What do you think?
Jonny Roberts #1
The Spirit in the Crypt
Ever wondered what it feels like to speak to the dead? When fifteen-year-old Jonny Roberts goes out with his friends on a summer night, he doesn’t expect to be forced to enter a crypt. To look at skeletons decaying in their graves.
To hear the voice, screaming at him. Screaming into his mind. Commanding him to leave.
For weeks afterwards, he is filled with dread, terror as to what the voice might have belonged to. A demon? A ghost? In his nightmares, skeletons strangle him. And when they clear, he has the mysterious nightmare of the girl from his school, making the long walk across the graveyard, and disappearing into the crypt. Never leaving before his waking.
It's when something awful happens to this girl that his fear turns to panic. Panic which will force him to unravel the mystery of the crypt, and in doing so, many mysteries about himself.
Book one in the chilling Jonny Roberts series! Follow everyone's favourite teen ghost-hunter in Lound's heart-stopping stories!
To hear the voice, screaming at him. Screaming into his mind. Commanding him to leave.
For weeks afterwards, he is filled with dread, terror as to what the voice might have belonged to. A demon? A ghost? In his nightmares, skeletons strangle him. And when they clear, he has the mysterious nightmare of the girl from his school, making the long walk across the graveyard, and disappearing into the crypt. Never leaving before his waking.
It's when something awful happens to this girl that his fear turns to panic. Panic which will force him to unravel the mystery of the crypt, and in doing so, many mysteries about himself.
Book one in the chilling Jonny Roberts series! Follow everyone's favourite teen ghost-hunter in Lound's heart-stopping stories!
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
May 29, 2019
This book was sent to me by the author himself in exchange for an honest review. The Spirit in the Crypt is Alexander Lound’s debut novel, so I didn’t really know what to expect, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised. His storytelling is really “cozy”, so it draws you in before you even realize what’s happening.
I won’t add any major spoilers here, but I have to point out some facts. This book is the first in what will hopefully be the series of books about Jonny Roberts…who is a medium. Yup, you read that right- He freaked out too when he found out. Anyway, this is Jonny’s first case which he manages to tackle with the help of his new friend (who is also special in a way) Aron and his…mmm…well gf I guess, Cassy. Now add a bully, a dorky best friend, single mom, and an angry spirit to that mix, and you’ve got yourself a pretty fun evening read.
To conclude this brief review, I have to say that this book reminded me of R. L, Stine and Anthony Horowitz. I dunno if that makes any sense to anyone, but it gave me that “kids doing serious business” vibe. The plot itself has nothing to do with either Goosebumps, nor The Power of Five, but the undertone was similar and I really enjoyed it.
All in all, pretty quick and fun read, so I strongly recommend it.
I won’t add any major spoilers here, but I have to point out some facts. This book is the first in what will hopefully be the series of books about Jonny Roberts…who is a medium. Yup, you read that right- He freaked out too when he found out. Anyway, this is Jonny’s first case which he manages to tackle with the help of his new friend (who is also special in a way) Aron and his…mmm…well gf I guess, Cassy. Now add a bully, a dorky best friend, single mom, and an angry spirit to that mix, and you’ve got yourself a pretty fun evening read.
To conclude this brief review, I have to say that this book reminded me of R. L, Stine and Anthony Horowitz. I dunno if that makes any sense to anyone, but it gave me that “kids doing serious business” vibe. The plot itself has nothing to do with either Goosebumps, nor The Power of Five, but the undertone was similar and I really enjoyed it.
All in all, pretty quick and fun read, so I strongly recommend it.
January 19, 2020
The Spirit in the Crypt is an original and intriguing story. It's well written and mostly well paced. The character development and world building are spot on. The graveyard scenes are creepy! The explanation of the ghostly world stumbled a bit, and I think this part could use a little improvement with stronger and more concise dialogue as a new character is introduced. I giggled a few times at the wording and language--nothing wrong with it, just that I'm an American and I'm guessing this was written in the UK--I understood everything in context. Overall, 3.5 stars which rounds up to 4. I'm interested to see what happens in the next book!
(As of Jan 19, 2020-I see this book is 99 cents on kindle)
(As of Jan 19, 2020-I see this book is 99 cents on kindle)
July 5, 2020
The Spirit in the Crypt follows fifteen year old Jonathan's journey as he discovers he can talk to the dead. This ability compels Jon to solve mysteries involving spirits and helping them cross over "Limbo", the corrider between this world and the next.
🌙What I Loved:🌙
⭕Such stories involving evil spirits usually end with the hero trapping, smoking or casting them to hell or other variations. I loved the twist here! Jonathan had to make the spirits happy in order to help them cross over.
⭕Modern, conversational tone with simple, easy to understand writing.
⭕Relatable references to modern teen life: video games (FIFA, Xbox, IGSCE etc)
⭕Story set in UK, with British characters: an interesting change of how characters act and converse.
⭕likable characters.
⭕ male lead character: definitely a refreshing change from all the books with female MCs.
⭕The mother-son relation between Jonathan and his mom and how it bloomed was beautiful.
⭕Interesting Scooby Doo vibes, but with real spirits and ghosts
⭕mystery aspect of the story was well-written and gripping.
⭕some important social issues highlighted: police injustice and irresponsible attitude leading to unjust execution and punishments; prejudices against women where they are blamed unjustly for crimes of men as well; domestic abuse.
👇Downsides:👇
⭕Extremely slow pacing for most part.
⭕unnecessarily long dialogues
⭕too many off putting details.
Overall, an enjoyable read.
🌙What I Loved:🌙
⭕Such stories involving evil spirits usually end with the hero trapping, smoking or casting them to hell or other variations. I loved the twist here! Jonathan had to make the spirits happy in order to help them cross over.
⭕Modern, conversational tone with simple, easy to understand writing.
⭕Relatable references to modern teen life: video games (FIFA, Xbox, IGSCE etc)
⭕Story set in UK, with British characters: an interesting change of how characters act and converse.
⭕likable characters.
⭕ male lead character: definitely a refreshing change from all the books with female MCs.
⭕The mother-son relation between Jonathan and his mom and how it bloomed was beautiful.
⭕Interesting Scooby Doo vibes, but with real spirits and ghosts
⭕mystery aspect of the story was well-written and gripping.
⭕some important social issues highlighted: police injustice and irresponsible attitude leading to unjust execution and punishments; prejudices against women where they are blamed unjustly for crimes of men as well; domestic abuse.
👇Downsides:👇
⭕Extremely slow pacing for most part.
⭕unnecessarily long dialogues
⭕too many off putting details.
Overall, an enjoyable read.
June 5, 2019
(originally reviewed at
thelibraryladies.com
)
Thank you to Alexander Lound for approaching our blog and sending me an eARC of this book!
It’s been a little bit since I read a good old fashioned angry ghost story, and luckily I didn’t have to look far. I was approached by YA author Alexander Lound to see if I’d be interested in reading his new book “The Spirit in the Crypt”, and by the time I was diving in I realized that I had been in a serious mood for a story such as this. It checks off the boxes of subgenres in horror that I greatly enjoy: it has an angry ghost, it has a cute romance, and it has a psychic/medium theme to it. Add in some gloomy weather in my neck of the woods and it’s a perfect atmosphere to indulge in a spooky story!
