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Hellworld
And a great darkness covered the land…
Five years ago, Abby Booth’s mom, cohost of a ghost-hunting reality show, went missing while filming in a “haunted” cave in Arizona.
Since then, Abby’s life has all but fallen to pieces, most notably because of her dad’s deep depression and how they’ve drifted further and further apart.
But now, at sixteen, Abby has decided that things will change. She plans to go to the same cave where her mom and the crew went missing and to find out, once and for all, what happened there.
With the help of the other cohost’s son Charlie and two of his friends, Abby sets off on a quest for answers…but what the group ends up finding, what they stumble across in that dark, primordial cave in Arizona, is nothing they could have ever imaged.
Abby was investigating a possible haunting…She never expected that there could be something worse.
Five years ago, Abby Booth’s mom, cohost of a ghost-hunting reality show, went missing while filming in a “haunted” cave in Arizona.
Since then, Abby’s life has all but fallen to pieces, most notably because of her dad’s deep depression and how they’ve drifted further and further apart.
But now, at sixteen, Abby has decided that things will change. She plans to go to the same cave where her mom and the crew went missing and to find out, once and for all, what happened there.
With the help of the other cohost’s son Charlie and two of his friends, Abby sets off on a quest for answers…but what the group ends up finding, what they stumble across in that dark, primordial cave in Arizona, is nothing they could have ever imaged.
Abby was investigating a possible haunting…She never expected that there could be something worse.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 21, 2017
20 people are currently reading
1158 people want to read
About the author
Tom Leveen
46 books239 followersTom Leveen is the author of nine novels originally with imprints of Random House, Simon & Schuster, Abrams, and more. He has written with Todd McFarlane on SPAWN, the comic book series, and fiction for the TTRPG BattleTech for Topps, Inc.
Recently an early literacy specialist with Phoenix Public Library, Tom has twelve years of previous library work experience. He also has 22 years of theatre experience as an actor and director, and has been the Artistic Director for two different award-winning theatre companies.
Tom wrote his first story in second grade and has been writing and telling stories ever since. His first horror novel, SICK, won the Westchester Fiction Award and the Grand Canyon Reader Award. His novel ZERO was a Best Book of 2013 (American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association).
A frequent guest speaker and teacher, Tom has taught, paneled, and/or keynoted for SCBWI, RWA, Desert Nights Rising Stars, Phoenix ComiCon, AzLA, NCTE, TEDx, People of Color Network, Western New Mexico University, Arizona State University, Arizona Reading Association, Kennesaw State University, multiple schools and conferences throughout Germany, AETA, the Los Angeles Teen Book Fest, and many others.
In addition, apropos of absolutely nothing, Tom:
Finished a marathon (in six and half hours) and a triathalon sprint in 2 hours, earned a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do, co-hosted a public access comedy show, directed 30 plays and acted in 30 more, ran a theatre company out of his backyard, met almost all of his literary heroes except for Stephen King, played in a punk band live in front of actual people (once), prefers the Hero System but nevertheless runs a warlock minotaur and storm cleric elf when time permits, trained at the Utah Shakespeare Festival Actor Training program for five sessions, was Best Masque & Gavel Member in high school, lettered in Speech, has a rock in one finger from a pretty bad bail on his (now stolen) Tony Hawk, was the safari train driver for the Phoenix Zoo for a short time, worked in the stock room for Forever 21 for an even shorter time, completed a Spartan Sprint with three friends, and spent twenty years earning his Bachelor of Science degree. He is currently in an MFA program at a major international university.
So if there's something you want to do, go do it.
Recently an early literacy specialist with Phoenix Public Library, Tom has twelve years of previous library work experience. He also has 22 years of theatre experience as an actor and director, and has been the Artistic Director for two different award-winning theatre companies.
Tom wrote his first story in second grade and has been writing and telling stories ever since. His first horror novel, SICK, won the Westchester Fiction Award and the Grand Canyon Reader Award. His novel ZERO was a Best Book of 2013 (American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association).
A frequent guest speaker and teacher, Tom has taught, paneled, and/or keynoted for SCBWI, RWA, Desert Nights Rising Stars, Phoenix ComiCon, AzLA, NCTE, TEDx, People of Color Network, Western New Mexico University, Arizona State University, Arizona Reading Association, Kennesaw State University, multiple schools and conferences throughout Germany, AETA, the Los Angeles Teen Book Fest, and many others.
In addition, apropos of absolutely nothing, Tom:
Finished a marathon (in six and half hours) and a triathalon sprint in 2 hours, earned a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do, co-hosted a public access comedy show, directed 30 plays and acted in 30 more, ran a theatre company out of his backyard, met almost all of his literary heroes except for Stephen King, played in a punk band live in front of actual people (once), prefers the Hero System but nevertheless runs a warlock minotaur and storm cleric elf when time permits, trained at the Utah Shakespeare Festival Actor Training program for five sessions, was Best Masque & Gavel Member in high school, lettered in Speech, has a rock in one finger from a pretty bad bail on his (now stolen) Tony Hawk, was the safari train driver for the Phoenix Zoo for a short time, worked in the stock room for Forever 21 for an even shorter time, completed a Spartan Sprint with three friends, and spent twenty years earning his Bachelor of Science degree. He is currently in an MFA program at a major international university.
So if there's something you want to do, go do it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
October 16, 2017
This was a fun ride of a book. Didn’t really know what to expect going in so when shit hit the fan I was pleasantly surprised with how it went down.
I actually really enjoyed bouncing back and forth between past and present timelines. A lot of the time that frustrates me to know end but the pacing worked really well in this case. The chapters were short enough to not make me feel withdrawn every time the plot jumped in time and it kept me engaged the whole way through.
Definitely a fun one sitting read for Halloween time.
I actually really enjoyed bouncing back and forth between past and present timelines. A lot of the time that frustrates me to know end but the pacing worked really well in this case. The chapters were short enough to not make me feel withdrawn every time the plot jumped in time and it kept me engaged the whole way through.
Definitely a fun one sitting read for Halloween time.
March 15, 2017
HELLWORLD is riveting, action-packed and unexpected. It teases answers to a mystery as the chapters alternate between the present and the past. It builds suspense as readers learn more about what Abby, Charlie, Selby, and Alex uncovered in the cave in their search for Abby’s mom.
From the very first lines the story grabs, talking of darkness and danger and fear, and something that went very, very wrong. It goes beyond the typical dark-things-that-lurk-in-dark-caves brand of scary story. It tells a tale that sparks the imagination, offers food for thought, and will take spelunking off many a bucket list.
Abby could never quite accept the fact that her mom was dead. Without any inkling about what happened or any conclusive proof that her mother was really gone, she and her dad couldn’t move on. Not when there was even the smallest thread of hope that her mom would come back.
So when she stumbled upon some new information that might lead to answers, she decided it was time to conduct her own investigation. Reaching out to Charlie, whose dad was also one of the missing, wasn’t easy. But she didn’t want to explore a potentially dangerous cave alone, and she thought he might want answers, too.
She hoped their search would solve the mystery once and for all. She hoped she would be able to find closure. But she didn’t really expect to find anything. Especially not what they found. She couldn’t have imagined what the aftermath of her quest for answers would be. Certainly not the magnitude of the fallout. And she never dreamed the day would come that she wished she’d never gone looking for her mother in the first place.
Tom Leveen has melded horror with action and mystery, adding in myth and science and religion, to create a gripping, nailbiting, chilling, and thought-provoking story. He takes readers and characters into the dark, lets them imagine the stuff of nightmares, and brings them back into the light only to discover that what they witnessed in the dark is real, it’s worse than they imagined, and that their nightmares are far from over.
HELLWORLD is the perfect title for this surprising and thrilling and amazingly good read. It promises to make you think about what might have been, what could be possible, and about just how much we don’t know. It’s an exciting story. It’s an intelligent story. It’s a scary story and one hell of a (pardon the pun) page-turner.
Original GR comments.
So awesome. Exciting and action-packed and unexpected. It really made me think. Had all the elements I hoped it would have but also surprised me with things I didn't anticipate would be a part of the story. Really hope there will be a sequel. Review TK.
From the very first lines the story grabs, talking of darkness and danger and fear, and something that went very, very wrong. It goes beyond the typical dark-things-that-lurk-in-dark-caves brand of scary story. It tells a tale that sparks the imagination, offers food for thought, and will take spelunking off many a bucket list.
Abby could never quite accept the fact that her mom was dead. Without any inkling about what happened or any conclusive proof that her mother was really gone, she and her dad couldn’t move on. Not when there was even the smallest thread of hope that her mom would come back.
So when she stumbled upon some new information that might lead to answers, she decided it was time to conduct her own investigation. Reaching out to Charlie, whose dad was also one of the missing, wasn’t easy. But she didn’t want to explore a potentially dangerous cave alone, and she thought he might want answers, too.
She hoped their search would solve the mystery once and for all. She hoped she would be able to find closure. But she didn’t really expect to find anything. Especially not what they found. She couldn’t have imagined what the aftermath of her quest for answers would be. Certainly not the magnitude of the fallout. And she never dreamed the day would come that she wished she’d never gone looking for her mother in the first place.
Tom Leveen has melded horror with action and mystery, adding in myth and science and religion, to create a gripping, nailbiting, chilling, and thought-provoking story. He takes readers and characters into the dark, lets them imagine the stuff of nightmares, and brings them back into the light only to discover that what they witnessed in the dark is real, it’s worse than they imagined, and that their nightmares are far from over.
HELLWORLD is the perfect title for this surprising and thrilling and amazingly good read. It promises to make you think about what might have been, what could be possible, and about just how much we don’t know. It’s an exciting story. It’s an intelligent story. It’s a scary story and one hell of a (pardon the pun) page-turner.
Original GR comments.
So awesome. Exciting and action-packed and unexpected. It really made me think. Had all the elements I hoped it would have but also surprised me with things I didn't anticipate would be a part of the story. Really hope there will be a sequel. Review TK.
August 28, 2020
I think this was my second buddy read of the year. The first being
'. I purchased Hellworld back in 2017, it was on my most anticipated reads list and anything that has hell in the title is surely going to be great right? I've never read Tom Leveen before and I hadn't read a YA book in a while, so going into this one I was excited and nervous. I shouldn't have been it ended up being really good. Solid 4 stars.
Hellworld is about a girl named Abby Booth who lost her mother five years ago in a weird circumstance. Her mother worked for a tv show called Spectre Spectrum a ghost hunting type of show that wasn't there to debunk or prove anything, but really to educate. Her mother used to be a crime scene investigator and had teamed up with an anthropologist specializing in world religions and cults named Dr. John Prinn. They and a team headed to Arizona to investigate a cave that had mysterious stories surrounding it. They, however never returned. Of course there were search parties, but no one could trace the crews steps. The cave itself was a labyrinth of passageways. There could be ten different tunnels to take in each cavern. The search teams couldn't physically search the entirety of the cave, so eventually they called it an accident. When the "accident" happened Abby was 12. Her father a tender and sensitive man did his best to raise her and pay the bills. After awhile Abby was the main bread winner because her dad just couldn't keep a job. He was hugely depressed at their circumstances and missed his wife. He really couldn't function.
When we start the book Abby is 17 and looking forward to the future, but she feels the need to take care of her father. She thinks maybe if she gets rid of or at least puts away her moms things, (her clothes are still hanging in the closet) then her dad might be able to move on. Abby keeps thinking about the cave and her mom's disappearance. She remembers her childhood crush Charlie, Dr. Prinn's son and over the years she has kept track of him via social media. One night while going through her mom's drawers, Abby comes across a book written by Dr. Prinn and realizes that it has been written on. The pages are full of annotations. She plucks up the courage to contact Charlie. They agree to meet. It's been 5 years since the last time they saw each other. They decide to go and investigate the cave themselves. What happens next is a apocalyptic.
I really enjoyed this read. I love books that have a religious aspect to it and this book did not disappoint. If you've ever been interested in Noah's Ark or other religious mysteries you are going to love this one.
I loved the way the book was set up. We have the past (3 weeks earlier) and the present day. We get to witness the cause and effect of Abby and Charlie's actions. There are two other teens that come along for the ride, Selby-a teen genius and science nerd, also Charlie's new girlfriend and Alex the son of the camera woman whom was also in the cave. The past is in Abby's POV and the Now or present, is in 3rd person. Like I said it was a lot of fun to read.
The ending is a bit ambiguous. At least for me it was. I wrote a quick rough draft of what the sequel would be about if there ever was one and texted to my friend Ashley who I buddy read the book with. Spontaneously, I decided to DM my rough draft to the author on Instagram. I didn't think I'd even get a response, but was suddenly surprised when I woke up to a message. Tom Leveen liked what I wrote...and said he hadn't planned on making a sequel, but that several people had asked if that was in the works. He said....maybe. That was the high light of my day. So folks don't feel embarrassed to write to authors. They are people too. I'm not saying big wigs like Stephen King would ever write you back...I can only wish, but you never know.
'. I purchased Hellworld back in 2017, it was on my most anticipated reads list and anything that has hell in the title is surely going to be great right? I've never read Tom Leveen before and I hadn't read a YA book in a while, so going into this one I was excited and nervous. I shouldn't have been it ended up being really good. Solid 4 stars.Hellworld is about a girl named Abby Booth who lost her mother five years ago in a weird circumstance. Her mother worked for a tv show called Spectre Spectrum a ghost hunting type of show that wasn't there to debunk or prove anything, but really to educate. Her mother used to be a crime scene investigator and had teamed up with an anthropologist specializing in world religions and cults named Dr. John Prinn. They and a team headed to Arizona to investigate a cave that had mysterious stories surrounding it. They, however never returned. Of course there were search parties, but no one could trace the crews steps. The cave itself was a labyrinth of passageways. There could be ten different tunnels to take in each cavern. The search teams couldn't physically search the entirety of the cave, so eventually they called it an accident. When the "accident" happened Abby was 12. Her father a tender and sensitive man did his best to raise her and pay the bills. After awhile Abby was the main bread winner because her dad just couldn't keep a job. He was hugely depressed at their circumstances and missed his wife. He really couldn't function.
When we start the book Abby is 17 and looking forward to the future, but she feels the need to take care of her father. She thinks maybe if she gets rid of or at least puts away her moms things, (her clothes are still hanging in the closet) then her dad might be able to move on. Abby keeps thinking about the cave and her mom's disappearance. She remembers her childhood crush Charlie, Dr. Prinn's son and over the years she has kept track of him via social media. One night while going through her mom's drawers, Abby comes across a book written by Dr. Prinn and realizes that it has been written on. The pages are full of annotations. She plucks up the courage to contact Charlie. They agree to meet. It's been 5 years since the last time they saw each other. They decide to go and investigate the cave themselves. What happens next is a apocalyptic.
I really enjoyed this read. I love books that have a religious aspect to it and this book did not disappoint. If you've ever been interested in Noah's Ark or other religious mysteries you are going to love this one.
I loved the way the book was set up. We have the past (3 weeks earlier) and the present day. We get to witness the cause and effect of Abby and Charlie's actions. There are two other teens that come along for the ride, Selby-a teen genius and science nerd, also Charlie's new girlfriend and Alex the son of the camera woman whom was also in the cave. The past is in Abby's POV and the Now or present, is in 3rd person. Like I said it was a lot of fun to read.
The ending is a bit ambiguous. At least for me it was. I wrote a quick rough draft of what the sequel would be about if there ever was one and texted to my friend Ashley who I buddy read the book with. Spontaneously, I decided to DM my rough draft to the author on Instagram. I didn't think I'd even get a response, but was suddenly surprised when I woke up to a message. Tom Leveen liked what I wrote...and said he hadn't planned on making a sequel, but that several people had asked if that was in the works. He said....maybe. That was the high light of my day. So folks don't feel embarrassed to write to authors. They are people too. I'm not saying big wigs like Stephen King would ever write you back...I can only wish, but you never know.
June 18, 2018
An awesome ride!!! I loved the suspense and excitement of this story!
