Mundie Moms

Friday, September 1, 2017

BLACK BIRD OF THE GALLOWS by Meg Kassel / Book Review #BlackBirdOfTheGallows


By: Meg Kassel
Published by: Entangled Teen
To Be Released on: September 5th, 2017
Pre-Order from: Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 4 Stars
Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review

A simple but forgotten truth: Where harbingers of death appear, the morgues will soon be full.

Angie Dovage can tell there’s more to Reece Fernandez than just the tall, brooding athlete who has her classmates swooning, but she can’t imagine his presence signals a tragedy that will devastate her small town. When something supernatural tries to attack her, Angie is thrown into a battle between good and evil she never saw coming. Right in the center of it is Reece—and he’s not human.

What's more, she knows something most don't. That the secrets her town holds could kill them all. But that’s only half as dangerous as falling in love with a harbinger of death.


An intriguing blend of mythology, mystery, and given the right amount of romance. Kassel's debut hooked me from the get go. I enjoyed every moment I spent reading this book, even if parts of it left me terrified. 

Kassel's rich mythology & fantasy elements are my favorite part of this entire book. She captured my attention with them, and had me wanting to know more. It was so easy for me to get swept up into her mesmerizing story because of them. I loved these elements that when I normally would have lost interest with how predictable the plot was (for much of the story), I was still intrigued and didn't want to stop reading it. 

The setting was perfect for this story, which also added an element to creepiness. It was well crafted, and easy to visualize. I enjoyed the Gothic horror feel this story has. It was intriguing. The darker themes definitely set the tone for the story, and the world the story is set in. Kassel balanced the right amount of mystery and horror that left me both intrigued and freaked out all at the same time. I'm still stuck on the beekeepers.... I'm not sure I can look at bees the same way anymore *shudders* 

The good vs evil was awesome. I love the harbingers, and learning about their role in Angie's world. Along with the beekeepers. I was fascinated by how intertwined both the harbingers and the beekeepers history is. In a twisted way they both need the other to survive. I was surprised at how personable the villains were. Normally villains aren't written like that, but understanding their motives, which are ruled by a centuries old curse, made it easier to almost feel sorry for them. Their curse has become their survival in a twisted sort of way, as well as their own torture. For the beekeepers it drives them mad. I've never had a problem with bees, but Kassel's beekeepers are down right horrifying villains. 

Character wise, I rooted for Angie from the get go. This girl has had her own childhood horrors she'd had to overcome. From that she has become a strong, fierce, independent character who stands up for herself when she needs, and isn't afraid to. I love that she does that. She also thinks for herself, which made it even easier to like her. She is who she is, isn't easily swayed. I think that's part of what makes it easier for her to accept Reece's world, and jump into action when her own town comes under attack. 

I also really liked Reece. Sure he's the typical dark, mysterious, and at time brooding love interest, but there was something else about him, that like Angie, I found myself drawn to. Romance wise, it was cliche, but I still enjoyed it. I may have loved the few swoon-worthy moments between these two, as well. It was incredibly easy for me to like Angie and Reece, and to root for them to be together. They both have had to endure their own horrors, but together they give each other hope, and fill in the missing pieces.  

What a great debut. This book is a fast paced, dark, intriguing read. I was surprised at how emotionally invested I was in this story despite how predictable it was. There are a lot of elements I liked about this story that made it easy to look past what I may have other wise been bugged by. This book pulled me out of my reading slump, and I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading Meg's next book. 

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