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    Buried Above Ground: A Nightspell Novella
    Buried Above Ground: A Nightspell Novella
    Buried Above Ground: A Nightspell Novella
    Ebook59 pages49 minutes

    Buried Above Ground: A Nightspell Novella

    By Leah Cypess

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    A short stand-alone digital novella set in the world of Leah Cypess's Nightspell, where ghosts exist alongside humans and nearly every lavish ball is part murder mystery.

    In the kingdom of Ghostland, every murdered soul comes back as a ghost, and every ghost has only one desire—vengeance. Emilie had everything she'd ever wanted—beautiful dresses, a perfectly decorated room, a party every night, and the eye of a nobleman. But then she's killed. And now she'll stop at nothing to find out who did it. No one in the palace of Ghostland is above suspicion—not even the people closest to her. This haunting fantasy novella is filled with supernatural thrills and surprising plot twists.

    Epic Reads Impulse is a digital imprint with new releases each month.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJul 2, 2013
    ISBN9780062273086
    Buried Above Ground: A Nightspell Novella
    Author

    Leah Cypess

    Leah Cypess wrote her first short story—in which the narrator was an ice cream cone—at the age of six. She has degrees in biology, journalism, and law, and has traveled to Iceland, Israel, Jordan, and Costa Rica, among other places. She now lives with her family in Maryland. She is also the author of the acclaimed fantasy novels Death Marked, Mistwood, and Nightspell.

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    Reviews for Buried Above Ground

    3.5/5

    47 ratings8 reviews

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    • 4/5
      What do I say about Nightspell? First of all, reading this further affirms that Leah Cypess reigns among the masters of fantasy world-building. When I first read Mistwood I was enthralled by the dark beauty that was the Ghostland. The thin line that separated the living from the dead was fascinating. So when I dove into Nightspell I was excited, as I should have been. Cypess takes the reader back to her fantastic world, but this time there are new characters to meet and fall in love with. For those you who have read the first story, you'll find that there are some characters present who you will recognize. However if you haven't had a chance to dive into the Mistwood, you don't need to be worried. Nightspell is a very solid stand alone novel.

      I was really impressed by Darri, the main character, and how much I really fell in love with her. I'm always smitten when I meet a strong, fiery and independent character, and Darri fits the bill perfectly. Her willingness to break rules, her fierce love for her siblings, it all adds up into a character that I can really get behind. I'll admit that I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to know Callie better as well. She kind of hid out in the spotlight of Darri. In fact a lot of the characters were slightly shadowed by her. It wasn't enough to take me away from my love of this book, but I'm hoping perhaps we'll see more of them so I can get to know their personalities as well!

      I loved the action sequences in this book. It is fast paced enough to be completely engrossing, without loosing you along the way. The undertones of romance are enough to sate the needs of the reader, without overtaking the entire story, which I also really appreciated. On top of all of this, there is a beautiful web of deceit woven throughout the story. I was never quite sure who was on what side, or who would jump teams next. The thin line I mentioned between the living and the dead pops in Nightspell, as Cypess shows us why these two factions are so tense.

      Overall, I think was a fantastic story! The twists and turns, the characters, the beautiful world building, all of it created a gorgeous book that I devoured in one sitting. Lovers of fantasy will find a lot to love here, and if you're diving into this realm for the first time hold on tight! You're in for a ride, Leah Cypess style.
    • 4/5
      Welcome to my stop on the Nightspell paperback release blog tour!

