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Shaded Grove
Someone's calling from the other side.
_____On their rainy drive home from a haunted house tour in a small Pennsylvania town, sisters Megan and Dianne Willis come across a drenched, confused old woman walking alone in the middle of the road. Concerned about her well-being, the sisters attempt to take the mysterious lady to the nearest hospital to get checked out. However, their plan is quickly flipped upside down as the woman’s suddenly violent behavior causes Megan to lose control of the car.
After surviving the crash and waking up in the middle of the woods with the woman nowhere in sight, Megan and Dianne traverse the dark, hoping to find help. But help won’t come easy as the sisters soon discover they’re isolated on the property of Shaded Grove Mental Hospital, where abandoned spirits roam, and all is not what it seems. It’s up to Megan and Dianne to work with the ghosts of the past and the ever-changing environment before Shaded Grove traps them inside forever.
_____On their rainy drive home from a haunted house tour in a small Pennsylvania town, sisters Megan and Dianne Willis come across a drenched, confused old woman walking alone in the middle of the road. Concerned about her well-being, the sisters attempt to take the mysterious lady to the nearest hospital to get checked out. However, their plan is quickly flipped upside down as the woman’s suddenly violent behavior causes Megan to lose control of the car.
After surviving the crash and waking up in the middle of the woods with the woman nowhere in sight, Megan and Dianne traverse the dark, hoping to find help. But help won’t come easy as the sisters soon discover they’re isolated on the property of Shaded Grove Mental Hospital, where abandoned spirits roam, and all is not what it seems. It’s up to Megan and Dianne to work with the ghosts of the past and the ever-changing environment before Shaded Grove traps them inside forever.
- GenresHorror
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2024
8 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Oliver C. Seneca
6 books15 followersOliver C. Seneca was born and raised in the suburbs of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His first foray into storytelling came in high school when he was accepted to the Capital Area School for the Arts, where he focused on filmmaking.
Oliver is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University. His novels, When the Sky Goes Dark and Faces in a Window, were published by Sunbury Press. In 2024, he released his first young adult novel, Shaded Grove, with Stag Beetle Books.
Oliver is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University. His novels, When the Sky Goes Dark and Faces in a Window, were published by Sunbury Press. In 2024, he released his first young adult novel, Shaded Grove, with Stag Beetle Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 26, 2024
This is the perfect book to read for spooky season, especially with its chilling setting in an abandoned mental hospital. The story has an eerie, unsettling atmosphere that kept me on edge and I found myself unable to put it down. I particularly enjoyed the flashback chapters that showed our main characters Dianne and Megan’s trip to a haunted house earlier in the day which cleverly tied into the reason they were trapped at the hospital. While I wish the ending hadn’t wrapped up quite so neatly, this is still a book I would recommend for fall or for anyone new to the horror genre!
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review
July 29, 2024
"𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒔 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑨𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆'𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆, 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒑."
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I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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💭 My thoughts
The cover of the book piqued my interest, and after reading the blurb, I had a feeling that it would be an enjoyable read. It was a quick read as the book is quite thin, no more than 300 pages.
The story is fast-paced and set in an abandoned mental hospital, which is a rather intriguing concept. It provided me with a thrilling and spooky experience. The ghosts that haunt the mental hospital create an increasingly eerie and terrifying atmosphere.
The backstories of the characters are well-developed, and I believe they make sense, allowing us to grasp the main point of the story effectively. As a result, this book has a more meaningful plot than I had anticipated.
I would like to recommend this book to all of you who enjoy ghost stories or are interested in exploring the horror genre. This book might be a good fit for you.
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I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
.
💭 My thoughts
The cover of the book piqued my interest, and after reading the blurb, I had a feeling that it would be an enjoyable read. It was a quick read as the book is quite thin, no more than 300 pages.
The story is fast-paced and set in an abandoned mental hospital, which is a rather intriguing concept. It provided me with a thrilling and spooky experience. The ghosts that haunt the mental hospital create an increasingly eerie and terrifying atmosphere.
The backstories of the characters are well-developed, and I believe they make sense, allowing us to grasp the main point of the story effectively. As a result, this book has a more meaningful plot than I had anticipated.
I would like to recommend this book to all of you who enjoy ghost stories or are interested in exploring the horror genre. This book might be a good fit for you.
August 10, 2024
Excellent story of ghosts and family.
This one had some great imagery and some spooky moments (I actually jump at one part). How the subject was handled was quite creative and different from other haunting-style books.
Perfect for spooky season.
This one had some great imagery and some spooky moments (I actually jump at one part). How the subject was handled was quite creative and different from other haunting-style books.
Perfect for spooky season.
July 20, 2025
15-year old Dianne is really into ghosts and the supernatural. Her 17-year old sister, Megan, is a huge skeptic and makes fun of the whole thing. However, Megan will and does indulge her sister for her upcoming birthday, and they drive out to a rural area where there is a famous haunted house that gives tours. On their way home, they almost hit an old lady who is in the mostly empty road. They agree to help her get to her “room”, but the car crashes down a hill. When the sisters wake up, the old lady is nowhere to be found (nor are their phones), so they walk to find help and come across a large building, a hospital, with a security guard who tells them he’ll bring them to a phone. But there is something very odd about this place.
