I thought that this book was incredibly well done! I can be a bit of a mood reader and This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I thought that this book was incredibly well done! I can be a bit of a mood reader and decided to pick this one up when I was in the mood for a bit of horror. I was also hoping for something a little different, and I think this book fits that description. I know one thing for certain -I will never look at apples the same way again!
This story is told from multiple points of view. There are a lot of characters that play a key part in this story, and each of their perspectives adds a lot to the overall story. There were times that I had no idea which direction the story would take, and I loved the fact that there were some pretty big surprises worked into the plot. It was mind-boggling how a town could go so crazy over something as innocent as an apple.
The cast of narrators really knocked this one out of the park! I love the way each of the narrators was able to bring their characters to life. I never had any difficulty knowing which perspective the story had switched to, and I thought that their voices all complimented each other’s nicely. There were some pretty creepy scenes in this story and I thought that their narration really heightened that experience. I am certain that their performances added a lot to my enjoyment of this book.
I would recommend this book to fans of horror. This was the creepy apple book I didn’t know I needed. This story was full of surprises and enough scares to keep things very interesting, and I genuinely cared about the characters and hoped they would be okay in the end. I hope to read more of this author’s work soon.
I received a review copy of this book from Penguin Random House Audio....more
This was a great book! When I saw that this book was described as a Japanese-inspired JThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was a great book! When I saw that this book was described as a Japanese-inspired Jumanji, I knew that I had to get my hands on it. I was hooked by this story right away and found myself trying to carve out extra reading time in my day just to get back to the book a little faster. I loved the fact that the story was brutal at times and the setting was incredibly unique.
Madeline, Emerson, Owen, Dax, and Ian were best friends until things went horribly wrong during a game that left Ian missing and presumed dead. They are brought together again four years later after they see a vision of their lost friend. Realizing their friend may not be dead, they go back to the place where they lost him and are thrust back into a game that is more dangerous than they could ever imagine.
The story is told from 4 main points of view and I loved getting to see things from each of the main character’s perspectives. The odds were definitely stacked against this group of characters since the world they found themselves in was horrific at times. I was impressed by the fact that there were some pretty big surprises worked into this story that I did not see coming. It was great seeing the relationships between these characters strengthen over the course of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I was captivated by this entertaining novel with great characters and a perfectly creepy tone. I felt like the Japanese folklore added a wonderful element to this story. I hope to read more of this author’s work very soon.
I received a review copy of this book from Tor Teen....more
This was really good! I decided to listen to the Poe story just before jumping into thiThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was really good! I decided to listen to the Poe story just before jumping into this one and I must say that I prefer this retelling to the original. The House of Usher is dealing with some terrible things including the decline of Roderick and his sister Madeline. This story had all of the creepy goodness that I had hoped to find and proved to be an incredibly entertaining read.
This story is told from Easton’s point of view. Easton is a non-binary character and there is a complete set of pronouns specific to the story which are explained in detail. Easton goes to visit and meets Denton there, an American doctor. Easton’s trusty horse and a military friend join them on this visit. They start noticing some weird things immediately, including wildlife that doesn’t look just right. There is a bit of a mystery and some creepy happenings to contend with and I couldn’t wait to see how things would eventually work out.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a remarkable job in bringing this story to life. I think that this was the first time that I have listened to Avi Roque’s narration and I think that he was a perfect pick for this story. I thought that he added just the right amount of emotion into his reading. I do believe that his narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a fantastic take on a classic tale. I loved the creepy vibes and was hooked by this story. I cannot wait to read more of this talented author’s work.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was really good! I decided to listen to the Poe story just before jumping into this one and I must say that I prefer this retelling to the original. The House of Usher is dealing with some terrible things including the decline of both Roderick and his sister Madeline. Easton goes to visit and meets Denton there, an American doctor. There is a bit of a mystery and some creepy happenings to contend with. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a remarkable job in bringing this story to life.
This was really good! I decided to listen to the Poe story just before jumping into this one and I must say that I prefer this retelling to the original. The House of Usher is dealing with some terrible things including the decline of Roderick and his sister Madeline. This story had all of the creepy goodness that I had hoped to find and proved to be an incredibly entertaining read.
This story is told from Easton’s point of view. Easton is a non-binary character and there is a complete set of pronouns specific to the story which are explained in detail. Easton goes to visit and meets Denton there, an American doctor. Easton’s trusty horse and a military friend join them on this visit. They start noticing some weird things immediately, including wildlife that doesn’t look just right. There is a bit of a mystery and some creepy happenings to contend with and I couldn’t wait to see how things would eventually work out.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a remarkable job in bringing this story to life. I think that this was the first time that I have listened to Avi Roque’s narration and I think that he was a perfect pick for this story. I thought that he added just the right amount of emotion into his reading. I do believe that his narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a fantastic take on a classic tale. I loved the creepy vibes and was hooked by this story. I cannot wait to read more of this talented author’s work.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was really good! I decided to listen to the Poe story just before jumping into this one and I must say that I prefer this retelling to the original. The House of Usher is dealing with some terrible things including the decline of both Roderick and his sister Madeline. Easton goes to visit and meets Denton there, an American doctor. There is a bit of a mystery and some creepy happenings to contend with. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a remarkable job in bringing this story to life....more
This was great! I have read quite a few of Kelley Armstrong’s books over the years (notThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! I have read quite a few of Kelley Armstrong’s books over the years (not even close to the number that she has written though) so I was eager to dive into her newest offering. I was thrilled, and a bit surprised, to find that this book made me feel like I was watching a scary movie. It was such a delight to find that one of my favorite authors had written a horror novel and had done it amazingly well.
Laney owns a house on a private island that she rents out to strangers on vacation. She needs the money that the rentals bring in to be able to afford to keep it. Strange things have been happening on the island so she goes to check it out along with her niece. Her ex-husband Kit, his sister Jayla, and a few other friends also show up to help. Everything came together to form a recipe for the perfect creepy novel. I couldn’t wait to find out what was really happening on the island. I loved all of the creepy vibes and I wanted to scream at the characters when they ventured off into the woods alone. There is some relationship drama, and even a bit of romance, along with plenty of surprises worked into the story.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Angela Dawe did a fantastic job with this story. I loved the voices that she used for each of the characters that play a role in this story. I thought that she was able to bring just the right amount of emotion to her reading to leave me hanging on every word. I am certain that her performance added to my enjoyment of this story. Overall, this was a wonderful read and I hope that Ms. Armstrong plans to tackle more horror in the future!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press....more
This was fantastic! Sam needs a place to stay for a while so she goes home to her motheThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fantastic! Sam needs a place to stay for a while so she goes home to her mother only to find that things have taken a strange turn. Her mother is not acting like herself and the house seems to have reverted to the way it was when her grandmother was still living. Not to mention the fact that vultures have taken up residence in the neighborhood. I really had a blast with this audiobook from beginning to end.
I love the thread of humor woven throughout the story and couldn’t wait to find out what was really going on. I liked how Sam’s expertise in entomology plays a role in the book and some of her observations raised a lot of questions. I thought the story was incredibly original and I loved that every time I thought I had things figured out, I quickly realized that I was completely wrong.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Mary Robinette Kowal did an excellent job with the story. I found her voice to be very pleasant and I liked the voices she used for the various characters in this story. She did a great job of adding just the right amount of excitement into her reading which helped to bring the story to life. I believe that her narration added to my enjoyment of this wonderful story.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. I thought that many great elements came together to tell a very original and entertaining story. I hope to read more of T. Kingfisher’s work very soon.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio....more
I thought that this was very well done. This is one of those books that doesn’t fit nicThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I thought that this was very well done. This is one of those books that doesn’t fit nicely into any single genre box. There were elements of horror, some coming of age, a little bit of fantasy, and even a dose of romance. I thought all of these elements came together to tell a story that was almost impossible to put down. I had a great time with this well-crafted story.