      From Goodreads: Here be ghosts, the maps said, and that was all.
      In this haunted kingdom, ghosts linger--not just in the deepest forests or the darkest caverns, but alongside the living, as part of a twisted palace court that revels all night and sleeps through the daylight hours.
      Darri's sister was trapped in this place of fear and shadows as a child. And now Darri has a chance to save her sister . . . if she agrees to a betrothal with the prince of the dead. But nothing is simple in this eerie kingdom--not her sister, who has changed beyond recognition; not her plan, which will be thrown off track almost at once; and not the undead prince, who seems more alive than anyone else.
      In a court seething with the desire for vengeance, Darri holds the key to the balance between life and death. Can her warrior heart withstand the most wrenching choice of all?
      First of all, HUGE THANKS to Leah Cypess for sending me a copy of Nightspell as part of the blog tour celebrating the paperback release. I'm excited to spread the word about this awesome book.
      Because it really IS awesome. It's a ghost story like you've NEVER read before. There are things about the ghosts that will throw you. I knew it was a ghost story going in and I DIDN'T SUSPECT A THING.
      I LOVED this twist on ghosts. That's really all I can say about them without ruining some of the fun, so just take my word for it that you'll want to read this one.
      As far as characters, Darri was awesome. She's one of those really strong girls who can kick bottom and take names and then go to a dance afterwards. She has a lot to deal with: her sister being in Ghostland, her brother being a major douchebag, and a betrothal to an undead prince. She definitely holds her own.
      I also really liked Callie. Poor girl. Sent off at age 11 to marry the prince of Ghostland. She is definitely affected by her time there and it affects her relationships with her siblings. I was very interested to see how she'd come to terms with Darri and Varis. It hurt my heart at times to see how she suffered, but I really like how things were resolved.
      This story kept me engaged the entire time. I didn't want to put it down. It was a fantastic companion to Mistwood (though not a sequel...WOO! A stand-alone!) and one that I'll read again for sure. Go ahead and pick it up! It's a 'Pick Me' worthy book.
    • 2/5
      The book is well written, but I did not connect with the people in the book.  
    • 4/5
      I loved Nightspell by Leah Cypess. I enjoyed Mistwood, but I admit to being rather confused by it – definitely drops you right into the story.But I loved the story and the setting and everything about Nightspell. There’s mystery and murder and ghosts and knives and even though I never knew who the hell to trust, I sure had a lot of fun trying to figure it out with Darri, the protagonist.There was a lot of point of view changing, which bothered me at first, but I enjoyed it more once I got used to it because I was able to see and understand story elements I wouldn’t have otherwise.The setting was awesome. I loved the idea of there being a place where ghosts and humans inhabited the same space, where they knew of each other and accepted each other outwardly, but not so much on the inside.Overall, I loved Nightspell even more than I liked Mistwood. The story and the setting was much more vibrant to me (despite it being set in Ghostland), and if you’re a fan of fantasy, I definitely recommend it.Nightspell is a companion to Mistwood, so you don’t need to read Mistwood to understand, but I recommend you do so, just because of the character that appears in both novels :)
    • 5/5
      Wow! Way more in-depth than 'Mistwood.' But also not a sequel like I thought it was going to be. However, Clarisse played a MAJOR role in this book. I was slightly disappointed in the ending but it fit the book, so no real complaints. This book was heavy on action, espionage and mystery. There was really not any romance to speak of. Great book though and I'm really excited to see what Leah Cypess does next!
    • 3/5
      I was so excited to read Leah Cypess' sophomore novel, but I have to admit that I didn't like it nearly as much as I liked Mistwood. The concept was spectacular--a kingdom in which ghosts wandered among the living and it is impossible to tell who is ghost and who is living until they disappear in front of you? How cool! Unfortunately, the shifting of narration between the three siblings was what caused me to never fully connect with any of the characters. I'm sure they are all fine and wonderful people--but I simply couldn't connect with them as the narration switched between their voices.
    • 3/5
      Summary: Years ago, Callie was sent to Ghostland to marry a prince and form a political alliance. Darri never forgave herself for letting her little sister be forced to live in a community where half its residents are actually dead. Now she has the opportunity to go take her sister’s place. Unfortunately, Darri finds herself in the middle of a war between the dead and the living—and she only makes things worse. My thoughts: Mistwood was one of my favorite books of 2010, so I was thrilled upon hearing that its companion novel, Nightspell, would be released in May. While I don’t feel that Nightspell was as excellent as Mistwood, it still was a fun fantasy read. The most memorable aspect of Nightspell is the setting. Leah Cypess has a knack for creating worlds that sweep you away, and Ghostland is no exception. The mysteries and moral dilemmas that lie in its sprawling castle are thought-provoking, and it’s near impossible to guess what awaits Darri as she begins to unravel them. In terms of characters, Nightspell fell a bit flat for me. Darri was a strong, loyal protagonist, however for some reason I couldn’t connect with her at all. Though we are exposed to some of Darri’s thoughts, she is rarely vulnerable enough for us to find an aspect of her personality we can relate to (other than her devotion to her sister, which is relatable if you, y’know, have siblings).
      Fans of Mistwood will recall Clarisse, Prince Rokan’s sister. She plays a very interesting role in Nightspell, and I’d say that she was the most interesting character in the story. She’s as duplicitous as ever in Nightspell, and trying to figure out her allegiances was fun.Nightspell, like Mistwood, is a book that’s easy to get into and quick to finish. I’d recommend it to fans of fantasy YA—it’s certainly a solid contribution to the genre. Though Nightspell contains next to no romance, the secrets of Ghostland will enchant readers who delight in reading of a new world.
    • 4/5
      Varis and Darri, prince and princess of the Plains people, are sent to the Ghostworld, an eerie kingdom where the ghosts of murdered people coexist with the living, able to make themselves solid and interact as if they were still alive, to the point that it is hard to tell the difference between the dead and the living. Callie, Varis and Darri's younger sister, was sent to the Ghostworld some years ago, and their father intends that she will marry the prince of that land. However, when Varis and Darri arrive, they discover that the prince is now a ghost. Darri, whose personal mission is to rescue her sister from the land she herself fears and despises, rejoices that there is a chance that she, Varis, and Callie will all be able to leave together -- but before they can do so, they are drawn into the politics and schemes of courtiers both living and dead.Nightspell is a companion novel to Cypress's earlier book, Mistwood. Both books stand on their own, related only through being set in the same world. The writing in Nightspell is slightly more polished, though there are still some spots where the action is muddled and confusing. The premise of a land where you can't tell the difference between living people and ghosts is an intriguing one. Darri is not a particularly sympathetic character, but she is certainly an interesting one, and the plot moves along at a good pace. Fans of Kristin Cashore and Tamora Pierce may want to keep an eye out for this book.

