Genuinely, shockingly scary and good
931551
Having been crushingly disappointed by "choose"-your-own-adventrues in the past, I was genuinely shocked by the level of thought and development in this. While its so chock full of horror cliches you'd think it was a parody, they're handled so well and delivered creepily enough to make it worthwhile.

The division of plot lines is really well handled, and while a decision at the very beginning doesn't have ripples all the way up to closing credits, it does have ripples past the canned scene. And while the overall feel is as an interactive movie, thats not a bad thing in this case, as the characters are actually characters. While they are all sex-fueled teenagers, past that point they do develop and have impressions beyond Blonde Murder Victim #4 and Brunette Murder Victim #2.

Gameplay does have some down moments. Certain qte's don't have any warning, and the still sensor (where you don't move) is so sensitive that putting on a flat surface is too much. Certain moments shouldn't be qte's, but overall, the system works well. The Butterfly effect system is great, as it shows you you did x so y and z.

THe game development is great, especially with the psychotropic therapist, which serves to cater and modify the story. Terrified of Clowns? The murderer is suddenly sporting a mask. Scared of rats? They'll start to appear in the worst possible places.
1517245
I am not a great reader of the genre, but this is no ordinary horror story.  It is one of the most intelligently written books of its kind ever printed.  (That is, if there are other books of its kind.) I found myself alternately drawn to and repelled by its characters, but I couldn't put it down.  It is dense and eerie and wonderful.  Without being obvious or grotesque, it quietly "gives you the creeps."
1872459
This novella truly packs a punch, I didn't know what to expect when I got it other than being intrigued by the premise and it blew my mind, it went above and beyond of what I was expecting. The premise is interesting and one of my favorites, I like those lost in woods and chased by a madman or stuck somewhere with no way out, to me that is very scary and this was freaky enough as an idea but the writing and execution deserve their own credit. Thomas filled my head with crystal clear images right from the start, his skill is very apparent and makes the story flow like a river, I kept wincing and making faces and saying things as I read it and that doesn't happen to often, after fifteen years of reading horror I'd think I got used to it or desensitized myself a bit, not so with this story, it managed to throw me off and surprise me quite a few times.

I think one of the best parts of reading an intense story is the surprise factor, so I won't divulge too much of the plot, all I will say is that it revolves around two best friends who pick the wrong day to go shooting some harmless beer cans when curiosity takes hold and changes their lives forever. A scream coming from a nearby house awakens Rogers instincts, his curiosity getting a stronger hold on him than chivalry and nothing will ever be the same from that point on. Blood, guts, gore, hungry dogs, crazies, millions of ways to detach body parts and inflict pain, its all here, but very well written, making it not only scary but very realistic, I actually had a hard time falling asleep as I finished it, the whole tale wrapped itself around my brain and kept poking its claw at me, I was glad to be in my warm bed and not where the characters were, that's for sure! I also loved how detailed the characters of Tooth and Roger were, the beginning of the novel centers around them so well that it makes them seem like real people and then it proceeds to rip them to shreds as hell literally descends above them and opens its sharp mouth to engulf them into land of pain and misery. This was such a blast, I could read Ryan's books till I'm nine hundred years old, so keep em coming!

- Kasia S.
1610795
4.5/5 Stars

I received this as a gift in exchange for an honest review

Sometimes you read a book and are so completely blown away by it that you cant help but think, why have I not heard this title shouted from the rooftops or at least seen it in my Facebook feed? Then you go on Goodreads and it has so few ratings you're floored. As a blogger, this pains me and hopefully, this review will piqu your interest enough to give it a try.

The Empath is an unsupecting and virtually hidden gem that deserves to be loved and cherished by fans of tarot, seances, magic, and things that are so spooky they make your skin crawl.

PROS:
Character descriptions are flawlessly executed. Erica Crouch analyses her characters with a psychological precision that is captured with concise, poetic nuances. I found myself nodding my head, easily imagining each character from clothing to internal dialogue.

The sance scenes are terrifying. Theres an air of uncertainty and foreboding that resonates throughout the story. You can feel the veil between worlds slipping into something much more sinister and frightening. Odessas fear is a rabid, raw thing that consumes and overwhelms better than a creepy horror film.

Erica Crouch creates a magical setting that like a time machine, transports to an older time, one with caravans, wealth, and village atmosphere. The hysteria and excitement that comes with the rise of mediums and the parties of the upper class elite is realized in bouts of fainting, shrieks, and murder.

THIS: My neck, my shoulder, he skims his fingers over my collarbone and moves in closer. I forget everything around us because now he doesnt smell like winter, but like fiction, ink and parchment, and hes so close I can measure the pulse in his neck. SWOON. OMG. Up until this moment, book boyfriends were measured in sarcasm and muscle but this has got to be the sexiest description of a love interest Ive ever read. Its probably the book nerd in me but he smells like fiction and ink? Melts.

Odessa is calculated, smart, and talented but cowers and caters to her mother. Odessa diminishes herself because of her mothers psychological taunts and harsh words. Its heartbreaking how poorly shes treated by her mother because she has a gift that her mother envies. Odessa is in awe of her spiritual connection and she respects it, always tentatively easing in and taking precautions. I appreciated that Odessa treated her craft with such reverence. As the story progresses, Odessa comes in to her powers and with that fights for the strength to stand up to her mother. Odessas blend of insecurity in relationships but confidence in her spiritual abilities is a believable mix.

Ghosts, demons, wraiths, and others that come through from the other side are presented in a way that is not hokey or too paranormal and that makes the encounters seem all the more real.

CONS:
This book is so short. Practically a novella.

Because of the length, the romance felt too fast to build an emotional connection and the demonic incident was resolved in a way that felt like a summary.
3262115
It's refreshing to find a horror novel that approaches the genre with the intention of delivering intelligent, thought provoking,and truly frightening ideas of God, love, and belief. The motivations behind the characters are strong and true, and show that the meaning we create to fulfill our lives, no matter how painful, helpful, or destructive, can be construed as good or evil, depending on how committed we are to that meaning. This is an amazing book that, once it gets going, creates a disturbing atmosphere layered with the power of commitment, creation, and forgiveness. You will have chills while reading this book, and after your read the last few pages you just might hear a strange noises in the dark corners of your home.
4608630
THE RITUAL by Adam Nevill is an astonishingly well-written contemporary horror novel. It is my new favorite horror novel.

The story is so solidly grounded in the reality of four friends lost in a Boreal forest, that by the time weird things start happening, you are utterly entranced and fully bought into their precarious situation, their small bits of in-fighting and their utter terror at being lost.

Nevill writes with a convincing contemporary verisimilitude, and a sense of care for his characters that is sadly all too often lacking in contemporary horror, and that makes you feel their every shudder, grieve their every loss, and strive for their every triumph.

In the small careful nuances of his story, Nevill makes you believe, and believe utterly what is happening to his characters -- both in their inner lives, and the extreme conditions they are suffering.

The story begins when a group of old friends take a wrong turn in a deep, dark Scandinavian forest. Not so bad at first, but it's rainy, foggy, dank, and hard. The bonds that tie them together are gradually fraying as the physical conditions harden and lock around them, and they have few options to get out of the forest safe and sound.

Then, just as things look dark, it appears they are being stalked, but by what? (I should point out that because Nevill writes in such a convincing fashion, this never feels hackneyed or overwrought, just matter of fact, like a bear in Alaska).

However, the story keeps the adrenaline moving, as first one and then another is injured, and then their leader is.... You know what, I'm not going to give away this critical plot point here.

Suffice it to say that I thought the story was a "chase in the forest" story, and then -- startlingly -- I turned the page to PART 2, where the story takes a hard right turn into a different kind of tale, yet just as entrancing, just as terrifying, and even more strange.

Brilliant work, Nevill, and hard to carry off -- yet he makes it look so, so easy, and fluid.

A great new horror writer, and tops on my list!

Highly, highly recommended!
4140107
*I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

They say fiction has nothing on real life, and I believe that statement wholeheartedly.  The news has been chocked full of atrocious and horrifying headlines for years, making it an interesting place of source material for horror books and movies.  One of the most terrifying concepts to me is cults.  When someone is charismatic enough to convince others to carry out the most heinous of acts in the name of some religion, that is truly scary.  This premise is the basis behind WITHIN THESE WALLS, a chilling new book by authoress Ania Ahlborn.  And although the book is not perfect, its very close to being so, and its one every horror fan should own.

I remember hearing about Jonestown when I was a kid, and how everybody drank the Kool-aid to commit suicide.  I was stunned that someone could have so much power over a group of people.  This was my first wake-up call to the real world, and it was a harsh one.

WITHIN THESE WALLS is written very well and flows smoothly for the most part.  Ahlborn does a skillful job of telling two stories in one: the primary tale is set in modern day Washington state and details Lucas plight; the secondary story is set in the 80s and relates what happened to Audra Snow (aka Avis) and how she is connected to Jeffrey Halcomb.  I had no problem switching back and forth, and I enjoyed the pace of each as well.

Speaking of the characters, each is fleshed out well and written with a grand dose of realism.  In this book, everybody is damaged and these personal demons help accent the physical ones.  I like how Ahlborn brings both modern day and past-day people into the mix, sharing with the us the generational nuances that are easily recognizable.  This is just one example of her extraordinary talent as a writer.

My sole complaint about the book is that it sometimes becomes bogged down with exposition about what every character is thinking.  In most cases, some insight into the thoughts of the characters is finehowever, in this book we get a bit too much of a look inside their heads.  Thankfully, this isn't a huge detractor, and the plot is enthralling enough to keep the story moving.

WITHIN THESE WALLS is a major win for me, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a spine-chilling story that will haunt you after its over.  The book is available now in a variety of formats.
2835460
I can see why people either hate this book or love it, because whatever you're expecting, this book will surprise you. If you don't like to be surprised, you'll hate it.

Personally, I love to be surprised, and what caught me most off guard in CHASING AMANDA (even more than the plot twists, which I won't mention, so as to avoid spoilers) is how well the author brought the paranormal element into the story without making the book all about that. Foster creates a protagonist we can identify and empathize with. Molly's supernatural gift serves as a vehicle for emotions that are completely natural, and the story that unfolds takes on a wrenching quality that makes it impossible to look away.

Also recommending:&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Come-Back-To-Me/dp/B005V2MWM6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Come Back To Me</a>
2364840
I've read all the modern-day "masters" of horror, and I have to say, newcomer Howard Mittelmark puts them all to shame. Age of Consent is the scariest book I've read in about twenty years--and it moves at light speed, yet still manages to be loaded with solid writing, chilling imagery, and real characters.

Mittelmark is wonderful at subtle foreshadowing. His motifs are unsettling, the use of mirrors and windows in particular a double reference to the way we see ourselves and what we believe happens to us after we die. You'll be going to bed with the shades drawn or the curtains pulled tightly closed. His imagery--not too much, not too little--is sharp and photographic.

Poe's concept of perversity has been at the root of every horror tale, and many writers today are too obvious with it. Mittelmark is the first modern writer I've read that's been able to take that concept and integrate it so well that the fourth wall is dismantled, brick by brick. Expertly, Mittelmark has shed the genre's traditional way-out characters and their extreme dysfunctions, addictions, and habits with whom the reader can't connect. The people in Age of Consent are just the people we know every day: workaholics, normal teens (who all come from relatively "normal" homes) experimenting with drugs for the first time, idealistic young adults who have natural desires to change the world, people who have sexual attractions they shouldn't.

This is going to be a very tough act to follow. If you're smart, and you want to be up for a few nights scared out of your mind, BUY THIS BOOK. I promise you won't be sorry, but I think other horror novels are going to fall flat for awhile.
774539
A shocking read that was utterly frightening! I could not put it down!
911361
This book should come with a warning label for those who are easily shocked or are frail of stomach to think carefully before turning to the first page. Alternatively, for those with stronger constitutions, the warning should be more along the lines of ensuring that you've got some time up your sleeve because this one's going to hook you and hold on tight. Mo Hayder has produced a stunningly grisly chiller that is as gripping as it is stomach churning.
D.I. Jack Caffery is the new recruit to the Area Major Investigation Pool (AMIP) team, which is the Met's crack murder investigation unit. He's thrown in at the deep end when five mutilated bodies are discovered, buried at a work site. It's only during the autopsy that Caffery finds out just how grim the case is likely to become after a rather shocking discovery.
Although he's young, Caffery is a driven and at times desperate detective who manages to remain unphased no matter what is thrown at him. He is also haunted by his own demons in his past, continually blaming himself for his own perceived shortcomings. He is a strong protagonist who is made all the more likable for his faults, both real and imagined. It's his driven nature that controls the frantic pace that the investigation maintains and compelled me to keep the pages turning as quickly as I could.
A short word on the shocking nature of the book to which I alluded in the opening paragraph. This refers to the detailed descriptions of the mutilated bodies, and the actions and feelings of the psychopath responsible. While not enough to give you nightmares, they were still sufficient to turn my stomach ever so slightly squeamish. In an era of some really bad bad-guys, Hayder has produced one who's right up there near the top of the sicko list.
I found this to be a wonderfully compelling story. Just when I felt that I had a pretty good handle on where it was headed, it suddenly threw me for a loop with a clever change of direction. It contains a well-constructed plot that clicked seamlessly into place and a strong protagonist to hold it all together.
3642814
This is amazing storytelling, wholely original, terrifying, and entertaining.  I have never read another comic more disturbing, disgusting, surprising, overwhelming, amazing, and downright brilliant. This is not for the lighthearted, as it contains many disturbing incidents.  It takes an awful lot to terrify me, and I was literally clutching my face in terror while reading the end of the opening sequence.  The black and white illustrations match the world of death and mayhem.  This is the introduction(wow!) of William Gravel, combat magician, a character who is relentless, violent, charming, and a complete pr**k-- a great character.  A must-read for anyone interested in horror/crime comics and/or Warren Ellis' writing.  His additional Strange Killing series' involving William Gravel are highly recommended as well.
402653
If you're into apocalyptic/sci-fi stuff I would highly recommend.  Picked this up on a whim cause a buddy of mine had read it and recommended it to me and I was pretty blown away, honestly.  It's super scary and dark in that "Black Mirror" kind of way where you can see the best and worst of humanity in the same instance.  Cool discovering a new author I actually like!
3477749
I've been a fan of Brockway since his column on Cracked.com, but in "The Unnoticeables" his writing truly shines. His main characters are real people - fully-realised and not once did I find myself screaming at the page, asking "Why are you doing that?!" the way I usually do with characters in horror novels.

