Book Blurb:
Fifteen-year-old Aisha disappears in the dark forests on a school hiking trip. She's the latest in a string of children to vanish there over the past five years. The towns surrounding the forests are on edge and they want answers. And wildboy Ethan—Aisha's boyfriend—is on the run after he and his grandfather are blamed for her disappearance.
Cassie is just about the only friend Ethan has left. She's been secretly in love with him ever since her mother dragged her to the wilds of Australia from Florida six months ago.
Desperate to prove Ethan's innocence, Cassie searches the forests with Ethan to find out what really happened to Aisha. But Ethan's growing strangely silent, and Cassie's left questioning if her feelings for him are clouding her judgment.
Cassie discovers a dark secret lurking in the heart of the forests; a secret world of nightmarish horrors—where nothing is as it seems, where the supernatural invades your soul, where the people she trusts most might be the people she can trust least, and where escape exists only in dreams.
A YA Paranormal Mystery/Horror
My thoughts:
This was one of the creepiest stories I have read in a long time. I mean creepy in a good way, and not quite scary. The first third of the book seemed okay and did go by quickly. The friends were out and about, trying to find their missing friend. Suddenly, they are swept into a dark and macabre world that is absolutely horrifying. What's real? What isn't? Your head spins like the dizzying hands on the clock as you try to figure out what is going on and how they can get out of this. I was absolutely riveted for the rest of the book and sad when it ended. This is just the first book in a trilogy, though, so there will be more to read. I even want to reread this book, to see if I can pick up on more clues, now that I know the truth about what was going on.
The whole time I was reading the book, I could easily picture it all in my head as if I was watching a movie unfold. I think it would make a great horror flick. I can guarantee you will never look at your Raggedy Ann doll nor a carousel in the same way again.
This was one of the creepiest stories I have read in a long time. I mean creepy in a good way, and not quite scary. The first third of the book seemed okay and did go by quickly. The friends were out and about, trying to find their missing friend. Suddenly, they are swept into a dark and macabre world that is absolutely horrifying. What's real? What isn't? Your head spins like the dizzying hands on the clock as you try to figure out what is going on and how they can get out of this. I was absolutely riveted for the rest of the book and sad when it ended. This is just the first book in a trilogy, though, so there will be more to read. I even want to reread this book, to see if I can pick up on more clues, now that I know the truth about what was going on.
The whole time I was reading the book, I could easily picture it all in my head as if I was watching a movie unfold. I think it would make a great horror flick. I can guarantee you will never look at your Raggedy Ann doll nor a carousel in the same way again.
About the author:
Anya Allyn lives near the beach an hour north of Sydney, Australia. She loves anywhere outdoors that is natural and wild. Or anywhere indoors where Black Forest Cake is on offer. She has four amazing boys and enjoys their energy and happy-go-lucky spirit, and wishes she could plug into some of that energy on days when her 'get up and go' has packed up and gone! She is a former Features' Editor/Community Manager for a media organisation in Australia. The idea for Doll House was born after a trip to the beautiful Barrington Tops region of Australia--sparked by places there such as Devils Hole, Ladies Well and Thunderbolt's Way.
Wow, I loved your review, Andie!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for being part of the Dollhouse book tour :)