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New York Times bestselling author Douglas Clegg brings us Isis , a beautifully illustrated, unforgettable novella that is sure to become a classic tale of the supernatural.
If you lost someone you loved, what would you pay to bring them back from the dead?
Old Marsh, the gardener at Belerion Hall, warned the Villiers girl about the old ruins along the sea-cliffs. “Never go in, miss. Never say a prayer at its door. If you are angry, do not seek revenge by the Laughing Maiden stone or at the threshold of the Tombs. There be those who listen for oaths and vows….What may be said in innocence becomes flesh and blood in such places.”
She was born Iris Catherine Villiers. She became Isis.
From childhood until her sixteenth year, Iris Villiers wandered the stone-hedged gardens and the steep cliffs along the coast of Cornwall near her ancestral home. Surrounded by the stern judgments of her grandfather—the Gray Minister—and the taunts of her cruel governess, Iris finds solace in her beloved older brother who has always protected her. But when a tragic accident occurs from the ledge of an open window, Iris discovers that she possesses the ability to speak to the dead...
Be careful what you wish for…it just may find you.
If you lost someone you loved, what would you pay to bring them back from the dead?
Old Marsh, the gardener at Belerion Hall, warned the Villiers girl about the old ruins along the sea-cliffs. “Never go in, miss. Never say a prayer at its door. If you are angry, do not seek revenge by the Laughing Maiden stone or at the threshold of the Tombs. There be those who listen for oaths and vows….What may be said in innocence becomes flesh and blood in such places.”
She was born Iris Catherine Villiers. She became Isis.
From childhood until her sixteenth year, Iris Villiers wandered the stone-hedged gardens and the steep cliffs along the coast of Cornwall near her ancestral home. Surrounded by the stern judgments of her grandfather—the Gray Minister—and the taunts of her cruel governess, Iris finds solace in her beloved older brother who has always protected her. But when a tragic accident occurs from the ledge of an open window, Iris discovers that she possesses the ability to speak to the dead...
Be careful what you wish for…it just may find you.
98 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
October 18, 2011
"Death has a price, and all who bargain with the dead must pay it."
A perfect Halloween read.
Dark, haunting and lushly dressed, this beautifully written (and equally well illustrated) novella presents itself with a lyrical, dream-like quality that adds to the atmosphere of slowly creeping dread that saturates the story and leads to an ending that will leave your soul nicely chilled.
This is my first Douglass Clegg work and it will not be my last.
I shall Clegg again.
Dealing deftly with themes of powerful love, unimaginable loss, unbearable isolation and the dangerous lengths the grieving will go to assuage there on guilt and pain, this book has much to say and it says it well. This is wonderful stuff.
PLOT SUMMARY
The only real bright spot in Iris Catherine Villiers’ whole world is her twin brother, Harvey. Her father is absent, her mother is cold and mostly comatose from loneliness and laudanum and her governess is a cruel, gold-digging cradle robber. But Harvey and Iris share a special connection and together the two of them are content and spend happy summer days wondering the stone-hedged grounds of their ancestral home in Cornwall, England.
The house has all of the essential trappings of classic spooky real estate. You have the underground tomb where the remains of the family’s forebears reside. The ancient, musty library containing the knowledge of antiquity as well as tomes on magic and the dark arts. Finally, just to round out the atmosphere, you have the mad, raving grandfather kept isolated from the children who screams fire and brimstone into the night talking of demons and God’s judgment.
[Like I said, a great Halloween read.]
After some wonderful, foreshadowing back-story in the guise of creepy tales of dead-raised, soulless corpses and a play called “The Tragic Tale of Isis and Osiris”, the emotional content gets cranked to “gut-wrenching” when an “accident” shatters Iris’ world. Soon Iris discovers that she has the ability to set things right.
But should she?
MY THOUGHTS
I thought this story was extremely well-told and the illustrations perfectly compliment the mood and the tone of Clegg’s writing. Throughout the piece, I think the author did a nice job of striking the right balance between story flow, background development and emotional investment.
Most impressive for me was the ending that conjureed images in my mind that were so filled with pain, longing and regret that it raised the whole story to another level. Powerful and engaging. This is a quick read but one that will stay with you.
4.0 stars. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
A perfect Halloween read.
Dark, haunting and lushly dressed, this beautifully written (and equally well illustrated) novella presents itself with a lyrical, dream-like quality that adds to the atmosphere of slowly creeping dread that saturates the story and leads to an ending that will leave your soul nicely chilled.
This is my first Douglass Clegg work and it will not be my last.
I shall Clegg again.
Dealing deftly with themes of powerful love, unimaginable loss, unbearable isolation and the dangerous lengths the grieving will go to assuage there on guilt and pain, this book has much to say and it says it well. This is wonderful stuff.
PLOT SUMMARY
The only real bright spot in Iris Catherine Villiers’ whole world is her twin brother, Harvey. Her father is absent, her mother is cold and mostly comatose from loneliness and laudanum and her governess is a cruel, gold-digging cradle robber. But Harvey and Iris share a special connection and together the two of them are content and spend happy summer days wondering the stone-hedged grounds of their ancestral home in Cornwall, England.
The house has all of the essential trappings of classic spooky real estate. You have the underground tomb where the remains of the family’s forebears reside. The ancient, musty library containing the knowledge of antiquity as well as tomes on magic and the dark arts. Finally, just to round out the atmosphere, you have the mad, raving grandfather kept isolated from the children who screams fire and brimstone into the night talking of demons and God’s judgment.
[Like I said, a great Halloween read.]
After some wonderful, foreshadowing back-story in the guise of creepy tales of dead-raised, soulless corpses and a play called “The Tragic Tale of Isis and Osiris”, the emotional content gets cranked to “gut-wrenching” when an “accident” shatters Iris’ world. Soon Iris discovers that she has the ability to set things right.
But should she?
MY THOUGHTS
I thought this story was extremely well-told and the illustrations perfectly compliment the mood and the tone of Clegg’s writing. Throughout the piece, I think the author did a nice job of striking the right balance between story flow, background development and emotional investment.
Most impressive for me was the ending that conjureed images in my mind that were so filled with pain, longing and regret that it raised the whole story to another level. Powerful and engaging. This is a quick read but one that will stay with you.
4.0 stars. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
May 27, 2016
Posted at Shelf Inflicted
At only 113 pages, this short story packs a lot of emotion into its pages. Iris Catherine Villiers is a lonely girl with an absent father and a depressed mother, and three older brothers, one of whom she is very close to. Very loosely based on the myth of Isis and Osiris, this is a sad and chilling story that explores love, loss and grief. After a fatal accident involving her favorite brother, Iris discovers that she possesses a special ability to speak to the dead.
The Cornwall setting, with its magnificent cliffs and rocky shoreline, the dysfunctional family complete with a mad grandfather and a cruel governess, and the beautiful illustrations, all make this a superbly haunting little tale that is perfect for Halloween.
At only 113 pages, this short story packs a lot of emotion into its pages. Iris Catherine Villiers is a lonely girl with an absent father and a depressed mother, and three older brothers, one of whom she is very close to. Very loosely based on the myth of Isis and Osiris, this is a sad and chilling story that explores love, loss and grief. After a fatal accident involving her favorite brother, Iris discovers that she possesses a special ability to speak to the dead.
The Cornwall setting, with its magnificent cliffs and rocky shoreline, the dysfunctional family complete with a mad grandfather and a cruel governess, and the beautiful illustrations, all make this a superbly haunting little tale that is perfect for Halloween.
February 10, 2017
At once I was sucked into this tale for it's light atmospheric effects and it's heavy, though lightly painted, themes of myth and classic horror tales rolled into a singly well-drawn story.
Classic horror themes abound, of always paying the dead their price, tying the Osiris/Isis story to old Irish legends, only to be tied to the christian by the end.
It's perfectly reasonable to tie christian characters back to a christian moral, of course, and the images and the feelings of awe and its reverse were quite delightful. I was reminded of what could have been a truly classic ghost story with risen zombies and resurrections all placed nearly a century ago more than a modern tale of horror. The time and place lends itself fine for that interpretation, with daddy going off to fight in a world war to leave the children and mother behind. Alas, not a problem. It's classically written, classically told, with a deft touch with all the myths bursting out from every page.
It's also scary, and delightfully so, with particularly good characters filled with complex psychologies and loss.
It was a great setup and even though I am fine with the christian interpretation, I find myself wistful and rather having wished for an actual Isis/Osiris theme to come home to roost. But still, I find no faults with how it actually turned out, because it was very effective.
Classic horror themes abound, of always paying the dead their price, tying the Osiris/Isis story to old Irish legends, only to be tied to the christian by the end.
It's perfectly reasonable to tie christian characters back to a christian moral, of course, and the images and the feelings of awe and its reverse were quite delightful. I was reminded of what could have been a truly classic ghost story with risen zombies and resurrections all placed nearly a century ago more than a modern tale of horror. The time and place lends itself fine for that interpretation, with daddy going off to fight in a world war to leave the children and mother behind. Alas, not a problem. It's classically written, classically told, with a deft touch with all the myths bursting out from every page.
It's also scary, and delightfully so, with particularly good characters filled with complex psychologies and loss.
It was a great setup and even though I am fine with the christian interpretation, I find myself wistful and rather having wished for an actual Isis/Osiris theme to come home to roost. But still, I find no faults with how it actually turned out, because it was very effective.
February 15, 2016
Iris Villiers loves her brother Harvey, perhaps too well. unfortunately for them, they now live at Belarion Hall, in Cornwall - an estate much whispered about, old sinister tales, people transformed, the dead called back... can such things be true? the pair shall soon find out. but first, some time in a play. their roles: Isis and Osiris...
Clegg paints a story just right. the tale is highly atmospheric and the prose is often quite lovely. I found myself lost in dreamy contemplation of a haunted Cornish coast, sheltered youths wandering throughout a Gothic mansion, dark and windy nights, playing blindsman's bluff to conjure the dead, overgrown gardens and subterranean burial chambers. this is the sort of story where I hold its brevity against it - I wanted to live in this world so much longer than I did. although I did not care for the ending and the description of heaven was equal parts enchanting and eye-rolling, this is still a supernatural tale that I would recommend to all fans of the more classic style of horror.
the illustrations are wonderful. kudos to the artist Glenn Chadbourne!
Clegg paints a story just right. the tale is highly atmospheric and the prose is often quite lovely. I found myself lost in dreamy contemplation of a haunted Cornish coast, sheltered youths wandering throughout a Gothic mansion, dark and windy nights, playing blindsman's bluff to conjure the dead, overgrown gardens and subterranean burial chambers. this is the sort of story where I hold its brevity against it - I wanted to live in this world so much longer than I did. although I did not care for the ending and the description of heaven was equal parts enchanting and eye-rolling, this is still a supernatural tale that I would recommend to all fans of the more classic style of horror.
the illustrations are wonderful. kudos to the artist Glenn Chadbourne!
May 15, 2016
It smelled of mold and earth.
Yup, just like this used edition I bought from amazon marketplace - talking about creepy. *lol*
I could have read this on the Kindle but I wanted this little hardcover edition because of the wonderful illustrations by Glenn Chadbourne.
This is the story of a girl named Isis, of family tragedy (both actively created by members and passively lived through as events that occur naturally). It is also about old tales of gods, ghosts and the cycle of life and death. Even R.L. Stine read it and said he knew this story would stay with him in his dreams for a long time!
This little book manages on very few pages to haunt the reader with a vivid but grey world one is immediately transported to. It deals with mental illness, love between siblings, the outcome of an absentee father, isolation, heartbreak, ... and all of it shrouded in the mysterious weather or Cornwall.
The only thing I did not like was the final take on the Isis myth because that is an old Christian interpretation and wrong if compared to ancient texts.
The author delivers this story with a writing style so heartbreakingly beautiful that it gave me shudders.
I will not say any more because speaking about certain characters would give too much away. But I do hope many here will read the story.
Yup, just like this used edition I bought from amazon marketplace - talking about creepy. *lol*
I could have read this on the Kindle but I wanted this little hardcover edition because of the wonderful illustrations by Glenn Chadbourne.
This is the story of a girl named Isis, of family tragedy (both actively created by members and passively lived through as events that occur naturally). It is also about old tales of gods, ghosts and the cycle of life and death. Even R.L. Stine read it and said he knew this story would stay with him in his dreams for a long time!
This little book manages on very few pages to haunt the reader with a vivid but grey world one is immediately transported to. It deals with mental illness, love between siblings, the outcome of an absentee father, isolation, heartbreak, ... and all of it shrouded in the mysterious weather or Cornwall.
The only thing I did not like was the final take on the Isis myth because that is an old Christian interpretation and wrong if compared to ancient texts.
The author delivers this story with a writing style so heartbreakingly beautiful that it gave me shudders.
I will not say any more because speaking about certain characters would give too much away. But I do hope many here will read the story.
October 31, 2023
"We had become a house of invalids, a house of silences, and a house of sorrow."
Beautifully written gothic short with parallels to the ancient story of Isis seeking her dead brother Osiris. This is the beginning to the Harrow House series, which is apparently more about the haunted house than the people who reside within. Looking forward to these books!
Beautifully written gothic short with parallels to the ancient story of Isis seeking her dead brother Osiris. This is the beginning to the Harrow House series, which is apparently more about the haunted house than the people who reside within. Looking forward to these books!
December 20, 2014
A haunting short story about a young girl named Iris Villiers, who lives with her twin brothers and disturbed mother and grandfather in an isolated, bleak old mansion, Belerion Hall. Old Man Marsh warns Iris that dark forces stir within the mansion's tomb and that they are best left alone. After tragedy strikes, Iris ignores these warnings and delves into forbidden rituals in efforts to reverse the loss which has occurred. A dark but predictable Victorian novella, with nice pen drawings.
August 7, 2014
Based on the Ancient Egyptian myth of Isis, this is a very short book (a short story, really) containing a creepy, symbolic tale of the supernatural. Iris Villiers, a young woman in (I think) Victorian England, is the protagonist and narrator. She lives a miserable life in her parents' imposing Cornwall home; her father absent, her mother drunk, two of her three brothers constantly teasing her. Her only respite from this depressing existence is her third brother, Harvey, with whom she shares an unusually close relationship. However, disaster strikes when a terrible accident occurs, and Iris is driven to take matters into her own hands, armed with local legends related by the old gardener and her grandfather's collection of occult books.
This little book is very well-written and creates a wonderfully spooky atmosphere which brought to mind Susan Hill's similarly brief ghost stories, particularly The Woman in Black. I think my favourite details were the scary tales told to Iris by Marsh, the gardener. Like most stories of this genre, it's an ideal read for a dark, stormy night; but it's unsurprisingly lacking in detail and after the pivotal event of the plot occurs, it feels very rushed. I also disliked Iris and found her hatred of the governess childish given that she's a teenager, not a little girl. I could have done without the denouncement of said governess as a 'harlot' and all the stuff about evil women luring men to their doom, too, though I am guessing this was meant to be a reflection of Iris's jealousy. Finally, the illustrations: these may have added enjoyment to the book for some readers, and it's true that with the story being so short, there's a need for something to flesh out the pages. But I thought they were very kitsch, and old-fashioned in the worst way.
Isis is worth the short amount of time it takes to read it, and if you're looking for a quick, spine-chilling read for Halloween, it's a perfect fit. It's insubstantial, though, and would work better as part of an anthology of short stories.
This little book is very well-written and creates a wonderfully spooky atmosphere which brought to mind Susan Hill's similarly brief ghost stories, particularly The Woman in Black. I think my favourite details were the scary tales told to Iris by Marsh, the gardener. Like most stories of this genre, it's an ideal read for a dark, stormy night; but it's unsurprisingly lacking in detail and after the pivotal event of the plot occurs, it feels very rushed. I also disliked Iris and found her hatred of the governess childish given that she's a teenager, not a little girl. I could have done without the denouncement of said governess as a 'harlot' and all the stuff about evil women luring men to their doom, too, though I am guessing this was meant to be a reflection of Iris's jealousy. Finally, the illustrations: these may have added enjoyment to the book for some readers, and it's true that with the story being so short, there's a need for something to flesh out the pages. But I thought they were very kitsch, and old-fashioned in the worst way.
Isis is worth the short amount of time it takes to read it, and if you're looking for a quick, spine-chilling read for Halloween, it's a perfect fit. It's insubstantial, though, and would work better as part of an anthology of short stories.
April 9, 2016
Although the descriptors may seem contradictory, I think it an apt description to call this compact Gothic tale darkly delightful. It had elements both of an old-fashioned ghost story, brimming with ancient curses and forbidden places and crumbling if stately mansions seen through dreary sheets of constant grey rain...as well as a tale of growing up, coming into one's power (for good or for ill,) and of the wonder and magic of the unfettered power of youthful belief. It was both horrible and lovely at once and full of gently old-fashioned language and a quietly-brooding atmosphere that perfectly set the tone and stage for the tale. This was a swift read yet packed to the brim with story, and I recommend it with enthusiasm.
Please note: I would rank this 4.5 if I could. The only thing keeping me from granting a full 5 stars is that, while the story works well at its current length, I feel it would be even more enjoyable if it were, say, 30% longer again, perhaps with a bit more character development in certain corners. I wanted to know more about some of the characters, but then again, perhaps the story is perfect as is. I am sure my opinion on this aspect will pendulum back-and-forth several times as I think back on the story.
Please note: I would rank this 4.5 if I could. The only thing keeping me from granting a full 5 stars is that, while the story works well at its current length, I feel it would be even more enjoyable if it were, say, 30% longer again, perhaps with a bit more character development in certain corners. I wanted to know more about some of the characters, but then again, perhaps the story is perfect as is. I am sure my opinion on this aspect will pendulum back-and-forth several times as I think back on the story.
June 19, 2013
Had no idea this is apparently linked to other stuff by Douglas Clegg, which might've helped it feel more substantial. Still, even as a stand-alone novellette (or novella, or whatever the exact definition might be), it works quite well: it feels a bit Shirley Jackson-esque, a bit Susan Hill-ish -- it's something more gently creepy than all out guts 'n' gore, which I tend to prefer. I think really what's most horrible about it is the tenderness: the key event, the turning point, tore my heart a little, because even in so short a space I got to care about the characters... And the ending doesn't strike any false note of comfort, just something bleak and hopeless.
I read this during the course of my twenty-five minute bus journey back from the clinic I volunteer at, so it's obviously pretty short and sweet -- which is to be preferred, sometimes.
I read this during the course of my twenty-five minute bus journey back from the clinic I volunteer at, so it's obviously pretty short and sweet -- which is to be preferred, sometimes.
January 31, 2010
This short book- 113 pages that I read in an hour- is downright heartbreakingly sad. It’s a book of loss, a book of horror, a book of grief.
Set in the late Victorian era, Iris is the youngest child in a family with an absent father and a mother with depression. Her brothers are her only friends; Harvey, one of the twins that are 3 years older than her is her favorite. They spend their free time together; he protects her from his twin who has a streak of cruelty.
Living in the ancestral mansion in the far reaches of Cornwall with their mad grandfather locked up in one wing the atmosphere is charged with the occult and death. The setting is a gothic dream; not only is it an old, isolated manor, but it has an on site mausoleum in a cave where family members are buried. The gardener tells them tales of the dead and of the past, and of the perils of calling up the dead. When Harvey dies, Iris risks all to have him with her again, only to find that the gardener was right and some things are best left alone because there *are* fates worse than death.
Beautifully illustrated with pen and ink drawings, the book is like a tone poem of loss. Very, very good.
Set in the late Victorian era, Iris is the youngest child in a family with an absent father and a mother with depression. Her brothers are her only friends; Harvey, one of the twins that are 3 years older than her is her favorite. They spend their free time together; he protects her from his twin who has a streak of cruelty.
Living in the ancestral mansion in the far reaches of Cornwall with their mad grandfather locked up in one wing the atmosphere is charged with the occult and death. The setting is a gothic dream; not only is it an old, isolated manor, but it has an on site mausoleum in a cave where family members are buried. The gardener tells them tales of the dead and of the past, and of the perils of calling up the dead. When Harvey dies, Iris risks all to have him with her again, only to find that the gardener was right and some things are best left alone because there *are* fates worse than death.
Beautifully illustrated with pen and ink drawings, the book is like a tone poem of loss. Very, very good.
November 16, 2009
Douglas Clegg's Isis is a supremely creepy novella, with a fascinating Gothic aftertaste. According to my research, this novella is meant to provide a back story for a series of novels by Douglas Clegg. I will definitely be putting his other works on my lengthy tbr list! Isis is deliciously eerie and captivating. Iris is a well-written and sympathetic character and the setting and auxiliary characters are fantastic. I thoroughly expect the story to haunt my dreams tonight!
Isis is thrilling and chilling - a truly satisfying tale of the world of the supernatural, told using the backdrop of the mythos of Isis and Osiris. Unique and interesting, Isis is also a quick and effortless read, easily conquered in just a couple hours time. I recommend it for any fan of classic horror. The spooky atmosphere Clegg has conjured in Isis will be well worth your time.
Isis is thrilling and chilling - a truly satisfying tale of the world of the supernatural, told using the backdrop of the mythos of Isis and Osiris. Unique and interesting, Isis is also a quick and effortless read, easily conquered in just a couple hours time. I recommend it for any fan of classic horror. The spooky atmosphere Clegg has conjured in Isis will be well worth your time.
October 31, 2011
This was a pretty good for such a short book. I usually have trouble connecting with characters in short stories, but the characters here were reasonably well developed. This fact is pretty amazing since the author developed them in such a sketchy way. Isis is a spooky read, a bit depressing and dark. One of the suprising things about the book was the hopeful way of thinking about death and the afterlife. (If the dead person gets to stay there!)
I think this would have been a 4 star book for me except I didn't like the ending, which was very open ended and unsatisfying. It bugs me when such a good job is done developing a story and then the author seems to rush the ending. I also think my sense of justice is offended when characters like Spence, Edyth, and Iris go on their merry way while poor Harvey....well, I guess you'll have to read the book to find out!
I think this would have been a 4 star book for me except I didn't like the ending, which was very open ended and unsatisfying. It bugs me when such a good job is done developing a story and then the author seems to rush the ending. I also think my sense of justice is offended when characters like Spence, Edyth, and Iris go on their merry way while poor Harvey....well, I guess you'll have to read the book to find out!
July 17, 2012
This was such a fascinating book to read. It's a thin book, and it can easily be done in a few hours. I'm used to huge fat tomes, the kind that can stagger a person if you throw them at someone. So naturally i was skeptical at this small one.
It turned out unjustified,this has all that it needs and more. It's tastefully illustrated and very atmospheric. It reminded me of those legends of old. Where it all starts innocently enough, like a sunny day. Then the cloud cowers the sun and you notice some strange shadows lingering. And then as the sun shines again, but you cant shake them off anymore. This is the impression that i got from this book.
A great atmospheric chiller that carries quite a punch.
Don't wake the dead!
It turned out unjustified,this has all that it needs and more. It's tastefully illustrated and very atmospheric. It reminded me of those legends of old. Where it all starts innocently enough, like a sunny day. Then the cloud cowers the sun and you notice some strange shadows lingering. And then as the sun shines again, but you cant shake them off anymore. This is the impression that i got from this book.
A great atmospheric chiller that carries quite a punch.
Don't wake the dead!
November 18, 2014
Iris and her brothers move with their mother to their Grandfather's old house in Cornwall. There, they find old tombs with ancient legends attached to them of those who have called back the dead.
Iris is fascinated and inspired as well by the myth of Isis and Osiris and is in a local play about the same. But when tragedy strikes, her love for her brother makes her do a very foolish thing.
Sad and atmospheric, with wonderful illustrations.
Iris is fascinated and inspired as well by the myth of Isis and Osiris and is in a local play about the same. But when tragedy strikes, her love for her brother makes her do a very foolish thing.
Sad and atmospheric, with wonderful illustrations.
May 27, 2016
Did you read The Harrow Series by Douglas Clegg? If so, you may not know about this book which is a second prequel he added after finishing the series. It really explains a lot and is well worth going back and reading. And if you haven't read the series...now is a good time. Two prequels and four books - some good reading!
October 12, 2009
A gripping and truly macabre tale. The perfect read for late-October, or when you feel the need for something on the scary side. Douglas Clegg has given us a superb retelling of the Osiris and Isis myth, set in Cornwall during the Victorian Period. This is no tale for young children either; it is gritty, realistic, and terribly bittersweet, with moral lessons throughout. This is a novella to read aloud to family and friends while safely ensconced in a warm living room in front of the fire. The illustrations are beautiful and complement the plot exquisitely.
March 24, 2018
Young Iris would pay anything to bring her beloved brother back from the dead.
But, in the end, is it worth the price?
Part cute, part creepy, and only takes about an hour to read.
But, in the end, is it worth the price?
Part cute, part creepy, and only takes about an hour to read.
October 31, 2009
This is a very short novella (large print as well) and nicely illustrated. IMHO it would suit older children better than adults. The story of a young girl who learns to be careful what she wishes for - and not to strike a bargain with the dead. Thankfully it only took an hour to read. Get it from the library.
January 13, 2016
This is a novella about a lonely and sad young girl living in an old country mansion around which are numerous gothic legends. The father is absent, the mother is severely depressed and rarely leaves her room, the nanny/home teacher is cruel, so the only friend that Iris has is her loving older brother Harvey. When a tragedy takes place, everything goes from bad to worse. As sad as the story is, it is also very chillingly beautiful. Douglas Clegg is a fantastic writer with an incredible imagination and a talent for weaving a great tale. Not only can you visualize and live this story, you feel isxt. Clegg's prose is so very beautiful and haunting. This story will stay with me. This is not the first book that I have read by this creative and terrific author, but it is my favorite thus far.
June 12, 2016
The question put forth "If you lost someone you loved, what would you pay to bring them back?" Young Iris Villiers finds the answer in this finely crafted supernatural tale of loss and grief. Great characters, a setting foreboding and atmospheric, taking place in Victorian England on the peninsula Cornwall. A short, but fascinating read. I find this worth the trip. Another attribute for this tale is the fine illustrations of the artist Glenn Chadbourne from Maine. I think they should bring back the illustrated novels of the past. Highly recommend.
October 8, 2009
I am 3/4 done with this, and it is really amazing. Clegg's work has evolved so much over twenty years. This tale is deep and otherworldly. The artwork and the story are both top notch. The book is creepy, suspenseful, and dreamlike. I have to give it five stars for the artistry of the cover, artwork, and writing.
May 31, 2011
A short but satisfying ghost story. I have been wanting read Douglas Clegg for a while, so when this popped up at the library, I grabbed it!
March 6, 2014
Incredibly disquieting and well done.
February 13, 2016
Excellent!! I enjoyed this so much. What a great spooky chilling read. This would be a great book to read during Halloween time.
April 22, 2020
5 STARS
October 9, 2009
The Villier family’s homestead is situated right near a burial ground. There is an old legend regarding The Tombs or as it is also known as the “Isle of Apples”. A maiden who had lost her lover, traveled down to the tombs. She returned with her lover in tow and refusing to let him return to the underworld.
Iris Catherine Villiers is the younger sister to twin brothers, Harvey and Spence. Though, Harvey and Spence could not be more different from each other than night and day. Harvey is the sweet one and Spence is the evil one. Iris and Harvey get along with each other. They are very close.
One day a tragic accident befalls Harvey and Iris, leaving Harvey dead and Iris gaining the ability to communicate with the dead. Iris longs to bring Harvey back from the dead but is she willing to pay the price?
While the story had some paranormal elements to it, I was hoping for more. I found the characters were interesting. This is a quick read, which I actually wished had lasted a bit longer. The illustrations in this book are detailed and wonderful. I would have liked to seen Iris use her new learned ability more. It was like she had it, used it and that was it. Overall, a pretty good book.
Iris Catherine Villiers is the younger sister to twin brothers, Harvey and Spence. Though, Harvey and Spence could not be more different from each other than night and day. Harvey is the sweet one and Spence is the evil one. Iris and Harvey get along with each other. They are very close.
One day a tragic accident befalls Harvey and Iris, leaving Harvey dead and Iris gaining the ability to communicate with the dead. Iris longs to bring Harvey back from the dead but is she willing to pay the price?
While the story had some paranormal elements to it, I was hoping for more. I found the characters were interesting. This is a quick read, which I actually wished had lasted a bit longer. The illustrations in this book are detailed and wonderful. I would have liked to seen Iris use her new learned ability more. It was like she had it, used it and that was it. Overall, a pretty good book.
May 13, 2019
I only have one negative to say about Isis, and that is that it was far too short.
I had missed that it was a short story and while I think that it ended very well (in a manner of speaking), I feel as if there was potential for a longer story.
This being the only thing of Douglas Clegg that I've so far read, I think it's too soon to add him to my 'favorite author'-tag, but I definitely think there's potential for it!
I had missed that it was a short story and while I think that it ended very well (in a manner of speaking), I feel as if there was potential for a longer story.
This being the only thing of Douglas Clegg that I've so far read, I think it's too soon to add him to my 'favorite author'-tag, but I definitely think there's potential for it!
November 7, 2012
Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com
This is a prequel of Douglas Clegg's HARROW books, which I didn't realize until after I read the book. ISIS is a novella, being only 113 pages long, but it's quite amazing.
It is the story of Iris and her brother, Harvey. They grow up together in a very dysfunctional family - before there were even any such things as dysfunctional families. Iris's father takes off; her mother is depressed and is an alcoholic. She has an older brother who she never sees and twin brothers. One is very selfish and the other is very kind, and that one is Harvey.
Iris and Harvey are fascinated with the Egyptian myth of Isis and Osiris. The story is a take off of that. When Harvey dies saving Iris, she defies all to get him back.
I enjoyed this short book but have to admit that I needed to read it during the day because it scared me. It doesn't have much gore or violence, but the way it is written is much scarier. I highly recommend this short slip of a book.
This is a prequel of Douglas Clegg's HARROW books, which I didn't realize until after I read the book. ISIS is a novella, being only 113 pages long, but it's quite amazing.
It is the story of Iris and her brother, Harvey. They grow up together in a very dysfunctional family - before there were even any such things as dysfunctional families. Iris's father takes off; her mother is depressed and is an alcoholic. She has an older brother who she never sees and twin brothers. One is very selfish and the other is very kind, and that one is Harvey.
Iris and Harvey are fascinated with the Egyptian myth of Isis and Osiris. The story is a take off of that. When Harvey dies saving Iris, she defies all to get him back.
I enjoyed this short book but have to admit that I needed to read it during the day because it scared me. It doesn't have much gore or violence, but the way it is written is much scarier. I highly recommend this short slip of a book.
March 24, 2016
I read this book about a month ago. I really liked it. I was just the right amount of creepy, without giving me nightmares. I loved the illustrations in this book. The detailed ink drawings add to the character and imagination. There are only 113 pages to this little gem, so, it is a good book to slip into your purse, travel bag or large jacket pocket.
Note: This was a book that I received from a fellow bookcrossing member at
Bookcrossing.com
Note: This was a book that I received from a fellow bookcrossing member at
Bookcrossing.com
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