I would likely have rated this book five stars if not for its somewhat slow start; however, once it gained momentum, I found it impossible to put down. The characters are exceptionally well-developed, and as I delved deeper into the story, I genuinely grew attached to their fates. Initially, the main character comes off as somewhat naive and childish, particularly in her attempts to rationalize the unexpected inheritance she has received. Yet, as the narrative unfolds, she gradually evolves into a more mature and relatable figure.
The setting of the story is a small town, which I believe is portrayed quite authentically based on typical small-town dynamics. The plot centers on Adrienne, who unexpectedly inherits Ashburn House from an aunt she had no idea existed, as her mother had always claimed that their family tree ended with her. Adrienne initially dismissed a vivid dream she had about the house as mere fantasy, only to discover that the dream was a prelude to this shocking reality—now the house belongs to her.
However, the seemingly idyllic inheritance is shadowed by ominous rumors and chilling myths surrounding both the house and her late aunt. The narrative reveals a dark history; the town has been haunted by a gruesome family murder committed many years ago, with no one ever brought to justice, and this haunting legacy looms over its residents like a dark cloud. As Adrienne unravels the secrets of her new home, she begins to confront the possibility of ghosts, both literal and metaphorical, as she fights to escape the eerie fate that seems ready to ensnare her.
The ending truly captivated me, completely blindsiding me with a twist I never saw coming. It’s a masterful turn of events that adds an incredible layer to the story. I wholeheartedly hope that others who read this book find as much enjoyment in it as I did!
I would officially rate this book at 2.5 stars, primarily because it isn’t the absolute worst thing I’ve read this year, but it’s certainly a contender for that unenviable title. My expectations may have been a bit too high after encountering a number of enthusiastic reviews—though I admit I read those reviews after I had already begun the book. The praise floating around in those comments led me to believe that I was merely waiting for the narrative to reach its more compelling moments. While the initial chapters were relatively decent and began with a promising pace, the story quickly stumbled as the character development devolved into something quite one-dimensional.
Written in the first-person perspective, the story unfolds through the eyes of a man and his dog, creating a framework that allows for only a handful of supporting characters to make appearances. Given this limited cast, I anticipated a higher degree of action or at least an engaging narrative style that would provide insights and explanations for the disturbing events taking place. Unfortunately, I found none of these elements to materialize throughout the narrative.
It all kicked off with the ominous beat of a drum in mid-April 2011, after which the monsters emerged and triggered a cataclysm that transformed life as we know it. The protagonist, bewildered and disoriented, struggles to comprehend the unfolding chaos as the world morphs into a place that becomes increasingly green and sweltering with each passing day, while the nights devolve into harrowing episodes of evasion and survival.
I was genuinely intrigued by the premise of the book, and I found myself emotionally invested in the dog—perhaps even more so than the human character. This phenomenon is telling, as the human protagonist left little impression on me; I cannot even recall if he divulged his name at any point, which underscores how detached I felt from him. In stark contrast, the dog’s name remains vivid in my mind, along with the endearing moments it brought to the story.
The writing itself is marred by numerous grammatical and spelling errors, alongside instances of word misuse that grew increasingly distracting, though some could be overlooked. To summarize, while the book had its moments and was certainly not devoid of merit, it ultimately fell flat for me personally. It took me a painstakingly long 20 days to finish, as I could only manage to read it in short spurts. Additionally, the monsters that were supposed to evoke fear failed to do so, lacking the terrifying essence that I had hoped for.
In the end, it’s all up to you to decide whether to give it a go; it simply wasn’t my cup of tea.
Based on an average of my rating it comes to 3.4 stars for the entire book.
I’ve revisited some familiar stories recently, and I’ve found that listening to audiobooks adds a unique dimension to the experience. The nuanced performances by various narrators bring elements of the tales to life in unexpected ways. Each narrator infuses their own style, which can significantly alter the listener’s perception of the story. The variety of genres—ranging from fantasy to science fiction, and even horror—makes each listen an adventure in itself.
**4.5 stars: ‘The Langoliers’ narrated by Willem Dafoe.** This story remains one of my top favorites, a gripping staple that never fails to entertain me. Dafoe’s vocal delivery is fantastic; he possesses a remarkable ability to build tension, which is crucial as the passengers begin to unravel the mystery of their predicament. The narrative follows a routine flight that unexpectedly descends into terror as the characters grapple with their bizarre situation: they’ve become lost in an unsettling limbo, with no clue as to the fate of the other passengers. The ensemble cast portrays a diverse array of personalities, each contributing to the overall tension and suspense as they navigate their harrowing circumstances.
**2.5 stars: ‘Secret Window, Secret Garden’ narrated by James Woods.** Unfortunately, this story has never resonated with me, and my feelings haven’t changed in this audio format. Despite my appreciation for the source material, Woods’ narration falls a bit flat—it lacks the engaging energy I hoped for. The plot centers on a tense standoff between a writer and an enigmatic figure who claims that the story has been stolen from him, leading to dangerous consequences. While this concept draws parallels to other King tales I’ve enjoyed, it ultimately fails to stand out, leaving me wanting more depth and excitement.
**4.0 stars: ‘The Library Policeman’ narrated by Ken Howard.** Upon starting this narration, I couldn’t initially place Ken Howard, but once I recognized his distinctive voice, I became completely immersed. His performance was a joy to listen to, effectively bringing the characters and their eerie world to life. This slowly unfolding tale lingers with an unsettling sense of dread. The local library, typically a sanctuary for readers, is depicted as a place harboring dark secrets and lurking dangers. Howard expertly balances the mundane and the sinister, making for a vampire story that surprises with an ingeniously hidden twist. The characters are intricately developed, each contributing peculiarities that enhance the overall chilling narrative.
**2.5 stars: ‘The Sun Dog’ narrated by Tim Sample.** While I couldn’t recognize Tim Sample’s face, his narration is solid; he delivers the story well, even if it didn’t particularly captivate my attention. The pacing here is slow, evoking a sense of anticipation as it connects to other stories within the King universe, which I find intriguing. The plot revolves around a boy who receives a seemingly perfect camera as a birthday gift, but like many King stories, it hints at underlying ominous themes. As the boy interacts with the camera, he begins to unravel a potentially malevolent tale that he wishes to leave unfinished. Although I appreciated the connections to other narratives, the story didn’t quite hold my attention as much as I had hoped.
Listening to these stories, especially if you’ve read them before, is likely to evoke similar feelings and nostalgia. Stephen King has consistently offered me gripping tales throughout the years, and I keep returning to his work because of the satisfaction it brings. If you haven’t yet explored his audiobooks, I wholeheartedly encourage you to dive in—you’ll likely find as much to enjoy in the spoken word as you have in the written page!
The book initially didn’t captivate my interest right away, but as I continued reading, it gradually became more engaging as I learned more about the characters and their complex situations. The narrative’s buildup is rather slow, yet it is not lacking in subtleties; the connections between various plot points are evident almost from the outset. What I found intriguing is that this novella claims to be the starting point of a larger narrative, but it feels misleading, as the events that unfold seem to have roots much deeper in the past than what is presented. I wish the author had provided more background about the house and the individuals who played a crucial role in setting everything in motion. As this is my first encounter with this author, I’m curious to explore his storytelling methods further, as every writer has a unique approach to story development.
The central setting, a grand old house at the end of Cypress Lane, is steeped in history, intricately woven with the fabric of the small town of Ocoee, Louisiana. The Cooley family becomes deeply entwined in this enigmatic history, finding themselves in a harrowing fight for their survival, caught in circumstances beyond their control. The protagonist, Owen Cooley, has been unemployed for six months with no promising leads on the horizon. When he receives an unexpected job offer after a rather typical phone interview—one that would necessitate a drastic move for his family—he eagerly seizes the opportunity without really delving into the details about the place he’s being sent to. This situation embodies the classic adage: if something seems too good to be true, it likely warrants a closer examination. Owen certainly should have looked a bit deeper, especially for the sake of his family.
Despite its slow start, the story intrigued me enough that I wanted to continue exploring the mysteries surrounding the house and its inhabitants. While it didn’t evoke outright fear in me, it undeniably carries a pervasive atmosphere of darkness that resonated with my taste. I would certainly recommend this book to those who are in search of a horror read filled with potential and rich narrative threads.
This was my first encounter with this author’s work, and I found this short story exceptionally well-crafted. It has piqued my interest in reading more of his works. The narrative is engaging, with several intense moments that are effectively executed. The characters are surprisingly developed for the story’s brevity.
The local children have always whispered that the old hardware store was haunted. But do ghosts really exist? After being left by her boyfriend, Sandy needs to find affordable housing and stumbles upon an apartment above the newly renovated hardware store. Disbelieving in ghosts, she’s thrilled to find such a bargain. However, as odd occurrences unfold, she begins to question her disbelief.
It simply didn’t resonate with me. Despite its high ratings and popularity, it failed to capture my interest. Perhaps I’ll reconsider it in the future if the opportunity arises. However, the inability to connect with any of the characters was a significant drawback for me, even though I persisted well beyond the usual stopping point.
The narrative took a while to resonate with me, which diminished my enjoyment. Initially, I felt disconnected from the protagonists due to their lackluster backstories. As a short story, the failure to captivate from the start is a critical flaw, given the brief window to engage the reader. Although the pace improved towards the end, the story struggled to reach a satisfying conclusion. The lack of explanations for the events left the resolution feeling incomplete.
Allison Bright, a single mother, sought a new beginning. She and her teenage daughter relocated to a dilapidated farmhouse on Maryland’s eastern shore. Soon, they began to realize the reasons behind its affordability.
The book was a swift read, lacking extensive character or setting development, yet it provided some entertainment. This was my first experience with the author’s work, and despite not being an impressive introduction, it has piqued my interest to explore more of their writings. The pace was so brisk that I scarcely had time to form an opinion about the characters, living or dead. The prose was competent; however, I anticipated more suspense and events within the house.
Wyatt Harper resides in a house constructed by his father. Tragically, at the age of 20, Wyatt lost his parents in an accident. Marrying a local woman, he devoted his love to her, aspiring for a lengthy life together. His ominous final words pledged an eternal presence in the home. Years later, Blake, a 22-year-old embalmer, acquires the house, oblivious to its prolonged vacancy’s cause. Uncovering its past compels her to contemplate fleeing.
Although the narrative is somewhat terse, it manages to deliver a modest thrill and kindles curiosity for similar tales. It’s a satisfactory haunted house story, fitting for a late-night read.
This started out by confusing me and then just keeping me wondering. I enjoy a story that has monsters of both the human and otherworldly variety but this one did not really fully immerse me at any time. The blurb is a little deceptive because it makes it sound like one thing when it turns out to be something else altogether, though I will not divulge how it differs. The story jumps around a lot, mainly through time but also locations can change from chapter to chapter and sometimes sections. Once you know who is being targeted and why it seems unnecessary to continue moving through time.
The story is kind of predictable once you get into it and it is also a little overblown. With all of that, I never felt any dread or even a little frightened by what was going on. The characters while well drawn in most cases still did not make me like them enough to ever fully care about what was happening or going to happen to them. Plus the added headache of trying to keep straight who was related to who made me less than happy since I had to keep looking back to remember. I mostly just wanted to know how things were going to end for each. The locations are all familiar in that I know where they are even if I have never been there myself.
The story is told in a non-linear manner which makes it sometimes hard to follow. The ideas behind the story are interesting and I liked them, which is why I wanted to read it. The problem is that it didn’t hold up to what I expected.
The story begins in Victorian England in the year 1894 in the home of a minor noble who has brought together others for an evocation of evil. A young serving girl is curious and hides away to observe what these rich people are doing which requires her to do extra work. As the gathered nobles start their incantations something on the other side of a barrier finds the new life within the girl and decides that using it can further its goals. The child is touched and changed in his mother’s womb and so it begins.
Fast forward to 2004 in Ohio on Christmas Eve and we will find the culmination of all those years in between. The evil has grown up and needs to feed in order to open the door between world that will devastate the human race.
There were some glitches in the narrative with sentences ending abruptly leaving out words obviously in several chapters. The demons and the rift itself do not show up very often and when they do are less than scary. You also have words used in the wrong way or order and the wrong words being used on occasion, but you can usually figure out what is being said.
I liked this well enough though it did not tick all the boxes for me when it comes to a novel I know is supposed to be horror. I would recommend this to anyone who likes horror or supernatural stories.
I have to say that this never did really grab me and pull me in but I did slowly start to warm up to the story and the characters as things progressed. The characters seem a little bland, to begin with, and kind of standard since we first meet our main family after the initial lead and they are typical for you would expect, an ex-military dad who you know will be the hero. The mother who loves him but feels he should be more loyal to the family, and sweet kids with that sour teenager thrown in for flavor. They are all present and accounted for, but there is a surprise that made me more interested. Once you get past them we are introduced to more characters in their own segment who you already know are going to be significant to later storylines.
I won’t say that it is totally predictable because it does have a few elements that I have not seen in some other novels in the same genre. But the story so far has been pretty straightforward with some interesting twists that I want to find out more about. There is however the matter of the word ‘yens’, what the heck does it mean. It is used over and over and I got the context, sort of, but still have no idea if this is a real world or a massive typo.
The end of humanity started at 30,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean in a military aircraft carrying the bodies of deceased soldiers home for burial. As the plane flies over the Bermuda Triangle they run into a mysterious cloud bank that seems to cause problems with the plane and finally with their cargo. With the crashing of the plane, the epidemic spread like wildfire from the East Coast across the country and beyond.
Mankind seems doomed but Maynard Dunn, ex-marine, husband, and father seems pegged to lead humankind out of the darkness. He will lead a small group who will fight back and try to save what they can of humanity from the dark force that is trying to wipe them out.
There is some action and blood and gore. The language can be a little vulgar at times but nothing you couldn’t hear just walking down the streets. I would say if you like zombies then you should give this a try. I do want to read book two to see where things go from this ending which was expected.
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