What I liked most about “The Spirit in the Crypt” is that Lound makes his main character Jonny a pretty realistic teenage boy. While he definitely stands out from other kids his age in some ways, in a lot of other ways he ultimately wants to live a normal life and has the kinds of flaws you see in a lot of kids like him. From making questionable friend decisions to making impulsive choices, there were plenty of times where I wanted to smack him upside the head, but also could see a lot of realism within him. After he’s found himself pulled into a supernatural mystery, starting with an encounter in a crypt and escalating as he starts to see visions of children who have ended up in unexplained comas, Jonny has to look into himself and find out how he’s connected, and how far empathy will take him. Another aspect I liked about his character development was that not only was it about him figuring out his own supernatural abilities, but also learning about the power of empathy for those who have been victimized. Though there are a number of interesting ways this manifests, for me the most rewarding was when he befriends a girl named Cassy, who was the target of some pretty terrible sexual harassment at the hands of her ex boyfriend, who also happened to be a friend of Jonny’s for a time. Seeing Jonny have to reconcile the fact he’d shrugged off the abuse (never supported it or encouraged it, but didn’t discourage it either) was an arc that we’ve seen before (and frankly can be seen as frustrating when it’s framed as ‘he sees her as a person now that he’s gotten to know her and learned why he was wrong!’). But I felt that the way it developed and progressed in this story was more palatable if only because their friendship is definitely based on more than Jonny learning a lesson.
I’m also just a huge sucker for stories about mediums and ghosts. Jonny is taken under the wing of a psychic named Aaron, and they have to work together to figure out why this mysterious (and super pissed) ghost is victimizing kids. It also has a huge focus on Jonny himself learning about his own powers in this way, and boy oh boy do these kinds of stories really hit all my genre buttons! From seances to visions to exploring the true motivations behind the angry ghost, I was pretty hooked as I read this book. I also like it when an author or storyteller tries to give more depth to an antagonist, especially a ghostly one, and in this story there is a lot of background and reasoning that comes to light that makes the plot feel like it has more weight, both in a complexity sense and an emotional sense. I won’t spoil anything here, but I was pleasantly surprised with how much we got to learn about the titular spirit.
Was this book particularly scary? Perhaps not so much to me, but I’m old hat at this genre and it kinda takes a lot/very specific things to get me creeped out. But I think that for teens this is probably going to be a good match for levels of fear, as it does have its moments of creep factor in it. Because honestly, while I wasn’t particularly scared, I did find myself rather unsettled about being locked in a crypt, ghostly presence or not.
All in all, I thought that “The Spirit in the Crypt” was a fun read! I’m pleased that it showed up in my inbox, and given that it sounds like the start to a series, I can absolutely see myself reading the next one!
Thank you to Alexander Lound for approaching our blog and sending me an eARC of this book!
It’s been a little bit since I read a good old fashioned angry ghost story, and luckily I didn’t have to look far. I was approached by YA author Alexander Lound to see if I’d be interested in reading his new book “The Spirit in the Crypt”, and by the time I was diving in I realized that I had been in a serious mood for a story such as this. It checks off the boxes of subgenres in horror that I greatly enjoy: it has an angry ghost, it has a cute romance, and it has a psychic/medium theme to it. Add in some gloomy weather in my neck of the woods and it’s a perfect atmosphere to indulge in a spooky story!
What I liked most about “The Spirit in the Crypt” is that Lound makes his main character Jonny a pretty realistic teenage boy. While he definitely stands out from other kids his age in some ways, in a lot of other ways he ultimately wants to live a normal life and has the kinds of flaws you see in a lot of kids like him. From making questionable friend decisions to making impulsive choices, there were plenty of times where I wanted to smack him upside the head, but also could see a lot of realism within him. After he’s found himself pulled into a supernatural mystery, starting with an encounter in a crypt and escalating as he starts to see visions of children who have ended up in unexplained comas, Jonny has to look into himself and find out how he’s connected, and how far empathy will take him. Another aspect I liked about his character development was that not only was it about him figuring out his own supernatural abilities, but also learning about the power of empathy for those who have been victimized. Though there are a number of interesting ways this manifests, for me the most rewarding was when he befriends a girl named Cassy, who was the target of some pretty terrible sexual harassment at the hands of her ex boyfriend, who also happened to be a friend of Jonny’s for a time. Seeing Jonny have to reconcile the fact he’d shrugged off the abuse (never supported it or encouraged it, but didn’t discourage it either) was an arc that we’ve seen before (and frankly can be seen as frustrating when it’s framed as ‘he sees her as a person now that he’s gotten to know her and learned why he was wrong!’). But I felt that the way it developed and progressed in this story was more palatable if only because their friendship is definitely based on more than Jonny learning a lesson.
I’m also just a huge sucker for stories about mediums and ghosts. Jonny is taken under the wing of a psychic named Aaron, and they have to work together to figure out why this mysterious (and super pissed) ghost is victimizing kids. It also has a huge focus on Jonny himself learning about his own powers in this way, and boy oh boy do these kinds of stories really hit all my genre buttons! From seances to visions to exploring the true motivations behind the angry ghost, I was pretty hooked as I read this book. I also like it when an author or storyteller tries to give more depth to an antagonist, especially a ghostly one, and in this story there is a lot of background and reasoning that comes to light that makes the plot feel like it has more weight, both in a complexity sense and an emotional sense. I won’t spoil anything here, but I was pleasantly surprised with how much we got to learn about the titular spirit.
Was this book particularly scary? Perhaps not so much to me, but I’m old hat at this genre and it kinda takes a lot/very specific things to get me creeped out. But I think that for teens this is probably going to be a good match for levels of fear, as it does have its moments of creep factor in it. Because honestly, while I wasn’t particularly scared, I did find myself rather unsettled about being locked in a crypt, ghostly presence or not.
All in all, I thought that “The Spirit in the Crypt” was a fun read! I’m pleased that it showed up in my inbox, and given that it sounds like the start to a series, I can absolutely see myself reading the next one!
May 23, 2020
The Spirit in the Crypt is Alexander Lound’s debut novel and his first book in the Johnny Robert’s series! I don’t read a ton of spooky books at this point so I wasn’t sure what to expect but overall I enjoyed the quick read!
This book follows a teenager named Johnny, who on one fateful summer night, is pushed into a crypt by his “friends” and is chased out by a threatening voice. From then on, he experiences strange dreams of fellow students who then become unresponsive to the outside world. Johnny of course, takes it upon himself to solve the mystery.
This book never once spooked me out, so if you’re a person sensitive to being scared but still like to read those kinds of books, this is definitely for you! I will say it reminded me of a present day R.L. Stine book which was great since I was a huge fan growing up! This was a face paced read and just overall easy to pick up!
My only problem was I didn’t 100% connect with the characters which is a huge thing I look for in books I really love, but it still didn’t take away from my enjoyment and ability to read this book! With that being said, Johnny was still a solid main character who definitely had a head on his shoulder (unlike most ya characters) and seemed like a typical teenage boy (minus his special gifts lol) who many I’m sure could relate to.
