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Charla
A mother. A daughter. A demon.... How Does a Hot, Sexy Mother Who Hates Her Daughter Put Her Ultimate Plan Into Action?
There are many beautiful stories about mother/daughter relationships out there, but CHARLA isn't one of them! CHARLA is the story of a sexy mother who hates her daughter and manages to secretly bring her pain and discomfort. So creative is Charla in satisfying her unsettling needs, that even Amelie grew up unaware of her mother's deranged feelings towards her.
With Amelie all grown up now, it has become harder and harder for Charla to quench her morbid impulses without getting her hands dirty. So ... one lonely dawn, Charla experiences a very weird event that sparks the idea of summoning a demon to disrupt her twenty-five year old daughter's perfect, pretty little life. She puts the sick plan into action ... and the demon moves in....
There are many beautiful stories about mother/daughter relationships out there, but CHARLA isn't one of them! CHARLA is the story of a sexy mother who hates her daughter and manages to secretly bring her pain and discomfort. So creative is Charla in satisfying her unsettling needs, that even Amelie grew up unaware of her mother's deranged feelings towards her.
With Amelie all grown up now, it has become harder and harder for Charla to quench her morbid impulses without getting her hands dirty. So ... one lonely dawn, Charla experiences a very weird event that sparks the idea of summoning a demon to disrupt her twenty-five year old daughter's perfect, pretty little life. She puts the sick plan into action ... and the demon moves in....
256 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Alexander Beresford
2 books39 followersAlexander Beresford grew up in Los Angeles and part of the time in Maryland and Dallas. He now resides in South Florida with occasional escapes to a haunted cottage in Derbyshire England where he communicates with ghosts, drinks rum, and writes.
He is a National Writer's Association Short Fiction Award winner, a proud member of the Horror Writer's Association, and he studied Creative Writing at FIU with creative writing director/author Les Standiford. Alexander has written plays, screenplays, short stories, a novella, and "CHARLA" his first novel.
Join him on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlexanderTBeresford
He is a National Writer's Association Short Fiction Award winner, a proud member of the Horror Writer's Association, and he studied Creative Writing at FIU with creative writing director/author Les Standiford. Alexander has written plays, screenplays, short stories, a novella, and "CHARLA" his first novel.
Join him on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlexanderTBeresford
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 24, 2013
I was really nervous to start this book. I been putting it off cause I knew I was in for something....
First off if you are looking for a happy ever after then you mid as well not even read this book, cause you will not get it. This is different from what I have read recently. It's darker, scarier. My goodness I was going through so many different directions in this book. I had hopes then I lost all hope then I found my self on the edge of my seat looking for hope.
Charla is a deep fucked up in the head women. She hates her daughter, Amelie. I mean HATES her... She never wanted a daughter so when Charla found out she was pregnant she wanted a son. But you don't always get what you want. And, Charla sure in the hell didn't get what she wanted. For all of Amelie's life Charla has been wishing horrible things upon her.
Things are falling apart for Charla, Her husband left her and now she is stuck in her home with a daughter, that she wishes would just die. Then one stormy night Charla comes up with a plan. A dark plan to finally torture Amelie, she calls upon a demon to take out a plan to do whatever is necessarily. So the demon moves in on Amelie......
Then you go to Amelie, she seems like a sweet girl. You would think why the hell does her mother hate her so much. But Amelie has no clue of the feelings her mother shares for her. I found her more clueless, some of the things that happen you think why are you not seeing this. I wanted to shake Amelie so damn bad and yell at her to open her eyes.
This takes a dark physiological, tortured fest. There are so many things that I wanted to close my eyes at and not even read it. But the thing about this book is that regardless how distrubing this might be, I was hooked. I couldn't but the book down regardless what I try to do. I knew I was stuck until the very last page.
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I find my self looking around waiting for something to jump out at me.
Charla will be with me for sometime. I just know I will be thinking about this book before I go to sleep and will want to sleep with the lights on. I already find my self turning lights on when I walk into a room. Yeah it got me that bad. I love horror books and movies but after words I am the biggest chicken you will see. I will be scared for several days if it's a good one. And this my friends is a good one.
If you are looking for something darker, different, that will keep you at the edge of your seat then this is the book for you.
I was provided a copy of this book by the Author for exchanged for an honest review.
For more of my reviews go to http://ambersreadingroom.blogspot.com
First off if you are looking for a happy ever after then you mid as well not even read this book, cause you will not get it. This is different from what I have read recently. It's darker, scarier. My goodness I was going through so many different directions in this book. I had hopes then I lost all hope then I found my self on the edge of my seat looking for hope.
Charla is a deep fucked up in the head women. She hates her daughter, Amelie. I mean HATES her... She never wanted a daughter so when Charla found out she was pregnant she wanted a son. But you don't always get what you want. And, Charla sure in the hell didn't get what she wanted. For all of Amelie's life Charla has been wishing horrible things upon her.
Things are falling apart for Charla, Her husband left her and now she is stuck in her home with a daughter, that she wishes would just die. Then one stormy night Charla comes up with a plan. A dark plan to finally torture Amelie, she calls upon a demon to take out a plan to do whatever is necessarily. So the demon moves in on Amelie......
Then you go to Amelie, she seems like a sweet girl. You would think why the hell does her mother hate her so much. But Amelie has no clue of the feelings her mother shares for her. I found her more clueless, some of the things that happen you think why are you not seeing this. I wanted to shake Amelie so damn bad and yell at her to open her eyes.
This takes a dark physiological, tortured fest. There are so many things that I wanted to close my eyes at and not even read it. But the thing about this book is that regardless how distrubing this might be, I was hooked. I couldn't but the book down regardless what I try to do. I knew I was stuck until the very last page.
[image error]
I find my self looking around waiting for something to jump out at me.
Charla will be with me for sometime. I just know I will be thinking about this book before I go to sleep and will want to sleep with the lights on. I already find my self turning lights on when I walk into a room. Yeah it got me that bad. I love horror books and movies but after words I am the biggest chicken you will see. I will be scared for several days if it's a good one. And this my friends is a good one.
If you are looking for something darker, different, that will keep you at the edge of your seat then this is the book for you.
I was provided a copy of this book by the Author for exchanged for an honest review.
For more of my reviews go to http://ambersreadingroom.blogspot.com
February 17, 2013
Charla hates her daughter, Amelie. In passive-aggressive Mommy Dearest style, she tries to make her daughter's life as miserable as possible while keeping up the front of loving mother. However, as Amelie grows up relatively undaunted and Charla's own marriage begins to crumble, Charla decides she needs to bring out the big guns.
Alexander's demonic romp titled Charla is a mean little book. It is deliciously mean in the way of Desperate Housewives meets The Exorcist. It is horrific with a slight touch of dark comedy. Half the time, I didn't know whether to hate Charla because she is so evil or root for her because she is so epically evil. On the other hand, I didn't know whether to root for Amelie because she is so nice and undeserving of her fate or kick her in the butt hoping to knock the Pollyanna out of her. In other words, the author's depiction of his characters were strong enough for me to care about but complex enough for me to become caught off balance in the terrifying action that was bound to occur. Overall, it is a delightful excursion in demonic horror fiction with a strangely satisfying ending. I recommend this novel to anyone looking for something a little different in the horror genre.
Alexander's demonic romp titled Charla is a mean little book. It is deliciously mean in the way of Desperate Housewives meets The Exorcist. It is horrific with a slight touch of dark comedy. Half the time, I didn't know whether to hate Charla because she is so evil or root for her because she is so epically evil. On the other hand, I didn't know whether to root for Amelie because she is so nice and undeserving of her fate or kick her in the butt hoping to knock the Pollyanna out of her. In other words, the author's depiction of his characters were strong enough for me to care about but complex enough for me to become caught off balance in the terrifying action that was bound to occur. Overall, it is a delightful excursion in demonic horror fiction with a strangely satisfying ending. I recommend this novel to anyone looking for something a little different in the horror genre.
February 13, 2013
Charla Is a selfish twisted mother, A mother that always hurt her daughter as a child but didnt come right out and abuse her. She'd pull her hair while brushing and other ways of hurting her daughter Amelie didnt know what she was doing. Charla's husband divorced her and she really went mad, she couldnt stand to see Amelie happy so she summoned an evil spirit to come in the house and break Amelie. Amelie goes through hell and Charla gets taught a lesson this book was so scary it gave me the creeps. I was afraid to read this book when it had a warning not to read out loud what Charla says to get the evil spirit to enter her home. I just skipped over that real quick I didnt even read those words.This book was awesome Ive been reading a lot of horror and this really nailed it for me. It had me hooked I could barely put it down.
February 28, 2013
*Let me start by thanking Alexander Beresford for providing this novel to me. It was a treat to read and I'm sure it will haunt me for days to come.
Charla is the story of a mother who is hell-bent on making her daughter Amelie's life a living hell. She's so intent on causing as much pain and discord for Amelie that she summons a demon into their home to do her dirty work for her. Before long, the demon does his job, all too well, and Amelie's blissful existance begins to crumble. The novel is short so I don't want to give too much away but yes! Amelie goes through it all because her mother hates her (has always hated her) and what she feels is Amelie's "perfect" life.
Beresford does a great job at fully developing Charla so much so that I actually feel sorry for her. I know she's evil, bitter, insane, cunning and in no way deserving of my sympathy but anyone with that much hate and guile makes me feel sorry for them. To be consumed with that much animosity takes the life out of any normal person and frankly is too much energy and time wasted. I also feel like Charla is a coward. She shouldn't have enlisted the help of a demon to cause her daughter harm. She should have had the courage to do it her self and live with the consequences of those actions. Instead she places blame on others around her even when the evidence of her intent is obvious to certain onlookers. I also wish I had a little more info on her relationship with her own mother.
Amelie, a dimensional character as well, rightfully has my sympathy. She is in her early 20s and has no clue that her mother despises her. It goes against everyone's idea of a mother. Mother's are supposed to take care of us, be affected when we're in pain and not be the cause of it. I also feel that she's gullible in this sense or at the least blinded by her own love for her mother. It's hard to admit the one we love is causing us the most pain. She didn't know her mother was scheming against her, but is it really possible to be that naive? Her father was able to see her mother for the manipulative bit#& that she is, so I'm concerned with why she wasn't able to.
I feel that this horror novel deals with a lot of themes and issues that are prevalent in society. The relationship of a mother and daughter and what it's supposed to be. The hate that we let into our homes. Trust, honesty, and envy are all there. Beresford is able to make these issues relevant in an extremely fast paced, fun horror novel. These evils we invite in our homes manifest in the worse ways possible and ultimately destroy our lives. So in conclusion, I am happy I read this book and I can't wait until his next book comes out. I thank him once more for providing the book. I recommend this book to fans of horror novels and are into the whole psycho mother thing. They are in for a treat.
Charla is the story of a mother who is hell-bent on making her daughter Amelie's life a living hell. She's so intent on causing as much pain and discord for Amelie that she summons a demon into their home to do her dirty work for her. Before long, the demon does his job, all too well, and Amelie's blissful existance begins to crumble. The novel is short so I don't want to give too much away but yes! Amelie goes through it all because her mother hates her (has always hated her) and what she feels is Amelie's "perfect" life.
Beresford does a great job at fully developing Charla so much so that I actually feel sorry for her. I know she's evil, bitter, insane, cunning and in no way deserving of my sympathy but anyone with that much hate and guile makes me feel sorry for them. To be consumed with that much animosity takes the life out of any normal person and frankly is too much energy and time wasted. I also feel like Charla is a coward. She shouldn't have enlisted the help of a demon to cause her daughter harm. She should have had the courage to do it her self and live with the consequences of those actions. Instead she places blame on others around her even when the evidence of her intent is obvious to certain onlookers. I also wish I had a little more info on her relationship with her own mother.
Amelie, a dimensional character as well, rightfully has my sympathy. She is in her early 20s and has no clue that her mother despises her. It goes against everyone's idea of a mother. Mother's are supposed to take care of us, be affected when we're in pain and not be the cause of it. I also feel that she's gullible in this sense or at the least blinded by her own love for her mother. It's hard to admit the one we love is causing us the most pain. She didn't know her mother was scheming against her, but is it really possible to be that naive? Her father was able to see her mother for the manipulative bit#& that she is, so I'm concerned with why she wasn't able to.
I feel that this horror novel deals with a lot of themes and issues that are prevalent in society. The relationship of a mother and daughter and what it's supposed to be. The hate that we let into our homes. Trust, honesty, and envy are all there. Beresford is able to make these issues relevant in an extremely fast paced, fun horror novel. These evils we invite in our homes manifest in the worse ways possible and ultimately destroy our lives. So in conclusion, I am happy I read this book and I can't wait until his next book comes out. I thank him once more for providing the book. I recommend this book to fans of horror novels and are into the whole psycho mother thing. They are in for a treat.
February 25, 2013
How far would you go to attack those you resent? Does your past define your future? Is the pain you receive an excuse for terrible deeds?
Charla, Alexander Beresford's first novel, takes these questions, asks them, and answers them in revoltingly, disturbingly fun fashion.
Charla is a woman deranged. Sure, she may seem sane, but her broken past, her shattered marriage, and her resentment of the perfect, easy life that her daughter Amelie dances through have corrupted her to the core. She HATES her daughter for the goodness life has shown her. After Charla's marriage is broken and over, she decides that since she has nothing to lose, she will follow the one path her twisted heart leads -- the torturous suffering of her daughter and the destruction of the life that Amelie holds dear. She does something drastic -- she calls forth a creature of the depths of evil and sets it loose on Amelie's world.
Beresford has crafted an interesting tale of betrayal and lust. It plays on the simplest of fears -- that thing you see out of the corner of your eye, that thing lurking in the shadows, that howling more-than-wind, that thing your pet freaks out to when there's nothing visibly there, that presence that invades your space but doesn't reveal itself fully.
Aside from a few grammatical errors and a run-on or two, the writing and pacing are in good form.
I very much enjoyed Beresford's tale. My only complaint is the ending, as it leaves much to the imagination (which I also really like! open-ended!) and the random and unnecessary mention of demon sperm in a drink at one point in the story. I thought maybe it would have an importance later in the book, but it didn't. It felt put in for the sake of something gross, and wasn't needed.
I would like to thank Mr. Beresford not only for the intriguing and enjoyable read, but for gifting me the copy for an honest review.
I look forward to seeing him write another creepy tale.
Charla, Alexander Beresford's first novel, takes these questions, asks them, and answers them in revoltingly, disturbingly fun fashion.
Charla is a woman deranged. Sure, she may seem sane, but her broken past, her shattered marriage, and her resentment of the perfect, easy life that her daughter Amelie dances through have corrupted her to the core. She HATES her daughter for the goodness life has shown her. After Charla's marriage is broken and over, she decides that since she has nothing to lose, she will follow the one path her twisted heart leads -- the torturous suffering of her daughter and the destruction of the life that Amelie holds dear. She does something drastic -- she calls forth a creature of the depths of evil and sets it loose on Amelie's world.
Beresford has crafted an interesting tale of betrayal and lust. It plays on the simplest of fears -- that thing you see out of the corner of your eye, that thing lurking in the shadows, that howling more-than-wind, that thing your pet freaks out to when there's nothing visibly there, that presence that invades your space but doesn't reveal itself fully.
Aside from a few grammatical errors and a run-on or two, the writing and pacing are in good form.
I very much enjoyed Beresford's tale. My only complaint is the ending, as it leaves much to the imagination (which I also really like! open-ended!) and the random and unnecessary mention of demon sperm in a drink at one point in the story. I thought maybe it would have an importance later in the book, but it didn't. It felt put in for the sake of something gross, and wasn't needed.
I would like to thank Mr. Beresford not only for the intriguing and enjoyable read, but for gifting me the copy for an honest review.
I look forward to seeing him write another creepy tale.
February 21, 2013
Charla
Written by: Alexander Beresford
The story focuses around a mother with a daughter names Amelia that she absolutely can't stand. Her hate stems from Amelia not being born a boy. That and seemingly voluminous jealousy for a multitude of reasons.
Typically when I finish a book, I revel in the scary bits. Reflecting in all my favorite pieces. A good horror book should leave you feeling a bit jumpy. Feeling a strong need to flip a few lights on. The story is dark tale of demonic possession and thoroughly terrifying. When I finished this book, I needed to watch several episodes of friends just to lighten the atmosphere. I'm quite sure I'm not going to want to spend an ounce of time alone for quite a few days. More so, I'd like nothing better than to slam a proverbial steel door in my mind to block out the scarier pages. I haven't read a book of this caliber in some time.
In Beresford's prologue he jokes (?) that the incantation at the end of chapter 2 mustn't be read out loud. When I realized I was reading it...I immediately quit reading and moved along to the next page.
This novel is filled with terror, intrigue, disdain, jealousy and corruption. It grabbed my attention from the first page, and even after finishing it hours ago...it still lingering within me. When a book is so powerful it stays with you days after reading it, well, I'm not sure what more you could ask for in a book.
The ending, for me, was a bit of a disappointment as it left some questions unanswered. Does it make it less than 5 stars for me? Absolutely not! If you'd like a book that will leave you uneasy and unreasonably fearful, then this is the book for you!!
(I received this book as a gift from the author for a honest review.)
Written by: Alexander Beresford
The story focuses around a mother with a daughter names Amelia that she absolutely can't stand. Her hate stems from Amelia not being born a boy. That and seemingly voluminous jealousy for a multitude of reasons.
Typically when I finish a book, I revel in the scary bits. Reflecting in all my favorite pieces. A good horror book should leave you feeling a bit jumpy. Feeling a strong need to flip a few lights on. The story is dark tale of demonic possession and thoroughly terrifying. When I finished this book, I needed to watch several episodes of friends just to lighten the atmosphere. I'm quite sure I'm not going to want to spend an ounce of time alone for quite a few days. More so, I'd like nothing better than to slam a proverbial steel door in my mind to block out the scarier pages. I haven't read a book of this caliber in some time.
In Beresford's prologue he jokes (?) that the incantation at the end of chapter 2 mustn't be read out loud. When I realized I was reading it...I immediately quit reading and moved along to the next page.
This novel is filled with terror, intrigue, disdain, jealousy and corruption. It grabbed my attention from the first page, and even after finishing it hours ago...it still lingering within me. When a book is so powerful it stays with you days after reading it, well, I'm not sure what more you could ask for in a book.
The ending, for me, was a bit of a disappointment as it left some questions unanswered. Does it make it less than 5 stars for me? Absolutely not! If you'd like a book that will leave you uneasy and unreasonably fearful, then this is the book for you!!
(I received this book as a gift from the author for a honest review.)
June 29, 2012
Alexander Beresford's debut novel is a chilling psychological horror that left me wondering what is 'real' in this world and what is unseen. Charla is a mother unlike any you may have known. Abandoned by her father, ignored by her mother, Charla has lived a life of drugs, alcohol and torment. Watching her daughter grow up in a world of privilege and promise has pushed Charla to her limit and after a sleepless night fueled by drinking, anger and jealousy, she summons a demon to give her daughter Amelie a taste of a pain filled life.
This novel explores a realm that may make you feel uncomfortable, a world where motherly love and devotion is not natural or automatic. Where a mother loathes her offspring so deeply she might long for their painful demise. Our own flesh and blood is sacred. Or so it is what we are lead to believe is the norm.
I loved the feel of Charla in my hands, the fluidity of the cover and the glorious fonts used in the beginning pages made sure it was never far from my side. You could read this in one sitting quite easily, but I enjoyed pacing myself and musing on each section. The ending is excellent and I felt fulfilled and excited at the thought of 'what it might all mean'.
Charla is an enthralling decent into the occult and family dysfunction. Highly recommended.
This novel explores a realm that may make you feel uncomfortable, a world where motherly love and devotion is not natural or automatic. Where a mother loathes her offspring so deeply she might long for their painful demise. Our own flesh and blood is sacred. Or so it is what we are lead to believe is the norm.
I loved the feel of Charla in my hands, the fluidity of the cover and the glorious fonts used in the beginning pages made sure it was never far from my side. You could read this in one sitting quite easily, but I enjoyed pacing myself and musing on each section. The ending is excellent and I felt fulfilled and excited at the thought of 'what it might all mean'.
Charla is an enthralling decent into the occult and family dysfunction. Highly recommended.
February 17, 2013
This review can also be seen on www.topoftheheapreviews.com
From page one, Alexander grabs you with his opening line, “She’d always hated her daughter.” And from there you get to know just how much.
Charla is a woman who was beautiful, but had a hard life abused by men, left on her own to fend for herself, and wanting so much more from life. When she became pregnant she was told she would have a son. She wanted a son, but she got a daughter, Amelie. Her feelings from when she was younger came back. All the men she’d slept with to make ends meet, the abuse, the loneliness, everything she tried to forget. Rather than projecting a sense, of “my daughter will not have that life”, she gets jealous because she wouldn’t have that life. Her resentfulness became abuse. Nothing that could be proven though. She’d leave the water on too hot or cold, accidentally trip her when she was learning to walk, etc.
But when her husband Brandon came to her and wanted a divorce, that put the nail in the coffin. He had waited until Amelie was an adult so that it wouldn’t be so hard on their daughter. So again, because of her, she was in a loveless marriage to protect her daughter.
This time she takes matters to the extreme, and uses her background in the occult to summon a demon to cause her pain and make her life uncomfortable.
The setup of the story is engaging. You wonder what this demon will do. What depths of depravity will Charla go to in order to torment her daughter? But from there it starts to go downhill for me.
For one, is the character of Ameile. She supposed to be 25 years old. However the entire book, I never got that feeling. In the writing and the actions of those around her, she seemed very much like a teenager, not an adult. Once scene in particular was when the demon had shattered some glass and a shard slit her wrist. She called her fiance, they go to the hospital, and the doctor requests that she stay for observation. However, Ameile is of sound body and mind, even has a recorded message saying what happened and was obviously not trying to kill herself. However the doctor says he’ll leave it up to the mother to decide if she should be admitted for observation. Doesn’t make sense, she’s an adult. Her mother can’t legally make that decision with everything that was presented. But because her mother says so, she’s forced against her will to be admitted. Another instance was when Charla was looking for a good psychiatrist, one that would fit her needs, to see Ameile. Again, if she doesn’t want to see him, she doesn’t have to.
Then there was her friend, who was some sort of medium, or psychic using a Ouija board to summon the spirit of her grandmother who died recently. The interactions between the two were just very juvenile. Not something I would expect of two adults. All of this points to her being more of a teenager than an adult with a fiance. So fighting between what was written on the page, and how it was presented became a problem moving forward.
The same can be said for Michael, her fiance. He’s had an affair and even a fling with her mother. But he wasn’t on the page enough to really matter. In fact, you could have gotten rid of the character all together and it wouldn’t make a bit of difference but for a couple scenes that could have been thrown out.
Then you have the demon itself. He/It makes its appearance known through some shadows or forces. Even pushing her father Brandon down the stairs and breaking his neck. But the only time he seems to physically manifest itself is when it wants to have sex. Yep. You read that right. To me it was sex for sex sake, and add absolutely nothing to the story. I didn’t feel sorry for the people he was forcing himself on. And the descriptions didn’t make me shudder or cringe. It would have been better if he mentally tormented them, rather than being a horny demon who wants to have sex with every woman in the book (except for Ameile’s friend).
With all that said, the book flows well from scene to scene. The bit of action was well done, and the suspense surrounding the demon and what was happening before it manifested itself and raped everything that moved was good. I think Alexander Beresford has promise as an author. Characterization needs to be worked on for the next book in my opinion, but it’ll be interesting to watch him grow as a writer and see how he can turn good ideas like this into very compelling reads.
From page one, Alexander grabs you with his opening line, “She’d always hated her daughter.” And from there you get to know just how much.
Charla is a woman who was beautiful, but had a hard life abused by men, left on her own to fend for herself, and wanting so much more from life. When she became pregnant she was told she would have a son. She wanted a son, but she got a daughter, Amelie. Her feelings from when she was younger came back. All the men she’d slept with to make ends meet, the abuse, the loneliness, everything she tried to forget. Rather than projecting a sense, of “my daughter will not have that life”, she gets jealous because she wouldn’t have that life. Her resentfulness became abuse. Nothing that could be proven though. She’d leave the water on too hot or cold, accidentally trip her when she was learning to walk, etc.
But when her husband Brandon came to her and wanted a divorce, that put the nail in the coffin. He had waited until Amelie was an adult so that it wouldn’t be so hard on their daughter. So again, because of her, she was in a loveless marriage to protect her daughter.
This time she takes matters to the extreme, and uses her background in the occult to summon a demon to cause her pain and make her life uncomfortable.
The setup of the story is engaging. You wonder what this demon will do. What depths of depravity will Charla go to in order to torment her daughter? But from there it starts to go downhill for me.
For one, is the character of Ameile. She supposed to be 25 years old. However the entire book, I never got that feeling. In the writing and the actions of those around her, she seemed very much like a teenager, not an adult. Once scene in particular was when the demon had shattered some glass and a shard slit her wrist. She called her fiance, they go to the hospital, and the doctor requests that she stay for observation. However, Ameile is of sound body and mind, even has a recorded message saying what happened and was obviously not trying to kill herself. However the doctor says he’ll leave it up to the mother to decide if she should be admitted for observation. Doesn’t make sense, she’s an adult. Her mother can’t legally make that decision with everything that was presented. But because her mother says so, she’s forced against her will to be admitted. Another instance was when Charla was looking for a good psychiatrist, one that would fit her needs, to see Ameile. Again, if she doesn’t want to see him, she doesn’t have to.
Then there was her friend, who was some sort of medium, or psychic using a Ouija board to summon the spirit of her grandmother who died recently. The interactions between the two were just very juvenile. Not something I would expect of two adults. All of this points to her being more of a teenager than an adult with a fiance. So fighting between what was written on the page, and how it was presented became a problem moving forward.
The same can be said for Michael, her fiance. He’s had an affair and even a fling with her mother. But he wasn’t on the page enough to really matter. In fact, you could have gotten rid of the character all together and it wouldn’t make a bit of difference but for a couple scenes that could have been thrown out.
Then you have the demon itself. He/It makes its appearance known through some shadows or forces. Even pushing her father Brandon down the stairs and breaking his neck. But the only time he seems to physically manifest itself is when it wants to have sex. Yep. You read that right. To me it was sex for sex sake, and add absolutely nothing to the story. I didn’t feel sorry for the people he was forcing himself on. And the descriptions didn’t make me shudder or cringe. It would have been better if he mentally tormented them, rather than being a horny demon who wants to have sex with every woman in the book (except for Ameile’s friend).
With all that said, the book flows well from scene to scene. The bit of action was well done, and the suspense surrounding the demon and what was happening before it manifested itself and raped everything that moved was good. I think Alexander Beresford has promise as an author. Characterization needs to be worked on for the next book in my opinion, but it’ll be interesting to watch him grow as a writer and see how he can turn good ideas like this into very compelling reads.
June 11, 2014
Have you ever read the synopsis/blurb of a book, then a number of reviews about a book and think ‘Well that book sounds like something I’d quite enjoy reading?’ only to find that when you read the book, it feels like those reviews and that synopsis were about a completely different book!?
That’s how I feel about Charla.
The premise was strong – a mother who hates her daughter so much she summons a demon to cause her pain – but the reality of it was a mentally deranged woman who took pleasure in fantasising about hurting her daughter, who dabbled in the occult and was a full-blown alcoholic.
The characters were flat and hopelessly cliché: Amelie was a fairly brainless bimbo, who was quite naive. Her father was the typical rich tycoon, a hopelessly handsome, powerful man who fixed the bad things in his life by throwing money at it (he was well endowed too, just in case you wanted to know if he also fit that mould). Amelie’s best friend, whose name escapes me and I just finished the book, was supposedly some sort of practicing wiccan/medium who was largely ineffective against the demon and the fiancé, well he was a special piece of work.
However, I would have overlooked a lot of the failings of the characters if I got a good scare out of the story, if I felt an ounce of terror make its way into my brain or felt myself get a bit jumpy at every-day noises. Alas, the supposed creepiness was completely missing. Not a single scene caused shivers up my spine or the hairs on the back of my neck to rise. I didn’t feel scared, I didn’t need the lights on, nor did I feel the need to check over my shoulder. What an epic let down!
The demon could have been a rather fun and creepy character to play with, emotionally, physically and mentally, but it all just fell short. Outside of a few oddly placed shadows and some partial apparitions, his/its appearance was mostly for show. I felt a deeper sense of creepiness coming from the Doctor who came in at the end of the book.
To me, this felt like Alexander was after a full blown creep-fest with various taboo subjects including non-con, but he failed to push the envelope to the point of actually getting there. (An author who does push those boundaries would be Johnny Stone).
The scenes that involved fighting or struggling of some kind were a little unclear and left me wondering what was actually happening. This resulted in me having to re-read sections of the action to be sure of positioning/actions.
Ultimately, I was quite underwhelmed. The writing was reasonable and the premise was a strong and unique one, but it just failed to deliver.
**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of the book in return for an honest review**
That’s how I feel about Charla.
The premise was strong – a mother who hates her daughter so much she summons a demon to cause her pain – but the reality of it was a mentally deranged woman who took pleasure in fantasising about hurting her daughter, who dabbled in the occult and was a full-blown alcoholic.
The characters were flat and hopelessly cliché: Amelie was a fairly brainless bimbo, who was quite naive. Her father was the typical rich tycoon, a hopelessly handsome, powerful man who fixed the bad things in his life by throwing money at it (he was well endowed too, just in case you wanted to know if he also fit that mould). Amelie’s best friend, whose name escapes me and I just finished the book, was supposedly some sort of practicing wiccan/medium who was largely ineffective against the demon and the fiancé, well he was a special piece of work.
However, I would have overlooked a lot of the failings of the characters if I got a good scare out of the story, if I felt an ounce of terror make its way into my brain or felt myself get a bit jumpy at every-day noises. Alas, the supposed creepiness was completely missing. Not a single scene caused shivers up my spine or the hairs on the back of my neck to rise. I didn’t feel scared, I didn’t need the lights on, nor did I feel the need to check over my shoulder. What an epic let down!
The demon could have been a rather fun and creepy character to play with, emotionally, physically and mentally, but it all just fell short. Outside of a few oddly placed shadows and some partial apparitions, his/its appearance was mostly for show. I felt a deeper sense of creepiness coming from the Doctor who came in at the end of the book.
To me, this felt like Alexander was after a full blown creep-fest with various taboo subjects including non-con, but he failed to push the envelope to the point of actually getting there. (An author who does push those boundaries would be Johnny Stone).
The scenes that involved fighting or struggling of some kind were a little unclear and left me wondering what was actually happening. This resulted in me having to re-read sections of the action to be sure of positioning/actions.
Ultimately, I was quite underwhelmed. The writing was reasonable and the premise was a strong and unique one, but it just failed to deliver.
**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of the book in return for an honest review**
April 9, 2013
Charla is a very chilling read that had me feeling a variety of emotions and even brought about goose bumps to my flesh. Actually, I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride! Sometimes I was happy and other I was confused, even scared. Should I be scared or angry, happy or sad? Many fans of the genre will enjoy the story of Charla and her devious and evil wicked ways.
The hatred Charla holds for her only daughter (without legit reason I might add), brings forth chills on its own. The woman is the lowest of the low, evil, wicked and cold. She’ll do anything, sink to any levels to get what she wants achieved, done. No matter the circumstances. Hurting her daughter and making her miserable is on the tippity top of her list of priorities since her birth. Amelia has done no wrong, nothing that should bring about such cruel thoughts and actions from her very own mother. The kicker is, she has no idea to her mother’s true feelings…
While I was reading this, I had a flash of an old movie called Mommy Dearest. Charla is some piece of work and I’d never want to cross her path. At times I wanted to stick my hands in the pages and choke a person! Definitely not a read for the faint of heart and for 18+ due to graphic and sexual scenes. A 3.5 rating rounded to a 4 for me. There were a couple of instances left unanswered, not finalized that I cannot state due to the fact they will bring about some spoils to the story. I apologize if there is to be a book two to the series. If there is, I will definitely be reading it with hopes those openings will be closed and my curiosity satisfied!
The hatred Charla holds for her only daughter (without legit reason I might add), brings forth chills on its own. The woman is the lowest of the low, evil, wicked and cold. She’ll do anything, sink to any levels to get what she wants achieved, done. No matter the circumstances. Hurting her daughter and making her miserable is on the tippity top of her list of priorities since her birth. Amelia has done no wrong, nothing that should bring about such cruel thoughts and actions from her very own mother. The kicker is, she has no idea to her mother’s true feelings…
While I was reading this, I had a flash of an old movie called Mommy Dearest. Charla is some piece of work and I’d never want to cross her path. At times I wanted to stick my hands in the pages and choke a person! Definitely not a read for the faint of heart and for 18+ due to graphic and sexual scenes. A 3.5 rating rounded to a 4 for me. There were a couple of instances left unanswered, not finalized that I cannot state due to the fact they will bring about some spoils to the story. I apologize if there is to be a book two to the series. If there is, I will definitely be reading it with hopes those openings will be closed and my curiosity satisfied!
February 22, 2013
Charla is the story of maternal instinct gone wrong, Snow White with a demon instead of poison apples. The novel is an impressive first effort by author Alexander Beresford, and does quite a few things well. What I enjoyed most about the book was the description of the various ceremonies, rituals, and Ouija boarding that took place throughout. Those scenes were generally creepy and felt authentic and well researched. The disclaimer at the beginning is a nice touch to set the tone. I also found the characters to be interesting and multifaceted, though the only one I actually liked was the woojie Wiccan friend. Charla was evil, Amelie was a snot, Michael was selfish, the dad was a dope. I'm sure this was the intention.
I would have happily rated the book 4 stars, but for a handful of times when I felt that there were some pacing/continuity issues. One example was when a chapter ended with a great cliffhanger (“It was the last true moment of peace she would ever know.”) and was followed by a chapter of conversation between the two parents. I was expecting something big right away. Another was the scene when Michael was back in New York. I hadn't expected the demon to be able to attack outside the domain of the house, let alone across country.
Again, these small issues only detract momentarily from the overall experience and I'd highly recommend the book. The demon is pretty cool too, but pales in comparison to Charla as the main villain.
I would have happily rated the book 4 stars, but for a handful of times when I felt that there were some pacing/continuity issues. One example was when a chapter ended with a great cliffhanger (“It was the last true moment of peace she would ever know.”) and was followed by a chapter of conversation between the two parents. I was expecting something big right away. Another was the scene when Michael was back in New York. I hadn't expected the demon to be able to attack outside the domain of the house, let alone across country.
Again, these small issues only detract momentarily from the overall experience and I'd highly recommend the book. The demon is pretty cool too, but pales in comparison to Charla as the main villain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2013
When I initially read the description I have to admit I didn't think it was a book I would like. I do love horror but not so much when it's a mom heaping the horror onto her child. Charla is a horrible person, wanting only the worst things to happen to her daughter. That's such an abhorrent thought to me. I did like Amelie though to me her character seemed a little younger.
To my surprise I did like the book more than I thought I would and I'm really glad that I read it. The description of when the demon was first showing up around Amelie in bedroom was super creepy. The author does a great job of getting those creepy aspects across. I love that because I'm not one that scares easily. When I was up late reading well past the time the rest of my family had headed off to bed there were a couple of times I had to look around the room to make sure I was still alone! lol Thanks, Alexander for that! That's exactly what I'm looking for in a horror novel.
I'm not unsatisfied with the ending but I was hoping things would work out for Amelie. Maybe she'll be the one that comes out on top in next one?
Thanks for the book and the great read!
To my surprise I did like the book more than I thought I would and I'm really glad that I read it. The description of when the demon was first showing up around Amelie in bedroom was super creepy. The author does a great job of getting those creepy aspects across. I love that because I'm not one that scares easily. When I was up late reading well past the time the rest of my family had headed off to bed there were a couple of times I had to look around the room to make sure I was still alone! lol Thanks, Alexander for that! That's exactly what I'm looking for in a horror novel.
I'm not unsatisfied with the ending but I was hoping things would work out for Amelie. Maybe she'll be the one that comes out on top in next one?
Thanks for the book and the great read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2012
This was a fun book of horror full of scandal, jealousy, and wrongdoing. The male author made the female characters very believable, and I found myself hating Charla with a passion. Despite some typos and grammatical errors, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It was hard to put down.
Charla hates her daughter. Really hates her. Enough to summon a demon to destroy her life as she feels her daughter has destroyed hers. Only in the end, she begins to feel some regret, but it's too late. I liked the way the story ended as well. No one can go through what the daughter did and come out all candy and roses. Although, I also thought maybe the daughter was perhaps a little too naive. You decide. I recommend this book. It's an easy read, and will keep you entertained.
Charla hates her daughter. Really hates her. Enough to summon a demon to destroy her life as she feels her daughter has destroyed hers. Only in the end, she begins to feel some regret, but it's too late. I liked the way the story ended as well. No one can go through what the daughter did and come out all candy and roses. Although, I also thought maybe the daughter was perhaps a little too naive. You decide. I recommend this book. It's an easy read, and will keep you entertained.
February 8, 2021
A terrifyingly gripping story of what hell can be unleashed, when you summon a dark entity into your home....
Alexander Beresford is a wonderful writer. The level of detail this book went into, was astonishing! It created such a vivid image that I felt like a fly on the wall watching the madness unfold.
I was so emotionally attached to the characters throughout this fast paced novel. I found myself hating Charla as much as she hates her own daughter, Amelie.
If I had to find one fault in the book it would be the minor spelling and grammatical errors.
I highly recommed this book to all lovers of horror and the supernatural.
I will definitely be reading more from this author!
Alexander Beresford is a wonderful writer. The level of detail this book went into, was astonishing! It created such a vivid image that I felt like a fly on the wall watching the madness unfold.
I was so emotionally attached to the characters throughout this fast paced novel. I found myself hating Charla as much as she hates her own daughter, Amelie.
If I had to find one fault in the book it would be the minor spelling and grammatical errors.
I highly recommed this book to all lovers of horror and the supernatural.
I will definitely be reading more from this author!
February 3, 2013
I normally don't read books about demons or demonic possessions, but a little bird encouraged me to give this book a chance. While Charla is a seriously disturbing book about a mother who hates her own daughter to the extent that she summons a demon to ruin her daughter's life, it is also a quite detailed pornographic story. I did not expect there to be that much talk about "massive members" and "huge balls" in a story about a demon. I'm not sure whether the author is being serious or if he's just playing with me. Pornographic content aside, it is quite a chilling story that makes you look twice around the room before you turn off the lights.
February 10, 2013
What a deliciously wicked debut novel from Alexander Beresford! I loved the depth of the characters and the totally original storyline.
Charla is a gripping tale of a mother's lack of love and conscience where her own daughter is concerned. Her hate was palpable as was Amelie's naivety. It was a wonderful dichotomy of emotional landscapes and some seriously warped family dynamics. The eventual downward spiral was a great ride!
If you're looking for an interesting and different horror story Charla is definitely the one for you!
Charla is a gripping tale of a mother's lack of love and conscience where her own daughter is concerned. Her hate was palpable as was Amelie's naivety. It was a wonderful dichotomy of emotional landscapes and some seriously warped family dynamics. The eventual downward spiral was a great ride!
If you're looking for an interesting and different horror story Charla is definitely the one for you!
February 1, 2013
A very original premise. It is generally taken as read that a mother loves her children, even if they find parenting difficult, there is still love there. To have a character that actively HATES her own child is very uncomfortable. Although a different and enjoyable read, the book needed a damn good proof read. There were too many mistakes, that detracted from the story. An impressive debut nonetheless.
January 31, 2013
This was a terrific, fast-paced book. I didn't read the synopsis before reading the book, and I think that helped me to enjoy it that much more. I had no idea what was coming, and found that I didn’t want to put it down because of that. It was quite a page-turner!
I will definitely be watching for future works from this author. I think Alexander Beresford did a marvelous job, and I eagerly look forward to more of his writing.
I will definitely be watching for future works from this author. I think Alexander Beresford did a marvelous job, and I eagerly look forward to more of his writing.
February 16, 2013
**Free copy from author
I enjoyed this book, some reviewers have mentioned grammatical errors which usually drive me nuts but to be honest I was too engrossed in the story to notice. While reading I kept thinking this would make for a great movie, the end left me wanting more an epilogue would have tied it up nicely although as it stands it leaves it open for a second book.
I enjoyed this book, some reviewers have mentioned grammatical errors which usually drive me nuts but to be honest I was too engrossed in the story to notice. While reading I kept thinking this would make for a great movie, the end left me wanting more an epilogue would have tied it up nicely although as it stands it leaves it open for a second book.
February 13, 2013
I really enjoyed this book I couldn't put it down.. There wasn't any part of this book that you were bored.. Its had the creep factor to the T.. The mother makes a Terrible decision based on unresolved abuse she suffered .. she brings a demon into her home and things go way beyond what she wanted.
February 8, 2013
A new twist to exorcism! I agree with the others , the characters are engrossing! Good book
February 12, 2013
I enjoyed this book it was very fun and I actually in the end felt bad for Charla. I love how this book mixes in VC Andrews with a demonic presence.
September 3, 2022
A mother. A daughter. A demon.... How Does a Hot, Sexy Mother Who Hates Her Daughter Put Her Ultimate Plan Into Action?
As you can probably guess from the cover blurb, this was one dark, twisted, seriously messed up story. Anybody expecting a happy ending is well-advised to slam the cover closed, throw the book down, and run like you have never run before. Whatever you do, don't try to interfere with mommy's deplorable schemes, and don't fool yourself into thinking you can save the sweet, beautiful Amelie . . . because you can't.
Provided you're okay with those expectations, and can deal with the unrelenting horror of a cruel, malicious, vindictive, dangerously immature mother, then settle in for a tale that's as captivating as it is creepy. Charla is a book that starts with a declaration of hatred, and then descends ever deeper into depravity. Alexander Beresford has crafted an exceptionally well put together piece of storytelling here, with an atmosphere, a sense of style, and a subverting of genre expectations that reminded me in many ways of very early Dean Koontz.
It's clear from the start that Charla is woman on the brink of oblivion. As much as she sees herself as a sexually voracious cougar, it's clear that her best days are behind her. Never mind her fading looks or her rampant alcoholism, her husband has left her for a string of other women, and her daughter is nearly old enough to make that sense of abandonment complete. She is a woman with nothing left to lose, and one whose only remaining pleasure in life is to watch other suffer. Unfortunately for Amelie, who remains blissfully unaware of the simple cruelties her mother inflicted upon her as a child, that suffering is about to become completely and utterly demonic.
For a book that's largely about a woman watching her daughter suffer - mentally, emotionally, physically, and sexually - there are a lot of overlapping layers (and villains) to this story. With the possible exception of Amelie's best friend, Beresford doesn't let anybody off cleanly - her father is an admitted adulterer, her boyfriend believes sex isn't really cheating until they're married, and her doctor is a slimy as he is handsome. It's extremely chilling to watch as Charla takes advantage of the darkness inside them all, not just forgiving it, but capitalizing on it . . . embracing it . . . subverting it for her daughter's anguish.
Like a car wreck of blood, bone, and chrome, you know you should look away, but you can't stop reading.
Coming from a reader who is more apt to laugh at the religious melodrama of tales like The Exorcist than find them the slightest bit chilling, I must say the demonic element here was exceptionally well-done. Much of it is subtle and haunting, but by the time the demon comes to the forefront, betraying (and overpowering) the woman who summoned it, there is a tangible sense of dread. This is not just some invisible, malevolent spirit, speaking in tongues, this is a reach-out-and-rape-you monster of inhuman shape.
While I'm sure many readers would prefer a cleaner, happier ending, I think what Beresford did here was just about perfect. The final scene is one that will haunt your dreams for a long while after, wondering if it really means what you think it means, and if he really was that cruel.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
As you can probably guess from the cover blurb, this was one dark, twisted, seriously messed up story. Anybody expecting a happy ending is well-advised to slam the cover closed, throw the book down, and run like you have never run before. Whatever you do, don't try to interfere with mommy's deplorable schemes, and don't fool yourself into thinking you can save the sweet, beautiful Amelie . . . because you can't.
Provided you're okay with those expectations, and can deal with the unrelenting horror of a cruel, malicious, vindictive, dangerously immature mother, then settle in for a tale that's as captivating as it is creepy. Charla is a book that starts with a declaration of hatred, and then descends ever deeper into depravity. Alexander Beresford has crafted an exceptionally well put together piece of storytelling here, with an atmosphere, a sense of style, and a subverting of genre expectations that reminded me in many ways of very early Dean Koontz.
It's clear from the start that Charla is woman on the brink of oblivion. As much as she sees herself as a sexually voracious cougar, it's clear that her best days are behind her. Never mind her fading looks or her rampant alcoholism, her husband has left her for a string of other women, and her daughter is nearly old enough to make that sense of abandonment complete. She is a woman with nothing left to lose, and one whose only remaining pleasure in life is to watch other suffer. Unfortunately for Amelie, who remains blissfully unaware of the simple cruelties her mother inflicted upon her as a child, that suffering is about to become completely and utterly demonic.
For a book that's largely about a woman watching her daughter suffer - mentally, emotionally, physically, and sexually - there are a lot of overlapping layers (and villains) to this story. With the possible exception of Amelie's best friend, Beresford doesn't let anybody off cleanly - her father is an admitted adulterer, her boyfriend believes sex isn't really cheating until they're married, and her doctor is a slimy as he is handsome. It's extremely chilling to watch as Charla takes advantage of the darkness inside them all, not just forgiving it, but capitalizing on it . . . embracing it . . . subverting it for her daughter's anguish.
Like a car wreck of blood, bone, and chrome, you know you should look away, but you can't stop reading.
Coming from a reader who is more apt to laugh at the religious melodrama of tales like The Exorcist than find them the slightest bit chilling, I must say the demonic element here was exceptionally well-done. Much of it is subtle and haunting, but by the time the demon comes to the forefront, betraying (and overpowering) the woman who summoned it, there is a tangible sense of dread. This is not just some invisible, malevolent spirit, speaking in tongues, this is a reach-out-and-rape-you monster of inhuman shape.
While I'm sure many readers would prefer a cleaner, happier ending, I think what Beresford did here was just about perfect. The final scene is one that will haunt your dreams for a long while after, wondering if it really means what you think it means, and if he really was that cruel.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
October 16, 2013
There are two things that really drew me to Charla by Alex Beresford. The first item was a warning in the beginning of the book that said you shouldn't read the demonic summoning at the end of chapter two. Because if you do an unwanted demon will come into your life. The second item was the first line of the story which was: "She always hated her daughter." That got my attention right away how can a mother hate her daughter. Well Charla hates her daughter Amelie and has since day one. Amelie is now an adult and Charla has decided that its time for her to destroy Amelie once and for all. She does this by summoning a demon to ruin Amelie's life.
Things start off slowly, the demon starts doing things like making noises, showing small glimpses of itself and then he causes Amilee to hurt herself. Little by little Amilee starts to lose her mind and then things get even worse. Amilee has no idea that her mother is the cause of all her problems or that her mother hates her, she gets some help from a friend but it may not be enough to stop the demon or her mother.
Charla is one disturbing read. It starts as psychological horror and then turns into a hard-core horror fest. This novel is excellent but it's not for everyone. If you like romance don't look here, if you like comedy, don't bother, if you like sunshine and happiness forget about it. If you want a well written novel with fascinating characters and great pacing that keeps you on the edge of your seat, then Charla is for you.
I loved how the action builds slowly throughout the book and the atmosphere was creepy. There is one scene I enjoyed where Amilee and a friend uses a Ouiji board on a stormy night that was subtle but scary. You knew something was going to happen but instead of the author delivering a big scare he hints at things to come by having a spirit communicating with them and then showing a glimpse of something which makes Aimilee question her sanity. I felt the scariest part of the book was how Aimillee starts questioning everything she believes. There is nothing scarier then doubting your sanity and Charla really showcases that fear. I think even if you took the demon out of this book, it still would have been a great psychological horror story.
Another thing I loved about this book was the depth behind the characters. You kind of want to feel sorry for Charla after you hear her life's story but then you see what she does to her daughter and you can't. You also see Charla react to her husband wanting to divorce her and you can relate to her, but at the same time her attitude about how life has wronged her and how she reacts makes you hate her. Then there is Amilee who on the surface seems to have everything going for her, but then you see how insecure she is and you see how wrong her mother's perceptions of her daughter is and you feel sorry for her.
If you read Charla your still going to be thinking about it long after your done with it. I think it's a powerful novel that takes your worst fears and brings them to life. If I had a list of favorite horror novels Charla would have to go on it, but its not for the faint of heart.
Things start off slowly, the demon starts doing things like making noises, showing small glimpses of itself and then he causes Amilee to hurt herself. Little by little Amilee starts to lose her mind and then things get even worse. Amilee has no idea that her mother is the cause of all her problems or that her mother hates her, she gets some help from a friend but it may not be enough to stop the demon or her mother.
Charla is one disturbing read. It starts as psychological horror and then turns into a hard-core horror fest. This novel is excellent but it's not for everyone. If you like romance don't look here, if you like comedy, don't bother, if you like sunshine and happiness forget about it. If you want a well written novel with fascinating characters and great pacing that keeps you on the edge of your seat, then Charla is for you.
I loved how the action builds slowly throughout the book and the atmosphere was creepy. There is one scene I enjoyed where Amilee and a friend uses a Ouiji board on a stormy night that was subtle but scary. You knew something was going to happen but instead of the author delivering a big scare he hints at things to come by having a spirit communicating with them and then showing a glimpse of something which makes Aimilee question her sanity. I felt the scariest part of the book was how Aimillee starts questioning everything she believes. There is nothing scarier then doubting your sanity and Charla really showcases that fear. I think even if you took the demon out of this book, it still would have been a great psychological horror story.
Another thing I loved about this book was the depth behind the characters. You kind of want to feel sorry for Charla after you hear her life's story but then you see what she does to her daughter and you can't. You also see Charla react to her husband wanting to divorce her and you can relate to her, but at the same time her attitude about how life has wronged her and how she reacts makes you hate her. Then there is Amilee who on the surface seems to have everything going for her, but then you see how insecure she is and you see how wrong her mother's perceptions of her daughter is and you feel sorry for her.
If you read Charla your still going to be thinking about it long after your done with it. I think it's a powerful novel that takes your worst fears and brings them to life. If I had a list of favorite horror novels Charla would have to go on it, but its not for the faint of heart.
March 18, 2013
This was an interesting read. I couldn't quite understand at first where all the hatred towards her daughter came from on Charla's part. This is definitely a very dark, psychological horror story, and if that is not your thing then this book is not for you, but if you like this type of story you will like this book. This is a story of a woman who had a horrible past, how she let it define her future, how she let pain, resentment and hatred define her life, and how she used those feelings to justify her anger and hatred towards her daughter and the actions that she took in reaction to those feelings.
There were several times I had to put this book down and read something else because of how dark this book is.
DISCLAIMER: This book was gifted to me by the author (through the Goodreads) website in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own, and no money or other compensation was provided for this review.
There were several times I had to put this book down and read something else because of how dark this book is.
DISCLAIMER: This book was gifted to me by the author (through the Goodreads) website in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own, and no money or other compensation was provided for this review.
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