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saidtheraina's review against another edition
3.0
Seven kids are sent to a creepy location to be treated for their phobias.
I started my booktalk with the line "I think my therapist has given up on me." And I think a sad number of middle school kids can identify with the feeling that that invokes. This is often a creepy book, and it goes to places I wasn't expecting it to go. Patrick Carman isn't necessarily the most literary writer out there, but he knows how to hook a book. And horror is all the rage these days. I wanted to get deeper into the characters of the seven kids in this location, but the plot zips along and you don't get to know more than a couple of them very well.
Worth noting: [a:Patrick Arrasmith]'s illustrations at many of the chapter (or is it section?) heads are really really stunning.
I started my booktalk with the line "I think my therapist has given up on me." And I think a sad number of middle school kids can identify with the feeling that that invokes. This is often a creepy book, and it goes to places I wasn't expecting it to go. Patrick Carman isn't necessarily the most literary writer out there, but he knows how to hook a book. And horror is all the rage these days. I wanted to get deeper into the characters of the seven kids in this location, but the plot zips along and you don't get to know more than a couple of them very well.
Worth noting: [a:Patrick Arrasmith]'s illustrations at many of the chapter (or is it section?) heads are really really stunning.
sausome's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really good book ... all about a group of kids sent to a kind of bunker to be cured of fears that their therapist can't help them with. One kid hides while the others go into the bunker, and watches video feed of what's going on inside ... he knows what all of their fears are because he hacked into his therapist's computer files. He senses something strange going on, and has to figure it out before he gets caught, because they're looking for him. The twists and turns are intriguing, and gripping -- I read this book in a day, not able to set it down. The ultimate reveal is a bit shaky, but it doesn't ruin the book at all.
Some bit of advice -- if you read this book, skip the "epilogue" at the end. It's the author saying, "Hey, if you didn't get my mysterious, subtle hints about what's happened, let me lay it all out in the form of the main character reflecting on what happened". It's as if the author got eager about making sure the whole book was over-explained.
Some bit of advice -- if you read this book, skip the "epilogue" at the end. It's the author saying, "Hey, if you didn't get my mysterious, subtle hints about what's happened, let me lay it all out in the form of the main character reflecting on what happened". It's as if the author got eager about making sure the whole book was over-explained.
joyousreads132's review against another edition
3.0
I give the author props for conjuring up a group of characters whose seemingly normal temperaments belie the crippling fears they have within.
I give the author props for setting up a creepy world where you expect to be horrified at every turn.
I give the author props for writing pages upon pages of ominous scenarios, settings, and landscapes.
And as much as I want to say this book will the scare the pants out of you…I, unfortunately, cannot.
I don’t know why anyone would say this book can be classified as a thriller when it wasn’t even mildly so. I’m not trying to be a jerk by trivializing these kids’ fears but I felt like the entire set up was beyond over the top. The author made a fanfare out of everything - promising too much without really fulfilling. It was disappointing. I read…and read…and read and waited for that moment when my heart would skip a beat but it didn’t happen.
I’ll give you this: The twist near the end almost, ALMOST made reading this book worthwhile. However, it came out of the left field. It was one of those, ‘where the hell did that come from?’ moment. In the end, it was like the majority of the book was a fruitless practice because a major element of the plot was a surprise of an epic proportions. I think this is the first book I’ve ever read where the shock didn’t do much for me.
Incidentally, there’s an app for this book. It might enhance your reading experience better. As for me, I think I’ll pass. I’m sitting here and resisting the urge to pull my hair off their roots. I’ve read reviews for this book and I’m completely aghast that once again, y’all left me at the bus stop.
VERDICT: I don’t think I read the same book as everybody else. Or…there were some subliminal messages that I completely missed. All in all, this book was a disappointment and a half.
I give the author props for setting up a creepy world where you expect to be horrified at every turn.
I give the author props for writing pages upon pages of ominous scenarios, settings, and landscapes.
And as much as I want to say this book will the scare the pants out of you…I, unfortunately, cannot.
I don’t know why anyone would say this book can be classified as a thriller when it wasn’t even mildly so. I’m not trying to be a jerk by trivializing these kids’ fears but I felt like the entire set up was beyond over the top. The author made a fanfare out of everything - promising too much without really fulfilling. It was disappointing. I read…and read…and read and waited for that moment when my heart would skip a beat but it didn’t happen.
I’ll give you this: The twist near the end almost, ALMOST made reading this book worthwhile. However, it came out of the left field. It was one of those, ‘where the hell did that come from?’ moment. In the end, it was like the majority of the book was a fruitless practice because a major element of the plot was a surprise of an epic proportions. I think this is the first book I’ve ever read where the shock didn’t do much for me.
Incidentally, there’s an app for this book. It might enhance your reading experience better. As for me, I think I’ll pass. I’m sitting here and resisting the urge to pull my hair off their roots. I’ve read reviews for this book and I’m completely aghast that once again, y’all left me at the bus stop.
VERDICT: I don’t think I read the same book as everybody else. Or…there were some subliminal messages that I completely missed. All in all, this book was a disappointment and a half.
goodbetterbetsy's review against another edition
3.0
Will Besting is afraid. We don't know what he's afraid of, but his fear is strong enough that his psychiatrist is sending him to a special place with 6 other teens with strong irrational fears where they can finally be cured. But when it comes time to enter Fort Eden, Will hides. He knows something isn't right, he just can't figure out what it is. Will is able to observe the curing process from his hiding place and he's determined he will not go through it. But it's already too late.
I had heard pretty good things about Dark Eden. It was all right. It took me some time to get into it and then I zipped along pretty quickly. The story is definitely more plot driven then character driven. The story is also told so that only bits of information are leaked at a time. I know this is generally how storytelling goes, you can't give everything all at once, but this was kind of annoying. I hate when characters talk about something that you don't know and they keep bringing it up again and again and again and again and then when you finally find out what they're talking about it is a total let down. Avery's fear? Totally called it and it wasn't some great big thing like it was built up to be (at least it seemed like they were trying to build it up).
Overall, it was a good story. Not the best, not the worst. I would recommend this to readers who like thrillers and suspense.
I had heard pretty good things about Dark Eden. It was all right. It took me some time to get into it and then I zipped along pretty quickly. The story is definitely more plot driven then character driven. The story is also told so that only bits of information are leaked at a time. I know this is generally how storytelling goes, you can't give everything all at once, but this was kind of annoying. I hate when characters talk about something that you don't know and they keep bringing it up again and again and again and again and then when you finally find out what they're talking about it is a total let down. Avery's fear? Totally called it and it wasn't some great big thing like it was built up to be (at least it seemed like they were trying to build it up).
Overall, it was a good story. Not the best, not the worst. I would recommend this to readers who like thrillers and suspense.
sarahskorupa's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shighley's review against another edition
4.0
This book was not what I was expecting. I thought it would be more suspenseful, but that didn't hit so much until near the end, and then it became more creepy than anything else. I also didn't expect the big turns it took in the end, and the major plot reveal.
I will say that the marketing for this book, including http://enterdarkeden.com/home/ is very clever. The websites for Skeleton Creek have been a huge hit with our students, so they were wise to do this. I didn't go to the Eden site until after I had finished the book, because I wanted to visualize the characters and setting in my own way. Is the future of book marketing in creating apps to entice readers?
I'm sure my students will like this, although I'll admit I was a little disappointed, because I was expecting this to be a '5'.
I will say that the marketing for this book, including http://enterdarkeden.com/home/ is very clever. The websites for Skeleton Creek have been a huge hit with our students, so they were wise to do this. I didn't go to the Eden site until after I had finished the book, because I wanted to visualize the characters and setting in my own way. Is the future of book marketing in creating apps to entice readers?
I'm sure my students will like this, although I'll admit I was a little disappointed, because I was expecting this to be a '5'.
wisecraic's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
que_bella's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book! With this one, I tried to focus more on the writing techniques and how they impacted the story (the aspiring author in me decided to work on this smallish book and see if I could really do it ;). It worked pretty well. That is, until I got the the plot twist. (I would tell you but then I would spoil it!!!)
Anyways, I really learned some things about creating suspense (thanks Patrick Carman) and how to keep that 'Oh my gosh that did not just happen' going and turning it into 'That so did happen! What are they going to do now?!' and then getting to 'They did not! Oh yes they did!!' and so on. (thanks again Patrick Carman)
As I mentioned earlier, I did get pulled into the book. How can I not? However, you can only learn to write by reading, right? Well, I really learned a lot. Also, here's another thing: There are pictures! It really helped with the story (although when I was pages away from the final chapter I got some 'spoilers' (Doctor Who reference ;) from a friend). Anyways, all in all there was a lot to learn from this book and you can't ignore the plot. I really loved it!!
Will knows something is wrong from the start. He knows he's messed up, but he won't go through with it.
As Fort Eden comes into view, Will separates from the group and waits for his opportunity to enter the other bunker undetected. What he finds is a bomb shelter with computers hooked up to a security camera feed from inside the Fort where everyone else is. He gets more than he bargained for though. And that's not a good thing. Will he be able to come out of it alive, and what he knows?!?!?!?
READ IT AND WEEP! Ok, not really, but still read it. (You won't cry. I promise).
Anyways, I really learned some things about creating suspense (thanks Patrick Carman) and how to keep that 'Oh my gosh that did not just happen' going and turning it into 'That so did happen! What are they going to do now?!' and then getting to 'They did not! Oh yes they did!!' and so on. (thanks again Patrick Carman)
As I mentioned earlier, I did get pulled into the book. How can I not? However, you can only learn to write by reading, right? Well, I really learned a lot. Also, here's another thing: There are pictures! It really helped with the story (although when I was pages away from the final chapter I got some 'spoilers' (Doctor Who reference ;) from a friend). Anyways, all in all there was a lot to learn from this book and you can't ignore the plot. I really loved it!!
Will knows something is wrong from the start. He knows he's messed up, but he won't go through with it.
As Fort Eden comes into view, Will separates from the group and waits for his opportunity to enter the other bunker undetected. What he finds is a bomb shelter with computers hooked up to a security camera feed from inside the Fort where everyone else is. He gets more than he bargained for though. And that's not a good thing. Will he be able to come out of it alive, and what he knows?!?!?!?
READ IT AND WEEP! Ok, not really, but still read it. (You won't cry. I promise).
readingdolphin's review against another edition
3.0
I think overall it was a good book it just never really went anywhere. It was a really cool idea and I felt he could have built more off it and done more with it. So I guess I was kind of disappointed.
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Horror? No. Spooky? No. Suspenseful ... okay, I guess I'll accept that. I experienced this book in audiobook format, and admittedly, very broken up (10min here, 10min there) ... I think that made it a bit hard to follow (my own fault there). I really wasn't enjoying the book that much, but enough that I figured I'd finish. Little unexpected twist there at the end, which did make it more interesting, and had me leaving the story with a positive recollection. Portions will stick in my memory!