What do you think?
Rate this book
8 Souls Lib/E
Spending the summer across the street from the famous Axe Murder House in Villisca, Iowa isn't something Chessie Carpenter is looking forward to. But when she runs into David Higgins at his father's hardware store there's something about the cute boy that feels so familiar. If only she could pinpoint why.
When the "ghost squad" she calls to help her deal with the spirits invading her room turns out to be David and his friend, Mateo, the three sort out the clues that would explain the century old murder mystery. But the closer Chessie gets to David, the more everything she learns points to him somehow being involved. As her time in Villisca runs out, Chessie must figure out the ties that connect her, David, and the spirits haunting the Axe Murder House before it's too late...for all of them.
When the "ghost squad" she calls to help her deal with the spirits invading her room turns out to be David and his friend, Mateo, the three sort out the clues that would explain the century old murder mystery. But the closer Chessie gets to David, the more everything she learns points to him somehow being involved. As her time in Villisca runs out, Chessie must figure out the ties that connect her, David, and the spirits haunting the Axe Murder House before it's too late...for all of them.
Audio CD
Published July 24, 2019
81 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Rust
6 books60 followersRachel Rust is an author of young adult books. In both reading and writing, she loves all things mysterious, romantic, and thrilling. If it's a whodunit, she's all about it. When not making up stories, Rachel can usually be found with her family and two dogs -- a pug and a chug (chihuahua/pug).
Rachel is represented by Eva Scalzo at Speilburg Literary Agency.
Rachel is represented by Eva Scalzo at Speilburg Literary Agency.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
April 16, 2019
Geez, I wasn’t expecting this book to take the turn it did, totally caught me off guard.
Chessie has had scary dreams for years and I mean scary! And she is sent to spend some time with her grandparents. Wellllll... ye olde grandparents live across the street from a house where a family was murdered! Hooray! Not!
Chessie starts having freaking worse nightmares and daymares <— yeah, that sucks too. Things happen and she gets the help of some boys in the town, Mateo and David. And then the cray begins! And there is a little love interest which goes with the majority of spook stories. Lol.
Anyhoo, we find out the reason Chessie is dreaming about these kids and hearing and seeing creepy stuff! Like I said, I never saw it coming. I thought it was a great ending!!
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book!
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
MY BLOG
June 1, 2019
8 Souls by Rachel Rust is a young adult read that is a paranormal fantasy with a bit of horror and a little romance. This fictional read is actually based on a real life tragedy that took place in Villisca, Iowa on the evening of June 10, 1912. Six members of a family and two guests staying with them were murdered in the Moore home.
Chessie has spent her whole life having a reoccurring dream of an old farm house and learned early on in life not to let on to those around her or be forced back into therapy. Even though she let it slip out as a child that she had the dream she definitely never let on the house was real. And not only was it real but located across from her grandparents home that she is now being sent to for the summer while her parents divorce.
Of course with Chessie being sent so close to this house of horrors things quickly escalate from a reoccurring dream to so much more. 8 Souls was one of those books that is best read with the lights on with an equal dose of creepy and creative. The author did a good job giving a whole new twist on an horrific cold case that kept the pages turning through the twists until the very end.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Chessie has spent her whole life having a reoccurring dream of an old farm house and learned early on in life not to let on to those around her or be forced back into therapy. Even though she let it slip out as a child that she had the dream she definitely never let on the house was real. And not only was it real but located across from her grandparents home that she is now being sent to for the summer while her parents divorce.
Of course with Chessie being sent so close to this house of horrors things quickly escalate from a reoccurring dream to so much more. 8 Souls was one of those books that is best read with the lights on with an equal dose of creepy and creative. The author did a good job giving a whole new twist on an horrific cold case that kept the pages turning through the twists until the very end.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
May 2, 2019
Seventeen year old Chessie dreams about the old farmhouse every night. She learned to keep her mouth shut about her dream house when she was young; it turns out that telling people you have a recurring dream about a house where eight people were murdered can land you in a psychiatrist’s office.
Chessie is spending the summer with her grandparents in Villisca, Iowa. They live directly across from the Axe Murder House, the farmhouse in Chessie’s dreams.
During the summer Chessie gets to know David, who’s cute but has a secret, and Mateo, a wannabe Ghostbuster. Chessie hopes they will be able to help her discover out what her connection is to the farmhouse and whether there’s any connection between the 1912 murders and the girls that are currently missing.
After the first round of reveals I was able to figure out where the book was heading, so wasn’t surprised by any of the subsequent reveals. While I can find predictable elements annoying in some books I didn’t have a problem with them here as it meant what I’d hoped would happen did.
I would have liked to have gotten to know Chessie’s grandparents more but was satisfied with learning the backstories of other characters. There wasn’t as much banter as I’m used to in books that have a romantic component but, given the characters are dealing with unsolved murders from the past and missing children, it wouldn’t have been overly appropriate.
Since it happens so infrequently in books, I’m always thrilled when book characters actually use the bathroom, so this book won realism points from me each time Chessie took a bathroom break.
I wasn’t that keen on how the final showdown was set up. Surely
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen, an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC, for the opportunity to read this book. I’m interested in reading more books by this author.
Chessie is spending the summer with her grandparents in Villisca, Iowa. They live directly across from the Axe Murder House, the farmhouse in Chessie’s dreams.
Villisca is known for murder.The 1912 murders remain unsolved and haunt this small community. The townspeople are also on edge because some young girls have recently been reported missing. Soon after Chessie arrives in town she hears someone calling her name and asking for help, which wouldn’t be as scary if she wasn’t alone in her bedroom at the time.
But other than that, it’s a cute town.
During the summer Chessie gets to know David, who’s cute but has a secret, and Mateo, a wannabe Ghostbuster. Chessie hopes they will be able to help her discover out what her connection is to the farmhouse and whether there’s any connection between the 1912 murders and the girls that are currently missing.
“People are afraid of the devil when they really should be afraid of each other.”I got into this book straight away and enjoyed trying to figure out what Chessie’s connection to the Axe Murder House was and the secret David was hiding. If I were Chessie I would have gone straight to the library to check out what the historical records could tell me about the 1912 murders but that could have taken some of the fun out of this read.
