The Corner of Her Eye: Book Two: The Road by J.J. Carpenter

Genre: Horror Suspense/Historical Mystery

Format: eARC

Pages: 262

Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis: 

THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED SEQUEL TO THE KEEPER IN THE CORNER OF HER EYE SERIES.

"If you fail...much worse things will happen...much worse things, will come for you."

Charlie White thought this was the end. She thought once she accepted her fate as a Keeper of Purgatory, her story would conclude. But she's just scratched the surface; this is only the beginning.

As she grapples with an ever-expanding new world beyond the grave, she begins to draw imbalanced, disturbed and helpless spirits to herself in greater and greater numbers. How deep must she venture through the layers of purgatory? And who else — or rather what else — lurks in the shadows of limbo?

It's not just Charlie whose sanity, life and reality are under threat anymore. But just how much rests on her shoulders? And will she figure out how to fulfill her duty before she runs out of time

Review:

"La vie, c'est comme une bicyclette, il faut advancer pour ne pas perdre l'equilibre."

Charlie has returned to continue her journey as a keeper of the spirits. The mysteries of the spirits become deeper as Charlie must discover more of how to keep the balance. Her encounters begin again as she was taken to the Old Great North Road. A road built by convicts by hand all while shackled. The task was laborious and dangerous. They were treated poorly, often beaten, and starved. Their spirits linger, tethered to their past, unsettled, and pained. Charlie must figure out who they are and free them so at last they may be at peace. The effects on Charlie are weakening her strength and she is pulled into the dream more often. She must use all of her strength to stay tethered to her friend and the outside world or become lost in the dream world.

The spirits continue to connect to Charlie much more often which has caused her to solve more than one mystery at a time. It has her questioning the connection and the encounters of certain spirits of which she is not familiar. She must protect the balance, for if she fails, it will cause much worse to occur putting her in more danger and possibly the lives of her dearest friends.

Steeped in the deep history of the Old Great North Road and Australia's First Nation People, the story brings us on a dark journey of mystery and pain. The corruption of the corrections treating the convicts as life with no value, overworked, beaten, starved, scourged, and often put to death by hanging. 

Taken back during a time of unrest added a foreboding atmosphere, but also a richness into the history of Australia.

As Charlie delves deeper into the mysteries, the loss and pain can be felt deeply as it unsettles the heart and soul. Emotionally felt moments causing me to take some time to pause and reflect. But there is so much more. Deepened friendships, love, trust, and protection. 

Charlie is a character that is most intriguing as her story is unique and takes us into places of the unknown. It sparks the imagination and stirs the curiosity. 

I have enjoyed book one and book two and I am quite looking forward to book three!

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/JJ-Carpenter/author/

Bookbub Author Link:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jj-carpenter

About the author

JJ Carpenter has been writing books since she was six years old - a collection of kooky tales she would staple together and hide in a shoebox under her bed. Penning her first novel at the age of 12, her love of all things creepy, supernatural and wild has never left her. Join JJ as she journeys through haunted places and chilling mysteries across the beautiful country, and rich history, of Australia.

JJ was born in Canberra, Australia. She spent her childhood in various locations, including the Barossa Valley, South Australia, and Hampshire, England. As an adult, she's spent much of her career living and working in the South Pacific: Solomon Islands (twice), Vanuatu, Fiji and beyond.

Review Links:

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https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/

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Lost (PLZ Tethered Version) by Linkin Park

Just a scar somewhere down inside of me
Something I cannot repair
Even though it will always be
I pretend it isn't there (this is how I feel)
I'm trapped in yesterday (just a memory)
Where the pain is all I know (this is all I know)

And I'll never break away (can't break free)
'Cause when I'm alone

I'm lost in these memories
Living behind my own illusion
Lost all my dignity
Living inside my own confusion

But I'm tired, I will always be afraid
Of the damage I've received
Broken promises they made
And how blindly I believed (this is all I know)

I will never break away (can't break free)
'Cause when I'm alone

I'm lost in these memories
Living behind my own illusion
Lost all my dignity
Living inside my own confusion

I try to keep this pain inside, but I will never be alright
I try to keep this pain inside, but I will never be alright
(I'm lost) I try to keep this pain inside, but I will never be alright
(I'm lost) I try to keep this pain inside, but I will never be alright

I'm lost in these memories
Living behind my own illusion
Lost all my dignity
Living inside my own confusion