Gilt Hollow / Lorie Langdon

Christian Library Journal –  January/February/March 2018

Gilt Hollow / by Lorie Langdon.
Blink     ISBN 9780310751854
YA     Grades 9 and up     Rating: 5

Six years ago, the courts dumped Ashton into juvie for murdering one of his friends. And while he admitted to the crime, he lied. Released early for good behavior, Ashton is now ready to use his freedom to clear his name—by whatever means necessary. The problem? Everyone believes he’s guilty….

Except Willow.

As his childhood friend, Willow knew Ash better than anyone. She stood by his side when no one else would, and he repaid her by ignoring every letter she wrote him over the past six years.

With Willow’s life finally starting to get back to normal, Ashton’s release adds new complications to high school. He seems determined to ignore her; but even though juvie brought out his dark side, Willow’s still convinced that her best friend could never kill anyone. But will she stand her ground when her family’s safety depends on her condemning Ashton?

Young readers may want to keep the lights on while reading Gilt Hollow. Lorie Langdon’s dark murder mystery keeps readers in suspense as Ashton and Willow balance high school drama with hunting down a killer. Because the story alternates between Willow’s and Ashton’s perspectives, readers will have the opportunity to gather clues, eliminate suspects, and guess who the killer is before the mystery’s revealed.

Gilt Hollow is Lorie’s first solo-written novel, and she does a great job capturing how teens think and react in dramatic and traumatic experiences. However, these characters feel a bit too perfect. While Willow is desperate to fit in, she is utterly loyal to her ex-friend, despite lingering doubt and peers’ opinions. Ashton is attractive and, despite everyone supposedly hating him for his “crime,” he is accepted fairly easily. The killer, when revealed, instantly becomes a dislikable and psychotic character—losing all humanness and desire for reader-character empathy.

This book effectively includes flashbacks to enhance the plot and strengthen minor characters’ motives. And although faith is not a strong factor in this book, the subtle Christian references highlight the moral-ness of the story.

Doon Series / Carey Corp, Lorie Langdon

Christian Library Journal – January/February 2016
Online: March 15, 2016

Doon / by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon. (Doon, 1)
Zondervan     ISBN 9780310742302
Destined for Doon / by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon. (Doon, 2)
Zondervan     ISBN 9780310742333
Shades of Doon / by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon. (Doon, 3)
Zondervan     ISBN 9780310742357
HS     Grades 9-12     Rating: 5

The Doon saga transports readers into a fantasy tale of teens sacrificing all to find and keep true love. It follows best friends Veronica and Mackenna along their adventures from their ordinary American lives into the magical kingdom of Doon.

In Doon, Veronica’s traumatic breakup causes hallucinations. She is certain that the boy she sees means that she has gone crazy—that is, until she and Mackenna discover a vision journal while in Scotland. Chasing the boy of Veronica’s dreams, the friends cross a bridge into a new world, Doon. With a witch threatening the kingdom and the princes (one who happens to look like Veronica’s vision-boy) suspicious of Veronica and Mackenna, the girls must prove their loyalty to the crown and stop the witch from crossing the border—if they haven’t helped her enter already.

Destined for Doon begins with Mackenna discovering her modern-world theater dream was not all she hoped it would be. She feels guilty for leaving her prince and Veronica behind in Doon. When her prince appears with bad news, Mackenna follows him to Doon to defeat a curse then return to the modern stage as soon as she can. Attempting to delay knowledge of the curse, Mackenna is forced to pretend she returned to the kingdom for love. The witch may be back, and the hunt for a cure could tear apart more than one relationship.

In Shades of Doon, Doon finally appears at peace, but Veronica and Mackenna are on edge. A spy for the witch thrusts them back into their old lives and makes the girls wonder: was it all a dream? The princes rescue them, but upon returning to Doon, they all believe that the witch could be disguised among the civilians. When the witch reveals herself, Veronica must make a choice: allow the Doonian to die or forfeit the kingdom.

This series is extremely well-written, and each book is difficult to put down. If readers can overlook moderately risqué behavior from high schoolers (including intimate kissing scenes), witches with magic, and mild violence, this series will be an excellent adventure and escape. There is a light faith element, in that the characters go to church and the protagonists hold to moral standards. From the point of view of a teenage girl, Doon crosses pop culture references with medieval lifestyle in a way that will have readers laughing out loud. Corp and Langdon’s characters will connect with any YA fantasy enthusiast. Book four, Forever Doon, will release in fall 2016 to complete the series.