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ashlyc's review
4.0
I received a free copy of this from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I don't get creeped out easily. I love ghost hunting shows, horror movies, etc., but I started reading this before bed and ended up having to put it down after the first few chapters because I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to sleep after reading it. I finished it up yesterday, almost jumping through the roof when someone knocked on my front door. The author has a true gift as this was definitely creepier than anything I've watched lately. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
I don't get creeped out easily. I love ghost hunting shows, horror movies, etc., but I started reading this before bed and ended up having to put it down after the first few chapters because I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to sleep after reading it. I finished it up yesterday, almost jumping through the roof when someone knocked on my front door. The author has a true gift as this was definitely creepier than anything I've watched lately. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
janiceperry13's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this one. This is what happens when you play with things you don't understand. Great story and great writing.
miztrebor's review
4.0
S.M. Boyce is back with a new series and a new genre. She's also back as a gateway for this reader to explore this genre more.
Ari is the first book in S.M. Boyce's brand new series To Each His Ghost. Previously I've only read fantasy from this author. Her Grimoire Saga is one of my favorite series of all-time. I won't lie. The previous series was fantasy. There was magic, world building, incredible creatures. All the elements that make fantasy great. I wasn't sure how the transition to a new genre would work for me. Would Boyce be able to pull it off? The answer: Yes. Yes, she did. And I think she did it very well, even coming from a novice horror reader like me.
The only thing that wasn't working for me with this book was the switching of points of view in the beginning of the book. The book, throughout, is told from a 3rd person POV and alternates focus on Ari and Marcus. They're the two main characters. And the switches happen at chapter breaks. In the beginning I felt like the switch was happening a little too often and I wasn't able to get a good feel for the characters. Well, I enjoyed Ari from the start. She felt like the real lead. Marcus on the other hand isn't a likeable character. That's how he's written and there's no issue with that. I think his sections were a little short and I wasn't caring as much for him. This all changed as I kept reading, though. It actually really pulled itself together once I gave it time. I think it was how the book was meant to be done. In the end, I grew to like both characters (and some of the minor ones that come along the way). Marcus grew on me, even if I didn't expect him to.
The horror elements of this book were great. As I said already, I'm not the biggest of horror readers, but I know what'll scare people. I don't get scared from books. I don't even cry during the saddest moments of some. (Maybe I have no soul.) Despite this, Boyce was able to paint a great visual in my mind of the ghosts, demons, and other horrific parts of the book. She didn't hold back much either. I helped when I read this book at night with only my book lamp on. Added to the overall atmosphere as I read along.
Would I recommend this book to other readers? Definitely. I had a great time reading it. I also want to try more horror now. I'm looking forward to other books in this series. I think horror lovers will enjoy it as much as I did, and I don't think it'll turn away non-horror readers, either. Yes, it's scary, but there's a great story underneath it all, too.
Ari is the first book in S.M. Boyce's brand new series To Each His Ghost. Previously I've only read fantasy from this author. Her Grimoire Saga is one of my favorite series of all-time. I won't lie. The previous series was fantasy. There was magic, world building, incredible creatures. All the elements that make fantasy great. I wasn't sure how the transition to a new genre would work for me. Would Boyce be able to pull it off? The answer: Yes. Yes, she did. And I think she did it very well, even coming from a novice horror reader like me.
The only thing that wasn't working for me with this book was the switching of points of view in the beginning of the book. The book, throughout, is told from a 3rd person POV and alternates focus on Ari and Marcus. They're the two main characters. And the switches happen at chapter breaks. In the beginning I felt like the switch was happening a little too often and I wasn't able to get a good feel for the characters. Well, I enjoyed Ari from the start. She felt like the real lead. Marcus on the other hand isn't a likeable character. That's how he's written and there's no issue with that. I think his sections were a little short and I wasn't caring as much for him. This all changed as I kept reading, though. It actually really pulled itself together once I gave it time. I think it was how the book was meant to be done. In the end, I grew to like both characters (and some of the minor ones that come along the way). Marcus grew on me, even if I didn't expect him to.
The horror elements of this book were great. As I said already, I'm not the biggest of horror readers, but I know what'll scare people. I don't get scared from books. I don't even cry during the saddest moments of some. (Maybe I have no soul.) Despite this, Boyce was able to paint a great visual in my mind of the ghosts, demons, and other horrific parts of the book. She didn't hold back much either. I helped when I read this book at night with only my book lamp on. Added to the overall atmosphere as I read along.
Would I recommend this book to other readers? Definitely. I had a great time reading it. I also want to try more horror now. I'm looking forward to other books in this series. I think horror lovers will enjoy it as much as I did, and I don't think it'll turn away non-horror readers, either. Yes, it's scary, but there's a great story underneath it all, too.
sammii's review
4.0
See all my reviews here.
As she predicted, they ran out screaming. But something followed her home.
A Ghostly Paranormal Horror Novel, I loved the ghost and demon elements in this book. However I personally do not think this is a horror novel, yes it has some creepy parts and I definitely would not like to meet that demon. But the book just didn’t have the horror factor; it didn’t leave me scared of the dark or make me jump at the shadows in my room at night.
A second clink on the tiles. A third. The shower curtain rustled, but she told herself she’d touched it in an effort to keep from screaming and running naked down the hall.
I did really enjoy this book. It was a fun, easy read with a strong story line that bordered on creepy. The characters in this book are easy to like except, of course, the demon and Marcus, he is a dick for most of the story.
The ending was actually quite surprising, I did not expect it to play out the way it did.
As she predicted, they ran out screaming. But something followed her home.
A Ghostly Paranormal Horror Novel, I loved the ghost and demon elements in this book. However I personally do not think this is a horror novel, yes it has some creepy parts and I definitely would not like to meet that demon. But the book just didn’t have the horror factor; it didn’t leave me scared of the dark or make me jump at the shadows in my room at night.
A second clink on the tiles. A third. The shower curtain rustled, but she told herself she’d touched it in an effort to keep from screaming and running naked down the hall.
I did really enjoy this book. It was a fun, easy read with a strong story line that bordered on creepy. The characters in this book are easy to like except, of course, the demon and Marcus, he is a dick for most of the story.
The ending was actually quite surprising, I did not expect it to play out the way it did.
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