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Frozen Charlotte #1
Frozen Charlotte
An instantly gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller filled with haunted dolls, creepy settings, and horrific twists.
When fifteen-year-old Sophie's best friend dies abruptly under mysterious circumstances, Sophie sets off to stay with her uncle and cousins on the remote Isle of Skye. It's been years since she last saw her cousins -- brooding Cameron with his scarred hand; Piper, who seems too perfect to be real; and peculiar little Lilias with her fear of bones.
Sophie knows that in her uncle's house, there are rules she must follow: Make no mention of Cameron's accident. Never leave the front gate unlocked. Above all, don't speak of the girl who's no longer there, the sister whose room lies empty of all but the strange antique dolls she left behind.
As Sophie begins to explore the old house, a former academy for girls shut down long ago, she discovers unsettling secrets that shed light on a dark and dangerous history. But there are some secrets Sophie never expected to uncover. Secrets about her own family. Secrets that suggest Sophie may be in more danger than she could have ever imagined.
When fifteen-year-old Sophie's best friend dies abruptly under mysterious circumstances, Sophie sets off to stay with her uncle and cousins on the remote Isle of Skye. It's been years since she last saw her cousins -- brooding Cameron with his scarred hand; Piper, who seems too perfect to be real; and peculiar little Lilias with her fear of bones.
Sophie knows that in her uncle's house, there are rules she must follow: Make no mention of Cameron's accident. Never leave the front gate unlocked. Above all, don't speak of the girl who's no longer there, the sister whose room lies empty of all but the strange antique dolls she left behind.
As Sophie begins to explore the old house, a former academy for girls shut down long ago, she discovers unsettling secrets that shed light on a dark and dangerous history. But there are some secrets Sophie never expected to uncover. Secrets about her own family. Secrets that suggest Sophie may be in more danger than she could have ever imagined.
298 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2014
389 people are currently reading
13428 people want to read
About the author
Alex Bell
45 books622 followersAlex Bell signed her first book deal at nineteen and, since then, has written multiple books for both adults and young people. After completing a law degree, she now works for a legal advice charity. Alex lives in Hampshire with her husband, sons and Sphynx cats. She also writes as Alexandra Bell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,825 reviews
April 28, 2018
5 Words: Family, Ouija, evil, dolls, isolation.
So, I didn't sleep very well last night. I kept waking up, sure that I could feel icy little hands grabbing at my legs.
This book is creepy and chilling. And it stays with you.
I loved the poisonous relationships, the twists and turns, the horror, the way I felt so scared. I loved it all. This is fantastic horror writing and everything is perfect, from the feelings of the characters to the isolated setting.
I liked the way that this book wasn't afraid of technology, that the characters had smartphones and it all started with an app.
This book had me spending an hour or so researching Frozen Charlotte dolls. How creepy are they?
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
So, I didn't sleep very well last night. I kept waking up, sure that I could feel icy little hands grabbing at my legs.
This book is creepy and chilling. And it stays with you.
I loved the poisonous relationships, the twists and turns, the horror, the way I felt so scared. I loved it all. This is fantastic horror writing and everything is perfect, from the feelings of the characters to the isolated setting.
I liked the way that this book wasn't afraid of technology, that the characters had smartphones and it all started with an app.
This book had me spending an hour or so researching Frozen Charlotte dolls. How creepy are they?
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
June 25, 2022
"But, miss, they like being dead. They told us."
As a child, while many of my friends were scared of clowns and ghosts and big, angry dogs... I was terrified of aliens and porcelain dolls. I'm sure it was due to being introduced to horror films and The X-Files at a very young age, but I digress. I knew my fear of bug-eyed aliens was still dormant somewhere in there, but I really thought I'd made it past being bothered by dolls until reading this book. NOPE!
Frozen Charlotte is a perfect example of why I so frequently say that horror written for kids and teens is often much scarier (and darker) than it's given credit for. We have twisted little possessed dolls, a child who wants to cut out her own bones, and a mysterious death that is both tragic and concerning from the start — and it all takes place in an immensely atmospheric old manor overlooking a seaside cliff. I mean, what more could I have asked for?
✨ Content warnings for:
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October 13, 2023
"What are you doing?" the school mistress said. The girls looked up at her. "We're holding a funeral for the Frozen Charlottes, Miss Grayson." "Well stop it at once," the teacher replied. "I never heard of anything so ghoulish." "But, Miss," one of the girls said, "they like being dead. They told us."
👻
Gothic, eerie atmosphere, a secluded school building that now houses a family, an eccentric family where accidents and death seem to hover over them like shadows, whispers in the night, giggles that cause a fright, and so many Frozen Charlottes one could lose count.
This was so very good. Not scary by any means but a sense of foreboding permeates these pages. I'll say for a YA horror novel this was written extremely well. The teens in this one are very mature so I feel this would satisfy even those who don't normally like YA fiction. If ghosts, creepy dolls, and a gothic setting is your thing then I think you'll be pleased to pick this one up. Happy Hauntings! 4 stars!
Thanks to Overdrive for the loan!
Gothic, eerie atmosphere, a secluded school building that now houses a family, an eccentric family where accidents and death seem to hover over them like shadows, whispers in the night, giggles that cause a fright, and so many Frozen Charlottes one could lose count.
This was so very good. Not scary by any means but a sense of foreboding permeates these pages. I'll say for a YA horror novel this was written extremely well. The teens in this one are very mature so I feel this would satisfy even those who don't normally like YA fiction. If ghosts, creepy dolls, and a gothic setting is your thing then I think you'll be pleased to pick this one up. Happy Hauntings! 4 stars!
Thanks to Overdrive for the loan!
May 5, 2017
The atmosphere and characterization really drew me into this story. Once I started it (with a suitably creepy prologue that immediately reeled me in), I read the entire book straight through! The main characters are primarily teenaged kids, and one younger. I've read other reviews saying this was a young adult novel, but I found the premise (and those horrible dolls!) to be something that captured my attention and gave me genuine chills in several scenes. The descriptions were at times, very vivid, and I could almost "hear" the scratching of minuscule fingertips on a glass cabinet, desperate to be unleashed.
The backstory and tragedies associated with this house were riveting, and filled with enough details to really get your imagination going in overdrive. In fact, my only minor "complaint" would be that I would have liked to have learned more about the origin of the Frozen Charlotte dolls, and how/why they were introduced in the first place. Although some parts of the story will be predictable to seasoned horror readers, the characterization and added mystery really make up for that, and I never once felt like "skimming" through any of the details.
This was my first story by Alex Bell, and I am looking forward to reading more from her in the future. A good, unsettling book, perfect for late night reading.... :)
Recommended!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
The backstory and tragedies associated with this house were riveting, and filled with enough details to really get your imagination going in overdrive. In fact, my only minor "complaint" would be that I would have liked to have learned more about the origin of the Frozen Charlotte dolls, and how/why they were introduced in the first place. Although some parts of the story will be predictable to seasoned horror readers, the characterization and added mystery really make up for that, and I never once felt like "skimming" through any of the details.
This was my first story by Alex Bell, and I am looking forward to reading more from her in the future. A good, unsettling book, perfect for late night reading.... :)
Recommended!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
December 12, 2017
So the line of creepy dolls adorning this book's front cover should have clued me in to the fact that, upon reading this, I would be unable to have an easy night of sleep for quite some time! I read 'YA horror' and assumed this to be a tame, but thrilling story. Oh boy, how wrong could I be!?
Sophie anticipated her stay with her cousin to provide a few weeks of freedom and fun. However, haunted by the tragic death of her best friend and the spooky circumstances that led up to his demise, she arrives bringing more baggage than just her psychical ones. Her cousins, already consumed by their own grief, have no room to support any more. Since the death of their sibling Rebecca, years before, the family has forever been fractured, and Sophie had no idea how deep the fissures run. Now the smiling cousins she remembers from her youth are sombre and burdened individuals. And Sophie is left to repair both the memory of this once-happy family as well as discerning the particulars of her best friend's death, alone. But maybe she isn't as alone as she first thought...
I was overwhelmed with how aggressive the shock factor of this book was! Instead of an introduction to the characters and an overview of their lives, before sh*t got cray, the reader is invited to a seance, views a ghostly visitation, and oversees a death all within the first few pages! From this pulse-quickening beginning the story does not let up any of its pace until the final page if turned.
Once Sophie is reunited with her family I assumed the chill I felt whilst reading this would abate. If the protagonist is to be continually surrounded by other individuals then surely this high-stakes horror could not continue? And this is where I found that the setting would continue to play as big a part in the tense dread, that pervades every aspect of this book, as the plot line.
Sophie's cousin reside in the converted Dunvegan School for Girls, on the rural and dreary Isle of Skye. The setting alone is enough to infuse each scene with a pervading sense of eeriness. In much the same way of traditional Gothic texts, that I so adore, the 'haunted mansion' setting fills this book with shadowed corners and creaking stairs that both heighten the actual horrors contained there and provide additional fears, real and imaged, for the reader to obsess over.
The events that occur are supernatural and sinister from the outset and continue in much the same vein, only more pronounced, once removed to this isolated setting. The brutality of the scenes and the haunting creep of dread that infuse every single chapter make this a macabre dream for any horror fan. For that reason, this makes this not a book suited to a younger audience, as I had previously perceived.
It was surprisingly heartening to see the horror genre portrayed so brilliantly and vividly in such a contemporary setting and with such a young cast of characters. Both are things I have previously found counter-productive to the chilling atmosphere the genre is meant to provide the reader with. I have found that modern technology often ruins much of the suspension of belief that the reader contributes to a historical horror, and a younger character set can often be synonymous with tame horror. Both of these assumptions were eradicated within the first few chapters of this book and Bell did not allow the suspense or eeriness to slip even one iota as the novel progressed. Equal parts chilling as thrilling, this horror is sugar and spice, and none of its nice!
Sophie anticipated her stay with her cousin to provide a few weeks of freedom and fun. However, haunted by the tragic death of her best friend and the spooky circumstances that led up to his demise, she arrives bringing more baggage than just her psychical ones. Her cousins, already consumed by their own grief, have no room to support any more. Since the death of their sibling Rebecca, years before, the family has forever been fractured, and Sophie had no idea how deep the fissures run. Now the smiling cousins she remembers from her youth are sombre and burdened individuals. And Sophie is left to repair both the memory of this once-happy family as well as discerning the particulars of her best friend's death, alone. But maybe she isn't as alone as she first thought...
I was overwhelmed with how aggressive the shock factor of this book was! Instead of an introduction to the characters and an overview of their lives, before sh*t got cray, the reader is invited to a seance, views a ghostly visitation, and oversees a death all within the first few pages! From this pulse-quickening beginning the story does not let up any of its pace until the final page if turned.
Once Sophie is reunited with her family I assumed the chill I felt whilst reading this would abate. If the protagonist is to be continually surrounded by other individuals then surely this high-stakes horror could not continue? And this is where I found that the setting would continue to play as big a part in the tense dread, that pervades every aspect of this book, as the plot line.
Sophie's cousin reside in the converted Dunvegan School for Girls, on the rural and dreary Isle of Skye. The setting alone is enough to infuse each scene with a pervading sense of eeriness. In much the same way of traditional Gothic texts, that I so adore, the 'haunted mansion' setting fills this book with shadowed corners and creaking stairs that both heighten the actual horrors contained there and provide additional fears, real and imaged, for the reader to obsess over.
The events that occur are supernatural and sinister from the outset and continue in much the same vein, only more pronounced, once removed to this isolated setting. The brutality of the scenes and the haunting creep of dread that infuse every single chapter make this a macabre dream for any horror fan. For that reason, this makes this not a book suited to a younger audience, as I had previously perceived.
It was surprisingly heartening to see the horror genre portrayed so brilliantly and vividly in such a contemporary setting and with such a young cast of characters. Both are things I have previously found counter-productive to the chilling atmosphere the genre is meant to provide the reader with. I have found that modern technology often ruins much of the suspension of belief that the reader contributes to a historical horror, and a younger character set can often be synonymous with tame horror. Both of these assumptions were eradicated within the first few chapters of this book and Bell did not allow the suspense or eeriness to slip even one iota as the novel progressed. Equal parts chilling as thrilling, this horror is sugar and spice, and none of its nice!
March 3, 2015
Frozen charlotte
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Little Tiger Group and NetGalley.)
“The only thing that survived was the head. They found her holding it the next morning. I’ve kept it with me ever since.”
This was an okay scary story, and the dolls were a little creepy.
I felt really sorry for poor Sophie in the way she lost her best friend. It really couldn’t have been easy for her, especially because of the way she felt partly responsible for what happened.
“They think he must have hit his head when he fell in. Sophie, he drowned.”
The storyline in this revolved around the frozen Charlotte dolls, and Sophie’s increasingly strange cousins. I wasn’t really sure about which one was the strangest, but they certainly had some strange ideas, even the one that was dead!
“Are you saying that Rebecca… That she did it to her own cat on purpose?”
The ending to this turned out alright thankfully, although there were some deaths! We got a real Carrie sticking her hand out of her grave at the end moment though!
6 out of 10
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Little Tiger Group and NetGalley.)
“The only thing that survived was the head. They found her holding it the next morning. I’ve kept it with me ever since.”
This was an okay scary story, and the dolls were a little creepy.
I felt really sorry for poor Sophie in the way she lost her best friend. It really couldn’t have been easy for her, especially because of the way she felt partly responsible for what happened.
“They think he must have hit his head when he fell in. Sophie, he drowned.”
The storyline in this revolved around the frozen Charlotte dolls, and Sophie’s increasingly strange cousins. I wasn’t really sure about which one was the strangest, but they certainly had some strange ideas, even the one that was dead!
“Are you saying that Rebecca… That she did it to her own cat on purpose?”
The ending to this turned out alright thankfully, although there were some deaths! We got a real Carrie sticking her hand out of her grave at the end moment though!
6 out of 10
February 26, 2022
Trigger Warning: Graphic violence that involve children, self harm and creepy ass little dolls.
Wow! What a dark little YA horror gem I found in this book. This one is not for the faint of heart.
I have no idea where to even begin with this review. What a strange, dark story. I actually picked this up at the library because I saw the cover and thought it might be a cute, fast read. There is basically NOTHING about this book where the word "cute" would describe it. The YA horror genre is pretty lacking and usually does not offer anything very unnerving or interesting. I thought this book was both.
Our main protagonist, Sophie, has to go stay with relatives when her friend unexpectedly dies after a rather bizarre encounter using an Ouija board app on their phone. The encounter leads Sophie wanting more answers and she thinks she may be able to get them by staying with her uncle, whose daughter Charlotte had died years before. This book starts off dark and stays dark. The second the MC gets to her uncle's home, she is greeted by some by his very strange children. The oldest daughter is basically a stepford-wife, the brother's hand was melted in a fire and goes around having fits and then you have the littlest one who is afraid of bones. Being afraid of bones might not seem like something all the creepy but you'd be dead wrong. The author went as far as having the five year old scared so badly off bones that she wants her own skeleton out of her body so they have to hide the knives so she won't try and cut them out. I mean when I say dark, I mean DARKKKK. My mouth dropped a few times, since this was YA and the style of writing almost read like an older middle-grade. I would've marked it as middle-grade if some of the topics weren't so graphic.
I don't really want to say too much about this one because going in as blind as possible is the best thing. I watch tons of horror films so this book didn't scare me but I did still find it disturbing. I think your average non-horror reader would find this one really creepy though and it does have the potential for nightmares. I loved that the dolls ended up being so tiny - it really just added to the atmosphere the author had created.
I'm torn on whether I would recommend this book, since the subject matter could possibly offend or bother some. I guess if you don't mind books dealing with what I discussed in this review than I'd go check this one out. It's great if you're a horror/paranormal fan.
May 17, 2020
"Now Charlotte lives on the ,mountainside ,
In a bleak and dreary spot.
There was no house for miles around,
except her father's cot."
Frozen Charlotte (Frozen Charlotte, #1)
by Alex Bell
My review:
Do NOT expect to clear your head of this book quickly if you choose to read this.
Finally..a book full of scares and crepiness and no gore..well..very little anyway.
You know what? I am not even going to do a plot summary..don't look. Go in, knowing little.
This is a horror novel about dolls. And about twisted happenings and things that go bump in the night.
Recommended to read at night..after it gets dark.
It isn't that this is the scariest book I have ever read. It is just the EERIE factor..wow. Somehow this creepy little book manages to remain creepy and eerie through the whole thing. No easy feat.
Elements are disturbing and I really think Stephen King would love this.
Images conjured up do not leave one's head anytime soon.
There are a few parts that are a little funny..like why the HECK did Sophie not leave in the first HOUR? OK..she wanted to find out how her friend died..but listen this poor chick has more happen to her in 24 hours than most do in a lifetime. She deserves the medal of honor for not leaving.
In spite of how creepy this book was it isn't a five star read. And now I will say that if you plan to read this:
Stop reading my review.
SPOILERS:
No explanation is ever given for what happened to Jay. We KNOW..or think we do..that it wasn't Rebecca. But Piper wasn't dead. So it would not be her either. So..who? Why was Jay killed? And by whom? No explanation is ever given and I almost rated it a 3 because of that since it was a major plot hole. I really wish someone could fill in the blanks.
No matter. It was quite a freaky read and what I did not mention? The Charlotte back story, in which each chapter begins with a short limerick like the one I posted above, is interestingly just as creepy as the other aspects of the book. We get the story from one of the characters in the book but it is made more eerie by the quotes at the story of each chapter which are spooky enough to give one a chill..that was incredibly done.
This was a real scare fest and thanks Meisha for the recommendation.
In a bleak and dreary spot.
There was no house for miles around,
except her father's cot."
Frozen Charlotte (Frozen Charlotte, #1)
by Alex Bell
My review:
Do NOT expect to clear your head of this book quickly if you choose to read this.
Finally..a book full of scares and crepiness and no gore..well..very little anyway.
You know what? I am not even going to do a plot summary..don't look. Go in, knowing little.
This is a horror novel about dolls. And about twisted happenings and things that go bump in the night.
Recommended to read at night..after it gets dark.
It isn't that this is the scariest book I have ever read. It is just the EERIE factor..wow. Somehow this creepy little book manages to remain creepy and eerie through the whole thing. No easy feat.
Elements are disturbing and I really think Stephen King would love this.
Images conjured up do not leave one's head anytime soon.
There are a few parts that are a little funny..like why the HECK did Sophie not leave in the first HOUR? OK..she wanted to find out how her friend died..but listen this poor chick has more happen to her in 24 hours than most do in a lifetime. She deserves the medal of honor for not leaving.
In spite of how creepy this book was it isn't a five star read. And now I will say that if you plan to read this:
Stop reading my review.
SPOILERS:
No explanation is ever given for what happened to Jay. We KNOW..or think we do..that it wasn't Rebecca. But Piper wasn't dead. So it would not be her either. So..who? Why was Jay killed? And by whom? No explanation is ever given and I almost rated it a 3 because of that since it was a major plot hole. I really wish someone could fill in the blanks.
No matter. It was quite a freaky read and what I did not mention? The Charlotte back story, in which each chapter begins with a short limerick like the one I posted above, is interestingly just as creepy as the other aspects of the book. We get the story from one of the characters in the book but it is made more eerie by the quotes at the story of each chapter which are spooky enough to give one a chill..that was incredibly done.
This was a real scare fest and thanks Meisha for the recommendation.
April 24, 2019
4.0 Stars
This is officially one of the best young adult horror stories I have read. While this is clearly written for a younger audience, I would still widely recommend it to anyone who enjoys creepy doll stories. The Charlotte dolls were just so darn eerie. I am now dying to read the prequel, Charlotte Says.
This is officially one of the best young adult horror stories I have read. While this is clearly written for a younger audience, I would still widely recommend it to anyone who enjoys creepy doll stories. The Charlotte dolls were just so darn eerie. I am now dying to read the prequel, Charlotte Says.
October 23, 2017
1.5 / 5
Decently spooky with ouija, death, a creepy house, and evil dolls.
I think if I'd read this before the age of like, fifteen or so, it would've been a 5-star read, as my taste and expectations weren't quite as developed then as they are now. I tend to lean towards longer and more character driven works, and this didn't really fit the bill.
The characters fell quite flat for me. Our leading lady Sophie was probably the most well-developed, but I can't say that I ever really liked her. Her uncle was barely there at all, almost as if he were just an afterthought. And her cousins? They were weird. Cameron was broody and prone to violent outbursts. Piper was almost cookie-cutter perfect for the majority of the book and then for the rest. And Lilias seemed like she was just there as a plot point, someone to move the story along when it came to a halt.
The writing wasn't bad, but it wasn't special either. It was a pretty fast and easy read, so I guess that's a pro? But some of the dialogue was a bit weird, it seemed overly proper and stilted, and every character talked exactly the same.
The plot seemed to introduce a lot of strings and forget about them later. I mean, the book starts with Sophie being motivated to find the truth about but I don't really think that it was resolved at all? It seems like the plot got too busy and the initial mystery got left behind in the dirt. What was the connection between and the rest of the story? Even Sophie eventually forgot that she found it suspicious and just moved on to the mysteries with her cousins and the Frozen Charlotte dolls. And speaking of the damn dolls, yeah I guess they were pretty creepy and awful, but I kind of feel cheated? Are all Frozen Charlotte dolls in the world secretly evil? Is it just the ones in the house (which used to be an old school) and if so, why? Why are these dolls able to inspire bad behavior? I guess I just wanted like an origin story or something, but they were pretty much just there to be an evil plot point.
I think the thing that bothered me most was that this book kind of seemed like a plot outline? Almost like it needed more filler, or something, to make sense of getting from point A to point B, because everything seemed so... clear-cut? Uncomplicated? Convenient? I don't know guys. Maybe it was just me? The ratings for this book are pretty up there, so maybe everyone else just got something from this book that I didn't. But overall I'm pretty underwhelmed here.
Decently spooky with ouija, death, a creepy house, and evil dolls.
I think if I'd read this before the age of like, fifteen or so, it would've been a 5-star read, as my taste and expectations weren't quite as developed then as they are now. I tend to lean towards longer and more character driven works, and this didn't really fit the bill.
The characters fell quite flat for me. Our leading lady Sophie was probably the most well-developed, but I can't say that I ever really liked her. Her uncle was barely there at all, almost as if he were just an afterthought. And her cousins? They were weird. Cameron was broody and prone to violent outbursts. Piper was almost cookie-cutter perfect for the majority of the book and then for the rest. And Lilias seemed like she was just there as a plot point, someone to move the story along when it came to a halt.
The writing wasn't bad, but it wasn't special either. It was a pretty fast and easy read, so I guess that's a pro? But some of the dialogue was a bit weird, it seemed overly proper and stilted, and every character talked exactly the same.
The plot seemed to introduce a lot of strings and forget about them later. I mean, the book starts with Sophie being motivated to find the truth about but I don't really think that it was resolved at all? It seems like the plot got too busy and the initial mystery got left behind in the dirt. What was the connection between and the rest of the story? Even Sophie eventually forgot that she found it suspicious and just moved on to the mysteries with her cousins and the Frozen Charlotte dolls. And speaking of the damn dolls, yeah I guess they were pretty creepy and awful, but I kind of feel cheated? Are all Frozen Charlotte dolls in the world secretly evil? Is it just the ones in the house (which used to be an old school) and if so, why? Why are these dolls able to inspire bad behavior? I guess I just wanted like an origin story or something, but they were pretty much just there to be an evil plot point.
I think the thing that bothered me most was that this book kind of seemed like a plot outline? Almost like it needed more filler, or something, to make sense of getting from point A to point B, because everything seemed so... clear-cut? Uncomplicated? Convenient? I don't know guys. Maybe it was just me? The ratings for this book are pretty up there, so maybe everyone else just got something from this book that I didn't. But overall I'm pretty underwhelmed here.
March 18, 2024
Books don't normally freak me out, but this one did. I was surprised to find out that it's considered a YA book. I was jumpy every time I picked it up to read.
Right from the first two chapters this book draws you in and there's twists and turns all the way through so your constantly confused about who to trust.
Really good book and would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys a horror story.
Five stars
Right from the first two chapters this book draws you in and there's twists and turns all the way through so your constantly confused about who to trust.
Really good book and would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys a horror story.
Five stars
November 28, 2016
It did have some really creepy moments. One of the things I like the most was the setting (Scotland) and the cold atmosphere. Its was just really good and it did surprise me. Oh and no romance for a change! FRTC
December 30, 2021
I have been all over the map trying to figure out what to rate this book. When I first started it, I wasn't too impressed with the opening in the cafe. I found it a bit cheesy, but I kept going. Once our main character comes to stay with distant family in a creepy sea-side house, I was like, "Hell yeah!" I was hooked for a while, totally on edge when it came to the uncomfortable exchanges between characters and the constant misdirects. What I wasn't impressed with was the haunting. It was very "jump scare"-esque, which just doesn't work in book form. It started to get on my nerves so I put the book down for a while. I'm glad I picked it back up though, because the ending of the book knocked my socks off. It was seriously a grand-finale, and now I'm eager to read the prequel. Four stars overall!
May 4, 2017
THIS IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR HORROR/GHOSTS/WALKING-TALKING DOLLS FANS!
OH MY GOD, I LOVE THIS!
Stumbling upon this book and buying it is the BEST decision I've made, it seriously scared the shit out of me! FANTASTIC horror writing, the twists and turns, everything is absolute PERFECTION! There were times when I couldn't even read this alone. I'm 100% sure that this book will stick with me throughout my life since it gave me lots of nightmares recently (& I don't even mean this in a bad way, it's just how awesome this book is).
Now "Frozen Charlotte Dolls" is all what I google about, it turns out you can find a lot of creepy stories and articles about these dolls, no joke, I found it super interesting. I really want to know the story of how the dolls got haunted in the first place (or at least how people thought they were) since the book doesn't provide this information.
Thank you Alex Bell for creating this masterpiece! ❤
OH MY GOD, I LOVE THIS!
Stumbling upon this book and buying it is the BEST decision I've made, it seriously scared the shit out of me! FANTASTIC horror writing, the twists and turns, everything is absolute PERFECTION! There were times when I couldn't even read this alone. I'm 100% sure that this book will stick with me throughout my life since it gave me lots of nightmares recently (& I don't even mean this in a bad way, it's just how awesome this book is).
Now "Frozen Charlotte Dolls" is all what I google about, it turns out you can find a lot of creepy stories and articles about these dolls, no joke, I found it super interesting. I really want to know the story of how the dolls got haunted in the first place (or at least how people thought they were) since the book doesn't provide this information.
Thank you Alex Bell for creating this masterpiece! ❤
October 10, 2019
3.5 stars
This is a horror story for people who are too afraid to read actual horrors.
I, being one of them, really appreciated it.
It was spooky and chilling, yet not something that'd give me nightmares.
The story was fast-paced and well written, I flew through it almost in one sitting.
Yet, there were two main problems I had with it: halfway through it became predictable and the ending didn't give me answers to all the questions I had.
The main character started this adventure so she'd find out what exactly happened when her best friend died and I don't feel like she did.
What exactly killed him, and WHY?
Oh, and how did the dolls end up in the house?
If someone's got the answers, please enlighten me!
This is a horror story for people who are too afraid to read actual horrors.
I, being one of them, really appreciated it.
It was spooky and chilling, yet not something that'd give me nightmares.
The story was fast-paced and well written, I flew through it almost in one sitting.
Yet, there were two main problems I had with it: halfway through it became predictable and the ending didn't give me answers to all the questions I had.
The main character started this adventure so she'd find out what exactly happened when her best friend died and I don't feel like she did.
What exactly killed him, and WHY?
Oh, and how did the dolls end up in the house?
If someone's got the answers, please enlighten me!
May 17, 2020
This was a really fast paced and creepy story. I read a lot of horror and rarely find ones that scare me. And although it didn’t necessarily scare me, there were definitely scenes that REALLY creeped me out and had me glancing over my shoulder. Everything was so vivid and real that I could actually feel the cold air and creepy atmosphere. An added bonus, for those of you that didn’t know, this is not only horror but a mystery novel as well! I found that the mystery aspect really added a lot to the story and made it more engaging and gripping. It honestly had me on the edge of my seat for a lot of the story. I also found the characters to be likable and three dimensional! The only gripe I had with this book was that the writing was rather juvenile.... But if that’s not something that typically bothers you and you’re able to get past it, I think this a story that a lot of people would really enjoy! 🙂
February 22, 2025
this creepy-pasta style
story could easily sound
silly if its vibes weren't so
intriguingly malevolent,
ominous, and fun. ♡
story could easily sound
silly if its vibes weren't so
intriguingly malevolent,
ominous, and fun. ♡
March 24, 2019
I'm trying a new thing where I want to start my reviews with buzzwords or buzz phrases about the books.
So, buzzwords:
- Creepy dolls
- Creepy houses/mansion that was once an all girl school
- Stormy windy atmosphere
- Mysterious death and injury
- Ghosts
There's something about this book that sets it apart from so many other YA horror novels. Generally, YA horror novels are often cliche and silly, rather than creepy and scary. But this book was not at all cliche or silly. I don't get scared or spooked, but this book definitely was something that had me uneasy throughout.
From the first chapter, this book is action packed and creepy. It follows a girl, Sophie, who is in a cafe with her friend one day playing with a Ouiji board app on his phone, when some strange occurrences happen, and they don't stop there. This book just continues to be creepy and atmospheric, and there were several instances when my anxiety kicked in because I was nervous about what was going to happen.
I don't really want to say anything more, because I think it's best to go into this with no expectations, but just know mid book I had already ordered the prequel novel because this was that good.
So, buzzwords:
- Creepy dolls
- Creepy houses/mansion that was once an all girl school
- Stormy windy atmosphere
- Mysterious death and injury
- Ghosts
There's something about this book that sets it apart from so many other YA horror novels. Generally, YA horror novels are often cliche and silly, rather than creepy and scary. But this book was not at all cliche or silly. I don't get scared or spooked, but this book definitely was something that had me uneasy throughout.
From the first chapter, this book is action packed and creepy. It follows a girl, Sophie, who is in a cafe with her friend one day playing with a Ouiji board app on his phone, when some strange occurrences happen, and they don't stop there. This book just continues to be creepy and atmospheric, and there were several instances when my anxiety kicked in because I was nervous about what was going to happen.
I don't really want to say anything more, because I think it's best to go into this with no expectations, but just know mid book I had already ordered the prequel novel because this was that good.
June 19, 2020
Summary:
Sophia goes to spend the summer with her uncle and cousins in their former schoolhouse home following the death of her best friend.
Once arriving, she realizes something is very wrong. Her cousin, Rebecca, who died there almost 8 years ago seems to be haunting the house and there is something very disturbing about Rebecca's old collection of frozen charlotte dolls.
As everything begins to fall apart around her, Sophia is left to figure out who or what is causing all the chaos before it's too late.
Personal opinion:
This one is a very creepy and sinister page turner that I loved. It had me hooked from right from the beginning with a spooky seance in a crowded cafe. It's not often that a book actually creeps me out, but this one managed to. (Although creepy dolls are one of the few things I don't necessarily like to begin with.)
The home's history was a good addition to add even more creepiness and the writing makes it an easy book to binge read, which is exactly what I did with this one.
I also have to add that the ending was pretty good as well. I was not expecting it to go the way it did.
Even though the main characters are teens and some a bit younger, Frozen Charlotte is definitely more of a YA or adult read.
I would definitely recommend to lovers of the weird and creepy!
Sophia goes to spend the summer with her uncle and cousins in their former schoolhouse home following the death of her best friend.
Once arriving, she realizes something is very wrong. Her cousin, Rebecca, who died there almost 8 years ago seems to be haunting the house and there is something very disturbing about Rebecca's old collection of frozen charlotte dolls.
As everything begins to fall apart around her, Sophia is left to figure out who or what is causing all the chaos before it's too late.
Personal opinion:
This one is a very creepy and sinister page turner that I loved. It had me hooked from right from the beginning with a spooky seance in a crowded cafe. It's not often that a book actually creeps me out, but this one managed to. (Although creepy dolls are one of the few things I don't necessarily like to begin with.)
The home's history was a good addition to add even more creepiness and the writing makes it an easy book to binge read, which is exactly what I did with this one.
I also have to add that the ending was pretty good as well. I was not expecting it to go the way it did.
Even though the main characters are teens and some a bit younger, Frozen Charlotte is definitely more of a YA or adult read.
I would definitely recommend to lovers of the weird and creepy!
March 16, 2021
The creepy 'Frozen Charlotte' dolls in this book make Annabelle and Chucky look and feel like Howdy Doody!! This one will chill your soul till frozen!! Creepy as hell, cannot wait to read the next one...'Charlotte Says'!
5 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
You can check out my video review of this here from my Youtube Channel; AreYouIntoHorror
https://youtu.be/VkYBUM3x42Y
Where the hell did author Alex Bell come from, and why had I not read this before!!? Wow, this is one creepy, creepy, CREEPY ass horror thriller! You have got it all in this one.....creepy and scary as fuck little 'Charlotte' dolls, Ouija boards, eye removing, ghosts, hauntings, and an EVIL sibling that will make you have nightmares......it is endless!
The book starts out like 80 or so years before this and the head mistress at the Dunvegan School for Girls on the isle of Skye is playing outside in the winter snow with some of the youngest little girls during their playtime outside, when she notices a very weird and abnormal incident going on with the girls who are playing with their little dolls that they had made in class. She approaches the girls and asks them what they are doing and they reply with 'doing what Charlotte told us to do....'; well this starts out what will become the closing of the school for ever, the tragic death of the headmistress and some others are so well written that I actually thought about it at night when i went to bed. Jump to current day and the school house is now the residential home of Sophie's cousins.
So, Sophie is going to visit and comfort her cousins, Cameron, Piper, and the weird little Lilias, (who has the most weird obsession and fear of her bones!) who have lost their sister Rebecca in a horrible accidental death. But before she goes to the isle of Skye she and her friend; Jay meet at their local coffee shop and Jay downloads an Ouija board app on his phone, and they decide to have a quick seance to see if the app works, and to see if they can talk to Rebecca to see if they can figure out how she died. This book is considered to be a YA novel, however I would call it a straight up horror ghost story with an extremely intense opener that will grab you from that first page, and does not let you up till the end. It was so fast paced, and well written that it made me think that Bell had written tons of 'Creepy doll horror books', and this is one of the best that I have ever read. There are scenes that you can just hear and feel these scary little Charlotte dolls coming into you own home and into your dreams!!
The story is based on an old american folk story/song called 'Fair Charlotte' that is so bizarre and creepy, i could not believe it was a real song way back than!!
Charlotte dolls were a real thing in the 1890's and continued to be a collector's item still today, and the story behind them is as creepy as this book was. Highly recommended, and do not read if you are afraid of demonic ghosts, and SCARY as shit little naked, porcelain dolls that have no arms or legs!!!
There is another 'Charlotte' book that is a prequel titled 'Charlotte Says' and you can bet that I have already ordered it from Amazon.
Enjoy........
5 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
You can check out my video review of this here from my Youtube Channel; AreYouIntoHorror
https://youtu.be/VkYBUM3x42Y
Where the hell did author Alex Bell come from, and why had I not read this before!!? Wow, this is one creepy, creepy, CREEPY ass horror thriller! You have got it all in this one.....creepy and scary as fuck little 'Charlotte' dolls, Ouija boards, eye removing, ghosts, hauntings, and an EVIL sibling that will make you have nightmares......it is endless!
The book starts out like 80 or so years before this and the head mistress at the Dunvegan School for Girls on the isle of Skye is playing outside in the winter snow with some of the youngest little girls during their playtime outside, when she notices a very weird and abnormal incident going on with the girls who are playing with their little dolls that they had made in class. She approaches the girls and asks them what they are doing and they reply with 'doing what Charlotte told us to do....'; well this starts out what will become the closing of the school for ever, the tragic death of the headmistress and some others are so well written that I actually thought about it at night when i went to bed. Jump to current day and the school house is now the residential home of Sophie's cousins.
So, Sophie is going to visit and comfort her cousins, Cameron, Piper, and the weird little Lilias, (who has the most weird obsession and fear of her bones!) who have lost their sister Rebecca in a horrible accidental death. But before she goes to the isle of Skye she and her friend; Jay meet at their local coffee shop and Jay downloads an Ouija board app on his phone, and they decide to have a quick seance to see if the app works, and to see if they can talk to Rebecca to see if they can figure out how she died. This book is considered to be a YA novel, however I would call it a straight up horror ghost story with an extremely intense opener that will grab you from that first page, and does not let you up till the end. It was so fast paced, and well written that it made me think that Bell had written tons of 'Creepy doll horror books', and this is one of the best that I have ever read. There are scenes that you can just hear and feel these scary little Charlotte dolls coming into you own home and into your dreams!!
The story is based on an old american folk story/song called 'Fair Charlotte' that is so bizarre and creepy, i could not believe it was a real song way back than!!
Charlotte dolls were a real thing in the 1890's and continued to be a collector's item still today, and the story behind them is as creepy as this book was. Highly recommended, and do not read if you are afraid of demonic ghosts, and SCARY as shit little naked, porcelain dolls that have no arms or legs!!!
There is another 'Charlotte' book that is a prequel titled 'Charlotte Says' and you can bet that I have already ordered it from Amazon.
Enjoy........
October 14, 2016
This had the potential to be truly creepy, but it just threw everything out there, which didn't allow for any suspense to build. There's also a lot of inconsistency in the character of Rebecca, who is by turns evil and menacing or scared and sweet and helpful. In fact, all of the characters have personalities that change when it's convenient to the plot for them to do so. There is no subtlety to this novel at all—it just throws everything on the page which, for me, doesn't work in a ghost story with creepy dolls. I want subtlety and menace and building dread and didn't find it here.
September 4, 2019
"Then quickly to the glowing hall,
her lifeless form he bore,
Fair Charlotte's eyes were closed to death,
her voice was heard no more."
I really went into this story thinking 'YA horror, probably going to be a bit tame' but my goodness it really wasn't! It really terrified me to the point I actually had a nightmare about it last night when I had finished reading it.
After a horrific tragedy, Sophie goes to stay with her cousins on the Isle of Skye for 2 weeks while her parents are away in America celebrating their wedding anniversary.
Her cousins, Piper, Cameron and Lilias are all very different facets. Piper is welcoming to the point of extreme, Cameron is distant, and Lilias is timid and scared. When Sophie discovers that the house used to be a girl's boarding school, she notices a cabinet full of 'Frozen Charlotte' dolls in one of the bedrooms. These dolls are no bigger than a matchbox, but have hauntingly painted faces and were supposedly invloved in the death of one of the girls at the school... Why is it that Lilias claims they move at night and try to get out of the cabinet? And what was the mystery surrounding Rebecca, the 4th child who died mysteriously on the rocks by the house? And are any of them safe in the house, or from each other?
So haunting, this has really stuck with me, and I'll be looking out for the sequel.
her lifeless form he bore,
Fair Charlotte's eyes were closed to death,
her voice was heard no more."
I really went into this story thinking 'YA horror, probably going to be a bit tame' but my goodness it really wasn't! It really terrified me to the point I actually had a nightmare about it last night when I had finished reading it.
After a horrific tragedy, Sophie goes to stay with her cousins on the Isle of Skye for 2 weeks while her parents are away in America celebrating their wedding anniversary.
Her cousins, Piper, Cameron and Lilias are all very different facets. Piper is welcoming to the point of extreme, Cameron is distant, and Lilias is timid and scared. When Sophie discovers that the house used to be a girl's boarding school, she notices a cabinet full of 'Frozen Charlotte' dolls in one of the bedrooms. These dolls are no bigger than a matchbox, but have hauntingly painted faces and were supposedly invloved in the death of one of the girls at the school... Why is it that Lilias claims they move at night and try to get out of the cabinet? And what was the mystery surrounding Rebecca, the 4th child who died mysteriously on the rocks by the house? And are any of them safe in the house, or from each other?
So haunting, this has really stuck with me, and I'll be looking out for the sequel.
February 6, 2017
Please note that yes this is a ya book it is not suitable for young ya. Due to the sensitive nature of some of the topics running throughout this book.
I thought this was a pretty good book. Very dark covers everything from death, suicide, ouiji boards, evil dolls, demonic spirits, crazy families, secrets, possession, hauntings ect. It's not a read for the faint hearted.
It is written really well and is a great introduction into supernatural thrillers. It is quite grown up which is why I also advise that it's not one for young ya or for anyone if a nervous disposition. So choose to let your children read this wisely.
But if you think it is for them then I think they will definitely enjoy the edge of your seat. Intriguing and spooky tale.
I'm not a massive fan of anything to do with talking/killer dolls so even I found the frozen charlottes a little creepy. The fact that the are real and that they have the rhyme that goes through the chapters of the book is even more creepy.
It is written very well and I enjoyed reading it.
Happy reading everyone
I thought this was a pretty good book. Very dark covers everything from death, suicide, ouiji boards, evil dolls, demonic spirits, crazy families, secrets, possession, hauntings ect. It's not a read for the faint hearted.
It is written really well and is a great introduction into supernatural thrillers. It is quite grown up which is why I also advise that it's not one for young ya or for anyone if a nervous disposition. So choose to let your children read this wisely.
But if you think it is for them then I think they will definitely enjoy the edge of your seat. Intriguing and spooky tale.
I'm not a massive fan of anything to do with talking/killer dolls so even I found the frozen charlottes a little creepy. The fact that the are real and that they have the rhyme that goes through the chapters of the book is even more creepy.
It is written very well and I enjoyed reading it.
Happy reading everyone
December 22, 2024
O my. Dit boek. Ik heb hem in één ruk gelezen en ik kon niet stoppen. Is ook maar goed ook, want je moet niet nog willen slapen tijdens het lezen van dit boek. Dit is wel mijn max level van spooky creepy denk ik. Maar o man dit boek was zo goed. Precies lang genoeg. En love Lilias, arm kind.
February 18, 2017
** 4.5 SPINE-CHILLING STARS! **
"Now Charlotte lived on the mountainside,
In a bleak and dreary spot.
There was no house for miles around,
Except her father's cot."
***
WHY EXACTLY IS THIS NOT A MOVIE YET?!
This better become a damned movie or I'm filing a complaint.
I loved this book. I literally devoured it in a day because whenever I picked it up, I couldn't bear to put it down and if I did I kept thinking about it which lead to me picking it straight up again.
This is written SO greatly for a YA thriller, you get sucked in within two seconds notice.
It's creepy, well-thought of, fast paced,... whatever you want in a thriller you got it in this one.
I'd understand if one would be a bit sceptical when you know it's about talking dolls and involves a Ouija-board but TRUST MEEEEEEEE, it's so much more and put together so smartly.
Every so often there was someone else's you'd suspect as the disturbed one until a certain point where you think "okay now I've got it, y'all can't trick me into suspecting anyone else anymore!!!" and then you find out it's someone else anyway.
This book keeps you guessing, it keeps you on the edge of your seat and it actually manages to take you there yourself and make you believe everything she writes.
It's great and it made me want to pick up another Alex Bell book immediately! Too bad I don't have any. yet.
I would a 100% recommend this if you're into thrillers or were thinking of trying one out!
"Now Charlotte lived on the mountainside,
In a bleak and dreary spot.
There was no house for miles around,
Except her father's cot."
***
WHY EXACTLY IS THIS NOT A MOVIE YET?!
This better become a damned movie or I'm filing a complaint.
I loved this book. I literally devoured it in a day because whenever I picked it up, I couldn't bear to put it down and if I did I kept thinking about it which lead to me picking it straight up again.
This is written SO greatly for a YA thriller, you get sucked in within two seconds notice.
It's creepy, well-thought of, fast paced,... whatever you want in a thriller you got it in this one.
I'd understand if one would be a bit sceptical when you know it's about talking dolls and involves a Ouija-board but TRUST MEEEEEEEE, it's so much more and put together so smartly.
Every so often there was someone else's you'd suspect as the disturbed one until a certain point where you think "okay now I've got it, y'all can't trick me into suspecting anyone else anymore!!!" and then you find out it's someone else anyway.
This book keeps you guessing, it keeps you on the edge of your seat and it actually manages to take you there yourself and make you believe everything she writes.
It's great and it made me want to pick up another Alex Bell book immediately! Too bad I don't have any. yet.
I would a 100% recommend this if you're into thrillers or were thinking of trying one out!
February 11, 2025
De cover van dit verhaal sprak mij meteen aan want poppen zijn soms toch ook best eng eigenlijk. Toen ik las dat er ook een ouija bord in voorkwam, was ik helemaal overtuigd, want geesten blijven nou eenmaal interessant.
'Als je ze hoort' begint met een mysterieuze inleiding in het jaar 1910 en dit roept meteen vragen op. Daarna maak je een sprong naar het heden en lees je over Sophie en haar beste vriend Jay. Niet veel later komt het ouija bord al ter sprake en hier zitten nare gevolgen aan...
Sophie reist naar de familie van haar overleden nichtje Rebecca en eenmaal daar voelt ze dat er hele vreemde dingen aan de hand zijn. Zo zijn er een heleboel vreemde poppen en Sophie vraagt zich af of het wel zo verstandig was om dit bezoekje af te leggen.
Daarbij zijn er nog heel veel vragen over de dood van Rebecca, want wat is er die bewuste dag met haar gebeurd?
Kortom, 'Als je ze hoort' is een young adult / thriller waarbij je je niet hoeft te vervelen. Je voelt aan alles dat er iets niet klopt. Er is sprake van vreemd gedrag en een mysterieuze sfeer. En wat doen die poppen toch overal?
De jeugdige lezer zal dit een prima thriller vinden en ook ik heb er van genoten.
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
'Als je ze hoort' begint met een mysterieuze inleiding in het jaar 1910 en dit roept meteen vragen op. Daarna maak je een sprong naar het heden en lees je over Sophie en haar beste vriend Jay. Niet veel later komt het ouija bord al ter sprake en hier zitten nare gevolgen aan...
Sophie reist naar de familie van haar overleden nichtje Rebecca en eenmaal daar voelt ze dat er hele vreemde dingen aan de hand zijn. Zo zijn er een heleboel vreemde poppen en Sophie vraagt zich af of het wel zo verstandig was om dit bezoekje af te leggen.
Daarbij zijn er nog heel veel vragen over de dood van Rebecca, want wat is er die bewuste dag met haar gebeurd?
Kortom, 'Als je ze hoort' is een young adult / thriller waarbij je je niet hoeft te vervelen. Je voelt aan alles dat er iets niet klopt. Er is sprake van vreemd gedrag en een mysterieuze sfeer. En wat doen die poppen toch overal?
De jeugdige lezer zal dit een prima thriller vinden en ook ik heb er van genoten.
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
August 31, 2017
Frozen Charlotte is a young adult horror.
I’m picky when it comes to choosing YA fiction, and despite being a huge horror fan as a child and teenager, it’s not a genre that I often read these days. The reason I don’t read a lot of YA fiction, is I tend to find they lack the intensity I hope for. But this book was actually surprisingly creepy, tense and rather brutal in places. My teenage self would have loved this book.
I also found the characters interesting, and really felt for them and their situation. At times I felt a little trapped and claustrophobic. I was also surprisingly spooked each night when I turned the light off in an attempt to go to sleep. I really need to avoid reading about creepy dolls just before bed!
This is definitely one I recommend for those into YA and horror stories.
I’m picky when it comes to choosing YA fiction, and despite being a huge horror fan as a child and teenager, it’s not a genre that I often read these days. The reason I don’t read a lot of YA fiction, is I tend to find they lack the intensity I hope for. But this book was actually surprisingly creepy, tense and rather brutal in places. My teenage self would have loved this book.
I also found the characters interesting, and really felt for them and their situation. At times I felt a little trapped and claustrophobic. I was also surprisingly spooked each night when I turned the light off in an attempt to go to sleep. I really need to avoid reading about creepy dolls just before bed!
This is definitely one I recommend for those into YA and horror stories.
August 21, 2017
I have a few issues with Frozen Charlotte, so I'll just list them quickly. I'm not really in the mood to conduct a proper review!
First of all, I felt that the way in which the characters spoke was rather ridiculous. They constantly phrased things as though they were living in the Edwardian era instead of existing in the modern day. It was awkward and choppy and so fake sounding that I couldn't really believe what they were saying. Constantly I would sit in disbelief, wondering 'what fifteen-year-old speaks like this nowadays?'
Secondly, why on Earth did Bell decide to create a sort of budding romance between Sophie and Cameron? They're cousins. Am I the only one who has heard of a thing called incest? Jesus. It creeped me out. Don't even get me started with the sly little input of Lilias saying that they're not really cousins because they're only related via their dad being Sophie's mother's stepbrother. Whether they're blood relation or not, it's still far too gross to contemplate. Besides, the romance was unnecessary. It would have worked out fine for the two to get along as friends, nothing more. But to each their own, I guess.
Lastly, I was disgusted by the mentions of animal abuse. If there's one thing that will make me deduct stars quick as a flash, it's animal abuse. There's absolutely no need of it. I abhor innocent creatures being tormented, even if it is just in writing. The thought of Selkie dying the way he did made my stomach churn.
As for Uncle James, well he completely useless and the whole business with the mermaid paintings was pointless, really. If he knew how monstrous Piper was why didn't he do anything about it when she burnt Cameron's hand or told Lilias to cut her own skeleton out?
All in all, I liked only Lilias' character. She acted like a proper seven-year-old, one with just the right amount of sensibility and childlike nature.
Other than that, I have nothing else to say. It's a shame I didn't enjoy this book as others have though, because the premise is good! I enjoy spooky old houses and murder-mysteries and ghoulish secrets. It could have been fantastic but the writing and side plots really let this whole book down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2015
I think it’s safe to say that I’m not the biggest fan of horror. My imagination runs away with me and things play on my mind for ages after I’ve read a book. I still have vivid memories of a part of a Chris Wooding book that will forever stay in my memory! However, I was SO intrigued by Frozen Charlotte that I knew I wanted to read it. Even if I had to take breaks between chapters to focus my mind elsewhere… I tore through Frozen Charlotte despite the breaks I took whilst reading it…it was incredibly creepy. I’m just glad I don’t have any dolls in the house!
Frozen Charlotte follows Sophie and her cousins Cameron, Lilias and Piper as Sophie spends summer with them. The prologue gripped me immediately. It starts with Sophie and her friend Jay mucking around with a Ouija board app which certainly has consequences. I raced through the book as Sophie went to visit her Uncle and cousins in Scotland at the creepy schoolhouse. It was incredibly creepy. I found the setting so atmospheric. It’s definitely a book that I could easily see being adapted for TV or film. It would make a great teenage horror film.
At her Uncle’s house, Sophie hears things going bump in the night and she hears voices seeming to be coming from the creepy Frozen Charlotte dolls in her deceased cousin’s bedroom. Sophie is sure there is a link between the dolls and her friend Jay. She’s determined to find out more about the incidents that keep occurring and why her Uncle’s house is plagued with bad luck.
Alex Bell’s writing is exciting and easy to read. I found myself wanting to read more as each chapter hooked me a little further. The pace of the book was fantastic and made me devour it! Frozen Charlotte is well worth reading!
Frozen Charlotte follows Sophie and her cousins Cameron, Lilias and Piper as Sophie spends summer with them. The prologue gripped me immediately. It starts with Sophie and her friend Jay mucking around with a Ouija board app which certainly has consequences. I raced through the book as Sophie went to visit her Uncle and cousins in Scotland at the creepy schoolhouse. It was incredibly creepy. I found the setting so atmospheric. It’s definitely a book that I could easily see being adapted for TV or film. It would make a great teenage horror film.
At her Uncle’s house, Sophie hears things going bump in the night and she hears voices seeming to be coming from the creepy Frozen Charlotte dolls in her deceased cousin’s bedroom. Sophie is sure there is a link between the dolls and her friend Jay. She’s determined to find out more about the incidents that keep occurring and why her Uncle’s house is plagued with bad luck.
Alex Bell’s writing is exciting and easy to read. I found myself wanting to read more as each chapter hooked me a little further. The pace of the book was fantastic and made me devour it! Frozen Charlotte is well worth reading!
May 25, 2017
Motivated by a giant spoiler, Sophie heads off to the Isle of Skye to stay with the cousins she hasn't seen since she was young. Cameron is broody. Piper is perfect. Lilias is strange. And Rebecca? Rebecca is dead.
She was the spirit Sophie chose to summon.
The plot is driven less by Sophie's desire to find out whether the supernatural was responsible for said giant spoiler, and more by Cameron and Piper's constant attempts to paint one another as the villain of the piece. This isn't Sophie's fault - she's entirely reliant on what her cousins will and won't tell her. What they will tell her is patchy and unreliable. What they won't tell her could fill several books. The suspense builds and builds right up until the climax and is maintained right until the end. I'll admit, I'm bad with suspense, or any sort of mystery. If I don't plough through the entire novel in one go, chances are that I'll pick it up when I'm bored and sleepy and flick right to the end. Disaster averted with this one. Frozen Charlotte held my attention from start to finish.
I love a good Gothic horror, and I would definitely class this novel as Gothic. The setting was almost another character, obstructive and antagonistic, it attacked half of the characters and warped the others. Sophie's cousins live on the Isle of Skye, which is only accessible from the British mainland by ferry. This adds to the sense of isolation in the story.
A good ghost story is one of my favourite things, and this one doesn't disappoint.
She was the spirit Sophie chose to summon.
The plot is driven less by Sophie's desire to find out whether the supernatural was responsible for said giant spoiler, and more by Cameron and Piper's constant attempts to paint one another as the villain of the piece. This isn't Sophie's fault - she's entirely reliant on what her cousins will and won't tell her. What they will tell her is patchy and unreliable. What they won't tell her could fill several books. The suspense builds and builds right up until the climax and is maintained right until the end. I'll admit, I'm bad with suspense, or any sort of mystery. If I don't plough through the entire novel in one go, chances are that I'll pick it up when I'm bored and sleepy and flick right to the end. Disaster averted with this one. Frozen Charlotte held my attention from start to finish.
I love a good Gothic horror, and I would definitely class this novel as Gothic. The setting was almost another character, obstructive and antagonistic, it attacked half of the characters and warped the others. Sophie's cousins live on the Isle of Skye, which is only accessible from the British mainland by ferry. This adds to the sense of isolation in the story.
A good ghost story is one of my favourite things, and this one doesn't disappoint.
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