Rating: 4/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: mysterious, intriguing, atmospheric; this story unraveled brilliantly, in ways I wasn't expecting; I'm actually sort of shocked I didn't see that ending coming, honestly; hauntingly beautiful characters and journey

HUGE thanks to Kelsey Sutton, Entangled Teen Publishing, Netgalley, and YA Bound Book Tours for sending me a complimentary egalley of this title! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.

This was an intriguingly atmospheric, mysterious read! The layers peeled back like those of an onion--with poignant, descriptive prose and beautifully rounded characters. And I, cursed with the ability to see endings from a mile away as I am....DIDN'T see the big reveal coming this time around. The way that Kelsey Sutton blended the "amnesia" with the unraveling mystery worked wonders in keeping me enthralled without giving away too much information too soon. I also appreciated how much care the author took to keep readers as in the dark--pun intended, for some instances--as possible.

--- "I'm someone," I say without thinking. It doesn't make any sense, because of course I am, but suddenly I need to prove it's true.

An odd sound escapes him, something that is more bark than laugh. The edges of it are sharp and mocking. "Oh, really? Then what's your name?" Now his head tilts slightly in my direction, though not completely.

Curious, in spite of the alarming strangeness all around me, I fiddle with my skirts and resist the temptation to move even closer. It's..." I begin, then trail off. this shouldn't be a difficult questions. Yet I don't remember. It's a sensation similar to fumbling in the dark, reaching for an item that shouldn't been there, and finding empty air. How can I not know my own name? Everything has a name. I can tell him what the oceans and continents of the world are called, so why can't I recall that one word that defines the entirety of my being?---

I had a blast getting to know these characters from multiple angles, and unspooling the hidden secrets right alongside them. There were so many complex, multifaceted aspects of this story, it's no wonder I fell so deeply into it I was afraid I wouldn't find my way out before it ended. The purple prose and historical atmosphere only worked to immerse me more completely. Kelsey Sutton wove a tapestry of a masterpiece...and I'm so happy I got the chance to experience it!

Overall, this was an immersive, gorgeous read. Full of heart and atmosphere, I was captivated from the beginning. These characters are well-rounded and complex, coupled with a story that layers itself from start to finish. If you enjoy masterful mysteries and wild adventures--with just a touch of dark magic lurking--you'll LOVE this story. If you were able to take one item with you beyond the grave, Penguins....what would it be?

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going in to this read, but it was a delightful surprise! I love gothic novels, and this definitely has that feel. A girl falls through the bottom of her grave into a place the other “residents” call Under, where no one remembers their time before and each resident receives their name from the item they had with them when they fell--Doll, Ribbon, Spoon, Tintype, Handkerchief, Journal, the enigmatic Smoke, and more. Key feels a connection to each of them that she cannot explain, but she sets out on a quest to regain her memories, a quest that the others believe to be a fool’s errand or even a deadly mistake.

I love the way Ms. Sutton let the story play out through scenes in Under, snippets of memories that begin to return to Key, and even forays into the world of the living. This is a delightful story of witchcraft, curses, first love, and what it means to truly live, even if that living takes place in the land of the dead. I definitely recommend this read to anyone who enjoys gothic, historical, and/or paranormal romance tinged with mystery!

Rating: 4 stars

**Disclosure: I received an early e-copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of this blog tour. This review is voluntary on my part and reflects my honest rating and review.

Unusual supernatural story!
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read and review Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton!
The story opens as the main character awakens in a cramped space, then feels a falling sensation. She discovers that she’s fallen into Under, which is a place where some people go after they die. Others start being terminated by being burned by a murderer. The only way Under residents die is through being burned because they are already dead. A strange story about the people who reside in Under and what happens when they gain their memories back. My favorite part of the book details the relationship memories of Smoke and Key. A little bit of magic used in the inappropriate way and revenge fuels the plot. Being slow at times and the unusual world-building earn 3 stars!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of the blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours.

Holy cow, this was fantastic! I know I say that often about books, but this really was a spectacular read. I even doubt I’ll be able to give the book justice by this review, but here’s to trying anyway…

Set in the mysterious place called Under, Key tries to uncover the truth about why she’s fallen out of her grave and, more importantly, who she really is. Because all her memories are gone, and so are those of the other undead there. I love the mystery itself in this one. It was so mind-boggling since readers’ knowledge are limited to what Key witnesses. Also, considering the fact that everyone in Under doesn’t have memories as well just adds to the thrill!

The main character wasn’t that interesting but the whole concept of the book absolutely won me over. I wouldn’t normally enjoy books that have boring MCs but I was surprised to have loved this. It was so engaging to find out more about the past, the place and how everyone got to be in Under. The backstory wasn’t what I expected, but it certainly was fantastic nonetheless!

Unique and exhilarating, Smoke and Key really deserves 5-star ratings. I could not put this book down!

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars!

Smoke And Key is a stand-alone novel written by Kelsey Sutton. It was a very unique read set in historical time period. The concept of the book was very dark and intriguing. I loved the mystery aspect in this book, but as for the romance part I’ve mixed feelings about it. Other than that, this was an engaging read and I really enjoyed it. It was actually my first book by the author and it definitely won’t be my last.

The story begins with a girl falling from her grave to under where she meets other people who’re also fallen under just like her. As soon as she falls, she meets a broody guy named Smoke who tells her that she has died and she had to spend the rest of her afterlife in under. She doesn’t remember anything about herself not even her name. She calls herself Key because it’s the only thing that was found on her. Key isn’t ready to give up and tries to search for answers. Soon she makes new friends and gets acquainted with Under but suddenly she starts to regain memories which never happened to the other people in Under. When a series of murders takes place, she wants to know the true purpose of their existence in Under and her memories might be the only key to the answers.

Key is a pretty likable protagonist. She’s a brave and stubborn girl. I enjoyed her character but I wouldn’t say she was my favorite either. Smoke on the other hand is your typical broody guy with dark charms. His character was both mysterious and dark. From the start, I really wanted to know his backstory. The romance between Smoke and Key was pretty much insta-lovey which isn’t my favorite trope but In the second half, I grew to love them because we finally get the answers about their instant connection. I’m not going to say anything more because it’s a spoiler. And also there’s a light triangle in this book which I know many people aren’t fond of. As for the supporting characters, I liked Journal, doll, and maybe Ribbon too. There’re still some other characters but I didn’t paid much attention to them.

The plot was a perfect mix of mystery and a light romance. I found the story dragged in some places but overall the pacing was okay. I loved the mystery and the fantasy aspect in this book. As the story progressed, the secrets unfolded with each memory . The backstory was pretty interesting and I liked how everything was connected but sadly I predicted the villain from the start. The author’s writing style was easy to follow. The whole book was written in Key’s POV which was shifted between the past and the present. The shifting might confuse some readers but I didn’t had any issue with it. I think I enjoyed the backstory more than the present one. The setting was pretty good. I liked the dark and creepy atmosphere the author had set in the story. Before getting into this book, I really didn’t know it was a historical fantasy.

Overall, it was a good read with decent plot, unique concept, and interesting characters. Despite the issues, I enjoyed the story and the refreshing concept which was weirdly interesting and compelling. I would definitely check out this author’s other works.

Recommend it?
YES

If you’re looking for a good YA historical fantasy read with mystery aspect then definitely give it a shot.

3.5 stars

I can honestly say that I've never read anything like Smoke & Key! The concept of this book was so interesting. Our main character wakes up in a place she doesn't know and doesn't remember who she is. I can't imagine how creepy that is. Everyone in Under is dead and has no memories of who they were before arriving to this place.

No one remember their name in Under, so they're name comes from the item they arrived with. So we have Key, Journal, Pocket Watch, Spoon, Ribbon, etc. I have to say it was a bit confusing at first reading about characters with these odd names. I thought it was a good solution though! Smoke & Key is very mysterious. At first you really have no clue where Key has ended up and the other characters are introduced slowly!

That's when things get interesting though, because people start ending up dead. Yes, they're already dead, but they will be permanently dead if burned. I loved the aspect of mystery in the story. I had no clue who to trust and in all honesty, the light bulb in my mind didn't go off until right before the murderer was revealed. I love it when the author is able to keep me guessing until close to the end.

Smoke & Key is told in the present and we also are taken back to Key's memories. We slowly start learning about her life and events that took place before her death. I love that we also slowly get to see the other characters in her memories and start learning their names. The big question in this story is, how is she remembering everything?

At times the memories did confuse me a bit while reading. Sometimes it's mentioned that Key starts to slip into a memory and at other times it just happens without any notice. While I think they played a big part in this story, it wasn't always clear what was going on.

This was definitely a fast and fun read, but there were a couple of things that prevented me from giving a higher rating. Key had/has magic and it's mentioned a few times during the book, but I missed a bit more information regarding how that worked and everything like that. Also, at times I think the romance aspect took over a bit too much of the story. And last but not least, the ending was rather abrupt. In my opinion it felt kind of rushed.

That being said, like I said before, I really did enjoy this book. This is the first time I've read a book where the characters are dead from the start. I loved finding unique stories like this and I hope this author gives us more unique stories in the future!

I enjoyed this story, but it somehow felt like the beginning and middle dragged on while the ending came too quickly. The pace of the story felt off and it somewhat affected my judgement of the story. Another thing I noticed was while I loved the story, it felt familiar to me. Like I had read this before with some minor details and names changed. It felt so familiar, I could plot it out from the beginning exactly what happens. Did that subtract from the story? No. It just means it's the kind of story I would like and read, with just a hint of deja vu. I did lower my rating due to pacing and the time I read it. I started reading this after hearing news of the death of my friend, and while I wanted something distracting, this story hit a bit too close to home. This probably wasn't the best time to read this story, but the mystery pulled me in and I couldn't resist.

Overall, I liked the story. I thought the mystery aspect was well thought out and interesting. I wished pacing was a bit different, but it didn't take away too much from the story overall. I would absolutely recommend this if you're looking for a creepy, quick read. Perfect for Halloween time!

" I was given an E-ARC in exchange for my honestly review"

3/5 stars

I honestly don't know how to feel about this book. while I like the fact that the book was a little dark, I found it incredibly hard to stay invested in the story, I'm not sure if it was the writing or the characters that I just couldn't connect with. I'm also still unsure on the whole dead but not dead plot.

Many thanks to Entangled Teen for providing me with a copy of Smoke & Key, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.


When “Key” (so called because she is found with a key) falls down from her grave into a place called “Under”, she’s thrown into a maze of underground caverns where a group of similarly named dead people reside. None of them can remember their past, or their names, until Key starts having memory flashbacks. As she tries to piece together the memories she sees, some of people in Under start to show up burned and truly ‘forever dead’. As she slowly regains her memories, it’s a race to decipher what they mean, and who the killer could be, before she becomes the next victim.

Smoke and Key was a creepy, paranormal mystery, with a bit of historical fiction thrown in. I was so intrigued by the premise of the book and the story did not disappoint! I did find myself having to try and remember if I was reading the present tense or a past memory in spots, but honestly, I loved both the mystery of trying to uncover the killer in Under and the piecing together of the mysteries, to unravel what had happened before Key died. There were some brilliant characters, all with enough depth to keep me guessing who belonged on the suspect list and who didn’t. This book was so unique and original and the slow reveal of the characters in the flashbacks made me want to turn the pages as fast as possible!

My Thoughts:

Smoke And Key was a unique story. It begins with "Key," hearing a voice urging her frantically to "Please wake up." She finds herself lying down in darkness, and starts to panic when she realizes she is trapped inside of a casket. As she tries to break out by hitting, kicking, and screaming, she finds herself falling to down below. She soon learns that she is in a place where nobody has memories of their names, or their pasts; including herself. Instead, everyone refers to themselves by an item that they had on them when they woke up in "Under." She had a key around her neck, therefore "Key" becomes her new name.

Nobody really knows what under is, other than a place where each of it's inhabitants fell from their caskets to down below or under. This place is made of dirt, with no sky, homes or civilization as we know it. The inhabitants have made the best of this place. Friendships have been made, individuals have their roles to play, and there are those that are nice and welcoming, as well as those with malicious intent. Some inhabitants in under are well-preserved, while others are grotesque looking.

In Under, Key meets Ribbon, Spoon, Doll, Journal, Handkerchief, Tintype, and many others. However, no one catches Key's eye the way that Smoke does. He instantly becomes her protector, and these two share a connection. Shortly after arriving in "Under" "Key" begins to have memories of her past return to her. Simultaneously, murders are taking place in Under, and the bodies are being burned. Key is desperate to uncover her past, and the closer she gets, the closer she comes to becoming the next victim.

Smoke And Key was an intriguing mystery. I rapidly read the story, and was riveted with each new memory that Key unlocked. There was danger, magic, romance, deceit, a curse, and love interwoven throughout the plot of Smoke And Key. While the beginning of the story had a slower start, and had me confused at times, the second half of the story had me devouring pages and excited to unravel the mystery of Key and Smoke's past, as well as all of the other inhabitants down in Under. If you enjoy a story heavy on mystery, light on romance, and a mixture of paranormal and historical fiction; Smoke and Key will be a delight for your senses!

3.5 Stars!

So this book was really amazing to read. My sense of this book was a bit wonky at first because these characters don't have memories. But with clues from the way they dressed, to the way the talked, meant that the time they lived in was historical, maybe 200 or so years ago. Details that are usually obvious, like when a book is set, so it was fun to suss that out!

The idea of waking up and having no memories, realizing you're dead, yeah, it's kinda a horrifying situation. To be named after what object you have on you, to not be breathing, to not need sleep, it's a strange situation. But Key doesn't have any time to get used to it before the first murder happens and everything spirals from there.

The mystery was pretty interesting, because there's their whole lives that they don't remember, that are the reason why this is happening. I enjoyed how Key slowly remembered bits of her life, and figured out what was going on! It was so interesting to read!

I feel a little silly, but I didn't realize where the title came from until I started the book. It's right there, named after the 2 main characters, Key, the narrator, and Smoke, the boy she can't stop looking at. I really enjoyed their story!

This book was fantastic, I enjoyed how it all worked out, and yeah, really loved it!

From the first moment I woke in a coffin with Key, and fell with her into Under to be surrounded by living corpses I felt breathless with fear and wonder. So many questions! How are they dead, yet conscious? Why can no one remember anything, even down to their own name? Why, why, why?

In fact, Key coped with the whole situation a whole lot better than I would have imagined, even managing to get in some flirting and a bit of light reading whilst striving to uncover a murderer and return to the land of the living (or at the very least understand how she left). The plotline was utterly compelling, but I felt that the emotional reactions were a little flat, and I didn’t get enough time to really start caring about the Under residents before they went up in flames.

It felt like there were so many other stories, smaller stories swirling around the outskirts of this plot: the mysterious Brooch; poor little Doll; Freckles and Fiddle and… the list went on and on. I wanted to know all about them all!

The dark and unsettling tone that pervaded from beginning to end reminded me strongly of favourite Tim Burton films like The Corpse Bride or Sleepy Hollow, and there was a similar approach to portrayals of the dead as The Corpse Bride or Coco; initial revulsion at the physical aspects followed by a more sympathetic realisation as the characters develop. It was also much easier to keep track of all of the characters with each one having a unique identifier in the significant item they brought to Under with them.

This story has mystery, romance, intrigue and betrayal. My favourite aspect was attempting to slot the Under characters into the flashback narratives of their Over lives – it was like forming a jigsaw whose pieces are only revealed one at a time (and don’t always fit together until a later piece is uncovered).

I would recommend this to anyone who likes a dystopian romantic mystery with heapings of the paranormal.



While I examine our surrounding, my eyes feeling so huge they might as well swallow the rest of my face, Smoke watches me. “You’ll have to pick one of your own, you know,” he says. “A name, I mean. Usually we just use whatever we fell into Under with. Splinter, Smoke, Doll.”

– Kelsey Sutton, Smoke and Key


Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

Smoke and Key, by author Kelsey Sutton, takes place in the Underworld, but even the characters there aren’t safe from being snuffed out for good. The story begins with a girl hearing a voice telling her to wake up, then falling into a mysterious dark cavern. She meets a boy named Smoke who begins to explain that she is dead and has fallen out of her grave into the area inhabitants call the “Under”.

In Under, she meets a group of strangers whose bodies are in various stages of decomposition. While they can all remember general knowledge they do not remember anything personal from their lives before they fell. Each fell with an item that was buried with them; an item that helps their owner decide their Under name. Once you've fallen, you can't move onward, and you can't go back. Under is neither Heaven nor Hell.

The chain around Key's neck may be the only clue of who she once was, what happened to her, and why certain people like Smoke, Journal and Ribbon seem so familiar to her. Key is not like the others. She has dreams, hallucinations and memories. Key begins to understand that her death wasn't peaceful or natural. As Key pieces together parts of her life, she receives various messages that make her even more curious about what is really happening her.

Meanwhile, the dead are turning up true dead. True dead meaning there's no chance they will ever rise again. Key pieces together memories of her past, as well as her familiarity with Smoke, Journal, and Ribbon, the woman who seems to have no problem with her setting and no desire to move on. But, when she is accused of being the murderer, Key must find a way to use the mysterious key and save herself before it is too late.

There’s a sense of mystery and tension throughout the story. In her previous life, Key’s memories are of a historical time who fell in love with a strange American, while also being betrothed to another. Key’s flashbacks provide frequent snippets of information about her life before death, building towards revelations that may hold more danger than she could imagine. If you're not a fan of flashbacks, try to get over it. The flashbacks are huge information troves.

Smoke and Fury is a blend of paranormal and historical fiction and romance.

Plot: 4/5 Characters: 4/5 Writing: 4/5

Smoke and Key was a creepy yet intriguing novel that captivated me from the very first sentence.

The book was about a girl who was dead but fell down from her grave into a mysterious world called 'Under'. She didn't know why she was there, she didn't have any memories of her life before Under and she couldn't even remember her own name. The only possession she had on her was a key, so she called herself Key. All the other residents of Under were named after the possessions they had when they fell such as Journal, Smoke, Doll, Ribbon and Tintype. All the people were in semi-decomposed states and their skin had a greyish tint as if they had already started to rot before they fell, however, Key was oddly preserved. No one could remember anything, just like Key but then a series of brutal murders started and Key's memories started to return.

Key was a pretty good character and it's interesting how she reacted to the memories that she remembered and the shame she felt even though she was technically the same person she had been before. Her relationship with Smoke was intriguing as we got to see it unravel in the past and in the present even though the romance was probably a bit too forced. I liked how her friendship with Journal developed as well.

The thing I loved the most was how the tension and the sense of mystery were built up throughout the novel as we learnt more about the eerie world of Under and those who lived there. For some reason, I kept imagining all of the characters like ones from a Tim Burton movie! However, even though the tension was gradually rising it still felt like not that much really happened in the book overall and there was probably a bit of filler that could have been taken out

The book was mainly about the extent of the damage that hate and jealousy can cause and how it can easily get out of control. The plot might sound a bit odd but the ideas were very original in the best possible way. There is definitely buckets of imagination behind it. I thought it was a really fun yet macabre read and I think more people should give it a go!

Thank you to Entangled Teen and Kelsey Sutton for providing me with a digital arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Smoke and Key is an interesting mysterious read and I know my review isn’t going to do it justice. It’s set in a dystopian world and has a tainted edge. It’s dark and has a twist.

Imagine waking up in a place close to death. Everyone has lost their memory and your body feels undead. The name given to you links to the object given to you in your new skin. Key is new to the dystopian world but she’s also different. She is the start of the cracks. Everyone has a story but nobody can remember how it started. A key needs to find a door but this mystery is more than meets the eye. With the arrival of Key a chain of murders occur. Love is just a game if you don’t understand the players.

This story starts like a horror movie and I will admit I was scared walking down the dark path. It offers mystery, suspense, magic and romance. This isn’t your typical romance. It isn’t your typical murder mystery. It’s strange and enchanting. It’s addictive and ugly.

It’s hard for me to rate this book because it was executed perfectly but it left a strange taste. It’s the start of a series and offers something different. It’s not my typical read, and it’s not for everyone, but I couldn’t put it down therefore I’m rating 4 stars. It’s unique and twisted.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

in smoke and key, a dark young adult paranormal historical mystery (say that three times fast), a young woman wakes up in the under. she only knows herself by the name of key. and soon she learns that everyone who inhabits this place is dead. but she has memories she shares with another, a boy names smoke. and these fragmented memories seem to hind at the moment of her death.

but someone doesn't want her unraveling that mystery. and soon the others in under start to turn up deader than they already were. and so key has to find a way to access all her memories and solve the mystery of this killer. it's a whodunit, so no spoilers here. but an enjoyable, atmospheric young adult read.

**smoke and key will publish on april 2, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (entangled teen) in exchange for my honest review.

Kelsey Sutton hits it out of the park again! I love her writing and her books are always unique. This one is about Smoke and Key, a boy and a girl who are in a mysterious place called “under”. We go through their journey and learn through flashbacks. I really loved the twist and turns and thought it was really well done. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC!

This is such a beautiful and sad story. I loved it so much, the whole concept of Under and the curse made it epic. What started as a simple love affair soon resulted in many deaths and a mystery that needs to be solved before any soul can rest in peace.
In Under no one has a name. Everyone is simply called by whatever they had on them at the time of their falling. So, Key is Key because that's what she had on her when she fell. She is the new arrival and everyone is trying to teach her the ways of Under in their own way. She meets Smoke and feels things that the dead should not feel. Then there is Journal, always reading something and researching. People around her are good and she starts making friends. But in the shadows, a danger lurks, a murderer is on lose and only Key can solve this mystery. Because no one remembers their lives from Topside, it is not easy to learn the truth. Key, however, feels that there is more to this place than meets the eye. This in-between place where they are neither alive nor dead is holding some secret and only when it is unraveled will they be able to cross-over.
The story is told beautifully and the mystery is kept until the very end. It is the kind of novel that will make you hold your breath and sit at the edge of your chair while you try to make sense of everything going on in the Under. I really enjoyed reading it and would definitely recommend to all fellow readers.

The cover and summary of Smoke and Key sucked me in from the get-go. I was initially a little hesitant to read a paranormal book, but this book walked a great line between fantasy/magic and paranormal without ever getting *too* creepy. That being said, if you really love paranormal stories, I think you'll enjoy this, too! I thought the world of Under was unique and I loved that the setting of the book was really tight and contained. It was refreshing to read as compared to a lot of YA books with sprawling fantasy settings.

Generally, I thought the book suffered from being a little too ambitious in everything it wanted to be. Like I said, I loved the world of Under and was intrigued by how people ended up there and the murder mystery going on and the "whodunit" of it all, but then I felt as if the parallel story being told in Key's "real" life was a little lacking. There was magic but we are never told where it comes from and how it works and that particular part of the story felt a little underdeveloped.

And while I don't mind it too much, there is some definitely insta-love going on, which I know bothers some readers, which is why I feel inclined to mention it here.

Overall, I'd give this a solid 3 stars!

Smoke and Key is a story about a girl who wakes up in the dark not knowing where she is and a boy named Smoke who is there to help her. It’s a fast pace read even though it was confusing at times. Key is a loveable character and Smoke is too. There were just places that I didn’t understand. Overall though I enjoyed it tremendously and can’t wait to read what Kelsey Sutton has next for us.