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Voices
Lynn’s always heard voices, but what if she’s not the crazy one?
Hell is a real place, and it’s in Michigan.
Lynn spent her life trying to escape the tourist trap of her hometown of Hell, Michigan. After a failed semester at college, she had no choice but to return home. Usually, she made a habit of hanging out in the woods around her mother’s home and avoiding the tourists. When a voice calls to her from the woods, she follows it.
Hearing voices is nothing new to her but hearing one outside of her regulars isn’t. The voice leads her down a rabbit hole of the town’s secrets. West Gate Hospital was an urban legend she’d heard about since she was a kid. Except legends don’t leave buildings behind.
Hell is a real place, and it’s in Michigan.
Lynn spent her life trying to escape the tourist trap of her hometown of Hell, Michigan. After a failed semester at college, she had no choice but to return home. Usually, she made a habit of hanging out in the woods around her mother’s home and avoiding the tourists. When a voice calls to her from the woods, she follows it.
Hearing voices is nothing new to her but hearing one outside of her regulars isn’t. The voice leads her down a rabbit hole of the town’s secrets. West Gate Hospital was an urban legend she’d heard about since she was a kid. Except legends don’t leave buildings behind.
- GenresHorror
Audible Audio
Published January 11, 2024
About the author
Kayla Frederick
24 books143 followersRaised in Michigan but moved to Texas and has experienced the best and worst of both. Kayla has interests in the dark and macabre. She enjoys '80's music and movies. A little neurotic and a huge lover of Halloween, creepy stories and cats are totally her jam.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
February 5, 2024
A quick read with supernatural elements. I wasn’t particularly fond of the main characters or side characters. The plot was interesting, but did drag at some points, especially the beginning.
January 7, 2025
An interesting premise, an old asylum in the middle of the woods.
Lynn, a local girl, hears voices all the time. However, now she's hearing a new voice telling her to "come find me".
Add a trio of tourists, and you have our "main characters". The problem for myself, was that the characters--while all college aged--seemed much younger to me because of their thoughts and actions. I pictured them as 12 year-olds in my mind. That added to not being able to care about them as much as the plot itself. While I loved the idea, I felt that the end was rushed, and could have been examined in so much more depth.
Lynn, a local girl, hears voices all the time. However, now she's hearing a new voice telling her to "come find me".
Add a trio of tourists, and you have our "main characters". The problem for myself, was that the characters--while all college aged--seemed much younger to me because of their thoughts and actions. I pictured them as 12 year-olds in my mind. That added to not being able to care about them as much as the plot itself. While I loved the idea, I felt that the end was rushed, and could have been examined in so much more depth.
August 10, 2023
Voices by Kayla Krantz was such an interesting take on a more “traditional” horror story.
I knew I had to read this as soon as I found out it was based in Hell, Michigan. As a lifelong Michigander it’s hard to find horror based in our state. Kayla did an amazing job visualizing what the town of Hell looks like and really giving people an idea of the tourist trap area (although I must say I still love it!)
We are introduced to Lynn who is a young women coming home after failing out of college in Ann Arbor. Early on we learn that she is referred to around town as “Looney Lynn”. She comes home to her mother Catherine who is the typical overly polite midwestern Mom. She sees Lynn as a disappointment although she will never come out and say that. Lynn has a sister, Amelia, who is perfect in every way. Amelia is extremely overbearing and is often seen as a mother hen to Lynn. Quickly three new characters are introduced with the most important being Jayden. He is the person who unexpectedly becomes the closest to Lynn as they accidentally meet when they are lured into the dense woods to West Gate Psychiatric Hospital. Here they will face spiritual, physical and moral battles.
What I find most interesting about Voices is the representation of mental illness. Lynn is an unreliable narrator but we are made aware of that fact early on. It isn’t used as a twist in the plot. Kayla does an amazing job shining light on how someone can have a severe mental illness and still be their own person. Jayden is our reliable narrator and helps establish the plot with the reader so we know the rug won’t be pulled from under our feet. There are also many comparisons made between old “therapies” for patients in asylums and current therapies.