The world has suffered an outbreak that has everyone on edge. Mia’s mom, Izzy, is a victim of this illness and now must live as a vampire (although I don’t think that the word vampire is ever used in the book). The story is told from two different points in time 2010 when Mia was a child and her mother was first turned, and the present day. Mia has been through so much in order to protect her mother and I really wanted to see her start to live for herself. I thought that Mia was a great character and my heart really went out to her. She starts to wake up and think about her own needs when she meets Jade and I loved seeing Mia making plans for the future.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Chase Sui Wonders did a fabulous job with the story. I think that this is the first time that I have had the chance to listen to this narrator’s work and I enjoyed her performance. I thought that her voice was very pleasant and I had no problem listening to her narration for hours at a time. I am certain that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a unique and entertaining vampire story. I was quickly invested in Mia’s life and was eager to see things work out for her. I hope to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and Tor Nightfire....more
Based on the cover alone, I knew that this book was going to be amazing. I wasn’t sure This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
Based on the cover alone, I knew that this book was going to be amazing. I wasn’t sure if it would be amazingly good or amazingly bad so I am quite pleased to report that it definitely falls into the good category for me. Now, this is not going to be a book for everyone but I really enjoyed it. I had hoped that it would be a little different when I picked it up and it was just that. It is gory, violent, and disturbing all rolled into one neat little package. I just couldn’t stop listening once I started.
Maeve spends her days working as a princess at Disneyland but her time away from work is often a bit more depraved. I don’t think that there is much that Maeve is unwilling to do and I really enjoyed just sitting back and waiting to see what she might do next. When she meets her best friend’s brother, Gideon, they seem to have an instant connection. I just loved the fact that basically, anything could happen within the pages of this novel.
This is the first time that I have had the opportunity to listen to Sosia Bacon’s work as a narrator and I must say that I was quite impressed. She really brought this story to life and added a layer of excitement through her reading. She had a very pleasant voice that was easy to listen to for hours at a time. I do believe that her narration added to my enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to horror fans. I loved that this was a different kind of story that ended up being full of surprises. Maeve was not a nice character but I found that I liked her anyway. I will be on the lookout for future works by this talented author.
I received a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and Tor Nightfire....more
I really enjoyed this one! I am a bit surprised by just how much I liked it and am kickThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I really enjoyed this one! I am a bit surprised by just how much I liked it and am kicking myself for waiting so long to read this book. I think that I have seen pieces of the movie but have never sat down to watch the whole thing so I wasn’t overly familiar with the story. I have only read a handful of King’s work and I thought it would be interesting to go back and read his debut novel. I have to say that his talent was evident from the beginning.
I felt bad for Carrie right from the start. Her home life was absolutely horrible and the way that she was treated at school only made things worse. Carrie lives with her extremely religious mother and is forced to follow a harsh set of rules. After an incident in the high school locker room, Carrie is ready to push back against her mother. Things reach a climax at the high school prom when Carrie is crowned queen. She has recently rediscovered her telekinetic power and she has had enough. By the time the night is over, it will be a night the town will never forget.
I thought that Sissy Spacek did a fantastic job with the narration. This isn’t the first time that Ms. Spacek has brought this character to life and I thought that she was the ideal choice to voice this audiobook. I thought that she was able to add just the right amount of emotion and excitement to her reading. I do believe that her performance added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. This is one of King’s shorter works but it packs a big punch. I ended up listening to this book in a single day simply because I didn’t want to put it down. I cannot wait to read more of this author’s work.
I liked this book quite a bit and thought it was really original. This is only the secoThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I liked this book quite a bit and thought it was really original. This is only the second time I have picked up a Grady Hendrix book, but it will definitely not be my last. I was hooked by this story and couldn’t wait to find out what was happening in this house. I really loved the fact that there is a thread of humor woven throughout the book. This was definitely one of those books that could be almost impossible to set aside.
When Louise learns that her parents have died, she goes to California to help her brother Mark settle the estate. To say that I didn’t care for Mark at the beginning of this book is a huge understatement. Louise and Mark clash over just about every decision regarding their parents’ death, funeral, and how to deal with their belongings. Mark wants to get rid of everything and sell the house as soon as possible but it quickly becomes obvious that something more sinister than a bunch of dolls is going on in the house. But if you are looking for creepy dolls….this book is full of those!
