Book Review: Daisy Madigan's Paradise (Morgan Sisters #1.5) by Suzy Turner

Daisy Madigan's Paradise (Morgan Sisters #1.5) by Suzy Turner is a novella in the Morgan Sisters series. Daisy Madigan is 15, and is an outcast at school but has a wonderful home life, at least until tragedy strikes. He mother is in a serious accident, father is lost in grief, and her life falls apart. She escapes to the one place that she still feels safe, the cemetery of Abney Park. Once there, surrounded by the dead, she realizes that her life is still changing, and there is a purpose and incredible danger in the world that Daisy had never imagined.

Daisy Madigan's Paradise might take place in a series, but I do not think I lost anything in the enjoyment or understanding about what was happening. Now, I really liked the character building for Daisy. She is a strong girl, who can look past how other people think about her or treat her, and concentrate on the people who's opinion really matters, like her family and friends. She does not understand what is happening to her, but still works hard to be the best person she can be and help others as best she can. I really loved that Daisy might have been very hungry, but still felt bad and returned to pay for a piece of fruit that she had stolen out of desperation. That action shows more about her thoughts and moral compass than any explaining could have. The adage about showing rather than telling holds true through out the novella, and hopefully the same is true through the series.

Novellas sometimes fall into the trap of only showing half a story, or just acting as an advertisement for a series. Daisy Madigan's Paradise does not fall into that trap, and stands on its own as a complete story with fully formed characters and significant conflict. I have not read the first book in the series, and do not know the background or how this story relates to the larger story line in the series, but I am interested in reading The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, the first novel in the series, where I hope to get to see what is behind the changes Daisy faces.

I recommend Daisy Madigan's Paradise to readers that enjoy urban fantasy, enjoyed The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, or are interested in the series but want to sample Suzy Turner's writing style without committing to a full length novel or getting hooked on a new series without testing the waters. I enjoyed Daisy Madigan's Paradise on several levels and will be keeping an eye on Suzy Turner's future works.