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nightowlloft's review
4.0
Do you love haunted houses? Do you watch horror movies for fun? Does the thought of ghost walks and the macabre history of witchcraft and voodoo in New Orleans get your pulse racing? Then this book is for YOU!!
I first want to thank NetGalley and the author for sending this book to me free in exchange for my honest review. Because honestly I LOVED this wild ride! It was unlike anything I’ve ever read before and for the person who ran out of a theme park haunted house crying one Halloween it was thrillingly enjoyable.
I would certainly classify this as thriller/horror so if that is NOT your cup of tea do not read this book. You have been warned.
We meet our lead character Lisette in the weeks leading up to Halloween. The daughter of a thief/con artist mother, we watch her struggle with her potential as a good student at a private school and an aspiring gymnast versus the life she knows and the inevitable fate of turning into the woman who raised her.
Through a few chance meetings Lisette and her best friend Xavier decide to enter a haunted house on Halloween night that promises a $10,000 reward to the winner who escapes the 13th Realm of Hell before the witching hour. Propelled by determination and desperation having just received an eviction notice on their apartment door, Lisette believes she has the grit it takes to be the winner at all costs. And it certainly costs.
There are 13 levels or “realms” that need to be completed within the house. Think less carnival or boardwalk haunted house and more haunted maze at an amusement park terror night. And as you can imagine an attraction being run by actual witch covens makes it the perfect haunted maze on steroids. All manner of horror staples are featured including but not limited to dolls, clowns, zombies, and cannibalistic animal-headed butchers. There are plenty of atmospheric fears tackled as well including a death trap vehicle ride, Amazon jungle with deadly animals, small spaces, being buried alive, and one seriously creepy hospital.
In dealing with such “dark” elements there are plenty of trigger warnings to be had including drug use and references, alcohol use and references, orgies, sexual assault/attempted rape of a side character, themes of witchcraft/occultism/exorcism/voodoo, and a whole lot of murder and death.
Through all of this what shines brightest is the growth of Lisette. You see her in the beginning trying to be “good” and “do the right thing”, then you see her almost give up and settle into the life she assumes she is stuck in despite the amount of strength she has, and then you see the Realms test everything she thinks she knows about herself. She tries (and succeeds sometimes) to hold on to her selfish, every-man-for-himself attitude, but as she finally comes to the close of her journey she sets it all aside and taps into her true inner strength where she learns what it is to be a good friend, how to truly care for others and their well-being, what it means to finds a place where she can finally “belong”. A place she can call home.
There is no real “happily ever after” to be had with a book this intense, but the ending was like a warm hug after a nightmare and brought closure to all of my favorite characters in a very satisfying way. Overall, should you dare to mine inside its pages and sift through to the end, this book shines like a diamond.
I first want to thank NetGalley and the author for sending this book to me free in exchange for my honest review. Because honestly I LOVED this wild ride! It was unlike anything I’ve ever read before and for the person who ran out of a theme park haunted house crying one Halloween it was thrillingly enjoyable.
I would certainly classify this as thriller/horror so if that is NOT your cup of tea do not read this book. You have been warned.
We meet our lead character Lisette in the weeks leading up to Halloween. The daughter of a thief/con artist mother, we watch her struggle with her potential as a good student at a private school and an aspiring gymnast versus the life she knows and the inevitable fate of turning into the woman who raised her.
Through a few chance meetings Lisette and her best friend Xavier decide to enter a haunted house on Halloween night that promises a $10,000 reward to the winner who escapes the 13th Realm of Hell before the witching hour. Propelled by determination and desperation having just received an eviction notice on their apartment door, Lisette believes she has the grit it takes to be the winner at all costs. And it certainly costs.
There are 13 levels or “realms” that need to be completed within the house. Think less carnival or boardwalk haunted house and more haunted maze at an amusement park terror night. And as you can imagine an attraction being run by actual witch covens makes it the perfect haunted maze on steroids. All manner of horror staples are featured including but not limited to dolls, clowns, zombies, and cannibalistic animal-headed butchers. There are plenty of atmospheric fears tackled as well including a death trap vehicle ride, Amazon jungle with deadly animals, small spaces, being buried alive, and one seriously creepy hospital.
In dealing with such “dark” elements there are plenty of trigger warnings to be had including drug use and references, alcohol use and references, orgies, sexual assault/attempted rape of a side character, themes of witchcraft/occultism/exorcism/voodoo, and a whole lot of murder and death.
Through all of this what shines brightest is the growth of Lisette. You see her in the beginning trying to be “good” and “do the right thing”, then you see her almost give up and settle into the life she assumes she is stuck in despite the amount of strength she has, and then you see the Realms test everything she thinks she knows about herself. She tries (and succeeds sometimes) to hold on to her selfish, every-man-for-himself attitude, but as she finally comes to the close of her journey she sets it all aside and taps into her true inner strength where she learns what it is to be a good friend, how to truly care for others and their well-being, what it means to finds a place where she can finally “belong”. A place she can call home.
There is no real “happily ever after” to be had with a book this intense, but the ending was like a warm hug after a nightmare and brought closure to all of my favorite characters in a very satisfying way. Overall, should you dare to mine inside its pages and sift through to the end, this book shines like a diamond.
leahsbooks's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC. I am offering my honest opinion voluntarily.
CONTENT WARNING: murder, bullying, violence, drug use, attempted sexual assault, blood
This was an interesting and fast-paced read that I finished in a single sitting. I wasn’t sure I’d like this story, since I’m such a wuss and tend to avoid anything remotely scary, but to my surprise, I enjoyed this far more than I expected to.
Although Lisette is a morally gray character, she isn’t necessarily an unlikable character. She’s a young woman who grows up extremely poor and facing difficult circumstances. In addition, her mother keeps a lot of secrets from her. Despite trying to learn more, her mother is incredibly stubborn and refuses to answer any of her questions.
When they get an eviction notice, it seems like an unimaginable stroke of luck to come upon a contest that offers a $10,000 prize to the winner. And Lisette is determined to win, no matter what. But she has no idea what she’s in for. Or what it might cost her if she does win.
The action starts early and stays pretty consistent throughout the story, making this a difficult book to put down. It’s a huge part of why I read this in one sitting. Lisette isn’t just facing huge, dangerous obstacles, but she’s racing against the clock and other people as well. And while she’s street smart, she also has to face her own doubts and fears at the same time. I liked seeing not just the challenges she faces as she races through the realms, but also her own internal struggles. She’s forced to ask important questions about who she is, but more importantly, who she wants to be.
This challenge also winds up revealing more answers than Lisette ever expected. I loved how the story wound up coming together — it’s more than simply a challenge, and while the magic system wasn’t ever clearly explained, it did seem pretty cool. I’m curious to see what’s next from Amanda Pavlov!
CONTENT WARNING: murder, bullying, violence, drug use, attempted sexual assault, blood
This was an interesting and fast-paced read that I finished in a single sitting. I wasn’t sure I’d like this story, since I’m such a wuss and tend to avoid anything remotely scary, but to my surprise, I enjoyed this far more than I expected to.
Although Lisette is a morally gray character, she isn’t necessarily an unlikable character. She’s a young woman who grows up extremely poor and facing difficult circumstances. In addition, her mother keeps a lot of secrets from her. Despite trying to learn more, her mother is incredibly stubborn and refuses to answer any of her questions.
When they get an eviction notice, it seems like an unimaginable stroke of luck to come upon a contest that offers a $10,000 prize to the winner. And Lisette is determined to win, no matter what. But she has no idea what she’s in for. Or what it might cost her if she does win.
The action starts early and stays pretty consistent throughout the story, making this a difficult book to put down. It’s a huge part of why I read this in one sitting. Lisette isn’t just facing huge, dangerous obstacles, but she’s racing against the clock and other people as well. And while she’s street smart, she also has to face her own doubts and fears at the same time. I liked seeing not just the challenges she faces as she races through the realms, but also her own internal struggles. She’s forced to ask important questions about who she is, but more importantly, who she wants to be.
This challenge also winds up revealing more answers than Lisette ever expected. I loved how the story wound up coming together — it’s more than simply a challenge, and while the magic system wasn’t ever clearly explained, it did seem pretty cool. I’m curious to see what’s next from Amanda Pavlov!
booksandsalt's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
breysreviews's review
5.0
Mind Like a Diamond by Amanda Pavlov takes us to New Orleans on Halloween, where a haunted house called the Thirteenth Realm promises the victor 10,000$. But it’s not that simple… why would it be?
Every city has the old wives tale of the haunted house that if you make it through it you win money. This book expands on that idea and takes it to a level that is super engrossing and addictive.
Lisette and her mother Ruelle have always struggled with money. Ruelle is constantly stealing to get by, and they’re constantly broke and unable to do fun things. When their old neighbor Mrs. Opal passes away, Lisette is concerned her mother is involved. That’s not entirely true, but something is off… oh and the eviction notice doesn’t help.
When I say this was a wild ride that will force you to binge read! It was so much fun, so immersive. Is it a horror novel? No. This is not a horror novel, there are scary and semi-graphic scenes, but it is very much so fantasy. You will rip through this is one sitting and enjoy it.
My biggest flag is that Lisette isn’t meant to be a likeable character in the beginning but her progression and her redemption arc are well done and paced!
Every city has the old wives tale of the haunted house that if you make it through it you win money. This book expands on that idea and takes it to a level that is super engrossing and addictive.
Lisette and her mother Ruelle have always struggled with money. Ruelle is constantly stealing to get by, and they’re constantly broke and unable to do fun things. When their old neighbor Mrs. Opal passes away, Lisette is concerned her mother is involved. That’s not entirely true, but something is off… oh and the eviction notice doesn’t help.
When I say this was a wild ride that will force you to binge read! It was so much fun, so immersive. Is it a horror novel? No. This is not a horror novel, there are scary and semi-graphic scenes, but it is very much so fantasy. You will rip through this is one sitting and enjoy it.
My biggest flag is that Lisette isn’t meant to be a likeable character in the beginning but her progression and her redemption arc are well done and paced!
emmywritess's review
4.0
Well, this book was a wild ride! I was intrigued from the very first chapter. Even though we didn’t know what was happening yet, the author weaved a magical, atmospheric and mysterious world that I wanted to climb into. It was fast-paced and I tore through the story so fast, I finished the book in a day. We’re thrown right into the story and that meant it gripped me from the start. I thought some of the events that happened were so unique and the author added a flair to the genre.
The characters were super interesting. Not just the protagonist but also the supporting characters, and I wanted to find out more about all of them. They were all colourful and real. Lisette the protagonist started to annoy me around halfway through. She was whiny and mean to her best friend Xavier, and even though we know why she’s desperate to get through the haunted house and win the money she still bugged me. However, as the book went on I grew to like her, even though she made some stupid decisions.
I wouldn’t say it was scary but it was eerie, and it was hard to know who you could trust. But that’s what made this book so good. Always suspicious of every character and not knowing what was going to happen next.
I loved how all the realms in the haunted house were different — each creepier than the last. I felt like I didn’t know what I was walking into, just like the characters. I liked how it wasn’t the only mysterious thing to figure out. We also had the character development of Lisette and her mother. What were her mother’s secrets? Why was she so against her going to the haunted house, and what was their connection to it? It added another complex layer to the story, making me root for Lisette to survive and find out the truth.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a chance to read and review this book.
The characters were super interesting. Not just the protagonist but also the supporting characters, and I wanted to find out more about all of them. They were all colourful and real. Lisette the protagonist started to annoy me around halfway through. She was whiny and mean to her best friend Xavier, and even though we know why she’s desperate to get through the haunted house and win the money she still bugged me. However, as the book went on I grew to like her, even though she made some stupid decisions.
I wouldn’t say it was scary but it was eerie, and it was hard to know who you could trust. But that’s what made this book so good. Always suspicious of every character and not knowing what was going to happen next.
I loved how all the realms in the haunted house were different — each creepier than the last. I felt like I didn’t know what I was walking into, just like the characters. I liked how it wasn’t the only mysterious thing to figure out. We also had the character development of Lisette and her mother. What were her mother’s secrets? Why was she so against her going to the haunted house, and what was their connection to it? It added another complex layer to the story, making me root for Lisette to survive and find out the truth.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a chance to read and review this book.
izzylovestoreadalot's review
4.0
I won’t lie..I picked this book up because of the cover. It looked a little sci-fi and felt very promising. The plot of the 13 different levels of the escape room and the money was super interesting! I was captivated and there was many twists and turns, and I couldn’t stop reading.
I didn’t like Lisette that much, though. She was an u likable main character, and is willing to throw anyone under the bus to try to get to the goal. She was super desperate. Overall, 4 stars.
I didn’t like Lisette that much, though. She was an u likable main character, and is willing to throw anyone under the bus to try to get to the goal. She was super desperate. Overall, 4 stars.