As a person who is not a fan of fantasy and has lightly dipped her toe into fabulism, I went into The Disappearances curious about how I would interact with the story. Friends, I was not disappointed!
I’d rather spend it traveling the world than building a big house or having a lot of things. I’d rather build memories instead. Because those are the things you carry with you always, everywhere, things that can’t be destroyed or taken.
The Disappearances is one of the best paced books I’ve had the pleasure of devouring. One of my biggest issues in reading fantasy is usually the length or the stall of the story in the interest of a journey (not of the metaphorical type). The Disappearances consistently kept me engaged and guessing about the mystery aspects. Emily wove little clues into the story, just enough to keep you coming back. It’s this build up that you don’t even realize is happening until you uncover what’s really happening.
No story is complete without a cast of characters for you to love. Aila is easy to root for, as she discovers her mother’s role in the disappearances of the stars, dreams, scents, and reflections. It’s her cast of supporting characters, the teens and the adults, that build the story. Every character has a place within the story; it wouldn’t be the same without each of them.
The Disappearances is full of mystery, suspense, and a bit of romance, which was a surprising and welcome element. Emily’s writing is gorgeous and poetic, without being over the top. This is not a book that feels like everything and the kitchen sink but a book with a voice that will not be ignored.
We hosted a mini-launch for Emily as she journeyed to her new place to live. You can see a recap on her blog!
by Emily Bain Murphy
Published: July 4th 2017
Publisher: HMH Teen
Source: Publisher
What if the ordinary things in life suddenly…disappeared?
Aila Quinn’s mother, Juliet, has always been a mystery: vibrant yet guarded, she keeps her secrets beyond Aila’s reach. When Juliet dies, Aila and her younger brother Miles are sent to live in Sterling, a rural town far from home–and the place where Juliet grew up.
Sterling is a place with mysteries of its own. A place where the experiences that weave life together–scents of flowers and food, reflections from mirrors and lakes, even the ability to dream–vanish every seven years.
No one knows what caused these “Disappearances,” or what will slip away next. But Sterling always suspected that Juliet Quinn was somehow responsible–and Aila must bear the brunt of their blame while she follows the chain of literary clues her mother left behind.
As the next Disappearance nears, Aila begins to unravel the dual mystery of why the Disappearances happen and who her mother truly was. One thing is clear: Sterling isn’t going to hold on to anyone’s secrets for long before it starts giving them up.
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