Audio Book Review: Lantern

Lantern

By:  Chess Desalls

Publish Date:  December 11, 2015, Audiobook Release March 31, 2016

Format:  Audiobook - 2 hrs 36 mins
Narrated By:  Jill Maglione

Genre:  Young Adult Fantasy

Series:  Stand-alone

First Impression:  The spark of a young relationship starts with a lantern.

Synopsis:
Five days before Halloween, all sixteen-year-old Tori has on her mind is vacationing with her family and scoring lots of candy. Her grandmother’s estate, with its Gothic spires and trails that lead out to the woods, holds an unexpected secret: a lantern that lights up for Tori and nobody else. Certain that it’s a ghost or a prank, she investigates further and discovers a mysterious life that shines in the darkness.

First Sentence:
Fingers trembled along the grains and splinters of a broken leg.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*I requested to review a copy of this audiobook for an honest review from the author or narrator.

Tori is at her grandma's 18th century home for a Halloween vacation with her family. Exploring the grounds Tori take a wrong path in returning to the home. Following a light, hoping to find her way home, Tori comes to a single lit, metal and glass lantern hanging on a pole. When she leaves the lantern, it flashes frantically at her. Learning from Grandma that the lantern never worked, Tori is now curious of the lantern and needs to investigate it more! Tori finds something special with the lantern.

I love when narrators do strong different tones and personalities for characters. Jill does just that! Kimmy is a toddler, and Jill does a wonderful youngster voice. Even for Tori, when Tori talks to her little brother Kimmy, it's as many talk to toddlers and different when she talks to her friend and adults. Oh the attitude in Moretta came through loud and clear. Grrr, I don't like her for that. lol. Well done. A slight accent for Grandma as well.

This story is short, so I'm going to keep my thoughts short too, as to not give away to much of the story.

I love the sounds of the plantation. The large home reminds her of a haunted mansion and lots of different gardens. It sounds like a beautiful sight.

I like the feel I get from Tori and her family. She feels like a great family person even for a teenager of sixteen. She does defy her mother's rule, to not go to the lantern. Tori feels bad about it, but she still goes. She does talk to an adult about it, her grandmother. Tori seems like a good kid and raised well by her parents who are present and try to guide her on the right path. Tori also loves her little brother and treats him so well, even with 13 years difference between them. Jared seems like a sweet young man. He's had a hard life at home but he comes across as a good young man.

Jared and Tori's interactions are well done here as I felt they really were getting closer as the story went. Nothing about their times together felt forced in any way. This story was just the right length for the characters to grow fond of each other.

As much as I adore Tori and Jared, I really loved the hint of Machin and what he does. Machin is more than what we think, and the epilogue shows that. I loved it! I even wonder if we could see more stories from Machin's doings. -- When you get through this story, you'll understand why. ;)

The story is a sweet story. It's a perfect blossom of love story for Young Adults. Clean, innocent, and attracting. Lantern is a different idea and is lovely.


*If you found my thoughts helpful, please click Yes at Amazon and/or Audible. Thank you!