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Dreamhouse Kings #1
House of Dark Shadows
When fifteen-year-old Xander and his family move into an old, abandoned house in the middle of a dense forest outside of a small California town, they discover that not only are some of the rooms portals into other places, but that malevolent forces are at work.
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2008
411 people are currently reading
7343 people want to read
About the author
Robert Liparulo
32 books798 followersRobert Liparulo's novels, Comes a Horseman, Germ, Deadfall Deadlock, The 13th Tribe, and The Judgment Stone,have received rave reviews. His short story "Kill Zone" is included in the anthology Thriller, edited by James Patterson. He is also the author of the best-selling young adult series DREAMHOUSE KINGS: House of Dark Shadows, Watcher in the Woods, Gatekeepers, Timescape, Whirlwind, and Frenzy. Robert lives in Colorado with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 922 reviews
September 29, 2010
Also posted here.
I bought this from Fullybooked thinking that the first two books of the Dreamhouse Kings series combined in one volume and sold for the price of one book is a sweet deal. I was wrong. After reading the first book, House of Dark Shadows, I realized that it should really be sold that way because House of Dark Shadows is nothing but just a 280+ pages long prologue.
Xander King is a fifteen-year old boy whoswallowed the whole movie listing is an aspirant movie director. Together with his family, they moved from the city somewhere in California to a secluded small town. They found this strange Victorian house at the middle of the woods and dumbly decided to live there. And the rest, as they say, is history.
As I’ve said, nothing really happens here. They just discovered some weird stuff inside and outside their house. They found this room that is like a portal to their school and this weird clearing that is something like an anti-gravity area but that’s it. These places wasn’t visited again throughout book and I’m guessing that it will be used in the sequels. This is exactly why I think it just one long prologue. The climax is just a replay of what happened in the supposedly “prologue” of this book. A prologue of a prologue? Pretty brilliant, don’t you think? That’s a first.
Liparulo also created underdeveloped and unstable characters. He even committed a horrendous crime in series. There is this character named Toria that hardly did anything and I am guessing again that he will use this character in the sequels. I know some series that a certain character that exist from the first book and was only given a spotlight at the sequels but these characters somehow leaves at least a small impression to the reader. In House of Dark Shadows, Toria is just the youngest of the King siblings —period.
One thing that I didn’t like the most is the constant reference to some movies whenever something is happening. It’s like saying “Remember that scene in that movie, now imagine that happening to Xander”. He is mocking the imaginative ability of his readers. The horror!
I’m beyond disappointed but atleast there’s a single lesson I learn from this: There’s a reason publishers chose to combine two novels in one. I’m leaving this series for now even if I already have the second book. The prologue —er, I mean the first book isn’t interesting enough for me to continue reading it.
I bought this from Fullybooked thinking that the first two books of the Dreamhouse Kings series combined in one volume and sold for the price of one book is a sweet deal. I was wrong. After reading the first book, House of Dark Shadows, I realized that it should really be sold that way because House of Dark Shadows is nothing but just a 280+ pages long prologue.
Xander King is a fifteen-year old boy who
As I’ve said, nothing really happens here. They just discovered some weird stuff inside and outside their house. They found this room that is like a portal to their school and this weird clearing that is something like an anti-gravity area but that’s it. These places wasn’t visited again throughout book and I’m guessing that it will be used in the sequels. This is exactly why I think it just one long prologue. The climax is just a replay of what happened in the supposedly “prologue” of this book. A prologue of a prologue? Pretty brilliant, don’t you think? That’s a first.
Liparulo also created underdeveloped and unstable characters. He even committed a horrendous crime in series. There is this character named Toria that hardly did anything and I am guessing again that he will use this character in the sequels. I know some series that a certain character that exist from the first book and was only given a spotlight at the sequels but these characters somehow leaves at least a small impression to the reader. In House of Dark Shadows, Toria is just the youngest of the King siblings —period.
One thing that I didn’t like the most is the constant reference to some movies whenever something is happening. It’s like saying “Remember that scene in that movie, now imagine that happening to Xander”. He is mocking the imaginative ability of his readers. The horror!
I’m beyond disappointed but atleast there’s a single lesson I learn from this: There’s a reason publishers chose to combine two novels in one. I’m leaving this series for now even if I already have the second book. The prologue —er, I mean the first book isn’t interesting enough for me to continue reading it.
December 27, 2014
When I downloaded the book, I had the wrong impression of it. I thought it was a just horror story. I hate horror movies, but I love horror novels. I thought I’d give it a go since haven’t read one in ages. But, I was wrong about House of Dark Shadows; it’s far from being just a horror story. It’s quite the page turner filled with time travel, adventure, spookiness, and suspense— the kind of suspense that made me subconsciously start reading faster.
When Xander and David found themselves traveling through a portal in their linen closet to a locker in their new school, I thought I had everything figured out. I thought I knew exactly who the perpetrator was who left the big, bare footprints in the dust. But, goodness was I wrong! This novel has so many twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing all the way through.
I loved the family dynamics in the story. Reading about the interactions between Xander and his younger brother, David, was a joy. The Kings have a healthy and realistic relationship with each other; they’ve just gotten in the habit of keeping some important secrets from each other, but what family doesn’t?
I also loved the descriptions; they were so vivid in this novel. I had a movie rolling in my mind the whole time as I read.
Sometimes I did have trouble keeping track of the two brothers. I thought more could have been done to develop the two characters. But, perhaps this will come in time during the second book of the series. I also found the father’s logic troubling. Without it, there wouldn’t be much of a story, but it’s kind of unbelievable.
The book also makes a number of pop culture references. I mean a lot. A few seemed relevant, even humorous. But, after a while I felt like there were far too many, and I didn’t think they were adding anything to the story. I can’t imagine reading this novel years down the line since I think many of the reference will be lost on readers.
Overall, the story was great! It’s perfect for reluctant readers because it’s fast paced, full of action, and a relatively short read. I’m definitely grabbing a copy of the second book of the series, Watcher in the Woods (out now), because I really want to know what happens next!
When Xander and David found themselves traveling through a portal in their linen closet to a locker in their new school, I thought I had everything figured out. I thought I knew exactly who the perpetrator was who left the big, bare footprints in the dust. But, goodness was I wrong! This novel has so many twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing all the way through.
I loved the family dynamics in the story. Reading about the interactions between Xander and his younger brother, David, was a joy. The Kings have a healthy and realistic relationship with each other; they’ve just gotten in the habit of keeping some important secrets from each other, but what family doesn’t?
I also loved the descriptions; they were so vivid in this novel. I had a movie rolling in my mind the whole time as I read.
Sometimes I did have trouble keeping track of the two brothers. I thought more could have been done to develop the two characters. But, perhaps this will come in time during the second book of the series. I also found the father’s logic troubling. Without it, there wouldn’t be much of a story, but it’s kind of unbelievable.
The book also makes a number of pop culture references. I mean a lot. A few seemed relevant, even humorous. But, after a while I felt like there were far too many, and I didn’t think they were adding anything to the story. I can’t imagine reading this novel years down the line since I think many of the reference will be lost on readers.
Overall, the story was great! It’s perfect for reluctant readers because it’s fast paced, full of action, and a relatively short read. I’m definitely grabbing a copy of the second book of the series, Watcher in the Woods (out now), because I really want to know what happens next!
April 4, 2011
I heard great things about this book, but for me, it was just "eh." I honestly skimmed through the middle of it. It's probably good for 7th/8th graders, but to be honest, I've read much better geared to that age group.
It just didn't "wow" me. The characters didn't make me love them. I wasn't even really interested in them. Will I read the rest of the series? Not any time soon.
Oh- and one thing that bugged me wicked bad is on pg. 55.
Here it is taken right from the book:
But Xander liked the old Edgar Allen Poe stories like "The Black Cat" in which people were bricked-up in walls. Not always after being murdered.
Ok- this makes me angry for a couple of reasons.
1. If you're going to refer to a hugely famous author (an icon in horror/mystery novels) at least spell the author's name right! Edgar Allan Poe...not e ... a in Allan.
2. The author refers to the short story "The Black Cat." In the next "sentence" the author mentions someone being bricked up alive. When reading it all together it seems like the author is insinuating that the character in "The Black Cat" was bricked up in the wall alive, when in fact, the wife was dead before she was bricked into the wall. The story the author seems to be referring to would be "The Cask of Amontillado."
Honestly- if you're going to get published, shouldn't an editor of fact checker catch these things???
Seeing that this mistake happened pretty early on in the book, I just couldn't take the rest of the book seriously.
So, no, I probably won't be reading the rest of this series.
It just didn't "wow" me. The characters didn't make me love them. I wasn't even really interested in them. Will I read the rest of the series? Not any time soon.
Oh- and one thing that bugged me wicked bad is on pg. 55.
Here it is taken right from the book:
But Xander liked the old Edgar Allen Poe stories like "The Black Cat" in which people were bricked-up in walls. Not always after being murdered.
Ok- this makes me angry for a couple of reasons.
1. If you're going to refer to a hugely famous author (an icon in horror/mystery novels) at least spell the author's name right! Edgar Allan Poe...not e ... a in Allan.
2. The author refers to the short story "The Black Cat." In the next "sentence" the author mentions someone being bricked up alive. When reading it all together it seems like the author is insinuating that the character in "The Black Cat" was bricked up in the wall alive, when in fact, the wife was dead before she was bricked into the wall. The story the author seems to be referring to would be "The Cask of Amontillado."
Honestly- if you're going to get published, shouldn't an editor of fact checker catch these things???
Seeing that this mistake happened pretty early on in the book, I just couldn't take the rest of the book seriously.
So, no, I probably won't be reading the rest of this series.
August 23, 2014
Alright, wow. This book was totally awesome. This book takes a lot of my favorite things, and jumbles it all into one. There is a lot of mystery, suspense, background information, and action. The only thing I felt that it was missing, was a bit of romance. (You guys know what a big romance buff I am. I could spot true love in my sock drawer if I had to.)
Let's start off with the prologue. It rocked my socks off. I was immediately drawn in, and I even made my boyfriend read it just to see what he thought. And it wasn't one of the 'Twilight' prologues, even though I do enjoy those, where it is a few paragraphs from the most important part of the book, willing you to keep reading by giving you a taste of the climax. Nope, it is set thirty years prior to the rest of the story. *No spoiler, it literally says thirty years ago first page.*
After being immediately intrigued by the prologue, Liparulo does the next best thing an author can do. He allows you to get to know the characters before jumping to the action. To me, characters are probably the most important thing about a story. It can be a boring plot with mediocre writing, and still be a pretty good book if you fall in love with the characters. (Hate to use Twilight as an example two times in one review BUT as most of us know, hardly anything of interest happens in the first 200 pages of the book but you are still drawn in because you love Edward and Bella.) Liparulo creates a lovable family a lot of us either have, or wish we had.
After allowing the reader to get to know the characters, Liparulo steadily works his way into the mystery of the novel. I can't say much more without spoiling, but I can say that this book takes you on a different ride than most other young adult books take you on.
All in All: GREAT book, definitely worth buying and reading. Liparulo sets up a great series with this novel.
Plot: 18/20
Characters: 20/20
Creativity: 20/20
Writing: 20/20
Ending: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
=98/100
October 16, 2011
I gave up at 40% and deleted it off my Kindle. Just unbearable rubbish - a good idea absolutely squandered by a terrible writer. Completely unbelievable teenagers, parents who are nothing more than pathetic deus ex machina to give the kids a reason to be in the creepy house. No sense of style whatsoever, no reason to go on. No edge, no dilemmas, no coming-of-age/finding yourself interest. Even the meant-to-be-scary prologue was hard going. Written as though the writer was wishing it was a screenplay but doesn't have the talent to pull off either - this is a bad rip-off of a third-class horror movie, given a PG certificate. Not a thing about this that made you think or emotionally connect with the characters.
Appalling nonsense, and that was before any religious crap kicked in. If you liked The Hunger Games, Monsters of Men or His Dark Materials you'll laugh at how poorly done this is; and may I point you in the direction of John Scalzi's "Zoe's Tale"? Now *that's* how you write a teenager.
Appalling nonsense, and that was before any religious crap kicked in. If you liked The Hunger Games, Monsters of Men or His Dark Materials you'll laugh at how poorly done this is; and may I point you in the direction of John Scalzi's "Zoe's Tale"? Now *that's* how you write a teenager.
February 13, 2019
Genius blend of genuine creepiness with hilarity!
I can't believe no one mentioned the hilarious descriptions of the brother's- Xander and David's fear and nervousness,as they set about exploring this huge house,and investigating noises,such as David being stuck to Xander like a "wet leaf"!
There are actually several tense moments in this story,with an atmosphere of creepiness,interspersed with laugh-out-loud funny incidents such as the one mentioned above,that do not detract from the suspense at all. I can't recall ever before reading a book where I laughed out loud at the same time that my hair was standing on end,LOL!
I am so happy that I have the second book in the series "Watcher In the Woods" here,ready to start reading tonight.
I hope this author will treat us to many more such stories. I highly recommend the Dreamhouse Kings series for others like me,who love horror/fantasy/sci-fi/thriller without all the offensive elements found in many such offerings for the adult market.
I can't believe no one mentioned the hilarious descriptions of the brother's- Xander and David's fear and nervousness,as they set about exploring this huge house,and investigating noises,such as David being stuck to Xander like a "wet leaf"!
There are actually several tense moments in this story,with an atmosphere of creepiness,interspersed with laugh-out-loud funny incidents such as the one mentioned above,that do not detract from the suspense at all. I can't recall ever before reading a book where I laughed out loud at the same time that my hair was standing on end,LOL!
I am so happy that I have the second book in the series "Watcher In the Woods" here,ready to start reading tonight.
I hope this author will treat us to many more such stories. I highly recommend the Dreamhouse Kings series for others like me,who love horror/fantasy/sci-fi/thriller without all the offensive elements found in many such offerings for the adult market.
July 13, 2018
Spooky, fun, and adventurous; all in all, a great read.
December 21, 2009
What a nice surprise this turned out to be! It's tailor made for anyone who loves old scary houses, secret passage ways, and all the creepy descriptions of things that go bump in the night.
Starting off shooting right out of the gates, the prologue is truly the most gripping andhaunting 5 pages i think i might have ever read. It made me sad, scared, and really wary for every main character from there on out.
Otherwise, it is your usual first-in-a-series-novel origin story. There's the characters' descriptions, explanation of why they're moving, the usual. (ala, The Spiderwick Chronicles) The supernatural occurrences start off pretty quickly, and are spread out at a nice pace to keep things nice and spooky.
And when i say spooky, i mean this isn't in the kids section for a reason. There's a giant man that looms through the house in the middle of the night and talks latin, voices and sounds never come from the right place and disorient people, footsteps appear in dust all over the house every morning. Even the daughter, Toria's, little bear that records sound creeped me out.
Getting through all that, there is a story and it is really really good. Like i said before, this is the first of a 6 series story arch, so there is no solid closure on the events that happened, but i can not WAIT to read the next books. The possibilities are really open for where the story can go, and i have faith in the author to really deliver.
All-in-all this book really rocked, i was expecting a rip off of every Goosegumps and Spiderwick-esque stories out there, but it really stands out from the haunted-house crowd. Seriously, all you guys have to do is go to your nearest library or bookstore, and read the prologue. If it doesn't even peak your interest a tiny bit, i would be shocked.
Starting off shooting right out of the gates, the prologue is truly the most gripping andhaunting 5 pages i think i might have ever read. It made me sad, scared, and really wary for every main character from there on out.
