Of Monsters and Madness

In the first installment of a planned series, Verday (the Hollow trilogy) borrows from Gothic horror to reimagine Poe’s most enduring works as a string of strange, horrific events in 1826 Philadelphia, 20 years before the publication of “The Raven,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “Annabel Lee.” Upon her arrival in Philadelphia to live with her father, 17-year-old Annabel Lenore Lee finds herself in the favor of one of his assistants, Allan Poe. But as Poe’s scribblings become darker, and a spate of murders embroils Philadelphia, Annabel must unravel the nightmarish secrets inside her own home. Like her late mother, Annabel is an adept healer, but as narrator she is so mired in her romantic preoccupations and her father’s disapproval of her medical aspirations that some facets of the story are lacking. Instead of fully developing supporting characters, several remain flat through her eyes, and as the novel comes to a close Verday abruptly leaps a few weeks into the future to hastily set up the next book. Ages 12–up. Agent: Mollie Glick, Foundry Literary + Media. (Sept.)