as possible*

The story of Mary Hades is dark, moving, at times incredibly humorous, and, all together, profoundly beautiful.

Characters: Adored all of them! Mary, our main character, is just fantastic. She wears the weight of the afterlife on her shoulders, and she does so with grace, strength, and humor. Lacey is her BFF, who just so happens to be a ghost. I can’t say enough about Lacey. I. Love. This. Character. She is fun, spunky, snarky, and witty. Seth, who is Mary’s love interest, is one mysterious guy…and, oh, I loved him. Everything about Seth is subtle; his character draws you in—you can’t help but be intrigued by this guy. The incredibly shocking twists and turns with his character will create an emotional roller coaster ride for your emotions. I really, really, really hope to see much more of him in future books. Neil was another wonderfully rich character that I’d love to see in future books. Mary’s mom—loved her! I could go on and on about how much I loved the characters, truly.

World & Story: Sarah has created a story that makes the reader feel like they’ve boarded a demonic Ferris wheel. There are so many emotional highs and lows in this beautifully paced tale that is written to perfection. Sarah’s ability to cut right to the heart of a situation and pull you in with the characters is impeccable. I loved being transported to the English countryside; I honestly felt like I was right there—at the fair, walking through the moors, sitting (or hanging from) the Ferris wheel.

Fear Factor: I’m kind of a fraidy cat and not ashamed to admit it (okay, well, maybe a little ashamed). Mary Hades was just scary enough to make the hairs on my arm stand up, but not so scary that I was afraid of any little pop and creak in the house. Without giving too much away, I felt that the conclusion of the story, though intense, was gracefully written, especially given the circumstances surrounding the tragic story of little Amy. So, in other words, this is the perfect book for those who like scary stories, but are also fraidy cats like me.

Overall: A perfectly creepy, yet emotional ride as the present and the afterlife collide in an unforgettable way. Tremendous start to a series I literally cannot wait to read more of.

Rating (yeah, I’m holiday-obsessed, so I rate by snowmen. I’m also a giant dork):

5 Spooky Snowmen