There are some spots where the plot could be tidied up a bit and a few loose threads could be taken care of, but overall the novella is interesting and fast paced. The way Lynn is written is different from what I’m used to in the Horror genre and I would love to see more of it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I knew I had to read this as soon as I found out it was based in Hell, Michigan. As a lifelong Michigander it’s hard to find horror based in our state. Kayla did an amazing job visualizing what the town of Hell looks like and really giving people an idea of the tourist trap area (although I must say I still love it!)
We are introduced to Lynn who is a young women coming home after failing out of college in Ann Arbor. Early on we learn that she is referred to around town as “Looney Lynn”. She comes home to her mother Catherine who is the typical overly polite midwestern Mom. She sees Lynn as a disappointment although she will never come out and say that. Lynn has a sister, Amelia, who is perfect in every way. Amelia is extremely overbearing and is often seen as a mother hen to Lynn. Quickly three new characters are introduced with the most important being Jayden. He is the person who unexpectedly becomes the closest to Lynn as they accidentally meet when they are lured into the dense woods to West Gate Psychiatric Hospital. Here they will face spiritual, physical and moral battles.
What I find most interesting about Voices is the representation of mental illness. Lynn is an unreliable narrator but we are made aware of that fact early on. It isn’t used as a twist in the plot. Kayla does an amazing job shining light on how someone can have a severe mental illness and still be their own person. Jayden is our reliable narrator and helps establish the plot with the reader so we know the rug won’t be pulled from under our feet. There are also many comparisons made between old “therapies” for patients in asylums and current therapies.
There are some spots where the plot could be tidied up a bit and a few loose threads could be taken care of, but overall the novella is interesting and fast paced. The way Lynn is written is different from what I’m used to in the Horror genre and I would love to see more of it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 12, 2023
Lynn is a fount of vulnerabilities: diagnosed a few years earlier with schizophrenia, medication isn't effective, and she's withdrawn from college before the situation worsens. Still mourning her lost forever-love, killed in the Woods in a family "hunting accident," she spends a lot of time alone, walking in the woods. One day in October she hears a new and unfamiliar voice, demanding she "find." In a short time, Lynn, and a University student from the city, find themselves in a kind of Time warp, involving visions and possessions, living memories of lives not their own, and fatal danger in a terribly haunted secret abandoned Asylum.
September 27, 2023
Voices was a quick, enjoyable read featuring characters that are easy to empathise with. Ill-advised exploration of an abandoned, possibly haunted asylum is always a fun plot for scary stories, and Krantz did a good job blending the supernatural chills with the historical real life horrors of mental health "treatment". I lost a bit of my enthusiasm, though, at the unexpected non-horror elements to the plot.
In the end, I feel there are a lot of readers out there who would enjoy this story, and I'd not think twice about recommending it to the right readers. I personally had hoped for something more in keeping with the expectations for twisted psychological horror, or just straight horror, I had formed based on the book's description.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In the end, I feel there are a lot of readers out there who would enjoy this story, and I'd not think twice about recommending it to the right readers. I personally had hoped for something more in keeping with the expectations for twisted psychological horror, or just straight horror, I had formed based on the book's description.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 1, 2024
Such a nice story and a brutal insight into the stigma still attached to mental illness, and the inevitable isolation and loneliness people affected by it are forced into. I listened to this as an audiobook and really appreciated both the narrator and the whole production, with the addition of external sounds really enhancing the listening experience.
Through the story of Lynn and her diagnosis of schizophrenia (due to her hearing voices), we explore also the hidden and tainted history of Hell, a small town in Michigan where she grew up with her mum and sister. It hasn't been easy for Lynn living in Hell (what a perfect name for that place!) and no matter for how long she tried to escape from it, she finds herself with no other choice than to come back.
When suddenly she starts hearing an unfamiliar voice that brings her to the town's abandoned asylum, she realises that her mental illness might not be the worst that happened to her. Especially after meeting Jayden, in town on holiday with his friends, drawn into the asylum by a different voice and visions of someone else's life. As they try to make sense of that horrible place and the horrors they are forced to face, they find they can rely on each other. But even that might not be enough to put an end to what's inside the asylum.
I have to say I really liked the spotlight on mental illness and how people affected by it, are suddenly viewed differently, not trusted and treated as always in need of protection. I think this story is for a YA audience, with the dialogues and the relationship between the characters reflecting this. I was a bit disappointed by the ending but all in all I liked the story and found doubting myself about hearing voices during my walks with my dog Dora!
Thanks to the author for a code and this is my honest opinion.
Through the story of Lynn and her diagnosis of schizophrenia (due to her hearing voices), we explore also the hidden and tainted history of Hell, a small town in Michigan where she grew up with her mum and sister. It hasn't been easy for Lynn living in Hell (what a perfect name for that place!) and no matter for how long she tried to escape from it, she finds herself with no other choice than to come back.
When suddenly she starts hearing an unfamiliar voice that brings her to the town's abandoned asylum, she realises that her mental illness might not be the worst that happened to her. Especially after meeting Jayden, in town on holiday with his friends, drawn into the asylum by a different voice and visions of someone else's life. As they try to make sense of that horrible place and the horrors they are forced to face, they find they can rely on each other. But even that might not be enough to put an end to what's inside the asylum.
I have to say I really liked the spotlight on mental illness and how people affected by it, are suddenly viewed differently, not trusted and treated as always in need of protection. I think this story is for a YA audience, with the dialogues and the relationship between the characters reflecting this. I was a bit disappointed by the ending but all in all I liked the story and found doubting myself about hearing voices during my walks with my dog Dora!
Thanks to the author for a code and this is my honest opinion.
July 5, 2024
A quick read with supernatural elements that wasn't particularly scary.
This book feels self-published and had several grammatical errors that pulled me out of the story. Overall, it felt unfinished, like a good story concept that's just not developed enough. It's only 192 pages, so there's definitely room for expansion. It definitely has the potential to be a 3 or 4 star book if it were to go through the traditional publishing process with a professional editor.
This book feels self-published and had several grammatical errors that pulled me out of the story. Overall, it felt unfinished, like a good story concept that's just not developed enough. It's only 192 pages, so there's definitely room for expansion. It definitely has the potential to be a 3 or 4 star book if it were to go through the traditional publishing process with a professional editor.
December 11, 2023
A quick read with lots of depth and character development. Excited to read more from this author!
February 18, 2024
When a mentally unstable girl hears voices that lead her to an abandoned asylum, are these cries part of her imagination or echoes of the horrors committed at the facility?
Voices deals with the intersection of ghosts and mental illness and is a great read for anyone looking for a modern paranormal story that leaves out the excessive violence found in many of today’s books. Between the creepy setting of the abandoned asylum and the MC’s mania, Kayla definitely packs in a few scares in along the way.
Voices deals with the intersection of ghosts and mental illness and is a great read for anyone looking for a modern paranormal story that leaves out the excessive violence found in many of today’s books. Between the creepy setting of the abandoned asylum and the MC’s mania, Kayla definitely packs in a few scares in along the way.
January 16, 2024
I received a free audible copy of this book from the author.
I enjoyed it over all. The story was good but the climax was a little anti climatic to me. It kept my interest over all. The audiobook took a little time for me to get used to, just the way it was read with extra background noises (growling, voices over voices, screams while the book is still being read etc) but once I got into it I really enjoyed it.
I enjoyed it over all. The story was good but the climax was a little anti climatic to me. It kept my interest over all. The audiobook took a little time for me to get used to, just the way it was read with extra background noises (growling, voices over voices, screams while the book is still being read etc) but once I got into it I really enjoyed it.
February 23, 2024
Any Darcy Coates fans out there? If so, this book will be right up your street.
Lynn has always heard voices, but this time it's different. After hearing a cry for help from the woods near her home, Lynn inadvertently steps into a nightmare. She stumbles upon an abandoned asylum with a dark history, and finds herself fighting for her life.
I would highly recommend checking out this book. It's short, sweet, but full of action. It's also available on KU. Bonus!
Lynn has always heard voices, but this time it's different. After hearing a cry for help from the woods near her home, Lynn inadvertently steps into a nightmare. She stumbles upon an abandoned asylum with a dark history, and finds herself fighting for her life.
I would highly recommend checking out this book. It's short, sweet, but full of action. It's also available on KU. Bonus!
July 17, 2023
I received an Arc E-book from Kayla Krantz.
I loved the fact that she wasn’t normal and they expressed that through the book. This was an extremely slow burn for me especially with the extreme horror books that I do read. I did enjoy it and would love to see what happens next if there is going to be a second book.
I loved the fact that she wasn’t normal and they expressed that through the book. This was an extremely slow burn for me especially with the extreme horror books that I do read. I did enjoy it and would love to see what happens next if there is going to be a second book.
February 12, 2024
If you're looking for a quick, cozy supernatural mystery then this works great for it. It felt kind of dragged on the beginning but it had interesting elements and some nice scenes. Not scary at all though, felt more like mystery than a ghost story.
July 10, 2024
Review to come
August 9, 2023
What a great story from Hell, Michigan that is. Kayla's writing style hooks you in right from the start and her characters are well built. This story definitely had me wondering if this was based off local lore. If you like the supernatural then you will definitely like this.
July 23, 2024
I enjoyed this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2023
I loved the connection between views of mental illness back in the day versus mental illness now. Our MC, Lynn, is tormented with her own set of personal issues, including dealing with the loss of a loved one, failing in her life expectations, and dealing with being considered "loony". You feel that sense of isolation and guilt, the self doubt, and it's beautifully layered into what quickly becomes a traditional haunted asylum story.
Hell, Michigan is a real place (I had to look it up) and it threatens to swallow up lives between the asylum and tourism. I was interested in finding out what happened, excited to see the characters develop. At times, the story got a little chaotic and sometimes, it was a bit cliche but given the traditional haunted asylum aspect, it wasn't unexpected. I'm also going to note that while entertaining and perhaps a personal reference, having Kay and Kasey dating each other threw me for a loop a few times.
Set aside the haunted aspect, I liked how this addresses the attitudes and care has changed regarding mental illness yet the internal suffering and stigmatism still stands. It also impacts how people regard any information, even when provided with a witness, coming from someone who has been diagnosed.
This is an ARC book and it's added to my physical want list.
Hell, Michigan is a real place (I had to look it up) and it threatens to swallow up lives between the asylum and tourism. I was interested in finding out what happened, excited to see the characters develop. At times, the story got a little chaotic and sometimes, it was a bit cliche but given the traditional haunted asylum aspect, it wasn't unexpected. I'm also going to note that while entertaining and perhaps a personal reference, having Kay and Kasey dating each other threw me for a loop a few times.
Set aside the haunted aspect, I liked how this addresses the attitudes and care has changed regarding mental illness yet the internal suffering and stigmatism still stands. It also impacts how people regard any information, even when provided with a witness, coming from someone who has been diagnosed.
This is an ARC book and it's added to my physical want list.
March 24, 2024
Lynn has always heard voices and is a recently diagnosed Schizophrenic. When she returns to her home in Hell, Michigan, after a failed college semester, she feels more unhinged than ever. The death of her boyfriend, Damian, in mysterious circumstances, doesn't help her mental health. An innocent walk through the woods surrounding the town leads her to an abandoned asylum.
Jayden has reluctantly gone on a road trip with his friends to visit Hell (Michigan). When they become separated, he tries to find them and also stumbles upon the asylum. But, he experiences some weird things on his way there and begins to believe that he has been drawn there by something sinister.
These two characters begin to explore the asylum as Lynn feels herself being drawn into the past life of a woman who seems to have been tortured while a patient. Although she is used to "her" voices, this one is very different. Will they become the next victims of the horrors in the asylum or will they be able to find their way out?
This book was disturbing on many levels as the reader is exposed to Lynn's declining mental health. There were some pretty creepy moments and I always enjoy books set in abandoned asylums. The narrator did a good job, but some of the sound effects were a bit over the top IMO. I was given the chance to listen to this audiobook and chose to review it.
Jayden has reluctantly gone on a road trip with his friends to visit Hell (Michigan). When they become separated, he tries to find them and also stumbles upon the asylum. But, he experiences some weird things on his way there and begins to believe that he has been drawn there by something sinister.
These two characters begin to explore the asylum as Lynn feels herself being drawn into the past life of a woman who seems to have been tortured while a patient. Although she is used to "her" voices, this one is very different. Will they become the next victims of the horrors in the asylum or will they be able to find their way out?
This book was disturbing on many levels as the reader is exposed to Lynn's declining mental health. There were some pretty creepy moments and I always enjoy books set in abandoned asylums. The narrator did a good job, but some of the sound effects were a bit over the top IMO. I was given the chance to listen to this audiobook and chose to review it.
July 15, 2023
What if the voices in your head were actually trying to tell you something?
A well crafted novella written from two alternative POV of the main protagonists. Both share a past of being ostracised and isolated; both drawn to listen to the voices, putting them both in a situation where escape for them feels impossible, but escape for those who speak to them is within their hands.
As with all novellas, plot rather than characterisation drives the narrative and leads you on a intriguing journey. But the author really has something quite dynamic within these pages that is screaming out to be a novel: where mental illness is mishandled, where ghosting and gaslighting causes hidden trauma that can shape a YA for life. The role that the secondary protagonists either purposely or inadvertently contribute to this trauma and isolation never fully explored, so when they are reintroduced into the narrative their presence doesn’t feel fully dimensional.
But if a novella leaves you thinking that you want more, I would say that its aim has been achieved!
I received a free copy and this is my honest review.
A well crafted novella written from two alternative POV of the main protagonists. Both share a past of being ostracised and isolated; both drawn to listen to the voices, putting them both in a situation where escape for them feels impossible, but escape for those who speak to them is within their hands.
As with all novellas, plot rather than characterisation drives the narrative and leads you on a intriguing journey. But the author really has something quite dynamic within these pages that is screaming out to be a novel: where mental illness is mishandled, where ghosting and gaslighting causes hidden trauma that can shape a YA for life. The role that the secondary protagonists either purposely or inadvertently contribute to this trauma and isolation never fully explored, so when they are reintroduced into the narrative their presence doesn’t feel fully dimensional.
But if a novella leaves you thinking that you want more, I would say that its aim has been achieved!
I received a free copy and this is my honest review.
July 8, 2023
Review: Voices by Kayla Krantz (novella)
I was lucky enough to recieve this ARC which I was able to enjoy beach side. This book follows two main characters. Lynne who is diagnosed with a mental disorder and is currently medicated returning home to the town of Hell, Michigan after college. And Jayden, a college aged boy whose personality stems from a lip ring and 12mm gauged ears visiting Hell, Michigan just before Halloween. After a series of events and voices being heard or imagined by both characters they end up trapped in an abandoned mental hospital that burnt down by a fire. Now they must find a way out and let the voices help guide them.
I read this book in two sittings. It held my attention the entire time and kept me guessing. There were definitely parts that had my heart beating fast. I wouldn’t say there’s any major trigger warnings. All and all a great quick read!
