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Red Sand
On this island, there are no survivors.
When the cruise ship Princess Anne sinks at night in the middle of the Atlantic, strange, white-haired natives pluck seven survivors from the water. Delivered to a barren volcanic island and forced to work, the survivors disappear one by one as the island turns hostile. Plagued by betrayal and revolt, society crumbles as a hurricane threatens to resurrect the island's deadly secret. With time running out, alliances form and break in search of the last resort - escape!
Lost meets Treasure Island in this riveting account of castaways hunted on all sides. A rare blend of breathtaking action, deep character development, and corporeal horror brings this all to realistic modern adventure to life.
When the cruise ship Princess Anne sinks at night in the middle of the Atlantic, strange, white-haired natives pluck seven survivors from the water. Delivered to a barren volcanic island and forced to work, the survivors disappear one by one as the island turns hostile. Plagued by betrayal and revolt, society crumbles as a hurricane threatens to resurrect the island's deadly secret. With time running out, alliances form and break in search of the last resort - escape!
Lost meets Treasure Island in this riveting account of castaways hunted on all sides. A rare blend of breathtaking action, deep character development, and corporeal horror brings this all to realistic modern adventure to life.
- GenresHorror
187 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2012
5 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 2, 2014
You ever dream of getting away from it all? Taking a luxury cruise? Maybe to a remote island destination? Well, this will certainly put an end to that dream. Red Sand is a worthy heir or more like a horrific brutal bastard child of LOST, sort of like King Joffrey to the Lannisters if you prefer that tv show. You think surviving a ship crash is tough? It's nothing comparing to surviving the island it lands you on. This is by far one of the most impressive genre debuts I've read in a while. It's just so solid, the writing, the characterizations, the suspense, the violence...it's vivid, it's terrifying, it begs to be turned into a movie. Most of all it's genuinely exciting and fun. Absolutely terrific read. Highly recommended.
August 13, 2020
Excellent, fast moving horror with larger than life characters and situations that make for an exciting and entertaining story.
It was written in a novel way, with the story progressing but each chapter from a different character's point of view. This gave you an insight to many different people, so there was no one protagonist with whom to identify. I liked that.
I'm a fan of low budget horror films and I thought this would make a brilliant movie if the right director adapted it.
I loved this book. The closer I got to the end, the slower I read, wanting to savour the story. One of the best books I've read this year.
It was written in a novel way, with the story progressing but each chapter from a different character's point of view. This gave you an insight to many different people, so there was no one protagonist with whom to identify. I liked that.
I'm a fan of low budget horror films and I thought this would make a brilliant movie if the right director adapted it.
I loved this book. The closer I got to the end, the slower I read, wanting to savour the story. One of the best books I've read this year.
September 17, 2023
Brilliant! A page turner, I loved it!
I would definitely recommend this book, it's funny, it's sad, it's disturbing, it's creative genius, it's how I hope karma plays out, I loved it!
I would definitely recommend this book, it's funny, it's sad, it's disturbing, it's creative genius, it's how I hope karma plays out, I loved it!
December 29, 2020
Quirky, different, funny, enjoyable book.
December 9, 2012
Re-posted from http://elucidreams.blogspot.com/
Teaser: Your cruise ship has sunk into cold unforgiving depths of the ocean. Nearly everyone on board has perished. But you are one of the lucky survivors moving slowly toward a nearby island. Or so you think. This is no ordinary island, and it is not the salvation you were hoping for as you drifted away from the wreckage of the Princess Anne. The inhabitants are far less than friendly and surviving your encounter with them will be far more daunting than escaping a watery grave. What you do now will determine your fate, but you'll have to hurry the fragile society around you is crumbling and a devastating hurricane is on the horizon.
Did I Like it: Yes! I think this an excellent adventure story, complete with betrayal, murder, and suspense. The story is carefully constructed with thrilling action scenes. This wasn't the first time a novel took me to a wayward island, but I enjoyed the author's spin on this theme. What I liked best about this story is the action from start to finish. There are very few stagnant moments, and I think that works well this type of story. The characters are in danger, they face life threatening situations, and their decisions are crucial. There is a sense of urgency but the situations the characters are in leave them few options and this creates a constant tension between them. They won't all survive their ordeal, some will perish, others will be captives, but no one is going home. I admit that I'm sucker for books with flowery detail. But I found the author's clear and concise writing style refreshing. In place of length description the author does a fantastic job of using dialogue to tell this story. Because of some of the language I recommend this book for teens or adults.
Teaser: Your cruise ship has sunk into cold unforgiving depths of the ocean. Nearly everyone on board has perished. But you are one of the lucky survivors moving slowly toward a nearby island. Or so you think. This is no ordinary island, and it is not the salvation you were hoping for as you drifted away from the wreckage of the Princess Anne. The inhabitants are far less than friendly and surviving your encounter with them will be far more daunting than escaping a watery grave. What you do now will determine your fate, but you'll have to hurry the fragile society around you is crumbling and a devastating hurricane is on the horizon.
Did I Like it: Yes! I think this an excellent adventure story, complete with betrayal, murder, and suspense. The story is carefully constructed with thrilling action scenes. This wasn't the first time a novel took me to a wayward island, but I enjoyed the author's spin on this theme. What I liked best about this story is the action from start to finish. There are very few stagnant moments, and I think that works well this type of story. The characters are in danger, they face life threatening situations, and their decisions are crucial. There is a sense of urgency but the situations the characters are in leave them few options and this creates a constant tension between them. They won't all survive their ordeal, some will perish, others will be captives, but no one is going home. I admit that I'm sucker for books with flowery detail. But I found the author's clear and concise writing style refreshing. In place of length description the author does a fantastic job of using dialogue to tell this story. Because of some of the language I recommend this book for teens or adults.
May 14, 2015
The cruise started off fine, all the people were enjoying themselves, the reader is introduced to all the characters and the circumstances in which they found themselves on this luxury liner and then disaster strikes, the unthinkable happens and it sinks.
With little knowledge as to why or how this happened the passengers and crew find themselves just desperately trying to cope with the effort of surviving.
Miraculously they are picked up by crews of strange white haired men who proceed to take the survivors to a nearby island.
Everyone is thanking their lucky stars they have been picked up albeit in a very strange manner.
Once on the island they are surprised to find an air of formation and general civilised structure of day to day living.
The seeming leader is a man called Tuk who explains all the rules and that they will be expected to muck in and help with chores and tasks and to live in a sort of commune with other "survivors" from other wrecks.
But the survivors are getting suspicious this seems too "cosy" and regimented like the people on the island have just accepted their fate and that this is their new home, day by day the chances of rescue diminish until it is not even a subject spoken of anymore and day by day the survivors are dwindling and never seen again.....
What is the dark secret of the island and who or what is taking the people one by one?
Can ANYONE survive the secret of Red sand?
I could not put this down, I thought it was thrilling, it had everything, shipwrecks, danger, adventure with all the gruesome details of a horror story.
An amazing read.
With little knowledge as to why or how this happened the passengers and crew find themselves just desperately trying to cope with the effort of surviving.
Miraculously they are picked up by crews of strange white haired men who proceed to take the survivors to a nearby island.
Everyone is thanking their lucky stars they have been picked up albeit in a very strange manner.
Once on the island they are surprised to find an air of formation and general civilised structure of day to day living.
The seeming leader is a man called Tuk who explains all the rules and that they will be expected to muck in and help with chores and tasks and to live in a sort of commune with other "survivors" from other wrecks.
But the survivors are getting suspicious this seems too "cosy" and regimented like the people on the island have just accepted their fate and that this is their new home, day by day the chances of rescue diminish until it is not even a subject spoken of anymore and day by day the survivors are dwindling and never seen again.....
What is the dark secret of the island and who or what is taking the people one by one?
Can ANYONE survive the secret of Red sand?
I could not put this down, I thought it was thrilling, it had everything, shipwrecks, danger, adventure with all the gruesome details of a horror story.
An amazing read.
February 13, 2013
I won this book from a giveaway on Goodreads.com I'd forgotten anything about it by the time I was ready to start reading it. At first I had a little trouble getting into the book. It felt disjointed and the action scenes just took me by complete surprise. But I kept on.
There are spoilers below so if you don't want to know more stop reading now.
Once I figured out the ship was sinking and only a few survivors were being saved things started to become interesting for me. When the plants eat the first victim I was hooked. I didn't know what to expect from this book, but man eating plants wasn't it. Especially man eating plants that multiply with water (yep, like Gremlins). I think the one character that had the most background and stuck with me the most was Carter. He was a murdering manic and his death couldn't have been more perfect, being eaten alive, literally. My only complaint, at the end when I finally felt like somebody was going to make it alive, they just ended up on another island with people eaters. Aghhhhh
Kudos to the author, I zoomed through your book and enjoyed it!
There are spoilers below so if you don't want to know more stop reading now.
Once I figured out the ship was sinking and only a few survivors were being saved things started to become interesting for me. When the plants eat the first victim I was hooked. I didn't know what to expect from this book, but man eating plants wasn't it. Especially man eating plants that multiply with water (yep, like Gremlins). I think the one character that had the most background and stuck with me the most was Carter. He was a murdering manic and his death couldn't have been more perfect, being eaten alive, literally. My only complaint, at the end when I finally felt like somebody was going to make it alive, they just ended up on another island with people eaters. Aghhhhh
Kudos to the author, I zoomed through your book and enjoyed it!
December 10, 2014
Beware of Jeremy Wade Island!
I loved this book! I accidentally found it while looking on kindle for an original horror book, and I'm so glad I read it. "Red Sand" does not disappoint! The cover made me stop, then once reviews stated things such as: similar to a story combing "Lost" meets "Lord of the Flies"/ "Treasure Island," etc., which instantly made me want to read it (if only because I am still in a deep depression that "Lost" has ended). I was able to visualize each character with amazing ease, as the author clearly has a gift for captivating dialogue, in addition to an ability to bring about speedy character development (NOT easy to do with as many characters as he introduces, and as quickly as they are presented). The men (those already on the island who welcome them there at the very beginning of Book One) reminded me slightly of River Monsters' Jeremy Wade, with their tans from being constantly outdoors & their white hair...this is a captivating book & kept me from doing ANYthing I was supposed to do since I left work hours ago! Oh well - Recommend!
I loved this book! I accidentally found it while looking on kindle for an original horror book, and I'm so glad I read it. "Red Sand" does not disappoint! The cover made me stop, then once reviews stated things such as: similar to a story combing "Lost" meets "Lord of the Flies"/ "Treasure Island," etc., which instantly made me want to read it (if only because I am still in a deep depression that "Lost" has ended). I was able to visualize each character with amazing ease, as the author clearly has a gift for captivating dialogue, in addition to an ability to bring about speedy character development (NOT easy to do with as many characters as he introduces, and as quickly as they are presented). The men (those already on the island who welcome them there at the very beginning of Book One) reminded me slightly of River Monsters' Jeremy Wade, with their tans from being constantly outdoors & their white hair...this is a captivating book & kept me from doing ANYthing I was supposed to do since I left work hours ago! Oh well - Recommend!
October 8, 2016
Back in my teens I only ever read horror novels, but then grew away from the genre. I picked this book up for a read in my Around the World challenge as it was listed on the Cape Verde shelf. However, apart from a couple of mentions of those islands, this could have been set on any uncharted island, anywhere. A handful of survivors from a wrecked cruise ship, are picked up by a strange group of white-haired men. They are glad to be rescued, but soon change their mind when they land on the island and are put to work. There is something 'off' about their rescuers, the island is barren, yet they are fed well, and their numbers start dwindling without trace. Some really gruesome moments in this book, as well as several 'eugh' bits. Loved it!
April 7, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though I was starting to think I'd made a mistake because it really wasn't my genre. I love cruising so I enjoyed the premise although I'm not a lover of horror, but this wasn't too gruesome. There was nothing unnecessary in the story; it all led somewhere. Cray's description of the characters really sucked me in and by half-way through, I literally could not put it down and finished within the next few hours.
I received a copy of Red Sand through a Goodreads giveaway.
I received a copy of Red Sand through a Goodreads giveaway.
March 7, 2013
My first novel in this genre. Surprising I really enjoyed it, but may never take a cruise!
It was a fast read for me, because I did not want to put it down. The author has a knack
for getting to the action throughout in a concise way with lots of details that cut right
to what you needed to know and then you wanted to know what would happen next!
The characters were very interesting and I enjoyed the scientific and environmental
strategies presented throughout. A definite change of pace from my usual historical fiction.
It was a fast read for me, because I did not want to put it down. The author has a knack
for getting to the action throughout in a concise way with lots of details that cut right
to what you needed to know and then you wanted to know what would happen next!
The characters were very interesting and I enjoyed the scientific and environmental
strategies presented throughout. A definite change of pace from my usual historical fiction.
October 11, 2014
Just what I needed...another completely normal thing to be afraid of. Thanks, Cray. Pretty good book, altho it sort of fell apart at the end. Would have liked a little more of some bits and a little less of others. Good writing.
March 18, 2015
3.5 stars. Strange but intriguing story, really held my interest!
February 23, 2019
This horrifying and captivating account of survival after a shipwreck is going to stay in my nightmares for a long, long time. Oh man.
October 13, 2014
Why are current horror writers so obsessed with cannibalism?
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews