Review: On The Fringe by Courtney King Walker

By Jen On October 31, 2011 · 1 Comment · In Book Review

On the Fringe by Courtney King Walker

Publisher: Lands Atlantic
Release Date: October 19, 2011
Format: Advance Reader Copy
Source: Publisher
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Buy: Amazon

[My interview with Courtney Walker]

Claire is struggling to overcome the murder of her childhood friend and secret crush, Daniel. Everyone else seems to be moving on with their lives, but she’s still trying to cope. The fact that she finds herself alone and drowning on her 16th birthday isn’t helping.Neither is thinking she sees Daniel’s face in murky water as she mysteriously resurfaces. But something happened during those four and a half minutes that will make her realize it was not just her imagination.

As Claire and Daniel try to grasp a possible reconnection, other grudge-holding beings have plans of their own. Now, the two of them have to decide if their fleeting relationship is worth the possibility of Claire being trapped on the fringe forever.

Beautifully told, On the Fringe intertwines fresh ideas about devotion, revenge, and the consequences that come with life and death. (Goodreads)

Creepy. Heart-warming. Suspenseful.

On the Fringe is such a great read; a perfectly creepy, yet romantic book for fall! I’m such a sucker for childhood best friends and crushes, and Ms. Walker hooked me in fast with this aspect of the book. There’s something about friends that have been together for so long that all of their memories are entwined – all the shared adventures, triumphs, and failures – that just makes me warm and fuzzy on the inside.

Two perspectives tell the story: Claire, and her best friend’s older brother Daniel. She’s had a secret crush on him for years, and just when Daniel realizes his feelings toward Claire have changed, he is murdered. When Claire has her own near death experience, she and Daniel are able to connect again, on the fringe. I love when stories are told from the perspectives of the two love interests because you get to see how the feelings develop on each side of the relationship. For me, this makes the relationship seem so much stronger and realistic.

In addition to the friendship and romance part of the story, there is a serious creep factor that rounds out the storyline perfectly. There is an angry, revengeful ghost tied to Daniel’s past that is after Claire… while Daniel struggles to find a way to protect her. I feel that the pacing of the book is just right – creepy and downright suspenseful in moments, yet balanced nicely with character development and romance.

This is a great debut by Courtney King Walker! On the Fringe is a ghost story while also being about friendship and first love. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Walker has in store for us next.

Check out my interview with Courtney, and enter to win On the Fringe here!