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Thirteen
A short story prequel set in the thrilling world of Anya Allyn’s The Dark Carousel. This free story also includes five chapters of DOLLHOUSE, the first book in the bestselling horror series tinged with gothic romance. (less)
A hidden mansion. A silent carousel. Missing girls.
Hunted by her uncle, a thirteen-year-old girl flees into the woods and stumbles into a secret world of nightmarish horrors: a basement full of life-size toys and kidnapped girls forced to dress as dolls — a place where escape only exists in dreams.
In the days before she knew a toy box could be a place of dread; before her hair was curled in ringlets and her lips were painted red; before she forgot her name — she was Molly Parkes.
A hidden mansion. A silent carousel. Missing girls.
Hunted by her uncle, a thirteen-year-old girl flees into the woods and stumbles into a secret world of nightmarish horrors: a basement full of life-size toys and kidnapped girls forced to dress as dolls — a place where escape only exists in dreams.
In the days before she knew a toy box could be a place of dread; before her hair was curled in ringlets and her lips were painted red; before she forgot her name — she was Molly Parkes.
86 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 19, 2014
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437 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 12, 2014
Molly Parkes crept out to the garage where she could hear her cat, Polly mewling in distress. Her delight at the sight of the new born kittens was tempered by her wariness should her uncle find her out in the garage at 4am. Suddenly she heard a car; when her uncle and another man entered the garage she tried to hide – but what she heard in those few minutes caused her to flee in terror.
Little did Molly know that this was only the beginning of the most terrifying time in her life – with her mother gone, she had no-one. She had no idea what was happening; no idea where she was or why she was in the place she was…
This very short story is the prequel to book 1, Dollhouse by Aussie author Anya Allyn. I have read the whole series and loved it, so of course grabbed this free story. After the prequel there are a few chapters of Dollhouse to take you into the strange world that the author created. If you haven’t yet read this series I urge you to – it’s amazing! Recommended.
Little did Molly know that this was only the beginning of the most terrifying time in her life – with her mother gone, she had no-one. She had no idea what was happening; no idea where she was or why she was in the place she was…
This very short story is the prequel to book 1, Dollhouse by Aussie author Anya Allyn. I have read the whole series and loved it, so of course grabbed this free story. After the prequel there are a few chapters of Dollhouse to take you into the strange world that the author created. If you haven’t yet read this series I urge you to – it’s amazing! Recommended.
August 6, 2016
I forgot to add this one for some unknown reason. I read it some time ago, and I remember I enjoyed it quite a lot. Dark Carousel's saga has been a great discovering for me.
September 22, 2019
Leaving a bad situation isn't easy, but things could get worse, or at the very least much weirder, as it does in Anya Allyn's Thirteen: A Dark Carousel Short Story.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Living with her uncle after her mother's death, thirteen year old Molly Parkes knows the basics required to avoid upsetting him. While tending to a stray cat mewling as it gives birth to kittens one night, Molly sees something she shouldn't have: her uncle and a man with incredibly white hair drive into the garage with strange bags, guns, and talk of having killed some guards. Fleeing into the woods, Molly is being pursued by her uncle, who would allow her to be killed to prevent witnesses, but fate saved her life, though it has left her in a strange, secluded mansion dressed up as a doll. Years later, she's not the only doll to be played with in the dollhouse.
Plenty eerie in the atmosphere and scenario presented, this short story provides a tantalizing set-up for future horrors with the Dark Carousel series. The narration was generally good, though there was a point of view shift for a small portion that, while providing context, detracted from the mystery and seemingly dire circumstances that Molly has found herself in. The series has potential if the characters and situations are further developed and refined from this rapid introduction to them, especially with the intriguing nature that the start of this short story offered to entice readers to become invested in experiencing more of this dark world.
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Living with her uncle after her mother's death, thirteen year old Molly Parkes knows the basics required to avoid upsetting him. While tending to a stray cat mewling as it gives birth to kittens one night, Molly sees something she shouldn't have: her uncle and a man with incredibly white hair drive into the garage with strange bags, guns, and talk of having killed some guards. Fleeing into the woods, Molly is being pursued by her uncle, who would allow her to be killed to prevent witnesses, but fate saved her life, though it has left her in a strange, secluded mansion dressed up as a doll. Years later, she's not the only doll to be played with in the dollhouse.
Plenty eerie in the atmosphere and scenario presented, this short story provides a tantalizing set-up for future horrors with the Dark Carousel series. The narration was generally good, though there was a point of view shift for a small portion that, while providing context, detracted from the mystery and seemingly dire circumstances that Molly has found herself in. The series has potential if the characters and situations are further developed and refined from this rapid introduction to them, especially with the intriguing nature that the start of this short story offered to entice readers to become invested in experiencing more of this dark world.
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
August 6, 2023
This was a creepy set-up for a series.
I felt terrible for Molly, who has a pretty horrific home life. This is a very short story and doesn't really stand alone terribly well in that there is little conclusion--you can tell it is a prequel to something else. I had read the first book in the series before I read this, and shamefully enough did not connect the two until I looked it up on Goodreads when I was considering continuing the series.
I might have to re-read Dollhouse since I apparently missed the connection to this short story. I remembered enjoying the novel quite a bit, and I never did continue with the series.
If you are interested in the series, this is probably a good place to start, and I picked up the e-book for free on Amazon, so it has that going for it as well.
I felt terrible for Molly, who has a pretty horrific home life. This is a very short story and doesn't really stand alone terribly well in that there is little conclusion--you can tell it is a prequel to something else. I had read the first book in the series before I read this, and shamefully enough did not connect the two until I looked it up on Goodreads when I was considering continuing the series.
I might have to re-read Dollhouse since I apparently missed the connection to this short story. I remembered enjoying the novel quite a bit, and I never did continue with the series.
If you are interested in the series, this is probably a good place to start, and I picked up the e-book for free on Amazon, so it has that going for it as well.
September 30, 2015
Me encantó! Esta mini historia va cargada de un misterio que siempre te deja queriendo más mientras te vas adentrando a lo que será la historia en la Casa de Muñecas, me gusta la oscuridad que se presenta y el hecho de que algo simple -o no tanto- se puede convertir en una pesadilla, creo que se vislumbran cosas por venir para Molly Parkes y estaré encantado de leerlas. A mí personalmente me encanta esta nota de oscuridad/drama/terror porque te mantienen absorto en la lectura, simplemente me encantó!
December 17, 2014
Really good (but short) story, which keeps you on the edge of your seat. Few stories that are this short feel very well-developed, but this one does. I think the story itself is only around 20 pages, then goes into the first five chapters of the next book (which I didn't read, since I own the next book in its entirety). I'm anxious for the next book in the series because this novella really got me hooked on the series.
August 13, 2016
"Hunted by her uncle, a thirteen-year-old girl flees into the woods and stumbles into a secret world of nightmarish horrors: a basement full of life-size toys and kidnapped girls forced to dress as dolls — a place where escape only exists in dreams."
Short prequel to 'Dollhouse' by this author. It was indeed very short and ended just as I was really getting into it. I don't feel that I would have missed anything if I had not read it tbh. Rating: 3 stars.
Short prequel to 'Dollhouse' by this author. It was indeed very short and ended just as I was really getting into it. I don't feel that I would have missed anything if I had not read it tbh. Rating: 3 stars.
November 16, 2015
Clumsily written. A lot of paragraphs had repeating words, I found myself tripping over them while reading.
and... If she was caught shop lifting pads and toothpaste because she couldn't afford them, how did she pay for two bus tickets and a tent? eh? Plot holes!
There is potential. It's an interesting concept and I do want to read the actual series. I just think this mini story needed more fine tuning.
and... If she was caught shop lifting pads and toothpaste because she couldn't afford them, how did she pay for two bus tickets and a tent? eh? Plot holes!
