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Mary Hades #2
Possess
Mary Hades is drawn back into the world of the macabre as she moves with her family into the mysterious old house, Ravenswood. The mere mention of Ravenswood induces terror among the locals, and when strange things begin to occur, Mary and Lacey decide to get to the bottom of the secret hidden in the historic house once and for all.
As a dark power gathers, Mary finds her life becomes interconnected with the disturbing events that transpired in 1847 to eleven year old Liza Blair. The more Mary is drawn into Liza’s story, the more she realises someone close to her is in grave danger from the sinister energy at Ravenswood.
Set in the backdrop of an unsettling forest, and with strange neighbour Emmaline Delacroix obsessed with death and séances, Possess will take you even deeper into the murky depths of Mary Hades’s unusual life.
With strong language and scenes of horror this book is best suited to readers aged fifteen and over.
Book two in the Mary Hades series.
As a dark power gathers, Mary finds her life becomes interconnected with the disturbing events that transpired in 1847 to eleven year old Liza Blair. The more Mary is drawn into Liza’s story, the more she realises someone close to her is in grave danger from the sinister energy at Ravenswood.
Set in the backdrop of an unsettling forest, and with strange neighbour Emmaline Delacroix obsessed with death and séances, Possess will take you even deeper into the murky depths of Mary Hades’s unusual life.
With strong language and scenes of horror this book is best suited to readers aged fifteen and over.
Book two in the Mary Hades series.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
15 people are currently reading
592 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Dalton
71 books336 followersSarah grew up in the middle of nowhere in the countryside of Derbyshire and as a result has an over-active imagination. She has been an avid reader for most of her life, taking inspiration from the stories she read as a child, and the novels she devoured as an adult.
Sarah mainly writes speculative fiction for a Young Adult audience and has had pieces of short fiction published in the Medulla Literary Review, PANK magazine, Apex Magazine and the British Fantasy Society publication Dark Horizons. Her short story ‘Vampires Wear Chanel’ is featured in the Wyvern Publication Fangtales.
She is the author of the popular YA dystopia series 'Blemished' and the gothic novella 'My Daylight Monsters'. She is currently working on a YA Fantasy series titled 'White Hart'.
Follow Sarah on twitter @sarahdalton
Sarah mainly writes speculative fiction for a Young Adult audience and has had pieces of short fiction published in the Medulla Literary Review, PANK magazine, Apex Magazine and the British Fantasy Society publication Dark Horizons. Her short story ‘Vampires Wear Chanel’ is featured in the Wyvern Publication Fangtales.
She is the author of the popular YA dystopia series 'Blemished' and the gothic novella 'My Daylight Monsters'. She is currently working on a YA Fantasy series titled 'White Hart'.
Follow Sarah on twitter @sarahdalton
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 3, 2015
This was one seriously creepy and scary book!! I really enjoyed the first book but loved this one!! This is like a mash up of all the old horror stories, The Omen, Amityville and Poltergeist all rolled into one.
Mary is as awesome as always. She changed since the end of book 1 and is now actively seeking out harmful spirits, with her BFF Lacey, and sending them onto wherever it is that they go. While she may not love her gift, she knows that if she has a way to help then she must. When Marys' mother tells her that they were offered a different, and bigger, house in exchange for theirs, she is suitably sad to leave. When she gets to Ravenswood though, she feels a strange pull but also also feels an odd vibe from it. The first thing Mary and Lacey do is to see can they feel the presence of any spirits but they sense nothing. What is the odd feeling Mary gets though? Lacey is sure that the place isnt haunted so why does Mary feel so odd?
Ravenswood was the perfect setting. Its an isolated house, surrounded by woods and every local seems afraid of the place. Its steeped in history but yet has been abandoned for so long before the current owner buys it. When Mary moves in, her mother starts acting strangely and Mary puts it down to freedom from the old place, until she finds an old diary and a music box. The diary belonged to a young girl who lived in Ravenswood. She documents her life and that of her sister who seems to be descending into madness. Mary realises the similarities of what is happening and knows that she needs to get to the bottom of the puzzle before it's too late.
This is so much darker and scarier than Mary Hades and I loved that fact!! It gets the heart pounding and pulse racing and makes for some scary reading. If this was a movie I know I would be watching it through my fingers. Lol.
Sarah Dalton really knows how to grab the reader and pull you in. I loved how the book was told from 2 POVs. We have Marys POV and we have the diaries POV. Right from the start, the diary is the creepiest thing and you just know that something bad is going to happen. For me that was the creepiest part.
Anyway, this was such a great read and one I devoured. Its a fast paced, pulse racing, heart pounding chilling read. Mary Hades has really grown up!! We learn some surprising things about someone Mary loves, which I didn't see coming! All in all a truly creepy and intense read.
Mary is as awesome as always. She changed since the end of book 1 and is now actively seeking out harmful spirits, with her BFF Lacey, and sending them onto wherever it is that they go. While she may not love her gift, she knows that if she has a way to help then she must. When Marys' mother tells her that they were offered a different, and bigger, house in exchange for theirs, she is suitably sad to leave. When she gets to Ravenswood though, she feels a strange pull but also also feels an odd vibe from it. The first thing Mary and Lacey do is to see can they feel the presence of any spirits but they sense nothing. What is the odd feeling Mary gets though? Lacey is sure that the place isnt haunted so why does Mary feel so odd?
Ravenswood was the perfect setting. Its an isolated house, surrounded by woods and every local seems afraid of the place. Its steeped in history but yet has been abandoned for so long before the current owner buys it. When Mary moves in, her mother starts acting strangely and Mary puts it down to freedom from the old place, until she finds an old diary and a music box. The diary belonged to a young girl who lived in Ravenswood. She documents her life and that of her sister who seems to be descending into madness. Mary realises the similarities of what is happening and knows that she needs to get to the bottom of the puzzle before it's too late.
This is so much darker and scarier than Mary Hades and I loved that fact!! It gets the heart pounding and pulse racing and makes for some scary reading. If this was a movie I know I would be watching it through my fingers. Lol.
Sarah Dalton really knows how to grab the reader and pull you in. I loved how the book was told from 2 POVs. We have Marys POV and we have the diaries POV. Right from the start, the diary is the creepiest thing and you just know that something bad is going to happen. For me that was the creepiest part.
Anyway, this was such a great read and one I devoured. Its a fast paced, pulse racing, heart pounding chilling read. Mary Hades has really grown up!! We learn some surprising things about someone Mary loves, which I didn't see coming! All in all a truly creepy and intense read.
