By Kathleen Kaufman
Published by Kensington
Mom's Review
I waffled a bit before deciding to read Beyond the Graves Waits Mist and Sea. The synopsis sounded good, but I wasn't sure about the destiny bit, and then I saw that it was being marketed to people who liked The Amalfi Curse (Sarah Penner) and The Sirens (Emilia Hart), which I had read back to back and couldn't get enough of, so that tipped me into the "Yes, read it" camp. And I am SOOO glad I did.
The world creation by Kaufman is an ideal blend of realism, history, and folklore. Set on an island that is one of those spaces where the veil between the worlds is thin, a scientist's research for a possibly-nonexistent octopus leads to her exploration of the island's mysterious history. The layers of story here are so seamlessly crafted that I felt like I was living through two timelines simultaneously. Harper's experience on the island as an official researcher and as a private individual who is curious about the very insular villagers would make a great story alone, but we also follow Harper's recurring dreams where she relives a 1690's life. Of course we know that somehow everything is related, and it the discovery that makes Beyond the Graves spectacular. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys even a hint of mystery.
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