Review: Darker Shadows Lie Below

Darker Shadows Lie Below by Al Barrera

My rating: 2 of 5 stars




I received a free copy of Darker Shadows Lie Below in return for an honest review.

I'm not feeling this one, it's dragging out too much. I'm 50% in and it's not been holding my attention. I keep putting it down and picking it up hoping that it will catch my interest but it's not.

It feels like nothing is happening or it's not happening fast enough. Dr Kent seems to have done nothing but drive back and forth to the hospital, suffer from insomnia/nightmares, moan a lot and talk to a few patients.

It's not that it's a bad story, it may pick up in the second half, it's just not doing it for me. I'm not feeling the atmosphere at all, which it should have tons of considering the building and the kind of story it is. I can't connect to the characters at all, they feel dull and boring. I keep finding myself thinking of the other books I could be reading instead, when I should be enjoying what I'm reading.


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Review: Exorcist Road

Exorcist Road by Jonathan Janz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




I received a copy of Exorcist Road from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I was hooked on this one right from the first few pages. I didn't want it to finish, I kept putting it down to try and put off the inevitable but I was picking it right back up again, I just couldn't help myself.

It's hard to read a story about exorcism without thinking about The Exorcist by William Blattey, it's the one that all others have to compete with and be compared to and I have to admit I found myself doing the same when I started the book. I wasn't comparing it for long though, all thoughts of comparison flew out the window and I was drawn in completely. Exorcist Road may be a story about exorcism but it also has an underlying mystery which gives it something original, as a result not only are you focused on the possession but you're also trying to pick up on clues to try and solve the mystery. Someone is torturing and killing 16 year old girls and it is believed to be the young boy possessed, but is it?

The story is told by the voice of Father Crowder and is done very well. I was both captivated and horrified by his account, his voice draws you in and holds your attention as he recounts his experience of that awful night. The characters are well developed, they each have have their own demons to fight in the face of the true demon, one who thrives on using their personal demons against them.

I read this book in one sitting, just when I thought I knew the answers and where it was going, the twists and turns got me every time. It was gruesome, fascinating, gory and disturbing and it kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I think this may be a new addition to my favourites of 2014 shelf and I really hope there will be more to come for Father Crowder!


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Release Special: The Seance: A Gothic Tale of Horror and Misfortune by Jack Rollins.

I was fortunate to have a chance to read and review an ARC of The Seance and I enjoyed it very much, you can find my review here. The Seance is due out on the 31st of October, it's a perfect Halloween read , so be sure to grab yourself a copy and settle down for a good creepy read.

The Victorian age of credulity saw the rise of Spiritualism, and with it a slew of shysters and fraudsters seeking out the vulnerable with promises of establishing contact with otherworldly forces.

Albert Kench returns to London, where he seeks to discover the true nature of his sister's sudden mental illness. What he discovers takes him beyond the illusions of the tricksters, and into the path of a man with true knowledge of the Dark Arts.

 All Albert has to do is believe...

           Amazon UK                                 Amazon

I really enjoy the writing style of Jack Rollins, the tales he weaves are both original and atmospherically dark and gothic. The way he builds the Victorian age and atmosphere in his stories pulls me effortlessly into another time and place.

I have always been fascinated by spiritualism and the mediums of the Victorian era. There's just something about it that captures my imagination. Reading Seance was like bringing all those old black and white photographs - of darkened rooms with candles, of people sitting round tables holding hands to contact the dead, of spectral ectoplasm and tables tipping - to life.

Table-turning or table-tipping is a type of séance in which participants sit around a table, place their hands on it, and wait for rotations. The table was purportedly made to serve as a means of communicating with the spirits; the alphabet would be slowly called over and the table would tilt at the appropriate letter, thus spelling out words and sentences.

 

If you're not already tempted to go and grab that copy, let me give you a little sneak peek at the first few pages:

When I arrived at the gates of Oakbridge Asylum, I could not have been more surprised. Through the sculpted iron gates, my eyes discovered what looked like a stately manor, rather than a place for society to hide its idiots, lunatics and madmen. Prior to that time, I’d had little need to visit such a place and so the mind had always conjured up images of shackled living skeletons howling and screaming long into the night.

     This thought may at first seem like nothing to anyone else, but when one attends the asylum to see one’s sister, well, the mind simply races.

     A man in a navy blue uniform, with waistcoat, cap and bow tie opened the gate. He glanced at a small slip of paper in his hand and asked, “Mr Albert Kench, is it?”

     “Yes,” I replied.

     “Follow me,” he said, opening the gate further, so that I could pass.

     “I am John Hayward. Dr Ellis said you were coming today, and I am at your service.”

     “’Obliged. One of the guards, are you, Mr Hayward?” I asked.

     Hayward frowned at me and shook his head. “Guards? No guards here, Mr Kench. I’m an attendant. I work in the gentlemen’s wing, and I am captain of the male attendant’s cricket team, as well as trumpeter with the asylum band.”

     “No guards?” I asked, barely registering the other parts of Hayward’s response. “Why, who keeps the lunatics in?”

     Hayward chuckled and spread his arms out to either side, drawing my attention to the cultivated gardens at either side of the road. “Keep them in? Who would want to leave? The only thing we would need guards for is to keep others out, sir. The patients have been through enough, without the outside world burdening them further.”

    I was stunned, and for a few moments I was in silence. Here we were in an island of tranquillity in the North West of London. I did not know whether it was the fact that the sun was able to permeate the thick atmosphere this far from the city proper, or the sound of the birds singing in the trees to my left and right, but for a moment I felt as though I would never leave Oakbridge.

     “You said ‘gentlemen’ before. That explains the beauty of the grounds,” I said, assuming myself to at last be on the same track as Hayward.

     Hayward stopped, his moustache raising at the sides as he smiled. I had amused him, it seemed. “Mr Kench, we refer to all of the men who live here, low-born or high-born, as gentlemen. And all of the ladies are ladies to us. You are here to see Sally, yes?”

     “I am.”

     “Your sister?” Hayward guessed, still smiling, eyebrows raised in anticipation of my response.

     “Yes, Sally is my sister.”

     “Perhaps, when your visit with poor Sally is over, you will better understand the ethos of our beloved Oakbridge. Perhaps you will understand that when I play the trumpet for the asylum band, there are two trumpeters next to me who are more capable than me, but who are called insane and idiot by the world outside. There is a man who can drum better than any I have heard, who lives here very safely, but who wanted to bring his own life to an end out there in that cruel city.

     “Perhaps you will come to understand how it was that last Sunday the patient cricket team beat the attendants most decisively, and how we will do our damned best, beg your pardon, to beat them this Sunday if the Lord sees fit to withhold the rain.” Hayward continued to walk up the road, and I followed him, quite dumbstruck at how… improper it seemed that high-born and low should be so closely associated in a place that concerned their private health.

 The Seance is available now on Amazon and other stores to pre-order and will be released on the 31st October. Don't miss out on a great Victorian horror!

Review: The Unearthed

The Unearthed by Evan Ronan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




I received a copy of The Unearthed from the author in return for an honest review.

The premise of this one really intrigued me, I do love a good haunting or supernatural story. This read in a way like an episode of a supernatural investigation series that you would watch on TV. You have the Rosselli family living in the Moriarty house. A house where previously there had been a massacre and only the youngest child of the family survived. Then we have Tim and Eddie McCloskey and their team of local ghost hunters, whom the Rosselli's call in for help.

The characters in this book are very well developed, they each have their own story and background and are all weaved together in a way that makes for a good story. There was one thing that kind of irked me, the author has inserted himself in the story as a local author who has been working on writing a book about the massacre. The group contacts him for some information to help them with their investigation. Moira one of the investigation team, who seems to be the female version of that single male who objectifies women that you find in many books/films etc, which annoyed the hell out of me. I mean cmon, she's supposed to be shy but she's looking at every male she meets like he's her last meal or she's on heat. I didn't see a point to her behaving that way at all, it felt like she was thrown in with this trait because most of the characters were male and this is how it would work if it was the other way around. Anyway, back to what I was saying, Moira sees Evan and thinks to herself if only he were 5 years younger. I'm not sure why the author would do this because it does portray a bit of ego when reading it and I found myself feeling embarrassed for him knowing that others would probably come to the same conclusion.

The story centers around the characters and their reactions more than it does on the actual haunting, it's a look at their lives and how they react, cope and deal with the situations they are placed in. The actual haunting itself and events that take place in the house are not really a big part of the tale and didn't create the creepy atmosphere I was hoping for. However, it was a good story, I enjoyed the characters and The Unearthed was a pretty good paranormal thriller. I would have liked a few more chills and haunting atmosphere to it but I would definitely read more from this author.

I would rate this around 3.5 stars but rounded up to 4 as there is no half stars.



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Review: On the Lips of Children

On the Lips of Children by Mark Matthews

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




Hmm I don't know what I want to say about this one, I've been sat thinking about it for a while trying to decide what it was that about this book that didn't gel with me. I enjoyed it but at the same time I didn't enjoy it.

I found Macons inner dialogue got a bit too much for me, it felt like it went on forever at times. I wasn't a fan of all the marathon stuff to be honest and I found myself skipping bits.

The story was graphic, twisted and definitely original. There was a dark, claustrophobic atmosphere that really brought out the intensity of the story. I preferred when it was concentrated on the cave scenes and the cannibalism. I feel I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the marathon stuff was watered down some, all that inner dialogue just dragged for me.

One thing that did bother me throughout was how Lyric was portrayed, she's 6 years old and she's in a stroller, which is fair enough as they were running and of course she couldn't keep up. However what 6 year old can't get out a stroller on their own when they have to? My kids could get out of a stroller in seconds at half Lyric's age. Her persona felt all over the place, her parents treated her like she was a lot younger, yet her inner dialogue seemed that of an older child. It wasn't consistent or believable at all.

The ending felt rushed and incomplete. I mean cmon what happened? We have two families and we don't know what happens to either of them in the end. It was like the last chapter was missing. Sort it out Mark, you can't leave us not knowing!

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Review: Gypsy Hunted

Gypsy Hunted by Andrea Drew

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



I received a copy of Gypsy Hunted via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book but unfortunately I had to give up and add it to my DNF pile.

There is no flow to the writing and it's in bad need of proof reading and editing by someone who knows what they are doing. The grammar and punctuation, or lack of in places, make the sentences choppy in parts and too long in others. It was very frustrating as many sentences didn't make sense at all and it's virtually impossible to follow the storyline. There was also a lot of repetitive use of words too close together in one sentence, and starting multiple consecutive sentences with the same word.

The lack of punctuation created lots of the 'Let's eat Grandma!' effect. I had to reread sentences so many times just to try and understand what was being said or who was doing what.

A few examples of some of the problems mentioned above...

1. I spoke through flattened lips, past my neck in which a vein was pulsing and engorged.

2. Most likely here the doctors and nurse would be of goodwill, although not always.

3. I glanced at the redhead curling my fingers to scrape my hair back.

4. Her dark hair was just the same as it had always been, her hair part poking through amongst the mess her mouth set in a grimace, accepting all that was barely tolerable.

5. Long, straw-colored hair fell across her face, her wrists were tied, and through her mouth, gagged with duct tape, she was struggling to make some semblance of noise.

6. “Hey, Gyp, saw you get a business card. Geez doesn’t take you long, girl. Hope you wore matching undies tonight.” Rita swigged down half a glass of wine in one gulp. Her narrow face was mocking me. She rolled her eyes as she set her wine glass on the shelf, and then pushed her hands out to warm them at the open fire. “Piss off, Rita, jealousy makes you ugly.” I lowered my chin to look at her, my feet apart in a fighting stance. Then, letting it go, I turned to Chloe, who was struggling not to show her delight."

I hate to give up on a book but unfortunately, with all the problems I had with this one, I had to admit defeat. I don't understand the 5 star reviews this book has, after reading the book I can't justify their ratings, they really aren't doing the author any favours by not being honest about the problems in the book.





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Review: Fog Warning

Fog Warning by Edward Lorn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




I received a copy of Fog Warning from the author in return for an honest review. I really enjoy Edwards books and I dropped everything else I was reading at the time in order to get to this one asap.

There is just something about the way Edward Lorn writes, it's very easy to read, to relate to and to enjoy. There's no effort to reading his work, the pages just grab you and you fly through them, you can just sit back and lose yourself in the story and enjoy it. The only words I can find to describe reading one of his books is... It's like sitting down with a friend, it's familiar, comfortable and good company no matter how scary or horrifying the plot of the book is.

Fog Warning has plenty of gory cringe worthy moments, creepy hair on the back of your neck moments and plenty sarcasm and wit that will have you chuckling. The dialogue was great, it feels natural, almost like you're overhearing a conversation. The story itself creates a creepy atmosphere and just when you think you know what's going on it throws in an unexpected twist, ones that I certainly didn't see coming. Edward does a great job of playing your emotions when it comes to the main character, at times you think he's an idiot and deserves all he gets, then he has you feeling for him and wanting him to succeed.

I have so many highlights in this book, I couldn't help but highlight many sentences and descriptions as they were impressively written and expressed. There was one short description of an event that happened that I read and reread, I was literally in awe with the way it was written. It made me catch my breath and I could feel the tension creep up on me. Even reading it now, it still has the same effect.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, it's an easy 5 stars from me and it has earned a place on my favourite shelf.

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Review: The Burning Girl: A Whispers Story

The Burning Girl: A Whispers Story by Lisa Unger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




I received a copy of The Burning Girl: A Whispers Story (The Whispers #2) from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Having loved The Whispers: A Whispers Story (The Whispers, #1) I jumped into part two immediately on finishing it.

Part two takes place 10 years further down the line from where the first one finishes. Eloise has moved on, as well as anyone can, from the devastation of losing her husband and oldest daughter. She's using her gift to help people but still finds herself struggling to come to terms with what is happening to her. As if things can't get any worse, the burning girl makes an appearance.

I must admit I feel like part two made a huge jump in time. I would have liked to have known a little more about what happened between the first book and the second. I would have loved to know how Eloise and her daughter came to terms with her gifts, how she started using them in the beginning. I also would have liked to have known a bit more about how her daughter moved on, how she got to be where she is part two.

However, despite the above, I enjoyed this one. It isn't as emotional as the first but it does pull on the heart strings in places. You can feel and sympathise with how hectic and unsettling Eloise's life still is. The burning girl isn't what she seems and I really liked how the tension built around her character as the story progressed. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I'll just say I'm really keen to see where the story is going to go in part three in regards to Eloise's family.

Another great short in the Whispers collection. The only negative I can really say, is that it was finished before I knew it. I want part three!

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Review: The Whispers: A Whispers Story

The Whispers: A Whispers Story by Lisa Unger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




I received a copy of The Whispers from the publisher in return for an honest review.

The Whispers is the first book by Lisa Unger that I have read and it won't be the last. This was such a great read, I was pulled in right from the first page.

The characters in this book are so easy to care for and their experiences tugs on your heart strings. I am not ashamed to admit I shed a few tears while reading this one. The main character Eloise, my heart broke for her. I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to go through losing your husband and oldest child, never mind both on the same day. The way Eloise's story is told is expressed so well, I could feel her pain. Not only the pain of losing two family members but the pain of watching her youngest try to deal with what happened.

In the aftermath of events when Eloise and her daughter are trying to recover and move forward with their life, Eloise starts to hear and see things she can't understand and isn't even sure are real. The confusion and doubt portrayed during and after these events adds to the emotional turmoil of her life. Is it real? Am I losing my mind? Do I tell someone? Can she really help these lost and hurt women who only she can see and hear?