After the first round of reveals I was able to figure out where the book was heading, so wasn’t surprised by any of the subsequent reveals. While I can find predictable elements annoying in some books I didn’t have a problem with them here as it meant what I’d hoped would happen did.
I would have liked to have gotten to know Chessie’s grandparents more but was satisfied with learning the backstories of other characters. There wasn’t as much banter as I’m used to in books that have a romantic component but, given the characters are dealing with unsolved murders from the past and missing children, it wouldn’t have been overly appropriate.
Since it happens so infrequently in books, I’m always thrilled when book characters actually use the bathroom, so this book won realism points from me each time Chessie took a bathroom break.
I wasn’t that keen on how the final showdown was set up. Surely
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen, an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC, for the opportunity to read this book. I’m interested in reading more books by this author.
April 25, 2019
8 Souls, a horror book, was a solid 3.5 stars. The book centers around main character Chessie-a 17 year old girl who is spending the summer with her grandparents in Villisca, Iowa.
Villisca is a small town-the kind of place where everyone knows everyone and people have big dreams about escaping small town living. Villisca is known for one big thing-a horrific (unsolved) incident in 1912, where 8 people were hacked to death in a family home. A home that’s right across the street from her grandparents’ house and a home that she has had nightmares about since she was a child. Things only get worse for Chessie, as she starts experiencing paranormal activity that escalates during her summer visit. Fed up, Chessie enlists the help of Mateo and David (a sort of “ghostbusters” team) to figure out why this is happening. Many interesting things are revealed but no spoilers.
8 Souls was an interesting book and I really enjoyed the surprise ending. Recommended for fans of horror, paranormal and YA books. Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Villisca is a small town-the kind of place where everyone knows everyone and people have big dreams about escaping small town living. Villisca is known for one big thing-a horrific (unsolved) incident in 1912, where 8 people were hacked to death in a family home. A home that’s right across the street from her grandparents’ house and a home that she has had nightmares about since she was a child. Things only get worse for Chessie, as she starts experiencing paranormal activity that escalates during her summer visit. Fed up, Chessie enlists the help of Mateo and David (a sort of “ghostbusters” team) to figure out why this is happening. Many interesting things are revealed but no spoilers.
8 Souls was an interesting book and I really enjoyed the surprise ending. Recommended for fans of horror, paranormal and YA books. Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2019
Welcome to another Off Theme Review, my lovelies! This week’s read was an utterly fantastic Young Adult ghost story from Entangled Teen by one of my Speilburg Literary Agency sisters in arms! As many of you know, YA reads are a bit of a struggle for me. However, Rachel Rust’s 8 Souls was superbly handled. The characters were believable for their age—not overly adult or painfully young—and their interactions and relationships felt true to the high school age group.
I was, to be quite honest, blown away by the descriptions in this book. Ms. Rust did a wonderful job of showing over telling, and there was more than one time I got literal goosebumps while reading her words. I also had to turn a light on because ain’t no way I was reading this in the dark!
This was a genuinely enjoyable read. The pacing was on point, the characters were relatable, and the plot drew me in. I sat down to read it and, as I said, had to turn a light on because day turned into night and I couldn’t put the thing down! And don’t get me started on the twist… I didn’t see it coming, and that was such a delicious little treat! It’s not too often an author manages to trick me, but I was left agape over this one. 😱
I would absolutely recommend this to any lovers of YA. It is an exceptional example of adolescent characters written to be adolescent characters. (That is one of my biggest pet peeves, in case you can’t tell, and Ms. Rust left me very pleased with her portrayal!) I think many urban fantasy and paranormal lovers would enjoy this as well, even if they aren’t big YA fans. And while it’s billed as a romance, I would definitely say it’s more of a subplot than anything that takes center stage. Ergo, I wouldn’t recommend it to those who are specifically seeking romance, but it’s a great read for those who aren’t big fans of the genre.
I was, to be quite honest, blown away by the descriptions in this book. Ms. Rust did a wonderful job of showing over telling, and there was more than one time I got literal goosebumps while reading her words. I also had to turn a light on because ain’t no way I was reading this in the dark!
This was a genuinely enjoyable read. The pacing was on point, the characters were relatable, and the plot drew me in. I sat down to read it and, as I said, had to turn a light on because day turned into night and I couldn’t put the thing down! And don’t get me started on the twist… I didn’t see it coming, and that was such a delicious little treat! It’s not too often an author manages to trick me, but I was left agape over this one. 😱
I would absolutely recommend this to any lovers of YA. It is an exceptional example of adolescent characters written to be adolescent characters. (That is one of my biggest pet peeves, in case you can’t tell, and Ms. Rust left me very pleased with her portrayal!) I think many urban fantasy and paranormal lovers would enjoy this as well, even if they aren’t big YA fans. And while it’s billed as a romance, I would definitely say it’s more of a subplot than anything that takes center stage. Ergo, I wouldn’t recommend it to those who are specifically seeking romance, but it’s a great read for those who aren’t big fans of the genre.
June 19, 2021
This book was pretty good and very different and I loved Chessie it had mystery supernatural elements romance and even finding yourself shit I even cried at the end!
May 7, 2019
8 souls by Rachel Rust.
All her life, seventeen-year-old Chessie has had recurring dreams about a little white farmhouse. Quaint? Not quite. The house is the site of the unsolved murders of Villisca, Iowa, where eight people were slaughtered in 1912. With her parents on the verge of divorce, Chessie is stuck spending the summer with her grandparents in Villisca—right across the street from the axe murder house.
She’s soon hearing voices calling out for help and begins unraveling a link between herself and the town’s bloody history. And when she falls for a cute boy harboring a big secret, the pieces fall into place as she at last discovers the truth of Villisca's gruesome past…
This was a very enjoyable read. I was curious at what was going on. I wanted to find out what it was. I liked Chessie and David and Mateo. The way the blood and bodies and smell are written its like I'm there with Chessie. I loved the ending to. Perfect. 5*.
All her life, seventeen-year-old Chessie has had recurring dreams about a little white farmhouse. Quaint? Not quite. The house is the site of the unsolved murders of Villisca, Iowa, where eight people were slaughtered in 1912. With her parents on the verge of divorce, Chessie is stuck spending the summer with her grandparents in Villisca—right across the street from the axe murder house.