Otherwise, it is your usual first-in-a-series-novel origin story. There's the characters' descriptions, explanation of why they're moving, the usual. (ala, The Spiderwick Chronicles) The supernatural occurrences start off pretty quickly, and are spread out at a nice pace to keep things nice and spooky.
And when i say spooky, i mean this isn't in the kids section for a reason. There's a giant man that looms through the house in the middle of the night and talks latin, voices and sounds never come from the right place and disorient people, footsteps appear in dust all over the house every morning. Even the daughter, Toria's, little bear that records sound creeped me out.
Getting through all that, there is a story and it is really really good. Like i said before, this is the first of a 6 series story arch, so there is no solid closure on the events that happened, but i can not WAIT to read the next books. The possibilities are really open for where the story can go, and i have faith in the author to really deliver.
All-in-all this book really rocked, i was expecting a rip off of every Goosegumps and Spiderwick-esque stories out there, but it really stands out from the haunted-house crowd. Seriously, all you guys have to do is go to your nearest library or bookstore, and read the prologue. If it doesn't even peak your interest a tiny bit, i would be shocked.
June 1, 2011
Is it just me, or does it seem like Robert Liparulo had read House of Leaves very shortly before writing House of Dark Shadows? I kept getting reminded of House of Leaves throughout. Not necessarily a bad thing, of course. There's a lot of great inspiration you could take from House of Leaves. Sadly, this one just doesn't quite seem to measure up, to me.
The first thing that bothered me was how unrealistic the reactions of pretty much everybody were. The whole reason that the King family are at the spooky house in the first place is so mind boggling that I simply can't buy it. I just can't believe that any parent would ever do what he did, knowing what he knew, with family in tow. I just can't. It puts the entire premise of the book into question. There's questionable decision making all over the place in here, but every instance is wildly spoilery. Let me just put it this way: people do things in this book to advance the plot, not because they make any sense for them to do. What Roger Ebert calls an idiot plot.
There are parts of the setting that are great, nice and spooky. I did get some really good chills while reading it, and the weirdness quotient was high. But the hall with the rooms was more cheesy than creepy, and I felt like it took away from the overall atmosphere.
To sum it up: there were some really promising things in here, but the idiot plot and frequent injections of cheese made me unlikely to pick up the rest of the books in the series.
The first thing that bothered me was how unrealistic the reactions of pretty much everybody were. The whole reason that the King family are at the spooky house in the first place is so mind boggling that I simply can't buy it. I just can't believe that any parent would ever do what he did, knowing what he knew, with family in tow. I just can't. It puts the entire premise of the book into question. There's questionable decision making all over the place in here, but every instance is wildly spoilery. Let me just put it this way: people do things in this book to advance the plot, not because they make any sense for them to do. What Roger Ebert calls an idiot plot.
There are parts of the setting that are great, nice and spooky. I did get some really good chills while reading it, and the weirdness quotient was high. But the hall with the rooms was more cheesy than creepy, and I felt like it took away from the overall atmosphere.
To sum it up: there were some really promising things in here, but the idiot plot and frequent injections of cheese made me unlikely to pick up the rest of the books in the series.
November 21, 2017
Nah not what I thought this book was going to be. Didn't connect with no characters. Parents especially dad didn't seem realistic. For there to be these secret rooms in to house going into crazy portals for the world. He's like telling Xander and David oh just don't go in there really. Hmm. SMH. Wasn't scary just plain weird.
June 12, 2012
Hoş gizemli bir gençlik romanı. Pek anlatmayayım gizemi bozulmasın ama özellikle başlarda ne oluyor yahu diyorsunuz sonra sonra olaylar aydınlanıyor:)
May 3, 2021
10 year old me would have loved this!
February 21, 2019
A quick listen for me. I liked the adventure of the story and the uniqueness of it all. It’s creepy and mysterious without being too scary. I have a hard time with young adult books because I have a hard time letting logic rest while I read. Ha ha!
However I think older kids will enjoy this. I think it’s recommended for ages 12-16 but I would say maybe 13+. There are some gruesome parts. Not bad but just what I’m thinking based off this first book. I liked that it references several books classic and otherwise. Hopefully to strike the readers interest to read those. It also referenced the movie the shining that I wouldn’t want my kids to see. I did like the historical parts it touched on and seems too in the next books. The characters adventures take them to wars and battles and other time periods. Kind of neat.
However I think older kids will enjoy this. I think it’s recommended for ages 12-16 but I would say maybe 13+. There are some gruesome parts. Not bad but just what I’m thinking based off this first book. I liked that it references several books classic and otherwise. Hopefully to strike the readers interest to read those. It also referenced the movie the shining that I wouldn’t want my kids to see. I did like the historical parts it touched on and seems too in the next books. The characters adventures take them to wars and battles and other time periods. Kind of neat.
March 6, 2019
House of Dark Shadows was a super easy and fast read. I thought the book was gonna be horror, but it really wasn't. Or maybe that's just me and my inability to get scared of things that are supposed to be horror. The plot was a little predictable, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book. The characters made questionable descions, but some how it didn't bother me as much as some other books. I am so pumped for the next one!
August 2, 2008
I would give this 2 1/2 stars if goodreads would let me. This wasn't a bad book. It was interesting suspensful and intriguing... howeever here is why it deserves 2 1/2 stars and here, with as few spoilers as possible is why.