October 16, 2020
I’ve been wanting to read Tom Leveen’s Hellworld for ages! I remember hearing that it was a super creepy read that was just chilling and it definitely had that, but it was far different from expected. This book was crazy weird and it definitely kept me turning the pages, but man, that ending!
The story begins in chaos, quite literally. Something big just happened and now Abby, her friend Charlie, and his girlfriend Selby are trying to escape a cave when Selby has a serious injury and needs medical attention. They are running from something, several somethings.
Then after the first chapter we go back to the beginning, the very beginning and learn all the who’s, what’s, and why’s, so to speak. Which soon sets off a back and forth matter of reading the NOW which is escaping from sudden danger and the THEN that led them to said danger. It was pretty wild. I mean, I would’ve preferred it to be the story just straight up chronological, but that’s just my way! I like reading a story as it unfolds not knowing ahead of time that OMG one of us just DIED! Kind of a spoiler, you know?
But in a sense, I can see why it worked for this story. Things are freaking crazy in the now, like apocalyptic crazy. In fact, it’s quite possible that’s where this is all headed. That when we get back to those THENs you almost don’t care anymore because you want to know how the survivors are surviving, you know?
A little more on the story, so you’re not totally confused like I was at its beginning…Abby’s mom used to be on a show called Spectre Spectrum and it was like Ghost Hunters in some way. Going to places and proving them haunted and whatnot. Well, then one day Abby’s mom and crew never came back. For five years she’s had to basically raise her dad who went into a catatonic state you could say. He’s there and moving and breathing, eating, but not really living. She had to drop out of school to work to help pay bills and is studying online. Then she finds a book among her mother’s things, one that she thinks points to what they might have been doing in that cave all that time ago.
She contacts her old friend, who’s father was among the missing crew members, and with his girlfriend and other friend who lost a parent in the debacle, they set off a quest for answers. But what they find was far more terrifying then they could ever imagine—no spoiler since they pretty much tell you this from the get-go!
This book was pretty terrifying in more ways then one. First the spooky stuff, and then you know, apocalypse scenarios in play! Those books always tend to freak me out because I know I’d be one to die in the first wave! Lol!
The ending though was far crazier than you would think! While we thought we were headed towards answers we get something somewhere in between. The ending leaves quite a bit unsaid and almost sets you up for a sequel, but since it’s been a few years I’m pretty sure this was just meant to tease and stress us out! But after reading a slew of horror reads, I’m getting the sense that this is just what that genre author likes to do to readers!
If you’re looking for a read that is downright terrifying and will keep you on the edge of your seat then definitely pick up Hellworld! It’s a wild and horrifying ride, but it’s quite the page-turner in the end! Except that ending!!
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
The story begins in chaos, quite literally. Something big just happened and now Abby, her friend Charlie, and his girlfriend Selby are trying to escape a cave when Selby has a serious injury and needs medical attention. They are running from something, several somethings.
Then after the first chapter we go back to the beginning, the very beginning and learn all the who’s, what’s, and why’s, so to speak. Which soon sets off a back and forth matter of reading the NOW which is escaping from sudden danger and the THEN that led them to said danger. It was pretty wild. I mean, I would’ve preferred it to be the story just straight up chronological, but that’s just my way! I like reading a story as it unfolds not knowing ahead of time that OMG one of us just DIED! Kind of a spoiler, you know?
But in a sense, I can see why it worked for this story. Things are freaking crazy in the now, like apocalyptic crazy. In fact, it’s quite possible that’s where this is all headed. That when we get back to those THENs you almost don’t care anymore because you want to know how the survivors are surviving, you know?
A little more on the story, so you’re not totally confused like I was at its beginning…Abby’s mom used to be on a show called Spectre Spectrum and it was like Ghost Hunters in some way. Going to places and proving them haunted and whatnot. Well, then one day Abby’s mom and crew never came back. For five years she’s had to basically raise her dad who went into a catatonic state you could say. He’s there and moving and breathing, eating, but not really living. She had to drop out of school to work to help pay bills and is studying online. Then she finds a book among her mother’s things, one that she thinks points to what they might have been doing in that cave all that time ago.
She contacts her old friend, who’s father was among the missing crew members, and with his girlfriend and other friend who lost a parent in the debacle, they set off a quest for answers. But what they find was far more terrifying then they could ever imagine—no spoiler since they pretty much tell you this from the get-go!
This book was pretty terrifying in more ways then one. First the spooky stuff, and then you know, apocalypse scenarios in play! Those books always tend to freak me out because I know I’d be one to die in the first wave! Lol!
The ending though was far crazier than you would think! While we thought we were headed towards answers we get something somewhere in between. The ending leaves quite a bit unsaid and almost sets you up for a sequel, but since it’s been a few years I’m pretty sure this was just meant to tease and stress us out! But after reading a slew of horror reads, I’m getting the sense that this is just what that genre author likes to do to readers!
If you’re looking for a read that is downright terrifying and will keep you on the edge of your seat then definitely pick up Hellworld! It’s a wild and horrifying ride, but it’s quite the page-turner in the end! Except that ending!!
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
December 15, 2022
This is a 3.5
This also won't be one of my more fun reviews
I just don't know what to say about this?!
Oh man she works at Arby's & her dad lives in the couch... just... mmmmm
It was labeled horror definitely not horror! This was like a YA scifi
What the heck.... so they let out monsters to destroy Arizona & maybe even the world... but it sounds like they really just let out dragons... dragons to destroy Arizona
Okay so all of the sciencey talk with Riley was just too much for too long
So Prinn was some nerd who disappeared & now he is some muscled up military dude, really?
They way Prinn talks reminds me of Axel from 'The Walking Dead Compendium'
I did enjoy how this was set place in Arizona.... there were some familiar city & interstate names!
Dude! What lake did they drive by this is important!!!!!!!!
So Prinn tried to kill his son... I was kind of excited about him trying to kill Abby... but he didn't he just punched her...what if when Prinn fell down into the canyon thing he took Charlie with him... hmmm, good idea?
I wasn't sucked into this book... I just read it
This also won't be one of my more fun reviews
I just don't know what to say about this?!
Oh man she works at Arby's & her dad lives in the couch... just... mmmmm
It was labeled horror definitely not horror! This was like a YA scifi
What the heck.... so they let out monsters to destroy Arizona & maybe even the world... but it sounds like they really just let out dragons... dragons to destroy Arizona
Okay so all of the sciencey talk with Riley was just too much for too long
So Prinn was some nerd who disappeared & now he is some muscled up military dude, really?
They way Prinn talks reminds me of Axel from 'The Walking Dead Compendium'
I did enjoy how this was set place in Arizona.... there were some familiar city & interstate names!
Dude! What lake did they drive by this is important!!!!!!!!
So Prinn tried to kill his son... I was kind of excited about him trying to kill Abby... but he didn't he just punched her...what if when Prinn fell down into the canyon thing he took Charlie with him... hmmm, good idea?
I wasn't sucked into this book... I just read it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2019
3.5 stars. I would have given this 4 if the layout was different.
The content in this book was great and I enjoyed it however I was not a fan of the Then and Now layout. The Then was only 3 weeks in the past so I was often confused as to what was going on. I think it would have read better if it just started 3 weeks ago and ran straight through to the end.
The content in this book was great and I enjoyed it however I was not a fan of the Then and Now layout. The Then was only 3 weeks in the past so I was often confused as to what was going on. I think it would have read better if it just started 3 weeks ago and ran straight through to the end.
May 1, 2017
"Children," he says, and somehow, it actually sounds paternal rather than patronizing, "you might want to start adjusting yourselves to the idea that the rest of your lives will be spent in Hell."
Five years ago, Abby's mother, a co-host of a ghost-hunting reality show that relied on heavy skepticism, went missing while filming in a supposedly haunted cave. Now on the verge of turning seventeen, Abby has barely managed to hold her life together. When she finds a book written by her mother's co-host, Dr. Prinn, cataloguing why mythology and religion are fake and covered in strange, indecipherable notes, Abby decides to start her own search to find her mother. With the help of Dr. Prinn's son, Charlie, they set off to discover the truth behind their parents' disappearances. But the cave is darker and more dangerous than they could have ever imagined.
Here's a funny thought: maybe the horror genre is not my thing. I mean, I've only read a handful of horror books, and most of them didn't get very favorable ratings from me. Maybe it's not the books, maybe it's me. But hey, I can't know that for sure unless I read as many books as I can get my hands on, right? Anyway, like many horror books that have come before it, Hellworld just didn't do it for me.
I was not a fan of the formatting. Hellworld is told through the alternating chapters of "then" and "now." Or, if you'll take it, "before" and "after" the group of teenagers stumble upon an apparent gateway to hell and wreak havoc on the world. For some books, that works. I don't think it worked for this one. The constant flip-flopping seriously hindered my comprehension of the story and of the growth of the (relatively boring) characters. Not to mention the habit of ending a chapter on a cliffhanger, only for me to have to read a chapter in between, which is starting off of its own cliffhanger.... Yeah. It was not fun.
I felt like all the characters were rather thin and shallow, from our MC, Abby, to the small cast of supporting characters. They all fit snugly into stereotypical boxes. I mean, Abby's a normal girl, I'd say. A hard-working teenager that had to grow up way too quickly, because her father's depression makes him pretty much incapable of handling anything himself. She's loyal to her family, and she honestly just wants closure about her mother's disappearance.
Maybe that's why I still held out hope that somehow, someday, they'd be found alive somewhere. Or, more likely, maybe someday we could have solid confirmation they were all dead. Not the happiest thought, but at least maybe then we'd find peace.
There's Charlie, who Abby's had a crush on since they first met when they were kids. He's Dr. Prinn's son, and they only met because of their parents' show. They haven't talked since their disappearance, but Abby's kept tabs on him. He's an all-around nice guy, too, but otherwise bland. There's also an odd, forced sort of romance (I think?) between the two of them. I don't know.
Then there are Charlie's friends that go with them into the cave: his girlfriend, Selby, and his friend Alex. Selby is probably the character with the most substance, but her existence didn't feel very important. She's a mix between a chain-smoking Goth and a super-smart science nerd; she's abrasive but brilliant. Yet I couldn't shake the feeling that she exists just to cause Abby anxiety over the fact that her crush is dating someone, and to be the "solid skeptic" of the group. There is a little bit of friendship development between Abby and Selby, but it just wasn't enough for me.
Alex, on the other hand, is clearly "the believer," and lacks almost any characterization whatsoever.
The plot of this novel is an odd marriage of religion and science. It's not preachy; there's no attempt on the book's part to tell the reader what they should or should not believe. But one of the things said early on is that both Abby and Charlie were raised by skeptics (and atheists) who, despite their misgivings of a higher power, have a feeling that logic can't explain their parents' disappearances. Then there's Alex, who seems to be a believer. And lastly there's Selby, who's vehement against any and all religion, who follows only science.
The book is just... strange. Its focus on the possibility God and/or gods and the monsters they may have wanted to get rid of was interesting and new to me, but it was also extremely confusing. For someone like me who was much more into biology than physics, the extensive discussion about string theory, other dimensions, and the laws of physics and the universe was absolutely nuts. Not that someone who gets it can't appreciate it, of course, but it was lost on me, for the most part. I don't think the then/now format helped here, either.
And lastly, I wasn't a fan of the ending. I didn't really feel like there was much resolution for the story. I also haven't seen anything in my not-so-extensive search that suggests that there will be a sequel to this book. (If there was, I wouldn't be reading it anyhow. Sorry.)
Hellworld was just not for me. I had high expectations for this book because I'm pretty much obsessed with ghosts, but it wasn't really about ghosts. I could get over that, but the rest of it was just confusing for me. And, like I said before, I'm honestly starting to believe that horror's just not my thing. Now, if horror is your thing, you might enjoy this book, so take my review with a grain of salt.
June 23, 2017
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review
While this was a kind of fun read, the characters and certain situations were problematic and confusing. I found myself stopping a lot to ask myself WHY the characters were making such stupid choices.
"We're safe here."
"I want to go into a dangerous place, even though I've been assured that everything is fine."
"We're safe here."
"Yeah no i get that, but I want to leave."
"But--"
"Shut up, I want to leave."
^^^ that's not dialogue from the book, btw, this is me describing what it was sometimes like (and there are moments in the book where similar conversations happen.)
I did enjoy this for its creepy nature and the quick pacing and the back and forth on time, but the characters were problematic--also, there's a very confusing romantic relationship in there. It felt kind of like the last man on earth and his women type of thing.
Anyway, if you're looking for a creepy, mindless, and quick read, then you might like this.
Happy reading!
While this was a kind of fun read, the characters and certain situations were problematic and confusing. I found myself stopping a lot to ask myself WHY the characters were making such stupid choices.
"We're safe here."
"I want to go into a dangerous place, even though I've been assured that everything is fine."
"We're safe here."
"Yeah no i get that, but I want to leave."
"But--"
"Shut up, I want to leave."
^^^ that's not dialogue from the book, btw, this is me describing what it was sometimes like (and there are moments in the book where similar conversations happen.)
I did enjoy this for its creepy nature and the quick pacing and the back and forth on time, but the characters were problematic--also, there's a very confusing romantic relationship in there. It felt kind of like the last man on earth and his women type of thing.
Anyway, if you're looking for a creepy, mindless, and quick read, then you might like this.
Happy reading!
March 22, 2017
Original review @ http://sandrathebookworm.blogspot.com...
I was sent an ARC by the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Hellworld was a very different from my usual reads; I was looking for a good YA horror book and Tom Leveen delivered! I have never enjoyed a horror YA book as much as this one. Abby's mom has gone missing and ever since the investigators stopped the search, she has felt that her mom is still alive. When she finds some evidence that makes her feel like she may be on to something, she decides to call Charlie the son of her mom’s co-host, oh, did I mention her mom has a host for a paranormal show. When she meets with Charlie they decide to go back to the cave were their parents and the whole crew went missing and conduct an investigation of their own; with the help of Charlies friends Alex and Selby.
This book gets its hooks on you from the first page! All you know is that something has gone horribly wrong and they need to find their way out of the cave as soon as possible and to make things even more intriguing the chapters alternate between past and present! So, once you finish one chapter all you want to do is keep reading to find out what’s going on and how they got there! The way Leveen described things was so eerie and I loved it, I like books that give me goosebumps and make me jump from time to time. I can really see this book becoming a movie! I'm one big horror fan and let me tell you, I would be the first in line! I also really enjoyed how each character dealt with what was going on and how their characters grew; that when one would hit a low point the other would take charge and help them snap out of it. Abby was so mature and I absolutely loved it, I hate that she had to grow up so quickly because of the circumstances, but making her as mature as she was made the book even that more enjoyable! Leveen is really a great writer and knows how to immerse his reader into the story and get some really good scares out of them. I can’t wait for the sequel; I need to know what’s going to happen to all this characters and where the story is headed.
I was sent an ARC by the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Hellworld was a very different from my usual reads; I was looking for a good YA horror book and Tom Leveen delivered! I have never enjoyed a horror YA book as much as this one. Abby's mom has gone missing and ever since the investigators stopped the search, she has felt that her mom is still alive. When she finds some evidence that makes her feel like she may be on to something, she decides to call Charlie the son of her mom’s co-host, oh, did I mention her mom has a host for a paranormal show. When she meets with Charlie they decide to go back to the cave were their parents and the whole crew went missing and conduct an investigation of their own; with the help of Charlies friends Alex and Selby.
This book gets its hooks on you from the first page! All you know is that something has gone horribly wrong and they need to find their way out of the cave as soon as possible and to make things even more intriguing the chapters alternate between past and present! So, once you finish one chapter all you want to do is keep reading to find out what’s going on and how they got there! The way Leveen described things was so eerie and I loved it, I like books that give me goosebumps and make me jump from time to time. I can really see this book becoming a movie! I'm one big horror fan and let me tell you, I would be the first in line! I also really enjoyed how each character dealt with what was going on and how their characters grew; that when one would hit a low point the other would take charge and help them snap out of it. Abby was so mature and I absolutely loved it, I hate that she had to grow up so quickly because of the circumstances, but making her as mature as she was made the book even that more enjoyable! Leveen is really a great writer and knows how to immerse his reader into the story and get some really good scares out of them. I can’t wait for the sequel; I need to know what’s going to happen to all this characters and where the story is headed.
June 3, 2019
In my starting status update I believe I said something about Buzzfeed Unsolved and Ghost Adventures. But. Um. Yeah, that? That was me being a judge-by-blurb stupidbrain and, upon finishing this trip around the sun with Tom Leveen (if you like zombies at all, allow me to use this space to recommend Sick)-
I will revisit this nightmare for a full review.
I will revisit this nightmare for a full review.
April 4, 2017
Horror, in any capacity, is not my thing. I don't watch scary movies, I've never read a Stephen King book, and bumps in the night make me incredibly nervous. I'm a big wuss, which makes it especially surprising I would pick up this book. I've loved Tom Leveen's books in the past, so I decided to give this one, despite its horror premise, a shot.
I was hooked from the first chapter. The writing is excellent and turned out to be less horror-y than I expected. I really enjoyed the back and forth of the now vs. then chapters, especially as they started to get closer to the present time. This could have easily been a book written in alternate perspectives with Abby and Charlie, but I'm glad it went with time perspectives instead.
The female characters are strong, smart, badass girls who didn't need anyone to take care of them, but instead often ended up taking care of each other (namely Abby caring for Selby). While they both do rely on Charlie for at times, they never need him to save them.
I'm going to spoiler cut the two things that didn't work for me:
So...sequel? Maybe? If so, I'm in.
I was hooked from the first chapter. The writing is excellent and turned out to be less horror-y than I expected. I really enjoyed the back and forth of the now vs. then chapters, especially as they started to get closer to the present time. This could have easily been a book written in alternate perspectives with Abby and Charlie, but I'm glad it went with time perspectives instead.
The female characters are strong, smart, badass girls who didn't need anyone to take care of them, but instead often ended up taking care of each other (namely Abby caring for Selby). While they both do rely on Charlie for at times, they never need him to save them.
I'm going to spoiler cut the two things that didn't work for me:
So...sequel? Maybe? If so, I'm in.
December 15, 2017
Personal Response:
I thought that the book Hellworld by Tom Leveen was a decent story. This was a book where the point of view stayed the same but the time, present or past, switched back and forth. The author did an okay job of keeping the confusion between the tense changes to a minimum, although especially towards the beginning of the book I had trouble with the tense changes. The character of Doctor Riley was somewhat difficult for me to perceive as well. Mainly on what his place was in the story. I just don’t think that his character was ever properly introduced and defined.
Plot: Abby was a teenage girl who wanted answers. She was sick of being a parent figure to her own dad after her mother had disappeared. Her mom was filming for her television show in a cave, and her, Mr. Prinn, and the rest of their crew went missing. Search teams were sent out to look for them, but the cave was huge. They never found them, or any remains of them so everyone was still considered missing. Abby’s dad fell into depression because of this and she had to force him to do simple tasks. He could no longer hold down a job, so Abby had to pick up the slack for that too. Not only because she was sick of taking care of everything, but also because she missed her mom, Abby set out to find them. She contacted Charlie, whom she had a little crush on, and was the son of Doctor Prinn. She had asked him to go with her and he agreed. He brought along his arrogantly intelligent girlfriend Selby, as well as Alex, whose mother had gone missing in the crew as well. They set out in a r.v. and headed for Arizona. Half of the story was written in the present, and half was written during the time that they were in the cave. A new understanding of science and the world was unleashed by three high school students in Arizona.
Characterization:
Abby had gone through so much in her life that it was inevitable that her life would change drastically. Abby’s like was pretty normal and typical of a teenage girl, until one day her mom went missing and her life changed forever. She no longer could be a teenage girl. Her dad was depressed and didn’t do much of anything so she had to get a job and pay the bills. She had to grow up suddenly. Dealing with teenage problems, as well as adult issues, and the disappearance of her mother all at once was a lot to take, but she handled it all very well. She had to change and become strong in the book even more so when she went looking for her mom and had to deal with all of the struggles she encountered on that journey. Throughout the book Abby became a stronger individual and learned about the real world that she had been abruptly tossed into.
Recommendation: I recommendHellworld to high school students and adults. I think that this book portrayed things that a lot of people don’t ever encounter in their lives, so people could read this book and see the world through a different point of view than what they’re used to. There are some occurrences that younger people may not be able to understand so that’s why I think high school readers and older should read this story.
I thought that the book Hellworld by Tom Leveen was a decent story. This was a book where the point of view stayed the same but the time, present or past, switched back and forth. The author did an okay job of keeping the confusion between the tense changes to a minimum, although especially towards the beginning of the book I had trouble with the tense changes. The character of Doctor Riley was somewhat difficult for me to perceive as well. Mainly on what his place was in the story. I just don’t think that his character was ever properly introduced and defined.
Plot: Abby was a teenage girl who wanted answers. She was sick of being a parent figure to her own dad after her mother had disappeared. Her mom was filming for her television show in a cave, and her, Mr. Prinn, and the rest of their crew went missing. Search teams were sent out to look for them, but the cave was huge. They never found them, or any remains of them so everyone was still considered missing. Abby’s dad fell into depression because of this and she had to force him to do simple tasks. He could no longer hold down a job, so Abby had to pick up the slack for that too. Not only because she was sick of taking care of everything, but also because she missed her mom, Abby set out to find them. She contacted Charlie, whom she had a little crush on, and was the son of Doctor Prinn. She had asked him to go with her and he agreed. He brought along his arrogantly intelligent girlfriend Selby, as well as Alex, whose mother had gone missing in the crew as well. They set out in a r.v. and headed for Arizona. Half of the story was written in the present, and half was written during the time that they were in the cave. A new understanding of science and the world was unleashed by three high school students in Arizona.
Characterization:
Abby had gone through so much in her life that it was inevitable that her life would change drastically. Abby’s like was pretty normal and typical of a teenage girl, until one day her mom went missing and her life changed forever. She no longer could be a teenage girl. Her dad was depressed and didn’t do much of anything so she had to get a job and pay the bills. She had to grow up suddenly. Dealing with teenage problems, as well as adult issues, and the disappearance of her mother all at once was a lot to take, but she handled it all very well. She had to change and become strong in the book even more so when she went looking for her mom and had to deal with all of the struggles she encountered on that journey. Throughout the book Abby became a stronger individual and learned about the real world that she had been abruptly tossed into.
Recommendation: I recommendHellworld to high school students and adults. I think that this book portrayed things that a lot of people don’t ever encounter in their lives, so people could read this book and see the world through a different point of view than what they’re used to. There are some occurrences that younger people may not be able to understand so that’s why I think high school readers and older should read this story.
November 19, 2017
This was a quick and easy read. This caught my eye because of the setting in AZ. I love reading books by authors who write about my home state.
This definitely was not what I expected. I thought I'd be reading a supernatural story (afterlife type of stuff) but this is actually a sci-fi thriller for teens. I can picture a cheesy but successful Michael Bay movie made from this type of story.
In summary, it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't outstanding. 3 of 5 stars.
This definitely was not what I expected. I thought I'd be reading a supernatural story (afterlife type of stuff) but this is actually a sci-fi thriller for teens. I can picture a cheesy but successful Michael Bay movie made from this type of story.
In summary, it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't outstanding. 3 of 5 stars.
September 17, 2018
I tried really hard to get into this but it wasn't doing anything for me. Maybe I'll try again someday?
October 19, 2018
DNF no one cares
April 17, 2024
3.5⭐️ definitely read like a YA but I loved the premise. I almost wish it was longer to get a better, more thought out conclusion. Nice change from romance too!
June 9, 2021
Hellworld by Tom Leveen is a recent horror read, and as I have been trying to break into that genre more, it was nice to get a taste for it! I liked the red of the cover, and the doom it promised for the characters. I ended up having some mixed feelings and I’m here to explain in this review!
This book was told switching between a ‘then’ and ‘now’ perspective. ‘Then’ meant events which had occurred before they entered the cave and leading right up to the scene where they discover what’s inside. The ‘now’ perspectives were the aftermath. I think that switch between the two worked so well for this story! It meant we were thrown right into the action and nitty-gritty of trying to survive in the harsh, horrible invaded world, while it still managed to rewind from time to time so that we could get explanations, and deeper into all the characters personalities and motivations for embarking on the quest. I don’t think any other format would have worked better for this book.
Also, I liked that the ‘now’ perspective gave hints to the ‘then’ perspective. For example, we could see one character was quite different and then we got to see the events that lead to the character arc that matured/progressed the character. There’s a character who is stabbed in the ‘now’ perspective (not a spoiler, that’s the beginning!) and you don’t get to see how until the ‘then’ catches up to it. And even in once case you knew a particular character is dead, so the only way we get to know them and see how it happened is through the ‘then’ perspective. Basically, it tied in so perfectly and was able to drop me hints at things to be revealed which kept me hooked on reading.
This was definitely a more plot-driven than character driven story. The characters were all present and pleasant enough, but didn’t have the well of depth I love to read about. Having said that, I didn’t dislike any of them either. But the plot was more so the focus.
I wasn’t entirely convinced by the romance. It seemed really unnecessary to throw it in there, and I am not really a fan of reading about cheating. Although the book kind of skirts around it so it’s not really cheating, but it’s close enough for me to see it as being so.
I wasn’t convinced by the monsters or creatures causing the destruction of the world either. The descriptions just didn’t really work for me and although I could really see how they were threatening, they didn’t scare me. We needed more encounters with them, more fear, more descriptions which could scare me. So, I wasn’t really feeling the horror element like I wanted too…
On the other hand, I loved how this book combined science and religion to explain the phenomenon of these creatures even being able to exist the way they did/do in the human world. I always find it hard to find a good example of religion and science being mixed that works well and makes sense, but this one did so seamlessly. I actually really enjoyed reading about the explanations which didn’t feel info-dumpy at all and weren’t said in complicated language that flew over my head. It was understandable and thought provoking! I wondered if It would work that way in real life (if such monsters existed!)
Lastly, the ending was a very very open ending. I don’t really enjoy open endings much on the personal side of things, and this one left a few too many strings loose and unknown for me to like it. I know there wouldn’t be a sequel as I checked with the author and well, something about this conclusion unsettles me. It didn’t feel very conclusive and a bit abrupt in some ways too.
All in all, some things I enjoyed, and some things didn’t work for me! But if you like open endings, plot-driven books and monsters, this could be one for you.
This book was told switching between a ‘then’ and ‘now’ perspective. ‘Then’ meant events which had occurred before they entered the cave and leading right up to the scene where they discover what’s inside. The ‘now’ perspectives were the aftermath. I think that switch between the two worked so well for this story! It meant we were thrown right into the action and nitty-gritty of trying to survive in the harsh, horrible invaded world, while it still managed to rewind from time to time so that we could get explanations, and deeper into all the characters personalities and motivations for embarking on the quest. I don’t think any other format would have worked better for this book.
Also, I liked that the ‘now’ perspective gave hints to the ‘then’ perspective. For example, we could see one character was quite different and then we got to see the events that lead to the character arc that matured/progressed the character. There’s a character who is stabbed in the ‘now’ perspective (not a spoiler, that’s the beginning!) and you don’t get to see how until the ‘then’ catches up to it. And even in once case you knew a particular character is dead, so the only way we get to know them and see how it happened is through the ‘then’ perspective. Basically, it tied in so perfectly and was able to drop me hints at things to be revealed which kept me hooked on reading.
This was definitely a more plot-driven than character driven story. The characters were all present and pleasant enough, but didn’t have the well of depth I love to read about. Having said that, I didn’t dislike any of them either. But the plot was more so the focus.
I wasn’t entirely convinced by the romance. It seemed really unnecessary to throw it in there, and I am not really a fan of reading about cheating. Although the book kind of skirts around it so it’s not really cheating, but it’s close enough for me to see it as being so.
I wasn’t convinced by the monsters or creatures causing the destruction of the world either. The descriptions just didn’t really work for me and although I could really see how they were threatening, they didn’t scare me. We needed more encounters with them, more fear, more descriptions which could scare me. So, I wasn’t really feeling the horror element like I wanted too…
On the other hand, I loved how this book combined science and religion to explain the phenomenon of these creatures even being able to exist the way they did/do in the human world. I always find it hard to find a good example of religion and science being mixed that works well and makes sense, but this one did so seamlessly. I actually really enjoyed reading about the explanations which didn’t feel info-dumpy at all and weren’t said in complicated language that flew over my head. It was understandable and thought provoking! I wondered if It would work that way in real life (if such monsters existed!)
Lastly, the ending was a very very open ending. I don’t really enjoy open endings much on the personal side of things, and this one left a few too many strings loose and unknown for me to like it. I know there wouldn’t be a sequel as I checked with the author and well, something about this conclusion unsettles me. It didn’t feel very conclusive and a bit abrupt in some ways too.
All in all, some things I enjoyed, and some things didn’t work for me! But if you like open endings, plot-driven books and monsters, this could be one for you.
November 17, 2019
The first chapter opens with an action scene. This can be difficult for writers to pull off well, as readers don’t yet know the characters and have no emotional investment in them. Chapter one is good, but two is better, and the story really takes off in chapter three.
I liked the way the author employs the geography of Nevada and Arizona as a backdrop. I really enjoyed the author’s ability to develop relationships over the course of the story, especially with all the action going on. For those of you who care, the story isn’t built around a romance but chemistry exists between characters which suggests a deeper attraction might develop in book two. The apocalyptic threat is a type I’ve not seen done before, at least on this scale, and the author fills it with risk and danger and destruction.
I’m an intensely picky critic of bad worldbuilding. That sort of thing takes me out of a story right way and usually makes me put down books. I saw no sloppy worldbuilding here at all. I did wonder why the apocalypse began in the place it did in the story, but the characters had no way of learning this and the story is written in first person, so the reader doesn’t either.
There are several chapters in which the story alternates between events in the past and those in the story’s present. This worked reasonably well at first, but went on a bit too long for my taste.
I sometimes find it difficult to finishing novels due to concentration issues related to a bit of brain damage caused by chemotherapy. I can’t always finish books which I once might have enjoyed. This being said, I found Hellworld engaging and never thought about leaving it unfinished. I’m glad I read it and suggest you check it out.
I liked the way the author employs the geography of Nevada and Arizona as a backdrop. I really enjoyed the author’s ability to develop relationships over the course of the story, especially with all the action going on. For those of you who care, the story isn’t built around a romance but chemistry exists between characters which suggests a deeper attraction might develop in book two. The apocalyptic threat is a type I’ve not seen done before, at least on this scale, and the author fills it with risk and danger and destruction.
I’m an intensely picky critic of bad worldbuilding. That sort of thing takes me out of a story right way and usually makes me put down books. I saw no sloppy worldbuilding here at all. I did wonder why the apocalypse began in the place it did in the story, but the characters had no way of learning this and the story is written in first person, so the reader doesn’t either.
There are several chapters in which the story alternates between events in the past and those in the story’s present. This worked reasonably well at first, but went on a bit too long for my taste.
I sometimes find it difficult to finishing novels due to concentration issues related to a bit of brain damage caused by chemotherapy. I can’t always finish books which I once might have enjoyed. This being said, I found Hellworld engaging and never thought about leaving it unfinished. I’m glad I read it and suggest you check it out.
January 25, 2017
I read this ARC via Edelweiss.
Five years ago, Abby's mom, the skeptical host of a paranormal investigation show, disappeared in a cave in the desert. Since then, Abby's been trying to make ends meet as her father slides deep into depression. When she finally gets around to cleaning out her mother's things, she discovers a book that changes everything - the notes, from her mom's colleague, indicate that they may have unleashed something. Abby contacts Charlie, the colleague's son, and pull together a crew to go find the cave and answers. Unfortunately, there was something in the cave, and it needed Abby and her friends to get out.
The narrative flashes between now, as Abby, Charlie, and Selby wake up in the cave and have to try to escape the monsters that are now attacking outside, and then, when Abby first discovers the book and her journey to get back to the cave. The tension from both situations, the first discovery of what was in the cave and how they try to save the world, builds steadily. The religion versus science angle was really fascinating, and I wanted more of it, or to have the ending more spelled out. I also wanted a little more of the chaos and damage inflicted by the escaped monsters, or maybe more direct contact with them, but there was plenty of danger from the humans and the story kept up a thrilling pace.
Five years ago, Abby's mom, the skeptical host of a paranormal investigation show, disappeared in a cave in the desert. Since then, Abby's been trying to make ends meet as her father slides deep into depression. When she finally gets around to cleaning out her mother's things, she discovers a book that changes everything - the notes, from her mom's colleague, indicate that they may have unleashed something. Abby contacts Charlie, the colleague's son, and pull together a crew to go find the cave and answers. Unfortunately, there was something in the cave, and it needed Abby and her friends to get out.
The narrative flashes between now, as Abby, Charlie, and Selby wake up in the cave and have to try to escape the monsters that are now attacking outside, and then, when Abby first discovers the book and her journey to get back to the cave. The tension from both situations, the first discovery of what was in the cave and how they try to save the world, builds steadily. The religion versus science angle was really fascinating, and I wanted more of it, or to have the ending more spelled out. I also wanted a little more of the chaos and damage inflicted by the escaped monsters, or maybe more direct contact with them, but there was plenty of danger from the humans and the story kept up a thrilling pace.
August 14, 2017
I really looked forward to this one.
It really tried to be a hell-ish read but all it left me with is a feeling of boredom and exasperation.
When I first saw this book I thought "Oh, Hellworld? Sounds interesting!" I liked the idea of being in a cave deep underground and feeling trapped in the dark. Yeah. No, I don't mean that literally. I like to feel the fear of the IDEA of being trapped. Reading that type of thing really freaks me out because it would freak me out in a real situation. Just like the idea of being stranded in the middle of the ocean with nothing but a life jacket freaks me out. So, yeah, I thought the book sounded right up my alley.
No. It was not what I was looking for. It was a bunch of Biblical end-of-the-world-doesn't-make-sense type of read. I was confused and bored and eventually skimming the rest until the end.
I can't even believe I wasted my time on this one. Oh well. A book is a book.
It really tried to be a hell-ish read but all it left me with is a feeling of boredom and exasperation.
When I first saw this book I thought "Oh, Hellworld? Sounds interesting!" I liked the idea of being in a cave deep underground and feeling trapped in the dark. Yeah. No, I don't mean that literally. I like to feel the fear of the IDEA of being trapped. Reading that type of thing really freaks me out because it would freak me out in a real situation. Just like the idea of being stranded in the middle of the ocean with nothing but a life jacket freaks me out. So, yeah, I thought the book sounded right up my alley.
No. It was not what I was looking for. It was a bunch of Biblical end-of-the-world-doesn't-make-sense type of read. I was confused and bored and eventually skimming the rest until the end.
I can't even believe I wasted my time on this one. Oh well. A book is a book.
June 19, 2017
Genre
Young Adult Horror
Synopsis
Abby's mother has been missing, presumed dead, for five years. Now new evidence has surfaced and Abby wants to embark on a quest to see if they can find more information. But the new evidence suggests something supernatural, and Abby isn't at all a believer. Together with Charlie, whose father also disappeared, and his girlfriend Shelby, the teens will take on something you won't want to miss.
Why Should You Read It?
The suspense is well done. The story is highly creepy.
What Can You Learn From the Author's Writing?
Alternating timelines. This story pops back-and-forth between two important events in the story, giving you information in an interesting spiral that makes it more suspenseful. Masterful!
Overall Rating
4 smiles, very well done!
http://tabreviewd.blogspot.com/2017/0...
Young Adult Horror
Synopsis
Abby's mother has been missing, presumed dead, for five years. Now new evidence has surfaced and Abby wants to embark on a quest to see if they can find more information. But the new evidence suggests something supernatural, and Abby isn't at all a believer. Together with Charlie, whose father also disappeared, and his girlfriend Shelby, the teens will take on something you won't want to miss.
Why Should You Read It?
The suspense is well done. The story is highly creepy.
What Can You Learn From the Author's Writing?
Alternating timelines. This story pops back-and-forth between two important events in the story, giving you information in an interesting spiral that makes it more suspenseful. Masterful!
Overall Rating
4 smiles, very well done!
http://tabreviewd.blogspot.com/2017/0...
January 8, 2018
This Novel was rather interesting. I really likes how it was written, each chapter has a title saying 'Then' or 'Now', so you read about what happened in this so called cave and what's happening now on solid ground. It was very interesting and it really made you want to keep reading! I wanted desperately to find out what really happened to the Parents and Alex and how Selby got stabbed. I also thought it was interesting how they brought Noah and the Arc into this story, it was actually kinda creepy if you think about it but also interesting. I was very curious as to how this was going to end especially after learning that even the gods couldn't kill these creatures... Unfortunately I was kind of upset about the ending... I mean really?? So is there no way to stop this darkness? Yeah the book just kinda ended on a bad note... I mean I guess at least they were all three still together...
May 19, 2017
Abby's mom disappeared five years ago while recording for her paranormal show The Spectral Spectrum. Now as Abby tries to move on for both her father's and her own sakes she discovers a book that raise more questions into her mother's disappearance.
With the help of Charlie, who's father also disappeared, his girlfriend Selby and friend Eric, they head into the wilderness to find the cave where it all happened.
Hellworld's story moves along at a brisk pace keeping readers intrigued and sometime shocked. A truly different take on the dystopian/ apocalyptic story line. Although it is listed as horror, it is not too scary. A good read for those who enjoy a unique reading experience.
With the help of Charlie, who's father also disappeared, his girlfriend Selby and friend Eric, they head into the wilderness to find the cave where it all happened.
Hellworld's story moves along at a brisk pace keeping readers intrigued and sometime shocked. A truly different take on the dystopian/ apocalyptic story line. Although it is listed as horror, it is not too scary. A good read for those who enjoy a unique reading experience.
August 17, 2018
What happens when four teenagers go looking for their lost parents and accidentally open a...portal to hell? Hellworld marries religion, mythology and science into an entertaining read about monsters, possession (or zombies, well, something along those lines) and the possible end of the world. Leveen explores history and philosophy and faith stories all told within the context of reality show stars who've disappeared. There's also some really smart ideas about how much we feckless humans don't know while we imagine we know everything. What fun! Thanks Tom Leveen for the unexpectedly delightful Saturday afternoon.
October 9, 2021
This book was very captivating. I loved how it jumped back and forth from the present and the time period of three weeks prior to it happening and going forward from there. The whole story was an unraveling mystery and the ending had a huge plot twist that was super surprising. Needless to say, I cannot wait for the next book!!
edit from 2021: there was no second book
edit from 2021: there was no second book
August 14, 2017
An enjoyable, quick read with suspense and at first predictable plot twists, that get turned on their head to keep you guessing! I enjoyed the unique "then" and "now" viewpoints that bring the book to a critical point!
April 8, 2023
"'So that's it,' Charlie says. 'That's all you've got. You and my dad knew more about this than anyone, right? Don't you have more notes, an idea, some theory? Anything?'
Dr. Riley taps out his pipe.
'Children,' he says, and somehow, it actually sounds paternal rather than patronizing, 'you might want to start adjusting yourselves to the idea that the rest of your lives will be spent in Hell.'
Funny. I'd been thinking the same thing."
Five years ago, Abby Booth's mother went missing. Her mom was a cohost of a paranormal ghost-hunting reality TV show and had been filming a new season in a so-called haunted cave within the Arizona desert. She and her crew never made it out. Rescue teams had no idea where they went. Presumed dead, the ghost-hunting crew became one of the biggest mysteries to television, and their own families.
What truly happened? Did they get lost? Did they fall to their deaths in the dark? Did the cave collapse on them? Or did something else happen, despite the television cohosts' original drive to disprove these paranormal myths?
These questions nag at Abby. Her father had fallen into a deep depression. The lack of closure, not knowing what truly happened, has left him practically immobile. Abby has had enough. Wanting to move on from taking care of both herself and her father, Abby goes through her mom's belongings to throw away stuff that will never be used again. But what Abby discovers tucked away in her mother's things changes everything.
Dr. Prinn, her mom's cohost, has scribbled all over his own published book of theories with new, insane ideas. Written in bold on the cover is a disturbing word: Wrong.
Abby contacts Charlie Prinn, the cohosts' son, and invites him on a spontaneous trip out to the cave. Maybe they can solve the mysteries that nobody else could. Once they have closure on what happened to their parents, they can finally move on with their lives.
But what they find stumps all of them, even their religious friend, Alex, even Charlie's scientific genius girlfriend, Selby.
What they find might just be Hell itself, and now it has broken free and destroyed the world they once knew.
"'Okay. Cool. If you have any questions, give me a call.'
'Just one. What do you think happened?'
Charlie hesitated. 'Honestly, I don't have an answer for that. I just know I'm going to find out.'"
AAAH! I want to SCREAM, this book was so insanely good.
The first page had me hooked. Caves? Oh hell yes. The ultimate darkness element and panic had me hooked from the start—total darkness making people go insane is a topic that isn't talked about enough. I thought at first that this would be a contemporary adventure story. But oh, was I wrong.
This story has it all. Science and physics. Biblical references. Paranormal features. Magic. The inexplicable. There is so much that I do not understand, but maybe I don't need to. Even the smartest of characters had their stubborn beliefs shattered by what they went through.
The best part of this book? THE PACING. Oh my god, the way each chapter bounced between timelines gave us the perfect amount of suspense two ways. Reveals happened just at the right moment—I never felt lost. And the way it created a full-circle effect was so satisfying.
These characters were so well fleshed-out. It was honestly impressive. I loved the depth to each person—Abby, Charlie, Selby, Alex, Abby's dad, Mrs. Brower, etc. Abby's father's depression was depicted so well and added to the story in surprising ways. I loved that I hated Selby. Her bitchiness grew on me, and I actually liked her by the end. I enjoyed how we get both sides of Abby and Charlie, before and after Hell. Trauma aged them significantly, and the narrative transformed with them.
I usually prefer standalones, but this story needs a sequel. It needs it. It was set up so beautifully, but left us with so many questions. There is so much more I need to know. Obviously, what happens next, but also why did this happen like this. What is the explanation? Will they be able to stop Hell, or will they learn to survive through it? We got a taste for what Hell is like—pawns of Hell, they called it—but will Abby, Charlie, and Selby actually face it again? And what about the tension between Abby and Charlie? Selby and Abby are on good terms, but there is definitely some friction there regarding Charlie. I usually love platonic stories that don't necessarily have to go further, but this book was just asking for it (on the contrary, I do highly respect that there was almost no romance, considering all of the adrenaline/trauma/grief each character had been through. Very realistic, so I applaud that.)
Yes, this story ended, but I need closure. A whole second book worth of closure. Please.
Now I have all of this pent-up energy accumulated while reading this, and I don't know what to do about it. That is a great thing as much as it is bad.
"'I think most of it was true. The devil doesn't need to tell lots of big lies. One small one is probably enough. We'll just have to figure out which one that is.'
'You believe in the devil now?' Charlie asks.
I eyed him cautiously.
'Don't you?'"
Dr. Riley taps out his pipe.
'Children,' he says, and somehow, it actually sounds paternal rather than patronizing, 'you might want to start adjusting yourselves to the idea that the rest of your lives will be spent in Hell.'
Funny. I'd been thinking the same thing."
Five years ago, Abby Booth's mother went missing. Her mom was a cohost of a paranormal ghost-hunting reality TV show and had been filming a new season in a so-called haunted cave within the Arizona desert. She and her crew never made it out. Rescue teams had no idea where they went. Presumed dead, the ghost-hunting crew became one of the biggest mysteries to television, and their own families.
What truly happened? Did they get lost? Did they fall to their deaths in the dark? Did the cave collapse on them? Or did something else happen, despite the television cohosts' original drive to disprove these paranormal myths?
These questions nag at Abby. Her father had fallen into a deep depression. The lack of closure, not knowing what truly happened, has left him practically immobile. Abby has had enough. Wanting to move on from taking care of both herself and her father, Abby goes through her mom's belongings to throw away stuff that will never be used again. But what Abby discovers tucked away in her mother's things changes everything.
Dr. Prinn, her mom's cohost, has scribbled all over his own published book of theories with new, insane ideas. Written in bold on the cover is a disturbing word: Wrong.
Abby contacts Charlie Prinn, the cohosts' son, and invites him on a spontaneous trip out to the cave. Maybe they can solve the mysteries that nobody else could. Once they have closure on what happened to their parents, they can finally move on with their lives.
But what they find stumps all of them, even their religious friend, Alex, even Charlie's scientific genius girlfriend, Selby.
What they find might just be Hell itself, and now it has broken free and destroyed the world they once knew.
"'Okay. Cool. If you have any questions, give me a call.'
'Just one. What do you think happened?'
Charlie hesitated. 'Honestly, I don't have an answer for that. I just know I'm going to find out.'"
AAAH! I want to SCREAM, this book was so insanely good.
The first page had me hooked. Caves? Oh hell yes. The ultimate darkness element and panic had me hooked from the start—total darkness making people go insane is a topic that isn't talked about enough. I thought at first that this would be a contemporary adventure story. But oh, was I wrong.
This story has it all. Science and physics. Biblical references. Paranormal features. Magic. The inexplicable. There is so much that I do not understand, but maybe I don't need to. Even the smartest of characters had their stubborn beliefs shattered by what they went through.
The best part of this book? THE PACING. Oh my god, the way each chapter bounced between timelines gave us the perfect amount of suspense two ways. Reveals happened just at the right moment—I never felt lost. And the way it created a full-circle effect was so satisfying.
These characters were so well fleshed-out. It was honestly impressive. I loved the depth to each person—Abby, Charlie, Selby, Alex, Abby's dad, Mrs. Brower, etc. Abby's father's depression was depicted so well and added to the story in surprising ways. I loved that I hated Selby. Her bitchiness grew on me, and I actually liked her by the end. I enjoyed how we get both sides of Abby and Charlie, before and after Hell. Trauma aged them significantly, and the narrative transformed with them.
I usually prefer standalones, but this story needs a sequel. It needs it. It was set up so beautifully, but left us with so many questions. There is so much more I need to know. Obviously, what happens next, but also why did this happen like this. What is the explanation? Will they be able to stop Hell, or will they learn to survive through it? We got a taste for what Hell is like—pawns of Hell, they called it—but will Abby, Charlie, and Selby actually face it again? And what about the tension between Abby and Charlie? Selby and Abby are on good terms, but there is definitely some friction there regarding Charlie. I usually love platonic stories that don't necessarily have to go further, but this book was just asking for it (on the contrary, I do highly respect that there was almost no romance, considering all of the adrenaline/trauma/grief each character had been through. Very realistic, so I applaud that.)
Yes, this story ended, but I need closure. A whole second book worth of closure. Please.
Now I have all of this pent-up energy accumulated while reading this, and I don't know what to do about it. That is a great thing as much as it is bad.
"'I think most of it was true. The devil doesn't need to tell lots of big lies. One small one is probably enough. We'll just have to figure out which one that is.'
'You believe in the devil now?' Charlie asks.
I eyed him cautiously.
'Don't you?'"
Want to read
October 14, 2016"what they stumble across in that dark, primordial cave in Arizona, is nothing they could have ever imaged."
PLEASE BE CREEPY.
PLEASE BE CREEPY.
August 8, 2017
DNF at 50%. The combination of timeline switching and not feeling any connection to the characters was too much
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