For readers who enjoy: quick, fun, spooky reads!
This book follows a teenager named Johnny, who on one fateful summer night, is pushed into a crypt by his “friends” and is chased out by a threatening voice. From then on, he experiences strange dreams of fellow students who then become unresponsive to the outside world. Johnny of course, takes it upon himself to solve the mystery.
This book never once spooked me out, so if you’re a person sensitive to being scared but still like to read those kinds of books, this is definitely for you! I will say it reminded me of a present day R.L. Stine book which was great since I was a huge fan growing up! This was a face paced read and just overall easy to pick up!
My only problem was I didn’t 100% connect with the characters which is a huge thing I look for in books I really love, but it still didn’t take away from my enjoyment and ability to read this book! With that being said, Johnny was still a solid main character who definitely had a head on his shoulder (unlike most ya characters) and seemed like a typical teenage boy (minus his special gifts lol) who many I’m sure could relate to.
For readers who enjoy: quick, fun, spooky reads!
May 16, 2020
The Spirit in the Crypt was sent to me by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
I had no prior expectations for this books, which was really nice because I grew to love it the further in I got.
Jonny is a loveable protagonist, a teenage boy who’s made some questionable choices and he’s aware of it. Throughout the book, he matures a lot and it leaves the reader rooting for him and wanting the best for him.
As it’s a series, I’m really hoping we can get some more character development on the other key people in this book (Cassy, Stephen, Aaron).
I found the book to be really well paced and the scene description to be really vivid.
This was a really great read and I look forward to what the next book brings!
I had no prior expectations for this books, which was really nice because I grew to love it the further in I got.
Jonny is a loveable protagonist, a teenage boy who’s made some questionable choices and he’s aware of it. Throughout the book, he matures a lot and it leaves the reader rooting for him and wanting the best for him.
As it’s a series, I’m really hoping we can get some more character development on the other key people in this book (Cassy, Stephen, Aaron).
I found the book to be really well paced and the scene description to be really vivid.
This was a really great read and I look forward to what the next book brings!
May 25, 2020
Firstly, thanks to the author of this book for sending me a free copy to review!
Secondly, WOW! For a debut book I’m impressed! I found myself hooked after the first chapter. It’s well written and leaves you wanting to find out more after each chapter. I never thought two simple words could creep me out, but Alexander definitely managed it. Excellent book, I’d definitely recommend for any mystery/supernatural lovers!
Secondly, WOW! For a debut book I’m impressed! I found myself hooked after the first chapter. It’s well written and leaves you wanting to find out more after each chapter. I never thought two simple words could creep me out, but Alexander definitely managed it. Excellent book, I’d definitely recommend for any mystery/supernatural lovers!
August 31, 2020
I was sent this book by the author himself for an honest review! For starters I was interested in the storyline and the genre, so I was more than happy to read it and am really grateful that I was asked to read it! This is the authors' debut novel, and I have to say I really enjoyed it! I got into the plot right away, it had a lovely pace and the characters were quite likeable! I got a bit of Ghost Whisperer feels (loved that show)! Overall a fun and easy read! Will definitely check out the sequel as well!
June 7, 2019
Note: I received a free, advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author for the reading and reviewing opportunity.
“The dark wasn’t physical, it couldn’t pull at me or warn me. It wasn’t alive. Right?”
The Spirit in the Crypt is a creepy ghost story that is quickly paced and full of mystery.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, short stories are hard for me to connect with sometimes because they are so… well, short… but Lound made the main character in this story pretty relatable from the first page. Though the book is set around the supernatural, there are other additional things going on as well that make the story more enjoyable as a whole. Before I realized that this was part of a series, I found some parts of the book to have a lot of “fillers” (AKA scenes to fill the pages) but once I realized this is just the first installment, I changed my mind about that. I love a quick, good ghost story, but since this is going to be a series, the author was able to spend some time really setting up the characters instead of just giving you the bare minimum. If this had been a stand alone, I wouldn’t have cared much for all of the additional stuff about Johnny fighting or hanging out with friends, but since the author is building an entire world for the next book(s), it worked.
Johnny, the main character, is honestly a pretty typical teenager: filled with angst, dealing with enemies/bullies, crushing over a girl, etc. The only difference is that he’s… psychic. Which, I’ll go ahead and say, is quite the difference. I’ve read other short paranormal stories that don’t show any type of character development, so I was glad to see that Lound took his time letting readers get to know Johnny and his life even beyond the creepy haunting that is going on in the town.
Now, on to the plot itself! It was very fast paced and extremely creative. The beginning was particularly spooky. I tend to see a lot of patterns in short ghost stories, but this story veered far from the norm that I’ve come to expect. It’s pretty clear that Lound put a lot of effort into making a unpredictable type of story. As I mentioned before, it’s not just about the haunting but that does make up a large, important part of it. I was pretty intrigued by where the story was going and really anxious to find out what in the world was going on with the spirit.
My biggest disconnect with the story was the huge time jump in between Johnny first going into the crypt and then going back to school. We miss an entire Summer here, and since it’s so short, I get why, but it does leave a lot to the reader’s imagination.
Overall, it was a quick, fun, spooky story that reminded me a lot of the TV show Supernatural (which I love, so that’s a great thing). I recommend it for anyone looking for short paranormal books, or even paranormal series, since the author is already working on the next book!
“The dark wasn’t physical, it couldn’t pull at me or warn me. It wasn’t alive. Right?”
The Spirit in the Crypt is a creepy ghost story that is quickly paced and full of mystery.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, short stories are hard for me to connect with sometimes because they are so… well, short… but Lound made the main character in this story pretty relatable from the first page. Though the book is set around the supernatural, there are other additional things going on as well that make the story more enjoyable as a whole. Before I realized that this was part of a series, I found some parts of the book to have a lot of “fillers” (AKA scenes to fill the pages) but once I realized this is just the first installment, I changed my mind about that. I love a quick, good ghost story, but since this is going to be a series, the author was able to spend some time really setting up the characters instead of just giving you the bare minimum. If this had been a stand alone, I wouldn’t have cared much for all of the additional stuff about Johnny fighting or hanging out with friends, but since the author is building an entire world for the next book(s), it worked.
Johnny, the main character, is honestly a pretty typical teenager: filled with angst, dealing with enemies/bullies, crushing over a girl, etc. The only difference is that he’s… psychic. Which, I’ll go ahead and say, is quite the difference. I’ve read other short paranormal stories that don’t show any type of character development, so I was glad to see that Lound took his time letting readers get to know Johnny and his life even beyond the creepy haunting that is going on in the town.
Now, on to the plot itself! It was very fast paced and extremely creative. The beginning was particularly spooky. I tend to see a lot of patterns in short ghost stories, but this story veered far from the norm that I’ve come to expect. It’s pretty clear that Lound put a lot of effort into making a unpredictable type of story. As I mentioned before, it’s not just about the haunting but that does make up a large, important part of it. I was pretty intrigued by where the story was going and really anxious to find out what in the world was going on with the spirit.
