Title: Wickedpedia
Author: Chris Van Etten (Twitter)
Publisher: Scholastic
Publish Date: June 24, 2014
Genre: YA, Horror
Pages: 224
Source: Publisher

Cole and Greg love playing practical jokes through Wikipedia. They edit key articles and watch their classmates crash and burn giving oral reports on historical figures like Genghis Khan, the first female astronaut on Jupiter. So after the star soccer player steals Cole's girlfriend, the boys take their revenge by creating a Wikipedia page for him, an entry full of outlandish information including details about his bizarre death on the soccer field.

It's all in good fun, until the soccer player is killed in a freak accident . . . just as Cole and Greg predicted. The uneasy boys vow to leave Wikipedia alone but someone continues to edit articles about classmates dying in gruesome ways . . . and those entries start to come true as well.

To his horror, Cole soon discovers that someone has created a Wikipedia page for him, and included a date of death. He has one week to figure out who's behind the murders, or else he's set to meet a pretty grisly end.

It's not a secret that I have a penchant for horror stories - whether they be of the literary variety or the film variety. While they absolutely scare the heck out of me, there's something about a well-time horror novel or film that leaves your skin crawling, and you feel the need for constant vigilance long after that last page. So, naturally, when Wickedpedia appeared on my radar, I knew I needed to read it. There's an inherent danger to this online culture that we as a society live in, and I was thrilled to read a novel that was going to not only explore, but expand, upon it as well. And, without fail, author Chris Van Etten gives his fans horror in its truest, most gruesome form.

Wickedpedia quickly establishes itself as a front-runner in young adult horror, and I say that in the most complimentary way. Mr. Van Etten is extremely explicit with his carefully-timed details and this sort of no-holds-barred approach to the violent acts committed within the book. And, while I have a pretty strong stomach, my friends, I must admit that several of the crimes committed and described made even my stomach churn. While this won't work for some, I think that the author took a remarkably clever approach to horror by actually sticking hard to his guns and the genre because so much  "horror" is watered down in YA. That said, I do think that, at times, the descriptions of morbidity actually overshadowed some of the more pertinent character details that I craved.

This is the sort of novel that is very heavy on the plot, and I felt as though I sort of lost Cole, Gavin, Winnie and Josh to the actual events of the novel. And, to be entirely honest, I felt as though Cole's character lacked a lot of the depth I hoped from him. Interspersed throughout Wickedpedia is a sort of casual romantic arc between Cole and Lila. However, I felt that it played a serious second fiddle to the past relationship between Cole and Winnie, which left that part feeling a bit redundant and superfluous. Furthermore, while much of the novel is bouncing from graphic details of crimes to murders and mayhem, the ending sort of just appears out of the blue, and I was left hanging and, quite honestly, wondering whether my book was cut off. I'm all for somewhat open endings, but a huge buildup without a true finale left me feeling a bit cheated.

Overall, I have to say that though Wickedpedia had a ton of potential, I felt a bit ambivalent about it in the end. There was so much more development that I wanted, and while I think the author has great potential, I think that the balance between details just wasn't there. I give this one a 2.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to an upper YA audience who likes horror. Please also note that there are very gruesome and graphic crimes within this novel. 

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

You may remember that way back when, I revealed what I think is possibly the coolest and creepiest trailer of the year to you all for a novel called Dollhouse by Anya Allen from Paper Lantern Lit. Well, my friends, the wait is over! The book has arrived, and you'd better believe it's as awesome as we thought it could be…and more!

Dollhouse was every bit as eerie as I'd hoped it could be. With a setting that was absolutely to die for in Australia (New South Wales, to be exact), and a host of unforeseen circumstances, the ball starts rolling on a novel that seems innocent until things begin to unravel. It must be said that author, Anya Allen, sets the stage slowly but surely, establishing her characters first before things begin to fall apart and go awry. It's a tricky feat, but once the novel hits its stride, the adventure, mystery and heart-palpitating drama is non-stop.

I thought that Dollhouse would offer us childhood references to dolls and wishes as a sort of respite from the eerie events, but it seemed to use them to further the macabre. Psychological and, at times, uncomfortable, it's the type of novel that makes you cringe as you read, but at the same time, you're simply unable to look away. The sincerity of the horror aspects of the novel are well done, and it must be said this novel doesn't err on the side of over-the-top supernatural experiences. Rather, the grim takes center stage and pushes the story forward.