I really liked the way that the relationship between Louise and Mark grows and changes over the course of the story. It was great seeing them work together as a team. There were some pretty intense scenes in this book and I have to admit that one scene made me cringe a bit which rarely happens. I was very curious about how everything would be resolved and I was impressed by just how satisfying the ending was.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Jay Aaseng and Mikhaila Aaseng did a great job with the story. The bulk of the book was read by the female narrator which made sense since most of the book is from Louise’s point of view. I thought that they both did a great job of bringing these characters to life. I definitely believe that the narration added to my overall enjoyment of this book.
I would recommend this book to others. The story was a little different than I expected but that wasn’t a bad thing. I was completely entertained by this story from beginning to end and am quite relieved that my mother’s home is not full of creepy dolls. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work soon.
I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.
Initial Thoughts I liked the story for the most part and thought that it was really original. I liked seeing how much Louise's relationship with her brother Mark changes over the course of the story. I appreciated the humor that was worked into the plot. I thought that this book filled with family secrets, puppets, and just the right amount of creepiness was an overall good time. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrators did a fantastic job with the story....more
I really enjoyed this book! I love a good spooky story so the idea of a book written abThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I really enjoyed this book! I love a good spooky story so the idea of a book written about a TV show out hunting ghosts sounded just like my thing. Once I started reading, I was not happy when it was time to set the book down and go to work because I could have easily read for hours. The book is told through journal entries, transcripts, and other documents which worked very well and gave the reader an idea of what each member of the team was thinking or feeling at any given moment. The story definitely kept me guessing and the surprises just never stopped. I am so glad that I decided to pick up this book!
Matt, Claire, Jessica, Kevin, and Jake are all a part of the Fade to Black team that is filming its 13th episode at Foundation House. Each member of the team plays an important role in the show and they are hoping for something big to happen to help secure a second season. As I worked my way through this book, I was on the edge of my seat wondering what might happen next. I loved how imaginative the story was and I thought that the creepy vibes were off the charts.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. I tend to be a fan of books written in the epistolary style of writing and this book was no exception. I hope to check out other books written by this talented author.
I received a review copy of this book from Redhook Books....more
This was really good! I was in the mood for something a little creepy and this book setThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was really good! I was in the mood for something a little creepy and this book set on Halloween night 1984 was just what I needed. It did take me a minute to really get into the story since there are a lot of characters to get to know and keep straight but it didn’t take long for me to be hooked. There was a lot going on in this book and I couldn’t wait to find out how everything would turn out.
There was so much drama in this neighborhood that could have played a part in my worst nightmare, not to mention the actual threat of the creepy kids showing up and The Cunning Man. The book is told from various points of view of different people living in the neighborhood it is set in. I liked that we get a variety of perspectives from a wide range of characters since it really paints a clear picture of what is going on. There was a lot of intense family drama in addition to the threat to the lives of the people that encounter The Cunning Man.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Ronnie Butler and January LaVoy did a great job with the story. I have enjoyed January LaVoy’s narration in the past but I believe this was my first time listening to Ronnie Butler. I think that they both handled a large cast of characters very well and really helped to bring the story to life. I thought that their voices complemented each other incredibly well and I can certain that their narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I loved the ’80s setting and the creepy vibe that was present throughout the story. I thought that the story had a lot of excitement along with more than a few surprises. I would definitely read more of this talented author’s work.
I received a digital review copy of this book from OrangeSky Audio and St. Martin’s Press....more
I found this book to be incredibly entertaining! I picked this book up largely because This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I found this book to be incredibly entertaining! I picked this book up largely because it has a rather catchy title but I didn’t really know what to expect. I ended up reading the book cover to cover in a single day so I guess you could say that it was a winner for me. I did figure out the big twist before it was revealed in the story but there were still plenty of surprised to keep things interesting. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try.
Alice knows more about horror movies than anyone else. If you want to know how to be a final girl, she’s the person you need on your side. Unfortunately, her knowledge couldn’t save her sister who was murdered at a Halloween party and Alice is the only witness. Just as Alice is ready to testify against her sister’s killer, she is transported back to the day of the crime and has the chance to save her sister. Alice soon learns that not everything was as she thought it was that day.
This book was rather exciting. I thought that all of the references to horror movies were a lot of fun. I was fully invested in the mystery surrounding the killer and wanted to see Alice stop him. The story is really fast-paced and it doesn’t take too long for the body counts to begin to rise. I loved the time travel aspect of the story and it was obvious how much Alice wanted to change the events of the day that her sister died.
I would recommend this book to others. I had fun with this tale which often felt like a horror film. It was great to see Alice work to make things right. I wouldn’t hesitate to read more of this talented author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Razorbill....more
This was a fantastic collection of stories! I have been a fan of C.J.Tudor’s writing evThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was a fantastic collection of stories! I have been a fan of C.J.Tudor’s writing ever since I first got my hands on a copy of The Chalk Man several years ago. When I saw that she had a collection of stories being published, I couldn’t wait to dive in. I was not disappointed because I liked every single story in this book.
If I were to rate each story individually, I would give each of the either 4 or 5 stars. All of the stories were creepy enough to completely capture my interest. There is a little bit of everything here including a not-so-dreamy cruise, dangerous graffiti, a scary not quite abandoned building, a real estate transaction gone wrong, and even a butterfly sanctuary that could give you nightmares. really liked that the author wrote an intro to each of the stories that gave some insights into how the story came to be.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. I would be hard-pressed to pick a favorite story out of this collection and thought that each and every story in this book was well worth a read. I cannot wait to read more of this author’s work!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group....more
I had such a hard time putting this book down! A group of suburban moms is left to dealThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had such a hard time putting this book down! A group of suburban moms is left to deal with the demonic possession of their good friend. The odds were against this group of ladies but I loved watching them tackle things that seemed impossible that they weren’t even sure that they believed. I found this story to be incredibly entertaining.
This story is told from Amy’s perspective. Amy is part of a group of 4 neighborhood women who do everything together. When Liz breaks ground on a She Shed for the group to use, things go horribly wrong for her. It is up to Amy, Melissa, and Jess to figure out what is going on and save their friend. There were quite a few strange happenings that kept the story incredibly interesting. I loved the mystery behind what was happening and really hoped to see the group find a way to save their friend.
I really liked the characters. I could relate to so much of their suburban mom life from juggling kids, trying to fit in, and trying to avoid the PTO. I loved how different each of these women was and liked the fact that their friendship felt very genuine. Amy’s husband, Mark, was awesome and seemed ready to support Amy no matter what. Amy’s kids even played a role that added some key pieces to the puzzle.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought it was a fun story that kept the surprises coming while keeping me glued to the pages. I wouldn’t hesitate to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
Initial Thoughts I had a hard time putting this book down! A group of suburban moms is left to deal with the demonic possession of their good friend. The odds were against this group of ladies but I loved watching them tackle things that seemed impossible that they weren't even sure that they believed. The story is told from Amy's perspective and I really liked her along with Melissa and Jess. Amy's husband, Mark, was really awesome as well. This was an entertaining novel that explored the true power of friendship....more
I loved this book! Ava Reid’s debut, The Wolf and the Woodsman, was one of my favorite This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I loved this book! Ava Reid’s debut, The Wolf and the Woodsman, was one of my favorite books in 2021 so to say that I was excited to read this book is an understatement. I couldn’t wait to dive into this story and once I did I read almost the entire book in a single day simply because I didn’t want to put it down. This is a very dark tale and I would encourage readers to check out the content warnings before picking this one up.
This story is told from the point of view of a young witch, Marlinchen, who lives with her father, a wizard living under a curse. Marlinchen and her two older sisters must deal with his cruel ways but they have found a way to escape to the city to see the ballet while he sleeps. This is where she meets Sevas, the principal dancer in the show. Even though Marlinchen isn’t as beautiful as her two older sisters, she wins the eye of the young dancer. The world that Marlinchen and Sevas live in is often cruel and decisions about their lives are frequently made by others but they hope to change that.
I grew to like Marlinchen pretty quickly and hated the way she was treated. I really wanted to see some positive changes come into her life. She worked so hard to keep her father happy and was never appreciated. The story itself was exciting. There were some pretty big surprises that came into play in the story. Because of Marlinchen’s father’s magic, anything could happen in this tale which kept things really interesting. I thought that the writing was excellent and loved the way that the vivid descriptions helped to bring the story to life.