The book begins with a horrific nailbiter of a scene depicting the abduction of a woman in front of her family which has something to with the strange house they live in.
From here on out I will be as unspecific as possible but spoilers will be present, so if you are interested in reading this book and don't want a hint about its ending stop reading
*
*
*
*
Decades later, the King family move into the house at the promting of their father who for some reason "just had"to move to this town of Pinedale, uprooting his wife and three children who had very nice lives in their former city in which they lived. He doesn't give a reason but promises his son Xander (who left his enitre group of friends and girlfriend behind) that he will soon.
They find the house in the begining and though it is creepy, abandoned and has rumors of a family having been murdered in it decades before, Mr. king decides, "This is the house!" He moves his family in in spite of the fact that there are strange issues with the house including sounds coming from no one knows where, and the possiblility of a squatter being some where within the many rooms.
Xander and his brother David find that the house actually is laden with portals to other times and places! Very cool at first until Xander almost gets killed. Their dad mysteriously saves Xander, however is not angry that the boys never told him a bout the portals and does not tell his wife and daughter about it either... until something really awful actually happens to one of them and you find out he knew about this being a possibility all along.
Now one may say Mr. King would have thought that people wouldn't believe him if he explained his real "feeling" that he had to move his whole family to this town and why to that house, but how could a good father put his wife and children in such danger if he knew something very bad could or was likely to happen in this house? I know Xander and hsi siblings felt the same way and expressed it, but I was also furious as a reader and felt that Mr. King was irresponsible and selfish and sacrificed his family's safety for something that really should have been his personal mission all along... or at the VERY least he should have clued them in once they moved into the house. Leaving them in the dark was cruel and careless. I will read the next one because I would like to know what happens but I was spitting angry. Also note that though this book is considered Christain Ficition, its not overt is enjoyable for fans of all suspense, but beware that the parenting skills of the father figure are seriously in question by this reader.
The book begins with a horrific nailbiter of a scene depicting the abduction of a woman in front of her family which has something to with the strange house they live in.
From here on out I will be as unspecific as possible but spoilers will be present, so if you are interested in reading this book and don't want a hint about its ending stop reading
*
*
*
*
Decades later, the King family move into the house at the promting of their father who for some reason "just had"to move to this town of Pinedale, uprooting his wife and three children who had very nice lives in their former city in which they lived. He doesn't give a reason but promises his son Xander (who left his enitre group of friends and girlfriend behind) that he will soon.
They find the house in the begining and though it is creepy, abandoned and has rumors of a family having been murdered in it decades before, Mr. king decides, "This is the house!" He moves his family in in spite of the fact that there are strange issues with the house including sounds coming from no one knows where, and the possiblility of a squatter being some where within the many rooms.
Xander and his brother David find that the house actually is laden with portals to other times and places! Very cool at first until Xander almost gets killed. Their dad mysteriously saves Xander, however is not angry that the boys never told him a bout the portals and does not tell his wife and daughter about it either... until something really awful actually happens to one of them and you find out he knew about this being a possibility all along.
Now one may say Mr. King would have thought that people wouldn't believe him if he explained his real "feeling" that he had to move his whole family to this town and why to that house, but how could a good father put his wife and children in such danger if he knew something very bad could or was likely to happen in this house? I know Xander and hsi siblings felt the same way and expressed it, but I was also furious as a reader and felt that Mr. King was irresponsible and selfish and sacrificed his family's safety for something that really should have been his personal mission all along... or at the VERY least he should have clued them in once they moved into the house. Leaving them in the dark was cruel and careless. I will read the next one because I would like to know what happens but I was spitting angry. Also note that though this book is considered Christain Ficition, its not overt is enjoyable for fans of all suspense, but beware that the parenting skills of the father figure are seriously in question by this reader.
January 11, 2020
3.9/5 stars.
I don't know why, I just love this series. Don't get me wrong, I know that there a few a few glaringly obvious issues and plot holes, but it was my first "thriller" novel as a child and it has a special place in my heart.
After their father gets a job offer as the principal of a school in small-town Pinedale, California, Xander and David find themselves helping with renovations of a big, creepy house in the woods. During their explorations they discover everything from false walls to linen closet portals to distorted sounds and impossible clearings in the woods. Shit ensues, and both children and parents make smart and stupid decision at the same time befitting a horror movie.
I think my favorite part of this book was the essence of family that was just completely embedded in every page. Most middle grade and YA novels have either absent, dead, or single parents, but The Dreamhouse Kings are an entire family ready to fuck shit up.
It's just refreshing to see a strong, united family in a story that isn't contemporary, you know?
Xander and David are definitely the most fleshed out characters, since the first book is told through Xander's POV and he spends most of the book with David at his side. They both have fiercely strong personalities. They're both just two teenagers who love their parents and their little sister. Their dad is also partially fleshed out, although I feel like Liparulo definitely could have done more with him in the first book rather than waiting until the very end to reveal some things.
I highly recommend this one to anyone looking to introduce themselves or their kids to the thriller genre, with some good history tidbits thrown in and a family presence that's comparable to the Weasley's.
Now he knew how it felt to be like Kevin McCarthy in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"-a person who knew something was wrong but was chalked up as crazy because he couldn't prove it. He couldn't even count the number of movies featuring that character. If it happened so often on film, it must be pretty common in real life, right?
I don't know why, I just love this series. Don't get me wrong, I know that there a few a few glaringly obvious issues and plot holes, but it was my first "thriller" novel as a child and it has a special place in my heart.
After their father gets a job offer as the principal of a school in small-town Pinedale, California, Xander and David find themselves helping with renovations of a big, creepy house in the woods. During their explorations they discover everything from false walls to linen closet portals to distorted sounds and impossible clearings in the woods. Shit ensues, and both children and parents make smart and stupid decision at the same time befitting a horror movie.
I think my favorite part of this book was the essence of family that was just completely embedded in every page. Most middle grade and YA novels have either absent, dead, or single parents, but The Dreamhouse Kings are an entire family ready to fuck shit up.
Mom had said the world was tough enough without having to worry about hiding things in your own home, from your own family. "So what if you do stupid things?" she'd said. "We're humans, not robots."
It's just refreshing to see a strong, united family in a story that isn't contemporary, you know?
Xander and David are definitely the most fleshed out characters, since the first book is told through Xander's POV and he spends most of the book with David at his side. They both have fiercely strong personalities. They're both just two teenagers who love their parents and their little sister. Their dad is also partially fleshed out, although I feel like Liparulo definitely could have done more with him in the first book rather than waiting until the very end to reveal some things.
I highly recommend this one to anyone looking to introduce themselves or their kids to the thriller genre, with some good history tidbits thrown in and a family presence that's comparable to the Weasley's.
December 5, 2008
I knew just from reading the premise of this one that I would find much to love in House Of Dark Shadows. (Though the same could be true of reading the premise of 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson.) In this case, however, I was proven correct. I only have one bad thing to say about House of Dark Shadows---and that is that it is the first of a series. And the ending...well...it leaves you wanting more. But even that bad news has a silver lining, the sequel Watcher in the Woods is already available. Don't you wish all series books were published like that!
Xander and David are two brothers who are in for the greatest thrills of their young lives--at fifteen and twelve respectively. Though the reader won't be surprised by the adventure and danger elements of the story--the cover, the premise, the prologue--the characters themselves, Xander and David, NEVER expected to find danger of the life and death variety in this small and dinky hick town. But danger is what is lurking in every room of their new house. The house itself is the cause of the danger. Of the adrenaline.
The book is action-packed. It's well paced. If you like adventures of the spooky sort. Part science fiction. Part adventure. Part mystery. It offers much to readers of almost all ages. (I'd say ten and up if I had to label it at all.)
Though the book is published by a Christian publishing house--it's a clean read, by the way--there is nothing religious or spiritual about it. Just two kids exploring a spooky, old house and finding their ordinary lives turned upside down and inside out. No sermons to be found within its pages. There is nothing un-Christian about it. But there is nothing specifically Christian about it either. It's a book anyone could enjoy. I feel the need to say this because sometimes Christian fiction has the reputation (sometimes unfairly so) of being...well....dinky in nature, poorly written, weak plots, flimsy characters, etc.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend it. It would be great for challenges as well--assuming that Carl has his Sci-Fi Experiment again this winter OR his R.I.P. challenge next fall.
October 8, 2023
I bought “House Of Dark Shadows” from a charity and was so enchanted with the haunted house possibilities, I ordered the remaining volumes new. Alas, my search for ghost literature persists. The setting is instead, a fantasy / dystopian / science fiction medley. Nonetheless, a fair reviewer judges what is written. What is fulfilled is my second place passion: proof of physical paranormal workings, like the antigravity meadow and hidden sections of a building. A third element I savour is any secret or mystery from a long ago past. However as wonderful as the twist is, we find out who the originating family was and where most of them went, so late in the book that the impact didn’t overwhelm me as vibrantly as I would like.
I often read youth novels because they produce more paranormal plots than adult literature does. However neither child morals nor protagonists has anything to do with being enchanted, if a book follows the content that attracted me. Too many pages went to arguments and stressing that ‘David & Xander’ are brothers. I tired of too frequent focus on wearing pyjamas and holding onto each other. It took forever to reach the atmospheric awe and main setting at all, due to very slow coverage of their car journey, motel stay, and school registration.
One part I consider an error, which I point out cryptically so that future readers are clueless until they reach it, is why ‘Mr. King’ went through purchasing channels at all. The beginning was frightening and the end emotional, if not sprung belatedly. This isn’t the haunted house atmosphere I sought but I was right in my perception that Robert Liparulo created a compelling and highly original premise. I am already into volume two. I hope ‘Toria’ becomes more directly involved.
I often read youth novels because they produce more paranormal plots than adult literature does. However neither child morals nor protagonists has anything to do with being enchanted, if a book follows the content that attracted me. Too many pages went to arguments and stressing that ‘David & Xander’ are brothers. I tired of too frequent focus on wearing pyjamas and holding onto each other. It took forever to reach the atmospheric awe and main setting at all, due to very slow coverage of their car journey, motel stay, and school registration.
One part I consider an error, which I point out cryptically so that future readers are clueless until they reach it, is why ‘Mr. King’ went through purchasing channels at all. The beginning was frightening and the end emotional, if not sprung belatedly. This isn’t the haunted house atmosphere I sought but I was right in my perception that Robert Liparulo created a compelling and highly original premise. I am already into volume two. I hope ‘Toria’ becomes more directly involved.
