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Possessions #2
The Evil Within
WARNING: SOMETIMES EVIL IS CLOSER THAN IT APPEARS.
possessions: me
-one full-blown obsession with floppy-haired, gorgeous, perfect Troy (still).
-nightmares, endless, terrifying nightmares, oh god someone help me.
possessions: them
-everything I've ever wanted.
-killer instincts.
Lindsay thought she left Marlwood Academy behind for good. The girls there aren't just mean, they're evil - possessed by spirits of the dead. Then Lindsay discovers that she is possessed! Now she must go back to Marlwood to free herself once and for all.
But the secrets of Marlwood run deep... and the evil is much closer than Lindsay knows.
possessions: me
-one full-blown obsession with floppy-haired, gorgeous, perfect Troy (still).
-nightmares, endless, terrifying nightmares, oh god someone help me.
possessions: them
-everything I've ever wanted.
-killer instincts.
Lindsay thought she left Marlwood Academy behind for good. The girls there aren't just mean, they're evil - possessed by spirits of the dead. Then Lindsay discovers that she is possessed! Now she must go back to Marlwood to free herself once and for all.
But the secrets of Marlwood run deep... and the evil is much closer than Lindsay knows.
310 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2010
18 people are currently reading
1379 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Holder
354 books2,407 followersNancy Holder, New York Times Bestselling author of the WICKED Series, has just published CRUSADE - the first book in a new vampire series cowritten with Debbie Viguie. The last book her her Possession series is set to release in March 2011.
Nancy was born in Los Altos, California, and her family settled for a time in Walnut Creek. Her father, who taught at Stanford, joined the navy and the family traveled throughout California and lived in Japan for three years. When she was sixteen, she dropped out of high school to become a ballet dancer in Cologne, Germany, and later relocated to Frankfurt Am Main.
Eventually she returned to California and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at San Diego with a degree in Communications. Soon after, she began to write; her first sale was a young adult romance novel titled Teach Me to Love.
Nancy’s work has appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, amazon.com, LOCUS, and other bestseller lists. A four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association, she has also received accolades from the American Library Association, the American Reading Association, the New York Public Library, and Romantic Times.
She and Debbie Viguié co-authored the New York Times bestselling series Wicked for Simon and Schuster. They have continued their collaboration with the Crusade series, also for Simon and Schuster, and the Wolf Springs Chronicles for Delacorte (2011.) She is also the author of the young adult horror series Possessions for Razorbill. She has sold many novels and book projects set in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Saving Grace, Hellboy, and Smallville universes.
She has sold approximately two hundred short stories and essays on writing and popular culture. Her anthology, Outsiders, co-edited with Nancy Kilpatrick, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award in 2005.
She teaches in the Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing Program, offered through the University of Southern Maine. She has previously taught at UCSD and has served on the Clarion Board of Directors.
She lives in San Diego, California, with her daughter Belle, their two Corgis, Panda and Tater; and their cats, David and Kittnen Snow. She and Belle are active in Girl Scouts and dog obedience training.
Nancy was born in Los Altos, California, and her family settled for a time in Walnut Creek. Her father, who taught at Stanford, joined the navy and the family traveled throughout California and lived in Japan for three years. When she was sixteen, she dropped out of high school to become a ballet dancer in Cologne, Germany, and later relocated to Frankfurt Am Main.
Eventually she returned to California and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at San Diego with a degree in Communications. Soon after, she began to write; her first sale was a young adult romance novel titled Teach Me to Love.
Nancy’s work has appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, amazon.com, LOCUS, and other bestseller lists. A four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association, she has also received accolades from the American Library Association, the American Reading Association, the New York Public Library, and Romantic Times.
She and Debbie Viguié co-authored the New York Times bestselling series Wicked for Simon and Schuster. They have continued their collaboration with the Crusade series, also for Simon and Schuster, and the Wolf Springs Chronicles for Delacorte (2011.) She is also the author of the young adult horror series Possessions for Razorbill. She has sold many novels and book projects set in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Saving Grace, Hellboy, and Smallville universes.
She has sold approximately two hundred short stories and essays on writing and popular culture. Her anthology, Outsiders, co-edited with Nancy Kilpatrick, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award in 2005.
She teaches in the Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing Program, offered through the University of Southern Maine. She has previously taught at UCSD and has served on the Clarion Board of Directors.
She lives in San Diego, California, with her daughter Belle, their two Corgis, Panda and Tater; and their cats, David and Kittnen Snow. She and Belle are active in Girl Scouts and dog obedience training.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
May 2, 2015
While reading this I was constantly thinking about what rating I will give it on goodreads. It started with four, went to three, and I even thought of giving it five stars because of the ending.
The ending. OH MY GOD, THE ENDING. Not all of it, but THE ENDING. AAAAAAAAAAAAH
I was just left with my jaw on the ground, staring into a wall and just thinking how blind I was for something that obvious. Nancy Holder impressed me with this one. Really.
Was I really so blind? I honestly hope that I wasn't the only one who thought
I was so interested in the story behind Miles and Mandy. And I am so eager now to finish the third part and get all of my answers.
The problem I had with this book was the whole Lindsay and Troye thing. He really annoyed me a lot for the game he played with the two girls (even though Holder in the end makes him look like a really nice dude). But I just coulnd't forgive him that. Also Lindsay really used every opportunity to mention how rich he was or how he looked like a wealthy boy. But the part I didn't get was the...surprise? he made for her. ...okay. Whatever. I don't mind. I got my crazy part. I'm fine.
The ending. OH MY GOD, THE ENDING. Not all of it, but THE ENDING. AAAAAAAAAAAAH
I was just left with my jaw on the ground, staring into a wall and just thinking how blind I was for something that obvious. Nancy Holder impressed me with this one. Really.
Was I really so blind? I honestly hope that I wasn't the only one who thought
I was so interested in the story behind Miles and Mandy. And I am so eager now to finish the third part and get all of my answers.
The problem I had with this book was the whole Lindsay and Troye thing. He really annoyed me a lot for the game he played with the two girls (even though Holder in the end makes him look like a really nice dude). But I just coulnd't forgive him that. Also Lindsay really used every opportunity to mention how rich he was or how he looked like a wealthy boy. But the part I didn't get was the...surprise? he made for her. ...okay. Whatever. I don't mind. I got my crazy part. I'm fine.
June 8, 2010
The Evil Within starts off right where Possessions ended. Lindsay is back at home for the Holidays and is hoping of never going back to Marlwood. She soon realizes that the spirit of Celia is still inside her and the only way she can think of getting rid of her is by going back to the school.
The Evil Within had me hooked from the very beginning, I couldn't put it down and I found myself with goosebumps several times. Nancy Holder did a great job in describing all the little details and made it so easy to connect with the characters and have a mental picture about everything that was happening around poor Lindsay. In this one we get to find out a lot more about what happened to these seven spirits at the school through memories and dreams that Lindsay can see from Celia's spirit. There's also a lot of other scary things going on around the campus and nobody knows who's responsible. We also get introduced to Mandy's brother Miles which was mentioned a lot in Possessions and let me tell you that I was left wanting to hear more about him, I won't say anymore about that as to not spoil it for readers.
Just like in Possessions the reader and the main character are just as lost and confused about everything that is happening. I kept trying to figure it out from the clues that you read throughout the book just to be proved wrong about everything which just made me flip the pages even faster. This is definitely a book you want to read if you love ghost stories and creepy settings in the middle of nowhere and very very good ending that you'll never see coming which will leave you wanting the next book right away.
The Evil Within had me hooked from the very beginning, I couldn't put it down and I found myself with goosebumps several times. Nancy Holder did a great job in describing all the little details and made it so easy to connect with the characters and have a mental picture about everything that was happening around poor Lindsay. In this one we get to find out a lot more about what happened to these seven spirits at the school through memories and dreams that Lindsay can see from Celia's spirit. There's also a lot of other scary things going on around the campus and nobody knows who's responsible. We also get introduced to Mandy's brother Miles which was mentioned a lot in Possessions and let me tell you that I was left wanting to hear more about him, I won't say anymore about that as to not spoil it for readers.
Just like in Possessions the reader and the main character are just as lost and confused about everything that is happening. I kept trying to figure it out from the clues that you read throughout the book just to be proved wrong about everything which just made me flip the pages even faster. This is definitely a book you want to read if you love ghost stories and creepy settings in the middle of nowhere and very very good ending that you'll never see coming which will leave you wanting the next book right away.
January 5, 2018
OHH MY GOD I NEED THE THIRD BOOK 😱😱😱
April 30, 2010
The Evil Within A Possessions Novel by Nancy Holder 5 of 5 stars.
To be released June 10, 2010
When Lindsay returns to eerie Marlwood Academy she is haunted by the past, literally. The ghosts of those done wrong in the time when Marlwood was a reformatory for willful girls are breathing down her neck. Those that are very real to her seem just as malevolent as the spirits who haunt them, but when Celia, the girl now possessing Lindsay, tells her what she must do to extricate herself and the others from these spirits, she isn't sure she can go through with it.
Doubt and simple human nature crowd her at every turn as she struggles to decide what is right, who is and who isn't possessed, and better yet; who is trying to kill who. It isn't the nineteenth century anymore and Lindsay must find a way to set the past to rest--one way or another.
The Evil Within is a thrilling modern gothic full of surprises and chills on every page. Nancy Holder depicts a ghostly tale with a remarkable heroine. If you're a fan of gothic fantasies like the Gemma Doyle Trilogy and Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters you'll love this!
I could barely put the book down once I picked it up. I haven't even read the first Possessions Novel and I was still thoroughly engrossed. Nancy Holder has a fascinating way of writing that draws you into a story right from the start. The main character Lindsay's struggle to understand all of the past circumstances that are now shaping her life was completely unpredictable. Just as soon as I thought I had it all figured out, things would change. I enjoyed the other characters and how there ended up being more to them than I had originally expected--even the ghosts. I honestly don't think there is a single bad thing I can say about this book, though I do wish the ending hadn't been quite so abrupt.
From the characters to the writing style this delicious modern gothic is sure to be a favorite with most all dark fantasy lovers. Whether you're like me, and can't stand the music they play on shows like Unsolved Mysteries and have never picked up a "ghost like" book in your life, or are a real horror junky, I think you'll adore this book just the same.
For fans of: Nancy Holder, Gemma Doyle Trilogy, Prohpecy of the Sisters, Devil's Kiss
Review by Arya @ A Sea of Pages (http://seaofpages.blogspot.com) <
To be released June 10, 2010
When Lindsay returns to eerie Marlwood Academy she is haunted by the past, literally. The ghosts of those done wrong in the time when Marlwood was a reformatory for willful girls are breathing down her neck. Those that are very real to her seem just as malevolent as the spirits who haunt them, but when Celia, the girl now possessing Lindsay, tells her what she must do to extricate herself and the others from these spirits, she isn't sure she can go through with it.
Doubt and simple human nature crowd her at every turn as she struggles to decide what is right, who is and who isn't possessed, and better yet; who is trying to kill who. It isn't the nineteenth century anymore and Lindsay must find a way to set the past to rest--one way or another.
The Evil Within is a thrilling modern gothic full of surprises and chills on every page. Nancy Holder depicts a ghostly tale with a remarkable heroine. If you're a fan of gothic fantasies like the Gemma Doyle Trilogy and Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters you'll love this!
I could barely put the book down once I picked it up. I haven't even read the first Possessions Novel and I was still thoroughly engrossed. Nancy Holder has a fascinating way of writing that draws you into a story right from the start. The main character Lindsay's struggle to understand all of the past circumstances that are now shaping her life was completely unpredictable. Just as soon as I thought I had it all figured out, things would change. I enjoyed the other characters and how there ended up being more to them than I had originally expected--even the ghosts. I honestly don't think there is a single bad thing I can say about this book, though I do wish the ending hadn't been quite so abrupt.
From the characters to the writing style this delicious modern gothic is sure to be a favorite with most all dark fantasy lovers. Whether you're like me, and can't stand the music they play on shows like Unsolved Mysteries and have never picked up a "ghost like" book in your life, or are a real horror junky, I think you'll adore this book just the same.
For fans of: Nancy Holder, Gemma Doyle Trilogy, Prohpecy of the Sisters, Devil's Kiss
Review by Arya @ A Sea of Pages (http://seaofpages.blogspot.com) <
June 11, 2010
The Evil Within follows Lindsay once again as she returns to the dreaded Marlwood Academy. Since I had recently finished the first novel in this series, I found it really easy to get back into the flow of Holder's writing. Holder provides a minimal amount of back story, which I found to be refreshing. Personally, I want a little bit of a refresher course when starting a new novel in a series, but do not like to be bogged down by countless amounts of the previous story being retold. And this is exactly what Holder does. I got the refresher without feeling like the new story was being overshadowed.
While I enjoyed Lindsay's character in Possessions, I must admit that I found myself liking her a lot more in this novel. Her character is much more fleshed out and complex. And since this novel is told in her point of view, I better understood her train of thinking, so there was a little bit less of me yelling at this book. In contrast to Lindsay, the secondary characters were not a full bodied as I had hoped. The reader understands the characters, but the connection with Lindsay felt a little lacking. It is not that I wanted to see events from their point of view, but rather that I would have enjoyed to being able to care about them a little more. It is basically like they are on the side lines the whole time. The reader gets to know them, but not on the deeper levels like Lindsay.
The Evil Within, all in all, was a huge step forward in the Possessions series. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Lindsay and Marlwood Academy, and getting deeper into the secrets they both hold. This is definitely a series that I will be keeping an eye on, and can only wait to get my hands on more.
Read
October 20, 2010The Evil Within is the second book in the Possessions series, of which I have not read the first; however, after completing this one, I’ll be picking up the first book and all that follow it. Nancy Holder has created an incredibly spooky tale full of scorned lovers, murders, attempted murders, ghosts, and of course, possessions. Holder writes a vividly terrifying tale that overflows with ancient superstitions and mythologies that span the globe.
After a brief holiday break, Lindsay has reluctantly returned to the creepy Marlwood Academy; a boarding school with a dark past. It doesn’t take long for Lindsay and the rest of the residents of Marlwood Academy, including the extremely unhappy ghosts that stalk the grounds, to fall back into the swing of things – including attempted murders and possessions. Out of cliques, high school crushes and loves, and general teenage angst, Holder has created strong characters that most teen readers will easily identify with, and spun a dark twist on their interactions with one another.
The Evil Within can be read without having read the first in the series, but after completing The Evil Within, you will want to go back and read the first just because the second novel was that good. For those that enjoyed Holder’s Wicked series, this will be a welcome addition to her growing collection of YA fiction. Recommended for a school or public young adult collection; ages 14 and up.
Contains: mild violence, attempted sexual violence
Reviewed by Kelly Fann
After a brief holiday break, Lindsay has reluctantly returned to the creepy Marlwood Academy; a boarding school with a dark past. It doesn’t take long for Lindsay and the rest of the residents of Marlwood Academy, including the extremely unhappy ghosts that stalk the grounds, to fall back into the swing of things – including attempted murders and possessions. Out of cliques, high school crushes and loves, and general teenage angst, Holder has created strong characters that most teen readers will easily identify with, and spun a dark twist on their interactions with one another.
The Evil Within can be read without having read the first in the series, but after completing The Evil Within, you will want to go back and read the first just because the second novel was that good. For those that enjoyed Holder’s Wicked series, this will be a welcome addition to her growing collection of YA fiction. Recommended for a school or public young adult collection; ages 14 and up.
Contains: mild violence, attempted sexual violence
Reviewed by Kelly Fann
November 13, 2012
Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com
After defeating the evil at Marlwood Academy, Lindsey finds herself the victim of an unwanted possession by one of the school's ghosts.
Forced to head back to the school to which she swore she'd never return, Lindsey will fight for her life and her sanity. To be victorious, she will need to discover deep, hidden secrets within the school that many want to keep buried - including the evil within.
Can Lindsey save her school, the students, and most of all herself?
A great novel for older reluctant readers. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is intense and very unnerving. Not to be read at night by the faint of heart, those who enjoy horror, paranormal, ghosts, and demons will love reading THE EVIL WITHIN after they have read POSSESSIONS.
After defeating the evil at Marlwood Academy, Lindsey finds herself the victim of an unwanted possession by one of the school's ghosts.
Forced to head back to the school to which she swore she'd never return, Lindsey will fight for her life and her sanity. To be victorious, she will need to discover deep, hidden secrets within the school that many want to keep buried - including the evil within.
Can Lindsey save her school, the students, and most of all herself?
A great novel for older reluctant readers. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is intense and very unnerving. Not to be read at night by the faint of heart, those who enjoy horror, paranormal, ghosts, and demons will love reading THE EVIL WITHIN after they have read POSSESSIONS.
July 28, 2010
4.5 stars.
i actually thought this was the
first book in the series and altho i found
out by chapter 2 that it wasn't, i was already
hooked. intense, scary and sexy, i really
enjoyed this novel and cannot wait for the
next installment. they say the second novel
in a series is always "slumpy", not so with this
one. and i was not lost starting here wo reading
the first.
i actually thought this was the
first book in the series and altho i found
out by chapter 2 that it wasn't, i was already
hooked. intense, scary and sexy, i really
enjoyed this novel and cannot wait for the
next installment. they say the second novel
in a series is always "slumpy", not so with this
one. and i was not lost starting here wo reading
the first.
January 3, 2011
great book! i couldnt stop reading!
well developed characters!
good plot and story!
recommended to everyone
well developed characters!
good plot and story!
recommended to everyone
June 5, 2017
The Evil Within written by Nancy Holder is the sequel to Possessions. Lindsay Cavenaugh is the main character. Although I have not read the first book, the Evil Within starts off introducing possessed Lindsay. At the beginning of the book, Lindsay talks about why she left to Marlwood Academy, a private boarding school. She was not at Marlwood Academy but the things she did and she saw reminded her of the things that happened back at Marlwood. She began seeing spirits and she was getting haunted by the past. That’s when she finds out she is possessed and heads back to Marlwood. Celia, the girl who is possessing Lindsay commands her to kill Mandy who is being possessed by Belle, also Troy’s girlfriend. Although she is confused, she doesn't think she can go through all this. She is confused, she doesn't know who is killing who. I wished I would have known about the first book, Possessions, to get a better understanding of the sequel. This is basically a repeat of Celia, David, and Belle’s love triangle. The girls getting back at each others for the same boy. This book was really scary and interesting. I liked it a lot because of how Holder connects us with Lindsay by having Lindsay tell her point of view. If you want to know more about how the story ends, to see if Many and Lindsay kills each others then I suggest you read this novel. Also, if you enjoy watching the series Pretty Little Liars, I recommend you to read this freaky, sexy story.
October 17, 2018
I went into this book not knowing it was the second in a series, but I had no problem staying up-to-date with the current--and past--events. The author expertly weaves the back story throughout the entire book so I never felt like I was missing something. However, I would like to go back and read the first one because it sounds so interesting. The pacing was great, the characters were believable, the world was intriguing. I found it strange how obsessed with people's clothing the narrator was. Every time a fellow student appeared on the scene she took the time to describe what she was wearing. The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is some of the worlds the author used got redundant, such as "hard"--I fell hard, the breeze blew hard, etc. I felt that word in particular was widely overused. The story itself though was spot on.
February 15, 2020
Second book...so so
The first book sucked me in and this book had decent momentum but I feel like this series is a little drawn out...I was still suckered in and I bought the 3rd book.
The first book sucked me in and this book had decent momentum but I feel like this series is a little drawn out...I was still suckered in and I bought the 3rd book.
May 17, 2017
scary good!
January 27, 2019
Not my favorite. Moving on...
April 11, 2022
Amazing! I love this series! Getting ready to jump into book 3!
June 11, 2020
One thing I can definitely say about this book is that it was scary. It has been a long time since I have read any horror books and this was the perfect read to bring me back into the genre. The fact that the main character herself was possessed made the plot way more interesting since you didn’t know if you could trust her or not. Throughout her possession you could feel her fear, nervousness and anger which made you wonder if the she was totally mad when it was just the ghost inside her doing all those things. Despite this I liked how she was strong and tried to resist the evil spirit. Since this was a quick read and I have not read the first book in this series because I couldn’t find it anywhere, I rate this book a 4/5 stars. I haven’t read such a good horror book in a long time :)
January 18, 2024
Sybil deserves the world and the world deserves trepanation
May 14, 2012
This was both terrible and wonderful all at the same time. I could not put it down.
I am truly sick of Lindsay in this book. In the last book it felt like she was in the process of growing up, of dealing with mother's death, of standing up for herself against mean girls and getting over the trauma of her experience with Jane/Riley. She was a character I liked and someone who was rational and protective of her friends.
In this book, all of that deteriorated. As Celia's grip on Lindsay tightened, she grew more and more paranoid, weepy and prone to hysteria. She's constantly stumbling in the snow, fumbling with her cell phone and screaming for help. There is something definitely unhinged about this girl, and I'm surprised that she doesn't get sent off to the shrink sooner. I'm also surprised that none of her supposed "friends" noticed her downward spiral. What is irritating is also the constant brand-dropping and the description of clothing. Yes, we get that this is a super rich school with super wealthy modelesque girls. Now stop talking about their insert-color-here cashmere sweater. I really disliked that in the first book Lindsay was all about being herself, wearing whatever she wants, but now she allows herself to be dressed like a mannequin by her rich friends just so she can fit in to the image that the headmistress (? is that her title) wants to see her in. The woe-is-me I can't afford this lifestyle self dialogue also started getting old.
However, the back story of this book is a real gem. I loved the twisted reason of why the possessions are happening, and I love stories about old patterns repeating, old lives being relived. I loved the revelation at the end, and how Lindsay loses control of herself. The whole idea is quite terrifying, and I was sucked into it. When things were actually happening this book is really, really great. All the filler about Troy and all that though, I could live without (even though I grudgingly admit that it is a part of the story to a certain extent, but I hate that Lindsay falls right into it).
I am still going to read the third book, which says something. Heh.
I am truly sick of Lindsay in this book. In the last book it felt like she was in the process of growing up, of dealing with mother's death, of standing up for herself against mean girls and getting over the trauma of her experience with Jane/Riley. She was a character I liked and someone who was rational and protective of her friends.
In this book, all of that deteriorated. As Celia's grip on Lindsay tightened, she grew more and more paranoid, weepy and prone to hysteria. She's constantly stumbling in the snow, fumbling with her cell phone and screaming for help. There is something definitely unhinged about this girl, and I'm surprised that she doesn't get sent off to the shrink sooner. I'm also surprised that none of her supposed "friends" noticed her downward spiral. What is irritating is also the constant brand-dropping and the description of clothing. Yes, we get that this is a super rich school with super wealthy modelesque girls. Now stop talking about their insert-color-here cashmere sweater. I really disliked that in the first book Lindsay was all about being herself, wearing whatever she wants, but now she allows herself to be dressed like a mannequin by her rich friends just so she can fit in to the image that the headmistress (? is that her title) wants to see her in. The woe-is-me I can't afford this lifestyle self dialogue also started getting old.
However, the back story of this book is a real gem. I loved the twisted reason of why the possessions are happening, and I love stories about old patterns repeating, old lives being relived. I loved the revelation at the end, and how Lindsay loses control of herself. The whole idea is quite terrifying, and I was sucked into it. When things were actually happening this book is really, really great. All the filler about Troy and all that though, I could live without (even though I grudgingly admit that it is a part of the story to a certain extent, but I hate that Lindsay falls right into it).
I am still going to read the third book, which says something. Heh.
