A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

“Stories are wild creatures, the monster said. When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might wreak?”

- A Monster Calls

Author:  Patrick Ness 

(originally conceived by Siobhan Dowd) 

Genre:  Fantasy, Young Adult, Horror, Contemporary

Reading Experience: 7.5/10

Story:  8/10

Writing:  7.5/10

My Verdict:  8/10

This is a sad story, with an even sadder background.  This is one of those books, one of those stories, that stick with you far beyond the last sentence.  It evokes something very sad and very dark since the first chapter, and it holds you until you read the last one.  Never have I once cried for a book as much as I did with this one, not even the Fault in Our Stars or any of the sort.  No, this book strung many strings in my heart, and it's a personal treasure, a favorite almost.

The story is simple: a boy named Conor and a monster that stalks him every night at midnight.  Conor is coping with his mother's cancer, school and many other things that will hit home and make you reminisce about the obstacles and frustrations of being a teen.

This monster visits him every midnight, demanding only one thing from Conor, the single thing Conor will never, ever give anyone: the truth.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Author:  Shirley Jackson

Genre:  Horror, Paranormal, Supernatural, Gothic

Target Audience:  Adults

Reading Experience:  7.5/10

Story:  7.5/10

Writing:  7.5/10

My Verdict:  8/10

Nothing like a good, old-fashion, haunted house story that makes you question not only the character's sanity in all of the story, but yours as well.  This book is purely psychological; it messes with the character's head, as well as yours.  It leaves you wondering... how much of it was actually real?  

Cell the movie is here!

Remember Stephen King's book Cell?  There's a movie coming out!  This YEAR!  I'm so EXCITED for it!  I was a little worried about the casting, but the trailer proved me that it could become a great adaptation!  Plus, Stephen King himself helped with the screenplay, so you know it's going to be GOOD!  John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson and Isabelle Fuhrman play the main characters in this bloody, action-packed story of a cellphone-caused apocalypse that makes people behave like aggressive monsters, whose only purpose is too kill.  Watch them try to survive here, in the trailer!  AHH!  I can't wait!

If you want to read the book, then check out my review!

Also, you can buy the paperback of Stephen King's Cell here!

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Author:  Victoria Aveyard

Genre:  Young Adult, Dystopia, Fantasy, Romance

Target Audience:  Young Adults, Adults

Reading Experience:  7/10

Story:  8/10

Writing:  7/10

My Verdict:  7.5/10

I have to say it: I am not a big fan of Young Adults novels, and being a dystopian novel is even more of a deal breaker.  I feel like I've outgrown that genre (I'm 23), and that the genre has nothing new or fresh to offer anymore.  I feel like YA/dystopian novels will never have something new to offer.  To me, it's like an inflexible genre, that doesn't allow much originality other than the story, which become "slightly" different from other novels.  The writing is sometimes the same, the themes and even the love triangles.  Only the story changes, but its development is almost the same.  But I think I may have to reconsider my views on YA now that I read Red Queen.  I think there might be good YA novels out there.

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

Author: Stephen King

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Paranormal

Target Audience: Adults

Reading Experience: 9/10

Story: 8.5/10

Writing: 8/10

My Verdict: 9/10

Okay, I'm going to review my all-time favorite book of Stephen King: Pet Sematary.  Yes, it's spelled like that, and it makes sense when you read the book.  It's actually my highest-rated book so far, and it deserves such a rating.  Anyway, I haven't read many Stephen King books (yet), but to date, it's my favorite.  It was the only book to actually give me chills (that forest scene... man, I still have nightmares with that scene!).

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I was going to review a book from my "Favorites" list, but since the trailer came out not long ago, I thought it would only be fair to review this book, since I read it not many weeks ago.  Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

If you haven't seen the trailer yet, directed by the creative and unique Tim Burton, then you can check it out here (just so you get an idea of what it's about, and so that you can get as excited as I was watching it).  It looks promising.  Eva Green and Asa Butterfield are, in my opinion, perfect for the roles of Miss Peregrine and Jacob respectively.  Can't wait!

Okay, so, Miss Peregrine and her Home for peculiar children.  It's the first of a trilogy (Hollow City being its sequel followed by Library of souls).