While Brockway's talents as a writer of comedy were firmly cemented in my mind, I was amazed by his horror scenes. That scene in the sewers? As good as Stephen King in his prime. My heart was racing.

That's not to say the book isn't funny, though. Brockway treads the line between hilarious and horrifying like nobody I've ever read before.

I'd recommend this book to any fan of comedy, horror, or just damn good writing in general. If you're even half thinking about buying this book, you should do yourself a favour and get it immediately. You won't regret it.
2655696
Reading this book is a gutting experience. Paul Tremblay has based his latest book on what  is perhaps any parents greatest fear: the loss of a child.  Elizabeth Sanderson wakes one night to find her teenage son, Tommy, missing. His friends say he just wandered off in the woods and no one can find him. Its as though he has just disappeared. Elizabeth comes to believe that his ghost is visiting her and leaving messages and there are rumors of a dark figure peering in peoples windows which corresponds to an old myth about the devil who inhabits the woods where he disappeared. But just like Tremblays novel A Headful of Ghosts, the true horror isn't the supernatural but what people are capable of and how a family can too easily come unraveled. As the police detective thinks at one point (Im paraphrasing): people tend to make surprisingly bad decisions and do so with surprising ease. This is no shockfest horror novel but a disturbing portrait of loss. I found this book hard to put down, I was so ensnared by its suspense. By not overplaying the supernatural, it made the events incredibly and terrifyingly possible.
If I had to complain about anything, it would be that a few of the characters that the narrator follows closely are ignored at the end and we don't get a glimpse of how they have been affected by the events. But that quibble aside, I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes horror that makes them think.
3728800
I had no idea what to expect when I sat down to watch this movie. horror is my favorite genre, and like all horror fans know, you have to wade through quite a lot of movies that are so-so, downright awful, or "good enough" to find the few gems -- and honestly, those are usually ones i stumble across on netflix (like "The Ceremony", which was wonderfully scary).

this movie scared the $$#* out of me, no lie. there are some scenes that, if i think about them late at night, make it hard to get to sleep! the story is well-written and holds up through all three acts, and the way the movie is shot is just beautiful. but what really, really made this movie for me was the sound design. i think it's possibly the most incredible sound design i've ever heard in a horror movie. and the way it builds dread is almost exquisite, with enough frightening flashes and creepy cinematography to keep a constant build up of tension for the whole thing.

i love this film, and it's right up there with "The Haunting" (the old version, not the travesty that was the remake), and "The Changeling" for me (that coal cart seance scene ahhhh). This movie plays with the concept of horror extremely well, blending supernatural horror, psychological humor, and just plain old dread together in a masterful way. and i can't say enough about the sound design -- which makes such a huge impact (to me, anyway) on a movie, especially horror. imagine if "The Last House on the Left" hadn't had such a terrible musical score, and how much more frightening it might have been!

i highly recommend this movie, for the plot, the overall atmosphere, and a story that is layered and complex without being convoluted or unbelievable (there are totally believable supernatural horror movies! those are the ones that really get you -- when you're drawn in enough to be convinced this is possible, and keep thinking about it long after the movie is over.) I didn't even realize the actor was Ethan Hawke until I looked the film up on IMDB after i saw it. great film, i'd love to see hollywood put out more movies like this! even if i might never sleep again ;)
3525924
Read this book recently and felt compelled to write a review.  I purchased it because I love scary books that get inside your head.  I especially liked that it was a collection of short stories, which works so well when traveling.  I figured if they were even decent it would be good to pass the time on an airplane.  But instead I feel liked I lucked into discovering a really great unique new author.  Each story was atmospheric, wonderfully written, original, and downright disturbing in just the right way... where it lingers like a scary memory, even weeks now after finishing it.  What I especially liked was a lot of the imagery. I felt like I had seen an amazing movie filled with wonderfully terrifying visuals and surprising twists and turns.  Highly recommended!