Nocturne by L.D. Harkrader

 2.5 out of 5 Robots!

Nocturne

L.D. Harkrader

Genre: SciFi, Fantasy
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Mirrorstone

ISBN-10: 0786955023
ISBN-13: 978-078695502 
My Copy: Peace, Love & Pat Book Tours

Blurb: Flanders Lane is tired of being protected by her Uncle Anatole. After years of studying magic in the back of his bookshop, she's ready for an adventure of her own. Then one day, strange things start happening. A burglar breaks into the butcher's shop, stealing nothing, but leaving the floors sparkling clean. Soon the seamstress's apprentice vanishes on her way home, leaving behind only a shoe still laced at the top. And then worst of all, Uncle Anatole disappears. That night, a young vampire hunter named Pascoe knocks urgently on the bookshop door. Pascoe insists there is a vampire lurking in nearby Blakely Hall. Flanders looks deep into Pascoe's gorgeous eyes and finds herself agreeing to help him. As Flanders tracks the vampire, her feelings for Pascoe grow until she stumbles upon a secret that turns everything she thought she knew about Pascoe--and herself--upside down. 

My Review:

Flannery Lane was abandoned by her mother on the front steps of a magician's home as a baby, and luckily for her the magician, Anatole, decided he would give her the kind of home she deserved. Flannery has been studying magic her whole life- determined to prove that she can make a difference. She has a difficult time proving to Anatole just how helpful her magic may be when she has so many restrictions and limitations... all applied by Anatole. But now is her chance. Anatole is sick and she has no choice but to run his shop as if she were him. And now the town's problems are pushing her to her max and a charming stranger comes a knocking... Vampires? Secrets? Can Flannery handle the secrets that she uncovers?

Smothered by her uncle's love and extremely protective nature, Flannery is overly restless and you can feel her frustration. Although not always well behaved, she is loyal and kind to her uncle and his cute familiar... (a hedgehog!) I absolutely loved the fact that he had a hedgehog, I've been aching for one myself. It was enjoyable watching Flannery and her feelings evolve for Pascoe, our charming yet strange mystery man. Yet there wasn't enough of the two together. I really felt as if something was missing from the story and maybe that was what it was- albeit it was a fun story. 

This book is easy to fly through because it is written for those that are 9 - 12 years of age. I would highly recommend it for this age group and no others. Nocturne is notably predictable, but the writing is fresh. I'm thinking that I just missed some of the violence and inappropriate behavior that the books for this age group lack... I don't think that audience should read books with violence... I'm just sayin' ;) Don't get me wrong, this is a fast paced, mysteriously eerie book- just not quite my cup of tea. Give it a go if you are a big fan of magic or have a younger child that may want to read it!