Laurie Faria Stolarz
Red Is for Remembrance (Blue Is for Nightmares, Book 4)
Llewellyn (US: 1st August 2005)
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Five months after her boyfriend was pushed overboard and never seen again, Stacey Brown is now at university with a full scholarship. Even though she doesn’t actually attend lectures, and when she does she fails tests. And forget sororities, sports and shagging – all she does is down tranquilisers, and perform spells that used to help her but don’t anymore.
The uni’s president brought Stacey here to help his troubled teen daughter, who’s having nightmares of a death not yet committed. At first Stacey tries to help Porsha for selfish reasons, but the pair makes a breakthrough to become friends, and Stacey no longer puts herself first.
It’s so hard to discuss this book without major spoilers, but Red Is for Remembrance is lovable. The entire series is fabulous, but this outing steps up with an added dimension. Some plot points may be predictable, but they’re still great rides. Even though some characters are annoying, that doesn’t matter.
This is a series to glom. I love how the spells have ingredients, instead of just “magic”. I love Stacey’s awkward social graces. I love the spookiness, and the suspense. But here’s the tricky part: Published in 2005, this book and its predecessors may be hard to find, though there’s a boxed set you may be able to purchase. I’m now ultra-eagerly awaiting the upcoming graphic novel Black Is for Beginnings. Laurie Faria Stolarz’s work is so underrated, and well deserving of new fans.
I’ve never heard of Laurie or her books but I love her website =) I’ll have to check her out! Thanks Tez.
Tez, thanks for the tip on this, I’ll look for the series.