May 12, 2016
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5
MY THOUGHTS
After the events in the first book, Mary Hades has moved back home with her family only to have the bombshell dropped on her that the are essentially switching homes with another woman who wishes to live closer to the city. Their new home now rests out in the outskirts in a very large, old, and beautiful. A home with a history that no one will tell them. The previous owner is very jumpy, no one ever wants to come to their new home, and their odd new neighbor skirts around all questions. Mary knows something is wrong with the house, but cannot sense any ghosts. It's only her mom's strange behavior and a young girl's diary from long ago that she can begin connecting the dots.
What's interesting about this series is that each book focuses on another ghosty story and I actually very much enjoy that. It's recommended to read Mary Hades and even My Daylight Monsters, the prequel, will help you understand things, but you won't be entirely confused without the stories within them.
This book was very short and felt more like a novella than a full book. I felt like half this book was Mary and half this book was Liz, the girl from the 1800s. I thought that this was very interesting, that we got to see how the house affected the past and how it was affecting the present. I felt like a lot more was happening in Liz's parts, but the Mary timeline picks up the pace near the end. It was also interesting how history seemed to repeat itself.
As for the book itself, I wish I could've gotten more information, as I'm still confused about the house, but overall this was very frightening and dark. It brought up some very unexpected things as well. I felt like one of the strongest things in this book, though, was probably Mary and her mom's relationship. It goes through hardships in this book, but I really think it grows stronger.
For some reason, I just didn't enjoy it as much as book 1. This ghost story did have very scary aspects, but this book was very short and so it did feel a bit rushed to me.
As for romance, THERE IS NONE! Hurray! What I liked about this is the fact that it proves that you can still have a great book without the romance!
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, this was a very creepy ghost story and it was told in a very unique manner, I just didn't enjoy it as much as book 1 (though this is still a great book!). This book is very short, around 170 pages, and very gripping, so you will get through this book very quickly! I very much like how each book has it's own ghost story while still having the same basic cast of characters! I am excited to see what creepiness will come next!
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5
MY THOUGHTS
After the events in the first book, Mary Hades has moved back home with her family only to have the bombshell dropped on her that the are essentially switching homes with another woman who wishes to live closer to the city. Their new home now rests out in the outskirts in a very large, old, and beautiful. A home with a history that no one will tell them. The previous owner is very jumpy, no one ever wants to come to their new home, and their odd new neighbor skirts around all questions. Mary knows something is wrong with the house, but cannot sense any ghosts. It's only her mom's strange behavior and a young girl's diary from long ago that she can begin connecting the dots.
What's interesting about this series is that each book focuses on another ghosty story and I actually very much enjoy that. It's recommended to read Mary Hades and even My Daylight Monsters, the prequel, will help you understand things, but you won't be entirely confused without the stories within them.
This book was very short and felt more like a novella than a full book. I felt like half this book was Mary and half this book was Liz, the girl from the 1800s. I thought that this was very interesting, that we got to see how the house affected the past and how it was affecting the present. I felt like a lot more was happening in Liz's parts, but the Mary timeline picks up the pace near the end. It was also interesting how history seemed to repeat itself.
As for the book itself, I wish I could've gotten more information, as I'm still confused about the house, but overall this was very frightening and dark. It brought up some very unexpected things as well. I felt like one of the strongest things in this book, though, was probably Mary and her mom's relationship. It goes through hardships in this book, but I really think it grows stronger.
For some reason, I just didn't enjoy it as much as book 1. This ghost story did have very scary aspects, but this book was very short and so it did feel a bit rushed to me.
As for romance, THERE IS NONE! Hurray! What I liked about this is the fact that it proves that you can still have a great book without the romance!
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, this was a very creepy ghost story and it was told in a very unique manner, I just didn't enjoy it as much as book 1 (though this is still a great book!). This book is very short, around 170 pages, and very gripping, so you will get through this book very quickly! I very much like how each book has it's own ghost story while still having the same basic cast of characters! I am excited to see what creepiness will come next!
July 7, 2024
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Depois de imenso tempo fui ler o volume dois da saga Mary Hades, no qual a trama ocorre após os eventos que ocorreram no primeiro volume. Os pais acham que está na hora de uma mudança e decidem mudar de casa para outra cidade afastada. Acabam por trocar de casa com uma senhora conhecida, mas a casa para onde vão viver é uma mansão e eles mal querem acreditar na sua sorte.
O pai tem que partir em trabalho então cabe à Mary e a sua mãe lidar com a mudança e as arrumações. Neste processo, a Mary encontra um diário antigo e uma caixa de música e não tarda até coisas estranhas começarem a acontecer.
Foi uma leitura interessante, gostei de como a história do presente ia decorrendo intercalada com a leitura de passagens do diário revelando similaridades nos eventos.
Este volume foi imensamente mais obscuro do que os outros, tenebroso...algumas passagens causaram-me arrepios. Foi pior do que a história de "Sister". Porém, uma nota positiva, tudo o que aconteceu aproximou-a da mãe que agora parou de fingir que não acreditava no sobrenatural e começou a apoiá-la.
Fiquei contente por notar que a dinâmica entre a Mary e a Lacey é a mesma, julguei que a partir de algum tempo íamos notar que as coisas pudessem esfriar um bocado entre elas e que eventualmente a Lacey ia começar a se "desprender" do que a fazia humana (apesar de agora ser fantasma). Isto não invalida de que mais para a frente poderá acontecer.
A vizinha deles é uma senhora peculiar (no mínimo), contudo está mais informada nos assuntos do sobrenatural e tenho esperanças que poderá ensinar mais coisas à Mary.
Depois de imenso tempo fui ler o volume dois da saga Mary Hades, no qual a trama ocorre após os eventos que ocorreram no primeiro volume. Os pais acham que está na hora de uma mudança e decidem mudar de casa para outra cidade afastada. Acabam por trocar de casa com uma senhora conhecida, mas a casa para onde vão viver é uma mansão e eles mal querem acreditar na sua sorte.
O pai tem que partir em trabalho então cabe à Mary e a sua mãe lidar com a mudança e as arrumações. Neste processo, a Mary encontra um diário antigo e uma caixa de música e não tarda até coisas estranhas começarem a acontecer.
Foi uma leitura interessante, gostei de como a história do presente ia decorrendo intercalada com a leitura de passagens do diário revelando similaridades nos eventos.
Este volume foi imensamente mais obscuro do que os outros, tenebroso...algumas passagens causaram-me arrepios. Foi pior do que a história de "Sister". Porém, uma nota positiva, tudo o que aconteceu aproximou-a da mãe que agora parou de fingir que não acreditava no sobrenatural e começou a apoiá-la.
Fiquei contente por notar que a dinâmica entre a Mary e a Lacey é a mesma, julguei que a partir de algum tempo íamos notar que as coisas pudessem esfriar um bocado entre elas e que eventualmente a Lacey ia começar a se "desprender" do que a fazia humana (apesar de agora ser fantasma). Isto não invalida de que mais para a frente poderá acontecer.
A vizinha deles é uma senhora peculiar (no mínimo), contudo está mais informada nos assuntos do sobrenatural e tenho esperanças que poderá ensinar mais coisas à Mary.
December 20, 2014
Officially Possess is the second instalment of the Mary Hades series because My Daylight Monsters and Sister are only considered to be companion novellas whose plots supplement the reader’s understanding of Mary Hades and her difficult journey, but are not necessary. However, I think the that by the time we reach even the halfway point in Possess, it’s story is so intricately interwoven with the previous plots that the reader will regret having ignored the ‘lesser’ books (I haven’t yet read Sister but certainly wish I had!)
Possess differs from My Daylight Monsters and Mary Hades because Sarah Dalton has bravely chosen to write a nonconformist YA story. Though the plot is dark, the majority of its main paranormal events take place within the walls of Ravenswood and this means there is no hint of romance. This is a refreshing change and I think if Mary was concentrating on love, rather than the secrets behind the house, the flow of the story would have been interrupted. As it stands Sarah Dalton’s writing captures us entirely, to the point where my heart beat sped up in fear!
Even Lacey has a lesser part on this story, partly because she and Mary are becoming more aware of the repercussions of her decision not to cross over and because the light relief she provides with her witty comments is redundant here. Despite the fact that there is more strain on her friendship with Mary, she still manages to use her powers at the most important moments!
At the heart of Possess is a subject many readers will identify with; Mary’s difficult relationship with her mother. As Mary’s mum changes and her true self becomes weakened, we watch Mary fight to save her. This shows how Mary is maturing and learning from her past.
Possess is not a light read. It’s plot is sinister and at times frightening, and I loved every minute of it. Sarah Dalton weaves Mary’s story and Liza’s diary together to create more drama, which only sucks us in further.
The majority of Young Adult books I read are by US authors but I am proud to claim Sarah Dalton for the UK! But remember to read Possess with the lights turned on!
Possess differs from My Daylight Monsters and Mary Hades because Sarah Dalton has bravely chosen to write a nonconformist YA story. Though the plot is dark, the majority of its main paranormal events take place within the walls of Ravenswood and this means there is no hint of romance. This is a refreshing change and I think if Mary was concentrating on love, rather than the secrets behind the house, the flow of the story would have been interrupted. As it stands Sarah Dalton’s writing captures us entirely, to the point where my heart beat sped up in fear!
Even Lacey has a lesser part on this story, partly because she and Mary are becoming more aware of the repercussions of her decision not to cross over and because the light relief she provides with her witty comments is redundant here. Despite the fact that there is more strain on her friendship with Mary, she still manages to use her powers at the most important moments!
At the heart of Possess is a subject many readers will identify with; Mary’s difficult relationship with her mother. As Mary’s mum changes and her true self becomes weakened, we watch Mary fight to save her. This shows how Mary is maturing and learning from her past.
Possess is not a light read. It’s plot is sinister and at times frightening, and I loved every minute of it. Sarah Dalton weaves Mary’s story and Liza’s diary together to create more drama, which only sucks us in further.
The majority of Young Adult books I read are by US authors but I am proud to claim Sarah Dalton for the UK! But remember to read Possess with the lights turned on!
March 28, 2015
This was a fantastic sequel to book one, Mary Hades. It picks up right after the events of the last book, but rather than continue the story line directly, we are moving forward and focusing on the next step in Mary's life, one that she had no choice about.
Moving.
Her parents have decided to house swap (permanently) with a little old lady who owns a rather large estate called Ravenwood. Both drawn to and kind of repelled by the house, Mary and her mother quickly become obsessed. With strange little things, an odd neighbor, and her BFF Lacey by her side, Mary is quickly pulled into the history of the house by way of a journal.
Lots of great tension and anxiety and a revelation about Mary's mom, this was a fab sequel to Mary Hades and I cannot wait to read the next installment!
Moving.
Her parents have decided to house swap (permanently) with a little old lady who owns a rather large estate called Ravenwood. Both drawn to and kind of repelled by the house, Mary and her mother quickly become obsessed. With strange little things, an odd neighbor, and her BFF Lacey by her side, Mary is quickly pulled into the history of the house by way of a journal.
Lots of great tension and anxiety and a revelation about Mary's mom, this was a fab sequel to Mary Hades and I cannot wait to read the next installment!
December 17, 2014
Review originally posted on www.whatkarareads.com
*Please note I received an ARC copy of Possess from the author.
Mary Hades and her spirited best friend Lacey are back for yet another ghostly adventure in Possess, the second (not including the novellas!) book in the Mary Hades series by Sarah Dalton. Dalton takes your classic family-moves-into-a-creepy-old-house story and gives it her own spin. The Hades family suddenly decides to up and move to this creepy old house, named Ravenswood. Isolated from the local village and buried in the woods, Mary and Lacey immediately gets an odd vibe from the house after their first visit, both believing it should be haunted but not sensing any other spirits. Originally hesitant about the move, Mary finds herself obsessing over the house after the visit, very much on board.
When Mr. Hades leaves for a school trip out of the country, Mary and her mom are left to move into and unpack their new home. While exploring the house on that first day with Lacey, the pair come across some antiques left behind by other owners, including a musical jewelry box and journal–items which only increase Mary’s infatuation with the house. It is when Mary and her mother attend a seance, disguised as a dinner party, at the mysterious and quirky neighbor, Emmaline’s, house that things begin to go downhill for our protagonist and her mother. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil all the fun, but know there’s a pretty dark and intense horror story ahead.
Possess is a delightful, but short, follow-up for the first Mary Hades novel. The first thing I noticed about this novel is that Ms. Dalton has a wonderful vocabulary, which makes the story engaging. Have you ever read a novel where the author just tends to use the same phrases and sentences over and over again? Doesn’t it drive you nuts? It drives me nuts, and I just finished a novel recently that did this. Not a problem in Possess! If I didn’t have such a busy schedule this past week with getting back into the swing of work after a lovely four day Thanksgiving break from work I probably would have finished this in one sitting. Alas, Christmas shopping and wedding planning got in the way.
I enjoyed the plot of this novel, always being a fan of horror and haunted houses, but it took me a while (okay until the end of the book) to get over the idea that this was a haunted house novel. It’s more of a possession novel (duh Kara, that’s the title). There really aren’t your stereotypical things-that-go-bump-in-the-night or other haunting-like events that we’ve come to know to go along with demon possession in pop culture (you know, the weird noises, strange smells, things moving on their own), so that threw me off a bit, but had no negative effect on my opinion. It was just… not what I was expecting, which can be a fun thing sometimes.
There were two other very small things in Possess that I would put in the constructive criticism column, which didn’t really effect my opinion negatively–they’re just more personal preferences things as a reader and a writer. The first was the use of journal entries to tell backstory. As a writer myself this is a personal preference issue. I had a creative writing teacher in college, who herself was a published author, that knocked on using journal entries to explain backstory, so the philosophy transferred to me too. In Possess we see some of the entries to the journal that Mary finds in the house, thrown in between chapters. I find it to be a smoother read when we see the character reading the entries (like we do towards the end of Possess) than to have them just chucked in. The other thing that slightly irked me was the use of the name “Ravenswood.” While it is an absolutely beautiful name, I feel like it is overused in pop culture and fiction to name creepy estates, towns, or people. Just to name a few, it has already been used for that terrible ABC Family show that was cancelled after one season, and the surname of a character and his house in Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia. It worked for Possess well, I just wish writers for books and film alike will start getting more creative in their names and quit abusing this one!
I do believe that Dalton could have expanded on a few plot points to make this already great story even richer. For example, what is the Governess’ backstory and why was she so attracted to the Dark One–both in life and death? And what is the backstory to this Dark One? What events led this spirit to be so dangerous, psychotic, and murderous? Was it something in its life or death? And if it was so ancient, why was it attached to this house that was built in the 1800s?
I did love that we finally got to know some of Mrs. Hades’ backstory and events in her life that have led her to be the way that she is (vague, I know, but spoiler free!). Now that she has owned up to those events, I’m eager to see if there will be some new understanding and bonding between Mary and her mom in future novels. I’m also intrigued by this neighbor character, Emmaline. I hope that the Hades family remains in Ravenswood and that in the next book we learn more of Emmaline and her history (how did she know all that?!)–and I really hope that she becomes a sort of mentor for Mary. Lots of new plot points could be built off this story! I hope Dalton runs with some of them!
Overall, Possess was a great follow up book. I believe there is enough explained in the beginning of the novel for it to work as a stand alone novel too, so if you haven’t read any of the other books or novellas in the series you’re not completely lost (though I do recommend it so you know of Mary’s past and the events that have made her who she is today!). So go read Possess now (!!!!!) and go help support independent authors!!
*Please note I received an ARC copy of Possess from the author.
Mary Hades and her spirited best friend Lacey are back for yet another ghostly adventure in Possess, the second (not including the novellas!) book in the Mary Hades series by Sarah Dalton. Dalton takes your classic family-moves-into-a-creepy-old-house story and gives it her own spin. The Hades family suddenly decides to up and move to this creepy old house, named Ravenswood. Isolated from the local village and buried in the woods, Mary and Lacey immediately gets an odd vibe from the house after their first visit, both believing it should be haunted but not sensing any other spirits. Originally hesitant about the move, Mary finds herself obsessing over the house after the visit, very much on board.
When Mr. Hades leaves for a school trip out of the country, Mary and her mom are left to move into and unpack their new home. While exploring the house on that first day with Lacey, the pair come across some antiques left behind by other owners, including a musical jewelry box and journal–items which only increase Mary’s infatuation with the house. It is when Mary and her mother attend a seance, disguised as a dinner party, at the mysterious and quirky neighbor, Emmaline’s, house that things begin to go downhill for our protagonist and her mother. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil all the fun, but know there’s a pretty dark and intense horror story ahead.
Possess is a delightful, but short, follow-up for the first Mary Hades novel. The first thing I noticed about this novel is that Ms. Dalton has a wonderful vocabulary, which makes the story engaging. Have you ever read a novel where the author just tends to use the same phrases and sentences over and over again? Doesn’t it drive you nuts? It drives me nuts, and I just finished a novel recently that did this. Not a problem in Possess! If I didn’t have such a busy schedule this past week with getting back into the swing of work after a lovely four day Thanksgiving break from work I probably would have finished this in one sitting. Alas, Christmas shopping and wedding planning got in the way.
I enjoyed the plot of this novel, always being a fan of horror and haunted houses, but it took me a while (okay until the end of the book) to get over the idea that this was a haunted house novel. It’s more of a possession novel (duh Kara, that’s the title). There really aren’t your stereotypical things-that-go-bump-in-the-night or other haunting-like events that we’ve come to know to go along with demon possession in pop culture (you know, the weird noises, strange smells, things moving on their own), so that threw me off a bit, but had no negative effect on my opinion. It was just… not what I was expecting, which can be a fun thing sometimes.
There were two other very small things in Possess that I would put in the constructive criticism column, which didn’t really effect my opinion negatively–they’re just more personal preferences things as a reader and a writer. The first was the use of journal entries to tell backstory. As a writer myself this is a personal preference issue. I had a creative writing teacher in college, who herself was a published author, that knocked on using journal entries to explain backstory, so the philosophy transferred to me too. In Possess we see some of the entries to the journal that Mary finds in the house, thrown in between chapters. I find it to be a smoother read when we see the character reading the entries (like we do towards the end of Possess) than to have them just chucked in. The other thing that slightly irked me was the use of the name “Ravenswood.” While it is an absolutely beautiful name, I feel like it is overused in pop culture and fiction to name creepy estates, towns, or people. Just to name a few, it has already been used for that terrible ABC Family show that was cancelled after one season, and the surname of a character and his house in Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia. It worked for Possess well, I just wish writers for books and film alike will start getting more creative in their names and quit abusing this one!
I do believe that Dalton could have expanded on a few plot points to make this already great story even richer. For example, what is the Governess’ backstory and why was she so attracted to the Dark One–both in life and death? And what is the backstory to this Dark One? What events led this spirit to be so dangerous, psychotic, and murderous? Was it something in its life or death? And if it was so ancient, why was it attached to this house that was built in the 1800s?
I did love that we finally got to know some of Mrs. Hades’ backstory and events in her life that have led her to be the way that she is (vague, I know, but spoiler free!). Now that she has owned up to those events, I’m eager to see if there will be some new understanding and bonding between Mary and her mom in future novels. I’m also intrigued by this neighbor character, Emmaline. I hope that the Hades family remains in Ravenswood and that in the next book we learn more of Emmaline and her history (how did she know all that?!)–and I really hope that she becomes a sort of mentor for Mary. Lots of new plot points could be built off this story! I hope Dalton runs with some of them!
Overall, Possess was a great follow up book. I believe there is enough explained in the beginning of the novel for it to work as a stand alone novel too, so if you haven’t read any of the other books or novellas in the series you’re not completely lost (though I do recommend it so you know of Mary’s past and the events that have made her who she is today!). So go read Possess now (!!!!!) and go help support independent authors!!
December 9, 2014
Hello readers the world! fanatic people of the paranormal and kittens world, I am very happy because I have them very good news if you’re a fan of Mary Hades Sarah Dalton recently (definitely very recently) came out its sequel: Possess. And I had the fortunate pleasure to read (thank you Mrs Dalton!) And definitely not the disappoint this book.
Mary Hades returned and she has more to tell. Mary Hades definitely evolved and had to do it at one point and is something rewarding for the reader, the story can read it in a day or two depending on your time or your love of reading. And even more your taste for horror stories and girls who have something that draws the reader for his ligament to the paranormal world.
And just as the content evolves, the cover gives a different twist, is more autumnal, yet warm and has a duality, and is that with Mary anything can happen. This book is YA and also adults alike can enjoy, so if you have some content of horror and moments that will be able to get you more of a scare.
Mary can not be separated from all the paranormal world, but had to move, seek help is impossible and that is demonstrated in this book. We have another visual panorama Ravenswood, the new place where Mary and her family will live, but which lamentamblemente not be a place in harmony, this place has a history, a dark story behind, and in which Mary and also (yes, fans! !) Lacey will look involved.
This book has more darkness, but is somewhat more mature see Mary slowly taking the path of his unusual situation, we also see an evolution in connection with his family, I will not reveal many details, but I find an important point and that is helping a lot to the development of natural history.
Not neglects the aside the humor funny or sarcastic way at some points, I mean are teenagers! and it is focused on they. Just as the daily things we look at that age. But linking all these, with a sinister story that makes you excite (ok paranormal fans are so) or definitely want to turn on a light, maybe have the company of your cat or any person living beside you!
We have new characters who each have a background behind, which can sometimes make you doubt or want to get more out of the situation, and it is in these that bears the thrust of evolution to Mary. And each can be any of your favorites. I say also some beings call your attention for their mental psychology;)
While it is more a bit more mature, I love, that ligation of stories is good because you can get more threads of it and get a way for more stories, while it may fall into the pit of cliches, do not! The author take care of the details and weaves everyday moments, and stories of places where he could see some paranormal phenomenon happened.
Take good advantage of it, and your dark heart and fan can thank you, I definitely recommend it and you definitely must keep the eye pending to these little stories, do not let it pass. Add at your TBR!
Mary Hades returned and she has more to tell. Mary Hades definitely evolved and had to do it at one point and is something rewarding for the reader, the story can read it in a day or two depending on your time or your love of reading. And even more your taste for horror stories and girls who have something that draws the reader for his ligament to the paranormal world.
And just as the content evolves, the cover gives a different twist, is more autumnal, yet warm and has a duality, and is that with Mary anything can happen. This book is YA and also adults alike can enjoy, so if you have some content of horror and moments that will be able to get you more of a scare.
Mary can not be separated from all the paranormal world, but had to move, seek help is impossible and that is demonstrated in this book. We have another visual panorama Ravenswood, the new place where Mary and her family will live, but which lamentamblemente not be a place in harmony, this place has a history, a dark story behind, and in which Mary and also (yes, fans! !) Lacey will look involved.
This book has more darkness, but is somewhat more mature see Mary slowly taking the path of his unusual situation, we also see an evolution in connection with his family, I will not reveal many details, but I find an important point and that is helping a lot to the development of natural history.
Not neglects the aside the humor funny or sarcastic way at some points, I mean are teenagers! and it is focused on they. Just as the daily things we look at that age. But linking all these, with a sinister story that makes you excite (ok paranormal fans are so) or definitely want to turn on a light, maybe have the company of your cat or any person living beside you!
We have new characters who each have a background behind, which can sometimes make you doubt or want to get more out of the situation, and it is in these that bears the thrust of evolution to Mary. And each can be any of your favorites. I say also some beings call your attention for their mental psychology;)
While it is more a bit more mature, I love, that ligation of stories is good because you can get more threads of it and get a way for more stories, while it may fall into the pit of cliches, do not! The author take care of the details and weaves everyday moments, and stories of places where he could see some paranormal phenomenon happened.
Take good advantage of it, and your dark heart and fan can thank you, I definitely recommend it and you definitely must keep the eye pending to these little stories, do not let it pass. Add at your TBR!
March 18, 2017
I bought Possess quite a while ago, and I had intended to read it long before now. I loved the first book in the series, but as with so many of my reading plans I only got around to continuing the series this Halloween past. Better late than never, I guess??
Possess continues on shortly after the family returns home from their holidays in Yorkshire where the first book ended. Mary’s parents soon announce that they are moving to an old manor house on the outskirts of a village close to her father’s workplace to cut down on his commute time. It’s a very quick move, and Mary and her mother begin the process while her father is away on a business trip. Right from the outset Mary is drawn to their new house, Ravenswood, and into the past and the mysteries and hauntings that surround it.
I loved that this book has a more sinister atmosphere than the first book. It still has all the creepiness that you expect from a ghost story, but I loved that it took a completely fresh approach, rather than sticking very closely to the first book in the series. The atmosphere that was created was fabulous, and without giving too much away, I loved how the diary entries were incorporated into the story. The parallels between what happened in the past and what was happening in the present was awesome, and kept me glued to the pages throughout.
Mary Hades is the main character and narrator, and I like both her and her best friend, Lacey, equally. Mary and Lacey met when they were both patients in a mental institution, and while Mary walked out of the hospital alive and well, Lacey wasn’t quite so lucky. She decided against crossing over after her death and has remained as a ghost by Mary’s side ever since. I absolutely adore their friendship, and it’s fabulous to see just how much both characters have grown in the space of two books and a couple of novellas.
For those that like their spooky stories romance-free, there is no romance in this book. And I really liked this! The focus was purely on the hauntings and creepy occurrences that happened in spades throughout the story, and to be perfectly honest, it was lovely to read a book where the main character wasn’t floating along with heart eyes after the nearest pretty face!
I was under the impression that this was going to be a trilogy and everything would be wrapped up in the next book, and it was only a couple of weeks ago that I found out that there will be two more books after this one! And I’m so glad about this, as with the amount of things that have been revealed about certain characters toward the end of Possess, I can’t wait to continue on and find out how the series continues. Overall, I really enjoyed Possess, and if you love creepy and atmospheric ghostly haunting stories, then I highly recommend giving the Mary Hades series a chance.
This review, and others, can be found on my blog - Journey Through Fiction
June 4, 2015
This review may contain spoilers if you have not read the first one.
I adore this series, its creepy, amazing and I love Mary and Lacey. This is a series I need to read as soon as I can get my hands on the next book. Possess was a lot creepier and darker than the first one which made it wonderful. I completely loved this book, this is a series I highly recommend.
Mary has grown a lot since the last book, embracing her mission in life of helping aggressive ghosts move one. Lacey is just a great BFF for a ghost, I love how she cares so much for Mary and wants to stay to help her. The story in this book is a lot darker than the first one and it also answers a few questions you have after the first one especially with her mom. The evil in the house was just awful and relentless in wanted to possess Mary. I thought this book has a secondary story that complimented the main story so well. The flashbacks of the little girl in the 1800 gave me the chills and really gave you that creepy you need for the main story.
I can gush all day about this book and the entire series. I had a hard time putting this book down, I also think as it got close to the end I was in a panic over what was happening, just fantastic. If you are looking for a great creepy but amazing read you will love this series. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book to see where it takes Mary and Lacey. Sarah Dalton has such an amazing way of writing a fantastic ghost story, LOVED IT!
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Thank you so much for stopping by to check out my review
Hope you have a great day and Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Because reading is better than real life
March 4, 2015
Mary Hades, the first book, was unique; a little bit scary, somewhat romantic, about friendship and overall quite wonderful read. I expected Possess to be same, a little different journey but including all those elements that made the first book unique. I didn't get what I expected and while the story still was good, it wasn't for me.
Possess is a whole lot darker and scarier than Mary Hades was. The plot seems to focus around a house which is affecting its inhabitants, and Mary moves there with her parents. The other thing the plot focuses is the relationship Mary and her mother have. However, it wasn't satisfying. Dalton's writing style is fast paces while being detailed and I enjoyed it very much, so it's not about lacking of any kind when it comes to writing stye or even characters. The characters were intriguing: Mary continued to be strong, indepented and quite smart, and new layers were revealed about Mary's mother Susan, and Lacey was her lovely self. However, the plot and overall structure lacked in this book. It felt like spin off from series which didn't reveal new things or have major character development. It was more about story of haunted house of sorts than proper, intriguing and captivating sequel. I was disappointed especially since I had been waiting for the sequel so much.
The story was also scary, chilling and very much horror. I liked Mary Hads and how it wasn't too scary but Possess was a whole lot scarier (and there was lots of gore), and I couldn't enjoy the story very much when I spend most of time being afraid of shadows (yes, I am scaredy cat!)
The good thing was that there was no romance. Not even potential love interest! It was unique in YA so Dalton deserves a huge applaud for that.
I recommend Possess for those who enjoy scary, chilling stories about ghost and haunted houses. But for me it was too scary and chilling, and didn't have enough plot elements and story development. (I'm so sad that there wasn't even a mention of Neil and Lemarr, I liked them so much in the first book!)
(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)
Possess is a whole lot darker and scarier than Mary Hades was. The plot seems to focus around a house which is affecting its inhabitants, and Mary moves there with her parents. The other thing the plot focuses is the relationship Mary and her mother have. However, it wasn't satisfying. Dalton's writing style is fast paces while being detailed and I enjoyed it very much, so it's not about lacking of any kind when it comes to writing stye or even characters. The characters were intriguing: Mary continued to be strong, indepented and quite smart, and new layers were revealed about Mary's mother Susan, and Lacey was her lovely self. However, the plot and overall structure lacked in this book. It felt like spin off from series which didn't reveal new things or have major character development. It was more about story of haunted house of sorts than proper, intriguing and captivating sequel. I was disappointed especially since I had been waiting for the sequel so much.
The story was also scary, chilling and very much horror. I liked Mary Hads and how it wasn't too scary but Possess was a whole lot scarier (and there was lots of gore), and I couldn't enjoy the story very much when I spend most of time being afraid of shadows (yes, I am scaredy cat!)
The good thing was that there was no romance. Not even potential love interest! It was unique in YA so Dalton deserves a huge applaud for that.
I recommend Possess for those who enjoy scary, chilling stories about ghost and haunted houses. But for me it was too scary and chilling, and didn't have enough plot elements and story development. (I'm so sad that there wasn't even a mention of Neil and Lemarr, I liked them so much in the first book!)
(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)
January 26, 2015
I’m back with Mary Hades! I’m so glad to say that this is NOT the last in the series. It did end very well and I was worried that it could be Mary’s last but thankfully Sarah Dalton has the next up on Goodreads! I cannot wait.
This book was so good that I went to amazon to see if there were more. Even with my towering TBR I immediately purchased two more novellas in this series. Both were fantastic and I recommend since they answer a lot of questions that you read them in order! Of you can be a rebel like me and put all the puzzle pieces together afterwards ;)
I read Mary Hades book one last year and really enjoyed it. I read a lot so the only downside to this is that I needed a bit more to kick my memory into gear. I was thinking of another Mary book when I started reading and a few more clues may have jogged my brain a bit. That said it only took about two chapter to realize which book this was the sequel to and from then on I was with it.
Mary is quite the interesting gal. She can see ghosts (you find out what happened in the novella). The first book intrigued me but the second was fantastic! I kept questioning why things were happening the way they were but Sarah Dalton only gives little bits and pieces here and there so you can construct the puzzle slowly.
As things start to progress and Mary is trying to figure things out, the plot turns VERY dark. It’s interesting how most of the information is learned through a journal. I think this way of doing things allows the reader a look into another portion of the story that otherwise we would never have been able to find out. Very well done!
As for the creep factor, it is most definitely there in spades! Sarah Dalton has a way of adding in a level of darkness, even for what the reader thinks are normal characters. This was like a mystery just waiting to be unraveled and I loved every minute of it!
In short: Fantastic story, pretty good plot with a lot of creepiness. I’m so glad there is going to be another!
Scare meter gets a 4/5 but the review gets a 5/5!!
This book was so good that I went to amazon to see if there were more. Even with my towering TBR I immediately purchased two more novellas in this series. Both were fantastic and I recommend since they answer a lot of questions that you read them in order! Of you can be a rebel like me and put all the puzzle pieces together afterwards ;)
I read Mary Hades book one last year and really enjoyed it. I read a lot so the only downside to this is that I needed a bit more to kick my memory into gear. I was thinking of another Mary book when I started reading and a few more clues may have jogged my brain a bit. That said it only took about two chapter to realize which book this was the sequel to and from then on I was with it.
Mary is quite the interesting gal. She can see ghosts (you find out what happened in the novella). The first book intrigued me but the second was fantastic! I kept questioning why things were happening the way they were but Sarah Dalton only gives little bits and pieces here and there so you can construct the puzzle slowly.
As things start to progress and Mary is trying to figure things out, the plot turns VERY dark. It’s interesting how most of the information is learned through a journal. I think this way of doing things allows the reader a look into another portion of the story that otherwise we would never have been able to find out. Very well done!
As for the creep factor, it is most definitely there in spades! Sarah Dalton has a way of adding in a level of darkness, even for what the reader thinks are normal characters. This was like a mystery just waiting to be unraveled and I loved every minute of it!
In short: Fantastic story, pretty good plot with a lot of creepiness. I’m so glad there is going to be another!
Scare meter gets a 4/5 but the review gets a 5/5!!
April 2, 2015
I had previously read and enjoyed the first book in the series, Mary Hades. There are a few short stories that the author has written that I think would add to your enjoyment of the series, as I felt a bit lost at times. I am thinking about going back and reading them because if they’re half as good as Possess, then they must be awesome!
I was wondering where Dalton would go after the first book without repeating the story and I’m glad to see a unique storyline. We get hints of what Mary’s mother, Susan’s, past was like and how she has hidden her own ghostly past. I can’t read to read the already-announced third book, Nocturne, to find out more about Susan. We were also left hanging a bit in regards to their neighbor Emmaline. I would also like to read more about her and how she has similar abilities to Mary. I also think we’re heading to a turning point with Mary’s ghostly companion, Lacey. I don’t think she can hang out in her current state forever and eventually she’ll need to “head to the light”.
If you’re a fan of classic horror movies like the Amityville Horror, then you’d probably enjoy this book. I also recommend Possess for fans of American Horror Story. While I couldn’t get past the second episode as I was too scared, I watched enough to see that this book reminded me strongly of what I did see. Being that this book dealt with possession, there is also hints of the classic Exorcist to be seen here. All in all, you get a great horror story that leaves you clamoring for more.
I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this novel.
I was wondering where Dalton would go after the first book without repeating the story and I’m glad to see a unique storyline. We get hints of what Mary’s mother, Susan’s, past was like and how she has hidden her own ghostly past. I can’t read to read the already-announced third book, Nocturne, to find out more about Susan. We were also left hanging a bit in regards to their neighbor Emmaline. I would also like to read more about her and how she has similar abilities to Mary. I also think we’re heading to a turning point with Mary’s ghostly companion, Lacey. I don’t think she can hang out in her current state forever and eventually she’ll need to “head to the light”.
If you’re a fan of classic horror movies like the Amityville Horror, then you’d probably enjoy this book. I also recommend Possess for fans of American Horror Story. While I couldn’t get past the second episode as I was too scared, I watched enough to see that this book reminded me strongly of what I did see. Being that this book dealt with possession, there is also hints of the classic Exorcist to be seen here. All in all, you get a great horror story that leaves you clamoring for more.
I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this novel.
January 20, 2015
I was lucky enough to cross paths with the author Sarah Dalton in 2014. I read many of her books last year and without a doubt Sarah has become one of my favourite authors. I find Sarah's story telling mesmerising and get easily drawn into all her worlds she creates.
Possess is another fantastic addition to the Mary Hades series. This book takes us into the darker side of the paranormal world that Mary lives in. Sarah's writing as always, captured me almost immediately and had me hanging off every word.
I love how this book focuses on the relationship between Mary and her mother. Mary always had a stronger, closer bond with her father. Her mother always seemed to be either trying too hard or appeared to be on edge around Mary. And finally we find out why. It was like opening a present on christmas morning!
Lacey isn't as prominent in this book. I did miss her. I love Lacey and I love the relationship between both her and Mary. I do understand though that Lacey kind of taking a back seat was clearly needed in order for the story to play out the way it was meant to. However Sarah does not let us forget about Mary's concern about the future of their friendship and ensures this is addressed in the story also. I was a total bundle of nerves at that part of the story!
Thanks to Sarah's fantastic story telling ability, everything is woven together perfectly to create yet another fantastic read!
If you haven't read any of Sarah's books, you really need to get on it, like now. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!
Kimmy
Opinionated Cupcakes
Possess is another fantastic addition to the Mary Hades series. This book takes us into the darker side of the paranormal world that Mary lives in. Sarah's writing as always, captured me almost immediately and had me hanging off every word.
I love how this book focuses on the relationship between Mary and her mother. Mary always had a stronger, closer bond with her father. Her mother always seemed to be either trying too hard or appeared to be on edge around Mary. And finally we find out why. It was like opening a present on christmas morning!
Lacey isn't as prominent in this book. I did miss her. I love Lacey and I love the relationship between both her and Mary. I do understand though that Lacey kind of taking a back seat was clearly needed in order for the story to play out the way it was meant to. However Sarah does not let us forget about Mary's concern about the future of their friendship and ensures this is addressed in the story also. I was a total bundle of nerves at that part of the story!
Thanks to Sarah's fantastic story telling ability, everything is woven together perfectly to create yet another fantastic read!
If you haven't read any of Sarah's books, you really need to get on it, like now. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!
Kimmy
Opinionated Cupcakes
February 22, 2015
4.5 stars
I don't know if it's just that I'm a wuss, but this book creeped me right out! I'm talking sleep-with-the-lights-on creeped out. It was a lot darker than Mary Hades, since it didn't have the same levity that I had found in book one. The cast was a lot smaller, as was the setting, but that just allows the reader to cozy right up with the darkness. Ghosts became my bed mates.
Normally ghost stories don't get to me, but with this one, it was the division of past and present that was so effective. You know something bad happened in that house, and more bad shit is about to go down, but you're still hoping for the best. The past is told through diary entries from Liza, in 1847. Right from the very beginning I had this dark sense of foreboding, and it carried right through into the present day chapters with Mary.
Originally, I had suggested that you start the series with the first prequel. There is also a novella before Possess, called Sister, which tells a story of Mary's mother's past. I desperately want to read that one now, but it isn't necessary to the overall plot arc of the series at this point.
Possess took a giant step in the right direction for this series, and I really hope that Nocturnes continues down this road, deeper into the darkness. Highly recommend!
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know if it's just that I'm a wuss, but this book creeped me right out! I'm talking sleep-with-the-lights-on creeped out. It was a lot darker than Mary Hades, since it didn't have the same levity that I had found in book one. The cast was a lot smaller, as was the setting, but that just allows the reader to cozy right up with the darkness. Ghosts became my bed mates.
Normally ghost stories don't get to me, but with this one, it was the division of past and present that was so effective. You know something bad happened in that house, and more bad shit is about to go down, but you're still hoping for the best. The past is told through diary entries from Liza, in 1847. Right from the very beginning I had this dark sense of foreboding, and it carried right through into the present day chapters with Mary.
Originally, I had suggested that you start the series with the first prequel. There is also a novella before Possess, called Sister, which tells a story of Mary's mother's past. I desperately want to read that one now, but it isn't necessary to the overall plot arc of the series at this point.
Possess took a giant step in the right direction for this series, and I really hope that Nocturnes continues down this road, deeper into the darkness. Highly recommend!
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2015
Last year I got the chance to review Mary Hades by Sarah Dalton. Since then I have been eagerly awaiting the second book in the Mary Hades series. At the same time I have also been a little nervous – second books can quite often be a letdown. Not this one though. Possess (Mary Hades #2) picks up with Mary moving into a completely-got-to-be-haunted old English house. The house needs work but it was bought at a bargain price regardless – what could possibly go wrong? The portal to hell is what!
Possess starts with an awesome prologue (yeah, don’t groan, prologues ROCK!) and just grows exponentially from there. Although, watch for a little hiccup as you move from the prologue into the story proper as the prose is just so beautiful to start with that you kind of sigh when the story starts without all the poetry. Once you get into the rhythm of the story though, you find you are pulled in and it is one of those books that consumes you, even when you aren’t reading it.
I loved the relationship development between Mary and her mother. It is completely flawed and absolutely realistic for both the age group involved and the fact there are ghostly complications. Their relationship was probably my favourite thing out of all the things I loved about this book. In fact, all the relationships between characters were wonderfully jagged around the edges.
Seriously, I couldn’t find much at all to fault about this one other than a scant few typos. Overall, I am giving Possess (Mary Hades #2) by Sarah Dalton 5 out of 5 stars.
Possess starts with an awesome prologue (yeah, don’t groan, prologues ROCK!) and just grows exponentially from there. Although, watch for a little hiccup as you move from the prologue into the story proper as the prose is just so beautiful to start with that you kind of sigh when the story starts without all the poetry. Once you get into the rhythm of the story though, you find you are pulled in and it is one of those books that consumes you, even when you aren’t reading it.
I loved the relationship development between Mary and her mother. It is completely flawed and absolutely realistic for both the age group involved and the fact there are ghostly complications. Their relationship was probably my favourite thing out of all the things I loved about this book. In fact, all the relationships between characters were wonderfully jagged around the edges.
Seriously, I couldn’t find much at all to fault about this one other than a scant few typos. Overall, I am giving Possess (Mary Hades #2) by Sarah Dalton 5 out of 5 stars.
April 20, 2015
I read the first book in this series, Mary Hades, last year and loved it. It was a great paranormal read that kept me on edge the entire time. Possess was equally good, but felt very different from Mary Hades. This book has a very decidedly horror feel to it. It kept me up at night more than once until I had to stop reading it after dark!
Mary and Lacey's relationship is one that I love. They are such great friends. Reading about their strong bond is refreshing. I actually may like Lacey a bit more than Mary, but that's because she can be a bit snarky. It was so fun to check in on those two. I can't wait to do it again!
The setting of this book is what really got me. The house itself really becomes a character. The author did a fabulous job at pulling me into the story. The build-up with the diary was also really creepy! It was a nice addition to the story.
All in all, you cannot go wrong with this series. Fans of paranormal stories with an extra dose of spooky will be drawn into the world of Mary and Lacey. I cannot wait for the third book in this series!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.
Mary and Lacey's relationship is one that I love. They are such great friends. Reading about their strong bond is refreshing. I actually may like Lacey a bit more than Mary, but that's because she can be a bit snarky. It was so fun to check in on those two. I can't wait to do it again!
The setting of this book is what really got me. The house itself really becomes a character. The author did a fabulous job at pulling me into the story. The build-up with the diary was also really creepy! It was a nice addition to the story.
All in all, you cannot go wrong with this series. Fans of paranormal stories with an extra dose of spooky will be drawn into the world of Mary and Lacey. I cannot wait for the third book in this series!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.
March 23, 2015
Mary's parents find a gorgeous, historical home at a suspiciously affordable price. Her mother is immediately enthralled by the creepy home and even Mary finds the place curiously appealing. Despite its age, neither Mary, nor her ghost friend, Lacey can sense any paranormal activity.
Immediately after moving in, Mary notices changes in her mother's behavior and although worried, also finds herself under the house's spell.
This was a good old-fashioned haunted house story along the same lines as The Shining (a less scary-PG version). Creepy neighbors, superstitious townsfolk an old diary, and a weird music box contribute to the dark atmosphere.
Immediately after moving in, Mary notices changes in her mother's behavior and although worried, also finds herself under the house's spell.
This was a good old-fashioned haunted house story along the same lines as The Shining (a less scary-PG version). Creepy neighbors, superstitious townsfolk an old diary, and a weird music box contribute to the dark atmosphere.
June 30, 2016
Again, I didn't love this book, but didn't hate this book either.
The book opens up with Mary and Lacey doing some ghost hunting on the down low.
There's a little more back story to Mary, but not enough for a whole picture. This story focuses more on the relationship between Mary and her mom.
This book was definitely a lot darker than the first, but I wasn't compelled to read it beginning to end in one sitting.
The book opens up with Mary and Lacey doing some ghost hunting on the down low.
There's a little more back story to Mary, but not enough for a whole picture. This story focuses more on the relationship between Mary and her mom.
This book was definitely a lot darker than the first, but I wasn't compelled to read it beginning to end in one sitting.
May 16, 2015
No words to explain my happiness by reading this book. What I really like in Sarah Dalton's books is, they have very minimal romance and in this its none which suited me very well. I think adding romance deviates book from its main theme.
This book is more dark than the first one and its chilling.I really became a hardcore fan for Sarah Dalton and eagerly waiting for the next book.
This book is more dark than the first one and its chilling.I really became a hardcore fan for Sarah Dalton and eagerly waiting for the next book.
December 28, 2015
Really?!?! You had to kill the dog, huh?
Read
February 8, 2015.D.N.F.
dropped at 17%
on Tuesday 2-3-15
dropped at 17%
on Tuesday 2-3-15
April 2, 2015
Rating: 3,5 cups/stars
There were scenes here scary as hell!!!
Full review to come!
There were scenes here scary as hell!!!
Full review to come!
February 16, 2016
Absolutely loving this series! Very well written!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews