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Speak No Evil
The daughter of Appalachian snake handlers becomes a ward of the state after her eerie “gift” causes a tragedy that leaves her orphaned. Bram Stoker Nominee, Speak No Evil named #14 in Ginger Nuts of Horror’s Top 100 YA Horror Novels of the Last Decade. “Ultimately this is a novel about real life horror; abuse, overcoming it, and the resilience of Melody Fisher as she slowly, with a lot of help, turns her life around.” ~Ginger Nuts of Horror “Melody’s story is grim, but hope is weaved in throughout ... highly emotional.” ~School Library Journal Compelling, gripping, and evocative, Speak No Evil is a study in personality development, horror, how support systems for teens can either succeed or fail, and the impact a caring adult can have on a teenager’s life.” ~Midwest Book Review What if every time you told the truth, evil followed? My name is Melody Fisher. My daddy was a snake handler in Appalachia until Mama died. Though years have passed, I can still hear the rattle before the strike that took her from me. And it’s all my fault. Since then, I’ve been passed around from foster home to foster home. I didn’t think anything could be as bad as losing Mama. I was wrong. But I will not speak of things people have done to me. Every time I do, worse evil follows. Now, the only thing I trust is what saved me years ago. Back when I would sing the snakes calm ... This book contains situations of violence and sexual abuse/rape which the reader may find disturbing. * * * “Expect a paranormal twist, spooky mountain folklore, rattlesnake handling and much soul searching as Melody makes peace with herself—and the trauma she has endured.” ~Girls' Life Magazine “Gardner’s storytelling displays the same sort of sinister charm as she unravels Melody’s past to tell the story of her present. Speak No Evil is at once hypnotic, vaguely sinister, and decidedly beautiful, with sharp, poignant prose that handles the heaviest of issues with grace and delicacy.” ~The Nerd Daily "... a touching tribute to the power of love." ~IndieReader Liana Gardner named to the Ginger Nuts of Horror 30 YA Authors You Should Know List
314 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2019
About the author
Liana Gardner
5 books305 followersLiana Gardner is a Bram Stoker Awards® Nominee and the multi-award-winning author of
7th Grade Revolution
,
The Journal of Angela Ashby
,
Speak No Evil
, and the Katie McCabe series. The daughter of a rocket scientist and an artist, Liana combines the traits of both into a quirky yet pragmatic writer and in everything sees the story lurking beneath the surface.
Engaged in a battle against leukemia and lymphoma, Liana spends much of her time at home, but her imagination takes her wherever she wants to go. Most recently she was titled Lady of Lochaber and Glencoe and was honored with a star named after her in the Andromeda Constellation.
Liana is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Engaged in a battle against leukemia and lymphoma, Liana spends much of her time at home, but her imagination takes her wherever she wants to go. Most recently she was titled Lady of Lochaber and Glencoe and was honored with a star named after her in the Andromeda Constellation.
Liana is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
October 2, 2019
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Seven Jane
Dark, delicate, and masterfully written, Speak No Evil will make you cringe and cry in equal measure as it pulls your heart through the muck of humanity’s worst evils in every page before depositing you at the end feeling uplifted, empowered, and—most of all—grateful.
Raised in a snake-handling church where indigenous belief systems mix with modern Christianity, Melody Fisher is a half Native American, quarter Scottish, and quarter black orphan. Before her parents’ deaths—one by accident and the other, arguably, by grief—her daddy caught and handled rattlers and other venomous serpents for the church where Melody sang with her parents. Melody’s voice is God’s gift and music is in her soul; she can even charm the snakes her father catches through her songs—a curious and seemingly divine feat considering snakes have no ears (at least not in the traditional sense). But Melody’s voice is also her greatest burden, because when she asks her mama about the strange man she saw walking with her along the river, her mama is almost immediately struck down by one of her father’s rattlers. From there, tragedy follows in the wake of Melody’s voice until, eventually, she stops speaking altogether.
After years in the system and a series of foster homes that have gone from bad to worse, Melody Fisher has lost her voice. At sixteen, she’s survived more trauma and tragedy that many people experience in a lifetime, and now she’s on trial for stabbing a classmate. But, even faced with losing her freedom, she cannot find the strength to speak after being silent for nearly two years. She can’t speak, because every time she has told the truth something terrible has happened. Now, Melody won’t even use her voice to clear her name—or tell the truth about why she stuck a pair of scissors in Troy Alexander. Even so, music still lives in Melody’s soul, and with the help of her court-ordered therapist, she learns to communicate through a massive song library on a portable music player. Through the restorative power of song, Melody eventually finds her voice and speaks the truth that has weighed heavy in her heart.
Like Melody’s voice that could calm snakes, Gardner’s storytelling displays the same sort of sinister charm as she unravels Melody’s past to tell the story of her present. Speak No Evil is at once hypnotic, vaguely sinister, and decidedly beautiful, with sharp, poignant prose that handles the heaviest of issues with grace and delicacy.
The terrible tragedies and stifling trauma that Melody has experienced are enough to make the reader want to reach through the pages and gather the poor girl up in our collective arms. And, while younger readers should certainly be forewarned of weighty topics like grief, abuse, and rape that rear their rattles in this story, all are tactfully and mindfully done, proving Gardner’s ability to convey emotion and complexity without catering to shock and surprise. Likewise, Gardner’s technical execution is flawless as she alternates between multiple timelines to piece together Melody’s story, giving just enough information to keep the story moving without bogging itself down in exposition.
In fact, you might say that, like the music that lives in Melody, Speak No Evil is itself something of a song bound within the pages of a story. With powerful lyrics, perfectly paced prose, and artful cadence, Gardner gives voice to a character that has become disconnected from her own, while reminding us all that silence does not equal consent, and that the truth, even (and perhaps especially) when it hurts, must be spoken.
Dark, delicate, and masterfully written, Speak No Evil will make you cringe and cry in equal measure as it pulls your heart through the muck of humanity’s worst evils in every page before depositing you at the end feeling uplifted, empowered, and—most of all—grateful.
Raised in a snake-handling church where indigenous belief systems mix with modern Christianity, Melody Fisher is a half Native American, quarter Scottish, and quarter black orphan. Before her parents’ deaths—one by accident and the other, arguably, by grief—her daddy caught and handled rattlers and other venomous serpents for the church where Melody sang with her parents. Melody’s voice is God’s gift and music is in her soul; she can even charm the snakes her father catches through her songs—a curious and seemingly divine feat considering snakes have no ears (at least not in the traditional sense). But Melody’s voice is also her greatest burden, because when she asks her mama about the strange man she saw walking with her along the river, her mama is almost immediately struck down by one of her father’s rattlers. From there, tragedy follows in the wake of Melody’s voice until, eventually, she stops speaking altogether.
After years in the system and a series of foster homes that have gone from bad to worse, Melody Fisher has lost her voice. At sixteen, she’s survived more trauma and tragedy that many people experience in a lifetime, and now she’s on trial for stabbing a classmate. But, even faced with losing her freedom, she cannot find the strength to speak after being silent for nearly two years. She can’t speak, because every time she has told the truth something terrible has happened. Now, Melody won’t even use her voice to clear her name—or tell the truth about why she stuck a pair of scissors in Troy Alexander. Even so, music still lives in Melody’s soul, and with the help of her court-ordered therapist, she learns to communicate through a massive song library on a portable music player. Through the restorative power of song, Melody eventually finds her voice and speaks the truth that has weighed heavy in her heart.
Like Melody’s voice that could calm snakes, Gardner’s storytelling displays the same sort of sinister charm as she unravels Melody’s past to tell the story of her present. Speak No Evil is at once hypnotic, vaguely sinister, and decidedly beautiful, with sharp, poignant prose that handles the heaviest of issues with grace and delicacy.
The terrible tragedies and stifling trauma that Melody has experienced are enough to make the reader want to reach through the pages and gather the poor girl up in our collective arms. And, while younger readers should certainly be forewarned of weighty topics like grief, abuse, and rape that rear their rattles in this story, all are tactfully and mindfully done, proving Gardner’s ability to convey emotion and complexity without catering to shock and surprise. Likewise, Gardner’s technical execution is flawless as she alternates between multiple timelines to piece together Melody’s story, giving just enough information to keep the story moving without bogging itself down in exposition.
In fact, you might say that, like the music that lives in Melody, Speak No Evil is itself something of a song bound within the pages of a story. With powerful lyrics, perfectly paced prose, and artful cadence, Gardner gives voice to a character that has become disconnected from her own, while reminding us all that silence does not equal consent, and that the truth, even (and perhaps especially) when it hurts, must be spoken.
June 6, 2019
An emotional tale of evil and redemption told by a skillful writer with a talent for dark tales. You will not be disappointed by this eerie story and a cast of characters that will haunt you long after you close the cover.
October 12, 2019
I did like this book. Melody's story was both a sad and intriguing one. However, I personally found myself struggling to connection on an emotional level with Melody and the rest of the characters.
I was reading the about Melody's story and feeling for her but at the same time I felt like there was a physical barrier that kept me from fully embracing all of the characters in this book. Melody for her part did have a story to tell. She needed someone to listen and she did find that in Miss Precott.
This book alternates between different age periods of Melody's life as she is bounced around from foster home to foster home. It all leads up to the present and the one event that caused Melody to find herself in the current situation that she is in. For the most part, I did find this to be a quick read.
I was reading the about Melody's story and feeling for her but at the same time I felt like there was a physical barrier that kept me from fully embracing all of the characters in this book. Melody for her part did have a story to tell. She needed someone to listen and she did find that in Miss Precott.
This book alternates between different age periods of Melody's life as she is bounced around from foster home to foster home. It all leads up to the present and the one event that caused Melody to find herself in the current situation that she is in. For the most part, I did find this to be a quick read.
September 16, 2022
first of all I relieved this book in exchange for an honest review. So thanks Katieandbreypa and Liana Gardner for the ARC copy.
This book is impressive! It has an incredible back and forth narration that makers it super interesting to follow. As new twists are revealed new characters are introduced.
The story follows Melody. She has have more than a lot and its dealing with trauma. The book manages to bring her life in between therapy seasons. She hasn’t spoken in two years and is now in mandatory court appointed therapy. She needs to testify in court to prove she has a reason to stab a star player.
As her sessions go by she learns to open up little by little. As she moves on she learns to communicate over music and take back her singing voice. This book shows the importance of trusting, doing what you love and finding your own family.
I have to say, this book was en emotional rollercoaster. I felt more than i think I’ve ever felt with a book. I wanted to get in there and hug Melody really bad. I got to say, incredible writing. It makes justice to all the topics it touches, making it importance to state that you need to raise you voice to injustice.
A book that I could say is incredible. And believe me, I’m not easy to win with anything that has even a minimum of religion included.
This book is impressive! It has an incredible back and forth narration that makers it super interesting to follow. As new twists are revealed new characters are introduced.
The story follows Melody. She has have more than a lot and its dealing with trauma. The book manages to bring her life in between therapy seasons. She hasn’t spoken in two years and is now in mandatory court appointed therapy. She needs to testify in court to prove she has a reason to stab a star player.
As her sessions go by she learns to open up little by little. As she moves on she learns to communicate over music and take back her singing voice. This book shows the importance of trusting, doing what you love and finding your own family.
I have to say, this book was en emotional rollercoaster. I felt more than i think I’ve ever felt with a book. I wanted to get in there and hug Melody really bad. I got to say, incredible writing. It makes justice to all the topics it touches, making it importance to state that you need to raise you voice to injustice.
A book that I could say is incredible. And believe me, I’m not easy to win with anything that has even a minimum of religion included.
August 14, 2019
Wow. Liana Gardner sure pulls at your heartstrings with Speak No Evil.
Melody Fisher has been shunted from foster home to foster home ever since the death of her mother and the disappearance of her father. Every time she has spoken up to defend herself, something even worse happens, so she gradually falls into silence. But now, she needs to speak again, to tell her side of why she stabbed Troy.
Gardner brings you on a journey of recovery through song and memory as Dr Kane, Melody's therapist, uses the one thing that holds Melody together to help her communicate again: music. She anchors each chapter in a song, using the lyrics--beautifully written by Lucas Astor-- to bridge Melody's present and her traumatic past. Melody's gift may be the gift of song, but Gardner's true gift is evoking the emotions of a vulnerable young girl and giving her voice through this story.
Melody's story isn't an unfamiliar one. Right from the beginning, I knew why she stabbed Troy. Discounting insanity--and Melody is definitely not insane--there can only be one reason why a young girl would attack a bright, promising young athlete. Only one reason why courts and public opinion would want to side with a promising, white jock against the word of a troubled, mixed-race girl. We've seen it in the news all too often. She must be lying. Gardner holds no punches, describing the things that happened, not in a voyeuristic, pornographic or erotic way, but in Melody's dark memories and trauma--take this as a content/trigger warning.
Yet, in the midst of the darkness, shines a beacon of hope:
It is not your fault.
You are more than your past.
You are stronger than you think you are.
You are a survivor.
We will stand with you.
If these are the words you need to hear, let Gardner whisper it to you again and again through Dr Kane's patience, Rebecca Prescott's persistence, and Quatie Raincrow's love and wisdom.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Vesuvian Books via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Melody Fisher has been shunted from foster home to foster home ever since the death of her mother and the disappearance of her father. Every time she has spoken up to defend herself, something even worse happens, so she gradually falls into silence. But now, she needs to speak again, to tell her side of why she stabbed Troy.
Gardner brings you on a journey of recovery through song and memory as Dr Kane, Melody's therapist, uses the one thing that holds Melody together to help her communicate again: music. She anchors each chapter in a song, using the lyrics--beautifully written by Lucas Astor-- to bridge Melody's present and her traumatic past. Melody's gift may be the gift of song, but Gardner's true gift is evoking the emotions of a vulnerable young girl and giving her voice through this story.
Melody's story isn't an unfamiliar one. Right from the beginning, I knew why she stabbed Troy. Discounting insanity--and Melody is definitely not insane--there can only be one reason why a young girl would attack a bright, promising young athlete. Only one reason why courts and public opinion would want to side with a promising, white jock against the word of a troubled, mixed-race girl. We've seen it in the news all too often. She must be lying. Gardner holds no punches, describing the things that happened, not in a voyeuristic, pornographic or erotic way, but in Melody's dark memories and trauma--take this as a content/trigger warning.
Yet, in the midst of the darkness, shines a beacon of hope:
It is not your fault.
You are more than your past.
You are stronger than you think you are.
You are a survivor.
We will stand with you.
If these are the words you need to hear, let Gardner whisper it to you again and again through Dr Kane's patience, Rebecca Prescott's persistence, and Quatie Raincrow's love and wisdom.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Vesuvian Books via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Read
September 17, 2019Melody Fisher is just sixteen years old, but she’s already experienced enough heartbreak to last a lifetime. From the time of her mother’s death and her father’s disappearance when she was only nine years old, Melody has bounced between various foster placements and new schools, often finding each one worse than the last. As a result of the trauma she has faced, she shuts down all spoken communication. She wants to protect herself and those around her, but when she has to testify on her own behalf, staying silent might not be an option.
Liana Gardner’s Speak No Evil (Vesuvian Books) dives headfirst into the life of a young girl who must explore her troubled past in order to find healing in the future. Gardner tackles difficult topics, including bullying and abuse of all types, in a way that is both artistic and respectful. The book utilizes dates at the beginning of each section to help orient the reader as Melody’s full history is revealed in pieces. Readers get to hear from a younger Melody in the first person as she loses the joy of childhood and becomes progressively more jaded with each loss she suffers. At the same time, readers see sixteen-year-old Melody struggle to find her voice again as she works with her psychologist and caseworker to prepare for court. Gardner uses these shifts in time to expose her audience to exactly what they need to know at each moment without sacrificing the flow of the overall story. Though the book deals with weighty and emotional issues, it is masterfully written in such a way that it is still a pleasure to read.
Melody is forced into foster care when her uncle is deemed unfit to care for her in the wake of her parent’s death. Escaping the man who tortured her with the same beast that causes her mother’s death, a rattlesnake, may have seemed like a blessing at first, but Melody soon learns otherwise. With the exception of one truly loving foster mom who was just too good to last, Melody finds hateful siblings and even worse adult caretakers in every placement she moves to. She bears it all with as much grace as possible, but she can only take so much.
The rest of the review: https://booktrib.com/2019/09/speak-no...
Liana Gardner’s Speak No Evil (Vesuvian Books) dives headfirst into the life of a young girl who must explore her troubled past in order to find healing in the future. Gardner tackles difficult topics, including bullying and abuse of all types, in a way that is both artistic and respectful. The book utilizes dates at the beginning of each section to help orient the reader as Melody’s full history is revealed in pieces. Readers get to hear from a younger Melody in the first person as she loses the joy of childhood and becomes progressively more jaded with each loss she suffers. At the same time, readers see sixteen-year-old Melody struggle to find her voice again as she works with her psychologist and caseworker to prepare for court. Gardner uses these shifts in time to expose her audience to exactly what they need to know at each moment without sacrificing the flow of the overall story. Though the book deals with weighty and emotional issues, it is masterfully written in such a way that it is still a pleasure to read.
Melody is forced into foster care when her uncle is deemed unfit to care for her in the wake of her parent’s death. Escaping the man who tortured her with the same beast that causes her mother’s death, a rattlesnake, may have seemed like a blessing at first, but Melody soon learns otherwise. With the exception of one truly loving foster mom who was just too good to last, Melody finds hateful siblings and even worse adult caretakers in every placement she moves to. She bears it all with as much grace as possible, but she can only take so much.
The rest of the review: https://booktrib.com/2019/09/speak-no...
October 1, 2019
This is a haunting story of sixteen- year-old Melody Fisher in the Appalachian mountains. Her father was a snake handler and when Melody sings the snakes listen. When she was nine her mother died from a snake bite and her father suddenly disappeared. Shuffled through various homes, each worse than the last. Abused and traumatized, Melody shuts down and stops speaking. She does have two people in her corner, her caseworker and a new psychologist. I loved the poems through out the book. A story you won't easily forget. Hauntingly triumphant.
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte Review
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte Review
Hudson Valley NY
September 21, 2019
Loved the book but don’t like snakes. A story of a young girl who loses her parents at a young age. She stops speaking, in and out of foster homes, she shows her strengths. Through her singing. Trials and tribulations of
Pure courage. A must read
Pure courage. A must read
Read
June 17, 2023Dark, delicate, and masterfully written, Speak No Evil will make you cringe and cry in equal measure as it pulls your heart through the muck of humanity’s worst evils in every page before depositing you at the end feeling uplifted, empowered, and—most of all—grateful.
Raised in a snake-handling church where indigenous belief systems mix with modern Christianity, Melody Fisher is a half Native American, quarter Scottish, and quarter black orphan. Before her parents’ deaths—one by accident and the other, arguably, by grief—her daddy caught and handled rattlers and other venomous serpents for the church where Melody sang with her parents. Melody’s voice is God’s gift and music is in her soul; she can even charm the snakes her father catches through her songs—a curious and seemingly divine feat considering snakes have no ears (at least not in the traditional sense). But Melody's voice is also her greatest burden, because when she asks her mama about the strange man she saw walking with her along the river, her mama is almost immediately struck down by one of her father's rattlers. From there, tragedy follows in the wake of Melody’s voice until, eventually, she stops speaking altogether.
After years in the system and a series of foster homes that have gone from bad to worse, Melody Fisher has lost her voice. At sixteen, she’s survived more trauma and tragedy that many people experience in a lifetime, and now she’s on trial for stabbing a classmate. But, even faced with losing her freedom, she cannot find the strength to speak after being silent for nearly two years. She can’t speak, because every time she has told the truth something terrible has happened. Now, Melody won't even use her voice to clear her name—or tell the truth about why she stuck a pair of scissors in Troy Alexander. Even so, music still lives in Melody’s soul, and with the help of her court-ordered therapist, she learns to communicate through a massive song library on a portable music player. Through the restorative power of song, Melody eventually finds her voice and speaks the truth that has weighed heavy in her heart.
Like Melody’s voice that could calm snakes, Gardner’s storytelling displays the same sort of sinister charm as she unravels Melody’s past to tell the story of her present. Speak No Evil is at once hypnotic, vaguely sinister, and decidedly beautiful, with sharp, poignant prose that handles the heaviest of issues with grace and delicacy.
The terrible tragedies and stifling trauma that Melody has experienced are enough to make the reader want to reach through the pages and gather the poor girl up in our collective arms. And, while younger readers should certainly be forewarned of weighty topics like grief, abuse, and rape that rear their rattles in this story, all are tactfully and mindfully done, proving Gardner’s ability to convey emotion and complexity without catering to shock and surprise. Likewise, Gardner’s technical execution is flawless as she alternates between multiple timelines to piece together Melody’s story, giving just enough information to keep the story moving without bogging itself down in exposition.
In fact, you might say that, like the music that lives in Melody, Speak No Evil is itself something of a song bound within the pages of a story. With powerful lyrics, perfectly paced prose, and artful cadence, Gardner gives voice to a character that has become disconnected from her own, while reminding us all that silence does not equal consent, and that the truth, even (and perhaps especially) when it hurts, must be spoken.
Raised in a snake-handling church where indigenous belief systems mix with modern Christianity, Melody Fisher is a half Native American, quarter Scottish, and quarter black orphan. Before her parents’ deaths—one by accident and the other, arguably, by grief—her daddy caught and handled rattlers and other venomous serpents for the church where Melody sang with her parents. Melody’s voice is God’s gift and music is in her soul; she can even charm the snakes her father catches through her songs—a curious and seemingly divine feat considering snakes have no ears (at least not in the traditional sense). But Melody's voice is also her greatest burden, because when she asks her mama about the strange man she saw walking with her along the river, her mama is almost immediately struck down by one of her father's rattlers. From there, tragedy follows in the wake of Melody’s voice until, eventually, she stops speaking altogether.
After years in the system and a series of foster homes that have gone from bad to worse, Melody Fisher has lost her voice. At sixteen, she’s survived more trauma and tragedy that many people experience in a lifetime, and now she’s on trial for stabbing a classmate. But, even faced with losing her freedom, she cannot find the strength to speak after being silent for nearly two years. She can’t speak, because every time she has told the truth something terrible has happened. Now, Melody won't even use her voice to clear her name—or tell the truth about why she stuck a pair of scissors in Troy Alexander. Even so, music still lives in Melody’s soul, and with the help of her court-ordered therapist, she learns to communicate through a massive song library on a portable music player. Through the restorative power of song, Melody eventually finds her voice and speaks the truth that has weighed heavy in her heart.
Like Melody’s voice that could calm snakes, Gardner’s storytelling displays the same sort of sinister charm as she unravels Melody’s past to tell the story of her present. Speak No Evil is at once hypnotic, vaguely sinister, and decidedly beautiful, with sharp, poignant prose that handles the heaviest of issues with grace and delicacy.
The terrible tragedies and stifling trauma that Melody has experienced are enough to make the reader want to reach through the pages and gather the poor girl up in our collective arms. And, while younger readers should certainly be forewarned of weighty topics like grief, abuse, and rape that rear their rattles in this story, all are tactfully and mindfully done, proving Gardner’s ability to convey emotion and complexity without catering to shock and surprise. Likewise, Gardner’s technical execution is flawless as she alternates between multiple timelines to piece together Melody’s story, giving just enough information to keep the story moving without bogging itself down in exposition.
In fact, you might say that, like the music that lives in Melody, Speak No Evil is itself something of a song bound within the pages of a story. With powerful lyrics, perfectly paced prose, and artful cadence, Gardner gives voice to a character that has become disconnected from her own, while reminding us all that silence does not equal consent, and that the truth, even (and perhaps especially) when it hurts, must be spoken.
August 16, 2023
A girl raised in a snake worshipping church who can commune with the snakes through song. Failed by the social services system, Melody is forced through different fosters, eventually claiming silence. Now through the help of a really good therapist, we live through Melodys life and how she got here.
This book was a little too preachy. I mean the whole book is made up of hymns through which she communicates. The church she went to honored snakes above all (but treated them horribly? Oh yeah TW animal abuse). She also really learns into religion later on in her life as well.
The ending also felt rushed and was unsatisfying because of it. How did everyone know about her situation? Also a second TW for graphic sexual assault.
This book had a strong start but the back and forth as well as rushed ending lost it for me. Good thing I have a pretty edition of this that i like or I would sell it LOL
This book was a little too preachy. I mean the whole book is made up of hymns through which she communicates. The church she went to honored snakes above all (but treated them horribly? Oh yeah TW animal abuse). She also really learns into religion later on in her life as well.
The ending also felt rushed and was unsatisfying because of it. How did everyone know about her situation? Also a second TW for graphic sexual assault.
This book had a strong start but the back and forth as well as rushed ending lost it for me. Good thing I have a pretty edition of this that i like or I would sell it LOL
April 5, 2019
WOW! Just WOW!
Liana Gardner is a great author telling a story of death, sorrow, and so much more.
You will fall in love with Melody......You will feel her sorrow......You will feel her shame...........................
you will feel everything with this character.
A MUST read that will make you sit and think well after you turned the last page.
Liana Gardner is a great author telling a story of death, sorrow, and so much more.
You will fall in love with Melody......You will feel her sorrow......You will feel her shame...........................
you will feel everything with this character.
A MUST read that will make you sit and think well after you turned the last page.
September 30, 2019
God Lord, this book had me an emotional wreck! Just when I thought Melody couldn't possibly have more tragedy in her young life, I was proved wrong. The things she endured,the strength and resilience she showed, her antagonists and her support system....everything so beautifully woven together was an experience I won't soon forget. Definitely one of my top reads this year!
December 31, 2019
5 Cranky Stars
First of all, I have to say that this book should have trigger warnings for readers. The book deals with several sensitive subjects, including sexual abuse of a minor girl, rape, torment, and physical abuse.
Melody Fisher is a young woman who has suffered a lot in her sixteen years. Her father was a snake handler in Appalachia and her Mama was killed by one of his snakes. Then, her father disappeared. Thus begins Melody's trip through a flawed foster care system. She has been shifted from home to home, each more horrific than the one before. As the book begins, Melody is spending every afternoon with psychologist Dr. Roger Kane because she hasn't spoken a word in over two years.
As the story unfolds, the author leads the reader through Melody's life, with flashbacks filling in the blanks of the present. Dr. Kane uses a unique approach to try to communicate with Melody by utilizing her love of music. Since Melody won't talk, he asks her to tell him what she is feeling/thinking through music she has downloaded on a MP3 player. I found this to be a very different, intriguing and effective way for two people to communicate.
I found myself highlighting many of the lyrics that Melody used to tell her tale. At the end of the book, I learned that many of these lyrics were written specifically for this book by Lucas Astor. I hope that someday he will be able to bring those songs to life and share them with the world. The emotions that they evoked were truly heart wrenching.
Melody has suffered a lot at the hands of those who were supposed to protect her. The reader eventually learns of some of the horrors that have led to her uncommunicative state. "The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow. For every challenge encountered, there is an opportunity for growth."
In the end, Melody finally finds peace and friendship with several people who truly care about her. As her favorite Foster Mother Quatie Raincrow tells her, "May the stars carry your sadness away, may the flowers fill your heart with beauty, may hope forever wipe away your tears, and, above all, may silence make you strong."
All in all, this book was well-written and I found myself feeling Melody's emotions as she struggled with telling her story. In fact, it took me several days to process what I had read and to be able to write a review. This is the type of book that will stay with me for a long, long time.
First of all, I have to say that this book should have trigger warnings for readers. The book deals with several sensitive subjects, including sexual abuse of a minor girl, rape, torment, and physical abuse.
Melody Fisher is a young woman who has suffered a lot in her sixteen years. Her father was a snake handler in Appalachia and her Mama was killed by one of his snakes. Then, her father disappeared. Thus begins Melody's trip through a flawed foster care system. She has been shifted from home to home, each more horrific than the one before. As the book begins, Melody is spending every afternoon with psychologist Dr. Roger Kane because she hasn't spoken a word in over two years.
As the story unfolds, the author leads the reader through Melody's life, with flashbacks filling in the blanks of the present. Dr. Kane uses a unique approach to try to communicate with Melody by utilizing her love of music. Since Melody won't talk, he asks her to tell him what she is feeling/thinking through music she has downloaded on a MP3 player. I found this to be a very different, intriguing and effective way for two people to communicate.
I found myself highlighting many of the lyrics that Melody used to tell her tale. At the end of the book, I learned that many of these lyrics were written specifically for this book by Lucas Astor. I hope that someday he will be able to bring those songs to life and share them with the world. The emotions that they evoked were truly heart wrenching.
Melody has suffered a lot at the hands of those who were supposed to protect her. The reader eventually learns of some of the horrors that have led to her uncommunicative state. "The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow. For every challenge encountered, there is an opportunity for growth."
In the end, Melody finally finds peace and friendship with several people who truly care about her. As her favorite Foster Mother Quatie Raincrow tells her, "May the stars carry your sadness away, may the flowers fill your heart with beauty, may hope forever wipe away your tears, and, above all, may silence make you strong."
All in all, this book was well-written and I found myself feeling Melody's emotions as she struggled with telling her story. In fact, it took me several days to process what I had read and to be able to write a review. This is the type of book that will stay with me for a long, long time.
June 11, 2020
I received this ARC from my library director, who got it from BookExpo last year.
Melody hasn't spoken in a long time, but Dr. Kane is confident he can get her to speak at the trial where she's being prosecuted for stabbing a classmate. Soon Melody is communicating through songs, revealing her traumatic life that began with her mother's death and father's disappearance to living with an abusive uncle to various foster homes, each worse than the last. Melody's beautiful singing voice slowly becomes silenced over time, but slowly she learns how to speak again.
I liked the beginning of this book over the end - the beginning was gentler, with heartwarming stories of her life with her parents and with her foster mother, Quatie. By the end, Melody is reliving her traumas in a fairly graphic way. I wanted the story arc to be more about healing than about the plot twist of why Melody stabbed Troy. There was a theme of religion throughout, from her mother's religion and the snakehandling, to Melody's voice being a gift from God, and the song lyrics throughout all sounded Christian in nature. It was pervasive but sort of a mixed bag (some of it positive, some negative). The last book I read (Boys of Alabama) also had snakehandling and a less kind view of southern Christianity, so I was on the fence about that aspect of the story. I also thought the way the flashbacks were handled was odd: the story in the present (dated as 2015 for no real reason I could discern) was told in third person, but the flashbacks (dated with actual dates, also for no reason reason I could discern) were in Melody's first person. I wasn't sure why some of the flashbacks were not in chronological order. I would have preferred the entire story be told in first person or third.
Content advisory: graphic descriptions of sexual abuse, date rape, and sexual assault, violence.
Melody hasn't spoken in a long time, but Dr. Kane is confident he can get her to speak at the trial where she's being prosecuted for stabbing a classmate. Soon Melody is communicating through songs, revealing her traumatic life that began with her mother's death and father's disappearance to living with an abusive uncle to various foster homes, each worse than the last. Melody's beautiful singing voice slowly becomes silenced over time, but slowly she learns how to speak again.
I liked the beginning of this book over the end - the beginning was gentler, with heartwarming stories of her life with her parents and with her foster mother, Quatie. By the end, Melody is reliving her traumas in a fairly graphic way. I wanted the story arc to be more about healing than about the plot twist of why Melody stabbed Troy. There was a theme of religion throughout, from her mother's religion and the snakehandling, to Melody's voice being a gift from God, and the song lyrics throughout all sounded Christian in nature. It was pervasive but sort of a mixed bag (some of it positive, some negative). The last book I read (Boys of Alabama) also had snakehandling and a less kind view of southern Christianity, so I was on the fence about that aspect of the story. I also thought the way the flashbacks were handled was odd: the story in the present (dated as 2015 for no real reason I could discern) was told in third person, but the flashbacks (dated with actual dates, also for no reason reason I could discern) were in Melody's first person. I wasn't sure why some of the flashbacks were not in chronological order. I would have preferred the entire story be told in first person or third.
