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Darkridge Hall
An evil lurks in the depths of Darkridge Hall, and Andy, a new student at Kransten Academy, is about to meet it face to face.
When threatening, shadowy figures appear outside his dorm room window, Andy decides to solve the mystery of just who or what they are. But those same shadows may be responsible for the strange deaths that have been occurring in the town of Bethlehem, Maine over the past several decades.
As Andy, his teacher Mark Harris and police chief Charles Buck struggle to put the pieces together, they soon realize that the answer may come too late for them to stop the malevolent power behind it all.
When threatening, shadowy figures appear outside his dorm room window, Andy decides to solve the mystery of just who or what they are. But those same shadows may be responsible for the strange deaths that have been occurring in the town of Bethlehem, Maine over the past several decades.
As Andy, his teacher Mark Harris and police chief Charles Buck struggle to put the pieces together, they soon realize that the answer may come too late for them to stop the malevolent power behind it all.
- GenresHorror
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2013
19 people want to read
About the author
Michael K. Rose
36 books606 followersMichael K. Rose is a part-time writer and a full-time idler.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 6, 2016
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
At first I found the whole concept of this story a little strange at first, but then I got into it. It was thought-provoking and clever. The idea of shadow people going unnoticed for 80 years is quite frightening. How many people sensitive to them are there in a small town though? And why kill Tony years after he left school and not when he was there?
I like how there were three main characters, all different. One cop who cannot see the shadow people. A teacher who can see the shadow people but has been denying his gift his whole life. A student who can see the shadow people and is ready to embrace his gift. It gave the book depth and some reality. I found the setting good and mostly believable, there were a few parts that made me think “This would never happen” but nothing major so I forgave it. I do think the Headmaster of the school would have stepped in at some point, but hey, it was needed for the story.
I enjoyed the ending, how it all made sense, I liked the references to history, not sure if they are all true or not, but it was nice to read. I did feel the end was rushed a little. But not so much that it put me. I was a big fan of how you got to see a glimpse of what happened after the mystery has been solved, gives the reader some closure.
Overall it was a enjoyable fun read with dark elements that made you really feel for the characters. I will read more from this author, the writing style was really good. I would recommend this to anyone who likes YA, light horror or paranormal. My favourite character had to be Chief Buck.
4 out of 5 stars.
At first I found the whole concept of this story a little strange at first, but then I got into it. It was thought-provoking and clever. The idea of shadow people going unnoticed for 80 years is quite frightening. How many people sensitive to them are there in a small town though? And why kill Tony years after he left school and not when he was there?
I like how there were three main characters, all different. One cop who cannot see the shadow people. A teacher who can see the shadow people but has been denying his gift his whole life. A student who can see the shadow people and is ready to embrace his gift. It gave the book depth and some reality. I found the setting good and mostly believable, there were a few parts that made me think “This would never happen” but nothing major so I forgave it. I do think the Headmaster of the school would have stepped in at some point, but hey, it was needed for the story.
I enjoyed the ending, how it all made sense, I liked the references to history, not sure if they are all true or not, but it was nice to read. I did feel the end was rushed a little. But not so much that it put me. I was a big fan of how you got to see a glimpse of what happened after the mystery has been solved, gives the reader some closure.
Overall it was a enjoyable fun read with dark elements that made you really feel for the characters. I will read more from this author, the writing style was really good. I would recommend this to anyone who likes YA, light horror or paranormal. My favourite character had to be Chief Buck.
4 out of 5 stars.
August 11, 2013
Given a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
***Review From Amy Conley For The Nerd Girl Page***
An evil lurks in the depths of Darkridge Hall, and Andy, a new student at Kransten Academy, is about to meet it face to face.
When threatening, shadowy figures appear outside his dorm room window, Andy decides to solve the mystery of just who or what they are. But those same shadows may be responsible for the strange deaths that have been occurring in the town of Bethlehem, Maine over the past several decades.
As Andy, his teacher Mark Harris and police chief Charles Buck struggle to put the pieces together, they soon realize that the answer may come too late for them to stop the malevolent power behind it all....
My Review:
I Loved It!!!! Every part about this book was really really good...
the story, the character's and the little details along the way! I feel that the author brought something fresh and new to his readers! It's unlike anything I've ever read before! The story is fascinating and twisted and will send chills all over your body! The book is written very well in which it kept my attention from start to finish and kept perfect flow from one scene to the next.
The author captures the emotions of the character's so perfectly and supplies us with some interesting details about the old ways of egypt and some newly discovered artifacts that's a crucial part to the story.. it'll make you take a moment and ask yourself "Is this real..can this really be happening?" It's not your everyday ghost story that you mave read before.. no this one is definitely so much more than that!
***Review has been written in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official***
***Review From Amy Conley For The Nerd Girl Page***
An evil lurks in the depths of Darkridge Hall, and Andy, a new student at Kransten Academy, is about to meet it face to face.
When threatening, shadowy figures appear outside his dorm room window, Andy decides to solve the mystery of just who or what they are. But those same shadows may be responsible for the strange deaths that have been occurring in the town of Bethlehem, Maine over the past several decades.
As Andy, his teacher Mark Harris and police chief Charles Buck struggle to put the pieces together, they soon realize that the answer may come too late for them to stop the malevolent power behind it all....
My Review:
I Loved It!!!! Every part about this book was really really good...
the story, the character's and the little details along the way! I feel that the author brought something fresh and new to his readers! It's unlike anything I've ever read before! The story is fascinating and twisted and will send chills all over your body! The book is written very well in which it kept my attention from start to finish and kept perfect flow from one scene to the next.
The author captures the emotions of the character's so perfectly and supplies us with some interesting details about the old ways of egypt and some newly discovered artifacts that's a crucial part to the story.. it'll make you take a moment and ask yourself "Is this real..can this really be happening?" It's not your everyday ghost story that you mave read before.. no this one is definitely so much more than that!
***Review has been written in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official***
March 20, 2014
When Andy goes to Kransten Academy his first reaction to Darkridge Hall is intrigue. Why is there so many Egyptian symbols all over the hall? He decides to look into the history of it. He isnt the only one who finds this place weird though. The new teacher, Mark, also feels the whole place is "off". One night Andy sees some strange dark shapes coming towards the hall. They are skulking and avoiding the light. Andy feels threatened by these shapes and grabs a camera to take a picture of them. He shows his roommate and both are seriously creeped out. Andy decides to confide in his teacher Mark. Both of them feel the need to research the place.
Charles Buck, the police chief, is trying to solve the unsolved deaths that are happening. Too many people are dying the same way and Charles knows something is happening that shouldn't be. When his case takes him to Darkridge Hall he has to combine notes with both Mark and Andy to solve the case.
Darkridge Hall was an intense, creepy, fast paced book. I flew through it and didn't want it to end. Everything from the characters to the plot were well written. The book was very faced paced and seriously creepy. The shadow people would send shivers down your spine. I loved that there was a bit of Egyptian mythology thrown in. From the start we are flung into the action and it doesn't stop. The only problem I had was that it felt more like a Middle Grade book than a YA one. It was creepy but there wasn't a lot of suspense. The creepiness and horror could of been a little darker with a little more suspense thrown in. Still an enjoyable read though.
June 26, 2014
Darkridge Hall is an Egyptian designed dorm for some of the students at Kransten Academy. Andy is one of those students. And Mark Harris, is the adult dorm supervisor and teacher at the Academy. Shadow people are killing residents of the small town of Bethlehem and when the number gets to 17 something horrific is supposed to happen. This book is labeled "horror" but I think I would call it a "thriller." It's target audience, to me, would be from middle grade to YA, probably leaning toward middle grade. I really liked the complex thought it took to make up the design of the building and how it played into the entire mystery of the piece. I kept thinking Aleister Crowley when reading this. He was all about magic sort of like Adrian Darkridge was.
This book was a bit male dominated. I think the only female in the piece was Sally, wife of one of the murdered people who turned into the "shadow people" who were tormenting Andy and Mr. Harris. I would have liked to have seen more of the student body of Kransten Academy. But since they only featured Andy and Dave, I think this author could make this into a series sort of like House of Anubis on Nickelodeon.
I enjoyed the mystery but thought the book could have been longer and more complex but since it is middle grade-YA, I will give the author a break on that point. Really enjoyable read. Thank you.
I received this book as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
This book was a bit male dominated. I think the only female in the piece was Sally, wife of one of the murdered people who turned into the "shadow people" who were tormenting Andy and Mr. Harris. I would have liked to have seen more of the student body of Kransten Academy. But since they only featured Andy and Dave, I think this author could make this into a series sort of like House of Anubis on Nickelodeon.
I enjoyed the mystery but thought the book could have been longer and more complex but since it is middle grade-YA, I will give the author a break on that point. Really enjoyable read. Thank you.
I received this book as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
April 21, 2014
Well, I can say this for the book. The spelling and the punctuation were correct and the character's names stayed consistent through the whole thing. That's more than I can say for some books I've read lately.
If this is what the genre "paranormal young adult" is all about then I feel quite justified in completely skipping it. I won't recap the plot since that is readily available from review sites or booksellers and I don't want to have to think through it again. I marked a lot of passages as I went through that just made me shake my head but I've decided it's best to let them go. I'll just say that the book reminded me of a high school writing assignment or a story kids make up for each other around a camp fire. The whole thing is set in a prep school and the idea that a teacher, not to mention the chief of police of the town, would do the things they do in this book stretches one's suspension-of-disbelief to the breaking point. The dialogue is stilted and awkward and frankly, the TSTL moments come so thick and fast that it's a wonder anyone gets out alive.
I hate to write bad reviews and I rarely do but honesty always has to prevail.
I received this book through Netgalley and I appreciated the opportunity to read and review it.
If this is what the genre "paranormal young adult" is all about then I feel quite justified in completely skipping it. I won't recap the plot since that is readily available from review sites or booksellers and I don't want to have to think through it again. I marked a lot of passages as I went through that just made me shake my head but I've decided it's best to let them go. I'll just say that the book reminded me of a high school writing assignment or a story kids make up for each other around a camp fire. The whole thing is set in a prep school and the idea that a teacher, not to mention the chief of police of the town, would do the things they do in this book stretches one's suspension-of-disbelief to the breaking point. The dialogue is stilted and awkward and frankly, the TSTL moments come so thick and fast that it's a wonder anyone gets out alive.
I hate to write bad reviews and I rarely do but honesty always has to prevail.
I received this book through Netgalley and I appreciated the opportunity to read and review it.
August 7, 2013
I got to read an ARC version of this story and let me tell you, I was having nightmares! Seriously scared the bejeezus out of me! This story was expertly woven to convey mystery, ghost stories, horror and ancient Egyptian magic, it was amazing.
Andy just started going to Kransten academy, but the building feels ‘off’ to him. Wondering if anyone else feels this way, he confides in his teacher, Mark, who is also sensitive to the energy emitting from the building. As they search for answers for strange occurrences, they get attacked by strange shadow people linked to the mysterious dead benefactor to Darkridge Hall himself- Adrian Darkridge. Time runs out to find out what is causing all this craziness which seems to have more and more to do with the recent murders in the area. Reality and the supernatural collide in this epic, spine chilling thriller!
If you’re aching to get your heart thumping and some adrenaline surging, this is a story to indulge in. Don’t read it after dark and keep the lights on!
Andy just started going to Kransten academy, but the building feels ‘off’ to him. Wondering if anyone else feels this way, he confides in his teacher, Mark, who is also sensitive to the energy emitting from the building. As they search for answers for strange occurrences, they get attacked by strange shadow people linked to the mysterious dead benefactor to Darkridge Hall himself- Adrian Darkridge. Time runs out to find out what is causing all this craziness which seems to have more and more to do with the recent murders in the area. Reality and the supernatural collide in this epic, spine chilling thriller!
If you’re aching to get your heart thumping and some adrenaline surging, this is a story to indulge in. Don’t read it after dark and keep the lights on!
August 13, 2013
Michael K. Rose, known mostly for his Sullivan's War series and other sci-fi stories, has put together an interesting YA novel and shown that he can write outside of the sci-fi genre. I'm not a big fan of YA usually, but I received an advanced copy of Darkridge Hall and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it really.
That said, the horror aspect of the book was along the YA line and since I usually read horror and dark stuff, that aspect was a bit flat for me. For a YA audience, or those not use to reading horror pieces, this book will definitely make them turn on a light or two.
Rose has a way of writing that keeps the reader turning the pages until the end. I was impressed with the way Rose extended his writing style into the YA arena in a way that even kept me interested as an adult horror reader.
I recommend Darkridge hall for adults who like light horror and YA readers that enjoy a little scare in their stories.
That said, the horror aspect of the book was along the YA line and since I usually read horror and dark stuff, that aspect was a bit flat for me. For a YA audience, or those not use to reading horror pieces, this book will definitely make them turn on a light or two.
Rose has a way of writing that keeps the reader turning the pages until the end. I was impressed with the way Rose extended his writing style into the YA arena in a way that even kept me interested as an adult horror reader.
I recommend Darkridge hall for adults who like light horror and YA readers that enjoy a little scare in their stories.
August 16, 2013
I rarely read YA fiction, and when I did, it wasn't called that. (I don't even know what it was called back in my days of wandering through Waldenbooks looking for my next read.) Nevertheless, I love a good, clean yarn. In DARKRIDGE HALL, Mr. Rose has taken me back to a time when fiction was engaging, when staying up late to squeeze out another chapter was common place. In this novel, young Andy became me in my rather adventurous way, exploring dark places and solving mysteries as old as time. I never actually *solved* any ancient mysteries, but books like DARKRIDGE HALL made me feel like I had.
As is customary for Mr. Rose, the writing is tight, the characters are three dimensional, and the pacing is spot on. I enjoyed this novel as I have enjoyed all of his work to date.
As is customary for Mr. Rose, the writing is tight, the characters are three dimensional, and the pacing is spot on. I enjoyed this novel as I have enjoyed all of his work to date.
August 20, 2013
I am a fan of Michael K. Rose. I really enjoyed his Sullivan's War series, and thought his novel Chrysopteron was outstanding. The majority of his work is science fiction, so I was definitely curious to read a young adult supernatural tale from him. He did not disappoint. I felt the story started a little slow, but picked up pace quickly and grabbed my attention. I loved the paranormal aspects of the story, and the Egyptian history was very interesting. Michael has the ability to write in different genres, which is great since I read all different genres!
Fans of Michael K. Rose will not be disappointed with Darkridge Hall. I highly recommend the book.
Fans of Michael K. Rose will not be disappointed with Darkridge Hall. I highly recommend the book.
August 27, 2013
Author Michael K. Rose is back again with another well done piece of fiction. Darkridge Hall centers around Andy, Mr. Harris, and police chief Charles Buck as they hunt down the evil that lurks and find the answer to a series of bizarre deaths in the small town.
The writing is crisp, and the characters are fleshed out and believable. The setting is down to earth but with a sprinkle of magic that makes everything come to life.
This is the author's first in the 'Young Adult'(YA) horror genre and the horror isn't as mature I usually like, but despite that the author's skill of wonderful prose and characters kept me engaged and made for a thrilling read.
The writing is crisp, and the characters are fleshed out and believable. The setting is down to earth but with a sprinkle of magic that makes everything come to life.
This is the author's first in the 'Young Adult'(YA) horror genre and the horror isn't as mature I usually like, but despite that the author's skill of wonderful prose and characters kept me engaged and made for a thrilling read.
January 4, 2015
ok so the writing and story of Darkridge Hall is a solid 4, if this was classified as a middle grade book. As a young adult book it is a tad juvenile.
Darkridge Hall has the feel of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. The mystery is entertaining and I loved all of the Egyptian mythology that surrounds the tale.
A great read for the beach or while traveling. It draws you in and holds your attention but it doesn't require much thought to follow the story line.
Darkridge Hall has the feel of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. The mystery is entertaining and I loved all of the Egyptian mythology that surrounds the tale.
A great read for the beach or while traveling. It draws you in and holds your attention but it doesn't require much thought to follow the story line.
October 13, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this, and loved finding out what was happening as the story unfolded. I don’t tend to read horrors, but this book was easy to read and wasn’t too intense with the horror. It was light and entertaining, and reminded me of the adventure investigator type books I loved reading as a teenager.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews