4.5 STARS AND CREEPTASTIC!!
932181
This book was a total mind trip.  This book kind of reminded me of the show Dexter.  Seemingly a normal guy, and then in his spare time a serial killer.  Unlike Dexter though I didn't find myself rooting for the killer...I know sounds weird, but this guy....Wow...CREEPY.

I think the creepiest thing about this book is that the MC was just the "nice" guy next door.  Yet leading a double life, and secretly torturing women.

When he finally meets someone that makes him feel different than he ever has, he starts thinking that he may not have to hurt people to survive anymore...

He's a horrible human being.  He does horrible things to women.  It's scary, and my head is still spinning from the book.  I don't even know if I can explain it well enough to do it justice.

It grabbed me from the very start and kept me interested, and creeped out the whole time.  Although the ending drove me a little crazy.  It doesn't tie up into a nice little bow for me.  When a book doesn't end in a way I think is "perfect", I dream about it.  I have to dream up what the author might have wanted me to get from the ending.

I am sure I got something totally different than any one else, but still.  I needed a little bit more at the end.

All in all it was a fantastically, creeptastic book.  Mind twisting....but creeptastic.  The only complaint I have about this book is the language.  The story is fantastic.  The writing is done well.  I could feel how scared his victims were, and sometimes found myself feeling anxious for them.  The author definitely brought a lot of feeling out of me while reading.  This totally would have been a 5 star for me if it weren't for all the language.

Source:  I bought this book for my self.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book
3916135
***4.5 Stalker Love Stars***

Where to start with this one and keep it spoiler free is the question at hand and since its really a rhetorical question Ill just see where this goes. I loved the idea of the scorned wife falling for her stalker, I mean it falls under the whole from the frying pan into the fire situation and I really wanted to see how it would all play out and once I started I couldn't put it down. I got drawn into Huyns crazy so easily its just a bit scary, or not depending on your POV, but the bottom line is I couldn't stop turning the pages and had a little smile on my face in the end.

Now I hadnt read Dirty Bride Games until after I put my request in for this book and although it does state that this is a standalone, I felt it was in my best interest to read it since Huyn was in it and Im happy I did because I have a much better appreciation for the Evolution of Huyn and think shes pretty awesome. As for our Stalker. Is it bad to say that I fell for him the first time we meet him? Maybe. Probably. But its true. Hes a stalker with a heart, an obsessive one sure, but there is a heart there and I wouldnt mind having him stalk me.

Dirty Wife Games is dark and dirty, but nothing as extreme as Dirty Bride Games and for that Im actually thankful. Not because I had too many issues with what happened in DBG, but more that Im happy that Ms. Wild didn't try to replicate it. The flashbacks were done well and I loved how the various twists and turns in the plot were woven together and kept me on my toes and wondering what would happen next and in the end I wasn't disappointed at all. Now the only question is will there be more Indecent Games books to come?

~ Copy provided by Give Me Books Blog & voluntarily reviewed ~
479199
Okay, so I listened to the audible of this version, so I didn't witness any of the editing errors I saw other reviews note.  I also didn't know that this was a sequel (I pay so much attention, I know hahaha), but while I did wonder about the background of a couple of characters, I feel like this book was just fine as a standalone. Though I fully intend to get the other books ASAP!

I absolutely freaking LOVED this book!  The characters were amazing, even if my favorite one DID die (no names, you'll have to find out for yourself!).  Their interactions were great, and to me, the felt very genuine.  The fear reaction in one male character, in particular, was so spot on for me, it gave me the chills.  The story, in general, was deliciously creepy and tension-filled, and you scarcely had a moment to stop and catch your breath.

I don't know why there were so many smart monkeys in this, but I very much approve!  This was just amazing, and I highly recommend it to horror lovers.

Bob says: 5 Gigantic Platypires!
158572
Fast paced and excellent creepiness! Me like. Great buy for the price! ;-)
3337726
I was really excited to read this book.  I have been a huge fan of Holly Black's books (especially her Modern Fairy tale and Spiderwick series) and was excited to see what she came up with next.  This was a good book and eerily creepy, it didn't blow me away but it was entertaining.

Zach, Poppy, and Alice have been friends forever and love playing creative games of fantastical adventure with their action figures.  However, as they grow up their friendship is being torn apart. When Zach's father throws his action figures away it's the last straw for Zach, he refuses to play.  Poppy in a desperate maneuver to save their friendship takes a mysterious china doll (that they in their game they have dubbed The Queen) out of her box.  However things take a dark turn when Poppy claims The Queen is haunting her.  The Queen tells Poppy she will not rest until Poppy buries her in the grave of the girl whose bones were used to make The Queen's china.  So all three friends set off on a desperate adventure to put Queenie to rest.

This book is a well done and creepy story.  It is about the creepy china doll, but even more it is about friendship and growing up.  All of the kids have big issues with their families, and this final adventure helps them to grow up and understand the world a bit better.

Honestly I had some trouble engaging with these characters.  This might be because this was such a short book and we hear from all three characters' point of view.  They came off as somewhat selfish to me.  Poppy is very manipulative of her friends.  Alice only goes on the adventure because she's in love with Zach.  Zach is pretty bitter (and a bit clueless about the girls) through the whole thing.

The story is very, very predictable.  Things end exactly as you think they will.  The adventure the kids go on is brief and honestly not all that magical.  Mainly they spend time trudging through urban and suburban landscapes trying to find The Queen's grave.  As soon as I felt like I was starting to get engaged in the adventure...then it was over.

The Queen is very well done and extraordinarily creepy.  If you are already creeped out by china dolls or dolls in general this book might totally freak you out.  The Queen seems to move when no one is looking, destroys things when people are sleeping, and even takes over people's minds a bit.

As I mentioned above this book is mostly about the pressures and expectations of growing up and how that can put stress on a friendship.  It was a decent story and the idea was a good one, I just had trouble engaging in it.

Overall an okay creepy, adventure read.  The Queen is really well done, but I had a lot of trouble engaging with the characters and the plot was very predictable.  The story is really more about growing up and friendship than about creepy hauntings.  I would recommend for middle grade and older kids because the story is about a young girl being murdered and the doll is super creepy.  This was an okay book, but by no means my favorite Holly Black book.  It was lacking in a lot of the wonderful description her books normally have.
2646193
I was fortunate enough to pre-read this book, and it's a wonderful follow-up to Wraith. I actually enjoyed this one even more - it's darker, edgier, and there are several truly terrifying moments that will have you checking under your bed for days. I'm not even kidding. I've really become attached to Jane and Connor, and I found myself rooting for them throughout. I hope these characters will be back for another installment, because I think they definitely have more challenges to overcome. This one's a must-read - but you may want to leave the lights on!
4623952
So I don't do the whole plot spoilers but I was hooked from the beginning.  It starts off a bit creepy with a small child who sees scary ghosts and there is a little creepy throughout this entire book.  But it still totally hooked me, it goes from creepy, to totally normal, to creepy again.

The heroine is Chloe a 15 year old who sees ghosts and is put in a the Lyle House a home for crazy kids.  She lives with a few other crazy kids and soon finds out that maybe they aren't all actually "crazy" and there could be something supernatural or paranormal to each of the kids in the home.

This book is great, there is little to zero romance, the characters are very well developed, you have characters you will instantly like, some you will grow to love, some you will instantly hate, and some you will grow to hate.

The author is very dynamic and great with the mind tricks.  She had me so confused I felt mentally unstable at times just reading parts of the story.  Read it in less than 24 hours.  Ends with an amazing cliffhanger too, glad I waited to read this until there were 3 books out!

Amazing work and I'm going to start book 2 now...
4215004
(SPOILER FREE)

While I didn't find it quite as satisfying as some others did, I did enjoy this book quite a bit (enough to buy Tremblay's new book, FWIW).

The characters are well drawn and the atmosphere is great. Tremblay really excels at the creepy and suspenseful scenes- I found those parts intense and compelling.

My only critique is that I felt the ending tried to shoehorn some twists in that felt a little unfair to a character that had theretofore been allowed to be a very complex and unsettlingly ambiguous antagonist.

Regardless, this book was a great mix of interesting characters, memorable settings, and creepy imagery that is definitely worth a read. The blend of classic horror tropes and the horrors of what real people can do to each other is memorable and unique.
91183
My Godfather is the author of this book and he sent me a copy of it for Christmas 2011. I read it in three days and I really like it. I can't wait for the sequel. I actually thought this was creepier than Stephen Kings The Shining, and its hard for me to get creeped or scared by anything. 5/5
109806
Cas and his mother travel all over the country going where Cas is needed to put an unruly spirit to rest. He received a message that there is a girl who is murdering people and has so for years, his special talent in need desperately. But nothing seems to go according to his well used plan, including untrained teens pushing their way into his business and life.  But the most disturbing part is that Cas finds himself drawn to the angry spirit, Anna, and for some reason, Anna will not kill him, yet everyone else is fair game. There is so much more at stake here and a bigger, more dangerous mystery brewing.

I have seriously been wanting to read this book for forever, but for some reason just never actually did. After reading Kendare's Three Dark Crowns last year and completely falling in love with her writing style, plot twists, unpredictable darkness and complex characters, I knew that Anna Dressed in Blood was now a MUST-read asap.

Hands down, my favorite part of the story was the horror imagery! Everything was terrifying and the description brought it to life and in my face- I saw the death and destruction, I felt the hairs raise on my arms, I heard the breathing from something of the dead variety! I was right there in the action with Cas, completely overwhelmed, scared and worried as to what would happen next- and I loved every spine chilling encounter. The part about the attic will forever haunt me, as it should. This is the way I like my horror books- terrifying. Read this book with caution- if you scare easy, read during the day...with all the lights on...and some supernatural weapons handy(salt? athame?)...near a spirit watching cat...with a house full of people...and some holy water for good measure?

**I listened to this book on audio and I was not a super big fan of the narrator. I feel like he was a little bit monotone and made all the important scary things seem pretty mundane and unimportant, so much so that I wanted to shake him! That being said, I enjoyed the writing well enough to give the book 4 solid stars even though I did not like the narrator at all. This is my second book by Kendare and I am pretty sure that this is love. I can say with 100% surety that I have no idea what will happen next. There is so much I want to know and can't even predict that it is a certainty I will read the next Anna book...as well as anything else Kendare wants to terrify me with.
419756
Mathew's mind and dreams are invaded by a woman with black eyes, a black tongue and razor sharp teeth.  She is always willing him to "Say her name."  This is all Mathew hears..... "SAY MY NAME!"  Slowly and sadly Mathew doesn't know what is reality and what are dreams.  As he tries to escape his own mind...... what will become of Mathew?

I started this short story and did not put it down until the end.  Michael Loring gave us a chilling encounter on one of the creepiest and eery elements possible!!  The suspense and horror was crazy good!

One thing for sure..... I didn't see the ending to this story and loved every bone chilling turn of the pages.
1476086
Despite some of the negative reviews this book received, I decided to give it a try because it seemed like a good creepy story.  I was very pleased to find that this book was VERY creepy indeed!  An overall good horror story with a darkening sense of dread that runs throughout is what you will find should you choose to read this book.  I found myself really hoping the best for the main character as he struggled with his inner demons, only to find that his greatest hopes are not as they seem.  The small town in which the story takes place is the perfect setting for the horrific mysteries that the protagonist will unearth.  Satanism and witchery abound as the story progresses toward its very dark ending.  I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys good supernatural horror.
4535848
This one certainly has creep factor and certainly pushes the boundaries of darkness. Colin is actually quite a loveable serial killer once you get past the creepy, serial killer qualities! I know, kind of funny but, you can see how Avery falls for him and wants him to be more than he is and see himself as she sees him.

Again, I didn't love this one as much as I have other of JB's works but again, this one is worth the read if you like your romances with dark, twisty elements that at times make you go 'ew' and at others, 'ah'!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
4485853
Without a doubt, The Madman's Daughter, is one of the creepiest books I have ever read. From the first page I was immersed in this gothic thriller. The descriptions were so vivid and dark I truly felt I was in ye olden London. When the setting changed to the Island, Shepherd, seamless brought the same dark creepy vibe from London and transposed it onto an Island in the South Pacific. I loved the writing style. Every detail was gradually revealed and by the end I was just shaking my head realizing I should have seen the foreshadowing but completely missed all the little details adding up to make the big picture.

The characters in The Madman's Daughter were all amazing in their own rights. I really liked Juliet Moreau, her father abandoned her after a scandal, her mother passed away, and she was left destitute in London. Instead of letting this get the better of her she gets a job, works hard, and is strong and independent in a time when women were told to rely on men for their every need. I also really liked Montgomery who was the Moreau's servant that went with Dr. Moreau into exile. Montgomery has lived on the island since he was young and has watched the Doctors experiments becoming his assistant. I liked how much growing Montgomery did throughout the book and his steady feelings for Juliet. Then there was Edward who was found after his ship crashed and was taken to the island along with Juliet and Montgomery, his past is mysterious and while Juliet has always loved Montgomery she is also drawn to Edward.

It was actually the romance in this book that made me rate it less then 5 Stars. The love triangle of sorts felt out of place and I wanted Juliet to make up her mind, pick a love interest, and let the story unfold. I was so captivated by the island and what was going on that the romance detracted from rather then adding to the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Madman's Daughter and the last page had me clicking my e-reader not believing that could be the end! While reading I thought this novel was a stand alone story so I was all the more stunned that it could just end like that. I recently found out that this is a planned trilogy (thank goodness) and I can not wait to get my hands on the second book. If you are looking for a good gothic thriller/romance/something amazingly creepy you will definitely enjoy The Madman's Daughter.
4657801
{3.25}

Blaire Baker is a volunteer teacher who wants to do some good in the world so she heads off to Borslav to educate children in the local orphanage, St. Sebastian, for a year. Joining her is Travis Wells, a nurse, and together they try to make the best of what is a very difficult situation. When Blaire and Travis arrive they realize the children are worse off than they previously anticipated. The children are under fed, have little to no toys or personal belongings and all have various levels of education.

Ill be honest and say adjusting to the writing style was a bit of a challenge in the beginning. By that I mean one second I would be reading some of a characters internal dialogue only to shift to a memory very abruptly. This caused me some confusion and a feeling of being ejected from what was happening in the present. I eventually adjusted to the writing style and the remainder of the book was enjoyable.

My favourite character was Travis, he was a little spark of comedy in an otherwise dark and creepy story. The only complaint I have is I wish a little more background was provided on the characters and the history of St. Sebastian orphanage. I think it would have helped greatly with attachment to the characters and provided more opportunity to see more of St. Sebastian other than its present conditions.

As for the plot sadly I cant talk too much about it as I feel going into this book knowing very little is the way to approach it, however if you know me at all you will know it isn't easy to scare or creep me out but The Unwanted had probably the one thing to successfully give me the creeps (and that is all Ill say about it!).

Overall I did enjoy reading The Unwanted despite the few little things I mentioned, I think if you are looking for something creepy to read this Halloween this book is just the thing as Jean Nicole successfully infused just the right amount of creepiness into a relatively short book. My suggestion is reading this at night, in a completely quiet house see how long you last before getting a little paranoid.
7770
Absolutely loved the start of this! It jumps right in! Unlike normal I even read the foreword from Jeff Gunhus (Im not sure why I don't normally read these but I think I like to keep all ideas of the book for after I read the book so as to not give ANY spoilers) and Jeff had mentioned that this was a book that his wife would not read. I read the first so I know how gruesome Jeffs mind can be but this intrigued me even more than normal. Maybe because Im a bit crazy and I really like reading morbid stuff but it also left me really curious about what was going to happen to the characters from book one, Night Chill.

From the start Jeff was not kidding. This starts with a small chapter of a ten year old getting eaten, and still being alive to feel it all. This was so gruesome that I even read a portion of it to my hubby! What else are wives for, I mean really?! So as to share the horror and as I delighted in how this began he ran away to go watch football.. oh well!

Now of course a good book is not going to continue with that kind of horror through every page. What I enjoyed was that Jeff was able to keep the momentum although the horrific parts weren't on such a prolific display. He was very tasteful in adding in bits and pieces of horror and gore and then also added in psychological horror. Lets face it, us horror fans need a good mix of both and without the story and characters would just not feel right. Night Terror blends the two perfectly and adds in a little suspense as well, just for fun.

What I enjoyed most was the fact that I had not read Night Chill in nearly a year but there were a few reminders throughout this story but not so much so if I had read the first yesterday I would not have felt bogged down. The reiteration flows beautifully with the plot and actually adds to it.

Getting to know the characters again was the best part of this. I knew they were going to see some serious action and as the tempo ratcheted up I felt for them! I also felt like he did a great job of aging them as this is ten years into their future. I expected them to be a little different from what I remembered, and they were.

Sadly, my only critique was that although the pace was done quite well I did feel a little slowed from what I remember of book two. There were some portions that I just wasn't sure about and wanted to get back to the nitty gritty!

In short: This was an amazing but very gruesome book! Definitely for horror lovers! Must read Night Chill prior to Night Terror or nothing will make sense.

Received from the author for an honest review.
2995406
This story starts out a little slow but its of the slow burn variety that builds into something terrible and terrifying so I didn't mind too much.

Stevie's best and only friend, Jude, wandered out into the woods near their home one day and never came home. No one besides Jude's mother and Stevie seem terribly upset about it. Jude was an unlikable sort, sure, but the lack of interest in finding him is a little bothersome so Stevie decides to investigate on his own. He and Jude had spent endless hours in the forest doing what boys do in the woods and came upon a creepy old house. Stevie is certain that house has something to do with Judes disappearance.

This story is a mishmash of many horror-ish things. Its a coming of age tale mixed up with remnants of Kings Pet Sematary and a splattering of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre but its totally its own story. What is eventually revealed is horrifying, disturbing and very gruesome and could give you nightmares if you think about the images too much.

I enjoyed the slow unraveling of this story and watching how the origin of a nightmare begins. Stevie was an interesting kid, struggling with a disorder that makes him a target and growing up with a nasty step-dad. Hes determined to find his friend and later hes unafraid to stir up a little trouble to get at the truth. Theres a side story that I won't reveal that absolutely captured me where one very unlucky woman is faced with a moral dilemma like none other Ive ever read and I felt for her. She only wanted love but she got something else entirely!

A word of warning, if you need one, there are deaths in here and many of them happen to innocent little beasts but its all part of this story and felt like an awful, natural progression of one of the characters.

If you like your horror gory and creepy then this ones for you.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.