Content advisory: graphic descriptions of sexual abuse, date rape, and sexual assault, violence.
November 10, 2022
ⒷⓄⓄⓀ ⓇⒺⓋⒾⒺⓌ
Speak no evil
Author: Liana Gardner
Genre: Fiction, mystery
My Rating: 4.0/5
This book talks about Melody - an emotionally stressed teenager, who saw her parents handle snakes most of her childhood, and saw her mother die from one when she was just 9. After living with a freak of an uncle for some days, her life becomes a constant struggle for fitting in in some loving, and some really shitty foster homes. The story starts when Melody stops speaking at all, and seeks medical help after an incident in her school.
This is a dark story about finding one's way in this world. I loved how the book showcased the importance of having therapy when needed, also the attributes of friendships were something worth reading. The multi timeline POV was quite interesting, and the way Melody communicated using music was intriguing too. I immediately googled music therapy, and found that it is indeed a really powerful tool in healing oneself. The only reason I gave it a 4 star instead of a 5 is that, I found the story a bit long. Specially during the 50% mark of the story, things became a bit monotonous for me.
So that's about it. Tell me, what do you think of music therapy? Has it ever helped you in overcoming something?
Speak no evil
Author: Liana Gardner
Genre: Fiction, mystery
My Rating: 4.0/5
This book talks about Melody - an emotionally stressed teenager, who saw her parents handle snakes most of her childhood, and saw her mother die from one when she was just 9. After living with a freak of an uncle for some days, her life becomes a constant struggle for fitting in in some loving, and some really shitty foster homes. The story starts when Melody stops speaking at all, and seeks medical help after an incident in her school.
This is a dark story about finding one's way in this world. I loved how the book showcased the importance of having therapy when needed, also the attributes of friendships were something worth reading. The multi timeline POV was quite interesting, and the way Melody communicated using music was intriguing too. I immediately googled music therapy, and found that it is indeed a really powerful tool in healing oneself. The only reason I gave it a 4 star instead of a 5 is that, I found the story a bit long. Specially during the 50% mark of the story, things became a bit monotonous for me.
So that's about it. Tell me, what do you think of music therapy? Has it ever helped you in overcoming something?
September 14, 2022
Read this if you:
*Enjoy young adult mysterious thrillers
*Like emotional tales of evil and redemption
*Appreciate a book that leaves you at a loss for words
*Adore a strong willed, female protagonist with self-perseverance
Meet the Author: Liana Gardner is the daughter of a rocket scientist and an artist. She combines the traits of both into a quirky yet pragmatic writer and in everything sees the story lurking beneath the surface. Engaged in a battle against leukemia and lymphoma she spends much of her time at home but allows her imagination to take her wherever she wants to go. Liana volunteers with high school students through the International Trade Education Programs.
Synopsis: Melody Fischer finds herself bouncing from foster home to foster home after losing both her parents at age 9. Following the death of her mother and the disappearance of her father, Melody becomes mute, not speaking of things people have done to her. Every time she speaks, worse evil follows.
Reader’s Thoughts: WOW! I have read so many good books this year, but this one hit high on the top of the list. Once I began reading Speak No Evil, I wasn’t unable to put it down. I appreciated how the author bounced back and forth from the present to the past allowing me to fully understand what was happening in Melody’s life now based off what had happened in the past. There were so many twists and turns in the plot that I never expected it to end the way it did. Melody endured so much in her lifetime. Gardner’s writing style allowed me to right there on the rollercoaster ride of Melody’s life. I felt so close and connected to Melody in so many ways.
Favorite Quotes: (This book had so many good quotes, I couldn’t pick just one)
“Like Michael Dooley said, ‘Great intentions become tragic actions when delivered without careful thought.’”
“Listen with your heart. Learn from your experiences, and always be open to new ones. Such are the words of wisdom from our ancestors.”
“The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow. For every challenge encountered there is an opportunity for growth.”
Available now in Paperback, Hardback, and Kindle
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+++ This one deserves way more than 5!
Thank you, @katieandbreypa, @vesuvianmedia, and @liana.gardner for providing me with a complimentary review copy. In no way has that influenced my voluntary review.
*Enjoy young adult mysterious thrillers
*Like emotional tales of evil and redemption
*Appreciate a book that leaves you at a loss for words
*Adore a strong willed, female protagonist with self-perseverance
Meet the Author: Liana Gardner is the daughter of a rocket scientist and an artist. She combines the traits of both into a quirky yet pragmatic writer and in everything sees the story lurking beneath the surface. Engaged in a battle against leukemia and lymphoma she spends much of her time at home but allows her imagination to take her wherever she wants to go. Liana volunteers with high school students through the International Trade Education Programs.
Synopsis: Melody Fischer finds herself bouncing from foster home to foster home after losing both her parents at age 9. Following the death of her mother and the disappearance of her father, Melody becomes mute, not speaking of things people have done to her. Every time she speaks, worse evil follows.
Reader’s Thoughts: WOW! I have read so many good books this year, but this one hit high on the top of the list. Once I began reading Speak No Evil, I wasn’t unable to put it down. I appreciated how the author bounced back and forth from the present to the past allowing me to fully understand what was happening in Melody’s life now based off what had happened in the past. There were so many twists and turns in the plot that I never expected it to end the way it did. Melody endured so much in her lifetime. Gardner’s writing style allowed me to right there on the rollercoaster ride of Melody’s life. I felt so close and connected to Melody in so many ways.
Favorite Quotes: (This book had so many good quotes, I couldn’t pick just one)
“Like Michael Dooley said, ‘Great intentions become tragic actions when delivered without careful thought.’”
“Listen with your heart. Learn from your experiences, and always be open to new ones. Such are the words of wisdom from our ancestors.”
“The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow. For every challenge encountered there is an opportunity for growth.”
Available now in Paperback, Hardback, and Kindle
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+++ This one deserves way more than 5!
Thank you, @katieandbreypa, @vesuvianmedia, and @liana.gardner for providing me with a complimentary review copy. In no way has that influenced my voluntary review.
October 28, 2022
Melody lives a happy peaceful life with her parents. Her father is a snake catcher and she has a wonderful time bonding with him over that, even if she is scared of snakes. Her life seems like sunshine till it plummets into darkness, when her mother dies. It wrecks Melody’s life as her father disappears. Things start getting even sadder and heart shattering as she gets tossed across foster homes, forced to face the darkness and abuse that comes along with it.
I loved getting to know more about snakes from the first part of the book. The timelines kept switching in the book, to keep the story connected. It churned my heart to read about Melody’s sufferings.
