mehsi's review
3.0
The second book, same house, same spooks, but this time a different POV, meet Marcel.
I was a bit unsure if I should read this book given that I just wasn’t a big fan of the previous book (too much repetitions, dumb decisions and more). But I wanted to give it a shot in the hopes that maybe someone could do something against Fiona.
In this one a new family has settled in our home, it is 10 years later and the road/street is a whole different thing now. People are living there. People are making their lives. HOWEVER, our family is in the house. Yep, the bad house. The one with the whispers, the cotton man (we all know who that is), and other creepy things going bump in the night (and when awoken also in the day). They ask their uncle, Marcel, to help out as they know he has done some other spooky things and helped out people. I was really curious to see what Marcel could do, especially when we found out that he still had a way of contacting and talking to his dead wife, Constance. Which I really loved btw, it was really sweet, though given the house it turned really creepy quite soon.
I have to say I wasn’t a fan of Marcel all the time. Instead of just being honest with the family, with his nephew, he kept lying to them. He kept telling things were fine. And that pissed me off. I get that he wants to make things sound a bit better, these people have been through enough, but it just didn’t right to me, it just came over to me as their fears weren’t real. Later on at least he confided in Joey, but yeah, it just didn’t make me happy. Plus, I am just not that much in rich characters who throw their money around like it is nothing.
I did like him doing research and us finding out more about Fiona, but at times I was just scratching my head, he kept a very one track mind on things. Never once did it cross his mind that there may be more ways to transport souls. He just kept his eye on an object. On one specific thing and he never once thought to consider his options. I mean really, you get so many warnings, you learn some horrific things and you keep to your but she is a poor little girl? Boy, please.
There are a lot more stupid decisions. Like for instance, I would have just burned down the house instead of ignoring all warning signs, all creepy things that went on. Haha, it seems drastic but given everything? Just burn it down. The ending just had me shaking my head and wondering why Marcel was being so dumb. I mean, all the warning signs went off for me. And the part where he made his choice just had me screaming at him.
There are still questions I have, like what was that handprint in the crawlspace that we saw in the first book? Does it mean something (given that there were things in the space I would say yes)? Will Fiona ever be stopped? Are there more things to what Fiona is and what she dragged with her?
But will I be reading the next book? Not sure, given the reviews the story doesn’t end there and I am just not in the mood for a never-ending story. Maybe I will give it a shot, for now it is a pass.
All in all, I did enjoy this book for quite some parts, but in the end just can’t give it more than 3 stars because of several dumb decisions and how Marcel was written. 3 stars is at least more positive than the 2.5 I gave the previous book. Haha.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I was a bit unsure if I should read this book given that I just wasn’t a big fan of the previous book (too much repetitions, dumb decisions and more). But I wanted to give it a shot in the hopes that maybe someone could do something against Fiona.
In this one a new family has settled in our home, it is 10 years later and the road/street is a whole different thing now. People are living there. People are making their lives. HOWEVER, our family is in the house. Yep, the bad house. The one with the whispers, the cotton man (we all know who that is), and other creepy things going bump in the night (and when awoken also in the day). They ask their uncle, Marcel, to help out as they know he has done some other spooky things and helped out people. I was really curious to see what Marcel could do, especially when we found out that he still had a way of contacting and talking to his dead wife, Constance. Which I really loved btw, it was really sweet, though given the house it turned really creepy quite soon.
I have to say I wasn’t a fan of Marcel all the time. Instead of just being honest with the family, with his nephew, he kept lying to them. He kept telling things were fine. And that pissed me off. I get that he wants to make things sound a bit better, these people have been through enough, but it just didn’t right to me, it just came over to me as their fears weren’t real. Later on at least he confided in Joey, but yeah, it just didn’t make me happy. Plus, I am just not that much in rich characters who throw their money around like it is nothing.
I did like him doing research and us finding out more about Fiona, but at times I was just scratching my head, he kept a very one track mind on things. Never once did it cross his mind that there may be more ways to transport souls. He just kept his eye on an object. On one specific thing and he never once thought to consider his options. I mean really, you get so many warnings, you learn some horrific things and you keep to your but she is a poor little girl? Boy, please.
There are a lot more stupid decisions. Like for instance, I would have just burned down the house instead of ignoring all warning signs, all creepy things that went on. Haha, it seems drastic but given everything? Just burn it down. The ending just had me shaking my head and wondering why Marcel was being so dumb. I mean, all the warning signs went off for me. And the part where he made his choice just had me screaming at him.
Spoiler
Like man, I can understand you want to be with your wife, but this is just a big fucking NOPE.There are still questions I have, like what was that handprint in the crawlspace that we saw in the first book? Does it mean something (given that there were things in the space I would say yes)? Will Fiona ever be stopped? Are there more things to what Fiona is and what she dragged with her?
But will I be reading the next book? Not sure, given the reviews the story doesn’t end there and I am just not in the mood for a never-ending story. Maybe I will give it a shot, for now it is a pass.
All in all, I did enjoy this book for quite some parts, but in the end just can’t give it more than 3 stars because of several dumb decisions and how Marcel was written. 3 stars is at least more positive than the 2.5 I gave the previous book. Haha.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
bmacenlightened's review
4.0
Really enjoyed listening to this ghost story. Combined relatable characters I found myself rooting for and solidly spooky happenings. Received code in exchange for honest review at my request. Recommended.
ruminations_reverie's review
3.0
A disappointing sequel. I was excited to read more on this story, but the ending to this installment left a lot to be desired. Picking up where the first book had left off, a new family had moved into the haunted home on Morgan Rd and was immediately tormented at every turn. They turn to their uncle, a man known to dabble in the supernatural, and ask him for help diagnosing and ridding the home of its spirits. He agrees, and sets off to help his young nephew and his family.
Pretty standard setup for a sequel. Having some background from the first book, I was hopeful to get a little more backstory and build on the creepiness factor that the first book did so well. From the start it was a much faster pace for the hauntings in the home. This was great except it was then halted for the mystery side of the story, diving into the background of the main malevolent spirit. This too was what I wanted, so for those wondering, where did the story go wrong. It was in the resolution to the main conflict. It was just too easy and not nearly as dramatic as the first book. Granted, the ending of the book eluded to a further cliffhanger, like any good book, but it was the lack of care put into the main resolution that didn't live up to my expectations.
The characters and setting were great, as they were in the first book. The mystery element behind this sequel was also a great addition, delving into the history of Fiona and the reasoning behind her lingering presence in this world. I will say that the amount of coincidental connections to the MC and the implication of fate into the story was perhaps a little too much. One unbelievable coincidence would be fine, but there were just too many. Also, the inclusion of the spirit of Uncle Marcel's late wife as an element to the story was a little hokey, but it did add an extra layer to the ending.
All-in-all the book was not bad, just not as good as its predecessor and I feel that the potential to continue on an interesting-enough story was ruined by the inclusion of too many new elements. The first book did well to take the standard setup for a horror haunting tale and didn't change too much. This book tried a little too hard to become a complex piece, and I feel it hurt it in the end. If you read the first book, give it a read, though I am not sure that there will be a third.
Pretty standard setup for a sequel. Having some background from the first book, I was hopeful to get a little more backstory and build on the creepiness factor that the first book did so well. From the start it was a much faster pace for the hauntings in the home. This was great except it was then halted for the mystery side of the story, diving into the background of the main malevolent spirit. This too was what I wanted, so for those wondering, where did the story go wrong. It was in the resolution to the main conflict. It was just too easy and not nearly as dramatic as the first book. Granted, the ending of the book eluded to a further cliffhanger, like any good book, but it was the lack of care put into the main resolution that didn't live up to my expectations.
The characters and setting were great, as they were in the first book. The mystery element behind this sequel was also a great addition, delving into the history of Fiona and the reasoning behind her lingering presence in this world. I will say that the amount of coincidental connections to the MC and the implication of fate into the story was perhaps a little too much. One unbelievable coincidence would be fine, but there were just too many. Also, the inclusion of the spirit of Uncle Marcel's late wife as an element to the story was a little hokey, but it did add an extra layer to the ending.
All-in-all the book was not bad, just not as good as its predecessor and I feel that the potential to continue on an interesting-enough story was ruined by the inclusion of too many new elements. The first book did well to take the standard setup for a horror haunting tale and didn't change too much. This book tried a little too hard to become a complex piece, and I feel it hurt it in the end. If you read the first book, give it a read, though I am not sure that there will be a third.
skyfox24kd's review
4.0
I don’t know which was better... the first or second.
This one was very freaky to say the very least. This one continues with the house, like the series title suggests.
If you want something creepy check these two in this series out so far. Very unusual spooky stuff. This isn’t your usual haunt.
I like Marcel as a main character so much better than I did Kevin in the first book; and even though he is older I feel I can identify with him a lot more.
This one was very freaky to say the very least. This one continues with the house, like the series title suggests.
If you want something creepy check these two in this series out so far. Very unusual spooky stuff. This isn’t your usual haunt.
I like Marcel as a main character so much better than I did Kevin in the first book; and even though he is older I feel I can identify with him a lot more.
paperbackstash's review against another edition
3.0
As is the case with every Ambrose Ibsen I've read so far, this was a good one. The main character is an elderly widower who misses his wife but has managed to keep established connection with her in the afterlife. This comes in handy when it comes to helping other ghosts move on --- until he comes to his nephew's haunted house. A bit confusing with a twist at the end, but I did not read the first book in series yet, so I may be missing some of the larger picture. It's not my favorite of his, but it was well written, had some creepy imagery, a backstory mystery that intrigued, and is recommended for haunted house fans.
chriszlol's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
reena2's review
3.0
I loved how the book progressed and the suspense had me turning the pages like there was no tomorrow. But I wasn't expecting the ending or rather I was dissappointed with the climax. Nevertheless the ending sure brought in the least expected twist. I surely enjoyed reading this book.
alwroteabook's review
3.0
A family believes their house to be haunted and turns to their uncle for help. Said uncle, Marcel, arrives at the house, and finding nothing amiss initially, endeavours to explain things by more rational means. But Marcel is no hardened cynic, and very much believes in ghosts, as he has contact with his dead wife. The spooks finally materialise, and they are as bad, if not worse, than previously advertised. Marcel sets out to discover who is haunting the house , and why, and it leads him down a rabbit hole of twists and turns that leads to a surprising end.
I haven't read part one of the book, but this seemed to work well as a standalone. The plot isn't particularly novel, but has some interesting turns. There were some nice touches, like the wife haunting a fountain pen, and they communicate through writing each other. This was an audio version, and the narrator did a good job adding life to Marcel. The story is pretty good, although not particularly scary, and it's reads more like a detective story as Marcel investigates the case.
Pretty good. Somewhere between 3-3.5 stars.
I haven't read part one of the book, but this seemed to work well as a standalone. The plot isn't particularly novel, but has some interesting turns. There were some nice touches, like the wife haunting a fountain pen, and they communicate through writing each other. This was an audio version, and the narrator did a good job adding life to Marcel. The story is pretty good, although not particularly scary, and it's reads more like a detective story as Marcel investigates the case.
Pretty good. Somewhere between 3-3.5 stars.
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