Blog Tour: RAVEN by STACEY ROURKE

BOOK ONE

Title: Crane

Author: Stacey Rourke

Series: Legends Saga #1

Release Date: May 26th 2014

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Paranormal/Horror

BLURB

The Horseman is unending,
his presence shan’t lessen.
If you break the curse,
you become the legend.
Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had no choice but to cover up the deadly truth behind Ichabod Crane’s disappearance. Centuries later, a Crane returns to Sleepy Hollow awakening macabre secrets once believed to be buried deep. 
What if the monster that spawned the legend lived within you?
Now, Ireland Crane, reeling from a break-up and seeking a fresh start, must rely on the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle to discover the key to channeling the darkness swirling within her. Bodies are piling high and Ireland is the only one that can save Sleepy Hollow by embracing her own damning curse. 

But is anyone truly safe when the Horseman rides?

Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Review

Retellings can only be really successful if they are good and add an ingredient to the original story. Stacey Rourke achieves this with Crane.

Many readers know the legend of Sleepy Hollow, whether they have read the book, seen the 1999 Tim Burton film, the Disney cartoon or the more recent TV series. Stacey Rourke cleverly combines all these media versions in Crane and Ireland is even heard to say, with sarcasm,

' "I've heard the stories, read the book and even seen the Johnny Depp movie" '

However, the author is careful not to alienate any newcomers to the story because her strong narrative alternates between Ichabod Crane's nineteenth century Sleepy Hollow and the present day town which Ireland lives in.

Her arrival here coincides with the decapitation of a local man, Charles Van Tassel and she is questioned by police. Scanning through the book again I have realised that the officers are named Potter and Granger; an indication of how Stacey Rourke injects humour into her story.

Headless Horseman attacks continue in the town and the name 'Crane' is linked to these, resulting in Ireland being suspended from her position as the school counsellor.

During this time Rip Van Winkle is introduced and not only does he link Ireland directly to Washington Irving, but he adds much of the witty repartee because of his innocence about modern-day society. In between his naps it is Rip Van Winkle's responsibility to help Ireland stop the Horseman and he does everything in his power to shed light on the mystery, even eating coffee and communicating with a ghost! Initially, Ireland feels Rip is a nuisance but a familial tenderness develops between them which we happily observe.

Crane's events are often unexpected and I particularly liked how Stacey Rourke connects the romance between Ichabod and Katrina, to Ireland and Noah.

This is a really good start to the Legends saga and I am now going on to read Raven.

Rating:

 

BOOK TWO
Title: Raven
Author: Stacey Rourke
Series: Legends Saga #2
Release Date: September 22nd 2014
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Paranormal/Horror

BLURB

An infamous love, destined nevermore,
For death could not claim, the enchanting Lenore.
Cursed by the malevolent spirit of the Headless Horseman, Ireland Crane ventures to Manhattan in search of a way to break her soul crushing bond. Instead, she discovers the lines between fact and fiction are blurring once more. Croaking ravens. Telltale hearts. Could the works of Poe be coming to pass with handsome Wall Street Midas Ridley Peolte as their unwilling target?
She walks the Earth, a plague on mankind,
searching for he, her rotted heart doth pine.
Together, the two unknowingly release a dark force death itself could not tame. Surrounded by the unrelenting violence and mayhem they’ve unleashed, Ireland feels her control over the Horseman slipping. Before the beast within consumes her, she and her crew must follow the clues of the dead to right a centuries’ old wrong. Will it be enough to sate the Horseman’s appetite?

Hell hath no fury like a ghoul scorned.

Purchase: Amazon

Review

TO FOLLOW

About the Author

There is nothing worse than being put on the spot and asked to talk about yourself. For me it brings back that inevitable moment in a new school when the teacher would ask me to stand up, introduce myself and tell the class something about myself. I was always worried I would blurt out something stupid that I would get teased for. Something like, “My name’s Stacey and I like pickles!” Then for the rest of the school year I’d be known as the Pickle Girl and let’s be honest, no one wants that. So to avoid such a faux pas I will simply say that I love to write. It allows me to get my crazy out just enough that I can function as a normal member of society.

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