Review: Campfire by Shawn Sarles

Title: Campfire Written by: Shawn Sarles Published: July 17, 2018 by Jimmy Books (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: While camping in a remote location, Maddie Davenport gathers around the fire with her friends and family to tell scary stories. Caleb, the handsome young guide, shares the local legend of the ferocious Mountain Men who hunt unsuspecting campers and leave their mark by carving grisly antlers into their victims' foreheads.  The next day, the story comes true.  Now Maddie and her family are lost in the deep woods--with no way out--being stalked by their worst nightmares. Because there were other, more horrifying stories told that night--and Maddie's about to find out just how they end...

I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it really didn’t work for me. I had picked up a copy of this at ALA and I definitely had high hopes. As a mystery/thriller under an imprint from a well-known mystery writer I was expecting a thrilling read that had me on the edge of my seat and that is not what I found.

I had been saving reading this to read as part of a joint review for my podcast because it has that classic teen horror vibe to it, like the Fear Street books we normally read. And honestly, that was one of the best things about this book. From purely a nostalgia feel it definitely hit all he right notes. If I didn’t know any better and you had told me this book was written 20 years ago, I would have believed you. But the thing is, this book was written this year, and I can excuse a lot of things for being outdated but a book written more recently, I expect better from.

Because the thing about this plot is that it was really basic. I read a lot of mysteries and I have gotten pretty good at figuring them out. I am constantly looking for that one which is going to shock and surprise. This book did not do that. In fact I figured out one aspect of the reveal pretty early on and then the other one just felt like it came completely out of nowhere. Instead of hooking me in the narrative i lost interest. Plus the concept here was really good, but it never delivered on it. The idea of ghost stories coming to life is totally brilliant but the stories really kind of felt like an afterthought. I wish they had more bearings on the actual plot of the story and weren’t just a means to an end.

I think my bigger problem with this book however was the pacing. Once again, a synopsis revealed a book’s entire plot. And once again I was incredibly frustrated at that. If it takes you two-thirds of the book to get to what your book is, then there is something wrong. Maybe this is just a problem with the synopsis and I shouldn’t blame to book for that, but I do.

The one thing I did like about this book though is that it went there. This is a book with a huge body count. When people end up dead, they are really dead and often in gruesome and grotesque ways. Like a lot of classic 90’s teen horror the author also reveals in the descriptions of the dead bodies too. It had some really good visuals and that definitely did a good job of capturing my interest.

But maybe I just wanted the characters dead because I really did not enjoy them. It’s not that they were bad characters there were just so many of them. It felt like this was the clown car of camping trips. People kept coming out of the woodwork and I found it so hard to remember who was who and how they were all connected. I needed a cheat sheet to keep it all straight. And because of that, I never really connected with anyone. I mean, the main character Maddie was fine, she just didn’t have that badass final girl vibe I was hoping for.

All in all, this was not my favorite read. I was hoping for a scary and intense thriller and instead I got what felt like a campy teen horror from the 80’s. Not a bad read just not what I was looking for.

I give Campfire by Shawn Sarles 7 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. If you are looking for a scary Halloween read this is not it. If you are looking for a thrilling mystery this is not it. If you are looking for a campy teen horror nostalgia romp this is it. And if you are going to read this book... do not read the synopsis.

Have you read Campfire? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: The Agony House by Cherie Priest

Title: The Agony House Written by: Cherie Priest and Tara O'Connor Published: Septemebr 25, 2018 by Scholastic (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Denise Farber has just moved back to New Orleans with her mom and step-dad. They left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and have finally returned, wagering the last of their family's money on fixing up an old, rundown house and converting it to a bed and breakfast.Nothing seems to work around the place, which doesn't seem too weird to Denise. The unexplained noises are a little more out of the ordinary, but again, nothing too unusual.  But when floors collapse, deadly objects rain down, and she hears creepy voices, it's clear to Denise that something more sinister lurks hidden here.Answers may lie in an old comic book Denise finds concealed in the attic: the lost, final project of a famous artist who disappeared in the 1950s.  Denise isn't budging from her new home, so she must unravel the mystery-on the pages and off-if she and her family are to survive...

This book was amazing! Everything I wanted it to be and more. I loved I Am Princess X and I was really excited to hear that she had a new book coming out in a similar format. I saw copies available at ALA and I picked it up without even reading the synopsis. Then I read the synopsis and was even more excited.

It was incredibly apropos that I received a copy of this book at ALA in New Orleans because this is a book set in New Orleans, which is just one great thing about it. And the mystery and history of New Orleans definitely comes alive in The Agony House. It’s a city full of stories of ghosts and haunted houses. That seems to be the basis for this story and I really loved that. I love books that are set in mysterious old houses because I always wonder what happened in a place years ago. And seriously, this House was so creepy and fascinating. I'm not a huge fan of horror and I don't like being scared and this book had the perfect amount of creepy and mysterious that had me curious and freaked out in the best possible way. It definitely had this great horror movie vibe. It was compelling and cinematic made all the more interesting with the comics that were dispersed throughout.

But the house was only the start when it came to establishing the setting of this book. It takes place in the present day so the book has to deal with Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath. I really liked why Cherie Priest did with this aspect of the story. She didn’t shy away from talking about some of the terrible things that happened to the city of New Orleans and the people who lived there. She also really addressed the idea of gentrification and people coming into a blighted neighborhood and wanting to make it better at the expense of the people who had been there for generations. It’s such an interesting concept and I loved that she talked about it here. It gave the book a lot of depth and also grounded it in reality.

And that reality was shown in sharp contrast to the amazing supernatural elements in this book. I’m not a big fan of horror but I like a creepy book that makes me look over my shoulder and question things about old houses which is exactly what this book did. The ghost elements were really well done and had me really thinking that this house could certainly be a stop on a New Orleans ghost tour if it existed. And the ghost tour I went on was one of the highlights of my trip so that made me incredibly happy.

The other thing about this book that made me very happy was the mystery. I really loved the way it all unfolded. Like I Am Princess X this one had a comic that was dispersed throughout the story which gave clues that lead to the big reveal at the end (and in this case also showed what run ins with the resident ghost would be like). But unlike Princess X, I felt like this mystery was a little less obvious. It still was solvable and there were hints but it felt like a more mysterious and complex narrative which I appreciated. It was also an incredibly addicting read. It’s a short book and therefore it’a not too surprising that I finished it in two days but I also could not put it down. I keep telling myself “just one more chapter” and before I knew it I had read another forty pages. It had that much of my attention.

All in all, this was an amazing read. It is the perfect combination of supernatural thriller and historical mystery plus there is the comic thrown in for even more amazingness.

I give The Agony House by Cherie Priest 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. I really loved and definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fast and compelling Halloween read. If you liked I Am Princess X then definitely get this one, or even if you didn't read it and we want a creepy and fast read for fall get it.

Have you read The Agony House? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Audiobook Review: There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

Title: There's Someone Inside Your House Written by: Stephanie Perkins Published: September 26, 2017 by Dutton Books for Young Readers (Penguin Group) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Scream meets YA in this hotly-anticipated new novel from the bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss. One-by-one, the students of Osborne High are dying in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasing and grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and the hunt intensifies for the killer, the dark secrets among them must finally be confronted. International bestselling author Stephanie Perkins returns with a fresh take on the classic teen slasher story that’s fun, quick-witted, and completely impossible to put down. .

I honestly wasn't sure what I was getting into with YA horror written by Stephanie Perkins but this book was pretty phenomenal. It is the perfect Halloween read for someone who wants a creepy thriller.

I absolutely loved the tone of this book. I'm not a big horror fan but I love me a good thriller, especially one that has more of a creepy vibe to it, and that was this book. It was one of those classic 90's teen horrors that played up the tension that comes with it. There were many moments throughout this book where I was completely terrified for the characters and for myself. Not to mention the fact that it stuck with me after I finished reading the book. I was moving into my new apartment and still thinking about the book so much that I was a little nervous to go into the gross basement while I was home alone. That to me is the mark of a good horror or thriller.

It is also a book with a ton of action. Like all good slasher flicks there was plenty of bloods and guts in this book and I loved that. There was a serious body count in this book and I gotta be honest, I really appreciated that. But the action and thrills had a lot to do with the fact that the characters had to fight for their lives. It was definitely a thrilling plot that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I honestly didn't think it would because of the way the book was plotted but it totally did. That's how good and tense this book was.

The other really interesting thing was that I actually liked the mystery despite the fact that it isn't the type is mystery that I typically enjoy. I usually like my mystery to have clues along the way and a big reveal at the very end. This did not have that. The reveal actually came way early in the book and it was totally out of left field. But I still liked it. I think that was because it despite that it didn't lose any of the tension. Seriously, my favorite mysteries have plenty of tension and this book totally did.

I listened to the audiobook and I feel like that was an excellent choice because the audio was amazing. It's narrated by Bahni Turpin who is such a great narrator. She absolutely captures the tension of the book. You really need the narrator to establish that with a book like this and she definitely did that. Bahni also did a great job with developing the characters. There are a ton of different characters in this book and she definitely does a good job of establishing them all with subtly different accents and tones.

There's Someone Inside Your House was a really fantastic book and a great audiobook. It had great tension, a thrilling plot, a good mystery, and engaging characters. If you are looking for a book for the Halloween that has a horror vibe without being too scary then check this out.

I honestly wasn't sure what I was getting into with YA horror written by Stephanie Perkins but this book was pretty phenomenal. It is the perfect Halloween read for someone who wants a creepy thriller.

I absolutely loved the tone of this book. I'm not a big horror fan but I love me a good thriller, especially one that has more of a creepy vibe to it, and that was this book. It was one of those classic 90's teen horrors that played up the tension that comes with it. There were many moments throughout this book where I was completely terrified for the characters and for myself. Not to mention the fact that it stuck with me after I finished reading the book. I was moving into my new apartment and still thinking about the book so much that I was a little nervous to go into the gross basement while I was home alone. That to me is the mark of a good horror or thriller.

It is also a book with a ton of action. Like all good slasher flicks there was plenty of bloods and guts in this book and I loved that. There was a serious body count in this book and I gotta be honest, I really appreciated that. But the action and thrills had a lot to do with the fact that the characters had to fight for their lives. It was definitely a thrilling plot that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I honestly didn't think it would because of the way the book was plotted but it totally did. That's how good and tense this book was.

The other really interesting thing was that I actually liked the mystery despite the fact that it isn't the type is mystery that I typically enjoy. I usually like my mystery to have clues along the way and a big reveal at the very end. This did not have that. The reveal actually came way early in the book and it was totally out of left field. But I still liked it. I think that was because it despite that it didn't lose any of the tension. Seriously, my favorite mysteries have plenty of tension and this book totally did.

I listened to the audiobook and I feel like that was an excellent choice because the audio was amazing. It's narrated by Bahni Turpin who is such a great narrator. She absolutely captures the tension of the book. You really need the narrator to establish that with a book like this and she definitely did that. Bahni also did a great job with developing the characters. There are a ton of different characters in this book and she definitely does a good job of establishing them all with subtly different accents and tones.

There's Someone Inside Your House was a really fantastic book and a great audiobook. It had great tension, a thrilling plot, a good mystery, and engaging characters. I wasn't sure I would like it was really really good.

I give There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins 9.5 out of 10 star

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! If you are looking for a book for the Halloween that has a horror vibe without being too scary then check this out. It's fantastic!

Have you read There's Someone Inside Your House? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics

Title: The Women in the Walls Written by: Amy Lukavics Published: September 27, 2016 by Harlequin Teen (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Lucy Acosta's mother died when she was three. Growing up in a Victorian mansion in the middle of the woods with her cold, distant father, she explored the dark hallways of the estate with her cousin, Margaret. They're inseparable—a family.  When her aunt Penelope, the only mother she's ever known, tragically disappears while walking in the woods surrounding their estate, Lucy finds herself devastated and alone. Margaret has been spending a lot of time in the attic. She claims she can hear her dead mother's voice whispering from the walls. Emotionally shut out by her father, Lucy watches helplessly as her cousin's sanity slowly unravels. But when she begins hearing voices herself, Lucy finds herself confronting an ancient and deadly legacy that has marked the women in her family for generations.

*** Michelle from Pink Polka Dots Book Blog got an advance copy of this book from the publisher at BEA in exchange for an honest review and she let me borrow it (Thanks Michelle!). This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

The Women in the Walls is the perfect book to read for Halloween, whether you are a big horror fan or not really this is still a great seasonal read. When I was finished I I could think about was how this book is like those ridiculous and campy horror movies that you watch and think "this is absurd and gross, it's not scary," but at the same time, it totally is.

One of the reasons that I say this is because of the imagery of this book. Amy Lukavics definitely knows how to set a scene. You can perfectly picture the creepy old house with all it's many abandoned rooms, the spooky graveyard in the woods, and the vast grounds of the estate. It had a fantastic old world feel but also felt like a place you would go today and be super creeped out by. But then there was also her description of the gore. And you guys, this book had gore. That was one of the big things that gave it a campy horror movie vibe. It wasn't ghosts and things jumping out at you, it was blood and guts and creepy feelings. That is more my find of horror.

The general plot too made it feel like that campy kind of horror. It definitely had elements of classic horror stories. Creepy house that's more than meets the eye? Check. Unexplained occurrences? Check. Characters having their thoughts and feeling effected by said house and unexplained occurrences? Check. Tons of surprises and unexpected reveals? Check.It all works together to make a plot that feels reminiscent of those horror books and movies that you might know and love. It's definitely and interesting book that was full of thrills and surprises. There were definitely some crazy and creepy reveals throughout the book but especially at the end.

But the pacing of it was kind of problematic for me. This book is one of those cases where it starts our really slow and then builds to a crazy conclusion. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. But in this case, and often with books paced like this, the ending felt rushed. It escalated very quickly and then the book was just over. This is a short book, only about 240 pages, and I think more would have been more here. The ending needed a little more explanation and more time to reveal all the big things. I would have liked a little more time for it all to sink in I think.

But I also would have liked a little more time with the character development. I think the main character, Lucy, was definitely interesting and complex. We spend the entire book in her head and it is kind of a dark place to be. Things have not been going well for her over the last few years and she finds ways to cope with it however she can. But then throughout the book there is so much uncertainty about what is happening and that is reflected and makes her seem vulnerable. But the fact that she cares about her family gives her strength. She was a good main characters. But at the same time it really is all about Lucy. We get so little of most of the other characters around her. They just seem to be there and I would have liked to see and not be told why she cares about them and how they are as people. That extra attention to the characterization could have taken this book to the next level.

But on the whole this was a good Halloween read. It was dark and weird and creepy. It was full of surprises and thrills that I really did enjoy. And the fact that it is short meant that it was a good palate cleanser with all the intense and dark fantasy I have been reading. It was exactly the book I needed to read.

I give The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics 7.5 out of 10 stars 

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. Definitely a good Halloween read that I think will attract people who are both big fans of horror and those looking for something scary for the season but don't really read a lot of horror. Pick this up on your next library run.

Have you read The Women in the Walls? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich

Title: And the Trees Crept In Written by: Dawn Kurtagich Published: September 6, 2016 by Little Brown Books for Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: A stunning, terrifying novel about a house the color of blood and the two sisters who are trapped there, by The Dead House author Dawn Kurtagich  When Silla and Nori arrive at their aunt's home, it's immediately clear that the "blood manor" is cursed. The creaking of the house and the stillness of the woods surrounding them would be enough of a sign, but there are secrets too--the questions that Silla can't ignore: Who is the beautiful boy that's appeared from the woods? Who is the man that her little sister sees, but no one else? And why does it seem that, ever since they arrived, the trees have been creeping closer?  Filled with just as many twists and turns as The Dead House, and with achingly beautiful, chilling language that delivers haunting scenes, AND THE TREES CREPT IN is the perfect follow-up novel for master horror writer Dawn Kurtagich.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher at BEA. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

I read and loved Dawn's debut The Dead House and I was so excited to read her next book. And wow, does this author know how to write a great YA psychological thriller. It has taken me two days to review this book (something that rarely happens anymore) but I seriously needed that time to wrap my head around what happened in this book and how I felt about it.

There is so much about this book that I want to talk about but I don't want to spoil you on it. Suffice it to say that there is a really interesting plot here. It's not quite a mystery, not quite a psychological thriller, and not quite horror either. It combines all three though to make a story that is so compelling. There are little clues along the way and points throughout the book that come together in a big way when you reach the eventual conclusion. And what a conclusion it was. It wasn't a total surprise but it did have me reeling. It was fantastic in that way.

A lot of the enjoyment of the plot and this book came from the tone and atmosphere. This is definitely a book full of confusion and suspense. I am the type of reader who likes being confused, I like not knowing what is happening so this book gave me that. There are a lot of unexpected twists too. Moments where you're not super scared but you're worried and looking around your shoulder. It made for an interesting and atmospheric read.

But most of the confusion I think came from the characters. This is a book with an unreliable narrator which I typically enjoy. And I did enjoy that aspect of Silla. She has definitely been through a lot and you want to see her and her sister Nori, who was so sweet, win in the end. However at the same time you see Silla slowly lose her grip on things. It was incredibly interesting but there is just something hard about connecting with a character like that. But mostly I found it hard to connect with the romance of the book. Despite liking Gowan, the male lead, the romance just felt strange to me and I think maybe that was because of my feelings of Silla. But in general I loved the unreliable narrator and the characters were complex.

And the Trees Crept in is a fast and engaging story full of mystery and suspense. It's an atmospheric read with an unreliable narrator and a plot that will mess with your head and keep you guessing until you finish reading. It only took me a few days to read this and I honestly didn't want to put it down.

I give And the Trees Crept in by Dawn Kurtagich 8.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow/Buy. If you like Dawn's debut then check this out or if you are looking for a unique read that combines mystery, horror, and psychological thriller in a subtle kind of way than check this out. It's be a good introduction to these kinds of books.

Book Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Title: The Diviners Series: The Diviners #1 Author: Libba Bray Published: September 8, 2012 by Little Brown Books for Young Readers  (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.  Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.  As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

I have never met a Libba Bray book that I have not loved. It doesn't matter if it's contemporary, historical fiction, or fantasy she is seriously an autobuy author for me. That being said, I waited entirely too long to read this book. I heard about it a few years ago and for some reason I never picked it up. I picked up her other books. And after finally reading it, I am definitely wondering why it took so long for me to read it because it was just absolutely brilliant.

What I adored most about this book is the historical fiction aspect of the story. Libba Bray is able to perfectly transport you into the world of New York City in the 1920's. She of course combines real people, ideas, and events of the period with fictional people and events. The setting comes alive with gorgeous detail as We're taken to the seedy prohibition era clubs, the jazz music, the vaudeville shows, and meet flappers and Bright Young Things out for a good time. I read a lot of historical fiction and never before have I found such an immersive experience, so much so that I found my manner of speech changing to adopt the slang of the time (but this is the second book set in the 20's I read in the past two weeks so take my opinion with a grain of salt). It's such a great representation of the era that I think the manner of speech and slang may annoy some readers, it does feel a little bit like jargon at times, but for me it felt all the more authentic and interesting. Not to mention that this is a period that I love reading about. It's a time of change and excitement that leads to a lot of really interesting and adventurous stories.

And that is exactly what the plot of this book was, interesting and adventurous. Sure, it's an immerse historical fiction novel but it's also a fantastic supernatural mystery. There is a disclaimer at the beginning of the book that warns the reader to keep the lights on and they are not kidding. This book is incredibly spooky. It's a fantastic ghost story that will forever change the way I view whistling when I'm walking down the street alone at night. But it's also an intricate murder mystery about the hunt for a serial killer. You know me and mysteries, I like solving them and I'm pretty good at it. I thought I had the mystery here figured out and I had a few elements of it solved but it still managed to surprise me and build to an amazing conclusion that had me on the edge of my seat completely riveted.

But the mystery plot and the ghost story were not the only supernatural elements of the story. The book also had a fascinating magical system that was a lot like the superpower stories that I love. Many of the characters in this book have powers that they are trying to keep secret, powers that connect them to a dark past, powers that get them into or sometimes out of trouble. I love characters with secrets and what Libba Bray does so well here with them is the dramatic irony of their secrets and their connections. The book is told in a third-person perspective from a lot of different perspectives and is intricately well-written. We slowly get to know each character and watch them interact with one another in positive and negative ways as their stories intertwine with the many different plot points of the book. Books with so many perspectives can be hit or miss for me and there were times where it felt a little too vast sometimes but it really did work.

The fact that I enjoyed the alternating perspectives so much may have been because each and every character here was fascinating and complex. No matter which character we are following at the time you are engaged and invested in their success. I particularly loved our main character Evie and her fun-loving spirit and plucky personality but I also loved that she's smart and probably the best detective in the bunch. But the book also had an amazing and dark antagonist. Naughty John may have just become one of my favorite villains, he is terrifying! Did I mention the whistling? Because, the whistling! Libba Bray is a master at characterization and The Diviners definitely proves it. But even so I feel like we have only begun to learn about each of them, their histories, and their powers. I can't wait to learn more. Maybe I should push Lair of Dreams up on the TBR.

The Diviners is a beast (if you've read it, you may laugh at this) of a book weighing in at almost 600 pages but it doesn't really feel that way. It's a book you will not want to put down as you hunt for clues about the supernatural mystery and the characters. Libba Bray further proves why she is one of my favorite authors.

I give The Diviners by Libba Bray 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! Whether you are a fan of historical fiction, horror, mysteries, and/or fantasies this book is worth the read. It has a vivid historical setting, complex and engaging characters, a thrilling plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat and up all night. It was dark and spooky and wonderful!

Read this if you enjoyed:
The Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray
The Young Elites by Marie Lu
Miss Peregrine's School for Unusual Children by Ranson Riggs
The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

Have you read The Diviners? What did you think? Leave me a comment for your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!