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Ashwood #1
Ashwood
When sixteen-year-old Willow goes urban exploring in an abandoned asylum she expects the dark halls, creepy echoes, and ominous atmosphere. But she doesn't expect it to follow her home. After the trip, Willow becomes haunted by nightmares in which she never left Ashwood Asylum. Nightmares where she is pursued by grotesque, mind-infesting horrors called the Mora who feed off the fear of mortals. Unfortunately for squeamish Willow, they are hungry. And she is their perfect meal.
Upon waking, Willow recalls only fleeting memories of dead butterflies, hollow eyes and discordant whispers. But slowly these phantasms begin to bleed into her daily life, making Willow question her own sanity. She soon realizes that the solution lies solely within the decrepit walls of Ashwood. As the boundary between dreams and reality disintegrates, Willow must find the courage to defeat the leader of the Mora before he traps her soul in the nightmare forever.
[NOTE: Ashwood moved to a new publisher. It will be unavailable for sale during this transition, but is set for re-launch under Fantasy Works Publishing on September 7th, 2016. Please stay tuned for future announcements about the release.]
Upon waking, Willow recalls only fleeting memories of dead butterflies, hollow eyes and discordant whispers. But slowly these phantasms begin to bleed into her daily life, making Willow question her own sanity. She soon realizes that the solution lies solely within the decrepit walls of Ashwood. As the boundary between dreams and reality disintegrates, Willow must find the courage to defeat the leader of the Mora before he traps her soul in the nightmare forever.
[NOTE: Ashwood moved to a new publisher. It will be unavailable for sale during this transition, but is set for re-launch under Fantasy Works Publishing on September 7th, 2016. Please stay tuned for future announcements about the release.]
198 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2015
2 people are currently reading
3080 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Malarsky
2 books72 followersC.J. Malarsky is a proud graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature and a member of SCBWI. She also holds a B.A. degree in psychology from her alma mater, Marymount Manhattan College.
Her short story “Burning Ember” appears in Galileo Games’ The Lost anthology. Her debut novel, Ashwood, was published by Distinguished Press in October, 2015.
When she’s not writing, C.J. enjoys LARPing and playing table-top RPGs. She is also an enthusiast of Japanese street fashion and enjoys collecting ball-jointed dolls. As a die-hard child of the 80’s, she lists Punky Brewster and Rainbow Brite among her personal heroes.
Her own favorite books include Lloyd Alexander’s The Prydain Chronicles, Michael Ende’s The Neverending Story and Peter S. Beagle’s The Last Unicorn.
Her short story “Burning Ember” appears in Galileo Games’ The Lost anthology. Her debut novel, Ashwood, was published by Distinguished Press in October, 2015.
When she’s not writing, C.J. enjoys LARPing and playing table-top RPGs. She is also an enthusiast of Japanese street fashion and enjoys collecting ball-jointed dolls. As a die-hard child of the 80’s, she lists Punky Brewster and Rainbow Brite among her personal heroes.
Her own favorite books include Lloyd Alexander’s The Prydain Chronicles, Michael Ende’s The Neverending Story and Peter S. Beagle’s The Last Unicorn.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 8, 2017
OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MYGOSH
WHY WHY WHY DID I READ THIS BOOK AT NIGHT?!?! OH MY GOSH.
Ok... Ok...
Calm down....
Just....
Ok...
Lock the doors....
Check in the shadows...
Do not look into a mirror.
And do not.
REPEAT DOOO NOT
FALL ASLEEP.
Or I just might not wake up.
X_x
WHY WHY WHY DID I READ THIS BOOK AT NIGHT?!?! OH MY GOSH.
Ok... Ok...
Calm down....
Just....
Ok...
Lock the doors....
Check in the shadows...
Do not look into a mirror.
And do not.
REPEAT DOOO NOT
FALL ASLEEP.
Or I just might not wake up.
X_x
Want to read
December 6, 2015I have made the decision to put this one aside for a bit as I myself is having disturbed sleep patterns during this dark seasonand this book is not the best for me right now.
When the sun comes back (will it ever come back???)I will continue.
When the sun comes back (will it ever come back???)I will continue.
September 3, 2016
REVIEW TO COME ON MY CHANNEL!
4.5 STARS! I loved this book and I need the next book in my hands as soon as possible.
4.5 STARS! I loved this book and I need the next book in my hands as soon as possible.
September 5, 2016
I requested a copy of this book from the author for review about 6 months ago and finally got around to reading it... Better late than never, right? >.<
I'm so glad I finally did get around to reading it, though. What a great foray back into the horror genre! Ashwood is one of those psychological thrillers where the scariest thing is not knowing what's real and what isn't. Of course it's also got its fair share of frightening imagery, mounting dread, and dangerous enemies.
Willow, the protagonist of Ashwood, is a young teen somewhat outcast from her peers because of her weirdness and Lolita style. Lacking many friends, Willow instead hangs out with her cool older cousin, Devin. But when Willow tags along with Devin and his friends to take some photos in an abandoned Asylum, her life is changed forever.
After the older teens play a prank on Willow that leaves her temporarily trapped inside a drawer in the asylum morgue, Willow wakes up inside a twisted version of the asylum. This world feels like a horror video game (Marlarsky even alludes at some point to the Escape the Room type games) where every new room and hallway leads to new horrors. Willow is attacked by twisted versions of her friends, swarmed by creepy butterflies, and catches glimpses of former inmates. She races to escape the building, but the doors lock and open as Ashwood guides her through the path it wants her to take. Finally Willow wakes back up in the real world to find her friends laughing at her fright and everything seems back to normal. But now every time Willow falls asleep, she re-enters the asylum dream world. Will Willow uncover the asylum's secrets and find a way out before it's too late?
What could be more classic horror than a haunted asylum? Despite the slightly cliched premise, Malarsky gives the story a unique twist by incorporating Slavic mythology (and a little bit of Jungian philosophy). There's also a hint of romance, which I always enjoy. While Malarsky's writing occasionally falls into some common pitfalls of debut authors, like too much exposition and writing out unnecessary scenes, overall the writing style is very good and engaging. I think most of the issues could be solved with some good editing and, of course, experience. I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author!
See my full review on The Gothic Library: http://www.thegothiclibrary.com/revie...
I'm so glad I finally did get around to reading it, though. What a great foray back into the horror genre! Ashwood is one of those psychological thrillers where the scariest thing is not knowing what's real and what isn't. Of course it's also got its fair share of frightening imagery, mounting dread, and dangerous enemies.
Willow, the protagonist of Ashwood, is a young teen somewhat outcast from her peers because of her weirdness and Lolita style. Lacking many friends, Willow instead hangs out with her cool older cousin, Devin. But when Willow tags along with Devin and his friends to take some photos in an abandoned Asylum, her life is changed forever.
After the older teens play a prank on Willow that leaves her temporarily trapped inside a drawer in the asylum morgue, Willow wakes up inside a twisted version of the asylum. This world feels like a horror video game (Marlarsky even alludes at some point to the Escape the Room type games) where every new room and hallway leads to new horrors. Willow is attacked by twisted versions of her friends, swarmed by creepy butterflies, and catches glimpses of former inmates. She races to escape the building, but the doors lock and open as Ashwood guides her through the path it wants her to take. Finally Willow wakes back up in the real world to find her friends laughing at her fright and everything seems back to normal. But now every time Willow falls asleep, she re-enters the asylum dream world. Will Willow uncover the asylum's secrets and find a way out before it's too late?
What could be more classic horror than a haunted asylum? Despite the slightly cliched premise, Malarsky gives the story a unique twist by incorporating Slavic mythology (and a little bit of Jungian philosophy). There's also a hint of romance, which I always enjoy. While Malarsky's writing occasionally falls into some common pitfalls of debut authors, like too much exposition and writing out unnecessary scenes, overall the writing style is very good and engaging. I think most of the issues could be solved with some good editing and, of course, experience. I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author!
See my full review on The Gothic Library: http://www.thegothiclibrary.com/revie...
May 21, 2017
For me this book is what Goodreads is all about.
I found this on a list for best horror for YA. However, I didn't realise at the time YA stood for young adult.
I will confess that this book did genuinely scare me in parts even though i'm 25.
A couple of chapters in, I began to suspect that the book was aimed at people a little younger than myself. Some of the themes revolve around teenage insecurities and the main character often seems younger than her 16 years. Despite this, the horror sections and descriptions in this book are as scary as anything else I've read.
The imagery of the butterflies and hospital nurses actually led to me waking up with sleep paralysis. Surely all the proof the author needs of a job well done.
If I was a little younger I'm sure this would be a fantastic book. In consideration of this fact I'm giving this a solid 4/5. A great first time effort and highly recommended for "young adults".
I found this on a list for best horror for YA. However, I didn't realise at the time YA stood for young adult.
I will confess that this book did genuinely scare me in parts even though i'm 25.
A couple of chapters in, I began to suspect that the book was aimed at people a little younger than myself. Some of the themes revolve around teenage insecurities and the main character often seems younger than her 16 years. Despite this, the horror sections and descriptions in this book are as scary as anything else I've read.
The imagery of the butterflies and hospital nurses actually led to me waking up with sleep paralysis. Surely all the proof the author needs of a job well done.
If I was a little younger I'm sure this would be a fantastic book. In consideration of this fact I'm giving this a solid 4/5. A great first time effort and highly recommended for "young adults".
August 5, 2017
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Ohh this was REALLY good!!
After waiting a couple years of wanting to read this, I finally have a copy and could not have been happier when it arrived in the mail. This book is just as good as I thought it would be! I loved how the story kept you wondering 'what the heck is going on?!' The story flowed really well and kept you wanting to read more to find out what was going to happen next. It was definitely creepy and I know im going to add this to my list of books to read again.
Thank you SO much C.J. Malarsky!!
Ohh this was REALLY good!!
After waiting a couple years of wanting to read this, I finally have a copy and could not have been happier when it arrived in the mail. This book is just as good as I thought it would be! I loved how the story kept you wondering 'what the heck is going on?!' The story flowed really well and kept you wanting to read more to find out what was going to happen next. It was definitely creepy and I know im going to add this to my list of books to read again.
Thank you SO much C.J. Malarsky!!
April 6, 2018
I can't believe I haven't already reviewed this book. I really loved it. When I first discovered it, it sounded interesting, and I was disappointed to learn that it wasn't available. However, since then, it became available for Kindle, and I snapped it up. It was a wonderful read with a bit of a goth/steampunk, urban exploring, and Alice in Horrorland mood.
August 5, 2022
Ashwood, un asile abandonné, de l’urbex que je pratique à mes heures perdues, des fantômes et une critique élogieuse de la part de Pippin. Il ne m’en fallait pas plus pour être tenté par ce roman et pour craqué à mon tour. Malheureusement et même si j’ai apprécié ma découverte, celle-ci m’a semblé à la fois souffrir d’un manque et d’un surplus de je ne sais trop quoi pour me correspondre totalement.
Pourtant, l’idée de départ est plutôt bonne et bien amenée. C. J. Malarsky parvient à apporter, à l’aide de la pratique de l’urbex au sein d’un asile abandonné et au détour d’une mauvaise blague au sein d’une morgue, un récit à l’ambiance sombre et glauque mais qui, finalement, se dessine trop peu effrayante et encore bien moins cauchemardesque. La faute à une plume excessivement visuelle et assez directe. Par conséquent, ce style laisse bien trop peu de place à l’imagination et trop de détails sont offerts au lecteur et je trouve cela regrettable tant je me suis démontré seulement passif au cours de cette lecture. J’aurais apprécié que l’auteure esquisse bien davantage son univers plutôt que nous dépeindre dans les les moindres détails celui-ci. Ainsi et au contraire d’autres lecteurs, j’ai trouvé la limite entre réalité et fiction plus que grossière, ce qui a fortement fortement freiné et pénalisé mon intérêt. D’autant plus que ce dernier s’amoindrissent au fil des chapitres tant ma progression s’est vue assez creuse malgré l’apparition de la mythologie et du folklore slave. Sous couverture de guerre et d’expériences scientifiques fortement réalistes, C. J. Malarsky emmène son lectorat dans un monde onirique dans lequel règnent quelques fantômes et autres créatures démoniaques mais reste bien trop en surface pour rendre son sujet totalement passionnant ou bien captivant. D’autant plus que cette dernière comptait apporter une suite à son œuvre fantastique mais n’a pas trouvé d’éditeur. Ainsi et avec une telle finalité des plus ouverte, beaucoup de questions restent en suspend même si le manque de réponse est loin d’être insupportable, cela reste regrettable car Ashwood reste quand même assez divertissant et la plume de l’auteure des plus facile d’accès.
Néanmoins, cette extrême fluidité se ressent dans l’élaboration – quasi inexistante – de ses personnages qui se sont dévoilés à leur tour, aussi creux que le reste de ce roman. Je n’ai nullement réussit à m’attacher à l’héroïne qui malgré son âge, m’a plus souvent horripilé par ses réactions qu’autre chose. Cette jeune adulte se démontre bien trop immature et enfantine pour se dévoiler crédible dans le rôle de possédée et clée qu’elle détient. Finalement, cette dernière subit plus qu’elle n’agit et sa passivité m’a vite et fort agacé. Ne parlons pas des autres personnages de ce conte onirique qui se dessinent juste utiles à l’avancée de l’intrigue qui, d’ailleurs, est plus que cousue de fil blanc et prévisible. C’est pourquoi et étonnement, j’ai bien plus apprécié découvrir l’histoire derrière les fantômes d’Ashwood que le devenir de Willow et sa bande d’amis aventuriers.
Enfin et quand bien même Ashwood est parvenu à me divertir, cette œuvre m’a paru bien trop faible malgré toutes ses promesses. L’univers se veut intéressant mais loin d’être frissonnant et se dévoile assez plat tant l’auteure se contente de rester en surface. Ce choix reste déplorable car la mythologie slave aurait pu apporter une toute autre dimension à ce roman bien trop visuel et manquant cruellement de chimère.
Pourtant, l’idée de départ est plutôt bonne et bien amenée. C. J. Malarsky parvient à apporter, à l’aide de la pratique de l’urbex au sein d’un asile abandonné et au détour d’une mauvaise blague au sein d’une morgue, un récit à l’ambiance sombre et glauque mais qui, finalement, se dessine trop peu effrayante et encore bien moins cauchemardesque. La faute à une plume excessivement visuelle et assez directe. Par conséquent, ce style laisse bien trop peu de place à l’imagination et trop de détails sont offerts au lecteur et je trouve cela regrettable tant je me suis démontré seulement passif au cours de cette lecture. J’aurais apprécié que l’auteure esquisse bien davantage son univers plutôt que nous dépeindre dans les les moindres détails celui-ci. Ainsi et au contraire d’autres lecteurs, j’ai trouvé la limite entre réalité et fiction plus que grossière, ce qui a fortement fortement freiné et pénalisé mon intérêt. D’autant plus que ce dernier s’amoindrissent au fil des chapitres tant ma progression s’est vue assez creuse malgré l’apparition de la mythologie et du folklore slave. Sous couverture de guerre et d’expériences scientifiques fortement réalistes, C. J. Malarsky emmène son lectorat dans un monde onirique dans lequel règnent quelques fantômes et autres créatures démoniaques mais reste bien trop en surface pour rendre son sujet totalement passionnant ou bien captivant. D’autant plus que cette dernière comptait apporter une suite à son œuvre fantastique mais n’a pas trouvé d’éditeur. Ainsi et avec une telle finalité des plus ouverte, beaucoup de questions restent en suspend même si le manque de réponse est loin d’être insupportable, cela reste regrettable car Ashwood reste quand même assez divertissant et la plume de l’auteure des plus facile d’accès.
Néanmoins, cette extrême fluidité se ressent dans l’élaboration – quasi inexistante – de ses personnages qui se sont dévoilés à leur tour, aussi creux que le reste de ce roman. Je n’ai nullement réussit à m’attacher à l’héroïne qui malgré son âge, m’a plus souvent horripilé par ses réactions qu’autre chose. Cette jeune adulte se démontre bien trop immature et enfantine pour se dévoiler crédible dans le rôle de possédée et clée qu’elle détient. Finalement, cette dernière subit plus qu’elle n’agit et sa passivité m’a vite et fort agacé. Ne parlons pas des autres personnages de ce conte onirique qui se dessinent juste utiles à l’avancée de l’intrigue qui, d’ailleurs, est plus que cousue de fil blanc et prévisible. C’est pourquoi et étonnement, j’ai bien plus apprécié découvrir l’histoire derrière les fantômes d’Ashwood que le devenir de Willow et sa bande d’amis aventuriers.
Enfin et quand bien même Ashwood est parvenu à me divertir, cette œuvre m’a paru bien trop faible malgré toutes ses promesses. L’univers se veut intéressant mais loin d’être frissonnant et se dévoile assez plat tant l’auteure se contente de rester en surface. Ce choix reste déplorable car la mythologie slave aurait pu apporter une toute autre dimension à ce roman bien trop visuel et manquant cruellement de chimère.
October 23, 2023
Wow. That was a really big let down.
I was sooooo excited for this. You don’t understand- I was esthetic. It’s out of print and by some random occurrence I happened to find it one night. I was THRILLED.
Now, I am disappointed and mildly annoyed.
Ok, first- in the very beginning I became acutely aware that I wasn’t a fan of the language structure but I was “give it chance, it’s literally page 5”. Randomly specific page number you say but alas page #4, #5 and #6 are all slightly different fonts/sizes. (Immediate irk) Also, chapter one starts on page 4 with a line at the top but next page has no header but all the pages moving forward say the authors name on the left page header and the title of the book on the right page header.
I realize these are technical problems, as is the inconsistency with how the page breaks are marked within chapters (sometimes spaced down, sometimes centered and sometimes with just three ### to start a new paragraph), as well as the few times there are words where there shouldn’t be- messing up the flow of the sentence. Not to mention how some pages are just absolutely blank. And you’re right, these things don’t effect the actual story but my god do they effect my opinion. The layout is awful. This is in fact what editors are for, correct?
Moving on, this is a super short read but it felt like it lasted forever. I honestly wanted to DNF it but I was SO EXCITED, REMEMBER? So I kept going because ‘I wanted to finish a book today’ and also I thought maybe the ending would give me a twist or something that would make it feel like it was all worth it. I was wrong, this isn’t like a Gillian Flynn book.
Our story goes back and forth between real time/reality with Willow and her nightmare time and both story lines are linked to her and her cousin and their friends going to an abandoned asylum called Ashwood.
Here’s the thing, the reality chapter were cringe at best. I had to start skimming them. The nightmare chapters were way more exciting and I wish that had been the whole book. But, then we get to a point where both storylines blur and it’s hard to tell what’s real and what isn’t (which is probably the point but boy was it annoying to me). It felt like we were trudging through thick muddy waters, not going anywhere.
Then there at the end this becomes more of a girl falls in love with a ghost story- that felt pushed despite how Willow and the ghost had grown closer through the book. Or you know as much as you can when you’re whole life basically becomes a hallucination.
And, then the book was finally ending and everything was wrapping up neatly and I was annoyed but relieved it was over. But, then. Then Malarsky gives us those last 9 sentences, and I know they are supposed to evoke a chill and suspense within in but I am just so unbelievably annoyed by the entire experience now. I feel like there was literally no point. None at all.
I was sooooo excited for this. You don’t understand- I was esthetic. It’s out of print and by some random occurrence I happened to find it one night. I was THRILLED.
Now, I am disappointed and mildly annoyed.
Ok, first- in the very beginning I became acutely aware that I wasn’t a fan of the language structure but I was “give it chance, it’s literally page 5”. Randomly specific page number you say but alas page #4, #5 and #6 are all slightly different fonts/sizes. (Immediate irk) Also, chapter one starts on page 4 with a line at the top but next page has no header but all the pages moving forward say the authors name on the left page header and the title of the book on the right page header.
I realize these are technical problems, as is the inconsistency with how the page breaks are marked within chapters (sometimes spaced down, sometimes centered and sometimes with just three ### to start a new paragraph), as well as the few times there are words where there shouldn’t be- messing up the flow of the sentence. Not to mention how some pages are just absolutely blank. And you’re right, these things don’t effect the actual story but my god do they effect my opinion. The layout is awful. This is in fact what editors are for, correct?
Moving on, this is a super short read but it felt like it lasted forever. I honestly wanted to DNF it but I was SO EXCITED, REMEMBER? So I kept going because ‘I wanted to finish a book today’ and also I thought maybe the ending would give me a twist or something that would make it feel like it was all worth it. I was wrong, this isn’t like a Gillian Flynn book.
Our story goes back and forth between real time/reality with Willow and her nightmare time and both story lines are linked to her and her cousin and their friends going to an abandoned asylum called Ashwood.
Here’s the thing, the reality chapter were cringe at best. I had to start skimming them. The nightmare chapters were way more exciting and I wish that had been the whole book. But, then we get to a point where both storylines blur and it’s hard to tell what’s real and what isn’t (which is probably the point but boy was it annoying to me). It felt like we were trudging through thick muddy waters, not going anywhere.
Then there at the end this becomes more of a girl falls in love with a ghost story- that felt pushed despite how Willow and the ghost had grown closer through the book. Or you know as much as you can when you’re whole life basically becomes a hallucination.
And, then the book was finally ending and everything was wrapping up neatly and I was annoyed but relieved it was over. But, then. Then Malarsky gives us those last 9 sentences, and I know they are supposed to evoke a chill and suspense within in but I am just so unbelievably annoyed by the entire experience now. I feel like there was literally no point. None at all.
March 11, 2021
☆☆☆☆☆ /5
Cette lecture fut si rapide et en même temps si intense !
C’est encore une œuvre que j’ai aimé découvrir, édité par une maison d’édition que j’affectionne tout particulièrement. C’est cette maison d’édition qui me fait sortir de ma zone de confort, certes, mais qui m’enchante avec toutes les lectures qu’elle propose dans son catalogue, sans regret.
En parlant de l’objet-livre, je ne peux que vous dire que la couverture, le travail éditorial et le style de l’auteure sont tout simplement magnifiques !
¤
Dans ce roman, nous suivons Willow, qui est une jeune fille assez marginalisée dans son école. Au début de l’histoire, Willow va accompagner son cousin et ses amis dans un ancien hôpital psychiatrique abandonné afin de faire un shooting photo. Bien qu’elle ait peur des environs, la jeune fille est quand même contente de passer du temps avec son cousin, en faisant de l’urbex. Pourtant, rien ne se passe comme prévu.
Une fois rentrée chez elle, Willow semble alterner entre deux réalités. Elle va commencer à avoir des hallucinations, à voir des créatures horribles, qui vont se nourrir de ses peurs… C’était comme si une partie de Willow était restée prisonnière de cet ancien hôpital.
¤
En commençant ce roman, je savais que j’allais avoir des frissons. J’ai peur assez facilement alors ce genre de lectures intenses, ce n’est pas trop ma tasse de thé, surtout lorsque le soleil se couche. Pourtant, quand j’ai commencé à tourner les premières pages, je n’ai pas pu m’arrêter.
Même s’il faisait nuit, j’ai dévoré ce roman. Et j’ai adoré.
C’était horrifiant et ce roman m’a hanté dans la nuit qui a suivi.
C’était si bien écrit. Le style d’écriture de l’auteure m’a tout de suite accrochée à l’histoire. L’auteure ne nous bassine pas d’énormes détails sur le contexte politique, social autour des personnages, au contraire, elle ne se concentre que sur ce que vit Willow et c’est satisfaisant. J’ai trouvé la narration fluide et la manière dont l’auteure jouait avec les mots et l’histoire rendait la lecture vraiment immersive.
J’ai eu peur avec Willow. J’ai été stressée avec Willow. Je me suis sentie désespérée avec Willow.
C’est incroyable à quel point j’ai pu ressentir tout le tourbillon de sentiments que ressentaient les personnages et l’ambiance de tension, d’urgence qui planait dans tout le récit.
J’ai d’ailleurs particulièrement apprécié la mention et l’utilisation des mythologies slave et romaine dans cette histoire. Même la petite pointe de romance m’a émue aussi.
¤
La fin est tout simplement horrible. Elle m’a fait froid dans le dos.
Mais elle est belle et très bien faite, car cela ne pouvait pas se terminer aussi facilement n’est-ce pas ?
Au-delà de ma peur, de ce genre qui n’est pas mon favori, j’ai adoré ce roman.
Cette lecture fut si rapide et en même temps si intense !
C’est encore une œuvre que j’ai aimé découvrir, édité par une maison d’édition que j’affectionne tout particulièrement. C’est cette maison d’édition qui me fait sortir de ma zone de confort, certes, mais qui m’enchante avec toutes les lectures qu’elle propose dans son catalogue, sans regret.
En parlant de l’objet-livre, je ne peux que vous dire que la couverture, le travail éditorial et le style de l’auteure sont tout simplement magnifiques !
¤
Dans ce roman, nous suivons Willow, qui est une jeune fille assez marginalisée dans son école. Au début de l’histoire, Willow va accompagner son cousin et ses amis dans un ancien hôpital psychiatrique abandonné afin de faire un shooting photo. Bien qu’elle ait peur des environs, la jeune fille est quand même contente de passer du temps avec son cousin, en faisant de l’urbex. Pourtant, rien ne se passe comme prévu.
Une fois rentrée chez elle, Willow semble alterner entre deux réalités. Elle va commencer à avoir des hallucinations, à voir des créatures horribles, qui vont se nourrir de ses peurs… C’était comme si une partie de Willow était restée prisonnière de cet ancien hôpital.
¤
En commençant ce roman, je savais que j’allais avoir des frissons. J’ai peur assez facilement alors ce genre de lectures intenses, ce n’est pas trop ma tasse de thé, surtout lorsque le soleil se couche. Pourtant, quand j’ai commencé à tourner les premières pages, je n’ai pas pu m’arrêter.
Même s’il faisait nuit, j’ai dévoré ce roman. Et j’ai adoré.
C’était horrifiant et ce roman m’a hanté dans la nuit qui a suivi.
C’était si bien écrit. Le style d’écriture de l’auteure m’a tout de suite accrochée à l’histoire. L’auteure ne nous bassine pas d’énormes détails sur le contexte politique, social autour des personnages, au contraire, elle ne se concentre que sur ce que vit Willow et c’est satisfaisant. J’ai trouvé la narration fluide et la manière dont l’auteure jouait avec les mots et l’histoire rendait la lecture vraiment immersive.
J’ai eu peur avec Willow. J’ai été stressée avec Willow. Je me suis sentie désespérée avec Willow.
C’est incroyable à quel point j’ai pu ressentir tout le tourbillon de sentiments que ressentaient les personnages et l’ambiance de tension, d’urgence qui planait dans tout le récit.
J’ai d’ailleurs particulièrement apprécié la mention et l’utilisation des mythologies slave et romaine dans cette histoire. Même la petite pointe de romance m’a émue aussi.
¤
La fin est tout simplement horrible. Elle m’a fait froid dans le dos.
Mais elle est belle et très bien faite, car cela ne pouvait pas se terminer aussi facilement n’est-ce pas ?
Au-delà de ma peur, de ce genre qui n’est pas mon favori, j’ai adoré ce roman.
December 19, 2018
Un récit glaçant avec une ambiance sombre et étrange que j’ai adorée. Une auteure qui n’est pas tendre avec sa protagoniste. Le doute s’insinue dans notre esprit comme dans le sien : sommes-nous dans la réalité ou le cauchemar ? Une chose est sûre, vous ne verrez plus les papillons de la même façon et vous n’aurez peut-être plus envie de dormir avec votre doudou après cette lecture !
En savoir plus sur : https://livraisonslitteraires.wordpre...
En savoir plus sur : https://livraisonslitteraires.wordpre...
June 17, 2021
Absolutely loved this book. The storyline and characters were created so seamlessly. It didn’t feel forced, everything just blended so well. It’s definitely a psychological thriller and I loved every second of it.
October 30, 2017
DNF @ 45%
Cheesy, cliche characters who promote cheesy, cliche quotes and dialogue.
This is like a middle schooler's attempt at writing a horror novel - not very good.
Cheesy, cliche characters who promote cheesy, cliche quotes and dialogue.
This is like a middle schooler's attempt at writing a horror novel - not very good.
February 21, 2017
This reminded me of indie Japanese RPG horrors along the lines of Ib and Mad Father, which I love. The comparison goes pretty far - almost like Alice in Wonderland, the main character must explore the creepy asylum (Ashwood) / creepy "painted" world (Ib) / her father's secret laboratory (Mad Father) in order to escape, or find closure. And these kinds of plots really work imo, likely because there's so many opportunities for scares. The romance in Ashwood fell a little flat for me, hence the three stars, but the disorientation from never knowing reality from nightmare made up for this. A quick read that I'd recommend younger versions of me read at night.
January 5, 2016
I read this book sitting on my cozy couch by the woodstove, and I was still shivering. From fear. This spooky novel absolutely delivered delicious chills. With a classic horror premise (girl goes inside an abandoned mental hospital with her friends, and when she emerges she will never be the same), Ashwood unfolded in some ways that were quite unexpected and fresh, and also with some archetypal tropes that I loved. There were many unsettling images conjured up in Ashwood. My favorite was the creepy nurses saying nursery rhymes who pulled coins out of the wounds they inflicted on the main character Willow. I used to live near an abandoned mental hospital (Wingdale in New York's Hudson Valley) and often wondered about it--now I'm glad I never ventured inside.
The story alternated between reality and dreams, but then the lines between the two became blurred. Until the very last paragraphs I truly did not know if the story would have a happy ending and Willow would be free from Ashwood (the abandoned mental hospital) or if she would be trapped in her nightmare forever. And I'm certainly not going to say which way it went. Since this is a series, I am very curious about the next book and how it will connect to this one... I can't say more than that without giving away too much.
I think one reason I bonded so easily with this book is that the main character, Willow, seemed like someone I would have been friends with as a teenager. She loves gaming and alternative fashion (dressing up in cosplay-type outfits for her regular school day.) She seems very femme, but at the same time is extremely feisty, which is a combination that I don't see often in fiction, and when I do, a lot of those characters don't seem to hit the mark the way this one does. The whole novel is basically a metaphor for being very afraid and "wimpy" and then overcoming your fear. Overall, two thumbs up.
The story alternated between reality and dreams, but then the lines between the two became blurred. Until the very last paragraphs I truly did not know if the story would have a happy ending and Willow would be free from Ashwood (the abandoned mental hospital) or if she would be trapped in her nightmare forever. And I'm certainly not going to say which way it went. Since this is a series, I am very curious about the next book and how it will connect to this one... I can't say more than that without giving away too much.
I think one reason I bonded so easily with this book is that the main character, Willow, seemed like someone I would have been friends with as a teenager. She loves gaming and alternative fashion (dressing up in cosplay-type outfits for her regular school day.) She seems very femme, but at the same time is extremely feisty, which is a combination that I don't see often in fiction, and when I do, a lot of those characters don't seem to hit the mark the way this one does. The whole novel is basically a metaphor for being very afraid and "wimpy" and then overcoming your fear. Overall, two thumbs up.
September 6, 2016
When I was a teen this would have been the type of book I would have gravitated towards; Haunted asylum, Slavic folklore, and Jungian theory are all topics that I would have, and still do, find interesting.
The action starts pretty fast after they get inside the asylum, so there isn’t a lot of build up towards the horror. But there is a lot of tension when it comes to the psychological thrills. What is real, is Willow going crazy, will she escape? And then after the intensity of the middle of the book, you receive another large jolt of horror, that not only leaves you with chills, but makes you take a look behind yourself.
Some of the characters (Willow, her cousin, and her mom) were really fleshed out, while the other ones not as much. But since this seems to be an ongoing series, perhaps we will see more character development in future books. The one character, Archimedes, irritated me from the get go (which was part of his character), but the parts when he was trying to be funny, really fell flat for me. But that could just be because of my age. As a teenager girl, I may have giggled at him, but as a woman, I would have told him off.
There was a lot of symbolism and mythology throughout the story, some of which I knew, and some of which I didn’t, so that was a nice surprise. It helped to move the story along wonderfully. And I think it could spark the interest in readers to do some more research themselves on some of the topics.
If you’ve watched House on Haunted Hill or 13 Ghosts and enjoyed them, or like to play Silent Hill, I think this may be a book you would really enjoy. And even if you’ve never seen those movies, or played the video game, but enjoy ghosts, mythology, horror or thrillers, you should definitely give this one a read.
The action starts pretty fast after they get inside the asylum, so there isn’t a lot of build up towards the horror. But there is a lot of tension when it comes to the psychological thrills. What is real, is Willow going crazy, will she escape? And then after the intensity of the middle of the book, you receive another large jolt of horror, that not only leaves you with chills, but makes you take a look behind yourself.
Some of the characters (Willow, her cousin, and her mom) were really fleshed out, while the other ones not as much. But since this seems to be an ongoing series, perhaps we will see more character development in future books. The one character, Archimedes, irritated me from the get go (which was part of his character), but the parts when he was trying to be funny, really fell flat for me. But that could just be because of my age. As a teenager girl, I may have giggled at him, but as a woman, I would have told him off.
There was a lot of symbolism and mythology throughout the story, some of which I knew, and some of which I didn’t, so that was a nice surprise. It helped to move the story along wonderfully. And I think it could spark the interest in readers to do some more research themselves on some of the topics.
If you’ve watched House on Haunted Hill or 13 Ghosts and enjoyed them, or like to play Silent Hill, I think this may be a book you would really enjoy. And even if you’ve never seen those movies, or played the video game, but enjoy ghosts, mythology, horror or thrillers, you should definitely give this one a read.
December 17, 2015
16-yo Willow goes urban exploring in an abandoned asylum. She expects the dark halls, creepy echoes, and ominous atmosphere. But she doesn’t expect it to follow her home. After the trip, Willow becomes haunted by nightmares in which she never left Ashwood Asylum. Nightmares where she is pursued by grotesque, mind-infesting horrors called the Mora who feed off the fear of mortals. Unfortunately for squeamish Willow, they are hungry. And she is their perfect meal.
Upon waking, Willow recalls only fleeting memories of dead butterflies, hollow eyes and discordant whispers. But slowly these phantasms begin to bleed into her daily life, making Willow question her own sanity. She soon realizes that the solution lies solely within the decrepit walls of Ashwood. As the boundary between dreams and reality disintegrates, Willow finds the courage to defeat the leader of the Mora before he traps her soul in the nightmare forever.
The above is the synopsis of the book and it details exactly what happens. I would've liked to see some twist in the storyline that wasn't already given to the reader from the synposis. The opening pages talks about the four main characters, which for me was a bit overwhelming becuase I hadn't gotten to know and learn about the characters, but rather I had to figure out who was who and what was going on. But other than that, the storyline progressed along at a nice pace. The writing was good and flowed smoothingly.
Upon waking, Willow recalls only fleeting memories of dead butterflies, hollow eyes and discordant whispers. But slowly these phantasms begin to bleed into her daily life, making Willow question her own sanity. She soon realizes that the solution lies solely within the decrepit walls of Ashwood. As the boundary between dreams and reality disintegrates, Willow finds the courage to defeat the leader of the Mora before he traps her soul in the nightmare forever.
The above is the synopsis of the book and it details exactly what happens. I would've liked to see some twist in the storyline that wasn't already given to the reader from the synposis. The opening pages talks about the four main characters, which for me was a bit overwhelming becuase I hadn't gotten to know and learn about the characters, but rather I had to figure out who was who and what was going on. But other than that, the storyline progressed along at a nice pace. The writing was good and flowed smoothingly.
September 2, 2016
First off, I should mention this book was received as an ARC and I'm very very thankful for that! It took me longer to read than expected and I'm very sorry for the late review.
From the start it really does feel like dark fantasy. I, who is easily scared by the way, was glad that I've read it durign the daylight hours (despite being a spn fan!!). The first few chapters were really scary.
The first poing of view and descriptions of her emotios give out the perfect vibe, making the reader live through the dangers together with the character. Yet somehow during me reading it I lost the connection. I wasn't that interested or hyped to read the book. After longer parts of descriptions or without any dialogues I got a tad bored.
Besides that it got all a good book should have. There was romance, action, sadness and even som mystery that needed to be solved. I give it four stars only because it didn't drive me crazy. I actually managed to put it down to read another book, which I reviewed in the meantime and am almost over with another one.
Still it was a great book with just as great ending. Promising some more mystery from the author along with unanswered questions.
From the start it really does feel like dark fantasy. I, who is easily scared by the way, was glad that I've read it durign the daylight hours (despite being a spn fan!!). The first few chapters were really scary.
The first poing of view and descriptions of her emotios give out the perfect vibe, making the reader live through the dangers together with the character. Yet somehow during me reading it I lost the connection. I wasn't that interested or hyped to read the book. After longer parts of descriptions or without any dialogues I got a tad bored.
Besides that it got all a good book should have. There was romance, action, sadness and even som mystery that needed to be solved. I give it four stars only because it didn't drive me crazy. I actually managed to put it down to read another book, which I reviewed in the meantime and am almost over with another one.
Still it was a great book with just as great ending. Promising some more mystery from the author along with unanswered questions.
April 17, 2018
I can't imagine being tagged by ghosts, but that's what happens in this book. From what I've read and watched, you're supposed to prep and end with a ceremony before entering and exiting a facility that's possibly haunted. That's not what happens in Ashwood, and someone gets tagged- followed home by the unholy, the unclean, the very unhappy...
What happens when a girl goes with her cousin and friends to an abandoned asylum, then leaves with a tag? She get daily haunts. What started as a bad prank ended in trouble for Willow during both wake and sleeping hours. the freaking deeky creatures that plagued her during brief stints of unconsciousness now take over during waking hours! She's hallucinating and losing her mind!
There was a great deal of bouncing back and forth, purposefully removing her memory to obtain any help, and she didn't speak out when she did remember things. It grew too annoying for me to truly enjoy it- but it may be your cup of tea.
For the full review: bit.ly/TaggedbyGhosts
Ashwood
CJ Malarsky
Fantasy Works Publishing, February 2016
248 page
What happens when a girl goes with her cousin and friends to an abandoned asylum, then leaves with a tag? She get daily haunts. What started as a bad prank ended in trouble for Willow during both wake and sleeping hours. the freaking deeky creatures that plagued her during brief stints of unconsciousness now take over during waking hours! She's hallucinating and losing her mind!
There was a great deal of bouncing back and forth, purposefully removing her memory to obtain any help, and she didn't speak out when she did remember things. It grew too annoying for me to truly enjoy it- but it may be your cup of tea.
For the full review: bit.ly/TaggedbyGhosts
Ashwood
CJ Malarsky
Fantasy Works Publishing, February 2016
248 page
July 16, 2016
My review
The scariest thing about Ashwood is that the author does not tell who where Willow's reality ends and nightmare begins. The story starts out creepy enough: a visit to a decrepit Ashwood Asylum with a cousin and a few friends. Willow wanted an adventure, so she disobeyed her parents to follow her friends to this haunted place.
When Willow tripped onto something while having her photo taken, the scene had changed, signalling the beginning of her downward spiral. Her nightmare became more frequent while her grip on her sanity begins to waver, and in her dreams, she met a boy Ilya, who seems to know her predicament.
It became clear that Willow is in a race against time, if the nightmares succeed, Willow will soon find herself trapped in a different realm. The story hinges on a Slavic myth of Mora, and coupled with Carl Jung's theory of Shadow self, this thrilling story has its dark moments, but it kept me engaged until the end. Ashwood's hidden past would soon be brought to light, that is if Willow manages to fit all the pieces of the puzzle.
The scariest thing about Ashwood is that the author does not tell who where Willow's reality ends and nightmare begins. The story starts out creepy enough: a visit to a decrepit Ashwood Asylum with a cousin and a few friends. Willow wanted an adventure, so she disobeyed her parents to follow her friends to this haunted place.
When Willow tripped onto something while having her photo taken, the scene had changed, signalling the beginning of her downward spiral. Her nightmare became more frequent while her grip on her sanity begins to waver, and in her dreams, she met a boy Ilya, who seems to know her predicament.
It became clear that Willow is in a race against time, if the nightmares succeed, Willow will soon find herself trapped in a different realm. The story hinges on a Slavic myth of Mora, and coupled with Carl Jung's theory of Shadow self, this thrilling story has its dark moments, but it kept me engaged until the end. Ashwood's hidden past would soon be brought to light, that is if Willow manages to fit all the pieces of the puzzle.
September 16, 2016
Whoa. This book. The way it...well, I can't tell you what to expect except to be left breathless. Ashwood is a carefully rendered and gorgeously executed YA Horror about the nature and origins of fear. And, you know, a haunted insane asylum. I can legitimately say that I loved this story from beginning to end. Willow is a fun character with a unique personality who most people will find easy to relate to. As she journeys through the nightmarish world of Ashwood's reality, the author does a great job of seamlessly blending Willow's reality with her nightmare world. This creates a frightening loss of stability--just like a good horror story should. The supporting characters, both her family and friends, and those she meets in Ashwood, are brought to life with strong, complex characterizations. This is an edge-of-your-seat read. Follow Willow down the rabbit hole - you won't regret it. CJ Malarsky is your next favorite YA author!
July 17, 2016
An unusual, suspenseful story with shades of Kruegerism. After visiting an abandoned asylum with her cousin and his friends, 16 year old Willow begins to have frightening dreams that not only disturb her nights but start to invade her days as well. Despite the cliche of a scary, abandoned asylum, this well written book leads you on thrilling journey where the horror of not knowing what's real and what's a dream is brought to life. The story twists and turns through horror, romance, loss, suspense and finishes with a surprising turn. This is a great debut novel who's weaving of Slavic mythology, psychology and medicine into the story adds creepiness and threads of realism. It is a fast paced read with interesting characters and a chilling plot. I will look forward to the next in the series. I received this book from Fantasy Works Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2015
Good debut! Great research on the Mora. Keep up the good work!
December 14, 2015
Scary as only a really good horror novel can be. Very impressed with this debut author.
Will write a full review for The Daily Geekette. dailygeekette.wordpress.com
Will write a full review for The Daily Geekette. dailygeekette.wordpress.com
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