July 21, 2025
3.5/5 Stars⭐ ✨
Overall, it was a nice story, but honestly, it wasn't what I expected. Looking at the sequels, they just don't seem very appealing to me. However, Robert Liparulo really hit the mark with a creepy Victorian house packed with rooms, closets, and hidden passages in dark woods—ideal for a horror story setup but kind of falls flat with everything else going on. Behind a secret door, there's a corridor with shifting doors that lead to various times, places, or dimensions, opening up endless possibilities for sequels. For me, there was a significant contrast between the spooky elements and everything else happening, which made it hard for me to keep going in the end.
Did I enjoy reading this, Yes. I just don't think that this was meant for me in the end. But would recommend checking it out since it is a very short read.
🏡 🐻
Overall, it was a nice story, but honestly, it wasn't what I expected. Looking at the sequels, they just don't seem very appealing to me. However, Robert Liparulo really hit the mark with a creepy Victorian house packed with rooms, closets, and hidden passages in dark woods—ideal for a horror story setup but kind of falls flat with everything else going on. Behind a secret door, there's a corridor with shifting doors that lead to various times, places, or dimensions, opening up endless possibilities for sequels. For me, there was a significant contrast between the spooky elements and everything else happening, which made it hard for me to keep going in the end.
Did I enjoy reading this, Yes. I just don't think that this was meant for me in the end. But would recommend checking it out since it is a very short read.
🏡 🐻
April 2, 2023
I first read House of Dark Shadows around when it released, but I've been wanting to reread it for a while now. I listened to it in audio this time and loved that. Even though I remembered the story pretty well, I still got freaked out by a certain scene and had to quit reading it at that time. The house was crazy and the creature... *shivers*
All in all, a good read. I recommend it to fans of YA thrillers.
*2023 reread*
All in all, a good read. I recommend it to fans of YA thrillers.
*2023 reread*
June 5, 2015
WOW. This book really was just... Wow. It was great. It was a lot of fun. The characters were so awesome and life-like. It made me feel like I was a part of the family. It was pretty intense too, especially at certain parts. I love the brothership between Xander and David. It was so cute. You could tell that the big secret at the end was from the beginning, or at least I guessed it, but it was still a tense moment when the secret is officially revealed. Overall a great book. I regret waiting so long to read it. I definitely want the rest of the series and can't wait to continue the story. It leaves you on a cliffhanger of sorts. Recommended to EVERYONE!
January 16, 2016
OMG!!!
If you want edge of your seat, page flipping, non-stop suspense, you're looking at the perfect book!
This story is so good I'm going to bug hubby to get me the next book.
I had to know what would happen, and the only bad thing happened, it left me hanging!!! And talk about cliffhanger!!! I'm still gripping the edge of my desk!
So yes, get a copy and check it out. I hope it wraps you in its weirdness, like it did for me.
If you want edge of your seat, page flipping, non-stop suspense, you're looking at the perfect book!
This story is so good I'm going to bug hubby to get me the next book.
I had to know what would happen, and the only bad thing happened, it left me hanging!!! And talk about cliffhanger!!! I'm still gripping the edge of my desk!
So yes, get a copy and check it out. I hope it wraps you in its weirdness, like it did for me.
October 26, 2018
So, this book was amazing. That is all that I can really say. It had the perfect amount of mystery to it. It had the perfect amount of horror to it as well. I love how the author jumps right into the story and doesn't wait around and explain forty-eleven different things. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a mystery, horror or likes books that jump into the action immediately.
August 30, 2010
I enjoyed this intriguing and creepy book. I wasn't overly fond of our hero Xander, but I did like the mystery of the house and the eerie setting, and I loved all the movie references!
October 26, 2017
I liked it. It had a nice twist and the end and good character development. I'll definitely read the next one.
September 2, 2014
I gave this rating a three star review, rather than a two star- based on the fact that this is a book for very young teens. I tried to see it through their eyes, being that this book was written for them- not me.
House of Dark shadows is about a boy names Xander who moves to a new state with his family. Upon arriving, they purchase an old, scary house. Xander and his brother have reservations about it from the beginning. Immediately, they start hearing scary sounds and discovering signs that they are not the only ones in the house.
This story does unlock some interesting and creative concepts, however they were very under played. I found myself bored in the "travel rooms." I know those parts were meant to be exciting, but they were rather a snore. The idea behind it was great, just poorly executed. Again, a young teenager would probably think those parts were amazing.
I also do not understand the travel seen from the linen closet to the school locker. What did that have to do with the story? What was the point of that random portal? Maybe it explains that in the future books, I don't know. Just seemed to get our curiosities up about it for nothing.
All in all, this book was an ok read, just not the greatest. The writing is very elementary, and the dialogue clearly was written for people much younger than me. I love reading YA fiction, so that says a lot.
I probably will not look into continuing the series. It was a decent enough read for the first novel, I can't imagine what the second would be like. They usually go done hill after book one, so...yeah.
House of Dark shadows is about a boy names Xander who moves to a new state with his family. Upon arriving, they purchase an old, scary house. Xander and his brother have reservations about it from the beginning. Immediately, they start hearing scary sounds and discovering signs that they are not the only ones in the house.
This story does unlock some interesting and creative concepts, however they were very under played. I found myself bored in the "travel rooms." I know those parts were meant to be exciting, but they were rather a snore. The idea behind it was great, just poorly executed. Again, a young teenager would probably think those parts were amazing.
