Rules For Vanishing

Rules for Vanishing
Written by Kate Alice Marshall
Mystery, Paranormal, Horror
400 Pages
Published October 1st 2019
Thank you to Walker Books Australia
Add to Goodreads
Once a year, a road appears in the forest. And at the end of it, the ghost of Lucy Gallows beckons. Lucy’s game isn’t for the faint of heart. If you win, you escape with your life. But if you lose...

Sara’s sister disappeared one year ago and only Sara knows where she is. Becca went to find the ghost of Lucy Gallows and is trapped on her road. In the sleepy town of Briar Glen, Lucy’s road is nothing more than local lore. But Sara knows it’s real, and she’s going to find it. When Sara and her skeptical friends meet in the forest to search for Becca, the mysterious road unfurls before them. All they have to do is walk down it. But the path to Lucy is not of this world, and it has its own rules. Every mistake summons new horrors. Vengeful spirits and broken, angry creatures are waiting for them to slip, and no one is guaranteed safe passage. The only certainty is this: the road has a toll and it will be paid. Sara knows that if she steps onto the road, she might not come back. But Becca needs her. And Lucy is waiting.
Briar Glen is synonymous with the the name Lucy Gallows, a young woman that wandered into the forest and never returned. Her last known whereabouts was on a road to nowhere, being lead by an unknown male assailant. Throughout the years the fable may have interchanged but the instructions remain the same, find a partner, find a key, find the road.

On the eve of the anniversary of Lucy Gallow's disappearance, Sara Donoghue's adoptive sister Rebecca was lured into the fated fable, whispered conversations and a notebook left behind, evidence she planned to find fifteen year old Lucy. Sara has maintained hope that Sara is still alive, the police labelling the adolescent as a difficult young woman who disappeared with Zachary Kent, a young man she barely knew.

Although Rebecca was adopted as an infant, Sara Donoghue and sister Rebecca shared an everlasting friendship. Rebecca was the center of their universe, a group of friends who dissolved shortly after her disappearance, Sara has endured depression and isolation. Her journey to find her sister is harrowing, captivating and a breathtaking paranormal thriller that will captivate the imagination of readers until the final page.

Find a partner. Find a key. Find the road.

Atmospheric and haunting, Rules for Vanishing is told from the perspective of Sara Donoghue through a series of interviews, transcripts, eyewitness accounts and photographic evidence while Sara recollects her journey upon the once believed to be mythological road. The legend of Lucy Gallows has been idolised by the teens of Briar Glen since her disappearance, speculation that her brother killed her and left her to ruin on the forest floor the logical conclusion. What happened to Lucy has always been a mystery but those who believe in Lucy's story can hear the young woman calling for help, including Becca, according to her sister Sara. Sara refuses to accept that she ran away with her new boyfriend when Becca and Sara's best friend were clearly attracted to one another, only Anthony didn't believe in the local legend which left Becca to find someone who was willing to follow her onto the road.

Although Sara's self isolated after Becca's disappearance, her former group of mutual friends have come along for the ride. Disbelieving in the supernatural, I don't think anyone expected to have stumbled upon the road, now finding themselves in a strange and eerie purgatory between worlds, where darkness is no friend of the weary traveller and you must follow the rules to survive. Take a partner, hold their hand and under no circumstances should you leave the road. What ensues is a creepy as hell storyline that left me jumping at shadows and reading long into the night. Despite my better judgement and skyrocketing anxiety.

The travellers are a motley crew of characters, all varying degrees of unreliable so as a reader it's difficult to establish what's real and what has been created by the trauma of the situation or outright untruths. Regardless, it makes for a fascinating narrative that blends a contemporary storyline with urban legend, infused with paranormal elements and everything in between. Reminiscent of the Blair Witch Project and Small Spaces by Australian author Sarah Epstein.

My favourite element of Rules for Vanishing was the ability to surprise readers. By now we've all read enough paranormal to fill a warehouse, this is one book that needs to be celebrated for being unique and creating the mystery and intrigue to captivate even the toughest of readers, not to mention creep us the hell out.

You know what, just read it. The element of surprise is all in the discovery of the urban legend and those who seek answers. Just a word of warning to leave the light on, Lucy seems to dwell in the dark.

13 comments

  1. I'm so glad you liked this one! I love books that have unique storytelling formats like interviews, etc. Plus, it's great to hear that it's a YA mystery that actually surprises you - which is awesome.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been quite a while since I've read a young adult thriller that was able to surprise me, this was such a brilliant read! It made my skin crawl in the best way possible.

      Delete
  2. Great review Kelly. I have to agree this is totally unique and I will have to add this to the TBR. It sounds right up my alley.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's incredibly creepy. You're not sure if Sara is reliable as a narrator so you're not entirely sure what's real and being imagined. One of the best thriller novels I've read in a long while.

      Delete
  3. Fabulous review Kelly -- and some high praise for this title. You're right, if something can stand out in the paranormal genre like this does for you, it most definitely needs to be on as many TBRs as possible. Thank you for the intro to it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Verushka! It feels like most book ideas have been overused and although some of them are great reads, they're not bringing anything new to young adult. This was incredible, I can't wait to see what the author is working on next!

      Delete
  4. This really does sound unique and I love stories that play off of urban legends. Something about that element almost always make it an even creepier read for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'll absolutely love this one Suzanne, it's such a page turner and so brilliantly written.

      Delete
  5. I love books that use a mixed format. This story seems well suited to the style, and it sounds as though it was successful too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It worked brilliantly! it added tot he overall suspense because you're discovering what happened slowly and it's almost maddening. I loved it!

      Delete
  6. I'm so happy that you enjoyed it, Kelly! Everyone seems to be loving and seemed to be creeped out by this book, I'm really looking forward to read it!

    Tasya // The Literary Huntress

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't wait to see what you think of it Tasya and so lovely to see you again! I hope you're well!

      Delete
  7. The cover for this book is SO awesome. I just had to start off with that.
    I picked this up the other week, and even though I'm not a fan of scary things, or horror, this doesn't sound like it would freak me out TOO much. I'll just make sure to read it during the day. With the lights on. And not alone lol.
    The plot for this book sound so utterly captivating, and the premise seems really cool, too.
    I'm glad you enjoyed this one, Kelly.

    ReplyDelete

© Diva Booknerd. Design by Fearne.