Crafting Poetry One Syllable at a Time
Margaret, a girl born with second sight, has the unique ability to bring ghosts trapped between Heaven and Hell back to life. When her parents die suddenly, she goes to live with her beloved grandfather, but the cellar of her grandfather’s ancient inn is haunted by an evil spirit of its own.
In the town of Bungay, a black dog wanders the streets, enslaving the ghosts of those who have died unnatural deaths. When Margaret arrives, these phantoms congregate at the inn, hoping she can free them from the clutches of Hugh Bigod, the 12th-century ghost who has drawn them away from Heaven’s White Light in his canine guise.
With the help of her grandfather and the spirits she has befriended, Margaret sets out to defeat Hugh Bigod, only to discover he wants to use her for his own ends – to take over Hell itself.
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After the death of her parents, Margaret moves to Bungay, England to live with her grandfather. Once there, she realizes she can see the spirits of the dead. Even more terrifying, Margaret sees the spirits of how they looked at the moment of their death. If that’s not creepy enough, hang on… this story takes a dark turn. Soon, Margaret realizes she must figure out how to free these lost souls from the ultimate evil.
Some of the ghosts are evil and some are good, while others seem to be stuck between the worlds in a sort of limbo. Margaret’s gift of sight acts as a catalyst for some and the ghosts begin to incarnate and interact with our world. All of this activity alerts the big guy below and he fantasizes about Margaret’s abilities and what her power could do for him.
Cheadle builds her story off of the legend of Black Shuck, the Devil Dog of Bungay who in 1577 terrorized the parishioners of the local church by killing two people kneeling in prayer after bursting through the church doors amid a flash of lightning. In the book, the dog resurfaces as the evil Hugh Bigod, the vilest of spirits who commands the other spirits who chose not to go into the light when they died.
What makes this story stand out from other YA horror novels is how the author weaves the historical accounts of real-life murderers into her plot. Some of these accounts, while interesting, bogged down some of the pacing in the novel. Yet, it didn’t stop me from reading into the wee hours to find out what happened next.
Additionally, I found the story to be heavily influenced by the Christian concepts of heaven, hell, and the devil. These aspects didn’t affect my personal view, except that I don’t think a belief in spirits belongs to any specific religion.
I found the political elements in the story to be the most compelling. There are some valid points made between the rise of fascism/nationalism and the spread of evil in our current world cultures skillfully woven into the story. The author intertwined many other current events into the storyline including “fake news,” mass shootings, and the war in Syria, all as part of the machinations of Lucifer.
This book had plenty of terrifying moments to hold a reader’s attention. I thought the story concept was solid and the author’s approach to history enriched the storytelling. If you love YA fiction, you’ll enjoy this book.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as a gift from the author.
*I follow the Amazon Rating System*
Hello, my name is Robbie, short for Roberta. I am an author with six published children’s picture books in the Sir Chocolate books series for children aged 2 to 9 years old (co-authored with my son, Michael Cheadle), one published middle-grade book in the Silly Willy series and one published preteen/young adult fictionalised biography about my mother’s life as a young girl growing up in an English town in Suffolk during World War II called While the Bombs Fell (co-authored with my mother, Elsie Hancy Eaton). All of my children’s book are written under Robbie Cheadle and are published by TSL Publications.
I have recently branched into adult and young adult horror and supernatural writing and, in order to clearly differential my children’s books from my adult writing, I plan to publish these books under Roberta Eaton Cheadle. My first supernatural book published in that name, Through the Nethergate, is now available.
I have participated in a number of anthologies:
Two short stories in #1 Amazon bestselling anthology, Dark Visions, a collection of horror stories edited by Dan Alatorre;
Three short stories in Death Among Us, an anthology of murder mystery stories, edited by Stephen Bentley;
Three short stories in #1 Amazon bestselling anthology, Nightmareland, a collection of horror stories edited by Dan Alatorre; and Two short stories in Whispers of the Past, an anthology of paranormal stories, edited by Kaye Lynne Booth.I also have a book of poetry called Open a new door, with fellow South African poet, Kim Blades
Robbie Cheadle, aka Roberta Eaton Cheadle Amazon Author Page
BLOG: Robbie Cheadle: Books, Poems, Reviews
TWITTER: Robbie Cheadle @bakeandwrite
FACEBOOK: Robbie Cheadle
If you have your book listed on BookBub, I will add my review there also! Click HERE to follow me! (Colleen M. Chesebro) Let me know in the comments if you follow me so I can follow you!
I like the Amazon rating scale, must use it or something similar🙏👏👍
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Yes, I’ve been using it for years. A 4 star rating is a good read. 5 stars is exceptional! ❤️
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Wonderful review Colleen and congratulations Robbie..will feature next week in the updates.. an extra one on Wednesday.
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Thanks so much, Sally. This was an unusual and very creative read. ❤️
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I am so glad you thought it was creative, Colleen.
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You weren’t afraid to embrace the darkness of evil so we could see through your eyes. How cool is that?
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Hi Sally, thank you for reading, sharing and all your support. Hugs.
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Delighted for you Robbie..hugsx
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Great review, Colleen
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Thanks, Olga. I enjoyed this book. The incarnates were interesting and unusual characters. ❤️
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Thank you, Olga
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Fantastic review ❤
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It was a good read. Lots going goin on by a great message. ❤️
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I want to read. It’s on my TBR!
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Great! You will enjoy it, I’m sure. ❤
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So much for me typing on my phone. Good grief! LOL! 😀
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Thank you, Ritu.
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Awesome review, Colleen. Bravo to Robbie!
Cheers to you both! 🙂
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Thanks so much, Natalie. Robbie did a great job with this book. ❤️
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Thank you, Natalie. Colleen has written a wonderful review.
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Nice to see Robbie getting some good press today.
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Well deserved too. This was a good read! You would like it, Craig. ❤️
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Thank you, Craig. Colleen’s review is a wonderful surprise today.
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An excellent, honest review. This book is getting some great reviews. Well done, Robbie.
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I agree. Robbie told a unique story and the historical touches added to the drama of the novel. ❤
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Thank you, Darlene, I am quite overwhelmed by Colleen’s review.
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Thank you for this lovely and detailed review, Colleen. I am so delighted you enjoyed this book.
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Robbie, this was a good read. I liked these characters. Well done, my friend. ❤
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Great review, Colleen.
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Thanks, Margie. This one kept me glued to the pages! ❤
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Thank you, Margie.
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You are most welcome. Robbie
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Great review! I enjoyed this book, too.
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There were some deliciously creepy scenes! Robbie has a knack for writing about the paranormal. ❤
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Creepy? Oh! Such books give me nightmares.
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Creepy is not for everyone, Balroop, but I must admit I have always been drawn to the paranormal.
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Thank you, Denise.
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Lovely review Colleen. Congratulations Robbie!
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Thanks, Balroop. What a fun read this was. Spooky at times but oh, so good. ❤
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Thank you, Balroop.
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Robbie has a way with writing dark subject matter that is frankly enthralling. Great review, Colleen!
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Oh, you’re so right. I think she found her genre. ❤️
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Thank you, Jacquie, for your lovely comment and all your support.
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Wow what a compelling review for Robbie’s book! Congrats to Robbie! ❤
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Thanks, Sis. You would love how she wove all the political current events into this book. ❤️
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I’m dying to read it, needed to know how scary it is though, lol. My imagination works overtime in the still of the night. ❤
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It’s not horror like in a slasher movie. I hate those. There are a few descriptions but you can read over them. Otherwise, I thought it was fine. ❤️
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Thanks ❤
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Thank you, Debby. Colleen has written a terrific review and I am delighted.
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Absolutely! Congrats again Robbie 🙂 x
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I really enjoyed this one when K read it – but I am a big history buff, so it went well for me!
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Thank you for reading and reviewing Through the Nethergate and commenting about it here.
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Yes! The history was impressive and how she wove those tidbits into the plot. 😍
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A great review, Colleen this book is definitely a must for my next Amazon order…Congrats Robbie on all the great reviews Hugs xx
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It’s quite unique. You’ll enjoy Robbie’s writing style. ❤️
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Thank you, I appreciate your support and comment.
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