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When Darkness Calls
Trying to fit in as the new kid in town, Ellie is delighted when she is singled out by the most popular clique in school until she learns of the group's ugly cult membership and its devotion to murderous secrets. Original.
150 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1996
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November 11, 2014
Summary: After the death of her father, Ellie and her mother moved to another state so her mother can start a new life. At her new school, Ellie feels lonely without her old friends but become interested in some clique lead by Peter Drake. Peter Drake seems interested in her that she become excited. As she becomes more acquainted with the group, she realized that she can't handle the group and wants out. However the group won't let her go, especially Peter who seems to have powers to do so.
Basically, this is the same type of plot that always occur in this genre that follows like this:
1. Girl joins group that has to have a charismatic leader because it interests her or she feels lonely.
2. Her best friend or boyfriend warns about the group.
3. After joining group, girl realizes the group is not her type and wants our.
4. Group leader won't have that and tries to force her to join or attempt to kill her to prevent group's secrets from being revealed.
However, the book is still entertaining due to suspense of how Ellie would try to get out of group and the group’s involvement in Satanism can be unnerving sometimes. Speaking of Satanism, I think this is the first book that has a group involved in Satanism and it took up to 1996. I could be wrong but I’m really surprise there’s not a lot of books that have Satanism as any group’s motive,
Is the book scary? I mention that Satanism can be unnerving; especially the fact there’s a part where Ellie discovers some ritual set up with bones and bloodstains, although they’re fake. Though, I think this will scare mostly those who aren’t familiar with Satanism. This book wasn’t scary. Although, I’m not too much familiar with Satanism beliefs, I do feel it’s exaggerated a bit when the book seems to associate Satanism as people are evil without any moral grounds and involvement of corpses for rituals.
There are hints of supernatural events (not surprising since the book involves Satanism) such as whether Peter Drake is not as human as he seems but rather more like the devil like when a cat scratches his hand but the scratch disappears, when Ellie kisses him she felt that she’s thrown into darkness and gets a whiff of sulfur, or the fact Peter Drake knows some of her information without her telling him. I actually like this part because it makes that whenever this guy appears, I feel sense of foreboding from him and wonder what’s he going to do but that’s all I can say about him as his character is nothing much.
None of the characters are interesting. Ellie is the typical nice and sympathetic girl who wants a job as part of government and struggles with her father’s death. There’s not much I can say about her after that; I mean she doesn’t like when her mother goes with her male coworker because it disrespects her father which I guess from that Ellie really do care for her dad but meh. But she is sympathetic as she’s thrust in situations she’s doesn’t know how to handle and that she isn’t mean or really stupid, just a bit desperate for her goals. and lonely.
Ethan’s meh as well. He’s the natural jealous but somewhat possessive boyfriend as he wants her to join him on dates but forgiving when they part ways and realized her miss her. That’s it. I normally don’t like the possessive boyfriend’s type but I do recall that Ethan’s tamer than YA horror boyfriend as in more abusive somewhat so I’ll let it slide.
Ellie has a psychic aunt but she’s useless and I wonder if she has any relevance to the book.
The group is typical. They do bad things because they feel right to do so. That’s it. No distinction among them.
This book seems really moralistic between good vs evil. Good associates with Ellie who has a goal to follow, a churchgoer as she always ponders topics like choices and her dad’s death with God, never take drugs, and squeamish against violence. The bad represents the Satanists high school group who all wear black clothes, leader wears a pendant that has Baphomet symbol, smoke marijuana, enjoy evil as it lets do them whatever they want, play violent videogames, and listen heavy metal songs. I think this is why I rate the book a little lower because of its obvious message about good vs evil when the book makes Ellie pure and exaggerates the worst of Satanist group that sounds like something a really religious fanatic would considers bad teenagers to be of instead of being more depth about the good vs evil.
This book’s average with bland characters, plot you already seen in this genre, and the obvious message. But it’s still fun and suspenseful as reasons above. For recommendation, I think this book is for those who enjoys cheesy 90s horror to pass time.
Basically, this is the same type of plot that always occur in this genre that follows like this:
1. Girl joins group that has to have a charismatic leader because it interests her or she feels lonely.
2. Her best friend or boyfriend warns about the group.
3. After joining group, girl realizes the group is not her type and wants our.
4. Group leader won't have that and tries to force her to join or attempt to kill her to prevent group's secrets from being revealed.
However, the book is still entertaining due to suspense of how Ellie would try to get out of group and the group’s involvement in Satanism can be unnerving sometimes. Speaking of Satanism, I think this is the first book that has a group involved in Satanism and it took up to 1996. I could be wrong but I’m really surprise there’s not a lot of books that have Satanism as any group’s motive,
Is the book scary? I mention that Satanism can be unnerving; especially the fact there’s a part where Ellie discovers some ritual set up with bones and bloodstains, although they’re fake. Though, I think this will scare mostly those who aren’t familiar with Satanism. This book wasn’t scary. Although, I’m not too much familiar with Satanism beliefs, I do feel it’s exaggerated a bit when the book seems to associate Satanism as people are evil without any moral grounds and involvement of corpses for rituals.
There are hints of supernatural events (not surprising since the book involves Satanism) such as whether Peter Drake is not as human as he seems but rather more like the devil like when a cat scratches his hand but the scratch disappears, when Ellie kisses him she felt that she’s thrown into darkness and gets a whiff of sulfur, or the fact Peter Drake knows some of her information without her telling him. I actually like this part because it makes that whenever this guy appears, I feel sense of foreboding from him and wonder what’s he going to do but that’s all I can say about him as his character is nothing much.
None of the characters are interesting. Ellie is the typical nice and sympathetic girl who wants a job as part of government and struggles with her father’s death. There’s not much I can say about her after that; I mean she doesn’t like when her mother goes with her male coworker because it disrespects her father which I guess from that Ellie really do care for her dad but meh. But she is sympathetic as she’s thrust in situations she’s doesn’t know how to handle and that she isn’t mean or really stupid, just a bit desperate for her goals. and lonely.
Ethan’s meh as well. He’s the natural jealous but somewhat possessive boyfriend as he wants her to join him on dates but forgiving when they part ways and realized her miss her. That’s it. I normally don’t like the possessive boyfriend’s type but I do recall that Ethan’s tamer than YA horror boyfriend as in more abusive somewhat so I’ll let it slide.
Ellie has a psychic aunt but she’s useless and I wonder if she has any relevance to the book.
The group is typical. They do bad things because they feel right to do so. That’s it. No distinction among them.
This book seems really moralistic between good vs evil. Good associates with Ellie who has a goal to follow, a churchgoer as she always ponders topics like choices and her dad’s death with God, never take drugs, and squeamish against violence. The bad represents the Satanists high school group who all wear black clothes, leader wears a pendant that has Baphomet symbol, smoke marijuana, enjoy evil as it lets do them whatever they want, play violent videogames, and listen heavy metal songs. I think this is why I rate the book a little lower because of its obvious message about good vs evil when the book makes Ellie pure and exaggerates the worst of Satanist group that sounds like something a really religious fanatic would considers bad teenagers to be of instead of being more depth about the good vs evil.
This book’s average with bland characters, plot you already seen in this genre, and the obvious message. But it’s still fun and suspenseful as reasons above. For recommendation, I think this book is for those who enjoys cheesy 90s horror to pass time.
Displaying 1 of 1 review