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Possessions #3
The Screaming Season
The third novel in the bone-chilling Possessions series by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Holder.
The gutsy heroine of Possessions and The Evil Within returns for another year of boarding school at the haunted Marlwood Academy. Lindsay wakes to find herself strapped down in the infirmary. She had a breakdown and might have tried to kill her nemesis Mandy or Mandy's boyfriend, Troy—or both. The details are hazy, but one thing is certain: she is possessed by a spirit she cannot trust.
Lindsay soon realizes that nowhere on campus is safe. Then, she finds a surprising ally in her former rival. Together, Lindsay and Mandy must figure out who can be trusted—and who wants them dead. But when Lindsay's ex-boyfriend shows up at Marlwood, she is given a chance to get away and be free of the curse. Will she take Riley's hand and run, or team up with a new love to save Marlwood from the evil spirits forever?
The gutsy heroine of Possessions and The Evil Within returns for another year of boarding school at the haunted Marlwood Academy. Lindsay wakes to find herself strapped down in the infirmary. She had a breakdown and might have tried to kill her nemesis Mandy or Mandy's boyfriend, Troy—or both. The details are hazy, but one thing is certain: she is possessed by a spirit she cannot trust.
Lindsay soon realizes that nowhere on campus is safe. Then, she finds a surprising ally in her former rival. Together, Lindsay and Mandy must figure out who can be trusted—and who wants them dead. But when Lindsay's ex-boyfriend shows up at Marlwood, she is given a chance to get away and be free of the curse. Will she take Riley's hand and run, or team up with a new love to save Marlwood from the evil spirits forever?
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 17, 2011
9 people are currently reading
1188 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Holder
352 books2,407 followersNancy Holder, New York Times Bestselling author of the WICKED Series, has just published CRUSADE - the first book in a new vampire series cowritten with Debbie Viguie. The last book her her Possession series is set to release in March 2011.
Nancy was born in Los Altos, California, and her family settled for a time in Walnut Creek. Her father, who taught at Stanford, joined the navy and the family traveled throughout California and lived in Japan for three years. When she was sixteen, she dropped out of high school to become a ballet dancer in Cologne, Germany, and later relocated to Frankfurt Am Main.
Eventually she returned to California and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at San Diego with a degree in Communications. Soon after, she began to write; her first sale was a young adult romance novel titled Teach Me to Love.
Nancy’s work has appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, amazon.com, LOCUS, and other bestseller lists. A four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association, she has also received accolades from the American Library Association, the American Reading Association, the New York Public Library, and Romantic Times.
She and Debbie Viguié co-authored the New York Times bestselling series Wicked for Simon and Schuster. They have continued their collaboration with the Crusade series, also for Simon and Schuster, and the Wolf Springs Chronicles for Delacorte (2011.) She is also the author of the young adult horror series Possessions for Razorbill. She has sold many novels and book projects set in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Saving Grace, Hellboy, and Smallville universes.
She has sold approximately two hundred short stories and essays on writing and popular culture. Her anthology, Outsiders, co-edited with Nancy Kilpatrick, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award in 2005.
She teaches in the Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing Program, offered through the University of Southern Maine. She has previously taught at UCSD and has served on the Clarion Board of Directors.
She lives in San Diego, California, with her daughter Belle, their two Corgis, Panda and Tater; and their cats, David and Kittnen Snow. She and Belle are active in Girl Scouts and dog obedience training.
Nancy was born in Los Altos, California, and her family settled for a time in Walnut Creek. Her father, who taught at Stanford, joined the navy and the family traveled throughout California and lived in Japan for three years. When she was sixteen, she dropped out of high school to become a ballet dancer in Cologne, Germany, and later relocated to Frankfurt Am Main.
Eventually she returned to California and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at San Diego with a degree in Communications. Soon after, she began to write; her first sale was a young adult romance novel titled Teach Me to Love.
Nancy’s work has appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, amazon.com, LOCUS, and other bestseller lists. A four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association, she has also received accolades from the American Library Association, the American Reading Association, the New York Public Library, and Romantic Times.
She and Debbie Viguié co-authored the New York Times bestselling series Wicked for Simon and Schuster. They have continued their collaboration with the Crusade series, also for Simon and Schuster, and the Wolf Springs Chronicles for Delacorte (2011.) She is also the author of the young adult horror series Possessions for Razorbill. She has sold many novels and book projects set in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Saving Grace, Hellboy, and Smallville universes.
She has sold approximately two hundred short stories and essays on writing and popular culture. Her anthology, Outsiders, co-edited with Nancy Kilpatrick, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award in 2005.
She teaches in the Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing Program, offered through the University of Southern Maine. She has previously taught at UCSD and has served on the Clarion Board of Directors.
She lives in San Diego, California, with her daughter Belle, their two Corgis, Panda and Tater; and their cats, David and Kittnen Snow. She and Belle are active in Girl Scouts and dog obedience training.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 2, 2015
Okay, the ending just killed it.
I was about to give this book a 4.5 rating, but no. No. NO!
I am so mad about whom Lindsay ends up with. I loved Miles. He was my favourite character in the series and I really felt like they have made a connection, and all of a sudden there is Riley...
Endings like that really kill me.
A huge part of the book didn't even make sense.
Just no.
I was about to give this book a 4.5 rating, but no. No. NO!
I am so mad about whom Lindsay ends up with. I loved Miles. He was my favourite character in the series and I really felt like they have made a connection, and all of a sudden there is Riley...
Endings like that really kill me.
A huge part of the book didn't even make sense.
Just no.
March 10, 2011
If you have been looking for a new series to satisfy your creepy cravings, then this is the series you need to read! After reading and reviewing The Evil Within last year, I had been waiting for the next book in this gripping series. When the author asked me to review this book as well, I jumped on the chance to read more about Lindsay!
First I want to say how I loved the quote on the very first page before you start chapter one.
Silence is the most powerful scream.
--Anonymous
Lindsay wakes up in the infirmary after a breakdown. The first chapter alone had me gripping the pages of this book. The action and creepiness starts with a bang and doesn't stop there. I absolutely fell in love with this book in the series. In my opinion, this is the best book in the series yet! Want some suspense and scary horror? You got it! The author delivered it with the ease that only a skilled writer can execute. Even with the many young adults on the market featuring boarding schools as the backdrop, don't let the common theme of that spoil the series for you! It fits with the theme and makes the book better!
Personally, I own all three books in this series so far. I can't wait to see what will come next and hopefully soon since the ending left me craving more! As each book progresses to something better and even more chilling, I am sure the next book will keep up all night as well! A thrill ride that will keep you going through highs and lows along with the heroine!
First I want to say how I loved the quote on the very first page before you start chapter one.
Silence is the most powerful scream.
--Anonymous
Lindsay wakes up in the infirmary after a breakdown. The first chapter alone had me gripping the pages of this book. The action and creepiness starts with a bang and doesn't stop there. I absolutely fell in love with this book in the series. In my opinion, this is the best book in the series yet! Want some suspense and scary horror? You got it! The author delivered it with the ease that only a skilled writer can execute. Even with the many young adults on the market featuring boarding schools as the backdrop, don't let the common theme of that spoil the series for you! It fits with the theme and makes the book better!
Personally, I own all three books in this series so far. I can't wait to see what will come next and hopefully soon since the ending left me craving more! As each book progresses to something better and even more chilling, I am sure the next book will keep up all night as well! A thrill ride that will keep you going through highs and lows along with the heroine!
March 13, 2011
First off let me say, this is definitely one that you need to read the prior books before delving into…trust me. In fact, once they are all out (as this one releases next week), I’d recommend reading them one right after another. There is a certain mindset you need to be in, in order to fully understand and follow what’s happening. It’s not that it’s unclear, it’s more that because of the circumstances presented, both the storyline and dialogue bounce around between the possessed and the possessor which can leave you feeling a bit muddled if you’re not mentally prepared. Reading book one and then two ….you’re already “in the zone”…know what I mean? Anywho...
I love the unexpected turns the characters take in this book. Just when you thought you had everyone figured out…BOOM….something else happens that makes you wonder if you were coming or going. Lindsay finds her inner strength. Mandy shows her sweeter side. Miles unearths a shred of decency. In a nutshell, a mixed bag indeed.
Story wise, we are greeted by a blast from the past in many ways; revisiting (mentally) the time before and after Lindsay’s mother passed away, dealing with the fallout of the events that followed, and tackling the feelings hidden beneath her hardened exterior that made her a beacon for Celia when seeking a “host”. The flashbacks from Celia also take on a life of their own forming into something more tangible than shadows and mist; something that true nightmares are made of.
In the end, the conclusion is satisfying and yet still leaves you something to ponder. It lets your imagination run wild (and work overtime) with possibility, a nice touch indeed. It’s a great YA story with a strong paranormal cast that is sure to get your ghost…so to speak. The message is one about facing your past, not being afraid of your feelings and finding the strength to discover who you really are.
Recommended reading for YA fans of the middle to teen and beyond age range. Happy reading!
I love the unexpected turns the characters take in this book. Just when you thought you had everyone figured out…BOOM….something else happens that makes you wonder if you were coming or going. Lindsay finds her inner strength. Mandy shows her sweeter side. Miles unearths a shred of decency. In a nutshell, a mixed bag indeed.
Story wise, we are greeted by a blast from the past in many ways; revisiting (mentally) the time before and after Lindsay’s mother passed away, dealing with the fallout of the events that followed, and tackling the feelings hidden beneath her hardened exterior that made her a beacon for Celia when seeking a “host”. The flashbacks from Celia also take on a life of their own forming into something more tangible than shadows and mist; something that true nightmares are made of.
In the end, the conclusion is satisfying and yet still leaves you something to ponder. It lets your imagination run wild (and work overtime) with possibility, a nice touch indeed. It’s a great YA story with a strong paranormal cast that is sure to get your ghost…so to speak. The message is one about facing your past, not being afraid of your feelings and finding the strength to discover who you really are.
Recommended reading for YA fans of the middle to teen and beyond age range. Happy reading!
October 1, 2010
Review coming soon! =)
May 10, 2011
Kinda sad that this is the last book in the series...LOVED the series
February 3, 2012
Great, spooky book, loved the ending, and I kinda wish there could be another book, but this one covered everything, and it was really great! Loved it!
March 31, 2011
In a Sentence: The Screaming Season is hands down the best book in the series and provides a satisfying ending to a thrilling tale.
My Thoughts
Though the Possessions books area suspense-filled series, I was ready to finally see some resolution for Lindsay. By this point, the poor girl has been through just about everything--the death of her mother, the loss of a boyfriend and her old high school crowd, her transfer to a new school, and worst of all--her possession by the restless spirit of the murdered Celia Reaves.
I think that one of the best things Holder has done throughout the entire series has been her portrayal of fear. Being possessed and not always having control of your own body has got to be on of the scariest things ever. The way Lindsay is described and characterized in The Screaming Season communicates that fear to the reader in a way that makes her fear almost tangible. This aspect of the book not only made the story a creepy read, but it also made Lindsay's situation seem extremely real.
Lindsay's grown up a lot throughout the series. She goes from a broken girl with a tortured past to someone who can take care of herself and doesn't always have to rely on other people for support. Lindsay has steadily grown on me since Book 1, and I definitely found her most endearing in Book 3.
My favorite part of The Screaming Season was that we finally got to see different sides of some of the antagonistic characters...specifically: Mandy and Miles. I was glad to see these characters a bit more fleshed out. I tend to find the inclusion of your stereotypical mean girl, who is just mean because she's rich and spoiled and can get away with it, to be over done and boring, so I really liked that Holder let us see beneath the surface before the end of the series.
I only really had two issues with this book. The first I'm almost hesitant to mention because I'm starting to think that it's a problem with ME and not the books, but I'll go ahead and say it anyways: I totally saw the ending coming. Yep! I called it AGAIN, guys! Maybe I'm pursuing the wrong career. Hmm...anyone know how long it takes to get your P.I.'s license? (Just kidding)!
The second issue was the character of Riley. Even though parts of the book suggest that the character is in the process of redeeming himself, I felt like he never really reached that point in the book. Since **SPOILER** he and Lindsay kind of ride off into the sunset at the end, this didn't really sit well with me **END SPOILER**. Other than that, I thought that The Screaming Season was a fast-paced read that wrapped up the series well (I'm assuming that, because of the ending, there's not a sequel in the works, but don't quote me on that)!
My Thoughts
Though the Possessions books area suspense-filled series, I was ready to finally see some resolution for Lindsay. By this point, the poor girl has been through just about everything--the death of her mother, the loss of a boyfriend and her old high school crowd, her transfer to a new school, and worst of all--her possession by the restless spirit of the murdered Celia Reaves.
I think that one of the best things Holder has done throughout the entire series has been her portrayal of fear. Being possessed and not always having control of your own body has got to be on of the scariest things ever. The way Lindsay is described and characterized in The Screaming Season communicates that fear to the reader in a way that makes her fear almost tangible. This aspect of the book not only made the story a creepy read, but it also made Lindsay's situation seem extremely real.
Lindsay's grown up a lot throughout the series. She goes from a broken girl with a tortured past to someone who can take care of herself and doesn't always have to rely on other people for support. Lindsay has steadily grown on me since Book 1, and I definitely found her most endearing in Book 3.
My favorite part of The Screaming Season was that we finally got to see different sides of some of the antagonistic characters...specifically: Mandy and Miles. I was glad to see these characters a bit more fleshed out. I tend to find the inclusion of your stereotypical mean girl, who is just mean because she's rich and spoiled and can get away with it, to be over done and boring, so I really liked that Holder let us see beneath the surface before the end of the series.
I only really had two issues with this book. The first I'm almost hesitant to mention because I'm starting to think that it's a problem with ME and not the books, but I'll go ahead and say it anyways: I totally saw the ending coming. Yep! I called it AGAIN, guys! Maybe I'm pursuing the wrong career. Hmm...anyone know how long it takes to get your P.I.'s license? (Just kidding)!
The second issue was the character of Riley. Even though parts of the book suggest that the character is in the process of redeeming himself, I felt like he never really reached that point in the book. Since **SPOILER** he and Lindsay kind of ride off into the sunset at the end, this didn't really sit well with me **END SPOILER**. Other than that, I thought that The Screaming Season was a fast-paced read that wrapped up the series well (I'm assuming that, because of the ending, there's not a sequel in the works, but don't quote me on that)!
April 10, 2013
SPOILER ALERT,YOU'VE BEEN WARNED:I'm super pissed about a sucky ending 2 a good trilogy.
The book was going good at first, I liked when Troy broke up with Lindsay and Mandy and they became friends 2 seek revenge on Troy and because they had something in common they were both possessed.
Then they killed Mandy off, just when I started 2 like her as a character she started becoming nicer and they killed her!
I loved how Lindsay and Miles started hanging out with each other, how he broke her out of the infirmary and then Lindsay pissed Miles off by saying she is not his type cause they're not related. because Miles has this incest thing with Mandy. But then they got in a bike crash and all was forgiven, She told him everything about being possessed.
I wanted Lindsay and Miles 2 end up with each other so bad but then Mandy died and Riley who wasn't even in the whole series for more than like 10 pages and Riley ended up with Lindsay...stupid Riley!!!! that's what made me rate this book 2-stars
The book was going good at first, I liked when Troy broke up with Lindsay and Mandy and they became friends 2 seek revenge on Troy and because they had something in common they were both possessed.
Then they killed Mandy off, just when I started 2 like her as a character she started becoming nicer and they killed her!
I loved how Lindsay and Miles started hanging out with each other, how he broke her out of the infirmary and then Lindsay pissed Miles off by saying she is not his type cause they're not related. because Miles has this incest thing with Mandy. But then they got in a bike crash and all was forgiven, She told him everything about being possessed.
I wanted Lindsay and Miles 2 end up with each other so bad but then Mandy died and Riley who wasn't even in the whole series for more than like 10 pages and Riley ended up with Lindsay...stupid Riley!!!! that's what made me rate this book 2-stars
December 5, 2012
Loved it! I totally breezed through this series because I couldn't stop thinking about it and had to keep reading whenever possible! Sad that its over but wow!! Lately I have been really craving some creepy books and this series totally fulfilled that need! The characters were great, I was constantly suspecting everyone of something. Just when you would get comfortable trusting a character then you would once again be thrown for a loop. The love interests were a little frustrating to me...I felt like the story line with Troy just kind of dropped off abruptly. Even though it was logical and closed, I couldn't help but continue expecting him to come back into play somehow. I loved to hate Miles but when he and Mandy's characters came more into sight I found myself really rooting for them both. Lindsay really developed through the books and she was an amazing lead. The way that Celia shown through back and forth was great. I can't help but wish there were more even though this book summed up the series perfectl
May 21, 2011
4 1/2 SOOO good!!! Was not expecting the ending! nor was I expecting Riley to be in the picture! Troy also totally surprised me. I wish this series were longer. I really enjoyed it!
February 19, 2020
Possessions Book 3
Although I liked the series there are a few flaws...first off I felt like this were too drawn out. I know it was to make a longer series out of it. But I feel like it could have been done in a shorter amount of time. There were also cliffhangers like back in book one, when Julies bed was torn/clawed apart ; Mandy confessed it was Kiyoko but why wait until later to confess. I didn’t like the way everything ended with Troy, Julie, and miles there should have been an part where they apologized. Also I found the author made it a point to keep repeating stuff over and over again...and not just as a refresher. It was constant. There was also a part in the book where she flashed back to the first book where Mandy pranked Alis and Sangeeta....only in this book/book 3 she said Mandy pranked Megan and sangeeta. I know it’s pointless to bring up but I found it weird that the author was reminding us about what happened but could remember the characters names from book one...4 stars for the series 3 stars for book three
Although I liked the series there are a few flaws...first off I felt like this were too drawn out. I know it was to make a longer series out of it. But I feel like it could have been done in a shorter amount of time. There were also cliffhangers like back in book one, when Julies bed was torn/clawed apart ; Mandy confessed it was Kiyoko but why wait until later to confess. I didn’t like the way everything ended with Troy, Julie, and miles there should have been an part where they apologized. Also I found the author made it a point to keep repeating stuff over and over again...and not just as a refresher. It was constant. There was also a part in the book where she flashed back to the first book where Mandy pranked Alis and Sangeeta....only in this book/book 3 she said Mandy pranked Megan and sangeeta. I know it’s pointless to bring up but I found it weird that the author was reminding us about what happened but could remember the characters names from book one...4 stars for the series 3 stars for book three
May 17, 2017
scary good book 3!