I started off reading this only during the day, so (though there were definitely creepy scenes), I wasn’t too creeped out. But the night I finished the book, it was evening and that was enough for me to take time to do my before-bed chores in the basement a bit earlier, while there was still a bit of light left outside! I really liked this.
I started off reading this only during the day, so (though there were definitely creepy scenes), I wasn’t too creeped out. But the night I finished the book, it was evening and that was enough for me to take time to do my before-bed chores in the basement a bit earlier, while there was still a bit of light left outside! I really liked this.
September 1, 2024
Shaded Grove by Oliver C Seneca. Thanks to the author for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Two sisters shelter in Shaded Grove Mental Hospital after a car crash in an isolated area. Shaded Grove may seem isolated as well, but it’s full of abandoned spirits.
I liked this story because it took me back to straight, classic horror. It’s a fast paced, creepy book. At times it would flash back, which frustrated me, but I ended up enjoying it when it tied together and all made sense.
“Two people vanished, and two sisters trapped in an abandoned mental hospital, all in one night.”
Shaded Grove comes out 9/2.
Two sisters shelter in Shaded Grove Mental Hospital after a car crash in an isolated area. Shaded Grove may seem isolated as well, but it’s full of abandoned spirits.
I liked this story because it took me back to straight, classic horror. It’s a fast paced, creepy book. At times it would flash back, which frustrated me, but I ended up enjoying it when it tied together and all made sense.
“Two people vanished, and two sisters trapped in an abandoned mental hospital, all in one night.”
Shaded Grove comes out 9/2.
October 18, 2024
Are you a fan of ghost stories or curious about horror? If so, I have the perfect book for you! Picture this: an abandoned mental hospital in Central Pennsylvania at night, where sisters Megan and Dianne find themselves trapped in the eerie Shaded Grove after a freak car accident.
From the very beginning, the suspense grips you as the sisters navigate the hospital’s dark, creepy hallways, encountering all sorts of spirits along the way. Their strong connection, despite being total opposites, makes their journey both relatable and engaging.
The jump scares and chilling encounters brought me right back to my early love for horror. Everything culminates in a final plot twist that’s not only surprising but also sheds light on the sisters’ family history.
This was my first dive into Oliver Seneca’s imaginative world, and I’m impressed by how he blends a haunting atmosphere with well-developed characters. It’s not just a fun read; it’s genuinely scary! I can’t wait to explore more of his work—I’m officially a fan.
I highly recommend this book, especially for the spooky season. You won’t regret it!
From the very beginning, the suspense grips you as the sisters navigate the hospital’s dark, creepy hallways, encountering all sorts of spirits along the way. Their strong connection, despite being total opposites, makes their journey both relatable and engaging.
The jump scares and chilling encounters brought me right back to my early love for horror. Everything culminates in a final plot twist that’s not only surprising but also sheds light on the sisters’ family history.
This was my first dive into Oliver Seneca’s imaginative world, and I’m impressed by how he blends a haunting atmosphere with well-developed characters. It’s not just a fun read; it’s genuinely scary! I can’t wait to explore more of his work—I’m officially a fan.
I highly recommend this book, especially for the spooky season. You won’t regret it!
November 18, 2024
3.5 edge of my seat scary haunted wicked mental hospital nightmare stars. Really great story, felt like a fantastic campfire story to scary your mates at every shadow. The ending was lackluster compared to the story it dulled the events down and broke the spell for me
August 11, 2024
This was a genuinely terrifying book! There were times when I wasn’t breathing from fear!! Why is it always the books for younger audiences that actually scare you to death??
This book follows two sisters who crash their car when driving home from a seance. They then stumble upon this abandoned mental hospital from the 50s where a survival thriller/ paranormal horror ensues.
The sisterhood in this book was so sweet and sometimes relatable as I have a sister who’s also very close in age! The narration was 3rd person and kind of dual pov but there was never any true distinction between the characters povs. For example personally I’m used to seeing povs alternated between chapters however in this book it would almost be every other line which made the two sisters blur into one initially as I was trying to link which personality belonged to which sister. However that might just be my stupidity as I sussed it out quickly and realised Megan was the annoying one lol and Dianne was the only one getting stuff done.
Another difficulty I had initially was the sudden alternating timeline that happened possibly 20-30% of the way through the book. I thought it was out of the blue and only very slightly disjointing from the flow of the book. However!!!! I loved the time spent at ashford house 😭😭 I was genuinely wide eyed and terrified!! And after the initial confusion, the inclusion of these chapters I thought worked perfectly!
Like with most YA’s i sometimes struggled with the storytelling and writing. Some things were too on the nose and the reason for them ending up in the asylum was kinda wholesome but childish and almost ruined the horror. And this book struggled sometimes with what I called YA writing when it’s just kinda cringe.
But I loved it! well worth the read if you wanna be terrified and read about wholesome sisterhood!! The exact kinda horror I was looking for!!!! (the kind where I sleep with the light on😭)
Thank you to the author for providing this free copy for me! Although this was an ARC I gave my honest opinion!!
This book follows two sisters who crash their car when driving home from a seance. They then stumble upon this abandoned mental hospital from the 50s where a survival thriller/ paranormal horror ensues.
The sisterhood in this book was so sweet and sometimes relatable as I have a sister who’s also very close in age! The narration was 3rd person and kind of dual pov but there was never any true distinction between the characters povs. For example personally I’m used to seeing povs alternated between chapters however in this book it would almost be every other line which made the two sisters blur into one initially as I was trying to link which personality belonged to which sister. However that might just be my stupidity as I sussed it out quickly and realised Megan was the annoying one lol and Dianne was the only one getting stuff done.
Another difficulty I had initially was the sudden alternating timeline that happened possibly 20-30% of the way through the book. I thought it was out of the blue and only very slightly disjointing from the flow of the book. However!!!! I loved the time spent at ashford house 😭😭 I was genuinely wide eyed and terrified!! And after the initial confusion, the inclusion of these chapters I thought worked perfectly!
Like with most YA’s i sometimes struggled with the storytelling and writing. Some things were too on the nose and the reason for them ending up in the asylum was kinda wholesome but childish and almost ruined the horror. And this book struggled sometimes with what I called YA writing when it’s just kinda cringe.
But I loved it! well worth the read if you wanna be terrified and read about wholesome sisterhood!! The exact kinda horror I was looking for!!!! (the kind where I sleep with the light on😭)
Thank you to the author for providing this free copy for me! Although this was an ARC I gave my honest opinion!!
August 22, 2024
This is a classic horror story! And at its core is a story of sisterhood that anchors the novel! Oliver is giving folks who enjoy horror exactly what they want - a well-written asylum-based horror novel with jump scares and ghouls! I’m excited to see that Oliver is continuing to improve his writing and this book is a standout amongst his portfolio!!
August 5, 2024
I received this book as an ARC from Stag Beetle Books and this is my own opinion left of my own free will.
Shaded Grove is an excellent horror story that I think would make a splendid film. The story centres around two sisters, Megan and Dianne, who, after they crash their car, find themselves trapped in an abandoned hospital.
What I loved...
The tension. The author did a brilliant job of keeping the action going and building the storyline without feeling like it was heavy-going or an info dump.
The descriptions. Vivid and easy to visualise, I could picture everything very clearly.
The psychology. Each character and their motivation is described sensitively and with a deep understanding of how human beings work as individuals. The author clearly has an interest in psychology and it was a lovely, convincing facet to the story.
What I didn't love so much...
I like dark endings and, for several moments, I thought the author was teeing up the fact that the sisters had, unbeknownst to themselves died in the car accident and were ghosts trapped in the hospital forever. I would really have liked that. So I deducted a star as the ending was not as dark and depressing as I would like but that is purely a personal thing and I realise I'm in the minority. If you like your horror books with lots of twists, tension and happy endings, this is the one for you.
Thank you so much for the ARC. I will definitely be checking out more of this author's work.
Shaded Grove is an excellent horror story that I think would make a splendid film. The story centres around two sisters, Megan and Dianne, who, after they crash their car, find themselves trapped in an abandoned hospital.
What I loved...
The tension. The author did a brilliant job of keeping the action going and building the storyline without feeling like it was heavy-going or an info dump.
The descriptions. Vivid and easy to visualise, I could picture everything very clearly.
The psychology. Each character and their motivation is described sensitively and with a deep understanding of how human beings work as individuals. The author clearly has an interest in psychology and it was a lovely, convincing facet to the story.
What I didn't love so much...
I like dark endings and, for several moments, I thought the author was teeing up the fact that the sisters had, unbeknownst to themselves died in the car accident and were ghosts trapped in the hospital forever. I would really have liked that. So I deducted a star as the ending was not as dark and depressing as I would like but that is purely a personal thing and I realise I'm in the minority. If you like your horror books with lots of twists, tension and happy endings, this is the one for you.
Thank you so much for the ARC. I will definitely be checking out more of this author's work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2024
Megan and Dianne are sisters and although like chalk and cheese are always there for each other. When an old woman steps in front of their car on a drive home from haunted house tour, it leads to them both being trapped in the abandoned Shaded Grove mental hospital and fighting to escape.
This is a YA supernatural mystery thriller that sees the sisters, one a believer, one a sceptic meeting various spirits trapped in the old hospital. Some helpful, many not. As the building crumbles around them how will they escape a place that was built to keep people inside.
It is fast paced and you feel the sisters frustration as every attempt is thwarted by the ghosts and the building itself. Megan is the hotheaded eldest and Dianne the calmer younger sister and this pushes their relationship to the limit. A quick thrilling read with really creepy claustrophobic vibes and a frightening glimpse at the way the mentally ill were treated in the past.
This is a YA supernatural mystery thriller that sees the sisters, one a believer, one a sceptic meeting various spirits trapped in the old hospital. Some helpful, many not. As the building crumbles around them how will they escape a place that was built to keep people inside.
It is fast paced and you feel the sisters frustration as every attempt is thwarted by the ghosts and the building itself. Megan is the hotheaded eldest and Dianne the calmer younger sister and this pushes their relationship to the limit. A quick thrilling read with really creepy claustrophobic vibes and a frightening glimpse at the way the mentally ill were treated in the past.
August 24, 2024
Another Voracious Reads. Really enjoyed the story, had just enough creepy to keep me thinking about the story when I was busy with something else, always a sign of a good story! I would highly recommend this for people who like creepy ghost stories.
July 19, 2024
This was an ARC read that I recently did from the new author, Oliver Seneca. To be honest ,I've never heard of him before until now, and I'm thinking where the hell have you been all my life! This was the first book I've read of his, and it definitely won't be my last going by the creative masterpiece he has just released.
From the start, I was heavily attracted to reading this purely based on the cover, and from there, the rest is history.
Continuing on with my obsession with haunted houses, this latest read was based on a haunted Mental Hospital, Shaded Grove, and I was a huge fan of the setting. Shaded Grove was completely eerie, and given the abandoned building with its many wings and rooms, as well as the history of who had stayed there previously, it further added to the horror elements of this story.
Not only that, the supernatural elements - ie the encounters with the ghosts/spirits that haunted shaded Grove further added to the spooky atmosphere, making it a fast paced, edge of your seat horror as i was constantly holding my breath to see how megan and dianne would escape out of the haunted hospital.
The character development is perfect, adding an amazing effect to the story without overshadowing the plot. It was a novel filled with suspense, keeping the mood eerie and consistent until the very end.
Overall thoughts 💭💭💭
Oliver's latest work will keep any horror/thriller reader on their toes. It will send a shiver or two up your spine and will constantly keep you on the edge. The characters are lovable and relatable, placing a strong focus on the power of sisterhood and survival in the unknown. Highly recommended for those who love a good suoernatural story 4.5 ⭐️
From the start, I was heavily attracted to reading this purely based on the cover, and from there, the rest is history.
Continuing on with my obsession with haunted houses, this latest read was based on a haunted Mental Hospital, Shaded Grove, and I was a huge fan of the setting. Shaded Grove was completely eerie, and given the abandoned building with its many wings and rooms, as well as the history of who had stayed there previously, it further added to the horror elements of this story.
Not only that, the supernatural elements - ie the encounters with the ghosts/spirits that haunted shaded Grove further added to the spooky atmosphere, making it a fast paced, edge of your seat horror as i was constantly holding my breath to see how megan and dianne would escape out of the haunted hospital.
The character development is perfect, adding an amazing effect to the story without overshadowing the plot. It was a novel filled with suspense, keeping the mood eerie and consistent until the very end.
Overall thoughts 💭💭💭
Oliver's latest work will keep any horror/thriller reader on their toes. It will send a shiver or two up your spine and will constantly keep you on the edge. The characters are lovable and relatable, placing a strong focus on the power of sisterhood and survival in the unknown. Highly recommended for those who love a good suoernatural story 4.5 ⭐️
July 29, 2024
Such a creepy book, in a good way! At points I was reading so fast just to find out what happened I had to reread so as not to miss anything important.
Perfect if you like a good ghost story, and edge of the seat suspense!
Perfect if you like a good ghost story, and edge of the seat suspense!
October 7, 2024
Thank you to Book Sirens and Stag Beetle Books for an ARC of Shaded Grove. The cover of this book reached out to me; purple shaded with a haunted looking house in the background. Sisters Dianne and Megan visit a haunted tour due to Dianne's obsession with recorded evidence of life after death, much to the dismay of her skeptical sister Megan.
On the way back they pick up an older woman who wonders out into the road, a car accident occurs, and the sisters end up in Shaded Groves Mental Institution looking for help. I really loved all elements of this book, the differences in the sisters, the location and descent the girls have in the Institution, the twist in this book was PHENOMENAL and the reveal and its path after had me in tears, it was creepy and emotional, and I can always get behind a novel like that. Seneca really knocked this novel out of the park. I am so thankful to have been able to read it.
On the way back they pick up an older woman who wonders out into the road, a car accident occurs, and the sisters end up in Shaded Groves Mental Institution looking for help. I really loved all elements of this book, the differences in the sisters, the location and descent the girls have in the Institution, the twist in this book was PHENOMENAL and the reveal and its path after had me in tears, it was creepy and emotional, and I can always get behind a novel like that. Seneca really knocked this novel out of the park. I am so thankful to have been able to read it.
July 24, 2024
Sisters headed home and ended up stuck in Shaded Grove Mental Hospital. They must work with unlikely allies if they hope to escape. The hospital wants patients now.
October 13, 2024
You can find this review and all my others over at Read Book. Repeat
Megan and Dianne Willis were on their way home from a haunted house tour in Pennsylvania when they came across a confused old woman in the middle of the road in the pouring rain. Desperate to get the woman back to the safety of her room, the sisters head on their way to find the hospital, but when the woman has a sudden spout of anger, it causes Megan to crash the car. When the sisters wake up, they're dazed, confused and slightly injured, but the woman is nowhere in sight. They traverse the darkness hoping to find help but instead stumble upon an old, dilapidated hospital called Shaded Grove. Trapped on the hospital grounds, they must search for a way out, but everything is not as it seems, and the hospital is home to many spirits. In order to find their way out, they'll need to work with the ever-changing landscape and the spirits who still reside there, if they don't, they risk being trapped there forever, becoming just another couple of spirits that inhabit the land.
I'm all about horror, as we know. I'm a sucker for a good haunting story and this cover caught my eye on numerous occasions, so I requested it. I can't put my finger on what exactly didn't work for me that well, but it just fell slightly short for me.
We first meet Megan and Dianne when they're travelling home from a haunted house tour. It was Dianne's birthday plans, she's big into the paranormal where Megan is not. The story starts off really fast which was great. The story jumps right into the action and that worked really well. I enjoyed the true to life banter of the sisters, though Megan did annoy me quite a lot. Her character personality was necessary though as it was a big part of the story, and I feel like that just shows how well Seneca can write a character. I didn't realise that the characters were teenagers when I first requested the book, and I think that was a part of what didn't work for me. I wasn't really aware that I was going into a young adult horror, don't get me wrong, I love a good YA horror, but I need to be in the mood for it because a lot of the time, they tend to be more horror-lite than straight up horror.
The setting of the story was well written, and I enjoyed it immensely. I found the descriptions of the hospital and its grounds to be well done, and they actually did lend to the creepiness factor a couple of times. The hauntings themselves were very well written and a couple of them did give me the creeps, so I have to give Seneca props for those. I did have it picked virtually from the get-go as to who was a spirit and who was not, but that's okay. It was more about the story itself than the actual shock factor of "Omg, they were dead?!?!?!". I think one thing that I struggled with was that it felt like a lot of the events were repeating. Finding a key to the gate, but then needing to find a key to a door, but then needing to find a way to get out. It just felt very ground hog day at times, which made me a little reluctant to pick the book back up. And that's not necessarily a Seneca writing issue, that's probably more because I wasn't feeling the YA horror at the time I was reading this one.
I did enjoy the characters, I felt like they were well written, though initially I got the sisters confused and had to go and re-read the beginning because I had them around the wrong way. I couldn't work out why the younger one was now driving and why she wasn't a sceptic but now she was. I got them mixed up, that's why. The spirits they encountered I felt were written really well, and I did enjoy meeting them. There were a couple of instances where they definitely added to the overall creepy atmosphere of the story, and I was here for that. I really enjoyed getting to watch Megan's character growth and the relationship of the sisters become more solid as the story progressed. The reason behind the whole thing worked well enough, but I almost feel like it needed a little bit more between the haunted house tour and them ending up at the hospital. While the reasoning fit, it kinda came out of left field because we've just met these characters and don't really have any background info at all. I feel like that would have really added to the story and given it a bit more depth.
I really enjoyed the way that Seneca wrote the interactions with the spirits and the way that they dissipated if the girls stepped into the replay of the past moment. I could really feel the dust and the difficulty breathing.
All in all, this wasn't a bad read, I feel like it did drag a little big and while there was a sense of urgency there, it just didn't feel SUPER urgent for me. I feel like this was more a right book wrong time kinda instance as I didn't realise that this was YA horror, I was thinking it was going to be darker and a lot more horror horror. But overall, it had some creepy moments, and I enjoyed the character development and the relationship growth between the sisters. It was a satisfying enough read, just fell a little short for me. If you're looking for a book to kinda get you started in the horror genre, maybe give this one a go, it has enough of a creepy atmosphere to give you a taste, but it's not over the top.
Megan and Dianne Willis were on their way home from a haunted house tour in Pennsylvania when they came across a confused old woman in the middle of the road in the pouring rain. Desperate to get the woman back to the safety of her room, the sisters head on their way to find the hospital, but when the woman has a sudden spout of anger, it causes Megan to crash the car. When the sisters wake up, they're dazed, confused and slightly injured, but the woman is nowhere in sight. They traverse the darkness hoping to find help but instead stumble upon an old, dilapidated hospital called Shaded Grove. Trapped on the hospital grounds, they must search for a way out, but everything is not as it seems, and the hospital is home to many spirits. In order to find their way out, they'll need to work with the ever-changing landscape and the spirits who still reside there, if they don't, they risk being trapped there forever, becoming just another couple of spirits that inhabit the land.
I'm all about horror, as we know. I'm a sucker for a good haunting story and this cover caught my eye on numerous occasions, so I requested it. I can't put my finger on what exactly didn't work for me that well, but it just fell slightly short for me.
We first meet Megan and Dianne when they're travelling home from a haunted house tour. It was Dianne's birthday plans, she's big into the paranormal where Megan is not. The story starts off really fast which was great. The story jumps right into the action and that worked really well. I enjoyed the true to life banter of the sisters, though Megan did annoy me quite a lot. Her character personality was necessary though as it was a big part of the story, and I feel like that just shows how well Seneca can write a character. I didn't realise that the characters were teenagers when I first requested the book, and I think that was a part of what didn't work for me. I wasn't really aware that I was going into a young adult horror, don't get me wrong, I love a good YA horror, but I need to be in the mood for it because a lot of the time, they tend to be more horror-lite than straight up horror.
The setting of the story was well written, and I enjoyed it immensely. I found the descriptions of the hospital and its grounds to be well done, and they actually did lend to the creepiness factor a couple of times. The hauntings themselves were very well written and a couple of them did give me the creeps, so I have to give Seneca props for those. I did have it picked virtually from the get-go as to who was a spirit and who was not, but that's okay. It was more about the story itself than the actual shock factor of "Omg, they were dead?!?!?!". I think one thing that I struggled with was that it felt like a lot of the events were repeating. Finding a key to the gate, but then needing to find a key to a door, but then needing to find a way to get out. It just felt very ground hog day at times, which made me a little reluctant to pick the book back up. And that's not necessarily a Seneca writing issue, that's probably more because I wasn't feeling the YA horror at the time I was reading this one.
I did enjoy the characters, I felt like they were well written, though initially I got the sisters confused and had to go and re-read the beginning because I had them around the wrong way. I couldn't work out why the younger one was now driving and why she wasn't a sceptic but now she was. I got them mixed up, that's why. The spirits they encountered I felt were written really well, and I did enjoy meeting them. There were a couple of instances where they definitely added to the overall creepy atmosphere of the story, and I was here for that. I really enjoyed getting to watch Megan's character growth and the relationship of the sisters become more solid as the story progressed. The reason behind the whole thing worked well enough, but I almost feel like it needed a little bit more between the haunted house tour and them ending up at the hospital. While the reasoning fit, it kinda came out of left field because we've just met these characters and don't really have any background info at all. I feel like that would have really added to the story and given it a bit more depth.
I really enjoyed the way that Seneca wrote the interactions with the spirits and the way that they dissipated if the girls stepped into the replay of the past moment. I could really feel the dust and the difficulty breathing.
All in all, this wasn't a bad read, I feel like it did drag a little big and while there was a sense of urgency there, it just didn't feel SUPER urgent for me. I feel like this was more a right book wrong time kinda instance as I didn't realise that this was YA horror, I was thinking it was going to be darker and a lot more horror horror. But overall, it had some creepy moments, and I enjoyed the character development and the relationship growth between the sisters. It was a satisfying enough read, just fell a little short for me. If you're looking for a book to kinda get you started in the horror genre, maybe give this one a go, it has enough of a creepy atmosphere to give you a taste, but it's not over the top.
November 11, 2024
I feel the need to preface this review by acknowledging that experiences are subjective and though this book was not for me, it may be just the ticket for others. Unfortunately, this book and I did not click, and I did not finish reading it.
For all intents and purposes, this book and I should have been a perfect match. I love horror, I love YA and the opening chapter was an absolute banger. Sisters Megan and Dianne are driving home from a haunted house tour in the dark and in the rain when they narrowly avoid hitting an old woman in the middle of the road. They do what anyone would do and try to help the woman, getting her into their car and trying to find where she came from. The old woman becomes agitated and her actions lead to a car crash, totalling the car and resulting in the loss of the sisters’ phones.
What a banger. It was tense, it was unnerving, and the author had very neatly wiped away any avenue for outside help in a believable manner.
After this, though, the book fell apart for me.
A major problem for me was some unusual grammatical choices by the author that were distracting and took me out of the story. Think, ‘she shined the light around’ rather than ‘shone’ and ‘the stairs winded up into darkness’ rather than ‘wound’. These aren’t the exact sentences with which I had a problem, but shined/shone and winded/wound were the actual word choices.
After that I struggled to get into the plot. I made it perhaps a third of the way in but the story didn’t grip me. Megan and Dianne were too indistinct from one another, and I often had to flip back and forth between pages to figure out which sister was currently doing what. Furthermore, I didn’t realise the sisters were meant to be teenagers of fifteen and seventeen. Part of this was the name choices: to me, ‘Dianne’ is the name of a character who is, at minimum, in their forties.
I did make the unfortunate choice to drop this book due to the slow pacing, unusual grammar choices and lacklustre main characters but I stand by the power of the first chapter. If the rest of the book had been as polished and well-crafted as that first chapter, this would have been an entirely different review, but it wasn’t, and so it isn’t.
DNF.
For all intents and purposes, this book and I should have been a perfect match. I love horror, I love YA and the opening chapter was an absolute banger. Sisters Megan and Dianne are driving home from a haunted house tour in the dark and in the rain when they narrowly avoid hitting an old woman in the middle of the road. They do what anyone would do and try to help the woman, getting her into their car and trying to find where she came from. The old woman becomes agitated and her actions lead to a car crash, totalling the car and resulting in the loss of the sisters’ phones.
What a banger. It was tense, it was unnerving, and the author had very neatly wiped away any avenue for outside help in a believable manner.
After this, though, the book fell apart for me.
A major problem for me was some unusual grammatical choices by the author that were distracting and took me out of the story. Think, ‘she shined the light around’ rather than ‘shone’ and ‘the stairs winded up into darkness’ rather than ‘wound’. These aren’t the exact sentences with which I had a problem, but shined/shone and winded/wound were the actual word choices.
After that I struggled to get into the plot. I made it perhaps a third of the way in but the story didn’t grip me. Megan and Dianne were too indistinct from one another, and I often had to flip back and forth between pages to figure out which sister was currently doing what. Furthermore, I didn’t realise the sisters were meant to be teenagers of fifteen and seventeen. Part of this was the name choices: to me, ‘Dianne’ is the name of a character who is, at minimum, in their forties.
I did make the unfortunate choice to drop this book due to the slow pacing, unusual grammar choices and lacklustre main characters but I stand by the power of the first chapter. If the rest of the book had been as polished and well-crafted as that first chapter, this would have been an entirely different review, but it wasn’t, and so it isn’t.
DNF.
September 4, 2024
I love a good ghost story, and Oliver Seneca’s Shaded Grove is that and so much more! This is the second of Mr. Seneca’s novels I’ve read, and as in the first—Faces in a Window—his talent as a writer of supernatural thrillers shines through.
The setting, an abandoned mental hospital in Central Pennsylvania, is the perfect vehicle for sisters Dianne and Megan, who find themselves trapped within its haunted halls. Suspense builds as they try to maintain their sanity in the face of what they encounter while trying to escape their predicament.
The unfortunate sisters are challenged by one obstacle after another—both physical and supernatural. Without giving too much away, they encounter a series of apparitions who have fascinating backstories of their own, which the author doles out in just the right spots in the story and in just the right amounts to fire the reader’s imagination.
The capper of this well-written tale is the final plot twist, a satisfyingly spooky shocker. Shaded Grove is a must read for anyone who loves an eerie supernatural thriller!
I received a free, advance review copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The setting, an abandoned mental hospital in Central Pennsylvania, is the perfect vehicle for sisters Dianne and Megan, who find themselves trapped within its haunted halls. Suspense builds as they try to maintain their sanity in the face of what they encounter while trying to escape their predicament.
The unfortunate sisters are challenged by one obstacle after another—both physical and supernatural. Without giving too much away, they encounter a series of apparitions who have fascinating backstories of their own, which the author doles out in just the right spots in the story and in just the right amounts to fire the reader’s imagination.
The capper of this well-written tale is the final plot twist, a satisfyingly spooky shocker. Shaded Grove is a must read for anyone who loves an eerie supernatural thriller!
I received a free, advance review copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 2, 2024
Shaded Grove" by Oliver Seneca is the third book I’ve read by the author and they keep getting better! Oliver masterfully blends suspense, mystery, a touch of the supernatural, and develops a world where the past and present collide in haunting ways.
The novel is set in a haunted hospital that is as much a character as the people who inhabit it.
Seneca excels at creating a sense of unease, where the line between reality and the supernatural is constantly blurred, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
Seneca’s ability to craft a story that is both suspenseful and thought-provoking is evident in "Shaded Grove." The novel maintains a fast-paced narrative that doesn’t let up until the final page.
For fans of mystery and supernatural thrillers, "Shaded Grove" is a must-read. Oliver Seneca has delivered a novel that is both chilling and compelling, solidifying his place as a talented author in the genre.
The novel is set in a haunted hospital that is as much a character as the people who inhabit it.
Seneca excels at creating a sense of unease, where the line between reality and the supernatural is constantly blurred, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
Seneca’s ability to craft a story that is both suspenseful and thought-provoking is evident in "Shaded Grove." The novel maintains a fast-paced narrative that doesn’t let up until the final page.
For fans of mystery and supernatural thrillers, "Shaded Grove" is a must-read. Oliver Seneca has delivered a novel that is both chilling and compelling, solidifying his place as a talented author in the genre.
October 15, 2024
When sisters Megan and Dianne are run off the road in a bizarre event with an older woman, they could not expect what would happen next.
As they search for help, and try to figure out what happened to the elderly lady they were giving a ride to, they come across an old mental hospital. While it looks as though it is closed down, someone soon arrives, and brings them into the hospital to tend their wounds.
What happens next would be a nightmare they would not soon forget..
This was a really good read! I ended up getting a copy from Kindle Unlimited. There were a few places that made me jump. Shaded Grove was a great dive into the spooky season reads. Discover the thrills and chills of the Shaded Grove Institution, if you dare.
As they search for help, and try to figure out what happened to the elderly lady they were giving a ride to, they come across an old mental hospital. While it looks as though it is closed down, someone soon arrives, and brings them into the hospital to tend their wounds.
What happens next would be a nightmare they would not soon forget..
This was a really good read! I ended up getting a copy from Kindle Unlimited. There were a few places that made me jump. Shaded Grove was a great dive into the spooky season reads. Discover the thrills and chills of the Shaded Grove Institution, if you dare.
October 26, 2024
Ghosts and their unfinished business
This was such a good story! I loved it so much! It was hard to understand how a location that wasn’t real was real for the people ghosts needed it to be real for, and at first I didn’t understand why the backstory about the Ashford house was being told, but in the end, it all made sense. Being so close to somewhere their grandmother once lived made it easier for her spirit to have all the energy it needed in order to achieve her goal and achieve in her death what she could not in her life. The last chapter made me cry. The burdens we carry in life! And in death.
This was such a good story! I loved it so much! It was hard to understand how a location that wasn’t real was real for the people ghosts needed it to be real for, and at first I didn’t understand why the backstory about the Ashford house was being told, but in the end, it all made sense. Being so close to somewhere their grandmother once lived made it easier for her spirit to have all the energy it needed in order to achieve her goal and achieve in her death what she could not in her life. The last chapter made me cry. The burdens we carry in life! And in death.
November 30, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I had been in a reading slump for a while and this pulled me right out of it! I couldn't wait to pick it up again to find out more. There wasn't any dull moments. Excitement from the very first chapter all the way through. I really love the bond the sisters had and theblove they had for each other. They were going to do whatever was best for the other one no matter what that meant they had to do. I will definitely be telling others to read this book!
October 25, 2024
This was a great book. Part atmospheric ghost story and part a dive into the effects of generational trauma. It was well written and kept me engaged until the end. I enjoyed the dual timelines as well as the additional overlap of past and present. I would definitely recommend and will keep an eye out for more from this author.
I received an ARC of this book. I am reviewing voluntarily.
I received an ARC of this book. I am reviewing voluntarily.
November 29, 2024
This is a really good story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, wanting to find out what's next. I love reading stories that involve abandoned buildings. It just feels so creepy and mysterious. I felt like this was well written and it leaves you wanting to find out more about Shaded Grove as the story progresses.
January 22, 2025
What a great ghost story, it has all the classic features, disappearing people, a stranded couple sisters in this case, a decayed mental hospital in the woods, very strange happenings and lots of ghosts. This story is so well written it grabs you right from the start and drags you inside. Loved the characters and the wonderful creepy atmosphere. Great scary stuff. Highly recommended.
November 8, 2024
A good scary YA story. Not scary enough to be classified as a horror story to me. Interesting characters and life altering events for the good and bad. Intense moments and would have loved to help Megan throat punch Grandma. And it stresses again to never use an Ouija board!
March 2, 2025
Well written edge of your seat YA thriller with just the right amount of horror to give you chills. From the beginning of the story it grabs you and as you read further into it, it tightens its grip pushing you to read more. The setting was fantastic. The plot was entertaining. Definitely looking forward to seeing more of Oliver C. Seneca’s work.
Received this as a ARC from LibraryThing and the author. This is my honest review.
Received this as a ARC from LibraryThing and the author. This is my honest review.
August 2, 2024
This was a pretty darn good book, let me tell you. I started and finished it TODAY. There were a few times when I wasn’t really sure where the author was going or why a certain part of the backstory was necessary, but it all pulls together in the end and made sense. And it was nicely done.
I like how it was very suspenseful and just creepy enough to keep me from freaking out. Adult novels like this can sometimes be too scary, too overwhelming, so this was a nice balance. The abandoned hospital reminds me of the ghost shows I love to watch, the author must enjoy them as well, lol, they did a good job of painting the mental picture you need to be sufficiently creeped out.
That little twist at the end where you learn about the sister’s family history is a little sad, but it really explained the family dynamic. I really like the way the story ended and will definitely look for more books by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I like how it was very suspenseful and just creepy enough to keep me from freaking out. Adult novels like this can sometimes be too scary, too overwhelming, so this was a nice balance. The abandoned hospital reminds me of the ghost shows I love to watch, the author must enjoy them as well, lol, they did a good job of painting the mental picture you need to be sufficiently creeped out.
That little twist at the end where you learn about the sister’s family history is a little sad, but it really explained the family dynamic. I really like the way the story ended and will definitely look for more books by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 7, 2024
Like a vivid night terror, this novel proves creepy, insightful, and fast-paced while imbued with deep themes of connection.
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