There is potential. It's an interesting concept and I do want to read the actual series. I just think this mini story needed more fine tuning.
May 1, 2016
I haven't read any of the Dark Carousel series yet, but this intrigued me, so I thought I would start with it. After getting a feel for the setting and the tone, I can safely say that I will be picking up the first book in the series for sure. Though this was really too short for me to write a proper review, Anya Allyn was able to paint a creepy, addictive story.
May 3, 2016
I really liked this and even though I knew it was short it still ended for too quickly. Could have gone over 100 pages a little and Explored Molly's early days in the dollhouse in my opinion. I love this series and have read all four books. This was free and I did like what I got, just wish there was more.
May 2, 2018
Wow!!! This novella is Amazing! One of my favorites! I got SO sucked into this world that I couldn't get enough of it. I have already purchased the first book "Dollhouse" and the prequel "Paracosm: Bleath: The Hauntings". The books are so good that I will be buying the rest and enjoying every minute of them! :-D
February 18, 2023
Que les digo chicos esta historia me ha intrigado totalmente, la historia es muy interesante y la sinopsis te deja como picada. Los thrillers me encantan, y siempre los disfruto y este sin duda me encantó. Es muy corta y si les doy detalles se las terminaría contando, así que yo les diría que les den la oportunidad.
December 28, 2014
just a taste
What a great taste of what's to come. We have now met Molly, she had to run because she cared for Polly. Her Uncle was bad, now there's a man who is mad and little Molly has been turned into a Dolly. Can't wait to read Dollhouse!
What a great taste of what's to come. We have now met Molly, she had to run because she cared for Polly. Her Uncle was bad, now there's a man who is mad and little Molly has been turned into a Dolly. Can't wait to read Dollhouse!
January 23, 2015
This was a fast paced look at what happened before Molly came to be in the Dollhouse. Now I don't know much about the world yet as I am just starting Dollhouse, but it sounds alluring. Recommend if you want a bit more background story.
May 10, 2015
Creepy. Suspenseful. Weird. An interesting enough story line to make me want to read the next book. I don't normally read horror type books but this had me intrigued enough to want to continue the story.
August 13, 2015
una mini historia de introducción a algo que pinta ser muy atrapante. En pocas páginas logró mantenerme en vilo y a la espera de lo que pasaba. Cada capítulo esta narrado desde el punto de vista de uno de los personajes, y de esta forma nos adentramos en lo que será Casa de muñecas.
March 13, 2015
i love the series
I love the series but I wish there was more to the book. But we do find out how Molly got there
I love the series but I wish there was more to the book. But we do find out how Molly got there
March 13, 2015
It was super short but it made em want to read Dollhouse all over again.
April 12, 2015
It was a good short story. It's a horror story and totally freaked me out. I want to read more!!!
July 13, 2015
A brief hint of the freakiness that is Dollhouse.
July 13, 2015
Historia de Molly... lo único que me habría encantado es que los monstruos se hubieran comido a Dev y a Mr. White..
May 31, 2016
Soooooo creepy! I was bummed to find out how short it was but will have to get the next book eventually! Very interesting so far!
July 22, 2015
It was ok for a short story. I'm not 100% sure if I'll read the novel, this didn't grab me enough to do it urgently.
October 15, 2015
Tanya Allyn has outdone others by far with this short story. I can't get over how good it was for being so short either. I just reread the saga and this made me want to read it yet again.
July 25, 2016
There was a POV shift that was kind of clunky, breaking the flow probably unnecessarily. Even so, a page-turner of a hook that raises my expectations for the series.
December 21, 2016
Very short, and didn't really add much. But a good introduction to what could be a great series
February 3, 2015
So creepy I love it!
March 20, 2015
interest storyline
September 16, 2015
As soon as I started it, I knew I couldn´t stop until I´m done with this story.
Amazing!
Amazing!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews