Review: Chime by Franny Billingsley

Title: Chime Author: Franny Billingsley Series: Standalone Cover Art: Michael Frost Genre: Paranormal YA Excerpt: Yes Source: Authors On The Web Reviewed by: Abigail Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 368 pages Publisher: Dial (March 17, 2011) ISBN-10: 9780803735521 ISBN-13: 978-0803735521 Sexual Content: Kissing. References to sex. Attempted sexual assault. My Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now & pre-order the sequel.

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Description

Before Briony's stepmother died, she made sure Briony blamed herself for all the family's hardships. Now Briony has worn her guilt for so long it's become a second skin. She often escapes to the swamp, where she tells stories to the Old Ones, the spirits who haunt the marshes. But only witches can see the Old Ones, and in her village, witches are sentenced to death. Briony lives in fear her secret will be found out, even as she believes she deserves the worst kind of punishment.

Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and mane of tawny hair. He's as natural as the sun, and treats her as if she's extraordinary. And everything starts to change. As many secrets as Briony has been holding, there are secrets even she doesn't know.

Review

What an odd and wonderful book.  I’m doing it a disservice to even try and review it properly.  The writing is just lovely.  Beautiful and vivid characterizations, especially concerning the protagonist Briony.  The story has fantastically creepy undertones, poetic descriptions, and evokes such a strong sense of place that I could smell the Swampsea.  Read the excerpt.  That’s the best thing I can tell you to do.  I was hooked from the first line:

I've confessed to everything and I'd like to be hanged. Now, if you please. – Opening line from CHIME

I could write this entire review praising the writing, but more than anything, I love the voice of Briony.  I cannot begin to compare her to any another character. Everything about her is bright and clear and gothic.  She is one of the wittiest characters I’ve ever read.  Right up there with Elizabeth Bennett.  Her internal thoughts are beyond fascinating.   She is constantly training and schooling her thoughts:  ‘I am a witch…I am wicked…’  Her observations are biting, and no more so than when they are about herself.

…The story of a wicked girl has no true beginning. I'd have to begin with the day I was born.

If Eldric were to tell the story, he'd likely begin with himself, on the day he arrived in the Swampsea. That's where proper stories begin, don't they, when the handsome stranger arrives and everything goes wrong?

But this isn't a proper story, and I'm telling you, I ought to be hanged.

Parts of CHIME reminded me of I CAPTURE THE CASTLE by Dodie Smith or the books by Maggie Stiefvater and Holly Black.  But none of those are quite right. CHIME is really like nothing I’ve ever read before.  It is not the type of book you gulp down.  I read it in the span of a week (and 99% of the time I read a book in one sitting), and not because it wasn’t compelling, but the story and pacing lent itself to a more drawn out reading experience.  Like being in Briony’s swamp, it’s impossible to run through it.  Initially I was a bit impatient with the slow going narrative, but my impatience didn’t last.  Everything else about CHIME was utterly bewitching.  This is a beautifully creepy tale told in a beautifully creepy way.  I highly recommend it.

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