Although this book was a heavy read, the hope and the optimism the author sprinkled from time to time kept it going. It is sure to help the readers to fight their own battles and remain optimistic. I would recommend it for readers who have the strength to read something heavy and heart shattering.
October 31, 2022
"The most deadly serpent pales against the evil of man."
✓I wanted to conclude the Halloween month on a good note. That is when, I came across this Nominee for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel, Bram Stoker Awards and decided to pick this up immediately.
✓The story revolves around Melody, who's life takes a terrible and dark turn after she looses her mother and father. The account of how life takes her to foster homes, will definitely give you chills. Its very difficult to pen down something horror like this and incorporating optimism in it. However, the author has done a remarkable job here.
✓This indeed was a spine-chilling emotional page-turner for me. The plot is gripping and even though the timelines switch, the story line is not very complicated. The language is lucid. The story has been divided into forty six chapters. Its a lengthy read, hence I would not recommend it to the beginners. A must read for others.
✓I wanted to conclude the Halloween month on a good note. That is when, I came across this Nominee for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel, Bram Stoker Awards and decided to pick this up immediately.
✓The story revolves around Melody, who's life takes a terrible and dark turn after she looses her mother and father. The account of how life takes her to foster homes, will definitely give you chills. Its very difficult to pen down something horror like this and incorporating optimism in it. However, the author has done a remarkable job here.
✓This indeed was a spine-chilling emotional page-turner for me. The plot is gripping and even though the timelines switch, the story line is not very complicated. The language is lucid. The story has been divided into forty six chapters. Its a lengthy read, hence I would not recommend it to the beginners. A must read for others.
July 17, 2023
Great story about melody who loses her parents and ends up moving from foster home to foster home. She is an outcast at school and with her foster family's. Particularly those with other children. Only 1 person Quatie made Melody feel loved and cared for. Being 14, 15, 16 is already difficult but for Melody it becomes a tragically unbearable set of evebts that causes her to stop speaking. Not a laugh not a cry not a sound. For years. Due to some of her actions that are misinterpreted because she isn't speaking she finds herself in therapy with a psychologist. The way their interaction is written is so relatable to many including myself. The fears are, real the progress is , future is bright. Full of suspense, heart break, grief and mystery was very enjoyable. There are some hard topics mentioned and discussed so that is something to consider before reading. Otherwise wonderfully written.
October 14, 2019
There’s a certain vibe that comes with the mere idea of snake handling, a vibe that is a mix of religious fundamentalism, backwoods living and a touch of macho man. Most of us can’t begin to really understand why people engage in the practice but there’s no doubt we’re fascinated by it.
The young Melody is a tragic figure whose life has been in a downward spiral ever since her mother was killed by one of her father’s snakes and, through backflashes, we see what has happened to this child over the years. It’s not surprising, really, that Melody has stopped speaking, especially since her voice, as beautiful as it is, has not served her well. Can she find a way to explain why she stabbed a classmate and will she find release in the music she has always loved?
Ms. Gardner spins a tale that is full of emotion of all sorts and I found an immediate connection to this young girl. Various subject matters could have been overwhelmingly dark but the author finds the right amount of light and I think I’ll remember this book for a long time.
The young Melody is a tragic figure whose life has been in a downward spiral ever since her mother was killed by one of her father’s snakes and, through backflashes, we see what has happened to this child over the years. It’s not surprising, really, that Melody has stopped speaking, especially since her voice, as beautiful as it is, has not served her well. Can she find a way to explain why she stabbed a classmate and will she find release in the music she has always loved?
Ms. Gardner spins a tale that is full of emotion of all sorts and I found an immediate connection to this young girl. Various subject matters could have been overwhelmingly dark but the author finds the right amount of light and I think I’ll remember this book for a long time.
October 10, 2019
This is an unusual YA story, and I loved it. Melody Fisher has led a difficult and complicated life which we learn about in flashbacks. Now, at 16, she has stopped talking entirely and communicates through the music she plays. Unfortunately, she's been charged with stabbing a classmate, and her words may be the only thing that can save her from prison. Will her therapist and her caseworker be able to break down her walls and save her in time?
The author draws us into not only Melody's story but also into her mind. I kept wanting to reach out and comfort the poor girl as she went through so many traumatic events in her short life. There are possibly triggering scenes of abuse and rape, but they are an important part of the narrative and are presented in ways that show the author is mindful of her young audience's emotions.
This story does a wonderful job of reminding readers that silence does not equate to consent in any situation and that the truth should always be spoken even when it hurts...with truth comes freedom.
The author draws us into not only Melody's story but also into her mind. I kept wanting to reach out and comfort the poor girl as she went through so many traumatic events in her short life. There are possibly triggering scenes of abuse and rape, but they are an important part of the narrative and are presented in ways that show the author is mindful of her young audience's emotions.
This story does a wonderful job of reminding readers that silence does not equate to consent in any situation and that the truth should always be spoken even when it hurts...with truth comes freedom.
October 15, 2019
I understand why Melody didn’t want to speak, but I think I would feel more like screaming. No child should have to go through all she did.
It seems as though every time she found a friend or a happy place everything all started to fall apart.
This book takes one through her years, and with back flashes, shows why she became mute. Will she be able to break out of her prison?
Thank you, Ms Gardner, for giving us such a thought provoking book. It’s one that will stay with me a long time.
***Book provided without charge by PICT.***
It seems as though every time she found a friend or a happy place everything all started to fall apart.
This book takes one through her years, and with back flashes, shows why she became mute. Will she be able to break out of her prison?
Thank you, Ms Gardner, for giving us such a thought provoking book. It’s one that will stay with me a long time.
***Book provided without charge by PICT.***
September 21, 2022
I stayed up way too late to finish this story in one sitting. I went in 100% blind and was totally emotionally gutted. This book doesn’t shy away from the brutality of sexual assault or the darkness (and the light) that can be foster care. Be sure to read the TW’s prior to reading.
This book was heavy. It held so many details and stories that to some might seem insignificant, but it’s the little things in our childhood that can begin to change everything. The way things were connected was brutal and beautiful. I FELT this book on an emotional level. As someone who has been positively impacted by music and as someone who had kept the secrets and carried the “shame” of abuse as a child… this hit so close to home for me.
This book was heavy. It held so many details and stories that to some might seem insignificant, but it’s the little things in our childhood that can begin to change everything. The way things were connected was brutal and beautiful. I FELT this book on an emotional level. As someone who has been positively impacted by music and as someone who had kept the secrets and carried the “shame” of abuse as a child… this hit so close to home for me.
