In this companion novel to the critically acclaimed Some Quiet Place, Alex must choose between Revenge and Forgiveness.
Seventeen-year-old Alexandra Tate sits outside Nate Foster’s house, clutching a gun. After serving ten years for the drunk driving accident that killed Alex’s family, Nate has been released from prison. Every night, Alex waits out of sight, building up the courage to exact her own justice. There’s just one problem: Forgiveness.
Alex has been able to see personified Emotions for as long as she can remember, and Revenge is her best friend. But when Forgiveness suddenly appears, he offers Alex a choice—getting even or moving on. It’s impossible to decide when Revenge whispers in one ear . . . and Forgiveness whispers in the other.
I read Some Quiet Place on New Year’s Eve and promptly reviewed it about 15 minutes after completion of the novel. I’d loved the world that Kelsey Sutton had built among feelings and emotions and what it really means to be human. Even better, I loved that Where Silence Gathers would not only focus on emotions, but choices and their power to change us, define us. While Sutton exceeds at bringing life to Emotions and Choices, these stories all work in both literal and figurative senses. It’s great having a deeper meaning to fall back on without coming off as overbearing.
Revenge and forgiveness are every-day struggles for the average being and Alex’s struggle to choose between them was enlightening. Her situation, while rare, was easily understandable and quite the predicament. Character-wise, I had what some would think of as an unhealthy love for Revenge and overall, that life, that personality that Kelsey gave Revenge is what led to that. While he didn’t exactly showcase humanity, he had these little moments that made me swoon incredibly and just broke my heart into a million pieces. Forgiveness was equally enticing, though I wish we would have had a bit more screen-time for him. I felt that readers didn’t get enough of an opportunity to hear his side of things, and neither did Alex. While I can’t complain much because Revenge really does steal the show, I felt it wasn’t fair and in the end led to me not really enjoy the ending. This also put a stump on the plot line for me and in turn I didn’t feel that the story read so easily through because of it.
It was great getting to see Fear a few times down the road, though I wish we could have had a cameo from Elizabeth, but it is completely understandable as to why it could not have ever possibly happened where the story was at in time.
I wish I could say that I enjoyed this as much as I did Some Quiet Place, but that’s not true. Where Silence Gathers had an interesting, if not occasionally dragging story line that I wished might have had a bit more depth.
I really do hope that Sutton does continue to write stories in this world, but as far as I know nothing is planned for that.
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An overall interesting read, but only more enjoyable having read Some Quiet Place beforehand.
Rating: 7/10
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