Blackened

by Thomas Simpson

Julia wants to enjoy her honeymoon in Venice, but her husband Lawrence has become obsessed with the nearby Poveglia island. Considered one of the most haunted places on earth, thousands were condemned to die on the island. The more Lawrence learns of its history, the more infatuated he becomes. Meanwhile, Kirsty, and her brother Aaron, also seek passage to the fated island as Kirsty craves an experience that will give her chills and make her question her own beliefs. But journey to Poveglia is strictly prohibited, and those bold enough to visit are going to find out why...

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 13, 2020

Reviews

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opening chapter, set in the past, of this book is great. It sets the tone for the creepiness of the island. Not to mention there's a lobotomy scene. The lobotomy later in the book was more graphic, and I loved the second lobotomy much more. It reminded me of the show Ratched.
Then it fast forwards to present day. Chapters rotate between a man finding new ways to make money with his boat, a couple on their honeymoon, and a brother/sister thrill seeker team. There is some serious character building here. Other than all their paths leading to a forbidden island, not much else happens in the first 50% of the book. Once they all get to the haunted island, the action starts. Personally, I would have enjoyed a bit more gore, but if ghost stories and haunted places are your thing, you would enjoy this book.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of tourists become trapped on haunted Venetian plague island.

Oof this one was definitely creepy! I’ll never look at the Venetian Islands the same way again 👻

Serious goosebumps from this book!

[Vicki Herbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a fog...

No spoilers. 2 1/2 stars. I'm not of the 4 and 5 star review crowd (sorry about that). The best part of the story was the prologue and perhaps if the rest of the tale had expounded on that theme it would have been better...

In my view this novel was like 3 separate stories: the prologue, the Venice vacation and the time on the island. I found very little to solidly connect the three...

The prologue was outstanding. The Venice sequences were made tedious by the b*tch*ness of the two women involved...

... the time on the island, which didn't happen until over 60% of the book was read, was the least interesting and left me literally in a fog and falling off a cliff when it abruptly ended without resolution...

I like a good ghost story but this one was not for me. Try PETRA'S GHOST by C.S. O'Cinneide for a better ghost story experience.

[SUSAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a total sense of schadenfreude while reading this novel, but the selfishness and rudeness of two of the characters in this book really made me anticipate the coming horror. I outright cackled reading the beginning of the book, contemplating the ultimate demises of some of the characters.

But what is supposed to be a fun, documented trip for siblings and a honeymoon vacation for a couple end up intersecting with a tour boat start up. It's a combination good ideas and bad tourists with overly optimistic management and impatient self indulgence. And you know it will end badly.

As it is based on an actual world location, the plague island of Poveglia makes for a perfect spot for horror to unravel. And its history and forbidden contact proves to be too much of a lure for the tourists much to my insidious delight.

If I'm being philosophical about the book, I would say maaaybe I'm a bad person for wanting certain people to perish horribly. But I could argue that the author perhaps wanted to play around with your head and ask you who really deserves to live or die? Do choices matter? Do feelings of guilt matter? Can obnoxious people redeem themselves? Only the ash of thousands of plague victims really knows.

#supernaturalhorror #historicalhorror #dietouristdie

[Kasey Loftis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good horror book based on a real place. I'm normally a slasher girl, but sometimes I like to read/watch a little of the paranormal, and this one did not disappoint. I have heard of Poveglia Island before, but not much. Which is surprising because it is considered one of the most haunted places in the world. This book tied in the island's history with the Black Plague as well as it's time as an asylum. The prologue had me from the hook and was so creepy. However, the book honestly dragged for a bit. The first half of the book was both sets of people just trying to find passage onto the island. I would have loved a lot less of that and more of them exploring the island. It felt like the back and forth of trying to find someone to take them to the island just went on to long. A couple of the deaths in the book actually saddened me as I liked those characters, while a couple characters were just insufferable and selfish and I couldn't wait for them to go. Although I love horror and slashers in particular, I actually don't like a lot of gore, and a couple of the scenes had me somewhat squamish (Aaron's fate and the lobotomies), although I would not describe this book as particularly gory or bloody. I liked that the plague was tied in also with a couple of people showing obvious signs of contracting it.

[Linzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the prologue! It was super creepy and it definitely left me wanting more 🙌🏻 In the first half of the book we get to meet some great characters and the build up to how their paths will finally cross. I’ll be honest, this part was a little too slow paced for me and was losing my attention quite a bit. It’s not until we’re just over half way through the book until we actually get to the island, but once we’re there I couldn’t put it down! - with the creepy old asylum and hospital, I was ready to be spooked! I obviously can’t say too much so I don’t spoil it but if you like ghost stories, haunted places and not much gore then I’d recommend it 👍🏻

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An edge of the seat horror novel, just enough to fully creep you out without going overboard. The descriptive writing lets your imagination run and you soon feel like you’re living it with the characters. Thoroughly recommend this for lovers of horror movies who fancy branching out into reading the genre too, you won’t be disappointed, you will be scared.

[Nadine Paterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Blackened. I was almost as keen as some of the characters to reach the island to see what the fuss was, albeit from the safety of my sofa! I like getting to know the characters in the books I read and felt the author told us enough about each to let me form an opinion on them. Great mystery and the perfect amount of spook. Look forward to more from this author.

[Robin Waspe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The horror is creepy but not gratuitous, making it accessible to fans of psychological thrillers as well as ghost stories.

If you’re into slow-burn horror with emotional stakes and a touch of historical mystery, Blackened might be worth a read. Want me to compare it to something like The Silent Patient or The Haunting of Hill House?

[Robb Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from the start. Thomas manages to capture you from the prologue, right through to the ending of the story. His attention to details, and character building was fantastic. I felt like I was there with the characters, I was feeling what they felt. I highly recommend this book.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous page turner. No messing about. Sucks you in from the very first page.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, fast paced and pure evil