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Ouija
The only thing for certain is the deaths were no accident.
Rayner High School once a prestigious school stands in ruins after such a terrible event.
A year later, a group of friends return to the abandoned school and their nightmare begins.
Something wants to get out and won’t take NO for an answer…
Rayner High School once a prestigious school stands in ruins after such a terrible event.
A year later, a group of friends return to the abandoned school and their nightmare begins.
Something wants to get out and won’t take NO for an answer…
- GenresHorrorYoung Adult
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2021
29 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Zoé-Lee O'Farrell
1 book240 followersZoé O’Farrell grew up in Watford but left the town life to live by the sea down at the White Cliffs of Dover.
She spends her days working with numbers before escaping to the world of words and movies in the evening. Her go-to relaxation is watching a scary movie or reading a terrifying book!
She is a book blogger and tour organiser to keep her extra busy. When she is not reading or writing, you can usually find her watching Watford FC or at a gig. Failing that she can be found rolling her eyes at her husband as he acts the same age as her spitfire of a Mini-Me whilst separating her five cats.
She spends her days working with numbers before escaping to the world of words and movies in the evening. Her go-to relaxation is watching a scary movie or reading a terrifying book!
She is a book blogger and tour organiser to keep her extra busy. When she is not reading or writing, you can usually find her watching Watford FC or at a gig. Failing that she can be found rolling her eyes at her husband as he acts the same age as her spitfire of a Mini-Me whilst separating her five cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
November 3, 2022
It's been ages since I read any horror books. I'm a bit of a wimp really. I avoid anything creepy in case I have nightmares!
As someone who works with the author on blog tours she organises, I couldn't resist the invite email when I saw it was being republished! And when I saw it being dubbed as 'similar style to the Point Horror' series, I was so excited. I loved those books when I was younger! I still remember one of them pretty well too (The Hitchhiker, in case you were wondering). Oujia Boards have been a long-held fascination for me since I was little too, so this book just sounded right up my street.
This book was a fast one (length wise), it could easily be read in one sitting. It would have, had it not had rather dark scenes and I felt I needed to take a break! It is labelled as a YA book too! I would have called it more adult horror, but I don't read much horror so I think I was a little naive about the level that defines the horror genre!
Some of this book is really rather disturbing! Much more than I had anticipated. But it is extremely fast moving plot and very gripping.
There are several characters in the 'group' but I didn't get confused at all and thought their personalities were extremely well written to aid the reader.
I loved this one. It took me back to my childhood and I would definitely read Zoe's next book!
As someone who works with the author on blog tours she organises, I couldn't resist the invite email when I saw it was being republished! And when I saw it being dubbed as 'similar style to the Point Horror' series, I was so excited. I loved those books when I was younger! I still remember one of them pretty well too (The Hitchhiker, in case you were wondering). Oujia Boards have been a long-held fascination for me since I was little too, so this book just sounded right up my street.
This book was a fast one (length wise), it could easily be read in one sitting. It would have, had it not had rather dark scenes and I felt I needed to take a break! It is labelled as a YA book too! I would have called it more adult horror, but I don't read much horror so I think I was a little naive about the level that defines the horror genre!
Some of this book is really rather disturbing! Much more than I had anticipated. But it is extremely fast moving plot and very gripping.
There are several characters in the 'group' but I didn't get confused at all and thought their personalities were extremely well written to aid the reader.
I loved this one. It took me back to my childhood and I would definitely read Zoe's next book!
March 13, 2024
It was an okay read. It's a YA book where . The characters that get killed do so rather unceremoniously and without much emotional weight. Lots of the classic creepy items are in there which was kinda fun.
August 18, 2021
Ouija is a book that needs to be read by all fans of Point Horror, Fear Street and Goosebumps. Boy, has reading this eerie story taken me back to my first experience of reading for fun! It gave me the chills, the excitement and it brought me a taste of nostalgia. I won’t lie, I had a lurking sense of trepidation going into this story. Could I still get on board with Teen and Young Adult based narratives? Did it have a storyline that I could still connect with? Fear not, as it delivered on all those and still managed to get my adrenaline pumping.
Reading Ouija taught me that it is a very good thing to read out with our boundaries. It’s good to test our limits because you just never know when those broken limits will lead to something extraordinary. Upon hearing about this new release, I was very much seduced by the title. I’ve lost count of how many movies I’ve sat frozen with fear whilst the protagonists play around with an Ouija with disastrous effects. It has everything I could ask for in a horror story – a disturbing opening scene. A group of friends making unwise decisions. An alternating timeline.
The perfect opening, a disturbing and dangerous game being played the previous year. Then it’s fast forward to the present day when we meet six friends who make the likely bad decision to play with an Ouija board in the abandoned, Raynor High. Although this was a short read I really enjoyed O’Farrell’s exploration of teen behaviour and their need for freedom. It was so reminiscent of 90’s horror movies, I was rattled, and I was a prisoner to the author’s cutthroat narrative.
So, playing with an Ouija board in the site of a horrific tragedy? Yeah everyone knows that’s not going to play out well. Especially is you are Lara, who quite rightly knows this is a recipe for disaster. Upon immediately sitting down to read this story its very apparent that the atmosphere is off, you can feel the tension in the air – its surrounding everyone and it threatens to kill. O’Farrell’s debut novella but you really can’t tell, the story is seamless but with a killer instinct. She has nailed that “every action has a consequence” trope. Buckle in because the short sharp shocks has you looking over your own shoulder.
Ouija is edge of your seat and scarily good. O’Farrell has a honest and vibrant voice and provides a twisty sense of foreboding to her storytelling.
Reading Ouija taught me that it is a very good thing to read out with our boundaries. It’s good to test our limits because you just never know when those broken limits will lead to something extraordinary. Upon hearing about this new release, I was very much seduced by the title. I’ve lost count of how many movies I’ve sat frozen with fear whilst the protagonists play around with an Ouija with disastrous effects. It has everything I could ask for in a horror story – a disturbing opening scene. A group of friends making unwise decisions. An alternating timeline.
The perfect opening, a disturbing and dangerous game being played the previous year. Then it’s fast forward to the present day when we meet six friends who make the likely bad decision to play with an Ouija board in the abandoned, Raynor High. Although this was a short read I really enjoyed O’Farrell’s exploration of teen behaviour and their need for freedom. It was so reminiscent of 90’s horror movies, I was rattled, and I was a prisoner to the author’s cutthroat narrative.
So, playing with an Ouija board in the site of a horrific tragedy? Yeah everyone knows that’s not going to play out well. Especially is you are Lara, who quite rightly knows this is a recipe for disaster. Upon immediately sitting down to read this story its very apparent that the atmosphere is off, you can feel the tension in the air – its surrounding everyone and it threatens to kill. O’Farrell’s debut novella but you really can’t tell, the story is seamless but with a killer instinct. She has nailed that “every action has a consequence” trope. Buckle in because the short sharp shocks has you looking over your own shoulder.
Ouija is edge of your seat and scarily good. O’Farrell has a honest and vibrant voice and provides a twisty sense of foreboding to her storytelling.
August 16, 2021
Horror isn’t usually my go to genre, but when I started reading Ouija by Zoe Lee O’Farrell, I could not stop turning the pages. Zoe has created an utterly gripping book with a terrifying atmosphere. The characters all came to life on the page, and I wanted to know what was going to happen to them.
I have always been fascinated by Ouija boards. Even though I don’t believe in the supernatural, the thought of trying to contact spirits beyond the grave using a Ouija board terrifies me. I don’t think it would be something I would ever be keen to try myself. It’s just that what if question that deters me from ever trying it. What if it did work?
The group of friends in Zoe’s book, decide to experiment with a Ouija board in an abandoned school. Zoe explores the friend’s relationships with each other very well and I thought this came through very strongly in their dialogue. A couple of them are very keen on their plan and they take the idea seriously, but there are some members of the group who are petrified of the thought. You get to know their thoughts and feelings about each other and there are some tensions between them throughout the book. Their idea though of a fun evening out trying to contact the dead, doesn’t exactly go quite to plan for them. Soon it becomes apparent that they have unleashed something evil. The place they have targeted to carry out their experiment also comes with its own horrific history. This adds to the tension as bad things start to happen to the group. I loved the depth it gave to the setting. There are also some creepy dolls in this book, and this adds to the tense, claustrophobic atmosphere.
Ouija is a very quick read and I think it would be perfect if you are looking for something chilling to read on Halloween. Although, it may keep you awake if you start reading late at night. This is the kind of book that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It still gives me chills thinking about it, even after I’ve read it.
This is a very accomplished debut and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It is very dark and very entertaining. I can’t wait to read what Zoe comes up with next. Ouija will send shivers down your spine.