She’s soon hearing voices calling out for help and begins unraveling a link between herself and the town’s bloody history. And when she falls for a cute boy harboring a big secret, the pieces fall into place as she at last discovers the truth of Villisca's gruesome past…
This was a very enjoyable read. I was curious at what was going on. I wanted to find out what it was. I liked Chessie and David and Mateo. The way the blood and bodies and smell are written its like I'm there with Chessie. I loved the ending to. Perfect. 5*.
July 23, 2019
I am behind on feedback for things, but it is definitely past time for me to talk about how much I enjoyed this book. 8 Souls had a premise that I haven't seen in a story before, and I think that's probably what made me love this the most. See, Chessie has been having dreams about an old house for years, and now they're progressing to the point that she can't ignore them anymore. This book is a little bit horror, a little bit thriller, and a whole lot of mystery. The fact that there's a swoon-worthy boy in this book, who also needs saving by Chessie, was just the icing on the cake. The whole story of redemption, and of letting go of guilt, really spoke to me. I powered through this book in a matter of hours, and it left me hungry for more.
May 7, 2019
COVER: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This cover is awesome. You usually associate pink as a happy color, right? Well, I'm loving that more creepy books are getting pink/hot pink covers. I love the blurred typography of the title and the large 8 in the center of the cover that looks like someone painted it on but was running out of paint. Behind that we see a silhouette of a girl standing in what appears to be a field, which definitely fits the small Iowa farm town setting.
Summary/Tagline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 “Death isn't always final." - This adds to the paranormal vibe of the story before you even read the blurb. It brings forth visions of hauntings and ghosts and evil spirits...
Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 I really liked the main character in this book. Chessie has been plagued by recurring nightmares about an old farmhouse... but not just any old farmhouse. The Villisca Ax Murder House and these dreams would not be complete without blood, gore, and bodies strewn in front of windows. She's learned not to tell anyone she's still having these dreams because it would mean a one-way ticket back to a shrink. You would think that would make her unable to trust others and kind of spooky and weird right? But I actually liked her right off the bat. She's well rounded and a survivor in the manner of speaking that she doesn't let these nightmares (and eventually daymares) change who she is as a person.
Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Imagine going to visit your grandparents in rural Iowa. I'm not sure if you've ever been to Iowa, but it can't be much different than rural Wisconsin - and there isn't much to do in rural Wisconsin. But then imagine finding out that your grandparents live across the street from a house infamous for a gruesome family massacre nearly 100 years earlier. A massacre that's culprit was never caught. Oh... and did I mention this is the house you've been having nightmares about for as long as you can remember? Welcome to Chessie's world! I thought the author perfectly incapsulated the feel of a small town and the history of Villisca's famous unsolved murder and the house that still remains to this day.
Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 I went into this one knowing a bit about the Villisca Ax Murders due to watching an episode of Ghost Adventures so I was really excited about the premise of this book. I think the author did a fantastic job building up the story with Chessie's recurring nightmares and the history of the house across the street from her grandparents as well as the recent disappearances of young girls. I liked the build-up with the creepy occurrences (like when Chessie hears someone say her name and ask for help though she's alone in her room) and loved the surprise at the end. I had high hopes for this book going in and it didn't let me down!
Summary/Tagline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 “Death isn't always final." - This adds to the paranormal vibe of the story before you even read the blurb. It brings forth visions of hauntings and ghosts and evil spirits...
Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 I really liked the main character in this book. Chessie has been plagued by recurring nightmares about an old farmhouse... but not just any old farmhouse. The Villisca Ax Murder House and these dreams would not be complete without blood, gore, and bodies strewn in front of windows. She's learned not to tell anyone she's still having these dreams because it would mean a one-way ticket back to a shrink. You would think that would make her unable to trust others and kind of spooky and weird right? But I actually liked her right off the bat. She's well rounded and a survivor in the manner of speaking that she doesn't let these nightmares (and eventually daymares) change who she is as a person.
Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Imagine going to visit your grandparents in rural Iowa. I'm not sure if you've ever been to Iowa, but it can't be much different than rural Wisconsin - and there isn't much to do in rural Wisconsin. But then imagine finding out that your grandparents live across the street from a house infamous for a gruesome family massacre nearly 100 years earlier. A massacre that's culprit was never caught. Oh... and did I mention this is the house you've been having nightmares about for as long as you can remember? Welcome to Chessie's world! I thought the author perfectly incapsulated the feel of a small town and the history of Villisca's famous unsolved murder and the house that still remains to this day.
Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 I went into this one knowing a bit about the Villisca Ax Murders due to watching an episode of Ghost Adventures so I was really excited about the premise of this book. I think the author did a fantastic job building up the story with Chessie's recurring nightmares and the history of the house across the street from her grandparents as well as the recent disappearances of young girls. I liked the build-up with the creepy occurrences (like when Chessie hears someone say her name and ask for help though she's alone in her room) and loved the surprise at the end. I had high hopes for this book going in and it didn't let me down!
April 3, 2019
When I saw a book about the murder house in Villisca, Iowa, I knew I had to request it. If you don't already know, I am a bit obsessed with murder mysteries and paranormal. I've actually looked at doing an overnight at the house, but I'm not sure I can stay there. A bit more about the house later.
This was a really neat book and I enjoyed a lot of it. Chessie has to go stay with her grandparents in the summer because her parents are getting divorced. Her dad's parents live in a very small town in Iowa called Villisca. The only reason why people have heard of it was because of an unsolved mass murder in a house there. Chessie has been having dreams of that house since she was very young. The dreams change, but it's always that house and she doesn't know why. But her grandparents do live across the street.
After moving in, she starts hearing giggling sounds in her room that sound like children. Her closet door opens and closes by itself. And then there is the gray mist that comes in. After that, she picks up a number of a local ghost team. It ends up only being two best friends, David and Mateo. Chessie is attracted to David and feels like she knows him. But Mateo is the expert on ghosts. They all start spending time together and they stay in her room to see what is happening.
During this time, young girls are also disappearing from town. The first one was found dead in the river. Right before that happened, Chessie had a dream about her. And she hadn't seen a photo of her before then. She thinks that these children have to be related to the house since she's now dreaming of both.
The rest are twists and history that I don't want to ruin for anyone. So I decided to add a section to my review about the real house.
I gave this book 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy for review.
Warnings for murders and kidnapping of children, divorce, an alcoholic parents, and general messed up families.
Info on the real house and town will be on my blog post going up around mid April. I hope you check it out.
This was a really neat book and I enjoyed a lot of it. Chessie has to go stay with her grandparents in the summer because her parents are getting divorced. Her dad's parents live in a very small town in Iowa called Villisca. The only reason why people have heard of it was because of an unsolved mass murder in a house there. Chessie has been having dreams of that house since she was very young. The dreams change, but it's always that house and she doesn't know why. But her grandparents do live across the street.
After moving in, she starts hearing giggling sounds in her room that sound like children. Her closet door opens and closes by itself. And then there is the gray mist that comes in. After that, she picks up a number of a local ghost team. It ends up only being two best friends, David and Mateo. Chessie is attracted to David and feels like she knows him. But Mateo is the expert on ghosts. They all start spending time together and they stay in her room to see what is happening.
During this time, young girls are also disappearing from town. The first one was found dead in the river. Right before that happened, Chessie had a dream about her. And she hadn't seen a photo of her before then. She thinks that these children have to be related to the house since she's now dreaming of both.
The rest are twists and history that I don't want to ruin for anyone. So I decided to add a section to my review about the real house.
I gave this book 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy for review.
Warnings for murders and kidnapping of children, divorce, an alcoholic parents, and general messed up families.
Info on the real house and town will be on my blog post going up around mid April. I hope you check it out.
October 7, 2024
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult, Paranormal
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
8 Souls, by author Rachel Rust, tells the story of 17-year old Francesca (Chessie) Carpenter. Chessie has had recurring dreams about a little white farmhouse. Quaint? Not quite. The house is the site of the unsolved murders of Villisca, Iowa, where eight people were slaughtered in 1912. 6 of those who were murdered belonged to the Moore family, while 2 other were the Stillinger sisters who unfortunately, picked the wrong night to have a sleep over.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult, Paranormal
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
8 Souls, by author Rachel Rust, tells the story of 17-year old Francesca (Chessie) Carpenter. Chessie has had recurring dreams about a little white farmhouse. Quaint? Not quite. The house is the site of the unsolved murders of Villisca, Iowa, where eight people were slaughtered in 1912. 6 of those who were murdered belonged to the Moore family, while 2 other were the Stillinger sisters who unfortunately, picked the wrong night to have a sleep over.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
December 28, 2021
I really enjoyed the reading.
At the beginning I had my doubts because it is not a genre that attracts me, but it managed to catch me with its mysteries and unexpected twists.
I went into the reading blindly, without even a spoiler, I love them, and I loved the fact that it wasn't predictable. It is difficult for an author to leave the suspense about the truth or the name of the murderer until almost the end of the book. It was the most surprising thing. I never imagined who the bad guy was.
I don't want to say more because it is really worth reading and enjoying.
At the beginning I had my doubts because it is not a genre that attracts me, but it managed to catch me with its mysteries and unexpected twists.
I went into the reading blindly, without even a spoiler, I love them, and I loved the fact that it wasn't predictable. It is difficult for an author to leave the suspense about the truth or the name of the murderer until almost the end of the book. It was the most surprising thing. I never imagined who the bad guy was.
I don't want to say more because it is really worth reading and enjoying.
March 30, 2019
Definitely an original, entertaining and mysterious story. I liked the character development and atmosphere but I always struggle with first person point of view. I was surprised at who ended up being the killer. The way the pieces of the mystery fell together and the ending were satisfyling. A unique, quick and easy read. Thank you to netgalley for giving me a copy to review. #netgalley
April 12, 2019
I loved this creepy ghost story and enjoyed the plot twist even more!! I won’t say too much to give anything away, but I’m impressed!! 5 stars!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved the characters, the setting, suspense and creep factor. Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley!!
#Netgalley
#RachelRust
#YAHorror
#Ghosts
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved the characters, the setting, suspense and creep factor. Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley!!
#Netgalley
#RachelRust
#YAHorror
#Ghosts
September 15, 2021
I like it when they surprise me and this story did just that.
I went through different emotions: fear, sorrow, joy... and that was another plus point.
I went through different emotions: fear, sorrow, joy... and that was another plus point.
March 30, 2019
Spoilers are hidden.
This was an okay read.
I think this would either be a good summer read, or a good early fall/pre-Halloween read.
I don’t pick up many YA/Mystery/Thrillers, but it seems to have some cliché tendencies to it. This is the first book I’ve read that features the paranormal. I didn’t hate it, it definitely made for an interesting story, so I’ll probably pick up more paranormal type stories in the future. It also some fantastical elements in it, as well.
We follow the POV of Chessie, who is forced to spend her summer in Villisca, Iowa with her grandparents instead of being with her friends in Minneapolis (I believe it’s the summer before she goes to college?). Something we learn right away from Chessie, is that she’s been dreaming about a specific house ever since she can remember. She’s not sure why, until she arrives at her grandparent’s house. Her dream house is across the street; and the place where eight people were senselessly murdered in 1912. With the help of her two new friends, David and Mateo, they set out to find answers as to why Chessie is having dreams about this house and what her connection is to the deceased family.
I was impressed with the characters in this story. They were given full, fleshed-out backgrounds that really allowed for the reader to feel more connected to them and invested in their conflicts. The character flaws were okay; although I can’t really think of Chessie’s character flaw. Maybe she didn’t have one? I’m not sure.
The dialogue was good. There were parts when it was frustrating to get through because the communication wasn’t clear between the characters, and a lot of repetition ensued. Maybe that was intentional to create a “build-up”, or tension, in the story but it ended up being frustrating for me. Also, towards the end it shifted from okay to cheesy/corny dialogue. It left me with a “okay, so what?” reaction. Rather than a “wow, he’s so evil. I can’t believe this” reaction.
I feel like the whole “secret” was really overplayed. Maybe I just personally didn’t think of it as such a big deal, but it was a little overdramatic
I liked the “twist” at the end. Though I feel like I kind of guessed it halfway through the book. I feel like the last 80% of the story was really rushed and wasn’t well thought out or portrayed.
Another thing I would’ve liked more details about was They made it seem like it was this huge deal and super spooky, but it wasn’t explained and left the reader like, “okay? That’s cool, but why?”