My biggest disconnect with the story was the huge time jump in between Johnny first going into the crypt and then going back to school. We miss an entire Summer here, and since it’s so short, I get why, but it does leave a lot to the reader’s imagination.
Overall, it was a quick, fun, spooky story that reminded me a lot of the TV show Supernatural (which I love, so that’s a great thing). I recommend it for anyone looking for short paranormal books, or even paranormal series, since the author is already working on the next book!
August 20, 2019
I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Spirit in the Crypt really caught me by surprise (as I’m sure it caught our protagonist by surprise too). This is a debut work by author Alexander Loud and after reading it, I think that he’s going to be a name to look out for.
This is the kind of book that would have totally consumed me as a kid. Jonny Roberts is endearing and engaging from the beginning. His situation at home is tough, like it is for so many kids at fifteen and I really felt for him. He definitely has a rebellious streak in him too though-- he stays out late, he drinks with his buddies, he gets into fights at school. Deep down he just wants what every kid wants at that age, and that’s to find acceptance among his peers. All of this makes Jonny a well-rounded and relatable character that I had a blast following. He reminded me a lot of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson.
After Jonny gets locked in a crypt by his “friends” that turn out to not be so top notch after all, he finds himself wrapped up in a supernatural mystery that has some dire consequences. I loved that we get to see the effects the spirit has on Jonny’s whole community. So many stories involve a main character who gets sucked into their own plot that seems to be totally separate from the setting they began in.
Lound’s writing style is fun and immersive. I totally forgot I was reading a story because I was so invested in Jonny’s point of view. I found myself reluctant to put it down. The pacing is great and there’s no point where the story drags on.
I took a few points off because I would’ve liked to see Jonny’s character developed a little bit more by the end but considering this is a series, I'm assuming that this will occur throughout later installments. There is just one relationship in the story that I think deserved some more attention in this first book.
Other than those little nitpicks, I had a great time with this novel and I look forward to the sequel! I would highly recommend checking this book out if you enjoy supernatural mysteries for young adult or middle grade readers!
Thank you to Alexander Lound for the opportunity to review this book!
The Spirit in the Crypt really caught me by surprise (as I’m sure it caught our protagonist by surprise too). This is a debut work by author Alexander Loud and after reading it, I think that he’s going to be a name to look out for.
This is the kind of book that would have totally consumed me as a kid. Jonny Roberts is endearing and engaging from the beginning. His situation at home is tough, like it is for so many kids at fifteen and I really felt for him. He definitely has a rebellious streak in him too though-- he stays out late, he drinks with his buddies, he gets into fights at school. Deep down he just wants what every kid wants at that age, and that’s to find acceptance among his peers. All of this makes Jonny a well-rounded and relatable character that I had a blast following. He reminded me a lot of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson.
After Jonny gets locked in a crypt by his “friends” that turn out to not be so top notch after all, he finds himself wrapped up in a supernatural mystery that has some dire consequences. I loved that we get to see the effects the spirit has on Jonny’s whole community. So many stories involve a main character who gets sucked into their own plot that seems to be totally separate from the setting they began in.
Lound’s writing style is fun and immersive. I totally forgot I was reading a story because I was so invested in Jonny’s point of view. I found myself reluctant to put it down. The pacing is great and there’s no point where the story drags on.
I took a few points off because I would’ve liked to see Jonny’s character developed a little bit more by the end but considering this is a series, I'm assuming that this will occur throughout later installments. There is just one relationship in the story that I think deserved some more attention in this first book.
Other than those little nitpicks, I had a great time with this novel and I look forward to the sequel! I would highly recommend checking this book out if you enjoy supernatural mysteries for young adult or middle grade readers!
Thank you to Alexander Lound for the opportunity to review this book!
July 23, 2020
**Thank you to Alexander Lound for the free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**
When I first heard about this book, it sounded like something that was right up my alley! I really enjoy spooky, mysterious stories, and this seemed to fit the bill. Unfortunately, for me it fell a little flat. Don't get me wrong - I thought this was a good story, that had likable characters and mystery. But I think I was expecting it to be scarier than it turned out to be.
I did enjoy the mystery of the story and trying to figure out more about the ghost that was speaking to Jonathan. I thought the author did a good job with Jonathan - I liked seeing the growth he went through with his friends and with his mother. I also found it interesting that this ghost story talked a lot about Mediums. I thought it added a nice touch of information to the story.
I would have liked to see more character development with some of the other side characters. Honestly, I got the most enjoyment reading the book from about 80% to the end. That's when it picked up its spooky factor (for me).
This was a good book - don't let me 3 star review keep you from reading it! This was a fast pace book, and a very easy read. I believe it would appeal more to younger teen readers. I've heard many people say that it reminds them of R.L. Stine books. I was just expecting it to be spookier than it was, so I think it threw me off when it wasn't. I would definitely recommend this book to younger readers, or readers who are looking for a book that's just a touch spooky.
When I first heard about this book, it sounded like something that was right up my alley! I really enjoy spooky, mysterious stories, and this seemed to fit the bill. Unfortunately, for me it fell a little flat. Don't get me wrong - I thought this was a good story, that had likable characters and mystery. But I think I was expecting it to be scarier than it turned out to be.
I did enjoy the mystery of the story and trying to figure out more about the ghost that was speaking to Jonathan. I thought the author did a good job with Jonathan - I liked seeing the growth he went through with his friends and with his mother. I also found it interesting that this ghost story talked a lot about Mediums. I thought it added a nice touch of information to the story.
I would have liked to see more character development with some of the other side characters. Honestly, I got the most enjoyment reading the book from about 80% to the end. That's when it picked up its spooky factor (for me).
This was a good book - don't let me 3 star review keep you from reading it! This was a fast pace book, and a very easy read. I believe it would appeal more to younger teen readers. I've heard many people say that it reminds them of R.L. Stine books. I was just expecting it to be spookier than it was, so I think it threw me off when it wasn't. I would definitely recommend this book to younger readers, or readers who are looking for a book that's just a touch spooky.
July 4, 2019
The Spirit in the Crypt is the debut novel from Alexander Lound. It is compelling, well written and full of mystery. The first in the Jonny Roberts series it sets the scene for some exciting adventures I am very keen to read all about.
Lound introduces the reader to Jonny so effortlessly that it invokes a familiarity that allows you to be drawn seamlessly into his world. Jonny is a relatable teenager living the typical teenage life: school, girls, XBOX and the endless struggle of fitting in. That is until one summer night while out with “friends” he is locked in a creepy crypt and unable to leave until he sees what is inside. It is there, surrounded by skeletons and death, that he hears a voice. He is not alone.
It is a supernatural mystery that is well researched, creative and leaves the reader on the edge of their seat. It is also refreshing to read a book set elsewhere than the USA and Lound’s use of subtle British colloquialism throughout entertained me immensely.
A wonderful book for teenage and young adult readers. I cannot wait to see more from this author!
NB: This ebook was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. The above opinions are my own.
Lound introduces the reader to Jonny so effortlessly that it invokes a familiarity that allows you to be drawn seamlessly into his world. Jonny is a relatable teenager living the typical teenage life: school, girls, XBOX and the endless struggle of fitting in. That is until one summer night while out with “friends” he is locked in a creepy crypt and unable to leave until he sees what is inside. It is there, surrounded by skeletons and death, that he hears a voice. He is not alone.
It is a supernatural mystery that is well researched, creative and leaves the reader on the edge of their seat. It is also refreshing to read a book set elsewhere than the USA and Lound’s use of subtle British colloquialism throughout entertained me immensely.
A wonderful book for teenage and young adult readers. I cannot wait to see more from this author!
NB: This ebook was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. The above opinions are my own.
August 10, 2019
First of all let me say I'm not one to usually pick up and read something from the YA criteria. However, I recently (about ten minutes ago) finished reading The Spirit In The Crypt by Alexander Lound and here be my thoughts on his debut novel.
The story follows the emergence of young Johnny Roberts as he begins to come to terms with the fact that he can communicate with the dead after inadvertently awakening a disgruntled spirit in the titular crypt. The book details the struggles of Johnny as he deals with the usual teenage problems of bullies, girls, angry spectres. I won't detail the ins and outs as it's best you find out for yourself, but know that I found the novel engaging and entertaining. There was a sense of mystery that made me want to discover more about the spirit as much as the characters. I felt connected with Johnny as he dealt with some of the absolute 'knob heads' of school that I recall from being a youngster myself. My only criticism is the ending, there's nothing wrong with it by any means, it's a happy ending to which I'm not accustomed. I'm a pessimist and enjoy a dismal ending!!! I'd advise you to grab this book and it looks like it's going to be a pretty gripping series.
The story follows the emergence of young Johnny Roberts as he begins to come to terms with the fact that he can communicate with the dead after inadvertently awakening a disgruntled spirit in the titular crypt. The book details the struggles of Johnny as he deals with the usual teenage problems of bullies, girls, angry spectres. I won't detail the ins and outs as it's best you find out for yourself, but know that I found the novel engaging and entertaining. There was a sense of mystery that made me want to discover more about the spirit as much as the characters. I felt connected with Johnny as he dealt with some of the absolute 'knob heads' of school that I recall from being a youngster myself. My only criticism is the ending, there's nothing wrong with it by any means, it's a happy ending to which I'm not accustomed. I'm a pessimist and enjoy a dismal ending!!! I'd advise you to grab this book and it looks like it's going to be a pretty gripping series.
July 22, 2020
I was given a free copy of this book from the author in turn for an honest review.
The Spirit in the Crypt is a debut novel by Alexander Lound. It is a creepy, chilling ghost story for young adults and it is absolutely brilliant!
“I heard laughter. Was it the boys? Though I knew it wasn’t. I knew that there was something in this room with me. That it liked the dark. Loved it,in fact.” - Alexander Lound - The Spirit in the Crypt
After reading this part I was hooked and roped into the story, the characters and the set everything.
I absolutely loved reading this story, it reminded me of The Woman in Black but with a happier ending. Don’t get me wrong it started off a little bit slow but once it picked up I couldn’t put it down. I loved getting to know the characters especially the relationship between Johnny and his mum, and also his relationship with Cassy. Throughout the story I kind of felt sorry for the Spirit especially in the end. I loved the mystery surrounding the Spirit and was very intrigued to see what would happen next.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this story, if you enjoy YA horror then I totally recommend this story to you.
The Spirit in the Crypt is a debut novel by Alexander Lound. It is a creepy, chilling ghost story for young adults and it is absolutely brilliant!
“I heard laughter. Was it the boys? Though I knew it wasn’t. I knew that there was something in this room with me. That it liked the dark. Loved it,in fact.” - Alexander Lound - The Spirit in the Crypt
After reading this part I was hooked and roped into the story, the characters and the set everything.
I absolutely loved reading this story, it reminded me of The Woman in Black but with a happier ending. Don’t get me wrong it started off a little bit slow but once it picked up I couldn’t put it down. I loved getting to know the characters especially the relationship between Johnny and his mum, and also his relationship with Cassy. Throughout the story I kind of felt sorry for the Spirit especially in the end. I loved the mystery surrounding the Spirit and was very intrigued to see what would happen next.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this story, if you enjoy YA horror then I totally recommend this story to you.
June 11, 2019
You know what is refreshing as a book blogger and reader? Reading a really great, debut novel. This story is right up my alley. A ghost story, full of mystery, great characters and writing that kept me invested.
From the first page, I was hooked. I never thought about putting the book down the entire way through, and I read it in one sitting. The Spirit in the Crypt is mysterious, and keeps you guessing. It’s creepy, really well written, and very addicting.
Johnny is a typical teenager. He has the teenage angst, crushes, having to deal with bullies…now add on his psychic abilities and his life is crazy. I really loved that Alexander Lound really took us inside Johnny’s life and we got to know him well.
I’m really impressed with this debut. There were a few parts that felt odd, like the time jump between the crypt and school, but overall I think this is a great book. I highly recommend checking it out!
* I recieved a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
From the first page, I was hooked. I never thought about putting the book down the entire way through, and I read it in one sitting. The Spirit in the Crypt is mysterious, and keeps you guessing. It’s creepy, really well written, and very addicting.
Johnny is a typical teenager. He has the teenage angst, crushes, having to deal with bullies…now add on his psychic abilities and his life is crazy. I really loved that Alexander Lound really took us inside Johnny’s life and we got to know him well.
I’m really impressed with this debut. There were a few parts that felt odd, like the time jump between the crypt and school, but overall I think this is a great book. I highly recommend checking it out!
* I recieved a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
July 2, 2019
Spoiler free review!
I received a free copy of The Spirit in the Crypt from the author Alexander Lound in exchange for an honest review.
I love YA novels and I love eerie settings so I was in! Jonny, main character was annoying at times as he didn't make the decisions I wanted him to make! As often is the problem with book characters and has me screaming at the page! Having said that, this shows that the character was well written as I was completely invested in Jonny's journey.
Jonny coming to terms with his newfound powers ran parallel with his turbulent teenage self discovery.
This novel was unsettling to read (but I'm a 30 year old scaredy cat) and sometimes I had to put the book down before bed because it put me in a very creepy mood.
I really enjoyed the novel and I feel excited to see where The Spirit in The Crypt series will take me next.
I received a free copy of The Spirit in the Crypt from the author Alexander Lound in exchange for an honest review.
I love YA novels and I love eerie settings so I was in! Jonny, main character was annoying at times as he didn't make the decisions I wanted him to make! As often is the problem with book characters and has me screaming at the page! Having said that, this shows that the character was well written as I was completely invested in Jonny's journey.
Jonny coming to terms with his newfound powers ran parallel with his turbulent teenage self discovery.
This novel was unsettling to read (but I'm a 30 year old scaredy cat) and sometimes I had to put the book down before bed because it put me in a very creepy mood.
I really enjoyed the novel and I feel excited to see where The Spirit in The Crypt series will take me next.
May 24, 2020
The Spirit in the Crypt was kindly sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this book! It was a fast-paced, quick read and especially the spooky, mysterious aspects of the book kept me on the edge of my seat.
In the beginning I wasn't sure where the book was going, but after a good 50 pages I started becoming intrigued, and the story only became better as it went on. I liked the characters, Jonny was a relatable protagonist, although personally I would have liked a bit more character depth. The events in the book unraveled in such a way that it kept me wanting to read on, and I loved how it all wrapped up in the end.
If you like paranormal / horror YA I would definitely recommend this!
I really enjoyed reading this book! It was a fast-paced, quick read and especially the spooky, mysterious aspects of the book kept me on the edge of my seat.
In the beginning I wasn't sure where the book was going, but after a good 50 pages I started becoming intrigued, and the story only became better as it went on. I liked the characters, Jonny was a relatable protagonist, although personally I would have liked a bit more character depth. The events in the book unraveled in such a way that it kept me wanting to read on, and I loved how it all wrapped up in the end.
If you like paranormal / horror YA I would definitely recommend this!
May 28, 2020
I love a good scare and this book gave me the creeps! I normally grab the closest pillow when watching ghost shows but how do you unsee what you read?! The writing is at a good pace, I enjoyed Jonny’s backstory but would have liked to learn about some of his friends too. Overall it’s a great, creepy, read! The author provided an ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 21, 2019
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for a fair review. I’m very critical about mysteries, but find this as a solid debut novel. I hate readying the first without a series. Is the sorcerer’s stone anything without the goblet of fire? Eager to see what comes next.
June 11, 2019
Definitely recommend if you love a good supernatural mystery. It’s well written and has you wanting more. Can’t wait for his next books!
January 3, 2023
Young Adult paranormal
This was good. Very simple story about a boy who gets thrown into a crypt by a bully and is able to hear the dead in his head. And one of them is very very angry. And she wants him out. Its very engaging but it did drag a little in the middle of it. I was invested in the characters and I am definitely going to read the next story in the series. The resolution was actually anticlimactic and I was happy, but a little disappointed in how quickly it ended. On the other hand, it was a good ending and that's all you can hope for!
This was good. Very simple story about a boy who gets thrown into a crypt by a bully and is able to hear the dead in his head. And one of them is very very angry. And she wants him out. Its very engaging but it did drag a little in the middle of it. I was invested in the characters and I am definitely going to read the next story in the series. The resolution was actually anticlimactic and I was happy, but a little disappointed in how quickly it ended. On the other hand, it was a good ending and that's all you can hope for!
January 17, 2020
This book, written by Alexander Lound, was sent to me by the author. I was so happy that he asked me to review both The Spirit In The Crypt and the sequel, Burned House, which I will review soon.
This was the story of a teenager named Johnny, who discovers that he can speak to the dead (and have them speak back) by accident. He has to juggle learning this, a bully targeting him, and spending time with the girl of his dreams.
Overall, I thought this was a pretty great debut novel. I liked the characters, and the situations they went through. It was a pretty unique story, involving somewhat of a mystery from the past that needed to be solved.
I did think that there were spots of this novel that seemed clunky and unrealistic, mainly with the dialogue and explanations of the afterlife. They just didn't flow as well as other parts of the novel. It wasn't such a big deal that I didn't enjoy the story though.
This was the story of a teenager named Johnny, who discovers that he can speak to the dead (and have them speak back) by accident. He has to juggle learning this, a bully targeting him, and spending time with the girl of his dreams.
Overall, I thought this was a pretty great debut novel. I liked the characters, and the situations they went through. It was a pretty unique story, involving somewhat of a mystery from the past that needed to be solved.
I did think that there were spots of this novel that seemed clunky and unrealistic, mainly with the dialogue and explanations of the afterlife. They just didn't flow as well as other parts of the novel. It wasn't such a big deal that I didn't enjoy the story though.
May 22, 2020
I really liked the story and I loved the development of the main character Jonny who at first just wanted to fit in with a bad boy grup but later found his true friends and self.
I enjoyed following the mystery and trying to piece together what happened to the spirit the most. Her story was well developed, interesting and I couldn't guess it before it was revealed. This was my first paranormal read and I will definitely read more of those.
The only problem I had with the book was that I found the side characters a little undeveloped but it was still a great book.
I enjoyed following the mystery and trying to piece together what happened to the spirit the most. Her story was well developed, interesting and I couldn't guess it before it was revealed. This was my first paranormal read and I will definitely read more of those.
The only problem I had with the book was that I found the side characters a little undeveloped but it was still a great book.
October 20, 2020
2.5 Stars The Spirit in the Crypt was kindly sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really appreciate being sent this but it just wasn’t a book for me. It had some creepy moments which I enjoyed and I did like the second half of the book more than the first. But I am not really the target audience for this so I didn’t really fully connect with it. It read like a younger YA book and I think I would have really loved this when I was 12 or 13. The writing style is also very dialog heavy which isn’t necessarily bad, just not my thing at this point. So if you know a young reader who likes ghost stories this would definitely be a good one. If you enjoy books for a younger YA audience I would recommend checking this out.
Thank you again to the author for sending it to me!
I really appreciate being sent this but it just wasn’t a book for me. It had some creepy moments which I enjoyed and I did like the second half of the book more than the first. But I am not really the target audience for this so I didn’t really fully connect with it. It read like a younger YA book and I think I would have really loved this when I was 12 or 13. The writing style is also very dialog heavy which isn’t necessarily bad, just not my thing at this point. So if you know a young reader who likes ghost stories this would definitely be a good one. If you enjoy books for a younger YA audience I would recommend checking this out.
Thank you again to the author for sending it to me!
September 26, 2020
First of all, thanks to the author for sending me free copy to review.!
This is not usually my genre, I mean I do watch a lot of horror movies, but this was my first time reading a book. I did find the first half to be a little slow, but that’s the case with all horror movies/ books so I guess it’s okay. And second half is really fast paced and interesting! I loved the plot and considering that this is Author’s debut novel, it’s brilliant.!
This is not usually my genre, I mean I do watch a lot of horror movies, but this was my first time reading a book. I did find the first half to be a little slow, but that’s the case with all horror movies/ books so I guess it’s okay. And second half is really fast paced and interesting! I loved the plot and considering that this is Author’s debut novel, it’s brilliant.!
May 8, 2020
OH. MY. GOSH. I could not put this book down! I LOVED it. The story was captivating and the characters are easy to love and connect with.
Easily on if my favorites now.
I am so glad I was given the chance to read and review this book and can’t wait to read more from this talented author!
Easily on if my favorites now.
I am so glad I was given the chance to read and review this book and can’t wait to read more from this talented author!
May 19, 2020
**I want to thank the author for sending me a free e-copy of this book!**
The Spirit in the Crypt by Alexander Lound is a spine-chilling YA horror novel, the first one in the Jonny Roberts series. The plot revolves around Jonny, a teenager who not only has to deal with “normal, everyday” things, like the fact that he’s a child of recently-divorced parents or that he’s been bullied by his former squad, but also with the fact that he can actually talk to and see ghosts. Scary, right? He discovers it one day when, after being thrown into the crypt by his “friends”, he starts dreaming about a girl who is soon to fall ill. But little did Jonny know that this was just the beginning of a chilling adventure. Thankfully, he’s not alone – Aaron and Cassie are by his side.
This novel is filled with cliff-hangers and such scenes that make you feel like you’re right there in the crypt with Jonny, hearing the same voices he’s hearing, and feeling the same fright he feels. The things that scared me the most were his vivid dreams and the fact that he couldn’t determine whether everything he was seeing was the reality or just a dream. And he was helpless, shouting without anyone to hear him. However, many less creepy scenes break the tension and fear.
The friendship between Cassie and Jonny was what I honestly liked the most. What they had was genuine – two outcasts brought together by a mutual bully, and who from that moment on helped each other in need and became inseparable. With Aaron, however, he has a different kind of “bond” – they are both mediums, so no wonder they connected so fast. Nothing brings people closer together than a secret they share. Aaron helped Jonny by answering all his questions and sharing his own experience with him. I was a little baffled by how easy Jonny decided to trust a guy who is way older than him, and along with that, whom he met in the crypt. But with everything that was said, it does make sense.
The plot is fast-paced, and the simple language makes it flow more smoothly, which in turn makes the book easy to read. Since the book is written for younger readers, I couldn’t help but notice its predictability. When reading it, one has a feeling of knowing what was about to happen in the end, however, many interesting plot-twists occur through the course of the book, which makes one think twice about everything one has read up until that point.
Because of the genre and the style of writing, this book really took me back, and I mean waaaay back, like elementary-school back. I had a strong feeling that I was once again in 6th grade, picking up my first R. L. Stine book that made me fall in love with reading. I’m not a big fan of horror fiction, but this feeling of nostalgia made me want to dive again into the genre than started it all.
Overall, I give it 4/5 stars solely because of the predictability and the simple style of writing since lately I’ve been into more complex and detailed writing, but that’s just a personal preference. If you want a quick, interesting, and easy read, I couldn’t recommend this highly enough!
The Spirit in the Crypt by Alexander Lound is a spine-chilling YA horror novel, the first one in the Jonny Roberts series. The plot revolves around Jonny, a teenager who not only has to deal with “normal, everyday” things, like the fact that he’s a child of recently-divorced parents or that he’s been bullied by his former squad, but also with the fact that he can actually talk to and see ghosts. Scary, right? He discovers it one day when, after being thrown into the crypt by his “friends”, he starts dreaming about a girl who is soon to fall ill. But little did Jonny know that this was just the beginning of a chilling adventure. Thankfully, he’s not alone – Aaron and Cassie are by his side.
This novel is filled with cliff-hangers and such scenes that make you feel like you’re right there in the crypt with Jonny, hearing the same voices he’s hearing, and feeling the same fright he feels. The things that scared me the most were his vivid dreams and the fact that he couldn’t determine whether everything he was seeing was the reality or just a dream. And he was helpless, shouting without anyone to hear him. However, many less creepy scenes break the tension and fear.
The friendship between Cassie and Jonny was what I honestly liked the most. What they had was genuine – two outcasts brought together by a mutual bully, and who from that moment on helped each other in need and became inseparable. With Aaron, however, he has a different kind of “bond” – they are both mediums, so no wonder they connected so fast. Nothing brings people closer together than a secret they share. Aaron helped Jonny by answering all his questions and sharing his own experience with him. I was a little baffled by how easy Jonny decided to trust a guy who is way older than him, and along with that, whom he met in the crypt. But with everything that was said, it does make sense.
The plot is fast-paced, and the simple language makes it flow more smoothly, which in turn makes the book easy to read. Since the book is written for younger readers, I couldn’t help but notice its predictability. When reading it, one has a feeling of knowing what was about to happen in the end, however, many interesting plot-twists occur through the course of the book, which makes one think twice about everything one has read up until that point.
Because of the genre and the style of writing, this book really took me back, and I mean waaaay back, like elementary-school back. I had a strong feeling that I was once again in 6th grade, picking up my first R. L. Stine book that made me fall in love with reading. I’m not a big fan of horror fiction, but this feeling of nostalgia made me want to dive again into the genre than started it all.
Overall, I give it 4/5 stars solely because of the predictability and the simple style of writing since lately I’ve been into more complex and detailed writing, but that’s just a personal preference. If you want a quick, interesting, and easy read, I couldn’t recommend this highly enough!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2020
3.5/5
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Jonny is 15-year-old boy who just wants to have a fun, beer-filled summer. He admittedly hangs around a friend group full of less desirable people because they can provide him with alcohol. One night, the group is drinking in a graveyard when the ringleader, Francis, decides Johnny must earn his keep by going in a crypt.
The experience is jarring to say the least; however, Jonny can't tell whether the voice he heard was in his head or something more sinister. What he does know is that Francis and his group have now turned on him, making Jonny their next victim to their incessant bullying. Luckily, Jonny finds solace in Francis' former victims: Cassy and Stephen. With those two friends by his side, Jonny feels like he can make it through high school. That is until he discovers that he's a medium. That's right, he can talk to dead people and he's not exactly pleased about that.
Aaron, an older medium, helps Jonny navigate his newfound gift. He must make the spirits happy, and help resolve unresolved problems, in order to aid them in passing over. The Spirit in the Crypt is the first installment of what Lound hopes will become a series.
This book is Lound's debut novel, and after he reached out, I was hesitant with low expectations. I was pleasantly surprised! This is a quick and easy read that keeps you captivated once the action begins. The young adult aspect is evident and an accurate portrayal of high school (I say this as an American, and even though the book takes place in Britain, some things must just be universal). I liked the genuine reaction Jonny had to learning he was a medium, and the descriptors Lound used to portray how Jonny was hearing the voices. I'm not a medium, but I imagine it feels more similar to Lound's description than other writers.
There were only a few downfalls for me. I found the dialogue to be a little clunky, but I'm not sure if that's a difference in culture. The dialogue didn't read naturally to me, but it wasn't so distracting I couldn't enjoy the book. The only other issue I had was that the action took a little too long to appear. Once it did, the book became much more enjoyable. All in all, I would recommend this read!
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Jonny is 15-year-old boy who just wants to have a fun, beer-filled summer. He admittedly hangs around a friend group full of less desirable people because they can provide him with alcohol. One night, the group is drinking in a graveyard when the ringleader, Francis, decides Johnny must earn his keep by going in a crypt.
The experience is jarring to say the least; however, Jonny can't tell whether the voice he heard was in his head or something more sinister. What he does know is that Francis and his group have now turned on him, making Jonny their next victim to their incessant bullying. Luckily, Jonny finds solace in Francis' former victims: Cassy and Stephen. With those two friends by his side, Jonny feels like he can make it through high school. That is until he discovers that he's a medium. That's right, he can talk to dead people and he's not exactly pleased about that.
Aaron, an older medium, helps Jonny navigate his newfound gift. He must make the spirits happy, and help resolve unresolved problems, in order to aid them in passing over. The Spirit in the Crypt is the first installment of what Lound hopes will become a series.
This book is Lound's debut novel, and after he reached out, I was hesitant with low expectations. I was pleasantly surprised! This is a quick and easy read that keeps you captivated once the action begins. The young adult aspect is evident and an accurate portrayal of high school (I say this as an American, and even though the book takes place in Britain, some things must just be universal). I liked the genuine reaction Jonny had to learning he was a medium, and the descriptors Lound used to portray how Jonny was hearing the voices. I'm not a medium, but I imagine it feels more similar to Lound's description than other writers.
There were only a few downfalls for me. I found the dialogue to be a little clunky, but I'm not sure if that's a difference in culture. The dialogue didn't read naturally to me, but it wasn't so distracting I couldn't enjoy the book. The only other issue I had was that the action took a little too long to appear. Once it did, the book became much more enjoyable. All in all, I would recommend this read!
July 13, 2020
TW/CW: Bullying, Exposing of pics on social media, Language, underage drinking
When I started reading this book I was immediately sucked din. The author did an amazing job creating a cozy atmosphere to pull you in. We meet Jonny who hangs out with a kid named Francis and a whole bunch of other boys. Francis is your typical douche from school. He's also a womanizer and loves being a bully towards people, especially Jonny and Cassy. One night while on one of their drunken adventures, Francis and the boys come across a abandoned crypt. They thought it would be funny to throw Jonny into the crypt and lock him in until he explored it. As Jonny's curiosity is peaked, he comes across weird noises, shadows, and voices. That was his cue to leave the crypt.
That night when he gets home and goes to sleep he starts to have these weird dreams. Things start happening to people that he knows and it's freaking him out. Did it have to do with being in that crypt? I won't say what happens in between, but Jonny comes across a man named Aaron whose a medium that can talk to the red. At the same time Jonny also finds out he has a special gift and he himself is also a medium and can also talk to the dead. Together they form a bond and on to conquer what awaits them in the crypt.
I absolutely loved this book, honestly I don't know why I didn't start it sooner. The characters were refreshing. Can I emphasize how much I absolutely hated Francis? lol. I loved how easily it was to follow the writing, I loved that it was based in U.K. (love the insults), the relationship between Jonny and Cassy, how Jonny's and his mother's relationship fixed toward the end. Can I confess something? I was reading this book at night and I had to put it down because it was creepy me out and often found myself staring at my bedroom door lol. I really haven't had a book do that to me before and that's how you know you have a great book. It really had me on the edge of my seat. I'm so excited to see what happens in the next installment in this series. Huge thanks to Alexander Lound for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
When I started reading this book I was immediately sucked din. The author did an amazing job creating a cozy atmosphere to pull you in. We meet Jonny who hangs out with a kid named Francis and a whole bunch of other boys. Francis is your typical douche from school. He's also a womanizer and loves being a bully towards people, especially Jonny and Cassy. One night while on one of their drunken adventures, Francis and the boys come across a abandoned crypt. They thought it would be funny to throw Jonny into the crypt and lock him in until he explored it. As Jonny's curiosity is peaked, he comes across weird noises, shadows, and voices. That was his cue to leave the crypt.
That night when he gets home and goes to sleep he starts to have these weird dreams. Things start happening to people that he knows and it's freaking him out. Did it have to do with being in that crypt? I won't say what happens in between, but Jonny comes across a man named Aaron whose a medium that can talk to the red. At the same time Jonny also finds out he has a special gift and he himself is also a medium and can also talk to the dead. Together they form a bond and on to conquer what awaits them in the crypt.
I absolutely loved this book, honestly I don't know why I didn't start it sooner. The characters were refreshing. Can I emphasize how much I absolutely hated Francis? lol. I loved how easily it was to follow the writing, I loved that it was based in U.K. (love the insults), the relationship between Jonny and Cassy, how Jonny's and his mother's relationship fixed toward the end. Can I confess something? I was reading this book at night and I had to put it down because it was creepy me out and often found myself staring at my bedroom door lol. I really haven't had a book do that to me before and that's how you know you have a great book. It really had me on the edge of my seat. I'm so excited to see what happens in the next installment in this series. Huge thanks to Alexander Lound for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2020
There are certain genres we're accustom to, and some others we pay little attention. For me, horror is one such genres that never cross my mind. Be it a movie, or a book I get terrified of anything that's unearthly. Anyway, I had been meaning to read something out of my comfort zone for sometimes now. I wasn't sure what to pick!
A teen-boy named Jonathan encounters or rather awakens a spirit in a Crypt situated in a graveyard and; unwanted circumstances awaits the town.
On a summer night, Jonny was hanging out with his friends, when something unusual happens. They all ends up in a forgotten graveyard with a crypt inside it. Out of all, only Jonny could listen to a voice, a warning, a voice forbidding them to go inside. What is that voice? Is it a ghost? Or a Spirit? Why could only Jonny listen to it? After that night, paranormal things starts to happen around.
Did he awaken an evil spirit? Or was it trying to fulfill some desires? As much as I want to give spoiler, I've pledged to not be an evil spirit myself!!!
The book is suppose to be the first book of his upcoming series "Jonny Roberts". Honestly, this books is my first horror read, and I am so grateful about it. It is so eerily gripping. With the progress of the story, the twists and turns in the story gradually unfolds. Right from the first chapter I was absorbed into the story. Each progessing event make you more curious to know further. I am eagerly waiting to have my hands on the next book. I give a thumbs up to the author for such an amazing and flowing storytelling.
Moreover, the story, is not only limited to a haunted one. It put up social issues like bullying, cyber-crime, unhealthy family, teen-struggles. It shows us to be courageous, to believe in ourselves and our will. It also shows the importance of friendship.
The characters are well developed. My favorite character would be Cassy.
Like me, if you too are a horror newb, it is the perfect book to pick.
A teen-boy named Jonathan encounters or rather awakens a spirit in a Crypt situated in a graveyard and; unwanted circumstances awaits the town.
On a summer night, Jonny was hanging out with his friends, when something unusual happens. They all ends up in a forgotten graveyard with a crypt inside it. Out of all, only Jonny could listen to a voice, a warning, a voice forbidding them to go inside. What is that voice? Is it a ghost? Or a Spirit? Why could only Jonny listen to it? After that night, paranormal things starts to happen around.
Did he awaken an evil spirit? Or was it trying to fulfill some desires? As much as I want to give spoiler, I've pledged to not be an evil spirit myself!!!
The book is suppose to be the first book of his upcoming series "Jonny Roberts". Honestly, this books is my first horror read, and I am so grateful about it. It is so eerily gripping. With the progress of the story, the twists and turns in the story gradually unfolds. Right from the first chapter I was absorbed into the story. Each progessing event make you more curious to know further. I am eagerly waiting to have my hands on the next book. I give a thumbs up to the author for such an amazing and flowing storytelling.
Moreover, the story, is not only limited to a haunted one. It put up social issues like bullying, cyber-crime, unhealthy family, teen-struggles. It shows us to be courageous, to believe in ourselves and our will. It also shows the importance of friendship.
The characters are well developed. My favorite character would be Cassy.
Like me, if you too are a horror newb, it is the perfect book to pick.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews