After months spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with, Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, ready to leave the ghosts of her past behind. She throws herself into her schoolwork, her perfume making, and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be her ticket to getting over Caspian once and for all.
But Abbey can never get over Caspian, and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side. They are tied not only to each other, but also to the town of Sleep Hollow and the famous legend that binds their fates--a legend whose dark truths they are only beginning to guess. . . .
(Synopsis taken from book flap. Spoilers have been edited.)
Title: The Haunted (Book 2 in the Hollow trilogy)
Author: Jessica Verday
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: August 31, 2010
Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Loretta from Simon & Schuster for sending me this book for review. This book was received free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 4/5
The Haunted opens up with Abbey heading back home to Sleepy Hollow. She is still dealing with her friend Kristen's death, and her relationship with Caspian. She is back to her perfume making and is trying to figure out what exactly is going on with Caspian, and herself.
Abbey is a more formidable character in this installment, she is learning more about herself, and also seems more sure of herself. In my review of The Hollow, I stated that I hoped that she would grow more of a backbone, and she seems to have definitely evolved from that person into a newer, stronger, more resilient one. Caspian has also grown as a character. I really enjoyed reading about the two of them, but wish that we could have seen more of Nikolas and Katy. I think Verday has hit her stride in this installment and many questions asked in The Hollow are answered in this book. The book starts off slowly, and gains momentum, capturing the reader's interest while setting the stage for its haunting conclusion. As an avid fan of anything to do with the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, I enjoyed the paranormal element, and hope to see more of it in the final installment. I absolutely loved this book and am happy that Abbey is figuring things out.
All in all, a spectacular read. Based on this book alone, I would have to say that I would buy the full trilogy, and add it to my re-read shelf. Fans of the first book will love this installment. Those who didn't enjoy the first book should give Verday a second chance as this book was exceptional. It is slow to start, but the payoff is worth the wait.