Publisher: Amulet Books
Series: None
Format: e-ARC
Source: Netgalley
Amazon
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Seventeen-year-old Edgar Poe counts down the days until he can escape his foster family—the wealthy Allans of Richmond, Virginia. He hungers for his upcoming life as a student at the prestigious new university, almost as much as he longs to marry his beloved Elmira Royster. However, on the brink of his departure, all his plans go awry when a macabre Muse named Lenore appears to him. Muses are frightful creatures that lead Artists down a path of ruin and disgrace, and no respectable person could possibly understand or accept them. But Lenore steps out of the shadows with one request: “Let them see me!”
I was definitely intrigued by this title when I saw it on Netgalley. It seemed like a different kind of Poe story, and it was. There are few books about Poe's early years, so I thought it would be interesting to read a different perspective.
I'm not a poetry fan, but reading Poe's dark poems while he was trying to navigate his life at university was really insightful into him as a person. He didn't have the best upbringing with his adopted father, who never accepted him as his adopted mother did. I felt for him while he was trying to survive at school because his father never sent him any money, so he was forced to burn his furniture in order to avoid freezing to death.
The most interesting part of the book was about his muse, Lenore. She became a "living" being born from the ashes while he drumming up morbid thoughts and poems in his head. She demands that she be seen, which would require Edgar to fully accept his dark writing, which he struggles to do.
Without giving more away, I think this would be a good read for fans of Poe, especially if they want to get to know his earlier days.
I will say, the main complaint I have about the book is the constant whining that Edgar does. Yes, he is in a crappy situation but it is throughout the book. It made reading a bit tedious.
But overall, this was a good book. Cat Winters sure knows how to write some creepy stories.
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