I have always been fascinated by Ouija boards. Even though I don’t believe in the supernatural, the thought of trying to contact spirits beyond the grave using a Ouija board terrifies me. I don’t think it would be something I would ever be keen to try myself. It’s just that what if question that deters me from ever trying it. What if it did work?
The group of friends in Zoe’s book, decide to experiment with a Ouija board in an abandoned school. Zoe explores the friend’s relationships with each other very well and I thought this came through very strongly in their dialogue. A couple of them are very keen on their plan and they take the idea seriously, but there are some members of the group who are petrified of the thought. You get to know their thoughts and feelings about each other and there are some tensions between them throughout the book. Their idea though of a fun evening out trying to contact the dead, doesn’t exactly go quite to plan for them. Soon it becomes apparent that they have unleashed something evil. The place they have targeted to carry out their experiment also comes with its own horrific history. This adds to the tension as bad things start to happen to the group. I loved the depth it gave to the setting. There are also some creepy dolls in this book, and this adds to the tense, claustrophobic atmosphere.
Ouija is a very quick read and I think it would be perfect if you are looking for something chilling to read on Halloween. Although, it may keep you awake if you start reading late at night. This is the kind of book that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It still gives me chills thinking about it, even after I’ve read it.
This is a very accomplished debut and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It is very dark and very entertaining. I can’t wait to read what Zoe comes up with next. Ouija will send shivers down your spine.
November 2, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Ouija' by Zoé-Lee O'Farrell.
Read and reviewed for ZooLoos Book Tours and Zoé-Lee O'Farrell. .
Publication date 30th August 2021
This is Zoé-Lee O'Farrell's debut novel.
I was originally drawn to this book by its absolutely fantastic, eye-catching and unique cover and its intriguing synopsis. I'm also a major horror fan and have heard some fantastic things about this book!! I must admit that I have done several book tours for Zoé-Lee so when I had seen she had brought he own book out I just had to read it!! The fact that she can organise tours and write her own book makes her an absolute inspiration to me, book Queen!!
This novel consists of a prologue, 42 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in England 🏴 , UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.
This book is written in third person perspective with several protagonists. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
'Ouija' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Zoé-Lee discusses murder of children in a school environment.
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and kept me on the edge of my seat. The cover and synopsis suited the storyline perfectly.
OMG!!! ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS SPIME TINGLING, UNIQUE, CREEPY, PAGE TURNER!!!! A PERFECT HALLOWEEN READ!!
Wow!!! How on Earth is this your debut novel Zoé-Lee?? You absolutely rocked it fair play!! Not only are you epic at organising tours but you are a Stephen King in the making!!! I am an absolutely HUGE horror fan and always get excited but also wary when reading horrors as I tend to expect the same old and nothing scary but always like to give it a go and I am extremely glad I did!!! AN absolutely gripping horror that left me with my heart still raising and the hair on my arms still standing. I have a mirrored cupboard in my room that I will be avoiding now and am already hearing noises around the house and that's having read that in the day!! Thank god I hadn't waited until the night, well saying that even in the day its dark so just as bad!!! This book came out at a perfect time for Halloween but don't wait until next Halloween to pick up this chilling page turner or you'll be missing out on one of the best horrors I have read!! It has the perfect amount of pages to get everything in without dragging unnecessary descriptions out and it also means it is a quick read you can pick up and easily read in a few hours. This is only the second book I have ever actually read that has creeped me out so much but you actually managed it so genuinely a MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS!!! It may be the first book I have read by Zoé-Lee and the first she has written but I can promise you it won't be the last I read!!! I just need her to write more now and if this is anything to go by then her next book promises to be just as explosive!! I was absolutely addicted to this book from the attention grabbing and hair raising start to the creepy cliff hanger ending!! I have my fingers crossed and really hope the fact that this book did end in a cliff hanger way means we have a sequel to look forward too 🤞. If so I am definitely being the first in line to get my hands on a copy!! If I had ever been tempted to do a ouija board then this book has definitely made sure I won't be and I have watched The Exorcist and thousands of horror movies and never been creeped out by the paranormal, ouija boards and contacting the dead. Zoé-Lee has managed to create such a unique storyline which is an absolute pleasure to see and read!!! This book will keep you awake at every bump in the night and THAT ladies and gentlemen is what you call a successful horror!!
DO NOT PICK THIS BOOK UP IN THE DARK AND MAKE SURE YOU GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME BEFORE BED TO FINISH IT!!
The storyline is absolutely ram packed with demons, death, horror, tension, gore suspense and absolutely every single thing you could want in a truly unputdownable horror!!! There is not a single negative thing I can think about this book and I always try to ensure I give constructive criticism but Zoé-Lee you absolutely SMASHED it in one!! Every single time I kept telling myself one more chapter the one I was in ended at a point where there was no way I could stop reading so I absolutely devoured it in one sitting!! Actually, I lie, there is one criticism.... Why is the next book not out yet woman!!!!!
DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT READING THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!!
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
I wasn't just 100% invested in the storyline but also in the characters. Every single one of the characters were well defined, realistic and strong. Each of the teens had their own unique personalities and they all had personality traits I liked. My heart really went out for George when the full story came out. Although the book was under 200 pages I really connected with the characters and considering it was a horror Zoé-Lee even managed to made me shed a few tears when something happened and for me to cry over anything that is not animal or my family related is extremely rare so another congratulations ( I think) to Zoé-Lee for making a rhino skimmed woman she's tears over a horror!!
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Zoé-Lee on what promises to be a massive best seller!!! I loved the twisted ending and the fact that you genuinely managed to scare me..... Just perfect 👌 Welcome to my favourite 3 horror author list Zoé-Lee and here's to your next explosive success 🥂!!!
Overall an absolutely addictive, psychological, mind blowing, spine tingling, page turning horror that will keep you up with a racing heart until you've finished!!!
Genres covered in this book include Teen & Young Adult Religious Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Horror Fiction Classics, Thriller, Suspense, Debut Novel, Teen & Young Adult Visionary and Metaphysical Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Teen & Young Adult Occult Fiction, Occult Horror and Horror Suspense amongst others.
189 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle, free on kindle unlimited and £5.99 in paperback via Amazon at time of review which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I loved it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#Ouija #ZoeLeeOFarrell #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #ZooLoosBookTours
@ZoeLeeOFarrell @Bookworm86 @bookworm1986 @ZooLoosBT
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
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https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
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Review for 'Ouija' by Zoé-Lee O'Farrell.
Read and reviewed for ZooLoos Book Tours and Zoé-Lee O'Farrell. .
Publication date 30th August 2021
This is Zoé-Lee O'Farrell's debut novel.
I was originally drawn to this book by its absolutely fantastic, eye-catching and unique cover and its intriguing synopsis. I'm also a major horror fan and have heard some fantastic things about this book!! I must admit that I have done several book tours for Zoé-Lee so when I had seen she had brought he own book out I just had to read it!! The fact that she can organise tours and write her own book makes her an absolute inspiration to me, book Queen!!
This novel consists of a prologue, 42 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in England 🏴 , UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.
This book is written in third person perspective with several protagonists. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
'Ouija' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Zoé-Lee discusses murder of children in a school environment.
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and kept me on the edge of my seat. The cover and synopsis suited the storyline perfectly.
OMG!!! ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS SPIME TINGLING, UNIQUE, CREEPY, PAGE TURNER!!!! A PERFECT HALLOWEEN READ!!
Wow!!! How on Earth is this your debut novel Zoé-Lee?? You absolutely rocked it fair play!! Not only are you epic at organising tours but you are a Stephen King in the making!!! I am an absolutely HUGE horror fan and always get excited but also wary when reading horrors as I tend to expect the same old and nothing scary but always like to give it a go and I am extremely glad I did!!! AN absolutely gripping horror that left me with my heart still raising and the hair on my arms still standing. I have a mirrored cupboard in my room that I will be avoiding now and am already hearing noises around the house and that's having read that in the day!! Thank god I hadn't waited until the night, well saying that even in the day its dark so just as bad!!! This book came out at a perfect time for Halloween but don't wait until next Halloween to pick up this chilling page turner or you'll be missing out on one of the best horrors I have read!! It has the perfect amount of pages to get everything in without dragging unnecessary descriptions out and it also means it is a quick read you can pick up and easily read in a few hours. This is only the second book I have ever actually read that has creeped me out so much but you actually managed it so genuinely a MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS!!! It may be the first book I have read by Zoé-Lee and the first she has written but I can promise you it won't be the last I read!!! I just need her to write more now and if this is anything to go by then her next book promises to be just as explosive!! I was absolutely addicted to this book from the attention grabbing and hair raising start to the creepy cliff hanger ending!! I have my fingers crossed and really hope the fact that this book did end in a cliff hanger way means we have a sequel to look forward too 🤞. If so I am definitely being the first in line to get my hands on a copy!! If I had ever been tempted to do a ouija board then this book has definitely made sure I won't be and I have watched The Exorcist and thousands of horror movies and never been creeped out by the paranormal, ouija boards and contacting the dead. Zoé-Lee has managed to create such a unique storyline which is an absolute pleasure to see and read!!! This book will keep you awake at every bump in the night and THAT ladies and gentlemen is what you call a successful horror!!