    Book preview

    Buried Above Ground - Leah Cypess

    Chapter One

    The second the garrote tightened against her throat, Emilie began to look for clues. There was no point in trying to escape her death, or to catch a glimpse of her killer’s face; attempting to turn would only cinch the garrote tighter. She pushed her panic away and grabbed at the hands twisting the wire, managing to scrape one fingernail down her killer’s right hand. Then she kicked back sharply, in the hopes of making her murderer yell. She got only a grunt, too indistinct to identify.

    That was all she had time for before she died.

    When she opened her eyes next, she was lying in the place of her death: the little pink-and-ivory room that Lord Ardun had installed her in, with expensive furnishings and pretty tapestries. Directly in her line of view was the delicate vanity table where she had been standing when she died, brushes and tweezers and perfume bottles still laid out neatly on the right side.

    Sitting up on the plush carpet, Emilie smoothed her hair, then bit her lower lip. She had worked hard for this room. She hated to think of it going to Lord Ardun’s next mistress, who would probably be Lady Bianca. Lady Bianca didn’t even like pink.

    Of course, if Lord Ardun was the one who had killed her, that wouldn’t be an issue. She would kill him before he had a chance to give this room to anyone.

    Rage pulsed through her at the thought. Whoever had done this to her would pay. Every murdered soul in Ghostland came back as a ghost, and every ghost had but one purpose: vengeance, so that their souls could be laid to rest.

    She could already feel the fabled rage of the dead rising unstoppably within her. After all she had done to get to this point, to make her life worth living, someone had taken it away from her in less than a minute. All her sacrifices and struggles had been for nothing. She wanted her murderer to suffer.

    She dug her fingernails into the carpet, wrestling her emotions under control. Only when her mind felt clear and cool did she get to her feet, noting with relief that there was no sign of her strangled body. Emilie had no desire to see her own corpse.

    She shook her head to dislodge the unwelcome image, and was straightening her skirts when the door swung open. She whirled, prepared to be outraged—had he installed someone else here already? How long had she been dead?—but it was only her maid, Annette, who stopped short in the doorway at the expression on Emilie’s face.

    My lady? she said tentatively. Annette was a plain girl; unlike Lady Ardun, Emilie wasn’t about to make the mistake of taking on a pretty maid. As usual, Annette had a hesitant expression on her broad, doughy face. I thought you might like help dressing for the banquet.

    The banquet? Emilie’s hands went still on the yellow silk of her gown. Is that—do you mean Lord Renfil’s birthday banquet?

    Of course.

    Emilie had been preparing for Lord Renfil’s banquet when someone had stepped up behind her and slipped the garrote over her head. Which meant . . . she had returned as a ghost only a few hours after she was murdered?

    It was not unheard of. Most murdered souls took two or three days to rise from the dead, but it had been known to happen faster than that. Still, it was unusual enough that her murderer might not expect her to be back yet. And since whoever had killed her had also disposed of her body, nobody else even knew she was dead.

    That could be quite an advantage, if she played it right. And if there was anything Emilie was good at, it was playing her advantages right.

    I’m sorry, she said, since Annette was still gaping at her. I fell asleep, and was confused. She glanced down and saw that the pattern of the rug was visible through her foot. In their solid form, there was no easy way to tell the dead

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