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pinkpicklez's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
breannehakey's review against another edition
4.0
"Alone" is a whirlwind of emotions and a truly thrilling read. It stands out from other thrillers because the main character, Seda has imaginary friend as a teenager. This imaginary friend tells her to do bad things. Can Seda resist the voice inside her head?
Seda's mother inherits an old mansion in the middle of nowhere. The family is dragged there in order to clean it up to sell. Upon arrival, Seda's mother decides that she would like to stay rather than take the family back to Boston.
A group of teens arrives at the home, stranded in the storm. Seda's mother accepts them into the home but strange things begin occuring.
This book left me staying up late at night, scaring me have to death. I highly recommend this book. The book is slightly gory at parts.
Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone
Seda's mother inherits an old mansion in the middle of nowhere. The family is dragged there in order to clean it up to sell. Upon arrival, Seda's mother decides that she would like to stay rather than take the family back to Boston.
A group of teens arrives at the home, stranded in the storm. Seda's mother accepts them into the home but strange things begin occuring.
This book left me staying up late at night, scaring me have to death. I highly recommend this book. The book is slightly gory at parts.
Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone
lovelykd's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC of [a:Cyn Balog's|1463436|Cyn Balog|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1213824260p2/1463436.jpg] book , Alone, via NetGalley. This advanced e-copy was granted in exchange for an honest review.***4.5 STARS ...for that ending alone.
What a ride! I swear this story kept me guessing until the bitter end ...and even now I find myself pleasantly surprised by all the clues I missed along the way.
Seda is a girl on the verge of a breakthrough or a breakdown--either was a possibility in this story. When Seda's horror-genre obsessed mother inherits a Murder-Mystery Inn, Seda is less than thrilled to take up occupancy at the creepy locale. However, she reluctantly goes along and hopes their stay won't last long.
As time ticks forward, it becomes clear to Seda that her family's stay at the house will be a lot longer than planned--perhaps permanent.
Seda slowly begins to detach from the world around her. She takes comfort only in the presence of her younger siblings and the possibility that someday she'll be able to return to the life she once knew. She's hanging on by a thread, but it's a strong enough one to keep her emotionally afloat...and then a group of uninvited teens arrive: placed on her doorstep courtesy of a car wreck and a snowstorm.
Their presence reawakens Seda's longing--breaking down her last wall of defense--and that's when things start to get very interesting.
The twists and turns the story took weren't of the "OMG" nature, but they certainly made you unsure for whom you should be rooting: The mother whose placating ways seem to only make life more unbearable for Seda? Seda, whose life is being spent in isolation? The unsuspecting teens who only wish to go home?
As you get deeper into the story, not one character reveals themselves to be above reproach; yet you find yourself wanting a heroine/hero to appear and make sense of it all--make it better.
About midway through, I'll admit, I thought I had it figured out: I'd gathered up all the clues, and followed the twisty arrows, and continued reading only to prove myself right; but, by the time the final page was turned, even I was questioning what was and wasn't the truth.
Alone, in my opinion, is a book about isolation, loneliness, and the ways both can play on the mind. If you've ever read the book--or seen its interesting adaptation--The Shining, you have an understanding of how such things can play upon the mind, making one question their own reality. Seda is not immune to such things, if anything, she's more susceptible to them because of her own internal struggles.
Seda proves to be a complex character, but she was also just a girl looking for something more than a house of horrors to fill in the details of her life. She wanted to have fun, and experience something befitting the biography of a "normal" teenage girl.
She begins to get a small taste of that with the arrival of the teens arrives; but their presence also exacerbates the demons within and makes her more aware of the struggle she's fought hard to keep at bay.
Highly recommend.
What a ride! I swear this story kept me guessing until the bitter end ...and even now I find myself pleasantly surprised by all the clues I missed along the way.
Seda is a girl on the verge of a breakthrough or a breakdown--either was a possibility in this story. When Seda's horror-genre obsessed mother inherits a Murder-Mystery Inn, Seda is less than thrilled to take up occupancy at the creepy locale. However, she reluctantly goes along and hopes their stay won't last long.
As time ticks forward, it becomes clear to Seda that her family's stay at the house will be a lot longer than planned--perhaps permanent.
Seda slowly begins to detach from the world around her. She takes comfort only in the presence of her younger siblings and the possibility that someday she'll be able to return to the life she once knew. She's hanging on by a thread, but it's a strong enough one to keep her emotionally afloat...and then a group of uninvited teens arrive: placed on her doorstep courtesy of a car wreck and a snowstorm.
Their presence reawakens Seda's longing--breaking down her last wall of defense--and that's when things start to get very interesting.
The twists and turns the story took weren't of the "OMG" nature, but they certainly made you unsure for whom you should be rooting: The mother whose placating ways seem to only make life more unbearable for Seda? Seda, whose life is being spent in isolation? The unsuspecting teens who only wish to go home?
As you get deeper into the story, not one character reveals themselves to be above reproach; yet you find yourself wanting a heroine/hero to appear and make sense of it all--make it better.
About midway through, I'll admit, I thought I had it figured out: I'd gathered up all the clues, and followed the twisty arrows, and continued reading only to prove myself right; but, by the time the final page was turned, even I was questioning what was and wasn't the truth.
Alone, in my opinion, is a book about isolation, loneliness, and the ways both can play on the mind. If you've ever read the book--or seen its interesting adaptation--The Shining, you have an understanding of how such things can play upon the mind, making one question their own reality. Seda is not immune to such things, if anything, she's more susceptible to them because of her own internal struggles.
Seda proves to be a complex character, but she was also just a girl looking for something more than a house of horrors to fill in the details of her life. She wanted to have fun, and experience something befitting the biography of a "normal" teenage girl.
She begins to get a small taste of that with the arrival of the teens arrives; but their presence also exacerbates the demons within and makes her more aware of the struggle she's fought hard to keep at bay.
Highly recommend.
littlem0use's review against another edition
5.0
So I think my brain just went on a roller coaster ride after this book. At first, I was skeptical because I was not sure where this book was going but let me tell you WOW, this book was amazing.
Alone is about Seda and her family. Her mother inherits a mansion that was used as a house of horrors if you will, the house has tons of rooms with creepy stories of past tenants, ect. Seda's mother decides to up and move her family into this home with the idea of renovating and selling., but she needs to have the perfect buyer, one who does not want to change the home of its creepy essence. That leads to the family staying there longer than Seda would like.
As winter approaches, a blizzard hits. Shortly after come a group of teens stranded In the storm which leads them to staying with Seda and her family. Seda is a little skeptical to them staying with the family, she fears something might happened to them. ( I'm trying not to spoil it for everyone) To entertain everyone Seda's mother sets up a murder mystery hunt which makes you wonder if what happens is a nightmare or some horrific reality.
Cyn Balog did a wonderful job with keeping the thrill and mystery alive in this book. I also enjoyed the little stories at the beginning of each chapter, it really gave more to the creep factor. This book was wonderful with how many twist and turns it took, one minute your thinking oh ok I know how this is going to end them BAM your hit with a twist, I loved it!
This book was a bundle of scary, creepy and curious. The plot, writing, characters, all of it was an unexpected pleasure. As I finished the book I was left speechless, I had to sit there for a second and process what just happened. This book kept me guessing and intrigued all the way through. 5 STARS!!!
Alone is about Seda and her family. Her mother inherits a mansion that was used as a house of horrors if you will, the house has tons of rooms with creepy stories of past tenants, ect. Seda's mother decides to up and move her family into this home with the idea of renovating and selling., but she needs to have the perfect buyer, one who does not want to change the home of its creepy essence. That leads to the family staying there longer than Seda would like.
As winter approaches, a blizzard hits. Shortly after come a group of teens stranded In the storm which leads them to staying with Seda and her family. Seda is a little skeptical to them staying with the family, she fears something might happened to them. ( I'm trying not to spoil it for everyone) To entertain everyone Seda's mother sets up a murder mystery hunt which makes you wonder if what happens is a nightmare or some horrific reality.
Cyn Balog did a wonderful job with keeping the thrill and mystery alive in this book. I also enjoyed the little stories at the beginning of each chapter, it really gave more to the creep factor. This book was wonderful with how many twist and turns it took, one minute your thinking oh ok I know how this is going to end them BAM your hit with a twist, I loved it!
This book was a bundle of scary, creepy and curious. The plot, writing, characters, all of it was an unexpected pleasure. As I finished the book I was left speechless, I had to sit there for a second and process what just happened. This book kept me guessing and intrigued all the way through. 5 STARS!!!
jstudle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kimbean25's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Like it wasn't that great of a book until the very very end and then it redeemed itself in like two pages, you go girl
sprout_monster's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very YA with silly crushes and cringey scenes, but the twist ending was totally worth it.
Also the focus is on the MC, so not much character development for any of the other characters.
Also the focus is on the MC, so not much character development for any of the other characters.
eclwonderland2006's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The plot twists in this book were amazing. Especially the ending. How can a book mess with my mind so much in the last two pages?! I'm still in shock from the ending. Loved the book. Read it in two days.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Murder
pikagaag's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
My favorite character deserved so much better ðŸ˜
luey03's review against another edition
3.0
For the longest time I had this book marked as a dnf, but now, I quite vividly remember how that ending pissed me off.