Scan barcode
spookyscareah's review
5.0
I was listening to my husband play guitar as I read and during the final pages, he started playing Iron Maiden’s The Number of the Beast so that was a real treat. I don’t want to give too much away and spoil anything, but if you know you know.
This fast-paced tale follows Zac and Ryan who live in the isolated town of Hope Wharf, a popular tourist destination and a place where the locals never leave. Zac and Ryan spend the last weekend of summer vacation attempting to uncover the truth behind the town’s history - and get more than they bargained for. Like, by a lot.
This is a sweet, funny, coming-of-age story with lots of end-of-summer nostalgia, some paranormal mystery, and even some slasher elements thrown in. It sounds like a lot but it works. Huge, huge thank you to the author, Mark Towse, for sending this my way.
This fast-paced tale follows Zac and Ryan who live in the isolated town of Hope Wharf, a popular tourist destination and a place where the locals never leave. Zac and Ryan spend the last weekend of summer vacation attempting to uncover the truth behind the town’s history - and get more than they bargained for. Like, by a lot.
This is a sweet, funny, coming-of-age story with lots of end-of-summer nostalgia, some paranormal mystery, and even some slasher elements thrown in. It sounds like a lot but it works. Huge, huge thank you to the author, Mark Towse, for sending this my way.
mims_is_reading's review
5.0
This was sort of a fabulously horrific slow burn. Or as slow burn as a novella can get. It wasn't rich with literary jump scares and gory moments like some of Towse's other works and although that was what I liked the most in his previous works, with Hope Wharf you just can't help but appreciate the slow building tension and dread. I guess it could be described as coming of age horror with a twist. And, lemme tell you, the twist is as effed up as it gets...All in all, another terrific story from Towse.
ghostinthepages's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
An absolute must read! Unlike any coming of age story I've read
joselovesyou's review
5.0
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times; Mark Towse is an absolute master storyteller. I’ve read every single release of his I could get my hands on, after reading “Nana,” earlier this year. Every time I finish reading one of his works, I feel like a giddy kid who got exactly what they were hoping for and “Hope Wharf,” is no exception. The scenery, the friendship, the mystery, the journey and THAT ENDING! I loved it! I have a newborn baby at home, so any free time I have is sacred and must be methodically used, mostly for catching up on sleep or showering, but I dedicated all of that precious time today to sitting down and reading this wonderful story. I’m so glad I did! I just can’t wait for whatever Towse has coming our way, next!
bobbiejowoo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thesleepyreader79's review
5.0
This was another author request and as usual I was not disappointed! I love a good mystery and the description of this book definitely had me intrigued.
The town of Hope Wharf is a seemingly sleepy little town where people love to come visit and the residents never leave. The book opens with one of the residents attempting to leave. Unfortunately, he doesn't make it, instead he's dead and his untimely death is used as a cautionary tale to keep others from even trying to leave. Years later, Ryan and his friend Zac are starting to suspect that the town isn't exactly all it seems. Zac is determined to leave the town. He wants to travel and see the world. One night they decide to try to make it to the edge of town. A mysterious fog envelops them, and Zac is taken over. Ryan is able to revive him, and they make it back to the wharf only to stumble upon an even bigger mystery. What is it about this town that keeps the locals trapped?
Without going into too much more, this is a fantastic story. A novella with so much packed in you won't be able to put it down. Its fast paced with great attention to detail. With vivid descriptions and engaging characters, this coming-of-age story will have you guessing until the very end. I really enjoyed this story. A huge thank you to the author for reaching out and sending it to me to read. I will definitely be looking for more from him.
The town of Hope Wharf is a seemingly sleepy little town where people love to come visit and the residents never leave. The book opens with one of the residents attempting to leave. Unfortunately, he doesn't make it, instead he's dead and his untimely death is used as a cautionary tale to keep others from even trying to leave. Years later, Ryan and his friend Zac are starting to suspect that the town isn't exactly all it seems. Zac is determined to leave the town. He wants to travel and see the world. One night they decide to try to make it to the edge of town. A mysterious fog envelops them, and Zac is taken over. Ryan is able to revive him, and they make it back to the wharf only to stumble upon an even bigger mystery. What is it about this town that keeps the locals trapped?
Without going into too much more, this is a fantastic story. A novella with so much packed in you won't be able to put it down. Its fast paced with great attention to detail. With vivid descriptions and engaging characters, this coming-of-age story will have you guessing until the very end. I really enjoyed this story. A huge thank you to the author for reaching out and sending it to me to read. I will definitely be looking for more from him.
karlakayjenniges's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
“There’s a quiet sleepy town near you–a great community; idyllic, inviting, and peaceful. Why not make it your next holiday destination? A nice beach, a bit of sightseeing–just be sure not to upset the locals.”
Ryan and Zac have lived in the small beach town of Hope Wharf their whole lives. They are adventurous and curious and sometimes cause trouble. Typical young boys having fun every chance they get. They know the mysterious legend that surrounds the town, but they are curious to see if it is true. They plan to uncover the truth, but quickly learn that there is something sinister and evil lurking beneath the waters, waiting and always watching.
Ominous secrets, small town horror, an evil entity waiting for its fulfillment of a dark promise made by the town that relies on its survival. A coming-of-age novella filled with angst filled moments of dread and doom. Slowly creeping through the shrouding mists of isolation.
Elements of the supernatural and mysterious. A demonic presence. Family ties and the lengths they are willing to go to preserve their home.
Sweet surprises inside this novella with a twisty, unexpected ending!
An atmospheric, spooky, creepy tale, Towse style!
thespookybibliophile's review
5.0
A huge thanks to Mark Towse for sending me a copy of Hope Wharf in exchange for a review. I'm officially hooked on his work and will automatically be buying anything he puts out. And if I'm being completely honest, novellas never appealed to me until I picked up Nana, another work of his.
With that being said, lets get to the real reason for this post, the review:
Welcome to Hope Wharf, a quiet and idyllic little vacation town where the residents never want to leave, even if they could. Ryan and his friend, Zac, however, begin to wonder why no one ever leaves. The friends begin their journey to see what it would be like to set foot outside of Hope Wharf, but Ryan has a feeling that something is very wrong.
So, Towse does it again and manages to make a perfect vacation town and a candy shop unnerving and just downright creepy. Even as a novella with just under 70 pages, Hope Wharf displays some impressive character development and a huge punch.
With that being said, lets get to the real reason for this post, the review:
Welcome to Hope Wharf, a quiet and idyllic little vacation town where the residents never want to leave, even if they could. Ryan and his friend, Zac, however, begin to wonder why no one ever leaves. The friends begin their journey to see what it would be like to set foot outside of Hope Wharf, but Ryan has a feeling that something is very wrong.
So, Towse does it again and manages to make a perfect vacation town and a candy shop unnerving and just downright creepy. Even as a novella with just under 70 pages, Hope Wharf displays some impressive character development and a huge punch.