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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Unhallowed Ground in Books
Jun 7, 2018
(This review can also be found on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.co.uk">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>).
When I read the synopsis for Unhallowed Ground by Daniel Mills, I must confess that I was more than intrigued. I love a good ghost story, so there was no way I was going to let this one pass me by. Although this book wasn't as ghosty (not a real word, haha) as I would've liked, it was still a nice read.
Unhallowed Ground by Daniel Mills is a short story told by the main character, Henry Feathering. Henry decides to visit his only surviving relative, his uncle, at Bittersweet Lodge. Upon arriving, he notices how dilapidated the building is. Henry falls in love with a woman named Clemency and decides that she will be his wife. Henry's uncle gives him a dire warning: do not move into the lodge with his bride for it will have horrible consequences. Ignoring his uncle's warning, Henry and Clemency move into Bittersweet Lodge. Soon Clemency is acting rather distant from Henry for some strange reason. Could there be a sinister force at work?
How spooky does the cover for Unhallowed Ground look!?! The cover of this book is definitely an attention grabber. I love the fact that it also fits in with the actual story.
The title definitely lets you know that this isn't going to be a warming story. Unhallowed Ground is a great title and fits in definitely with the story since a young girl was buried on unhallowed ground. (Don't worry, I haven't given away a spoiler as this is mentioned throughout the book).
The world building and setting are fantastic in this book. The story takes place in 1891, and the author does a great job of recreating the year. The description of the lodge seems spot on, and it paints a vivid picture in your mind.
The pacing of this book couldn't have been better. It is a short story, so it shouldn't take you more than 2 or 3 hours to read especially as Unhallowed Ground is a real page turner! I was constantly trying to guess what would happen next.
The dialogue of this book is old-fashioned as one would expect since it does take place in 1891. However, it is easy to understand, and there was no swearing.
The characters were great! Henry, Clemency, and Justice are the three main characters. They all come across as feeling like real people. My favourite character was Henry's uncle. I loved his eccentricity.
The only thing I didn't like was that I was expecting more of a ghost story which this wasn't really. I wanted a typical ghost story with apparitions, things moving by themselves, etc. I felt the synopsis was a bit misleading. I also wish that this story would've been a bit longer. Despite that, this was a good read.
I'd recommend Unhallowed Ground by Daniel Mills to everyone, especially fans of the horror genre, aged 16+.
Overall, I'd give Unhallowed Ground by Daniel Mills a 3.75 out of 5.
(Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for supplying me with a free ebook of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review).
When I read the synopsis for Unhallowed Ground by Daniel Mills, I must confess that I was more than intrigued. I love a good ghost story, so there was no way I was going to let this one pass me by. Although this book wasn't as ghosty (not a real word, haha) as I would've liked, it was still a nice read.
Unhallowed Ground by Daniel Mills is a short story told by the main character, Henry Feathering. Henry decides to visit his only surviving relative, his uncle, at Bittersweet Lodge. Upon arriving, he notices how dilapidated the building is. Henry falls in love with a woman named Clemency and decides that she will be his wife. Henry's uncle gives him a dire warning: do not move into the lodge with his bride for it will have horrible consequences. Ignoring his uncle's warning, Henry and Clemency move into Bittersweet Lodge. Soon Clemency is acting rather distant from Henry for some strange reason. Could there be a sinister force at work?
How spooky does the cover for Unhallowed Ground look!?! The cover of this book is definitely an attention grabber. I love the fact that it also fits in with the actual story.
The title definitely lets you know that this isn't going to be a warming story. Unhallowed Ground is a great title and fits in definitely with the story since a young girl was buried on unhallowed ground. (Don't worry, I haven't given away a spoiler as this is mentioned throughout the book).
The world building and setting are fantastic in this book. The story takes place in 1891, and the author does a great job of recreating the year. The description of the lodge seems spot on, and it paints a vivid picture in your mind.
The pacing of this book couldn't have been better. It is a short story, so it shouldn't take you more than 2 or 3 hours to read especially as Unhallowed Ground is a real page turner! I was constantly trying to guess what would happen next.
The dialogue of this book is old-fashioned as one would expect since it does take place in 1891. However, it is easy to understand, and there was no swearing.
The characters were great! Henry, Clemency, and Justice are the three main characters. They all come across as feeling like real people. My favourite character was Henry's uncle. I loved his eccentricity.
The only thing I didn't like was that I was expecting more of a ghost story which this wasn't really. I wanted a typical ghost story with apparitions, things moving by themselves, etc. I felt the synopsis was a bit misleading. I also wish that this story would've been a bit longer. Despite that, this was a good read.
I'd recommend Unhallowed Ground by Daniel Mills to everyone, especially fans of the horror genre, aged 16+.
Overall, I'd give Unhallowed Ground by Daniel Mills a 3.75 out of 5.
(Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for supplying me with a free ebook of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review).
While the Women are Sleeping
Book
Celebrated as one of the greatest writers of his generation, Javier Marias is best known for his spy...
Dutch (59 KP) rated Experimemtal Film in Books
Mar 11, 2019
Experiments in film
When Lois Cairns stumbles upon a mystery that points towards a lost chapter in Canadian film history she jumps at the chance to make a name for herself and revive a career as a film critic that has long been on the slide.
Enlisting the help of a former student she becomes embroiled in the tale of Lady Midday and the tragic Whitcombe family.
The first part of the book very much focuses on Lois, her husband Simon, their autistic son Clark and her mother Lee with whom she has a strained relationship. Lois has seen her career fail, her health is not far behind and she feels guilty at the inability to love her son the way she feels she should.
As the story of Lady Midday unfolds she finds herself sucked into a story much darker and terrifying than she ever could have imagined.
Experimental Film is what I would call a gentle ghost story with the majority of the book focussed on Lois and her family and the struggles she must overcome to maintain her health, her project and ultimately her son.
I enjoyed the story but would not call it a horror story but rather a character focused tale with a subtle dash of the supernatural and a book worth seeking out.
Enlisting the help of a former student she becomes embroiled in the tale of Lady Midday and the tragic Whitcombe family.
The first part of the book very much focuses on Lois, her husband Simon, their autistic son Clark and her mother Lee with whom she has a strained relationship. Lois has seen her career fail, her health is not far behind and she feels guilty at the inability to love her son the way she feels she should.
As the story of Lady Midday unfolds she finds herself sucked into a story much darker and terrifying than she ever could have imagined.
Experimental Film is what I would call a gentle ghost story with the majority of the book focussed on Lois and her family and the struggles she must overcome to maintain her health, her project and ultimately her son.
I enjoyed the story but would not call it a horror story but rather a character focused tale with a subtle dash of the supernatural and a book worth seeking out.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated Ghosts ‘N Graveyards in Books
Nov 24, 2020
Haunted Thanksgiving
It’s Thanksgiving, and Emma and her new husband, Phil, are planning a quiet holiday with their friend Jeremiah and his friend Rose. Like Emma, Jeremiah is also a medium who has solved mysteries with Granny, the ghost of Emma’s great-great-great grandmother. That’s going to come in handy with Granny shows up. It seems that one of the ghosts in Julian’s Pioneer Cemetery is more upset than usual. It sounds like she thinks someone is about to die. Is she right? Can Emma and Jeremiah stop it from happening?
It’s been a couple of years since we got a new Granny Apples story, so it is wonderful to get to visit some of the characters again with this short story. The story is a bit simple, even for a short story, but it serves as a great excuse to spend time with these characters again. While we don’t see everyone in Emma’s orbit, I was glad to get the update on the characters who are here. All of them, living and dead, are wonderful. We even get a glimpse of what might be coming for another character this author writes about. This is a story for fans, and they will be happy. If you haven’t met the characters, don’t jump in here, but do start this fun paranormal series.
It’s been a couple of years since we got a new Granny Apples story, so it is wonderful to get to visit some of the characters again with this short story. The story is a bit simple, even for a short story, but it serves as a great excuse to spend time with these characters again. While we don’t see everyone in Emma’s orbit, I was glad to get the update on the characters who are here. All of them, living and dead, are wonderful. We even get a glimpse of what might be coming for another character this author writes about. This is a story for fans, and they will be happy. If you haven’t met the characters, don’t jump in here, but do start this fun paranormal series.
Beyond Ghosts Interactive Paranormal Podcast
Podcast
Beyond Ghosts is the interactive paranormal radio show which allows anyone and everyone the...
The sentence
10.0
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Book
In this stunning and timely novel, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author Louise...
Sarah Betts (103 KP) rated The Phantom of the Opera in Books
Dec 31, 2019
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I love this book so much. It's got a little bit of everything and the story (kinda based on actual events?) plays out superbly.
Poor Christine has no idea that the Angel of Music she's being so thoughtful tutored by is the dreaded Opera Ghost.
The dashing Raoul determined to save his childhood friend.
The OG (you probably know his name but let's let that be a surprise for those that don't know!) who feels destined to wander the opera house.
It all starts with a hanging man, a man whose noose mysteriously disappears.
This story has been told many tests and I don't want to sound like a snobby purist but I honestly think this is the best version.
I love this book so much. It's got a little bit of everything and the story (kinda based on actual events?) plays out superbly.
Poor Christine has no idea that the Angel of Music she's being so thoughtful tutored by is the dreaded Opera Ghost.
The dashing Raoul determined to save his childhood friend.
The OG (you probably know his name but let's let that be a surprise for those that don't know!) who feels destined to wander the opera house.
It all starts with a hanging man, a man whose noose mysteriously disappears.
This story has been told many tests and I don't want to sound like a snobby purist but I honestly think this is the best version.
Morgwel Hall
8.0
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Scarred both physically and mentally from the horrors of WWI, specifically Passchendaele, the third...
ghosts ghost story paranormal supernatural Michael Hutchins Morgwel Hall
Hazel (1853 KP) rated Hawthorne High in Books
Sep 18, 2019
Bullied for many things, such as having a boys name, Dylan Hatfield's only friends are imaginary. Imaginary, that is until they ask her to help possess the minds of the bullies. Happy that her enemies are now being nice to her, Dylan soon realises she has made a mistake when horrible things start to happen around town. Not only were they not imaginary, but it also appears they are evil too.
Hawthorne High is a short young adult ghost story by the versatile author Jordan Elizabeth. Set in the present day, the story deals with past and current issues, particularly bullying. Dylan has been bullied her whole life and it is the attention she receives from her "imaginary friends" that leads her to make a devastating decision. Whilst not a conventional way to tackle bullying, the possession of the bullies makes Dylan's life much better at school but it has dangerous consequences for the rest of the town.
The "imaginary friends" or ghosts, as they turn out to be, harbour grudges about the town and the people who tormented them in the past. The people are no longer living and it is the current inhabitants that end up paying for their past transgressions. Without being able to tell anyone about the ghosts, Dylan has to find out how to get rid of them and save the town from total destruction.
When the author offered me the book to read in exchange for a review, I almost said no. The term "ghost story" nearly put me off because I do not enjoy scary stories, however, due to the reassurance that it was "more of a drama than a horror," I agreed to give the book a chance, and I am glad I did. Being short, Hawthorne High is fast-paced and keeps the reader engaged. The story becomes exciting as it unfolds and the town's past comes to light.
More could be written about the ghosts' history, however, as a short story, Hawthorne High works well and is great for a quick read. Although written for young adults, it is a story adult readers can enjoy too.
Hawthorne High is a short young adult ghost story by the versatile author Jordan Elizabeth. Set in the present day, the story deals with past and current issues, particularly bullying. Dylan has been bullied her whole life and it is the attention she receives from her "imaginary friends" that leads her to make a devastating decision. Whilst not a conventional way to tackle bullying, the possession of the bullies makes Dylan's life much better at school but it has dangerous consequences for the rest of the town.
The "imaginary friends" or ghosts, as they turn out to be, harbour grudges about the town and the people who tormented them in the past. The people are no longer living and it is the current inhabitants that end up paying for their past transgressions. Without being able to tell anyone about the ghosts, Dylan has to find out how to get rid of them and save the town from total destruction.
When the author offered me the book to read in exchange for a review, I almost said no. The term "ghost story" nearly put me off because I do not enjoy scary stories, however, due to the reassurance that it was "more of a drama than a horror," I agreed to give the book a chance, and I am glad I did. Being short, Hawthorne High is fast-paced and keeps the reader engaged. The story becomes exciting as it unfolds and the town's past comes to light.
More could be written about the ghosts' history, however, as a short story, Hawthorne High works well and is great for a quick read. Although written for young adults, it is a story adult readers can enjoy too.
Lindsay (1717 KP) rated The Lady Ghost (The Decoders #2) in Books
Feb 16, 2020
You looking for an adventure book for your child or children to enjoy? Well, the series called “The Decoders” by Alba Arango is a good one. It seems to focus on helping others out but also doing what they love to do. Which is solve cases. I have rated it 4.5 Moons – (Stars).
It about three smart kids, how they have adventures. They seem to help their friends and family out. Though in this book it about “The Lady Ghost”. What is happening on the movie set? Why are they scaring people to leave? Is the ghost real or is it fake?
The plot is done well. The characters are developed well. Matt, Steve, and Jenny seem to have different skills that they use to solve mysteries. The stories and mysteries are different. They seem to find someone or a few that seem to help them out.
The adventures seem enjoyable. I enjoy each one. I love that the mysteries are entertaining but not overwhelmed. They are really good for middle graders and children. It one that children can read and fall in love with.
The author does a wonderful job of this and keeping it suitable for children. I just think the story could have been a bit more with the ghost and with movie set. It was a good read. I hope to able to read the next one. I want to read the other adventures of the decoders.
It about three smart kids, how they have adventures. They seem to help their friends and family out. Though in this book it about “The Lady Ghost”. What is happening on the movie set? Why are they scaring people to leave? Is the ghost real or is it fake?
The plot is done well. The characters are developed well. Matt, Steve, and Jenny seem to have different skills that they use to solve mysteries. The stories and mysteries are different. They seem to find someone or a few that seem to help them out.
The adventures seem enjoyable. I enjoy each one. I love that the mysteries are entertaining but not overwhelmed. They are really good for middle graders and children. It one that children can read and fall in love with.
The author does a wonderful job of this and keeping it suitable for children. I just think the story could have been a bit more with the ghost and with movie set. It was a good read. I hope to able to read the next one. I want to read the other adventures of the decoders.