I would recommend this book to others. This was an incredibly imaginative and well-written tale that kept me glued to the pages. I have not read The Juniper Tree so I can’t say how this book compares but it was an entertaining read on its own. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work in the future.
I received an advanced review copy of this book from Harper Voyager.
Initial Thoughts I read almost all of this book in a single day. I just didn't want to put it down! I loved Ava Reid's debut, The Wolf and the Woodsman, and was eager to dive into this book. This is a very dark story told from the point of view of a young witch, Marlinchen, who lives with her father, a wizard living under a curse. I grew to like Marlinchen pretty quickly and hated the way she was treated. There were a few really big surprises that came into play before the story drew to a close. This was an incredibly imaginative and well-written tale. ...more
I enjoyed this one! After enjoying The Last House on Needless Street, I was eager to trThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this one! After enjoying The Last House on Needless Street, I was eager to try more of Catriona Ward’s work so I jumped at the chance to read this book. I was hooked by this story from the very beginning and it delivered all of the twisty horror that I hoped for. This was definitely a page-turner that shouldn’t be missed.
This story is told in two timelines from both Rob and her daughter Callie’s points of view. This is one of those stories that in order to understand what is going on in the present you must first understand what happened years ago. Rob’s life hasn’t been easy and the more that I learned the more I realized just how unorthodox her existence has been. Callie is just a little girl but her actions are more than a little concerning. I felt like Rob was doing the right thing when she decided to take Callie to Sundial to get to the bottom of things.
I was completely taken with this story. Rob’s childhood home of Sundial was a place where experiments were performed by Rob’s parents and other scientists. Rob had a twin sister, Jack, and the pair were inseparable until they got a little older. They spent their days on the ranch watching the dogs that were being experimented on and caring for the cows that helped to support their needs. Just when I thought that things couldn’t get worse, I would learn something that proved just how wrong I was.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I thought that the writing was wonderfully done and the story captivated me until the very end. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work in the future.
I received an advanced review copy of this book from Tor Nightfire....more
This was great! Who knew that I needed science fiction horror in my life?! I was more tThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! Who knew that I needed science fiction horror in my life?! I was more than ready for every creepy moment this book had to offer and had a really hard time putting the book down once I started reading. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was happening to Claire and her crew. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try.
Claire and her small crew are finishing up their last mission when they encounter a distress signal. They decide to check it out and are shocked to discover a luxury ship that has been missing for 20 years. They decide to make a claim on the ship which means they must retrieve something specific to the ship to prove their claim. Strange things start happening from the moment they board the ship. The more time they spend on the ship the worse things get. Each member of the 5 person crew is seeing things that are not there and hearing things all while surrounded by evidence of the horror that came before.
I loved the way that this book kept me guessing. I wanted to know what was going on with Claire and the rest of the team. I was also very curious about what happened that caused the ship to go missing so many years ago. Claire was a complex character with a very interesting past. The story was incredibly exciting with enough action and suspense to keep me glued to the pages. I liked the way that the book was laid out in two timelines so that some of the things that would happen were foreshadowed but even more questions were raised.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I found this to be an intense and thrilling read that kept me guessing and left me speechless. I will definitely be looking for more work by this talented author.
I received an advanced review copy of this book from Tor Nightfire....more
I thought that this novella was okay. In other words, I liked it but I didn’t love it. This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I thought that this novella was okay. In other words, I liked it but I didn’t love it. Before I get too far into the review can we take a moment to talk about this cover? Isn’t it awesome? I was excited to dive into this story and I did enjoy it but feel that it was ultimately quite forgettable.
The premise of 5 friends coming together to have a wedding inside a haunted house was interesting. The fact that it is a Japanese haunted house where years ago a bride-to-be was buried in the foundation was even more so. It doesn’t take long for some strange things to happen and just when you think things can’t get weirder they do. I loved the sense of unease that ran throughout the story.
