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Hell's Paradise
Owen Hunter wakes alone on the beach of a mysterious, uncharted island with no memory and a gaping hole in his stomach. Rescued by the island's only inhabitants - an old man, his daughter and a mute eleven-year-old boy - Owen is healed and welcomed into the community.
Initially, he embraces his new life.The island is paradise and he feels the love of a beautiful woman. But, deep down, Owen knows something is wrong.
Flashbacks of the past haunt his mind and terrifying events threaten his present. He suspects the island is not the idyllic sanctuary its inhabitants believe it to be. For, hidden beneath the web of tranquility lies a dark,ancient secret.
And if Owen fails to unravel it in time it will destroy them all...
Initially, he embraces his new life.The island is paradise and he feels the love of a beautiful woman. But, deep down, Owen knows something is wrong.
Flashbacks of the past haunt his mind and terrifying events threaten his present. He suspects the island is not the idyllic sanctuary its inhabitants believe it to be. For, hidden beneath the web of tranquility lies a dark,ancient secret.
And if Owen fails to unravel it in time it will destroy them all...
ebook
First published December 7, 2012
About the author
Eloise Kindred
1 book2 followersEloise Kindred was born in Leicester, England and has yet to make her escape. Her love of books is rivaled only by her love of music and cuddly toys.
As a child, Eloise dreamed of nothing but singing. She began learning the piano aged seven and has been writing songs since the age of thirteen. As an adult, her ambitions have turned to literature, but she still dreams of success.
Hell's Paradise is her debut novel, but there are many more ideas in the pipeline, including a YA urban fantasy series about a family of witches living in Salem, Massachusetts.
She currently lives in a small house in a small town with her partner and over a thousand cuddly companions.
As a child, Eloise dreamed of nothing but singing. She began learning the piano aged seven and has been writing songs since the age of thirteen. As an adult, her ambitions have turned to literature, but she still dreams of success.
Hell's Paradise is her debut novel, but there are many more ideas in the pipeline, including a YA urban fantasy series about a family of witches living in Salem, Massachusetts.
She currently lives in a small house in a small town with her partner and over a thousand cuddly companions.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 28, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a horror suspense story about a man named Owen who washes up on the shores of a paradise island with no memories of who he is or how he got there. He is quickly taken in by a small family group who are the only inhabitants. They live a seemingly simple life, living off the land around them, cultivating their own crops and rearing some of the local fauna for food. The patriarch Elias takes Owen under his wing, shows him the ropes and welcomes his help in working the land, his daughter Delina is instantly attracted to the stranger to their shores and wastes no time in trying to convince Owen that his misfortune at sea has led him to a simpler but happier life. Then there is her young nephew Rami with the tragic past who Owen vows to help. Owen tries to settle into his new life but there is something wrong here, he just has to figure out what.........
So, if you like those 'B-Movies' that show on the Sci-Fy channel then this book is your thing entirely. Sadly, it wasn't my cup of tea at all. I felt that the first quarter of the book was way too slow, there were chapters taken up with flowery descriptions of the island and it's many beauties which begin to get a bit overwhelming. You know hardly anything at all about the protagonist which does help to give the reader an insight into his own amnesia and confusion and makes the revelations towards the end of the book all the more surprising.
The plot gets more interesting half way through the story but it is a familiar one, I think the author has taken inspiration from a few sources like the TV show 'Lost' and it even has a little bit of 'Lord of the Flies' atmosphere in some places. There are quite a few pop-culture references which don't always serve a purpose to my eye.
As the book gets to it's climax things start to come unstuck, the island's secret feels rather childish, a lot of concepts are thrown at the reader, each one on their own may be believable but all mashed together they just don't blend. You are left with more questions than answers at each turn of the page, the resolution is also a little weak. I must say though that the ending was really brave, I think the reader would have been able to see it coming from a mile off though so it wasn't as much of a surprise as it could of been.
Like I said, if you enjoy those 'B-Movies' then this is for you.
This is a horror suspense story about a man named Owen who washes up on the shores of a paradise island with no memories of who he is or how he got there. He is quickly taken in by a small family group who are the only inhabitants. They live a seemingly simple life, living off the land around them, cultivating their own crops and rearing some of the local fauna for food. The patriarch Elias takes Owen under his wing, shows him the ropes and welcomes his help in working the land, his daughter Delina is instantly attracted to the stranger to their shores and wastes no time in trying to convince Owen that his misfortune at sea has led him to a simpler but happier life. Then there is her young nephew Rami with the tragic past who Owen vows to help. Owen tries to settle into his new life but there is something wrong here, he just has to figure out what.........
So, if you like those 'B-Movies' that show on the Sci-Fy channel then this book is your thing entirely. Sadly, it wasn't my cup of tea at all. I felt that the first quarter of the book was way too slow, there were chapters taken up with flowery descriptions of the island and it's many beauties which begin to get a bit overwhelming. You know hardly anything at all about the protagonist which does help to give the reader an insight into his own amnesia and confusion and makes the revelations towards the end of the book all the more surprising.
The plot gets more interesting half way through the story but it is a familiar one, I think the author has taken inspiration from a few sources like the TV show 'Lost' and it even has a little bit of 'Lord of the Flies' atmosphere in some places. There are quite a few pop-culture references which don't always serve a purpose to my eye.
As the book gets to it's climax things start to come unstuck, the island's secret feels rather childish, a lot of concepts are thrown at the reader, each one on their own may be believable but all mashed together they just don't blend. You are left with more questions than answers at each turn of the page, the resolution is also a little weak. I must say though that the ending was really brave, I think the reader would have been able to see it coming from a mile off though so it wasn't as much of a surprise as it could of been.
Like I said, if you enjoy those 'B-Movies' then this is for you.
June 10, 2013
R2R: Hell's Paradise
I received a free copy, in exchange for a review.
Owen awakens on a beach, with a rather large wound, with no memory of what happened. He starts to walk around, to see if anything will help him remember there where, why and when. He stumbles upon the only people on the island, Elias, the old man, Dalina, the daughter and Rami, the adolescent boy. They help him to heal, give him a place to stay and try to transition him to their way of life, just the four of them. Owen starts to have mini flashbacks, to his life and part of the accident, but it is so jumbled, that a lot of it does not make sense. He starts to become part of this little island family. But, not all is well, with either this island or family, but Owen's head injury makes it difficult to figure out this puzzle, until it is too late and he is fighting for his life, again.
'Frowning, he looks again, confident that even with amnesia he wouldn't miss something as large as Ursa Major. His frown deepens as his eyes skim over the stars. He sits up slowly as a worrying thought crosses his already troubled brain.
I don't recognise any of these stars. It's like I'm not even looking at the same sky. But how is that possible?
The air suddenly feels very cold against Owen's skin, sending a shiver right down to his bones.
Where the hell am I?'
While the story was a little on the slow side, it fulfilled that sense of anxiety throughout the book, of not knowing who you really are and that there is something slightly off. Interesting twist, toward the end, but the ending was a little lackluster and predictable. Overall, good first book!
I received a free copy, in exchange for a review.
Owen awakens on a beach, with a rather large wound, with no memory of what happened. He starts to walk around, to see if anything will help him remember there where, why and when. He stumbles upon the only people on the island, Elias, the old man, Dalina, the daughter and Rami, the adolescent boy. They help him to heal, give him a place to stay and try to transition him to their way of life, just the four of them. Owen starts to have mini flashbacks, to his life and part of the accident, but it is so jumbled, that a lot of it does not make sense. He starts to become part of this little island family. But, not all is well, with either this island or family, but Owen's head injury makes it difficult to figure out this puzzle, until it is too late and he is fighting for his life, again.
'Frowning, he looks again, confident that even with amnesia he wouldn't miss something as large as Ursa Major. His frown deepens as his eyes skim over the stars. He sits up slowly as a worrying thought crosses his already troubled brain.
I don't recognise any of these stars. It's like I'm not even looking at the same sky. But how is that possible?
The air suddenly feels very cold against Owen's skin, sending a shiver right down to his bones.
Where the hell am I?'
While the story was a little on the slow side, it fulfilled that sense of anxiety throughout the book, of not knowing who you really are and that there is something slightly off. Interesting twist, toward the end, but the ending was a little lackluster and predictable. Overall, good first book!
August 31, 2013
The story revolves around a man named Owen. He awakens on an uncharted island. He is badly injured. He has amnesia and can't remember how he came to be to be on the island.
Owen is nursed to health by a beautiful woman who he eventually falls in love with. The woman lives on the island with her father and a young boy. There are no other inhabitants.
The island seems like a paradise until Owen starts to remember things.
I thought that the first half of the story was too slow. There was not enough suspense to keep the story moving at a good pace.
The second half was better. The last quarter was very good.
I liked the story idea. It shows that the author has a good imagination.
Owen is nursed to health by a beautiful woman who he eventually falls in love with. The woman lives on the island with her father and a young boy. There are no other inhabitants.
The island seems like a paradise until Owen starts to remember things.
I thought that the first half of the story was too slow. There was not enough suspense to keep the story moving at a good pace.
The second half was better. The last quarter was very good.
I liked the story idea. It shows that the author has a good imagination.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews