Book Review #788 - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts.

There are dangers and adventures for Bod in the graveyard. But it is in the land of the living that real danger lurks for it is there that the man Jack lives and he has already killed Bod's family.

My Rating: 3/5

I picked this book up in 2017 and DNF'd it not far into it which I am glad I did because reading it for the 2018 Spookathon was the perfect time to read a book like this.

This is my second Neil Gaiman book - the first being Coraline and I have so many of his others on my TBR so it definitely will not be my last.

This book is primarily set in a very old cemetery where a toddler finds himself after a man murdered his whole family. He is then brought up by his adopted ghost parents.

There were also famous ghosts present such as Victor Hugo and Harry Truman which along with all the other non-famous ghosts acted as a family for Nobody Owens (Bod). 

Book Review #787 - Night Film by Marisha Pessl

On a damp October night, 24-year-old Ashley Cordova is found dead in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan. Though her death is ruled a suicide, veteran investigative journalist Scott McGrath suspects otherwise. As he probes the strange circumstances surrounding Ashley's life and death, McGrath comes face-to-face with the legacy of her father: the legendary, reclusive cult-horror film director Stanislaus Cordova--a man who hasn't been seen in public for more than thirty years. 

For McGrath, another death connected to this seemingly cursed family dynasty seems more than just a coincidence. Though much has been written about Cordova's dark and unsettling films, very little is known about the man himself. 

Driven by revenge, curiosity, and a need for the truth, McGrath, with the aid of two strangers, is drawn deeper and deeper into Cordova's eerie, hypnotic world. The last time he got close to exposing the director, McGrath lost his marriage and his career. This time he might lose even more. 

My Rating: 3/5

I have heard nothing but positive things about this book for years and having added it to my TBR in June I finally decided to read it in October for the Spookathon reading challenge.

This book started out so well. I was captivated by the mystery, the pictures, the unique layout, the characters and then at some point I just got bored and it never recaptured my attention completely.

I definitely think that the book could have been shorter in length. This would have helped me love the book more as it just felt drawn out at times.

I loved that the story is essentially set around a fandom for an underground horror film director and the role the fansite played in helping solve the mystery.

An added mystery was the identity of the director as he liked to remain anonymous throughout his entire career. I was massively underwhelmed by how this mystery ended.

Book Review #785 - Joyland by Stephen King

Set in a small-town North Carolina amusement park in 1973, Joyland tells the story of the summer in which college student Devin Jones comes to work as a carny and confronts the legacy of a vicious murder, the fate of a dying child, and the ways both will change his life forever. 

My Rating: 3.5/5

I read this book for the Spookathon readathon and it is my fifth Stephen King novel.

This book was a lot different to the previous King books I've read in that it was more of a mystery novel than horror. Not that this was a bad thing, it just wasn't what I had been expecting.

This book follows Devin as he nostalgically looks back to his youth when he worked at an amusement park called Joyland following his girlfriend breaking up with him.

As this book was predominately a mystery it didn't really feel like a Stephen King book at times. Of course, it had King's hallmarks though like a child with special abilities and the ability to breath so much life and personality into every character (no matter how relevant to the story) with minimal words.

Book Review #771 - Dust and Decay (Rot and Ruin #2) by Jonathan Maberry

Six months have passed since the terrifying battle with Charlie Pink-eye and the Motor City Hammer in the zombie-infested mountains of the Rot & Ruin. It’s also six months since Benny Imura and Nix Riley saw something in the air that changed their lives. Now, after months of rigorous training with Benny’s zombie-hunter brother Tom, Benny and Nix are ready to leave their home forever and search for a better future. Lilah the Lost Girl and Benny’s best friend Lou Chong are going with them. 

Sounds easy. Sounds wonderful. Except that everything that can go wrong does. Before they can even leave there is a shocking zombie attack in town. But as soon as they step into the Rot & Ruin they are pursued by the living dead, wild animals, insane murderers and the horrors of Gameland –where teenagers are forced to fight for their lives in the zombie pits. Worst of all… could the evil Charlie Pink-eye still be alive? 

In the great Rot & Ruin everything wants to kill you. Everything…and not everyone in Benny’s small band of travelers will make it out alive. 

My Rating: 4/5

Just like book one in this series Rot and Ruin this book is action packed and moves at such a break neck speed that I was unwilling to ever put it down.

I loved that the rot and ruin was explored more deeply in this book with the majority of the book set there as it is such a mysterious yet interesting place.

The relationships between all the characters continued to develop and I love the banter and camaraderie between them all. 

The main cliff hanger from the first book was not resolved nor was it ever really addressed but considering how much other stuff was happening it didn't really bother me.

This is definitely my favourite zombie series and I can't believe how underrated it seems to be.

Benny evolved so much in this book in stepping out of his brother's shadow and especially the way the book ended I can already see his development is going to be massive in the next book.

The romance in this books is so subtle and rather juvenile considering the ages of the characters. It is very much toned down as well considering the amount of action happening which I really like that it is not trying to take the main focus.

Book Review #759 - A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

An unflinching, darkly funny, and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor.

At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting-- he's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It's ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth. From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd-- whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself-- Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.

My Rating: 5/5

I had no idea what this book was about before I picked it up which I am happy about because it hit me harder than I'd expected.

Conor was such a likable character and I loved his relationship with his mother.

When I picked this book up I expected a creepy, horror story and whilst there was a creepy tone to the story the overall plot is far from that and I am not even disappointed by this because I loved this book so much.

The edition I read (pictured above) didn't include any illustrations and now reading other reviews of this book makes me want to read the illustrated version.

The fact that another author had the idea for this book and gave it to Patrick Ness before she died adds to the overall feeling of the story and makes it more poignant. 

Book Review #748 - Bone Key (Supernatural #3) by Keith R.A. DeCandido

Twenty-two years ago, Sam and Dean Winchester lost their mother to a mysterious and demonic supernatural force. In the years after, their father, John, taught them about the paranormal evil that lives in the dark corners and on the back roads of America . . . and he taught them how to kill it.

Sam and Dean are headed for Key West, Florida, home to Hemingway, hurricanes, and a whole lot of demons. The tropical town has so many ghouls on the loose that one of its main moneymakers has long been a series of ghost tours. But the tours are no more, not since one of the guides was found dead of an apparent heart attack . . . his face frozen in mid-scream. No one knows what horrors he saw, but the Winchester brothers are about to find out.

Soon they'll be face-to-face with the ghosts of the island's most infamous residents, demons with a hidden agenda, and a mysterious ancient power looking for revenge. It's up to Sam and Dean to save the citizens of Key West . . . before the beautiful island is reduced to nothing more than a pile of bones.

My Rating: 3/5

This book is set in mid-season 3 right in the middle of the Sam/Ruby storyline as well as Dean's quest to get out of his deal with the crossroads demon. Both of these storylines are mentioned heavily throughout the book.

The characterizations of Sam and Dean is always the main issue I have with these Supernatural books, and this one was no different. First of all there was mentioned of the boys smelling on more than one occasion which I thought was weird, especially as it wasn't done in the humorous way like it likely would have been had this issue ever been raised on the show.

Secondly, Dean was portrayed as a sleazy manwhore and it had none of the humor or lightheartedness the show uses when approaching this side to Dean. I could go on but these were the main two I had issues with.

There were so many secondary characters in this book, more so than you would see in any episode of Supernatural and this unfortunately takes time away from Sam and Dean which I have found is a common problem with these books.

Book Review #746 - Pet Sematary by Stephen King

Sometimes dead is better....When the Creeds move into a beautiful old house in rural Maine, it all seems too good to be true: physician father, beautiful wife, charming little daughter, adorable infant son -- and now an idyllic home. As a family, they've got it all...right down to the friendly cat. But the nearby woods hide a blood-chilling truth -- more terrifying than death itself...and hideously more powerful.

My Rating: 3/5

This is my fourth Stephen King novel and even though I planned to read his works in publication order I caved as I felt like reading this one.

I watched the film adaptation of this book years ago and was rather disappointed by how much of the movie I remembered whilst reading this book.

The characters in this book had way more character development than the previous King books I have read especially with the Creed family as a whole.

Lou Creed constantly made questionable decisions throughout but I felt like I couldn't judge him for this as I wasn't completely sure that I would not have done the same thing had I been in those situations.

This book examines death in a very deep and unique way. The need to accept what is dead when there are options otherwise is a fascinating one no matter what the risks.

Book Review #704 - Supernatural: The Roads Not Taken by Tim Waggoner

Whether the reader is new to the Supernatural family or has been with them since the beginning, they’re in for a wild and surprising ride with Supernatural: The Roads Not Taken.

For the first time ever, you can make decisions alongside Sam and Dean Winchester in their quest to battle monsters, demons, and every Big Bad looking to crawl out of the dark recesses of America’s small towns. Open up a local paper in a diner and pick which strange occurrence the boys will investigate first. Jump headfirst into your very own adventure with the Winchester brothers and pick your cover story: will you be an FBI agent, reporter, or bikini inspector? Figure out which lead to follow. Decide whether to split up or stay together. Do you call Bobby Singer for help? And remember, the clock is ticking! If you make the wrong decision, another victim could meet a dark and gory death.

Demons, spirits, and ghouls lurk around every corner, waiting to get the drop on Sam and Dean — and only by following all the clues, interviewing the right suspects, and making the right choices can you lead them to victory. This heart-pounding interactive adventure will be broken down into a series of five original stories, each with branching storylines and multiple endings, all based on the choices the reader makes.

My Rating: 6/10

I used to read a lot of 'Choose your own adventure' books as a kid and loved how you could reread the book numerous times and get a different story each time. This book isn't like that however, as your choices have consequences. If you don't pick the right option each time, you get Sam and Dean killed. 

I have read a number of Supernatural related books now but this book is definitely the closest I have found that captured Dean and Sam's personalities. 

I loved the ending how the four very short stories all connected together unexpectedly. 

Book Review #676 - The Walking Dead, Book 2 (#13-#24)

My Rating: 3/5

I didn't like this book as much as the first one. This book contained way too much personal drama especially for a post-apocalyptic book. 

There was way too much focus on romantic relationships, some because of the portrayal of them on the TV show I couldn't get my head around like Carol and Tyreese. 

I loved that Michonne was finally introduced as she is one of my favourite characters. 

Overall I was a little disappointed with this one and am not sure I am going to continue on with this series. 

Book Review # 674 - Witch's Canyon (Supernatural #2) by Jeff Mariotte

Twenty-two years ago, Sam and Dean Winchester lost their mother to a mysterious and demonic supernatural force. In the years after, their father, John, taught them about the paranormal evil that lives in the dark corners and on the back roads of America...and he taught them how to kill it.

Sam and Dean have set out on a road trip to the Grand Canyon, but this is no vacation for the brothers. On a stretch of deserted ranchland just beyond the canyon's stunning vistas, mysterious murder sprees have occurred every forty years. The area's inhabitants have been few and far between in years past, but a nearby mega-mall is about to celebrate its grand opening and attract thousands of fresh victims.

The Winchester boys are determined to protect locals and shoppers alike, but they never anticipated they'd be fighting a group of killers this vicious, this vindictive, this . . . dead. A deadly horde of animal spirits and human ghosts has arisen to terrorize this tiny corner of the Arizona desert. If Sam and Dean can't figure out why, the wide-open spaces of the West will once again become a desolate frontier . . . and the witch's canyon will be the brothers' final resting place.

My Rating: 3/5

The death count in this book is so much higher than I remember there being in any average Supernatural episode. 

Because of the amount of characters this book had, there was very little of Sam and Dean - or less than one would expect in a Supernatural book. 

The supernatural element in this book was interesting although it took WAY too long to develop. All the action was in the last 50 or so pages. The first 300 pages were mainly deaths and out of character dialogue. 

I felt like the author was restricted by the fact this was a novelisation of Supernatural. If he had been able to branch out and develop the characters and the story the way he wanted then the book would have been 100% better. 

Book Review #672 - Welcome to Dead House (Goosebumps #1) by R.L. Stine

11-year-old Josh and 12-year-old Amanda just moved into the oldest and weirdest house on the block--the two siblings think it might even be haunted! But of course, their parents don't believe them. You'll get used to it, they say. Go out and make some new friends. 

But the creepy kids are not like anyone Josh and Amanda have ever met before. And when they take a shortcut through the cemetery one night, Josh and Amanda learn why.

My Rating: 3.5/5

My brother and I used to love the Goosebumps series when we were growing up. A few weeks ago I was clearing out my childhood shelves and found our collection. I remembered how much I loved them, and so though why not read them now as an adult.

Like most Goosebumps books (the ones I remember anyway), the book starts off with a family moving into a new home. Neither of the children Amanda and Josh were too happy about the move, but it's the family pet Petey that takes the move the hardest. 

One difference I noticed reading this now is just how predictable it was. 

The house they are moving to is in a town called Dark Falls, oh and the house was given to them for free in a will of an uncle that no one has actually heard of. 

Anyway, I really did enjoy the 20 or so minutes it took me to read this book. Each chapter ended with a mini cliffhanger which used to keep me reading way past my bedtime as a child but definitely helps the pacing of the story as you simply don't want to put the book down. 

There were a few things that I thought were a little morbid for a children's book that probably wouldn't have been in the 1990's. 

The ending was open ended and I know there are a few Goosebumps books that have sequels, but this doesn't seem to be one of them which is odd considering how it ended. 

Book Review #671 - Nightmares! (Nightmares #1) by Jason Segal and Kirsten Miller

Eleven-year-old Charlie Laird is desperate for a good night’s sleep - or even just a nap. Ever since he moved into his stepmother’s mysterious purple mansion, Charlie’s life has become a living nightmare.

A terrifying witch haunts every second of his sleep and now the dread that fills his dreams is creeping into the waking world. As President Fear and his fellow Nightmares feed off the unease that is spreading rapidly across the town, the Nightmare world threatens to take over.

Only by finding the courage to face their deepest, darkest fears can Charlie and his friends conquer the creatures of the night and save the day.

My Rating: 3/5

I haven't read a fiction book written by a celebrity before and so I was a little skeptical of the writing quality. I would say that the writing was rather patchy but it was better than what I had been expecting. 

Charlie, the protagonist is going through a hard time. His father has remarried and both his father and younger brother seem quite happy to have his new step-mother replace his real mother. 

Charlie is also not happy that his father decided to move them into the step-mother's house as not only does it not hold any memories of his mother but the new, creepy house starts giving him nightmares. 

Because of the lack of sleep and resentment towards his family, Charlie is quite mean to them through the first portion of the book. The authors did a good job at not making Charlie too unreasonable whilst expressing his feelings. I found that I didn't hate Charlie here like most readers seem to have. 

When Charlie's nightmares begin, this is where the story really picks up. When Charlie has a nightmare, his soul goes to the Netherworld. When Charlie's nightmares escalate and seem very real, Charlie opens the portal between the Netherworld and the waking world. 

This portal leads Charlie on an adventure that enables him to face his fears and conquer them. He meets many different types of creatures along the way including the son of Medusa. 

This book conveys strong messages of confronting your fears and the importance of family. 

Book Review #667 - Library of Souls (Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children #3) by Ransom Riggs

The adventures that began with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and continued with Hollow City comes to a thrilling conclusion with Library of Souls.

As the story opens, sixteen-year-old Jacob discovers a powerful new ability, and soon he’s diving through history to rescue his peculiar companions from a heavily guarded fortress. Accompanying Jacob on his journey are Emma Bloom, a girl with fire at her fingertips, and Addison MacHenry, a dog with a nose for sniffing out lost children.

They’ll travel from modern-day London to the labyrinthine alleys of Devil’s Acre, the most wretched slum in all of Victorian England. It’s a place where the fate of peculiar children everywhere will be decided once and for all. 

Like its predecessors, Library of Souls blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography.

My Rating: 4/5

Given the way Hollow City ended, I can't believe I managed to wait a week before picking up the third and final book in this exhilarating trilogy. 

This book wasn't as action packed as Hollow City nor did it have the tone I loved so much in the first book, but I think that this book is probably my favourite in the series just because of the serious plot developments. 

Addison the talking dog plays a bigger role in this book which I loved because who doesn't want an incredibly brave, talking dog constantly saving the day? (better than a cat anyway). 

I still had issues with the romance in that I still don't feel the connection between Jacob and Emma. I think that maybe this is because Emma used to be Jacob's grandfathers girlfriend and that creeps me out a little. 

I loved the way all the peculiar children worked together in Hollow City and so I was a little disappointed that they were all separated for the large majority of this installment.

The ending was completely unexpected (in a good way) and I think this series could not possibly have ended in a better way. The only question that I have now is what really happened to Fiona?    

Book Review #661 - Hollow City (Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children #2) by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was the surprise best seller of 2011—an unprecedented mix of YA fantasy and vintage photography that enthralled readers and critics alike. Publishers Weekly called it “an enjoyable, eccentric read, distinguished by well-developed characters, a believable Welsh setting, and some very creepy monsters.”

This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.

Complete with dozens of newly discovered (and thoroughly mesmerizing) vintage photographs, this new adventure will delight readers of all ages.

My Rating: 4.5/5

This book follows on straight from where the first book ended and wastes no time before setting forth with Jacob and the peculiars on the next exciting adventure. 

I loved the idea of a book within a book - The Tales of the Peculiar and the stories within.

The character development in this book was substantial with not only the the characters themselves but their peculiar abilities. 

The pictures in this book were always included in the most perfect moments and really complimented the story. I didn't like the pictures as much as the ones in the first book though. 

There were also numerous plot twists late in the book that I never saw coming and now I can't wait to read book 3. 

Book Review #636 - Salem's Lot by Stephen King

My Rating: 3.5/5


Source: Bought


Goodreads

Thousands of miles away from the small township of 'Salem's Lot, two terrified people, a man and a boy, still share the secrets of those clapboard houses and tree-lined streets. They must return to 'Salem's Lot for a final confrontation with the unspeakable evil that lives on in the town.

This is my second Stephen King novel. The first one I read was Carrie. 

The synopsis of my copy of this book was EXTREMELY vague and so I went into this book not knowing anything about it at all. 

This book is a lot longer that Carrie and I felt like the pacing was a little on the slow side. 

The story is set in the small town of Jerusalem's Lot, Maine. The story follows just about every occupant in the town. 

This is something that Stephen King does extremely well. It doesn't matter how old the character is, King is able to give them such a realistic voice and none of the characters blurred with one another. The only other author I know of that can do that so easily is George RR Martin. 

I loved the small town feel of Jerusalem's Lot. There was a real sense of community. 

It was also really refreshing to read a vampire book where the vampires are really something straight out of a nightmare and not like the overdone modern take on them. 

Book Review #600 - The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

My Rating: 3/5 


Source: Bought


Buy: The Book Depository


Goodreads


Everyone has a dark side. Dr Jekyll has discovered the ultimate drug. A chemical that can turn him into something else. Suddenly, he can unleash his deepest cruelties in the guise of the sinister Hyde. Transforming himself at will, he roams the streets of fog-bound London as his monstrous alter-ego. It seems he is master of his fate. It seems he is in complete control. But soon he will discover that his double life comes at a hideous price . . . 


I read this as part of my 1001 Books you must read before you die challenge where I try and read one book from the list per month. This was my choice for September. 


Classics and me do not have a great history. I can count on one hand the amount of classics I have read that I have loved as much as I was supposed to. I generally just tolerate them and this book was no exception. 


I am sure I will re-read this book when I am older and get a lot from it but now is definitely not that time. 

This book was barely over 100 pages long but felt so much longer as I kept losing track of what was happening as I found my focus in this book was extremely hard to keep for long periods of time. 

The major problem I had with this book is that I knew the ultimate plot twist. I can't help but think what I would have thought of this book had I not known the end. 

Book Review #554 - Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell

We're waiting for you to come and play. Dunvegan School for Girls has been closed for many years. Converted into a family home, the teachers and students are long gone. But they left something behind...Sophie arrives at the old schoolhouse to spend the summer with her cousins. Brooding Cameron with his scarred hand, strange Lilias with a fear of bones and Piper, who seems just a bit too good to be true. And then there's her other cousin. The girl with a room full of antique dolls. The girl that shouldn't be there. The girl that died.

My Rating: 4/5

I read this book on my iPad and it took me about a month to read. If I had read this in physical format I probably would have finished it in an hour or so. 

This book was very engaging, suspenseful and had a cliff-hanger at the end of just about every chapter making it a quick and easy read. 

The descriptions of settings, characters and the Frozen Charlotte dolls themselves were a little vague and I would have loved some more depth in this area. 

Book Review #507 - American Savage (The Savages #2) by Matt Whyman

Vegan, veggie, carnivore... humanitarian? Welcome to the top of the food chain.

The Savages are back - this time in a country where servings come supersized. Titus, Angelica and the kids go to great lengths to fit into their new lives in sunny Florida. But that's not easy when their appetite runs to feasts of human flesh.

In this dark comic serving of everyday family life with contemporary cannibals, the Savages seek to hide in plain sight by setting up a vegan café. But when the venture turns out to be a surprise sensation, and bad apples bob to the surface, Titus is forced to question whether the family have finally bitten off more than they can chew.

My Rating: 3.5/5

I received this book for review from the Five Mile Press and it is the sequel to The Savages. 

The Savages have been Americanized or are trying to be at least. After having to move to American after their cannibal ways were made public the Savages discover that the American way of life is impacting their waistlines. 

Titus, the father creates new business ventures that enables him to provide the "feasts" for his family. But when he creates new rules for this it annoys his family. 

Angelica, the mother has issues with her attractive, younger personal trainer who quickly develops a crush on her and doesn't seem to care that she is married. 

Sasha, the eldest child is not included in this book at all as she is away at university. 

Ivan, who is fast becoming my favourite character has the toughest time settling into life in the US. He is bullied mercilessly throughout but in true Ivan fashion creates a way to stop them. 

Katya, the youngest child has grown so much since the first book but because of her age doesn't really influence the story at all. 

Oleg, the grandfather falls in love with a fellow citizen at the nursing home and after discovering she has a life threatening illness wishes to include her in the family's secret recipe. 

The main complication in this book is when the family along with their lodger Amanda decide to open a vegan cafe to prevent backlash from a mob boss they accidentally angered. 

I liked that there was somewhat of a mystery aspect to this book as they kept eluding to the fact that they needed a "feast" but there was no obvious person to feast on. 

I love how this book is essentially about a family of cannibals but is approached in such a light-hearted and humerous manner. 

The ending of the book was surprising and actually quite disturbing. 

Book Review #504 - Fear: 13 Stories of Suspense and Horror by Various Authors

Don't turn out the lights. Don't go out alone. And whatever you do, don't let down your guard. Because your neighbors might seem normal, but why do they collect knives and eat their steaks so bloody? And when the boy of your dreams finally asks you out, why is there something so . . . lupine . . . about him? And if your brother's fear of the dark is so childish, how do you explain those shadows creeping out of your closet? In thirteen blood-chilling stories from true masters of suspense, including five New York Times bestselling authors and four Edgar Award nominees, nothing is what it seems, and no one is safe.......

My Rating: 3/5

This is an anthology of short stories all which were more suspenseful than horror. I will do a mini-review of each story below:


Welcome to the Club by R.L. Stine - This one had way too many twists at the end that left me feeling flat. 


She's Different Tonight by Heather Graham - This story was practically about nothing and the big reveal at the end was entirely predictable. 


Suckers by Suzanne Weyn - With just about every anthology I have read there is always one story that I find I wished was a full length novel. This was the story for me in this book. The concept was interesting but the lack of development killed it which could have been addressed in a full length book. 


The Perfects by Jennifer Allison - This story was the first to have a female protagonist which was refreshing. This story had the potential to be suspenseful but the constant foreboding made it entirely predictable. 


Shadow Children by Heather Brewer - This was one of the more unique stories in this anthology. It was a little too over descriptive which slowed it down. 


The Poison Ring by Peg Kehret - This was my favourite story in the book. It was engaging, suspenseful and action packed. 


Dragonfly Eyes by Alane Ferguson - This was by far the shortest story as it was around 8 pages long but it was very haunting, thrilling and suspenseful. The characters were very stereotyped. 


Jeepers Peepers by Ryan Brown - This story was very atmospheric and it had a very cinematic feel to it. I found it very suspenseful but it fell apart towards the end. 


Piney Power by F. Paul Wilson - This was a very exciting and thrilling read however there were too many characters for such a short story. 


The Night Hunter by Meg Cabot - This was a very thrilling and enthralling read which definitely had the Meg Cabot quality about it. 


Tuition by Walter Sorrells - This story was gripping from the first sentence until the very last. 


Tagger by James Rollins - This was my least favourite story in the book. It seemed to drag on and was longer than it needed to be. 


Ray Gun by Tim Maleeny - This story was a great combination of suspense, sci-fi and action.    

Book Review #495 - Followers (Point Horror) by Anna Davies

To tweet or not to tweet . . . what a deadly question.

When Briana loses out on a starring role in the school's production of Hamlet, she reluctantly agrees to be the drama department's "social media director" and starts tweeting half-hearted updates. She barely has any followers, so when someone hacks her twitter account, Briana can't muster the energy to stop it. After all, tweets like "Something's rotten in the state of Denmark . . . and a body's rotting in the theater" are obviously a joke.

But then a body IS discovered in the theater: Briana's rival. Suddenly, what seemed like a prank turns deadly serious. To everyone's horror, the grisly tweets continue . . . and the body count starts to rise.

There's no other explanation; someone is live-tweeting murders on campus.

With the school in chaos and the police unable to find the culprit, it's up to Briana to unmask the psycho-tweeter before the carnage reaches Shakespearian proportions . . . or she becomes the next victim.

My Rating: 3/5

I received this book for review from Scholastic Australia.

This was the perfect book to read around the October/Halloween season.

Whenever books surround their plot with theatre I tend to find it boring but I didn't in this book which surprised me.

I have read two of these Point Horror books, Wickedpedia being the other and I really enjoyed both of them. They are the perfect blend of suspense and mystery.

I like how they are very modern and use social media for the main twists.