DO NOT PICK THIS BOOK UP IN THE DARK AND MAKE SURE YOU GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME BEFORE BED TO FINISH IT!!
The storyline is absolutely ram packed with demons, death, horror, tension, gore suspense and absolutely every single thing you could want in a truly unputdownable horror!!! There is not a single negative thing I can think about this book and I always try to ensure I give constructive criticism but Zoé-Lee you absolutely SMASHED it in one!! Every single time I kept telling myself one more chapter the one I was in ended at a point where there was no way I could stop reading so I absolutely devoured it in one sitting!! Actually, I lie, there is one criticism.... Why is the next book not out yet woman!!!!!
DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT READING THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!!
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
I wasn't just 100% invested in the storyline but also in the characters. Every single one of the characters were well defined, realistic and strong. Each of the teens had their own unique personalities and they all had personality traits I liked. My heart really went out for George when the full story came out. Although the book was under 200 pages I really connected with the characters and considering it was a horror Zoé-Lee even managed to made me shed a few tears when something happened and for me to cry over anything that is not animal or my family related is extremely rare so another congratulations ( I think) to Zoé-Lee for making a rhino skimmed woman she's tears over a horror!!
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Zoé-Lee on what promises to be a massive best seller!!! I loved the twisted ending and the fact that you genuinely managed to scare me..... Just perfect 👌 Welcome to my favourite 3 horror author list Zoé-Lee and here's to your next explosive success 🥂!!!
Overall an absolutely addictive, psychological, mind blowing, spine tingling, page turning horror that will keep you up with a racing heart until you've finished!!!
Genres covered in this book include Teen & Young Adult Religious Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Horror Fiction Classics, Thriller, Suspense, Debut Novel, Teen & Young Adult Visionary and Metaphysical Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Teen & Young Adult Occult Fiction, Occult Horror and Horror Suspense amongst others.
189 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle, free on kindle unlimited and £5.99 in paperback via Amazon at time of review which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I loved it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#Ouija #ZoeLeeOFarrell #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #ZooLoosBookTours
@ZoeLeeOFarrell @Bookworm86 @bookworm1986 @ZooLoosBT
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...
January 12, 2022
I totally loved Jim Ody's #1Question Mark book. And this one is fine. Just a different kind of story.
I was a bit too old to relate to the characters and who had a crush on who..
The writing is good.
It's a Ouija story. Spirits and all that jazz.
I'm willing to bet younger thrill seekers would enjoy this one
I was a bit too old to relate to the characters and who had a crush on who..
The writing is good.
It's a Ouija story. Spirits and all that jazz.
I'm willing to bet younger thrill seekers would enjoy this one
November 2, 2022
I love a good horror & in my younger days my 1st love was horror.
I would have loved this so much when I was younger.
The teens were just as teens were & are. Friends but grumpy but love each other. Happy days ha
Inquisitive and wanting to know more they take off to a school where a horrendous thing happened. Thing is, is it safe now?
It ran so smooth to read and I read it in a few hours. Definitely a good on for YA
I would have loved this so much when I was younger.
The teens were just as teens were & are. Friends but grumpy but love each other. Happy days ha
Inquisitive and wanting to know more they take off to a school where a horrendous thing happened. Thing is, is it safe now?
It ran so smooth to read and I read it in a few hours. Definitely a good on for YA
September 1, 2021
In my younger days I was a huge fan of horror books, but over the years my taste changed and my love for all things horror took a back seat! Until now! Ouija is a book aimed at the YA market. I’m more of the ‘over the hill, YA a distant memory’ market, but I throughly enjoyed Zoe Lee O’Farrell’s debut novel.
The plot isn’t an unique one a group of six friends unleash something dangerous when they play with an Ouija board. But it’s the author’s exceptional writing that makes this book such an original read. The setting is perfect, an abandoned High School, you immediately sense something dark and dangerous lurking in the shadows of the derelict building. As the teenagers’ terror grows, O’Farrell creates scenes that build on the tension tenfold.
Ouija is relatively short read at 189 pages, but as the adage goes ‘the best things come in small packages’ and that certainly applies to this book! If I’m going to enjoy a horror read it’s got to have the ‘fear factor’, a book that gives you goosebumps, a book where a sense of dread builds, and it’s got to be super creepy. The author incorporates all this and so much more. Highly recommended.
The plot isn’t an unique one a group of six friends unleash something dangerous when they play with an Ouija board. But it’s the author’s exceptional writing that makes this book such an original read. The setting is perfect, an abandoned High School, you immediately sense something dark and dangerous lurking in the shadows of the derelict building. As the teenagers’ terror grows, O’Farrell creates scenes that build on the tension tenfold.
Ouija is relatively short read at 189 pages, but as the adage goes ‘the best things come in small packages’ and that certainly applies to this book! If I’m going to enjoy a horror read it’s got to have the ‘fear factor’, a book that gives you goosebumps, a book where a sense of dread builds, and it’s got to be super creepy. The author incorporates all this and so much more. Highly recommended.
September 17, 2021
- [ ] Good
- [ ] Creepy
- [ ] Eerie
- [ ] Unsettling
- [ ] Disturbing
- [ ] A group of teenagers unearth an old Demon on to their world and start to die, due to a night of idiocy and playing with things they shouldn’t
- [ ] I feel this story is good for a younger audience, I found it tbh a bit cliched and not that scary. I am not sure it’s aimed at me.
- [ ] An interesting cast of characters and incidents.
- [ ] Creepy
- [ ] Eerie
- [ ] Unsettling
- [ ] Disturbing
- [ ] A group of teenagers unearth an old Demon on to their world and start to die, due to a night of idiocy and playing with things they shouldn’t
- [ ] I feel this story is good for a younger audience, I found it tbh a bit cliched and not that scary. I am not sure it’s aimed at me.
- [ ] An interesting cast of characters and incidents.
August 30, 2021
4.5
A dual storyline shows us Rayner High in its current dilapidated and abandoned state and Rayner High about a year ago when it was still a thriving high school. In the present, six teenagers decide to try and summon spirits by means of a Ouija board, because in the past, a gruesome event happened at Rayner High. What happened and what horror have these kids tapped into? I’m not exaggerating even a little bit when I tell you I was desperate to find out. You could have cut the tension with a knife!
I can never resist the lure of a Ouija board in a story. I have never tried it in real life, as I’ve said in my review of I Am Dust: Ouija boards creep me out. I don’t really believe in ghosts and spirits, but one shouldn’t dabble in things one does not understand. I know that in real life the odds of something bad happening are slim to none, but in fiction, especially in horror, things always go to hell in a handbasket before the characters know what hit them, and it’s just so much fun to read!
It’s crystal clear that Zoé is a horror aficionado and has seen and read her fair share of horror flicks and books. From the tension-building over the ominous signs and the creepy dolls to the why why WHY would you run up the stairs instead of out the door, Ouija had all the classic horror elements and a few cultural references to boot, yet without ever discombobulating its reader.
I had a great time with Ouija, it was such a fun and creepy read! If you’re in the market for YA horror, Ouija should definitely be on your shopping list. It’s an impressive debut and I can’t wait to read more!
A dual storyline shows us Rayner High in its current dilapidated and abandoned state and Rayner High about a year ago when it was still a thriving high school. In the present, six teenagers decide to try and summon spirits by means of a Ouija board, because in the past, a gruesome event happened at Rayner High. What happened and what horror have these kids tapped into? I’m not exaggerating even a little bit when I tell you I was desperate to find out. You could have cut the tension with a knife!
I can never resist the lure of a Ouija board in a story. I have never tried it in real life, as I’ve said in my review of I Am Dust: Ouija boards creep me out. I don’t really believe in ghosts and spirits, but one shouldn’t dabble in things one does not understand. I know that in real life the odds of something bad happening are slim to none, but in fiction, especially in horror, things always go to hell in a handbasket before the characters know what hit them, and it’s just so much fun to read!
It’s crystal clear that Zoé is a horror aficionado and has seen and read her fair share of horror flicks and books. From the tension-building over the ominous signs and the creepy dolls to the why why WHY would you run up the stairs instead of out the door, Ouija had all the classic horror elements and a few cultural references to boot, yet without ever discombobulating its reader.
