paracosm's review against another edition
1.0
I first read this book many years ago and just now I'm realizing it's a big pile of wasted potential. The main premise is that there's this house in the middle of the woods, inside the house there's a hallway full of doors, those doors are actually portals that allow you to travel in time. The portals change so you can always find new places to visit. That's an amazing premise, which makes it the only good thing about this book.
Let's start with the characters. They are the most cliché white family you can imagine. All of their interactions, which are at best boring and at worst cringy, feel artificial, like they are really bad actors following a terrible script.
The writing style is also bad, I remember there's a single paragrah in which the name of one of the characters is repeated seven times. The book is filled with pop-culture reference that are used instead of explaining things. For example, instead of telling you a hotel is spooky it explains that it's just like the Overlook Hotel from The Shinning. Pop-culture references can be fun, but only used with moderation.
It's so obvious that the author did zero research while writing his novel, which is a specially big problem for a book that is supposedly based on real events. It takes one single Google search to learn that combats in the Roman Colloseum had a strick reglament and weren't actually to death.
Now I'm gonna go into spoilers but I don't think it matters because the book is so bad. At the end a man comes out of one of the doors, kidnaps the mom and goes back. We learn that the same thing happened with the grandmother, so the dad came back to the house to find her. How did he was planning to do that? The grandmother could be literally in any point of recorded history and most likely dead. It's so dumb.There are another five books in the series and I don't know if I'm gonna re-read them.
Let's start with the characters. They are the most cliché white family you can imagine. All of their interactions, which are at best boring and at worst cringy, feel artificial, like they are really bad actors following a terrible script.
The writing style is also bad, I remember there's a single paragrah in which the name of one of the characters is repeated seven times. The book is filled with pop-culture reference that are used instead of explaining things. For example, instead of telling you a hotel is spooky it explains that it's just like the Overlook Hotel from The Shinning. Pop-culture references can be fun, but only used with moderation.
It's so obvious that the author did zero research while writing his novel, which is a specially big problem for a book that is supposedly based on real events. It takes one single Google search to learn that combats in the Roman Colloseum had a strick reglament and weren't actually to death.
Now I'm gonna go into spoilers but I don't think it matters because the book is so bad. At the end a man comes out of one of the doors, kidnaps the mom and goes back. We learn that the same thing happened with the grandmother, so the dad came back to the house to find her. How did he was planning to do that? The grandmother could be literally in any point of recorded history and most likely dead. It's so dumb.There are another five books in the series and I don't know if I'm gonna re-read them.
thereadingcat15's review against another edition
2.0
Full review link: https://thecatwithabook.wordpress.com/2018/11/04/book-review-house-of-dark-shadows/
asylumteaparty's review against another edition
4.0
This is a story about a family that moves in to a house where things aren't quite right.
Sure, it has been done before, but I felt that this book was really well executed. After finishing this book I'm still not sure it this is a sort of ghost story, like I expected it to be, or if this lands more in the science fiction category.
It was refreshing to have a male protagonist after reading so much young adult books with a female main character. I'm always a bit more hesitant going into books with male protagonist for some reason (I think I'm afraid not to be able to relate, which has actually never happened so this is a really stupid hang-up to have), but I'm really glad I started this book anyway.
I have never heard about this book, I just picked up the audiobook version of it because it was on sale and I thought what the hell. I'm really glad I did.
I liked Xander, our main protagonist a lot. He feels genuine and like a real person and I love the way he reacts to the stuff that happens around him. It feels very real and it made it easy to let myself get lost in the story. Xanders relationship with his little brother is also one of the things taht made this book good.
Although the premise for the book is not actually new, the story felt fresh and I didn't know what was coming. Sure, some of the time it was a bit obvious, but for the most part I found the story entertaining and believable. I also enjoyed all the references to pop culture. I actually thought this book was much more recent than it was. I was surprised to learn it was from 2008. The book is well written and feels fresh and I really want to continue this series.
Sure, it has been done before, but I felt that this book was really well executed. After finishing this book I'm still not sure it this is a sort of ghost story, like I expected it to be, or if this lands more in the science fiction category.
It was refreshing to have a male protagonist after reading so much young adult books with a female main character. I'm always a bit more hesitant going into books with male protagonist for some reason (I think I'm afraid not to be able to relate, which has actually never happened so this is a really stupid hang-up to have), but I'm really glad I started this book anyway.
I have never heard about this book, I just picked up the audiobook version of it because it was on sale and I thought what the hell. I'm really glad I did.
I liked Xander, our main protagonist a lot. He feels genuine and like a real person and I love the way he reacts to the stuff that happens around him. It feels very real and it made it easy to let myself get lost in the story. Xanders relationship with his little brother is also one of the things taht made this book good.
Although the premise for the book is not actually new, the story felt fresh and I didn't know what was coming. Sure, some of the time it was a bit obvious, but for the most part I found the story entertaining and believable. I also enjoyed all the references to pop culture. I actually thought this book was much more recent than it was. I was surprised to learn it was from 2008. The book is well written and feels fresh and I really want to continue this series.
scrapgirltc's review against another edition
3.0
Ok, I think I'm starting to dislike trilogies and series of books. It seems as though that is all I am reading these days, can't one of these books just end at the last page? *sigh*
my thoughts:
1. The prologue is amazing and it sucked me right in.
2. house sounds like a great layout and fun mystery
3. This book takes way too long to get moving
4. Author writes really well and makes you like the characters, if it wasn't for his good writing, I would have ditch the book right away.
5. seems like it was written already knowing it was going to be a LONG series.
6. felt like I was reading a tv show or movie
I don't know yet, I ordered the rest of the series since they were on bookcloseouts. I would honestly say this book is just ok. I am going to read the 2nd one but not right away. I'm too impatient and I like to know how things end or go, but I have a feeling the 2nd book will leave me feeling the same.
I will say the Author is a good writer, you can tell he has it in him to write something amazing, if he hasn't already.
my thoughts:
1. The prologue is amazing and it sucked me right in.
2. house sounds like a great layout and fun mystery
3. This book takes way too long to get moving
4. Author writes really well and makes you like the characters, if it wasn't for his good writing, I would have ditch the book right away.
5. seems like it was written already knowing it was going to be a LONG series.
6. felt like I was reading a tv show or movie
I don't know yet, I ordered the rest of the series since they were on bookcloseouts. I would honestly say this book is just ok. I am going to read the 2nd one but not right away. I'm too impatient and I like to know how things end or go, but I have a feeling the 2nd book will leave me feeling the same.
I will say the Author is a good writer, you can tell he has it in him to write something amazing, if he hasn't already.
ashkeyashkey's review against another edition
4.0
I read this series in high school and remember loving it. Definitely going to fly through the rest of these books just as quickly.
mackle13's review against another edition
2.0
This was an ok read, though I was expecting more horror, which it sort of started out as, but kind of turned into more of a dark-fantasy-adventure thing.
The biggest issues with the book are as follows:
1) The characters didn't feel fully developed and/or particularly realistic. Part of this might've been dialogue, but a lot of it was just interactions and things that just didn't feel real.
2) This book is mostly set-up for the series at large. It has no resolution and ends in a giant cliff-hanger. I read something which said this series is more like one long story broken into bits - and that's fine, and I've read series like that before, but there's usually at least a little bit of resolution per series, which bits dangling for continuation. It's annoying that you have to continue the series to get any resolution and, from what I gather, you sort of have to read all 8, because you're not going to get any kind of wrap up in the next book, either.
3) The writing was ok, but lacked any real style. I'd put it on the younger scale of YA, mostly because of the aforementioned lack of character depth, but also because the writing is a bit simplistic.
I didn't hate it, but I was never really wrapped up in it, either. Even when I had to put the book down in the middle of a moment which was meant to be suspenseful, I didn't feel particularly rushed about picking it back up.
Currently I'd say that I would continue the series, if I could find it at the library or something... but it's one of those ones I could see myself forgetting about entirely after a few months.
The biggest issues with the book are as follows:
1) The characters didn't feel fully developed and/or particularly realistic. Part of this might've been dialogue, but a lot of it was just interactions and things that just didn't feel real.
2) This book is mostly set-up for the series at large. It has no resolution and ends in a giant cliff-hanger. I read something which said this series is more like one long story broken into bits - and that's fine, and I've read series like that before, but there's usually at least a little bit of resolution per series, which bits dangling for continuation. It's annoying that you have to continue the series to get any resolution and, from what I gather, you sort of have to read all 8, because you're not going to get any kind of wrap up in the next book, either.
3) The writing was ok, but lacked any real style. I'd put it on the younger scale of YA, mostly because of the aforementioned lack of character depth, but also because the writing is a bit simplistic.
I didn't hate it, but I was never really wrapped up in it, either. Even when I had to put the book down in the middle of a moment which was meant to be suspenseful, I didn't feel particularly rushed about picking it back up.
Currently I'd say that I would continue the series, if I could find it at the library or something... but it's one of those ones I could see myself forgetting about entirely after a few months.
rosie66's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
mybookishdelights's review against another edition
4.0
This is an interesting concept for a story and a great beginning to a series! Mystery and thriller and fantasy all wrapped into one. Probably some other genres in there too. Definitely left me wanting more.
Challenges:
2017 Goodreads Challenge
Challenges:
2017 Goodreads Challenge
corar's review against another edition
4.0
Fifteen year old Xander is not happy about his family moving away from Pasadena to a small rural community that is known for bigfoot sightings. However, his is happy that the family found an old, abandoned house in the forest that is big enough for him to have his own room rather than having to share one with his twelve year old brother. The house is more than what it seems. The previous owners mysteriously disappeared and rumor has it that the father killed everyone and himself - but the bodies were never found. Now Xander is hearing strange things in the house, and seeing strange shadows that look like a large man stalking them. Xander and his brother decide to explore the house and try to discover the mystery surrounding it, but will they like what they find?
This was a fun young adult suspense novel. They house is creepy and interesting, but as more was revealed it became less scary and more fantastic. I really liked the relationship between the brothers, they didn't always get along but you could tell they really cared about each other. This novel is the first in the series and it really only sets the story for the rest of the series. Just as the story begins to take off it ends on a major cliffhanger. I would be interested in seeing where Liparulo takes the story and finding out more about the mysterious house.
This was a fun young adult suspense novel. They house is creepy and interesting, but as more was revealed it became less scary and more fantastic. I really liked the relationship between the brothers, they didn't always get along but you could tell they really cared about each other. This novel is the first in the series and it really only sets the story for the rest of the series. Just as the story begins to take off it ends on a major cliffhanger. I would be interested in seeing where Liparulo takes the story and finding out more about the mysterious house.
aimeebeth's review against another edition
4.0
The title and cover had me thinking it was going to be more of a horror book than a fantasy/adventure book. I still enjoyed how the story panned out even tho it was nothing like I was hoping it would be. I will continue the series!