July 13, 2010
**WARNING SOME PARTS OF THE FOLLOWING REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST BOOK. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED**
Lindsay is now possessed and can feel Celia control her whenever she wants. She knows she must return to Marlwood in order to free herself and get rid of the spirit. When she tries to listen to what the spirit tells her must happen, Lindsay knows she can't do it. Her unwillingness ends up dragging the truth out of the spirits that are fighting for revenge. There may just be someone else that Celia and Belle need to join together in order to free themselves and the girls they have a hold on.
hmm... I'm not sure really what to say about this one. I was really hoping it would live up to the expectations I had for it upon finishing book 1, but it fell short. Again, like in the first one there are far too many people to keep track of that are not relevant to the plot. Even the other spirits of the girls who died seem complete random and don't add to the storyline. Very little happened in this book for me to really appreciate it. Another think that bothered me again, was the fact that she refers to Troy as her "true love". They aren't even officially together and they barely know anything about the other person. So I don't think that she really would call him her "true love". This book was just okay. Lindsay learned a couple new things about her possession, but there is still no conclusion. This series could have easily been wrapped up with this book if there weren't so many side-tracked story lines that go nowhere. I might read the next one eventually. It doesn't come out until the spring and I won't be eagerly anticipating it, but I might pick it up at some point just so I can find out how this ends. There was nowhere near the level of creepiness that the first book ended on and I was just really disappointed in this novel.
First Line:
"I had escaped."
Favorite Line:
"Shayna stumbled forward like a Zombie and I had to hurry to keep up."
Lindsay is now possessed and can feel Celia control her whenever she wants. She knows she must return to Marlwood in order to free herself and get rid of the spirit. When she tries to listen to what the spirit tells her must happen, Lindsay knows she can't do it. Her unwillingness ends up dragging the truth out of the spirits that are fighting for revenge. There may just be someone else that Celia and Belle need to join together in order to free themselves and the girls they have a hold on.
hmm... I'm not sure really what to say about this one. I was really hoping it would live up to the expectations I had for it upon finishing book 1, but it fell short. Again, like in the first one there are far too many people to keep track of that are not relevant to the plot. Even the other spirits of the girls who died seem complete random and don't add to the storyline. Very little happened in this book for me to really appreciate it. Another think that bothered me again, was the fact that she refers to Troy as her "true love". They aren't even officially together and they barely know anything about the other person. So I don't think that she really would call him her "true love". This book was just okay. Lindsay learned a couple new things about her possession, but there is still no conclusion. This series could have easily been wrapped up with this book if there weren't so many side-tracked story lines that go nowhere. I might read the next one eventually. It doesn't come out until the spring and I won't be eagerly anticipating it, but I might pick it up at some point just so I can find out how this ends. There was nowhere near the level of creepiness that the first book ended on and I was just really disappointed in this novel.
First Line:
"I had escaped."
Favorite Line:
"Shayna stumbled forward like a Zombie and I had to hurry to keep up."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2010
The Evil Within started where Book 1, Possessions, left off. For those of you who've read Possessions, you'll know what I'm talking about when I say that Book 1 ended with one heck of a cliffhanger. As such, I had a lot of unanswered questions. Because of this (and because The Evil Within was the second book in the series), I was able to get into the plot rather quickly, which resolved one of the problems I had with Possessions.
The only issue I could really mention is that I wanted the minor characters to have a bit more development. Since the reader spends a lot of time in the main character, Lindsay's, head in Book 2, her character was more fleshed out, and I would have liked to have seen more of the same with a few of the secondary characters. I think this would have made me feel more invested in the relationships between the characters, instead of only caring about what happened to Lindsay. On the other hand, The Evil Within did a very good job with the further development of Lindsay.
I have to say, everything was better in Book 2. The plot, the characterization, the details, the writing style--everything. I was much better able to like the main character, and I really enjoyed how the Lindsay/Celia dichotomy was portrayed. I don't want to give away the ending--so I'll just say this--it was a twist, and it was awesome!
Overall, The Evil Within was definitely a thrilling addition to the Possessions series. I'll be keeping an eye out for Book 3!
The only issue I could really mention is that I wanted the minor characters to have a bit more development. Since the reader spends a lot of time in the main character, Lindsay's, head in Book 2, her character was more fleshed out, and I would have liked to have seen more of the same with a few of the secondary characters. I think this would have made me feel more invested in the relationships between the characters, instead of only caring about what happened to Lindsay. On the other hand, The Evil Within did a very good job with the further development of Lindsay.
I have to say, everything was better in Book 2. The plot, the characterization, the details, the writing style--everything. I was much better able to like the main character, and I really enjoyed how the Lindsay/Celia dichotomy was portrayed. I don't want to give away the ending--so I'll just say this--it was a twist, and it was awesome!
Overall, The Evil Within was definitely a thrilling addition to the Possessions series. I'll be keeping an eye out for Book 3!
August 30, 2011
If you want a great ghost story, look no further! Nancy Holder has written a nightmare of a tale! Full of hauntings and mystery, you won't know what's coming next, or who to believe.
Second in the series, coming back from Christmas break and picking up where Possessions left off, Lindsay can tell as soon as she walks back into the doors of Marlwood that nobody expected her to show her face there again. Even though she didn't have all the money and material things the other girls did, Lindsay did have a backbone. She also had to find Troy. He was still missing and she just couldn't accept that Mandy did something to him. He couldn't be dead somewhere.
When Lindsay does finally get good news that Troy is ok, she gets worse news that now Mandy's brother, Miles is back and now hanging around Marlwood only to be stalking Lindsay, everything gets more complicated. Let's not forget that Mandy is back to her same yearly rituals of finding a newbie to break in and has found Linz' friend to do it on. The only person Lindsay can rely on is Troy but he's still dating Mandy. Hmm...
Just when you got it all figured out...
the ghosts come in and ruin everything...
Second in the series, coming back from Christmas break and picking up where Possessions left off, Lindsay can tell as soon as she walks back into the doors of Marlwood that nobody expected her to show her face there again. Even though she didn't have all the money and material things the other girls did, Lindsay did have a backbone. She also had to find Troy. He was still missing and she just couldn't accept that Mandy did something to him. He couldn't be dead somewhere.
When Lindsay does finally get good news that Troy is ok, she gets worse news that now Mandy's brother, Miles is back and now hanging around Marlwood only to be stalking Lindsay, everything gets more complicated. Let's not forget that Mandy is back to her same yearly rituals of finding a newbie to break in and has found Linz' friend to do it on. The only person Lindsay can rely on is Troy but he's still dating Mandy. Hmm...
Just when you got it all figured out...
the ghosts come in and ruin everything...
January 16, 2011
Scary, Great, Addictive!
A greatly paced read, i would recommend this along with the first novel, Possessions. Definitely Worth a look, the description doesn't do the story justice.
The author Nancy Holder has a genuine gift for writing style and pacing. Holder's writing style is simple yet very affective which is rather hard to pull off. It takes a good deal of effort to write in that style, if done wrong it can come across rather messy and lazy.
But you can clearly see she has done wright and had taken the correct path as you can plainly tell when reading that a lot of time was put into this novel. You can tell by the way it's built up page by page, no lazy half heart attempt at writing here.
Now the books Possessions and The Evil Within wont become classics as the story isn't all to original but giving credit to where it's due: i find these books to be good and interesting quick reads. Would recommend when traveling to pass the time etc.
x
A greatly paced read, i would recommend this along with the first novel, Possessions. Definitely Worth a look, the description doesn't do the story justice.
The author Nancy Holder has a genuine gift for writing style and pacing. Holder's writing style is simple yet very affective which is rather hard to pull off. It takes a good deal of effort to write in that style, if done wrong it can come across rather messy and lazy.
But you can clearly see she has done wright and had taken the correct path as you can plainly tell when reading that a lot of time was put into this novel. You can tell by the way it's built up page by page, no lazy half heart attempt at writing here.
Now the books Possessions and The Evil Within wont become classics as the story isn't all to original but giving credit to where it's due: i find these books to be good and interesting quick reads. Would recommend when traveling to pass the time etc.
x
June 14, 2010
Lindsay has finally gotten away from all the crazy that was Marlwood and it's school for girls. It's summer break! No more teachers, no more books, no more ghosties dirty looks....oh, wait a second. Nope that last one is still lingering. It seems that this summer, Lindsay is not making a clean break from all that has been, nor will she escape it for the immediate future. She still carries the ghost of a former patient by the name of Celia and she has unfinished business that requires Lindsay's immediate attention....or else.
Though at times you may be as confused as our lead character, the story will continually drive you on until you finally reach books end....a small measure of satisfaction and understanding will dawn on you and then...you'll have to wait for the next installment. I know I'LL be watching for it...happy reading!
Though at times you may be as confused as our lead character, the story will continually drive you on until you finally reach books end....a small measure of satisfaction and understanding will dawn on you and then...you'll have to wait for the next installment. I know I'LL be watching for it...happy reading!
November 6, 2011
summary
After Lindsay left Marlwood Academy she thought she could leave it in the past. Yet Marlwood Academy has a horrific history and contains many secrets. The girls at Marlwood are possesed by other Marlwood Academy girls from the past that have unfinished buisness. Lindsay finding out that she is indeed possessed too must return to Marlwood Academy and find how to free herself and the other girls before its too late.
Reactions
Overall I thought that The Evil Within by Nancy Holder was a very good book. I liked how she went into detail about the characters and helped me invision what each character looked like and their personalities. Also, I really liked how she didn't make the story predictable. She kept adding twists and turns until the end to keep me guessing. By keeping the ending unpredictable it made it more interesting and enjoyable to read.
After Lindsay left Marlwood Academy she thought she could leave it in the past. Yet Marlwood Academy has a horrific history and contains many secrets. The girls at Marlwood are possesed by other Marlwood Academy girls from the past that have unfinished buisness. Lindsay finding out that she is indeed possessed too must return to Marlwood Academy and find how to free herself and the other girls before its too late.
Reactions
Overall I thought that The Evil Within by Nancy Holder was a very good book. I liked how she went into detail about the characters and helped me invision what each character looked like and their personalities. Also, I really liked how she didn't make the story predictable. She kept adding twists and turns until the end to keep me guessing. By keeping the ending unpredictable it made it more interesting and enjoyable to read.
July 17, 2013
Really good book! Much better than the first one, and the ending was pretty good. I could totally imagine this becoming a TV series, who knows-maybe I'll direct it one day(as if!). Only thing was that I didn't like the main character that much, which contradicts my best characters ever tag. She seems like a good person, but she makes bad decisions. I wish that she would open up to other people.
Here are things I would do if I made this into a move:
1)Tell her friends, at least Julie?
2)Have her tell the boyfriend(2nd or 1st season?)
3)Her being more confident, and standing up
4)There would be narration of what's going on in the mc's brain
5)She would actually like something (art, music?)
6)She would start playing the cello again
7)Flashbacks!
Lol-I just thought this would make a really good movie. Don't judge me :P
Here are things I would do if I made this into a move:
1)Tell her friends, at least Julie?
2)Have her tell the boyfriend(2nd or 1st season?)
3)Her being more confident, and standing up
4)There would be narration of what's going on in the mc's brain
5)She would actually like something (art, music?)
6)She would start playing the cello again
7)Flashbacks!
Lol-I just thought this would make a really good movie. Don't judge me :P
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2013
The Cliches Evil Within was even worse than Possessions.
I have never read a sequel being so SAME(?) as the first book. Only little details are changed. We have Lindsay not wanting to come back to Marlwood Academy, drooling over Troy, lots of cliched spirit stuff, Mandy being a Mean Girl, lots of parties in the freakiest of places, Lindsay having nightmares, Lindsay running to the lake, Lindsay spending evenings in the old library, Lindsay having a run in with opposing spirits in the end of the book which suddenly ends and she wakes up in the hospital and we don't get a single satisfying explanation as to how things played out...
I have never read a sequel being so SAME(?) as the first book. Only little details are changed. We have Lindsay not wanting to come back to Marlwood Academy, drooling over Troy, lots of cliched spirit stuff, Mandy being a Mean Girl, lots of parties in the freakiest of places, Lindsay having nightmares, Lindsay running to the lake, Lindsay spending evenings in the old library, Lindsay having a run in with opposing spirits in the end of the book which suddenly ends and she wakes up in the hospital and we don't get a single satisfying explanation as to how things played out...
April 2, 2011
Good brain-candy.
I think this second volume in the Possessions series is actually better than the first - the ending was pretty creative, and it gave you a lot more history about the boarding school than the first did.
Boarding school, dark secrets, ghosts, and, of course, death!!! Yes, it all makes for a good, trashy read.
If you enjoyed Pretty Little Liars, this makes a decent follow-up - rich kids doing bad things, haunting secrets, and a mystery. Not bad.
I'll definitely be reading the next in the series.
I think this second volume in the Possessions series is actually better than the first - the ending was pretty creative, and it gave you a lot more history about the boarding school than the first did.
Boarding school, dark secrets, ghosts, and, of course, death!!! Yes, it all makes for a good, trashy read.
If you enjoyed Pretty Little Liars, this makes a decent follow-up - rich kids doing bad things, haunting secrets, and a mystery. Not bad.
I'll definitely be reading the next in the series.
May 14, 2011
I'd been enjoying the book just as much as the first (though I wanted to bitchslap the odd person the odd time, but such is the case with teen characters--even ones I've written--and I don't hold their choices against them too much 'cause they're kids). Another solid four star read...then a slam-bam ending that bumped it up to 4.5 or 5. Totally adored the final chapters, which had plot/character stuff that hit all the right notes with me.
And while it likely makes me a bad, bad person...I really dig Miles.
Immediately purchased the third book and it's on top of my "to read" pile on Kindle.
And while it likely makes me a bad, bad person...I really dig Miles.
Immediately purchased the third book and it's on top of my "to read" pile on Kindle.
July 21, 2012
Again - good at keeping interest, not so good at making the characters believable.
I did find Lindsay's spiral into insanity a lot more believable, but as soon as
So I'll read the next one...and hopefully enjoy it.
I did find Lindsay's spiral into insanity a lot more believable, but as soon as
So I'll read the next one...and hopefully enjoy it.
January 24, 2012
It gives me the chills again and again. She is forced to go back to rid herself of her possession, and her adventure is compelling. I had to read it fast because I scare really easily. It is impossible to imagine the horror and stress of all that comes on her. Then there is Mandy, who I originally thought was pure evil, but a good book always has twists. It all turns out the Mandy was never the evil one. But who is? That is the suprise that I am not willing to ruin for anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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