Book Review: The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich

Author: Dawn Kurtagich
Series: N/A
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 15th 2015
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: Netgalley
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Part-psychological thriller, part-urban legend, this is an unsettling narrative made up of diary entries, interview transcripts, film footage transcripts and medical notes. Twenty-five years ago, Elmbridge High burned down. Three people were killed and one pupil, Carly Johnson, disappeared. Now a diary has been found in the ruins of the school. The diary belongs to Kaitlyn Johnson, Carly’s identical twin sister. But Carly didn’t have a twin . . .

Re-opened police records, psychiatric reports, transcripts of video footage and fragments of diary reveal a web of deceit and intrigue, violence and murder, raising a whole lot more questions than it answers.

Who was Kaitlyn and why did she only appear at night? Did she really exist or was she a figment of a disturbed mind? What were the illicit rituals taking place at the school? And just what did happen at Elmbridge in the events leading up to ‘the Johnson Incident’?

Chilling, creepy and utterly compelling, THE DEAD HOUSE is one of those very special books that finds all the dark places in your imagination, and haunts you long after you've finished reading.

*Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.


I've been trying to figure out a way to adequately express how I feel about this book for a while now. It's really hard to make myself seem half-intelligent when all I can come up with is "OMG I LOVED IT!" But it's true, I did love this book.

This book stayed with me for a few days after I finished reading it. Not in a "book hangover" way, but in a "this made me think about stuff" way. I love when a book can be about a million different things, depending on how you choose to read it. Kind of like a "Choose your adventure" story, only it's entirely up to you how you interpret it.

On one side there's the mental health aspect, which I loved. I liked that there were scenes which showed that the main characters were in therapy, but also that they had seemingly normal lives. I also loved the idea that you kind of don't know who's "healthy" and who's not. I kept wondering if there would be a twist at the end where everyone, including the detective, where all patients, The Sixth Sense style, if you will. I know, I watch too many movies :P

Then there's the supernatural, horror element. I know not many people were scared by this book, but I was. I stay away from true horror books, so this is as close as I could get to being really freaked out by a book. And I don't scare easily either.

Kaitlyn and Carly. Man, I felt so sorry for them. The entire time I was reading their story I kept wondering what had happened to them to  make them live the drama that they were living in. It doesn't matter if you think it's supernatural, therefore they're twins or if it's mental health, and as such there's only one girl with multiple-personality disorder, the fact is that this is a drama. And it's heartbreaking. There are a lot of little details that could make your heart break a little bit for these two girls.

I can also say that this is one of the few books where I didn't trust any of the secondary characters. Anyone could be a villain, anyone could have ulterior motives for hanging out with Carly and with Kaitlyn. I actually loved that the author made me doubt everyone, because, like I said earlier, it made me think about stuff and it made me see the book from different perspectives.

I loved the format of this book. There's diary entries, transcripts of interrogations and detailed descriptions of video and audio recordings. I loved that. In a way, it reminded me of some Hidden Objects video games, which I love, so I really enjoyed the format of the story. On the other hand, I reaaally wanted to know who the storyteller was, who was reading the diaries, who was "seeing" those videos. I really would've enjoyed seeing a glimpse into who that person was.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this story and I am definitely going to read more books from this author!

TV Madness: Strike Back

Hello lovelies! I've been in a funk ever since I graduated, mostly because I am still waiting to find an internship (apparently those are very difficult to find, even when you don't get payed *shakes fist*), which is why I've been missing. Anyway, I've read only a few comic books in this time and I need to review them soon, but first I have to talk about the awesome new TV show I just discovered, Strike Back. I will ask you to excuse my language in advance, but if you've watched Strike Back, you'll know it's appropriate. Also, in case you're wondering, this show is intended for mature +18 audiences.

 

How the fuck did I miss this show? Why did I not know about it? First of all, the first season has Richard Armitage in in, whom I love since he was Guy of Gisbourne in Robin Hood. And Andrew Lincoln. And then, for seasons 2 - 5 you have Philip Winchester and Sullivan Stapleton. And then some really awesome guest stars. Allow me to fangirl.

 

Okay, I'm calm now. Somewhat.

Reasons to love the show:

1. No censorship. This is a huge thing for me, guys! I don't know how normal people speak, but when I'm angry/scared/frustrated/in a bad mood, I curse. A lot. My swearing could probably win me a prize for inventive use of words, except it is "impolite" *rolls eyes*. But I always get frustrated when in some TV shows the most swearing is "son of a bitch". I need a "fuck" every once in a while. And Strike Back delivers, guys! There's inventive swearing and it makes me giddy and happy.
2. The good guys sometimes lose. You know how frustrating it is to watch a TV show or a movie where everything turns out 99% exactly how it's supposed to, meaning the good guys win with few, even no casualties? Take The Avengers. Coulson died. What happened next? They made a TV show in which Coulson was revived. Not that I don't like Agents of SHIELD, I do, but...you know, I want some realism sometimes. In Strike Back some of the good guys die and the only thing you can do is curse and cry. And I love that. Because in their line of work the good guys can and even will die. So there's the dose of reality that I'm craving.
3. Good action. I love the action. I want a show where things get blown up, baddies are shot, there's blood everywhere, car chases, motorcycle chases... *le sigh* I think you get the point, right?
4. Hot actors. Okay so, the show was on Cinemax. So there's sex in it. Lots of it. While some might be bothered by that fact, it didn't bother me. Not because I'm a perv, but because there's really a good reason for the sex. Some called the nudity gratuitous. Maybe it's the psychology degree, maybe because I watch toooons of TV shows. But there's a reason for the sex. And that reason made me love one of the characters more once I found what it was *cough*Damien Scott*cough*. There really is a good reason for it and it gets revealed in one of the seasons why he's a bit reckless. 
5. Great characters. You probably know that in books, TV shows, movies I'm a character lover. I need good, amazing characters or I can't watch/read it. I just can't. If the characters don't call to me, if they don't make me want to root for them and if my only thought when they get hurt is "Oh well, maybe this will wake them up" then I can't continue with the story. So it's always amazing to get to read a book or in this case watch a TV show where I loved all of the characters. The good ones anyway. The villains I hated, but that was their job, to make me hate them. :P 

Reasons to not love the show:

I have none, guys. I just love the show. I heard a rumor that there's talks about a movie and I couldn't be more excited.

 

I need more of this show. I am not ready to admit that there's not going to be a new season (I'm in denial), so I might wait a few days and rewatch it. For science *wide grin*

What about you guys? Any new shows you've watched lately that you think everyone should see right away?

Comic Book Tuesday#3: Death Vigil: Volume 1 by Stjepan Šejić

Author: Stjepan Šejić
Series: Death Vigil
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: October 14th 2015
My Rating: 4.5 cups
Source: Netgalley
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Gifted? Join the Death Vigil in their ongoing war against the ever-growing power of the Primordial Enemy! Only catch is you have to die first. Become a corporeal immortal Death Knight and obtain reality-altering weaponry in the never-ending battle between good and evil.

Collects DEATH VIGIL #1-8.

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Image Comics in exchange for an honest review.

I've always been intrigued with how different authors and writers interpret death and the possibility of afterlife. Šejić's take on afterlife is quite unique. The idea that for some people death is not the final ending, but really the start of an epic journey is quite intriguing. Each person receives a set of weapons that will help them fight demons and necromancers, weapons inspired by their most cherished memory. I liked that aspect of the story a lot, especially seeing how some of the characters manage to discover the full extent of their powers and those of their weapons.

As with most of the books that I read, what I liked the most was the fact that not everything is just white or just black. Not every good guy is 100% good and not every bad guy is a maniac that just wants to destroy the world. There are other reasons that make some of these characters be on the wrong side of things and, with two of the baddies I do understand what they really wanted and why they did the things they did.

The dialogue was funny at times, emotional at other times. I liked Sam the most, he was a real hero and I really enjoyed his brand of humor. Bernadette is the leader of this group and I really want to know her backstory, how she became the Grim Reaper. I did like that she didn't feel like a boss, but more like a team mate, fighting side by side with the others. Clara is the newbie and I liked that, in a way, the reader gets to experience that confusing journey into the world of the Death Vigil with her.

The artwork is simply gorgeous. The colors used are so rich and the drawings help create a wonderful story. There's an attention to detail in each panel and I enjoyed that a lot. At times the drawings felt a little bit too crowded, which is the only reason for my rating, but other than that I loved this story a lot and I really hope there's going to be more issues for this story, because I need more.

Book Tour: Reaper's Fall by Joanna Wylde

Author: Joanna Wylde
Series: Reapers MC #5
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: November 10th 2015
My Rating: 4 cups
Source: Netgalley
Blurb (from Goodreads):

He never meant to hurt her.

Levi “Painter” Brooks was nothing before he joined the Reapers motorcycle club. The day he patched in, they became his brothers and his life. All they asked in return was a strong arm and unconditional loyalty—a loyalty that’s tested when he’s caught and sentenced to prison for a crime committed on their behalf.

Melanie Tucker may have had a rough start, but along the way she’s learned to fight for her future. She’s escaped from hell and started a new life, yet every night she dreams of a biker whose touch she can’t forget. It all started out so innocently—just a series of letters to a lonely man in prison. Friendly. Harmless. Safe.

Now Painter Brooks is coming home… and Melanie’s about to learn that there’s no room for innocence in the Reapers MC.

*Disclaimer: I was offered an e-ARC of this copy from Netgalley and TRSOR Promotions in exchange for an honest review.

The latest installment in the Reapers MC by Joanna Wylde is out and I could not be happier. I've been waiting for this story ever since I read Silver Bastard, because the Painter/Melanie scene in that book took me by surprise. A lot!

If there's one thing I love most when it comes to book series is being surprised. Not in a "I did not see that one coming" way, but in a "I did not think I'd like that character" way. I have to admit that I was not one of Painter's biggest fans in previous books. He was always the guy I couldn't figure out, the one who seemed like the guy who can't make up his mind and then gets bitter once an opportunity is gone. It was frustrating to watch/read. But then this book came out and now I can say I love the guy. I get it now. I feel the need to just give him a bear hug, because boy, does he need it. Sure, he made some mistakes in this book that made me want to smack him a little bit, but then he managed to redeem himself. Plus, he's an artist and there's the cutest scene involving wall painting and he just won my heart with that one.

Melanie is one of the sweetest girls I've read about and she really needed a happy ending to her story. She's one of the characters that you just want to protect. London, the woman who would later become Picnic's old lady, took Mel in when the situation with her parents turned from bad to worse. Her family history played a huge role in her relationship with Painter, especially in the second part of the story, and I really can't blame her.

Another surprise came from Jessica. She really was a changed person and I can't wait to see if she'll get a story soon, because the poor girl has been through enough. I also keep my fingers crossed that Kit will get a story, because it's going to be funny to see someone try to tame her.


This book was filled with romance, hot sex and drama, but there were some incredibly funny bits too, that had me laughing out loud a lot. And all in all, it proved, once again, that Joanna Wylde writes some of the best MC books out there.

Comic Book Tuesday #2: True Blood

You might remember this story, but the Southern Vampires Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris was my first trip in the land of current urban fantasy. Up until that point I only had the 70s image of a "modern" vampire, as portrayed by Anne Rice. About 2 years after I discovered Sookie Stackhouse, the TV show True Blood came out. I was in nerd heaven, not only because I was excited to see some of my favorite characters on TV, but also because it was a good story, that deserved some screen time. While I did give up on the show and I haven't yet finish reading the series, I still get a bit excited when I remember about Bon Temps and the characters that live there and around the town. So when I saw that there were some comic books with the TV show characters, I decided to try them out.

First, let me start by saying that the one thing I did not miss was the ever-present "Sooookeeeh" that Bill said about...oh, roughly 5 million times an episode. As far as story goes, both of them used the TV show depictions of the characters. Not that I mind, since we got to see the hunk that is Eric Northman in the first one *drool*. I did quite enjoy the Tainted Love story a bit more, as it was more centered on Jessica, at least the first issue. I really liked Jessica, even though she was a new character, that wasn't in the books, and while I was watching the show I wanted more scenes with her, as she was a really interesting addition to the story. And I am curious to see how the story in the comic book ends, so I plan on buying the rest of the issues.

Both books have really beautiful art and with both of them you can kind of see that the artists tried to make the characters resemble the actors. I was a bit disappointed by that aspect, but then again it is understandable that the characters would be drawn to resemble the actors playing them.

If I were to rate these first issues, I'd give them three cups each. I do however have to say that reading them made me want to go back and read the series from book one. And I do plan to re-read them soon.

Teaser Tuesday: Bloodcraft by Amalie Howard

Bloodcraft by Amalie Howard
Series: Bloodspell #2
Genre: Upper YA/NA (mature content), Fantasy
Publication: December 15th, 2015

Cover Designer: Alan Pranke

All magic has its price, and no one knows that better than Victoria Warrick. Gifted with a centuries-old blood curse, Tori has finally learned to master her blood’s demands and has emerged triumphant with Christian Devereux, a vampire overlord, at her side.

But the worst is yet to come …

In the infamous City of Lights, home to both the Witch Clans and the Vampire Council, Tori enrolls at the exclusive Belles Fontaines school in Paris, where she is faced with a devastating choice: choose Christian and be an outcast, or choose the coven and secure her place with the witches.

When the fate of the supernatural world is targeted by a sinister new threat, Christian and Victoria must unite their two warring species to defeat it. Their bond will be tested, twisted, and sorely weakened, and Tori will find herself in uncharted territory—a dangerous place to be when her blood’s magic has its own dark agenda.

But to save them all, she may have no choice but to invoke its deadly power.

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Teaser

Victoria shivered, wrapping her arms about herself and staring toward the forest lost in thought. She wasn’t afraid of Christian or the fact that he was a vampire. After all, she was more of a monster than he could ever be.  

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Book #1, Bloodspell

The spell was simple...

Cruentus Protectum (Defend the Blood)

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds -- much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.

What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?

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~ Purchase ~

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Kobo | BAM

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~ About Amalie ~ 

AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island (Trinidad & Tobago) where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 25 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts.

An aspiring writer from a young age, Amalie’s poem “The Candle,” written at age twelve, was published in a University of Warwick journal. At fifteen, she was  a recipient of a Royal Commonwealth Society Essay Award (a global youth writing competition). A Colby College graduate, she completed simultaneous Honors Theses in both French and International Studies, and graduated Summa Cum Laude/Phi Beta Kappa. At Colby, she was cited for research and criticism in Raffael Scheck’s article, “German Conservatism and Female Political Activism in the Early Weimar Republic,” and his subsequent book, Mothers of the Nation. She also received a distinction in English Literature from the University of Cambridge (A-levels) as well as a certificate in French Literature from the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, France. Traveling the globe, she has worked as a research assistant, marketing representative, teen speaker and global sales executive.

agold-authorShe is the author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid’s INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller and a Seventeen Magazine Summer Read. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children. She is represented by the Liza Royce Agency and is a member of SCBWI.

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