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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
It's official. I do not like this genre. It reinforces what I said last month in my review of Dekker's Skin, it's why I don't read Stephen King either. I have several people in my life who love this genre, good for them! I am not one of them. Even Peretti joining in on this novel didn't warm me up to it much. It disturbed me on lower levels like Dekker's Skin did. More on that in a second.
The gist of the horror story (No seriously it is a horror story and they were crazy enough to make this book into a movie which I will NOT be seeing thankyouverymuch and it is rated R so I'm guessing it means that the movie IS like the book, perhaps a little more graphic) is four people end up through mysterious circumstances at a backwoods inn, cut off from society. Upon entering the house it is clear something is not right but the people don't leave, they seem to be strangely held to the house. As the evening progresses things start getting creepy and the "game" begins when a truck is driven through the front door and a tin can rolls into the room they are all huddled in. On the tin can the "game" rules are given and the deadline of sunrise is given. To get out of the house a dead body must be produced. Ready? Set. Go. What ensues is a crazy, chaotic scramble to get out of the house without playing the "game". But this is no ordinary house and it won't let people leave once they have entered. The book covers the night of the "game". 372 pages of terror and horror and confusion.
Dekker released Skin after this book released. I find this interesting because I wasn't very far into this book and already I felt like I was reading a less disturbing version of Skin. There are a lot of similarities in the two books. Now I'm not saying Dekker didn't rip off the idea and take it to the next level but it felt like that at times. No doubt about it, the book is written well. Peretti is an amazingly descriptive writer, I have read several of his books in the past (I mean c'mon if you a "good" Christian you have read the spiritual warfare books This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness, they became almost like textbooks for the Church. Just sayin'. And not that I agree with that, just sayin'.) and he can craft a story like nobody's business. And if you've been following me then you know Dekker is a new-to-me author that I agreed to give a go. So the book was well-written, that is not in dispute. And even for those who like this genre I bet this book was great. Several people told me after I put Skin down last month that I would like House better. They were right. I liked it better because it didn't disturb me nearly as much and it wasn't as graphic in its violence. But I did feel like I was reading a warm-up for Skin. The story lines at their core are too similar for me not to feel that way.
I don't know about this whole Dekker phase. As I look over his bibliography I do see that his books fall into a couple of genres, Thr3e being one of the different genres and I did like that book so I'll press on, but maybe not with his horror genre books.
The gist of the horror story (No seriously it is a horror story and they were crazy enough to make this book into a movie which I will NOT be seeing thankyouverymuch and it is rated R so I'm guessing it means that the movie IS like the book, perhaps a little more graphic) is four people end up through mysterious circumstances at a backwoods inn, cut off from society. Upon entering the house it is clear something is not right but the people don't leave, they seem to be strangely held to the house. As the evening progresses things start getting creepy and the "game" begins when a truck is driven through the front door and a tin can rolls into the room they are all huddled in. On the tin can the "game" rules are given and the deadline of sunrise is given. To get out of the house a dead body must be produced. Ready? Set. Go. What ensues is a crazy, chaotic scramble to get out of the house without playing the "game". But this is no ordinary house and it won't let people leave once they have entered. The book covers the night of the "game". 372 pages of terror and horror and confusion.
Dekker released Skin after this book released. I find this interesting because I wasn't very far into this book and already I felt like I was reading a less disturbing version of Skin. There are a lot of similarities in the two books. Now I'm not saying Dekker didn't rip off the idea and take it to the next level but it felt like that at times. No doubt about it, the book is written well. Peretti is an amazingly descriptive writer, I have read several of his books in the past (I mean c'mon if you a "good" Christian you have read the spiritual warfare books This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness, they became almost like textbooks for the Church. Just sayin'. And not that I agree with that, just sayin'.) and he can craft a story like nobody's business. And if you've been following me then you know Dekker is a new-to-me author that I agreed to give a go. So the book was well-written, that is not in dispute. And even for those who like this genre I bet this book was great. Several people told me after I put Skin down last month that I would like House better. They were right. I liked it better because it didn't disturb me nearly as much and it wasn't as graphic in its violence. But I did feel like I was reading a warm-up for Skin. The story lines at their core are too similar for me not to feel that way.
I don't know about this whole Dekker phase. As I look over his bibliography I do see that his books fall into a couple of genres, Thr3e being one of the different genres and I did like that book so I'll press on, but maybe not with his horror genre books.
Very good book. Love Ted Dekker and this book immediately peeked my interest and kept it throughout the whole thing.
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House is a supernatural thriller about seven people who end up in a house together. Shortly after arriving, odd things start happening and getting progressively worse. It culminates when a tin can is thrown into the house with three rules for the game.
1. God came to my house and I killed him
2. I will kill anyone who does to my house and I killed God
3. Give me one dead body, and I might let rule two slide
Now everyone in the house has to decide who to kill if anyone, and who is behind the tin can.
I'm sorry that my last few reviews have been negative ones, but this is another one I didn't love. I really wanted to read a good supernatural horror - I LOVE scary movies, especially when they have to do with demons/hauntings/possession, etc. Based on the description of this book, I thought I'd found a winner. I did not. I've heard great things about Ted Dekker, and this was my first book by him, and it was a let down. After I finished reading the book and composing my thoughts, I read a few reviews and it sounds like this was not his normal caliber of work, so I'm still open to giving him another chance.
