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trisha_thomas's review
3.0
I completely believe that haunted houses exist. I think of many of the many paranormal/ghost stories and the ones tied to an object - like a house -always seem to have the most evidence and make the most sense to me. Homeowners, especially long ago, when they hand built houses, raised families, buried loved ones on their land, worked the land - all the things that fully held them to the house and the land - it makes sense that they might struggle to leave it in the end.
And I love creepy horror stories. But this one was a little confusing - piecing together two story lines. I know it's loosely based on a loosely (possibly) true story - but I liked it for all the differences and not the similarities. I also wish we'd found out more of the house history. But I did enjoy this as a nice horror story for entertainment.
And I love creepy horror stories. But this one was a little confusing - piecing together two story lines. I know it's loosely based on a loosely (possibly) true story - but I liked it for all the differences and not the similarities. I also wish we'd found out more of the house history. But I did enjoy this as a nice horror story for entertainment.
jen225's review
4.0
Super creepy! At one point I had to move to a room with more people in it to read, LOL. Absolutely exciting and mysterious, and I HAD to see how it ended. I was hoping to have a happy ending to let me sleep at night. But I won't spoil it for you!
sarahonthecoast's review
3.0
As someone whose interest in Halloween resembles that of a kindergartner (candy, cute costumes, a few silly decorations), I have managed to get pretty far in life with absolutely no knowledge of the Amityville Horror. I know there was a movie made about it, but I could not tell you a single other detail about this legend? Scary urban tale? Completely made up story? I'm not sure if my naivety makes me the ideal reader for this book or if I'm working at a disadvantage, but I can tell you that I came in with a completely blank slate and absolutely no preconceived notions regarding the inspiration for this story.
Despite my low threshold for all things scary, I did not find this book to be as terrifying or gruesome as the publisher suggested. Comparing it to the highly popular American Horror Story (perhaps a wise marketing move) was probably unfair to readers who are looking for something that will completely freak them out. Amity certainly contains plenty of psychological thrills and suspense, but maybe not quite the teen equivalent of a Stephen King novel.
The alternating narrators tended to blend together in plot and voice, despite the gender differences. Their spiraling mental breakdowns paralleled the longer they allowed Amity to mysteriously control their minds. However, there are so many warning signs (huge, flashing, billboard sized warning signs) throughout the book that it's obvious to everyone but the narrators' and their families that Amity is not-a-place-you-want-to-live. Their inability to catch any of these signs could be frustrating for readers who are looking at a more logical side of the story, but readers who just want to be creeped out will be able to easily forgive this. The novel moves fairly quickly and is fast-paced (with very short chapters and paragraphs) but the fact that you're essentially reading the same story twice (from two different perspectives and time periods) causes the momentum to stumble.
Despite my low threshold for all things scary, I did not find this book to be as terrifying or gruesome as the publisher suggested. Comparing it to the highly popular American Horror Story (perhaps a wise marketing move) was probably unfair to readers who are looking for something that will completely freak them out. Amity certainly contains plenty of psychological thrills and suspense, but maybe not quite the teen equivalent of a Stephen King novel.
The alternating narrators tended to blend together in plot and voice, despite the gender differences. Their spiraling mental breakdowns paralleled the longer they allowed Amity to mysteriously control their minds. However, there are so many warning signs (huge, flashing, billboard sized warning signs) throughout the book that it's obvious to everyone but the narrators' and their families that Amity is not-a-place-you-want-to-live. Their inability to catch any of these signs could be frustrating for readers who are looking at a more logical side of the story, but readers who just want to be creeped out will be able to easily forgive this. The novel moves fairly quickly and is fast-paced (with very short chapters and paragraphs) but the fact that you're essentially reading the same story twice (from two different perspectives and time periods) causes the momentum to stumble.
canadianbookaddict's review
3.0
I was in the mood for a good horror book and when I was accepted to review this I just couldn't wait to read it.
The is a story of two separate families that both lived in the Amity. It goes back and forth to what happens to both families in the house. I was worried I would get confused to the way it is written I didn't feel confused at all.
It is a horror novel but a YA horror and I wasn't scared at all but might you I do not scare easily. I know if this was written many years ago when I was a teen this would have been something I would have absolutely loved just as much I loved reading it the other day.
It is very well written and kept me reading. The ending seemed a bit abrupt so this is the reason why I give this 3 out of 5.
The is a story of two separate families that both lived in the Amity. It goes back and forth to what happens to both families in the house. I was worried I would get confused to the way it is written I didn't feel confused at all.
It is a horror novel but a YA horror and I wasn't scared at all but might you I do not scare easily. I know if this was written many years ago when I was a teen this would have been something I would have absolutely loved just as much I loved reading it the other day.
It is very well written and kept me reading. The ending seemed a bit abrupt so this is the reason why I give this 3 out of 5.
czoltak's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Gore
blondefish's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
ninjabunneh's review
3.0
Growing up on Long Island, it always tickled my horror loving brain pink that The Amityville Horror story basically took place almost in my backyard. For those who don't know the background, a quick recap. In the 70s, a seriously fucked in the head asswipe murdered his entire family, siblings included. He later claimed that the voices from the house told him to do it. A new family eventually moved in, lasted about a week and ran away claiming some evil presence. Thus, The Amityville Horror money train was born. When I came across Amity on NG, it was like ringing the nostalgic dinner bell complete with Nutella for dessert.