The 5 friends are barely that and the issues between some of the group made me wonder who thought it would be a good idea for these 5 people to take a trip together. Of course, the tension between many of the characters added to the unease of the story. Our narrator, Cat, has had some issues in the past and I wish that we learned a bit more about what really happened and a little more backstory about all of the characters that made an appearance in the story.
I found this to be a worthwhile shorter read. There were parts of the story that were rather confusing but nothing that I would call scary. I found this to be an entertaining enough story even if it didn’t blow me away. I wouldn’t hesitate to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received an advanced review copy of this book from Tor Nightfire.
Initial Thoughts This was okay. I liked it enough to keep reading but it is a book that will be easy to forget. The premise of 5 friends coming together to have a wedding inside a haunted house was interesting. The fact that it is a Japanese haunted house where years ago a bride-to-be was buried in the foundation was even more so. The 5 friends are barely that and the issues between some of the group made me wonder who thought it would be a good idea for these 5 people to take a trip together. There were parts of the story that were rather confusing but nothing that I would call scary. I found this to be an entertaining enough story even if it didn't blow me away....more
What a book! I decided to read this book after hearing some good things about it. It haThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
What a book! I decided to read this book after hearing some good things about it. It had been a while since I last read horror so I was more than ready to dive into this story. The story started out tame enough but before long things become very intense and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a read.
When Nate’s dying father offers to sell him his childhood home for a single dollar, he is hesitant but his wife, Maddie, and son, Oliver, convince him that it is the right move. It doesn’t take long before the family starts to see some strange things but they like their new neighbor, Jed, and Oliver has made friends, including an older boy named Jake. Before long, the family is in grave danger, and deciding who they can trust proves to be difficult.
This book was full of surprises. I quickly found that anything was possible and it became impossible to guess what might happen next so I just buckled up and enjoyed the ride. I loved that the book kept me guessing and I enjoyed the fact that there was plenty of action to keep the story moving forward. This was a big story with a lot of layers and I enjoyed seeing everything start to come together as I worked my way through the book. I really liked Nate, Maddie, and Oliver so it was easy to want to see things work out for them.
I would recommend this book to others. This was a really well-done story where almost anything could and sometimes did happen. I should mention that there is a fair amount of violence that may not work for all readers. I definitely plan to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley....more
I really enjoyed this book! This is a big book and somewhat intimidating due to its lenThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really enjoyed this book! This is a big book and somewhat intimidating due to its length. It is a big story though and I felt like all of those pages really were necessary. I have not read this author's previous novel but as soon as I saw this book, I knew that I needed to get my hands on a copy. My instincts were right and this book ended up being a wonderful experience.
Christopher and his mother, Kate, begin this journey in the middle of the night fleeing Kate's abusive boyfriend. They end up in a small town in Pennsylvania where Kate starts a job at the nursing home and Christopher starts making friends at school. They live in a hotel room and Christopher appreciates all of the small things his mother does for him. Then Christopher goes missing for an entire week and everything changes.
This is Christopher's story but it is also the story of all of the town's residents. We get to learn the backgrounds, the secrets, and motivations for all of the key players in town. Each piece of knowledge adds to the overall story and I loved it when a piece of the puzzle snapped into place. I thought that the story was really imaginative and there were some pretty amazing twists that I never saw coming. The cast of characters was quite large and very well done.
Christine Lakin did a fabulous job with the narration. She handled a very large cast of characters incredibly well with each character sounding unique. I thought that she added a lot of excitement into the story as well as the character's emotions. She has a very pleasant voice that was easy to listen to for hours at a time. This was my first experience in listening to her narration work and I was very impressed.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought this was a very well done story that was entertaining from beginning to end. I am thinking it might finally be time to give The Perks of Being a Wallflower at try.
I received a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing and I borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.
Initial Thoughts I liked this book. I have not read The Perks of Being a Wallflower so I had the opportunity to look at this book with fresh eyes. Chbosky is most definitely a fine storyteller. There is a whole lot going on in this book and I loved it when a piece of the overall puzzle would snap into place. I felt fully immersed in this world and wanted nothing more than to see Christopher come out of everything better than when he went in. I listened to the audiobook and I thought that the narrator did a fantastic job with this story. ...more
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