To me, the book felt really convoluted. There were so many perspective jumps that it was hard to keep track of who was in which room of the house, and where each room led. You'd think that those things wouldn't matter, but so much of the book was spent talking about those things, that it kind of did. Also, on a more pedantic note, it bothered me that of the three "rules" only one could even sort of be interpreted as a rule. The other two were just statements!
For a book that is supposed to be a supernatural horror, I didn't feel scared, tense, or on edge at all. The characters fell flat to me and had little to no personality, and the personality they did have was crappy, so I wasn't really rooting for them to get out alive anyway. I was shocked at how many parts of the book felt boring.
Lastly, this book evolved into a completely different story than how it started. It was a blatant good vs. evil, god vs. the devil sort of story, with angels and the repenting your sins...the whole nine yards. I wasn't aware going in that the authors were writers of Christian books, and I want to be VERY clear that I have nothing at all against that, and that I only bring it up because had I known that going in, I could have guessed the ending and would have skipped this book all together. It never got preachy, which I appreciate, but the moral of the story was very clear.
Overall, this one just didn't do it for me. I don't read horror very often but after reading the first Mara Dyer book and expecting a book about a girl who was possessed (which it is not!) I've been in the mood for one. If you have a good scary horror book that you can recommend, let me know down in the comments!
House is a supernatural thriller about seven people who end up in a house together. Shortly after arriving, odd things start happening and getting progressively worse. It culminates when a tin can is thrown into the house with three rules for the game.
1. God came to my house and I killed him
2. I will kill anyone who does to my house and I killed God
3. Give me one dead body, and I might let rule two slide
Now everyone in the house has to decide who to kill if anyone, and who is behind the tin can.
I'm sorry that my last few reviews have been negative ones, but this is another one I didn't love. I really wanted to read a good supernatural horror - I LOVE scary movies, especially when they have to do with demons/hauntings/possession, etc. Based on the description of this book, I thought I'd found a winner. I did not. I've heard great things about Ted Dekker, and this was my first book by him, and it was a let down. After I finished reading the book and composing my thoughts, I read a few reviews and it sounds like this was not his normal caliber of work, so I'm still open to giving him another chance.
To me, the book felt really convoluted. There were so many perspective jumps that it was hard to keep track of who was in which room of the house, and where each room led. You'd think that those things wouldn't matter, but so much of the book was spent talking about those things, that it kind of did. Also, on a more pedantic note, it bothered me that of the three "rules" only one could even sort of be interpreted as a rule. The other two were just statements!
For a book that is supposed to be a supernatural horror, I didn't feel scared, tense, or on edge at all. The characters fell flat to me and had little to no personality, and the personality they did have was crappy, so I wasn't really rooting for them to get out alive anyway. I was shocked at how many parts of the book felt boring.
Lastly, this book evolved into a completely different story than how it started. It was a blatant good vs. evil, god vs. the devil sort of story, with angels and the repenting your sins...the whole nine yards. I wasn't aware going in that the authors were writers of Christian books, and I want to be VERY clear that I have nothing at all against that, and that I only bring it up because had I known that going in, I could have guessed the ending and would have skipped this book all together. It never got preachy, which I appreciate, but the moral of the story was very clear.
Overall, this one just didn't do it for me. I don't read horror very often but after reading the first Mara Dyer book and expecting a book about a girl who was possessed (which it is not!) I've been in the mood for one. If you have a good scary horror book that you can recommend, let me know down in the comments!
I read this as a teen and thought I remembered enjoying it. I got about 25% through it today and had to put it down. I don’t know if it’s the writing style but I just can’t. My first DNF of the year.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For having such a strong beginning, the ending fell flat for me. Not because the Christian aspect was unexpected but that it felt kind of weak. It essentially copied the gospel story but with a different cast of characters and in a very imperfect way.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I typically love Frank Peretti books but I did not enjoy this one as much. It was okay, but I wouldn't recommend it to others.
This book is definitely a wild ride that redefines what a haunted house can be. When two couples head to Alabama for a getaway, they end up in a creepy, abandoned house that traps them while a maniac killer stalks them. The house itself reveals their deepest fears and secrets, making it a chilling reflection of their struggles. With nonstop tension and surprising twists, this book keeps you hooked and makes you think about good and evil. If you’re into supernatural thrillers, this one’s definitely worth a read! PS: The movie is streaming on Prime and I rated it 4⭐️ as well!!
mysterious
fast-paced
Now this, in my opinion, comes very close to exactly what a horror novel should be. The scares are numerous and chilling (the scenes which take place inside Pete's room, especially involving poor Leslie and the tray of dog food, are among the most terrifying), and though the novel lags around the middle, the reader never tires of the almost endless suspense. Right from the beginning, the reader knows that something isn't quite right- Jack and Stephanie take a shortcut through a nearly deserted section of Alabama forest, only to run over a strip of nails in the road and subsequently stumble across a seemingly empty house. That's when the scares begin. Rancid food, a meat locker, a water pipe plugged with a human body, a shotgun-toting metal-masked serial killer, and a little girl whose voice skips like a broken record are only a few of the horrors that await them and their fellow survivors. The one and only criticism I have is that the characters could have been developed a bit more. People like Randy, Leslie, and the trio of religious maniacs who live inside the house are only a few examples of this. I could have asked for a bit more detail in this regard, but I'm more than willing to look past it, as I had genuine fun reading this. House is my first Dekker/Peretti novel, and both authors are both on my list for future reading. Well done!