I also do not understand the travel seen from the linen closet to the school locker. What did that have to do with the story? What was the point of that random portal? Maybe it explains that in the future books, I don't know. Just seemed to get our curiosities up about it for nothing.
All in all, this book was an ok read, just not the greatest. The writing is very elementary, and the dialogue clearly was written for people much younger than me. I love reading YA fiction, so that says a lot.
I probably will not look into continuing the series. It was a decent enough read for the first novel, I can't imagine what the second would be like. They usually go done hill after book one, so...yeah.
June 21, 2011
Fifteen-year-old Xander King is very unhappy when his father takes him and his siblings out of school in the city and moves them to an old house in the back of beyond. However, the house turns out to have mysterious properties like rooms that lead to other times and places. This sounded like an interesting premise but I was seriously underwhelmed by the book. I couldn't get emotionally involved with the characters and the plot (plot?) just didn't seem to hang together - it was just event after event. If mysterious things are happening, at least some of them should be explained in the first book.
Also, what was the point of Xander being an amateur filmmaker? Was it so that he could constantly refer to things or people being like something or somebody in movie X, or will it become more relevant in future books? (Incidentally, I'm old enough to remember Dark Shadows, but no one in this book's target audience will have a clue.)
Finally, while it was great that the father had a warm, caring relationship with his sons, the female characters (the mother and young sister) only seemed to be there to 1) scream, 2) cry, 3) have things kept from them to "protect" them, and 4) get kidnapped. Obviously, #3 didn't work very well.
I have the next book out of the library on audio and I may try it to see if things get any better, but if they don't pretty quickly, I won't even bother finishing the book.
Also, what was the point of Xander being an amateur filmmaker? Was it so that he could constantly refer to things or people being like something or somebody in movie X, or will it become more relevant in future books? (Incidentally, I'm old enough to remember Dark Shadows, but no one in this book's target audience will have a clue.)
Finally, while it was great that the father had a warm, caring relationship with his sons, the female characters (the mother and young sister) only seemed to be there to 1) scream, 2) cry, 3) have things kept from them to "protect" them, and 4) get kidnapped. Obviously, #3 didn't work very well.
I have the next book out of the library on audio and I may try it to see if things get any better, but if they don't pretty quickly, I won't even bother finishing the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2009
We all know the story. An urban family relocates to a rural town. The teenage protagonist is too cool for Hicksville. They move into a dark, secluded Victorian house that has been empty for decades and was last occupied by a family that disappeared under mysterious circumstances. They see and hear strange things, as the house seems to be alive.
Well, this is just the beginning for the King family in House of Dark Shadows. Liparulo builds a fast-paced adventure on this age-old premise. His writing is precise, making the reader care about the characters and wanting to solve the mysteries, and eliciting emotional response at the right time. He effectively uses a tight timetable to keep the story fast moving; the book takes place over a week, with the climactic points occurring over a weekend. There is no good stopping point, because the readers knows the next chapter will pick up moments after the action of the previous chapter.
While House of Dark Shadows is an excellent read, especially for adolescent boys, the ending does not satisfy the reader. The book is the first in a series and does not stand on its own. Therefore, prospective readers will have to buy the entire series to have a satisfactory read.
Well, this is just the beginning for the King family in House of Dark Shadows. Liparulo builds a fast-paced adventure on this age-old premise. His writing is precise, making the reader care about the characters and wanting to solve the mysteries, and eliciting emotional response at the right time. He effectively uses a tight timetable to keep the story fast moving; the book takes place over a week, with the climactic points occurring over a weekend. There is no good stopping point, because the readers knows the next chapter will pick up moments after the action of the previous chapter.
While House of Dark Shadows is an excellent read, especially for adolescent boys, the ending does not satisfy the reader. The book is the first in a series and does not stand on its own. Therefore, prospective readers will have to buy the entire series to have a satisfactory read.
October 6, 2018
With it being October, I was in the mood for a bit of a spooky read and thought I'd try House of Dark Shadows. I don't read too many scary stories, mainly because I'm such a chicken where they're concerned, lol, but this one sounded really interesting so I thought I'd give it a chance.
It was really good! It was just the right amount of spooky for me. Not enough to give me nightmares, but there were definitely a few times when it gave me goosebumps. It's a page-turner, for sure. Once I started it, I had a hard time stopping. There was so much suspense and I never knew what would happen next. It was a lot of fun trying to figure out what was going on with the house alongside brothers Xander and David.
My only complaint is that there wasn't a satisfying ending. I know it's the first book in a series, but it felt like the story had just got started going and then it ended with no resolution. It ended too soon for me. I definitely want to continue the series, but I'm just not the biggest fan of endings like this.
It was really good! It was just the right amount of spooky for me. Not enough to give me nightmares, but there were definitely a few times when it gave me goosebumps. It's a page-turner, for sure. Once I started it, I had a hard time stopping. There was so much suspense and I never knew what would happen next. It was a lot of fun trying to figure out what was going on with the house alongside brothers Xander and David.
My only complaint is that there wasn't a satisfying ending. I know it's the first book in a series, but it felt like the story had just got started going and then it ended with no resolution. It ended too soon for me. I definitely want to continue the series, but I'm just not the biggest fan of endings like this.
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