Trust me, my friends, if you're a fan of real psychological thrillers and stories that will keep you thinking, Dollhouse is the perfect novel for you!

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Title: Dollhouse
Author: Anya Allyn (Twitter. Facebook)
Publisher: Paper Lantern Lit
Publish Date: May 20, 2014
Genre: YA, Thriller
Pages: 205

It isn’t nice to play games. Cassie knows coveting her best friend’s boyfriend is practically a cardinal sin. So when Aisha disappears, Cassie fears it’s her fault for even thinking of Ethan that way.

As the chemistry between them escalates, Cassie and Ethan discover a secret they never would have imagined: a hidden mansion in the mist-enshrouded mountains, where Aisha and several other girls are being held as dolls by a handsome young man who they call The Provider.

Torn between her forbidden feelings for Ethan, and her intense, unexpected attraction to The Provider, Cassie must overcome temptation. Because it turns out that even good girls can be drawn to dark things… and the game between Cassie and The Provider has only just begun, in this tantalizing start to an incredible series.

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Author: Anya Allyn

Anya Allyn grew up in Sydney, Australia, and now lives by the beach on The Central Coast. She spends her days with five incredibly cool males - four of whom are her kids. As a child, she could be found reading, sketching comic strips or fainting during choir practice in her school convent. She has worked in entertainment, web content, and most recently as a Features' Editor for Fairfax Media in Australia. Dollhouse is her first novel.

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Find Dollhouse on iTunes. Amazon. Barnes & Noble. Goodreads. 

It's no secret that I love creepy, eerie, things that go bump in the night kind of books. They're my thing...even if they give me nightmares for days. Those, my friends, are the very best books because they're so very tangible that they actually inspire fear. Plus, aren't our imaginations a little more terrifying than watching things play out on screen? I know mine is...

Title: The Fall

Author: Bethany Griffin (Twitter)

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Publish Date: October 7, 2014

Genre: YA, Thriller

Pages: 400

Madeline Usher is doomed. She has spent her life fighting fate, and she thought she was succeeding. Until she woke up in a coffin.

Ushers die young. Ushers are cursed. Ushers can never leave their house, a house that haunts and is haunted, a house that almost seems to have a mind of its own. Madeline’s life—revealed through short bursts of memory—has hinged around her desperate plan to escape, to save herself and her brother. Her only chance lies in destroying the house.

In the end, can Madeline keep her own sanity and bring the house down? The Fall is a literary psychological thriller, reimagining Edgar Allan Poe’s classic The Fall of the House of Usher.

Psychological thrillers, plus an Edgar Allan Poe inspiration? Count me in. Though retellings are notoriously tedious and tend to fall flat (in my eyes, of course), I have high hopes for this one. If it even comes close to as haunting as that cover, I'll be sold within a few pages, and I'm not certain I'll ever sleep again. I think, my friends, this is most definitely the book for me! What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature from Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: The Violet Hour
Author: Whitney A. Miller (Twitter)
Publisher: Flux
Publish Date: March 8, 2014
Genre: YA, Horror, Sci-Fi
Page: 312
Source: Author

The voice inside me is breaking free. I can't stop it. Some call VisionCrest the pinnacle of religious enlightenment. Others call it a powerful cult. For seventeen years, Harlow Wintergreen has called it her life.

As the daughter of VisionCrest's patriarch, Harlow is expected to be perfect at all times. She must be considered a paragon of integrity by the other Ministry teens and a future leader in the eyes of the world.

Despite the constant scrutiny Harlow is keeping a dark and dangerous secret, even from her best friend and the boy she loves. She hears a voice in her head that seems to have a mind of its own, plaguing her with violent and bloody visions. It commands her to kill. And the urge to obey is getting harder and harder to control....

Horror is the type of genre that readers often either love, or they hate. There tends to be little to no middle ground on the matter, which can be frustrating for both readers and writers of the genre, if I'm correct. Yet, when an author embraces the genre and all its complexities with an open heart and an open mind, there is a strong possibility that the novel can transcend those stereotypes and give us something more than we might have anticipated. The Violet Hour by Whitney Miller presents this case in a nutshell. With a story that's vivid in its darkness, we're welcomed into a world that's deceiving, sinister and nearly impossible to escape. 

I have to admit that with little to no hype surrounding The Violet Hour at all, I was wary when I started this novel. Though the premise is entirely my cup of tea, with horror, we always run the risk of reading a novel that becomes a bit trite and cliche. I was, however, extremely pleased with the setup that Ms. Miller offered her readers. With themes and settings within a cult, we're automatically whisked into a world that's darker and more mysterious than our own. The mysteries, however, stem from the delusions created by the cult mentality which, in all their darkness, are rich and fascinating, even as we're certain of their darkness and hidden agendas.

The Violet Hour gives us a taste of many things without inundating us with just one. Instead of bottle-necking itself into the horror genre alone, we're given a mix of elements including science-fiction and light teen romance that add a depth to an already multifaceted story. Harlow was an intriguing character to follow. On the surface, she seemed a bit schizophrenic, plagued by bloody visions that nobody else could hear or see. The fact that these voices and visions are driving her to kill, too, make her a character that is both easy to love and terrifying to love. On the one hand, we pity her situation. On the other hand, however, we fear the moment her psyche folds under the pressure of holding up her public persona at all times.

The novel starts out slower than I might have hoped, as Ms. Miller offers us a full setup, which I'll admit I was thankful for in the end. However, rather than interspersing the details throughout the meat of the novel, we're given a full account and backstory that makes the beginning of the novel a bit of a slower pace. However, once The Violet Hour gets going, we're whisked into a world that's as haunting as it is tangible. The book doesn't shy away from violence and other horror elements. It embraces them and allows the blood to spill over onto the pages, terrifying and real. It's the type of book that you can't put down - both for fear of not knowing what's going to happen next...and knowing what might.

Overall, I was quite surprised by both the originality and complexity of The Violet Hour. The novel isn't without flaws, but it's entertaining in the most gruesome and powerful way, as well. Written with a great, fresh prose, it's a book that will grow on fans of the genre and, likely, beyond. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy horror, science-fiction and cult stories.

I received this book free of charge from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

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View the Book Trailer:

Title: Insanity
Author: Susan Vaught (Twitter)
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's
Publish Date: February 18, 2014
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 384
Source: Publisher

Never, Kentucky is not your average scenic small town. It is a crossways, a place where the dead and the living can find no peace. Not that Forest, an 18-year-old foster kid who works the graveyard shift at Lincoln Hospital, knew this when she applied for the job. Lincoln is a huge state mental institution, a good place for Forest to make some money to pay for college. But along with hundreds of very unstable patients, it also has underground tunnels, bell towers that ring unexpectedly, and a closet that holds more than just donated clothing...

When the dead husband of one of Forest's patients makes an appearance late one night, seemingly accompanied by an agent of the Devil, Forest loses all sense of reality and all sense of time. Terrified, she knows she has a part to play, and when she does so, she finds a heritage that she never expected.

Insanity fully embraces what its title implies, thrusting readers headlong into a world of mystery, ghosts, demons and more. Set within the dark, enclosed walls of a mental institution, the author embraces the cold world of horror and drama and brings it front and center, offering us a story that's a careful balance between terrifying and touching. Author, Susan Vaught, brought her considerable knowledge of mental institutions to light within the pages of the book, giving us a thrilling look into the minds and lives of three people directly affected by the world within Lincoln Hospital.

Having not read any reviews - or really seeing this book around at all - for that matter, I knew that it was the type of novel that, if done well, could reel me in in a heartbeat. Insanity did, at times, feel utterly insane. There was so much darkness, rage and powerfully dark magic within these pages. It was a perfectly atmospheric novel that developed well beyond its careful world-building to offer readers an almost claustrophobic feel, at times, which only served to bolster the horror elements of the story. It's been a long time since I can say I've read a true ghost story that embraces darkness in its most animalistic form, but this novel does it, and it does it well.

The world-building within Insanity is intricately constructed. Like a ball of string, we ever so slowly see it unravel and unwind until we're fully enmeshed in the plight of the characters within the walls of Lincoln Hospital. This careful construction of the story's backdrop makes the events within the novel more plausible and tangible, as well, giving them reason and meaning within the world the book offers. There are, however, elements to this story that might not be suitable for all audiences, as the novel heartily takes the horror route in stride. Certain events are explicitly detailed, giving us a true and honest approach to classic horror in its purest form. While not too gory for all readers, some of it is undeniably unsettling. 

If there was a singular flaw within Insanity, I think it lies solely within the multiple perspectives of the novel. Much of the story was so delicately crafted, that it felt as though the different viewpoints almost cluttered the storyline. Rather than get to truly know and invest ourselves in Forest's plight, we're wrenched from her perspective to another without warning, and the transition wasn't always smooth. I enjoyed the innocence of her character, but I would have liked her even more had she been our sole perspective through the book. Nevertheless, through her eyes we get to see the chilling world of this mental institution come alive - and we even get a brief taste of romance, which lightens the heavy tone considerably.

Overall, though not perfect, I quite enjoyed this new take on horror for the younger lot. It reminded me a bit of Supernatural in terms of the paranormal elements, and you can never go wrong with that. I give this a strong 3.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy mysteries, thrillers and horror stories.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. As always, there are some amazing upcoming books, but this week I'm particularly excited for…

Title: Silver

Author: Chris Wooding 

Publisher: Scholastic

Publish Date: March 25, 2014

Genre: YA, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Pages: 320

Paul is the new kid at Mortingham Boarding Academy, and he has a dark secret. Caitlyn admires Paul from afar and resents that he only has eyes for Erika. Erika thinks that she and Caitlyn are best friends, but she's wrong. Adam is a bully with a major chip on his shoulder. Mark is outgrowing his old friends but doesn't know how to make new ones.

In a few short hours, none of this will matter. Without warning, a horrifying infection will spread across the school grounds, and a group of students with little in common will find themselves barricaded in a classroom, fighting for their lives. Some will live. Some will die. And then it will get even worse.

It's no secret that I'm a fan of horror - when it's done well, that is, and it seems as though there's a new crop of authors marketing such materials to the YA audience. Colour me absolutely thrilled. Silver sounds like one of those novels that's going to create the perfect marriage of sci-fi and horror, machines and humanity and a race for survival. All those things speak to me, and I have to admit that I'm absolutely, completely smitten with the idea of this story. Does that make me a sadist? Masochist? Either way, I'm okay with it. What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?

Title: The Madman's Daughter
Author: Megan Shepherd (Twitter)
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publish Date: January 29, 2013
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction
Pages: 432
Source: Personal Copy

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

There is an inherent beauty to gothic novels that lies within the dark and brooding madness; because it's in that twisted maze of darkness that lies a faint glimmer of hope - and truth - that leads the story and the reader in the right direction throughout. The Madman's Daughter stood out for me from the young adult crowd because it's a rarity in which we see an author truly commit to a rather gruesome idea and take a no-holds-barred approach to the nature of the genre. Megan Shepherd has crafted a stunning novel that's powerful in its darkness, vivid in its intensity and wholeheartedly, unsettlingly incredible.

The Madman's Daughter reads much like the title implies. The story is a maze of intrigue and mystery and, at times, the complexity of it seems rather mad. We're given the story of a daughter that is trying to understand the true nature of her father who, for all intents and purposes, is a mad scientist and, in doing so, we're unwittingly swept up into the same whirlwind that Juliet lives everyday. It's an eerie concept to live in a world in which your father is the sole nature of your ruin, and Juliet's quiet resolve to uncover the truth was heartening and truly believable. She was a source of light in an eerie and subtly bleak novel.

The way in which the settings were presented to the reader within The Madman's Daughter is arguably one of the foremost strengths of the novel. The island is a brooding and horrific place, plagued by deformed creatures borne of a brilliantly mad mind. Time seems to stand still on the island, setting it vastly apart from Juliet's life in London and leaving us feeling incredibly isolated and trapped in the lair of a madman. With each twist and turn, I was left with more questions and, inevitably, more shocked by each revelation. The plot was so incredibly layered that, at times, some of the relationships in the novel seemed rather irrelevant.

That, unfortunately, leads me to my one qualm with the novel. The Madman's Daughter errs on the edge of perfection. In fact, it is precariously close to it, but the subtle love triangle between Juliet, Montgomery and Edward felt a bit out of place in such a stellar example of a gothic novel. Overall, the triangle wasn't overbearing, but I felt that it was almost an afterthought in terms of complexity since the rest of the story was so rich and layered. The tension was tangible at times, but there were hints of an instant connection that left a bit of bitter taste in my mouth.

Despite that singular flaw though, I found The Madman's Daughter to be a rich and utterly engrossing read. I think it's safe to say that gothic novels like this might just be my cup of tea, and I can't wait to read what's next to come in this story. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it fans of YA, especially those who enjoy historical fiction and gothic novels.

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

With Halloween Being Next Week, What are Your Favourite Spooky/Creepy Reads?

It's no secret on this blog that this miss loves her horror books. Let's be honest, I can't sit through a horror movie without plugging my ears and covering my eyes (plus having nightmares for weeks), but I'm addicted. I just can't help it. The same goes for books, really. The creepier the better, for me, and if a book is classed as horror or scary - it had better live up, or I'll be personally offended! There are a few books that have really stood out in this category for me though, and I they're my go-to books when readers ask for recommendations.

The thing is, each of these books has something else going for it. 172 Hours on the Moon is dark, eerie and contemplative. There's a danger - faceless and daunting - that consistently lurks in the background and creeps you out with every page. Anna Dressed in Blood, while more contemporary, embraces the vivid gore of true horror and manages to make a fascinating character out of a psychotic ghost. 

Harbinger is a lurking mystery. While not always outwardly terrifying, there's a danger in every word, every page and every turn. It's a high-stakes book. Lockdown is horror in it's most straightforward form. There's a vivid grunge feel to it that makes you feel as though you're trapped with the character - not a good place to be. 

What about you? Link up and share your favourites!

Title: Sick 
Author: Tom Leveen (Twitter)
Publisher: Abrams
Publish Date: October 1, 2013
Genre: YA, Horror
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher

Brian and his friends are not part of the cool crowd. They’re the misfits and the troublemakers—the ones who jump their high school’s fence to skip class regularly. So when a deadly virus breaks out, they’re the only ones with a chance of surviving.

The virus turns Brian’s classmates and teachers into bloodthirsty attackers who don’t die easily. The whole school goes on lockdown, but Brian and his best friend, Chad, are safe (and stuck) in the theater department—far from Brian’s sister, Kenzie, and his ex-girlfriend with a panic attack problem, Laura. Brian and Chad, along with some of the theater kids Brian had never given the time of day before, decide to find the girls and bring them to the safety of the theater. But it won’t be easy, and it will test everything they thought they knew about themselves and their classmates.

Sick embodies everything that pop culture is completely fascinated by these days, which is a huge plus for the author of this one-of-a-kind story, Tom Leveen. As a reader, I love the idea of different lifestyles and cliques being forced into unimaginable circumstances together and challenged to either get along and overcome the obstacles, or simply fall to pieces. I also love zombies. I don't even need to elaborate upon that because it's truly the highlight of this novel. Sick doesn't hesitate to show readers the true, gruesome and gory nature of zombies, which is too often watered down in YA fiction.

Sick is marketed to readers as "The Breakfast Club meets The Walking Dead." I urge readers not to put too much stock in this tagline. Here's the thing. This book might actually have met audiences better without that because, going in, we expect the charm and ingenue of misfits uniting to soar through the story. Unfortunately, we're offered a high-stakes and highly implausible relationship that actually took away from the story. Had we simply been left with misfits dealing with a new-age type of zombie (for the record, they sparkle, and that bothers me), Sick might have succeeded.

While overall well-written, I felt a bit cheated by Sick. I expected one thing and was give something almost entirely different. The author's writing is solid, but the plot and the romance really detracted from the story for me. I give it a 3 out 5, and I recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy horror and zombies. 

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Slice of Cherry
Author: Dia Reeves (Twitter)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publish Date: January 4, 2011
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Horror
Pages: 505
Source: Personal Copy

Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that’s just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around.

It’s no surprise when Kit and Fancy start to give in to their deepest desire—the desire to kill. What starts as a fascination with slicing open and stitching up quickly spirals into a gratifying murder spree. Of course, the sisters aren’t killing just anyone, only the people who truly deserve it. But the girls have learned from the mistakes of their father, and know that a shred of evidence could get them caught. So when Fancy stumbles upon a mysterious and invisible doorway to another world, she opens a door to endless possibilities….

Kit and Fancy have a fascination with death. They have a penchant for killing, as did their father, and they gladly do so without fear, without remorse and without any hesitation. There is a rush when they do it, and it's a high unlike any other. But all such things come with a price, and when Fancy finds the door to another realm, she might just have opened the door to the perfect hiding place for all their crimes. After all - they are sisters above all else, but daughters of a serial killer first and foremost.

I'm a fan of horror, and I don't know why I put off reading Slice of Cherry for so long, but I was finally convinced the other day. Dark, disturbing and immensely satisfying, this novel is a masterminded tale of horror to the finest degree. Dia Reeves gives us a pair of equally quirky and terrifyingly realistic girls in whom we must invest ourselves to fully understand not only their psychoses but their crimes, as well. The darkness of Slice of Cherry is, indeed, all-encompassing and, at times, acrid, but there is something dangerously alluring that will invite you in, as well.

When I started reading Slice of Cherry, I have to be honest and say that I wasn't all that excited about it. While I love watching (ok, not so much watching as squealing in fear) horror movies, but I'm always wary about a horror novel. If it's too scary, there tends to be a lack of character development. If it has perfect characters, we often lose the terror aspects of the book. With this novel though, we get the best of both. Kit and Fancy were pretty much opposites, and Kit was absolutely foul. She was a brat and the depth of her disturbia was fully evident. Fancy was a bit of an oddball. Though in her teens, she dressed and often acted far younger than her age. It was almost as though she was trying to never grow up - only serving to add to the already creepy nature of the novel. What really intrigued me most was that yes, these two girls were sadistic and cold-blooded, but there were also developing layers of emotional depth that we uncover throughout Slice of Cherry, as well - ones which keep us reading long after we think we should have stopped. I will say, however, that I did end up having somewhat mixed feelings about the book though, simply because it really is truly terrifying and disturbing. The author never shies from the brutality, or the torturous aspects of the novel, which is really, utterly sadistic. It works in the schemes of things, but it also served to make my blood run cold at times. So, on one hand, the mission was accomplished. On the other hand, I felt filthy having read it.

Overall though, I can't really fault Slice of Cherry for truly embodying the genre. Despite my qualms with the gruesome nature of it - it does work, and I think a lot of readers will really get what the novel is giving us. I give this book a 3.5 out of 5, and I definitely recommend it to fans of upper YA, especially those who enjoy horror. Please bear in mind that this is a horror novel and readers will encounter incredibly disturbing content.

Title: Ten
Author: Gretchen McNeil (Twitter)
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publish Date: September 18, 2012
Genre: YA, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 304
Source: Publisher

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury. But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

All Meg and Minnie really wanted was a little holiday to unwind and get the boy of their dreams to be interested in them. Plus, throw in all the extras, and the weekend has all the makings for a complete success. Or, it should. Ten friends arrived at the luxe party on Henry Island, but after stumbling across an odd video with an ominous message, one by one, they start getting picked off. They're stuck on the island with no real way off...but how exactly will they survive the weekend, and why are they even in these circumstances?

Guys, I have a secret. Okay, it's not really a secret, but here goes: I love mysteries. And horror. And slasher flicks even though I have to sit with my eyes closed and my ears plugged. Yes, I know that it defeats the purpose. Moving on. Because of this, I immediately knew that Ten would be my cup of tea. Gretchen McNeil has crafted an eerie, atmospheric tale that invites readers to what seems like an idyllic setting, then wreaks havoc on our psyches as the characters begin dropping like flies. Ten is an engaging twist on the classic whodunit tale, guaranteeing you a healthy dose of twisted fun throughout.

I put off reading Ten for a really long time. And, frankly, I'll say that the plethora of one and two-star reviews really deterred my interest in the book for a good long while. I was really worried that the story would be trite and horror-lite, and I suppose that it was in some ways, but the author spins the story in a way that this actually works in its favour. The strength of the novel lies within the details. From the minute our characters arrive on Henry Island, we are there with them. We experience the blistering, foreboding winds of the storm. The atmosphere and setup are tense and dramatic, engaging you from the get-go, and with vivid imagery and a picture-perfect backdrop for such a mysterious novel, Ten succeeds. Furthermore, I think that the characters were well portrayed. I was invested in the fates of Meg and Minnie, and I definitely knew who I wanted to survive, and who I was really hoping would meet a swift and decisive end. Perhaps this means that the characters were a bit too obvious, but it worked for me. However, I do feel that this book is a bit horror-lite, if that makes sense. It's mysterious, it's eerie - it's even a tad campy at times - but it's not really an intense horror story filled with gore, pleading for one's life or even a real, true scare. But, with such a visually appealing and engaging backdrop for a story that is still riddled with tension, I found myself almost forgiving the character stereotypes and lack of true horror. 

All in all, I can see why not everyone enjoyed Ten, but for me, it worked for the most part. If I look at it from the standpoint that it's YA, and therefore not true horror, it succeeds. I give it a 3.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy a good mystery or light horror story.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.