Review: The Haunting by Alex Bell

The Haunting by Alex Bell

My Rating:


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

The Haunting had it's moments and there was a lot of potential for some really creepy hair raising chills but it didn't quite get there for me. There were a couple of times where I though "Oh, I like where this is going," and I could feel the atmosphere start to build but it petered out.

The story felt rather juvenile for a young adult book, even the "scares" and atmosphere felt more suited to younger readers. It reads more young teen horror than young adult horror. I think part of that was because of how Emma, the main character, was portrayed. Emma is 17 but she came across as being much younger and her reactions and interactions were lacking the maturity I would expect in a character of that age.

The setting was great and the plot was enjoyable, and perhaps if it had been classed as teen instead of young adult I would have gone in with a different mindset and enjoyed it more as a result. As it was, I was expecting more because of the age group it's aimed at and it just wasn't there. There were too many missed opportunities to really ramp up the atmosphere and chills which only added to the whole younger reader vibe.

Would I recommend it? A bit of a mixed answer. Yes, for younger teens. My daughter would have loved this at 12 or 13 years old. As a young adult book, I probably wouldn't recommend it.



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Review: They Rise: A Deep Sea Thriller by Hunter Shea

They Rise: A Deep Sea Thriller by Hunter Shea

My Rating:


I received a free copy of They Rise : A Deep Sea Thriller from Erin at Oh, for the Hook of a Book in return for an honest review and as part of the Hook of a Book They Rise blog tour of which my blog Scarlet's Web is taking part.

They Rise was my first read of 2016 and I knew even before finishing that it was going to be one for my Favourites of 2016 shelf. I couldn't put this book down - it was terrifying, it was engrossing, it was fascinating and I was "hooked" (see what I did there!). I loved everything about it.

They Rise is one of those books where I find myself struggling to really do the book justice and to express how much I enjoyed it. I think what really got to me, aside from the story itself, was the plausibility of it. The sea can be a scary force to be reckoned with on its own but throw in the horrors found in this book and you have a whole different level of scary. A "There's not a chance in hell that I would dip my toe in there, even if you paid me!" kind of scary. The whole time I was reading I found myself thinking that this could really happen, perhaps not to this extreme but something similar, which is a very scary thought that added so much more to the story.

They Rise creates an atmosphere full of fear, tension, and anticipation that along with its breathtaking pace will have you turning the pages desperate to know what comes next. But at the same time, because the characters are so believable and their fear so easy to relate to, you don't want to know what happens next because you are so wrapped up in them and their experiences that you don't want anything bad to happen to them.

On finishing this book I immediately told my daughter how good it was and that she should give it a read, she's on the same page as me, so to speak. Definitely one we would both recommend and an easy 5 stars.


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They Rise, Synopsis

Print Length: 162 pages
Publisher: Severed Press (January 4, 2016)
Publication Date: January 4, 2016

Some call them ghost sharks, the oldest and strangest looking creatures in the sea. Marine biologist Brad Whitley has studied chimaera fish all his life. He thought he knew everything about them. He was wrong.
Warming ocean temperatures free legions of prehistoric chimaera fish from their methane ice suspended animation. Now, in a corner of the Bermuda Triangle, the ocean waters run red.
The 400 million year old massive killing machines know no mercy, destroying everything in their path. It will take Whitley, his climatologist ex-wife and the entire US Navy to stop them in the bloodiest battle ever seen on the high seas.

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Biography, Hunter Shea

Hunter Shea is the product of a childhood weaned on The Night Stalker, The Twilight Zone and In Search Of. He doesn't just write about the paranormal - he actively seeks out the things that scare the hell out of people and experiences them for himself.

Publishers Weekly named The Montauk Monster one of the best reads of the summer in 2014, and his follow up novel, Hell Hole, was named best horror novel of the year on several prestigious horror sites. Cemetery Dance had this to say about his apocalyptic thriller, Tortures of the Damned - "A terrifying read that left me wanting more. I absolutely devoured this book!"

Hunter is an amateur cryptozoologist, having written wild, fictional tales about Bigfoot, The Montauk Monster, The Dover Demon and many new creatures to come. Copies of his books, The Montauk Monster and The Dover Demon, are currently on display in the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, ME.

He wrote his first novel with the express desire to work only with editor Don D'Auria at Dorchester (Leisure Horror). He submitted his novel to Don and only Don, unagented, placed on the slush pile. He is proof that dedicated writers can be rescued from no man's land. He now works with Don, along with several other agents and publishers, having published over ten books in just four years.

Hunter is proud to be be one half of the Monster Men video podcast, along with his partner in crime, Jack Campisi. It is one of the most watched horror video podcasts in the world. Monster Men is a light-hearted approach to dark subjects. Hunter and Jack explore real life hauntings, monsters, movies, books and everything under the horror sun. They often interview authors, crytid and ghost hunters, directors and anyone else living in the horror lane.

Living with his wonderful family and two cats, he's happy to be close enough to New York City to get Gray's Papaya hot dogs when the craving hits. His daughters have also gotten the horror bug, assisting him with research, story ideas and illustrations that can be seen in magazines such as Dark Dossier.

You can follow his travails at www.huntershea.com, sign-up for his newsletter, or follow in on Facebook and Twitter.

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Praise for Hunter Shea

“This wholly enthralling hulk of a summer beach read is redolent of sunscreen and nostalgia, recalling mass market horror tales of yore by John Saul, Dean Koontz, and Peter Benchley.” — Publishers Weekly — Voted one of the best reads of summer, on The Montauk Monster

“Bloody good read!  This guy knows his monsters!”- Eric S Brown, author of Bigfoot War and Boggy Creek: The Legend is True, on Swamp Monster Massacre

“Hunter Shea is a great writer, highly entertaining, and definitely in the upper echelon in the current horror scene. Many other writers mention either loving his work and/or having the man influence their own, and for just cause. His writing suits anyone with a taste for the dark and terrifying!” –Zakk at The Eyes of Madness/The Mouth of Madness Podcast

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Giveaway

Enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card for joining this tour! Get extra entries for social media follows, but get extra extra entries for signing up for his newsletter and five extra entries if you review They Rise and send the link to Erin Al-Mehairi, publicist, at hookofabook@hotmail.com!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjMxYWEzMGI1ZDE2MGYyYTgzYjk4NzVhYzhmMTdmOjMx/?

 

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Media, information and review copy provided as part of the Hook of a Book blog tour by Erin Al-Mehairi from Hook of a Book Media & Publicity.



Reviews also posted to my blog: Scarlet's Web
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Review: The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley

The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley

My Rating:


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

I had really high hopes for this one because of all the great reviews and also because it won the 2015 Costa First Novel award but I found it to be a disappointment. Maybe my expectations were too high.

In all honesty I think it was the writing style that kept me reading. The author did a wonderful job of creating a dark and dreary atmosphere, his ability to set the scene and describe the surrounding environment totally immerses the reader, creating the illusion of being present in the moment as if a character in the story as it happened. Or didn't happen in this case. Without this I don't think I would have finished the book at all.

I am left thinking Did I miss something or was there nothing to miss? The whole thing felt like a lot of plot holes thrown into a plot that was more hinted at than expanded on. It was all over the place and I was never really sure where it was going or why. The further I got into the book the more I found myself having to resist skimming pages. Nothing was happening, yet so many things were left unexplained. In the end it all felt rather pointless.

All in all it was an unsatisfying read and not one I would recommend.




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Review: Desolation by Kristopher Rufty

Desolation by Kristopher Rufty

My Rating:


I received a free copy of Desolation by Kristopher Rufty from Erin at Oh, for the Hook of a Book in return for an honest review and as part of the Hook of a Book Desolation blog tour of which my blog Scarlet's Web is taking part.

I'm generally not a fan of home invasion story lines, I have read so many that I have become bored with them. Most seem to merge into each other creating a been there read it already feel but I was completely drawn into this one right from the start. The chilling atmosphere and descriptive scenes really captured my attention, I could picture everything so clearly.

I initially picked up Desolation with the intention of reading a chapter or two before sleeping but ended up reading it in one sitting. It's a perfect mixed bag of suspense, tension, horror and chilling emotional scenes that will keep you turning the pages eager to know what happens next.

There are twists a plenty to be found here and some grisly goings on that will satisfy many a horror lover. But, at the same time it's a heartbreaking and emotional tale of revenge and loss and the two intertwine nicely to induce not only fear and anticipation but also heartbreak and sympathy for the characters within the story. It's quite a roller-coaster of a ride. One minute you're grabbing onto the rails dreading what's round the corner, the next you're reaching for the hanky and full of remorse for disliking the characters previously.

Definitely one I would recommend.

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Desolation, Synopsis

Samhain Horror
PAGES: 266
ISBN: 978-1-619233-09-6
Trade Paperback (List: $15.95)

There’s no escaping your past. Especially when it wants revenge.

Grant Marlowe hoped taking his family to their mountain cabin for Christmas would reunite them after his alcoholic past had torn them apart, but it only puts them into a life and death struggle.  On Christmas Eve, a stranger from Grant’s past invades the vacation home and takes his wife and children hostage. His agenda is simple—make Grant suffer the same torment that Grant’s drunken antics have caused him. Now Grant must confront his demons head on and fight for his family’s lives. Because this man has nothing left to lose. The only thing keeping him alive is misery—Grant’s misery.

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Biography, Kristopher Rufty

Kristopher Rufty lives in North Carolina with his wife, three children, and the zoo they call their pets. He’s written various books, including The Vampire of Plainfield, Jagger, The Lurkers, The Lurking Season, The Skin Show, Pillowface, Proud Parents, and more, plus a slew of horror screenplays. He has also written and directed the independent horror films Psycho Holocaust, Rags, and Wicked Wood. If he goes more than two days without writing, he becomes very irritable and hard to be around, which is why he’s sent to his desk without supper often. 

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Praise for Kristopher Rufty

“Kristopher Rufty is the demented reincarnation of Richard Laymon!” --Jeff Strand

“A Dark Autumn is a wild gender role reversal of ‘I Spit On Your Grave,’ with gonzo nods to Norman Bates and ‘Friday The 13th’ thrown in for good measure. Kristopher Rufty delivers the goods yet again.” --Bryan Smith, author of Kayla Undead and The Late Night Horror Show

“A creepy, gripping tale of horror. And it’s got one of the best death scenes I’ve read in a long time!” --Jeff Strand, author of Pressure and Dweller

“A powerhouse debut novel. Rufty’s prose will suck you in and hold you prisoner!” --Ronald Malfi, author of Floating Staircase and Snow

“An occult thriller with a new twist. Rufty juggles captivating characters, breakneck suspense, and insidious horror in a macabre story that will leave you feeling possessed by the end of it. Next time you think about taking that old Ouija board out...forget it!” –Edward Lee, author of Lucifer’s Lottery and City Infernal

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 Giveaway!!!

We have a lot of books to giveaway from Krist! We have two audio books, Oak Hollow and Pillowface in one link.  In the second link we have a signed print copy of The Lurking Season and two e-books, Vampire of Plainfield and Bigfoot Beach.

Winners are chosen random via rafflecopter and are given choice of prize of order pulled. Any questions on raffle, please e-mail Erin Al-Mehairi, publicist, at hookofabook@hotmail.com

Link for audio book giveaway: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjMxYWEzMGI1ZDE2MGYyYTgzYjk4NzVhYzhmMTdmOjI5/?

Link for print/e-book giveaway: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjMxYWEzMGI1ZDE2MGYyYTgzYjk4NzVhYzhmMTdmOjMw/?

 

Media, information and review copy provided as part of the Hook of a Book blog tour by Erin Al-Mehairi from Hook of a Book Media & Publicity.

Reviews also posted to my blog: Scarlet's Web
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Review: The Damaged by Simon Law

The Damaged by Simon Law

My Rating:


I received a free copy of The Damaged in return for an honest review.

The Damaged is a dark and twisted tale centered around the two characters of Matthew and Tammy, who despite their inner conflicts manage to portray a semblance of normality to the world around them. But things are far from normal. Behind the scenes the two characters struggle to come to terms with previous events in their lives that have made every day a constant battle to appear normal and survive. The disturbing ways that the characters cope in secret and the way that things escalate once the two characters come together really makes for a gruesome and bloody story.

The Damaged stood out character wise for me. Too many books have nasty or mean characters who do horrendous things without rhyme or reason but that is not the case here. The characters are laid bare and I could easily understand why they did what they did. They are very well fleshed out and you get to know everything about them, their hopes and dreams, their fears and their innermost thoughts. The author does a wonderful job of making them both vulnerable and likable despite the gruesome events that occur, especially with Matthew's character. I couldn't help but like Matthew and feel sorry for him despite the things he found himself doing.

The Damaged is written well. The pacing is consistent, nothing is rushed or skipped and no questions are left unanswered. It is one of the the most complete stories that I have read in a while. I will admit to one episode of confusion while reading but that was cleared up in the conclusion of the book and there was one inconsistency that I came across although it's one that is easily overlooked and so small that it's nothing really.

The Damaged is an enjoyable story that at it's heart is a tale of love, betrayal and loss but in the most twisted and gruesome fashion.

Definitely one I would recommend for fans of horror and psychological thrillers.




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Review: Playing with Fire by Tess Gerritsen

Playing with Fire by Tess Gerritsen

My Rating: 


I received a free copy of Playing with Fire from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Playing with Fire is a hard one for me to rate. I was initially enjoying Julia's story but then it switched to Lorenzo's and although Lorenzo's story was as enjoyable as Julia's, they didn't come across as being linked to each other very much at all. I'm not a huge fan of dual story-lines, they have to be done extremely well for me to enjoy them, in this case they were each enjoyable on their own but felt like completely separate stories rather than two related timelines.

The ending felt rushed and implausible, quite frankly I felt Julia's conclusion was a bit of a let down. I was really hoping the two different timelines would come together a lot better than they did in the end but they remained as distant then as they were throughout the whole book.

I'm dithering between the two and three stars. Usually I love Tess Gerritsen books but this one didn't work for me in it's entirety. As a result I'm going for the two stars because of how separate the story-lines felt to each other, they just didn't mesh well at all in the end for me.


Reviews also posted to my blog: Scarlet's Web
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Review: Project Apex by Michael Bray

 Project Apex by Michael Bray

My Rating:


I received a free copy of Project Apex in return for an honest review.

Usually when I read the blurb of a book and see the words virus, government or anything along the lines of armed forces, I will move right on much like I do when I see zombies mentioned. However, I was offered a copy of Project Apex for review and as I am a fan of the authors previous works I thought I would give it a chance. Would Michael Bray capture my attention or would I zone out like I usually do when reading similar material?

Project Apex feels like a big story, there is so much to it but it doesn't feel that way while reading. There are a lot of characters, places and different aspects to the main story, yet they all flow alongside each other intersecting flawlessly without any confusion or time spent trying to keep the characters, places and story-lines straight. The writing style makes it easy to follow and a pleasure to read.

I was pleasantly surprised by this one, like I said it's not my usual cup of tea but I became totally absorbed in the story. The pacing was perfect, gradually increasing as the story progressed and it had me eager to keep reading just one more page. I found the character of Joshua intriguing, a lot of what he claims makes sense but does that justify his means? I have a bit of a love/hate thing going on with this character, he means well initially but just how far is he prepared to go to share his gift with the world?

I think it's safe to say that Michael Bray captured my attention, not once did I find myself zoning out. In fact I'm itching to find out what happens next and looking forwards to the next installment.


Reviews also posted to my blog: Scarlet's Web
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