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Haunted Florida #1
Island of Bones
A haunted Key West resort. Murder off the Havana coast. Pirates. A deadly hurricane.When Ellie Whitaker leaves her dead-end job and ex behind to spread her grandmother's ashes in tropical paradise, the last thing she expected was to face more ghosts of the past. But darkness lurks inside her grandmother's former home turned resort. Ellie's presence stirs up its energies. As a hurricane creeps closer to the island, she must hurry to discover long-buried truths. About her treasure-hunting grandfather's death in 1951. About the curse her grandmother left behind. About the innkeeper next door with an evil secret. And the spectral visions she keeps having. Some there to help her. And some to make sure Ellie becomes a ghostly resident of haunted Key West forever.
204 pages, Paperback
Published June 3, 2018
344 people are currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
Gaby Triana
21 books183 followersGABY TRIANA is the Cuban-American author of 25 books for adults and teens, including Moon Child, Island of Bones, River of Ghosts, City of Spells, Wake the Hollow, Cubanita, and Summer of Yesterday. Her short stories have appeared in Classic Monsters Unleashed, A Tribute to Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, A Conjuring for All Seasons, Novus Monstrum, and Weird Tales Magazine. She has co-authored ghosthunters Sam & Colby’s horror novel, Paradise Island, and edited the ghost anthology series, Literally Dead (Tales of Halloween Hauntings; Tales of Holiday Hauntings).
As a ghostwriter, Gaby has penned 50+ novels for bestselling authors in every genre. Her own books have won the IRA Teen Choice Award, ALA Best Paperback, and Hispanic Magazine's Good Reads Awards, and she writes under several pen names, including Gabrielle Keyes for her paranormal women’s fiction. She lives in Miami with her family and the four-legged creatures they serve.
FB: @GabyTriana.author
IG: @GabyTriana
YT: The Witch Haunt
As a ghostwriter, Gaby has penned 50+ novels for bestselling authors in every genre. Her own books have won the IRA Teen Choice Award, ALA Best Paperback, and Hispanic Magazine's Good Reads Awards, and she writes under several pen names, including Gabrielle Keyes for her paranormal women’s fiction. She lives in Miami with her family and the four-legged creatures they serve.
FB: @GabyTriana.author
IG: @GabyTriana
YT: The Witch Haunt
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
May 5, 2020
I really liked this book as it involved mystery, pirates, a haunting, and suspense!
The story revolves around Ellie wanting to go to Key West as her grandmother use to live there and after her grandmother passes on, she decides to take her grandmother's ashes to spread them on the island. But little does she know that her journey to Key West is going to be just a nice trip down memory lane. There is a mystery surrounding Ellie's past as her grandfather disappeared off the coast back in 1951.
What entails is a mystery that is so deep that no one wants Ellie to know anything of the past and Ellie has to endure not only a hurricane that is barreling toward her, but she has to endure a nutty motel manager, visions of the past (Ellie has visions), and hauntings at the motel.
This book just takes off from the first chapter and it barrels quickly all the way to the end. There are lots of twists, turns, danger, suspense, and action wrapped up tightly within its pages. I was very impressed with this book and I loved how the author just brought it all together!
Giving this one four stars for keeping me entertained!
The story revolves around Ellie wanting to go to Key West as her grandmother use to live there and after her grandmother passes on, she decides to take her grandmother's ashes to spread them on the island. But little does she know that her journey to Key West is going to be just a nice trip down memory lane. There is a mystery surrounding Ellie's past as her grandfather disappeared off the coast back in 1951.
What entails is a mystery that is so deep that no one wants Ellie to know anything of the past and Ellie has to endure not only a hurricane that is barreling toward her, but she has to endure a nutty motel manager, visions of the past (Ellie has visions), and hauntings at the motel.
This book just takes off from the first chapter and it barrels quickly all the way to the end. There are lots of twists, turns, danger, suspense, and action wrapped up tightly within its pages. I was very impressed with this book and I loved how the author just brought it all together!
Giving this one four stars for keeping me entertained!
July 22, 2018
This is a 4.5 star action packed read.
I'll be honest and say that the superb cover was what initially drew me in .... because it is tres creeepy! 👻 But the first of the new Haunted Florida series by Gaby Triana holds so much more than your average ghostly tale.
Entrenched firmly in the past on the island of Key West, we are treated to a love story of soul mates - Leanne and Bill Drudge. One that is torn asunder by the disappearance and supposed death at sea of Bill and the ostracism of Leanne and her baby daughter Mariel. With no way to support herself she must give up her home and move away from the island, surrendering her "Casa de los Cayos" to her plotting neighbour. Forward two generations we are introduced to Ellie Whitaker from Boston, a granddaughter grieving her Nana's death and looking to fulfill her grandmother's last wish of scattering her ashes at the place she always called home ...... Casa de las Cayos in Key West.
What ensues is an epic story of both beginnings and endings. Murder, hauntings, buried treasure and the evil of one family are swirled around and eventually revealed by both Ellie's burgeoning clairvoyance and a force of nature. Who killed her grandfather ..... and is there really any treasure? Can Ellie put faith in her clairvoyance or will she fear it as she has always done? You'll just have to read this stunning story for yourselves! I can't wait to see what develops in other books in the series.
I received an ebook copy of this novel directly from the author. I have voluntarily chosen to review the book and the gifting in no way influences my review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion.
I'll be honest and say that the superb cover was what initially drew me in .... because it is tres creeepy! 👻 But the first of the new Haunted Florida series by Gaby Triana holds so much more than your average ghostly tale.
Entrenched firmly in the past on the island of Key West, we are treated to a love story of soul mates - Leanne and Bill Drudge. One that is torn asunder by the disappearance and supposed death at sea of Bill and the ostracism of Leanne and her baby daughter Mariel. With no way to support herself she must give up her home and move away from the island, surrendering her "Casa de los Cayos" to her plotting neighbour. Forward two generations we are introduced to Ellie Whitaker from Boston, a granddaughter grieving her Nana's death and looking to fulfill her grandmother's last wish of scattering her ashes at the place she always called home ...... Casa de las Cayos in Key West.
What ensues is an epic story of both beginnings and endings. Murder, hauntings, buried treasure and the evil of one family are swirled around and eventually revealed by both Ellie's burgeoning clairvoyance and a force of nature. Who killed her grandfather ..... and is there really any treasure? Can Ellie put faith in her clairvoyance or will she fear it as she has always done? You'll just have to read this stunning story for yourselves! I can't wait to see what develops in other books in the series.
I received an ebook copy of this novel directly from the author. I have voluntarily chosen to review the book and the gifting in no way influences my review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion.
June 5, 2018
I'm going to be completely honest and say I loved this book. :)
March 31, 2023
A haunted Key West resort. Ghosts of a secretive family past. A deadly hurricane.
This book scared the crap outta me and it's only 200 pages. Well written and very engaging.
This book scared the crap outta me and it's only 200 pages. Well written and very engaging.
July 19, 2018
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Quite too much as far as being believable, but nonetheless entertaining. This book would even appeal to horror fans. I didn't expect anything macabre, so there were a few surprises.
September 23, 2022
If you love a good ghost story then the haunted Florida trio is for you !
July 2, 2018
I have not read any of this author's work before but I certainly will after this. Island of Bones is the first in a trilogy - Haunted Florida - and provides atmosphere, chills, searing tropical heat, ghosts, deadly secrets and mystery.
The story centres on Ellie Whittaker, who decides to leave her unfulfilling life behind to visit her grandmother's old home. She takes the old lady's ashes with her, intending merely to scatter them and to visit the area. She has never previously set foot in key west before but as soon as she arrives, things start to happen. She sees visions - intense, frightening re-enactments of terrible events from her family's past which draw her deeper and deeper into the deadly and sinister history of the place her grandmother called home.
This is a book to curl up with, whether on the beach or in front of a roaring fire. It never disappoints and has left me looking forward to book two. Excellent.
The story centres on Ellie Whittaker, who decides to leave her unfulfilling life behind to visit her grandmother's old home. She takes the old lady's ashes with her, intending merely to scatter them and to visit the area. She has never previously set foot in key west before but as soon as she arrives, things start to happen. She sees visions - intense, frightening re-enactments of terrible events from her family's past which draw her deeper and deeper into the deadly and sinister history of the place her grandmother called home.
This is a book to curl up with, whether on the beach or in front of a roaring fire. It never disappoints and has left me looking forward to book two. Excellent.
March 2, 2021
This was a great witchy ghost story.
June 6, 2018
For those of you looking for your next great mystery/horror novel, look no further...this is it! When Ellie Whitaker volunteers to make the trip down to Key West to spread her beloved Nana's ashes at the ancestral family home, the home her Nana was forced to sell after the death of her seafaring husband, she is unaware of the spooky events that will quickly ensnare her, pulling her into the shadow of her family's dark and mysterious past. Secrets and intrigue abound as she learns from both the living and the dead about the dark deeds and evil doings surrounding the legend of a lost fortune in Spanish gold, Ellie's grandfather's quest to find it, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his untimely death. Set against the backdrop of historic Key West, with its quaint beauty and quirky and colorful locals, and the threat of an impending hurricane, Gaby Triana's latest novel, Island of Bones, will have you turning the pages late into the night! Looking forward to her next book in the Haunted Florida series!
June 16, 2018
4.5 stars...
Really good ghost story w/ a curse, missing treasure and an unsolved murder set in Key West, Florida amidst a developing hurricane. Never a dull moment and I thought Triana did a nice job capturing some of the essence and history of Florida and the Keys. Looking forward to her next book.
Really good ghost story w/ a curse, missing treasure and an unsolved murder set in Key West, Florida amidst a developing hurricane. Never a dull moment and I thought Triana did a nice job capturing some of the essence and history of Florida and the Keys. Looking forward to her next book.
June 10, 2020
**Review originally posted on Kendall Reviews**
http://kendallreviews.com/book-review...
ISLAND OF BONES is a great story that blends mystery and suspense with elements of the supernatural. I was hooked on this one from the intro, which gave a glimpse into the protagonist’s family history, and set the stage for the engaging story that followed.
I spoke in another recent review about setting as a character, and I certainly felt that with this novel. This story is mainly set in Key West, Florida, and this adds to the whole vibe of the novel, as you can practically feel the surroundings along with the main character, Ellie. The isolation of the island setting adds to the mounting feelings of anxiety and dread that go along with her journey. Speaking of characters, I definitely clicked with the main character and also enjoyed learning more about her grandmother’s journey. It’s not hard to dislike the main antagonist, but it’s also easy to have some empathy for her situation as well at certain points in the story.
There’s a lot of history woven into this story, and while this can sometimes overwhelm me as a reader, that was not the case in this book. The author did an excellent job sharing the history of both the location and the protagonist’s family. This is done mostly through flashbacks or visions experienced by Ellie, as well as her encounters with ghostly visitors and her discovery of artifacts. At certain times she is able to see through the eyes of the spirits, and I loved how vivid these experiences were.
The pacing is also very well done. There’s an impending hurricane upon Ellie’s arrival to the island, and the physical storm builds along with the tension in the story, leading up to an unforgettable and memorable climax.
I enjoyed Ellie’s character and seeing her go through a transformation of sorts throughout the story. Ellie and her grandma are standouts as strong female characters, and there are strong themes of family, ancestral ties, and homecoming mixed into this story. A connection with the characters and feeling the heart of the story are both important to me. I found those aspects of the writing to be strong throughout this novel, and I’ve already added the other two books from the author’s Haunted Florida series to my TBR list. If you’re looking for a well-paced thriller with intrigue and a hint of magic, I’d recommend adding this to your shelf.
http://kendallreviews.com/book-review...
ISLAND OF BONES is a great story that blends mystery and suspense with elements of the supernatural. I was hooked on this one from the intro, which gave a glimpse into the protagonist’s family history, and set the stage for the engaging story that followed.
I spoke in another recent review about setting as a character, and I certainly felt that with this novel. This story is mainly set in Key West, Florida, and this adds to the whole vibe of the novel, as you can practically feel the surroundings along with the main character, Ellie. The isolation of the island setting adds to the mounting feelings of anxiety and dread that go along with her journey. Speaking of characters, I definitely clicked with the main character and also enjoyed learning more about her grandmother’s journey. It’s not hard to dislike the main antagonist, but it’s also easy to have some empathy for her situation as well at certain points in the story.
There’s a lot of history woven into this story, and while this can sometimes overwhelm me as a reader, that was not the case in this book. The author did an excellent job sharing the history of both the location and the protagonist’s family. This is done mostly through flashbacks or visions experienced by Ellie, as well as her encounters with ghostly visitors and her discovery of artifacts. At certain times she is able to see through the eyes of the spirits, and I loved how vivid these experiences were.
The pacing is also very well done. There’s an impending hurricane upon Ellie’s arrival to the island, and the physical storm builds along with the tension in the story, leading up to an unforgettable and memorable climax.
I enjoyed Ellie’s character and seeing her go through a transformation of sorts throughout the story. Ellie and her grandma are standouts as strong female characters, and there are strong themes of family, ancestral ties, and homecoming mixed into this story. A connection with the characters and feeling the heart of the story are both important to me. I found those aspects of the writing to be strong throughout this novel, and I’ve already added the other two books from the author’s Haunted Florida series to my TBR list. If you’re looking for a well-paced thriller with intrigue and a hint of magic, I’d recommend adding this to your shelf.
June 16, 2018
There is never a slow moment in Island of Bones by Gaby Triana and once I started reading, I could not put it down. A young lady searches for family connections and herself and finds much more than she bargained for. Traveling from Boston to Key West alone, she must accept her special gifts and overcome her fears to find the truth. Triana writes in such a way that you can feel yourself there in the story. I recommend this book to all who enjoy a good mystery with twists and turns.
July 26, 2021
This is my first time reading a story from this author longer than a short, and she nails it: the pacing, the characters, and especially the setting. You feel like you're in the Keys during a hurricane while reading it, and the twists and turns kept me reading. I will be reading more novels from the author in the future, too
April 17, 2020
Good plot!
Well written story! Scary but slightly romantic, with a little gross thrown in. I hope to read the next book in the series!
Well written story! Scary but slightly romantic, with a little gross thrown in. I hope to read the next book in the series!
May 1, 2022
More of a murder mystery, where ghosts appear to point out clues then an actual horror book. The plot was decent but the main character kind of annoyed me.
June 2, 2018
Being a fan of Gaby Triana's Wake the Hollow, I couldn't wait to dive into Island of Bones. I was not disappointed. I LOVED this book! It had all the ingredients I look for in a Horror book. The Key West locale made for a spooky atmospheric setting. I found myself glancing at moving shadows more than once. Ellie made for a great main character and I was with her every step of the way. Well, maybe a step behind her. I definitely recommend, and hope Gaby Triana does more Horror in the future!
October 14, 2018
Review Copy
I've stepped back a bit from reading and reviewing this year. Now that I'm retired I have so many more options for my time. For that reason, I haven't been reading as many new authors, or maybe I should say authors I haven't read before. I tend to read what I want to read by those I'm already familiar with. That being said, when Gaby Triana reached out to me requesting I read and review her new book, Island of Bones, I was a bit hesitant, until she mentioned Tim Waggoner had suggested she contact me. Tim is one of my favorite authors and I've been fortunate to read more than a dozen of his books in the six years I've been reviewing horror. So, his recommendation was good enough for me.
"I was Ellie Whitaker, unmarried, childless, and twenty-six years old. And I'd been dreaming. I wasn't dreaming as myself. I was dreaming as Nana."
When Ellie's Nana, Leanne Drudge, passed away, it was decided to return her ashes to her old home in Key West, Casa de los Cayos. The problem was that was a long time ago and Ellie had no idea where the house even was. Not to be deterred, Ellie set's out on her quest and battles the owner of the current property, a category two hurricane, and ghosts to return her grandmother to her ancestral home and find the truth about her history.
"Nostalgia for a place I'd never known hit me hard. The drink wasn't helping either. Everyone had someone to party with, and I was alone with a ghost in my purse and memories of a place I'd never been.
The author has a light touch in telling her ghostly tale and fills her story with believable characters, some charming, others disagreeable, but all richly developed.
The title, Island of Bones, comes from the English translation of the original Spanish name for Key West, Cayo Hueso.
All told, Island of Bones is one of the better pure ghost stories I've read recently, and one I can easily recommend.
The work is self-published and is available in both paperback and e-book formats.
From the author's bio - Gaby Triana is the bestselling author of horror and YA novels, Island of Bones, Cakespell, Wake the Hollow, Summer of Yesterday, and many more, as well as 40+ ghostwritten novels for best-selling authors. When she's not obsessing over Halloween, Christmas, or the paranormal, she's taking her family to Disney World, the Grand Canyon, LA, New York, or Key West. Gaby dreams of living in the forests of New England one day but for the meantime resides in sunny Miami with her boys, Michael, Noah, and Murphy, her husband Curtis, their dog, Chloe, and four cats—Daisy, Mickey Meows, Paris, and Bowie.
I've stepped back a bit from reading and reviewing this year. Now that I'm retired I have so many more options for my time. For that reason, I haven't been reading as many new authors, or maybe I should say authors I haven't read before. I tend to read what I want to read by those I'm already familiar with. That being said, when Gaby Triana reached out to me requesting I read and review her new book, Island of Bones, I was a bit hesitant, until she mentioned Tim Waggoner had suggested she contact me. Tim is one of my favorite authors and I've been fortunate to read more than a dozen of his books in the six years I've been reviewing horror. So, his recommendation was good enough for me.
"I was Ellie Whitaker, unmarried, childless, and twenty-six years old. And I'd been dreaming. I wasn't dreaming as myself. I was dreaming as Nana."
When Ellie's Nana, Leanne Drudge, passed away, it was decided to return her ashes to her old home in Key West, Casa de los Cayos. The problem was that was a long time ago and Ellie had no idea where the house even was. Not to be deterred, Ellie set's out on her quest and battles the owner of the current property, a category two hurricane, and ghosts to return her grandmother to her ancestral home and find the truth about her history.
"Nostalgia for a place I'd never known hit me hard. The drink wasn't helping either. Everyone had someone to party with, and I was alone with a ghost in my purse and memories of a place I'd never been.
The author has a light touch in telling her ghostly tale and fills her story with believable characters, some charming, others disagreeable, but all richly developed.
The title, Island of Bones, comes from the English translation of the original Spanish name for Key West, Cayo Hueso.
All told, Island of Bones is one of the better pure ghost stories I've read recently, and one I can easily recommend.
The work is self-published and is available in both paperback and e-book formats.
From the author's bio - Gaby Triana is the bestselling author of horror and YA novels, Island of Bones, Cakespell, Wake the Hollow, Summer of Yesterday, and many more, as well as 40+ ghostwritten novels for best-selling authors. When she's not obsessing over Halloween, Christmas, or the paranormal, she's taking her family to Disney World, the Grand Canyon, LA, New York, or Key West. Gaby dreams of living in the forests of New England one day but for the meantime resides in sunny Miami with her boys, Michael, Noah, and Murphy, her husband Curtis, their dog, Chloe, and four cats—Daisy, Mickey Meows, Paris, and Bowie.
February 25, 2020
My fiancée loves Key West and thinks we should go visit. And I’d like to…before it sinks, which at the rate things are going is probably going to be in a fairly near future. But until that trip is a possibility, I figured I’d visit it the literary way, the way I do most of my traveling, via a book. But this didn’t turn out to be an especially memorable visit for me. Although a very exciting one for the book’s protagonist, a young woman who goes to Key West to scatter her grandma’s ashes in a place her grandma was once the happiest only to find out the dangerous mysteries of the past. There are pirates and treasures and ghosts and all the elements that should have made this one really fun, but the writing (and the main character for that matter) was very bland and plain (as much as I don’t like to use the word…basic) and in the end it just wasn’t all that exciting. Maybe the overimplicity of writing comes from author’s YA days, not sure. It was perfectly serviceable, professionally edited and all that, but writing wise just about on the level for an average kindle freebie or slightly below that. Not just a freebie either, a tease, an invitation to a series, one I’m comfortable passing on. Some plot twists for suspense fans. Some mild scares for fans of supernatural. Not enough Key West scenery. Quick read.
September 7, 2018
Interesting book about a families history in the Florida Keys!! Loved the locale, as I visit Key West every April! Good ghosts, a murder solved, gruesome discoveries! This was a good read!!
June 5, 2021
Goodie
This was a Goodie.. I enjoyed the style.. It was terrible to see that jealousy was the base of all the evil in these people.
This was a Goodie.. I enjoyed the style.. It was terrible to see that jealousy was the base of all the evil in these people.
July 19, 2018
To read it not to read
I normally don't read these type of books about ghosts and spirits but now I feel i have been missing out. This author is very very good. The characters are well thought out, the story gets better the more you read. I really enjoyed this book because it was not what I thought it would be cause of the super natural. I recommend this book to everyone even if you are not into this type of story. Can't wait to read her other books.
I normally don't read these type of books about ghosts and spirits but now I feel i have been missing out. This author is very very good. The characters are well thought out, the story gets better the more you read. I really enjoyed this book because it was not what I thought it would be cause of the super natural. I recommend this book to everyone even if you are not into this type of story. Can't wait to read her other books.
June 4, 2020
If you're looking for a good ghost story and a strong female lead (both good and bad, to admire and despise), this is your book. The writing is fantastic and you won't forget it quickly.
October 9, 2023
What a fantastic story of generations of family both good and terrible. I loved the setting in Key West.
July 5, 2018
A must read
Wow This book is packed full of years worth of secrets!the story was just great it draws you in and keeps you hooked until the very last page.when Ellie travels to key West to scatter the ashes of her beloved grandmother she runs into more mysteries then she bargained for in the form of the owner of ellies family home.a home that was stolen from ellies grandparents.you will not want to put this book down until the very end.
Wow This book is packed full of years worth of secrets!the story was just great it draws you in and keeps you hooked until the very last page.when Ellie travels to key West to scatter the ashes of her beloved grandmother she runs into more mysteries then she bargained for in the form of the owner of ellies family home.a home that was stolen from ellies grandparents.you will not want to put this book down until the very end.
June 7, 2018
Twenty-something Ellie returns to Key West to spread her grandmother’s ashes – and blows open a semi-hidden curse – in Triana’s brilliantly-written new horror novel. But something is a little off at the inn that was once her family’s homestead – lost after her sea captain grandfather’s mysterious disappearance in 1951.
Ellie owes it to her grandmother’s memory to stay and find out the truth. All she needs to do is reconnect with her long-feared psychic abilities (in one of the few funny scenes in the book, her spiritual guide tricks her into throwing her Zoloft into the ocean so she can connect better with spirits), survive a hurricane, and fight off a homicidal, one-eyed innkeeper.
There is just enough information about Key West’s complex history and landscape to orient the reader without telling or boring them, something few writers in any fiction genre get right. It’s a very complex story with a lot of converging sub-plots (horrors in the natural and supernatural realms) , which Triana ties together in that beautiful way that leaves your brain twisting for days afterward.
Triana has nailed horrific scenes with a maximum of action and creepiness and a minimum of gore. I kept reading on, expecting for a certain trope to be met – notably, Ellie ends the book without a guy and without a cheesy girl power speech – and getting a curveball instead.
I received a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I’m eagerly awaiting the next Haunted Florida book!
Ellie owes it to her grandmother’s memory to stay and find out the truth. All she needs to do is reconnect with her long-feared psychic abilities (in one of the few funny scenes in the book, her spiritual guide tricks her into throwing her Zoloft into the ocean so she can connect better with spirits), survive a hurricane, and fight off a homicidal, one-eyed innkeeper.
There is just enough information about Key West’s complex history and landscape to orient the reader without telling or boring them, something few writers in any fiction genre get right. It’s a very complex story with a lot of converging sub-plots (horrors in the natural and supernatural realms) , which Triana ties together in that beautiful way that leaves your brain twisting for days afterward.
Triana has nailed horrific scenes with a maximum of action and creepiness and a minimum of gore. I kept reading on, expecting for a certain trope to be met – notably, Ellie ends the book without a guy and without a cheesy girl power speech – and getting a curveball instead.
I received a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I’m eagerly awaiting the next Haunted Florida book!
June 5, 2018
This was an action packed read with just the perfect amount of spookiness without going over the top. Ellie was likable and as she goes back to her grandmother's home to spread her ashes she discovers more of herself and her family's history. Loved that it was set in Key West. I haven't read much in that locale and loved the descriptions and the seemingly different way of life. The book ended very well, no cliffhangers. This was my first read by this author and it won't be the last. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader’s copy.
June 9, 2018
Gaby Triana takes an island paradise, a little witchcraft, and lost treasure and weaves them into a compelling ghost story. I literally read the book in less than 24 hours. Couldn’t put it down. The opening scenes set the tone, and lure you into the background while also compelling you to root for Leanne and Ellie. I can’t wait for her to write more adult horror and ghost stories, and look forward to reading her young adult books even as a 57 year old.
May 4, 2023
Atmospheric & Mysterious
This is the second book I've read by Gaby Triana. The first was Moon Child, & it was AMAZING. I highly recommend it! While Island of Bones didn't resonate with me as strongly as Moon Child did, it was still a terrific book. I think what I like best about Gaby Triana's work is the way she blends history & the paranormal with mystery & compelling characters in such a way that the story just comes alive.
From the beginning, Island of Bones had an eerie vibe that I loved. (Moon Child was also excellently eerie & atmospheric.) The heroine is Ellie Whitaker, who has travelled to the Florida Keys— Key West, to be exact— to spread the ashes of her beloved grandmother, Leanne, who recently passed. Feeling a strange, otherworldly pull, Ellie seeks out the home Leanne shared with her boat captain grandfather, Bill. Bill was a treasure hunter who disappeared, leaving his adoring wife & their young daughter (Ellie's mother) alone amongst the locals who hated Leanne for being different. Eventually Leanne was forced to sell the house & leave, but she never stopped loving it.
Ellie initially only wanted to spread her grandmother's ashes & maybe see the home she had so loved. But she isn't on Key West very long when she learns that there is so much more to the story than she suspected. As a hurricane rolls in, Ellie starts seeing spirits & glimpses of the past that reveal the truth about the nasty neighbors who bought Leanne's beloved home, what happened to Ellie's grandfather, & more. Sucked into the mystery, she decides to brave the storm, only to learn the hurricane may not be the greatest danger she faces. Although a lot is going on, Triana does a great job feeding readers small crumbs of information until finally all is revealed.
The writing is fast paced & sucks the reader in almost immediately. Island of Bones is a standalone book, but it is also one of three books called the Haunted Florida novels. Triana's love for Florida is evident throughout the story. (Moon Child is also partially set in Florida, & the setting is integral to that story, as well.) In Island of Bones, Key West is a character in & of itself, written with a vividness & heart that brings the setting to life. The island's actual history is interwoven with fictional events, giving the story a higher level of realism. Little details make the reader feel as if they can feel the humidity & smell the sea salt in the air. In my case this is particularly true since I decided to start reading the Haunted Florida books during a Florida vacation!
The only complaint I really have with Island of Bones is that I had a hard time warming up to Ellie. Some of her choices had me really rolling my eyes, & it took her way too long to accept the otherworldly aspects of the story that were practically beating her over the head. I usually read books with more of an ensemble cast, so I was also a bit disappointed that there were no additional characters to get to know; all of the supporting characters were just there to prop up Ellie's journey (although I did get a great sense of Leanne & Bill from the flashbacks).
Despite a few small problems, I really enjoyed this book & I'm looking forward to reading the other two Haunted Florida books. I would absolutely recommend not only this book, but Gaby Triana's work in general. As I said above, Moon Child was incredible, & Island of Bones was a great story, too. I can't wait to see what kind of haunting tale Triana brings to the table next!
This is the second book I've read by Gaby Triana. The first was Moon Child, & it was AMAZING. I highly recommend it! While Island of Bones didn't resonate with me as strongly as Moon Child did, it was still a terrific book. I think what I like best about Gaby Triana's work is the way she blends history & the paranormal with mystery & compelling characters in such a way that the story just comes alive.
From the beginning, Island of Bones had an eerie vibe that I loved. (Moon Child was also excellently eerie & atmospheric.) The heroine is Ellie Whitaker, who has travelled to the Florida Keys— Key West, to be exact— to spread the ashes of her beloved grandmother, Leanne, who recently passed. Feeling a strange, otherworldly pull, Ellie seeks out the home Leanne shared with her boat captain grandfather, Bill. Bill was a treasure hunter who disappeared, leaving his adoring wife & their young daughter (Ellie's mother) alone amongst the locals who hated Leanne for being different. Eventually Leanne was forced to sell the house & leave, but she never stopped loving it.
Ellie initially only wanted to spread her grandmother's ashes & maybe see the home she had so loved. But she isn't on Key West very long when she learns that there is so much more to the story than she suspected. As a hurricane rolls in, Ellie starts seeing spirits & glimpses of the past that reveal the truth about the nasty neighbors who bought Leanne's beloved home, what happened to Ellie's grandfather, & more. Sucked into the mystery, she decides to brave the storm, only to learn the hurricane may not be the greatest danger she faces. Although a lot is going on, Triana does a great job feeding readers small crumbs of information until finally all is revealed.
The writing is fast paced & sucks the reader in almost immediately. Island of Bones is a standalone book, but it is also one of three books called the Haunted Florida novels. Triana's love for Florida is evident throughout the story. (Moon Child is also partially set in Florida, & the setting is integral to that story, as well.) In Island of Bones, Key West is a character in & of itself, written with a vividness & heart that brings the setting to life. The island's actual history is interwoven with fictional events, giving the story a higher level of realism. Little details make the reader feel as if they can feel the humidity & smell the sea salt in the air. In my case this is particularly true since I decided to start reading the Haunted Florida books during a Florida vacation!
The only complaint I really have with Island of Bones is that I had a hard time warming up to Ellie. Some of her choices had me really rolling my eyes, & it took her way too long to accept the otherworldly aspects of the story that were practically beating her over the head. I usually read books with more of an ensemble cast, so I was also a bit disappointed that there were no additional characters to get to know; all of the supporting characters were just there to prop up Ellie's journey (although I did get a great sense of Leanne & Bill from the flashbacks).
Despite a few small problems, I really enjoyed this book & I'm looking forward to reading the other two Haunted Florida books. I would absolutely recommend not only this book, but Gaby Triana's work in general. As I said above, Moon Child was incredible, & Island of Bones was a great story, too. I can't wait to see what kind of haunting tale Triana brings to the table next!
August 5, 2018
Island of Bones is the first book of Gaby Triana’s Haunted Florida series as well as her first book published since her transition from a young adult author to a horror author. The novel revolves around Ellie Whitaker, a young lady who travels to Key West to spreads the ashes of her Grandmother at her old home during the 1950s. The task is not as easy as it seems, as Ellie must cope with a pending hurricane, newly awakened senses with the supernatural, and an unhinged woman from her Grandma’s past in search of hidden gold.
As can be deduced from this abbreviated synopsis, Island of Bones is ambitious at juggling quite a few genres: ghost stories, home invasion-horror, tropical-gothic, and even treasure hunting. For the most part, all the genres gel together fairly well.
The body count of Island of Bones is fairly low, never venturing into splatterpunk or becoming too gory. Much of the horror comes from other avenues. For the first two-thirds of the book it stems from Ellie’s sanity as she tries to strike a balance with ghosts from the past trespassing into her visions, along with trying to survive a developing hurricane. The last third of the novel instead becomes a variation of the home-invasion horror genre, instead of monsters/slasher villains trying to get inside the home, the protagonist is instead trapped inside the home of the monster/killer/and so on, all while the hurricane rages full force. Each chapter holds quite a bit of tension as Ellie negotiates all the different forces (supernatural, natural, human) acting against her. Triana balances and depicts this struggle quite well.
The treasure hunting aspect of Island of the Bones is both the most unique aspect of the novel and also its weakest element. Rather than any detective work from Ellie in trying to solve the mystery of the treasure, most of the narrative is spoon-fed to her by happenstance/dictated by the story. For example, when she shows up in Key West and asks for a hotel suggestion to stay at, it turns out to be her grandma’s old house. Another example is while she is trapped inside a room, the hurricane opens a secret passage to her. Ellie does’t so much solve the mysteries of the treasure as much as other factors reveal things to her.
Aside from this, Island of Bones succeeds in what it seems to accomplish. Tropical horror is not a genre explored as often, (after all folks don’t equate paradise with horror), but Island of Bones is a standout entry in the literary camp of the niche subgenre. For a first foray into adult horror, Triana is most successful and it will be great to see how she expands her world with book two of her Haunted World series, River of Ghosts.
As can be deduced from this abbreviated synopsis, Island of Bones is ambitious at juggling quite a few genres: ghost stories, home invasion-horror, tropical-gothic, and even treasure hunting. For the most part, all the genres gel together fairly well.
The body count of Island of Bones is fairly low, never venturing into splatterpunk or becoming too gory. Much of the horror comes from other avenues. For the first two-thirds of the book it stems from Ellie’s sanity as she tries to strike a balance with ghosts from the past trespassing into her visions, along with trying to survive a developing hurricane. The last third of the novel instead becomes a variation of the home-invasion horror genre, instead of monsters/slasher villains trying to get inside the home, the protagonist is instead trapped inside the home of the monster/killer/and so on, all while the hurricane rages full force. Each chapter holds quite a bit of tension as Ellie negotiates all the different forces (supernatural, natural, human) acting against her. Triana balances and depicts this struggle quite well.
The treasure hunting aspect of Island of the Bones is both the most unique aspect of the novel and also its weakest element. Rather than any detective work from Ellie in trying to solve the mystery of the treasure, most of the narrative is spoon-fed to her by happenstance/dictated by the story. For example, when she shows up in Key West and asks for a hotel suggestion to stay at, it turns out to be her grandma’s old house. Another example is while she is trapped inside a room, the hurricane opens a secret passage to her. Ellie does’t so much solve the mysteries of the treasure as much as other factors reveal things to her.
Aside from this, Island of Bones succeeds in what it seems to accomplish. Tropical horror is not a genre explored as often, (after all folks don’t equate paradise with horror), but Island of Bones is a standout entry in the literary camp of the niche subgenre. For a first foray into adult horror, Triana is most successful and it will be great to see how she expands her world with book two of her Haunted World series, River of Ghosts.
June 12, 2020
Gaby Triana’s Island of Bones (Haunted Florida) pulled me in so thoroughly that when I finished it I looked up, blinked a few times, and realized it was more than an hour past when I wanted to go to bed.
It’s 1951, and Leanne Drudge’s husband has been lost at sea in a boating accident while looking for sunken treasure. Her neighbors are all too happy to run her out of her house when she can’t make her mortgage payments, so she curses the house on her way out of town. In the present day, Ellie, Leanne’s 26-year-old granddaughter, just got broken up with by her boyfriend and her Nana has died. She decides to take some time off and take Leanne’s remains to spread them at the house she loved so much, Casa de los Cayos. She heads from Boston to Key West, Florida, and since she didn’t suss out a place to stay ahead of time, ends up staying in a dilapidated bed-and-breakfast run by a very sour woman, Syndia. It has a reputation for being haunted, and soon she starts hearing and seeing things. The property’s cat, Bacon, has developed quite an attachment to her, but Syndia clearly wants her gone.
First, the one and only thing in this book that bothered me: Ellie takes Zoloft for mental illness symptoms. Of course it turns out that with the drug in her system, she can’t fully hear and see the ghosts that come to her. This is written with some nuance, because she’s pretty clear on the fact that she needed that medication when she was younger and couldn’t handle it. But I still dislike plot lines in which a person discovers that their mental illness is actually a special ability and that they should just go off of a med without any oversight from a doctor (withdrawal symptoms can last for weeks).
That over with, I can gush about the rest of the book. The characters are wonderful. There’s more to Syndia than meets the eye. Nottie, a nurse taking care of Syndia’s mother, is only seen occasionally but is deftly given depth within those moments. Luis, a guide who gives “ghost tours,” is able to help Ellie fill in some of the blanks of what happened to her grandmother and grandfather. Ellie is having trouble adjusting to her ability to see ghosts, and she’s a nice blend of smartness, earnestness, and the occasional bit of snark.
There’s also a tropical storm headed for Key West, and Ellie feels she can’t leave yet, so she decides to stay. There are secrets for her to uncover, and soon she finds herself fighting for her life on multiple fronts. The writing is so bloody good. I was hooked from the start and could NOT put this book down. The pacing is masterful, gradually building up a riveting tension.
I would absolutely read more by this author! Since this book is labeled as “a Haunted Florida novel,” I have some hope she might write other books in this setting!
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/06/r...
It’s 1951, and Leanne Drudge’s husband has been lost at sea in a boating accident while looking for sunken treasure. Her neighbors are all too happy to run her out of her house when she can’t make her mortgage payments, so she curses the house on her way out of town. In the present day, Ellie, Leanne’s 26-year-old granddaughter, just got broken up with by her boyfriend and her Nana has died. She decides to take some time off and take Leanne’s remains to spread them at the house she loved so much, Casa de los Cayos. She heads from Boston to Key West, Florida, and since she didn’t suss out a place to stay ahead of time, ends up staying in a dilapidated bed-and-breakfast run by a very sour woman, Syndia. It has a reputation for being haunted, and soon she starts hearing and seeing things. The property’s cat, Bacon, has developed quite an attachment to her, but Syndia clearly wants her gone.
First, the one and only thing in this book that bothered me: Ellie takes Zoloft for mental illness symptoms. Of course it turns out that with the drug in her system, she can’t fully hear and see the ghosts that come to her. This is written with some nuance, because she’s pretty clear on the fact that she needed that medication when she was younger and couldn’t handle it. But I still dislike plot lines in which a person discovers that their mental illness is actually a special ability and that they should just go off of a med without any oversight from a doctor (withdrawal symptoms can last for weeks).
That over with, I can gush about the rest of the book. The characters are wonderful. There’s more to Syndia than meets the eye. Nottie, a nurse taking care of Syndia’s mother, is only seen occasionally but is deftly given depth within those moments. Luis, a guide who gives “ghost tours,” is able to help Ellie fill in some of the blanks of what happened to her grandmother and grandfather. Ellie is having trouble adjusting to her ability to see ghosts, and she’s a nice blend of smartness, earnestness, and the occasional bit of snark.
There’s also a tropical storm headed for Key West, and Ellie feels she can’t leave yet, so she decides to stay. There are secrets for her to uncover, and soon she finds herself fighting for her life on multiple fronts. The writing is so bloody good. I was hooked from the start and could NOT put this book down. The pacing is masterful, gradually building up a riveting tension.
I would absolutely read more by this author! Since this book is labeled as “a Haunted Florida novel,” I have some hope she might write other books in this setting!
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/06/r...
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