December 31, 2021
Great book
February 16, 2022
Wth... no more books after this one and it ends with the question if David is still alive and who he could be?!
UGH
UGH
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2023
This book was good . Something good for a fun read .
January 5, 2013
Well, i just finished reading this book. It left me breathless, tired, and sad. It left me longing, missing Miles, missing Mandy, and still with a lot of questions unanswered. But it left me glad that Lindsay's torment is finally over.
I hate Riley. I hate that he appeared out of the blue and claimed her. He was saying he was sorry about what he did with Jane, but i never got the feeling that he did felt sorry. Truly, really sorry. And i think that Lindsay accepted too quickly to fall back into his arms, and that happened just because he appeared to bring the promise of a normal life, not because she really loved him. I hate that Lindsay chose him instead of Miles. Beautiful, broken-hearted Miles, who saved her life from David Abernathy's hands. Miles, who was lurking in the shadows, watching her, trying to be by her side, helping and protecting her whenever he could. Miles, who fell in love with her, but let her go. He let her go with that cheater! Oh...well, I fell in love with this character from the first time he was mentioned. Also, i loved Mandy too. I knew from the start that, on the inside, she was just a scared little girl, who needed tending, loving and accepting. She was a girl whose life ran through her fingers and she was trying to protect the only person that really cared for her. I understood that and i understood why she did what she did. So it left me angry when she died, because it was not fair. She deserved her share of happiness.
About Troy, i never really liked him. In fact, i was kind of indifferent when he came in the picture. I didn't trust him from the start, but i liked that he was bringing Lindsay, at first, some peace of mind and happiness. And i also liked about him that he stood by her when she was in the infirmary, after her breakdown at the end of the second book in the series. And when he broke up with her...well, i was expecting that. So i didn't stop and wonder why he did it.
Moving on to Julie, i liked her, but i didn't. I don't know how to explain it. She was so contradictory, and i had contradictory feelings about her. She felt like a fake person. Too sweet, too kind, too caring. And, in the end, she finally showed her true self.
Moving on to Celia and Belle, i think they were amazing characters. Even though she was being a bitch, giving Lindsay a very hard time, i loved Celia. I loved the way she interacted with Lindsay and the others. I loved her story and Belle's too, and felt sorry for them.
And Lindsay herself...was a good girl, trying to remedy her life and do the right thing. She was terrified, but brave, caring for and protecting her friends, so strong and tough, so responsible. I was wondering sometimes "how isn't she going crazy?", how didn't her mind shut down.
Finally, i have to say that i didn't really liked the first book. Before i started reading it, i thought that this book was about demon possessions, exorcism, priests. I was thinking "Wow, this is going to be awesome!". Not what i expected. I was a little disappointed. But still, it was good. The second one... blew me away! The third one was, indeed, amazing. So you can see that i loved most "The Evil Within". It was the creamy, syrupy middle part of the cake. The best of all. I think it was the one that decided for me that this series is one of my favourites. The writing was exquisite. Not a single second of it boring. There were no boring repetitions, like when the author is reminding the reader basic facts and information from the previous volume, you know, in case the reader read that one a year ago or so. During the action, i was as edgy as Lindsay was. I could feel her terror creeping all the way in my body, her joy, her relief, her love, her sorrow. Thank you, Nancy, for making me live such electrifying emotions. And for the the quotes at the beginnings of the chapters.
I didn't like the ending of this book, as you can see at the beginning. I am truly convinced that Lindsay made the wrong choice. And i still wonder what's the deal with Dr. Morehouse. I want a story about him, and I want the story of Miles too.
Overall, here it is, an amazing series.
I hate Riley. I hate that he appeared out of the blue and claimed her. He was saying he was sorry about what he did with Jane, but i never got the feeling that he did felt sorry. Truly, really sorry. And i think that Lindsay accepted too quickly to fall back into his arms, and that happened just because he appeared to bring the promise of a normal life, not because she really loved him. I hate that Lindsay chose him instead of Miles. Beautiful, broken-hearted Miles, who saved her life from David Abernathy's hands. Miles, who was lurking in the shadows, watching her, trying to be by her side, helping and protecting her whenever he could. Miles, who fell in love with her, but let her go. He let her go with that cheater! Oh...well, I fell in love with this character from the first time he was mentioned. Also, i loved Mandy too. I knew from the start that, on the inside, she was just a scared little girl, who needed tending, loving and accepting. She was a girl whose life ran through her fingers and she was trying to protect the only person that really cared for her. I understood that and i understood why she did what she did. So it left me angry when she died, because it was not fair. She deserved her share of happiness.
About Troy, i never really liked him. In fact, i was kind of indifferent when he came in the picture. I didn't trust him from the start, but i liked that he was bringing Lindsay, at first, some peace of mind and happiness. And i also liked about him that he stood by her when she was in the infirmary, after her breakdown at the end of the second book in the series. And when he broke up with her...well, i was expecting that. So i didn't stop and wonder why he did it.
Moving on to Julie, i liked her, but i didn't. I don't know how to explain it. She was so contradictory, and i had contradictory feelings about her. She felt like a fake person. Too sweet, too kind, too caring. And, in the end, she finally showed her true self.
Moving on to Celia and Belle, i think they were amazing characters. Even though she was being a bitch, giving Lindsay a very hard time, i loved Celia. I loved the way she interacted with Lindsay and the others. I loved her story and Belle's too, and felt sorry for them.
And Lindsay herself...was a good girl, trying to remedy her life and do the right thing. She was terrified, but brave, caring for and protecting her friends, so strong and tough, so responsible. I was wondering sometimes "how isn't she going crazy?", how didn't her mind shut down.
Finally, i have to say that i didn't really liked the first book. Before i started reading it, i thought that this book was about demon possessions, exorcism, priests. I was thinking "Wow, this is going to be awesome!". Not what i expected. I was a little disappointed. But still, it was good. The second one... blew me away! The third one was, indeed, amazing. So you can see that i loved most "The Evil Within". It was the creamy, syrupy middle part of the cake. The best of all. I think it was the one that decided for me that this series is one of my favourites. The writing was exquisite. Not a single second of it boring. There were no boring repetitions, like when the author is reminding the reader basic facts and information from the previous volume, you know, in case the reader read that one a year ago or so. During the action, i was as edgy as Lindsay was. I could feel her terror creeping all the way in my body, her joy, her relief, her love, her sorrow. Thank you, Nancy, for making me live such electrifying emotions. And for the the quotes at the beginnings of the chapters.
I didn't like the ending of this book, as you can see at the beginning. I am truly convinced that Lindsay made the wrong choice. And i still wonder what's the deal with Dr. Morehouse. I want a story about him, and I want the story of Miles too.
Overall, here it is, an amazing series.
June 6, 2017
Just like the rest of the trilogy it starts off like any average YA novel but gets better with each chapter.
September 29, 2014
I just finished this one tonight. I rated it four stars because of certain things, of course. I really loved it, a lot, thinking that it's the best book among the three. It's my favorite because of all the revelations and twists of the whole plot.
I thought I knew all the characters really well after finishing the first 2 books. I waited a really long time to get this book but the story was still fresh like I just read them a day before. And when I read the third one, I just felt really foreign to Marlwood Academy and Lindsay, and everyone else. I felt exactly like how Lindsay felt when she entered the academy. I was lost, really.
Everyone was changing.
I originally thought of giving it five stars because of how I loved it but I didn't quite actually like some ideas, and there are things and questions remaining. And I really want answers. Can I just please please please ask for a fourth book?
THE ENDING! Come on! I would've really appreciated it if she just ended up with Troy, but okay, why not try the other side. Fine, she's with Riley. But the ending with the rose? I really thought he was possessed by Abernathy. That somehow, Holder is just telling us it was the third and final book but there really is a fourth! (Hah! I'm crazy) I just wish there will be. I felt like the ending's a cliffhanger. I felt that there's still more.
Okaaay, I've said so many things. I just really researched if there's still a fourth book but I think that there'll be none and I'm really really sad about that. There are still so many questions inside my head. But I'm glad I finished the trilogy. Congratulations Nancy Holder for a great book and a great job you did! :)
PS: I also love how Celia and Lindsay said their goodbyes. It was really touching. When I was reading that part, I totally forgot every bad/cruel thing Celia made Lindsay do and the mean things she said to her. I just felt relieved, and touched and I am going to miss her too. But please, no more describing how she looked like. I became cautious of looking at the mirror myself. Nancy Holder
I thought I knew all the characters really well after finishing the first 2 books. I waited a really long time to get this book but the story was still fresh like I just read them a day before. And when I read the third one, I just felt really foreign to Marlwood Academy and Lindsay, and everyone else. I felt exactly like how Lindsay felt when she entered the academy. I was lost, really.
Everyone was changing.
I originally thought of giving it five stars because of how I loved it but I didn't quite actually like some ideas, and there are things and questions remaining. And I really want answers. Can I just please please please ask for a fourth book?
THE ENDING! Come on! I would've really appreciated it if she just ended up with Troy, but okay, why not try the other side. Fine, she's with Riley. But the ending with the rose? I really thought he was possessed by Abernathy. That somehow, Holder is just telling us it was the third and final book but there really is a fourth! (Hah! I'm crazy) I just wish there will be. I felt like the ending's a cliffhanger. I felt that there's still more.
Okaaay, I've said so many things. I just really researched if there's still a fourth book but I think that there'll be none and I'm really really sad about that. There are still so many questions inside my head. But I'm glad I finished the trilogy. Congratulations Nancy Holder for a great book and a great job you did! :)
PS: I also love how Celia and Lindsay said their goodbyes. It was really touching. When I was reading that part, I totally forgot every bad/cruel thing Celia made Lindsay do and the mean things she said to her. I just felt relieved, and touched and I am going to miss her too. But please, no more describing how she looked like. I became cautious of looking at the mirror myself. Nancy Holder
March 19, 2016
The final book in the possessions trilogy was stellar, totally blew my medicore expectations out of the water but that doesn't mean I am completely pleased, I have a few complants about it all but I promise I'll also be saying some good stuff so read at your own risk!
To begin with it all, the start was actually really boring. I mean, the other two books were boring at first and the first book took forever to finally get interesting and creepy like I was promised, so I wasn't too displeased that. Honestly, almost every YA book these days starts off incredibly slow so I can't really agrue with the beginning part
After a hundred pages or so, things actually start to pick up like they usually do and boy, was it amazing after that! I now realize that Nancy Holder must've been holding back this whole time because it get really twisted and creepy really really fast! It honestly went from this:
The occuasional demon showing up and doing some "boo oh so scary" stuff, to this:
Which made me incredibly pleased because this is what I had signed up for in the beginning but wasn't receiving until just now, about time!
All in all, I actually loved this book. I expected the "plot twist" at the end but I didn't expect one of the main character deaths! That really caught me by suprise and I found myself actually really sad and shocked which is good because I usually am not! The end still really confused me though, but I guess I'll get it eventually and I'll edit my note on it! 4/5 stars for me!
To begin with it all, the start was actually really boring. I mean, the other two books were boring at first and the first book took forever to finally get interesting and creepy like I was promised, so I wasn't too displeased that. Honestly, almost every YA book these days starts off incredibly slow so I can't really agrue with the beginning part
After a hundred pages or so, things actually start to pick up like they usually do and boy, was it amazing after that! I now realize that Nancy Holder must've been holding back this whole time because it get really twisted and creepy really really fast! It honestly went from this:
The occuasional demon showing up and doing some "boo oh so scary" stuff, to this:
Which made me incredibly pleased because this is what I had signed up for in the beginning but wasn't receiving until just now, about time!
All in all, I actually loved this book. I expected the "plot twist" at the end but I didn't expect one of the main character deaths! That really caught me by suprise and I found myself actually really sad and shocked which is good because I usually am not! The end still really confused me though, but I guess I'll get it eventually and I'll edit my note on it! 4/5 stars for me!
April 22, 2011
Lindsay is back at the haunted Marlwood Academy for another year of boarding school, but what she finds when she returns is far from welcoming...
...She discovers upon waking that she is being held in the infirmary, and something terrible has happened. Was it a breakdown? Did she try to kill someone? The details do not surface for a while, but one fact is clear from the start—Lindsay has been possessed by a spirit that intends to do harm to those around her and she can find no safe haven anywhere on campus. Can she even trust herself? Now, our heroine must decide whether to stay with her new ally Mandy, formerly her nemesis, and fight against the spirits that haunt her school or run from it all with the help of an ex-love. Will Lindsay take the only means of escape she has or risk everything to rid Marlwood of its evil inhabitants? The answers come in The Screaming Season.
The Screaming Season is the latest release from the New York Times Best-selling author Nancy Holder and the next installment in her popular YA horror series Possessions. Holder is no stranger to the world of fiction—she has received many accolades and much notoriety for her work in a variety of genres and she currently teaches creative writing through the University of Southern Maine's Stonecoast MFA program. Holder loves writing horror, and she invites you to enter a frightening realm where spirits possess and provoke, the world of The Screaming Season.
For horror fanatics and readers of young adult fantasy fiction, Holder's newest novel should be on your reading list for the first part of this year. I am sure that anyone already familiar with Holder's YA stories will enjoy The Screaming Season, and followers of her Possessions series already know to expect great things from the new release.
...She discovers upon waking that she is being held in the infirmary, and something terrible has happened. Was it a breakdown? Did she try to kill someone? The details do not surface for a while, but one fact is clear from the start—Lindsay has been possessed by a spirit that intends to do harm to those around her and she can find no safe haven anywhere on campus. Can she even trust herself? Now, our heroine must decide whether to stay with her new ally Mandy, formerly her nemesis, and fight against the spirits that haunt her school or run from it all with the help of an ex-love. Will Lindsay take the only means of escape she has or risk everything to rid Marlwood of its evil inhabitants? The answers come in The Screaming Season.
The Screaming Season is the latest release from the New York Times Best-selling author Nancy Holder and the next installment in her popular YA horror series Possessions. Holder is no stranger to the world of fiction—she has received many accolades and much notoriety for her work in a variety of genres and she currently teaches creative writing through the University of Southern Maine's Stonecoast MFA program. Holder loves writing horror, and she invites you to enter a frightening realm where spirits possess and provoke, the world of The Screaming Season.
For horror fanatics and readers of young adult fantasy fiction, Holder's newest novel should be on your reading list for the first part of this year. I am sure that anyone already familiar with Holder's YA stories will enjoy The Screaming Season, and followers of her Possessions series already know to expect great things from the new release.
June 28, 2011
I haven't even finished this book yet, but it's continuing the creepiness!
Kudos to Nancy Holder for another terrifically terrifying edition in the Possession series!
Ugh! I can't tell if this is the last one or not! I hope it isn't!
I hate spoiling the story for others, so I erased what I wrote! Anything I say could spoil the book for others, so I'm not going to do that, because this is a review, not a book report! :)
If I could have given The Screaming Season 6 stars, I would have. Again, from the beginning I was sucked into Lindsay's world and carried through the story as though I was right there next to her.
Holder has a way of doing that with her writing. She's so good at keeping descriptions concise, yet important. Nothing ever feels extraneous as it can with some authors. No, everything in the surroundings, in the dialogue, in the events is all pertinent to the story. The story never lags.
Unlike some of the recent supposed "page-turners" I've recently read, you're always moving - literally turning pages - and wondering what the heck is going to happen next. Will Lindsay survive this when all is said and done?
Will it ever be over for Lindsay? Can't say... :)
All I can say is, if you haven't checked out this series yet do so! Possessions, The Evil Within and The Screaming Season are three great books that paint the story of what it's like to be possessed by the spirit of someone long since dead. If you or someone you know appreciates this kind of tale, then you will not regret picking up these books, I promise! :)
Kudos to Nancy Holder for another terrifically terrifying edition in the Possession series!
Ugh! I can't tell if this is the last one or not! I hope it isn't!
I hate spoiling the story for others, so I erased what I wrote! Anything I say could spoil the book for others, so I'm not going to do that, because this is a review, not a book report! :)
If I could have given The Screaming Season 6 stars, I would have. Again, from the beginning I was sucked into Lindsay's world and carried through the story as though I was right there next to her.
Holder has a way of doing that with her writing. She's so good at keeping descriptions concise, yet important. Nothing ever feels extraneous as it can with some authors. No, everything in the surroundings, in the dialogue, in the events is all pertinent to the story. The story never lags.
Unlike some of the recent supposed "page-turners" I've recently read, you're always moving - literally turning pages - and wondering what the heck is going to happen next. Will Lindsay survive this when all is said and done?
Will it ever be over for Lindsay? Can't say... :)
All I can say is, if you haven't checked out this series yet do so! Possessions, The Evil Within and The Screaming Season are three great books that paint the story of what it's like to be possessed by the spirit of someone long since dead. If you or someone you know appreciates this kind of tale, then you will not regret picking up these books, I promise! :)
January 12, 2012
Nancy is such a creative and profound writer, filling the pages with so much excitement! I just love her and all her awesomeness! The Screaming Season is the third and final book in the Possessions series that is packed with anticipation, eagerness, horror, and fear! In the end, you'll come out shaking and hooked!
Picking up from The Evil Within, Lindsay finds herself strapped and restrained to a bed in the infirmary at Marlwood. She did not want to be here at all and did not trust anyone coming in and out. She especially didn't trust Celia even though she couldn't really feel the presence of her. This isn't the really interesting part though. It's when Miles of all people comes along. Miles, the one that she had suspected for so long. He is the one that takes her and decides to help. He wants to know not only what it is that is going on with her, but what's going on with his sister Mandy too. Ha, yes! The same Mandy that has it out for Lindsay.
I was so shocked to see Lindsay open up to Miles. She bared everything. And in return, he believed her. He was even trying to help her. But it was almost as if the spirits at Marlwood Academy could somehow sense it and were trying to stop it with little things here and there.
It gets even better than that! Mandy herself then decides to take interest in Lindsay and work together....yes I said that right. Together. To try and stop the spirits. Since nobody else can see them, apparently it's up to them. Someone has to stop Dr. Abernathy because apparently, him dying didn't do the trick.
Picking up from The Evil Within, Lindsay finds herself strapped and restrained to a bed in the infirmary at Marlwood. She did not want to be here at all and did not trust anyone coming in and out. She especially didn't trust Celia even though she couldn't really feel the presence of her. This isn't the really interesting part though. It's when Miles of all people comes along. Miles, the one that she had suspected for so long. He is the one that takes her and decides to help. He wants to know not only what it is that is going on with her, but what's going on with his sister Mandy too. Ha, yes! The same Mandy that has it out for Lindsay.
I was so shocked to see Lindsay open up to Miles. She bared everything. And in return, he believed her. He was even trying to help her. But it was almost as if the spirits at Marlwood Academy could somehow sense it and were trying to stop it with little things here and there.
It gets even better than that! Mandy herself then decides to take interest in Lindsay and work together....yes I said that right. Together. To try and stop the spirits. Since nobody else can see them, apparently it's up to them. Someone has to stop Dr. Abernathy because apparently, him dying didn't do the trick.
February 24, 2012
This is the last and final instalment of the Possession Trilogy. And Nancy Holder doesnt hold back. She bring the scary and creepy to a whole new level. Who will survive the ghost possession and who wont? Who can you trust? And who is the Marlwood stalker?
Linsday is back at Marlwood for the final time with a mission in mind, she has to get rid of Celia. She can no longer look at her reflection and she is going insane with Celia in her body. She will do whatever it takes, even if it means forming an alliance with her enemy Mandy. In this third instalment, they battle together to get rid of the ghosts of Marlwood who have reeked havoc on the grounds of Marlwood for years. There are many new alliances formed and surprise such as Lindsay will team up with Miles (Mandy's brother) for the better good. Her Ex makes a surprise entrance and her best friend Julie turns her back on her. And there is a new psychiatric at Marlwood, is he there for the good or for evil, adn what is this new character really up too?
The other thing i didn't really like was the issue with Troy it was never really clearup about what happened, so we are just left to assume things.
I thinks the best part of the book was the end. i dont want to spoil it but lets just say i was like WTF, HOLY SHIT!
Nancy Holder has to be one of my fav author and she doesn't fail to impress me in her style of written and story lines. There are always original and fresh.
Linsday is back at Marlwood for the final time with a mission in mind, she has to get rid of Celia. She can no longer look at her reflection and she is going insane with Celia in her body. She will do whatever it takes, even if it means forming an alliance with her enemy Mandy. In this third instalment, they battle together to get rid of the ghosts of Marlwood who have reeked havoc on the grounds of Marlwood for years. There are many new alliances formed and surprise such as Lindsay will team up with Miles (Mandy's brother) for the better good. Her Ex makes a surprise entrance and her best friend Julie turns her back on her. And there is a new psychiatric at Marlwood, is he there for the good or for evil, adn what is this new character really up too?
The other thing i didn't really like was the issue with Troy it was never really clearup about what happened, so we are just left to assume things.
I thinks the best part of the book was the end. i dont want to spoil it but lets just say i was like WTF, HOLY SHIT!
Nancy Holder has to be one of my fav author and she doesn't fail to impress me in her style of written and story lines. There are always original and fresh.
April 9, 2012
OMFG THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! I READ THE FIRST 2 BOOKS A FEW YEARS BACK AND I'VE BEEN DYING TO READ THE LAST ONE!! TROY TURNED OUT TO BE AN ASSHOLE AND MILES AND LINDSAY WAS REALLY JUST UNEXPECTED - AND THE ENDING WAS SOOO GOOD! I CAN'T BELIEVE MANDY ACTUALLY DIED! AND DAVID ABERNATHY WAS POSSESSING DR. MOREHOUSE!!!! SO HE KILLED MANDY AND ALMOST KILLED LINDSAY TOO - BUT THEN HE ENDS UP KILLING HIMSELF! AND CELIA FINALLY LEFT AND STOPPED POSSESSING LINDSAY ---THE ENDING WAS SO EXCITING :D - AND I REALLY THOUGHT THT LINDSAY WOULD STAY WITH MILES AT THE END, NOT RILEY - I STILL THINK RILEY WAS KIND OF A JERK - AND ON LIKE THE LAST PAGE, I DON'T THINK I QUITE UNDERSTOOD WHT HAPPENED - THE ROSE WAS LEFT ON THE CAR, IT SAID MILES WAS GONE, AND IT COUNTED FROM 1-9, AND LINDSAY SAID SHE DIDN'T SCREAM, AT LEAST, NOT RIGHT THEN. WHT THE HELL WAS THE SUPPOSED TO MEAN? WERE THE POSSESSIONS OVER OR WHAT? OR WAS MILES POSSESSED BY DR. ABERNATHY TOO OR SOME SHIT?!!?!?!? -BUT OVERALL THE SERIES WAS FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!! I FELT SORRY FOR WHT HAPPENED TO CELIA AND BELLE & THE OTHER GIRLS, LIKE AHUNDRED YEARS AGO. THEY GOT TORTURED AND CRAP - AND DAVID ABERNATHY WAS SUCH A BASTARD! I HATED HIM! ANYONE WHO LOVES READING ABOUT THE PARANORMAL SHOULD READ IT!!! :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2012
I had great pleasure reading this book. Possessions and The Evil Within really got me reading and I flew through these books.
Holder’s writing really is magnificent. She really has a way with writing powerful stories. The entire series was filled with ghosts and so many nights filled with terror.
Lindsay’s time at Marlwood ended well. She endured so much during her short time at the very expensive boarding school. It really had me on edge the whole time .
I really felt for Lindsay, right from the very first time we are introduced. The loss of her mother and her breakdown before Marlwood must have been tough for her but somehow she managed to cope with that plus all the extra things that she experiences during her time at the boarding school.
Lindsay had so many people turn on her for unexplained reasons, and yet she survived and showed that she is a strong person.
Life really can be so confusing and even in death life seems to get the dead down especially for those that haven’t yet moved past their hurts from living on this earth.
I rate this book and the entire series 5/5 I will defiantly be reading more of Nancy Holder’s works.
Holder’s writing really is magnificent. She really has a way with writing powerful stories. The entire series was filled with ghosts and so many nights filled with terror.
Lindsay’s time at Marlwood ended well. She endured so much during her short time at the very expensive boarding school. It really had me on edge the whole time .
I really felt for Lindsay, right from the very first time we are introduced. The loss of her mother and her breakdown before Marlwood must have been tough for her but somehow she managed to cope with that plus all the extra things that she experiences during her time at the boarding school.
Lindsay had so many people turn on her for unexplained reasons, and yet she survived and showed that she is a strong person.
Life really can be so confusing and even in death life seems to get the dead down especially for those that haven’t yet moved past their hurts from living on this earth.
I rate this book and the entire series 5/5 I will defiantly be reading more of Nancy Holder’s works.
April 18, 2011
I gave this book 5 stars because I absolutely loved it! I love how in this book we get to learn more about the others girls and see different sides of them. We got to learn that just because these girls are rich and popular doesn't mean that their lives are perfect. Every girl at the school has her own problems that they have to deal with.
What I liked about this book as well is that we get to see a better side of Mandy. She may be that mean popular rich girl but she does have a nicer side even if she doesn't show it that much. I think she genuinely can be nice if she once too and I feel bad that she gets killed at the end.
I was also glad Miles was more involved in this book because for some reason I can't help but be drawn to him. One thing that disappoints me is that at the end Miles is left alone. I think it's so sad that Mandy died and he is now alone. I kinda would liked him with Lindsay. I hope this wasn't the end of the series.
What I liked about this book as well is that we get to see a better side of Mandy. She may be that mean popular rich girl but she does have a nicer side even if she doesn't show it that much. I think she genuinely can be nice if she once too and I feel bad that she gets killed at the end.
I was also glad Miles was more involved in this book because for some reason I can't help but be drawn to him. One thing that disappoints me is that at the end Miles is left alone. I think it's so sad that Mandy died and he is now alone. I kinda would liked him with Lindsay. I hope this wasn't the end of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2012
This book was amazing! The previous books in the series were amazing too.
After I read this book I was like..wow!
I was thinking that the ending was just fine. But I didn't really kinda understand it. I kinda felt like it was a cliffhanger:p But along that, the book was great! I gave the book five stars since It was simply amazing! I really hoped there was more to the series.
And, aaaaw. I am really hoping there'll be more to the series (even though it was said that this was the last book).
I enjoyed reading this series a lot. Seriously.
Anyway, other than that, I loved this book out of all of the series. There was a lot more to it than other of the books in the series too. And how Mandy and Miles were shown as not that bad kinda people, it was nice. And how my view of the other people in this series were changed after this book...wow. Over all, I really loved the book! So much:)
After I read this book I was like..wow!
I was thinking that the ending was just fine. But I didn't really kinda understand it. I kinda felt like it was a cliffhanger:p But along that, the book was great! I gave the book five stars since It was simply amazing! I really hoped there was more to the series.
And, aaaaw. I am really hoping there'll be more to the series (even though it was said that this was the last book).
I enjoyed reading this series a lot. Seriously.
Anyway, other than that, I loved this book out of all of the series. There was a lot more to it than other of the books in the series too. And how Mandy and Miles were shown as not that bad kinda people, it was nice. And how my view of the other people in this series were changed after this book...wow. Over all, I really loved the book! So much:)
May 25, 2011
When I read the first book in the series, I was totally hooked. I love a good scary story that has a good back story to it. However as this series went on, I found myself not really liking the story. I actually thought about skipping this one. But when I learned that it's the last in the series, I decided to just finish it.
The plot is definitely interesting. What I like is how the enemy is actually inside of Lindsay. Throughout the book you keep trying to figure out whether it's Celia who's crazy or Lindsay herself. But I got tired of the story soon because it's basically two girls fighting over one guy. Except they're ghosts. And crazy.
This was a pretty good conclusion to the series. Even though I did get bored, it's still a good scary story.
On a random note, is it just me, or does the girl on the cover look a lot like Britney Spears? No? Ok then.
The plot is definitely interesting. What I like is how the enemy is actually inside of Lindsay. Throughout the book you keep trying to figure out whether it's Celia who's crazy or Lindsay herself. But I got tired of the story soon because it's basically two girls fighting over one guy. Except they're ghosts. And crazy.
This was a pretty good conclusion to the series. Even though I did get bored, it's still a good scary story.
On a random note, is it just me, or does the girl on the cover look a lot like Britney Spears? No? Ok then.
April 17, 2011
A good finish to the trilogy.
Has some logical flaws in its ghost/possession mythology, but I was willing to overlook those for the very creepy surprises that this finale offered.
I picked up the first book because I saw it on a "Pretty Little Liars" read-alike list - and I have to say that this is the first suggestion that I've read that fits that bill. There are rich girls, secrets galore, deaths, and plenty of twists (not as many, nor as good as PLL, but better than the other copycats I've read).
So, if you need a quick, brain-candy teen horror fix - try the Possessions trilogy by Holder.
I'd definitely consider reading more of her work in the future for some more fun horror-lite.
Has some logical flaws in its ghost/possession mythology, but I was willing to overlook those for the very creepy surprises that this finale offered.
I picked up the first book because I saw it on a "Pretty Little Liars" read-alike list - and I have to say that this is the first suggestion that I've read that fits that bill. There are rich girls, secrets galore, deaths, and plenty of twists (not as many, nor as good as PLL, but better than the other copycats I've read).
So, if you need a quick, brain-candy teen horror fix - try the Possessions trilogy by Holder.
I'd definitely consider reading more of her work in the future for some more fun horror-lite.
July 10, 2011
It seems like everything was wrapped up with this book. Once you get to the end everything seemed very clear, but when you are reading it you aren't sure of any of the characters. At times I suspected everyone...Lindsay, Mandy, Miles, and all the group of friends. Early on I pegged the bad guy, but it seemed to pat, so I altered my thinking, but things kept happening that I kept altering who or what I thought was behind things. In a way I think the end was great, in another way I am sad for a couple of people.
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