Review: The September House by Carissa Orlando
28 November 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Carissa Orlando, fiction, Horror, Review, The September House
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Could It Be More Haunted?
I could literally reread this book right now. I loved it. It’s creepy and dark but also manages to inject humour and love into a story that is an absolute roller coaster, full of twists with a tense finale and, quite possibly, one of the most unique ghost stories I’ve read.
Now, firstly, if you’re thinking, ‘ohh, this might be too scary for me’, you’re possibly right, but, I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to scary stories and horror and so although this is very much a haunting, I wouldn’t say it’s terrifying. It’s one of those stories that hooks you instantly and you read it with a sense of wonder and awe, like its, well, fascinating. I couldn’t put it down to be fair but let’s backtrack a little.
This is the story of a couple who buy their dream house. The thing is, this beautiful old house, packed with distinctive features is being sold far below the expected market value – we have a saying ‘if something is too good to be true then it usually is’ (too good to be true that is). This house, it comes with an unsavoury history but Margaret and her husband Hal are so enamoured with it’s beauty and so desperate to finally have a home to call their own that they rush in to the purchase without a care in the world. Of course, when they move in they soon discover that this house will not be denied. There are ghosts aplenty and lots of strange occurences, creaky floorboards don’t even cover it – we’re talking blood dripping down the walls. I mean, frankly, that would have to be one fine house to keep my scaredy pants living there, but Margaret is nothing if not determined. No ghosts are going to drive her out of this dreamboat. Hal, well he’s made of weaker stuff and after four years he’s had enough. This is when the fun and games begin. Margaret and Hal’s daughter, Katherine, has never been to visit – they’ve always made excuses up to keep her away, but now, with her father missing and no answers forthcoming from Margaret as to his whereabouts you better believe that Katherine is coming to visit – and it’s September – the month when the strange and wacky gets cranked up to full volume.
I mean, I don’t really want to elaborate about the plot – it’s good, imo, that’s all you need to know.
What I loved about this.
The writing, first and foremost. I enjoyed reading this so much. It’s such an easy book to engage with and I liked Margaret.
There’s this totally OTT feel to it – it’s like Margaret and Hal have moved into the Adam’s Family house. Things are just odd. For example there are no shortage of ghosts, but one of them is quite helpful, makes pots of tea and helps changing the beds and cleaning – I mean, I have to admit, I wouldn’t mind an extra pair of helping hands – although it depends on whether you can cope with the very apparent injuries on display!
There is much more to the story than really meets the eye. Margaret’s behaviour for example, why she is so dogmatically determined to stay in the house. Margaret’s own story interweaves really well and you slowly begin to understand that things were maybe not always quite so cosy in her marriage. Lets just say she’s learnt to follow the rules and so she applies the same logic to surviving the house – for example, don’t go too close to the boy with the sharp teeth – he bites, definitely stay well away from the basement, etc.
Anyway, everything goes very wrong once Katherine comes to stay and the ending is dramatic to say the least.
To conclude, I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this. It was so good. I loved it.
I bought a copy. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 5 of 5 stars
Review: Cold Snap by Lindy Ryan
22 October 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Cold Snap, fiction, Horror, Lindy Ryan
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Not Sure About This One
Having just read and thoroughly enjoyed Bless Your Heart by this author I couldn’t resist requesting a copy of Cold Snap. Before I start on my thoughts this is a novella and I hadn’t realised that at the time, they rarely work for me as I prefer something I can really sink into. That being said I don’t think this particular story would necessarily benefit by being longer. It’s overwhelming bleak and there’s no let up from the despair so I think the shorter length and ability to complete in one sitting works in it’s favour.
The story starts with an introduction to Christine and her son Billy. Two weeks ago Christine’s husband Derek fell from a ladder, whilst stringing Christmas lights, dying instantly. As you may imagine the mood is terribly depressing and the holidays are fast approaching. Before he died, Derek booked a holiday cabin for the vacation and his wife has decided to still go on this winter break in keeping with her husband’s original intent.
Immediately the atmosphere is very moody. Billy barely speaks, Christine is riddled with guilt and constantly replays her husband’s fall in her head and the whole adventure seems ill set. Things steadily go from bad to worse. The cabin is freezing cold and a bit shabby. The two have no appetite to make things any better and Christine, as well as suffering from some sort of blackouts starts to see a huge beast at the edge of the woods.
Okay, to be honest, my headspace is definitely not right for this book. Having suffered loss myself last year I hadn’t realised just how dark and depressing this was going to be and it simply wasn’t for me. I’m more about upbeat, cosy and light at the moment. That being said, I still love a bit of horror and mystery but this one felt to raw. So bear that in mind.
This is well written without doubt and having read the author previously I think I was prepared for her particular blend of bloodiness. The atmosphere is tense. The two main characters are constantly on edge and the whole affair feels desperately cold. Ryan can certainly set a scene and create palpable tension.
The characters. Well, it’s difficult to like them but that’s understandable. They’re going through perhaps the most awful trauma they’ve ever experienced and instead of bringing them together it’s actually forcing them apart. Christine is suffering guilt, she thinks her son blames her and would prefer that it had been her who fell and witnessing her husband’s fall from a position of seeing everything and yet being unable to help has affected her mentally. She’s not coping well to be honest. Neither is Billy although, and in spite of his almost non verbal communication, he’s probably coping better than his mom.
So, I think the writing is great, the atmosphere and tension you could cut with a knife and the dynamic between the two is taught enough to snap at any moment. Then things go crazy.
My issues with this. As I mentioned above, I’m not in the right reading mood for such sadness. I want something that’s going to lift me and this isn’t that thing – I can see this might work for others – just not for me at this particular point. I didn’t feel the sort of love or affection from Christine towards Billy that I would expect – but – and this is a big BUT – I’ve never experienced what she has and clearly it’s affecting her in so many ways. She’s driven all the way up to a cabin in the woods without bringing any real supplies. She doesn’t stop on the way even to let her son eat, she hasn’t considered the fact that stores will close early or there’s a storm as well as a holiday approaching. But, yes, I get that she’s not functioning at the moment – but it just added another layer of sadness for me.
What is also missing from this for me is, apart from the sadness, there are no other emotions really evident. Christine actually witnesses something that, to me, should have hit her like a ton of bricks, but it didn’t.
Also, I’m just going to warn you that there is a pet involved in this story – and it doesn’t end well at all. I mean in fairness, there’s another death which is also a bit nasty.
Finally, I simply didn’t understand the ending. There I said it. I feel like a raging dunce but I hold my hands up – what was going on?? This is probably just me. Be warned.
I don’t really want to be overly negative and I certainly wouldn’t discourage others from picking up. It just didn’t work for me. I will certainly have no hesitation picking up anything by this author.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 2.5 of 5 stars rounded to 3
Review: The Wilding by Ian McDonald
18 October 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Fantasy, Horror, Ian McDonald, Review, The Wilding
My Five Word TL:DR Review: A Little Slow to Start
I enjoyed The Wilding. The writing is really good, very evocative and the author sets the scene very well. Yes, it was a little slow to start as we get to know the characters. To be honest, on the one hand, I’m not totally sure that all the character building was totally necessary as some of these characters are about to meet a grisly end, but, on the other hand, if the author just skimmed over these characters and gave them no depth it would be immediately obvious that their roles were going to be short lived, so, for me, it’s worth taking the time to get to know these people as it definitely makes their sudden demise much more shocking.
The premise of the story is a group of rangers and young adults, going into the wild to spend a night, at one with nature. It’s an unlikely group of characters in some respects. Lisa, the MC, is longing for a new start in life at University and in fact this little wilderness trek is probably going to be her last mission. The other young adults don’t particularly come across as enthusiastic (at least not all of them) about this little jaunt into the wild and have an almost bored, are we really doing this, attitude, but they’re going to get a sudden jolt of nasty reality in fairly short order.
The author sets the scene early. There have been unexplained attacks on farm animals and other unexplained incidences. The setting feeds into the atmosphere perfectly. This is a rewilding project based deep in rural island where the locals, the project itself and nature are struggling to come to a balance and, well, ultimately failing it would seem. There’s a lovely build up of tension, I would say that at one point I was on the brink of wondering when the action would kick in but then suddenly I was in the middle of chaos. When the proverbial hits the fan things go batpoop crazy. The wilderness seems to take on a mind of its own causing confusion and driving the party deeper into the bog. There’s bad weather, marshy boglands, bugs and that awful feeling of being watched coupled with the hysteria and panic created when people are desperately trying to survive. And there are some really unusual settings where our little group find shelter.
I don’t really want to say too much more for fear of spoiling the read for others. I enjoyed this, it had a slightly slow start but I think that initial build up makes the story more dramatic. There is definite horror and blood and guts. I don’t know whether I’d call this a folk story. It’s more like nature as a whole – showing us it’s power coupled with the journey of one character in particular – Lisa – who starts the story longing to move on before going on something of a self discovery jaunt herself, becoming very protective of the young people in her charge and throwing caution to the wind as she tries to keep them alive.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 3.5 of 5 stars rounded to 4 for the strange and dark appeal
Review: Lucy Undying by Kiersten White
30 September 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Horror, Kiersten White, Lucy Undying, reviews
My FIve Word TL:DR Review: Started Well, Went Off Track
I was really excited to pick up Lucy Undying for various reasons. I seem to be enjoying the recent resurgence of vampire novels, I love Bram Stoker’s Dracula and I was so looking forward to a retelling from Lucy’s point of view. She’s such an undervalued character, the spoilt rich girl who becomes a victim of Dracula as he attempts to get to Mina.
To be fair this gets off to a really good start. We have a few different POVs. Primarily Iris, a young heiress who is trying to break free from the clutches of her overbearing family and Lucy – who has a number of different storylines. One that is told in journal format and covers the years before she falls victim. One that takes us back to her long haul through history as a vampire. And finally, Lucy in the current modern day world.
Iris has arrived in London, with her family’s approval (although they are still observing her not so surreptitiously), she is visiting on the pretext that she’s going through family property. As such she spends time in a dilapidated mansion where she is putting things in to order – or more to the point searching for anything small and valuable that she can sell for quick cash to help her finally disappear. She requests help from a museum in relation to the valuation of certain items and the next day a young, beautiful and elusive woman turns up on her doorstep.
Anyway, let’s take a look at what did and didn’t work for me.
Firstly, I didn’t mind the different POVs and quickly got into the groove. I enjoyed that we had Lucy’s journal to take a look back at her life prior to becoming one of Dracula’s victims, this is a great reflection of the original novel and was a good way to get an insight into Lucy’s true inner thoughts.
I loved the way the story started and the time spent in the old mansion, this had such great gothic vibes.
The writing was good, it was easy to read and in actual fact I had no problems completing this. I was curious and always keen to get back to the story. BUT.
Well, firstly, as a reimagining White turns a lot of the characters on their heads. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this, I don’t really mind the characters having different and new motivations, just that it all felt very flimsy.
Then, the hidden agenda with Iris’s family and the connections to other elements of the story felt so over the top and convoluted. For me, I was rather hoping that this was a new chance for Lucy, perhaps she’d meet Iris and help her to disappear and it would be this exciting relationship between the two as they forge their own story. As it was, I didn’t feel any chemistry between Iris and Lucy, their instalove was a little cliched and the whole inclusion of trips to haunts from the original work, plus the inclusion of Dracula just felt unnecessary. I wanted the story to become its own ‘entity’ but that never really happened. I never felt fear or dread for the characters and I couldn’t help wondering when did vampires become so dull.
I don’t know, on the face of it this book kept me entertained and it might work really well for others, but, it didn’t quite work its magic on me. I was hoping for more and I thought this was Lucy’s real chance to shine.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinioin.
My rating 3 of 5 fangless stars
Two Sides to Every Murder by Danielle Valentine Review
25 June 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Danielle Valentine, Horror, Review, slasher, Two Sides To Every Murder
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Slasher Alert at Band Camp
I thoroughly enjoyed Delicate Condition and so couldn’t wait to see what this author came up with next. I guess I wasn’t really expecting a teen slasher at a lakeside camp but this one worked for me and kept me reading into the wee hours.
Camp Lost Lake closed down years ago following a number of murders. The suspected murderer managed to slip through the police’s fingers although at the time a local myth grew about the witch in the woods and this urban myth is one that still refuses to go away, kept alive by the mysterious disappearance of a number of hikers through the woods over the years .
Now, a generation later, the camp is reopening and the locals are rallying round to get the place ready. A group of teenagers have descended on the place to help. What could possibly go wrong?
I really had a good time reading this. It’s a bit cheesy, there are two sweet little unconnected romances which seem to have been thrown in simply to keep your mind otherwise occupied (and away from clues) and there are plenty of secrets and lies.
Okay, if you’re a horror aficionado this might have some plot holes, to be fair, I found myself stumbling over one or two (maybe not plot holes so much as puzzlers) myself but I’d already decided to simply run with this and enjoy it for what it is. Which for me was one of those stories where young people keep doing eye rollingly ill-advised things like running off into the forest alone, at night, during a storm. Because of course you would. Or finding time to gaze at each other longingly whilst a complete psychopath is creeping around with a bow and arrow. I think I was in the mood for some popcorn munching thrills and this story was a case of the right book at the right time.
I realise I’ve not mentioned much about the plot. I’m wary of giving away spoilers. I mentioned secrets above. Basically, one young girl has unwittingly discovered something about her family that has turned everything on its head and is determined to have some answers at camp. Another young girl is heading to camp with a friend, also in search of answers, her aim, to prove someone’s innocence.
What you can expect.
Fast pacing.
Never a dull moment.
Some dreadful decisions that make you want to turn into a pantomime audience shouting “he’s behind you!”
Sideline romances.
Young people rushing headlong towards disaster without a care in the world.
A storyline that I didn’t manage to unpick (although you might manage to do so).
A totally OTT ending in the style of all good slasher stories.
I would say that this isn’t too horror soaked so if you’re in search of a dramatic body count type slasher you won’t find it here. Which is perhaps why it was more my cup of tea.
In conclusion this kept me engaged and entertained.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4 of 5 popcorn munching stars
Books and travelling with Lynn 