Helpful Score: 1
**Thank you Doubleday and Netgalley for providing this in exchange for an honest review**
This book completely blindsided me. Of course the story itself interested me (why would I request it if it didn't?), but when I noticed it was told through journal entries, Blair Witch style camera footage, and letters, my excitement was dampened. This isn't a writing style I'm fond of. There have been a couple exceptions, but these books usually end up as DNFs or 1 Star reads. In this case, I can't wait to throw my money at Amazon for a hardcover copy.
A is a young Englishman who has just been left a house, and a fortune, in VA by a second cousin twice removed. Seeing as A never knew his cousin, Ambrose, existed, he is understandably surprised by this. A and his mute, teenage companion, Niamh, set off to claim his inheritance. It doesn't take long to figure out all is not right with Axton House, and that's not counting the ghost haunting the bathroom. A starts having nightmares, only they aren't like any nightmares he has ever had before. These feel real. Someone breaks into Ambrose's office. The safe has been opened and the contents left inside. What was the thief looking for? They find coded messages Ambrose wanted sent to friends. What do they say? Why are all the names also coded? Was he a Mason? Was he part of a cult? Why did he have a huge gathering every December 21st? Why did all the servants have to leave the property before the guest arrived? What caused Ambrose to throw himself out of a window, just like his father had?
This started out a little slow, but by 10% I was hooked. I honestly loved everything about this title. The characters were well developed. Niamh has joined my all time favorite characters. The setting is deliciously creepy. The supernatural elements creeped me out. The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Buy it, borrow it from the library, do whatever you need to do to get your hands on this book. If you enjoy it half as much as I did, it'll be well worth your time.
This book completely blindsided me. Of course the story itself interested me (why would I request it if it didn't?), but when I noticed it was told through journal entries, Blair Witch style camera footage, and letters, my excitement was dampened. This isn't a writing style I'm fond of. There have been a couple exceptions, but these books usually end up as DNFs or 1 Star reads. In this case, I can't wait to throw my money at Amazon for a hardcover copy.
A is a young Englishman who has just been left a house, and a fortune, in VA by a second cousin twice removed. Seeing as A never knew his cousin, Ambrose, existed, he is understandably surprised by this. A and his mute, teenage companion, Niamh, set off to claim his inheritance. It doesn't take long to figure out all is not right with Axton House, and that's not counting the ghost haunting the bathroom. A starts having nightmares, only they aren't like any nightmares he has ever had before. These feel real. Someone breaks into Ambrose's office. The safe has been opened and the contents left inside. What was the thief looking for? They find coded messages Ambrose wanted sent to friends. What do they say? Why are all the names also coded? Was he a Mason? Was he part of a cult? Why did he have a huge gathering every December 21st? Why did all the servants have to leave the property before the guest arrived? What caused Ambrose to throw himself out of a window, just like his father had?
This started out a little slow, but by 10% I was hooked. I honestly loved everything about this title. The characters were well developed. Niamh has joined my all time favorite characters. The setting is deliciously creepy. The supernatural elements creeped me out. The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Buy it, borrow it from the library, do whatever you need to do to get your hands on this book. If you enjoy it half as much as I did, it'll be well worth your time.
Make Room For a New Favorite on Your Shelf!
I love this spooky little book so much it has cemented itself into my collection. Before I'd read 100 pages, the intriguing, unconventional style and haunting story had thoroughly seduced me. It was as if I were under its spell. The story concerns two young characters who travel from Europe to the States to take up residence in what turns out to be a haunted house. Far from the usual ghost story this tale is a puzzle and a mystery that the reader tries to unravel alongside the main characters. Like an unexpected scavenger hunt, complete with codes and ciphers, it's full of discoveries both delightful and gruesome.
Highly recommended to those who love mystery and horror with just a whisper of mythos.
I love this spooky little book so much it has cemented itself into my collection. Before I'd read 100 pages, the intriguing, unconventional style and haunting story had thoroughly seduced me. It was as if I were under its spell. The story concerns two young characters who travel from Europe to the States to take up residence in what turns out to be a haunted house. Far from the usual ghost story this tale is a puzzle and a mystery that the reader tries to unravel alongside the main characters. Like an unexpected scavenger hunt, complete with codes and ciphers, it's full of discoveries both delightful and gruesome.
Highly recommended to those who love mystery and horror with just a whisper of mythos.
SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
This book is full of surprises. Nothing is really what it seems. Our protagonist inherits a house in Virginia along with a fortune, it seems. He moves in, bringing along his friend, who is mute and communicates by pad and pen. It is told in diary entries, notes, audio and video recordings. It is a unique plot with a secret society, an all seeing "eye", a bathroom ghost, a dangerous game, a history, mystery and ,of course, supernatural enhancements. I enjoyed it.
4.5 Stars
What I expected and at the same time not.
Blurbs describing this book:
Edgar Cantero has written a dazzling and original supernatural adventure featuring classic horror elements with a Neil Gaiman-ish twist
Told vividly and mysteriously through a series of journal entries, scrawled notes, recovered security footage, letters to a mysterious "Aunt Liza," audio recordings, complicated ciphers, and even advertisements, Edgar Cantero has written a dazzling and original supernatural adventure with glimmers of Carlos Ruiz Zafón's Shadow of the Wind.
Now with blurbs like that, I was excited to read this and put it on my paperbackswap wishlist (I haven't read Neil Gaiman yet *ducks* but I heard alot about him, and well Carlo Ruiz Zafon = <3). As soon as I got it in the mail, I dove into it... hoping for a good tale.
This does have hints of the gothic/supernatual in it but the mystery part is more present with the supernatural stuff a sort of footnote in the background. The mystery was well done, unveiled somewhat slowly but it kept my attention.
Clues are gathered and revealed via letters, diary entries, articles, and so on. A couple times the 'excerpts/articles' got on my nerves but other than that I enjoyed the way everything unfolded.
Niamh and A. I enjoyed getting to know, watching them grow closer and unraveling the secrets and mysteries of Ambrose and the house.
The history of the house was interesting and I wish we had gone deeper into it, it would have added more darkness to the story but it might not have fit with the pacing as well perhaps (I would welcome an ebook please ;-) *hint hint*).
As for the horror elements, there are some but (and maybe this is just me) it didn't 'scare' me too much. It was chilling certainly in spots but there was 'something' missing, that extra kick... if you want to call it that.
The story takes its time to set up but keeps a good pace, I was never bored or tempted to DNF at all. After about a little over the halfway point , it became very hard for me to put down (if I had been home, I would have finished it in one day... damn work lol).
The style did remind me of Mister Zafon in the way he set up the story and the atmospheric quality of everything. He's got a good talent here and I can't wait to see what he does next as he continues to grow as a writer.
The ending had a couple surprises in it and had me laughing a bit. Those clever people :).
The book did have those couple minor issues for me but overall I really enjoyed it, I would recommend it:)
Happy reading!
What I expected and at the same time not.
Blurbs describing this book:
Edgar Cantero has written a dazzling and original supernatural adventure featuring classic horror elements with a Neil Gaiman-ish twist
Told vividly and mysteriously through a series of journal entries, scrawled notes, recovered security footage, letters to a mysterious "Aunt Liza," audio recordings, complicated ciphers, and even advertisements, Edgar Cantero has written a dazzling and original supernatural adventure with glimmers of Carlos Ruiz Zafón's Shadow of the Wind.
Now with blurbs like that, I was excited to read this and put it on my paperbackswap wishlist (I haven't read Neil Gaiman yet *ducks* but I heard alot about him, and well Carlo Ruiz Zafon = <3). As soon as I got it in the mail, I dove into it... hoping for a good tale.
This does have hints of the gothic/supernatual in it but the mystery part is more present with the supernatural stuff a sort of footnote in the background. The mystery was well done, unveiled somewhat slowly but it kept my attention.
Clues are gathered and revealed via letters, diary entries, articles, and so on. A couple times the 'excerpts/articles' got on my nerves but other than that I enjoyed the way everything unfolded.
Niamh and A. I enjoyed getting to know, watching them grow closer and unraveling the secrets and mysteries of Ambrose and the house.
The history of the house was interesting and I wish we had gone deeper into it, it would have added more darkness to the story but it might not have fit with the pacing as well perhaps (I would welcome an ebook please ;-) *hint hint*).
As for the horror elements, there are some but (and maybe this is just me) it didn't 'scare' me too much. It was chilling certainly in spots but there was 'something' missing, that extra kick... if you want to call it that.
The story takes its time to set up but keeps a good pace, I was never bored or tempted to DNF at all. After about a little over the halfway point , it became very hard for me to put down (if I had been home, I would have finished it in one day... damn work lol).
The style did remind me of Mister Zafon in the way he set up the story and the atmospheric quality of everything. He's got a good talent here and I can't wait to see what he does next as he continues to grow as a writer.
The ending had a couple surprises in it and had me laughing a bit. Those clever people :).
The book did have those couple minor issues for me but overall I really enjoyed it, I would recommend it:)
Happy reading!
