5 comments about The Woman in Black: A Ghost Story.

1. I must not have read the same book the others did. For me this book was very average. I don't usually do well at guessing what is going to happen, but I was way ahead of this book all the way through. The writing style is appropriately atmospheric, but I certainly wouldn't put this is a league with Shirley Jackson. I'm hoping the live theatrical version of the book will be a much better experience.



2. The Woman In Black"
   A Ghost Story, Written By Susan Hill
   
   Book Review by Jay Gilbertson
   Even though I'm not a big fan of the Boogey-man-in-the-closet-type stories, something about this particular tome grabbed me. And I mean--grabbed!
   
   Set in the late twentieth century--this creep-filled story has it all. Yes, there's the obligatory English moor, a narrow causeway to reach the dreaded manor house, a dilapidated graveyard, mysterious sounds and that all-important ghost. That would be, "The Woman In Black" and did I mention that she also has a terribly wasted face, skin the color of wax and yet never utters a single scary ghost-like word? She just appears and when she does, Holy cow, do things get a bit, shall we say, out of hand?
   
   The hero of the story is none other than Arthur Kipps, an up-and-coming young solicitor who journeys north to attend a funeral and then settle the estate of Mrs. Alice Drablow. She, naturally, is from Eel Marsh House. Or rather--was.
   The tale unfolds slowly, with a rhythm that is both refreshing and also deliciously maddening. Arthur secures a wonderful room atop an old Inn at the town of Crythin. A small, desperately quaint little village just filled to the gills with nostalgia and history. As if on cue, whenever Arthur questions any of the locals as to the comings and goings of the just-buried Mrs. Drablow, he is met with long, blank stares and told very little.
   
   But as Arthur journeys across the treacherous causeway at low tide to explore the dark and brooding Eel Marsh House, things begin to shake up a bit. Not only did the late Mrs. Drablow keep every scrap of paper that ever crossed her twisted path, but she also harbored several dark, sinister secrets. But as you well know, secrets have a way of coming un-done and as would be the case for dear Arthur, he gets smack in the middle of a real doosey.
   
   There's a mysterious locked nursery door, buckets full of eerie moonlight and a terrifying, recurring sound of a pony and trap (wagon) clip-clopping into the darkness always ending with a child's desperate scream as he is heard drowning in the marsh--over and over again. But there is also an evilness; a sheer hatred of anything remotely human at Eel Marsh House and it follows Arthur. And it waits for Arthur. And it strikes him in a way that truly will take your breath away. This evilness takes and takes and takes. It's taking still.
   
   In the end, it is "The Woman In Black" who has the last say, and oh man does she have it bad for Arthur. This story is a wonderful romp of spin-tingling horror and all-around ghost-fullness of the highest order. What I liked the most is the ending--there isn't one!
   
   Proof-on-paper that this rather neglected genre--the ghost story--is far from dead.
   
   Read it--if you dare



3. I keep searching for a scary book, but it just isn't happening for me. Same problem with movies. This book was so boring to me the first 105 pages, it felt like all filler. The book only has 138 pages so that should warn you. I hate that I wasted my money on it. The library didn't have any copies, that should have told me something also. I can only say I wish I could be so easily scared by a book as the readers that gave it 4 & 5 stars. If anyone can tell me a really scary book, please let me know. Thanks



4. If you're looking for a creepy ghost story, this book is fantastic. It is very well written, very descriptive,and keeps you guessing until the end, as well as highly entertaining. It's a fairly quick read (about 150 pages), but well worth it.
   I had the opportunity to see the theatrical play based on this book while on a recent trip to England, and just wanted to read it before going-I was expecting it to be good, and it definitely exceeded those expectations. A note to future purchasers: if you're in the UK area, definitely check to see if the play is running-it is a VERY well done production.



5. The Woman in Black is a very well-written, frightening and disturbing ghost story. It begins in London on Christmas Eve in the home of our narrator, Arthur Kipps. Arthur is surrounded by his family consisting of his wife and stepchildren. Telling ghost stories and creepy tales are an ancient tradition during the festive season and the kids want Arthur to join in and tell a story of his own. But all of this talk of ghosts has upset Arthur tremendously. And so here begins Arthur's story...
   
   It turns out that Arthur has had a real life ghostly experience in his past when he was a young solicitor working for Mr. Bentley. Mr. Bentley wants Arthur to travel north to Crythin Gifford, a small town, to represent the firm at the funeral of a Mrs. Alice Drablow. Mrs. Drablow was a widow who lived alone in a house called Eel Marsh house which is situated on a causeway which one can cross only at low tide. Once the tide comes in, one can not leave the house again until the tide goes back out. Besides attending the funeral, Arthur must also stay and sort out the paperwork and affairs of Mrs. Drablow.
   
   At the funeral Arthur sees an unusual woman dressed all in black. She looks sickly and her clothes look out of fashion. He begins to realize that the woman could not possibly be human. From this moment on, Arthur's life is forever changed.
   
   This is an excellent ghost story. It starts out tame enough, but is very well-plotted and slowly but surely makes your skin crawl and your heart pound as it leads you to it's climactic end. If you are looking for a well-written, old-fashioned ghost story, with all the added extras of scary noises and things that go bump in the night, look no further. This is your book!

5 comments about Killing Mr. Griffin.

1. The story is good and unfolds (or unravels) very well. Definitely a page turner and quite exciting, but the dialog is painfully dated and the characters are obnoxious. Some characters have unnecessarily lengthy back stories while others are wholly two-dimensional. BUT the lame dialog doesn't take away from the gripping and suspenseful plot. Lois Duncan is a classic!



2. High school students Jeff, Betsy, David, and Susan, under the coercion and direction of classmate Mark, plot to kidnap and scare their strict English teacher. The innocent prank turns deadly and leads to a series of lies and coverups. The characters represent stereotypes of a typical suburban high school setting. The realistic dialogue and peer interactions allow young readers to identify with the characters. The fast moving plot, with its twists and turns, keeps readers engaged. The author explores common themes such as peer pressure, family obligations, and academic expectations. The reader learns lessons such as standing up for what is right and the importance of establishing one's identity. This includes the continual battle between the self and the group. This internal struggle is shown throughout the development of Sue's character.
   
   One criticism is the abrupt ending that fails to show the long term consequences of their actions. This novel is appropriate for students in grades 7-12. A teacher covering this novel might address how one thoughtless decision can spiral out of one's control. Another teaching point might be the concept of group acceptance over personal integrity.



3. I'm using Killing Mr.Griffin in a high school Basic Reading class. The students can't put it down. It's a great tool
   for teaching characterization, shifting points of view, the plot's rising action, and symbolism, not to mention that it leaves readers with a thought-provoking message. It's not just about a killing; it's about peers blindly going along with the crowd and learning the consequences.



4. Four Stars
   I enjoyed reading this book. A lot of the book is about the plot to kidnap and scare the mean teacher Mr. Griffin. This book has a lot of different characters that are all included in this plan. The main characters involved are David, Mark and Mr. Griffin. Mark is nuts and comes up with the plan to kidnap Mr. Griffin. David is the senior class president who is just kind of fallowing along with the plan. Mr. Griffin isn't a nice teacher. He disrespected Mark numerous times. This is why Mark desires to kidnap him in the first place.
   My favorite part of the book is when David and Susan go, in the dark, up to the mountain to find Mr. Griffin near the waterfall where they had left him earlier with Mark. When they arrive, they find something they couldn't believe. This problem leads to a downward spiral of bad ideas and horrible mistakes that dig the students into a bigger hole then they were already in.
   I enjoyed this book because of the mixed emotions you can have towards the characters. In the beginning, Mark seems like the cool kid, who is daring and adventurous for wanting to kidnap Mr. Griffin, and Mr. Griffin is the evil teacher that deserves it. But at some point, my ideas changed, and Mark becomes, in my eyes, a crazy person who is fit for a straight jacked and Mr. Griffin did nothing to deserve his horrible fate.
   I recommend this book for male students in their teens. I think that male students would be able to follow this book and be interested in it. Students will be able to relate to this book, but I think that boys more than girls will be able to get past the title and the cold feeling you get while reading this story.



5. Killing Mr. Griffin is an older story, but still a compelling read. Once I started, I had a hard time putting it down. I don't see many psychological thrillers for teens today. It was a nice change of pace from wizards and vampire romances. While the outcome of the book was a little predictable, it was still an enjoyable read and it kept me turning the pages to see if I was right. I would certainly recommend Killing Mr. Griffin to teens and adults alike.

5 comments about A Certain Slant of Light.

1. Helen is Light. She can neither touch nor smell, nor taste the world of the Quick. She may be unseen by the world of the Living, but she can hear and see their world with just as much clarity. As captivating first lines go, Helen, who has not been seen for 150 years, has the alarming sense of eyes on her:
   
   "Someone was looking at me, a disturbing sensation when you're dead."
   
   It happened while Helen, like any other day, cleaved to her host Mr. Brown while he taught his high school English class. She'd seen this unremarkable boy named Billy many times before, but now he could see her, and she finds herself drawn to him. First impression terror aside, Helen quickly begins to fall in love with him, whose real name is James. So begins her journey back into the land of the Quick, one of haunting secrets and troubled lives for both them and the young bodies they've come to possess.
   
   From that beginning opening line, this book captured me. It's pristinely beautiful. From the clear, flowing prose and the premise of Light and Quick, A Certain Slant of Light is a lovely story about second chances and forgiveness - and a ghost story at that, a categorization I hesitate to use. It instead had the feeling of reading an old, timeless classic of literature. English literature is quoted and read often by Helen and her four hosts. Laura Whitcomb has been an English teacher and you can sense the reverence she feels for poetry and nineteen-century English authors through the characters. Helen herself writes poetry and loves to read. All of her previous hosts - my Saint, my Knight, my Playwright, and my Poet as she endearingly calls them - were writers or lit appreciators of some sort, and she thought of herself as a muse to each, subtley suggesting words and ideas through her emotions and the little invisible notes she scribbled in their margins. The internet, computers, and cell phones aren't mentioned, even though we know it's the twenty-first century. James and Helen are of the world but not in it, and I felt that timelessness very refreshing. This perhaps has been a digression but the literature feel stood out to me and made me connect even more to these two old souls who are bibliophiles just like me. Eating up the writing and the intriguing, building mystery, I breezed through this lovely book until the understated, arresting ending came, one with hope for Billy and Jenny and one with flawless last lines that succinctly and beautifully tied up James and Helen's story. I have a feeling I'll be returning to this book often.



2. First of all, I'd like to adress some of the attacks made on the book in former reviews:
   
   The writing makes since in an older-sounding voice because the narritive is of a 130 year old ghost. What, do you want her saying 'yo' all the time??
   
   The sex between the two main characters is between two ADULTS. And teena are fully capible of reading books and not acting on what happens in them. If you think your kid is going to have sex just because two ghosts in a book they read do, then you need to reevaluate your parenting techniques.
   
   Furthermore, the Christianity that is frowned upon in this novel is an obsessive, stifling, controlling one. Most Christians are not tha extreme and therefore are not threatened in the novel. Also, the story doesn't frown on Christianity- the main character repeatedly states that she believes in God, heaven, and hell.
   
   
   Now, on to why I liked it: this book is beautifully written and amazingly unique. The tale would speak to many people and it's one of those that you don't want to put down until it's done. Lovely and moving. It restored my respect for teen lit.



3. Really enjoyed this book. It had me breathless at several points and I was definitely sucked in by the stories. There was straightforward romance but there was more depth than just that. There were multiple relationships in the book that carried it beyond being just a young adult romance. The situation that the characters were in was unique and intriguing. I hadn't read a book with that idea before. As a mother, I'm not a young adult, the final conclusion was emotional and sweet for me. Not just for young adults, if anything I would lean more towards an older reader. There is depth to the story.



4. This story pulled me in from the beginning. The story is about a girl who has been dead for 130 years, she's a ghost, and falls in love with a boy whose body has been taken over by another spirit. The author has a knack for imagining what it would be like to live as a ghost. She makes it completely believable and very compelling. I thought her portrayal of the fanatically religious family was very accurate as well. I couldn't put the book down and the ending was very touching.



5. Helen has been a ghost for 130 years. She does not know why she did not cross over when she died. All she knows is that she must cling to a human host, silently haunting them until they die and she finds a new host. Her hosts never see her, no one does, until a human boy in the high school English classroom she is haunting makes it clear that he can see her. After this, Helen's (after)life completely changes as she gets a second chance at life, love, and redemption.
   
   This ghostly romance is so much more than this simple description, but I can't reveal anything else without giving the story away. All I can do is urge every person I know to read this book. I loved it. The book was happy, sad, horrifying, funny, romantic, and thoughtful, and so much more than that. Recommended for both teens and adults, though there is a (tastefully done) sex scene in the book.

2 comments about Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (Scholastic Classics).

1. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Scholastic Inc. 194 pp. $3.99 ISBN # 0-439-29575-0
   Robert Louis
   Stevenson
   
   
   Have you ever had a friend that you cared about, good or bad, turn against you? Then your friend might meet a bad person and hop on their boat instead of staying on yours. In this book, Mr. Utterson finds himself trying to solve a mystery about this same situation, with an old friend and a new foe.
   The plot of this book is hard to explain because it's very easy to give this book away. I'll just say that there is a situation between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde that involves murder, drugs, death(s), and an unexplained ending.
   Mr. Stevenson also did a good job of making the genre difficult to figure out in this book. The book could go under mystery because of the plot, but I say it goes under science fiction because none of the actual drugs in this book have been created yet. Also, this book deals with medicine and in a way evolution.
   The theme of this book is man vs. man because Mr. Hyde and Dr. Jekyll are fighting each other for dear life!
   Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a must read that deserves 8/10 stars. I recommend the book for sci-fi, mystery, and horror lovers and ages 10 and up.



2. A astounding collection of classic tales of the macabre. Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde takes up about half of the book; the remainder contains storie such as Markhiem, The Bottle Imp, and the Body Snatcher. Written in a fast paced, articulate manner, this book leaves one hanging at the edge of his seat. I hope you don't fall off.

5 comments about The Mediator #1: Shadowland.

1. Firstly, I listened to this as an AUDIOBOOK and was baffled to hear that the reader Johanna Parker, had a heavy southern accent when the protagonist, Suze is from Brooklyn New York. There was even a part in the book (which is written from 1st person POV) where Suze tells the audience about her BROOKLYN ACCENT and how she pronounces her 'r's. It's so awkward listening to the poor reader trying to read that portion, right after which she tames down her southern accent and attempts a more mainstream one (and fails.) I don't blame the reader or Meg Cabot of course but what were the creators of the audiobook thinking???
   
   I'm only rating this book based on the content, but i would have given the Audiobook only 3 stars too. Meg Cabot only knows one way to write and only has one protagonist. The awkward, self conscious girl who is intimidated by popular kids and her mind turns to jelly around cute guys. Suze is yet another Mia clone. This time she has brown hair and can see ghosts.
   
   I felt the plot (Suze moves from Brooklyn to Carmel, California with her mom to live with their new step-family, finds the ghost of a cute boy in her room (of course it would have to be a CUUUTE boy) and must help the ghost of a psychotic cheerleading suicide victim pass over to the other side) not only boring but disrespectful to suicide victims and suicidal people in general. The girl killed herself in front of the guy's mom because the guy would not buy her a wedding ring when they are both 16?? And then she comes back as a ghost bent on killing him so they can be together forever and Suze has to exorcize her with voodoo with a plastic tub filled with chicken blood she bought at Safeway?? REALLY Meg Cabot, what are you thinking???
   
   i was disappointed.



2. 3.5 Stars - A fun, light, easy paranormal read - this book is nice beginning in the Mediator Series. The main Character Suze is true to most teens - going her own way to deal with the ghosts she's trying to send to the "other side". She's head strong and knows just how she likes to do things, which maybe isn't always the right way. However, throughout the book it makes you question whether or not she'll be able to get the job done.
   
   With some mystery - ghost's and a head strong teen, I look forward to find out more and what's coming next for Suze, not to mention finding out more about Jessie and to see where his part of the story leads.
   
   If your looking for a light mysterious read with ghosts? Then this is the perfect series for you.



3. This series is amazing. I was reluctant to read it due to the appearance. I had always heard don't judge a book by its cover but I never thought that I would. The book seems to be a superficial chick-flickesk novel, but it has wonderful plot twists and compelling characters combined with action, fantasy, and of course, romance. This was the first series I ever reread. I first read it when I was 13 years old. Now, at 20, I still love these books, Cabot's relatable characters, and her funny wit! If you have not read this series yet I recommend you go read one today. You will not be able to put it down.



4. I discovered this book when I was trying to find another series after having read everything in the Twilight saga. Now, I would never say that this is great literature or anything, but I read this book in a few hours because I just didn't want to put it down. Beyond the fantasy/paranormal angle, this book really doesn't have a lot in common with Twilight beyond the fact that it is a wonderful book. Suze Simon is a strong-willed, exciting main character, and the "mediator" concept is quite intriguing.
   
   I'm just glad I still have 5 books to go in the series!



5. The Mediator series is alright. It's not awesome, and the writing is not genius, but it's a story. At times, I felt kind of dumb reading this series because it seemed to drag on. The main character is a bit annoying too. Read if you have nothing better to do.

5 comments about Boys that Bite.

1. Okay so I was thinking that this book was going to be just all jokes and I dont know about you but I like comedy and everything but I wouldnt want to have it all jokes AT ALL TIMES. I like a little seriousness and drama. This book was a good read. Not the best one I've read but it was actually pretty good. Its got a good storyline behind it, some corny parts but other than that a good storyline, good plot and awesome characters. My favorite character was Sunny. She just needed to have some backbone. I liked Magnus and Sunny and I thought Rayne was okay as a sister. Overall a good read. But not the best.



2. when i read the review it look pretty good just for me to kill time by enjoyin a great book.... man was i sooooo wrong.. when i got the book i was so happy but after a few papges into the book i feel like i was reading the same thing over and over again..... sorry to say but i did not enjoy this book and can't wait to get my money bac



3. I dont know where to begin. I read all the reviews that lead me to believe this book was going to be good. I have read alot of vampire novels and was super excited to purcahse this one. But boy was I let down. I think what really made the book silly was the fact that the "goth" sister blogging all personal vampire stuff I mean seriously isn't it suppose to be top secret stuff and here she is putting it out there for all goth wanna be's to see. And worst of all vampire training classes i mean who does that. Or maybe it was the constant reference to buff the vampire slayer.
   
   I thought it was a hot mess!



4. Sunshine and Raine are twin sisters. Sunshine learns the hard way that her sister has secretly been in training to become a vampire when like an arrange marriage her blood mate turns Sun by mistake at Club Fang by Magnus. Sun is more than a little upset when Garlic smell starts to make her puke and the sun makes her feel like she wants to blister in her early stages of the transformation. What more the members of Slayers Inc have been keeping an eye on the girls thinking one of the might make a good new member. After Betsey the Vampire Slayer kills the leader of the vampires Magnus becomes the new king and decide as his first royal duty to search for the Holy Grail to turn Sun back into a human before Prom. As Sun starts to find that being Magnus blood mate might not be so bad its a question if she'll use the cure when she get it or not. Although a young adult book its a large print fast pace and short chapter book like you find in the children section. The story is highly original and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for something different in a vampire romance story.



5. I timidly opened this book as I was not looking forward to delving into another mind-numbing vampire novel. However, this does not read as an average vampire tale. It would make a great Disney movie if given the chance.
   The main characters are two identical twin teenagers who couldn't be more different. Their names are even opposing: Sunshine and Rayne. Rayne dresses gothic, is frequently moody, and doesn't like much of anything that's not tinted with dark colors. Sunshine is your average preppy, goody girl that likes Dave Matthews, flip-flops, and plain tank tops. However, as sisters, the girls support each other and often accompany one another to events. So when Rayne signs a contract to become an immortal vampire, it's a sad time when their identities are mistaken. Sunshine is then bitten by her new "blood mate" that was supposed to bite Rayne, and things turn into a mess! Yes, the storyline speaks similarly to many vampire novels, but the creative writing and logical reasoning that is woven in is what sets it apart and makes the story interesting; whether you're a horror/sci-fi connoisseur or a bonified 'creepy-things' hater, this story is fun and intriguing. It's got action, suspense, and some definitely enticing romance. Not a bad read.

5 comments about Midnighters #3: Blue Noon.

1. Ok I read all 3 books in this series because I read scott westerfeld's other series the uglies (which I loved), but I was extremely disappointed. I actually felt embarrassed for the writer after reading these books. The story is stupid and at the end nothing gets explained. I had my Mom and a friend read them just to make sure it wasn't just me and they hated them too. However I highly recommend reading The uglies series by the same author!



2. Please give me more Midnighter lore please! That being said this is a exceptional continuation of the midnighter series. It's filled with just as many if not more of the fantastic action sequences and darkling battles as before. With all kinds of new info on the secrets of the midnight hour. I know this is like a infomercial but with out giving to much away if you've read the second one and told your self your not going to read the third, change your mind right now and be greatly rewarded as I have.



3. Wow. Scott W. has stuffed Bixby, OK with five believable, distinct main characters. Even Jessica's family, with Beth (the little sister), workaholic mom, and stay-at-home dad Don seem real and not types. And he's given us a dark, intense story that moves and jumps like Jonathon's acrobatics.
   
   So what do you say when 98% of a trilogy keeps you ripping through pages and neglecting important life duties, only to have the climactic end fizzle, stumble, and fall flat? It's not just artistic license that I personally don't like. It's not some bittersweet, catch-in-the-throat sadness. The ending is horrid.
   
   Spoilers ahead: despite the main plot lines about the darklings and the dangers found in dusty Oklahoma, the reader (by the third book in the trilogy) has the greatest emotional investment in the two teen couples: Jonathon and Jessica, and Rex and Melissa. We are hoping against hope that Rex and Melissa will have a happily-ever-after following years of struggle and staying by each other. The author arbitrarily rips our hopes apart. Jonathon and Jessica don't get what they want either; they are ripped apart, too, but at least this is done with poignant artistry and purpose. Our emotions are deflated and left there. This is truly an artless ending with the one exception of Jessica.
   
   I, along with other readers here, hope that this is not the last book in the series. It would lower my opinion of the writer's skill if it is.



4. The book was good, but pages 284 to 312 were replaces with 30 pages from previous chapters. It is cleary a manufcaturing default, and I was disappointed to have to skip the thirty pages, and not know what happened towards the end.



5. A new convert to SCIFi and YA via Twilight saga, I found the Midnighters Series a great quick read, mentally (visually) creative and engaging. Took me a while to admit I was reading YA books, but now recommend all I like to everyone. The whole group of 'miscasts' with special powers is such an allegory on each persons gifts and talents, even when not magical. Am providing my series to the
   local middle school library.

5 comments about The Demonata #1: Lord Loss: Book 1 in the Demonata series.

1. The Cirque Du Freak series is perhaps my favorite series, so obviously I was very excited when I got a hold of this book. Much to my disappointment I found that this book was no comparison to the Cirque Du Freak series. It was fast paced and got to the point, but it din't reel me in. To me this was one of those books that you read once and never look at it again. The problem I had was that I expected this book to be amazing. After the Cirque Du Freak series I expected this author to be right up there with J.K. Rowling and Dan brown. What I can say about this book is that it was original. That is one thing that seems to be a theme with this author. Lord Loss is not like any other book. It is completely refreshingly unlike other books.



2. I loved this book. I usually don't like to watch or read horror, but this book was recommended by a friend who knew I was looking for titles with more depth. I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't put the book down. A great read for anyone who is tired of the same old jump on the band-wagon genre books hitting the market today. I will be finishing this series and looking for other titles by this author.



3. This book is an excellent book. It's a very enjoyable read. If you like Cirque Du Freak, then you'll probably love this series too.



4. After really disliking Cirque du Freak I picked up a cool looking book called Lord Loss. Come to find out, they are written by the same person. I read the first few pages, and almost had to stop reading the book. Spoiled brat male teenager gets caught smoking at school, finds out his sister told on him, and decides to get back at her. Does he embarrass her in front of her friends? Does he go through her room? Maybe he writes on her with lipstick when she is sleeping? No! He pulls the guts out of rats and sticks them in her bath towel! How mature. To top it off the male teenager says things like BAWring and there are exclamation points at the end of every other sentence. Everything I didn't like about Cirque du Freak all in the first few pages of Lord Loss.
   
   So why the 3 star rating? Well, thankfully our immature teenager grows up very quickly after his stint in the loony bin. He is even using big words (which seems completely out of character). The story takes a different turn after the beginning and is actually pretty interesting. It could have been better if the main character learned some spells and spent his time doing something other than watching TV, but oh well. Also, I'm not a fan of the writing style. Most of it is short choppy sentences. There is no flow, which makes everything seem like a summary. Example: "Night. It's cold. I look out the window. Quiet. Back to bed. Morning. Eat breakfast. Watch tv." I understand that it is supposed to add a sense of danger and excitement, but I was more irritated that anything else. I would have enjoyed Lord Loss more if it wasn't told in first person, if the main character was a bit older, and there were more details. I think that younger readers would enjoy it because the main character wouldn't irritate them as much as he irritated me. It's not creepy or scary to me at all, but I guess I don't really scare easily. The initial description of Lord Loss was the freakiest thing in the novel, and probably the most enjoyable. A decent and easy read, but more cons than pros.



5. Lord Loss by Darren Shan was an incredible read! It was about a boy named Grubbs and how his life changes over night, he sneaks out after being at his aunt's house for hours and goes home to find that his whole family is slaughtered by demons with little time to escape before the demons rip him to shreds just as the rest of his dear family.
   He rushes to the door from which he entered and flew through the doggie door flap and escaped from a demon named Lord Loss and his familiars, and he really flew and hit a fence and later people called him crazy because he said demons killed his family and no one believed, Well almost everyone his uncle knows he's telling the truth because he has seen them before. It was his Uncle Dervish knew a lot about demons and those kinds of things and he also knows about magic and put a protective spell on the house so demons can't get in. Grubbs meets a new friend named Bull-E (yes he spells it that way) and they like to run around a place called Carcery Vale like to explore the place since Grubbs is new to the area and all. He didn't go to school its mid term so what's the point? He missed out on too much to know what is happening it would be kinda pointless. So he gets to stay home watch TV. Sounds fun but then one night Bull-E brings up werewolves and says he thinks Dervish is one but he can control it because Lycanthropy (or for those who don't know what that means its being a werewolf) runs in the family but doesn't strike all of the members of the family it randomly takes control of someone, Somewhere in your teens it hits you, once you turn 18 then your fine and you wont turn into one at all but for the unlucky few that do there are options Option 1; summon a demon a demon (Lord Loss) find a partner and play a game of chess on 5 different boards at the same time and the other fights off two demon familiars. Option 2; kill the family member affected by lycanthropy. Option 3; you call in the lambs and they kill the werewolf. That's all im telling you... get the book and read!! I give it 10 out of 10!!! The thing I like about this book is it's well written and it brings me into a new cool world every time I read it. The theme of this book is getting courage to fight demons to protect the ones you love....and yourself. The conflict is basically Grubbs beating on the demons for revenge of his family's death and facing your fears to do so which if you think about is really hard to do for a lot of people.

5 comments about Never Cry Werewolf.

1. Heather Davis's debut was not disappointing. I thought it was entertaining and fast paced. I would have liked some more relationship development between the main character Shelby and her love interest Austin but I still enjoyed the story.
   
   Sixteen-year-old Shelby has had her fair share of boy troubles recently and it is her most recent tryst that has lead to her Father and step-monster totally overreacting and banishing her to a brat camp for the summer. Luckily she at least gets to select the camp but if she screws it up she will be sent to Red Canyon--aka boot camp from hell! So Shelby is off to the artsy Camp Crescent. The level of cheesiness is off the charts at this camp but Shelby starts to overlook that when Austin Bridges appears on the scene.
   
   Austin is cute, charming, mysterious, and the son of a rock star....who could ask for more? Shelby soon starts to realize that Austin may be hiding a secret that she never dreamed possible. Even worse is that Shelby is the only person he trusts to help him keep his secret which means Shelby's history of getting into compromising situations is far from over.
   
   Heather Davis delivered a great debut novel. Things don't wrap up as well as the reader usually expects but that just makes it more realistic (well as realistic as a werewolf book can be). I also think that a certain scratch could leave room for a second book which I would defiantly pick up but I have not heard if there is another one planed. If anyone knows, leave me a comment with details so I can add it to my to-read list. Happy reading!



2. This was a fun, light book. The romance was slow to transpire, but I loved how clean it was. Her spin on the whole werewolf story was very unique.



3. Over all this is a great book for young readers who want a paranormal reading. I wish it had more to this story. i feel like she rush it. I want to know what happen after Red canyon. There to be a another part. I will would read.



4. Shelby doesn't have a problem getting the boy she wants at the moment. It's when they feed her the infamous, "trust me" line, & needs rescuing from various school projects. Such as a paper on Jane Austin, making posters, & etc., everything goes down hill from there. Not to mention the awesome make-out sessions Shelby's involved in as well. Shelby's heart is in the right place, but trouble seems to follow her. It always lands her into enough hot water.
   
   Because of Shelby's evil step-mother Priscilla, catching Shelby in one of her latest mishaps. Priscilla manages to convince Shelby's dad to send her away for the summer, to a bratt camp, & miss out on prom. He decides on Camp Crescent in the desolate part of Oregon, not where Priscilla would prefer Shelby to go, Red Canyon a military style boot camp. Shelby despise the fact that she is forced to go, & if she screws up & gets kicked out, she will have no choice & be sent to Red Canyon. So Shelby doesn't need any distractions.
   
   Until she's at the airport waiting for the Camp Crescent bus to arrive, & catches a glimpse of the mysterious good looking Rock Star's son, Austin. With his irresistible Britsh accent, that would send any normal girl into a tailspin.
   
   Shelby is drawn to Austin for several reasons. First, Austin is in dire need of rescuing. If he doesn't receive a special elixir before the next full moon, there might be a devastating outcome @ Camp Crescent. Second, they both have lost important people who would be crucial elements within their upbringing (their mothers). Finally, Shelby & Austin are teenagers with raging hormones. Come on, what would you do with your 1st true love in the middle of nowhere all by yourselves @ night?
   
   With all this facing Shelby & the fact of Red Canyon always on the back of her mind. What does a girl do? Well as usual, I'm not going to divulge the whole entire book, but I promise you this you won't be disappointed.
   
   My experience with this book was relative on what happened to me, when my father passed away. The downwards spiral feeling of going out of control, and the biggest problem for me was the NEED to rescue other people. My mother, sister, friends, & etc., instead of rescuing myself first.
   
   I absolutely loved this book. It was emotionally satisfying; it had the precise action sequences, and the insatiable romantic elements I enjoy. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ALL AGES.
   
   The Twilight Saga CollectionThe Secret Circle: The Initiation and The Captive Part IThe Secret Circle: The Captive Part II and The Power (Secret Circle (Harper Teen))ShiverJessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side



5. Shelby follows her heart...and it gets her into trouble. This time she can't talk her way out of getting caught after curfew kissing a hottie. Her step-mother is insisting on sending her to summer camp.
   
   But it's not the leisurely camp with sports or canoe rides down the river - this is brat camp. It's where the rich send their children for hard work, therapy, and to learn discipline. It's basically the worst possible way to spend your summer.
   
   Shelby, at least, isn't going to the worst of these camps. While talking to the rest of the campers, she realizes that she's going to have to work hard at not shooting off her mouth this summer. Just when she thinks she might be able to take care of herself, a boy appears.
   
   He's not just any boy, he's a Brit who wears a leather coat in the summer heat. In an instant, Shelby 's summer goes from bad to worse. Not only does Austin make her swoon, but he's got a secret - a deep, dark secret that would ruin his family if anyone found out the truth.
   
   Once she recovers from the shock, Shelby does her best to help him. But will helping him land her in scalding hot water?
   
   NEVER CRY WEREWOLF is the debut novel from Buzz Girl Heather Davis, and it's a treat. The cover first drew my attention to this book, but the story doesn't let go. The paranormal element adds to the hot summer of potential scandal, rich teens, and romance.
   
   Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

5 comments about Midnighters #2: Touching Darkness.

1. this book was amazing i couldnt put this thing down i was sucked into their world i felt like i was there watching everything that was happening



2. Well you would be right to do so. This book takes off right from where the original ended with Jessica discovering her flame-bringer talent. A whole new can of worms is opened up in this sequel that will test the Midnighters and further define what it means to have friendship and comradely. It explains a whole lot of the misconceptions the original left out and further engrosses you into the Midnighter universe, while also introducing new foes other than the typical darkling inhabitants. If your tired of reading about vampires definitely pick this one up and enjoy something unique.



3. Great second book in another incredible and creative series by Scott Westerfeld! I actually liked how the chapters were from a different character's viewpoint, it allowed insight into each character, their fears, their hopes and dreams and thought processes. (Usually I find this annoying, but in this series, it worked well, there were not too many characters to get confused and it was not overdone.) I thought this went a long way into making the characters real. Good sequencing of events, carrying on right where the first book left off, with a brief recap of what had transpired previously.



4. Touching Darkness significantly advances the plot from where The Secret Hour left off. All of the characters' stories are told in much more depth, and they are all developed as characters, particularly Melissa, Rex, and Dess, where we mostly only got Jessica in the first book. There is, amidst all the character development, plenty of significant plot development going on, although as a bridge between the first and the last, it does get a little dull sometimes. The dullness, however, is necessary to build up to the stunning conclusion delivered in Blue Noon. I really noticed in reading this particular one the differences between other book series and the Midnighters series. It's not very clear cut at all, it's not one good guy vs. one bad guy. The books introduce a whole new dynamic of a group of kids battling not only their inner demons, but a TIME, an hour, making for a fantastic story. Touching Darkness continues with the series stupendous suspensefulness and plenty of plot-twists everywhere.
   
   Rating: 5/5



5. This book was a good follow-up...it kept me reading straight through till the end. I read the whole series in 3 days. A very easy read and entertaining. This series was recommended to me as a substitution for the Twilight series. Even though this is not about vampires/werewolves, I still found myself caught up in this fantasy world.