REVIEW by Katherine: Jane of Air by Jessica Penot

All Jane wants is to live a normal life. But nothing is normal at Thornfield Hall.

Jane Marsh has spent her entire life hiding. Hiding under bulky clothing. Hiding behind glasses. Hiding behind books. Abandoned at a hospital emergency room at the age of four with her name written on her forehead in black Sharpie and a mysterious tattoo of a door on her back, Jane grew up in foster care in the small town of Gateshead, Massachusetts. She learned early on that keeping her head down and pretending to be normal was the only way to survive.

Now, at the age of sixteen, Jane is looking forward to a fresh start. Hard work and many late study nights earned her early graduation from high school and a full scholarship to a small, but prestigious college in Huntington, Virginia. Even better, her best friend Helen—her only friend actually—is going too. Older by two years, the beautiful and off-beat Helen is the only person from high school who broke through Jane’s shyness and made her feel accepted. As the two girls embark on their new adventure, Jane is feeling hopeful about her future. But with limited resources and no family to help her, Jane takes a job as a live-in companion to a wealthy old woman who lives near the college. She grows to care for the elderly Miss Adele and the kindly housekeeper, Mrs. Fairfax. Jane also falls in love with her new home, the magnificent Thornfield Hall, even though everyone, including Helen, says it’s haunted. Helen begs Jane to leave and move in with her and her boyfriend in town, but Jane refuses. Jane feels at home at Thornfield and its massive library. For a book nerd like Jane, Thornfield is like her very own Gryffindor House.

When Adele’s grandson, Edward Rochester comes home for a visit from Yale, Jane can’t help but be drawn to the brooding, good-looking young man. As tentative friendship blooms between them, Jane believes that maybe, just maybe, she can have a normal life. Maybe even a boyfriend. But then one night Jane begins to hear ghostly whispers that lure her into the dark corners of Thornfield. Wicked whispers about Edward and his past. As the ghosts continue to haunt Jane, her tattoo begins to transform and spread across her back. Soon, Jane fears that Helen was right, something evil does lurk at Thornfield. But is the evil in Edward or in Thornfield itself?

Jane of Air is the first book in the Tattooed Girl Series, by Amazon bestselling author, Jessica Penot. A dark and compelling new series about an orphaned young woman in her first year of college who begins to discover her true identity and inner strength as she falls for a broken and mysterious young man. Jane of Air is a teen and young adult YA paranormal series inspired by the beloved classic gothic novel, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.

This was very much so a Jane Eyre retelling, but set in a modern time with some great supernatural flair and scary encounters. I found it very interesting how the author created something new and surprising while at the same time very familiar. To be perfectly honest, I hated the classic Jane Eyre due pretty much to  Jane being a doormat to everyone, forgiving a jerk just because he wants her to- yeah, I have a lot of issues with the book. But, that being said, I am always on the prowl for new versions of the classic to hopefully redeem my feelings of anger and disgust so I was very interested to read this new, unique version.

The ending was the most surprising part of the book! Some twists, and some scary happenings and then BOOM- ending! There was no wrap up or resolution to any of the ongoing questions the book was focused on, just a stopping at the most random of times and it took me off guard. It felt like I needed the rest of the book, but I guess that this is the first of a cliff-hanger series. I have so many questions though! Overall this was a very fast read, just a few hours for me, almost like a novella instead of a full length book. I am such a sucker for the short chapters the author used, making it so easy to say “just one more” until the entire book is over- which was exactly how this was read.

What I did not like about the book was how true to the original “Jane” this Jane happened to be (sorry for those who are fans). Jane was at times so very naive, showing all of her sixteen years. Sure she has experienced some harshness as being unwanted, but when it comes to interpersonal skills she has zero experience or knowledge. I did have an issues with how quickly Jane was in “love” with Edward, the owner of the house, after just a few interactions. I would have been 100% behind a crush or some hormonal lust, but love needs to build and there was no building, just a few encounters. I did really enjoy Jane’s curiosity and intelligence as well as her stubborn streak- but I do have some questions about her unreliable bestie Helen…

This would be a great next read for anyone who loved the classic Jane Eyre as well as fans of dark supernatural reads such as Cinderella, necromancer by F.M Boughan.

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