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rmmcdowell's review against another edition
4.0
I am eager to read the rest of the series to see how it ends up. My problem with Christian fiction has always been that it tends toward the preachy and "life is perfect if you just pray enough." This first book is none of those things, with only passing mentions of church. So far I think it is engaging enough to draw in all types of readers who enjoy the suspense genre.
lil_emf's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted this book to be way more creepy and gothic-horror than it was.
tylmiller's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
hebbie4792's review against another edition
4.0
Such a fun start to a series. I enjoy the concept and execution. Characters are meaningful and engaging so that I care what happens next. Does end on a cliff hanger.
janeeyre22's review against another edition
2.0
Basically just an introduction to the series. Barely any plot.
paracosm's review against another edition
1.0
I first read this book many years ago and just now I'm realizing it's a big pile of wasted potential. The main premise is that there's this house in the middle of the woods, inside the house there's a hallway full of doors, those doors are actually portals that allow you to travel in time. The portals change so you can always find new places to visit. That's an amazing premise, which makes it the only good thing about this book.
Let's start with the characters. They are the most cliché white family you can imagine. All of their interactions, which are at best boring and at worst cringy, feel artificial, like they are really bad actors following a terrible script.
The writing style is also bad, I remember there's a single paragrah in which the name of one of the characters is repeated seven times. The book is filled with pop-culture reference that are used instead of explaining things. For example, instead of telling you a hotel is spooky it explains that it's just like the Overlook Hotel from The Shinning. Pop-culture references can be fun, but only used with moderation.
It's so obvious that the author did zero research while writing his novel, which is a specially big problem for a book that is supposedly based on real events. It takes one single Google search to learn that combats in the Roman Colloseum had a strick reglament and weren't actually to death.
Now I'm gonna go into spoilers but I don't think it matters because the book is so bad. At the end a man comes out of one of the doors, kidnaps the mom and goes back. We learn that the same thing happened with the grandmother, so the dad came back to the house to find her. How did he was planning to do that? The grandmother could be literally in any point of recorded history and most likely dead. It's so dumb.There are another five books in the series and I don't know if I'm gonna re-read them.
Let's start with the characters. They are the most cliché white family you can imagine. All of their interactions, which are at best boring and at worst cringy, feel artificial, like they are really bad actors following a terrible script.
The writing style is also bad, I remember there's a single paragrah in which the name of one of the characters is repeated seven times. The book is filled with pop-culture reference that are used instead of explaining things. For example, instead of telling you a hotel is spooky it explains that it's just like the Overlook Hotel from The Shinning. Pop-culture references can be fun, but only used with moderation.
It's so obvious that the author did zero research while writing his novel, which is a specially big problem for a book that is supposedly based on real events. It takes one single Google search to learn that combats in the Roman Colloseum had a strick reglament and weren't actually to death.
Now I'm gonna go into spoilers but I don't think it matters because the book is so bad. At the end a man comes out of one of the doors, kidnaps the mom and goes back. We learn that the same thing happened with the grandmother, so the dad came back to the house to find her. How did he was planning to do that? The grandmother could be literally in any point of recorded history and most likely dead. It's so dumb.There are another five books in the series and I don't know if I'm gonna re-read them.
paracosm's review against another edition
1.0
I first read this book many years ago and just now I'm realizing it's a big pile of wasted potential. The main premise is that there's this house in the middle of the woods, inside the house there's a hallway full of doors, those doors are actually portals that allow you to travel in time. The portals change so you can always find new places to visit. That's an amazing premise, which makes it the only good thing about this book.
Let's start with the characters. They are the most cliché white family you can imagine. All of their interactions, which are at best boring and at worst cringy, feel artificial, like they are really bad actors following a terrible script.
The writing style is also bad, I remember there's a single paragrah in which the name of one of the characters is repeated seven times. The book is filled with pop-culture reference that are used instead of explaining things. For example, instead of telling you a hotel is spooky it explains that it's just like the Overlook Hotel from The Shinning. Pop-culture references can be fun, but only used with moderation.
It's so obvious that the author did zero research while writing his novel, which is a specially big problem for a book that is supposedly based on real events. It takes one single Google search to learn that combats in the Roman Colloseum had a strick reglament and weren't actually to death.
Now I'm gonna go into spoilers but I don't think it matters because the book is so bad. At the end a man comes out of one of the doors, kidnaps the mom and goes back. We learn that the same thing happened with the grandmother, so the dad came back to the house to find her. How did he was planning to do that? The grandmother could be literally in any point of recorded history and most likely dead. It's so dumb.
There are another five books in the series and I don't know if I'm gonna re-read them.
Let's start with the characters. They are the most cliché white family you can imagine. All of their interactions, which are at best boring and at worst cringy, feel artificial, like they are really bad actors following a terrible script.
The writing style is also bad, I remember there's a single paragrah in which the name of one of the characters is repeated seven times. The book is filled with pop-culture reference that are used instead of explaining things. For example, instead of telling you a hotel is spooky it explains that it's just like the Overlook Hotel from The Shinning. Pop-culture references can be fun, but only used with moderation.
It's so obvious that the author did zero research while writing his novel, which is a specially big problem for a book that is supposedly based on real events. It takes one single Google search to learn that combats in the Roman Colloseum had a strick reglament and weren't actually to death.
Now I'm gonna go into spoilers but I don't think it matters because the book is so bad. At the end a man comes out of one of the doors, kidnaps the mom and goes back. We learn that the same thing happened with the grandmother, so the dad came back to the house to find her. How did he was planning to do that? The grandmother could be literally in any point of recorded history and most likely dead. It's so dumb.
There are another five books in the series and I don't know if I'm gonna re-read them.
thereadingcat15's review
2.0
Full review link: https://thecatwithabook.wordpress.com/2018/11/04/book-review-house-of-dark-shadows/
highladyofthenightcourt21's review against another edition
5.0
Mysterious doors leading to different places from different times, sounds coming from the wrong directions, and weird footprints are things that may strike someone as odd in a new house. When the Kings move to Pinedale, Xavier, David, and Toria are a little bit disappointed. The siblings soon after find out that their house is one of adventures - whether they're good or bad isn't determined. Until a strange man starts to show up at night in their house, things run smoothly. But when he does appear, everything gets a bit shaky. How could they have known that their house would become a battleground between the Kings and this mysterious man? I've read House of Dark Shadows, and I plan to read the rest of the series.