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Angel Manor
A beautiful house – with a dark and deadly secret.
When Freya inherits her mother's childhood home, she sees it as an opportunity. A chance for a new life with her best friends, as they convert the crumbling mansion into an exclusive hotel.
Instead, they'll be lucky to escape with their lives.
As the first hammers tear through the bricked up entrances, a dark, terrible and ancient evil stirs beneath the house. An evil that has already laid claim to Freya and her companions' souls.
When Freya inherits her mother's childhood home, she sees it as an opportunity. A chance for a new life with her best friends, as they convert the crumbling mansion into an exclusive hotel.
Instead, they'll be lucky to escape with their lives.
As the first hammers tear through the bricked up entrances, a dark, terrible and ancient evil stirs beneath the house. An evil that has already laid claim to Freya and her companions' souls.
400 pages, Paperback
First published November 12, 2014
109 people are currently reading
933 people want to read
About the author
Chantal Noordeloos
30 books122 followersChantal Noordeloos (born in the Hague, and not found in a cabbage as some people may suggest) lives in the Netherlands, where she spends her time with her wacky, supportive husband, and outrageously cunning daughter, who is growing up to be a supervillain.
When she is not busy exploring interesting new realities, or arguing with characters (aka writing), she likes to dabble in drawing.
In 1999 she graduated from the Norwich School of Art and Design, where she focused mostly on creative writing.
There are many genres that Chantal likes to explore in her writing.
Currently Sci-fi Steampunk is one of her favourites, but her ‘go to’ genre will always be horror. “It helps being scared of everything; that gives me plenty of inspiration,” she says.
Chantal likes to write for all ages, and storytelling is the element of writing that she enjoys most.
“Writing should be an escape from everyday life, and I like to provide people with new places to escape to, and new people to meet.”
Chantal started her career writing short stories for various anthologies, and in 2012 she won an award for ‘Best Original Story’ for her short ‘the Deal’. Coyote is her first big project.
Chantal lives in The Hague with her family.
When she is not busy exploring interesting new realities, or arguing with characters (aka writing), she likes to dabble in drawing.
In 1999 she graduated from the Norwich School of Art and Design, where she focused mostly on creative writing.
There are many genres that Chantal likes to explore in her writing.
Currently Sci-fi Steampunk is one of her favourites, but her ‘go to’ genre will always be horror. “It helps being scared of everything; that gives me plenty of inspiration,” she says.
Chantal likes to write for all ages, and storytelling is the element of writing that she enjoys most.
“Writing should be an escape from everyday life, and I like to provide people with new places to escape to, and new people to meet.”
Chantal started her career writing short stories for various anthologies, and in 2012 she won an award for ‘Best Original Story’ for her short ‘the Deal’. Coyote is her first big project.
Chantal lives in The Hague with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
August 10, 2017
Um . . . . . .
Um . . . . . .
I finished this book last night but have been sitting here all morning, well for 7 hours trying to think of what I wanted to rate this book. I'm just going to go with the middle line.
The beginning was disturbing to say the least and a few parts through-out the book as well.
**Mild Spoilers**
This girl (Freyha, I think that's how you spell it, I forgot) and her friends come out to Angel Manor to start a hotel. Freyha was left the place by her mother or grandmother. Either way, the place is a freak show.
I mean, when you come to a creepy looking place and you go in and find a lot of places cut off, do you do in and bust them down? No, you just go in the opposite direction and tell someone to sell it. You come in the first time and there is slime and weird stuff all over and everyone in your group gets a nosebleed but you come back and everything isn't as bad as it was. People, get a clue. You run for the hills, but it is too late now. The Manor has you, the evilness that is there has you. The ghosts are even trapped. The regular ghosts are fine, the evil ones not so much.
I'm not going to mention anything else. There were just things I didn't like. Pretty much a maggoty penis and killing children and the end because I liked a certain person. Oh well, it is what it is and it was pretty creepy.
Um . . . . . .
I finished this book last night but have been sitting here all morning, well for 7 hours trying to think of what I wanted to rate this book. I'm just going to go with the middle line.
The beginning was disturbing to say the least and a few parts through-out the book as well.
**Mild Spoilers**
This girl (Freyha, I think that's how you spell it, I forgot) and her friends come out to Angel Manor to start a hotel. Freyha was left the place by her mother or grandmother. Either way, the place is a freak show.
I mean, when you come to a creepy looking place and you go in and find a lot of places cut off, do you do in and bust them down? No, you just go in the opposite direction and tell someone to sell it. You come in the first time and there is slime and weird stuff all over and everyone in your group gets a nosebleed but you come back and everything isn't as bad as it was. People, get a clue. You run for the hills, but it is too late now. The Manor has you, the evilness that is there has you. The ghosts are even trapped. The regular ghosts are fine, the evil ones not so much.
I'm not going to mention anything else. There were just things I didn't like. Pretty much a maggoty penis and killing children and the end because I liked a certain person. Oh well, it is what it is and it was pretty creepy.
April 2, 2020
This was a good creepy read! It escalated for me to the point I was staying up late at night to get through it!
It is about some friends that buy a house to turn it into a bed and breakfast. Little do they know that the house was once a convent and it is haunted. They begin to wish that they had not embarked on this endeavor as things start happening in the house.
This was a pretty scary read and it is like a train barreling down the tracks! You want to stop the train but then you don't as you want to see what happens next! New horror author for me and I am giving it a five star read for keeping me spooked!
It is about some friends that buy a house to turn it into a bed and breakfast. Little do they know that the house was once a convent and it is haunted. They begin to wish that they had not embarked on this endeavor as things start happening in the house.
This was a pretty scary read and it is like a train barreling down the tracks! You want to stop the train but then you don't as you want to see what happens next! New horror author for me and I am giving it a five star read for keeping me spooked!
November 14, 2014
2014 has been an eventful year for me, both as an author and a reader. In regards to the latter, I've discovered a wonderful world of indie/self-published authors - basically those not published by the Big Six - and I've extended my book collection quite significantly. The surprise for me is repeat reading; finding an author prolific enough to have multiple books out which can keep me busy for hours. In fairness, I've only just started reading Chantal Noordeloos (Pride was my introduction to her work, which was fantastically macabre), but after reading Angel Manor...well, I've added her entire work to my TBR list. Good times are ahead.
Angel Manor is a brilliant horror tale. Freya inherits her mother's childhood home, a mansion in disrepair that is more a hindrance than a gift. However, Freya sees it as an opportunity to turn it into a business, a hotel to be precise. However, what Freya doesn't know, is that the home is residence to an unspeakable evil, one that's not happy about being disturbed.
So far, so haunted house story, right? In theory, yes. However, this is more than that. After the violent, gruesome and sickening opening - one of the best I've read in some time and one that sets the story for the entire book - we are introduced to our characters. It's at this point where the tension starts to ratchet. We have our derelict location and our characters who aren't aware of the underlying threat. As readers who've seen the prologue, we know of the terror that lies ahead...however, we're never really sure about the extent of the horror. The prologue throws us into the fray mid-chaos, so we're never actually sure what's going to happen and/or how it's going to occur. This underlying feeling is with you for the duration of the book. The prologue is a master-stroke by the author, one that unsettles us just enough to make us read on. At that point, you're involved...we aren't putting this down any time soon.
The violence is, in honesty, brutal. I read once that men can write violence better than women. What rubbish. Noordeloos proves here that, if anything, the female can write horror that's more ballsy and gruesome then the male counterpart. The prologue itself is a classic example of how a prologue should be used...swiftly, shock the reader, then bring them in slowly with the first chapter. True, this runs the risk of alienating some readers, but this is horror. If you can't stand the pace, put the book back and go to another genre section. Maybe the romance section has something for you...I'm getting off track. Much like a great cover, a brilliant prologue can make or break a book, and for Angel Manor, it does just that; it makes the book from page one. The blood drips, oozes, splatters and - in one particularly nasty scene - gushes in torrents. However, it's done for the effect of the story and is never overbearing or unnecessary. The true horror is in the motivations of the characters and Angel Manor itself.
5* - Consider me a fan. Two in two for Chantal Noordeloos. Angel Manor is one of those books that has repeat reading value. I mentioned in a previous review that the author has a certain style to her writing; intelligent, intricate and immersive - the three I's. The horror on display here speaks of a mind born to write in the genre. Horrifying and graphic in places, with heart and verve in others, Angel Manor is a book that could define this author and make her a star. It's not often that I find two books in the space of a month that crack my Top 5, but it just happened. The story rises to aspirational heights but, unlike Angel Manor itself, will never crumble with age. An excellent horror tale. Recommended.
Angel Manor is a brilliant horror tale. Freya inherits her mother's childhood home, a mansion in disrepair that is more a hindrance than a gift. However, Freya sees it as an opportunity to turn it into a business, a hotel to be precise. However, what Freya doesn't know, is that the home is residence to an unspeakable evil, one that's not happy about being disturbed.
So far, so haunted house story, right? In theory, yes. However, this is more than that. After the violent, gruesome and sickening opening - one of the best I've read in some time and one that sets the story for the entire book - we are introduced to our characters. It's at this point where the tension starts to ratchet. We have our derelict location and our characters who aren't aware of the underlying threat. As readers who've seen the prologue, we know of the terror that lies ahead...however, we're never really sure about the extent of the horror. The prologue throws us into the fray mid-chaos, so we're never actually sure what's going to happen and/or how it's going to occur. This underlying feeling is with you for the duration of the book. The prologue is a master-stroke by the author, one that unsettles us just enough to make us read on. At that point, you're involved...we aren't putting this down any time soon.
The violence is, in honesty, brutal. I read once that men can write violence better than women. What rubbish. Noordeloos proves here that, if anything, the female can write horror that's more ballsy and gruesome then the male counterpart. The prologue itself is a classic example of how a prologue should be used...swiftly, shock the reader, then bring them in slowly with the first chapter. True, this runs the risk of alienating some readers, but this is horror. If you can't stand the pace, put the book back and go to another genre section. Maybe the romance section has something for you...I'm getting off track. Much like a great cover, a brilliant prologue can make or break a book, and for Angel Manor, it does just that; it makes the book from page one. The blood drips, oozes, splatters and - in one particularly nasty scene - gushes in torrents. However, it's done for the effect of the story and is never overbearing or unnecessary. The true horror is in the motivations of the characters and Angel Manor itself.
5* - Consider me a fan. Two in two for Chantal Noordeloos. Angel Manor is one of those books that has repeat reading value. I mentioned in a previous review that the author has a certain style to her writing; intelligent, intricate and immersive - the three I's. The horror on display here speaks of a mind born to write in the genre. Horrifying and graphic in places, with heart and verve in others, Angel Manor is a book that could define this author and make her a star. It's not often that I find two books in the space of a month that crack my Top 5, but it just happened. The story rises to aspirational heights but, unlike Angel Manor itself, will never crumble with age. An excellent horror tale. Recommended.
August 10, 2016
There’s something going on at Angel Manor. Built on the site of an old convent and home for foster children, The Angels are tasked to keep the Master from being unleashed. Now the Angels themselves are trapped and awaiting someone to set them free. Just their luck, Freya, the last of the Guardian bloodline wants to open up a hotel. Yum. Fresh meat.
Started out pretty bloody and then I thought it was going to go all "Goosebumps" on me…and then at 25% *Major Spoiler* I guess it’s not so Goosebumps after all...
Angel Manor is my first read from Chantal Noordeloos and it’s a good one. Although there are a few slower spots in this one, it still managed to keep a fairly steady pace and had some wicked nasty imagery at times as well. Plus, nuns are creepy. And the nuns that haunt the walls of Angel Manor are uber-creepy. I look forward to more from Chantal.
Started out pretty bloody and then I thought it was going to go all "Goosebumps" on me…and then at 25% *Major Spoiler* I guess it’s not so Goosebumps after all...
Angel Manor is my first read from Chantal Noordeloos and it’s a good one. Although there are a few slower spots in this one, it still managed to keep a fairly steady pace and had some wicked nasty imagery at times as well. Plus, nuns are creepy. And the nuns that haunt the walls of Angel Manor are uber-creepy. I look forward to more from Chantal.
September 2, 2017
Ok, ya'll know why I gave it 4 stars. Could have been a 5, but hey, can't win 'em all!
I thoroughly enjoyed this. A little slow toward the end but a great finale....well, kind of great...lol. I'm glad I gave it a shot!
I thoroughly enjoyed this. A little slow toward the end but a great finale....well, kind of great...lol. I'm glad I gave it a shot!
December 20, 2014
I absolutely love picking up a book by someone I've never read before, finding a story which exceeds my expectations, and then discovering it's the writer's first full-length novel. This is exactly what happened with Angel Manor (Lucifer Falls Book 1) by Chantal Noordeloos.
I kept seeing this book pop up in my Facebook News Feed with great reviews and recommendations and decided to see what all the fuss was about.
Let's see if this gets past the Amazon censors. "The blood trickled over the sagging breasts of the Mother Superior, staining her white skin crimson. The limp body of a five-year old boy hung slack in her arms." What a kick-ass way to start a horror novel.
Freya Formynder has inherited Angel Manor, a property big enough to be a hotel and that's exactly the plan, to turn the place into a money making proposition with the help of her two besties, Oliver Jardin and Bambi Green.
Lucifer Falls is a beautiful location for Angel Manor. Although, local legend has it that when Lucifer fell from Heaven, this is where he landed.
The facility has potential, but it's also got some unwanted guests. Add a group of young construction workers from the "Second Chance" project and a psychic with her team of ghost hunters, and Angel Manor has all the makings of a wildly imaginative haunted house story.
The author goes all out, no character is safe, and some of the scenes are truly disturbing. I really enjoyed what Chantal Noordeloos has done here and look forward to book two in the Lucifer Falls series.
Angel Manor, published by Horrific Tales Publishing, is available in paperback and for the Kindle through Amazon.com and if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this one at no additional charge.
Highly recommended.
I kept seeing this book pop up in my Facebook News Feed with great reviews and recommendations and decided to see what all the fuss was about.
Let's see if this gets past the Amazon censors. "The blood trickled over the sagging breasts of the Mother Superior, staining her white skin crimson. The limp body of a five-year old boy hung slack in her arms." What a kick-ass way to start a horror novel.
Freya Formynder has inherited Angel Manor, a property big enough to be a hotel and that's exactly the plan, to turn the place into a money making proposition with the help of her two besties, Oliver Jardin and Bambi Green.
Lucifer Falls is a beautiful location for Angel Manor. Although, local legend has it that when Lucifer fell from Heaven, this is where he landed.
The facility has potential, but it's also got some unwanted guests. Add a group of young construction workers from the "Second Chance" project and a psychic with her team of ghost hunters, and Angel Manor has all the makings of a wildly imaginative haunted house story.
The author goes all out, no character is safe, and some of the scenes are truly disturbing. I really enjoyed what Chantal Noordeloos has done here and look forward to book two in the Lucifer Falls series.
Angel Manor, published by Horrific Tales Publishing, is available in paperback and for the Kindle through Amazon.com and if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this one at no additional charge.
Highly recommended.
December 12, 2014
One of the dangers of being a writer, particularly a horror writer, is that on occasion people read what you’ve written and it freaks them out. You can see it in their eyes, and they never quite look at you the same way again. You’d think that being a writer would protect you from that prejudice. Then comes along Chantal Noordeloos, who in her author bio describes herself as having a “wacky, supportive husband, and outrageously cunning daughter.” Sounds sweet, right? You might think so, but you’d be wrong, very wrong.
Her Angel Manor is the kind of book that will freak you out, and it does so from the very first page. I’ve rarely read a first chapter that did a better job of grabbing me immediately. There’s no easing you in, no calm before the storm. You are dropped right in, to the blood, the pain, the torture, and the sacrifice. It doesn’t really let up from there.
All told, Angel Manor is an incredible book, a great haunted house story, and a thrill ride from beginning to end. You can’t go wrong reading it, though I also can’t say you won’t regret it…
Her Angel Manor is the kind of book that will freak you out, and it does so from the very first page. I’ve rarely read a first chapter that did a better job of grabbing me immediately. There’s no easing you in, no calm before the storm. You are dropped right in, to the blood, the pain, the torture, and the sacrifice. It doesn’t really let up from there.
All told, Angel Manor is an incredible book, a great haunted house story, and a thrill ride from beginning to end. You can’t go wrong reading it, though I also can’t say you won’t regret it…
January 12, 2015
Chantal continues to impress me. Her latest offering Angel Manor is no simple haunted house tale. It is a well crafted multi-layered story that will have you burning through it in no time. Chantal has this uncanny ability to make you care about not just the main protagonist but even the secondary and background characters in this novel. I found myself really caring about the core trio Freya, Oliver, & Bam and interested in each character introduced hereafter. Loved the sub-plots of these characters as well, nice touch.
The story itself had some interesting twists and POV’s of the antagonists that gives you insights to the dark and light. The location Lucifer Falls makes me wish this was a real place so I could visit, the descriptiveness that Chantal gives, makes you feel like you’re in Angel Manor. Cannot wait to read the 2nd in the series. 5 stars!
The story itself had some interesting twists and POV’s of the antagonists that gives you insights to the dark and light. The location Lucifer Falls makes me wish this was a real place so I could visit, the descriptiveness that Chantal gives, makes you feel like you’re in Angel Manor. Cannot wait to read the 2nd in the series. 5 stars!
August 27, 2017
3.5 *, rounded up for originality.
ANGEL MANOR is the first book I have read by Chantal Noordeloos. I have to say that this is a "mixed book"--in my personal opinion--to rate. It contained some absolutely jawbreaking, incredible scenes, but I felt the characterization was weak in many cases, which made me not care so much about any of the people--I only wanted to find out more about the mystery behind this house.
The mansion known as Angel Manor is in a town know as Lucifer Falls--quite a nice touch all on its own. The beginning of the book was stupendous! I think I actually re-read most of it to make sure the writer was saying what I "thought" she was saying. For a new-to-me author, this was off to a fantastic start. Then we encounter Freya, and her friends, Oliver, and Bam. Freya inherits the property from her aunt, since her mother had "issues" from living there. This is where I started getting picky. If your mother didn't want you going there, why didn't she explain the reason, and then just back off and let you do it anyway? The characters--with the exception of a couple brought in later on in the book--really didn't strike me strongly in any particular way. The one I "liked" the best was Bam, and some of the things we learn of her had my jaw dropping. Sadly, I just couldn't get around Freya's reasoning for being there when she didn't seem to "want" to be there in the first place, and that her mother just didn't give her a concrete reason to stay away.
Despite this, the action and scenes involving the history of the house and the "angels" with the guardians would have easily gotten a 5 star rating from me. If it weren't for the characters... on that aspect I would have only gone with 3 stars. However, an unexpected ending left me feeling like rounding up to 4 stars.
I would definitely read the next book in this series, for the author has an incredible imagination, and some vivid scenes that you have to read yourself to believe!
Final opinion, recommended on the strength of the story--just don't plan on understanding the characters as well.
ANGEL MANOR is the first book I have read by Chantal Noordeloos. I have to say that this is a "mixed book"--in my personal opinion--to rate. It contained some absolutely jawbreaking, incredible scenes, but I felt the characterization was weak in many cases, which made me not care so much about any of the people--I only wanted to find out more about the mystery behind this house.
The mansion known as Angel Manor is in a town know as Lucifer Falls--quite a nice touch all on its own. The beginning of the book was stupendous! I think I actually re-read most of it to make sure the writer was saying what I "thought" she was saying. For a new-to-me author, this was off to a fantastic start. Then we encounter Freya, and her friends, Oliver, and Bam. Freya inherits the property from her aunt, since her mother had "issues" from living there. This is where I started getting picky. If your mother didn't want you going there, why didn't she explain the reason, and then just back off and let you do it anyway? The characters--with the exception of a couple brought in later on in the book--really didn't strike me strongly in any particular way. The one I "liked" the best was Bam, and some of the things we learn of her had my jaw dropping. Sadly, I just couldn't get around Freya's reasoning for being there when she didn't seem to "want" to be there in the first place, and that her mother just didn't give her a concrete reason to stay away.
Despite this, the action and scenes involving the history of the house and the "angels" with the guardians would have easily gotten a 5 star rating from me. If it weren't for the characters... on that aspect I would have only gone with 3 stars. However, an unexpected ending left me feeling like rounding up to 4 stars.
I would definitely read the next book in this series, for the author has an incredible imagination, and some vivid scenes that you have to read yourself to believe!
Final opinion, recommended on the strength of the story--just don't plan on understanding the characters as well.
November 12, 2014
The Shining. Hell House. The Haunting Of Hill House. It's only once in awhile you come across a great haunted house book. I'm happy to tell you that Angel Manor has joined the ranks of these wonderfully terrifying novels. The characters are so believable that they draw you into the world of Lucifer Falls and leave you hoping that they make it out alive. There were parts that made my heart break and parts that left me cringing with horror, and a twist that left my heart in my throat. With a fast paced storyline that wouldn't let me put it down Angel Manor is a must read for horror fans everywhere. This was my first book by Chantal Noordeloos but it definitely won't be my last! You can grab this 5 star read on November 14, 2014.
October 19, 2016
Think happy thoughts.... think happy thoughts.... think happy thoughts....
March 4, 2017
Whoa! This book has a little bit of everything. A strange family secret, helpful ghosts, evil murderous spirits, and a house that is *somewhat and somehow* alive.
Angel Manor starts out with a bang: a very gruesome and disturbing bang. I was a bit taken aback at first with what was going on. However, the prologue sets the scene for what starts the house's legacy. If y0u can handle the prologue, you'll probably be fine with handling the rest of the book.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Angel Manor starts out with a bang: a very gruesome and disturbing bang. I was a bit taken aback at first with what was going on. However, the prologue sets the scene for what starts the house's legacy. If y0u can handle the prologue, you'll probably be fine with handling the rest of the book.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
January 3, 2015
Freya inherits Angel Manor from a batty old aunt. Lucifer Falls is a beautiful location for Angel Manor. Local legend has it, that when Lucifer fell from heaven, this is where he landed. Freya, Oliver and Bam, want to convert the old crumbling manor into a hotel. Freya hires Logan and the Chancer group to help with the renovations. Once the renovations starts, all hell breaks loose. Many many years ago, Angel Manor was a convent of devil worshiping Nuns. The manor's halls are filled with angry trapped spirits and evil Nuns who are hungry for a blood sacrifice. As the manor begins to claim more souls to torture, the gore and the blood and guts splatter all over the pages of this book. Freya brings in Marie Claire, a medium who will try and release the trapped souls of Angel Manor. The evil in this manor is the strongest that Marie Claire has ever faced. Who will live and who will die? Without a doubt, this is one of the best haunted house stories, that I have read in a very long time. The characters in this story are well developed and this makes the story even stronger. This is the first book that I have read by this author but it will not be the last.
February 12, 2022
I picked this up as a Kindle Unlimited Read. This was a very dark novella by a new to me author. I was surprised by how bloody this story was. There is a rape trigger in this story for those who need to know such things. I ended up liking this story more than I though I would and am looking forward to the next book in the series, which is also available in Kindle Unlimited.
November 18, 2014
A haunted house with supernatural nuns, a young, naive heiress and her best friends wanting to open a hotel. This book had all the right elements to make a fun 70's porn film (cue Benny Hill music...), but what we got instead was one of the most well written horror stories of the year.
Gore, suspense, believable characters and a well paced tale which left me impatient to read the next installment of this series! Chantal is a great writer and a great discovery.
Gore, suspense, believable characters and a well paced tale which left me impatient to read the next installment of this series! Chantal is a great writer and a great discovery.
August 16, 2017
When I started reading Angel Manor, I knew it was going to be a scary book but I didn't realize how terrifying it would be. Angel Manor will definitely go in my top favorite horror books of all time. It is definitely a truly horrifying book. I distinctly remember reading this book while the wind was howling outside and the house was making noises. Those are great elements to scare someone especially when they are reading a scary book or watching a scary movie.
Ms. Noordeloos has different supernatural themes going on in the book that can seem overwhelming to the story. However, she ties them all so well that these different themes flow as one symbiotic theme. Never was I confused in the story with what was going on. Never was I confused as to whose head I was in while reading. This story takes the span of a few weeks but it never slows down.
Angel Manor is definitely not for a person who is easily offended or grossed out by graphic and violent themes. Ms. Noordeloos does not hold back in her writing of this story. She pushes these boundaries and when you think she can't push it anymore, she pushes it even farther. I loved that... I never thought I would but I did. She drew me in to the story so much that I couldn't put it down. Ms. Noordeloos wrote her characters to embody evil and that came through in her writing.
One of the things I truly enjoyed about Angel Manor is that you don't know what's going to happen. You may think you know but you don't. Ms. Noordeloos just spins the tale to keep you guessing as to what's going to happen.
Do I recommend Angel Manor? You bet I do. When a book grabs my attention the way Angel Manor did and I couldn't put the book down, that's when you know it's a truly great book.
Ms. Noordeloos has different supernatural themes going on in the book that can seem overwhelming to the story. However, she ties them all so well that these different themes flow as one symbiotic theme. Never was I confused in the story with what was going on. Never was I confused as to whose head I was in while reading. This story takes the span of a few weeks but it never slows down.
Angel Manor is definitely not for a person who is easily offended or grossed out by graphic and violent themes. Ms. Noordeloos does not hold back in her writing of this story. She pushes these boundaries and when you think she can't push it anymore, she pushes it even farther. I loved that... I never thought I would but I did. She drew me in to the story so much that I couldn't put it down. Ms. Noordeloos wrote her characters to embody evil and that came through in her writing.
One of the things I truly enjoyed about Angel Manor is that you don't know what's going to happen. You may think you know but you don't. Ms. Noordeloos just spins the tale to keep you guessing as to what's going to happen.
Do I recommend Angel Manor? You bet I do. When a book grabs my attention the way Angel Manor did and I couldn't put the book down, that's when you know it's a truly great book.
November 19, 2014
Without giving any spoilers away for I want you to experience the terror…the blood shed…the terrifying scenes that are played out through this entire book for yourself…I truthfully don’t know where to start with this review. From the first page…the horror started and kept on going through the entire book only growing stronger and more horrific with each turning of the page! This is truly…one scary…terrifying…read with the lights on…what was that noise I just heard…horrifying book!
This is not your average story about a haunted house! No…this is a story that was started generations ago…passed on through the bloodline….and ends….hopefully never!
The imagination that Ms. Noordeloos has is very evident in this story. Her style for detail…her graphic scenes…the descriptions of the characters…all add up to one amazing story! One that will stay with you for some time after you have finished reading. I was drawn into this tale from page one and couldn’t put it down until I turned that last page…reading with one eye closed at times due to the horror I was reading. This is definitely one story that I can recommend to everyone without hesitation because it is that good! Thank you Chantal Noordeloos for a fantastically…frightening story that I absolutely loved!
This is not your average story about a haunted house! No…this is a story that was started generations ago…passed on through the bloodline….and ends….hopefully never!
The imagination that Ms. Noordeloos has is very evident in this story. Her style for detail…her graphic scenes…the descriptions of the characters…all add up to one amazing story! One that will stay with you for some time after you have finished reading. I was drawn into this tale from page one and couldn’t put it down until I turned that last page…reading with one eye closed at times due to the horror I was reading. This is definitely one story that I can recommend to everyone without hesitation because it is that good! Thank you Chantal Noordeloos for a fantastically…frightening story that I absolutely loved!
December 13, 2014
This book... What can I say? This book creeped me out. That is a very difficult thing for a book to do. Chantal Noordeloos is a phenomenal writer! I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
January 15, 2015
HOLY JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH. This book scared the crap out of me. The most horrific horror story I have read in a long time. Seriously. If you like horror, READ THIS. Just not in the dark.
July 7, 2020
Angel Manor by Chantal Noordeloos is not what I expected. Not at all. In a good way.
I bought it on a whim when the author did the 99cent promo thing one day and a friend said it was good. At a glance, it looked like a basic, fun haunted house / haunted hotel story. Those are always great to read between extreme horror books. It sat in my Kindle for a while until I needed a distraction read.
I read the prologue and thought my brain was going to explode. This was not going to just be a fun read; it was going to be a good story. And it was!
Angel Manor not only exceeded my expectations, it turned out to be much more horrifying than your average haunted house story. More horrifying, more gruesome, more graphic. Much more complex.
The complexity of the story and characters got to me almost as much as the relentless suspense and horror. Angel Manor is mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting to read—in the best possible way. I was enthralled, taking every opportunity to pick it up and read more, reprioritizing my day here and there even.
Angel Manor is dark and unpredictable, and the ending is not what you expect. Not at all.
Then the author really gets you.
She includes the prologue from book 2 after the end. It held me hostage and wrecked my reading list order. I began Book 2, Doll Manor, immediately.
I am shocked this author was not already known to me. I am even now planning which of her books will grace my library next. Because I already finished Book 2.
Angel Manor is rich with scares, suspense, violence, and realistic characters. It’s not just a haunted house story. I highly recommend it for all horror fans.
I bought it on a whim when the author did the 99cent promo thing one day and a friend said it was good. At a glance, it looked like a basic, fun haunted house / haunted hotel story. Those are always great to read between extreme horror books. It sat in my Kindle for a while until I needed a distraction read.
I read the prologue and thought my brain was going to explode. This was not going to just be a fun read; it was going to be a good story. And it was!
Angel Manor not only exceeded my expectations, it turned out to be much more horrifying than your average haunted house story. More horrifying, more gruesome, more graphic. Much more complex.
The complexity of the story and characters got to me almost as much as the relentless suspense and horror. Angel Manor is mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting to read—in the best possible way. I was enthralled, taking every opportunity to pick it up and read more, reprioritizing my day here and there even.
Angel Manor is dark and unpredictable, and the ending is not what you expect. Not at all.
Then the author really gets you.
She includes the prologue from book 2 after the end. It held me hostage and wrecked my reading list order. I began Book 2, Doll Manor, immediately.
I am shocked this author was not already known to me. I am even now planning which of her books will grace my library next. Because I already finished Book 2.
Angel Manor is rich with scares, suspense, violence, and realistic characters. It’s not just a haunted house story. I highly recommend it for all horror fans.
February 25, 2016
The book opens with a shocker, no holds barred from the author, straight in with the descriptive horror. That woke me up!
The next few chapters are taken up with the back story, Angel Manor is a haunted house with a difference. It has a deep rooted, dark secret that is entwined with an ancient evil. The start is a little difficult to figure out quite what is happening and who is who, but the shocking entrance kept me interested. The book has some great character arcs, Noordeloos spins the tale of three friends, desperate for a new life and the romantic idea of renovating one of the friends Freya's inherited house into an hotel. Little do they know that they will wake an evil that has been in existence since before man.
The book builds with creepy moments into a huge slash gore fest. The book has a lot going on which at times I wondered where it was taking me, as it is jam packed with magic, ancient evil, rituals, religion, love triangles, incest and a haunted house to name just a few! This is however book one of three and Noordeloos does a great job of spinning it all to it's fantastic climatic end. What a great twist, I didn't expect that!
I am very much looking forward to book two. Well worth a read, I really enjoyed it.
The next few chapters are taken up with the back story, Angel Manor is a haunted house with a difference. It has a deep rooted, dark secret that is entwined with an ancient evil. The start is a little difficult to figure out quite what is happening and who is who, but the shocking entrance kept me interested. The book has some great character arcs, Noordeloos spins the tale of three friends, desperate for a new life and the romantic idea of renovating one of the friends Freya's inherited house into an hotel. Little do they know that they will wake an evil that has been in existence since before man.
The book builds with creepy moments into a huge slash gore fest. The book has a lot going on which at times I wondered where it was taking me, as it is jam packed with magic, ancient evil, rituals, religion, love triangles, incest and a haunted house to name just a few! This is however book one of three and Noordeloos does a great job of spinning it all to it's fantastic climatic end. What a great twist, I didn't expect that!
I am very much looking forward to book two. Well worth a read, I really enjoyed it.
November 25, 2014
Chantal has written a spectacular feat. After a truly shocking opening sequence the main plot of the story begins. A simple visit by three friends to an inherited home lures us into complacency with only minor hints at the future. Odd happenings and non-malicious oddities keep the protagonists off balance. Without giving spoilers, I can only say that by the finale the tension and drama had me thoroughly involved, and terrified.
Enough time was spent on the main characters that I understood and believed in them, without all of the tedium of extraneous information that does not help the story. Tears arose right alongside the chuckles.
We learn that what fate, or birthright, has in store for you, may not be what you expect nor want. But also realize, that for the greater good, sometimes fate makes you exactly what fate needs you to be.
Read this book, you won't be disappointed.
Enough time was spent on the main characters that I understood and believed in them, without all of the tedium of extraneous information that does not help the story. Tears arose right alongside the chuckles.
We learn that what fate, or birthright, has in store for you, may not be what you expect nor want. But also realize, that for the greater good, sometimes fate makes you exactly what fate needs you to be.
Read this book, you won't be disappointed.
December 3, 2014
This is definitely one that will keep you up at night - in a good way, of course! Angel Manor is the debut novel of a writer I am going to be looking out for from now on. She creates a wonderful sense of atmosphere - dark, brooding, sinister - along with a quirky cast of characters, creeping menace, suspense and full on scarifying horror. This book had everything a horror reader could want. The nuns were terrifying, so were the statues. The sense of dread was palpable. Each chapter finished on a cliffhanger, so you simply had to read on (hence the late nights!). The ending was perfect. Highly recommended!
November 14, 2014
Just when I think the Haunted House story has been overused like the leftovers of an ostrich-sized turkey at Christmas, Chantal Noordeloos comes up with a tantalising alternative that you will find frightening and exciting.
Let the darkness in....there will be SheNUNigans!
Let the darkness in....there will be SheNUNigans!
December 17, 2014
I received this book as a goodreads giveaway. I do enjoy a good horror story and this has it all, blood, gore, ghosts, scarey nuns, house with a past and clairvoyants! Looking forward to a book 2 however, it also sits well as as a stand alone story.
December 7, 2014
A great horror story, well told.
I have not read anything by this author before but I definitely will again. 'Angel Manor' has a great balance of terrifying scenes with effective blood n guts descriptions to keep any horror fan satisfied.
I have not read anything by this author before but I definitely will again. 'Angel Manor' has a great balance of terrifying scenes with effective blood n guts descriptions to keep any horror fan satisfied.
October 18, 2016
This is some damn fine horror. The author takes the somewhat familiar concept of a haunted house and cranks it up a notch. I usually prefer atmospheric horror to gorey stories, but the two are exquisitely balanced to make for a terrifying read.
It opens in spectacular fashion, and so providing some of the bloody history of the house, but also to set up the core mystery threading through the whole story. We're then taken to modern times and Freya's inheritance of the same house. Although it settles down compared to the opening scene, it quickly builds pace with only the most minor faltering to the conclusion.
The author writes with an accessible style that carries the tale. The emotion and events are told in crisp detail, without getting too bogged down so it flows well. The characters are well drawn, and I especially appreciated the perspectives of the spirits involved. The main characters are well portrayed, with appreciable depth. However some of the later characters (the medium and her entourage in particular) could have done with some fleshing out.
To call it a haunted house story does it a disservice. While it is true on the face of, it's built up through layers of different influences, which combine to something you can get your teeth into. I think I appreciated this most of all the good aspects of the book. It wasn't simple, but had nuances to it that allowed for a greater breadth of responses from the characters. How they tackled the adversity also stood out from the usual horror fare.
As we approached the end I did have a building gripe that the core mystery wasn't revealed, or at least given more substance. However this changed with the last couple of chapters and it struck me that maybe it would have been better to save the revelation. I think it deserved more than the wrap up it received, although it did do justice for the main character, but I do hope that the history of this aspect is explored more fully in future books.
Overall though, this is a fantastic horror read. It does well in shades of grey choices and influences, rather than a rigid black and white. It's very well written and well worth the time of any fans of the genre.
It opens in spectacular fashion, and so providing some of the bloody history of the house, but also to set up the core mystery threading through the whole story. We're then taken to modern times and Freya's inheritance of the same house. Although it settles down compared to the opening scene, it quickly builds pace with only the most minor faltering to the conclusion.
The author writes with an accessible style that carries the tale. The emotion and events are told in crisp detail, without getting too bogged down so it flows well. The characters are well drawn, and I especially appreciated the perspectives of the spirits involved. The main characters are well portrayed, with appreciable depth. However some of the later characters (the medium and her entourage in particular) could have done with some fleshing out.
To call it a haunted house story does it a disservice. While it is true on the face of, it's built up through layers of different influences, which combine to something you can get your teeth into. I think I appreciated this most of all the good aspects of the book. It wasn't simple, but had nuances to it that allowed for a greater breadth of responses from the characters. How they tackled the adversity also stood out from the usual horror fare.
As we approached the end I did have a building gripe that the core mystery wasn't revealed, or at least given more substance. However this changed with the last couple of chapters and it struck me that maybe it would have been better to save the revelation. I think it deserved more than the wrap up it received, although it did do justice for the main character, but I do hope that the history of this aspect is explored more fully in future books.
Overall though, this is a fantastic horror read. It does well in shades of grey choices and influences, rather than a rigid black and white. It's very well written and well worth the time of any fans of the genre.
December 1, 2014
This book will scare the pants off you!!
I have to admit, the cover of this book is what got my attention. I love paranormal, but sometimes shy away from really scary stuff. After the prologue, I was hooked, and had trouble putting the book down. This book is the story of a young woman, Freya, who inherits this large manor house and convinces two of her college friends, Oliver and Bambi to help turn it into a grand hotel. To raise money to help pay for the renovation, they decided to sell as many of the antiques as possible. It was not until after these items are sold that the letter from her aunt (not part of the original paperwork Freya received when the house was turned over to her) noted that some of the items sold were actually put in place as part of protection spells to keep the evil of the house in check. It did not help matters that Freya and her companions did not take the letter serious, and decided to go on with their original plans. Huge, huge, mistake on their parts. It did not take long for the scary ones discussed in the prologue to come back and take over. The evil in the house was not satisfied with just the folks staying in the house, they took command over the resident’s dead friends and family, too. When they brought in the ghost hunters, it all came to a head.
This is a very busy book, filled with very busy people, ghosts and so on. The dialogue of the book is written as if all the characters were American, however, Bambi was the only American; Freya, Oliver and those who come to do the work on the house are either local Scott’s or from England. It is fairly evident when words like flashlight are used instead of torches. All in all, when it came time for the nasty ghouls to take over – it did not really matter. So grab onto your puppy and don’t even think of going into the basement alone after reading this book.
I have to admit, the cover of this book is what got my attention. I love paranormal, but sometimes shy away from really scary stuff. After the prologue, I was hooked, and had trouble putting the book down. This book is the story of a young woman, Freya, who inherits this large manor house and convinces two of her college friends, Oliver and Bambi to help turn it into a grand hotel. To raise money to help pay for the renovation, they decided to sell as many of the antiques as possible. It was not until after these items are sold that the letter from her aunt (not part of the original paperwork Freya received when the house was turned over to her) noted that some of the items sold were actually put in place as part of protection spells to keep the evil of the house in check. It did not help matters that Freya and her companions did not take the letter serious, and decided to go on with their original plans. Huge, huge, mistake on their parts. It did not take long for the scary ones discussed in the prologue to come back and take over. The evil in the house was not satisfied with just the folks staying in the house, they took command over the resident’s dead friends and family, too. When they brought in the ghost hunters, it all came to a head.
This is a very busy book, filled with very busy people, ghosts and so on. The dialogue of the book is written as if all the characters were American, however, Bambi was the only American; Freya, Oliver and those who come to do the work on the house are either local Scott’s or from England. It is fairly evident when words like flashlight are used instead of torches. All in all, when it came time for the nasty ghouls to take over – it did not really matter. So grab onto your puppy and don’t even think of going into the basement alone after reading this book.
March 2, 2015
Freya inherits her mother's childhood home on the Isle of Skye is Scotland near Lucifer Falls; the home is a sprawling mansion which has mostly fallen into disrepair while her aunt lived there. Freya hopes to turn the mansion into a hotel with the help of her friends Bambi and Oliver. From the moment they arrive, something feels off with the house. Freya begins to think more of her aunt's strange directions about the house and her mother's extreme dislike of her childhood home. When a team of contractors begins to work on the house, two of the boys quickly go missing. Freya and her friends begin to feel tied to the house, getting severe headaches when the try to leave. In their heads they know that the house demands sacrifice. When Freya hires a psychic to come see the house, she thinks all of her horrors have been solved...
From the prologue, I knew that this was going to be a gritty horror read. Digging into the past when Angel Manor was a convent, I was introduced to naked, murderous nuns sacrificing children on the equinox and I knew this was going to be good. Fast forward to present day, Freya and her friends keep seeing ghosts and some force is keeping the ghosts in Angel Manor. There was a great feeling of suspense the entire way through the book since the force in the house was not revealed to the very end and it wasn't quite evident if the psychic helped clear the house or caused more damage. Freya, Oliver, Bam along with the construction crew offered a good cast of characters,each with different reactions to the house. I really enjoyed the pace of the book, the mix of the gore, suspense, mystery and classic horror. It also reminded me a bit of American Horror Story Murder House which was a plus for me.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
From the prologue, I knew that this was going to be a gritty horror read. Digging into the past when Angel Manor was a convent, I was introduced to naked, murderous nuns sacrificing children on the equinox and I knew this was going to be good. Fast forward to present day, Freya and her friends keep seeing ghosts and some force is keeping the ghosts in Angel Manor. There was a great feeling of suspense the entire way through the book since the force in the house was not revealed to the very end and it wasn't quite evident if the psychic helped clear the house or caused more damage. Freya, Oliver, Bam along with the construction crew offered a good cast of characters,each with different reactions to the house. I really enjoyed the pace of the book, the mix of the gore, suspense, mystery and classic horror. It also reminded me a bit of American Horror Story Murder House which was a plus for me.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
December 14, 2014
OK, I have a confession to make. Haunted houses freak me out, but I'm pretty sure they freak you out too. In fact Im pretty sure they freak everybody out, and anyone that tells you different is lying. They might say with a brave face that they'd be willing to spend the night in a spooky old house with a spooky old past, but if they did they'd be voiding in their tightey whiteys at the first creak of the errant floorboard or the first clammy touch of the sighing draft as it breathes down the back of their neck. I think it's innate. It's primal, coded at the most basic level. We know. We just know when a place is bad. And Angel Manor might very well be the worst of them all.
This book takes off like a rocket, and that's what separates this one from other haunted house stories. Most Haunted House tales rely on on a slow build up of dusty tension, cobwebs that begin to spin themselves. Angel Manor doesn't do that. In fact, from the get go you know that old Nick is steering the ship, which sounds like it couldn't work or at least it shouldn't work - but it does. And that isn't to say theres no slow and steady buildup of tension most foul, because there is. It just exists in tandem with the full throttle sensory attack of this book.
And kids, this one will weed out the weak. Your own dearest narrator here was nearly felled by the bloody pen of Miss Noordeloos. Again, I don't want you to get the wrong idea here. While this one is as dark as the proverbial tomb, the author has a kind of giddy joie de vivre to what she's doing here. In a sense its like being told a campfire tale by someone who's having a damn good time doing it. It's just that no one has ever told a campfire tale like this, because while there are Haunted Houses, none are like Angel Manor!
This book takes off like a rocket, and that's what separates this one from other haunted house stories. Most Haunted House tales rely on on a slow build up of dusty tension, cobwebs that begin to spin themselves. Angel Manor doesn't do that. In fact, from the get go you know that old Nick is steering the ship, which sounds like it couldn't work or at least it shouldn't work - but it does. And that isn't to say theres no slow and steady buildup of tension most foul, because there is. It just exists in tandem with the full throttle sensory attack of this book.
And kids, this one will weed out the weak. Your own dearest narrator here was nearly felled by the bloody pen of Miss Noordeloos. Again, I don't want you to get the wrong idea here. While this one is as dark as the proverbial tomb, the author has a kind of giddy joie de vivre to what she's doing here. In a sense its like being told a campfire tale by someone who's having a damn good time doing it. It's just that no one has ever told a campfire tale like this, because while there are Haunted Houses, none are like Angel Manor!
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