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Crane (Legends Saga Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Stacey Rourke (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.2 496 ratings

Book 1 of 3: Legends Saga

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The Horseman is unending,
his presence shan’t lessen.
If you break the curse,
you become the legend.

Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had no choice but to cover up the deadly truth behind Ichabod Crane’s disappearance. Centuries later, a Crane returns to Sleepy Hollow awakening macabre secrets once believed to be buried deep.

What if the monster that spawned the legend lived within you?

Now, Ireland Crane, reeling from a break-up and seeking a fresh start, must rely on the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle to discover the key to channeling the darkness swirling within her. Bodies are piling high and Ireland is the only one that can save Sleepy Hollow by embracing her own damning curse.

But is anyone truly safe when the Horseman rides?

Cover by Najla Qamber Designs

From the Publisher

The Completed Legends Saga Series!

Excerpt from Crane, Legends Saga Book One

Excerpt from Raven, Legends Saga Book 2

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01N03B51G
Publisher ‏ : ‎ (November 9, 2016)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 9, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3688 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 299 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,033,372 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #8,317 in Dark Fantasy Horror
- #13,206 in Dark Fantasy
- #24,066 in Paranormal & Urban Fantasy (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.2 496 ratings

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Stacey Rourke

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PennedCon Award Winner Author of the Year 2020

PennedCon Award Winner Best Book Blurb 2020

TopShelf Award Winner Best Science Fiction 2019

Utopia Award Winner Author of the Year 2018

Utopia Award Winner for Best Villain 2018 for Ursela in Rise of the Sea Witch

Readers' Favorite YA Fantasy Bronze Medal Winner 2017

Readers' Favorite Fantasy Silver Medal Winner for 2015

Turning Pages Magazine Winner for Best YA book of 2013 & Best Teen Book of 2013

RONE Award Winner for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012

Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012

Stacey Rourke is the award winning author of works that span genres, but possess the same flair for action and snarky humor. She lives in Florida with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two sweet pups. Stacey loves to travel, has more sunglasses than any one person could ever need, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.

Visit her at www.staceyrourke.com

Facebook at www.facebook.com/staceyrourkeauthor

or on Instagram @Rourkewrites.

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4.2 out of 5

496 global ratings

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Kristina Snyder

Unique Twist on the Headless Horseman Legend!!!!!

Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2014

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Crane was an enthralling read that had me captivated from the very first page. This story is full of romance, action, mystery and suspense. I seriously did not want to put this book down. It was a real page turner. Each chapter left me wanting more so I had to keep going. I loved how Stacey alternated between the present with Ireleand Crane and the past with Icabod Crane. It was nice to see the story unfold and how the past intertwined with the present. What I also loved about this story was its unique twist on the whole Headless Horseman legend. Stacey Rourke's writing pulls you in like no other. As I was reading this story, I felt as if I was there. I was able to picture everything going on around me.

I loved the characters in this story. Ireland is a character that I think most us van relate to pretty easily. After catching her fiance cheating, she moves to a new town to start over vowing to never date again. Things change very drastically in Sleepy Hollow though. People start dying and something shifts with her as well. I love how strong she becomes especially with the power she wields. She literally has to fight with whats inside her and fight it. She becomes a kick-butt character!!! Rip has to be one of my favorite characters in this book. The way he kept falling to the floor every time something scared him was outright hilarious!!! I also loved how he had to take in all the changes from his time to the present. Everything changed so that was fun to watch. The banter between Ireleand and Rip was also very funny. I couldn't quit laughing because of those two. Noah seems like a great guy. I wish that I got to see more of him, learn more about him. I also wanted their to be a little more romance or something between Ireleand and Noah.

Nothing is as it seems in Sleepy Hollow and that is the truth. Crane took me on an exciting adventure from beginning to end. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time waiting to see what happens next. I loved how the story played out and I can't wait to see where it goes next especially with what happened at the end of the epilogue. Let's just say the ending definitely left me wanting more. I must say that Stacey Rourke has done it again!!! All her stories are imaginative masterpieces. Crane is a story that I will definitely reread and I highly recommend it!!!!

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Holly

Snarky and Mysterious

Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2014

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What a delightful NA full of mystery, snark, and the paranormal.

This book was told in dual POVs, but the catch? The two "main characters," so to speak, are from different time periods. Ichabod in the past, Ireland in the present. They are simultaneously telling the story in the third person narrative, and the paths they are going down are surprisingly similar and intertwine to bring the readers toward an epic conclusion that transcends time.

The writing was very wonderful. Detailed, both the past and present flowed together to create an imaginative story. Though, at times, it could get too wordy. Too heavy. Sometimes I had to reread sentences to understand what was going on.

But one of my favorite parts of this book were the characters! I loved them! I actually prefer 3rd person narratives, especially in a story such as this. It wasn't hard for me to like the characters, and it was great that all of them played such major roles in this story. But my favorite was, by far, Ireland! Sassy, tough, bright. She shined on the pages, and I loved her personality. She moved to Sleepy Hollow after catching her ex with someone else, determined to move on with her life and find the identity she lost over the duration of their relationship. Little did she know she'd get swept up into a past and legend that has never truly went away.

In the sleepy town, Ireland meets two very sweet guys who help her figure out the mystery behind what's going on. Rip, who is in fact, the very same Rip Van Winkle who was friends with Ichabod Crane and Washington Irving. He's been asleep for over a hundred years, but Ireland's sudden appearance wakes him up. And stirs up the dormant beast that likes to chop off heads. But Rip won't let her do it alone. This dude, I loved him! In both the past and present, he was one of the most lovable characters (more so in the past). He was hilarious, charming, and utterly adorable. I actually thought he would be Ireland's love interest, but that was not the case (and I'm totally okay with that).

No, her love interest was the very arrogant and sexy Noah Van Tassel. He's charming, rich, and not a huge believer in the paranormal. But he likes Ireland, and he gets swept up in the mystery surrounding her. Not just swept up, but pulled into it. The romance was not a heavy part of this story, and for that, I was grateful. I loved that it was more subtle and slow-burning. They became friends who cared for each other a great deal, and that made their relationship that much deeper. Though, I hope it develops much more in the sequel and has a little more focus.

The plot was fantastically mysterious and intriguing! I never had any inkling as to what was going on (which, in hindsight, makes me feel stupid because it was a little obvious). The plot, aside from the sometimes heavy writing, was actually pretty fast-paced. I loved how the past and present intertwined with each other and how both played an important role. And that ending was majorly interesting, and I can't wait to dive into the sequel because Edgar Allen Poe is joining this hodgepodge cast of characters.

Crane was a very well-written, engaging story that puts a new spin on the legend of the Horseman and the town of Sleepy Hollow. It was full of laugh-out-loud moments, wonderful characters, and a paranormal mystery that leaves you desperate for the sequel.

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Lynn Worton

A Riveting Read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 2, 2014

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This is the first book in a new series by this author. I absolutely LOVED it!

Ireland Crane is twenty four years old. She has just moved to Sleepy Hollow, where her relative, Ichabod Crane, had once lived. She is the new school Councillor. I liked this stubborn, witty woman. She gets thrust into a living nightmare, and she finds herself having to embrace her destiny. However, can she change her fate?

I have been wanting to read this book from the first moment I heard it was being written. I was introduced to the legend of Sleepy Hollow when I read a children's version of it in school - the headless horseman terrified me! However, this is a modern take on the story, which took me on a roller coaster ride of emotion and adventure. It is told through different points of view - mainly Ireland's, Ichabod's, Irving Washington's and Rip Van Winkle's - and flicks between the past and the present. I wasn't sure at first whether I liked Rip. He was a rake and a rogue in the past, but the Rip in the future didn't act in the same way. I don't know if it was the spell that he had used which created the change, or having stress induced narcolepsy, but he felt like a completely different character. However, the story kept me hooked from start to finish. Ireland has to make a terrible sacrifice to be able to break the curse; if I was in her shoes, I'm not sure I would have been brave enough to make it. The story has action and adventure, death and murder, but there is also romance. Noah and Ireland are a great couple. They have a chemistry that smolders on the page. The characters' are very lifelike and her heroines tend to be full of wit and sarcasm, which I like. There are several twists and turns that surprised me in places, and I am now looking forward to reading the next book, Raven, as soon as possible.

Stacey Rourke has written a fantastic dark fantasy, which is slightly darker than her YA Gryphon series. I love her writing style, which is fast paced, and the story flows wonderfully. I was worried that the scenes between past and present would make it seem jumpy and disconnected, but I'm glad to say that it wasn't. I am a huge fan of this author, and she is near the top of my Favourite Author's list.

Although this is not really a YA story, I highly recommend this book to teens aged 15+ and adults who love dark fantasy. - Lynn Worton

kirstyb

Crane

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 2, 2014

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Retellings can only be really successful if they are good and add an ingredient to the original story. Stacey Rourke achieves this with Crane.
Many readers know the legend of Sleepy Hollow, whether they have read the book, seen the 1999 Tim Burton film, the Disney cartoon or the more recent TV series. Stacey Rourke cleverly combines all these media versions in Crane and Ireland is even heard to say, with sarcasm,
' "I've heard the stories, read the book and even seen the Johnny Depp movie" '
However, the author is careful not to alienate any newcomers to the story because her strong narrative alternates between Ichabod Crane's nineteenth century Sleepy Hollow and the present day town which Ireland lives in.
Her arrival here coincides with the decapitation of a local man, Charles Van Tassel and she is questioned by police. Scanning through the book again I have realised that the officers are named Potter and Granger; an indication of how Stacey Rourke injects humour into her story.
Headless Horseman attacks continue in the town and the name 'Crane' is linked to these, resulting in Ireland being suspended from her position as the school counsellor.
During this time Rip Van Winkle is introduced and not only does he link Ireland directly to Washington Irving, but he adds much of the witty repartee because of his innocence about modern-day society. In between his naps it is Rip Van Winkle's responsibility to help Ireland stop the Horseman and he does everything in his power to shed light on the mystery, even eating coffee and communicating with a ghost! Initially, Ireland feels Rip is a nuisance but a familial tenderness develops between them which we happily observe.
Crane's events are often unexpected and I particularly liked how Stacey Rourke connects the romance between Ichabod and Katrina, to Ireland and Noah.
This is a really good start to the Legends saga and I am now going on to read Raven.

One person found this helpful

Aoife

Just the right amount of creepiness and mystery

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 6, 2015

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When Ireland Crane moves to Sleepy Hollow, mysterious things start to happen. And those mysterious things include a headless horseman chopping off people's heads, weird dreams and a narcoleptic man who has, apparently, been asleep for centuries waiting for Ireland's arrival.

I don't the know much, or anything really, about the legends around Sleepy Hollow and the horseman, nor do I know the famous figures at the center of the story. However, I do love the show Sleepy Hollow so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Ichabod Crane was a central character in the story. Because I love the show and it's returned for a new season, I think I found it hard to separate the Ichabod and Katrina from the show, with the same characters in the book. But Rourke was able to out her own nice little flair on the story of the Headless Horseman and Crane's involvement.

The weird distance I felt with Ichabod spread to other characters as well, namely Ireland and Noah. Even at the end of the book, I didn't really feel I knew her. I think part of this may have been the mindset I was in while reading the book. I'm not sure if I really focused enough on the story, maybe if I was, I would have bonded with Ireland a little bit more. There were hints of her coming to Sleepy Hollow to get away from other things, and I just didn't feel that her douchey ex was all of that reason. I also hate the cliché of a douchey ex. Though the fridge story was funny.

A little bit of the descriptive language was a little bit too cringey for my taste. The "soft waves" of Katrina's blonde hair caressing her face like the sea on sand, and her satin soft skin. No thanks.

There was definitely a lot of action in the latter half of the book when Ireland finds some things out, and I really liked the addition of Rip as a character in the modern day world (and it reminded me of Ichabod's story in TV show Sleepy Hollow, minus the stress-induced narcolepsy). I do wish that maybe he had been more help but hopefully that will come in the next book. The two timelines started to come together nicely as the reader finds out more, though I'm still not 100% sure I get the whole "Hessian" thing but that's just me.

I will be continuing on with this series, if not to just gush about the beautiful covers.

Rachael Ross

Fantastic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2014

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Brilliantly written, well paced and leaves you hungry for more with every page. Essentially getting two stories in one with the 'truth' of the sleepy hollow legend and with the present day following Ireland.
Loved the story and moving straight into the second

LeanneC

Great read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2018

Verified Purchase

Despite loving the darker side of fiction I'm not a big fan of horror so I haven't ever delved into the tale of Sleepy Hollow and The Headless Horseman, in any way, shape or form. Obviously i know the basics, from seeing the film trailers but Crane is my first rodeo with the phantom rider.

I really enjoyed this story. Primarily i was pulled in by the fabulous cover artwork but once i got reading i just could not stop.
The way the author has twined the past, the legend of Ichabod Crane with her modern take is a real treat.
There is a lot of info to take in at times and this sometimes slowed the rhythm of the story but all in all this was a great introductuon for me to both the author and the legend.
I have already put books 2 and 3 on my wishlist to see what happens next!

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Crane (Legends Saga Book 1) Kindle Edition

From the Publisher

The Completed Legends Saga Series!

Excerpt from Crane, Legends Saga Book One

Excerpt from Raven, Legends Saga Book 2

Product details

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About the author

Stacey Rourke

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