I had a great time with Ouija, it was such a fun and creepy read! If you’re in the market for YA horror, Ouija should definitely be on your shopping list. It’s an impressive debut and I can’t wait to read more!
August 29, 2021
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and to Zoé of Zooloo’s Book Tours (who in this instance are one and the same person!). The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
I cannot tell you how excited I was to hear that Question Mark Press were bringing out their own Question Mark Horror series – I was such as massive fan of the old Point Horror books, as you’ll know if you were following the Nostalgi-AAARGH! reviews with fellow blogger Zoé-Lee O’Farrell.
Does that name sound familiar?! Yes, Zoé has channelled her love of all things YA horror into the book I am reviewing for you right now… and it’s a keep-you-up-all-nighter!
With the classic teen/YA horror setting of a group of friends looking for unwise, creepy adventure thrills, Ouija follows Lara, Caley, Sophie, Simon, Ben and Jon as they break into the old school, where very bad things once happened. Rumoured to be haunted after the horrific deaths that occurred there years earlier, the deserted building strikes the teens as ideal for an Ouija board séance session… until someone – or something – actually responds.
The author gives a nod to classic horror tales like The Exorcist, while bringing things up to date, with the friends messaging each other in text-speak and Googling how to rid themselves of evil spirits. The result is a fun, easy horror read, that had me unable to stop turning pages, reading well into the night and then scaring myself silly when a moth dive-bombed me on a toilet break!
I enjoyed the characterisations, which were well-developed, rather than the simple stereotypes that used to be used in older books of the same genre (the Jock, the Nerd, the Cheerleader). O’Farrell avoids giving her six teens labels, yet still makes them quickly distinct from each other in dialogue and actions, as well as appearances.
The plot is nicely-paced between the adrenaline scares and the ominous periods of waiting, which ratchet up the reader tension as they wait for the next attack. There is blood and violence here, but most of the vicious actions happen off-screen, so we see the aftermath and hear the screaming, but avoid the gratuitous gory details – ideal for younger horror readers. Similarly, the teenage ‘hormonal’ action is restricted to some snogging and a bit of light petting (above the belt).
If you’re a teen/YA looking for a scary treat, or an adult who loved the old Goosebumps/Point Horror books and want a taste of that old nostalgi-AAARGH! (see what I did there!), then this is the book and the series for you. I was thoroughly hooked in and will NEED to collect the whole series, naturally.
I’ll be back reviewing Camp Death by Jim Ody, from the same series (but all standalone) next week. In the meantime, happy reading and… what’s that, behind you… in the mirror…?!
'Simon felt something move behind him. His nerve endings were sending urgent messages to his brain, telling him to run; that something wasn’t right. But he was rooted to the spot. He felt a breath on his neck, sending shivers down his spine. It stopped, but just as he began to relax, his senses went into overdrive. A cold breeze blew on his neck and the air around him smelt stale. He cried out. Everyone took their eyes off the Ouija board and looked up at him.
“Si, you OK?” Sophie asked.
Before he could reply the board was receiving another word, but Simon wasn’t writing it down. He didn’t want to look at what it spelt this time. Simon gulped and looked.
B-E-H-I-N-D
Y-O-U
Simon screamed.'
– Zoé O’Farrell, Ouija
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
I cannot tell you how excited I was to hear that Question Mark Press were bringing out their own Question Mark Horror series – I was such as massive fan of the old Point Horror books, as you’ll know if you were following the Nostalgi-AAARGH! reviews with fellow blogger Zoé-Lee O’Farrell.
Does that name sound familiar?! Yes, Zoé has channelled her love of all things YA horror into the book I am reviewing for you right now… and it’s a keep-you-up-all-nighter!
With the classic teen/YA horror setting of a group of friends looking for unwise, creepy adventure thrills, Ouija follows Lara, Caley, Sophie, Simon, Ben and Jon as they break into the old school, where very bad things once happened. Rumoured to be haunted after the horrific deaths that occurred there years earlier, the deserted building strikes the teens as ideal for an Ouija board séance session… until someone – or something – actually responds.
The author gives a nod to classic horror tales like The Exorcist, while bringing things up to date, with the friends messaging each other in text-speak and Googling how to rid themselves of evil spirits. The result is a fun, easy horror read, that had me unable to stop turning pages, reading well into the night and then scaring myself silly when a moth dive-bombed me on a toilet break!
I enjoyed the characterisations, which were well-developed, rather than the simple stereotypes that used to be used in older books of the same genre (the Jock, the Nerd, the Cheerleader). O’Farrell avoids giving her six teens labels, yet still makes them quickly distinct from each other in dialogue and actions, as well as appearances.
The plot is nicely-paced between the adrenaline scares and the ominous periods of waiting, which ratchet up the reader tension as they wait for the next attack. There is blood and violence here, but most of the vicious actions happen off-screen, so we see the aftermath and hear the screaming, but avoid the gratuitous gory details – ideal for younger horror readers. Similarly, the teenage ‘hormonal’ action is restricted to some snogging and a bit of light petting (above the belt).
If you’re a teen/YA looking for a scary treat, or an adult who loved the old Goosebumps/Point Horror books and want a taste of that old nostalgi-AAARGH! (see what I did there!), then this is the book and the series for you. I was thoroughly hooked in and will NEED to collect the whole series, naturally.
I’ll be back reviewing Camp Death by Jim Ody, from the same series (but all standalone) next week. In the meantime, happy reading and… what’s that, behind you… in the mirror…?!
'Simon felt something move behind him. His nerve endings were sending urgent messages to his brain, telling him to run; that something wasn’t right. But he was rooted to the spot. He felt a breath on his neck, sending shivers down his spine. It stopped, but just as he began to relax, his senses went into overdrive. A cold breeze blew on his neck and the air around him smelt stale. He cried out. Everyone took their eyes off the Ouija board and looked up at him.
“Si, you OK?” Sophie asked.
Before he could reply the board was receiving another word, but Simon wasn’t writing it down. He didn’t want to look at what it spelt this time. Simon gulped and looked.
B-E-H-I-N-D
Y-O-U
Simon screamed.'
– Zoé O’Farrell, Ouija
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
August 22, 2021
Oh I wish I could give this more than 5 out of 5, I absolutely loved reading this book! It is the second book in the Question Mark Horror series. It is the first book by Zoè-Lee O'Farrell and oh it has left me wanting to read so many more by her!
I wrote write much about the plot as I really don't want to spoil it for anyone ! We follow a group of school friends , one has a bright idea of going into a closed down school to do a ouija board.... bad idea but even worse idea when the school they are going to do it in was hit by a tragedy. Are they going to make it out alive????
This book was brilliantly written, it kept you hooked on it from the very start, I loved the characters that featured in it, you could feel the strong connection between them all , of course Sophie was my favourite character! It was so hard to stop reading this book and put it down , my mind kept drawing me back too it , playing on my mind when I was away wondering what was going to happen to the characters . It is definitely like a mature goosebumps type book, giving off the horror vibes that keep you addicted too it!
I cannot wait for more from this author! A flawless book in my eyes , one I would happily read again and again !
I wrote write much about the plot as I really don't want to spoil it for anyone ! We follow a group of school friends , one has a bright idea of going into a closed down school to do a ouija board.... bad idea but even worse idea when the school they are going to do it in was hit by a tragedy. Are they going to make it out alive????
This book was brilliantly written, it kept you hooked on it from the very start, I loved the characters that featured in it, you could feel the strong connection between them all , of course Sophie was my favourite character! It was so hard to stop reading this book and put it down , my mind kept drawing me back too it , playing on my mind when I was away wondering what was going to happen to the characters . It is definitely like a mature goosebumps type book, giving off the horror vibes that keep you addicted too it!
I cannot wait for more from this author! A flawless book in my eyes , one I would happily read again and again !
October 3, 2022
Having worked with @zooloosbookdiary for about a year now on different tours, when she told me she’d written her own book and I received the email, I knew it was a must read for me and it didn’t disappoint.
Zoe is a fantastic writer. All the elements of this spooky read was perfect. It was vivid, spooky and thrilling all at the same time.
I am a huge fan of Ouija boards, and although I’ve never used one, I think they’re fascinating. When a group of friends decide to play around with a Ouija board in an abandoned school, they open a whole other world - they’re friendship is put to the test and we find out who they really are.
We learn about the characters throughout the book, their thoughts, feelings and through the dialogue we get to know the type of person they are. It was great!
It’s a very quick, spooky read and great for the spooky season. I’d recommend if you’re a fan of horror and spookiness. A fabulous debut novel from Zoe!
Thanks @zooloosbooktour for having me on tour and sending me a copy of your fantastic debut novel! You should be very proud.
Zoe is a fantastic writer. All the elements of this spooky read was perfect. It was vivid, spooky and thrilling all at the same time.
I am a huge fan of Ouija boards, and although I’ve never used one, I think they’re fascinating. When a group of friends decide to play around with a Ouija board in an abandoned school, they open a whole other world - they’re friendship is put to the test and we find out who they really are.
We learn about the characters throughout the book, their thoughts, feelings and through the dialogue we get to know the type of person they are. It was great!
It’s a very quick, spooky read and great for the spooky season. I’d recommend if you’re a fan of horror and spookiness. A fabulous debut novel from Zoe!
Thanks @zooloosbooktour for having me on tour and sending me a copy of your fantastic debut novel! You should be very proud.
August 31, 2021
Good read, definitely gives me the old ya horror vibes
September 7, 2021
What an awesome debut from Zoé-Lee O'Farrell !!
I devoured it with a quickness! I'm not usually big on teen or YA anything, but this was different. I actually liked the characters, not so much teen drama which is usually what I find offputting. This just sucked me in from the start. It really did remind me of when I was young and obsessed with Christopher Pike books.
Such an unexpectedly wicked little story, it was so much more than just playing with the Ouija, but how the consequences stuck with the group and haunted them long after. I love the nods to The Exorcist, and it had this retro 90s fast-paced, high-energy, feeling that I just adored. It also kind of reminded me of Final Destination.
I cannot wait to see what books Zoé will come up with next! Loved this one!
I devoured it with a quickness! I'm not usually big on teen or YA anything, but this was different. I actually liked the characters, not so much teen drama which is usually what I find offputting. This just sucked me in from the start. It really did remind me of when I was young and obsessed with Christopher Pike books.
Such an unexpectedly wicked little story, it was so much more than just playing with the Ouija, but how the consequences stuck with the group and haunted them long after. I love the nods to The Exorcist, and it had this retro 90s fast-paced, high-energy, feeling that I just adored. It also kind of reminded me of Final Destination.
I cannot wait to see what books Zoé will come up with next! Loved this one!
August 7, 2021
Okay, so I'll start off by saying that Horror is not my go-to genre, usually, but having read the opening chapters of this book, previously, my appetite was well and truly whetted, so when I was given the opportunity to read the whole book, I jumped at the chance, straight away!
Ouija is the debut novel by Zoé-Lee O'Farrell, and what a fantastic debut it is, too!
Six high school students take it upon themselves to have a go at something they really shouldn't have touched, i.e. the Ouija board, inside an abandoned school, where tragedy struck a little while before.
What were they thinking? That's what I was thinking, as I read, having been a little silly in my own youth, and tried this occult madness out at university. Put it this way, we had to break the session, and I was too scared to walk home in the dark, alone, for ages!
Still, Jon, Ben, Caley, Lara, and twins, Simon and Sophie all head into the school, some with doubt and trepidation, some with scepticism, some with a little indifference.
They all leave with something that binds them all together for life, and it ain't something pleasant, I tell you!
O'Farrell has created just the right amount of tension and jumps, twists and turns to really keep you turning the pages, and the ending?
OMG! I will be needing a continuation, please!
If you like a bit of horror, that isn't overly gory, but will play with your mind, you need to read this!
Ouija is the debut novel by Zoé-Lee O'Farrell, and what a fantastic debut it is, too!
Six high school students take it upon themselves to have a go at something they really shouldn't have touched, i.e. the Ouija board, inside an abandoned school, where tragedy struck a little while before.
What were they thinking? That's what I was thinking, as I read, having been a little silly in my own youth, and tried this occult madness out at university. Put it this way, we had to break the session, and I was too scared to walk home in the dark, alone, for ages!
Still, Jon, Ben, Caley, Lara, and twins, Simon and Sophie all head into the school, some with doubt and trepidation, some with scepticism, some with a little indifference.
They all leave with something that binds them all together for life, and it ain't something pleasant, I tell you!
O'Farrell has created just the right amount of tension and jumps, twists and turns to really keep you turning the pages, and the ending?
OMG! I will be needing a continuation, please!
If you like a bit of horror, that isn't overly gory, but will play with your mind, you need to read this!
August 31, 2021
A group of teenagers sneaks into the abandoned Rayner High School to play with a Ouija board. As you might expect, it doesn’t work out well for them. If this isn’t a classic horror scenario, then I don’t know what is. This short, sharp book is a page-turner that I read in a day and thoroughly enjoyed. Genre aficionados will see nods to many of their favourite horror tropes. Well worth checking out and best read late at night!
October 28, 2022
DNF
Tried as I might I just didn’t enjoy this one, couldn’t get into it and gave up at 60% as IMO life’s too short to read a book I’m not enjoying
Tried as I might I just didn’t enjoy this one, couldn’t get into it and gave up at 60% as IMO life’s too short to read a book I’m not enjoying
August 7, 2021
Ouija may be Zoe Lee O'Farrell's debut novel, but it really doesn't show. Book two in the Question Mark Horror YA series, this book is packed with chills and thrills right from the very start. You can feel the tension and the fear building in a book that will have you jumping at shadows and eyeing your friends and family's strange porcelain doll and figurine collections with great suspicion.
This is the story of a group of friends who decide it will be a fun idea to play around with the powers of a Ouija board in an abandoned school which was the site of a really horrific tragedy. Yep - all the alarm bells ringing loud and clear right there. Everyone who is everyone knows that the powers of a ouija board should never be underestimated, so why would you invite trouble by playing in such a dark and dangerous location? Why? Well, because that's where the fun's at. At least it is if you are Jon, the ring leader in this particularly daft scheme. Less so if you are Lara, the stories only real desenter who, quite logically, has the screaming heebie-jeebies about the whole idea. Guess which one of the two is proven to be right?
Zoe-Lee O'Farrell has done a brilliant job of instilling the fear into the novella, getting the balance just right. There is a tension between the friends and yet a closeness which has a really authentic vibe to it, but it is nothing compared to those creeping shadows, adrenalin pumping, shock moments that are dripped into the story. For me it had a real 'Final Desitination' feel to it, that sense of something dark, some unseeable force, lurking in the dark corners, just out of your line of sight, but waiting to pounce, to make the ultimate move against the group of friends who dared to provoke the dark spirits. Even before they begin their little game the short sharp shocks start to occur, so much so you have to wonder who in their right mind would continue into the school and not just run for the hills already. Yeah - I know. The perfect horror story set up. They stay, they pay. And pay they do.
There is a brilliant blend of character, story and special horror based vibes within this novella that keep you hooked and powering through the story, I read it in an evening but even as a roughty toughty adult who was routinely watching Halloween every October 31st from an obscenely young age there were parts that gave me chills and kept me on edge, so caution advised for the lower end of the reading age unless they are hard core horror nuts. That said, this is a very teen based story, with text speak and lingo these ageing eyes could just about decipher and a perfect set of characters I both wanted to champion and slap at varying stages of the story. Luckily there was a very dark and chilling presence quite happy to take on the aggressor role on my behalf 😉.
A very impressive debut YA shocker and I'm looking forward to reading more from my little blog buddy in the future.
This is the story of a group of friends who decide it will be a fun idea to play around with the powers of a Ouija board in an abandoned school which was the site of a really horrific tragedy. Yep - all the alarm bells ringing loud and clear right there. Everyone who is everyone knows that the powers of a ouija board should never be underestimated, so why would you invite trouble by playing in such a dark and dangerous location? Why? Well, because that's where the fun's at. At least it is if you are Jon, the ring leader in this particularly daft scheme. Less so if you are Lara, the stories only real desenter who, quite logically, has the screaming heebie-jeebies about the whole idea. Guess which one of the two is proven to be right?
Zoe-Lee O'Farrell has done a brilliant job of instilling the fear into the novella, getting the balance just right. There is a tension between the friends and yet a closeness which has a really authentic vibe to it, but it is nothing compared to those creeping shadows, adrenalin pumping, shock moments that are dripped into the story. For me it had a real 'Final Desitination' feel to it, that sense of something dark, some unseeable force, lurking in the dark corners, just out of your line of sight, but waiting to pounce, to make the ultimate move against the group of friends who dared to provoke the dark spirits. Even before they begin their little game the short sharp shocks start to occur, so much so you have to wonder who in their right mind would continue into the school and not just run for the hills already. Yeah - I know. The perfect horror story set up. They stay, they pay. And pay they do.
There is a brilliant blend of character, story and special horror based vibes within this novella that keep you hooked and powering through the story, I read it in an evening but even as a roughty toughty adult who was routinely watching Halloween every October 31st from an obscenely young age there were parts that gave me chills and kept me on edge, so caution advised for the lower end of the reading age unless they are hard core horror nuts. That said, this is a very teen based story, with text speak and lingo these ageing eyes could just about decipher and a perfect set of characters I both wanted to champion and slap at varying stages of the story. Luckily there was a very dark and chilling presence quite happy to take on the aggressor role on my behalf 😉.
