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endlessreader's review
5.0
Okay, let me first start out by saying that I am fairly new to the "horror" genre. I've only read about six or seven horror novels in my lifetime and those were all within a year (2008-2009 year, in fact). There were some that I didn't find scary at all (yes, Amityville Horror, I'm glaring at you), but the majority of them I thought were great.
Alexandra's Sokoloff's "The Harrowing" (her first novel) was one of the great ones. I thought it was incredibly creepy and frankly, it scared the crap out of me. So, of course, I was excited to pick up her second novel "The Price" (which I picked up today). I love that her novels are quick reads (man, do they keep you turning the pages!); the author seems to understand that to tell a great horror story, you don't have to have a 1000+ page novel (yes, Stephen King's "IT"; that one's for you).
Anyway, at first, I was a little disappointed because while the first 50 pages were interesting, it really didn't spell out "horror" for me. That notion was changed pretty quickly while I delved in deeper into the story. While I do think that "The Harrowing" was scarier than "The Price", I definitely liked "The Price" better. It keeps you turning pages faster than "The Harrowing" (I finished that one in two days, but finished "The Price" in about four hours). I think it's more of a suspense novel, if anything. Don't get me wrong, it's still plenty creepy (you'll think so too once you read a certain "nun scene". Dude, nuns are already creepy to begin with, but this just made me that much more terrified of them), but the "creepy" factor was not what kept me turning pages.
What did keep me turning pages was the whole mystery of what exactly was happening in the hospital. Throughout most of this story I was thinking "What the hell is going on?!!!" I also kept reading because I was intrigued by the main character (moreso than "The Harrowing" since a couple of the characters in that one annoyed me to no end). While you are on Will's (the main character) side the entire time, you can't help, but wonder if he's going mad or if what's happening is real. It's that whole "What the hell is going on?!!!" thing all over again. The novel also raises an interesting question, "How far will you go to save a loved one?" The humanity factor is what made me like "The Price" more than "The Harrowing".
So, definitely pick up "The Price" (and "The Harrowing", too). It was creepy, heart-breaking, and suspenseful all in one. Alexandra Sokoloff is also coming out with another book in May. And for me, May cannot come fast enough.
Alexandra's Sokoloff's "The Harrowing" (her first novel) was one of the great ones. I thought it was incredibly creepy and frankly, it scared the crap out of me. So, of course, I was excited to pick up her second novel "The Price" (which I picked up today). I love that her novels are quick reads (man, do they keep you turning the pages!); the author seems to understand that to tell a great horror story, you don't have to have a 1000+ page novel (yes, Stephen King's "IT"; that one's for you).
Anyway, at first, I was a little disappointed because while the first 50 pages were interesting, it really didn't spell out "horror" for me. That notion was changed pretty quickly while I delved in deeper into the story. While I do think that "The Harrowing" was scarier than "The Price", I definitely liked "The Price" better. It keeps you turning pages faster than "The Harrowing" (I finished that one in two days, but finished "The Price" in about four hours). I think it's more of a suspense novel, if anything. Don't get me wrong, it's still plenty creepy (you'll think so too once you read a certain "nun scene". Dude, nuns are already creepy to begin with, but this just made me that much more terrified of them), but the "creepy" factor was not what kept me turning pages.
What did keep me turning pages was the whole mystery of what exactly was happening in the hospital. Throughout most of this story I was thinking "What the hell is going on?!!!" I also kept reading because I was intrigued by the main character (moreso than "The Harrowing" since a couple of the characters in that one annoyed me to no end). While you are on Will's (the main character) side the entire time, you can't help, but wonder if he's going mad or if what's happening is real. It's that whole "What the hell is going on?!!!" thing all over again. The novel also raises an interesting question, "How far will you go to save a loved one?" The humanity factor is what made me like "The Price" more than "The Harrowing".
So, definitely pick up "The Price" (and "The Harrowing", too). It was creepy, heart-breaking, and suspenseful all in one. Alexandra Sokoloff is also coming out with another book in May. And for me, May cannot come fast enough.
fastandcurious's review
3.0
This was a quick very suspenseful read. It read more like a movie, which makes sense being that the Author is also a screenwriter. This is not my normal read, because it is barely ever done right. Usually the build is good until half way through then it falls apart and gets weird and the ending is pretty much always a let down but no this one! It starts moving and doesn't stop. it has short chapters and something is always happening. Although I could guess most of this is was still an interesting, engaging, quick-paced read.
It starts off with our main character, Will Sullivan, Boston District Attorney & a Massachusetts Governor frontrunner. A man who has always had a known face and little trouble getting what he wants at this giant, town-like hospital complex (6 hospitals, Doctors condos, Hotels, Malls) with him and his wife being in the children's ward with their daughter who is very very sick and has a grapefruit sized tumor in her side. We get to meet other patients families and staff but it doesn't take long until the main character feels like something is off. He starts to see a dark, tall man, a counselor perhaps, talking to patients... one by one they start to get better but weird things are happening. Secret halls, moving statues, odd characters. Will sets off on a goose-hunt. He feels like he must just be going crazy. He's hasn't been sleeping and is buckling down, getting ready to lose his daughter but his wife's fragile state is making him worried she is going to break. I don't want to say much more and give anything away.
I only gave this a 3.5 because I don't feel like there is any re-read value here but if you can rent it or get a great bargain, it is totally worth it. It is well done.
It starts off with our main character, Will Sullivan, Boston District Attorney & a Massachusetts Governor frontrunner. A man who has always had a known face and little trouble getting what he wants at this giant, town-like hospital complex (6 hospitals, Doctors condos, Hotels, Malls) with him and his wife being in the children's ward with their daughter who is very very sick and has a grapefruit sized tumor in her side. We get to meet other patients families and staff but it doesn't take long until the main character feels like something is off. He starts to see a dark, tall man, a counselor perhaps, talking to patients... one by one they start to get better but weird things are happening. Secret halls, moving statues, odd characters. Will sets off on a goose-hunt. He feels like he must just be going crazy. He's hasn't been sleeping and is buckling down, getting ready to lose his daughter but his wife's fragile state is making him worried she is going to break. I don't want to say much more and give anything away.
I only gave this a 3.5 because I don't feel like there is any re-read value here but if you can rent it or get a great bargain, it is totally worth it. It is well done.
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