Review: The Kingdom by Amanda Stevens

Title: The Kingdom
Author: Amanda Stevens
Series: Restorer Book 2
Release Date: April 2012
Publisher: Mira- Net Galley
Genre: Suspense/ Fantasy
Rating: 4.5 Hoots
Reviewer: Lenore

Deep in the shadowy foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies a dying town…

My name is Amelia Gray. They call me The Graveyard Queen. I've been commissioned to restore an old cemetery in Asher Falls, South Carolina, but I'm coming to think I have another purpose here.

Why is there a cemetery at the bottom of Bell Lake? Why am I drawn time and again to a hidden grave I've discovered in the woods? Something is eating away at the soul of this town—this withering kingdom—and it will only be restored if I can uncover the truth. (Amazon)

THE KINGDOM is a hauntingly fantastic tale. Amanda Stevens has managed to write a sequel even better than the first book. Amelia grows so much as a character (a fact that will become important when she goes back to Charleston). She has finally gained that extra UMPH that was missing in her character in THE RESTORER. Stevens introduces a new love interest as well. While I like Thane, I was glad to see in the description that readers have not seen all of John Devlin. 

THE KINGDOM is somewhat different from book one, but in a good way. This book focuses more on ghosts and the fantasy elements more than the suspense. Do not fear! The suspense is there, but there is less mystery involved that originally.

This is the type of book that readers will want to read in the full daylight. Reading a book with such amazing, creepy detail is twice as scary as any horror movie. Stevens really brings out her readers imaginations.

The suspense and passion are in high gear in THE KINGDOM. The stakes are high as Amelia finds out more than she bargained for in Asher falls. This book cannot be compared to any other that I have read. It is original and in a league all its own. For fans of ghost stories and thrillers, this series is highly recommended.