HATRED NEVER DIES...
Destiny has finally found the life that she has always wanted. She is about to finish college, has a fiance that loves her, and a great summer on the West Coast planned with her friend, Stephanie. But her world is turned upside down when an antique clock mysteriously chimes thirteen times and someone attacks them, sending Stephanie and her mother to the hospital.
Alone, and without any help from the police, Destiny has no choice but to turn to the one man she had left behind a year ago - her ex-boyfriend, David. Together, they must solve the riddle of the thirteenth chime before the clock strikes thirteen again. Yet as they face their own past and hearts, a trap over half a century old is waiting for them to become its prey.
For revenge, fifty years is never too long...
I was drawn to this book due to the fact that the author, Emma Michaels, is a fellow blogger. I mean, how cool is that! It resumes all hope in me that perhaps one day, I too, could be a Y.A author. Anyway, enough of that dramatic story, onto the book!
'The Thirteenth Chime' was very refreshing and highly a enjoyable novel. I found it really interesting that the main focus of this book, was an object. Usually, the character is the main focus, so this made it nice and different which I really appreciated.
The setting was really clear and I could visualize the characters surroundings really well, which added to the creepy atmosphere.
Now, I'm not going to lie, up until about the first 30 pages, I found it to be quite slow. But heck, after that it got awesome! The whole idea about the cursed clock was actually pretty creepy and I found in the beginning, when you were introduced to the thirteenth chime concept, you couldn't help but dread it's next appearance, which of course, inevitably happened.
I loved David's witty, sarcastic, remarks. He was a lovable, caring character. However I found Destiny a little on the annoying side at times. She wouldn't stop slapping David on the arm either! (If you have read this book you'll know what I mean.) I felt that there was still room for a little more character development, however. I couldn't really relate to many of them. Nevertheless, there were some really great ones!
The ending though, phew. That was one kick-ass dramatic ending! Which I thought was executed perfectly!
I think Emma has done a FANTASTIC job for a first novel, and I hope that her sequel will have the same effect on me as 'The Thirteenth Chime' did.
4/5