I loved the premise of this book and was not disappointed on reading it. The Whispers was an emotional read, it was both heart-warming and heartbreaking, you'll smile, you'll shed a tear and you'll keep turning those pages.

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Review: Figures of Fear: An Anthology

Figures of Fear: An Anthology by Graham Masterton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




I received a copy of Figures of Fear: An Anthology from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I originally planned to read this anthology one story at a time between my other books but once I started I couldn't stop. I enjoyed most of the stories but some more than others. My favourite has to be Beholder, closely followed by The Night Hider, my least favourite being The Battered Wife.

This is a great collection, it's dark, twisted, gruesome and well worth a read.

1: Ex-Voto - Short and to the point, with some squeamish cringe factor. I can't say it was great, just ok.

2: What the Dark Does - That was creepy. I was terrified of the dark as a kid and I remember my imagination runningaway with me convinced that things were coming alive in my room. This story creeped me out, don't read this one in thedark and don't leave it too late to turn that light on.

3: Saint Bronach's Shrift - You need to be a special kind of stupid to build this kind of hideout, seriously.

4: The Battered Wife - Hmm I wasn't so keen on this one at all.

5: The Night Hider - A nice spin on a classic tale. It was a pleasant surprise to see where the twist in this onewent. Great story!

6: Underbed - Well that was a story and a half, there's no end to what a childs imagination can come up with. Verycleverly done and full of imagination.

7: Night of the Wendigo - I enjoyed the lore behind this one but it felt a little short for everything it wastrying to say. Great story though.

8: Spirits of the Age - I wouldn't class this one as having any scares or fear factor at all, for me personally anyway.

9: Witch-Compass - Be careful what you wish for, what you have may not be perfect but things could be a lot worse.Boy did this guy show his true colours and get way more than he bargained for.

10: Resonant Evil - Curiosity can have devastating results. A dark and twisted story on how some ones senses can bemanipulated to see, feel and experience something that's not actually there.

11: Beholder - This has to be the most twisted and gruesome story in the collection. I was cringing at parts of this one. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but what if someone was to steal that beauty? How would you get it back?

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Review: Horns

Horns by Joe Hill

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




Horns is the first book by Joe Hill that I have read. With the film being released I wanted to read the book before watching the movie, because as everyone knows the book is always better than the movie. I went into this one blind, I had seen so many friends post positive reviews that I decided I would give it a go and not read the blurb before diving in.

I enjoyed Horns, the characters were easy to like and to dislike in the case of the bad guy. The picture Hill creates of small town life, of love, loss and revenge, pulls you into the story and plays on all sorts of emotions and fears.

Horns is a tale of good verses evil that is dark, twisted and original, one that I'm sure many horror fans will enjoy.

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Review: Crawlspace

Crawlspace by Evans Light

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




Crawlspace was a great wee story. There was a couple of inconsistencies but they in no way ruined my enjoyment of the story itself.

Evans Light does a great job of expressing the fear and confinement experienced by the main character. You feel his terror and claustrophobia and are drawn into the story very quickly, eager to know what the outcome is going to be. And that ending! I'm not going say any more , so as not to spoil it, other than to say that it was perfect and unexpected.

Let this be a lesson, "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned"

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Review: The Seance: A Gothic Tale of Horror and Misfortune

The Seance: A Gothic Tale of Horror and Misfortune by Jack Rollins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




I received a copy of Seance from the author in return for an honest review.

I really enjoy the writing style of Jack Rollins, the tales he weaves are both original and atmospherically dark and gothic. The way he builds the Victorian age and atmosphere in his stories pulls me effortlessly into another time and place.

Seance is a tale set more around fear of the occult and the unknown rather than what most would associate with horror. It was very well written, the dialogue fitting perfectly to the time period. I could almost hear their voices as I was reading. The descriptions of the streets and events created a depth to the story that was easily pictured in my minds eye.

I have always been fascinated by spiritualism and the mediums of the Victorian era. There's just something about it that captures my imagination. Reading Seance was like bringing all those old black and white photographs - of darkened rooms with candles, of people sitting round tables holding hands to contact the dead, of spectral ectoplasm and tables tipping - to life.

At only 56 pages Seance isn't a long read, but it has it's fair share of twists and turns and it builds a wonderful atmosphere. It gripped and held my attention from start to finish and I enjoyed it immensely. As if I wasn't creeped out enough by mirrors, Jack Rollins adds a whole new level to that creepiness.

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Review: Funhouse

Funhouse by Michael Bray

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




I read Funhouse in-between full novels or when I was just in the mood for a quick short story to read. I updated the review as I read each story and give a little detail about my opinion on each below. I have summarised my rating and which are my favourite at the very bottom of the review.

1: Mr Ghoul's Quaint Little Ghost Train - This was a great wee story, never again will I look at a ghost train the same. These are a whole different type of skeletons.

2: 99.9AM - A radio station with a difference. Not as good as the previous story for me but still enjoyed it. It didn't go where I was expecting which is always a plus.

3: The Eye - Ugh now I'm going to be paranoid about checking the toilet bowl when using the little girls room. Thanks for that Michael lol.

4: Scarecrows - Scarecrows have always creeped me out. I grew up spending a lot of time on my great grandparents farm, my pop would hide walkie talkies in the scarecrows when he knew we were playing in the fields, his idea of fun. It's funny to think back on now but even to this day they give me the heebie jeebies. This story is kind of like my worst nightmare.

5: Hangman - This is one game of hangman I wouldn't like to play. I kept trying to work out the answer, no fair!

6: The Boy Who Saw Spiders - Ugh spiders. I was half way through this story and stopped to make a cuppa, when filling the kettle a huge freaking spider fell from it into the sink, scared the life outta me. Now I keep imagining I'm seeing the little sods everywhere! Not too sure of the ending of this one though.

7: The Man in the Alley - I loved this one, my fav so far! The characters and the interaction between them just grabbed my attention. The mixture of curiosity and fear kept me totally intrigued.

8: Sick Day - Ugh that was just yucky. I hope that dinner wasn't what I think it was.

9: Jasper - Poor Jasper. I'm not a big fan of birds and have always disliked crows. Dislike them even more now.

10: Tilly - Ugh creepy dolls, enough said. Gave me the heebie jeebies that one.

11: Long Tall Coffin - Let this one be a lesson to you boys and girls. Never bully!

12: 50/50 - Darn it Michael, you can't leave me hanging like that! Poor choice of words considering the theme of the story but cmon, I wanna know what happened! I really liked this one, so simple yet so effective.

13: Cabin Fever - Cabin Fever is my favourite story in this collection so far. I loved the way it was written, the voice of James was excellent. There are a couple of great twists too. I Really enjoyed this one.

14: The Langton Effect - Hmm not too sure how I feel about this one. I can't say I didn't like it, it just didn't grip me like the others have.

15: The Trial of Edwyn Greer - What a great twist on vampirism. I really enjoyed this one, it was great to read a vampire story that was different from the norm.

16: Candyland - Small towns can be picturesque and welcoming but they can also be far from what you are expecting or what they seem. Candyland is not a place I fancy ever making a pit stop at.

So now that I have finished this great collection of shorts, I can honestly say that Funhouse is the first anthology I can easily give 5 stars to. My favourite in the collection has to be (#13) Cabin Fever, closely followed by (#1) Mr Ghoul's Quaint Little Ghost train, (#7) The Man in the Alley and (#15) The Trial of Edwyn Greer.




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Review: White Walker

White Walker by Richard Schiver

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




I received a copy of White Walker from the author in return for an honest review.

I'm sure everyone remembers the stories of Jack Frost from their childhood. How he would bring the cold and the snow, turn everything he touched to ice. White Walker is a Jack Frost story for grown ups, one not of wonder and imagination but instead a tale of horror and fear. A tale about an ancient deity who carries winter with him and devours the souls of all who get caught in his storm.

I really enjoyed this one it had a really cold and creepy atmosphere. The descriptions of the wind and snow blizzard were excellent, I actually felt chilly just reading it. The story is kinda short, it's 170 pages long, as a result there's not much depth in the characters as a whole but there is enough for the story to work and for it to concentrate on the atmosphere and the fear in the pages. It would make a great movie I think, I'd definitely go and see this as a movie.

White Walker would have been a great book to save and read during a cold snowy winters night, it would really have ramped up the atmosphere and scare factor.

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Review: This Little Piggy

This Little Piggy by Craig McGray

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




This Little Piggy is a short, violent and gory read. It's quite graphic in places but is definitely worth a read.

This is a brutal tale and not for the faint of heart. I had no problem visualising the story as I was reading, right down to the stench described. I must admit, the description of the smells and the tunnel had me turning my nose up just picturing the scene and imagining the smell.

The main character of the book is not what he seems and Craig McGray does a great job of manipulating the readers emotions right from the start.

This is the first I have read from Craig McGray and it won't be the last.

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Review: A Place For Us Part 3

A Place For Us Part 3 by Harriet Evans

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




I received a copy of A Place For Us Part 3 from the publisher in return for an honest review.

You can find my reviews for previous parts here: A Place For Us Part 1 / A Place For Us Part 2

In part two we discovered what the big family secret was and now in part three we learn how everyone copes with that secret now being out in the open.

I really enjoy Harriet's writing style, it's so easy to read and the tension, emotion and grief in part three, like earlier episodes, is very well done. Part three concentrates more on each individual member of the family and how they are dealing with the aftermath of previous events, both personally and in their relationships with each other. We learn a little bit more about each as their stories unfold, their personal history and secrets they have of their own which have yet to be revealed and some that are revealed in the story.

I feel there is still very much to come in part four and I'm looking forwards to finding out how the whole situation is resolved. I have become attached to the characters in these 3 parts of the story, I feel as if I have got to know each of them so well and know them like I would my friends. I really hope they all come together as a family and everything works out for them. They deserve a happy ever after.

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Review: Soulless

Soulless by Amber Garr

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




I received a copy of Soulless from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I wasn't too sure if I wanted to request this one or not. On one hand I enjoy stories set around reapers, the afterlife and light against dark but on the other hand, I don't like love triangles or romance. I decided however to take the risk and it turned out to be a quick and fun read.

Yes it has a love triangle, a kinda predictable love triangle at that, but I can forgive that because of the subject material and how much I enjoyed the actual story and premise of the book. Yes the main character Nora can be a bit of a debbie downer, some may say whiney, but cmon we all know how sulky and unoptimistic teenagers can be at times. I know mine have their moments but I'll spare you those details. Nora died young, she missed out on lots of life experiences, wouldn't we all be a bit peed off in her shoes. It is after all a young adult book, kinda comes with the territory for many books in this genre.

The characters weren't great, the one that stood out for me was Charlie, I loved Charlies humour throughout the book, he was fun. The rest were ok, not great but they worked and kept me reading. I would have loved to have seen and known a bit more about Sani and his connection to Nora. We also have our token bad boy and mr perfect in every way, more clichés but again it didn't spoil my enjoyment.

What held my attention and made the book stand out was the whole light against dark and soul reaping. The shaman thing was a nice surprise and brought something different that I wasn't expecting. The story doesn't go into much detail about the actual reaping of souls, it's more about being a reaper, a look behind the scenes so to speak. You have death wardens, the good guys, the go to the light everything will be unicorns and rainbows side. Then you have the hunters, the not so nice guys who manipulate the souls and steal them from the light.

The book was pretty fast paced and ugh it ends in a cliffhanger. I hate when that happens. I know it's book one in a series but it feels like it finished mid story, there wasn't really a conclusion to part one. I would have much preferred that the book had a nice conclusive finish to it but with still enough questions and curiosity to warrant part two. As it stands I kinda feel like someone forgot to attach the second half of the book.

Would I recommend it? Yes. I enjoyed it, I flew through this story, granted it's not a very long story but it was a fun read. I could easily ignore the clichés and just enjoy the story for what it was. I enjoyed the style of writing, I enjoyed the story itself and it moved at a nice and pace and kept my attention. I will definitely be picking up book two when it's released.


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Review: PathFinder

PathFinder by Angie Sage

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




I received a copy of Pathfinder from the publisher in return for an honest review.

It took me a while to get into this one at first. I enjoyed it from the start but it didn't grip me till the point where magyk came into it, at that point I was hooked and couldn't flip the pages fast enough.

There are a lot of characters in this book, there may be too many for some, but for me it was no problem. The main character Tod is really likeable and I loved joining her in her journey, good parts and bad. I can honestly say there wasn't a character I didn't like, well apart from the ones I wasn't supposed to like, and I enjoyed reading about them all and getting to know them.

The world building was well done, so vivid and full of imagination. I can picture kids totally engrossed in this story, lost in a world of magyk and adventure. This is definitely a book I would love to share with my younger reading group and I'm keen to experience this story through their eyes.


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Review: The Ancient Lawman

The Ancient Lawman by Ian David Noakes

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I received a copy of The Ancient Lawman from the author in return for an honest review.

The prologue takes place in 1656 but there were references to things which were out of place for the time period.

I wasn't keen on any of the characters, there was very little character development. The story jumped between so many different points of view, many of which weren't needed at all, that I found myself unable to care about any of them in any way.

The sex scene was out of place, there was no chemistry or build up towards it. It felt like the kind of cheesy token sex scene that's thrown into bad horror movies without it really adding anything at all to the story.

There was also a lot of formatting errors in the copy I was provided with and a lot of missing words and grammar errors. The story had potential but as it is, it just didn't work for me, it needed a lot more character and plot development.

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Review: No One Gets Out Alive

No One Gets Out Alive by Adam Nevill

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




I received a copy of No One Gets Out Alive from the publisher in return for an honest review.

The main character Stephanie is really put through the ringer in this tale. No steady job, short on cash and struggling to make ends meet, she finds herself renting a room in what turns out to be the house from hell on Edgware Road. I loved how her character developed and how much stronger she became throughout the first half of the story but some of her decisions frustrated me. I understand why she made the choices she did in order for the story to progress, but I didn't like how easy she fell into the role of being the female victim. I would have liked to have seen her start to stick up for herself sooner because it felt like it dragged on for a bit too long.

It's been a while since I have read a book and felt so totally disgusted by characters within the story. Fergal is such a disgusting human being, the way the author built and described his character, was so well done that my stomach was literally turning every time he made an appearance.

Knacker sounds like the landlord from hell. I must admit I found his voice really irritating at first but it grew on me. Not in the I like his character way, more of a love to hate way and I found myself wanting to not only kick his arse but to mimic his attitude back to him. He's a bully, he plays a game of intimidation and fear while pretending to have your best interests in mind, but I got the feeling that it's a front and turning his own personality back on him would have gotten under his skin.

The book is split into two parts. The first half being all about Stephanie's stay in Edgware Road and the horrors, both paranormal and physical, she experiences while living there. The second part moves onto her life after she escapes and how she copes with what she went through.

I did have trouble getting into the second half of the story. The jump from her experience in the house to her story afterwards was so different. It felt at first like I had started another book. Although it was a continuation of her story, it was written so differently. It wasn't as full on as the first half but as the story progressed and things started happening, I found myself enjoying it a lot more.

No One Gets Out Alive is the first novel by Adam Nevill I have read. It's dark, it's disturbing and at times nail bitingly terrifying. It touches on both the horror of the paranormal and the cruel human side of horror. I will definitely be reading more of this authors work.

Reviews also posted to my blog: Scarlet's Web
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