A very impressive debut YA shocker and I'm looking forward to reading more from my little blog buddy in the future.
August 28, 2021
If there’s one thing that I like doing, it’s discovering new authors. Zoe-Lee O’Farrell is certainly a new author for me. I read the synopsis for ‘Ouija’ and it certainly sounded like the creepy sort of read I particularly enjoy. So without further ado I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for an interesting afternoon of reading. ‘Ouija’ was one hell of a scary read and I loved every minute of it but more about that in a bit.
‘Ouija’ is the second book in the new series published by Question Mark Press. This new series is being billed as perfect for fans of the Point Horror series, which was published back in the day and was primarily aimed at young adults. Going back more years than I care to admit to, I was a huge fan of the Point Horror series and so I had high hopes for ‘Ouija’. I wasn’t to be disappointed.
It didn’t take me long to get into ‘Ouija’. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I knew that I was going to become seriously addicted to the story. I am fascinated by the whole idea of Ouija boards, although I am far too much of a chicken to participate myself. I was intrigued by the plot and I had to keep reading to see if the story would develop in the way in which I expected it to. The pages turned over rather quickly as I worked my way through the story. This wasn’t a particularly long book and so I managed to finish it in just a few hours. I found ‘Ouija’ to be a tense and dramatic read, which certainly kept me guessing and which also kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘Ouija’ is extremely well written. In fact I had trouble believing that this was the author’s debut novel as the writing style is so polished and confident. Zoe-Lee certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into what proves to be a compelling read. Reading ‘Ouija’ felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Zoe-Lee’s very realistic and vivid storytelling.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘Ouija’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Zoe-Lee’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
‘Ouija’ is the second book in the new series published by Question Mark Press. This new series is being billed as perfect for fans of the Point Horror series, which was published back in the day and was primarily aimed at young adults. Going back more years than I care to admit to, I was a huge fan of the Point Horror series and so I had high hopes for ‘Ouija’. I wasn’t to be disappointed.
It didn’t take me long to get into ‘Ouija’. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I knew that I was going to become seriously addicted to the story. I am fascinated by the whole idea of Ouija boards, although I am far too much of a chicken to participate myself. I was intrigued by the plot and I had to keep reading to see if the story would develop in the way in which I expected it to. The pages turned over rather quickly as I worked my way through the story. This wasn’t a particularly long book and so I managed to finish it in just a few hours. I found ‘Ouija’ to be a tense and dramatic read, which certainly kept me guessing and which also kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘Ouija’ is extremely well written. In fact I had trouble believing that this was the author’s debut novel as the writing style is so polished and confident. Zoe-Lee certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into what proves to be a compelling read. Reading ‘Ouija’ felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Zoe-Lee’s very realistic and vivid storytelling.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘Ouija’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Zoe-Lee’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
August 30, 2021
What did I enjoy about this book?
Well, pretty much everything!
There are 6 main characters, who all decide that holding a Ouija session, in a school where a yet-to-be-revealed sinister incident has happened, would be a fun way to pass the time. This gives the reader a solid core of friends, and not an over large cast of character names to remember, and the opening chapters give you a good chance to get to know Ben, Caley, Sophie, Simon, Jack and Lara.
Starting with a shocking opener, which is deliberately vague in order to build suspense, whilst also setting the novel's tone, the ouija board is something most teens have either thought about, or dabbled with, at some point in their lives. And, unlike other novels, the teen characters here have done their research and at least one of them has misgivings about what they could be unleashing.
Mixing The Ring's race against time to avoid a horrible death, and the 'The Exorcist' demon Pazuzu, the kids have to not only put to rest the horrific events which happened in Rayner High School, they have to find levels of resilience and strength that they never knew they had.
The dialogue is so realistic, especially the conversations between parents and their offspring, the plotting is very tight and doesn't let up to the very, bitter, end.
There is the potential for a sequel, which I really liked (open endings that leave you questioning everything you just read are particular favourites of mine) and I can see that the level of gore and violence is tailored to the target audience, yet they are not talked down to.
With moments of terror that will leave you covered in goosebumps, this would be a perfect Halloween read, and I hope Zoe will be involved in further instalments of the Question Mark horror line! It is a great read for fans of Mark Morris' novels 'Toady' and 'Stitch'.
Well, pretty much everything!
There are 6 main characters, who all decide that holding a Ouija session, in a school where a yet-to-be-revealed sinister incident has happened, would be a fun way to pass the time. This gives the reader a solid core of friends, and not an over large cast of character names to remember, and the opening chapters give you a good chance to get to know Ben, Caley, Sophie, Simon, Jack and Lara.
Starting with a shocking opener, which is deliberately vague in order to build suspense, whilst also setting the novel's tone, the ouija board is something most teens have either thought about, or dabbled with, at some point in their lives. And, unlike other novels, the teen characters here have done their research and at least one of them has misgivings about what they could be unleashing.
Mixing The Ring's race against time to avoid a horrible death, and the 'The Exorcist' demon Pazuzu, the kids have to not only put to rest the horrific events which happened in Rayner High School, they have to find levels of resilience and strength that they never knew they had.
The dialogue is so realistic, especially the conversations between parents and their offspring, the plotting is very tight and doesn't let up to the very, bitter, end.
There is the potential for a sequel, which I really liked (open endings that leave you questioning everything you just read are particular favourites of mine) and I can see that the level of gore and violence is tailored to the target audience, yet they are not talked down to.
With moments of terror that will leave you covered in goosebumps, this would be a perfect Halloween read, and I hope Zoe will be involved in further instalments of the Question Mark horror line! It is a great read for fans of Mark Morris' novels 'Toady' and 'Stitch'.
October 22, 2021
A fun YA horror with scary moments, confusing moments, and an ending that would fit perfectly with a Goosebumps/R.L. Stine book.
A group of 6 kids decide that it is a cool thing to go to a school that was the site of a mass murder to do some Ouija. Yep. Dumb ways to die right there. But I was totally into it, I wanted to know what they would see in that haunted place and who they would summon.
I am still not sure who my favourite character was, if I even had one. Not that they aren’t likeable (well Simon is a tad over the top and I am still not sure if that is because of the demon or because he is just a bit too attached to his sister), but I just couldn’t really bond with them. It didn’t help that the chapters were a tad confusing with POV. We would start with one character, but then a few pages later things would get a bit muddled on who was the MC of the chapter. But I did like this group of friends, loved seeing the romance bloom between them, see the couples.
Things get real spooky in this book and at times even scary. I mean, I am NOT a fan of mirrors at night and also not a fan of dolls any time of the day and those two come by quite a bit. One of the girls has dolls (NOPE NOPE) and the other characters are able to see things in the shadows/mirrors. With each day passing things get creepier and the demon much more evil. Though the way the kids died could have been a bit more surprising, now if you know one fact you know how they will die/when they will go. That removed some of the scariness of the book.
I also loved that we got some information on what happened to Jim and why he went on a murder spree. I was already wondering if we would get that, so I am delighted that it was added.
The ending to the book was a great one, it was plenty of scary! Though the final page/sentence? Very much reminding me of how R.L. Stine ends his books. That is all I will say. XD
There was one continuity error (if that is the right word). Namely that when the kids go to the Highschool to do that Ouija thing they state that the school smells state and that it hasn’t been ventilated in years. So I thought I had seen the first chapter wrong which seemed to state that it was a year ago since the murders/killings, but then later on it was confirmed again and I was just confused.
Another thing I found a shame is that the kids talk about the teacher for a bit and then suddenly it is the next chapter and it is 2 weeks later. It just felt very unnatural and took me out of the story for a bit.
But in overall, as you can see, I really had a good time reading this one. There was plenty of scariness to scare me. I flew through the book! I would recommend it for this Halloween month.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
A group of 6 kids decide that it is a cool thing to go to a school that was the site of a mass murder to do some Ouija. Yep. Dumb ways to die right there. But I was totally into it, I wanted to know what they would see in that haunted place and who they would summon.
I am still not sure who my favourite character was, if I even had one. Not that they aren’t likeable (well Simon is a tad over the top and I am still not sure if that is because of the demon or because he is just a bit too attached to his sister), but I just couldn’t really bond with them. It didn’t help that the chapters were a tad confusing with POV. We would start with one character, but then a few pages later things would get a bit muddled on who was the MC of the chapter. But I did like this group of friends, loved seeing the romance bloom between them, see the couples.
Things get real spooky in this book and at times even scary. I mean, I am NOT a fan of mirrors at night and also not a fan of dolls any time of the day and those two come by quite a bit. One of the girls has dolls (NOPE NOPE) and the other characters are able to see things in the shadows/mirrors. With each day passing things get creepier and the demon much more evil. Though the way the kids died could have been a bit more surprising, now if you know one fact you know how they will die/when they will go. That removed some of the scariness of the book.
I also loved that we got some information on what happened to Jim and why he went on a murder spree. I was already wondering if we would get that, so I am delighted that it was added.
The ending to the book was a great one, it was plenty of scary! Though the final page/sentence? Very much reminding me of how R.L. Stine ends his books. That is all I will say. XD
There was one continuity error (if that is the right word). Namely that when the kids go to the Highschool to do that Ouija thing they state that the school smells state and that it hasn’t been ventilated in years. So I thought I had seen the first chapter wrong which seemed to state that it was a year ago since the murders/killings, but then later on it was confirmed again and I was just confused.
Another thing I found a shame is that the kids talk about the teacher for a bit and then suddenly it is the next chapter and it is 2 weeks later. It just felt very unnatural and took me out of the story for a bit.
But in overall, as you can see, I really had a good time reading this one. There was plenty of scariness to scare me. I flew through the book! I would recommend it for this Halloween month.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
August 6, 2021
I used to be a huge fan of horror books in my teens but admittedly don’t read many of them these days. Having read and finished Ouija, I really need to alter that as this book reminded me of everything that I loved about the horror genre.
The story starts off with a dark and disturbing scene that takes place in a school, then we are taken to present day where we meet six school friends who decide to go to the abandoned school and have some fun with a ouija board. Well, alarm bells were going off in my head as being a horror story, I knew that no good could come from playing such a dangerous game!
I enjoyed getting to know the six teenagers better. With the story flicking between events that took place at the school the year before as well as what was happening in present day, it was so easy to get fully engrossed in this story. I was so glad that I was sat reading with the light on as I could feel myself getting creeped out by what I was reading and kept looking up to make sure that there were no weird or strange things going on in my home.
Ouija is the author’s debut novel and wow what a novel! It delivers on the scare factor and I literally couldn’t relax as, as soon as I did, something would happen that would literally have me jumping from where I was sat. This story gave me goose bumps and if this is what the author can do with a debut, then I can’t wait to see what else she can do in her next novel! A super creepy read that you will not want to read in the dark!
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The story starts off with a dark and disturbing scene that takes place in a school, then we are taken to present day where we meet six school friends who decide to go to the abandoned school and have some fun with a ouija board. Well, alarm bells were going off in my head as being a horror story, I knew that no good could come from playing such a dangerous game!
I enjoyed getting to know the six teenagers better. With the story flicking between events that took place at the school the year before as well as what was happening in present day, it was so easy to get fully engrossed in this story. I was so glad that I was sat reading with the light on as I could feel myself getting creeped out by what I was reading and kept looking up to make sure that there were no weird or strange things going on in my home.
Ouija is the author’s debut novel and wow what a novel! It delivers on the scare factor and I literally couldn’t relax as, as soon as I did, something would happen that would literally have me jumping from where I was sat. This story gave me goose bumps and if this is what the author can do with a debut, then I can’t wait to see what else she can do in her next novel! A super creepy read that you will not want to read in the dark!
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
August 30, 2021
If you are a regular visitor to my blog you may have heard me say this before but basically I’m big scaredy-cat. The thing is I didn’t used to be. I started off being a big fan of Point Horror in my early teens then went on to love horror films as a teenager. Nowadays I’m the hide behind the cushion type of person when watching a scary film. Even more so if there is a supernatural element. However let’s be honest there’s no way of hiding when reading a book. I guess I wasn’t quite sure what to expect on the scare factor when I first picked up Ouija. However within a short space of time this book officially CREEPED me out! I’m just glad I started reading it in the day.
There’s a little bit of everything in Ouija designed to make those chills creep up your spine. A Ouija board is already a pretty scary concept without the extra special scares this book had in store for me. From menacing figures in the shadows to sinister movements from the corner of your eye. Even the chilling feel of a breath skating across the back of your neck. Right, I’m going to stop there. I think I’m officially creeping myself out writing this review!
The pacing was great throughout and I couldn’t help but race through. Although I wasn’t quite sure what awaited me whenever I turned the page. Or should I say I wasn’t quite sure what would jump out at me next. I’m looking at you, Ruby! The characters are pulled into a scary and deadly situation albeit by their own hands. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. They had their flaws but there was a great mix of personalities within this group. From the quiet and serious to the more outgoing and confident ones. There were also the typical horror moments where I wanted to shout out “no, don’t do that” which obviously the characters ignore.
Ouija is a fabulous debut filled with a brilliant combination of chilling, tense and entertaining moments. I can’t wait to see what is coming next from Zoé-Lee O’Farrell. Whatever it is I’ll probably be left looking over my shoulder and wanting to keep the lights on!
There’s a little bit of everything in Ouija designed to make those chills creep up your spine. A Ouija board is already a pretty scary concept without the extra special scares this book had in store for me. From menacing figures in the shadows to sinister movements from the corner of your eye. Even the chilling feel of a breath skating across the back of your neck. Right, I’m going to stop there. I think I’m officially creeping myself out writing this review!
The pacing was great throughout and I couldn’t help but race through. Although I wasn’t quite sure what awaited me whenever I turned the page. Or should I say I wasn’t quite sure what would jump out at me next. I’m looking at you, Ruby! The characters are pulled into a scary and deadly situation albeit by their own hands. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. They had their flaws but there was a great mix of personalities within this group. From the quiet and serious to the more outgoing and confident ones. There were also the typical horror moments where I wanted to shout out “no, don’t do that” which obviously the characters ignore.
Ouija is a fabulous debut filled with a brilliant combination of chilling, tense and entertaining moments. I can’t wait to see what is coming next from Zoé-Lee O’Farrell. Whatever it is I’ll probably be left looking over my shoulder and wanting to keep the lights on!
August 27, 2021
Ouija by Zoé-Lee O' Farrell is her debut novel and the second book in the Question Mark Horror Series. I was so looking forward to reading Zoé's book and that cover just smacks you in the face! Love it.
Once a prestigious high school, Rayner High School, now stands in ruins after a horrific incident. One year after a group of friends decide to return on one fateful night. It isn't till it is too late they realise their terrible mistake.
From the start of this story I was already tense, wondering what else this author could bring us. The opening scene is dark, disturbing and told from the past. It definitely kept me on my toes wanting more. Then we are back in the present day where we are introduced to a group of six friends, who decide to go to Rayner high school as was, and mess about with a ouija board. Well, now my internal 'that's not a good idea' alarm was going off! I knew nothing good comes from that sort of idea.
As the story unfolds, we begin to get to know the characters and their friendships. The author has depicted them all really well, I felt these kids were really authentic, their friendships and their issues all seemed so real and ones that anyone could relate too.
The story is told from the present day and slips back in time to show us the events from the past. I really was totally immersed, it was a good job I was reading it in the day! I would have had no chance at night. I was so creeped out I got goosebumps too! I have to admit that at one point someone knocked on the door and I jumped a mile!!
A horror debut that definitely has the scare box well and truly ticked! When you read a book where you are just tense ready for the 'boo' moment from the first chapter- it's a good one. I will be waiting for this author's next book and can't wait for it!
Thanks to ZooLoo's Book Tours, Question Mark Press for the gifted copy of this debut and my place on the tour.
Once a prestigious high school, Rayner High School, now stands in ruins after a horrific incident. One year after a group of friends decide to return on one fateful night. It isn't till it is too late they realise their terrible mistake.
From the start of this story I was already tense, wondering what else this author could bring us. The opening scene is dark, disturbing and told from the past. It definitely kept me on my toes wanting more. Then we are back in the present day where we are introduced to a group of six friends, who decide to go to Rayner high school as was, and mess about with a ouija board. Well, now my internal 'that's not a good idea' alarm was going off! I knew nothing good comes from that sort of idea.
As the story unfolds, we begin to get to know the characters and their friendships. The author has depicted them all really well, I felt these kids were really authentic, their friendships and their issues all seemed so real and ones that anyone could relate too.
The story is told from the present day and slips back in time to show us the events from the past. I really was totally immersed, it was a good job I was reading it in the day! I would have had no chance at night. I was so creeped out I got goosebumps too! I have to admit that at one point someone knocked on the door and I jumped a mile!!
A horror debut that definitely has the scare box well and truly ticked! When you read a book where you are just tense ready for the 'boo' moment from the first chapter- it's a good one. I will be waiting for this author's next book and can't wait for it!
Thanks to ZooLoo's Book Tours, Question Mark Press for the gifted copy of this debut and my place on the tour.
March 31, 2025
This was an unusual read for me as I had both the e-book and the audio to choose from - so I decided to sit and read it on my phone, whilst also listening to it through my earphones!
Well, I can confirm that this was a mistake!
The narrator did the most amazing job with this and managed to create such a great atmosphere and I was even more immersed than ever by having it all up close with no distractions!
I'm starting to get back into my horror reading and I know that this is aimed at a much younger age group audience than me - but I blooming loved it so much!!
The writing was amazing!
I was so completely immersed right from the start and had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen to this group of friends.
I raced through this in just 2 sittings - I'd have carried on and done it in one had I not been so creeped out that I couldn't listen into the evening - my husband was away and I was just so on edge I had to wait until the morning to finish it!
The characters were a perfect mix - the dynamics between the friends felt so authentic and their fear was so palpable throughout.
The descriptive writing had me on edge as I could visualise everything so vividly!
The storyline flowed perfectly and was so fast-paced and tense from the first page to the last! - and I "loved" the little final twist!!
This was my first read by Zoé and I really hope that there will be much more to come - I absolutely loved everything about this one!!
Well, I can confirm that this was a mistake!
The narrator did the most amazing job with this and managed to create such a great atmosphere and I was even more immersed than ever by having it all up close with no distractions!
I'm starting to get back into my horror reading and I know that this is aimed at a much younger age group audience than me - but I blooming loved it so much!!
The writing was amazing!
I was so completely immersed right from the start and had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen to this group of friends.
I raced through this in just 2 sittings - I'd have carried on and done it in one had I not been so creeped out that I couldn't listen into the evening - my husband was away and I was just so on edge I had to wait until the morning to finish it!
The characters were a perfect mix - the dynamics between the friends felt so authentic and their fear was so palpable throughout.
The descriptive writing had me on edge as I could visualise everything so vividly!
The storyline flowed perfectly and was so fast-paced and tense from the first page to the last! - and I "loved" the little final twist!!
This was my first read by Zoé and I really hope that there will be much more to come - I absolutely loved everything about this one!!
August 21, 2021
Where to start? Where to start? Well why not at the beginning as Ouija kicks off with a totally chilling prologue. It so sets the scene for a Point Horror-esqe read. I used to love those books as a teenager, scared myself silly reading them!
When ensues as the book goes on is a gripping fast paced tale of teenagers playing with things they really shouldn’t do, a Ouija board. Everyone knows that this is a dangerous thing to mess with if you don’t know what you’re doing and this sextet really don’t know what they’re doing. And boy do they pay for it!
Ouija is a totally chilling read that I devoured in a few hours. O’Farrell has got a brilliant balance of sinister elements that really packs a punch into the 150 pages without overdoing doing it. I sat with goosebumps all over and my hand over my mouth as the story climaxed. If this is O’Farrell’s debut offering (which it is), I can’t wait to see what her next chiller thriller is!!!
When ensues as the book goes on is a gripping fast paced tale of teenagers playing with things they really shouldn’t do, a Ouija board. Everyone knows that this is a dangerous thing to mess with if you don’t know what you’re doing and this sextet really don’t know what they’re doing. And boy do they pay for it!
Ouija is a totally chilling read that I devoured in a few hours. O’Farrell has got a brilliant balance of sinister elements that really packs a punch into the 150 pages without overdoing doing it. I sat with goosebumps all over and my hand over my mouth as the story climaxed. If this is O’Farrell’s debut offering (which it is), I can’t wait to see what her next chiller thriller is!!!
October 17, 2021
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
When my daughter was a kid she devoured her Point Horror and Goosebumps books and then would rabbit on about them for days. I also read the ones she liked the most so we could discuss them between us. Reading Ouija really took me back there.
This is YA fiction so it’s short and sharp. I sat down on Friday afternoon intending to read a few chapters before it was time to feed and walk the dogs. Ninety-three pages later and my dogs were giving me the dual hard stares and I was forced to put it down.
It was the middle of the night before I was able to pick it up again. Saturday morning actually, as it was gone 5am. By 6am I was on my way back to bed after a trip to the loo, making my way along the very dark landing, and I completely spooked myself with shadows that were darker than others and could very well be hiding all the things my imagination could invent. Thanks for that, Zoe! The last time I felt so spooked was after watching the original Paranormal Activity at the cinema… who can forget her stomping upstairs at the very end intent upon ending her husband? I slept with my bedside light on that night.
Ouija is genuinely creepy and tense and entertaining, Teenagers are gonna lap it up.
When my daughter was a kid she devoured her Point Horror and Goosebumps books and then would rabbit on about them for days. I also read the ones she liked the most so we could discuss them between us. Reading Ouija really took me back there.
This is YA fiction so it’s short and sharp. I sat down on Friday afternoon intending to read a few chapters before it was time to feed and walk the dogs. Ninety-three pages later and my dogs were giving me the dual hard stares and I was forced to put it down.
It was the middle of the night before I was able to pick it up again. Saturday morning actually, as it was gone 5am. By 6am I was on my way back to bed after a trip to the loo, making my way along the very dark landing, and I completely spooked myself with shadows that were darker than others and could very well be hiding all the things my imagination could invent. Thanks for that, Zoe! The last time I felt so spooked was after watching the original Paranormal Activity at the cinema… who can forget her stomping upstairs at the very end intent upon ending her husband? I slept with my bedside light on that night.
Ouija is genuinely creepy and tense and entertaining, Teenagers are gonna lap it up.
August 28, 2021
A creepy page-turner that might make you want to sleep with the lights on!
When I heard that this book was perfect for fans of Point Horror, I just knew I had to read it! Whilst I’ve not read a Point Horror book since my teenage years, this is undoubtedly where my love for thriller and horror books stems from. Did this book live up to the hype? Yes, it absolutely did and even though it is aimed at young adults I don’t think it matters what age you are if you enjoy the story.
We start with a bunch of kids who decide to visit an abandoned school to try out a Ouija board. I think many of us tried this at school including me but thank heavens we didn’t unleash what this lot did! Totally freaked out by what happens they flee the school before they’re able to dismiss the spirit properly, I think you can probably guess where I’m going with this…
Strange things start to happen that leave the teens frightened to death (quite literally!) Can they find a way to send the devil back to where he belongs, or will they be cursed forever?
This is Zoe-Lee O’Farrell’s debut book and what a corker it is. Fast-paced and easy to read I finished it in one sitting. It contains everything a good horror should, from creepy dolls to messages on the mirror, this is a jumpy, scary read that would be a perfect ‘round the campfire’ type tale!
If you love things like Final Destination and Scream, then you’ll love this! I thought I wouldn’t be scared of a horror book aimed at the youngsters but I have to say I have been keeping my toes under the covers at night and trying not to use the loo until morning! Haha!
Thank you to Zoe & Question Mark Horror for my copy of this book and a place on the blog tour 📖
When I heard that this book was perfect for fans of Point Horror, I just knew I had to read it! Whilst I’ve not read a Point Horror book since my teenage years, this is undoubtedly where my love for thriller and horror books stems from. Did this book live up to the hype? Yes, it absolutely did and even though it is aimed at young adults I don’t think it matters what age you are if you enjoy the story.
We start with a bunch of kids who decide to visit an abandoned school to try out a Ouija board. I think many of us tried this at school including me but thank heavens we didn’t unleash what this lot did! Totally freaked out by what happens they flee the school before they’re able to dismiss the spirit properly, I think you can probably guess where I’m going with this…
Strange things start to happen that leave the teens frightened to death (quite literally!) Can they find a way to send the devil back to where he belongs, or will they be cursed forever?
This is Zoe-Lee O’Farrell’s debut book and what a corker it is. Fast-paced and easy to read I finished it in one sitting. It contains everything a good horror should, from creepy dolls to messages on the mirror, this is a jumpy, scary read that would be a perfect ‘round the campfire’ type tale!
If you love things like Final Destination and Scream, then you’ll love this! I thought I wouldn’t be scared of a horror book aimed at the youngsters but I have to say I have been keeping my toes under the covers at night and trying not to use the loo until morning! Haha!
Thank you to Zoe & Question Mark Horror for my copy of this book and a place on the blog tour 📖
April 1, 2025
Obviously I jumped at the chance to read this book! I adored Zoe.
One year ago, there was a mass killing at a school. Present day, 6 friends decide (not very smartly) to go and play the Ouija board in the school. They unwittingly summon something very dark and are picked off one by one.
I loved it, the characters were more YA but the book was still very enjoyable. I can't wait to read more from Zoe.
One year ago, there was a mass killing at a school. Present day, 6 friends decide (not very smartly) to go and play the Ouija board in the school. They unwittingly summon something very dark and are picked off one by one.
I loved it, the characters were more YA but the book was still very enjoyable. I can't wait to read more from Zoe.
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