The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle

September 11th, 2015 Kimberly Review 71 Comments

11th Sep
The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
The Accident Season
by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
Narrator: Colby Minifie
Length: 7 hours and 24 minutes
Genres: Magical Realism, Paranormal
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Narration: 5 cups

Every October Cara and her family become inexplicably and unavoidably accident-prone. Some years it's bad, like the season when her father died, and some years it's just a lot of cuts and scrapes. This accident season--when Cara, her ex-stepbrother, Sam, and her best friend, Bea, are 17--is going to be a bad one. But not for the reasons they think. Cara is about to learn that not all the scars left by the accident season are physical: There's a long-hidden family secret underneath the bumps and bruises. This is the year Cara will finally fall desperately in love, when she'll start discovering the painful truth about the adults in her life, and when she'll uncover the dark origins of the accident season--whether she’s ready or not.

Audiobook Young Adult paranormal freaky UNIQUE

The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle was not on my radar until I read a review from a fellow blogger. Then an opportunity to review the audio version with Colby Minifie reading presented itself and I jumped. I am so delighted that I did so as the Accident Season was beautiful, dark, mysterious, and quirky.

“It’s the accident season, the same time every year. Bones break, skin tears, bruises bloom.”

Five reasons to listen to The Accident Season

  • The premise: Every October Cara and her family have unexplained accidents. Some years they escape with cuts, bruises, and broken bones but other years are dark like the season their father died. Fowley-Doyle shares this season and takes us on one heck of a ride where accidents are not the only problems facing this family. Besides the mystery of the accident season, this is a tale of secrets, forbidden love, friendship, sisters, family and coming of age.
  • The writing/language: The writing was delightful; if I read the Accident Season, I would have highlighted everything. Fowley-Doyle has this magical way of describing feelings and painting scenery. As Colby Minifie read, I found myself slipping into the story as the lyrical, often-haunting words flowed. I can hardly believe this is a début novel.
  • The characters: Colorful and quirky from Mom’s purple hair to their different personalities. Each of the siblings intrigued me. The siblings, Cara, her sister Alice, and their ex-stepbrother Sam are incredibly close; in part because of the accident season. Their friend Bea is a tad eccentric from her tarot cards to her vividly witchy imagination. I easily connected with all of them and their actions and personalities felt realistic. The bond between this family and group of friends felt genuine and the way they came together during the accident season endeared me to them.
  • The story: The story comes to us from Cara and at times, she was an unreliable narrator. This added to the overall suspense and creepiness as the story unfolded. Was the accident season real? Moreover, what was causing it? Bea and her incredible gift at spinning tales gave us a  haunting atmosphere. The author takes us through their mundane lives and the complications created by the season from school to parties. She skillful shows the risks youth take even with the threat of danger. We see the believers and the naysayers of the family and wonder ourselves even as the hair on the back of our neck rises. We experience love, heartache, jealousy, friendship and their fears.
  • A standalone: We get a fully developed story that was fast paced, and wholly original. I loved the blending of paranormal and magical realism. As the story progressed, it became more complex with twists and turns that kept me listening. I found the story delightful from its creepy mystery to the sweet romance. The climactic ending was action-packed and had me holding my breath. I worried that we would be left with questions, but the author tied up threads and delivered an ending that satisfied me.

The Accident Season was a beautiful twisted and unique thriller whose characters and prose held me captive.

“There are no ghosts; only the dust in the light, our breath and the wind in the quiet, and the feeling that something, or a lot of somethings, are watching us. So maybe there are ghosts after all.”

Photo of kimbacaffeinate
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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71 Responses to “The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle”

  1. Dre

    I’d have to agree that the writing was pretty haunting. I actually liked it. Cara is an unreliable narrator, that most of the time I got confused. But overall it was a good read. Thanks for sharing the soundcloud bit, but I think reading the book is much more enjoyable 😀

  2. Jen

    Fabulous review!! I’ve been dying to read this one since the moment I heard about it, such an original premises & I love me some unreliable narration 🙂 I received it last week in one of my monthly subscription boxes & was thrilled, I love the cover so I really wanted a print copy! I’ve heard nothing but great things & can’t wait to crack into it!!

  3. Michelle

    I love the Narrators voice, this sounds like a great read! I am adding it to my TBR List
    Great review! Thanks for sharing it, Kim! 🙂

  4. Tika

    I’ve heard so much about The Accident Season! Every review I come across say it’s the perfect mix of mysterious and creepy, and I honestly haven’t read a concept like this before so I’m so freaking excited! I’m thinking that I might get the audio to listen along while I read, just to add that extra HMPH to the story!

  6. Diana

    I’m glad it was good! Since this book was compared to We Were Liars (which I loved), I read a sample. It didn’t have the ominous tone that grabbed me like Liars, but I’d still like to read it somewhere down the line.

  7. laura thomas

    I really must pay a visit to Amazon. I so badly wanted to read your entire review but I want to read the book first. What little I read confirmed I’m going to love it!

  8. La La in the Library

    I did not know this was a standalone. I want to read it even more now! This sounds like an excellent October read. I am definitely going to look for it. Thanks for another informative review. 🙂

  9. Wattle

    Great review Kim 🙂 I keep seeing this one in store and haven’t been able to make my mind up about it yet, audiobook might just be the way to go!

  10. Deborah

    This sounds very different from anything else I’ve read out there and I love you mention it’s quirkiness!

  11. Melliane

    It’s great to have something different and unique like that! I didn’t know about it but it looks really good!

  12. Lorna

    Just wondering how I have never heard of this before. It sounds awesome and something I would really enjoy. Great review!

  15. Karen Blue

    This book looks really good. Your review made me want to read it even more. The characters sounds great and that quote is fun. I am intrigued that you said you wanted to highlight the whole book. Great review!

  17. Mary Kirkland

    For a debut novel this sounds so original and fun, yet a little creepy. I think if I had this problem, I would stay home each October and try to be safe. This sounds really intriguing and mysterious.

  18. debbie haupt

    Thank you fellow blogger for putting this really freakily good title on my radar screen Kim.
    I’ve been on vacation all week, enjoying the heck out of it and not posting too much. I’m convinced I’ll make a perfect retiree 🙂

  21. Ramona

    Feels unique, and that quote is fabulous. And I do love its standalone-ness, lol 🙂 Great review. Have a lovely weekend, Kimba!

  24. Kay

    This sounds like a perfect fall read! I am loving the cover as well. So far I have been hearing pretty good things about The Accident Season. Putting it on hold at my library now. 😀

  26. Kristin

    I remember we saw the same review! I’m still waiting on my library copy 🙂 I wonder if she’s such a fantastic lyrical writer b/c she’s been practicing for this debut? I can’t wait to get my hands on it, though!!! I wish there were more stand alones in the world

  28. Lisa

    Oh yay! I’m glad to see you enjoyed this one so much. I did the audio as well, and I really enjoyed it… despite being confused a few times. LOL I really enjoyed the genuine bond between the characters, as you mentioned. Such a creepy and entertaining read! 🙂

  29. kindlemom1

    This is another one that I would love to read. I love the blending of the genres for sure. Wonderful review Kim, this sound fantastic!

  31. Rita

    This sounds like a book I would enjoy! I like magical realism and unreliable narrators. The quote you share is lyrical, so I’m excited to know that there are so many throughout. Thanks for pointing this one out!

  33. Nick

    I have this one on audio and I’m really excited to read it. All the characters sound interesting and the plot doesn’t seem like one I’ve read before. I’ll be sure to listen to it soon!

  34. Jenny

    I’m super curious about this one Kim! I love the premise, I want to know everything there is to know about this family and why their so accident prone for this one month. I love that Cara is an unreliable narrator at times, it’s fun to question whether or not we can trust the person who’s telling us their story:)

  35. Grace

    I listened to the audio on this one as well and loved it. I liked that it was kind of mysterious and had the magical realism aspect to it. The characters were probably my favorite part. Great review!

  36. Silvia

    First time I hear about this title, but it sounds fascinating! Glad you took your chance with it since it seems to have worked so well for you, Kimberly 🙂