Here are the necessary ingredients:
One haunted house full of fucked up scary shit - check.
One creepy boathouse complete with randomly banging door - check.
One basement that no human being in their right mind should ever enter - check.
A few fucked up teens - check, check, check, and check.
Group of mostly shitty adult parental figures - quadruple check.
Amity takes place in a sleepy tiny town, complete with rather unfriendly citizens, rendering the occupants' of Amity rather isolated. Connor has moved into the house with his parents and sister, Jules. It seems Connor isn't quite right in the head and the family needs a bit of isolation to keep him on the right track. The perfect place to do this? A house with an evil presence, of course! Connor travels down a dark path that can only lead to not very good things.
Gwen is a seemingly normal teen girl, who moves into Amity a decade after Connor's family. She isn't a normal girl, however, and has been through her share of shrinks and diagnoses.
What follows are two different POVs told a decade apart. Both lives and the lives of their families intertwined by Amity. This book was creepy, and damn I was sucked in right away. Then slowly, but surely, the too convenient conveniences slipped silently in. Predictability reared its ugly head. The ending was brought on way too quickly and fizzled completely. A tiny bit of redemption came in the twisty epilogue, which rode in on a white horse to save the day.
Much to my dismay, what started out with a BANG! went out with a whimper.
3 Ninja-Bunnehs-Chopping-Wood
(Arc received in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are subject to change upon final release.)
Here are the necessary ingredients:
One haunted house full of fucked up scary shit - check.
One creepy boathouse complete with randomly banging door - check.
One basement that no human being in their right mind should ever enter - check.
A few fucked up teens - check, check, check, and check.
Group of mostly shitty adult parental figures - quadruple check.
Amity takes place in a sleepy tiny town, complete with rather unfriendly citizens, rendering the occupants' of Amity rather isolated. Connor has moved into the house with his parents and sister, Jules. It seems Connor isn't quite right in the head and the family needs a bit of isolation to keep him on the right track. The perfect place to do this? A house with an evil presence, of course! Connor travels down a dark path that can only lead to not very good things.
Gwen is a seemingly normal teen girl, who moves into Amity a decade after Connor's family. She isn't a normal girl, however, and has been through her share of shrinks and diagnoses.
What follows are two different POVs told a decade apart. Both lives and the lives of their families intertwined by Amity. This book was creepy, and damn I was sucked in right away. Then slowly, but surely, the too convenient conveniences slipped silently in. Predictability reared its ugly head. The ending was brought on way too quickly and fizzled completely. A tiny bit of redemption came in the twisty epilogue, which rode in on a white horse to save the day.
Much to my dismay, what started out with a BANG! went out with a whimper.
3 Ninja-Bunnehs-Chopping-Wood
(Arc received in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are subject to change upon final release.)
sjj169's review
3.0
This is not a re-telling of that famous Amityville house. Dang it.
This is a tale of a lower cost house. Hey, it's cheap-let's buy it.
There are 2 different families involved in this book. Set 10 years apart, first we have Connor's family. Connor is a weird little shit. His twin sister Jules is about the only person that he connects with. He starts having bad dreams and visions..he kinda likes it.
Then we have Gwen's family. She has had some kind of mental breakdown and her family thinks she needs a break. She starts having visions of bad things about this house and of course no one listens.
Both stories are intertwined together going back and forth from the view points of the two main teenagers involved.
I really wanted a bit more from this book. Some parts were good and scary and then some parts just were ho hum.
The ending though was just threw in. I think the author felt like oh it's time to end the book. Done. :/
This is a tale of a lower cost house. Hey, it's cheap-let's buy it.
There are 2 different families involved in this book. Set 10 years apart, first we have Connor's family. Connor is a weird little shit. His twin sister Jules is about the only person that he connects with. He starts having bad dreams and visions..he kinda likes it.
Then we have Gwen's family. She has had some kind of mental breakdown and her family thinks she needs a break. She starts having visions of bad things about this house and of course no one listens.
Both stories are intertwined together going back and forth from the view points of the two main teenagers involved.
I really wanted a bit more from this book. Some parts were good and scary and then some parts just were ho hum.
The ending though was just threw in. I think the author felt like oh it's time to end the book. Done. :/
lexyg's review
3.0
Tanto potencial desperdiciado. Nunca conecté con Connor y honestamente sólo estaba leyendo para saber si había adivinado todos los giros de la trama correctamente -lo hice, yay, me-. Aunque, viendo el lado positivo; Gwen fue una narradora MUCHO más interesante, quizá si todo el libro hubiera sido contado desde su punto de vista las cosas habrían mejorado significativamente.
shxlby98's review
3.0
Not the read I was expecting but it was okay. Didn’t wow me until the end when it was revealed how the characters connected