Something I liked was the connection between Chessie and David. It was an interesting concept, and I appreciated how the romance was a subplot to the story. It let the reader get more invested and attached to the characters.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was a really quick, fluffy, read (I started and finished it in a day), and it had a really interesting concept. Though I wish some things were better explained, I still appreciated the idea and thought put behind the work. I’d be interested in reading more from this author.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.
This was an okay read.
I think this would either be a good summer read, or a good early fall/pre-Halloween read.
I don’t pick up many YA/Mystery/Thrillers, but it seems to have some cliché tendencies to it. This is the first book I’ve read that features the paranormal. I didn’t hate it, it definitely made for an interesting story, so I’ll probably pick up more paranormal type stories in the future. It also some fantastical elements in it, as well.
We follow the POV of Chessie, who is forced to spend her summer in Villisca, Iowa with her grandparents instead of being with her friends in Minneapolis (I believe it’s the summer before she goes to college?). Something we learn right away from Chessie, is that she’s been dreaming about a specific house ever since she can remember. She’s not sure why, until she arrives at her grandparent’s house. Her dream house is across the street; and the place where eight people were senselessly murdered in 1912. With the help of her two new friends, David and Mateo, they set out to find answers as to why Chessie is having dreams about this house and what her connection is to the deceased family.
I was impressed with the characters in this story. They were given full, fleshed-out backgrounds that really allowed for the reader to feel more connected to them and invested in their conflicts. The character flaws were okay; although I can’t really think of Chessie’s character flaw. Maybe she didn’t have one? I’m not sure.
The dialogue was good. There were parts when it was frustrating to get through because the communication wasn’t clear between the characters, and a lot of repetition ensued. Maybe that was intentional to create a “build-up”, or tension, in the story but it ended up being frustrating for me. Also, towards the end it shifted from okay to cheesy/corny dialogue. It left me with a “okay, so what?” reaction. Rather than a “wow, he’s so evil. I can’t believe this” reaction.
I feel like the whole “secret” was really overplayed. Maybe I just personally didn’t think of it as such a big deal, but it was a little overdramatic
I liked the “twist” at the end. Though I feel like I kind of guessed it halfway through the book. I feel like the last 80% of the story was really rushed and wasn’t well thought out or portrayed.
Another thing I would’ve liked more details about was They made it seem like it was this huge deal and super spooky, but it wasn’t explained and left the reader like, “okay? That’s cool, but why?”
Something I liked was the connection between Chessie and David. It was an interesting concept, and I appreciated how the romance was a subplot to the story. It let the reader get more invested and attached to the characters.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was a really quick, fluffy, read (I started and finished it in a day), and it had a really interesting concept. Though I wish some things were better explained, I still appreciated the idea and thought put behind the work. I’d be interested in reading more from this author.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 6, 2019
characters: 3/5
pacing: 4/4
actual substance of the story: 5/5
romance and/or significant friendships: 3/5
the writing: 3/4
creativity: 2/2
- 3 points I just didn't enjoy it that much.
- 1 point because the main character be acting stupid.
- 1 point because some thinGS JUST AREN'T MAKING SENSE.
15/25 | 3.0 STARS
In this book we follow Chessie, a 17-year-girl staying in her grandparents' house in Villisca, Iowa for the summer. Her parents needed to sort out their divorce issues, so she's stuck in some small town with her only goal being to get through what she expects will be an excruciatingly boring summer. Well, plot twist: it's anything but boring.
Ever since she was little, she'd been dreaming about this one creepy house. Imagine her shock when she's sent to Villisca and sees her literal dream house sitting right across from her. Why had she been dreaming about it for so long? She must have some sort of connection to it...
I had to sit on this for some time to figure out whether I was trying too hard to rush through this book, or if I just never would've enjoyed it under any circumstances. I realized that it was the latter after I started rushing another book that I'm actually enjoying.
Why I felt this way, I'm not sure. I struggled to find a song that reminded me of this book, showing that there just wasn't any connection for me.
Chessie's really boring and kind of dumb (has she never seen [or at least HEARD the plot of] any horror movie?), and half of the characters who speak are solid high school movie stereotypes. The writing's a little bit stupid sometimes. Some things have no justification. I didn't really appreciate that.
(There were so many times where something odd happened and Chessie'd just be like, don't ask me how I know what's going on, I just do. She was always going on about how something just f e l t right, and that's okay every once in a while, but it was her justification for almost everything.)
8 Souls could easily be a fun read for plenty of people. I liked the twists even though I found them to be really obvious. I've never read any other book like this, so it was cool to experience reading it.
Got me an ARC from Entangled Publishing LLC through Netgalley. Thanks, dudes.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
pacing: 4/4
actual substance of the story: 5/5
romance and/or significant friendships: 3/5
the writing: 3/4
creativity: 2/2
- 3 points I just didn't enjoy it that much.
- 1 point because the main character be acting stupid.
- 1 point because some thinGS JUST AREN'T MAKING SENSE.
15/25 | 3.0 STARS
In this book we follow Chessie, a 17-year-girl staying in her grandparents' house in Villisca, Iowa for the summer. Her parents needed to sort out their divorce issues, so she's stuck in some small town with her only goal being to get through what she expects will be an excruciatingly boring summer. Well, plot twist: it's anything but boring.
Ever since she was little, she'd been dreaming about this one creepy house. Imagine her shock when she's sent to Villisca and sees her literal dream house sitting right across from her. Why had she been dreaming about it for so long? She must have some sort of connection to it...
I had to sit on this for some time to figure out whether I was trying too hard to rush through this book, or if I just never would've enjoyed it under any circumstances. I realized that it was the latter after I started rushing another book that I'm actually enjoying.
Why I felt this way, I'm not sure. I struggled to find a song that reminded me of this book, showing that there just wasn't any connection for me.
Chessie's really boring and kind of dumb (has she never seen [or at least HEARD the plot of] any horror movie?), and half of the characters who speak are solid high school movie stereotypes. The writing's a little bit stupid sometimes. Some things have no justification. I didn't really appreciate that.
(There were so many times where something odd happened and Chessie'd just be like, don't ask me how I know what's going on, I just do. She was always going on about how something just f e l t right, and that's okay every once in a while, but it was her justification for almost everything.)
8 Souls could easily be a fun read for plenty of people. I liked the twists even though I found them to be really obvious. I've never read any other book like this, so it was cool to experience reading it.
Got me an ARC from Entangled Publishing LLC through Netgalley. Thanks, dudes.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 9, 2019
This was a nice change of pace for me. I really liked the story, it was short, easy to follow along with and safe for younger readers. The paranormal aspect to it was gripping and suspenseful and the light romance was cute. Normally not into hauntings (I’m a scaredy-cat, what can I say) but this one worked for me. It gave just enough of a scary vibe to keep things interesting but not OTT that it turned me off reading it.
Quick Summary: Chessie is spending her summer before senior year with her grandparents while her own parents finalize their divorce. She isn’t happy about it, not with her angry parents, not with when her recurring dreams about the murder house across the street are coming back longer and more vivid than ever. Somehow Chessie is connected to the house, the murdered family and David. A guy she’s never met but feels instantly familiar with. Teaming up with David to solve not only her connection to the spirits that haunt her, but a fresh mystery involving missing girls in town will lead Chessie to a few discoveries about her family and what connects her to David.
Overall this was a good read that I could definitely recommend. The murder mystery I felt was a bit rushed towards the end but everything was resolved towards the end so no biggie. I will say I thought I knew who the baddie was but was surprised by the end.
* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * *
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
SAFETY INFO:
Quick Summary: Chessie is spending her summer before senior year with her grandparents while her own parents finalize their divorce. She isn’t happy about it, not with her angry parents, not with when her recurring dreams about the murder house across the street are coming back longer and more vivid than ever. Somehow Chessie is connected to the house, the murdered family and David. A guy she’s never met but feels instantly familiar with. Teaming up with David to solve not only her connection to the spirits that haunt her, but a fresh mystery involving missing girls in town will lead Chessie to a few discoveries about her family and what connects her to David.
Overall this was a good read that I could definitely recommend. The murder mystery I felt was a bit rushed towards the end but everything was resolved towards the end so no biggie. I will say I thought I knew who the baddie was but was surprised by the end.
* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * *
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
SAFETY INFO:
April 4, 2019
I really loved this book. Chessie is a 17 yo almost senior in high school. For her entire life she has dreamed of a big white farm house where 8 people were murdered by an ax-weilding maniac in 1912. The house is located across the street from her grandparents house in a small town in Iowa. Chessie lives in Minnesota with her parents but has spent some time over the summers at her grandparents so she knows the house well but doesn't understand why she has had these dreams her entire life. This summer, her parents have sent her to spend the entire summer in Iowa because they are getting divorced. She starts experiencing stronger dreams and more supernatural experiences like daydreams and voices coming from her closet along with smells and sounds as well that are really freaking her out. Chessie is otherwise a totally normal teenager--funny, smart, interested in boys, looking for something more to do than practice her clarinet and garden with her grandmother, and also wanting to stop the dreams and weird supernatural occurrences that are bordering on scary. She meets David who turns out more to be much more than just the cute boy working at the hardware store and learns about the secrets not only he is keeping but how David is tied to her family in an unbelievable way. I really loved Chessie, her personality and her thoughts, and how her relationship with David developed throughout the book and especially then ending. I found the entire story intriguing. It is well-written and so interesting, so much that I could not put it down and finished it in one sitting. Definitely worth reading and I will be looking for more from this author! Thanks SO much to NG for the ARC!!!
April 4, 2019
This is the first book I read from this genre and I really enjoyed it more than I expected! When I saw that there'd be romance, I was worried that it would the whole plot. But I'm glad it was more of a subplot and most of the focus was on the mystery.
I loved the pacing of the story and the writing style. I felt like the author knew that she was being repetitive sometimes and tried to minimize it.
The first half of the book focused on the paranormal mystery and I enjoyed it a lot while the second half was more about the solution.
For the characters, they didn't feel superficial or fake or trying too hard. Chessie and David were likeable and cute together. I was glad David was cute rather than spraying everyone with his testosterone(which I got tired of).
Also, there was an obvious character development.
//Spoilers//
Now what I'm dissatisfied with this book is how vague the explanation of how David's situation started and it's end. I felt like it should have had more in-depth information about the whole thing.
The other thing is the confrontation with "Tommy" at the building. He had many opportunities to make things harder for Chessie and David while they saved the children but he just leaves after burning the place down. I was feeling suspenseful over nothing, thinking he's gonna come back and stab them or something but nope, nothing happens.
Overall I enjoyed the book a lot and it helped me get out of my reading slump. I'm not sure if people who read books of the same genre would enjoy it as much as I did since it had some cliche moments.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved the pacing of the story and the writing style. I felt like the author knew that she was being repetitive sometimes and tried to minimize it.
The first half of the book focused on the paranormal mystery and I enjoyed it a lot while the second half was more about the solution.
For the characters, they didn't feel superficial or fake or trying too hard. Chessie and David were likeable and cute together. I was glad David was cute rather than spraying everyone with his testosterone(which I got tired of).
Also, there was an obvious character development.
//Spoilers//
Now what I'm dissatisfied with this book is how vague the explanation of how David's situation started and it's end. I felt like it should have had more in-depth information about the whole thing.
The other thing is the confrontation with "Tommy" at the building. He had many opportunities to make things harder for Chessie and David while they saved the children but he just leaves after burning the place down. I was feeling suspenseful over nothing, thinking he's gonna come back and stab them or something but nope, nothing happens.
Overall I enjoyed the book a lot and it helped me get out of my reading slump. I'm not sure if people who read books of the same genre would enjoy it as much as I did since it had some cliche moments.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 11, 2019
I wish this book was longer. The concept and all the bones of the story are incredibly interesting. I'm all-in on the spookiness and romance. The author does the best she can within the confines of the book, but some of these things are so complex and either get wrapped up too quickly and neatly or don't get the in-depth time I wished they had. Samantha and Mateo are both characters whose relationships with Chessie and the story as a whole I would have liked to seen more of. Rachel Rust does a great job at creating that spooky ambiance and really getting the creepy crawlies under your skin - I left my closet door barricaded a couple nights. My only real critique isn't your typical "show don't tell" but just don't tell me. She does a great job already showing, but she also then includes the tell. If the gray mist smells of rotting corpses, gives Chessie a sense of foreboding, and tries to choke her, I don't need the author to tell me it's an evil mist. Rachel does excellent at creating realistic teens who aren't too grown-up for their stories. All-in-all it was worth the read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in a little supernatural/romance hijinks. Thank you NetGalley, Entangled Publishing LLC, and Rachel Rust for providing me this advance copy for review. Review also posted on https://agracefeldlife.com/
September 26, 2024
Fue una historia que me sorprendió. Esperaba darle solo 3 estrellas, pero le doy 4.
Generalmente los YA me causan un poco de desesperación y frustración, sin embargo, este me mantuvo completamente atrapada. El contenido me mantuvo cautivada. Me encantó que no haya sido predecible.
Que haya sido inspirado en hechos reales me horroriza porque me hace pensar que la persona que hizo estos asesinatos, no tuvo ni una pisca de misericordia por las familias involucradas, me da mucha tristeza y rabia que haya sido un caso sin resolver porque esas 8 víctimas merecían justicia. Pero hay un Dios que todo lo ve, si esa persona no tuvo arrepentimiento, será castigado por Dios.
En fin, la historia se centra en una adolescente de 17 años que viaja al pueblo de sus abuelos para pasar una temporada. Sin embargo, ella tiene una conexión con ese pueblo y pronto su estadía allí se vuelve un poco creepy por todo el misterio que la rodea, así que busca la ayuda de unos chicos por decirlo así “cazafantasmas”. Aunque jamás imaginó el impacto que esos chicos tendrían en su vida.
No dejo de decir que fue una grata sorpresa esta lectura. Desde momentos de alegría hasta momentos de rabia. El libro supero mis expectativas y es muy bueno para pasar el rato. No es muy largo y los capítulos son muy amenos. Lo recomiendo.
Generalmente los YA me causan un poco de desesperación y frustración, sin embargo, este me mantuvo completamente atrapada. El contenido me mantuvo cautivada. Me encantó que no haya sido predecible.
Que haya sido inspirado en hechos reales me horroriza porque me hace pensar que la persona que hizo estos asesinatos, no tuvo ni una pisca de misericordia por las familias involucradas, me da mucha tristeza y rabia que haya sido un caso sin resolver porque esas 8 víctimas merecían justicia. Pero hay un Dios que todo lo ve, si esa persona no tuvo arrepentimiento, será castigado por Dios.
En fin, la historia se centra en una adolescente de 17 años que viaja al pueblo de sus abuelos para pasar una temporada. Sin embargo, ella tiene una conexión con ese pueblo y pronto su estadía allí se vuelve un poco creepy por todo el misterio que la rodea, así que busca la ayuda de unos chicos por decirlo así “cazafantasmas”. Aunque jamás imaginó el impacto que esos chicos tendrían en su vida.
No dejo de decir que fue una grata sorpresa esta lectura. Desde momentos de alegría hasta momentos de rabia. El libro supero mis expectativas y es muy bueno para pasar el rato. No es muy largo y los capítulos son muy amenos. Lo recomiendo.
January 5, 2020
8 Souls is exactly the type of YA supernatural story that I would have loved reading when I was a teen. Don't get me wrong, as an adult, I did enjoy it, but this is the type of book I was craving in high school.
In 8 Souls we follow Chessie (don't call her Francesca) as she stays with her grandparents for the summer while her parents are going through a divorce. She begins to experience waking dreams and a ghostly presence in her closet. She finally gives in and asks for help from two local boys who are into ghost hunting. There are also a number of local girls who have gone missing. That is all you need to know before picking this book up.
I found the book very creepy and full of surprises. It was fast paced and made for a quick read. The characters were engaging and I didn't have a hard time becoming invested in them.. It's so hard to say my favorite part of the plot without giving away anything major. I'll just say I loved the direction that the author went with one of the characters. It was unique and not something I have read in a long time. I highly recommend this one. It's fairly clean and not gory, so I would say it's OK for age 13 and up. I look forward to reading more from this author.
In 8 Souls we follow Chessie (don't call her Francesca) as she stays with her grandparents for the summer while her parents are going through a divorce. She begins to experience waking dreams and a ghostly presence in her closet. She finally gives in and asks for help from two local boys who are into ghost hunting. There are also a number of local girls who have gone missing. That is all you need to know before picking this book up.
I found the book very creepy and full of surprises. It was fast paced and made for a quick read. The characters were engaging and I didn't have a hard time becoming invested in them.. It's so hard to say my favorite part of the plot without giving away anything major. I'll just say I loved the direction that the author went with one of the characters. It was unique and not something I have read in a long time. I highly recommend this one. It's fairly clean and not gory, so I would say it's OK for age 13 and up. I look forward to reading more from this author.
May 16, 2021
When I read the blurb, I had to see the inside of the book as well.
And wow! The book was even more intriguing than the blurb … in fact, I completely could not put it down. I read this in one sitting, absolutely unable to take a break until I knew how it turned out.
It stars characters who, though teenagers, aren’t just conveniently wise and mature beyond their years. The FMC has maturity and wisdom but also thinks very much like a teenage girl. The MMC’s situation is explained and I won’t get into it here due to spoilers. My point is, the author is brilliant at character development.
The book packs young love, deceit, corruption, mystery, just the right amount of supernatural elements, small-town feel, and more. There were a couple little details that could’ve been explained better and the lack thereof did make think it was convenient. This in no way takes away from the reading experience, I’m only mentioning in order to explain why I’m rating this 4.5 stars instead of 5.
Epic read. I hope to read more from this author.
I was able to borrow this one from my library … hoping they get her other works!
4.5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Note:
I read the audiobook and absolutely recommend this narrator. 5-star performance, perfect voice for a young adult.
And wow! The book was even more intriguing than the blurb … in fact, I completely could not put it down. I read this in one sitting, absolutely unable to take a break until I knew how it turned out.
It stars characters who, though teenagers, aren’t just conveniently wise and mature beyond their years. The FMC has maturity and wisdom but also thinks very much like a teenage girl. The MMC’s situation is explained and I won’t get into it here due to spoilers. My point is, the author is brilliant at character development.
The book packs young love, deceit, corruption, mystery, just the right amount of supernatural elements, small-town feel, and more. There were a couple little details that could’ve been explained better and the lack thereof did make think it was convenient. This in no way takes away from the reading experience, I’m only mentioning in order to explain why I’m rating this 4.5 stars instead of 5.
Epic read. I hope to read more from this author.
I was able to borrow this one from my library … hoping they get her other works!
4.5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Note:
I read the audiobook and absolutely recommend this narrator. 5-star performance, perfect voice for a young adult.
March 30, 2019
Advanced copy received to review from Netgalley which in no way affected my options!!!
My Fabulous Opinion #YAHorror
I really enjoyed this book! It started off by Chessie’s telling us about the reoccurring nightmare that she has had all her life, about a house where all the inhabitants were murdered by an axe wielding maniac!
So is this some random house?...... Duh duh duuuuuhhhh (start the creepy music) No this house is across the road from her grandparents where she is being sent to stay for the summer!!!
We watch as Chessie soon meets some old acquaintances and new ones. As she slowly unravels the secrets of the murders and finds out a few family secrets of her own!
Favourite line “People are afraid of the devil when they should really be afraid of each other”
I found it a little slow to start but once it got going the story was really enjoyable. I loved the descriptive details and suspense. I found myself wanting to stay awake all night to finish it. Which I did by the way!!
My Fabulous Opinion #YAHorror
I really enjoyed this book! It started off by Chessie’s telling us about the reoccurring nightmare that she has had all her life, about a house where all the inhabitants were murdered by an axe wielding maniac!
So is this some random house?...... Duh duh duuuuuhhhh (start the creepy music) No this house is across the road from her grandparents where she is being sent to stay for the summer!!!
We watch as Chessie soon meets some old acquaintances and new ones. As she slowly unravels the secrets of the murders and finds out a few family secrets of her own!
Favourite line “People are afraid of the devil when they should really be afraid of each other”
I found it a little slow to start but once it got going the story was really enjoyable. I loved the descriptive details and suspense. I found myself wanting to stay awake all night to finish it. Which I did by the way!!
April 23, 2019
The story would be good if I could get past Chessie's annoying descriptions of Iowa. Being an Iowan and living two hours away from Villisca, I was excited to read this book. It's rare to find a book that takes place in Iowa, let alone a paranormal book. The way Ms. Rust wrote the book felt like she didn't do all that much research about the murders, the house itself, or the location. Everything felt very stereotypical and forced. Like she was trying to make something work that just wasn't. The book has many faults that could have been fixed with a little more research. It was annoying to continue to read about her complaining half way through the book about her parents and being stuck in a town she doesn't like. Like seriously you're stuck move on and try to enjoy your summer. The complaining about the ghosts that I understood.
March 29, 2019
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Paranormal is definitely my favorite horror sub-genre! I was worried because the publisher included a note about the book being a romance and that was not what I signed up for with this, but I'm happy to say that it was a pretty minor factor! The characters were believable, the descriptions were A+, and the twists completly caught me off guard. While not terribly frightening, the early scenes of being haunted were chill inducing and incredibly well written.
The only thing I'm mad about is that the cover want included in the eARC because I can't take a good picture now 😂
Overall a really great book with a fantastic cover. 4/5 ⭐️
Paranormal is definitely my favorite horror sub-genre! I was worried because the publisher included a note about the book being a romance and that was not what I signed up for with this, but I'm happy to say that it was a pretty minor factor! The characters were believable, the descriptions were A+, and the twists completly caught me off guard. While not terribly frightening, the early scenes of being haunted were chill inducing and incredibly well written.
The only thing I'm mad about is that the cover want included in the eARC because I can't take a good picture now 😂
Overall a really great book with a fantastic cover. 4/5 ⭐️
May 2, 2019
Once this story got started it was pretty good. Chessie has always had nightmares of the murders that take place in the same unknown house. Over and Over she dreams and now keeps them to herself in fear that her parents will again send her to a therapist. A trip to stay with her grandparents to Villisca Iowa; reveals that this haunting house is right across the street. Some interesting events happen when she calls GHOST911 and answers are revealed. Twists and turns, spirits, and a race to save lives keeps reader possessed to the end. "A copy of this book was provided by Entangled via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion." GREAT STORY LINE!!
April 26, 2021
A sweet paranormal mystery-romance for the younger set (yes, I'm a grandmama, but I read YA to keep my mind from getting stale!).
Chessie is spending the summer with her grandparents in the little town of Villisca, Iowa, mostly to get away from her parents' constant fighting and the fact that this year, they're getting a divorce. Grandma and Grandpa live right across the street from the Murder House, a house that was the scene of a brutal axe murder of 8 people 100 years ago. This house has haunted Chessie's dreams her whole life, and this summer the dreams are more vivid, with little girls crying out for her help. She seeks out the help of self-proclaimed "ghost-hunters", David and Mateo, to help her deal with her visions, but all is not as it seems....
I gave this four stars because, although it was a good story, there were some loose ends that I didn't see cleaned up.
Chessie is spending the summer with her grandparents in the little town of Villisca, Iowa, mostly to get away from her parents' constant fighting and the fact that this year, they're getting a divorce. Grandma and Grandpa live right across the street from the Murder House, a house that was the scene of a brutal axe murder of 8 people 100 years ago. This house has haunted Chessie's dreams her whole life, and this summer the dreams are more vivid, with little girls crying out for her help. She seeks out the help of self-proclaimed "ghost-hunters", David and Mateo, to help her deal with her visions, but all is not as it seems....
I gave this four stars because, although it was a good story, there were some loose ends that I didn't see cleaned up.
April 22, 2021
Whew!
I COULD NOT put this book down. Although the central characters are teenagers it may be better for older teens and adults given that the graphic murder of two adults and six children in their sleep is the central focus. It’s a well written, fast-paced tale, more mystery than horror, although it is plenty scary. A real mail-biter, well written and edited and the teens rang true. This writer seems to remember what it was like to be a teenaged girl.
I COULD NOT put this book down. Although the central characters are teenagers it may be better for older teens and adults given that the graphic murder of two adults and six children in their sleep is the central focus. It’s a well written, fast-paced tale, more mystery than horror, although it is plenty scary. A real mail-biter, well written and edited and the teens rang true. This writer seems to remember what it was like to be a teenaged girl.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews