Splendors and Glooms

De: Laura Amy Schlitz

Narrado por: Davina Porter

Audie Award Nominee, Children's Titles for Ages 8-12, 2013

Newbery Medal winner Laura Amy Schlitz's gothic novel in the grand Victorian tradition, Spledors and Glooms, is set in London and centered around the disappearance of a 12-year-old girl, who goes missing. Two children realize it is their guardian, a Venetian-born puppeteer and magician, who has kidnapped her and used his dark powers to imprison her mind and body in the form of a puppet and strive to return her to human form.

©2012 Laura Amy Schlitz (P)2012 Recorded Books

Haunting, gothic novel will break your heart when it ends.

The locations were described so vividly, I can still see them, hear them, and in some cases, smell them. The characters the author created were so real to me, I feel like I lost friends when the book ended. Lizzie Rose might just be my favorite character of all time and even Cassandra left me wishing she were real and I could have a chat with her. My two daughters (10 and 5) were likewise enthralled. I can't say enough good things about this book. I'm sure glad we discovered this story and this author.

Yawn turned into a dropped jaw

I wasn't sure about this story at first. A Victorian Era piece, really? But I needed to read at least part of this award winning book to better share it in a presentation on award-winning books. So I began and hummed along and then, boom, I was sucked in. I could not let go! Davina Porter as a narrator was a delight. Her voices and accents manifested a visual of characters I could not have done just reading the words off the page. That being said, this magical story of an evil puppeteer, a witch, and the three children thrown into a plot of corruption and dispair had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Laura Amy Schlitz proves to be a master storyteller.

Wish there was more.

Outstanding. Great for children and adults. Wish it continued on forever. Don’t have enough words!!

Most Excellent!

We really enjoyed this story as a family and listened to it in two sessions in the car. Most Excellent!

Slow start, but then it grabs you

After a slow and rather muddled beginning, the characters became interesting and the story developed at a good pace. Although this is categorized as a childrens book, I found it quite engaging even for my adult self. The author doesn’t dumb down either the characters or plot. And I can’t say enough about Davina Porter’s narration ! Sooo good 👍

Awesome

It was a great book the narrator really captured the mood of each page in her voice you could hear sadness and happiness The book was really interesting

Enchanting, a different sort of Victorian fantasy

I loved this story and the audible presentation. The children, the evil puppeteer, and the witch are seen from unique points of view. After listening to the story, I eagerly sought other books by Laura Amy Schlitz. She is a master storyteller!

So disappointing

I really wanted to like this book. I Really did. I've looked for another story by this author after reading "A drowned maiden's tale". I Loved that book. It hooked me from page one. So I was ready for more.
Was that a fluke, or this book a glitch? I Don't know.
All I know was that this book was really overwrought. So heavy handed. And after hours of listening and re-winding, I still don't know what the heck, is going on!
From flashes of a "witch" to a demonic puppet-master, to a lonely girl who lost here siblings to a terrible food poisoning. This story was all over the place. I just gave up.
Better luck next time. I still haven't given up on Schultz.