Image description: Hand holding a kindle with the front title saying Voices by Kayla Krantz on the beach in Southern Ontario
I was lucky enough to recieve this ARC which I was able to enjoy beach side. This book follows two main characters. Lynne who is diagnosed with a mental disorder and is currently medicated returning home to the town of Hell, Michigan after college. And Jayden, a college aged boy whose personality stems from a lip ring and 12mm gauged ears visiting Hell, Michigan just before Halloween. After a series of events and voices being heard or imagined by both characters they end up trapped in an abandoned mental hospital that burnt down by a fire. Now they must find a way out and let the voices help guide them.
I read this book in two sittings. It held my attention the entire time and kept me guessing. There were definitely parts that had my heart beating fast. I wouldn’t say there’s any major trigger warnings. All and all a great quick read!
Image description: Hand holding a kindle with the front title saying Voices by Kayla Krantz on the beach in Southern Ontario
January 13, 2024
I was given an Audible code of Voices by Kayla Frederick in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed this audiobook so much. First of all, it’s set in an abandoned asylum in Hell. Hell, Michigan that is. Considering Michigan is one of my favorite places to visit, I love asylum horror, and I’ve been to Hell, I had to check it out.
The book is told from two alternating perspectives - Lynn and Jayden. Lynn is a local girl who was diagnosed with Schizophrenia at a young age. She has a history of hearing voices, but now she’s hearing a new voice. Jayden is a tourist visiting the asylum in Hell on Devil’s Night.
The story is dark and creepy and pulled me in from the start. It’s a fast read / listen coming in at just under 4.5 hours on audio. The narration is incredibly unique. The internal dialogue or “voices” are read differently than the spoken storyline. There are also some sound effects and audible sighs. Some listeners may be put off by the effects, but I found it unique and enjoyable.
January 31, 2024
I was kindly gifted this audiobook by the author but this review is 100% my own unbiased thoughts 🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a fun experience! I loved the dual POV between the 2 main characters. I really loved the effects used here when there were voices being heard. The voices were completely different to the regular narration but the main characters and it really heightened the experience! This was very creepy, atmospheric and kept me at the edge of my seat. The representation of mental illness here was beautiful. Kayla really captured that so well without any insensitivity. The juxtaposition between the old age mental illnesses and how they were handled ie the asylum vs the modern way of things ie Lynn and her schizophrenia. I really felt for her.
The asylum aspect was so great and I am a sucker for a great asylum story! I loved the new take on this age-old horror theme! I really did enjoy this fast paced novella! Definitely recommend to any horror lovers out there! The audiobook was done so well!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a fun experience! I loved the dual POV between the 2 main characters. I really loved the effects used here when there were voices being heard. The voices were completely different to the regular narration but the main characters and it really heightened the experience! This was very creepy, atmospheric and kept me at the edge of my seat. The representation of mental illness here was beautiful. Kayla really captured that so well without any insensitivity. The juxtaposition between the old age mental illnesses and how they were handled ie the asylum vs the modern way of things ie Lynn and her schizophrenia. I really felt for her.
The asylum aspect was so great and I am a sucker for a great asylum story! I loved the new take on this age-old horror theme! I really did enjoy this fast paced novella! Definitely recommend to any horror lovers out there! The audiobook was done so well!
May 14, 2025
After a tumultuous attempt at attending college, Lynn finds herself back in her quirky hometown of Hell, Michigan - a place she's always dreamed of leaving behind. Seeking refuge in the tranquil woods near her mother's house, Lynn stumbles upon a new voice that draws her into a tangled web of secrets hidden within the town's peculiar history.
The narrative suffers from some inconsistencies and underdeveloped characters that detract from the story's impact. It seems implausible that Lynn was stable enough to go off to college, yet upon returning home for a visit, her family suddenly treats her with kid gloves due to her condition. This discrepancy makes it difficult to fully grasp Lynn's mental state and her family dynamics.
Both Lynn and Jayden come across as rather petulant and clingy in the beginning of the book, which hinders the reader's ability to truly empathize with their plights and root for their success. These shortcomings in characterization unfortunately diminish the emotional resonance of the novel's central mystery and themes.
The narrative suffers from some inconsistencies and underdeveloped characters that detract from the story's impact. It seems implausible that Lynn was stable enough to go off to college, yet upon returning home for a visit, her family suddenly treats her with kid gloves due to her condition. This discrepancy makes it difficult to fully grasp Lynn's mental state and her family dynamics.
Both Lynn and Jayden come across as rather petulant and clingy in the beginning of the book, which hinders the reader's ability to truly empathize with their plights and root for their success. These shortcomings in characterization unfortunately diminish the emotional resonance of the novel's central mystery and themes.
August 1, 2023
I received a copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
In a very small town called Hell, a very unusual problem is experienced by a very unusual young woman. Diagnosed as schizophrenic, Lynn has had a difficult life. She hears voices that she cannot shut out, even with medication. She has been bullied, made fun of, and has been subjected to continually being watched over. Very annoying.
Lynn has come home during summer break from college feeling distressed. She failed her first semester and has now failed her second semester. Her mother and her sister are concerned. But Lynn just wants to be left alone.
And then, she starts hearing new voices. Different voices. Lynn is driven to discover what the voices are trying to tell her. Ms. Krantz takes us into Lynn’s mind as she seeks answers. A fascinating read, a fun tale of mystery and horror. Horror fans, grab a cup of tea, sit down in front of the fireplace and hang on for the ride.
In a very small town called Hell, a very unusual problem is experienced by a very unusual young woman. Diagnosed as schizophrenic, Lynn has had a difficult life. She hears voices that she cannot shut out, even with medication. She has been bullied, made fun of, and has been subjected to continually being watched over. Very annoying.
Lynn has come home during summer break from college feeling distressed. She failed her first semester and has now failed her second semester. Her mother and her sister are concerned. But Lynn just wants to be left alone.
And then, she starts hearing new voices. Different voices. Lynn is driven to discover what the voices are trying to tell her. Ms. Krantz takes us into Lynn’s mind as she seeks answers. A fascinating read, a fun tale of mystery and horror. Horror fans, grab a cup of tea, sit down in front of the fireplace and hang on for the ride.
July 16, 2023
Lynn’s always heard voices, but what if she’s not the crazy one?
Hell is a real place, and it’s in Michigan.
Lynn spent her life trying to escape the tourist trap of her hometown of Hell, Michigan. After a failed semester at college, she had no choice but to return home. Usually, she made a habit of hanging out in the woods around her mother’s home and avoiding the tourists. When a voice calls to her from the woods, she follows it.
Hearing voices is nothing new to her but hearing one outside of her regulars isn’t. The voice leads her down a rabbit hole of the town’s secrets. West Gate Hospital was an urban legend she’d heard about since she was a kid. Except legends don’t leave buildings behind.
Are these new voices real or is it her imagination.
Read on to enjoy this great book as i did.
Hell is a real place, and it’s in Michigan.
Lynn spent her life trying to escape the tourist trap of her hometown of Hell, Michigan. After a failed semester at college, she had no choice but to return home. Usually, she made a habit of hanging out in the woods around her mother’s home and avoiding the tourists. When a voice calls to her from the woods, she follows it.
Hearing voices is nothing new to her but hearing one outside of her regulars isn’t. The voice leads her down a rabbit hole of the town’s secrets. West Gate Hospital was an urban legend she’d heard about since she was a kid. Except legends don’t leave buildings behind.
Are these new voices real or is it her imagination.
Read on to enjoy this great book as i did.
July 30, 2023
This is the kind of book that I love to read. It has ghosts, a haunted asylum and a person that can hear the voices of those who need help moving on. I cannot even imagine how hard it would be to live with schizophrenia but then to add on ghosts trying to get your attention; what a stressful experience. Asylums were not good places for people with mental illness or perceived mental illness. The patients (mostly women) were sent there because they were not willing to live with their current situations. And sadly, even if they truly had mental illness, no one knew how to treat such disorders. I feel that is why these asylums make for great horror stories because there is truth in the fiction written. All I know is this book made me fear going to the old asylums but also made me want to see if there is a way to help those trapped within the walls.
September 21, 2023
This was a story told from the viewpoint of two young college students, Lynn and Jayden. Lynn was diagnosed with schizophrenia, heard voices often, found college life too stressful, felt alone after her boyfriend died from an alleged hunting accident, and went back to her mother’s house to stay. Both her mother and sister were overprotective and added to Lynn’s sense of hopelessness and annoyance. Then, she heard voices, not her usual voices that came from inside her head, but voices of other “people.” This led her to an abandoned mental asylum in the woods, where she met Jayden, who was also guided there by voices that he heard for the first time.
What happened next was a mixture of now, recent past, and distant past. The ending was not quite completely satisfying, but perhaps it was fitting for the protagonists.
(I received a free review copy from BookSirens.)
What happened next was a mixture of now, recent past, and distant past. The ending was not quite completely satisfying, but perhaps it was fitting for the protagonists.
(I received a free review copy from BookSirens.)
January 24, 2024
🌟 - 7/10
🔥 - 0/5
💧 - 0/5
I loved the way the reality of mental illness was addressed, as it was seen in the old days and as it is now.
Throughout the book, the narrative allows you to feel the emotions that the characters, Lynn and Jayden, have as they experience the events at the Asylum.
At one point in the book, at about 50%, I feared for the integrity of both of them.
I was so immersed in the story that my stomach was tight from the tension I felt in the moment.
This is a genre I'm not very used to reading with, however, I absolutely loved it.
I would love to know more about the follow up of Lynn and Jayden's story. To know what will happen after the horrible times they experienced together.
There's enough material to launch a second book.
Disclaimer
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🔥 - 0/5
💧 - 0/5
I loved the way the reality of mental illness was addressed, as it was seen in the old days and as it is now.
Throughout the book, the narrative allows you to feel the emotions that the characters, Lynn and Jayden, have as they experience the events at the Asylum.
At one point in the book, at about 50%, I feared for the integrity of both of them.
I was so immersed in the story that my stomach was tight from the tension I felt in the moment.
This is a genre I'm not very used to reading with, however, I absolutely loved it.
I would love to know more about the follow up of Lynn and Jayden's story. To know what will happen after the horrible times they experienced together.
There's enough material to launch a second book.
Disclaimer
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 7, 2023
Welcome to Hell, Michigan, a town that attracts the tourists as well as having a real live haunted asylum. We are introduced to Lynn who hears voices ( who doesn’t!!) and tried to move away from Hell but unfortunately things did not work out so back she has to go. It’s a well paced story that shows us that although mental illness outlook is changing, it is still looked down on and still has a lot of stigma surrounding it. Lynns life is one of sadness and isolation and guilt as we see her struggles from day to day until one day a new voice appears and with Lynn down the rabbit hole we go! It’s a fantastic dark fantasy read but be warned once you pick this up, you will be sucked into this world hook, line and sinker!
August 23, 2023
Welcome to Hell! And for Lynn, this small town in Michigan is appropriately named. Diagnosed at an early age with schizophrenia, Lynn has been trying to get her life in and though she tried to escape it, she has returned to Hell. However, the voices are stronger than ever, calling her deep into the woods, leading her to an abandoned asylum. Alongside her is Jayden who has been searching for his friends. Unfortunately, what they will encounter at the hospital will have them both understanding only too well the depraved conditions of this place of horror. Voices is a fast-paced, engrossing read. If you enjoy a nice taste of horror with side of darker elements, then this book is a must read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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