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Enter Haddonwood #1
As the Crow Flies
From the award-winning author of the bestselling CHRONOS Files comes a chilling story of altered reality and psychological terror.
Chase Rey sits perfectly still, his thumbs traveling across the screen of the broken computer tablet, stuck in the nexus between two worlds.
Haddonwood isn’t real. It can’t be. Another world, another reality, hovers just beyond his reach. He can see it sometimes. He can almost touch it.
In that world, things are in balance. The dead stay dead and the creature feature remains safely on the screen. That world isn’t a patchwork quilt of every scary book or movie he’s seen. In that world, the nightmares generally end when you open your eyes and people don’t glitch in and out of existence.
Chase is determined to return to that world, although he’s a bit worried that the only way out is through the noose that seems to lurk around every corner. He needs allies to get back home. But how do you choose your team when you can’t tell who’s real?
Chase Rey sits perfectly still, his thumbs traveling across the screen of the broken computer tablet, stuck in the nexus between two worlds.
Haddonwood isn’t real. It can’t be. Another world, another reality, hovers just beyond his reach. He can see it sometimes. He can almost touch it.
In that world, things are in balance. The dead stay dead and the creature feature remains safely on the screen. That world isn’t a patchwork quilt of every scary book or movie he’s seen. In that world, the nightmares generally end when you open your eyes and people don’t glitch in and out of existence.
Chase is determined to return to that world, although he’s a bit worried that the only way out is through the noose that seems to lurk around every corner. He needs allies to get back home. But how do you choose your team when you can’t tell who’s real?
438 pages, ebook
Published September 1, 2019
127 people are currently reading
756 people want to read
About the author
Rysa Walker
70 books1,522 followersRYSA WALKER is the author of the bestselling CHRONOS Files series. Timebound, the first book in the series, was the Young Adult and Grand Prize winner in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. The CHRONOS Files has sold nearly half a million copies since 2013 and has been translated into fourteen languages.
In addition to speculative fiction, she occasionally writes mysteries as C. Rysa Walker.
Rysa currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, two youngest sons, and a hyperactive golden retriever. When not working on the next installment in her CHRONOS Files universe, she watches shows where travelers boldly go to galaxies far away, or reads about magical creatures and superheroes from alternate timelines. She has neither the time nor the patience for reality TV.
If you see her on social media, please tell her to get back into the writing cave.
For updates, check her website: www.rysa.com.
In addition to speculative fiction, she occasionally writes mysteries as C. Rysa Walker.
Rysa currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, two youngest sons, and a hyperactive golden retriever. When not working on the next installment in her CHRONOS Files universe, she watches shows where travelers boldly go to galaxies far away, or reads about magical creatures and superheroes from alternate timelines. She has neither the time nor the patience for reality TV.
If you see her on social media, please tell her to get back into the writing cave.
For updates, check her website: www.rysa.com.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 20, 2021
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
There's something going on in a small town. Something horrible.
Not bad, but I wasn't scared.
There's something going on in a small town. Something horrible.
Not bad, but I wasn't scared.
September 20, 2019
Ryan Walker’s Timebound series is my favorite series ever, and I’ve read everything else she’s written since. As the Crow Flies is not normally the type of book I’d read on my own, but I’m really glad I received an ARC because I enjoyed this!
You follow the stories of a group of people living in a small town, and they quickly realize things aren’t right. They all have interesting backstories, and their interactions with the minor characters tend to be the creepiest and most fascinating passages. You will want to find out what exactly is going on in Haddonfield and stay hooked into the end - which ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next one!
Some parts dragged a little, but all in all the book kept my attention and I didn’t want to put it down.
Being familiar with classic horror movie plots may make this an even more engaging read, but I’m not and it didn’t take anything away. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
You follow the stories of a group of people living in a small town, and they quickly realize things aren’t right. They all have interesting backstories, and their interactions with the minor characters tend to be the creepiest and most fascinating passages. You will want to find out what exactly is going on in Haddonfield and stay hooked into the end - which ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next one!
Some parts dragged a little, but all in all the book kept my attention and I didn’t want to put it down.
Being familiar with classic horror movie plots may make this an even more engaging read, but I’m not and it didn’t take anything away. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 15, 2019
I received this book for free in a Goodreads giveaway.
This book started out slow for me, and I was a little lost. But once I got into it I was hooked! I read it at a slower pace than I feel like I usually do, but there is a lot going on. There was a lot to figure out for me, but not in a bad way. It’s hard to write a review without spoilers. I really enjoyed the horror/puzzle/mysterious elements. And the different characters points of view. I didn’t want it to end. I still don’t want it to end. When I finished I had to digest the book for awhile before attempting to write a review. I love the book, and when I finished it my first thought was to read it again. I’ve been a huge fan of Rysa Walker’s other books. And now I’m a fan of Caleb Amsel as well. I can’t wait to see what comes next in the series!
This book started out slow for me, and I was a little lost. But once I got into it I was hooked! I read it at a slower pace than I feel like I usually do, but there is a lot going on. There was a lot to figure out for me, but not in a bad way. It’s hard to write a review without spoilers. I really enjoyed the horror/puzzle/mysterious elements. And the different characters points of view. I didn’t want it to end. I still don’t want it to end. When I finished I had to digest the book for awhile before attempting to write a review. I love the book, and when I finished it my first thought was to read it again. I’ve been a huge fan of Rysa Walker’s other books. And now I’m a fan of Caleb Amsel as well. I can’t wait to see what comes next in the series!
October 9, 2020
After obsessing over the Chronos Files, I was worried about venturing into horror, but as always Rysa (and company) wrote a spectacular story. I can't wait to venture on to book 2!
October 8, 2019
Now that I've read this book, I feel like I see crows everywhere I go.
As the Crow Flies tells of several people in varying states of troubles within their lives. Some of them know each other already, some of them don't but find themselves ultimately connected later. Each of them has momentary conflicting memories that they can't explain. Most troubling is the sudden appearance of people in town who were believed to be dead.
Horror movie fans might have a slight advantage when reading As the Crow Flies
I'm not much of a horror movie fan, but there were a few moments that were themed with classic horror films that I think everyone would recognize. That was interesting and I think helped with imaging certain moment in the story. It's not necessary to be familiar with any horror movies at all to enjoy this book. I can attest to that.\
Reasons you must read this book:
- The story line is full of surprises
- It's impossible to predict the ending
- You enjoy thinking about a book for days after you've finished reading.
-You hate birds and this book shows them as the monsters that they truly are.
Rysa Walker and Caleb Amsel have delivered an action-packed horror show of a story with As the Crow Flies. The book has a bit of a slow start following the perspective of a possessed crow. The crow is spying on several people, and why this matters isn't immediately apparent, but it's well worth the read to find out.
As the Crow Flies tells of several people in varying states of troubles within their lives. Some of them know each other already, some of them don't but find themselves ultimately connected later. Each of them has momentary conflicting memories that they can't explain. Most troubling is the sudden appearance of people in town who were believed to be dead.
Horror movie fans might have a slight advantage when reading As the Crow Flies
I'm not much of a horror movie fan, but there were a few moments that were themed with classic horror films that I think everyone would recognize. That was interesting and I think helped with imaging certain moment in the story. It's not necessary to be familiar with any horror movies at all to enjoy this book. I can attest to that.\
Reasons you must read this book:
- The story line is full of surprises
- It's impossible to predict the ending
- You enjoy thinking about a book for days after you've finished reading.
-You hate birds and this book shows them as the monsters that they truly are.
Rysa Walker and Caleb Amsel have delivered an action-packed horror show of a story with As the Crow Flies. The book has a bit of a slow start following the perspective of a possessed crow. The crow is spying on several people, and why this matters isn't immediately apparent, but it's well worth the read to find out.
November 13, 2019
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway - yay! Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I absolutely loved Rysa Walker's Timebound series (The CHRONOS Files), and I recommended them to everyone, so I was looking forward to this new series. This book took too long to get going, then there were too many characters to try to remember, and I found all but a few of those characters unlikable. I've read a lot of science fiction and fantasy, and realize that things don't always make sense (at least not at first), however, I reached the end of this book with barely any more understanding of the fictional world we're in than at the beginning. The story is to be continued, but I don't care enough to read on to the next book. Just my personal opinions, others may find it enjoyable.
November 9, 2019
Waste of time
I had to force myself to finish this book. There is no story, no plot, and no ending, because there isn't one. However, you do get the beginning pages for book two.
I had to force myself to finish this book. There is no story, no plot, and no ending, because there isn't one. However, you do get the beginning pages for book two.
January 25, 2020
This book is weird and creepy. A Stephen King kind of weird and creepy. In fact, if you combined Under the Dome, with the animated movie, Glitch, with Terry Schott’s The Game, you would come up with something like this book. I have read Rysa’s books before but this is different from any other. It took me a chapter to acclimate to a different kind of story, but once I got the drift that this was a horror story on the par with my old friend King, I couldn’t put it down. Mystery and eerie plot twists are the key elements of this tale and I applaud anyone who can figure out exactly what is going on before the end of the book. The plot is brilliant, but the characters are well crafted and realistic with strengths and weaknesses that play to the plot. I appreciated the literary and movie references as a way to make the story connect on a deeper level. It’s a plot device that could fail or make it stronger and in this case, I think it accomplished the latter. I look forward to reading more in this Haddonwood series. I’ll have to. Walker and Amsel left the book in a good place, but the mystery is not completely solved and I have to know more.
May 29, 2020
This is a well-written horror/suspense story. It kept me up very late, as I anxiously turned the pages, as quickly as possible, in order to discover what nightmares would befall the characters that I quickly grew to care about. It is an extremely convoluted roller-coaster ride that includes blind curves and many fast-paced, 360 degree loops! I throughly enjoyed reading about the deeply imaginative creations and situations the authors' dazzled me with. The 'Easter eggs' scattered across the pages are also greatly entertaining to me, especially since I'm a huge fan of many books in the horror genre. I'm anxiously awaiting book 2.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
May 30, 2020
Incredibly disappointing
I am a huge fan of Rysa Walker. I have read and enjoyed every one of her other books, so I was expecting to enjoy this one. Nope. I didn't even finish it, and I always finish books! There was nothing compelling about this one at all. I think they were trying to make it interesting, but it was more confusing than anything. Flat characters, no real plot, just a waste of time and money for me. It was really, really bad.
I am a huge fan of Rysa Walker. I have read and enjoyed every one of her other books, so I was expecting to enjoy this one. Nope. I didn't even finish it, and I always finish books! There was nothing compelling about this one at all. I think they were trying to make it interesting, but it was more confusing than anything. Flat characters, no real plot, just a waste of time and money for me. It was really, really bad.
April 27, 2020
Intriguing
All though it starts out just a tad slow , trust me it makes up for it right away. Keeps you on the edge of your seat and all the way to the last sentence. Can’t wait for the next book to come out and if I read the acknowledgments correctly it looks like a three book series? I hope perhaps more than that. Once a find a good story I don’t want to let go.
All though it starts out just a tad slow , trust me it makes up for it right away. Keeps you on the edge of your seat and all the way to the last sentence. Can’t wait for the next book to come out and if I read the acknowledgments correctly it looks like a three book series? I hope perhaps more than that. Once a find a good story I don’t want to let go.
August 25, 2020
A different sort of story
Join a diverse cast of characters as their world changes radically over the course of one day. Why have monsters appeared in their small town? Why are people disappearing and sometimes reappearing? Definitely an adventure worth joining!
Join a diverse cast of characters as their world changes radically over the course of one day. Why have monsters appeared in their small town? Why are people disappearing and sometimes reappearing? Definitely an adventure worth joining!
November 22, 2020
Loved it. Confusing at first, but that's certainly intentional - keeping the reader in the dark along with the protagonists. Bought the second one as soon as I finished this and dove right into that.
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March 4, 20204 March 2020: $2.99 on Kindle
September 5, 2021
Nothing like Rysa Walker's other books! This was a fun ride. Looking forward to the second installment.
November 20, 2022
great book
It was hard to put this book down. If you like thrillers, you’ll love this book. It will keep you guessing as to the outcome.
It was hard to put this book down. If you like thrillers, you’ll love this book. It will keep you guessing as to the outcome.
October 17, 2019
This was so much fun to read! It was all over the place! Action packed! You never knew what was gonna happen next! But I do recommend to pay very close attention as you read. You can get lost in all the different characters and their purpose.
We follow several characters in this story, but our main guy is Chase Rey. He seems to be the one in "control" of this crazy ride. *very subtle hint there* Chase is convinced he is in the wrong place. Haddonwood is not real. He needs to get back to the real world where everything is right. This world is all wrong. But how did he get there? And who in this world can he trust to help him? So many of his friends and family play a part in this different world. But which ones are actually real?
So many questions! So much going on! But I loved it! The story had a little bit of everything. Mystery. Terror. There were some paranormal aspects as well as some Sci-Fi. I can't wait for the next book!
We follow several characters in this story, but our main guy is Chase Rey. He seems to be the one in "control" of this crazy ride. *very subtle hint there* Chase is convinced he is in the wrong place. Haddonwood is not real. He needs to get back to the real world where everything is right. This world is all wrong. But how did he get there? And who in this world can he trust to help him? So many of his friends and family play a part in this different world. But which ones are actually real?
So many questions! So much going on! But I loved it! The story had a little bit of everything. Mystery. Terror. There were some paranormal aspects as well as some Sci-Fi. I can't wait for the next book!
January 19, 2022
I LOVED this book!! I couldn’t put it down and quickly got attached to the characters and drawn to the plot. I love all of the references to the classic horror books/films and the wonderfully crafted story this book tells. I found myself trying to read faster near the end to find out what was happening, but also trying to read slower because I wasn’t ready for it to end. I just finished it 5 minutes ago and am EAGERLY awaiting for the second book. The authors of this book have done an outstanding job and I truly feel like I’ve been to Haddonwood. Read this book, you won’t regret your visit there either.
September 8, 2022
All I can say is Oh My Gosh! I absolutely loved this book. It was sooo different from anything that I have personally read before. What started out seeming like a little horror novel morphed into so much more. The characters were engaging and interesting. The plots were spellbinding. There was nothing about this book I didn't like. I would just think I knew what was going on and then I would get hit with another twist and left shaking my head. And the end.....those two words......I can't wait for Book 2! Thank you so much Rysa & Caleb for creating such a fresh concept (at least to me?)!
November 6, 2019
Lots of action...
...but the plot was a little jumbled and the end of the book too fast. Certain that the next book will offer a better explanation of what was happening, but this one was full of sound and fury, signifying little. Now we have to wait nine months for additional explanation.
...but the plot was a little jumbled and the end of the book too fast. Certain that the next book will offer a better explanation of what was happening, but this one was full of sound and fury, signifying little. Now we have to wait nine months for additional explanation.
October 30, 2019
Crazy Good
Just in time for Halloween a creepy psychological thriller that will never let you you look at crows the same way again. Horror movie fans will love this book. I received this book for free from a NetGalley contest.The opinions are my own.
Just in time for Halloween a creepy psychological thriller that will never let you you look at crows the same way again. Horror movie fans will love this book. I received this book for free from a NetGalley contest.The opinions are my own.
dnf
November 8, 2019DNFing. I won this book in a giveaway (Thank you!) and it's just not for me. You should check this out if you love surrealist writing, true mysteries, unreliable narrators. I liked the creepy vibes. I just couldn't stay in it. But I think it was just not for me.
February 22, 2020
This started slow but it picked up and turned out amazing! There are a bunch of characters but Chase is the main one and are all likeable. The story is action packed, it takes the reader on a wild adventure! I won this in exchange for my review.
October 6, 2019
Took me awhile to get into this book. There was a lot going on. I'm not really into horror films and there was a bunch of references to that. Overall good story. Looking forward to the next book.
October 17, 2019
Kept my attention from the first page to the last
November 10, 2019
It’s a very interesting book with unique takes on virtual reality. However it ends cliffhanger style without telling you what exactly has occurred.
November 13, 2019
NICE BOOK.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews