[Review: The Glass Casket by McCormick Templeman]

"The Glass Casket"
Author: McCormick Templeman
Series: None
Pages: 337
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling
Date Published: February 11th, 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Format Read: Hardback from the library

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Summary:

Death hasn't visited Rowan Rose since it took her mother when Rowan was only a little girl. But that changes one bleak morning, when five horses and their riders thunder into her village and through the forest, disappearing into the hills. Days later, the riders' bodies are found, and though no one can say for certain what happened in their final hours, their remains prove that whatever it was must have been brutal.

Rowan's village was once a tranquil place, but now things have changed. Something has followed the path those riders made and has come down from the hills, through the forest, and into the village. Beast or man, it has brought death to Rowan's door once again.

Only this time, its appetite is insatiable.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To The Glass Casket,

First, I'd like to thank you for being the creeptastic freak show that you are.  You know how to make someone's skin crawl, that's for sure.  You also know how to give us gory details without making us want to toss our cookies, so that's a plus.  Really, the thing I liked most about you is that you aren't afraid to be intense.  There is gore, there is blood (lots of it) and there is so many creepy things that you gave me chills.  The freaked out kind.  No, you're not a horror book, but you could be if you wanted to be one and I like that about you...

-The White Unicorn

After reading this book I know that I'm am a forever fan of Templeman's writing.  There is something enchanting and equally disturbing about it.  The way she was able to tell a story with so many different POV's and with such a unique voice proves that she's really something when it comes to being a writer.  She wove her tale of mystery and murder in such a way that it kept me engaged until the very last page, which I thought was actually really beautiful (in this odd, melancholy sort of way).  

The mythology surrounding The Glass Casket is a well thought out one.  It deals with magical elements even though it's grounded in a world that seems pretty normal at first glance.  It has touches of some familiar fairytales (mainly Snow White and Little Red), but then the book takes a completely different path.  I was blown away by the story.  It's really dark.  It's also kind of disturbing.  One of the things I loved the most was that it touches on what makes us truly human.  There are so many secrets and so many odd happenings, but in the end it's about being human.  It was refreshing and bloody.

The main POVs in the story revolve around Rowan (our main main character) and two brothers in her village named Tom and Jude.  There are even more view points throughout, but those are our main ones.  I loved Rowan's voice.  She's a headstrong girl who knows what she wants, even though she finds herself backed into some corners.  The fact is Rowan never stops fighting for what is right and I dig that about her.  Jude and Tom both have distinct roles to play.  One is the best friend and one seems to be an enemy.  I adored Jude and though I understood Tom's part in the whole book, he wasn't my favorite.  Then again I don't think he's supposed to be.  

Honestly this is one of those books that you need to read to understand what I'm talking about.  I'd like to be able to tell you more, but I don't want to spoil any of the awesomeness that is this book.  It's gnarly and the mystery takes so many odd turns that it actually had me second guessing my gut instinct till the very end.  But not surprisingly, my gut was correct in the end.  I back this book on so many levels.  If you like a good creepy story with a delightfully understated romance and lots of death, this is the one for you!

Rating:

 4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!