Publisher: Soho Teen
280 pages
Hardcover
Synopsis from Goodreads:
When Liv Bloom lands an art scholarship at Wickham Hall, it’s her ticket out of the foster system. Liv isn’t sure what to make of the school’s weird traditions and rituals, but she couldn’t be happier. For the first time ever, she has her own studio, her own supply of paints. Everything she could want.
When Liv Bloom lands an art scholarship at Wickham Hall, it’s her ticket out of the foster system. Liv isn’t sure what to make of the school’s weird traditions and rituals, but she couldn’t be happier. For the first time ever, she has her own studio, her own supply of paints. Everything she could want.
Then she meets Malcolm Astor, a
legacy student, a fellow artist, and the one person who’s ever been able to
melt her defenses. Liv’s only friend at Wickham, fellow scholarship kid Gabe
Nichols, warns her not to get involved, but life is finally going Liv’s way,
and all she wants to do is enjoy the ride.
But Liv’s bliss is doomed. Weeks
after arriving, she is viciously murdered and, in death, she discovers that
she’s the latest victim of a dark conspiracy that has claimed many lives.
Cursed with the ability to see the many ghosts on Wickham’s campus, Gabe is now
Liv’s only link to the world of the living. To Malcolm.
Together, Liv, Gabe, and Malcolm
fight to expose the terrible truth that haunts the halls of Wickham. But Liv
must fight alone to come to grips with the ultimate star-crossed love.
Liv, Forever has a
timeless feel. Full of art and poetry references, it is a Classicists dream,
presented in a completely approachable way. It felt decadent to read. Each
Wickham ghost added to the timeless feel with songs, political perspectives,
and fashion styles representing their lives and their culture, in the same way
Liv’s art represents her. Readers will be able to pick up the novel twenty
years from now and not be ostracized by the pop culture references, because the
references are from so many decades. From the ghosts, to the current Wickham
Hall students, each and every character is unique, memorable, and adds to the
story in their own way. I found this novel so unique, and so interesting. As
easy as it is to describe a book as ‘unable to put down’, this book was truly
that for me. I was compelled to get to the end so that I would know how
everything worked out.
I can scare very easily, but ghosts don’t typically freak me
out (except those creepy listen to the darkness and have something scary jump
out at you shows). Yet, I could not read Liv,
Forever before bed. Most of the creepiness factor came from sympathizing
with Gabe, and his extreme anxiety and fear about being able to see and hear the
ghosts. His fear, panic, and distrust of his ability, made me anxious and
worried for him. I may feel this way because of the emotional reaction Gabe
inspired in me, but I found Gabe’s part of the story to be the most compelling.
That feeling is truly saying a lot considering how well constructed and
interesting the story is as a whole.
Why Liv died, and the mythology behind the murder, was very
much kept at the forefront throughout the novel. Even though the number of
characters and some of the story elements are numerous and complex, the
mythology overall is not overdone. That being said, I felt that the certain
elements of the mythology were introduced too late in the story, and
consequently were not fully developed. Too much new information, with no chance
for that information to be proved or disproved within the span of the story,
left me a little frustrated. The new elements left questions open-ended, whereas
the story in general has a very definitive amount of closure. I felt the new elements
threw the overall tone of the ending off, leaving an otherwise nearly perfect
novel on a bit of a sour note. But, should there not be complete closure because
another novel is coming, I am 100% for it, and take the critique back!
Liv, Forever is a unique,
heart pumping ghost story, which is so much more than a ghost story. The large cast
of characters is unique and integral elements to the story, and the mythology
is intriguing without being overdone. I think that there is something in Liv, Forever for everyone. I highly
recommend it!
Side note: Kudos on the cover. Very unique. Very cool. And very fitting to the story.
Rating 4/5
*** I received a copy of the novel from the publisher to
read and honestly review. I was in no way compensated.
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