Two hundred years trapped in this castle, alone and miserable, without a single person to love or even to love such a hideous thing as I. I’ve been left here without a single memory of who I am, except that I was cruelly created in a lab by the Doctor, my Maker, my father, to only replace the son he lost many years ago. I’ve been trapped in this 17-year old body ever since, condemned to rot away in this castle. But then a family finds their way here, a family whose lineage traces back to the original owner of the castle. Amongst the family is a fellow 17-year-old boy, Collin—a boy who I can’t help but find myself drawn to—to love, to eat, I’m not sure. Collin quickly senses my presence, the monster of the castle, lurking behind his bedroom wall, watching him through subtle cracks in the foundation. I’m not alone anymore. The Doctor’s Failed Experiments have begun to appear. It is these three creatures who know the secret of the castle, and of the secret of the Doctor’s first experiment—the one who has sworn to return to take vengeance on all those who rest in the castle—the true Monster of Chateau Du Coeur. We’re all in danger.
Hello there! My name is Jonathan L. Ferrara, author of THE GHOST OF BUXTON MANOR, a YA LGBT Paranormal romance based off of the real life inspiration of Peter Pan. I live in Los Angeles with my husband, a cartoonist and creator of our comic "Husband & Husband", updating weekly at http://www.tapastic.com/series/husban.... I love making new friends and spreading positivity within the community, so put a smile on! :)
BRAND NEW, YA LGBT Paranormal book releases 10/12/2016!
This hurt as much as the first one. Just. How dare with the feels.
I liked the corroboration of Peter Pan in the first book, and now retelling Frankenstein. I'm hoping for the next one to be Dracula, but I'm looking forward to whatever it would be because I love these books and the author even though it breaks my heart everytime I read it.
It's a good thing I read the author's The Ghost of Buxton Manor four years ago or I would have been drawing all manner of comparison between the two ... both YA-type books heavily drawing upon famous literary characters/lore, both feature ageless paranormal 'hidden' MCs forced to interact with modern day living youthful counterparts, both gay couples contending with 'doomed' love/relationships. Of the two, I prefer this book - MC Adam proving a charming and hauntingly 'broken' figure.
That said, I struggled with the idiom/dialogue of a French MC who sounded more like a teenager from modern day USA. I remain unsatisfied with the explained 'fate' of some secondary characters who feature consistently throughout the book but who were 'explained away' in a rather abrupt manner nearing the end. The ending 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Finally! The next book in the “Ghost of Buxton Manor” series and it does not disappoint
I found the book to be a wonderfully crafted story that grabbed my attention from in the opening chapter until the final closing sentences. It was an emotional roller coaster complete with smiles, nail biting and even a few tears. Introduced are complex and beautifully crafted characters that have become friends to my my literary family. I sincerely hope to meet many of them again in future works from the keen imagination of this author.
Jonathan Ferrara’s The Monster of Chateau Du Coeur, the second book in The Ghost of Buxton Manor series, reimagines Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein through a fresh, Gothic lens. I always enjoy retellings of classic literature, and like its predecessor, this novel is told from the perspective of the so-called "monster"—in this case, Adam.
While the premise is intriguing, the pacing feels uneven. The first half lingers too long on excessive details and an unnecessary subplot that does little to drive the story forward, while the latter half rushes through crucial developments. However, Ferrara excels at crafting suspenseful reveals that keep the reader engaged. One of the novel’s strongest aspects is Adam’s romance with Collin, a human, which adds warmth and emotional stakes to the narrative. At times, their love story carries the novel when the pacing falters.
Despite its strengths, The Monster of Chateau Du Coeur doesn’t deliver the same emotional impact as The Ghost of Buxton Manor. The first book had a raw, heart-wrenching quality that this installment lacks, likely due to its structural imbalance and overwhelming detail. While still an engaging read with moments of brilliance, the novel doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessor.
I started and restarted this book a couple times before I got into it. Then I took it on a trip where I could plow through it on a plane and over the course of just a few days. I had mixed feelings about it. The overall plot is good but I felt like the first half moves kind of slow and second half moved kind of fast and had some plot holes. By the end I felt like there was a rush for the author to get to the end and wrap everything up with a tidy bow. There were some decent plot twists and several characters that made you wonder who the real monster is. There was also a nice tie-in to the famous story of Frankenstein.
FASCINATING BACKSTORY FOR THE FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER
Intriguing, inventive plot with a very sympathetic and believable central character. Ferrara has woven a compelling story that kept me moving forward despite some occasioncopyally awkward phrasing and inattentive editing that I found jarring at times. I'd love to have an open copy I could annotate and suggest changes to the text. Very much recommend both Chateau and the first book in the series. Excited to read the follow-ups, too.
5 stars because it's the choice between 4 or 5, nothing between. I would like to rate it more 4,6/4,7. For me it's close to perfection and that is why I rate it 5 stars.
I think it is beautifully written and it took me on a emotional, wonderful rollercoaster. I like the characters and I love the continuation or the different view of well known characters in litterature. I really hope Mr. Ferrara will write another book for me to read and enjoy.
I truly enjoyed this story, but beware of the rats!
When reading this story, you think you know who the monster is right from the start.
There are both sweet moments and heartbreaking moments throughout the story.
Have a few tissues ready for the scene near the end. It was unselfishly heartbreaking. I personally wanted a more happily ever after ending for Adam and Collin.
I only got this book out of curiosity, having followed the author and his husband on YouTube for years. What a great surprise! I really really enjoyed this novel as well as his first novel.
Sublime, uma obra delicada e real sobre amizade, solidão, dor e família, e principalmente amor. Que você ao ler esse livro também possa encontrar a beleza na escuridão