This book took a while to get going. In the end, it is a story of good vs. evil and supernatural terror. The book flashes between the past and the present: Stony's life as a teenager and then his life as an adult trying to make things right. Some pretty dreadful things happen and this book is pretty gory.

 

I finished this about a week ago, and unfortunately, I can't think of much else to say..

I like it okay, but I wasn't thrilled.

A dark and atmospheric novel of small town life and the evil that lives directly beneath the surface. It may have dragged a wee here and there, but it didn’t spin me out of the story and the slower interludes didn’t last long. Not that this is a fast novel to begin with…because it isn’t. It isn’t supposed to be. Mr. Clegg takes his time getting you familiar with the characters and the colorful backstory of Colony, West Virginia. And then all hell breaks loose...

Welcome home, Joe. We’ve been waiting. …All of us.

"We all scream because we are alive."

A dark and disturbing coming of age story about two boys vacationing on Gull Island who stake claim to a hidden shack in the woods that they call Neverland. It’s not all playboys and He Man Woman Haters Club stuff here. It gets progressively bleaker and more sinister as each chapter passes. Hidden histories and secrets are revealed. Gods and demons are brought out into the light and the fate of Beaus family and the entire town hangs in the balance.

I really dug this one from Douglas Clegg. I wasn’t sure where it was headed for the first half of the novel and it really did read much like a standard coming of age tale. Then it got crazy. Shit hit the fan and the paced quickened to a fever pitch right up until the end. Very well done with superbly drawn characters. I definitely need to read me some more Clegg.

Meh. That's pretty much my thoughts regarding this book. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it, either.

 

I do feel pretty let down, though. From the synopsis, I was expecting a truly scary tale. Sadly, that's not what I got. It wasn't frightening in the least. The characters were flat, the writing could be a bit scattered at times, and the explanation of what exactly was happening at the house was...well, I don't want to say confusing, because I could follow along with what was happening, but more complicated than it needed to be, maybe?

 

I did find the part where the constable was explaining the history of the house interesting, though. That's what bumped it up to a two-star read for me.

 

Doubt I'll go further with the series.

This was free on amazon the other day (with a different cover, btw), and I thought it sounded interesting, so I downloaded it.

 

I'm about halfway through, and so far my only feelings about it are, "Meh."