September 19, 2022
I loved Speak No Evil. This book is the story of Melody and her experiences in the foster care system, both good and bad. Melody decides to stop speaking because bad things happen when she does. But when Melody starts seeing Doctor Kane, a therapist, he learns about Melody's love of music. With that, he has her answer questions using song lyrics, then singing her answers. Doctor Kane was amazing and such a wonderful advocate for Melody. This book is heartbreaking, but such a good read. Make sure to look up trigger warning.
September 12, 2022
Melody's story is a heartbreaking one, and I particularly enjoyed the chapters that followed Melody while in Quatie’s care. She seemingly had the perfect childhood before losing both parents and even thrived in Quatie’s care. I found the fact her singing could calm animals really unique and also beautiful.
I really enjoyed this story. There was a lot of focus on showing how amazing her childhood was and her bond with Quatie rather than the actual event that led to her ending up in court. I found myself consumed by that and completely forgetting the court element and the reason she was seeing a therapist further than to get her to speak again. I definitely would have loved a complete story about her childhood with her parents and then another about her in the care system and becoming mute, as I was so fascinated by both elements. Melody also seems to have great taste in friends, as her two main ones sound like my sort of people.
Thank you to Katie and Brey PA and Liana Gardner for this DRC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this story. There was a lot of focus on showing how amazing her childhood was and her bond with Quatie rather than the actual event that led to her ending up in court. I found myself consumed by that and completely forgetting the court element and the reason she was seeing a therapist further than to get her to speak again. I definitely would have loved a complete story about her childhood with her parents and then another about her in the care system and becoming mute, as I was so fascinated by both elements. Melody also seems to have great taste in friends, as her two main ones sound like my sort of people.
Thank you to Katie and Brey PA and Liana Gardner for this DRC in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2022
This book has had my mind at a loss for words since I started reading. I can't get over how I felt for Melody, a young girl who was placed in foster care because of a freak accident which caused so much pain and sorrow. As heart -wrenching as her story was, I found her so relatable and real. I couldn't imagine what it was like to be so young and to have to endure all that she did yet handle it how she did. Melody has gone through so much yet she still cares for people around her and only wants a real home with a real family.
I loved how this book was written, I felt the need to protect Melody from all of her pain and give her a safe place to live. This book also sheds a light on how broken the foster care system can be and is a lot of the time. The social workers are weighed down with so many cases and so many children that when a home opens and the people seem like a decent family who's actually willing to allow the children into their homes, sometimes the children are placed with families that aren't safe. Even with how sad this book made me at times, I think this book also touches on hope and as well as how much children can thrive when they have a great support system. It also shows that therapy can truly help people heal and grow from trauma and pain.
I loved how this book was written, I felt the need to protect Melody from all of her pain and give her a safe place to live. This book also sheds a light on how broken the foster care system can be and is a lot of the time. The social workers are weighed down with so many cases and so many children that when a home opens and the people seem like a decent family who's actually willing to allow the children into their homes, sometimes the children are placed with families that aren't safe. Even with how sad this book made me at times, I think this book also touches on hope and as well as how much children can thrive when they have a great support system. It also shows that therapy can truly help people heal and grow from trauma and pain.
September 7, 2022
This book was so good! I absolutely loved Melody and she was such a strong young girl. Almost all the men in this book are absolutely horrible and I imagined quite a few of them having “alternative” endings. The ending of the book was almost perfect there is only one part I wished was different BUT I will discuss that in dms after y’all have read it. I highly recommend this book but please pay attention to triggers.
September 1, 2022
Speak no evil is an incredibly haunting story about a child having to deal with losing her parents and then moving around different foster homes. It’s a heart wrenching tale of survival and loss as Melody tries to cope with each new terrible situation she is in. This is a really difficult story to read at times as Liana Gardner pulls no punches when it comes to showing us what Melody has had to go through.
The story is beautifully written and will stay with you for days after you have finished reading it. It will sometimes make you cry and then within a few pages laugh out loud and then a few pages after that you’ll be shouting in anger. This novel really takes you through all the emotions.
I received a free ebook of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and is written voluntarily.
The story is beautifully written and will stay with you for days after you have finished reading it. It will sometimes make you cry and then within a few pages laugh out loud and then a few pages after that you’ll be shouting in anger. This novel really takes you through all the emotions.
I received a free ebook of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and is written voluntarily.
November 29, 2019
Speak no evil was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The synopsis doesn’t tell us a lot so I had no idea what to expect going into this story but holy shit I was in for the ride.
We follow a young girl named melody fisher who has been through so many horrible things. From witnessing the death of her mother to being tossed around from foster home to foster home. Melody soon learns speaking the truth only brings on worse situations for her.
Throughout this story we jump back in time to when Melody was young and we get background and more understanding into the reasons she is the way she is, which I truly loved. Following a bright and curious young girl follow in her daddy’s footsteps and simply adore her parents just as much as they adore her. Watching this family unit was truly so heartwarming and I loved reading all about this.
Speak no evil explores sooo many themes and hard-hitting topics such as rape, molestation, violence, death and grief. I didn’t expect these topics to be within this story but they added such an amazing element and depth to this story.
I honestly can’t say more about this story because I’ll spoil it for you but it was simply an amazing book that envoked so many emotions and thoughts in me.
Speak no evil is a book you NEED to grab right now! I will never forget this story and will 100% reread it!
http://www.foreverthewanderer.ie/spea...
The synopsis doesn’t tell us a lot so I had no idea what to expect going into this story but holy shit I was in for the ride.
We follow a young girl named melody fisher who has been through so many horrible things. From witnessing the death of her mother to being tossed around from foster home to foster home. Melody soon learns speaking the truth only brings on worse situations for her.
Throughout this story we jump back in time to when Melody was young and we get background and more understanding into the reasons she is the way she is, which I truly loved. Following a bright and curious young girl follow in her daddy’s footsteps and simply adore her parents just as much as they adore her. Watching this family unit was truly so heartwarming and I loved reading all about this.
Speak no evil explores sooo many themes and hard-hitting topics such as rape, molestation, violence, death and grief. I didn’t expect these topics to be within this story but they added such an amazing element and depth to this story.
I honestly can’t say more about this story because I’ll spoil it for you but it was simply an amazing book that envoked so many emotions and thoughts in me.
Speak no evil is a book you NEED to grab right now! I will never forget this story and will 100% reread it!
http://www.foreverthewanderer.ie/spea...
Read
September 9, 2021Dnf. No rating. I’d feel guilty if I even gave it a 1 cuz I can’t say.
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