Celeste

I thought that V. C. Andrews books couldn't get any weirder or any more heartbreaking. But once again Andrew Neiderman blows that thought out of the water. This is the most refreshing start to a series in a long time. Celeste's story is bizarre, to say the least, but I can't help feeling it is possible. One complaint is I really don't think it is possible or scientific to have identical twins that are different genders. But besides that the book shines. The mother in this book is so twisted. First off, she hates Celeste for having the visions before Noble when they are younger. Did she ever think, maybe just maybe, he took after the father side? Probably not because she is so wrapped up in her own little world. Then one tragedy leads to another and Noble dies. Celeste takes his place really out of guilt. She blames herself for her death, because they were fighting when it happened. So out of this guilt, she goes along with her mothers sick and twisted plan. Then Elliot Fletcher comes on to the scene. He really is a jerk even before he finds out Noble is a girl. He is a troublemaker and just bad news. And what he does to Celeste is dispicable. He is really your basic lowlife in the V.C. Andrews books. Nothing good happens through this whole book (maybe the dog is good, but it ends terribly). And just when you think that maybe it will end happily, hah, you'd be wrong. I'm hoping that Black Cat is better in that regard, but it isn't so far (reading it now).

I wasn't sure what to expect with this new novel by the ghostwriter. I haven't really read the newer ones by him in some time, gave up after the dreadful Runaways series and then seeing the tagline: "A mother's love as deadly as Momma's in Flowers In the Attic" made me roll my eyes but I gave Celeste a chance. It surprised me. It read like a classic ORIGINAL VC Andrews novel did. It wasn't some helpless air head girl like most of the ghostwriter's characters are anymore. You do feel sorry for this young girl (where in the past, one would want a bus to knock some sense into the main character's head) and how her mother prefers her twin brother over her. And it only gets more shocking after Noble's death and Celeste is forced to assume his identity. I wondered how the ghostwriter would handle this "identiy crisis" that was thrust upon Celeste and he surprised me which makes me wonder if this wasn't a story that maybe VC Andrews herself hadn't completed before her death. Or he's finally understanding what us older fans of VC Andrews have been wanting for some time from him: no more teen age drama but adult oriented drama. In that he suceeds finally in living up to the legacy left by VC Andrews. The story moves along in years, not all in one year as his novels in the past did. And you aren't sure rather or not the mother can really hear spirits or has some form of dementia which is scary. And there is no happy, sappy ending to this novel either, no overblown wording, but ends much like Flowers in the Attic did, with no bright beginnings but only some form of hope for the character to cling too that MAYBE things will be better down the road. So if you want to read something that is like an oringal VCA novel, pick this up and give it a try. It is a breath of fresh air and relief after the previous novels.

Bravo for Mr. Neiderman! He has successfully "broken the V. C. Andrews mold" with CELESTE! On the cover of the book, it says, "A mother's love as deadly as Mommy's in Flowers in the Attic." And how true that is! Mommy is indeed deadly. And whacko!While it is not my approach the review the book page by page, let me point out the strengths of CELESTE. Much like WILLOW and the original V. C. Andrews books, this one takes place over a period of many years. There is very little "teenage interaction" and this is a much more adult-oriented book. The characters are strong, likeable (well, not Mommy!), and understandable.While reading the book, I kept wondering how the character Celeste could be so willing to go along with her mother's deception. Then it finally hits you... Mommy has so traumatized Celeste that Celeste has no other choice. Pleasing Mommy is so important to Celeste, the least favorite of the twins (Noble and Celeste). Their very separatism from town and from other people allows Mommy to mold Celeste into her ideal of Noble.One cannot help but look foward to Black Cat and beyond. Personally, I am hoping that in the next book Mommy gets hers and gets it good! Although in the past in my other reviews of V. C. Andrews books I was unwilling to give away the secret -- who the ghostwriter is -- here I am proud to say it is Mr. Andrew Neiderman, the popular horror and suspense author. I can easily imagine CELESTE being a "Neiderman-branded" book for its fine suspense and storyline. If in the past you have grown tired of the "sameness" of the V. C. Andrews formula, pick up Celeste and enjoy its unique qualities. You will be hating Mommy too very soon!A TRIUMPH! A MUST-READ!

This book was the best I have read byt he GW as VCA... It brings back all those things I loved about the original VCA - intrigue, horror, questions, and caring about the story.Celeste is strong, not whiny, not wimpy, (...) as our beloved Cathy was prone to do in her younger, bolder, and most vengeful days. Sarah is a Mom you love to hate in true VCA stuyle - she's a sicko with the power of her children to completely run and change her children's lives!As a side note - did anybody notice that Elliott told Celeste the story of Dawn as a TV movie? Page 260-261. Great job AN!!! Keep it up, you have won me back!

CELESTE has elements of both Flowers in the Attic and My Sweet Audrina, rather than being just another Heaven rip-off. Celeste's character is intriguing because she honestly believes everything her mother tells her, as opposed to a Dawn-like heroine who KNOWS everyone around her is wacky. Celeste doesn't even realize how traumatized she is. For once, I didn't feel it was the same old character speaking.Sarah is absolutely nuts, and it's not just "I want to stay young and beautiful forever." It's refreshing to see characters who are not what we'd expect...for instance, I expected the "boy next door" to be a sympathetic character. He's not.Finally, a reader can easily see why the next two books are NECESSARY, not just filler. All in all, a very satisfying VC experience, which hasn't happened in a long time. (Of course the GW's aggravating writing style such as "Her eyes grew small" is still apparent, but try to ignore it and enjoy the plot.)