Another Little Piece

by Kate Karyus Quinn

On a cool autumn night, Annaliese Rose Gordon stumbled out of the woods and into a high school party. She was screaming. Drenched in blood. Then she vanished.

A year later, Annaliese is found wandering down a road hundreds of miles away. She doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know how she got there. She only knows one thing: She is not the real Annaliese Rose Gordon.

Now Annaliese is haunted by strange visions and broken memories. Memories of a reckless, desperate wish . . . a bloody razor . . . and the faces of other girls who disappeared. Piece by piece, Annaliese's fractured memories come together to reveal a violent, endless cycle that she will never escape—unless she can unlock the twisted secrets of her past.

Genres: Young Adult, Horror, Paranormal, Mystery, Fantasy, Thriller, Fiction

419 pages, Hardcover

First published June 11, 2013

About the author

Kate Karyus Quinn is an avid reader and menthol chapstick addict. She has a BFA in theater and an MFA in film and television production. She lives in Buffalo, NY with her husband, three children, and one giant dog.

Find her online at katekaryusquinn.com

Sign up for her newsletter for exclusive content and giveaways! https://tinyurl.com/y9zz4hp6

Reviews

[Wendy Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars Another Little Piece is a deliciously dark and savage debut. Please don't mistake this for a typical YA paranormal story: it does not feature any screeching heroines, cliched scenarios, or last-minute romantic rescues. Instead, this is a strange, startlingly original horror novel that is beautifully written, thoughtfully considered, and yet somehow leaves you longing for more. Its fractured structure and ambiguous nature mean that it's not a story that will work for everyone--but holy hell, did it work for me.


The full text of this review appears in The Midnight Garden. An advance copy was provided by the publisher.

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 2 out of 5]

This pretty much sums up my feelings towards this book:



I recently read a similarly surreal book which takes place partially within dreams. One of my complaints about that book was that the dreams didn't feel authentic. The dreams were too streamlined; those dreams had plot, those dreams made too much sense. After reading this book, I would have been glad to have gone back to that sort of surrealism. I've never taken drugs, and consequently I've never had any experience with hallucinogens. After reading this book, I do not feel the need to experiment with drugs, ever, because this is probably what a bad acid trip probably feels like when written down. Franz Kafka? Nah. Naked Lunch? Nah. This book is more confusing than any surrealistic genre or chemically-influenced works of literature I can recall reading.

"Do you have any idea how many brains I have studied in my career?"
"Seven hundred." Pause. "And fifty-two."
"Out of those seven hundred and fifty-two brains, only four have behaved in ways that I could not understand. In all four of those cases, I determined after extensive testing that those brains were aberrations to the point of no longer being technically human...yours is the fourth brain. And that makes you my first living monster."

The summary given in the book blurb is simple, deceptively simple. Read it again because I can't summarize it for you because I have no idea what I just read. Don't trust it. Don't trust anything in this book. I can't even tell you how it ends if my life is dependent upon it, because I am so utterly, completely confused.

To say that our narrator, Annaliese, is an unreliable one is like saying rotting roadkill is rather unappetizing. It's a vast, vast understatement. I didn't know half the time whether I should feel sympathetic for her, or hate her, or just not believe in anything she's saying or experiencing because she is clearly crazier than the Mad Hatter, probably even more than the Johnny Depp portrayal of such, and nowhere near as colorful. Annaliese is such a detached narrator. She can't remember who she is, she has flashes of memory of her old self, but yet is not her, because she might be someone else. Or many someone else's. I'm still not quite sure.

Annaliese goes back to her original family when she re-emerges from her disappearance, but she never feels like she belongs. Not uncommon, in her case. Extreme trauma and the subsequent amnesia will do that to a person. She can't get used to anything. She is unattached to her parents ("the dad," "the mom,"), and to herself. She's not even sure she's herself.

"But how had I gone from Anna to Annaliese? And who were those other six girls in between?"

Annaliese meets and had visions of strange people. The Physician, the Brujahs. She encounters everyday people who aren't who they seem to be. People who seem to just be borrowing someone else's skin.

Annaliese hates the taste of chocolate. She has strange cravings for people.

And that's when I felt the first hunger pang. Even from my spot halfway up the bleachers, I could see the beads of sweat on his golden-brown skin. Except it didn't resemble sweat so much as the juices dripping from the crisped and crackling skin of a roasted chicken. I wanted to sink my teeth into him. My stomach growled with hunger at the thought. Saliva collected in my mouth. I swallowed loudly.

This was all good for the first half of the book. Things are ambiguous, strange, I can chalk it up to her trauma from her disappearance, but the second half was an even bigger mess. Think the first half is weird? Reading the second half makes the first part feel like reading Pat the Bunny. More people got thrown into the equation, people who aren't even involved in Annaliese's everyday life. It's told through flashbacks, segments of recalled memories, memories of different people, from different times, from decades before. I found it incoherent, disjointed, disorienting.

The supporting cast of the present Annaliese is not so likeable. There is the mother and father, who aren't altogether sure that they're glad to have this daughter back.

The mom had been better when I was missing. The belief that she would find her daughter had fueled her. Now that she had me, it was worse. I was wrong. I’d thought an impostor might be better than no daughter at all. But the mom had never really lost Annaliese, because she’d refused to let her go.

There is Logan, Rice Sixteen, the popular jock who is guilt-ridden by his role in Annaliese's previous life as herself. His need of her, his need to prove himself to her and to make things up to her is sad, pathetic, and altogether pitiful. He is like a puppy that just pissed on the carpet for the 14th time. He knows he shouldn't do it but he can't help himself and he doesn't know how to make things better.

There is Dex, the "level-A creep" whom Annaliese inexplicably likes.

This was the boy from next door. The boy with one red eye, who liked to record and replay people's screams.

My skin crawls just thinking about Dex, honestly. The author does her best to prove Dex is a good guy, but I just can't think of him without revulsion.

This book is just so strange. The prose is good but I can't recommend it at all because it is such a mess of a mystery. That is, unless you are like Annaliese's mentally ill mother and feel like ripping your hair out, bit by bit.

[Emily May · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was incredibly confusing and I think, ultimately, this was why I struggled to enjoy it. The story was all over the place, introducing various past lives right and left until it was impossible to keep up with who had done what at which point. Out of the books I've been lucky enough to receive lately from Edelweiss, this is easily one of the most disappointing, especially because the blurb is fantastic and the beginning opens up what seems at first to be a tense and exciting mystery.

The novel opens where Annaliese Rose Gordon wanders down a road hundreds of miles away from home and she is found and taken to the police. We then discover that Annaliese went missing from a high school party a year ago and hasn't been seen since. Annaliese has no memory of where she's been, she has no memory of her parents, her friends or her life before. A few disturbing images come to her in flashbacks - memories of wishes and blood and other girls who disappeared. If you're anything like me, that description probably sounds like everything you could possibly want from a YA thriller. The reality, for me, was very different.

For one thing, it is important for you to know this is a paranormal novel - something I hadn't been aware of before I started reading. As much as I love a good supernatural story, I think it's a weakness in Another Little Piece whose atmosphere and suspense would be much more suited to a realistic mystery/thriller. My initial curiosity over what horrors poor Annaliese had faced - I had images of kidnap and assault, I'd even dared to hope it would be the story I'd wanted from Pretty Girl-13 - was quickly extinguished.

This may be considered a touch spoilery but we find out about it in the book's first quarter so I don't think it's too bad to talk about this - the reason for Annaliese's bargain. It didn't sit well with me that this girl had sold her soul for the chance to have sex once with a hot guy from school. Granted, she didn't know the extent of the price she would have to pay, but come on. If someone made you an offer to fulfill a personal wish for a price but refused to disclose the price - would you really accept? Only if you're an idiot. Sorry, but I wasn't buying into it.

Back to what I said at the beginning, I think the worst thing about this book was the mind-boggling way it juggled the memories and flashbacks. There are the real Annaliese's missing memories and Anna's missing memories combined with flashbacks to various other girl's lives. I lost the will to find out what was happening less than half way through and, if this hadn't been a review copy provided by the publisher, I wouldn't have bothered to finish it. Very disappointing.

One final noteworthy point is that the book is full of harsh swear words and graphic sexual content, an uncommon level for the YA genre. This doesn't bother me but I know it might be of interest to some who don't like that sort of thing.

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before all else, I feel I need to point out is that Another Little Piece is a weird and terrifying read, and surely not for everyone. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read before, but if I had to find a better known author to compare it to, I’d say it’s closest to Brenna Yovanoff’s works. The writing is not as gorgeous, but it is perhaps even more disturbing than any of Brenna’s books.

Anneliese has been missing for a whole year, and now that she’s back, she remembers nothing of her previous life, or her time away. She just knows she doesn’t belong – her life doesn’t seem like her own, her parents are complete strangers, and her skin doesn’t quite fit. She’s uncomfortable around people whose presence should be comforting, and she dislikes things the old Anneliese liked very much.

All the relationships in this book were done extraordinarily well, be it Anna’s relationship with Logan, the boy she was in love with prior to her disappearance; her relationship with her best friend Gwen or her growing friendship and romance with her neighbor Dex. More than anything else, however, the intricacy of her relationship with the mom and the dad, as she calls them, was simply astounding.

Oh, but the romance was special, too! A bit instalove-y, a bit strange, a bit awkward and even a bit disturbing – it matched the overall tone of the book perfectly. An ordinary boy could never have stood next to Anna, but the boy she ended up choosing had more than enough baggage of his own, and I loved seeing the two of them together. So what if it wasn’t the most realistic of romances? I don’t think Quinn was aiming for realistic, and I don’t think it’s what this book needed. In this context, awkward and instalove-y was nothing short of perfect.

I thought the poetry between chapters, written by Anneliese before her disappearance, was a really nice touch. At first I was a bit ambivalent because I liked the idea, but disliked the poems themselves, but I later realized that teen girl poetry was supposed to be bad and that it had probably been done on purpose, and that realization allowed me to appreciate it more. The poems offer brief glimpses into the mind of the old Anneliese, before she was irrevocably changed.

Another Little Piece brings one surprise right after another. It seems that Kate Karyus Quinn belongs to that very small group of authors who refuse to pull any punches. In fact, after reading this debut, I dare say she’s already a force to be reckoned with.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: June 11, 2013
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Copy won from a giveaway

Summary (from Goodreads):

On a cool autumn night, Annaliese Rose Gordon stumbled out of the woods and into a high school party. She was screaming. Drenched in blood. Then she vanished.

A year later, Annaliese is found wandering down a road hundreds of miles away. She doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know how she got there. She only knows one thing: She is not the real Annaliese Rose Gordon.

Now Annaliese is haunted by strange visions and broken memories. Memories of a reckless, desperate wish . . . a bloody razor . . . and the faces of other girls who disappeared. Piece by piece, Annaliese's fractured memories come together to reveal a violent, endless cycle that she will never escape—unless she can unlock the twisted secrets of her past.

What I Liked:

First, I would like to apologize to the author, because I won this book in one of her giveaways around the time of the publication of the book. This was just about three years ago. No one is required to review or even read the books they win in giveaways, but I still feel a little bad knowing that I won the giveaway and read it three years later, while someone else could have won and might have read it immediately. But it is what it is! I liked the book (which is actually pretty surprising!).

This is my May Pili-Pushed read! To see any of my Pili-Pushed reads, see the "Pili-Pushed" tag at the bottom of my blog. Also, me winning the author's giveaway in no way influenced my opinion of the story. I liked it because it was great!

I honestly would not even know where to begin when trying to describe this novel. This books starts with Annaliese making her way over to a girl by a trailer. Annaliese has no recollection of where she is, or was. As it would turn out, Annaliese is the missing girl on Dateline, who was missing for a year. A year ago, Annaliese walked out of a forest covered in blood and screaming, and then she vanished. A year later, Annaliese is back, but with no memory. Annaliese does not seem like Annaliese though. She must rely on her the little memories that come back to slowly piece together what really happened a year ago, and why she's back.

What a strange book! And incredibly creepy. The first couple of passages were bewildering. I couldn't get a good feel of what was happening, but I was hooked.

This book is deceptively contemporary, and paranormal, and horror-ish. It's heavily paranormal, though I can't really say why without going into spoiler-y things. It's somewhat horror-y, or maybe that's just me and my scaredy cat self. The book is CREEPY. When you find out why Annaliese isn't exactly Annaliese, and what she's been up to... *shivers*

Despite this creepy stuff, I liked Annaliese (I'm going to call her Anna from now on). Anna isn't a kickbutt fighter like we see in so many YA novels. She's quiet and contemplative, and she has her quirks. She also has no recollection of anything, so she's a clean slate. But she's still a teenage girl. She doesn't remember anything, and this frustrates her parents, which frustrates Anna. She feels trapped and smothered, especially by people she doesn't know.

We meet several peers of Anna's fairly quickly. Eric, who is flat-out creepy. Logan, who shoulders some guilt and blame relating to what happened to Anna (not his fault though). Dex, the next-door neighbor who knows a lot more than he wants to know, who is quiet and understanding. Gwen, who was Anna's best friend. Kayla, who is mean.

There is a little romance in this book! I found it sweet and charming. At first it seemed to have caught on very quickly, but I think there was lust first and then the emotional response. Which I'm fine with. I like the pair (Anna and someone else...). No love triangle!

I don't want to say anymore about this book, for fear of ruining surprises. The author weaves in twist and turn and surprise with ease. We don't get to know everything up front, but I love how the author reveals information slowly but sensibly.

So, overall, I liked this book! I see that there are lots of mixed reviews for this book, but I'm glad I liked it. It was creepy and haunting - two things I generally don't go for - but definitely intriguing and it had me hooked. And the ending was weird! A little open-ended, but not really. It wrapped up pretty well. A very good job by the author!

What I Did Not Like:

I can't think of anything specific! I liked this book but didn't love it, so it's getting four stars (and not five stars). It was a good read!

Would I Recommend It:

If you like some creepy fiction, I definitely recommend this book! It's not really scary (unless you're me and are afraid of everything and anything remotely scary), but it has horror-ish aspects woven into the story. The paranormal is both very present and barely there. If you like a good suspense-type novel to read (it's not a mystery book though), this is a good one!

Rating:

4 stars. I'm glad I tried this book! I had the copy for three years without picking it up. Thank you, Pili, for pushing me in the direction of this one!

[Giselle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa! This book has to be one of the strangest reads I've come across. I can see how its eccentric nature will not be for everyone, but for me the beautiful, often disturbing, writing style captivated me and never let go. It's not the type of story that just anyone could pull off, the author definitely did some thinking outside the box for this one, and Quinn has my two thumbs up.

Calling this book Another Little Piece is quite fitting, as it felt like with every turn of a page, another piece of this mind-boggling puzzle was put in place - or at least moved a tiny bit closer. And this review is especially hard, because in almost every piece lies a spoiler. The first of these spoilers comes at the 15% mark, thus I'm not able to go into the plot itself, but let me just promise you that you will not have read anything quite like this before! I was shocked by what I was taking in at regular intervals in this book - and from someone who reads as much as I do, shock is a good thing! My advice: be very careful what reviews you read beforehand.

Annaliese has no recollection of the past year of her life, the year she disappeared. The character growth in this novel is substantial; we see Annaliese go through a complete remodeling from who we first meet. The girl at the start is timid and confused, yet she surprises you with the strength of character she possesses even then. As she finds out what happened to her, she transforms into the tough person she needs to be to weather this information, even refusing part of who she is. Because she gets to know her old self through flashbacks, and she's learning who she is now, all the while fighting her inner demon, it makes it difficult to connect with this type of disjointed character. I wouldn't have changed anything about her, however; this strangeness makes her character. Due to the nature of the plot, the secondary characters can take some situating, but they all become important players in this mystery. I especially liked Dex who has an oddity of his own to add even more complexity to this bizarre plot.

The writing is what makes or breaks a book like this, and this one makes it, completely and thoroughly. Quinn's writing is at once terrifying and wonderfully addicting. I was haunted by some of the images that she produced, yet I was unable to stop imagining them, in greater detail each time. Suffice it to say, those who are easily queasy may have to skip a few passages in this one. Aside from her skill for the disturbing, Quinn is also a master at intricately layering her tale. It begins as what feels like a jumble of words and events, until, little by little, we begin the deciphering process. With her show rather than tell manner, we're left to our devices to bring this story together with what we're given, which I highly appreciate even though I was confused as all heck at the end. A re-reading of the last chapter and a discussion with a friend amended that, some, but I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

Profoundly original and disturbingly odd, I think everyone should experience Another Little Piece. Not because I believe everyone will love it, but because I think everyone should experience the anomaly that it is.

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads

2.5 stars

Thank you HarperTeen for sending me this copy. No compensation was given for taken to alter this review.

'I realised that while they were strange, being so open about their messy lives, they were not a girl with bare feet and a funny scar, wrapped in a garbage bag, who followed a feeling to their door. I was beyond strange.'

Another Little Piece reminded me of Pretty Girl-13 By Liz Coley in numerous ways but did not seem to create the same affect as Pretty Girl-13. With such a promising cover and synopsis, I'd expected some form of a contemporary psychological mystery/thriller instead, we get a mix of paranormal suspense instead. As much as I wanted to enjoy this novel, there were several drawbacks that head to this unfortunate result.

Ultimately, the main issue that prevented me from liking this book any more was the confusion, which was stirred and jittered around here. In no way am I implying to say that confusion isn't a good element to infuse into novels, but with such excess? No. From the synopsis we can expect a gritty YA thriller however when we are introduced to our main character, Annaliese Rose Gordon. She has come back from a year of disappearance with no memory of how she got there and what happened in her previous life. But slowly, her past unravels in disturbing and abrupt flashes, so do trails of clues and suspicions. Without getting too spoilery, Annaliese was last seen at a high school party, hooking up with a jock who was already in a relationship at the time. It was rather absurd, to be honest.

For me, Annaliese was an average character, what I rarely see is when our MC sets the mood of the novel so this was nice for a change. Annaliese's tendencies are fairly placid and reserved but still have a distinct tang of thrill and suspense. Additionally, Annaliese was a forever changing character, a little difficult to explain but it was relatable from her trauma and sudden flashbacks.

The other characters were nothing too memorable, like Annaliese, they fetched hints of monotony and unoriginality. Logan was adorable but a little too stalkerish for my tastes. Eric was arrogant and was ridiculously cryptic. And Gwen, Annaliese's best friend, over-acted and was a worry wart. I didn't completely detest at the beginning, yet as the story progressed, so did my irritation.

Another Little Piece is one of those books that need to be carefully read. As this book didn't quite catch my attention awfully well, I was occasionally missing bits of information and it took some time to fully process the happenings. Nonetheless, this novel will come with unfortunate mind fuck and mind-boggling confusion.

All in all, Another Little Piece was a disappointment, from the tone of the book- in which I was searching for a thrilling eerie setting- to the characters which were bland and washed over. If you loved Pretty Girl-13, this may be your poison but may not be as loved or appreciated. But of course, you may love this more than me, I was expecting horrific mystery but got a more romance based novel instead.

[Isamlq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mother of Mike! What did I just read?! The confusion! Slipping from one point of view to the next then not knowing who’s talking about what just egged me on instead of frustrating me. Especially when whole stretches of said confusion were punctuated by something terrible (Pink sneakers, I will never think of you the same way again.)

I’m not kidding when I said this was no RIVER FLOWS IN YOU read. IT was paying in the background all smooth, mellow, and never failing to get a tear from me. (the feels because of that song!) But this one? Nope. Definitely, not any of those. It’s dark. Then it’s darker. Plus it’s confusing.

Yet lo! I was sucked in. It opens with her walking along a road not knowing who she is, taken in then talking to the police. Things get more confusion as we meet “the dad” then “the mom” then all these other people who knew her from before, a boy like Logan, then a boy like Dex, then girl like Gwen… all painting her to be not the popular kid, but not the unpopular kid either.

And just when I thought I had a handle on who’s playing what, I'd be wrong. Because flashbacks and maybe memories of hers (maybe not hers) popped in. A host of memories that explain what may have come to pass, of how there’s this thing in her... and that she isn’t just Annaliese Rose Gordon, or worse, that maybe she’s not Annaliese Rose Gordon, after all.

I liked it because just when things were falling into place, they didn't fall quite right so that I was scrambling to figure out if what I read was what I'd just read and if I was imagining things right. I also liked how she’s not the only odd here. Dex has his own brand of specialness that made it easy to see what she saw because the guy is sweet but equally damaged. It’s just for him, he knew his damage. Then those midnight road trips and scary people to confront then scarier people to return to? Interesting but I must admit: confusing, too. The Physician bit especially, with the lack of information on who he was and all those other elements that had me wanting/needing more but aware that I was likely not to get those answers. A lot like the cigarette smoking guy in X-Files, you know his there but don’t know why he's there. Yes, the Physician is very much like that.

I liked this, confusion and all.
Thank you, Edelweiss!



3.5

[Sesana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't talk about the plot of this book in much detail. There's a lot to discover, and it's far better to learn the whole truth of Annaliese through reading. This is one of those situations where getting spoiled could entirely ruin the experience. I should also point out that there are shifting timelines, and those parts of the book can happen very suddenly. You have to be ready to roll with the punches in the book. For me, the first time it happened I was a bit thrown, but I was ready for it the next time it happened.

What I can talk about is the feel of the book, the sense of getting thrown off balance every fifty pages or so. Annaliese's memory is a blank as the book begins, so she's learning at the same pace as the reader. And it takes nearly the entire length of the book to learn the whole truth of who and what and why she is. Not that every question is answered within the pages of the book. If you hate loose ends, this is the sort of book that will frustrate you. But if you can take and are even intrigued by a book that deliberately leaves things unexplained to the reader (they are, after all, unexplained to Annaliese, and we shouldn't expect them to be), then that's a point in this book's favor.

More points for the characters, particularly our narrator. Annaliese starts from a very vulnerable position, naturally. No memory, apparently victim of a horrible crime, and being sent to live with people she is told are her parents but she can't remember nor have any immediate feelings for. And she shows that vulnerability, but she is by no means a weak character. I would describe her as someone determined to find herself in a stable life, but not someone willing to let others do that work for her. As a character, I found her fully believable. And the same goes for the secondary characters, particularly her parents. Quinn definitely thought about the impact this scenario (a vanished child returns after a year missing) would have on a loving family.

There is romance, of course. This is YA. Luckily, the romance developed at a believable pace and for believable reasons. No instalove! I understand what Annaliese sees in Dex, and what he sees in her. And it doesn't distract from the main point of the story. The romance doesn't take over the rest of the book, which is probably the main reason I like it. It's not that I have a problem with romance, I just don't like it taking over stories when I should be able to concentrate on what are, in the context of the book, much more important things.

I was just riveted by this book, especially towards the end. I read it mostly during my lunch break at work, and at the end of my breaks surprised both by how quickly lunch had gone by and how much I'd managed to read in that time. And that's why I'm bumping up this 4.5 star book to 5 stars. It isn't perfect, but it is wonderful.

I won an ARC of this book from The Midnight Garden blog. Thanks, guys! I loved it!

[Dear Faye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this and my other reviews over at The Social Potato!

A copy was received in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way.

Final verdict: High 3.5 stars

Interestingly enough, I'm finding this one a little hard to review. This doesn't mean to say I didn't enjoy it; I did! I think it's a well thought-out and executed book touching on various elements that would appeal to audiences wanting to read a darker side of the paranormal genre, with a good amount of horror and a tad bit of mystery to finish it off. I have no qualms about the writing either; the prose was hypnotizing, successfully putting a mood of discomfort and secrecy, truly making us feel there's something not right with the picture. This only proves how much of a promising writer Quinn is, and I no doubt would be looking forward to her future books just for her writing prowess alone. So why only 3.5 stars? Let's just say it's an instance of "it's not about you, it's me."

Another Little Piece is a hard book to get into at first. The beginning can be quite frustrating to follow, especially with all the fragmented scenes that go back and forth from one perspective to another even if they come from, allegedly, the same person. And it's confusing. Reaaally confusing, but surprisingly enough, it didn't deter me away from the book. While it was deliberately slow and ambiguous, it only made me want to know more about the mystery: what really happened to Annaliese? Is she really suffering from amnesia or is she housing another consciousness within her? It made for a really good riddle to solve, and Quinn's sublime writing made it all the more spectacular and thought-provoking.

However... the novelty didn't last. While the memories and flashbacks were pretty neat at first, effectively giving us a clearer understanding of what happened AND what may happen, the disjointedness and fragmentation of it all became a bit exhausting, especially since it felt like I was a ball being passed around from one person to another. Surely, the confusion eventually settles and you kind of piece everything together yourself, but for impatient readers, this may pose as a problem.

I also had a problem regarding the main character. She was decent, but there were times she seemed too unfeeling and cold that it was hard for me to sympathize with her. I understand that like us, she didn't know who she was or where she came from, and that she's trying to put things together as well, but the personal relationship between the MC and reader never happened between us, and I really lament that. But even though her elusive nature didn't connect with me, it did serve to really set the mood for the overall atmosphere of the story. I also had a problem with the MC constantly feeling like kissing the love interest... it really disturbed me that every time something drastic happened, they would kiss, which is almost always succeeded by her saying of how much she longed for that touch of the lips, the desperation, the feeling of their skins against one another... it sometimes felt overwhelming, but that's probably just me. The other characters fell somewhat flat, too... they could've been promising individuals, but as the story went on, they eventually became a part of the background — unmemorable and forgettable. I only truly liked Shirley and Dex, as I felt they were the ones that had the most depth.

Bottomline, immediately get this if you like...
* a hypnotizing narrative that successfully portrays a dark, menacing story and background;
* a narration style that incorporates flashbacks and memories (because she does make it work);
* a slow-paced and mysterious plot that won't drive you crazy but would rather make you want to learn more;
* a darker take on the paranormal/supernatural genre; and
* putting the pieces together yourself. Confusion and vagueness abound, so you may need to read between the lines a lot.

Overall, I think this is a very good debut. Quinn has mad writing skills and really knows how to make the mood right for the intended genres. I like creepy, and this is creepy, so I automatically like it. I just wish the heroine was more likeable and that the flashbacks didn't become too overwhelming. But otherwise, this is a strong and high 3.5/5 :)

[Ornella · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure how I feel regarding this book. It's supposed to be a horror. It wasn't. It felt like it was a weird, strange, wanna-be horror that turned out to be a contemporary with supernatural bits thrown in.

Did I like Another Little Piece? No, actually I didn't. If I wanted to read a weird contemp, I would have chosen something else. I thought Anna/liese was stupid and selfish and bratty. I couldn't connect with her. Franky/Eric was a sick asshole who in my opinion got off way too easily I don't know what the Physician is going to do with the rest of him, but idk I was thinking of more along the lines of burning in the fiery pits of hell, but maybe that's just me?

As much as I wanted to like the parents, I couldn't. I honestly don't know why, can't really put my finger on it, but they just weren't doing it for me. Don't even get me started on Gwen. I'm usually ok with characters that have that kind of bubbly, rambling personality but my god she took it to a whole new level and didn't let up. Logan wasn't that much better, he was one of those characters that just tried WAY too hard and in the end came off as insincere after everything was said and done.

The only saving grace as characters go was Dex. He was messed up yes, but he was doing the best he could and making the best of what he had and honestly the only character I liked in the whole book.

The only horror aspect Another Little Piece had was the ritual in and of itself. The way that the transfer was done. And it wasn't actually horror, it was just downright disgusting and for the love of god WHY would you compare it to CHOCOLATE?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!!

Right, so, besides that the rest was just a lot of supernatural aspects thrown in with a bit of a mystery. Which to be honest it wasn't much of a mystery. The whole thing is pretty straightforward in my opinion. Anna/liese figured it out mostly by the 20% mark, the rest is just her coming to terms with everything that she's done, which is why this was more of a contemp than anything else.

During the last 20% is when we really get right back to the problem at hand. I thought the ending was all just too neatly tied up after everything that had happened. Everyone got their happy ending, which was dumb! I wanted a dark, nitty-gritty ending but nope..oh well...Btw, no one evr explained what exactly the Physician and his sisters the brujas are...Are they just really powerful witches/sorceress/something? Or are they supposed to be somekind of representation of the Fates?

And my last issue with this was the writing style. It did not lend itself into allowing an easy connection between the reader and the book. The way it was told seemed almost clinical to me. It never once got a meaningful reaction out of me. I was disconnected from the book throughout it's entirety. Which didn't do it any favors what so ever.

In the end, this book was just not for me. It's marketed as a YA horror when in my opinion, it isn't. It's just a contemp with dark supernatural aspects thrown in and me and contemps don't see eye to eye very much, so maybe readers who are more into that aspect will appreciate Another Little Piece much more than I did.

[Jenni Arndt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating is 4.5 stars.

This was the perfect kind of mind fuck book in my opinion. I spent much of the novel feeling like I was looking at everything through a haze, only getting a blurry picture of what was actually going on and upon finishing I was still left with quite a few questions. But I felt like that was OK here. Normally the questions would bother me but I think it was perfect for the mysterious tone of the story and I was supremely happy with the details that we did get.

Annaliese had been missing for nearly 1 year and she randomly comes back looking beat up and wearing a garbage bag to protect her from the rain. She has no recollection of where she was in the last year and also no memory of her life before she went missing. The detached feeling that anyone in her situation would have felt was conveyed very well. When she thought of her mom and dad she referred to them as “the mom” and “the dad” and of course collectively as “the parents.” I think that these constant reminders of how out of place she was feeling were perfect for the story. We are thrown into this world right as Annaliese is coming back and it sets a very ominous, mysterious tone that is maintained expertly throughout. As I mentioned before we do get details about exactly what sinister behavior caused Annaliese to go missing but we definitely don’t get the whole picture. I enjoyed peeling back the layers slowly and I appreciated how it took a lot of reading between the lines. This isn’t a story where everything is laid out plain and simple, you have to pay attention and pick up the littlest of details when you can.

Annaliese was definitely a girl who changed immensely throughout the novel. She started out as very lost and closed off, but her persistence in trying to figure out what happened to her and where she was really brought her out. She became someone who was very fierce and someone who would elicit fear out of people. I can’t say that I connected with her because her character was not a normal character in any way, but I did love the oddity that she was. I found myself devouring her words and loving the flashbacks we got to her of before. She does have a love interest here in her neighbor Dex. I really liked him! Quickly we see that not everyone is as they seem in the story and digging through his story was, at times, just as enthralling as finding out what happened to Annaliese.

The story is unfolded in a really neat way. We have our chapters and we also have what I would call sub-chapters. The time of the story changes very swiftly at times and we just get a small heading and are taken into the past. At first I did find this a little jarring but as I got into it I had no trouble quickly adjusting and finding out exactly who and when I was reading about. I think this was a great way to tell the story and feel that it really added to the ominous tone that I mentioned. It’s almost as if we get thrown from the present to the past just as Annaliese is thrust there in her sudden flashbacks.

I’m going to cut myself off there because I really don’t want to ruin this one for any potential readers. If I could give you any advice in closing it would be to not read reviews for this one. I scanned through the reviews on Goodreads and quickly found at least 5 that I consider extremely spoilery and that I think would ruin the reading experience. This isn’t a story that you want to know anything about, you want the past to be a blank slate, just as it is for Annaleise for much of the novel. I highly recommend this one and I definitely think that Kate Karyus Quinn is an up and coming author to watch. I will be waiting on her next novel with bated breath because I want the same chills and tingles in my life that this novel gave me.

An Advanced Reader's Copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

--

You can read all of my reviews at Alluring Reads.

[Emily Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, okay I am going to add to this review later. But right now, I just want to get across how much this book sucked me in. I received Another Little Piece in the mail Tuesday and finished it Wednesday (today). This was so unique and stood so far apart from all the other books I have read. So refreshing.

This book is mentally exhausting. There is so much to take in, plus I cried a lot. And, at the end, I was frantically reading and rereading pages trying to take it all in and figure out what was going to happen. Also, there are all these plot and characters you have to keep track of. If you read the book carefully though, the book seems beautiful. After completing the book I flipped to random pages and just slowly reread, the writing is that good. Another Little Piece is definitely book you can read again and again and again and always get something out of it.

The characters are unlike any characters I have ever read, and so it the dialogue. I would call this book almost lyrical in the way it is told. I would go more into characters but I can't really, most of the plot is preventing me. Although I can say all of them were fully formed and memorable. Dex, Logan, Frankie, the mom and the dad, Gwen... all these characters are frighteningly vivid. And the narrative and poems are stunningly powerful.

The content within is not for the faint hearted, I can clearly see how this falls under horror. However, this is another piece that makes the book stand out. I also loved the supernatural aspect. There are some dark monsters, and this book defines exactly what a monster is, and what it is not.

Overall, I loved this book so much more than I expected to! I would totally recommend Another Little Piece to anyone looking for a shockingly lyrical and gory read. Read slowly and carefully though, otherwise you will be lost. And prepare to be brain dead after you finish, in a good way that rarely ever happens with all of those cliche, easier books circling around!

I received an ARC (via Firstreads) in exchange for an honest review. This review will also be posted on my blog closer to the release date.

[Neil Franz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean to read this book for a long time now but I just can't push myself to do so but the right time has come and finally, I've read it.

Another Little Piece is confusing but I've made to understand what is it all about, what is going on.

It's a nothing-new mystery, to be honest, where the main character was missing and have been found after a couple of pages. Then, the true mystery commence as the reader will try to find out the reason behind the mc's disappearance. And at the same time the author will lay out the clues one by one or all at once in unreliable manner.

The good thing is, the novel is compelling just how it was supposed to be. However, the bad thing, at least for me, is the mystery. It is supernatural rather than being real-life or close to real. It's still interesting, if I'm being honest, but it is better if it's not.

[Rachele Alpine]

This was a creepily awesome book. I was hooked right from the start and needed to keep reading to find out what really happened. There aren't a lot of books like this, and I know it will find its way into the hands of my students who love a good mystery that keeps you looking over your shoulder as you read!

[Keertana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been struggling to put together exactly what did – and didn’t – work for me with this novel. Another Little Piece is a strange story, there is no denying that. Annaliese, our protagonist, is found walking in her hometown with no recollection of who she is or even that she has been missing for nearly a year. As pieces of her past slowly begin to come back to her, however, Annaliese realizes that she isn’t, in fact, Annaliese; she is another girl in Annaliese’s body. And, even more hauntingly, Annaliese isn’t the first girl to lose her soul – she is only one of many.

What I Liked:

Bold: Another Little Piece is a bold debut, unflinching in its honesty and not hesitant, in the least, to portray gruesome, often horrific, imagery. Quinn, with her first novel itself, tackles on a variety of “taboo” topics in YA, which I loved. Not only does this novel talk about sex, but it discusses homosexuality, suicide, and death explicitly as well. If you’re not comfortable with these topics, then I’d suggest you seek out a different read.

On the other hand, what this enables Quinn to do is to approach her novel without any barriers, which is refreshing. Annaliese is subject to a variety of dreams, memories, and fleeting glimpses into the past lives she has lead, which makes for an interesting case study into the teenage girl. Why is it, after all, that so many of these girls are willing to sell their souls? Although Quinn portrays adolescent girls in a light that isn’t always positive, it is most definitely realistic, which I appreciate. Everything, from friendships to relationships to the obsessive tendencies which girls possess comes to light in a brutal, no-nonsense manner which really works. Although this novel is very much a mystery, dispersed with paranormal thriller and horror sub-genres, it remains a very intriguing look at the lives of teenage girls, in all their psychological glory. I’m all for authors who can expose hidden realities in our society, so I appreciate that instead of reverting to tropes such as slut-shaming or sexism, Quinn takes a different approach at looking at girls in YA.

Family: When Annaliese – or anyone, for that matter – goes missing, her family is devastated. Thus, when she unexpectedly returns, the bond she forms with the mom and the dad, as she calls them (for they aren’t her real parents), is realistic and beautifully written. I love the depth of the relationship between these three, both their messy flaws and the strength and acceptance they have for one another as well. Quinn perfectly captures the feelings of hopelessness and guilt that Annaliese’s parents feel in having let down their daughter. After all, with a missing child, they have only themselves to blame. Thus, Annaliese’s return is both a joy and a worry for they can immediately tell that the child who has returned to them isn’t the same one who left. Yet, finding a way to remain a family after such a tragic incident is a heart-warming journey to watch unfold.

Romance: Admittedly, the romantic arc of this novel isn’t very well developed – it kind of just…appears – but it works for the tone of the storyline. Dex, the neighbor of Annaliese, is perfect for her precisely because he is so very messed up himself. We begin to see a greater manifestation of paranormal abilities in him and their effect on his life is startling. What I truly love about Dex, though, is that he isn’t defined by his relationship to Annaliese. Instead, he’s very much a character in his own right with his own personality, his own problems, and his own plot lines as well. Thus, their convergence with those of Annaliese’s work strangely well, creating a love story that only enriches the individual personalities of these two complicated protagonists.

Choice: Annaliese, as a character, is strong and easy to get behind. Not only is she one of those no-bullshit type of protagonists, but she does her best to make her transition back into the world as seamless as it can be for her parents and friends. Yet, I particularly love that as Annaliese uncovers more and more about her past, she feels as if she has no choice in her future. Quinn handles the arc of Annaliese’s inner battle between taking a decision and not taking that leap of faith really well, portraying it in a believable manner. Moreover, Annaliese faces these choices all the time: to tell the truth about who she is or not; to salvage the friendship with her former best friend or remain alone; to trust her family or keep them in the dark. In addition to the reoccurring theme of choice, there is also an equally important counter-effect of dealing with those choices and following through on them, which is both chilling in context of the novel and surprisingly real as well. Ultimately, these themes come through really well throughout the novel and only add to the essence of the story.

What I Didn’t Like:

Paranormal: Honestly, I wasn’t a fan of the paranormal elements to this tale. I didn’t mind them in the least, mainly because they made for such horrific and gory reading, but I wish these aspects of the novel had been explained. Although we finally come to put together what happened to Annaliese and uncover the mystery of her past, we never figure out how – or why, really – it even began. Additionally, the ending of this novel wraps up a little too quickly and a lot too neatly precisely because of the presence of these paranormal elements. It was a satisfying ending in every way possible, but I wish I hadn’t felt so confused while reading it. Quinn offers no explanation, which almost makes her already creepy story even creepier, but it also grates, just a little.

Obviously, the good outweighs the bad with this piece. Quinn’s writing is beautiful, atmospheric, and utterly gripping, just as her story and characters are. It’s always jarring, though, to reach the end of a novel and remain nearly as confused as you were at its beginning, which is perhaps why I cannot bring myself to rate this book any higher. Yet, you can bet I’ll be watching eagerly for Quinn’s sophomore novel; the bolder the better.

You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.

[Danielle. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chaotic, creepy, and wonderfully strange. Those would have been the five words that would have came out of my mouth had the second half of Another Little Piece not let me down. What started off eerie and beautifully written turned into something incredibly confusing and frustrating. Another Little Piece had it's high points; unfortunately, the lows conquered the story and made it an utter disappointment. If I never would have entered this story with high expectations, maybe it would have been 3.5/4 stars. But I did, and it sucks major balls.

I'm not going to lie, Another Little Piece is a book that lingers because it was a read unlike anything I've ever encountered before. Whether or not you liked this book, it will not stop you from thinking about this befuddling plot. I wouldn't place this book in the Young Adult section, then again it's all how you take things. Can you take sexual content, loaded swear words, and a lot of blood/gore? If not, then my advice would be to avoid this book. I, on the other hand, had no problem with this. What's a horror story without blood, gore, and swearing? This isn't your average paranormal story. You won't receive vampires, goblins, ghosts, werewolves and other things that seem like the impossible. This paranormal seems as though it's practised today with blood magic. Possession. Cannibalism. Hell, maybe even some witchcraft. Another Little Piece has a lot of strange; gruesome scenes.

Annaliese Rose Gordon has been missing for a year. Once found, she has no recollection of where she was and who anyone is. There's only one thing Annaliese knows for sure - it isn't her body. She needs to find out all the secrets kept hidden in order to escape. Piece by piece she has flashbacks of girls who disappeared, lots of blood, and oaths that were made and kept. I think the flashbacks were the biggest problem of this novel. It happened so unexpectedly I constantly had to stop and reread the chapter only to realise those particular chapters are from the past.

What I also hated about Another Little Piece were the oaths. I thought it was pretty stupid to give up your soul just for the 'love of your life' to look at you googly-eyed and, once you had sex, pay the price. I guess once you've made a deal with the devil you'll only receive a piece of what you want. Finally, the last hundred pages really had me scratching my head and the very last chapter just irritated me. Everything happened so fast.

If you want to read Another Little Piece, lower your expectations and prepare to be mind-boggled.

You can also find this review on Midnight Reads

*************************************************

Umm... what the HELL just happened?

Review to come.

[Melissa Chung · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was nothing that I thought it was going to be. A slasher? Another Carrie with blood and telekinesis powers. A creepy bible spewing mother. NO! Nothing like that. It's about a selfish naive girl, and a fucked up boy.

This poem found toward the end of the book explains the entire story.

WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE?

What would you give?

Anything.Everything.

For a boy?

Yes.

Then I'll make him want you.

How?

It worked for me, it can work for you.

How?

It doesn't matter, as long as it works.

How will I know it's working?

You'll know. He'll know.

What'll it cost?

You'll owe me.

Owe you what?

Nothing more than what you took.

And then he'll love me?

He'll want you. But love will follow.
If you're lucky.

Is that what happened for you?
Were you lucky?

She smiles, almost sadly.
Luckier than a cat with nine lives.

This story was so confusing.

"You were right," Annaliese says now. "Love and lust are different."

If I had to break this story down its about a dark promise. A love promised that was never fulfilled. About teenage love wanting and never receiving. About body sacrifices to the inner demons.

This book was slow reading. I continued because I wanted to know what the monster was. I wanted to know the past just as much as the "new" Annaliese did. But it was so long coming. The majority of the book confused me and I had to re-read several paragraphs to understand what was going on. There are poems before each new "chapter". There are no chapters in this book. Also each chapter is broken up with flashbacks. Several different lives revealed and sewn together along with the terrible Franky. If I discuss anything more I'll give away the confusion and mystery of the book. I mean I felt like I climbed a mountain after reading this story and not in a triumphant way, but a winded, exhausted, thank god I made it way. I think the thing that made me give this story 2 stars was the fact that its about silly girls killing themselves because of a boy.

Two quotes I did enjoy from this book.
"She was an optimist dog-paddling like crazy to keep from drowning in a glass she'd insist was half full."

And.

"I am the tin man."

[Meghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Usually I am someone who really enjoys weird, bizarre, and down right disturbing stories. I find it interesting what authors can do and how creative they can be. I love when an author comes up with a unique and original idea and completely blows me away with it.

This did not happen with Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn.

Annalise Rose Gordon seems like your average normal girl, until one day she goes missing. She comes back a year later and she's not exactly who everyone remembers, in fact, she's barely like herself at all. Now, at the same time there is someone else living inside of Annalise, we as the readers are aware of this but no one in the novel who knows Annalise is. This girl inside Annalise is trying to not only figure out who she is but who Annalise was as well and what kind of person she was in general.

Now I know that a lot of people write off this book by saying that is was confusing and they didn't like it because of that. In my personal opinion it wasn't confusing at all, it was just not good. I see what the author was trying to do but it was executed well at all. I didn't care much for the characters or the story. It was written in a unique way and honestly, that was part of what kept me going throughout the time I was reading it.

I didn't like Annalise before she went missing and I don't like her after she went missing either. I didn't sympathize with the main character even though I know that I was supposed to. I thought that was Quinn was trying to do with the idea of a urban legend/ magic kind of twist was intriguing but it wasn't done well and in the end just seemed weird to me and quite frankly silly.

I went into this book looking for it to knock my socks off but sadly my socks stayed on the entire time.

[Stephanie Gillespie · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book of 2015 :)

Another Little Piece is a debut novel by Kate Karyus Quinn. It’s a story about a 17-year-old girl who stumbles out of the forest not remembering anything. The police tell her she’s called Annaliese Rose Gordon. Told in a first person point of view full of shocking discoveries, gruesome flashbacks and scary truths.

I loved the romance factor. Anna and her love interest, Dex never say "I love you" to each other in the book.I also liked that it was a standalone novel.We didn't really learn about why the Physician was who he was and did what he did or about his sisters. At the end there is still questions unanswered but I liked that , the not knowing, keeps you thinking about the novel even after it is finished.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was strange, it was nothing like I expected it to be! Though the twists and turns did make it interesting and enjoyable. I probably would have enjoyed it more without the insta-love or the paranormal aspects. I was hoping for a normal memory lose mystery type book but it was far from that..

[Jessie Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weird. But good? I need to think, but I do know that this was one of the most creatively weird books I've read this year.

[Jaime Arkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

To be perfectly honest, I'm not even sure what I was expecting when I picked up Another Little Piece. I mean... the first lines of the summary say "The spine-tingling horror of Stephen King meets an eerie mystery worthy of Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series..."

That alone had me dying to get my hands on this - though admittedly I've never read the Pretty Little Liar's books, but I've read my share of Stephen King!

I was instantly intrigued by the plot of the story... and when I found myself trying to explain just what this book was about I struggled a bit. Not because it's hard to explain, but simply because I found myself unsure what would be giving something important away.

The story first opens with Annaliese wandering down a road hundreds of miles away from her home. She has no idea who she is and she doesn't know how she got there. It turns out a year earlier she was at a local party, and stumbled out of the woods covered in blood, screaming. Since then, she had been missing.

Her parents hadn't given up hope though, and upon her return her mother practically smothers her trying to get her to remember the life she used to have.

The telling of the actual story was a bit confusing. Mainly because there is a lot of jumping around in perspectives and times and I oftentimes found myself having to take a few paragraphs to figure out where exactly in the timeline something was happening and who exactly we were dealing with.

Something to also keep in mind is that there are paranormal elements to this story. I don't think I'm ruining anything by telling you that the 'Annaliese' that returns is not the real Annaliese that went missing a year prior.

Ultimately the big question this book raises is if you had the opportunity to get anything you wished for, what exactly would you give up or sacrifice and if you didn't know what the price for that desire would be, would you still do it? Snippets of the real Annaliese's poems are scattered throughout the story to give you an idea of her thoughts back before everything happened to help show you maybe why she made the decision she did.

Of course there is also a bit of romance for our 'Annaliese' but I'm not sure ultimately how I feel about calling it romance or whatever. LOL There are essentially three different boys in this story, but only one of them is someone she's truly interested in... you'll understand that a bit better once you read this!

It took me a bit longer than usual to read this book, and I have to put the blame on how confusing it was to read. Like I said above, it was frustrating to have to reassess who, what, where at the start of every break. Since we're not only dealing with Annaliese's story, but also several other very important characters.

What I found interesting and really well done though, was 'Annaliese's' relationship with her parents... mainly her mother. Throughout you get the idea that she wasn't incredibly close to either of them prior to her disappearance, and even now that she's back she struggles and it was a genius move on the author's part to have her refer to them as 'the parents' or 'the mom' or 'the dad' never personalizing her relationship with them. I think it was a really smart move because it really separated her from the true Annaliese for the reader.

The pacing throughout this story was really well done as well. The story slowly unfolds and keeps you turning pages just to find out more... it was never rushed or too slow and I really appreciated that.

I think that if you're looking for a very different kind of book, something that has the elements you would find in a good horror book, combined with some paranormal and a teeny tiny bit of romance you will definitely enjoy reading Another Little Piece.

Did I love it? No, but I definitely think that the story was really well told for what it was. Admittedly I've only just started dipping my toe into the 'horror/thriller' genre so please keep that in mind when you pick this one up! It could definitely be something you absolutely love.

Thank you to Harper Collins & Edelweiss for the Advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This review can be found on my blog, Fic Fare:

[Elizabeth Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This and other reviews can be found on Reading Between Classes

Cover Impressions: I like the cover image and the muted shades. The font is well done and reflected just slightly in the pink of the cover model's tutu skirt. I do think it reads as fairly contemporary and worry that it may be missing out on the primary audience. Paranormal fiction readers may simply pass this one by on a shelf and contemporary fiction readers may be disappointed upon discovering that their mystery has taken a very strange turn.

The Gist: Annaliese Rose Gordon has been missing for a year. When she emerges, she has no memory of her life, her parents or where she has been. As her memories begin to emerge, they are more gruesome than she ever expected and feature the faces of other missing girls, girls whose blood is on her hands.

Review:
Confession time: I do not read book blurbs. Well, that's not exactly true, When I discover a book name or cover that piques my interest, I read the blurb in order to confirm or disprove my first impression. However, there is usually a span of a couple of months in between requesting an ARC for review and actually reading it. In that time, I tend to forget anything that the blurb said other than the most basic facts. I also actively avoid re-reading the blurbs as they set up undue expectations or leave me waiting for a particular even to happen and ruin my entrenchment in the first part of the novel. Not reading the blurb is usually not a problem.

In Another Little Piece, however, I was expecting a very different novel. The first few chapters had me settling in for a contemporary fiction/mystery novel about how an abduction victim re-gains her memory of the horrific events of the year she disappeared. When the paranormal elements took over instead, I was pretty much blindsided. I went back several times to re-read the passage and make sure that I was not missing something. That is not to say that I was disappointed. Quite the contrary. The change, while unexpected, led to an incredibly unique story that examined the blurry line between good and evil and the desperate lengths to which the soul will go in order to maintain self-preservation.

I love that Anna was a self-proclaimed monster. I really enjoy reading books that turn the reader's idea of evil upside down and leave you siding with, essentially, a murderer (I'm looking at you Anna Dressed In Blood!). In recovering her memories, Anna discovers that she has been the perpetrator of some truly gruesome deaths and that she has made selfish choices time and time again. Despite this, and perhaps a little bit because of it, I loved her. I could see the great potential in the character and the horror of the choice that she is faced with.

In a YA novel with a great female lead, I am often disappointed by the boy(s). But not here my friends. There was a great connection between Anna and Dex, who had his own super-special stuff going on. I also really appreciated that the OTHER BOY, Logan was just a great guy and that, despite this, it was clear from the beginning that he was not the one for Anna. No love triangle here folks! I did feel like the choice to keep Frankie in child's body for most of the book made him a little laughable and not the frightening character that he could have been. This did take a little of the tension out of the story.

I am not sure if this book will lead to a series set in this world, but there is certainly room for expansion. There are a couple of side characters who could easily lead their own novel and I would love to see more of the mysterious Physician who acts as puppeteer behind the scenes.

A note on content: this one is gruesome folks. Blood, bodies and cannibalism just to start. There are also a couple of scenes that feature sex between teenagers, though nothing is really described graphically.

Highly recommended, buying it in hardcover, putting it in my classroom and highly anticipating anything else by Kate Karyus Quinn!

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 15 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: Multiple instances of sex between teenagers
Violence: LOTS OF BLOOD! Cannibalism, Physical Fighting, Attempted Rape
Inappropriate Language: Shit, Fuck, Whore, Fag, Bastard
Substance Use/Abuse: Smoking, underage drinking, alcoholism

[Michelle (Pink Polka Dot Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't even know what to say about this book right now. All I know is I never read anything like it before!

A year ago, Annaliese Rose Gordon disappeared at a high school field party. She was seen emerging from the woods at the party screaming and drenched in blood... and then she was never seen again. Now a year later and a few hundred miles away, some people stumble upon a strange girl dressed in a garbage bag. This girl is apparently Annaliese... at least that's what the DNA says. But the person inside Annaliese's body has no memory of who she is, only that she's NOT Annaliese. Now she's got to figure out why she's having horrible nightmares and visions, what they mean, how she got in Annaliese's body, and what the big picture really is. The more pieces she fits into place, the more that picture is starting to look really twisted.

My Thoughts:
Totally out there. That is this book. I mean off-the-wall, weird, insane, WTF. I honestly do not know how to describe this. I tried to tell my husband about it and seriously when I said it out loud, it sounded ridiculous. But the thing is, when I was reading it, it didn't seem all THAT absurd, which I guess means the author did a good job selling it. But describing it?? Super hard.

For the first 1/3 of the book I had NO idea what was going on. I felt really lost and really frustrated. It reminded me of when I read Jellicoe Road. But unlike Jellicoe Road, it became a lot more clear what the deal was as the book went on. "Annaliese" is trying to figure out who she is and why she keeps having visions and memories of being other girls. She also is confronted by a boy from school who says really cryptic things to her and gives her a razor engraved with girl's names. What part this razor plays, she has no idea, but if the bloody, horrific visions are any indication, it's not good. And it's really gross.

She finds help in the loner next door neighbor, Dex, who is more understanding than anyone should be. Except he has a secret too. And his secret and Annaliese's make them connected in a really odd and perfect way.

So did I like this book? I enjoyed reading it. It was entertaining as heck. I don't know if I can actually SAY I liked it because it was just SO out there. And like I said, looking back on what the actual plot is, it seems a little hard to believe. The reasons behind why Annaliese switches bodies seems really dumb when I stop and think about it. And I'm still not really sure I buy how that whole ending went down. Don't want to spoil things, but it wrapped up REALLY fast and in a round about way.

I would recommend for anyone who wants to read something different from their same old, same old. No clue where the author came up with this idea, but it was definitely unique... and really twisted.

Quote: "Everything was too much to give anyone. And yet somehow still not enough to get what you really wanted."

OVERALL: The book started out by confusing the heck out of me, but it eventually became a super addicting read. The premise is totally out there, but somehow the author managed to sell me on it while I was reading it. Afterwards, I'm not so sure. It's not for the faint of heart. Lots and lots of horror.

My Blog:

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was soooo good and all kinds of creepy! I had an idea when I went into this but I was so wrong and what ended up playing out has to be one of the coolest ideas ever!

Annalise wakes up by herself with no idea who she is. She has no recollection of anything before waking up and so she starts walking, but she isn't walking to find help she is walking with a purpose. Something is telling her which direction to go and she doesn't understand it, she just knows she has to go wherever that invisible string is puling her. When she eventually comes upon people everything kind of comes together and her family is found and she gets to go home. Her story doesn't end there though, nobody knows what happened to her and Annalise isn't the daughter her parents lost a year ago. Things are different, Annalise knows something is going on but she can't figure it out. When the pieces slowly start coming together and we start seeing flashbacks all kinds of craziness comes out and holy moly is it insane!

I love creepy stories and I think this one tops my list! I have never read something like this before and I am still blown away. The way the story unfolds is brilliant! We get to see little bits and pieces throughout which for me was like putting a really confusing puzzle together and just when I thought I had the puzzle figured out I realized I put about a million pieces in the wrong place.

I really enjoyed the writing. The author had a wonderful way of bringing everything to life and I felt like I was right there in the story. I so didn't want to be there but I was and I was completely lost in the story. I wanted to know what was going on and I know I made that "OMG" face about 100 times because the imagery is just so gross and icky but again I loved every single page!

The only thing that bothered me was Logan. I really felt like he got a horrible deal in this story and I really wish that he had a better ending. Yes he did a jerky thing, but he was influenced and I am not sure if he would have done certain things of his own free will. In the end I really hoped things would have turned out differently for him and I felt like his story didn't add anything at the end except for shock value. I was completely shocked and so sad by what happened.

Other Logan's part of the story I loved this! It was creepy and insane and just what I was looking for!

[Little Yams · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW, what in the world just happened. I tried to hard to understand the ending,I really did, BUT I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I mean, I really enjoyed this book but, I had to go back and re-read passages to understand. There were just so many names and it confused me. Especially since it switches from third to first person.

Basically this book is about a girl names Annaliese or Anna? Who wakes up with no memory. She has been missing for a whole year and when she comes back she's different. Everyone is surprised since Dex, a boy who plays a pretty big part in the novel, video taped her disappearance. She covered in blood screaming, and then she vanishes.


Things just get more and more confusing when this guy named Logan (who the old Annaliese was infatuated with) reveals that he was with Annaliese a few hours before she disappeared.

And of course there's Eric the intimidating guy trapped in a 14-year-old's body, who is just like Annaliese.

I liked most characters. They were all very well developed since many of the passages are in first person from their POVs. Dex was a really interesting. Although I know he's a good person, at first I was slightly creeped out by him since he records screams and all, but then they book reveals that he has a secret too and I started to understand why he did what he did. the romance was cute aha.

Back to the plot: It was perplexing. I would have to re-read until I got the concept. I could follow and comprehend the plot (mostly) until the last two chapters. It frustrates me how complicated the ending was. The ending was good, but it didn't make sense to me. The idea of the physician baffled me. Who is he really? What is his purpose? They are so many unanswered questions. When Annaliese took over the monsters body, the physician expected her to do that and then transfer again to Lacey. Why did that not happen? Did the Brujas find her first? What happened to Franky after he got freed from Logan's body? What happened to the monsters body? I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND.

But the prose was beautiful and the plot was original. Every time I thought something was going to happen, it didn't. They were so many twists and turns-I couldn't put this down.

[Erin Bowman]

I went into ANOTHER LITTLE PIECE without knowing much about it, and I think that was for the best. This is a dark, twisted, deliciously creepy read! The story follows Annaliese, who was last seen stumbling out of the woods at a house party in upstate New York, drenched in blood. She went missing shortly after, for many months, only to be found in Oaklahoma, with no memory of what happened that night. No memory at all. In fact, she has only one possibly theory as to what happened and speaking it aloud is not an option: She fears she is not the real Annaliese.

The structure of this novel was so unique: the current timeline interrupted by flashbacks and memories, all of which are punctuated by stark, haunting poems. As the truth is slowly discovered, the reader realizes how truly mangled and complex Annaliese’s situation is. This novel is creepy, creepy, creepy, and still, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Solving the mystery of Annaliese’s past alongside her is addicting, even when the discovers are difficult to swallow. Highly recommend!

Originally posted here.

NOTE: This review is based on an ARC.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book reminded me seeing the film Memento. You get limited information about characters, so you get to journey with them on their path of discovery. But unlike Memento I didn't have a raging headache after from trying to keep up with the storytelling. I wouldn't recommend this for younger YA, unless they have an advanced maturity level, as there is some gore and sexual situations that some parents may not find appropriate for a tween/young teen.

Overall, a very admirable effort by a "new" author that shows originality and talent. I look forward to reading her next novel!

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

E-X-A-C-T-L-Y. Bam, just like that. If you're the type of reader who gets very confused easily, especially with what happened in some sort of incident, I'd recommend running away from this book as fast as you can. You do not want to read something like this.

Boring and confusing. Those are two words that just perfectly state what this book came to be. That's all. There were parts where I felt that I should've put this down, but I needed to find out the truth- how can you leave this novel without knowing what in the world actually happened to Annaliese?

Annaliese Rose Gordon. That's the name of a girl who vanished after coming into her own high school's party in the woods, bleeding to death. A video had been taken of her in that situation, and was uploaded onto YouTube, became viral right before it was shut down. One year later, Annaliese is found wandering around on an unknown road, not having a clue who she is. Memories begin to flood back to her, slowly and steadily. Memories of a razor, of other missing girls, about her "past life." And everything has just begun- she needs to unlock everything in order to find the truth.

I usually love books that are written in many different formats put altogether- poetry, general writing, they just blend in perfectly together. But, I really feel that this book shouldn't have been written in a poetry and regular writing format. Just because Annaliese once supposedly had a love towards poetry doesn't mean that the book should be written in it and show some of her old poems. I really don't care about those poems and they didn't fit in and make sense with the story. It's dumb, actually.

The plot began very fast. The story got to its main point by the second chapter, and we basically got to know Annaliese by then. I was loving the book until about page 300. That's why I actually gave this a two stars. After that, I was so disappointed and didn't know what in the world was going on.

It was just so freakin' confusing. Anna's third person view of herself was so stupid and got to me and I didn't understand what was going on. I'm the type of person to get lost very easily in books and their concepts and I totally did with this one. Some people will understand everything and will find that this book is amazing. But I didn't see that at all.

After the other missing girls and the whole paranormal aspect was introduced, I was lost. It didn't make sense to me and I didn't know who was who. With that coming, it just felt like I was skimming the book when I actually tried to read this thoroughly and deeply to understand what was going on. But, nope, nada, zero understanding.

I really liked the concept. The whole idea seems very fresh and new, but kind of does remind me of Pretty Girl-13, which was much more better than this one, and it's actually newer. But I totally give credits to this for the idea. :)

The characters is what gets me to the next difficult/negative part.



I think we all hated Annaliese somehow because of her bizarreness and weirdness throughout everything. But I think I have a larger theory behind my hate towards her. Don't you hate those protagonists that whine about how they don't know where the heck they are and how everything isn't real? Yep, I judge my protagonists with that question. Annaliese was a perfect example of doing that. Okay, she lost her memory because something tragic and strange happened to her, but come on, don't be stupid, don't you have common sense? Man, people these days. -.-

The other characters really didn't make some sort of difference to me because they're all the same and depressed and lonely and all have been through heartbreak or some disease.

Okay, there was a little feud-kind-of-romance here, but I didn't like it. If there was no romance, then everything'd be a little different, perhaps a 2.5/5 star rating instead.

When something doesn't make sense to you, you get bored of being confused, right? That's how I was left for a long period of the book, wanting to know what would happen but then finding out that it was nothing anyway. This was just a disgrace, I have to say.