The author has a creative imagination, but I wasn’t sold on the way it was written!
Eve Palmer, and her partner Charlie Bastion fix up old houses with The author has a creative imagination, but I wasn’t sold on the way it was written!
Eve Palmer, and her partner Charlie Bastion fix up old houses with the intention of flipping them for a profit, and their current home – 3709 Heritage Lane – in the backcountry of Oregon is their most ambitious project to date. One Friday night, Eve and their dog Shylo (no harm comes to the dog btw) are alone in the house, waiting on Charlie’s return, when the doorbell sounds.
Eve reluctantly opens the door to a family of five – Thomas, his wife Paige, and their children, Kai, Newton, and Jenny. Turns out Thomas grew up in the house, and since they were passing, he was hoping to show his family the interior. They seem harmless, so Eve agrees. But the tour stretches on forever, and finally just when they’re about to leave, Jenny, their youngest, goes missing… And that’s just the start of the bizarreness…
Unhinged and mind-bending! I savoured the idea of this, the concept, the cleverly concealed clues and hints, the insertion of news articles, interviews, relevant articles, etc, the gothic setting, and best of all, the chilled-me-to-my-bone ending, and the place it ended. However, the way it was written just didn’t do it for me – it was all over the show – choppy, hard-to-keep-track of plot, some downright awful dialogue, and inconsistent character behaviour. I appreciate that given the trippy and strange plot, the writing needed to contain a certain amount of surrealism especially the further into the novel things got, but it was this way from the beginning, which made it hard to connect with any characters as they were all odd from the first meeting, therefore tough to care about. For me the most terrifying part of a horror novel is when your characters are living their lives as if everything is normal, only to be confronted with something supernatural or paranormal, and it would’ve worked with this exact plot and not lost anything. I’ve seen a similar plot work in a TV show, and another book, and the characters were 100% more realistic to life – can’t name either obviously due to spoilers.
It will be interesting to see if the Netflix movie will get it right (by me).
Incidents Around the House was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024, and as it turns out my biggest letdown.
Pros:
The descriptions of Other Mommy’Incidents Around the House was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024, and as it turns out my biggest letdown.
Pros:
The descriptions of Other Mommy’s appearance scared the bejeezus out of me.
It terrified me how the entity wasn’t just bound to the house, but could haunt Bela, anywhere, anytime.
Bela’s innocence, such as mispronouncing the word ‘reincarnation’ as ‘carnation’ unaware of just how much danger she was in freaked me out.
Cons:
All the characters were insufferable, including Bela.
Most of the plot was boring – endless discussions of sleeping arrangements, eating, drinking, dancing, arguing grew tiresome.
The ending was underwhelming.
I don’t mind a child narrator, nor it being written in a unique way to accommodate this. Room by Emma Donoghue 100% worked for me. The short, unstructured, unformatted sentences utilised here didn’t.
The dialogue was cringy.
What was with the existential rantings adults employed when talking to Bela? I’ve never heard of parents sprouting philosophy like this to an eight-year-old child. It was so weird.
I have Birdbox through audible, but not sure I’ll ever read it now. Someone please tell me it’s better than this?
My opinion is very much in the minority – most of my Goodreads friends have highly praised Incidents Around the House, but I’m unable to recommend this title....more
The second week of June is 12-year-old Thea Fox’s favourite time of year – it even beats Christmas!
Because every summer Thea’s parents – Cora and JohnThe second week of June is 12-year-old Thea Fox’s favourite time of year – it even beats Christmas!
Because every summer Thea’s parents – Cora and John – drive her, her 10-year-old brother Rem, and their dog Cocoa all the way from their home in Fredericksburg, Virginia to Redbud Hollow, Nebraska to spend two wondrous weeks with their beloved Grammie – Lucy Lannigan. Their carefree days and nights at their Grammie’s tranquil house nestled in the hollow surrounded by nature, are filled with joy, laughter, and music – hiking the hills to visit neighbours, walking the dogs in the trees, making soaps and candles, watching the stars while eating homemade sundaes on the back porch – even the chores are fun!
Meanwhile, back in Fredericksburg, Cora and John enjoy two blissful weeks alone together, acting like newlyweds – more in love with every passing year.
But a week into their stay at Grammie’s, tragedy strikes. Cora and John are murdered in their home – targeted by a sick monster named Ray Riggs.
Days later, with Thea’s unique assistance, Ray is captured by police, and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. How? Because Thea and her parent's killer are unwittingly connected. Both have psychic visions – can see and feel what others are thinking, including each other. Thea’s ability is a pure gift, born of light and hope, which she uses to help people, to save lives, and never for personal gain. Ray reserves his for pure evil – to manipulate, blackmail, stalk, hurt, and kill. And when Thea dreams of Ray in his prison cell the psychic link between them is strengthened, and over the years Thea struggles to block him out. And all Ray Riggs wants is for Thea to pay for what she did to him – it’s his sole reason for existing.
Nora Roberts latest novel of romantic suspense, family saga, with a paranormal aspect was my favourite of hers since Carolina Moon (published in 2000). I think that one had a slight edge over Mind Games (although I think a re-read is in order to double-check that it has stood the test of time). Ray Riggs was a vicious, prevalent, psychopath, with no redeeming qualities, and the fact that he was psychic, made him even more terrifying, akin to Freddy Krueger. I’ve only seen this storyline (main character and killer connected by visions) done once before in the TV series Medium (2005 – 2011), so it was fairly unique to me, and just as chilling, particularly since Thea was 12 years old at the start. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that anything was overly graphic and gory, and I think the emotional slant that was always present helped with that, but there were violent scenes. But they remained as brief as possible and were minimal in terms of the overall plot.
However, thriller subplot aside my main takeaway from this is that it was a novel centered on love and family. Grammie was the ultimate Grandmother, supportive, encouraging, endlessly patient and giving. Her bond with Thea was so special – how she helped her understand, accept, and control her gift – a gift that all the women on Thea’s mother’s and Grammie’s side shared going back generations. The family unit made up of Grammie, Thea, and Rem was an unbreakable, tight-knit bond. Lucy referred to the three of them as ‘one big ball of wax’ which accurately summarises their closeness. Like all siblings, Thea and Rem would squabble, tease, and compete, but always had each others backs. Then there was the love between parent/s and children – Cora and John were only in the book for a short time, but it was obvious how much they loved Thea and Rem. As was Lucy’s love for her daughter and son-in-law (who she considered her son). Same goes for another parent/child relationship which needs to remain a secret. And, last but not least Thea’s romantic interest, who I’m also not going to reveal, because I spent the first nearly 50% of the novel thinking it was going to be someone else so let’s see if you fall for the same red herring as me! Oh, and I did enjoy who he turned out to be – wasn’t disappointed at all.
Another main theme throughout was the shock, anger, uncertainty, and grief associated not only with loss, but the violent senseless nature and suddenness of the manner in which Cora and John were ripped away, and the gaping hole, and lasting impact it left on family, friends, the community as a whole, and even strangers. I shed more than a few tears. Cora’s and John’s final moments on earth, their funeral, and Thea’s speech to detectives were heartbreaking. Kept tissues handy.
Just as important were Thea’s and Rem’s connection to their Grammie’s home – the way they were drawn to it, the sense of belonging, sanctuary, and safety it invoked (not only for them but everyone who visited) – and how they cherished and respected the land. I adored the farm to table lifestyle they embraced, taught to them by their beyond talented Grammie – the herbal medicine, customs and traditions passed down through generations, using natural ingredients in creative ways (Grammie’s homemade soaps and candles), mouth-watering food, and best of all, the dear animals (with their ingenious names). I could taste the fried chicken, breath in the mountain air, smell the lavender, hear the chickens clucking.
As you can see, I had a lot to say as there was so much about Mind Games that I loved. I could go on, but I’ll leave it there, and let you experience every high for yourself....more
I can only muster 3 stars rounded up to 3.5 for this Supernatural Murder Mystery!
*Happy Publication Day*
Deadhart, Alaska has a population of 673 livinI can only muster 3 stars rounded up to 3.5 for this Supernatural Murder Mystery!
*Happy Publication Day*
Deadhart, Alaska has a population of 673 living humans, and on its outskirts reside the undead (although technically they aren’t as these bloodsuckers are mortal, but you get my drift), a colony of vampyrs (the ancient word for vampires}.
In this version of 2024 (where everything remains the same with the exception of the introduction of vampyrs, who have been around since the beginning of time), vampyrs have been declared a protected species since 1983, although they are not permitted to live, work, or socialise among humans, hence the ‘colonies’ they inhabit, and as a result they are highly feared and prejudiced against by a lot of humans.
So, when a human teenager, 15-year-old Marcus Anderson, is murdered, and the evidence points to a vampyr attack, the town of Deadhart is hellbent on revenge and vigilantism. Enter Dr. Barbara Atkins, a New York based Forensic Vampire Anthopologist, who is called in to investigate, and naturally her arrival is met with hostility, suspicion and anger. It’s up to Barbara to find Marcus’ killer because if a vampyr is responsible then human law dictates that the entire Deadhart colony will need to be ‘culled’ (wiped out).
Did you follow all of that?
An intriguing, original, and compelling premise, don’t you agree? I thought so too, but unfortunately one that didn’t entirely work for me. I enjoyed the fresh take on the vampire myth, and the changes to the lore, and the bigotry and discrimination against the vampyr race had me feeling a spectrum of emotions. But the fact that I sympathised with them and given that our race held all the power (political and technological) prevented the vampyrs from being scary and threatening for me, even when they were intended to be. And, when I think about the vampire fiction that has resonated with me in the past, the fanged monsters depicted were truly terrifying.
There were one or two decent twists, and I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the mystery was predictable, but at the same time the resolution was lacklustre. The characters weren’t bad, I liked Barbara and others well enough, but nor were they particularly memorable. Although I do commend authors like Tudor who, more and more, are using older women (50+) as their main protagonist as going back twenty, thirty years you rarely found a competent, respected female character over 35. Now to the setting – I just never felt that closed-in trepidation and tension. And I never got the impression that Barbara was in any real danger – the characters that tended to be targeted were the unlikeable ones. Overall, the dialogue was Tudor’s usual high standard, with the exception of (and this is going to sound picky, but it really irked me so I’m including it!) Barbara’s constant use of the word ‘Sir’ when addressing male characters – I understand it was meant to placate them, but honesty it was every second sentence, and it was distracting. Dare you not to notice it now! Maybe I can’t talk because I’ve used the words ‘human’ and ‘vampyr’ a lot in this review.
Anyway, to sum up, I think I went into this book with too higher expectations following the dizzying heights of last years The Drift (5 stars all the way baby!). And my disappointment is set to continue as it looks like The Gathering is the start of a series for C.J. Tudor, and I just can’t generate enough enthusiasm for a second instalment. Boo-hoo for me, but fantastic for those who loved it – which was the majority of early reviewers.
I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Michael Joseph Penguin Random House, and C.J. Tudor for the e-ARC....more
The synopsis of When the Night Bells Ring appealed to me so much. Dystopian North America, a ghost town, a supernatural presence in anOoh scary – not!
The synopsis of When the Night Bells Ring appealed to me so much. Dystopian North America, a ghost town, a supernatural presence in an abandoned mine, the American West during the height of the gold rush – one of my favourite eras, not to mention gothic tones.
In the near future climate catastrophe has brought on the apocalypse. Following the Great Valley Fire, Mads and Waynoka have fled Los Angeles in search of a more stable environment on the East Coast. They stop to rest in Virgil, Nevada. Upon realising it was once a thriving mining town, they venture deep into the mine in search of a water source. An accident leaves Mads injured, cutting off their only exit route. They are trapped way beneath the surface! Then, Waynoka finds a diary, first entry dated July 26th, 1869. It tells the story of Lavinia, her husband, and two children, newly arrived in Virgil. Lavinia immediately notices there is something off about the town. And, as it turns out, she is right to be worried. Because there is something truly evil lurking in the mine. And, Waynoka and Mads are about discover that it’s still there.
Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? I had such high hopes for this horror read only to have them dashed. My main issue was the writing. Both timelines felt rushed, and lacked tension or suspense. Consequently, I never felt creeped out or unperturbed, let alone scared. It also meant I failed to connect with any of the characters, and wasn’t emotionally invested. I also had an issue with the diary entries as there was too much telling and not enough showing. When Lavinia writes about a young couple she met upon arriving in Virgil as ‘acting oddly’ and ‘they seemed spooked’ does nothing for me. I want that conversation relayed, so I can witness their body language and facial expressions for myself. Heaps of authors include diary entries that read like flashbacks, or start as diary entries and then morph into flashbacks. This entire novel just left too much to the imagination. No spooky or gothic vibes whatsoever.
Writing is subjective though, and When the Night Bells Ring has received rave reviews, and freaked readers out. Maybe the audiobook will work better? If you do decide to try it, I hope it’s a winner. For me, this was not a great start for my first lead-up-to-Halloween read.
I’ll like to thank Edelweiss, CamCat Books, and Jo Kaplan for the e-ARC.
I’d categorise this as light horror/thriller. Entertaining and fun, but also unsettling, and surprisingly, emotional and deep. Add in lots of twists aI’d categorise this as light horror/thriller. Entertaining and fun, but also unsettling, and surprisingly, emotional and deep. Add in lots of twists and turns, and this was a definite winner that I flew through in a day. Reminiscent of two Stephen King novels - Christine and Pet Sematary....more
Something monstrous is preying on the people of Shanghai.
No one is safe.
No one is immune.
1926 – Two rival gangs, the Scarlets and the White Flowers, Something monstrous is preying on the people of Shanghai.
No one is safe.
No one is immune.
1926 – Two rival gangs, the Scarlets and the White Flowers, rule Shanghai with an iron fist. Communism and colonialism are ever present challenges, but their biggest threat is each other. That is until seven people die in gruesome, unexplained ways, and sightings of a repulsive supernatural type creature are reported. As the death count and terror rises, Roma (White Flower) and Juliette (Scarlet), once friends and lovers (torn apart by betrayal and the blood feud that exists between their families), must put aside their hatred to stop the ‘madness' penetrating their city. Because if they fail, everyone will die.
A sea monster slithering out of the Huangpu River and infected people with a sickness that drove them crazy enough to kill themselves, before disappearing into the murky depths once again, played on my worst fears. The very idea of something foreign invading the brain and taking control gave me the heebie-jeebies. Chloe Gong did a masterful job with the action, horror, and gory scenes. I really felt the city's dread, panic and urgency the entire time I was reading.
The setting was a unique one with interesting politics, seediness, corruption, and violence, but there was also beauty to be found even in the darkest of times. The gang culture aspect – the rules, customs, practices, code of conduct – and the rivalry and blood feud that existed between the two families was equally fascinating and appalling. Roma and Juliette were constantly pulled in two directions, with betrayal, bloodshed, and very personal losses on both sides – torn between love and loyalty. And These Violent Delights ended on, not one, but two explosive cliff hangers, both of which will have far reaching consequences. The fall-out is going to be epic!
But I'm afraid I had some issues. My biggest was that a lot of the dialogue was somewhat confusing and disjointed, and just didn't strike me as how people speak or behave. There were ill-timed jokes and teasing too that didn't fit with the seriousness of the situation, as well as unnecessary conversations that neither furthered the plot or revealed anything about the character's personalities. What’s more, the language was far too modern for the time period. The emotions felt off too. Characters cared more about how they were going to clean bloodstains from their carpet than the horrors of people ripping their throats out in front of their eyes.
I also struggled with Juliette. She was such a bitch and a bully, and no matter what the situation she always responded with threats and/or violence. Roma, I liked, but I have no idea what he saw in Juliette. The main characters had zero romantic and sexual chemistry. What's more, the promised Romeo and Juliette romantic sub-plot was almost non-existent, which was one of the main reasons I was drawn to this book. The two characters shared all this history that was barely touched on. I feel the story could've benefitted from flashbacks to their first meeting, early friendship/relationship. Maybe the author intends to step-up the romance in book 2, but at 449 pages I expected more from this volume.
I'm an adult who has always loved YA but I feel I was too old for this and that it is better suited for a teenage and new adult audience. There's no question that These Violent Delights has been a phenomenal success for Chloe Gong, and I'm thrilled that a NZ based author is doing so well.
I'd like to thank Tandem Collective Global, Hachette NZ, and Chloe Gong for the gifted copy....more
Hmmm… now that I've finished, I'm not even sure what genre to categorise Layla as? I would've said psychological thriller until thWTF did I just read?
Hmmm… now that I've finished, I'm not even sure what genre to categorise Layla as? I would've said psychological thriller until the last 20%. And, Leeds made me too uncomfortable to view him as any type of romantic leading man, so not a romance either? And saying he made me uncomfortable isn’t a spoiler as the first sentence will likely make you feel the same way. And if that's not enough to convince you that Leeds is a creep and a weirdo then the fact that he was utterly consumed with Layla from the moment he laid eyes on her in chapter one, and that he freely admitted he had nothing in his life pre-Layla should’ve sent Layla running for the hills.
Leeds way of loving wasn't cute, it wasn't sweet – it was smothering and all kinds of wrong. He wanted a relationship where life was perfect, and his partner was happy and upbeat 24/7. But as we all know, life is not like that, and neither are relationships, people are complicated, therefore it wasn't long before things fell apart, and quickly spiraled out of control… and, naturally, I relished every bat-shit, crazy twist. Yep, you guessed it, I loved it.
Since Leeds was the sole POV, we were privy to his innermost thoughts (most of which made me want to gag), and Colleen Hoover impressed me no end with the way she had his character justify and dismiss his obsessiveness and unhealthy behaviour. I was on the edge of my seat wondering how he was going to act and react, and just how nuthouse the plot was going to get. The answer – insanity times infinity.
There was a supernatural aspect to the story as well, which upped the bizarreness, and I was blown away by how clever and uniquely executed it was and how seamlessly it gelled with the plot without being too out there. The isolated setting also increased everyone’s paranoia, and my nail-biting. In my eyes, Layla has superseded Verity. Honestly, I've never read anything quite like it. How does CoHo come up with this stuff? I raise my glass to this incredibly versatile author....more
‘If you see the burning girls, something bad will befall you.’
Reverend Jack Brooks, widowed, with a teenage daughter Flo, reluctantly takes on 3.5
‘If you see the burning girls, something bad will befall you.’
Reverend Jack Brooks, widowed, with a teenage daughter Flo, reluctantly takes on the temporary position of interim vicar in a tiny Sussex village.
Chapel Croft has seen its fair share of tragedy.
The sixteenth century saw eight Protestants – including two young girls Abigail and Maggie – burned to death in front of the church.
In 1990, two teenagers Merry and Joy, disappeared without a trace. They have never been found.
And Jack's predecessor – Reverend Fletcher – hanged himself in the chapel.
The ghosts of Abigail and Maggie are said to haunt the church grounds, and building.
So when Flo sees a girl on fire in the graveyard, who promptly vanishes, and a box addressed to Jack containing an exorcism kit is left on the chapel doorstep, It appears evil is still afoot in Chapel Croft and it's set its sights firmly on Jack and Flo.
The Burning Girls contained its fair share of wickedness and intrigue, but I craved more. Her first two books The Chalk Man and The Taking of Annie Thorne (a.k.a. The Hiding Place) were truly terrifying and chilled me to the bone, but I never experienced that level of terror while reading this. In fact, it was slow to begin with and parts of it were kind of boring. The building sense of ominous dread was absent. Despite the macabre premise, dark history, and gothic setting, I never felt unsettled.
What’s more I guessed one of the bigger twists early on, so that really hampered my enjoyment. A smaller one I figured out too, but that one was very obvious. I'm not even sure it was supposed to be a twist. However, there were several other big reveals that shocked me to the core which I really enjoyed.
The two main characters were what really kept me invested. Jack and Flo were both strong independent flawed people and their pain was real. I loved their relationship, teasing banter and witty remarks. Even when they were at odds their bond was unbreakable.
Just like C.J.Tudor's previous work, The Other People, I can see The Burning Girls appealing to a wider audience as it wasn't as weird, sinister or ambiguous as TCM and TTOAT but those were the qualities that first drew me to this author, so I couldn't help feeling disappointed. Overall, a satisfying, suspenseful, somewhat surprising mystery but little about it separated it from other's in the thriller/supernatural genres.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Penguin Michael Joseph UK, and CJ Tudor for the e-ARC.
‘Whether this is a devil dressed as a man, or a man dressed as a devil, our course of action remains the same.’
If you're a fan of any, or all, of
‘Whether this is a devil dressed as a man, or a man dressed as a devil, our course of action remains the same.’
If you're a fan of any, or all, of these authors and books – Ken Follet, Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, The Shining, or Lord of the Flies, then The Devil and the Dark Water is going to be a sure-fire winner for you. Even if you're not, there is still plenty to enjoy.
The year is 1634. When passengers set sail on the Saardam (one in a fleet of seven Indiaman ships) at Batavia, for an eight-month journey to Amsterdam, they anticipated boredom, misery, and the potential hazards of pirates, storms, fire, shipwreck, disease, or accident. What they didn't expect was a manifestation of a dead leper haunting the decks and cargo hold. A whispering voice echoing through the night – taunting and tormenting, offering rewards and riches in return for servitude. An ominous eighth lantern out at sea that shouldn’t be there. And the prediction of three unholy miracles, each worse than the last – two of which have already come to pass.
All I can say is WOW!The Devil and the Dark Water was equally as original, clever, puzzling, and enthralling as Stuart Turton's debut, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. Strap yourself in for a wild voyage of epic proportions. TDATDW fits multiple genres – historical, horror, gothic-horror, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller, action, adventure, drama, and romance. It’s a slow burn, but pay attention and read carefully, as it's always the small details that count, otherwise you may be confused by the end reveal. To give you some context, the first 35% only covers the first day of the voyage, beginning with the passengers arriving, boarding, and then setting sail. I feel this gradual build approach was necessary due to the extension cast of characters introduced, as well as to get your head around the layout, hierarchy of the crew and passengers, and the operation, routine, and conduct aboard the Saardam – all things pertinent to the plot. Included at the front is a ‘Manifest of Notable Crew and Passengers’ which I kept flipping back to until I had all the players straight.
The prevalent question continuously plaguing me throughout was whether or not the threat was supernatural? Was someone actually possessed or controlled by a Devil entity to do its bidding, or was the answer trickery perpetrated by a cunning mastermind/s? And, I was constantly torn one way or the other, my every theory (and admittedly all my ideas were weak) soon shot down by the author. The growing hysteria and paranoia of the people on board increased the tension, claustrophobia and desperateness of the situation and had me anxious for the characters that were my favourites. Superstitious beliefs were commonplace in the 17th century, and crew and sailors on board the Saardam used charms, prayers, and rituals as a protective barrier to ward off the Devil and disaster. Fights, resentments, rivalries, riots, and insubordination went hand-in-hand with such closed quarters, and when exacerbated by a satanic presence inciting discord, rage, hatred, fear, and terror, mutiny and murder were but a stone’s throw away.
The Devil and the Dark Water definitely makes my top three favourite reads of 2020. In his Author’s Note Stuart Turton has promised another book in the next two years, and I'm going to hold him to that! With Halloween approaching, this would be the perfect time to read this....more
Stephen King's latest round of four short stories sees modern technology playing a crucial role, and the ole landline came out on top, which makes3.5.
Stephen King's latest round of four short stories sees modern technology playing a crucial role, and the ole landline came out on top, which makes me wonder whether I should have done away with mine? Ranked in order from best to worst.
Mr Harrington's Phone – Dealt with grief, loss and how devastating the death of a loved one is, as well as letting go, and moving on. Revenge and justice were also prominent themes. If you're a fan of TV's Supernatural Season 3 Episode - Long-Distance Call, then this one is for you. Delved into our fascination and expectation that nearly all information is so conveniently accessible via technology and the notion that in this current climate we're so obsessed with our phones, that even when said phone turns creepily scary, we're unable to fathom living without one.
Rat – How far would you go to achieve your dreams? What price are you willing to pay? What would you sacrifice? These are the dilemmas a wannabe novelist (who has had some success with short stories) is confronted with, when he heads to his father's remote cabin in hopes of finally writing his first novel. I loved this story. Spooky and disturbing with a hallucinogenic, dreamlike aspect.
Another epic masterpiece penned by King. I've never been afraid of clowns, but the combination of IT being able to ‘glamour' itself into any form it cAnother epic masterpiece penned by King. I've never been afraid of clowns, but the combination of IT being able to ‘glamour' itself into any form it chose, its ability to haunt or possess people to do its bidding, and the human evil the main characters had to deal with made IT simply terrifying. Review to follow....more
This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper. - T.S Eliot
June 1990: A lethalThis is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper. - T.S Eliot
June 1990: A lethal super-flu is accidentally released from a top-secret military lab in California, when a terrified security officer flees the facility during an outbreak – driving across country with his wife and child – infecting everyone they come into contact with. The virus sweeps across America, and then the world, killing 99% of the population within two weeks. Only a handful of survivors are immune, but for them, their nightmare is only just beginning.
Because, the dark man walks the desert highways in his cowboy boots, faded jeans, and denim jacket. He is called many things – Satan, the Devil, Legion, an apostate of Hell, even the Walkin' Dude – but the name he has chosen for himself is Randall Flagg. His intention, to form a dictatorship civilisation, and through fear and violence, dominant the former United States. Some survivors – those who are easily corrupted or morally ambiguous – are drawn to Flagg's new order like moths to a flame.
But for many others (who do not condone Flagg's abomination) there is hope, light, and goodness to be found in the form of Mother Abagail (Flagg's polar opposite). Abagail Freemantle is 108 years-old, and is seen as a prophet of the Lord. Those who choose to follow her eventually make their home in Boulder, Colorado (Boulder Free-Zone).
They want nothing more than to live in peace and harmony, but Flagg is threatened by their very existence, and intends to wipe them out. It's the ultimate showdown between good and evil. Who will prevail?
The Stand (first published in 1978) has been hailed as Stephen King's crowning glory, and one of the most influential books of all time, and I can now say I one hundred percent agree. An apocalyptic horror/fantasy masterpiece of epic proportions. Mind officially blown! My review is for the complete and uncut version, re-released and updated in 1990 – a whopping 1,325 pages! Did it feel overly long – absolutely not! I never wanted it to end, and could have read many more pages featuring these extraordinary characters. Talk about taking on a life of their own!
All were given thorough backstory's, and unique personalities and quirks. Disaster brought out the best in some individuals and the worst in others. Some were inherently good, and/or became better people in the aftermath of the plague, displaying immense courage, loyalty, love, and sacrifice in the face of terror. Others were given chance after chance to change, but were either consumed by their own inadequacies and jealousies or the allure and power of Randall Flagg became too great to defy. Then there were a few who were simply evil to the core.
Characters were diverse and authentic in some respects, but unfortunately not so much in others. Age and disability were well represented, as were females given the era, but the numerous racial and sexual-orientation slurs were off-putting. A sign of the times of when it was written I know, but still difficult to stomach. Some of the language was dated as you would expect, but there were also slang words that screamed 1970’s rather than 1990 that hadn't been revised, which was kind of annoying.
What made this book all the more scary was that because the deadly virus presented as a common cold right up until the last minute (we were privy to this information from the first chapter), when a character started coughing or sneezing you knew they were likely doomed.
The chapter focusing on people who were immune to the flu, but later met an untimely end through unfortunate accident, in most cases due to their own stupidity, provided comic relief and a welcome distraction hot on the heels of the bleak and upsetting storyline involving the spread of the disease.
Finishing The Stand left a void in my life, that has since been filled by other great reads, but not to the same extent.
Below, I've also written notes comparing the book to the 1994 mini-series, which I have been a massive fan of since it first screened. Note: Contains major spoilers for both.
(view spoiler)[Having finally, after all these years, read the book, I state with absolute certainty that it is so much more than the TV adaptation, but the mini-series will always hold a special place in my heart.
I completely pictured most of the characters while reading, I can't even imagine anyone else playing them. Notably Gary Sinise (Stu Redman), Adam Storke (Larry Underwood), Rob Lowe (Nick Andros}, Bill Fagerbakke (Tom Cullen), Miguel Ferrer (Lloyd Henreid), Matt Frewer (Trashcan Man), Ruby Dee (Mother Abagail), and Jamey Sheridan (Randall Flagg). Not so much Laura San Giacomo (Nadine Cross) or Corin Nemec (Harold Lauder). I enjoyed their performances well enough, but they didn't quite fit the image of the book characters as described. Probably didn't help that Giacomo played two roles morphed into one (Rita/Nadine). I think she did her best then. Giacomo and Storke shared great on-screen chemistry. As much as I hate to say it, Molly Ringwald was completely the wrong choice for the role of Fran Goldsmith. I can see that even more now, and I'm normally a fan of hers.
The mini-series was broken up into four parts – The Plague, The Dreams, The Betrayal, and The Stand, and the first installment was the best by far, although Part 4 stuck pretty closely to the book as well. Part 3 was all over the place, and I remember being very confused the first time I watched it, and it was only through subsequent viewings that I was able to work everything out. I now realise it's because there was just so much that wasn't included in both Part 2 and 3, giving them a very rushed feel. I felt the book got better and better as it went on because I uncovered so many new facts and scenes that weren't part of the TV show.
Scenes I would've loved to see included:
Nick's life in Shoyo, and how Sheriff Baker, and his wife, Jane, took Nick under their wing and made him feel like he finally belonged somewhere, and then the flu hit and took it all away. Heart-wrenching. The father/son relationship between Larry and Joe. Larry's hero worship of Harold. More time spent following characters on the road to Mother Abagail, and how treacherous and perilous their journey to get to her actually was. The usage of pills to block the dreams. The tornado, where Tom saves Nick. Although there was a scene where Tom alerted Nick to the fact that Julie was firing bullets at them, possibly saving his life, but it isn't as impacting. If you blink, you'd miss it. More emphasis on how Fran's baby could have potentially been born with/develop the virus, and how scared she was upon finding out that twin babies, born before hers, died from flu-like symptoms. Kojak's trek all the way from New Hampshire to Nebraska to Boulder. Broke my heart when they left him behind, but what an incredible story. The scene when the weasels surround Mother Abagail. So creepy!
Nick sleeping with Julie was all kinds of wrong and yuck! Bravo mini-series for cutting that scene.
In Part 4, Stu suddenly developed a telepathic link to Harold? He first tells the others that Harold is hurt and later says he blew his brains out. Book: the foursome stumble upon Harold's body.
The book sees Nadine make Randal so angry that he pushes her off the balcony as opposed to her jumping to her death. I think suicide showed Nadine as more heroic, but him killing her along with his unborn child (future ruler) revealed just how much his control was slipping.
In the series, Randal turns into a crow, but doesn't have that ability in print. Crows and other animals were his spies/familiars.
Not marking the Judge’s head, and Randall’s fury when it happened, never made sense to me, but while reading, it finally clicked why.
So apparently CBS are turning The Stand into a ten-part web TV series (release date unknown). I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I will give it a try.
For those who made it to the end of this rant, thanks for reading. (hide spoiler)]...more
‘It is not a mountain as we know other mountains. It is something else.'
The Wheel – The world's greatest and highest mountain. Located halfway bet
‘It is not a mountain as we know other mountains. It is something else.'
The Wheel – The world's greatest and highest mountain. Located halfway between Tasmania and Antarctica in the Sothern ocean it stands twenty-five thousand metres high penetrating thirteen kilometres into the stratosphere.
On November 14th, 1974, billionaire Walter Richman became the first, and only man since, to climb to the very top of The Wheel. Now forty-two years later his newly finished house, The Observatory, burrows deep into the adjacent smaller mountain with spectacular views of The Wheel.
One of his first guests is Rita Gausse (whose father was the architect who suffered a fatal heart attack on the premises), who is invited along with a select few to a private celebration, a trial run for the large housewarming he intends to host in a few months time. But Rita soon finds herself in a catastrophic situation, trapped and cut off with five other people, including Walter, seemingly with no way out.
The Rich Man's House was an epic 608 pages of pure adrenaline. Hold your breath because it's thriller, horror, supernatural, adventure, disaster and gothic tale all rolled into one. The first 50% set a leisurely pace alternating between the present (narrated by Rita) with flashbacks to her past, as well as articles and reports on The Wheel's history, and the numerous climbers who attempted to reach the summit and failed, with a particular focus on Walter successful expedition in the 70’s. Who knew that climbing gear, logistics, weather patterns, and the dangers climbing a mountain presents could be so interesting? The last half exploded into a non-stop action, exciting, frenetic, tense, and fast paced ride. Whew, it was so good.
The supernatural element was one I've never heard of before, and it creeped me out no end. Be warned, there are some pretty gruesome death scenes though. Parts were reminiscent of an Agatha Christie mystery in that you have a handful of people thrown together, isolated, and threatened, turning on one another even as they are forced to trust each other and work together to survive and find a way out. Another prominent theme was the desecration of nature, and the wrath and fury it can inflict. The Wheel was given a thorough backstory detailing its historical significance, and in this universe it surpassed Everest in scope, glory and fame, and its mysteriousness and numerous legends and superstitions held a particular fascination to climbers and the world alike.
The Rich Man's House a.k.a. The Observatory was a unique design masterpiece of epic proportions, with no luxury, comfort, or elaborateness spared, and the author's intricate descriptions of the layout, architecture, features, functions, amenities, and unusual location had me utterly enthralled, and I could completely picture in my head how everything was suppose to look. It was as enormous and breathtaking as it was eerie, macabre and foreboding.
My one tiny gripe was that the title's kind of lame – ‘The Wheel' or ‘The Observatory’ or even simply ‘The Mountain' would've been more impacting. Maybe it wasn't supposed to be the final title as sadly author Andrew McGahan passed away from cancer just prior to this novel being published. I'm so grateful he wrote this amazing book but it breaks my heart that he missed out on all the wonderful feedback and positive reviews.
The Rich Man's House shoots to the mountaintop as my favourite book so far this year, and the best Australian novel I've ever read. I read this on kindle, but as soon as the bookstores reopen their doors here I will be buying myself a physical copy for my collection, and to show off on my bookstagram feed as much as possible....more
I felt this was a re-hash of The House on Cold Hill, and the ‘secrets’ the title promised never eventuated. I enjoyed the slow build where the charactI felt this was a re-hash of The House on Cold Hill, and the ‘secrets’ the title promised never eventuated. I enjoyed the slow build where the characters tried to rationalise the haunting, but there was nothing new in this sequel that wasn’t in the original....more
In the days leading up to that fateful day in April of 1912, the guests of the infamous luxury ocean liner, Morbidly fascinating, ghostly, and spooky!
In the days leading up to that fateful day in April of 1912, the guests of the infamous luxury ocean liner, the Titanic, are being plagued by strange occurrences – cold spots, disappearing belongings, whispered voices emanating from the sea, overwhelming feelings of paranoia and suspicion, and sudden unexplained deaths. Is it a warning, an omem of death, or something even more monstrous?
Four years later, during WW1, a survivor of the sinking, works as a nurse on the Britannic (a fleet mate of the Titanic, with an eerily identical layout) which is being used as a hospital. There she encounters a patient who shouldn't be there. And unbeknownst to everyone on board, this voyage too will end in disaster.
Trapped at sea, isolated, alone, with no way off, haunted by an unseen presence – I could not have been more excited to read this. Not only that, the ship in question was the Titanic, which sold me on the idea even more. The writing had a surreal, hypnotic quality which suited the mystical storyline. Events alternated between the Britannic (1916) and the Titanic (1912), and Alma Katsu seamlessly wove historical fact and fiction. Post finishing, I went into research mode, as my knowledge of the Titanic was limited to the actual sinking rather than the names and backgrounds of the passengers, and I knew next to nothing about Britannic (bombed and sank by the Germans during the first world war). It surprised me how much of The Deep was based on real events, rather than the author's imagination. I'm glad I went in blind, and didn't do my research beforehand. Having said that, if you are a Titanic expert, I think there is still enough within the pages to satisfy, as the emphasis of the novel is on the paranormal.
There were instances where the plot felt somewhat disjointed, possibly due to the dreamlike prose, but it's only a small gripe. I had my suspicions regarding the supernatural happenings that proved to be correct, but that didn't distract from my overall enjoyment, and there was still a stockpile of unexpected revelations. The large cast of characters, and multiple POV's was a lot to take in, so read carefully. Those familiar with the history will likely find this easier, since some of the names will be known to them, but I didn't know who anyone was, and was able to keep track just fine.
I have a copy of The Hunger on my bookshelf, and if it's as absorbing and seductive as this one, then I'm in for another treat. All aboard!
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers – Bantam Press, and Alma Katsu for the e-ARC.
Spooky, Imaginative, Creative, Entertaining, and Hilarious.
NOS4A2 –(Pronounced: Nosferatu. Meaning: German word for vampire).
1990 – Bing Partridge anSpooky, Imaginative, Creative, Entertaining, and Hilarious.
NOS4A2 –(Pronounced: Nosferatu. Meaning: German word for vampire).
1990 – Bing Partridge answers a magazine ad for a position in the security department of a place he's never heard of – Christmasland!
2008 – Notorious child serial killer and paedophile, Charles Talent Manx the Third, lies in a coma in the prison hospital ward.
2009 – Victoria McQueen is plagued by long-distance phone calls from the children of Christmasland – whispering threats down the line.
Christmasland is waiting for them all!
An epic 700 page in-depth masterpiece that effortlessly juggled decades, timelines, locations, and character POV's. Going in I wasn't sure how I felt over Christmas being used for evil, but the level of thought and detail Joe Hill put into turning a beloved festive holiday into something truly disturbing has made me a believer.
NOS4A2 is a mix of folktale, fairytale, and mythology where heroism, magical abilities, good versus evil, and particularly good triumphing over evil, are prominent themes. There is never any ambiguity regarding which characters fall into either category – never any doubt who the good and bad guys are. Joe Hill injected an abundance of humour into both his writing and dialogue – often making fun of his brainless or deserving characters. The entire chapter from Hicks' POV had me in stitches. His writing was faultless and contained some of the most vivid, complex and amusing metaphors I've ever read. I was delighted to uncover all the pop culture references littered throughout, including references to multiple works of Stephen King (Joe Hill's father).
It’s a novel filled with strong female characters, in particular Vic McQueen (nicknamed ‘The Brat' by her father), the ultimate heroine and protagonist. She's a total badass – smart, savvy, street smart, able to think on her feet, and is someone Manx continuously underestimates. She cares deeply for others and even at eight years of age uses her newly discovered powers to find lost items for family and friends – a dropped bracelet of her mother's, a best friend's missing soft toy. She is not without her issues, vices, and vulnerabilities, but that just endears her even more. Her partner, Lou is such a sweetheart, dude! (a word he uses constantly). If you don't fall in love with his character then there's something wrong with you! Their son Bruce Wayne (nicknamed ‘The Bat' by his father) encompasses the best qualities of both his parents, and does his fair share of out-witting, out-foxing, and out-smarting the baddies.
At the other end of the candy cane we have the villainous, nasty, Charles Manx – a vampiric-like being capable of draining the life force from children. He has a playful, gleeful personality – think Willy Wonka with a darker philosophy and agenda! The 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith (number plate NOS4A2) he uses to kidnap children and transport them to Christmasland also has paranormal aspects. Alongside Manx is his faithful follower and servant, Bing Partridge, who worships the ground he walks on. Bing is a repulsive, dim-witted, perverse sexual sadist who enjoys hurting people, particularly women. He has an annoying preference for speaking in rhyme and singing children's – and of course – Christmas songs!
I started reading on my kindle before switching to audible, because I had things to do, and couldn’t stop reading. I'm thrilled I did because Kate Mulgrew wins the title of best narrator ever! Her rendition was a ‘joy to the world’ to behold, and elevated the tale to a whole new level beyond anything I could've envisioned. Her voice for Manx reminded me of Robert Carlyle's Rumpelstiltskin from Once Upon a Time – the perfect amalgamation of creepy and sly!
This was my first Joe Hill read, but upon completing this I've already purchased The Fireman. If anyone has any other recommendations for any of his books, let me know?
Trigger Warnings! Contains Spoilers!(view spoiler)[The kills are graphic, but none of the murders shown are of children. The kidnappings of the children (aside from Vic’s son, Wayne) and what happens to them after is not shown, nor stated explicitly. Bing does a fair bit of boosting regarding women and men he raped, but again these scenes are not shown, but a lot of his dialogue is hard to stomach, so just to warn you. I should also mention that Manx is not a paedophile, that was something Vic made up in order to make certain he was convicted. The family dog is killed, and it's brutal and horrible, but is necessary to the story. If you can cope with above, it's an amazing story, and I think you will be more than satisfied by the close of the novel. (hide spoiler)]...more
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