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Flickers
A movie scream so piercing, so chilling and so powerful, it will open up another dimension and summon something beyond all imagining . . . Far from the isolated prairie ranch where they were born, orphaned twins Isabelle and Beatrice Thorn are living a glamorous 1920s Hollywood life as wards of Mr. Cecil, a mysterious and influential director. Isabelle is a silent film starlet, destined for greatness in the very first talking picture—a horror flick that will showcase her famous scream, often seen but never before heard by audiences. Meanwhile, Beatrice spends her days hidden away on the Cecil estate with her books and her insect collection, scarves covering her birthmarks and baldness. But Beatrice’s curiosity about Mr. Cecil, the death of her parents, the appearance of scorpion hornets—creatures that should not exist on this earth—and the unsettling fates of two people who visited his estate is getting the better of her, and she’s starting to realize the director has truly dark designs for this movie.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published April 26, 2016
8 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Slade
73 books523 followersArthur Slade was raised in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan and began writing at an early age. He is the author of the bestselling The Hunchback Assignments series of books, Dust (which won the Governor General's award), Tribes and Jolted. He lives in Saskatoon, Canada (which really is a real place). Join his creative & somewhat clever newsletter at: what a zany newsletter!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
March 8, 2023
So I was just going to read the first few pages of Arthur Slade's new middle grade novel FLICKERS this morning to get a taste of what the book was like but then I COULDN'T STOP READING AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH. Finished it just now.
Wow. Such a good read.
SoOOoooOOoooOOooo deliciously creepy and dark (I'm a fan of horror MG). Love how the mystery gradually unfolds, and the plot twists along the way. Love the relationship between the sisters. I just loveloveLOVED this book.
If I have nightmares tonight, I am SO going to blame Arthur Slade. :-) I'm also looking forward to rereading the book when it officially comes out this April!
Wow. Such a good read.
SoOOoooOOoooOOooo deliciously creepy and dark (I'm a fan of horror MG). Love how the mystery gradually unfolds, and the plot twists along the way. Love the relationship between the sisters. I just loveloveLOVED this book.
If I have nightmares tonight, I am SO going to blame Arthur Slade. :-) I'm also looking forward to rereading the book when it officially comes out this April!
March 31, 2019
The book Flickers is about two fraternal twin sisters as well as the bond that they share. These twins are named Beatrice and Isabelle. Isabelle was born first, and Beatrice was born shortly after. When Isabelle was born both of her parents were prepared, but what they did not know was that Isabelle would have a twin sister. When Beatrice was born she came close to suffocating as her parents were not prepared for her. Her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck and if her parents did not act as quickly as they did she would have died. Her father roughly guided into the world but damaged her fragile skull in the process. If you were to look at the twins you would never have guessed that they were related. Isabelle was a beautiful baby, taking after her mother. Beatrice was the complete opposite. Her skin was covered in an array of birthmarks. Her skull was misshapen from the way her father handled her when she was born. She could not have been more different from her sister. The mother was not expecting twins which is why she died giving birth to Beatrice. The two girls ended up living on a farm with their father until he died in a freak accident. This is when the twins go to live with their aunt and uncle in a mansion owned by a famous movie director. The name of this director was Mr. Cecil. He was a very mysterious person and throughout the story, the twins work to unravel a multitude of mysteries surrounding him. As they learn more about Mr. Cecil they find that he may have some sinister plans behind his next movie. This could be the case but maybe Mr. Cecil is just a famous movie director who likes his privacy. Either way, you will have to read the book to find out.
Beatrice is the smarter of the two sisters. She has an interest in science but more specifically in insects. She is a very logical person who can also be nosy and quite curious. She deals with everything in a logical way and will test her theories multiple times before considering them true. Time and time again Beatrice has been a pillar for her sister to lean on as she supports Isabelle in many different ways. Overall I think Beatrice is a good sister and Isabelle would not be where she is without her.
Isabelle is one of the biggest movie stars in the world. She has been in many of Mr. Cecil’s movies which is how she has achieved her level of fame. It may seem like Isabelle only cares about looks and popularity but this is not the case. Isabelle cares about her sister as well as her family. Even though she can seem egotistical and self-centered, when it comes down to it Isabelle is a good person who is extremely brave.
Mr. Cecil is a very mysterious person and there are very few who know much about him. He can be kind to the twins and sometimes acts as a father figure for Beatrice. Although he can be affectionate towards the twins he is more focused on his job as a director than he is about anything else.
Beatrice and Isabelle’s real parents died tragically when the twins were young. This is why their Uncle Wayne and Aunt Betty have attempted to fill the role of their parents. Wayne and Betty are extremely self-centered as they care more about themselves then they do about the health and well being of the twins. I think if it were to come down to it both Uncle Wayne and Aunt Betty would save themselves over the twins in a life or death situation.
I think this book is intended for young adults. I do not think adults would enjoy some aspects of this book and some of the content in the story may be inappropriate for younger audiences. Some scenes in the book are dark and can be graphic which may make this book less enjoyable or inappropriate for young children. The story is only two-hundred and fifty-six pages long and there are some sections in the book where you can easily tell the story is written for a younger audience. I think that the story may not be appropriate for young audiences but may not be as enjoyable for adults. Overall I think that young adults would get the most enjoyment out of this book.
I do not know any other books similar to Flickers as this is not a genre that I normally read. Even though I have not read many other books like Flickers it reminds me of one other book I have read. In some ways, Flickers reminds me of the “Heroes of Olympus” series written by Rick Riordan. In this series two of the main characters wake up not remembering anything from their past. Throughout the story, they learn more about themselves and slowly they piece together their past. This reminds me of Flickers as throughout the story Beatrice and Isabelle slowly work towards uncovering mysteries about their past as well their future. The twins uncover secrets about themselves and others close to them. Both of these books shared some similarities but I would not consider them the same. If you have read Flickers and want to read more like it I would not know where to look.
I enjoyed reading Flickers more than I thought I would but overall, I would not recommend it to others. I found that some solutions to very important problems were lazy and it felt as though the author used these solutions simply because he could not think of anything else. There were some important questions in the book that never seemed to be answered. Some of these questions received answers that were vague and gave little to no detail. Other questions received no answers at all. These factors made me enjoy the book a lot less as I like to have my questions answered by the time I am done reading a book. You may enjoy this book more if you are a fan of its genre or if you don’t mind being left with unanswered questions but if not this book may not be for you. Overall I did not enjoy reading the book Flickers and I would not recommend reading it.
Beatrice is the smarter of the two sisters. She has an interest in science but more specifically in insects. She is a very logical person who can also be nosy and quite curious. She deals with everything in a logical way and will test her theories multiple times before considering them true. Time and time again Beatrice has been a pillar for her sister to lean on as she supports Isabelle in many different ways. Overall I think Beatrice is a good sister and Isabelle would not be where she is without her.
Isabelle is one of the biggest movie stars in the world. She has been in many of Mr. Cecil’s movies which is how she has achieved her level of fame. It may seem like Isabelle only cares about looks and popularity but this is not the case. Isabelle cares about her sister as well as her family. Even though she can seem egotistical and self-centered, when it comes down to it Isabelle is a good person who is extremely brave.
Mr. Cecil is a very mysterious person and there are very few who know much about him. He can be kind to the twins and sometimes acts as a father figure for Beatrice. Although he can be affectionate towards the twins he is more focused on his job as a director than he is about anything else.
Beatrice and Isabelle’s real parents died tragically when the twins were young. This is why their Uncle Wayne and Aunt Betty have attempted to fill the role of their parents. Wayne and Betty are extremely self-centered as they care more about themselves then they do about the health and well being of the twins. I think if it were to come down to it both Uncle Wayne and Aunt Betty would save themselves over the twins in a life or death situation.
I think this book is intended for young adults. I do not think adults would enjoy some aspects of this book and some of the content in the story may be inappropriate for younger audiences. Some scenes in the book are dark and can be graphic which may make this book less enjoyable or inappropriate for young children. The story is only two-hundred and fifty-six pages long and there are some sections in the book where you can easily tell the story is written for a younger audience. I think that the story may not be appropriate for young audiences but may not be as enjoyable for adults. Overall I think that young adults would get the most enjoyment out of this book.
I do not know any other books similar to Flickers as this is not a genre that I normally read. Even though I have not read many other books like Flickers it reminds me of one other book I have read. In some ways, Flickers reminds me of the “Heroes of Olympus” series written by Rick Riordan. In this series two of the main characters wake up not remembering anything from their past. Throughout the story, they learn more about themselves and slowly they piece together their past. This reminds me of Flickers as throughout the story Beatrice and Isabelle slowly work towards uncovering mysteries about their past as well their future. The twins uncover secrets about themselves and others close to them. Both of these books shared some similarities but I would not consider them the same. If you have read Flickers and want to read more like it I would not know where to look.
I enjoyed reading Flickers more than I thought I would but overall, I would not recommend it to others. I found that some solutions to very important problems were lazy and it felt as though the author used these solutions simply because he could not think of anything else. There were some important questions in the book that never seemed to be answered. Some of these questions received answers that were vague and gave little to no detail. Other questions received no answers at all. These factors made me enjoy the book a lot less as I like to have my questions answered by the time I am done reading a book. You may enjoy this book more if you are a fan of its genre or if you don’t mind being left with unanswered questions but if not this book may not be for you. Overall I did not enjoy reading the book Flickers and I would not recommend reading it.
May 1, 2024
It was ok but some parts didn't make sense/felt rushed.
July 2, 2016
What a delightfully creepy or creepily delightful story. I am thrilled that authors such as Arthur Slade write books for young people that cross boundaries and do not sugar coat stories to make them less unsettling to read. Flickers raises many questions about the imagination, alternate realities, and the evil that exists in the world, but he has his young characters face the evil and fight back. Shades of Roald Dahl and Kenneth Oppel's This Dark Endeavour come to mind but the title stands on its own as one of the great ones for youth. This is the first Arthur Slade novel I have read but it won't be the last.
September 9, 2018
I bought this paperback because I liked the cover drawing. There, I said it. On starting to read it, I was surprised to find that it was set in the early days of Hollywood, and that it was more horror than mystery. So this book was well outside my normal preferences, but it won me over.
Twin sisters are orphaned and adopted under sinister circumstances. They are raised together by a famous movie producer, but while one girl is a child star, the other one never leaves the estate. It gradually emerges that their benefactor is not a nice man, and both girls are in danger.
What I liked best about this book was the slow increase of tension as things become less and less normal. If it had a shortcoming, it was that we never get a full understanding of the villain, who has otherworldly influences that are not uncovered by the young heroine.
I recommend Flickers for young readers who like creepy chills.
Twin sisters are orphaned and adopted under sinister circumstances. They are raised together by a famous movie producer, but while one girl is a child star, the other one never leaves the estate. It gradually emerges that their benefactor is not a nice man, and both girls are in danger.
What I liked best about this book was the slow increase of tension as things become less and less normal. If it had a shortcoming, it was that we never get a full understanding of the villain, who has otherworldly influences that are not uncovered by the young heroine.
I recommend Flickers for young readers who like creepy chills.
April 12, 2016
Chilling read.
...
I have read and reviewed almost all of Arthur Slade's books, I fell in love with his writing years ago while working in a book store and look forward to each new read. This one is a departure from some of his more recent works and in many ways a return to his early works. My first thought was 'Chilling read!' as it literally brought Goosebumps to my skin while reading it. In many ways it reads like a more mature and dark tale along the lines of his Northern Frights series.
This was a book that was hard to put down. I do not read many books in actually copy these days preferring the electronic version. But receiving an advanced copy of this I started in, and was hooked from the get go. It is a stunning story that spans decades and a continent. It is described as Gatsby meets the Twilight Zone and it does have that feel. It truly is a page turner. The story begins and ends near Lethbridge Alberta and begins in 1913 and goes until 1939. But most of the story takes place in Hollywood California during the end of the silent films era and the beginning of the modern movie.
The story follows two twins, orphaned and being raised by their uncle and aunt who are budding stars themselves. But the key character is their mysterious patron Mr. Cecil. He is creating movies with sound, but also attempting to capture the energy of emotion. Hollywood in the 1920's was a strange place, maybe even stranger then it's modern incarnation is to us. And these children are thrown into roles they do not understand and a master manipulator is working towards ends that no one could imagine.
This is a great read. I really could not put it down. My mom saw the review copy and asked to read it after me, and she does not read young adult books but is giving this a read. The twin sisters are great characters. There are some interesting twists and more than a few scares. I read 52 books over the past 3 months and this was the top fiction read. This is an incredible story so give it a try!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Arthur Slade. As well as an author profile and interview with Arthur.
...
I have read and reviewed almost all of Arthur Slade's books, I fell in love with his writing years ago while working in a book store and look forward to each new read. This one is a departure from some of his more recent works and in many ways a return to his early works. My first thought was 'Chilling read!' as it literally brought Goosebumps to my skin while reading it. In many ways it reads like a more mature and dark tale along the lines of his Northern Frights series.
This was a book that was hard to put down. I do not read many books in actually copy these days preferring the electronic version. But receiving an advanced copy of this I started in, and was hooked from the get go. It is a stunning story that spans decades and a continent. It is described as Gatsby meets the Twilight Zone and it does have that feel. It truly is a page turner. The story begins and ends near Lethbridge Alberta and begins in 1913 and goes until 1939. But most of the story takes place in Hollywood California during the end of the silent films era and the beginning of the modern movie.
The story follows two twins, orphaned and being raised by their uncle and aunt who are budding stars themselves. But the key character is their mysterious patron Mr. Cecil. He is creating movies with sound, but also attempting to capture the energy of emotion. Hollywood in the 1920's was a strange place, maybe even stranger then it's modern incarnation is to us. And these children are thrown into roles they do not understand and a master manipulator is working towards ends that no one could imagine.
This is a great read. I really could not put it down. My mom saw the review copy and asked to read it after me, and she does not read young adult books but is giving this a read. The twin sisters are great characters. There are some interesting twists and more than a few scares. I read 52 books over the past 3 months and this was the top fiction read. This is an incredible story so give it a try!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Arthur Slade. As well as an author profile and interview with Arthur.
April 26, 2016
Yet again Arthur Slade proves he is the most captivating voice in Canadian YA fic. Fans of his Governor General Award winner 'DUST' will find themselves in familiar territory as the story ekes onward in shadow and light with things that go bump in the night and a handle of words perfectly picked to raise the hair on the back of your neck.
With flair for words, Slade immerses the reader in an atmospheric vintage world mixing 1920s, the horror genre and a bond forged with such tenacity it cannot be broken by the horrific circumstances unfolding.
Prime yourself for a nightmare: with grotesque characters and the barren silence of an isolated Prairie ranch.
There's no one quite like Slade and this is another remarkable addition to his multi-genre canon.
With flair for words, Slade immerses the reader in an atmospheric vintage world mixing 1920s, the horror genre and a bond forged with such tenacity it cannot be broken by the horrific circumstances unfolding.
Prime yourself for a nightmare: with grotesque characters and the barren silence of an isolated Prairie ranch.
There's no one quite like Slade and this is another remarkable addition to his multi-genre canon.
May 16, 2016
Hooked from the start, this novel begins with a bang and continues to amaze throughout.
His writing is fantastic and it's nice and creepy and captured old Hollywood horror.
The dad in the beginning was great, and the description of people and surrounding in the novel paint an amazing picture. The interactions between the sisters is very believable and I really like the character Raul. Mr Cecil is quite creepy and a good bad guy.
I love the horror movie references, especially the search for the perfect scream that we are all used to in horror movies. (Also old horror movies would have been the best to shoot).
His writing is fantastic and it's nice and creepy and captured old Hollywood horror.
The dad in the beginning was great, and the description of people and surrounding in the novel paint an amazing picture. The interactions between the sisters is very believable and I really like the character Raul. Mr Cecil is quite creepy and a good bad guy.
I love the horror movie references, especially the search for the perfect scream that we are all used to in horror movies. (Also old horror movies would have been the best to shoot).
November 26, 2016
I love the protagonist of this book. She's smart, independent and funny. She's curious and interested in science. She's a great role model.
I wasn't sure about this book. It's a great read, creepy and unpredictable. Not really my subject matter, but I kept reading.
If you like horror and creepy books, this one's for you...as long as you don't mind sleeping with one eye open.
I wasn't sure about this book. It's a great read, creepy and unpredictable. Not really my subject matter, but I kept reading.
If you like horror and creepy books, this one's for you...as long as you don't mind sleeping with one eye open.
December 19, 2019
At the start of the book flickers i didn't find it interesting it just had a basic storyline and nothing too it. Then a lot started to happen and it kept building up. The book got very interesting and got me hooked and I started enjoying it. The book had a lot of crazy changes and scary crazy things happen as you read the book it gets more and more interesting to a great ending. This book was very enjoyable and a good book for all ages although it was pretty scary and creepy i think people will feel the same about the book because in my lit circle group everyone had the same thoughts.
I had a lot of connections in the book flickers. One of the connections I had were beatrice got stung by all the bugs because when I was younger I got stung by like 3 bees. I also could connect to the part were beatrice's sister isabel was gone for awhile when my brother was away for 2 weeks. In conclusion i had a lot of connections with flickers.
In flickers it starts where 2 very different twins are born. Then one of the main series of events happens with there parents that changed them for life. Their life completely changes the two twins are very different from fame to bugs. With a lot of events in between the beginning to middle. From the middle to the end. When you make it too ward the end of the book it gets very scary and creepy where the main part of the book happens towards the end and one the twins have to make the biggest decision of their life which will change them forever
Now after reading the book, I feel that it the events of the book were planned at the right part of the book and great timing. I also feel that they didn't introduce the other characters well enough like the less important ones. But raul was in almost every important part of the book and was barley introduced and we didn't really know who he was but semmed like a very important character. In conclusion flickers was a good book but could have introduced characters better.
I had a lot of connections in the book flickers. One of the connections I had were beatrice got stung by all the bugs because when I was younger I got stung by like 3 bees. I also could connect to the part were beatrice's sister isabel was gone for awhile when my brother was away for 2 weeks. In conclusion i had a lot of connections with flickers.
In flickers it starts where 2 very different twins are born. Then one of the main series of events happens with there parents that changed them for life. Their life completely changes the two twins are very different from fame to bugs. With a lot of events in between the beginning to middle. From the middle to the end. When you make it too ward the end of the book it gets very scary and creepy where the main part of the book happens towards the end and one the twins have to make the biggest decision of their life which will change them forever
Now after reading the book, I feel that it the events of the book were planned at the right part of the book and great timing. I also feel that they didn't introduce the other characters well enough like the less important ones. But raul was in almost every important part of the book and was barley introduced and we didn't really know who he was but semmed like a very important character. In conclusion flickers was a good book but could have introduced characters better.
October 5, 2018
Beatrice and Isabelle Thorne are orphaned at a young age, taken in by their Uncle Wayne and Aunt Betty, who happen to be actors under the tutelage of Mr. Cecil. However, there is more to Mr. Cecil than the public realizes.
Isabelle is a beautiful 12 year old, while her twin, Beets, is disfigured with no hair and weird birthmarks. While Isabelle is kept busy acting, Beatrice is left at Mr. Cecil's estate, never leaving and never interacting with others. Her only friend, Raul, is the gardener's son.
Beatrice is curious about the disappearance of a newspaper reporter after she sneaks into one of the fabulous parties on the estate and has a conversation with him. She decides to check out Mr. Cecil's cottage and encounters strange Scorpion Hornets with a venomous sting.
The story progresses from there, with Mr. Cecil launching the first movie with sound in order to highlight Isabelle's amazing scream. I won't give away any spoilers, but the ending is heart wrenching and showcases the love between twins. The details about 1920's Hollywood were wonderful and the writing really made you feel like you could see and hear what was happening, especially in the parts about the premiere of the talking "Frankenstein" movie.
The story was entertaining, creepy, and fast paced. The writing was good and the characters well-developed. However, the narrator really detracted from my enjoyment. The voice of the 12 year old Isabelle sounded like a whiny old woman. Raul, another young pre-teen, also sounded like a grumpy old man. Too many whiny voices were really off-putting. I would have rather had the narrator just read the book without voices or hear a different narrator. He also mispronounced the word "proboscis" at least 20 times!
I was given an Audible copy of this book through Audiobook Boom and chose to review it.
Isabelle is a beautiful 12 year old, while her twin, Beets, is disfigured with no hair and weird birthmarks. While Isabelle is kept busy acting, Beatrice is left at Mr. Cecil's estate, never leaving and never interacting with others. Her only friend, Raul, is the gardener's son.
Beatrice is curious about the disappearance of a newspaper reporter after she sneaks into one of the fabulous parties on the estate and has a conversation with him. She decides to check out Mr. Cecil's cottage and encounters strange Scorpion Hornets with a venomous sting.
The story progresses from there, with Mr. Cecil launching the first movie with sound in order to highlight Isabelle's amazing scream. I won't give away any spoilers, but the ending is heart wrenching and showcases the love between twins. The details about 1920's Hollywood were wonderful and the writing really made you feel like you could see and hear what was happening, especially in the parts about the premiere of the talking "Frankenstein" movie.
The story was entertaining, creepy, and fast paced. The writing was good and the characters well-developed. However, the narrator really detracted from my enjoyment. The voice of the 12 year old Isabelle sounded like a whiny old woman. Raul, another young pre-teen, also sounded like a grumpy old man. Too many whiny voices were really off-putting. I would have rather had the narrator just read the book without voices or hear a different narrator. He also mispronounced the word "proboscis" at least 20 times!
I was given an Audible copy of this book through Audiobook Boom and chose to review it.
April 2, 2019
This book is about 2 twin sister's, bond growing closer and closer and closer together over time. They are named Beatrice and Isabelle. Isabelle is the older one, Beatrice was born right after. Isabelle was born fine Beatrice was choked at birth. In turn Beatrice got her skull damaged and it is extremely fragile. So now they may be twins but they do not look like it. They have only one parent to look after them now their mother died when Beatrice came out. One day their father died of a tragic accident on the farm so now they are orphans. The only person that would take him in was their uncle and aunt, they lived in a mansion with a famous director. The story revolves around the twins trying to learn all the secrets of the director. They learn he has some evil things to do for his next movie. The kids now have to stop the director before it's too late.
I liked the format of this book, I liked how the story built up for the twins and their unfortunate life, for example the story really built up when the dad died, I felt that these kids have unlucky lives and the author is trying to tell us how they work past this. I also really liked how the author ended the book, Isabelle died, it was sad and it reminded me how I would feel if my own sister died. I didn't like how in the beginning it made no sense for me, but as I progressed in the book it slowly made more sense, this book should make sense at the beginning, the only thing this author should leave us readers to piece in about is that Beatrice has a dent in her skull, it shouldn't take that long for it to start making sense either way, but I still like the book.
Overall out of ten I would rate this book a seven out of ten. This book was okay and I never really complained about it, but for it to be above seven I would have to like it a lot more, it takes a lot for a book to compel me.
I liked the format of this book, I liked how the story built up for the twins and their unfortunate life, for example the story really built up when the dad died, I felt that these kids have unlucky lives and the author is trying to tell us how they work past this. I also really liked how the author ended the book, Isabelle died, it was sad and it reminded me how I would feel if my own sister died. I didn't like how in the beginning it made no sense for me, but as I progressed in the book it slowly made more sense, this book should make sense at the beginning, the only thing this author should leave us readers to piece in about is that Beatrice has a dent in her skull, it shouldn't take that long for it to start making sense either way, but I still like the book.
Overall out of ten I would rate this book a seven out of ten. This book was okay and I never really complained about it, but for it to be above seven I would have to like it a lot more, it takes a lot for a book to compel me.
September 9, 2017
Hollywood, namely the affectionately nicknamed "golden age of Cinema" is something that has always transfixed me, especially the notion of the sordid cover-ups, corruption and bent personas that lay well-hidden under the visage of the bright lights. The 2015 movie, Hail, Caesar!, covered this topic literally; but Arthur Slade covers it figuratively with a notion of 'what if this darkness of Hollywood was a different different darkness, Demons' and he pulls it off beautifully.
Beyond the metaphor and its delivery, the story is introduced smoothly. Moving us to Santa Monica, California from Lethbridge, Alberta after a fire that sees our then-Baby protagonists rescued and moved with an adoptive family to the land of glitz and glamour; but not all is what it appears to be on the surface, not everything that shines is gold, as they say in California.
The metaphor usage as a literary tool comes back in the story, linking one of characters and his subordinates of sorts to the Israelite/Philistine demon, Beelzebub. But what is his tool for achieving power in our World? Well, it is the power of the Human imagination, namely fear and wonderment; so, naturally, our antagonist's tool is Cinema itself.
A very addictive read with short, easy to finish chapters. It reads like an adventure story with Horror tones. Whilst a Young Adult Novel, due to some mildly graphic scenes of Horror depiction, I'd recommend for the older half of the Teenage market and up. Perfect for Adult readers too.
Go get a copy!
Beyond the metaphor and its delivery, the story is introduced smoothly. Moving us to Santa Monica, California from Lethbridge, Alberta after a fire that sees our then-Baby protagonists rescued and moved with an adoptive family to the land of glitz and glamour; but not all is what it appears to be on the surface, not everything that shines is gold, as they say in California.
The metaphor usage as a literary tool comes back in the story, linking one of characters and his subordinates of sorts to the Israelite/Philistine demon, Beelzebub. But what is his tool for achieving power in our World? Well, it is the power of the Human imagination, namely fear and wonderment; so, naturally, our antagonist's tool is Cinema itself.
A very addictive read with short, easy to finish chapters. It reads like an adventure story with Horror tones. Whilst a Young Adult Novel, due to some mildly graphic scenes of Horror depiction, I'd recommend for the older half of the Teenage market and up. Perfect for Adult readers too.
Go get a copy!
Currently reading
December 17, 2019At the beginning of the book the Flickers, it was boring for the first few pages but then it started talking about how hard it was to take care of his kids and his farm and why he was still taking care of them. For many years he did and did a good job doing it but since it was just him it was hard to maintain his farm and them without his wife. But as I started to read more and more it got very interesting not because of the action in the book just how the author was writing the character’s personalities. Yes, you have to have a character with a personality but it usually has to be a good personality, like if the main character was not what you expected you it changed your opinion about the character, it can ruin the book or that like abilities for that specific character or main character. Even though both are supposed to be the main characters but Beatrice is more of the main character, even though Isabel is shown a lot in the book Beatrice is more sown in the book than her sister Isabel. It’s mostly about or in her perspective(Beatrice) in most of the book and never in Isabel’s, Isabel is shown in the book a lot but never in her perspective. The book isn’t bad or hard to read or even boring, it’s a great book and really I have nothing bad to say about it but in some parts of the book stuff happens that makes me a little confused or annoyed for why that happened or it shouldn’t have happened. But over The book is great and should be a good not boring book to read, it’s not short or too long as well so it’s a great choice for reading(obviously).
January 18, 2018
What a fantastic read! For a kids book it was super exciting, fast paced, suspense, mystery, history, some horror, and fun.
It's about two twins "Beets" and Isabelle. One is beautiful and young silent movie star, the other is a little deformed and is a smart girl who likes to study bugs. They live in a mansion with their uncle and aunt and their benefactor Mr. Cecil. He makes movies and has pushed Isabelle in to the spotlight. But is everything is as it seems as weird things start to happen?
The story is told from the point of view of "beets" and I love her. She is a great character who I think was written very well. It's not a kiddy type read. It read like a book made for older people but had characters that were younger. They were innocent but smart and wise at the same time. As I said above lots of action and the story was really fast paced but not so much to make you confused.
There is concepts of murder here, but it's not scary at all so younger kids could read this no problem. It also talks about the 20's and the silent movie scene. It was fascinating.
The ending was also a surprise. I didn't expect it to end that way and usually when that happens...it tends to suck but this hit the nail right on the head and was fantastic.
Would I read this again, in a heart beat, will I pass it on to my kids, absolutely.
It's about two twins "Beets" and Isabelle. One is beautiful and young silent movie star, the other is a little deformed and is a smart girl who likes to study bugs. They live in a mansion with their uncle and aunt and their benefactor Mr. Cecil. He makes movies and has pushed Isabelle in to the spotlight. But is everything is as it seems as weird things start to happen?
The story is told from the point of view of "beets" and I love her. She is a great character who I think was written very well. It's not a kiddy type read. It read like a book made for older people but had characters that were younger. They were innocent but smart and wise at the same time. As I said above lots of action and the story was really fast paced but not so much to make you confused.
There is concepts of murder here, but it's not scary at all so younger kids could read this no problem. It also talks about the 20's and the silent movie scene. It was fascinating.
The ending was also a surprise. I didn't expect it to end that way and usually when that happens...it tends to suck but this hit the nail right on the head and was fantastic.
Would I read this again, in a heart beat, will I pass it on to my kids, absolutely.
May 16, 2017
Far from the isolated prairie ranch where they were born, orphaned twins Isabelle and Beatrice Thorn are living a glamorous 1920s Hollywood life as wards of Mr. Cecil, a mysterious and influential director. Isabelle is a silent film starlet, destined for greatness in the very first talking picture—a horror flick that will showcase her famous scream, often seen but never before heard by audiences. Meanwhile, Beatrice spends her days hidden away on the Cecil estate with her books and her insect collection, scarves covering her birthmarks and baldness. But Beatrice’s curiosity about Mr. Cecil, the death of her parents, the appearance of scorpion hornets—creatures that should not exist on this earth—and the unsettling fates of two people who visited his estate is getting the better of her, and she’s starting to realize the director has truly dark designs for this movie.
Very suspenseful...pulled you right in from the very beginning. Had to put it down while doing some other reading but essentially finished in two sittings. Red Maple Award Nominee.
Very suspenseful...pulled you right in from the very beginning. Had to put it down while doing some other reading but essentially finished in two sittings. Red Maple Award Nominee.
August 10, 2017
This book made for a strange but fascinating listen as an audiobook. I found the narrator a little off-putting, especially at first (hence the 4* review I'm afraid - it was just so distracting, I found myself missing things and having to go back and listen again!), but otherwise it was well-written with interesting characters (including the great Beatrice, who I totally related to). I definitely recommend this book to people who like their horror not too scary but a little unusual, or for people who're just looking for something a little different. I'll definitely be listening to/reading more books by this author in future.
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
July 13, 2019
If you enjoy a creepy story with a bit of mystery and some horror thrown in, then you will like this book!
I listened to this book on Audible and purchased it on Audible. By the way the narrator has a great voice for creating an atmospheric read!
I have to admit I was creeped out! Getting to the ending is worth the wait! It is a book for young adults so it’s not too creepy, just enough!
I enjoyed the plot and the creativeness of the author to add that dash of horror at the end to give the reader a totally satisfying read!
I also admire the author’s ability to create tension throughout the story as you’re wondering what is really going on here? All will be revealed!
Well done Mr. Slade!!
I listened to this book on Audible and purchased it on Audible. By the way the narrator has a great voice for creating an atmospheric read!
I have to admit I was creeped out! Getting to the ending is worth the wait! It is a book for young adults so it’s not too creepy, just enough!
I enjoyed the plot and the creativeness of the author to add that dash of horror at the end to give the reader a totally satisfying read!
I also admire the author’s ability to create tension throughout the story as you’re wondering what is really going on here? All will be revealed!
Well done Mr. Slade!!
August 14, 2020
Very bizarre book, indeed! Whereas it gripped some from beginning to end; let go of some after only the first third; or picked up the last bit, it was a very hard book to stick with. The narrator was a poor choice as well.
I tried, tried, and tried again to find the gem in the pages. From starting over to skipping, to listening at a faster pace.
Even jumping to the end to see if I’d become more intrigued to ‘fill in the gaps’ didn’t work.
None of characters came to life for me. I couldn’t tell you if it was plot driven over character driven because it just never got the gas to gain momentum.
I’m really disappointed the summary left me yearning for a bit more.
I would still encourage others to try this if you want - it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
I tried, tried, and tried again to find the gem in the pages. From starting over to skipping, to listening at a faster pace.
Even jumping to the end to see if I’d become more intrigued to ‘fill in the gaps’ didn’t work.
None of characters came to life for me. I couldn’t tell you if it was plot driven over character driven because it just never got the gas to gain momentum.
I’m really disappointed the summary left me yearning for a bit more.
I would still encourage others to try this if you want - it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
May 30, 2017
This is the second book I've read by Arthur Slade and will most likely be my last. I didn't enjoy Dust either. Slade's novels start out great and get you involved in the story and then, as happened in both books things turn sci-fi with a mutant insect and things get bizarre! That being said, if you are into sci-fi, which I indeed am NOT, then you will likely have a more favourable view of the book.
BOB: In which book are twins Isabella and Beatrice brought up in 1920's Hollywood as wards of Mr. Cecil, a mysterious and influential director and encounter scorpion hornets?
BOB: In which book are twins Isabella and Beatrice brought up in 1920's Hollywood as wards of Mr. Cecil, a mysterious and influential director and encounter scorpion hornets?
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March 21, 2017I liked the book since the first part of the book was real and relatable but towards the ending, the book took a whole different turn. That's why I enjoyed reading the book. There were parts where I was unsure of what the author meant because it lacked details, for instance when Mr.Cecil was eating or sucking someone's brain. The cover of the book makes me question the whole book since the cover shows two identical looking twins although they were completely different characters. In addition, I prefer the title "The Scream" more so than "Flickers" because the scream was what started everything.
April 4, 2018
This book had a great start and ending, and gave me chills down my spine. I wouldn't say there was a definitive plot twist, but many events were surprising. It was well written and I recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a great page turning and creepy novel. It has some important messages about trust and loss if you know where to look. Probably for ages 12 to 14.
November 2, 2018
Definitely NOT bedtime reading
I am definitely NOT a Young Adult. In fact I am a senior who just happens to love a good Horror Story from time to time. Flickers will keep you turning the pages for hours, so be warned! Definitely NOT bedtime reading as there is some really scary stuff on these pages. Happy reading. Annemarie
I am definitely NOT a Young Adult. In fact I am a senior who just happens to love a good Horror Story from time to time. Flickers will keep you turning the pages for hours, so be warned! Definitely NOT bedtime reading as there is some really scary stuff on these pages. Happy reading. Annemarie
September 30, 2020
I've read this book about 3-4 times now, I find the bond between the characters and the mysterious elements all very intriguing and I LOVED the way it was written. I really wish there was a prequel or sequel to explain the universe and the antagonists motives further but the book on its own is magnificent and I really enjoyed it!
September 23, 2017
Gripping, fast paced mystery with genuine creep factor and whopper characters. Only negative (for me): sometimes the plot moved too fast, leading to "cuts" in my mind. Overall really enjoyed it though.
August 16, 2018
Creepy story set against a 1920s Hollywood. Beatrice was an interesting and intrepid main character. I especially liked her friendship with Raul, the Mexican gardener's son, and the gentle explanation of privilege.
March 28, 2019
I read this on the advice of my 10 yo daughter. Very good & interesting plot - although I wondered after if maybe some of the material a bit scary for her (she seemed nonplussed). Ending went a bit sideways but still an engaging read & stayed up past my bedtime to finish parts!
March 5, 2020
This story started out pretty slow. Took me a couple chapters to get into it but then it hooked me. Really ended up loving this story of Beatrice and Isabel and there adventures. Very well written and narrated. I could see me listening to this one again in the future.
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May 20, 2021I've always remembered this book as super entertaining and dramatic. It definitely had a lot going on, with the basic "jealous sibling" and "twin swap" tropes, but with a hint of darkness and Hollywood glam that I enjoyed.
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